Fungi are a key component of tropical biodiversity. Due to their inconspicuous and largely subterranean nature, they are however usually neglected in biodiversity inventories. The goal of this study was to identify the key determinants of fungal richness, community composition, and turnover in tropical rainforests. We tested specifically for the effect of soil properties, habitat, and locality in Amazonia. For these analyses, we used high-throughput sequencing data of short and long reads of fungal DNA present in soil and organic litter samples, combining existing and novel genomic data. Habitat type (phytophysiognomies) emerges as the strongest factor in explaining fungal community composition. Naturally open areas – campinas – are the richest habitat overall. Soil properties have different effects depending on the soil layer (litter or mineral soil) and the choice of genetic marker. We suggest that campinas could be a neglected hotspot of fungal diversity. An underlying cause for their rich diversity may be the overall low soil fertility, which increases the reliance on biotic interactions essential for nutrient absorption in these environments, notably ectomycorrhizal fungi–plant associations. Our results highlight the advantages of using both short and long DNA reads produced through high-throughput sequencing to characterize fungal diversity. While short-reads can suffice for diversity and community comparison, long-reads add taxonomic precision and have the potential to reveal population diversity.

In this first part, this article defines the concept of energy as a fundamental measure of the existence of matter and on that basis defines the concept of a system solely as a pair consisting of an energy source and an energy consumer. The notion of an invariant controlled system is introduced and its modeling by means of an RLC system determines the energy equations in a stable and transitive state of this invariant system. In the second part of the article with subtitle Electromechanical Dualism. The Universality of Energetic Equations, with the help of modern altebra, is proved the versatility of the electrical model of the system. The article offers a new philosophy of the concept of control in the general dialectical sense of the word.

1. The abundance of UV-B absorbing compounds (for example p-Coumaric acid, pCA) within pollen-grain sporopollenin has been proposed as a proxy for reconstructing past changes in surface solar radiation, but drivers of the variation of these compounds in pollen grains remains poorly understood. 2. One important consideration is that the physiological response that results in the production and timing of pCA in pollen remains poorly understood. This calls for studies that explicitly tests the temporal resolution and plasticity of the response of pCA in pollen under field conditions. 3. To address this, we conducted two parallel experiments. First, we measured pCA in four Pinus spp. from Geneva in two consecutive years to investigate the impact of natural variation in ambient solar radiation, and differences in responses between species. Second, we covered pollen cones on Pinus sylvestris trees in Bergen with 90% shading cloth one month before dehiscence and compared the amount of pCA in pollen from shaded and sun-exposed cones from the same tree. 4. Between years, in Geneva, Pinus spp. produced 31% more pCA in 2014 than in 2013, with higher levels of solar radiation also observed in 2014. pCA content also showed strong species-level variation, largely reflecting differences in pollen size between species. Experimentally shaded Pinus sylvestris pollen produced 21% less pCA than fully exposed pollen. 5. Our work demonstrates a plastic response in the production of UV absorbing compounds (pCA) to inter-annual and experimentally induced variation in ambient solar radiation in Pinus spp. pollen. This supports pCA as a highly responsive proxy for early-season solar radiation. We also find strong species-level variation in pCA content in pine pollen, likely related to pollen grain size, which should be accounted for in reconstructions from sites with multiple Pinus species present.

A well known \emph{in silico} analysis in metabolic flux analysis is the structural identifiability analysis. It comes from the fact that some enrichment measurement sets cannot uniquely elucidate all intracellular fluxes. To the best of our knowledge, the structural identifiability analysis of dynamic isotope experiments is not available in the literature. In this work, it is shown that if one measurement plan makes the dynamic isotopic fractions balance equations structurally identifiable then for any arbitrary small time interval the plan also makes the equations structurally identifiable. Based on the fact, in order to resolve the local structural identifiablity problem of the dynamic isotopic fractions balance equations approximated with piecewise affine intracellular fluxes, one should check the local structural identifiablity for the corresponding cascaded linear time invariant system at each sampling point with the approach proposed in our earlier work (Lin \emph{et al.}, Math Biosci. 2018; 300:122-12).

Integrating physical knowledge with machine learning is critical to developing industrially-focused digital twins for monitoring and optimisation of biomanufacturing systems. However, identifying the correct model structure to quantify kinetic mechanisms poses a challenge for the construction of mechanistic and data-driven models. This study proposes a hybrid modelling strategy comprising of a simple kinetic model to describe the overall process trajectory and a data-driven model to estimate the mismatch between the kinetic equations and real process. An automatic model structure identification algorithm is used to identify the most probable kinetic model structure and minimum number of data-driven model parameters that can well represent different bioprocess behaviours over broad operating conditions. Through this approach, a hybrid model was constructed to simulate biomass growth, nutrient consumption, and product synthesis in an algal photo-production process. Performance of this model for predictive modelling, optimisation, and online self-calibration is demonstrated, indicating its advantages for industrial application.

In order to maximize the productivity of engineered metabolic pathway, in silico model is an established means to provide features of enzyme reaction dynamics. In our previous study, E.coli engineered with acrylate pathway yielded low propionic acid titre. To understand the bottleneck behind this low productivity, a kinetic model was developed that incorporates the enzymatic reactions of the acrylate pathway. The resulting model was capable of simulating the fluxes reported under in vitro studies with good agreement, suggesting repression of propionyl-CoA transferase by carboxylate metabolites as the main limiting factor for propionate production. Furthermore, the predicted flux control coefficients of the pathway enzymes under steady state conditions revealed that the control of flux is shared between propionyl-CoA transferase and lactoyl-CoA dehydratase. Increase in lactate concentration showed gradual decrease in flux control coefficients of propionyl-CoA transferase that in turn confirmed the control exerted by the carboxylate substrate. To interpret these in silico predictions under in vivo system, an organized study was conducted with a Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strain engineered with acrylate pathway. Analysis reported a decreased product formation rate on attainment of inhibitory titre by suspected metabolites and supported the model.

Objective: To compare the antiepileptic drug (AED) patterns, seizure control, and folic acid supplementation between planned and unplanned pregnancy in women with epilepsy (WWE), and investigate the effects of planned pregnancy on fetal outcomes. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: A prospectively collected database from Feb 2010 to Dec 2018 in Xijing Hospital. Populations: Pregnant WWE. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical characteristics and fetal outcomes. Results: 477 pregnancies were enrolled: 188 planned pregnancies (39.4%) and 289 unplanned pregnancies (60.6%). The education level of the unplanned group was lower than that of the planned group (P < 0.001). Among the planned group, 66.0% took AED monotherapy, and 32.4% received polytherapy. In the unplanned group, 58.1% did not take AEDs, 28.0% took monotherapy, and 12.8% received polytherapy. Compared with the unplanned group, The planned group had less generalized tonic-clonic seizures (2 [1-4] vs. 1 [1-2]; P = 0.002) and a higher proportion of being seizure-free (41.0% vs. 22.8%; P < 0.001). All planned pregnancies took folic acid while 39.8% of unplanned pregnancies never took it (P < 0.001). The planned group showed significantly less adverse fetal outcomes than the unplanned group: induced abortions (2.7% vs. 13.5%; P < 0.001), preterm births (3.3% vs. 20.4%; P < 0.001), and major congenital malformations within one year of delivery (1.6% vs. 7.5%; P = 0.016). Regression analysis demonstrated that pregnancy planning was independently associated with adverse fetal outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.27; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Planned-pregnancy could benefit both WWE and their offspring.

Objective: To compare long term efficacy and safety of an innovative single incision sling (SIS) with the inside-out trans-obturator sling (TOT) in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Design: randomized controlled trial. Setting: single tertiary referral urogynecology center. Population: women with pure urodynamic SUI. Methods: randomized to either an SIS or TOT and followed-up for four years. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were objective cures defined with a negative cough stress test and subjective cure reported via patient’s satisfaction scale. Secondary outcomes involved surgery complications including re-operations, postoperative de-novo urgency, and impact on patient quality of life. Results: The objective (86.4% vs. 83.1%; 95% CI 0.30-2.02; p=0.635) and subjective cure rates (83.3% vs. 80.0%; 95% CI 0.33-1.94; p=0.657) were similar with the SIS and TOT groups. Both procedures were associated with low complication rates. Repeated surgery rates owing to recurrent SUI were 7.6% in SIS and 6.3% in TOT groups, respectively. Overall mesh exposure rate was 2.3% for both groups. Incidence of de-novo urgency didn’t vary between TOT and SIS patients. Both groups registered a significant quality of life improvement. Conclusions: Following long term follow-up, anti-incontinence SIS surgery proved non-inferior to inside-out TOT procedure in terms of objective and subjective cure rates. Funding: supported by Czech Republic Ministry of Health, No. FNBr65269705 Keywords: Stress urinary incontinence; mid-urethral sling; single incision sling; efficacy; patient-reported outcomes; randomized controlled trial Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02506309

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that impaired maternal gestational pulmonary function, assessed by a moderate-to-severe reduction in FEV1% predicted, is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in women with SCD. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral centre Population: A total of 104 pregnancies in Ghanaian women with SCD aged 18–41 years. Methods: Participants were categorized into two groups (FEV1% predicted ≥ 65: n = 94; FEV1% predicted < 65: n = 10) based on spirometry performed before 28 weeks of pregnancy. The rates of adverse perinatal outcomes were compared between the two groups. Multivariable penalized logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Main outcome measure: Fetal death, defined as fetus weighing>500g with no signs of life at birth. Results: Fetal death occurred more frequently in pregnant women with FEV1% predicated < 65 (30.0% versus 4.3%, p=0.02). FEV1% predicted < 65 was associated with a nearly 8-fold increased risk of fetal death (OR 7.81, 95%CI [1.59–38.38], p=0.01). Phenotype HbSS (3.41[0.68–17.19], p=0.13) and low maternal BMI (1.00 [0.84–1.20], p=0.96) were not associated with increased risk of fetal death. Conclusions: In pregnant women with SCD, low FEV1% predicted is associated with an increased risk of fetal death. Understanding the mechanism for low FEV1% predicted in pregnant women with SCD and improving gestational FEV1% predicted may result in a targeted intervention for decreasing fetal deaths. Keywords: Sickle cell disease, pulmonary function, FEV1, pregnancy outcomes, fetal death.

Sánchez-Tójar et al. (2020, Ecol Lett) question the methodology, transparency and conclusion of our study (Yin et al. 2019, Ecol Lett, 22, 1976). I feel that these arguments ignore critical assumptions and are based on a misunderstanding of our peer-review process. General does not mean always; the jury is in deciding when and where a transgenerational effect is beneficial, which enlightens future research.

Despite extensive research, the pathophysiology and prevention of pre-eclampsia remain elusive, diagnosis is challenging, and pre-eclampsia remains associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Angiogenic biomarkers, including placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), have been identified as valuable biomarkers for preterm pre-eclampsia, accelerating diagnosis and reducing maternal adverse outcomes by risk stratification, with enhanced surveillance for high-risk women. PlGF-based testing is increasingly being implemented into clinical practice in several countries. This review provides healthcare providers with an understanding of the evidence for PlGF-based testing and describes the practicalities and challenges to implementation.

Objective To investigate the association between antenatal depression and anxiety and early pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) within and between White British and South Asian women. Design Retrospective analysis Setting The Born in Bradford cohort, UK Population White British and South Asian pregnant women, 2007-2011 Methods Mother’s BMI was stratified into six World Health Organisation BMI categories (underweight, recommended, overweight or obese class 1-3). To determine associations with outcomes, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models (adjusting for maternal age, education, deprivation and smoking) were used. Main outcome measure Depression and anxiety using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); a GHQ score of >0 for the depression subscale and >6 for anxiety. Results There were 7824 women included (3514 White British and 4310 South Asian). South Asian women were significantly more likely to have depression than White British (43.3% vs 36.1% p<0.0001) and less likely to have anxiety (45.3% vs 48.4% p<0.01). There was no significant association between early pregnancy BMI and depression or anxiety in South Asian women. White British women with an overweight BMI had higher odds of anxiety compared with women with a recommended BMI (Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.25, 95% Confidence Interval 1.05-1.47). No significant associations were observed for other BMI categories. Conclusion Although South Asian women have a higher prevalence of depression than White women in this cohort, the known associations between maternal obesity and anxiety do not appear to be present. More studies are needed using validated depression tools for South Asian pregnant women.

Mini-commentary on BJOG-19-1677.R1: Risk-factors for second-line dactinomycin failure after methotrexate treatment for low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a retrospective study

In the present paper initial problem for the integro-differential diffusion system with nonlocal nonlinear source is considered. The results on existence of local mild solution and nonexistence of global weak solution to the nonlinear integro-differential diffusion system are presented.

The purpose of this paper is to study the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problem which is a simplified model to describe high frequency and small displacement oscillation of elastic structure in fluids. The elastic structure displacement is modeled by a fourth order nonlinear hyperbolic square equations, the motion of fluid is modeled by the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. we prove the existence of at least one weak solutions (global in time) to this problem by compactness method. The result both holds for two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases.

Background and Purpose The development of biased agonism provides a promising avenue to improve the pharmacological properties of fentanyl derivatives, but the molecular mechanism underlying ligand bias still remains ambiguous. Therefore, we sought to find out the critical sites of μ-receptor governing ligand bias and clarify corresponding molecular mechanism for designing and synthesizing effective analgesics with reduced adverse effects. Experimental Approach Critical sites governing ligand bias were identified both by computational prediction and cell assay-based bias analysis on wild-type and site-directed mutant μ-opioid receptor. Then molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type and mutant μ-opioid receptor were conducted to investigate the mechanism of bias activation. Key Results D3.32A and H6.52L mutation disrupted the binding of fentanyl derivatives with μ-opioid receptor. W6.48L mutation drove most fentanyl derivatives to β-arrestin-bias but promote sufentanil to cAMP signaling-bias. The result of molecular dynamics simulation showed that W6.48 and Y7.43 were paired activation switches of ligand bias at μ-opioid receptor. Conclusion and Implications D3.32 and H6.52 were critical residues in driving morphine and fentanyl derivatives to bind with μ-opioid receptor. W6.48 was a pivotal residue in governing the bias signaling and the interactions of ligands with W6.48 and Y7.43 were the structural determinants for the signaling bias of μ-opioid receptor, which will be conducive for better design and synthesis of effective opioid analgesics with the reduced adverse effects.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effects of miR-24 and miR-27 on Th2 in children with non-atopic INS. Methods: Isolateing PBMCs by Ficoll density gradient, and transfected with human miR-24, miR-27 mimics/miR-24, miR-27 mimics control and miR-24, miR-27 inhibitors/miR-24, miR-27 inhibitor control. After that Real-time PCR to investigate the levels of microRNAs and IL-4mRNA, Flow cytometry to test the frequency of Th2 cells, and Cytometric bead array to measure the concentration of IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 in plasma. Results: The proportion of Th2 cells in peripheral blood of children with INS in the initial atopic and non-atopic groups were significantly higher (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the proportion of Th2 cells in the remission group (P>0.05). Plasma IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 were significantly increased in the initial atopic and non-atopic groups (P<0.05). MiR-24 and miR-27 were remarkably downregulated in the initial non-atopic group (P<0.05). The expressions of miR-24 and miR-27 were up-regulated in the initial non-atopic and control group, the proportion of Th2 cells and IL-4 mRNA expression were remarkably decreased (P<0.05), and the expressions of miR-24 and miR-27 were down-regulated, the proportion of Th2 cells and IL-4 mRNA expression were remarkably increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: There were high IgE in children with both atopic and non-atopic INS during the active period, which might be related to the high expression of IL-13 and IL-4 induced by the Th2 cells drifting. MiR-24 and miR-27 negative regulated the expressions of Th2 cells in INS.

Background and Purpose: Ningetinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). When co-administered with gefitinib, the high plasma exposure of N-demethylated metabolite M1 was reduced by more than 80%, whereas it is surprising that of ningetinib was not clearly affected. The present study aims to investigate the drug interaction mechanism of ningetinib and gefitinib. Experimental Approach: NSCLC patients were recruited. Metabolic and transport mechanisms were investigated using in vitro models. Deuterated M1 (D6-M1) and mice were used to study the pharmacokinetic of M1. Key Results: In vitro experiments indicated that CYP1A1 was primarily responsible for M1 formation. Gefitinib was demonstrated to a strong inhibitor of CYP1A1 with Ki value of 0.095 μM. Co-administration of ningetinib increased blood exposure of intravenously administered D6-M1 by 75% in mice. M1 was identified as the substrate of the efflux transporters P-gp, BCRP and MRP2, while ningetinib was an inhibitor of these efflux transporters. Consequently, the high plasma exposure of M1 in patients was attributed to its low tissue affinity and the inhibitory effect of the parent drug on M1 canalicular efflux. Conclusion and Implications: When co-administered, gefitinib inhibited the formation of M1 and reduced its plasma exposure, but due to the low metabolic yield of M1 in vivo, the pharmacokinetics of the parent drug ningetinib was not influenced. Inhibition of the CYP1A1 may increase the target tissue concentration of ningetinib. The long-term safety profile and efficacy of ningetinib combined with gefitinib should be concerned in NSCLC patients.

After the well-known classification formulated by Crawford S. Holling in 1959 of the functional responses dependent only of the prey populations, various other have been proposed. In this work a simple Leslie-Gower type predator-prey model is analyzed, incorporating the Rosenzweig functional response described by $h\left( x\right) =qx^{\alpha }$, with $0<\alpha <1$. This function does not conform to the types proposed by Holling, since is not bounded. Although this functional response is non-differentiable for $x=0 $, it is proved that the obtained system is Lipschitzian. However, the existence of a separatrix curve $\Sigma $ in the phase plane it is proven, which divides the phase plane en two complemntary sectors. According to the relative position of the initial conditions respect to the curve $\Sigma $ , the trajectories can have differents $\omega $-$limit$, which can be the equilibrium $\left( 0,0\right) $, or else, a positive equilibrium point, or a limit cycle or a heteroclinic curve. These properties show the great diffference of this model with the original and well-known Leslie-Gower model (when $\alpha =1$), since this last has only a unique positive equilibrium, which is globally asymptotically stable. Then, it can concluded that i) a small change in the mathematical expression for the functional response, it produces a strong change on the dynamics of model. ii) \ a slightest deviation in the initial population sizes, respect to the curve $\Sigma $, it can signify the coexistence of populations or the extinction of both. Numerical simulations are given to endorse our analytical results.

An enhanced analytical technique for nonlinear oscillators having a harmonic restoring force is proposed. The approach is passed on the change of the auxiliary operator by another suitable one leads to obtain a periodic solution. The fundamental idea of the new approach is based on obtaining an alternative equation free of the harmonic restoring forces. This method is a modification of the homotopy perturbation method. The approach allows not only an actual periodic solution, but also the frequency of the problem as a function of the amplitude of oscillation. Three nonlinear oscillators including restoring force, the simple pendulum motion, the cubic Duffing oscillator, the Sine-Gordon equation are offered to clarify the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed technique. This approach allows an effective mathematical approach to noise and uncertain properties of nonlinear vibrations arising in physics and engineering.

In this paper, we consider the following fractional Schr\”{o}dinger-Poisson system: \begin{equation*} \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} (-\Delta)^su+u+\lambda K(x)\phi u=a(x)|u|^{p-2}u+b(x)|u|^{2}u& \hbox{in $\mathbb{R}^3$,}\\ (-\Delta)^t\phi=K(x)u^2& \hbox{in $\mathbb{R}^3$,} \end{array} \right. \end{equation*} where $s,t\in(0,1)$, $\lambda>0$, $2

A document by Gongbao LI. Click on the document to view its contents.

We study the spectral properties of resonances of general Hamiltonians in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. We prove that this study can be reduced to the one of a family of finite matrices of semiclassical h-pseudodifferential operators. More precisely, we show that any resonance which is close enough to the real axis can be obtained from the discrete spectrum of one of these matrixes.

A document by Wanassi WANASSI. Click on the document to view its contents.