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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and other behavioral issues. Autism, escalating as a global health concern, has yielded substantial discoveries in the past 40 years. This paper presents a comprehensive review that summarizes the progress in the etiology, diagnosis, and therapy of autism in children. We searched for potentially relevant studies in three databases (Web of Science, PubMed and CINAHL) from inception until March 2024. In addition, we manually searched the bibliographies of the included studies to find articles that might otherwise have been missed. The search strategy was defined by identifying key terms from the research question related to 'autism', and 'etiology', 'diagnosis' and 'therapy'. To reduce the number of papers cited, the most recent review papers and meta-analyses were used whenever possible. We selected papers based on our judgement of the quality of the study or review paper, its relevance to controversial or commonly misunderstood issues, and whether the findings were clinically relevant. Finally, this paper summarizes the current status of autism research, looks forward to future research directions, and calls for more research to explore the pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic basis, and therapeutic methods of autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass mortality events (MMEs) threaten the health of fish and are also a potential threat to the health and safety of workers. This paper presents findings from a desktop risk assessment exercise focused on potential aquaculture occupational health and safety (AOHS) hazards and risks associated with MMEs in Chile. The study reviews academic and grey literature, government regulations and MME reports and statistics to assess the scale and distribution of MMEs; identifies associated documented and potential health and safety hazards; and documents and assesses policy responses to MMEs in the Chilean context through the lens of health and safety. The paper documents the size and regional distribution of salmon MME occurrences in Chile from 2016 to 2022. It discusses AOHS hazards associated with MMEs such as exposure to hydrogen sulfide, drowning and diving-related illnesses and potential issues around accessing hospitals and hyperbaric chambers for workers in remote aquaculture regions, as well as exposure to antibiotics and antibiotic residues. Recent Chilean regulatory requirements around reporting and management of MMEs that have the potential to help reduce identified MME-related risks for workers are described and addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and other behavioral issues. Autism, escalating as a global health concern, has yielded substantial discoveries in the past 40 years. This paper presents a comprehensive review that summarizes the progress in the etiology, diagnosis, and therapy of autism in children. We searched for potentially relevant studies in three databases (Web of Science, PubMed and CINAHL) from inception until March 2024. In addition, we manually searched the bibliographies of the included studies to find articles that might otherwise have been missed. The search strategy was defined by identifying key terms from the research question related to ‘autism', and ‘etiology', ‘diagnosis' and ‘therapy'. To reduce the number of papers cited, the most recent review papers and meta-analyses were used whenever possible. We selected papers based on our judgement of the quality of the study or review paper, its relevance to controversial or commonly misunderstood issues, and whether the findings were clinically relevant. Finally, this paper summarizes the current status of autism research, looks forward to future research directions, and calls for more research to explore the pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic basis, and therapeutic methods of autism.

The paper reviews a range of global aquaculture health and safety literature to inform and contribute to the development of a socio-economic profile of Indian shrimp farm workers including the occupational hazards and injuries they face. In addition, 60 shrimp farm workers were interviewed from each of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that all shrimp farm workers were male, 58% were migrants, and ages ranged from 23 to 53 years with work experience of 5 to 24 years. Few workers (14%) had no formal schooling and many had secondary-level education. Reported physical hazards were high (93%) followed by biological (82%), chemical (77%), ergonomic (71%) and psycho-social (71%) hazards. The majority of physical injuries reported related to slips, falls and cuts (51%), electric shocks (44%), sunburn (41%), dehydration/ headaches (40%) and fractures (27%). Approximately 30%-39% had some chemical injury with skin infections/breathing problems. Indian shrimp farm workers face similar occupational hazards and injuries to shrimp farm workers in other countries. The occupational health and safety of shrimp farm workers should be integrated into the concept of 'One Health' to ensure aquaculture sustainability and safe, meaningful and good quality employment to workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world, with increasing morbidity and mortality. The current diagnosis and treatment plan rely on early detection and comprehensive treatment based on surgery. Still, most patients are in the middle and advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, and the therapeutic effect is very limited. Immunotherapy is a new cancer treatment method. The most commonly used are immune checkpoint inhibitors, specifically anti PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. However, immunotherapy has limitations, with its therapeutic effect closely related to the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. In recent years, the effect of arginine metabolism disorder on the occurrence and development of cancer and tumor immune regulation has attracted wide attention. Studies have confirmed that cancer cells cannot survive without arginine and arginine metabolites. In addition, arginine is essential for the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. High arginine levels can promote the anti-tumor immune response, thus increasing the effect of tumor immunotherapy. In this paper, the molecular mechanisms of arginine metabolism in the development and immune regulation of CRC are reviewed, with the authors hoping to provide potential evidence for the development of immunotherapy for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repellency of solvent extracts of Calpurnia aurea leaves was evaluated on the maize weevils and the red flour beetles. Nine-cm Whatman number 1 filter paper that is partitioned into treatment, neutral and non-treatment portions was used for the experiment. Each solvent extract treatment was applied at 2.5, 5 and 10% rates. Insects were released in the neutral portion, while the untreated part served as a control. A choice bioassay experimental method that is laid down in a completely randomized design within three replications was used. 5 and 10% rates of the polar solvent extracts of Calpurnia aurea leaves induced significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage weevils and beetles repellency (≥50.00%) at 2 days after treatment than non-polar and partial polar solvent extract treatments and the untreated check. 10% dosage of Calpurnia aurea leaves' polar solvent extract treatments caused 100% weevils and beetles repellency three days after treatment. Consequently, the polar solvent extracts of the tested plant were potent and could be used at 5 and10%rates for the maize weevils and the red flour beetles' management under farmers' maize storage conditions. Nevertheless, their impact on cost-effectiveness, natural enemies and human beings needs additional study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of mood changes can be useful for the efficacy of drug treatment of psychiatric disorders in major depression. This paper presents an approach for detecting major time points of mood transitions under the influence of antidepressants. These time points, which are indicated by critical fluctuations in time series, can be discovered using change point detection and time-frequency analysis of fuzzy recurrence entropy of mood data. The mood transitions identified by the fuzzy recurrence entropy agree with results that were clinically validated and reported in literature. The proposed approach can detect early mood transitions in a fully objective way that does not require the manual analysis of fluctuations in the signal dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly common problem in treating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic micro-organisms, and this threat is heightened due to the lack of new antibiotic discoveries since the 1980s. This paper aims to summarise the currently available knowledge on the antimicrobial properties of cholesterol esters and to evaluate the use of cholesterol esters as an alternative to antibiotics. A systematic literature search was conducted in three databases namely Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science to retrieve articles published between 2000 and 2020 where cholesterol esters were the primary or one of the primary examined molecules as part of research targeting immunity and antimicrobial operations. The findings showed antibacterial properties of cholesterol esters, their synergistic activity with antibiotics, antimicrobial role of cholesterol esters in upper respiratory tract and its diseases in humans, and correlation of cholesterol esters with infection protection in physically active individuals. Overall, there is strong evidence that cholesterol esters have antimicrobial properties. However, the currently pooled information available for cholesterol esters' antimicrobial properties is not expansive enough to draw a conclusion on its ability to replace existing antibiotics as a treatment for infections and this warrants future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS), a common bone malignancy, is highly metastatic and featured by poor prognosis. SUMOylation is deeply involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. SUMO-activating enzyme (SAE) inhibitor has been found to play an anti-proliferative role in multiple cancers. However, their functions in osteosarcoma remain unknown. Based on this, it was hypothesized that ML792, an SAE inhibitor, might be an anti-tumor candidate against osteosarcoma in this paper. The role of ML792 in the treatment of osteosarcoma was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results showed ML792 significantly arrested human osteosarcoma cells (HOCs) at the G2/M phase, inhibited the proliferation of HOCs, and elicited apoptosis. To better assess the inhibitory role of ML792 in human osteosarcoma, we induced HOCs with TGF-β1. Our study showed that ML792 significantly suppressed the migration, invasion, and EMT of HOCs induced by TGF-β1. Moreover, ML792 inhibited TGF-β1-induced phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT activation, as well as Smad2/3 phosphorylation in HOCs. In vivo, ML792 inhibits the growth of osteosarcoma. Thus, ML792 is a promising new antitumor agent to suppress the progress of OS cells undergoing proliferation and EMT by targeting the PI3K/Akt and TGF-β1/Smad pathway and may prevent or reduce the growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting over 250 million people worldwide. The disease is the second most prevalent neglected tropical disease after malaria. Treatment of schistosomiasis relies on the administration of praziquantel (also known as biltricide). Reliance on a single drug poses a threat to the public health system as the parasite may become resistant as shown by some laboratory findings. The possibility of the resistance rising to clinically significant levels has motivated the scientific community to search for new drug nominees. For a long time, natural products have always been a foundation for the identification of drug leads in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper reviews the progress made in the discovery of natural anti-schistosomal agents in the field of drug discovery. We focus mainly on natural products that have been tested on the schistosome parasite and exhibited potency. We also highlight applications of advanced techniques in drug discovery, with a major focus on computer-aided drug discovery methods. Specifically, we discuss structure-based drug discovery and ligand-based drug design approaches, with an emphasis on virtual screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass mortality events (MMEs) threaten the health of fish and are also a potential threat to the health and safety of workers. This paper presents findings from a desktop risk assessment exercise focused on potential aquaculture occupational health and safety (AOHS) hazards and risks associated with MMEs in Chile. The study reviews academic and grey literature, government regulations and MME reports and statistics to assess the scale and distribution of MMEs; identifies associated documented and potential health and safety hazards; and documents and assesses policy responses to MMEs in the Chilean context through the lens of health and safety. The paper documents the size and regional distribution of salmon MME occurrences in Chile from 2016 to 2022. It discusses AOHS hazards associated with MMEs such as exposure to hydrogen sulfide, drowning and diving-related illnesses and potential issues around accessing hospitals and hyperbaric chambers for workers in remote aquaculture regions, as well as exposure to antibiotics and antibiotic residues. Recent Chilean regulatory requirements around reporting and management of MMEs that have the potential to help reduce identified MME-related risks for workers are described and addressed. Key policy highlights Risk of mass mortality events (MMEs) in marine aquaculture is increasing as the industry expands and climate change increases fluctuations in marine conditions. Policies need to be developed to counteract these risks. MMEs-related worker accidents and environmental degradation point to the urgent need to develop environmental and occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines that prevent MMEs and protect workers and the environment. The Chilean OHS guidelines related to aquaculture MMEs may be adapted and used in other countries. Surveillance programs on harmful algal blooms and antibiotic resistance (AMR) markers may be a preventive measure towards MMEs and exposure to AMR markers.

Dexamethasone administered by autologous red blood cells (RBCs) is used in clinical trials and as compassionate therapy to alleviate ataxia telangiectasia (AT) symptoms, providing long-term delivery of low doses of the drug. In the present paper, we report a dexamethasone-induced variation in gene expression that differed between healthy and AT primary fibroblasts simulating patient conditions. Gene expression levels were analysed by a microarray platform. The obtained gene-set data were used for biological pathway analysis by Reactome functional network clustering. Over 3000 probes were differentially modulated by dexamethasone in wild-type (WT) and AT fibroblasts. Consequently, the biological pathways induced by dexamethasone treatment also differed between the two samples. Some of the pathways were the same as those normally altered in AT compared to WT cells. Our results were consistent with earlier studies on HDAC4 and DDIT4 dynamics. The 30-day low dose dexamethasone treatment induced differential gene expression in AT and WT cells, leading to the partial recovery of genes that are usually dysregulated in AT. This is probably due to glucocorticoid receptor diversity in AT, which is likely genetically imprinted in AT, thus accounting for the differential response of AT cells to dexamethasone treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the effect of fermented n-hexane extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla seeds (FPMSE) in an experimental model of glaucoma. Eighteen rabbits (1-1.8 kg body weight) were allocated into six groups of three rabbits (six eyes per group). Group 1 was the normal control. Ocular hypertension was induced with 1% prednisolone acetate ophthalmic solution in groups 2-6, twice daily for 21 days. Group 2 received no treatment, while groups 3-6 received 5 mg/kg b.w. acetazolamide, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg b.w. extract, respectively. The intraocular pressures and other biochemical parameters were evaluated. The existence of bioactive compounds was determined via phytochemical analysis. Compared to group 2, the administration of FPMSE resulted in a significant decrease in IOP in the treated groups. Malondialdehyde concentrations in the treated groups' aqueous humor and plasma were considerably lower (p < 0.05) than in group 2. Compared to group 2, glutathione, nitric oxide, and antioxidant levels improved significantly (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein and glutamate levels in group 2 were comparable (p > 0.05). FPMSE substantially reduced phospholipase A2 activity. Histological assessment of the ciliary body showed adequate pigmentations in the treatment groups compared to group 2. Hence, FPMSE possesses ocular hypotensive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia homeostasis is essential for the normal functioning of macro-and microorganisms. The change in concentration of ammonia derivatives in intracellular and extracellular environments is a marker of nitrogen metabolism imbalance. Transport of these molecules is now known to occur by both simple diffusion and special membrane-associated transporters belonging to the Amt/MEP/Rh family. This protein family is subdivided into two subfamilies: the ammonium transporter (AMT)-methylammonium/ammonium permeases (MEP) and the rhesus (Rh) proteins. In this review, we systemize and generalize the long-established and some recent findings on the role of these proteins in nitrogen metabolism in general, and in the ammonia balance in particular. The similarities and differences of these systems in various living beings are discussed. The paper also focuses on the characteristics of several aspects of the classification and on the physiological importance of these proteins and their relationships to certain pathological processes. We also enumerate the prospects and unique challenges of research in this field of science. Deeper theoretical and practical research will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the structural-functional evolution of ammonia transport proteins, as well as the level of their involvement in the signaling pathways associated with the pathophysiology of nitrogen metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various phenomena of life are typically explained by the physical sciences. Although the biological structures of a living being are subject to physical laws, we suggest that life, information, and consciousness are biological phenomena that are not. In this paper, we present new concepts and viewpoints about the very nature of biology. Life, information, and consciousness are identified as a unique set of biological phenomena that are common to only and all living beings. These three distinct phenomena always occur together in a whole pattern, and matter is viewed as the carrier of these phenomena. We explore the unique characteristics of life, information, and consciousness, and their relationships to one another. The experiences and behaviors of human beings, our presentday knowledge of biology, and some organisms' simple behaviors that we can observe are used to understand these biological phenomena. A distinction between genetic information and nongenetic information is also made, and their importance to life is emphasized. The interactions of biological activities between living beings and their environments are explained in the context of improving their chance of survival. Additionally, consciousness is simplified and exemplified via five categories from a hierarchical perspective, and various types of death are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT) ratio, also termed the De Ritis ratio, has been demonstrated to have an association with poor prognosis in several cancer types. However, its prognostic value in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) remains unclear. Methods: A total of 265 MDS patients were divided into two groups by R. The clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data of patients with MDS were collected, while the relationship between AST/ALT ratio and overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were also analyzed. Results: The results showed that higher AST/ALT ratio was associated with higher age, β2-microglobulin level, and number of co-mutations (>4). Moreover, the high AST/ALT group had a significantly shorter OS and LFS than the low AST/ALT group. Multivariate analysis involving the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) showed that a higher AST/ALT ratio was an independent adverse factor for OS or LFS; however, the same was not noted in the multivariate analysis involving the new Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-M). Conclusions: Our study suggests that the AST/ALT ratio could be a simple and economic prognostic indicator for MDS and be used as a supplement to IPSS-R, especially when lacking of karyotype or mutation data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Study aimed to determine the inhibition of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in rats using combined extracts of Syzygium aromaticum and Xylopia aethiopica. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups:(i) normal control (NC) received normal saline (0.5 mL); (ii) testosterone propionate (TP); (iii) and (iv)testosterone propionate + 200 and 400 mg/kg b.wt of the extract. Injection was performed subcutaneously, followed by daily oral administration of the extract for 30 days. Results: Prostate weight, testosterone, prostate specific antigen (PSA), and total protein levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the TP only compared with those in the NC and decreased in the treatment groups. Cholesterol, TAG, and LDL-chol increased in TP relative to TP-200 and TP-400. HDL increased non-significantly (p > 0.05) across the test groups compared to TP. MDA levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the TP compared with those in the test groups. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the TP group compared to those in the NC, TP-200, and TP-400 groups. Similarly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased inTP-400 compared to that in the TP and NC groups. Decreased PCV %, Hb, RBC and platelets, except WBC, were recorded in TP compared to TP-200 and TP-400. TP-200 and TP-400 presented relatively normal prostatic histomorphology compared with TP. Conclusion: The mechanisms of BPH inhibition involve the regulation of sex hormone levels and the amelioration of conditions caused by oxidative damage. Abbreviations: BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia; CAT: catalase; DTH: dihydrotestosterone; GPx: glutathione peroxidase; HDL-Chol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; MDA: malondialdehyde; NC: normal control; PI: prostatic interstitium; PVC: packed cell volume; PSA: prostate specific antigen; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TP: testosterone propionate; TAG: triacylglycerol [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products are essential in drug development, with increasing interest in lichen-derived compounds for their therapeutic potential. This study investigates the bioactivity of the methanolic extract of Hypotrachyna cirrhata through in vitro and in silico approaches. The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 of 10.37 ± 0.62 μg/mL, while the methanolic extract exhibited an IC50 of 72.30 ± 0.55 μg/mL. For α-glucosidase inhibition, the ethyl acetate fraction and crude extract showed IC50 values of 1.17 ± 0.50 μg/mL and 5.00 ± 0.45 μg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial assays revealed zones of inhibition of 12 and 11 mm against Staphylococcus aureus at 25 mg/mL, with the strain showing sensitivity to the methanolic extract (MIC of 20.0 × 10−4 mg/mL). LC-MS analysis identified eight metabolites in the ethyl acetate extract, salazinic acid (1), roccellaric acid (2), constictic acid (3), protolichesterinic acid (4), mannitol (5), penta hydroxyicosatrienoicacid (6), methyl pentahydroxyoxoheptacosanoate (7), and one unknown compound. Five major compounds (1-5) were selected for computational analysis and highlighted that salazinic acid as a potential lead compound, displaying a non-competitive binding with α-glucosidase and a binding affinity of −9.9 kcal/mol. These findings suggest salazinic acid's promise as an α-glucosidase inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) is a major type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by idiopathic, chronic inflammation with a patchy transmural inflammatory pattern. CD patients experience a decreased quality of life due to symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia and fever. This study had a cross-sectional single-center design. The experimental group was composed of patients diagnosed with CD according to the Chinese consensus on diagnosis and treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (2018, Beijing). Fifty CD patients and 41 healthy controls were involved in this study and underwent quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). Analysis showed that the LZC of QEEG in electrode positions O1, O2 and P4 was lower in the CD group than in the control group. Significant differences in EEG LZC were found at electrode positions F4 and P3 when comparing CD patients with a disease duration of over 10 years to those with a duration of less than 10 years. In CD, the connections between the occipital region and other brain regions may be reduced, and the dynamic behaviors may be simplified. With greater durations of CD, patients may gradually develop simplification of behavioral dynamics in particular brain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast and sheath blight diseases, caused by Pyricularia oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani, respectively, are major threats to rice production worldwide. Efforts should be made to limit the spread of these phytopathogens, preferably through sustainable methods. In this study, we investigated the antagonistic potential of the local isolate Trichoderma yunnanense TM10 against the pathogenic fungi P. oryzae and R. solani. The results demonstrated that T. yunnanense TM10 inhibited the growth of P. oryzae and R. solani through mechanisms such as competition, mycoparasitism, and antibiosis. Dual culture, filtrate culture, and double plate assays showed that T. yunnanense TM10 could inhibit the growth of both P. oryzae and R. solani. Slide culture and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests confirmed that T. yunnanense TM10 exhibited mycoparasitic activity, including attachment, coiling, penetration, lysis, and destruction of pathogen hyphae. Additionally, T. yunnanense TM10 was capable of producing cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) such as chitinase and cellulase, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The multifaceted abilities of T. yunnanense TM10 for limiting the growth of P. oryzae and R. solani underscore its potential as an effective biocontrol agent for enhancing productivity and sustainability in rice cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies like genetic modification and editing (GME) present exciting opportunities to improve ecological sustainability and biodiversity. They do, however, have several ethical quandaries. The advantages and challenges of using GME in the context of ecosystem restoration and strategies for mitigating climate change remained poorly unknown. This review highlights the current use of GME technologies in biodiversity, ecological integrity, and wildlife conservation for protecting a species' genetic integrity and promoting environmental adaptation. We found that the slow use of GME technologies was due to the public's varied ethical perspectives, which are influenced by cultural, religious, and ethical consumerism factors. This study emphasizes the critical need for open and honest regulations, stakeholder involvement, and moral standards to successfully negotiate the morally complex dilemmas of genetic modification and editing technologies for biodiversity conservation and a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted at the research area of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University from 15 June 2022, to 25 November 2022 (Aman season) to evaluate the impact of aromatic compound application on fragrant rice. The experiment included two factors: factor 1 comprised four rice varieties (BRRI dhan34, BRRI dhan70, BRRI dhan80, and Tulshimala), and factor 2 comprised application of four aromatic compounds (L-proline, α-ketoglutaric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, and sodium selenite). A randomized complete block design was employed with three replications. Results revealed significant effects of aromatic compound applications and/or rice varieties on grain eating qualities, sensory aroma and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, which were superior in Tulshimala and BRRI dhan34. α-Ketoglutaric acid and sodium selenite application improved water uptake ratio, amylose and amylopectin content, alkali spreading value, gel consistency, protein content, sensory aroma score, and kernel stickiness and tenderness of fragrant rice. Moreover, α-ketoglutaric acid application led to enhanced 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content in Tulshimala and BRRI dhan34. Several eating quality and fragrance parameters were found either positively or negatively correlated. Apparent amylose content exhibited a negative correlation with stickiness of kernel. Sensory aroma and grain 2-AP content were also positively correlated. Highlights: Significant differences in eating quality and aroma to aromatic compounds were observed among the cultivars. BRRI dhan34 and Tulshimala were found superior cultivars for quality traits of aromatic rice. Foliar dressing of α-ketoglutaric acid and sodium selenite performed better for most of the parameters. In case of grain 2-AP content, α-ketoglutaric acid was found best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, in vitro neuronal cell cultures were exposed to the two most common varieties of EDCs reported in food, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Specifically, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Mono-butyl-phthalate (MBP), Di-n-octylphthalate (OP), and Bisphenol A (BPA) were exposed in Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cell line. The enzymatic activity of methionine synthase (MS) was reduced by up to 3-fold in comparison to cultures that were not exposed to EDCs. MS is the key enzyme in the metabolic pathway that has been proposed elsewhere to be related to redox/methylation related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 68 newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients who were treated in the Department of Hematology at Yuncheng Central Hospital affiliated to Shanxi Medical University from October 2017 to March 2022. Based on the serum ferritin (SF) level, the newly diagnosed MDS patients were divided into two groups: iron overload (IOL) group (SF > 1000 ng/mL) and non-iron overload (NIOL) group(SF ≤ 1000 ng/mL). General clinical data, peripheral blood cells, lymphocyte subsets and marrow karyotypes were compared. We found that MDS patients with IOL had lower hemoglobin (Hb), lower reticulocyte (RET) counts, and lower absolute natural killer (NK) cell counts compared with NIOL group (p < 0.05). The correlation analysis also showed a negative correlation between the NK cell counts and SF level (r = −0.270, P = 0.026). Furthermore, we found IOL group had higher incidence of complex and poor karyotypes. In conclusion, we found that IOL is correlated with anemia in MDS patients, which may lead to a decrease in T lymphocyte cells, especially in NK cells, that play a role in the immune pathogenesis of MDS, thereby suppressing immune surveillance function. Additionally, IOL may contribute to the pathogenesis of MDS by affecting karyotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sagina maxima is an annual herb distributed in East Asia and North America. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the chloroplast genome (cp.) of S. maxima. The complete cp. genome of S. maxima is 151,507 bp long and comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,669 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,220 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (25,309 bp) with 36.6% GC content. A unique set of 112 genes were identified which includes 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA and 4 rRNA. Total 18 genes were duplicated within the IR regions and 16 genes have one intron and only clpP gene with two introns. LSC/IR junction located in the rps19 while SSC/IR junction located in ycf1. The average number of codon usage is 26,080 for all protein-coding genes in the cp. genome. There were 26 long repeats and 40 simple sequence repeats in the cp. genome, which were mostly, located in intergenic spacer (IGS) regions. This study provides the first brief characterization report of the cp. genome from the genus Sagina, which will be useful in future investigations into the genetic resources, species identification, and phylogeny of Sagina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local practices in West Africa, including in Benin, critically affect fruit production of some key wild plant species. This study aims to assess how land use types, dbh, tree height, and fire, affect the fruit production of Strychnos innocua and Strychnos spinosa (Loganiaceae) and the extent of the phenological variability across various bioclimatic zones in Benin. 320 trees were randomly selected for each species across four land use types and two bioclimatic zones in Benin to assess fruit production. The mean number of fruits produced per tree varied between 43.3 and 81.2 in the Sudanian zone and 12.7 and 20.8 in the Sudano-Guinean zone for S. innocua and S. spinosa, respectively. The bioclimatic zone significantly affected (p < 0.001) the number of fruits produced by individuals of both species. A strong relationship was also found between fruit production and dendrometric characteristics, land use types, and human disturbance (p < 0.001). The study concluded that sites of both species in the Sudanian zone are more suitable for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine meadow patchiness is the starting point and an important feature of the formation of 'Black Beach' on the Tibetan Plateau, which directly threatens regional ecological security and economic development. Therefore, exploring an efficient, rapid and accurate method for identifying bald patches in degraded alpine meadows is of great significance for the dynamic monitoring and rational utilization in the grassland region. In this study, high-resolution remote sensing image data of degraded alpine meadows was obtained using a low-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-mounted imager. Afterwards, a standardized dataset was constructed through data screening and normalization, combined with expert experience to manually annotate the bald patches in the images. Then, based on deep learning techniques, four classical network frameworks, Hrnet, Deeplabv3+, PSPnet and Unet, were built and paired with different backbone networks for model training respectively. The final results showed that Hrnet had the best recognition results, with the highest mean values of 68.27%, 75.90%, 78.22% and 99.22% for the Mean Intersection over Union, Mean Pixel Accuracy, Recall and Accuracy, respectively. In summary, the results showed that it is effective to combine low-altitude UAV remote sensing platform with deep learning technology. This study provides a new method for the identification of alpine meadow bald patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a major risk factor contributing to diabetes-related morbidity and mortality, manifests as a pathophysiologic condition in humans independently of coronary artery disease or hypertension. Several transcription factors intricately participate in the initiation and progression of associated processes. Among these, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a pleiotropic transcription factor, assumes a crucial role in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, endothelial dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in DCM. However, the precise role of NF-κB in DCM remains a subject of ongoing investigation. This article provides a comprehensive review of NF-κB's involvement in several processes associated with DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, ferroptosis has been identified as a novel type of regulated cell death. As a cell death process, it differs from other processes like necrosis and apoptosis in the expression of morphology, biochemistry, and genetics. Ferroptosis provides a new view of programmed cell death. It is initiated by the oxidation of lipids, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and iron buildup within cells, leading to their demise. The identification of these biochemical events triggering ferroptosis has expanded understanding of controlled cellular suicide. A significant role of ferroptosis in osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported in recent studies. Both OA and ferroptosis exhibit anomalies in metabolism of iron, oxidation of lipids, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Nonetheless, our understanding of the specific genes involved in regulating ferroptosis in the context of OA is currently limited. Expanding our knowledge in this area could have profound implications for effectively managing and treating OA. This review offers an in-depth exploration of the molecular processes associated with ferroptosis. Furthermore, we discuss the roles of ferrioptosis in different aspects of osteoarthritis, encompassing the degradation of cartilage, synovitis, dysfunction of chondrocytes, and the manifestation of OA-related pain. We highlight the potential of targeting ferroptosis for OA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To examine the reliability, sensitivity, and specificity of fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs; markers of global oxidative damage) for measuring global oxidative stress. Methods: To improve FlOP measurement reliability, we mixed plasma samples with the extractant at eight ratios and measured FlOPs with a fluorescent microplate reader (excitation/emission wavelengths 320/420 nm denoted FlOP_320; 360/420 nm [FlOP_360]; and 400/475 nm [FlOP_400]). In a human study, we examined the reliability of an improved FlOP measurement. In an animal study, we examined the sensitivity and specificity of FlOPs for measuring D-galactose induced global oxidative stress. Results: At a 1:20 (plasma/extractant) mixture ratio, the overall inter-/intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV) for FlOP measurements among healthy and coronary heart disease participants were <3.6%/<2.7% and <4.4%/<2.0%, respectively. On day 30 of the animal experiment, the Pearson correlations (r) of FlOP_320 and FlOP_360 with D-galactose dose were 0.816 and 0.801, respectively, which were 3-12 times higher than those of malondialdehyde (0.183), 8-hydroxyguanosine (0.157), pentosidine (0.254), and nitrotyrosine (0.068) for measuring D-galactose-induced oxidative damage. FlOP_360 (r = 0.225, P = 0.045), but not FlOP_320 and FlOP_400, were significantly correlated with c-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation. Conclusions: FlOP_320 are reliable, sensitive and specific markers for measuring global oxidative stress. Key policy highlights: Fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs) are a reliable marker of oxidative stress FlOPs at 320/420 nm are more sensitive than traditional markers FlOP at 320/420 nm did not reflect inflammation as quantified by c-reactive protein [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of color vision deficiency (CVD) and create awareness about the burden of CVD among drivers. Methodology: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 3486 participants (men, n = 2789) who applied for/renewed their drivers' licenses in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). All drivers had their visual acuity (VA) and color vision measured using standard procedures and the data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of CVD was 3.13% (95% CI: 2.59–3.75). No participants had visual impairment (best-corrected distance VA worse than 6/18) and no female driver had CVD. The prevalence of CVD among the male drivers was 3.91% (95% CI: 3.25–4.69), and more among the younger drivers (18–29 years). Conclusion: Although the prevalence of CVD was low, to ensure inclusivity and the safety of all road users in the UAE, it is recommended that traffic lights and road signs that mainly use connotative color coding be adapted to include denotative clues which can be interpreted by drivers with CVD. A prospective study in all approved eye testing centers for drivers should be conducted to obtain representative CVD data of drivers in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) has a significant impact on the health and development of plants. Depending on the wavelength, UV is divided into three regions according to their wavelengths: UVC (less than 280 nm), UVB (280-315 nm), and UVA (315-400 nm). Although high UV levels have been shown to harm plant growth, low doses of UV stimulate the synthesis and buildup of healthy compounds that absorb UV, and it has positive effects on the nutritional value and productivity of various fruits, ornamental crops, and vegetables. However, there is little recent data on the use of UV radiation to improve the quality of agricultural production. This review discusses various UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation applications for pre- and post-harvest agricultural production improvement. Both UVA and UVB boost plant resilience to environmental pressures by increasing their antioxidant power through the manufacturing of secondary metabolites like flavonoids and phenolics. UVC radiation has strong germicidal qualities that improve the quality of fruits and the shelf life of fresh foods, which is something that consumers who prefer healthy, organic food urgently need right now. This review offers essential knowledge and methods for using UV radiation as a safe tool to increase global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of use of mineral fertilizers (MF) have brought about environmental pollution and soil problems, like soil degradation and acidification. The partial substitution of MF with organic fertilizer is considered eco-friendly and more efficient in improving soil fertility. In our study, the effects of MF alone and the combination of MF and organic fertilizers (MOF) on soil phosphorus (P) availability in infertile soil with P deficiency were studied with the initial soil without any addition as the control. The addition of MF and MOF increased the soil labile P (resin-P and NaHCO3-Pi) by 101.8% and 320.1%, respectively, compared to the control after 180 days of treatment. Resin-P was the predominant P fraction in MOF, accounting for 28.0% of the total P. The proportions of residual-P in MOF were 5.6% and 8.3% lower than those in MF and control, respectively. The P activation coefficient in MOF was the highest (15.0%), and was the main contributor to soil P fractions based on redundancy analysis. Our results suggest that the combined application of organic and mineral fertilizers is more efficient in improving soil P availability than mineral fertilizer alone. We highlight the joint application was beneficial to improve soil P activation coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It is characterized by a high incidence, high mortality rate, and poor prognosis. With the increasing consumption of antibiotics and the growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, clinicians are in greater need of easily accessible and effective inflammatory markers to monitor the infection process, guide treatment, and assess patient prognosis. Numerous biomarkers have been studied for their potential value in the diagnosis of sepsis, and more than 250 different biomarkers have been proposed. However, many of these biomarkers are more useful for prognostic evaluation than for diagnosis. Biomarkers such as procalcitonin and C-reactive protein have been extensively studied, with procalcitonin being the only sepsis biomarker included in clinical guidelines. It can be used to guide antibiotic use but should not be used as a standalone diagnostic indicator. C-reactive protein has poor sensitivity and specificity for sepsis diagnosis. In recent years, new biomarkers, such as neutrophil extracellular traps, interleukin-6, histones, cell-free DNA and composite indicators, such as the systemic immune inflammation index,have been identified. This article provides a comprehensive review of the diagnostic value of traditional and recently popular novel biomarkers for sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ameloblastoma is a benign but locally invasive tumour. Early diagnosis of ameloblastoma and formulating an appropriate treatment plan play a crucial role in reducing the postoperative recurrence rate. The imaging features of ameloblastoma are similar to those of other odontogenic diseases; thus, the diagnosis of ameloblastoma remains challenging. This review summarises the diagnostic techniques used for the detection of ameloblastoma and the methods for differentiating it from other benign odontogenic tumours to aid in the clinical diagnosis. A comprehensive review was conducted by searching the database of PubMed for studies published up to May 2023. Panoramic radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging have been used to detect ameloblastoma, whereas fine-needle aspiration cytology and biopsies have been used to enhance diagnostic precision and clinical diagnosis. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and FDG positron emission tomography(PET) have been used to detect metastasis of ameloblastoma to determine the prognosis of the disease. Laboratory tests are more suitable for detecting genetic alterations and identifying certain markers. Different diagnostic techniques aid in differentiating ameloblastoma from other odontogenic diseases. Combining these techniques may increase the diagnostic accuracy in patients with suspected ameloblastoma. Key policy highlights: This review summarises the methods for diagnosing ameloblastoma. This is the first comprehensive review of the procedures used for diagnosing ameloblastoma. The benefits and limitations of several diagnostic techniques were examined in this review. Cone-beam computed tomography is the most appropriate radiological technique for the detection of ameloblastoma. 18F-FDG PET/CT showed high diagnostic accuracy in identifying metastatic/recurrent lesions postoperatively. The detection of cytokines and gelatinase in the cyst fluid further aids in the diagnosis. The techniques discussed in this article aid in the diagnosis of various types of ameloblastoma, which will increase diagnostic precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global upsurge in antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) is putting immense pressure on healthcare. The spreading of antimicrobial resistance is facilitated by mobile genetic elements, most especially plasmids. The widespread use of antibiotics in clinical and veterinary environments creates selective pressure that drives the evolution of ARB. Plasmids contribute to the propagation of AR in different types of clinical infections. The role plasmids play in this evolution necessitates their utilization in molecular surveillance to detect the emergence of ARB and track the spread of AR plasmids. Recent technologies like replicon typing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) have become the gold standard for molecular epidemiology of plasmids for the detection and control of epidemics in clinical settings. Unfortunately, access to such technologies is limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The major aim of this review is to examine the specific contributions of plasmids to the upsurge of AR in clinical settings and elucidate the various replicon types that have been attributed to specific antibiotic-resistant infections in healthcare settings. Healthcare in LMICs should be supported to build capacity in WGS and molecular surveillance to effectively prevent and control AR bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body harbors an extremely complex and dynamic microbial community (10-100 trillion) of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes. The human microbiota plays a crucial role in the environment and human health under normal circumstances; nonetheless, dysfunction of the human microbiome has been associated with illnesses ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to multidrug-resistant infections. Culture-dependent human microbial exploration approaches are inadequate for discovering the diversity, abundance, and full genetic and metabolic potential of the whole microbial ecosystem. Hence, metagenomics analysis is a powerful advanced technology for comprehensively studying human microbial composition and diversity, exploring novel and antibiotic resistance genes, microbial metabolic pathways, functional dysbiosis, and co-evolution of the microbiome with the host. Therefore, owing to the increase in human microbiome sequencing projects in healthy and diseased people worldwide, it is feasible to explore the human microbiome using a metagenomics approach. Thus, this review focuses on the advancement of metagenomics for exploring the human microbiome, human microbiome metagenomics data processing, and analysis strategies. Currently used bioinformatics tools and their approaches are also discussed in the context of human microbial metagenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting an appropriate plant is a key factor for the phytoextraction of heavy metals from contaminated soils. The possibility of using two halophytes for the remediation of cadmium (Cd) from contaminated soils was investigated. Consequently, an experiment with Chenopodium album L. and Chenopodium botrys L. including Cd treatments of 0, 5,10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm was conducted. Designated analyses including fresh weight, dry weight, and Cd concentrations in shoots and roots were performed. Results indicated that for both plants, a logarithmic model performed best to demonstrate the relationship between total soil Cd with shoot Cd and dry matter. Although both halophytes had considerable capability to remediate Cd from soils, C. botrys demonstrated greater potential to accumulate Cd in shoots. The range of bioconcentration factor (BCF) in C. botrys was obtained to be 0.8 to 8.8 and in C. album was 0.4 to 1.73. For C album, BCF in most treatments was lower than 1.0, but for C. botrys, it was mostly larger than 1.0. Although both plants can be used as hyperaccumulators to remediate Cd-polluted soils, the clean-up time of C. album under higher Cd concentrations was shorter than C. botrys L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death globally. The primary pathological mechanism in myocardial infarction and heart failure is irreversible cardiomyocyte loss. The conventional knowledge is that mammals have a transient cardiac regenerative potential shortly after birth, but adult cardiomyocytes, as terminally differentiated cells, cannot regenerate. In contrast, some lower vertebrates, such as zebrafish, regenerate cardiac muscle throughout their lifetime. Zebrafish are extremely sensitive to cardiac injury and, within a short period, stimulate the proliferation of cardiomyocytes in numbers that fully regenerate to pre-injury levels; meanwhile, the initial scarring is gradually absorbed until there is little or no visible sign of fibrosis in the regenerating myocardium. The newborn mouse heart has the same remarkable regenerative potential before birth as one week after cardiac injury. The complex process of regeneration restores tissue structure through a series of cascade events, a coordinated process of cell proliferation, differentiation and dedifferentiation, and rearrangement of tissue morphogenesis. Understanding the ontogeny and development of cardiac regeneration and the molecular mechanisms of cardiac regeneration in zebrafish and mice is the cornerstone of regenerative biology and provides clues to investigate the cardiac repair process in adult mammals, resulting in extensive scarring rather than cardiomyocyte regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world, with increasing morbidity and mortality. The current diagnosis and treatment plan rely on early detection and comprehensive treatment based on surgery. Still, most patients are in the middle and advanced stage at the time of diagnosis, and the therapeutic effect is very limited. Immunotherapy is a new cancer treatment method. The most commonly used are immune checkpoint inhibitors, specifically anti PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. However, immunotherapy has limitations, with its therapeutic effect closely related to the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. In recent years, the effect of arginine metabolism disorder on the occurrence and development of cancer and tumor immune regulation has attracted wide attention. Studies have confirmed that cancer cells cannot survive without arginine and arginine metabolites. In addition, arginine is essential for the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. High arginine levels can promote the anti-tumor immune response, thus increasing the effect of tumor immunotherapy. In this paper, the molecular mechanisms of arginine metabolism in the development and immune regulation of CRC are reviewed, with the authors hoping to provide potential evidence for the development of immunotherapy for CRC. Abbreviation CRC = Colorectal cancer, dMMR = Mismatch repair deficient, MSI-H = Microsatellite highly Instability, MSS = Microsatellite stability, TME = Tumor microenvironment, MHC = Major histocompatibility complex, pMMR = Mismatch repair proficient, NOS = Nitric Oxide synthase, NO = Nitric oxide, ASS-1 = Arginine succinate synthetase 1, ASL = Argininosuccinate lyase, ARG = arginase, CAT = Cationic amino acid transporter, AGAT = Arginine-glycine amidinotransferase, ADC = Arginine decarboxylase, ADI = Arginine deiminase, ODC = Ornithine decarboxylase, GCN2 = General control non-depressible 2, mTOR = Mammalian target of rapamycin, HIF-1 = Hypoxia-inducible factor 1, VEGF = Vascular endothelial growth factor, ICI = Immune checkpoint inhibitor, ORR = Objective response rate, DCR = Disease control rate, OS = Overall survival, PFS = Progress free survival, TIL = Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, TCM = Central memory T cell

The repellency of solvent extracts of Calpurnia aurea leaves was evaluated on the maize weevils and the red flour beetles. Nine-cm Whatman number 1 filter paper that is partitioned into treatment, neutral and non-treatment portions was used for the experiment. Each solvent extract treatment was applied at 2.5, 5 and 10% rates. Insects were released in the neutral portion, while the untreated part served as a control. A choice bioassay experimental method that is laid down in a completely randomized design within three replications was used. 5 and 10% rates of the polar solvent extracts of Calpurnia aurea leaves induced significantly (p

The paper reviews a range of global aquaculture health and safety literature to inform and contribute to the development of a socio-economic profile of Indian shrimp farm workers including the occupational hazards and injuries they face. In addition, 60 shrimp farm workers were interviewed from each of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that all shrimp farm workers were male, 58% were migrants, and ages ranged from 23 to 53 years with work experience of 5 to 24 years. Few workers (14%) had no formal schooling and many had secondary-level education. Reported physical hazards were high (93%) followed by biological (82%), chemical (77%), ergonomic (71%) and psycho-social (71%) hazards. The majority of physical injuries reported related to slips, falls and cuts (51%), electric shocks (44%), sunburn (41%), dehydration/headaches (40%) and fractures (27%). Approximately 30%–39% had some chemical injury with skin infections/breathing problems. Indian shrimp farm workers face similar occupational hazards and injuries to shrimp farm workers in other countries. The occupational health and safety of shrimp farm workers should be integrated into the concept of ‘One Health’ to ensure aquaculture sustainability and safe, meaningful and good quality employment to workers.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting over 250 million people worldwide. The disease is the second most prevalent neglected tropical disease after malaria. Treatment of schistosomiasis relies on the administration of praziquantel (also known as biltricide). Reliance on a single drug poses a threat to the public health system as the parasite may become resistant as shown by some laboratory findings. The possibility of the resistance rising to clinically significant levels has motivated the scientific community to search for new drug nominees. For a long time, natural products have always been a foundation for the identification of drug leads in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper reviews the progress made in the discovery of natural anti-schistosomal agents in the field of drug discovery. We focus mainly on natural products that have been tested on the schistosome parasite and exhibited potency. We also highlight applications of advanced techniques in drug discovery, with a major focus on computer-aided drug discovery methods. Specifically, we discuss structure-based drug discovery and ligand-based drug design approaches, with an emphasis on virtual screening.

Antibiotic resistance has become an increasingly common problem in treating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic micro-organisms, and this threat is heightened due to the lack of new antibiotic discoveries since the 1980s. This paper aims to summarise the currently available knowledge on the antimicrobial properties of cholesterol esters and to evaluate the use of cholesterol esters as an alternative to antibiotics. A systematic literature search was conducted in three databases namely Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science to retrieve articles published between 2000 and 2020 where cholesterol esters were the primary or one of the primary examined molecules as part of research targeting immunity and antimicrobial operations. The findings showed antibacterial properties of cholesterol esters, their synergistic activity with antibiotics, antimicrobial role of cholesterol esters in upper respiratory tract and its diseases in humans, and correlation of cholesterol esters with infection protection in physically active individuals. Overall, there is strong evidence that cholesterol esters have antimicrobial properties. However, the currently pooled information available for cholesterol esters’ antimicrobial properties is not expansive enough to draw a conclusion on its ability to replace existing antibiotics as a treatment for infections and this warrants future investigation.

Detection of mood changes can be useful for the efficacy of drug treatment of psychiatric disorders in major depression. This paper presents an approach for detecting major time points of mood transitions under the influence of antidepressants. These time points, which are indicated by critical fluctuations in time series, can be discovered using change point detection and time-frequency analysis of fuzzy recurrence entropy of mood data. The mood transitions identified by the fuzzy recurrence entropy agree with results that were clinically validated and reported in literature. The proposed approach can detect early mood transitions in a fully objective way that does not require the manual analysis of fluctuations in the signal dynamics.

Evidence is growing that human exposures to pesticides are contributing in a myriad of complex ways to chronic disease. Regulatory and public health agencies have struggled for years with the definition of acceptable exposure thresholds. At the same time, scientists are trying to design studies so that a chemical is delivered at 'environmentally relevant levels.' The aim of this review is to: (1) explain the many factors that must be taken into account in determining environmentally relevant levels or doses; (2) improve the ability to properly translate results from laboratory studies into human-health risk assessment; (3) enhance opportunities to compare results across studies using different experimental designs, organisms and routes of exposure. We found that confusion over the relationship between concentrations, dosing levels, regulatory thresholds and 'safe' exposure levels is common. We provide recommendations to scientists and authors, peer reviewers and journal editors in the hope of advancing understanding of how to design, carry out, interpret and explain the real-world significance of both old and new lines of scientific inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectropis dentilineata Moore, 1868 has a wide geographic distribution while its genome data are largely unknown. In this study, we collected samples of E. dentilineata from a tea plantation in Guizhou province, China. Illumina sequencing showed that the mitochondrial genome of E. dentilineata is 15,356 bp in length, containing the entire set of 37 mitochondrial genes. Several tRNAs show gene arrangements compared with the ancestral gene order, mainly involving the tRNA cluster (M-I-Q). These data will facilitate a deeper understanding and exploitation of E. dentilineata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue-crowned laughingthrush Pterorhinus courtoisi (Ménégaux, 1923) is listed as a critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. This species occupies an extremely small known breeding range in China. In this study, we obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of the blue-crowned laughingthrush by using Illumina NovaSeq sequencing. The total length of the genome is 17,875 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 2 control regions, with a slight A-T preference (52.84%) in base composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biting midge, Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), can cause severe allergic reactions. It can pass through typical mosquito netting, so repellents are an important control measure against it. This project sought to identify spatial repellents from plants traditionally used by Taiwanese Aboriginal peoples as insect repellents. Fresh plant leaves were collected, frozen, and powdered, and essential oils extracted using hexane then ethyl acetate as solvents. Some commercial oils were also used. The extracts were tested against lab-reared F. taiwana using a Y-tube olfactometer. The composition of the extracts was identified using gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). Commercial citronella, lavender, and Formosan cypress oils were effective repellents, as were lab-made capillary wormwood and camphor oils. Knockdown was detected in commercial clove leaf, rosemary, common wormwood, and cajuput oils. The oil composition data is the first for many of the Taiwanese plants, many of which contained repellent compounds like caryophyllene, α-pinene, and germacrene D. The results agreed with previous studies on the effects of some plants but differed on others, possibly due differences in plant chemotype, extraction method, and oil concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]