Atg7 is an indispensable factor that plays a role in canonical nonselective autophagy. Here we show that genetic ablation of Atg7 in outer hair cells (OHCs) in mice caused stereocilium damage, ...somatic electromotility disturbances, and presynaptic ribbon degeneration over time, which led to the gradual wholesale loss of OHCs and subsequent early-onset profound hearing loss. Impaired autophagy disrupted OHC mitochondrial function and triggered the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria that would otherwise be eliminated in a timely manner. Atg7-independent autophagy/mitophagy processes could not compensate for Atg7 deficiency and failed to rescue the terminally differentiated, non-proliferating OHCs. Our results show that OHCs orchestrate intricate nonselective and selective autophagic/mitophagy pathways working in concert to maintain cellular homeostasis. Overall, our results demonstrate that Atg7-dependent autophagy plays a pivotal cytoprotective role in preserving OHCs and maintaining hearing function.
The aerodynamic performance and instabilities of floating platform wind turbines are much more complex than fixed based wind turbines because of the flexibility of the floating platform. Due to the ...extra six degree-of-freedom of the floating platform, the inflow of the wind turbine rotors is highly influenced by the motions of the floating platform. In the present study, an unsteady lifting surface method with a free wake model is developed for the analysis of the wind turbine unsteady performance under the floating platform surge motion conditions. The full scale NREL 5 MW floating wind turbine is chosen as the subject of the present study. The unsteady aerodynamic performance and instabilities have been discussed in detailed. It is believed that under certain platform surge motion, the wind turbine may gain more aerodynamic power output than under steady state condition. The flow separation on the surface of the blade and the pitch control may have the potential of leading the floating wind turbine into unstable conditions during certain platform surge motion.
•Unsteady lifting surface method with free wake model is used as aerodynamic model.•Unsteady performance of the wind turbine under platform surge motions are analyzed.•The wind turbine can extract extra energy under platform surge motion.•Certain surge motion may lead the floating wind turbine system into unstable state.
Objective
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileostomy with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a powerful form of bariatric surgery; however, it has a high risk of malnutrition. Single anastomosis sleeve ileal ...(SASI) bypass with sleeve gastrectomy may be used as an alternative procedure to avoid malnutrition associated with SADI-S; however, no comparison between the two procedures has been performed.
Methods
Sprague–Dawley rats with diabetes (
n
= 32) were divided into four groups: SADI-S (
n
= 8), SASI (
n
= 8), SG (
n
= 8), and SHAM (
n
= 8). Body weight, food intake, and fasting blood glucose were measured, and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were performed before and after surgery. Blood samples were collected before and after the surgery to assess the levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), hemoglobin, albumin, vitamin B12, calcium, and iron.
Results
The SADI-S and SASI groups showed significantly greater weight loss and better glucose control than the SG group postoperatively. The SADI-S and SASI groups showed similar improvements in glucose control throughout the study. The SADI-S and SASI groups had significantly higher GLP-1 levels than the SG group at 6 months. The SADI-S and SASI groups presented with various degrees of deficiencies, with the SADI-S group showing a higher risk for hypoalbuminemia and iron deficiency than the SASI group.
Conclusions
The SASI procedure may be a better alternative as it has excellent bariatric and metabolic results with lower risk for hypoalbuminemia and can be easily converted into either SADI-S or SG procedures. Nevertheless, further clinical results are needed.
Graphical abstract
Macrobrachium australiense, is one of Australia's most widespread freshwater invertebrates. Although a significant amount of research has been conducted to understand the diversity of crustacean ...species in Australia, there has been considerably less effort focused on their Temnocephalidae symbionts. The present study aims to identify Temnocephalidae species found in M. australiense, along with determining their impacts on the fitness of their hosts. A total of 54 M. australiense (common Australian river prawn) were examined for evidence of infection with Temnocephalidae species, of which 96.3% showed at least one sign of infection with Temnocephalidae. Due to damage and immaturity of the worms collected from, they have been referred to as Temnocephalidae sp. based on the presence of tentacles on the anterior margin of the body, and pedunculate sucker located dorsally on the ventral surface. Possible mechanical damage to gill lamellae resulting from either egg deposition or autolysis is evident. In the phylogenetic tree built based on sequences of the 28S rRNA gene, specimens in the present study grouped separately from other Temnocephalidae species reported from Australia.
Sleep disorders increase the risk and mortality of heart disease, but the brain-heart interaction has not yet been fully elucidated. Cuproptosis is a copper-dependent type of cell death activated by ...the excessive accumulation of intracellular copper. Here, we showed that 16 weeks of sleep fragmentation (SF) resulted in elevated copper levels in the male mouse heart and exacerbated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury with increased myocardial cuproptosis and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we found that SF promotes sympathetic overactivity, increases the germination of myocardial sympathetic nerve terminals, and increases the level of norepinephrine in cardiac tissue, thereby inhibits VPS35 expression and leads to impaired ATP7A related copper transport and copper overload in cardiomyocytes. Copper overload further leads to exacerbated cuproptosis and apoptosis, and these effects can be rescued by excision of the sympathetic nerve or administration of copper chelating agent. Our study elucidates one of the molecular mechanisms by which sleep disorders aggravate myocardial injury and suggests possible targets for intervention.
In this study, the unsteady flow and heat transfer characteristics of a laminar slot jet at low Reynolds numbers impinging on an isothermal plate surface in a two-dimensional confined space are ...numerically investigated. The investigations are performed at Reynolds numbers of 120, 150 and 200 based on the nozzle width and mean inlet velocity of the jet. Results show that the Reynolds numbers of 120, 150 and 200 correspond to different flow features, namely, a steady flow, an intermittent flapping motion of jet column and a continuous sinusoidal flapping state, respectively. Based on some time snapshots of the flow field, the dynamic characteristics and driving mechanism of the intermittent flapping motion of the jet column and the continuous sinusoidal flapping state are explained. When the jet flaps at the Reynolds number 150 and 200, there are other Nusselt number peaks outside the stagnation zone, which are related to the interference between the vortices shedding on both sides of the jet and the boundary layers of the plate surface. Furthermore, the dynamic mode decomposition is implemented to accurately extract flow modes with characteristic frequencies. For a Reynolds number of 150, there is a flapping mode, which describes the lateral flapping motion of the jet column. When the Reynolds number is 200, there are multiple modes related to the flapping motion of the jet, as well as a low-frequency mode, which reflects the periodic changes of the boundary contour and position of the recirculation zone.
Background
The protective effect of transit bipartition against esophagitis has not yet been proven. Thus, we investigate and compare the bariatric outcomes and esophagus’ histological changes of ...sleeve gastrectomy (SG), SG with transit bipartition (SG-TB), and the proximal SG-TB (SG-PTB) in a rodent model.
Methods
This study included 45 diabetic Sprague–Dawley rats assigned to one of the four groups, SG-PTB (
n
= 15), SG-TB (
n
= 12), SG (
n
= 10), and SHAM (
n
= 8). Eight surviving rats from each group were included for further investigation. Histological analysis of the gastroesophageal junction was performed. Body weight, food intake, glucose control, and hormonal changes (glucagon-like peptide-1 and insulin) were assessed before and after surgery in all groups.
Results
Preoperatively, no significant differences were observed in food intake, body weight, and fasting blood glucose levels among the groups. Postoperatively, the SG-PTB and SG-TB groups showed significantly superior glucose control compared to the SG group following the gavage of glucose (
p
< 0.05). Postoperatively, the SG-PTB and SG-TB groups had higher postoperative GLP-1 levels than postoperative SG and SHAM groups. More severe esophageal hyperpapillomatosis (EHP) of the esophageal section was observed in the SG group. The mucosal height of the SG group was significantly higher than that of the SG-PTB, SG-TB, and SHAM groups (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion
The transit bipartition procedure may protect the distal esophagus from histological changes associated with esophagitis. Clinical studies are needed to confirm the anti-reflux effects of transit bipartition.
Graphical abstract
Terranova pectinolabiata
n. sp. is described from the great hammerhead,
Sphyrna mokarran
, from Australian waters. This represents the first report of a species of
Terranova
from the host species. ...The new species is characterised by the morphology of the caudal plates and labia. ITS sequences were obtained for 20 specimens which were identical, despite morphological variation that has traditionally been indicative of separation of species. Additionally, genetic analyses confirmed the identification of the larval
Terranova
Type II previously reported in Australian and New Caledonian waters as
Terranova pectinolabiata
n. sp.
Being listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, knowledge on the biology, health and diseases of the scalloped hammerhead,
Sphyrna lewini
(Griffith & Smith) is limited; this is especially ...true for its parasites. In this paper, a new species,
Pulchrascaris australis
, is morphologically described followed by genetic characterisation based on the sequence of the ITS region. The new species can be easily differentiated from its congeners based on the morphology of the mouthpart, spicules, plectanes, eggs and vulva. Phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguish specimens in the present study from other parasitic nematodes found in the Australasian waters and elsewhere. The sequencing data also suggest that
Terranova
larval type I found previously in various fish from New Caledonian and Australian (Queensland) waters also belong to
Pulchrascaris australis
n. sp.
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