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IntroductionThe gut microbiota (GM) play a significant role in the infectivity and severity of COVID-19 infection. However, the available literature primarily focuses on adult patients and it is known that the microbiota undergoes changes throughout the lifespan, with significant alterations occurring during infancy and subsequently stabilizing during adulthood. Moreover, children have exhibited milder symptoms of COVID-19 disease, which has been associated with the abundance of certain protective bacteria. Here, we examine the metaproteome of pediatric patients to uncover the biological mechanisms that underlie this protective effect of the GM.MethodsWe performed nanoliquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry on a high resolution analytical platform, resulting in label free quantification of bacterial protein groups (PGs), along with functional annotations via COG and KEGG databases by MetaLab-MAG. Additionally, taxonomic assignment was possible through the use of the lowest common ancestor algorithm provided by Unipept software.ResultsA COVID-19 GM functional dissimilarity respect to healthy subjects was identified by univariate analysis. The alteration in COVID-19 GM function is primarily based on bacterial pathways that predominantly involve metabolic processes, such as those related to tryptophan, butanoate, fatty acid, and bile acid biosynthesis, as well as antibiotic resistance and virulence.DiscussionThese findings highlight the mechanisms by which the pediatric GM could contribute to protection against the more severe manifestations of the disease in children. Uncovering these mechanisms can, therefore, have important implications in the discovery of novel adjuvant therapies for severe COVID-19.

ABSTRACT A functional perspective of tree communities is helpful for understanding forest dynamics, especially vegetation recovery after other land uses. Knowledge about ecological filters and survival strategies of trees are also important for the restoration of degraded areas. This study aimed to evaluate the functional composition and structure of adult and regenerative components of natural Araucaria forests, Araucaria plantations and plantations of exotic Pinus in subtropical southern Brazil. Differences in functional diversity and functional richness, and in community weighted mean trait values, including leaf traits and reproductive traits, were analyzed. RLQ analysis was used to assess the association between community structure, plant traits and environmental variables. Clear differences were found for most traits and for functional richness for the regenerative component, while the adult component was more similar among forest types. A clear separation in RLQ ordination associated with trait variation, for the adult component but not for regenerative trees, also indicates that communities are becoming functionally more similar with time. Plantations were shown to function as environmental filters by directly influencing species recruitment, richness and functional diversity. We conclude that passive restoration may be the best strategy for restoration of Araucaria forests.

Copyright of Enfermería Nefrológica is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Enfermeria Nefrologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The gut microbiota (GM) play a significant role in the infectivity and severity of COVID-19 infection. However, the available literature primarily focuses on adult patients and it is known that the microbiota undergoes changes throughout the lifespan, with significant alterations occurring during infancy and subsequently stabilizing during adulthood. Moreover, children have exhibited milder symptoms of COVID-19 disease, which has been associated with the abundance of certain protective bacteria. Here, we examine the metaproteome of pediatric patients to uncover the biological mechanisms that underlie this protective effect of the GM., Methods: We performed nanoliquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry on a high resolution analytical platform, resulting in label free quantification of bacterial protein groups (PGs), along with functional annotations via COG and KEGG databases by MetaLab-MAG. Additionally, taxonomic assignment was possible through the use of the lowest common ancestor algorithm provided by Unipept software., Results: A COVID-19 GM functional dissimilarity respect to healthy subjects was identified by univariate analysis. The alteration in COVID-19 GM function is primarily based on bacterial pathways that predominantly involve metabolic processes, such as those related to tryptophan, butanoate, fatty acid, and bile acid biosynthesis, as well as antibiotic resistance and virulence., Discussion: These findings highlight the mechanisms by which the pediatric GM could contribute to protection against the more severe manifestations of the disease in children. Uncovering these mechanisms can, therefore, have important implications in the discovery of novel adjuvant therapies for severe COVID-19., 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. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Marzano, Mortera, Marangelo, Piazzesi, Rapisarda, Pane, Del Chierico, Vernocchi, Romani, Campana, Palma, Putignani and the CACTUS Study Team.)

This paper presents an empirical analysis of hierarchical tendencies and functional patterns in the development of Mainland China’s space-economy by operationalizing the concept of “megaregions.” Drawing on the burgeoning literature on megaregions, we first argue that under conditions of economic globalization the megaregion concept does indeed present an effective tool to study the spatial agglomeration of the key components of China’s economic development. Second, we analyze the development status and the key functional characteristics of 16 prospective Chinese megaregions by constructing an index system consisting of 5 functions and 36 indicators. Third, we calculate an entropy index to rank megaregions according to their overall development status and reveal functional differences by applying cluster analysis. We find that the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Metropolitan Area, and the Pearl River Delta stand out, identify different varieties of megaregions according to their dominant functional characteristics, and explore the main policy dimensions of the persistent west–east divides observed. The paper is concluded with a discussion of potential avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Biogas production is a very complex process due to the high complexity in diversity and interactions of the microorganisms mediating it, and only limited and diffuse knowledge exists about the variation of taxonomic and functional patterns of microbiomes across different biogas reactors, and their relationships with the metabolic patterns. The present study used metagenomic sequencing and radioisotopic analysis to assess the taxonomic, functional, and metabolic patterns of microbiomes from 14 full-scale biogas reactors operated under various conditions treating either sludge or manure. Results: The results from metagenomic analysis showed that the dominant methanogenic pathway revealed by radioisotopic analysis was not always correlated with the taxonomic and functional compositions. It was found by radioisotopic experiments that the aceticlastic methanogenic pathway was dominant, while metagenomics analysis showed higher relative abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Principal coordinates analysis showed the sludge-based samples were clearly distinct from the manure-based samples for both taxonomic and functional patterns, and canonical correspondence analysis showed that the both temperature and free ammonia were crucial environmental variables shaping the taxonomic and functional patterns. The study further the overall patterns of functional genes were strongly correlated with overall patterns of taxonomic composition across different biogas reactors. Conclusions: The discrepancy between the metabolic patterns determined by metagenomic analysis and metabolic pathways determined by radioisotopic analysis was found. Besides, a clear correlation between taxonomic and functional patterns was demonstrated for biogas reactors, and also the environmental factors that shaping both taxonomic and functional genes patterns were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain imaging studies on eating disorders (EDs) often reported volumetric and functional changes involving the cerebellum. Nevertheless, few studies performed in-depth examinations and suggested a cerebellar role in the EDs' pathophysiology. A systematic literature search on volumetric changes and functional alterations involving the cerebellum in individuals with EDs was conducted using PubMed, PsychInfo and Web of Science. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement and Rayyan web application for screening studies. Twenty-four papers reporting cerebellar alterations in individuals with EDs were included in the study: 9 assessing brain volumetric changes, 9 investigating task-based functional brain activation and 6 investigating brain functional connectivity at rest. Most studies focused on anorectic-type EDs (n.22), while fewer involved bulimic-type EDs (n.9) and eating disorders not otherwise specified (n.2), revealing subtypes-specific patterns of altered cerebellar volume and functionality. This review proposes critical arguments to consider the cerebellum as a key structure in the pathophysiology of EDs that requires further forthcoming exploration. • Cerebellar volumetric changes are part of the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa. • Changes in cerebellar functional patterns are detected in individuals with EDs. • The cerebellum might impact emotion, cognition and illness maintenance in individuals with EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article intends to spread among nursing personnel a biopsychosocial approach for providing appropriate care to a patient with chronic and bilateral temporomandibular dislocation, by applying the Marjory Gordon's functional health patterns. This paper reports the case of a female patient with chronic and bilateral temporomandibular dislocation; it is stressed the importance of the nursing care since the patient was hospitalized until she was discharge after surgery. There is not enough information about specific nursing care for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study explores the benefits of Marjory Gordon’s health functional patterns in a high performance young athlete lifestyle. Starting from a holistic perspective and through a nursing functional health care plan in practice, I would like to set the basis for nursing care to high performance athletes. The results showed that there are some protective factors connected with healthy life patterns as: balanced diet, physical activity and drug use prevention. Moreover, there are some risky behaviour related with the effort and the high dedication in daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term Severe Mental Illness, refers to those mental disorders with a prolonged duration which involve a variable degree of disability and social dysfunction.Some necessities arise out of these disabilities that must be covered methodologically.The required instrument is the Nursing Process (NP), and, as a part of it, the Diagnosis.Objective: To identify the main Nursing Diagnoses in the SMI with a parenteral neuroleptic treatment.Methodology: -Study scope: Patients hospitalized in the Prolonged Psychiatric Care Unit of the “Instituto Psiquiátrico Servicios de Salud Mental José Germain”.Sixteen patients of both sexes were studied (all of the patients from this unit with a parenteral neuroleptic treatment).50% of them with typical neuroleptics, and the other 50% with the atypical kind. -Design: Descriptive transverse study. A revision of Clinical Records was conducted in the referenced unit, in a one-year time period.We assessed the most important diagnoses, excluding those in which it was not possible to specify the start date of the problem.Results and conclusions: The group of patients treated with typical neuroleptics face more alterations in the following Functional Patterns by M.Gordon: Pattern 1: Health Perception and Health ManagementPattern 4: Activity and ExercisePattern 6: Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern 8: Role-RelationshipsIn the second Pattern: Nutritional-Metabolic, significant differences have not been determined, one alteration appearing in each of the groups under study, and one of the diagnoses with the same results.

Abstract: Purpose: This document presents a systematic and structured approach for functional modeling for risk analysis in radiotherapy, aiming to reconcile the need, on one hand, for a method that can be applied generally and, on the other hand, for a method that provides a highly precise model. Materials and methods: The approach relies on new functional structuring patterns and flux analysis, derived from system engineering and knowledge engineering. Results: The method affords strong support for the development of detailed models of the patient''s process through a department of radiotherapy. Lack of structure of the actual process in a particular department may be easily identified leading to the development of specific procedures for the improvement of security. Conclusion: Modeling approach derived from engineering may be used for functional modeling for risk analysis in radiotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Within the Danube River delta's lakes the Oligochaeta communities comprise between 7.9% and 36.2% of the total biomass of benthic fauna. Their importance in energy flow at the ecosystem level changed in relation to fast trophic transition of all shallow lakes to the hypertrophic state. The parameters of the energy budget of the dominant populations and the potential production of benthivorous fish species assessed during 1976–1994 interval support this conclusion. P/B ratio, K1 and K2 coefficients assessed for both the 1976–1980 and 1991–1994 intervals revealed different functional patterns of response of Potamothrix hammoniensis (Michaelsen, 1901) and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Claparede, 1862) to varying trophic conditions. Changes in communities structure, size of the constituent populations and their age distribution, as well as the quantity and quality of food supply and level of hypoxia at the sediment/water interface were the main factors that affected the role of these populations as energy carrier from the huge energy pool represented by sedimented organic carbon to benthivorous fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart wrinkled hydrogel patterns with modulated chemical composition and wrinkle characteristics (amplitude and period) were formed by taking advantage of surface instabilities using a simple, cost-affordable, and robust method. The microstructured surfaces were prepared by dip coating and were designed to be stimuli-responsive by introducing poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) in the initial feed. For this purpose, a silylated substrate surface serves as an anchor for the non-polymerized hydrogel molecules, thus forming a homogenous and reproducible coating. Once the film was achieved, the samples were exposed to vacuum and UV irradiation to form wrinkled patterns spontaneously. The response of the thermosensitive wrinkles reveals significant variations in the properties of the wrinkled films depending on the temperature. In addition to the simplicity, this deposition strategy allows the preparation of highly reproducible films using an easy-scalable methodology with potential interest for industrial applications. [Display omitted] • The synthesis of smart thermoresponsive hydrogel composites is presented. • Dip-coating was used to deposit thin hydrogel films over solid substrates. • Vacuum drying and UV exposure induce wrinkled micropatterns on the film's surface. • Monomeric feed ratio changes induce physical variations in the wrinkled pattern. • The films present a thermoresponsive behavior related to surface wettability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pneumonologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Earthworm burrow systems have been simulated by modelling, from field observations, five main characteristics of burrow units: density (number of burrows per unit volume), mean length, angular orientation, middle coordinates and diameter. The functional properties of the burrow systems have been analysed using structural parameters, i. e. number of full perforations, mean available burrow surface and minimal burrow spacing, and by estimating the shortest pathway through the burrow system. The simulations are used to study the effects of each of the main characteristics on structural parameters and the shortest pathway. This work reveals that the specific role of density is to lead to a threshold by determining an optimal horizontal distance, and that the mean length governs the vertical critical dimension of the system. These simulations may be applied to explain the nature of field burrow systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biogas production is a very complex process due to the high complexity in diversity and interactions of the microorganisms mediating it, and only limited and diffuse knowledge exists about the variation of taxonomic and functional patterns of microbiomes across different biogas reactors, and their relationships with the metabolic patterns. The present study used metagenomic sequencing and radioisotopic analysis to assess the taxonomic, functional, and metabolic patterns of microbiomes from 14 full-scale biogas reactors operated under various conditions treating either sludge or manure., Results: The results from metagenomic analysis showed that the dominant methanogenic pathway revealed by radioisotopic analysis was not always correlated with the taxonomic and functional compositions. It was found by radioisotopic experiments that the aceticlastic methanogenic pathway was dominant, while metagenomics analysis showed higher relative abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Principal coordinates analysis showed the sludge-based samples were clearly distinct from the manure-based samples for both taxonomic and functional patterns, and canonical correspondence analysis showed that the both temperature and free ammonia were crucial environmental variables shaping the taxonomic and functional patterns. The study further the overall patterns of functional genes were strongly correlated with overall patterns of taxonomic composition across different biogas reactors., Conclusions: The discrepancy between the metabolic patterns determined by metagenomic analysis and metabolic pathways determined by radioisotopic analysis was found. Besides, a clear correlation between taxonomic and functional patterns was demonstrated for biogas reactors, and also the environmental factors that shaping both taxonomic and functional genes patterns were identified.