Search Results (2,013)

Background: Acanthamoeba is a free-living protozoan widely distributed in the environment and causes Acanthamoeba keratitis, skin, and brain disease. Acanthamoeba can exchange genes, potentially increasing antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to summarize published studies on horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between Acanthamoeba and its intracellular microorganisms and to evaluate the impact of HGTs on the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba. Methods: This systematic review was conducted following the recommended reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement guideline. The electronic databases PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were used to search for relevant published research articles. Results: Nineteen studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review. A total of 14 (73.6%) studies reported evidence of HGT involving Acanthamoeba, and five studies of the nineteen (26.3%) analysed the presence of intracellular microorganisms on the pathological effects of the host Acanthamoeba. Horizontally transferred genes were predominantly reported from Pseudomonas species, Legionella pneumophila, and Chlamydia species. Conclusions: HGT can occur among intracellular microorganisms and their host Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba harbouring intracellular microbes showed enhanced pathogenic effects on human corneal epithelial cells and in a mouse model. However, heterogeneity among the included studies precluded meta-analysis. Studies using clinical and environmental samples are needed to characterize the horizontal transfer of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Full article

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) remains the definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease; however, post-LT outcomes may differ depending on underlying disease etiology. Our study aimed to compare post-LT outcomes between alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related liver transplant recipients in the United States. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX Research Network. Adult liver transplant recipients (≥18 years) were categorized into two mutually exclusive cohorts: alcoholic liver disease and NASH-related liver disease. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Clinical outcomes were assessed. Comparative analyses included risk ratios, risk differences, odds ratios, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and hazard ratios with log-rank testing. Results: Compared with NASH recipients, alcoholic LT recipients had a significantly higher risk of rejection (14.5% vs. 12.1%; RR 1.195, 95% CI 1.076–1.327; p = 0.001) and hepatic encephalopathy (14.3% vs. 8.3%; RR 1.720, 95% CI 1.526–1.938; p < 0.001). Acute kidney injury was also more frequent in the alcoholic cohort (47.3% vs. 43.6%; RR 1.084, 95% CI 1.036–1.133; p < 0.001). In contrast, sepsis (15.6% vs. 18.0%; RR 0.869, 95% CI 0.794–0.952; p = 0.003) and CKD (46.1% vs. 51.1%; RR 0.901, 95% CI 0.863–0.939; p < 0.001) occurred less frequently in alcoholic LT patients. No significant differences were observed for liver transplant failure or ascites. Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated significantly lower rejection-free survival (HR 1.241, p < 0.001), higher hepatic encephalopathy (HR 1.808, p < 0.001), increased AKI risk (HR 1.150, p < 0.001) and higher all-cause mortality in the alcoholic cohort (HR 1.106, p = 0.031). Conclusions: In this large real-world matched cohort study, alcoholic LT recipients demonstrated higher risks of complications and all-cause mortality compared with NASH LT recipients. Full article

Nepal has undergone significant land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2020, driven by urbanization, agricultural shifts, and broader socioeconomic dynamics. This study analyzes historical changes and projects LULC dynamics for 2030, 2040, and 2050 across four scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Rapid Urban Development (RUD), Forest Degradation and Terai Contraction (FDTC), and Agricultural Land Abandonment and Ecological Recovery (ALER). A CA–Markov modeling framework in TerrSet was used to simulate future land-use patterns, utilizing scenario-specific transition probability matrices and spatial constraints to reflect different socio-economic and policy assumptions. Under the BAU scenario, land-use change remains moderate, characterized by gradual urban expansion and limited forest decline. On the contrary, the RUD scenario predicts a drastic expansion of built-up areas by about 1.44 million ha, along with significant losses of cropland, bare soil, grassland, and forest, reflecting intensified development pressure. The FDTC scenario emphasizes agricultural expansion at the expense of forests, while urban growth remains limited. Conversely, the ALER scenario demonstrates strong ecological recovery driven by cropland abandonment and secondary vegetation regeneration, resulting in notable expansion of forest and other woody land. Overall, these four scenarios reveal sharply divergent land-use trajectories, ranging from rapid urban transformation to ecosystem restoration. These contrasting land-use pathways highlight the critical importance of integrated land-use policies that can proactively manage urban expansion, safeguard high-value agricultural and forest landscapes, and promote ecological restoration through incentives for agricultural land abandonment and secondary vegetation recovery, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability and climate resilience in Nepal. Full article

Carbon footprint and C balance are used to understand whether an agroecosystem is a C source or sink. Our objective was to evaluate C inputs and outputs for determining C balance for pulse crops in rotation with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from 2021 to 2022 to 2024–2025 in the US northern Great Plains. Pulse crops (chickpea [Cicer arietinum L], lentil [Lens culinaris Medik.], and pea [Pisum sativum L.]) were rotated with spring wheat to form four crop rotations (chickpea–spring wheat, lentil–spring wheat, pea–spring wheat, and spring wheat–spring wheat). Straw C was 26–74% lower for pulse crops than spring wheat, but 19–23% greater for pea–spring wheat than chickpea–spring wheat and lentil–spring wheat. Root biomass and rhizodeposit C were 24–31% greater for spring wheat–spring wheat than chickpea–spring wheat and pea–spring wheat. Grain C was 21% greater for pea than chickpea, but 64–97% lower for pulse crops than spring wheat. Cumulative CO₂ flux from May to April was 14–17% greater for spring wheat–spring wheat than chickpea–spring wheat and lentil–spring wheat. Soil C sequestration rate was greater for pea and spring wheat than chickpea and lentil, or greater for pea–spring wheat and spring wheat–spring wheat than other crop rotations. Carbon balance was 5–16% lower for pulse crops than spring wheat, or 9–16% lower for pulse crop–spring wheat rotations than spring wheat–spring wheat. Because of greater C input and C sequestration rate, spring wheat can reduce C loss compared to pulse crops, or continuous spring wheat can reduce the loss compared to pulse crop–spring wheat rotations. Full article

A new genus, Ingrischana gen. nov. (Tetrigidae: Tetriginae) is established for winged Tetriginae from Asia with extremely setose mid femur, and toothed dorsal margin of the hind femur. Till now, many species of this genus have been erroneously assigned to the genera Bannatettix Zheng, 1993; Formosatettixoides Zheng, 1994; Ergatettix Kirby, 1914; Euparatettix Hancock, 1904; Paratettix Bolívar, 1887, and Tetrix Latreille, 1802. Altogether 2 new species, 11 new combinations, 1 new name, and 2 new synonyms are proposed, and 1 species is reinstated. Two new species are I. motbotawa gen. et sp. nov. (Brija Furry Groundhopper) and I. aspinosa gen. et sp. nov. (Toothless Furry Groundhopper), both from Nepal. New combinations are I. aptera (Zheng et Ou, 2009) comb. nov., I. barbifemura (Zheng, 1998) comb. nov., I. curvimargina (Zheng et Deng, 2004) comb. nov., I. dentifemura (Zheng, Shi et Luo, 2003) comb. nov., I. grossifemura (Zheng et Jiang, 1997) comb. nov., I. longzhouensis (Zheng et Jiang, 2000) comb. nov., I. obesa (Bolívar, 1887) comb. nov., I. serrifemora (Deng, Zheng et Wei, 2008) comb. nov., I. serrifemoralis (Zheng, 1998) comb. nov., I. serrifemoroides (Zheng et Jiang, 2002) comb. nov., and I. torulosinota (Zheng, 1998) comb. nov. The new name is I. parlungana nom. nov., proposed for Bannatettix serrifemoralis Zheng et Shi, 2009a, because of the homonymy with I. serrifemoralis (Zheng, 1998) comb. nov. Ingrischana jhapana (Ingrisch, 2001a) stat. rev. et comb. nov. is reinstated as a valid species. Two new synonyms are Formosatettixoides guangxiensis Zheng & Jiang, 2000 syn. nov. (of I. longzhouensis comb. nov.), and Ergatettix serifemoroides Zheng et Shi, 2009b syn. nov. (of I. parlungana nom. nov.). The new genus is defined not only by morphological apomorphies, but is also confirmed by mitogenome phylogeny. Full article

Background: Endophytic fungi are known for diverse bioactive compounds with immense potential for agriculture and medicinal applications. Coniochaeta dendrobiicola isolated from the roots of Dedrobium longicornu was investigated for its antioxidant and metabolite composition. The present study compares the antioxidant properties, flavonoid and phenolic contents and metabolic profiles of broth and mycelium extracts. The broth and mycelium extracts were tested for their antioxidant potential using DPPH, while the total flavonoid and phenolic contents were measured using a UV–VIS spectrophotometer. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealed a markedly richer and more diverse metabolite profile of putatively annotated compounds in the broth extract compared with the mycelium fraction. The broth extract exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity and flavonoid and phenolic contents, correlating with the presence of diverse bioactive compounds, including indole derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids, quinoline derivatives, and antifungal metabolites. Notably, several indole-related and phenolic compounds detected predominantly in the broth are known for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and plant growth-promoting properties. These findings indicate that C. dendrobiicola actively secretes biologically relevant secondary metabolites into the extracellular medium, highlighting its potential for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

The objective of this work is to present sustainability analysis and performance evaluation of six hydropower units through exergy-based indices. The method of exergy analysis, based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, was utilized to evaluate system irreversibility and environmental impact. The Exergy Efficiency, Sustainability Efficiency Index (SEI), and Exergy Ecological Index (ECEI) were determined and plotted in MATLAB. The efficiency and exergy performance results show that Unit 6 had the highest exergy efficiency at 89.3%, and Unit 1 had the least at 82.1%. The values of SEI and ECEI showed that elevated exergy efficiency contributes to increasing sustainability and ecological performance in parallel. The results demonstrate that exergy analysis can provide a broader and more accurate measure of system performance than energy analysis in hydroelectric power systems. The approach shows that local reference environmental conditions must be incorporated to establish system equilibrium. It also suggests that exergy analysis should be used as a standard tool for the optimization and performance management of hydropower plants. Its integration would help the operators take measures against malfunction, minimize losses and improve the environmental and thermodynamic sustainability of energy systems. Full article

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biomass combustion include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), which cause climate change and global warming. By measuring GHG emissions by biomass combustion, a potent protocol for the calculation of global warming potential (GWP), which is how much the global temperature has risen due to combustion processes, can be achieved, contributing to determining the mean reduction in global temperature rise and fostering a transition towards more sustainable energy systems. Additionally, warning can be given of the GHG and GWP risks associated with different species of biomass. This review includes the GHG emissions and GWP of biomass combustion and their measurement and estimation directly through biomass sample combustion, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellite measurements of radiation interacting with atmospheric gases, or satellite-derived data and calculations according to IPCC guidelines. In addition, the relationship of lignocellulosic compounds and elements in biomass to HHV and GHG emissions is described. The key mechanism of molecular vibration of hydrogen bonds in biomass caused by NIR radiation related to GHG emissions is revealed and recorded regarding the possibility of using NIR spectroscopy for the prediction of GHG emissions and GWP. Calculation examples for sugarcane bagasse and other biomass species are shown. The comparative advantages and limitations of NIR spectroscopy with respect to other methods are included. These factors lead to elucidation of the possibility of using NIR spectroscopy for non-destructive prediction of GHG emissions. In this review, the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy to evaluate GHG emissions, GWP and emission factors (EFs) as an alternative to IPCC estimation methods related to climate change by biomass combustion is confirmed. NIR spectroscopy is a novel methodology for predicting GHG emissions and GWP directly from intact chip or powder biomass spectral data without explicit gas measurement. This article records the essential spectroscopic knowledge of biomass polymer valorization that is of value in polymer science. Full article

Glacial lake dynamics in high-mountain regions serve as a sensitive proxy for cryospheric responses to climate warming. This study utilizes multi-temporal Sentinel-2 imagery and digital elevation model (DEM) data to quantify glacial lake evolution in the Donglin Tsangpo Watershed, a strategically important section of the China–Nepal Economic Corridor, from 2016 to 2024. The results show a significant expansion in both the number (from 43 to 56) and total area (from 3.97 km² to 4.94 km², +24.43%) of glacial lakes, primarily driven by the rapid emergence of very small lakes (0.02–0.05 km²) and a clear upward shift in elevation distribution, with new lakes forming above 5300 m and extending to elevations exceeding 5500 m. Analysis of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) reveals that this expansion coincided with pronounced positive thermal anomalies, particularly the 2020 extreme warm event (daytime +3.88 °C, nighttime +1.61 °C). Mechanistic analysis using the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset further demonstrates that persistent positive downward longwave radiation (LW) anomalies (peaking at +10.71 W/m² in 2021) effectively compensated for reduced shortwave input, inhibiting nocturnal refreezing and extending the effective ablation period. Furthermore, a rising liquid-to-solid precipitation ratio and extreme melt-day anomalies (up to +39.36 days) provided intensified hydrothermal inputs, driving the pronounced expansion of glacier-contact lakes despite non-linear interannual responses. This study also estimates individual lake volumes, identifying a transition toward rapid lake development that elevates potential downstream hazard exposure. These findings provide a high-resolution dataset and a robust physical framework for transboundary environmental monitoring and risk assessment in this climate-sensitive region. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a significant global health burden. The natural alkaloid, 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), abundant in mulberry (Morus alba L.), offers a promising bioactive approach to its early management. This review comprehensively summarises the multifaceted roles of DNJ in modulating the core pathophysiological dysfunctions of T2DM, including impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance (IR), and dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Specifically, DNJ exerts its therapeutic effects by regulating various pathways involved in glucose and lipid metabolism (e.g., phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways), enhancing insulin sensitivity, modulating the gut microbiota, and upregulating transporter proteins. We highlight emerging methodologies, such as network pharmacology, which underscore the pivotal role of the PI3K/AKT and AMPK signalling pathways as primary targets of DNJ in T2DM management. Although this review elucidates multifaceted mechanisms of DNJ in T2DM management, it also identifies critical research gaps, particularly concerning its effects on pancreatic cells, obesity-related T2DM, and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Further investigation in these areas is crucial for fully understanding DNJ’s preventive and therapeutic potential and for the development of related functional foods. Full article

The World Health Organization recommends the use of balanced energy protein (BEP) supplements during pregnancy in settings with a ≥ 20% prevalence of underweight women of reproductive age to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes. Several countries are implementing BEP supplementation in varied formats. However, the implementation and monitoring of outcomes remain poor across countries. This qualitative study explores the experiences, opportunities, and challenges related to implementing national and sub-national BEP supplementation programs in nine countries (12 countries originally invited) to inform best practices. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 personnel involved in its implementation in Haiti, India, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, and Sri Lanka between October 2024 and March 2025. The interviewees in each country were predominantly implementation experts but also government officials involved in the provision of BEP supplementation. The transcripts were analyzed thematically, focusing on acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, cost, feasibility, and sustainability of outcomes. Results: In non-humanitarian settings (five countries), BEP supplementation was commonly integrated into the governmental health system or social protection programs. However, humanitarian contexts (four countries) often relied on partner-led (e.g., UN organizations) implementation. Clear operational protocols, including behavioral change communication strategies, facilitated the implementation. Community-based organization partnerships strengthened adherence; however, implementation costs, stock shortages, and geographic inequities in coverage varied and were limiting factors in scale-up, primarily in humanitarian contexts. Conclusion: In sum, two distinct implementation pathways emerged: government-led models characterized by policy integration, national ownership, and more stable systems, and humanitarian or donor-led models shaped by crisis response, external dependency, and non-committal challenges. Successful implementation of BEP supplements depends on the presence of effective policies, context-adapted design, integration into health systems, consistent funding, and effective monitoring. There is a need for implementation research to generate evidence on best practices when implementing BEP supplementation programs. Full article

Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia leads to complex physiological and molecular adaptations, particularly in skeletal muscle. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), including muscle-enriched (myomiRNAs) and hypoxia-responsive (hypoxamiRNAs), play critical roles in regulating these responses. We investigated miRNA expression changes in the skeletal muscle of healthy, non-smoking Italian adults (mean age 36.7 ± 12.4 years) participating in the Himalayan expedition “Lobuche Peak—Pyramid Exploration & Physiology” conducted in the Sagaramāthā (Mount Everest) National Park, Nepal. The peak overnight stay altitude was ≈5000 m at the Pyramid International Laboratory—Observatory. Muscle biopsies were taken before and after the expedition from Vastus lateralis, at one-third of the distance from the upper margin of the rotula to the anterior superior iliac spine. Small RNA sequencing was used to profile differentially expressed miRNAs. Several miRNAs were differentially expressed (exploratory analysis), suggesting potential involvement in hypoxia-related adaptation. These encompass both canonical myomiRNAs (e.g., miR-206, miR-486-5p) and hypoxamiRNAs (e.g., miR-378a-5p, miR-199a-3p, let-7b-5p). In enrichment analysis, we found several connections between miRNAs and pathways that may play a role in physiological regeneration or differentiation in muscle cells. Among functions, focal adhesion (p-value = 0.001), regulation of actin cytoskeleton (p-value = 0.026), Rap-1 (p-value = 0.007), cAMP (p-value = 0.017), MAPK (p-value = 0.019), and Hippo (p-value = <0.001) signaling pathways were predicted to be the most targeted. These findings provide preliminary insights into physiological adaptation, requiring confirmation in larger and controlled cohorts. Full article

Metabolic dysfunction, a hallmark of diet-induced obesity (DIO), is increasingly attributed to alterations in intestinal nutrient and electrolyte transport. Yet the mechanisms that drive obesity-associated functional alterations of intestinal transporters remain incompletely understood. In this context, the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity on sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT1), Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 3 (NHE3), and Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ exchangers (DRA/PAT1), the primary glucose, sodium, and chloride absorptive pathways in mice small intestinal villus cells, were investigated. SGLT1 activity significantly increased in intact villus cells and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from HFD-fed mice. Kinetic analysis demonstrated reduced Km without a change in Vmax, indicating enhanced transporter affinity. Notably, SGLT1 mRNA and protein expression, including BBM localization, were unchanged. Basolateral Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was decreased, excluding enhanced Na⁺ gradient generation as the mechanism for SGLT1 stimulation. In contrast, DRA/PAT1 activity was significantly increased in HFD-fed mice, and kinetic studies revealed elevated Vmax without a change in Km, indicating increased transport capacity. DRA/PAT1 mRNA, total protein, and BBM expression were all significantly elevated. NHE3 activity and expression remained unchanged. These findings demonstrate that DIO enhances intestinal glucose absorption by increasing SGLT1 affinity and chloride absorption by upregulating DRA/PAT1 transcription. These transporter-specific alterations may amplify nutrient absorption and contribute to metabolic dysregulation in obesity. Full article

The agriculture sector in Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its traditional practices, limited technological intervention, and low adaptive capacity. Owing to the country’s complex topography, the impacts of climate change are spatially heterogeneous, making local-level climate change assessments highly relevant. This study focuses on the impact of climate change on three major crops (rice, wheat, and maize), in the Doti district of Nepal, based on meteorological records, crop yield data, questionnaire surveys, and focus group discussions. Climate records from 1982 to 2022 show a trend in annual rainfall at a rate of −3.28 mm per year, with a particularly pronounced decline during the monsoon season. Both maximum and minimum temperatures exhibit statistically significant increasing trends of 0.01 °C and 0.03 °C per year, respectively. The most significant warming for maximum temperature occurs during the monsoon season, while minimum temperature shows the highest increase during the pre-monsoon season. During the same period, annual yields of paddy, maize, and wheat show statistically significant increasing trends. These trends in climate variables and crop yields align with the perceptions of local communities. Linear correlation analysis indicates that maximum and minimum temperatures have a positive influence on crop yields, whereas precipitation and diurnal temperature range have negative effects. Among these, minimum temperature has the greatest impact on crop yields, followed by maximum temperature and rainfall. Multiple linear regression analysis reveals that climate variables better explain long-term trends in crop yields rather than year-to-year variability. The impact of climate is most pronounced in wheat where climate variables account for approximately 55% of the yield variability, followed by paddy (R²~49%) and maize (R²~20%). Despite the overall increase in crop yields, interannual variability has grown, consistent with increased variability in climate parameters. To cope with this uncertainty, local communities have adopted various adaptation strategies, including the use of improved seed varieties, green manure, and changes in crop types. Other key practices include the use of inorganic fertilizers, selection of short-duration crops, crop rotation, minimum tillage farming, and river conservation. Full article

The prediction of the compressive strength (CS) for sustainable concrete reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is difficult as a result of nonlinear interactions between chemical composition, dispersion state, and curing conditions. To address this, an interpretable ensemble machine learning framework is developed to provide accurate predictions of CS. The major input parameters used are sand content, graphene diameters, graphene thicknesses, and percentages of GNP to sand (GNP%; w/w), water-to-cement ratio W/C, ultrasonication period UST time (s), curing age CA day(s), while the CS (in MPa) is the target output. The random forest (RF) and XGBoost (XGB) models are incorporated into two novel metaheuristic optimization techniques, the Drawer-based optimization algorithm (DOA) and the Giant Trevally Optimizer (GTO), to enhance hyperparameter tuning and generalization. For all models, DOA XGB hybrids are the most predictive, with testing R² values up to 0.98; RMSE of around 2.9 MPa; MAE is approximately 2.0 MPa, and well over 97% within ±20% prediction error boundaries. The explainable artificial intelligence methodologies like Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), partial dependence plots, and Individual Conditional Expectation plots reveal curing age and graphene thickness as the dominant parameters. High strengths above 70 MPa are always achieved from higher curing age, w/c ratio (from 0.3 to 0.4), and graphene dosage (from 0.5 to 2.5%). A Python GUI is developed for efficient and accurate strength predictions suitable for practical applications. The proposed approach provides a robust, interpretable, and efficient alternative to extensive testing for GNP-reinforced concrete. Full article