Growth Capability Research Articles

Effective drug design screening in bacterial glycolytic enzymes via targeting alternative allosteric sites

Three glycolytic enzymes phosphofructokinase (PFK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) that belong to Staphylococcus aureus were used as targets for screening a dataset composed of 7229 compounds of which 1416 were FDA-approved. Instead of catalytic sites, evolutionarily less conserved allosteric sites were targeted to identify compounds that would selectively bind the bacteria's glycolytic enzymes instead of the human host. Seven different allosteric sites provided by three enzymes were used in independent screening experiments via docking. For each of the seven sites, a total of 723 compounds were selected as the top 10 % which displayed the highest binding affinities. All compounds were then united to yield the top 54 drug candidates shared by all seven sites. Next, 17 out of 54 were selected and subjected to in vitro experiments for testing their inhibition capability for antibacterial growth and enzymatic activity. Accordingly, four compounds displaying antibacterial growth inhibition above 40 % were determined as Candesartan cilexetil, Montelukast (sodium), Dronedarone (hydrochloride) and Thonzonium (bromide). In a second round of experiment, Candesartan cilexetil and Thonzonium displayed exceptionally high killing efficiencies on two bacterial strains of S.aureus (methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant) with concentrations as low as 4 μg/mL and 0.5 μg/mL. Yet, their enzymatic assays were not in accordance with their killing effectiveness. Different inhibitory effects was observed for each compound in each enzymatic assay. A more effective target strategy would be to screen for drug compounds that woud inhibit a combination of glycolytic enzymes observed in the glycolytic pathway.

TME-responsive nanoplatform for multimodal imaging-guided synergistic precision therapy of esophageal cancer via inhibiting HIF-1α signal pathway

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and its treatment poses significant challenges. In recent years, photodynamic, photothermal, and chemodynamic therapies have emerged as alternative strategies for tumor intervention. However, limitations such as poor tumor targeting, insufficient microenvironment responsiveness, and unclear mechanisms hinder their application. In this study, we found that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) was highly expressed in clinical EC samples, which contributed to tumor malignancy and metastasis. We developed a carbon dots (CDs)-based tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive nanoplatform, CDs-MnO2-Au-Cet (CMAC), designed for multimodal imaging-guided precision therapy in EC. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that CMAC effectively targeted and imaged EC cells and tissues. CMAC significantly inhibited tumor growth by inducing apoptosis and reducing lung metastasis. Mechanistically, CMAC administration led to a substantial downregulation of HIF-1α and its downstream targets, GLUT1 and MMP9. In summary, we presented a novel nanoplatform for imaging-guided synergistic therapy in EC, which demonstrated excellent anti-tumor growth and metastasis capabilities, along with favorable biocompatibility. This study laid the groundwork for developing innovative theranostic strategies for EC.

Social Policy and Early Childhood Development: A Field Study in Baghdad City

Social policy includes many aspects, some of which are related to welfare, as well as many social responsibilities and rights that are considered the basis of the early childhood stage, as social policy aims to secure a kind of stimulating, safe and equal environment for children, especially in the first years of their lives, as these early stages greatly affect their growth, development and future capabilities. It aims to study the current facts related to a phenomenon, situation or group of individuals. This study relied on the social survey method by sample and used the questionnaire tool to identify the extent of the impact of social legislation to protect early childhood. A field study in the city of Baghdad, where the study sample amounted to (200) individuals, males and females. The results of the study showed that the highest percentage of the research community are females at 54.4%. The results of the study showed that providing health care to mothers before and after birth is the health system for child health by 60.4%. The results of the study indicate that the early childhood care policy contributed to reducing child mortality rates by 63.2%. The results of the study indicate that one of the most important ways is the contribution of the social care policy to correcting some wrong practices by holding educational courses for workers in health centers by 43.6%. The results of the study concluded that there are educational programs provided for early childhood with cognitive and cognitive stimulation by 58.4%. And the contribution of government efforts to provide development programs for the early childhood stage by encouraging enrollment in education by 55.2%. One of the most important difficulties facing the implementation of policies and strategies for sustainable development for early childhood is the absence of activation of the national strategy by 36%. Therefore, we recommend the establishment of a higher council for childhood that takes on the responsibility of drawing up policies related to children and following up on strategies and programs related to them.

Comparative study of the growth, stress status and reproductive capabilities of four wild-type zebrafish (Danio rerio) lines

BackgroundZebrafish are widely used in various research fields and to fulfil the diverse research needs, numerous zebrafish lines are available, each with a unique domestication background, potentially resulting in intraspecies differences in specific biological functions. Few studies have compared multiple zebrafish lines under identical conditions to investigate both inter- and intra-line variability related to different functions. However, such variability could pose a challenge for the reproducibility of results in studies utilising zebrafish, particularly when the line used is not clearly specified. This study assessed growth, stress status (cortisol, serotonin) and reproductive capabilities (maturity, fecundity, fertilisation rate, sperm quality) of four commonly used wild-type zebrafish lines (AB, SJD, TU, WIK) using standardized protocols.ResultsThe stress markers levels were found to be similar across the lines, indicating that the endocrine stress status is robust to diverse domestication histories. Variations were observed in the growth and reproductive parameters. The lines exhibited differences in the timing of puberty (86 dpf for AB and SJD lines vs. 107 dpf for the WIK line) despite achieving similar sizes, suggesting that there are line-specific variations in the induction of maturation. Additionally, the AB line demonstrated higher sperm quality than did the other lines and higher fecundity and fertilization rates than did the SJD line. The AB line also exhibiting a smaller adult size but a heavier brain relative to its body weight.ConclusionThese findings emphasize the importance of line selection for zebrafish research, indicating that researchers should consider line-specific traits to ensure the biological relevance and reproducibility of the results.

Phaeobacter italicus JN-W1: A pathogenic bacterium causing bleaching disease in Porphyra sensu lato (Bangiales, Rhodophyta)

The recent emergence of bleaching disease in the shell-borne conchocelis (SBC) of Porphyra sensu lato has escalated with alarming speed, inflicting severe economic losses on the Porphyra aquaculture industry. Despite the severity of the outbreak, the causative agents of this disease have remained elusive. In this study, we successfully isolated and purified the pathogenic bacterium JN-W1 from SBC affected by bleaching disease. Our infection assays revealed that the bacterium induced the degradation of algal cell organelles and the formation of autophagosomes, ultimately leading to the conversion of dead cells into empty-walled remnants, likely accounting for the bleaching symptoms observed in Porphyra. Additionally, the infection caused severe impairment of the algal photosynthetic apparatus, evidenced by a marked reduction in photosynthetic efficiency as the infection advanced. Through a combination of single-copy orthologous gene analysis and detailed morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization, strain JN-W1 was definitively classified as Phaeobacter italicus JN-W1. The bacterium demonstrated optimal growth and infection capabilities at 25 °C, pH 7.0, and a salinity of 20. JN-W1's pathogenicity was found to be contact-dependent, mediated by intracellular substances. This study laid a crucial foundation for further exploration of JN-W1's virulence mechanism and the development of effective strategies to prevent and control the outbreaks of Porphyra bleaching disease.

Examining the Evolution of Digital Innovation and Its Impact on Organizational Growth

Organizational operations have been modified by using the rise of digital innovation, which has increased consumer interaction, accelerated efficiency, and stimulated overall growth. But obstacles like converting organizational adoption charges and a quickly evolving era would possibly make it more difficult to generalize effects across of different sectors and ancient intervals. To overcome these constraints, a thorough examination of the impact of digital innovation on organizational growth is carried out in this study. This study investigates the connection among Digital infrastructure (DI), Digital Innovation practices (DIP), Adoption of advanced digital technologies (ADT), Leadership support (LS), Organizational growth (OG), and Employee digital capabilities (EDS) utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and CFA test. SEM is used to evaluate the causal pathways between constructs and the connections between latent variables and their indicators. CFA is a method used to validate the dimension model by examining the relationships between observed indicators and their underlying constructs. A systematic questionnaire with a Likert scale rating was used to collect data from 600 populations. The measurement model assessed the validity and reliability of latent constructs, while the structural model analyzed the relationship between constructs based on the proposed hypotheses. The structural model revealed that DI, LS, and ADT are positively connected to the DTP, and OG, between digital innovations on organizational growth. (β = 0.58,0.54,0.60 and 0.62,p < 0.05), providing well support for hypotheses 1, 2, 4, and 5. The SEM and CFA confirm the robustness of these relationships. The findings underscore the critical role of digital infrastructure and leadership in driving effective digital practices and fostering growth.

The robustness of porin-cytochrome gene clusters from Geobacter metallireducens in extracellular electron transfer.

The Gram-negative bacterium Geobacter metallireducens is of environmental and biotechnological significance. Crucial to the unique physiology of G. metallireducens is its extracellular electron transfer (EET) capability. This investigation sheds new light on the robust roles of the three porin-cytochrome (pcc) gene clusters, which are directly involved in EET across the bacterial outer membrane, in the EET of G. metallireducens. In addition to their essential roles, these gene clusters also play distinct, overlapping, and compensatory roles in the EET of G. metallireducens. The distinct roles of the pcc gene clusters enable G. metallireducens to mediate EET to a diverse group of electron acceptors for anaerobic respirations. The overlapping and compensatory roles of the pcc gene clusters enable G. metallireducens to maintain and restore its EET capability for anaerobic growth when one or two of its three pcc gene clusters are deleted from the genome.

Porous Spindle-Knot Fiber by Fiber-Microfluidic Phase Separation for Water Collection and Nanopatterning.

Porous spindle-knot structures have been found in many creatures, such as spider silk and the root of the soybean plant, which show interesting functions such as droplet collection or biotransformation. However, continuous fabrication of precisely controlled porous spindle-knots presents a big challenge, particularly in striking a balance among good structural controllability, low-cost, and functions. Here, we propose a concept of a fiber-microfluidics phase separation (FMF-PS) strategy to address the above challenge. This FMF-PS combines the advantages of a microchannel regulated Rayleigh instability of polymer solution coated onto a fiber with the nonsolvent-induced phase separation of the polymer solution, which enables continuous and cost-effective production of porous spindle-knot fiber (PSKF) with well-controlled size and porous structures. The critical factors controlling the geometry and the porous structures of the spindle-knot by FMF-PS have been systematically investigated. For applications, the PSKF exhibited faster water droplet nucleation, growth, and maximum water collection capability, compared to the control samples, as revealed by in situ water collection growth curves. Furthermore, high-level fabrics of the PSKFs, including a two-dimensional network and three-dimensional architecture, have been demonstrated for both large-scale water collection and art performance. Finally, the PSKF is demonstrated as a programmable building block for surface nanopatterning.

The genus Eutreptiella (Euglenophyceae/Euglenozoa) across its global distribution range.

The genus Eutreptiella (Euglenophyceae/Euglenozoa) comprises unicellular organisms known for their photosynthetic capacity and significant role in marine ecosystems. This review highlights the taxonomic, ecological, and biotechnological characteristics of Eutreptiella species, emphasizing their morphological and genomic adaptations. Eutreptiella species exhibit high phenotypic plasticity, enabling adaptation to various environmental conditions, from nutrient-rich waters to high-salinity conditions. They play a crucial role in primary production and nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems. Genetic and transcriptomic studies have revealed their complex regulatory mechanisms and potential for biofuel and nutraceutical production. Eutreptiella blooms significantly impact local ecosystems, influencing nutrient availability and community dynamics. Additionally, interactions with associated bacteria enhance their growth and metabolic capabilities. The genus shows substantial genetic variability, suggesting potential misidentifications or a polyphyletic nature. Further comprehensive studies are needed to clarify their taxonomy and evolutionary relationships. Understanding and managing Eutreptiella populations is essential to leverage their biotechnological potential and ensure the health of marine ecosystems.

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants progressively adapt to human cells with altered host cell entry.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant exhibits high transmissibility with a strong immune escape ability and causes frequent large-scale global infections by producing predominant subvariants. Here, using human upper/lower airway and intestinal cells, we examined the previously dominant BA.1-BA.5 and BA.2.75 subvariants, together with the recently emerged XBB/BQ lineages, in comparison to the former Delta variant. We observed a tendency for each virus to demonstrate higher growth capability than the previously dominant subvariants. Unlike human bronchial and intestinal cells, nasal epithelial cells accommodated the efficient entry of certain Omicron subvariants, similar to the Delta variant. In contrast to the Delta's reliance on cell-surface transmembrane protease serine 2, all tested Omicron variants depended on endosomal cathepsin L. Moreover, S1/S2 cleavage of early Omicron spikes was less efficient, whereas recent viruses exhibit improved cleavage efficacy. Our results show that the Omicron variant progressively adapts to human cells through continuous endosome-mediated host cell entry.IMPORTANCESARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019, has evolved into a number of variants/subvariants, which have generated multiple global waves of infection. In order to monitor/predict virological features of emerging variants and determine appropriate strategies for anti-viral development, understanding conserved or altered features of evolving SARS-CoV-2 is important. In this study, we addressed previously or recently predominant Omicron subvariants and demonstrated the gradual adaptation to human cells. The host cell entry route, which was altered from the former Delta variant, was conserved among all tested Omicron subvariants. Collectively, this study revealed both changing and maintained features of SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron variant evolution.

Mycelial growth, yield and decomposition capability of white oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) grown in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic and lignocellulosic wastes

White Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus florida) is one of the domesticated mushrooms in the Philippines and known to grow in various biodegradable wastes. Low Density Polyethelene (LDPE) plastic is one of the most common non-biodegradable wastes in the environment which causes pollution. At present, biodegradation process is one of the ways to degrade plastics because of its non-polluting mechanism and cost-effectiveness. Thus, this study aimed to determine if P. florida could grow in LDPE plastic and facilitate its decomposition. Fourteen treatments were used in the study, laid out in Complete Randomized Design, and replicated thrice. The first four (4) treatments were composed of substrates with no LDPE plastics (rice straw, sawdust and cocopeat) while the rests were substrates with certain percentage of LDPE plastics. Observation was done for eight (8) weeks in the PUP Lopez Mushroom Laboratory and the data obtained was analyzed using ANOVA. Result shows that slight decomposition happened in LDPE plastic mixed with lingo-cellulosic wastes. Small spots or dark holes appear in the surface of LDPE plastics observed under microscope which is a sign of decomposition. In terms of mycelial ramification, fruiting bags with LDPE plastics were first to occupy the fruiting bag. There was also a decreased weight of the fruiting bags after 8 weeks. In terms of yield, substrates without LDPE plastics grew mushrooms with the highest weight. However, yield in sawdust and cocopeat substrates were not significantly different with the yield of mushrooms grown in substrates with LDPE plastics.

Impact of Phycosphere-Isolated Marine Bacteria on Nutritional Value, Growth, and Nutrient Uptake of Co-Cultured Chaetoceros calcitrans

Microalgae offer distinct advantages as a nutritional source for aquaculture and as a means of wastewater bioremediation. Studying the phycosphere bacteria and understanding their complex interactions is essential to optimizing high-quality biomass growth. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify bacteria from the phycosphere of marine microalgae and to determine their potential to enhance growth, metabolism, and bioremediation capabilities of Chaetoceros calcitrans in stress nutrient-poor media simulating aquaculture wastewater enriched with nitrate, nitrite, or phosphorus. Bacterial characterization included tests for auxin and siderophore production, biofilm formation, amylase activity, phosphate solubilization, mobility, and antagonism evaluation. When Alteromonas macleodii, Bacillus cereus, and Marinobacter sp. were selected and then enriched (107 CFU/mL) in co-culture with C. calcitrans, growth levels significantly increased in four of six Synthetic Aquaculture Wastewater (SAW) media. Pigment levels were higher in five of six SAW media, and lipid levels were higher in SAW rich in nitrite (SAWni50) and phosphorus (SAWpho50). In addition, C. calcitrans with or without the bacterial consortium demonstrated excellent phosphorus bioremediation, achieving 67.6% average removal in SAWpho50. Nitrate and nitrite assimilation rates were approximately 10% in SAWna and SAWni50. This study marks the inaugural identification of these bacteria as microalga growth-promoting bacteria (MGPB) for enhancing growth and lipid and pigment production in C. calcitrans, and it also documents a maximum of 69.13% phosphorus removal.

AAV-Mediated Expression of miR-17 Enhances Neurite and Axon Regeneration In Vitro.

Neurodegenerative disorders, including traumatic injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) and neurodegenerative diseases, are characterized by early axonal damage, which does not regenerate in the adult mammalian CNS, leading to permanent neurological deficits. One of the primary causes of the loss of regenerative ability is thought to be a developmental decline in neurons' intrinsic capability for axon growth. Different molecules are involved in the developmental loss of the ability for axon regeneration, including many transcription factors. However, the function of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are also modulators of gene expression, in axon re-growth is still unclear. Among the various miRNAs recently identified with roles in the CNS, miR-17, which is highly expressed during early development, emerges as a promising target to promote axon regeneration. Here, we used adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to overexpress miR-17 (AAV.miR-17) in primary cortical neurons and evaluate its effects on neurite and axon regeneration in vitro. Although AAV.miR-17 had no significant effect on neurite outgrowth and arborization, it significantly enhances neurite regeneration after scratch lesion and axon regeneration after axotomy of neurons cultured in microfluidic chambers. Target prediction and functional annotation analyses suggest that miR-17 regulates gene expression associated with autophagy and cell metabolism. Our findings suggest that miR-17 promotes regenerative response and thus could mitigate neurodegenerative effects.

Effects of in ovo supplementation of selenium (Se) and zinc (zn) on hatchability and production performance of broiler chickens.

The current research was conducted to assess the effect of in ovo feeding (IOF) of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) on hatchability, production performance, liver, intestinal morphology, antioxidant levels and expression levels of immune-related genes in broiler chickens. A total of 400 fertilized eggs were equally divided into four groups: control (non-injected), sham (in ovo injection of 0.75% NaCl), Se (@ 1.5µg/egg in ovo injection) and Zn (500µg/egg in ovo injection) groups respectively. On the seventeenth day of incubation, treatment solutions were administered into amniotic fluid of fertilized eggs. The results revealed that Se and Zn supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced hatchability, post-hatch growth, organ development, and liver antioxidant capability. Histopathological examination revealed a typical hepatocyte morphology, well-arranged cells, and a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in apoptosis in both selenium and zinc groups. Additionally, selenium and zinc produced auspicious effects on intestinal epithelium and villi surface area. Interestingly, our results revealed that IOF of Se and Zn modulated the expression of immune-related genes in comparison to the control and sham groups. Conclusively, IOF of Se and Zn augmented health and productivity by enhancing the cellular immunity in the broiler chickens, thus IOF can be utilized as an effective strategy to promote health and immunity in broiler chickens.

SGPP2 is activated by SP1 and promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression

The late diagnosis and easy metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) remains a challenge. SGPP2 is reported to modulate cell processes in many cancers. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of SGPP2 in LADC are unclear. Online bioinformatics tools GEPIA, CPTAC, and K-M plotter were used to analyze the expression of SGPP2 and the prognosis in LADC. JASPAR and PROMO were used to predict the transcription factors of SGPP2. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blot were used to detect the levels of SGPP2 in LADC cell lines and tissues. Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. The anti-cancer effect of SGPP2 silence was evaluated in the LADC xenograft model. It was found that SGPP2 was highly expressed and related to the poor prognosis of LADC patients. Elevated SGPP2 expression was detected in LADC cell lines and tissues. The chi-square test indicated that the expression of SGPP2 was positively related to tumor, node, metastasis grades and lymph node metastasis. Knocking down SGPP2 significantly inhibited LADC cell viability, and invasion, but induced apoptosis. The anti-tumor effects of SGPP2 were verified in vivo. The upstream transcription factor of SGPP2 was predicted to be SP1, which was highly expressed in LADC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of SP1 partly rescued the inhibition of SGPP2-shRNA in cell growth, colony formation, and invasion capabilities, and decreased apoptotic cell number in LADC cells. This study demonstrated that SGPP2, activated by SP1, promotes LADC cell proliferation and invasion, and suppresses apoptosis in LADC.

Acid-modified hydrochar for higher biodegradation rate of atrazine in various conditions by Paenarthrobacter sp. KN0901: Higher cell viability and bacterial number

Microbial remediation is a viable and eco-friendly approach for decontaminating pollution. However, its effectiveness can be limited by the microorganisms’ survival and growth in changing environments. Hydrochar materials have been utilized in this study to increase the growth and atrazine degradation capabilities of Paenarthrobacter sp. KN0901, a strain capable of atrazine biodegradation. Acid-modified hydrochars exhibited a higher carbonation rate, specific surface area, and number of defect sites compared to raw hydrochar. Following three days of incubation at 15 °C, the atrazine degradation rate increased from 90.7 % to 98.2 % when utilizing H3PO4-modified hydrochar (PHC). Additionally, the addition of PHC resulted in an increase in both bacterial concentration and cell viability of strain KN0901, by 1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively. Under various conditions, including temperatures of 4 ºC and 35 ºC, as well as pH levels of 5 and 9, and dd·H2O media, PHC exhibited a significant enhancement in atrazine degradation and cell viability of strain KN0901. Furthermore, PHC demonstrated the ability to sustain high proliferation and viability of strain KN0901 over five cycles, indicating its remarkable stability and biocompatibility. This study offers a new perspective on the development and application of bioremediation approaches in restoring atrazine-polluted environments, even under challenging conditions.

Research on the Dynamic Evaluation of the Competitiveness of Listed Seed Enterprises in China

Seed enterprises are crucial for ensuring national food security, the driving force behind the seed industry’s advancement, and the core entity in constructing a modern seed industry system. At the micro and macro levels, agricultural seed enterprises face challenges and pressures in earning excess profits, enhancing their competitive edge, and resisting the incursion of multinational seed enterprises. This article selects panel data from 49 listed seed enterprises in China from 2015 to 2022 and uses methods such as global principal component analysis (GPCA) and Q-type cluster analysis to measure and evaluate the competitiveness of Chinese seed enterprises. Research has found that: (1) From 2015 to 2022, the overall competitiveness of listed Chinese agricultural seed enterprises has shown an upward trend. The competitiveness of agricultural seed enterprises can be further decomposed into operational capabilities, growth capabilities, production efficiency, technological innovation capabilities, etc. (2) The top ten agricultural seed enterprises in China have obvious advantages in operational and technological innovation capabilities, but their growth capabilities and production efficiency are insufficient. (3) Regarding the vertical comparison of the seed industry, the ranking of the competitiveness of Chinese listed agricultural seed enterprises from strong to weak is wheat seed enterprises &gt; other seed enterprises &gt; melon and vegetable seed enterprises &gt; corn seed enterprises &gt; rice seed enterprises. (4) Compared with international seed industry giants, there are various reasons why China’s top agricultural seed enterprises have weaker competitiveness, specifically reflected in research and development investment, scale and market share, industrial layout, and other aspects. The findings of this research offer empirical evidence to bolster the competitiveness of seed enterprises and advance the seed industry, while also aiding in fortifying the nation’s strategic oversight of the seed sector, bearing profound implications for safeguarding food security.

Genotype-specificity in putative competitive endophytes modulated by root exudation of rice

The putative competitive endophytic bacteria with plant-growth-promoting attributes could be potential bio inputs to enhance agricultural sustainability. These special rhizosphere colonizing bacteria possess distinct strategies to enter and colonize the host plant asymptomatically and offer several plant growth-promoting benefits. However, the molecular interaction between the endophyte and host plant remains unclear in many crop spheres. In this study, we categorize putative endophytes in rice into two groups—common endophytes and genotype-specific endophytes—based on their ability to colonize alternative hosts. The putative competitive endophytes of rice landrace Norungan and high-yielding cultivar Co51 were cross-inoculated with each other under gnotobiotic conditions and attempted to re-isolate from the inoculated plants. Two Norungan endophytes (Priestia endophytica NE14 and NE21) and one Co51-endophyte (Peribacillus endoradicis CE10) could not colonize the internal tissues of the alternate hosts, and they were considered as genotype-specific endophytes. In contrast, the rest of the strains could colonize both genotypes (common endophytes). The bait trap assay with flow cytometry revealed that the Norungan root exudate significantly enhanced the chemotactic movement of NE14 and NE21 compared to Co51-endophyte (CE10) and common endophytes (NE09 and CE07). Likewise, the Co51-root exudate triggered high levels of chemotaxis of CE10 but not the others. The root exudates did not alter the growth and biofilm-producing capability of genotype-specific and common endophytes. The cell wall degrading enzyme, pectinase of genotype-specific endophytes (NE14 and NE21), had positively enhanced due to Norungan root exudate but not with Co51 exudate. When the genotype-specific endophytes were inoculated to alternate host, a strain-level difference was observed in the induction of rice defense enzymes. NE14 inoculation in Co51 rice had high levels of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and glutathione reductase; NE21 induced high levels of glutathione reductase and peroxidase alone in Co51. Likewise, CE10 triggered relatively high levels of catalase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase in Norungan rice. No apparent difference between the two rice genotypes in defense enzymes’ levels was observed due to common endophytes (NE09 and CE07). These results authenticate the occurrence of genotype-specific putative competitive endophytes in rice, and exploring them for crop growth and yield would be a better choice for rice sustainability.

Improve the efficiency and accuracy of ophthalmologists’ clinical decision-making based on AI technology

BackgroundAs global aging intensifies, the prevalence of ocular fundus diseases continues to rise. In China, the tense doctor-patient ratio poses numerous challenges for the early diagnosis and treatment of ocular fundus diseases. To reduce the high risk of missed or misdiagnosed cases, avoid irreversible visual impairment for patients, and ensure good visual prognosis for patients with ocular fundus diseases, it is particularly important to enhance the growth and diagnostic capabilities of junior doctors. This study aims to leverage the value of electronic medical record data to developing a diagnostic intelligent decision support platform. This platform aims to assist junior doctors in diagnosing ocular fundus diseases quickly and accurately, expedite their professional growth, and prevent delays in patient treatment. An empirical evaluation will assess the platform’s effectiveness in enhancing doctors’ diagnostic efficiency and accuracy.MethodsIn this study, eight Chinese Named Entity Recognition (NER) models were compared, and the SoftLexicon-Glove-Word2vec model, achieving a high F1 score of 93.02%, was selected as the optimal recognition tool. This model was then used to extract key information from electronic medical records (EMRs) and generate feature variables based on diagnostic rule templates. Subsequently, an XGBoost algorithm was employed to construct an intelligent decision support platform for diagnosing ocular fundus diseases. The effectiveness of the platform in improving diagnostic efficiency and accuracy was evaluated through a controlled experiment comparing experienced and junior doctors.ResultsThe use of the diagnostic intelligent decision support platform resulted in significant improvements in both diagnostic efficiency and accuracy for both experienced and junior doctors (P < 0.05). Notably, the gap in diagnostic speed and precision between junior doctors and experienced doctors narrowed considerably when the platform was used. Although the platform also provided some benefits to experienced doctors, the improvement was less pronounced compared to junior doctors.ConclusionThe diagnostic intelligent decision support platform established in this study, based on the XGBoost algorithm and NER, effectively enhances the diagnostic efficiency and accuracy of junior doctors in ocular fundus diseases. This has significant implications for optimizing clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Assessment of growth, reproduction, and vermi-remediation potentials of Eisenia fetida on heavy metal exposure.

Heavy metal pollution is a significant environmental concern with detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health, and traditional remediation methods may be costly, energy-intensive, or have limited effectiveness. The current study aims were to investigate the impact of heavy metal toxicity in Eisenia fetida, the growth, reproductive outcomes, and their role in soil remediation. Various concentrations (ranging from 0 to 640mg per kg of soil) of each heavy metal were incorporated into artificially prepared soil, and vermi-remediation was conducted over a period of 60days. The study examined the effects of heavy metals on the growth and reproductive capabilities of E. fetida, as well as their impact on the organism through techniques such as FTIR, histology, and comet assay. Atomic absorption spectrometry demonstrated a significant (P < 0.000) reduction in heavy metal concentrations in the soil as a result of E. fetida activity. The order of heavy metal accumulation by E. fetida was found to be Cr > Cd > Pb. Histological analysis revealed a consistent decline in the organism's body condition with increasing concentrations of heavy metals. However, comet assay results indicated that the tested levels of heavy metals did not induce DNA damage in E. fetida. FTIR analysis revealed various functional group peaks, including N-H and O-H groups, CH2 asymmetric stretching, amide I and amide II, C-H bend, carboxylate group, C-H stretch, C-O stretching of sulfoxides, carbohydrates/polysaccharides, disulfide groups, and nitro compounds, with minor shifts indicating the binding or accumulation of heavy metals within E. fetida. Despite heavy metal exposure, no significant detrimental effects were observed, highlighting the potential of E. fetida for sustainable soil remediation. Vermi-remediation with E. fetida represents a novel, sustainable, and cutting-edge technology in environmental cleanup. This study found that E. fetida can serve as a natural and sustainable method for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils, promising a healthier future for soil.