Oxygen Stress Research Articles

Insulation Degradation Mechanism and Diagnosis Methods of Offshore Wind Power Cables: An Overview

The marine environment in which offshore wind turbines are located is very complex and subjected to a variety of random loads that vary with time and space. As an important component of offshore wind power, the cable also bears the impact of the environment in which most of the turbines are located. Under the long-term action of mechanical stresses such as tension, torsion, and vibration, the cable insulation will crack due to stress fatigue leading to partial discharge, which seriously affects its electrical performance. The study of the mechanism of the change of electrical properties of cable insulation due to mechanical behavior is of great theoretical guidance to improve the reliable operation of cables. This paper first introduces the basic characteristics and operating conditions of torsion-resistant cables and submarine cables. Then the mechanical behavior of the cables is summarized, and the deterioration mechanism and deterioration effect of wind power cable insulation under the influence of multiple factors such as heat, oxygen, and mechanical stress are sorted out. Then, the basic principles of wind power cable operation condition monitoring methods and their characteristics are described. Finally, the relevant methods for the detection of hidden defects inside the insulation are summarized.

Crosstalk of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy under reactive oxygen stress involved in difenoconazole-induced kidney damage in carp

Difenoconazole is a commonly used triazole fungicide in agricultural production. Because of its slow degradation and easy accumulation in the environment, it seriously endangers both animal health and the ecological environment. Therefore, it is hoped that the effects on carp kidneys can be studied by simulating difenoconazole residues in the environment. The experiment was designed with two doses (0.488 mg/L, 1.953 mg/L) as exposure concentrations of difenoconazole for 4 d. Histopathological results showed that difenoconazole could cause severe damage to the kidney structure and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in carp. Elevated levels of Creatinine, and BUN suggested the development of kidney damage. The DHE fluorescence probe's result suggested that difenoconazole might cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) to accumulate in the kidney of carp. Difenoconazole was found to increase MDA levels while decreasing the activities of CAT, SOD, and GSH-PX, according to biochemical indicators. In addition, difenoconazole could up-regulate the transcription levels of inflammatory factors tnf-α, il-6, il-1β, and inos. At the same time, it inhibited the transcription level of il-10 and tgf-β1. The TUNEL test clearly showed that difenoconazole induced apoptosis in the kidney and vastly raised the transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes p53, caspase9, caspase3, and bax while inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2, fas, capsase8. Additionally, TEM imaging showed that clearly autophagic lysosomes and autophagosomes were formed. Elevated levels of LC3II protein expression, increased transcript levels of the autophagy-related gene atg5 as well as decreased transcript levels of p62 represented the generation of autophagy. In conclusion, the study illustrated that oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy all played roles in difenoconazole-induced kidney injury in carp, which was closely linked to ROS production. This work provides a valuable reference for studying the toxicity of difenoconazole to aquatic organisms.

Modelling air conductivity function of unsaturated root-permeated soil

Air conductivity as a function of degree of saturation, ka(Sw), is a crucial air transport parameter of soil to evaluate soil aeration. This function controls the level of oxygen stresses introduced to plants. It has been found that plant roots affect ka(Sw) of soil where they grow in the soil pore space. However, there is no model available to predict ka(Sw) of root-permeated soils. Quantifying the effects of plant roots on ka(Sw) is vital to understand soil aeration. This study aims to derive a new model for the prediction of the ka(Sw) of unsaturated root-permeated soils. Then a verification experiment was conducted, aiming to validate the new model by comparing ka(Sw) predicted by the new model with ka(Sw) measured in the experiments. In the experiments, ka(Sw) of a compacted sandy loam vegetated with two grass species (Chrysopogon zizanioides and Cynodon dactylon) with different root densities was measured. The results showed that the proposed model predicts the ka(Sw) of root-permeated soils of various root densities well.

Group VII ethylene response factors, MtERF74 and MtERF75, sustain nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula microoxic nodules.

Group VII ethylene response factors (ERF-VII) are plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) known for their role in the activation of hypoxia-responsive genes under low oxygen stress but also in plant endogenous hypoxic niches. However, their function in the microaerophilic nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes has not yet been investigated. We investigated regulation and the function of the two Medicago truncatula ERF-VII TFs (MtERF74 and MtERF75) in roots and nodules, MtERF74 and MtERF75 in response to hypoxia stress and during the nodulation process using an RNA interference strategy and targeted proteolysis of MtERF75. Knockdown of MtERF74 and MtERF75 partially blocked the induction of hypoxia-responsive genes in roots exposed to hypoxia stress. In addition, a significant reduction in nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation activity was observed in mature nodules of double knockdown transgenic roots. Overall, the results indicate that MtERF74 and MtERF75 are involved in the induction of MtNR1 and Pgb1.1 expression for efficient Phytogb-nitric oxide respiration in the nodule.

The analysis of lysine succinylation modification reveals the mechanism of oxybenzone damaging of pakchoi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis).

Oxybenzone (OBZ), one of a broad spectrum of ultraviolet (UV) absorbents, has been proven to be harmful to both plants and animals, while omics analysis of big data at the molecular level is still lacking. Lysine succinylation (Ksuc) is an important posttranslational modification of proteins that plays a crucial role in regulating the metabolic network in organisms under stress. Here, we report the changes in intracellular Ksuc modification in plants under OBZ stress. A total of 1276 succinylated sites on 507 proteins were identified. Among these sites, 181 modified proteins were hypersulfinylated/succinylated in OBZ-stressed pakchoi leaves. Differentially succinylated proteins (DSPs) are distributed mainly in the chloroplast, cytoplasm, and mitochondria and are distributed mainly in primary metabolic pathways, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, stress resistance, energy generation and transfer, photosynthetic carbon fixation, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Comprehensive analysis shows that Ksuc mainly changes the carbon flow distribution, enhances the activity of the antioxidant system, affects the biosynthesis of amino acids, and increases the modification of histones. The results of this study first showed the profiling of the Kusc map under OBZ treatment and proposed the adaptive mechanism of pakchoi in response to pollutants and other abiotic stresses at the posttranslational level, which revealed the importance of Ksuc in the regulation of various life activities and provides a reference dataset for future research on molecular function.

Resolving streamflow diel fluctuations in a small agricultural catchment with an integrated surface‐subsurface hydrological model

AbstractDuring dry periods, stream discharge in vegetated catchments can naturally fluctuate up to 10% daily. Despite intensive efforts put in observing and interpreting diel fluctuations of stream discharge across a range of instrumented natural catchments worldwide, the capability of state‐of‐the‐art hydrological models to reproduce and explain such processes has rarely been tested. Here, we used CATHY, a physics‐based integrated surface‐subsurface hydrological model (ISSHM), to simulate the stream discharge in a small tile‐drained agricultural catchment in Switzerland, where streamflow diel fluctuations appeared in dry periods. The model was able to satisfactorily reproduce the measured stream discharge, including the observed diel fluctuations. Next, we designed and simulated a series of modelling scenarios aimed to disentangle the processes contributing to the diel fluctuations in stream discharge. These scenarios revealed the predominant role of evapotranspiration (ET) in the establishment of diel fluctuations in stream discharge. Irrigation sustained the baseflow in dry periods and caused short‐living streamflow peaks, which did not directly cause, but superposed to, diel patterns. Vegetation rooting depths and response to oxygen stress in the root zone slightly affected the amplitude of the streamflow diel fluctuations, while changes in the saturated hydraulic conductivity driven by diel soil temperature fluctuations caused an amplitude of the streamflow diel signal 10 times smaller compared to the one caused by ET. Our study demonstrates that ISSHMs such as CATHY can provide high‐fidelity spatially‐distributed dynamic simulations of evapotranspiration and irrigation fluxes, as well as soil moisture and groundwater flows, enhancing our understanding of the role of these hydrological processes during dry periods and thus making these models useful tools for a more sustainable management of agricultural catchments.

Hybrid magnetic resonance and optoacoustic tomography (MROT) for preclinical neuroimaging

Multi-modal imaging is essential for advancing our understanding of brain function and unraveling pathophysiological processes underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. Magnetic resonance (MR) and optoacoustic (OA) imaging have been shown to provide highly complementary contrasts and capabilities for preclinical neuroimaging. True integration between these modalities can thus offer unprecedented capabilities for studying the rodent brain in action. We report on a hybrid magnetic resonance and optoacoustic tomography (MROT) system for concurrent noninvasive structural and functional imaging of the mouse brain. Volumetric OA tomography was designed as an insert into a high-field MR scanner by integrating a customized MR-compatible spherical transducer array, an illumination module, and a dedicated radiofrequency coil. A tailored data processing pipeline has been developed to mitigate signal crosstalk and accurately register image volumes acquired with T1-weighted, angiography, and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) sequences onto the corresponding vascular and oxygenation data recorded with the OA modality. We demonstrate the concurrent acquisition of dual-mode anatomical and angiographic brain images with the scanner, as well as real-time functional readings of multiple hemodynamic parameters from animals subjected to oxygenation stress. Our approach combines the functional and molecular imaging advantages of OA with the superb soft-tissue contrast of MR, further providing an excellent platform for cross-validation of functional readings by the two modalities.

Streptococcus agalactiae npx Is Required for Survival in Human Placental Macrophages and Full Virulence in a Model of Ascending Vaginal Infection during Pregnancy.

Streptococcus agalactiae, also known as group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a Gram-positive encapsulated bacterium that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract of 30 to 50% of humans. GBS causes invasive infection during pregnancy that can lead to chorioamnionitis, funisitis, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), preterm birth, neonatal sepsis, and maternal and fetal demise. Upon infecting the host, GBS encounters sentinel innate immune cells, such as macrophages, within reproductive tissues. Once phagocytosed by macrophages, GBS upregulates the expression of the gene npx, which encodes an NADH peroxidase. GBS mutants with an npx deletion (Δnpx) are exquisitely sensitive to reactive oxygen stress. Furthermore, we have shown that npx is required for GBS survival in both THP-1 and placental macrophages. In an in vivo murine model of ascending GBS vaginal infection during pregnancy, npx is required for invading reproductive tissues and is critical for inducing disease progression, including PPROM and preterm birth. Reproductive tissue cytokine production was also significantly diminished in Δnpx mutant-infected animals compared to that in animals infected with wild-type (WT) GBS. Complementation in trans reversed this phenotype, indicating that npx is critical for GBS survival and the initiation of proinflammatory signaling in the gravid host. IMPORTANCE This study sheds new light on the way that group B Streptococcus (GBS) defends itself against oxidative stress in the infected host. The enzyme encoded by the GBS gene npx is an NADH peroxidase that, our study reveals, provides defense against macrophage-derived reactive oxygen stress and facilitates infections of the uterus during pregnancy. This enzyme could represent a tractable target for future treatment strategies against invasive GBS infections.

Extracellular membrane vesicles from Limosilactobacillus reuteri strengthen the intestinal epithelial integrity, modulate cytokine responses and antagonize activation of TRPV1.

Bacterial extracellular membrane vesicles (MV) are potent mediators of microbe-host signals, and they are not only important in host-pathogen interactions but also for the interactions between mutualistic bacteria and their hosts. Studies of MV derived from probiotics could enhance the understanding of these universal signal entities, and here we have studied MV derived from Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and BG-R46. The production of MV increased with cultivation time and after oxygen stress. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analyses revealed that the MV carried a large number of bacterial cell surface proteins, several predicted to be involved in host-bacteria interactions. A 5'-nucleotidase, which catalyze the conversion of AMP into the signal molecule adenosine, was one of these and analysis of enzymatic activity showed that L. reuteri BG-R46 derived MV exhibited the highest activity. We also detected the TLR2 activator lipoteichoic acid on the MV. In models for host interactions, we first observed that L. reuteri MV were internalized by Caco-2/HT29-MTX epithelial cells, and in a dose-dependent manner decreased the leakage caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by up to 65%. Furthermore, the MV upregulated IL-1β and IL-6 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), but also dampened IFN-γ and TNF-α responses in PBMC challenged with Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, we showed that MV from the L. reuteri strains have an antagonistic effect on the pain receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in a model with primary dorsal root ganglion cells from rats. In summary, we have shown that these mobile nanometer scale MV reproduce several biological effects of L. reuteri cells and that the production parameters and selection of strain have an impact on the activity of the MV. This could potentially provide key information for development of innovative and more efficient probiotic products.

An exopolysaccharide from Leuconostoc mesenteroides showing interesting bioactivities versus foodborne microbial targets

An exopolysaccharide (EPS_B3) produced by a Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain isolated from a semi-hard Italian cheese was chemically and biologically characterized. HPLC-SEC, NMR, FT-IR and monosaccharide composition experiments were performed. Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, bifidogenic, antioxidant, and DNA-protective activity of EPS_B3 were also studied. Results revealed that EPS_B3 was a mixture of two high-molecular-weight dextran with low branching degree. Moreover, EPS_B3 displayed significant antibacterial activity against eight foodborne pathogens and inhibited biofilm formation by Listeria monocytogenes. EPS_B3 also evidenced bifidogenic activity, stimulating the growth of three probiotic bifidobacteria, and improving the tolerance of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis to oxygen stress. It also protected plasmid DNA from hydrogen peroxide damage. Only limited antioxidant capacity was observed.In conclusion, data suggest that EPS_B3 might be exploited in the context of functional foods especially for its marked antimicrobial activity as well as for the ability to improve the viability of bifidobacteria in probiotic foods. However, further studies should be carried out to assess the ability of EPS_B3 to reach intact the target site (i.e., gastrointestinal tract) to consider the possibility of use it as a new functional ingredient in foods.

High Incidence of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia Patients

Introduction: Despite improvement in survival in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT), patients experience significant morbidities, including iron overload, malignancies, thromboembolic events and stroke, and cardiac complications like heart failure and arrhythmias. It is established that global chain imbalance and excess iron leads to significant oxygen stress and to the formation of oxygen free radicals resulting in an increased risk of mutations. Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) is characterized by the presence of somatic variants in the peripheral blood with a variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥2% in genes associated with hematologic malignancies. These variants occur more frequently with advanced age (~ 10% at age> 65 years). That said, recent data show that young patients with CHIP are at increased risk for developing not only hematological malignancies, but also coronary heart disease, cardiovascular events and stroke. In this study we explored if TDT patients have an increased risk of clonal hematopoiesis and if this observation correlates with their underlying cardiovascular status, thromboembolic complications and history of malignancy. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from ninety five patients with TDT just before their regular transfusion schedule (43 men and 52 women, mean age 39 years old, range 4-55 years ). 40 patients had a history of splenectomy, 32 patients had a history of cardiac disorder (13 patients with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias, 19 patients with valvular dysfunction). Genomic DNA was isolated from PBMCs from all patients and Next-Generation Sequencing analysis (NGS) was performed for the mutational status of 58 recurrently mutated genes in myeloid malignancies using a custom-designed Illumina sequencing panel (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Identification of mutations with a VAF ≥2% were reported after bioinformatics analysis and variant interpretation using the Varsome, ClinVar (v.2021) and Franklin databases. Results: Fifteen of 95 patients analyzed (15.8%) displayed mutations in the genes implicated in CHIP. The age-adjusted prevalence of clonal hematopoiesis in patients with TDT vs the reported in the general population is significantly higher. Overall, 22 somatic variants were identified in 15 patients with a median VAF of 40% (range 2.5%-52%): variants were detected in various genes including ATM, FLT3, ASXL1, MPL, SF3B1, BRAF, BTK, TP53, JAK2, RUNX1, ETV6 and EZH2. Four patients carried variants in 4 different genes (TP53, TET2, CEBPA, NPM1) with a mean VAF of 3% (range 2,45% - 4,14%). The patient carrying the TP53 variant is a 44-year old male with a history of splenectomy and arrhythmia (ectopic atrial tachycardia). The patient carrying the TET2 mutation is 55-year old female with a history of colon cancer ten years ago, but no evidence of malignancy relapse as of today. A 5-year old male patient carried a clone in the NPM1 gene with VAF of 2.7%, with no history of splenectomy or cardiac complications. Finally, a 20 year-old male patient carried a clone in the CEBPA gene (VAF 2.7%) along with a clone in the ATM gene (VAF 50.3%). No history of splenectomy, or thromboembolic complications were noted in this patient. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 18 variants in 11 patients with a VAF frequency within the germline range (VAF range 47-52%); germline DNA analysis is ongoing. Seventy TDT patients (73,7%) carried the FLT3 C680T variant that is higher than the incidence reported in gnomAD exome for the European population (60.7%). Ninety three patients carried the ASXL1 T2444C variant, comparable to the observed frequency in the general population. The TET2 C100T variant was observed in 3,1% of the analyzed population compared to the 1.5% reported in the general population. Further analysis revealed that none of the patients had a history of stroke and only two patients had a history of mitral valve regurgitation. Conclusion: We report for the first time that patients with TDT display a significantly higher frequency of variants in genes associated with myeloid malignancies. Life-long stress in the hematopoiesis in these patients may contribute to the increased risk of clonal mutations observed, however further analysis is required to better understand the impact of these observations.

Commentary: Crocetin protected human hepatocyte LO2 cell from TGF-β-induced oxygen stress and apoptosis but promoted proliferation and autophagy via AMPK/m-TOR pathway.

Commentary: Crocetin protected human hepatocyte LO2 cell from TGF-β-induced oxygen stress and apoptosis but promoted proliferation and autophagy via AMPK/m-TOR pathway.

The volatilome response of fast-melting peaches to short low oxygen stress

Fast-melting peaches have a shelf life of only 3–4 d due to their rapid softening, and this poses a problem in marketing and consumer acceptability. A postharvest 22 h treatment at 20 °C of low oxygen (<1%) or 2 µl L−1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was applied to delay softening. 1-MCP was ineffective, but the anaerobic stress delayed softening as expressed by texture measurements, ethylene levels, and chlorophyll index values. Taste panels showed a preference for untreated fruit of the same firmness as treated fruit, probably due to off-flavors volatiles evaporation. Nevertheless, consumer acceptance of treated fruit was high after 3 d at 20 °C and 4 d of cold storage, while control fruit was too soft to be sampled. Volatile compounds were analyzed on control and low oxygen-treated fruit following treatment and 48 h later. Forty-eight compounds were identified, and thirty-nine significantly differed among all four conditions. Eleven volatile compounds associated with anaerobic conditions increased in the low oxygen treatment after 72 h. However, the low oxygen treatment did not affect most ripening-related peach fruit volatiles, primarily lactones. It is hypothesized that these compounds diminished the perception of off-flavors associated with the anaerobic volatiles. This simple low oxygen treatment demonstrates promising results in delaying softening and extending the market life of fast-ripening peaches.

Alginate from Sargassum sp. Improve the Hematology Performance and Oxygen Tolerance Exposure of Lates calcarifer

Indonesia's fish production is abundant, especially in aquaculture. Lates calcarifer is farmed fish species. The failure of L. calcarifer cultivation due to disease problems. We are utilizing a natural compound derived from tropical Sargassum sp. extracts, namely alginate. This study aims to determine and analyse the supplementation of alginate in the diet by oral administration to improve the fish's hematological performance and oxygen stress tolerance. There were one control and three treatments (2 g.kg-1, 4 g.kg-1, and 8 g.kg-1 alginate/feed). The experiment was a completely randomized design with three replications. Fish were reared in a 350 L fiber tank for 12 days at a density of 20 ind.tank-1. Stress oxygen tolerance was applied by rearing the 10 fish in 12 L fully plastic-wrapped containers. The parameters test analyzed were phagocytic activity and phagocytic index, red blood parameters which are hematocrit and hemoglobin. The survival rate after 5 hr anoxic exposure was also recorded. The best treatments were achieved at a dose of 6 g.kg-1 and 8 g.kg-1in all parameters, except the phagocytic index. The alginate addition at all oxygen stress treatments also performed a better survival rate compared to the control. Adding alginate to feed as feed supplementation by oral administration can boost hematological performance and higher tolerance from oxygen stress exposure.

Oxygen stress mitigation for microalgal biomass productivity improvement in outdoor raceway ponds

Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations at supersaturated levels are commonly observed in microalgae cultures due to photosynthesis. Unlike cultivation in closed photobioreactors, the impact of excessive oxygen and the mitigation methods in open systems such as raceway ponds have hardly been studied. In this study, photosynthetic rates of Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM and Scenedesmus obliquus UTEX393, two of the top DISCOVR strains for outdoor raceway cultivation, were compared at different DO levels. Increasing DO from 0 to 30 mg L−1 caused a 36.6 % and 26.1 % reduction in photosynthetic rate for M. minutum 26B-AM and S. obliquus UTEX393, respectively. To improve the outdoor pond biomass productivity of each strain, three oxygen stress mitigation methods were tested. The first method raised the dissolved bicarbonate concentration by an order of magnitude to favor bicarbonate transport into the cell, increasing the CO2:O2 ratio near RuBisCO, thus reducing photorespiration. Although this method increased the observed photosynthesis rate of M. minutum 26B-AM by 26 % and S. obliquus UTEX393 by 13 % in laboratory testing, it failed to improve biomass productivity under outdoor pond conditions for both strains. The second method added sodium sulfite as an oxygen scavenger to chemically lower the DO concentration in the culture. Chemical reduction of dissolved molecular oxygen did not significantly improve the biomass productivity of M. minutum 26B-AM; however, a 10 % improvement in biomass productivity for S. obliquus UTEX393 was observed. The final method sparged cultures with air to strip oxygen out of the liquid medium. This did not improve the biomass productivity of M. minutum 26B-AM, likely due to unfavorable weather conditions during cold season cultivation; however, an improvement of 36 % in biomass productivity was achieved for S. obliquus UTEX393 during the warm season cultivation. Of the three tested methods, air-sparging was the most effective and practical for improving outdoor biomass production.

Siderophore iucA of hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae promotes liver damage in mice by inducing oxidative stress

The hypermucoviscosity/hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) is a dominant cause of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) and has contributed to the endemicity of disease in Asian country. The siderophore aerobactin (iucA) is highly expressed in hvKP and acting virulence role during hvKP infection. However, its role in the PLA is poorly understood. We constructed iucA deletion mutant (ΔiucA-hvKP852) and used animal study to characterize the role of siderophore iucA in K. pneumoniae liver abscess. The animal experiments showed that ΔiucA-hvKP852 strain had lower virulence in mice compared to hvKP852 wild type strain. At 24 h after infection, only two of ten mice developed liver abscess during infection with ΔiucA-hvKP852 strain, while nine of ten mice infected with wild type hvKP852 strain showed multiple lesions of liver abscess. The liver tissue infected with ΔiucA-hvKP852 exhibited low reactive oxygen stress levels compared to those infected by wild type hvKP852 strain (P < 0.05). The results suggest that siderophore iucA play an important role in the liver abscess by inducing oxidative stress.

Multiple pathways mediate chloroplast singlet oxygen stress signaling.

Chloroplast singlet oxygen initiates multiple pathways to control chloroplast degradation, cell death, and nuclear gene expression. Chloroplasts can respond to stress and changes in the environment by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Aside from being cytotoxic, ROS also have signaling capabilities. For example, the ROS singlet oxygen (1O2) can initiate nuclear gene expression, chloroplast degradation, and cell death. To unveil the signaling mechanisms involved, researchers have used several 1O2-producing Arabidopsis thaliana mutants as genetic model systems, including plastid ferrochelatase two (fc2), fluorescent in blue light (flu), chlorina 1 (ch1), and accelerated cell death 2 (acd2). Here, we compare these 1O2-producing mutants to elucidate if they utilize one or more signaling pathways to control cell death and nuclear gene expression. Using publicly available transcriptomic data, we demonstrate fc2, flu, and ch1 share a core response to 1O2 accumulation, but maintain unique responses, potentially tailored to respond to their specific stresses. Subsequently, we used a genetic approach to determine if these mutants share 1O2 signaling pathways by testing the ability of genetic suppressors of one 1O2 producing mutant to suppress signaling in a different 1O2 producing mutant. Our genetic analyses revealed at least two different chloroplast 1O2 signaling pathways control cellular degradation: one specific to the flu mutant and one shared by fc2, ch1, and acd2 mutants, but with life-stage-specific (seedling vs. adult) features. Overall, this work reveals chloroplast stress signaling involving 1O2 is complex and may allow cells to finely tune their physiology to environmental inputs.

Black shale–gray shale transitions in a Late Devonian shale succession, Central Appalachian Basin (Northern Ohio): Sedimentary and geochemical evidence for terrestrial organic matter input driving anoxia events

In a 140 m-thick sediment core through Upper Devonian shale units in the Central Appalachian Basin, gray shale units (TOC ≤1%) and black shale units (TOC ≤9%) are separated by “intercalated zones” (ICZs) of thinly interbedded gray and black shales. In accordance with Walther’s law of facies successions, ICZs imply environments producing black shales were coeval and adjacent to environments producing gray shales. To understand these facies transitions, we studied event layer sedimentology, organic geochemistry, and trace elements. This study found black shales to be shallow-water deposits (with tempestites and wave-modified turbidites), associated with significant terrestrial input (with abundant hyperpycnites, and terrestrial-derived humic and fulvic acids). The shales were deposited under varying redox conditions, with extensively bioturbated intervals alternating with intervals preserving intact micro-lamination, and demonstrating significant variations in trace element V/Cr, Ni/Co, and Th/U ratios. These observations are reconciled by attributing shale TOC values to sediment dynamics of deltas draining the Neo-Acadian Highlands. Progradation of individual delta distributary lobes resulted in localized offshore regions receiving increased terrestrial nutrient input and causing freshwater-induced water column stratification and oxygen stress (similar to the “dead zones” of many modern deltas), producing black shales. In contrast, gray shales formed between deltas or after delta distributary lobe abandonment. The intercalated black shale-gray shale transition intervals (ICZs) are interpreted to represent dynamic water and sediment conditions during the time interval of delta distributary lobe avulsion events. This model contrasts with previous models calling for basin-wide anoxia or assigning black shales to basinal deposits.

ROS-Mediated Enamel Formation Disturbance Characterized by Alternative Cervical Loop Cell Proliferation and Downregulation of RhoA/ROCK in Ameloblasts.

Reactive oxygen stress (ROS) is generally accepted as a signal transducer for coordinating the growth and differentiation of tissues and organs in the oral and maxillofacial region. Although ROS has been confirmed to affect the development of enamel, it is not yet known that the specific mechanism of ROS accumulation induced enamel defects. Given the lack of knowledge of the role of ROS in enamel, the aim of the study is to determine how oxidative stress affects cervical cells and ameloblast cells. Using SOD1 knockout mice, we identified a relationship between ROS fluctuations and abnormal enamel structure with HE staining, micro-CT, and scanning electron microscope. Increased ROS induced by H2O2, certified by the DCFH probe, has resulted in a dual effect on the proliferation and differentiation of cervical cells, indicating a higher tendency to proliferate at low ROS concentrations. Ameloblasts transfected with SOD1 siRNA showed a significant reduction of RhoA and ROCK. This study investigates for the first time that SOD1-mediated ROS accumulation disrupted normal enamel structure through alternative cervical loop cell proliferation and downregulation of RhoA and ROCK in ameloblasts, demonstrating the convoluted role of ROS in monitoring the progress of enamel defects.

2'-Fucosyllactose Remits Colitis-Induced Liver Oxygen Stress through the Gut-Liver-Metabolites Axis.

Liver oxygen stress is one of the main extraintestinal manifestations of colitis and 5% of cases develop into a further liver injury and metabolic disease. 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), a main member of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), has been found to exert efficient impacts on remitting colitis. However, whether 2′-FL exerts the function to alleviate colitis-induced liver injury and how 2′-FL influences the metabolism via regulating gut microbiota remain unknown. Herein, in our study, liver oxygen stress was measured by measuring liver weight and oxygen-stress-related indicators. Then, 16S full-length sequencing analysis and non-target metabolome in feces were performed to evaluate the overall responses of metabolites and intestinal bacteria after being treated with 2′-FL (400 mg/kg b.w.) in colitis mice. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the liver weight of colitis mice was significantly decreased by 18.30% (p < 0.05). After 2′-FL treatment, the liver weight was significantly increased by 12.65% compared with colitis mice (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, they exhibited higher levels of oxidation in liver tissue with decreasing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (decreased by 17.15%) and glutathione (GSH) levels (dropped by 22.68%) and an increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) level (increased by 36.24%), and 2′-FL treatment could reverse those tendencies. Full-length 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that there were 39 species/genera differentially enriched in the control, dextran sulphate sodium (DSS), and DSS + 2′-FL groups. After treatment with 2′-FL, the intestinal metabolic patterns, especially glycometabolism and the lipid-metabolism-related process, in DSS mice were strikingly altered with 33 metabolites significantly down-regulated and 26 metabolites up-regulated. Further analysis found DSS induced a 40.01%, 41.12%, 43.81%, and 39.86% decline in acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in colitis mice (all p < 0.05), respectively, while these were up-regulated to different degrees in the DSS + 2′-FL group. By co-analyzing the data of gut microbiota and metabolites, glycometabolism and lipid-metabolism-associated metabolites exhibited strong positive/negative relationships with Akkermansia_muciniphila (all p < 0.01) and Paraprevotella spp. (all p < 0.01), suggesting that the two species might play crucial roles in the process of 2′-FL alleviating colitis-induced liver oxygen stress. In conclusion, in the gut–liver–microbiotas axis, 2′-FL mediated in glucose and lipid-related metabolism and alleviated liver oxygen stress via regulating gut microbiota in the DSS-induced colitis model. The above results provide a new perspective to understand the probiotic function of 2′-FL.