Axonal growth inhibitors and their receptors in spinal cord injury:from biology to clinical translation

Axonal growth inhibitors are released during traumatic injuries to the adult mammalian central nervous system, including after spinal cord injury. These molecules accumulate at the injury site and form a highly inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration. Among these inhibitory molecules, myelinassociated inhibitors, including neurite outgrowth inhibitor A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A are of particular importance. Due to their inhibitory nature, they represent exciting molecular targets to study axonal inhibition and regeneration after central injuries. These molecules are mainly produced by neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes within the scar and in its immediate vicinity. They exert their effects by binding to specific receptors, localized in the membranes of neurons. Receptors for these inhibitory cues include Nogo receptor 1, leucine-rich repeat, and Ig domain containing 1 and p75 neurotrophin receptor/tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19(that form a receptor complex that binds all myelin-associated inhibitors), and also paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A bind to Nogo receptor 1, Nogo receptor 3, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase σ and leucocyte common antigen related phosphatase, and neogenin, respectively. Once activated, these receptors initiate downstream signaling pathways, the most common amongst them being the Rho A/ROCK signaling pathway. These signaling cascades result in actin depolymerization, neurite outgrowth inhibition, and failure to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments to overcome spinal cord injuries other than physical rehabilitation and management of the array of symptoms brought on by spinal cord injuries. However, several novel therapies aiming to modulate these inhibitory proteins and/or their receptors are under investigation in ongoing clinical trials. Investigation has also been demonstrating that combinatorial therapies of growth inhibitors with other therapies, such as growth factors or stem-cell therapies, produce stronger results and their potential application in the clinics opens new venues in spinal cord injury treatment.

Enhancing Cancer Classification through a Hybrid Bio-Inspired Evolutionary Algorithm for Biomarker Gene Selection

In this study,our aim is to address the problem of gene selection by proposing a hybrid bio-inspired evolutionary algorithm that combines Grey Wolf Optimization(GWO)with Harris Hawks Optimization(HHO)for feature selection.Themotivation for utilizingGWOandHHOstems fromtheir bio-inspired nature and their demonstrated success in optimization problems.We aimto leverage the strengths of these algorithms to enhance the effectiveness of feature selection in microarray-based cancer classification.We selected leave-one-out cross-validation(LOOCV)to evaluate the performance of both two widely used classifiers,k-nearest neighbors(KNN)and support vector machine(SVM),on high-dimensional cancer microarray data.The proposed method is extensively tested on six publicly available cancer microarray datasets,and a comprehensive comparison with recently published methods is conducted.Our hybrid algorithm demonstrates its effectiveness in improving classification performance,Surpassing alternative approaches in terms of precision.The outcomes confirm the capability of our method to substantially improve both the precision and efficiency of cancer classification,thereby advancing the development ofmore efficient treatment strategies.The proposed hybridmethod offers a promising solution to the gene selection problem in microarray-based cancer classification.It improves the accuracy and efficiency of cancer diagnosis and treatment,and its superior performance compared to other methods highlights its potential applicability in realworld cancer classification tasks.By harnessing the complementary search mechanisms of GWO and HHO,we leverage their bio-inspired behavior to identify informative genes relevant to cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Contribution of glial cells to the neuroprotective effects triggered by repetitive magnetic stimulation:a systematic review

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been increasingly studied in different neurological diseases,and although most studies focus on its effects on neuronal cells,the contribution of nonneuronal cells to the improvement trigge red by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in these diseases has been increasingly suggested.To systematically review the effects of repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells two online databases.Web of Science and PubMed were searched fo r the effects of high-frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,low-frequencyrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,intermittent theta-bu rst stimulation,continuous thetaburst stimulation,or repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells in models of disease and in unlesioned animals or cells.A total of 52 studies were included.The protocol more frequently used was high-frequency-repetitive magnetic stimulation,and in models of disease,most studies report that high-frequency-repetitive magnetic stimulation led to a decrease in astrocyte and mic roglial reactivity,a decrease in the release of pro-inflammatory cyto kines,and an increase of oligodendrocyte proliferation.The trend towards decreased microglial and astrocyte reactivity as well as increased oligodendrocyte proliferation occurred with intermittent theta-burst stimulation and continuous theta-burst stimulation.Few papers analyzed the low-frequency-repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol,and the parameters evaluated were restricted to the study of astrocyte reactivity and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines,repo rting the absence of effects on these paramete rs.In what concerns the use of magnetic stimulation in unlesioned animals or cells,most articles on all four types of stimulation reported a lack of effects.It is also important to point out that the studies were developed mostly in male rodents,not evaluating possible diffe rential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation between sexes.This systematic review supports that thro ugh modulation of glial cells repetitive magnetic stimulation contributes to the neuroprotection or repair in various neurological disease models.Howeve r,it should be noted that there are still few articles focusing on the impact of repetitive magnetic stimulation on non-neuronal cells and most studies did not perform in-depth analyses of the effects,emphasizing the need for more studies in this field.

Microglia lactylation in relation to central nervous system diseases

The development of neurodegenerative diseases is closely related to the disruption of central nervous system homeostasis.Microglia,as innate immune cells,play important roles in the maintenance of central nervous system homeostasis,injury response,and neurodegenerative diseases.Lactate has been considered a metabolic waste product,but recent studies are revealing ever more of the physiological functions of lactate.Lactylation is an important pathway in lactate function and is involved in glycolysis-related functions,macrophage polarization,neuromodulation,and angiogenesis and has also been implicated in the development of various diseases.This review provides an overview of the lactate metabolic and homeostatic regulatory processes involved in microglia lactylation,histone versus non-histone lactylation,and therapeutic approaches targeting lactate.Finally,we summarize the current research on microglia lactylation in central nervous system diseases.A deeper understanding of the metabolic regulatory mechanisms of microglia lactylation will provide more options for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.

Hydrocarbon indication in Rio Bonito Formation sandstone:Implication for CO_(2)storage in São Paulo,Brazil

São Paulo State has witnessed CO_(2)storage-based investigations considering the availability of suitable geologic structures and proximity to primary CO_(2)source sinks related to bioenergy and carbon capture and storage(BECCS)activities.The current study presents the hydrocarbon viability evaluations and CO_(2)storage prospects,focusing on the sandstone units of the Rio Bonito Formation.The objective is to apply petrophysical evaluations with geochemical inputs in predicting future hydrocarbon(gas)production to boost CO_(2)storage within the study location.The study used data from eleven wells with associated wireline logs(gamma ray,resistivity,density,neutron,and sonic)to predict potential hydrocarbon accumulation and fluid mobility in the investigated area.Rock samples(shale and carbonate)obtained from depths>200 m within the study location have shown bitumen presence.Organic geochemistry data of the Rio Bonito Formation shale beds suggest they are potential hydrocarbon source rocks and could have contributed to the gas accumulations within the sandstone units.Some drilled well data,e.g.,CB-1-SP and TI-1-SP,show hydrocarbon(gas)presence based on the typical resistivity and the combined neutron-density responses at depths up to 3400 m,indicating the possibility of other hydrocarbon members apart from the heavy oil(bitumen)observed from the near-surface rocks samples.From the three-dimensional(3-D)model,the free fluid indicator(FFI)is more significant towards the southwest and southeast of the area with deeper depths of occurrence,indicating portions with reasonable hydrocarbon recovery rates and good prospects for CO_(2)injection,circulation and permanent storage.However,future studies based on contemporary datasets are required to establish the hydrocarbon viability further,foster gas production events,and enhance CO_(2)storage possibilities within the region.

Evolutionary fingerprint, phylogenetic and forest structure of tropical montane Atlantic cloud forests along an elevation gradient

Environmental conditions can change markedly over geographical distances along elevation gradients,making them natural laboratories to study the processes that structure communities.This work aimed to assess the influences of elevation on Tropical Montane Cloud Forest plant communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest,a historically neglected ecoregion.We evaluated the phylogenetic structure,forest structure(tree basal area and tree density)and species richness along an elevation gradient,as well as the evolutionary fingerprints of elevation-success on phylogenetic lineages from the tree communities.To do so,we assessed nine communities along an elevation gradient from 1210 to 2310 m a.s.l.without large elevation gaps.The relationships between elevation and phylogenetic structure,forest structure and species richness were investigated through Linear Models.The occurrence of evolutionary fingerprint on phylogenetic lineages was investigated by quantifying the extent of phylogenetic signal of elevation-success using a genus-level molecular phylogeny.Our results showed decreased species richness at higher elevations and independence between forest structure,phylogenetic structure and elevation.We also verified that there is a phylogenetic signal associated with elevation-success by lineages.We concluded that the elevation is associated with species richness and the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages in the tree communities evaluated in Mantiqueira Range.On the other hand,elevation is not associated with forest structure or phylogenetic structure.Furthermore,closely related taxa tend to have their higher ecological success in similar elevations.Finally,we highlight the fragility of the tropical montane cloud forests in the Mantiqueira Range in face of environmental changes(i.e.global warming)due to the occurrence of exclusive phylogenetic lineages evolutionarily adapted to environmental conditions(i.e.minimum temperature)associated with each elevation range.

BHJO: A Novel Hybrid Metaheuristic Algorithm Combining the Beluga Whale, Honey Badger, and Jellyfish Search Optimizers for Solving Engineering Design Problems

Hybridizing metaheuristic algorithms involves synergistically combining different optimization techniques to effectively address complex and challenging optimization problems.This approach aims to leverage the strengths of multiple algorithms,enhancing solution quality,convergence speed,and robustness,thereby offering a more versatile and efficient means of solving intricate real-world optimization tasks.In this paper,we introduce a hybrid algorithm that amalgamates three distinct metaheuristics:the Beluga Whale Optimization(BWO),the Honey Badger Algorithm(HBA),and the Jellyfish Search(JS)optimizer.The proposed hybrid algorithm will be referred to as BHJO.Through this fusion,the BHJO algorithm aims to leverage the strengths of each optimizer.Before this hybridization,we thoroughly examined the exploration and exploitation capabilities of the BWO,HBA,and JS metaheuristics,as well as their ability to strike a balance between exploration and exploitation.This meticulous analysis allowed us to identify the pros and cons of each algorithm,enabling us to combine them in a novel hybrid approach that capitalizes on their respective strengths for enhanced optimization performance.In addition,the BHJO algorithm incorporates Opposition-Based Learning(OBL)to harness the advantages offered by this technique,leveraging its diverse exploration,accelerated convergence,and improved solution quality to enhance the overall performance and effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm.Moreover,the performance of the BHJO algorithm was evaluated across a range of both unconstrained and constrained optimization problems,providing a comprehensive assessment of its efficacy and applicability in diverse problem domains.Similarly,the BHJO algorithm was subjected to a comparative analysis with several renowned algorithms,where mean and standard deviation values were utilized as evaluation metrics.This rigorous comparison aimed to assess the performance of the BHJOalgorithmabout its counterparts,shedding light on its effectiveness and reliability in solving optimization problems.Finally,the obtained numerical statistics underwent rigorous analysis using the Friedman post hoc Dunn’s test.The resulting numerical values revealed the BHJO algorithm’s competitiveness in tackling intricate optimization problems,affirming its capability to deliver favorable outcomes in challenging scenarios.

Exploring Biocomplexity in Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Living objects have complex internal and external interactions. The complexity is regulated and controlled by homeostasis, which is the balance of multiple opposing influences. The environmental effects finally guide the self-organized structure. The living systems are open, dynamic structures performing random, stationary, stochastic, self-organizing processes. The self-organizing procedure is defined by the spatial-temporal fractal structure, which is self-similar both in space and time. The system’s complexity appears in its energetics, which tries the most efficient use of the available energies;for that, it organizes various well-connected networks. The controller of environmental relations is the Darwinian selection on a long-time scale. The energetics optimize the healthy processes tuned to the highest efficacy and minimal loss (minimalization of the entropy production). The organism is built up by morphogenetic rules and develops various networks from the genetic level to the organism. The networks have intensive crosstalk and form a balance in the Nash equilibrium, which is the homeostatic state in healthy conditions. Homeostasis may be described as a Nash equilibrium, which ensures energy distribution in a “democratic” way regarding the functions of the parts in the complete system. Cancer radically changes the network system in the organism. Cancer is a network disease. Deviation from healthy networking appears at every level, from genetic (molecular) to cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. The strong proliferation of malignant tissue is the origin of most of the life-threatening processes. The weak side of cancer development is the change of complex information networking in the system, being vulnerable to immune attacks. Cancer cells are masters of adaptation and evade immune surveillance. This hiding process can be broken by electromagnetic nonionizing radiation, for which the malignant structure has no adaptation strategy. Our objective is to review the different sides of living complexity and use the knowledge to fight against cancer.

The effects of data aggregation on long-term projections of forest stands development

Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning(ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories(FMIs)for sustainable and efficient decision-making.Employing the area-based(ABA)approach,these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas(pixels),which are then usually summarized at the stand level.Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps(16 m×16 m pixel resolution)alongside with stand-level growth and yield models,this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation(standlevel,stand-level with species strata,and pixel-level)on projected stand development.The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level.Notably,the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation,ranging from-301 to+253 m^(3)·ha^(-1)for single stands.The differences were,on average,higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands,and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands.In conclusion,this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management,emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.

‘Prediabetes’ as a practical distinctive window for workable fruitful wonders: Prevention and progression alert as advanced professionalism

Diabetes is a devastating public health problem.Prediabetes is an intermediate stage in the disease processes leading to diabetes,including types 1 and 2 diabetes.In the article“Prediabetes in children and adolescents:An updated review,”the authors presented current evidence.We simplify and systematically clearly present the evidence and rationale for a conceptual framework we term the‘3ASs’:(1)Awareness Sensible;(2)Algorithm Simple;and(3)Appealing Strategies.Policy makers and the public need to be alerted.The prevalence of prediabetes should send alarm bells ringing for parents,individuals,clinicians,and policy makers.Prediabetes is defined by the following criteria:impaired fasting glucose(100-125 mg/dL);impaired glucose tolerance(2 h postprandial glucose 140-199 mg/dL);or hemoglobin A1c values of 5.7%–6.4%.Any of the above positive test alerts for intervention.Clinical guidelines do not recommend prioritizing one test over the others for evaluation.Decisions should be made on the strengths and shortfalls of each test.Patient preferences and test accessibility should be taken into consideration.An algorithm based on age,physiological stage,health status,and risk factors is provided.Primordial prevention targeting populations aims to eliminate risk factors through public education and encouraging practices through environmental modifications.Access to healthy foods is provided.Primary prevention is for individuals with a prediabetes diagnosis and involves a structured program to reduce body weight and increase physical activity along with a healthy diet.An overall methodical move to a healthy lifestyle for lifelong health is urgently needed.Early energetic prediabetes action is necessary.

Color and Gloss Changes of a Lignin-Based Polyurethane Coating under Accelerated Weathering

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the properties of polyurethane coatings based on lignin nano-particles.For this purpose,the prepared coatings were applied to pine wood surfaces and weathered artificially.Subsequently,color and gloss of the coatings were measured before and after the weathering test.Field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM)micrographs prepared from the coatings showed that the average size of nano-particles in the polyurethane substrate was approximately 500 nm.Nuclear magnetic resonance(13C-NMR)spectroscopy showed that strong urethane bonds were formed in the nano-lignin-based polyurethane.Differential calorimetric analysis(DSC)test revealed that the glass-transition temperature(Tg)of lignin nanoparticles modified with diethylenetriamine(DETA)was 112.8℃ and Tg of lignin nano-particles modified with ethylenediamine(EDA)was 102.5℃,which is lower than the Tg of un-modified lignin(114.6℃)and lignin modified with DETA(126.8℃)and lignin modified with EDA(131.3℃).The coatings modified with lignin nano-particles had a greater change in gloss.The lignin nano-particles in the modified coating are trapping hydroxyl radicals which reduces photoactivity and yellowing of the polyurethane by about 3 times compared to unmodified polyurethane coatings.After weathering test,the nano-lignin-based coating had a rougher surface with a lower contact angle(0.78°)compared to the unmodified polyurethane coating(0.85°).

Theoretical analysis of the double-differential cross-sections of neutron,proton,deuteron,^(3)He,andαfor the p+^(6) Li reaction

Based on the unified Hauser–Feshbach and exciton model,which can describe the particle emission processes between discrete energy levels with energy,angular momentum,and parity conservations,a statistical theory of light nucleus reaction(STLN)is developed to calculate the double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing neutron and light charged particles for the proton-induced^(6) Li reaction.A significant difference is observed between the p+^(6) Li and p+^(7) Li reactions owing to the discrepancies in the energy-level structures of the targets.The reaction channels,including sequential and simultaneous emission processes,are analyzed in detail.Taking the double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing proton as an example,the influence of contaminations(such as^(1) H,^(7)Li,^(12)C,and^(16)O)on the target is identified in terms of the kinetic energy of the first emitted particles.The optical potential parameters of the proton are obtained by fitting the elastic scattering differential cross-sections.The calculated total double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing proton and deuteron at E_(p)=14 MeV agree well with the experimental data for different outgoing angles.Simultaneously,the mixed double differential cross-sections of^(3) He andαare in good agreement with the measurements.The agreement between the measured data and calculated results indicates that the two-body and three-body breakup reactions need to be considered,and the pre-equilibrium reaction mechanism dominates the reaction processes.Based on the STLN model,a PLUNF code for the p+^(6) Li reaction is developed to obtain an ENDF-6-formatted file of the double-differential cross-sections of the nucleon and light composite charged particles.

Efficient Object Segmentation and Recognition Using Multi-Layer Perceptron Networks

Object segmentation and recognition is an imperative area of computer vision andmachine learning that identifies and separates individual objects within an image or video and determines classes or categories based on their features.The proposed system presents a distinctive approach to object segmentation and recognition using Artificial Neural Networks(ANNs).The system takes RGB images as input and uses a k-means clustering-based segmentation technique to fragment the intended parts of the images into different regions and label thembased on their characteristics.Then,two distinct kinds of features are obtained from the segmented images to help identify the objects of interest.An Artificial Neural Network(ANN)is then used to recognize the objects based on their features.Experiments were carried out with three standard datasets,MSRC,MS COCO,and Caltech 101 which are extensively used in object recognition research,to measure the productivity of the suggested approach.The findings from the experiment support the suggested system’s validity,as it achieved class recognition accuracies of 89%,83%,and 90.30% on the MSRC,MS COCO,and Caltech 101 datasets,respectively.

Highly sensitive ratiometric fluorescent fiber matrices for oxygen sensing with micrometer spatial resolution

Oxygen(O_(2))-sensing matrices are promising tools for the live monitoring of extracellular O_(2) consumption levels in long-term cell cultures.In this study,ratiometric O_(2)-sensing membranes were prepared by electrospinning,an easy,low-cost,scalable,and robust method for fabricating nanofibers.Poly(ε-caprolactone)and poly(dimethyl)siloxane polymers were blended with tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium(II)dichloride,which was used as the O_(2)-sensing probe,and rhodamine B isothiocyanate,which was used as the reference dye.The functionalized scaffolds were morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy,and their physicochemical profiles were obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,thermogravimetric analysis,and water contact angle measurement.The sensing capabilities were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy,performing photobleaching,reversibility,and calibration curve studies toward different dissolved O_(2)(DO)concentrations.Electrospun sensing nanofibers showed a high response to changes in DO concentrations in the physiological-pathological range from 0.5%to 20%and good stability under ratiometric imaging.In addition,the sensing systems were highly biocompatible for cell growth promoting adhesiveness and growth of three cancer cell lines,namely metastatic melanoma cell line SK-MEL2,breast cancer cell line MCF-7,and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line Panc-1,thus recreating a suitable biological environment in vitro.These O_(2)-sensing biomaterials can potentially measure alterations in cell metabolism caused by changes in ambient O_(2)content during drug testing/validation and tissue regeneration processes.

Variations of Atmospheric ELF/VLF Radio Noise Due to Seismogenic Modifications in Tropospheric Conductivity

We suggest a possible explanation of the influence of pre-seismic activity on the registration rate of natural ELF(extremely low frequency)/VLF(very low frequency) pulses and the changes of their characteristics. The main idea is as follows. The distribution of the electric field around a thundercloud depends on the conductivity profile of the atmosphere. Quasi-static electric fields of a thundercloud decrease in those tropospheric regions where an increase of air conductivity is generated by pre-seismic activities due to emanation of radioactive gas and water into the lower atmosphere. The electric field becomes reduced in the lower troposphere, and the probability decreases of the cloud-to-ground (CG) strokes in such “contaminated” areas. Simultaneously, the electric field grows inside and above the thunderclouds, and hence, we anticipate a growth in the number of horizontal and tilted inter-cloud (or intra-cloud) (both termed as IC discharges) strokes. Spatial orientation of lightning strokes reduces vertical projection of their individual amplitudes, while the rate (median number strokes per a unit time) of discharges grows. We demonstrate that channel tilt of strokes modifies the spectral content of ELF/VLF radio noise and changes the rate of detected pulses during the earthquake preparation phase.

Impact of index admission cholecystectomy vs interval cholecystectomy on readmission rate in acute cholangitis: National Readmission Database survey

BACKGROUND Elective cholecystectomy(CCY)is recommended for patients with gallstone-related acute cholangitis(AC)following endoscopic decompression to prevent recurrent biliary events.However,the optimal timing and implications of CCY remain unclear.AIM To examine the impact of same-admission CCY compared to interval CCY on patients with gallstone-related AC using the National Readmission Database(NRD).METHODS We queried the NRD to identify all gallstone-related AC hospitalizations in adult patients with and without the same admission CCY between 2016 and 2020.Our primary outcome was all-cause 30-d readmission rates,and secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality,length of stay(LOS),and hospitalization cost.RESULTS Among the 124964 gallstone-related AC hospitalizations,only 14.67%underwent the same admission CCY.The all-cause 30-d readmissions in the same admission CCY group were almost half that of the non-CCY group(5.56%vs 11.50%).Patients in the same admission CCY group had a longer mean LOS and higher hospitalization costs attrib-utable to surgery.Although the most common reason for readmission was sepsis in both groups,the second most common reason was AC in the interval CCY group.CONCLUSION Our study suggests that patients with gallstone-related AC who do not undergo the same admission CCY have twice the risk of readmission compared to those who undergo CCY during the same admission.These readmis-sions can potentially be prevented by performing same-admission CCY in appropriate patients,which may reduce subsequent hospitalization costs secondary to readmissions.

MicroRNAs in inflammatory bowel disease:What do we know and what can we expect?

MicroRNAs(miRNAs),small non-coding RNAs composed of 18–24 nucleotides,are potent regulators of gene expression,contributing to the regulation of more than 30%of protein-coding genes.Considering that miRNAs are regulators of inflammatory pathways and the differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells,there is an interest in exploring their importance in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).IBD is a chronic and multifactorial disease of the gastrointestinal tract;the main forms are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.Several studies have investigated the dysregulated expression of miRNAs in IBD,demonstrating their important roles as regulators and potential biomarkers of this disease.This editorial presents what is known and what is expected regarding miRNAs in IBD.Although the important regulatory roles of miRNAs in IBD are clearly established,biomarkers for IBD that can be applied in clinical practice are lacking,emphasizing the importance of further studies.Discoveries regarding the influence of miRNAs on the inflammatory process and the exploration of their role in gene regulation are expected to provide a basis for the use of miRNAs not only as potent biomarkers in IBD but also as therapeutic targets for the control of inflammatory processes in personalized medicine.

Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuroprotection by oligopeptides from snake venoms

Venom snake-derived peptides have multiple biochemical,pharmacological,and toxicological profiles,allowing for the discovery of new medicinal products and therapeutic applications.This review specifically examines the fundamental elements of neuroprotection offered by different oligopeptides derived from snake venom.It also includes a brief evaluation of short peptides that are being considered as potential therapeutic agents.Proline-rich peptides and tryptophyllin family peptides isolated from the crude venom of Viperidae family snakes,specifically Bothrops atrox,Bothrops jararaca,and Bothrops moojeni,have been shown to have pro-survival properties,the ability to reduce oxidative stress,and the ability to promote cell viability and mitochondrial functions.Three significant mechanisms are related to the neuroprotection mediated by snake venom oligopeptides:(1)Activation of the L-arginine metabolite pathway,such as polyamines from ornithine metabolism,which reduces N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)-type glutamate receptor activity;(2)Enhancement of cell viability by activating the nerve growth factor-signaling pathway;and(3)Activation of the Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M1(mAChR-M1).These small peptides show promise as neuroprotective agents against a variety of neurodegenerative disorders.

The effect of abiotic stresses on plant C:N:P homeostasis and their mitigation by silicon

In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.

Chemically Mediated Interactions between Grapevine, Aphid, Ladybird, and Ant in the Context of Insect Chemical Ecology

This study simplifies the complex relationship among grapevine plants,aphids,ladybirds,and ants,which is essential for effective pest management and ecological balance.This study investigated the impact of aphid attacks and the presence of ants and ladybirds on the volatile compounds profile released into the chemosphere of the community consisting of the common vine Vitis vinifera,the aphid Aphis illinoisensis,the ladybird Cocci-nella undecimpunctata-and the ant Tapinoma magnum.This study aims to analyze the volatile compounds emitted by the grapevine and surrounding insects in response to these intricate interactions.The extraction of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)was carried out using closed-loop stripping(CLS)and then analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and principles coordinated analysis(PCA)was performed.The grapevine was exposed to different types and order of treatments,including non-infested,aphid-infested,aphid-infested with ant,aphid-infested with ladybird,and various combinations of ant and ladybird.After the aphid attack,the outcomes uncovered massive alterations in the volatile compound profiles.Infested grapevine displayed distinct emissions of germacrene D,an alcohol,and an alkene compared to non-infested plants.The characteristic VOC profile was the share of infested grapes in the presence of ants,with benzene derivatives and sesquiterpenes dominating the components.The coexistence of ladybirds with ants and aphids resulted in a dif-ferent volatile profile characterized by elevated levels of aldehydes,ketones,α-farnesene,and its hydroxy deriva-tive.It was concluded that the emission of VOCs into the chemosphere of the grapevine communities varied qualitatively and quantitatively depending on the level of the relationship complexity within each community in response to the infestation of grapevines by aphids,the presence of ladybirds as natural predators,and the presence of ant as protector.The grapevine’s status-dependent compounds can serve as indicators of infestation status and contribute to non-destructive early-stage diagnosis of the aphid.