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RJR: Recommended Bibliography 23 Jun 2026 at 01:48 Created:
Ecological Informatics
Wikipedia: Ecological Informatics Ecoinformatics, or ecological informatics, is the science of information (Informatics) in Ecology and Environmental science. It integrates environmental and information sciences to define entities and natural processes with language common to both humans and computers. However, this is a rapidly developing area in ecology and there are alternative perspectives on what constitutes ecoinformatics. A few definitions have been circulating, mostly centered on the creation of tools to access and analyze natural system data. However, the scope and aims of ecoinformatics are certainly broader than the development of metadata standards to be used in documenting datasets. Ecoinformatics aims to facilitate environmental research and management by developing ways to access, integrate databases of environmental information, and develop new algorithms enabling different environmental datasets to be combined to test ecological hypotheses. Ecoinformatics characterize the semantics of natural system knowledge. For this reason, much of today's ecoinformatics research relates to the branch of computer science known as Knowledge representation, and active ecoinformatics projects are developing links to activities such as the Semantic Web. Current initiatives to effectively manage, share, and reuse ecological data are indicative of the increasing importance of fields like Ecoinformatics to develop the foundations for effectively managing ecological information. Examples of these initiatives are the National Science Foundation's Datanet , DataONE and Data Conservancy projects.
Created with PubMed® Query: ( "ecology OR ecological" AND ("data management" OR informatics) NOT "assays for monitoring autophagy" ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion
Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)
RevDate: 2026-06-21
CmpDate: 2026-06-21
Flavor remodeling in Paocai during round spontaneous fermentation: an integrative analysis of active microbial succession and metabolic processes.
Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.), 233(Pt 2):118973.
Traditional paocai is a representative Chinese fermented vegetable that is typically produced through successive fermentation cycles. However, the mechanisms underlying flavor differences between paocai fermented in fresh and aged brine during continuous fermentation remain unclear, particularly the dynamic coupling among environmental variation, active microbial communities, and flavor development across fermentation rounds. Here, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and metatranscriptomic analyses were integrated with nonlinear modeling, machine learning, and time-decay relationship analysis to investigate physicochemical evolution, microbial succession, and flavor formation during continuous fermentation of traditional paocai. The results showed that pH, organic acids, and microbial diversity exhibited pronounced nonlinear dynamics across 11 successive fermentation rounds. Random forest analysis identified Phenylethyl alcohol, Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, and Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester as key volatile compounds discriminating fermentation rounds. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus japonicus were identified as core microorganisms throughout continuous fermentation, while microbial community structures progressively diverged from their initial states, consistent with a significant time-decay relationship. Multi-omics integration using O2PLS further revealed tight and complex cross-omics associations between active microbial taxa and volatile flavor compounds, enabling reconstruction of key flavor-related metabolic pathways during successive fermentation rounds of Sichuan paocai. Comparative metatranscriptomic analyses between fresh and aged paocai clarified the metabolic basis underlying flavor differentiation at later fermentation stages. Overall, this study elucidates flavor evolution in paocai under continuous round fermentation from microbial ecological and metabolic perspectives, providing a theoretical basis for flavor regulation and quality stabilization in traditional fermented foods.
Additional Links: PMID-41956654
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41956654,
year = {2026},
author = {Xian, S and Wang, X and Wang, Y and Zhang, W and Liu, X and Shen, G and Zhang, Z and Hou, X and Xu, F and Chen, A},
title = {Flavor remodeling in Paocai during round spontaneous fermentation: an integrative analysis of active microbial succession and metabolic processes.},
journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)},
volume = {233},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {118973},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2026.118973},
pmid = {41956654},
issn = {1873-7145},
mesh = {*Fermentation ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; *Food Microbiology ; *Fermented Foods/microbiology/analysis ; *Taste ; Microbiota ; Multiomics ; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Traditional paocai is a representative Chinese fermented vegetable that is typically produced through successive fermentation cycles. However, the mechanisms underlying flavor differences between paocai fermented in fresh and aged brine during continuous fermentation remain unclear, particularly the dynamic coupling among environmental variation, active microbial communities, and flavor development across fermentation rounds. Here, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and metatranscriptomic analyses were integrated with nonlinear modeling, machine learning, and time-decay relationship analysis to investigate physicochemical evolution, microbial succession, and flavor formation during continuous fermentation of traditional paocai. The results showed that pH, organic acids, and microbial diversity exhibited pronounced nonlinear dynamics across 11 successive fermentation rounds. Random forest analysis identified Phenylethyl alcohol, Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, and Tetradecanoic acid, ethyl ester as key volatile compounds discriminating fermentation rounds. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus japonicus were identified as core microorganisms throughout continuous fermentation, while microbial community structures progressively diverged from their initial states, consistent with a significant time-decay relationship. Multi-omics integration using O2PLS further revealed tight and complex cross-omics associations between active microbial taxa and volatile flavor compounds, enabling reconstruction of key flavor-related metabolic pathways during successive fermentation rounds of Sichuan paocai. Comparative metatranscriptomic analyses between fresh and aged paocai clarified the metabolic basis underlying flavor differentiation at later fermentation stages. Overall, this study elucidates flavor evolution in paocai under continuous round fermentation from microbial ecological and metabolic perspectives, providing a theoretical basis for flavor regulation and quality stabilization in traditional fermented foods.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Fermentation
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis
*Food Microbiology
*Fermented Foods/microbiology/analysis
*Taste
Microbiota
Multiomics
Lactiplantibacillus plantarum/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-21
CmpDate: 2026-04-10
Fall detection and pre-impact prediction technologies in older adults: a scoping review of translational maturity and public health integration.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1737644.
OBJECTIVE: To map the current landscape of wearable and sensor-based fall detection and pre-impact prediction technologies relevant to older adults and to evaluate their translational maturity within public health contexts.
METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore) were systematically searched for studies published between January 2005 and September 2025. Eligible studies reported the development or validation of fall detection or pre-impact prediction systems incorporating wearable, vision-based, environmental, or multimodal sensing modalities. In total, 243 studies were included in the overall synthesis, with a predefined subgroup of 21 studies involving real-world or mixed real-world validation in older adult populations (≥65 years).
RESULTS: Across the 243 included studies, wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based systems constituted the dominant technological stream, and post-fall detection remained the most frequently investigated functional objective. However, more than half of studies relied primarily on laboratory-based simulated fall protocols. Within the real-world validated older adult subgroup (n = 21), 71.4% focused on post-fall detection, 19.0% investigated pre-impact prediction, and 9.5% addressed fall risk modeling. While technical performance metrics such as sensitivity and specificity were frequently reported under controlled conditions, evidence regarding long-term adherence, workflow integration, and health economic impact was limited. A maturity gradient emerged across modalities, with wearable detection systems demonstrating stronger ecological grounding than predictive, multimodal, and ecosystem-level approaches.
CONCLUSION: Although technological innovation in fall-related sensing systems has expanded rapidly, translational maturity remains uneven. Bridging the gap between algorithmic performance and scalable public health implementation will require robust real-world validation, longitudinal adherence evaluation, implementation science frameworks, and economic assessment. Advancing along a continuum from reactive detection toward predictive and personalized prevention represents a critical pathway for supporting safe and independent aging.
Additional Links: PMID-41960380
PubMed:
Citation:
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hide bibtex listing
@article {pmid41960380,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, L and Yao, W},
title = {Fall detection and pre-impact prediction technologies in older adults: a scoping review of translational maturity and public health integration.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1737644},
pmid = {41960380},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *Accidental Falls/prevention & control ; *Wearable Electronic Devices ; *Public Health ; Aged ; Digital Health ; Prediction Algorithms ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To map the current landscape of wearable and sensor-based fall detection and pre-impact prediction technologies relevant to older adults and to evaluate their translational maturity within public health contexts.
METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore) were systematically searched for studies published between January 2005 and September 2025. Eligible studies reported the development or validation of fall detection or pre-impact prediction systems incorporating wearable, vision-based, environmental, or multimodal sensing modalities. In total, 243 studies were included in the overall synthesis, with a predefined subgroup of 21 studies involving real-world or mixed real-world validation in older adult populations (≥65 years).
RESULTS: Across the 243 included studies, wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based systems constituted the dominant technological stream, and post-fall detection remained the most frequently investigated functional objective. However, more than half of studies relied primarily on laboratory-based simulated fall protocols. Within the real-world validated older adult subgroup (n = 21), 71.4% focused on post-fall detection, 19.0% investigated pre-impact prediction, and 9.5% addressed fall risk modeling. While technical performance metrics such as sensitivity and specificity were frequently reported under controlled conditions, evidence regarding long-term adherence, workflow integration, and health economic impact was limited. A maturity gradient emerged across modalities, with wearable detection systems demonstrating stronger ecological grounding than predictive, multimodal, and ecosystem-level approaches.
CONCLUSION: Although technological innovation in fall-related sensing systems has expanded rapidly, translational maturity remains uneven. Bridging the gap between algorithmic performance and scalable public health implementation will require robust real-world validation, longitudinal adherence evaluation, implementation science frameworks, and economic assessment. Advancing along a continuum from reactive detection toward predictive and personalized prevention represents a critical pathway for supporting safe and independent aging.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Accidental Falls/prevention & control
*Wearable Electronic Devices
*Public Health
Aged
Digital Health
Prediction Algorithms
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Digital art as a novel medium for health communication: enabling interactive interventions and reconstructing health experiences in public health.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1786916.
This perspective article explores digital art as an innovative medium for health communication. It argues that traditional health communication-often unidirectional and emotionally detached-frequently fails to support lasting behavioral change. In contrast, digital art introduces interactivity, immersive environments, and emotionally resonant narratives, enabling more engaging forms of health messaging and fostering deeper public involvement and awareness. Drawing on social cognitive theory, experiential learning, and media ecology, the article develops a conceptual framework and examines practical strategies such as narrative reconstruction, data visualization, and community-based co-creation. It also addresses key challenges, including issues of access, content accuracy, and ethical use of personal data in artistic health interventions. Looking forward, this perspective calls for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, supportive policies, and evidence-based research to further integrate digital art into public health practice. By doing so, digital art could contribute meaningfully to more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable approaches to health promotion.
Additional Links: PMID-41988563
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41988563,
year = {2026},
author = {Guo, RL and Sun, Y},
title = {Digital art as a novel medium for health communication: enabling interactive interventions and reconstructing health experiences in public health.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1786916},
pmid = {41988563},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; Digital Media ; *Health Communication/methods ; *Public Health ; *Art ; *Health Promotion/methods ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {This perspective article explores digital art as an innovative medium for health communication. It argues that traditional health communication-often unidirectional and emotionally detached-frequently fails to support lasting behavioral change. In contrast, digital art introduces interactivity, immersive environments, and emotionally resonant narratives, enabling more engaging forms of health messaging and fostering deeper public involvement and awareness. Drawing on social cognitive theory, experiential learning, and media ecology, the article develops a conceptual framework and examines practical strategies such as narrative reconstruction, data visualization, and community-based co-creation. It also addresses key challenges, including issues of access, content accuracy, and ethical use of personal data in artistic health interventions. Looking forward, this perspective calls for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, supportive policies, and evidence-based research to further integrate digital art into public health practice. By doing so, digital art could contribute meaningfully to more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable approaches to health promotion.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Digital Media
*Health Communication/methods
*Public Health
*Art
*Health Promotion/methods
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Impact of age and clinical factors on the feasibility of mobile digital monitoring in people at risk of suicide.
PloS one, 21(4):e0346772.
OBJECTIVE: Assessing the risk of suicidal outcomes is challenging, particularly in older people. Smartphone-based digital phenotyping may help to monitor suicide risk through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) applications. In this real-world study, we investigated if age and other clinical factors were associated with participation in EMA at baseline, and with retention in EMA monitoring among patients at risk of suicide.
METHODS: Participation in EMA was determined by quantifying the installation of the MEmind mobile application in individuals involved in the SmartCrisis 1.0 and 2.0 studies. The patients were followed-up over a 6-month period.
RESULTS: N = 512 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 387 installed the MEmind application on their smartphone. While age as a continuous variable was not associated with using EMA at baseline, being aged older than 50 and being engaged in an intimate relationship were independently associated with longer participation in EMA (OR 2.070, 95%CI [1.054-4.066], and OR 2.103, 95%CI [1.076-4.110], respectively). In an exploratory survival analysis, we found that EMA retention increased with age (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Feasibility of EMA seems warranted in older people at risk of suicide. Clinicians should be encouraged to offer EMA monitoring to older adults, as they commonly face limitations in their access to healthcare facilities.
Additional Links: PMID-41990036
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41990036,
year = {2026},
author = {Conejero, I and de Granda-Beltrán, AM and Albarracín-García, L and Porras-Segovia, A and Barrigón, ML and Lopez-Castroman, J and Courtet, P and Artés-Rodriguez, A and Baca-Garcia, E and , },
title = {Impact of age and clinical factors on the feasibility of mobile digital monitoring in people at risk of suicide.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {4},
pages = {e0346772},
pmid = {41990036},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Suicide/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Aged ; *Mobile Applications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Feasibility Studies ; Age Factors ; *Suicide Prevention ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Smartphone ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Assessing the risk of suicidal outcomes is challenging, particularly in older people. Smartphone-based digital phenotyping may help to monitor suicide risk through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) applications. In this real-world study, we investigated if age and other clinical factors were associated with participation in EMA at baseline, and with retention in EMA monitoring among patients at risk of suicide.
METHODS: Participation in EMA was determined by quantifying the installation of the MEmind mobile application in individuals involved in the SmartCrisis 1.0 and 2.0 studies. The patients were followed-up over a 6-month period.
RESULTS: N = 512 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 387 installed the MEmind application on their smartphone. While age as a continuous variable was not associated with using EMA at baseline, being aged older than 50 and being engaged in an intimate relationship were independently associated with longer participation in EMA (OR 2.070, 95%CI [1.054-4.066], and OR 2.103, 95%CI [1.076-4.110], respectively). In an exploratory survival analysis, we found that EMA retention increased with age (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Feasibility of EMA seems warranted in older people at risk of suicide. Clinicians should be encouraged to offer EMA monitoring to older adults, as they commonly face limitations in their access to healthcare facilities.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
*Suicide/psychology/statistics & numerical data
Aged
*Mobile Applications
Male
Middle Aged
Feasibility Studies
Age Factors
*Suicide Prevention
*Ecological Momentary Assessment
Smartphone
Adult
Risk Factors
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-13
Chromosome level genome assembly of the American sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne).
Scientific data, 13(1):.
American sloughgrass [Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald] is a problematic annual grass weed in winter wheat fields of China, which causes great loss of wheat yield. A lack of high-quality genome resources has hindered understanding of the Herbicide resistance characteristics and ecological adaptations. Here, we combined Illumina short read, PacBio long-read, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technologies to generate a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of B. syzigachne. The genome assembly was 3.19 Gb in size, consisting of seven pseudo-chromosomes. The contig and scaffold N50 values were 62.2 Mb and 431.7 Mb, respectively. The genome assembly completeness was estimated at 97.1% by BUSCO assessment. Annotation revealed 36,944 protein-coding genes and 88.83% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome assembly is a valuable resource for future fundamental research and agricultural management of B. syzigachne, and provides significant new insights into the herbicide resistance as well as the adaptive evolution of B. syzigachne.
Additional Links: PMID-41991939
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41991939,
year = {2026},
author = {Tang, W and Yin, C and Gao, H and Lu, Z and Lu, Y and Xu, H},
title = {Chromosome level genome assembly of the American sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne).},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41991939},
issn = {2052-4463},
support = {31300873//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {*Chromosomes, Plant ; *Genome, Plant ; *Poaceae/genetics ; Datasets as Topic ; },
abstract = {American sloughgrass [Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald] is a problematic annual grass weed in winter wheat fields of China, which causes great loss of wheat yield. A lack of high-quality genome resources has hindered understanding of the Herbicide resistance characteristics and ecological adaptations. Here, we combined Illumina short read, PacBio long-read, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technologies to generate a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome assembly of B. syzigachne. The genome assembly was 3.19 Gb in size, consisting of seven pseudo-chromosomes. The contig and scaffold N50 values were 62.2 Mb and 431.7 Mb, respectively. The genome assembly completeness was estimated at 97.1% by BUSCO assessment. Annotation revealed 36,944 protein-coding genes and 88.83% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome assembly is a valuable resource for future fundamental research and agricultural management of B. syzigachne, and provides significant new insights into the herbicide resistance as well as the adaptive evolution of B. syzigachne.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Chromosomes, Plant
*Genome, Plant
*Poaceae/genetics
Datasets as Topic
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-04-21
Popular Online Content as a Treatment-as-Usual Control in Digital Mental Health Intervention Trials: Secondary Analysis of Two Online Randomized Controlled Trials With Repeated Measures.
JMIR mental health, 13:e83707.
BACKGROUND: Treatment-as-usual (TAU) conditions are intended to reflect the support typically received in routine treatment settings. For digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) delivered online, TAU conditions should reflect the usual patterns of online help-seeking. The lack of ecologically valid TAU control conditions has been a gap in effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. In this study, mental health-related popular online content (eg, advice TikToks, lived experience vlogs, and self-care infographics) was examined as a valuable TAU control condition.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the feasibility of popular online content as a TAU control condition in DMHI trials.
METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Both trials recruited participants online, primarily via an online study recruitment platform. In study 1 (N=916), US adults with elevated depression or anxiety were randomized to either (1) complete a single-session DHMI for depression and anxiety (n=291), (2) search the web for popular online content relevant to their struggles (n=312), or (3) search a curated library of mental health-related popular online content (n=313). In study 2 (N=431), US adults with elevated loneliness were randomized to (1) complete a single-session DHMI for loneliness (n=136), (2) search a curated library of popular online content related to loneliness (n=145), or (3) complete an attention-matched control condition (n=150). All 6 programs took approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete and were entirely self-guided. Participants rated each program's credibility and expected benefit, as well as their feelings of distress (study 1) and loneliness (study 2). The studies did not involve interaction between participants and the research team.
RESULTS: In study 1, dropout during the treatment was 4.8% (14/291) for the single-session intervention, 25.9% (81/312) for online help-seeking, and 9.6% (30/313) for the curated library. The curated library's credibility and expected benefit score did not differ from that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.08; P=.88) and was higher than that of unguided help-seeking (Cohen d=0.23; P=.01). In study 2, dropout was higher in the curated library condition (7/145, 4.8%) than in the single-session intervention and the attention-matched control condition (0/136, 0.0% and 0/150, 0.0%). The mean credibility and expected benefit score for the curated library was comparable to that of the attention-matched control condition (Cohen d=0.00; P>.99) but lower than that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.32; P=.02). Changes in distress and loneliness from baseline to 8-week follow-up did not differ across the conditions in study 1. All effect sizes were small in study 1 (Cohen d<0.15), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.06). Similarly, in study 2, all effect sizes were small (Cohen d<0.12), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.25).
CONCLUSIONS: Curated libraries of popular online content are a feasible, ecologically valid TAU benchmark for effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. Future research on TAU conditions in online help-seeking contexts should better align with observed DMHI attrition rates and account for the increasingly central role of conversational artificial intelligence in online mental health support.
Additional Links: PMID-42008585
PubMed:
Citation:
show bibtex listing
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@article {pmid42008585,
year = {2026},
author = {Kaveladze, BT and Schueller, SM and Mohr, DC},
title = {Popular Online Content as a Treatment-as-Usual Control in Digital Mental Health Intervention Trials: Secondary Analysis of Two Online Randomized Controlled Trials With Repeated Measures.},
journal = {JMIR mental health},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e83707},
pmid = {42008585},
issn = {2368-7959},
mesh = {Humans ; Digital Media ; Adult ; Secondary Data Analysis ; Female ; Internet ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; *Depression/therapy ; *Anxiety/therapy ; Mental Health Teletherapy ; Digital Health ; Feasibility Studies ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Treatment-as-usual (TAU) conditions are intended to reflect the support typically received in routine treatment settings. For digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) delivered online, TAU conditions should reflect the usual patterns of online help-seeking. The lack of ecologically valid TAU control conditions has been a gap in effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. In this study, mental health-related popular online content (eg, advice TikToks, lived experience vlogs, and self-care infographics) was examined as a valuable TAU control condition.
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the feasibility of popular online content as a TAU control condition in DMHI trials.
METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Both trials recruited participants online, primarily via an online study recruitment platform. In study 1 (N=916), US adults with elevated depression or anxiety were randomized to either (1) complete a single-session DHMI for depression and anxiety (n=291), (2) search the web for popular online content relevant to their struggles (n=312), or (3) search a curated library of mental health-related popular online content (n=313). In study 2 (N=431), US adults with elevated loneliness were randomized to (1) complete a single-session DHMI for loneliness (n=136), (2) search a curated library of popular online content related to loneliness (n=145), or (3) complete an attention-matched control condition (n=150). All 6 programs took approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete and were entirely self-guided. Participants rated each program's credibility and expected benefit, as well as their feelings of distress (study 1) and loneliness (study 2). The studies did not involve interaction between participants and the research team.
RESULTS: In study 1, dropout during the treatment was 4.8% (14/291) for the single-session intervention, 25.9% (81/312) for online help-seeking, and 9.6% (30/313) for the curated library. The curated library's credibility and expected benefit score did not differ from that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.08; P=.88) and was higher than that of unguided help-seeking (Cohen d=0.23; P=.01). In study 2, dropout was higher in the curated library condition (7/145, 4.8%) than in the single-session intervention and the attention-matched control condition (0/136, 0.0% and 0/150, 0.0%). The mean credibility and expected benefit score for the curated library was comparable to that of the attention-matched control condition (Cohen d=0.00; P>.99) but lower than that of the single-session intervention (Cohen d=0.32; P=.02). Changes in distress and loneliness from baseline to 8-week follow-up did not differ across the conditions in study 1. All effect sizes were small in study 1 (Cohen d<0.15), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.06). Similarly, in study 2, all effect sizes were small (Cohen d<0.12), and no comparisons were statistically significant (P>.25).
CONCLUSIONS: Curated libraries of popular online content are a feasible, ecologically valid TAU benchmark for effectiveness trials of online DMHIs. Future research on TAU conditions in online help-seeking contexts should better align with observed DMHI attrition rates and account for the increasingly central role of conversational artificial intelligence in online mental health support.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Digital Media
Adult
Secondary Data Analysis
Female
Internet
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
*Depression/therapy
*Anxiety/therapy
Mental Health Teletherapy
Digital Health
Feasibility Studies
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Gut microbiome and metabolic health: mechanisms and precision interventions.
Gut microbes, 18(1):2644677.
The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a fundamental regulator of metabolic health, shaping energy balance, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory tone, and inter-organ communication through a broad spectrum of microbial metabolites that engage host signaling pathways. In this review, we synthesize current mechanistic insights into how gut microbial communities shape metabolic function, with particular emphasis on short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acid signaling, gut barrier integrity, immune modulation, and the microbiota-gut-brain-pancreas axis. We further summarize disease-associated alterations in microbial composition and function across obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and metabolic syndrome, highlighting key microbial and metabolic features that contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Evidence from germ-free models, fecal microbiota transplantation studies, and strain-level interventions suggests that shifts in microbial ecology may causally shape metabolic outcomes. We also critically evaluate emerging microbiome-centered therapeutic strategies, including targeted probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modulation, and fecal microbiota transplantation, while addressing factors that underlie inter-individual variability in treatment responses. In addition, we discuss the growing influence of multi-omics technologies, microbial metabolic modeling, and machine learning approaches in advancing precision microbiome medicine. To integrate these advances within a coherent framework, we outline a precision microbiome intervention pipeline linking multidimensional profiling to functional stratification and targeted therapeutic design. We also introduce a conceptual Precision Microbiome Intervention Triangle to mechanistically explain heterogeneity in responses to microbiome-targeted therapies. Collectively, these insights establish and position the gut microbiome as both a mechanistic driver and a modifiable therapeutic target in metabolic disease, and highlight key challenges and future directions for the development of personalized microbiome-based metabolic interventions.
Additional Links: PMID-42015346
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42015346,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Z and Samui, S and Liu, J and Yang, Y and Liu, X and Chen, Q and Li, J and Gopinath, D and Luo, P and Shan, D},
title = {Gut microbiome and metabolic health: mechanisms and precision interventions.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2644677},
pmid = {42015346},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Animals ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Metabolic Diseases/microbiology/therapy/metabolism ; Precision Medicine ; Obesity/microbiology/metabolism ; Probiotics/administration & dosage ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology/metabolism ; Multiomics ; Prebiotics ; Metabolic Syndrome/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a fundamental regulator of metabolic health, shaping energy balance, insulin sensitivity, inflammatory tone, and inter-organ communication through a broad spectrum of microbial metabolites that engage host signaling pathways. In this review, we synthesize current mechanistic insights into how gut microbial communities shape metabolic function, with particular emphasis on short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acid signaling, gut barrier integrity, immune modulation, and the microbiota-gut-brain-pancreas axis. We further summarize disease-associated alterations in microbial composition and function across obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and metabolic syndrome, highlighting key microbial and metabolic features that contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Evidence from germ-free models, fecal microbiota transplantation studies, and strain-level interventions suggests that shifts in microbial ecology may causally shape metabolic outcomes. We also critically evaluate emerging microbiome-centered therapeutic strategies, including targeted probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modulation, and fecal microbiota transplantation, while addressing factors that underlie inter-individual variability in treatment responses. In addition, we discuss the growing influence of multi-omics technologies, microbial metabolic modeling, and machine learning approaches in advancing precision microbiome medicine. To integrate these advances within a coherent framework, we outline a precision microbiome intervention pipeline linking multidimensional profiling to functional stratification and targeted therapeutic design. We also introduce a conceptual Precision Microbiome Intervention Triangle to mechanistically explain heterogeneity in responses to microbiome-targeted therapies. Collectively, these insights establish and position the gut microbiome as both a mechanistic driver and a modifiable therapeutic target in metabolic disease, and highlight key challenges and future directions for the development of personalized microbiome-based metabolic interventions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
Animals
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
*Metabolic Diseases/microbiology/therapy/metabolism
Precision Medicine
Obesity/microbiology/metabolism
Probiotics/administration & dosage
Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology/metabolism
Multiomics
Prebiotics
Metabolic Syndrome/microbiology/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Integrative transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses reveal changes in meat quality and muscle lipid metabolism in sheep supplemented with rumen-protected glucose.
Meat science, 238:110110.
The effects of dietary rumen-protected glucose (RPG) supplementation on Dumengsa sheep growth performance, meat quality, and transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling are reported. Twelve sheep were randomly assigned to a control (basal diet, n = 6) or RPG (basal diet +1.0% RPG, n = 6) group for 100 d. RPG increased serum malondialdehyde (P = 0.015) and cholesterol (P = 0.046) concentrations, enhanced intramuscular fat content (P = 0.016), and tended to produce lower meat lightness (P = 0.072), redness (P = 0.053), and hue angle (P = 0.072) values. In total, 319 differentially expressed genes and 30 differentially abundant metabolites were identified. Transcriptomic analysis revealed RPG to alter the expression of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, β-oxidation, and fat deposition. Metabolomic analysis revealed that RPG supplementation primarily increases the abundance of short-chain fatty acids. Integrated analysis using a Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker discovery using Latent Components (DIABLO) model revealed a strong and significant correlation (r = 0.93) between omics profiles. We report dietary supplementation with 1% RPG to modulate muscle lipid metabolism and potentially stimulate intramuscular fat deposition, but also to possibly induce a state of potential oxidative stress.
Additional Links: PMID-42025075
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42025075,
year = {2026},
author = {Liang, Y and Shi, J and Cheng, X and Feng, M and Jiao, D and Du, X and Ji, K and Hu, S and Dong, Q and Yang, G},
title = {Integrative transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses reveal changes in meat quality and muscle lipid metabolism in sheep supplemented with rumen-protected glucose.},
journal = {Meat science},
volume = {238},
number = {},
pages = {110110},
doi = {10.1016/j.meatsci.2026.110110},
pmid = {42025075},
issn = {1873-4138},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; *Glucose/administration & dosage ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism ; Dietary Supplements ; Sheep, Domestic/growth & development/metabolism ; Diet/veterinary ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Metabolomics ; Transcriptome ; Rumen ; *Red Meat/analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Multiomics ; Sheep ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Malondialdehyde/blood ; },
abstract = {The effects of dietary rumen-protected glucose (RPG) supplementation on Dumengsa sheep growth performance, meat quality, and transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling are reported. Twelve sheep were randomly assigned to a control (basal diet, n = 6) or RPG (basal diet +1.0% RPG, n = 6) group for 100 d. RPG increased serum malondialdehyde (P = 0.015) and cholesterol (P = 0.046) concentrations, enhanced intramuscular fat content (P = 0.016), and tended to produce lower meat lightness (P = 0.072), redness (P = 0.053), and hue angle (P = 0.072) values. In total, 319 differentially expressed genes and 30 differentially abundant metabolites were identified. Transcriptomic analysis revealed RPG to alter the expression of genes related to oxidative phosphorylation, β-oxidation, and fat deposition. Metabolomic analysis revealed that RPG supplementation primarily increases the abundance of short-chain fatty acids. Integrated analysis using a Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker discovery using Latent Components (DIABLO) model revealed a strong and significant correlation (r = 0.93) between omics profiles. We report dietary supplementation with 1% RPG to modulate muscle lipid metabolism and potentially stimulate intramuscular fat deposition, but also to possibly induce a state of potential oxidative stress.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Lipid Metabolism/drug effects
*Glucose/administration & dosage
Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
Dietary Supplements
Sheep, Domestic/growth & development/metabolism
Diet/veterinary
Animal Feed/analysis
Metabolomics
Transcriptome
Rumen
*Red Meat/analysis
Gene Expression Profiling
Multiomics
Sheep
Male
Oxidative Stress
Malondialdehyde/blood
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
RuSpacer: a CRISPR spacer database derived from ruminant-associated prokaryotes for virome analysis.
Scientific reports, 16(1):.
Microorganisms in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract play key roles in lignocellulose degradation and energy conversion. Prokaryote-infecting viruses play a pivotal role in shaping host abundance and metabolism. Despite their importance, host-virus prediction in this environment remains limited, partly due to the lack of specialized clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacer datasets. Here, RuSpacer, a database of 181,023 clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacers extracted primarily from publicly available rumen-associated prokaryotic genomes, was established. Each spacer is annotated with the taxonomic identity of the genome from which it was derived. RuSpacer enables host-virus prediction via spacer-protospacer matching, particularly in the rumen ecosystem. It can also be integrated with existing publicly available spacer datasets and used for host-virus prediction in environments other than the rumen. Overall, this resource supports research on host-virus interactions, microbial ecology, and virus-based biocontrol strategies in livestock and other complex microbiomes.
Additional Links: PMID-42034665
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42034665,
year = {2026},
author = {Sato, Y},
title = {RuSpacer: a CRISPR spacer database derived from ruminant-associated prokaryotes for virome analysis.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42034665},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {25K18347//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ruminants/virology/microbiology ; Rumen/microbiology/virology ; *Virome/genetics ; *Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics ; *Prokaryotic Cells/virology ; *Databases, Genetic ; },
abstract = {Microorganisms in the ruminant gastrointestinal tract play key roles in lignocellulose degradation and energy conversion. Prokaryote-infecting viruses play a pivotal role in shaping host abundance and metabolism. Despite their importance, host-virus prediction in this environment remains limited, partly due to the lack of specialized clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacer datasets. Here, RuSpacer, a database of 181,023 clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat spacers extracted primarily from publicly available rumen-associated prokaryotic genomes, was established. Each spacer is annotated with the taxonomic identity of the genome from which it was derived. RuSpacer enables host-virus prediction via spacer-protospacer matching, particularly in the rumen ecosystem. It can also be integrated with existing publicly available spacer datasets and used for host-virus prediction in environments other than the rumen. Overall, this resource supports research on host-virus interactions, microbial ecology, and virus-based biocontrol strategies in livestock and other complex microbiomes.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Ruminants/virology/microbiology
Rumen/microbiology/virology
*Virome/genetics
*Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics
*Prokaryotic Cells/virology
*Databases, Genetic
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-04-26
Ecological Momentary Assessment and Voice-Informed Forecast and Detection for the Diagnosis of Major Depression.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1502:95-109.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition traditionally diagnosed through subjective clinical interviews and retrospective self-reports, methods that are limited by recall biases and diagnostic heterogeneity. To address these limitations, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and voice-based analysis have emerged as innovative diagnostic and monitoring tools. EMA captures real-time, context-rich data in naturalistic settings, providing nuanced insights into the dynamics of depressive symptoms, daily stressors, and coping strategies. Voice analysis leverages quantitative acoustic and linguistic biomarkers, reflecting underlying neurophysiological and psychomotor changes characteristic of depressive episodes. Integrating these technologies offers objective, scalable, and real-time approaches to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize interventions, and facilitate continuous patient monitoring. Nevertheless, practical challenges, including technological accessibility, participant adherence, data interpretation complexities, ethical concerns, and the necessity for robust validation, remain critical barriers. Future research directions highlight the need for digital phenotyping strategies using big data analytics to redefine depressive disorders beyond conventional DSM frameworks, ultimately paving the way for precision psychiatry.
Additional Links: PMID-42036564
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42036564,
year = {2026},
author = {Shin, D and Kim, YK},
title = {Ecological Momentary Assessment and Voice-Informed Forecast and Detection for the Diagnosis of Major Depression.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1502},
number = {},
pages = {95-109},
pmid = {42036564},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Major Depressive Disorder/diagnosis/psychology/physiopathology ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Digital Health ; *Voice/physiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; },
abstract = {Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and disabling mental health condition traditionally diagnosed through subjective clinical interviews and retrospective self-reports, methods that are limited by recall biases and diagnostic heterogeneity. To address these limitations, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and voice-based analysis have emerged as innovative diagnostic and monitoring tools. EMA captures real-time, context-rich data in naturalistic settings, providing nuanced insights into the dynamics of depressive symptoms, daily stressors, and coping strategies. Voice analysis leverages quantitative acoustic and linguistic biomarkers, reflecting underlying neurophysiological and psychomotor changes characteristic of depressive episodes. Integrating these technologies offers objective, scalable, and real-time approaches to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize interventions, and facilitate continuous patient monitoring. Nevertheless, practical challenges, including technological accessibility, participant adherence, data interpretation complexities, ethical concerns, and the necessity for robust validation, remain critical barriers. Future research directions highlight the need for digital phenotyping strategies using big data analytics to redefine depressive disorders beyond conventional DSM frameworks, ultimately paving the way for precision psychiatry.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Major Depressive Disorder/diagnosis/psychology/physiopathology
*Ecological Momentary Assessment
Digital Health
*Voice/physiology
Predictive Value of Tests
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Probing the genomic and proteomic basis of encystment in Oxytricha granulifera.
mSystems, 11(5):e0175725.
Protozoan encystment constitutes a pivotal survival strategy against environmental stressors; however, the molecular architecture governing this transition remains enigmatic, owing to limited genomic resources and a scarcity of integrated multi-omics investigations. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying encystment in Oxytricha granulifera by reporting the first macronuclear genome assembly and conducting a comprehensive integration of transcriptomic, proteomic, and morphological analyses across vegetative and cyst stages. Morphological restructuring, typified by ciliary dedifferentiation and cyst wall formation, is molecularly supported by the downregulation of microtubule dynamics-associated genes and the concurrent upregulation of vesicle transport machinery. Furthermore, expanded gene families linked to carbohydrate metabolism and cellular acidification coincide with observed autophagic clearance and mucocyst activity, highlighting a coordinated metabolic shift essential for cyst formation. Elevated expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy pathways, which mediate protein turnover, along with upregulation of antioxidant enzyme genes, contributes to alleviating oxidative damage. Notably, we identified rewired post-transcriptional regulation that increases spliceosome activity and alternative splicing frequency, with each trend validated at the protein level. Concurrently, we observed a distinct epigenetic signature characterized by the significant downregulation of DNA N[6]-adenine methylation (6mA) methyltransferases (homologs of AMT1 and AMT6/7), suggesting a potential repressive role of methylation during the cyst stage. Collectively, these findings provide a multidimensional atlas of the encystment process, revealing that O. granulifera accomplishes cellular structural remodeling through a multilayered regulatory network spanning morphological, genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels.IMPORTANCEOxytricha species are widely distributed in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, playing significant ecological roles in microbial communities. Their ability to undergo encystment provides a powerful model for studying cellular differentiation and stress adaptation in microbial eukaryotes. This study presents the first multi-omics analysis of encystment in Oxytricha granulifera, revealing microbial survival strategies through enhanced protein turnover, autophagy, alternative splicing, and DNA methylation reprogramming. These findings offer fundamental insights into dormancy mechanisms and environmental adaptation in protists, advancing our understanding of microbial resilience, evolutionary innovation, and ecological success in fluctuating environments.
Additional Links: PMID-42041254
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42041254,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, M and Yang, J and Hu, T and Lin, Z and Wang, T and Liu, Z and Chen, X and Fan, X},
title = {Probing the genomic and proteomic basis of encystment in Oxytricha granulifera.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {e0175725},
pmid = {42041254},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {32570525, 32170446, 32270512//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Proteomics/methods ; Multiomics ; *Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Genomics/methods ; Transcriptome ; *Proteome ; *Genome, Protozoan ; },
abstract = {Protozoan encystment constitutes a pivotal survival strategy against environmental stressors; however, the molecular architecture governing this transition remains enigmatic, owing to limited genomic resources and a scarcity of integrated multi-omics investigations. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying encystment in Oxytricha granulifera by reporting the first macronuclear genome assembly and conducting a comprehensive integration of transcriptomic, proteomic, and morphological analyses across vegetative and cyst stages. Morphological restructuring, typified by ciliary dedifferentiation and cyst wall formation, is molecularly supported by the downregulation of microtubule dynamics-associated genes and the concurrent upregulation of vesicle transport machinery. Furthermore, expanded gene families linked to carbohydrate metabolism and cellular acidification coincide with observed autophagic clearance and mucocyst activity, highlighting a coordinated metabolic shift essential for cyst formation. Elevated expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy pathways, which mediate protein turnover, along with upregulation of antioxidant enzyme genes, contributes to alleviating oxidative damage. Notably, we identified rewired post-transcriptional regulation that increases spliceosome activity and alternative splicing frequency, with each trend validated at the protein level. Concurrently, we observed a distinct epigenetic signature characterized by the significant downregulation of DNA N[6]-adenine methylation (6mA) methyltransferases (homologs of AMT1 and AMT6/7), suggesting a potential repressive role of methylation during the cyst stage. Collectively, these findings provide a multidimensional atlas of the encystment process, revealing that O. granulifera accomplishes cellular structural remodeling through a multilayered regulatory network spanning morphological, genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels.IMPORTANCEOxytricha species are widely distributed in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, playing significant ecological roles in microbial communities. Their ability to undergo encystment provides a powerful model for studying cellular differentiation and stress adaptation in microbial eukaryotes. This study presents the first multi-omics analysis of encystment in Oxytricha granulifera, revealing microbial survival strategies through enhanced protein turnover, autophagy, alternative splicing, and DNA methylation reprogramming. These findings offer fundamental insights into dormancy mechanisms and environmental adaptation in protists, advancing our understanding of microbial resilience, evolutionary innovation, and ecological success in fluctuating environments.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Proteomics/methods
Multiomics
*Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism
*Genomics/methods
Transcriptome
*Proteome
*Genome, Protozoan
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Short-Term Effects of an mHealth Intervention on Healthy Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health in Sedentary Employees: Quasi-Experimental Study.
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 14:e70074.
BACKGROUND: Sedentary employees face increased chronic health risks due to physical inactivity, immobility, and unhealthy eating behavior. Although mobile health (mHealth) interventions show promise in improving lifestyle behaviors, their effectiveness in occupational settings remains underexplored. Building on previous workplace interventions, this study developed and evaluated a mobile-enabled web app, SIMPLE HEALTH, developed with Din-J Design Co, Ltd, integrating activity tracking, healthy eating, and behavioral support for sedentary employees.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the short-term effects of a 12-week mHealth intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior, dietary habits, and cardiometabolic health indicators among sedentary employees in Taiwan.
METHODS: A 2-arm quasi-experimental study was conducted at 2 aerospace industrial workplaces. A total of 101 sedentary employees (mean age 46.9, SD 12.2 years; 52/101, 51.5% female) were enrolled from 2 worksites that were assigned by coin toss to either the intervention condition (n=50) or the control condition (n=51). The intervention group participated in the SIMPLE HEALTH program, an mHealth intervention grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the Ecological Model, consisting of 8 components: activity tracking, goal setting, behavior logging, reminders, personalized advice, educational and motivational electronic booklets, and individual and team challenges. The control group received 6 print educational booklets. Cardiometabolic biomarkers, objectively measured physical activity (Fitbit Charge 3; Fitbit Inc), occupational sitting (occupational sitting and physical activity questionnaire), and dietary behavior (3-day photographic food records and the healthy eating behavior inventory) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations following the intention-to-treat principle.
RESULTS: At 12 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant increase in step counts (adjusted mean difference, MD 1227.13, 95% CI 2.90-2451.36; P=.049), a more favorable between-group change in moderate physical activity (adjusted MD 0.17, 95% CI 0.01-0.33; P=.04), and favorable dietary behaviors, including reduced intake of calories (adjusted MD -144.59, 95% CI -276.57 to -12.60; P=.03), carbohydrates (adjusted MD -19.88, 95% CI -37.99 to -1.78; P=.03), fats (adjusted MD -6.99, 95% CI -13.69 to -0.29; P=.04), and grains (adjusted MD -1.46, 95% CI -2.43 to -0.50; P=.003), and increased vegetable intake (adjusted MD 0.47, 95% CI 0.06-0.88; P=.02), compared to the control group. Favorable trends were noted in diastolic blood pressure (adjusted MD -2.38, 95% CI -4.99 to 0.22; P=.07) and soft lean mass (adjusted MD 0.34, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.75; P=.10). Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (intervention: P=.01; control: P=.03), body fat percentage (intervention: P<.001; control: P=.01), waist circumference (intervention: P=.001; control: P=.002), and occupational sitting (intervention: P<.001; control: P=.03), and occupational walking (intervention: P=.01; control: P=.046), but between-group differences were nonsignificant.
CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week mHealth intervention improved physical activity and dietary behaviors and showed favorable trends in cardiometabolic indicators among sedentary employees. These findings support integrating mHealth programs into employee wellness initiatives to promote healthy behaviors, mitigate productivity loss, and reduce chronic disease burden. Further research should assess long-term sustainability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness in diverse occupational settings.
Additional Links: PMID-42044372
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42044372,
year = {2026},
author = {Lin, YP and Lu, SH and Lee, KC and Ma, WF and Ho, YF and Liao, WC and Yang, HT and Hong, O},
title = {Short-Term Effects of an mHealth Intervention on Healthy Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health in Sedentary Employees: Quasi-Experimental Study.},
journal = {JMIR mHealth and uHealth},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {e70074},
pmid = {42044372},
issn = {2291-5222},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Sedentary Behavior ; Taiwan ; Adult ; *Health Behavior ; Digital Health ; Telemedicine/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Health Promotion/methods/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Exercise/psychology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sedentary employees face increased chronic health risks due to physical inactivity, immobility, and unhealthy eating behavior. Although mobile health (mHealth) interventions show promise in improving lifestyle behaviors, their effectiveness in occupational settings remains underexplored. Building on previous workplace interventions, this study developed and evaluated a mobile-enabled web app, SIMPLE HEALTH, developed with Din-J Design Co, Ltd, integrating activity tracking, healthy eating, and behavioral support for sedentary employees.
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the short-term effects of a 12-week mHealth intervention on physical activity, sedentary behavior, dietary habits, and cardiometabolic health indicators among sedentary employees in Taiwan.
METHODS: A 2-arm quasi-experimental study was conducted at 2 aerospace industrial workplaces. A total of 101 sedentary employees (mean age 46.9, SD 12.2 years; 52/101, 51.5% female) were enrolled from 2 worksites that were assigned by coin toss to either the intervention condition (n=50) or the control condition (n=51). The intervention group participated in the SIMPLE HEALTH program, an mHealth intervention grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and the Ecological Model, consisting of 8 components: activity tracking, goal setting, behavior logging, reminders, personalized advice, educational and motivational electronic booklets, and individual and team challenges. The control group received 6 print educational booklets. Cardiometabolic biomarkers, objectively measured physical activity (Fitbit Charge 3; Fitbit Inc), occupational sitting (occupational sitting and physical activity questionnaire), and dietary behavior (3-day photographic food records and the healthy eating behavior inventory) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations following the intention-to-treat principle.
RESULTS: At 12 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant increase in step counts (adjusted mean difference, MD 1227.13, 95% CI 2.90-2451.36; P=.049), a more favorable between-group change in moderate physical activity (adjusted MD 0.17, 95% CI 0.01-0.33; P=.04), and favorable dietary behaviors, including reduced intake of calories (adjusted MD -144.59, 95% CI -276.57 to -12.60; P=.03), carbohydrates (adjusted MD -19.88, 95% CI -37.99 to -1.78; P=.03), fats (adjusted MD -6.99, 95% CI -13.69 to -0.29; P=.04), and grains (adjusted MD -1.46, 95% CI -2.43 to -0.50; P=.003), and increased vegetable intake (adjusted MD 0.47, 95% CI 0.06-0.88; P=.02), compared to the control group. Favorable trends were noted in diastolic blood pressure (adjusted MD -2.38, 95% CI -4.99 to 0.22; P=.07) and soft lean mass (adjusted MD 0.34, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.75; P=.10). Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (intervention: P=.01; control: P=.03), body fat percentage (intervention: P<.001; control: P=.01), waist circumference (intervention: P=.001; control: P=.002), and occupational sitting (intervention: P<.001; control: P=.03), and occupational walking (intervention: P=.01; control: P=.046), but between-group differences were nonsignificant.
CONCLUSIONS: The 12-week mHealth intervention improved physical activity and dietary behaviors and showed favorable trends in cardiometabolic indicators among sedentary employees. These findings support integrating mHealth programs into employee wellness initiatives to promote healthy behaviors, mitigate productivity loss, and reduce chronic disease burden. Further research should assess long-term sustainability, scalability, and cost-effectiveness in diverse occupational settings.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
Male
Middle Aged
*Sedentary Behavior
Taiwan
Adult
*Health Behavior
Digital Health
Telemedicine/standards/statistics & numerical data
Health Promotion/methods/standards/statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Exercise/psychology
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
Effects of IT-enabled entrepreneurship on gender equality in a digital economy: Evidence from Qualitative Studies.
African journal of reproductive health, 30(8):85-101.
Persistent digital divides and gendered health inequalities constrain women's participation in the digital economy, even in highly connected contexts like China. This study develops an explanatory framework for how information-technology-enabled entrepreneurship (ITEE) affects women's economic security, health, and capabilities. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach based on 80 interviews in China, the analysis reveals four themes. Capability formation shows how increased income and flexibility allow women to invest in health. Algorithmic exposure highlights the dual nature of platform visibility, boosting sales but also enabling harassment and anxiety. Care negotiation examines how unpaid care duties and infrastructure impact sustainability, showcasing adaptive strategies. Trajectory configuration integrates these into differentiated pathways, from vulnerable to healthenhancing, depending on aligned support. The findings position health centrally in digital capability and link platform governance and care ecologies to sustainable empowerment, suggesting safe platforms, caring support, and integrated policies are essential for women's wellbeing.
Additional Links: PMID-42047208
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42047208,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, L and Zhu, H and Jiang, S and Zheng, Q and Yu, C},
title = {Effects of IT-enabled entrepreneurship on gender equality in a digital economy: Evidence from Qualitative Studies.},
journal = {African journal of reproductive health},
volume = {30},
number = {8},
pages = {85-101},
doi = {10.29063/ajrh2026/v30i8.9},
pmid = {42047208},
issn = {1118-4841},
mesh = {Humans ; *Entrepreneurship ; Female ; *Gender Equity ; Qualitative Research ; China ; *Women's Health ; Empowerment ; Grounded Theory ; Interviews as Topic ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {Persistent digital divides and gendered health inequalities constrain women's participation in the digital economy, even in highly connected contexts like China. This study develops an explanatory framework for how information-technology-enabled entrepreneurship (ITEE) affects women's economic security, health, and capabilities. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach based on 80 interviews in China, the analysis reveals four themes. Capability formation shows how increased income and flexibility allow women to invest in health. Algorithmic exposure highlights the dual nature of platform visibility, boosting sales but also enabling harassment and anxiety. Care negotiation examines how unpaid care duties and infrastructure impact sustainability, showcasing adaptive strategies. Trajectory configuration integrates these into differentiated pathways, from vulnerable to healthenhancing, depending on aligned support. The findings position health centrally in digital capability and link platform governance and care ecologies to sustainable empowerment, suggesting safe platforms, caring support, and integrated policies are essential for women's wellbeing.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Entrepreneurship
Female
*Gender Equity
Qualitative Research
China
*Women's Health
Empowerment
Grounded Theory
Interviews as Topic
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-04-28
Patient Concerns Regarding Artificial Intelligence Applications in Health Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis Based on Social Ecological Theory.
Journal of medical Internet research, 28:e85663.
BACKGROUND: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is growing quickly, but there is not enough research that looks at patient concerns from a multilevel perspective. Existing reviews predominantly summarize patient attitudes descriptively, lacking theoretical frameworks to explain the underlying mechanisms of these concerns.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-synthesis aimed to identify and analyze patient concerns regarding health care AI applications, using social ecological theory to reveal the multilevel interactive mechanisms of concern at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels.
METHODS: Following the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension) guidelines, databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched on March 1, 2026. Qualitative studies exploring patient perceptions of clinical AI applications were included, excluding those involving only healthy populations, technical performance, or nonclinical settings. Two researchers independently screened the literature and assessed methodological quality using the JBI-QARI (Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument) checklist. Confidence in synthesized findings was assessed using the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research) approach.
RESULTS: A total of 25 qualitative studies involving 528 participants from diverse patient groups across multiple countries were included. Six themes emerged: (1) microlevel worries about privacy and data security, including data breaches and loss of control over personal health information; (2) worries about the limits and reliability of technology, especially AI diagnostic accuracy and "black box" decision-making; (3) mesolevel effects on physician-patient relationships, including reduced face-to-face interaction and empathy; (4) trust and accountability issues, including unclear responsibility attribution and institutional oversight problems; (5) macrolevel ethical and equity issues, including algorithmic bias and health care access inequalities; and (6) worries about technology diffusion and possible replacement of health care workers.
CONCLUSIONS: This review represents the first meta-synthesis applying social ecological theory to construct patient concerns regarding medical AI. Unlike previous descriptive reviews, it reveals the interconnected "ecological imbalance" mechanisms at micro-, meso-, and macrolevels when AI is embedded in health care systems. The findings suggest that many patient concerns are based on facts rather than just misunderstandings, indicating that systemic rather than isolated interventions are needed. Practical implications include explainable algorithm design at the microlevel, improved physician-patient communication, and institutional accountability at the mesolevel, and coordinated global ethical norms and equity-promoting policies at the macrolevel. Limitations include the inclusion of studies primarily from developed regions, significant heterogeneity in AI application scenarios, and constraints inherent to secondary research. Nevertheless, addressing these multilevel concerns remains crucial for balancing technological advancement with patient-centered care and enabling sustainable AI integration.
Additional Links: PMID-42048645
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42048645,
year = {2026},
author = {Hou, J and Zhang, Z and Cheng, X and Wang, W},
title = {Patient Concerns Regarding Artificial Intelligence Applications in Health Care: Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis Based on Social Ecological Theory.},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {e85663},
pmid = {42048645},
issn = {1438-8871},
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is growing quickly, but there is not enough research that looks at patient concerns from a multilevel perspective. Existing reviews predominantly summarize patient attitudes descriptively, lacking theoretical frameworks to explain the underlying mechanisms of these concerns.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-synthesis aimed to identify and analyze patient concerns regarding health care AI applications, using social ecological theory to reveal the multilevel interactive mechanisms of concern at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels.
METHODS: Following the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension) guidelines, databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched on March 1, 2026. Qualitative studies exploring patient perceptions of clinical AI applications were included, excluding those involving only healthy populations, technical performance, or nonclinical settings. Two researchers independently screened the literature and assessed methodological quality using the JBI-QARI (Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument) checklist. Confidence in synthesized findings was assessed using the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research) approach.
RESULTS: A total of 25 qualitative studies involving 528 participants from diverse patient groups across multiple countries were included. Six themes emerged: (1) microlevel worries about privacy and data security, including data breaches and loss of control over personal health information; (2) worries about the limits and reliability of technology, especially AI diagnostic accuracy and "black box" decision-making; (3) mesolevel effects on physician-patient relationships, including reduced face-to-face interaction and empathy; (4) trust and accountability issues, including unclear responsibility attribution and institutional oversight problems; (5) macrolevel ethical and equity issues, including algorithmic bias and health care access inequalities; and (6) worries about technology diffusion and possible replacement of health care workers.
CONCLUSIONS: This review represents the first meta-synthesis applying social ecological theory to construct patient concerns regarding medical AI. Unlike previous descriptive reviews, it reveals the interconnected "ecological imbalance" mechanisms at micro-, meso-, and macrolevels when AI is embedded in health care systems. The findings suggest that many patient concerns are based on facts rather than just misunderstandings, indicating that systemic rather than isolated interventions are needed. Practical implications include explainable algorithm design at the microlevel, improved physician-patient communication, and institutional accountability at the mesolevel, and coordinated global ethical norms and equity-promoting policies at the macrolevel. Limitations include the inclusion of studies primarily from developed regions, significant heterogeneity in AI application scenarios, and constraints inherent to secondary research. Nevertheless, addressing these multilevel concerns remains crucial for balancing technological advancement with patient-centered care and enabling sustainable AI integration.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Artificial Intelligence
*Delivery of Health Care
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-06-20
Integrative omics analyses of ectomycorrhizal fungi modulate root growth and defense for mitigating aluminum toxicity in Pinus massoniana.
Tree physiology, 46(6):.
Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a critical environmental factor limiting plant productivity in acidic soils. Some ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) can mitigate Al-induced stress and promote root growth in Pinus massoniana Lamb., however the underlying molecular and metabolic mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, P. massoniana seedlings inoculated with Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Gray (Ld) were subjected to acidic Al stress (pH 3.8) at Al3+ concentrations of 0.0 and 1.0 mM. Root growth, transcriptomic, metabolic and hormonal characteristics of the mycorrhizal symbionts were determined and analyzed. The study aimed to identify the key metabolites and metabolic pathways involved in ECMF-enhanced Al stress tolerance of P. massoniana, and to further elucidate on the underlying mechanism of ECMF in improving the Al resistance of P. massoniana from molecular and metabolic-physiological perspectives. Results showed that Ld inoculation significantly enhanced Al tolerance and promoted root growth and branching in P. massoniana. Specifically, it activated the phenylpropanoid-lignin biosynthesis pathway in mycorrhizal symbionts, downregulated carbon metabolism pathways and reduced intracellular accumulation of citric acid and specific amino acids (L-proline, L-threonine, serine). Furthermore, Ld elevated salicylic acid and gibberellin levels, decreased jasmonic acid content, upregulated growth-promoting genes (MYC2, GH3, TCH4) and downregulated inhibitory genes (ARF9/19, DELLA). This study further refines and clarifies the mechanism underlying ECMF-enhanced Al resistance in P. massoniana, and provides a theoretical basis for the application of ECMF in the ecological restoration of P. massoniana forest areas affected by Al toxicity.
Additional Links: PMID-42143584
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@article {pmid42143584,
year = {2026},
author = {Lv, Y and Li, A and Gu, X and Hu, J and Wen, S and Xu, S and Deng, Y and Chen, D and He, X},
title = {Integrative omics analyses of ectomycorrhizal fungi modulate root growth and defense for mitigating aluminum toxicity in Pinus massoniana.},
journal = {Tree physiology},
volume = {46},
number = {6},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpag065},
pmid = {42143584},
issn = {1758-4469},
support = {NSFC 32171753//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Aluminum/toxicity ; *Pinus/microbiology/growth & development/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; *Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; Multiomics ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a critical environmental factor limiting plant productivity in acidic soils. Some ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) can mitigate Al-induced stress and promote root growth in Pinus massoniana Lamb., however the underlying molecular and metabolic mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, P. massoniana seedlings inoculated with Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Gray (Ld) were subjected to acidic Al stress (pH 3.8) at Al3+ concentrations of 0.0 and 1.0 mM. Root growth, transcriptomic, metabolic and hormonal characteristics of the mycorrhizal symbionts were determined and analyzed. The study aimed to identify the key metabolites and metabolic pathways involved in ECMF-enhanced Al stress tolerance of P. massoniana, and to further elucidate on the underlying mechanism of ECMF in improving the Al resistance of P. massoniana from molecular and metabolic-physiological perspectives. Results showed that Ld inoculation significantly enhanced Al tolerance and promoted root growth and branching in P. massoniana. Specifically, it activated the phenylpropanoid-lignin biosynthesis pathway in mycorrhizal symbionts, downregulated carbon metabolism pathways and reduced intracellular accumulation of citric acid and specific amino acids (L-proline, L-threonine, serine). Furthermore, Ld elevated salicylic acid and gibberellin levels, decreased jasmonic acid content, upregulated growth-promoting genes (MYC2, GH3, TCH4) and downregulated inhibitory genes (ARF9/19, DELLA). This study further refines and clarifies the mechanism underlying ECMF-enhanced Al resistance in P. massoniana, and provides a theoretical basis for the application of ECMF in the ecological restoration of P. massoniana forest areas affected by Al toxicity.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Mycorrhizae/physiology
*Aluminum/toxicity
*Pinus/microbiology/growth & development/drug effects/metabolism/physiology
*Plant Roots/growth & development/microbiology/drug effects
Stress, Physiological
Multiomics
*Basidiomycota/physiology
Transcriptome
RevDate: 2026-06-22
CmpDate: 2026-06-22
A new method for augmenting short time series, with application to pain events in sickle cell disease.
PLoS computational biology, 22(6):e1014389 pii:PCOMPBIOL-D-26-00088.
Researchers across different fields, including but not limited to ecology, biology, and healthcare, often face the challenge of sparse data. Such sparsity can lead to uncertainties, estimation difficulties, and potential biases in modeling. Here we introduce a novel data augmentation method that combines multiple sparse time series datasets when they share similar statistical properties, thereby improving parameter estimation and model selection reliability. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through validation studies comparing Hawkes and Poisson processes, followed by application to subjective pain dynamics in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), a condition affecting millions worldwide, particularly those of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent.
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@article {pmid42284363,
year = {2026},
author = {Utkarsh, K and Shah, NR and Banerjee, T and Abrams, DM},
title = {A new method for augmenting short time series, with application to pain events in sickle cell disease.},
journal = {PLoS computational biology},
volume = {22},
number = {6},
pages = {e1014389},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1014389},
pmid = {42284363},
issn = {1553-7358},
mesh = {*Anemia, Sickle Cell/physiopathology/complications ; Humans ; *Pain/physiopathology/etiology ; Computational Biology/methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Algorithms ; Pain Measurement/methods ; },
abstract = {Researchers across different fields, including but not limited to ecology, biology, and healthcare, often face the challenge of sparse data. Such sparsity can lead to uncertainties, estimation difficulties, and potential biases in modeling. Here we introduce a novel data augmentation method that combines multiple sparse time series datasets when they share similar statistical properties, thereby improving parameter estimation and model selection reliability. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through validation studies comparing Hawkes and Poisson processes, followed by application to subjective pain dynamics in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), a condition affecting millions worldwide, particularly those of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Anemia, Sickle Cell/physiopathology/complications
Humans
*Pain/physiopathology/etiology
Computational Biology/methods
Reproducibility of Results
Algorithms
Pain Measurement/methods
RevDate: 2026-06-16
Socioeconomic inequalities in causes of death related to behavioural risk-taking in England and Wales: A longitudinal small-area ecological study.
Public health, 257:106382 pii:S0033-3506(26)00251-9 [Epub ahead of print].
OBJECTIVES: We examined socioeconomic trends in behavioural risk-taking deaths (BRDs) before and after the 2008-09 recession at the small area level.
STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal ecological study METHODS: We analysed death registration data for behavioural risk-taking causes (suicide, drug-related, alcohol-related, accidental, and tobacco-related) in England and Wales from 2001 to 2021 at the small areas (population 5,000-8,000) level, aggregated into area deprivation quintiles. Age and sex standardised mortality rates were calculated using annual population estimates. We used a multilevel random-slopes negative binomial segmented regression with interruptions in 2009 and 2011 to estimate the association between mortality rates and the recession.
RESULTS: There were over 6.5 million BRDs between 2001 and 2021 (92.4% tobacco-related). Mortality rates were higher among men, in more deprived areas, and in northern regions. The pre-recession declines in tobacco-related mortality slowed after 2011, especially outside London and in more deprived areas. For non-tobacco-related BRDs, mortality rates increased in the post-recession period, but patterns varied by cause and place, with the greatest increases for accidental and drug-related deaths and in deprived areas outside London. Had pre-recession trends continued, there would have been 247,093 (95% CI: 239,942-254,243) fewer tobacco-related deaths and 12,585 (95% CI: 10,510-14,661) fewer non-tobacco-related BRDs between 2011 and 2021.
CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities in behavioural risk-taking deaths in England and Wales were stable prior to the 2008-09 recession but widened after 2011 for specific causes, especially outside London.
Additional Links: PMID-42302574
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@article {pmid42302574,
year = {2026},
author = {Castro Avila, A and Cookson, R and Kontopantelis, E and Doran, T},
title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in causes of death related to behavioural risk-taking in England and Wales: A longitudinal small-area ecological study.},
journal = {Public health},
volume = {257},
number = {},
pages = {106382},
doi = {10.1016/j.puhe.2026.106382},
pmid = {42302574},
issn = {1476-5616},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: We examined socioeconomic trends in behavioural risk-taking deaths (BRDs) before and after the 2008-09 recession at the small area level.
STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal ecological study METHODS: We analysed death registration data for behavioural risk-taking causes (suicide, drug-related, alcohol-related, accidental, and tobacco-related) in England and Wales from 2001 to 2021 at the small areas (population 5,000-8,000) level, aggregated into area deprivation quintiles. Age and sex standardised mortality rates were calculated using annual population estimates. We used a multilevel random-slopes negative binomial segmented regression with interruptions in 2009 and 2011 to estimate the association between mortality rates and the recession.
RESULTS: There were over 6.5 million BRDs between 2001 and 2021 (92.4% tobacco-related). Mortality rates were higher among men, in more deprived areas, and in northern regions. The pre-recession declines in tobacco-related mortality slowed after 2011, especially outside London and in more deprived areas. For non-tobacco-related BRDs, mortality rates increased in the post-recession period, but patterns varied by cause and place, with the greatest increases for accidental and drug-related deaths and in deprived areas outside London. Had pre-recession trends continued, there would have been 247,093 (95% CI: 239,942-254,243) fewer tobacco-related deaths and 12,585 (95% CI: 10,510-14,661) fewer non-tobacco-related BRDs between 2011 and 2021.
CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities in behavioural risk-taking deaths in England and Wales were stable prior to the 2008-09 recession but widened after 2011 for specific causes, especially outside London.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-06-20
AHL-mediated quorum sensing drives plastisphere formation and elevates pathogenic potential.
The ISME journal, 20(1):.
The biofilm colonizing plastic debris, termed "the plastisphere," is of growing global concern due to escalating plastic pollution. However, the biological mechanisms underpinning plastisphere formation remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed public global metagenomes, revealing a significant enrichment of genes associated with quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation, with a pronounced signal for acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) QS. Using controlled microfluidic and tubular column experiments, we further demonstrate that exogenous AHL actively promotes plastisphere formation, biomass accumulation, and extracellular polymeric substance production on microplastics, whereas a quorum-quenching agent (AHL acylase) effectively inhibits these processes. Multi-omics analyses revealed that AHLs can transcriptionally activate genes involved in adhesion, motility, chemotaxis, and matrix production, fundamentally reshaping community structure, restructuring inferred microbial interaction networks, and driving community assembly toward stronger deterministic selection. AHL stimulation also increased the relative abundance and expression of pathogen-associated and virulence-related functions, suggesting an elevated virulence potential within the plastisphere under QS-promoting conditions. Together, our findings establish AHL-mediated QS as a central driver of plastisphere assembly and a key determinant of risk profile, highlighting its critical role in understanding and potentially mitigating the growing environmental and health hazards associated with microplastic pollution.
Additional Links: PMID-41874421
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@article {pmid41874421,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, J and Lu, L and Sun, Y and Messer, LF and Wu, M and Duan, Z and Shi, J and Yang, Y and Li, C and Mao, Y and Zhu, D and Rillig, MC and Wang, X},
title = {AHL-mediated quorum sensing drives plastisphere formation and elevates pathogenic potential.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41874421},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {2024YFD1700702//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; U24A20634//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42377381//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A2038//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University/ ; //Alexander von Humboldt Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Quorum Sensing/genetics ; *Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Plastics ; Multiomics ; Virulence ; },
abstract = {The biofilm colonizing plastic debris, termed "the plastisphere," is of growing global concern due to escalating plastic pollution. However, the biological mechanisms underpinning plastisphere formation remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed public global metagenomes, revealing a significant enrichment of genes associated with quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation, with a pronounced signal for acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) QS. Using controlled microfluidic and tubular column experiments, we further demonstrate that exogenous AHL actively promotes plastisphere formation, biomass accumulation, and extracellular polymeric substance production on microplastics, whereas a quorum-quenching agent (AHL acylase) effectively inhibits these processes. Multi-omics analyses revealed that AHLs can transcriptionally activate genes involved in adhesion, motility, chemotaxis, and matrix production, fundamentally reshaping community structure, restructuring inferred microbial interaction networks, and driving community assembly toward stronger deterministic selection. AHL stimulation also increased the relative abundance and expression of pathogen-associated and virulence-related functions, suggesting an elevated virulence potential within the plastisphere under QS-promoting conditions. Together, our findings establish AHL-mediated QS as a central driver of plastisphere assembly and a key determinant of risk profile, highlighting its critical role in understanding and potentially mitigating the growing environmental and health hazards associated with microplastic pollution.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Quorum Sensing/genetics
*Acyl-Butyrolactones/metabolism/pharmacology
*Biofilms/growth & development
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
*Plastics
Multiomics
Virulence
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-03-25
Smartphone-Based Digital Phenotyping Across Health Conditions: Scoping Review.
Journal of medical Internet research, 28:e84146.
BACKGROUND: Smartphone-based digital phenotyping uses built-in sensors and usage patterns to passively capture behavioral and environmental data relevant to health and has been applied extensively in mental health and chronic disease contexts.
OBJECTIVE: This review synthesizes studies that use smartphone-based digital phenotyping, defined as approaches that rely exclusively on onboard smartphone sensors to characterize specific health conditions. To our knowledge, this work provides the most comprehensive cross-condition synthesis of smartphone-based digital phenotyping to date, spanning mental health, physical health, and substance use disorders (SUDs), and highlighting common practices, gaps, and opportunities for future research.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of English-language, peer-reviewed papers published between 2012 and 2025 in Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and PubMed using terms such as "mobile sensing" and "digital phenotyping." Eligible papers used onboard smartphone sensors to assess health and went beyond self-report. Studies that did not rely on smartphone auxiliary sensing modalities or digital phenotyping were excluded.
RESULTS: We performed a descriptive synthesis of study characteristics, sensors, and health domains. Of 111 papers identified, 65 met inclusion criteria. Most studies were observational and relied on passive sensing. Sample sizes ranged from fewer than 10 to over 18,000 participants, with a median of 52 (IQR=26-126). Mental health conditions were most frequently examined, including depression (n=16), bipolar disorder (n=11), stress or anxiety (n=10), and schizophrenia (n=8). Less commonly studied conditions included SUDs (n=7), Parkinson disease (n=4), and sleep apnea (n=2). Sensor streams varied widely and included diverse passive smartphone data sources capturing mobility, communication, device usage, environmental context, and user interaction patterns. Ground-truth measurements most commonly relied on validated clinical scales (eg, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS], and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; n=41), followed by ecological momentary assessments (n=18), clinician-confirmed diagnoses (n=9), and physiological measures such as polysomnography (n=3). Across studies, recurring methodological limitations included incomplete or inconsistent sensor descriptions, limited reporting of data quality (eg, sampling rates and missingness), and heterogeneous validation practices. These issues limit comparability and reproducibility and underscore the need for clearer reporting standards and greater data availability.
CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of smartphone-only digital phenotyping studies spanning mental health, physical health, and SUDs. Unlike prior reviews, this work maps behavioral associations derived exclusively from smartphone sensors across a broad range of health domains. The primary contribution of this review lies in its consolidation of behavioral associations observed across studies, enabling researchers to correlate new findings to the existing evidence base and identify opportunities for replication, extension, or clinical translation. Collectively, these findings highlight both the promise of smartphone-based digital phenotyping in real-world settings and the need for improved standardization to support translation into clinical and public health applications.
Additional Links: PMID-41877492
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@article {pmid41877492,
year = {2026},
author = {Dumas, A and Hokayem, J and Goodman, G and Venkatasubramanian, K and Chai, P},
title = {Smartphone-Based Digital Phenotyping Across Health Conditions: Scoping Review.},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {e84146},
pmid = {41877492},
issn = {1438-8871},
mesh = {*Smartphone ; Humans ; Digital Health ; *Phenotype ; Mental Health ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Smartphone-based digital phenotyping uses built-in sensors and usage patterns to passively capture behavioral and environmental data relevant to health and has been applied extensively in mental health and chronic disease contexts.
OBJECTIVE: This review synthesizes studies that use smartphone-based digital phenotyping, defined as approaches that rely exclusively on onboard smartphone sensors to characterize specific health conditions. To our knowledge, this work provides the most comprehensive cross-condition synthesis of smartphone-based digital phenotyping to date, spanning mental health, physical health, and substance use disorders (SUDs), and highlighting common practices, gaps, and opportunities for future research.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of English-language, peer-reviewed papers published between 2012 and 2025 in Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and PubMed using terms such as "mobile sensing" and "digital phenotyping." Eligible papers used onboard smartphone sensors to assess health and went beyond self-report. Studies that did not rely on smartphone auxiliary sensing modalities or digital phenotyping were excluded.
RESULTS: We performed a descriptive synthesis of study characteristics, sensors, and health domains. Of 111 papers identified, 65 met inclusion criteria. Most studies were observational and relied on passive sensing. Sample sizes ranged from fewer than 10 to over 18,000 participants, with a median of 52 (IQR=26-126). Mental health conditions were most frequently examined, including depression (n=16), bipolar disorder (n=11), stress or anxiety (n=10), and schizophrenia (n=8). Less commonly studied conditions included SUDs (n=7), Parkinson disease (n=4), and sleep apnea (n=2). Sensor streams varied widely and included diverse passive smartphone data sources capturing mobility, communication, device usage, environmental context, and user interaction patterns. Ground-truth measurements most commonly relied on validated clinical scales (eg, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS], and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; n=41), followed by ecological momentary assessments (n=18), clinician-confirmed diagnoses (n=9), and physiological measures such as polysomnography (n=3). Across studies, recurring methodological limitations included incomplete or inconsistent sensor descriptions, limited reporting of data quality (eg, sampling rates and missingness), and heterogeneous validation practices. These issues limit comparability and reproducibility and underscore the need for clearer reporting standards and greater data availability.
CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of smartphone-only digital phenotyping studies spanning mental health, physical health, and SUDs. Unlike prior reviews, this work maps behavioral associations derived exclusively from smartphone sensors across a broad range of health domains. The primary contribution of this review lies in its consolidation of behavioral associations observed across studies, enabling researchers to correlate new findings to the existing evidence base and identify opportunities for replication, extension, or clinical translation. Collectively, these findings highlight both the promise of smartphone-based digital phenotyping in real-world settings and the need for improved standardization to support translation into clinical and public health applications.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Smartphone
Humans
Digital Health
*Phenotype
Mental Health
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-06-20
Biomonitoring and GIS-based spatial modelling for soil ecosystem health in rural home garden agroecosystems in Chengamanad, Kerala, India.
Environmental science and pollution research international, 33(13):6068-6083.
This study addresses the microarthropod-based estimation of biological soil quality in rural home gardens using the Qualitative Biological Soil-arthropods (QBS-ar) index. Soil microarthropods, soil properties, soil nutrients, and trace elements were systematically estimated from soil samples collected from 25 home gardens during summer and northeast monsoon seasons over 5 years (2014-2018). The relationships among QBS-ar, microarthropod abundance, soil properties, and soil nutrients were assessed. The microarthropods reported from the study area included Protura, Collembola, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diplopoda, Araneae, Acari, Diptera, and Hemiptera showing statistically significant variations in Summer and monsoon abundance from 2014 to 2018. The QBS-ar index values ranging from 25.28 ± 9.77 to 48 ± 13.12 in summer and from 29.48 ± 18.63 to 56.12 ± 12.55 in monsoon indicated that the home gardens were ranked medium to good in soil quality, with index values ranging from 2 to 4 throughout the study period. Discriminant analysis of soil nutrients with soil properties and microarthropod abundance showed that the 2018 dataset was distinctly separated from the other years. A notable finding was the absence of trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cr) above permissible limits. Hazard estimation through Geographic Information System (GIS), integrating soil properties, nutrients and QBS-ar, indicated that the home gardens functioned as ecosystems with reduced biological soil quality post-flood. This study is among the first to utilize combined QBS-ar scores, soil properties, soil nutrients, and trace elements for long-term soil quality estimation in rural home garden agroecosystems. The study provides a simple, scalable methodological approach for soil ecosystem monitoring and management.
Additional Links: PMID-41904758
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41904758,
year = {2026},
author = {Gopakumar, L and Parambil, JN and Joseph, A},
title = {Biomonitoring and GIS-based spatial modelling for soil ecosystem health in rural home garden agroecosystems in Chengamanad, Kerala, India.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {33},
number = {13},
pages = {6068-6083},
pmid = {41904758},
issn = {1614-7499},
support = {Grant No. F.15-6(DEC 2013)/2014(NET)//University Grants Commission, India/ ; },
mesh = {*Soil/chemistry ; *Ecosystem ; India ; Geographic Information Systems ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Animals ; Gardens ; Agroecology ; *Biological Monitoring ; Seasons ; Arthropods ; },
abstract = {This study addresses the microarthropod-based estimation of biological soil quality in rural home gardens using the Qualitative Biological Soil-arthropods (QBS-ar) index. Soil microarthropods, soil properties, soil nutrients, and trace elements were systematically estimated from soil samples collected from 25 home gardens during summer and northeast monsoon seasons over 5 years (2014-2018). The relationships among QBS-ar, microarthropod abundance, soil properties, and soil nutrients were assessed. The microarthropods reported from the study area included Protura, Collembola, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Diplopoda, Araneae, Acari, Diptera, and Hemiptera showing statistically significant variations in Summer and monsoon abundance from 2014 to 2018. The QBS-ar index values ranging from 25.28 ± 9.77 to 48 ± 13.12 in summer and from 29.48 ± 18.63 to 56.12 ± 12.55 in monsoon indicated that the home gardens were ranked medium to good in soil quality, with index values ranging from 2 to 4 throughout the study period. Discriminant analysis of soil nutrients with soil properties and microarthropod abundance showed that the 2018 dataset was distinctly separated from the other years. A notable finding was the absence of trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cr) above permissible limits. Hazard estimation through Geographic Information System (GIS), integrating soil properties, nutrients and QBS-ar, indicated that the home gardens functioned as ecosystems with reduced biological soil quality post-flood. This study is among the first to utilize combined QBS-ar scores, soil properties, soil nutrients, and trace elements for long-term soil quality estimation in rural home garden agroecosystems. The study provides a simple, scalable methodological approach for soil ecosystem monitoring and management.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Soil/chemistry
*Ecosystem
India
Geographic Information Systems
*Environmental Monitoring
Animals
Gardens
Agroecology
*Biological Monitoring
Seasons
Arthropods
RevDate: 2026-06-21
CmpDate: 2026-06-21
Multi-meta-omics reveal distinct microbial genomic profiles and metabolic dysregulation in non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
mSphere, 11(4):e0085625.
UNLABELLED: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is an emerging diagnosis, and its symptoms overlap with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The gut microbiome is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of NCGS. We analyzed the gut microbiome in patients with NCGS and in patients with IBS, using shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics of fecal samples. Analyses of taxonomic and functional microbial diversity revealed a higher abundance of methanogenic archaea, such as Methanobrevibacter filiformis, Methanobrevibacter boviskoreani, Methanosphaera stadtmanae, and a higher fold change in urea, uridine 5-monophosphate, and adenosine monophosphate in patients with NCGS compared to patients with IBS, who showed higher fold changes in metabolites gamma-aminobutyric acid and lactic acid. Furthermore, pangenome and metabolome analyses revealed disease-specific gene clusters, as well as genomic and metabolic features differentiating NCGS from IBS. While patients with NCGS did not show lower potential for gluten degradation, a lower synthetic potential for fructan beta-fructosidase was found in them. The present study provides an extensive analysis of taxonomic, genomic, and metabolic features that may play a role in the pathogenesis and symptom development in patients with NCGS.
IMPORTANCE: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is an emerging diagnosis with symptoms that overlap with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Using shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics, we report deeper insights into the microbiome profile, including viral and archaeal diversity, lower fructan degradation potential, the differential abundance of metabolites, and genomic features of gut bacteria in patients with NCGS. Understanding the microbiome associated with this disorder may shed light on the possible role of the microbiome in the pathophysiology of NCGS.
Additional Links: PMID-41910342
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@article {pmid41910342,
year = {2026},
author = {Dixit, K and Busi, SB and Ahmed, A and Kshirsagar, A and Jäger, C and Singh, A and Shah, V and Saroj, SD and Ahuja, V and Wilmes, P and Shouche, Y and Makharia, G and Dhotre, D},
title = {Multi-meta-omics reveal distinct microbial genomic profiles and metabolic dysregulation in non-celiac gluten sensitivity.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {e0085625},
pmid = {41910342},
issn = {2379-5042},
mesh = {Humans ; Multiomics ; Metagenomics ; *Glutens/metabolism/adverse effects ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Metabolomics ; Metabolome ; Archaea/classification/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is an emerging diagnosis, and its symptoms overlap with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The gut microbiome is likely to play a role in the pathogenesis of NCGS. We analyzed the gut microbiome in patients with NCGS and in patients with IBS, using shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics of fecal samples. Analyses of taxonomic and functional microbial diversity revealed a higher abundance of methanogenic archaea, such as Methanobrevibacter filiformis, Methanobrevibacter boviskoreani, Methanosphaera stadtmanae, and a higher fold change in urea, uridine 5-monophosphate, and adenosine monophosphate in patients with NCGS compared to patients with IBS, who showed higher fold changes in metabolites gamma-aminobutyric acid and lactic acid. Furthermore, pangenome and metabolome analyses revealed disease-specific gene clusters, as well as genomic and metabolic features differentiating NCGS from IBS. While patients with NCGS did not show lower potential for gluten degradation, a lower synthetic potential for fructan beta-fructosidase was found in them. The present study provides an extensive analysis of taxonomic, genomic, and metabolic features that may play a role in the pathogenesis and symptom development in patients with NCGS.
IMPORTANCE: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is an emerging diagnosis with symptoms that overlap with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Using shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics, we report deeper insights into the microbiome profile, including viral and archaeal diversity, lower fructan degradation potential, the differential abundance of metabolites, and genomic features of gut bacteria in patients with NCGS. Understanding the microbiome associated with this disorder may shed light on the possible role of the microbiome in the pathophysiology of NCGS.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Multiomics
Metagenomics
*Glutens/metabolism/adverse effects
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology/metabolism
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics
Feces/microbiology
Metabolomics
Metabolome
Archaea/classification/genetics
Bacteria/classification/genetics
RevDate: 2026-06-21
CmpDate: 2026-06-21
City-Level Decision Model and Technology Pathways for Benefit-Oriented Synergistic Control of Air Pollutants and Carbon Dioxide.
Environmental science & technology, 60(14):10717-10727.
Climate change and air pollution control are two urgent global challenges that demand effective solutions. Cities are the fundamental units for implementing control policies of air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions. However, research on optimized city-level pathways that maximize integrated benefits and synergies of air pollution and carbon reduction remains limited. Here, we develop a decision-making model for coordinated control of air pollutants and carbon dioxide at the city level. The model systematically evaluates the air quality-related benefits, carbon reduction benefits, and their synergies across various emission reduction measures, and uses these evaluations to construct optimized emission reduction scenario under joint air quality and carbon targets. The model is applied to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu: three megacities with populations above 10 million but distinct differences in city functions, industrial structure, and resource endowments. Results show that under enhanced policy regulation, all three cities can achieve national strategy-compliant air quality improvement and carbon reduction. Structural adjustments in energy, industry, and transportation are central to all cities, but priorities vary. Beijing relies on electric vehicles and imported green power; Shanghai focuses on local green power and transportation electrification; Chengdu emphasizes dust control and promoting clean power. Across all cases, monetized benefits exceed costs, though the benefit-to-cost ratio decreases with tightened environmental targets. This research provides methodological tools for improving environmental quality and promoting low-carbon development at the city level, and offers practical references for formulating region-specific policies tailored to local conditions.
Additional Links: PMID-41911042
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41911042,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, S and Wu, Q and Shi, Z and Ouyang, D and Li, S and Qian, Z and Shen, X and Yang, Y and Wang, L and Su, J and Wang, H and Tian, J and Tan, Q and Zhu, Y and Zhao, B},
title = {City-Level Decision Model and Technology Pathways for Benefit-Oriented Synergistic Control of Air Pollutants and Carbon Dioxide.},
journal = {Environmental science & technology},
volume = {60},
number = {14},
pages = {10717-10727},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c13715},
pmid = {41911042},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Carbon Dioxide ; *Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution ; Cities ; China ; Decision Support Techniques ; Models, Theoretical ; },
abstract = {Climate change and air pollution control are two urgent global challenges that demand effective solutions. Cities are the fundamental units for implementing control policies of air pollutants and carbon dioxide emissions. However, research on optimized city-level pathways that maximize integrated benefits and synergies of air pollution and carbon reduction remains limited. Here, we develop a decision-making model for coordinated control of air pollutants and carbon dioxide at the city level. The model systematically evaluates the air quality-related benefits, carbon reduction benefits, and their synergies across various emission reduction measures, and uses these evaluations to construct optimized emission reduction scenario under joint air quality and carbon targets. The model is applied to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu: three megacities with populations above 10 million but distinct differences in city functions, industrial structure, and resource endowments. Results show that under enhanced policy regulation, all three cities can achieve national strategy-compliant air quality improvement and carbon reduction. Structural adjustments in energy, industry, and transportation are central to all cities, but priorities vary. Beijing relies on electric vehicles and imported green power; Shanghai focuses on local green power and transportation electrification; Chengdu emphasizes dust control and promoting clean power. Across all cases, monetized benefits exceed costs, though the benefit-to-cost ratio decreases with tightened environmental targets. This research provides methodological tools for improving environmental quality and promoting low-carbon development at the city level, and offers practical references for formulating region-specific policies tailored to local conditions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Carbon Dioxide
*Air Pollutants
Air Pollution
Cities
China
Decision Support Techniques
Models, Theoretical
RevDate: 2026-06-21
CmpDate: 2026-06-21
Coral color morphs exhibit distinct microbial and proteomic profiles linked to stress and immune mechanisms in a changing ocean.
Microbiome, 14(1):.
BACKGROUND: Coral phenotypic plasticity facilitates acclimation and adaptation to environmental variability. Coral species often display a variety of color morphs, yet key biological and ecological implications of such phenotypic variation remain underexplored. Here, we present the first proteomic and untargeted lipidomic and metabolomic survey to explore the biological characteristics and potential ecological significance of different color morphs (pink and brown) of healthy Pocillopora verrucosa sampled along a latitudinal gradient.
RESULTS: Our multi-omic approach elucidated distinct mechanisms associated with these dominant color morphs. We discovered bacterial indicators specific to each morph: putative pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia-Shigella, and carotenoid-producing Gemmatimonas were notably associated with the pink morph, whereas the brown morph was associated with potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Lysobacter, Acinetobacter, and Endozoicomonas. Despite these microbiome differences, the lipidome and metabolome of P. verrucosa were surprisingly homogeneous across colors and locations, suggesting similar metabolic performances during summer conditions. Key polar and apolar lipid classes, such as fatty acids, glycerophosphocholines, and retinoids, were prevalent. Notably, our proteomic analysis revealed morph-specific expressions, with pink morphs exhibiting enhanced levels of GFP-like proteins, Ankyrin, and the enzyme pullulanase, suggesting novel putative protective roles. In contrast, the brown morphs showed a higher abundance of heat shock proteins, indicating putative differential stress response capabilities.
CONCLUSION: This comprehensive study provides the first proteomic survey of P. verrucosa and identifies key physiological pathways and trade-offs linked to color morphs, which can further contribute to enhancing our understanding of coral resilience in the face of climate change.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding the phenotypic plasticity of corals is crucial for uncovering mechanisms of resilience in warming oceans, yet the biological significance of coral color morphs still needs to be explored. Using an innovative multi-omic approach (proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics), we provide the first comprehensive analysis of differences between pink and brown morphs of Pocillopora verrucosa. Our data reveal key taxa, potentially pathogenic or beneficial, associated with each morph, and suggest different strategies for each color morph to cope with heat stress, either expressing proteins involved in UV protection and heterotrophic activity or enhanced levels of heat stress resilience and DNA repair. These findings offer insights into the phenotypic plasticity of coral color morphs and their differential responses to climate change. Video Abstract.
Additional Links: PMID-41923171
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41923171,
year = {2026},
author = {Delgadillo-Ordoñez, N and Schwarzenberg, A and Zhang, H and Beenham, L and Bensaddek, D and Raimundo, I and Terraneo, T and Benzoni, F and Peixoto, RS},
title = {Coral color morphs exhibit distinct microbial and proteomic profiles linked to stress and immune mechanisms in a changing ocean.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41923171},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {*Anthozoa/microbiology/immunology/metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; Proteomics/methods ; Multiomics ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Oceans and Seas ; Pigmentation ; Stress, Physiological ; Metabolome ; *Proteome ; Metabolomics ; Lipidomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coral phenotypic plasticity facilitates acclimation and adaptation to environmental variability. Coral species often display a variety of color morphs, yet key biological and ecological implications of such phenotypic variation remain underexplored. Here, we present the first proteomic and untargeted lipidomic and metabolomic survey to explore the biological characteristics and potential ecological significance of different color morphs (pink and brown) of healthy Pocillopora verrucosa sampled along a latitudinal gradient.
RESULTS: Our multi-omic approach elucidated distinct mechanisms associated with these dominant color morphs. We discovered bacterial indicators specific to each morph: putative pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia-Shigella, and carotenoid-producing Gemmatimonas were notably associated with the pink morph, whereas the brown morph was associated with potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Lysobacter, Acinetobacter, and Endozoicomonas. Despite these microbiome differences, the lipidome and metabolome of P. verrucosa were surprisingly homogeneous across colors and locations, suggesting similar metabolic performances during summer conditions. Key polar and apolar lipid classes, such as fatty acids, glycerophosphocholines, and retinoids, were prevalent. Notably, our proteomic analysis revealed morph-specific expressions, with pink morphs exhibiting enhanced levels of GFP-like proteins, Ankyrin, and the enzyme pullulanase, suggesting novel putative protective roles. In contrast, the brown morphs showed a higher abundance of heat shock proteins, indicating putative differential stress response capabilities.
CONCLUSION: This comprehensive study provides the first proteomic survey of P. verrucosa and identifies key physiological pathways and trade-offs linked to color morphs, which can further contribute to enhancing our understanding of coral resilience in the face of climate change.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Understanding the phenotypic plasticity of corals is crucial for uncovering mechanisms of resilience in warming oceans, yet the biological significance of coral color morphs still needs to be explored. Using an innovative multi-omic approach (proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics), we provide the first comprehensive analysis of differences between pink and brown morphs of Pocillopora verrucosa. Our data reveal key taxa, potentially pathogenic or beneficial, associated with each morph, and suggest different strategies for each color morph to cope with heat stress, either expressing proteins involved in UV protection and heterotrophic activity or enhanced levels of heat stress resilience and DNA repair. These findings offer insights into the phenotypic plasticity of coral color morphs and their differential responses to climate change. Video Abstract.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Anthozoa/microbiology/immunology/metabolism/physiology
Animals
Proteomics/methods
Multiomics
*Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics
*Microbiota
Oceans and Seas
Pigmentation
Stress, Physiological
Metabolome
*Proteome
Metabolomics
Lipidomics
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-03-28
Beyond Koch's postulates: the pathobiome paradigm in grapevine esca disease.
FEMS microbiology ecology, 102(4):.
Esca is one of the most damaging fungal diseases of grapevine and continues to defy Koch's postulates. Although Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium minimum, and Fomitiporia mediterranea are consistently associated with wood necrosis in esca-symptomatic vines, they also occur in asymptomatic vines and even in apparently healthy wood tissues without visible necrosis, and single-species but also mixed-species inoculations rarely reproduce the characteristic foliar symptoms. We hypothesize that esca is best understood as a stress-mediated pathobiome disorder of the grapevine holobiont rather than a predictable outcome of specific fungal combinations, shifting focus from pathogen identity to holobiont functional state and environmental context. In this Review, we integrate evidence from community ecology, vascular biology, and multi-omics studies to link microbial community structure and activity with host hydraulics, defence, and environmental drivers. Metabarcoding and metatranscriptomics indicate that symptom expression correlates with functional reprogramming of trunk-inhabiting fungi more than their mere presence, while metabolomics and epigenomics reveal localized physiological disruption combined with systemic regulatory responses. Climatic and edaphic stresses, particularly drought, are strongly associated with holobiont destabilization and dysbiosis, altering symptom expression without necessarily modifying pathogen occurrence. We propose a temporal, multi-phase model integrating colonization history, microbiome restructuring, and host stress physiology through long-term feedbacks. This framework emerges through convergent multi-omics evidence and generates testable predictions for early detection, microbiome-informed biocontrol, and resilience-oriented vineyard management strategies.
Additional Links: PMID-41823308
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41823308,
year = {2026},
author = {Gramaje, D and Eichmeier, A},
title = {Beyond Koch's postulates: the pathobiome paradigm in grapevine esca disease.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {102},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {41823308},
issn = {1574-6941},
support = {//European Regional Development Fund/ ; PID2023-147360OR-C32//Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities/ ; },
mesh = {*Vitis/microbiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Ascomycota/physiology/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Multiomics ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {Esca is one of the most damaging fungal diseases of grapevine and continues to defy Koch's postulates. Although Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Phaeoacremonium minimum, and Fomitiporia mediterranea are consistently associated with wood necrosis in esca-symptomatic vines, they also occur in asymptomatic vines and even in apparently healthy wood tissues without visible necrosis, and single-species but also mixed-species inoculations rarely reproduce the characteristic foliar symptoms. We hypothesize that esca is best understood as a stress-mediated pathobiome disorder of the grapevine holobiont rather than a predictable outcome of specific fungal combinations, shifting focus from pathogen identity to holobiont functional state and environmental context. In this Review, we integrate evidence from community ecology, vascular biology, and multi-omics studies to link microbial community structure and activity with host hydraulics, defence, and environmental drivers. Metabarcoding and metatranscriptomics indicate that symptom expression correlates with functional reprogramming of trunk-inhabiting fungi more than their mere presence, while metabolomics and epigenomics reveal localized physiological disruption combined with systemic regulatory responses. Climatic and edaphic stresses, particularly drought, are strongly associated with holobiont destabilization and dysbiosis, altering symptom expression without necessarily modifying pathogen occurrence. We propose a temporal, multi-phase model integrating colonization history, microbiome restructuring, and host stress physiology through long-term feedbacks. This framework emerges through convergent multi-omics evidence and generates testable predictions for early detection, microbiome-informed biocontrol, and resilience-oriented vineyard management strategies.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Vitis/microbiology
*Plant Diseases/microbiology
*Ascomycota/physiology/genetics
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Multiomics
Stress, Physiological
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-04-28
Pilea: profiling bacterial growth dynamics from metagenomes with sketching.
Microbiome, 14(1):.
BACKGROUND: Quantifying bacteria's growth rates is essential for understanding their ecological roles and for building predictive models in environmental and clinical settings. Peak-to-trough ratios (PTRs) derived from shotgun metagenomes offer a culture-independent proxy for in situ growth rates of bacterial species, yet their reliable computation remains challenging.
RESULTS: We introduce Pilea (https://github.com/xinehc/pilea), an alignment-free, sketching-based method that incorporates statistical models for robust PTR estimation. Pilea achieves speed improvements over existing methods while also enhancing accuracy, as demonstrated on both simulated and real datasets.
CONCLUSIONS: By scaling efficiently to comprehensive reference collections such as the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), Pilea enables large-scale analyses of bacterial growth dynamics across biomes, unlocking new insights for ecological research. Video Abstract.
Additional Links: PMID-41827056
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41827056,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, X and Xu, X and Lin, Y and Shi, X and Wang, D and Zhang, T},
title = {Pilea: profiling bacterial growth dynamics from metagenomes with sketching.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41827056},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {T21-705/20-N//University Grants Committee/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacteria/growth & development/genetics/classification ; *Metagenome ; Software ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Computational Biology/methods ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Quantifying bacteria's growth rates is essential for understanding their ecological roles and for building predictive models in environmental and clinical settings. Peak-to-trough ratios (PTRs) derived from shotgun metagenomes offer a culture-independent proxy for in situ growth rates of bacterial species, yet their reliable computation remains challenging.
RESULTS: We introduce Pilea (https://github.com/xinehc/pilea), an alignment-free, sketching-based method that incorporates statistical models for robust PTR estimation. Pilea achieves speed improvements over existing methods while also enhancing accuracy, as demonstrated on both simulated and real datasets.
CONCLUSIONS: By scaling efficiently to comprehensive reference collections such as the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), Pilea enables large-scale analyses of bacterial growth dynamics across biomes, unlocking new insights for ecological research. Video Abstract.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Bacteria/growth & development/genetics/classification
*Metagenome
Software
*Metagenomics/methods
*Computational Biology/methods
Microbiota
RevDate: 2026-06-20
CmpDate: 2026-06-20
Evaluating the impact of a medical telephone helpline and the use of a structured initial assessment on demand for acute and emergency care in Germany: an ecological study using secondary data.
BMJ open, 16(3):e107343.
OBJECTIVES: To assess whether a medical telephone helpline and the use of a computer-assisted structured triage tool led to a reduction in demand for acute and emergency care in hospital emergency departments (EDs) or other ambulatory out-of-hour (OOH) services.
DESIGN: We conducted an ecological study using secondary data on outpatient care.
SETTING: The study was conducted in 10 out of 16 federal states of Germany.
PARTICIPANTS: The analysis was based on ambulatory claims data for the years 2016-2020 by 11 Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (ASHIPs) covering more than 64% of the total German population.
INTERVENTIONS: The evaluated intervention comprised two components. The first was the introduction of a 24/7 medical helpline (116117), established to assist individuals with medical concerns in accessing appropriate care. The second component was the introduction of the computer-assisted triage tool SmED (Strukturierte medizinische Ersteinschätzung in Deutschland, Structured medical initial assessment in Germany) to support call-takers by suggesting medically relevant questions to identify red flags and determine the urgency of treatment and a possible treatment facility. For the analysis, approximately 3 years before and 1 ½ years during the intervention were considered.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome was the effect on acute and emergency care which was measured as the number of personal doctor-patient contacts (1) in EDs (ED cases, data of 10 ASHIPs could be considered) and (2) in EDs or other OOH services (ED and OOH cases, data of 11 ASHIPs could be considered).
RESULTS: The analysis was limited by legal changes mandating intervention components across all study sites-leading to a loss of control groups and delayed implementation-and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across all ASHIPs and counties, the number of calls to 116117 and the number of SmED assessments showed a negative association with the number of ED cases (total change: 295.0 cases to 224.5 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, 116117 calls: r=-0.04; 95% CI -0.04 to -0.035; p≤0.001, SmED: r=-0.15; 95% CI -0.35 to 0.05; p=0.138) as well as with the combined number of ED and OOH cases (total change: 516.4 cases to 400.3 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, 116117 calls: r=-0.02; 95% CI -0.03 to -0.001; p≤0.01, SmED: r=-0.58; 95% CI -0.98 to -0.19; p≤0.01). However, the association between the number of SmED assessments and ED cases was not statistically significant. Moreover, the magnitude and direction of effects varied across ASHIPs. Sensitivity analyses restricted to time periods preceding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic showed a non-significant negative association for 116117 calls and a significant positive association for SmED assessments with both ED cases and combined ED and OOH cases (ED cases: 116117 calls: r=-0.001; 95% CI -0.019 to -0.018; p=0.928; SmED: r=0.37; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.45; p≤0.001; ED and OOH services cases: 116117 calls: r=-0.03; 95% CI -0.06 to 0.003; p=0.077; SmED: r=0.34; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.48; p≤0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a trend suggesting that implementation of a 24/7 medical helpline may reduce the demand for acute and emergency care at EDs and OOH services, although clear evidence is lacking. The impact of SmED use remains inconclusive. Further research should ideally incorporate data linkage and controls and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the triage process, as well as the quality of subsequent care at the individual level.
Additional Links: PMID-41840746
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41840746,
year = {2026},
author = {Zoch-Lesniak, B and Steiger, E and Kroll, LE and von Stillfried, DG},
title = {Evaluating the impact of a medical telephone helpline and the use of a structured initial assessment on demand for acute and emergency care in Germany: an ecological study using secondary data.},
journal = {BMJ open},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {e107343},
pmid = {41840746},
issn = {2044-6055},
mesh = {Humans ; Germany/epidemiology ; *Triage/methods ; *Hotlines/statistics & numerical data ; *Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data ; Emergency Room Visits ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; *Emergency Medical Services/statistics & numerical data ; SARS-CoV-2 ; After-Hours Care/statistics & numerical data ; Secondary Data Analysis ; Telephone ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To assess whether a medical telephone helpline and the use of a computer-assisted structured triage tool led to a reduction in demand for acute and emergency care in hospital emergency departments (EDs) or other ambulatory out-of-hour (OOH) services.
DESIGN: We conducted an ecological study using secondary data on outpatient care.
SETTING: The study was conducted in 10 out of 16 federal states of Germany.
PARTICIPANTS: The analysis was based on ambulatory claims data for the years 2016-2020 by 11 Associations of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (ASHIPs) covering more than 64% of the total German population.
INTERVENTIONS: The evaluated intervention comprised two components. The first was the introduction of a 24/7 medical helpline (116117), established to assist individuals with medical concerns in accessing appropriate care. The second component was the introduction of the computer-assisted triage tool SmED (Strukturierte medizinische Ersteinschätzung in Deutschland, Structured medical initial assessment in Germany) to support call-takers by suggesting medically relevant questions to identify red flags and determine the urgency of treatment and a possible treatment facility. For the analysis, approximately 3 years before and 1 ½ years during the intervention were considered.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome was the effect on acute and emergency care which was measured as the number of personal doctor-patient contacts (1) in EDs (ED cases, data of 10 ASHIPs could be considered) and (2) in EDs or other OOH services (ED and OOH cases, data of 11 ASHIPs could be considered).
RESULTS: The analysis was limited by legal changes mandating intervention components across all study sites-leading to a loss of control groups and delayed implementation-and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across all ASHIPs and counties, the number of calls to 116117 and the number of SmED assessments showed a negative association with the number of ED cases (total change: 295.0 cases to 224.5 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, 116117 calls: r=-0.04; 95% CI -0.04 to -0.035; p≤0.001, SmED: r=-0.15; 95% CI -0.35 to 0.05; p=0.138) as well as with the combined number of ED and OOH cases (total change: 516.4 cases to 400.3 cases per 100 000 inhabitants, 116117 calls: r=-0.02; 95% CI -0.03 to -0.001; p≤0.01, SmED: r=-0.58; 95% CI -0.98 to -0.19; p≤0.01). However, the association between the number of SmED assessments and ED cases was not statistically significant. Moreover, the magnitude and direction of effects varied across ASHIPs. Sensitivity analyses restricted to time periods preceding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic showed a non-significant negative association for 116117 calls and a significant positive association for SmED assessments with both ED cases and combined ED and OOH cases (ED cases: 116117 calls: r=-0.001; 95% CI -0.019 to -0.018; p=0.928; SmED: r=0.37; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.45; p≤0.001; ED and OOH services cases: 116117 calls: r=-0.03; 95% CI -0.06 to 0.003; p=0.077; SmED: r=0.34; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.48; p≤0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a trend suggesting that implementation of a 24/7 medical helpline may reduce the demand for acute and emergency care at EDs and OOH services, although clear evidence is lacking. The impact of SmED use remains inconclusive. Further research should ideally incorporate data linkage and controls and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the triage process, as well as the quality of subsequent care at the individual level.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Germany/epidemiology
*Triage/methods
*Hotlines/statistics & numerical data
*Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data
Emergency Room Visits
*COVID-19/epidemiology
*Emergency Medical Services/statistics & numerical data
SARS-CoV-2
After-Hours Care/statistics & numerical data
Secondary Data Analysis
Telephone
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-03-10
Metadata in Smartphone-Based Cognitive Assessments: Current State and Emerging Evidence in Psychiatric Disorders.
Harvard review of psychiatry, 34(2):85-94.
Smartphone-based cognitive assessments have emerged as promising tools for frequent and ecologically valid monitoring of cognitive function in real-world settings. These tools enable continuous capture of cognitive and behavioral patterns, including intra-individual variability, practice-related improvement, and contextual influences. Repeated assessments offer a unique opportunity to detect subtle cognitive changes over time. The interpretability and clinical utility of the metadata generated by such assessments, however, remain underexplored. In this review, we consider the current landscape of smartphone-derived cognitive metadata in the context of cognitive and affective disorders. We focus on emerging evidence linking metadata features to functional outcomes and symptom fluctuations across conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Additionally, we discuss methodological considerations for optimizing metadata analysis, including test design, sampling frequency, and analytical strategies. We propose that cognitive metadata may serve as sensitive indicators of early cognitive change and support personalized mental health monitoring and targeted intervention.
Additional Links: PMID-41805265
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41805265,
year = {2026},
author = {Kim, KW and Byun, AJS and Castillo, J and Youn, YC and Torous, J},
title = {Metadata in Smartphone-Based Cognitive Assessments: Current State and Emerging Evidence in Psychiatric Disorders.},
journal = {Harvard review of psychiatry},
volume = {34},
number = {2},
pages = {85-94},
doi = {10.1097/HRP.0000000000000453},
pmid = {41805265},
issn = {1465-7309},
mesh = {Humans ; *Smartphone ; *Mental Disorders/diagnosis ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment ; *Metadata ; Digital Health ; *Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis ; },
abstract = {Smartphone-based cognitive assessments have emerged as promising tools for frequent and ecologically valid monitoring of cognitive function in real-world settings. These tools enable continuous capture of cognitive and behavioral patterns, including intra-individual variability, practice-related improvement, and contextual influences. Repeated assessments offer a unique opportunity to detect subtle cognitive changes over time. The interpretability and clinical utility of the metadata generated by such assessments, however, remain underexplored. In this review, we consider the current landscape of smartphone-derived cognitive metadata in the context of cognitive and affective disorders. We focus on emerging evidence linking metadata features to functional outcomes and symptom fluctuations across conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Additionally, we discuss methodological considerations for optimizing metadata analysis, including test design, sampling frequency, and analytical strategies. We propose that cognitive metadata may serve as sensitive indicators of early cognitive change and support personalized mental health monitoring and targeted intervention.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Smartphone
*Mental Disorders/diagnosis
*Ecological Momentary Assessment
*Metadata
Digital Health
*Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
Understanding User Perspectives to Inform Personalized Physical Activity Promotion in a Health Care App: Qualitative Focus Group Interview Study.
JMIR formative research, 10:e85390.
BACKGROUND: Health care apps are widely used to support weight loss and lifestyle modification. Many of these apps offer tailored feedback on dietary intake and nutritional behavior. However, most lack personalized features that promote physical activity (PA), which is important for weight management, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention. To develop future personalized PA promotion functions, it is essential to understand users' perceptions of PA.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore health care app users' perception of PA, including perceived motivators and barriers.
METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using focus group interviews with health care app users. Participants were recruited regardless of age, sex, or body mass index. A thematic analysis was conducted using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Question 1 ("How do you perceive the importance of physical activity?") was analyzed inductively, whereas questions 2 ("What are the motivating factors for engaging in physical activity?") and 3 ("What are the barriers to engaging in physical activity?") were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model.
RESULTS: Eleven participants were interviewed and were unfamiliar with the term "physical activity" but recognized the importance of movement and reducing sedentary behavior. The identified motivators included improvements in mood; changes in physical appearance; support from family; alignment with personal routines and conditions (eg, goal setting, feedback, reminders, and praise); and tailoring to physical condition, daily schedules, and weather. The reported barriers included time restrictions due to work, fatigue, weather, remote work, and social pressure in workplace settings.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides user-informed insights that can inform the design of personalized approaches better aligned with daily routines, competing demands, and situational barriers. Future work should evaluate how incorporating such user perspectives into personalized support strategies affects engagement and PA.
Additional Links: PMID-41813102
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41813102,
year = {2026},
author = {Shi, Y and Kim, J and Mizushima, R and Mizuno, S and Yanagisawa, T and Nakata, Y},
title = {Understanding User Perspectives to Inform Personalized Physical Activity Promotion in a Health Care App: Qualitative Focus Group Interview Study.},
journal = {JMIR formative research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {e85390},
pmid = {41813102},
issn = {2561-326X},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Focus Groups/methods ; *Exercise/psychology ; Male ; Adult ; Qualitative Research ; Middle Aged ; *Health Promotion/methods/standards ; *Mobile Applications/standards/statistics & numerical data ; Motivation ; *Perception ; Aged ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Health care apps are widely used to support weight loss and lifestyle modification. Many of these apps offer tailored feedback on dietary intake and nutritional behavior. However, most lack personalized features that promote physical activity (PA), which is important for weight management, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention. To develop future personalized PA promotion functions, it is essential to understand users' perceptions of PA.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore health care app users' perception of PA, including perceived motivators and barriers.
METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using focus group interviews with health care app users. Participants were recruited regardless of age, sex, or body mass index. A thematic analysis was conducted using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. Question 1 ("How do you perceive the importance of physical activity?") was analyzed inductively, whereas questions 2 ("What are the motivating factors for engaging in physical activity?") and 3 ("What are the barriers to engaging in physical activity?") were analyzed deductively based on the social ecological model.
RESULTS: Eleven participants were interviewed and were unfamiliar with the term "physical activity" but recognized the importance of movement and reducing sedentary behavior. The identified motivators included improvements in mood; changes in physical appearance; support from family; alignment with personal routines and conditions (eg, goal setting, feedback, reminders, and praise); and tailoring to physical condition, daily schedules, and weather. The reported barriers included time restrictions due to work, fatigue, weather, remote work, and social pressure in workplace settings.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides user-informed insights that can inform the design of personalized approaches better aligned with daily routines, competing demands, and situational barriers. Future work should evaluate how incorporating such user perspectives into personalized support strategies affects engagement and PA.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
Focus Groups/methods
*Exercise/psychology
Male
Adult
Qualitative Research
Middle Aged
*Health Promotion/methods/standards
*Mobile Applications/standards/statistics & numerical data
Motivation
*Perception
Aged
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
Standardized Methods for Evaluating Physical and Eating Behaviors: The WEALTH Cross-Sectional Study Protocol.
JMIR research protocols, 15:e70186.
BACKGROUND: The accurate measurement of physical behaviors (PBs) and eating behaviors (EBs) is critical for designing, monitoring, and implementing public health guidelines and intervention strategies. The objective of the Wearable Sensor Assessment of Physical and Eating Behaviours (WEALTH) project was to develop standardized methods to identify daily PBs and EBs from wearable research- and consumer-grade sensors and evaluate the interaction and contexts of these behaviors.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to describe the study design and methods and report on the descriptive characteristics of the participants.
METHODS: Within the framework of the WEALTH project, a cross-sectional study (spring 2023 to spring 2024) was completed in 5 European research centers in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Ireland. In each center, participants attended a research lab, completed an online questionnaire, and provided measures of anthropometry and handgrip strength. The participants were then fitted with 2 research-grade and 2 consumer-grade devices and participated in a standardized semistructured lab-based activity protocol. The latter was specifically designed to collect labeled data that simulated common PBs and EBs typical for a daily routine. Participants were then followed during a 9-day free-living data collection period, which combined the assessment of PB and EB via wearable devices and time-based, event-based, and self-initiated ecological momentary assessments (EMAs). The EMA surveys were complemented by three 24-hour dietary recalls, using validated web-based programs. Upon the completion of the survey protocol, participants completed a questionnaire that assessed the feasibility of the procedures.
RESULTS: The final sample includes 627 participants, of whom 44% (n=275) were male. The mean age was 32.7 (SD 13.3) years, and the mean body mass index was 24.5 (SD 4.0) kg/m². The WEALTH study data will be used to develop machine learning (ML) models for classifying daily activities from wrist and hip-worn accelerometer data, evaluate EMA methods for studying interactions between PB and EB, and evaluate the feasibility and compliance of the methods. Data processing and ML model development are currently underway, with primary results expected to be published in 2026.
CONCLUSIONS: The output of the WEALTH project will be provided via a repository and a comprised toolbox of publicly available labeled data, ML models for behavior classification from accelerometer data, and a methodology to simultaneously capture EB and PB, thereby producing an integrated data collection system to support future research.
Additional Links: PMID-41813445
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41813445,
year = {2026},
author = {Hayes, G and Buck, C and Cardon, G and Cimler, R and Elavsky, S and Fezeu K, L and Harrington, JM and Kühnová, J and Oppert, JM and Sigcha, L and Van de Ven, P and Vetrovsky, T and Woods, CB and Hebestreit, A and Donnelly, AE},
title = {Standardized Methods for Evaluating Physical and Eating Behaviors: The WEALTH Cross-Sectional Study Protocol.},
journal = {JMIR research protocols},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {e70186},
pmid = {41813445},
issn = {1929-0748},
mesh = {Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Feeding Behavior/physiology ; Female ; Adult ; *Wearable Electronic Devices/standards ; Male ; *Exercise/physiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Germany ; Czech Republic ; Anthropometry/methods ; Ireland ; Digital Health ; Middle Aged ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The accurate measurement of physical behaviors (PBs) and eating behaviors (EBs) is critical for designing, monitoring, and implementing public health guidelines and intervention strategies. The objective of the Wearable Sensor Assessment of Physical and Eating Behaviours (WEALTH) project was to develop standardized methods to identify daily PBs and EBs from wearable research- and consumer-grade sensors and evaluate the interaction and contexts of these behaviors.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to describe the study design and methods and report on the descriptive characteristics of the participants.
METHODS: Within the framework of the WEALTH project, a cross-sectional study (spring 2023 to spring 2024) was completed in 5 European research centers in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Ireland. In each center, participants attended a research lab, completed an online questionnaire, and provided measures of anthropometry and handgrip strength. The participants were then fitted with 2 research-grade and 2 consumer-grade devices and participated in a standardized semistructured lab-based activity protocol. The latter was specifically designed to collect labeled data that simulated common PBs and EBs typical for a daily routine. Participants were then followed during a 9-day free-living data collection period, which combined the assessment of PB and EB via wearable devices and time-based, event-based, and self-initiated ecological momentary assessments (EMAs). The EMA surveys were complemented by three 24-hour dietary recalls, using validated web-based programs. Upon the completion of the survey protocol, participants completed a questionnaire that assessed the feasibility of the procedures.
RESULTS: The final sample includes 627 participants, of whom 44% (n=275) were male. The mean age was 32.7 (SD 13.3) years, and the mean body mass index was 24.5 (SD 4.0) kg/m². The WEALTH study data will be used to develop machine learning (ML) models for classifying daily activities from wrist and hip-worn accelerometer data, evaluate EMA methods for studying interactions between PB and EB, and evaluate the feasibility and compliance of the methods. Data processing and ML model development are currently underway, with primary results expected to be published in 2026.
CONCLUSIONS: The output of the WEALTH project will be provided via a repository and a comprised toolbox of publicly available labeled data, ML models for behavior classification from accelerometer data, and a methodology to simultaneously capture EB and PB, thereby producing an integrated data collection system to support future research.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Feeding Behavior/physiology
Female
Adult
*Wearable Electronic Devices/standards
Male
*Exercise/physiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Germany
Czech Republic
Anthropometry/methods
Ireland
Digital Health
Middle Aged
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
Individual Variability in Physiological Responses and Psychological Conditions Associated With Methamphetamine Use: Pilot Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Using a Wearable Device and Self-Monitoring Mobile App.
JMIR formative research, 10:e73790.
BACKGROUND: Digital mental health approaches offer a novel means to monitor and reduce harms associated with substance use in daily life. However, limited evidence exists on their application for methamphetamine (MAMP) use, particularly regarding individual variability in physiological responses and psychological conditions.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to explore inter- and intraindividual differences in craving, emotion, and heart rate associated with MAMP use, using data collected from a wearable device (Fitbit) and a mobile-based self-monitoring app.
METHODS: Participants were individuals with MAMP use disorder receiving outpatient treatment in Japan. The analysis included 7 participants who used MAMP during an 8-week observation period. Physiological data, including heart rate and sleep patterns, were collected using Fitbit devices, while daily self-reported MAMP use, craving intensity, and emotional status were recorded via a mobile app. After syncing the data, we visualized and summarized individual MAMP use patterns in detail. Correlations between physiological and psychological indicators and the frequency of MAMP use per day were analyzed. In addition, heart rate trends before and after MAMP use events were evaluated using a linear mixed effects model, and both interindividual variability and intraindividual variability were assessed.
RESULTS: Patterns of MAMP use varied widely across participants, with it most commonly occurring in the morning or at night, regardless of the day of the week. Craving and negative emotions were frequently reported on MAMP use days and were positively correlated with the number of MAMP use episodes per day. Participants who used MAMP more frequently exhibited relatively higher resting heart rates. Following MAMP use, heart rate increased significantly and remained elevated for up to 9 hours. Sleep duration and frequency were reduced or absent on MAMP use days. Approximately 64% of the variance in heart rate was attributable to interindividual differences, while 12% reflected variability across events within the same individual.
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and value of using digital tools to examine physiological responses and psychological conditions associated with MAMP use in real-world settings. Persistent cardiovascular activation and disrupted sleep highlight the potential risks of long-term MAMP use. Individual differences in heart rate responses, craving, and emotional states underscore the importance of personalized intervention strategies. Integrating real-time self-monitoring, notifications for elevated heart rate, and online cognitive behavioral therapy into digital therapeutic interventions may improve health outcomes for individuals with MAMP use disorder.
Additional Links: PMID-41813489
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41813489,
year = {2026},
author = {Takano, A and Okuda, K and Sese, J and Ono, K and Matsumoto, T},
title = {Individual Variability in Physiological Responses and Psychological Conditions Associated With Methamphetamine Use: Pilot Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Using a Wearable Device and Self-Monitoring Mobile App.},
journal = {JMIR formative research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {e73790},
pmid = {41813489},
issn = {2561-326X},
mesh = {Humans ; Pilot Projects ; *Methamphetamine/adverse effects ; Female ; Male ; Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Adult ; *Mobile Applications/standards/statistics & numerical data ; *Wearable Electronic Devices/statistics & numerical data/standards ; Heart Rate/physiology ; Middle Aged ; Japan ; Digital Health ; *Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology/physiopathology ; Craving ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Digital mental health approaches offer a novel means to monitor and reduce harms associated with substance use in daily life. However, limited evidence exists on their application for methamphetamine (MAMP) use, particularly regarding individual variability in physiological responses and psychological conditions.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to explore inter- and intraindividual differences in craving, emotion, and heart rate associated with MAMP use, using data collected from a wearable device (Fitbit) and a mobile-based self-monitoring app.
METHODS: Participants were individuals with MAMP use disorder receiving outpatient treatment in Japan. The analysis included 7 participants who used MAMP during an 8-week observation period. Physiological data, including heart rate and sleep patterns, were collected using Fitbit devices, while daily self-reported MAMP use, craving intensity, and emotional status were recorded via a mobile app. After syncing the data, we visualized and summarized individual MAMP use patterns in detail. Correlations between physiological and psychological indicators and the frequency of MAMP use per day were analyzed. In addition, heart rate trends before and after MAMP use events were evaluated using a linear mixed effects model, and both interindividual variability and intraindividual variability were assessed.
RESULTS: Patterns of MAMP use varied widely across participants, with it most commonly occurring in the morning or at night, regardless of the day of the week. Craving and negative emotions were frequently reported on MAMP use days and were positively correlated with the number of MAMP use episodes per day. Participants who used MAMP more frequently exhibited relatively higher resting heart rates. Following MAMP use, heart rate increased significantly and remained elevated for up to 9 hours. Sleep duration and frequency were reduced or absent on MAMP use days. Approximately 64% of the variance in heart rate was attributable to interindividual differences, while 12% reflected variability across events within the same individual.
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility and value of using digital tools to examine physiological responses and psychological conditions associated with MAMP use in real-world settings. Persistent cardiovascular activation and disrupted sleep highlight the potential risks of long-term MAMP use. Individual differences in heart rate responses, craving, and emotional states underscore the importance of personalized intervention strategies. Integrating real-time self-monitoring, notifications for elevated heart rate, and online cognitive behavioral therapy into digital therapeutic interventions may improve health outcomes for individuals with MAMP use disorder.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Pilot Projects
*Methamphetamine/adverse effects
Female
Male
Ecological Momentary Assessment
Adult
*Mobile Applications/standards/statistics & numerical data
*Wearable Electronic Devices/statistics & numerical data/standards
Heart Rate/physiology
Middle Aged
Japan
Digital Health
*Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology/physiopathology
Craving
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-03-17
Longitudinal mental health data collected via the Corona Health smartphone app during COVID-19.
Scientific data, 13(1):.
Mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of real-time assessment methods to capture population-level changes (e.g., longitudinal changes in quality of life). This dataset contains questionnaire responses collected with the Corona Health app, a multilingual mHealth app available on Android and iOS platforms. The dataset includes baseline from 2,704 participants (i.e., adults aged 18 years and older, living in Germany) and 11,541 repeated ecological momentary assessment (EMA) responses, providing longitudinal mental health data throughout various phases during the pandemic period (i.e., data collected between July, 2020 and January, 2025). The questionnaires assessed domains such as quality of life, psychological well-being, coping mechanisms, and pandemic-related concerns. In addition to questionnaire responses, the dataset includes sensor data such as GPS location information and app usage statistics collected with participant consent. The described dataset enables researchers to examine mental health trajectories during and after COVID-19, analyze relationships between psychological factors and pandemic experiences, and investigate patterns in longitudinal mental health data.
Additional Links: PMID-41813698
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41813698,
year = {2026},
author = {Winter, M and Vogel, C and Schobel, J and Schlüter, M and Baumeister, H and Terhorst, Y and Schlee, W and Langguth, B and Heuschmann, P and Cohrdes, C and Pryss, R},
title = {Longitudinal mental health data collected via the Corona Health smartphone app during COVID-19.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41813698},
issn = {2052-4463},
support = {01KX2021//German Federal Ministry of Education and Research/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/psychology ; *Mental Health ; *Mobile Applications ; Adult ; Pandemics ; *Smartphone ; Longitudinal Studies ; Germany ; Quality of Life ; Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Female ; Telemedicine ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {Mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of real-time assessment methods to capture population-level changes (e.g., longitudinal changes in quality of life). This dataset contains questionnaire responses collected with the Corona Health app, a multilingual mHealth app available on Android and iOS platforms. The dataset includes baseline from 2,704 participants (i.e., adults aged 18 years and older, living in Germany) and 11,541 repeated ecological momentary assessment (EMA) responses, providing longitudinal mental health data throughout various phases during the pandemic period (i.e., data collected between July, 2020 and January, 2025). The questionnaires assessed domains such as quality of life, psychological well-being, coping mechanisms, and pandemic-related concerns. In addition to questionnaire responses, the dataset includes sensor data such as GPS location information and app usage statistics collected with participant consent. The described dataset enables researchers to examine mental health trajectories during and after COVID-19, analyze relationships between psychological factors and pandemic experiences, and investigate patterns in longitudinal mental health data.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*COVID-19/psychology
*Mental Health
*Mobile Applications
Adult
Pandemics
*Smartphone
Longitudinal Studies
Germany
Quality of Life
Ecological Momentary Assessment
Surveys and Questionnaires
SARS-CoV-2
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Female
Telemedicine
Young Adult
Middle Aged
Male
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
From triangle to pyramid: Understanding host-pathogen-microniome-environment interplay for sustainable, enviromics-empowered management of plant diseases.
Plant communications, 7(5):101815.
Understanding plant disease development requires moving beyond the classic disease triangle, which considers the host, pathogen, and environment. Recent advances in multi-omics have highlighted the importance of a disease pyramid that integrates the host, pathogen, microbiome, and environment to capture the complex interactions among these core biological/ecological components. This pyramid framework emphasizes how host genetic architecture, pathogen traits, microbiome dynamics, and environmental conditions collectively and interactively shape disease outcomes, plant phenotypes, and adaptive potential. The conceptual expansion from the disease triangle to a pyramid model reflects this shift, providing a more holistic and dynamic view of plant disease ecology. Environmental factors regulate host susceptibility and restructure both pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbial communities, thereby influencing infection severity and disease progression. Multi-omics approaches-encompassing hostomics, pathomics, microbiomics, and enviromics-hold strong promise for dissecting these interactions, enabling predictive disease modeling and the development of sustainable management strategies. Moreover, integrating enviromics data into resistance breeding enables the identification of key environmental variables and their interactions with host genotypes and pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes, thereby supporting the deployment of durable resistance across diverse agroecosystems. Together, these perspectives advance a systems-level understanding of plant health and open new avenues for disease management through omics-driven breeding, microbiome-informed strategies, and environmentally responsive interventions.
Additional Links: PMID-41814663
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41814663,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, T and Hu, W and Song, W and Liao, X and Zheng, H and Zhang, X and Xin, X and Singh, PK and Chen, Y and Xu, Y},
title = {From triangle to pyramid: Understanding host-pathogen-microniome-environment interplay for sustainable, enviromics-empowered management of plant diseases.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {7},
number = {5},
pages = {101815},
pmid = {41814663},
issn = {2590-3462},
mesh = {*Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Multiomics ; *Microbiota ; *Plants/microbiology/genetics ; Environment ; },
abstract = {Understanding plant disease development requires moving beyond the classic disease triangle, which considers the host, pathogen, and environment. Recent advances in multi-omics have highlighted the importance of a disease pyramid that integrates the host, pathogen, microbiome, and environment to capture the complex interactions among these core biological/ecological components. This pyramid framework emphasizes how host genetic architecture, pathogen traits, microbiome dynamics, and environmental conditions collectively and interactively shape disease outcomes, plant phenotypes, and adaptive potential. The conceptual expansion from the disease triangle to a pyramid model reflects this shift, providing a more holistic and dynamic view of plant disease ecology. Environmental factors regulate host susceptibility and restructure both pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbial communities, thereby influencing infection severity and disease progression. Multi-omics approaches-encompassing hostomics, pathomics, microbiomics, and enviromics-hold strong promise for dissecting these interactions, enabling predictive disease modeling and the development of sustainable management strategies. Moreover, integrating enviromics data into resistance breeding enables the identification of key environmental variables and their interactions with host genotypes and pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes, thereby supporting the deployment of durable resistance across diverse agroecosystems. Together, these perspectives advance a systems-level understanding of plant health and open new avenues for disease management through omics-driven breeding, microbiome-informed strategies, and environmentally responsive interventions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
Multiomics
*Microbiota
*Plants/microbiology/genetics
Environment
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
Molecular mechanisms, metabolic remodeling, and energy reallocation underlying calcification in the coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa huxleyi.
Journal of phycology, 62(3):943-958.
Coccolithophores play a dual role in the marine carbon cycle, serving as CO2 sinks through photosynthesis while simultaneously emitting CO2 via calcification, resulting in uncertainty regarding their net carbon sequestration potential. In addition, their calcite coccoliths (CaCO3) can increase the carbon export efficiency by functioning as ballasts for organic matter. Although biogeochemically significant, the molecular mechanisms governing calcification and associated metabolic adaptations in coccolithophores remain poorly characterized, impeding accurate predictions of their responses to climate change. Through comparative multiomics analyses of calcified (RCC1266) and noncalcified (PML B92/11) Gephyrocapsa huxleyi strains, as well as chemically induced decalcified and recalcified states, we screened several ion transport genes, which potentially facilitate Ca[2+] and HCO3 [-] uptake/transport coupled with H[+] extrusion during calcification in the calcified strain, along with their associated proteins, including signal molecules and chaperones. Furthermore, an energy-intensive process was observed in calcifying cells, and this process was principally sustained by enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, supplemented by glucose accumulation as an energy reserve and COX6B translational upregulation, providing nocturnal energy. Notably, calcifying cells employed an energy conservation strategy characterized by transcriptional downregulation yet translational maintenance of photosynthesis and carbon metabolism genes while simultaneously upregulating protein biosynthesis and trafficking pathways to probably meet calcification demands, a process potentially facilitated by increased glutamine biosynthesis. Through multiomic technology, our findings provide insights into the molecular adaptations in the calcified coccolithophorid cells, revealing critical physiological trade-offs, carbon metabolism, and energy allocation that can inform predictions of their acclimation capacity under changing oceanic conditions.
Additional Links: PMID-42059404
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42059404,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, C and Liu, Y and Lin, G and Deng, X and Lin, S and Jiao, N},
title = {Molecular mechanisms, metabolic remodeling, and energy reallocation underlying calcification in the coccolithophore Gephyrocapsa huxleyi.},
journal = {Journal of phycology},
volume = {62},
number = {3},
pages = {943-958},
doi = {10.1111/jpy.70170},
pmid = {42059404},
issn = {1529-8817},
support = {42476128//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42188102//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025029//Scientific Research Foundation of the Third Institute of Oceanography/ ; //Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE) program/ ; },
mesh = {*Haptophyta/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; *Energy Metabolism ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Photosynthesis ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {Coccolithophores play a dual role in the marine carbon cycle, serving as CO2 sinks through photosynthesis while simultaneously emitting CO2 via calcification, resulting in uncertainty regarding their net carbon sequestration potential. In addition, their calcite coccoliths (CaCO3) can increase the carbon export efficiency by functioning as ballasts for organic matter. Although biogeochemically significant, the molecular mechanisms governing calcification and associated metabolic adaptations in coccolithophores remain poorly characterized, impeding accurate predictions of their responses to climate change. Through comparative multiomics analyses of calcified (RCC1266) and noncalcified (PML B92/11) Gephyrocapsa huxleyi strains, as well as chemically induced decalcified and recalcified states, we screened several ion transport genes, which potentially facilitate Ca[2+] and HCO3 [-] uptake/transport coupled with H[+] extrusion during calcification in the calcified strain, along with their associated proteins, including signal molecules and chaperones. Furthermore, an energy-intensive process was observed in calcifying cells, and this process was principally sustained by enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, supplemented by glucose accumulation as an energy reserve and COX6B translational upregulation, providing nocturnal energy. Notably, calcifying cells employed an energy conservation strategy characterized by transcriptional downregulation yet translational maintenance of photosynthesis and carbon metabolism genes while simultaneously upregulating protein biosynthesis and trafficking pathways to probably meet calcification demands, a process potentially facilitated by increased glutamine biosynthesis. Through multiomic technology, our findings provide insights into the molecular adaptations in the calcified coccolithophorid cells, revealing critical physiological trade-offs, carbon metabolism, and energy allocation that can inform predictions of their acclimation capacity under changing oceanic conditions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Haptophyta/metabolism/physiology/genetics
*Energy Metabolism
*Calcification, Physiologic
Photosynthesis
Multiomics
RevDate: 2026-06-19
CmpDate: 2026-06-19
Multi-omics association analysis of the toxicity mechanism differences of typical veterinary antibiotics on tomatoes: From physiological inhibition to metabolic reprogramming.
Journal of hazardous materials, 513:142457.
Widespread application of veterinary antibiotics is contaminating soil via animal feces, leading to uptake by plants and environmental damage. Currently, research on the toxicological mechanisms associated with various classes of antibiotics remains inadequate. Therefore, this study utilized tomato as the test species and selected three representative antibiotics-chlortetracycline (CTC), enrofloxacin (ENR), and tylosin (TYL)-to systematically evaluate their differential toxicity and associated metabolic mechanisms through 14 and 28 days exposure experiments. At the individual level, antibiotics significantly suppressed biomass accumulation and photosynthesis in tomato seedlings, the ENR exhibited maximum inhibition rates of 37.4% for fresh weight and 26.7% for plant height. In contrast, the CTC recorded peak values of 28% for leaf area and 25.1% for SPAD measurements. Furthermore, exposure to antibiotics induced oxidative stress in tomato seedlings, with SOD demonstrating its highest activation rate of 18.3% in the TYL. Within the rhizosphere microenvironment, there was a notable decrease in the abundance of the dominant phylum Bryobacter, which was accompanied by alterations in bacterial community structure, an increase in network complexity, and a reduction in modularity. Under antibiotic stress, microbial communities demonstrated distinct metabolic responses: enhanced lipid metabolism in CTC, elevated carbohydrate metabolism with ENR, and activated nucleotide metabolism associated with TYL. In summary, antibiotics present global ecological risks by inhibiting plant growth and disrupting the rhizosphere microbiome. The class-specific toxicity of these substances necessitates the implementation of targeted risk management strategies.
Additional Links: PMID-42172829
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42172829,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, H and Xie, Y and Wang, H and Sun, H and Li, X and Yao, X and Ding, J and Wang, Q and Lv, H and Turner, BL and Sun, S and Wang, J},
title = {Multi-omics association analysis of the toxicity mechanism differences of typical veterinary antibiotics on tomatoes: From physiological inhibition to metabolic reprogramming.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {513},
number = {},
pages = {142457},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142457},
pmid = {42172829},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; *Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/metabolism/growth & development ; Chlortetracycline/toxicity ; Tylosin/toxicity ; Enrofloxacin/toxicity ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Multiomics ; *Veterinary Drugs/toxicity ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Widespread application of veterinary antibiotics is contaminating soil via animal feces, leading to uptake by plants and environmental damage. Currently, research on the toxicological mechanisms associated with various classes of antibiotics remains inadequate. Therefore, this study utilized tomato as the test species and selected three representative antibiotics-chlortetracycline (CTC), enrofloxacin (ENR), and tylosin (TYL)-to systematically evaluate their differential toxicity and associated metabolic mechanisms through 14 and 28 days exposure experiments. At the individual level, antibiotics significantly suppressed biomass accumulation and photosynthesis in tomato seedlings, the ENR exhibited maximum inhibition rates of 37.4% for fresh weight and 26.7% for plant height. In contrast, the CTC recorded peak values of 28% for leaf area and 25.1% for SPAD measurements. Furthermore, exposure to antibiotics induced oxidative stress in tomato seedlings, with SOD demonstrating its highest activation rate of 18.3% in the TYL. Within the rhizosphere microenvironment, there was a notable decrease in the abundance of the dominant phylum Bryobacter, which was accompanied by alterations in bacterial community structure, an increase in network complexity, and a reduction in modularity. Under antibiotic stress, microbial communities demonstrated distinct metabolic responses: enhanced lipid metabolism in CTC, elevated carbohydrate metabolism with ENR, and activated nucleotide metabolism associated with TYL. In summary, antibiotics present global ecological risks by inhibiting plant growth and disrupting the rhizosphere microbiome. The class-specific toxicity of these substances necessitates the implementation of targeted risk management strategies.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity
*Solanum lycopersicum/drug effects/metabolism/growth & development
Chlortetracycline/toxicity
Tylosin/toxicity
Enrofloxacin/toxicity
Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Photosynthesis/drug effects
Multiomics
*Veterinary Drugs/toxicity
*Soil Pollutants/toxicity
Seedlings/drug effects/growth & development/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-15
Anthropogenic accessibility and observer inequality dictate spatial biodiversity patterns in Malaysia.
Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-58296-2 [Epub ahead of print].
Global biodiversity monitoring increasingly relies on open-access community science data, but these opportunistic records harbor complex biases that can severely distort macroecological inference. Here, we disentangle how human behavior, infrastructure, and taxonomy interact to shape perceived biodiversity patterns across the two distinct biogeographic regions of Malaysia. Analyzing 336,042 research-grade iNaturalist records, we quantified observer inequality and taxonomic disproportionality. We estimated true species richness (Chao2) to map spatial inventory completeness (median = 33.3%) and employed Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial GLMMs and effort-corrected Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to test the effects of topography, accessibility, and observer classification. We demonstrate extreme observer inequality (Gini = 0.854), with data collection heavily anchored to urban centers. Crucially, a significant three-way interaction revealed that dedicated "Power Users" successfully penetrate roadless interiors in Peninsular Malaysia, whereas casual observers remain strictly road-bound. Taxonomically, the data exhibits a severe charismatic skew, massively over-representing Aves and Reptilia while under-sampling foundational hyper-diverse clades like Insecta and Fungi. Furthermore, explicitly modeling non-linear sampling effort (user-days) rendered the effects of elevation and terrain ruggedness statistically non-significant. This demonstrates that perceived biodiversity deficits in rugged, high-elevation terrains are anthropogenic artifacts of human inaccessibility rather than true ecological absences. To meet global conservation targets, state funding and structured monitoring should complement opportunistic data by actively targeting these remote, under-sampled geographic and taxonomic shortfalls.
Additional Links: PMID-42298119
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42298119,
year = {2026},
author = {Sorboni, SG and Pourebrahim, S and Chen, JE and Hadipour, M},
title = {Anthropogenic accessibility and observer inequality dictate spatial biodiversity patterns in Malaysia.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-58296-2},
pmid = {42298119},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {SUR-JSC-SSERV-2024-13//Sunway University/ ; },
abstract = {Global biodiversity monitoring increasingly relies on open-access community science data, but these opportunistic records harbor complex biases that can severely distort macroecological inference. Here, we disentangle how human behavior, infrastructure, and taxonomy interact to shape perceived biodiversity patterns across the two distinct biogeographic regions of Malaysia. Analyzing 336,042 research-grade iNaturalist records, we quantified observer inequality and taxonomic disproportionality. We estimated true species richness (Chao2) to map spatial inventory completeness (median = 33.3%) and employed Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial GLMMs and effort-corrected Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to test the effects of topography, accessibility, and observer classification. We demonstrate extreme observer inequality (Gini = 0.854), with data collection heavily anchored to urban centers. Crucially, a significant three-way interaction revealed that dedicated "Power Users" successfully penetrate roadless interiors in Peninsular Malaysia, whereas casual observers remain strictly road-bound. Taxonomically, the data exhibits a severe charismatic skew, massively over-representing Aves and Reptilia while under-sampling foundational hyper-diverse clades like Insecta and Fungi. Furthermore, explicitly modeling non-linear sampling effort (user-days) rendered the effects of elevation and terrain ruggedness statistically non-significant. This demonstrates that perceived biodiversity deficits in rugged, high-elevation terrains are anthropogenic artifacts of human inaccessibility rather than true ecological absences. To meet global conservation targets, state funding and structured monitoring should complement opportunistic data by actively targeting these remote, under-sampled geographic and taxonomic shortfalls.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18
A harmonized ecotoxicity dataset for honeybee based on the ECOTOX database.
Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 45(6):1470-1482.
Among the most crucial pollinators, managed honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies frequently experience colony losses, which impose significant economic burdens on beekeeping and threaten the reliability of pollination services. Pesticide exposure is recognized as one stressor among others contributing to these losses. However, the curated harmonized dataset to characterize the impacts of multiple pesticides on different stages of honeybees is missing. To address this data gap, we generated an extensive and consistent honeybee ecotoxicity dataset of top (dermal)-acute 10% effective dose (ED10) and oral-chronic ED10 from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Ecotoxicology Knowledgebase (ECOTOX databases) for life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and other comparative assessments. Primary harmonization and standardization were conducted to resolve inherent inconsistencies in life stages, exposure types, effect types, units, endpoints, and test types. Subsequently, weighted linear regressions were applied to extrapolate various endpoints to a harmonized ED10-equivalent (ED10eq), with R2 ranging from 0.38-0.99. The resulting integrated datasets comprise 540 chemicals across oral-chronic, oral-acute, and acute-topical exposure scenarios, consistently spanning approximately eight orders of magnitude for the adult groups and six orders of magnitude for the larval groups. Additionally, the relationship between adult and larva ecotoxicity data was analyzed, along with an uncertainty assessment for the oral-chronic and top-acute datasets, further enhancing the reliability and applicability of the harmonized data. These harmonized ecotoxicity datasets significantly enhance the LCIA framework by replacing the median effective dose (ED50) acute data with oral-chronic top-acute ED10 data, thus facilitating a more environmentally realistic assessment of pesticide impacts on honeybees.
Additional Links: PMID-41789991
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41789991,
year = {2026},
author = {Shi, J and Fantke, P and Jolliet, O},
title = {A harmonized ecotoxicity dataset for honeybee based on the ECOTOX database.},
journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry},
volume = {45},
number = {6},
pages = {1470-1482},
doi = {10.1093/etojnl/vgag054},
pmid = {41789991},
issn = {1552-8618},
support = {//Bayer AG Crop Science Division/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Bees/drug effects ; *Pesticides/toxicity ; Ecotoxicology ; Databases, Factual ; *Environmental Pollutants/toxicity ; },
abstract = {Among the most crucial pollinators, managed honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies frequently experience colony losses, which impose significant economic burdens on beekeeping and threaten the reliability of pollination services. Pesticide exposure is recognized as one stressor among others contributing to these losses. However, the curated harmonized dataset to characterize the impacts of multiple pesticides on different stages of honeybees is missing. To address this data gap, we generated an extensive and consistent honeybee ecotoxicity dataset of top (dermal)-acute 10% effective dose (ED10) and oral-chronic ED10 from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Ecotoxicology Knowledgebase (ECOTOX databases) for life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) and other comparative assessments. Primary harmonization and standardization were conducted to resolve inherent inconsistencies in life stages, exposure types, effect types, units, endpoints, and test types. Subsequently, weighted linear regressions were applied to extrapolate various endpoints to a harmonized ED10-equivalent (ED10eq), with R2 ranging from 0.38-0.99. The resulting integrated datasets comprise 540 chemicals across oral-chronic, oral-acute, and acute-topical exposure scenarios, consistently spanning approximately eight orders of magnitude for the adult groups and six orders of magnitude for the larval groups. Additionally, the relationship between adult and larva ecotoxicity data was analyzed, along with an uncertainty assessment for the oral-chronic and top-acute datasets, further enhancing the reliability and applicability of the harmonized data. These harmonized ecotoxicity datasets significantly enhance the LCIA framework by replacing the median effective dose (ED50) acute data with oral-chronic top-acute ED10 data, thus facilitating a more environmentally realistic assessment of pesticide impacts on honeybees.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
Bees/drug effects
*Pesticides/toxicity
Ecotoxicology
Databases, Factual
*Environmental Pollutants/toxicity
RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18
Deciphering Cold Stress Resilience: Multiomics Insights in Contrasting Wheat Genotypes From the Western Himalayas.
Plant biotechnology journal, 24(7):4577-4598.
Cold stress threatens wheat productivity, particularly in regions with extreme climatic conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying wheat's response to cold stress, we performed a multiomics analysis integrating lipidomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Our study focused on two wheat genotypes with contrasting cold tolerance levels, SKAU_52 (tolerant) and SKAU_4301 (susceptible) to capture genotype-specific responses under cold stress. Lipidomic analysis revealed significant changes in lipid composition, with unsaturated lipids such as digalactosyldiacyl glycerols (DGDGs) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) upregulated in response to cold stress. These lipids are associated with maintaining membrane fluidity, whereas saturated lipids were downregulated in the cold-tolerant genotype. Transcriptomics analysis provides a strong evidence that cold tolerance in wheat is governed by coordinated activation of the ICE-CBF-COR regulatory cascade, with the cold-tolerant genotype 'SKAU_52' showing stronger and more sustained induction across pathway tiers than the cold susceptible wheat genotype 'SKAU_4301'. Similarly, proteomic data highlighted differential abundance of proteins involved in antioxidative defence, osmotic adjustment and signal transduction, including late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Metabolome assessment revealed substantial alterations in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, with sucrose and amino acids such as hydroxyproline identified as key contributors to cold tolerance. Additionally, defence hormones such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) exhibited genotype-specific regulation with higher accumulation in cold-tolerant genotype. Overall, this integrated multi-omics approach provides novel insights into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying cold stress adaptation in wheat, supporting the development of resilient wheat varieties capable of thriving in challenging cold environments.
Additional Links: PMID-41896705
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41896705,
year = {2026},
author = {Jan, S and Jan, F and Rathore, M and Singh, Y and Kapoor, P and Chaturvedi, P and Ghatak, A and Ramesh, P and Kumar, U and Prasad, M and Kumar, S and Rustgi, S and Weckwerth, W and Kalia, S and Varshney, RK and Mir, RR},
title = {Deciphering Cold Stress Resilience: Multiomics Insights in Contrasting Wheat Genotypes From the Western Himalayas.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology journal},
volume = {24},
number = {7},
pages = {4577-4598},
doi = {10.1111/pbi.70594},
pmid = {41896705},
issn = {1467-7652},
support = {BT/Ag/Network/Wheat/2019-20//Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Multiomics ; Genotype ; *Cold-Shock Response/genetics/physiology ; Proteomics ; Metabolomics ; Cold Temperature ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Lipidomics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Cold stress threatens wheat productivity, particularly in regions with extreme climatic conditions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying wheat's response to cold stress, we performed a multiomics analysis integrating lipidomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. Our study focused on two wheat genotypes with contrasting cold tolerance levels, SKAU_52 (tolerant) and SKAU_4301 (susceptible) to capture genotype-specific responses under cold stress. Lipidomic analysis revealed significant changes in lipid composition, with unsaturated lipids such as digalactosyldiacyl glycerols (DGDGs) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) upregulated in response to cold stress. These lipids are associated with maintaining membrane fluidity, whereas saturated lipids were downregulated in the cold-tolerant genotype. Transcriptomics analysis provides a strong evidence that cold tolerance in wheat is governed by coordinated activation of the ICE-CBF-COR regulatory cascade, with the cold-tolerant genotype 'SKAU_52' showing stronger and more sustained induction across pathway tiers than the cold susceptible wheat genotype 'SKAU_4301'. Similarly, proteomic data highlighted differential abundance of proteins involved in antioxidative defence, osmotic adjustment and signal transduction, including late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins. Metabolome assessment revealed substantial alterations in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, with sucrose and amino acids such as hydroxyproline identified as key contributors to cold tolerance. Additionally, defence hormones such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA) exhibited genotype-specific regulation with higher accumulation in cold-tolerant genotype. Overall, this integrated multi-omics approach provides novel insights into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying cold stress adaptation in wheat, supporting the development of resilient wheat varieties capable of thriving in challenging cold environments.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Triticum/genetics/metabolism/physiology
Multiomics
Genotype
*Cold-Shock Response/genetics/physiology
Proteomics
Metabolomics
Cold Temperature
Transcriptome
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Lipidomics
Gene Expression Profiling
Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Metabolome
RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18
Integrating host-microbiome multi-omics with machine learning: methods, benchmarks, and translational applications.
Science China. Life sciences, 69(7):2230-2248.
The human microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem that profoundly influences host physiology through complex molecular interactions. Advances in high-throughput profiling now enable multi-omics measurements at scale, yet integration remains difficult due to biological complexity, technical variability, sparsity, and small cohorts. This review targets bioinformatics practitioners and clinical microbiology researchers applying machine learning to host-microbiome studies. Here, we survey state-of-the-art methods for integrating heterogeneous data types and highlight algorithmic innovations for high dimensionality and small cohorts. We also examine approaches for interpretability that translate mechanistic insight into clinically actionable models. Finally, we outline a standardized benchmarking framework emphasizing open data, rigorous evaluation, and biologically informed architectures. By synthesizing multi-omics measurements with advanced analytics, we chart a pathway toward personalized, microbiome-based therapies while deepening our understanding of host-microbiome crosstalk.
Additional Links: PMID-41949699
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41949699,
year = {2026},
author = {Shen, H and Zhang, L and Ma, X and Yin, Y and Wang, J and Tan, B},
title = {Integrating host-microbiome multi-omics with machine learning: methods, benchmarks, and translational applications.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {69},
number = {7},
pages = {2230-2248},
pmid = {41949699},
issn = {1869-1889},
mesh = {Multiomics/methods ; *Machine Learning ; Humans ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Computational Biology/methods ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; Benchmarking ; Algorithms ; Data Analytics ; Translational Research, Biomedical ; },
abstract = {The human microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem that profoundly influences host physiology through complex molecular interactions. Advances in high-throughput profiling now enable multi-omics measurements at scale, yet integration remains difficult due to biological complexity, technical variability, sparsity, and small cohorts. This review targets bioinformatics practitioners and clinical microbiology researchers applying machine learning to host-microbiome studies. Here, we survey state-of-the-art methods for integrating heterogeneous data types and highlight algorithmic innovations for high dimensionality and small cohorts. We also examine approaches for interpretability that translate mechanistic insight into clinically actionable models. Finally, we outline a standardized benchmarking framework emphasizing open data, rigorous evaluation, and biologically informed architectures. By synthesizing multi-omics measurements with advanced analytics, we chart a pathway toward personalized, microbiome-based therapies while deepening our understanding of host-microbiome crosstalk.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Multiomics/methods
*Machine Learning
Humans
*Microbiota/genetics
Computational Biology/methods
*Host Microbial Interactions
Benchmarking
Algorithms
Data Analytics
Translational Research, Biomedical
RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18
Filling in the blanks: In silico prediction of novel type III secreted effectors in the Pseudomonas syringae species complex.
Computational biology and chemistry, 124(Pt 1):109083.
Predicting novel type III secreted effectors (T3SEs) in bacteria remains challenging because of their extensive sequence diversity and our heavy reliance on features derived from previously annotated genes. The available tools for predicting T3SS effectors produce a high number of false positives, which complicates their reliable identification. To address this gap, we developed a new bioinformatics workflow and meta-analysis designed to improve confidence in novel T3SE prediction by integrating multiple complementary approaches, including Effectidor2, Bastion3, EffectiveT3, curated effector databases, all-vs-all BLAST comparisons, comparative genomics, and localization-based features. We applied this approach to 57 complete P. syringae genomes, a diverse species complex whose pathogenicity is closely tied to its type III secreted effector (T3SE) content, allowing us to reduce an initial collection of 283 candidate T3SEs to 15 high-confidence predictions. By applying our newly customized EffRank scoring pipeline, three candidates emerged as high-confidence novel T3SEs in P. syringae strains: PsaNZ45_RS26420 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae ICMP20586), ACOZ4J_RS28825 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae FX219), and RRP28_RS13015 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae Yunnan2.4). Furthermore, our scoring pipeline successfully detected and removed likely false positive T3SEs, such as YenB-like toxins, among the high-confidence candidates that persisted through earlier curation steps, highlighting the challenges and biases of current publicly available prediction tools. Finally, we also characterized the final T3SE repertoires of each strain, which were consistent with phylogroup clustering based on the core-genome. As expected, PG1 strains carried larger and more conserved T3SE repertoires and contributed the majority of the promising novel T3SE candidates, while the likely false-positive YenB-like toxin was detected in PG2.
Additional Links: PMID-42030616
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42030616,
year = {2026},
author = {Rosić, I and Sokić, M and Ranković, T and Medić, O and Berić, T and Stanković, S and Dillon, MM and Nikolić, I},
title = {Filling in the blanks: In silico prediction of novel type III secreted effectors in the Pseudomonas syringae species complex.},
journal = {Computational biology and chemistry},
volume = {124},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {109083},
doi = {10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2026.109083},
pmid = {42030616},
issn = {1476-928X},
mesh = {*Pseudomonas syringae/genetics/metabolism ; *Computational Biology ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Computer Simulation ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Predicting novel type III secreted effectors (T3SEs) in bacteria remains challenging because of their extensive sequence diversity and our heavy reliance on features derived from previously annotated genes. The available tools for predicting T3SS effectors produce a high number of false positives, which complicates their reliable identification. To address this gap, we developed a new bioinformatics workflow and meta-analysis designed to improve confidence in novel T3SE prediction by integrating multiple complementary approaches, including Effectidor2, Bastion3, EffectiveT3, curated effector databases, all-vs-all BLAST comparisons, comparative genomics, and localization-based features. We applied this approach to 57 complete P. syringae genomes, a diverse species complex whose pathogenicity is closely tied to its type III secreted effector (T3SE) content, allowing us to reduce an initial collection of 283 candidate T3SEs to 15 high-confidence predictions. By applying our newly customized EffRank scoring pipeline, three candidates emerged as high-confidence novel T3SEs in P. syringae strains: PsaNZ45_RS26420 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae ICMP20586), ACOZ4J_RS28825 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae FX219), and RRP28_RS13015 (P. syringae pv. actinidiae Yunnan2.4). Furthermore, our scoring pipeline successfully detected and removed likely false positive T3SEs, such as YenB-like toxins, among the high-confidence candidates that persisted through earlier curation steps, highlighting the challenges and biases of current publicly available prediction tools. Finally, we also characterized the final T3SE repertoires of each strain, which were consistent with phylogroup clustering based on the core-genome. As expected, PG1 strains carried larger and more conserved T3SE repertoires and contributed the majority of the promising novel T3SE candidates, while the likely false-positive YenB-like toxin was detected in PG2.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Pseudomonas syringae/genetics/metabolism
*Computational Biology
Genome, Bacterial
*Computer Simulation
*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-15
CmpDate: 2026-06-15
Microbiome and One Health in GCC countries: current status, research gaps, and future directions.
Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1821688.
BACKGROUND: Microbiome science has emerged as a central component of the One Health framework, linking human, animal, and environmental health. Although global microbiome research has expanded rapidly, a comprehensive evaluation of microbiome research development and integration across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remains lacking. This systematic review aimed to characterize microbiome research in the GCC countries, identify major research gaps, and evaluate alignment with One Health principles while proposing a strategic framework to support coordinated regional development.
METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A structured search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and EBSCO databases identified microbiome-related studies published up to January 31, 2025. Eligible studies included original research conducted in the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain) investigating human, animal, or environmental microbiomes. Findings were synthesized descriptively to assess study distribution, research design, analytical methodologies, and thematic focus.
RESULTS: A total of 110 studies met the inclusion criteria. Human microbiome studies accounted for 49% of publications, followed by environmental microbiome studies (40%) and animal microbiome studies (11%). Research output increased substantially after 2020 but remained uneven among the GCC countries, with Saudi Arabia contributing 44% of publications, whereas Bahrain and Oman together accounted for fewer than 7%. Most studies were observational and primarily used 16S rRNA gene sequencing on Illumina platforms. Human studies focused mainly on gut and oral microbiomes and frequently investigated metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Animal microbiome research was limited and largely centered on camels, with minimal investigation of livestock relevant to food security. Environmental studies predominantly examined soil and desert environments. No included study simultaneously investigated human, animal, and environmental microbiomes within an integrated One Health study design.
CONCLUSION: Microbiome research in the GCC countries is growing but remains uneven and largely disconnected across human, animal, and environmental studies, with limited adoption of One Health approaches. A coordinated regional strategy integrating governance, infrastructure, funding, and workforce development is needed to advance translational microbiome research and strengthen the GCC's contribution to global health, food security, and environmental sustainability.
Additional Links: PMID-42293552
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42293552,
year = {2026},
author = {Aldriwesh, MG and Bin Shuraym, H and Asiri, NY and Asiri, WY and Abukhalid, NF and Alasiri, A and Alghoribi, MF},
title = {Microbiome and One Health in GCC countries: current status, research gaps, and future directions.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1821688},
pmid = {42293552},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Microbiome science has emerged as a central component of the One Health framework, linking human, animal, and environmental health. Although global microbiome research has expanded rapidly, a comprehensive evaluation of microbiome research development and integration across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remains lacking. This systematic review aimed to characterize microbiome research in the GCC countries, identify major research gaps, and evaluate alignment with One Health principles while proposing a strategic framework to support coordinated regional development.
METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A structured search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and EBSCO databases identified microbiome-related studies published up to January 31, 2025. Eligible studies included original research conducted in the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain) investigating human, animal, or environmental microbiomes. Findings were synthesized descriptively to assess study distribution, research design, analytical methodologies, and thematic focus.
RESULTS: A total of 110 studies met the inclusion criteria. Human microbiome studies accounted for 49% of publications, followed by environmental microbiome studies (40%) and animal microbiome studies (11%). Research output increased substantially after 2020 but remained uneven among the GCC countries, with Saudi Arabia contributing 44% of publications, whereas Bahrain and Oman together accounted for fewer than 7%. Most studies were observational and primarily used 16S rRNA gene sequencing on Illumina platforms. Human studies focused mainly on gut and oral microbiomes and frequently investigated metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Animal microbiome research was limited and largely centered on camels, with minimal investigation of livestock relevant to food security. Environmental studies predominantly examined soil and desert environments. No included study simultaneously investigated human, animal, and environmental microbiomes within an integrated One Health study design.
CONCLUSION: Microbiome research in the GCC countries is growing but remains uneven and largely disconnected across human, animal, and environmental studies, with limited adoption of One Health approaches. A coordinated regional strategy integrating governance, infrastructure, funding, and workforce development is needed to advance translational microbiome research and strengthen the GCC's contribution to global health, food security, and environmental sustainability.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-15
Biosynthetic gene clusters in Pseudomonas viridiflava have a fitness cost during Arabidopsis thaliana infection.
mSystems [Epub ahead of print].
UNLABELLED: Specialized or secondary metabolites mediate biotic interactions, including virulence and defense. In plant-pathogenic Pseudomonas, certain specialized metabolites can enhance colonization of plant hosts, yet their broader contribution to plant-microbe interactions and the relative importance of different metabolites remain unclear. Specialized metabolites are products of enzymes encoded in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), whose prediction from genome sequences has become routine but whose functional roles are rarely tested experimentally. Here, we characterize the BGC repertoire of 225 P. viridiflava isolates from Arabidopsis thaliana and assess BGC contributions to fitness and disease severity in planta. The BGC landscape of P. viridiflava was dominated by non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and NRPS-like BGCs, which accounted for 50% of the predicted BGCs. One-third of the BGC families were restricted to a single isolate. Transposon mutagenesis coupled with random barcode transposon sequencing (RB-TnSeq) revealed that the majority of BGCs reduce rather than increase fitness during A. thaliana infection, with the magnitude of the fitness cost varying across host genotypes. This cost could be due to exploitation of public goods by cheater mutant strains. In single-isolate plant infections, where public goods are not available, we found 11/34 BGC families correlated with disease severity. Yet, only two of these (an N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide [NAGGN] and an NRPS) were negatively associated with disease severity, which is positively correlated with bacterial growth in this pathosystem, further indicating that BGCs are generally not beneficial in planta. Our findings reveal extensive and largely uncharacterized biosynthetic potential in populations of P. viridiflava and indicate that candidate metabolites are likely not adaptive for direct interactions with the plant, but perhaps for microbe-microbe interactions either in planta or in other ecological niches.
IMPORTANCE: Bacteria, including plant-associated bacteria such as Pseudomonas viridiflava, produce a vast array of chemical compounds, called secondary or specialized metabolites, that can mediate their interaction with the plant host or other microorganisms. Some of these compounds are known to directly influence how bacteria interact with plants, but it has been unclear whether this is a general rule. We studied a large collection of closely related leaf-dwelling P. viridiflava-a plant pathogen-that varied in their ability to cause disease. We found that very few of the gene clusters responsible for making specialized metabolites improved the ability of the bacteria to colonize its natural host Arabidopsis thaliana. On the contrary, carrying these gene clusters often reduced bacterial growth and disease severity in plants. Specialized metabolites may instead primarily be important for interacting with other microbes, different host species, or under environmental conditions we did not test. These are questions that remain for future research.
Additional Links: PMID-42294911
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42294911,
year = {2026},
author = {Duque-Jaramillo, A and Symeonidi, E and Neumann, M and Ashkenazy, H and Allen, M and Weigel, D and Karasov, TL},
title = {Biosynthetic gene clusters in Pseudomonas viridiflava have a fitness cost during Arabidopsis thaliana infection.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0021226},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00212-26},
pmid = {42294911},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Specialized or secondary metabolites mediate biotic interactions, including virulence and defense. In plant-pathogenic Pseudomonas, certain specialized metabolites can enhance colonization of plant hosts, yet their broader contribution to plant-microbe interactions and the relative importance of different metabolites remain unclear. Specialized metabolites are products of enzymes encoded in biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), whose prediction from genome sequences has become routine but whose functional roles are rarely tested experimentally. Here, we characterize the BGC repertoire of 225 P. viridiflava isolates from Arabidopsis thaliana and assess BGC contributions to fitness and disease severity in planta. The BGC landscape of P. viridiflava was dominated by non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and NRPS-like BGCs, which accounted for 50% of the predicted BGCs. One-third of the BGC families were restricted to a single isolate. Transposon mutagenesis coupled with random barcode transposon sequencing (RB-TnSeq) revealed that the majority of BGCs reduce rather than increase fitness during A. thaliana infection, with the magnitude of the fitness cost varying across host genotypes. This cost could be due to exploitation of public goods by cheater mutant strains. In single-isolate plant infections, where public goods are not available, we found 11/34 BGC families correlated with disease severity. Yet, only two of these (an N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide [NAGGN] and an NRPS) were negatively associated with disease severity, which is positively correlated with bacterial growth in this pathosystem, further indicating that BGCs are generally not beneficial in planta. Our findings reveal extensive and largely uncharacterized biosynthetic potential in populations of P. viridiflava and indicate that candidate metabolites are likely not adaptive for direct interactions with the plant, but perhaps for microbe-microbe interactions either in planta or in other ecological niches.
IMPORTANCE: Bacteria, including plant-associated bacteria such as Pseudomonas viridiflava, produce a vast array of chemical compounds, called secondary or specialized metabolites, that can mediate their interaction with the plant host or other microorganisms. Some of these compounds are known to directly influence how bacteria interact with plants, but it has been unclear whether this is a general rule. We studied a large collection of closely related leaf-dwelling P. viridiflava-a plant pathogen-that varied in their ability to cause disease. We found that very few of the gene clusters responsible for making specialized metabolites improved the ability of the bacteria to colonize its natural host Arabidopsis thaliana. On the contrary, carrying these gene clusters often reduced bacterial growth and disease severity in plants. Specialized metabolites may instead primarily be important for interacting with other microbes, different host species, or under environmental conditions we did not test. These are questions that remain for future research.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-18
CmpDate: 2026-06-18
Environmental "knees" and "wiggles" as strong stabilizers of species' range limits set by interspecific competition.
PLoS computational biology, 22(6):e1014336 pii:PCOMPBIOL-D-25-00883.
Whether interspecific competition is a major contributing factor to setting species' range limits has been debated for a long time. Theoretical studies have proposed that the interactions between interspecific competition and disruptive gene flow along an environmental gradient can halt range expansion of ecologically similar species where they meet. However, the stability of such range limits has not been well addressed. We use a deterministic mathematical model of adaptive range evolution over a continuous habitat to show that the range limits set by interspecific competition are unlikely to be evolutionarily stable if the environmental optima for fitness-related traits vary (almost) linearly in space. That is, in a linear environment without a dispersal barrier or a third (or more) species, the range borders formed between two competing species constantly move towards the weaker species. We demonstrate that environmental nonlinearities such as "knees" and "wiggles"-wherein an isolated sharp change or a step-like change occurs in the steepness of a trait optimum-can strongly stabilize competitively formed range limits. The stabilization mechanism relies on the contrast that such nonlinearities create in the level of disruptive gene flow to the peripheral population of each species, and succeeds when an additional process, such as Allee effects, prevents the establishment of an infinitesimal population in the presence of an abundant competitor. We show that the stability of the range limits at these nonlinearities is robust against moderate environmental disturbances. Whether strong disturbances such as rapid high-amplitude climate changes can destabilize such range limits depends on how the competitive dominance of the species changes across the nonlinearity. Therefore, our findings underscore the importance of assessing species' competitive ability when predicting responses to climate change, and identify geographic regions where established range limits are likely to persist as well as regions where shifting limits may eventually stabilize.
Additional Links: PMID-42296150
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@article {pmid42296150,
year = {2026},
author = {Shirani, F and Freeman, BG},
title = {Environmental "knees" and "wiggles" as strong stabilizers of species' range limits set by interspecific competition.},
journal = {PLoS computational biology},
volume = {22},
number = {6},
pages = {e1014336},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pcbi.1014336},
pmid = {42296150},
issn = {1553-7358},
mesh = {Animals ; *Ecosystem ; *Models, Biological ; *Competitive Behavior/physiology ; Gene Flow ; *Biological Evolution ; Species Specificity ; Computational Biology ; },
abstract = {Whether interspecific competition is a major contributing factor to setting species' range limits has been debated for a long time. Theoretical studies have proposed that the interactions between interspecific competition and disruptive gene flow along an environmental gradient can halt range expansion of ecologically similar species where they meet. However, the stability of such range limits has not been well addressed. We use a deterministic mathematical model of adaptive range evolution over a continuous habitat to show that the range limits set by interspecific competition are unlikely to be evolutionarily stable if the environmental optima for fitness-related traits vary (almost) linearly in space. That is, in a linear environment without a dispersal barrier or a third (or more) species, the range borders formed between two competing species constantly move towards the weaker species. We demonstrate that environmental nonlinearities such as "knees" and "wiggles"-wherein an isolated sharp change or a step-like change occurs in the steepness of a trait optimum-can strongly stabilize competitively formed range limits. The stabilization mechanism relies on the contrast that such nonlinearities create in the level of disruptive gene flow to the peripheral population of each species, and succeeds when an additional process, such as Allee effects, prevents the establishment of an infinitesimal population in the presence of an abundant competitor. We show that the stability of the range limits at these nonlinearities is robust against moderate environmental disturbances. Whether strong disturbances such as rapid high-amplitude climate changes can destabilize such range limits depends on how the competitive dominance of the species changes across the nonlinearity. Therefore, our findings underscore the importance of assessing species' competitive ability when predicting responses to climate change, and identify geographic regions where established range limits are likely to persist as well as regions where shifting limits may eventually stabilize.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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Animals
*Ecosystem
*Models, Biological
*Competitive Behavior/physiology
Gene Flow
*Biological Evolution
Species Specificity
Computational Biology
RevDate: 2026-06-15
Nasal Instillation of Complex Metal Oxide Particles Induces Brain Metal Accumulation and Neurobehavioral Toxicity in Mice.
Environmental science & technology [Epub ahead of print].
The rapid expansion of complex metal oxide particles (CMOPs) in energy technologies raises emerging health concerns, yet their neuropsychiatric impacts remain unclear. Using intranasal exposure to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide (NCM) at dose levels selected with reference to reported ambient and occupational monitoring scenarios (0.8 and 8 mg/kg/day, n = 8 per group), we show that short-term CMOP exposure induces distinct neurobehavioral alterations in mice, characterized by changes in cognitive performance, risk assessment, and stress-related coping behavior. These changes co-occurred with dose-dependent brain accumulation of Li, Ni, Mn, and Co. Unexpectedly, low-dose exposure yielded 5-17-fold higher brain bioaccumulation factors than high-dose exposure, indicating disproportionate brain retention at lower exposure levels. Neurotransmitter profiling showed alterations consistent with perturbation of catecholamine metabolism, the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, and the glutamate-glutamine cycle. At the molecular level, brain metal burden was associated with changes in barrier-related, neuroimmune, and synaptic signaling markers prioritized in relation to behavioral outcomes. Collectively, the findings indicate that short-term CMOP exposure can co-occur with brain metal bioaccumulation and neurobehavioral dysfunction, supporting the need for future inhalation-based and chronic studies to better define toxicokinetics, exposure relevance, and long-term health implications.
Additional Links: PMID-42296265
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42296265,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, L and Chen, L and Jin, LN and Qiu, A and Jia, Y and Zhang, P and Ji, Y and Xu, C and Zhang, Y and Li, D and Chen, J},
title = {Nasal Instillation of Complex Metal Oxide Particles Induces Brain Metal Accumulation and Neurobehavioral Toxicity in Mice.},
journal = {Environmental science & technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c16262},
pmid = {42296265},
issn = {1520-5851},
abstract = {The rapid expansion of complex metal oxide particles (CMOPs) in energy technologies raises emerging health concerns, yet their neuropsychiatric impacts remain unclear. Using intranasal exposure to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide (NCM) at dose levels selected with reference to reported ambient and occupational monitoring scenarios (0.8 and 8 mg/kg/day, n = 8 per group), we show that short-term CMOP exposure induces distinct neurobehavioral alterations in mice, characterized by changes in cognitive performance, risk assessment, and stress-related coping behavior. These changes co-occurred with dose-dependent brain accumulation of Li, Ni, Mn, and Co. Unexpectedly, low-dose exposure yielded 5-17-fold higher brain bioaccumulation factors than high-dose exposure, indicating disproportionate brain retention at lower exposure levels. Neurotransmitter profiling showed alterations consistent with perturbation of catecholamine metabolism, the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, and the glutamate-glutamine cycle. At the molecular level, brain metal burden was associated with changes in barrier-related, neuroimmune, and synaptic signaling markers prioritized in relation to behavioral outcomes. Collectively, the findings indicate that short-term CMOP exposure can co-occur with brain metal bioaccumulation and neurobehavioral dysfunction, supporting the need for future inhalation-based and chronic studies to better define toxicokinetics, exposure relevance, and long-term health implications.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-15
US funding cuts offer a rare chance to remodel Global North-Global South research collaboration.
Additional Links: PMID-42298048
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42298048,
year = {2026},
author = {Bell, AR and Rakotonarivo, S and Manzoor, T and Moreira, R and Schaafsma, M and Fiwa, L and Zhang, W},
title = {US funding cuts offer a rare chance to remodel Global North-Global South research collaboration.},
journal = {Nature human behaviour},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42298048},
issn = {2397-3374},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17
Dual-layered epigenetic regulation links water body size constraints to somatic growth in an allotetraploid fish.
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics, 59:101787.
Polyploidy endows fish with genomic plasticity to colonize restricted environments, yet the molecular mechanisms linking ecological constraints to somatic growth remain elusive. Here, we investigated the adaptive response of an allotetraploid lineage (Carassius auratus × Cyprinus carpio) to contrasting water body sizes using multi-omics approaches. We found that spatial constraints triggered targeted transcriptional remodeling specifically in the eye and muscle. This response effectively links sensory perception to growth regulation. Meanwhile, we identified a dual-layered epigenetic strategy. Environmental stress forced a reduction in the active gene pool via promoter silencing, while concurrently depressing the expression levels of growth-related structural genes through enhancer inhibition. Interestingly, this plasticity exhibited striking subgenome asymmetry. The Cyprinus subgenome displayed higher epigenetic responsiveness and acted as the primary adaptive buffer, exemplified by the targeted repression of a Cyprinus-derived enhancer regulating the mTOR gene rps6kb1a. Our findings demonstrate how subgenome-biased epigenetic remodeling aligns growth phenotypes with ecological constraints, offering molecular insights into the evolutionary success of polyploids in fragmented habitats.
Additional Links: PMID-41795303
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid41795303,
year = {2026},
author = {Zeng, Y and Zhang, J and Wang, Q and Han, X and Liu, L and Yang, K and Zhang, R and Luo, K and Ren, L and Liu, S},
title = {Dual-layered epigenetic regulation links water body size constraints to somatic growth in an allotetraploid fish.},
journal = {Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics},
volume = {59},
number = {},
pages = {101787},
doi = {10.1016/j.cbd.2026.101787},
pmid = {41795303},
issn = {1878-0407},
mesh = {*Tetraploidy ; *Goldfish/genetics/growth & development ; *Carps/genetics/growth & development ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Multiomics ; Hybridization, Genetic ; *Adaptation, Biological ; Muscle Development ; Eye/growth & development ; Male ; Female ; Animals ; *Body Size/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Enhancer Elements, Genetic ; },
abstract = {Polyploidy endows fish with genomic plasticity to colonize restricted environments, yet the molecular mechanisms linking ecological constraints to somatic growth remain elusive. Here, we investigated the adaptive response of an allotetraploid lineage (Carassius auratus × Cyprinus carpio) to contrasting water body sizes using multi-omics approaches. We found that spatial constraints triggered targeted transcriptional remodeling specifically in the eye and muscle. This response effectively links sensory perception to growth regulation. Meanwhile, we identified a dual-layered epigenetic strategy. Environmental stress forced a reduction in the active gene pool via promoter silencing, while concurrently depressing the expression levels of growth-related structural genes through enhancer inhibition. Interestingly, this plasticity exhibited striking subgenome asymmetry. The Cyprinus subgenome displayed higher epigenetic responsiveness and acted as the primary adaptive buffer, exemplified by the targeted repression of a Cyprinus-derived enhancer regulating the mTOR gene rps6kb1a. Our findings demonstrate how subgenome-biased epigenetic remodeling aligns growth phenotypes with ecological constraints, offering molecular insights into the evolutionary success of polyploids in fragmented habitats.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Tetraploidy
*Goldfish/genetics/growth & development
*Carps/genetics/growth & development
*Epigenesis, Genetic
Multiomics
Hybridization, Genetic
*Adaptation, Biological
Muscle Development
Eye/growth & development
Male
Female
Animals
*Body Size/genetics
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17
Interactions between polystyrene-derived micro- and nanoplastics and the microbiota: a systematic review of multi-omics mouse studies.
Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Toxicology and carcinogenesis, 44(2):141-159.
Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), especially polystyrene-derived particles (PS-MPs/PS-NPs), have become a growing concern due to their increasing presence in the environment and their proven biological toxicity. Although PS particles have been identified in various human tissues, including feces, placenta, and blood, their impact on the gut microbiota and microbiota-driven metabolic pathways remains insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review aims to compile current in vivo evidence from mouse studies to assess how PS-MP/NP exposure influences gut microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, microbial metabolites, and subsequent physiological outcomes. A PRISMA-guided literature search identified 15 controlled mouse studies published between 2010 and 2024. Across these studies, PS exposure consistently induced gut dysbiosis, characterized by reductions or shifts in alpha-diversity, distinct beta-diversity clustering, loss of beneficial commensals such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and members of Ruminococcaceae, and enrichment of opportunistic or pro-inflammatory taxa including Proteobacteria, Helicobacter, and Staphylococcus. Notably, MNPs particles induced more pronounced microbial disruption than micro-sized forms. Overall, current experimental evidence indicates that PS-MPs/PS-NPs induce multidimensional toxicity by simultaneously disrupting gut microbial ecology and host metabolic pathways. These findings emphasize the need for standardized methodologies in microplastic research and highlight the importance of clarifying the long-term health effects of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.
Additional Links: PMID-41795790
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid41795790,
year = {2026},
author = {Özkan Vardar, D and Ekmen, B and Çalı, A},
title = {Interactions between polystyrene-derived micro- and nanoplastics and the microbiota: a systematic review of multi-omics mouse studies.},
journal = {Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Toxicology and carcinogenesis},
volume = {44},
number = {2},
pages = {141-159},
doi = {10.1080/26896583.2026.2636868},
pmid = {41795790},
issn = {2689-6591},
mesh = {Animals ; *Polystyrenes/toxicity ; *Microplastics/toxicity ; Mice ; Multiomics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Nanoparticles/toxicity ; },
abstract = {Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs), especially polystyrene-derived particles (PS-MPs/PS-NPs), have become a growing concern due to their increasing presence in the environment and their proven biological toxicity. Although PS particles have been identified in various human tissues, including feces, placenta, and blood, their impact on the gut microbiota and microbiota-driven metabolic pathways remains insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review aims to compile current in vivo evidence from mouse studies to assess how PS-MP/NP exposure influences gut microbial diversity, taxonomic composition, microbial metabolites, and subsequent physiological outcomes. A PRISMA-guided literature search identified 15 controlled mouse studies published between 2010 and 2024. Across these studies, PS exposure consistently induced gut dysbiosis, characterized by reductions or shifts in alpha-diversity, distinct beta-diversity clustering, loss of beneficial commensals such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and members of Ruminococcaceae, and enrichment of opportunistic or pro-inflammatory taxa including Proteobacteria, Helicobacter, and Staphylococcus. Notably, MNPs particles induced more pronounced microbial disruption than micro-sized forms. Overall, current experimental evidence indicates that PS-MPs/PS-NPs induce multidimensional toxicity by simultaneously disrupting gut microbial ecology and host metabolic pathways. These findings emphasize the need for standardized methodologies in microplastic research and highlight the importance of clarifying the long-term health effects of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Polystyrenes/toxicity
*Microplastics/toxicity
Mice
Multiomics
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
*Nanoparticles/toxicity
RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17
Modeling soil organic carbon stocks and changes in agricultural cropping systems using a decision support tool and process-based model.
Journal of environmental management, 411:130171.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil health, yet changes in SOC often take decades to detect. Assessment tools, accessible to non-expert users, are needed to accurately and cost-effectively quantify SOC stocks. Soil sampling and analysis are ideal for quantification but are also resource- and time-intensive. A decision-support tool, COMET-Farm, could improve the transition to low-C agricultural supply chains; however, it was designed to estimate ΔSOC rather than SOC stocks directly, and its accuracy across diverse agricultural settings remains uncertain. We investigated whether the COMET-Farm tool could accurately estimate SOC stocks on 15 working farms in Maryland with variable management practices, including tillage, cover cropping, manure application, and irrigation. Field-measured SOC stocks (0-20 cm soil depth) of 17.1 to 73.6 Mg ha[-1] were compared with model-predicted values using farmer-reported data in (i) COMET-Farm with default inputs supplied to DayCent, versus (ii) expert-applied DayCent. We found COMET-Farm predictions were lower than measured SOC stocks (R[2] = 0.101; RMSE = 18.80 Mg ha[-1]), while expert-applied DayCent predictions more closely matched field measurements (R[2] = 0.73; RMSE = 7.89 Mg ha[-1]). Poorly drained soils and long-term manure applications caused greater discrepancies between measured and predicted SOC. These findings suggest that COMET-Farm estimates could improve with better model initialization, more accurate site-specific soil data, such as measured soil texture and drainage conditions, and more regionally representative land-use histories. With these improvements and further testing, COMET-Farm could be expanded beyond its original purpose of estimating ΔSOC to directly estimate SOC stocks for non-expert users.
Additional Links: PMID-42263638
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42263638,
year = {2026},
author = {Lucas, ER and Ellis, E and Paustian, K and Dorsey, S and Toor, GS},
title = {Modeling soil organic carbon stocks and changes in agricultural cropping systems using a decision support tool and process-based model.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {411},
number = {},
pages = {130171},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130171},
pmid = {42263638},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Agriculture/methods ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Carbon/analysis ; *Decision Support Techniques ; Models, Theoretical ; },
abstract = {Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator of soil health, yet changes in SOC often take decades to detect. Assessment tools, accessible to non-expert users, are needed to accurately and cost-effectively quantify SOC stocks. Soil sampling and analysis are ideal for quantification but are also resource- and time-intensive. A decision-support tool, COMET-Farm, could improve the transition to low-C agricultural supply chains; however, it was designed to estimate ΔSOC rather than SOC stocks directly, and its accuracy across diverse agricultural settings remains uncertain. We investigated whether the COMET-Farm tool could accurately estimate SOC stocks on 15 working farms in Maryland with variable management practices, including tillage, cover cropping, manure application, and irrigation. Field-measured SOC stocks (0-20 cm soil depth) of 17.1 to 73.6 Mg ha[-1] were compared with model-predicted values using farmer-reported data in (i) COMET-Farm with default inputs supplied to DayCent, versus (ii) expert-applied DayCent. We found COMET-Farm predictions were lower than measured SOC stocks (R[2] = 0.101; RMSE = 18.80 Mg ha[-1]), while expert-applied DayCent predictions more closely matched field measurements (R[2] = 0.73; RMSE = 7.89 Mg ha[-1]). Poorly drained soils and long-term manure applications caused greater discrepancies between measured and predicted SOC. These findings suggest that COMET-Farm estimates could improve with better model initialization, more accurate site-specific soil data, such as measured soil texture and drainage conditions, and more regionally representative land-use histories. With these improvements and further testing, COMET-Farm could be expanded beyond its original purpose of estimating ΔSOC to directly estimate SOC stocks for non-expert users.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Agriculture/methods
*Soil/chemistry
*Carbon/analysis
*Decision Support Techniques
Models, Theoretical
RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17
Successful restoration of heathlands and grasslands associated with long-term habitat preferences of cattle and horses: Insights from GPS tracking.
Journal of environmental management, 411:130113.
Long-term, year-round grazing by large herbivores is increasingly used to restore degraded temperate heathlands and grasslands, yet the behavioral mechanisms of grazers underlying restoration remain insufficiently understood. We combined over 13 years of high-resolution GPS-tracking data of free-ranging Heck cattle and Konik horses with repeated vegetation surveys across various habitat types (encroachment-derived Calamagrostis epigejos stands, dry sandy grasslands, dry heaths, and pioneer forests) in Central Germany. We quantified how habitat preference and vegetation structure co-develop under low-intensity, year-round grazing following abandonment. Habitat preference differed among habitat types and showed clear seasonal patterns. Preference values were consistently higher in summer than in winter for both grazer species, reflecting selective use of productive regrowth. Winter preferences were weak, indicating low selectivity and homogeneous space use that facilitated grazing in habitats otherwise avoided during the growing season, including dry heaths and pioneer forests. Across the study period, we detected long-term shifts in habitat preference that corresponded with vegetation changes associated with the restoration of dry heaths and sandy grasslands. As standing biomass declined, C. epigejos and grass litter decreased, open soil increased, and Calluna vulgaris advanced into the optimal phase. These structural improvements reduced forage-quality contrasts among habitats, resulting in progressively weaker preference patterns and a more even distribution of habitat use across the landscape. Our results provide rare long-term empirical evidence linking grazer behavior and vegetation dynamics in conservation grazing systems and highlight that year-round extensive grazing, rather than summer-only grazing, is required to achieve stable long-term restoration outcomes.
Additional Links: PMID-42263641
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42263641,
year = {2026},
author = {Hendler, R and Tischew, S and Hensen, H and Metze, K and Schütz, L and Bade, K and Fischer, C},
title = {Successful restoration of heathlands and grasslands associated with long-term habitat preferences of cattle and horses: Insights from GPS tracking.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {411},
number = {},
pages = {130113},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130113},
pmid = {42263641},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; *Grassland ; *Ecosystem ; Horses ; Germany ; Geographic Information Systems ; Seasons ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Herbivory ; },
abstract = {Long-term, year-round grazing by large herbivores is increasingly used to restore degraded temperate heathlands and grasslands, yet the behavioral mechanisms of grazers underlying restoration remain insufficiently understood. We combined over 13 years of high-resolution GPS-tracking data of free-ranging Heck cattle and Konik horses with repeated vegetation surveys across various habitat types (encroachment-derived Calamagrostis epigejos stands, dry sandy grasslands, dry heaths, and pioneer forests) in Central Germany. We quantified how habitat preference and vegetation structure co-develop under low-intensity, year-round grazing following abandonment. Habitat preference differed among habitat types and showed clear seasonal patterns. Preference values were consistently higher in summer than in winter for both grazer species, reflecting selective use of productive regrowth. Winter preferences were weak, indicating low selectivity and homogeneous space use that facilitated grazing in habitats otherwise avoided during the growing season, including dry heaths and pioneer forests. Across the study period, we detected long-term shifts in habitat preference that corresponded with vegetation changes associated with the restoration of dry heaths and sandy grasslands. As standing biomass declined, C. epigejos and grass litter decreased, open soil increased, and Calluna vulgaris advanced into the optimal phase. These structural improvements reduced forage-quality contrasts among habitats, resulting in progressively weaker preference patterns and a more even distribution of habitat use across the landscape. Our results provide rare long-term empirical evidence linking grazer behavior and vegetation dynamics in conservation grazing systems and highlight that year-round extensive grazing, rather than summer-only grazing, is required to achieve stable long-term restoration outcomes.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
Cattle
*Grassland
*Ecosystem
Horses
Germany
Geographic Information Systems
Seasons
*Conservation of Natural Resources
Herbivory
RevDate: 2026-06-17
CmpDate: 2026-06-17
ABA-cytokinin crosstalk regulate drought tolerance in Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa through the phenylpropanoid pathway: insights from physiological and multi-omics integration.
Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB, 236:111466.
Drought stress is a major constraint in jujube production. Although abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin exert opposing effects on plant growth, recent findings revealed that their combined application enhanced drought tolerance in jujube; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, three exogenous treatments were applied to sour jujube seedlings under drought stress: 5 mg L[-1] ABA, a cytokinin mixture of 50 mg L[-1] 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 100 mg L[-1] kinetin (KT), and a combined ABA and cytokinins solution. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were integrated to elucidate how ABA and cytokinins jointly modulate drought responses. The results showed that ABA induced stem thickening, enhanced osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity, upregulated the expression of cytochrome P450 84A1-like (CYP84A1) involved in lignin biosynthesis, and downregulated cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD). In contrast, cytokinins promoted stem elongation by upregulating elongation factor 2 and L-lactate dehydrogenase B, downregulating anthocyanin synthase (ANS) and peroxidase, and altering galactose/starch metabolism, thereby prioritizing growth at the expense of stress tolerance. The combined treatment reconciled these opposing effects, enhancing stress defense without compromising cytokinin-mediated growth advantage, inducing 3018 differential genes and 285 metabolites. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was identified as central to ABA-cytokinin crosstalk, with upregulation of two CADs contributing to drought resistance and four genes encoding CAD, peroxidase, and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) playing a critical role in this crosstalk. Additionally, beta-glucosidase 18 (BGLU18) was identified as a candidate gene correlated with 13 phenylpropanoids. Our findings reveal the molecular link between the phenylpropanoid pathway and ABA-cytokinin crosstalk in jujube drought tolerance.
Additional Links: PMID-42269263
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42269263,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, M and Zhou, S and Jiang, M and Geng, J and Ni, H and Li, G and Zhao, Y and Dong, Y},
title = {ABA-cytokinin crosstalk regulate drought tolerance in Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa through the phenylpropanoid pathway: insights from physiological and multi-omics integration.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {236},
number = {},
pages = {111466},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2026.111466},
pmid = {42269263},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Abscisic Acid/pharmacology/metabolism ; Drought Resistance ; *Cytokinins/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Ziziphus/metabolism/physiology/genetics/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Multiomics ; *Propanols/metabolism ; Droughts ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; Stress, Physiological ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Drought stress is a major constraint in jujube production. Although abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin exert opposing effects on plant growth, recent findings revealed that their combined application enhanced drought tolerance in jujube; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, three exogenous treatments were applied to sour jujube seedlings under drought stress: 5 mg L[-1] ABA, a cytokinin mixture of 50 mg L[-1] 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 100 mg L[-1] kinetin (KT), and a combined ABA and cytokinins solution. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were integrated to elucidate how ABA and cytokinins jointly modulate drought responses. The results showed that ABA induced stem thickening, enhanced osmotic regulation and antioxidant capacity, upregulated the expression of cytochrome P450 84A1-like (CYP84A1) involved in lignin biosynthesis, and downregulated cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD). In contrast, cytokinins promoted stem elongation by upregulating elongation factor 2 and L-lactate dehydrogenase B, downregulating anthocyanin synthase (ANS) and peroxidase, and altering galactose/starch metabolism, thereby prioritizing growth at the expense of stress tolerance. The combined treatment reconciled these opposing effects, enhancing stress defense without compromising cytokinin-mediated growth advantage, inducing 3018 differential genes and 285 metabolites. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was identified as central to ABA-cytokinin crosstalk, with upregulation of two CADs contributing to drought resistance and four genes encoding CAD, peroxidase, and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) playing a critical role in this crosstalk. Additionally, beta-glucosidase 18 (BGLU18) was identified as a candidate gene correlated with 13 phenylpropanoids. Our findings reveal the molecular link between the phenylpropanoid pathway and ABA-cytokinin crosstalk in jujube drought tolerance.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Abscisic Acid/pharmacology/metabolism
Drought Resistance
*Cytokinins/metabolism/pharmacology
*Ziziphus/metabolism/physiology/genetics/drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects
Multiomics
*Propanols/metabolism
Droughts
Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Seedlings/metabolism
Plant Growth Regulators
Stress, Physiological
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-12
Enhanced PFHxS degradation by DBD combined with microbubbles and sulfite: Synergistic effects and mechanisms.
Journal of hazardous materials, 514:142684 pii:S0304-3894(26)01663-8 [Epub ahead of print].
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), a persistent member of the PFAS family, remains challenging to degrade, and its transformation mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here, a dielectric barrier discharge coupled with microbubbles and sulfite (DBD/MBs/sulfite) system was developed for PFHxS degradation. Among all tested systems, the ternary process achieved the best performance, reaching 96.7% degradation and 26.3% defluorination within 60 min, with rate constant of 0.049 min[-1]. The enhancement mainly arose from the coupling of MB-enhanced gas-liquid interfacial transport and sulfite-mediated reactive-species conversion under DBD conditions. Higher discharge power and sulfite concentration enhanced PFHxS degradation, whereas higher initial PFHxS concentration reduced removal efficiency but increased energy yield. Reactive-species identification by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), electron spin resonance (ESR), and scavenging experiments showed that PFHxS degradation proceeded through a complex oxidative-reductive network involving SO4[-]•, •OH, eaq[-], [1]O2, •O2[-], and nitrogen-related oxidizing species, among which SO4[-]• and •OH were the dominant radicals. Electronic-structure analysis indicated that PFHxS reactivity was highly localized at the sulfonate end, especially around O14, O16, and S15. Combined with LC-MS identification of intermediates, the pathways involved desulfonation, H/F exchange, hydroxylation, sequential -CF2 elimination, and C-C bond cleavage, leading to shorter-chain and structurally simplified products. Acidic conditions favored PFHxS degradation, whereas coexisting anions exerted inhibition. Nevertheless, the system still achieved 77.8% degradation in the most inhibitory realistic water matrix, demonstrating good matrix tolerance. Overall, the DBD/MBs/sulfite system provided an efficient and adaptable strategy for PFHxS removal and offered mechanistic insight into plasma-assisted degradation of perfluorinated sulfonates.
Additional Links: PMID-42284784
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@article {pmid42284784,
year = {2026},
author = {Luo, P and Liu, X and Mao, Y and Yang, J and Wang, X and Cai, L and Filatova, I and Liu, Y},
title = {Enhanced PFHxS degradation by DBD combined with microbubbles and sulfite: Synergistic effects and mechanisms.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {514},
number = {},
pages = {142684},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142684},
pmid = {42284784},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), a persistent member of the PFAS family, remains challenging to degrade, and its transformation mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here, a dielectric barrier discharge coupled with microbubbles and sulfite (DBD/MBs/sulfite) system was developed for PFHxS degradation. Among all tested systems, the ternary process achieved the best performance, reaching 96.7% degradation and 26.3% defluorination within 60 min, with rate constant of 0.049 min[-1]. The enhancement mainly arose from the coupling of MB-enhanced gas-liquid interfacial transport and sulfite-mediated reactive-species conversion under DBD conditions. Higher discharge power and sulfite concentration enhanced PFHxS degradation, whereas higher initial PFHxS concentration reduced removal efficiency but increased energy yield. Reactive-species identification by optical emission spectroscopy (OES), electron spin resonance (ESR), and scavenging experiments showed that PFHxS degradation proceeded through a complex oxidative-reductive network involving SO4[-]•, •OH, eaq[-], [1]O2, •O2[-], and nitrogen-related oxidizing species, among which SO4[-]• and •OH were the dominant radicals. Electronic-structure analysis indicated that PFHxS reactivity was highly localized at the sulfonate end, especially around O14, O16, and S15. Combined with LC-MS identification of intermediates, the pathways involved desulfonation, H/F exchange, hydroxylation, sequential -CF2 elimination, and C-C bond cleavage, leading to shorter-chain and structurally simplified products. Acidic conditions favored PFHxS degradation, whereas coexisting anions exerted inhibition. Nevertheless, the system still achieved 77.8% degradation in the most inhibitory realistic water matrix, demonstrating good matrix tolerance. Overall, the DBD/MBs/sulfite system provided an efficient and adaptable strategy for PFHxS removal and offered mechanistic insight into plasma-assisted degradation of perfluorinated sulfonates.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-15
CmpDate: 2026-06-15
Analysis of health infrastructure and suicide rates in Brazil: a nationwide ecological spatial-temporal study, 2009-2023.
Lancet regional health. Americas, 60:101519.
BACKGROUND: Suicide remains a major global health concern and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where socio-economic stressors and limited healthcare resources contribute to higher burdens. This study characterizes annual patterns of suicide rates in Brazil from January 2009 until December 2023, across its five geographic regions (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Central-West). Additionally, we constructed a harmonized dataset integrating sociodemographic and healthcare infrastructure indicators, and identified which municipal-level infrastructure components are most informative for classifying suicide rate categories.
METHODS: We integrated nationwide data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/SUS), the National Registry of Healthcare Establishments (CNES), and demographic estimates from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Primary analyses were conducted using municipality-level annual observations across all Brazilian cities covering more than 170,000 suicide deaths nationally. Suicide was expressed annually as rates per 100,000 inhabitants and categorized as low, moderate, or high. Using a data-mining workflow with XGBoost classifier models, we identified healthcare infrastructure features most relevant for distinguishing suicide rate categories. Secondary analyses focused on the sociodemographic characterization of suicide deaths and on the distribution of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), as well as their correlation with suicide rates.
FINDINGS: Across the descriptive analyses, suicide rates increased in all Brazilian regions (2009: 4·5, 95% CI 4·4-4·6; 2023: 7·6, 95% CI 7·5-7·7). Machine learning models identified healthcare infrastructure components (e.g., healthcare establishments, registered professionals, primary care units, diagnostic services, and mental health facilities) as the most informative features for distinguishing municipalities by suicide rate categories (low, moderate, or high), with accuracy across regions ranging from 72% (95% CI 69-75%) to 79% (95% CI 76-81%). CAPS availability was correlated with lower suicide rates across all regions (ρ = -0·71 to -0·81, p < 0·01).
INTERPRETATION: In this exploratory analysis, general healthcare infrastructure features are associated with variations in suicide mortality, suggesting that access to basic and mental health services is an informative predictor for distinguishing suicide rate patterns across regions. Findings at the aggregate level cannot be assumed to be consistent at the individual level.
FUNDING: Santa Catarina State Research and Innovation Support Foundation (FAPESC) and the Research Program for the Unified Health System (PPSUS); Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Department of Science and Technology of the Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation and the Health Economic-Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Health of Brazil (Decit/SECTICS); and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).
Additional Links: PMID-42290710
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42290710,
year = {2026},
author = {Pereira, CA and Nascimento, JM and Grellert da Silva, M and Carvalho, JT and Kaster, MP},
title = {Analysis of health infrastructure and suicide rates in Brazil: a nationwide ecological spatial-temporal study, 2009-2023.},
journal = {Lancet regional health. Americas},
volume = {60},
number = {},
pages = {101519},
pmid = {42290710},
issn = {2667-193X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Suicide remains a major global health concern and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where socio-economic stressors and limited healthcare resources contribute to higher burdens. This study characterizes annual patterns of suicide rates in Brazil from January 2009 until December 2023, across its five geographic regions (North, Northeast, Southeast, South, and Central-West). Additionally, we constructed a harmonized dataset integrating sociodemographic and healthcare infrastructure indicators, and identified which municipal-level infrastructure components are most informative for classifying suicide rate categories.
METHODS: We integrated nationwide data from the Mortality Information System (SIM/SUS), the National Registry of Healthcare Establishments (CNES), and demographic estimates from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Primary analyses were conducted using municipality-level annual observations across all Brazilian cities covering more than 170,000 suicide deaths nationally. Suicide was expressed annually as rates per 100,000 inhabitants and categorized as low, moderate, or high. Using a data-mining workflow with XGBoost classifier models, we identified healthcare infrastructure features most relevant for distinguishing suicide rate categories. Secondary analyses focused on the sociodemographic characterization of suicide deaths and on the distribution of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS), as well as their correlation with suicide rates.
FINDINGS: Across the descriptive analyses, suicide rates increased in all Brazilian regions (2009: 4·5, 95% CI 4·4-4·6; 2023: 7·6, 95% CI 7·5-7·7). Machine learning models identified healthcare infrastructure components (e.g., healthcare establishments, registered professionals, primary care units, diagnostic services, and mental health facilities) as the most informative features for distinguishing municipalities by suicide rate categories (low, moderate, or high), with accuracy across regions ranging from 72% (95% CI 69-75%) to 79% (95% CI 76-81%). CAPS availability was correlated with lower suicide rates across all regions (ρ = -0·71 to -0·81, p < 0·01).
INTERPRETATION: In this exploratory analysis, general healthcare infrastructure features are associated with variations in suicide mortality, suggesting that access to basic and mental health services is an informative predictor for distinguishing suicide rate patterns across regions. Findings at the aggregate level cannot be assumed to be consistent at the individual level.
FUNDING: Santa Catarina State Research and Innovation Support Foundation (FAPESC) and the Research Program for the Unified Health System (PPSUS); Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Department of Science and Technology of the Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation and the Health Economic-Industrial Complex of the Ministry of Health of Brazil (Decit/SECTICS); and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-15
CmpDate: 2026-06-15
Reframing precision nutrition in irritable bowel syndrome: a mechanism-informed conceptual framework for responder prediction and clinical translation.
Frontiers in immunology, 17:1809221.
BACKGROUND: The low-Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAP) diet is widely used for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but response varies markedly across patients. This heterogeneity has shifted the field from testing average efficacy toward forecasting individual benefit and translating microbiome science into practical precision-nutrition tools.
METHODS: We present a conceptual analysis grounded in evidence mapping from human IBS studies that paired dietary interventions (primarily low-FODMAP pathways) with baseline microbiome and/or multi-omics measurements. Findings are organized within a "microbiome-to-model" roadmap that specifies responder endpoints, candidate data layers (taxa, functions, metabolites and volatile signatures), modeling choices, and the validation and implementation requirements needed for clinical decision support.
RESULTS: Three recurring signals emerge across cohorts. Baseline microbial ecology can stratify response, but taxonomic features alone often fail to transport across studies. Functional readouts, including metabolites and volatile signatures, are closer to symptom mechanisms and can improve interpretability; however, clinical deployment is still limited by endpoint heterogeneity, imperfect exposure and adherence measurement, batch effects, and insufficient external validation and calibration.
CONCLUSION: IBS is well suited for microbiome-informed responder prediction, provided that models are developed with deployment in mind. Progress will depend on validation-first study designs, harmonized responder endpoints and adherence capture, robust multi-omics pipelines, and biologically interpretable decision rules that can be prospectively tested and monitored for temporal instability in real-world care.
Additional Links: PMID-42292476
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42292476,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, Y and Li, Z and Chu, Y and Zhou, Z and Zhang, T and Yi, N and Sun, W and Yan, J and Yan, Z and Zhu, A},
title = {Reframing precision nutrition in irritable bowel syndrome: a mechanism-informed conceptual framework for responder prediction and clinical translation.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1809221},
pmid = {42292476},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diet therapy/microbiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; FODMAP Diet ; *Precision Medicine/methods ; Multiomics ; Translational Research, Biomedical ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The low-Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAP) diet is widely used for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but response varies markedly across patients. This heterogeneity has shifted the field from testing average efficacy toward forecasting individual benefit and translating microbiome science into practical precision-nutrition tools.
METHODS: We present a conceptual analysis grounded in evidence mapping from human IBS studies that paired dietary interventions (primarily low-FODMAP pathways) with baseline microbiome and/or multi-omics measurements. Findings are organized within a "microbiome-to-model" roadmap that specifies responder endpoints, candidate data layers (taxa, functions, metabolites and volatile signatures), modeling choices, and the validation and implementation requirements needed for clinical decision support.
RESULTS: Three recurring signals emerge across cohorts. Baseline microbial ecology can stratify response, but taxonomic features alone often fail to transport across studies. Functional readouts, including metabolites and volatile signatures, are closer to symptom mechanisms and can improve interpretability; however, clinical deployment is still limited by endpoint heterogeneity, imperfect exposure and adherence measurement, batch effects, and insufficient external validation and calibration.
CONCLUSION: IBS is well suited for microbiome-informed responder prediction, provided that models are developed with deployment in mind. Progress will depend on validation-first study designs, harmonized responder endpoints and adherence capture, robust multi-omics pipelines, and biologically interpretable decision rules that can be prospectively tested and monitored for temporal instability in real-world care.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diet therapy/microbiology/metabolism
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
FODMAP Diet
*Precision Medicine/methods
Multiomics
Translational Research, Biomedical
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Ancient and Recent Riverine Gene Flow Contributed to the Adaptive Radiation of Sailfin Silversides in Wallace's Dreampond.
Molecular ecology, 35(11):e70414.
While adaptive radiations significantly contribute to the world's biodiversity, much is unknown about the genetic and ecological factors underlying these rapid successions of speciation. It has been suggested that hybridisation can facilitate the speciation process by generating genetic diversity on which diversifying selection can act. Sailfin silverside fishes (Telmatherinidae) in the Malili Lakes system in Sulawesi have diversified within the last 2 million years. To establish a phylogenetic framework and investigate the presence of hybridisation in this radiation, we assembled and annotated a chromosome-scale reference genome of the riverine sailfin silverside Telmatherina bonti and generated whole genome sequences of all species of Telmatherina in Lake Matano, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, one of the world's oldest and deepest lakes. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and inferred past and ongoing introgression patterns. Genome-wide tests confirmed two monophyletic clades, sharpfins and roundfins. However, within clades, we found mismatches between morphology-based taxonomic assignments and genome-wide genetic relationships. We found signs of both old and ongoing introgression between river-dwelling T. bonti and the lacustrine sharpfin group, as shown in elevated D-statistic, f4-ratio and f-branch statistic. Levels of excess allele sharing between riverine species and the three most common lacustrine species declined with increasing distance from the river-inlet, indicating ongoing introgression at the lake-river interface. This combination of past and ongoing hybridisation in a radiating species flock makes Lake Matano Telmatherina a particularly valuable system to study fundamental mechanisms driving rapid speciation under genomic exchange. The phylogenomic framework elaborated in this study provides the foundation for studies of the processes shaping this charismatic radiation.
Additional Links: PMID-42270437
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42270437,
year = {2026},
author = {De Keyzer, ELR and Herder, F and Böhne, A and Jiménez, FC and Burskaia, V and Kukowka, S and Tracey, A and Denton, AL and Oatley, G and , and , and , and Mokodongan, DF and Wowor, D and Svardal, H},
title = {Ancient and Recent Riverine Gene Flow Contributed to the Adaptive Radiation of Sailfin Silversides in Wallace's Dreampond.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {e70414},
pmid = {42270437},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {G0A9B24N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; V408023N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; 12A8423N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; 11A2P26N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; ID2022SIN349A102//VLIRUOS/ ; 54084//VLIRUOS/ ; ID2025SIN4SEL104//VLIRUOS/ ; 48620//Universiteit Antwerpen/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Indonesia ; *Gene Flow ; *Phylogeny ; *Genetic Speciation ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Lakes ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Rivers ; *Killifishes/genetics ; },
abstract = {While adaptive radiations significantly contribute to the world's biodiversity, much is unknown about the genetic and ecological factors underlying these rapid successions of speciation. It has been suggested that hybridisation can facilitate the speciation process by generating genetic diversity on which diversifying selection can act. Sailfin silverside fishes (Telmatherinidae) in the Malili Lakes system in Sulawesi have diversified within the last 2 million years. To establish a phylogenetic framework and investigate the presence of hybridisation in this radiation, we assembled and annotated a chromosome-scale reference genome of the riverine sailfin silverside Telmatherina bonti and generated whole genome sequences of all species of Telmatherina in Lake Matano, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, one of the world's oldest and deepest lakes. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships and inferred past and ongoing introgression patterns. Genome-wide tests confirmed two monophyletic clades, sharpfins and roundfins. However, within clades, we found mismatches between morphology-based taxonomic assignments and genome-wide genetic relationships. We found signs of both old and ongoing introgression between river-dwelling T. bonti and the lacustrine sharpfin group, as shown in elevated D-statistic, f4-ratio and f-branch statistic. Levels of excess allele sharing between riverine species and the three most common lacustrine species declined with increasing distance from the river-inlet, indicating ongoing introgression at the lake-river interface. This combination of past and ongoing hybridisation in a radiating species flock makes Lake Matano Telmatherina a particularly valuable system to study fundamental mechanisms driving rapid speciation under genomic exchange. The phylogenomic framework elaborated in this study provides the foundation for studies of the processes shaping this charismatic radiation.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
Indonesia
*Gene Flow
*Phylogeny
*Genetic Speciation
Hybridization, Genetic
Lakes
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Rivers
*Killifishes/genetics
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Digital Health Monitoring and Intervention Suite for Stress in Frontline Nurses: Prospective Cohort Trial.
JMIR formative research, 10:e77818.
BACKGROUND: Stress among health care workers (HCWs) contributes to burnout, workforce attrition, and adverse patient outcomes. Although virtual reality (VR), psychoeducation, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), and wearables have independently shown promise in stress research, no integrated digital suite has combined controlled stress induction, intervention delivery, and longitudinal real-world monitoring in HCWs.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, engagement, and preliminary effectiveness of a multimodal Digital Health Monitoring and Intervention suite for Stress framework integrating VR simulation, psychoeducation, EMAs, and wearable biometrics. We examined (1) the impact of VR simulation and psychoeducation on stress outcomes and (2) associations between physiological and self-reported mental health outcomes.
METHODS: Ninety-nine nurses (mean age 33.7, SD 8.9 yr, 87% female) were enrolled in 2023. We conducted a single-arm prospective cohort study (NCT05923398). Using convenience sampling, participants were recruited from social media advertisements, flyers, and email notices distributed through professional listservs. Participants completed ≥2-week baseline monitoring, a single VR session (2 runs separated by a brief psychoeducation intervention), and 12-week follow-up. In-VR stress was assessed using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) and 4-item Moral Injury Outcome Scale (MIOS-4), with synchronous heart rate variability. Longitudinal outcomes included weekly and biweekly EMAs alongside 70 wearable-derived features. Paired t tests, aligned rank transform ANOVA, and Pearson correlations informed study objectives, with P values adjusted for multiple comparisons. Qualitative content analysis classified emotional responses during and after VR.
RESULTS: VR significantly increased subjective stress across checkpoints in both runs, with attenuation in Run B relative to Run A (all P<.001). No significant heart rate variability differences were observed between runs (P=.15). During VR, 92% (91/99) of participants felt stressed, 36% (36/99) reported anxiety or nervousness, and 51% (50/99)-78% (77/99) endorsed anger, guilt, shame, and/or betrayal. Most (59/99, 60%) HCWs returned to an emotional baseline post-VR, although 12% (12/99) reported lingering distress. Immediate reliable improvements in anger, guilt, shame, and/or betrayal occurred for 50% (50/99)-75% (74/99) of participants post intervention. Anxiety (mean -0.53, SD 2.34; P=.03) and stress (mean -3.05, SD 11.35; P=.01) decreased 2 weeks post intervention, but were not sustained at 12 weeks. Increased sleep restlessness was the only wearable feature showing significant changes (mean 2.46%, SD 5.43; Padj<.001). In-VR stress correlated with 12-week real-world stress (SUDS: r=0.57-0.58; MIOS-4: r=0.58-0.61; all P<.01). Data completion exceeded 90%, with 71% achieving full compliance.
CONCLUSIONS: This study moves beyond single-tool interventions to demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an integrated, multimodal stress platform within a single coordinated framework. This trial demonstrates high engagement, short-term symptom responsiveness, ecological validity, and emotional safety. The framework provides a scalable model for proactive stress identification, skills training, and implementation in high-risk occupational settings. Randomized controlled trials are needed to establish sustained efficacy and optimize deployment for real-world implementation.
Additional Links: PMID-42275639
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42275639,
year = {2026},
author = {Rueda, A and Martin, J and Parkington, K and Perivolaris, A and Teferra, BG and Lee, GH and Tassone, VK and Lin, Q and Ivanov, M and Darnell, B and Beavers, L and Campbell, DM and Torres, A and Lou, W and Nazarov, A and Ashbaugh, A and Kapralos, B and Litz, B and Jetly, R and Dubrowski, A and Strudwick, G and Krishnan, S and Bhat, V},
title = {Digital Health Monitoring and Intervention Suite for Stress in Frontline Nurses: Prospective Cohort Trial.},
journal = {JMIR formative research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {e77818},
pmid = {42275639},
issn = {2561-326X},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Adult ; Digital Health ; *Nurses/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Frontline Workers/psychology ; *Stress, Psychological/psychology ; Middle Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Monitoring, Physiologic/methods/instrumentation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Stress among health care workers (HCWs) contributes to burnout, workforce attrition, and adverse patient outcomes. Although virtual reality (VR), psychoeducation, ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), and wearables have independently shown promise in stress research, no integrated digital suite has combined controlled stress induction, intervention delivery, and longitudinal real-world monitoring in HCWs.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, engagement, and preliminary effectiveness of a multimodal Digital Health Monitoring and Intervention suite for Stress framework integrating VR simulation, psychoeducation, EMAs, and wearable biometrics. We examined (1) the impact of VR simulation and psychoeducation on stress outcomes and (2) associations between physiological and self-reported mental health outcomes.
METHODS: Ninety-nine nurses (mean age 33.7, SD 8.9 yr, 87% female) were enrolled in 2023. We conducted a single-arm prospective cohort study (NCT05923398). Using convenience sampling, participants were recruited from social media advertisements, flyers, and email notices distributed through professional listservs. Participants completed ≥2-week baseline monitoring, a single VR session (2 runs separated by a brief psychoeducation intervention), and 12-week follow-up. In-VR stress was assessed using the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) and 4-item Moral Injury Outcome Scale (MIOS-4), with synchronous heart rate variability. Longitudinal outcomes included weekly and biweekly EMAs alongside 70 wearable-derived features. Paired t tests, aligned rank transform ANOVA, and Pearson correlations informed study objectives, with P values adjusted for multiple comparisons. Qualitative content analysis classified emotional responses during and after VR.
RESULTS: VR significantly increased subjective stress across checkpoints in both runs, with attenuation in Run B relative to Run A (all P<.001). No significant heart rate variability differences were observed between runs (P=.15). During VR, 92% (91/99) of participants felt stressed, 36% (36/99) reported anxiety or nervousness, and 51% (50/99)-78% (77/99) endorsed anger, guilt, shame, and/or betrayal. Most (59/99, 60%) HCWs returned to an emotional baseline post-VR, although 12% (12/99) reported lingering distress. Immediate reliable improvements in anger, guilt, shame, and/or betrayal occurred for 50% (50/99)-75% (74/99) of participants post intervention. Anxiety (mean -0.53, SD 2.34; P=.03) and stress (mean -3.05, SD 11.35; P=.01) decreased 2 weeks post intervention, but were not sustained at 12 weeks. Increased sleep restlessness was the only wearable feature showing significant changes (mean 2.46%, SD 5.43; Padj<.001). In-VR stress correlated with 12-week real-world stress (SUDS: r=0.57-0.58; MIOS-4: r=0.58-0.61; all P<.01). Data completion exceeded 90%, with 71% achieving full compliance.
CONCLUSIONS: This study moves beyond single-tool interventions to demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an integrated, multimodal stress platform within a single coordinated framework. This trial demonstrates high engagement, short-term symptom responsiveness, ecological validity, and emotional safety. The framework provides a scalable model for proactive stress identification, skills training, and implementation in high-risk occupational settings. Randomized controlled trials are needed to establish sustained efficacy and optimize deployment for real-world implementation.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
Prospective Studies
Adult
Digital Health
*Nurses/psychology/statistics & numerical data
Male
Frontline Workers/psychology
*Stress, Psychological/psychology
Middle Aged
Cohort Studies
Monitoring, Physiologic/methods/instrumentation
RevDate: 2026-06-15
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Wearable Sensors and Artificial Intelligence for Ecological Knee Osteoarthritis Assessment: Development and Feasibility of a Hybrid Digital Phenotyping Framework.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 26(11):.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of disability, posing growing challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Conventional supervised clinical assessments provide valuable insights but are largely limited to cross-sectional snapshots and often fail to reflect the variability of real-world functioning, physical activity patterns, and symptom fluctuations experienced by individuals with OA, especially those with knee OA. This perspective introduces a multisensor digital phenotyping framework for smart knee OA assessment, integrating supervised laboratory evaluations with unsupervised continuous monitoring in daily living environments using wearable sensors, smart insoles, activity trackers, and mobile devices. Feasibility was tested in 40 participants (20 knee OA patients, 20 controls). Raw data from questionnaires, electronic goniometry, dynamometry, force plate, connected insoles, and seven-day home monitoring were harmonized via a standardized pipeline aligned with the ICF framework. The pipeline employed anomaly detection, missing data imputation, z-score normalization, and cloud-based storage. This framework is envisioned to facilitate advanced data integration and machine-learning-ready analytics, enabling longitudinal monitoring, pattern recognition, and individualized health profiling. By conceptually bridging cross-sectional and continuous sensing modalities, this approach has the potential to enhance ecological validity, support earlier identification of functional decline, and inform data-driven clinical decision-making. Key methodological, technological, and ethical challenges-including data quality, interpretability, privacy, digital literacy, and clinical adoption-are also highlighted. Overall, this paper underscores the promise of AI-enabled multisensor digital phenotyping to advance smart, personalized, and precision healthcare for individuals with knee OA.
Additional Links: PMID-42281079
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42281079,
year = {2026},
author = {Mapinduzi, J and Daniels, K and Kossi, O and Verbrugghe, J and Bonnechère, B},
title = {Wearable Sensors and Artificial Intelligence for Ecological Knee Osteoarthritis Assessment: Development and Feasibility of a Hybrid Digital Phenotyping Framework.},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {26},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {42281079},
issn = {1424-8220},
mesh = {Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Digital Health ; Feasibility Studies ; *Intelligent Systems ; *Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation/methods ; *Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Phenotype ; *Wearable Electronic Devices ; },
abstract = {Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder and a major cause of disability, posing growing challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Conventional supervised clinical assessments provide valuable insights but are largely limited to cross-sectional snapshots and often fail to reflect the variability of real-world functioning, physical activity patterns, and symptom fluctuations experienced by individuals with OA, especially those with knee OA. This perspective introduces a multisensor digital phenotyping framework for smart knee OA assessment, integrating supervised laboratory evaluations with unsupervised continuous monitoring in daily living environments using wearable sensors, smart insoles, activity trackers, and mobile devices. Feasibility was tested in 40 participants (20 knee OA patients, 20 controls). Raw data from questionnaires, electronic goniometry, dynamometry, force plate, connected insoles, and seven-day home monitoring were harmonized via a standardized pipeline aligned with the ICF framework. The pipeline employed anomaly detection, missing data imputation, z-score normalization, and cloud-based storage. This framework is envisioned to facilitate advanced data integration and machine-learning-ready analytics, enabling longitudinal monitoring, pattern recognition, and individualized health profiling. By conceptually bridging cross-sectional and continuous sensing modalities, this approach has the potential to enhance ecological validity, support earlier identification of functional decline, and inform data-driven clinical decision-making. Key methodological, technological, and ethical challenges-including data quality, interpretability, privacy, digital literacy, and clinical adoption-are also highlighted. Overall, this paper underscores the promise of AI-enabled multisensor digital phenotyping to advance smart, personalized, and precision healthcare for individuals with knee OA.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Aged
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Digital Health
Feasibility Studies
*Intelligent Systems
*Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation/methods
*Osteoarthritis, Knee/diagnosis/physiopathology
Phenotype
*Wearable Electronic Devices
RevDate: 2026-06-13
CmpDate: 2026-06-13
Probiotic therapeutics: A critical review of mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and the frontier of precision microbiome modulation.
International immunopharmacology, 175:116412.
Probiotic therapeutics are evolving from generalized wellness supplements to precision Live Biotherapeutic Products aimed at specific disease targets. This review elucidates the multi-layered mechanistic framework of probiotic action, which spans ecological niche modulation, epithelial barrier reinforcement, and systemic signaling via the gut-brain axis. While clinical efficacy is established for conditions like antibiotic-associated diarrhea, trial outcomes remain highly heterogeneous for complex disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and metabolic syndrome. We deconstruct this variability, attributing it to critical factors often overlooked in study design: stringent strain-specificity, host-specific colonization resistance, and the lack of standardized core outcome sets. The field is now advancing toward precision microbiome modulation through next-generation biotics like Akkermansia muciniphila, synbiotics, and engineered microbial therapeutics. We conclude that integrating multi-omics technologies with artificial intelligence is essential to transition from empirical supplementation to personalized, evidence-based clinical practice.
Additional Links: PMID-41722541
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@article {pmid41722541,
year = {2026},
author = {Ashaolu, TJ and Suttikhana, I},
title = {Probiotic therapeutics: A critical review of mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and the frontier of precision microbiome modulation.},
journal = {International immunopharmacology},
volume = {175},
number = {},
pages = {116412},
doi = {10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116412},
pmid = {41722541},
issn = {1878-1705},
mesh = {*Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Animals ; Precision Medicine ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Multiomics ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Probiotic therapeutics are evolving from generalized wellness supplements to precision Live Biotherapeutic Products aimed at specific disease targets. This review elucidates the multi-layered mechanistic framework of probiotic action, which spans ecological niche modulation, epithelial barrier reinforcement, and systemic signaling via the gut-brain axis. While clinical efficacy is established for conditions like antibiotic-associated diarrhea, trial outcomes remain highly heterogeneous for complex disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and metabolic syndrome. We deconstruct this variability, attributing it to critical factors often overlooked in study design: stringent strain-specificity, host-specific colonization resistance, and the lack of standardized core outcome sets. The field is now advancing toward precision microbiome modulation through next-generation biotics like Akkermansia muciniphila, synbiotics, and engineered microbial therapeutics. We conclude that integrating multi-omics technologies with artificial intelligence is essential to transition from empirical supplementation to personalized, evidence-based clinical practice.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Probiotics/therapeutic use
Humans
Animals
Precision Medicine
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Multiomics
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/therapy/microbiology
RevDate: 2026-06-13
CmpDate: 2026-06-13
Gut-Liver Axis Disruption Induced by Total Fish Oil Substitution with Black Soldier Fly Oil Impairs Growth and Health in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Insights from Multiomics Analysis.
The Journal of nutrition, 156(6):101545.
BACKGROUND: Black soldier fly oil (BSFLO) is a sustainable alternative to fish oil (FO), but its dose-dependent effects on fish health remain unclear.
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of dietary BSFLO on growth, liver health, fillet quality, and gut-liver metabolism in rainbow trout.
METHODS: In a feeding trial, 480 rainbow trout (initial body weight: 215.16 ± 2.30 g; 12 mo old) were allocated to 6 dietary treatments (4 replicate tanks per treatment, 20 fish per tank): FO control or BSFLO replacing FO at 20% (BSFLO20), 40% (BSFLO40), 60% (BSFLO60), 80% (BSFLO80), or 100% (BSFLO100). After 8 wk of feeding trail, growth performance, plasma biochemistry, tissue histology, gut microbiota (16S rRNA), and multiomics (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) were analyzed.
RESULTS: The BSFLO60 and BSFLO80 groups had significantly higher growth rate compared with FO (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index increased in BSFLO40, BSFLO60, BSFLO80, and BSFLO100 groups (P < 0.05). The BSFLO100 group exhibited a lower aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine transaminase ratio in plasma, and hepatic tissue showed more lipid vacuolation. In muscles, hardness, springiness, and chewiness decreased in the BSFLO100 group, while adhesiveness and cohesiveness increased (P < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis showed higher abundance of Firmicutes and Staphylococcus species in the BSFLO100 group. Transcriptomics and qRT-PCR revealed upregulation of srebp1, pparα, pparγ, fasn, acc1, and atgl, with downregulation of cpt1. Proteomics and Western blotting indicated that BSFLO100 led to the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ expression and acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation, along with inhibited phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1. Metabolomics showed reductions in SFAs and MUFAs, increases in omega-3 PUFAs, elevated glycolytic intermediates and amino acids, and declines in tricarboxylic acid cycle- and glutamate-related metabolites.
CONCLUSIONS: A moderate BSFLO inclusion (60%) improves growth, whereas complete replacement (100%) reshapes the gut microbiota, activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ lipogenic axis, and suppresses AMP-activated protein kinase/oxidative pathways, jointly inducing hepatic steatosis and inferior muscle texture.
Additional Links: PMID-42025964
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42025964,
year = {2026},
author = {Liao, Z and Chen, Y and Wang, L and Chen, A and Gu, X and Li, X and Guo, Y and Du, Z and Li, W and Zhu, B and Zhao, W and Niu, J},
title = {Gut-Liver Axis Disruption Induced by Total Fish Oil Substitution with Black Soldier Fly Oil Impairs Growth and Health in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Insights from Multiomics Analysis.},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
volume = {156},
number = {6},
pages = {101545},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101545},
pmid = {42025964},
issn = {1541-6100},
mesh = {Animals ; *Liver/drug effects/metabolism ; *Fish Oils/pharmacology/administration & dosage ; *Oncorhynchus mykiss/growth & development ; Multiomics ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects ; Diet/veterinary ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Black soldier fly oil (BSFLO) is a sustainable alternative to fish oil (FO), but its dose-dependent effects on fish health remain unclear.
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of dietary BSFLO on growth, liver health, fillet quality, and gut-liver metabolism in rainbow trout.
METHODS: In a feeding trial, 480 rainbow trout (initial body weight: 215.16 ± 2.30 g; 12 mo old) were allocated to 6 dietary treatments (4 replicate tanks per treatment, 20 fish per tank): FO control or BSFLO replacing FO at 20% (BSFLO20), 40% (BSFLO40), 60% (BSFLO60), 80% (BSFLO80), or 100% (BSFLO100). After 8 wk of feeding trail, growth performance, plasma biochemistry, tissue histology, gut microbiota (16S rRNA), and multiomics (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) were analyzed.
RESULTS: The BSFLO60 and BSFLO80 groups had significantly higher growth rate compared with FO (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index increased in BSFLO40, BSFLO60, BSFLO80, and BSFLO100 groups (P < 0.05). The BSFLO100 group exhibited a lower aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine transaminase ratio in plasma, and hepatic tissue showed more lipid vacuolation. In muscles, hardness, springiness, and chewiness decreased in the BSFLO100 group, while adhesiveness and cohesiveness increased (P < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis showed higher abundance of Firmicutes and Staphylococcus species in the BSFLO100 group. Transcriptomics and qRT-PCR revealed upregulation of srebp1, pparα, pparγ, fasn, acc1, and atgl, with downregulation of cpt1. Proteomics and Western blotting indicated that BSFLO100 led to the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ expression and acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation, along with inhibited phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1. Metabolomics showed reductions in SFAs and MUFAs, increases in omega-3 PUFAs, elevated glycolytic intermediates and amino acids, and declines in tricarboxylic acid cycle- and glutamate-related metabolites.
CONCLUSIONS: A moderate BSFLO inclusion (60%) improves growth, whereas complete replacement (100%) reshapes the gut microbiota, activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ lipogenic axis, and suppresses AMP-activated protein kinase/oxidative pathways, jointly inducing hepatic steatosis and inferior muscle texture.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Liver/drug effects/metabolism
*Fish Oils/pharmacology/administration & dosage
*Oncorhynchus mykiss/growth & development
Multiomics
Animal Feed/analysis
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
*Gastrointestinal Tract/drug effects
Diet/veterinary
RevDate: 2026-06-13
CmpDate: 2026-06-13
Modeling intraindividual means and variances from ecological momentary assessment data: comparing standard computational formulas to mixed-effects location-scale model estimates.
Journal of behavioral medicine, 49(2):254-274.
Traditionally, intraindividual means and variances derived from ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data have been calculated using standard computational formulas (SCF), such as subject-level means and standard deviations. However, these SCF methods assume uniform precision across subjects, disregarding variation in the number of observations, missing data issues, and the non-continuous nature of data scales. This study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the coefficients of intraindividual means and variances computed via SCF against those estimated using random effects from a Mixed-Effects Location Scale (MELS) model. A five-scenario simulation study was conducted: (1) varying numbers of observations per subject, (2) varying mean-to-variance ratios, (3) varying proportions of missing data under a missing completely at random (MCAR) assumption, (4) varying proportions of missing data under a missing at random (MAR) assumption, and (5) varying categories of ordinal scale responses. Bias and coverage of the mean levels and variability coefficients were compared across methods. In addition, a real-life dataset was used to compare the difference of means and variances between SCF and MELS approaches. Results consistently showed that the MELS model approach outperformed SCF method, yielding lower bias and higher coverage of the coefficients across all scenarios. These findings support the use of MELS for more accurate and reliable estimation of intraindividual means and variances in EMA data, highlighting its advantages for subsequent predictive modeling.
Additional Links: PMID-42098572
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42098572,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, WL and Yang, CH and Nordgren, R and Li, J and Intille, S and Dunton, GF and Hedeker, D},
title = {Modeling intraindividual means and variances from ecological momentary assessment data: comparing standard computational formulas to mixed-effects location-scale model estimates.},
journal = {Journal of behavioral medicine},
volume = {49},
number = {2},
pages = {254-274},
pmid = {42098572},
issn = {1573-3521},
support = {R01 CA240713/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment/statistics & numerical data ; *Models, Statistical ; Computer Simulation ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; },
abstract = {Traditionally, intraindividual means and variances derived from ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data have been calculated using standard computational formulas (SCF), such as subject-level means and standard deviations. However, these SCF methods assume uniform precision across subjects, disregarding variation in the number of observations, missing data issues, and the non-continuous nature of data scales. This study evaluated the predictive accuracy of the coefficients of intraindividual means and variances computed via SCF against those estimated using random effects from a Mixed-Effects Location Scale (MELS) model. A five-scenario simulation study was conducted: (1) varying numbers of observations per subject, (2) varying mean-to-variance ratios, (3) varying proportions of missing data under a missing completely at random (MCAR) assumption, (4) varying proportions of missing data under a missing at random (MAR) assumption, and (5) varying categories of ordinal scale responses. Bias and coverage of the mean levels and variability coefficients were compared across methods. In addition, a real-life dataset was used to compare the difference of means and variances between SCF and MELS approaches. Results consistently showed that the MELS model approach outperformed SCF method, yielding lower bias and higher coverage of the coefficients across all scenarios. These findings support the use of MELS for more accurate and reliable estimation of intraindividual means and variances in EMA data, highlighting its advantages for subsequent predictive modeling.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Ecological Momentary Assessment/statistics & numerical data
*Models, Statistical
Computer Simulation
Data Interpretation, Statistical
RevDate: 2026-06-14
CmpDate: 2026-06-14
Investigating the relationship between psychological stress and physical activity through individual-based geographic ecological momentary assessment.
Social science & medicine (1982), 403:119411.
Physical Activity (PA) is known to buffer stress, yet evidence remains limited when examining real-time stress responses alongside objective measures of activity and environmental exposures in daily life. To address the gap, this study employs a Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) framework that integrates accelerometer, GPS tracking, and survey data. The primary objective of this study is to assess the association between self-reported psychological stress and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the hours preceding GEMA prompts. Additionally, the study examines whether engaging in MVPA later in the day is associated with greater reductions in stress relative to morning baseline levels. Data were collected from 130 participants in the City of Mississauga, Ontario, over 7 days. Results revealed that higher levels of MVPA in the 5-h window preceding GEMA prompts were associated with significantly lower odds of reporting higher stress. On weekends, the stress-reduction effect was stronger after completing PA later in the day than on weekdays. Lower-income participants engaged in outdoor MVPA in environments perceived as safer, more beautiful, and greener compared to those of higher-income participants. Yet, no significant association was found between stress and environmental exposures, possibly because aggregated exposure measures were not sensitive enough to capture short-term changes in the daily context. The findings demonstrate the value of GEMA in capturing interactions among behaviour, environment, and health, and suggest that future research should apply more dynamic GEMA approaches to better assess short-term environmental exposures and stress.
Additional Links: PMID-42172788
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42172788,
year = {2026},
author = {Ge, H and Wang, J and Wu, DY and Zhou, H},
title = {Investigating the relationship between psychological stress and physical activity through individual-based geographic ecological momentary assessment.},
journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)},
volume = {403},
number = {},
pages = {119411},
doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119411},
pmid = {42172788},
issn = {1873-5347},
mesh = {Humans ; *Stress, Psychological/psychology/epidemiology ; Female ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Ontario ; Male ; Adult ; *Exercise/psychology ; Accelerometry ; Geographic Information Systems ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Self Report ; },
abstract = {Physical Activity (PA) is known to buffer stress, yet evidence remains limited when examining real-time stress responses alongside objective measures of activity and environmental exposures in daily life. To address the gap, this study employs a Geographic Ecological Momentary Assessment (GEMA) framework that integrates accelerometer, GPS tracking, and survey data. The primary objective of this study is to assess the association between self-reported psychological stress and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the hours preceding GEMA prompts. Additionally, the study examines whether engaging in MVPA later in the day is associated with greater reductions in stress relative to morning baseline levels. Data were collected from 130 participants in the City of Mississauga, Ontario, over 7 days. Results revealed that higher levels of MVPA in the 5-h window preceding GEMA prompts were associated with significantly lower odds of reporting higher stress. On weekends, the stress-reduction effect was stronger after completing PA later in the day than on weekdays. Lower-income participants engaged in outdoor MVPA in environments perceived as safer, more beautiful, and greener compared to those of higher-income participants. Yet, no significant association was found between stress and environmental exposures, possibly because aggregated exposure measures were not sensitive enough to capture short-term changes in the daily context. The findings demonstrate the value of GEMA in capturing interactions among behaviour, environment, and health, and suggest that future research should apply more dynamic GEMA approaches to better assess short-term environmental exposures and stress.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Stress, Psychological/psychology/epidemiology
Female
*Ecological Momentary Assessment
Ontario
Male
Adult
*Exercise/psychology
Accelerometry
Geographic Information Systems
Young Adult
Middle Aged
Self Report
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Recolonization dynamics of the middle ear microbiota following MESNA-assisted dissection in pediatric cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media.
Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 16:1830192.
INTRODUCTION: Cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (CCOM) remains a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rates despite surgical intervention. Sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate (MESNA) is used to assist dissection, yet its impact on the middle ear microbiome and ecological recovery remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to characterize the microbiota of paediatric CCOM and evaluate the ecological shifts induced by MESNA-assisted surgery.
METHODS: We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences (V3-V4) from middle ear tissue of paediatric patients with CCOM (CCOM Before MESNA, n = 13; CCOM After MESNA, n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 11). Bioinformatic processing was performed via QIIME2 and DADA2. We employed a Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) framework, centering on Aitchison distances, ALDEx2 for differential abundance, and consensus co-occurrence networks (SparCC, SPIEC-EASI, and CLR-Pearson). Functional potential was inferred using PICRUSt2.
RESULTS: CCOM was associated with a marked reduction in microbial network connectivity, decreasing from 185 edges in healthy controls to only two total edges in the CCOM Before MESNA stage. Cutibacterium emerged as a candidate keystone pathobiont, exhibiting profound ecological isolation and predicted metabolic shifts toward lipid catabolism and biofilm formation in dysbiotic states. MESNA application disrupted the disease-associated community equilibrium, initiating secondary succession. However, post-treatment recovery was marked by taxonomic homogenization and the expansion of Pseudomonas in several patients.
DISCUSSION: Our findings identify network fragmentation and functional dysbiosis as the ecological signatures of pediatric CCOM. While MESNA disrupts the dysbiotic equilibrium, it does not fully restore a healthy stable climax community within the studied timeframe, as defined in ecological succession theory. These results support a paradigm shift from simple pathogen eradication toward ecological restoration as a strategy to prevent disease recurrence in CCOM patients.
Additional Links: PMID-42256231
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42256231,
year = {2026},
author = {Gomez-Ramirez, U and De La Torre-González, C and Villamor, P and Huante Guido, M and Contreras-Rodríguez, A and Velázquez-Guadarrama, N},
title = {Recolonization dynamics of the middle ear microbiota following MESNA-assisted dissection in pediatric cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1830192},
pmid = {42256231},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; *Otitis Media/microbiology/surgery ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Ear, Middle/microbiology/surgery ; *Mesna/therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Child ; Female ; Male ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; *Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/surgery/microbiology ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Computational Biology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media (CCOM) remains a clinical challenge due to its high recurrence rates despite surgical intervention. Sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulphonate (MESNA) is used to assist dissection, yet its impact on the middle ear microbiome and ecological recovery remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to characterize the microbiota of paediatric CCOM and evaluate the ecological shifts induced by MESNA-assisted surgery.
METHODS: We analyzed 16S rRNA gene sequences (V3-V4) from middle ear tissue of paediatric patients with CCOM (CCOM Before MESNA, n = 13; CCOM After MESNA, n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 11). Bioinformatic processing was performed via QIIME2 and DADA2. We employed a Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) framework, centering on Aitchison distances, ALDEx2 for differential abundance, and consensus co-occurrence networks (SparCC, SPIEC-EASI, and CLR-Pearson). Functional potential was inferred using PICRUSt2.
RESULTS: CCOM was associated with a marked reduction in microbial network connectivity, decreasing from 185 edges in healthy controls to only two total edges in the CCOM Before MESNA stage. Cutibacterium emerged as a candidate keystone pathobiont, exhibiting profound ecological isolation and predicted metabolic shifts toward lipid catabolism and biofilm formation in dysbiotic states. MESNA application disrupted the disease-associated community equilibrium, initiating secondary succession. However, post-treatment recovery was marked by taxonomic homogenization and the expansion of Pseudomonas in several patients.
DISCUSSION: Our findings identify network fragmentation and functional dysbiosis as the ecological signatures of pediatric CCOM. While MESNA disrupts the dysbiotic equilibrium, it does not fully restore a healthy stable climax community within the studied timeframe, as defined in ecological succession theory. These results support a paradigm shift from simple pathogen eradication toward ecological restoration as a strategy to prevent disease recurrence in CCOM patients.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Microbiota/drug effects
*Otitis Media/microbiology/surgery
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Ear, Middle/microbiology/surgery
*Mesna/therapeutic use
Chronic Disease
Child
Female
Male
Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification
*Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear/surgery/microbiology
Child, Preschool
DNA, Bacterial/genetics
Computational Biology
Sequence Analysis, DNA
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
A black-winged kite improved fuzzy clustering handling imbalanced uncertain data.
PloS one, 21(6):e0349753.
Clustering uncertain data is a fundamental problem in data mining. Imbalance among uncertain objects significantly degrades clustering performance, as minority clusters are repeatedly overshadowed by dominant ones. Consequently, existing clustering techniques often fail due to initialisation biases and inadequate similarity modelling. This paper proposes a novel algorithm, the Black-winged Kite Improved Fuzzy clustering for probability density Functions (BKIFF), which combines an optimisation-based initialisation strategy with an enhanced fuzzy clustering framework. Specifically, BKIFF incorporates the Hellinger distance into the clustering objective to more reliably capture similarities between probability density functions (pdfs), and introduces improved membership updating and prototype estimation mechanisms tailored for uncertain and imbalanced data formulated as Improved Fuzzy clustering for probability density Functions (IFF) while theoretical convergence is established. In addition, the algorithm employs Black-winged Kite Optimisation (BKO) to enhance prototype selection, improving clustering stability and convergence. As a result, comprehensive experiments with synthetic Gaussian probability distributions, skewed pdfs, and real-world image datasets demonstrate that BKIFF consistently outperforms baseline methods such as FCF, FCF-[Formula: see text], KMEANS, and Self-Updating. Across all three examples, BKIFF achieves near-perfect ARI, improving from near-zero values in highly imbalanced cases {20,50,80,100} by approximately 30-35% in moderate settings, while increasing NMI by about 25-95%. Additionally, it reduces computational time by approximately 95-99% compared to baseline methods. In conclusion, BKIFF demonstrates superior performance and opens up new possibilities for applications in medical diagnostics, ecological analysis, and high-dimensional uncertain data mining, particularly in imbalanced environments.
Additional Links: PMID-42258566
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42258566,
year = {2026},
author = {Tran-Nam, H and Che-Ngoc, H},
title = {A black-winged kite improved fuzzy clustering handling imbalanced uncertain data.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {6},
pages = {e0349753},
pmid = {42258566},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Clustering Algorithms ; *Fuzzy Logic ; Algorithms ; *Data Mining/methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Soft Computing ; Uncertainty ; },
abstract = {Clustering uncertain data is a fundamental problem in data mining. Imbalance among uncertain objects significantly degrades clustering performance, as minority clusters are repeatedly overshadowed by dominant ones. Consequently, existing clustering techniques often fail due to initialisation biases and inadequate similarity modelling. This paper proposes a novel algorithm, the Black-winged Kite Improved Fuzzy clustering for probability density Functions (BKIFF), which combines an optimisation-based initialisation strategy with an enhanced fuzzy clustering framework. Specifically, BKIFF incorporates the Hellinger distance into the clustering objective to more reliably capture similarities between probability density functions (pdfs), and introduces improved membership updating and prototype estimation mechanisms tailored for uncertain and imbalanced data formulated as Improved Fuzzy clustering for probability density Functions (IFF) while theoretical convergence is established. In addition, the algorithm employs Black-winged Kite Optimisation (BKO) to enhance prototype selection, improving clustering stability and convergence. As a result, comprehensive experiments with synthetic Gaussian probability distributions, skewed pdfs, and real-world image datasets demonstrate that BKIFF consistently outperforms baseline methods such as FCF, FCF-[Formula: see text], KMEANS, and Self-Updating. Across all three examples, BKIFF achieves near-perfect ARI, improving from near-zero values in highly imbalanced cases {20,50,80,100}
by approximately 30-35% in moderate settings, while increasing NMI by about 25-95%. Additionally, it reduces computational time by approximately 95-99% compared to baseline methods. In conclusion, BKIFF demonstrates superior performance and opens up new possibilities for applications in medical diagnostics, ecological analysis, and high-dimensional uncertain data mining, particularly in imbalanced environments.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Clustering Algorithms
*Fuzzy Logic
Algorithms
*Data Mining/methods
Cluster Analysis
Soft Computing
Uncertainty
RevDate: 2026-06-09
When TiO2 meets pharmaceuticals: Photocatalytic degradation and environmental safety unveiled.
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety, 322:120353 pii:S0147-6513(26)00682-2 [Epub ahead of print].
Building on our previous work on electrochemically synthesized anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), this study evaluates their environmental relevance by linking pharmaceutical photocatalytic degradation with transformation product identification and toxicity-oriented assessment. The incomplete removal of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about both parent compounds and transformation products formed during advanced treatments. Here, the synthesized TiO2 NPs were applied to the photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen (IBU) and paracetamol (PCT) under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The TiO2 NPs showed higher degradation efficiency than commercial P25, with Kobs of 10.82 × 10[-3] min[-1] for IBU and 10.75 × 10[-3] min[-1] for PCT, and approximately 95% removal for both pollutants after 4 h of UVA irradiation. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 8 transformation products for IBU and 9 for PCT, suggesting degradation pathways involving hydroxylation, decarboxylation, bond cleavage, and formation of smaller oxygenated products. In-vitro assays were performed using A549 lung cells and HepG2 liver cells. In A549 cells, TiO2 NPs caused no significant decrease in dehydrogenase activity at 1-100 µg/mL after 24 and 48 h. In HepG2 cells, TiO2 NPs showed lower cytotoxicity than P25, with viability remaining at approximately 68% after 48 h at 250 µg/mL, compared with about 60% for P25. IBU and PCT solutions before and after 4 h of photocatalytic treatment maintained HepG2 viability above 90%. The toxicity-oriented assessment, supplemented by Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECOSAR) software predictions, suggested that further transformation could reduce predicted ecological concern.
Additional Links: PMID-42263378
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42263378,
year = {2026},
author = {Zeng, Y and Makuková, J and Báčová, J and Roušar, T and Ševčovičová, A and Roch, T and Qin, P and Jelínková, Š and Vlček, A and Wu, Y and Monfort, O and Motola, M},
title = {When TiO2 meets pharmaceuticals: Photocatalytic degradation and environmental safety unveiled.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {322},
number = {},
pages = {120353},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120353},
pmid = {42263378},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Building on our previous work on electrochemically synthesized anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), this study evaluates their environmental relevance by linking pharmaceutical photocatalytic degradation with transformation product identification and toxicity-oriented assessment. The incomplete removal of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about both parent compounds and transformation products formed during advanced treatments. Here, the synthesized TiO2 NPs were applied to the photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen (IBU) and paracetamol (PCT) under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The TiO2 NPs showed higher degradation efficiency than commercial P25, with Kobs of 10.82 × 10[-3] min[-1] for IBU and 10.75 × 10[-3] min[-1] for PCT, and approximately 95% removal for both pollutants after 4 h of UVA irradiation. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 8 transformation products for IBU and 9 for PCT, suggesting degradation pathways involving hydroxylation, decarboxylation, bond cleavage, and formation of smaller oxygenated products. In-vitro assays were performed using A549 lung cells and HepG2 liver cells. In A549 cells, TiO2 NPs caused no significant decrease in dehydrogenase activity at 1-100 µg/mL after 24 and 48 h. In HepG2 cells, TiO2 NPs showed lower cytotoxicity than P25, with viability remaining at approximately 68% after 48 h at 250 µg/mL, compared with about 60% for P25. IBU and PCT solutions before and after 4 h of photocatalytic treatment maintained HepG2 viability above 90%. The toxicity-oriented assessment, supplemented by Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECOSAR) software predictions, suggested that further transformation could reduce predicted ecological concern.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-13
CmpDate: 2026-06-13
Within-Night Variation in Predictor Importance Highlights Dynamic Nature of Bird Migration.
Ecology letters, 29(6):e70422.
Ecological forecasting is increasingly important for conservation. Predicting nocturnal bird migration events is a promising vehicle for forecasts but isn't often explored at fine temporal scales. We use weather surveillance radar to examine dynamic drivers of migration in 2-h periods throughout a night. We assess the relative importance of terrestrial, atmospheric and sampling predictors (which relate to radar position and scan timing) across spring and fall. Atmospheric conditions were consistently strong predictors. In contrast, terrestrial predictors contributed relatively little to explaining variation in activity. Sampling variables, such as time after sunset, varied in importance, with the highest influence shortly after sunset. We highlight the temporal variability in predictors of migration, emphasising it as a dynamic process, involving continuous decisions and adjustments rather than following fixed routes. We underscore the value of radar for capturing transitions between habitats while revealing key limitations and opportunities for understanding fine-scale migratory behaviour.
Additional Links: PMID-42269581
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42269581,
year = {2026},
author = {Jimenez, MF and Khalighifar, A and Horton, KG},
title = {Within-Night Variation in Predictor Importance Highlights Dynamic Nature of Bird Migration.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {29},
number = {6},
pages = {e70422},
pmid = {42269581},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {/NASA/NASA/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Animal Migration ; *Birds/physiology ; Seasons ; Radar ; },
abstract = {Ecological forecasting is increasingly important for conservation. Predicting nocturnal bird migration events is a promising vehicle for forecasts but isn't often explored at fine temporal scales. We use weather surveillance radar to examine dynamic drivers of migration in 2-h periods throughout a night. We assess the relative importance of terrestrial, atmospheric and sampling predictors (which relate to radar position and scan timing) across spring and fall. Atmospheric conditions were consistently strong predictors. In contrast, terrestrial predictors contributed relatively little to explaining variation in activity. Sampling variables, such as time after sunset, varied in importance, with the highest influence shortly after sunset. We highlight the temporal variability in predictors of migration, emphasising it as a dynamic process, involving continuous decisions and adjustments rather than following fixed routes. We underscore the value of radar for capturing transitions between habitats while revealing key limitations and opportunities for understanding fine-scale migratory behaviour.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Animal Migration
*Birds/physiology
Seasons
Radar
RevDate: 2026-06-10
Genomic and physiological changes in a sexually selected and frugivorous bird radiation.
Current biology : CB pii:S0960-9822(26)00625-1 [Epub ahead of print].
Across diverse organisms, the strength and ecological drivers of sexual selection vary enormously. In birds, some of the families with the most elaborate plumage and display-such as birds of paradise, manakins, and cotingas-are also specialist frugivores, yet links between shifts in diet, changes in breeding system, and the evolution of elaborate traits are poorly understood. We focus on manakins, a radiation of frugivorous Neotropical birds well known for spectacular courtship rituals and colorful plumage, and present an integrative analysis of the transition in both diet and mating systems in this clade to examine the causes and consequences of strong sexual selection. In manakins, we find reduced genetic diversity on the Z sex chromosome relative to autosomes, a predicted signature of sexual selection. We also identify targets of positive selection across the manakin radiation, including genes related to muscle function, visual perception, and the transition to frugivory. Among these, we observe selection on sugar-sensing taste receptors, as well as on lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, implicated in the consumption of chemically defended fruits. For both, we confirm that selection signatures correspond to functional changes and infer the relative time of these changes, as well as of shifts in diet, breeding systems, and plumage coloration: elaborated traits evolved subsequent to changes in mating systems and after key physiological changes facilitating fruit-eating. Altogether, these results suggest that intensified frugivory set the stage for the radiation of one of the planet's most colorful and acrobatic avian lineages.
Additional Links: PMID-42269612
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42269612,
year = {2026},
author = {Balakrishnan, CN and Toda, Y and Ko, MC and Wirthlin, ME and Driver, RJ and Bolton, PE and Miller, ET and Mendez-Aranda, D and Dikow, RB and Frandsen, PB and Shogren, EH and Bennett, KFP and Anderson, HL and Bursell, MG and Cramer, JF and Sadanandan, KR and Nakagita, T and Pizo, MA and Caetano, DS and Anciães, M and Ferreira, CF and Berv, JS and Long, KM and Lim, HC and Moncrieff, AE and Kingston, SE and White Carreiro, ND and Friedrich, SR and Cuta, CA and Pease, JB and Nevue, AA and Tomlinson, C and Zimin, A and Louder, MIM and Brewer, MS and Bay, RA and Ruegg, K and Smith, TB and Ishimaru, Y and Pfenning, AR and Frankl-Vilches, C and Gahr, M and Mello, CV and Kimball, RT and Braun, EL and Blake, JG and Day, LB and Ryder, TB and Moore, IT and Horton, BM and Schlinger, BA and Fuxjager, MJ and Warren, WC and DuVal, EH and Boyle, WA and Loiselle, BA and Braun, MJ and Baldwin, MW},
title = {Genomic and physiological changes in a sexually selected and frugivorous bird radiation.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.05.021},
pmid = {42269612},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Across diverse organisms, the strength and ecological drivers of sexual selection vary enormously. In birds, some of the families with the most elaborate plumage and display-such as birds of paradise, manakins, and cotingas-are also specialist frugivores, yet links between shifts in diet, changes in breeding system, and the evolution of elaborate traits are poorly understood. We focus on manakins, a radiation of frugivorous Neotropical birds well known for spectacular courtship rituals and colorful plumage, and present an integrative analysis of the transition in both diet and mating systems in this clade to examine the causes and consequences of strong sexual selection. In manakins, we find reduced genetic diversity on the Z sex chromosome relative to autosomes, a predicted signature of sexual selection. We also identify targets of positive selection across the manakin radiation, including genes related to muscle function, visual perception, and the transition to frugivory. Among these, we observe selection on sugar-sensing taste receptors, as well as on lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, implicated in the consumption of chemically defended fruits. For both, we confirm that selection signatures correspond to functional changes and infer the relative time of these changes, as well as of shifts in diet, breeding systems, and plumage coloration: elaborated traits evolved subsequent to changes in mating systems and after key physiological changes facilitating fruit-eating. Altogether, these results suggest that intensified frugivory set the stage for the radiation of one of the planet's most colorful and acrobatic avian lineages.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Integrated Physiological and Omics Responses of Red Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Driven by Varying Light Spectrum: Insights Into Anthocyanin Synthesis.
Physiologia plantarum, 178(1):e70791.
The health benefits of anthocyanins for humans are well established. However, the influence of spectral light composition in plant factories on plant growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis remains poorly understood. This study selected red lettuce as a model plant due to its high anthocyanin content. Using a plant factory with artificial lighting, we applied three light treatments: control (R:B = 160:40), T1 (R:B:G = 130:20:50) and T2 (R:B:G = 75:75:50) to examine their effects on plant physiology and anthocyanin production. A multi-omics analysis further identified potential pathways and genes regulating anthocyanin synthesis under different light conditions. Plants under T2 had higher levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, and carotenoids. Conversely, fresh and dry biomass, total leaf area, chlorophyll content, and sugar levels were higher in red lettuce leaves grown under T1. In total, 110 anthocyanidin metabolites and 573 genes showed differential expression under different light combinations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a substantial increase in the activity of genes related to anthocyanin precursors, such as PAL and 4-CL, as well as structural genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis, including F3H, DFR, ANS, and UDP-glucosyltransferase, specifically under T2. Furthermore, our findings identified 14 transcription factors, comprising 4 bHLH, 3 MYB, 3 bZIP, and 4 WRKY genes, which could play crucial roles in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. These findings lay the groundwork for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in lettuce leaves. Moreover, they provide valuable insights that could contribute to advancements in leaf color genetics for lettuce production in plant factories.
Additional Links: PMID-41725240
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41725240,
year = {2026},
author = {Anum, H and Ishfaq, S and Yu, K and Krutovsky, KV and Cheng, R and Tong, Y},
title = {Integrated Physiological and Omics Responses of Red Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Driven by Varying Light Spectrum: Insights Into Anthocyanin Synthesis.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {178},
number = {1},
pages = {e70791},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70791},
pmid = {41725240},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {2022YFDZ0086//Key Research and Development Program, Department of Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China/ ; //Innovation Project of the Institute of Evironment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China/ ; },
mesh = {*Lactuca/radiation effects/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Anthocyanins/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Light ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/radiation effects ; Plant Leaves/radiation effects/metabolism/physiology ; Multiomics ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {The health benefits of anthocyanins for humans are well established. However, the influence of spectral light composition in plant factories on plant growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis remains poorly understood. This study selected red lettuce as a model plant due to its high anthocyanin content. Using a plant factory with artificial lighting, we applied three light treatments: control (R:B = 160:40), T1 (R:B:G = 130:20:50) and T2 (R:B:G = 75:75:50) to examine their effects on plant physiology and anthocyanin production. A multi-omics analysis further identified potential pathways and genes regulating anthocyanin synthesis under different light conditions. Plants under T2 had higher levels of anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, and carotenoids. Conversely, fresh and dry biomass, total leaf area, chlorophyll content, and sugar levels were higher in red lettuce leaves grown under T1. In total, 110 anthocyanidin metabolites and 573 genes showed differential expression under different light combinations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a substantial increase in the activity of genes related to anthocyanin precursors, such as PAL and 4-CL, as well as structural genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis, including F3H, DFR, ANS, and UDP-glucosyltransferase, specifically under T2. Furthermore, our findings identified 14 transcription factors, comprising 4 bHLH, 3 MYB, 3 bZIP, and 4 WRKY genes, which could play crucial roles in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. These findings lay the groundwork for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in lettuce leaves. Moreover, they provide valuable insights that could contribute to advancements in leaf color genetics for lettuce production in plant factories.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Lactuca/radiation effects/physiology/genetics/metabolism
*Anthocyanins/biosynthesis/metabolism
*Light
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/radiation effects
Plant Leaves/radiation effects/metabolism/physiology
Multiomics
Chlorophyll/metabolism
Gene Expression Profiling
Flavonoids/metabolism
Transcriptome
Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Global Disparities in Teletherapy Adoption: A Cross-Income Analysis of Mental Health Access.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 23(2):.
Mental health disorders affect nearly one billion people worldwide, yet treatment gaps exceed 75% in low- and middle-income countries. Teletherapy has emerged as a scalable solution, but its adoption differs sharply by economic context. This comparative ecological policy analysis used secondary aggregate data from WHO, World Bank, ITU, and national reports to examine teletherapy adoption in low-income (Nigeria, Kenya), middle-income (South Africa, India), and high-income countries (Norway, Canada). Descriptive statistics and simple linear regression were applied, with findings interpreted through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Diffusion of Innovations theory. High-income countries achieved widespread adoption (>70%), enabled by universal broadband, comprehensive regulation, and strong reimbursement. Middle-income countries showed moderate uptake (15-30%), constrained by rural-urban digital divides and inconsistent policies. Low-income countries reported minimal integration (<5%), limited by unreliable internet, severe workforce shortages, high data costs, and sociocultural barriers. Digital infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and mental health workforce density explained 78% of the cross-country variance in adoption rates (R[2] = 0.78). Equitable scale-up of teletherapy directly supports SDGs 3, 9, 10, and 17. Targeted investment and cross-income collaboration are essential to prevent digital mental health solutions from exacerbating existing inequities.
Additional Links: PMID-41752312
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41752312,
year = {2026},
author = {Alhassan, GN and Ozturkcan, A and Cavdar, SC},
title = {Global Disparities in Teletherapy Adoption: A Cross-Income Analysis of Mental Health Access.},
journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},
volume = {23},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41752312},
issn = {1660-4601},
mesh = {Humans ; Mental Health Teletherapy ; *Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data ; Developing Countries ; *Healthcare Disparities/statistics & numerical data ; *Mental Disorders/therapy ; Digital Health ; Socioeconomic Disparities in Health ; *Telemedicine ; },
abstract = {Mental health disorders affect nearly one billion people worldwide, yet treatment gaps exceed 75% in low- and middle-income countries. Teletherapy has emerged as a scalable solution, but its adoption differs sharply by economic context. This comparative ecological policy analysis used secondary aggregate data from WHO, World Bank, ITU, and national reports to examine teletherapy adoption in low-income (Nigeria, Kenya), middle-income (South Africa, India), and high-income countries (Norway, Canada). Descriptive statistics and simple linear regression were applied, with findings interpreted through the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Diffusion of Innovations theory. High-income countries achieved widespread adoption (>70%), enabled by universal broadband, comprehensive regulation, and strong reimbursement. Middle-income countries showed moderate uptake (15-30%), constrained by rural-urban digital divides and inconsistent policies. Low-income countries reported minimal integration (<5%), limited by unreliable internet, severe workforce shortages, high data costs, and sociocultural barriers. Digital infrastructure, regulatory maturity, and mental health workforce density explained 78% of the cross-country variance in adoption rates (R[2] = 0.78). Equitable scale-up of teletherapy directly supports SDGs 3, 9, 10, and 17. Targeted investment and cross-income collaboration are essential to prevent digital mental health solutions from exacerbating existing inequities.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Mental Health Teletherapy
*Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data
Developing Countries
*Healthcare Disparities/statistics & numerical data
*Mental Disorders/therapy
Digital Health
Socioeconomic Disparities in Health
*Telemedicine
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
In silico structural and dynamic stability analysis of an endo-1,4-β-xylanase from Agrobacterium sp. strain DKPNP3, isolated from the gut of Gonocephalum sp.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 119(3):.
Xylanases are one of the most important hydrolytic enzymes involved in plant hemicellulose degradation with potential industrial as well as ecological significance. This study presents a comprehensive characterization of an endo-1,4-β-xylanase enzyme from Agrobacterium sp. Strain DKPNP3 isolated from the beetle gut of Gonocephalum sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Bioinformatics analyses were performed, including physicochemical characterization, phylogenetic assessment, conserved domain identification, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, subcellular localization prediction, homology modeling, structural validation, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to assess the stability of this protein. The enzyme belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH10) with 339 amino acids, molecular weight of 37.8 kDa, and acidic in nature (pi 5.8). The homology model demonstrated high structural reliability, with an ERRAT score of 96.364% and a QMEAN Z-score of 0.59. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the enzyme is structurally stable in both its apo and ligand-bound forms. The apo form showed stability comparable to a well-characterized synthetic construct xylanase from Bacillus halodurans (GenBank accession number: MW311490), which was used as a positive control. Furthermore, simulations performed at multiple temperatures indicated retention of conformational integrity under different thermal conditions, suggesting potential thermostability. The intracellular nature of the enzyme, as predicted by in silico analysis, was confirmed by experimental validation using Congo Red-xylan agar assay and quantification with di nitro salicylic acid (DNSA).
Additional Links: PMID-41761014
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41761014,
year = {2026},
author = {Karmakar, D and Saha, P},
title = {In silico structural and dynamic stability analysis of an endo-1,4-β-xylanase from Agrobacterium sp. strain DKPNP3, isolated from the gut of Gonocephalum sp.},
journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek},
volume = {119},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41761014},
issn = {1572-9699},
mesh = {*Coleoptera/microbiology ; Animals ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Enzyme Stability ; *Agrobacterium/enzymology/isolation & purification/genetics/classification ; *Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protein Conformation ; Phylogeny ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Computational Biology ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Weight ; },
abstract = {Xylanases are one of the most important hydrolytic enzymes involved in plant hemicellulose degradation with potential industrial as well as ecological significance. This study presents a comprehensive characterization of an endo-1,4-β-xylanase enzyme from Agrobacterium sp. Strain DKPNP3 isolated from the beetle gut of Gonocephalum sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Bioinformatics analyses were performed, including physicochemical characterization, phylogenetic assessment, conserved domain identification, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, subcellular localization prediction, homology modeling, structural validation, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to assess the stability of this protein. The enzyme belongs to the glycoside hydrolase family 10 (GH10) with 339 amino acids, molecular weight of 37.8 kDa, and acidic in nature (pi 5.8). The homology model demonstrated high structural reliability, with an ERRAT score of 96.364% and a QMEAN Z-score of 0.59. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the enzyme is structurally stable in both its apo and ligand-bound forms. The apo form showed stability comparable to a well-characterized synthetic construct xylanase from Bacillus halodurans (GenBank accession number: MW311490), which was used as a positive control. Furthermore, simulations performed at multiple temperatures indicated retention of conformational integrity under different thermal conditions, suggesting potential thermostability. The intracellular nature of the enzyme, as predicted by in silico analysis, was confirmed by experimental validation using Congo Red-xylan agar assay and quantification with di nitro salicylic acid (DNSA).},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Coleoptera/microbiology
Animals
Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Enzyme Stability
*Agrobacterium/enzymology/isolation & purification/genetics/classification
*Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/chemistry/metabolism/genetics
Molecular Docking Simulation
Protein Conformation
Phylogeny
Amino Acid Sequence
Computational Biology
Computer Simulation
Models, Molecular
Molecular Weight
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-04-28
MIReVTD, a minimum information standard for reporting vector trait data.
GigaScience, 15:.
Vector-borne diseases pose a persistent and increasing challenge to human, animal, and agricultural systems globally. Mathematical modeling frameworks incorporating vector trait responses are powerful tools for assessing risk and predicting vector-borne disease impacts. Developing these frameworks and the reliability of their predictions hinge on the availability of experimentally derived vector trait data for model parameterization and inference of the biological mechanisms underpinning transmission. Trait experiments have generated data for many known and potential vector species, but the terminology used across studies is inconsistent, and accompanying publications may share data with insufficient detail for reuse or synthesis. The lack of data standardization can lead to information loss and prohibit analytical comprehensiveness. Here, we present MIReVTD, a Minimum Information standard for Reporting Vector Trait Data. Our reporting checklist balances completeness and labor intensity to make these important experimental data easier to find and reuse, without onerous effort for scientists generating the data. To illustrate the standard, we provide an example reproducing results from an Aedes aegypti mosquito study.
Additional Links: PMID-41762157
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41762157,
year = {2026},
author = {Ryan, SJ and Huxley, PJ and Lippi, CA and Pawar, S and Cator, L and Rund, SSC and Johnson, LR},
title = {MIReVTD, a minimum information standard for reporting vector trait data.},
journal = {GigaScience},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41762157},
issn = {2047-217X},
support = {2016265//NSF/ ; 2016264//NSF/ ; 2016282//NSF/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/genetics ; Humans ; *Mosquito Vectors/genetics ; *Computational Biology/methods ; *Software ; Vector Borne Diseases/transmission ; },
abstract = {Vector-borne diseases pose a persistent and increasing challenge to human, animal, and agricultural systems globally. Mathematical modeling frameworks incorporating vector trait responses are powerful tools for assessing risk and predicting vector-borne disease impacts. Developing these frameworks and the reliability of their predictions hinge on the availability of experimentally derived vector trait data for model parameterization and inference of the biological mechanisms underpinning transmission. Trait experiments have generated data for many known and potential vector species, but the terminology used across studies is inconsistent, and accompanying publications may share data with insufficient detail for reuse or synthesis. The lack of data standardization can lead to information loss and prohibit analytical comprehensiveness. Here, we present MIReVTD, a Minimum Information standard for Reporting Vector Trait Data. Our reporting checklist balances completeness and labor intensity to make these important experimental data easier to find and reuse, without onerous effort for scientists generating the data. To illustrate the standard, we provide an example reproducing results from an Aedes aegypti mosquito study.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Aedes/genetics
Humans
*Mosquito Vectors/genetics
*Computational Biology/methods
*Software
Vector Borne Diseases/transmission
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Bridging the gap: Prevotella/Segatella's impact on gut barrier function and advanced cultivation strategies to realize the uses in gut health.
Gut microbes, 18(1):2638001.
Prevotella and Segatella are important, keystone genera in the gut microbiota, renowned for their exceptional fiber-degrading capacity. These genera critically modulate gut microbial composition, influence host metabolic pathways and gut barrier function, and exhibit formidable ecological niche competitiveness, underscoring their pivotal role in gut ecosystem dynamics. While they dominate healthy gut microbiomes, their probiotic potential on epithelial barrier function has been disproportionately overlooked. This review comprehensively elucidates their microbial eco-profiling and the underlying molecular mechanisms in sustaining intestinal barrier function, considering physical, chemical, biological, and microbiological dimensions, thereby providing insights relevant to the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and metabolic disorders. Most importantly, we have summarized 23 current commercial and research-based isolation and cultivation approaches for Prevotella/Segatella, integrating the emerging high-throughput methodologies to expand the available strain repertoire. We also emphasize the critical need for subsequent research to characterize strain-specific functional profiles through multi-omics approaches, which will be essential for developing targeted and personalized microbial therapeutics.
Additional Links: PMID-41771790
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41771790,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, S and Zhou, T and Wang, X and Zhao, J and Wang, X},
title = {Bridging the gap: Prevotella/Segatella's impact on gut barrier function and advanced cultivation strategies to realize the uses in gut health.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2638001},
pmid = {41771790},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Humans ; Intestinal Barrier Function ; *Prevotella/growth & development/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Probiotics ; Animals ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {Prevotella and Segatella are important, keystone genera in the gut microbiota, renowned for their exceptional fiber-degrading capacity. These genera critically modulate gut microbial composition, influence host metabolic pathways and gut barrier function, and exhibit formidable ecological niche competitiveness, underscoring their pivotal role in gut ecosystem dynamics. While they dominate healthy gut microbiomes, their probiotic potential on epithelial barrier function has been disproportionately overlooked. This review comprehensively elucidates their microbial eco-profiling and the underlying molecular mechanisms in sustaining intestinal barrier function, considering physical, chemical, biological, and microbiological dimensions, thereby providing insights relevant to the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and metabolic disorders. Most importantly, we have summarized 23 current commercial and research-based isolation and cultivation approaches for Prevotella/Segatella, integrating the emerging high-throughput methodologies to expand the available strain repertoire. We also emphasize the critical need for subsequent research to characterize strain-specific functional profiles through multi-omics approaches, which will be essential for developing targeted and personalized microbial therapeutics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Intestinal Barrier Function
*Prevotella/growth & development/physiology/isolation & purification/genetics
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Probiotics
Animals
Multiomics
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Integrative -omics approaches reveal mechanisms of combined heat stress and extreme hypoxia tolerance in a Cerambycid beetle larva.
The Journal of experimental biology, 229(6):.
Atmospheric oxygen, which is essential for energy metabolism, can directly influence an animal's heat tolerance by affecting oxygen transport processes, especially in those living in oxygen-poor environments such as plant tissues, underground or aquatic environments. Yet, oxygen availability and heat tolerance are rarely studied together, limiting our ability to predict their combined effects on insect performance. This study examines the larval tolerance of a large xylophagous cerambycid beetle Cacosceles newmannii to combined hypoxic and thermal stress using performance assays (duration of righting response) coupled with metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. Metabolomic profiling showed that most metabolites were downregulated in the body but upregulated in the haemolymph as stress increased. Transcriptomic profiles clustered primarily by temperature (25°C vs 35°C), independent of oxygen level. Cacosceles newmannii appeared capable of modulating its performance to reduce the energy costs and physiological damage induced by hypoxia. This suggested a high baseline hypoxia tolerance rather than a rapid plastic (induced) physiological hypoxia response, probably due to the species' endophytic lifestyle. Conversely, thermal stress led to a predictable increase in metabolic activity but did not markedly affect performance, triggering adjustments to maintain cellular functions while limiting the impact of stresses expected under conditions of high temperature, such as desiccation. In short, our study highlights the distinct metabolic pathways mobilised to cope with hypoxic versus thermal stress, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches in understanding insect responses to environmental challenges. These findings have significant implications for understanding the ecology of the species, with applications for pest management and sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.
Additional Links: PMID-41772970
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41772970,
year = {2026},
author = {Javal, M and Lehmann, P and Bierman, A and Koštál, V and Moos, M and Smit, C and Vogel, H and Conlong, DE and Terblanche, JS},
title = {Integrative -omics approaches reveal mechanisms of combined heat stress and extreme hypoxia tolerance in a Cerambycid beetle larva.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {229},
number = {6},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.251552},
pmid = {41772970},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {//Stellenbosch University/ ; //South African Sugarcane Research Institute/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/physiology/growth & development/genetics ; Larva/physiology/growth & development/genetics ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; *Metabolome ; Multiomics ; *Oxygen/metabolism ; *Thermotolerance ; Hot Temperature ; },
abstract = {Atmospheric oxygen, which is essential for energy metabolism, can directly influence an animal's heat tolerance by affecting oxygen transport processes, especially in those living in oxygen-poor environments such as plant tissues, underground or aquatic environments. Yet, oxygen availability and heat tolerance are rarely studied together, limiting our ability to predict their combined effects on insect performance. This study examines the larval tolerance of a large xylophagous cerambycid beetle Cacosceles newmannii to combined hypoxic and thermal stress using performance assays (duration of righting response) coupled with metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. Metabolomic profiling showed that most metabolites were downregulated in the body but upregulated in the haemolymph as stress increased. Transcriptomic profiles clustered primarily by temperature (25°C vs 35°C), independent of oxygen level. Cacosceles newmannii appeared capable of modulating its performance to reduce the energy costs and physiological damage induced by hypoxia. This suggested a high baseline hypoxia tolerance rather than a rapid plastic (induced) physiological hypoxia response, probably due to the species' endophytic lifestyle. Conversely, thermal stress led to a predictable increase in metabolic activity but did not markedly affect performance, triggering adjustments to maintain cellular functions while limiting the impact of stresses expected under conditions of high temperature, such as desiccation. In short, our study highlights the distinct metabolic pathways mobilised to cope with hypoxic versus thermal stress, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches in understanding insect responses to environmental challenges. These findings have significant implications for understanding the ecology of the species, with applications for pest management and sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Coleoptera/physiology/growth & development/genetics
Larva/physiology/growth & development/genetics
*Heat-Shock Response
Transcriptome
Metabolomics
*Metabolome
Multiomics
*Oxygen/metabolism
*Thermotolerance
Hot Temperature
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Rapid assessment of phytoplankton assemblages using Next Generation Sequencing and Barcode of Life Data System: a widely applicable HAB-ID toolkit for detecting and monitoring biodiversity loss and harmful algal blooms.
PeerJ, 14:e20747.
Harmful algal blooms have important implications for the health, functioning, and services of aquatic ecosystems. Our ability to detect and monitor these events is often challenged by the lack of rapid and cost-effective methods to identify bloom-forming organisms and their potential for toxin production. Here, we developed and applied a combination of DNA barcoding and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for the rapid assessment of phytoplankton community composition with a focus on two important indicators of ecosystem health: toxigenic bloom-forming cyanobacteria and impaired planktonic biodiversity. To develop this molecular toolset for identification of cyanobacterial and algal species present in HABs (harmful algal blooms), hereafter called HAB-ID, we achieved three goals: creating a validated reference database, optimizing molecular protocols, and developing original bioinformatics pipeline tailored to uncertainty of algal taxonomy. The BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) 16S reference database from cultures of 211 cyanobacterial and algal strains representing 102 species with particular focus on bloom and toxin producing taxa was constructed with Sanger sequencing and further refined using Single Molecule Real Time Sequencing (SMRT-sequencing). Using the new reference database of 16S rDNA sequences and constructed mock communities of mixed strains for protocol validation, we developed new NGS primer sets which can recover 16S from both cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algal chloroplasts. We also developed DNA extraction protocols for cultured algal strains and environmental samples, which match commercial kit performance and offer a cost-efficient solution for large scale ecological assessments of harmful blooms while giving benefits of reproducibility and increased accessibility. Our innovative bioinformatics pipeline was designed to handle low taxonomic resolution for problematic genera of cyanobacteria such as the Anabaena-Aphanizomenon-Dolichospermum complex, two clusters of Anabaena (I and II), Planktothrix and Microcystis. This newly developed HAB-ID toolset was further validated by applying it to assess cyanobacterial and algal composition in field samples from waterbodies with recurrent HABs events.
Additional Links: PMID-41777690
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@article {pmid41777690,
year = {2026},
author = {Ivanova, NV and Watson, LC and Comte, J and Bessonov, K and Abrahamyan, A and Crevecoeur, S and Watson, SB},
title = {Rapid assessment of phytoplankton assemblages using Next Generation Sequencing and Barcode of Life Data System: a widely applicable HAB-ID toolkit for detecting and monitoring biodiversity loss and harmful algal blooms.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {e20747},
pmid = {41777690},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Phytoplankton/genetics/classification ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; *Harmful Algal Bloom ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; *Biodiversity ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics/classification ; Computational Biology/methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {Harmful algal blooms have important implications for the health, functioning, and services of aquatic ecosystems. Our ability to detect and monitor these events is often challenged by the lack of rapid and cost-effective methods to identify bloom-forming organisms and their potential for toxin production. Here, we developed and applied a combination of DNA barcoding and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for the rapid assessment of phytoplankton community composition with a focus on two important indicators of ecosystem health: toxigenic bloom-forming cyanobacteria and impaired planktonic biodiversity. To develop this molecular toolset for identification of cyanobacterial and algal species present in HABs (harmful algal blooms), hereafter called HAB-ID, we achieved three goals: creating a validated reference database, optimizing molecular protocols, and developing original bioinformatics pipeline tailored to uncertainty of algal taxonomy. The BOLD (Barcode of Life Data System) 16S reference database from cultures of 211 cyanobacterial and algal strains representing 102 species with particular focus on bloom and toxin producing taxa was constructed with Sanger sequencing and further refined using Single Molecule Real Time Sequencing (SMRT-sequencing). Using the new reference database of 16S rDNA sequences and constructed mock communities of mixed strains for protocol validation, we developed new NGS primer sets which can recover 16S from both cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algal chloroplasts. We also developed DNA extraction protocols for cultured algal strains and environmental samples, which match commercial kit performance and offer a cost-efficient solution for large scale ecological assessments of harmful blooms while giving benefits of reproducibility and increased accessibility. Our innovative bioinformatics pipeline was designed to handle low taxonomic resolution for problematic genera of cyanobacteria such as the Anabaena-Aphanizomenon-Dolichospermum complex, two clusters of Anabaena (I and II), Planktothrix and Microcystis. This newly developed HAB-ID toolset was further validated by applying it to assess cyanobacterial and algal composition in field samples from waterbodies with recurrent HABs events.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Phytoplankton/genetics/classification
*High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods
*Harmful Algal Bloom
*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods
*Biodiversity
*Cyanobacteria/genetics/classification
Computational Biology/methods
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Contrastive learning for passive acoustic monitoring: A framework for sound source discovery and cross-site comparison in marine soundscapes.
PLoS computational biology, 22(3):e1014005.
Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a powerful tool for studying marine biodiversity, but large-scale analysis of underwater recordings is constrained by noise, overlapping signals, and limited labeled data. Here, we present a scalable, unsupervised contrastive learning framework for marine soundscapes. Using a large PAM dataset spanning multiple biogeographies, we show that the proposed approach organizes recordings into clusters with well-defined internal structure, as assessed using intrinsic clustering metrics and within-cluster similarity. The resulting clusters reveal recurring acoustic patterns that correspond to broad sound-source categories, including biological sounds such as fish calls and choruses, and anthropogenic sounds such as vessel noise, without explicitly enforcing these distinctions during training. Compared with established approaches, including cepstral features, variational autoencoders, and supervised pipelines, the proposed framework produces embeddings that support more compact and stable unsupervised clustering while preserving fine-scale acoustic variation beyond predefined species labels. By learning a shared representation across recordings from multiple sites and years, we examine the reproducibility of acoustic patterns across locations and identify both site-shared and site-specific sound signatures. Although the method is not designed to recover coarse species labels, it enables label-efficient analysis by reducing reliance on manual annotation and supporting exploratory characterization of complex marine soundscapes. Together, these results highlight multi-positive contrastive learning with a teacher network and acoustically informed augmentations as an effective strategy for scalable, discovery-driven analysis of passive acoustic monitoring data.
Additional Links: PMID-41790862
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41790862,
year = {2026},
author = {Acs, R and Ibrahim, A and Zhuang, H and Chérubin, LM},
title = {Contrastive learning for passive acoustic monitoring: A framework for sound source discovery and cross-site comparison in marine soundscapes.},
journal = {PLoS computational biology},
volume = {22},
number = {3},
pages = {e1014005},
pmid = {41790862},
issn = {1553-7358},
mesh = {*Acoustics ; Animals ; Clustering Algorithms ; *Sound ; Computational Biology ; *Environmental Monitoring/methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Sound Spectrography/methods ; Fishes/physiology ; Autoencoder ; Marine Biology/methods ; Biodiversity ; *Machine Learning ; Reproducibility of Results ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; },
abstract = {Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a powerful tool for studying marine biodiversity, but large-scale analysis of underwater recordings is constrained by noise, overlapping signals, and limited labeled data. Here, we present a scalable, unsupervised contrastive learning framework for marine soundscapes. Using a large PAM dataset spanning multiple biogeographies, we show that the proposed approach organizes recordings into clusters with well-defined internal structure, as assessed using intrinsic clustering metrics and within-cluster similarity. The resulting clusters reveal recurring acoustic patterns that correspond to broad sound-source categories, including biological sounds such as fish calls and choruses, and anthropogenic sounds such as vessel noise, without explicitly enforcing these distinctions during training. Compared with established approaches, including cepstral features, variational autoencoders, and supervised pipelines, the proposed framework produces embeddings that support more compact and stable unsupervised clustering while preserving fine-scale acoustic variation beyond predefined species labels. By learning a shared representation across recordings from multiple sites and years, we examine the reproducibility of acoustic patterns across locations and identify both site-shared and site-specific sound signatures. Although the method is not designed to recover coarse species labels, it enables label-efficient analysis by reducing reliance on manual annotation and supporting exploratory characterization of complex marine soundscapes. Together, these results highlight multi-positive contrastive learning with a teacher network and acoustically informed augmentations as an effective strategy for scalable, discovery-driven analysis of passive acoustic monitoring data.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Acoustics
Animals
Clustering Algorithms
*Sound
Computational Biology
*Environmental Monitoring/methods
Cluster Analysis
Sound Spectrography/methods
Fishes/physiology
Autoencoder
Marine Biology/methods
Biodiversity
*Machine Learning
Reproducibility of Results
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Aquatic Organisms/physiology
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-05-19
Multifaceted interventions to enhance patient's adherence to self-monitoring blood glucose: A systematic review.
Primary care diabetes, 20(3):283-291.
PURPOSE: Routine Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is essential for achieving glycemic targets and hence reducing diabetes-related complications. However, patient's adherence to SMBG remains suboptimal worldwide. This systematic review aims to identify interventions that enhance SMBG adherence among patients with diabetes mellitus.
METHODS: An extensive search of relevant literature was conducted using two databases (Scopus and Web of Science (WoS)) to identify the significant studies. Only English-language articles published between 2015 and 2024 were included in this review. Quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. A narrative analysis approach was employed, utilizing the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) as the analytical framework for data interpretation.
FINDINGS: A total of 24 articles resulted in a total of 38 interventions were included in the review. The interventions addressed four levels of SEM: intrapersonal (i.e., education and digital health tools to enhance knowledge and skills), interpersonal (i.e., family involvement and guidance by healthcare workers), community (i.e., involvement of community health workers and support group) and policy (i.e., reward or incentives for SMBG). Among the 38 interventions, 27 were implemented at multiple levels and exhibited improvement in SMBG frequency among the patients.
CONCLUSION: A suitable approach is needed to strengthen SMBG empowerment among patients with diabetes. These findings highlighted that interventions that targeted multiple levels of SEM are more likely to promote SMBG adherence among patients with diabetes and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.
Additional Links: PMID-41794632
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41794632,
year = {2026},
author = {Salamat, NA and Zulkifli, NW and Wong, YY and Karuppannan, M and Wahab, MSA},
title = {Multifaceted interventions to enhance patient's adherence to self-monitoring blood glucose: A systematic review.},
journal = {Primary care diabetes},
volume = {20},
number = {3},
pages = {283-291},
doi = {10.1016/j.pcd.2026.03.001},
pmid = {41794632},
issn = {1878-0210},
mesh = {Humans ; *Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ; Adherence Interventions ; *Blood Glucose/metabolism/drug effects ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; *Patient Compliance ; *Diabetes Mellitus/blood/diagnosis/psychology ; Biomarkers/blood ; *Glycemic Control ; Patient Education as Topic ; Digital Health ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: Routine Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is essential for achieving glycemic targets and hence reducing diabetes-related complications. However, patient's adherence to SMBG remains suboptimal worldwide. This systematic review aims to identify interventions that enhance SMBG adherence among patients with diabetes mellitus.
METHODS: An extensive search of relevant literature was conducted using two databases (Scopus and Web of Science (WoS)) to identify the significant studies. Only English-language articles published between 2015 and 2024 were included in this review. Quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. A narrative analysis approach was employed, utilizing the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) as the analytical framework for data interpretation.
FINDINGS: A total of 24 articles resulted in a total of 38 interventions were included in the review. The interventions addressed four levels of SEM: intrapersonal (i.e., education and digital health tools to enhance knowledge and skills), interpersonal (i.e., family involvement and guidance by healthcare workers), community (i.e., involvement of community health workers and support group) and policy (i.e., reward or incentives for SMBG). Among the 38 interventions, 27 were implemented at multiple levels and exhibited improvement in SMBG frequency among the patients.
CONCLUSION: A suitable approach is needed to strengthen SMBG empowerment among patients with diabetes. These findings highlighted that interventions that targeted multiple levels of SEM are more likely to promote SMBG adherence among patients with diabetes and ultimately lead to better health outcomes.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
Adherence Interventions
*Blood Glucose/metabolism/drug effects
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
*Patient Compliance
*Diabetes Mellitus/blood/diagnosis/psychology
Biomarkers/blood
*Glycemic Control
Patient Education as Topic
Digital Health
Treatment Outcome
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-03-17
A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions.
Scientific data, 13(1):.
Bees are one of the most important pollinators in terrestrial ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and food production. However, global knowledge of their interactions with host plants remains limited. To address this, we describe and refine a subset of the Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI) database focused on bee-plant interactions. We updated taxonomy using current checklists and enhanced the dataset with metadata on geography, endemism, and human uses of plants. The resulting dataset includes 981,982 unique interaction records between 5,537 bee species and 12,699 plant taxa. Despite its scale, the dataset is affected by strong taxonomic and geographic biases. It covers only 26% of described bee species and 4% of flowering plant taxa-primarily those used by humans-and is heavily skewed toward North America and Western Europe. Nevertheless, GloBI represents a valuable resource for incorporating bee-plant interactions into biodiversity and conservation-oriented research and represents a considerable advance in our current knowledge.
Additional Links: PMID-41794860
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41794860,
year = {2026},
author = {Noori, S and Hughes, AC and Vasconcelos, TNC and Ascher, JS and Miller, JT and Gaugel, SM and Ostwald, MM and Dorey, JB and Gonzalez, VH and Martins, AC and Orr, MC and Seltmann, KC},
title = {A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41794860},
issn = {2052-4463},
support = {DBI-2101851//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DBI-2102006//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; },
mesh = {Bees/physiology/classification ; Animals ; *Pollination ; *Plants/classification ; Biodiversity ; Biocuration ; },
abstract = {Bees are one of the most important pollinators in terrestrial ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and food production. However, global knowledge of their interactions with host plants remains limited. To address this, we describe and refine a subset of the Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI) database focused on bee-plant interactions. We updated taxonomy using current checklists and enhanced the dataset with metadata on geography, endemism, and human uses of plants. The resulting dataset includes 981,982 unique interaction records between 5,537 bee species and 12,699 plant taxa. Despite its scale, the dataset is affected by strong taxonomic and geographic biases. It covers only 26% of described bee species and 4% of flowering plant taxa-primarily those used by humans-and is heavily skewed toward North America and Western Europe. Nevertheless, GloBI represents a valuable resource for incorporating bee-plant interactions into biodiversity and conservation-oriented research and represents a considerable advance in our current knowledge.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Bees/physiology/classification
Animals
*Pollination
*Plants/classification
Biodiversity
Biocuration
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Water kefir as a paradigm for multi-omics and genome-scale metabolic modelling in fermented food.
NPJ biofilms and microbiomes, 12(1):.
Water Kefir is a plant-based fermented beverage, traditionally produced on a small scale by fermenting a sucrose solution with fresh or dried fruits, using water kefir grains as inoculum. The grains are relatively simple communities that consist of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, rendering them a paradigm for studying microbial ecology and interspecies interactions. Recently, water kefir has attracted growing research and industrial interest due to its potential and perceived health benefits. Owing to its increasing popularity, there is a growing demand for controlled and standardised production on an industrial scale. However, industrial-scale production remains a challenge due to the limited knowledge of the biological interactions of the microbial consortia and the lack of defined starter cultures. This review examines the current understanding of microbial and metabolic complexity of water kefir obtained from various omics studies. It further investigates the potential of an integrated multi-omics approach to elucidate mechanisms of microbial interactions and provides a roadmap for conducting multi-omics studies on fermented foods using water kefir as an example. This review also explores the potential application of genome-scale metabolic modelling in the development of functional and defined microbial communities for food fermentation. It identifies key challenges associated with such modelling and provides perspectives to address them. Finally, this review briefly discusses the regulatory challenges associated with the use of defined communities in food systems.
Additional Links: PMID-41986376
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Citation:
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@article {pmid41986376,
year = {2026},
author = {Khan, A and Breselge, S and O'Mahony, AK and O'Sullivan, O and Cotter, PD and McCarthy, SN and Mahony, J and Kenny, JG},
title = {Water kefir as a paradigm for multi-omics and genome-scale metabolic modelling in fermented food.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41986376},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {101060218//European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program/ ; },
mesh = {*Kefir/microbiology ; Multiomics ; Fermentation ; *Food Microbiology ; *Fermented Foods/microbiology ; Genomics ; Models, Biological ; },
abstract = {Water Kefir is a plant-based fermented beverage, traditionally produced on a small scale by fermenting a sucrose solution with fresh or dried fruits, using water kefir grains as inoculum. The grains are relatively simple communities that consist of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, rendering them a paradigm for studying microbial ecology and interspecies interactions. Recently, water kefir has attracted growing research and industrial interest due to its potential and perceived health benefits. Owing to its increasing popularity, there is a growing demand for controlled and standardised production on an industrial scale. However, industrial-scale production remains a challenge due to the limited knowledge of the biological interactions of the microbial consortia and the lack of defined starter cultures. This review examines the current understanding of microbial and metabolic complexity of water kefir obtained from various omics studies. It further investigates the potential of an integrated multi-omics approach to elucidate mechanisms of microbial interactions and provides a roadmap for conducting multi-omics studies on fermented foods using water kefir as an example. This review also explores the potential application of genome-scale metabolic modelling in the development of functional and defined microbial communities for food fermentation. It identifies key challenges associated with such modelling and provides perspectives to address them. Finally, this review briefly discusses the regulatory challenges associated with the use of defined communities in food systems.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Kefir/microbiology
Multiomics
Fermentation
*Food Microbiology
*Fermented Foods/microbiology
Genomics
Models, Biological
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Experimental and computational approaches for deep metabolome annotation with application to the ecotoxicological model organism Daphnia magna.
GigaScience, 15:.
BACKGROUND: Comprehensively characterizing the metabolomes of model organisms with high coverage and confidence is a critical step towards interpreting the metabolic basis of human and environmental health, yet there are formidable challenges involved in annotating metabolomes. A wide range of genotypes and phenotypes should be sampled with multiple complementary analytical approaches to cover the large and dynamic biochemical space they exhibit. In addition, multiple computational tools and approaches are required to annotate the metabolites from raw analytical data.
RESULTS: To address this, we developed the deep metabolome annotation (DMA) workflow. Applied to the ecological sentinel species, Daphnia magna, a pooled sample comprising 10 distinct strains exposed to both normal and stressed environmental conditions was extracted and systematically physicochemically separated via solid-phase extraction and liquid- and gas-chromatography prior to extensive multiple-stage mass spectrometric fragmentation, generating >8,000 raw data files, and supplemented by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An extensive Galaxy-based computational approach was built to analyse these data, comprising >30 tools. The overall DMA efforts resulted in 8,181 annotated polar metabolites and lipids in D. magna, with the raw and processed data, tools, and annotations disseminated freely via public data repositories and a custom web-based interface to maximize reusability.
CONCLUSIONS: The DMA workflow has generated one of the largest metabolome annotation datasets for any non-human model organism and provides the first in-depth characterization of the D. magna metabolome, serving as both a resource and a valuable catalyst for future DMA studies of other model organisms.
Additional Links: PMID-42104964
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42104964,
year = {2026},
author = {Lawson, TN and Jones, MR and Chetwynd, AJ and Sostare, E and Weidt, S and Mistrik, R and Dunn, WB and Weber, RJM and Viant, MR},
title = {Experimental and computational approaches for deep metabolome annotation with application to the ecotoxicological model organism Daphnia magna.},
journal = {GigaScience},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42104964},
issn = {2047-217X},
support = {NE/J017442/1//NERC/ ; NE/L002493/1//NERC/ ; 965406//European Union/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Daphnia magna/metabolism/genetics ; *Metabolome ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Computational Biology/methods ; *Ecotoxicology/methods ; *Daphnia/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Comprehensively characterizing the metabolomes of model organisms with high coverage and confidence is a critical step towards interpreting the metabolic basis of human and environmental health, yet there are formidable challenges involved in annotating metabolomes. A wide range of genotypes and phenotypes should be sampled with multiple complementary analytical approaches to cover the large and dynamic biochemical space they exhibit. In addition, multiple computational tools and approaches are required to annotate the metabolites from raw analytical data.
RESULTS: To address this, we developed the deep metabolome annotation (DMA) workflow. Applied to the ecological sentinel species, Daphnia magna, a pooled sample comprising 10 distinct strains exposed to both normal and stressed environmental conditions was extracted and systematically physicochemically separated via solid-phase extraction and liquid- and gas-chromatography prior to extensive multiple-stage mass spectrometric fragmentation, generating >8,000 raw data files, and supplemented by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. An extensive Galaxy-based computational approach was built to analyse these data, comprising >30 tools. The overall DMA efforts resulted in 8,181 annotated polar metabolites and lipids in D. magna, with the raw and processed data, tools, and annotations disseminated freely via public data repositories and a custom web-based interface to maximize reusability.
CONCLUSIONS: The DMA workflow has generated one of the largest metabolome annotation datasets for any non-human model organism and provides the first in-depth characterization of the D. magna metabolome, serving as both a resource and a valuable catalyst for future DMA studies of other model organisms.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Daphnia magna/metabolism/genetics
*Metabolome
*Metabolomics/methods
*Computational Biology/methods
*Ecotoxicology/methods
*Daphnia/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
[Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021: an analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Database].
[Zhonghua yan ke za zhi] Chinese journal of ophthalmology, 62(6):425-433.
Objective: To investigate the prevalence and etiologies of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide references for formulating prevention and treatment strategies for blindness and visual impairment. Methods: This study was an ecological trend study based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Data on the number of cases, prevalence, age-standardized prevalence and etiologies of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted. The prevalence and changes in etiological composition in different genders and age groups were analyzed. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC). Decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contributions of population aging, population growth and epidemiological change to the changes in the number of cases. Results: In 2021, the number of cases of blindness, severe visual impairment and moderate visual impairment in China was 8.768 2 million, 4.178 9 million and 47.757 2 million, respectively, which increased by 64.90%, 129.47% and 139.80% compared with 1990, with AAPCs of 1.70%, 2.87% and 2.89%, respectively (all P<0.05). The age-standardized prevalence rates were 465.14 per 100 000 population, 214.09 per 100 000 population and 2 501.72 per 100 000 population, respectively, which showed changes of -28.63%, -8.73% and+7.74% compared with 1990, with AAPCs of -1.03% (P<0.05), -0.15% (P=0.281) and 0.28% (P<0.05), respectively. The prevalence of visual impairment was higher in females than in males. In 2021, the highest number of cases of blindness and severe visual impairment was in the 70-74-year age group; the highest number of cases of moderate visual impairment was in the 65-69-year age group. Population aging contributed 133.40%, 87.49% and 68.54% to the changes in the number of cases of blindness, severe visual impairment and moderate visual impairment, respectively; population growth contributed 39.82%, 23.78% and 22.18%, respectively; epidemiological change contributed -73.22%, -10.56% and 9.28%, respectively. Refractive error and cataract were the top two etiologies of blindness and visual impairment. Conclusion: The number of cases of blindness and visual impairment in China showed an upward trend from 1990 to 2021. With population growth and aging, the disease burden will further increase. Focusing on cataract in the elderly and refractive error in children and adolescents is an important strategy to reduce the burden of blindness and visual impairment in China.
Additional Links: PMID-42252228
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42252228,
year = {2026},
author = {Yu, LR and Zhou, LH and Zhang, CC and Lu, Y and Gong, Q and Duan, OW and Yuan, Q},
title = {[Prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021: an analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Database].},
journal = {[Zhonghua yan ke za zhi] Chinese journal of ophthalmology},
volume = {62},
number = {6},
pages = {425-433},
doi = {10.3760/cma.j.cn112142-20260330-00128},
pmid = {42252228},
issn = {0412-4081},
support = {2022BCA044//Hubei Provincial Key Research and Development Program/ ; WJ2023Z006//Scientific Research Project of Hubei Provincial Health Commission/ ; },
mesh = {China/epidemiology ; *Blindness/epidemiology/etiology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Female ; Male ; Global Burden of Disease ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Adolescent ; Child ; Databases, Factual ; Young Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Aged, 80 and over ; },
abstract = {Objective: To investigate the prevalence and etiologies of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide references for formulating prevention and treatment strategies for blindness and visual impairment. Methods: This study was an ecological trend study based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Data on the number of cases, prevalence, age-standardized prevalence and etiologies of blindness and visual impairment in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted. The prevalence and changes in etiological composition in different genders and age groups were analyzed. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC). Decomposition analysis was performed to quantify the contributions of population aging, population growth and epidemiological change to the changes in the number of cases. Results: In 2021, the number of cases of blindness, severe visual impairment and moderate visual impairment in China was 8.768 2 million, 4.178 9 million and 47.757 2 million, respectively, which increased by 64.90%, 129.47% and 139.80% compared with 1990, with AAPCs of 1.70%, 2.87% and 2.89%, respectively (all P<0.05). The age-standardized prevalence rates were 465.14 per 100 000 population, 214.09 per 100 000 population and 2 501.72 per 100 000 population, respectively, which showed changes of -28.63%, -8.73% and+7.74% compared with 1990, with AAPCs of -1.03% (P<0.05), -0.15% (P=0.281) and 0.28% (P<0.05), respectively. The prevalence of visual impairment was higher in females than in males. In 2021, the highest number of cases of blindness and severe visual impairment was in the 70-74-year age group; the highest number of cases of moderate visual impairment was in the 65-69-year age group. Population aging contributed 133.40%, 87.49% and 68.54% to the changes in the number of cases of blindness, severe visual impairment and moderate visual impairment, respectively; population growth contributed 39.82%, 23.78% and 22.18%, respectively; epidemiological change contributed -73.22%, -10.56% and 9.28%, respectively. Refractive error and cataract were the top two etiologies of blindness and visual impairment. Conclusion: The number of cases of blindness and visual impairment in China showed an upward trend from 1990 to 2021. With population growth and aging, the disease burden will further increase. Focusing on cataract in the elderly and refractive error in children and adolescents is an important strategy to reduce the burden of blindness and visual impairment in China.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
China/epidemiology
*Blindness/epidemiology/etiology
Humans
Prevalence
Female
Male
Global Burden of Disease
Middle Aged
Adult
Aged
Adolescent
Child
Databases, Factual
Young Adult
Child, Preschool
Infant
Aged, 80 and over
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Developing a digital ecological momentary assessment tool for 'real time' evaluation in implementation science: testing through evaluation of a novel digital social prescribing intervention.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1718302.
INTRODUCTION: Social prescribing is increasingly adopted as a strategy to address psychosocial determinants of health, yet evaluating complex community-based interventions remains methodologically challenging. Digital ecological momentary assessment (EMA) offers potential for capturing real-time, multi-modal data in naturalistic settings. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of a novel digital EMA approach integrating wearable-derived physiological data with repeated self-report wellbeing measures within a digital social prescribing (DSP) context. Despite increasing interest in EMA and wearable technologies, their integration within social prescribing evaluations remains underexplored.
METHODS: A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted alongside a four-week online chair-based yoga programme delivered through a social prescribing service in East London, UK. Participants wore smartwatches to collect physiological indicators (stress, sleep, heart rate) and completed twice-daily wellbeing assessments using an adapted Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Quantitative data were analysed using exploratory linear mixed-effects models to examine data behaviour and integration within the intensive longitudinal dataset. Participant workshops explored feasibility and acceptability.
RESULTS: Thirteen participants were recruited, with eleven included in quantitative analyses. The study indicated that integrating wearable and self-report EMA data within routine-style DSP delivery is feasible, although challenges were identified regarding device synchronisation, questionnaire adherence, and missing data. Exploratory modelling illustrated substantial within- and between-person variability in wellbeing trajectories and provided an indication of the feasibility of analysing intensive longitudinal EMA data, with no consistent associations between same-day yoga participation and physiological stress markers. Qualitative findings suggested that participants found the approach acceptable and highlighted factors influencing engagement, including flexibility, motivation, and perceived burden.
CONCLUSION: Integrated wearable and self-report EMA methodologies can be deployed in DSP contexts, but their implementation is associated with important methodological and technical challenges. Findings highlight the need for validated EMA measures, improved data infrastructure, and careful management of participant burden. While not designed to assess intervention effectiveness, this study provides one of the first applied demonstrations of integrating wearable-derived physiological data with EMA self-report measures in a DSP context, offering a methodological foundation for real-time evaluation of complex community-based health interventions.
Additional Links: PMID-42254647
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42254647,
year = {2026},
author = {Tucker, I and Bertotti, M and Hanafiah, A and Hossain, S and Watts, P and Ahad, MAR},
title = {Developing a digital ecological momentary assessment tool for 'real time' evaluation in implementation science: testing through evaluation of a novel digital social prescribing intervention.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1718302},
pmid = {42254647},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *Social Prescribing ; Female ; Male ; *Ecological Momentary Assessment ; Adult ; Feasibility Studies ; London ; Middle Aged ; Digital Health ; *Yoga ; Self Report ; Wearable Electronic Devices ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Social prescribing is increasingly adopted as a strategy to address psychosocial determinants of health, yet evaluating complex community-based interventions remains methodologically challenging. Digital ecological momentary assessment (EMA) offers potential for capturing real-time, multi-modal data in naturalistic settings. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of a novel digital EMA approach integrating wearable-derived physiological data with repeated self-report wellbeing measures within a digital social prescribing (DSP) context. Despite increasing interest in EMA and wearable technologies, their integration within social prescribing evaluations remains underexplored.
METHODS: A mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted alongside a four-week online chair-based yoga programme delivered through a social prescribing service in East London, UK. Participants wore smartwatches to collect physiological indicators (stress, sleep, heart rate) and completed twice-daily wellbeing assessments using an adapted Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Quantitative data were analysed using exploratory linear mixed-effects models to examine data behaviour and integration within the intensive longitudinal dataset. Participant workshops explored feasibility and acceptability.
RESULTS: Thirteen participants were recruited, with eleven included in quantitative analyses. The study indicated that integrating wearable and self-report EMA data within routine-style DSP delivery is feasible, although challenges were identified regarding device synchronisation, questionnaire adherence, and missing data. Exploratory modelling illustrated substantial within- and between-person variability in wellbeing trajectories and provided an indication of the feasibility of analysing intensive longitudinal EMA data, with no consistent associations between same-day yoga participation and physiological stress markers. Qualitative findings suggested that participants found the approach acceptable and highlighted factors influencing engagement, including flexibility, motivation, and perceived burden.
CONCLUSION: Integrated wearable and self-report EMA methodologies can be deployed in DSP contexts, but their implementation is associated with important methodological and technical challenges. Findings highlight the need for validated EMA measures, improved data infrastructure, and careful management of participant burden. While not designed to assess intervention effectiveness, this study provides one of the first applied demonstrations of integrating wearable-derived physiological data with EMA self-report measures in a DSP context, offering a methodological foundation for real-time evaluation of complex community-based health interventions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Social Prescribing
Female
Male
*Ecological Momentary Assessment
Adult
Feasibility Studies
London
Middle Aged
Digital Health
*Yoga
Self Report
Wearable Electronic Devices
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
gFlora: A Topology-Aware Method to Discover Functional Co-Response Groups in Soil Microbial Communities.
IEEE transactions on computational biology and bioinformatics, 23(3):919-930.
Microorganisms such as bacteria perform critical functions in the soil ecosystem: they mediate essential carbon, nitrogen, and nutrient cycling processes in soils. To manage the health and functions of soils, it is important to understand which soil functions are related the most to which microbial taxa-but this taxon-to-function link is difficult to discover because of the size and complexity of the soil ecosystem. A feasible solution is to discover functional links at the level of groups instead of individuals, using observational data of both taxa abundance and soil function indicators. We thus aim to learn the functional co-response group: a group of taxa whose co-response effect (the representative characteristic of the whole functional group) co-responds (associates well statistically) to a functional variable. Unlike the existing method, we model the soil microbial community as an ecological co-occurrence network with the taxa as nodes (weighted by their abundance) and their relationships (a combination from both spatial and functional ecological aspects) as edges (weighted by the strength of the relationships). Then, we design a method called gFlora which notably uses graph convolution over this co-occurrence network to compute the co-response effect of the group, such that the network topology is also considered in the discovery process. We evaluate gFlora on four real-world soil microbiome datasets (bacteria and nematodes combined with two soil functions: nitrogen mineralization and crop yield). gFlora outperforms the competing method on all evaluation metrics, and it discovers new functional evidence for taxa which were so far under-studied. We show that the graph convolution is crucial to taxa with relatively low abundance (thus removing the bias towards taxa with higher abundance), and the discovered bacteria of different genera are distributed in the co-occurrence network but remain tightly connected among themselves, demonstrating that topologically they fill different but collaborative functional roles in the ecological community.
Additional Links: PMID-40811268
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@article {pmid40811268,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, N and Schram, M and Bucur, D},
title = {gFlora: A Topology-Aware Method to Discover Functional Co-Response Groups in Soil Microbial Communities.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on computational biology and bioinformatics},
volume = {23},
number = {3},
pages = {919-930},
doi = {10.1109/TCBBIO.2025.3560853},
pmid = {40811268},
issn = {2998-4165},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; *Computational Biology/methods ; Algorithms ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Microorganisms such as bacteria perform critical functions in the soil ecosystem: they mediate essential carbon, nitrogen, and nutrient cycling processes in soils. To manage the health and functions of soils, it is important to understand which soil functions are related the most to which microbial taxa-but this taxon-to-function link is difficult to discover because of the size and complexity of the soil ecosystem. A feasible solution is to discover functional links at the level of groups instead of individuals, using observational data of both taxa abundance and soil function indicators. We thus aim to learn the functional co-response group: a group of taxa whose co-response effect (the representative characteristic of the whole functional group) co-responds (associates well statistically) to a functional variable. Unlike the existing method, we model the soil microbial community as an ecological co-occurrence network with the taxa as nodes (weighted by their abundance) and their relationships (a combination from both spatial and functional ecological aspects) as edges (weighted by the strength of the relationships). Then, we design a method called gFlora which notably uses graph convolution over this co-occurrence network to compute the co-response effect of the group, such that the network topology is also considered in the discovery process. We evaluate gFlora on four real-world soil microbiome datasets (bacteria and nematodes combined with two soil functions: nitrogen mineralization and crop yield). gFlora outperforms the competing method on all evaluation metrics, and it discovers new functional evidence for taxa which were so far under-studied. We show that the graph convolution is crucial to taxa with relatively low abundance (thus removing the bias towards taxa with higher abundance), and the discovered bacteria of different genera are distributed in the co-occurrence network but remain tightly connected among themselves, demonstrating that topologically they fill different but collaborative functional roles in the ecological community.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Soil Microbiology
*Microbiota/genetics/physiology
Bacteria/genetics/classification
*Computational Biology/methods
Algorithms
Ecosystem
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
Nanoinformatics-Based, Predictive Toxicological Screening of Nanomaterials.
Journal of applied toxicology : JAT, 46(5):1476-1486.
Nanoparticles have gained substantial attention in view of their distinctive physicochemical attributes and widespread applications in several fields. However, the prompt development and extensive consumption of nanotechnology may provoke inexorable diffusion of nanoparticles into the environment, associated with potential toxic effects. Hence, the preliminary toxicological screening of nanomaterials becomes indispensable for their harmless utilization and ecological safety. Nanotoxicology deals with the study of undesirable effects attributed to nanoparticles. It includes the nature, intensity, and characteristics of toxic insult caused by individual or combined use of nanoparticles. Nanoinformatics represents a systematic approach for collecting, organizing, validating, storing, sharing, visualizing, modeling, and analyzing data from nanotechnology processes and materials. The conventional nanotoxicity assessment methods using in vitro assays or animal models are time-consuming and relatively expensive, whereas computational modeling of physicochemical properties and existing toxicity data can be effectively used to determine the safety of nanomaterials. Nanoinformatics involves the integration of nanospecific databases (e.g., NanoDatabank, eNanoMapper, Data and Knowledge on Nanomaterials, Online Chemical Modeling Environment, and Nanoparticle Information Library) with modeling frameworks such as quantitative nanostructure-activity/toxicity relationship, molecular docking, physiologically based toxicokinetic models, and molecular dynamics simulation for predictive nanotoxicity assessment. Moreover, the process of computer-aided nanotoxicity prediction can be further expedited using the latest data mining techniques. Challenges in collecting sufficient, high-quality, nanotoxicity data, as well as in standardizing the training data sets require careful consideration to further expand the applications of nanoinformatics techniques in predictive nanotoxicology. This article highlights the current status and future perspective of nanoinformatics-based predictive toxicological screening of nanomaterials.
Additional Links: PMID-41717717
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41717717,
year = {2026},
author = {Adil, M and Tiwari, P and Kanwal, S},
title = {Nanoinformatics-Based, Predictive Toxicological Screening of Nanomaterials.},
journal = {Journal of applied toxicology : JAT},
volume = {46},
number = {5},
pages = {1476-1486},
doi = {10.1002/jat.70112},
pmid = {41717717},
issn = {1099-1263},
mesh = {Animals ; *Nanostructures/toxicity/chemistry ; Humans ; *Toxicity Tests/methods ; Databases, Factual ; *Nanotechnology/methods ; },
abstract = {Nanoparticles have gained substantial attention in view of their distinctive physicochemical attributes and widespread applications in several fields. However, the prompt development and extensive consumption of nanotechnology may provoke inexorable diffusion of nanoparticles into the environment, associated with potential toxic effects. Hence, the preliminary toxicological screening of nanomaterials becomes indispensable for their harmless utilization and ecological safety. Nanotoxicology deals with the study of undesirable effects attributed to nanoparticles. It includes the nature, intensity, and characteristics of toxic insult caused by individual or combined use of nanoparticles. Nanoinformatics represents a systematic approach for collecting, organizing, validating, storing, sharing, visualizing, modeling, and analyzing data from nanotechnology processes and materials. The conventional nanotoxicity assessment methods using in vitro assays or animal models are time-consuming and relatively expensive, whereas computational modeling of physicochemical properties and existing toxicity data can be effectively used to determine the safety of nanomaterials. Nanoinformatics involves the integration of nanospecific databases (e.g., NanoDatabank, eNanoMapper, Data and Knowledge on Nanomaterials, Online Chemical Modeling Environment, and Nanoparticle Information Library) with modeling frameworks such as quantitative nanostructure-activity/toxicity relationship, molecular docking, physiologically based toxicokinetic models, and molecular dynamics simulation for predictive nanotoxicity assessment. Moreover, the process of computer-aided nanotoxicity prediction can be further expedited using the latest data mining techniques. Challenges in collecting sufficient, high-quality, nanotoxicity data, as well as in standardizing the training data sets require careful consideration to further expand the applications of nanoinformatics techniques in predictive nanotoxicology. This article highlights the current status and future perspective of nanoinformatics-based predictive toxicological screening of nanomaterials.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Nanostructures/toxicity/chemistry
Humans
*Toxicity Tests/methods
Databases, Factual
*Nanotechnology/methods
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
An Early-Stage Digital Therapeutic Intervention to Enhance Affective Response During Physical Activity Among Adults With Overweight or Obesity: Benchmark-Driven Formative Testing Study.
JMIR human factors, 13:e71472.
BACKGROUND: Mobile device-enabled interventions known as digital therapeutics (DTx) are increasingly used to prevent chronic disease by targeting psychological and behavioral processes. Individuals' unique experiences while receiving DTx comprise real-world evidence (RWE) for evaluating DTx performance. An emerging strategy for early-stage DTx formative work uses small sample sizes, which facilitate efficient iteration and agile learning, while evaluating performance against descriptive benchmarks defined a priori, therefore minimizing the risk for confirmation bias. This study test benchmarks from the DTx RWE framework to formatively evaluate a novel DTx (the eMOTION study) to enhance affective response (ie, how people feel) during physical activity (PA).
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether the eMOTION DTx met a priori benchmarks for safety (<1% of participants report an adverse event), plausibility (≥51% of participants experience increased enjoyment in PA), usability (eg, ≥51% of participants report adequate usability), sustainability, feasibility (eg, <70% of participants report dissatisfaction), and equity (equity and accessibility are approximately equal across subgroups).
METHODS: Participants (N=36; mean age 46, SD 14 years; 20/37, 54% female) underwent stratified random assignment to test one of four DTx versions for 14 days (n=9 each): (1) intensity PA goals, (2) affect PA goals with type and context recommendations, (3) affect PA goals with savoring exercises, and (4) affect PA goals with type, context, and savoring. Participants completed daily intervention sessions, asking them to focus on achieving a target heart rate (intensity) or feeling good (affect) during PA. Smartwatches were used to track PA and answer ecological momentary assessment (EMA) questions about how they felt during PA. Performance toward benchmarks was primarily assessed via official Institutional Review Board reporting channels (safety), interviews (plausibility, accessibility, and usability), and questionnaires (System Usability Scale [usability], Delighted-Terrible Scale [sustainability and feasibility], and equity).
RESULTS: The eMOTION DTx versions exceeded all a priori safety, plausibility, accessibility, usability, sustainability, feasibility, and equity thresholds. For safety, no adverse events were reported. Regarding plausibility, more than half of the participants who received affect goals reported increased PA enjoyment at the end of the study. Moreover, 64%-72% (23-26 out of 36) of participants rated the DTx at or above the standard System Usability Scale cutoff point for acceptable usability. More than 60% (22/36) of participants reported satisfaction with all DTx components, supporting DTx sustainability and feasibility. Finally, there was evidence for equity, with plausibility and accessibility comparable across sex, race, ethnicity, income, age, BMI, mobility, and physical constraint subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS: Since DTx RWE Framework benchmarks for safety, plausibility, accessibility, usability, sustainability, feasibility, and equity were largely met, the eMOTION Study DTx is ready for a full-scale efficacy trial to refine the DTx and optimize efficiency and feasibility. Our approach incorporated transparent decision-making to generate results that are more readily translatable, easily replicable, and reflect current best practices in the field of DTx.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06125964; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06125964.
Additional Links: PMID-41719536
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41719536,
year = {2026},
author = {Crosley-Lyons, R and Hatzinger, L and Hewus, M and Wang, WL and Van Dyck, D and Huh, J and Hekler, E and Dunton, GF},
title = {An Early-Stage Digital Therapeutic Intervention to Enhance Affective Response During Physical Activity Among Adults With Overweight or Obesity: Benchmark-Driven Formative Testing Study.},
journal = {JMIR human factors},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e71472},
pmid = {41719536},
issn = {2292-9495},
support = {F31 HL176165/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Male ; *Exercise/psychology/physiology ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; *Obesity/therapy/psychology ; Benchmarking ; *Overweight/therapy/psychology ; Digital Health ; *Affect ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mobile device-enabled interventions known as digital therapeutics (DTx) are increasingly used to prevent chronic disease by targeting psychological and behavioral processes. Individuals' unique experiences while receiving DTx comprise real-world evidence (RWE) for evaluating DTx performance. An emerging strategy for early-stage DTx formative work uses small sample sizes, which facilitate efficient iteration and agile learning, while evaluating performance against descriptive benchmarks defined a priori, therefore minimizing the risk for confirmation bias. This study test benchmarks from the DTx RWE framework to formatively evaluate a novel DTx (the eMOTION study) to enhance affective response (ie, how people feel) during physical activity (PA).
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether the eMOTION DTx met a priori benchmarks for safety (<1% of participants report an adverse event), plausibility (≥51% of participants experience increased enjoyment in PA), usability (eg, ≥51% of participants report adequate usability), sustainability, feasibility (eg, <70% of participants report dissatisfaction), and equity (equity and accessibility are approximately equal across subgroups).
METHODS: Participants (N=36; mean age 46, SD 14 years; 20/37, 54% female) underwent stratified random assignment to test one of four DTx versions for 14 days (n=9 each): (1) intensity PA goals, (2) affect PA goals with type and context recommendations, (3) affect PA goals with savoring exercises, and (4) affect PA goals with type, context, and savoring. Participants completed daily intervention sessions, asking them to focus on achieving a target heart rate (intensity) or feeling good (affect) during PA. Smartwatches were used to track PA and answer ecological momentary assessment (EMA) questions about how they felt during PA. Performance toward benchmarks was primarily assessed via official Institutional Review Board reporting channels (safety), interviews (plausibility, accessibility, and usability), and questionnaires (System Usability Scale [usability], Delighted-Terrible Scale [sustainability and feasibility], and equity).
RESULTS: The eMOTION DTx versions exceeded all a priori safety, plausibility, accessibility, usability, sustainability, feasibility, and equity thresholds. For safety, no adverse events were reported. Regarding plausibility, more than half of the participants who received affect goals reported increased PA enjoyment at the end of the study. Moreover, 64%-72% (23-26 out of 36) of participants rated the DTx at or above the standard System Usability Scale cutoff point for acceptable usability. More than 60% (22/36) of participants reported satisfaction with all DTx components, supporting DTx sustainability and feasibility. Finally, there was evidence for equity, with plausibility and accessibility comparable across sex, race, ethnicity, income, age, BMI, mobility, and physical constraint subgroups.
CONCLUSIONS: Since DTx RWE Framework benchmarks for safety, plausibility, accessibility, usability, sustainability, feasibility, and equity were largely met, the eMOTION Study DTx is ready for a full-scale efficacy trial to refine the DTx and optimize efficiency and feasibility. Our approach incorporated transparent decision-making to generate results that are more readily translatable, easily replicable, and reflect current best practices in the field of DTx.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06125964; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06125964.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
Male
*Exercise/psychology/physiology
Adult
Middle Aged
*Obesity/therapy/psychology
Benchmarking
*Overweight/therapy/psychology
Digital Health
*Affect
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
Emerging strategies for heavy metal removal in soils: plant-microbe interactions and omics perspectives.
Archives of microbiology, 208(5):.
Rapid industrial expansion, intensive agricultural practices, and widespread petroleum extraction have led to the significant buildup of heavy metals (HMs) in soils and related ecosystems, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Hence, this review highlights the major sources, ecological impacts, and toxicity of HMs in the environment. However, physical and chemical remediation methods can reduce HMs concentrations, but issues such as high operational costs, prolonged treatment durations, and poor sustainability limit their suitability for large-scale application. Thus, bioremediation methods, especially those that utilize plants and microbes, have gained increasing attention as eco-friendly and cost-effective options. Plant-microbe-based interactions play an important role, as they act synergistically to facilitate metal uptake, stabilization, transformation, and detoxification of HMs in contaminated soils. Though, it is important to understand the plant-microbe interactions, especially since most current research is about how plants and microbes can work together to clean up contaminants in their natural environments. However, achieving higher remediation performance under stress conditions depends on the selection of plant and microbial species. Therefore, this review explores the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions along with omics technologies employed to analyze samples for understanding this interaction in HMs-contaminated soils at the metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics levels in enhancing the effectiveness of remediation. This review article also highlights key factors affecting remediation efficiency and discusses limitations, challenges, and future prospects of plant-microbe interactions in HMs-contaminated soils.
Additional Links: PMID-41724800
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41724800,
year = {2026},
author = {Bhuyan, B and Chutia, B and Singh, LS},
title = {Emerging strategies for heavy metal removal in soils: plant-microbe interactions and omics perspectives.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {208},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {41724800},
issn = {1432-072X},
mesh = {*Metals, Heavy/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Proteomics ; Multiomics ; Metabolomics ; },
abstract = {Rapid industrial expansion, intensive agricultural practices, and widespread petroleum extraction have led to the significant buildup of heavy metals (HMs) in soils and related ecosystems, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Hence, this review highlights the major sources, ecological impacts, and toxicity of HMs in the environment. However, physical and chemical remediation methods can reduce HMs concentrations, but issues such as high operational costs, prolonged treatment durations, and poor sustainability limit their suitability for large-scale application. Thus, bioremediation methods, especially those that utilize plants and microbes, have gained increasing attention as eco-friendly and cost-effective options. Plant-microbe-based interactions play an important role, as they act synergistically to facilitate metal uptake, stabilization, transformation, and detoxification of HMs in contaminated soils. Though, it is important to understand the plant-microbe interactions, especially since most current research is about how plants and microbes can work together to clean up contaminants in their natural environments. However, achieving higher remediation performance under stress conditions depends on the selection of plant and microbial species. Therefore, this review explores the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions along with omics technologies employed to analyze samples for understanding this interaction in HMs-contaminated soils at the metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics levels in enhancing the effectiveness of remediation. This review article also highlights key factors affecting remediation efficiency and discusses limitations, challenges, and future prospects of plant-microbe interactions in HMs-contaminated soils.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Metals, Heavy/metabolism
Biodegradation, Environmental
*Plants/microbiology/metabolism
*Soil Pollutants/metabolism
Soil Microbiology
Bacteria/metabolism/genetics
Soil/chemistry
Proteomics
Multiomics
Metabolomics
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
Wearable technologies in clinical trials for drug development: trends and emerging opportunities.
Nature reviews. Drug discovery, 25(6):448-468.
Wearable technologies are increasingly being integrated into clinical trials, offering new tools to capture physiological and behavioural endpoints in real-world settings. By enabling continuous, remote, participant-friendly monitoring, wearables address key limitations of traditional trials, such as frequent site visits, sparse sampling and limited ecological validity, while supporting the development of digital biomarkers. To characterize how wearables are used in drug development, we curated 1,021 interventional trials registered between 2001 and 2025 that incorporated wearable-derived data into study protocols. We identified five application archetypes - drug effects, dosing optimization, adherence, delivery medium and delivery technique optimization - through which wearables are deployed in trials, underscoring a broadening role across study objectives. Adhesive patches, largely driven by continuous glucose monitoring, now dominate trial deployments, with expanding coverage of physiological domains including sleep, cardiovascular function, motor activity and brain signals. Despite this progress, formal regulatory qualification of wearable-derived measures remains rare, with SV95C in Duchenne muscular dystrophy the only such example to date. Looking ahead, we highlight emerging biochemical sensing modalities beyond glucose, as well as transdermal spectroscopy and wearable ultrasound. This Review provides a structured, forward-looking overview of wearables in trials and supports their responsible, effective integration into clinical development.
Additional Links: PMID-41872333
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41872333,
year = {2026},
author = {Fayad, ZA and Hirten, RP and Nadkarni, GN and Kim, YS},
title = {Wearable technologies in clinical trials for drug development: trends and emerging opportunities.},
journal = {Nature reviews. Drug discovery},
volume = {25},
number = {6},
pages = {448-468},
pmid = {41872333},
issn = {1474-1784},
mesh = {Humans ; *Wearable Electronic Devices/trends ; *Drug Development/methods/trends ; *Clinical Trials as Topic/methods ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {Wearable technologies are increasingly being integrated into clinical trials, offering new tools to capture physiological and behavioural endpoints in real-world settings. By enabling continuous, remote, participant-friendly monitoring, wearables address key limitations of traditional trials, such as frequent site visits, sparse sampling and limited ecological validity, while supporting the development of digital biomarkers. To characterize how wearables are used in drug development, we curated 1,021 interventional trials registered between 2001 and 2025 that incorporated wearable-derived data into study protocols. We identified five application archetypes - drug effects, dosing optimization, adherence, delivery medium and delivery technique optimization - through which wearables are deployed in trials, underscoring a broadening role across study objectives. Adhesive patches, largely driven by continuous glucose monitoring, now dominate trial deployments, with expanding coverage of physiological domains including sleep, cardiovascular function, motor activity and brain signals. Despite this progress, formal regulatory qualification of wearable-derived measures remains rare, with SV95C in Duchenne muscular dystrophy the only such example to date. Looking ahead, we highlight emerging biochemical sensing modalities beyond glucose, as well as transdermal spectroscopy and wearable ultrasound. This Review provides a structured, forward-looking overview of wearables in trials and supports their responsible, effective integration into clinical development.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Wearable Electronic Devices/trends
*Drug Development/methods/trends
*Clinical Trials as Topic/methods
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
GMW: a hybrid graph-based approach for post-assembly metagenome analysis and decontamination.
Science China. Life sciences, 69(6):1910-1917.
Accurate genome assembly from metagenomic sequencing data remains challenging, particularly in mixed infections involving multiple pathogens, due to data complexity and contaminant sequences. Here, we present GMW (Genomic Microbe-Wise), a novel computational tool that improves pathogen genome assembly accuracy and enhances contaminant removal capabilities by simplifying the post-assembly graph. GMW leverages community detection algorithms, sequence similarity analysis, and coverage patterns to resolve strain mixtures and improve assembly accuracy. Using datasets of influenza A virus subtypes, we demonstrate GMW's ability to disentangle mixed infections and reconstruct complete viral genomes with high precision. Additionally, GMW outperforms traditional sequence similarity methods in classifying target contigs from contaminants. This tool also provides interactive visualization modules to streamline the inspection of assembly outputs, including simplified representations of complex assembly graphs. By enhancing assembly quality and contamination filtering, GMW emerges as a versatile solution for applications in clinical diagnostics, microbial ecology, and pathogen surveillance.
Additional Links: PMID-41879886
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41879886,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, W and Li, X and Zhao, X and Zuo, Z and Wang, D and Zhao, F},
title = {GMW: a hybrid graph-based approach for post-assembly metagenome analysis and decontamination.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {69},
number = {6},
pages = {1910-1917},
pmid = {41879886},
issn = {1869-1889},
mesh = {*Metagenomics/methods ; *Metagenome/genetics ; Algorithms ; Genome, Viral/genetics ; Influenza A virus/genetics ; *Computational Biology/methods ; *Software ; Decontamination/methods ; },
abstract = {Accurate genome assembly from metagenomic sequencing data remains challenging, particularly in mixed infections involving multiple pathogens, due to data complexity and contaminant sequences. Here, we present GMW (Genomic Microbe-Wise), a novel computational tool that improves pathogen genome assembly accuracy and enhances contaminant removal capabilities by simplifying the post-assembly graph. GMW leverages community detection algorithms, sequence similarity analysis, and coverage patterns to resolve strain mixtures and improve assembly accuracy. Using datasets of influenza A virus subtypes, we demonstrate GMW's ability to disentangle mixed infections and reconstruct complete viral genomes with high precision. Additionally, GMW outperforms traditional sequence similarity methods in classifying target contigs from contaminants. This tool also provides interactive visualization modules to streamline the inspection of assembly outputs, including simplified representations of complex assembly graphs. By enhancing assembly quality and contamination filtering, GMW emerges as a versatile solution for applications in clinical diagnostics, microbial ecology, and pathogen surveillance.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Metagenomics/methods
*Metagenome/genetics
Algorithms
Genome, Viral/genetics
Influenza A virus/genetics
*Computational Biology/methods
*Software
Decontamination/methods
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
Multi-omics profiling of fungal balls in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis patients reveals microbiome dynamics and metabolic adaptations.
mBio, 17(6):e0034826.
Fungal balls (aspergillomas) are a debilitating complication of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, but their functional biology as multi-kingdom ecosystems is poorly understood. Through integrated multi-omics analysis of 61 patient-derived fungal balls, we reveal their complex ecology. While Aspergillus fumigatus dominates the fungal niche (59% of patients), bacterial co-colonization is ubiquitous, primarily by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae. Metabolomics and metatranscriptomics unveil a structured division of labor and active warfare, including metabolic cross-feeding, competition for iron, and reciprocal antagonism via secondary metabolites, such as fumagillin and fumigaclavine C produced by A. fumigatus. Host metabolomics and transcriptomics revealed a potent but dysregulated human immune response, characterized by neutrophil activation and failed resolution. Our findings redefine aspergilloma not as a mere fungal aggregate, but as a resilient polymicrobial biofilm across kingdoms, in which synergistic and antagonistic inter-kingdom interactions drive pathogenesis and chronicity, suggesting new therapeutic strategies targeting the pathogenic consortium.IMPORTANCEChronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) and its hallmark fungal balls (aspergillomas) represent a debilitating and difficult-to-treat respiratory disease, affecting millions worldwide. Here, we provide the first integrated multi-omics profile of surgically resected fungal balls from 61 CPA patients, revealing these structures not as mere fungal colonies, but as resilient, cross-kingdom biofilms teeming with bacterial co-colonizers, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae. Our findings uncover a dynamic battlefield where fungi and bacteria engage in metabolic cross-feeding, chemical warfare, and competition for nutrients such as iron. We demonstrate that the host mounts a potent but dysregulated immune response characterized by chronic neutrophilic inflammation and failed resolution, driving tissue damage and disease persistence. Our data provide a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting microbial synergy, modulating host inflammation, and breaking the cycle of chronic infection, an approach that could significantly improve outcomes for patients with this refractory disease.
Additional Links: PMID-42084394
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@article {pmid42084394,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, C and Ribeiro, MM and Yang, J and Li, L and Li, J and Chen, X and Wang, Y and Wang, L-L and Wang, B and Zhou, Y and Zhang, J and Jiang, J and Lin, J and Delbaje, E and Xu, J-F and Goldman, GH and Liang, S},
title = {Multi-omics profiling of fungal balls in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis patients reveals microbiome dynamics and metabolic adaptations.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {17},
number = {6},
pages = {e0034826},
pmid = {42084394},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; No. 82170051//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Pulmonary Aspergillosis/microbiology/immunology ; Multiomics ; Aspergillus fumigatus/metabolism/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Metabolomics ; Chronic Disease ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Haemophilus influenzae ; },
abstract = {Fungal balls (aspergillomas) are a debilitating complication of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, but their functional biology as multi-kingdom ecosystems is poorly understood. Through integrated multi-omics analysis of 61 patient-derived fungal balls, we reveal their complex ecology. While Aspergillus fumigatus dominates the fungal niche (59% of patients), bacterial co-colonization is ubiquitous, primarily by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae. Metabolomics and metatranscriptomics unveil a structured division of labor and active warfare, including metabolic cross-feeding, competition for iron, and reciprocal antagonism via secondary metabolites, such as fumagillin and fumigaclavine C produced by A. fumigatus. Host metabolomics and transcriptomics revealed a potent but dysregulated human immune response, characterized by neutrophil activation and failed resolution. Our findings redefine aspergilloma not as a mere fungal aggregate, but as a resilient polymicrobial biofilm across kingdoms, in which synergistic and antagonistic inter-kingdom interactions drive pathogenesis and chronicity, suggesting new therapeutic strategies targeting the pathogenic consortium.IMPORTANCEChronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) and its hallmark fungal balls (aspergillomas) represent a debilitating and difficult-to-treat respiratory disease, affecting millions worldwide. Here, we provide the first integrated multi-omics profile of surgically resected fungal balls from 61 CPA patients, revealing these structures not as mere fungal colonies, but as resilient, cross-kingdom biofilms teeming with bacterial co-colonizers, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae. Our findings uncover a dynamic battlefield where fungi and bacteria engage in metabolic cross-feeding, chemical warfare, and competition for nutrients such as iron. We demonstrate that the host mounts a potent but dysregulated immune response characterized by chronic neutrophilic inflammation and failed resolution, driving tissue damage and disease persistence. Our data provide a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting microbial synergy, modulating host inflammation, and breaking the cycle of chronic infection, an approach that could significantly improve outcomes for patients with this refractory disease.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Pulmonary Aspergillosis/microbiology/immunology
Multiomics
Aspergillus fumigatus/metabolism/genetics
*Microbiota
Metabolomics
Chronic Disease
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Gene Expression Profiling
Biofilms/growth & development
Haemophilus influenzae
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
Integrated multi-omics reveals divergent salt stress response mechanisms in three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars.
Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology, 370:113216.
Soil salinization is a major environmental constraint limiting plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a high-quality leguminous forage crop with high nutritional and ecological value, serves as an important model for investigating salt tolerance mechanisms in forage species. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying varietal differences in salt tolerance among independently bred alfalfa cultivars. Three alfalfa varieties-Zhongtian No.1 (A.ZT1), Zangmu No.1 (A.ZM1), and Zhonglan No.1 (A.ZL1)-were exposed to two salinity levels (100 and 200 mM NaCl). Germination traits, growth performance, physiological parameters, and photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated, and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to compare their responses to salt stress. Salt stress significantly inhibited seed germination and plant growth in all varieties, with stronger inhibitory effects observed under 200 mM NaCl. Under 100 mM NaCl, the vigor index decreased by 34.69% in A.ZM1 and up to 51.27% in A.ZL1 compared with the control. Under 200 mM NaCl, the vigor index declined dramatically by 92.13% in A.ZT1 and 93.66% in A.ZL1, indicating severely restricted seedling development. Physiological analyses showed that salt stress increased malondialdehyde and osmolyte accumulation, while disturbing ionic homeostasis. At 200 mM NaCl, A.ZL1 exhibited the highest Na[+]/K[+] ratio and oxidative damage, whereas A.ZM1 maintained relatively lower MDA levels and stronger antioxidant enzyme activities. Photosynthetic performance also declined with increasing salinity; however, A.ZM1 maintained a net photosynthetic rate of 27.72 μmol m[-2] s[-1] under 200 mM NaCl, indicating superior physiological tolerance. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed coordinated regulation of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways under salt stress. Key flavonoid biosynthesis genes, such as CHS, were up-regulated in A.ZT1 and A.ZM1 but down-regulated in A.ZL1. In addition, several gibberellin-related metabolites, including GA20, GA3, and GA8, showed differential accumulation. Notably, A.ZM1 exhibited the largest number of differentially expressed genes and metabolites, indicating a broader molecular response to salinity. Overall, A.ZT1 and A.ZM1 displayed stronger salt tolerance than A.ZL1, which may be associated with more effective antioxidant regulation and metabolic pathway activation. These findings provide new insights into the physiological and molecular basis of salt tolerance variation among independently bred alfalfa varieties and offer valuable references for breeding salt-tolerant cultivars and improving the utilization of saline soils.
Additional Links: PMID-42144115
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42144115,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Wu, W and Liang, F and Zhao, T and Li, S and Yang, M and Leng, F and Zhu, X and Wang, X},
title = {Integrated multi-omics reveals divergent salt stress response mechanisms in three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {370},
number = {},
pages = {113216},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.113216},
pmid = {42144115},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Medicago sativa/physiology/genetics/metabolism/growth & development ; *Salt Stress ; *Salt Tolerance/genetics ; Multiomics ; Germination ; Sodium Chloride ; Photosynthesis ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {Soil salinization is a major environmental constraint limiting plant growth and agricultural productivity worldwide. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a high-quality leguminous forage crop with high nutritional and ecological value, serves as an important model for investigating salt tolerance mechanisms in forage species. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying varietal differences in salt tolerance among independently bred alfalfa cultivars. Three alfalfa varieties-Zhongtian No.1 (A.ZT1), Zangmu No.1 (A.ZM1), and Zhonglan No.1 (A.ZL1)-were exposed to two salinity levels (100 and 200 mM NaCl). Germination traits, growth performance, physiological parameters, and photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated, and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to compare their responses to salt stress. Salt stress significantly inhibited seed germination and plant growth in all varieties, with stronger inhibitory effects observed under 200 mM NaCl. Under 100 mM NaCl, the vigor index decreased by 34.69% in A.ZM1 and up to 51.27% in A.ZL1 compared with the control. Under 200 mM NaCl, the vigor index declined dramatically by 92.13% in A.ZT1 and 93.66% in A.ZL1, indicating severely restricted seedling development. Physiological analyses showed that salt stress increased malondialdehyde and osmolyte accumulation, while disturbing ionic homeostasis. At 200 mM NaCl, A.ZL1 exhibited the highest Na[+]/K[+] ratio and oxidative damage, whereas A.ZM1 maintained relatively lower MDA levels and stronger antioxidant enzyme activities. Photosynthetic performance also declined with increasing salinity; however, A.ZM1 maintained a net photosynthetic rate of 27.72 μmol m[-2] s[-1] under 200 mM NaCl, indicating superior physiological tolerance. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed coordinated regulation of phenylpropanoid, flavonoid, and diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways under salt stress. Key flavonoid biosynthesis genes, such as CHS, were up-regulated in A.ZT1 and A.ZM1 but down-regulated in A.ZL1. In addition, several gibberellin-related metabolites, including GA20, GA3, and GA8, showed differential accumulation. Notably, A.ZM1 exhibited the largest number of differentially expressed genes and metabolites, indicating a broader molecular response to salinity. Overall, A.ZT1 and A.ZM1 displayed stronger salt tolerance than A.ZL1, which may be associated with more effective antioxidant regulation and metabolic pathway activation. These findings provide new insights into the physiological and molecular basis of salt tolerance variation among independently bred alfalfa varieties and offer valuable references for breeding salt-tolerant cultivars and improving the utilization of saline soils.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Medicago sativa/physiology/genetics/metabolism/growth & development
*Salt Stress
*Salt Tolerance/genetics
Multiomics
Germination
Sodium Chloride
Photosynthesis
Transcriptome
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
A multi-omics study of polystyrene degradation.
Journal of environmental management, 409:129988.
Polystyrene (PS) is highly persistent in the environment, presenting a significant ecological challenge, while microbial degradation offers a potential green solution. However, the molecular mechanisms of microbial responses to such inert substrates remain unclear. This study focuses on Stenotrophomonas sp. (SM313), a strain capable of degrading PS, and investigates its adaptive reprogramming through multi-omics analysis. Characterization of the material shows a 4.53% reduction in PS mass over 60 days, with surface erosion, reduced molecular weight, introduction of oxygen-containing groups, and increased hydrophilicity. Whole-genome analysis highlights its genetic potential in xenobiotic degradation, energy conversion, and membrane transport. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data reveal a synergistic molecular response: significant upregulation of ribosomal and translation machinery ensures the rapid synthesis of degradation-related enzymes, while energy metabolism pathways like oxidative phosphorylation are activated to provide energy for the degradation process. Additionally, peroxisomal-pathway-equivalent oxidative stress defence and DNA repair mechanisms are upregulated to counteract oxidative stress. Pathway enrichment analysis indicates that PS degradation follows bifurcated metabolic pathways: the aromatic ring undergoes ring-opening via benzoate pathways, and the aliphatic side chains are degraded via β-oxidation, with metabolites entering central carbon metabolism. This study provides a systems biology perspective, emphasizing the complex, multi-enzyme collaboration involved in PS biodegradation.
Additional Links: PMID-42172845
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42172845,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, S and Zhang, C and Zhou, Y and Gu, W and Wang, R and Zhang, C and Shih, K and Bai, J},
title = {A multi-omics study of polystyrene degradation.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {409},
number = {},
pages = {129988},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129988},
pmid = {42172845},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Polystyrenes/metabolism ; Multiomics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Stenotrophomonas/metabolism ; Proteomics ; },
abstract = {Polystyrene (PS) is highly persistent in the environment, presenting a significant ecological challenge, while microbial degradation offers a potential green solution. However, the molecular mechanisms of microbial responses to such inert substrates remain unclear. This study focuses on Stenotrophomonas sp. (SM313), a strain capable of degrading PS, and investigates its adaptive reprogramming through multi-omics analysis. Characterization of the material shows a 4.53% reduction in PS mass over 60 days, with surface erosion, reduced molecular weight, introduction of oxygen-containing groups, and increased hydrophilicity. Whole-genome analysis highlights its genetic potential in xenobiotic degradation, energy conversion, and membrane transport. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data reveal a synergistic molecular response: significant upregulation of ribosomal and translation machinery ensures the rapid synthesis of degradation-related enzymes, while energy metabolism pathways like oxidative phosphorylation are activated to provide energy for the degradation process. Additionally, peroxisomal-pathway-equivalent oxidative stress defence and DNA repair mechanisms are upregulated to counteract oxidative stress. Pathway enrichment analysis indicates that PS degradation follows bifurcated metabolic pathways: the aromatic ring undergoes ring-opening via benzoate pathways, and the aliphatic side chains are degraded via β-oxidation, with metabolites entering central carbon metabolism. This study provides a systems biology perspective, emphasizing the complex, multi-enzyme collaboration involved in PS biodegradation.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Polystyrenes/metabolism
Multiomics
Biodegradation, Environmental
*Stenotrophomonas/metabolism
Proteomics
RevDate: 2026-06-11
CmpDate: 2026-06-11
Utilizing virus genomic surveillance to predict vaccine effectiveness.
PLoS computational biology, 22(5):e1014329.
BACKGROUND: Since the development of the first vaccines targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 virus sequence in 2020, mRNA-based vaccines have been updated three times: targeting Omicron BA.4/BA.5 in 2022, the XBB lineage in 2023, and the KP.2 variant in 2024. While genomic surveillance has advanced our understanding of pathogen diversity, gaps remain in incorporating genomic information to evaluate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against emerging variants. This study aims to characterize the relationship between VE and sequence-based genetic distance, to establish a framework for predicting near real-time changes in the level of vaccine protection from virus surveillance data.
METHODS: We analyzed 10,156 whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 cases from Connecticut, USA, between April 2021 to July 2024. We first assessed how genetic distance, specifically the number of amino acid substitutions in the spike gene between COVID-19 case sequences and the mRNA vaccine formulation sequence(s), correlates with vaccine protection levels. Incorporating data from over 1 million test-negative controls, we developed a Bayesian time-varying model with autoregressive terms to assess VE at a weekly level. The analysis was adjusted for ZIP-code-level income, age, sex, and prior vaccine doses received. We then employed a random effects meta-regression to explore the relationship between VE and amino acid distance over time. Finally, we used the meta-regression model to estimate potential vaccine protection against emerging variants.
FINDINGS: We found that spike gene amino acid distance showed a negative correlation with VE over time. Stepwise increases in amino acid distance aligned with sharp VE declines during variant emergence, while accumulation of within-variant changes was also associated with gradual VE decline. Each 10 amino acid increase in distance in the spike gene corresponds to a predicted 15.4% (95% credible intervals (CrI): -2.0%, 34.6%) reduction in VE. For the 2023/24 updated vaccine, spike distance rose from 12.25 to 30.23, predicting a 43.4% (95% CrI: -5.7%, 90.1%) drop in VE using sequence information alone.
CONCLUSION: Our framework quantifies how the emergence of new variants is expected to affect VE for SARS-CoV-2. By quantifying the relationship between amino acid substitutions and time-varying VE, we leverage intrinsic pathogen features, such as spike amino acid distance, to inform future vaccine updates using genomic sequences. As genomic surveillance data becomes more widely available across pathogens, this framework can serve as a near-real time surveillance tool to infer population-level protection and offers valuable insights for vaccine update decisions.
Additional Links: PMID-42189851
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42189851,
year = {2026},
author = {Kwon, J and Li, K and Warren, JL and Pandya, S and Hahn, AM and , and Pitzer, VE and Weinberger, DM and Grubaugh, ND},
title = {Utilizing virus genomic surveillance to predict vaccine effectiveness.},
journal = {PLoS computational biology},
volume = {22},
number = {5},
pages = {e1014329},
pmid = {42189851},
issn = {1553-7358},
mesh = {*SARS-CoV-2/genetics/immunology ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology ; *Vaccine Efficacy/statistics & numerical data ; *Genome, Viral/genetics ; Humans ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/virology/immunology/epidemiology ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics ; Bayes Theorem ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Genomics ; Computational Biology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Since the development of the first vaccines targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 virus sequence in 2020, mRNA-based vaccines have been updated three times: targeting Omicron BA.4/BA.5 in 2022, the XBB lineage in 2023, and the KP.2 variant in 2024. While genomic surveillance has advanced our understanding of pathogen diversity, gaps remain in incorporating genomic information to evaluate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against emerging variants. This study aims to characterize the relationship between VE and sequence-based genetic distance, to establish a framework for predicting near real-time changes in the level of vaccine protection from virus surveillance data.
METHODS: We analyzed 10,156 whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 cases from Connecticut, USA, between April 2021 to July 2024. We first assessed how genetic distance, specifically the number of amino acid substitutions in the spike gene between COVID-19 case sequences and the mRNA vaccine formulation sequence(s), correlates with vaccine protection levels. Incorporating data from over 1 million test-negative controls, we developed a Bayesian time-varying model with autoregressive terms to assess VE at a weekly level. The analysis was adjusted for ZIP-code-level income, age, sex, and prior vaccine doses received. We then employed a random effects meta-regression to explore the relationship between VE and amino acid distance over time. Finally, we used the meta-regression model to estimate potential vaccine protection against emerging variants.
FINDINGS: We found that spike gene amino acid distance showed a negative correlation with VE over time. Stepwise increases in amino acid distance aligned with sharp VE declines during variant emergence, while accumulation of within-variant changes was also associated with gradual VE decline. Each 10 amino acid increase in distance in the spike gene corresponds to a predicted 15.4% (95% credible intervals (CrI): -2.0%, 34.6%) reduction in VE. For the 2023/24 updated vaccine, spike distance rose from 12.25 to 30.23, predicting a 43.4% (95% CrI: -5.7%, 90.1%) drop in VE using sequence information alone.
CONCLUSION: Our framework quantifies how the emergence of new variants is expected to affect VE for SARS-CoV-2. By quantifying the relationship between amino acid substitutions and time-varying VE, we leverage intrinsic pathogen features, such as spike amino acid distance, to inform future vaccine updates using genomic sequences. As genomic surveillance data becomes more widely available across pathogens, this framework can serve as a near-real time surveillance tool to infer population-level protection and offers valuable insights for vaccine update decisions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*SARS-CoV-2/genetics/immunology
*COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
*Vaccine Efficacy/statistics & numerical data
*Genome, Viral/genetics
Humans
*COVID-19/prevention & control/virology/immunology/epidemiology
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
Bayes Theorem
Amino Acid Substitution
Genomics
Computational Biology
RevDate: 2026-06-12
CmpDate: 2026-06-12
Multiomics Reveals the Mechanisms of Rhizosphere Symbiotic Fungi in Mitigating Micro(nano)plastics Transfer and Toxicity in Food Chains.
Environmental science & technology, 60(22):16099-16110.
Soil micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) pollution is becoming increasingly prominent, posing a serious threat to ecological security. However, few studies have examined the remediation of soil MNPs pollution. This study constructed a multidimensional coupled system of soil-microbe interface plants-animals, in order to investigate the pathways and key mechanisms underlying rhizosphere microbiome-mediated inhibition of trophic transfer and toxicity of MNPs. The findings demonstrated that the common root-associated soil microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), exhibit a mitigation effect on the food chain ecological stress of various MNPs in the environment. The mitigation was primarily manifested as a 45.57-56.52% reduction of MNPs concentration in animals and plants (due to changes in the rhizosphere environment and MNPs aging, which inhibit MNPs migration) and a decrease in MNPs binding ability to organisms. Additionally, analysis of molecular regulatory mechanisms showed that AMF mediation improved the substance synthesis and defensive pathways of plants under MNPs stress, and their palatability as food, leading to increased immune regulation and energy metabolism functions in snails consuming AMF-mediated leaves. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the development of green and efficient biological control technologies for soil MNPs pollution.
Additional Links: PMID-42210596
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42210596,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Wang, F and Shi, F and Wei, Y and Zhou, M and Wu, F and Su, H and Liu, X},
title = {Multiomics Reveals the Mechanisms of Rhizosphere Symbiotic Fungi in Mitigating Micro(nano)plastics Transfer and Toxicity in Food Chains.},
journal = {Environmental science & technology},
volume = {60},
number = {22},
pages = {16099-16110},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c16131},
pmid = {42210596},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Food Chain ; Multiomics ; Mycorrhizae ; Soil Microbiology ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Soil micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) pollution is becoming increasingly prominent, posing a serious threat to ecological security. However, few studies have examined the remediation of soil MNPs pollution. This study constructed a multidimensional coupled system of soil-microbe interface plants-animals, in order to investigate the pathways and key mechanisms underlying rhizosphere microbiome-mediated inhibition of trophic transfer and toxicity of MNPs. The findings demonstrated that the common root-associated soil microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), exhibit a mitigation effect on the food chain ecological stress of various MNPs in the environment. The mitigation was primarily manifested as a 45.57-56.52% reduction of MNPs concentration in animals and plants (due to changes in the rhizosphere environment and MNPs aging, which inhibit MNPs migration) and a decrease in MNPs binding ability to organisms. Additionally, analysis of molecular regulatory mechanisms showed that AMF mediation improved the substance synthesis and defensive pathways of plants under MNPs stress, and their palatability as food, leading to increased immune regulation and energy metabolism functions in snails consuming AMF-mediated leaves. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the development of green and efficient biological control technologies for soil MNPs pollution.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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hide MeSH Terms
*Rhizosphere
*Food Chain
Multiomics
Mycorrhizae
Soil Microbiology
Animals
Symbiosis
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
Ecology of Malaria Mortality: A Spatiotemporal Mapping Approach.
American journal of biological anthropology, 190(2):e70272.
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the spatiotemporal ecology of probable malaria mortality in 19th-century southern Ontario to evaluate how settlement expansion, landscape transformation, and infrastructure development structured transmission risk in a temperate, settler-colonial context.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Probable malaria-attributed deaths recorded in Ontario death certificates (1869-1900; n = 2683) were geocoded and analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mortality locations were examined in relation to historical settlements, railways, and wetlands derived from 19th-century spatial datasets. Spatial clustering was assessed using Average Nearest Neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation. Temporal changes in proximity to landscape features were tested using nonparametric statistics, while malaria mortality density was modeled using negative binomial regression and generalized additive models.
RESULTS: Malaria mortality was significantly clustered across all decades but became progressively less spatially concentrated through time. Mortality locations shifted farther from mapped wetlands as drainage intensified, while proximity to settlements consistently decreased. Regression models identified settlement proximity as the strongest and only significant predictor of malaria mortality density, whereas distances to wetlands were not independently associated once settlement effects were accounted for.
DISCUSSION: These results indicate a reorganization of malaria risk from environmentally constrained ecologies toward anthropogenic landscapes shaped by settlement, agriculture, and infrastructure. Malaria transmission in southern Ontario was embedded within everyday settlement practices rather than static environmental features, demonstrating how colonial landscape transformation structured disease risk in a temperate region. This study highlights the value of spatiotemporal GIS approaches for interpreting past disease ecologies within biological anthropology and paleopathology.
Additional Links: PMID-42244264
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@article {pmid42244264,
year = {2026},
author = {Cooke, A and Brickley, MB},
title = {Ecology of Malaria Mortality: A Spatiotemporal Mapping Approach.},
journal = {American journal of biological anthropology},
volume = {190},
number = {2},
pages = {e70272},
pmid = {42244264},
issn = {2692-7691},
support = {752-2024-2545//Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {Ontario/epidemiology ; *Malaria/mortality/history ; Humans ; Geographic Information Systems ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; History, 19th Century ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This study examines the spatiotemporal ecology of probable malaria mortality in 19th-century southern Ontario to evaluate how settlement expansion, landscape transformation, and infrastructure development structured transmission risk in a temperate, settler-colonial context.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Probable malaria-attributed deaths recorded in Ontario death certificates (1869-1900; n = 2683) were geocoded and analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mortality locations were examined in relation to historical settlements, railways, and wetlands derived from 19th-century spatial datasets. Spatial clustering was assessed using Average Nearest Neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation. Temporal changes in proximity to landscape features were tested using nonparametric statistics, while malaria mortality density was modeled using negative binomial regression and generalized additive models.
RESULTS: Malaria mortality was significantly clustered across all decades but became progressively less spatially concentrated through time. Mortality locations shifted farther from mapped wetlands as drainage intensified, while proximity to settlements consistently decreased. Regression models identified settlement proximity as the strongest and only significant predictor of malaria mortality density, whereas distances to wetlands were not independently associated once settlement effects were accounted for.
DISCUSSION: These results indicate a reorganization of malaria risk from environmentally constrained ecologies toward anthropogenic landscapes shaped by settlement, agriculture, and infrastructure. Malaria transmission in southern Ontario was embedded within everyday settlement practices rather than static environmental features, demonstrating how colonial landscape transformation structured disease risk in a temperate region. This study highlights the value of spatiotemporal GIS approaches for interpreting past disease ecologies within biological anthropology and paleopathology.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Ontario/epidemiology
*Malaria/mortality/history
Humans
Geographic Information Systems
Spatio-Temporal Analysis
History, 19th Century
RevDate: 2026-06-08
A data-driven performance index for center forwards in the English Premier League.
Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-55681-9 [Epub ahead of print].
Despite the growing availability of performance data in professional soccer, existing player rating systems lack positional specificity and fail to capture the multidimensional demands of center forwards. Building on composite index and regularized regression approaches in sports analytics, this study develops a Soccer Performance Index (SPI) tailored to center forwards in the English Premier League (EPL) across the 2021-2024 seasons. Data from 194 player-season observations were analysed using 109 Wyscout performance metrics as predictors. Three SPI versions were constructed using Lasso and Ridge regression: one based on market value, one on the InStat Index, and a hybrid combining both. The hybrid model, weighting market value at 70% and the InStat Index at 30%, achieved the strongest explanatory fit (R[2] = 0.676, RMSE = 0.669), accounting for approximately 68% of variance in player valuation - a result consistent with the complexity inherent in behavioural and performance modelling contexts. xG per 90, shots, and key passes per 90 emerged as the strongest predictors. Methodological considerations include the use of a minimum participation threshold (≥ 20 matches), which may introduce survivorship bias; the treatment of player-season observations as independent units, which does not account for repeated-measures dependence; and the reliance on internal validation only. The SPI demonstrates ecological relevance by integrating both financial and on-field performance indicators, offering a structured framework for talent identification and recruitment support in applied professional contexts.
Additional Links: PMID-42259880
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42259880,
year = {2026},
author = {Prieto-González, P and Yagin, FH and Martín, V and Marcelino, R and Alghannam, AF and Yagin, B and Sal-de-Rellán, A},
title = {A data-driven performance index for center forwards in the English Premier League.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-55681-9},
pmid = {42259880},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Despite the growing availability of performance data in professional soccer, existing player rating systems lack positional specificity and fail to capture the multidimensional demands of center forwards. Building on composite index and regularized regression approaches in sports analytics, this study develops a Soccer Performance Index (SPI) tailored to center forwards in the English Premier League (EPL) across the 2021-2024 seasons. Data from 194 player-season observations were analysed using 109 Wyscout performance metrics as predictors. Three SPI versions were constructed using Lasso and Ridge regression: one based on market value, one on the InStat Index, and a hybrid combining both. The hybrid model, weighting market value at 70% and the InStat Index at 30%, achieved the strongest explanatory fit (R[2] = 0.676, RMSE = 0.669), accounting for approximately 68% of variance in player valuation - a result consistent with the complexity inherent in behavioural and performance modelling contexts. xG per 90, shots, and key passes per 90 emerged as the strongest predictors. Methodological considerations include the use of a minimum participation threshold (≥ 20 matches), which may introduce survivorship bias; the treatment of player-season observations as independent units, which does not account for repeated-measures dependence; and the reliance on internal validation only. The SPI demonstrates ecological relevance by integrating both financial and on-field performance indicators, offering a structured framework for talent identification and recruitment support in applied professional contexts.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-09
The importance of nonsense errors: Estimating the rates and implications of ribosome drop-off during protein synthesis.
PLoS genetics, 22(6):e1012162 pii:PGENETICS-D-25-00876 [Epub ahead of print].
The process of translation is both energetically costly and relatively error-prone compared to transcription and replication. Nonsense errors during translation occur when a ribosome drops off a transcript before reaching a stop codon, resulting in energetic investment in an incomplete and likely non-functional protein. Nonsense errors impose a potentially significant energy burden on the cell, making it critical to quantify their frequency and energetic cost. Here, we present a model of ribosome movement for estimating protein production, elongation, and nonsense error rates from high-throughput ribosome profiling data. Applying this model to an exemplary ribosome profiling dataset in S. cerevisiae, we find that nonsense error rates vary substantially between codons and that these types of errors place an energetic burden on cells comparable to ribosome pausing. Overall, we present multiple lines of evidence that selection against nonsense errors is a prominent force shaping protein-coding sequence evolution and codon usage bias, in particular.
Additional Links: PMID-42263105
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@article {pmid42263105,
year = {2026},
author = {Cope, AL and Pak, D and Gilchrist, MA},
title = {The importance of nonsense errors: Estimating the rates and implications of ribosome drop-off during protein synthesis.},
journal = {PLoS genetics},
volume = {22},
number = {6},
pages = {e1012162},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1012162},
pmid = {42263105},
issn = {1553-7404},
abstract = {The process of translation is both energetically costly and relatively error-prone compared to transcription and replication. Nonsense errors during translation occur when a ribosome drops off a transcript before reaching a stop codon, resulting in energetic investment in an incomplete and likely non-functional protein. Nonsense errors impose a potentially significant energy burden on the cell, making it critical to quantify their frequency and energetic cost. Here, we present a model of ribosome movement for estimating protein production, elongation, and nonsense error rates from high-throughput ribosome profiling data. Applying this model to an exemplary ribosome profiling dataset in S. cerevisiae, we find that nonsense error rates vary substantially between codons and that these types of errors place an energetic burden on cells comparable to ribosome pausing. Overall, we present multiple lines of evidence that selection against nonsense errors is a prominent force shaping protein-coding sequence evolution and codon usage bias, in particular.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
A Beta-Binomial Model for Estimating Zero- or One-inflated Pain Trajectories.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.
Chronic pain is a widespread public health issue that imposes substantial health, emotional, and economic burdens on individuals and communities. Because pain is subjective and lacks objective biomarkers, it is typically measured using patient-reported scores, often on a numerical scale from zero to ten. Increasingly, pain studies use ecological momentary assessment, with multiple daily assessments over days and across study phases (e.g., a series of baseline and post-intervention assessments). These data frequently show many ratings at the extremes (i.e., at minimum or maximum pain scores), commonly referred to as zero- and one-inflation in the statistical literature, along with considerable within-person variability both within and across days. These phenomena present challenges for statistical analyses, as they violate assumptions of most commonly used statistical techniques (e.g., the normality assumption of linear mixed models). We propose a Bayesian beta-binomial mixed-effects model for modeling potential zero- or one-inflated pain scores while accounting for variability using random effects on the mean and variance parameters across subjects. A simulation study demonstrates that the method accurately estimates model parameters across realistic sample sizes, time points, and zero- and one-inflation levels. An application to data from two longitudinal pain studies demonstrates that the model fits the data better and, when correctly specified, yields accurate uncertainty intervals for longitudinal changes in pain compared to existing models, especially for zero- and one-inflated outcomes. Additionally, the model directly estimates the probability of clinically meaningful pain events. The proposed method provides a powerful statistical framework for studying the patient-reported pain trajectories.
Additional Links: PMID-42182272
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42182272,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Y and Harris, RE and Clauw, D and Bayman, E and Leroux, A and Lindquist, MA and , },
title = {A Beta-Binomial Model for Estimating Zero- or One-inflated Pain Trajectories.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42182272},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Chronic pain is a widespread public health issue that imposes substantial health, emotional, and economic burdens on individuals and communities. Because pain is subjective and lacks objective biomarkers, it is typically measured using patient-reported scores, often on a numerical scale from zero to ten. Increasingly, pain studies use ecological momentary assessment, with multiple daily assessments over days and across study phases (e.g., a series of baseline and post-intervention assessments). These data frequently show many ratings at the extremes (i.e., at minimum or maximum pain scores), commonly referred to as zero- and one-inflation in the statistical literature, along with considerable within-person variability both within and across days. These phenomena present challenges for statistical analyses, as they violate assumptions of most commonly used statistical techniques (e.g., the normality assumption of linear mixed models). We propose a Bayesian beta-binomial mixed-effects model for modeling potential zero- or one-inflated pain scores while accounting for variability using random effects on the mean and variance parameters across subjects. A simulation study demonstrates that the method accurately estimates model parameters across realistic sample sizes, time points, and zero- and one-inflation levels. An application to data from two longitudinal pain studies demonstrates that the model fits the data better and, when correctly specified, yields accurate uncertainty intervals for longitudinal changes in pain compared to existing models, especially for zero- and one-inflated outcomes. Additionally, the model directly estimates the probability of clinically meaningful pain events. The proposed method provides a powerful statistical framework for studying the patient-reported pain trajectories.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-10
CmpDate: 2026-06-10
Assessing the potential of urban agriculture at the community scale: Spatial heterogeneity, influencing factors, and planning implications.
Journal of environmental management, 409:130046.
Urban development faces challenges like food shortages, farmland loss, ecological degradation, and weakened community ties. Urban agriculture can help alleviate food pressure, enhance ecology, and strengthen social interactions. Communities are ideal sites for its implementation. However, existing research lacks methods for assessing urban agriculture potential at the community level, particularly when considering the full range of spatial elements, multi-scale benefits, and the spatial heterogeneity of different types of communities. Thus, our study comprehensively employs cluster analysis, three-dimensional image reconstruction, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and GIS methods to evaluate urban agriculture potential across community types. The research consists of four phases: (1) Classifying community types and identifying their spatial characteristics; (2) Constructing 3D community models and extracting spatial data; (3) Developing an MCDM model to rank urban agriculture potential; (4) Analyzing the spatial heterogeneity of the potential of communities and identifying the influencing factors. Results indicate that low-density high-rise communities exhibit the strongest spatial suitability, while high-density low-rise communities score highest in sustainable potential. Overall potential is ranked in the order: low-density high-rise > high-density low-rise > large-footprint pitched-roof > old communities. Construction year is identified as a key factor leading to the superior urban agriculture potential of newly built communities compared to older ones. Building density, gross floor area, and roof slope also shape potential by affecting sunlight exposure, planting area, and accessibility. Our study further proposes planning strategies for community-based urban agriculture and differentiated urban agriculture development suggestions. We also explore the applicability of the research conclusions and the generalizability of the potential assessment method. The research offers scientific decision-making basis for urban planners, and a novel approach to potential assessment in urban agriculture.
Additional Links: PMID-42190532
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42190532,
year = {2026},
author = {Ding, X and Li, W and Sun, X and Peng, Y},
title = {Assessing the potential of urban agriculture at the community scale: Spatial heterogeneity, influencing factors, and planning implications.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {409},
number = {},
pages = {130046},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130046},
pmid = {42190532},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Agriculture ; Geographic Information Systems ; Cluster Analysis ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Urbanization ; City Planning ; Decision Making ; },
abstract = {Urban development faces challenges like food shortages, farmland loss, ecological degradation, and weakened community ties. Urban agriculture can help alleviate food pressure, enhance ecology, and strengthen social interactions. Communities are ideal sites for its implementation. However, existing research lacks methods for assessing urban agriculture potential at the community level, particularly when considering the full range of spatial elements, multi-scale benefits, and the spatial heterogeneity of different types of communities. Thus, our study comprehensively employs cluster analysis, three-dimensional image reconstruction, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and GIS methods to evaluate urban agriculture potential across community types. The research consists of four phases: (1) Classifying community types and identifying their spatial characteristics; (2) Constructing 3D community models and extracting spatial data; (3) Developing an MCDM model to rank urban agriculture potential; (4) Analyzing the spatial heterogeneity of the potential of communities and identifying the influencing factors. Results indicate that low-density high-rise communities exhibit the strongest spatial suitability, while high-density low-rise communities score highest in sustainable potential. Overall potential is ranked in the order: low-density high-rise > high-density low-rise > large-footprint pitched-roof > old communities. Construction year is identified as a key factor leading to the superior urban agriculture potential of newly built communities compared to older ones. Building density, gross floor area, and roof slope also shape potential by affecting sunlight exposure, planting area, and accessibility. Our study further proposes planning strategies for community-based urban agriculture and differentiated urban agriculture development suggestions. We also explore the applicability of the research conclusions and the generalizability of the potential assessment method. The research offers scientific decision-making basis for urban planners, and a novel approach to potential assessment in urban agriculture.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Agriculture
Geographic Information Systems
Cluster Analysis
Conservation of Natural Resources
Urbanization
City Planning
Decision Making
RevDate: 2026-06-09
CmpDate: 2026-06-09
Public perceptions and engagement with Traditional Chinese Medicine on Japanese social media (2010-2025): a text mining approach.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1826864.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic medical system whose global visibility has increased markedly, yet large-scale studies on public perceptions and engagement remain limited. Using Japanese Twitter data from 2010 to 2025, this study employs text mining techniques including BERTopic modeling, sentiment analysis, and co-occurrence network analysis to examine public discourse on TCM. Building on the Cognition-Affect-Behavior (CAB) framework, this study employs multilevel relational analyzes to examine the interplay between topics, sentiment, and behavioral engagement. The results show that public discussions mainly focus on clinical efficacy and daily wellness, traditional knowledge and scientific innovation, business and cultural promotion of TCM. Despite the dominance of neutral and positive sentiment, negative sentiment shows an increasing trend. Concerns are related to scientific rigor, ecological ethics, and adverse experiences. Japanese users are most engaged with tweets about TCM wellness, ingredients, and therapies. These behaviors reflect patterns of active learning, cultural identity, and experiential exploration. This study provides empirical support for the CAB pathway in social media environments and elucidates both the diffusion patterns of TCM-related discourse and the mechanisms underlying public responses on Japanese social media. It offers theoretical and empirical implications for cross-cultural health communication and the analysis of TCM discourse in digital contexts.
Additional Links: PMID-42239005
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42239005,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, S and Chen, X},
title = {Public perceptions and engagement with Traditional Chinese Medicine on Japanese social media (2010-2025): a text mining approach.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1826864},
pmid = {42239005},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {*Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Humans ; *Data Mining ; *Social Media/statistics & numerical data ; Japan ; *Public Opinion ; Media Exposure ; Digital Media ; East Asian People ; },
abstract = {Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic medical system whose global visibility has increased markedly, yet large-scale studies on public perceptions and engagement remain limited. Using Japanese Twitter data from 2010 to 2025, this study employs text mining techniques including BERTopic modeling, sentiment analysis, and co-occurrence network analysis to examine public discourse on TCM. Building on the Cognition-Affect-Behavior (CAB) framework, this study employs multilevel relational analyzes to examine the interplay between topics, sentiment, and behavioral engagement. The results show that public discussions mainly focus on clinical efficacy and daily wellness, traditional knowledge and scientific innovation, business and cultural promotion of TCM. Despite the dominance of neutral and positive sentiment, negative sentiment shows an increasing trend. Concerns are related to scientific rigor, ecological ethics, and adverse experiences. Japanese users are most engaged with tweets about TCM wellness, ingredients, and therapies. These behaviors reflect patterns of active learning, cultural identity, and experiential exploration. This study provides empirical support for the CAB pathway in social media environments and elucidates both the diffusion patterns of TCM-related discourse and the mechanisms underlying public responses on Japanese social media. It offers theoretical and empirical implications for cross-cultural health communication and the analysis of TCM discourse in digital contexts.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Humans
*Data Mining
*Social Media/statistics & numerical data
Japan
*Public Opinion
Media Exposure
Digital Media
East Asian People
RevDate: 2026-06-09
CmpDate: 2026-06-09
Estimation of surface water susceptibility to pollution index of natural wetlands of North-East India using multi-criteria decision model.
Environmental science and pollution research international, 33(8):3360-3378.
This study aims to develop a comprehensive and spatially explicit Surface Water Susceptibility to Pollution (SWSP) index using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework, integrated with spatial environmental considerations. The proposed SWSP model employs a data-driven modelling approach, incorporating eight independent watershed characteristics and 55 sub-factors into the index to assess the health and quality of the wetland landscape. Unlike conventional single-parameter or empirical assessments, it includes a holistic evaluation of determinants contributing to surface water pollution within a catchment. The study was conducted in the wetland-dominated area of northeast India to demonstrate the scalability and replicability of the model for larger applications. Meanwhile, the Water Quality Index (WQI) is scientifically important because it consolidates multiple water quality parameters into a single, standardised score that reflects the overall health of a wetland, which depends on watershed characteristics. Therefore, the WQI can be used to cross-validate the SWSP index by comparing predicted pollution vulnerability with actual water quality measurements. In the present study, the WQI was measured through in situ and laboratory tests of the physicochemical parameters of surface water in three natural wetlands: Deepor Beel, Chandubi Lake, and Digholi Bil. This measurement was used to validate the SWSP index. The water quality analysis reveals that 96% of the total geographical area (TGA) of Deepor Beel has a WQI above 200, characterised by high turbidity (73.6 NTU), rendering the water unsuitable for any use. High and very high SWSP index areas within the catchment of Deepor Beel (72% TGA), Digholi Bil (63% TGA), and Chandubi Lake (62% TGA) are encompassed by built-up areas, agricultural land, and hilly forested regions. Linear regression shows a significant correlation between the SWSP Index and the WQI in all three wetlands: Deepor Beel (R[2] = 0.72), Chandubi Lake (R[2] = 0.85), and Digholi Bil (R[2] = 0.68), with p < 0.05. A strong correlation between the two confirms the model's reliability, while discrepancies suggest the need for refinement. This cross-validation enhances the scientific credibility of the SWSP index, supporting policymakers in sustainable watershed management, public health protection, and ecological conservation.
Additional Links: PMID-41673365
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid41673365,
year = {2026},
author = {Jena, R and Ramakrishnan, S and Sarma, A and Sinha, VSP and Jayaraman, A},
title = {Estimation of surface water susceptibility to pollution index of natural wetlands of North-East India using multi-criteria decision model.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {33},
number = {8},
pages = {3360-3378},
pmid = {41673365},
issn = {1614-7499},
mesh = {*Wetlands ; India ; Water Quality ; *Environmental Monitoring/methods ; *Water Pollution/analysis ; Models, Theoretical ; Decision Support Techniques ; },
abstract = {This study aims to develop a comprehensive and spatially explicit Surface Water Susceptibility to Pollution (SWSP) index using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework, integrated with spatial environmental considerations. The proposed SWSP model employs a data-driven modelling approach, incorporating eight independent watershed characteristics and 55 sub-factors into the index to assess the health and quality of the wetland landscape. Unlike conventional single-parameter or empirical assessments, it includes a holistic evaluation of determinants contributing to surface water pollution within a catchment. The study was conducted in the wetland-dominated area of northeast India to demonstrate the scalability and replicability of the model for larger applications. Meanwhile, the Water Quality Index (WQI) is scientifically important because it consolidates multiple water quality parameters into a single, standardised score that reflects the overall health of a wetland, which depends on watershed characteristics. Therefore, the WQI can be used to cross-validate the SWSP index by comparing predicted pollution vulnerability with actual water quality measurements. In the present study, the WQI was measured through in situ and laboratory tests of the physicochemical parameters of surface water in three natural wetlands: Deepor Beel, Chandubi Lake, and Digholi Bil. This measurement was used to validate the SWSP index. The water quality analysis reveals that 96% of the total geographical area (TGA) of Deepor Beel has a WQI above 200, characterised by high turbidity (73.6 NTU), rendering the water unsuitable for any use. High and very high SWSP index areas within the catchment of Deepor Beel (72% TGA), Digholi Bil (63% TGA), and Chandubi Lake (62% TGA) are encompassed by built-up areas, agricultural land, and hilly forested regions. Linear regression shows a significant correlation between the SWSP Index and the WQI in all three wetlands: Deepor Beel (R[2] = 0.72), Chandubi Lake (R[2] = 0.85), and Digholi Bil (R[2] = 0.68), with p < 0.05. A strong correlation between the two confirms the model's reliability, while discrepancies suggest the need for refinement. This cross-validation enhances the scientific credibility of the SWSP index, supporting policymakers in sustainable watershed management, public health protection, and ecological conservation.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Wetlands
India
Water Quality
*Environmental Monitoring/methods
*Water Pollution/analysis
Models, Theoretical
Decision Support Techniques
RevDate: 2026-06-08
CmpDate: 2026-06-08
Spatial Heterogeneity of CYP9K1 Gene Overexpression Driving Cross-Resistance to Insecticide in Anopheles Mosquitoes Across Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Journal of parasitology research, 2026:7708566.
Insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes poses a growing challenge to malaria elimination efforts across sub-Saharan Africa, threatening the continued effectiveness of frontline interventions. Among the metabolic mechanisms driving resistance, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene CYP9K1 has been increasingly associated with detoxification and cross-resistance to multiple insecticide classes, particularly pyrethroids. This review assessed spatial heterogeneity in CYP9K1 overexpression (log2 fold change) in cross-resistant Anopheles mosquito populations across sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, drawing data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, BioMed Central, and Google Scholar (2015-2025). Random-effects models using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation were applied in JASP, alongside subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses. Out of 17,163 retrieved records, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing data from six sub-Saharan African countries. The pooled log2 fold change for CYP9K1 expression was 1.910 (95% CI: 1.274-2.545; p < 0.001), confirming significant upregulation in resistant mosquito populations. Subgroup analyses further revealed that CYP9K1 overexpression followed a similar trend across countries, with no statistically significant differences observed between the countries (p > 0.05). This consistency suggests that the same CYP9K1-linked resistance mechanism may be spreading across different ecological and geographic regions, possibly through gene flow or shared selection pressure from insecticide use. These findings highlight CYP9K1 as a key metabolic marker conferring cross-resistance among Anopheles mosquitoes. The integration of CYP9K1 molecular surveillance into national vector control programs will strengthen early detection of resistance hotspots, inform insecticide rotation policies, and support the development of next-generation long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) incorporating synergists or nonpyrethroid active ingredients. This evidence-based approach could guide tailored resistance management strategies essential for sustaining malaria control gains across sub-Saharan Africa.
Additional Links: PMID-42254981
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42254981,
year = {2026},
author = {Nwinyi, OC and Siyanbola, KF},
title = {Spatial Heterogeneity of CYP9K1 Gene Overexpression Driving Cross-Resistance to Insecticide in Anopheles Mosquitoes Across Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of parasitology research},
volume = {2026},
number = {},
pages = {7708566},
pmid = {42254981},
issn = {2090-0023},
abstract = {Insecticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes poses a growing challenge to malaria elimination efforts across sub-Saharan Africa, threatening the continued effectiveness of frontline interventions. Among the metabolic mechanisms driving resistance, the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene CYP9K1 has been increasingly associated with detoxification and cross-resistance to multiple insecticide classes, particularly pyrethroids. This review assessed spatial heterogeneity in CYP9K1 overexpression (log2 fold change) in cross-resistant Anopheles mosquito populations across sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, drawing data from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, BioMed Central, and Google Scholar (2015-2025). Random-effects models using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) estimation were applied in JASP, alongside subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses. Out of 17,163 retrieved records, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, representing data from six sub-Saharan African countries. The pooled log2 fold change for CYP9K1 expression was 1.910 (95% CI: 1.274-2.545; p < 0.001), confirming significant upregulation in resistant mosquito populations. Subgroup analyses further revealed that CYP9K1 overexpression followed a similar trend across countries, with no statistically significant differences observed between the countries (p > 0.05). This consistency suggests that the same CYP9K1-linked resistance mechanism may be spreading across different ecological and geographic regions, possibly through gene flow or shared selection pressure from insecticide use. These findings highlight CYP9K1 as a key metabolic marker conferring cross-resistance among Anopheles mosquitoes. The integration of CYP9K1 molecular surveillance into national vector control programs will strengthen early detection of resistance hotspots, inform insecticide rotation policies, and support the development of next-generation long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) incorporating synergists or nonpyrethroid active ingredients. This evidence-based approach could guide tailored resistance management strategies essential for sustaining malaria control gains across sub-Saharan Africa.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-08
CmpDate: 2026-06-08
The genome sequence of a muscid fly, Phaonia angelicae (Scopoli, 1763) (Diptera: Muscidae).
Wellcome open research, 11:236.
We present a genome assembly from an individual female Phaonia angelicae (muscid fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Muscidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 1 593.88 megabases and 1 575.57 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (97.48%) is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 17.82 kilobases. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13 923 protein-coding genes. This assembly was generated as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, which produces reference genomes for eukaryotic species found in Britain and Ireland.
Additional Links: PMID-42255360
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42255360,
year = {2026},
author = {Falk, S and Grzywacz, A and , and , and , and , and , and , and , },
title = {The genome sequence of a muscid fly, Phaonia angelicae (Scopoli, 1763) (Diptera: Muscidae).},
journal = {Wellcome open research},
volume = {11},
number = {},
pages = {236},
pmid = {42255360},
issn = {2398-502X},
abstract = {We present a genome assembly from an individual female Phaonia angelicae (muscid fly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Muscidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 1 593.88 megabases and 1 575.57 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (97.48%) is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 17.82 kilobases. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13 923 protein-coding genes. This assembly was generated as part of the Darwin Tree of Life project, which produces reference genomes for eukaryotic species found in Britain and Ireland.},
}
RevDate: 2026-06-09
CmpDate: 2026-06-09
Using Ultra-Abridged Individual Difference Scales for Personalization in Digital Mental Health to Improve Uptake, Engagement, and Experiences: Three-Tiered Decision Framework for Scale Shortening.
Journal of medical Internet research, 28:e80662 pii:v28i1e80662.
Given the diversity of human characteristics and experiences, personalization in nudges, messages, choice presentations, interventions, and overall product design has been increasingly adopted in digital health to promote engagement. Past studies on moderators and personalization in digital health and mental health services generally focused on demographic and symptom variables, with generally inconsistent findings or null findings. Cognitive, motivational, and decisional psychological attributes are largely overlooked. Psychology often uses long self-report scales to measure various psychological attributes. Although they are useful in tapping into individuals' psychological profiles, when applied in real-life, everyday settings to assess individual differences, people are most likely unwilling to complete them. With the pressing need to personalize digital health platforms to enhance uptake, retention, and engagement, ultrashort versions of these psychological scales may be considered to allow assessment of multiple attributes at the same time. Scale shortening can be achieved through regression analyses of each item, factor analyses, item response theory, ant colony optimization, and machine learning methods, with each method having advantages, disadvantages, and conditions required to make it suitable. To illustrate, we provided examples of regression analyses of each item and factor analyses, with potential implications for personalizing narrative versus research-based messages in digital mental health contexts. We present a 3-tiered decision framework for scale shortening method selection depending on goals and possible constraints, with guidelines on validation methods for ultrashort scales. Moving forward, more validation studies and field studies in digital health platforms are needed to evaluate the ecological validity, reliability, and generalizability of these methods, bearing in mind the limitations and conditions where such shortening methods may not work well. Researchers may compare the effectiveness and limitations of personalization using ultrashort scales with other commonly adopted personalization methods (eg, based on longer scales, behavioral data, and large language models). Ethical concerns need to be considered and mitigated carefully, respecting diverse preferences, informed choices, and the privacy of service users. Our viewpoint piece is primarily intended for digital mental health researchers and practitioners, but may also be informative for the fields of digital health and medicine as well as personalization (eg, personalized health care, personalized nudging, and message matching) more broadly, given the common goal of boosting uptake and engagement as well as improving service users' experiences.
Additional Links: PMID-42258804
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42258804,
year = {2026},
author = {Yeung, SK and Tong, ACY and Zhao, H and Mak, WWS},
title = {Using Ultra-Abridged Individual Difference Scales for Personalization in Digital Mental Health to Improve Uptake, Engagement, and Experiences: Three-Tiered Decision Framework for Scale Shortening.},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {e80662},
doi = {10.2196/80662},
pmid = {42258804},
issn = {1438-8871},
mesh = {Humans ; Digital Health ; *Mental Health ; *Individuality ; Digital Media ; },
abstract = {Given the diversity of human characteristics and experiences, personalization in nudges, messages, choice presentations, interventions, and overall product design has been increasingly adopted in digital health to promote engagement. Past studies on moderators and personalization in digital health and mental health services generally focused on demographic and symptom variables, with generally inconsistent findings or null findings. Cognitive, motivational, and decisional psychological attributes are largely overlooked. Psychology often uses long self-report scales to measure various psychological attributes. Although they are useful in tapping into individuals' psychological profiles, when applied in real-life, everyday settings to assess individual differences, people are most likely unwilling to complete them. With the pressing need to personalize digital health platforms to enhance uptake, retention, and engagement, ultrashort versions of these psychological scales may be considered to allow assessment of multiple attributes at the same time. Scale shortening can be achieved through regression analyses of each item, factor analyses, item response theory, ant colony optimization, and machine learning methods, with each method having advantages, disadvantages, and conditions required to make it suitable. To illustrate, we provided examples of regression analyses of each item and factor analyses, with potential implications for personalizing narrative versus research-based messages in digital mental health contexts. We present a 3-tiered decision framework for scale shortening method selection depending on goals and possible constraints, with guidelines on validation methods for ultrashort scales. Moving forward, more validation studies and field studies in digital health platforms are needed to evaluate the ecological validity, reliability, and generalizability of these methods, bearing in mind the limitations and conditions where such shortening methods may not work well. Researchers may compare the effectiveness and limitations of personalization using ultrashort scales with other commonly adopted personalization methods (eg, based on longer scales, behavioral data, and large language models). Ethical concerns need to be considered and mitigated carefully, respecting diverse preferences, informed choices, and the privacy of service users. Our viewpoint piece is primarily intended for digital mental health researchers and practitioners, but may also be informative for the fields of digital health and medicine as well as personalization (eg, personalized health care, personalized nudging, and message matching) more broadly, given the common goal of boosting uptake and engagement as well as improving service users' experiences.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Digital Health
*Mental Health
*Individuality
Digital Media
RevDate: 2026-06-07
Metabolomics applications in lactic acid bacteria: Identification, classification, and functional analysis.
Biotechnology advances, 88:108838.
BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exhibit a limited correlation between genomic attributes and expressed metabolic traits, with their metabolic profiles being strongly influenced by ecological and environmental conditions. Recent advances in metabolomics have enabled high-resolution profiling of LAB-specific metabolic fingerprints and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, challenges such as metabolite instability, incomplete annotation of LAB-derived metabolites, and environmental interference within complex fermentation matrices continue to hinder data standardization, reproducibility, and mechanistic interpretation.
SCOPE AND APPROACH: This review synthesizes recent advances in LAB metabolomics, highlighting how state-of-the-art analytical platforms, in combination with single-cell and metabolic flux-based approaches, improve strain identification, metabolic phenotyping, and functional metabolite discovery. It further addresses LAB-specific methodological challenges and observed discordance between phylogenetic relationships and metabolomic phenotypes, and discusses how the integration of metabolomics with genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) and multi-omics frameworks can improve functional prediction and provide deeper mechanistic insights.
KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the integration of metabolomics is transforming functional studies in LAB by enabling strain-specific functional differentiation and the direct inference of adaptive traits from metabolic phenotypes. As metabolomics increasingly integrates with multi-omics datasets, GSMMs, and experimental validation approaches, a more unified framework for LAB functional analysis is emerging. This integrated approach provides a robust foundation for mechanistic elucidation, functional strain selection, and targeted applications in fermented food systems.
Additional Links: PMID-41654280
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@article {pmid41654280,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, L and Liu, W},
title = {Metabolomics applications in lactic acid bacteria: Identification, classification, and functional analysis.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {88},
number = {},
pages = {108838},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2026.108838},
pmid = {41654280},
issn = {1873-1899},
mesh = {*Metabolomics/methods ; *Lactobacillales/metabolism/classification/genetics ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exhibit a limited correlation between genomic attributes and expressed metabolic traits, with their metabolic profiles being strongly influenced by ecological and environmental conditions. Recent advances in metabolomics have enabled high-resolution profiling of LAB-specific metabolic fingerprints and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, challenges such as metabolite instability, incomplete annotation of LAB-derived metabolites, and environmental interference within complex fermentation matrices continue to hinder data standardization, reproducibility, and mechanistic interpretation.
SCOPE AND APPROACH: This review synthesizes recent advances in LAB metabolomics, highlighting how state-of-the-art analytical platforms, in combination with single-cell and metabolic flux-based approaches, improve strain identification, metabolic phenotyping, and functional metabolite discovery. It further addresses LAB-specific methodological challenges and observed discordance between phylogenetic relationships and metabolomic phenotypes, and discusses how the integration of metabolomics with genome-scale metabolic models (GSMMs) and multi-omics frameworks can improve functional prediction and provide deeper mechanistic insights.
KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the integration of metabolomics is transforming functional studies in LAB by enabling strain-specific functional differentiation and the direct inference of adaptive traits from metabolic phenotypes. As metabolomics increasingly integrates with multi-omics datasets, GSMMs, and experimental validation approaches, a more unified framework for LAB functional analysis is emerging. This integrated approach provides a robust foundation for mechanistic elucidation, functional strain selection, and targeted applications in fermented food systems.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*Metabolomics/methods
*Lactobacillales/metabolism/classification/genetics
Multiomics
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Robbins holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the life sciences. He served as a tenured faculty member in the Zoology and Biological Science departments at Michigan State University. He is currently exploring the intersection between genomics, microbial ecology, and biodiversity — an area that promises to transform our understanding of the biosphere.
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Robbins has extensive experience in college-level education: At MSU he taught introductory biology, genetics, and population genetics. At JHU, he was an instructor for a special course on biological database design. At FHCRC, he team-taught a graduate-level course on the history of genetics. At Bellevue College he taught medical informatics.
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Robbins has been involved in science administration at both the federal and the institutional levels. At NSF he was a program officer for database activities in the life sciences, at DOE he was a program officer for information infrastructure in the human genome project. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he served as a vice president for fifteen years.
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Robbins has been involved with information technology since writing his first Fortran program as a college student. At NSF he was the first program officer for database activities in the life sciences. At JHU he held an appointment in the CS department and served as director of the informatics core for the Genome Data Base. At the FHCRC he was VP for Information Technology.
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While still at Michigan State, Robbins started his first publishing venture, founding a small company that addressed the short-run publishing needs of instructors in very large undergraduate classes. For more than 20 years, Robbins has been operating The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project, a web site dedicated to the digital publishing of critical works in science, especially classical genetics.
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Robbins is well-known for his speaking abilities and is often called upon to provide keynote or plenary addresses at international meetings. For example, in July, 2012, he gave a well-received keynote address at the Global Biodiversity Informatics Congress, sponsored by GBIF and held in Copenhagen. The slides from that talk can be seen HERE.
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Robbins has been engaged with photography and design since the 1960s, when he worked for a professional photography laboratory. He now prefers digital photography and tools for their precision and reproducibility. He designed his first web site more than 20 years ago and he personally designed and implemented this web site. He engages in graphic design as a hobby.
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