Prevalence of depression in hypertensive patients and its associated factors in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a prevalent health challenge in India, with a bidirectional link to depression. Recognizing the prevalence of depression among hypertensive patients and associated factors are important for better health outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant studies. R software was used for analysis, employing a random effects model with a 95% confidence interval. Subgroup analyses were done to explore sources of heterogeneity within the included studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression among hypertensive patients in India was 39.8% (95% CI: 28.6; 52.1). Despite a higher prevalence observed in South region (44.7%) compared to North (26.9%), the difference was not significant (p=0.39). Studies utilizing different assessment scales and varying sample sizes yielded similar prevalence. However, a temporal trend analysis indicated a higher prevalence in studies published between 2020 and 2023 (52.6%) compared to those published between 2016 and 2019 (35.5%) (p=0.03). Major factors associated with depression included lower socioeconomic status, low education level, female gender, uncontrolled hypertension, and COVID-19 related factors. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of hypertensive patients suffer from depression. Therefore, screening for depression in hypertensive patients is essential to improve hypertension management in India.

Tracking arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to their source: active inoculation and passive dispersal differentially affect community assembly in urban soils.

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi assemble passively over time via biotic and abiotic mechanisms. In degraded soils, AM fungal communities can assemble actively when humans manage mycorrhizas for ecosystem restoration. We investigated mechanisms of urban AM fungal community assembly in a 2-yr green roof experiment. We compared AM fungal communities in inoculated and uninoculated trays to samples from two potential sources: the inoculum and air. Active inoculation stimulated more distinct and diverse AM fungal communities, an effect that intensified over time. In the treatment trays, 45% of AM fungal taxa were detected in the inoculum, 2% were detected in aerial samples, 23% were detected in both inoculum and air, and 30% were not detected in either source. Passive dispersal of AM fungi likely resulted in the successful establishment of a small number of species, but active inoculation with native AM fungal species resulted in an immediate shift to a diverse and unique fungal community. When urban soils are constructed or modified by human activity, this is an opportunity for intervention with AM fungi that will persist and add diversity to that system.

Symbiotic status alters fungal eco-evolutionary offspring trajectories.

Despite host-fungal symbiotic interactions being ubiquitous in all ecosystems, understanding how symbiosis has shaped the ecology and evolution of fungal spores that are involved in dispersal and colonization of their hosts has been ignored in life-history studies. We assembled a spore morphology database covering over 26,000 species of free-living to symbiotic fungi of plants, insects and humans and found more than eight orders of variation in spore size. Evolutionary transitions in symbiotic status correlated with shifts in spore size, but the strength of this effect varied widely among phyla. Symbiotic status explained more variation than climatic variables in the current distribution of spore sizes of plant-associated fungi at a global scale while the dispersal potential of their spores is more restricted compared to free-living fungi. Our work advances life-history theory by highlighting how the interaction between symbiosis and offspring morphology shapes the reproductive and dispersal strategies among living forms.

Rapid multiple property determination from bulk materials libraries prepared from chemically synthesized powders.

A variety of high-performance materials are utilized in electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems. Such systems account for a significant fraction of the world's electricity consumption. The next generation of such systems urgently require new material compositions which possess a better combination of both structural and functional properties. Only accelerated methodologies can rapidly determine the required multiple property set. Hence, a range of iron-cobalt-nickel ternary alloy composition powders were chemically synthesized. Compositionally graded bulk materials libraries were prepared by spark plasma sintering of these powders. A multiple property set of the crystal structure, magnetic, mechanical, and electrical properties were determined for a range of compositions. This property set revealed that a good combination of magnetic and mechanical properties can be obtained from Fe50Co40Ni10, high electrical resistivity from Fe54Co17Ni29 and high saturation magnetization as well as high hardness from Fe57Co29Ni14. Thus, this multiple property library, developed by accelerated methodologies, can be utilized to identify new ternary compositions satisfying diverse property sets relevant to next generation systems.

What is a biocrust? A refined, contemporary definition for a broadening research community.

Studies of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) have proliferated over the last few decades. The biocrust literature has broadened, with more studies assessing and describing the function of a variety of biocrust communities in a broad range of biomes and habitats and across a large spectrum of disciplines, and also by the incorporation of biocrusts into global perspectives and biogeochemical models. As the number of biocrust researchers increases, along with the scope of soil communities defined as 'biocrust', it is worth asking whether we all share a clear, universal, and fully articulated definition of what constitutes a biocrust. In this review, we synthesize the literature with the views of new and experienced biocrust researchers, to provide a refined and fully elaborated definition of biocrusts. In doing so, we illustrate the ecological relevance and ecosystem services provided by them. We demonstrate that biocrusts are defined by four distinct elements: physical structure, functional characteristics, habitat, and taxonomic composition. We describe outgroups, which have some, but not all, of the characteristics necessary to be fully consistent with our definition and thus would not be considered biocrusts. We also summarize the wide variety of different types of communities that fall under our definition of biocrusts, in the process of highlighting their global distribution. Finally, we suggest the universal use of the Belnap, Büdel & Lange definition, with minor modifications: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) result from an intimate association between soil particles and differing proportions of photoautotrophic (e.g. cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, bryophytes) and heterotrophic (e.g. bacteria, fungi, archaea) organisms, which live within, or immediately on top of, the uppermost millimetres of soil. Soil particles are aggregated through the presence and activity of these often extremotolerant biota that desiccate regularly, and the resultant living crust covers the surface of the ground as a coherent layer. With this detailed definition of biocrusts, illustrating their ecological functions and widespread distribution, we hope to stimulate interest in biocrust research and inform various stakeholders (e.g. land managers, land users) on their overall importance to ecosystem and Earth system functioning.

What are mycorrhizal traits?

Traits are inherent properties of organisms, but how are they defined for organismal networks such as mycorrhizal symbioses? Mycorrhizal symbioses are complex and diverse belowground symbioses between plants and fungi that have proved challenging to fit into a unified and coherent trait framework. We propose an inclusive mycorrhizal trait framework that classifies traits as morphological, physiological, and phenological features that have functional implications for the symbiosis. We further classify mycorrhizal traits by location - plant, fungus, or the symbiosis - which highlights new questions in trait-based mycorrhizal ecology designed to charge and challenge the scientific community. This new framework is an opportunity for researchers to interrogate their data to identify novel insights and gaps in our understanding of mycorrhizal symbioses.

Optimal ferrofluids for magnetic cooling devices.

Superior passive cooling technologies are urgently required to tackle device overheating, consequent performance degradation, and service life reduction. Magnetic cooling, governed by the thermomagnetic convection of a ferrofluid, is a promising emerging passive heat transfer technology to meet these challenges. Hence, we studied the performance metrics, non-dimensional parameters, and thermomagnetic cooling performance of various ferrite and metal-based ferrofluids. The magnetic pressure, friction factor, power transfer, and exergy loss were determined to predict the performance of such cooling devices. We also investigated the significance of the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles used in the ferrofluid on cooling performance. γ-Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibited superior cooling performance among ferrite-based ferrofluids. FeCo nanoparticles had the best cooling performance for the case of metallic ferrofluids. The saturation magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles is found to be a significant parameter to enhance heat transfer and heat load cooling. These results can be used to select the optimum magnetic nanoparticle-based ferrofluid for a specific magnetic cooling device application.

Gastrointestinal stress as innate defence against microbial attack.

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been bestowed with the most difficult task of protecting the underlying biological compartments from the resident commensal flora and the potential pathogens in transit through the GI tract. It has a unique environment in which several defence tactics are at play while maintaining homeostasis and health. The GI tract shows myriad number of environmental extremes, which includes pH variations, anaerobic conditions, nutrient limitations, elevated osmolarity etc., which puts a check to colonization and growth of nonfriendly microbial strains. The GI tract acts as a highly selective barrier/platform for ingested food and is the primary playground for balance between the resident and uninvited organisms. This review focuses on antimicrobial defense mechanisms of different sections of human GI tract. In addition, the protective mechanisms used by microbes to combat the human GI defence systems are also discussed. The ability to survive this innate defence mechanism determines the capability of probiotic or pathogen strains to confer health benefits or induce clinical events respectively.

Ten simple rules for increased lab resilience.

When running a lab we do not think about calamities, since they are rare events for which we cannot plan while we are busy with the day-to-day management and intellectual challenges of a research lab. No lab team can be prepared for something like a pandemic such as COVID-19, which has led to shuttered labs around the globe. But many other types of crises can also arise that labs may have to weather during their lifetime. What can researchers do to make a lab more resilient in the face of such exterior forces? What systems or behaviors could we adjust in 'normal' times that promote lab success, and increase the chances that the lab will stay on its trajectory? We offer 10 rules, based on our current experiences as a lab group adapting to crisis.

Ten simple rules for building an antiracist lab.

Demographics of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce and student body in the US and Europe continue to show severe underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Among the documented causes of the persistent lack of diversity in STEM are bias, discrimination, and harassment of members of underrepresented minority groups (URMs). These issues persist due to continued marginalization, power imbalances, and lack of adequate policies against misconduct in academic and other scientific institutions. All scientists can play important roles in reversing this trend by shifting the culture of academic workplaces to intentionally implement equitable and inclusive policies, set norms for acceptable workplace conduct, and provide opportunities for mentorship and networking. As scientists are increasingly acknowledging the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in science, there is a need for clear direction on how to take antiracist action. Here we present 10 rules to help labs develop antiracists policies and action in an effort to promote racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.

Trait-based aerial dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Dispersal is a key process driving local-scale community assembly and global-scale biogeography of plant symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities. A trait-based approach could improve predictions regarding how AM fungal aerial dispersal varies by species. We conducted month-long collections of aerial AM fungi for 12 consecutive months in an urban mesic environment at heights of 20 m. We measured morphological functional traits of collected spores and assessed aerial AM fungal community structure both morphologically and with high-throughput sequencing. Large numbers of AM fungal spores were present in the air over the course of one year and these spores exhibited traits that facilitate aerial dispersal. Measured aerial spores were smaller than average for Glomeromycotinan fungi. Trait-based predictions indicate that nearly 1/3 of described species from diverse genera demonstrate the potential for aerial dispersal. Diversity of aerial AM fungi was relatively high (20 spore species and 17 virtual taxa) and both spore abundance and community structure shifted temporally. The prevalence of aerial dispersal in AM fungi is perhaps greater than previously indicated and a hypothesized model of AM fungal aerial dispersal mechanisms is presented. Anthropogenic soil impacts may liberate AM fungal propagules initiating the dispersal of ruderal species.

Myristate and the ecology of AM fungi: significance, opportunities, applications and challenges.

A recent study by Sugiura and coworkers reported the non-symbiotic growth and spore production of an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, Rhizophagus irregularis, when the fungus received an external supply of certain fatty acids, myristates (C:14). This discovery follows the insight that AM fungi receive fatty acids from their hosts when in symbiosis. If this result holds up and can be repeated under nonsterile conditions and with a broader range of fungi, it has numerous consequences for our understanding of AM fungal ecology, from the level of the fungus, at the plant community level, and to functional consequences in ecosystems. In addition, myristate may open up several avenues from a more applied perspective, including improved fungal culture and supplementation of AM fungi or inoculum in the field. We here map these potential opportunities, and additionally offer thoughts on potential risks of this potentially new technology. Lastly, we discuss the specific research challenges that need to be overcome to come to an understanding of the potential role of myristate in AM ecology.

Evidence-based Canadian guidelines for tele-retina screening for diabetic retinopathy: recommendations from the Canadian Retina Research Network (CR2N) Tele-Retina Steering Committee.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to develop a consensus for Canadian national guidelines specific to a tele-medicine approach to screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) using evidence-based and clinical data. METHODS: Canadian Tele-Screening Grading Scales for DR and diabetic macular edema (DME) were created primarily based on severity grading scales outlined by the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale (ICDR) and the Scottish DR Grading Scheme 2007. Other grading scales used in international screening programs and the clinical expertise of the Canadian Retina Research Network members and retina specialists nationwide were also used in the creation of the guidelines. RESULTS: National Tele-Screening Guidelines for DR and DME with and without optical coherence tomography (OCT) images are proposed. These outline a diagnosis and management algorithm for patients presenting with different stages of DR and/or DME. General guidelines detailing the requirements for imaged retina fields, image quality, quality control, and follow-up care and the role of visual acuity, pupil dilation, OCT, ultra-wide-field imaging, and artificial intelligence are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Tele-retina screening can help to address the need for timely and effective screening for DR, whose prevalence continues to rise. A standardized and evidence-based national approach to DR tele-screening has been proposed, based on DR/DME grading using two 45° image fields or a single widefield or ultra-wide-field image, preferable use of OCT imaging, and a focus on local quality control measures.

Broader Impacts for Ecologists: Biological Soil Crust as a Model System for Education.

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are a complex community of algae, cyanobacteria, lichens, bryophytes, and assorted bacteria, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages that colonize the soil surface. Biocrusts are particularly common in drylands and are found in arid and semiarid ecosystems worldwide. While diminutive in size, biocrusts often cover large terrestrial areas, provide numerous ecosystem benefits, enhance biodiversity, and are found in multiple configurations and assemblages across different climate and disturbance regimes. Biocrusts have been a focus of many ecologists, especially those working in semiarid and arid lands, as biocrusts are foundational community members, play fundamental roles in ecosystem processes, and offer rare opportunities to study biological interactions at small and large spatial scales. Due to these same characteristics, biocrusts have the potential to serve as an excellent teaching tool. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of biocrust communities as a model system in science education. Functioning as portable, dynamic mini ecosystems, biocrusts can be used to teach about organisms, biodiversity, biotic interactions, abiotic controls, ecosystem processes, and even global change, and can be easy to use in nearly every classroom setup. For example, education principles, such as evolution and adaptation to stress, or structure and function (patterns and processes) can be applied by bringing biocrusts into the classroom as a teaching tool. In addition, discussing the utility of biocrusts in the classroom - including theory, hypothesis testing, experimentation, and hands-on learning - this document also provides tips and resources for developing education tools and activities geared toward impactful learning.

Perinatal fluoxetine exposure results in social deficits and reduced monoamine oxidase gene expression in mice.

Perinatal antidepressant drug exposure increases risk for autism spectrum disorder, yet the molecular and neurobehavioral effects of maternal antidepressant drug use on offspring remain poorly understood. In this study, we administered the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine non-invasively to female mice throughout gestation and early lactation, and then examined social interaction behaviors in offspring. In addition, we measured whole brain gene expression levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the primary metabolizing enzyme for serotonin. We found deficits in sociability and social novelty-seeking behavior in the juvenile offspring of SSRI-treated mice, and these behaviors persisted into young adulthood. Furthermore, we found decreased MAOA expression in the brains of offspring of SSRI-treated mice. Our findings suggest that exposure to antidepressants during the prenatal and early postnatal period may negatively affect social development. Moreover, reduced MAOA expression may play a role in the mechanistic pathway linking SSRI exposure and behavioral deficits symptomatic of autism.

In silico study of chikungunya polymerase, a potential target for inhibitors.

Non-structural protein 4 (nsP4) polymerase of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has a crucial role in genome replication and hence could act as a promising target for novel therapeutics. Though, nsP4 is important in viral life cycle, but it is less explored as therapeutic target. The catalytic core of nsP4 Polymerase includes conserved GDD motif which is present not only across different CHIKV strains but also across other Alphaviruses. This emphasizes the uniqueness and importance of this motif in the functioning of nsP4 polymerase and hence, we focused on GDD motif for docking of drug molecules. Herein, a model of nsP4 polymerase was developed using Swiss Model, validated by Ramachandran plot and molecular dynamic simulation. Molecular docking was performed using LeadIT FlexX flexible docking module with FDA approved drug molecule library. On the basis of flexX score, top 5 leads with flexX scores - 33.7588, - 30.2555, - 29.6043, - 28.916 and - 28.5042 were selected. The bonding pattern of these leads were analysed in discovery studio and were further screened on the basis of molecular dynamic simulation studies. Simulation analysis revealed that only the top lead, Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride which is an anticancer drug and is currently indicated in leukemias and lymphomas interacted favourably and stably with nsP4. Our findings suggest that Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride can be a potential novel inhibitor of CHIKV polymerase and should be further validated by in vitro assays.

Erratum: Author Correction: Evolutionary history of plant hosts and fungal symbionts predicts the strength of mycorrhizal mutualism.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0120-9.].

Influence of Cr Substitution and Temperature on Hierarchical Phase Decomposition in the AlCoFeNi High Entropy Alloy.

While the AlCoFeNi high entropy alloy exhibits a single ordered B2 phase at high temperature, both the substitution of ferromagnetic Co with antiferromagnetic Cr, and lower annealing temperatures lead to a tendency for this system to decompose into a two-phase mixture of ordered B2 and disordered BCC solid solution. The length scale of this decomposition is determined by the combination of composition and annealing temperature, as demonstrated in this investigation by comparing and contrasting AlCoFeNi with the AlCo0.5Cr0.5FeNi alloy. The resulting phase stability has been rationalized based on solution thermodynamic predictions. Additionally, it is shown that replacement of Co by Cr in the AlCoFeNi alloy resulted in a substantial reduction in saturation magnetization and increase in coercivity. The microhardness is also strongly influenced by the composition and the length scale of B2 + BCC decomposition in these high entropy alloys.