Distinct Distribution Patterns Research Articles

Sex-Specific Differences in Lipid Metabolism in Obesity: Implications for Cardiometabolic Risk

Sex-specific differences in lipid metabolism play a critical role in the pathophysiology of obesity and its related cardiometabolic risks. Men and women exhibit distinct patterns of fat distribution, lipid handling, and hormonal regulation, contributing to varying susceptibilities to conditions like dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and metabolic syndrome. In women, subcutaneous fat deposition is more prominent, whereas men tend to accumulate visceral fat, which is associated with greater cardiometabolic risk. These differences are influenced by sex hormones, particularly estrogen, which has protective effects on lipid profiles in premenopausal women, but diminishes post-menopause, increasing CVD risk. Furthermore, genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle factors modulate these sex-specific lipid metabolic processes. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing the burden of obesity-associated cardiometabolic disorders. This review explores the mechanisms underlying sex differences in lipid metabolism, their implications for cardiometabolic risk, and potential interventions to address sex-specific metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Keywords: Sex differences, lipid metabolism, obesity, cardiometabolic risk, estrogen, visceral fat, metabolic syndrome

Uncovering Hidden Patterns: Macrophage-like Cell Distribution Across Different Stages of Posterior Vitreous Detachment.

To investigate the distribution of macrophage-like cells (MLCs) across different stages of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). A total of 168 eyes from 168 subjects were included. MLCs were imaged by acquiring en face OCT images at depths of 5 to 10 µm on the inner limiting membrane, as well as using B-scan OCT. Participants were categorized into three groups according to the degree of PVD: Group A for stage 1a PVD, Group B for stages 1b and 2 PVD, and Group C for stages 3 and 4 PVD. Localized vitreoretinal relationships were categorized into vitreoretinal adhesions, type 1a PVD, where the vitreous and retina are not clearly separated, and type 1b PVD, where there is clear separation. MLC density was sequentially lower in Groups A, B, and C. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that MLC density was correlated with both the PVD group and age (both P < 0.001). In Group A, MLC density was significantly higher in type 1a PVD than in the vitreoretinal adhesion area. In Group B, the distribution of MLCs in the vitreoretinal adhesion region was significantly less than in type 1a PVD and type 1b PVD. MLCs were more sparsely distributed in Group C. MLCs exhibit distinct distribution patterns in various stages of PVD.

Interactions between the gut microbiome and DNA methylation patterns in blood and visceral adipose tissue in subjects with different metabolic characteristics

BackgroundThe gut microbiome has been reported to induce epigenetic modifications in the host, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases.ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential interactions between the gut microbiome and DNA methylome in subjects with different metabolic characteristics.MethodsSixty-four participants with different metabolic characteristics (i.e., participants without obesity -healthy controls-, and participants with obesity and normal insulin sensitivity/insulin resistance/ type 2 diabetes-T2DM-) were included in this study. A machine learning approach was performed in order to identify distinctive patterns in three omics (gut microbiome, blood DNA methylome, and visceral adipose tissue-VAT- DNA methylome) according to the different study groups.ResultsRobust distinctive distribution patterns of the three different omics were found between healthy controls and patients with obesity; participants with and without T2DM, and patients with obesity with and without insulin resistance. Importantly, strong correlations between the gut microbiome (including Odoribacteriaceae and Christensenllaceae families) and both blood and VAT DNA methylome were found. Moreover, in the entire study population, three main bacterial genera (Sutterella, Collinsella and Eubacterium) were related to the epigenetic regulation of different genes involved in distinct processes related to cellular metabolism and metabolic diseases, including small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) transferase activity or lipid binding.ConclusionWe show that distinctive interactions between the gut microbiome and DNA methylome may occur in subjects with different metabolic characteristics. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential role of these interactions in the pathophysiology of obesity and related comorbidities.

Vibration Characteristic Analysis of Sandwich Composite Plate Reinforced by Functionally Graded Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Composite on Winkler/Pasternak Foundation

This paper presents numerical investigations into the free vibration properties of a sandwich composite plate with two fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) face sheets and a functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) core made of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite resting on Winkler/Pasternak elastic foundation. The material properties of the FG-CNTRC core are gradient change along the thickness direction with four distinct carbon nanotubes reinforcement distribution patterns. The Hamilton energy concept is used to develop the equations of motion, which are based on the high-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). The Navier method is then used to obtain the free vibration solutions. By contrasting the acquired results with those using finite elements and with the previous literature, the accuracy of the present approach is confirmed. Moreover, the effects of the modulus of elasticity, the carbon nanotube (CNT) volume fractions, the CNT distribution patterns, the gradient index p, the geometric parameters and the dimensionless natural frequencies’ elastic basis characteristics are examined. The results show that the FG-CNTRC sandwich composite plate has higher dimensionless frequencies than the functionally graded material (FGM) plate or sandwich plate. And the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and other geometric factors significantly affect the dimensionless frequency of the sandwich composite plate.

Shear Behavior and Acoustic Emission Characteristics of Propped Rough Fractures

AbstractShearing stimulation with proppant is widely used in geothermal and hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, the shear behavior associated with proppant-proppant and proppant-fracture interactions has not been clearly elaborated. This paper investigates surface damage and the interactions between proppant and surface roughness through direct shear tests with acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. The AE events show distinct spatial and temporal distribution patterns under the influence of proppant. The small magnitude AE events, representing proppant slipping and crushing, start to occur in large areas from the beginning of the shear deformation, and the large magnitude AE events occur mostly at the peak and during the residual phase and are concentrated on asperities. Crushed proppant grains and asperities form a gouge layer that prevents further damage to the fracture surface, reduces shear dilation and promotes aseismic creep. Fine proppant grains tend to remain intact, while the coarse proppant grains tend to be crushed. Our results suggest that acoustic emission characteristics can be used to infer different stages of shear behavior of propped fractures. These findings enhance our understanding of the shear behavior of propped fractures and provide evidence for monitoring their conditions using seismic signals.

Multiscale Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Distribution of Marine Fish Larvae—Patchiness and Predator–Prey Overlap

ABSTRACTThe distribution of fish larvae and other planktonic organisms is highly heterogenous and influenced by a complex interplay of physical, behavioural and ecological processes operating across different scales. Information on patterns and scale of resulting patchiness in plankton distributions is pivotal for understanding the bio‐physical linkages, trophodynamics and ecological strategies in the marine pelagic environment. In this study, we examine the distribution and degree of patchiness of four fish larvae species and their copepod prey, placing specific emphasis on the scale of patterns in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. Our sampling effort encompassed a 120 km long transect of stations covering a frontal area in the southern North Sea, employing depth‐stratified net sampling at varying station distances. Our results show distinct distributional patterns and migratory behaviours among different taxa of both larvae and their copepod prey, yet some commonalities were apparent. Across all species, we observed increased patchiness at larger spatial scales, significantly influenced by day/night fluctuations and hydrography. The overall findings highlight the dynamic nature of patch distributions and underscore the strong impact of hydrographic interfaces, whether vertically oriented pycnoclines or horizontally structured hydrographic fronts. These insights into bio‐physical linkages deepen our understanding of the mechanisms driving larval survival, prey availability and overall ecosystem dynamics.

Temperature and Precipitation Explain Bee Diversity on Flowers Along an Elevation Gradient in the Mexican Transition Zone

Although ecologists have identified the key factors influencing species distribution along elevation gradients, each mountain’s distinct characteristics, including its geology and biotic colonization processes, are often overlooked. The uniqueness of each mountain ecosystem implies that species distribution and the factors affecting them may vary across regions and taxonomic groups. The Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ) in central Mexico is a mountainous region of significant ecological and evolutionary importance, shaped by distinct biotic colonization and distribution patterns across its elevation gradient. However, most research in this region has focused on specific taxa, neglecting the vast diversity within the MTZ. In this study, we investigated the variations in flower-visiting bee diversity along an elevation gradient within the MTZ (10 sampling sites distributed from 4 to 3425 m a.s.l..), focusing on understanding the environmental factors influencing their distribution. Our findings reveal a declining bee diversity with increasing elevation, primarily driven by decreasing temperatures. However, when considering bee abundance, we identified precipitation as the predominant factor influencing bee diversity. Therefore, water and resource availability are critical in shaping bee diversity in this region. Furthermore, as elevation increased, we observed distinct and unique bee communities, highlighting the rarity and uniqueness of highland bee species as integral components of mountain ecosystems.

Thermal degradation of 18 amino acids during pyrolytic processes

Biomass pyrolysis greatly impacts climates, ecosystem dynamics, air quality, human health, global carbon and nitrogen cycle. The emissions of nitrogen-containing compounds from biomass pyrolysis highly depend on the protein nitrogen existing in biomass. However, the quantitative kinetic information, including the rate constant and apparent activation energy of individual amino acid induced by pyrolysis are still yet to be well-constrained. Towards this, we performed a series of controlled pyrolysis experiments where 18 equimolar free amino acids standard mixtures were pyrolyzed under ambient oxygen at temperatures between 160 and 240 °C. Additionally, straw samples were pyrolyzed to understand the mechanism of combined amino acids in protein liberation to free amino acids during pyrolytic processes. Our observations indicated that an increase in heating duration and temperature promote the degradation of free amino acids. Further, the heating stability of the 18 examined amino acids varied, which could be related to the length and functional groups present in their side chains. Our result shows that the degradation processes of all examined 18 amino acids followed irreversible first-order reaction kinetics in air within the given temperature range, with their activation energy ranging from 88.5 to 137.44 kJ mol−1. The distinct distribution patterns of both combined and free amino acids in aerosol samples from straw pyrolytic processes were obtained. The kinetic information of amino acids garnered herein helps to elucidate the transformation mechanisms of nitrogenous compounds during biomass burning.

Revealing How Human Activity and Native Plants Outshine Climate in Shaping New Invasive Alien Plant Elevational Patterns in Nature Reserves

ABSTRACTAimWe aim to investigate whether invasive alien plants introduced at different times exhibit variations in elevational distribution patterns and to explore the correlations of these patterns with climate, native plants and human activity.LocationGuangxi, China.MethodsWe recorded plant richness and cover across elevational gradients at 25–34 sites within each reserve, utilising 84–134 roadside plots per site. Using generalised linear mixed model (GLMM), we assessed the impacts of climate, native plants and human activity on the distributions of all, old and new invasive alien plants across the region and within the nature reserves.ResultsAt regional scales, the cover of all, new and old invasive alien plants decreased with increasing elevation, while only the richness of old invasive alien plants exhibited a similar pattern. Contrasting patterns were observed in Dayao Mountain, where the cover of old invasive alien plants decreased while the cover of new invasive alien plants increased. The richness patterns of all and new invasive alien plants were opposite between Dayao Mountain and Yachang Orchid. Moreover, native plant richness was negatively correlated with the richness of invasive alien plants, while interference intensity positively affected new invasive alien plants at both regional and reserve scales. At the regional scale, native plant richness accounted for 78.27%, 91.94% and 60.9% of all, old and new invasive alien plants respectively. Interference intensity accounted for 33.85% of the variation in new invasive alien plants. Annual mean temperature positively influenced the cover of all and old invasive alien plants at both regional and reserve scales, explaining 36.91% and 74.28% of their regional variation. Additionally, interference intensity and distance to human settlements positively impacted the cover of new invasive alien plants, contributing to 50.95% and 31.92% of their variation at regional scales.Main ConclusionThe distinct distribution patterns of old and new invasive alien plants highlight the significance of residence time in understanding their dynamics. Climate factors constrain the cover distribution of all and old invasive alien plants, whereas interference intensity and distance to settlements determine the distribution of new invasive alien plants. Notably, native plants play a vital role in preventing the establishment and spread of invasive alien plants within nature reserves, and their effectiveness increases with longer residence times. Our findings highlight the critical importance of minimising human interference and conserving native species for the effective management of invasive alien plants in nature reserves.

Size-based separation of extracellular vesicles investigating the relationship between Tetraspanins and RNA

BackgroundExtracellular vesicles (EVs), nano-sized particles released by cells, exhibit inherent heterogeneity, posing challenges for precise classification. This study introduces a method utilizing the coffee ring effect for size-based separation analysis, driven by the outward flow during droplet evaporation with Marangoni flow resulting from a surface tension gradient. ResultsThe controlled separation of nanoparticles based on size was applied to characterize EV and virus-like particle (VLP) samples. Tetraspanin markers exhibited distinct distribution patterns in dried droplets, with CD63-single-positive particles being smaller than those positive for CD9, CD81, or gag. Additionally, using previously developed fluorescence nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy, single vesicle analysis validated the size disparities in CD-positive particles. RNA analysis through the coffee ring effect and fluorescent NTA revealed differential patterns in EVs and VLPs, providing different insights into RNA packaging. SignificanceThis multifaceted approach enhances understanding EV heterogeneity, emphasizing the potential influence of cellular origin and biogenesis pathways on particle characteristics.

Analysis of Key Environmental Variables Affecting Fish Communities and Species Distribution in Asian Lotic Ecosystems

In 2011, Korea installed artificial structures on four rivers to secure water resources and reduce flood damage; however, these structures have altered ecosystems and aquatic communities. This study analyzed fish communities and environmental variables at 72 sites in the Geumgang River. Fish communities and environmental variables before weir installation were examined using site data from 2008 to 2009. The results showed that Cyprinidae dominated the 70 observed species. A self-organizing map categorized the 72 sites into four groups based on fish communities. Sensitive and insectivorous species decreased, whereas tolerant and omnivorous species increased from Groups I to IV. Twenty-one indicator species were identified, with fewer and less distinct distribution patterns in Groups II and III than in Groups I and IV. The fish assessment index (FAI) showed a decline in grades A and B and an increase in grades C and D from Groups I to IV. Correlation analysis between the FAI and environmental variables indicated that fish communities in the Geumgang River were mainly influenced by water quality, reflecting altitude gradients and pollution levels. This study’s findings are anticipated to significantly inform water management strategies for the Geumgang, Yeongsangang, Nakdonggang, and Hangang Rivers.

Influence of Urban Morphologies on the Effective Mean Age of Air at Pedestrian Level and Mass Transport Within Urban Canopy Layer

This study adapted the mean age of air, a time scale widely utilized in evaluating indoor ventilation, to assess the impact of building layouts on urban ventilation capacity. To distinguish it from its applications in enclosed indoor environments, the adapted index was termed the effective mean age of air (τ¯E). Based on an experimentally validated method, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed for parametric studies on four generic parameters that describe urban morphologies, including building height, building density, and variations in the heights or frontal areas of adjacent buildings. At the breathing level (z = 1.7 m), the results indicated three distinct distribution patterns of insufficiently ventilated areas: within recirculation zones behind buildings, in the downstream sections of the main road, or within recirculation zones near lateral facades. The spatial heterogeneity of ventilation capacity was emphasized through the statistical distributions of τ¯E. In most cases, convective transport dominates the purging process for the whole canopy zone, while turbulent transport prevails for the pedestrian zone. Additionally, comparisons with a reference case simulating an open area highlighted the dual effects of buildings on urban ventilation, notably through the enhanced dilution promoted by the helical flows between buildings. This study also serves as a preliminary CFD practice utilizing τ¯E with the homogenous emission method, and demonstrates its capability for assessing urban ventilation potential in urban planning.

Evolutionary history written in tandem arrays – satellite repeats in the Lagoseris lineage of Crepis sensu lato (Asteraceae)

Abstract Satellite DNA families are excellent markers in evolutionary studies of plant karyotypes. Together with phylogenetic background, they can provide additonal information on different scenarios accompanying the speciation and diversification of related species. The Lagoseris lineage of Crepis sensu lato constitutes an interesting model in such studies, mainly due to: (i) the presence of large chromosomes; (ii) several base chromosome numbers; and (iii) variation in genome sizes. We aimed to characterize the satellite families and compare their genomic and chromosomal organization to better understand the evolutionary pathways that shaped the genomes of the Lagoseris lineage. Eight different families of satellite repeats were identified in Crepis palaestina based on RepeatExplorer raw Illumina read analyses. Most of these satellites were present in five species studied from the Lagoseris lineage and organized in tandem arrays. If the particular repeat was present in the genome of the related species, its genomic organization showed similarity to the one observed in C. palaestina. This similar genomic organization was not often reflected at the chromosomal level, where many distinct distribution patterns were shown, from several major loci to numerous minor ones spread throughout the chromosomal arms. The evolution of satellite repeats is discussed in phylogenetic context.

Impact of Current Uncertainties in the 12C+12C Nuclear Reaction Rate on Intermediate-mass Stars and Massive White Dwarfs

Recent determinations of the total rate of the 12C+12C nuclear reaction show non-negligible differences with the reference reaction rate commonly used in previous stellar simulations. In addition, the current uncertainties in determining each exit channel constitute one of the main uncertainties in shaping the inner structure of super asymptotic giant branch stars that could have a measurable impact on the properties of pulsating ultramassive white dwarfs (WDs). We explore how new determinations of the nuclear reaction rate and its branching ratios affect the evolution of WD progenitors. We show that the current uncertainties in the branching ratios constitute the main uncertainty factor in determining the inner composition of ultramassive WDs and their progenitors. We found that the use of extreme branching ratios leads to differences in the central abundances of 20Ne of at most 17%, which are translated into differences of at most 1.3% and 0.8% in the cooling times and size of the crystallized core, respectively. However, the impact on the pulsation properties is small, less than 1 s for the asymptotic period spacing. We found that the carbon burns partially in the interior of ultramassive WD progenitors within a particular range of masses, leaving a hybrid CONe-core composition in their cores. The evolution of these new kinds of predicted objects differs substantially from the evolution of objects with pure CO cores. Differences in the size of the crystallized core and cooling times of up to 15% and 6%, respectively, lead to distinct patterns in the period spacing distribution.

Neurotrophic extracellular matrix proteins promote neuronal and iPSC astrocyte progenitor cell- and nano-scale process extension for neural repair applications.

The extracellular matrix plays a critical role in modulating cell behaviour in the developing and adult central nervous system influencing neural cell morphology, function and growth. Neurons and astrocytes, play vital roles in neural signalling and support respectively and respond to cues from the surrounding matrix environment. However, a better understanding of the impact of specific individual extracellular matrix proteins on both neurons and astrocytes is critical for advancing the development of matrix-based scaffolds for neural repair applications. This study aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of how different commonly used extracellular matrix proteins- laminin-1, Fn, collagen IV, and collagen I-affect the morphology and growth of trophic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocyte progenitors and mouse motor neuron-like cells. Following a 7-day culture period, morphological assessments revealed that laminin-1, fibronectin, and collagen-IV, but not collagen I, promoted increased process extension and a stellate morphology in astrocytes, with collagen-IV yielding the greatest increases. Subsequent analysis of neurons grown on the different extracellular matrix proteins revealed a similar pattern with laminin-1, fibronectin, and collagen-IV supporting robust neurite outgrowth. fibronectin promoted the greatest increase in neurite extension, while collagen-I did not enhance neurite growth compared to poly-L-lysine controls. Super-resolution microscopy highlighted extracellular matrix-specific nanoscale changes in cytoskeletal organization, with distinct patterns of actin filament distribution where the three basement membrane-associated proteins (laminin-1, fibronectin, and collagen-IV) promoted the extension of fine cellular processes. Overall, this study demonstrates the potent effect of laminin-1, fibronectin and collagen-IV to promote both iPSC-derived astrocyte progenitor and neuronal growth, yielding detailed insights into the effect of extracellular matrix proteins on neural cell morphology at both the whole cell and nanoscale levels. The ability of laminin-1, collagen-IV and fibronectin to elicit strong growth-promoting effects highlight their suitability as optimal extracellular matrix proteins to incorporate into neurotrophic biomaterial scaffolds for the delivery of cell cargoes for neural repair.

Personalized prediction model specific for sudden cardiac death in the population: a machine learning study based on EHR

Abstract Background Predicting sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population remains a significant challenge, particularly at the individual level. SCD and myocardial infarction (MI) share similar pattern of characteristics and risk factors, making their specific prediction highly difficult. As a result, the current prediction models exhibit low specificity. Methods To estimate the specific risk of SCD over three months, we trained a machine learning model on electronic health record (EHR) data representing 8,566,229 drug prescriptions and 801,352 of hospital diagnoses up to five years prior to SCD. The data were obtained from a French cohort of 12,338 SCD and from a cohort of 12,338 controls from 2011 to 2015. We then validated the results on two external cohorts: one temporal cohort in the same area between 2016 and 2020 with 11,620 SCD cases and 11,620 controls and one geographical cohort from the USA with 892 SCD cases and 892 controls from 2013 to 2021. In order to address the specificity of our prediction model for SCD, SCD cases collected between 2016 and 2020 were also matched with a group of 35 000 controls who had myocardial infarction, with no SCD, following the same protocol as for the controls issued from the general population. Findings: The analysis reveals three distinct patterns of distribution for SCD cases, controls, and MI cases. We observed a semi linear increase of SCD cases over the deciles of predicted risk, and our model detected 24% (2,908) of SCD cases with a predicted risk exceeding 90% (highest decile). We observed the opposite among the controls that decreased linearly with increasing deciles of predicted risk: most of the controls were accurately identified in the lowest deciles, and there were only 214 controls (2%) in the highest decile. Interestingly, we observed a relatively stable distribution of MI cases across the deciles, with 10% of MI cases in the highest decile (Figure 1). Interpretation: We developed and validated a personalized prediction model that is able to identify subjects at high-risk for SCD specifically. Figure 1: Histogram of predicted risks for sudden cardiac death cases, controls and myocardial infarction cases in the validation cohort.Figure 1

Attenuated kidney oxidative metabolism in young adults with type 1 diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes (T1D), impaired insulin sensitivity may contribute to the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) through alterations in kidney oxidative metabolism. Young adults with T1D (n = 30) and healthy controls (HC, n = 20) underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies, MRI, 11C-acetate PET, kidney biopsies, single-cell RNA sequencing, and spatial metabolomics to assess this relationship. Participants with T1D had significantly higher glomerular basement membrane thickness compared to HC. T1D participants exhibited lower insulin sensitivity and cortical oxidative metabolism, correlating with higher insulin sensitivity. Proximal tubular transcripts of TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation enzymes were lower in T1D. Spatial metabolomics showed reductions in tubular TCA cycle intermediates, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. The Slingshot algorithm identified a lineage of proximal tubular cells progressing from stable to adaptive/maladaptive subtypes, using pseudotime trajectory analysis, which computationally orders cells along a continuum of states. This analysis revealed distinct distribution patterns between T1D and HC, with attenuated oxidative metabolism in T1D attributed to a greater proportion of adaptive/maladaptive subtypes with low expression of TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation transcripts. Pseudotime progression associated with higher HbA1c, BMI, GBM, and lower insulin sensitivity and cortical oxidative metabolism. These early structural and metabolic changes in T1D kidneys may precede clinical DKD. gov NCT04074668.

Distributions of Lanostene-Derived Triterpenoids and Glucan Content in the Fruiting Bodies of the Australian Ganoderma Species.

Lanostene-derived triterpenoids and β-glucans are important metabolites in Ganoderma mushrooms associated with benefits to human health. The medicinal value of the Australian Ganoderma species remains unclear, with no data on triterpenoid distribution or glucan content. In the present study, 22 Australian Ganoderma specimens were analyzed for triterpenoid and glucan contents. Thirty-two triterpenoids were identified in the fruiting bodies of 19 of the specimens. Distinct patterns in triterpenoid distribution between laccate and matte fruiting bodies were observed, leading to the classification of four groups of Ganoderma. Most of the glucans in the Ganoderma fruiting bodies were β-glucans (~99%), with a nominal α-glucan content (~1%). The β-glucan content ranged from 19.5 to 43.5% (w/w). A range of antioxidant activities was observed for methanol extracts using the ABTS (1.8 to 8.4 mg GAE.g-1), DPPH (1.7 to 9.4 mg GAE/g-1) and FRAP (24.7 to 111.6 mmol FeSO4.g-1) assays, with four specimens presenting relatively high radical scavenging and reducing activities. For the first time, we demonstrated that Australian Ganoderma mushrooms contain medicinal triterpenoids, including ganoderic acid A, and we established a link between its distribution and the fruiting body morphology. However, further research is required to isolate diploid clones and determine factors that impact triterpenoid and glucan synthesis in these strains.

Enhancing ecosystem dynamics: organic and regenerative practices in rice–wheat systems and their impact on soil arthropod biodiversity

Arthropods may make a significant fraction of the total number of soil organisms. They function as plant litter transformers or ecosystem engineers, and thus contribute positively to soil health. The present study was conducted during the 2020–2022 at International Rice Research Institute, South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi. Study investigates the impact of different farming methods-conventional (Scenario 1; Sc1), LINF- Low-input natural farming (Sc 2); BBEF- Biochar-based ecological farming (Sc 3); CROF- Climate-resilient organic farming (Sc 4); RF- Regenerative farming (Sc 5) practices on soil arthropod populations in rice-wheat systems. Study utilized pitfall traps across various experimental setups. The findings revealed a significant increase in arthropod diversity and abundance, particularly in organic farming scenarios, where the Formicidae family (ants) and the Araneae family (spiders) were most prevalent. In an organically rich soil system, the five most diverse groups (Isopoda, Myriapoda, Insecta, Acari, and Collembola) were reported. This increase can be attributed to the nutrient-rich amendments that positively influence soil organisms. This study highlights a gradual increase in specific taxa, such as cockroaches, spiders, ants, and grasshoppers, following the transition to organic farming. Principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed distinct arthropod distribution patterns in the different farming systems, indicating the unique ecological impact of each method. Interestingly, predator populations in zero-till wheat fields under regenerative agriculture were greater than those in conventionally tilled fields. These results underscore the substantial role of organic and regenerative farming practices in promoting sustainable agricultural ecosystems. This study reveals the complex interplay between farming practices and arthropod dynamics and highlights the ecological benefits of sustainable agricultural methods, emphasizing their potential to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in Norway: Predominance of C. parvum and emergence of C. mortiferum

PCR-based diagnostics has revealed the previously largely unknown Cryptosporidium transmission and infections in high-income countries. This study aimed to determine domestic and imported subtypes of Cryptosporidium species in Norway, evaluate their demographic distribution, and identify potential small outbreaks. Cryptosporidium-positive human faecal samples were obtained from six medical microbiology laboratories between February 2022 and January 2024, together with 22 Cryptosporidium-positive animal samples. Species and subtypes were identified by sequencing PCR products from gp60 and SSU rRNA genes. Most cryptosporidiosis cases occurred during late summer/early autumn, primarily in children and young adults. Of 550 human samples, 359 were successfully characterized molecularly (65%), revealing infection with 10 different Cryptosporidium species. C. parvum occurred in 245 (68%) human isolates with IIa and IId being major allele families, with distinct regional distribution patterns of common subtypes. A kindergarten outbreak with 5 cases was due to C. parvum IIaA14G1R1. C. mortiferum was identified in 33 (9.2%) human cases of which 24 were known to be of domestic origin, making it the second most common species in human autochthonous cases in Norway. All C. mortiferum isolates were of the same genotype; XIVaA20G2T1, including 13 cases from a suspected small outbreak in Trøndelag. C. hominis occurred in 68 typed cases (19%), but mostly in infections acquired abroad, with allele families Ib and If occurring most often. In conclusion, this study of recent Cryptosporidium spp. and subtypes in Norway, highlights the predominance of C. parvum and the emergence of C. mortiferum among autochthonous cases.