Plant cells are omnipotent and breeding of new varieties can be achieved by protoplast fusion. Such fusions can be achieved by treatment with poly(ethylene glycol) or by applying an electric field. Microfluidic devices allow for controlled conditions and targeted manipulation of small batches of cells down to single cell analysis. To provide controlled conditions for protoplast fusions and achieve high reproducibility, we developed and characterized a microfluidic device to reliably trap few of Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts and induced a cell fusion by controlled addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, with a molecular weight of 6000). Experiments were conducted to determine the survival rate of isolated protoplasts in our microfluidic system. Afterwards, PEG induced fusion was studied. Our results indicate that the following fusion parameters had significant impact on the fusion efficiency and duration: PEG concentration, osmolarity of solution, and flow velocity. PEG concentration below 10% led to only partial fusion. Osmolarity of the PEG fusion solution was found to strongly impact the fusion process; complete fusion of two source cells sufficiently took part in slightly hyper osmotic solutions, whereas iso-osmotic solutions led to only partial fusion at 20% PEG concentration. We observed accelerated fusion for higher fluid velocities. Up to this study, it was common sense that fusion is one directional, i.e. once two cells were fused into one cell they stay fused. Here, we present for the first time reversible fusion of protoplasts. Our microfluidic device paves the way to a deeper understanding on the kinetics and processes of cell fusion.

Poplar (Populus) is a genus of woody plants of value for the pulp industry, green energy, urban landscaping, soil phytoremediation and as an ornamental plant. Due to the increasing economic importance of poplar, there is a need to ensure its stable growth by increasing its resistance to pathogens, as one of the main problems in poplar cultivation is its susceptibility to numerous diseases. Currently, breeding poplars with reduced susceptibility to infections is receiving increasing attention. Genetic engineering can produce organisms with improved traits faster than traditional methods, and with the development of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing systems, scientists have a new highly efficient tool at their disposal to create valuable genotypes. In this review, we summarize recent research data on poplar diseases, the biology of their pathogens, and how these plants resist pathogens. In the final section, we discuss genetic engineering, genome editing, and microbiome strategies that we believe are suitable for obtaining new improved poplar lines.

Sorghum has become increasingly popular for diverse applications, including food, feed, and bioenergy. The present study aimed to perform a bibliometric and content analysis on sorghum research in the industrial-agricultural sector to evaluate global research patterns, emerging topics, and future trends. The bibliometric analysis of the Scopus bibliographic metadata was done using Bibliometrix and Vosviewer. The results of this investigation show the descriptive analysis underscored fluctuation in research output and citation impact over the years. The identified four patterns through co-occurrence analysis encompassed central themes of sorghum research, including genetic expression and plant stress cluster, cereal crop and yield cluster, biomass and microbial bioprocessing, and metabolism and antioxidant cluster. The thematic map portrays a comprehensive view of cereal crops and yields, biomass and microbial bioprocessing, metabolism and antioxidant research, environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture practices, and the declining theme of starch. The findings provide valuable insights into the global pattern of sorghum research and emerging trends, thus directing future multidisciplinary research efforts for enhanced knowledge and sustainable practices in the industrial-agricultural sector.

Every land plant exists in close relationship with microbial communities of several niches: rhizosphere, endosphere, phyllosphere, etc. The growth and yield of potato – a critical food crop worldwide – highly depend on the diversity and structure of bacterial and fungal communities with which the potato plant coexists. The potato plant has a specific part – tubers, and the soil near the tubers as sub-compartment is usually called “geocaulosphere”, which is associated with storage process and tare soil microbiome. Specific microbes can help the plant to adapt to particular environment conditions and resist to pathogens. There is a number of approaches to modulate the microbiome that provides organisms with desired traits during inoculation. The mechanisms of plant–bacterial communication remain understudied, and for the further engineering of microbiomes with particular features the knowledge on potato microbiome should be summarized. The most recent approaches to microbiome engineering include construction of a synthetic microbial community or management of plant microbiome using genome engineering. In this review, the various factors that form the microbiome of potato and the role of these factors in overcoming the negative impact of drought and pathogens are surveyed.

The present study aimed to examine the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of racemic ketamine in dogs at low dose. Secondary aims were to identify associated behavioural side effects and propose a ketamine infusion rate. The study was conducted on nine intact male beagles, with each dog undergoing two treatments (BOL and INF). For treatment BOL, a single intravenous bolus of 1 mg/kg racemic ketamine was administered over 2 minutes. The treatment INF involved an initial bolus of 0.5 mg/kg given over 1 minute, followed by an infusion at 0.01 mg/kg/min for 1 hour. Blood samples were collected from the left cephalic vein for pharmacokinetic analysis. The median R/S enantiomer ratio of ketamine remained close to 1 throughout the study. However, levels of S-norketamine were significantly higher than those of R-norketamine across all time points. Based on the collected data, the infusion rate predicted to achieve a steady state racemic ketamine plasma concentration of 150 ng/mL was 1.7 mg/kg/h. Furthermore, employing ROC curve analysis, a racemic ketamine plasma concentration of 102 ng/mL was defined as the cut-off value, correlating with the occurrence of undesirable behavioural patterns.

Deficient wound healing is frequently observed in patients diagnosed with diabetes, a clinical complication that compromises mobility and leads to limb amputation, decreasing patient autonomy and family lifestyle. Fibroblasts are crucial for secreting the extracellular matrix to pave the wound site for endothelial and keratinocyte regeneration. The biosynthetic pathways for collagen production are one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, as the crosslinking of extracellular collagen fibers is intimately related to fibroblast redox homeostasis. In this study, human dermic fibroblasts were cultured with 1 mM sodium selenite (inorganic) and 1 mM of two selenium amino acids (organic), Se-cysteine and Se-methionine. This concentration was compatible with long-term exposure necessary for extracellular matrix production and allowed us to examine the impact of these three compounds on the state and response of the thiol-based HyPer biosensor expressed in the cytoplasm. In addition, the abundance of extracellular matrix and ultrastructural properties were evaluated by Picrus Sirius red staining and scanning electronic microscopy, respectively. We also evaluated whether these selenium compounds effectively ameliorated the perturbations induced by culturing fibroblasts at high glucose levels (25 mM) regarding cytoplasmic redox, extracellular matrix, and glycation on collagen fibers. Our results indicate that cytoplasm protein oxidation was sensitive to selenium compound supplementation. Selenium amino acids increased the sensitivity to protein oxidation, and only Se-cysteine increased the disulfide bond reduction in fibroblasts maintained in high glucose. Despite the lack of effect of selenium compounds on the glu-cose-induced increase in matrix fiber thickness, we found that endothelial migration improved in the matrix generated by high glucose-cultured fibroblasts.

To study the mechanism of light color on a sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla), blue light (B, λ450nm), yellow light (Y, λ585-590nm), red light (R, λ640nm), green light (G, λ510nm), white light (W, λ400-780nm) and darkness groups (H) were set up in a seawater recirculating aquaculture system. Six different LED light color treatment groups with a photoperiod of 12 L:12 D were tested for 30 d to investigate the effects of different light colors on the feeding, growth and enzyme activities of T. gratilla (142.45±4.36 g). We found that varying LED light colors significantly impacts the feeding, growth, and enzyme activity of T. gratilla. Notably, the sea urchins in group B exhibited better growth with a weight gain rate of 39.26%, while those in group R demonstrated poorer growth with a weight gain rate of only 26%. The feeding differed significantly (P<0.01) between groups B and R, with group B consuming the highest daily intake (6.03±1.69 g) and group R consuming the lowest (4.54±1.26 g). Throughout the three phases, there was no significant change in the viability of the AMS (P>0.05). Conversely, pepsin viability significantly increased (P<0.01) in group B. LPS viability remained consistently at the lowest level, with no notable differences in group W from those observed in group B. In group R, both AMS and pepsin viability remained lower, whereas lipase viability was noticeably higher in each phase compared to group B (P<0.01). Regarding antioxidant enzymes, group R exhibited a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing CAT, SOD, and GSH-PX activities, particularly during the third stage (15-30 d), with a significant decrease observed in antioxidant enzyme activities (P<0.01). The outcomes suggest that blue light positively affects the growth, feeding, digestion, and antioxidant capacity of T. gratilla in comparison to other light environments, whereas the red light has an inhibitory impact.

The consequences of climate change and anthropogenic stressors, such as habitat loss and overexploitation, are threatening the subsistence of species and communities across the planet. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the impact of environmental perturbations on the diversity, structure and function of ecosystems. In this work, in silico simulations of biodiversity loss were carried out on the marine food web of Caleta Potter (25 de Mayo Island, Antarctica) where global warming has caused critical changes in the abundance and distribution of benthic and pelagic communities during the last 30 years. We performed species removal considering their degree and trophic level and including four different thresholds on the occurrence of secondary extinctions. We examined the impact of extinctions on connectance, modularity and stability of the food web. We found different responses of these properties depending on the extinction criteria used, e.g., large increase in modularity and rapid decrease in stability when most-connected and relatively high-trophic level species were removed. Additionally, we studied the complexity-stability relationship of the food web founding two regimes: 1) high sensitivity to small perturbations suggesting that Potter Cove would be locally unstable, and 2) high persistence to long-range perturbations suggesting global stability of this ecosystem.

Abstract: The search for alternative protein sources to soy-bean meal (SBM) in animal feeding is a strategic objective to reduce production costs and contribute to a sustainable animal produc-tion. Spirulina, due to the high protein content, has emerged as a potential cost-effective, sus-tainable, viable and high nutritional value food resource for many animal species. Insect larvae (Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens) are also considered potential alternatives to SBM, given their high edible percentage of almost 100%, as well as a protein value higher than that of vegetable proteins. Rapeseed meal and grain legumes, such as faba beans, peas, lupins and chickpea can also be used as locally producible protein ingredients. This study reviews the nutritional value of these potential alternatives to SBM in pig diets, effects on animal perfor-mance, digestion, immune system, physicochemical and sensorial characteristics of meat, in-cluding processed meat products of pork. Limits on their use in pig feeding are also reviewed to indicate gaps to be filled in future research on the supplementation level of these potential al-ternative protein sources into pig diets.

The study of trophic relationships among closely related species plays an important role in deepening our understanding of the resource utilization characteristics, differentiation patterns, and population dynamics of co-occurring species in the same habitat. This research uses two congeneric fish species, Pennahia pawak and Pennahia anea, as examples. Based on stomach content analysis and carbon-nitrogen stable isotope analysis, a comparative analysis of their feeding habits and trophic niches is conducted. Additionally, spatial niche analysis is employed to explore the coexistence and competitive mechanisms between these two closely related fish species. The results showed that both P. pawak and P. anea had similar feeding habits, mainly feeding on Pisces and Macrura, but there were some feeding preferences between the two species. Interspecific prey overlap was meaningful but not significant, with an overlap coefficient of 0.56. There were significant differences in feeding habits between the two species during different seasons. Based on stable isotope analyses, body length of both species had a significant positive correlation with δ15N (Pearson r=0.65, P<0.01; Pearson r=0.44, P<0.01), but not with δ13C (P>0.05). Standard ellipse corrected area (SEAc) of P. pawak and P. anea were 0.65 and 1.16, while the trophic niche overlap was only 0.29, which was not significant; the spatial niche width of the two was 1.19 and 0.58, respectively, and the spatial niche overlap was only 0.20, which was not significant. Intra-species competition was intense in P. pawak and P. anea, but reduced feeding specialization had a mitigating effect on intra-species competition. Interspecific competition was present but not significant, and was mitigated by trophic and spatial niche differentiation.

In obesity, white adipose tissue expresses inflammatory cytokines leading to insulin resistance. Non-physiological meta-tyrosine and ortho-tyrosine (meta-Tyr and ortho-Tyr), produced from phenylalanine by free radicals, may contribute to the development of insulin resistance. The resulting insulin resistance may have a significant impact on macrophage function. In this study we aim to investigate microscopically the effect of meta- and ortho-Tyr on insulin sensitivity and M1/M2 polarization of macrophages using Akt phosphorylation and the arginase 1/iNOS ratio. Macrophage cell lines were cultured in media containing para-, meta- or ortho-Tyr, 5 mmol/L or 25 mmol/L glucose (para25-Tyr group) and treated with insulin. Para25, meta- and ortho-Tyr increased pAkt levels and decreased the arginase 1/iNOS ratio in macrophages in the absence of insulin. In the case of physiological para-tyrosine treatment, insulin increased the amount of pAkt and decreased the arginase 1/iNOS ratio. Both meta- and ortho-Tyr treatment were able to abolish or reverse the insulin’s increasing effect on pAkt and the decreasing effect on arginase 1/iNOS ratio. Our results suggest that non-physiological tyrosine isomers may affect the insulin signaling of macrophages and influence their M1/M2 polarization.

This review examines the challenges faced by the pig industry, with a specific emphasis on improving the health and growth of weaned pigs. It emphasises the immediate necessity of investigating alternative approaches to managing pig nutrition and health due to restrictions on the use of antibiotics and the prohibition of zinc oxide in weaned pig diets. The weaning phase is identified as a critical stage in piglet development, characterized by stressors that affect their gastrointestinal health, immune responses, and overall physiology. The primary challenge during weaning arises from transitioning piglets from a digestible milk-based diet to a less digestible cereal-based feed, causing nutritional stress. This manifests as reduced feed intake, leading to gastrointestinal disturbances, intestinal inflammation, and adverse effects on intestinal structure and microbiota. To address these challenges and optimise piglet development, various nutritional strategies have been explored. Notably, glucans, particularly β-glucans from fungi, cereals, algae, and yeast, show promise in alleviating weaning-related issues. Furthermore, it's important to highlight the critical roles played by vitamin D and selenium in piglet nutrition. These essential nutrients can be sourced naturally from enriched mushrooms that are specifically enriched with vitamin D and selenium, providing a valuable dietary option. In conclusion, effective nutritional strategies, including glucans, vitamin D, selenium, and enriched mushrooms, are beneficial for addressing weaning-related challenges.

The principal barrier to an HIV-1 cure is the persistence of infected cells harboring replication-competent proviruses despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-1 transcriptional suppression, referred to as viral latency, is foremost among persistence determinants, as it allows infected cells to evade the cytopathic effects of virion production and killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and other immune factors. HIV-1 persistence is also governed by cellular proliferation, an innate and essential capacity of CD4+ T cells that both sustains cell populations over time and enables a robust directed response to immunological threats. Yet when HIV-1 infects CD4+ T cells, this capacity for proliferation can counterproductively enable surreptitious HIV-1 propagation without the deleterious effects of viral gene expression in latently infected cells. Over time on ART, the HIV1 reservoir is shaped by both persistence determinants, with selective forces most often favoring clonally expanded infected cell populations harboring transcriptionally quiescent proviruses. Moreover, if HIV latency is incomplete or sporadically reversed in clonal infected cell populations that are replenished faster than they are depleted, such populations could both persist indefinitely and contribute to low-level persistent viremia during ART and viremic rebound if treatment is withdrawn. In this review, select genetic, epigenetic, cellular, and immunological determinants of viral transcriptional suppression and clonal expansion of HIV-1 reservoir T cells, interdependencies among these determinants, and implications for HIV-1 persistence will be presented and discussed.

Glaucoma is a group of ocular diseases that causes irreversible blindness worldwide and is characterized by a multifactorial degeneration of optic nerve and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), leading to vision loss. One of the significant risk factors in glaucoma pathogenesis is glia-driven neuroinflammation. Impairment of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics is associated with glaucomatous neurodegeneration and is linked to neuroinflammation. Apolipoprotein A-I binding protein (AIBP) binds to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and facilitates the removal of excess cholesterol from the plasma membrane in activated cells, suggesting the regulation of cholesterol-driven inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4-associated lipid rafts. AIBP is localized in mitochondria and regulates mitophagy by ubiquitination of mitofusin 1 and 2. We observed elevated intraocular pressure-induced AIBP deficiency in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We also observed that AIBP deficiency activated TLR4 in Müller glia, triggered mitochondrial dysfunction in both RGCs and Müller glia and impaired visual function. In mouse models of glaucoma, AIBP treatment protects RGCs by reducing inflammatory responses. Here, our review focuses on investigating the role of AIBP in the retina and examining the underlying mechanism by which AIBP contributes to the pathogenesis of glaucoma, aiming to provide new insight into the therapeutic potential for the treatment of glaucoma.

Sympatric distribution and temporal overlap of cryptic zooplankton species pose a challenge to the framework of the niche differentiation theory and the mechanisms allowing competitor coexistence. We applied the methods of phylogenetic analysis, DNA taxonomy and statistical analysis to study the temporal distribution patterns of cryptic B. calyciflorus species, an excellent model, in three lakes, and to explore the putative mechanisms for their seasonal succession and temporal overlap. The results showed that in the warm-temperate Lake Yunlong, B. fernandoi and B. calyciflorus s.s. underwent a seasonal succession, which was largely attributed to their differential adaptation to water temperature. In the subtropical Lake Jinghu, B. fernandoi, B. calyciflorus s.s. and B. dorcas exhibited both seasonal succession and temporal overlap. Seasonal successions were largely attributed to their differential adaptation to temperature, and temporal overlap resulted from their differential responses to algal food concentration. In the tropical Lake Jinniu, B. calyciflorus s.s. persisted throughout the year, and overlapped with B. dorcas for 5 months. Temporal overlap resulted from their differential responses to copepod predation. These results indicated that the temporal distribution pattern of cryptic B. calyciforus species and the mechanism allowing competitor coexistence vary with different climate zones.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most commercially essential vegetable crops cultivated worldwide. In addition to the nutritional value, tomato is an excellent model for studying climacteric fruits' ripening process. Despite this, the available natural pool of genes that allows expanding phenotypic diversity is limited, and the difficulties of crossing using classical selection methods when stacking traits increase proportionally with each additional feature. Genetic engineering makes it possible to introduce changes in genes of interest without changing the allelic combinations characteristic of successful commercial varieties, to enhance the expression of existing genes, to create and transfer artificial and heterologous genes, and much more. However, this requires understanding the fundamental principles of the molecular interaction. Although the leading candidate genes for these components have been identified, a complete picture of their relationship has yet to be formed. The review summarizes the latest (2017-2023) achievements related to studying the ripening processes of tomato fruits. In this work, an attempt is made to systematize the results of various research and display the interaction pattern of genes regulating the process of tomato fruit ripening.

Peach (L.) is a kind of fruit tree with considerable economic and nutritional significance. However, it shows a high sensitivity to drought stress, which has a profound impact on its growth. L-methionine (MET) and L-proline (PRO) are two amino acids synthesized by plants, which play an important role in abiotic stress response. However, their exact mechanism of action remains elusive. Through physiological analysis, MET (500ppm) and PRO (500ppm) treatments can effectively reduce the adverse effects of drought stress on the growth of peach seedlings. The results show that MET and PRO can effectively inhibit the stomatal opening of plant leaves under drought conditions and reduce the water evaporation of leaves under drought conditions. In addition, the application of MET or PRO promoted the accumulation of carbohydrates in the leaf tissues of peach seedlings under drought conditions, increased the intracellular relative water content (24%, 24%), decreased the leaf electrical conductivity (21%, 24%), and alleviated the membrane damage caused by drought. Experimental studies have confirmed that the alleviation of drought stress is due to the removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo, that is, the downregulation of malondialdehyde (18%, 19%)，peroxidase (50%, 5%) and superoxide dismutase (12%, 14%) activities. In addition, the application of exogenous amino acids also improved the root morphological structure and root vitality of peach seedlings，which was conducive to absorbing external buffer substances and alleviating drought stress. In summary, the application of exogenous amino acids can effectively alleviate the effects of drought stress on plants and reduce the harm.

(1) Background: Brassinosteroids (BRs) are an important hormone that participates in almost all stages of plant growth and development, and sterol dehydrogenase is a key enzyme that is involved in the biosynthesis of BRs. However, the steroid dehydrogenase gene family in Populus yunnanensis Dode (P. yunnanensis) has not been studied; (2) Methods: The PyDET2 gene family was identified and bioinformatics analyzed. Three genes were screened based on the RNA-seq of stem tip, the PyDET2e was further investigated by RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and subcellular localization; (3) Results: We identified 14 DET2 family genes in P. yunnanensis that were classified into 4 groups according to sequence similarity and phylogenetic relationship, and 10 conserved protein motifs had been identified. The gene structure, chromosome distribution, collinearity, and codon preference of all PyDET2 genes identified in the genome of P. yunnanensis were analyzed. The codon of this family is biased to the end of A/U, and natural selection has a great influence on it. The expression level of PyDET2e in September was higher than in July, and it was significantly expressed in stems, stem tips, and leaves. The PyDET2e protein was localized in chloroplasts; (4) Conclusions: The PyDET2e is involved in the development of P. yunnanensis in the rapid growth stage. The systematic analysis provided a basis for the genome-wide identification of genes related to brassinolide biosynthesis processes in P. yunnanensis, and laid a foundation for the study on the mechanism of rapid growth of P. yunnanensis.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CFS-1R) is a myeloid receptor with a crucial role in monocyte survival and differentiation. Its overexpression is associated with aggressive tumor characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment and poor prognosis. CSF-1R ligands, IL-34 and M-CSF, are produced by many cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), suggesting a key role for the receptor in the crosstalk between tumor, immune and stromal cells in the TME. Recently, CSF-1R expression was reported at the cell membrane of cancer cell from different solid tumors, capturing the interest of various research group interested in investigating the role of this receptor in non-myeloid cells. This review summarizes current data available on the expression and activity of CSF-1R in different tumor types. Notably, CSF-1R+ cancer cells have been shown to produce CSF-1R ligands, indicating that CSF-1R signaling is positively regulated in autocrine manner in cancer cells. Recent research demonstrated that CSF-1R signaling enhances cell transformation by supporting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, stemness and drug resistance. In addition, this review covers recent therapeutic strategies, including monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors, targeting the CSF-1R and designed to block the pro-oncogenic role of CSF-1R in cancer cell.

Abiotic stress is an adverse environmental factor that severely affects plant growth and development, and plants have developed complex regulatory mechanisms to adapt to these unfavourable conditions through long-term evolution. In recent years, many transcription factor families of genes have been identified to regulate the ability of plants to respond to abiotic stresses. Among them, AP2/ERF (APETALA2/ethylene responsive factor) family is a large class of plant-specific that regulate plant response to abiotic stresses and can also play a role in regulating plant growth and development. This paper reviews the structural features and classification of AP2/ERF transcription factors, that transcriptional regulation, reciprocal proteins, downstream genes and hormone-dependent signalling and hormone-independent signalling pathways are involved in the response to abiotic stress. The study of AP2/ERF transcription factors and interacting proteins, as well as the identification of their downstream target genes, can provide us with a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of plant action in response to abiotic stress, which can improve the tolerance ability of plants in abiotic stress, and provide more theoretical basis for rice to obtain more yields under abiotic stress.

Wild rocket plants were cultivated in a plastic greenhouse into two independent sectors, one for soil-bound (SbS) cultivation and another equipped for soilless (ScS) cultivation systems. In both SbS and ScS, the crop was subjected to treatments consisting in a high-compared to a low-input fertilization program (HF and LF treatment, respectively). Water use efficiency (WUE) and partial factor productivity (PFP) for nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg for ScS, and N for SbS) were measured. Rocket leaves, separated for cultivation system and fertilization program, collected at different cuts during the growing cycle, were cold stored at 10 °C until 16 d. At each sampling day (at harvest and during the storage), sensory parameters, respiration rate, dry matter, colour, electrolyte leakage, antioxidant activity, total phenols, total chlorophyll and ammonia content were evaluated. In ScS, the PFP for all nutrients supplied as fertilizers showed a significant increase with the LF treatment, with values higher than 30 % for N, K and Ca. As for the postharvest performance, rocket leaves cultivated in ScS showed better qualitative traits than those cultivated in SbS, as suggested by the lower values of ammonia content and electrolyte leakage recorded at the end of storage in samples grown in ScS. Moreover, in ScS, data showed a lower membrane damage in LF than HF rocket leaves. Finally, regarding total chlorophyll content, even if no effect of treatments was recorded in SbS, rocket cultivated in ScS, showed a better retention of this parameter applying LF than HF treatment. In addition to this, a PLS model (R2 = 0.7) able to predict the cultivation system, using as variables total chlorophyll content no-destructively measured, was implemented.

A rather large portion of the population is sleep restricted in modern society, either by necessity or by choice. Epidemiological studies have observed that lack of sleep and poor sleep quality are associated with several pathological states, ranging from neuropsychiatric to metabolic diseases. To date, only a few studies have investigated the molecular consequences of sleep loss at the level of peripheral organs involved in maintaining metabolic homeostasis such as the white adipose tissue (WAT). From a molecular point of view, two key transcriptional regulators of WAT function are sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ). Both genes interact with specific targets involved in multiple metabolic processes, including adipocyte differentiation, browning and lipid metabolism. In this study, we assessed the effects of chronic sleep restriction (CSR) on the interplay between SIRT1 and PPARγ in mediating WAT metabolism in young adult mice. We found that CSR up-regulated expression of SIRT1 and some of its transcriptional targets involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial functions of adipocytes. Results suggest that CSR induces SIRT1-mediated metabolic remodeling of WAT to support an increased energy demand due to sleep loss.

Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are commensal on human body surfaces and for years, they were not considered a cause of bloodstream infection and were often regardered as contamination. However, the association of CoNS with nosocomial infection is increasingly recognized. The insertion of cannulas and intravascular catheters represents the first source of CoNS entry into the bloodstream, causing bacteremia and sepsis. They owe their pathogenic power to their ability to produce biofilms on surfaces, such as medical devices. In this study, we evaluate the adhesive capacity of CoNS isolated from blood cultures by comparing spectrophotometric phenotypic assay with genotypic analysis based on the evidence of the ica operon. We retrospectively reviewed the database of CoNS isolated from blood cultures, that were considered to be responsible for 361 bloodstream infections. Among them, we selected 89 ones who had full records. Our data show that S. epidermidis was the predominant species isolated, and with greater adhesive capacities, especially those with the complete operon. Knowing the adhesive capabilities of a microorganism responsible for sepsis can be useful in implementing appropriate corrective and preventive measures, as conventional antibiotic therapy cannot effectively eradicate biofilms.

In sustainable cultivation technologies, the method of managing crop residues and the microbiological activity of the soil supported by the application of effective microorganisms are of particular importance. Therefore, a four-year two-factor experiment was carried out with spring wheat monoculture. Six ways management of organic matter before sowing and tillage (first factor) and the application of microbiological preparations (second factor) were tested - a total - 18 experimental objects. Parameterized: weed infestation, SPAD and LAI indicators, elements of the yield structure and spring wheat yield - all features were significantly determined by the tillage technology used. In most cases, the application of biopreparations does not have a significant impact on the tested features. It was found that the highest yields of spring wheat obtained in the technology: application of EM or UGmax microbiological preparations on the shredded straw of the forecrop and mixing it with the soil using a grubber immediately after harvest, sowing of the white mustard catch crop and winter plowing.

The current globally dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants are showing immune escape and reduced susceptibility to antiviral drugs. Therefore, agencies responsible for drug evaluation and regula-tion such as the FDA and EMA are revising their emergency authorization use of several COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies. These NAbs proved to be unlikely effective against new variants espe-cially Omicron descendants and several pharmaceutical companies are pursuing the development of more potent neutralizing antibodies. To address the issue of using in silico prediction for the rapid assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 MAbs neutralization power, we used a computational method we developed previously, to evaluate 10 SARS-CoV-2 antibodies propensity to neutralize the new Omicron’s subvariants Eris (EG.5) and Pirola (BA.2.86) based on comparative binding affinity and previous experimental and clinical observations. Nine of these MAbs were once granted emergency use authorization, and one is currently under clinical investigation. The rapid, cost-effective in silico evaluation provided reliable predictions consistent with published clinical and experimental data. Furthermore, our data showed new potential therapeutic MAbs combi-nation that could be effective for the treatment countermeasure of the new Omicron’s subvariants Eris (EG.5) and Pirola (BA.2.86).

Aquaculture by-products can be compromised an important liming material of increasing soil pH and soil fertility. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of mussel shells on soil pH, on organic matter and on soil nutrients. In this study a pot experiment was carried out at the De-partment of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment (University of Thessaly, Greece). A acidic soil (pH 4.26) amended with 6 different proportions of mussel shell (0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3 and 6%) in two different grain sizes (Fine powder (>1 mm) and Coarse powder (1-2 mm)), resulting in 13 treatments. According to the results, it was observed that pH, organic matter, Available P and Exchangeable K increased. Specifically, the highest pH values observed at 6% rate. Available P and Exchangeable K achieved the highest content at 6% Fine powder treatment, 46.2 and 190.1 mg kg-1, respectively. Similarly, organic matter had the highest value in 6% Fine powder pots (2.27%). Moreover, Total N concentration varied from 0.11 to 0.14 but no statistically significant different was noticed between the treatments. In conclusion, mussel shells can compose a promising liming material in the agriculture section.

Serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSF) are a family of proteins involved in RNA metabolism, including pre-mRNA constitutive and alternative splicing. The role of SRSF proteins on mitochondria activity has already been shown for SRSF6 but SRSF4 altered expression has never been reported as disease causing. An 8-year-old patient admitted to the Hematology Unit because of leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia showed a missense variant of unknown significance on the SRSF4 gene (p.R235W) found by Whole Genome Sequencing analysis and inherited by the mother who suffered from mild leuko-neutropenia. Both patients showed lower SRSF4 protein expression compared to HD and altered mitochondrial function and energetic metabolism, which appeared associated with low mTOR phosphorylation and an imbalance in proteins regulating biogenesis (i.e., CLUH) and mitochondrial dynamics (i.e., DRP1, OPA1). Transfection with the wt-SRSF4 gene restored the mitochondrial function. In conclusion, this study shows that the de-scribed variant of the SRSF4 gene is pathogenetic and causes reduced SRSF4 protein expression, which leads to cells’ mitochondrial function impairment. Since mitochondrial function is crucial for hematopoietic stem cells maintenance and some genetic bone marrow failure syndromes display mitochondrial defects, SRSF4 mutation could have substantially contribute to the clinical phenotype of our patient.

Metagenomic analysis of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes from diverse geographical regions of India revealed presence of several insect viruses of human interest. Most abundant reads found in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were Phasi-Charoen like virus (PCLV), Choristoneura fumiferana granulovirus (CfGV), Cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) and Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 4 (WSLV4), whereas WSLV4 and CfGV constituted the highest percentage in Ae. albopictus viromes. Other reads which were of low percentage included Hubei mosquito virus 2, Porcine astrovirus 4 and Wild Boar astrovirus. PCLV and CFAV, which were found to be abundant in Ae. aegypti viromes, were absent in Ae. albopictus viromes. Among the viromes analyzed, Ae. aegypti sampled from Pune showed highest percentage (79.82%) of viral reads while Ae. aegypti mosquitoes sampled from Dibrugarh showed lowest percentage (3.47%). Shamonda orthobunyavirus, African swine fever virus, Aroa virus and Ilheus virus, having potential to infect vertebrates including humans, were also detected in both mosquito species, albeit in low read numbers. Reads of gemykibivirus, avian retrovirus, bacteriophages, herpesviruses and viruses infecting protozoans, algae, etc. were also detected in the mosquitoes. A high percentage of reads in the Ae. albopictus mosquito samples remained unclassified and warrant further investigation. Data generated in the present work may not only lead to studies to explain the influence of these viruses on replication and transmission of viruses of clinical importance but also find application as biocontrol agents against pathogenic viruses.

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are a group of steroid compounds derived from certain plants and animals. CTS are selective inhibitors of Na,K-ATPase, so for a long time they were widely used for medical purposes to treat heart failure and some other diseases. However, over time, doctors gradually began to refuse this group of drugs due to their narrow therapeutic range and a number of serious side effects. However, in parallel with the rise and fall of interest in CTS as a drug, interest in them as a single class of high-affinity Na,K-ATPase inhibitors has only increased. Numerous data on the effect of CTS on signaling cascades and cell viability made impelling a search for a rationale for the existence of such a subtle biological regulator. A large number of studies devoted to the potential use of CTS in the treatment of neurodegenerative, oncological, immune and other diseases "revitalized" the already "written off" group of the drugs. If initially the role of exogenous (mainly plant origin) CTS was studied, then by the 90s of the XX century the study of the role of endogenous CTS and their regulatory effects became a popular trend in biology and physiology. The role of endogenous CTS was studied in details in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases [1]. A large number of researchers have unanimously stated that endogenous CTS are very complex regulators of the development of pathological processes; however, the exact cause-and-effect relationship that would unambiguously explain the processes of synthesis, utilization, and the role of endogenous CTS has not yet been established. The effects of CTS in the frame of various regulatory schemes have been described, but the predominant number of studies was devoted to arterial hypertension, heart and renal failure, cancer [2–4], aging [5,6], and neuroinflammation. The effects of both endo- and exogenous CTS on blood cells and have been studied to a much lesser extent.

The populations of clearwing moth borers in Korea have recently exploited and severe damage on pin oaks (Quercus palustris Munchh.). We conducted the field monitoring and the molecular analyses to identify them in an integrated manner. Morphological examination and molecular analyses on COI-gene based intra-and inter-specific genetic divergences (GD) were revealed that the borers were recognized as two invasive species, Sphecodoptera sheni and Paranthrenella pinoakula sp. nov.. The maximum intraspecific GD was found to be 1.9%, whereas the minimum interspecific GD was confirmed as 8.1%, with a distinct barcoding gap. Both MJ network and NJ tree were also showed that 18 haplotypes (HAPs) were detected from the 52 COI sequences. The borers were revealed total 17 HAPs: i) H1-H7 were detected from all seven regions with S. sheni; ii) Wonju and Goyang populations of S. sheni were revealed as more than three HAPs; iii) H7 was closely connected with H8 of Chinese population of S. sheni; iv) H9-H10 were detected as the other samples from Wonju population with P. pinoakula sp. n., and closely located with congeneric species. Maximum likelihood tree also revealed that P. pinoacula sp. n. nested within the congeneric species by genetically separating from the S. sheni.

SRC homology 3 (SH3) domains are critical interaction modules that orchestrate the assembly of protein complexes involved in diverse biological processes. They facilitate transient protein-protein interactions by selectively interacting with proline-rich motifs (PRMs). A database search revealed 298 SH3 domains in 221 human proteins. Multiple sequence alignment of human SH3 domains is useful for phylogenetic analysis and determination of their selectivity towards PRM-containing peptides (PRPs). However, a more precise functional classification of SH3 domains is achieved by constructing a phylogenetic tree only from PRM-binding residues and using existing SH3-PRP structures and biochemical data to determine the specificity within each of the 10 families for particular PRPs. In addition, the C-terminal proline-rich domain of the RAS activator SOS1 covers 13 of the 14 recognized proline-rich consensus sequence motifs, encompassing differential PRP pattern selectivity among all SH3 families. To evaluate binding capabilities and affinities, we conducted fluorescence dot blot and polarization experiments using 25 representative SH3 domains and various PRPs derived from SOS1. Our analysis has identified 45 interacting pairs with binding affinities ranging from 0.2 to 125 micromolar out of 300 tested and potential new interactors of SOS1. Furthermore, it establishes a framework to bridge the gap between SH3 and PRP interactions and provides predictive insights into potential interactions of SH3 domains with PRMs based on sequence specifications. This novel framework has the potential to enhance the understanding of protein networks mediated by SH3-PRM interactions and be utilized as a general approach for other domain-peptide interactions.

In preserving genetic diversity among domestic animal breeds, the strategies emphasizing be-tween-breed diversity may be not optimal by neglecting within-breed variation. The present study aimed to assess the extent of the population subdivision of Mangalica pigs and the contri-bution of migration intensity to their substructure. Genealogy analysis was performed for breeding animals born between 1981 and 2023 examining three colour variations (Blonde, Swal-low-Belly, and Red). The fixation index (FST) was calculated and evaluated by Multidimensional Scaling and Clustering to expose the population substructure. The average FST is 0.04 for the Blonde and 0.05 for the Swallow-Belly and the Red while in the active herds, these parameters are smaller being 0.03 and 0.04, respectively. The migration of individuals affected 61.63% of the Blonde, 75.53% of the Swallow-Belly, and 63.64% of the Red breed herds. No population sub-structure was found in any Mangalica breed which can be explained by the extensive within breed migration among the herds.

A single type I RC (Fe-S type, ferredoxin reducing) is found in several of the phyla of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. They include the heliobacteria (HB), the green sulfur bacteria (GSB) and the chloroacidobacteria (CAB), for which high-resolution homodimeric RC-PS structures have recently appeared [1-4]. The 2.2-Å Xray structure of the RC-PS of Heliomicrobium modesticaldum [1] revealed that the core PshA apoprotein (PshA1 and PshA2 homodimeric pair) exhibits a structurally conserved PSI arrangement comprised of five C-terminal transmembrane helices (TMHs) forming the RC domain and six N-terminal TMHs coordinating the light-harvesting (LH) pigments. The Hm. modesticaldum structure lacked quinones, indicating that electrons were transferred directly from the A0 (81-OH-chlorophyl (Chl) a) primary acceptor to the FX [4Fe4S] component, serving as the terminal RC acceptor. A pair of additional TMHs designated as Psh X were found, that function as a low-energy antennae. The 2.5Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure for the RC-PS of the GSB Chlorobaculum tepidum [2] included two Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein (FMO) antennae, which transfer excitations from the chlorosomes to the RC-PS (PscA1 and PscA2) core. Two cytochromes c (PscC) molecules were revealed, which act in series as electron donors to the photooxidized RC BChl a’ special pair, as well as PscB, housing the [4Fe-4S] cluster FA and FB, and the associated PscD protein [3]. Although their FMO components were missing from the 2.6-Å cyro-EM structure of the Zn-BChl a’ special pair containing RC-PS of Chloroacidobacterium thermophilum [4], a unique architecture was revealed that consisted of seven additional subunits including PscZ in place of PscD, the PscX and PscY cytochrome c serial electron donors and four low mol. wt. subunits of unknown function. Overall, these diverse structures have revealed that: (i) the HB RC-PS is the simplest light-energy transducing complex yet isolated, and represents the closest known homolog to a common homodimeric RC-PS ancestor; (ii) the symmetrically localized Ca2+binding sites found in each of the Type I homodimeric RC-PSs likely gave rise to the analogously positioned Mn4CaO5 cluster of the PSII RC and the TyrZ RC donor site; (iii) a close relationship between the GSB RC-PS and Chl protein (CP)43 and CP47 of PSII was demonstrated by the strongly conserved locations of their LH-(B)Chls; (iv) LH-BChls of the GSB-RC-PS are also localized in the conserved RC-associated positions of the PSII ChlZ-D1 and ChlZ-D2 sites; (v) glycosylated carotenoids of the GSB RC-PS are located in the homologous carotenoid-containing positions of PSII, reflecting an O2-tolerance mechanism capable of sustaining early stages in the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. In addition to the close relationships found between the homodimeric RC-PS and PSII, duplication of the gene encoding the ancestral Type I RC apoprotein, followed by genetic divergence my well account for the appearance of the heterodimeric Type I and Type II RC found in extant oxygenic phototrophs. Accordingly, the long-held view that PSII arose from the anoxygenic Type II RC is now supplanted by the new evidence provided by Type I RC-PS homodimer structures, indicating that the evolutionary origins of anoxygenic Type II RCs along with their distinct antenna rings are likely to have occured later than the events which gave rise to their oxygenic counterparts.

Fifteen transgenic shoot clones (TS A-TS O) regenerated from Hypericum perforatum hairy roots were evaluated for growth characteristics, phenylpropanoid, and naphthodianthrone production, as well as non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant status. Transgenic shoots displayed higher biomass production and non-altered phenotype compared to control shoots. Phenylpropanoid production in TS was not related to phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity indicating that alternative enzymes could be involved in the regulation of phenylpropanoid/flavonoid biosynthesis. The positive correlation between phenylpropanoids (phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, tannins) and non-enzymatic antioxidant assays suggested that these compounds are the main contributors to the redox state and radical scavenging properties of TS clones. More importantly, enhanced naphthodianthrone production (hypericin, pseudohypericin and protopseudohypericin) in TS was associated with the number of leaf dark glands. Concerning the enzymatic antioxidant status of TS, guaiacol peroxidase was shown as the main enzyme that turn down H2O2 levels, while the up-regulation of superoxide dismutase coincided with decreased O2•− production. The efficiency of antioxidant enzymes for O2•− and H2O2 neutralization declined the MDA level and consequently delayed lipid peroxidation in TS clones. Altogether, H. perforatum transgenic shoots could be proposed as a prospective biotechnological system for scale-up production of naphthodianthrones and phenylpropanoids with antioxidant properties.

Biological control, a well-established plant protection method, has garnered substantial attention in recent decades. Various approaches, including biological control agents (BCA), catch crops, biofumigation, sticky traps, and pheromones, have been extensively explored. While the effectiveness of these methods varies depending on specific circumstances, their collective significance has grown amid mounting pressures to curtail or eliminate conventional synthetic plant protection products. Previous review articles have highlighted the synergistic benefits of using two or more BCAs simultaneously, yet limited information exists regarding the concurrent use of diverse biological control methods. This comprehensive review incorporates a thorough literature search to assess the synergistic potential of concurrently employing two or more of these methods, followed by a discussion on perspectives of holistic management and mimicking of complex natural systems, shedding light on the vast potential and need for further research in this domain.

Plants have developed unique mechanisms to cope with the harsh environmental conditions to compensate for their lack of mobility. A key part of their coping mechanisms is the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In addition to their role in plants’ defense against pathogens, they also possess therapeutic properties against diseases, and their use by humans predates written history. Viruses are a unique class of submicroscopic agents, incapable of independent existence outside a living host. Pathogenic viruses continue to pose a significant threat on global health, leading to unprecedented fatalities on a yearly basis. The use of medicinal plants as a natural source for an-tiviral agents has been widely reported in literature in the past decades. Metabolomics is a powerful research tool for the identification of plant metabolites with antiviral potentials and can be used to isolate compounds with antiviral activities in plants and study the biosynthetic pathways involved in viral disease progression. This review discusses the use of medicinal plants as antiviral agents, with a special focus on the metabolomics evidence supporting their efficacy. Additionally, suggestions are made for the optimization of various metabolomics methods for characterizing the bio-active compounds in plants and subsequent understanding of the mechanism of their operation.

Saudi Arabia is a prominent producers of dates, with 1.6 million tons annually. There is a need to evaluate physical properties and quality of fruits non-destructively and then be modeled and predicted throughout the storage period. The aim of the current study was to generate a quality index (Qi) and Near-infrared spectra (NIR) models non-destructively to predict properties of Barhi dates fruits including objective and sensory evaluations. The engineering properties of Barhi dates were measured and modeled with quality index (Qi) based on NIR of fresh Barhi fruits (hardness, color, TSS, pH, and sensory evaluations) and during storage in cold, ambient, and controlled at-mosphere (CA) for up to four months. The prediction of Qi is non- destructively based on NIR utilizing PLSR and ANN data analysis. The results showed that the Qi generated corresponds with high precision to the characteristics of the examined fruits through the duration of the storage period with R2 of 0.96. The NIR spectrum proves to be an efficient method to evaluate the Barhi fruits' quality index. where ANN was found to be more suitable than PLSR analysis. Thus, NIR can be utilized to accurately predict the Qi of fruits quality effectively throughout the handling, processing, transporting, storage, and retail sector supply chain.

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) is a cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase enzyme that catalyzes a key step in phenylpropanoid metabolism in plants. However, there is very limited information on the function of C4H in medicinal plants. In the present study, the C4H gene from the Ferula pseudalliacea genome (named FpC4H) was cloned and characterized. In addition, the expression levels of FpC4H in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds were investigated via real-time PCR. FpC4H showed the most similarity with C4H proteins from Daucus carota. The results predicted that FpC4H, as well as its orthologs, is an unstable and hydrophilic protein. A high genetic distance was observed between FpC4H and C4H from monocots based on evolutionary analysis. Moreover, a variable region related to the variable function of C4H was detected in conserved domain region of C4H proteins. Protein structure analysis revealed that isoleucine and leucine residues are frequently present in the binding region of FpC4H, and two ion binding regions, cysteine258 and asparagine217, were identified in the 3D structure of FpC4H. Expression analysis revealed that the FpC4H gene is expressed in all organs of F. pseudallicea. A low expression level of FpC4H was recorded in leaves, and a high expression level was observed in flower tissues. Based on the expression profile, FpC4H seems to be linked to a high content of phenolic compounds in flowers.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an incessantly used chemotherapeutic drug that can cause detrimental dose-dependent effects such as cardiotoxicity and congestive heart failure. Hence, there is a need to discover innovative therapeutic approaches to counteract DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). MSC-Exos have shown to reduce apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis and promote cardiomyocyte proliferation in myocardial infracted mice. However, the effect of MSC-Exos on ameliorating DOX-induced pyroptosis has not been investigated. In this current study H9c2 were first exposed to DOX to stimulate pyroptosis, followed by subsequent treatment with MSC-Exos, with further analysis performed through immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and RT-PCR. Our data depicted that post-treatment with MSC-Exos significantly (p<0.05) reduced the HMGB1/TLR4 axis, inflammasome formation (NLRP3), pyroptotic markers (caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), and the pyroptotic executioner (GSDMD) in DOX-treated H9c2 cells. In conclusion, our data shows that MSC-Exos attenuates inflammation-induced pyroptosis in our in vitro DIC model. Our findings indicate that MSC-Exos may serve as a promising therapeutic intervention for mitigating DIC, as they maintain the therapeutic capabilities of MSCs while circumventing the drawbacks associated with traditional stem cell therapy.

Mechanical damage of plant tissues leads to the activation of methanol production and its release in the atmosphere. The gaseous methanol or vapors emitted by the damaged plant induce resistance in neighboring intact plants to bacterial pathogens but create favorable conditions for the viral infection spread. Among Nicotiana benthamiana methanol-inducible genes (MIGs) most are associated with plant defense and intercellular transport. Here we characterize NbMIG21 that encodes a 209-aa protein (NbMIG21p) which does not share any homology with annotated proteins. NbMIG21p was demonstrated to contain nucleolus localization signals (NoLS). Co-localization studies with fibrillarin and coilin, nucleolus and Cajal bodies marker proteins, revealed that NbMIG21p is distributed between these subnuclear structures. Our results show that recombinant NbMIG21 possess DNA-binding properties . Similar to gaseous methanol effect an increased NbMIG21 expression leads to the downregulation of the nuclear import of NLS-containing proteins as was demonstrated on the model GFP-NLS protein. Moreover, upregulated NbMIG21 facilitates tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) intercellular transport. We identified NbMIG21 promoter (PrMIG21) and showed that it is methanol-sensitive thus induction of NbMIG21 expression occurs at the level of transcription. Our findings suggest that methanol-activated NbMIG21 might participate in creating favorable conditions for the viral reproduction and spread.

ozone-based chemiluminescence detection (CLD) has been widely applied for determining nitric oxide (NO) and its derived species in many different fields, such as environmental monitoring and biomedical research. In humans CLD was applied to determine exhaled NO and NO metabolites in biological samples. The main advantages of CLD are high sensitivity and selectivity for quantitative analysis in a wide dynamic range. Combining CLD with analytical separation techniques like gas or liquid chromatography allows the analytes to be quantified with less disturbance from matrix components or impurities. Sampling techniques like microdialysis and flow injection analysis may be coupled to CLD with the possibility of real-time monitoring of NO. However, details and precautions in experimental practice need to be addressed and clarified to avoid wrongly estimating. Therefore, using CLD as a detection tool requires a deep understanding of sample preparation procedure and chemical reactions used for liberating NO from its derived species. In this review, we discuss the advantages and pitfalls of CLD for determining NO species, the different applications and combinations with other analytical techniques, and provide general practical notes for sample preparation. These guidelines should help other researchers understand CLD data and select the best procedure for detecting NO species.

Control of Tropical Theileriosis, a tick-borne disease with a strong impact on cattle breeding, can be facilitated by using marker-assisted selection in breeding programs. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using high-density arrays are extremely important for the ongoing process of identifying genomic variants associated with resistance to Theileria annulata infection. In this work, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed in the Portuguese autochthonous cattle breeds Alentejana and Mertolenga. In total, 14 SNPs suggestive of significance (p ≤ 10-4) were identified for Alentejana cattle and 20 SNPs for Mertolenga cattle. The genomic regions around these SNPs were further investigated for annotated genes and Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) previously described by other authors. Regarding the Alentejana breed, the MAP3K1, CMTM7, SSFA2, and ATG13 genes are located near suggestive SNPs and appear as candidate genes for resistance to Tropical Theileriosis, considering its action the immune response and resistance to other diseases. On the other hand, in the Mertolenga breed, the UOX gene is also a candidate gene due to its apparent link to the pathogenesis of the disease. These results may represent a first step towards the possibility of including genetic markers for resistance to Tropical Theileriosis in current breed selection programs.

The modernization of food and food production techniques resulted in a major decline in the nutritional profile of food products. Fortification and enrichment are the modern solutions to consider. But to what extent will it help? Traditional food products and food production methods flourish with vital nutrients. The current study restructures the conventional approach to biscuit making, intended to prepare and evaluate the whole nutritious food made from Navathaniyam, a blend of nine grains. From the organoleptic evaluation, the combination of flours employed in trial 2 was more preferred. Incorporating the blend of nine diverse varieties of cereals and pulses will be a novel food product.

Sustainable agriculture is at the forefront of modern farming practices, with a growing emphasis on optimizing crop production while minimizing environmental impact. The choice of fertilizer application technology plays a critical role in achieving these objectives. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), a valuable crop globally, serves both as a source of human nutrition and livestock feed. To address the challenges of enhancing soybean production while minimizing ecological harm, this study evaluates and compares the performance of different fertilizer application technologies. In this study we combined remote and ground surveys to allow a comprehensive understanding of the impact of these technologies on soybean cultivation. The study focuses on deep placement of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers with coated urea at a 20 cm depth, conventional nitrogen fertilizer application, and manure organic fertilizer application. Remote surveys are conducted using advanced smart farming tools such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), ground surveys such as soil plant analysis development SPAD measurements, and soybean parameters to assess the impact of fertilizer application. This study revealed that deep placement fertilizer demonstrated better performance compared to other fertilizer application technologies for soybean cultivation. The findings from this study contribute to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices and empower farmers with knowledge to make informed decisions for optimizing green soybean production.

Drug-resistance represents one of the great plagues of our time worldwide, largely limiting the treatment of common infections, and accounting for the urge in the development of new antibiotics or other alternative approaches. Noteworthy, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics is mostly responsible for the selection of mutations that confer drug-resistance to microbes. Recently, beyond molecules of natural origin and synthetic ones studied to tackle microbial infections, ozone is raising interest for its unique biological properties, in particular when dissolved in natural oils. In fact, ozonated oils have been reported to act in a non-specific way on microorganisms hindering the acquisition of advantageous mutations resulting in resistance. Here, we focused on comparing the antimicrobial effect of two different types of ozonated oils over a panel of opportunistic and pathogenic microbes. Ozonated olive (OOO) and sunflower seeds (OSO) oils were preliminarily characterized by chemico-physical investigation and tested by in-vitro experiments. Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli have been challenged with different ozonated oils concentrations to evaluate their antimicrobial profile by agar diffusion and broth dilution methods. Cytotoxicity was also evaluated in keratinocytes and endothelial cells. Overall, our results revealed that both OOO and OSO showed a potent microbicidal effect especially against C. albicans (IC50 = OOO: 0.3 mg/mL and OSO: 0.2 mg/mL) and E. faecalis (IC50 = OOO: 0.4 mg/mL and OSO: 2.8 mg/mL) albeit exerting a certain effect also against S. aureus and E. coli. Moreover, both OOO and OSO do not yield any relevant cytotoxic effect at the active concentrations in both cell lines indicating that these ozonated oils are not toxic for mammalian cells despite exerting a potent antimicrobial effect on specific microorganisms. Therefore, OOO and OSO may be considered to integrate standard therapies in the treatment of common infections, likely overcoming drug resistance issues.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether baseline GLS and NT-proBNP and their changes after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can predict the long-term clinical outcomes and the echocardiographic-based response to CRT (defined by 15% relative reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume). Methods: We enrolled 143 patients with stable, ischemic heart failure (HF) undergoing CRT-D implantation. NT-proBNP and echocardiogram were obtained before and 6 months after. The patients were followed-up (median: 58 months) for HF-related deaths and/or HF hospitalizations (primary endpoint) or HF-related deaths (secondary endpoint) Results: 84 patients achieved the primary and 53 the secondary endpoint, while 104 patients were considered as CRT-responders and 39 as non-responders. At baseline, event-free patients had higher absolute GLS values (p<0.001) and lower NT-proBNP serum levels (p<0001) than those achieving primary endpoint. A similar pattern was observed in favor of CRT-responders vs non-responders. In Cox regression analysis, lower baseline absolute GLS value (HR=0.77;95%CI, 0.51-1.91; p=0.002), higher baseline NT-proBNP levels (HR=1.55;95%CI, 1.43-2.01;p=0.002) and diabetes (HR=1.27;95%CI, 1.12-1.98;p=0.003) were associated with lower incidence of primary endpoint. Conclusions: In HF patients undergoing CRT-D, baseline GLS and NT-proBNP concentrations may serve as prognostic factors, while they may predict the echocardiographic-based response to CRT.

Stabilization of a G-quadruplex (G4) in the promotor of the c-MYC proto-oncogene leads to inhibition of gene expression, and it thus represents a potentially attractive new strategy for cancer treatment. However, most G4 stabilizers show little selectivity among the many G4s present in the cellular complement of DNA and RNA. Intriguingly, a crescent-shaped cell-penetrating thiazole peptide, TH3, preferentially stabilizes the c-MYC G4 over other promotor G4s, but the mechanisms leading to this selective binding remain obscure. To investigate these mechanisms at the atomic level, we performed an in silico comparative investigation of the binding of TH3 and its analogue TH1 to the G4s from the promotors of c-MYC, c-KIT1, c-KIT2, and BCL2. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, combined with in-depth analyses of non-covalent interactions and bulk and per-nucleotide binding free energies, revealed that both TH3 and TH1 can induce the formation of a sandwich-like framework through stacking with both the top and bottom G-tetrads of the c-MYC G4 and the adjacent terminal capping nucleotides. This framework produces enhanced binding affinities for the c-MYC G4 relative to other promotor G4s, with TH3 exhibiting an outstanding binding priority. Van der Waals interactions were identified to be the key factor in complex formation in all cases. Collectively, our findings fully agree with available experimental data. Therefore, the identified mechanisms leading to specific binding of TH3 towards the c-MYC G4 provide valuable information to guide the development of new selective G4 stabilizers.

Very disparate types of cell populations exhibit similar transcription specificity for certain genes. We identified 20 genes that were expressed preferentially in myoblasts and cerebellum (Myob/Cbl genes) and examined their cell/tissue-specific epigenetics using a combined approach of comparing DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and RNA expression in many different cell populations. Some Myob/Cbl genes shared DNA hypo- or hypermethylated regions in myoblasts and cerebellum. Particularly striking was ZNF556, whose promoter is hypomethylated in expressing cells but highly methylated in the many cell populations that do not express the gene. In reporter gene assays, we demonstrated that its promoter’s activity is methylation-sensitive. The atypical epigenetics of ZNF556 may have originated from its promoter’s hypomethylation and selective activation in sperm progenitors and oocytes. Five of the Myob/Cbl genes (KCNJ12, ST8SIA5, ZIC1, VAX2, and EN2) have much higher RNA levels in cerebellum than in myoblasts and displayed myoblast-specific hypermethylation upstream and/or downstream of their promoters that may downmodulate expression. Differential DNA methylation was associated with alternative promoter usage for Myob/Cbl genes MCF2L, DOK7, CNPY1, and ANK1. Myob/Cbl genes PAX3, LBX1, ZNF556, ZIC1, EN2, and VAX2 encode sequence-specific transcription factors, which likely help drive the myoblast and cerebellum specificity of other Myob/Cbl genes. Our study extends our understanding of epigenetic/transcription associations related to differentiation and may help elucidate relationships between epigenetic signatures and muscular dystrophies or cerebellar-linked neuropathologies.

Several strategies promote phyllosphere colonization by soil-born Trichoderma plant-beneficial strains. One of these is foliar spraying with suspensions containing large amounts of chlamydospores – spores with a thick cell wall structure that makes them highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Trichoderma biomass was produced by cultivation on cornmeal medium and compared by microscopic and thermogravimetric analysis with the biomass produced in potato dextrose broth. Both analyses revealed higher chlamydospores content and thicker mycelium in the fungal biomass produced on cornmeal medium. The Trichoderma suspension rich in chlamydospores was sprayed on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) leaves at two concentration levels, 106 and 108 ufc/ml. The effect of these treatments on plant physiological parameters, leaf photosynthetic pigments, polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity of leaves and fruits and yield was compared to the control (plants sprayed with water) and to the experimental treatment sprayed with 108 ufc propagules produced in potato dextrose broth. The effect of chlamydospore-rich suspensions on plant physiological parameters was more pronounced and long-lasting compared with the other treatments. The treatment with chlamydospore-rich suspension enhanced the accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids in the leaves and fruits and increased the antioxidant activity. The application of the foliar treatment with Trichoderma suspensions did not modify the cytocompatibility of the extracts from fruits determined on L929 cells.

The mitochondrial network (MN) is a dynamic structure undergoing constant remodeling in the cell. It is assumed that the violation of MN may be associated with various pathologies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Using automatic image analysis and super-resolution microscopy, we have assessed the MN parameters in fibroblasts from patients with established hereditary PD mutations (associated with PINK1, LLRK2, α-synuclein, PINK1 and Parkin simultaneously proteins) under normal conditions and after hydrogen peroxide-induced stress. Fibroblasts with Pink1/Parkin mutation are the most different in morphology from fibroblasts obtained from conditionally healthy donors: MN is larger, contains longer mitochondria and accumulated individual mitochondria. In addition to MN, we evaluated other cellular parameters, such as: cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential. It has been shown that mitochondria of fibroblasts with mutations in genes encoding PINK1, α-synuclein and Pink/Parkin tends to hyperpolarization and cytosolic ROS overproduction, while mitochondrial ROS production was higher only in fibroblasts with PINK1 and α-synuclein mutation.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can differentiate into three germ layers and diverse autolo-gous cell lines. Being among the most commonly used large domesticated hoofed animals and serving as a vital source of food and bioreactors, cattle are among the many species in which PSCs have been developed. Bovine PSCs (bPSCs) are the "seed cells" of regenerative science and have immense potential to advance species propagation, genetic engineering, and disease treatment. Moreover, they can aid in screening new drugs for efficacy and toxicity, model human diseases, and establish a sustainable agricultural system that can cater to the needs of the growing global population. Establishing stable bPSCs in vitro has been a critical scientific challenge, and researchers have made numerous attempts to address this issue. This review primarily delves into the current research progress of bPSCs, the challenges faced, and their potential applications.

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) are economically important horticultural crops for industrial use. The drink (tea) obtained from them is used all over the world, and its functional activity is determined by the polyphenols content and composition. Its accumulation is regulated by the action of many environmental factors. This paper presents data on the different intensity (50, 75, and 100 µmol·m−2·s−1) and duration of light exposure on tea plant in vitro cultures. Changes in morphophysiological characteristics, accumulation of carbohydrates and polyphenols, including their monomeric (phenylpropanoids, flavanols) and oligomeric (proanthocyanidins) forms, were studied. The malondialdehyde and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b) contents were also analyzed. In the calli grown in light conditions, chloroplasts and anthocyanoplasts formation was noted, which was especially pronounced under the highest illumination intensity. A significant similarity between the growth of callus cultures, the carbohydrates and polyphenols accumulation at 50 and 75 µmol·m−2·s−1 was established. Which wasn’t characteristic of the calli grown at 100 µmol·m−2·s−1. The stress reaction absence in tea callus cultures has been demonstrated, which may be a consequence of the phenolic antioxidants’ accumulation in them. The obtained data evidence that their potential ability to accumulate primary (carbohydrates) and secondary (polyphenols) metabolites depends on the light exposure intensity and duration.

Alternaria alternata is a saprophyte and is also known to cause many opportunistic infections in humans. Alternaria infections are important factors of morbidity and mortality in im-mune-compromised and solid organ transplant (SOT). Sensitivity to the airborne fungus Alter-naria alternata is also believed to be a common cause of allergic asthma. Therapies are limited by the lack of knowledge about the role of individual fungal gene products and symptoms in im-mune-compromised and transplant patients. This review summarizes the published case studies on Alternaria alternata infections in transplant patients.

Unraveling the genetic diversity of creole breeds is central to understanding their value and importance for conservation and improvement in diverse production environments in America. In most of its countries, information on attributes of many livestock breeds is scanty and do not support well-informed decision-making upon relevant management strategies. This study aimed at investigating the “Paisanita” cattle breed, a landrace breed adapted to different ecological regions of Guatemala. For this purpose, a total of 47 adult females belonging to 4 different geographical areas of the country were analysed on the basis of 24 quantitative traits. Results showed no differences between areas and so, the possible presence of ecotypes was discarded. This conclusion helps the objectives of conservation, and future monitoring of “Paisanita” cattle.

Flax seed is one of the richest plant sources of linolenic acid (LIN) and also contains unsaturated linoleic acid (LIO) and oleic acid (OLE). Stearoyl-ACP desaturases (SAD) and fatty acid desaturases (FAD) play a key role in the synthesis of flax fatty acids (FA). We sequenced flax seed transcriptomes at the 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day after flowering (DAF) for ten flax varieties with different oil FA compositions grown under three temperature/watering conditions. Expression levels of 25 genes of SAD, FAD2, and FAD3 families were evaluated. FAD3b, FAD3a, FAD2b-2, SAD3-1, SAD2-1, SAD2-2, SAD3-2, FAD2a-1, and FAD2a-2 had the highest expression levels, which changed significantly during seed development. These genes probably play a key role in the FA synthesis in flax seeds. High temperature and insufficient watering shifted the maximum expression levels of the FAD and SAD genes to earlier development stages, while the opposite trend was observed for low temperature and excessive watering. Differences in FAD and SAD expression profiles under different growth conditions could contribute to the FA composition of linseed oil. Stop codons in the FAD3a gene, resulting in reduced LIN content, decreased the level of the FAD3a transcript. Some difference in reaching the maximum expression level during seed development was observed between 1) SAD3-1, SAD3-2, and FAD2b-2 and 2) SAD2-1, SAD2-2, FAD2a-1, FAD2a-2, FAD3a, and FAD3b. These groups possibly contribute somewhat differently to the synthesis of FA at different development stages.

Predatory mites are a type of biological control agent used in many countries against various vegetable pests, particularly spider mites. Despite the significant presence of predatory mites in the Tibetan plateau, there is limited research on their fitness and prey capacity in the area. Herein, four predatory mite species, including one species Neoseiulus californicus and three species from genus Amblyseius (Amblyseius swirskii, Amblyseius barkeri, and Amblyseius cucumeris) were investigated. Specifically, their fitness and prey capacity on two-spotted mites (Tetranychus urticae) at highland conditions were evaluated. Compared to the other three predatory species, A. swirskii had the highest fecundity (Mean ± SEM=11.60 ± 0.34) and the highest pre-adult survival rate (Mean ± SEM = 83.33 ± 3.33%). Since their juvenile Survival Rate (SR) was extremely low (Mean ± SEM =13.33% ± 5.77%), most A. barkeri nymphs died before emergence. Compared to the other three predatory mites, A. swirskii had the highest predation capacity on T. urticae adult mites at 15 d post-release (Mean ± SEM =14.28 ± 2.24). Collectively, these findings imply notable advantages in employing A. swirskii for controlling two-spotted mites in the Tibetan Plateau. Furthermore, based on the results, A. swirskii was the most effective, and A. barkeri was the least effective in controlling two-spotted mites in the Tibetan Plateau. These findings could inform the development of a feasible biological control method based on suitable predatory mite species to manage T. urticae in the Tibetan Plateau, and would be helpful in delaying the rise or emergence of chemical pesticide resistance in two-spotted mites.

Colletotrichum lini is a flax fungal pathogen, comprising differently virulent strains. In this work, we sequenced the genomes of three C. lini strains of different virulence: high virulent #390-1, medium virulent #757, and low virulent #771. We obtained more than 100× genome coverage with Oxford Nanopore Technologies reads and more than 50× genome coverage with Illumina data. To construct high-quality genomes, several assembly strategies were tested. The final assemblies were obtained using the Canu – Racon ×2 – Medaka – Polca scheme and were 54.0-55.3 Mb in length, contained 26-32 contigs, had an N50 > 5 Mb and the BUSCO completeness > 96%. Comparative analysis of the constructed genomes showed high similarity between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. However, a rearrangement event and the loss of a 0.9 Mb contig were revealed. The candidate effectors were predicted in sets of proteins received after genome annotation. The obtained genome sequences of C. lini strains extend the knowledge on the genetic diversity of Colletotrichum species and are the basis for establishing molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of the flax pathogen and effective control of flax anthracnose.

: Intracellular tripeptide glutathione is an important agent of cell survival in hypoxia. Glutathione covalently binds to SH-groups of hemoglobin cysteine residues, protecting them from irreversible oxidation and changes its affinity to oxygen. Reduced glutathione (GSH) can also form a non-covalent complex with hemoglobin. Previously, we showed that hemoglobin tetramer has four noncovalent binding sites of glutathione GSH molecules inside, two of which are released during hemoglobin transition to deoxy form. In this study, we characterized the conserved cysteine residues and residues of non-covalent glutathione binding sites in the sequences of a number of hypoxia tolerant and hypoxia-sensitive mammals. The alpha subunit of all species considered was found to have no conserved cysteines, whereas the beta subunit contains Cys94 residue, which is conserved across species and whose glutathionylation changes the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen 5-6-fold. In addition, the key residues of noncovalent glutathione binding sites in both alpha and beta subunits are absolutely conserved in all species considered, suggesting a common mechanism of hemoglobin redox regulation for both hypoxia-sensitive and hypoxia-tolerant mammals. The solvent accessibility of all HbA and HbB residues in oxy- and deoxy- forms was analyzed. The key residue betaCys94 is solvent accessible only in the deoxy form.

Background: Fermented milks are a source of bioactive peptides with different potential benefits on human health (mainly antioxidant and antihypertensive effects) and may be considered as functional foods. Furthermore, those made with sheep milk have higher nutritional value and higher concentrations of proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins, if compared to milk of other species. Objectives: Aim of this study was to perform a biochemical characterization and a comparison between sheep fermented milk (SFM) made with commercial starter cultures and sheep milk YoAlp®, a fermented milk obtained using local strains of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii) which have been isolated during years in Aosta Valley mountain dairy cattle farm. Methods: Sheep milk and fermented milk (Sarda and Lacaune breeds) have been collected and immediately analyzed. Biochemical characterization, by a proteomic approach, GC/MS and microtiter plate assay methods, have been conducted to evaluate their peptide, fatty acid and aromatic profile, and to assess potential health promoting effects. Results: The comparison between SFM and YoAlp® peptide profile shows a higher number of peptides using autochthonous starter cultures (52) than commercial starter cultures (35). Among these peptides 20,78% and 29,87%, respectively, are supposed to be potentially bioactive (DPP - dipeptidyl peptidase-IV - inhibitor, ACE - angiotensin converting enzyme – inhibitor and antioxidant). In both products, the fatty acids profile was similar to that of origin sheep milk; concerning aromatic profile, YoAlp® shows yogurt typical aromatic assets, similar to the commercial one. As far as bioactivity is concerned, ACE inhibitor activity is high for both samples. Similar values, as expected by peptide profile analysis, have been obtained using commercial and autochthonous starters. Even in the case of antioxidant capacity, peptide profile bioactivity prediction has been confirmed by the assay showing a DPPH inhibition higher for SFM than for YoAlp®, but this difference is not statistically significative. Conclusions: Local strains of lactic acid bacteria from Aosta Valley seems to work as well as the commercial, preserving biodiversity and typicality. However, further analyses are needed to identify peptides generated by autochthonous LABs in order to understand microbial proteolytic activities and to investigate gastric digestion resistance of bioactive peptides which can have positive effects on human health.

Degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) consists of progressive degeneration of the mitral valve that can occur either in isolation or in association with the tricuspid valve, leading to incomplete coaptation of its leaflets and subsequent valve regurgitation. It's the most common cardiac condition in small animals, accounting for about 75% of cases of heart disease in dogs, mainly affecting elderly small-breed dogs. Breeds with a genetic predisposition such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Bull Terriers tend to develop the disease early. It can be classified into 4 stages: A, B, C, and D, with B having subdivisions (B1 and B2). Animals in stages A, B1, and B2 are asymptomatic, showing clinical signs only from stage C onwards. The report details the case of a 13-year-old Fox Terrier diagnosed at stage B2 of the disease, progressing to stage C within two years. A cardiologist conducted annual monitoring.

The jet-slit milk homogenizer is one of the most energy-efficient among all types of homogenizers in the dairy industry. The principle of its operation is based on the creation of a maximum speed difference between the fat globules of cream and the flow of skimmed milk. Reducing the specific energy consumption and finding the optimal parameters of the homogenizer were based on the results of both theoretical and experimental studies. The optimization criteria (decreasing specific energy consumption while maintaining high homogenization quality) were chosen to achieve a dispersion of 0.8 μm with minimal energy consumption. The parameters of the width of the ring gap, the fat content and the speed of the cream have been optimized. It is possible to reduce the specific energy intensity of the process to values of 0.88–0.92 kWh/t when using cream with a fat content of 33–43%, which should be fed through an annular gap with a width of 0.6–0.8 mm. Optimum values of the cream feed speed had been found, which should be equal to 7–11 m/s. The research results are of high practical value for the further development of the energy-efficient industrial model of a jet-slit homogenizer.

As yin and yang, cancer and diabetes are metabolic disorders characterized by deregulated, yet opposing, metabolic alterations. These metabolic shifts reflect a complex network of defective underlying signaling pathways, which ultimately orchestrate both disease pathogenesis and progression. The Warburg effect portrays the chief metabolic phenotype in cancer and is reflected by the dominance of aerobic glycolysis over minimal-to-no viable oxidative phosphorylation in cancer. Conversely, during the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), oxidative phosphorylation is constantly heightened. In advanced insulin resistance and T2D, the metabolic landscape becomes more complex, with exacerbating metabolic alterations affecting oxidative phosphorylation in a tissue-specific manner. Promising nutritional adjuvants, such as alpha-lipoic acid and flavonoids, can reprogram metabolism and exert antitumor and antidiabetic effects. Other pharmacological agents, such as metformin, have therapeutic effects on cancer and T2D. Herein, we discuss the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the metabolic shifts in cancer and T2D, and explore the therapeutic strategies under investigation that aim to reverse the metabolic shift in both disease scenarios.

Tigrai region is one of the potential beekeeping areas in Ethiopia, which is endowed with diversified honeybee plant species. However, its honeybee plants are deforested and degraded due to natural and anthropogenic pressures. Area exclosures (AEs) has been practicing for the last three decades restore degraded habitats of the plant species in Ethiopia. Empirical data on the effectiveness of AE is still limited for restoration of honey bee plant species; this study was conducted to assess the roles of AE for species composition, density, and diversity and regeneration status of honeybee floras. Sixty quadrats were installed, 36 in AE and 24 in CGL (communal grazing lands) using a systematic sampling method. The study showed that a total of 42 honey bee plant species belonging to 23 families in AE and 33 species belonging to 17 families in CGL were recorded. The study also indicated a significant increase in the abundance, diversity, regeneration and the structure of the honey bee plant species was found in the AEs. The list presented herein provides a guide to stakeholders in establishing of AE for the foraging resource of honeybee in order to enhance the abundance, diversity and regeneration and structure. Thus, AE has made a significant contribution to solving the shortage of honeybee forages in the beekeeping industry. Therefore, the development of beekeeping is integrated with conservation of natural resources.

High-methoxyl apple pectin (AP) derived from apple was employed as the main ingredient facilitating rheological modification features for developing dysphagia-friendly fluidized alimentary matrices. Xanthan gum (XG) was also included as a composite counterpart to modify the viscoelastic properties of the thickened system under different thermal processes. The results indicate that AP is extremely sensitive to thermal processing, and the viscosity is greatly depleted under a neutral pH level. Moreover, the inclusion of calcium ions echoed a modification effect on the rheological properties of AP, and both the elastic property and viscosity value are promoted after thermal processing. The modification effect of viscoelastic properties (Gʹ and Gʹʹ) is observed while XG is incorporated into the composite formula. By promoting the XG ratio from 7: 3 to 6: 4 (AP: XG), it triggers the rheological transformation from a liquid-like form to a solid-like state, and the viscosity value shows that the AP-XG composite system exhibits better thermal stability after thermal processing. The ambient modifiers of pH (pH < 4) and calcium chloride concentration (7.5%) with an optimal AP-XG ratio of 7:3 lead to weak-gel-like behavior (Gʹʹ < Gʹ), helping to maintain the texture properties of dysphagia-friendly features similar to those prior to the thermal processing.

Angiogenesis is a critical process in various physiological and pathological conditions, and snake venom disintegrins (SVDs) have been shown to be important regulators of this process. In this review, we explore the dual roles of SVD in angiogenesis, both as antiangiogenic agents by inhibiting integrin binding and interfering with vascular endothelial growth factors and as proangiogenic agents by enhancing integrin binding, stimulating cell migration and proliferation, and inducing neoangiogenesis. Studies in vitro and in animal models have demonstrated these effects and offer significant therapeutic opportunities. The potential applications of SVD in diseases related to angiogenesis, such as cancer, ocular diseases, tissue regeneration, wound healing, and cardiovascular diseases, are also discussed. Overall, SVDs are promising potential therapeutics, and further advances in this field could lead to innovative treatments for diseases related to angiogenesis.

A milk drink flavored with dates syrup produced at a lab scale level was evaluated. The production process of date syrup involves a sequence of essential unit operations, commencing with the extraction, filtration, and concentration processes from two cultivars: Sukkary and Khlass. Date syrup was then mixed with cow’s and camel’s milk at four percentages to form a nutritious, natural, sweet, and energy milk drink. Sensory, physical, and chemical characteristics of the milk drinks flavored with date syrup were examined. The objective of this work was to measure physiochemical properties of dates fruits and milk drinks flavored with dates syrup, then to evaluate the physical properties of milk drinks utilizing a non-destructive NIR spectra. The study assessed the characteristics of the milk drink enhanced with date syrup by employing near-infrared spectra (NIR) spectra and analyzed utilizing partial least-square regression (PLSR) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. The NIR spectrum proved to be highly effective in estimating the physiochemical attributes of the flavored milk drink. The ANN model outperformed the PLSR model in this context. RMSECV is considered a more reliable indicator of a model's future predictive performance compared to RMSEC, R2 ranged between 0.946 and 0.989. Consequently, non-destructive NIR technology demonstrates significant promise for accurately predicting and contributing to the entire production process of the product's properties examined.

Woodland bat assemblages are usually structured in space by distance from the ground, water and obstacles, features often defining chiropteran hunting tactics. Consequently, bat species composition differs strongly among various habitats even within the same forest patch. However, when conducting local bat survey in Wolin National Park (WPN), we revealed unexpected uniformity in qualitative and quantitative structure of bat assemblages, based on mist netting and ultrasound recording. In total, 10 vespertilionid species were detected. In all methods and sampled habitats a single species, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, predominated, while no Barbastella barbastellus, an old forest specialist, was detected, despite the abundance of preferred daily roosts. We also reviewed literature for mist netted bat samples in four different habitats of lowland Polish forests. Samples usually clustered based on habitats and the same habitat classes often clustered very closely, despite representing geographically distant forests. The exception was WPN, where all four habitat classes formed a tightly packed cluster. We suppose that P. pygmaeus might act as a hyperabundant native species, a successful generalist that reduces the contribution of more specialized taxa in the assemblage. It probably benefits from both forest renaturation and anthropogenic cross-boundary subsidy, the latter including both roost availability and prey abundance.

Marine lipids are recognized for their health promoting features, mainly for being the primary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and therefore critical for human nutrition in an age when the global supply for these nutrients is experiencing an unprecedent pressure due to an ever-increasing demand. The seafood industry originates a considerable yield of co-products worldwide that, while already explored for other purposes, remain mostly undervalued as sustainable sources of healthy lipids, often being explored for low value oil production. These co-products are especially appealing as lipid sources since, besides the well-known nutritional upside of marine animal fat, particularly rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they have also interesting bioactive properties, which may garner them further interest, not only as food, but also for other high-end applications. Besides the added value that these co-products may represent as valuable lipid sources, there is also the obvious ecological upside of reducing seafood industry waste. In this sense, repurposing these bioresources will contribute to a more sustainable use of marine animal food, reducing the strain on already heavily depleted seafood stocks. Therefore, untapping the potential of marine animal co-products as valuable lipid sources aligns with both health and environmental goals by guaranteeing additional sources of healthy lipids and promoting more eco-conscious practices.

This study introduces a novel approach by proposing a dressing impregnated with vancomycin and chlorhexidine for postoperative care, specifically targeting patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. The research design involved a pilot study with a randomized control group, aiming to evaluate the vancomycin with chlorhexidine dressing's efficacy and safety. A total of 12 patients used impregnated dressing and 9 used the same dressing without impregnation. Despite limitations, including the small sample size and single-center study location, our findings demonstrate the safety of the impregnated dressing in trauma surgeries, indicating potential applicability in broader surgical contexts. In conclusion, this study contributes to the discourse on preventive strategies for SSIs, presenting a pioneering approach with the vancomycin and chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing. Future research endeavors, incorporating larger-scale studies and addressing study limitations, are crucial for advancing the understanding and implementation of effective postoperative care strategies.

Lipophilic oligonucleotide derivatives are a potent approach to the intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. The binding of these derivatives to serum albumin is a major determinant of their fate in the body, as its structure contains several sites of high affinity for hydrophobic compounds. This study focuses on the features of self-association and non-covalent interactions with human serum albumin of novel self-penetrating oligonucleotide derivatives. The study revealed that the introduction of a triazinyl phosphoramidate modification bearing two dodecyl groups at the 3' end region of the oligonucleotide sequence has a negligible effect on its affinity for the complementary sequence. Dynamic light scattering verified that the amphiphilic oligonucleotides under study can self-assemble into micelle-like particles ranging from 8 to 15 nm in size. The oligonucleotides with dodecyl groups form stable complexes with human serum albumin with a dissociation constant of approximately 10-6 M. The oligonucleotide micelles are simultaneously destroyed upon binding to albumin. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay and affinity modification, we examined the ability of DNA duplexes containing triazinyl phosphoramidate oligonucleotides to interact with Ku antigen and PARP1, as well as the mutual influence of PARP1 and albumin or Ku antigen and albumin upon interaction with DNA duplexes. These findings, together with the capability of dodecyl-containing derivatives to effectively penetrate different cells, such as HEK293 and T98G, indicate that the oligonucleotides under study can be considered as a platform for the development of therapeutic preparations with a target effect.

The frequent occurrence of rib fractures in slaughtered lambs results in significant economic loss to producers and processors in South Australia and raises concerns about the welfare of the animals. The prevalence of rib fractures became evident through the Enhanced Abattoir Surveillance (EAS) program introduced in 2007. The present study aimed to investigate the association between rib fracture prevalence in lambs at slaughter and their nutrition and management on the farm of origin. The slaughter of 30,055 lambs from 60 farms was monitored at a South Australian abattoir in November 2016. Rib fracture prevalence was 4% (range 0 - 18% per consignment), with all consignments of more than 240 lambs having at least one with fractured ribs. Traceback investigation on 56 of the 60 farms suggests that rib fractures most probably occur during routine husbandry procedures and, based on soil mineral analysis, are associated with calcium inadequacy. There was substantial variation between lines of lambs from different farms, and factors contributing to the differences included line size, region, and soil characteristics, including available calcium. There is a need to modify sheep husbandry and management practices to improve sheep welfare and reduce the cost of rib fractures to the sheep industry.

Leaf area estimation is a critical component in the study of plant growth and productivity within agricultural systems. This research introduces the LeafArea package, a specialized tool designed to calculate the leaf area of six distinct Andean fruit species: S. quitoense, S. betaceum, P. peruviana, R. fruticosus, P. ligularis and P. edulis. Leveraging response variables such as species type, leaf length and width, the package employs advanced machine learning algorithms to estimate leaf area accurately. The primary focus of the study is to identify the most effective model for describing the relationship between leaf width, length, and area for each plant species. Currently, the LeafArea package utilizes four different machine learning algorithms, namely generalized linear model (GLM), generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), Random Forest and XGBoost. Among these, XGBoost stands out as a top-performing algorithm, exhibiting exceptional predictive accuracy. The evaluation metrics employed in the program provide valuable insights for researchers, aiding in informed decision-making. Specifically, XGBoost demonstrates significantly lower prediction errors and approaches a near-perfect R2 value, emphasizing its potential to enhance predictive accuracy. These results underscore the efficacy of machine learning techniques, as a compelling choice for researchers seeking precise and robust predictions in leaf area estimation. The LeafArea package thus represents a valuable tool for advancing our understanding of plant growth dynamics, resource allocation, and overall productivity within agricultural ecosystems.

The South of France is a biodiversity hotspot within Europe. Here, we present a comprehensive review of surveys conducted in the Cent Fonts aquifer, an overlooked subterranean biodiversity hotspot embedded in a region rich in stygobiotic species and threatened by climate change and water abstraction projects. Key studies, spanning from 1950 to 2006, show a progression in survey methods and results, although troglobiotic species remain poorly documented. With 43 stygobiotic species recorded, the Cent Fonts is the second richest stygobiont hotspot in Europe. Most species are regional endemics, a quarter of which are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The Cent Fonts also hosts several relict species and is the type locality of four species. Such a high biological value clearly deserves to be preserved. Our analysis warns of a possible decline in biodiversity, as 8 of the species recorded in the 20th century were absent from the 2006 survey, suggesting potential threats of unknown origin. The capture of the Cent Font springs for water abstraction is discussed as a potential threat to this ecosystem and its unique biodiversity. Three new species of stygobiotic molluscs are described, one of which was collected in the Cent Fonts.

Localized jawbone invasion is a milestone in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The factors that promote this process are not well understood. Sclerostin is known to be involved in bone metabolism and there are preliminary reports of its involvement in bone tumors and metastasis. To identify a possible involvement of sclerostin in the bone invasion process of OSCC, sclerostin expression was analyzed in vitro in two different human OSCC tumor cell lines by qRT-PCR, and the effect of recombinant human (rh)-sclerostin treatment on tumor cell capabil-ities was evaluated using proliferation, migration, and invasion assays. Undifferentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were osteogenically differentiated and co-cultured with OSCC tumor cells to demonstrate potential interactions on migration characteristics. Sclerostin expres-sion was evaluated in clinical cases by immunohistochemistry at the OSCC jawbone interface in a cohort of 15 patients. Sclerostin expression was detected in both OSCC tumor cell lines in vitro and was also detected at the OSCC jawbone interface in clinical cases. Tumor cell proliferation rate, migration and invasion ability were increased by rh-sclerostin treatment. The migration rate of tumor cells co-cultured with osteogenically differentiated hMSCs was increased. The re-sults presented are the first data suggesting a possible involvement of sclerostin in the bone inva-sion process of OSCC, which needs to be further investigated

Bambara groundnut (BG) (Vigna subterranean L. verdc) is a highly nutritious and economically important leguminous crop of African origin that forms symbiotic relationships nitrogen fixing rhizobia, but it has a low yield. Currently, there is paucity of information on effective rhizobium inoculant, (to improve the yield), for BG which are cheaper and safer alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Indigenous rhizobia strains were trapped from 54 farm soils collected at three Nigerian states (Niger, Kaduna and Kano). Six selected rhizobium strains (Bradhyrhizobium spp) were identified using 16S rDNA sequencing, applied as inoculant in field experiment using completely randomized block design and compared with USDA110 strain (Bradhyrhizobim japonicum), urea fertilizer and un-inoculated plants on 2 selected BG varieties (TVSU1248 and TVSU 631). Nutrient utilization and nitrogen fixation in plants were determined at 6 weeks while leaf chlorophyll was determined forth-nightly. Seed yield was determined at maturity. The strains increased the %nitrogen (1.33±0.10 - ≥1.37±0.05), and %phosphorous (0.48±0.02 - ≥0.51±0.02), %nitrogen fixed (21.07±2.38 - ≥61.30±6.13), nodulation (72.50±21.075 - 154.00±23.79) and leaf chlorophyll were ≥49.74±1.47mg/L, ≥51.82±1.86mg/L and ≥49.65±1.56mg/L at 2nd, 4th and 6th week after planting respectively and the yield of BG (from average of 398.6 Kgha-1 to 1454.725 Kgha-1). Seed yield was highest (1869.85±273.68 Kgha-1) in BG variety TVSU1248 using BN5 strain. Indigenous Bambara-symbiotic strains significantly increased the seed yields, and plant nutrient, showing their potential as use for inoculant to improve the yield of Bambara groundnut.

Transitions from seed to seedling represent a critical developmental step in the life cycle of higher plants, dramatically affecting plant ontogenesis and stress tolerance. The release from dormancy to acquiring the germination ability is defined by a balance of phytohormones, with a substantial contribution of abscisic acid (ABA), which inhibits germination. We studied the embryonic axes of Pisum sativum L. before and after radicle protrusion. Our previous work compared RNA sequencing-based transcriptomics in the embryonic axes isolated before and after radicle protrusion. The current study aims to analyze ABA-dependent gene regulation during the transition of embryonic axes from germination to post-germination stage. First, we determined the levels of abscisates (ABA, phaseic acid, dihydrophaseic acid, and neo-phaseic acid) using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Second, we made a detailed annotation of ABA-associated genes using RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling. Finally, we analyzed the DNA methylation pattern in the promoters of the PsABI3, PsABI4, and PsABI5 genes. We showed that changes in the abscisate profile are characterized by the accumulation of ABA catabolites, and the ABA-related gene profile is accompanied by the upregulation of genes controlling the seedling development and the downregulation of genes controlling the water deprivation. The expression of ABI3, ABI4 and ABI5, which encode the crucial transcription factors during late maturation, was downregulated by more than 20-fold, and their promoters exhibited a high level of methylation already at the late germination stage. Thus, although ABA remains important, other regulators seems to be involved in the transition from seed to seedling.

Base excision repair (BER) is the predominant pathway to remove most forms of hydrolytic, oxidative and alkylative DNA damage. The precise functioning of BER is achieving by the regulation of each step by regulatory/accessory proteins, with the most important of which being poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). The PARP1 regulatory functions extend to many cellular processes including regulation of mRNA stability and decay. PARP1 can therefore affect BER both at the level of the BER proteins and at the level of their mRNAs. Systematic data on how the PARP1 content affects the activities of key BER proteins and the levels of their mRNAs in human cells are extremely limited. In this study the CRISPR/Cas9 based technique has been used to knocked out the PARP1 gene in the human HEK 293FT line. The obtained cell clones with putative PARP1 deletion were characterized by several approaches including: PCR analysis of deletions in genomic DNA, Sanger sequencing of genomic DNA, qPCR analysis of PARP1 mRNA, western-blot analysis of whole-cell-extract proteins with anti-PARP1 antibodies, and the PAR synthesis in the whole-cell-extracts. qPCR analysis of mRNAs coding the BER related proteins: PARP2, uracil DNA glycosylase 2, AP endonuclease 1, DNA polymerase β, DNA ligase III and XRCC1 did not reveal crucial influence of PARP1 knockout. The corresponding catalytic activities in the whole-cell extracts (WCEs) evaluated in parallel did not differ significantly between mutant and parental cell lines. No considerable influence of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis on the activity of the above WCE enzymes was revealed.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health issue worldwide that affects the world economy. The concern associated with this issue increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The misuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic will have catastrophic implications for the control of AMR. In 2019, the coronavirus illness COVID-19 first appeared in China. COVID-19 infection is a surface-to-surface communicable disease. It is considered the most vital global health disaster of the century. It has rapidly spread around the world and is the greatest challenge for humankind. This chapter discusses the origin, symptoms, transmission, treatment, and recommendations of the COVID-19 disease.

This study delves into the therapeutic potential of two natural compounds, Amentoflavone and Bilobetin, by investigating their interactions with the BPIFB4 protein. BPIFB4, a member of the BPI fold-containing superfamily, has been associated with various biological processes, particularly in longevity and cardioprotection( LAV-BPIFB4). Molecular docking analyses revealed promising binding energies for Amentoflavone and Bilobetin with BPIFB4, suggesting favorable interactions.Additionally by pKCSM database are showed the predicted toxicity properties of Amentoflavone and Bilobetin respectively.This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on natural compounds and their therapeutic implications in the context of vital biological processes. However, these findings underscore the need for further investigations, including in vivo studies and clinical trials, to validate the observed effects and explore the translational potential of Amentoflavone and Bilobetin in promoting cardiovascular health and longevity.

In vertebrates, oligodendrocytes (OLs) are glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) responsible for the formation of the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of neurons. The myelin sheath plays a crucial role in the transmission of neuronal information by promoting the rapid saltatory conduction of action potentials and providing neurons with structural and metabolic support. Saltatory conduction, first described in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is now generally recognized as a universal evolutionary innovation to respond quickly to the environment: myelin helps us think and act fast. However, the function of myelin in the CNS, particularly in the brain, is not necessarily to act quickly, but rather to act correctly. In this respect, myelin should primarily play a role in synchronizing the different neuronal networks, a synchrony that occurs in the form of oscillations (or rhythms) relevant for specific information processing. Interestingly, myelin has been directly involved in different types of cognitive processes relying on brain oscillations, and myelin plasticity is currently considered to be part of the fundamental mechanisms for memory formation and maintenance. However, despite ample evidence showing the involvement of myelin in cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by cognitive impairments, the link between myelin, brain oscillations, cognition and disease is not yet fully understood. In this review, we aim to highlight what is known and what remains to be explored to understand the role of myelin in high order brain processes.

Polysaccharide from Ficus carica L. (FCP) exert multiple biological activities, as a biological macromolecule, the available knowledge about the specific structures and mechanisms of biological activity of purified 'Brunswick' fig polysaccharide is currently limited. In the present study, by chemical purification and characteristics identified via specific instruments, and then the impact of FCP on the immunomodulation activity in vitro and in vivo was examined. Structural char-acteristics showed that the molecular weight of the FCP was determined to be 127.5 kDa, the primary monosaccharides present in the FCP were galacturonic acid (GalA), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), glucose (Glc), and xylose (Xyl) at a ratio of 0.321:0.287:0.269:0.091:0.013:0.011. Based on the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory ac-tivity, FCP was found to stimulate the production of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increased the pi-nocytic activity of macrophages. Further analysis revealed that FCP activated macrophages by interacting with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, the in vivo test results indicate that FCP showed significant increase serum pro-inflammatory factors in immunosuppressed mice. Overall, this study suggests that FCP has the potential to be utilized as a novel immunomodulator in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

In the present study, the effect of melatonin and sodium nitroprusside treatments on the improvement of high temperature tolerance in California Wonder green bell pepper plant was studied. For this purpose, a factorial experiment was conducted in form of a completely randomized design in three replications at Zabol University's Faculty of Agriculture. In this research, green bell pepper plants of Wonder cultivar were exposed to different temperature treatments (25°C, 35°C and 40°C) for 24 hours after being sprayed (foliar application) with 0μM, 50μM and 100μM concentrations of melatonin and Sodium nitroprusside. Results showed that Instantaneous leaf water consumption efficiency in 40°C temperature treatment with 50μM and 100μM melatonin increased. Also in 40°C temperature with 100µM melatonin, fruit dry weight in compared to control (0uM) 13.15% increased. Also, melatonin and sodium nitroprusside treatments in compared to control treatment improved fruit characteristics and reduced Appearance Characteristics of Fruit Marketability (ACFM) number. Under 40°C temperature treatment in compared to control temperature (25°C), fruit total soluble solids (TSS) 18.50% decreased also under 100μM melatonin treatment, fruit TSS 20.69% was increased compared to control treatment (0μM). Also fruit fructose at 40°C temperature in compared to 25°C temperature treatment 5.52% reduced. Fruit calcium at 35°C and 40°C temperature in compared to control temperature 6.96% and 15.65% decreased respectively. At temperature 35°C under foliar application of 100uM sodium nitroprusside, fruit copper in compared to control 28.93% increased.

Mulberry (Morus alba L), a significant fruit tree crop, requires magnesium (Mg) for its optimal growth and productivity. Nonetheless, our understanding of the molecular basis underlying magnesium stress tolerance in mulberry plants remains unexplored. In our previous study, we identified several differential candidate genes associated with Mg homeostasis via transcriptome analysis including xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase (XTH) gene family. The XTH gene family is crucial for plant cell wall reconstruction and stress responses. These genes have been identified and thoroughly investigated in various plant species. However, there is no research pertaining to XTH genes within the M. alba plant. This research systematically examined the M. alba XTH (MaXTH) gene family at the genomic level using a bioinformatic approach. In total, 22 MaXTH genes were discovered and contained the Glyco_hydro_16 and XET_C conserved domains. The MaXTH’s were categorized into five distinct groups by their phylogenetic relationships. The gene structure possesses four exons and three introns. Furthermore, the MaXTH gene promoter analysis reveals a plethora of cis-regulatory elements; mainly stress responsiveness, growth and development, light responsiveness, and phytohormone responsiveness. GO analysis indicated that MaXTHs encode proteins that exhibit xyloglucan xyloglucosyl transferase and hydrolase activities in addition cell wall biogenesis as well as xyloglucan and carbohydrate metabolic processes. Moreover, a synteny analysis unveiled an evolutionary relationship between the XTH genes in M. alba and those in three other species: A. thaliana, P. trichocarpa, and Zea mays. Expression profiles from RNA-Seq data displayed distinct expression patterns of XTH genes in M. alba leaf tissue during Mg treatments. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis confirmed the expression of the MaXTH genes in Mg stress response. Overall, this research enhances our understanding of the characteristics of MaXTH gene family members and lays the foundation for future functional genomic study in M. alba.

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous in eukaryotes and certain prokaryotes, where they serve as vital components of biological membranes and as bioactive molecules. Chloroplasts have complex membrane structures that play crucial roles in photosynthesis, but their specific sphingolipidome remains unreported. In this study, we used high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the sphingolipidome of purified Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts. We detected 92 chloroplast sphingolipids. The chloroplast sphingolipidome differed from total leaf (TL) samples, having a higher content of free long-chain bases and hydroxyceramides, and a greater proportion of complex sphingolipids with 16C fatty acid (FA) forms. Notably, chloroplast glucosylceramides were predominantly the d18:1 h16:0 and t18:1 h16:0 forms, rather than the 24C FA form found in TL and other cellular structures. Comparing the sphingolipidomes of different cellular structures underscores the inhomogeneity of intracellular distribution of sphingolipids. This provides a robust reference for further elucidating the function of sphingolipids in plant cells.

The mechanistic influences of dopamine (DA) signaling and impact on motor function is nearly always interpreted from changes in nigrostriatal neuron terminals in striatum. This is a standard practice in studies of human Parkinson’s disease (PD) and aging, and related animal models of PD and aging-related parkinsonism. However, despite dozens of studies indicating an ambiguous relationship between changes in striatal DA signaling and motor phenotype, this perseverating focus on striatum continues. Although DA release in substantia nigra (SN) was first reported almost 50 years ago. assessment of nigral DA signaling changes in relation to motor function is rarely considered. Whereas DA signaling has been well-characterized in striatum at all 5 steps of neurotransmission (biosynthesis and turnover, storage, release, reuptake, and post-synaptic binding) in the nigrostriatal pathway, the depth of such interrogations in the SN, outside of cell counts, is sparse. However, there is sufficient evidence that these steps in DA neurotransmission in the SN are operational and regulated autonomously from striatum, and are present in human PD and aging, and related animal models. To complete our understanding of how nigrostriatal DA signaling affects motor function, it is past time to include interrogation of nigral DA signaling. This brief review highlights evidence that changes in nigral DA signaling at each step in DA neurotransmission are autonomous from those in striatum and changes in the SN alone can influence locomotor function. Accordingly, for full characterization of how nigrostriatal DA signaling affects locomotor activity, interrogation of DA signaling in SN is essential.

The objective was to estimate the correlation between VIs and grain yield and identify the optimal timing and VIs for precise corn grain yield estimation. Furthermore, the study aims to employ photographic quantification to measure corn ear traits and establish their correlation with corn grain yield. Ten corn hybrids were evaluated in CRB with three rep-lications at three locations. Vegetation indices and green leaf area were estimated throughout the cycle using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and subsequently corre-lated with grain productivity. In addition, photographs were taken of the corn ear to esti-mate their length, width and total number of kernels and compare these values with manual measurements. The experiments consistently demonstrated significant experi-mental quality across sites, with accuracy ranging from 79.07% to 95.94%. UAV flights carried out at the beginning of the crop cycle revealed a positive correlation between grain productivity and the evaluated indices (NGRDI, VARI, GLI). Regarding the phenotyping of corn ears, the regression coefficients for width, length and TNG were 0.92, 0.88 and 0.62, respectively, indicating an association with manual measurements. However, stage V5 in the localities of Lavras and Ijaci and stage V8 in the locality of Nazareno showed a posi-tive correlation with productivity. The use of images for ear phenotyping is promising as a method for measuring corn components.

Although hydrogen gas (H2) treated soil improves crop biomass, this approach appears difficult for the field application due to the flammability of H2 gas. In this report, we investigated whether and how H2 applied in hydrogen nanobubble water (HNW) improves the yield and quality of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme) with/without fertilizers. Two-year field trials showed that compared to corresponding controls, HNW without/with fertilizers improved cherry tomato yield per plant by 39.7% and 26.5% in 2021 (Shanghai), and 39.4% and 28.2% in 2023 (Nanjing). Compared to surface water (SW), HNW increased soil available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) consumption regardless of fertilizer application, which may be attributed to the increased NPK transport related genes in roots (LeAMT2, LePT2, LePT5, and SlHKT1,1). Also, HNW-irrigated cherry tomato displayed higher sugar-acid ratio (8.6%) and lycopene content (22.3%) than SW-irrigated plants without fertilizers. Importantly, the beneficial effects of HNW without fertilizers on yield per plant (9.1%), sugar-acid ratio (31.1%), volatiles (20.0%) and lycopene contents (54.3%) were stronger than those achieved by fertilizers alone. In short, this study clearly indicated that HNW-supplied H2 not only exhibited fertilization effect on enhancing tomato yield, but also improved fruit quality with a lower carbon footprint.

Smart farm is a technology that greatly helps improve the productivity and quality of crops and is being actively introduced into indoor environments such as green houses. However, it has not yet been distributed to field-grown crops. The main reason is that, unlike indoor environments, it is very difficult to collect sensor data for monitoring the growth environment of crops in open fields where weather conditions change significantly and power supply is difficult. Additionally, because various sensors are used, the data formats of the devices are different, making it difficult to process. This paper presents a field crop growth environment monitoring and big data analysis system. The proposed system first solves power supply and data communication problems using solar power generation and LPWA technology. Additionally, based on the oneM2M architecture, data from various sensors is transmitted to the server using standardized technology. The transmitted data is stored and managed on the server as big data, and can be used to predict the production and quality of field-grown crops and take appropriate measures. The proposed system is expected to create an environment optimized for the growth of field crops and help prevent and manage diseases.

Schizophrenia is a spectrum of neuropsychiatric deformities, characterized by hallucination, delusion, mood disorders, speech pathology, and neurocognitive deficits. Among various clinical manifestations, hallucination has been recognized as a core psychotic symptom that occurs more frequently in schizophrenia. A significant number of subjects with neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and other neurological diseases like stroke and epileptic seizure also experience hallucinations. While aberrant neurotransmission has been linked to the neuropathogenic events of schizophrenia, the specific cellular mechanism contributing to hallucinations remains ambiguous. Neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of the brain has been identified as a predominant pathogenic determinant of dementia. While the scientific proof for the neurodegeneration in schizophrenia is limited, the occurrence of dementia in schizophrenia has become increasingly evident. To note, both neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric disorders display impaired neurogenesis in the brain. Impaired neurogenesis in the hippocampus has been linked to dementia and mood disorders. Notably, the early phase of many neurodegenerative disorders has been characterized by reactive neuroblostosis and aberrant cell cycle activation in mature neurons leading to the fluctuation in neurogenic processes leading to abnormal synaptogenesis and neurotransmission in the brain. Thus, this article emphasizes a hypothesis that aberrant neurogenic processes could be an underlying mechanism of hallucination in schizophrenia and other neurological diseases.

The quality of cellular products used in biological research can directly impact the ability to ob-tain accurate results. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a latent virus that spreads extensively world-wide, and cell lines used in experiments may carry EBV and pose an infection risk. The presence of EBV in a single cell line can contaminate other cell lines used in the same laboratory, affecting experimental results. We developed three EBV detection systems: (1) a polymerase chain reac-tion (PCR)-based detection system, (2) a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based de-tection system, and (3) a combined RPA-lateral flow assay (LFA) detection system. The mini-mum EBV detection limits were 1×103 copy numbers for the RPA-based and RPA-LFA systems and 1×104 copy numbers for the PCR-based system. Both the PCR and RPA detection systems were applied to 192 cell lines, and the results were consistent with those obtained by the EBV assay methods specified in the pharma-ceutical industry standards of the People's Republic of China. 10 EBV-positive cell lines were identified. The combined RPA-LFA system is simple to operate, allowing for rapid results visualization. This system can be implemented in laborato-ries and cell banks as part of a daily quality control strategy to ensure cell quality and experi-mental safety and may represent a potential new technique for the rapid detection of EBV in clinical samples.

Studies on the domestication, genetic differentiation, and crop evolution of foxtail millet are re-viewed. Several genetic studies were carried out to elucidate the genetic relationships among foxtail millet accessions originating mainly from Eurasia, based on intraspecific hybrid pollen semi-sterility, isozymes, DNA markers, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Most studies suggest that China is the center of diversity of foxtail millet, and landraces were categorized into geographical groups. Furthermore, the evolution of genes was reviewed (i.e., the Waxy gene conferring amylose content in the endosperm, the Si7PPO gene controlling polyphenol oxidase, the HD1 and SiPRR37 genes controlling heading time, the Sh1 and SvLes1 genes involved in grain shattering, and the C gene controlling leaf sheath pigmentation), and the variation and distribu-tion of these genes suggested complex patterns of evolution under human and/or natural selec-tion.

In any forest stand, the theoretically modelled output of sawlogs (the most valuable roundwood assortments) will differ from what is actually obtained. The aim of this study was to assess whether it is possible to characterize this difference by site properties or inventory parameters of forest element for birch, black alder and as-pen. The differences in yield of sawlogs varied among soil types, and was increasing with age and average diameter of the forest element. The theoretical model for assortment grading predicted a lower yield of saw-logs compared to actually obtained yield at a lower age and at a lower average diameter, but overestimated output of sawlogs as age and diameter increase. The results highlight necessity to consider decreasing wood quality with increasing age to account for damage, such as stem rot, in assortment tables.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a genome 27-31kbases in length. Critical genes include the spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N) and 9 accessory open reading frames encoding for non-structural proteins (NSPs) that have multiple roles in the replication cycle and immune evasion (1). There are 7 known human CoVs that most likely appeared after zoonotic transfer, the most recent being SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic. Antivirals that have been approved by the FDA for use against Covid-19 such as Paxlovid can potentially target and successfully inhibit the main protease (MPro) activity of multiple human CoVs, however alternative proteomes encoded by CoV genomes have a closer genetic similarity to each other, suggesting that antivirals could be developed now that target future CoVs. New zoonotic introductions of CoVs to humans are inevitable and unpredictable. Therefore, new antivirals are required to control not only the next human CoV outbreak, but also the 4 common human CoVs (229E, OC43, NL63, HKU1) that circulate frequently and to contain sporadic outbreaks of the severe human CoVs (SARS-CoV, MERS and SARS-CoV-2). The current study found that emerging antiviral drugs, such as Paxlovid, have only been proven to target SARS-CoV-2. Other drugs which have the potential to target other human CoVs, are still within clinical trial and are not yet available for public use. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment and vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 can reduce mortality and hospitalisation rates, however they target the Spike protein whose sequence mutates frequently and drifts. Spike also is not applicable for targeting other HCoVs as these are not well conserved sequences among human CoVs. Thus, there is a need for readily available treatments globally that target all 7 human CoVs and improve the preparedness for inevitable future outbreaks. Here we discuss antiviral research contributing to the control of common and severe CoV replication and transmission, including the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. The aim was to identify common features of CoVs for antivirals, biologics and vaccines that could reduce the scientific, political, economic and public health strain caused by CoV outbreaks now and in the future.

Abstract: CRISPR/Cas systems are used for genome editing, both in basic science and in bio-technology. At the same time, CRISPR/Cas editors have several limitations, including insufficient specificity leading to "off-targets" and the dependence of activity on chromatin state. A number of highly specific Cas9 variants have been obtained now, but most of them are characterized by reduced activity on eukaryotic chromatin. We identified a spatial cluster of amino acid residues in the PAM-recognizing domain of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9, whose mutations restore the activity of one of the highly specific forms of SpyCas9 without reducing its activity in Saccharomyces cere-visiae. In addition, one of these new mutations also increases the efficiency of SpyCas9-mediated editing of a site localized on the stable nucleosome. The improved Cas9 variants we obtained, which are capable of editing hard-to-reach regions of the yeast genome, may help in both basic research and yeast biotechnological applications.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shed light on various complex diseases and traits, by detecting more than 400,000 associated genetic loci. This number is expected to drastically increase because of the use of novel artificial intelligence methods offering new ways to study the effects of variants. Deep learning using artificial neural networks (ANN) is a sub-field of artificial intelligence, which simulates how the human brain learns. We aimed at assessing the potential of deep learning in human genetic studies of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and how these compare to the traditional statistical methods used in GWAS, by simultaneously testing the two approaches on the same dataset, while discovering new genetic loci associated to AD. Methods: To address this aim, phenotypic and genome-wide SNP data from the UK Biobank was analysed on a binary outcome, AD diagnosis, in two different data balance options, of one-to-one and one-to-two case-control datasets, using 2,764 cases vs 2,764 controls and 5,528 controls respectively matched on gender, age, ethnicity, PC1-20 and genotyping array. Genetic data handling and GWAS were performed using PLINK, whereas neural networks were trained using GenNet, a new ANN tool, with the same datasets, separated into training (60%), validation (20%) and test (20%) sets. Neural network layers were determined using biological knowledge, by annotating SNPs to genes and genes to AD related pathways, using ANNOVAR annotations followed by GeneSCF and KEGG. Results: Significant associations were detected between four SNPs linked to two different genes and AD for the 1 to 1 case-control study design and six SNPs linked to four different genes for the 1 to 2 case-control study design by using PLINK. All identified regions have been previously associated to AD. GenNet identified twelve SNPs on seven genes to be associated with AD, all with biological plausibility, achieving an AUC of 0.80 when using three biologically determined layers and 0.73 when using two layers at the neural networks. No common top SNPs were identified between the machine learning and GWAS models. Conclusion: This is one of the first studies attempting to compare the traditional GWAS to more sophisticated state-of-art methods for understanding the genetic architecture of complex phenotypes using the same dataset. More systematic comparisons with such approaches on real data are needed to enable best practises for machine learning in the analysis of genome-wide genetic data.

PPR is a highly contagious viral disease and one of the deadliest affecting wild goats, sheep and small ruminants, however goats are generally more sensitive. The causative agent is the Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRv) which is a single-stranded RNA virus of negative polarity belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. In February 2020, an active outbreak of PPR was re-ported in a herd of a transhumant farmer in the village of Ngainth Pathé (department of Kounguel, Kaffrine region,Senegal). Of the ten (10) swabs collected from goats, eight (8) came back positive by real-time PCR. The most positive sample was amplified, purified and amplicon sent for sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence of the PPR virus obtained belonged to lineage IV. These results confirm those found in the latter countries and reinforce the hypothesis of the importance of animal mobility between these neighboring countries. In perspective, following the discovery of this lineage IV in Senegal, a study on its dispersion is underway throughout the national territory. The results that will emerge from this study, asso-ciated with detailed data on animal movements and epidemiological data, will provide appro-priate and effective information to improve PPR surveillance and control strategies with a view to its eradication.

This work reports the isolation, purification, and anti-inflammatory evaluation of compounds from the plant species Ageratina pichinchesis. Using open-column chromatography, 11 known compounds were purified, whose chemical structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (1D and 2D). All compounds were evaluated in the in vitro model of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells measuring nitric oxide inhibition as a determination of the anti-inflammatory effect. Outstandingly, the compound betuletol 3-O-β-glucoside (11) exhibited inhibition of nitric oxide with an IC50 of 75.08 ± 3.07% at 75 µM, additionally, it inhibited the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and activation of nuclear factor (NF-kβ). These results show that compound 11 could be considered as a potential anti-inflammatory agent in suppressing the expression of NF-kβ target genes such as the proinflammatory pathway and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consequently, the medicinal use attributed in traditional medicine to the A. pichinchensis species is due to the diversity of compounds that the plant biosynthesizes, demonstrating that its effect relates to anti-inflammatory effects associated with compound 11.

Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) is a (genus, Potyvirus; family, Potyviridae) is a widespread, deleterious, and the most damaging pathogen of sugarcane ((Saccharum officinarum L. and Saccharum spp.) which causes a substantial barrier to producing high sugarcane earning. Sugarcane mosaic disease (SCMD) is caused by, single or compound infection of SCMV, disseminated by the several aphid vectors in a non-persistent manner. SCMV has flexuous filamentous particle of 700-750 nm long, which encapsidated a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA molecule of 9575 nucleotides. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated antiviral innate immunity is an evolutionary conserved, key biological process in eukaryotes and has evolved as an antiviral defence system to interfere with viral genomes for controlling infections in plants. The current study aims to analyze sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. and Saccharum spp.) locus-derived microRNAs (sof-miRNAs/ssp-miRNAs) with predicted potential for targeting the SCMV +ssRNA-encoded mRNAs, using a predictive approach that involves five algorithms. The ultimate goal of this research is to mobilize the in silico- predicted endogenous sof-miRNAs/ssp-miRNAs to experimentally trigger the catalytic RNAi pathway and generate sugarcane cultivars to evaluate the potential antiviral resistance surveillance ability and capacity for SCMV. Experimentally validated mature sugarcane (S. officinarum, 2n = 8X = 80) and (S. spp., 2n = 100-120) sof-miRNA/ssp-miRNA sequences (n = 28) were downloaded from the miRBase database and aligned with the SCMV genome (KY548506). Among the 28 targeting mature locus-derived sof-miRNAs/ssp-miRNAs evaluated, one sugarcane miRNA homolog, sof-miR159c, was identified to have a predicted miRNA binding site, at nucleotide position 3847 of the SCMV genome targeting CI ORF. To verify the accuracy of the target prediction accuracy and to determine, whether the sugarcane sof-miRNA/ssp-miRNA could bind the predicted SCMV mRNA target(s), we constructed an integrated Circos plot. A genome-wide in-silico-predicted miRNA-mediated target gene regulatory network has implicated to validate interactions necessary to warrant in vivo analysis. The current work provides valuable computational evidence for the generation of SCMV-resistant sugarcane cultivars.

Sideritis royoi is described from limestone rocky habitats of the Port Massif (southern Catalonia, Spain). The species was first collected by the local botanist Lluís de Torres in the late part of the 20th century, but the specimens have remained unidentified positively in herbaria for over 40 years. Sideritis royoi likely belongs to section Sideritis subsection Hyssopifoliae and shows some morphological affinities with the relatively widespread South European species S. hyssopifolia L., but it much differs in having subspinescent upper leaves, main surfaces of the leaves glabrous or glabrescent, the main abaxial surface of the bracts without eglandular hairs, and shorter inflorescences. Weaker similarities were also observed with some species belonging to S. subsection Fruticulosae Obón & D.Rivera. A description for the new orophilous species is provided, along with a detailed illustration, field photographs, and a comparison with closely related species. We include an assessment of its conservation status and a dichotomous key for identification of all the species of Sideritis subsection Hyssopifoliae.

Viruses pose a great threat to people’s lives. Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infects children and infants all over the world with no FDA-approved treatment to date. Understanding the basic mechanisms of viral processes aids in selecting more efficient drug targets and designing more effective antivirals to thwart this virus. The 5´-untranslated region (5’-UTR) of the viral RNA genome is composed of a cloverleaf structure and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Cellular proteins that bind to the cloverleaf structure regulate viral replication, while those that bind to the IRES also known as IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) regulate viral translation. In this review, we survey the cellular proteins currently known to bind the 5’-UTR and influence viral translation and replication with emphasis on comparing proteins’ functions and localizations pre- and post-(EV-A71) infection. Comprehensive understanding of how the host cell’s machinery is hijacked and reprogrammed by the virus to facilitate its replication is crucial for developing effective antivirals.