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Stimuli-responsive drug delivery has attracted tremendous attention in the past decades. It provides a spatial- and temporal-controlled release in response to different triggers, thus enabling highly efficient drug delivery and minimizing drug side effects. Graphene-based nanomaterials have been broadly explored, and they show great potential in smart drug delivery due to their stimuli-responsive behavior and high loading capacity for an extended range of drug molecules. These characteristics are a result of high surface area, mechanical stability and chemical stability, and excellent optical, electrical, and thermal properties. Their great and infinite functionalization potential also allows them to be integrated into several types of polymers, macromolecules, or other nanoparticles, leading to the fabrication of novel nanocarriers with enhanced biocompatibility and trigger-sensitive properties. Thus, numerous studies have been dedicated to graphene modification and functionalization. In the current review, we introduce graphene derivatives and different graphene-based nanomaterials utilized in drug delivery and discuss the most important advances in their functionalization and modification. Also, their potential and progress in an intelligent drug release in response to different types of stimuli either endogenous (pH, redox conditions, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)) or exogenous (temperature, near-infrared (NIR) radiation, and electric field) will be debated.

Humans have the subjective impression of a rich perceptual experience, but this perception is riddled with errors that might be produced by top-down expectancies or failures in feature integration. The role of attention in feature integration is still unclear. Some studies support the importance of attention in feature integration, whereas others suggest that feature integration does not require attention. Understanding attention as a heterogeneous system, in this study, we explored the role of divided (as opposed to focused—Experiment 1) attention, and endogenous–exogenous spatial orienting (Experiments 2 and 3) in feature integration. We also explored the role of feature expectancy, by presenting stimulus features that were completely unexpected to the participants. Results demonstrated that both endogenous and exogenous orienting improved feature integration whereas divided attention did not. Moreover, a strong and consistent feature expectancy effect was observed, demonstrating perceptual completion when an unexpected perceptual feature was presented in the scene. These results support the feature confirmation account, which proposes that attention is important for top-down matching of stable representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysfunction is a ubiquitous underlying feature of many neurological conditions including acute traumatic brain injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions. A central problem in neurological patients, in particular those with traumatic brain injuries, is an impairment in the utilization of glucose, which is the predominant metabolic substrate in a normally functioning brain. In such patients, alternative substrates including ketone bodies and lactate become important metabolic candidates for maintaining brain function. While the potential neuroprotective benefits of ketosis have been recognized for up to almost a century, the majority of work has focused on the use of ketogenic diets to induce such a state, which is inappropriate in cases of acute disease due to the prolonged periods of time (i.e., weeks to months) required for the effects of a ketogenic diet to be seen. The following review seeks to explore the neuroprotective effects of exogenous ketone and lactate preparations, which have more recently become commercially available and are able to induce a deep ketogenic response in a fraction of the time. The rapid response of exogenous preparations makes their use as a therapeutic adjunct more feasible from a clinical perspective in both acute and chronic neurological conditions. Potentially, their ability to globally moderate longterm, occult brain dysfunction may also be relevant in reducing lifetime risks of certain neurodegenerative conditions. In particular, this review explores the association between traumatic brain injury and contusion-related dementia, assessing metabolic parallels and highlighting the potential role of exogenous ketone and lactate therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exogenous intoxication occurs due to the interaction with some chemical substances that lead to the appearance of varied signs and symptoms, from topical exanthema to severe systemic complications, hemorrhages, shock, coma and death. Therefore, it is important to report cases to epidemiological surveillance for the implementation of practices and actions that lead to their prevention. Thus, the objective was to analyze the compulsory notifications for exogenous intoxication in the Brazilian Northeast from 2014 to 2017. Methods: For that, a descriptive, retrospective and quantitative study were developed from cases reported in the National System of Diseases and Notifications (SINAN) in the Northeast region of Brazil. Results: A total of 101,845 cases of exogenous intoxication were reported, with a greater predominance among: women (52.74%); brown race/colour (61.42%) and age group from 20 to 39 years (37.88%). The drug was the main cause of intoxication with 35,646 cases (34.99%). The suicide attempt stood out in the circumstances studied (24.54%). The acute clinical criterion was the most relevant with 54,836 cases and the most observed clinical course was cure without sequelae (65.61%). There were no records for the following variables: Ethnicity (27.90%); Education (20.33%); Toxic agent (19.10%); Clinical course (30.10%) and Circumstance (23.84%). Conclusion: Thus, it was possible to verify that an exogenous intoxication is an investigation event of extreme relevance to public health. This fact suggests the need for preventive actions and health education for the population of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) is a globally important legume crop with high nutritional and ecological value. Drought poses a serious threat to alfalfa acreage and yields. Spermine (Spm) has been shown to protect plants from drought damage. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of exogenous Spm to improve drought resistance of alfalfa., Methods: In this study, we root applied 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM Spm to Gannong No. 3 (G3) alfalfa under drought stress, and then determined their physiological and metabolic changes., Results: The results showed that exogenous Spm increased chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and gas exchange parameters, enhanced antioxidant enzymes activity, improved ascorbic acid-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle, increased osmoregulatory substances content, reduced hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion levels, and inhibited malondialdehyde accumulation in alfalfa under drought stress, thereby increasing plant height and leaf relative water content and enhancing drought tolerance of alfalfa. The redundancy analysis of the above physiological indicators showed that the addition of the optimal Spm to improve drought tolerance of alfalfa under drought stress was mainly achieved by increasing catalase activity and improving the ASA-GSH cycle. In addition, metabolomics analysis revealed that exogenous Spm increased the content of oxobutanedioic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid and malic acid to enhance the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Meanwhile, exogenous Spm increased endogenous Spm and proline (Pro) content to resist drought stress by enhancing Spm and Pro metabolism. Moreover, exogenous Spm increased the accumulation of the signaling substance abscisic acid., Discussion: In conclusion, exogenous Spm enhanced drought resistance of alfalfa leaves under drought stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Kang, Shi and Liu.)

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant present in fish seminal plasma. This study aimed to understand melatonin's endogenous and exogenous effects on first-generation Senegalese sole sperm quality for sperm management applications. In the first experiment, samples were collected at mid-light (ML) and mid-dark (MD) daytimes, to evaluate the effects on sperm motility. In a second experiment, using confocal microscopy and melatonin-FITC, spermatozoa permeability to melatonin was evaluated and, after showing that it enters the nucleus and mitochondria by passive diffusion, exogenous melatonin toxicity and antioxidant potential during a cryopreservation assay were performed. The toxicity assay tested different melatonin concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mM) and exposure times (3, 5, 15 and 30 min), and sperm motility parameters were measured (TM, PM, VCL, VSL, LIN) using CASA system. The best conditions (0.1 and 10 mM) were selected for the cryopreservation assay, and a set of post-thaw sperm quality analyses were performed (motility, viability, reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and DNA fragmentation). The motility analyzed at ML and MD showed significant differences in all parameters, mainly on velocities (VCL, VSL, VAP), that were significantly higher at MD. Supplemented melatonin did not influence spermatozoa motility, MDA content or DNA fragmentation, although a lower percentage of viable cells was obtained on the 10 mM treatment. Altogether, Senegalese sole spermatozoa motility was enhanced at night, putatively by endogenous melatonin through direct or indirect mechanisms, whereas supplemented melatonin did not confer extra protection during cryopreservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have nothing to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Inhospitable conditions that hinder plant growth and development encompass a range of abiotic stresses, such as drought, extreme temperatures (both low and high), salinity, exposure to heavy metals, and irradiation. The cumulative impact of these stresses leads to a considerable reduction in agricultural productivity worldwide. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a shared mechanism of toxicity induced by all these abiotic stimuli in plants, resulting in oxidative damage and membrane instability. Extensive research has shed light on the dual role of melatonin in plants, where it serves as both a growth regulator, fostering growth and development, and a potent protector against abiotic stresses. The inherent potential of melatonin to function as a natural antioxidant positions it as a promising biostimulant for agricultural use, bolstering plants’ abilities to withstand a wide array of environmental challenges. Beyond its antioxidant properties, melatonin has demonstrated its capacity to regulate the expression of genes associated with the photosynthetic process. This additional characteristic enhances its appeal as a versatile chemical agent that can be exogenously applied to plants, particularly in adverse conditions, to improve their resilience and optimize photosynthetic efficiency in every phase of the plant life cycle. An examination of the molecular mechanisms underlying the stress-protective effects of exogenous melatonin on the photosynthetic machinery of plants under various abiotic stresses is presented in this paper. In addition, future prospects are discussed for developing stress-tolerant crops for sustainable agriculture in challenging environments.

Adipogenesis is important in the development of fat deposition. Evidence showed that plant microRNAs (miRNAs) could be absorbed by the digestive tract and exert regulatory effects on animals' physiological processes. However, the regulation of plant miRNA on host lipogenesis remains unknown. This study explored the potential function of plant miRNA, miR167e-5p, in adipogenesis in vitro. The presentation of plant miR167e-5p improved lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR167e-5p targeted β-catenin. MiR167e-5p could not only negatively affect the expression of β-catenin but also showed a positive effect on several fat synthesis–related genes, peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma (Pparγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (Cebpα), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Ap2), lipolysis genes, adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl), and hormone-sensitive lipase (Hsl) messenger RNA levels. Meanwhile, lipid accumulation and the expression of the β-catenin and other five fat synthesis–related genes were recovered to their original pattern by adding the miR167e-5p inhibitor in 3T3-L1 cells. The immunoblot confirmed the same expression pattern in protein levels in β-catenin, PPAR-γ, FAS, and HSL. This research demonstrates that plant miR167e-5p can potentially affect adipogenesis through the regulation of β-catenin, suggesting that plant miRNAs could be a new class of bioactive ingredients in adipogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced replication of rubella virus (RuV) and replicons by de novo synthesized viral structural proteins has been previously described. Such enhancement can occur by viral capsid proteins (CP) alone in trans. It is not clear whether the CP in the virus particles, i.e., the exogenous CP, modulate viral genome replication. In this study, we found that exogenous RuV CP also enhanced viral genome replication, either when used to package replicons or when mixed with RNA during transfection. We demonstrated that CP does not affect the translation efficiency from genomic (gRNA) or subgenomic RNA (sgRNA), the intracellular distribution of the non-structural proteins (NSP), or sgRNA synthesis. Significantly active RNA replication was observed in transfections supplemented with recombinant CP (rCP), which was supported by accumulated genomic negative-strand RNA. rCP was found to restore replication of a few mutants in NSP but failed to fully restore replicons known to have defects in the positive-strand RNA synthesis. By monitoring the amount of RuV RNA following transfection, we found that all RuV replicon RNAs were well-retained in the presence of rCP within 24 h of post-transfection, compared to non-RuV RNA. These results suggest that the exogenous RuV CP increases efficiency of early viral genome replication by modulating the stage(s) prior to and/or at the initiation of negative-strand RNA synthesis, possibly through a general mechanism such as protecting viral RNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar feeding of plants can effectively supplement soil fertilization. The effects of foliar application of different levels of casein (CSN: 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg. L−1) and salicylic acid (SA: 0, 75, 150, and 300 µM) were investigated on some vegetative and reproductive growth as well as pigments, phenolic compounds and total antioxidants content indices of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) at greenhouse condition. It was observed that CSN applied to at 50 mg. L−1 resulted in the highest stem and root fresh weights, stem dry weight, and diameter of the main stem. Also, the highest chlorophyll b content was obtained in plants treated with 50 and 100 mg. L−1 CSN. In addition, the application of 100 mg. L−1 CSN resulted in the highest leaf nitrogen and phosphorous content, while the lowest values were recorded in the control. The results show that SA application exerted a significant effect on the plant height, leaf fresh and dry weights, stem fresh and dry weights, and the number of florets. The highest plant height and leaf fresh weight were obtained in plants treated with 150 and 300 µM SA. Furthermore, levels of 75, 150, and 300 µM SA application significantly increased leaf dry weight, and chlorophyll b. As well, applications of 150 µM SA led to higher stem fresh and dry weights than the control. Moreover, the number of florets in the levels of 0 and 150 µM SA were higher than in other treatments. Overall, the results suggested that spays of CSN and SA, which showed better growth characters, could be more appropriate for application in garden cress spraying programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean is characterized by having a good edible and medicinal value, while its flowers and pods have low production. Being a tertiary amine, DCPTA [2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine] substantially regulates the growth and development of crops, maintaining production. Yet it is still limited in terms of the regulation of DCPTA on growth and development, including the yield and sugar metabolism of mung bean. In this study, DCPTA was sprayed at the beginning of mung flowering through a two-season cultivation, to assess its effects on the yield, leaf area per plant, plant height, seed setting rate, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and endogenous protective enzymes. Experimental results illustrated that relative to the control (CK), the DCPTA application significantly (p < 0.05) improved the yield of Bailv 11 mung bean, which rose to 6.9% in 2020 and 7.8% in 2021, respectively. This effect positively corresponded to a significant (p <0.05) increase in the number of pods and grains per plant and pod setting rate, but a non-significant difference in 1,000-grain weight. DCPA application also increased the area and fresh weight of leaf, mung height, and its organ dry weight (i.e., leaf, branch, and stem). During plant growth over DCPTA application, the increased activities of SOD, POD, and CAT improved the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration. In addition, transcriptome sequencing further demonstrated that DCPTA treatment significantly (p < 0.05) up-regulated the sucrose synthase, invertase, and fructose kinase in all organs (i.e., leaves, pod skins, and grains) of the plant. In particular, this effect was much greater in the sucrose synthesis (i.e., sucrose content) in leaves. Our study, therefore, concludes that DCPTA application promotes the yield of mung bean via likely enhancing its photosynthetic capacity and sucrose synthase, fructokinase, and beta-fructofuranosidase expression regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable and environmental friendly energy extraction and utilization is the foremost priority of the energy sector to meet the present and near future energy demands. The need of the day is to have efficient and ecofriendly energy conversion technologies either through the enhancement of the existing technologies or the development of some all-new technology. The present study investigates a standalone open-cycle Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation system using the advanced exergy analysis analytically. The effects of distributing the exergy destruction into endogenous/exogenous and avoidable/unavoidable on the improvement possibilities and the mutual interlinkages among the different units of the MHD system have been studied. The results showed that the MHD system has a higher possibility of its further development due to low unavoidable (36.82%) and high avoidable (63.18%) exergy desolation rates. The interlinkages among various units of the MHD system were found to be reasonably stronger due to the higher rate of exergy destruction of the endogenous type as compared to the exogenous portion. In the present study, the combustion chamber is found to have the highest possibility of upgradation as it possesses the largest value of avoidable exergy destruction rate together with the maximum rate of avoidable endogenous portion of the exergy destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean is characterized by having a good edible and medicinal value, while its flowers and pods have low production. Being a tertiary amine, DCPTA [2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy) triethylamine] substantially regulates the growth and development of crops, maintaining production. Yet it is still limited in terms of the regulation of DCPTA on growth and development, including the yield and sugar metabolism of mung bean. In this study, DCPTA was sprayed at the beginning of mung flowering through a two-season cultivation, to assess its effects on the yield, leaf area per plant, plant height, seed setting rate, photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and endogenous protective enzymes. Experimental results illustrated that relative to the control (CK), the DCPTA application significantly (p < 0.05) improved the yield of Bailv 11 mung bean, which rose to 6.9% in 2020 and 7.8% in 2021, respectively. This effect positively corresponded to a significant (p

Metabolic dysfunction is a ubiquitous underlying feature of many neurological conditions including acute traumatic brain injuries and chronic neurodegenerative conditions. A central problem in neurological patients, in particular those with traumatic brain injuries, is an impairment in the utilization of glucose, which is the predominant metabolic substrate in a normally functioning brain. In such patients, alternative substrates including ketone bodies and lactate become important metabolic candidates for maintaining brain function. While the potential neuroprotective benefits of ketosis have been recognized for up to almost a century, the majority of work has focused on the use of ketogenic diets to induce such a state, which is inappropriate in cases of acute disease due to the prolonged periods of time (i.e., weeks to months) required for the effects of a ketogenic diet to be seen. The following review seeks to explore the neuroprotective effects of exogenous ketone and lactate preparations, which have more recently become commercially available and are able to induce a deep ketogenic response in a fraction of the time. The rapid response of exogenous preparations makes their use as a therapeutic adjunct more feasible from a clinical perspective in both acute and chronic neurological conditions. Potentially, their ability to globally moderate long-term, occult brain dysfunction may also be relevant in reducing lifetime risks of certain neurodegenerative conditions. In particular, this review explores the association between traumatic brain injury and contusion-related dementia, assessing metabolic parallels and highlighting the potential role of exogenous ketone and lactate therapies.

Heat-induced leaf senescence has been associated with stress-induced oxidative damage. The major objective of this study was to determine whether exogenous application of β-carotene may improve heat tolerance in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera cv. Penncross) by suppressing leaf senescence and activating antioxidant metabolism. Plants were subjected to heat stress at 35/30 °C (day/night) or at the optimal temperature of 22/18 °C (day/night), and were treated with either β-carotene (1 mm) or water (untreated control) by foliar spraying every 7 days for 28 days in controlled-environment growth chambers. β-Carotene application suppressed heat-induced leaf senescence, as demonstrated by an increase in turf quality (TQ) and leaf chlorophyll content as well as a reduction in electrolyte leakage (EL). β-Carotene-treated plants had a significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and significantly greater activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) from 14 through 28 days of heat stress, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity from 21 through 28 days of heat stress. These findings suggest that β-carotene may promote heat tolerance by enhancing antioxidant activity to suppress leaf senescence.

Abstract Background Endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening disease characterized by marked progressive inflammation of the vitreous and/or aqueous humors. Limited information is currently available regarding endophthalmitis in the Philippines. This study aimed to provide long-term summary data on endophthalmitis cases seen at the largest tertiary referral hospital in the Philippines. Methods All endophthalmitis cases diagnosed at the Philippine General Hospital from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016 were retrieved and classified by etiology. Data pertaining to history, associated risk factors, isolated microorganisms, management, and final visual outcomes for each patient were reviewed. Results A total of 202 cases diagnosed within the audit period were included in the study. These were classified as post-traumatic (55.94%), endogenous (14.36%), acute post-operative (10.40%), keratitis-induced (6.93%), chronic post-operative (5.44%), bleb-associated (3.96%), and suture-associated (2.97%) endophthalmitis. Males comprised 71.29% of the population, while the largest age group affected was 0–10 years (24.75%). The culture-positive rate was 57.89%. The predominant etiology was Gram-positive bacteria (38.18%), followed by Gram-negative bacteria and mixed pathogens (21.82% each), and fungi (18.18%). The most common organisms were Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, and Candida, accounting for 56.45% of isolates. Pars plana vitrectomy was done for 62.87% of patients, intravitreal and other antibiotic therapy in 23.27%, and primary enucleation/evisceration in 10.89%. The final outcomes and best corrected visual acuities were: anophthalmia 11.86%, no light perception/no dazzle 27.84%, light perception 8.76%, hand motions 24.23%, counting fingers 5.15%, 3/200 to 20/50 12.89%, and 20/40 to 20/20 9.28%. Conclusions There was a higher proportion of post-traumatic endophthalmitis cases compared to traditional estimates but consistent with studies from China and Thailand. The majority of these cases involved younger children as well as young to middle-aged males engaged in carpentry and construction work, implying a need for increased public health awareness and strengthening of childcare and workplace safety policies. Our microbiologic profile showed a lower proportion of Gram-positive infections and a higher proportion of mixed pathogen infections compared to other studies. There was also a higher proportion of fungi associated with post-operative and keratitis-induced endophthalmitis. The best outcomes were seen in acute post-operative and bleb-associated endophthalmitis, and the worst outcomes in endogenous and keratitis-induced endophthalmitis. Visual outcomes were poorer compared to other Western and Asian countries, with only 21.7% of patients improving from presentation.

In this article, I described the results of investigations achieved by two American economists William Nordhaus and Paul Romer. They have been awarded the 2018 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences mainly for the introduction of feedbacks in economic and mathematical modelling. Nordhaus “for integrating climate change into long-run macroeconomic analysis” where quantitative model describes the global interplay between the economy and the climate and integrates theories and empirical results from physics, chemistry and economics. Romer “for integrating technological innovations into the long-run macroeconomic analysis” where he shows how knowledge can function as a driver of long-term economic growth. I considered three blocks in the models of W. Nordhaus and P. Romer and the functions of each of them. Also, I discussed the assumptions that underlie their models. The author notes that climate change models are also being built in Russia, but there are no economic blocks in them, models of long-term economic growth with endogenous scientific and technological progress are formed in Russia also, but representatives of natural Sciences do not participate in them. Experience of the laureates shows that providing models of long-run economic development of the country and the world are necessary. The article also highlights P. Romer work on international Charter cities, the sources of world scientific and technological progress.

This study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition and its sources before and after degradation in the Shili River watershed in Jiujiang (China). Spatio-temporal variation of riverine DOM water samples before and after five days of degradation in a simulated channel was characterized by spectral feature analysis using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis. Across all water samples (#1,#2 and #3) before and after degradation, a total of four fluorescent components in DOM were identified: C1, C2, C3, and C4. The aromaticity index (SUVA254) was negatively correlated with the C2 and C3 components and biological index (BIX) and freshness index (β:α), but it had little correlation with the humification index (HIX). The greater the aromaticity of DOM in water, the lower the proportion of recently produced DOM and its biological activity. The C3 component had a strong positive correlation with BIX, β:α, and C2. The results suggested that C2 and C3 were derived from the same substances. According to the fluorescence parameters, DOM was dominated by autochthonous contributions. The fluorescence intensity of DOM increased gradually along the direction of water flow. The increase of water temperature in spring and autumn enhanced the endogenous level of DOM. The levels and fluctuations of BIX and β:α in different seasons and different sampling points were basically consistent. DOC concentration does not fully represent the localized nature of the DOM. The analysis of some fluorescence parameters and light absorption parameters showed that the DOM source was more internal than terrestrial. This study reveals the composition, source and temporal and spatial characteristics of DOM in the Shili River Basin, which has theoretical guiding significance for water environment management.

Interestingly, comparison of the histopathologic findings of the annular EO lesions in patients with and without systemic sarcoidosis showed only minor differences.5 In patients with systemic sarcoidosis, the zonal pattern on histopathology was less defined. Only 1 patient had skin lesions outside of the area of EO, but it was not reported whether this patient had systemic sarcoidosis or cutaneous lesions only. Keywords: ochronosis; exogenous; exogenous ochronosis; perforating; granulomatous EN ochronosis exogenous exogenous ochronosis perforating granulomatous 1219 1222 4 09/21/21 20211001 NES 211001 Introduction Exogenous ochronosis (EO) is a cutaneous disorder induced by cosmetic application of skin lightening agents, most commonly hydroquinone.1 The pathogenesis is secondary to inhibition of local activity of homogentisic acid oxidase by hydroquinone, leading to accumulation of homogentisic acid that polymerizes to form ochronotic pigment in the skin. AG-like change in EO has been reported in a patient who presented with annular lesions on a background of severe EO.7 Of note, in AG, elastophagocytosis is a prominent feature, which is absent in actinic granuloma-like EO. [Extracted from the article]

Formaldehyde is not only a widely used chemical with well-known carcinogenicity but is also a normal metabolite of living cells. It thus poses unique challenges for understanding risks associated with exposure. N(2-)hydroxymethyl-dG (N(2)-HOMe-dG) is the main formaldehyde-induced DNA mono-adduct, which together with DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) and toxicity-induced cell proliferation, play important roles in a mutagenic mode of action for cancer. In this study, N(2)-HOMe-dG was shown to be an excellent biomarker for direct adduction of formaldehyde to DNA and the hydrolysis of DPCs. The use of inhaled [(13)CD2]-formaldehyde exposures of rats and primates coupled with ultrasensitive nano ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry permitted accurate determinations of endogenous and exogenous formaldehyde DNA damage. The results show that inhaled formaldehyde only reached rat and monkey noses, but not tissues distant to the site of initial contact. The amounts of exogenous adducts were remarkably lower than those of endogenous adducts in exposed nasal epithelium. Moreover, exogenous adducts accumulated in rat nasal epithelium over the 28-days exposure to reach steady-state concentrations, followed by elimination with a half-life (t1/2) of 7.1 days. Additionally, we examined artifact formation during DNA preparation to ensure the accuracy of nonlabeled N(2)-HOMe-dG measurements. These novel findings provide critical new data for understanding major issues identified by the National Research Council Review of the 2010 Environmental Protection Agency's Draft Integrated Risk Information System Formaldehyde Risk Assessment. They support a data-driven need for reflection on whether risks have been overestimated for inhaled formaldehyde, whereas underappreciating endogenous formaldehyde as the primary source of exposure that results in bone marrow toxicity and leukemia in susceptible humans and rodents deficient in DNA repair.

BackgroundFragile X premutation carriers (fXPCs) have an expansion of 55-200 CGG repeats in the FMR1 gene. Male fXPCs are at risk for developing a neurodegenerative motor disorder (fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS)) often accompanied by cognitive decline. Several broad domains are implicated as core systems of dysfunction in fXPCs, including perceptual processing of spatial information, orienting of attention to space, and inhibiting attention to irrelevant distractors. We tested whether orienting of spatial attention is impaired in fXPCs.MethodsParticipants were fXPCs or healthy controls (HCs) asymptomatic for FXTAS. In experiment 1, they were male and female children and adults (aged 7-45 years). They oriented attention in response to volitional (endogenous) and reflexive (exogenous) cues. In experiment 2, the participants were men (aged 18-48 years). They oriented attention in an endogenous cueing task that manipulated the amount of information in the cue.ResultsIn women, fXPCs exhibited slower reaction times than HCs in both the endogenous and exogenous conditions. In men, fXPCs exhibited slower reaction times than HCs in the exogenous condition and in the challenging endogenous cueing task with probabilistic cues. In children, fXPCs did not differ from HCs.ConclusionsBecause adult fXPCs were slower even when controlling for psychomotor speed, results support the interpretation that a core dysfunction in fXPCs is the allocation of spatial attention, while perceptual processing and attention orienting are intact. These findings indicate the importance of considering age and sex when interpreting and generalizing studies of fXPCs.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined by changes in brain function resulting from external forces acting on the brain and is typically characterized by a host of physiological and functional changes such as cognitive deficits including attention problems. In the present study, we focused on the effect of TBI on the ability to allocate attention in vision (i.e., the use of endogenous and exogenous visual cues) by systematically reviewing previous literature on the topic. We conducted quantitative synthesis of 16 selected studies of visual attention following TBI, calculating 80 effect size estimates. The combined effect size was large (g = 0.79, p < 0.0001) with medium heterogeneity (I2 = 68.39%). Subgroup analyses revealed an increase in deficit with moderate-to-severe and severe TBI as compared to mild TBI [F(2, 76) = 24.14, p < 0.0001]. Task type was another key source of variability and subgroup analyses indicated that higher order attention processes were severely affected by TBI [F(2, 77) = 5.66, p = 0.0051). Meta-regression analyses revealed significant improvement in visual attention deficit with time [p(mild) = 0.031, p(moderate-to-severe) = 0.002, p(severe) < 0.0001]. Taken together, these results demonstrate that visual attention is affected by TBI and that regular assessment of visual attention, using a systematic attention allocation task, may provide a useful clinical measure of cognitive impairment and change after TBI.

Blue rot disease caused by Penicillium expansum is one of the most widespread fungal diseases that affects apples worldwide. This work was to verify the effect of chitosan (2 and 4 g/L) and its nano-form (0.2 and 0.4 g/L) against blue rot disease on apples and their effect on the expression of six defense-related genes as well as fruit quality parameters. Regarding disease incidence, in most cases, chitosan NPs performed better as compared to their raw materials for both artificial and natural infections. The highest efficacy was obtained for chitosan NPs at 0.4 g/L for artificial and natural infection in both 2019 and 2020 seasons. All treatments kept fruit quality parameters regarding firmness, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity for artificial and natural infection in both seasons. As expected, the exogenous application of chitosan NPs and bulk form triggered an increase in the expression levels of six defense-related genes including chitinase, peroxidase, b-1,3-glucanase, Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET), pathogenesis-related protein (PR8), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase-1 (PAL1). Moreover, the highest mRNA quantity of all the studied genes was detected in leaves treated with chitosan NPs at both concentrations compared to other treatments. Chitosan NPs can be considered an eco-friendly and effective approach against blue mold of apples and can be integrated into management programs to maintain postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is defined by changes in brain function resulting from external forces acting on the brain and is typically characterized by a host of physiological and functional changes such as cognitive deficits including attention problems. In the present study, we focused on the effect of TBI on the ability to allocate attention in vision (i.e., the use of endogenous and exogenous visual cues) by systematically reviewing previous literature on the topic. We conducted quantitative synthesis of 16 selected studies of visual attention following TBI, calculating 80 effect size estimates. The combined effect size was large (g = 0.79, p < 0.0001) with medium heterogeneity (I2 = 68.39%). Subgroup analyses revealed an increase in deficit with moderate-to-severe and severe TBI as compared to mild TBI [ F (2, 76) = 24.14, p < 0.0001]. Task type was another key source of variability and subgroup analyses indicated that higher order attention processes were severely affected by TBI [ F (2, 77) = 5.66, p = 0.0051). Meta-regression analyses revealed significant improvement in visual attention deficit with time [p(mild) = 0.031, p(moderate-to-severe) = 0.002, p(severe) < 0.0001]. Taken together, these results demonstrate that visual attention is affected by TBI and that regular assessment of visual attention, using a systematic attention allocation task, may provide a useful clinical measure of cognitive impairment and change after TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The concept of attention is critical for understanding human behavior and thought. • Alerting, orienting and executive control are 3 putative brain networks of attention. • The Attention Network Test (ANT) was created (circa 2000) to assess these networks. • Since 2000, the ANT has been widely used and many variants have been developed. • Inspired by the work of M. Posner, the evolution and future of the ANTs is discussed. Attention is a pivotal cognitive function and efforts to understand its properties and operations are fundamental. Building upon the best known taxonomy of attention put forward by Posner and colleagues, the Attention Network Test (ANT) was designed to efficiently provide scores that reflect the efficacy of alerting, orienting and executive control. The ANT has not only been very widely adopted by scholars around the world, it has inspired a wide range of variants, the ANTs, - each with its own purpose. This review will describe the origin of the ANT in the taxonomic contributions of Posner and the evolution of the ANTs with some discussion of the nature and rationale for each major variant described here. We briefly allude to minor modifications of the ANT and present some suggestions related to data reporting and data analysis. We end with some projections about the future use of the original ANT and its notable variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most retroviral endogenization and host adaptation happened in the distant past, with the opportunity to study these processes as they occurred lost to time. An exception exists with the discovery that koala retrovirus (KoRV) has recently begun its endogenization into the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) genome. What makes this opportunity remarkable is the fact that Northern Australian koalas appear to be undergoing endogenization with one KoRV subtype (KoRV‐A), while all subtypes (KoRV‐A‐I) coexist exogenously, and Southern Australian koalas appear to carry all KoRV subtypes as an exogenous virus. To understand the distribution and relationship of all KoRV variants in koalas, the proviral KoRV envelope gene receptor binding domain was assessed across the koala's natural range. Examination of KoRV subtype‐specific proviral copy numbers per cell found that KoRV‐A proviral integration levels were consistent with endogenous incorporation in Northern Australia (southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales) while revealing lower levels of KoRV‐A proviral integration (suggestive of exogenous incorporation) in southern regions (southeast New South Wales and Victoria). Phylogeographical analysis indicated that several major KoRV‐A variants were distributed uniformly across the country, while non‐KoRV‐A variants appeared to have undergone lineage diversification in geographically distinct regions. Further analysis of the major KoRV‐A variants revealed a distinct shift in variant proportions in southeast New South Wales, suggesting this as the geographical region where KoRV‐A transitions from being predominantly endogenous to exogenous in Australian koalas. Collectively, these findings advance both our understanding of KoRV in koalas and of retroviral endogenization and diversification in general. see also the Perspective by Elliott S. Chiu and Roderick B. Gagne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven model searches provide the opportunity to quantify person-specific processes using ambulatory assessment data. Here, the search space typically includes all potential relations among variables, meaning that all variables can potentially explain variability in all other variables. Oftentimes, this is unrealistic. For example, weather is unlikely to be predicted by someone's emotional state, whereas the reverse might be true. Allowing for specification of exogenous variables, or variables that are not predicted within the system, permits more realistic models and allows the researcher to model contextual change processes via the use of moderation variables. We use two sets of daily diary data to demonstrate the capabilities of allowing for the specification of exogenous variables in GIMME (Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation), a model search algorithm that allows for models with idiographic, individual-level as well as subgroup- and group-level processes with intensive longitudinal data. First, using data collected from individuals diagnosed with personality disorders, we show results where weather-related and temporal basis variables are specified as exogenous, and reports on affect and behavior are endogenous. Next, we demonstrate the modeling of treatment effects in an intervention study, looking at data from a 6-week meditation workshop in midlife adults. Finally, we use the meditation intervention data to demonstrate modeling moderation effects, where relationships between two endogenous variables are dependent on the current stage of the study for a given participant (i.e., currently attending meditation classes or not). We end by presenting adaptive LASSO as a method for probing results obtained from GIMME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of rapid digesting sugars by children are under increased scrutiny because of their contribution to unhealthy weight gain. Previous studies in adults and children have suggested that altering the blend of carbohydrates (CHOs) consumed may cause shifts in substrate utilization. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of consuming a slow digesting carbohydrate (SDC) and rapid digesting carbohydrate (RDC) on CHO and fat oxidation, glucose, and insulin responses at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise rest in pre-pubescent children. A randomized, double-blind, crossover design was used. Nineteen pre-pubescent children (n = 10 boys, n = 9 girls, mean ± standard error, age = 9.84 ± 0.37-yrs) participated. Visits to the laboratory began with a 30-min measurement of resting metabolism followed by consumption of either an RDC or SDC drink. Postprandial resting metabolism was recorded for 60-min, immediately followed by 60-min of submaximal cycling exercise while metabolism was recorded, which was immediately followed by another 60-min recording of post-exercise metabolism. Total CHO and fat oxidation, endogenous and exogenous CHO oxidation, blood glucose, and insulin were assessed. Total CHO oxidation rate (g∙min−1) was greater after the RDC drink at 60 min (p = 0.032). Endogenous CHO oxidation rate (g∙min−1) was greater after the SDC drink at 15 min (p ≤ 0.010). Cumulative endogenous CHO oxidation (g) was greater after the SDC drink at 45 min (p = 0.009). Endogenous CHO oxidation accounted for a greater proportion of substrate oxidation after the first 60-min rest period (p = 0.028), while exogenous CHO oxidation accounted for a greater proportion of substrate oxidation for the RDC at all time points (p ≤ 0.019). The present study provides novel data suggesting that an SDC promotes greater endogenous substrate utilization in pre-pubertal children, which may have beneficial health impacts on energy intake and carbohydrate regulation/metabolism during growth and development. NCT03185884, clinicaltrials.gov [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the issue of exogenous arboreal pollen, it is imperative to investigate modern pollen thresholds for tree presence to aid in the reliable reconstruction of past forest distribution. The influence of exogenous pollen is especially prominent on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, with its long elevational gradient and short distance between forest and meadow. Here, we compiled 1186 modern pollen samples from forest ecotones on the eastern Tibetan Plateau (evenly distributed) to investigate the quantitative pollen thresholds indicating tree presence. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) suggests that arboreal and non-arboreal pollen can be reliably separated into different environmental gradients, implying arboreal and non-arboreal pollen could not coexist in large numbers on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Logistic regression identifies the thresholds for selected arboreal and non-arboreal pollen that indicate tree presence (p -values <0.05). For instance, a pollen threshold of 4.1% for Abies , 3.7% for Alnus (3.7%), 11% for Picea , 14.3% for Quercus (including evergreen and deciduous type), 33.7% for Betula , and 22.1% for Pinus indicate tree presence at >0.5 probability, while a threshold of 0.2% Ephedra , 0.2% Nitraria , and 0.7% Caryophyllaceae could accurately indicate tree absence at <0.15 probability. Test cases, based on fossil pollen records going back to 18 cal ka BP from Ximen Co and Lake Naleng on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, confirmed that our estimated thresholds can be used to infer the presence of Abies around Lake Naleng during the Holocene thermal maximum (10–5 cal ka BP). This research will contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between treeline and pollen on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. • 1186 modern pollen data were analysed on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. • Arboreal and non-arboreal pollen can be separated into different environmental gradients. • The threshold indicating tree presence was investigated by arboreal and non-arboreal pollen. • To estimate the tree presence of fossil pollen records by tree thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced replication of rubella virus (RuV) and replicons by de novo synthesized viral structural proteins has been previously described. Such enhancement can occur by viral capsid proteins (CP) alone in trans. It is not clear whether the CP in the virus particles, i.e., the exogenous CP, modulate viral genome replication. In this study, we found that exogenous RuV CP also enhanced viral genome replication, either when used to package replicons or when mixed with RNA during transfection. We demonstrated that CP does not affect the translation efficiency from genomic (gRNA) or subgenomic RNA (sgRNA), the intracellular distribution of the non-structural proteins (NSP), or sgRNA synthesis. Significantly active RNA replication was observed in transfections supplemented with recombinant CP (rCP), which was supported by accumulated genomic negative-strand RNA. rCP was found to restore replication of a few mutants in NSP but failed to fully restore replicons known to have defects in the positive-strand RNA synthesis. By monitoring the amount of RuV RNA following transfection, we found that all RuV replicon RNAs were well-retained in the presence of rCP within 24 h of post-transfection, compared to non-RuV RNA. These results suggest that the exogenous RuV CP increases efficiency of early viral genome replication by modulating the stage(s) prior to and/or at the initiation of negative-strand RNA synthesis, possibly through a general mechanism such as protecting viral RNA.

The purpose of this study was to determine how a slow-absorbing carbohydrate affected markers of metabolism, hemodynamics, and performance in well-trained endurance athletes. We examined total and exogenous carbohydrate oxidation (CHO ox), glucose, and performance after consuming different glucose beverages, before a treadmill run. Ten male runners (32.4 years; V̇O2max, 55.9 ml·kg-1·min-1) participated on 3 occasions: slow digestion CHO (S), fast digestion CHO (F), and water (W). Subjects consumed a 50 g dose of either S or F before a 3-hour treadmill run at 57% V̇O2max. Variables were assessed at 215, 0, 30, 60, 90, 135, and 180 minutes. Immediately postrun, subjects completed a time-to-fatigue test at 110% V̇O2max. There was a significant difference in CHO ox for W vs. F and S (C,1.14; S,1.52; F,1.66 6 0.2 g·min-1, p< 0.05). Fat ox was significantly higher in S vs. F (S,0.54; F,0.47 6 0.08 g·min-1, p< 0.05). Exogenous CHO ox was significantly higher in F vs. S (F,0.26; S,0.19 + 0.04 g·min-1, p< 0.05). There was a significant difference in average blood glucose for trial (F,94.5; S,97.1 vs. W,88.4 + 2.1 mg·dl-1) and time 3 trial for F vs. S (0 minutes, p< 0.05). There were no significant performance differences. Consumption of a single bolus of CHO beverage before a 3-hour run elicits significant alterations in energy metabolism compared with just water, with S CHO oxidizing significantly more fat than a rapidly digested carbohydrate. These findings suggest that slow-digesting modified starch provides a consistent blood glucose level and sustained exogenous energy supply during a sustained, 3-hour endurance run. Significance was set at p< 0.05 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Purpose: This study investigated the effect of carbohydrate supplementation on substrate oxidation during exercise in hypoxia after preexercise breakfast consumption and omission. Methods: Eleven men walked in normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 ~11.7%) for 90 min at 50% of hypoxic V˙O2max. Participants were supplemented with a carbohydrate beverage (1.2 g·min−1 glucose) and a placebo beverage (both enriched with U-13C6 D-glucose) after breakfast consumption and after omission. Indirect calorimetry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry were used to calculate carbohydrate (exogenous and endogenous [muscle and liver]) and fat oxidation. Results: In the first 60 min of exercise, there was no significant change in relative substrate oxidation in the carbohydrate compared with placebo trial after breakfast consumption or omission (both P = 0.99). In the last 30 min of exercise, increased relative carbohydrate oxidation occurred in the carbohydrate compared with placebo trial after breakfast omission (44.0 ± 8.8 vs 28.0 ± 12.3, P < 0.01) but not consumption (51.7 ± 12.3 vs 44.2 ± 10.4, P = 0.38). In the same period, a reduction in relative liver (but not muscle) glucose oxidation was observed in the carbohydrate compared with placebo trials after breakfast consumption (liver, 7.7% ± 1.6% vs 14.8% ± 2.3%, P < 0.01; muscle, 25.4% ± 9.4% vs 29.4% ± 11.1%, P = 0.99) and omission (liver, 3.8% ± 0.8% vs 8.7% ± 2.8%, P < 0.01; muscle, 19.4% ± 7.5% vs 19.2% ± 12.2%, P = 0.99). No significant difference in relative exogenous carbohydrate oxidation was observed between breakfast consumption and omission trials (P = 0.14). Conclusion: In acute normobaric hypoxia, carbohydrate supplementation increased relative carbohydrate oxidation during exercise (>60 min) after breakfast omission, but not consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The koala population in northern Australia has become increasingly fragmented due to natural and human-made barriers and interventions. This situation has created a unique opportunity to study both endogenous and exogenous koala retrovirus (KoRV). To determine the impact that population isolation has had on KoRV diversity in Queensland, 272 koalas from six fragmented koala populations were profiled for their KoRV provirus across two natural biogeographical barriers (the St. Lawrence Gap and the Brisbane Valley Barrier), one humans-made geographical barrier (the city of Brisbane), and two translocation events (the single movement of koalas to an island and the repeated movement of koalas into a koala sanctuary). Analysis revealed that all koalas tested were KoRV-A positive, with 90 to 96% of the detected KoRV provirus from each koala representing a single, likely endogenous, KoRV-A strain. The next most abundant proviral sequence was a defective variant of the dominant KoRV-A strain, accounting for 3 to 10% of detected provirus. The remaining KoRV provirus represented expected exogenous strains of KoRV and included geographically localized patterns of KoRV-B, -C, -D, -F, -G, and -I. These results indicate that lineage diversifi- cation of exogenous KoRV is actively ongoing. In addition, comparison of KoRV provirus within known dam-sire-joey family groups from the koala sanctuary revealed that joeys consistently had KoRV proviral patterns more similar to their dams than their sires in KoRV-B, -C, and -D provirus composition. Collectively, this study highlights both the consistency of endogenous KoRV and the diversity of exogenous KoRV across the fragmented koala populations in northern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat products are considered as one of the most demanding food items from a point of sale perspective and tenderness of meat plays a dominant role in enhancing the meat palatability. The current review describes the meat tenderization mechanism, chemical, physical and conventional protocols to evaluate the extent of meat tenderness and the impact of plant based exogenous proteases. Even though proteolytic enzymes are produced in commercial scale, most of the meat products reach the market without any treatment. Lack of technical knowhow on commercial extractions and inadequate literature on some proteases has been identified as the gaps to be fulfilled.

Learning Management Systems (LMS) have facilitated any-time any-place learning; thereby enabling educational institutions to embrace dual-mode teaching by engaging with on- and off-campus student cohorts. This study examines how lecturing staff build on existing knowledge structures when tasked with delivery of the same course concurrently over dual modes. Exogeneous knowledge structures are constructed from one's environment, while endogenous structures are rooted in how lecturing staff assimilate their teaching and learning environments to meet the needs of dual-mode learners. Activity Theory provided the theoretical lens and has revealed how exogeneous structures are influenced by the outer triangle elements, that in turn inform on interactions occurring among the inner triangle elements to construct endogenous knowledge. Seventeen lecturing staff participated via open-ended surveys to share their pedagogic approaches for maintaining equable learning experiences across both student cohorts. Findings show that staff can be constrained by LMS functionalities, course curriculum, course structure and lack of technical support. Staff employed additional online tools, changed assessment methods and encouraged online discussions to bring more parity across both learner groups. Our study provides new insights on dual-mode teaching deliveries and shares how lecturing staff develop new knowledge structures from their teaching practice. It will further help in development of instructional strategies especially post Covid-19, when it is likely that teaching modes will have more online component compared to current times.

A total of three family farms including Village No. 9 in Nima township, Nerong Naqu County (NQA); Village No. 11 in Nima township, Nerong Naqu County (NQB); and Yare township, Gegi County, Ali District (GJ) from three ecology yak populations (EYP) were selected for this study to identify the most optimized mode of exogenous male adult yak introduction (EMI) within EYP for solving the inbreeding problem caused by the small-scale yak husbandry system. Exogenous adult male yaks from the same EYP with different proportions (100% to NQA, 50% to NQB, and 0% to GJ) were introduced, and 10 microsatellites were used to detect the genetic diversity of these populations before (in 2017) and after (in 2019) the introduction of exogenous adult male yaks (EMI). Results showed that the divergence between the observed and the expected heterozygosity of the NQA and NQB populations was reduced in 2019, while the number of markers significantly deviating from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.05) and FIS (inbreeding coefficient) within populations decreased compared with that in 2017. In contrast, the FIS of GJ population without EMI continued to increase (from 0.011 to 0.033) over the years 2017 to 2019. Moreover, genetic differences between the populations (Pairwise Fixation index, FST) showed that EMI increased the genetic divergence between populations. Overall, this study shows that the introduction of exogenous male adult yaks not only effectively reduces the degree of population deviation from equilibrium but also decreases the inbreeding level within the population within a few generations. This study also provides a valuable management model for stable yak production on small sized family farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is a well-known abiotic constraint that hampers crop productivity, affecting more than 424 million hectares of topsoil worldwide. Applying plant growth regulators externally has proven effective in enhancing crop resilience to salt stress. Previous metabolomics studies revealed an accumulation of Valine-Threonine-Isoleucine-Aspartic acid (VTID) in salt-stressed maize seedlings, suggesting its potential to assist maize adaptation to salt stress. To explore the effectiveness of VTID in enhancing salt tolerance in maize, 10 nM VTID was applied to salt-stressed maize seedlings. The results showed a remarkable 152.29% increase in plant height and a 122.40% increase in fresh weight compared to salt-stressed seedlings. Moreover, the addition of VTID enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, specifically superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress. Additionally, VTID supplementation resulted in a significant increase in osmoregulatory substances such as proline. Metabolomic analysis revealed substantial changes in the metabolite profile of maize seedlings when treated with VTID during salt stress. Differential metabolites (DMs) analysis revealed that the identified DMs primarily belonged to lipids and lipid-like molecules. The receiver operating characteristic curve and linear regression analysis determined a correlation between isodolichantoside and the height of maize seedlings under salt-stress conditions. In conclusion, these findings validate that VTID effectively regulates tolerance in maize seedlings and offers valuable insights into the potential of short peptides for mitigating salt stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wu, Liang, Zhang, Yang, Wang, Xia, Ishfaq, Ji, Qi and Guo.)

Background: The interference can be a significant source of laboratory errors with the potential to cause immunoassay results to drift. Therefore, we evaluated the interference in various endogenous and exogenous substances on immunoassay for angiotensin I (Ang I), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone, and renin in vitro., Methods: Ten endogenous and eight exogenous substances were evaluated at supraphysiologic or supratherapeutic plasma levels using the screening study to identify potential interfering substances. Subsequently, potential interfering substances were further tested within maximum pathological or therapeutic plasma concentration ranges using the dose-response study to determine whether the interference has a significant bias. According to preset acceptance criteria, the interference in potential interfering substances for Ang I, Ang II, and renin and aldosterone assays was determined., Results: Six potential interfering substances for Ang I immunoassays were identified, namely valsartan, nifedipine, spironolactone, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and triglyceride. Meanwhile, ethanol, nifedipine, spironolactone, heparin sodium, warfarin, hemoglobin, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride appeared to have potential interference in the Ang II assay. Three identified as possible interferents for aldosterone immunoassays were glucose, valsartan, and spironolactone. Moreover, warfarin, valsartan, spironolactone, uric acid, cholesterol, bilirubin unconjugated, triglyceride, and hemoglobin were potential interfering substances for renin immunoassays. However, only spironolactone of these potential interfering substances exceeded preset mean bias limits (less than ±10.0%) in aldosterone immunoassays., Conclusion: Exogenous spironolactone caused clinically significant interference in aldosterone immunoassays. Moreover, the interference in other substances was acceptable in Ang I, Ang II, and renin and aldosterone immunoassays., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Cushing´s syndrome is caused by prolonged exposition supraphysiological to endogenous or exogenous cortisol. Ectopic production of adrenocorticotropic hormone by lung carcinoid tumors is relatively rare. Most documented cases have been reported individually. This rare neoplasm low grade that may secrete adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) leading to rapid development of hypercortisolism which is the main mode of discovery, can be a real aggressive form. This report shows a high aggressiveness of this endocrine neoplasia, wich was marked on the general, morphological, bone and psychiatric level. The trivialization of clinical signs had caused the delay in diagnosis with irreparable bone consequences.

Classical models of exogenous attention suggest that attentional enhancement at the focus of attention degrades gradually with distance from the attended location. On the other hand, the Attentional Attraction Field (AAF) model (Baruch and Yeshurun, 2014) suggests that the shift of receptive fields toward the attended location, reported by several physiological studies, leads to a decreased density of RFs at the attentional surrounds and hence the model predicts that the modulation of performance by spatial attention may have the shape of a Mexican Hat. Motivated by these theories, this study presents behavioral evidence in support of a Mexican Hat shaped modulation in exogenous spatial tasks that appears only at short latencies. In two experiments participants had to decide the location of a small gap in a target circle that was preceded by a non-informative attention capturing cue. The distance between cue and target and the latency between their onsets were varied. At short SOAs the performance curves were cubic and only at longer SOAs- this trend turned linear. Our results suggest that a rapid Mexican Hat modulation is an inherent property of the mechanism underlying exogenous attention and that a monotonically degrading trend, such as advocated by classical models, develops only at later stages of processing. The involvements of bottom-up processes such as the attraction of RFs to the focus of attention are further discussed.

Barber′s syndrome is a plenoidal sinus that occurs in the interdigital space resulting in penetration from the epidermis by exogenous hairs. As an occupational disease, it is named so because of its prevalence in barbers. The penetration of short and hard hairs into the epidermis and the subsequent accumulation in the interdigital space triggers infection and leads to the classic plenoidal sinus pattern. However, unlike the classical plenoidal sinus, this pattern is formed in the interdigital space free of hair follicles and with exogenous, nonpatient hairs. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old male patient who had plenoidal sinus in the second interdigital space for 1½ years. We would like to emphasize that it is a rare occupational disease which occurs in barbers with exogenous hairs and wanted to show the diagnostic and treatment modalities of this rare syndrome.