Investigation of waste characteristics and recycling behaviour at educational institutes.

In this study, the waste generation at the educational institutes chosen from four different levels (kindergartens, primary, secondary and high schools) in Istanbul was measured on-site and the contents of the waste thrown into the recycling bins were determined to specify capture rates. Separation and weighing processes were performed at 16 spots in high schools, 12 spots in secondary schools, 7 spots in primary schools and 7 spots in kindergartens. A survey was conducted to determine the students' awareness of recycling in these schools. It was revealed that the wastes produced from educational institutes are organics (36.4 %), paper (24 %), plastics (14.4 %), glass (8.1 %), metals (4.8 %) and miscellaneous (12.3 %). The survey results indicate that 93 % of the participants think recycling is important, 71 % of them throw their waste into suitable waste bins and 59 % of them know the location of the recycling bins. At the primary school level, a very high rate of paper waste (92.3 %) was reported in plastic bins while plastic waste collected in these bins remained only 5.7 %. It was also seen that glass waste captured in glass bins and metal waste in metal bins remain very low rates (20.9 % and 29.2 %, respectively) at the secondary school level. At the high school level, it was determined that the most commonly captured wastes in glass, plastics and paper bins are glass (47.5 %), plastic (43.2 %) and paper (32.5 %), respectively. Correlation analyses indicated a high positive correlation (p < 0.05) between particular types of waste.

Genomic regions and biological pathways associated with sex-limited reproductive traits in bovine species.

Many animal species exhibit sex-limited traits, where certain phenotypes are exclusively expressed in one sex. Yet, the genomic regions that contribute to these sex-limited traits in males and females remain a subject of debate. Reproductive traits are ideal phenotypes to study sexual differences since they are mostly expressed in a sex-limited way. Therefore, this study aims to use local correlation analyses to identify genomic regions and biological pathways significantly associated with male and female sex-limited traits in two distinct cattle breeds (Brahman [BB] and Tropical Composite [TC]). We used the Correlation Scan method to perform local correlation analysis on 42 trait pairs consisting of six female and seven male reproductive traits recorded on ~1,000 animals for each sex in each breed. To pinpoint a specific region associated with these sex-limited reproductive traits, we investigated the genomic region(s) consistently identified as significant across the 42 trait pairs in each breed. The genes found in the identified regions were subjected to Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) colocalization, QTL enrichment analyses, and functional analyses to gain biological insight into sexual differences. We found that the genomic regions associated with the sex-limited reproductive phenotypes are widely distributed across all the chromosomes. However, no single region across the genome was associated with all the 42 reproductive trait pairs in the two breeds. Nevertheless, we found a region on the X-chromosome to be most significant for 80% to 90% (BB: 33 and TC: 38) of the total 42 trait pairs. A considerable number of the genes in this region were regulatory genes. By considering only genomic regions that were significant for at least 50% of the 42 trait pairs, we observed more regions spread across the autosomes and the X-chromosome. All genomic regions identified were highly enriched for trait-specific QTL linked to sex-limited traits (percentage of normal sperm, metabolic weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, age at puberty, etc.). The gene list created from these identified regions was enriched for biological pathways that contribute to the observed differences between sexes. Our results demonstrate that genomic regions associated with male and female sex-limited reproductive traits are distributed across the genome. Yet, chromosome X seems to exert a relatively larger effect on the phenotypic variation observed between the sexes.

Many livestock species show sexual differences between males and females. However, we still do not fully understand the specific area of the genome responsible for these differences. This study used a novel method to investigate this research question in two distinct tropically adapted cattle. The study found that the drivers of sexual differences are widely distributed across the animal's genome, but the sex chromosome seems to play a large role. The genes within these regions are mostly protein-coding and regulatory genes. These genes were involved in biological processes that promote differences between males and females.

A comprehensive multi-omics analysis, integrating proteomics and metabolomics, was employed to elucidate tea-induced stewed beef quality change mechanisms.

To better understand the functional mechanism of four types of tea (green tea, black tea, jasmine tea, and dark tea) on the quality of stewed beef, changes in quality characteristics, proteomics, and metabolomics were investigated. Adding these four tea types decreased the pH value, L* value, shear force, and hardness of the stewed beef. Among these groups, black tea (BT) significantly improved the tenderness of the stewed beef. They have substantially impacted pathways related to protein oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid degradation, amino acid degradation, and peroxisomes in stewed beef. The study identified that Myosin-2, Starch binding domain 1, Heat shock protein beta-6, and Myosin heavy chain four are significantly correlated with the quality characteristics of tea-treated stewed beef, making them potential biomarkers. Green tea (GT), black tea (BT), jasmine tea (JT), and dark tea (DT) led to the downregulation of 20, 36, 38, and 31 metabolites, respectively, which are lipids and lipid-like molecules in the stewed beef. The co-analysis of proteomics and metabolomics revealed that differential proteins significantly impacted metabolites associated with carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and other nutrients. This study determined the effects of four types of tea on the quality of stewed beef and their underlying mechanisms, providing valuable insights for applying of tea in meat products. At the same time, it can offer new ideas for developing fresh meat products.

Maternal fatty acid status during pregnancy versus offspring inflammatory markers: a canonical correlation analysis of the MEFAB cohort.

The development of inflammatory lung disorders in children may be related to maternal fatty acid intake during pregnancy. We therefore examined maternal fatty acid (FA) status during pregnancy and its associations with inflammatory markers and lung conditions in the child by analyzing data from the MEFAB cohort using multivariate canonical correlation analysis (CCA). In the MEFAB cohort, 39 different phospholipid FAs were measured in maternal plasma at 16, 22 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, and at day of birth. Child inflammatory markers and self-reported doctor diagnosis of inflammatory lung disorders were assessed at 7 years of age. Using CCA, we found that maternal FA levels during pregnancy were significantly associated with child inflammatory markers at 7 years of age and that Mead acid (20:3n-9) was the most important FA for this correlation. To further verify the importance of Mead acid, we examined the relation between maternal Mead acid levels at the day of birth with the development of inflammatory lung disorders in children at age 7. After stratification for the child's sex, maternal Mead acid levels at day of birth were significantly related with self-reported doctor diagnosis of asthma and lung infections in boys, and bronchitis and total number of lung disorders in girls. Future studies should investigate whether the importance of Mead acid in the relation between maternal FA status and inflammation and lung disorders in the child is due to its role as biomarker for essential fatty acid deficiency or due to its own biological function as pro-inflammatory mediator.

Multidimensional visualization and analysis of chronic pain variables of patients who attended a chronic pain program.

Psychologically-based chronic pain variables measure multiple domains of the pain experience such as anxiety, depression, catastrophizing, acceptance and stages of change. These variables measure specific areas such as emotional and cognitive states towards chronic pain and its management, acceptance towards the chronic pain condition, and an individual's readiness to move towards self-management methods. Conceptually, these variables appear to be interrelated to each other, and also form groupings of similar underlying themes. Groupings that have been previously discussed for these variables include positive and negative affect, and improved and poor adjustment. Psychological experience of chronic pain as a whole is mostly understood through conceptually consolidating individual scores across different measures covering multiple domains. A map of these variables in relation to each other can offer an overview for further understanding and exploration. We hereby visualize highlights of relationships among 11 psychosocial chronic pain variables including measures examining physical and somatic aspects, using three-dimensional biplots. Variables roughly form two groupings, with one grouping consisting of items of negative affect, cognition, and physical state ratings, and the other grouping consisting of items of acceptance and the later three stages of change (contemplation, action, maintenance). Also, we follow up with canonical correlation as a complement to further identify key relationships between bimodal groupings. Key variables linking bimodal relationships consist of catastrophizing, depression and anxiety in one grouping and activity engagement in the other. Results are discussed in the context of existing literature.

Revealing the Effect of Spinopelvic Alignment on Hip Disorders.

Background: Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) is a growing burden and one of the leading causes of hip pain. The relationship between the HOA and the alignment of the spinopelvic region has been intensively studied, however the issue remains controversial. Spinopelvic imbalance, HOA, and dysplasia were investigated in relation to sagittal spinopelvic parameters in this study. Methods: We collected computerized tomography (CT) topograms of the pelvis or abdomen from 380 patients. In antero-posterior (AP) topograms, Tonnis grading, center-edge angle (CEA) and Sharp's acetabular angle (AA) measurements were performed on each patient. Lateral topograms were used to evaluate the following spinopelvic parameters for each patient: pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), sacral table angle (STA), lumbar lordosis (LL), proximal lumbar lordosis (PLL), distal lumbar lordosis (DLL), and PI-LL difference. Initially, the cohort was divided into two subgroups based on whether or not they had HOA. Then, they were divided into two subgroups based on whether or not they had dysplasia. Ultimately, it was divided in half based on the PI-LL imbalance. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the likely correlations between the spinopelvic parameters of these subgroups. In addition, the correlations between spinopelvic parameters were investigated. Results: There were 380 patients evaluated. We found no association between HOA or dysplasia and spinopelvic parameters. In addition, there was no association between PI-LL imbalance and HOA or dysplasia. Conclusion: There was no difference in constant PI and STA angle, besides other variable parameters, between groups having HOA and dysplasia or not. PI-LL imbalance has no effect on HOA and dysplasia.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism moderates the relationship between impulsivity, negative emotions, and binge drinking intensity in university students.

Studies on the genetic factors involved in binge drinking (BD) and its associated traits are very rare. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate differences in the association between impulsivity, emotion regulation and BD in a sample of young adults according to the rs6265/Val66Met variant in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, a well-known candidate gene in alcohol use disorders. We recruited 226 university students (112 women), aged between 18 and 25 years old, from two centers in France. The participants completed measures related to alcohol consumption, depression severity, state anxiety levels, impulsivity (UPPS-P), and difficulties in emotion regulation [Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)]. The relationship between the BD score and the clinical characteristics in the BDNF genotype groups was assessed by partial correlation analyses and moderation analyses. The partial correlation analyses showed that, in the Val/Val genotype group, the BD score was positively related to UPPS-P Lack of Premeditation and Sensation Seeking scores. In the Met carriers group, the BD score was positively related to UPPS-P Positive Urgency, lack of Premeditation, lack of Perseverance and Sensation Seeking scores and to Clarity score of the DERS. Moreover, the BD score was positively associated with depression severity and state anxiety scores. The moderation analyses revealed that BDNF Val/Met genotype moderated the relationship between several clinical variables and BD. The results of the present study support the hypothesis of common and specific vulnerability factors regarding impulsivity and emotion regulation difficulties associated with BD according to this BDNF rs6265 polymorphism.

Antimicrobial resistance monitoring in the Danish swine production by phenotypic methods and metagenomics from 1999 to 2018.

BackgroundIn Denmark, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pigs has been monitored since 1995 by phenotypic approaches using the same indicator bacteria. Emerging methodologies, such as metagenomics, may allow novel surveillance ways.AimThis study aimed to assess the relevance of indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) for AMR surveillance in pigs, and the utility of metagenomics.MethodsWe collated existing data on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) from the Danish surveillance programme and performed metagenomics sequencing on caecal samples that had been collected/stored through the programme during 1999-2004 and 2015-2018. We compared phenotypic and metagenomics results regarding AMR, and the correlation of both with AMU.ResultsVia the relative abundance of AMR genes, metagenomics allowed to rank these genes as well as the AMRs they contributed to, by their level of occurrence. Across the two study periods, resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides, tetracycline, and beta-lactams appeared prominent, while resistance to fosfomycin and quinolones appeared low. In 2015-2018 sulfonamide resistance shifted from a low occurrence category to an intermediate one. Resistance to glycopeptides consistently decreased during the entire study period. Outcomes of both phenotypic and metagenomics approaches appeared to positively correlate with AMU. Metagenomics further allowed to identify multiple time-lagged correlations between AMU and AMR, the most evident being that increased macrolide use in sow/piglets or fatteners led to increased macrolide resistance with a lag of 3-6 months.ConclusionWe validated the long-term usefulness of indicator bacteria and showed that metagenomics is a promising approach for AMR surveillance.

Total Phenolic and Total Flavonoid Content, Individual Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Sweet Rowanberry Cultivars.

Sweet rowanberry and its cultivars represent a less-known fruit species with significant antioxidant activity, mostly promoted by polyphenolic compounds. This paper examined seven Sorbus cultivars and evaluated their total polyphenolic and flavonoid content, as well as the content of individual polyphenolic compounds from the group of phenolic acids and flavonoids. It also determined their antioxidant activity using DPPH, ACW and ACL. Furthermore, to reflect the distribution of the contribution to antioxidant activity, correlations between antioxidant activity and the contents of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and individual phenolic compounds were established. The highest total phenolic content of 8307.4 mg kg-1 was determined in 'Granatina', with the main contribution of phenolic acid content of 7001.7 mg kg-1 and a significantly lower total flavonoid content of 1304.6 mg kg-1. Flavanols represented the most abundant group of flavonoids, with catechin being the second most frequent flavanol with the highest content of 633.67 mg kg-1 in 'Granatina'. Flavonols were represented by rutin and quercetin. 'Businka' displayed a significant vitamin E content of 4.77 mg kg-1, and 'Alaja Krupnaja' had the highest vitamin C level of 7.89 g kg-1. These results emphasize their potential health and nutritional benefits and, thus, their promising and valuable role in the food processing industry.

Multi-omics Analysis Reveals the Crucial Mediators of DJB in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE: Duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) has a definite hypoglycemic effect; however, the intrinsic mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether DJB may cause changes in the gut microbiota and metabolite of portal venous blood and to explore the effects of DJB on blood glucose metabolism. METHODS: T2DM was induced in rats with a high-fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin, which were randomly divided into two groups: Sham operation and DJB. RESULTS: DJB significantly improved several diabetic parameters. 16S rRNA analyses showed that the compositions of the gut microbiota were significantly different between the two groups. The results of metabolomics showed that DJB could significantly regulate the metabolites, among which diaminopimelic acid and isovaleric acid had a significant down-regulation in the DJB group. Transcriptomic analysis showed that DJB can regulate the expression of hepatic genes related to abnormal glucose metabolism, such as Ltc4s, Alox15, Ggt1, Gpat3, and Cyp2c24. Correlation analyses showed that diaminopimelic acid was positively associated with Allobaculum, Serratia, and Turicibacter. There was a significant correlation between diaminopimelic acid and Gpat3, and its Spearman correlation coefficient was the highest among metabolite-DEG pairs (ρ=0.97). DISCUSSIONS: These results suggest an important cue of the relation between the diaminopimelic acid, Gpat3, and gut microbiome in the mechanism by which DJB can improve glucose metabolism.

Exploitation of a shared genetic signature between obesity and endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Aims: The findings in epidemiological studies suggest that endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) is associated with obesity. However, evidence from gene expression data for the relationship between the two is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to explore the merits of establishing an obesity-related genes (ORGs) signature in the treatment and the prognostic assessment of EEC. Methods: Microarray data from GSE112307 were utilized to identify ORGs by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Based on the sequencing data from TCGA, we established the prognostic ORGs signature, confirmed its value as an independent risk factor, and constructed a nomogram. We further investigated the association between grouping based on ORGs signature and clinicopathological characteristics, immune infiltration, tumor mutation burden and drug sensitivity. Results: A total of 10 ORGs were identified as key genes for the construction of the signature. According to the ORGs score computed from the signature, EEC patients were divided into high and low-scoring groups. Overall survival (OS) was shorter in EEC patients in the high-scoring group compared with the low-scoring group (P < 0.001). The results of the Cox regression analysis showed that ORGs score was an independent risk factor for OS in EEC patients (HR = 1.017, 95% confidence interval = 1.011-1.023; P < 0.001). We further revealed significant disparities between scoring groups in terms of clinical characteristics, tumor immune cell infiltration, and tumor mutation burden. Patients in the low-scoring group may be potential beneficiaries of immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Conclusions: The ORGs signature established in this study has promising prognostic predictive power and may be a useful tool for the selection of EEC patients who benefit from immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

Improvement of physicochemical characteristics, flavor profiles and functional properties in Chinese radishes via spontaneous fermentation after drying.

Spontaneously dried-fermented radishes have been consumed in China for hundreds of years and are usually fermented for a long time to acquire high quality. In this study, the spontaneously dried-fermented radishes with short-term manufacturing periods were made from five different varieties of radishes that grew in the same environment. In addition, the physicochemical characteristics (i.e., moisture content, soluble solid, and pH value), flavor profiles (i.e., free amino acids, organic acids, and volatile compounds), and functional properties (i.e., total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, sulforaphane content, and γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA] content) of these five raw radishes and spontaneously dried-fermented radishes were analyzed and compared. In detail, the content of volatile and nonvolatile compounds increased, especially in oxalic acid, succinic acid, and umami free amino acids. Furthermore, functional components, such as sulforaphane and GABA, were also enriched via spontaneous fermentation after drying. In addition, the results of principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and redundancy analysis showed that there were significant discrepancies appeared when raw radishes were processed via spontaneous fermentation or not. These results suggested that the process of spontaneous fermentation after drying may contribute to improving the quality of fresh radishes. Notably, radishes with red skin and flesh were regarded as exceptional varieties for processing, because of the preferable flavor profiles and affluent functional substances via spontaneous fermentation after drying. Therefore, these findings could deliver a systematical insight into developing processed radishes with high quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The spontaneously dried-fermented radishes were manufactured through the process of spontaneous fermentation after drying, which acquired tasty and healthy characteristics by accumulating the volatile and nonvolatile compounds as well as the functional components, like total phenolics, total flavonoids, sulforaphane, and γ-aminobutyric acid. Importantly, because of the excellent processing properties, the radishes with red skin and flesh could be more appropriate to produce spontaneously dried-fermented radishes. Our findings may provide a practical strategy for developing vegetable relishes with superb flavor profiles and good functional properties in pickled vegetables.

Adaptation of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities to Continuous Exposure to Multiple Residual Antibiotics in Vegetable Farms.

The constant application of manure-based fertilizers in vegetable farms leads to antibiotic residue accumulation in soils, which has become a major stressor affecting agroecosystem stability. The present study investigated the adaptation profiles of rhizosphere microbial communities in different vegetable farms to multiple residual antibiotics. Multiple antibiotics, including trimethoprim, sulfonamides, quinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, lincomycins, and chloramphenicols, were detected in the vegetable farms; the dominant antibiotic (trimethoprim) had a maximum concentration of 36.7 ng/g. Quinolones and tetracyclines were the most prevalent antibiotics in the vegetable farms. The five most abundant phyla in soil samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi and Firmicutes, while the five most abundant phyla in root samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Myxococcota. Macrolides were significantly correlated with microbial community composition changes in soil samples, while sulfonamides were significantly correlated with microbial community composition changes in root samples. Soil properties (total carbon and nitrogen contents and pH) influenced the shifts in microbial communities in rhizosphere soils and roots. This study provides evidence that low residual antibiotic levels in vegetable farms can shift microbial community structures, potentially affecting agroecosystem stability. However, the degree to which the shift occurs could be regulated by environmental factors, such as soil nutrient conditions.

Elucidation of effect of spinopelvic parameters in degenerative disc disease.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to find out if there is any relationship between disc pathology and spinopelvic morphology, respectively. METHODS: A total of 152 patients who complained about low back pain were assessed retrospectively. Patients were divided into three groups based on the presence of disc pathology: non-degenerative (ND) (n=34), degenerative disc disease (DDD) (n=80), and lumbar disc herniation (LDH) (n=38). Spinopelvic parameters were measured on the lateral standing radiographs using Surgimap® Software. The degree of degeneration of each disc was evaluated using T2-weighted images according to the Pfirmann classification. Correlation analyses were performed. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the three groups in terms of sagittal spinal and pelvic parameters. Age and BMI were positively correlated with DDD and LDH. PI and proximal lombar lordosis (PLL) were the only effective variables in predicting DDD. PT and distal lumbar lordosis (DLL) were found to be effective variables in predicting LDH. PI and PT values in patients with L1, L2, and L3 DDD were statistically significantly higher than those without degeneration (P<0.05). Although there were no statistical differences between PI and PT values (P>0.05), DLL values in L4 and L5 DDD patients were significantly lower than those without degeneration (P=0.041; P=0.046; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The sagittal morphology of the spine directly influences the extent of lumbar disc degeneration. As the values of PI and PT increase, disc degeneration tends to occur at higher levels (L1-2-3). Disc degeneration at lower levels (L4-5) was associated with low DLL levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective study.

Dissolved metal assessment in surface seawater: A spatial-seasonal evaluation in the Zhejiang coastal waters, the East China Sea.

The spatial-seasonal distributions and variations, correlations with environmental variables and the pollution degrees of dissolved metals in the Zhejiang coastal seawater were investigated. The concentrations of six dissolved metals (i.e. Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, As and Hg) were in the ranges of 0.10-6.40 (1.6 ± 0.8), 0.16-3.60 (1.2 ± 0.7), 2.50-24.0 (8.5 ± 4.8), 0.011-0.180 (0.07 ± 0.03), 0.85-4.20 (2.1 ± 0.8) and 0.001-0.110 (0.06 ± 0.02) µg/L, throughout the four seasons, respectively. Significant differences in all the dissolved metals were found among seasons, whereas no significant differences were found among stations. The average concentrations of metals were in the following order: Zn > As>Cu > Pb > Cd > Hg. Single metal contamination factor was in the following order: Pb > Hg > Zn > Cu > As>Cd. The pollution level of dissolved metals in the Zhejiang coastal waters (ZCW) was low. Most of the dissolved metals were correlated to temperature, indicating seasonal differences. The redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that depth, temperature, nitrate and phosphate could best explain the variance pattern of dissolved metals in the ZCW.

Effect of boron on cadmium uptake and expression of Cd transport genes at different growth stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Boron (B) is an essential microelement for plant growth and has been shown to reduce cadmium (Cd) toxicity in wheat through modulating gene expression. However, there is not enough information about the effects of different applications of B fertilizer on the accumulation of Cd, particularly throughout the wheat growth period. This experiment employed two different B fertilization methods. The soil application method utilized 1.5 mg B kg-1 soil (Cd+B) and foliar application utilized 0.1% (F0.1%), 0.3% (F0.3%), and 0.6% (F0.6%) B concentrations along with 4 mg kg-1 Cd. The results showed that B application in the soil reduced Cd concentrations per plant by 43.9% at the seedling stage, 74.59% in the roots, and 52.11% in the shoots at the elongation stage. At the same time, Cd concentrations in the roots were higher by B application at the anthesis and maturity stages, suggesting that B retains more Cd in the roots. The gray correlation analysis showed that the gray relational coefficients followed the following order: F0.3% > F0.1% > Cd+B > F0.6%. According to quantitative real-time PCR analysis, the six Cd transporters were mostly expressed in the roots at the seedling stage and anthesis stage. In addition, the expression of TCONS1113, TRIAE1060, and TRIAE5370 showed a negative correlation relationship with Cd concentration at the seedling stage, both in roots and shoots. At the anthesis stage, the expression of TCONS1113 and TRIAE5370 in roots was higher in Cd-treated plants compared to B-treated plants, and a similar tendency was noted for the expression of TRIAE5770 and TRIAE1060 in shoots as well. These results suggest that B application could significantly inhibit Cd uptake and translocation by regulating the expression of Cd transporter genes, especially at the seedling stage and the elongation phase in wheat.

Long-Term Effects of Developmental Exposure to Oxycodone on Gut Microbiota and Relationship to Adult Behaviors and Metabolism.

Opioid drugs are commonly prescribed analgesic to pregnant women. Direct exposure to such drugs may slow gut motility, alter gut permeability, and affect the gut microbiome. While such drugs affect gut microbiome in infants, no study to date has determined whether developmental exposure to such drugs results in longstanding effects on gut microbiota and correspondingly on host responses. We hypothesized developmental exposure to oxycodone (OXY) leads to enduring effects on gut microbiota and such changes are associated with adult neurobehavioral and metabolic changes. Female mice were treated daily with 5 mg OXY/kg or saline solution (control [CTL]) for 2 weeks prior to breeding and then throughout gestation. Male and female offspring pups were weaned, tested with a battery of behavioral and metabolic tests, and fecal boli were collected adulthood (120 days of age). In females, relative abundance of Butyricimonas spp., Bacteroidetes, Anaeroplasma spp., TM7, Enterococcus spp., and Clostridia were greater in OXY versus CTL individuals. In males, relative abundance of Coriobacteriaceae, Roseburia spp., Sutterella spp., and Clostridia were elevated in OXY exposed individuals. Bacterial changes were also associated with predictive metabolite pathway alterations that also varied according to sex. In males and females, affected gut microbiota correlated with metabolic but not behavioral alterations. The findings suggest that developmental exposure to OXY leads to lasting effects on adult gut microbiota that might affect host metabolism, possibly through specific bacterial metabolites or other bacterial-derived products. Further work is needed to characterize how developmental exposure to OXY affects host responses through the gut microbiome. IMPORTANCE This is the first work to show in a rodent model that in utero exposure to an opioid drug can lead to longstanding effects on the gut microbiota when examined at adulthood. Further, such bacterial changes are associated with metabolic host responses. Given the similarities between rodent and human microbiomes, it raises cause for concern that similar effects may become evident in children born to mothers taking oxycodone and other opioid drugs.

Upper Limbs Muscle Co-contraction Changes Correlated With the Impairment of the Corticospinal Tract in Stroke Survivors: Preliminary Evidence From Electromyography and Motor-Evoked Potential.

Objective: Increased muscle co-contraction of the agonist and antagonist muscles during voluntary movement is commonly observed in the upper limbs of stroke survivors. Much remain to be understood about the underlying mechanism. The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between increased muscle co-contraction and the function of the corticospinal tract (CST). Methods: Nine stroke survivors and nine age-matched healthy individuals were recruited. All the participants were instructed to perform isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and horizontal task which consist of sponge grasp, horizontal transportation, and sponge release. We recorded electromyography (EMG) activities from four muscle groups during the MVC test and horizontal task in the upper limbs of stroke survivors. The muscle groups consist of extensor digitorum (ED), flexor digitorum (FD), triceps brachii (TRI), and biceps brachii (BIC). The root mean square (RMS) of EMG was applied to assess the muscle activation during horizontal task. We adopted a co-contraction index (CI) to evaluate the degree of muscle co-contraction. CST function was evaluated by the motor-evoked potential (MEP) parameters, including resting motor threshold, amplitude, latency, and central motor conduction time. We employed correlation analysis to probe the association between CI and MEP parameters. Results: The RMS, CI, and MEP parameters on the affected side showed significant difference compared with the unaffected side of stroke survivors and the healthy group. The result of correlation analysis showed that CI was significantly correlated with MEP parameters in stroke survivors. Conclusion: There existed increased muscle co-contraction and impairment in CST functionality on the affected side of stroke survivors. The increased muscle co-contraction was correlated with the impairment of the CST. Intervention that could improve the excitability of the CST may contribute to the recovery of muscle discoordination in the upper limbs of stroke survivors.

Enhancing the Accuracy of Linear Finite Element Models of Vehicle Structures Considering Spot-Welded Flanges.

Structural engineering simulations have required increasingly complex computational models to replace physical tests accurately. This work focuses on the numerical analysis of vehicle body structures, whose size and complexity make the use of very accurate nonlinear models unfeasible due to the prohibitive computational costs involved. The purpose of this study is to find a new approach to model spot-welded joints in linear finite element models of thin-wall vehicle body structures, improving the accuracy of the model without increasing its complexity. Using a set of simplified nonlinear models, we fitted the stiffness and damping properties of these welded joints and used those adjusted values into a linear model of the entire vehicle body structure. The results were compared with experimental tests, showing a clear improvement in the accuracy of the modal and frequency responses provided by the linear finite element model, but keeping its initial complexity level. The adjusted model was then used in an optimization analysis to reduce the structure's weight, leading to interesting cost savings and important reductions in the use of natural resources and carbon emissions.

Strategies of cadmium and copper uptake and translocation in different plant species growing near an E-waste dismantling site at Wenling, China.

This study aimed to explore the interactions between cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) during uptake and translocation in plants growing in soil polluted with heavy metals derived from electronic waste (E-waste). We collected the roots, stems, leaves, and root-surrounding soils of ten dominant plant species growing in farmland near an E-waste dismantling site, and analyzed their Cd and Cu concentrations. Among the ten plant species, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Cucurbita moschata (Duch. ex Lam.) Duch. ex Poiret, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., and Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. accumulated Cd (2.40-4.56 mg kg-1) and Cu (19.60-35.21 mg kg-1) in the roots. In Polygonum hydropiper L. and Sesbania cannabina (Retz.) Poir., the Cd (0.50-0.81 mg kg-1) and Cu (11.04-15.55 mg kg-1) concentrations were similar among the three organs. Glycine max (L.) Merr. accumulated more Cu in the roots (16.42 mg kg-1) than in the stems (5.61 mg kg-1) and leaves (7.75 mg kg-1), and accumulated Cd at similar levels in the three organs (0.65-0.99 mg kg-1). Sesamum indicum L., Bidens pilosa L., and Solidago decurrens Lour. accumulated Cd at similar levels among the three organs (0.16-3.34 mg kg-1) and accumulated less Cu in the stems (6.89-8.28 mg kg-1) than in the roots (12.61-21.63 mg kg-1) and leaves (12.93-22.38 mg kg-1). S. indicum had a stronger capacity to accumulate and translocate Cd and Cu according to transfer coefficient and translocation factor. The concentrations of Cd and Cu in soils were significantly positively correlated with those in the roots (p<0.01) but not those in the stems and leaves. We detected significantly positive correlations between Cd and Cu concentrations in the roots and leaves (p<0.01) but not in the stems. These results suggest that there is a synergetic strategy of Cd and Cu transport from soils to the roots and from the roots to the leaves, while the stems may not be the key organ controlling Cd and Cu transport in plants. These findings have important implications for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with Cd and Cu, the mechanisms of plant Cd and Cu transport, and the food safety of agricultural products.