Symbiotic Research Articles

Developing an AI-based Explainable Expert Support System for Art Therapy

Sketch-based drawing assessments in art therapy are widely used to understand individuals’ cognitive and psychological states, such as cognitive impairments or mental disorders. Along with self-reported measures based on questionnaires, psychological drawing assessments can augment information regarding an individual’s psychological state. Interpreting drawing assessments demands significant time and effort, particularly for large groups such as schools or companies, and relies on the expertise of art therapists. To address this issue, we propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based expert support system called AlphaDAPR to support art therapists and psychologists in conducting large-scale automatic drawing assessments. In Study 1, we first investigated user experience in AlphaDAPR . Through surveys involving 64 art therapists, we observed a substantial willingness (64.06% of participants) in using the proposed system. Structural equation modeling highlighted the pivotal role of explainable AI in the interface design, affecting perceived usefulness, trust, satisfaction, and intention to use. However, our interviews unveiled a nuanced perspective: while many art therapists showed a strong inclination to use the proposed system, they also voiced concerns about potential AI limitations and risks. Since most concerns arose from insufficient trust, which was the focal point of our attention, we conducted Study 2 with the aim of enhancing trust. Study 2 delved deeper into the necessity of clear communication regarding the division of roles between AI and users for elevating trust. Through experimentation with another 26 art therapists, we demonstrated that clear communication enhances users’ trust in our system. Our work not only highlights the potential of AlphaDAPR to streamline drawing assessments but also underscores broader implications for human-AI collaboration in psychological domains. By addressing concerns and optimizing communication, we pave the way for a symbiotic relationship between AI and human expertise, ultimately enhancing the efficacy and accessibility of psychological assessment tools.

Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Tolerance in Bacteria: A Review

Heavy metal pollution from industrial activities and poor waste disposal poses significant environmental and health threats to humans and animals. This calls for sustainable approaches to the cleanup of heavy metals. This review explores metal tolerance mechanisms of bacteria such as the formation of biofilms, efflux systems, and enzymatic detoxification. These mechanisms allow bacteria communities to adapt and survive in contaminated environments. These adaptations are enhanced by mutations in the bacteria genes and by horizontal gene transfers, enabling bacteria species to survive under environmental stress while simultaneously contributing to nutrient cycling and the decomposition of organic matter. This review further explores the symbiotic interactions between bacteria, plants, and animals. These relationships enhance the metal tolerance ability of the different living organisms involved and are also very important in the bioremediation and phytoremediation of heavy metals. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, Rhizobium, and Bacillus species are very important contributors to phytoremediation; they improve heavy metal uptake, improve the growth of roots, and plants resilience to stress. Moreover, this review highlights the importance of genetically engineered bacteria in closed-loop systems for optimized metal recovery. This offers environmentally friendly and sustainable options to the traditional remediation methods. Engineered Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 and Pseudomonas putida strain 15420352 overexpressing metallothioneins have shown enhanced metal-binding capabilities, which makes them very effective in the treatment of industrial wastewaters and in biosorption applications. The use of engineered bacteria for the cleanup of heavy metals in closed-loop systems promotes the idea of a circular economy by recycling metals, thus reducing environmental waste. Multidisciplinary research that integrates synthetic biology, microbial ecology, and environmental science is very important for the advancement of metal bioremediation technologies. This review’s analysis on bacterial metal tolerance, symbiosis, and bioengineering strategies offers a pathway to effective bioremediation options, for the reclamation of heavy metal-polluted environments while promoting sustainable environmental practices.

Interaction between National and Local Governments in Rural Revitalization of China

The article examines the specifics of the interaction of rural working group sent by the Communist Party of China to rural areas with local party bodies and rural self-government; analyzes the selection mechanism and staffing requirements of such groups. Rural working group are an important institutional mechanism by which the party pursues its political line in rural areas. In different historical periods, the content of work in villages and the focus of assistance have changed. Such changes reflected to a certain extent the relationship between the rights of the rural community and the state authorities, as a result of which the village management structure was in a state of constant debugging. After the completion of the formation of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the criteria for the selection and evaluation of personnel for working group on rural development sent to villages became more stringent. Despite the symbiotic relationship between rural groups and rural "two committees" (the local government committee and the local CPC committee) from the point of view of institutional norms, the specific practice of their interaction has a number of problems, among which are blurring in the distribution of powers and responsibilities, contradictions in the motivations of the activities of workers' working group on rural development and local "two committees". In this regard, rural target groups face a twofold task. First, they must comprehensively and correctly integrate into the daily activities and life of the village in order to build harmonious relations with farmers and rural "two committees". Secondly, such groups should pay more attention to two-way communication with organizations and institutions responsible for the mission of the task force to rural areas; do not hide the difficulties in their work and inform the leadership of the structures that sent the task force to the village about the problems that arise in order to receive all the necessary sufficient assistance.

Unraveling the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer

Within the intricate milieu of colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) act as pivotal orchestrators, wielding considerable influence over tumor progression. This review endeavors to dissect the multifaceted functions of CAFs within the realm of CRC, thereby highlighting their indispensability in fostering CRC malignant microenvironment and indicating the development of CAFs-targeted therapeutic interventions. Through a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge, this review delineates insights into CAFs-mediated modulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, immune evasion, and neovascularization, elucidating the intricate web of interactions that sustain the pro-tumor metabolism and secretion of multiple factors. Additionally, recognizing the high level of heterogeneity within CAFs is crucial, as they encompass a range of subtypes, including myofibroblastic CAFs, inflammatory CAFs, antigen-presenting CAFs, and vessel-associated CAFs. Innovatively, the symbiotic relationship between CAFs and the intestinal microbiota is explored, shedding light on a novel dimension of CRC pathogenesis. Despite remarkable progress, the orchestrated dynamic functions of CAFs remain incompletely deciphered, underscoring the need for continued research endeavors for therapeutic advancements in CRC management.

U.S. Energy Independence: Opportunities and Limitations

Climate change, the shale revolution, which allowed the United States to become a key exporter in international oil and gas markets, along with the introduction of renewable energy sources to replace traditional energy resources, are new integral factors in U.S. energy policy and influence its changes. The introduction of new technologies in the energy sector has given the United States the opportunity to increase oil and gas production, reduce its dependence on imports of hydrocarbon resources, and increase their exports. D. Trump's energy policy aimed for global energy dominance of the United States by increasing oil and gas production and exporting hydrocarbon resources to the EU and other regions of the world. On the one hand, allows us to conclude about the energy independence of the United States. However, on the other hand, the analysis of the debate about U.S. energy independence shows two different approaches to understanding the concept. The first approach follows from the fact that a state is energy independent if its energy system produces more than enough energy for its needs. The second suggests that the state does not import any energy at all. The author concludes that, today, the United States has technological and financial advantages that allow it to influence the global energy market. However, in the near future, the United States will not be able to become an energy independent state – that is to abandon oil and gas, despite the use of renewable energy sources. The U.S. energy industry is closely interconnected with the rest of the world: some energy resources still come from external international markets, and America is deeply integrated into the global economy, where the price of hydrocarbon resources is set on the international market. In conditions of mutual dependence, trade links many countries together and no single oil supplier can easily ensure compliance with their own interests or dictate the terms of trade. Nevertheless, interdependence and mutual interests of all actors in the energy market are able to help strengthen the energy security of a state.

Comparative Genomics of Different Lifestyle Fungi in Helotiales (Leotiomycetes) Reveals Temperature and Ecosystem Adaptations

Helotiales, a diverse fungal order within Leotiomycetes (Ascomycota), comprises over 6000 species occupying varied ecological niches, from plant pathogens to saprobes and symbionts. Despite their importance, their genetic adaptations to temperature and environmental conditions are understudied. This study investigates temperature adaptations in infection genes and substrate degradation genes through a comparative genomics analysis of 129 Helotiales species, using the newly sequenced genomes of Gyoerffyella rotula and Anguillospora crassa. Key gene families such as cytochrome P450 enzymes, virulence factors, effector proteins, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were analyzed to understand their roles in temperature and lifestyle adaptations, uncovering possible alternative lifestyle mechanisms. Our findings reveal that Helotiales fungi possess genes associated with nutrient acquisition, pathogenicity, and symbiotic relationships strongly adapted to cold environments that might be impacted by global warming. On the other hand, some species demonstrate potential for adaptation to warmer climates, suggesting increased activity in response to global warming. This study reveals the adaptive mechanisms enabling Helotiales fungi to thrive in both cold and warm environments. These findings provide valuable insights into their ecological success and evolutionary resilience, which may facilitate their ability to transition between pathogenic, symbiotic, and saprobic phases in response to changing environmental conditions.

From Structure to Function: How Prebiotic Diversity Shapes Gut Integrity and Immune Balance

The microbiota stability, diversity, and composition are pillars for an efficient and beneficial symbiotic relationship between its host and itself. Microbial dysbiosis, a condition where a homeostatic bacterial community is disturbed by acute or chronic events, is a predisposition for many diseases, including local and systemic inflammation that leads to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and some types of cancers. Classical dysbiosis occurs in the large intestine. During this period, pathogenic strains can multiply, taking advantage of the compromised environment. This overgrowth triggers an exaggerated inflammatory response from the human immune system due to the weakened integrity of the intestinal barrier. Such inflammation can also directly influence higher polyp formation and/or tumorigenesis. Prebiotics can be instrumental in preventing or correcting dysbiosis. Prebiotics are molecules capable of serving as substrates for fermentation processes by gut microorganisms. This can promote returning the intestinal environment to homeostasis. Effective prebiotics are generally specific oligo- and polysaccharides, such as FOS or inulin. However, the direct effects of prebiotics on intestinal epithelial and immune cells must also be taken into consideration. This interaction happens with diverse prebiotic nondigestible carbohydrates, and they can inhibit or decrease the inflammatory response. The present work aims to elucidate and describe the different types of prebiotics, their influence, and their functionalities for health, primarily focusing on their ability to reduce and control inflammation in the intestinal epithelial barrier, gut, and systemic environments.

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in COVID-19 is associated with intestinal DNA phage dynamics of lysogenic and lytic infection.

This study compared intestinal DNA phage dynamics and gut microbiota changes observed at the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study participants included 19 healthy individuals and 19 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Significant differences were observed in the diversity of the intestinal DNA virome after the onset of COVID-19 compared with that in healthy individuals. Classification by their tail morphology resulted in the order Caudovirales, a double-stranded DNA phage, accounting for >95% of all participants. In classifying phages based on host bacteria, a decreased number of phages infecting mainly the Clostridia class was observed immediately after the onset of COVID-19 and recovered over time. After the onset of COVID-19, two distinct movement patterns of intestinal phages and their host bacteria were observed: phage- and bacteria-predominant. The abundance of obligate anaerobes, such as Clostridium_sense_strict_1, Fusicatenibacter, and Romboutsia, and the phages hosting these bacteria decreased immediately after the onset of COVID-19, and faster phage recovery was observed compared with bacterial recovery. In contrast, the genus Staphylococcus, a facultative anaerobic bacterium, increased immediately after the onset of COVID-19, whereas the phages infecting Staphylococcus decreased. Furthermore, immediately after the onset of COVID-19, the percentage of lytic phages increased, whereas that of temperate phages decreased. These observations suggest that the gut microbiota dysbiosis observed immediately after the onset of COVID-19 may be linked to phage dynamics that control gut microbiota and may also affect the recovery from dysbiosis.IMPORTANCEBacteriophages infect and replicate with bacteria and archaea and are closely associated with intestinal bacteria. The symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and bacteriophages is of interest, but it is challenging to study their dynamics in the human body over time. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported to alter the gut microbiota, which is involved in gut immune regulation and pathophysiology, although changes in the intestinal phages of patients with SARS-CoV-2 and their dynamic relationship with the gut microbiota remain unclear. SARS-CoV-2 infection, which follows a transient pathological course from disease onset to cure, may provide a reliable model to investigate these interactions in the gut environment. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the correlation between gut microbiota and intestinal DNA virome dynamics in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This study found that the dysbiosis observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection involves a growth strategy that depends on the phage or bacterial dominance.

Impact of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species on arsenic tolerance and accumulation in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

BackgroundArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can regulate metal(loid) tolerance in plants and their capacity for phytoremediation. These effects can vary depending on the host plant and the AMF species. The impact of different AMF species on the ability of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for arsenic (As) phytoremediation is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of two AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Funneliformis mosseae, on the tolerance and accumulation of As in safflower in soils spiked with varying arsenate concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg kg−1).ResultsThe results indicated that both AMF species established effective symbiotic relationships with safflower. However, plants inoculated with R. irregularis exhibited higher mycorrhizal dependency and root colonization, especially under 100 mg kg−1 As. Both AMF species significantly improved plant growth parameters, chlorophyll content, and phosphorus (P) nutrition, which resulted in increased P/As ratio and enhanced tolerance index in safflower plants. In addition, AMF inoculation reduced As-induced lipid peroxidation by enhancing catalase and peroxidase activity in leaves and roots. While the mycorrhizal symbiosis didn’t affect As availability in soils, it significantly reduced shoot As concentration and the translocation factor under all As levels. Furthermore, mycorrhizal inoculation, especially with R. irregularis, increased As concentration and modified-bioconcentration factor in the roots and enhanced total As uptake per plant.ConclusionsBased on the results and multivariate analyses, both AMF species, particularly R. irregularis, enhanced safflower's As tolerance by retaining As in roots, improving phosphorus nutrition, and increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, showcasing their potential to enhance phytostabilization in safflower plants.

Maximize the Impacts of Forgiveness Education with Moral Agency Development

Forgiveness education is more than the teaching of forgiveness. Since forgiveness education cultivates virtuous characters and the best self as the moral self, it sets the foundation for moral agency development. Based on a review of research and the literature about the psychological processes of forgiveness and moral agency, this article illustrates how the forgiveness virtue and moral agency operate and enhance each other for their common roots in the moral self. Due to their symbiotic relationship, promoting moral agency development in forgiveness education is beneficial for the cultivation of mature forgivers, mature moral agents, and good citizens with virtuous characters. To maximize the effectiveness and the impacts of forgiveness education, the GMIRA method is proposed. That is, setting the learning goal of living and being the best self; social modeling towards the goal, and blending the holistic moral agency concept into the existing forgiveness curriculum using the IRA (invitation, reflection, and assessment) strategies. Since moral agency is adaptive, the IRA methods can be flexibly applied to fit individual developmental needs across time and social-cultural contexts in all types of education. This novel idea is open for future research.

Metabolomics profiles of the liquid co-culture of Sanghuangporus vaninii and Pleurotus sapidus

IntroductionFungal secondary metabolites (SMs) have broad application prospects in the food and medicine industries. Co-culturing strategies that simulate natural symbiotic relationships among microorganisms are used to discover and enhance the production of new SMs. We aimed to use the abundant resources of large edible and medicinal fungi to enhance the yield of desired metabolites through co-culture and potentially produce metabolites that cannot be generated in pure cultures.MethodsWe assessed the biomass and intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) content of liquid co-cultures of Sanghuangporus vaninii and Pleurotus sapidus. Subsequently, the effect of the liquid co-culture on fungal intracellular metabolites was studied using UPLC-QTOF.ResultsCo-culturing of S. vaninii with P. sapidus resulted in significantly increased biomass and IPS content; however, P. sapidus had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of S. vaninii. Metabolomic data further indicated that amino acid, nucleotide, and glycerophospholipid metabolisms were the primary metabolic pathways affected by symbiosis.DiscussionThis study provides insights into fungal interactions and cellular metabolic mechanisms, contributing to the understanding and enhancement of the fungal fermentation potential.

Effects of the Symbiotic Chlorella variabilis on the Host Ciliate Paramecium bursaria Phenotypes

Paramecium bursaria, a ciliated protist, forms a symbiotic relationship with the green alga Chlorella variabilis. This endosymbiotic association is a model system for studying the establishment of secondary symbiosis and interactions between the symbiont and its host organisms. Symbiotic algae reside in specialized compartments called perialgal vacuoles (PVs) within the host cytoplasm, which protect them from digestion by host lysosomal fusion. The relationship between P. bursaria and symbiotic Chlorella spp. is characterized by mutualism, in which both organisms benefit from this association. Furthermore, symbiotic algae also influence their host phenotypes, and algae-free P. bursaria can be obtained through various methods and reassociated with symbiotic algae, making it a valuable tool for studying secondary endosymbiosis. Recent advancements in genomic and transcriptomic studies on both hosts and symbionts have further enhanced the utility of this model system. This review summarizes the infection process of the symbiotic alga C. variabilis and its effects on the algal infection on number of host trichocysts, mitochondria, cytoplasmic crystals, total protein amount, stress responses, photoaccumulation, and circadian rhythms of the host P. bursaria.

Silkworm Girl, Sericultural EcoGothic, and the Anthropocene

The article looks at the connection between Chinese folklores and the Anthropocene, examining the tale of the silkworm girl in ancient Chinese mythologies and folklores from an EcoGothic perspective of human-nonhuman alliance (as well as its betrayal). The process of sericultural development in Asia works in tandem with the formation of the renowned “silk road,” an international commercial (as well as military) route for the exchange of goods and materials from East Asia and Central Asia to Europe and the Mediterranean region. The myth of the silkworm girl encapsulates an eco-economic co-existence among human beings, animals, plants, and matter in its most rudimentary form. My discussion focuses on the two versions of the story of the silkworm girl, one from an earlier collection of folklore—Sou shen ji (In Search of the Supernatural: The Written Record) by Jin Dynasty historian, Bao Gan, in China—and the other one by Guan Ting Du—Yong Cheng Ji Sian Lu (Records of the Assembled Transcendents of the Fortified Walled City), a later collection of stories compiled in the Tang dynasty. While silkworms in ancient Chinese literature and the sericulture they embody have been associated with agricultural advancement through the human domestication and extraction of natural resources, the anthropocentric interpretations of the moral lessons conveyed in those tales about the economic value their industry and productivity symbolize is problematized by the girl-horse metamorphosis and their symbiotic relationship with mulberry trees. Their representations are further complicated by the military involvement in sericulture. This article compares diverging representations of the silkworm girl within the context of the sericultural practice, particularly the man-horse-silkworm-mulberry entanglement, to reconsider the ecological significance of Asian mythologies in the age of our Anthropocene crisis.

Comparison of Oxytetracycline and Sulfamethazine Effects Over Root Elongation in Selected Wild and Crop Plants Commonly Present in the Mediterranean Cropland and Pasture Scenarios.

Fertilization with animal manure and sewage sludge, and the use of sewage water for irrigation, can lead to high antimicrobial concentrations in agricultural soils. Once in soil, antimicrobials can exert direct and indirect toxic effects on plants by misbalancing plant-microbe symbiotic relationships. We performed germination tests to determine the optimum germination conditions of 24 plant species (10 crop and 14 wild species). Subsequently, we analyzed the differences in oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine phytotoxicity in 19 plant species for which optimum germination conditions could be established. The root elongation of the majority of wild species was inhibited in the presence of oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine, whereas crops were mainly affected by oxytetracycline. There were no differences in sensitivity to oxytetracycline between crop and wild plant species, whereas wild plants were significantly more susceptible to sulfamethazine than crop species. Thus, to cover both productivity and biodiversity protection goals, we recommend pharmaceuticals' predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values based on crop and wild plant species phytotoxicity data.

Examining the presence and effects of coherence and fragmentation in the Gulf of Maine fishery management network

Natural resource management networks cohere due to mutual dependencies and fragment, in part, due to the perceived risks of interaction. However, research on these networks has tended to accept coherence a priori rather than problematizing dependence, and few studies exist on interorganizational risk perception. This article presents the results of a study operationalizing these concepts and measuring the distribution of three types of dependence (capital, legitimacy, and regulatory) and two types of perceived risk (performance and sanction) among nearly fifty stakeholder groups and organizations participating in the management of fisheries in the binational Gulf of Maine. The analysis reveals an organizationally diverse network with several stakeholder types participating, with communications clustered binationally, with low levels of perceived risk in interacting, and interdependencies cohering the network. The types of interorganizational dependence present varied across dyadic relationships, but legitimacy dependence, based on shared understandings that organizations should work together, was the most present and had the largest effect on collaboration-oriented network traits. Sanction risk was more common than performance risk but had the most substantial negative effect. The results suggest an opportunity for additional studies of interorganizational dependance and perceived risk to operationalize and measure the sources of network coherence and fragmentation and their effect on collaboration.

Super-Charlies mamma

Theme: Motherhood and Mothering. Ill. ©Stina Wirsén Super-Charlie’s Mum: Public Mothers, Adult Address, and Parasocial Relationships in Contemporary Swedish Picturebooks This article examines contemporary Swedish celebrity picturebooks in which the central characters share names with the children of the authors. The focus is on the relationship between the authors’ public personas and the maternal figures depicted in the books, as well as the ways in which such publications can be understood from a book market perspective. The analysis includes Margaux Dietz’ books about Arnold (2020–2021), Marie Serneholt’s books about Nico and Phille (2020–2021), and Camilla Läckberg’s first instalment in the Super-Charlie series (2011–). The rise of celebrity-authored children’s books has been a notable trend in the Anglo-American publishing industry, with parallel developments emerging in Sweden. The symbiotic relationship between celebrities eager to publish children’s literature and publishers seeking to capitalize on public figures is key to understanding the mechanisms that drive the production of such books. By integrating theoretical frameworks from children’s literature research, motherhood studies, and sociology of literature, this article demonstrates the value of a multifaceted disciplinary approach when analyzing the contemporary Swedish children’s book market. The article explores the adult address created by references to the authors’ actual lives — visible through texts, paratexts, and illustrations — which are primarily accessible to the adult reader. This phenomenon reflects the parasocial relationships that these books utilize to engage readers. As a result, different approaches to motherhood can be discerned: as a carer, a role-model, or a playfully distant star author. These variations of the literary mother figure comment on the authors’ public personas for the benefit of the adult readers, which in turn showcase the commercial possibilities surrounding motherhood, online and on the book market.

A Comprehensive Exploration of Digital Twinning in Spine Surgery.

One recent innovation in the health care landscape is the integration of Digital Twin (DT) in the field of spine surgery. DT, first used in 2002 is defined as the replication of physical entities in a virtual environment. It has emerged as a transformative tool for optimizing complex systems. In this review, we delve into the intersection of DT and spine surgery, exploring how this symbiotic relationship is reshaping precision medicine. By creating virtual replicas of the spine and its intricate neural networks, surgeons gain insights into personalized patient care, preoperative planning, and postoperative analysis. This exploration tackles the potential impact of DT on neurosurgical procedures, emphasizing its role in enhancing surgical precision, improving patient outcomes, and pushing the boundaries of innovation in modern health care.

Filsafat dalam Pemecahan Masalah Pendidikan

Philosophy and education have a very close relationship where education and philosophy cannot be separated from each other because both are interdependent. Education without a philosophical foundation is just a concept without providing practical impact through education. Thus, this symbiotic relationship is very important to develop a comprehensive, meaningful, and impactful education system. Therefore, the importance of integration between education and philosophy. To ensure that educational efforts and educational processes run effectively, a philosophical and scientific foundation is needed as a principle and normative guideline for implementing training. This paper aims to describe the philosophical view in solving educational problems. This research method uses a literature review by collecting literature from various sources related to the philosophical view of education. The data analysis technique used is narrative analysis. The study results show that, for education to run effectively, an intellectual and scientific foundation is needed as a principle and normative guideline for implementing training. This means that, overall, an understanding of the philosophy of education is crucial for an educator. It helps them understand the goals of education, choose the right teaching methods, and understand their roles and responsibilities as quality educators

Mitigating salt stress in Zea mays: Harnessing Serratia nematodiphila-biochar-based seed coating for plant growth promotion and rhizosphere microecology regulation

Salt stress poses a significant challenge in contemporary agricultural practices. In response, using plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in conjunction with biochar coatings has emerged as an innovative biological strategy to mitigate salt stress in crops. Through a dual screening process based on gradient salt concentration and plant growth-promoting performance, a highly salt-tolerant PGPB, Serratia nematodiphila, was identified in this study. And a seed-coating formulation incorporating S. nematodiphila was developed using biochar as a carrier. With the help of potting experiments, this paper investigated the impact of this S. nematodiphila-biochar-based seed coating on Zea mays under salt stress, while also analyzing functional alterations in the core microbial community. These findings indicate that the S. nematodiphila-biochar-based seed coating selectively enriched beneficial microbial populations, such as Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiae, and Bacteroidia, fostering a symbiotic association with the Z. mays root system. These beneficial consortia facilitated the accumulation of osmotic solutes, including soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline, thereby modulating leaf photosynthetic activity and alleviating salt stress (sodium and potassium homeostasis) in Z. mays. This investigation provides refined technical approaches for alleviating salt stress in Z. mays, contributing to developing sustainable agricultural practices.

Functional screening reveals genetic dependencies and diverging cell cycle control in atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors

BackgroundAtypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are incurable high-grade pediatric brain tumors. Despite intensive research efforts, the prognosis for ATRT patients under currently established treatment protocols is poor. While novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed, the generation of molecular-driven treatment concepts is a challenge mainly due to the absence of actionable genetic alterations.ResultsWe here use a functional genomics approach to identify genetic dependencies in ATRT, validate selected hits using a functionally instructed small molecule drug library, and observe preferential activity in ATRT cells without subgroup-specific selectivity. CDK4/6 inhibitors are among the most potent drugs and display anti-tumor efficacy due to mutual exclusive dependency on CDK4 or CDK6. Chemogenetic interactor screens reveal a broad spectrum of G1 phase cell cycle regulators that differentially enable cell cycle progression and modulate response to CDK4/6 inhibition in ATRT cells. In this regard, we find that the ubiquitin ligase substrate receptor AMBRA1 acts as a context-specific inhibitor of cell cycle progression by regulating key components of mitosis including aurora kinases.ConclusionsOur data provide a comprehensive resource of genetic and chemical dependencies in ATRTs, which will inform further preclinical evaluation of novel targeted therapies for this tumor entity. Furthermore, this study reveals a unique mechanism of cell cycle inhibition as the basis for tumor suppressive functions of AMBRA1.