bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peculiar nuclear atypia associated with MDM2 gene amplification in carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma harbouring an alteration of HMGA2
Authors: Alsugair Ziyad , Fieux Maxime , Descotes Françoise , Lopez Jonathan , Cordonnier Carolle , Russel Juliette , Champagnac Anne , Pissaloux Daniel , Céruse Philippe , Philouze Pierre , Benzerdjeb Nazim
Published: May 2024

Aims

Salivary gland neoplasms (SGN) exhibiting the HMGA2::WIF1 fusion are recognized by their resemblance to histology found in canalicular adenoma. Recently, ~20% of cases among 28 HMGA2::WIF1‐rearranged‐SGN showed malignancy and adverse outcomes (recurrence, distant metastasis, and disease‐specific mortality). Among them, MDM2/CDK4 amplifications were identified in one case. This outcome suggests that the MDM2/CDK4 amplifications could be useful to predict an aggressive course of carcinoma ex‐pleomorphic adenoma (CEPA).

Methods and Results

We investigated the correlation between HMGA2 fusion and MDM2 amplification in four salivary gland neoplasms, providing detailed clinicopathological features and outcomes. Cases were selected from different institutions. Histological examination, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA sequencing, and whole‐exome capture were performed. The cohort included four CEPA cases, all female, aged between 32 and 89 years. Tumours arose from the parotid gland with an average size of 24.5 mm. None exhibited recurrence or distant metastases during the 4–5 months of follow‐up. Pathologically, all cases displayed a peculiar atypical nuclei with ‘gear‐like appearance’. Immunohistochemically, tumours exhibited a biphasic pattern with myoepithelial and ductal differentiation markers. All cases showed HMGA2 overexpression and MDM2 amplification by FISH and RNA sequencing. In a control cohort of MDM2 nonamplified CEPA cases, not exhibiting the peculiar nuclear atypia.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a strong correlation between HMGA2 alteration/MDM2 amplification and a peculiar nuclear atypia, advocating for their evaluation in biphasic tumours to facilitate accurate diagnosis and tailored posttumour removal monitoring. Further studies are warranted to validate these observations and elucidate their prognostic implications.
Evaluation of learning curves for contact laser vaporization of the prostate using the 980 nm diode laser for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Furumido Jun , Ozaki Nariaki , Matsugase Yasukuni , Mori Tatsuya
Published: May 2024

Objectives

We investigated the background of patients who underwent contact laser vaporization of the prostate (CVP) surgery and the learning curve of the operators.

Methods

A total of 207 patients who underwent CVP surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia between August 2018 and March 2023 were included in this study. Patient background, perioperative results, pre‐ and postoperative urinary flow tests, and complications were collected retrospectively.

Results

We enrolled 12 doctors who were divided into expert (five doctors) and novice (seven doctors) groups based on the number of TURP experiences before CVP. The median patient age was 73 years (51–92 years) and prostate volume was 56 cc (15–190 cc) with no difference between the expert and novice groups. Complications included urinary retention (eight cases), hematuria (four), urinary tract infection (four), intraoperative perforation (two), and postoperative stricture (one). Both cases of intraoperative perforation occurred in the novice group. The expert group had a significantly shorter operative time (38 vs. 66 min) and a higher operative efficacy of prostate volume divided by operative time (1.43 vs. 0.88 cc/min). Postoperatively, IPSS, quality of life scores, and postvoid residual urine volume decreased, and maximal flow rate increased; however, there was no significant difference between the groups. The expert group showed stable operative time and operative efficacy after about five to eight cases, while the novice group showed stable after about 15 cases.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that CVP was safely performed at our hospital, and operators with limited experience in TURP can achieve stable perioperative results.
The composition and function of bacterial communities in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) changed dramatically with infected fungi: A new potential to culture Cordyceps cicadae
Authors: Zhou Ye‐Ming , Duan Lin , Luo Li , Guan Jing‐Qiang , Yang Zheng‐Kai , Qu Jiao‐Jiao , Zou Xiao
Published: May 2024

Cordyceps cicadae (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) is a renowned entomopathogenic fungus used as herbal medicine in China. However, wild C. cicadae resources have been threatened by heavy harvesting. We hypothesised that Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) could be a new alternative to cultivate C. cicadae due to the low cost of rearing. Bacterial communities are crucial for the formation of Cordyceps and for promoting the production of metabolites. To better understand the bacterial community structure associated with Cordyceps, three Claviciptaceae fungi were used to explore the pathogenicity of the silkworms. Here, fifth‐instar silkworms were infected with C. cicadae, Cordyceps cateniannulata (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae). Subsequently, we applied high‐throughput sequencing to explore the composition of bacterial communities in silkworms. Our results showed that all three fungi were highly pathogenic to silkworms, which suggests that silkworms have the potential to cultivate Cordyceps. After fungal infection, the diversity of bacterial communities in silkworms decreased significantly, and the abundance of Staphylococcus increased in mummified larvae, which may play a role in the death process when the host suffers infection by entomopathogenic fungi. Furthermore, there were high similarities in the bacterial community composition and function in the C. cicadae and C. cateniannulata infected samples, and the phylogenetic analysis suggested that these similarities may be related to the fungal phylogenetic relationship. Our findings reveal that infection with different entomopathogenic fungi affects the composition and function of bacterial communities in silkworms and that the bacterial species associated with Cordyceps are primarily host dependent, while fungal infection affects bacterial abundance.
Comparative study of job burnout in Shanghai‐based nurses against Maslach norm and Hangzhou norm
Authors: Yu Xiaojuan , Qu Haihong , Ni Yanting , Tang Xiaowen , Zhou Huaxian
Published: May 2024

Aim

This study aimed to analyze the trend in job burnout among nurses in Shanghai, China.

Background

The nursing profession globally faces a significant challenge due to aging populations, causing a human resources crisis. Job burnout notably impacts nurses' enthusiasm for work and their overall well‐being. Understanding the trends in job burnout among nurses is crucial for addressing this issue.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study involving 799 nurses from a tertiary‐care hospital and 11 community health service centers in Pudong New Area South, Shanghai, was conducted using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale, to assess job burnout levels. These data were compared with the established Maslach and Hangzhou norms in China.

Results

74.6% of the participants experienced job burnout. The emotional exhaustion dimension had an average score of 27.27 ± 13.93, indicating high levels of burnout; the depersonalization dimension had an average score of 7.83 ± 6.68, showing moderate levels of fatigue; and the personal achievement dimension had an average score of 26.75 ± 10.26, also indicating moderate fatigue. Notably, nurses aged 32–33 years with 11–12 years of professional experience were the most affected. The findings suggest that job burnout is a significant issue in Pudong New Area South, Shanghai, with a notable increase in severe burnout cases over the past decade.

Conclusion

Nurses, particularly during the COVID‐19 pandemic, face high rates of burnout, with emotional exhaustion being particularly prevalent. To support and retain the nursing workforce, hospital administrators must implement external reward mechanisms and develop policies that encourage personal growth, career development, and a humanistic approach to care.

Implications for nursing and health policy

From our review of the literature, we identified instances where burnout standards are either not assessed or lack uniformity in their application. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt a standardized occupational burnout scale for a nationwide survey, encompassing nurse populations across various levels, including province, region, city, and institution. This approach will facilitate the establishment of a practical norm for occupational burnout within China. This norm would enable conducting regular assessments and comparisons to understand the evolving trends of job burnout among nurses, which could pave the way for the creation of targeted support interventions for the nursing profession.
Follow‐Up and Comparative Assessment of SARS‐CoV‐2 IgA, IgG, Neutralizing, and Total Antibody Responses After BNT162b2 or mRNA‐1273 Heterologous Booster Vaccination
Authors: Younes Salma , Nicolai Eleonora , Pieri Massimo , Bernardini Sergio , Daas Hanin I. , Al‐Sadeq Duaa W. , Younes Nadin , Shurrab Farah M. , Nizamuddin Parveen B. , Humaira Fathima , Al‐Dewik Nader , Yassine Hadi M. , Abu‐Raddad Laith J. , Ismail Ahmed , Nasrallah Gheyath K.
Published: May 2024

Background

Priming with ChAdOx1 followed by heterologous boosting is considered in several countries. Nevertheless, analyses comparing the immunogenicity of heterologous booster to homologous primary vaccination regimens and natural infection are lacking. In this study, we aimed to conduct a comparative assessment of the immunogenicity between homologous primary vaccination regimens and heterologous prime‐boost vaccination using BNT162b2 or mRNA‐1273.

Methods

We matched vaccinated naïve (VN) individuals (n = 673) with partial vaccination (n = 64), primary vaccination (n = 590), and primary series plus mRNA vaccine heterologous booster (n = 19) with unvaccinated naturally infected (NI) individuals with a documented primary SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (n = 206). We measured the levels of neutralizing total antibodies (NTAbs), total antibodies (TAbs), anti‐S‐RBD IgG, and anti‐S1 IgA titers.

Results

Homologous primary vaccination with ChAdOx1 not only showed less potent NTAb, TAb, anti‐S‐RBD IgG, and anti‐S1 IgA immune responses compared to primary BNT162b2 or mRNA‐1273 vaccination regimens (p < 0.05) but also showed ~3‐fold less anti‐S1 IgA response compared to infection‐induced immunity (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, a heterologous booster led to an increase of ~12 times in the immune response when compared to two consecutive homologous ChAdOx1 immunizations. Furthermore, correlation analyses revealed that both anti‐S‐RBD IgG and anti‐S1 IgA significantly contributed to virus neutralization among NI individuals, particularly in symptomatic and pauci‐symptomatic individuals, whereas among VN individuals, anti‐S‐RBD IgG was the main contributor to virus neutralization.

Conclusion

The results emphasize the potential benefit of using heterologous mRNA boosters to increase antibody levels and neutralizing capacity particularly in patients who received primary vaccination with ChAdOx1.
Yellow rare earth sulfide powders with near‐infrared reflectance and spectral modulation for energy‐saving applications
Authors: Xu Wenhao , Bai Gongxun , Zhang Hongbin , Li Denghao , Xu Shiqing
Published: May 2024

Radiative cooling pigments offer new opportunities for sustainable carbon neutrality as zero‐energy and zero‐pollution functional materials. However, it is a challenge to prepare inorganic yellow pigments simultaneously with environmentally friendly, high color value, and weather resistance. In this study, a series of alkali metal‐doped γ‐Sm2S3 yellow pigments with near‐infrared reflectance were synthesized. The doping of alkali metal ions reduced synthesis temperature of Sm2S3 from 1300°C to 1000°C. The change in energy band structure induced by alkali metal doping allows the products to exhibit modifiable colors. Typical γ‐[Na]‐Sm2S3 pigment powders have a high near‐infrared reflectance and impressive colors (b* = 78.6, C* = 77.6). Furthermore, colored films made by prepared yellow powders with polyvinylidene fluoride in certain ratios had high near‐infrared reflectance and excellent environmental weathering, resulting in an effective cooling of 4–8°C in outdoor experiments. This work expands the range of options for energy‐efficient building and yellow colorant.
Change in clinical parameters after subgingival instrumentation for the treatment of periodontitis and timing of periodontal re‐evaluation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Paternò Holtzman Lucrezia , Valente Nicola Alberto , Vittorini Orgeas Gianluca , Copes Luca , Discepoli Nicola , Clementini Marco
Published: May 2024

Aim

To evaluate the changes in periodontal parameters (reduction in probing pocket depth [PPD], gain in clinical attachment level [CAL] and reduction in full‐mouth bleeding on probing [BoP]) after subgingival instrumentation of periodontal pockets at different time points in systemically healthy patients suffering from periodontitis.

Materials and Methods

Four databases were searched for RCTs that carried out subgingival instrumentation in periodontal pockets and evaluated PPD at a minimum of two consecutive time points other than baseline. The analysis was conducted for both all pocket depths and stratified for initially shallow (4–5 mm) and deep (≥6 mm) pockets and data were extracted for various time points, 1–2, 3–4 and 5–6 months. Weighted mean effects (WMEs) were calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI) and predictive intervals were calculated.

Results

Twenty‐nine RCTs were identified, and all of them were included in the meta‐analysis. The results showed that for both shallow and deep pockets there was a small though clinically meaningful change between 1‐ to 2‐month and 3‐ to 4‐month time points and between these and 5–6 months.

Conclusions

In systemically healthy patients, the greater part of reduction in PPD and gain in CAL occurs within the first 1–2 months after subgingival instrumentation. However, additional benefits in terms of pocket depth reduction occur beyond these early time points.
Lessons learned in a decade: Medical‐toxicological view of tattooing
Authors: Giulbudagian Michael , Battisini Beatrice , Bäumler Wolfgang , Blass Rico Ana M. , Bocca Beatrice , Brungs Corinna , Famele Marco , Foerster Milena , Gutsche Birgit , Houben Veit , Hauri Urs , Karpienko Katarzyna , Karst Uwe , Katz Linda M. , Kluger Nicolas , Serup Jørgen , Schreiver Ines , Schubert Steffen , van der Bent Sebastiaan A. S. , Wolf Carina , Luch Andreas , Laux Peter
Published: May 2024

Tattooing has been part of the human culture for thousands of years, yet only in the past decades has it entered the mainstream of the society. With the rise in popularity, tattoos also gained attention among researchers, with the aim to better understand the health risks posed by their application. ‘A medical‐toxicological view of tattooing’—a work published in The Lancet almost a decade ago, resulted from the international collaboration of various experts in the field. Since then, much understanding has been achieved regarding adverse effects, treatment of complications, as well as their regulation for improving public health. Yet major knowledge gaps remain. This review article results from the Second International Conference on Tattoo Safety hosted by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and provides a glimpse from the medical‐toxicological perspective, regulatory strategies and advances in the analysis of tattoo inks.
Systematic analysis of ocular features and responses of cultured spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor)
Authors: Murphy Lauren , Kwabiah Rebecca , Rouah Ayla , Wade Ryan , Osmond Thomas , Tucker Denise , Boyce Danny , Vance Joseph , Cao Trung , Machimbirike Vimbai I. , Gnanagobal Hajarooba , Vasquez Ignacio , Santander Javier , Gendron Robert L.
Published: May 2024

A better understanding of unique anatomical and functional features of the visual systems of teleost fish could provide key knowledge on how these systems influence the health and survival of these animals in both wild and culture environments. We took a systematic approach to assess some of the visual systems of spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor), a species of increasing importance in North Atlantic aquaculture initiatives. The lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) was included in these studies in a comparative manner to provide reference. Histology, light and electron microscopy were used to study the spatial distribution and occurrence of cone photoreceptor cells and the nature of the retinal tissues, while immunohistochemistry was used to explore the expression patterns of two photoreceptor markers, XAP‐1 and XAP‐2, in both species. A marine bacterial infection paradigm in lumpfish was used to assess how host–pathogen responses might impact the expression of these photoreceptor markers in these animals. We define a basic photoreceptor mosaic and present an ultrastructural to macroscopic geographical configuration of the retinal pigment tissues in both animals. Photoreceptor markers XAP‐1 and XAP‐2 have novel distribution patterns in spotted wolffish and lumpfish retinas, and exogenous pathogenic influences can affect the normal expression pattern of XAP‐1 in lumpfish. Live tank‐side ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) revealed that normal cultured spotted wolffish display novel variations in the shape of the retinal tissue. These two complementary imaging findings suggest that spotted wolffish harbour unique ocular features not yet described in marine teleosts and that visual function might involve specific retinal tissue shape dynamics in these animals. Finally, extensive endogenous biofluorescence is present in the retinal tissues of both animals, which raises questions about how these animals might use retinal tissue in novel ways for visual perception and/or communication. This work advances fundamental knowledge on the visual systems of two economically important but now threatened North Atlantic teleosts and provides a basic foundation for further research on the visual systems of these animals in health versus disease settings. This work could also be useful for understanding and optimizing the health and welfare of lumpfish and spotted wolffish in aquaculture towards a one health or integrative perspective.
GABAergic interneurons in the hippocampal CA1 mediate contextual fear generalization in PTSD rats
Authors: Gong Xiayu , Fan Zhixin , Xu Hanfang , Qu Yue , Li Bozhi , Li Lanxin , Yan Yuqi , Wu Lili , Yan Can
Published: May 2024

Fear overgeneralization is widely accepted as a pathogenic marker of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recently, GABAergic interneurons have been regarded as key players in the regulation of fear memory. The role of hippocampal GABAergic interneurons in contextual fear generalization of PTSD remains incompletely understood. In the present study, we established a rat model of PTSD with inescapable foot shocks (IFS) and observed the loss of GABAergic interneuron phenotype in the hippocampal cornu ammonis‐1 (CA1) subfield. To determine whether the loss of GABAergic interneuron phenotype was associated with fear generalization in PTSD rats, we used adeno‐associated virus (AAV) to reduce the expression of GAD67 in CA1 and observed its effect on fear generalization. The results showed that the reduction of GAD67 in CA1 enhanced contextual fear generalization in rats. We investigated whether the PERK pathway was involved in the GABAergic interneuron injury. Increased expression of p‐PERK, CHOP, and Caspase12 in GABAergic interneurons of PTSD rats was observed. Then, we used salubrinal, an endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor, to modulate the PERK pathway. The salubrinal treatment significantly protected the GABAergic interneurons and relieved fear generalization in PTSD rats. In addition, the results showed that salubrinal down‐regulated the expression of CHOP and Caspase12 in GABAergic interneurons of PTSD rats. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that the loss of GABAergic interneuron phenotype in CA1 may contribute to contextual fear generalization in PTSD. The PERK pathway is involved in the GABAergic interneuron injury of PTSD rats and modulating it can protect GABAergic interneurons and constrain contextual fear generalization.

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Prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety symptoms in intensive care unit patients with cardiovascular disease: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Saikun , Zhu Ruiting , Cai Hongwei , Mao Jing , Zhou Wei , Zhang Changyue , Lv Mengjiao , Meng Hongli , Guo Lirong
Published: May 2024

Aims

To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to explore which elements are risk factors for the development of anxiety and depression symptoms.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A total of 1028 ICU patients with CVD were enrolled in this cross‐sectional study. Logistic regression was used to assess risk factors and associations between anxiety and depression symptoms, and mediation analysis was used to explore the effect of risk factors on the association between anxiety and depression symptoms. Reporting of the study followed the STROBE checklist.

Results

The results showed that among ICU patients with CVD, 38.1% had anxiety symptoms, 28.7% had depression symptoms and 19.3% had both anxiety and depression symptoms, and there was a significant association between anxiety and depression symptoms. We also identified female gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiac function class IV as independent risk factors for anxiety and depression symptoms. Importantly, these factors also mediated the association between anxiety and depression symptoms, emphasising their role in the psychological well‐being of this patient group.

Conclusion

ICU patients with CVD were prone to anxiety and depression symptoms. Female gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiac function class IV were identified as independent risk factors that also served as mediators in the relationship between anxiety and depression symptoms. Especially, cardiac function class IV emerged as a critical factor in this association.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

It is imperative for critical care professionals to recognize the elevated risk of depression and anxiety among ICU patients with severe CVD, especially those with cardiac function class IV, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and females. Proactive and supportive measures are essential for this vulnerable group during their ICU stay to safeguard their mental health and prevent negative outcomes.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.
The long‐term effects of formal child support
Authors: Kong Jooyoung , Riser Quentin , Cancian Maria , Meyer Daniel R.
Published: May 2024

Objective and Background

Previous research shows the benefits of formal child support to children during their childhood; however, the long‐term effect of child support receipt on outcomes as adults has not been studied. This inquiry examines whether adults who received formal child support as children have different labor market outcomes than those who did not.

Method

We conducted two sets of analyses with complementary strengths to examine young adults' earnings and employment status. Our primary method exploited experimental variation in child support receipt among welfare participants, as part of the Wisconsin Child Support Demonstration Evaluation; the secondary analyses used propensity score matching to construct statistically equivalent comparison groups drawn from a broader population included in Wisconsin Court Record Data.

Results

Across both studies, we found the receipt of child support was associated with a substantive and statistically significant increase in adult earnings; results for employment status were mixed.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that formal child support may disrupt patterns of intergenerational disadvantage, reducing the economic vulnerability of children living with resident mothers, and then improving those children's earnings as adults. In addition to contributing to our understanding of the relationship between childhood economic status and adult outcomes, the findings provide critical new information to policymakers assessing family policy.
Oral habits and temporomandibular joint disorders according to stress levels among military personnel in South Korea: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Son Ji‐Young , Choi Ok‐Sun , Kim You‐Mi
Published: May 2024

Background

Military personnel suffer from stress‐induced temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). No previous studies have evaluated the oral habits and TMD in military personnel based on their stress levels.

Objectives

To examine the correlation between oral habits and TMD based on stress levels. In addition, we assessed the relationship between stress levels and TMD by military rank as well as the impact of oral habits on TMD.

Method

This cross‐sectional survey included 89 military personnel who visited the Armed Forces Medical Center in Korea with discomfort in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort. Oral habits, stress level, TMD and general characteristics of the subjects were investigated. A questionnaire was distributed to the subjects who agreed to the study, and they were asked to respond in a self‐written form. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors that affect oral habits and TMJ symptoms.

Results

Stress scores and oral habits were highest in the ‘Private’ rank. In contrast, temporomandibular joint symptoms were highest in the ‘Corporal’ rank. Additionally, the high‐risk stress group exhibited higher scores in oral habits and TMD compared to the potential stress group. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between an increase in high‐risk stress scores and a rise in oral habits. And individuals with more oral habits are at an increased likelihood of experiencing TMD.

Conclusion

Our study findings suggest that military personnel with prevent TMD and improve oral habits by addressing stress levels.
Understanding the social identity of adolescents in the Indigenous Kodava Community of India
Authors: Appachu Hema , Singh Jitendra Kumar
Published: May 2024

The social identity development of adolescents in marginalized communities across the globe holds paramount significance in determining the overall well‐being of its future population. Focusing on one such community, the Kodavas, an Indigenous community in South India, this study aims to understand the shifting configurations of social identity based on the changing sociocultural structure and its implications on identity perception among the adolescents belonging to the Kodava community in Kodagu district in Karnataka, India. This study used a qualitative research design to develop an analytical framework of social identity formation and its transitions in the context of the Kodavas. Data were collected from 188 adolescents (47% boys, 53% girls) between 13 and 17 years (M age = 15 years), in the form of essay writing. The findings based on thematic analysis highlight the core traditional elements of Kodava identity, factors influencing the transition in identity, and its reflection in the contemporary period.
Exploring the link between tooth loss, cognitive function, and brain wellness in the context of healthy aging
Authors: Newman‐Norlund Roger D. , Kudaravalli Santosh , Merchant Anwar T. , Fridriksson Julius , Rorden Chris
Published: May 2024

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of using MRI‐derived tooth count, an indirect and nonspecific indicator of oral/periodontal health, and brain age gap (BAG), an MRI‐based measure of premature brain aging, in predicting cognition in a population of otherwise healthy adults.

Methods

This retrospective study utilized data from 329 participants from the University of South Carolina's Aging Brain Cohort Repository. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), completed an oral/periodontal health questionnaire, and submitted to high‐resolution structural MRI imaging. The study compared variability on cognitive scores (MoCA) accounted for by MRI‐derived BAG, MRI‐derived total tooth count, and self‐reported oral/periodontal health.

Results

We report a significant positive correlation between the total number of teeth and MoCA total scores after controlling for age, sex, and race, indicating a robust relationship between tooth count and cognition, r(208) = .233, p < .001. In a subsample of participants identified as being at risk for MCI (MoCA <= 25, N = 36) inclusion of MRI‐based tooth count resulted in an R2 change of .192 (H0 = 0.138 → H1 = 0.330), F(1,31) = 8.86, p = .006. Notably, inclusion of BAG, a valid and reliable measure of overall brain health, did not significantly improve prediction of MoCA scores in similar linear regression models.

Conclusions

Our data support the idea that inclusion of MRI‐based total tooth count may enhance the ability to predict clinically meaningful differences in cognitive abilities in healthy adults. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence linking oral/periodontal health with cognitive function.
A new view of territoriality in large eagles: the territory pre‐exists regardless of its occupants
Authors: Morollón S. , López‐López P. , Urios V.
Published: May 2024

Knowledge of vertebrate territoriality and spatial use is a topic of great interest in the study of animal behaviour and conservation biology. Investigating the plasticity of territory boundaries, the shape of territories and how territories can be modified depending on their owners is important to deepen our knowledge of the behaviour of territorial species. We analysed the variation and tested the similarity of the distribution area of individuals from the same territory between 2015 and 2021, using data from 51 Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata) from 22 different territories, tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters in eastern Spain. We calculated the percentage of overlap between the territories of the same individual in different years using the 95% kernel density estimator. We also analysed the changes in territory size and shape following the replacement of territory owners either by a single individual or by the whole pair. Our results show that territories retain the same shape and extent regardless of the occupying members, and that their boundaries change little over time. Identifying and maintaining large eagle territories, regardless of their owners, is therefore key to ensuring the long‐term recovery of these threatened species.
Hepatitis B virus particles in serum contain minus strand DNA and degraded pregenomic RNA of variable and inverse lengths
Authors: Ringlander Johan , Malmström Sebastian , Eilard Anders , Strömberg Lucia Gonzales , Stenbäck Joakim B. , Andersson Maria E. , Larsson Simon B. , Kann Michael , Nilsson Staffan , Hellstrand Kristoffer , Rydell Gustaf E. , Lindh Magnus
Published: May 2024

This study utilized digital PCR to quantify HBV RNA and HBV DNA within three regions of the HBV genome. Analysis of 75 serum samples from patients with chronic infection showed that HBV RNA levels were higher in core than in S and X regions (median 7.20 vs. 6.80 and 6.58 log copies/mL; p < .0001), whereas HBV DNA levels showed an inverse gradient (7.71 vs. 7.73 and 7.77 log copies/mL, p < .001). On average 80% of the nucleic acid was DNA by quantification in core. The core DNA/RNA ratio was associated with viral load and genotype. In individual patients, the relations between RNA levels in core, S and X were stable over time (n = 29; p = .006). The results suggest that pregenomic RNA is completely reverse transcribed to minus DNA in ≈75% of the virus particles, whereas the remaining 25% contain both RNA and DNA of lengths that reflect variable progress of the polymerase.
Evolutionary ecology of denitrifying methanotrophic NC10 bacteria in the deep‐sea biosphere
Authors: Li Yingdong , Wang Ting , Jing Hongmei , Xiao Yao
Published: May 2024

The NC10 phylum links anaerobic methane oxidation to nitrite denitrification through a unique O2‐producing intra‐aerobic methanotrophic pathway. Although numerous amplicon‐based studies revealed the distribution of this phylum, comprehensive genomic insights and niche characterization in deep‐sea environments were still largely unknown. In this study, we extensively surveyed the NC10 bacteria across diverse deep‐sea environments, including waters, sediments, cold seeps, biofilms, rocky substrates, and subseafloor aquifers. We then reconstructed and analysed 38 metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs), and revealed the extensive distribution of NC10 bacteria and their intense selective pressure in these harsh environments. Isotopic analyses combined with gene expression profiling confirmed that active nitrite‐dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n‐DAMO) occurs within deep‐sea sediments. In addition, the identification of the Wood–Ljungdahl (WL) and 3‐hydroxypropionate/4‐hydroxybutyrat (3HB/4HP) pathways in these MAGs suggests their capability for carbon fixation as chemoautotrophs in these deep‐sea environments. Indeed, we found that for their survival in the oligotrophic deep‐sea biosphere, NC10 bacteria encode two branches of the WL pathway, utilizing acetyl‐CoA from the carbonyl branch for citric acid cycle‐based energy production and methane from the methyl branch for n‐DAMO. The observed low ratios of non‐synonymous substitutions to synonymous substitutions (pN/pS) in n‐DAMO‐related genes across these habitats suggest a pronounced purifying selection that is critical for the survival of NC10 bacteria in oligotrophic deep‐sea environments. These findings not only advance our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations of NC10 bacteria but also underscore the intricate coupling between the carbon and nitrogen cycles within deep‐sea ecosystems, driven by this bacterial phylum.
Redefining the bacteriophage mv4 site‐specific recombination system and the sequence specificity of its attB and core‐attP sites
Authors: Debatisse Kevin , Lopez Pierre , Poli Maryse , Rousseau Philippe , Campos Manuel , Coddeville Michèle , Cocaign‐Bousquet Muriel , Le Bourgeois Pascal
Published: May 2024

Through their involvement in the integration and excision of a large number of mobile genetic elements, such as phages and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), site‐specific recombination systems based on heterobivalent tyrosine recombinases play a major role in genome dynamics and evolution. However, despite hundreds of these systems having been identified in genome databases, very few have been described in detail, with none from phages that infect Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes). In this study, we reanalyzed the recombination module of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus phage mv4, previously considered atypical compared with classical systems. Our results reveal that mv4 integrase is a 369 aa protein with all the structural hallmarks of recombinases from the Tn916 family and that it cooperatively interacts with its recombination sites. Using randomized DNA libraries, NGS sequencing, and other molecular approaches, we show that the 21‐bp core‐attP and attB sites have structural similarities to classical systems only if considering the nucleotide degeneracy, with two 7‐bp inverted regions corresponding to mv4Int core‐binding sites surrounding a 7‐bp strand‐exchange region. We also examined the different compositional constraints in the core‐binding regions, which define the sequence space of permissible recombination sites.
A bamboo ‘PeSAPK4‐PeMYB99‐PeTIP4‐3’ regulatory model involved in water transport
Authors: Zhu Chenglei , Lin Zeming , Yang Kebin , Lou Yongfeng , Liu Yan , Li Tiankuo , Li Hui , Di Xiaolin , Wang Jiangfei , Sun Huayu , Li Ying , Li Xueping , Gao Zhimin
Published: May 2024

Water plays crucial roles in expeditious growth and osmotic stress of bamboo. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of water transport remains unclear.

In this study, an aquaporin gene, PeTIP4‐3, was identified through a joint analysis of root pressure and transcriptomic data in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis). PeTIP4‐3 was highly expressed in shoots, especially in the vascular bundle sheath cells. Overexpression of PeTIP4‐3 could increase drought and salt tolerance in transgenic yeast and rice.

A co‐expression pattern of PeSAPK4, PeMYB99 and PeTIP4‐3 was revealed by WGCNA. PeMYB99 exhibited an ability to independently bind to and activate PeTIP4‐3, which augmented tolerance to drought and salt stress. PeSAPK4 could interact with and phosphorylate PeMYB99 in vivo and in vitro, wherein they synergistically accelerated PeTIP4‐3 transcription. Overexpression of PeMYB99 and PeSAPK4 also conferred drought and salt tolerance in transgenic rice.

Further ABA treatment analysis indicated that PeSAPK4 enhanced water transport in response to stress via ABA signaling. Collectively, an ABA‐mediated cascade of PeSAPK4‐PeMYB99‐PeTIP4‐3 is proposed, which governs water transport in moso bamboo.
Epigenetic regulation of high light‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis by histone demethylase IBM1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fan Di , Wang Xianqiang , Liu Tingting , Liu Huimin , Peng Yingying , Tang Xiaofeng , Ye Xiao , Sun Kuan , Yue Yuchen , Xu Dan , Li Chaofeng , Luo Keming
Published: May 2024

In plant species, anthocyanin accumulation is specifically regulated by light signaling. Although the CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1/SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA‐105 (COP1/SPA) complex is known to control anthocyanin biosynthesis in response to light, the precise mechanism underlying this process remains largely unknown.

Here, we report that Increase in BONSAI Methylation 1 (IBM1), a JmjC domain‐containing histone demethylase, participates in the regulation of light‐induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

The expression of IBM1 was induced by high light (HL) stress, and loss‐of‐function mutations in IBM1 led to accelerated anthocyanin accumulation under HL conditions. We further identified that IBM1 is directly associated with SPA1/3/4 chromatin in vivo to establish a hypomethylation status on H3K9 and DNA non‐CG at these loci under HL, thereby releasing their expression. Genetic analysis showed that quadruple mutants of IBM1 and SPA1/3/4 resemble spa134 mutants. Overexpression of SPA1 in ibm1 mutants complements the mutant phenotype.

Our results elucidate the significance and mechanism of IBM1 histone demethylase in the epigenetic regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis under HL conditions.
Revisiting the intron hypothesis of QoI resistance in Phyllosticta ampelicida, the causal agent of grape black rot, and other Phyllosticta species
Authors: Horváth Áron N. , Molnár Orsolya , Németh Márk Z. , Pintye Alexandra , Dankó Tamás , Spitzmüller Zsolt , Váczy Zsuzsanna , Váczy Kálmán Z. , Onesti Giovanni , Reis Pedro , Rego Cecilia , Bereczky Zsolt , Kiss Levente , Kovács Gábor M.
Published: May 2024

Chemical control of grape black rot, caused by Phyllosticta ampelicida, relies mainly on the use of demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) and quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs). The effectiveness of QoI fungicides is influenced by alternative respiration activity, and the exon/intron structure and point mutations in the target protein's gene, the cytochrome b (cytb) gene. Our study aims to investigate the QoI fungicide sensitivity of 48 P. ampelicida isolates in vitro by measuring EC50 and the molecular characteristics of the cytb gene and its mRNA in P. ampelicida and other Phyllosticta species. Mycelial growth tests revealed that the P. ampelicida isolates were sensitive to both azoxystrobin and trifloxystrobin; baseline EC50 values were 0.029 and 0.022 μg/mL, respectively. Addition of salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) resulted in lower EC50 values (0.024 and 0.017 μg/mL, respectively). None of the typical point mutations conferring resistance to QoIs in some fungi were detected. A group I intron was present right after the 143rd codon in the cytb gene in four of the six Phyllosticta species examined. The sequence and exon/intron structure of the cytb gene of P. ampelicida isolated from Vitis vinifera is studied in detail and published here. Our results indicate a low risk of QoI resistance development via the G143A mutation in P. ampelicida.
The electrophysiology of sequential adjustments of dual‐task order coordination
Authors: Steinhauser Robert , Steinhauser Marco , Kübler Sebastian , Schubert Torsten , Strobach Tilo
Published: May 2024

Performing two tasks simultaneously involves the coordination of their processing. This task coordination is particularly required in dual‐task situations with varying task orders. When task order switches between subsequent trials, task order coordination leads to task order switch costs in comparison with order repetitions. However, it is open, whether task order coordination is exclusively controlled by the relation of the task orders of the current and the previous trials, or whether additional conditions such as task order before the previous trial leads to a behavioral and neural adjustment of task order coordination. To answer this question, we reanalyzed the data of two previously published experiments with order‐cued dual‐task paradigms. We did so with regard to whether task order switch costs and the EEG component order‐switch positivity in the current dual‐task trial would be modulated by order switches vs. repetitions in the previous trial (Trial N‐1). In Experiment 1, we found a modulation of the task order switch costs in RTs and response reversals; these costs were reduced after an order switch compared with order repetitions in Trial N‐1. In Experiment 2, there were no effects on the task order switch costs in the behavioral data. Nonetheless, we found the order‐switch positivity to be strongly modulated by the order transition of the previous trial in both experiments. The order‐switch positivity was substantially reduced if the previous trial was an order switch (compared to an order repetition) by itself. This implies that order coordination of dual tasks is adjusted in a gradual way depending on trial's history.
Visualising the 2020s UK cost‐of‐living crisis
Authors: Dorling Danny
Published: May 2024

This article is unusual in that it provides a graphical summary of various aspects of the longer‐term crisis that appeared to cumulate in 2022 through to at least early 2024 in terms of especially poor economic and social outcomes for the UK. The article was submitted for consideration in a special issue in the Journal of Social Policy and Administration on diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to addressing the cost of living crisis. This special issues focuses on areas such as financial insecurity, inequalities, food insecurity, food access, policy analysis and the variety of responses there have been. This articles highlights the significant challenges posed by the cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom—the widespread impact on poverty rates, health and well‐being, food insecurity, inequality, and social justice. It does so by presenting a series of images that were mostly produced but not used in print to illustrate the book ‘Shattered Nation’ (Dorling, 2023). These 23 images were not included in the book, but most were posted on the book website. A few are more recent.
Wakanda forever! Consistency in correlates of black nationalist tendencies
Authors: Brown Tony N. , Gorman Quintin , Raynor Autumn , Bento Asia , Culver Julian , Ferguson Jauhara
Published: May 2024

Objective:

This study investigates correlates of black nationalist tendencies, defined as endorsing sentiments consistent with black nationalism. Black nationalism is an ideology that advocates for cultural, economic, political, and social separatism, and/or community autonomy and self‐reliance as survival tactics. Warrant for this study arises from the opinion black nationalism is an anachronism—a throwback to the 1920s, late 1960s, or early 1990s.

Methods:

We review correlates from prior studies. Then, using regression models and nationally representative data from black adults participating in the Outlook on Life Surveys, 2012, we address whether those correlates link with black nationalist tendencies today.

Results:

Few correlates from prior studies predict black nationalist tendencies today. However, correlates such as white antipathy and common fate remain robust predictors. Additionally, views of Barack Obama, whose political ascendency challenges certain tenets of black nationalism, are important correlates.

Conclusion:

White supremacy makes black nationalism durable and attractive; consequently, certain blacks will always endorse it.
Urban perception by using eye movement data on street view images
Authors: Yang Nai , Deng Zhitao , Hu Fangtai , Chao Yi , Wan Lin , Guan Qingfeng , Wei Zhiwei
Published: May 2024

Understanding the spatial distribution patterns of urban perception and analyzing the correlation between human emotional perception and street composition elements are important for accurately understanding how people interact with the urban environment, urban planning, and urban management. Previous studies on urban perception using street view data have not fully considered the actual level of attention to different visual elements when browsing street view images. In this article, we use eye tracking technology to collect eye movement data and subjective perception evaluation data when people browse street view images, and analyze the correlation between the time to first fixation, duration of first fixation, and fixation frequency of different visual elements and the six perceptual outcomes of wealthy, safe, lively, beautiful, boring, and depressing. Furthermore, this article integrates eye movement data with street view semantic data and introduces a novel method for predicting urban perception using a machine learning algorithm. The proposed method outperforms a comparative model that solely relies on semantic data, exhibiting higher accuracy in perception prediction. Additionally, the study presents a perceptual mapping of the prediction results, providing a visual representation of the predicted urban perception outcomes. As vision is the primary perceptual channel, this study achieves a more objective and scientifically reliable urban perception, which is of reference value for the study of physical and mental health due to the urban physical environment.