Grapes are the main reason why the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is cultivated. However, climate, soil conditions, vegetation and anthropogenic effects on the soil greatly affect grapevine production. The organoleptic...Grapes are the main reason why the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is cultivated. However, climate, soil conditions, vegetation and anthropogenic effects on the soil greatly affect grapevine production. The organoleptic properties of grape-derived products, such as wine, are influenced by these factors, which are becoming increasingly popular in Africa. Thus, grapevines, which are commonly grown in warm regions, are acclimatized in Africa using grapevine varieties that can adjust to tropical conditions. This study, which was carried out in 2019, aimed to promote grapevine cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire by examining the influence of pedoclimatic factors on the agro-physiological characteristics of grapevines. In Côte d’Ivoire, there were four distinct agro-ecological zones (North, South, Southeast and West) where three grapevine varieties, Bequignol, Muscat Rouge and Aleatico, were grown. Grapevine plants could grow robustly in morpho-physiological ways because the soils had sufficient fertility, as revealed by the analysis of experimental sites. Grapevine varieties have successfully adapted to different terroirs, with the exception of Muscat Rouge, which only displayed favorable morphological characteristics in the Man zone (West). Regardless of the grape variety, the regions with the best grapevine-growing conditions were Man (West), followed by Aboisso (Southeast). Consequently, grapevine development was less favorable in Korhogo (North) and Abidjan (South) zones. Thus, the cultivation of grapevine varieties in Côte d’Ivoire was greatly influenced by terroir.展开更多
Neurodegeneration of retinal tissue leads to progressive vision loss in millions of working-age adults each year.Metabolic alterations caused by modern diets that are high in fats and sugars contribute to the developm...Neurodegeneration of retinal tissue leads to progressive vision loss in millions of working-age adults each year.Metabolic alterations caused by modern diets that are high in fats and sugars contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.Chronic,diet-induced metabolic changes are linked to high glucose and harmful,proinflammatory compounds in the blood,called advanced glycation end products(AGEs),that can alter the integrity of neurovascular barriers.AGEs-induced changes to the permeability of the inner blood-retinal barrier can lead to progressive vision loss with disparate impacts in patients with low estrogen,such as via natural aging processes,chronic illness,or aggressive medical interventions.Application of supplemental estradiol has been shown to ameliorate degeneration across the cardiovascular,intestinal,and nervous systems.This commentary describes the potential benefits of estradiol-based therapies on the visual health of older women with progressive diabetic retinopathy.展开更多
Salinity is a major abiotic stress that hinders plant development and productivity and influences agricultural yield.Seed priming is a technique used to boost germination and seedling growth under abiotic stress.A pot...Salinity is a major abiotic stress that hinders plant development and productivity and influences agricultural yield.Seed priming is a technique used to boost germination and seedling growth under abiotic stress.A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of seed priming with potassium nitrate(KNO_(3))at various levels(0%,0.50%,1.00%and 1.50%)under salt stress(0,75,100 mM NaCl)on two maize verities(MNH360 and 30T60)for the growth,development and metabolic attributes results revealed that in maize variety MNH360,KNO_(3)priming’s significantly enhanced growth parameters than in maize variety 30T60 under control and salt-stressed conditions.Priming with KNO_(3)enhanced carotenoids and total chlorophyll in the 30T60 variety that protected the maize plants from salt stress.Nevertheless,it was shown that priming with 1.00%KNO_(3)acts as safeguarded to protect them from oxidative damage by salt stress minimizing reactive oxygen species(ROS)formation through increased levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD),ascorbate peroxidase(APX),and total soluble protein.The findings of the present study confirm that the use of the KNO_(3)seed priming technique is a lowcost,environmentally friendly technique for mitigating adverse impacts of salt stress in maize crops by activating the antioxidant defense system and improving chlorophyll and osmolyte contents.展开更多
Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone-resorbing cells,and their formation is tightly regulated to prevent excessive bone loss.However,the mechanisms by which osteoclast formation is restricted remain incompletely determ...Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone-resorbing cells,and their formation is tightly regulated to prevent excessive bone loss.However,the mechanisms by which osteoclast formation is restricted remain incompletely determined.Here,we found that sterol regulatory element binding protein 2(SREBP2)functions as a negative regulator of osteoclast formation and inflammatory bone loss.Cholesterols and SREBP2,a key transcription factor for cholesterol biosynthesis,increased in the late phase of osteoclastogenesis.展开更多
In Africa, the prevalence of diabetes is escalating and remains a concern due to the numerous complications it causes. Vascular damage associated with diabetes leads to a prothrombotic state observed in diabetic indiv...In Africa, the prevalence of diabetes is escalating and remains a concern due to the numerous complications it causes. Vascular damage associated with diabetes leads to a prothrombotic state observed in diabetic individuals. Diabetes is a complex and multifactorial disease involving genetic components. With the aim of preventing complications and contributing to an efficient management of diabetes, we investigated genes likely to lead to a risk of thrombosis, in particular the C677T of MTHFR, G20210A of prothrombin, and R506Q of factor V Leiden in type 2 diabetics in Abidjan receiving ambulatory care. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on consenting type 2 diabetic patients. Mutation detection was carried out using the PCR-RFLP method employing restriction enzymes. Hemostasis tests (fibrinogen, D-dimers, fibrin monomers, and von Willebrand factor) were performed using citrate tubes on the Stage? Star Max automated system. Plasminogen activator inhibitor was assayed by ELISA method, and biochemical parameters were determined using the COBAS C311. The study population consisted of 45 diabetic patients, 51.1% of whom presented vascular complications, mainly neuropathy. Disturbances in hemostasis parameters were observed, with 15.5% of patients showing an increase in fibrin monomers. Mutation analysis revealed an absence of factor V mutation (factor V Leiden) and of G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene. However, 15.6% of subjects had a heterozygous C677T mutation of MTHFR, with 57% of them being anemic. The exploration of biological and genetic factors associated with thrombotic risk is of significant interest in the optimal management of African type 2 diabetics.展开更多
In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the performance of metal halide perovskite solar cells. Studies have shown significant interest in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to concerns about t...In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the performance of metal halide perovskite solar cells. Studies have shown significant interest in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to concerns about the toxicity of lead in lead halide perovskites. CH3NH3SnI3 emerges as a viable alternative to CH3NH3PbX3. In this work, we studied the effect of various parameters on the performance of lead-free perovskite solar cells using simulation with the SCAPS 1D software. The cell structure consists of α-Fe2O3/CH3NH3SnI3/PEDOT: PSS. We analyzed parameters such as thickness, doping, and layer concentration. The study revealed that, without considering other optimized parameters, the efficiency of the cell increased from 22% to 35% when the perovskite thickness varied from 100 to 1000 nm. After optimization, solar cell efficiency reaches up to 42%. The optimization parameters are such that, for example, for perovskite: the layer thickness is 700 nm, the doping concentration is 1020 and the defect density is 1013 cm−3, and for hematite: the thickness is 5 nm, the doping concentration is 1022 and the defect concentration is 1011 cm−3. These results are encouraging because they highlight the good agreement between perovskite and hematite when used as the active and electron transport layers, respectively. Now, it is still necessary to produce real, viable photovoltaic solar cells with the proposed material layer parameters.展开更多
Background: In Côte d’Ivoire so far, the circulating haplotypes have been inferred on the phenotypic profiling of SCD patients. The impact of the circulating haplotypes on the use of Hydroxyurea has not been ass...Background: In Côte d’Ivoire so far, the circulating haplotypes have been inferred on the phenotypic profiling of SCD patients. The impact of the circulating haplotypes on the use of Hydroxyurea has not been assessed yet. Therefore the objective of this study is to identify in Abidjan the HbS haplotypes that modulate HU treatment responses. Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study, children aged 5 to 15 years with SCD, and carrying the hemoglobin phenotypes SSFA2 and SFA2, were recruited into a HU treatment cohort. Various parameters on the haplotypes and the outcomes of the treatment were analyzed. Results: Thirty nine children with SCD were included. The phenotypic profile of the cohort was 86.6% of SSFA2 and 15.4% of SFA2. Three haplotypes were found, the Benin haplotype, the Senegal haplotype, and an atypical one. The participants belonged to three genotypes, Benin/atypical (64.1%), Benin/Senegal (33.3%) and Senegal/Senegal (2.6%). Overall, HU treatment was successful in all haplotypes with 12 out of 39 patients failing treatment after 12 months in the Benin haplotype group. The association between HU treatment success and the Benin haplotype was found in terms of the decrease in the number of white blood cells and the students missing class. Conclusion: The study revealed that inferring haplotype based on the phenotypic profile could be inaccurate. The proportion of atypical haplotype that were not previously described in Côte d’Ivoire was high. All the haplotypes seemed to be associated with HU treatment success but some patients with Benin haplotype did not respond well.展开更多
Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associa...Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associated factors among bakery workers in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four (4) months from 18 December 2019 to 18 April 2020. Two questionnaires were used, one on employees and the other on the indoor environment of bakeries. In addition, a spirometry test was performed on all bakery workers. Statistical analysis was performed using stata 15.1 software. Results: A total of 599 bakery employees, including bakers (59.73%), sales assistants/ cashiers (23.52%), cleaners (6.34%) and administrative staff (10.18%), were investigated. The mean age was 30.8 ± 8 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) = 2.2. Asthma symptoms were found in 95 (15.86%) employees, of whom 74 (77.9%) had work-related asthma and 11 (14.9%) had asthma aggravated by work. The factors associated with work-aggravated asthma were personal or family history of allergy or atopy [ORa = 3.75;CI95%: 1.56 - 8.93;p = 0.003], exposure to dust [ORa = 5.01;CI95%: 1.43 - 7.50;p = 0.011] and humidity level (60% - 70%) [ORa = 1.80;CI 95%: 0.99 - 3.28;p = 0.05]. Conclusion: Work-aggravated asthma is a reality in bakeries in Abidjan, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9%. Two of the three factors associated with this condition suggest a link with indoor air pollution. Combating air pollution in these establishments must therefore be a priority for the relevant authorities, in order to provide employees with a working environment that protects their health.展开更多
Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerv...Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerve lesions,especially lesions with large(≥3 cm)nerve gaps,is the use of a nerve autograft or reimplantation in cases where nerve root avulsions occur.If not tended early,degeneration of motor neurons and loss of axon regeneration can occur,leading to loss of function.Although surgical procedures exist,patients often do not fully recover,and quality of life deteriorates.Peripheral nerves have limited regeneration,and it is usually mediated by Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors,like glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,as seen in Wallerian degeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is a neurotrophic factor known to promote motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is upregulated in different forms of nerve injuries like axotomy,sciatic nerve crush,and compression,thus creating great interest to explore this protein as a potential treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.Exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor has shown positive effects in regeneration and functional recovery when applied in experimental models of peripheral nerve injuries.In this review,we discuss the mechanism of repair provided by Schwann cells and upregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,the latest findings on the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in different types of peripheral nerve injuries,delivery systems,and complementary treatments(electrical muscle stimulation and exercise).Understanding and overcoming the challenges of proper timing and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor delivery is paramount to creating novel treatments to tend to peripheral nerve injuries to improve patients'quality of life.展开更多
AIM: To investigate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) CagA diversity and to evaluate the association between protein polymorphisms and the occurrence of gastric pathologies. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two clinical ...AIM: To investigate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) CagA diversity and to evaluate the association between protein polymorphisms and the occurrence of gastric pathologies. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two clinical isolates of H. pylori cultured from gastric biopsies obtained from Colombian patients with dyspepsia were included as study material. DNA extracted from isolates was used to determine cagA status, amplifying the C-terminal cagA gene region by polymerase chain reaction. One hundred and six strains with a single amplicon were sequenced and results were used to characterize the 3' variable region of the cagA gene. To establish the number and type of tyrosine phosphorylation motifs Glutamine acid-Proline-Isoleucine-Tyrosine-Alanine (EPI-YA) bioinformatic analysis using Amino Acid Sequence Analyzer-Amino Acid Sequence Analyzer software was conducted. Analysis of the association between the number of EPIYA motifs and the gastric pathology was performed using χ2 test and analysis of the presence of EPIYA-C motifs in relation to the pathology was made by logistic regression odds ratios. Comparisons among EPIYA types found and those reported in GenBank were performed using a proportion test in Statistix Analytical Software version 8.0. RESULTS: After amplification of the 3' of the cagA gene, 106 from 122 isolates presented a single amplicon and 16 showed multiple amplicons. As expected, diversity in the size of the cagA unique fragments among isolates was observed. The 106 strains that presented a single amplicon after 3' cagA amplification came from patients with gastritis (19 patients), atrophic gastritis (21), intestinal metaplasia (26), duodenal ulcer (22) and gastric cancer. DNA sequence analysis showed that the differences in size of 3' cagA unique fragments was attributable to the number of EPIYA motifs: 1.9% had two EPIYA motifs, 62.3% had three, 33.0% had four and 2.8% had five motifs. The majority of tested clinical strains (62.3%) were found to harbor the ABC combination of EPIYA motifs and a significant statistical difference was observed between the frequencies of ABCC tyrosine phosphorylation motifs and Western strains sequences deposited in GenBank. CONCLUSION: The present report describes a lack of association between H. pylori CagA-protein polymorphisms and pathogenesis. ABCC high frequency variations compared with Western-strains sequences deposited in GenBank require more investigation.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the influence of the CagA diversity in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) strains from Colombia on the host cell biology. METHODS: Eighty-four H. pylori-cagA positive strains with different Glu-Pro-I...AIM: To investigate the influence of the CagA diversity in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) strains from Colombia on the host cell biology. METHODS: Eighty-four H. pylori-cagA positive strains with different Glu-Pro-Ile-Tyr-Ala (EPIYA) motifs patterns, isolated from patients with gastritis (n=17), atrophic gastritis (n=17), duodenal ulcer (n=16), intestinal metaplasia (n=16) and gastric cancer (n=18), were included. To determine the integrity of the cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) we evaluated the presence of cagA, cagT, cagE, and cag10 genes by polymerase chain reaction. AGS gastric epithelial cellswere infected with each strain and assayed for translo-cation and tyrosine phosphorylation of CagA by western blot, secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay after taking supernatants from cocultures and cell elongation induction. For cell elongation quantification, coculture photographs were taken and the proportion of "hummingbird" cells (>15 μm) was determined. RESULTS: Overall 72% (60/84) of the strains were found to harbor a functional cag PAI. Levels of phos-phorylated CagA were significantly higher for isolates from duodenal ulcer than the ones in strains from gas-tritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer (49.1% ± 23.1% vs 21.1% ± 19.5%, P < 0.02; 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 26.2%±14.8%, P<0.045; 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 21.5% ± 19.5%, P<0.043 and 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 29.5% ± 27.1%, P < 0.047 respectively). We observed variable IL-8 expression levels ranging from 0 to 810 pg/mL and from 8.8 to 1442 pg/mL at 6 h and 30 h post-infection, respectively. cagPAI-defective strains did not induce detectable levels of IL-8 at 6 h post-infection. At 30 h post-infection all strains induced IL-8 expression in AGS cells, although cagPAI-defective strains induced significantly lower levels of IL-8 than strains with a functional cagPAI (57.1 ± 56.6 pg/mL vs 513.6 ± 338.6 pg/mL,P < 0.0001). We did not observe differences in the extent of cell elongation induction between strains with a functional or a defective cagPAI in 6 h cocultures. At 24 h post infection strains with functionalcagPAI showed high diversity in the extent of hummingbird phenotype induction ranging from 7% to 34%. cag PAI defective strains induced significantly lower levels of elongation than strains with functional cag-PAI with one or more than one EPIYA-C motif (15.1% ± 5.2%vs 18.9% ± 4.7%,P < 0.03; and 15.1% ± 5.2% vs 20.0% ± 5.1%, P < 0.003 respectively). No differences were observed in cellular elongation inductionor IL-8 expression among H. pylori strains bearing one and more than one EPIYA-C motifs, neither at 6 h nor at 24 h of coculture. There were no associations between the levels of induction of cell elongation or IL-8 expression and number of EPIYA motifs or pathology. CONCLUSION: The present work describes a lack of association between H. pylori CagA protein EPIYA motifs variations from Colombian isolates and disease-associated cellular responses.展开更多
Dangshansuli pear is one of crisp pears and has a non-climacteric respiratory pattern. Dangshansuli pear fruits were treated with 1 000 or 2 000 μL L-1 diphenylamine （DPA） for 1 min, or with 0.5 μL L-1 1-methylcyc...Dangshansuli pear is one of crisp pears and has a non-climacteric respiratory pattern. Dangshansuli pear fruits were treated with 1 000 or 2 000 μL L-1 diphenylamine （DPA） for 1 min, or with 0.5 μL L-1 1-methylcyclopropene （l-MCP） for 12 h before cold storage at （2±0.5）℃ for up to 210 d. Incidences of superficial scald and related physiological indexes were investigated during storage. The results showed that superficial scald occurred in control fruit with a rate of over 90% after 210 d at cold storage plus 10 d at room temperature. Treatments with 1 000 and 2 000 μL L-1 DPA and 0.5 μL L-1 l-MCP inhibited the accumulation of a-farnesene, conjugated trienes, total phenolic contents, and malondialdehyde （MDA） during storage. The treatments also decreased leakage of cell membrane and the activity of polyphenol oxidase （PPO） in the peel. These results indicate that 1-MCP and DPA treatments inhibit and postpone the occurrence of superficial scald of Dangshansuli pears remarkably in cold storage and post-storage shelf life, respectively, while the mechanisms were different. The results above may provide a theoretical evidence for the agriculture production.展开更多
Mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) remains unacceptable, approaching 45% in certain high-risk patient populations. Treating fulminant ARDS is currently relegated to supportive care measures only....Mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) remains unacceptable, approaching 45% in certain high-risk patient populations. Treating fulminant ARDS is currently relegated to supportive care measures only. Thus, the best treatment for ARDS may lie with preventing this syndrome from ever occurring. Clinical studies were examined to determine why ARDS has remained resistant to treatment over the past several decades. In addition, both basic science and clinical studies were examined to determine the impact that early, protective mechanical ventilation may have on preventing the development of ARDS in at-risk patients. Fulminant ARDS is highly resistant to both pharmacologic treatment and methods of mechanical ventilation. However, ARDS is a progressive disease with an early treatment window that can be exploited. In particular, protective mechanical ventilation initiated before the onset of lung injury can prevent the progression to ARDS. Airway pressure release ventilation(APRV) is a novel mechanical ventilation strategy for delivering a protective breath that has been shown to block progressive acute lung injury(ALI) and prevent ALI from progressing to ARDS. ARDS mortality currently remains as high as 45% in some studies. As ARDS is a progressive disease, the key to treatment lies with preventing the disease from ever occurring while it remains subclinical. Early protective mechanical ventilation with APRV appears to offer substantial benefit in this regard and may be the prophylactic treatment of choice for preventing ARDS.展开更多
It is generally accepted that taxa exhibit genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity, but many questions remain unan- swered about how divergent plastic responses evolve under dissimilar ecological conditions. Hormon...It is generally accepted that taxa exhibit genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity, but many questions remain unan- swered about how divergent plastic responses evolve under dissimilar ecological conditions. Hormones are signaling molecules that act as proximate mediators of phenotype expression by regulating a variety of cellular, physiological, and behavioral re- sponses. Hormones not only change cellular and physiological states but also influence gene expression directly or indirectly, thereby linking environmental conditions to phenotypic development. Studying how hormonal pathways respond to environ- mental variation and how those responses differ between individuals, populations, and species can expand our understanding of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Here, we explore the ways that the study of hormone signaling is providing new insights into the underlying proximate bases for individual, population or species variation in plasticity. Using several studies as exem- plars, we examine how a ＇norm of reaction＇ approach can be used in investigations of hormone-mediated plasticity to inform the following： 1） how environmental cues affect the component hormones, receptors and enzymes that comprise any endocrine sig- naling pathway, 2） how genetic and epigenetic variation in endocrine-associated genes can generate variation in plasticity among these diverse components, and 3） how phenotypes mediated by the same hormone can be coupled and decoupled via independent plastic responses of signaling components across target tissues. Future studies that apply approaches such as reaction norms and network modeling to questions concerning how hormones link environmental stimuli to ecologically-relevant phenotypic re- sponses should help unravel how phenotypic plasticity evolves展开更多
Prebiotics are non-digestible oligosaccharides that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a common prebiotic found in food products and infant formula...Prebiotics are non-digestible oligosaccharides that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a common prebiotic found in food products and infant formula. Lactulose is primarily used as a pharmaceutical ingredient but also shows potential prebiotic activities. Our objectives were to determine and compare the effects of FOS and lactulose on: 1) growth kinetics of common probiotics in aerobic condition;2) pH and titratable acidity after fermentation;and 3) antioxidant capacity of the probiotics. Ten probiotic and two non-probiotic strains, representing genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, and Escherichia were assembled. Media used for prebiotics experiment were modified to contain 2% FOS or lactulose as the sole or main carbohydrate source. All experiments were done in triplicate. In aerobic condition, most strains cultured with FOS or lactulose did not grow optimally compared to dextrose (a non-prebiotic), while all four Bifidobacterium spp. showed little growth regardless of the carbohydrate source. In anaerobic condition, lactulose and FOS fermentation of Bifidobacterium spp. yielded similar pH (p = 0.2723), but percent lactic acid, as determined by titratable acidity, was higher after lactulose fermentation (p = 0.0004). The non-probiotic strains were able to utilize both FOS and lactulose, but displayed weaker acid production and higher pH (p Bifidobacterium spp. (p = 0.0002) and Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.0447), but not probiotic E. coli and Bacillus spp. (p = 0.2599) or non-probiotics (p = 0.8816). In conclusion, lactulose supported growth activities of probiotics to a similar extent as FOS. Lactulose also stimulated higher acid production for Bifidobacterium spp. than FOS in anaerobic condition, thus it might be considered for incorporation into functional food products containing bifidobacteria.展开更多
Global climate change is impacting organisms, biological communities and ecosystems around the world. While most research has focused on characterizing how the climate is changing, including modeling future climatic c...Global climate change is impacting organisms, biological communities and ecosystems around the world. While most research has focused on characterizing how the climate is changing, including modeling future climatic conditions and predicting the impacts of these conditions on biodiversity, it is also the case that climate change is altering the environmental impacts of chemical pollution. Future climate conditions are expected to influence both the worldwide distribution of chemicals and the toxi- cological consequences of chemical exposures to organisms. Many of the environmental changes associated with a warming global climate （e.g., increased average - and possibly extreme - temperatures; intense periods of drier and wetter conditions; reduced ocean pH; altered salinity dynamics in estuaries） have the potential to enhance organism susceptibility to chemical toxicity. Addi- tionally, chemical exposures themselves may impair the ability of organisms to cope with the changing environmental conditions of the shifting climate. Such reciprocity in the interactions between climate change and chemicals illustrates the complexity inherent in predicting the toxicological consequences of chemical exposures under future climate scenarios. Here, we summarize what is currently known about the potential reciprocal effects of climate change and chemical toxicity on wildlife, and depict current approaches and ongoing challenges for incorporating climate effects into chemical testing and assessment. Given the rapid pace of new man-made chemistries, the development of accurate and rapid methods to evaluate multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors in an ecologically relevant context will be critical to understanding toxic and endocrine-disrupting effects of chemical pollutants under future climate scenarios [Current Zoology 61 （4）： 669-689, 2015].展开更多
An assessment on potentiality of Cow dung manure in <i>Zea mays</i> production at Kiwere village in Iringa Rural District (7°<span><span><span style="font-family:;" "...An assessment on potentiality of Cow dung manure in <i>Zea mays</i> production at Kiwere village in Iringa Rural District (7°<span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">37'17.3"S, 35°</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">37'48.1"E) was conducted from December 2019 to June 2020. The idea of this assessment was influenced by soil fertility depletion and the fall of Maize production in Iringa region from 1990’s. A total of 10 farms, 5 farms for Cow dung manured and 5 for non-manured in which Maize growth was monitored for 6 months. Various parameters as height, width and weight of both Maize plants and Maize fruits were recorded. Soil qualities both chemical and physical characteristics were analysed and recorded but also weather (Temperature, humidity) together with soil pH were recorded throughout the assessment period. The p-value of <0.0001 (1.03702E-</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">07) and <0.0001 (2.45684E-</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">05) for height and width and the highest mineral chemical values in the Cow manured 10 plots indicated that Cow manure not only increase Maize production significantly but also supports the production of soil microbial and hence renewals the soil minerals and soil fertility as well. This is why the soil physical values in the Cow dung manured plots Organic matter, porosity, soil aeration and others were found to be higher and the soil comprised of Sandy Clay Loam. Farmers are strongly advised to use this multipurp</span></span></span><span style="font-family:;" "="">ose and potential manure in their unfertile soil. Cow manures are easily available in their environment and cheaper.</span> <div class="__kindeditor_paste__" style="position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;overflow:hidden;left:-1981px;top:0px;white-space:nowrap;"> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline:0px;border-spacing:0px;width:962px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:#333333;font-family:-apple-system, "font-size:16px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <tbody style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;border:0px;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> <tr style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;border-width:1px 0px 0px;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:initial;border-left-color:initial;border-image:initial;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:#DDDDDD;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> <td style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;padding:8px;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:break-word;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;font-size:14px;color:#4F4F4F;line-height:22px;"> <p align="left" style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;padding:0px;overflow:auto hidden;line-height:22px;"> -</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div>展开更多
文摘Grapes are the main reason why the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is cultivated. However, climate, soil conditions, vegetation and anthropogenic effects on the soil greatly affect grapevine production. The organoleptic properties of grape-derived products, such as wine, are influenced by these factors, which are becoming increasingly popular in Africa. Thus, grapevines, which are commonly grown in warm regions, are acclimatized in Africa using grapevine varieties that can adjust to tropical conditions. This study, which was carried out in 2019, aimed to promote grapevine cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire by examining the influence of pedoclimatic factors on the agro-physiological characteristics of grapevines. In Côte d’Ivoire, there were four distinct agro-ecological zones (North, South, Southeast and West) where three grapevine varieties, Bequignol, Muscat Rouge and Aleatico, were grown. Grapevine plants could grow robustly in morpho-physiological ways because the soils had sufficient fertility, as revealed by the analysis of experimental sites. Grapevine varieties have successfully adapted to different terroirs, with the exception of Muscat Rouge, which only displayed favorable morphological characteristics in the Man zone (West). Regardless of the grape variety, the regions with the best grapevine-growing conditions were Man (West), followed by Aboisso (Southeast). Consequently, grapevine development was less favorable in Korhogo (North) and Abidjan (South) zones. Thus, the cultivation of grapevine varieties in Côte d’Ivoire was greatly influenced by terroir.
基金funded by a Life Sciences Alliance Pilot Seed Grant from the Rutgers-New Brunswick Office of the Vice Provost for Research,Grant Number OVPR-100(MV)。
文摘Neurodegeneration of retinal tissue leads to progressive vision loss in millions of working-age adults each year.Metabolic alterations caused by modern diets that are high in fats and sugars contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.Chronic,diet-induced metabolic changes are linked to high glucose and harmful,proinflammatory compounds in the blood,called advanced glycation end products(AGEs),that can alter the integrity of neurovascular barriers.AGEs-induced changes to the permeability of the inner blood-retinal barrier can lead to progressive vision loss with disparate impacts in patients with low estrogen,such as via natural aging processes,chronic illness,or aggressive medical interventions.Application of supplemental estradiol has been shown to ameliorate degeneration across the cardiovascular,intestinal,and nervous systems.This commentary describes the potential benefits of estradiol-based therapies on the visual health of older women with progressive diabetic retinopathy.
文摘Salinity is a major abiotic stress that hinders plant development and productivity and influences agricultural yield.Seed priming is a technique used to boost germination and seedling growth under abiotic stress.A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of seed priming with potassium nitrate(KNO_(3))at various levels(0%,0.50%,1.00%and 1.50%)under salt stress(0,75,100 mM NaCl)on two maize verities(MNH360 and 30T60)for the growth,development and metabolic attributes results revealed that in maize variety MNH360,KNO_(3)priming’s significantly enhanced growth parameters than in maize variety 30T60 under control and salt-stressed conditions.Priming with KNO_(3)enhanced carotenoids and total chlorophyll in the 30T60 variety that protected the maize plants from salt stress.Nevertheless,it was shown that priming with 1.00%KNO_(3)acts as safeguarded to protect them from oxidative damage by salt stress minimizing reactive oxygen species(ROS)formation through increased levels of malondialdehyde(MDA),catalase(CAT),peroxidase(POD),ascorbate peroxidase(APX),and total soluble protein.The findings of the present study confirm that the use of the KNO_(3)seed priming technique is a lowcost,environmentally friendly technique for mitigating adverse impacts of salt stress in maize crops by activating the antioxidant defense system and improving chlorophyll and osmolyte contents.
基金supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin diseases (NIAMS)of NIH under Award Number R01 AR069562 and AR073156 (to K.H.P.-M.)by the National Research Foundation of Korea NRF2020R1A6A3A03037133 (to H.K.)+1 种基金by the support for the Rosensweig Genomics Center from The Tow Foundation,and by R03 AR068118 (to L.D.)NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748 (to L.D.)。
文摘Osteoclasts are multinucleated bone-resorbing cells,and their formation is tightly regulated to prevent excessive bone loss.However,the mechanisms by which osteoclast formation is restricted remain incompletely determined.Here,we found that sterol regulatory element binding protein 2(SREBP2)functions as a negative regulator of osteoclast formation and inflammatory bone loss.Cholesterols and SREBP2,a key transcription factor for cholesterol biosynthesis,increased in the late phase of osteoclastogenesis.
文摘In Africa, the prevalence of diabetes is escalating and remains a concern due to the numerous complications it causes. Vascular damage associated with diabetes leads to a prothrombotic state observed in diabetic individuals. Diabetes is a complex and multifactorial disease involving genetic components. With the aim of preventing complications and contributing to an efficient management of diabetes, we investigated genes likely to lead to a risk of thrombosis, in particular the C677T of MTHFR, G20210A of prothrombin, and R506Q of factor V Leiden in type 2 diabetics in Abidjan receiving ambulatory care. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on consenting type 2 diabetic patients. Mutation detection was carried out using the PCR-RFLP method employing restriction enzymes. Hemostasis tests (fibrinogen, D-dimers, fibrin monomers, and von Willebrand factor) were performed using citrate tubes on the Stage? Star Max automated system. Plasminogen activator inhibitor was assayed by ELISA method, and biochemical parameters were determined using the COBAS C311. The study population consisted of 45 diabetic patients, 51.1% of whom presented vascular complications, mainly neuropathy. Disturbances in hemostasis parameters were observed, with 15.5% of patients showing an increase in fibrin monomers. Mutation analysis revealed an absence of factor V mutation (factor V Leiden) and of G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene. However, 15.6% of subjects had a heterozygous C677T mutation of MTHFR, with 57% of them being anemic. The exploration of biological and genetic factors associated with thrombotic risk is of significant interest in the optimal management of African type 2 diabetics.
文摘In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the performance of metal halide perovskite solar cells. Studies have shown significant interest in lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to concerns about the toxicity of lead in lead halide perovskites. CH3NH3SnI3 emerges as a viable alternative to CH3NH3PbX3. In this work, we studied the effect of various parameters on the performance of lead-free perovskite solar cells using simulation with the SCAPS 1D software. The cell structure consists of α-Fe2O3/CH3NH3SnI3/PEDOT: PSS. We analyzed parameters such as thickness, doping, and layer concentration. The study revealed that, without considering other optimized parameters, the efficiency of the cell increased from 22% to 35% when the perovskite thickness varied from 100 to 1000 nm. After optimization, solar cell efficiency reaches up to 42%. The optimization parameters are such that, for example, for perovskite: the layer thickness is 700 nm, the doping concentration is 1020 and the defect density is 1013 cm−3, and for hematite: the thickness is 5 nm, the doping concentration is 1022 and the defect concentration is 1011 cm−3. These results are encouraging because they highlight the good agreement between perovskite and hematite when used as the active and electron transport layers, respectively. Now, it is still necessary to produce real, viable photovoltaic solar cells with the proposed material layer parameters.
文摘Background: In Côte d’Ivoire so far, the circulating haplotypes have been inferred on the phenotypic profiling of SCD patients. The impact of the circulating haplotypes on the use of Hydroxyurea has not been assessed yet. Therefore the objective of this study is to identify in Abidjan the HbS haplotypes that modulate HU treatment responses. Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study, children aged 5 to 15 years with SCD, and carrying the hemoglobin phenotypes SSFA2 and SFA2, were recruited into a HU treatment cohort. Various parameters on the haplotypes and the outcomes of the treatment were analyzed. Results: Thirty nine children with SCD were included. The phenotypic profile of the cohort was 86.6% of SSFA2 and 15.4% of SFA2. Three haplotypes were found, the Benin haplotype, the Senegal haplotype, and an atypical one. The participants belonged to three genotypes, Benin/atypical (64.1%), Benin/Senegal (33.3%) and Senegal/Senegal (2.6%). Overall, HU treatment was successful in all haplotypes with 12 out of 39 patients failing treatment after 12 months in the Benin haplotype group. The association between HU treatment success and the Benin haplotype was found in terms of the decrease in the number of white blood cells and the students missing class. Conclusion: The study revealed that inferring haplotype based on the phenotypic profile could be inaccurate. The proportion of atypical haplotype that were not previously described in Côte d’Ivoire was high. All the haplotypes seemed to be associated with HU treatment success but some patients with Benin haplotype did not respond well.
文摘Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associated factors among bakery workers in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four (4) months from 18 December 2019 to 18 April 2020. Two questionnaires were used, one on employees and the other on the indoor environment of bakeries. In addition, a spirometry test was performed on all bakery workers. Statistical analysis was performed using stata 15.1 software. Results: A total of 599 bakery employees, including bakers (59.73%), sales assistants/ cashiers (23.52%), cleaners (6.34%) and administrative staff (10.18%), were investigated. The mean age was 30.8 ± 8 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) = 2.2. Asthma symptoms were found in 95 (15.86%) employees, of whom 74 (77.9%) had work-related asthma and 11 (14.9%) had asthma aggravated by work. The factors associated with work-aggravated asthma were personal or family history of allergy or atopy [ORa = 3.75;CI95%: 1.56 - 8.93;p = 0.003], exposure to dust [ORa = 5.01;CI95%: 1.43 - 7.50;p = 0.011] and humidity level (60% - 70%) [ORa = 1.80;CI 95%: 0.99 - 3.28;p = 0.05]. Conclusion: Work-aggravated asthma is a reality in bakeries in Abidjan, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9%. Two of the three factors associated with this condition suggest a link with indoor air pollution. Combating air pollution in these establishments must therefore be a priority for the relevant authorities, in order to provide employees with a working environment that protects their health.
基金funded by the NIH Grant 1R15AG022908-01A2 and the Western Michigan University(to JMS)。
文摘Peripheral nerve injuries commonly occur due to trauma,like a traffic accident.Peripheral nerves get severed,causing motor neuron death and potential muscle atrophy.The current golden standard to treat peripheral nerve lesions,especially lesions with large(≥3 cm)nerve gaps,is the use of a nerve autograft or reimplantation in cases where nerve root avulsions occur.If not tended early,degeneration of motor neurons and loss of axon regeneration can occur,leading to loss of function.Although surgical procedures exist,patients often do not fully recover,and quality of life deteriorates.Peripheral nerves have limited regeneration,and it is usually mediated by Schwann cells and neurotrophic factors,like glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,as seen in Wallerian degeneration.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is a neurotrophic factor known to promote motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth.Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor is upregulated in different forms of nerve injuries like axotomy,sciatic nerve crush,and compression,thus creating great interest to explore this protein as a potential treatment for peripheral nerve injuries.Exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor has shown positive effects in regeneration and functional recovery when applied in experimental models of peripheral nerve injuries.In this review,we discuss the mechanism of repair provided by Schwann cells and upregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,the latest findings on the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in different types of peripheral nerve injuries,delivery systems,and complementary treatments(electrical muscle stimulation and exercise).Understanding and overcoming the challenges of proper timing and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor delivery is paramount to creating novel treatments to tend to peripheral nerve injuries to improve patients'quality of life.
基金Supported by Sciences Faculty,Los Andes University,Bogotá,Colombia and National Cancer Institute,Bogotá,Colombia,Grant No.41030310-28 (to Bravo MM)
文摘AIM: To investigate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) CagA diversity and to evaluate the association between protein polymorphisms and the occurrence of gastric pathologies. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-two clinical isolates of H. pylori cultured from gastric biopsies obtained from Colombian patients with dyspepsia were included as study material. DNA extracted from isolates was used to determine cagA status, amplifying the C-terminal cagA gene region by polymerase chain reaction. One hundred and six strains with a single amplicon were sequenced and results were used to characterize the 3' variable region of the cagA gene. To establish the number and type of tyrosine phosphorylation motifs Glutamine acid-Proline-Isoleucine-Tyrosine-Alanine (EPI-YA) bioinformatic analysis using Amino Acid Sequence Analyzer-Amino Acid Sequence Analyzer software was conducted. Analysis of the association between the number of EPIYA motifs and the gastric pathology was performed using χ2 test and analysis of the presence of EPIYA-C motifs in relation to the pathology was made by logistic regression odds ratios. Comparisons among EPIYA types found and those reported in GenBank were performed using a proportion test in Statistix Analytical Software version 8.0. RESULTS: After amplification of the 3' of the cagA gene, 106 from 122 isolates presented a single amplicon and 16 showed multiple amplicons. As expected, diversity in the size of the cagA unique fragments among isolates was observed. The 106 strains that presented a single amplicon after 3' cagA amplification came from patients with gastritis (19 patients), atrophic gastritis (21), intestinal metaplasia (26), duodenal ulcer (22) and gastric cancer. DNA sequence analysis showed that the differences in size of 3' cagA unique fragments was attributable to the number of EPIYA motifs: 1.9% had two EPIYA motifs, 62.3% had three, 33.0% had four and 2.8% had five motifs. The majority of tested clinical strains (62.3%) were found to harbor the ABC combination of EPIYA motifs and a significant statistical difference was observed between the frequencies of ABCC tyrosine phosphorylation motifs and Western strains sequences deposited in GenBank. CONCLUSION: The present report describes a lack of association between H. pylori CagA-protein polymorphisms and pathogenesis. ABCC high frequency variations compared with Western-strains sequences deposited in GenBank require more investigation.
基金Supported by National Cancer Institute, Bogotá, Colombia,Grant No. 41030310 to Bravo MM and Sciences Faculty, LosAndes University, Bogotá, Colombia
文摘AIM: To investigate the influence of the CagA diversity in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) strains from Colombia on the host cell biology. METHODS: Eighty-four H. pylori-cagA positive strains with different Glu-Pro-Ile-Tyr-Ala (EPIYA) motifs patterns, isolated from patients with gastritis (n=17), atrophic gastritis (n=17), duodenal ulcer (n=16), intestinal metaplasia (n=16) and gastric cancer (n=18), were included. To determine the integrity of the cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) we evaluated the presence of cagA, cagT, cagE, and cag10 genes by polymerase chain reaction. AGS gastric epithelial cellswere infected with each strain and assayed for translo-cation and tyrosine phosphorylation of CagA by western blot, secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8) by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay after taking supernatants from cocultures and cell elongation induction. For cell elongation quantification, coculture photographs were taken and the proportion of "hummingbird" cells (>15 μm) was determined. RESULTS: Overall 72% (60/84) of the strains were found to harbor a functional cag PAI. Levels of phos-phorylated CagA were significantly higher for isolates from duodenal ulcer than the ones in strains from gas-tritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer (49.1% ± 23.1% vs 21.1% ± 19.5%, P < 0.02; 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 26.2%±14.8%, P<0.045; 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 21.5% ± 19.5%, P<0.043 and 49.1% ± 23.1% vs 29.5% ± 27.1%, P < 0.047 respectively). We observed variable IL-8 expression levels ranging from 0 to 810 pg/mL and from 8.8 to 1442 pg/mL at 6 h and 30 h post-infection, respectively. cagPAI-defective strains did not induce detectable levels of IL-8 at 6 h post-infection. At 30 h post-infection all strains induced IL-8 expression in AGS cells, although cagPAI-defective strains induced significantly lower levels of IL-8 than strains with a functional cagPAI (57.1 ± 56.6 pg/mL vs 513.6 ± 338.6 pg/mL,P < 0.0001). We did not observe differences in the extent of cell elongation induction between strains with a functional or a defective cagPAI in 6 h cocultures. At 24 h post infection strains with functionalcagPAI showed high diversity in the extent of hummingbird phenotype induction ranging from 7% to 34%. cag PAI defective strains induced significantly lower levels of elongation than strains with functional cag-PAI with one or more than one EPIYA-C motif (15.1% ± 5.2%vs 18.9% ± 4.7%,P < 0.03; and 15.1% ± 5.2% vs 20.0% ± 5.1%, P < 0.003 respectively). No differences were observed in cellular elongation inductionor IL-8 expression among H. pylori strains bearing one and more than one EPIYA-C motifs, neither at 6 h nor at 24 h of coculture. There were no associations between the levels of induction of cell elongation or IL-8 expression and number of EPIYA motifs or pathology. CONCLUSION: The present work describes a lack of association between H. pylori CagA protein EPIYA motifs variations from Colombian isolates and disease-associated cellular responses.
基金supported by the Program of Technology Development, Shaanxi Province, China (2003K03-G7)
文摘Dangshansuli pear is one of crisp pears and has a non-climacteric respiratory pattern. Dangshansuli pear fruits were treated with 1 000 or 2 000 μL L-1 diphenylamine （DPA） for 1 min, or with 0.5 μL L-1 1-methylcyclopropene （l-MCP） for 12 h before cold storage at （2±0.5）℃ for up to 210 d. Incidences of superficial scald and related physiological indexes were investigated during storage. The results showed that superficial scald occurred in control fruit with a rate of over 90% after 210 d at cold storage plus 10 d at room temperature. Treatments with 1 000 and 2 000 μL L-1 DPA and 0.5 μL L-1 l-MCP inhibited the accumulation of a-farnesene, conjugated trienes, total phenolic contents, and malondialdehyde （MDA） during storage. The treatments also decreased leakage of cell membrane and the activity of polyphenol oxidase （PPO） in the peel. These results indicate that 1-MCP and DPA treatments inhibit and postpone the occurrence of superficial scald of Dangshansuli pears remarkably in cold storage and post-storage shelf life, respectively, while the mechanisms were different. The results above may provide a theoretical evidence for the agriculture production.
文摘Mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) remains unacceptable, approaching 45% in certain high-risk patient populations. Treating fulminant ARDS is currently relegated to supportive care measures only. Thus, the best treatment for ARDS may lie with preventing this syndrome from ever occurring. Clinical studies were examined to determine why ARDS has remained resistant to treatment over the past several decades. In addition, both basic science and clinical studies were examined to determine the impact that early, protective mechanical ventilation may have on preventing the development of ARDS in at-risk patients. Fulminant ARDS is highly resistant to both pharmacologic treatment and methods of mechanical ventilation. However, ARDS is a progressive disease with an early treatment window that can be exploited. In particular, protective mechanical ventilation initiated before the onset of lung injury can prevent the progression to ARDS. Airway pressure release ventilation(APRV) is a novel mechanical ventilation strategy for delivering a protective breath that has been shown to block progressive acute lung injury(ALI) and prevent ALI from progressing to ARDS. ARDS mortality currently remains as high as 45% in some studies. As ARDS is a progressive disease, the key to treatment lies with preventing the disease from ever occurring while it remains subclinical. Early protective mechanical ventilation with APRV appears to offer substantial benefit in this regard and may be the prophylactic treatment of choice for preventing ARDS.
文摘It is generally accepted that taxa exhibit genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity, but many questions remain unan- swered about how divergent plastic responses evolve under dissimilar ecological conditions. Hormones are signaling molecules that act as proximate mediators of phenotype expression by regulating a variety of cellular, physiological, and behavioral re- sponses. Hormones not only change cellular and physiological states but also influence gene expression directly or indirectly, thereby linking environmental conditions to phenotypic development. Studying how hormonal pathways respond to environ- mental variation and how those responses differ between individuals, populations, and species can expand our understanding of the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Here, we explore the ways that the study of hormone signaling is providing new insights into the underlying proximate bases for individual, population or species variation in plasticity. Using several studies as exem- plars, we examine how a ＇norm of reaction＇ approach can be used in investigations of hormone-mediated plasticity to inform the following： 1） how environmental cues affect the component hormones, receptors and enzymes that comprise any endocrine sig- naling pathway, 2） how genetic and epigenetic variation in endocrine-associated genes can generate variation in plasticity among these diverse components, and 3） how phenotypes mediated by the same hormone can be coupled and decoupled via independent plastic responses of signaling components across target tissues. Future studies that apply approaches such as reaction norms and network modeling to questions concerning how hormones link environmental stimuli to ecologically-relevant phenotypic re- sponses should help unravel how phenotypic plasticity evolves
文摘Prebiotics are non-digestible oligosaccharides that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is a common prebiotic found in food products and infant formula. Lactulose is primarily used as a pharmaceutical ingredient but also shows potential prebiotic activities. Our objectives were to determine and compare the effects of FOS and lactulose on: 1) growth kinetics of common probiotics in aerobic condition;2) pH and titratable acidity after fermentation;and 3) antioxidant capacity of the probiotics. Ten probiotic and two non-probiotic strains, representing genera Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, and Escherichia were assembled. Media used for prebiotics experiment were modified to contain 2% FOS or lactulose as the sole or main carbohydrate source. All experiments were done in triplicate. In aerobic condition, most strains cultured with FOS or lactulose did not grow optimally compared to dextrose (a non-prebiotic), while all four Bifidobacterium spp. showed little growth regardless of the carbohydrate source. In anaerobic condition, lactulose and FOS fermentation of Bifidobacterium spp. yielded similar pH (p = 0.2723), but percent lactic acid, as determined by titratable acidity, was higher after lactulose fermentation (p = 0.0004). The non-probiotic strains were able to utilize both FOS and lactulose, but displayed weaker acid production and higher pH (p Bifidobacterium spp. (p = 0.0002) and Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.0447), but not probiotic E. coli and Bacillus spp. (p = 0.2599) or non-probiotics (p = 0.8816). In conclusion, lactulose supported growth activities of probiotics to a similar extent as FOS. Lactulose also stimulated higher acid production for Bifidobacterium spp. than FOS in anaerobic condition, thus it might be considered for incorporation into functional food products containing bifidobacteria.
文摘Global climate change is impacting organisms, biological communities and ecosystems around the world. While most research has focused on characterizing how the climate is changing, including modeling future climatic conditions and predicting the impacts of these conditions on biodiversity, it is also the case that climate change is altering the environmental impacts of chemical pollution. Future climate conditions are expected to influence both the worldwide distribution of chemicals and the toxi- cological consequences of chemical exposures to organisms. Many of the environmental changes associated with a warming global climate （e.g., increased average - and possibly extreme - temperatures; intense periods of drier and wetter conditions; reduced ocean pH; altered salinity dynamics in estuaries） have the potential to enhance organism susceptibility to chemical toxicity. Addi- tionally, chemical exposures themselves may impair the ability of organisms to cope with the changing environmental conditions of the shifting climate. Such reciprocity in the interactions between climate change and chemicals illustrates the complexity inherent in predicting the toxicological consequences of chemical exposures under future climate scenarios. Here, we summarize what is currently known about the potential reciprocal effects of climate change and chemical toxicity on wildlife, and depict current approaches and ongoing challenges for incorporating climate effects into chemical testing and assessment. Given the rapid pace of new man-made chemistries, the development of accurate and rapid methods to evaluate multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors in an ecologically relevant context will be critical to understanding toxic and endocrine-disrupting effects of chemical pollutants under future climate scenarios [Current Zoology 61 （4）： 669-689, 2015].
文摘An assessment on potentiality of Cow dung manure in <i>Zea mays</i> production at Kiwere village in Iringa Rural District (7°<span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">37'17.3"S, 35°</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">37'48.1"E) was conducted from December 2019 to June 2020. The idea of this assessment was influenced by soil fertility depletion and the fall of Maize production in Iringa region from 1990’s. A total of 10 farms, 5 farms for Cow dung manured and 5 for non-manured in which Maize growth was monitored for 6 months. Various parameters as height, width and weight of both Maize plants and Maize fruits were recorded. Soil qualities both chemical and physical characteristics were analysed and recorded but also weather (Temperature, humidity) together with soil pH were recorded throughout the assessment period. The p-value of <0.0001 (1.03702E-</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">07) and <0.0001 (2.45684E-</span></span></span><span><span><span style="font-family:;" "="">05) for height and width and the highest mineral chemical values in the Cow manured 10 plots indicated that Cow manure not only increase Maize production significantly but also supports the production of soil microbial and hence renewals the soil minerals and soil fertility as well. This is why the soil physical values in the Cow dung manured plots Organic matter, porosity, soil aeration and others were found to be higher and the soil comprised of Sandy Clay Loam. Farmers are strongly advised to use this multipurp</span></span></span><span style="font-family:;" "="">ose and potential manure in their unfertile soil. Cow manures are easily available in their environment and cheaper.</span> <div class="__kindeditor_paste__" style="position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;overflow:hidden;left:-1981px;top:0px;white-space:nowrap;"> <table border="1" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline:0px;border-spacing:0px;width:962px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:#333333;font-family:-apple-system, "font-size:16px;background-color:#FFFFFF;"> <tbody style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;border:0px;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> <tr style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;border-width:1px 0px 0px;border-right-style:initial;border-bottom-style:initial;border-left-style:initial;border-right-color:initial;border-bottom-color:initial;border-left-color:initial;border-image:initial;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:#DDDDDD;overflow-wrap:break-word;"> <td style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;padding:8px;margin:0px;overflow-wrap:break-word;border:1px solid #DDDDDD;font-size:14px;color:#4F4F4F;line-height:22px;"> <p align="left" style="box-sizing:border-box;outline:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;padding:0px;overflow:auto hidden;line-height:22px;"> -</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div>
