bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“The heat of a multitudinous assembly”: Striking short fiction and the rise of feminist potencia
Authors: Sinclair Madeleine
Published: September 2023

This article considers how a recent wave of Latin American short fiction captures with immediate topicality new forms of transversal political subjectivity engendered by the international feminist reinvention of the strike in the 21st century. Drawing on Verónica Gago's theorization of the political cartography of feminist potencia (power), alongside the work of Silvia Federici, Rita Segato and Sayak Valencia, it considers how the short story form facilitates a strategic recognition of interconnected violences perpetrated against women and feminized bodies, “mapping forms of violence based on their organic connection, without losing sight of the singularity of the production of the nexus between them” (Gago, 2020, p. 58). In particular, the article examines two exemplary short story collections, Cars on Fire (2020) by Mónica Ramón Ríos and Things We Lost in the Fire (2017) by Mariana Enríquez, considering how these writers repurpose the potential for socio‐criticism embedded in the fantastical short story by offering a multi‐focal critique of how patriarchy and gender violence interact with the structural inequalities unleashed by neoliberal capitalism. The article also considers how these riotous collections mediate the transversal fabric of communitarian struggle in feminist imaginaries, drawing narrative energy from the localised proliferation of neighbourhood assemblies and solidarity networks, while speaking to transnational feminist movements more broadly.
Flagellar motor remodeling during swarming requires FliL
Authors: Partridge Jonathan D. , Dufour Yann , Hwang YuneSahng , Harshey Rasika M.
Published: September 2023

FliL is an essential component of the flagellar machinery in some bacteria, but a conditional one in others. The conditional role is for optimal swarming in some bacteria. During swarming, physical forces associated with movement on a surface are expected to exert a higher load on the flagellum, requiring more motor torque to move. FliL was reported to enhance motor output in several bacteria and observed to assemble as a ring around ion‐conducting stators that power the motor. In this study we identify a common new function for FliL in diverse bacteria—Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus mirabilis. During swarming, all these bacteria show increased cell speed and a skewed motor bias that suppresses cell tumbling. We demonstrate that these altered motor parameters, or “motor remodeling,” require FliL. Both swarming and motor remodeling can be restored in an E. coli fliL mutant by complementation with fliL genes from P. mirabilis and B. subtilis, showing conservation of a swarming‐associated FliL function across phyla. In addition, we demonstrate that the strong interaction we reported earlier between FliL and the flagellar MS‐ring protein FliF is confined to the RBM‐3 domain of FliF that links the periplasmic rod to the cytoplasmic C‐ring. This interaction may explain several phenotypes associated with the absence of FliL.
Euphorbia yadgirensis sp. nov., (Euphorbiaceae) from Karnataka state, India
Authors: Naidu Sarojini Devi , Kusom Raja Kullayiswamy
Published: September 2023

Euphorbia yadgirensis is a new species described and illustrated from the scrub forest of Rayangole village, Yadgiri District of Karnataka, India. It belongs to E. subg. Chamaesyce sect. Hypercifoliae and resembles Euphorbia kadapensis. However, it differs in nature of stipules and bracteole, structure of limbs, lack of sutures on capsules, etc.
Pemphigus syphiliticus with Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction in a newborn
Authors: Pañgan Erika Anne C. , Asetre‐Luna Imelda , Uy Maria Esterlita V. , Esguerra Angela Katrina M.
Published: September 2023

Congenital syphilis is a serious, disabling, and life‐threatening infection that is transmitted transplacentally from mother to fetus. Early diagnosis is often difficult because affected infants are usually asymptomatic at birth and clinical findings are often subtle and nonspecific. Pemphigus syphiliticus is an early presentation of congenital syphilis which is characterized by fluid‐filled vesicles and bullae which appear mostly on the extremities and tend to rapidly desquamate and erode. Awareness of the clinicians to this early cutaneous manifestation and possible treatment reaction will allow for prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment of syphilis‐infected patients.
Calcium sulphate biomineralisation: Artefact of sample preparation?
Authors: Cera Andreu , Verdugo‐Escamilla Cristóbal , Marín Juan A. , Palacio Sara
Published: September 2023

Calcium biomineralisation is widely documented in plants. However, crystallisation of Ca‐sulphate‐containing minerals is closely related to water content, and sample processing, such as drying, alters the water balance of plant tissues. We hypothesised that common sample processing practices may favour the formation of crystals, leading to spurious crystallisation not observed in unaltered plant tissues. We selected three species (Ononis tridentata, Helianthemum squamatum and Gypsophila struthium) with reported gypsum biomineralisation. We used x‐ray diffractometry on fresh intact or sliced leaves, and on the same leaves processed by subsequent drying, to address whether sample processing alters crystal formation. Ca‐sulphate crystals were detected in dry samples of all species but not in fresh intact samples. Ca‐sulphate crystallisation occurred in some cut fresh samples, although the accumulation greatly increased after drying. In addition, G. struthium exhibited Ca‐oxalate crystals in both fresh and dry treatments, with a tendency for greater accumulation in dry treatments. Our results demonstrate that the Ca‐sulphate crystals observed by x‐ray diffractometry in these species are artefacts caused by common sample processing practices, such as excessive drying and slicing samples. We encourage future studies on the biomineral potential of plants to avoid the use of procedures that alter the water balance of tissues.
Does Geography Matter? A Regional Analysis of Early Transfer within Ontario Post‐Secondary Education*
Authors: Sano Yujiro , Hillier Cathlene , Milian Roger Pizarro , Zarifa David
Published: September 2023

The relationship between geography and early transfer behavior has received limited empirical attention. In this study, we track six cohorts of university and community college entrants to examine differences in the early pathways they travel through Ontario post‐secondary education (PSE), paying particular attention to how transfer pathway uptake by students in the province's rural north might vary from those in the more urbanized southern regions. Overall, we observe only modest regional differences in early transfer pathway uptake, with parental income proving to be a more constituent predictor of transfer. However, we do find more sizable net regional differences in the propensity that students will drop out within two years of entering PSE, with northern students being significantly more at risk of leaving PSE in their early years.
Weight stigma from romantic partners: Its relations with maladaptive and adaptive coping and depressive symptoms
Authors: Wu Hannah X. , Chen Tiffany T. , Ching Boby H.‐H. , Li Xiang Y. , Li Yuan H.
Published: September 2023

Social devaluation of being overweight is common in daily life, but little is known about the weight stigma in romantic relationships. The present study investigated the roles of maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies in the relation between the experience of weight stigma in romantic relationships and depressive symptoms in men and women, respectively. Analyses of gender differences and structural equation modeling yielded several findings. First, while men and women experienced similar levels of weight stigma from their romantic partners, women were more likely to use exercise avoidance, disengagement coping, and reappraisal coping strategies, and to exhibit more depressive symptoms than men. Second, men who experienced weight stigma tended to cope with it through exercise avoidance and disengagement coping, which were related to greater depressive symptoms. Men also coped with weight stigma adaptively via reappraisal coping, which was additionally associated with more positive affect. Third, the relation between the experience of weight stigma and depressive symptoms in women was only explained by using disengagement coping. These findings extend the understanding of weight stigma to a specific context and provide some insight that future interventions to reduce the impacts of weight stigma should be tailored accordingly for men and women.
Individual freedom against liberalism: Hegel's nonliberal individualism
Authors: Parra‐Ayala Andrés F.
Published: September 2023

In this article, I argue that the main contribution of Hegel's philosophy of right to the contemporary political debate is that it opens a window on the idea that liberalism and individual freedom are incompatible. My main thesis is that the liberal conception of the State and law, structured from a nonrelational account of singularity, ends up denying the individual freedom that it claims to defend. I begin by reconstructing the Hegelian concept of freedom from its most general lines, showing that being free consists in wanting to become someone and not so much in wanting to do something. After showing that the purpose of becoming someone can only be fulfilled in a social medium, I focus on Hegel's critique of the liberal state (as expounded in the section on “civil society”). I argue that civil society structurally impedes individuals from realizing their purpose of becoming someone: the economical interactions of civil society give rise to impersonal and inscrutable mechanisms, which take the social conditions of people's individuation beyond their control. Finally, I claim that (rational) individual freedom consists in being able to thematize and democratically control the very social conditions of individuation through the State and law.
An optimal method for quantifying the facial sebum level and characterizing facial sebum features
Authors: Liu Yujie , Jiang Wencai , Tang Yulong , Zhang Qing , Zhen Yaxian , Wang Xuemin , Liu Wei , Wang Jiucun , Ma Yanyun , Tan Yimei
Published: September 2023

Background

Evidence suggests that sebum content is important in skin disorders such as acne. However, sebum levels change depending on the external environment, and quantifying skin sebum levels is challenging. Here, we propose an optimal method for quantifying the facial sebum level.

Materials and methods

Four hundred and sixty participants (160 males and 300 females) aged 20–40 were enrolled in this study. A Sebumeter SM 810 was used to measure the sebum level at five facial locations: the forehead, the chin, the left cheek, the right cheek, and the nose. The participants were divided into two groups; one group underwent a one‐time measurement (n = 390, male: female = 120: 270), and the other underwent three consecutive measurements (n = 70, male: female = 40: 30). The casual sebum level (CSL) was measured in all patients after a 30‐min acclimatization; subsequently, the sebum removal process was conducted, followed by a resting period of 1 h to determine the sebum excretion rate (SER). Spearman's correlation analysis and the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test were used to compare the sebum level consistency and differences between the groups.

Results

Although three consecutive measurements better reflected the sebum content, the one‐time measurement also represented the relative sebum level. One hour after sebum removal, the sebum level recovered to 70%–90%; thus, this method was applicable for use in SER quantification. Of the five testing points, the sebum content was highest in the nose and lowest in the cheeks (both left and right). In addition, the cheeks were the most stable sites in terms of testing points, testing times, and CSL/SER values. A one‐time measurement of the CSL could represent the SER 1 h after the sebum removal. In our cohort, the sebum level of males with oily skin was decreased at age 32–35, and that of males with non‐oily skin increased at 28–35. The opposite trend was observed in female participants.

Conclusion

Sebum measurement methods were assessed, including testing times, indices (interval of time) and sites in a conditioned external environment. A one‐time measurement of the CSL 1 h after sebum removal was sufficient to determine the sebum level and SER, and the cheeks are recommended as the testing site. Sex and skin type differences were observed in sebum level changes with age.
Protein reservoirs of seeds are amyloid composites employed differentially for germination and seedling emergence
Authors: Sinha Nabodita , Zahra Talat , Gahane Avinash Yashwant , Rout Bandita , Bhattacharya Arnav , Basu Sangramjit , Chakrabarti Arunabha , Thakur Ashwani Kumar
Published: September 2023

Seed protein localization in seed storage protein bodies (SSPB) and their significance in germination are well recognized. SSPB are spherical and contain an assembly of water‐soluble and salt‐soluble proteins. Although the native structures of some SSPB proteins are explored, their structural arrangement to the functional correlation in SSPB remains unknown. SSPB are morphologically analogous to electron‐dense amyloid‐containing structures reported in other organisms. Here, we show that wheat, mungbean, barley, and chickpea SSPB exhibit a speckled pattern of amyloids interspersed in an amyloid‐like matrix along with native structures, suggesting the composite nature of SSPB. This is confirmed by multispectral imaging methods, electron microscopy, infrared, and X‐ray diffraction analysis, using in situ tissue sections, ex vivo protoplasts, and in vitro SSPB. Laser capture microdissection coupled with peptide fingerprinting has shown that globulin 1 and 3 in wheat, and 8S globulin and conglycinin in mungbean are the major amyloidogenic proteins. The amyloid composites undergo a sustained degradation during germination and seedling growth, facilitated by an intricate interplay of plant hormones and proteases. These results would lay down the foundation for understanding the amyloid composite structure during SSPB biogenesis and its evolution across the plant kingdom and have implications in both basic and applied plant biology.
A Global Correction Framework for Camera Registration in Video See-Through Augmented Reality Systems
Authors: Yang Wenhao , Zhang Yunbo
Published: September 2023

Augmented reality (AR) enhances the user’s perception of the real environment by superimposing virtual images generated by computers. These virtual images provide additional visual information that complements the real-world view. AR systems are rapidly gaining popularity in various manufacturing fields such as training, maintenance, assembly, and robot programming. In some AR applications, it is crucial for the invisible virtual environment to be precisely aligned with the physical environment to ensure that human users can accurately perceive the virtual augmentation in conjunction with their real surroundings. The process of achieving this accurate alignment is known as calibration. During some robotics applications using AR, we observed instances of misalignment in the visual representation within the designated workspace. This misalignment can potentially impact the accuracy of the robot’s operations during the task. Based on the previous research on AR-assisted robot programming systems, this work investigates the sources of misalignment errors and presents a simple and efficient calibration procedure to reduce the misalignment accuracy in general video see-through AR systems. To accurately superimpose virtual information onto the real environment, it is necessary to identify the sources and propagation of errors. In this work, we outline the linear transformation and projection of each point from the virtual world space to the virtual screen coordinates. An offline calibration method is introduced to determine the offset matrix from the head-mounted display (HMD) to the camera, and experiments are conducted to validate the improvement achieved through the calibration process.
Characterizing Designs Via Isometric Embeddings: Applications to Airfoil Inverse Design
Authors: Chen Qiuyi , Fuge Mark
Published: September 2023

Many design problems involve reasoning about points in high-dimensional space. A common strategy is to first embed these high-dimensional points into a low-dimensional latent space. We propose that a good embedding should be isometric—i.e., preserving the geodesic distance between points on the data manifold in the latent space. However, enforcing isometry is non-trivial for common neural embedding models such as autoencoders. Moreover, while theoretically appealing, it is unclear to what extent is enforcing isometry necessary for a given design analysis. This paper answers these questions by constructing an isometric embedding via an isometric autoencoder, which we employ to analyze an inverse airfoil design problem. Specifically, the paper describes how to train an isometric autoencoder and demonstrates its usefulness compared to non-isometric autoencoders on the UIUC airfoil dataset. Our ablation study illustrates that enforcing isometry is necessary for accurately discovering clusters through the latent space. We also show how isometric autoencoders can uncover pathologies in typical gradient-based shape optimization solvers through an analysis on the SU2-optimized airfoil dataset, wherein we find an over-reliance of the gradient solver on the angle of attack. Overall, this paper motivates the use of isometry constraints in neural embedding models, particularly in cases where researchers or designers intend to use distance-based analysis measures to analyze designs within the latent space. While this work focuses on airfoil design as an illustrative example, it applies to any domain where analyzing isometric design or data embeddings would be useful.
Sensitivity of Laidback Fan-Shaped Hole Discharge Coefficient Under Internal Coolant Crossflow Conditions
Authors: Haoyang Liu , Qiang Du , Qingzong Xu , Guangyao Xu , Hongye Li , Dawei Chen
Published: September 2023

An experimental study was performed on the discharge coefficients of laidback fan-shaped holes under different internal coolant crossflow orientations. The influence of the geometric and flow parameters on the discharge coefficient was investigated under flat plate conditions, where the pressure ratio ranged from 1 to 1.6. The results show that the film hole discharge coefficient is more sensitive to variations in the coolant crossflow under small pressure ratios. In comparison, the discharge coefficient is much less sensitive to the change of coolant crossflow under high pressure. Meanwhile, the length of the cylindrical section varied over the range of 1D–4D, and the length of the expansion section varied from 2D to 6D, where D represents the diameter of the film hole. The results show that the discharge coefficient is much more sensitive to the length of the cylindrical section than to the length of the expansion section. To quantify the sensitivity of the internal crossflow effects on the discharge coefficient, a low-ordered reduced model is proposed for the discharge coefficient of laidback fan-shaped holes. Both the geometric and flow parameters are considered in the model and give prediction errors within 5%.
On the Electrification of Winter Season in Cold Climate Megacities—The Case of New York City
Authors: Gamarro Harold , González-Cruz Jorge E.
Published: September 2023

Cities are accelerating policies to electrify their energy sectors as a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In densely populated cities with cold climates, the building sector often accounts for over 70% of total energy consumption during winter seasons. In such cold climate megacities, the common practice for heating building spaces involves burning oil or gas. A major shift from this conventional approach toward electric-based heating technologies could have far-reaching implications. In this work, we focus on New York City (NYC), where buildings account for over 75% of the total energy consumption used during winter seasons. The city has adopted policies aimed at achieving deep decarbonization by targeting buildings as a primary source of emissions. We evaluate the potential energy infrastructure and environmental impacts of such major shifts by focusing on the adoption of air-source heat pumps from natural gas boilers. The Weather Research and Forecasting model, coupled with a multilayer building environment parameterization and building energy model, is used to perform this analysis. A city-scale case study was performed over the winter month of January 2021. Simulation results show good agreement with surface weather stations. We show that a shift of heating systems from gas to electricity results in an equivalent peak energy demand from 21,500 MW to 5800 MW, while reducing the peak urban heat island (UHI) by 2.5–3 °C. Results highlight potential trade-offs in adaptation strategies for cities, which may be necessary in the context of increasing decarbonization policies.
Kupffer cell–like syncytia replenish resident macrophage function in the fibrotic liver
Authors: Peiseler Moritz , Araujo David Bruna , Zindel Joel , Surewaard Bas G. J. , Lee Woo-Yong , Heymann Felix , Nusse Ysbrand , Castanheira Fernanda V. S. , Shim Raymond , Guillot Adrien , Bruneau Alix , Atif Jawairia , Perciani Catia , Ohland Christina , Ganguli Mukherjee Priyanka , Niehrs Annika , Thuenauer Roland , Altfeld Marcus , Amrein Mathias , Liu Zhaoyuan , Gordon Paul M. K. , McCoy Kathy , Deniset Justin , MacParland Sonya , Ginhoux Florent , Tacke Frank , Kubes Paul
Published: September 2023

Kupffer cells (KCs) are localized in liver sinusoids but extend pseudopods to parenchymal cells to maintain their identity and serve as the body’s central bacterial filter. Liver cirrhosis drastically alters vascular architecture, but how KCs adapt is unclear. We used a mouse model of liver fibrosis and human tissue to examine immune adaptation. Fibrosis forced KCs to lose contact with parenchymal cells, down-regulating “KC identity,” which rendered them incapable of clearing bacteria. Commensals stimulated the recruitment of monocytes through CD44 to a spatially distinct vascular compartment. There, recruited monocytes formed large aggregates of multinucleated cells (syncytia) that expressed phenotypical KC markers and displayed enhanced bacterial capture ability. Syncytia formed via CD36 and were observed in human cirrhosis as a possible antimicrobial defense that evolved with fibrosis.
Widespread shifts in body size within populations and assemblages
Authors: Martins Inês S. , Schrodt Franziska , Blowes Shane A. , Bates Amanda E. , Bjorkman Anne D. , Brambilla Viviana , Carvajal-Quintero Juan , Chow Cher F. Y. , Daskalova Gergana N. , Edwards Kyle , Eisenhauer Nico , Field Richard , Fontrodona-Eslava Ada , Henn Jonathan J. , van Klink Roel , Madin Joshua S. , Magurran Anne E. , McWilliam Michael , Moyes Faye , Pugh Brittany , Sagouis Alban , Trindade-Santos Isaac , McGill Brian J. , Chase Jonathan M. , Dornelas Maria
Published: September 2023

Biotic responses to global change include directional shifts in organismal traits. Body size, an integrative trait that determines demographic rates and ecosystem functions, is thought to be shrinking in the Anthropocene. Here, we assessed the prevalence of body size change in six taxon groups across 5025 assemblage time series spanning 1960 to 2020. Using the Price equation to partition this change into within-species body size versus compositional changes, we detected prevailing decreases in body size through time driven primarily by fish, with more variable patterns in other taxa. We found that change in assemblage composition contributes more to body size changes than within-species trends, but both components show substantial variation in magnitude and direction. The biomass of assemblages remains quite stable as decreases in body size trade off with increases in abundance.
Cross-coupling by a noncanonical mechanism involving the addition of aryl halide to Cu(II)
Authors: Delaney Connor P. , Lin Eva , Huang Qinan , Yu Isaac F. , Rao Guodong , Tao Lizhi , Jed Ana , Fantasia Serena M. , Püntener Kurt A. , Britt R. David , Hartwig John F.
Published: September 2023

Copper complexes are widely used in the synthesis of fine chemicals and materials to catalyze couplings of heteroatom nucleophiles with aryl halides. We show that cross-couplings catalyzed by some of the most active catalysts occur by a mechanism not previously considered. Copper(II) [Cu(II)] complexes of oxalamide ligands catalyze Ullmann coupling to form the C–O bond in aryl ethers by concerted oxidative addition of an aryl halide to Cu(II) to form a high-valent species that is stabilized by radical character on the oxalamide ligand. This mechanism diverges from those involving Cu(I) and Cu(III) intermediates that have been posited for other Ullmann-type couplings. The stability of the Cu(II) state leads to high turnover numbers, >1000 for the coupling of phenoxide with aryl chloride electrophiles, as well as an ability to run the reactions in air.
Off the grid
Authors: Charles Dan
Published: September 2023

Computer models that forecast overloaded power lines are holding back U.S. solar and wind energy projects
Intricate link between siderophore secretion and drug efflux in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Meikle Virginia , Zhang Lei , Niederweis Michael
Published: September 2023

Drug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
is a worldwide health-care problem rendering current tuberculosis (TB) drugs ineffective. Drug efflux is an important mechanism in bacterial drug resistance. The MmpL4 and MmpL5 transporters form functionally redundant complexes with their associated MmpS4 and MmpS5 proteins and constitute the inner membrane components of an essential siderophore secretion system of
M. tuberculosis
. Inactivating siderophore secretion is toxic for
M. tuberculosis
due to self-poisoning at low-iron conditions and leads to a strong virulence defect in mice. In this study, we show that
M. tuberculosis
mutants lacking components of the MmpS4-MmpL4 and MmpS5-MmpL5 systems are more susceptible to bedaquiline, clofazimine, and rifabutin, important drugs for treatment of drug-resistant TB. While genetic deletion experiments revealed similar functions of the MmpL4 and MmpL5 transporters in siderophore and drug secretion, complementation experiments indicated that the MmpS4-MmpL4 proteins alone are not sufficient to restore drug efflux in an
M. tuberculosis
mutant lacking both operons, in contrast to MmpS5-MmpL5. Importantly, an
M. tuberculosis
mutant lacking the recently discovered periplasmic Rv0455c protein, which is also essential for siderophore secretion, is more susceptible to the same drugs. These results reveal a promising target for the development of dual-function TB drugs, which might poison
M. tuberculosis
by blocking siderophore secretion and synergize with other drugs by impairing drug efflux.
Characterization of CCoV-HuPn-2018 spike protein-mediated viral entry
Authors: Liu Yongmei , Chen Danying , Wang Yuanyuan , Li Xinglin , Qiu Yaruo , Zheng Mei , Song Yanjun , Li Guoli , Song Chuan , Liu Tingting , Zhang Yuanyuan , Guo Ju-Tao , Lin Hanxin , Zhao Xuesen
Published: September 2023

Canine coronavirus-human pneumonia-2018 (CCoV-HuPn-2018) was recently isolated from a child with pneumonia. This novel human pathogen resulted from cross-species transmission of a canine coronavirus. It has been known that CCoV-HuPn-2018 uses aminopeptidase N (APN) from canines, felines, and porcines, but not humans, as functional receptors for cell entry. The molecular mechanism of cell entry in CCoV-HuPn-2018 remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that among the nine APN orthologs tested, the APN of the Mexican free-tailed bat could also efficiently support CCoV-HuPn-2018 spike (S) protein-mediated entry, raising the possibility that bats may also be an alternative host epidemiologically important for the transmission of this virus. The glycosylation at residue N747 of canine APN is critical for its receptor activity. The gain of glycosylation at the corresponding residues in human and rabbit APNs converted them to functional receptors for CCoV-HuPn-2018. Interestingly, the CCoV-HuPn-2018 spike protein pseudotyped virus infected multiple human cancer cell lines in a human APN-independent manner, whereas sialic acid appeared to facilitate the entry of the pseudotyped virus into human cancer cells. Moreover, while host cell surface proteases trypsin and TMPRSS2 did not promote the entry of CCoV-HuPn-2018, endosomal proteases cathepsin L and B are required for the entry of CCoV-HuPn-2018 in a pH-dependent manner. IFITMs and LY6E are host restriction factors for the CCoV-HuPn-2018 entry. Our results thus suggest that CCoV-HuPn-2018 has not yet evolved to be an efficient human pathogen. Collectively, this study helps us understand the cell tropism, receptor usage, cross-species transmission, natural reservoir, and pathogenesis of this potential human coronavirus.

IMPORTANCE

Viral entry is driven by the interaction between the viral spike protein and its specific cellular receptor, which determines cell tropism and host range and is the major constraint to interspecies transmission of coronaviruses. Aminopeptidase N (APN; also called CD13) is a cellular receptor for HCoV-229E, the newly discovered canine coronavirus-human pneumonia-2018 (CCoV-HuPn-2018), and many other animal alphacoronaviruses. We examined the receptor activity of nine APN orthologs and found that CCoV-HuPn-2018 utilizes APN from a broad range of animal species, including bats but not humans, to enter host cells. To our surprise, we found that CCoV-HuPn-2018 spike protein pseudotyped viral particles successfully infected multiple human hepatoma-derived cell lines and a lung cancer cell line, which is independent of the expression of human APN. Our findings thus provide mechanistic insight into the natural hosts and interspecies transmission of CCoV-HuPn-2018-like coronaviruses.
Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.5.5 and BQ.1.1 Omicron variants in mice and hamsters
Authors: Case James Brett , Scheaffer Suzanne M. , Darling Tamarand L. , Bricker Traci L. , Adams Lucas J. , Harastani Houda H. , Trende Reed , Sanapala Shilpa , Fremont Daved H. , Boon Adrianus C. M. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: September 2023

The continued evolution and emergence of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have resulted in challenges to vaccine and antibody efficacy. The emergence of each new variant necessitates the need to re-evaluate and refine animal models used for countermeasure testing. Here, we tested a recently circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineage variant, BQ.1.1, in multiple rodent models including K18-human ACE2 (hACE2) transgenic, C57BL/6J, and 129S2 mice, and Syrian golden hamsters. In contrast to a previously dominant BA.5.5 Omicron variant, inoculation of K18-hACE2 mice with BQ.1.1 resulted in substantial weight loss, a characteristic seen in pre-Omicron variants. BQ.1.1 also replicated to higher levels in the lungs of K18-hACE2 mice and caused greater lung pathology than the BA.5.5 variant. However, in C57BL/6J mice, 129S2 mice, and Syrian hamsters, BQ.1.1 did not cause increased respiratory tract infection or disease compared to animals administered BA.5.5. Moreover, the rates of direct contact or airborne transmission in hamsters were not significantly different after BQ.1.1 and BA.5.5 infections. Taken together, these data suggest that the BQ.1.1 Omicron variant has increased virulence in rodent species that express hACE2, possibly due to the acquisition of unique spike mutations relative to earlier Omicron variants.

IMPORTANCE

As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve, there is a need to rapidly assess the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics against newly emergent variants. To do so, the commonly used animal models must also be re-evaluated. Here, we determined the pathogenicity of the BQ.1.1 SARS-CoV-2 variant in multiple SARS-CoV-2 animal models including transgenic mice expressing human ACE2 (hACE2), two strains of conventional laboratory mice, and Syrian hamsters. While BQ.1.1 and BA.5.5 infection resulted in similar levels of viral burden and clinical disease in hamsters and the conventional strains of laboratory mice tested, increases in lung infection were detected in hACE2-expressing transgenic mice, which corresponded with greater levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lung pathology. Taken together, our data highlight important differences in two closely related Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant strains and provide a foundation for evaluating countermeasures.
ER-dependent membrane repair of mycobacteria-induced vacuole damage
Authors: Anand Aby , Mazur Anna-Carina , Rosell-Arevalo Patricia , Franzkoch Rico , Breitsprecher Leonhard , Listian Stevanus A. , Hüttel Sylvana V. , Müller Danica , Schäfer Deise G. , Vormittag Simone , Hilbi Hubert , Maniak Markus , Gutierrez Maximiliano G. , Barisch Caroline
Published: September 2023

Several intracellular pathogens, such as
Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
damage endomembranes to access the cytosol and subvert innate immune responses. The host counteracts endomembrane damage by recruiting repair machineries that retain the pathogen inside the vacuole. Here, we show that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi protein oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) and its
Dictyostelium discoideum
homolog OSBP8 are recruited to the
Mycobacterium
-containing vacuole (MCV) dependent on the presence of the ESX-1 secretion system, suggesting that their mobilization is associated with membrane damage. Lack of OSBP8 causes a hyperaccumulation of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) on the MCV and decreased cell viability. OSBP8-depleted cells had reduced lysosomal and degradative capabilities of their vacuoles that favored mycobacterial growth. In agreement with a potential role of OSBP8 in membrane repair, human macrophages infected with
M. tuberculosis
recruited OSBP in an ESX-1-dependent manner. These findings identified an ER-dependent repair mechanism for restoring MCVs in which OSBP8 functions to equilibrate PI4P levels on damaged membranes.

IMPORTANCE

Tuberculosis still remains a global burden and is one of the top infectious diseases from a single pathogen.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, the causative agent, has perfected many ways to replicate and persist within its host. While mycobacteria induce vacuole damage to evade the toxic environment and eventually escape into the cytosol, the host recruits repair machineries to restore the MCV membrane. However, how lipids are delivered for membrane repair is poorly understood. Using advanced fluorescence imaging and volumetric correlative approaches, we demonstrate that this involves the recruitment of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi lipid transfer protein OSBP8 in the
Dictyostelium discoideum
/
Mycobacterium marinum
system. Strikingly, depletion of OSBP8 affects lysosomal function accelerating mycobacterial growth. This indicates that an ER-dependent repair pathway constitutes a host defense mechanism against intracellular pathogens such as
M. tuberculosis
.
Phylogenetic lineages and antimicrobial resistance determinants of clinical
Klebsiella oxytoca
spanning local to global scales
Authors: Ikhimiukor Odion O. , Souza Stephanie S. R. , Akintayo Ifeoluwa J. , Marcovici Michael M. , Workman Adrienne , Martin Isabella W. , Andam Cheryl P.
Published: September 2023

Klebsiella oxytoca
is an opportunistic pathogen causing serious nosocomial infections. Knowledge about the population structure and diversity of healthcare-associated
K. oxytoca
from a genomic standpoint remains limited. Here, we characterized the phylogenetic relationships and genomic characteristics of 20
K
.
oxytoca sensu stricto
isolates recovered from bloodstream infections at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, New Hampshire, USA from 2017 to 2021. Results revealed a diverse population consisting of 15 sequence types (STs) that together harbored 10 variants of the intrinsic beta-lactamase gene
bla
OXY-2
, conferring resistance to penicillins. Similar sets of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants reside in multiple distinct lineages, with no one lineage dominating the local population. To place the New Hampshire
K. oxytoca
in a broader context, we compared them to 304 publicly available genomes of clinical isolates from 18 countries. This global clinical
K. oxytoca sensu stricto
population is represented by over 65 STs that together harbored resistance genes against 14 antimicrobial classes, including eight
bla
OXY-2
variants. Three dominant STs in the global population (ST2, ST176, ST199) circulate across multiple countries and were also present in the New Hampshire population. The global
K. oxytoca
population is genetically diverse, but there is evidence for broad dissemination of a few lineages carrying distinct set of AMR determinants. Our findings reveal the clinical diversity of
K. oxytoca sensu stricto
and its importance in surveillance efforts aimed at monitoring the evolution of this drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen.

IMPORTANCE

The opportunistic pathogen
Klebsiella oxytoca
has been increasingly implicated in patient morbidity and mortality worldwide, including several outbreaks in healthcare settings. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant strains exacerbate the disease burden caused by this species. Our study showed that clinical
K. oxytoca sensu stricto
is phylogenetically diverse, harboring various antimicrobial resistance determinants and
bla
OXY-2
variants. Understanding the genomic and population structure of
K. oxytoca
is important for international initiatives and local epidemiological efforts for surveillance and control of drug-resistant
K. oxytoca
.
Morphogenesis and metabolomics reveal the compatible relationship among
Suillus bovinus
,
Phialocephala fortinii
, and their co-host,
Pinus massoniana
Authors: Sun Xueguang , Zhao Yanzhen , Ding Guijie
Published: September 2023

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and dark septate endophytes (DSEs) can both form a symbiotic relationship with the same host plant. However, the interactions that occur among these two types of fungi and their co-hosts are largely unknown. Here, we investigated interactions that occur among the ECM fungus
Suillus bovinus
, the DSE
Phialocephala fortinii
, and their co-host
Pinus massoniana
. We used both scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy to characterize the morphogenesis of the two symbionts and employed the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry technique to assess the effects of fungal inoculation on the root metabolome. Under pure culture conditions, no synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed between
Phi. fortinii
and
S. bovinus
. Generally,
S. bovinus
and
Phi. fortinii
can simultaneously colonize
P. massoniana
roots without affecting each other’s symbiotic processes.
S. bovinus
can colonize the root locus where
Phi. fortinii
has already invaded but not vice versa, which may be due to the physical barrier effect of the mantle. Both fungi can significantly promote the growth of
P. massoniana
, and they have a synergistic effect on host N and K uptake. Metabolite accumulation patterns in roots inoculated with
Phi. fortinii
and/or
S. bovinus
were greatly altered, especially with respect to organic acids, flavonoids, lipids, and phenolic acids.
S. bovinus
inoculation significantly enhanced root flavonoid biosynthesis, whereas
Phi. fortinii
and dual-inoculation treatments mainly induced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. These findings reveal compatible relationships among
P. massoniana
,
S. bovinus
, and
Phi. fortinii
, and suggest a theoretical basis for ECM fungi and DSE co-application when cultivating seedlings.

IMPORTANCE

The prevalence of both ectomycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes in the roots of a wide spectrum of tree species is well recognized. In this study, we investigated the interactions that occur among the ECM fungus
S. bovinus
, the DSE
Phi. fortinii
, and their co-host,
P. massoniana
. The two fungi can simultaneously colonize
P. massoniana
roots without affecting each other’s symbiotic processes.
S. bovinus
appears to be superior to
Phi. fortinii
in microniche competition, which may be due to the physical barrier effect of the mantle. The two fungi have different effects on root metabolite accumulation patterns.
S. bovinus
inoculation significantly enhanced root flavonoid biosynthesis, whereas
Phi. fortinii
and dual-inoculation treatments mainly induced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This is the first study revealing the morphological and metabolic mechanisms that contribute to the compatible relationship among ECM fungi, DSEs, and their co-host.
Tick-to-host transmission differs between
Borrelia afzelii
strains
Authors: Genné Dolores , Jiricka Whitney , Sarr Anouk , Voordouw Maarten J.
Published: September 2023

Many vector-borne pathogens establish multiple-strain infections in the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Multiple-strain infections in the host influence strain acquisition by naive vectors. Whether multiple-strain infections in the vector influence strain-specific transmission to naive hosts remains unknown. The spirochete,
Borrelia afzelii
, causes Lyme borreliosis and multiple-strain infections are common in both the tick vector and vertebrate host. Our study used two
B. afzelii
strains: Fin-Jyv-A3 and NE4049. Donor mice were infected with Fin-Jyv-A3 alone, NE4049 alone, or with both strains. Larval ticks fed on donor mice and molted into nymphal ticks infected with either strain or both strains. These nymphs were fed on test mice to determine whether multiple-strain infections in the nymph influence nymph-to-host transmission (NHT). Multiple-strain infection in the donor mice reduced the acquisition of both strains by ticks by 23%. Thus, a substantial fraction of infected nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were infected with the “wrong” competitor strain rather than the “right” focal strain. As a result, nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were 46% less likely to infect the test mice with the focal strain compared to nymphs from the single strain treatment. However, multiple-strain infection in the nymphal tick had no effect on the NHT of either strain. The nymphal spirochete load of Fin-Jyv-A3 was 1.9 times higher compared to NE4049. NHT of Fin-Jyv-A3 (79%) was 1.5 times higher compared to NE4049 (53%). Our study suggests that
B. afzelii
strains with higher nymphal spirochete loads have higher NHT.

IMPORTANCE

For many vector-borne pathogens, multiple-strain infections in the vertebrate host or arthropod vector are common. Multiple-strain infections in the host reduce strain acquisition by feeding vectors. Whether multiple-strain infections in the vector influence strain transmission to the host remains unknown. In our study, we used two strains of the tick-borne spirochete
Borrelia afzelii
, which causes Lyme borreliosis, to investigate whether multiple-strain infections in the nymphal tick influenced nymph-to-host transmission (NHT) of strains. Multiple-strain infections in mice reduced the acquisition of both
B. afzelii
strains by nymphal ticks. As a result, nymphs from the multiple strain treatment were less likely to infect naive test mice with the focal strain. Multiple-strain infection in the nymphal ticks did not influence the NHT of either strain. The strain with the higher bacterial abundance in the nymph had higher NHT. Our study suggests that pathogen abundance in the arthropod vector is important for vector-to-host transmission.
Temporal evolution of the early−late Neoarchean granitoid magmatism in the eastern North China Craton: Transition of geodynamic regime from mantle plume to continental marginal arc system
Authors: Shan Houxiang , Zhai Mingguo , Lu Xiaoping
Published: September 2023

A study of tonalite−trondhjemite−granodiorite (TTG) suite and sanukitoids emplaced at different ages in the Archean can constrain the transition of early Earth’s tectonic regime, which remains a subject of debate. In this contribution, we report a systematic investigation of an early Neoarchean and late Neoarchean TTG-sanukitoid association from the eastern North China Craton based on mineralogical, petrological, and geochemical evidence. The geochemical features of the 2.7 Ga TTG rocks studied suggest that their magma was primarily generated by partial melting of garnet-amphibolite and eclogite. Moreover, they are characterized by relatively low values of MgO, Mg#, Cr, and Ni, and zircon ɛHf(t) that varies mostly with evolved signature, which suggests that the primary magma of the TTGs was generated in a setting of thickened lower crust. The 2.5 Ga high-K calc-alkaline granitoids studied show an affinity to Archean sanukitoids. Their representative major and trace elemental and isotopic features suggest that they were derived from partial melting of mantle wedge metasomatized by subducted fluids and slab- and sediment-derived melts, followed by varying degrees of mineral fractional crystallization. The eastern North China Craton may have developed a continental marginal arc system in the late Neoarchean attached to another craton in the global Kenorland supercontinent, which might have eventually resulted in its final cratonization. The distinct tectonic settings of the two types of granitoids may indicate a transition of the tectonic regime from vertical in the early Neoarchean to horizontal at the end of the late Neoarchean. Moreover, the low δ18O values found in this study as well as those in other areas of the globe suggest that they were probably related to cold climatic conditions and/or elevated latitudes or altitudes.
Association between maternal HIV infection and the risks of preterm birth and low birth weight in Chengdu, China: a propensity score matching approach
Authors: Yingjuan Luo , Peng Jieru , Liu Yang , Xia Wu , Chen Shan , Yongcheng Sheng , Lin Yonghong
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To estimate the effect of HIV infection on the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) among Chinese pregnancy women.

Design

A retrospective cohort study included HIV-positive pregnant women who gave birth to singletons in Chengdu between 2011 and 2020 and and HIV-negative pregnant women who delivered singletons at the Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital in 2020.

Setting

Data of pregnant women living with HIV were extracted from China’s Information System of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Management. Additionally, information for HIV-negative pregnant women was extracted from the electronic medical record system of the Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital.

Participants

755 HIV-positive women and 15,094 HIV-negative pregnant women were included.

Primary outcome measures

PTB and LBW rates, which were defined by gestational weeks and birth weight.

Results

The incidences of PTB and LBW (13.51% and 14.17%, respectively) were significantly higher in the HIV-positive group compared with the HIV-negative group (6.82% and 4.65%). Propensity score matching was performed to improve comparability of the two groups, resulting in 1590 pregnancies with 558 HIV-positive and 1032 HIV-negative women in the final analysis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of maternal HIV status on adverse pregnancy outcomes. After propensity score matching and controlling the potential confounders, HIV infection was strongly associated with higher chances of LBW and PTB with adjusted odd ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.53 (1.74 to 3.68) and 1.95 (1.33 to 2.85), respectively.

Conclusions

HIV infection was significantly associated with increased risks of PTB and LBW in Chinese pregnant women. Future studies should focus on investigating the mechanisms underlying the association between HIV infection and adverse birth outcomes, and on identifying strategies to reduce the incidence of PTB and LBW in pregnant women living with HIV.