Host-associated helminth diversity and microbiome composition contribute to anti-pathogen defences in tropical frogs impacted by forest fragmentation.

Habitat fragmentation can negatively impact wildlife populations by simplification of ecological interactions, but little is known about how these impacts extend to host-associated symbiotic communities. The symbiotic communities of amphibians play important roles in anti-pathogen defences, particularly against the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). In this study, we analyse the role of macroparasitic helminth communities in concert with microbial communities in defending the host against Bd infection within the context of forest fragmentation. We found that skin microbial and helminth communities are disrupted at fragmented habitats, while gut microbiomes appear more resilient to environmental change. We also detected potential protective roles of helminth diversity and anti-pathogen microbial function in limiting Bd infection. Microbial network analysis revealed strong patterns of structure in both skin and gut communities, with helminths playing central roles in these networks. We reveal consistent roles of microbial and helminth diversity in driving host-pathogen interactions and the potential implications of fragmentation on host fitness.

Spatio-temporal variation and influencing factors of aero-sports tourism internet attention in Shaanxi Province, China.

Despite China's building into a leading sporting nation and sport-tourism integration high-quality development strategy in the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, existing tourism studies seldom concern sport-tourism integration, especially their spatial hot spots and evolutional trend based on geospatial big data. This study aims to probe into the spatiality and the underlying mechanism of sport tourism through internet attention data in 2015, 2018, and 2021 by social network analysis, with a specific focus on aero-sports tourism. Shaanxi Province is chosen as the study site given its advantages of rich aero-sports tourism resources and various aero-sports modes (e.g., sky diving, paragliding, etc.). The results are concluded: (1) At the provincial scale, the aero-sports tourism internet attention shows a pattern of "strong in the middle and weak in the north and south". (2) At the regional scale, the sub-group clusters within the three specific regions (Shanbei, Guanzhong, and Shannan) of Shaanxi Province turn to be inter-regional clusters. Guanzhong region, especially with Xi'an as the core, is dominant in connecting its peripheral area. Since 2016, the radiation effects of the Guanzhong Region have shown a homogeneous trend of yearly growth and effect strengthening, yet become loosely connected with a heterogeneous trend in 2021 due to the COVID-19 epidemic. (3) At the city scale, the core area of aero-sports tourism internet attention expanded from Xi'an and Xianyang to Yulin and Baoji from 2015 to 2021, resulting from urban economic strength and aviation flight camp club development. (4) The number of general aviation manufacturers, tourist attendance, and tourism revenue significantly affect aero-sports tourism internet attention.

Value network analysis for facilitator development in project-based learning.

The method enhances Value Network Analysis (VNA) in the context of Project-Based Learning (PjBL). Utilizing the appropriated VNA, facilitators can reflect and continuously improve their learning support in an institutional (learning) setting. Thereby,•PjBL frames the VNA application through success factors and guidelines for effective PjBL practice•PjBL success factors and guidelines are∘linked to value transactions among PjBL stakeholders∘considered from a facilitator's perspective•PjBL is advanced in a transparent and participatory way. In order to make existing potential for change tangible, the method leads to developing proposals as substantiated offers to other stakeholders. Once getting accepted on the organizational level, their implementation completes the intended collective learning step.

Evolution of passing network in the Soccer World Cups 2010-2022.

This study investigates the evolution of passing networks (PN) at both team and player levels in the FIFA World Cups (WC) from 2010 to 2022. Analyzing 256 matches (7328 player observations) using a multiple-camera tracking system across four WCs, we considered six playing positions: goalkeeper (n = 521), central defender (n = 1192), fullback (n = 1223), midfielder (n = 2039), winger (n = 1320), and central forward (n = 1033). We used 17 network metrics and considered contextual variables such as team formation, and team ranking. Linear mixed-effect models analyzed differences in team and player PN parameters by year and team strength. Results showed a shift from possession-play to direct-play from the 2010 to 2018 WCs, with possession-play returning in 2022. Specifically, high- and low-quality teams significantly decreased their density, average degree (AD), modularity, and average path length in 2018 (p < 0.05). High-quality teams showed increased density, AD, and average weighted degree in 2022 (p < 0.05). Midfielders and central forwards exhibited significantly lower centrality parameters, whereas central defenders and goalkeepers showed increased centrality parameters (p < 0.05). This study highlights the evolutionary trends of passing relationships from a network analysis perspective over twelve years, providing insights into the changing dynamics of team interactions and positional prominence in elite soccer.

Joint GWAS and WGCNA Identify Genes Regulating the Isoflavone Content in Soybean Seeds.

Isoflavone is a secondary metabolite of the soybean phenylpropyl biosynthesis pathway with physiological activity and is beneficial to human health. In this study, the isoflavone content of 205 soybean germplasm resources from 3 locations in 2020 showed wide phenotypic variation. A joint genome-wide association study (GWAS) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 33 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 11 key genes associated with soybean isoflavone content. Gene ontology enrichment analysis, gene coexpression, and haplotype analysis revealed natural variations in the Glyma.12G109800 (GmOMT7) gene and promoter region, with Hap1 being the elite haplotype. Transient overexpression and knockout of GmOMT7 increased and decreased the isoflavone content, respectively, in hairy roots. The combination of GWAS and WGCNA effectively revealed the genetic basis of soybean isoflavone and identified potential genes affecting isoflavone synthesis and accumulation in soybean, providing a valuable basis for the functional study of soybean isoflavone.

Pathways to experienced coercion during psychiatric admission: a network analysis.

BACKGROUND: In mental health care, experienced coercion, also known as perceived coercion, is defined as the patient's subjective experience of being submitted to coercion. Besides formal coercion, many other factors have been identified as potentially affecting the experience of being coerced. This study aimed to explore the interplay between these factors and to provide new insights into how they lead to experienced coercion. METHODS: Cross-sectional network analysis was performed on data collected from 225 patients admitted to six psychiatric hospitals. Thirteen variables were selected and included in the analyses. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) using Spearman's rank-correlation method and EBICglasso regularisation was estimated. Centrality indices of strength and expected influence were computed. To evaluate the robustness of the estimated parameters, both edge-weight accuracy and centrality stability were investigated. RESULTS: The estimated network was densely connected. Formal coercion was only weakly associated with both experienced coercion at admission and during hospital stay. Experienced coercion at admission was most strongly associated with the patients' perceived level of implication in the decision-making process. Experienced humiliation and coercion during hospital stay, the most central node in the network, was found to be most strongly related to the interpersonal separation that patients perceived from staff, the level of coercion perceived upon admission and their satisfaction with the decision taken and the level of information received. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing formal coercion may not be sufficient to effectively reduce patients' feeling of being coerced. Different factors seemed indeed to come into play and affect experienced coercion at different stages of the hospitalisation process. Interventions aimed at reducing experienced coercion and its negative effects should take these stage-specific elements into account and propose tailored strategies to address them.

Identification of potential biomarkers for atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease based on WGCNA and machine algorithms.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often have coronary artery disease (CAD), but the biological link between them remains unclear. This study aims to explore the common pathogenesis of AF and CAD and identify common biomarkers. METHODS: Gene expression profiles for AF and stable CAD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Overlapping genes related to both diseases were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), followed by functional enrichment analysis. Hub genes were then identified using the machine learning algorithm. Immune cell infiltration and correlations with hub genes were explored, followed by drug predictions. Hub gene expression in AF and CAD patients was validated by real-time qPCR. RESULTS: We obtained 28 common overlapping genes in AF and stable CAD, mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt, ECM-receptor interaction, and relaxin signaling pathway. Two hub genes, COL6A3 and FKBP10, were positively correlated with the abundance of MDSC, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and regulatory T cells in AF and negatively correlated with the abundance of CD56dim natural killer cells in CAD. The AUCs of COL6A3 and FKBP10 were all above or close to 0.7. Drug prediction suggested that collagenase clostridium histolyticum and ocriplasmin, which target COL6A3, may be potential drugs for AF and stable CAD. Additionally, COL6A3 and FKBP10 were upregulated in patients with AF and CAD. CONCLUSION: COL6A3 and FKBP10 may be key biomarkers for AF and CAD, providing new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Leveraging integrative toxicogenomic approach towards development of stressor-centric adverse outcome pathway networks for plastic additives.

Plastics are widespread pollutants found in atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to their extensive usage and environmental persistence. Plastic additives, that are intentionally added to achieve specific functionality in plastics, leach into the environment upon plastic degradation and pose considerable risk to ecological and human health. Limited knowledge concerning the presence of plastic additives throughout plastic life cycle has hindered their effective regulation, thereby posing risks to product safety. In this study, we leveraged the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework to understand the mechanisms underlying plastic additives-induced toxicities. We first identified an exhaustive list of 6470 plastic additives from chemicals documented in plastics. Next, we leveraged heterogenous toxicogenomics and biological endpoints data from five exposome-relevant resources, and identified associations between 1287 plastic additives and 322 complete and high quality AOPs within AOP-Wiki. Based on these plastic additive-AOP associations, we constructed a stressor-centric AOP network, wherein the stressors are categorized into ten priority use sectors and AOPs are linked to 27 disease categories. We visualized the plastic additives-AOP network for each of the 1287 plastic additives and made them available in a dedicated website: https://cb.imsc.res.in/saopadditives/ . Finally, we showed the utility of the constructed plastic additives-AOP network by identifying highly relevant AOPs associated with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), bisphenol A (BPA), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and thereafter, explored the associated toxicity pathways in humans and aquatic species. Overall, the constructed plastic additives-AOP network will assist regulatory risk assessment of plastic additives, thereby contributing towards a toxic-free circular economy for plastics.

Bayesian network analysis of drug treatment strategies for thyroid associated ophthalmopathy.

BACKGROUND: The first line treatment for moderate to severe active thyroid associated ophthalmopathy is glucocorticoid pulse therapy, but for patients with contraindications to hormone therapy or hormone resistance, it is urgent to find a suitable treatment plan. AIMS: To find a reliable alternative to hormone pulse therapy for thyroid associated ophthalmopathy by comparing the efficacy with first-line treatment regimens. METHODS: Search PubMed, Ovid, Web of science, Cochrane library, and Clinical Trials.gov for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of thyroid associated ophthalmopathy published as of July 7, 2024. Quality evaluation and Bayesian network analysis were conducted using RevMan 5.3 software, STATA15.0 software, and ADDIS 1.16.8 software. RESULTS: A total of 666 patients were included in 11 studies and 8 interventions. Network analysis showed that the three interventions of mycophenolate mofetil combined with glucocorticoids, Teprotumumab and 99Tc-MDP were superior to glucocorticoid pulse therapy in improving clinical activity scores and proptosis. The regimen of glucocorticoids combined with statins can improve the quality of life score and diplopia score of patients. Neither methotrexate combined with glucocorticoids nor rituximab alone showed additional advantages when compared with glucocorticoid pulse therapy. CONCLUSION: Mycophenolate mofetil combined with glucocorticoid therapy is very beneficial for moderate to severe active thyroid associated ophthalmopathy. Mycophenolate mofetil may be a good choice when patients have contraindications to hormone use or hormone resistance. Teprotumumab is very promising and may be able to avoid patients undergoing orbital decompression surgery. The durability and safety of its long-term efficacy need to be further observed.

Nurse burnout: deep connections and solutions revealed by network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is very important to nurses' physical and mental health and career development. Current approaches to assessing nurse burnout tend to use a total score modeling paradigm to explore the impact of external factors on burnout. The purpose of this study is to delve into the item-level relationship between nurse burnout and its influencing factors at both the social and psychological levels using a network analysis approach. METHODS: This study was conducted in June 2023 and 1,005 nurses from 4 hospitals out of 8 tertiary care hospitals in Harbin were selected to participate in this study using whole cluster sampling method. Measurements included a general demographic questionnaire, Trait coping styles questionnaire, Organizational commitment questionnaire, Work-family conflict scale, Transformational leadership questionnaire, and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey. RESULTS: Our results suggest that "C1 Time-Based work interference with family" showed the strongest centrality and bridging in the overall network. This finding underscores its centrality to burnout. Other strongest bridge symptoms included "E2 Reduced personal accomplishment" and "A1 Positive coping styles" indicating their strongest connections to other clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse administrators should be encouraged to pay more attention to nurses' work situations and family distress, and to help nurses in a flexible way.

Mapping the role of sexuality in adolescent mental health and substance use.

Individuals who belong to a sexual minority are at greater risk of adverse health and social outcomes. These effects are observed during adolescence when many mental health problems, such as depression, first emerge. Here, we used a network analytic approach to better understand the role that sexual minority status plays in the association between depression, interpersonal difficulties and substance use in a large sample of mid-adolescents. In doing so, we used data from 8017 fourteen year olds from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study, of which 490 self-identified as belonging to a sexual minority. We found that sexual minority status was highly central in the network and connected to multiple adverse outcomes, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. The largest single association was between sexual minority status and depression, and this link mediated multiple negative associations with being in a sexual minority. The shortest path to drinking, poor social support and closeness with parents and victimization occurred via depression. The shortest path to smoking and drug use occurred via conduct problems. We also identified three distinct profiles of adverse outcomes among those belonging to a sexual minority, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of this group.

Comparison of Negative Symptom Network Structures Between Patients With Early and Chronic Schizophrenia: A Network and Exploratory Graph Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Despite the clinical relevance of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, our understanding of negative symptoms remains limited. Although various courses and stages of schizophrenia have been identified, variations in the negative symptom networks between distinct stages of schizophrenia remain unexplored. STUDY DESIGN: We examined 405 patients with early schizophrenia (ES) and 330 patients with chronic schizophrenia (CS) using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. Network analysis and exploratory graph analysis were used to identify and compare the network structures and community memberships of negative symptoms between the two groups. Further, associations between communities and social functioning were evaluated. The potential influences of other symptom domains and confounding factors were also examined. STUDY RESULTS: Multidimensional differences were found in the networks of negative symptoms between ES and CS. The global connectivity strength was higher in the network of ES than in the network of CS. In ES, central symptoms were mainly related to expressive deficits, whereas in CS they were distributed across negative symptom domains. A three-community structure was suggested across stages but with different memberships and associations with social functioning. Potential confounding factors and symptom domains, including mood, positive, disorganization, and excitement symptoms, did not affect the network structures. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed the presence of stage-specific network structures of negative symptoms in schizophrenia, with negative symptom communities having differential significance for social functioning. These findings provide implications for the future development of tailored interventions to alleviate negative symptoms and improve functionality across stages.

Spiritual Care in Palliative Medicine and End of Life: A Bibliometric Network Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Spiritual care is an essential component of care for the terminally ill, because of its potential to positively impact patient perception of quality of life and dignity. However, it continues to be the least cultivated or even most overlooked aspect of palliative care and end of life. We performed a methodological review using bibliometric analysis to provide a holistic view of the scientific output published on this topic in the literature at the same time outlining present perspectives and research trends. Methods: In accordance with the BIBLIO checklist for reporting the bibliometric reviews of the biomedical literature, pertinent articles were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database. The search string included "spiritual care," "end of life," and their synonyms. The VOSviewer (version 1.6.17) software was used to conduct comprehensive analyses. Semantic and research networks, bibliographic coupling, and journal analysis were examined. Results: A total of 924 articles were identified in WOS, and 842 were retrieved. An increasing trend in the number of publications is observed from 1981 to date, with a peak in the 2019-2021 timeframe. Most articles focused on palliative care, spirituality, spiritual care, religion, end of life, and cancer. The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management contributed the highest number of published documents, while the Journal of Palliative Medicine was the top-cited journal. The highest number of publications originated from collaborations of authors from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Conclusion: The remarkable increase in the number of publications on spiritual care observed in the years of the COVID-19 pandemic likely reflected global concerns, reasserting the importance of prioritizing spiritual care for whole-person palliation. Spiritual care is integrated with palliative care, in line with the latter's holistic nature and the recognition of spirituality as a fundamental aspect of end-of-life care. Nurses and chaplains exhibited more involvement in palliative-spiritual care than physicians reflecting the belief that chaplains are perceived as specialized providers, and nurses, owing to their direct exposure to spiritual suffering and ethos, are deemed suitable for providing spiritual care.

Monozygotic twins discordant for depression: An extended network comparison of depressive symptoms, cognitive functions and daily activities.

Monozygotic twins share the same genotype; however, they can be phenotypically discordant on various traits. Studying discordant monozygotic twins allows the investigation of differences in associations between symptoms and psychopathological risk factors, controlled for shared genetic liability. The network approach to psychopathology suggests that depressive symptoms, along with risk and protective factors (e.g., cognition, daily activities), form a complex system of mutually interacting components. We compared monozygotic twins discordant for lifetime depression on their respective extended networks of depressive symptoms, cognitive functions and daily activities (intellectual, physical, social), and evaluated if these networks differ in their associations between variables and in the role of each variable within the network. Regularized partial correlations investigated the networks' composition in 147 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for depression from the Danish Twin Registry. Affected twins had stronger overall associations within their network of depressive symptoms, cognitive functions and daily activities than their unaffected co-twins, while the importance of the network components' associations did not differ between the co-twins. In affected twins, decreased frequency in experiencing happiness had the strongest association with remaining variables (i.e., the most influence in activating other network elements). Also, variables from different groups were significantly associated (e.g., loneliness with delayed memory, pessimism with low social activities, verbal learning with intellectual activities). In unaffected twins, both mood symptoms and cognitive functions were important, but between-groups associations were quasi-absent. These results suggest that external events affecting the ability to feel happiness likely trigger the psychopathological process (depression network activation), independently from the genetic predisposition to depression.

Emphasizing symbolic capital: its superior influence on the association between family socioeconomic status and adolescent subjective well-being uncovered by a large-scale multivariate network analysis.

Background: Family socioeconomic status (FSES) serves as a significant determinant for subjective well-being. However, extant research has provided conflicting evidence on the correlation between FSES and adolescent students' subjective well-being (SSWB). Methods: Data were collected from 12,058 adolescent students (16 years of age) by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018. Multivariate canonical correlation and Mantel test were utilized to investigate the specific connection between FSES and SSWB. Furthermore, a Gaussian EBICglasso graph-theoretical model was used to capture the topological properties of the FSES-SSWB network and reveal the interplay among multifarious components of FSES and SSWB. Results: FSES was positively correlated with SSWB. In the FSES-SSWB network, parental educational attainment and occupation status demonstrated the highest centrality values, thereby contributing significantly to the relationship between FSES and SSWB. However, family wealth, along with educational and cultural resources, displayed lower centrality values, signifying their weaker roles in this relationship. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that symbolic capital, rather than family affluence, exerts a dominant influence on adolescent SSWB. In other words, SSWB may not be detrimentally influenced by a deficiency in monetary resources. However, it is more susceptible to being unfavorably impacted by inferior parental educational attainment and occupational standing.

Phylogenetic systematics of Vigna sensu stricto in the context of Physostigma and allies.

PREMISE: Vigna includes economically vital crops and wild species. Molecular systematic studies of Vigna species resulted in generic segregates of many New World (NW) species. However, limited Old World (OW) sampling left questions regarding inter- and intraspecific relationships in Vigna s.s. METHODS: African species, including the putative sister genus Physostigma, were comprehensively sampled within the context of NW relatives. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the chloroplast matK-trnK and nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8 S (ITS) DNA regions were undertaken to resolve OW Vigna taxonomic questions. Divergence dates were estimated using BEAST to date key nodes in the phylogeny. RESULTS: Analyses of matK and ITS data supported five clades of Vigna s.s.: subg. Lasiospron, a reduced subg. Vigna, subg. Haydonia, subg. Ceratotropis, an enlarged subg. Plectrotropis, and a clade including V. kirkii and V. stenophylla. Genome size estimates of 601 Mb for V. kirkii are near the overall mean of the genus, whereas V. stenophylla had a larger genome (810 Mb), similar to some Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis species. CONCLUSIONS: Former subg. Vigna is reduced to yellow- and blue-flowered species and subg. Plectrotropis is enlarged to mostly all white-, pink-, and purple-flowered species. The age of the split between NW and OW Vigna lineages is ~6-7 Myr. Genome size estimates cannot rule out a polyploid or hybrid origin for V. stenophylla, potentially involving extinct lineage ancestors of Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis, as indicated by network and phylogenetic analyses. Taxonomic revisions are suggested based on these results.

Developing a rural paediatrician workforce: Using social network analysis to examine influence on reasons to go rural.

AIM: This pilot study examines how rural and remote junior doctors' career decisions are influenced by collegial relationships within the discipline of general paediatrics. METHODS: Social network analysis (SNA) was undertaken by structured interviews with 10 paediatricians working in regional towns in Western Australia. UNICET software was used to determine the interactions between individual networks to look for overlap and common influencers. RESULTS: Ten rural paediatricians were interviewed. An individual was found to have key measures of centrality at the core of the entire social network of rural general paediatricians. This included a high degree of 'betweenness' (connections within social networks), and a high broker index (connections between separate areas of a network or between networks) demonstrated by that person combining three disconnected networks into a single coherent network. This central individual was a recently appointed consultant with links to senior paediatricians, peers and junior trainees, and may be instrumental in recruitment and retention in the rural paediatric workforce. CONCLUSION: Improving understanding of the impact of social networks, and decision-making processes that influence rural career choices, can inform innovative solutions to develop sustainable strategies for recruiting and retaining the rural paediatric workforce. Applying this model on a larger scale may provide more data to support evidence-based programmes that enable this within the Australian context.

The evolution of plant phenomics: global insights, trends, and collaborations (2000-2021).

Introduction: Phenomics, an interdisciplinary field that investigates the relationships between genomics and environmental factors, has significantly advanced plant breeding by offering comprehensive insights into plant traits from molecular to physiological levels. This study examines the global evolution, geographic distribution, collaborative efforts, and primary research hubs in plant phenomics from 2000 to 2021, using data derived from patents and scientific publications. Methods: The study utilized data from the EspaceNet and Lens databases for patents, and Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus for scientific publications. The final datasets included 651 relevant patents and 7173 peer-reviewed articles. Data were geocoded to assign country-level geographical coordinates and underwent multiple processing and cleaning steps using Python, Excel, R, and ArcGIS. Social network analysis (SNA) was conducted to assess collaboration patterns using Pajek and UCINET. Results: Research activities in plant phenomics have increased significantly, with China emerging as a major player, filing nearly 70% of patents from 2010 to 2021. The U.S. and EU remain significant contributors, accounting for over half of the research output. The study identified around 50 global research hubs, mainly in the U.S. (36%), Western Europe (34%), and China (16%). Collaboration networks have become more complex and interdisciplinary, reflecting a strategic approach to solving research challenges. Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of global collaboration and technological advancement in plant phenomics. China's rise in patent filings highlights its growing influence, while the ongoing contributions from the U.S. and EU demonstrate their continued leadership. The development of complex collaborative networks emphasizes the scientific community's adaptive strategies to address multifaceted research issues. These insights are crucial for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders aiming to innovate in agricultural practices and improve crop varieties.

Myrrh Essential Oil Improves DSS-Induced Colitis by Modulating the MAPK Signaling Pathway: In vitro and in vivo Studies.

Objective: To explore the mechanism and active components of the anti-colitis effects of myrrh essential oil (MEO). Methods: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of MEO on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis with in vitro cell experiments, RNA-seq (RNA Sequencing), Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), combined with "weighting coefficient" network pharmacology, as and in vivo pharmacodynamic experiments. A 3% DSS solution was used to induce colitis in BALB/c mice and MEO was administered orally. We performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the MEO components. The disease activity index (DAI) was evaluated by observing body weight, fecal characteristics, and blood in the stool of mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß) in mouse serum were measured using ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits. Additionally, the expression of MAPK-related proteins (JNK, p-JNK, ERK, and p-ERK) in mouse colonic tissues was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: MEO (0.0625-0.125µg/g, p.o). significantly inhibited the expression of the inflammatory mediator Nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. After treatment, there was a significant increase in body weight and alleviation of diarrhea and bloody stools in colitis mice. It also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, it decreased the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß, and reduced the activity of p-JNK and p-ERK in the MAPK pathway. Conclusion: MEO relieved DSS-induced colitis by modulating the MAPK pathway. The experimental results indicate that the MAPK pathway might be inhibited by the synergistic effect of gamma-Muurolene, Curzerene, beta-Elemene, and Furanoeudesma 1.3-diene in MEO, which provides a novel idea for subsequent research and development of new anti-colitis drugs.

Transcriptome and metabolome analyses provide insights into the fruit softening disorder of papaya fruit under postharvest heat stress.

Heat stress in summer causes softening disorder in papaya but the molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, papaya fruit stored at 35 °C showed a softening disorder termed rubbery texture. Analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) between the fruit stored at 25 °C and 35 °C. The DEGs and DAMs related to lignin biosynthesis were upregulated, while those related to ethylene biosynthesis, sucrose metabolism, and cell wall degradation were downregulated under heat stress. Co-expression network analysis highlighted the correlation between the DEGs and metabolites associated with lignin biosynthesis, ethylene biosynthesis, and cell wall degradation under heat stress. Finally, the correlation analysis identified the key factors regulating softening disorder under heat stress. The study's findings reveal that heat stress inhibited papaya cell wall degradation and ethylene production, delaying fruit ripening and softening and ultimately resulting in a rubbery texture.