Vertical structural complexity of plant communities represents the combined effects of resource acquisition and environmental stress on the Tibetan Plateau.

The vertical structural complexity (VSC) of plant communities reflects the occupancy of spatial niches and is closely related to resource utilization and environmental adaptation. However, understanding the large-scale spatial pattern of VSC and its underlying mechanisms remains limited. Here, we systematically investigate 2013 plant communities through grid sampling on the Tibetan Plateau. VSC is quantified as the maximum plant height within a plot (Height-max), coefficient of variation of plant height (Height-var), and Shannon evenness of plant height (Height-even). Precipitation dominates the spatial variation in VSC in forests and shrublands, supporting the classic physiological tolerance hypothesis. In contrast, for alpine meadows, steppes, and desert grasslands in extreme environments, non-resource limiting factors (e.g., wide diurnal temperature ranges and strong winds) dominate VSC variation. Generally, with the shifting of climate from favorable to extreme, the effect of resource availability gradually decreases, but the effect of non-resource limiting factors gradually increases, and that the physiological tolerance hypothesis only applicable in favorable conditions. With the help of machine learning models, maps of VSC at 1-km resolution are produced for the Tibetan Plateau. Our findings and maps of VSC provide insights into macroecological studies, especially for adaptation mechanisms and model optimization.

Page A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study of gut microbiota and cerebral small vessel disease.

BACKGROUND: The causal nature of gut microbiota and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is still obscure regardless of evidence supporting their observational correlations. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potentially pathogenic or protective causal impacts of specific gut microbiota on various neuroimaging subtypes of CSVD. METHODS: We obtained the latest summary-level genome-wide databases for gut microbiota and nine CSVD traits. The univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) studies were conducted to examine the possible causal link between exposure and outcome. Meanwhile, we conducted sensitivity analyses sequentially, containing the heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and leave-one-out analysis. Additionally, to clarify the potential bidirectional causality, the causality from CSVD traits to the identified gut microbiota was implemented through reverse MR analysis. RESULTS: The univariable MR analysis identified 22 genetically predicted bacterial abundances that were correlated with CSVD traits. While conditioning on macronutrient dietary compositions, two suggestive relationships were retained using the multivariable MR analysis. Specifically, the class Negativicutes and order Selenomonadales exhibited a negative causal association with strictly lobar cerebral microbleeds, one neuroimaging trait of CSVD. There is insufficient evidence indicating the presence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Furthermore, the identified causal relationship was not driven by any single nucleotide polymorphism. The results of the reverse MR analysis did not reveal any statistically significant causality from CSVD traits to the identified gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated several suggestive causal effects from gut microbiota to different neuroimaging subtypes of CSVD. These findings provided a latent understanding of the pathogenesis of CSVD from the perspective of the gut-brain axis.

MSX1+PDGFRAlow limb mesenchyme-like cells as an efficient stem cell source for human cartilage regeneration.

Degenerative bone disorders have a significant impact on global health, and regeneration of articular cartilage remains a challenge. Existing cell therapies using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown limited efficacy, highlighting the necessity for alternative stem cell sources. Here, we have identified and characterized MSX1+ mesenchymal progenitor cells in the developing limb bud with remarkable osteochondral-regenerative and microenvironment-adaptive capabilities. Single-cell sequencing further revealed the presence of two major cell compositions within the MSX1+ cells, where a distinct PDGFRAlow subset retained the strongest osteochondral competency and could efficiently regenerate articular cartilage in vivo. Furthermore, a strategy was developed to generate MSX1+PDGFRAlow limb mesenchyme-like (LML) cells from human pluripotent stem cells that closely resembled their mouse counterparts, which were bipotential in vitro and could directly regenerate damaged cartilage in a mouse injury model. Together, our results indicated that MSX1+PDGFRAlow LML cells might be a prominent stem cell source for human cartilage regeneration.

The association between alpha diversity of gut microbiota, neuroimaging markers and cognitive function in cerebral small vessel disease.

There is increasing recognition of gut microbial dysbiosis in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). The altered diversity in a single ecosystem - alpha diversity index of gut microbiota has attracted wide attention. Our study aims to determine whether the alpha diversity index differs among healthy control (HC), CSVD with and without cognitive impairment. Moreover, we investigate the correlation between the alpha diversity index, neuroimaging markers, and cognitive function. We recruited 40 HC, 43 CSVD patients without cognitive impairment (CSVD-NCI), and 35 CSVD patients with mild cognitive impairment (CSVD-MCI). Clinical and neuropsychological assessments, MRI scanning, and gut microbiota analysis were performed on all participants. The alpha diversity indexes Chao1 and Shannon were calculated to evaluate community richness and diversity in a sample, respectively. Individual neuroimaging markers of CSVD and the CSVD burden score were also evaluated. A significantly lower level of Chao 1 rather than the Shannon index was observed in the CSVD subgroups than in the HC group. The level of the Chao 1 index was negatively correlated with both CMB counts, a neuroimaging characteristic of CSVD, and CSVD burden score in patients with CSVD. Additionally, the Chao 1 index has been associated with general cognitive function, information processing speed, and language function in patients with CSVD. Remarkably, the increased CSVD burden score mediated the effects of decreased levels of Chao 1 on information processing speed and language function. Hence, the alterations in species richness may be associated with CSVD-related cognitive impairment and mediated by CSVD neuroimaging markers.

[Changes in Plasma Amyloid-ß Level and Their Relationship With White Matter Microstructure in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment].

Objective To investigate the changes in plasma amyloid-ß (Aß) level and their relationship with white matter microstructure in the patients with amnesic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI) and vascular mild cognitive impairment (vMCI).Methods A total of 36 aMCI patients,20 vMCI patients,and 34 sex and age matched healthy controls (HC) in the outpatient and inpatient departments of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled in this study.Neuropsychological scales,including the Mini-Mental State Examination,the Montreal Cognitive Assessment,and the Activity of Daily Living Scale,were employed to assess the participants.Plasma samples of all the participants were collected for the measurement of Aß42 and Aß40 levels.All the participants underwent magnetic resonance scanning to obtain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data.The DTI indexes of 48 white matter regions of each individual were measured (based on the ICBM-DTI-81 white-matter labels atlas developed by Johns Hopkins University),including fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD).The cognitive function,plasma Aß42,Aß40,and Aß42/40 levels,and DTI index were compared among the three groups.The correlations between the plasma Aß42/40 levels and DTI index of aMCI and vMCI patients were analyzed.Results The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores of aMCI and vMCI groups were lower than those of the HC group (all P<0.001).There was no significant difference in the Activity of Daily Living Scale score among the three groups (P=0.654).The plasma Aß42 level showed no significant difference among the three groups (P=0.227).The plasma Aß40 level in the vMCI group was higher than that in the HC group (P=0.014),while it showed no significant difference between aMCI and HC groups (P=1.000).The plasma Aß42/40 levels in aMCI and vMCI groups showed no significant differences from that in the HC group (P=1.000,P=0.105),while the plasma Aß42/40 level was lower in the vMCI group than in the aMCI group (P=0.016).The FA value of the left anterior limb of internal capsule in the vMCI group was lower than those in HC and aMCI groups (all P=0.001).The MD values of the left superior corona radiata,left external capsule,left cingulum (cingulate gyrus),and left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus in the vMCI group were higher than those in HC (P=0.024,P=0.001,P=0.003,P<0.001) and aMCI (P=0.015,P=0.004,P=0.019,P=0.001) groups,while the MD values of the right posterior limb of internal capsule (P=0.005,P=0.001) and left cingulum (hippocampus) (P=0.017,P=0.031) in the aMCI and vMCI groups were higher than those in the HC group.In the aMCI group,plasma Aß42/40 level was positively correlated with FA of left posterior limb of internal capsule (r=0.403,P=0.015) and negatively correlated with MD of the right fonix (r=-0.395,P=0.017).In the vMCI group,plasma Aß42/40 level was positively correlated with FA of the right superior cerebellar peduncle and the right anterior limb of internal capsule (r=0.575,P=0.008;r=0.639,P=0.002),while it was negatively correlated with MD of the right superior cerebellar peduncle and the right anterior limb of internal capsule (r=-0.558,P=0.011;r=-0.626,P=0.003).Conclusions Plasma Aß levels vary differently in the patients with aMCI and vMCI.The white matter regions of impaired microstructural integrity differ in the patients with different dementia types in the early stage.The plasma Aß levels in the patients with aMCI and vMCI are associated with the structural integrity of white matter,and there is regional specificity between them.

High-resolution maps of vegetation nitrogen density on the Tibetan Plateau: An intensive field-investigation.

Nitrogen (N) is a vital macronutrient in plant growth and development that plays a crucial role in the regulation of numerous physiological processes. The Tibetan Plateau is among the most species-diverse vegetation zones in the world, and is sensitive to climate change; however, research on vegetation N in the region remains limited. This study used field grid-sampling of 2040 plant communities to investigate the spatial variation and driving factors of vegetation N on the Tibetan Plateau. The results yielded an average N content, density and storage in vegetation of 8.48 mg g-1, 27.02 g m-2, and 29.84Tg, respectively. The ratio-based optimal partitioning hypothesis appears to be more suitable than the isometric allocation hypothesis to explain variation in vegetation N on the Tibetan Plateau. Variation in vegetation N density, was influenced by several environmental factors of which the most significant was radiation. Based on these results, a Random Forest model was used to predict a N density distribution map at 1 km resolution, achieving an accuracy (R2) of 0.72 (aboveground N density), 0.61 (belowground N density), and 0.69 (total vegetation N density). Trends for high densities were predicted in the southeast and low densities in the northwest of the region. Our findings and maps could be used to provide key N cycle parameters, contributing to future remote sensing, radar analyses, modeling and ecological management.

Maximum potential of vegetation carbon sink in Chinese forests.

Forest vegetation is essential in sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and mediating global warming. The carbon (C) sink potential of forest vegetation in different provinces is vital for policymakers to develop C-neutral technical routes and regional priorities in China; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we compiled the public data on forest vegetation biomass or storage along forest succession series between 2003 and 2022 and obtained the spatial variation of the maximum C storage(BCmax) of forest vegetation using classic logistic equation and nonlinear fitting. Furthermore, the C sink potential (∆Cpot) of the Chinese forest vegetation was calculated based on the differences between the BCmax and intensive field-investigated data in the 2010s. The results showed that the BCmax in the Chinese forest vegetation was approximately 19.03 Pg. The BCmax in southwest and northeast China were higher than those in other regions. The ∆Cpot was estimated as 8.83 Pg. Moreover, 1 km × 1 km spatial raster data for ∆Cpot were produced using the spatial raster calculation. Similarly, the per capita ∆Cpot of regions with low economic development (southwest, central, and southern Chinese provinces) were five to ten times higher than those of regions with a higher economic level. The ∆Cpot correlated negatively with gross domestic product (GDP)across all Chinese provinces. Our findings provide new insights into the ∆Cpot of the Chinese forest vegetation under natural restoration and emphasize that some differences in financial and political support among different provinces facilitate achieving a large ∆Cpot for C neutrality.

Altered dynamic functional network connectivity and topological organization variance in patients with white matter hyperintensities.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin are important imaging biomarkers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Previous studies have verified abnormal functional brain networks in CSVD. However, most of these studies rely on static functional connectivity, and only a few focus on the varying severity of the WMHs. Hence, our study primarily explored the disrupted dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) and topological organization variance in patients with WMHs. This study included 38 patients with moderate WMHs, 47 with severe WMHs, and 68 healthy controls (HCs). Ten independent components were chosen using independent component analysis based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The dFNC of each participant was estimated using sliding windows and k-means clustering. We identified three reproducible dFNC states. Among them, patients with WMHs had a significantly higher occurrence in the sparsely connected State 1, but a lower occurrence and shorter duration in the positive and stronger connected State 3. Regarding topological organization variance, patients with WMHs showed higher variance in local efficiency but not global efficiency compared to HCs. Among the WMH subgroups, patients with severe WMHs showed similar but more obvious alterations than those with moderate WMHs. These altered network characteristics indicated an imbalance between the functional segregation and integration of brain networks, which was correlated with global cognition, memory, executive functions, and visuospatial abilities. Our study confirmed aberrant dFNC state metrics and topological organization variance in patients with moderate-to-severe WMHs; thus, it might provide a new pathway for exploring the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment.

Integrated Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of a patient with podocyte infolding glomerulopathy: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Podocyte infolding glomerulopathy (PIG) is a newly described and rare glomerular disease. To date, only approximately 40 cases have been reported globally. CASE SUMMARY: A 26-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with a complaint of intermittent edema of both lower limbs over the past 2 years. The patient was diagnosed with PIG. She was prescribed corticosteroid therapy in other hospitals during the initial stage, to which she had responded poorly and had developed femoral head necrosis. Therefore, we administered immunosuppressants, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, combined with traditional Chinese medicine. The patient was followed for 1 year, during which her clinical condition improved. CONCLUSION: Integrated Chinese and Western medicine may be effective for PIG treatment, which requires active intervention to improve prognosis.

Spatial-temporal variation of the carbon sequestration rate of afforestation in China: Implications for carbon trade and planning.

Afforestation and reforestation (A&R) are nature-based and cost-effective solutions for enhancing terrestrial carbon sinks and facilitating faster carbon neutrality. However, the lack of hierarchical spatial-temporal maps for the carbon sequestration rate (CSR) from A&R at the national scale impedes the scientific implementation of forest management planning to a large extent. Here, we assessed the spatial-temporal CSR per area for A&R at the provincial, prefectural, and county levels in China using a forest carbon sequestration model under three climate scenarios. Results showed that the CSR of vegetation (CSRVeg), soil (CSRSoil), and the ecosystem (CSREco) significantly varied across space and time. In China, the CSRVeg, CSRSoil, and CSREco were primarily regulated by the spatial variations in temperature and precipitation. Additionally, CSRVeg was found to be positively influenced by precipitation and temperature, whereas temperature had a negative influence on CSRSoil. Therefore, the differences between the CSRVeg and CSRSoil should be emphasized in the future. These information on the spatiotemporal variation of CSR of A&R (vegetation, soil, and ecosystem) on unit area basis and at levels of province, prefecture, and county in China, can be used as a comparable protocol to estimate the carbon sinks of A&R at different scales. Overall, these hierarchical spatiotemporal maps for CSR on A&R may help to identify priority areas of forest management planning and carbon trade policy to achieve faster carbon neutrality for China in the future.

YKL-40 as a novel biomarker related to white matter damage and cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease.

YKL-40 is a novel neuroinflammatory marker associated with white matter damage and cognitive dysfunction. 110 CSVD patients, including 54 with mild cognitive impairment (CSVD-MCI), 56 with no cognitive impairment (CSVD-NCI), and 40 healthy controls (HCs) underwent multimodal magnetic resonance examination, serum YKL-40 level detection and cognitive function assessment to investigate the association between YKL-40 and white matter damage and cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) patients. White matter hyperintensities volume was calculated using the Wisconsin White Matter Hyperintensity Segmentation Toolbox (W2MHS) for white matter macrostructural damage evaluation. For white matter microstructural damage evaluation, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) indices of the region of interest were analyzed based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) images using the Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) pipeline. The serum YKL-40 level of CSVD was significantly higher than those of HCs, and the CSVD-MCI was higher than in HCs and CSVD-NCI. Furthermore, serum YKL-40 provided high diagnostic accuracy for CSVD and CSVD-MCI. The macroscopic and microstructure of white matter in CSVD-NCI and CSVD-MCI patients indicated different degrees of damage. Disruption of white matter macroscopic and microstructure was significantly associated with YKL-40 levels and cognition deficits. Moreover, the white matter damage mediated the associations between the increased serum YKL-40 levels and cognitive impairment. Our findings demonstrated that YKL-40 might be a potential biomarker of white matter damage in CSVD, whereas white matter damage was associated with cognitive impairment. Serum YKL-40 measurement provides complementary information regarding the neural mechanism of CSVD and its associated cognitive impairment.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis reveals the significance of forkhead box family members in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Forkhead box proteins (FOXs) play important roles in multiple biological processes; while little is known regarding the role of FOX members in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the function of FOX family members in PAAD. METHODS: Expression and prognostic value of FOXs were analyzed by R language and GEPIA. Genetic alteration and promoter methylation level were analyzed using CBioPortal and UALCAN. Protein-protein interactions and gene functions were analyzed using STRING and DAVID. TIMER and SENESCopedia were utilized to analyze the correlation of FOXs with immune cell infiltration or tumor senescence. Protein levels of FOXs were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Expression of 15 of 50 FOXs were significantly elevated in PAAD. Among these 15 differentially expressed FOXs (DE-FOXs), 4 were significantly associated with the clinical cancer stage and 4 were negatively associated with overall survival. Functions of DE-FOXs were related to epithelial tube morphogenesis, nuclear chromatin, and DNA-binding. Promoter methylation and genomic alterations were not major causes of FOX dysregulation. Most DE-FOX was correlated with diverse immune infiltration cells. Seven of the DE-FOXs were positively related to tumor senescence. The protein levels of FOXM1, FOXP1, and FOXN3 were negatively correlated with OS in the collected PAAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: FOXM1, FOXP1, and FOXN3 have prognostic value. Seven FOXs were related senescence, whereas most DE-FOXs were related to immune infiltration in PAAD. Our findings are instructive for future research on FOX family and provide novel insights into the selection of FOXs with potential prognostic or therapeutic target value.

Predicting ecosystem productivity based on plant community traits.

With the rapid accumulation of plant trait data, major opportunities have arisen for the integration of these data into predicting ecosystem primary productivity across a range of spatial extents. Traditionally, traits have been used to explain physiological productivity at cell, organ, or plant scales, but scaling up to the ecosystem scale has remained challenging. Here, we show the need to combine measures of community-level traits and environmental factors to predict ecosystem productivity at landscape or biogeographic scales. We show how theory can extend the production ecology equation to enormous potential for integrating traits into ecological models that estimate productivity-related ecosystem functions across ecological scales and to anticipate the response of terrestrial ecosystems to global change.

Determining whether Qinghai-Tibet Plateau waterbodies have acted like carbon sinks or sources over the past 20 years.

Half of all of China's lakes are on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), which are mainly distributed at altitudes above 4000 m asl. Being under conditions of progressively intensifying anthropogenic activities and climate change, the debate on whether QTP lakes act as carbon (C) sinks or sources remains unresolved. This study explores QTP lake C exchange processes and characteristics over the past two decades through field monitoring and data integration. Results reveal high lake carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange flux distribution patterns in its western and southern regions and correspondingly low values in its eastern and northern regions. Lake CO2 exchange flux rates also show significant temporal differences where those in the 2000s and 2010s were significantly higher compared to the 2020s. Annual total CO2 emission flux from QTP lakes has increased from 1.60 Tg C a-1 in the 2000s to 6.87 Tg C a-1 in the 2010s before decreasing to 1.16 Tg C a-1 in the 2020s. However, QTP lakes have generally acted as C sinks when annual ice-cover periods are included in the estimation of annual C budgets. Consequently, QTP lakes are gradually evolving towards C sinks. Some small-sized freshwater lakes on the QTP exhibit C sequestration characteristics while low-mid altitude saltwater lakes also act as C sinks. Therefore, owing to the high uncertainties in the estimation of C exchange flux, the QTP lake C sink capacity has been largely underestimated.

Carbon sequestration of Chinese forests from 2010 to 2060: spatiotemporal dynamics and its regulatory strategies.

Forestation is important for sequestering atmospheric carbon, and it is a cost-effective and nature-based solution (NBS) for mitigating global climate change. Here, under the assumption of forestation in the potential plantable lands, we used the forest carbon sequestration (FCS) model and field survey involving 3365 forest plots to assess the carbon sequestration rate (CSR) of Chinese existing and new forestation forests from 2010 to 2060 under three forestation and three climate scenarios. Without considering the influence of extreme events and human disturbance, the estimated average CSR in Chinese forests was 0.358 ± 0.016 Pg C a-1, with partitioning to biomass (0.211 ± 0.016 Pg C a-1) and soil (0.147 ± 0.005 Pg C a-1), respectively. The existing forests account for approximately 93.5% of the CSR, which will peak near 2035, and decreasing trend was present overall after 2035. After 2035, effective tending management is required to maintain the high CSR level, such as selective cutting, thinning, and approximate disturbance. However, new forestation from 2015 in the potential plantable lands would play a minimal role in additional CSR increases. In China, the CSR is generally higher in the Northeast, Southwest, and Central-South, and lower in the Northwest. Considering the potential losses through deforestation and logging, it is realistically estimated that CSR in Chinese forests would remain in the range of 0.161-0.358 Pg C a-1 from 2010 to 2060. Overall, forests have the potential to offset 14.1% of the national anthropogenic carbon emissions in China over the period of 2010-2060, significantly contributing to the carbon neutrality target of 2060 with the implementation of effective management strategies for existing forests and expansion of forestation.

Altered serum amyloid beta and cerebral perfusion and their associations with cognitive function in patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease.

Subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) is one of the important causes of cognitive dysfunction, altered amyloid-beta (Aß) and cerebral perfusion may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of SIVD and are closely related to cognitive function. We aimed to investigate altered serum Aß and cerebral perfusion in patients with SIVD and their correlation with cognitive function. Seventy-four healthy controls (HCs) and 74 SIVD patients, including 38 SIVD patients with no cognitive impairment (SIVD-NCI) and 36 SIVD patients with mild cognitive impairment (SIVD-MCI) underwent the measurement of serum Aß40 and Aß42 levels, pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling MRI scanning, and cognitive evaluation. Compared to the healthy controls (HCs), the level of serum Aß40 and Aß40/42 ratio increased and Aß42 decreased in SIVD patients. The serum Aß40 level and Aß40/42 ratio in patients with SIVD-MCI were significantly higher than those in the HCs and SIVD-NCI, and the level of Aß42 in the SIVD-MCI was lower than the HCs. In addition, the serum Aß40/42 ratio provided high diagnostic accuracy for SIVD and SIVD-MCI, it was further identified as an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. Patients with SIVD-NCI and SIVD-MCI exhibited both increased and decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in regional. The Aß40/42 ratio was associated with global CBF, while altered global and regional CBF was associated with cognitive deficits. In addition, white matter hyperintensities volume (WMHV) correlated with Aß40/42 ratio, CBF, and cognition. The relationship between Aß40/42 ratio and cognition was partially mediated by altered CBF. Based on these results, we conclude that the serum Aß40/42 ratio may be a potential biomarker that can complement current methods for the prediction and diagnosis of cognitive impairment in SIVD patients. In addition, serum Aß may play a role in cognitive function by regulating CBF, which provides new insights into the intervention, treatment, and prevention of cognitive impairment in SIVD.

A Novel Module Promotes Horizontal Gene Transfer in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571.

Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 contains an 87.6 kb integrative and conjugative element (ICEAc) that conjugatively transfers symbiosis genes to other rhizobia. Many hypothetical redundant gene fragments (rgfs) are abundant in ICEAc, but their potential function in horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is unknown. Molecular biological methods were employed to delete hypothetical rgfs, expecting to acquire a minimal ICEAc and consider non-functional rgfs as editable regions for inserting genes related to new symbiotic functions. We determined the significance of rgf4 in HGT and identified the physiological function of genes designated rihF1a (AZC_3879), rihF1b (AZC_RS26200), and rihR (AZC_3881). In-frame deletion and complementation assays revealed that rihF1a and rihF1b work as a unit (rihF1) that positively affects HGT frequency. The EMSA assay and lacZ-based reporter system showed that the XRE-family protein RihR is not a regulator of rihF1 but promotes the expression of the integrase (intC) that has been reported to be upregulated by the LysR-family protein, AhaR, through sensing host's flavonoid. Overall, a conservative module containing rihF1 and rihR was characterized, eliminating the size of ICEAc by 18.5%. We propose the feasibility of constructing a minimal ICEAc element to facilitate the exchange of new genetic components essential for symbiosis or other metabolic functions between soil bacteria.

The Clustering Analysis of Time Properties in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Dynamic Connectivity Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) pattern in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and explore the relationships between DFC temporal properties and cognitive impairment in CSVD. Methods: Functional data were collected from 67 CSVD patients, including 35 patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI) and 32 cognitively unimpaired (CU) patients, as well as 35 healthy controls (HCs). The DFC properties were estimated by k-means clustering analysis. DFC strength analysis was used to explore the regional functional alterations between CSVD patients and HCs. Correlation analysis was used for DFC properties with cognition and SVD scores, respectively. Results: The DFC analysis showed three distinct connectivity states (state I: sparsely connected, state II: strongly connected, state III: intermediate pattern). Compared to HCs, CSVD patients exhibited an increased proportion in state I and decreased proportion in state II. Besides, CSVD patients dwelled longer in state I while dwelled shorter in state II. CSVD subgroup analyses showed that state I frequently occurred and dwelled longer in SVCI compared with CSVD-CU. Also, the internetwork (frontal-parietal lobe, frontal-occipital lobe) and intranetwork (frontal lobe, occipital lobe) functional activities were obviously decreased in CSVD. Furthermore, the fractional windows and mean dwell time (MDT) in state I were negatively correlated with cognition in CSVD but opposite to cognition in state II. Conclusion: Patients with CSVD accounted for a higher proportion and dwelled longer mean time in the sparsely connected state, while presented lower proportion and shorter mean dwell time in the strongly connected state, which was more prominent in SVCI. The changes in the DFC are associated with altered cognition in CSVD. This study provides a better explanation of the potential mechanism of CSVD patients with cognitive impairment from the perspective of DFC.