bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Macromolecular Complex Including MLL3, Carabin and Calcineurin Regulates Cardiac Remodeling
Authors: Pane Roberto , Laib Loubna , Formoso Karina , Détrait Maximin , Sainte-Marie Yannis , Bourgailh Florence , Ruffenach Nolan , Faugeras Hanamée , Simon Ilias , Lhuillier Emeline , Lezoualc’h Frank , Conte Caroline
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Cardiac hypertrophy is an intermediate stage in the development of heart failure. The structural and functional processes occurring in cardiac hypertrophy include extensive gene reprogramming, which is dependent on epigenetic regulation and chromatin remodeling. However, the chromatin remodelers and their regulatory functions involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy are not well characterized.

METHODS:

Protein interaction was determined by immunoprecipitation assay in primary cardiomyocytes and mouse cardiac samples subjected or not to transverse aortic constriction for 1 week. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments were performed on the chromatin of adult mouse cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS:

We report that the calcium-activated protein phosphatase CaN (calcineurin), its endogenous inhibitory protein carabin, the STK24 (STE20-like protein kinase 3), and the histone monomethyltransferase, MLL3 (mixed lineage leukemia 3) form altogether a macromolecular complex at the chromatin of cardiomyocytes. Under basal conditions, carabin prevents CaN activation while the serine/threonine kinase STK24 maintains MLL3 inactive via phosphorylation. After 1 week of transverse aortic constriction, both carabin and STK24 are released from the CaN-MLL3 complex leading to the activation of CaN, dephosphorylation of MLL3, and in turn, histone H3 lysine 4 monomethylation. Selective cardiac MLL3 knockdown mitigates hypertrophy, and chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA sequencing analysis demonstrates that MLL3 is de novo recruited at the transcriptional start site of genes implicated in cardiomyopathy in stress conditions. We also show that CaN and MLL3 colocalize at chromatin and that CaN activates MLL3 histone methyl transferase activity at distal intergenic regions under hypertrophic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study reveals an unsuspected epigenetic mechanism of CaN that directly regulates MLL3 histone methyl transferase activity to promote cardiac remodeling.
Hemodynamic Failure Staging With Blood Oxygenation Level–Dependent Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Acetazolamide‐Challenged (
15
O‐)H
2
O‐Positron Emission Tomography Across Individual Cerebrovascular Territories
Authors: Sebök Martina , van der Wouden Frank , Mader Cäcilia , Pangalu Athina , Treyer Valerie , Fisher Joseph Arnold , Mikulis David John , Hüllner Martin , Regli Luca , Fierstra Jorn , van Niftrik Christiaan Hendrik Bas
Published: December 2023

Background

Staging of hemodynamic failure (HF) in symptomatic patients with cerebrovascular steno‐occlusive disease is required to assess the risk of ischemic stroke. Since the gold standard positron emission tomography‐based perfusion reserve is unsuitable as a routine clinical imaging tool, blood oxygenation level–dependent cerebrovascular reactivity (BOLD‐CVR) with CO
2
is a promising surrogate imaging approach. We investigated the accuracy of standardized BOLD‐CVR to classify the extent of HF.

Methods and Results

Patients with symptomatic unilateral cerebrovascular steno‐occlusive disease, who underwent both an acetazolamide challenge (
15
O‐)H
2
O‐positron emission tomography and BOLD‐CVR examination, were included. HF staging of vascular territories was assessed using qualitative inspection of the positron emission tomography perfusion reserve images. The optimum BOLD‐CVR cutoff points between HF stages 0–1–2 were determined by comparing the quantitative BOLD‐CVR data to the qualitative (
15
O‐)H
2
O‐positron emission tomography classification using the 3‐dimensional accuracy index to the randomly assigned training and test data sets with the following determination of a single cutoff for clinical application. In the 2‐case scenario, classifying data points as HF 0 or 1–2 and HF 0–1 or 2, BOLD‐CVR showed an accuracy of >0.7 for all vascular territories for HF 1 and HF 2 cutoff points. In particular, the middle cerebral artery territory had an accuracy of 0.79 for HF 1 and 0.83 for HF 2, whereas the anterior cerebral artery had an accuracy of 0.78 for HF 1 and 0.82 for HF 2.

Conclusions

Standardized and clinically accessible BOLD‐CVR examinations harbor sufficient data to provide specific cerebrovascular reactivity cutoff points for HF staging across individual vascular territories in symptomatic patients with unilateral cerebrovascular steno‐occlusive disease.
“I Will Not Stand Aside and Watch. I Will Not be Silent”
Authors: Hanna Amy , Martinez Sainz Gabriela
Published: December 2023

Children are not typically considered as being “political”, but they do possess the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly under international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nonetheless, a lack of commentary and jurisprudence on this right of children and young people has left it largely unexplored. This article presents the findings from a digital ethnography during the #FridaysForFuture and #ClimateStrikeOnline strikes in 2020 during which young people claimed their right to freedom of assembly both in person and online. Focusing on the right to freedom of assembly, we apply Bennett and Segerberg’s (2012) concept of “connective action” to conceptualise these rights for children and young people under the uncrc, and present a four-part model that captures young people’s exercise of their rights as “connect”, “express”, “collect” and “enact”.
Enhancing Children’s Participation Through Direct Reporting to the Public Authorities
Authors: Long Joëlle
Published: December 2023

Powerful tools for promoting children’s rights include direct reporting, which refers to communicative acts performed by individuals below the age of 18 to draw the attention of public authorities to rights’ violations experienced by themselves or their peers. However, for various reasons, children rarely reach out to public authorities to report offences or abuse. Drawing on data collected from focus groups with children, field visits to children’s ombudspersons, and two surveys conducted as part of the Children Digi-core project, we argue that while direct reporting can empower young people by giving them a voice, it can also result in secondary victimisation if not properly managed. Therefore, it is crucial to establish clear guidelines and procedures to ensure the well-being and protection of children. In light of this, the article offers recommendations to public authorities, particularly local ombudspersons for children, on how to collect and handle children’s reports.
" Diet and predation behaviour exhibited byCominella eburnea(Gastropoda: " Caenogastropoda: Neogastropoda) in Princess Royal Harbour, Albany, WesternAustralia, with a review of attack strategies in the Buccinidae
Authors: MORTON BRIAN
Published: December 2023

It is generally believed that representatives of the predatory Buccinidae gain access to their prey by means other than drilling. It has been reported in the literature, however, that in southwest Western Australia, the buccinid whelk, Cominella eburnea, drills its bivalve prey. Field records of C. eburnea attacks in Princess Royal Harbour showed that the species feeds principally upon the venerid bivalve Katelysia scalarina (123 records) but also upon a range of sympatric gastropods (seven records), and always by either marginal (K. scalarina) or apertural (gastropods) access using the proboscis. Forty one observations of C. eburnea attacking K. scalarina in the laboratory, similarly by marginal proboscis insertion, substantiate these records: drilling was never observed. In the absence of an accessory boring organ (ABO) in representatives of the Buccinidae, predation (upon a wide variety of prey) has usually been believed to be by means other than drilling. Previous records of C. eburnea drilling prey in the laboratory and other reports of congenerics doing this in the field in New Zealand, however, suggest that in some situations and under some circumstances, drilling is possible, as demonstrated for post-juveniles of Nassarius festivus (Nassariidae). Representatives of the diverse and ecologically important southern hemisphere genus Cominella should be examined more rigorously in terms of feeding behaviours.
Life history strategy of Bradybaena similaris (Fèrussac, 1821) (Mollusca, Pulmonata, Bradybaenidae)
Authors: DE MEDEIROS CARVALHO CAMILLA , DE ALMEIDA BESSA ELISABETH CRISTINA , D’ÁVILA STHEFANE
Published: December 2023

Bradybaena similaris (Férussac, 1821), commonly known as the Asian trampsnail, is a land snail originally native to Asia and introduced in other regions of the world through commerce in plants and produce. In Brazil, populations of this species are well established and distributed from the state of Amapá in the north to Rio Grande do Sul in the south. This land snail is easily raised in the laboratory and has been used as a biological model in studies of patterns of growth and reproduction, as well as behavioral, physiological and biochemical strategies related to starvation. In the present work, the life history strategy of B. similaris was characterized. We determined the growth, reproduction and longevity patterns of this species, and the interrelationships of these traits. Our results show that the life history of B. similaris is characterized by a combination of short life, short juvenile lifespan, early sexual maturity and few reproductive events, with a high reproductive effort in each event and high mortality shortly after the first reproduction. We conclude that there is a relationship between growth, reproduction and longevity patterns of B. similaris. This relationship is due to a differential allocation of energy between somatic growth, homeostasis and reproductive activity; which determines a life history pattern that tends to r-strategy.
Exploring a largely unknown fauna: On the diversity of pachychilid freshwater gastropods in Vietnam (Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea)
Authors: KÖHLER FRANK , HOLFORD MANDË , TU DO VAN , HAI HO THANH
Published: December 2023

A revision of Vietnamese freshwater gastropods of the family Pachychilidae is presented based on the analysis of morphological characteristics and partial sequences of the mitochondrial genes of 16S rRNA (16S) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). We found that in Vietnam two pachychilid genera occur, Brotia and Sulcospira. Of the eight to fifteen species reported by earlier authors, we can only confirm the presence of two species, Sulcospira tonkiniana and S. tourannensis. All further taxonomic names that were previously applied for Vietnamese pachychilids are considered as junior synonyms of these two species or erroneous references to species from other regions of Southeast and South Asia. Additionally, we describe two new species of Brotia, four new species of Sulcospira, and report another undescribed species with uncertain affinities. Patterns of morphological and genetic differentiation of the Vietnamese species and their affinities within the context of pachychilid phylogeny are briefly discussed.
The New Zealand chitons Ischnochiton luteoroseus Suter, 1907 and Ischnochiton granulifer Thiele, 1909 (Mollusca: Polyplacophora)
Authors: ANSEEUW BRUNO , MARSHALL BRUCE A. , TERRYN YVES
Published: December 2023

Comparison of type specimens and additional material reveals that the poorly known taxon Ischnochiton granulifer Thiele, 1909 described from an unspecified locality in New Zealand, is specifically distinct from Ischnochiton luteoroseus Suter, 1907 with which it had been synonymised. The two species are redescribed and their distributions detailed. They are strongly allopatric off the north-eastern North Island of New Zealand and the sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand respectively.
The Recent Coralliophilinae of the New Zealand region, with descriptions of two new species (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Muricidae)
Authors: MARSHALL BRUCE A. , OLIVERIO MARCO
Published: December 2023

The twenty Recent species of the muricid subfamily Coralliophilinae known from the New Zealand region are recorded and illustrated. The following eight species are reported for the first time from New Zealand: Babelomurex nakamigawai (Kuroda, 1959), Coralliophila sp. aff. sertata, C. solutistoma Kuroda Shikama in Shikama, 1966, Hirtomurex marshalli Oliverio, 2008, Latiaxis pilsbryi Hirase, 1908, Leptoconchus sp., Mipus matsumotoi Kosuge, 1985 and Rhizochilus sp. cf. antipathum Steenstrup, 1850. The species previously recorded as Neothais clathrata (A. Adams, 1854) from New Zealand is actually Coralliophila squamosissima (E.A. Smith, 1876). Two new species are described from bathyal depths: Hirtomurex tangaroa n. sp., and Hirtomurex taranui n. sp. Four species (Coralliophila sertata (Hedley, 1903), C. sp. aff. sertata, Hirtomurex tangaroa n. sp. and H. taranui n. sp.) are restricted to the South-West Pacific, with the latter three possibly endemic to the New Zealand region. All the New Zealand species have planktotrophic development, and 60% of them live in deep water.
Three new species and two new genera of land snails from the Bonaparte Archipelago in the Kimberley, Western Australia (Pulmonata, Camaenidae)
Authors: KÖHLER FRANK
Published: December 2023

The present work contains descriptions of new species and new genera of camaenid land snails from islands of the Bonaparte Archipelago in north-western Kimberley, Western Australia. The monotypic Kimberleydiscus n. gen., with its type species Kimberleydiscus fasciatus n. sp., is described from Bigge Island. The species is characterised by its discoid, banded and smooth shell and a peculiar penial anatomy, which includes dense pustulation of the inner penial wall, presence of a corrugated main pilaster, and a vas deferens that reflexes as an epiphallus and connects with the penial chamber through a pore. Kimberleymelon n. gen. is also monotypic. Its type species, Kimberleymelon tealei n. sp., is endemic to Middle Osborn Island and characterised by its relatively large, highly turreted, almost trochiform shell with regular axial sculpture. The inner penial wall supports an undulating, corrugated main pilaster and dense pustulation. A new species, Carinotrachia admirale is described from Middle and Southwest Osborn Islands. Both islands support distinct morphs that differ slightly but consistently in shell shape and penial wall structure and are considered to form two subspecies, C. admirale admirale and C. a. elevata.
A replacement name for Kapala Ponder, 1982 (Gastropoda: Buccinidae)
Authors: PONDER WINSTON F.
Published: December 2023

A replacement name, Buccipagoda, is proposed for Kapala Ponder, 1982, not Cameron, 1884.
A new Connexiscala (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Epitoniidae) from the bathyal zone of the Gulf of Aden
Authors: BONFITTO ANTONIO
Published: December 2023

A bathyal species of Epitoniidae, Epitonium (Connexiscala) smriglioi n. sp., is described from the Gulf of Aden and the type species of the subgenus is figured.
The Lioconcha castrensis species group (Bivalvia : Veneridae), with the description of two new species
Authors: VAN DER MEIJ SANCIA E.T. , MOOLENBEEK ROBERT G. , DEKKER HENK
Published: December 2023

Part of the genus Lioconcha Mörch, 1853 is reviewed. Species strongly resembling Lioconcha castrensis (Linnaeus, 1758) are discussed and two new species are described: Lioconcha arabaya n. sp. from the Northwest Indian Ocean and Lioconcha rumphii n. sp. from Thailand and Sumatra. These three species, together with Lioconcha macaulayi Lamprell Healy, 2002, share many morphological similarities and we suspect them to be closely related. They are referred to as the Lioconcha cast-rensis species group. Furthermore, lectotypes of Venus castrensis Linnaeus, 1758, and Venus fulminea Röding, 1798, are desig-nated. The latter is considered a junior synonym of V. castrensis.
The effects of exposure to near-future levels of ocean acidification on shell characteristics of Pinctada fucata (Bivalvia: Pteriidae)
Authors: WELLADSEN HEATHER M. , SOUTHGATE PAUL C. , HEIMANN KIRSTEN
Published: December 2023

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have greatly increased since the beginning of the industrial age. This has led to a decline in global ocean pH by 0.1 units, and continued decline of 0.3–0.5 units is predicted by the end of 2100. Acidification of the ocean has led to decreased calcification rates and dissolution of calcareous structures in a range of marine species. Shells of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata exposed to acidified seawater (pH 7.8 and pH 7.6) for 28 days were 25.9% and 26.8% weaker than controls (pH 8.1–8.2), respectively, but there was no reduction in the organic content of shells exposed to acidified condi-tions. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the growing edge of nacre lining the shells of P. fucata showed that shells exposed to acidified conditions (pH 7.6) showed signs of malformation and/or dissolution, when compared to controls. The reduction in shell strength and the possible nacre malformation could have broad impacts on the ecology of pearl oysters and consequences for the cultured pearl industry that relies on them.
Sand elimination by Donax scortum (Dance, 1982) (Bivalvia: Donacidae)
Authors: TANYAROS SUWAT
Published: December 2023

Donax scortum (Dance, 1982) is an Indo-Pacific infaunal filter-feeding bivalve common on sandy beaches in Thailand. Like many burrowing bivalves, it tends to accumulate sand in its body. Depuration reduces the gut contents and eliminates sand from different body fractions, providing cleaning, and ensuring safety for human consumption. In our laboratory investigation, the effect of depuration on the rate of sand elimination in D. scortum was studied using a 3 x 2 factorial design, with treatment at three salinity levels (25, 30 and 35 ppt) and under two light conditions (dark and light). The total sand content (TSC) in guts did not differ significantly among the treatments over the depuration periods (p 0.05). The rate of sand elimination (RSE) by D. scortum also did not differ significantly among salinity/light treatments after acclimation for 12 and 48 h (p 0.05). How-ever, mean RSE was significantly different among treatments for 24 h (p<0.05), with the highest RSE observed at a salinity 30 ppt in the dark. The cumulative amount of sand removed increased from 36.4 to 70.3% after 12 h acclimation, to 98.1 to 98.9% after 48 h acclimation. The condition index of D. scortum did not differ significantly among treatments after 48 h acclimation (p 0.05).
Notes on the egg capsule and variable embryonic development of Nerita melanotragus (Gastropoda: Neritidae)
Authors: PRZESLAWSKI RACHEL
Published: December 2023

The black nerite Nerita melanotragus (previously known as N. atramentosa) occurs along the rocky intertidal shores of New Zealand and southeastern Australia. Although commonly used in ecological studies, recent observations suggest that the spe-cies may not be strictly planktonic as previously recorded. The current study investigates whether only planktonic larvae emerge from N. melanotragus egg capsules in the field by analyzing encapsulation period, developmental stage, temperature and salinity through the digital monitoring of 386 individual egg capsules over 65 days. The persistence of egg capsules in rock pools was highly variable (1–54 days). Encapsulation period was strongly related to developmental stage (Adjusted R2 = 0.8293, p < 0.0001), and competent larvae and post-metamorphic juveniles were recorded from some capsules after an encap-sulation period of 35 or more days. Encapsulation period was significantly and parabolically related to both temperature and salinity, with encapsulation period decreasing during extreme conditions. Results indicate that egg capsules can persist for much longer than would be expected with a strict planktonic developmental mode, thereby challenging the status of N. melan-otragus as a consistent planktonic developer. The potential of this species for poecilogony or hatching plasticity is discussed in light of recent studies examining the role of larval dispersal and biogeographic barriers in structuring rocky intertidal commu-nities.
A new species of Simnia from England (Caenogastropoda: Ovulidae)
Authors: LORENZ FELIX , MELAUN CHRISTIAN
Published: December 2023

A new species of Ovulidae, Simnia hiscocki, is described from the Cornwall Peninsula, England, and compared with Simnia patula occurring in the same area, from which it differs in shell- and radula-morphological features as well as ecological fea-tures. DNA analysis suggests that it is a very young species whose host-specificity to Eunicella verrucosa makes it a poten-tially useful species for monitoring sea-temperature-change.
Growth, population dynamics and morphometrics of Pinna bicolor (Gmelin, 1791) in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Authors: BURNS JAMES R. , SMITH STEPHEN D. A.
Published: December 2023

Anecdotal reports suggest that populations of razor clams, Pinna bicolor, have increased substantially in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales over the last 5-10 years. This has raised concerns about the ecology of the Lake and human safety. As a first step to providing information to inform management, between August 2009 and August 2010, we examined growth, population density, recruitment and the morphometrics of marked razor clams in a permanently marked grid in the southern reaches of the Lake. Growth increments of 61 P. bicolor were used to construct a Ford-Walford plot, from which von Bertalanffy growth parameters were calculated (K = 0.409 and L∞ (dorso-ventral measurement) = 235.192 mm). During the study period 24 P. bicolor recruited to the grid, increasing the population density from 0.15 m-2 to 0.20 m-2. Recruits ranged in size (antero-poste-rior measurement) from 177–241 mm, with a mean (± SE) of 215.4 ± 4.1 mm. Morphological variation was observed and was evident within the linear regression of shell length on shell height (r2 = 0.631). These observations confirmed that growth, den-sity and recruitment, as well as the degree of morphological variation within a population of P. bicolor in the warm temperate waters of New South Wales, is similar to that recorded for populations in South Australia and Western Australia.
Systematics and palaeoecology of a new fossil limpet (Patellogastropoda: Pectinodontidae) from Miocene hydrocarbon seep deposits, East Coast Basin, North Island, New Zealand with an overview of known fossil seep pectinodontids
Authors: SAETHER KRISTIAN P. , LITTLE CRISPIN T. S. , MARSHALL BRUCE A.
Published: December 2023

‘Serradonta’ kimberleyae n. sp. is described from Miocene-age hydrocarbon seep deposits in northern Hawke’s Bay, North Island, New Zealand. Pectinodontid limpets from fossil and modern hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps are reviewed and shell morphological distinctions are outlined between the two pectinodontid genera known from seeps: Bathyacmaea and Serradonta. It is suggested that the diagnosis of Bathyacmaea be emended to be more consistent with the shell morphology of the species currently included in it. The shell microstructure of ‘Serradonta’ kimberleyae is similar to that of modern pectino-dontid shells from the Hikurangi margin seeps, which may be congeneric. The palaeoecology of the new Miocene species is found to be similar to other fossil vent–seep patellogastropods, as well as species of Pectinodontidae that inhabit these environ-ments today.
First record of Littoridinops monroensis (Frauenfeld, 1863) (Gastropoda: Cochliopidae) in Cuba through a likely natural dispersal event
Authors: VÁZQUEZ ANTONIO A. , COBIAN DORKA , SÁNCHEZ JORGE , POINTIER JEAN-PIERRE
Published: December 2023

Littoridinops monroensis Frauenfeld, 1863 was found in recent surveys in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba. The species seems to be well established in this area with populations occurring in diverse habitats. L. monroensis has never been recorded from other monitored localities in the country and constitutes a new species record for Cuba. Its appearance in this survey may be because of a recent introduction. Migratory birds might have played an important role in the introduction since this region is a protected area and access is very restricted. Ecological data and the distribution of this species in Cuba is presented.
Molluscan Research: trends of subject matter and statistics of papers published during 1994–2011
Authors: ZHANG J. , ZHANG Z.-Q.
Published: December 2023

Trends of subject matter and statistics of papers published in Molluscan Research during 1994–2011 were analysed using data from Zoological Record. The number of papers increased after the frequency of publication was increased to three times per year in 2002. In addition to keeping a strong taxonomic focus with about a third of the papers describing at least one new spe-cies in the last ten years, it has successfully evolved from a primarily Australasian journal to a truly international journal with an Asia-Pacific focus.
The genus Isotomodes Linnaniemi, 1907 of the Ibero-balearic fauna, with description of two new species (Collembola: Entomobryomorpha: Isotomidae)
Authors: ARBEA JAVIER
Published: December 2023

The genus Isotomodes Linnaniemi, 1907 is represented by 14 species in the Ibero-balearic fauna, two of which are new to the science. The two new Spanish species, Isotomodes rosae sp. nov. from Picos de Europa (Cantabria, Northern Spain) and Isotomodes rafaeli sp. nov. from Murcia (Southeastern Spain), are both here described. Drawings of the diagnostic structures of the new species and a key for the identification of Ibero-balearic species of Isotomodes are provided.
Ptychopteridae -a family of flies (Diptera) new to the Neotropical Region and description of a new species
Authors: HANCOCK E. GEOFFREY , MARCOS-GARCIA M-ANGELES , ROTHERAY GRAHAM E.
Published: December 2023

A new species of Ptychoptera Meigen (Diptera: Ptychopteridae) is described from cloud forest in southern Mexico, representing the first definitive record of the family in the Neotropical Region.
Structural diversity among the leaf-feeding thrips of Australia in the genus Teuchothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) with 20 new species
Authors: MOUND LAURENCE A. , DANG LIHONG , TREE DESLEY J.
Published: December 2023

An identification system, together with illustrated notes, is presented to 34 species of the genus Teuchothrips known from Australia, including the following 20 species newly described: T. agonis sp.n., T. aliceae sp.n., T. badu sp.n., T. bundjalong sp.n., T. dodonaea sp.n., T. gangurru sp.n., T. garrunggam sp.n., T. jarowair sp.n., T. jukun sp.n., T. kaurna sp.n., T. kokatha sp.n., T. larrakia sp.n., T. leptospermum sp.n., T. lutruwita sp.n., T. mareeba sp.n., T. miriwoong sp.n., T. monga sp.n., T. mooni sp.n., T. tolga sp.n., T. toowoomba sp.n. Two species from Philippines are removed from Teuchothrips as Liothrips capitulatus (Reyes) comb.n. and L. pedanus (Reyes) comb.n. The genus Teuchothrips is very species rich in Australia, particularly in the northern tropical zone, presumably in association with the richer flora of perennial shrubs in the warmer and more humid north.
9. Financing Climate Investment in the EU
Authors: Dafermos Yannis , Nikolaidi Maria
Published: December 2023

The climate crisis requires an unprecedented transformation of the EU fiscal-, industrial-, trade-, and regulatory-policy frameworks. However, this transformation needs to be supported by the greening of the EU monetary and financial policies. This would facilitate the financing of the large amount of investment in climate mitigation and adaptation that is needed in the coming years. In this chapter, we present a set of tools that central banks, financial regulators, and financial supervisors can employ to advance the EU decarbonisation and climate-resilience targets. We highlight that these tools should be used in a context of a concrete ‘sticks and carrots’ policy-mix framework that moves beyond market-based approaches.
10. In Search of Lost Time
Authors: Guzzardi Demetrio , Palagi Elisa , Faccio Tommaso , Roventini Andrea
Published: December 2023

The European Union needs to raise significant resources to finance a just green transition. At the same time, there is a widespread fiscal regressivity in many EU countries. Indeed, recent empirical evidence shows that the tax systems of many EU members are characterised by low degrees of progressivity, with high-income groups paying lower effective tax rates vis-à-vis middle- and low-income classes. In order to jointly tackle such issues, we propose an ensemble of tax policies at the EU level that are grounded on recent proposals advanced in the literature. This fiscal reform includes a wealth tax targeting the top 1% of wealth holders, a tax on unrealised capital gains, and an increase of the minimum corporate tax. Our first estimates suggest that these measures can generate substantial yearly revenues in the order of 1.9%–2.9% of EU GDP. Such resources can contribute to the funding of the additional climate mitigation and adaptation policies required to tackle the climate emergency, while reducing inequality, thus contributing to put EU economies on sustainable and inclusive growth pathways.
Resolving the phylogeny of Thladiantha (Cucurbitaceae) with three different target capture pipelines
Authors: Raza Mustafa , Ortiz Edgardo M. , Schwung Lea , Shigita Gentaro , Schaefer Hanno
Published: December 2023

Background

Despite recent advances, reliable tools to simultaneously handle different types of sequencing data (e.g., target capture, genome skimming) for phylogenomics are still scarce. Here, we evaluate the performance of the recently developed pipeline Captus in comparison with the well-known target capture pipelines HybPiper and SECAPR. As test data, we analyzed newly generated sequences for the genus Thladiantha (Cucurbitaceae) for which no well-resolved phylogeny estimate has been available so far, as well as simulated reads derived from the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Results

Our pipeline comparisons are based on (1) the time needed for data assembly and locus extraction, (2) locus recovery per sample, (3) the number of informative sites in nucleotide alignments, and (4) the topology of the nuclear and plastid phylogenies. Additionally, the simulated reads derived from the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana were used to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the recovered loci. In terms of computation time, locus recovery per sample, and informative sites, Captus outperforms HybPiper and SECAPR. The resulting topologies of Captus and SECAPR are identical for coalescent trees but differ when trees are inferred from concatenated alignments. The HybPiper phylogeny is similar to Captus in both methods. The nuclear genes recover a deep split of Thladiantha in two clades, but this is not supported by the plastid data.

Conclusions

Captus is the best choice among the three pipelines in terms of computation time and locus recovery. Even though there is no significant topological difference between the Thladiantha species trees produced by the three pipelines, Captus yields a higher number of gene trees in agreement with the topology of the species tree (i.e., fewer genes in conflict with the species tree topology).
Single-nucleus transcriptome sequencing reveals hepatic cell atlas in pigs
Authors: Zhu Jun-Hong , Guan Xuan-Cheng , Yi Lan-Lan , Xu Hong , Li Qiu-Yan , Cheng Wen-Jie , Xie Yu-Xiao , Li Wei-Zhen , Zhao Hong-Ye , Wei Hong-Jiang , Zhao Su-Mei
Published: December 2023

Background

As the largest substantive organ of animals, the liver plays an essential role in the physiological processes of digestive metabolism and immune defense. However, the cellular composition of the pig liver remains poorly understood. This investigation used single-nucleus RNA sequencing technology to identify cell types from liver tissues of pigs, providing a theoretical basis for further investigating liver cell types in pigs.

Results

The analysis revealed 13 cells clusters which were further identified 7 cell types including endothelial cells, T cells, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, stellate cells, B cells, and cholangiocytes. The dominant cell types were endothelial cells, T cells and hepatocytes in the liver tissue of Dahe pigs and Dahe black pigs, which accounts for about 85.76% and 82.74%, respectively. The number of endothelial cells was higher in the liver tissue of Dahe pigs compared to Dahe black pigs, while the opposite tendency was observed for T cells. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic endothelial cells were significantly enriched in the protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, MAPK signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic T cells were significantly enriched in the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway, and focal adhesion. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes in pig hepatic hepatocytes were significantly enriched in the metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

In summary, this study provides a comprehensive cell atlas of porcine hepatic tissue. The number, gene expression level and functional characteristics of each cell type in pig liver tissue varied between breeds.
Age- and sex-stratified detection rates and associated factors of colorectal neoplasia in the Tianjin colorectal cancer screening program from 2012 to 2020
Authors: Yuan Zhen , Wang Shuyuan , Wang Yuqi , Li Hongzhou , Gao Weifeng , Liu Xinyu , Han Youkui , Liu Zhaoce , Zhang Qinghuai , Ma Hong , Wang Junying , Wei Xiaomeng , Zhang Xipeng , Cui Wei , Zhang Chunze
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been implemented in Tianjin, China since 2012. The objective was to estimate the neoplasia detection rate in a high-risk population by age and sex and to investigate the potential factors associated with colorectal neoplasia.

Patients and methods

This study is based on data of the Tianjin CRC screening program from 2012 to 2020. Residents with a positive high-risk factors questionnaire (HRFQ) or a positive faecal immunochemical test (FIT) were identified as high-risk participants and were subsequently recommended for a free colonoscopy.

Results

A total of 4,117,897 eligible participants aged 40–74 years completed both a HRFQ and FIT, and 217,164 (5.3%) of them were identified as high-risk participants. Positive rates of preliminary screening increased with age and were higher in females than in males. For 57,971 participants undertaking colonoscopy, the detection rates of nonadvanced adenoma, advanced adenoma and CRC were 37.8%, 5.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Detection rates of advanced neoplasia increased from the age of 50 and were higher in males. For nonadvanced neoplasia, a strong increase was observed in males from the age of 40 and in females from the age of 50. Male sex had a greater impact on individuals aged 40–49 than on older individuals. Several factors including current smoking, drinking, and higher body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with the presence of neoplasia, whereas, these associations were mainly restricted to individuals aged above 50 but not those aged 40–49 years.

Conclusions

These findings support that age-specific risk stratification and sex-specific initiating ages for CRC screening should be recommended to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of current screening strategy.
Trend of incidence rate of age-related diseases: results from the National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) database in Korea: a cross- sectional study
Authors: Ryou In Sun , Lee Sang Wha , Mun Hanbit , Lee Jae Kwang , Chun SungYoun , Cho Kyunghee
Published: December 2023

Background

This study aimed to identify and select age-related diseases (ARDs) in Korea, which is about to have a super-aged society, and to elucidate patterns in their incidence rates.

Methods

The National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort, comprising 1 million health insurance and medical benefit beneficiaries in Korea from 2002 to 2019, was utilized. We selected 14 diseases with high disease burden and prevalence among Koreans from the 92 diseases defined in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study as ARDs. The annual incidence rate represented the number of patients newly diagnosed with an ARD each year from 2006 to 2019, excluding those with a history of ARD diagnosis from 2002 to 2005. The incidence rate by age was categorized into 10-year units based on age as of 2019. The number of patients with ARDs in each age group was used as the numerator, and the incidence rate for each age group was calculated with the age group as the denominator.

Results

Regarding the annual incidence rates of ARDs from 2006 to 2019, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and ischemic heart disease decreased annually, whereas dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, cataracts, hearing loss, and Parkinson's disease showed a significant increase. Hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and age-related macular degeneration initially displayed a gradual decrease in incidence but exhibited a tendency to increase after 2015. Concerning age-specific incidence rates of ARDs, two types of curves emerged. The first type, characterized by an exponential increase with age, was exemplified by congestive heart failure. The second type, marked by an exponential increase peaking between ages 60 and 80, followed by stability or decrease, was observed in 13 ARDs, excluding congestive heart failure. However, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hearing loss in men belonged to the first type.

Conclusions

From an epidemiological perspective, there are similar characteristics in age-specific ARDs that increase with age, reaching a peak followed by a plateau or decrease in Koreans.
Diagnosis and detection of pneumonia using weak-label based on X-ray images: a multi-center study
Authors: Guo Kairou , Cheng Jiangbo , Li Kaiyuan , Wang Lanhui , Lv Yadong , Cao Desen
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Development and assessment the deep learning weakly supervised algorithm for the classification and detection pneumonia via X-ray.

Methods

This retrospective study analyzed two publicly available dataset that contain X-ray images of pneumonia cases and normal cases. The first dataset from Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center. It contains a total of 5,856 X-ray images, which are divided into training, validation, and test sets with 8:1:1 ratio for algorithm training and testing. The deep learning algorithm ResNet34 was employed to build diagnostic model. And the second public dataset were collated by researchers from Qatar University and the University of Dhaka along with collaborators from Pakistan and Malaysia and some medical doctors. A total of 1,300 images of COVID-19 positive cases, 1,300 normal images and 1,300 images of viral pneumonia for external validation. Class activation map (CAM) were used to location the pneumonia lesions.

Results

The ResNet34 model for pneumonia detection achieved an AUC of 0.9949 [0.9910–0.9981] (with an accuracy of 98.29% a sensitivity of 99.29% and a specificity of 95.57%) in the test dataset. And for external validation dataset, the model obtained an AUC of 0.9835[0.9806–0.9864] (with an accuracy of 94.62%, a sensitivity of 92.35% and a specificity of 99.15%). Moreover, the CAM can accurately locate the pneumonia area.

Conclusion

The deep learning algorithm can accurately detect pneumonia and locate the pneumonia area based on weak supervision information, which can provide potential value for helping radiologists to improve their accuracy of detection pneumonia patients through X-ray images.
Maternal and neonatal complications after IVF/ICSI-fresh embryo transfer in low-prognosis women under the POSEIDON criteria: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li Shiguang , Tan Huifang , Fu Huimin , Du Juan , Liu Peihao , Qin Yingying
Published: December 2023

Background

Several studies on pregnancy complications of poor ovarian response (POR) patients did not draw a consistent conclusion. The POSEIDON criteria introduces the concept of “low prognosis” and divides POR patients into four groups based on age, AFC and AMH for individualized management. We analyzed low-prognosis population and patients with regular ovarian response, compared maternal and neonatal complications and discussed the relevant risk factors.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of females who achieved a singleton clinical pregnancy after IVF / ICSI—fresh embryo transfer in a single center from January 2014 to March 2019. Participants with low prognosis, as defined by the POSEIDON criteria, were enrolled in the study groups. The controls were defined as AFC ≥ five and number of retrieved oocytes > nine. Maternal and neonatal complications were compared among those groups.

Results

There were 2554 cycles in POSEIDON group 1, 971 in POSEIDON group 2, 141 in POSEIDON group 3, 142 in POSEIDON group 4, and 3820 in Control. Univariate analysis roughly showed that Groups 2 and 4 had an increased tendency of pregnancy complications. Multi-variable generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis showed that the risks of GDM, total pregnancy loss, and first-trimester pregnancy loss in Groups 2 and 4 were significantly higher than in Control. The risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Groups 2 and 3 increased, and Group 4 had an increased tendency without statistical significance. After classification by age, GEE analysis showed no significant difference in risks of all complications among groups ≥ 35 years. In patients < 35 years, the risk of HDP in POSEIDON group 3 was significantly higher than in controls (< 35 years), and there was no significant increase in the risk of other complications.

Conclusion

Compared to patients with regular ovarian response, low-prognosis population have increased tendency of maternal and neonatal complications. In low-prognosis patients, advanced age (≥ 35 years) might be the predominant risk factor for pregnancy complications. In those < 35 years, poor ovarian reserve could contribute to HDP.
Application of parametric survival analysis to women patients with breast cancer at Jimma University Medical Center
Authors: Tasfa Marine Buzuneh , Mengistie Dagne Tesfaye
Published: December 2023

Public health systems in both industrialized and undeveloped countries continue to struggle with the worldwide problem of breast cancer. In sub-Saharan African countries, notably Ethiopia, it is the form of cancer that strikes women the most commonly. Despite the extreme difficulties, the causes of mortality in Ethiopia have not yet been identified. In addition, little study has been done in this area. Therefore, the major objective of this analysis was to pinpoint the factors that were most responsible for the decreased life expectancy of breast cancer patients at the University of Jimma Medical Center. 552 women who had been treated for breast cancer at Jimma University Medical Center between October 2018 and December 2022 were included in this study, which used a retrospective cohort study design and five-year follow-up data. The most frequent and widely used test for comparing the probability of survival curves between several categorical independent variables was the log-rank test. Next, semi-parametric methods for multivariable analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model were used. Furthermore, a parametric strategy that includes fully parametric survival models better achieves the goal of the analysis. Among covariate, age of patient (ϕ = 254.06; 95% CI (3.95, 7.13), P-value = 0.000), patient live in urban (ϕ = 0.84; 95% CI (-0.35,-0.00), P-value = 0.047), preexisting comorbidity (ϕ = 2.46; 95% CI (0.39, 1.41), P-value = 0.001), overweight women cancer patient (ϕ = 0.05; 95% CI(-4.41,-1.57), P-value = 0.000, positive Axillary Node status cancer patient (ϕ = 0.04; 95% CI(-4.45,-1.88), P-value = 0.000), both surgery and chemotropic baseline treatment patient (ϕ = 0.53; 95% CI(-1.12,-0.16), P-value = 0.009) significantly affected the survival of women breast cancer. Age of breast cancer patient, patient education level, place of residence, marital status, pre-existing comorbidity, axillary node status, estrogen receptor, tumor size, body mass index at diagnosis, stage of cancer, and baseline treatment were found to have a significant effect on time to survive for women with breast cancer at the University of Jimma Medical Center, Oromia region, Ethiopia. However, the covariate histologic grade, number of positive lymph nodes involved, and type of hormone used were insignificant to the survival of breast cancer patients.
Additional primary malignancies in a Polish cohort of uveal melanoma patients: a review of 644 patients with long-term follow-up
Authors: Wróblewska-Zierhoffer Marta , Paprzycka Barbara , Kubiak Anna , Tomczyk Łukasz , Rospond-Kubiak Iwona
Published: December 2023

Aim

To investigate the frequency and location of additional primary malignancies in a Polish cohort of uveal melanoma (UM) patients registered in a single centre database.

Material and method

Retrospective data analysis of patients treated for uveal melanoma at the Department of Ophthalmology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland between 1991 and 2017. Data on the diagnosis of the additional malignancies were obtained during the follow-up visits in our Department and/or from the Greater Poland Cancer Registry. The exclusion criteria comprised no confirmed follow-up or incomplete clinical entry data.

Results

Among 644 UM patients registered in the database up to 2017, the additional malignancy was diagnosed in 126 (20%) patients: 71 men, 55 women at the median age of 67 years (range: 34–94). In 48 patients (38%), the additional malignancy occurred prior to the diagnosis of UM, in 73 (58%) patients - after it. The most common locations of second cancer were skin (20 cases / 15%), breast (17 cases / 13%) and lungs (15 cases / 12%). The median follow-up was 36 months (range: 3–242). 87 patients (69%) died by the study close, 32 (37%) of them due to metastatic disease from uveal melanoma, 41 (47%) due to another cancer.

Conclusions

The frequency of additional primary malignancies was higher in our cohort than reported by most of other groups. If there is a certain predisposition to a specific type of additional primary carcinoma in UM patients, the analysis of larger database is required.