High Levels Of Abundance Research Articles

Spatial organisation of the soil macrofauna community of an oak forest in the steppe zone of Ukraine

Background. Environmental impact assessments and the development of measures for the protection and sustainable use of ecosystems should take into account that not only steppe ecosystems but also forest, marsh, salt marsh and meadow ecosystems are referenced for the steppe zone. A comparative approach requires the study of reference ecosystems to understand how much a particular ecosystem has been transformed or how far it is from natural patterns in the restoration process. The soil macrofaunal community of the forest ecosystem of the right bank of the Samara River can be considered a reference for many forest ecosystems in the region. The aim of this study was to identify patterns of spatial organization of the soil macrofaunal community of an oak forest on the right bank of the Samara River. Materials and Methods. A study was conducted in a deciduous woodland located in an oak forest on the right bank of the Samara River. The study area was divided into 5 transects, each consisting of 20 sampling points with a 2 m distance between rows. The samples of the soil macrofauna were taken from a single block of soil that was 25×25×30 cm deep and removed quickly. Vascular plant species lists were recorded for each 2×2 m subplot. The soil penetration resistance and electrical conductivity were measured. Soil faunal trophic activity was assessed by means of a bait lamina test. Results and Discussion. The spatial structure of the community is complex in terms of hierarchy. The driver of the broad-scale component of spatial variation in the community is the properties of the topsoil, mainly the density of the litter. Vegetation cover forms a broad component of the spatial variation in soil macrofauna. An important factor in structuring ecological space is the location of trees. The pure spatial pattern is represented by broad-, medium-, and fine-scale components. Conclusion. The soil macrofaunal community of an oak forest on the slope of the right bank of a steppe river has a high level of abundance and taxonomic and ecological diversity. The spatial distribution of trees forms a broad-scale component of variation in the soil macrofaunal community, and herbaceous cover forms a medium-scale component. The fine-scale component of community variation is due to neutral factors.

Density dependence only affects increase rates in baleen whale populations at high abundance levels

Abstract Most baleen whale populations are increasing after the end of industrial whaling, but their recovery patterns challenge long‐standing assumptions about density dependence. It has long been assumed that population growth rates will decline with recovery, until reaching equilibrium (‘carrying capacity’, K). Indeed, the International Whaling Commission assumes that growth rates will slow long before K is reached, with maximum productivity at 0.6K. This 0.6K population level is used as an international benchmark that forms the basis of whaling regulations and decisions about whether baleen whale populations are declared depleted. We fit models to four long‐term data sets for baleen whales with multiple abundance estimates that span the range from low to high abundance, finding strong evidence that increase rates remain at near‐maximal levels across a wide range of abundance levels, and only decline as the population nears K. As a result, maximum productivity occurs at 0.69–0.87 of K across these populations, which predicts more rapid recovery for baleen whale populations than currently assumed. The overall mean of these values (0.8K) would be a more sensible default choice than the 0.6K currently assumed. Synthesis and applications. Estimated recovery rates imply that management thresholds currently used are lower than actual maximum productivity and that populations can increase rapidly even at high abundance. However, if population models continue to assume that maximum productivity is at 0.6K, they will estimate abundance relative to K to be lower than it is, providing conservative assessment results. Our results should stimulate further discussion about the role of maximum sustainable yield as a fundamental concept in fisheries and wildlife management.

Plasma Proteomics Identifies B2M as a Regulator of Pulmonary Hypertension in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) represents an important phenotype in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, management of PH-HFpEF is challenging because mechanisms involved in the regulation of PH-HFpEF remain unclear. We used a mass spectrometry-based comparative plasma proteomics approach as a sensitive and comprehensive hypothesis-generating discovery technique to profile proteins in patients with PH-HFpEF and control subjects. We then validated and investigated the role of one of the identified proteins using in vitro cell cultures, in vivo animal models, and independent cohort of human samples. Plasma proteomics identified high protein abundance levels of B2M (β2-microglobulin) in patients with PH-HFpEF. Interestingly, both circulating and skeletal muscle levels of B2M were increased in mice with skeletal muscle SIRT3 (sirtuin-3) deficiency or high-fat diet-induced PH-HFpEF. Plasma and muscle biopsies from a validation cohort of PH-HFpEF patients were found to have increased B2M levels, which positively correlated with disease severity, especially pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and right atrial pressure at rest. Not only did the administration of exogenous B2M promote migration/proliferation in pulmonary arterial vascular endothelial cells but it also increased PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) expression and cell proliferation in pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells. Finally, B2m deletion improved glucose intolerance, reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling, lowered PH, and attenuated RV hypertrophy in mice with high-fat diet-induced PH-HFpEF. Patients with PH-HFpEF display higher circulating and skeletal muscle expression levels of B2M, the magnitude of which correlates with disease severity. Our findings also reveal a previously unknown pathogenic role of B2M in the regulation of pulmonary vascular proliferative remodeling and PH-HFpEF. These data suggest that circulating and skeletal muscle B2M can be promising targets for the management of PH-HFpEF.

Participation of Lens Proteins and miRs in Traumatic and Inheritance Cataract: A Review on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for Cataract Management.

Traumatic and inherited cataract spiking blindness is caused by accumulated deposition of mutant eye lens protein or lens microarchitecture alteration. A traumatic cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens that occurs as a result of physical trauma to the eye. This trauma can be caused by various incidents such as blunt force injury, penetration by a foreign object, or a significant impact on the eye area. Inheritance cataracts or hereditary cataracts are cataracts that are genetically inherited from one or both parents. Complications following cataract surgery encompass various adverse outcomes such as inflammation, infection, bleeding, swelling, drooping eyelid, glaucoma, secondary cataracts, and complete loss of vision. The main purpose of the review is to highlight common pathophysiology associated with traumatic and inherited cataracts. Also, the review discusses diagnosis and treatment strategies for such cataract types by targeting their key pathological hallmarks. γD-crystallin plays a crucial role in maintaining the optical properties of the lens during the life span of an individual. Carbamazepine, Resveratrol, and Myricetin (CRM) are effectively bound at the γD-crystallin binding site and thereby could minimize misfolding and aggregation of γD-crystallin. miR-202, miR-193b, miR-135a, miR365, and miR-376a had the highest levels of abundance in the aqueous humor of individuals diagnosed with cataracts. The validation of these miRs will provide more insights into their functional roles and may be used for diagnostic purposes. The effective CRM combination as a multidrug formulation may postpone both traumatic and inherited cataracts and protect the eye from blindness.

Integration of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing and Bulk RNA Sequencing to Identify an Immunogenic Cell Death-Related 5-Gene Prognostic Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) can enhance the potency of immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Nevertheless, it is ambiguous how ICD-related genes (ICDRGs) contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were used to distinguish malignant cells from normal cells in the HCC tumor microenvironment(TME). Bulk RNA sequencing data was employed to acquire the landscape of the 33 ICDRGs. Unsupervised clustering identified two ICD molecular subtypes. The cellular infiltration characteristics and biological behavior in different subtypes were analyzed by ssGSEA. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two subtypes were determined, based on which patients were classified into three gene clusters. Then, the prognostic model was constructed by Lasso-Cox analysis. Finally, we investigated the expression of risk genes in cancer cell line encyclopedia (CCLE) and validated the function of NKX3-2 in vitro experiments. ICD scores and ICDRGs expression in malignant cells were significantly lower than in normal cells by scRNA-seq analysis. ICD-high subtype was characterized by ICD-related gene overexpression and high levels of immune infiltration abundance and immune checkpoints; Three DEGs-related gene clusters were likewise strongly linked to stromal and immunological activation. In the ICD-related prognostic model consisting of NKX3-2, CHODL, MMP1, NR0B1, and CTSV, the low-risk group patients had a better endpoint and displayed increased susceptibility to immunotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs like 5-Fluorouracil, afatinib, bortezomib, cediratinib, lapatinib, dasatinib, gefitinib and crizotinib. Moreover, NKX3-2 amplification in HCC samples has been verified by experiments, and its disruption suppressed the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells. Our study highlighted the potential of the ICDRGs risk score as a prognostic indicator to aid in the accurate diagnosis and immunotherapy sensitivity of HCC.

Molecular detection of exosomal miRNAs of blood serum for prognosis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer affecting people. The discovery of new, non-invasive, specific, and sensitive molecular biomarkers for CRC may assist in the diagnosis and support therapeutic decision making. Exosomal miRNAs have been demonstrated in carcinogenesis and CRC development, which makes these miRNAs strong biomarkers for CRC. Deep sequencing allows a robust high-throughput informatics investigation of the types and abundance of exosomal miRNAs. Thus, exosomal miRNAs can be efficiently examined as diagnostic biomarkers for disease screening. In the present study, a number of 660 mature miRNAs were detected in patients diagnosed with CRC at different stages. Of which, 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed in CRC patients compared with healthy controls. Twenty-nine miRNAs with high abundance levels were further selected for subsequent analysis. These miRNAs were either highly up-regulated (e.g., let-7a-5p, let-7c-5p, let-7f-5p, let-7d-3p, miR-423-5p, miR-3184-5p, and miR-584) or down-regulated (e.g., miR-30a-5p, miR-99-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-26-5p and miR-204-5p). These miRNAs influence critical genes in CRC, leading to either tumor growth or suppression. Most of the reported diagnostic exosomal miRNAs were shown to be circulating in blood serum. The latter is a novel miRNA that was found in exosomal profile of blood serum. Some of the predicted target genes of highly expressed miRNAs participate in several cancer pathways, including CRC pathway. These target genes include tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes and DNA repair genes. Main focus was given to multiple critical signaling cross-talking pathways including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathways that are directly linked to CRC. In conclusion, we recommend further analysis in order to experimentally confirm exact relationships between selected differentially expressed miRNAs and their predicted target genes and downstream functional consequences.

Influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematodes in the red fox in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula

Human-induced ecosystem fragmentation is one of the drivers causing wildlife migration from their natural habitats to urban areas, among other reasons. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant wild canid in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Water scarcity may result in areas shared by synanthropic fox populations and domestic animals becoming hotspots for parasite transmission. This study describes the gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematode species affecting fox populations in these semi-arid areas and the influence of environmental variables on parasite abundance. A total of 167 foxes collected from 2015 to 2021 in the Region of Murcia (SE Spain) were analysed. Parasite abundance and spatial distribution were evaluated using environmental variables and host characteristics with a Generalised Linear Model and the Moran index. Eleven species (seven from the gastrointestinal tract and four from the cardiopulmonary tract) were described. The influence of biotic and abiotic variables was studied for Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Temperature, humidity and areas of forest or agricultural land influenced the abundance of these parasites, providing optimal conditions for free-living stages of the direct life cycle nematodes and intermediate hosts. Absolute abundance distribution maps showed defined locations for C. vulpis, T. canis and T. leonina. The results for U. stenocephala, T. canis and T. leonina were particularly important as their higher abundance levels were found close to anthropized areas, which need to be carefully evaluated to prevent transmission of these nematodes between domestic and wild canids and human health.

Transfer seeds, hay, or soil blocks? The importance of the completeness of biological inputs to address dispersal and establishment limitations during the restoration of plant assemblages in floodplain grasslands

This study investigated different techniques of grassland restoration to overcome dispersal or establishment limitation, which are key processes influencing early‐successional plant community assembly. A fully randomized in situ experiment was set up in a former arable land in a floodplain along the Garonne river (south‐western France) to test for the effect of (1) the type and completeness of the biological input (any biological material—seed, hay, and soil—transferred to the site under restoration), (2) soil disturbance by deep tillage, and (3) their interaction on plant community dynamics for 5 years. All inputs influenced the plant community structure and composition. The effects depended on the type of the input but not necessarily in link with its completeness. High density and diversity seed mixture led to high levels of richness and relative abundance of target species like soil blocks, the input considered as the most complete. During the first year, hay transfer mostly influenced community assembly through negative litter effects. Delayed germination of several species contributed to buffer these early effects. This study supports the importance of dispersal limitation during early succession in degraded grassland ecosystems whereas soil disturbance had only subtle effects on the seed bank and standing plant community, indicating that competition and establishment limitation were of secondary importance in our study system. Our results suggest that even low‐frequency immigration events (e.g. when a few seeds are transferred within hay) can be of great importance providing that a sufficiently long time period is considered for grassland restoration.

Evaluation of changes in the lipid profiles of dried shrimps (Penaeus vannamei) during accelerated storage based on chemical and lipidomics analysis

This study aimed to explore the effects of storage on lipid profiles changes and potential candidates of lipid oxidation in dried shrimps using chemical and lipidomics analysis. Results showed that peroxide value (POV) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) significantly increased. A total of 790 lipid molecular species belonging to 7 main classes were identified, among which glycerophospholipids (GPs, 72.91%) were the most abundant, followed by glycerolipids (GLs, 13.67%) and sphingolipids (SPs, 8.10%). Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), triglyceride (TG) and diglyceride (DG) as dominant lipid species were susceptible to oxidization/hydrolyzation mainly because of their unsaturated structures. Using multivariate statistical analysis, 163 differential lipid molecules were screened, including 131 and 32 differentially abundant lipids (DALs) accumulating at high and low abundance levels, respectively. After storage, most of phospholipids significantly decreased, while corresponding lysophospholipids increased. Particularly, it was found that TGs and DGs with fatty acids of 18:1 and 18:2 were more likely to be downregulated. Furthermore, 18 DALs were selected as potential biomarkers of lipid oxidation in dried shrimps. This study provided insights into lipid oxidation mechanism and the changes in lipid profiles of dried shrimps during storage.

Уровень развития зооперифитона на искусственных рифах, установленных в приглубой зоне северо-западной части Каспийского моря

The creation of artificial reefs is of great importance in increasing the production of marine biological resources and widespread distribution. Various goals are pursued under the implementation of such projects including the enrichment of local populations of fish and other marine life. Artificial reefs are usually rapidly populated by fouling, and research into these communities is of interest as they will increase food resources and shelters, making reefs more attractive to fish. This paper presents the taxonomic composition and quantitative characteristics of zooverifiton of artificial reefs installed at depths of 10-12 m in a remote part of the North Caspian. The results of the studies showed that on artificial reefs the level of development of organisms using them as a habitat is significantly higher than in the natural biotope. There was a seasonal decrease in the level of development of both individual species and, in general, zooverifiton by an average of 4 times. Compared to zoobenthos, the abundance and biomass of foulers were higher, this was most significantly observed in the summer. Quantitative indicators of zooverifiton formed crustaceans and molluscs in both seasons of research. The dominant periphyton species are mytilyaster and balyanus. The results of the studies showed that almost all species noted in fouling were found in the composition of zoobenthos samples taken near artificial reefs. Analysis of this study did not reveal an increase in species diversity in this area of the sea, however, a high level of abundance and biomass of organisms indicates the importance of artificial reefs to improve the food supply of fish.

Comparative analysis of nine Tilletia indica genomes for the development of novel microsatellite markers for genetic diversity and population structure analysis.

Karnal bunt (KB; Tilletia indica) is the prime quarantine concern for quality wheat production throughout the world. The most effective approach to dealing with this biotic stress is to breed KB-resistant wheat varieties, which warrants a better understanding of T. indica genome architecture. In India, the North Western Plain Zone is the prime hot spot for KB disease, but only limited efforts have been made to decipher T. indica diversity at the genomic level. Microsatellites offer a powerful and robust typing system for the characterization and genetic diversity assessment of plant pathogens. At present, inadequate information is available with respect to the development of genome-derived markers for revealing genetic variability in T. indica populations. In current research, nine complete genome sequences of T. indica (PSWKBGH_1, PSWKBGH_2, PSWKBGD_1_3, RAKB_UP_1, TiK_1, Tik, DAOMC236408, DAOMC236414, and DAOMC236416) that exist in the public domain were explored to know the dynamic distribution of microsatellites. Comparative genome analysis revealed a high level of relative abundance and relative density of microsatellites in the PSWKBGH_1 genome in contrast to other genomes. No significant correlation between microsatellite distribution for GC content and genome size was established. All the genomes showed the dominance of tri-nucleotide motifs, followed by mono-, di-, tetra-, hexa-, and penta-nucleotide motifs. Out of 50 tested markers, 36 showed successful amplification in T. indica isolates and produced 52 different alleles. A PCR assay along with analysis of the polymorphic information content (PIC) revealed 10 markers as neutral and polymorphic loci (PIC 0.37). The identified polymorphic SSR loci grouped a geographically distinct T. indica population of 50 isolates representing seven Indian regions (Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan) into four distinct clusters. The results of the analysis of molecular variance identified 94% genetic variation within the population and 6% among the population. Structure analysis also confirmed the existence of four genetically diverse groups containing admixtures of T. indica isolates across populations. In nutshell, the current study was successful in identifying novel, neutral and polymorphic microsatellite markers that will be valuable in offering deep insight into the evolutionary relationship and dynamics of the T. indica population for devising effective KB management strategies in wheat.

Stochastic and Deterministic Assembly Processes in Seamount Microbial Communities.

Seamounts are ubiquitous in the ocean. However, little is known about how seamount habitat features influence the local microbial community. In this study, the microbial populations of sediment cores from sampling depths of 0.1 to 35 cm from 10 seamount summit sites with a water depth of 1,850 to 3,827 m across the South China Sea (SCS) Basin were analyzed. Compared with nonseamount ecosystems, isolated seamounts function as oases for microbiomes, with average moderate to high levels of microbial abundance, richness, and diversity, and they harbor distinct microbial communities. The distinct characteristics of different seamounts provide a high level of habitat heterogeneity, resulting in the wide range of microbial community diversity observed across all seamounts. Using dormant thermospores as tracers to study the effect of dispersal by ocean currents, the observed distance-decay biogeography across different seamounts shaped simultaneously by the seamounts' naturally occurring heterogeneous habitat and the limitation of ocean current dispersal was found. We also established a framework that links initial community assembly with successional dynamics in seamounts. Seamounts provide resource-rich and dynamic environments, which leads to a dominance of stochasticity during initial community establishment in surface sediments. However, a progressive increase in deterministic environmental selection, correlated with resource depletion in subsurface sediments, leads to the selective growth of rare species of surface sediment communities in shaping the subsurface community. Overall, the study indicates that seamounts are a previously ignored oasis in the deep sea. This study also provides a case study for understanding the microbial ecology in globally widespread seamounts. IMPORTANCE Although there are approximately 25 million seamounts in the ocean, surprisingly little is known about seamount microbial ecology. We provide evidence that seamounts are island-like habitats harboring microbial communities distinct from those of nonseamount habitats, and they exhibit a distance-decay pattern. Environmental selection and dispersal limitation simultaneously shape the observed biogeography. Coupling empirical data with a null mode revealed a shift in the type and strength, which controls microbial community assembly and succession from the seamount surface to the subsurface sediments as follows: (i) community assembly is initially primarily driven by stochastic processes such as dispersal limitation, and (ii) changes in the subsurface environment progressively increase the importance of environmental selection. This case study contributes to the mechanistic understanding essential for a predictive microbial ecology of seamounts.

Analysis for codon usage bias in membrane anchor of nonstructural protein 5A from BVDV.

The nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a monotopic membrane protein. This protein can anchor to the cell membrane by an in-plane amphipathic ⍺-helix, which participates in the viral replication complex. In this study, the effects of synonymous codon usage pattern of NS5A and the overall transfer RNA (tRNA) abundance in cells on the formation of the in-plane membrane anchor of NS5A were analyzed, based on NS5A coding sequences of different BVDV genotypes. BVDV NS5A coding sequences represent the most potential for BVDV genotyping. Moreover, the nucleotide usage of BVDV NS5A dominates the genotype-specific pattern of synonymous codon usage. There is an obvious relationship between synonymous codon usage bias and the spatial conformation of the in-plane membrane anchor. Furthermore, the overall tRNA abundance profiling displays that codon positions with a high level of tRNA abundance are more than ones with a low level of tRNA abundance in the in-plane membrane anchor, implying that high translation speed probably acts on the spatial conformation of in-plane membrane anchor of BVDV NS5A. These results give a new opinion on the effect of codon usage bias in the formation of the in-plane membrane anchor of BVDV NS5A.

Predatory Arthropods Associated with the Invasive Tipu Psyllid, Platycorypha nigrivirga, in Southern Spain.

Platycorypha nigrivirga Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is a neotropical invasive species strictly associated with the tipu tree, Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae). This psyllid has rapidly spread to several temperate areas of Spain and Portugal causing considerable problems in urban landscapes. The aim of this study was to determine the arthropod predator complex of this exotic insect and report the possibility of its biological control. Three urban green areas were surveyed in southern Spain during 2018 and 2019. Platycorypha nigrivirga populations increased during the spring months and reached a maximum level between late May and mid-June, declining greatly during the summer. A large complex of generalist predator species was found to exert a certain natural control on the pest, belonging to Anthocoridae (68.53%), Coccinellidae (18.39%), Chrysopidae (5.67%), Miridae (4.39%) and Araneae (3.02%). Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) was the most abundant predatory species, followed by Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Scymnus laetificus Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). High levels of abundance of anthocorids coincided with the highest abundance of the pest, showing a significant relationship with the psyllid density. Anthocoris nemoralis seems to be a promising candidate to control P. nigrivirga in the urban green areas of southern Spain, but more studies are needed to define the optimum management strategies.

Findings of new phytoplankton species in the Barents Sea as a consequence of global climate changes.

Over the past few decades, the Earth's climate has been characterized by a stable increase in temperature, which in many regions leads to a change in the composition of flora and fauna. A striking manifestation of this process is the appearance in ecological communities of new, uncharacteristic for them, species of animals and plants. One of the most productive and at the same time the most vulnerable in this respect are the marine ecosystems of the Arctic. This article is devoted to the analysis of findings of vagrant phytoplankton species in the Barents Sea, a body of water experiencing especially rapid warming due to an increase in the volume and temperature of incoming Atlantic water. For the first time, fundamental questions are considered: how widely these species are distributed over the Barents Sea area, and in what seasons do they reach high levels of abundance. The material for the present work was planktonic collections made during expedition surveys of 2007-2019 in different seasons throughout the Barents Sea. The water samples were taken using a rosette Niskin bottle sampler. The plankton net with a 29 µm mesh size was applied for filtering. The obtained material was processed according to standard hydrobiological methods and followed by subsequent microscopy for taxonomic identification of organisms and cell counting. The results of our observations show that vagrant microplankton species do not create a stable population that persists throughout the annual development cycle. Their major presence is noted in the autumn-winter period, the smallest in the summer. The distribution of invaders is strictly tied to warm jets of currents, while the weakening of the inflow of Atlantic water masses deep into the Barents Sea from the west is a limiting factor for their penetration into its eastern part. The southwestern and western parts of the basin are characterized by the most significant number of floristic finds; from here, towards the north and east, their number decreases. It can be concluded that at present the proportion of vagrant species in the Barents Sea, both in species diversity and in the total biomass of the algocenosis, is insignificant. They do not change the structure of the community as a whole, and their presence does not have any negative impact on the ecosystem of the Barents Sea pelagic. However, at this stage of research, it is too early to predict the environmental consequences of the phenomenon under study. Given the growing number of recorded cases of finds of species uncharacteristic for the Arctic, there is a possibility that this process may disrupt the biological stability of the ecosystem and even lead to its destabilization.

Environmental Parameters And Phytoplankton Community Quality: Implications For Food Safety In Coastal Communities

This study aimed to evaluate environmental parameters and phytoplankton quality as well as the implications for the food safety of seafood-consuming coastal communities. The study was conducted in coastal waters of South Sulawesi, Indonesia at four sites (three stations/site): Pangkep (PK), Kuri (KR), Maros (MR), and Tallo (TL) during June, August, and October 2020. Observations formed three spatial clusters: MR1, PK; MR2, MR3, TL; KR (92.5 % similarity), and two temporal clusters: June 2020; August and October 2020 (87.9 % similarity). PCA showed parameters most strongly characterizing TL, KR, and MR (except MR1) were high levels of salinity, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, silicate, temperature, pH, and abundance of both phytoplankton that can form harmful algal blooms (HABs) and non-HAB forming phytoplankton (non-HABs), with low current velocity. PK was characterized by high current velocity, non-HABs, orthophosphate, ammonium, nitrite, and turbidity with low nitrate and HABs. Main characterizing parameters in the temporal PCA were high current velocity and HABs with low orthophosphate in June 2020; high nitrate, ammonium, orthophosphate, and non-HABs with even lower HABs in August 2020; high turbidity, temperature, and salinity with low pH, nitrite, silicate, and HABs in October 2020. Current velocity (low at TL, KR, MR and high at PK) influenced both non-HABs and HABs. The results indicate that faster currents may have impeded HABs development so that the phytoplankton quality was still good. Therefore, the fish from these waters can be considered safe for human consumption, thereby contributing to maintaining the health of coastal communities.

A prognostic signature consisting of N6-methyladenosine modified mRNAs demonstrates clinical potential in prediction of biochemical recurrence and guidance on precision therapy in prostate cancer

Novel biomarkers are urgently needed to improve the prediction of clinical outcomes and guide personalized treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. However, the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in PCa initiation and progression remains largely elusive. In our study, we collected benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), localized PCa, and metastatic PCa samples from patients and performed methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) to map m6A-methylated mRNAs. Furthermore, we developed a prognostic signature based on 239 differentially methylated RNAs and the TCGA-PRAD dataset, which can be used to calculate an m6A-modified mRNA (MMM) score for a PCa patient, validated by independent multi-center cohorts. Our findings revealed that differential m6A modifications were positively correlated with altered expressions of mapped m6A-modified mRNAs. Higher MMM scores were associated with shorter times to biochemical recurrence (BCR) in PCa patients, and the MMM scoring system outperformed three well-established signatures in nine independent validation cohorts, as demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, C-index and ROC. Patients who did not respond to androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) therapy and immunotherapy were found to have high MMM scores. Two hub genes, TLE1 and PFKL, were confirmed to have m6A sites through MeRIP-qPCR, and their knockdown promoted PCa cell invasion. Bioinformatics analysis of single-cell databases identified cell types with high transcript abundance levels of these two genes. In summary, our study is the first to perform transcriptome-wide m6A mapping in prostate tissues. The translational potential of a prognostic signature, comprising m6A-methylated mRNAs, in predicting clinical outcomes and therapy responses for PCa patients, is demonstrated.

Pacific salmon of Russian origin: what catches can we count on?

Some parameters of the abundance dynamics for the pacific salmon of Russian origin are specified and volume of their possible catch are substantiated for the next decade. The average annual catch for 1907–2022 is amounted as 250 thousand tons. Cyclic variations were observed within this time with the intervals of 72 years between the minimal values and 75 years between the maximums. The high catches were landed during app. 35 years, and the low catches — during app. 40 years, so the periods of high and low abundance were approximately equal (35–40 years). The harvest runs occurred mostly in odd years; the dominant years (odd either even) changed usually when the abundance had increasing. The high level of abundance (> 250 . 103 t, not below of 200 . 103 t in the years of the worst run) is expected in the nearest decade, until the middle 2030s. After this period of high abundance, the stocks of domestic salmon will be insufficient for profitable commercial fishery on majority of existing fishing grounds.

The Gypsy Moths and the Green Oak Moths Population Dynamics during a Joint Mass Reproduction Outbreak

Long-term studies are necessary for effective forecasting and management of the harmful forest insects populations. This article is aimed at the quantitative description of the population dynamics mechanisms of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) and the green oak moth (Tortrix viridana L.) during their joint and simultaneous mass reproduction. To do this, a comparative analysis of data from stationary observations of insect populations in 1975–2021 was carried out. It has been established that outbreaks of mass reproduction of gypsy moth and green oak moth with the formation of complex foci in weakened forest-steppe oak forests have a periodic nature. The duration of a mass reproduction of the gypsy moth is 10–11 years, and of the green oak moth – about 20 years. A characteristic feature is the constant readiness of populations for mass reproduction, the number of gypsy moth does not stabilise at a low level and practically does not fluctuate around the equilibrium point, but immediately begins to increase. The mechanisms of the interspecific competition are shown, and its impact on population dynamics is assessed quantitatively. With the dominance of the green oak moth in the foci, the mass reproduction of the gypsy moth does not stop, but becomes less intense. The proportion of the gypsy moth population in pure oak plantations is declining. Due to the deterioration of living conditions and an increase in the caterpillars’ mortality, a slow increase in numbers and a significantly lower maximum level are observed. The efficiency of entomophages increases, the gypsy moth population does not get out of their control, therefore, a less intensive mass reproduction scheme is realised. For the green oak moth, on the contrary, the biocenotic regulation of the population is less effective and is characterized by a strong inertia. The green oak moth is characterised by the formation of chronic foci due to an increase in the maximum outbreak of mass reproduction stage and its duration as a whole. Mass reproduction is very intensive, the population stabilises at a high level of abundance. Gypsy moth with simultaneous reproduction does not have a significant negative impact on the green oak moth.

Comprehensive analysis reveals hub genes associated with immune cell infiltration in allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) refers to a form of respiratory inflammation that mainly affects the sinonasal mucosa. The purpose of this study was to explore the level of immune cell infiltration and the pathogenesis of AR. We performed a comprehensive analysis of two gene expression profiles (GSE50223 and GSE50101, a total of 30 patients with AR and 31 healthy controls). CIBERSORT was used to evaluate the immune cell infiltration levels. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis was applied to explore potential genes or gene modules related to immune status, and enrichment analyses including gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, gene set enrichment analysis, and gene set variation analysis, were performed to analyze the potential mechanisms in AR. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed to investigate the hub genes, and consensus clustering was conducted to identify the molecular subtypes of AR. Compared to the healthy controls, patients with AR had high abundance levels and proportions of CD4+ memory-activated T cells. One hundred and eight immune-related differentially expressed genes were identified. Enrichment analysis suggested that AR was mainly related to leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, T-cell activation, and T-cell receptor signaling pathway. Ten hub genes, including TYROBP, CSF1R, TLR8, FCER1G, SPI1, ITGAM, CYBB, FCGR2A, CCR1, and HCK, which were related to immune response, might be crucial to the pathogenesis of AR. Three molecular subtypes with significantly different immune statuses were identified. This study improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms in AR via comprehensive strategies and provides potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of AR.