Compensatory Effect Research Articles

Structural and functional changes following brain surgery in pediatric patients with intracranial space-occupying lesions.

We explored the structural and functional changes of the healthy hemisphere of the brain after surgery in children with intracranial space-occupying lesions. We enrolled 32 patients with unilateral intracranial space-occupying lesions for brain imaging and cognitive assessment. Voxel-based morphometry and surface-based morphometry analyses were used to investigate the structural images of the healthy hemisphere. Functional images were analyzed using regional homogeneity, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, and fractional-amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. Voxel-based morphometry and surface-based morphometry analysis used the statistical model built into the CAT 12 toolbox. Paired t-tests were used for functional image and cognitive test scores. For structural image analysis, we used family-wise error correction of peak level (p < 0.05), and for functional image analysis, we use Gaussian random-field theory correction (voxel p < 0.001, cluster p < 0.05). We found an increase in gray matter volume in the healthy hemisphere within six months postoperatively, mainly in the frontal lobe. Regional homogeneity and fractional-amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations also showed greater functional activity in the frontal lobe. The results of cognitive tests showed that psychomotor speed and motor speed decreased significantly after surgery, and reasoning increased significantly after surgery. We concluded that in children with intracranial space-occupying lesions, the healthy hemisphere exhibits compensatory structural and functional effects within six months after surgery. This effect occurs mainly in the frontal lobe and is responsible for some higher cognitive compensation. This may provide some guidance for the rehabilitation of children after brain surgery.

AlphaFold2-Enabled Atomistic Modeling of Structure, Conformational Ensembles, and Binding Energetics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 Spike Protein with ACE2 Host Receptor and Antibodies: Compensatory Functional Effects of Binding Hotspots in Modulating Mechanisms of Receptor Binding and Immune Escape.

The latest wave of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants displayed a growth advantage and increased viral fitness through convergent evolution of functional hotspots that work synchronously to balance fitness requirements for productive receptor binding and efficient immune evasion. In this study, we combined AlphaFold2-based structural modeling approaches with atomistic simulations and mutational profiling of binding energetics and stability for prediction and comprehensive analysis of the structure, dynamics, and binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.86 spike variant with ACE2 host receptor and distinct classes of antibodies. We adapted several AlphaFold2 approaches to predict both the structure and conformational ensembles of the Omicron BA.2.86 spike protein in the complex with the host receptor. The results showed that the AlphaFold2-predicted structural ensemble of the BA.2.86 spike protein complex with ACE2 can accurately capture the main conformational states of the Omicron variant. Complementary to AlphaFold2 structural predictions, microsecond molecular dynamics simulations reveal the details of the conformational landscape and produced equilibrium ensembles of the BA.2.86 structures that are used to perform mutational scanning of spike residues and characterize structural stability and binding energy hotspots. The ensemble-based mutational profiling of the receptor binding domain residues in the BA.2 and BA.2.86 spike complexes with ACE2 revealed a group of conserved hydrophobic hotspots and critical variant-specific contributions of the BA.2.86 convergent mutational hotspots R403K, F486P, and R493Q. To examine the immune evasion properties of BA.2.86 in atomistic detail, we performed structure-based mutational profiling of the spike protein binding interfaces with distinct classes of antibodies that displayed significantly reduced neutralization against the BA.2.86 variant. The results revealed the molecular basis of compensatory functional effects of the binding hotspots, showing that BA.2.86 lineage may have evolved to outcompete other Omicron subvariants by improving immune evasion while preserving binding affinity with ACE2 via through a compensatory effect of R493Q and F486P convergent mutational hotspots. This study demonstrated that an integrative approach combining AlphaFold2 predictions with complementary atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and robust ensemble-based mutational profiling of spike residues can enable accurate and comprehensive characterization of structure, dynamics, and binding mechanisms of newly emerging Omicron variants.

Mechanistic Modeling of Empagliflozin: Predicting Pharmacokinetics, Urinary Glucose Excretion, and Investigating Compensatory Role of SGLT1 in Renal Glucose Reabsorption.

The aim of this study was to use a combination of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and urinary glucose excretion (UGE) modeling to predict the time profiles of pharmacokinetics (PK) and UGE for the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin (EMP). Additionally, the study aims to explore the compensatory effect of SGLT1 in renal glucose reabsorption (RGR) when SGLT2 is inhibited. The PBPK-UGE model was developed using physicochemical and biochemical properties, renal physiological parameters, binding kinetics, glucose, and Na+ reabsorption kinetics by SGLT1/2. For area under the plasma concentration-time curve, maximum plasma concentration, and cumulative EMP excretion in urine, the predicted values fell within a range of 0.5-2.0 when compared to observed data. Additionally, the simulated UGE data also matched well with the clinical data, further validating the accuracy of the model. According to the simulations, SGLT1 and SGLT2 contributed approximately 13% and 87%, respectively, to RGR in the absence of EMP. However, in the presence of EMP at doses of 2.5 and 10 mg, the contribution of SGLT1 to RGR significantly increased to approximately 76%-82% and 89%-93%, respectively, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the model supported the understanding that the compensatory effect of SGLT1 is the underlying mechanism behind the moderate inhibition observed in total RGR. The PBPK-UGE model has the capability to accurately predict the PK and UGE time profiles in humans. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive analysis of the specific contributions of SGLT1 and SGLT2 to RGR in the presence or absence of EMP.

What's good for fish is good for fishes: Interspecific consistency of growth, condition, and abundance among glacial lakes

AbstractObjectiveFish abundance and growth are regulated by a combination of bottom‐up and top‐down forces, but many management techniques depend more heavily on the latter. Here, we evaluated whether intersystem variation in nutrient loading and bottom‐up forces play more dominant roles in the control of abundance and growth of species across similar lakes than intra‐ and interspecific compensatory effects. We aimed to assess whether patterns of abundance and growth are consistent among fish species across lakes.MethodsWe tested this by evaluating pairwise comparisons of catch‐per‐unit‐effort, condition, and length‐at‐age data for 11 common warmwater fish species from 184 mesotrophic and eutrophic glacial lakes in Indiana, United States. We characterized the environmental conditions of each lake using limnological measurements (e.g., chlorophyll‐a concentration and surface temperature), lake morphology descriptions (e.g., depth and size), catchment characteristics (e.g., percent agricultural land cover), and nutrient load modeling using the Long‐Term Hydrologic Impact Analysis model. Taking a meta‐analysis approach, we used effect size calculation from pairwise correlations among lakes to identify environmental and community impacts on species abundance, condition, and length at age.ResultWe demonstrated that there were positive associations among most species comparisons (i.e., multiple species experiencing relatively fast growth in the same lake). Evaluations of environmental conditions among systems suggested that differences in estimated phosphorus input and the limnological measurements of total phosphorus, Secchi depth, and chlorophyll‐a concentration were good predictors of length at age and catch per unit effort for fish.ConclusionOur results indicated that there is a strong and consistent influence of environmental conditions and bottom‐up processes in determining species abundance and growth. This suggests that bottom‐up forces and environmental conditions linked to nutrient loading likely determine the upper boundary of fish abundance and growth in these lakes.

Investigating the longstanding mystery of stigma length differences between morphs of distylous plants.

Longer stigmas in short-styled morphs of distylous plants have been considered an adaptive characteristic that increases intermorph pollen deposition. The greater pollen deposition in short-styled stigmas may be a by-product of their longer length, making deposition effectiveness comparison between morphs unfeasible. Thus, investigating which morph has the relatively most efficient stigma (i.e., pollen deposition per unit length) can boost our understanding of the adaptive significance of longer stigmas. Here, we compared pollen deposition between morphs relative to stigma length and assessed whether short-styled stigmas are more, less, or equally effective in receiving pollen grains per unit length. We reviewed the literature to characterize the extent of sigma length differences between morphs using the two most speciose distylous genera as model systems: Palicourea and Psychotria (Rubiaceae). Then, we conducted a between-morph comparison of raw and relative pollen depositions in a Palicourea rigida population. We confirmed that short-styled stigmas were longer than long-styled stigmas in both Palicourea (194.31% longer) and Psychotria (52.59% longer) flowers. Furthermore, in the focal Pal. rigida, although short-styled stigmas were 268.04% longer and received 97.04% more pollen grains than long-styled stigmas, the relative pollen deposition had a reverse pattern, with short-styled stigmas being two-times less efficient in receiving pollen. Our results indicate that the longer length of the short-styled stigmas may have a compensatory effect, increasing the chances of pollen grains reaching the stigma and probably maintaining disassortative intermorph pollination in distylous plants.

Root physiological and soil microbial mechanisms underlying responses to nitrogen deficiency and compensation in Indica and Japonica rice.

Compensatory effects are common biological phenomena in nature. In this study, we investigated the changes in root nitrogen uptake, root morphological and physiological responses, and changes in the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of indica and japonica rice during a nitrogen deficiency-sensitive period and an effective compensation period with double the nitrogen supply. We conducted a bucket experiment using Suxiu 867 (a japonica rice variety) and Yangxian You 918 (an indica rice variety). Treatments included CK (constant distribution of nitrogen fertilizer at each growth stage, represented by CK867 and CK918) and NDC (nitrogen deficiency in the tillering stage, double nitrogen application in the ear differentiation stage to compensate, represented by NDC867 and NDC918) variations. Both varieties presented the highest δ15N and 15N abundances and Ndff (refers to the proportion of nitrogen in a plant's body that comes directly from the fertilizer applied.) in rice under the NDC treatment. Metagenomic sequencing of rhizospheric soil showed that the dominant bacterial groups at the phylum level among each treatment were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Nitrospirae. The rhizosphere of indica rice was more enriched with the microbial communities involved in nitrogen metabolism, which contributed to higher nitrogen utilization efficiency. A correlation-based network was constructed and provides insights into the formation of nitrogen deficiency compensation effects and contributes to the enhancement of nitrogen uptake and utilization efficiency in rice production.

Urban park green space use analysis based on trajectory big data: Experience from a medium–sized city in China

Regular visits to park green space offer remarkable benefits for the physical and mental health of urban residents. Achieving a comprehensive understanding of the utilization across the entire city is a prerequisite for improving the overall utilization rate of park green spaces. Traditional social survey methods are limited by their sample size and time-consuming nature, while methods based on geographic location big data are gaining momentum. This study focuses on Xuchang, a medium-sized city in China, and systematically analyzes the current state and influencing factors of park green space utilization by mining GPS trajectory big data from April 3 to 12, 2022. Results indicate that residents' choices of park green spaces are highly diverse. Approximately 20% of visitors on holidays and weekends, and about 25% of visitors on weekdays, prefer the park green space closest to their homes. Notably, the distance threshold for park green space visits on weekdays, weekends, and holidays is 3633, 3824, and 4127 m, respectively. These distances are significantly higher than the several hundred meters specified in planning documents or commonly used in accessibility analyses. For individuals who frequently visit park green spaces, distance is the most critical influencing factor. Conversely, for those who occasionally visit, distance is not the primary consideration. For individuals who rarely or never visit park green spaces, personal attitudes play an essential role. In comparison to weekdays, the number of visitors on holidays and weekends is larger, the travel distance is longer, and they are more inclined to choose larger parks. Visits are concentrated in the afternoon and evening, and weather changes remarkably affect park green space utilization. Importantly, no compensatory effect is observed between the frequency and duration of park green space visits. These findings hold important implications for urban planning, management, and the promotion of park green space utilization.

Reduced eye gaze fixation during emotion recognition among patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

To investigate the facial scan patterns during emotion recognition (ER) through the dynamic facial expression task and the awareness of social interference test (TASIT) using eye tracking(ET) technology, and to find some ET indicators that can accurately depict the ER process, which is a beneficial supplement to existing ER assessment tools. Ninety-six patients with TLE and 88 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. All participants watched the dynamic facial expression task and TASIT including a synchronized eye movement recording and recognized the emotion (anger, disgust, happiness, or sadness). The accuracy of ER was recorded. The first fixation time, first fixation duration, dwell time, and fixation count were selected and analyzed. TLE patients exhibited ER impairment especially for disgust (Z = - 3.391; p = 0.001) and sadness (Z = - 3.145; p = 0.002). TLE patients fixated less on the face, as evidenced by the reduced fixation count (Z = - 2.549; p = 0.011) of the face and a significant decrease in the fixation count rate (Z = - 1.993; p = 0.046). During the dynamic facial expression task, TLE patients focused less on the eyes, as evidenced by the decreased first fixation duration (Z = - 4.322; p = 0.000), dwell time (Z = - 4.083; p = 0.000), and fixation count (Z = - 3.699; p = 0.000) of the eyes. TLE patients had ER impairment, especially regarding negative emotions, which may be attributable to their reduced fixation on the eyes during ER, and the increased fixation on the mouth could be a compensatory effect to improve ER performance. Eye-tracking technology could provide the process indicators of ER, and is a valuable supplement to traditional ER assessment tasks.

Soil water storage capacity and soil nutrients drive tree ring growth of six European tree species across a steep environmental gradient

Tree growth depends on tree-intrinsic attributes, synecological interactions, atmospheric conditions and soil properties. While the influence of tree factors and climate are analysed in detail in many studies, the effect of soil properties is less investigated and compensatory soil effects are often not quantified. In this study, we use a comprehensive dataset of 1659 tree increment cores from six common Central European tree species (Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus spp.) sampled at 1562 locations across large environmental gradients in the Eastern Alps. Soil data was available from an extensive soil survey including soil pits, laboratory analysis and the application of pedotransfer-functions. Up to three main tree species per site were sampled and the tree ring widths were dendrochronologically measured and synchronized. Topographic information from a high-resolution Digital Terrain Model, high-resolution climate data and biometric measures were available at each site. To determine the influence of soil water storage capacity and soil nutrient status, we used generalized additive models to expand standard models of well-known drivers of tree growth, including age, climatic water balance and temperature. For the time span of 38 years from 1981 until 2018, we found species-specific impacts of soil properties on tree ring growth. Specifically, soil water storage acted as a buffer to overcome drought periods, in particular for deep rooting tree species like Quercus spp. and Abies alba. In addition, we found species-specific growth reactions to soil nutrient status for nutrient-demanding species likes Fagus sylvatica but no effects for less demanding tree species like Pinus sylvestris. Our results show the magnitude of the effects of soil properties in relation to other growth factors on radial growth of six Central European tree species. Therefore, we posit that, while age and climate do have a stronger influence on tree growth, it is important to consider soil as a growth factor, particularly at the distribution margins along climatic gradients.

Abnormal effective connectivity of reward network in first-episode schizophrenia with auditory verbal hallucinations

ObjectiveAuditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia is proved to be associated with dysfunction of mesolimbic-cortical circuits, especially during abnormal salient and internal verbal resource monitoring processing procedures. However, the information flow among areas involved in coordinated interaction implicated the pathophysiology of AVHs remains unclear. MethodsWe used spectral dynamic causal modeling (DCM) to quantify connections among eight critical hubs of reward network in 86 first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia patients with AVHs (AVH), 93 patients without AVHs (NAVH), and 88 matched normal controls (NC) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Group-level connection coefficients, between-group differences and correlation analysis between image measures and symptoms were performed. ResultDCM revealed weaker effective connectivity (EC) from right ventral striatum (RVS) to ventral tegmental area (VTA) in AVH compared to NAVH. AVH showed stronger EC from left anterior insula (AI) to RVS, stronger EC from RVS to anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and stronger EC from VTA to posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) compared to NC. The correlation analysis results were mostly visible in the negative correlation between EC from right AI to ACC and positive sub-score, P1 sub-score, and P3 sub-score of PNASS in group-level. ConclusionThese findings suggest that neural causal interactions between the reward network associated with AVHs are disrupted, expanding the evidence for potential neurobiological mechanisms of AVHs. Particularly, dopamine-dependent salience attribution and top-down monitoring impairments and compensatory effects of enhanced excitatory afferents to ACC, which may provide evidence for a therapeutic target based on direct in vivo of AVHs in schizophrenia.

Abstract A085: First-in-class humanized antibody targeting alternatively spliced tissue factor augments anti-metastatic efficacy of chemotherapy in a preclinical model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Abstract Introduction. Alternatively spliced tissue factor (asTF) promotes progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) via activating b1-integrins on PDAC cell surfaces. hRabMab1, a humanized inhibitory anti-asTF antibody we recently developed, can suppress PDAC primary tumor growth as a single agent. Whether hRabMab1 has the potential to suppress metastases in PDAC is unknown. Aim. To test hRabMab1’s ability to suppress metastatic spread in combination with chemotherapy. Methods. asTF-proficient, KRAS G12V-mutant human PDAC cell line PaCa44 yields aggressive primary orthotopic tumors that spread spontaneously to the relevant anatomical sites, accompanied by severe leukocytosis. 5 × 105 PaCa44 cells were implanted into the pancreata of NOD-SCID mice (n=40). 10 days post-implantation, mice were randomized into 4 cohorts: vehicle; hRabMab1 administered IV at 18 mg/kg; gemcitabine/paclitaxel (gem/paclitaxel, 50 mg/kg/3 mg/kg); and hRabMab1+gem/paclitaxel. Results. Post-mortem analysis of tumor tissue and luciferase imaging of the abdominal cavity showed that gem/paclitaxel alone reduced primary tumor volume, but not metastatic spread; only the combination of hRabMab1 and gem/paclitaxel significantly reduced metastatic spread (p=0.0114 vs vehicle, 1-way ANOVA). RNAseq analysis of primary tumor tissue followed by gene set enrichment of differentially expressed genes showed that the addition of hRabMab1 to gem/paclitaxel downregulated tubulin binding and microtubule motor activity. Genes involved in extracellular matrix/collagen production and neovascularization were upregulated in response to gem/paclitaxel; addition of hRabMab1 to gem/paclitaxel tentatively reduced this compensatory effect. In the liver, hRabMab1 reduced liver metastasis as a single agent (p=0.031 vs vehicle) and in combination with gem/paclitaxel (p=0.0054 vs vehicle, 1-way ANOVA). In the surgical incision site, metastatic penetrance was as follows: vehicle, 100%; hRabMab1, 100%; gem/paclitaxel, 44% (4/9); hRabMab1+gem/paclitaxel, 0% (p=0.037715, gem/paclitaxel vs hRabMab1+gem/paclitaxel, Chi square test). Only the combination of hRabMab1 and gem/paclitaxel eliminated leukocytosis; levels of neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were significantly lower in the hRabMab1+gem/paclitaxel cohort vs gem/paclitaxel cohort (p=0.035, p=0.051, p=0.032, and p=0.026, respectively). Leukocytes recruited from the circulation fuel tumor progression in PDAC. To address the potential significance of white blood cell (WBC) count normalization in our model, we performed correlation analysis between WBC counts and tumor volumes across all cohorts; there was a highly significant positive correlation between these two parameters (R=0.682, p=0.00002). Conclusions. This is the first study demonstrating that hRabMab1 can suppress metastasis in PDAC. hRabMab1’s ability to improve anti-metastatic efficacy of chemotherapy is potentially significant and warrants further investigation. Citation Format: Clayton S. Lewis, Charles Backman, Sabahat Ahsan, Ashley Cliff, Arthi Hariharan, Jen Jen Yeh, Davendra P. S. Sohal, Vladimir Y. Bogdanov. First-in-class humanized antibody targeting alternatively spliced tissue factor augments anti-metastatic efficacy of chemotherapy in a preclinical model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Pancreatic Cancer; 2023 Sep 27-30; Boston, Massachusetts. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A085.

Effects of Clipping Intensity on the Physiology of Dicranopteris pedata and Its Interroot Soil in the Rare-Earth-Mining Area in Southern China

Clipping is crucial during phytoremediation. However, research into the effects of clipping intensity on the physiology of Dicranopteris pedata (D. pedata) and its interroot soil in the rare-earth-mining area in southern China is lacking. A clipping experiment was conducted to verify the phytoremediation effect of D. pedata. The physiology of D. pedata, such as biomass, antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll, and rare-earth elements (REEs), were determined after clipping. And the microbial community diversity and soil enzyme activities in the interroot soil of D. pedata were investigated. The phytoremediation efficiency was determined at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the compensatory growth effect of D. pedata was stronger with increasing clipping intensity. There was no significant difference in the α diversity of interroot soil microorganisms of D. pedata at different clipping intensities, but β diversity analysis showed that the clipping treatment group deviated from the control group. Only urease activity decreased among the interroot soil enzymes in D. pedata after clipping, while the soil catalase and sucrase were less responsive to clipping. The REEs accumulated by D. pedata were dominated by light REEs in the aboveground part of the plant, while the amounts of light and heavy rare-earth elements accumulated in the underground part of the plant were similar. The phytoextraction of REEs gradually increased with increasing clipping intensity. It was concluded that 100% clipping once a year is the most appropriate when considering D. pedata’s phytoremediation potential and soil system. The time it takes for 100% clipping of D. pedata to reduce the soil TREEs (total rare-earth elements), LREEs (light rare-earth elements), and HREEs (heavy rare-earth elements) to below-average soil REE concentration in China was estimated to be 25.54 years, 19.56 years, and 65.43 years, respectively, which was significantly lower than that for other clipping intensities and the control group. It is concluded that clipping D. pedata is an effective way to promote phytoextraction efficiency in the southern rare-earth-mining areas. The soil can still support the resumption of D. pedata growth after high-intensity clipping.

Effect of Lower Limb Muscle Fatigue on Dynamic Balance Performance in Healthy Young Adults: Role of Arm Movement.

There is evidence that balance performance deteriorates due to exercise-induced muscle fatigue. However, it is unknown if free arm movement during balance testing can compensate for, or restricted arm movement can amplify these performance degradations. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the effects of free versus restricted arm movement on balance performance under non-fatigued and fatigued conditions. Fifty-two healthy participants (men=31, women=21; age=22.6±1.6 years) were assessed for their dynamic balance (reach distances for the Y Balance Test - Lower Quarter) under non-fatigued and fatigued (repetitive vertical bipedal box jumps until failure) conditions using two different arm positions: free (move the arms freely) and restricted (keep the arms akimbo) arm movement. Restriction of arm movement (all p< 0.001; 0.48≤ η p 2 ≤0.79) and application of fatigue ( p≤ 0.003; 0.16≤ η p 2 ≤0.28) independently, but not the interaction between the two (except for the posteromedial reach direction: p= 0.046; η p 2 =0.08) , resulted in significantly deteriorated lower limb reach distances. These findings suggest that free arm movement and thus the use of an 'upper body strategy' has no compensatory effect on muscle fatigue-induced balance deteriorations.

Effects of Different Feeding Frequencies on Broiler Chickens’ Growth Performance and Intestinal Villus Development

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding frequency on growth performance and development of small intestine in broiler chickens from 1 to 14 days of age. Forty Aber acres broiler chicks at 1 day old were randomly assigned to 4 treatments as follows - T1: feeding once daily (100 % diet at 6:30), T2: feeding twice daily (50 % diet at 6:30 and 18:30), T3: feeding 4 times per day (25 % diet at 6:30, 11:30, 16:30 and 21:30) and T4: feeding 6 times per day (16.67 % diet at 6:30, 9:30, 12:30, 15:30, 18:30 and 21:30). Chickens were fed with commercial broiler rations for 14 days. Growth performance parameters including BW, BW gain, FI and FCR were determined. Changes in intestinal villus morphology were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) dye staining. Results showed that chickens fed 4 and 6 times per day had lower (p &lt; 0.05) BW, BW gain and FI when compared with chickens fed once daily, from 1 to 7 days of age. However, at 14 days of age, there were no significant differences in all parameters of growth performance. There were no changes in gross anatomy of the small intestine. Fixed feeding 4 and 6 times per day resulted in the villus height of the jejunum and ileum being higher (p &lt; 0.05) than when feeding once a day. Feeding 6 times per day resulted in the highest villus density in jejunum among feed regimes. The results suggested that both once and multiple daily feedings were suitable approaches to achieve optimum growth performance for broiler chickens from 1 to 14 days of age. Fixed feeding 6 times per day being the most beneficial for improving intestinal villus development. HIGHLIGHTS Feeding frequency is one of feed restriction method in broilers management From 1 to 7 days of age feeding fed 4 and 6 times per day show lower growth performance than feeding once daily, but not for 14 days of age Fixed feeding 4 and 6 times per day present the villus height at jejunum and ileum higher than feeding once daily Fixed feeding 6 times per day is the most effective solution for enhancing intestinal villus development Here, the experiment demonstrates for the first time that the compensatory growth effects by frequently feeding is at least mediated through adaptation of villus morphology in the small intestine along with improved feed consumption GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

A longitudinal study of the brain structure network changes in HIV patients with ANI: combined VBM with SCN.

Despite the widespread adoption of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in managing HIV, the virus's impact on the brain structure of patients remains significant. This study aims to longitudinally explore the persistent effects of HIV on brain structure, focusing on changes in gray matter volume (GMV) and structural covariance network (SCN) among patients at the Asymptomatic Neurocognitive Impairment (ANI) stage. This research involved 45 HIV patients diagnosed with ANI and 45 demographically matched healthy controls (HCs). The participants were observed over a 1.5-year period. Differences in GMV between groups were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), while the graph theory model facilitated the establishment of topological metrics for assessing network indices. These differences were evaluated using two-sample t-tests and paired-sample t-tests, applying the network-based statistics method. Additionally, the study examined correlations between GMV and cognitive performance, as well as clinical variables. Compared with HCs, HIV patients demonstrated reduced GMV in the right middle temporal gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus (FWE, p < 0.05), along with decreased betweenness centrality (BC) in the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate cortex. Conversely, an increase in the clustering coefficient (Cp) was observed (FDR, p < 0.05). During the follow-up period, a decline in GMV in the right fusiform gyrus (FWE, p < 0.05) and a reduction in node efficiency (Ne) in the triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus were noted compared with baseline measurements (FDR, p < 0.05). The SCN of HIV patients exhibited small-world properties across most sparsity levels (Sigma >1), and area under the curve (AUC) analysis revealed no significant statistical differences between groups. The findings suggest that despite the administration of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV continues to exert slow and sustained damage on brain structures. However, when compared to HCs, the small-world properties of the patients' SCNs did not significantly differ, and the clustering coefficient, indicative of the overall information-processing capacity of the brain network, was slightly elevated in HIV patients. This elevation may relate to compensatory effects of brain area functions, the impact of cART, functional reorganization, or inflammatory responses.

Does incentive-based green governance compensate for green innovation in enterprises? The role of green orientation.

Government-led green governance, as a crucial tool for achieving green and sustainable development, has garnered significant attention among researchers worldwide. Nevertheless, research on incentive-based green governance and green orientation remains insufficient. This study adopts an evolutionary game theory framework to elucidate the mechanisms underlying incentive-based green governance and green orientation in facilitating green innovation. The effectiveness of this framework is then verified through the utilization of propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-differences (DID) methods using data from Chinese companies. The main findings include the following: (1) Government incentive-based green governance exhibits a compensatory effect on green innovation, which is validated through robustness testing. (2) Internal green orientation serves as an intermediary factor between incentive-based green governance and green innovation, while external green orientation exerts a positive regulatory effect. (3) Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the impact of incentive-based green governance on green innovation is more pronounced in non-high-pollution industries, high-tech corporations, and companies operating in areas with lower governance intensity. This study is conducive to illustrate the compensatory effect of government incentive-based green governance on green innovation and also provides reference for the government to issue targeted green governance policies.

The effect of forest structure on drought stress in beech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.)

The unprecedented drought between 2018 and 2020 had a significant impact on European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in Central Europe. The role of different forest structures in mitigating drought stress remains controversial. This contentious debate prompted our study, in which we aimed to quantify the effect of forest structure on drought stress in beech forests in two ecoregions of northern Bavaria, Germany. Using a mobile laser scanner, we surveyed 240 plots in drought-stressed forests. We analyzed the responses of beech trees to the drought period through radial growth, wood-derived δ13C signal, and crown defoliation. Results revealed significant responses of beech forests in both regions to the drought event, including increased crown defoliation, reduced tree growth, and altered δ13C signatures compared to pre-drought conditions. Our results show a relationship between crown closure and crown defoliation in beech, suggesting an increased vulnerability of beech to drought in more open canopies. However, the potential for silvicultural intervention to mitigate drought stress, as measured by BAI and δ13C signal, appears limited. Neighboring trees and forest structure had little influence on average drought resistance. The δ13C signal showed minimal responsiveness to variations in canopy openness, as well as to distinctions between single and multi-layered forests. However, increased structural complexity within stands tended to increase resistance due to the compensatory effects of understory trees. Future forest management strategies could focus on promoting structural diversity, selecting resilient individuals but also actively enrich the forests with more drought-adapted species to increase the adaptive capacity of beech-dominated forests in the face of changing climate conditions.

Phytohormone Production by the Endophyte Bacillus safensis TS3 Increases Plant Yield and Alleviates Salt Stress.

Endophytic bacteria can be used to overcome the effect of salinity stress and promote plant growth and nutrient uptake. Bacillus safensis colonizes a wide range of habitats due to survival in extreme environments and unique physiological characteristics, such as a high tolerance for salt, heavy metals, and ultraviolet and gamma radiations. The aim of our study was to examine the salt resistance of the endophytic strain TS3 B. safensis and its ability to produce phytohormones and verify its effect on plant yield in field trials and the alleviation of salt stress in pot experiments. We demonstrate that the strain TS3 is capable of producing enzymes and phytohormones such as IAA, ABA and tZ. In pot experiments with radish and oat plants in salinization, the strain TS3 contributed to the partial removal of the negative effect of salinization. The compensatory effect of the strain TS3 on radish plants during salinization was 46.7%, and for oats, it was 108%. We suppose that such a pronounced effect on the plants grown and the salt stress is connected with its ability to produce phytohormones. Genome analysis of the strain TS3 showed the presence of the necessary genes for the synthesis of compounds responsible for the alleviation of the salt stress. Strain B. safensis TS3 can be considered a promising candidate for developing biofertilizer to alleviate salt stress and increase plant yield.

Examining Antarctic sea ice bias sensitivity in the multi-variate parameter space using a global coupled climate modelling system

Coupled global numerical climate models (GCMs) typically underestimate mean Antarctic sea ice area and extent, particularly during the austral summer months, contributing to uncertainties in climate prediction. This study examines the climatological behaviour of Antarctic sea ice in a coupled GCM in the multivariate sea ice model parameter space. Individual parameters dominate the ice response in different seasons and regions, with a compensatory effect in some parameter combinations and an amplified effect in others; however, certain parameter combinations are found to improve aspects of Antarctic sea ice climatology well beyond the limitations of a univariate approach. For example, the disparity between observed and simulated summer sea ice extent and area is halved, and the tendency towards very low-concentration ice (<15 %) reduced in favour of a more compact summer and autumn ice pack. Regardless, clear limitations in the extent to which a coupled GCM can be calibrated with sea-ice model parameters also emerge. Relatively unconsolidated winter ice cover persists and, in some experiments, becomes looser still, exacerbating the already overestimated maximum sea ice extent. Furthermore, the seasonal evolution of sea ice and the exaggerated asymmetry of the seasonal cycle, with the onset of ice advance too slow and maximum sea ice reached too late, sees negligible improvements. We note that, even with the large gains under certain parameter combinations, bias and other deficiencies still remain. Using coupled data assimilation to optimise parameters in both sea-ice and ocean models will likely assist in contributing to further model improvements.

Effects of dosage and reactivity of modified dolomite dust waste on mechanical properties and shrink-resist of mortar

Dolomite dust waste (DDW) has the potential to be used as an expansive agent for mortar due to its richness in magnesium and calcium. This paper reports the possibility of developing low-cost expansive agent for mortar using DDW through various activation methods. The changes in the physicochemical properties of the activated DDW and the shrinkage resistance, flexural strength, and compressive strength of the composite mortar prepared by partially replacing cement were systematically investigated. The hydration products and microstructure of DDW-composite mortar were investigated by XRD and SEM-EDS techniques. This study confirmed the feasibility of activated DDW as mortar expansion agents and the necessity of activation treatment for the resourceful use of DDW. The results showed that the activation treatment enhanced the activity of DDW, and the higher hydration reactivity significantly improved the shrinkage resistance and mechanical properties of composite mortar compared to raw DDW. The addition of 10% C800 DDW (thermal at 800 °C) showed a full-age compensatory effect on the volume shrinkage of the mortar. Substituting cement partially with 10% C900 DDW (thermal at 900 °C), the volume expansion rate of composite mortar after 28 d of standard curing exhibited 24.49% higher than normal, and its compressive strength (40.1 MPa) at 60 d exceeded 6.40% than normal mortar (37.7 MPa). The drying shrinkage of G30-10 (mechanically activated) and A0.1-10 (chemically activated) at 60 d resulted in 6.23% and 5.19% lower than normal mortar, respectively. Microanalysis revealed that the addition of DDW promoted the generation of C-M-S-H gels. The findings are instructive for the preparation of green and low-cost mortar expanders using DDW.