Production Levels Research Articles

Clinicopathological features and prognosis of IgA vasculitis nephritis with nephrotic-range proteinuria in children.

To investigate the clinical features, kidney pathology, treatment regimens, and clinical outcomes of IgA vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN) with nephrotic-range proteinuria in children. A retrospective review of children diagnosed with IgAVN between January 2019 and December 2022 was conducted. Participants were divided into two groups based on their urine protein/creatinine (UPCR) levels. Biodata, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, pathologic features, treatment regimens, and outcomes were abstracted from case records and analyzed. A total of 255 children were identified, 94 with nephrotic-range proteinuria (UPCR ≥ 200 mg/mmol) and 161 with non-nephrotic proteinuria (UPCR < 200 mg/mmol). Patients in the nephrotic-range proteinuria group were significantly younger and had worse grades of glomerular and acute tubulointerstitial injury compared to those in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group. Higher levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), D-dimer (DD), and fibrin degradation products (FDP), and lower levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), urine creatinine (Cr), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), IgG, CD3 + cells, and CD4 + cells were found in patients in the nephrotic-range proteinuria group. Clinical outcome of patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria was significantly associated with ISKDC grading, proportion of glomerular crescents and severity of acute tubulointerstitial injury. Children with nephrotic-range proteinuria exhibit more severe disordered immunologic function, hypercoagulability, glomerular and tubulointerstitial pathological damage, and have worse outcomes than those with lower proteinuria levels. Clinicians should pay great attention to the kidney injury and more extensive studies are required to identify optimal treatment regimens to improve outcomes in patients.

High-throughput G protein-coupled receptor-based autocrine screening for secondary metabolite production in yeast.

Biosensors are valuable tools in accelerating the test phase of the design-build-test-learn cycle of cell factory development, as well as in bioprocess monitoring and control. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-based biosensors enable cells to sense a wide array of molecules and environmental conditions in a specific manner. Due to the extracellular nature of their sensing, GPCR-based biosensors require compartmentalization of distinct genotypes when screening production levels of a strain library to ensure that detected levels originate exclusively from the strain under assessment. Here, we explore the integration of production and sensing modalities into a single Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain and compartmentalization using three different methods: (1) cultivation in microtiter plates, (2) spatial separation on agar plates, and (3) encapsulation in water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion droplets, combined with analysis and sorting via a fluorescence-activated cell sorting machine. Employing tryptamine and serotonin as proof-of-concept target molecules, we optimize biosensing conditions and demonstrate the ability of the autocrine screening method to enrich for high producers, showing the enrichment of a serotonin-producing strain over a nonproducing strain. These findings illustrate a workflow that can be adapted to screening for a wide range of complex chemistry at high throughput using commercially available microfluidic systems.

Have a little heart (or not): highly minimized skeletal muscle regulatory cassettes with low or no activity in heart.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapies for certain muscle disorders require regulatory cassettes that provide high-level, striated muscle-specific activity. However, cardiotoxicity has emerged as a serious concern in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and X-linked myotubular myopathy. While this may be caused by systemic inflammatory effects of the treatment, high transgene expression in the heart may also play a role. Thus, certain muscle disorders may require a modulated level of therapeutic expression in the heart, while others may not require any cardiac expression at all. Additionally, the size of some cargos requires regulatory cassettes to be small enough that large cDNAs and other therapeutic payloads can be accommodated. Thus, we have performed enhancer/promoter optimization to develop highly minimized regulatory cassettes that are active in skeletal muscles, with either low or no detectable activity in cardiac muscle. Our no-heart (NH) cassette is active in most skeletal muscles, but exhibits only very low activity in extensor digitorum longus (EDL), soleus, and diaphragm, and no activity in heart. By contrast, our have-a-little-heart (HLH) cassette displays high activity in most skeletal muscles, comparable to the ~800-bp CK8 cassette, with increased activity in EDL, soleus, and diaphragm, and low activity in heart. Due to their small size, these cassettes can be used in therapeutic strategies with both flexible (e.g., antisense) and stringent (e.g., CRISPR/Cas or bicistronic) size limitations. Thus, our new cassettes may be useful for gene therapies of muscle disorders in which the need for low or almost no expression in cardiac muscle would outweigh the need for high levels of therapeutic product in certain skeletal muscles.

A prospective cohort study of multimetal exposure and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

The relationship between co-exposure to multiple metals and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. In this nested case-control study, 228 GDM cases and 456 matched controls were recruited, and biological samples were collected at 12–14 gestational weeks. The urinary concentrations of 10 metals and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as well as the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced glycation end products were determined to assess the association of metals with GDM risk and the mediating effects of oxidative stress. Urinary Ti concentration was significantly and positively associated with the risk of GDM (odds ratio [OR]:1.45, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.12, 1.88), while Mn and Fe were negatively associated with GDM risk (OR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.50, 0.91 or OR: 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.47, 0.80, respectively). A significant negative association was observed between Mo and GDM risk, specifically in overweight and obese pregnant women. Bayesian kernel machine regression showed a significant negative joint effect of the mixture of 10 metals on GDM risk. The adjusted restricted cubic spline showed a protective role of Mn and Fe in GDM risk (P < 0.05). A significant negative association was observed between essential metals and GDM risk in quantile g-computation analysis (P < 0.05). Mediation analyses showed a mediating effect of MDA on the association between Ti and GDM risk, with a proportion of 8.7 % (P < 0.05), and significant direct and total effects on Ti, Mn, and Fe. This study identified Ti as a potential risk factor and Mn, Fe, and Mo as potential protective factors against GDM, as well as the mediating effect of lipid oxidation.

New morpholine-containing pyrimidinones act on α-adrenoceptors

Drugs that act on α-adrenoceptors may contain morpholine and pyrimidinone heterocycles. The aim of this study was to synthesize a series of pyrimidinones (S6a-e and S8) and characterize their α-adrenoceptor activity. Cytotoxicity assays (MTT and LDH) were performed in A7r5 and HUVECs. Concentration-effect curves to phenylephrine (Phe) were performed in rat aortic rings in the presence of compounds S6a-e and S8 or vehicle. Nitric oxide (NO) production and NO stable metabolic products, nitrite and nitrate, expressed as total nitrogen oxides (NOx) were assessed in HUVECs by confocal microscopy with the DAF-2DA probe and by the Griess reaction, respectively. Molecular docking simulations were performed using the 6a compound and α2A-adrenoceptor. In the evaluated conditions, the percentage of viable cells and the release of LDH were similar between control cells and cells exposed to the tested pyrimidinones. S6d, S6e, S8, and the positive control prazosin (but not S6a, S6b, and S6c) decreased Phe-induced contractions in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. S6a, S6b, and S6c decreased Phe-induced contractions in endothelium-intact aortic rings. The effect of S6a was abolished by L-NAME. NO production and NOx levels were inhibited in the presence of the α2 receptor antagonist yohimbine and the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. The 6a docking simulation estimated that the mean binding free energy of the compound was lower than the estimated value for yohimbine. These data suggest that S6d, S6e, and S8 may be α1-adrenoceptor antagonists while S6a acts as an agonist of α2-adrenoceptors.

Tirzepatide alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic nephropathy via IL-17 signaling pathway.

Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation play essential roles in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tirzepatide (TZP) has a protective effect in diabetes. However, its underlying mechanism in DN remains unclear. DN model mice were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 60mg/kg), followed by administration of different doses of TZP (3 and 10nmol/kg) via intraperitoneal injection for 8weeks. The effects of TZP on DN were evaluated by detecting DN-related biochemical indicators, kidney histopathology, apoptosis, OS, and inflammation levels. Additionally, to further reveal the potential mechanism, we investigated the role of TZP in modulating the IL-17 pathway. TZP reduced serum creatinine (sCR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) levels, while simultaneously promoting insulin secretion in diabetic mice. Additionally, TZP attenuated tubular and glomerular injury and reduced renal apoptosis levels. Further studies found that TZP increased the levels of SOD and CAT, and decreased MDA. Meanwhile, TZP also reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in both mouse serum and kidney homogenates. TZP effectively inhibited the IL-17 pathway, and subsequent intervention with an IL-17 pathway agonist (IL-17A) reversed the suppressive effects of TZP on OS and inflammation. TZP can improve DN by inhibiting OS and inflammation through the suppression of the IL-17 pathway.

Biological effects of new chemical-mechanical caries removal products on human dental pulp stem cells.

The aim of this study was to compare the biological effects of four chemical caries removal materials and to assess their cytotoxicity using human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The products evaluated are: 1 - Papain based product (BRIX 3000®); 2 - Papain/chloramine based products (NATURAL-CARE and Papacárie Duo®); and 3 - Chloramine based product (Cariesolut); The following in vitro experiments were carried out: IC50 measurement, cell metabolic activity (MTT) assay, cell migration, immunofluorescence experiment, cell apoptosis analysis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p&lt;0.05). The IC50 values were: Brix 3000: 0.596%; Papacárie Duo: 0.052%; NATURAL CARE: 1.034%; and Cariesolut: 0.020%. The MTT assays showed non-adequate cell viability of all CMCR tested at 2% at 24, 48, and 72 h (p&lt;0.001). The same behaviour was observed at 0.1% in the Papacárie Duo and Cariesolut groups. In contrast, 0.1% of Brix 3000 at all times and NATURAL CARE at 24h treated cells showed cell viability rates similar to the control group. At 0.01% only Brix 3000 did not show statistically significant differences at any time. Delayed cell migration was observed in all hDPSCs treated with Papacárie Duo and Cariesolut (p&lt;0.01 and p&lt;0.001). Phalloidin staining images showed a high confluence of cells in the presence of NATURAL CARE, similar to the control group. On the contrary, no cells were observed in Brix3000 and Cariesolut at 2% and 0.1% concentrations. Papacárie Duo showed cells at all concentrations, but hDPSCs treated at 0.01% exhibited better proliferation and spreading than those in the control group. Apoptosis assay showed that Brix 3000 at 0.1% and 0.01% had a percentage of live cells higher than 99%, with 68.4% live cells at 2%, 3.69% early apoptotic cells, and 27.9% late apoptotic cells. Conversely, the remaining materials showed abundant apoptotic cells, even at low concentrations. 0.1% and 0.01%of BRIX 3000 did not affect the ROS production levels, while 2% of BRIX 3000 counterparts significantly increased the percentage of CM-H2DCFDA positive cells. Again, all concentrations of Cariesolut showed significantly higher levels of ROS production than those observed in control cells. Our results suggest that Brix 3000 would be the most suitable material for chemical caries removal.

Properties of flyash-dolomite powder-mangalore tile waste powder based alkali-activated binder cured in ambient condition

AbstractThis research addresses the slower reaction rate of flyash based alkali activated binders by investigating the use of dolomite powder (DP) and Mangalore Tile waste powder (MTWP) to enhance the reaction rate and improve binder properties. The study evaluates the feasibility of combining these materials with flyash to develop effective alkali activated binders. Material characterization was performed to access their suitability as precursors in alkali activation. The proportions of these precursors were varied while maintaining a constant rate of alkali activators such as sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. Tests for initial and final setting times, flowabilty, pH, electrical conductivity and compressive strength of the binders were conducted. Microanalysis supported the findings by providing detailed insights. Results indicate that the alkali activated FA-DP-MTWP binder exhibited faster setting and hardening with decreased flow ability. The pH of all FDT binder mixes provides necessary alkaline environment for forming stable reaction products like CSH, CASH, NASH and MSH, as identified by SEM, EDS, and XRD studies. This higher level of these activation products also lead to increased electrical conductivity. Optimal precursor utilization was achieved with 5% MTWP and 10% DP in the total binder, beyond which DP and MTWP acted only as fillers. Mechanical, mineralogical, and morphological analyses confirmed the binder's satisfactory performance and cementitious properties, demonstrating its potential value for construction applications. The study concludes that incorporating these materials can effectively enhance the properties of flyash based alkali activated binders. Graphical abstract

P-399 Beyond chromosome screening: The impact of progesterone and in vitro oxidative stress on failed euploid blastocyst transfers

Abstract Study question To assess the effect of serum progesterone levels on the production of radical oxygen species (ROS) by endometrial immune cells in patients with non-genetic miscarriages. Summary answer Elevated serum pre-transfer progesterone levels favour the development of an endometrial microenvironment that is not conducive to a healthy pregnancy, by increasing ROS production. What is known already Endometrial immune cells, especially uterine Natural Killer (uNK) cells, play an essential role in the proper development of pregnancy, promoting angiogenesis and adequate placentation. The maturation of these cells is indirectly determined by progesterone levels, which, during the secretory phase, enhance the synthesis of key cytokines for uNKs’ functionality. Previous studies have already indicated that increases in progesterone levels during the follicular phase can alter the endometrial microenvironment, affecting its receptivity. However, the molecular effect that imbalances of this hormone may have on the endometrium on the day of embryo transfer and directly in relation to uNK is still unknown. Study design, size, duration We conducted a prospective exploratory study, between September 2022 and January 2024, including 15 patients with previous miscarriages after euploid single embryo transfer (SET), ruling out the genetic cause for such gestational losses. We obtained endometrial biopsies of all patients, after 5 days of progesterone, in a cycle with hormone replacement therapy. The same day of the biopsy, serum progesterone levels were measured in all the patients included. Participants/materials, setting, methods In vitro cultures enriched in uNK cells (CD56+CD16-) were established from the patients’ endometrial biopsies and cell enrichment was confirmed by flow cytometry. These cells were co-cultured with the JEG-3 cell line (placental cells), simulating the microenvironment of early pregnancy. Cellular ROS production was measured by fluorescence detection 40 hours post-culture using a commercial kit. A linear regression model was used to determine statistically significant correlations (p &amp;lt; 0.05) between ROS and progesterone levels. Main results and the role of chance The mean age of the participating patients was 38.9 years and the BMI was 23.2 kg/m2. The mean progesterone level the day of the biopsy was 15.6 ng/ml. The cell cultures obtained from patients were successfully enriched in the desired cell population, with an average percentage of 89.6% uNK cells (CD56+CD16-) of total leukocytes (CD45+) obtained by flow cytometry. After culturing the same number of cells from each patient with the same number of spheroids of the JEG-3 cell line, an average ROS production of 31341.2 arbitrary units (a.u.) was obtained. Taking into account the co-cultures stablished from the 15 patients, a positive correlation between cellular ROS production and progesterone level was observed (r = 0.6728, p = 0.006). Limitations, reasons for caution Although the results shown may provide clues about the molecular dynamics of the endometrium during early pregnancy, they should be taken with caution, as it is not yet known whether this progesterone elevation is the cause or rather the consequence of an unfavourable endometrial microenvironment with high oxidative stress. Wider implications of the findings This study provides new information on the endometrial microenvironment of patients suffering non-genetic miscarriages and, although much remains to be studied, this association between hormone levels and oxidative stress may point the way to future studies investigating a possible explanation for these undesirable reproductive outcomes. Trial registration number Not Applicable

Modeling and mitigation of vortex formation in ejector deep hole drilling with smoothed particle hydrodynamics

AbstractEjector deep hole drilling achieves high-quality boreholes in production processes. High feed rates are applied to ensure a high productivity level, requiring reliable chip removal from the cutting zone for a stable process. Therefore, a constant metalworking fluid flow under high volume flow rates or high pressure is required. Experimental results show a vortex formation at the outer cutting edge. This vortex can lead to delayed chip removal from the cutting zone, and ultimately, it can lead to chip clogging and result in drill breakage due to increased torque. This paper investigates modified drill head designs using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method. The investigated modifications include various designs of the chip mouth covering. Besides graphical analysis based on flow visualizations, flow meters are placed at the tool’s head to evaluate the impact of the modifications on the flow rate and possible increased resistance and relocation of the fluid flow from the outer cutting edge to other parts of the tool. The simulation results for the reference design show the experimentally observed vortex formation, validating the simulation model. By adding the tool’s rotation in the SPH simulation, which is not included in the experiments for observation reasons, the vortex formation is positively influenced. In addition, some designs show promising results to further mitigate the vortex formation while maintaining a sufficient fluid flow around the cutting edges.

Productive electricity and non-electricity consumption effects on economic growth: A Latin America analysis

Electrification is a key pillar in energy transformation to reduce emissions. However, it may also have consequences on production. This study analyzes the effect of using electricity and non-electricity energy sources on production growth. An extended neoclassical production function, with the two uses of energy (electricity and non-electricity), is estimated for 17 Latin American countries from 1990 to 2019 and, for subsamples, based on the level of production per persons employed. The study is performed applying the cross-sectionally augmented, autoregressive distributed lag modeling approach and a non-parametric time-varying coefficients model. The parametric results indicate that the effect of both sources of energy on production are positive and significant. However, the production elasticity with respect to non-electricity consumption is higher than that with respect to electricity consumption. Only in countries with the lowest production levels could electrification be neutral. The non-parametric results show that the effect of non-electricity consumption is decreasing slightly over the period, while the effect of electricity use is increasing slightly, with a tendency towards stabilization at the end of the period. Nevertheless, these changes have been small.

Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Optimizing Groundwater Level in Boreal Cultivated Peatland

Optimizing the level of groundwater presents a viable strategy for mitigating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the cultivation of peatlands. This study investigated the impact of soil hydrological conditions on carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions. The CO2 and CH4 emissions from bare soil were continuously measured using an automated chamber system throughout the growing seasons from 2021 to 2023 at a boreal cultivated peat soil site. Annual CO2 emissions from soil respiration averaged to 21,600 kg ha-1 (April-November) corresponding to carbon (C) loss of 5890 kg ha-1. The CO2 emissions were highly temperature dependent. Lowering the groundwater level (GWL) was found to increase the CO2 emissions nearly linearly. The soil functioned as a CH4 sink for the majority of the growing season, and the total sink corresponded to 27 and 20 kg ha-1 yr-1 CO2 equivalent in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The CH4 emissions occurred generally when soil water content (SWC) exceeded 0.6 m3 m-3 and when GWL was at the depth of less than 30 cm from soil surface. For optimal climate efficiency the mitigation measures must be implemented during the mid-growing season, and the water table should be brought close to the soil surface. Potentially, this can hamper the operation of machinery on the field and reduce the harvested yield. Thus, comprehensive cost-benefit analysis is necessary before adopting a raised water table level in large-scale crop production.

Production of low-cost lactic acid from dairy wastes and dates wastewater and bioactive silver-poly (lactic acid) nanocomposite for biological applications

L-Lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus lactis and L. plantarum were isolated from date wastes. The fermentation process was optimized using a one-variable-at-a-time approach. Dairy wastewater and wastewater from the date industry were utilized as low-cost culture media to produce lactic acid. The selected two bacterial strains were co-cultured in wastewater medium to produce L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid. Lactic acid production was significantly improved by glucose (carbon source), yeast extract (nitrogen source), initial inoculum level, and polysorbate 80. A central composite design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the variables and their levels to improve lactic acid yield. The supplemented yeast extract, glucose, and polysorbate 80 improved lactic acid. The predicted variables and their levels for maximum lactic acid production were glucose (67.5 g/L), yeast extract (10.28 g/L), and polysorbate 80 (0.48 mL/L). The prepared nanocomposites exhibited antibacterial activity against foodborne bacterial pathogens. The structural properties of the silver-polylactic acid nano compost materials were determined. The characterized compost materials exhibited a peak absorption wavelength of 430 nm. The silver and poly(lactic acid) were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis and were 30 to 50 nm in size.

Belt and road initiative and export sophistication: The role of China’s outward foreign direct investment

We investigate the impact of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on the export sophistication of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Through an examination of data spanning from 2010 to 2015, our findings reveal that China’s OFDI significantly enhances export sophistication in host countries, with a more pronounced effect observed in relatively poor BRI nations. However, the positive correlation between China’s OFDI and export sophistication diminishes in host countries characterized by elevated productivity levels. Utilizing a structural equation model, we identify host country productivity as a crucial mediating factor. The indirect technology spillover effects of China’s OFDI, facilitated through increased productivity, account for approximately 39% of their overall impact on export sophistication. Furthermore, we delineate threshold effects of productivity for China’s OFDI, demonstrating substantial positive effects in host countries with a GDP per capita below the first threshold (approximately US$1,141) or within the range of the first and second thresholds (around US$7,115). Upon consideration of these thresholds, distinctions in the effects of China’s OFDI between BRI and non-BRI host countries diminish. Our analysis underscores that the favorable influence of China’s OFDI extends beyond the BRI, providing benefits to low and middle-income countries globally.

Use of a commercial feed supplement based on diatom earth and yeast products on oxidative status and in vitro immune response in buffaloes during peripartum.

The transition period is a critical metabolic phase for dairy ruminants, especially those with high production levels. In spite of this, little is still known about dairy water buffalo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial feed additive based on diatomaceous earth and hydrolyzed yeasts on health status, milk quality and immune response of buffalo cows during the transition period. Eighty healthy Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of Italian Mediterranean breed were included in the trial. They were subdivided in two groups: one group received the additive (n = 40) while the control group (n=40) received a placebo. The trial lasted 120 days, from 60 days before calving to 60 days in milk. Blood samples were collected from each buffalo at -60d (60 days from the expected calving), -30 d, 0 d (calving), +15 d, +30 d, and +60 d (respectively, i.e., 15, 30 and 60 days in milking). The biochemical as well as the oxidative profile, and the antioxidant power and enzymatic activity were evaluated in the samples obtained. Moreover, acute phase proteins, reactive proteins and Interleukine plasma levels were determined. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and monocytes were isolated and viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were measured on PMBC and monocytes. The introduction of additives enhanced the total antioxidant capacity and enzyme activity, while no differences were observed in oxidation products throughout the trial. Additionally, it significantly reduced the synthesis of ROS in polymorphonuclear cells, supporting a potential positive response in animals experiencing inflammation. The impact of oxidation on the products was not evident. Despite higher enzyme levels in plasma, this did not necessarily correspond to significantly increased enzymatic activity, but rather indicated a higher potential. From these results, it was evident that the transition period in buffaloes differs notably from what reported in literature for cows, probably due to the absence of common postpartum production diseases in dairy cows and lower metabolic challenges linked to lower milk production in buffaloes. Few parameters exhibited notable changes during the transition period in buffaloes, notably certain antioxidant enzymes, PBMC viability, PBMC ROS production, and Hp levels.

Toward biodefence: a framework for the mitigation of malicious threats to livestock production enterprises in Australia

Biosecurity underpins the Australian agricultural sector, estimated to be worth $51 billion in exports and trade, $50 billion in tourism, $5.7 trillion in environmental assets, and more than 1.6 million jobs. Given the value to the Australian economy and the potential consequences of a deliberately introduced biological agent, measures to prevent malicious biosecurity threats are critical for national security. Using the framework of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP), the study examined recommended biosecurity practices for cattle production enterprises in Australia and explored the extent to which the Australian biosecurity framework is underpinned by preventative security. The study found the existing biosecurity framework has limited theoretical security underpinning and is constituted by practices primarily aimed at preventing naturally occurring and accidental threats, rather than an active preventative security approach at the farming level to mitigate threats of a malicious or deliberate nature. These findings identify a deficit in Australia’s national security approach to biosecurity in cattle production enterprises, establishing a need for biosecurity recommendations at an industry and primary production level to embed security theory and principles to account for malicious actors in alignment with international biodefence strategy. Subsequently, the study demonstrated how security theory can be applied to biosecurity and the agricultural sector more broadly and developed an SCP framework toward biodefence of agriculture, converging biosecurity and security as a bilateral approach to mitigating naturally occurring, accidental, and deliberate biosecurity threats.

H19 lncRNA triggers ferroptosis, exacerbating ox-LDL-induced artery endothelial cell damage in vitro

BACKGROUND: The precise association between lncRNA H19 and ferroptosis in the context of atherosclerosis remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: This study is to clarify the underlying process and propose novel approaches for the advancement of therapeutic interventions targeting atherosclerosis. METHODS: Assessment of ferroptosis, which entails the evaluation of cell viability using CCK-8 and the quantification of intracellular MDA, GSH, and ferrous ions. Simultaneously, the protein expression levels of assessed by western blot analysis, while the expression level of lncRNA H19 was also determined. Furthermore, HAECs that were cultured with ox-LDL were subjected to Fer-1 interference. HAECs were exposed to ox-LDL and then transfected with H19 shRNA and H19 overexpression vector pcDNA3.1. The level of ferroptosis in the cells was then measured. Then, HAECs were subjected to incubation with ox-LDL, followed by transfection with H19 shRNA and treated with Erastin to assess the levels of ferroptosis, cell viability, and inflammatory factor production. and the ability for blood vessel development. RESULTS: The survival rate of HAECs in the ox-LDL group was much lower. Ox-LDL resulted in an upregulation of ACSL4 expression in HAECs, while the expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 decreased. CONCLUSIONS: lncRNA H19 enhances ferroptosis and exacerbates arterial endothelial cell damage induced by LDL.

The development of fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry and the studies on its environmental, ecological and economic effects in China: A review

The fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry is an emerging industrial model in China that integrates aquaculture with the solar industry. This innovative model involves conducting aquaculture activities while installing photovoltaic modules on the water surface to harness solar energy for electricity generation. However, despite its rapid growth in China, this model lacks substantial scientific data support across various domains. Therefore, based on an analysis of relevant research literature, this study reviews the current development status, environmental and economic effects, as well as challenges faced by the fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry in China. The aim is to provide scientific references for promoting sustainable development within this sector. The findings reveal that existing fishery-photovoltaic complementary industry projects are primarily concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and Pearl River Basin. The geographical distribution of these projects is predominantly influenced by local aquaculture areas and available solar energy resources, with a greater impact observed from the former rather than the latter. During summer months when water is shaded by photovoltaic panels, a slight decrease in the average water quality parameters across cases was observed, such as a decrease of 0.2 units in pH, a decrease of 1.06 °C in water temperature, a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels of 0.8 mg/L, inorganic nitrogen content and total phosphorus concentration dropped by 0.08 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L respectively. Conversely, there is a moderate increase noted in total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen levels. The conclusion of the effect on phytoplankton biomass is not uniform, but it will certainly reduce zooplankton biomass. The impact on the species diversity of the zooplankton community was minimal, and its direction, whether positive or negative, varied depending on the specific aquatic ecosystem. A certain degree of shade is advantageous for the cultivation of shade-loving fish. Through the strategic deployment of photovoltaic panels and the implementation of scientific stocking practices, it is possible to achieve sustained levels of fisheries production. This model also can reduce an average of 978.6 tons of CO2 emissions per megawatt per year through energy production, thus achieving the combined goals of energy conservation and emissions reduction, and ensuring the profitability of power generation. Additionally, compared with the land utilization area of 3.66 hm2 per megawatt of traditional ground-mounted photovoltaics, fishery-photovoltaic complementary only requires 1.64 hm2, which can significantly save land resources by utilizing water surfaces, which mitigates the conflict between land use for agriculture and renewable energy installations. At the same time, research also pointed out that the existence of fishery-photovoltaic complementary will inevitably have some negative impacts on bird communities. Economic analyses indicate that while initial infrastructure costs and long payback periods pose challenges, the overall economic feasibility is promising, especially with governmental support and technological advancements. However, several challenges need to be addressed for further development: these include difficulties associated with infrastructure construction and initial costs, long payback periods; insufficient experience and technical support; as well as a lack of research on ecological and environmental impacts - particularly an urgent need for comprehensive life cycle assessments encompassing both environmental and economic aspects. Future research should focus on life cycle assessments, improved PV technology integration, and optimized aquaculture practices.

Use of acetate as substrate for sustainable production of homoserine and threonine by Escherichia coli W3110: a modular metabolic engineering approach

Acetate, a promising yet underutilized carbon source for biological production, was explored for the efficient production of homoserine and threonine in Escherichia coli W. A modular metabolic engineering approach revealed the crucial roles of both acetate assimilation pathways (AckA/Pta and Acs), optimized TCA cycle flux and glyoxylate shunt activity, and enhanced CoA availability, mediated by increased pantothenate kinase activity, for efficient homoserine production. The engineered strain W-H22/pM2/pR1P exhibited a high acetate assimilation rate (5.47 mmol/g cell/h) and produced 44.1 g/L homoserine in 52 h with a 53% theoretical yield (0.18 mol/mol) in fed-batch fermentation. Similarly, strain W-H31/pM2/pR1P achieved 45.8 g/L threonine in 52 h with a 65% yield (0.22 mol/mol). These results represent the highest reported levels of amino acid production using acetate, highlighting its potential as a valuable and sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing.

A Review of Environmental Impacts of Wheat Production in Different Agrotechnical Systems

In light of the environmental challenges currently facing humanity, the issue of the environmental sustainability of crop production is becoming increasingly pressing. This is due to the fact that global population growth and the related demand for food are placing significant pressure on the environment. Wheat is a strategic crop globally due to its extensive cultivation area, high production and consumption levels, and vital nutritional properties. It is cultivated across diverse climatic conditions and within various agricultural production systems. It is of the utmost importance to pursue sustainable wheat production on a global scale, given the necessity to protect the environment and climate. The application of life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the identification of potential avenues for enhancing wheat production processes, thereby reducing the negative environmental impacts associated with these processes. This paper presents a synthesis of the existing literature on the environmental LCA of wheat grain production. It compares the impacts of different production systems, highlights critical stages in wheat cultivation, and provides recommendations for sustainable practices and directions for future research.