bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of KRAS mutations and co-mutations on clinical outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yousef Abdelrahman , Yousef Mahmoud , Chowdhury Saikat , Abdilleh Kawther , Knafl Mark , Edelkamp Paul , Alfaro-Munoz Kristin , Chacko Ray , Peterson Jennifer , Smaglo Brandon G. , Wolff Robert A. , Pant Shubham , Lee Michael S. , Willis Jason , Overman Michael , Doss Sudheer , Matrisian Lynn , Hurd Mark W. , Snyder Rebecca , Katz Matthew H. G. , Wang Huamin , Maitra Anirban , Shen John Paul , Zhao Dan
Published: February 2024

The relevance of KRAS mutation alleles to clinical outcome remains inconclusive in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We conducted a retrospective study of 803 patients with PDAC (42% with metastatic disease) at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Overall survival (OS) analysis demonstrated that KRAS mutation status and subtypes were prognostic (p < 0.001). Relative to patients with KRAS wildtype tumors (median OS 38 months), patients with KRASG12R had a similar OS (median 34 months), while patients with KRASQ61 and KRASG12D mutated tumors had shorter OS (median 20 months [HR: 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–3.0, p = 0.006] and 22 months [HR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3, p < 0.001], respectively). There was enrichment of KRASG12D mutation in metastatic tumors (34% vs 24%, OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.4, p = 0.001) and enrichment of KRASG12R in well and moderately differentiated tumors (14% vs 9%, OR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.05–2.99, p = 0.04). Similar findings were observed in the external validation cohort (PanCAN’s Know Your Tumor® dataset, n = 408).
Artificial intelligence-driven virtual rehabilitation for people living in the community: A scoping review
Authors: Abedi Ali , Colella Tracey J. F. , Pakosh Maureen , Khan Shehroz S.
Published: February 2024

Virtual Rehabilitation (VRehab) is a promising approach to improving the physical and mental functioning of patients living in the community. The use of VRehab technology results in the generation of multi-modal datasets collected through various devices. This presents opportunities for the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in VRehab, namely the measurement, detection, and prediction of various patients’ health outcomes. The objective of this scoping review was to explore the applications and effectiveness of incorporating AI into home-based VRehab programs. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science databases, and Google Scholar were searched from inception until June 2023 for studies that applied AI for the delivery of VRehab programs to the homes of adult patients. After screening 2172 unique titles and abstracts and 51 full-text studies, 13 studies were included in the review. A variety of AI algorithms were applied to analyze data collected from various sensors and make inferences about patients’ health outcomes, most involving evaluating patients’ exercise quality and providing feedback to patients. The AI algorithms used in the studies were mostly fuzzy rule-based methods, template matching, and deep neural networks. Despite the growing body of literature on the use of AI in VRehab, very few studies have examined its use in patients’ homes. Current research suggests that integrating AI with home-based VRehab can lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes for patients. However, further research is required to fully assess the effectiveness of various forms of AI-driven home-based VRehab, taking into account its unique challenges and using standardized metrics.
Exploring TRF2-Dependent DNA Distortion Through Single-DNA Manipulation Studies
Authors: Zhao Xiaodan , Vogirala Vinod Kumar , Liu Meihan , Zhou Yu , Rhodes Daniela , Sandin Sara , Yan Jie
Published: February 2024

TRF2 is a component of shelterin, a telomere-specific protein complex that protects the ends of mammalian chromosomes from DNA damage signaling and improper repair. TRF2 functions as a homodimer and its interaction with telomeric DNA has been studied, but its full-length DNA-binding properties are unknown. This study examines TRF2’s interaction with single-DNA strands and focuses on the conformation of the TRF2-DNA complex and TRF2’s preference for DNA chirality. The results show that TRF2-DNA can switch between extended and compact conformations, indicating multiple DNA-binding modes, and TRF2’s binding does not have a strong preference for DNA supercoiling chirality when DNA is under low tension. Instead, TRF2 induces DNA bending under tension. Furthermore, both the N-terminal domain of TRF2 and the Myb domain enhance its affinity for the telomere sequence, highlighting the crucial role of multivalent DNA binding in enhancing its affinity and specificity for telomere sequence. These discoveries offer unique insights into TRF2’s interaction with telomeric DNA.
Molecular and structural basis of anti-DNA antibody specificity for pyrrolated proteins
Authors: Anan Yusuke , Itakura Masanori , Shimoda Tatsuya , Yamaguchi Kosuke , Lu Peng , Nagata Koji , Dong Jinhua , Ueda Hiroshi , Uchida Koji
Published: February 2024

Anti-DNA antibodies (Abs), serological hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and markers for diagnosis and disease activity, show a specificity for non-nucleic acid molecules, such as N-pyrrolated proteins (pyrP) containing Nε-pyrrole-L-lysine (pyrK) residues. However, the detailed mechanism for the binding of anti-DNA Abs to pyrP remains unknown. In the present study, to gain structural insights into the dual-specificity of anti-DNA Abs, we used phage display to obtain DNA-binding, single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) from SLE-prone mice and found that they also cross-reacted with pyrP. It was revealed that a variable heavy chain (VH) domain is sufficient for the recognition of DNA/pyrP. Identification of an antigenic sequence containing pyrK in pyrP suggested that the presence of both pyrK and multiple acidic amino acid residues plays important roles in the electrostatic interactions with the Abs. X-ray crystallography and computer-predicted simulations of the pyrK-containing peptide-scFv complexes identified key residues of Abs involved in the interaction with the antigens. These data provide a mechanistic insight into the molecular basis of the dual-specificity of the anti-DNA Abs and provide a basis for therapeutic intervention against SLE.
Overcoming strength-toughness trade-off in a eutectic high entropy alloy by optimizing chemical and microstructural heterogeneities
Authors: Chen Zhaoqi , Zhu Wenqing , Wang Hang , He Quanfeng , Fang Qihong , Liu Xiaodi , Li Jia , Yang Yong
Published: February 2024

The well-known strength-toughness trade-off has long been an obstacle in the pursuit of advanced structural alloys. Here, we develop a eutectic high entropy alloy that effectively overcomes this limitation. Our alloy is composed of face-centered cubic and body-centered cubic crystalline phases, and demonstrates attractive mechanical properties by harnessing microstructural hybridization and a strain-induced phase transition between phases. Unlike conventional eutectic alloys, the compositionally complexity of our alloy allows control of its microstructural and chemical heterogeneities across multiple length scales, ranging from atomic- and nano-scales to meso-scales. Optimizing these microstructural and chemical heterogeneities within our alloy enables high strength and ductility because of enhanced fracture resistance, outperforming alternative high and medium entropy alloys with similar compositions and microstructures.
Unequal impact of climate warming on meat yields of global cattle farming
Authors: Liu Weihang , Zhou Junxiong , Ma Yuchi , Chen Shuo , Luo Yuchuan
Published: February 2024

Climate warming affects global livestock productivity. The meat yield from cattle farming (cattle meat per animal) represents livestock productivity at the individual level. However, the impact of warming on cattle meat yield at a global scale is not well understood. In this study, we combine country-level data on the annual meat yield from cattle farming and socioeconomic data from 1961 to 2020 with climate projections from General Circulation Models. The findings show that cattle meat yield increases as temperatures rise from low to medium and then decreases when annual average temperatures exceed 7 °C; this repose is pronounced in the grassland-based livestock system. Further, we show that warming creates unequal impacts between high- and low-income countries due to the divergent baseline temperature conditions. Future warming aggravates these unequal burdens between countries, with the most pronounced effects observed under the upper-middle emissions scenario.
The arachidonic acid metabolome reveals elevation of prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Cuiping , Hu Zuojian , Pan Ziyue , Ji Zhaodong , Cao Xinyi , Yu Hongxiu , Qin Xue , Guan Ming
Published: February 2024

Arachidonic acid metabolites are a family of bioactive lipids derived from membrane phospholipids.
Structure-induced selective adsorption of diverse dyes and Cr(vi) photoreduction using two new polyoxometalate-based metal–viologen complexes
Authors: Wang Xiuli , Yang Lin , Zhang Zhong
Published: February 2024

Organic dyes and heavy metals present in industrial wastewater pose a tremendous threat to human health and the aquatic ecosystem; therefore, it is vital to develop efficient and environmentally friendly materials for wastewater treatment.
Film before aggregates: an operando GISAXS study on electrochemically assisted surfactant assembly
Authors: Moehl Gilles E. , Fitch Samuel D. , Cicvarić Katarina , Han Yisong , Huang Ruomeng , Rawle Jonathan , Shao Li , Beanland Richard , Bartlett Philip N. , Denuault Guy , Hector Andrew L.
Published: February 2024

The process of electrochemically assisted surfactant assembly was followed in real time by grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering with the aim to deconvolute the formation of mesoporous silica film and unwanted porous particles.
3D electromagnetic modelling for high‐temperature superconducting dynamo flux pumps using T‐A formulation
Authors: Hao Luning , Dong Fangliang , Hu Jintao , Wang Qi , Wei Haigening , Patel Ismail , Shah Adil , Wu Yuyang , Coombs Tim
Published: February 2024

A high‐temperature superconducting (HTS) dynamo flux pump can inject DC currents into closed‐loop HTS magnets without contact. It enables the realisation of current‐lead‐free or even through‐wall charging systems for high‐field applications such as nuclear magnetic resonance/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets, fusion reactors and accelerators. Researchers have proposed many simulation models to understand the working principle of HTS dynamos, few of which are in 3D because of converging problems. Therefore, the influences of many key 3D parameters in the HTS dynamo are scarcely reported. The authors propose an efficient 3D modelling method of the HTS dynamo based on the T‐A formulation. The rotating magnets are modelled by a ring‐shaped permanent magnet with space‐time‐variant remanent flux density to avoid moving meshes. This, together with the T‐A formulation, makes the 3D model efficient and universal. The accuracy of the model is verified by the experimental instantaneous and time‐integrated dynamic voltages. Using this model, the authors present systematic case studies to thoroughly explore the influences of the key parameters of a dynamo flux pump on the dynamic voltage and losses. The proposed modelling method and results could significantly benefit the design and optimisation of HTS dynamos for high‐field magnets.
Social identity development in transnational marriages of international students in China
Authors: Raja Rameez , Ma Jianfu , Tao Rui , Ullah Shakir , Li Xi Yuan , Shafi Malik Muhammad
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the increasing trend of transnational marriages between international students in China and Chinese nationals has provided unique insights into Chinese society. This paper explores how these unions contribute to the development of social identities. Data was collected through participant observation and in-depth interviews with 15 heterosexual couples. Analysis of the findings supported the idea that these marriages foster a deeper understanding of the couples’ identities and those of their partners by expanding social networks. Identity construction in such unions increases tolerance, mutual understanding, and more flexible family relationships. This exchange of cultures also results in greater familiarity with cultural assumptions and enhanced acceptance of mutual influence, leading to positive adjustments within the host society.
Transforming power of research and development on inequality and well-being: a European Union perspective within the circular economy framework
Authors: Skare Marinko , Gavurova Beata , Rigelsky Martin
Published: February 2024

To establish a “well-being economy” that prioritizes human and environmental welfare, understanding the relationship between income inequality, research and development (R&D) potential, and human development is crucial. This study delves into these relationships in European Union (EU) countries, focusing on the adoption levels of a circular economy (CE). Analyzing data from the 27 EU member countries spanning 2010 to 2020, a cluster analysis was utilized to categorize nations based on their CE adoption levels. The panel regression analysis findings revealed a marked positive correlation between income and R&D, with countries having a more robust CE adoption showing stronger ties. Furthermore, a notable positive link was discerned between R&D and human development indicators. Despite these significant relationships, the government R&D sector exhibited inefficiencies, especially in countries with heightened CE adoption. These findings carry profound implications for policymakers, urging a redefinition of economic growth metrics and a shift toward a well-being economy that emphasizes human and environmental health.
The effect of transformational leadership and personal cultural values on creating a learning organization
Authors: Şahin Nurşen , Bilir F. Pervin
Published: February 2024

This research aims to investigate the effect of transformational leadership and personal cultural values on creating a learning organization in the field of physical education and sports in higher education institutions. The sample consisted of 328 academic staff selected through convenience sampling. These participants worked in the field of physical education and sports in higher education institutions and volunteered for the research. The data of the study were collected through “Learning Organization Dimensions Scale” developed by Watkins and Marsick (1997), “Transformational Leadership Scale” by Podsakoff et al. (1990), and “Personal Cultural Values Scale” by Yoo et al. (2011). For the data analysis, Scatter Plot Matrix distributions, multivariate Mardia normality test, and structural equation modeling were utilized. In the creation of a learning organization, it was observed that there was a direct effect of providing vision-inspiration and being an appropriate role model, providing acceptance of group goals, giving intellectual encouragement, paying individual interest, and having high success expectations sub-dimensions of transformational leadership and power distance and collectivism sub-dimensions of personal cultural values. Transformational leadership and personal cultural values are essential for constructing a learning organization. The research can contribute to the development of higher education institutions and their evolution into a learning organization by determining the interaction of the learning organization, transformational leadership, and personal cultural values.
Three Modalities of (Originalist) Fiduciary Constitutionalism
Authors: Leib Ethan J
Published: February 2024

There is an ongoing body of scholarship in contemporary constitutional theory and legal history that can be labeled ‘fiduciary constitutionalism’. Some have wanted to strangle this work in its cradle, offering an argument pitched ‘against fiduciary constitutionalism’, full stop. But because there are enough different modalities of fiduciary constitutionalism—and particularly originalist varieties of it at the center of recent critiques—it is worth getting clearer about some methodological commitments of this work to help evaluate its promise and potential pitfalls. This article develops the ambitions, successes, and deficiencies of three modalities of historical and originalist argument that link American constitutionalism with the law and theory that constrains those with especial discretion and control over the legal and practical resources of beneficiaries known as fiduciary governance. Probing primary and secondary research in fiduciary constitutionalism can help show its value and limitations for legal historians and constitutional theorists alike.
Removal and the Changing Debate over Executive Power at the Founding
Authors: Gienapp Jonathan
Published: February 2024

The enduring and protracted debate over the original scope of American presidential power often reduces to a simple question: What did the words ‘executive power’ in the Article II vesting clause of the US Constitution originally mean? Yet this singular preoccupation has concealed a crucial historical transformation. To bring this underappreciated shift into focus, this article offers four observations on the great 1789 congressional debate over the removal of executive officers: first, the debate was unexpected; second, it covered new ground; third, during the course of it, participants openly changed their minds; fourth, it remained unresolved until the end. Rather than attempting to settle the issue of removal that has divided scholars and jurists for so long, this article instead offers these observations in hopes of redirecting our focus: to see that the removal debate was marked by uncertainty and confusion because the debate over executive power was itself changing at this time. Eighteenth-century Americans had been debating executive power since long before declaring independence, but the question that had animated that debate for close to a century began to change after the Constitution was ratified. As the question mutated, so too did the dispute itself, and, with that, understandings of executive power. The removal debate was one of the key markers of this important transformation. There remains no shortage of interest in the historical foundations of presidential power. We misapprehend what Founding-era Americans thought about executive power unless we appreciate how the framework of debate was itself changing at the time of the Constitution’s birth.
New uses for an old technique: live imaging on the slice organ culture to study reproductive processes
Authors: Amato Ciro Maurizio , Yao Humphrey Hung-Chang
Published: February 2024

Reproductive processes are dynamic and involve extensive morphological remodeling and cell–cell interactions. Live imaging of organs enhances our understanding of how biological processes occur in real time. Slice culture is a type of organ culture where thick slices are collected from an organ and cultured for several days. Slice culture is a useful and easy-to-implement technique for live imaging of reproductive events at cellular resolution. Here we describe a pipeline of live imaging on slice culture to visualize the process of urethra closure in mouse embryonic penis as a proof of principle. In combination with genetic reporter mice, nuclear stains, and exposure experiments, we demonstrate the feasibility of slice culture on a reproductive organ. We also provide a step-by-step protocol and troubleshooting guide to facilitate the adoption of slice culture with live imaging in other reproductive organs. Lastly, we discuss potential utilities and experiments that could be implemented with slice culture in reproductive sciences.
Synthesis, cation exchange, and optical properties of pyrene-based chromophores containing [CB9H9]− and [CB11H11]− cluster units
Authors: Ochi Junki , Yanagihara Takumi , Tanaka Kazuo , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: February 2024

Four monocarborane anion-based compounds connected to a pyrene moiety were synthesized by combining two monocarborane anion scaffolds and two counter cations. The effects of the cage structure and the counter cation on the optical properties were investigated from UV‒vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The PL spectra in the solid state were unique for each compound, derived from the different shapes of the carborane cage and counter cation. These results suggest great potential for designing a monocarborane anion-based chromophore.
The cGAS-STING pathway: a therapeutic target in diabetes and its complications
Authors: He Wenjie , Mu Xingrui , Wu Xingqian , Liu Ye , Deng Junyu , Liu Yiqiu , Han Felicity , Nie Xuqiang
Published: February 2024

Diabetic wound healing (DWH) represents a major complication of diabetes where inflammation is a key impediment to proper healing. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway has emerged as a central mediator of inflammatory responses to cell stress and damage. However, the contribution of cGAS-STING activation to impaired healing in DWH remains understudied. In this review, we examine the evidence that cGAS-STING-driven inflammation is a critical factor underlying defective DWH. We summarize studies revealing upregulation of the cGAS-STING pathway in diabetic wounds and discuss how this exacerbates inflammation and senescence and disrupts cellular metabolism to block healing. Partial pharmaceutical inhibition of cGAS-STING has shown promise in damping inflammation and improving DWH in preclinical models. We highlight key knowledge gaps regarding cGAS-STING in DWH, including its relationships with endoplasmic reticulum stress and metal-ion signaling. Elucidating these mechanisms may unveil new therapeutic targets within the cGAS-STING pathway to improve healing outcomes in DWH. This review synthesizes current understanding of how cGAS-STING activation contributes to DWH pathology and proposes future research directions to exploit modulation of this pathway for therapeutic benefit.
Safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists among kidney transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Krisanapan Pajaree , Suppadungsuk Supawadee , Sanpawithayakul Kanokporn , Thongprayoon Charat , Pattharanitima Pattharawin , Tangpanithandee Supawit , Mao Michael A , Miao Jing , Cheungpasitporn Wisit
Published: February 2024

Background

Evidence supporting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains scarce. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GLP-1RAs in this population.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases from inception through May 2023. Clinical trials and observational studies that reported on the safety or efficacy outcomes of GLP-1RAs in adult KTRs were included. Kidney graft function, glycaemic and metabolic parameters, weight, cardiovascular outcomes and adverse events were evaluated. Outcome measures used for analysis included pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous outcomes and standardized mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD 42023426190).

Results

Nine cohort studies with a total of 338 KTRs were included. The median follow-up was 12 months (interquartile range 6–23). While treatment with GLP-1RAs did not yield a significant change in estimated glomerular filtration rate [SMD −0.07 ml/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI −0.64–0.50)] or creatinine [SMD −0.08 mg/dl (95% CI −0.44–0.28)], they were associated with a significant decrease in urine protein:creatinine ratio [SMD −0.47 (95% CI −0.77 to −0.18)] and haemoglobin A1c levels [MD −0.85% (95% CI −1.41 to −0.28)]. Total daily insulin dose, weight and body mass index also decreased significantly. Tacrolimus levels remained stable [MD −0.43 ng/ml (95% CI −0.99 to 0.13)]. Side effects were primarily nausea and vomiting (17.6%), diarrhoea (7.6%) and injection site pain (5.4%).

Conclusions

GLP-1RAs are effective in reducing proteinuria, improving glycaemic control and supporting weight loss in KTRs, without altering tacrolimus levels. Gastrointestinal symptoms are the main side effects.
Partitioned 2D Set-Pruning Segment Trees with Compressed Buckets for Multi-Dimensional Packet Classification
Authors: Chang Yeim-Kuan , Chen Hsin-Mao
Published: February 2024

Multi-dimensional packet classification is one of the most important functions to support various services in next generation routers. Both the memory-efficient data structure to support larger rule tables and the hardware architecture to achieve a higher throughput are desired. In this paper, we propose a parallel and pipelined architecture called Set-Pruning Segment Trees with Buckets (SPSTwB) for multi-dimensional packet classification. SPSTwB significantly reduces rule duplication based on a novel partitioning scheme and an efficient bucket merging scheme. The key feature of our proposed architecture is that memory consumption is reduced significantly regardless of the characteristics of various rule tables. In addition, the logic complexity of each pipeline stage is simplified by not storing rule IDs and priorities and thus it can run at a high clock rate. The proposed scheme needs less than 20 bytes per rule for various 100 K rule tables generated by ClassBench. In addition, the proposed scheme supports fast incremental rule update. The proposed pipelined architecture can achieve a throughput of 134 Gbps from the implementation on Xilinx Virtex-7 FPGA device with dual-ported Block RAM.
Joint Alignment Networks For Few-Shot Website Fingerprinting Attack
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Wang Liangmin , Zhu Huijuan , Lu Tong , Song Heping
Published: February 2024

Website fingerprinting (WF) attacks based on deep neural networks pose a significant threat to the privacy of anonymous network users. However, training a deep WF model requires many labeled traces, which can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, and models trained on the originally collected traces cannot be directly used for the classification of newly collected traces due to the concept drift caused by the time gap in the data collection. Few-shot WF attacks are proposed for using the originally and few-shot newly collected labeled traces to facilitate anonymous trace classification. However, existing few-shot WF attacks ignore the fine-grained feature alignment to eliminate the concept drift in the model training, which fails to fully use the knowledge of labeled traces. We propose a novel few-shot WF attack called Joint Alignment Networks (JAN), which conducts fine-grained feature alignment at both semantic-level and feature-level. Specifically, JAN minimizes a distribution distance between originally and newly collected traces in the feature space for feature-level alignment, and utilizes two task-specific classifiers to detect unaligned traces and force these traces mapped within decision boundaries for semantic-level alignment. Extensive experiments on public datasets show that JAN outperforms the state-of-the-art few-shot WF methods, especially in the difficult 1-shot tasks.
Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) affects midpalatal suture bone remodeling during rapid maxillary expansion
Authors: Zhao Tingting , Tao Zhendong , Zhang Gengming , Zhu Jiaqi , Du Mingyuan , Hua Fang , He Hong
Published: February 2024

Background

The fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an RNA demethylase that contributes to several physiological processes. Nonetheless, the impact of FTO on bone remodeling in the midpalatal suture while undergoing rapid maxillary expansion (RME) remains unclear.

Methods

First, to explore the expression of FTO in the midpalatal suture during RME, six rats were randomly divided into two groups: Expansion group and Sham group (springs without being activated). Then, suture mesenchymal stem cells (SuSCs) were isolated as in vitro model. The expression of FTO was knocked down by small interfering RNA to study the effect of FTO on the osteogenic differentiation of SuSCs. Finally, to evaluate the function of FTO in the process of bone remodeling in the midpalatal suture, ten rats were randomly divided into two groups: FB23-2 group (10 μM, a small molecule inhibitor of FTO) and DMSO group (control).

Results

Increased arch width and higher expression of OCN and FTO in the midpalatal area were observed in expansion group (P < .05). In the in vitro model, the mRNA expression levels of Runx2, Bmp2, Col1a1, Spp1, and Tnfrsf11b were decreased (P < .05) upon knocking down FTO. Additionally, the protein levels of RUNX2 and OPN were also decreased (P < 0.05). Adding FB23-2, a small-molecule inhibitor targeting FTO, to the medium of SuSCs caused a decrease in the mRNA expression levels of Runx2, Bmp2, Col1a1, Spp1, and Tnfrsf11b (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in evaluating the expression of OCN and OPN on the palatal suture between the FB23-2 and DMSO groups (P < .05).

Limitation

The molecular mechanisms by which FTO regulates SuSCs osteogenesis remain to be elucidated. The FTO conditional knock out mouse model can be established to further elucidate the role of FTO during RME.

Conclusion

FTO contributes to the osteogenic differentiation of SuSCs and plays a promoting role in midpalatal suture bone remodeling during the RME.
The reproductive microbiome and maternal transmission of microbiota via eggs in Sceloporus virgatus
Authors: Bunker Marie E , Weiss Stacey L
Published: February 2024

Maternal transmission of microbes occurs across the animal kingdom and is vital for offspring development and long-term health. The mechanisms of this transfer are most well-studied in humans and other mammals but are less well-understood in egg-laying animals, especially those with no parental care. Here, we investigate the transfer of maternal microbes in the oviparous phrynosomatid lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. We compared the microbiota of three maternal tissues—oviduct, cloaca, and intestine—to three offspring sample types: egg contents and eggshells on the day of oviposition, and hatchling intestinal tissue on the day of hatching. We found that maternal identity is an important factor in hatchling microbiome composition, indicating that maternal transmission is occurring. The maternal cloacal and oviductal communities contribute to offspring microbiota in all three sample types, with minimal microbes sourced from maternal intestines. This indicates that the maternal reproductive microbiome is more important for microbial inheritance than the gut microbiome, and the tissue-level variation of the adult S. virgatus microbiota must develop as the hatchling matures. Despite differences between adult and hatchling communities, offspring microbiota were primarily members of the Enterobacteriaceae and Yersiniaceae families (Phylum Proteobacteria), consistent with this and past studies of adult S. virgatus microbiomes.
Microbial assemblages in Arctic coastal thermokarst lakes and lagoons
Authors: Yang Sizhong , Wen Xi , Wagner Dirk , Strauss Jens , Kallmeyer Jens , Anthony Sara E , Liebner Susanne
Published: February 2024

Several studies have investigated changes in microbial community composition in thawing permafrost landscapes, but microbial assemblages in the transient ecosystems of the Arctic coastline remain poorly understood. Thermokarst lakes, abrupt permafrost thaw features, are widespread along the pan-Arctic coast and transform into thermokarst lagoons upon coastal erosion and sea-level rise. This study looks at the effect of marine water inundation (imposing a sulfate-rich, saline environment on top of former thermokarst lake sediments) on microbial community composition and the processes potentially driving microbial community assembly. In the uppermost lagoon sediment influenced from marine water inflow, the microbial structures were significantly different from those deeper in the lagoon sediment and from those of the lakes. In addition, they became more similar along depth compared with lake communities. At the same time, the diversity of core microbial consortia community decreased compared with the lake sediments. This work provides initial observational evidence that Arctic thermokarst lake to lagoon transitions do not only substantially alter microbial communities but also that this transition has a larger effect than permafrost thaw and lake formation history.
Temporal and spatial variability of constitutive mixotroph abundance and proportion
Authors: Dobbertin da Costa Marcella , Gast Rebecca J , Millette Nicole C
Published: February 2024

Mixotrophic plankton can comprise a substantial portion of the plankton community compared to phytoplankton and zooplankton. However, there is a gap in the understanding of conditions that influence mixotroph prevalence and activity in situ because current methods often over- or underestimate mixotroph abundance. A labeled prey-tracer method was utilized to identify active mixotrophs present at two locations in a temperate estuary over a year. The tracer method was combined with light microscopy data to estimate active mixotroph abundance and proportion. This study estimated that actively grazing mixotrophic taxa were more abundant in the spring and autumn compared to summer. Dinoflagellates typically dominated the mixotrophic taxa except during autumn at the low salinity location when cryptophytes dominated. Further analysis suggested that active mixotroph abundances might not be only regulated by environmental conditions favorable to mixotrophy but, instead, environmental conditions favorable to different mixotrophs utilization of phagotrophy. By focusing on mixotrophic taxa that were identified to be actively grazing at time of sampling, this study provided a more nuanced estimation of mixotroph abundance, increasing the understanding of how mixotrophic abundance and proportion in situ are influenced by the planktonic community composition and environmental factors.
A tale of two faults: statistical reconstruction of the 1820 Flores Sea earthquake using tsunami observations alone
Authors: Paskett T , Whitehead J P , Harris R A , Ashcraft C , Krometis J A , Sorensen I , Wonnacott R
Published: February 2024

Using a Bayesian approach we compare anecdotal tsunami runup observations from the 29 December 1820 Flores Sea earthquake with close to 200 000 tsunami simulations to determine the most probable earthquake parameters causing the tsunami. Using a dual hypothesis of the source earthquake either originating from the Flores Thrust or the Walanae/Selayar Fault, we found that neither source perfectly matches the observational data, particularly while satisfying seismic constraints of the region. Instead both posteriors have shifted to the edge of the prior indicating that the actual earthquake may have run along both faults.
The Cissus quadrangularis genome reveals its adaptive features in an arid habitat
Authors: Li Qingyun , Wang Yi , Zhou Huimin , Liu Yuanshuang , Gichuki Duncan Kiragu , Hou Yujun , Zhang Jisen , Aryal Rishi , Hu Guangwan , Wan Tao , Amenu Sara Getachew , Gituru Robert Wahiti , Xin Haiping , Wang Qingfeng
Published: February 2024

Cissus quadrangularis is a tetraploid species belonging to the Vitaceae family and is known for the Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathway in the succulent stem, while the leaves perform C3 photosynthesis. Here, we report a high-quality genome of C. quadrangularis comprising a total size of 679.2 Mb which was phased into two subgenomes. Genome annotation identified 51 857 protein-coding genes, while approximately 47.75% of the genome was composed of repetitive sequences. Gene expression ratios of two subgenomes demonstrated that the sub-A genome as the dominant subgenome played a vital role during the drought tolerance. Genome divergence analysis suggests that the tetraploidization event occurred around 8.9 million years ago. Transcriptome data revealed that pathways related to cutin, suberine, and wax metabolism were enriched in the stem during drought treatment, suggesting that these genes contributed to the drought adaption. Additionally, a subset of CAM-related genes displayed diurnal expression patterns in the succulent stems but not in leaves, indicating that stem-biased expression of existing genes contributed to the CAM evolution. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms of drought adaptation and photosynthesis transition in plants.
Limits of Domain Knowledge in Election Forecasting: A Comparison of Poll Averages and Expert Forecasts
Authors: Graefe Andreas
Published: February 2024

Recent high-stake occurrences of polling error led some analysts to conclude that the polls are “broken.” One question is whether domain knowledge can help identify the direction and magnitude of polling error before the fact, which would reduce uncertainty and improve accuracy. The present study compares the accuracy of a poll average to 4,494 expert forecasts, obtained across three German federal elections. Experts’ domain knowledge was unable to improve upon the accuracy of polls. On average, experts’ forecast error was 34% higher than the corresponding polling error, and in more than half of the cases, experts’ forecasts pointed in the wrong direction. Polls remain to be an important source of information when it comes to forecasting elections, despite their limitations and underlying uncertainty.
Phylogenetics and environmental distribution of nitric oxide-forming nitrite reductases reveal their distinct functional and ecological roles
Authors: Pold Grace , Bonilla-Rosso Germán , Saghaï Aurélien , Strous Marc , Jones Christopher M , Hallin Sara
Published: February 2024

The two evolutionarily unrelated nitric oxide-producing nitrite reductases, NirK and NirS, are best known for their redundant role in denitrification. They are also often found in organisms that do not perform denitrification. To assess the functional roles of the two enzymes and to address the sequence and structural variation within each, we reconstructed robust phylogenies of both proteins with sequences recovered from 6973 isolate and metagenome-assembled genomes and identified 32 well-supported clades of structurally distinct protein lineages. We then inferred the potential niche of each clade by considering other functional genes of the organisms carrying them as well as the relative abundances of each nir gene in 4082 environmental metagenomes across diverse aquatic, terrestrial, host-associated, and engineered biomes. We demonstrate that Nir phylogenies recapitulate ecology distinctly from the corresponding organismal phylogeny. While some clades of the nitrite reductase were equally prevalent across biomes, others had more restricted ranges. Nitrifiers make up a sizeable proportion of the nitrite-reducing community, especially for NirK in marine waters and dry soils. Furthermore, the two reductases showed distinct associations with genes involved in oxidizing and reducing other compounds, indicating that the NirS and NirK activities may be linked to different elemental cycles. Accordingly, the relative abundance and diversity of NirS versus NirK vary between biomes. Our results show the divergent ecological roles NirK and NirS-encoding organisms may play in the environment and provide a phylogenetic framework to distinguish the traits associated with organisms encoding the different lineages of nitrite reductases.
C-terminal truncation is a prominent post-translational modification of human erythrocyte α-synuclein
Authors: Amagai Ryosuke , Otomo Riki , Yoshioka Sakura , Nagano Hidekazu , Hashimoto Naoko , Sakakibara Ryuji , Tanaka Tomoaki , Okado-Matsumoto Ayako
Published: February 2024

α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a protein related to synucleinopathies with high expression in the central nervous system and erythrocytes which are a major source of peripheral α-Syn. Recent reports have suggested the presence of α-Syn within extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from erythrocytes, potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. While Lewy bodies, intracellular inclusions containing aggregated α-Syn, are prominently observed within the brain, their occurrence in peripheral neurons implies the dissemination of synucleinopathy pathology throughout the body via the propagation of α-Syn. In this study, we found erythrocytes and circulating EVs obtained from plasma contained α-Syn, which was separated into four major forms using high-resolution clear native-PAGE and isoelectric focusing. Notably, erythrocyte α-Syn was classified into full-length and C-terminal truncated forms, with truncation observed between Y133 and Q134 as determined by LC–MS/MS analysis. Our finding revealed that C-terminally truncated α-Syn, which was previously reported to exist solely within the brain, was also present in erythrocytes and circulating EVs obtained from plasma.
Consumer Information Processing and Decision-Making: Origins, Findings, Applications, and Future Directions
Authors: Schmitt Bernd
Published: February 2024

This article chronicles the evolution of the two main paradigms within the Journal of Consumer Research: consumer information processing and behavioral decision-making. The work synthesizes interviews with preeminent scholars who have shaped these paradigms, featuring theoretical developments, key findings, and methodological innovations. This article also connects these perspectives to practical applications in advertising, branding, and retailing and identifies knowledge gaps to be addressed in future consumer research.
Leveraging community advisory boards within travel medicine to help reduce malaria incidence in refugees, immigrants and migrants visiting friends and relatives abroad: reflections from the Minnesota Malaria Community Advisory Board on patient-provider interactions
Authors: Haizel-Cobbina Joseline , Boumi Ama Eli , Chung Erica , Sobboh James , Rose Jonathan M , Mwangi Esther , Johnson Rebecca , Oni Richard B , Wanduragala Danushka , Stauffer III William M
Published: February 2024

Refugees, immigrants and migrants often have barriers to travel medicine. Community Advisory Boards (CAB) are a vital but underutilized tool for understanding and meeting healthcare needs and challenges, providing communities with a voice, and finding solutions. The paper discusses a malaria prevention community-based participatory research project informed by a CAB.
Traveller studies in low- and middle-income countries: a critical gap in global antibiotic resistance surveillance
Authors: Graham Jay , Nguyen Nam , Hussain Dania , Nadimpalli Maya L
Published: February 2024

A substantial proportion of global travel occurs between low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for the purposes of migration, medical tourism, trade and employment, and this is likely to accelerate due to climate-change-related migration. Traveller studies based in LMICs are needed to better monitor the global spread of antibiotic resistance.
Characterizing HOD in filaments and nodes of the cosmic web
Authors: Perez Noelia R , Pereyra Luis A , Coldwell Georgina , Rodriguez Facundo , Alfaro Ignacio G , Ruiz Andrés N
Published: February 2024

The standard paradigm for the formation of the Universe suggests that large structures are formed from hierarchical clustering by the continuous accretion of less massive galaxy systems through filaments. In this context, filamentary structures play an important role in the properties and evolution of galaxies by connecting high-density regions, such as nodes, and being surrounded by low-density regions, such as cosmic voids. The availability of the filament and critical point catalogues extracted by disperse from the illustris TNG300-1 hydrodynamic simulation allows a detailed analysis of these structures. The halo occupation distribution (HOD) is a powerful tool for linking galaxies and dark matter haloes, allowing constrained models of galaxy formation and evolution. In this work, we combine the advantage of halo occupancy with information from the filament network to analyse the HOD in filaments and nodes. In our study, we distinguish the inner regions of cosmic filaments and nodes from their surroundings. The results show that the filamentary structures have a similar trend to the total galaxy sample covering a wide range of densities. In the case of the nodes sample, an excess of faint and blue galaxies is found for the low-mass haloes suggesting that these structures are not virialized and that galaxies may be continuously falling through the filaments. Instead, the higher mass haloes could be in a more advanced stage of evolution showing features of virialized structures.
How do baryonic effects on the cosmic matter distribution vary with scale and local density environment?
Authors: Wang Yun , He Ping
Published: February 2024

In this study, we investigate how the baryonic effects vary with scale and local density environment mainly by utilizing a novel statistic, the environment-dependent wavelet power spectrum (env-WPS). With four state-of-the-art cosmological simulation suites, EAGLE (Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments), SIMBA, Illustris, and IllustrisTNG, we compare the env-WPS of the total matter density field between the hydrodynamic and dark matter-only runs at z = 0. We find that the clustering is most strongly suppressed in the emptiest environment of $\rho _\mathrm{m}/\bar{\rho }_\mathrm{m} \ \lt \ 0.1$ with maximum amplitudes ∼67–89 per cent on scales ∼1.86–10.96 hMpc−1, and less suppressed in higher density environments on small scales (except Illustris). In the environments of $\rho _\mathrm{m}/\bar{\rho }_\mathrm{m}\geqslant 0.316$ (≥10 in EAGLE), the feedbacks also lead to enhancement features at intermediate and large scales, which is most pronounced in the densest environment of $\rho _\mathrm{m}/\bar{\rho }_\mathrm{m}\geqslant 100$ and reaches a maximum ∼7–15 per cent on scales ∼0.87–2.62 hMpc−1 (except Illustris). The baryon fraction of the local environment decreases with increasing density, denoting the feedback strength, and potentially explaining some differences between simulations. We also measure the volume and mass fractions of local environments, which are affected by ≳1 per cent due to baryon physics. In conclusion, our results show that the baryonic processes can strongly modify the overall cosmic structure on the scales of k > 0.1 hMpc−1, which encourages further research in this direction.
JWST reveals widespread AGN-driven neutral gas outflows in massive z ~ 2 galaxies
Authors: Davies Rebecca L , Belli Sirio , Park Minjung , Mendel J Trevor , Johnson Benjamin D , Conroy Charlie , Benton Chloë , Bugiani Letizia , Emami Razieh , Leja Joel , Li Yijia , Maheson Gabriel , Mathews Elijah P , Naidu Rohan P , Nelson Erica J , Tacchella Sandro , Terrazas Bryan A , Weinberger Rainer
Published: February 2024

We use deep JWST/NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 slit spectra of 113 galaxies at $1.7 < z < 3.5$, selected from the mass-complete Blue Jay survey, to investigate the prevalence and typical properties of neutral gas outflows at cosmic noon. We detect excess Na id absorption (beyond the stellar contribution) in 46 per cent of massive galaxies (log  M*/M⊙ > 10), with similar incidence rates in star-forming and quenching systems. Half of the absorption profiles are blueshifted by at least 100 km s−1, providing unambiguous evidence for neutral gas outflows. Galaxies with strong Na id absorption are distinguished by enhanced emission line ratios consistent with AGN ionization. We conservatively measure mass outflow rates of 3–100 M⊙ yr−1; comparable to or exceeding ionized gas outflow rates measured for galaxies at similar stellar mass and redshift. The outflows from the quenching systems (log(sSFR)[yr−1] ≲ −10) have mass loading factors of 4–360, and the energy and momentum outflow rates exceed the expected injection rates from supernova explosions, suggesting that these galaxies could possibly be caught in a rapid blowout phase powered by the AGN. Our findings suggest that AGN-driven ejection of cold gas may be a dominant mechanism for fast quenching of star formation at z ∼ 2.