bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Order disorder phase transitions in the plasma membrane of HeLa cells measured by fluorescent analysis of solvatochromic probes
Authors: Färber Nicolas , Mauritz Sophie C. F. , Huber Marina G. , Klymchenko Andrey S. , Westerhausen Christoph
Published: January 2025

Using the solvatochromic membrane probes Laurdan and Pro12A we investigated order-disorder phase transitions in cellular lipid membranes of HeLa cells. Due to internalization of Laurdan its fluorescence signal yields information about inner and outer cellular membranes while Pro12A exclusively stains the plasma membrane. The two different membrane-embedded dyes show an emission redshift upon increasing disorder of the surrounding lipids that can be quantified by the Generalized Polarization (GP). First, we compare the sensitivity of both probes to lipid phase transitions by analyzing GP of synthetic lipid vesicles as function of temperature. Second, we investigate the temperature dependent lipid order of HeLa cell membranes and find that the plasma membrane shows a partially reversible order-disorder transition regime at temperatures between T = 20 °C and T = 70 °C. Third, we calorimetrically detect an irreversible transition at T = 55 °C and conclude that the optically detected restructuring of the plasma membrane can be partially attributed to protein denaturation. At last, it is shown that the reversible plasma membrane transition temperature Tmshifts from Tm= 25 °C to Tm=-16 °C upon cholesterol depletion and sharpens from a half width of ΔTFWHM= 60 K to ΔTFWHM= 8 K. The reversibility and the sensitivity to cholesterol of this transition indicate a temperature-induced lipid melting within the plasma membrane of HeLa cells.
Genetic memory devices to detect specialized metabolites in plant and soil microbiomes
Authors: Hansen Morten L , Kordatos Kristoffer IT , Norgaard Jens-Jakob K , Jorgensen Johan PB , Strube Mikael L , Schostag Morten D , Yang Lei , Jelsbak Lars
Published: January 2025

Root-associated microbiomes significantly influence plant growth and resilience through intricate chemical dialogues mediated by plant- and microbe-derived specialized metabolites. These metabolites play pivotal roles in shaping the assembly, dynamics, and ecological functions of soil microbiomes. Despite advances in in vitro and DNA sequencing studies, a comprehensive understanding of in situ chemical signaling within plant and soil microbiomes remains elusive due to experimental constraints. To address this gap, we developed and tuned a set of five whole-cell biosensors in Escherichia coli for spatiotemporal, non-disruptive detection of biologically relevant specialized metabolites, including 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, pyoluteorin, tetracycline, salicylic acid, and naringenin. Four of these biosensors were successfully adapted to the soil-compatible Pseudomonas putida KT2440 Δall-Φ strain, enabling the detection of transient bioavailable signals central to plant-microbe interactions. Additionally, the four sensors were shown to respond to their cognate ligand in a non-sterile soil extract medium containing the diverse microbiome found in soil. By employing genetic memory devices with DNA barcodes for readouts, our approach provides a scalable platform for sensing additional specialized metabolites in the future. This work demonstrates the potential of real-time biosensor technologies to unravel the complex chemical interactions driving soil microbiome ecology, with implications for sustainable agricultural practices.
Measurement force, speed and post-mortem time affect the ratio of CNS grey to white matter elasticity
Authors: Becker Julia M. , Winkel Alexander K. , Kreysing Eva , Franze Kristian
Published: January 2025

For several decades, many attempts have been made to characterise the mechanical properties of grey and white matter, which constitute the two main compartments of the central nervous system (CNS), with various methods and contradictory results. In particular, the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity is sometimes larger than 1 and sometimes smaller; the reason for this apparent discrepancy is currently unknown. Here, we exploited atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation measurements to systematically investigate how the measurement force, measurement speed, post-mortem interval and temperature affect the measured elasticity of spinal cord tissue, and in particular the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity (Kg/Kw). Within the explored parameter space, increasing measurement force and speed increased the measured elasticity of both grey and white matter. However,Kg/Kwdeclined from values as high as ∼5 at low forces and speeds to ∼1 for high forces and speeds.Kg/Kwalso strongly depended on the anatomical plane in which the measurements were conducted and was considerably higher in transverse sections compared to longitudinal sections. Furthermore, the post-mortem interval impacted both the absolute measured tissue elasticity andKg/Kw. Grey matter elasticity started decreasing ∼3 hours post-mortem until reaching a plateau after ∼6 hours. In contrast, white matter elasticity started declining from the beginning of the measurements until ∼6 hours post-mortem, when it also levelled off. As a result,Kg/Kwincreased until ∼6 hours post-mortem before stabilising. Between 20°C and 38°C, both grey and white matter elasticity decreased at a similar rate, without affectingKg/Kw. We have thus identified differences in the response of grey and white matter to varying strains and strain rates, and the post-mortem interval, and excluded temperature as a factor affectingKg/Kw. These differential responses likely contribute to the contradictory results obtained with different methods working in different strain regimes.

Statement of significance

We here showed that the mechanical response of CNS grey and white matter to an applied force differentially depends on measurement parameters such as the speed and magnitude of the applied forces, the post-mortem interval, as well as the anatomical axis along which measurements are conducted. These results broaden our understanding of CNS mechanics and pave the way for better and more targeted experimental design of future experiments. Ultimately, they may help to reconcile seemingly contradictory results in the literature concerning the ratio of grey-to-white-matter elasticity.
Conjugative Plasmids Rarely Confer Antibiotic Resistance or Virulence
Authors: Domingues Célia P.F. , Rebelo João S. , Dionisio Francisco , Nogueira Teresa
Published: January 2025

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria cause over a million deaths annually. This study investigates the role of plasmid mobility types in disseminating antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence genes (VGs). By analyzing 142,492 fully sequenced plasmids from bacterial isolates and metagenomes, we offer a comprehensive representation of plasmid distribution in microbial communities. Our findings reveal that conjugative plasmids (pCONJ) are less common than previously estimated, comprising only 4.14% of the dataset. Mobilizable plasmids (pMOB) are the most prevalent (66.82%), followed by non-transmissible plasmids (pNT) at 29.04%. Although plasmids are recognized as key drivers of ARG dissemination, only 3.8% of plasmids encode ARGs. Among pCONJ plasmids, 6.9% harbor ARGs, and just 0.18% carry VGs. These findings contrast with earlier estimates, which overrepresented clinically associated plasmids. Interestingly, ARGs are more frequently associated with pMOB plasmids, which exhibit higher ARG density. In contrast, VGs are primarily found in pCONJ plasmids. This study highlights the significance of pMOB plasmids in ARG dissemination, emphasizing their role in resistance spread. Our results challenge prevailing assumptions about plasmid-mediated gene transfer and underscore the need to prioritize pMOB plasmids in future epidemiological studies. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of plasmid dynamics and their implications for public health.
Antioxidant role of the GABA shunt in regulating redox balance in blood progenitors during Drosophila hematopoiesis
Authors: Goyal Manisha , Tiwari Sakshi , Cooper Bruce , Subramanian Ramaswamy , Mukherjee Tina
Published: January 2025

Redox balance is crucial for normal development of stem and progenitor cells that reside in oxidative environments. This study explores the mechanisms of redox homeostasis in such niches and investigates myeloid-like blood progenitor cells that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and moderate it developmentally. Our findings reveal that during lymph gland development, as the blood-progenitor cells oxidize pyruvate via the TCA cycle leading to the generation of ROS, these cell also de novo synthesize GSH to counter excessive ROS and ensure redox balance. GABA metabolism, through GABA-shunt, restricts pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity and consequently TCA rate. This allows a metabolic route to sustain serine levels in these cells which is the rate limiting precursor controlling de novo GSH production. Disruption of GABA metabolism leads to a metabolic imbalance, characterized by excessive PDH activity, heightened TCA rate leading to impaired serine/GSH production and overall ROS dysregulation. Overall, the study presents a unique metabolic state whereby, in the blood-progenitor cells, by keeping PDH and TCA activity in check and promoting serine/GSH generation, GABA metabolism establishes a metabolic framework that optimises the use of ROS in blood-progenitors, while ensuring redox homeostasis.
Quantum eigenstate preparation assisted by a coherent link
Authors: Schiffer Benjamin F. , Tura Jordi
Published: January 2025

Preparing the ground state of a local Hamiltonian is a crucial problem in understanding quantum many-body systems, with applications in a variety of physics fields and connections to combinatorial optimization. While various quantum algorithms exist which can prepare the ground state with high precision and provable guarantees from an initial approximation, current devices are limited to shallow circuits. Here we consider the setting where Alice and Bob, in a distributed quantum computing architecture, want to prepare the same Hamiltonian eigenstate. We demonstrate that the circuit depth of the eigenstate preparation algorithm can be reduced when the devices can share entanglement via a coherent link. This is especially so in the case where one of them has a near-perfect eigenstate, which is more efficiently broadcast to the other device. Our approach requires only a single auxiliary qubit per device to be entangled with the outside. We show that, in the near-convergent regime, the average relative suppression of unwanted amplitudes is improved to 1/(2e)≈0.30 per run of the protocol, outperforming the average relative suppression of 1/e≈0.37 achieved with a single device alone for the same protocol.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Maintaining an autocatalytic reaction system in a protocell: Nonenzymatic RNA templating and the link between replication and metabolism
Authors: Sanders Quentin C. C. , Verbeem Alex , Higgs Paul G.
Published: January 2025

The first protocells must have been driven by a reaction system in which autocatalysis is maintained inside the cell while food molecules outside the cell are unreactive. We show that if there is a second-order autocatalytic mechanism, then an active state can be stable inside the cell with a high catalyst concentration while the environment remains stable in an unreactive state with no catalyst. Addition of a small amount of catalyst to the environment does not cause the initiation of the autocatalytic cycle outside the cell. In contrast, for a first-order mechanism, addition of a small amount of catalyst initiates the reaction outside the cell unless there is continual removal of the catalyst from the environment. Hence, a second-order reaction mechanism maintains the difference between the inside and outside of a protocell much better than a first-order mechanism. The formose reaction, although a prebiotically plausible autocatalytic system, is first order and therefore is unlikely as a means of support for the first protocells. We give other theoretical examples of first- and second-order reaction networks but note there are few known real-world chemical systems that fit these schemes. However, we show that nonenzymatic RNA templating constitutes a second-order autocatalytic system with the necessary properties to support a protocell. Templating is maintained inside the cell but is not initiated outside the cell. If the reaction is driven by an external supply of activated nucleotides, then templating is itself a metabolic cycle. It is not necessary to have an additional separate metabolic cycle before templating reactions can occur. In this view, templating reactions, which are usually considered as the origin of replication and heredity, are also the origin of metabolism.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Technological insights on blockchain adoption: the electric vehicle supply chain use case
Authors: Capocasale Vittorio , Bruni Maria Elena , Perboli Guido
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies are increasingly prominent, yet their adoption remains complex. This paper addresses the common misalignment between blockchain technology and actual needs, often leading to project failure. It introduces a decision-making framework focused on the technological aspects of blockchain adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

We designed the framework by analyzing key decision drivers from existing literature and applied it to a real-world use case in the electric vehicle supply chain. The blockchain solution was tested with live production data.

Findings

Blockchain is beneficial for use cases requiring decentralized governance, but it often needs to be supplemented with additional technologies in industrial applications.

Originality/value

The framework provides a set of managerial-level questions that simplify the decision-making process for those without deep technical expertise, helping determine when blockchain is appropriate, valuable and superior to other technologies.
Aspects influencing teacher’s motivation in private schools amid the challenging environment in Lebanon
Authors: Kontar Hanan , Rizk Nisrine , Jabbour Al Maalouf Nada
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to pinpoint the factors that affect teacher motivation in this particular setting. It specifically looks at how job satisfaction, the reward system, training and development and work situational factors affect teachers’ motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

Through nonrandom sampling, data from 229 teachers from private schools in Lebanon were gathered.

Findings

The findings showed that professional training and development opportunities and a supportive work environment have a strong impact on teachers’ motivation.

Originality/value

The findings highlight the need for more research to guide comprehensive improvement strategies in Lebanese private schools for motivating teachers. The Ministry of Education and private schools in Lebanon can benefit from the insights provided by the findings in terms of policy and practice. Among the suggestions include bringing up-to-date rules to boost teacher satisfaction, raising educational standards, creating focused training sessions, changing compensation systems and improving both the physical and mental aspects of the workplace.
The stimulus of personality traits among Generation Z’s social entrepreneurial intentions: the role of gender
Authors: Sharma Latika , Bagdi Himanshu , Bulsara Hemantkumar P. , Lodaliya Ruchita
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Entrepreneurial intention is crucial in both entrepreneurship literature and practice. However, limited information exists regarding entrepreneurs’ intentions in the realm of social enterprise creation. This study aims to determine the social entrepreneurial intentions of Generation Z students within the Indian environment by utilising the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and its applicability using personality factors like risk-taking ability, proactivity, empathy and emotional intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method was used, and data was collected by Generation Z individuals at three public universities in India using a self-administered questionnaire. The study used a purposive sampling technique, and further, the model was tested using the partial least square-structural equation modelling technique.

Findings

The study findings supported the proposed model of extended TPB, demonstrating that factors such as emotional intelligence, risk-taking ability and proactiveness are found prominent in Indian students. Furthermore, the role of gender as a control variable reflected no effect on social entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

This research enhances the literature on social entrepreneurship by offering novel insights into social entrepreneurial intention. It is among the pioneers of its type to examine social entrepreneurial intent concerning personality factors among students of higher education institutions. This study provides interesting insights for universities and policymakers since they play a crucial role in promoting these antecedents through education and stimulation by enhancing entrepreneurial culture in developing countries.
Why the WASPI has no Sting: Gender, Generation and Pension Inequalities
Authors: McCarthy Helen
Published: January 2025

Since 2015, Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) has campaigned tirelessly for ‘justice’ for the millions of 1950s‐born women adversely affected by the raising and equalisation of the state pension age (SPA). Yet, to date, no compensation has been paid. This article uses WASPI to explore the challenges of organising politically around gender, age and welfare rights, combining quantitative analysis with new qualitative material from the Mass Observation life‐writing archive. It argues that most women have been cushioned from the financial impact of the SPA reform only through the availability of male spousal income. Furthermore, members of this cohort articulate a ‘lucky boomer’ identity, rooted in a sense of belonging to a postwar generation which has benefitted from a generous welfare state, decent occupational pensions and homeownership. As a result, the resonance of WASPI's narrative of generational injustice may be weak for at least some 1950s‐born women.
Next‐Generation Snow Leopard Population Assessment Tool: Multiplex‐PCR SNP Panel for Individual Identification From Faeces
Authors: Solari Katherine A. , Ahmad Shakeel , Armstrong Ellie E. , Campana Michael G. , Ali Hussain , Hameed Shoaib , Ullah Jami , Khan Barkat Ullah , Nawaz Muhammad A. , Petrov Dmitri A.
Published: January 2025

In recent years, numerous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel methods to genotype non‐invasive faecal samples have been developed. However, none of these existing methods fit all of the criteria necessary to make a SNP panel broadly usable for conservation projects in any country—cost effective, streamlined lab protocol and user‐friendly open‐source bioinformatics protocols for panel design and analysis. Here, we present such a method and display its utility by developing a multiplex PCR SNP panel for conducting individual ID of snow leopards, Panthera uncia, from faecal samples. The SNP panel we present consists of 144 SNPs and utilises next‐generation sequencing technology. We validate our SNP panel with paired tissue and faecal samples from zoo individuals, showing a minimum of 96.7% accuracy in allele calls per run. We then generate SNP data from 235 field‐collected faecal samples from across Pakistan to show that the panel can reliably identify individuals from low‐quality faecal samples of unknown age and is robust to contamination. We also show that our SNP panel has the capability to identify first‐order relatives among sampled zoo individuals and provides insights into the geographic origin of samples. This SNP panel will empower the snow leopard research community in their efforts to assess local and global snow leopard population sizes. More broadly, we present a SNP panel development method that can be used for any species of interest for which adequate genomic reference data is available.
Ethnographic fingerprints: Examining co‐participation, positionality, and interpersonal relationships in diary method
Authors: Baker Julius
Published: January 2025

While rarely employed 20 years ago, solicited diaries have gained popularity, albeit remaining somewhat on the periphery of human geography methods. Creativity has also expanded in both diary formats and research relationships. My diary method combined long‐term ethnographic fieldwork with co‐participation, producing rich detail and complex negotiations of intimacy, reciprocity, and power. This article examines these dynamics through my research relationships, focusing on how co‐participation revealed the nitty‐gritty elements of positionality, including personality and navigating intersectional identities. I call their lasting influence on fieldwork, data, and interpretation an ‘ethnographic fingerprint’. This discussion of positionality and reflexivity in diary methods is rare, as is my self‐reflexive context of cross‐racial fieldwork between a black researcher and white participants.
Sperm Strategies: Partner's Mating Status as a Driver of Last Male Success in Ladybirds
Authors: Chaudhary Desh Deepak , Kumar Bhupendra , Omkar
Published: January 2025

In the present study, we examined the last male sperm precedence based on the mating status of males and females (virgin, once‐mated, or multiply‐mated) of a coccinellid beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius). Results revealed that, in comparison to virgin females, once‐ and multiply‐mated females significantly affected the process of last male sperm precedence. While virgin females either showed the last male sperm precedence effect or produced equal numbers of offspring with phenotypes similar to both male partners. The latter result was obtained when: (i) the virgin female mated with an unmated typical male followed by a multiply‐mated intermediate male, or (ii) the virgin female mated with a once‐mated typical male followed by a multiply‐mated intermediate male. However, once‐ and multiply‐mated females showed the first male precedence in all mating treatments, and their offspring had phenotypes similar to the first male partner. Present empirical studies suggest that the process of the last male sperm precedence is not ubiquitous in M. sexmaculatus. Rather, it changes with the mating status of the partners, and the effects of female mating status on the last male sperm precedence are more prominent than the male mating status.
Caspase‐mediated cleavage of a scaffold protein, MPRIP, yields a truncated form that is involved in repetitive bleb formation
Authors: Sakamaki Kazuhiro , Sakamoto Naohisa , Tsujimura Yuki , Iwasaki Takahiro , Kawamura Takuma , Nakabayashi Jun , D'Souza Rhea S. , Jannat Arooma , Takeshima Ken‐ichiro , Takeda Hiroyuki , Koyamada Koji , Yokota Hideo
Published: January 2025

Membrane blebbing is a hallmark of apoptotic cell death. However, the molecular mechanism that regulates this event has not been fully elucidated. To understand this underlying mechanism, we developed visualization systems suitable for spatiotemporal analysis. By monitoring the plasma membrane labeled with a fluorescent protein and reconstructing the image data as three‐dimensional (3D) volumes based on the rendering technique, we observed that dying cells exhibit cycles of bleb formation at the same region of the cell surface. In addition, a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)‐based biosensor incorporating a regulatory myosin light chain (RMLC) displayed phosphorylation at the base of the retracting bleb, and dephosphorylation before re‐expansion, implying the involvement of not only a kinase but also a phosphatase in the regulation of RMLC. To extend these observations, we focused on a scaffold protein, myosin phosphatase Rho interacting protein (MPRIP), which interacts with RhoA and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1), involved in activation of Rho‐associated coiled‐coil kinase‐I (ROCK‐I) or protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), respectively. We found that MPRIP is cleaved both in dying cells and in an in vitro cleavage assay in a caspase‐dependent manner. A cleaved C‐terminal peptide fragment maintains the interaction with MYPT1. Cytological analysis showed that this fragment forms a complex with MYPT1 and myosin after translocating to the cytoplasm. These results suggest that this complex formation promotes the dephosphorylation of RMLC. Collectively, our study indicates that repetitive bleb formation, which is unique to apoptosis, is regulated by both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of RMLC through MPRIP in a coordinated manner.
Structural insights into substrate transport and drug inhibition of the human vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2)
Authors: Wu Di , Zhao Yan , Jiang Daohua
Published: January 2025

Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is a proton‐monoamine antiporter that is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons and plays a crucial role in loading monoamine neurotransmitters into secretory vesicles. Dysfunction of VMAT2 causes many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and Parkinson's disease. Consequently, VMAT2 is a valid and important therapeutic target. Reserpine alleviates symptoms of hypertension via potent inhibition of VMAT2. Tetrabenazine selectively inhibits VMAT2 and has been used for the management of chorea, including Huntington's disease. Decades of extensive studies have defined the substrate specificity and transport kinetics of VMAT2. However, the structure and precise mechanisms of monoamine recognition and drug inhibition in VMAT2 remain unknown. Recently, we determined an ensemble of high‐resolution cryo‐EM structures of human VMAT2 in three distinct states bound to multiple substrates and inhibitors. These results lay a structural foundation for a comprehensive understanding of substrate recognition and transport, drug inhibition, and proton coupling in VMAT2 and shed light on future therapeutic development.
“Black Nobbie Neville”
Authors: Cairns Matt
Published: January 2025

Please note that this article includes descriptions and examples of racist and derogatory conduct and historical writing. They are included in their original form to provide an accurate portrait of the attitudes of the period this article is examining. Readers are cautioned to take care if this is disturbing for them.

This article explores the commencement of The Salvation Army in Australia and in particular its relationship with the Aboriginal populations it encountered. Utilizing the account of an early encounter, the story of “Black Nobbie Neville,” published in late 1890, this paper examines the attitudes of early Salvationists toward Aboriginal people. The narrative provides a useful tool to contrast and compare with other early Australian Salvation Army writings in considering whether the attitudes, stereotypes, and language used in the account of Nobbie Neville was consistent with a wider mentality of The Salvation Army of the early 20th century. Further, it opens the discussion on whether these views influenced and continue to influence the place of Aboriginal Salvationists in Australia.
Decolonizing the Darkness
Authors: Dube Musa W.
Published: January 2025

The presentation and representation of Africa as the dark continent is one that was intricately constructed and weaved by colonial and missionary travellers. Darkness was constructed as evil and dangerous and in need of illumination. The construction of darkness and Africa as the dark continent was embraced by Western philosophical thinkers who popularized this thinking that the same construction continues to reproduce itself globally. Using the medium of a childhood game, played on a farm with little artificial lighting, thinking of darkness takes a completely different turn to the colonially constructed image of darkness. Using a reimagination and reinterpretation of darkness, this article embraces darkness as the space of seeing, of entertainment, of observation and appreciation of that which is often blinded by artificial – colonial – lights or illumination. This article challenges, disrupts, decolonizes the colonial construction of darkness and reclaims darkness and calls for the liberation and embrace of darkness in the manner of reading the Bible or imagining mission. It is a call to counter‐create darkness and its significance.
Truncation‐Enhanced Aptamer Binding Affinity and Its Potential as a Sensor for Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodavirus Detection
Authors: Ghadin Norazli , Baharum Syarul Nataqain , Ahmad Raston Nurul Hanun , Low Chen‐Fei
Published: January 2025

White tail disease in Macrobrachium rosenbergii is caused by M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) infection, resulting in up to 100% mortality in larvae and post‐larvae stages, severely impacting aquaculture production. Existing genome‐based detection methods for MrNV are costly and time‐consuming, highlighting the need for rapid and cost‐effective diagnostic tests. This study evaluated the effects of truncating selected aptamer on its binding affinity to the MrNV capsid protein. The previously isolated and identified aptamer through magnetic‐capture SELEX and Next Generation Sequencing demonstrated high binding affinity to the MrNV capsid protein. Truncation at the primer overhang was found to improve binding affinity, reducing the dissociation constant from 347 nM to 30.1 nM. The calculated limit of detection for the truncated aptamer decreased from 5.64 nM to 1.7 nM, while the limit of quantification decreased from 17.1 nM to 5.16 nM. These reductions indicate that the truncated aptamer has higher sensitivity compared to the full‐length aptamer. In tests with MrNV‐infected M. rosenbergii samples, both the enzyme‐linked aptamer assay and the gold nanoparticle aptasensor assay showed consistent results when 0.5 μg of total protein lysate was used. This indicates that the prawn protein concentration interferes with the detection of the viral protein. These findings suggest the potential application of the truncated aptamer as a sensor in the development of a practical aptamer‐based diagnostic kit. For instance, an aptamer‐based lateral flow assay test kit could provide a user‐friendly, cost‐effective solution that eliminates the need for sophisticated instrumentation for diagnosis or data interpretation, making it ideal for detecting MrNV infection in M. rosenbergii aquaculture.
Automated Euler number of the alveolar capillary network based on deep learning segmentation with verification by stereological methods
Authors: Schmidt Julia , Labode Jonas , Wrede Christoph , Regin Yannick , Toelen Jaan , Mühlfeld Christian
Published: January 2025

Diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affect the development of the pulmonary vasculature, including the alveolar capillary network (ACN). Since pulmonary development is highly dependent on angiogenesis and microvascular maturation, ACN investigations are essential. Therefore, efficient methods are needed for quantitative comparative studies. Here, the suitability of deep learning (DL) for processing serial block‐face scanning electron microscopic (SBF‐SEM) data by generating ACN segmentations, 3D reconstructions and performing automated quantitative analyses based on them, was tested. Since previous studies revealed inefficient ACN segmentation as the limiting factor in the overall workflow, a 2D DL‐based approach was used with existing data, aiming at the reduction of necessary manual interaction. Automated quantitative analyses based on completed segmentations were performed subsequently. The results were compared to stereological estimations, assessing segmentation quality and result reliability. It was shown that the DL‐based approach was suitable for generating segmentations on SBF‐SEM data. This approach generated more complete initial ACN segmentations than an established method, despite the limited amount of available training data and the use of a 2D rather than a 3D approach. The quality of the completed ACN segmentations was assessed as sufficient. Furthermore, quantitative analyses delivered reliable results about the ACN architecture, automatically obtained contrary to manual stereological approaches. This study demonstrated that ACN segmentation is still the part of the overall workflow that requires improvement regarding the reduction of manual interaction to benefit from available automated software tools. Nevertheless, the results indicated that it could be advantageous taking further efforts to implement a 3D DL‐based segmentation approach. As the amount of analysed data was limited, this study was not conducted to obtain representative data about BPD‐induced ACN alterations, but to highlight next steps towards a fully automated segmentation and evaluation workflow, enabling larger sample sizes and representative studies.
Predictors of Nurses' Job Satisfaction in Home Care Settings: Findings From the AIDOMUS‐IT Study
Authors: Marcomini Ilaria , Di Nitto Marco , Zaghini Francesco , Caponnetto Valeria , Cesare Manuele , Iovino Paolo , Longobucco Yari , Alvaro Rosaria , Lancia Loreto , Manara Duilio Fiorenzo , Rasero Laura , Rocco Gennaro , Cicolini Giancarlo , Zega Maurizio , Mazzoleni Beatrice , Bagnasco Annamaria , Sasso Loredana
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Nurses' job satisfaction in hospitals is fundamental for the quality of care and the safety of patients. However, sociodemographic trends require moving care to patients' homes, and the predictors of job satisfaction for nurses working in the home care settings remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate job satisfaction of nurses working in Italian home care settings and its determinants.

Design

Multicenter observational cross‐sectional study.

Methods

This study was conducted in the districts of 70 local health authorities in Italy. Data on the characteristics of the organization and nurses were collected. Nursing job satisfaction was evaluated on a four‐point scale ranging from “very satisfied” to “very dissatisfied.” Additionally, the following variables were assessed: workload, quality of leadership, work–private life conflict, burnout symptoms, possibility for development, staffing and resource adequacy, nurse manager ability, safety climate, and teamwork climate. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing job satisfaction.

Results

Only organizational variables had a predictive value for nurses' job satisfaction. Workload (OR = 1.01; p = 0.033), work–private life conflict (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), burnout (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), and staffing inadequacy (OR = 1.44; p = 0.003) predicted higher levels of nurse dissatisfaction. Instead, high‐quality leadership (OR = 0.981; p < 0.001), possibility for development (OR = 0.973; p < 0.001), and good teamwork climate (OR = 0.994; p = 0.003) were predictors of better levels of satisfaction.

Conclusions

This study suggested that home care nurses are generally satisfied with their jobs. To enhance job satisfaction, it is essential to improve nurses' work environment, the leadership quality and ensure professional development.

Clinical Relevance

Our results are globally relevant as they contribute to the limited evidence available on this topic in home care settings. This study emphasizes the need of measuring nurses' job satisfaction and implementing interventions to promote healthy work environments.
Relationship Between Cigarette Smoking and Awake Bruxism: Does Smoking Increase the Frequency of Masticatory Muscle Activities?
Authors: Saracutu Ovidiu Ionut , Pollis Matteo , Bracci Alessandro , Ferrari Marco , Manfredini Daniele
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite the aetiology of awake bruxism (AB) being prevalently linked to psychological factors, several studies suggested that the use of certain substances, such as tobacco smoking, can contribute to the increase in masticatory muscle activities (MMA) during wakefulness.

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between the frequency of awake bruxism behaviours and smoking habits.

Methods

Participants were recruited, without gender or ethnic restriction, at the University of Siena, Siena, Italy, by advertising. Participants completed a questionnaire containing the four‐item patient health questionnaire for anxiety and depression (PHQ‐4) and some items from the Global Adult Tobacco Smoking (GATS) questionnaire. Moreover, they performed one week of awake bruxism behaviours monitoring via the ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Results

A total of 100 participants (university employees, dentists, undergraduate and post‐graduate students) were included in the study (34 males and 66 females, mean age 24.5 years). Of them, 39% were smokers and 61% were non‐smokers. The multiple variable linear regression analysis results showed a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of awake bruxism behaviours and the PHQ‐4 scores. Specifically, for every 1% increase in PHQ‐4 score, the mean frequency of the AB behaviours increases 5‐fold. Awake bruxism behaviours did not show any statistically significant correlation with the number of smoked cigarettes (p > 0.05). Mandible bracing significantly correlated with the number of years of smoking (B = 1.58, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

According to the present study's findings, the frequency of awake bruxism behaviours correlated with symptoms of anxiety and depression but not with smoking status.
Infant Feeding Practices in Ethiopia: Birth Cohort Study in Five Regions
Authors: Tariku Amare , Alemu Kassahun , Schellenberg Joanna , Marchant Tanya , Berhanu Della , Lemma Seblewengel , Defar Atkure , Getachew Theodros , Abdissa Zewditu , Guadu Tadesse , Shiferaw Solomon , Taye Girum , Zelalem Meseret , Persson Lars Åke
Published: January 2025

Appropriate infant feeding is crucial to ensure optimal child growth and survival. We aimed to assess infants' breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices from 0 to 12 months in Ethiopia. This study was a secondary analysis of data from the Ethiopia Performance Monitoring for Action panel study performed from July 2020 to August 2021. One thousand eight hundred and fifty infants were included from five Ethiopian regions: Addis Ababa City Administration, Oromia, Amhara, Afar, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regions. Appropriate infant feeding practices were assessed using the World Health Organization measurement criteria and descriptive analysis. One‐year‐old infants were considered to have a diversified diet if they had complementary feeding comprising five or more food groups. Two‐thirds (67%, 95% CI: 63, 71) of newborns were put to the breast within 1 h after delivery. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding was 6.5 months, and 69% (95% CI: 67, 71) were exclusively breastfed at 5 months. Almost all (97%; 95% CI: 96, 98) were still breastfeeding at 12 months. Sixteen percent (95% CI: 13, 19) of infants (boys 15%, girls 16%) aged 12 months had a diversified diet, and 49% (95% CI: 44, 55) consumed sugary foods or beverages. Most Ethiopian infants had appropriate breastfeeding practices, while almost all had poor‐quality complementary food at 1 year. Increasing access to high‐quality education on infant feeding is crucial to maintaining and enhancing appropriate breastfeeding practices and complementary food quality. Intensifying poverty reduction efforts are essential to improve infants' dietary diversity and nutrient‐dense food consumption.
A modulatory role of CG methylation on gene expression in soybean implicates its potential utility in breeding
Authors: Wang Ying , Xun Hongwei , Lv Jiameng , Ju Wanting , Jiang Yuhui , Wang Meng , Guo Ruihong , Zhang Mengru , Ding Xiaoyang , Liu Bao , Xu Chunming
Published: January 2025

Cytosine methylation (mCG) is an important heritable epigenetic modification, yet its functions remain to be fully defined in important crops. This study investigates mCG in soybean following the loss‐of‐function mutation of two GmMET1 genes. We generated knockout mutants of GmMET1s by CRISPR‐Cas9 and conducted comprehensive methylome and transcriptome analyses. Our findings unravel the functional redundancy of the two GmMET1s, with GmMET1b being more critically involved in maintaining mCG levels, and complete knockout of both copies is lethal. We establish that genome‐wide mCG levels scale with aggregated expression of GmMET1s. We identify a set of mCG‐regulated genes whose expression levels were quantitatively modulated by upstream, body, or downstream mCG. Moreover, we find genes that were negatively regulated by upstream or body mCG are enriched in specific biological processes such as that of jasmonic acid metabolism. Notably, >80% of the differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in the mutants also exist as DMGs in natural soybean populations. Phenotypically, mutants that are heterozygous for GmMET1a and homozygous for GmMET1b knockouts (GmMET1a+/−GmMET1b−/−) exhibited early flowering, which was inherited by their selfed progeny (GmMET1a+/+GmMET1b−/−) with otherwise normal growth and development. Moreover, mutation of either GmMET1s, with slight reduction of mCG levels and similar phenotypes compared to the wild type under normal conditions, showed enhanced tolerance to cold and drought stresses. Together, our results underscore highly orchestrated regulatory effects of mCG on gene expression in soybean, which dictates growth, development and stress responses, implicating its utility in the improvement of soybean for better adaptability and higher yield.
The ZmAHL25‐ZmPUB19‐ZmMPK5 Module Positively Regulates Resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in Maize
Authors: Liang Guanyu , Liu Chenxu , Liu Jiazong , Wan Kun , Sun Haonan , Liu Baoshen , Zhang Yongzhong , Wang Xiaojing , Li Ning
Published: January 2025

Ubiquitin‐mediated proteolysis is a crucial mechanism in plant defenses against pathogens. However, the role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the maize (Zea mays) defense response against Rhizoctonia solani, a major soil‐borne fungal pathogen that causes banded leaf and sheath blight, remains unclear. We previously identified the maize ZmPUB19 gene, which encodes a U‐box E3 ubiquitin ligase and is upregulated upon R. solani infection, suggesting its potential involvement in maize defense responses. In this study, we established that ZmPUB19 positively influences the maize defense response to R. solani. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that ZmPUB19 interacts with and ubiquitinates the mitogen‐activated protein kinase ZmMPK5, resulting in ZmMPK5 degradation in response to R. solani infection. The Zmmpk5 mutant demonstrated superior resistance to R. solani compared to the wild type. Additionally, we identified an AT‐Hook Motif Nuclear Localized (AHL) transcription factor, ZmAHL25, which binds to the AT‐rich cis‐element in the ZmPUB19 promoter and activates its expression under R. solani attack. Notably, decreased expression of ZmAHL25 increased maize susceptibility to R. solani. Collectively, our findings show that the ZmAHL25‐ZmPUB19‐ZmMPK5 module plays a positive role in regulating maize defense responses to R. solani infection.
Biocontrol Effect Induced by Streptomyces anulatusZAM4‐4 on Phytophthora capsici Causing Pepper Blight in Capsicum annuum
Authors: Long Meimei , Li Shanshan , Liu Changyun , Luo Yaqi , Huang Liguo , Wang Qiuyue , Cheng Qiangyi , Sun Xianchao , Fan Guangjin , Ma Guanhua
Published: January 2025

Pepper blight, caused by the soilborne pathogen Phytophthora capsici, poses a formidable threat to pepper (Capsicum annuum) production. The prevalent use of chemical fungicides for pepper blight management has been associated with adverse environmental consequences. To address the drawbacks of chemical fungicides in agriculture, the exploration of biological control agents has emerged as a promising alternative. Here, we identified strain ZAM4‐4 as Streptomyces anulatus, which demonstrated potent inhibitory effects against P. capsici by impeding spore germination and zoospore release, while significantly enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL). Moreover, the application of ZAM4‐4 fermentation resulted in notably increased height and fresh weight of pepper plants compared to the control group. Interestingly, ZAM4‐4 exhibited compatibility with a variety of conventional fungicides (metalaxyl, dimethomorph and fluopicolide), encouraging us to explore its combined use with fungicides to enhance control effectiveness. Both laboratory and pot experiments provided compelling evidence that the combined application of ZAM4‐4 and dimethomorph achieved a control efficacy comparable to that of high concentrations of dimethomorph alone in combatting pepper blight. Overall, our investigation demonstrated that ZAM4‐4 not only bolstered the resistance of pepper against Phytophthora blight by inhibiting P. capsici reproduction and elevating enzymatic activities, consequently stimulating plant growth, but also displayed improved and sustained control of pepper blight when used in combination with dimethomorph. These findings highlight the promising potential of ZAM4‐4 for future applications in the field of biological control for sustainable pepper blight management.
The Public's Premium: George W. Bush's Symbiosis of the Rhetorical Presidency and the Unitary Executive
Authors: Venterink Stef Lage , Olthof Jelte
Published: January 2025

President George W. Bush has become synonymous with ever‐expanding executive power. Both scholars of the rhetorical presidency as well as the unitary executive theory have come this conclusion on the basis of studying only either part of the administration's dual use of its powers. This article offers a different perspective by showing that a president's public and private powers are not antithetical but compatible. It suggests that presidents are free to move between both modes of power and that, if used symbiotically, a president's power grows even greater than the sum of its parts. The article connects this to recent scholarship about the role of public opinion in keeping unitary presidents in check and discusses both the role of presidential rhetoric in this, as well as the public's suitability as the final safeguard. The article builds on Vanessa Beasley's suggestions for a case‐driven approach by looking at the Bush Administration's unrelenting efforts to secure the public's approval in going to war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 2003 as well as the 2004 prison abuse scandal, in which the administration exclusively relied its executive powers in an attempt to circumvent public's approval for an unpopular policy.
Why we should not assume that habitat fragmentation is generally bad for restoration: a reply to Watts and Hughes (2024)
Authors: Riva Federico , Galán‐Acedo Carmen , Martin Amanda E. , Fahrig Lenore
Published: January 2025

In a recent Opinion article, Watts and Hughes (W&H) suggest that habitat fragmentation is “generally bad for restoration.” We found W&H timely given recent progress in the conversation on habitat fragmentation, and we agree on the importance of assessing habitat fragmentation in restoration ecology. At the same time, we found some claims in W&H to be unsubstantiated. We suggest that there likely are situations where fragmentation is “generally good” in a restoration setting, and we identify an urgent need to test empirically how biodiversity responds to fragmentation in a habitat restoration context. Such tests will tell us when the spatial pattern of restored habitat matters, informing the restoration efforts expected in the coming decades to fulfill recent historical commitments to sustain biodiversity globally.