bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting aortic valve prosthesis choice in patients younger than 50 years: 10 years results of the AUTHEARTVISIT study
Authors: Traxler Denise , Krotka Pavla , Reichardt Berthold , Copic Dragan , Veraar Cecilia , Mildner Michael , Wendt Ralph , Auer Johann , Mascherbauer Julia , Ankersmit Hendrik Jan , Graf Alexandra
Published: September 2023

OBJECTIVES

This population-based cohort study investigated mid-term outcome after surgical aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthetic or mechanical valve prosthesis in patients aged <50 years in a European social welfare state.

METHODS

We analysed patient data from the main social insurance carriers in Austria (2010–2020). Subsequent patient-level record linkage with national health data provided patient characteristics and clinical outcome. Survival, reoperation, myocardial infarction, heart failure, embolic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage, bleeding other than intracerebral haemorrhage and major adverse cardiac events were evaluated as outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 991 patients were analysed. Regarding demographics, no major differences between groups were observed. Multivariable Cox regression revealed no significant difference in overall survival (P = 0.352) with a median follow-up time of 6.2 years. Reoperation-free survival was decreased (hazard ratio = 1.560 [95% CI: 1.076–2.262], P = 0.019) and the risk for reoperation was increased (hazard ratio = 2.770 [95% CI: 1.402–5.472], P = 0.003) in patients who received bioprostheses. Estimated probability of death after reoperation was 0.23 (CL: 0.08–0.35) after 2 years and 0.34 (CL: 0.06–0.53) after 10 years over both groups. Regarding further outcomes, no significant differences between the two groups were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients below 50 years of age receiving aortic valve replacement, implantation of bioprostheses when compared to mechanical heart valve prostheses was associated with a significantly higher rate of reoperations and reduced reoperation-free survival. Nevertheless, we could not observe a difference in overall survival. However, long-term follow-up has to evaluate that a significantly lower rate of reoperations may translate in consistently improved long-term survival.
SynLight: a bicistronic strategy for simultaneous active zone and cell labeling in the Drosophila nervous system
Authors: Aimino Michael A , Humenik Jesse , Parisi Michael J , Duhart Juan Carlos , Mosca Timothy J
Published: September 2023

At synapses, chemical neurotransmission mediates the exchange of information between neurons, leading to complex movement, behaviors, and stimulus processing. The immense number and variety of neurons within the nervous system make discerning individual neuron populations difficult, necessitating the development of advanced neuronal labeling techniques. In Drosophila, Bruchpilot-Short and mCD8-GFP, which label presynaptic active zones and neuronal membranes, respectively, have been widely used to study synapse development and organization. This labeling is often achieved via the expression of 2 independent constructs by a single binary expression system, but expression can weaken when multiple transgenes are expressed by a single driver. Recent work has sought to circumvent these drawbacks by developing methods that encode multiple proteins from a single transcript. Self-cleaving peptides, specifically 2A peptides, have emerged as effective sequences for accomplishing this task. We leveraged 2A ribosomal skipping peptides to engineer a construct that produces both Bruchpilot-Short-mStraw and mCD8-GFP from the same mRNA, which we named SynLight. Using SynLight, we visualized the putative synaptic active zones and membranes of multiple classes of olfactory, visual, and motor neurons and observed the correct separation of signal, confirming that both proteins are being generated separately. Furthermore, we demonstrate proof of principle by quantifying synaptic puncta number and neurite volume in olfactory neurons and finding no difference between the synapse densities of neurons expressing SynLight or neurons expressing both transgenes separately. At the neuromuscular junction, we determined that the synaptic puncta number labeled by SynLight was comparable to the endogenous puncta labeled by antibody staining. Overall, SynLight is a versatile tool for examining synapse density in any nervous system region of interest and allows new questions to be answered about synaptic development and organization.
Adult Age Differences in Evoked Emotional Responses to Dynamic Facial Expressions
Authors: Abiodun Sade J , Salerno Joanna M , McAllister Galen A , Samanez-Larkin Gregory R , Seaman Kendra L
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Facial expressions are powerful social signals that motivate feelings and actions in the observer. Research on face processing has overwhelmingly used static facial images, which have limited ecological validity. Previous research on the age-related positivity effect and age differences in social motivation suggest that older adults might experience different evoked emotional responses to facial expressions than younger adults. Here, we introduce a new method to explore age-related differences in evoked responses to dynamic facial expressions across adulthood.

Methods

We used dynamic facial expressions which varied by expression type (happy, sad, and angry) and expression magnitude (low, medium, and full) to gather participant ratings on their evoked emotional response to these stimuli along the dimensions of valence (positive vs negative) and arousal.

Results

As predicted, older adults rated the emotions evoked by positive facial expressions (happy) more positively than younger adults. Furthermore, older adults rated the emotion evoked by negative facial expressions (angry and sad) more negatively than younger adults. Contrary to our predictions, older adults did not differ significantly in arousal to negative expressions compared with younger adults. Across all ages, individuals rated positive expressions as more arousing than negative expressions.

Discussion

The findings provide some evidence that older adults may be more sensitive to variations in dynamic facial expressions than younger adults, particularly in terms of their estimates of valence. These dynamic facial stimuli that vary in magnitude are promising for future studies of more naturalistic affect elicitation, studies of social incentive processing, and use in incentive-driven choice tasks.
Very Early-Life Risk Factors for Developing Dementia: Evidence From Full Population Registers
Authors: Fischer Martin , Lövdén Martin , Nilsson Therese , Seblova Dominika
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Very early-life conditions are recognized as critical for healthy brain development. This study assesses early-life risk factors for developing dementia. In the absence of historical medical birth records, we leverage an alternative full population approach using demographic characteristics obtained from administrative data to derive proxy indicators for birth complications and unfavorable birth outcomes. We use proxy variables to investigate the impact of early-life risk factors on dementia risk.

Methods

We use administrative individual-level data for full cohorts born 1932–1950 in Sweden with multigenerational linkages. Records on hospitalization and mortality are used to identify dementia cases. We derive 3 birth risk factors based on demographic characteristics: advanced maternal age, narrow sibling spacing, and twin births, and apply survival analysis to evaluate long-term effects on dementia risk. We control for confounding using multiple indicators for socio-economic status (SES), including parental surnames, and by implementing a sibling design. As comparison exposure, we add low education from the 1970 Census.

Results

The presence of at least 1 birth risk factor increases dementia risk (HR = 1.059; 95% CI: 1.034, 1.085). The occurrence of twin births poses a particularly heightened risk (HR = 1.166; 95% CI: 1.084, 1.255).

Discussion

Improvements to the very early-life environment hold significant potential to mitigate dementia risk. A comparison to the influence of low education on dementia (the largest known modifiable risk factor) suggests that demographic birth characteristics are of relevant effect sizes. Our findings underscore the relevance of providing assistance for births experiencing complications and adverse health outcomes to reduce dementia cases.
Combining atmospheric and non-tidal ocean loading effects to correct high precision gravity time-series
Authors: Antokoletz E D , Wziontek H , Dobslaw H , Balidakis K , Klügel T , Oreiro F A , Tocho C N
Published: September 2023

In modelling atmospheric loading effects for terrestrial gravimetry, state-of-the-art approaches take advantage of numerical weather models to account for the global 3-D distribution of air masses. Deformation effects are often computed assuming the Inverse Barometer (IB) hypothesis to be generally valid over the oceans. By a revision of the IB assumption and its consequences we show that although the seafloor is not deformed by atmospheric pressure changes, there exists a fraction of ocean mass that current modelling schemes are usually not accounting for. This causes an overestimation of the atmospheric attraction effect over oceans, even when the dynamic response of the ocean to atmospheric pressure and wind is accounted through dynamic ocean models. This signal can reach a root mean square variability of a few nm s−2, depending on the location of the station. We therefore test atmospheric and non-tidal ocean loading effects at five superconducting gravimeter (SG) stations, showing that a better representation of the residual gravity variations is found when Newtonian attraction effects due to the IB response of the ocean are correctly considered. A sliding window variance analysis shows that the main reduction takes place for periods between 5 and 10 d, even for stations far away from the oceans. Since periods of non-tidal ocean mass variability closely resemble atmospheric signals recorded by SGs, we recommend to directly incorporate both an ocean component together with the IB into services that provide weather-related corrections for terrestrial gravimetry.
3D mapping challenges in hybrid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical ablation of Brugada syndrome
Authors: Eltsov Ivan , Pannone Luigi , Ramak Robbert , Monaco Cinzia , Della Rocca Domenico Giovanni , Bala Gezim , Kronenberger Rani , Overeinder Ingrid , Almorad Alexander , Stroker Erwin , Sieira Juan , Brugada Pedro , Sarkozy Andrea , Chierchia Gian-Battista , de Asmundis Carlo , La Meir Mark
Published: September 2023

OBJECTIVES

Brugada syndrome is a life-threatening disease with an arrhythmogenic substrate located in the epicardium of right ventricle outflow tract. Therefore, the correct region identification is crucial for a successful ablation procedure. Various mapping techniques can be adopted to elaborate this issue, but they were all initially developed for endovascular use.

METHODS

In this study, we analysed 21 consecutive hybrid video-assisted thoracoscopic ablation of Brugada syndrome, performed using different mapping systems to identify the ablation target and confirm the elimination of arrhythmogenic substrate; 35 maps have been analysed.

RESULTS

Acute success of epicardial right ventricle outflow tract ablation has been achieved in 100% of procedures, no periprocedural complications have been observed; HD Grid catheter showed higher area identification speed and faster fractionated potentials visualization; Rhythmia system has demonstrated the best map density; Carto 3 system showed a significant advantage in patient preparation time, but mapping speed was reduced due to focal catheter use only.

CONCLUSIONS

All tested electro anatomical mapping systems can be used for hybrid video-assisted thoracoscopic ablation with same clinical success; however, accuracy and efficacy of mapping systems are heterogenous and highly dependent on proper patient preparation, mapping system and physician skills.
Can collaboration among health and social care workers play a role in addressing geriatric care challenges? A qualitative case study in Central Vietnam
Authors: Vo Man Thi Hue , Nakamura Keiko , Seino Kaoruko , Moncatar T J Robinson T , Han Tran Dai Tri , Siongco Kathryn Lizbeth L , Tashiro Yuri , Van Vo Thang
Published: September 2023

Background

Vietnam's healthcare system offers limited services and facilities for older adults. This study explored the perceptions of health and social care workers regarding geriatric care issues, their impact on older adults and the potential of collaboration for enhancing older adults’ health and well-being.

Methods

This qualitative case study employed 27 focus group discussions and two in-depth interviews with 174 participants in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

According to the participants, the major challenges that hindered geriatric care consisted of caregiver and care recipient issues, which were identified to constrain care accessibility, resulting in decreased physical, mental and social health. Across different settings and professions, collaboration was considered a routine and natural aspect of daily work. It was perceived that establishing and strengthening collaboration could facilitate improvement in health and social welfare services through the prioritization of needs and enhancement of caregiver skills and training.

Conclusions

Collaboration was viewed as ad hoc but indispensable for addressing the identified geriatric care issues that could improve the general health and well-being of older adults. The findings indicate a need for better collaboration in Vietnam, achieved through defined guidelines, training and improved interprofessional education and practice.
Are unknown co-medications, over-the-counter and off-label drug use still problems among people living with HIV? Results from a transversal survey in 23 centres in France
Authors: Tetart Macha , Passecountrin Priscila , Lesourd Anaïs , Sanderink Diane , Le Moal Gwenaël , Surgers Laure , Beraud Guillaume , Katlama Christine , Robineau Olivier , Parienti Jean-Jacques ,   the COMEDWEEK Study group, Tetart Macha , Passecountrin Priscila , Lesourd Anaïs , Sanderink Diane , Le Moal Gwenaël , Surgers Laure , Bonneton Marion , Etienne Manuel , Beraud Guillaume , Katlama Christine , Robineau Olivier , Parienti Jean-Jacques , Valin Nadia , Fontier Clotilde , Lucarelli Aude , Letertre-Gibert Paule , Hentzien Maxime , Fournier Anna , Legrain Agathe , Ménard Amélie , Salmon Dominique , Markowicz Samuel , Garnotel Marie , Janssen Cécile , Bataille Pierre , Castan Bernard , Zabbe Jean-Benoît , Jacomet Christine , Chirio David , Puges Mathilde
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Polypharmacy can lead to drug–drug interactions (DDIs), especially with ART. The burden of co-medications, including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and self-medications, could be underestimated. We aimed to investigate the proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) with declared and undeclared co-medications, as well as their potential burden.

Methods

We conducted a national, multicentre, 1 week cross-sectional study between 10 December and 16 December 2019 in 23 French hospitals amongst consecutive adult PLHIV presenting for a routine outpatient visit. A standardized questionnaire filled in by the physicians assessed all medications and other active chemical substances taken by the PLHIV.

Results

Overall we enrolled 496 participants from 23 centres. Median age was 50.6 years; ART regimens included an integrase inhibitor in 61% (n = 302), an NNRTI in 34% (n = 169) and a PI in 14% (n = 70) of the cases. Co-medications involved 392 (79%) PLHIV, among which 85 (17%) received polypharmacy (≥5 medications). Previously unknown co-medications or other active substances were found for 32% (n = 159) of the participants. Corticosteroids (9%, n = 46) and proton pump inhibitors (10%, n = 50) were frequently administered. These co-medications did not differ according to age range. Illegal drug use was declared by 11% (n = 54) and OTC drugs by 23% (n = 113) of PLHIV. Potential DDIs were discovered for 11% (n = 53), leading to treatment modifications in 47% (25/53) of cases.

Conclusions

Potential DDIs that lead to therapeutic modifications remain significant whatever the age of PLHIV. More devoted time to identify co-medications and OTC treatment is needed in all PLHIV.
Nitrogen and lysine utilization efficiencies, protein turnover, and blood urea concentrations in crossbred grower pigs at marginal dietary lysine concentration
Authors: Berghaus Daniel , Haese Eva , Weishaar Ramona , Sarpong Naomi , Kurz Alina , Seifert Jana , Camarinha-Silva Amélia , Bennewitz Jörn , Chillon Thilo , Stefanski Volker , Rodehutscord Markus
Published: September 2023

Nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and lysine utilization efficiency (LUE) are key indicators of sustainable pork production and vary depending on nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The objective was to study NUE and LUE together with concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and other metabolites in growing pigs fed diets with marginal Lys concentrations at 11–13 wk (40.5 kg mean BW) and 14 to 16 wk (60.2 kg mean BW). The cereal grain–soybean meal-based diets contained 10.6 and 7.9 g Lys/kg DM in periods 1 and 2, respectively. Feed intake and BW were measured for 508 individually penned pigs, and blood samples were collected 5 h after morning feeding at weeks 13 and 16. A subgroup of 48 barrows was used in a nitrogen (N) metabolism trial at weeks 13 and 16. In this subgroup, the mean N retention of pigs (27.3 g N/d) and mean LUE (70%) were not different between the periods, but NUE was higher in period 1 (47%) than in period 2 (43%) (P < 0.001). After administration of a single dose of 15N labeled glycine and measurement of 15N recovery in urine, the calculated whole-body protein turnover did not differ between the periods. The rate of protein synthesis was positively correlated with NUE (P < 0.001), but protein degradation was not. Excretion of urea-N in urine accounted for 80% of the total urinary N and was positively correlated with BUN. The N retention of all 508 pigs was estimated using an equation that was derived from the N metabolism data. N retention was on average 31.4 g/d, equal in both periods, and higher in barrows than in gilts in period 2, but not in period 1 (P = 0.003). The calculated NUE was, on average, 47% and was lower in barrows than in gilts (P < 0.001) and higher in period 1 than in period 2 (P < 0.001). The calculated LUE was, on average, 71%, and was lower in barrows than in gilts in period 2, but not in period 1 (P < 0.001). The BUN concentration was higher in barrows than in gilts (P < 0.001) and higher in period 1 than in period 2 (P < 0.001). BUN concentration was negatively correlated with NUE in Periods 1 (r = -0.50) and 2 (r = -0.15) (P < 0.05). We concluded that the maximum LUE was in the range of 70–72% under the conditions of this study, and only small differences between the periods and sexes existed. Protein synthesis, rather than degradation, appears to affect NUE. BUN concentration may be useful for estimating NUE in a large group of animals fed a diet with a marginal Lys concentration.
Detection of thiocyanate in postmortem blood of a fatal potassium thiocyanate-poisoning patient using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Kang Minji , Moon Sungmin , Kim Byungjoo , Kim So-Hyun , Kim Junghyun , Park Heejin , Choi Hyeyoung , Kim Seongho , Park Meejung
Published: September 2023

Thiocyanate is an inorganic compound used in industrial applications. Here, we report a case of suicidal death due to acute thiocyanate overdose. A 44-year-old man who consumed an unknown amount of thiocyanate solution was transferred to the emergency room and died 2 h after admission. An autopsy was performed 2 days after death. General toxicological analysis of blood using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry found no drug or alcohol. Quantification using GC–MS post-derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide revealed 2,290 and 1,920 mg/L of thiocyanate in the heart and femoral blood samples, respectively. Thus, the cause of death was attributed to thiocyanate overdose. This study provides useful information for the interpretation of thiocyanate-related fatalities.
Dominance Effects in the Wild
Authors: Fridman Ariel , Amir On , Hansen Karsten T
Published: September 2023

In real-world marketplaces, one may encounter an alternative that is inferior to another one in the assortment. While the presence of such seemingly irrelevant inferior alternatives should ostensibly have no influence on consumers’ decisions, an extensive literature using stylized lab experiments has found that, surprisingly, their presence matters. Specifically, the dominance effect suggests that the presence of an inferior alternative shifts consumer’s preferences toward the alternative made to be superior. However, null results in some recent lab studies and a lack of real-world evidence call into question whether, when, and how the effect exists. In this work, we find clear evidence that dominance matters in the wild. We also identify an important moderator for the dominance effect—preference uncertainty—and test it in both a real-world marketplace for digital freelance services and a lab experiment. Further, we find evidence for additional moderators that help explain how the effect works, including the count of dominated alternatives and the magnitude of dominance, consistent with a perceptual mechanism. This work is the first to use consequential field data to shed light on when and why the dominance effects occur, with implications for marketers, choice architects, user interface designers, and policymakers.
Decentralization and Corruption in Public Service Delivery: Local Institutional Arrangements That Can Help Reduce Governance Risks
Authors: Zarychta Alan , Benedum Michelle E , Sanchez Emily , Andersson Krister P
Published: September 2023

Decentralization reform has both advantages and risks. Bringing service delivery “closer to the people” can improve information flows and strengthen accountability, but it may also leave systems vulnerable to elite capture and corruption by municipal government officials. While past research has acknowledged the possibility of corruption under decentralization, relatively little work has connected those risks to features of these reforms or specific local institutional arrangements. To explore the conditions that can help mitigate the risks of corruption under decentralization, we study the case of health sector reform in Honduras where municipal governments, associations, and NGOs each serve as intermediary-managing organizations under a common decentralized health service delivery model. We argue that three types of institutional arrangements reflecting local accountability practices serve as checks on the authority granted through decentralization and can help guard against corruption: external supervision, civil society engagement, and public participation. Empirically, we draw on data from more than 600 street-level bureaucrats, valuable but under-utilized informants about municipal corruption, across a matched sample of 65 municipalities with contrasting forms of administration. We find that reported corruption is highest under decentralization led by municipal governments, as compared to association- or NGO-led varieties. Both external supervision and civil society engagement help attenuate the positive association between decentralization and corruption, but public participation does not. Overall, this research highlights the importance of considering reform features and local conditions when designing policies to help manage risks and support effective social sector decentralization.
Studying with a teacher: education beyond the logic of progress
Authors: Zamojski Piotr
Published: September 2023

The article presents a thought experiment aimed at indicating a possibility for thinking education beyond the logic of progress. In its first part, the argument reconstructs the entanglement of the modern idea of progress (as found in Francis Bacon and Comenius) and education, while tracking down the specific coupling of obedience and conquest at work. Through such an analysis a link between the ideas of progress and of emancipation is determined, which leads to the acknowledgement of the difficulty of the task of imagining education outside of the logic of progress. In the second part an attempt is made to match this task by suggesting that when studying with a teacher, the logic of progress is deactivated. A phenomenological analysis of the practices involved in studying with a teacher points to a specific way of living together that such a collective study involves. This way of living together is formed by continual exercises in the humble equality realized through shared attention to something worthy of study: this stems from attentiveness to what exists, and it develops an attitude of care and respect for being as such.
Exploring the extensin gene family: an updated genome-wide survey in plants and algae
Authors: Cheng Sou-Yu , Chu Ping-Kuan , Chen Yi-Jing , Wu Yun-Hsuan , Huang Ming-Der
Published: September 2023

Extensins (EXTs), a class of hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein with multiple Ser-Pro3–5 motifs, are known to play roles in cell wall reinforcement and environmental responses. EXTs with repetitive Tyr-X-Tyr (YXY) motifs for crosslinking are referred as crosslinking EXTs. Our comprehensive study spanned 194 algal and plant species, categorizing EXTs into seven subfamilies: classical extensins (EXT I and II), arabinogalactan-protein extensins (AGP-EXTs), proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs), leucine-rich repeat extensins (LRX I and II), formin homology (FH) domain-containing extensins (FH-EXTs), proline-rich, arabinogalactan proteins, conserved cysteines (PAC) domain-containing extensins (PAC I and II), and eight-cysteine motif (8CM)-containing extensins (8CM-EXTs). In the examined dataset, EXTs were detected ubiquitously in plants but infrequently in algae, except for one Coccomyxa and four Chlamydomonadales species. No crosslinking EXTs were found in Poales or certain Zingiberales species. Notably, the previously uncharacterized EXT II, PAC II, and liverwort-specific 8CM-EXTs were found to be crosslinking EXTs. EXT II, featuring repetitive YY motifs instead of the conventional YXY motif, was exclusively identified in Solanaceae. Furthermore, tandem genes encoding distinctive 8CM-EXTs specifically expressed in the germinating spores of Marchantia polymorpha. This updated classification of EXT types allows us to propose a plausible evolutionary history of EXT genes during the course of plant evolution.
Tetracosanoic acids produced by 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 17 are required for synthesizing seed coat suberin in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kim Ryeo Jin , Han Sol , Kim Hyeon Jun , Hur Ji Hyun , Suh Mi Chung
Published: September 2023

Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are precursors for the synthesis of membrane lipids, cuticular waxes, suberins, and storage oils in plants. 3-Ketoacyl CoA synthase (KCS) catalyzes the condensation of C2 units from malonyl-CoA to acyl-CoA, the first rate-limiting step in VLCFA synthesis. In this study, we revealed that Arabidopsis KCS17 catalyzes the elongation of C22–C24 VLCFAs required for synthesizing seed coat suberin. Histochemical analysis of Arabidopsis plants expressing GUS (β-glucuronidase) under the control of the KCS17 promoter revealed predominant GUS expression in seed coats, petals, stigma, and developing pollen. The expression of KCS17:eYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) driven by the KCS17 promoter was observed in the outer integument1 of Arabidopsis seed coats. The KCS17:eYFP signal was detected in the endoplasmic reticulum of tobacco epidermal cells. The levels of C22 VLCFAs and their derivatives, primary alcohols, α,ω-alkane diols, ω-hydroxy fatty acids, and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids increased by ~2-fold, but those of C24 VLCFAs, ω-hydroxy fatty acids, and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids were reduced by half in kcs17-1 and kcs17-2 seed coats relative to the wild type (WT). The seed coat of kcs17 displayed decreased autofluorescence under UV and increased permeability to tetrazolium salt compared with the WT. Seed germination and seedling establishment of kcs17 were more delayed by salt and osmotic stress treatments than the WT. KCS17 formed homo- and hetero-interactions with KCR1, PAS2, and ECR, but not with PAS1. Therefore, KCS17-mediated VLCFA synthesis is required for suberin layer formation in Arabidopsis seed coats.
Characterizing the true descendants of the first stars
Authors: Vanni Irene , Salvadori Stefania , Skúladóttir Ása , Rossi Martina , Koutsouridou Ioanna
Published: September 2023

The metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo are thought to show the imprints of the first (Pop III) stars, and thus provide a glance at the first episodes of star formation. In this work, we aim at understanding whether all very metal-poor stars formed in environments polluted by Pop III supernovae (SNe) and at what level. With a general parametric model for early metal enrichment, we study the chemical abundances (from C to Zn) of an environment imprinted by a single Pop III SN. We investigate how these abundances depend on the initial mass and internal mixing of Pop III stars, as well as on their SN explosion energy. We then study how subsequent generations of normal (Pop II) SNe affect the Pop III chemical signatures. By comparing the observed chemical abundances with our model predictions, we show that stars with [C/Fe] > +2.5 form in environments polluted purely by low-energy Pop III SNe (ESN < 2 × 1051 erg). At lower [C/Fe], stars can be imprinted either by Pop III only, or also by normal Pop II SNe. The probability of being enriched by Pop II SNe increases as [C/Fe] decreases. When Pop II stars contribute more to the pollution, they wash out the diverse chemical peculiarities left by the different Pop III SNe, and the chemical dispersion between their descendants decreases. We conclude that C-normal stars ($\rm [C/Fe] \le +0.7$) have likely been enriched by Pop II SNe at a $\ge 50~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level and we identify in the abundance scatter a key diagnostic to pinpoint the signature of Pop III SNe.
ALMA Lensing Cluster Survey: average dust, gas, and star-formation properties of cluster and field galaxies from stacking analysis
Authors: Guerrero Andrea , Nagar Neil , Kohno Kotaro , Fujimoto Seiji , Kokorev Vasily , Brammer Gabriel , Jolly Jean-Baptiste , Knudsen Kirsten , Sun Fengwu , Bauer Franz E , Caminha Gabriel B , Caputi Karina , Neumann Gerald , Orellana-González Gustavo , Cerulo Pierluigi , González-López Jorge , Laporte Nicolas , Koekemoer Anton M , Ao Yiping , Espada Daniel , Arancibia Alejandra M Muñoz
Published: September 2023

We develop new tools for continuum and spectral stacking of Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) data, and apply these to the ALMA Lensing Cluster Survey. We derive average dust masses, gas masses, and star-formation rates (SFRs) from the stacked observed 260-GHz continuum of 3402 individually undetected star-forming galaxies, of which 1450 are cluster galaxies and 1952 field galaxies, over three redshift and stellar mass bins (over z = 0–1.6 and log$M_{*} \, [{\rm M}_{\odot }] = 8$–11.7), and derive the average molecular gas content by stacking the emission line spectra in a SFR-selected subsample. The average SFRs and specific SFRs of both cluster and field galaxies are lower than those expected for main-sequence (MS) star-forming galaxies, and only galaxies with stellar mass of log$M_{*} \, [{\rm M}_{\odot }] = 9.35$–10.6 show dust and gas fractions comparable with those in the MS. The ALMA-traced average ‘highly obscured’ SFRs are typically lower than the SFRs observed from optical to near-infrared spectral analysis. Cluster and field galaxies show similar trends in their contents of dust and gas, even when field galaxies were brighter in the stacked maps. From spectral stacking we find a potential CO (J = 4 → 3) line emission (signal-to-noise ratio being ∼4) when stacking cluster and field galaxies with the highest SFRs.
The influence of subhaloes on host halo properties
Authors: Mezini Lorena , Fielder Catherine E , Zentner Andrew R , Mao Yao-Yuan , Wang Kuan , Wu Hao-Yi
Published: September 2023

Within the ΛCDM cosmology, dark matter haloes are composed of both a smooth component and a population of smaller gravitationally bound subhaloes. These components are often treated as a single halo when properties, such as density profiles, are extracted from simulations. Recent work has shown that density profiles change substantially when subhalo mass is excluded. In this paper, we expand on this result by analysing three specific host halo properties – concentration (cNFW), spin (λB), and shape (c/a) – when calculated only from the smooth component of the halo. This analysis is performed on both Milky Way-mass haloes and cluster-mass haloes in high-resolution zoom-in N-body simulations. We find that when subhaloes are excluded, the median value of (1) cNFW is enhanced by $\approx 30\pm 11$ and $\approx 77\pm 8.1~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for Milky Way-mass ($10^{12.1}\, \text{M}_\odot$) and cluster-mass ($10^{14.8}\, \text{M}_\odot$) haloes, respectively, (2) λB is reduced for Milky Way-mass by $\approx 11\pm 4.9~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and cluster-mass haloes by $\approx 27\pm 3.5~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. Additionally, with the removal of subhaloes, cluster-mass haloes tend to become more spherical as the ratio of minor-to-major axis, c/a, increases by $\approx 11\pm 3.6~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, whereas Milky Way-mass haloes remain approximately the same shape with c/a changed by $\approx 1.0\pm 5.8~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. Fractional changes of each of these properties depend primarily on the amount of mass in subhaloes and, to a lesser extent, mass accretion history. Our findings demonstrate that the properties of the smooth components of dark matter haloes are biased relative to the total halo mass.
Numerical modelling of the lobes of radio galaxies – Paper V: universal pressure profile cluster atmospheres
Authors: Stimpson M , Hardcastle M J , Krause M G H
Published: September 2023

We present relativistic magnetohydrodynamic modelling of jets running into hydrostatic, spherically symmetric cluster atmospheres. For the first time in a numerical simulation, we present model cluster atmospheres based upon the universal pressure profile (UPP), incorporating a temperature profile for a ‘typical’ self-similar atmosphere described by only one parameter – M500. We explore a comprehensive range of realistic atmospheres and jet powers and derive dynamic, energetic, and polarimetric data which provide insight into what we should expect of future high-resolution studies of AGN outflows. From the simulated synchrotron emission maps which include Doppler beaming we find sidedness distributions that agree well with observations. We replicated a number of findings from our previous work, such as higher power jets inflating larger aspect-ratio lobes, and the cluster environment impacting the distribution of energy between the lobe and shocked regions. Comparing UPP and β-profiles we find that the cluster model chosen results in a different morphology for the resultant lobes with the UPP more able to clear lobe material from the core; and that these different atmospheres influence the ratio between the various forms of energy in the fully developed lobes. This work also highlights the key role played by Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities in the formation of realistic lobe aspect ratios. Our simulations point to the need for additional lobe-widening mechanisms at high jet powers, for example jet precession. Given that the UPP is our most representative general cluster atmosphere, these numerical simulations represent the most realistic models yet for spherically symmetric atmospheres.
Neutrino flares of radio blazars observed from TeV to PeV
Authors: Suray Alisa , Troitsky Sergey
Published: September 2023

Radio blazars have been linked both to individual high-energy neutrino events and to excesses in likelihood sky maps constructed from lower-energy neutrino data. However, the exact mechanism by which neutrinos are produced in these sources is still unknown. Here, we demonstrate that IceCube neutrinos with energies over 200 TeV, which were previously associated with bright radio blazars, are significantly more likely to be accompanied by flares of lower-energy events, compared to those lacking blazar counterparts. The parsec-scale core radio flux density of blazars, positioned within the error regions of energetic events, is strongly correlated with the likelihood of a day-scale lower-energy neutrino flare in directional and temporal coincidence with the high-energy event, reported by IceCube. The probability of a chance correlation is 3.6 × 10−4. This confirms the neutrino-blazar connection in a new and independent way, and provides valuable clues to understanding the origin of astrophysical neutrinos.
A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Reef Stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) Provides Novel Insights into Stonustoxin (sntx) Genes
Authors: Tang Tianle , Huang Yu , Peng Chao , Liao Yanling , Lv Yunyun , Shi Qiong , Gao Bingmiao
Published: September 2023

Reef stonefish (Synanceia verrucosa) is one of the most venomous fishes, but its biomedical study has been restricted to molecular cloning and purification of its toxins, instead of high-throughput genetic research on related toxin genes. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level haplotypic genome assembly for the reef stonefish. The genome was assembled into 24 pseudo-chromosomes, and the length totaled 689.74 Mb, reaching a contig N50 of 11.97 Mb and containing 97.8% of complete BUSCOs. A total of 24,050 protein-coding genes were annotated, of which metalloproteinases, C-type lectins, and stonustoxins (sntx) were the most abundant putative toxin genes. Multitissue transcriptomic and venom proteomic data showed that sntx genes, especially those clustered within a 50-kb region on the chromosome 2, had higher transcription levels than other types of toxins as well as those sntx genes scatteringly distributed on other chromosomes. Further comparative genomic analysis predicted an expansion of sntx-like genes in the Percomorpha lineage including nonvenomous fishes, but Scorpaenoidei species experienced extra independent sntx duplication events, marking the clear-cut origin of authentic toxic stonustoxins. In summary, this high-quality genome assembly and related comparative analysis of toxin genes highlight valuable genetic differences for potential involvement in the evolution of venoms among Scorpaeniformes fishes.
Radiotherapy-induced vascular cognitive impairment 20 years after childhood brain tumor
Authors: Remes Tiina Maria , Suo-Palosaari Maria Helena , Arikoski Pekka Matti , Harila Marika , Koskenkorva Päivi Katri Tuulikki , Lähteenmäki Päivi Maria , Lönnqvist Tuula Riitta Irmeli , Ojaniemi Marja Katariina , Pohjasniemi Heli , Puosi Riina , Ritari Niina , Sirkiä Kirsti Helena , Sutela Anna Kaarina , Toiviainen-Salo Sanna-Maria , Rantala Heikki Markku Johannes , Harila Arja Helena
Published: September 2023

Background

Studies have established that radiotherapy for childhood brain tumors (BTs) increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease (CVD); however, it is unclear how this will affect cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the associations between radiotherapy-induced CVD, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of childhood BTs.

Methods

In a cross-sectional setting, we conducted a national cohort that included 68 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BTs after a median follow-up of 20 years. Markers of CVD and WMHs were evaluated using brain MRI, and the sum of CVD-related findings was calculated. Additionally, the associations among CVD findings, WMHs, and neuropsychological test results were analyzed.

Results

Of the 68 childhood BT survivors, 54 (79%) were diagnosed with CVD and/or WMHs at a median age of 27 years. CVD and/or WMHs were associated with lower scores for verbal intelligence quotient, performance intelligence quotient (PIQ), executive function, memory, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Additionally, survivors with microbleeds had greater impairments in the PIQ, processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial ability (P < .05). WMHs and CVD burden were associated with greater difficulties in memory function and visuospatial ability (P < .05). Small-vessel disease burden was associated with PIQ scores, processing speed, working memory, and visuospatial ability.

Conclusions

The study results suggest that markers of radiotherapy-induced CVD, the additive effect of CVD markers, and risk factors of dementia are associated with cognitive impairment, which may suggest that the survivors are at a high risk of developing early-onset dementia.
Branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 regulates glioblastoma cell plasticity and contributes to immunosuppression
Authors: Boskovic Pavle , Wilke Nathalie , Man Ka-Hou , Lichter Peter , Francois Liliana , Radlwimmer Bernhard
Published: September 2023

Background

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Cellular plasticity and the poorly differentiated features result in a fast relapse of the tumors following treatment. Moreover, the immunosuppressive microenvironment proved to be a major obstacle to immunotherapeutic approaches. Branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) was shown to drive the growth of glioblastoma and other cancers;however, its oncogenic mechanism remains poorly understood.

Methods

Using human tumor data, cell line models and orthotopic immuno-competent and -deficient mouse models, we investigated the phenotypic and mechanistic effects of BCAT1 on glioblastoma cell state and immunomodulation.

Results

Here, we show that BCAT1 is crucial for maintaining the poorly differentiated state of glioblastoma cells and that its low expression correlates with a more differentiated glioblastoma phenotype. Furthermore, orthotopic tumor injection into immunocompetent mice demonstrated that the brain microenvironment is sufficient to induce differentiation of Bcat1-KO tumors in vivo. We link the transition to a differentiated cell state to the increased activity of ten-eleven translocation demethylases and the hypomethylation and activation of neuronal differentiation genes. In addition, the knockout of Bcat1 attenuated immunosuppression, allowing for an extensive infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and complete abrogation of tumor growth. Further analysis in immunodeficient mice revealed that both tumor cell differentiation and immunomodulation following BCAT1-KO contribute to the long-term suppression of tumor growth.

Conclusions

Our study unveils BCAT1’s pivotal role in promoting glioblastoma growth by inhibiting tumor cell differentiation and sustaining an immunosuppressive milieu. These findings offer a novel therapeutic avenue for targeting glioblastoma through the inhibition of BCAT1.
UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8–Mediated UV-B Response Is Required Alongside CRYPTOCHROME 1 for Plant Survival in Sunlight under Field Conditions
Authors: Stockenhuber Reinhold , Akiyama Reiko , Tissot Nicolas , Milosavljevic Stefan , Yamazaki Misako , Wyler Michele , Arongaus Adriana B , Podolec Roman , Sato Yasuhiro , Widmer Alex , Ulm Roman , Shimizu Kentaro K
Published: September 2023

As sessile, photoautotrophic organisms, plants are subjected to fluctuating sunlight that includes potentially detrimental ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Experiments under controlled conditions have shown that the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) controls acclimation and tolerance to UV-B in Arabidopsis thaliana; however, its long-term impact on plant fitness under naturally fluctuating environments remain poorly understood. Here, we quantified the survival and reproduction of different Arabidopsis mutant genotypes under diverse field and laboratory conditions. We found that uvr8 mutants produced more fruits than wild type when grown in growth chambers under artificial low-UV-B conditions but not under natural field conditions, indicating a fitness cost in the absence of UV-B stress. Importantly, independent double mutants of UVR8 and the blue light photoreceptor gene CRYPTOCHROME 1 (CRY1) in two genetic backgrounds showed a drastic reduction in fitness in the field. Experiments with UV-B attenuation in the field and with supplemental UV-B in growth chambers demonstrated that UV-B caused the cry1 uvr8 conditional lethal phenotype. Using RNA-seq data of field-grown single and double mutants, we explicitly identified genes showing significant statistical interaction of UVR8 and CRY1 mutations in the presence of UV-B in the field. They were enriched in Gene Ontology categories related to oxidative stress, photoprotection and DNA damage repair in addition to UV-B response. Our study demonstrates the functional importance of the UVR8-mediated response across life stages in natura, which is partially redundant with that of cry1. Moreover, these data provide an integral picture of gene expression associated with plant responses under field conditions.
Heat shock–inducible clonal analysis reveals the stepwise establishment of cell fate in the rice stem
Authors: Tsuda Katsutoshi , Maeno Akiteru , Nonomura Ken-Ichi
Published: September 2023

The stem, consisting of nodes and internodes, is the shoot axis, which supports aboveground organs and connects them to roots. In contrast to other organs, developmental processes of the stem remain elusive, especially those initiating nodes and internodes. By introducing an intron into the Cre recombinase gene, we established a heat shock–inducible clonal analysis system in a single binary vector and applied it to the stem in the flag leaf phytomer of rice (Oryza sativa). With detailed characterizations of stem structure and development, we show that cell fate acquisition for each domain of the stem occurs stepwise. Cell fate for a single phytomer was established in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) by one plastochron before leaf initiation. Cells destined for the foot (nonelongating domain at the stem base) also started emerging before leaf initiation. Cell fate acquisition for the node began just before leaf initiation at the flank of the SAM, separating cell lineages for leaves and stems. Subsequently, cell fates for the axillary bud were established in early leaf primordia. Finally, cells committed to the internode emerged from, at most, a few cell tiers of the 12- to 25-cell stage stem epidermis. Thus, internode cell fate is established last during stem development. This study provides the groundwork to unveil underlying molecular mechanisms in stem development and a valuable tool for clonal analysis, which can be applied to various species.