Impact of deoxynivalenol in a calcium depletion and repletion nutritional strategy in piglets

This study evaluated the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) levels and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination on Ca and phosphorus (P) utilization and bone mineralization in piglets. During an initial 13-day depletion phase, 64 piglets (15.7±0.7 kg) received a control (DON-) or DON-contaminated treatment (DON+, 2.7 mg DON/kg) with either a low Ca (Ca-, 0.39%) or normal Ca level (Ca+, 0.65%) with a constant digestible P level (0.40%). A second group of 16 piglets received DON- or DON+ treatments for 9 days for gene expression analysis. During the subsequent 14-day repletion phase, all piglets were fed a Ca+DON- diet containing 0.65% Ca and 0.35% digestible P without DON. After 5 days of the depletion phase, the absorption of P (DON × Ca; P<0.05) and Ca was increased by the Ca- (P<0.01) and DON+ (P<0.01) diet. After 13 days, feed conversion ratio (P<0.01) and average daily feed intake (P=0.06) tended to decrease with the Ca- diet. The bone mineral content (BMC) gain was decreased by Ca, especially with Ca-DON+ (DON × Ca, P< 0.05). The P absorption was increased by Ca-DON+ (DON × Ca, P<0.01), although the P retention efficiency was only increased by Ca+DON+ (DON × Ca, P<0.001). The absorption of Ca was increased by DON+ (P < 0.001), and the Ca efficiency was increased by Ca-DON- (DON × Ca, P<0.01). After 9 days, the gene expression of intestinal claudin 12 (P<0.01) and CYP24A1 (P< 0.05), femur cortical RANKL (P<0.05) and OPG (P=0.06), and renal calbindin D9K (P< 0.05) and Klotho (P=0.07) were decreased by DON+. The Ca (P=0.06) and magnesium (P<0.01) concentrations were decreased by DON+, and the Ca (P=0.06) and P digestibility (P<0.01) were increased. After the repletion phase, Ca- piglets recovered their BMC deficit, but not those receiving DON+ (DON × Ca; P=0.06). The Ca (P<0.05) and P (P=0.06) retention efficiency tended to increase with Ca-. The absorption of Ca and P were increased by Ca- and DON+ (DON × Ca, P<0.05). The results show that piglets increased their Ca and P utilization efficiency, allowing them to recover the BMC deficit caused by Ca-, but not when the piglets were exposed to DON. Pigs previously receiving Ca-deficient diet with DON still has lower body Ca and P, leading to elevated calcitriol concentrations and enhanced Ca and P intestinal absorption. The fact that DON decreased the expression of genes implicated in Ca intestinal and renal transport and P excretion after 9 days can potentially explain the reduced plasma Ca concentration.

The ins and outs of microglial cells in brain health and disease

Microglia are the brain's resident macrophages that play pivotal roles in immune surveillance and maintaining homeostasis of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Microglia are functionally implicated in various cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke, aneurysm, and tumorigenesis as they regulate neuroinflammatory responses and tissue repair processes. Here, we review the manifold functions of microglia in the brain under physiological and pathological conditions, primarily focusing on the implication of microglia in glioma propagation and progression. We further review the current status of therapies targeting microglial cells, including their re-education, depletion, and re-population approaches as therapeutic options to improve patient outcomes for various neurological and neuroinflammatory disorders, including cancer.

Depletion of tilmicosin residue in Gushi chickens following oral administration via drinking water

This study aimed to examine the depletion of tilmicosin residues in Gushi chickens following the administration at a concentration of 75 mg/L in their drinking water for three consecutive days. Plasma, liver, kidney, lung, muscle, and skin + fat samples were collected from 6 chickens at 6 h, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after the treatment. Tilmicosin concentrations in the samples were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The findings revealed that the highest tilmicosin residues were detected in the liver, followed by the kidney, lung, skin + fat, muscle, and plasma. Notably, at 7 days post-treatment, no drug residue was detected in all samples except for the liver and kidney. The non-compartmental model was employed to calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters. The elimination half-lives (t1/2λz ) of tilmicosin were as follows, ranked from long to short: skin + fat (45.42 h), liver (44.17 h), kidney (40.06 h), plasma (37.64 h), lung (31.39 h), and muscle (30.05 h). Considering the current residue depletion and the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by Chinese regulatory authorities, the withdrawal times for tilmicosin were estimated as 18.91, 10.81, and 8.58 days in the kidney, liver, and skin + fat, respectively. A rounded-up value of 19 days was selected as the conclusive withdrawal time. Furthermore, based on the observed tilmicosin concentrations in plasma and lung, combined with previously reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Mycoplasma gallisepticum, the current dosing regimen was deemed adequate for treating Mycoplasma gallisepticum infections in Gushi chickens.

Depletion of dexamethasone in cattle: Food safety study in dairy and beef cattle

Dexamethasone is approved for cattle in Canada for several conditions, but no withdrawal times are currently provided on the approved labels. Recently, the list of Maximum Residues Limits for Veterinary Drugs in Foods in Canada was amended to include dexamethasone. The objectives of this study were to determine the residue depletion profile of dexamethasone after an extra-label dosage regimen in milk of healthy lactating dairy cattle (n = 18) and in edible tissues of healthy beef cattle (n = 16) and to suggest withdrawal intervals. Dexamethasone was administered intramuscularly at 0.05 mg/kg daily for 3 days. Milk samples were collected prior to treatment and every 12 h up to 96 h post-dose. Muscle, liver, kidney, and peri-renal fat tissues were collected from beef cattle at 3, 7, 11, or 15 days post-dose. Dexamethasone analysis was performed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrophotometry. Dexamethasone residues were detected in milk samples up to 36 h. Muscle and fat had no detectable dexamethasone residues while kidney and liver had detectable residues only on day 3 post-dose. A withdrawal interval of 48 h for milk in Canadian dairy cattle and 7 days for meat in Canadian beef cattle are suggested for the dexamethasone treatment regimen most commonly requested to CgFARAD™.

The 28S rRNA RT-qPCR assay for host depletion evaluation to enhance avian virus detection in Illumina and Nanopore sequencing

Abundant host and bacterial sequences can obscure the detection of less prevalent viruses in untargeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Efficient removal of these non-targeted sequences is vital for accurate viral detection. This study presents a novel 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) RT-qPCR assay designed to assess the efficiency of avian rRNA depletion before conducting costly NGS for the detection of avian RNA viruses. The comprehensive evaluation of this 28S-test focuses on substituting DNase I with alternative DNases in our established depletion protocols and finetuning essential parameters for reliable host rRNA depletion. To validate the effectiveness of the 28S-test, we compared its performance with NGS results obtained from both Illumina and Nanopore sequencing platforms. This evaluation utilized swab samples from chickens infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, subjected to established and modified depletion protocols. Both methods significantly reduced host rRNA levels, but using the alternative DNase had superior performance. Additionally, utilizing the 28S-test, we explored cost- and time-effective strategies, such as reduced probe concentrations and other alternative DNase usage, assessed the impact of filtration pre-treatment, and evaluated various experimental parameters to further optimize the depletion protocol. Our findings underscore the value of the 28S-test in optimizing depletion methods for advancing improvements in avian disease research through NGS.

Adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA-sequencing

Nanopore long-read sequencing enables real-time monitoring and controlling of individual nanopores. This allows us to enrich or deplete specific sequences in DNA sequencing in a process called "adaptive sampling." So far, adaptive sampling (AS) was not applicable to the direct sequencing of RNA. Here, we show that AS is feasible and useful for direct RNA sequencing (DRS), which has its specific technical and biological challenges. Using a well-controlled in vitro transcript-based model system, we identify essential characteristics and parameter settings for AS in DRS, as the superior performance of depletion over enrichment. Here, the efficiency of depletion is close to the theoretical maximum. Additionally, we demonstrate that AS efficiently depletes specific transcripts in transcriptome-wide sequencing applications. Specifically, we applied our AS approach to poly(A)-enriched RNA samples from human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and mouse whole heart tissue and show efficient 2.5- to 2.8-fold depletion of highly abundant mitochondrial-encoded transcripts. Finally, we characterize depletion and enrichment performance for complex transcriptome subsets, that is, at the level of the entire Chromosome 11, proving the general applicability of direct RNA AS. Our analyses provide evidence that AS is especially useful to enable the detection of lowly expressed transcripts and reduce the sequencing of highly abundant disturbing transcripts.

Ninety years of change, from commercial extinction to recovery, range expansion and decline for Antarctic fur seals at South Georgia

With environmental change, understanding how species recover from overharvesting and maintain viable populations is central to ecosystem restoration. Here, we reconstruct 90 years of recovery trajectory of the Antarctic fur seal at South Georgia (S.W. Atlantic), a key indicator species in the krill-based food webs of the Southern Ocean. After being harvested to commercial extinction by 1907, this population rebounded and now constitutes the most abundant otariid in the World. However, its status remains uncertain due to insufficient and conflicting data, and anthropogenic pressures affecting Antarctic krill, an essential staple for millions of fur seals and other predators. Using integrated population models, we estimated simultaneously the long-term abundance for Bird Island, northwest South Georgia, epicentre of recovery of the species after sealing, and population adjustments for survey counts with spatiotemporal applicability. Applied to the latest comprehensive survey data, we estimated the population at South Georgia in 2007-2009 as 3,510,283 fur seals [95% CI: 3,140,548-3,919,604] (ca. 98% of global population), after 40 years of maximum growth and range expansion owing to an abundant krill supply. At Bird Island, after 50 years of exponential growth followed by 25 years of slow stable growth, the population collapsed in 2009 and has thereafter declined by -7.2% [-5.2, -9.1] per annum, to levels of the 1970s. For the instrumental record, this trajectory correlates with a time-varying relationship between coupled climate and sea surface temperature cycles associated with low regional krill availability, although the effects of increasing krill extraction by commercial fishing and natural competitors remain uncertain. Since 2015, fur seal longevity and recruitment have dropped, sexual maturation has retarded, and population growth is expected to remain mostly negative and highly variable. Our analysis documents the rise and fall of a key Southern Ocean predator over a century of profound environmental and ecosystem change.

Multiresidue Determination of Growth Promoters in Bovine Serum using QuEChERS and UHPLC-Q-ORBITRAP: Validation and In Vivo Study

A reliable method using a QuEChERS approach and liquid chromatography coupled to Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry was optimized and validated for the quantification of 20 growth promoters in bovine serum. The recoveries ranged from 91.4-114.1%, relative standard deviations varied between 0.3-4.0%, and CCα values were between 0.023-0.350 μg L-1. The developed method was applied in an in vivo study using steers, which were intramuscularly treated with commercial injections containing stanozolol. A rapid metabolization was observed, with a detection window ranging from 3 to 10 days. The stability of incurred stanozolol was confirmed after 240 days at -20 °C and also after 5 freeze-thaw cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in which an in vivo study was performed to support the monitoring of stanozolol in bovine serum. In addition, the use of Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry allows for retrospective analysis from a surveillance perspective.

They were uncivil, and now I am too: A dual process model exploring relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility

Incivility from customers is a common occurrence for employees working in service-oriented organizations. Typically, such incivility engenders instigated mistreatment, both towards customers and colleagues. Not much is understood, however, about the mechanisms underlying the relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility. Answering recent calls from incivility scholars, the present research, drawing from Self-Regulatory Resource Theory and Stressor-Emotion models of workplace behaviour, explored cognitive (i.e., self-regulatory resource depletion) and affective (i.e., negative affect) pathways that would explain relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility towards others. Through two multi-wave studies with different time lags (N1  = 180, weekly lags; N2  = 192, within-week lags) and different operationalizations of the instigated incivility construct (i.e., broad [unidimensional] and narrow [multidimensional]), we find consistent support for the mediating effects of the affective pathway. While our first study finds that customer incivility is linked to broad instigated incivility through negative affect, our second study finds that customer incivility is linked to, more specifically, gossip, exclusionary behaviour, and hostility through negative affect. In both studies, however, no support was found for the mediating effects of the cognitive pathway. Implications for both research and practice are discussed, and future research directions are offered.

The transcriptome reveals the molecular regulatory network of primordial follicle depletion in obese mice

OBJECTIVE

To explore the dynamic transcriptional regulatory network of primordial follicle fate in obese mice to elucidate the potential mechanism of primordial follicle depletion.

DESIGN

Experimental study and transcriptomic analysis.

ANIMALS

Healthy (n=15) and obese (n=15) female mice.

INTERVENTIONS

Six-week-old CD-1 mice were divided into healthy and high-fat diet groups and fed continuously for 12 weeks. The diet of healthy mice contained 10% fat. The diet of high-fat mice contained 60% fat.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primordial to primary follicle transition rate, gene expression changes, enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, and ferroptosis.

RESULTS

Primordial follicle depletion was increased in the ovaries of obese mice. We found that deposited fat around primordial and primary follicles of obese mice was higher than that for healthy mice. The proliferation of granulosa cells around primary follicles was increased in obese mice. In addition, we uncovered specific gene signatures associated with the primordial to primary follicle transition (PPT) in obese mice using laser capture microdissection RNA sequencing analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that ferroptosis, cell oxidation, vascular endothelial growth factor, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling were increased significantly in the primordial follicles of obese mice. Notably, the ferritin, acyl CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4, and solid carrier family 7 member 11 associated proteins of the ferroptosis signaling pathway were significantly increased in the PPT phase of obese mice.

CONCLUSION

Our work suggests that ferroptosis is a key pathway activated within immature ovarian follicles in the context of obesity and that the process may be involved in the physiological regulation of the PPT as well.

A model for preservation of thymocyte-depleted thymus

DiGeorge syndrome is a disorder caused by a microdeletion on the long arm of chromosome 22. Approximately 1% of patients diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome may have an absence of a functional thymus, which characterizes the complete form of the syndrome. These patients require urgent treatment to reconstitute T cell immunity. Thymus transplantation is a promising investigational procedure for reconstitution of thymic function in infants with congenital athymia. Here, we demonstrate a possible optimization of the preparation of thymus slices for transplantation through prior depletion of thymocytes and leukocyte cell lineages followed by cryopreservation with cryoprotective media (5% dextran FP 40, 5% Me2SO, and 5% FBS) while preserving tissue architecture. Thymus fragments were stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for 30 days or one year. The tissue architecture of the fragments was preserved, including the distinction between medullary thymic epithelial cells (TECs), cortical TECs, and Hassall bodies. Moreover, depleted thymus fragments cryopreserved for one year were recolonized by intrathymic injections of 3×106 thymocytes per mL, demonstrating the capability of these fragments to support T cell development. Thus, this technique opens up the possibility of freezing and storing large volumes of thymus tissue for immediate transplantation into patients with DiGeorge syndrome or atypical (Omenn-like) phenotype.

Role of Macrophages in the Pathogenesis of Genotype VII Newcastle Disease Virus in Chickens

Long-term evolution of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) results in substantial alteration in viral pathogenesis. NDVs of genotype VII, a late genotype, show marked tropism to lymphoid tissues, especially to macrophages in chickens. However, the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of genotype VII NDV is still unclear. Herein, NDV infectivity in macrophages and the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of genotype VII NDV in chickens were investigated. We reported that NDV strains of genotype VII (JS5/05) and IV (Herts/33) can replicate in the adherent (predominantly macrophages) and non-adherent cells (predominantly lymphocytes) derived from chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and significantly higher virus gene copy was detected in the adherent cells. In addition, JS5/05 had significantly higher infectivity in PBMC-derived adherent cells than Herts/33, correlating with its enhanced tropism to macrophages in the spleen of chickens. Interestingly, the depletion of 68% of macrophages exerted no significant impact on clinical signs, mortality and the systematic replication of JS5/05 in chickens, which may be associated with the contribution of non-depleted macrophages and other virus-supportive cells to virus replication. Macrophage depletion resulted in a marked exacerbation of tissue damage and apoptosis in the spleen caused by JS5/05. These findings indicated that macrophages play a critical role in alleviating tissue damage caused by genotype VII NDV in chickens. Our results unveiled new roles of macrophages in NDV pathogenesis in chickens.

When Smaller Sooner Depletes a Pool of Resources Faster

Behavior has short-term (proximal) and long-term (distal) consequences, and these consequences often involve different commodities. In particular, a commonly encountered distal consequence involves running out of resources - energy to respond, available food, ammunition, or money in the bank - that must be replenished before continuing a rewarding task. The current project examines proximal behavioral consequences in a video game (the amount of damage done to a clicked-on target as a function of waiting) and distal behavioral consequences (running out of the resources that allow the player to click on a target). When depleted, the resource replenished after a fixed amount of time. Thus, participants sometimes faced a tradeoff between behaviors that maximized their short-term reward rate and those that maximized their long-term reward rate. When the proximal contingency did not affect the short-term reward rate, the mere presence of limitations resulted in the slower use of resources, but the slowdown did not evidence strong sensitivity to the size of the resource pool nor the delay to its replenishment (Experiment 1). However, when the proximal contingency rewarded faster use of resources, participants did show sensitivity to the duration of the replenishment delay and the size of the resource pool (Experiment 2).

Field Evidence for Asian Outflow and Fast Depletion of Total Gaseous Mercury in the Polluted Coastal Atmosphere

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) cycling in polluted coastal atmosphere is complicated and not fully understood. Here, we present measurements of total gaseous mercury (TGM) monitored at a coastal mountaintop in Hong Kong downwind of mainland China. Sharp TGM peaks during cold front passages were frequently observed due to Asian pollution outflow with typical TGM/CO slopes of 6.8 ± 2.2 pg m^-3 ppbv^-1. Contrary to the daytime maximums of other air pollutants, TGM exhibited a distinct diurnal variation with a midday minimum. Moreover, we observed four cases of extremely fast TGM depletion after sunrise, during which TGM concentrations rapidly dipped to 0.3-0.6 ng m^-3 accompanied by other pollutants on the rise. Simulated meteorological fields revealed that morning upslope flow transporting anthropogenically polluted but TGM-depleted air masses from the mixed layer caused morning TGM depletion at the mountaintop location. The TGM-depleted air masses were hypothesized to result mainly from fast photooxidation of Hg after sunrise with minor contributions from dry deposition (5.0%) and nocturnal oxidation (0.6%). A bromine-induced two-step oxidation mechanism involving abundant pollutants (NO₂, O₃, etc.) was estimated to play a dominant role, contributing 55%-60% of depleted TGM and requiring 0.20-0.26 pptv Br, an amount potentially available through sea salt aerosol debromination. Our findings suggest significant effects of the interaction between anthropogenic pollution and marine halogen chemistry on atmospheric Hg cycling in the coastal areas.

Centrifugation-Assisted Growth of Single-Crystalline Grains in Microcapsules

Colloidal crystals have been tailored in a format of microspheres to use them as a building block to construct macroscopic photonic surfaces. However, the polycrystalline grains grown from the spherical surface usually exhibit low reflectivity. Although single-crystalline microspheres have been produced, it is difficult to control the crystal orientation. Here, we design spherical microcapsules with density anisotropy that contain single-crystalline grains along the heavy side. The microcapsules spontaneously align to have a heavy side down under the action of gravity and display a bright and uniform reflection color from the entire surface of the grains. Key to the success is the use of gentle centrifugal force to initiate nucleation and grow single-crystalline grains from the heavy side through depletion attraction. The microcapsules have density anisotropy due to the heterogeneity of the shell thickness, which causes them to self-align under centrifugation. At the same time, particles are accumulated on the heavy side, which produces many tiny grains on the heavy side immediately after the centrifugation. With controlled depletion attraction among particles, only a few grains survive during postincubation through Ostwald ripening, and one or a few giant single-crystalline grains are finally produced along the heavy side of each microcapsule.

Intra-individual variability identifies individuals vulnerable to contextually induced executive lapses

Contextual stressors, such as engagement in burdensome emotion regulation known as expressive suppression (ES), can result in transient but clinically meaningful decrement in performance on measures of executive functioning (EF). The goal of the present investigation was to examine whether intra-individual variability (IIV-I), which has been identified as an indicator of cognitive weakness, could serve as a marker of vulnerability to EF decrements due to both naturally-occurring and experimentally-manipulated ES.

In Study 1, 180 cognitively healthy older adults completed the Push-Turn-Taptap (PTT) task to assess IIV-I, four Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) subtests to assess EF, and the Burden of State Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (B-SERQ) to assess naturally-occurring ES. In Study 2, a subset (n = 81) of participants underwent experimental manipulation to induce ES, followed by second administration of the D-KEFS to examine ES-induced decrements in EF.

In Study 1, hierarchical linear regression yielded a significant interaction between ES and IIV-I as predictors of EF performance, demonstrating that high ES was associated with low EF only among individuals with high IIV-I. In Study 2, repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated an interaction between time (pre- vs. post- manipulation), group (ES vs. control), and IIV-I (high vs. low), such that only individuals who exhibited high IIV-I were negatively impacted by the ES manipulation.

IIV-I moderates the association between ES and EF, such that only individuals with high IIV-I exhibit vulnerability to the impact of ES. Thus, IIV-I may act as a marker of vulnerability to temporary EF depletion.

The pharmacokinetic and residue depletion study of eugenol in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Introduction

The pharmacokinetic profile and residue depletion of eugenol in carp (Cyprinus carpio) tissues and plasma were performed by a convenient and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.

Methods

The eugenol in carp tissues and plasma was extracted with a mixed solution of acetonitrile and methanol. N-hexane was used to remove lipid impurities. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic and residue elimination of eugenol in carp after the carp was administered a medicated bath.

Results

The average recoveries of eugenol in tissues and plasma fortified with four concentration levels were 69.0-106.6% and 80.0-86.7%, respectively. The relative standard deviations were < 8.9%. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.01 μg/g in tissue and 0.008 μg/ml in plasma, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameter of C_max for eugenol in plasma at the concentrations of 20, 35, and 75 mg/L were 10.86, 17.21, and 37.32 mg/L, respectively. The t_1/2 values were 3.68, 4.22, and 9.31 h. After the investigation of the anesthetic effect, 35 mg/L of eugenol was the optimal concentration for anesthesia. The highest accumulation concentration of eugenol in carp is in the liver and the lowest is in the muscle. In addition, the eugenol in tissue was eliminated rapidly and at a lower level than the LOD at 48 h. According to the residue elimination, the withdrawal time of eugenol was suggested at 5.2 days.

Discussion

These results indicate that the developed method had good linearity and accuracy, and is sensitive enough for the monitoring of eugenol residue in carp. The half-life of eugenol decreased with the increase in drug concentration and the eugenol was eliminated rapidly in carp tissues. 35 mg/L eugenol was recommended as an anesthetic in carp due to its favorable anesthetic effect and no mortality. This study will contribute to the establishment of MRL regulation and setting a withdrawal period.

Pharmacological depletion of microglia alleviates neuronal and vascular damage in the diabetic CX3CR1-WT retina but not in CX3CR1-KO or hCX3CR1I249/M280-expressing retina

Diabetic retinopathy, a microvascular disease characterized by irreparable vascular damage, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, is a leading complication of diabetes mellitus. There is no cure for DR, and medical interventions marginally slow the progression of disease. Microglia-mediated inflammation in the diabetic retina is regulated via CX3CR1-FKN signaling, where FKN serves as a calming signal for microglial activation in several neuroinflammatory models. Polymorphic variants of CX3CR1, hCX3CR1^I249/M280 , found in 25% of the human population, result in a receptor with lower binding affinity for FKN. Furthermore, disrupted CX3CR1-FKN signaling in CX3CR1-KO and FKN-KO mice leads to exacerbated microglial activation, robust neuronal cell loss and substantial vascular damage in the diabetic retina. Thus, studies to characterize the effects of hCX3CR1^I249/M280 -expression in microglia-mediated inflammation in the diseased retina are relevant to identify mechanisms by which microglia contribute to disease progression. Our results show that hCX3CR1^I249/M280 mice are significantly more susceptible to microgliosis and production of Cxcl10 and TNFα under acute inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is exacerbated under diabetic conditions and coincides with robust neuronal loss in comparison to CX3CR1-WT mice. Therefore, to further investigate the role of hCX3CR1^I249/M280 -expression in microglial responses, we pharmacologically depleted microglia using PLX-5622, a CSF-1R antagonist. PLX-5622 treatment led to a robust (~70%) reduction in Iba1⁺ microglia in all non-diabetic and diabetic mice. CSF-1R antagonism in diabetic CX3CR1-WT prevented TUJ1⁺ axonal loss, angiogenesis and fibrinogen deposition. In contrast, PLX-5622 microglia depletion in CX3CR1-KO and hCX3CR1^I249/M280 mice did not alleviate TUJ1⁺ axonal loss or angiogenesis. Interestingly, PLX-5622 treatment reduced fibrinogen deposition in CX3CR1-KO mice but not in hCX3CR1^I249/M280 mice, suggesting that hCX3CR1^I249/M280 expressing microglia influences vascular pathology differently compared to CX3CR1-KO microglia. Currently CX3CR1-KO mice are the most commonly used strain to investigate CX3CR1-FKN signaling effects on microglia-mediated inflammation and the results in this study indicate that hCX3CR1^I249/M280 receptor variants may serve as a complementary model to study dysregulated CX3CR1-FKN signaling. In summary, the protective effects of microglia depletion is CX3CR1-dependent as microglia depletion in CX3CR1-KO and hCX3CR1^I249/M280 mice did not alleviate retinal degeneration nor microglial morphological activation as observed in CX3CR1-WT mice.

Restorative Effects of Observing Natural and Urban Scenery after Working Memory Depletion

According to attention restoration theory observing nature has restorative effects on cognitive components, such as working memory, after a cognitive depleting task. Additionally, urban environments are thought to have no effect or even a negative effect on cognitive restoration. Previous research has confirmed that observing actual, as well as digitally presented nature sceneries leads to more restoration of working memory capacity (WMC) than observing (digital) urban sceneries. To further investigate these findings, we conducted an experiment with 72 university students as participants. After a WMC depleting task, participants observed either digitally presented nature scenery, urban scenery or no scenery, and subsequently performed a digit span test, which was used to measure restoration of WMC. Results indicated significant higher performance on the digit span test for those who observed nature scenery in comparison to those who observed urban scenery or no scenery, thereby replicating results from previous research. Observing urban scenery was neither harmful nor helpful in terms of cognitive restoration compared to observing no scenery. These findings provide a foundation for implementing a brief intervention of observing nature in academic settings to facilitate the restoration of WMC.

Growth and depletion in linear stochastic reaction networks

This paper is about a class of stochastic reaction networks. Of interest are the dynamics of interconversion among a finite number of substances through reactions that consume some of the substances and produce others. The models we consider are continuous-time Markov jump processes, intended as idealizations of a broad class of biological networks. Reaction rates depend linearly on "enzymes," which are among the substances produced, and a reaction can occur only in the presence of sufficient upstream material. We present rigorous results for this class of stochastic dynamical systems, the mean-field behaviors of which are described by ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Under the assumption of exponential network growth, we identify certain ODE solutions as being potentially traceable and give conditions on network trajectories which, when rescaled, can with high probability be approximated by these ODE solutions. This leads to a complete characterization of the ω-limit sets of such network solutions (as points or random tori). Dimension reduction is noted depending on the number of enzymes. The second half of this paper is focused on depletion dynamics, i.e., dynamics subsequent to the "phase transition" that occurs when one of the substances becomes unavailable. The picture can be complex, for the depleted substance can be produced intermittently through other network reactions. Treating the model as a slow-fast system, we offer a mean-field description, a first step to understanding what we believe is one of the most natural bifurcations for reaction networks.

Longevity and Mechanism of Heterosubtypic Protection Induced by M2SR (M2-Deficient Single-Replication) Live Influenza Virus Vaccine in Mice

Seasonal influenza and the threat of global pandemics present a continuing threat to public health. However, conventional inactivated influenza vaccines (IAVs) provide little cross-protective immunity and suboptimal efficacy, even against well-matched strains. Furthermore, the protection against matched strains has been shown to be of a short duration in both mouse models and humans. M2SR (M2-deficient single-replication influenza virus) is a single-replication vaccine that has been shown to provide effective cross-protection against heterosubtypic influenza viruses in both mouse and ferret models. In the present study, we investigated the duration and mechanism of heterosubtypic protection induced by M2SR in a mouse model. We previously showed that M2SR generated from influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) significantly protected C57BL/6 mice against lethal challenge with both influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1, homosubtypic) and influenza A/Aichi/2/1968 (H3N2, heterosubtypic), whereas the inactivated influenza vaccine provided no heterosubtypic protection. The homosubtypic protection induced by M2SR was robust and lasted for greater than 1 year, whereas that provided by the inactivated vaccine lasted for less than 6 months. The heterosubtypic protection induced by M2SR was of a somewhat shorter duration than the homosubtypic protection, with protection being evident 9 months after vaccination. However, heterosubtypic protection was not observed at 14 months post vaccination. M2SR has been shown to induce strong systemic and mucosal antibody and T cell responses. We investigated the relative importance of these immune mechanisms in heterosubtypic protection, using mice that were deficient in B cells or mice that were depleted of T cells immediately before challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, the heterosubtypic protection was completely dependent on B cells in this model, whereas the depletion of T cells had no significant effect on survival after a lethal heterosubtypic challenge. While antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) has been demonstrated to be important in the response to some influenza vaccines, a lack of Fc receptors did not affect the survival of M2SR-vaccinated mice following a lethal challenge. We examined the influenza proteins targeted by the heterosubtypic antibody response. Shortly after the H1N1 M2SR vaccination, high titers of cross-reactive antibodies to heterosubtypic H3N2 nucleoprotein (NP) and lower titers to the stalk region of the hemagglutinin (HA2) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins were observed. The high antibody titers to heterosubtypic NP persisted one year after vaccination, whereas the antibody titers to the heterosubtypic HA2 and NA proteins were very low, or below the limit of detection, at this time. These results show that the intranasal M2SR vaccine elicits durable protective immune responses against homotypic and heterosubtypic influenza infection not seen with intramuscular inactivated vaccines. Both the homo- and heterosubtypic protection induced by the single-replication vaccine are dependent on B cells in this model. While the homosubtypic protection is mediated by antibodies to the head region of HA, our data suggest that the heterosubtypic protection for M2SR is due to cross-reactive antibodies elicited against the NP, HA2, and NA antigens that are not targeted by current seasonal influenza vaccines.

Near-IR & Mid-IR Silicon Photonics Modulators

As the silicon photonics field matures and a data-hungry future looms ahead, new technologies are required to keep up pace with the increase in capacity demand. In this paper, we review current developments in the near-IR and mid-IR group IV photonic modulators that show promising performance. We analyse recent trends in optical and electrical co-integration of modulators and drivers enabling modulation data rates of 112 GBaud in the near infrared. We then describe new developments in short wave infrared spectrum modulators such as employing more spectrally efficient PAM-4 coding schemes for modulations up to 40 GBaud. Finally, we review recent results at the mid infrared spectrum and application of the thermo-optic effect for modulation as well as the emergence of new platforms based on germanium to tackle the challenges of modulating light in the long wave infrared spectrum up to 10.7 μm with data rates of 225 MBaud.

Microglia shield the murine brain from damage mediated by the cytokines IL-6 and IFN-α

Sustained production of elevated levels of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 or interferon (IFN)-α in the central nervous system (CNS) is detrimental and directly contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders or cerebral interferonopathies, respectively. Using transgenic mice with CNS-targeted production of IL-6 (GFAP-IL6) or IFN-α (GFAP-IFN), we have recently demonstrated that microglia are prominent target and effector cells and mount stimulus-specific responses to these cytokines. In order to further clarify the phenotype and function of these cells, we treated GFAP-IL6 and GFAP-IFN mice with the CSF1R inhibitor PLX5622 to deplete microglia. We examined their ability to recover from acute microglia depletion, as well as the impact of chronic microglia depletion on the progression of disease. Following acute depletion in the brains of GFAP-IL6 mice, microglia repopulation was enhanced, while in GFAP-IFN mice, microglia did not repopulate the brain. Furthermore, chronic CSF1R inhibition was detrimental to the brain of GFAP-IL6 and GFAP-IFN mice and gave rise to severe CNS calcification which strongly correlated with the absence of microglia. In addition, PLX5622-treated GFAP-IFN mice had markedly reduced survival. Our findings provide evidence for novel microglia functions to protect against IFN-α-mediated neurotoxicity and neuronal dysregulation, as well as restrain calcification as a result of both IL-6- and IFN-α-induced neuroinflammation. Taken together, we demonstrate that CSF1R inhibition may be an undesirable target for therapeutic treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases that are driven by elevated IL-6 and IFN-α production.

Depletion of Arg1-Positive Microglia/Macrophages Exacerbates Cerebral Ischemic Damage by Facilitating the Inflammatory Response

Stroke is a serious worldwide disease that causes death and disability, more than 80% of which is ischemic stroke. The expression of arginase 1 (Arg1), a key player in regulating nitrogen homeostasis, is altered in the peripheral circulation after stroke. Growing evidence indicates that ischemic stroke also induces upregulated Arg1 expression in the central nervous system, especially in activated microglia and macrophages. This implies that Arg1 may affect stroke progression by modulating the cerebral immune response. To investigate the effect of Arg1+ microglia/macrophages on ischemic stroke, we selectively eliminated cerebral Arg1+ microglia/macrophages by mannosylated clodronate liposomes (MCLs) and investigated their effects on behavior, neurological deficits, and inflammatory responses in mice after ischemic stroke. More than half of Arg1+ cells, mainly Arg1+ microglia/macrophages, were depleted after MCLs administration, resulting in a significant deterioration of motility in mice. After the elimination of Arg1+ microglia/macrophages, the infarct volume expanded and neuronal degenerative lesions intensified. Meanwhile, the absence of Arg1+ microglia/macrophages significantly increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppressed the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, thus profoundly altering the immune microenvironment at the lesion site. Taken together, our data demonstrate that depletion of Arg1+ microglia/macrophages exacerbates neuronal damage by facilitating the inflammatory response, leading to more severe ischemic injury. These results suggest that Arg1+ microglia/macrophages, as a subpopulation regulating inflammation, is beneficial in controlling the development of ischemia and promoting recovery from injury. Regulation of Arg1 expression on microglia/macrophages at the right time may be a potential target for the treatment of ischemic brain injury.

FcγRIIB controls antibody-mediated target cell depletion by ITIM-independent mechanisms

Many therapeutic antibodies deplete target cells and elicit immunotherapy by engaging activating Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) on host effector cells. These antibodies are negatively regulated by the inhibitory FcγRIIB (CD32B). Dogma suggests inhibition is mediated through the FcγRIIB immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM), negatively regulating immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-mediated signaling from activating FcγR. To assess this, we generated experimental models expressing human (h)FcγRIIB on targets or effectors, lacking or retaining ITIM signaling capacity. We demonstrate that signaling through the hFcγRIIB ITIM is dispensable for impairing monoclonal antibody (mAb)-mediated depletion of normal and malignant murine target cells through three therapeutically relevant surface receptors (CD20, CD25, and OX40) affecting immunotherapy. We demonstrate that hFcγRIIB competition with activating FcγRs for antibody Fc, rather than ITIM signaling, is sufficient to impair activating FcγR engagement, inhibiting effector function and immunotherapy.

Verification of Bound Aminoguanidine as the Marker Residue for the Banned Antibiotic, Nitrovin, in Pig Tissues

Nitrovin (NTV) belongs to a class of antibiotics called nitrofurans, which are classified as nonallowed pharmacologically active substances that do not have a maximum residue limit listed in EU legislation. The objectives of this study were to confirm aminoguanidine (AGN) as a suitable marker residue to monitor NTV abuse and to investigate its persistence in porcine tissues. In this work, pigs were fed with NTV-medicated feed (50 mg/kg), and tissues (kidney, muscle, and liver) and plasma were collected on different withdrawal days. All samples were analyzed for bound AGN, total AGN, and the parent drug NTV itself. The highest concentrations of AGN residues were found in the liver, while the lowest were in muscle. Parent NTV was only detected in the kidney at low levels on day 0 of withdrawal. The findings are in support of using AGN as the marker residue for monitoring the illegal use of NTV in animal-derived products.

Comparing Efficiency of Lysis Buffer Solutions and Sample Preparation Methods for Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Human Cells and Plasma

The use of a proper sample processing methodology for maximum proteome coverage and high-quality quantitative data is an important choice to make before initiating a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based proteomics study. Popular sample processing workflows for proteomics involve in-solution proteome digestion and single-pot, solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3). We tested them on both HeLa cells and human plasma samples, using lysis buffers containing SDS, or guanidinium hydrochloride. We also studied the effect of using commercially available depletion mini spin columns before SP3, to increase proteome coverage in human plasma samples. Our results show that the SP3 protocol, using either buffer, achieves the highest number of quantified proteins in both the HeLa cells and plasma samples. Moreover, the use of depletion mini spin columns before SP3 results in a two-fold increase of quantified plasma proteins. With additional fractionation, we quantified nearly 1400 proteins, and examined lower-abundance proteins involved in neurodegenerative pathways and mitochondrial metabolism. Therefore, we recommend the use of the SP3 methodology for biological sample processing, including those after depletion of high-abundance plasma proteins.

Biomarker Candidates for Tumors Identified from Deep-Profiled Plasma Stem Predominantly from the Low Abundant Area

The plasma proteome has the potential to enable a holistic analysis of the health state of an individual. However, plasma biomarker discovery is difficult due to its high dynamic range and variability. Here, we present a novel automated analytical approach for deep plasma profiling and applied it to a 180-sample cohort of human plasma from lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. Using a controlled quantitative experiment, we demonstrate a 257% increase in protein identification and a 263% increase in significantly differentially abundant proteins over neat plasma. In the cohort, we identified 2732 proteins. Using machine learning, we discovered biomarker candidates such as STAT3 in colorectal cancer and developed models that classify the diseased state. For pancreatic cancer, a separation by stage was achieved. Importantly, biomarker candidates came predominantly from the low abundance region, demonstrating the necessity to deeply profile because they would have been missed by shallow profiling.

In Vivo Administration of Stanozolol in Cattle: Depletion and Stability Studies Using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap

An in vivo study was performed in order to evaluate the depletion time of stanozolol and its main metabolites using naturally incurred urine sample collected after the administration of intramuscular injections in 12 steers. A stability study was also carried out to investigate the influence of the storage period and the freeze-thaw cycles. A fast parent drug metabolization was observed, because within 6 h after drug administration, the signal of the metabolite 16β-hydroxystanozolol was predominant. After the second drug administration, a detection window of 17 days was obtained. The stability was studied using ANOVA, in which a storage condition of -20 °C proved stable during 240 days, which was also confirmed after 5 freeze-thaw cycles.

Self-Powered Sb2S3 Thin-Film Photodetectors with High Detectivity for Weak Light Signal Detection

Photodetectors (PDs) for weak light signal detection have wide applications for optical communication and imaging. Antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) as a nontoxic and stable light-sensitive material becomes a promising candidate for weak light PDs, which are developing in the direction of high response, high speed, and low cost. Herein, a self-powered Sb₂S₃ PD with the structure of FTO/TiO₂/Sb₂S₃/Au is developed to achieve weak light detection for 300-750 nm visible light. We control the Sb₂S₃ thickness with about 460 nm to match depletion region width (438 nm) and obtain an excellent photoresponsivity and 3 dB bandwidth. Furtherly, we prepare pyramid structure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on the illuminating surface to enhance the performance of weak light detection by light-trapping effects. The photocurrent of Sb₂S₃ PD with 20 μm-sized PDMS texture achieves 13.6% improvement compared with the control one. Under weak 530 nm light illumination of 1 μW cm^-2, the self-powered Sb₂S₃ PD with PDMS achieves high responsivity (3.41 A W^-1), large detectivity (2.84 × 10¹³ Jones), and ultrafast speed (15 μs). The present Sb₂S₃ PD and light-trapping strategy are expected to provide an alternative to future commercial weak light detection applications.

Standardized Workflow for Precise Mid- and High-Throughput Proteomics of Blood Biofluids

BACKGROUND

Accurate discovery assay workflows are critical for identifying authentic circulating protein biomarkers in diverse blood matrices. Maximizing the commonalities in the proteomic workflows between different biofluids simplifies the approach and increases the likelihood for reproducibility. We developed a workflow that can accommodate 3 blood-based proteomes: naive plasma, depleted plasma and dried blood.

METHODS

Optimal conditions for sample preparation and data independent acquisition-mass spectrometry analysis were established in plasma then automated for depleted plasma and dried blood. The mass spectrometry workflow was modified to facilitate sensitive high-throughput analysis or deeper profiling with mid-throughput analysis. Analytical performance was evaluated by the linear response of peptides and proteins to a 6- or 7-point dilution curve and the reproducibility of the relative peptide and protein intensity for 5 digestion replicates per day on 3 different days for each biofluid.

RESULTS

Using the high-throughput workflow, 74% (plasma), 93% (depleted), and 87% (dried blood) displayed an inter-day CV <30%. The mid-throughput workflow had 67% (plasma), 90% (depleted), and 78% (dried blood) of peptides display an inter-day CV <30%. Lower limits of detection and quantification were determined for peptides and proteins observed in each biofluid and workflow. Based on each protein and peptide's analytical performance, we could describe the observable, reliable, reproducible, and quantifiable proteomes for each biofluid and workflow.

CONCLUSION

The standardized workflows established here allows for reproducible and quantifiable detection of proteins covering a broad dynamic range. We envisage that implementation of this standard workflow should simplify discovery approaches and facilitate the translation of candidate markers into clinical use.

The role and current status of heme iron preparations in people with iron depletion

Iron deficiency is a common but underestimated condition in the population. Its correlate is far from only sideropenic anemia, but is due to the variety of involvement of this element in a number of bio-chemical reactions; several other possible clinical manifestations can be expected. Appropriately selected oral supplementation is often necessary. Here, we should carefully consider the possible ratio of expected benefits and potential risks of side effects, or interaction with dietary components or concomitant medications. The available preparations are not equivalent; they differ not only in atomically different amounts of iron but also, above all, in the form that determines the way in which the iron will be absorbed. This ultimately defines the rate of adjustment for depletion and the tolerability of a particular product.

The Timing and Duration of Folate Restriction Differentially Impacts Colon Carcinogenesis

Diet plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Of particular importance, folate, present in foods and supplements, is a crucial modulator of CRC risk. The role of folate, and, specifically, the synthetic variant, folic acid, in the primary prevention of CRC has not been fully elucidated. Animal studies varied considerably in the timing, duration, and supplementation of folates, leading to equivocal results. Our work attempts to isolate these variables to ascertain the role of folic acid in CRC initiation, as we previously demonstrated that folate restriction conferred protection against CRC initiation in a β-pol haploinsufficient mouse model. Here we demonstrated that prior adaptation to folate restriction altered the response to carcinogen exposure in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Mice adapted to folate restriction for 8 weeks were protected from CRC initiation compared to mice placed on folate restriction for 1 week, irrespective of antibiotic supplementation. Through analyses of mTOR signaling, DNA methyltransferase, and DNA repair, we have identified factors that may play a critical role in the differential responses to folate restriction. Furthermore, the timing and duration of folate restriction altered these pathways differently in the absence of carcinogenic insult. These results represent novel findings, as we were able to show that, in the same model and under controlled conditions, folate restriction produced contrasting results depending on the timing and duration of the intervention.

Excretion and Residual Concentration Correlations of Salbutamol Between Edible Tissues and Living Samples in Pigs and Goats

Illegal use of salbutamol (SAL), a β-adrenergic leanness-enhancing agent, has posed potential threat to human health in China. The excretion and depletion of SAL in pigs and goats were investigated, and the concentration correlations between edible tissues and living samples were analyzed to find out a suitable living sample for pre-slaughter monitoring of SAL in pigs and goats. After a single oral dosage of 1.2 mg/kg SAL, approximately 70% of the dose was excreted by pigs and goats from their excreta. When pigs and goats were supplied feed containing SAL (20 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days, high concentrations of SAL were observed in the liver and kidneys, and the longest persistence was observed in hair. Unlike pigs, SAL was presented primarily as conjugated SAL in goats. Excellent concentration correlations of SAL were observed between urine and edible tissues both in pigs and goats, and in addition, good correlations also were found between hair and edible tissues in pigs and between feces and edible tissues in goats. Hence, urine and hair could accurately predict SAL concentrations in edible tissues of pigs, whereas feces and urine were satisfactory for predicting SAL concentrations in edible tissues of goats. These data make it possible for pre-slaughter monitoring of SAL residues in the edible tissues of pigs and goats.

Selective Myeloid Depletion of Galectin-3 Offers Protection Against Acute and Chronic Lung Injury

Rationale: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an immune regulator and an important driver of fibrosis in chronic lung injury, however, its role in acute lung injury (ALI) remains unknown. Previous work has shown that global deletion of galectin-3 reduces collagen deposition in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model (MacKinnon et al., Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 2012, 185, 537–46). An inhaled Gal-3 inhibitor, GB0139, is undergoing Phase II clinical development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This work aims to elucidate the role of Gal-3 in the myeloid and mesenchymal compartment on the development of acute and chronic lung injury.

Methods:LgalS3^fl/fl mice were generated and crossed with mice expressing the myeloid (LysM) and mesenchymal (Pdgfrb) cre drivers to yield LysM-cre^+/-/LgalS3^fl/fl and Pdgfrb-cre^+/-/LgalS3^fl/fl mice. The response to acute (bleomycin or LPS) or chronic (bleomycin) lung injury was compared to globally deficient Gal-3^−/− mice.

Results: Myeloid depletion of Gal-3 led to a significant reduction in Gal-3 expression in alveolar macrophages and neutrophils and a reduction in neutrophil recruitment into the interstitium but not into the alveolar space. The reduction in interstitial neutrophils corelated with decreased levels of pulmonary inflammation following acute bleomycin and LPS administration. In addition, myeloid deletion decreased Gal-3 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and reduced lung fibrosis induced by chronic bleomycin. In contrast, no differences in BAL Gal-3 levels or fibrosis were observed in Pdgfrb-cre^+/-/LgalS3^fl/flmice.

Conclusions: Myeloid cell derived Galectin-3 drives acute and chronic lung inflammation and supports direct targeting of galectin-3 as an attractive new therapy for lung inflammation.

Analysis of the Reversible Impact of the Chemodrug Busulfan on Mouse Testes

Spermatogenesis is a process within the testis that leads to the production of spermatozoa. It is based on a population of spermatogonial stem cells, which have the capacity to self-renew and to differentiate throughout life to ensure the functions of reproduction are maintained. Male fertility disorders are responsible for half of the cases of infertility in couples worldwide. It is well known that cancer treatments are associated with reversible or irreversible fertility disorders. Busulfan (Bu) is an alkylating agent that significantly inhibits spermatogenesis. The present study relied on a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches as well as RNAseq analysis to characterize the effects of Bu, in which mouse testes were used as a model. An in silico analysis revealed that many of the Bu-modulated genes are potentially regulated by the SIN3 Transcription Regulator Family Member A (SIN3A) and E2F Transcription Factor (E2F) families of transcription factors. The results demonstrate that the deregulated genes function in processes related to the cell cycle, DNA repair, and cell death mechanisms, including the Tumor Protein 53 (TP53) pathway. This reinforces the role of the TP53 signaling pathway as a major player in Bu effects. In addition, Bu altered the patterns of mRNA accumulation for various genes in undifferentiated spermatogonia. This work provides significant insight into the kinetics and impacts of busulfan, which could pave the way for developing strategies to minimize the impact of chemodrugs and, thus, could lead to germ cell lineage regeneration following anticancer treatments.

Should We Open Fire on Microglia? Depletion Models as Tools to Elucidate Microglial Role in Health and Alzheimer's Disease

Microglia play a critical role in both homeostasis and disease, displaying a wide variety in terms of density, functional markers and transcriptomic profiles along the different brain regions as well as under injury or pathological conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The generation of reliable models to study into a dysfunctional microglia context could provide new knowledge towards the contribution of these cells in AD. In this work, we included an overview of different microglial depletion approaches. We also reported unpublished data from our genetic microglial depletion model, Cx3cr1CreER/Csf1rflx/flx, in which we temporally controlled microglia depletion by either intraperitoneal (acute model) or oral (chronic model) tamoxifen administration. Our results reported a clear microglial repopulation, then pointing out that our model would mimic a context of microglial replacement instead of microglial dysfunction. Next, we evaluated the origin and pattern of microglial repopulation. Additionally, we also reviewed previous works assessing the effects of microglial depletion in the progression of Aβ and Tau pathologies, where controversial data are found, probably due to the heterogeneous and time-varying microglial phenotypes observed in AD. Despite that, microglial depletion represents a promising tool to assess microglial role in AD and design therapeutic strategies.

Resolution of hepatitis E virus infection in CD8+ T cell-depleted rhesus macaques

BACKGROUND & AIMS

HEV is a significant cause of acute hepatitis globally. Some genotypes establish persistent infection when immunity is impaired. Adaptive immune mechanisms that mediate resolution of infection have not been identified. Herein, the requirement for CD8+ T cells to control HEV infection was assessed in rhesus macaques, a model of acute and persistent HEV infection in humans.

METHODS

Rhesus macaques were untreated or treated with depleting anti-CD8α monoclonal antibodies before challenge with an HEV genotype (gt)3 isolate derived from a chronically infected human patient. HEV replication, alanine aminotransferase, anti-capsid antibody and HEV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were assessed after infection.

RESULTS

HEV control in untreated macaques coincided with the onset of a neutralizing IgG response against the ORF2 capsid and liver infiltration of functional HEV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Virus control was delayed by 1 week in CD8+ T cell-depleted macaques. Infection resolved with onset of a neutralizing IgG antibody response and a much more robust expansion of CD4+ T cells with antiviral effector function.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver infiltration of functional CD8+ T cells coincident with HEV clearance in untreated rhesus macaques, and a 1-week delay in HEV clearance in CD8+ T cell-depleted rhesus macaques, support a role for this subset in timely control of virus replication. Resolution of infection in the absence of CD8+ T cells nonetheless indicates that neutralizing antibodies and/or CD4+ T cells may act autonomously to inhibit HEV replication. HEV susceptibility to multiple adaptive effector mechanisms may explain why persistence occurs only with generalized immune suppression. The findings also suggest that neutralizing antibodies and/or CD4+ T cells should be considered as a component of immunotherapy for chronic infection.

LAY SUMMARY

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of liver disease globally. Some genetic types (genotypes) of HEV persist in the body if immunity is impaired. Our objective was to identify immune responses that promote clearance of HEV. Findings indicate that HEV may be susceptible to multiple arms of the immune response that can act independently to terminate infection. They also provide a pathway to assess immune therapies for chronic HEV infection.

Subventricular zone/white matter microglia reconstitute the empty adult microglial niche in a dynamic wave

Microglia, the brain’s resident myeloid cells, play central roles in brain defense, homeostasis, and disease. Using a prolonged colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor (CSF1Ri) approach, we report an unprecedented level of microglial depletion and establish a model system that achieves an empty microglial niche in the adult brain. We identify a myeloid cell that migrates from the subventricular zone and associated white matter areas. Following CSF1Ri, these amoeboid cells migrate radially and tangentially in a dynamic wave filling the brain in a distinct pattern, to replace the microglial-depleted brain. These repopulating cells are enriched in disease-associated microglia genes and exhibit similar phenotypic and transcriptional profiles to white-matter-associated microglia. Our findings shed light on the overlapping and distinct functional complexity and diversity of myeloid cells of the CNS and provide new insight into repopulating microglia function and dynamics in the mouse brain.

Elastic Photonic Microcapsules Containing Colloidal Crystallites as Building Blocks for Macroscopic Photonic Surfaces

Colloidal crystals develop structural colors through wavelength-selective diffraction. Recently, a granular format of colloidal crystals has emerged as building blocks to construct macroscopic photonic surfaces or architectures with high reconfigurability through the secondary assembly. Here, we design elastic photonic microcapsules containing colloidal crystallites along the inner wall as a building block. Water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion templates are microfluidically prepared to have an aqueous dispersion of polystyrene particles in the inner droplet and polydimethylsiloxane prepolymers in the shell. Colloidal particles are enriched in the presence of depletant and salt by osmotic compression, with the crystallization at the inner interface by depletion attraction. The number of nucleation sites depends on the rate of the enrichment, which enables control over the size and surface coverage of the crystallites with osmotic conditions. The enrichment is ceased by transferring the droplets into an isotonic solution, and the oil shell is cured to form an elastic membrane. As the elastic microcapsules have a large void in the core, they are deformable without structural damage in the crystallites. Therefore, the microcapsules can be closely packed to form macroscopic surfaces while achieving a high quality of structural colors with a collection of crystallites aligned along the flattened membrane.

Inositols Depletion and Resistance: Principal Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies

Inositols are natural molecules involved in several biochemical and metabolic functions in different organs and tissues. The term "inositols" refers to five natural stereoisomers, among which myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) is the most abundant one. Several mechanisms contribute to regulate cellular and tissue homeostasis of myo-Ins levels, including its endogenous synthesis and catabolism, transmembrane transport, intestinal adsorption and renal excretion. Alterations in these mechanisms can lead to a reduction of inositols levels, exposing patient to several pathological conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, hormonal and metabolic imbalances, like weight gain, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Indeed, myo-Ins is involved in different physiological processes as a key player in signal pathways, including reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic modulation. Genetic mutations in genes codifying for proteins of myo-Ins synthesis and transport, competitive processes with structurally similar molecules, and the administration of specific drugs that cause a central depletion of myo-Ins as a therapeutic outcome, can lead to a reduction of inositols levels. A deeper knowledge of the main mechanisms involved in cellular inositols depletion may add new insights for developing tailored therapeutic approaches and shaping the dosages and the route of administration, with the aim to develop efficacious and safe approaches counteracting inositols depletion-induced pathological events.

Therapy Prospects for Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance Disorders

Mitochondrial DNA depletion and multiple deletions syndromes (MDDS) constitute a group of mitochondrial diseases defined by dysfunctional mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and maintenance. As is the case for many other mitochondrial diseases, the options for the treatment of these disorders are rather limited today. Some aggressive treatments such as liver transplantation or allogeneic stem cell transplantation are among the few available options for patients with some forms of MDDS. However, in recent years, significant advances in our knowledge of the biochemical pathomechanisms accounting for dysfunctional mtDNA replication have been achieved, which has opened new prospects for the treatment of these often fatal diseases. Current strategies under investigation to treat MDDS range from small molecule substrate enhancement approaches to more complex treatments, such as lentiviral or adenoassociated vector-mediated gene therapy. Some of these experimental therapies have already reached the clinical phase with very promising results, however, they are hampered by the fact that these are all rare disorders and so the patient recruitment potential for clinical trials is very limited.

Magnesium Metabolism in Chronic Alcohol-Use Disorder: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Chronic alcohol-use disorder has been imputed as a possible cause of dietary magnesium depletion. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in chronic alcohol-use disorder, and to provide information on intracellular magnesium and on its renal handling. We carried out a structured literature search up to November 2020, which returned 2719 potentially relevant records. After excluding non-significant records, 25 were retained for the final analysis. The meta-analysis disclosed that both total and ionized circulating magnesium are markedly reduced in chronic alcohol-use disorder. The funnel plot and the Egger’s test did not disclose significant publication bias. The I²-test demonstrated significant statistical heterogeneity between studies. We also found that the skeletal muscle magnesium content is reduced and the kidney’s normal response to hypomagnesemia is blunted. In conclusion, magnesium depletion is common in chronic alcohol-use disorder. Furthermore, the kidney plays a crucial role in the development of magnesium depletion.

How witnessing rudeness can disrupt psycho-motor performance of dental students

Rude and disrespectful behaviors are ubiquitous and pervasive in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of witnessed rudeness on dental student psychomotor performance. Using an experimental, between-subjects design, 71 2nd (Sophomore) year dental students witnessed either an experimental (rude) or control (neutral) condition in which a confederate lab manager interacted in a rude or neutral manner with a prospective lab assistant candidate. Students then performed a mock prosthodontics psychomotor examination as part of the fixed prosthodontics preclinical course. Results indicated that those students who arrived at the experimental session cognitively depleted (+1 SD above the mean) and were exposed to the rude condition were significantly more likely to make critical errors when performing a posterior bridge preparation, compared to those students in the control group. There were no significant differences between the rude and control conditions for participants who were not cognitively depleted (-1 SD below the mean). Overall, the findings indicate that for those dental students suffering from cognitive depletion, merely witnessing rudeness can have adverse impacts on psychomotor performance and potentially, eventual patient care.

An overview of microglia ontogeny and maturation in the homeostatic and pathological brain

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and are increasingly recognized as critical players in development, brain homeostasis, and disease pathogenesis. The lifespan, maintenance, proliferation, and turnover of microglia are important factors that regulate microglial behavior and affect their roles in the CNS. However, emerging evidence suggests that microglia are morphologically and phenotypically distinct in different brain areas, at different ages, and during disease. Ongoing research focuses on understanding how microglia acquire specific phenotypes in response to extrinsic cues in the environment and how phenotypes are specified by intrinsic properties of different populations of microglia. With the development of pharmacological and genetic tools that allow the investigation of microglia in vivo, there have been considerable advances in understanding molecular signatures of both homeostatic microglia and those reacting to injury and disease. Here, we review the master gene regulators that define microglia as well as discuss the evidence that microglia are heterogeneous and fall into distinct clusters that display specific intrinsic properties and perform unique tasks in different settings. Taken together, the information presented supports the idea that microglia morphology and transcriptional heterogeneity should be considered when studying the complex nature of microglia and their roles in brain health and disease.

Incorporation of Wheat Straw Ash as Partial Sand Replacement for Production of Eco-Friendly Concrete

The depletion of natural sand resources occurs due to excessive consumption of aggregate for concrete production. Continuous extraction of sand from riverbeds permanently depletes fine aggregate resources. At the same time, a major ecological challenge is the disposal of agricultural waste ash from biomass burning. In this study, an environmental friendly solution is proposed to investigate the incorporation of wheat straw ash (WSA) by replacing 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of sand in concrete. Characterization results of WSA revealed that it was well-graded, free from organic impurities, and characterized by perforated and highly porous tubules attributed to its porous morphology. A decrease in fresh concrete density and an increase in slump values were attained by an increase in WSA replacement percentage. An increasing trend in compressive strength, hardened concrete density, and ultrasonic pulse velocity was observed, while a decrease was noticed in the values of water absorption with the increase in WSA replacement percentages and the curing age. The WSA incorporation at all replacement percentages yielded concrete compressive strength values over 21 MPa, which complies with the minimum strength requirement of structural concrete as specified in ACI 318-19. Acid resistance of WSA incorporated concrete improved due to the formation of pozzolanic hydrates as evident in Chappelle activity and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results of WSA modified composites. Thus, the incorporation of WSA provides an environmentally friendly solution for its disposal. It helps in conserving natural aggregate resources by providing a suitable alternative to fine aggregate for the construction industry.

Tissue-Resident and Recruited Macrophages in Primary Tumor and Metastatic Microenvironments: Potential Targets in Cancer Therapy

Macrophages within solid tumors and metastatic sites are heterogenous populations with different developmental origins and substantially contribute to tumor progression. A number of tumor-promoting phenotypes associated with both tumor- and metastasis-associated macrophages are similar to innate programs of embryonic-derived tissue-resident macrophages. In contrast to recruited macrophages originating from marrow precursors, tissue-resident macrophages are seeded before birth and function to coordinate tissue remodeling and maintain tissue integrity and homeostasis. Both recruited and tissue-resident macrophage populations contribute to tumor growth and metastasis and are important mediators of resistance to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immune checkpoint blockade. Thus, targeting various macrophage populations and their tumor-promoting phenotypes holds therapeutic promise. Here, we discuss various macrophage populations as regulators of tumor progression, immunity, and immunotherapy. We provide an overview of macrophage targeting strategies, including therapeutics designed to induce macrophage depletion, impair recruitment, and induce repolarization. We also provide a perspective on the therapeutic potential for macrophage-specific acquisition of trained immunity as an anti-cancer agent and discuss the therapeutic potential of exploiting macrophages and their traits to reduce tumor burden.

Auditory Brainstem Deficits from Early Treatment with a CSF1R Inhibitor Largely Recover with Microglial Repopulation

Signaling between neurons and glia is necessary for the formation of functional neural circuits. A role for microglia in the maturation of connections in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) was previously demonstrated by postnatal microglial elimination using a colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Defective pruning of calyces of Held and significant reduction of the mature astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were observed after hearing onset. Here, we investigated the time course required for microglia to populate the mouse MNTB after cessation of CSF1R inhibitor treatment. We then examined whether defects seen after microglial depletion were rectified by microglial repopulation. We found that microglia returned to control levels at four weeks of age (18 d postcessation of treatment). Calyceal innervation of MNTB neurons was comparable to control levels at four weeks and GFAP expression recovered by seven weeks. We further investigated the effects of microglia elimination and repopulation on auditory function using auditory brainstem recordings (ABRs). Temporary microglial depletion significantly elevated auditory thresholds in response to 4. 8, and 12 kHz at four weeks. Treatment significantly affected latencies, interpeak latencies, and amplitudes of all the ABR peaks in response to many of the frequencies tested. These effects largely recovered by seven weeks. These findings highlight the functions of microglia in the formation of auditory neural circuits early in development. Further, the results suggest that microglia retain their developmental functions beyond the period of circuit refinement.

Don't know what you got till it's gone: microglial depletion and neurodegeneration

In the central nervous system, immunologic surveillance and response are carried out, in large part, by microglia. These resident macrophages derive from myeloid precursors in the embryonic yolk sac, migrating to the brain and eventually populating local tissue prior to blood-brain barrier formation. Preserved for the duration of lifespan, microglia serve the host as more than just a central arm of innate immunity, also contributing significantly to the development and maintenance of neurons and neural networks, as well as neuroregeneration. The critical nature of these varied functions makes the characterization of key roles played by microglia in neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease, of paramount importance. While genetic models and rudimentary pharmacologic approaches for microglial manipulation have greatly improved our understanding of central nervous system health and disease, significant advances in the selective and near complete in vitro and in vivo depletion of microglia for neuroscience application continue to push the boundaries of research. Here we discuss the research efficacy and utility of various microglial depletion strategies, including the highly effective CSF1R inhibitor models, noteworthy insights into the relationship between microglia and neurodegeneration, and the potential for therapeutic repurposing of microglial depletion and repopulation.

Evaluation of the dietary vitamin A requirement of finishing steers via systematic depletion and repletion, and its effects on performance and carcass characteristics

A randomized complete block design experiment with 30 yearling crossbred steers (initial average body weight [BW] = 297.6 ± 32.8 kg) fed a steam-flaked corn-based diet was used to evaluate finishing performance and carcass characteristics when provided with different concentrations of vitamin A (Rovimix A 1000; DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Sisseln, Switzerland) subsequent to a depletion phase. Steers were blocked by BW (n = 5 blocks; 6 steers per block), assigned to pens (n = 2 steers per pen), and randomly assigned to one of the following dietary treatments: no added vitamin A (0IU; 0.0 IU/kg dry matter [DM] basis of additional vitamin A), vitamin A supplemented at the estimated National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) requirement (2,200IU; 2,200 IU/kg of dietary DM of additional vitamin A), and vitamin A supplemented at 5× the estimated requirement (11,000IU; 11,000 IU/kg of dietary DM of additional vitamin A). The basal diet included minimal vitamin A activity (<200 IU of vitamin A activity/kg of dietary DM) via the provitamin A, beta-carotene. After all animals underwent a 91-d vitamin A depletion period, additional vitamin A was top-dressed at feeding via a ground corn carrier. Liver biopsy samples, BW, and blood were obtained on days -91, -35, 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112. Final BW was collected prior to shipping on day 112. Carcass data were collected by trained personnel upon harvest. Sera and liver samples were used to monitor circulating vitamin A and evaluate true vitamin A status of the cattle. Vitamin A status did not affect interim average daily gain or feed efficiency (G:F; P > 0.05). Throughout the duration of the study, dry matter intake for the 0IU cattle was depressed (P = 0.01). Differences were not observed across treatments for hot carcass weight, rib eye area, back fat thickness, kidney-pelvic-heart fat %, marbling score, or dressing percent (P ≥ 0.10). A treatment × day interaction occurred for both (P < 0.01) sera retinol and liver retinol during phase 2 of the trial. The treatments and sera retinol concentrations were incorporated into a repletion model, resulting in an estimation of liver retinol changes (P < 0.01; R2 = 0.682). However, models used to evaluate depleted animals were less effective. The current NASEM recommended that vitamin A requirement of 2,200 IU/kg is adequate for repletion of vitamin A status of feedlot steers.