bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metagenomic analysis of pristine oil sheds new light on the global distribution of microbial genetic repertoire in hydrocarbon-associated ecosystems
Authors: Plewka Julia , Alibrandi Armando , Bornemann Till L V , Esser Sarah P , Stach Tom L , Sures Katharina , Becker Jannis , Moraru Cristina , Soares André , di Primio Rolando , Kallmeyer Jens , Probst Alexander J
Published: January 2025

Oil reservoirs are society’s primary source of hydrocarbons. While microbial communities in industrially exploited oil reservoirs have been investigated in the past, pristine microbial communities in untapped oil reservoirs are little explored, as are distribution patterns of respective genetic signatures. Here, we show that a pristine oil sample contains a complex community consisting of bacteria and fungi for the degradation of hydrocarbons. We identified microorganisms and their pathways for the degradation of methane, n-alkanes, mono-aromatic, and polycyclic aromatic compounds in a metagenome retrieved from biodegraded petroleum encountered in a subsurface reservoir in the Barents Sea. Capitalizing on marker genes from metagenomes and public data mining, we compared the prokaryotes, putative viruses, and putative plasmids of the sampled site to those from 10 other hydrocarbon-associated sites, revealing a shared network of species and genetic elements across the globe. To test for the potential dispersal of the microbes and predicted elements via seawater, we compared our findings to the Tara Ocean dataset, resulting in a broad distribution of prokaryotic and viral signatures. Although frequently shared between hydrocarbon-associated sites, putative plasmids, however, showed little coverage in the Tara Oceans dataset, suggesting an undiscovered mode of transfer between hydrocarbon-affected ecosystems. Based on our analyses, genetic information is globally shared between oil reservoirs and hydrocarbon-associated sites, and we propose that currents and other physical occurrences within the ocean along with deep aquifers are major distributors of prokaryotes and viruses into these subsurface ecosystems.
Draft genome sequence of the glasshouse-potato aphid Aulacorthum solani
Authors: Torres Joseph , Rozo-Lopez Paula , Brewer William , Saleh Ziabari Omid , Parker Benjamin J
Published: January 2025

Aulacorthum solani is a worldwide agricultural pest aphid capable of feeding on a wide range of host plants. This insect is a vector of plant viruses and causes injury to crops including stunted growth from the loss of phloem. We found that the publicly available genome for A. solani is contaminated with another aphid species, and we produced a new genome using a barcoded isogenic laboratory line. We generated Oxford Nanopore and Illumina reads to assemble a draft genome, and we sequenced RNA to aid in the annotation of our assembly. Our A. solani genome is 671 Mb containing 7,020 contigs with an N50 length of 196 kb with a BUSCO completeness of 98.6%. Out of the 24,981 genes predicted by EGAPx, 22,804 were annotated with putative functions based on homology to other aphid species. This genome will provide a useful resource for the community of researchers studying aphids from agricultural and genomic perspectives.
Functional Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes Acquired by Horizontal Gene Transfer from Plants in the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Colinet Dominique , Haon Mireille , Drula Elodie , Boyer Mathilde , Grisel Sacha , Belliardo Carole , Koutsovoulos Georgios D , Berrin Jean-Guy , Danchin Etienne G J
Published: January 2025

Carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in the degradation of plant cell walls and/or the assimilation of plant carbohydrates for energy uptake are widely distributed in microorganisms. In contrast, they are less frequent in animals, although there are exceptions, including examples of carbohydrate-active enzymes acquired by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria or fungi in several of phytophagous arthropods and plant-parasitic nematodes. Although the whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a major agricultural pest, knowledge of horizontal gene transfer–acquired carbohydrate-active enzymes in this phloem-feeding insect of the Hemiptera order (subfamily Aleyrodinae) is still lacking. We performed a comprehensive and accurate detection of horizontal gene transfer candidates in B. tabaci and identified 136 horizontal gene transfer events, 14 of which corresponding to carbohydrate-active enzymes. The B. tabaci horizontal gene transfer–acquired carbohydrate-active enzymes were not only of bacterial or fungal origin, but some were also acquired from plants. Biochemical analysis revealed that members of the glycoside hydrolase families 17 and 152 acquired from plants are functional beta-glucanases with different substrate specificities, suggesting distinct roles. These two carbohydrate-active enzymes are the first characterized glycoside hydrolase families 17 and 152 glucanases in an animal. We identified a lower number of horizontal gene transfer events in the related Aleyrodinae Trialeurodes vaporariorum, with only three horizontal gene transfer–acquired carbohydrate-active enzymes, including a glycoside hydrolase family 152 glucanase, with phylogenetic analysis suggesting a unique horizontal gene transfer event in the ancestor of the Aleyrodinae. Another glycoside hydrolase family 152 carbohydrate-active enzyme, most likely independently acquired from plants, was also identified in two plant cell-feeding insects of the Thysanoptera order, highlighting the importance of plant-acquired carbohydrate-active enzymes in the biology of piercing-sucking insects.
SlH3 and SlH4 promote multicellular Trichome formation and elongation by upregulating woolly in tomato
Authors: Kim Seong-Min , Choi Da-Min , Chun Jae-In , Kim Seong-Yeop , Kim Seong-Hyeon , Kim Jeong-Il , Jang Ji-in , Kim Keunhwa , Park Soon Ju , Seo Jang-Kyun , Jung Choonkyun , Kang Jin-Ho
Published: January 2025

Trichomes are tiny outgrowths on the plant epidermis that serve defensive purposes against various stresses. While the regulatory mechanisms underlying unicellular trichome development are well understood, those governing multicellular trichome formation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we reveal a new regulatory pathway involving the Hair3 (H3) and H4 genes, which encode C2H2 zinc finger proteins that participate in multicellular trichome development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Using CRISPR-Cas9 to generate single- and double-knockout lines, we found that h3 and h4 single-mutant plants did not show altered trichome characteristics compared to wild-type plants. However, h3/h4 double-knockout plants displayed decreased densities of types I, VI, and VII trichomes, increased densities of types III and V trichomes, and reduced leaf and stem lengths of type I trichomes, revealing that H3 and H4 redundantly regulate trichome development. Notably, protein interaction assays demonstrated that H3 and H4 formed both homo- and hetero-dimers, supporting their cooperative role. Transcriptome and gene expression analyses identified H3 and H4 as key regulators of several genes involved in trichome development, including Woolly (Wo) and its downstream targets, such as Wox3b, MX1, H, and HD8. Protein-promoter assays showed that H3 and H4 did not directly bind to the Wo promoter but rather interacted with Wo, thereby enhancing the expression of Wo and Wox3b. These findings establish H3 and H4 as key regulators of trichome development and provide novel insights into the mechanisms controlling multicellular trichome development in tomato plants.
Cómo capturar el proceso de polarización judicial en contextos de declive democrático: la doctrina de la Suprema Corte mexicana sobre violaciones al procedimiento legislativo
Authors: Martín-Reyes Javier , Pozas-Loyo Andrea
Published: January 2025

This article contributes to the systematic study of judicial polarization in contexts of democratic decline. We argue that the two main empirical approaches to the study of polarization —the ideological and the affective— are limited in fully capturing the nature of judicial polarization in such processes because: (a) they fail to capture the nature of the dissent that defines this type of polarization, (b) they do not grasp the central role of high courts and (c) they fail to account for the incremental nature of these processes. To address these limitations, we propose an alternative methodology that allows us to measure and visually represent the polarization process in its different stages and to map the positions of judges in relation to different normative parameters. Finally, we apply this methodology to analyze the recent polarization of the Mexican Supreme Court by examining its doctrine on procedural violations in the legislative process.
Impact of Attaining an Aggressive Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Target on the Clinical Efficacy of Continuous Infusion β-Lactam Therapy for Early Posttransplant Gram-Negative Infections in Critically Ill Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients: An Interim Analysis of a 3-Year Prospective, Observational Study
Authors: Gatti Milo , Rinaldi Matteo , Laici Cristiana , Bonazzetti Cecilia , Vizioli Luca , Ambretti Simone , Morelli Maria Cristina , Siniscalchi Antonio , Giannella Maddalena , Viale Pierluigi , Pea Federico
Published: January 2025

Background

To assess the impact of attaining aggressive β-lactam (BL) pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets on clinical efficacy in critically ill orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients with documented early gram-negative infections.

Methods

The study prospectively enrolled OLT recipients admitted to the posttransplant intensive care unit between June 2021 and May 2024; they had documented gram-negative infections treated with targeted therapy continuous infusion (CI) BLs and underwent therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-guided BL dosing adjustment within the first 72 hours. Aggressive PK/PD target attainment was measured. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to test independent variables associated with 30-day resistance occurrence.

Results

Fifty critically ill OLT recipients were treated with CI BL in monotherapy (n = 34) or combination (n = 16) therapy for documented gram-negative infections No significant difference in clinical/microbiological outcome emerged between monotherapy and combination therapy. In 4 patients (8.0%), resistance developed within 30 days. At multivariate analysis, failure in attaining an aggressive BL PK/PD target emerged as the only independent predictor of 30-day resistance development (odds ratio, 14.33 [95% confidence interval, 1.46–140.53]; P = .02).

Conclusions

Attaining an aggressive PK/PD target with CI BLs in critically ill OLT recipients with documented gram-negative infections could represent an effective strategy for minimizing resistance occurrence to the selected BL.
Prevalence and concentration of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products: an umbrella review of meta-analyses
Authors: Jahromi Abdolreza Sotoodeh , Jokar Mohammad , Abdous Arman , Rabiee Mohammad Hasan , Biglo Farzad Heydari Bahman , Rahmanian Vahid
Published: January 2025

Background

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a derivative of aflatoxin B1 and a significant contaminant of milk and dairy products. In this study, we implemented an umbrella review of all existing systematic reviews and meta-analyzing studies to apprise and summarize the worldwide prevalence and level of AFM1 in milk and dairy products.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of structured review and meta-analysis articles published in English until January 2024, with no time limit. Articles were sourced from reputable databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Relevant studies from Google Scholar were also included.

Results

The overall prevalence of AFM1 in all dairy products was 66.2% (95% CI 60.6 to 71.9%), with high heterogeneity (I²=99.7%, Q statistic=2221.03, p<0.0001). The prevalence for specific dairy products was as follows: raw milk, 64.8% (95% CI 60.9 to 68.7%); pasteurized milk, 88.7% (95% CI 81.6 to 95.7%); sterilized milk, 71.0% (95% CI 67.2 to 74.8%); ultra-high temperature processing (UHT) milk, 67.9% (95% CI 64.9 to 70.9%); yogurt, 58.8% (95% CI 42.5 to 75.1%); doogh, 17.2% (95% CI 13.9 to 20.5%); and cheese 49.8% (95% CI 47.8 to 51.9%). The overall mean concentration of AFM1 across all dairy products was 57.22 ng/kg (95% CI 46.95 to 67.49), with significant heterogeneity (I²=99.7%, Q statistic=2221.03, p<0.0001). Mean AFM1 levels (ng/kg) for each dairy product were as follows: raw milk, 52.51 (95% CI 40.96 to 64.05); pasteurized milk, 71.14 (95% CI 48.81 to 93.47); sterilized milk, 60.10 (95% CI 30.90 to 89.30); UHT milk, 82.57 (95% CI 35.30 to 129.85); yogurt, 46.74 (95% CI 24.27 to 69.21); and doogh, 41.60 (95% CI 32.60 to 50.60).

Conclusions

In total, these results highlight the importance of increasing the regulation of animal feed, reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in animal feed, and monitoring AFM1 in dairy products, particularly raw and heated milk.
Meta-omics reveals role of photosynthesis in microbially induced carbonate precipitation at a CO2-rich geyser
Authors: Violette Marlene J , Hyland Ethan , Burgener Landon , Ghosh Adit , Montoya Brina M , Kleiner Manuel
Published: January 2025

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a natural process with potential biotechnological applications to address both carbon sequestration and sustainable construction needs. However, our understanding of the microbial processes involved in MICP is limited to a few well-researched pathways such as ureolytic hydrolysis. To expand our knowledge of MICP, we conducted an omics-based study on sedimentary communities from travertine around the CO2-driven Crystal Geyser near Green River, Utah. Using metagenomics and metaproteomics, we identified the community members and potential metabolic pathways involved in MICP. We found variations in microbial community composition between the two sites we sampled, but Rhodobacterales were consistently the most abundant order, including both chemoheterotrophs and anoxygenic phototrophs. We also identified several highly abundant genera of Cyanobacteriales. The dominance of these community members across both sites and the abundant presence of photosynthesis-related proteins suggest that photosynthesis could play a role in MICP at Crystal Geyser. We also found abundant bacterial proteins involved in phosphorous starvation response at both sites suggesting that P-limitation shapes both composition and function of the microbial community driving MICP.
Conspicuous Consumption in the Prairie House: A Veblenian Reading of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Highbacked Dining Chair
Authors: Merwood-Salisbury Joanna
Published: January 2025

Recent scholarship in the history of modern interior design has moved beyond the rhetoric of the avant-garde to recognize the enduring importance of style as an expression of social identity and taste as a mediator between design and broader cultural trends. This shift highlights the complex interplay between aesthetic choices and socio-cultural dynamics. As a case study of this interplay, this paper employs a Veblenian perspective—based on the work of economist Thorstein Veblen, notably his 1899 book The Theory of the Leisure Class—to reexamine one of the most iconic examples of modern furniture: Frank Lloyd Wright’s highbacked dining chair. Specifically, the paper explores the role of Wright’s chair in the context of the formal dining room of one of Wright’s largest Prairie-style houses, the Susan Lawrence Dana House in Springfield, Illinois, completed in 1903. Shifting focus from the production to the consumption of furniture, the paper investigates how Wright’s dining chairs defined the relationship between what Veblen called the “leisure” and “laboring” classes within this domestic realm. Viewed in situ, Wright’s iconic chair reveals a dichotomy deeply embedded within its design. While it was an advertisement for advanced industrial production, it also served as a luxury item created to fulfill the imperative of conspicuous consumption.
Evaluation of the biocontrol potential of Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae) on wheat aphids in northern China
Authors: Jiang Shanshan , Liu Xiaoxia , Wu Kongming
Published: January 2025

Marmalada hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae), is a cosmopolitan fly species providing pest control and pollination services. As wheat aphids cause significant losses to global wheat production, a systematic evaluation of the predatory potential and biocontrol service functions of E. balteatus in wheat ecosystems was undertaken. The daily maximum prey consumption of third instar E. balteatus on the adult of Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Schizaphis graminum Rondani, and Sitobion miscanthi Takahashi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were 250, 500, and 100 individuals/third instar larvae, respectively. The S. graminum population decline rates in cages after release of the third instars at ratios of 1:100 and 1:200 were 100% and 94.17%, respectively, 72-h after exposure. Feeding assays involving R. padi, S. graminum, and S. miscanthi showed a DNA detectability half-life of 4.17, 6.44, and 4.83 h, respectively, in third instar larvae of E. balteatus. Using multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based gut content analysis to detect prey DNA remains, we confirmed that E. balteatus larvae preyed upon R. padi, S. graminum, S. miscanthi, and Metopolophium dirhodum Walker (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the field experiments during 2022 to 2024. A significant positive correlation was also found between corrected prey detection rate and aphid population dynamics. These results provide an entry point for understanding the ecological service function of E. balteatus and developing the biological control strategy of the wheat aphid management.
Secrets of the Goo: The genome assembly of the Pacific banana slug, Ariolimax columbianus
Authors: Genetti Maximilian , Escalona Merly , Mirchandani Cade , Oppenheimer Jonas , Beraut Eric , Sacco Samuel , Seligmann William , Fairbairn Colin W , Sahasrabudhe Ruta , Marimuthu Mohan P A , Nguyen Oanh , Chumchim Noravit , Corbett-Detig Russell
Published: January 2025

The Pacific banana slug, Ariolimax columbianus, is endemic to the forests of the Pacific Northern West. Found throughout the coastal foothills and mountains of California, the hermaphroditic molluscs Ariolimax spp. are niche-constrained, hyper-localized, and phenotypically diverse. The evolutionary history, recent population history and environmental conditions leading to their phenotypic and genetic variation are not understood. To facilitate such research, we present the first high-quality de novo genome assembly of A. columbianus as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project. Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Omni-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technologies were used to produce a de novo genome assembly, consistent with the standard California Conservation Genomics Project genome assembly protocol. This assembly comprises 401 scaffolds spanning 2.29 Gb, represented by a scaffold N50 of 94.9 Mb, a contig N50 of 3.7 Mb, and a benchmarking universal single-copy ortholog completeness score of 93.9%. Future work will use the A. columbianus genome to study the population structure of Ariolimax spp. across California to understand patterns of population structure, genetic diversity, and the broader ecological connections with their habitat. This data will contribute to the California Conservation Genomics Project, expanding the knowledge about the partitioning of genomic variation across the different ecoregions of California.
Low-dose quinine targets KCNH6 to potentiate glucose-induced insulin secretion
Authors: Xiong Feng-Ran , Zhu Juan-Juan , Zhu Xiao-Rong , Lu Jing , Yang Jin-Kui
Published: January 2025

Insulin secretion is mainly regulated by two electrophysiological events, depolarization initiated by the closure of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels and repolarization mediated by K+ efflux. Quinine, a natural component commonly used for the treatment of malaria, has been reported to directly stimulate insulin release and lead to hypoglycemia in patients during treatment through inhibiting KATP channels. In this study, we verified the insulinotropic effect of quinine on the isolated mouse pancreatic islets. We also revealed that low-dose quinine (<20 µM) did not directly provoke Ca2+ spikes or insulin secretion under low-glucose conditions but potentiated Ca2+ influx and insulin secretion induced by high glucose, which cannot be explained by KATP inhibition. KCNH6 (hERG2) is a voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channel that plays a critical role in the repolarization of pancreatic β cells. Patch clamp experiments showed that quinine inhibited hERG channels at low micromolar concentrations. However, whether quinine can target KCNH6 to potentiate glucose-induced insulin secretion remains unclear. Here, we showed that in vivo administration of low-dose quinine (25 mg/kg) improved glucose tolerance and increased glucose-induced insulin release in wild-type control mice but not in Kcnh6-β-cell-specific knockout (βKO) mice. Consistently, in vitro treatment of primary islet β cells with low-dose quinine (10 µM) prolonged action potential duration and augmented glucose-induced Ca2+ influx in the wild-type control group but not in the Kcnh6-βKO group. Our results demonstrate that KCNH6 plays an important role in low-dose quinine-potentiated insulin secretion and provide new insights into KCNH6-targeted drug development.
Beyond human flourishing: an argument for ecological education
Authors: Schinkel Anders
Published: January 2025

In this article I engage with the literature on human flourishing as an aim of education to argue that we need to look beyond human flourishing and embrace ecological education—an education that acknowledges and reflects the networks of interdependence of all that lives, including ourselves—inspired by an ecological ethic. The article is structured as follows. I begin by briefly introducing the problem and raising the question: is human flourishing too narrow an aim of education, from an ecological perspective? The next section discusses the value of human flourishing as an aim of education, recent objections, and rebuttals to those objections. I then turn to an ecological critique, arguing that the focus on human flourishing is ultimately (unjustifiably) anthropocentric. Even if human flourishing would require the flourishing of ecosystems, other species, biodiversity, and so on—which on standard conceptions of human flourishing is only partly true—ecological concerns cannot all be assumed to be implicit in human flourishing; and more importantly they should not be approached through human flourishing alone. I end by considering a pragmatic question: is ‘ecological flourishing’ still a plausible overarching aim (or justification) of education, or is it too far removed from the everyday reality of education and its individual and societal functions? I argue that it is fairly easy to make sense of in practical terms, and more easily embodied in concrete educational content and activities than ‘human flourishing’.
Mechanistic insights of methylcinnamate in improving oxidative stress and inflammation in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxic mice by upregulating Nrf2 pathway
Authors: Naseem Afshan , Majeed Khan Humaira , Umar Aisha , Elshikh Mohamed S , Aljowaie Reem M , Gancarz Marek
Published: January 2025

Background

Methylcinnamate (MC), a safe flavoring agent naturally found in Occimum basilicum L. is reported to have an anti-inflammatory responses in various disease models. Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity is a significant contributor to acute liver injury, which leads to oxidative stress and inflammation. The transcriptional factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulated the cellular defense mechanisms aid to antioxidant response facilitation and reduction in inflammation against various disorders.

Methodology

This study evaluated the protective effects of MC in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice and its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and Nrf2 mechanisms were studied. In-vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay showed the antioxidant capacity of MC. Mice were pretreated with MC (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg) orally for 7 days. After a fasting period of 16 h, hepatotoxicity was induced by injecting APAP 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal on day 7. Liver profile, oxidative test, and histopathological changes were studied. Gene expression of interlukin-1β (IL-1β), interlukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), Nrf2, and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone) 1 (NQO-1) were estimated by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α concentrations were also analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The MC treatment showed a notable reduction in alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, and total bilirubin level of serum. Moreover, MC significantly attenuated oxidative stress by rising the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase and reducing the malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in the liver. Furthermore, MC successfully mitigated the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, which were estimated through RT-qPCR and ELISA. The RT-qPCR revealed a CYP2E1 enzyme inhibition and significant upregulation of hepatic Nrf2 and NQO-1 levels after MC therapy. Histopathological analysis showed improvement in liver injury within the MC treatment groups.

Conclusion

It was concluded from this study that pretreatment of MC had successfully protected the liver through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activity upon subsequent activation of Nrf2.
A tool to measure maize root system stiffness that enables a comprehensive understanding of plant mechanics and lodging
Authors: Hostetler Ashley N , Reneau Jonathan W , Cristiano Joseph , Weldekidan Teclemariam , Kermani Taran A , Kim Therese T , Sparks Erin E
Published: January 2025

Plant mechanical failure, known as lodging, has detrimental impacts on the quality and quantity of maize yields. Failure can occur at stalks (stalk lodging) or at roots (root lodging). While previous research has focused on proxy measures for stalk stiffness, stalk strength, and root strength, there is a need to quantify the root system stiffness, which quantifies the force–displacement relationship. Here, we report a tool to quantify the root system stiffness of maize hybrids grown in different conditions. The results show that maize hybrids with a higher root system stiffness have a greater susceptibility to root lodging. This result is consistent with expected mechanical behavior, since higher root system stiffness values mean that the plant reaches the failure strength at lower displacements compared with a plant with lower root system stiffness. Collectively, this study describes the first tool to measure root system stiffness and enables a comprehensive understanding of the integrated plant mechanics and lodging.
Cultural gene decoding: digital protection of intangible paper-cut and construction of gene bank
Authors: Cheng Pengpeng , Chen Daoling
Published: January 2025

With globalization and modernization accelerating, the protection of intangible cultural heritage faces significant challenges. Chinese paper-cutting, a cultural treasure, has become a key focus due to its unique value and exquisite craftsmanship. However, inheritance is threatened by aging practitioners, skill loss, and market decline. This highlights the urgent need for digital preservation and the creation of a cultural gene bank. This paper proposes a dual strategy: digital preservation and cultural gene decoding. High-precision data acquisition and image processing technologies enable detailed documentation and conservation of paper-cutting techniques and imagery. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning are used to decode and classify cultural genes, systematically building a cultural gene bank to support continuity and innovation. A case study examines technical, resource, and ethical challenges in digital preservation, addressing data standardization, intellectual property protection, and cultural integrity. Looking ahead, this paper explores technological innovation and cross-cultural collaboration to enhance market applications and encourage social engagement with paper-cutting. These efforts provide a theoretical foundation and practical strategies for safeguarding live transmission and global cultural heritage.
Definition of a European pre-vasectomy scoring system to identify patients at risk of vasectomy regret
Authors: Degraeve Amandine , Tosco Lorenzo , Tombal Bertrand , Roumeguere Thierry , Beirnaert Jeanne , Hamal Robin , Bugli Céline , Cosentino Marco , Gin (Don) Lee Wai , Skrodzka Marta , Albersen Maarten , van Renterghem Koenraad , Sempels Maxime , Penning David , Fode Mikkel , Faix Antoine , Waterloos Marjan , Gomez Borja Garcia , Carnicelli Damien , Graziana Jean-Pierre , Morgado Afonso , D’Hauwers Kathleen , Serefoglu Ege , Manfredi Celeste , Weyne Emmanuel , Beck Jack , Osmonov Daniar , Roller Chris , Ferreti Ludovic , Russo Giogio , Yafi Faysal A , Cuzin Beatrice , Madec François-Xavier , Vanoverschelde Geoffroy , Hervé François , Chung Eric , Nordström Ulla , Cocci Andrea , Zahr Rawad Abou , Triffaux François , Suks Minhas , Alnajjar Hussain , Van Damme Julien , Ward Sam
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Vasectomy is a widely used, safe, effective method of permanent contraception and contributes to healthy sexuality.

Aims

We have conducted a 3-step observational clinical study to develop a vasectomy regret risk score and guide patients and clinicians when discussing a vasectomy.

Methods

A 3-step approach has been followed. First, experts involved in male health have proposed risk factors for regret (remorse) after vasectomy, defined by a vasectomy reversal surgery or medically assisted reproduction. The selected factors were evaluated in 1200 patients vasectomized in the last 15 years. Finally, the expert panel has constructed a score for predicting regret after vasectomy.

Results

Fifty-two international experts identified 17 risk factors for vasectomy regret. Five of the risk factors were significant: an age <35 years old, a high Barrat Impulsivity Score, a low level of education, and a patient who didn’t understand that the vasectomy might not be reversible or for whom the contraception responsibility is ideally feminine, or no responsible partner. On multivariate analysis, 3 risk factors and 2 “sine qua non” conditions were used to build the decision algorithm. A risk score ≥ 4 required information on sperm cryopreservation before vasectomy, and those with a risk score ≥ 7 required extra time for reflection. The scoring system was proposed to 52 international experts and accepted with 86.7% strongly agreeing. The model’s sensitivity and specificity were 0.98 and 0.53, respectively.

Conclusion

A decisional algorithm was established to identify patients requiring information on sperm cryopreservation before vasectomy or additional time for reflection to reduce the risk of vasectomy regret. The algorithm contains 3 risk factors and 2 “sine qua non” conditions.
Decoding the Epigenetic and Transcriptional Basis of Direct Cardiac Reprogramming
Authors: Peng William G , Getachew Anteneh , Zhou Yang
Published: January 2025

Heart disease, particularly resulting from myocardial infarction (MI), continues to be a leading cause of mortality, largely due to the limited regenerative capacity of the human heart. Current therapeutic approaches seek to generate new cardiomyocytes from alternative sources. Direct cardiac reprogramming, which converts fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs), offers a promising alternative by enabling in situ cardiac regeneration and minimizing tumorigenesis concerns. Here we review recent advancements in the understanding of transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cardiac reprogramming, with a focus on key early-stage molecular events, including epigenetic barriers and regulatory mechanisms that facilitate reprogramming. Despite substantial progress, the maturation of reprogrammed iCMs and human cardiac fibroblast reprogramming remain areas for further exploration. We also discuss the combinatorial roles of reprogramming factors in governing transcriptional and epigenetic changes. This review consolidates current knowledge and proposes future directions for promoting the translational potential of cardiac reprogramming techniques.
Exploring midlife identity negotiations in the context of the gender career gap: an interdisciplinary conceptual framework
Authors: Burke Vanessa , Cheung Ho Kwan , Finkelstein Lisa M
Published: January 2025

The gender gaps in career outcomes (e.g., pay, promotion, leadership opportunities) observably widen during mid-career, yet research often neglects considerations of gendered age identities in explaining this disparity. The present paper addresses this through an integrative review of interdisciplinary literature and proposes a novel theoretical framework that combines midlife development and gender identity negotiations to better understand mid-career disparities. In this review, we (1) adopt an inter-categorical approach to explore how workers navigate the overlapping systems of gender and age in the workplace, (2) critically review midlife development literature, highlighting significant oversights in organizational research, and (3) we introduce a process model of midlife gendered identity negotiations. We detail the model, describing the antecedents, mechanisms, and outcomes of gendered aging identity negotiations on mid-career inequities. We provide a foundation for advancing research and designing interventions to address gender disparities in mid-career outcomes.
Long-Term Family Needs After a Traumatic Brain Injury: A VA TBI Model Systems Study
Authors: Tsen Jonathan , Finn Jacob A. , Klocksieben Farina A. , O’Neil-Pirozzi Therese M. , Sander Angelle M. , Agtarap Stephanie D. , Dreer Laura E. , Cotner Bridget A. , Vargas Tiffanie A. , Dini Mia E. , Perrin Paul B. , Nakase-Richardson Risa
Published: January 2025

Objective: To describe the self-reported needs of family caregivers of service members and veterans (SMVs) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) at 10 to 15 years post-injury and to identify unique predictors of unmet family needs. Setting: Five Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. Participants: A total of 209 family caregivers of SMVs with TBI from the VA TBI Model Systems national database who completed a 10- or 15-year follow-up assessment. Design: Observational study. Main Outcome Measure: Family Needs Questionnaire-Revised (FNQ-R). Results: Item-, domain-, and total score-level descriptive analyses of FNQ-R responses were conducted. On average, 56.3% of the FNQ-R family caregiver needs were reported as met. Health information and involvement in care needs were the most often met, and emotional support and instrumental support needs were the least often met. Adjusted multivariable regression models demonstrated that urban-dwelling SMVs (compared to suburban) and spouses/significant others (compared to parents) were associated with more unmet family needs. Distinct associations were identified between the 6 FNQ-R domains and SMV environmental factors (ie, urbanicity, rurality, and being active duty at follow-up), SMV comorbidities (ie, receiving mental health treatment in the year prior to the follow-up), and caregiver factors (ie, spouses/significant others). Conclusion: Family caregivers of SMVs with TBI reported multiple unmet needs at 10 to 15 years post-injury, emphasizing the importance of ongoing caregiver support after TBI. Policy and programming to support military caregivers should consider the current findings to direct resources to address the identified unmet needs.
Depth of focus as a function of spherical aberration using adaptive optics in pseudophakic subjects.
Authors: Tabernero Juan , Otero Carles , Kidd John , Zahiño Laura , Noia Ana , Güell Jose Luis , Artal Pablo , Pardhan Shahina
Published: January 2025

Purpose:

To measure visual acuity at three different defocus planes in pseudophakic subjects with varying levels of spherical aberration induced by an adaptive optics visual simulator. The study aimed to simulate Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Setting:

Private hospital (IMO, Barcelona, Spain)

Design:

Observational case series; modelling theory.

Methods:

Through-focus visual acuity was measured in 26 pseudophakic subjects (age 63 ± 10 years old) with an adaptive optics visual simulator optimized for clinical use (VAO, Voptica SL, Murcia, Spain). Measurements were made under five different conditions of induced negative spherical aberration: 0, -0.07, -0.15, -0.23 and -0.30 μm (pupil diameter: 4.5 mm). Results were also modelled using ray tracing simulations.

Results:

On average, depth of focus was extended when spherical aberration increased from -0.07 to -0.15 μm (4.5 mm pupil diameter). Some indivisuals (27%) experienced improved depth of focus with higher magnitudes of spherical aberration, while others (23%) exhibited no benefit from increased (negative) SA, as visual acuity dropped below acceptable levels. Depth of focus calculations based on ray tracing showed general agreement with the measurements.

Conclusions:

The visual conditions of EDOF IOLs were artificially recreated in a population of pseudophakic patients implanted with a monofocal IOL. The variability seen across subjects in visual acuity at different defocus planes suggests that visual simulators might be capable of screening subjects for suitability and tolerability of these advanced technology lenses.
Quantification of physiological tilt of the phakic eye using biometry parameters and anterior segment optical coherence tomography
Authors: Khalil Haidar , Höftberger Theresa , Laubichler Peter , Waser Klemens , Pomberger Leon , Jirak Paul , Hirnschall Nino , Bolz Matthias
Published: January 2025

Purpose:

To comprehensively evaluate the tilt of the crystalline lens in phakic eyes and its relationship with optical biometry parameters.

Setting:

The retrospective analysis was conducted at the Department for Ophthalmology and Optometry, Kepler University Clinic in Linz, Austria.

Design:

Lens tilt assessment was performed through a combined analysis of optical biometry (IOL Master 700) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) data to understand its relationship.

Methods:

The study analyzed preoperative biometry data and AS-OCT images from 4689 eyes of 2489 patients prior to cataract surgery. The optical biometry parameters were correlated with the degree of lens tilt using logistic regression and machine learning techniques.

Results:

The average lens tilt was 4.9°, with 6.7% of eyes showing a tilt greater than 7°. Significant associations were found with specific biometry parameters, such as anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AL), equator thickness and lens decentration. The developed predictive model for assessing tilt risk demonstrated a high accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.862.

Conclusions:

The findings highlight the average lens tilt of 4.9° in a cataract patient cohort. This analysis contributes to a broader understanding of lens orientation and its interactions with biometric parameters.
Alteplase Purge Solution for Impella 5.5 Ventricular Assist Device Purge System Occlusion: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Wang Benjamin , Zheng Jimmy , Silva Madeline D. , Shi Zhuo , Fong Jared , Diep Calvin , Hiesinger William , Sallam Karim
Published: January 2025

The use of an alteplase (Activase) purge solution to address Impella ventricular assist device “thrombosis” or “purge system occlusion” has been mainly documented with earlier generation Impella devices (CP, 2.5, 5.0). Here, we report the use of an alteplase purge solution to manage Impella 5.5 purge system occlusion in a 31-year-old male admitted to the cardiac care unit in cardiogenic shock and listed for a heart transplant. Throughout the purge system occlusion, the patient demonstrated hemodynamic stability and overall pump flow and cardiac output were preserved. Initially, there was a lack of response in purge flow and pressure observed at the lower concentration of alteplase purge solution (0.04 mg/ml), yet after using the alteplase 4 mg/50 ml purge (0.08 mg/ml) solution concentration, a response was seen. No bleeding or hemodynamic complications were observed. In addition, a suggested management workflow and review of the case reports and case series published to date regarding Impella purge system occlusion is included in this article.
Microbiome characterization of patients with Crohn disease and the use of fecal microbiota transplantation: A review
Authors: Chen Shiju , Zhang Daya , Li Da , Zeng Fan , Chen Chen , Bai Feihu
Published: January 2025

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory condition predominantly affecting the intestines, encompassing both ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease (CD). As one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, CD’s pathogenesis is closely linked with the intestinal microbiota. Recently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has gained attention as a potential treatment for CD, with the effective reestablishment of intestinal microecology considered a crucial mechanism of FMT therapy. This article synthesizes the findings of population-based cohort studies to enhance our understanding of gut microbial characteristics in patients with CD. It delves into the roles of “beneficial” and “pathogenic” bacteria in CD’s development. This article systematically reviews and compares data on clinical response rates, remission rates, adverse events, and shifts in bacterial microbiota. Among these studies, gut microbiome analysis was conducted in only 7, and a single study examined the metabolome. Overall, FMT has demonstrated a partial restoration of typical CD-associated microbiological alterations, leading to increased α-diversity in responders and a moderate shift in patient microbiota toward the donor profile. Several factors, including donor selection, delivery route, microbial state (fresh or frozen), and recipient condition, are identified as pivotal in influencing FMT’s effectiveness. Future prospective clinical studies with larger patient cohorts and improved methodologies are imperative. In addition, standardization of FMT procedures, coupled with advanced genomic techniques such as macroproteomics and culture genomics, is necessary. These advancements will further clarify the bacterial microbiota alterations that significantly contribute to FMT’s therapeutic effects in CD treatment, as well as elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.
Direct and indirect association of domestic violence against women and severe maternal morbidity: A case–control study
Authors: Sahebi Mahdieh , Abdollahpour Sedigheh , Sadeghi Masoumeh , Heidarian Miri Hamid
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to investigate the direct association between domestic violence and the indirect association of exposure through pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal risk factors with severe maternal morbidity (SMM). The target population of this case–control study included all women who gave birth in the hospitals of the Torbat Heidarieh University of Medical Science from June 2018 to May 2020. A total of 123 mothers with SMM according to the World Health Organization criteria were selected as cases, and 127 mothers who did not meet the World Health Organization criteria were included in the control group. Data were analyzed using Stata 14 and mediation packages with a counterfactual approach. The odds ratio of the pure direct effect of physical violence on SMM through pregnancy and neonatal risk factors is 2.26 and 2.29, respectively. The odds ratio of the pure direct effect of social violence on SMM through pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal risk factors was 2.54, 2.67, and 2.57, respectively, and that for economic violence through neonatal risk factors was 1.99. Additionally, the interaction between physical and social violence and pregnancy risk factors increased the risk of severe maternal morbidity by 394.6% and 360%, respectively. Domestic violence against women is directly associated with severe maternal morbidity. Physical and social violence showed a significant interaction with severe maternal morbidity. A preventive program for domestic violence should be considered an effective intervention to prevent severe maternal morbidity and improve the health of mothers by implementing control strategies.
Associations of cathepsins with pulmonary arterial hypertension mediated by circulating metabolites: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Shasha , Chen Qiong , Yang Baishuang
Published: January 2025

The correlation between cathepsins and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is well-established, but the causative link between them remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the causal role of circulating metabolites mediating cathepsins in PAH using Mendelian randomization (MR). A 2-sample 2-step MR method was used to identify causal relationship between cathepsins and PAH; causal relationship between circulating metabolites and PAH; and mediated effects of these circulating metabolites. GWAS summary statistics on circulating metabolites were from the Canadian longitudinal study on aging cohort, human plasma cathepsins from The INTERVAL study, and PAH from FinnGen version R10. Two-sample MR analyses involving 9 cathepsins (cathepsin B, E, F, G, H, L2, O, S, and Z). Cathepsin S was associated with high risk of PAH (OR: 1.346, 95% CI: 1.039–1.742, P = .024), and positively with circulating metabolite 1-oleoylglycerol (18:1) levels (OR: 1.062, 95% CI: 1.018–1.108, P = .005). Finally, mediation analysis showed evidence of mediated effect of cathepsin S on PAH through 1-oleoylglycerol (18:1) levels (OR: 0.062, CI: 0.0183–0.106) with a mediated proportion of 20.9% of the total effect. This study reveals cathepsin S increases the risk of PAH mediating by circulating metabolite 1-oleoylglycerol (18:1) levels.
Needs Assessment to Guide the Development of a Pediatric Survivorship Program to Promote the Physical and Psychological Well-being of Children After Cancer Treatment
Authors: Chung Oi Kwan Joyce , Li William Ho Cheung , Ching Shirley Siu Yin , Chiu Sau Ying , Mak Shuk Yan , Chan Godfrey Chi Fung
Published: January 2025

Background

Studies have provided insights into the major challenges and needs of young children who survive cancer. Many such challenges are related to a lack of support during the patient’s transition back to normal life. Survivorship programs are designed to help survivors cope with potential late effects of treatment and to provide psychosocial support. However, there is not yet a survivorship program in Hong Kong that provides young survivors with continuous care.

Objectives

To explore the challenges and needs faced by pediatric cancer survivors during their transition from patient to survivor and to guide the development of the survivorship program.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design utilizing purposive sampling was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 pediatric cancer survivors aged between 9 and 18 years, along with their parents/caregivers, as well as 5 pediatric cancer oncology nurses and 3 pediatric oncologists.

Results

The interviews yielded 4 overarching themes: (1) challenges in school reintegration, (2) concerns relating to physical and psychological well-being, (3) lack of social support and adaptation difficulties, and (4) needs for supportive care services.

Conclusion

The findings provide insights into the needs of pediatric cancer survivors, their parents, and other key stakeholders. These insights suggest that a pediatric cancer survivorship program should be established in Hong Kong as an essential component of the continuum of cancer care.

Implications for Practice

Survivor clinic care should be enhanced to provide continuous support for children who have completed medical treatment and their caregivers, incorporating the perspectives of all stakeholders.