Normal Conditions Research Articles

Histomorphometric analysis of Wharton\'s jelly size in pregnancies with normal and pre-eclamptic conditions, and its relation to baby weight

Multiple factors affect fetal birth weight (FBW) and fetal well-being. This study aims to evaluate how hypertension affects FBW and the area of Wharton's jelly (WJ). It also seeks to explore the protective properties of WJ by analyzing its relationship with FBW in normal and pre-eclamptic (PreE) pregnancies.Eighty umbilical cords (UCs) were analyzed, with forty from normotensive pregnancies and forty from PreE pregnancies. The cross-sectional area of the UC and vessels was measured using a vernier scale and ocular micrometer. The WJ area was calculated by subtracting the vascular area from the UC area, and then compared with FBW.In this study, the normal group had an average FBW of 2547.25 ± 240.79 grams and WJ area of 35.28 ± 8.42 mm, while the PreE group had an average FBW of 2424.75 ± 234.36 grams and WJ area of 29.04 ± 8.09 mm. Both FBW and WJ area were significantly lower in the PreE group. There was a strong positive correlation between WJ area and FBW in both the normal group (r = 0.895, p<0.0001) and the PreE group (r = 0.850, p<0.0001).The findings indicated that both FBW and WJ area were notably lower in the PreE group compared to the normal group. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation between WJ area and FBW was observed in both groups. These results emphasize the importance of WJ in fetal growth and highlight the significance of its quantity in determining birth weight.

Bearing capacity of eco-friendly RC short piles exposed to groundwater salts

AbstractTwenty-eight piles were divided into four groups. Two groups were made of natural aggregate, while the other two were made of full replacement of recycled aggregate. In each group, the cement was replaced with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% of silica fume. Two groups were stored for 270 days under normal water conditions, while the other two were stored underground water conditions. Tests results have shown that it’s possible to improve the strength and the structural behavior of piles under sulfate attack considerably by using 20% of silica fume, while 15% is sufficient when the piles are under normal conditions. However, high levels of silica fume 25–30% in recycled aggregate concretes piles and 20–30% in normal aggregate concretes piles gave a clear decrease in ultimate load capacity.

Overexpression of vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase from a recretohalophyte Reaumuria trigyna enhances vegetative growth and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Reaumuria trigyna, a wild and endangered salt-secreting small shrub, is distributed in arid and semi-arid areas of Inner Mongolia, China. An H+-pyrophosphatase gene (RtVP1) was isolated from R. trigyna according to transcriptomic data, which encoded a plasma membrane and tonoplast-localized protein. RtVP1 was quickly upregulated by NaCl and exogenous abscisic acid treatment and rescued the sucrose deficiency sensitive phenotype of the AtVP1 mutant (avp1). Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing RtVP1 exhibited a higher leaf area, plant height, fresh weight, root length, and soluble carbohydrate accumulation compared to the wild type (WT) under normal conditions. RtVP1 overexpression increased the seed germination rate and decreased the reduction rate of fresh weight, root length, and chlorophyll content in transgenic plants under salt stress. Catalase enzyme activity, proline content, relative water content, and soluble sugar content were significantly increased in transgenic Arabidopsis under salt stresses, but the malondialdehyde content was dramatically decreased. More K+ and less Na+ were accumulated in transgenic Arabidopsis leaves, resulting in a relatively lower Na+/K+ ratio. In transgenic Arabidopsis roots, K+ was unchanged, but Na+ and the Na+/K+ ratios were reduced compared to those in WT. More Na+ and K+ were accumulated in the intracellular of transgenic yeast, and the Na+/K+ ratio was significantly reduced compared to the control. These results showed that R. trigyna RtVP1 promotes the vegetative growth of plants, mainly by regulating carbohydrate metabolism, and confers salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis by maintaining Na+/K+ homeostasis and enhancing the antioxidant and osmotic regulatory capacity. These results indicated that RtVP1 can serve as an important candidate gene for genetic improvement of crop yield and salt tolerance.

Biochemical and proteomic approaches to investigating effects of IAA-aspartate in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings during osmotic shock.

Osmotic shock is the first step of high salt or drought action that involves biochemical and molecular changes during plant response to these unfavorable conditions. Indole-3-acetyl-aspartate (IAA-aspartate, IAA-Asp) is the main amide conjugate of auxin in pea (Pisum sativum L.) tissues. Although the exact molecular mechanism of the IAA-Asp action is unknown, this conjugate's indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-independent biological activity has been observed during physiological and stress conditions. In this work, we investigated the effect of IAA-Asp alone, as well as in combination with NaCl or polyethylene glycol (PEG) (osmotic shock) on reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, activities of enzymes modulating glutathione concentration, protein S-glutathionylation, and IAA homeostasis. We did not observe the hydrolysis of IAA-Asp to IAA in pea seedlings, which, together with other results, suggests that IAA-Asp modulates plant response to abiotic stimuli independently of IAA. Moreover, despite the effect of IAA-Asp on the enzymes responsible for IAA conjugation, no changes in this phytohormone level were visible. Furthermore, 3h plant treatment with IAA-Asp increased the activity of glutathione reductase (GR), which correlates with an elevated GSH/GSSG ratio. On the contrary, more extended (48h) incubation with IAA-Asp diminished the GSH/GSSG ratio and increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX). IAA-Asp reduced GR activity during salt treatment but did not affect the GSH/GSSG ratio. Similarly, under plant incubation with PEG, IAA-Asp did not change the GSH/GSSG ratio but increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. We also analyzed the effect of IAA-Asp on pea protein S-glutathionylation. Increased S-glutathionylation of heat shock 70 kDa protein (HSP70) was observed after plant treatment with IAA-Asp, PEG, or IAA-Asp combined with PEG. The proteomic analysis also revealed that IAA-Asp diminished S-glutathionylation of lipoxygenase during plant incubation with PEG. Thus, we suggest that IAA-Asp modulates redox status in pea during oxidative stress and under normal physiological conditions.

Quantile Connectedness Amongst Green Assets Amid COVID-19 and Russia–Ukraine Tussle

With the advent of greening the global economy and the introduction of green financial assets, this study examines the connectedness and spillover effect of green assets using a QVAR approach focusing on the average connectedness and connectedness under extreme market conditions. The time of the study captures the crucial global incidents of COVID-19 and Russia–Ukraine war to investigate the effect of major incidents on the connectedness of green assets. The results of the QVAR analysis reveal that green assets are moderately connected under normal market conditions; however, their connection is strengthened under extreme market conditions. IOTA and SP Green Bonds are the net receivers of shocks from other assets, and SP Green Bonds are connected to green energy indices and green cryptocurrencies during turbulent markets. Since green cryptocurrencies are closely connected, a lower portion of them should be added to portfolios, whereas SP Green Bonds qualify as a good diversifying agent in a portfolio. The study has significant implications for market participants, investors, and policymakers.

Abstract 4137296: Single-cell Atlas of Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue Reveals Aging IL4R + Naive B cell Contributing To Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Numerous recent evidence suggested a role of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), the visceral fat depot of the heart, in the development of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the association remain elusive. Methods: We performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing on eleven EAT samples collected from 2 groups of subjects: patients with nonvalvular AF undergoing coronary bypass surgery for severe CAD (n=7), and a control group of patients without concomitant AF (n=4). Comparative analyses were performed between the groups, including cellular compositional analysis, cell type–resolved transcriptomic changes, and functional analysis. Results: Unsupervised clustering of 92734 nuclei identified 11 clusters, encompassing all known cell types in the adipose tissue. Pseudobulk differential expression analysis between the AF and control groups revealed pronounced differences in a select subset of genes located on the X and Y chromosomes, including XIST and TSIX. Subsequent pathway analysis identified that the most significantly impacted pathways were those associated with immune cell functions. Meanwhile, differences in cellular composition and transcriptomic profiles, particularly concerning B cells, were observed between normal and AF conditions, highlighting distinct immune cell dynamics. Comparison of pathways across different B cell states revealed the enrichment of distinct pathways within each state, including those involved in cellular senescence, antigen processing and presentation, and programmed cell death signatures. Notably, aging IL4R + naive B cell and inflammatory ITGB1 + memory B cell were identified as important regulators potentially involved in functional changes of EAT and AF pathogenesis. Conclusions: We built a complete single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of human EAT in normal and AF conditions. Our study lays the foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies for treating AF by targeting and modifying B cell functions within EAT.

Triple-Gene Overexpression of the AcrA-AcrB-TolC Transporter System in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Contributes to a Higher Secretion of Free Fatty Acids in Response to Nitrogen Shortage and Salt Stress

One important aspect of cyanobacterial homoeostasis is reducing the toxicity of excess free fatty acids (FFAs) generated in the cells by means of both secreting these into the medium and recycling them toward membrane lipid synthesis. In this study, the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 served to implement the overexpression of native genes of the transportation system. Specifically, we worked with the Sll0180-Slr2131-Slr1270 homologs of Escherichia coli AcrA-AcrB-TolC, respectively, to create single- and triple-overexpressing strains of OA, OB, OC, and OABC. Remarkably, the OABC strain that triply overexpressed the sll0180_slr2131_slr1270 genes acquired a significant amount of intracellular lipids, up to 23.5% of dry cell weight, under the normal condition. Nitrogen-deficient stress undoubtedly raised extracellular FFAs and intracellular lipids in overexpressing strains, especially in the OABC strain, which exhibited 33.9% and 41.5% of dry cell weight, respectively. During the first 5 days of treatment, salt stress at 256 mM significantly increased the FFA efflux, notably for the OB strain, but had no effect on intracellular lipids. It is noteworthy that the OA and OABC strains outperformed all other strains in terms of growth throughout the 16 days of nitrogen shortage. Furthermore, in comparison to the wild-type control, all the overexpressing strains exhibited a considerable increase in carotenoid accumulation. Thus, our results point to the effective role of the sll0180_slr2131_slr1270 transportation system in facilitating FFA secretion, especially in response to environmental stressors.

Abstract 4129523: MicroRNA-1282 Rescues Diabetic Limb Ischemia Via a SERF2-Protein Aggregation Pathway

Introduction: Patients with diabetes are at higher risk of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) causing restricted blood flow to the lower limbs due, in part, to impaired angiogenesis. However, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in diabetic CLTI remains poorly understood. By integrating plasma miRNA sequencing data from PAD patients with diabetes with a diabetic CLTI mouse model, we have recently identified the conserved miRNA miR-1282 that is in cis-antisense orientation to SERF2, a gene associated with amyloid aggregation. Therefore, we hypothesize that miR-1282 orchestrates endothelial angiogenesis and proteostasis during diabetic CLTI. Methods: Using miR-1282 overexpression or SERF2 knockdown studies, we characterized mouse orthologs of human miR-1282 and SERF2 for angiogenesis, apoptosis, protein aggregation, and oxidative stress in diabetic mouse skeletal muscle endothelial cells (ECs). In vivo, miR-1282 mimics were delivered intramuscularly to assess their impact on blood flow recovery, angiogenesis, and protein aggregation. Mechanistic insights in ECs were gained via RNA-seq, predictive algorithms, and proteomic analyses. Results: miR-1282 inhibited the expression of its cis-antisense target SERF2 by 98%. miR-1282 is a hypoxia-induced endothelial-enriched miRNA, and its expression was inversely correlated with SERF2 expression. miR-1282 levels were markedly reduced after femoral artery ligation (FAL) in diabetic db/db mice. Overexpression of miR-1282 or SERF2 knockdown enhanced angiogenesis and reduced protein aggregation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in both normal and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Delivery of miR-1282 mimics in db/db mice improved blood flow recovery by 108% and angiogenesis by 98%, and reduced protein aggregation by 48% and tissue necrosis. Coupling RNA-seq profiling and prediction algorithms of ECs upon miR-1282 overexpression or SERF2 knockdown revealed EREG, BAG5, CASP3, ARG1, and HSP90AA1 as potential downstream regulators. Pathway enrichment analysis implicated inhibition of endothelial apoptosis, ER stress, and protein stability among the most dysregulated processes. Conclusion: A novel mouse ortholog of human miR-1282 augments endothelial functions and diminishes protein aggregation in diabetic CLTI via suppression of its cis-antisense target SERF2. These findings uncover new potential therapeutic targets in treating diabetic CLTI.

Detection of Indian Counterfeit Currency Notes with MATLAB-Based Feature Extraction

Fakes are a major threat to India’s economy hence the need for a solution that will help detect these materials easily and accurately. The detection of counterfeit currency is a major concern for almost all countries, and this research focuses on developing a MATLAB-based counterfeit currency detection system which evaluates a true image of the Indian Currencies with the help of image processing and pattern recognition technique. Benefiting from MATLAB’s powerful image processing resources, the system conducts the necessary preprocessing, feature extraction and classification of vital security elements of currency, such as watermarks, security threads and micro-lettering which play an important role in identifying the genuine currency from the counterfeit. The specific characteristics of edge and texture are statistically and geometrically calculated, and the normal and high-resolution light conditions are at high accuracy with varying resolutions. In order to determine a distinction between actual and fake notes, support vector machine (SVM) classifiers are used. By validating this MATLAB solution, it has been determined to be effective as an easy to use, robust and customizable software that has the potential to work in numerous operations within banking and retail and prevent the spreading of counterfeit money.

Oral exposure to high concentrations of polystyrene microplastics alters the intestinal environment and metabolic outcomes in mice

IntroductionOral exposure to microplastics (MPs) is a global health concern. In our previous study, MPs induced glucose intolerance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) under a high-fat diet-induced leaky gut syndrome (LGS). This study aims to evaluate the effects of high concentrations of MP on lipid metabolism under normal dietary conditions and to assess the changes in the intestinal tract resulting from MP exposure.MethodsC57BL6/J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) without polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) or with PS-MPs (1000 µg/L or 5000 µg/L) for six weeks. Subsequently, intestinal permeability, gut microbiota, and metabolite levels in the serum, feces, and liver were determined.ResultsMice fed the ND showed no increase in intestinal permeability in either group. However, high MPs concentrations led to increased serum lipid levels and exacerbated fatty liver function. Oral exposure to MPs did not affect the number of innate lymphoid cells or short-chain fatty acids in the intestine. However, it increased the number of natural killer cells, altered the gut microbiota, induced inflammation, and modulated the expression of genes related to nutrient transport in the intestine. The severity of intestinal disturbance tended to worsen with dose.DiscussionDespite the absence of LGS, high concentrations of MPs induced dyslipidemia and NAFLD. Oral exposure to MPs triggered intestinal inflammation via natural killer cells, altered the gut microbiota, and modulated nutrient metabolism. Our study highlights the need for environmental measures to reduce oral MPs exposure in the future.

New atherosclerosis progression markers in patients with post-Chernobyl metabolic syndrome

Relevance. As an epidemiologically proven consequence of the Chernobyl NPP accident, circulatory diseases are among the leading morbidities in liquidators. To predict the development of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with metabolic syndrome, there is the ongoing search for informative laboratory markers.The objective is to show how osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, fetuin-A, and risk factors for genetic circulatory disorders are associated with traditional risk factors for circulatory disorders in Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident liquidators suffering metabolic syndrome. Another objective is to explore the perspectives to use these indicators to forecast coronary atherosclerosis progression.Methods. The study group included 50 male liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident who suffered metabolic syndrome. The patients were split in two groups depending on osteopontin concentration in blood serum, i.e. above or under the upper reference limit. Medical history data, biochemical parameters, including inflammatory proteins, osteoprotegerin, fetuin-A, and genotyping of polymorphic variants of genes associated with the risk of circulatory diseases were analyzed. A control group of 30 conditionally healthy men was formed to determine the normal osteopontin, osteoprotegerin and fetuin-A values in blood serum.Results and discussion. With osteopontin value exceeding 21.4 ng/mL, the liquidators’ medical history showed 1.5 times higher frequency of myocardial infarction, 2.5 times higher frequent history of acute cerebral circulation disorder; ischemic heart disease was associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It was shown that the group of liquidators (osteopontin over 21.4 ng/ml) was characterized by a reliable increase in atherogenicity coefficient and osteoprotegerin level. Meanwhile, when compared to the control group, the same group of patients showed lower fetuin-A values and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine, leptin and ghrelin. It was found that in liquidators, the presence of the A allele in the vitamin B12-dependent methionine synthase (MTR) gene (2756 A>G) is associated with more pronounced biochemical markers of atherosclerosis progression compared to GG genotype carriers.Conclusion. Osteopontin performs a protective role in tissue damage, being is practically undetectable in normal conditions. However, in case of pathology its value increases dramatically. In patients with metabolic syndrome, decreased fetuin-A and osteopontin values exceeding 21.4 ng/mL require additional examination with a focus on cardiovascular pathology (coronary artery calcinosis), as well as a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to ensure early detection of diminished bone mineral density and body mass. It was found that in liquidators, the presence of A-allele (genotypes AA and AG) in the MTR 2756 A>G gene is characterized by deeper atherogenic changes in the lipid spectrum, increased atherogenicity coefficient and decreased adiponectin content. This justifies the need for genotyping to build individual forecast for atherosclerosis progression in this category of patients.

Physicochemical Characterization of Gasoline and Analysis of the Vulnerability and Criticality of Atmospheric Pollutants in N'Djamena

In this work we made an analysis for the physicochemical characterization of gasoline sold on the roadsides of the city of N'Djamena. For our first experience on the storage of gasoline in cans exposed to the sun, we noticed the formation of lumps and solid particles at the bottom of the cans. We then sampled a sample by district and subjected it to the analysis conditions. The analyses focused on Density at 15°C; ASTM distillation; Reid vapor pressure, Octane number; Determination of corrosion of copper blades as well as Determination of sulfur content. The results of the analyzed contraband gasolines are out of specifications under normal analysis conditions. Despite the many studies carried out on air pollution by particles, uncertainties remain. It is more or less complex to treat particulate pollution in urban areas, this is in fact due to the modifications resulting from different meteorological factors (wind, precipitation, etc.), topographical (slope, etc.) and urban morphological, which constitute limiting factors in the dispersion of these pollutants, thus, different maps have been studied according to the vulnerability and criticality of the accentuated situation relating to pollution throughout the city of N'Djamena. The results confirm the presence of particles that can affect human health. In addition to the presence of all the elements that we have been able to discover, there is on average the result of the presence of PM10 particles which is: 66.98016239 ug/m<sup>3</sup> well above the WHO guideline which recommends 50 μg/m<sup>3</sup>/day as well as the daily average for PM2.5 which is: 56.83616723 ug/m<sup>3</sup> well above the WHO guideline which recommends 25 μg/m<sup>3</sup>/day. The objective of this article is to clearly present the urgency of air pollution throughout the territory in order to take a binding decision on the current situation based on the proliferation and illicit sale of petroleum products in the city of N'Djamena, particularly gasoline.

SURG-57. FLUORESCENCE LIFETIME IMAGING (FLIM) PROVIDES HIGHLY ACCURATE, DYE-FREE TUMOR MARGIN DETECTION DURING GLIOMA RESECTIONS

Abstract INTRODUCTION Fluorescence guided tumor margin detection is an important tool to enhance the extent of resection for gliomas. Existing dyes, such as 5-ALA, require planned administration, surgical resection in dark conditions, and are only effective for high-grade tumors. We have developed a novel laser scanning probe to assess tissue autofluorescence decay (lifetime) which allows tumor margin detection without exogenous dyes and under normal room light conditions. This technology has been optimized for margin detection in low-grade and high-grade gliomas. METHODS Patients undergoing craniotomy for resection of gliomas were enrolled. During resection of the final tumor margin, multiple 1x1 mm regions were scanned with FLIm and biopsied for evaluation by a neuropathologist. FLIm data and ground truth pathology were processed by a machine-learning algorithm to develop classifiers for the FLIm data. Classifiers were then applied to the full data set to determine the accuracy of FLIm predictions. RESULTS 12 patients with non-enhancing (LGG) and 25 patients with enhancing (HGG) tumors were enrolled, with a total of 228 biopsies obtained. For LGG, sensitivity of FLIm for detection of residual tumor was 0.89 (95% CI 0.8-0.98) with a specificity of 0.92 (95% CI 0.86-0.97), resulting in a positive predictive value of 0.76 and negative predictive value of 0.96 with an overall accuracy of 0.91. For HGG, sensitivity of FLIm for detection of residual tumor was 0.92 (95% CI 0.84-1.0) with a specificity of 0.95 (95% CI 0.91-0.99), resulting in a positive predictive value of 0.90 and negative predictive value of 0.96 with an overall accuracy of 0.94, exceeding reported values for 5-ALA. CONCLUSION FLIm can distinguish between residual low and high-grade glioma and normal brain at resection margins with very high sensitivity and specificity. This quantitative technology does not require administration of exogenous dyes and can be used under normal room light illumination.

Accurate Medical Vial Identification Through Mixed Reality: A HoloLens 2 Implementation

The accurate identification of medicine vials is crucial for emergency medical services, especially for vials that resemble one another but have different labels, volumes, and concentrations. This study introduces a method to detect vials in real-time using mixed reality technology through Microsoft HoloLens 2. The system is also equipped with an SQL server to manage barcode and vial information. We conducted a comparative analysis of the barcode detection capabilities of the HoloLens 2 camera and an external scanner. The HoloLens 2 effectively identified larger barcodes when they were 20–25 cm away in normal lighting conditions. However, it faced difficulties in detecting smaller barcodes that were consistently detected by the external scanner. The frame rate investigation revealed performance fluctuations: an average of 10.54 frames per second (fps) under standard lighting conditions, decreasing to 10.10 fps in low light and further reducing to 10.05 fps when faced with high barcode density. Resolution tests demonstrated that a screen resolution of 1920 × 1080 yielded the best level of accuracy, with a precision rate of 98%. On the other hand, a resolution of 1280 × 720 achieved a good balance between accuracy 93% and speed. The HoloLens 2 demonstrates satisfactory performance under ideal circumstances; however, enhancements in detecting algorithms and camera resolution are required to accommodate diverse surroundings. This approach seeks to help paramedics make quick and accurate decisions during critical situations and tackle common obstacles such as reliance on networks and human mistakes. Our new approach of a hybrid method that integrates an external Bluetooth scanner with the MR device gives optimal results compared to the scanner-only approach.

Modeling the Effect of Milk Vetch–Rice Rotation on N Runoff Loss in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

The winter planting of green manure (GM) is widely used in South China to reduce chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer use, improve soil fertility, and maintain rice yields, but its effect on N runoff loss in paddy fields remains unclear. This study combines multi-site field experiments with a process model (WHCNS-Rice) to assess how GM with reduced N fertilizer impacts N runoff loss and its forms in the Yangtze River’s middle and lower reaches, considering different rainfall years. The network field experiments included four treatments: conventional fertilization (FR), conventional fertilization plus straw return (FRS), GM with a 40% N reduction (MR), and GM-straw combined return with a 40% N reduction (MRS). Monitoring the results showed that compared to the winter fallow treatment, the GM treatments reduced the peak and average total N (TN) concentrations by 11.1–57.9% (average 26.9%) and 17.1–27.3% (average 22.3%), respectively. The TN runoff loss under the GM treatment decreased by 3.50–10.61 kg N ha−1 (22.5–42.1%). GM primarily reduced the runoff loss of dissolved inorganic N (DIN), with reductions at different sites ranging from 0.22 to 9.66 kg N ha−1 (8.4–43.4%), indicating GM effectively decreases N runoff by reducing DIN. Model simulations of ponding water depth, runoff, TN concentration in surface water, and TN loss in paddy fields produced the consistency indices and simulation efficiencies of 0.738–0.985, 0.737–0.986, 0.912–0.986, and 0.674–0.972, respectively, indicating that the model can be used to evaluate water consumption and N runoff loss in the GM-paddy system. The simulations showed that GM with a 40% N fertilizer significantly reduced N runoff loss under all rainfall conditions, with the greatest reductions in wet years. Under wet, normal, and dry conditions, the GM treatments significantly reduced average TN loss by 0.37–5.53 kg N ha−1 (12.77–29.17%), 0.21–5.32 kg N ha−1 (9.95–24.51%), and 0.02–3.2 kg N ha−1 (1.78–23.19%), respectively, compared to the winter fallow treatment. These results indicate that the combination of GM and a 40% reduction in N fertilizer can significantly reduce N runoff loss from paddy fields, demonstrating good effectiveness under various rainfall conditions, making it a green production model worth promoting.

Dermal macrophages control tactile perception under physiological conditions via NGF signaling

We demonstrated previously that sorting nexin 25 (SNX25) in nerve-associated macrophages plays critical roles in pain sensation by regulating tissue NGF content under both physiological and neuropathic conditions. In the present study, we apply the SNX25–NGF paradigm to tactile perception by showing that Snx25+/- mice or macrophage-specific Snx25 conditional knock-out (mcKO) mice had weaker responses to tactile stimuli in normal conditions. Snx25 mcKO mice responded poorly to transcutaneous electrical stimuli at a frequency of 5 Hz (C fiber responses), but normally to stimuli at a frequency of 250 Hz (Aδ fiber responses) or of 2000 Hz (Aβ fiber responses). CX3CR1-positive dermal macrophages were frequently found near calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP)- positive nerves and, less frequently, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive nerves. We confirmed that the tissue content of NGF was lower in Snx25 mcKO mice than in wild-type mice, and in turn, dermal NGF injection restored tactile sensitivity in Snx25+/- mice and Snx25 mcKO mice to normal levels. These results indicate that CGRP-positive C-nociceptors (possibly also TH-positive C-LTMRs) associated dermal macrophages control tactile perception by producing NGF and secreting it into the dermis.

Association analysis of gut microbiota with LDL-C metabolism and microbial pathogenicity in colorectal cancer patients

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy worldwide, with obesity-induced lipid metabolism disorders playing a crucial role in its progression. A complex connection exists between gut microbiota and the development of intestinal tumors through the microbiota metabolite pathway. Metabolic disorders frequently alter the gut microbiome, impairing immune and cellular functions and hastening cancer progression.MethodsThis study thoroughly examined the gut microbiota through 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples from 181 CRC patients, integrating preoperative Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and RNA sequencing data. The study includes a comparison of microbial diversity, differential microbiological analysis, exploration of the associations between microbiota, tumor microenvironment immune cells, and immune genes, enrichment analysis of potential biological functions of microbe-related host genes, and the prediction of LDL-C status through microorganisms.ResultsThe analysis revealed that differences in α and β diversity indices of intestinal microbiota in CRC patients were not statistically significant across different LDL-C metabolic states. Patients exhibited varying LDL-C metabolic conditions, leading to a bifurcation of their gut microbiota into two distinct clusters. Patients with LDL-C metabolic irregularities had higher concentrations of twelve gut microbiota, which were linked to various immune cells and immune-related genes, influencing tumor immunity. Under normal LDL-C metabolic conditions, the protective microorganism Anaerostipes_caccae was significantly negatively correlated with the GO Biological Process pathway involved in the negative regulation of the unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum. Both XGBoost and MLP models, developed using differential gut microbiota, could forecast LDL-C levels in CRC patients biologically.ConclusionsThe intestinal microbiota in CRC patients influences the LDL-C metabolic status. With elevated LDL-C levels, gut microbiota can regulate the function of immune cells and gene expression within the tumor microenvironment, affecting cancer-related pathways and promoting CRC progression. LDL-C and its associated gut microbiota could provide non-invasive markers for clinical evaluation and treatment of CRC patients.

Business ecosystem management in the conditions new normality and transcendence

The article examines the essence of the concept, examines the elements and their inherent features of the business ecosystem, substantiates the approaches to effective management in the conditions of new normality and transcendence. The signs of a business ecosystem presented in the article are at first glance inherent in the characteristics of any enterprise, institution or organization, however, we note that ecosystems or turquoise organizations represent the next stage of consciousness development, where traditional concepts and methods are questioned and the organization is considered as a living organism, not a mechanical system. In the context of the transcendental development of business ecosystems, environmental turbulence and growing uncertainty lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of traditional management tools, at the same time, these characteristics can become a catalyst for new opportunities and non-standard management solutions that can significantly strengthen their position in the market and affect corporate synergistic effects, contribute to the formation of new connections and ideas, which will subsequently lead to the introduction of innovations and the development of business ecosystems. Transcendence in the context of management is considered as a concept that covers aspects that go beyond the established boundaries of existing experience, understanding or perception, standard models, conditions and approaches in managing business ecosystems. Management of the business ecosystem in the conditions of new normality and transcendence requires the use of integrated approaches and strategies that can go beyond traditional tools, methods and models. Envisioning the transcendence of management means changing the way you think and understanding that standard models and methods may become ineffective or insufficient in the new normal. Business ecosystems whose leaders are focused on transcendental development in the conditions of the new normality have the greatest chances for business viability, recovery and success. In this context, the article examines transcendental leadership, which refers to the concept of leadership that goes beyond traditional models and focuses on a deeper understanding and approach to managing people, organizations, and change.

ZmHsp18 screened from the ZmHsp20 gene family confers thermotolerance in maize

Heat stress has become one of the abiotic stresses that pose an increasing threat to maize production due to global warming. The Hsp20 gene family confers tolerance to various abiotic stresses in plants. However, very few Hsp20s have been identified in relation to maize thermotolerance. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive study of Hsp20s involved in thermotolerance in maize. A total of 33 maize Hsp20 genes (ZmHsp20s) were identified through scanning for a conserved α-crystalline domain (ACD), and they were categorized into 14 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. These genes are distributed across all maize chromosomes and nine of them are in regions previously identified as heat-tolerance quantitative trait loci (hrQTL). These hrQTL-associated ZmHsp20s show variation in tissue-specific expression profiles under normal conditions, and seven of them possess 1–5 heat stress elements in their promoters. The integration of RNA-seq data with real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that ZmHsp23.4, ZmHsp22.8B and ZmHsp18 were dramatically induced under heat stress. Additionally, these genes exhibited co-expression patterns with key ZmHsfs, which are crucial in the heat tolerance pathway. When a null mutant carrying a frame-shifted ZmHsp18 gene was subjected to heat stress, its survival rate decreased significantly, indicating a critical role of ZmHsp18 in maize thermotolerance. Our study lays the groundwork for further research into the roles of ZmHsp20s in enhancing maize’s thermotolerance.

Shifting GnRH neuron ensembles underlie successive preovulatory luteinizing hormone surges.

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons operate as a neuronal ensemble exhibiting coordinated activity once every reproductive cycle to generate the preovulatory GnRH surge. Using GCaMP fibre photometry at the GnRH neuron distal dendrons to measure the output of this widely scattered population in female mice, we find that the onset, amplitude, and profile of GnRH neuron surge activity exhibits substantial variability from cycle to cycle both between and within individual mice. This was also evident when measuring successive proestrous luteinizing hormone surges. Studies combining short (c-Fos and c-Jun) and long (genetic Robust Activity Marking) term indices of immediate early gene activation revealed that, while ∼50% of GnRH neurons were activated at the time of each surge, only half of these neurons had been active during the previous proestrous surge. These observations reveal marked inter- and intra-individual variability in the GnRH surge mechanism. Remarkably, different sub-populations of overlapping GnRH neurons are recruited to the ensemble each estrous cycle to generate the GnRH surge. While engendering variability in the surge mechanism itself, this likely provides substantial robustness to a key event underlying mammalian reproduction.Significance Statement The mid-cycle luteinizing hormone (LH) surge driven by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons represents the key event triggering ovulation in all mammals. Using GCaMP fibre photometry and genetic activation markers, we unexpectedly find that different sub-populations of GnRH neurons are responsible for driving consecutive LH surges every 4-5 days in cycling female mice. This remarkable oscillatory pattern of network plasticity within the ensemble occurs under normal physiological conditions and likely contributes to the variable timing of the onset of LH surge both within and between individuals. The ability of individual GnRH neurons to take turns within the ensemble in driving the LH surge likely provides a robust fail-safe mechanism for ovulation and contributes to the robustness of mammalian fertility.