Improved daily estimates of relative humidity at high resolution across Germany: A random forest approach

The lack of readily available methods for estimating high-resolution near-surface relative humidity (RH) and the incapability of weather stations to fully capture the spatiotemporal variability can lead to exposure misclassification in studies of environmental epidemiology. We therefore aimed to predict German-wide 1 × 1 km daily mean RH during 2000-2021. RH observations, longitude and latitude, modelled air temperature, precipitation and wind speed as well as remote sensing information on topographic elevation, vegetation, and the true color band composite were incorporated in a Random Forest (RF) model, in addition to date for capturing the temporal variations of the response-explanatory variables relationship. The model achieved high accuracy (R2 = 0.83) and low errors (Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 5.07%, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 5.19% and Mean Percentage Error (MPE) of - 0.53%), calculated via ten-fold cross-validation. A comparison of our RH predictions with measurements from a dense monitoring network in the city of Augsburg, South Germany confirmed the good performance (R2 ≥ 0.86, RMSE ≤ 5.45%, MAPE ≤ 5.59%, MPE ≤ 3.11%). The model displayed high German-wide RH (22y-average of 79.00%) and high spatial variability across the country, exceeding 12% on yearly averages. Our findings indicate that the proposed RF model is suitable for estimating RH for a whole country in high-resolution and provide a reliable RH dataset for epidemiological analyses and other environmental research purposes.

The Implication of Nutrition on the Prevention and Improvement of Age-Related Sarcopenic Obesity: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of sarcopenic obesity, making it a critical focus for preventing and treating this condition. However, the specific dietary components that effectively combat sarcopenic obesity remain poorly understood. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the potential nutritional and dietary factors that may play a role in the development of sarcopenic obesity in the elderly population.

METHODS

To identify relevant studies investigating the association/effects of dietary pattern/single foods/nutrients or supplements with sarcopenic obesity-related outcomes, a comprehensive literature search was conducted until April 2023. The search encompassed multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Two researchers performed rigorous assessments that included screening titles and abstracts, reviewing full-text studies, extracting data, and evaluating the quality of the studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for observational studies, while the Jadad-Oxford Scale was employed for clinical trials.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies (14 observational studies and 9 trials) with 37078 participants, published between 2012 and 2022, were eligible for the systematic review. Of the 14 observational articles, two focused on dietary patterns and 12 on food/calorie/macro- and micronutrient intake. The nutritional interventions included the intake of supplements (i.e., protein, amino acids, tea catechin, and vitamin D) and dietary management (calorie restriction, very low-calorie ketogenic diet, and high-protein diet). Appropriate dietary factors, such as appropriate intake of calories, macronutrients, micronutrients, antioxidant nutrients, vegetables, fruits, and overall dietary quality, have been shown to be effective in preventing and treating sarcopenic obesity-related parameters. A combined approach of hypocaloric diet and high protein intake may be necessary for managing both obesity and sarcopenia in older individuals.

CONCLUSION

Studies suggest that dietary factors, such as overall dietary quality, appropriate intake of calories and protein, consumption of antioxidant nutrients, vegetables, fruits, and protein, may be linked to sarcopenic obesity.

Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes in Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina isolates from Iran

Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina are the most important ascaridoid nematodes of the family Toxocaridae. The present study was aimed to characterisation and analysis of genetic variation within and among T. canis and T. leonina isolates obtained from Iran by sequencing partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (pcox1) and partial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (pnad1) genes. A total number of 134 adult nematodes belonging to Toxocaridae family were collected from stray dogs in Alborz province, Iran during 2015 and 2016. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed and products were sequenced. Sequences of two mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes were compared with other sequences in the GenBank, while multiple sequences alignment analysis was performed using the Bioedit and MEGA6 software and phylogenetic tree was plotted. For all isolates, amplicons of about 450 and 350 base pairs (bp) were successfully produced by PCR for cox1 and nad1, respectively. All sequences of T. canis isolates from present study were 100% homologous across the nad1 gene but not in the cox1 gene. The results indicate that the PCR method based on sequence of cox1 and nad1 genes is a suitable technique for the differentiation of T. canis and T. leonina species and that mtDNA regions could be used as genetic markers for the identification and differentiation of Toxocara species.

Expression Levels of Two DNA Repair-related Genes under 8 Gy Ionizing Radiation and 100 Mg/Kg Melatonin Delivery In Rat Peripheral Blood

BACKGROUND

After radiation therapy (RT), some health hazards including DNA damages may occur where melatonin can play a protective role due to free radical generation. On the other hand, serious accidental overexposures may occur during RT due to nuclear accidents which necessitate the need for study on exposure to high-dose radiations during treatments.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to study the expression level of two genes in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways named Xrcc4 and Xrcc6 (Ku70) in order to examine the effect of melatonin on repair of DNA double-strand breaks (BSBs) caused by 8Gy ionizing radiation.

METHODS

One hundred eight male Wistar rats were irradiated with a whole body gamma radiation dose of 8Gy with or without melatonin pretreatments. They were divided into six different groups of control, 100 mg/kg melatonin alone, 8Gy irradiation alone, vehicle alone, vehicle plus 8Gy irradiation and 100 mg/kg melatonin plus 8Gy irradiation. Peripheral blood samples were collected at 8, 24 and 48 h after irradiation. Ku70 and Xrcc4 gene expression were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique and analyzed by one-way ANOVA test.

RESULTS

Expression of Ku70 and Xrcc4 genes normalized against Hprt gene showed significant difference in melatonin plus irradiation group at 8h compared to the control group (p<0.05). At 24h post irradiation, gene expression changes were significantly upregulated in irradiation-alone group as well as melatonin plus irradiation group (p<0.05). No significant change was found in any groups compared to control group at 48 h time point.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that, by increasing expression level of Ku70 and Xrcc4 genes, 100 mg/kg melatonin administration 8 and 24 h before 8 Gyionizing radiation can significantly affect the repair of DNA DSBs in NHEJ pathway.

Genome wide cloning of maize meiotic recombinase Dmc1 and its functional structure through molecular phylogeny

The development of meiotic division and associated genetic recombination paved the way for evolutionary changes. However, the secondary and tertiary structure and functional domains of many of the proteins involved in genetic recombination have not been studied in detail. We used the human Dmc1 gene product along with secondary and tertiary domain structures of Escherichia coli RecA protein to help determine the molecular structure and function of maize Dmc1, which is required for synaptonemal complex formation and cell cycle progression. The maize recombinase Dmc1 gene was cloned and characterized, using rice Dmc1 cDNA as an orthologue. The deduced amino acid sequence was used for elaborating its 3-D structure, and functional analysis was made with the CDD software, showing significant identity of the Dmc1 gene product in Zea mays with that of Homo sapiens. Based on these results, the domains and motives of WalkerA and WalkerB as ATP binding sites, a multimer site (BRC) interface, the putative ssDNA binding L1 and L2 loops, the putative dsDNA binding helix-hairpin-helix, a polymerization motif, the subunit rotation motif, and a small N-terminal domain were proposed for maize recombinase Dmc1.

In vitro callus induction and plant regeneration from Withania coagulans: a valuable medicinal plant

Leaf and internode explants of Withania coagulans Dunal were used to evaluate the effect of growth regulators on the in vitro callus induction and plant regeneration. Two independent experiments were performed to establish callus and plant regeneration. In the first experiment, leaf segments were cultured on MS basal medium fortified with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D, 2-4 mg L(-1)) with combination of 6-benzyladenine (BA, 0.5-1 mg L(-1)) or kinetin (Kin, 0.5-1 mg L(-1)). Callus initiation was observed best in all media after 14-16 days (100%). Highest callus growth in terms of dry weight (76 +/- 5.34 mg) was observed in MS medium fortified with 2 mg L(-1) 2, 4-D and 0.5 mg L(-1) Kin. In the second experiment, callusing also obtained from internode segments cultured on MS medium with the presence of 2, 4-D (2-4 mg L(-1)) in association with BA (0.25-0.5 mg L(-1)). Best callusing rates (42%) and dry weight (86 +/- 3.68 mg) occurred in the presence of 4 mg L(-1) 2, 4-D with combination of 0.25 mg L(-1) BA. Shoot induction was obtained just from callus induced from internode explants on MS medium containing BA (2 mg L(-1)) with IBA (0.5 mg L(-1)), but the yield of shoot regeneration was unsatisfactory (18-33%). Regenerated shoots were rooted best (100%) on half strength MS medium containing IBA (2 mg L(-1)) and produced 23 roots with an average root length of 6.5 +/- 0.41 cm. Rooted plantlets transferred to soil and sand mixture (2:1) showed 75% survival when transferred to outdoor. The procedure reported here in vitro culture of W. coagulans for first time.

Assessment of the possibility of direct crossing between cultivated potato and two wild allotetraploid relatives

The cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum L. is an autotetraploid with Endosperm Balance Number (EBN) of 4. There are some allotetraploid 2EBN wild species with desirable traits for potato improvement. However, it is very difficult to cross between these two groups due to differences in EBN. Eleven genotypes of autotetraploid cultivated potato including the six cultivars of subsp. Tuberosum (tbr) and five clones of subsp. Andigena (adg) were crossed with two wild allotetraploid species: S. acaule (acl) and S. stoloniferum (sto). For asses the pollen-pistil incompatibility, some ofpollinated flowers were fixed in Carnoy's solution and stained with aniline blue. Evaluation with fluorescent microscope revealed that pre-zygotic pollen-pistil incompatibility in these crosses is frequent. The pistils of both subsp. of cultivated potato were incompatible with pollens of acl but when sto used as staminate parent it was compatible with five cultivars of subsp. Tuberosum, but incompatible with most ofsubsp. Andigena (4 clones). From 739, 4x, 4EBN x 4x, 2EBN crosses we couldn't get any viable seed. In reciprocal crosses, allotetraploid species were pollinated with a mix of pollens from Tuberosum or Andigena clones. The crosses of sto x adg, acl x adg and acl x tbr were compatible but in the case of sto x tbr the situation was not clear. From these crosses 157 fruits were obtained but most of them contained only shrink seed and we find just one hybrid from the sto x tbr combination. The hybrid was tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) and vigorous with profuse flowering and good fertility. When this hybrid was used as the pistillate parent it was compatible with both parental species.

Improved Taxol production by combination of inducing factors in suspension cell culture of Taxus baccata

To date enormous attempts have been devoted to improve Taxol production exploiting various methodologies from bioprocess engineering to biotechnological and synthetic approaches. We have developed a 2-stage suspension cell culture of Taxus baccata L. using modified B5 medium in order to improve cell growth as well as productivity. After callus induction and cell line selection, B5 medium was supplemented with vanadyl sulfate (0.1 mg/l), silver nitrate (0.3 mg/l) and cobalt chloride (0.25 mg/l) at the first day of stage I culture to maximize cell growth. This medium was further supplemented with sucrose (1%) and ammonium citrate (50 mg/l) on day 10 and sucrose (1%) and phenylalanine (0.1 mM) on day 20 (i.e., biomass growth medium). At stage II (day 25), two different concentrations of several elicitors such as methyl jasmonate (10 or 20 mg/l), salicylic acid (50 or 100 mg/l) and fungal elicitor (25 or 50 mg/l) were added to the biomass growth medium with the aim of improving cellular productivity. For morphological analysis, microscopic inspection was carried out during cultivation. Cell-associated and extracellular amount of Taxol were detected and measured using HPLC methodology. At stage I, overall Taxol amount of biomass growth medium was 13.75 mg/l (i.e., 5.6-fold higher than that of untreated B5 control). At stage II, treated cells with methyl jasmonate (10 mg/l), salicylic acid (100 mg/l) and fungal elicitor (25 mg/l) produced the highest amount of Taxol (39.5 mg/l), which is 16-fold higher than that of untreated B5 control (2.45 mg/l). Microscopic analyses of Taxus cells in suspension cultures showed various positional auto-fluorescence showing direct correlation with Taxol production. Our studies revealed that intervallic supplementation of B5 medium with combination of biomass growth factors at stage I and mixture of elicitors at stage II could significantly increase Taxol production. Thus, we suggest that the exploitation of this methodology may improve the production of Taxol since demands for Taxol pharmaceuticals are increasingly growing and resource paucities have limited its direct harvesting from Taxus trees.

Esterase and acid phosphatase polymorphism in the fig tree (Ficus carica L.)

The genetics of two enzymatic loci, esterase (Est-D) and acid phosphatase (AcP-A), were studied by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the fig tree (Ficus carica L.). Two codominant alleles are described at the Est-D locus and four codominant alleles at the AcP-A locus. Heterozygotes at the AcP-A locus have a hybrid band, thus showing that the AcP-A allozymes, are at least dimer molecules. Both loci are independent of the male sterility factor in F. carica. The polymorphism in four natural populations was investigated for both loci. A significant deficiency of heterozygotes was observed.