Shifts In Composition Research Articles

Lactobacillus murinus alleviated lung inflammation induced by PAHs in mice

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism that Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) alleviated lung inflammation induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure based on metabolomics. MethodsFemale mice were administrated with PAHs mix, L. murinus and indoleacrylic acid (IA) or indolealdehyde (IAId). Microbial diversity in feces was detected by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis in urine samples and targeted analysis of tryptophan metabolites in serum by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in feces by GC-MS were performed, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to determine T helper immune cell differentiation in gut and lung tissues. The levels of IgE, IL-4 and IL-17A in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or serum were detected by ELISA. The expressions of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), cytochrome P450 1A1 (Cyp1a1) and forkheadbox protein 3 (Foxp3) genes and the histone deacetylation activity were detected by qPCR and by ELISA in lung tissues, respectively. ResultsPAHs exposure induced lung inflammation and microbial composition shifts and tryptophan metabolism disturbance in mice. L. murinus alleviated PAHs-induced lung inflammation and inhibited T helper cell 17 (Th17) cell differentiation and promoted regulatory T cells (Treg) cell differentiation. L. murinus increased the levels of IA and IAId in the serum and regulated Th17/Treg imbalance by activating AhR. Additionally, L. murinus restored PAHs-induced decrease of butyric acid and valeric acid which can reduce the histone deacetylase (HDAC) level in the lung tissues, enhancing the expression of the Foxp3 gene and promoting Treg cell differentiation. Conclusionour study illustrated that L. murinus alleviated PAHs-induced lung inflammation and regulated Th17/Treg cell differentiation by regulating host tryptophan metabolism and SCFA levels. The study provided new insights into the reciprocal influence between gut microbiota, host metabolism and the immune system, suggesting that L. murinus might have the potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for lung diseases caused by environmental pollution in the future.

Weather and leaf age separately contribute to temporal shifts in phyllosphere community structure and composition.

All ITS DNA amplicon sequence raw data are deposited in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive (SRA), BioProject number PRJNA1107252, data will be released upon publication. All community data, metadata, taxonomic data, and R code necessary to reproduce these results are deposited in the GitHub repository archived on Zenodo: 10.5281/zenodo.11106439.

Tailings particle size effects on pollution and ecological remediation: A case study of an iron tailings reservoir

The particle size distribution in tailings notably influences their physical properties and behavior. Despite this, our understanding of how the distribution of tailings particle sizes impacts in situ pollution and ecological remediation in in-situ environment remains limited. In this study, an iron tailings reservoir was sampled along a particle flow path to compare the pollution characteristic and microbial communities across regions with different particle sizes. The results revealed a gradual reduction in tailings particle size along the flow direction. The predominant mineral composition shifts from minerals such as albite and quartz to layered minerals. Total nitrogen, total organic carbon, and total metal concentrations increased, whereas the acid-generating potential decreased. The region with the finest tailings particle size exhibited the highest microbial diversity, featuring metal-resistant microorganisms such as KD4–96, Micrococcaceae, and Acidimicrobiia. Significant discrepancies were observed in tailings pollution and ecological risks across different particle sizes. Consequently, it is necessary to assess tailings reservoirs pollution in the early stages of remediation before determining appropriate remediation methods. These findings underscore that tailings particle distribution is a critical factor in shaping geochemical characteristics. The responsive nature of the microbial community further validated these outcomes and offered novel insights into the ecological remediation of tailings.

Measuring the impact of wharf construction on the Antarctic benthos

Shallow water Antarctic marine macroepifaunal assemblages live in one of the most naturally disturbed marine environments due to the impact of icebergs scouring the seafloor. They are, however, amongst the least anthropogenically impacted assemblages and are afforded protection under the Antarctic Treaty system. When the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station wharf needed extending to accommodate the newly constructed UK polar research vessel, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE) was conducted to assess the impact. The macroepifaunal likely to be impacted by the construction was surveyed through ROV videos of five transects, centered on the middle of the construction zone, from 10–100 m deep. A pre-construction survey was completed in March 2017, as part of the CEE impact assessment, and a post-build survey in 2022 (delayed from 2021, and reduced in scope, due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Sedimentation rates were also measured before and during construction and were high during the second summer when the wharf pilings were being back filled with crushed rock. The measured differences between pre- and post-construction assemblages were minor and were not reflected in the overall number of taxa (operational taxonomic units – OTU), or diversity, but there were subtle shifts in species composition. The largest differences in the macroepifauna were a reduction in the number of the common urchin, Sterechinus neumayeri, and seastar, Odontaster validus, and were within expected variability. The small changes detected in the macroepifauna indicate it was minimally impacted and/or recovered in the subsequent two years, therefore during wharf construction the accompanying mitigation measures were robust.

Vaginal fungi are associated with treatment-induced shifts in the vaginal microbiota and with a distinct genital immune profile.

Vaginal colonization by fungi may elicit genital inflammation and enhance the risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes, such as HIV acquisition. Cross-sectional studies have linked fungi with an absence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), but it is unclear whether shifts in vaginal bacteria alter the abundance of vaginal fungi. Vaginal swabs collected following topical metronidazole treatment for BV during the phase 2b, placebo-controlled trial of LACTIN-V, a Lactobacillus crispatus-based live biotherapeutic, were assayed with semi-quantitative PCR for the relative quantitation of fungi and key bacterial species and multiplex immunoassay for immune factors. Vaginal fungi increased immediately following metronidazole treatment for BV (adjusted P = 0.0006), with most of this increase attributable to Candida albicans. Vaginal fungi were independently linked to elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL) 17A, although this association did not remain significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. Fungal relative abundance by semi-quantitative PCR returned to baseline levels within 1 month of metronidazole treatment and was not affected by LACTIN-V or placebo administration. Fungal abundance was positively associated with Lactobacillus species, negatively associated with BV-associated bacteria, and positively associated with a variety of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including IL-17A, during and after study product administration. Antibiotic treatment for BV resulted in a transient expanded abundance of vaginal fungi in a subset of women which was unaffected by subsequent administration of LACTIN-V. Vaginal fungi were positively associated with Lactobacillus species and IL-17A and negatively associated with BV-associated bacteria; these associations were most pronounced in the longer-term outcomes.IMPORTANCEVaginal colonization by fungi can enhance the risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes and HIV acquisition, potentially by eliciting genital mucosal inflammation. We show that standard antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) results in a transient increase in the absolute abundance of vaginal fungi, most of which was identified as Candida albicans. Vaginal fungi were positively associated with proinflammatory immune factors and negatively associated with BV-associated bacteria. These findings improve our understanding of how shifts in the bacterial composition of the vaginal microbiota may enhance proliferation by proinflammatory vaginal fungi, which may have important implications for risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes among women.

Zooplankton fecal pellet flux drives the biological carbon pump during the winter–spring transition in a high‐Arctic system

AbstractRecent research highlighted significant marine biological activity during the Arctic winter, with poorly known implications for the biological carbon pump. We used moored instruments to (1) track the development of the pelagic food web of a high‐Arctic marine ecosystem from winter to spring, and (2) assess the role of zooplankton‐mediated processes in the sinking export of particulate organic carbon (POC). Zooplankton collected by a sediment trap at 40 m depth in Kongsfjorden showed a shift in species composition in February coinciding with an inflow of Atlantic water and the return of sunlight. The Atlantic copepod Calanus finmarchicus and the Arctic Calanus glacialis became dominant in the post‐inflow assemblage of large mesozooplankton. However, large copepods were never abundant (0.3–4.6 ind m−3) in January–April in the upper 40 m. Despite the low chlorophyll fluorescence, POC export increased substantially, from 2–13 mg C m−2 d−1 in January–February to 13–35 mg C m−2 d−1 in March–April 2014. By late March, zooplankton fecal pellets contributed largely (23–100%) to this significant POC export before the phytoplankton bloom. The lack of change in copepod and euphausiid population sizes suggests that enhanced feeding activity in the surface layer supported the increasing fecal pellet export. Our results revealed the swift response of active zooplankton in winter, evidenced by increased carbon export, to improved food availability.

Persistent invasion by non-native species and transition to an upland community after removal of invasive Tamarix in a Californian cienega

The targeted removal of a non-native species can result in secondary invasions and other unexpected shifts in plant community composition, but the persistence of these effects is less well known. We investigated how the plant community changed at three time points including before removal (pre-removal), in the years directly following removal (post-removal), and 16 years following Tamarix removal (recent) in an arid depressional wetland. Non-native species cover increased and several non-native species invaded the study area in the years between post-removal surveys and the recent time period, suggesting Tamarix removal may have been a catalyst for increases in non-native species abundance. We also found an increase in the cover of species tolerating upland conditions, and these species were largely non-native. Overall, interactions between targeted removal and shifts in the abiotic environment due to climate change are important drivers of persistent shifts in the plant community. Hydrogeomorphic restoration is likely needed in tandem with invasive removal to see improvements in riparian health, particularly when the invasive species to be removed is a passenger in addition to being a driver of change.

National-scale antimicrobial resistance surveillance in wastewater: A comparative analysis of HT qPCR and metagenomic approaches

Wastewater serves as an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and its surveillance can provide insights into population-level trends in AMR to inform public health policy. This study compared two common high-throughput screening approaches, namely (i) high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT qPCR), targeting 73 antimicrobial resistance genes, and (ii) metagenomic sequencing. Weekly composite samples of wastewater influent were taken from 47 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across Wales, as part of a national AMR surveillance programme, alongside 4 weeks of daily wastewater effluent samples from a large municipal hospital. Metagenomic analysis provided more comprehensive resistome coverage, detecting 545 genes compared to the targeted 73 genes by HT qPCR. It further provided contextual information critical to risk assessment (i.e. potential bacterial hosts). In contrast, HT qPCR exhibited higher sensitivity, quantifying all targeted genes including those of clinical relevance present at low abundance. When limited to the HT qPCR target genes, both methods were able to reflect the spatiotemporal dynamics of the complete metagenomic resistome, distinguishing that of the hospital and the WWTPs. Both approaches revealed correlations between resistome compositional shifts and environmental variables like ammonium wastewater concentration, though differed in their interpretation of some potential influencing factors. Overall, metagenomics provides more comprehensive resistome profiling, while qPCR permits sensitive quantification of genes significant to clinical resistance. We highlight the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies aligned to surveillance aims to guide the development of effective wastewater-based AMR monitoring programmes.

Saline mine water influences eukaryote life in shallow groundwater of a tropical sandy stream

Eukaryotic communities in groundwater may be particularly sensitive to disturbance because they are adapted to stable environmental conditions and often have narrow spatial distributions. Traditional methods for characterising these communities, focussing on groundwater-inhabiting macro- and meiofauna (stygofauna), are challenging because of limited taxonomic knowledge and expertise (particularly in less-explored regions), and the time and expense of morphological identification. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of eukaryote communities in shallow groundwater to mine water discharge containing elevated concentrations of magnesium (Mg) and sulfate (SO4). The study was undertaken in a shallow sand bed aquifer within a wet-dry tropical setting. The aquifer, featuring a saline mine water gradient primarily composed of elevated Mg and SO4, was sampled from piezometers in the creek channel upstream and downstream of the mine water influence during the dry season when only subsurface water flow was present. Groundwater communities were characterised using both morphological assessments of stygofauna from net samples and environmental DNA (eDNA) targeting the 18S rDNA and COI mtDNA genes. eDNA data revealed significant shifts in community composition in response to mine waters, contrasting with findings from traditional morphological composition data. Changes in communities determined using eDNA data were notably associated with concentrations of SO42−, Mg2+ and Na+, and water levels in the piezometers. This underscores the importance of incorporating molecular approaches in impact assessments, as relying solely on traditional stygofauna sampling methods in similar environments may lead to inaccurate conclusions about the responses of the assemblage to studied impacts.

Mycorrhizal‐herbivore interactions and the competitive release of subdominant tallgrass prairie species

Abstract Plant‐microbial‐herbivore interactions play a crucial role in the structuring and maintenance of plant communities and biodiversity, yet these relationships are complex. In grassland ecosystems, herbivores have the potential to greatly influence the survival, growth and reproduction of plants. However, few studies examine interactions of above‐ and below‐ground grazing and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant community structure. We established experimental mesocosms containing an assemblage of eight tallgrass prairie grass and forb species in native prairie soil, maintained under mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal conditions, with and without native herbivorous soil nematodes, and with and without grasshopper herbivory. Using factorial analysis of variance and principal component analysis, we examined: (a) the independent and interacting effects of above‐ and below‐ground herbivores on AM symbiosis in tallgrass prairie mesocosms, (b) independent and interacting effects of above‐ and below‐ground herbivores and mycorrhizal fungi on plant community structure and (c) potential influences of mycorrhizal responsiveness of host plants on herbivory tolerance and concomitant shifts in plant community composition. Treatment effects were characterized by interactions between AM fungi and both above‐ground and below‐ground herbivores, while herbivore effects were additive. The dominance of mycorrhizal‐dependent C4 grasses in the presence of AM symbiosis was increased (p < 0.0001) by grasshopper herbivory but reduced (p < 0.0001) by nematode herbivory. Cool‐season C3 grasses exhibited a competitive release in the absence of AM symbiosis but this effect was largely reversed in the presence of grasshopper herbivory. Forbs showed species‐specific responses to both AM fungal inoculation and the addition of herbivores. Biomass of the grazing‐avoidant, facultatively mycotrophic forb Brickellia eupatorioides increased (p < 0.0001) in the absence of AM symbiosis and with grasshopper herbivory, while AM‐related increases in the above‐ground biomass of mycorrhizal‐dependent forbs Rudbeckia hirta and Salvia azurea were eradicated (p < 0.0001) by grasshopper herbivory. In contrast, nematode herbivory enhanced (p = 0.001) the contribution of Salvia azurea to total biomass. Synthesis. Our research indicates that arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is the key driver of dominance of C4 grasses in the tallgrass prairie, with foliar and root herbivory being two mechanisms for maintenance of plant diversity.

The effect of forest composition on outdoor recreation

Climate change will shift the composition of northern Minnesota forests from boreal to temperate by the end of the century. This shift in forest composition will likely affect outdoor recreation, a valuable ecosystem service and a key economic driver for the region. In this context, the objective of our paper is to empirically examine the relationship between forest composition and recreation. We analyze the effect of changes in forest composition for seven forest types on seven types of recreation using a lognormal pooled panel regression model for Minnesota's Laurentian Mixed Forest Province. Earlier research showed forest composition affected recreation at the level of broad groups of broadleaved or coniferous species. We find a statistically significant empirical association between forest composition and recreation at the forest type level (forest types within those broad groups). This relationship varies across forest types and recreation categories. For example, big game hunting is positively related to elm-ash-cottonwood and white-red-jack pine and negatively associated with aspen-birch. We find individual forest types within broad groups of broadleaved or coniferous forests, have different relationships with recreation, so that these broad groups are not sufficient in capturing the effect of forest composition on recreation. Our results are of interest in the context of current shifts in forest composition caused by climate change, which could also affect recreation. Our findings suggest adding a forest composition lens to existing policies could facilitate strategies for more effective recreation management and climate change adaptation.

Exploring the interplay between water quality parameters and aquatic fauna in a human-dominated stream network in Iran

Rivers and streams are dynamic linear features that undergo numerous disturbances from nearby human activities. This is particularly evident in Iranian arid regions, where agricultural activities are concentrated along these water bodies to harness their freshwater resources. This study utilized 12 stations in the Maharlu stream network to assess the impact of human activities on its water quality and aquatic fauna. Results indicated that severe nutrient pollution attributed to a high mean nitrate concentration (67.77 ± 79.72 mg/L). By employing PCA analysis, three main principal components were extracted, explaining a variance of 82.61%. PC1 exhibited high positive loadings for dissolved oxygen (DO), while PC2 showed an elevated salt concentration. Midges and non-biting mosquitoes, predominantly from the Chironomidae family, emerged as the dominant taxon, contributing to over 98% of the total species abundance. Furthermore, integrated PCA–CCA analysis revealed downstream shifts in species composition toward more tolerant species, driven by decreasing DO levels and increasing salt concentrations. These shifts in trends found in water quality parameters and species composition were linked to agricultural runoff carrying substantial amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, and organic matter from livestock farming. Consequently, there is an urgent need to implement conservation measures to mitigate their adverse effects.

Phollow: Visualizing Gut Bacteriophage Transmission within Microbial Communities and Living Animals.

Bacterial viruses (known as "phages") shape the ecology and evolution of microbial communities, making them promising targets for microbiome engineering. However, knowledge of phage biology is constrained because it remains difficult to study phage transmission dynamics within multi-member communities and living animal hosts. We therefore created "Phollow": a live imaging-based approach for tracking phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution. Combining Phollow with optically transparent zebrafish enabled us to directly visualize phage outbreaks within the vertebrate gut. We observed that virions can be rapidly taken up by intestinal tissues, including by enteroendocrine cells, and quickly disseminate to extraintestinal sites, including the liver and brain. Moreover, antibiotics trigger waves of interbacterial transmission leading to sudden shifts in spatial organization and composition of defined gut communities. Phollow ultimately empowers multiscale investigations connecting phage transmission to transkingdom interactions that have the potential to open new avenues for viral-based microbiome therapies.

Multiple Ba Phases in Marine Sediments elucidate environmental processes and conditions for the Holocene Mediterranean

Mediterranean sediments are known for their major shifts in sedimentary composition associated with dramatic changes in environmental and climate conditions. A typical expression for this in Holocene sediments is the occurrence of a distinctly organic-rich unit, sapropel S1, thought to be related with humid climate conditions. The S1 is accompanied by major changes in Ba content and in other elemental composition, respectively related to biological upper water column productivity and shifts in detrital sediment provenance. Here, we focus on changes in Ba and in its various phases to unravel shifts in environmental conditions around S1.Using selective extractions for sediments in cores MP37PC, MP39PC and MP50PC, respectively at 1908, 1359 and 775m water depth, we distinguish different Ba-phases: detrital Ba (Ba-det), barite Ba (Ba-bar), Mn-oxide-related Ba (Ba-ox), carbonate- and pyrite-associated Ba (Ba-carb and Ba-pyr). The predominant Ba-phase during S1 is Ba-bar (∼70%), whereas before and after S1 it is Ba-det (>90%). All other phases are mostly relatively small but have diagnostic value for environmental conditions and processes.The detrital (Ba/Al) is distinctly lower during S1 than before and after. The (Ba/Al). det variability, and enhanced values for Ba-carb and Ba-ox may have substantial influence on the traditional way to derive barite-Ba or excess-Ba content.The steep gradients in Ba-bar at onset and ending of S1and its high level during S1, clearly identify this period. In addition, and due to the exclusive nature of extraction results, we unequivocally demonstrate for the first time that there is a small gradual ‘early onset’ Ba-bar preceding the major increase in sapropel S1 formation sensu stricto.The ending of S1 formation is relatively abrupt with a well-defined reventilation event (’6 ka reventilation event’). This reventilation is associated with a rapid change in environmental conditions such as oxygenation and related remineralization of organic matter and recrystallization of carbonate. This rapid change and associated diagenetic processes are authentically recorded in Ba-carb and Ba-ox. For the period during sapropel S1 formation, the Ba-carb and Ba-ox results point to different levels of ventilation in the Eastern Mediterranean, i.e. a relatively mixed water mass down to ∼800m, a moderately mixed water mass from ∼800-to ∼1500 m, and a more stagnant water mass below 1500 m.

Temporal-spatial variability of grazing behaviors of yaks and the drivers of their intake on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Grassland-livestock balance is an important principle of sustainable development of grassland livestock production and grassland ecosystem health. Grassland degradation becomes more serious at global scales and especially at the area that is sensitive to climate change and human activities. Decreases in pasture biomass and shifts in plant community composition in degraded grasslands can largely affect grazing behaviors of livestock. Up to date, however, it is unclear that whether livestock behaviors change across spatial and temporal scales and what key factors are to shape observed behavioral patterns of livestock. Here, yak behaviors including grazing, rumination and walking on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) were monitored by a continuous visual observation, to investigate temporal and spatial variations of grazing behavior of yaks (Bos grunniens); based on the data from public database in the past 18 years, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the main factors that affect grazing behaviors and intake of yaks. We showed that grazing behaviors of yaks differed significantly within hours, among hours of each day and among days as well as across different observation sites. Intake rate of yaks was higher in the morning than in the afternoon, but walking speed showed an inverse trend compared with intake rate. Resting, altitude, the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the mean annual temperature (MAT), forage ash, yak age and season were the main predictors for yak intake, and forage and yak individual characteristics had direct effects on grazing behaviors and intake of yaks. The findings confirm that grazing behaviors of yaks can vary even at small temporal scales and regional scales, which is closely related to the shift in forage quality and biomass caused by environmental changes. The study suggests that multiple factors can be responsible for the variation in livestock behaviors and shifts in behavioral patterns may consequently lead to positive or negative feedback to grassland ecosystems through plant-animal interactions.

Changes in above- versus belowground biomass distribution in permafrost regions in response to climate warming

Permafrost regions contain approximately half of the carbon stored in land ecosystems and have warmed at least twice as much as any other biome. This warming has influenced vegetation activity, leading to changes in plant composition, physiology, and biomass storage in aboveground and belowground components, ultimately impacting ecosystem carbon balance. Yet, little is known about the causes and magnitude of long-term changes in the above- to belowground biomass ratio of plants (η). Here, we analyzed η values using 3,013 plots and 26,337 species-specific measurements across eight sites on the Tibetan Plateau from 1995 to 2021. Our analysis revealed distinct temporal trends in η for three vegetation types: a 17% increase in alpine wetlands, and a decrease of 26% and 48% in alpine meadows and alpine steppes, respectively. These trends were primarily driven by temperature-induced growth preferences rather than shifts in plant species composition. Our findings indicate that in wetter ecosystems, climate warming promotes aboveground plant growth, while in drier ecosystems, such as alpine meadows and alpine steppes, plants allocate more biomass belowground. Furthermore, we observed a threefold strengthening of the warming effect on η over the past 27 y. Soil moisture was found to modulate the sensitivity of η to soil temperature in alpine meadows and alpine steppes, but not in alpine wetlands. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the processes driving the response of biomass distribution to climate warming, which is crucial for predicting the future carbon trajectory of permafrost ecosystems and climate feedback.

Minimal impact of nitrogen addition on bacterial and fungal communities during fungal necromass decomposition in a subalpine coniferous plantation

Fungal necromass is a vital source of stable carbon and available nitrogen in soils, especially in coniferous forests that are extensively colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi. Here, we examined changes in the necromass microbial community during a 20-week incubation experiment in a subalpine coniferous plantation. We also explored how the necromass microbial community responded to simulated nitrogen deposition, a global change factor that substantially affects nitrogen-limited coniferous forests. The results showed that necromass microbial community was more dominated by copiotrophic bacteria with high community average rRNA operon copy number (3.1–6.4) and fast-growing fungi (moulds and yeasts) than surrounding soils. Ectomycorrhizal fungi also constituted a significant portion of the fungal community during the fast decay stage (first 5 weeks) of necromass decomposition, indicating that fungal necromass may serve as a nitrogen source for the nitrogen-limited trees. The shifts in microbial functional compositions (e.g., decreased proportions of copiotrophic bacteria) as decomposition progressed were partly due to alterations in substrate chemistry (i.e., the levels of aliphatic compounds including soluble carbohydrate, amorphous glucan polymers, and crystalline glucans and chitin). In contrast, nitrogen addition had limited influences on microbial diversity and composition, likely due to the nitrogen-rich nature of the fungal necromass. Overall, our findings reinforce the existence of a specific and dynamic core necrobiome in fungal necromass and enhance our understanding of how fungal necrobiome responds to environmental changes.

Eco-innovation and (green) employment: A task-based approach to measuring the composition of work in firms

This paper examines how different types of eco-innovation activities affect firms’ employment patterns. Using a linked employer–employee administrative dataset for the Netherlands we take an individual level task-based approach to differentiate between green and non-green jobs within firms. Our results show that while eco-innovation does not impact overall employment, eco-product innovation does lead to a 19.72% increase in green jobs. The growth in green jobs mainly comes from a compositional shift towards a small yet significant increase in green workers and reduction in non-green workers. Further analysis suggests that firms that voluntarily undertake eco-innovation create more green jobs but also that it is subsidy-driven policies rather than stricter regulations that drives the increase in green employment.

A Comprehensive Pilot Study to Elucidate the Distinct Gut Microbial Composition and Its Functional Significance in Cardio-Metabolic Disease.

Cardio-metabolic disease is a significant global health challenge with increasing prevalence. Recent research underscores the disruption of gut microbial balance as a key factor in disease susceptibility. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiota composition and function in cardio-metabolic disease and healthy controls. For this purpose, we collected stool samples of 18 subjects (12 diseased, 6 healthy) and we performed metagenomics analysis and functional prediction using QIIME2 and PICRUSt. Furthermore, we carried out assessments of microbe-gene interactions, gene ontology, and microbe-disease associations. Our findings revealed distinct microbial patterns in the diseased group, particularly evident in lower taxonomic levels with significant variations in 14 microbial features. The diseased cohort exhibited an enrichment of Lachnospiraceae family, correlating with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic disturbances. Conversely, reduced levels of Clostridium, Gemmiger, and Ruminococcus genera indicated a potential inflammatory state, linked to compromised butyrate production and gut permeability. Functional analyses highlighted dysregulated pathways in amino acid metabolism and energy equilibrium, with perturbations correlating with elevated branch-chain amino acid levels-a known contributor to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These findings were consistent across biomarker assessments, microbe-gene associations, and gene ontology analyses, emphasizing the intricate interplay between gut microbial dysbiosis and cardio-metabolic disease progression. In conclusion, our study unveils significant shifts in gut microbial composition and function in cardio-metabolic disease, emphasizing the broader implications of microbial dysregulation. Addressing gut microbial balance emerges as a crucial therapeutic target in managing cardio-metabolic disease burden.

Demolition of the European ships fleet: A scenario analysis

This paper conducts a detailed exploration of projected trends in the demolition and recycling of the European ship fleet, in light of the dismantling capacity in Europe. Utilizing a robust predictive model based on the Weibull distribution, the study synthesizes historical data and current operational metrics to forecast trends up to the year 2050, such as ship typologies, their average age, and recycling frequency. By estimating the rate and volume of ships reaching their end-of-life (EOL), the study aims to delineate the required capacity for ship recycling in Europe over the coming decades. The analysis reveals the key factors influencing the demolition trajectory and provide essential insights for future planning and policy formulation in the field of ship recycling. The study also underscore the importance of developing adaptive strategies in ship dismantling catering to the anticipated shifts in fleet composition and evolving environmental regulations, offering a foundation for informed decision-making and policy development in the maritime industry.