bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Racial Disparities in Access to Preventive Dental Services in Pediatric Population
Authors: Ghaffari Affan , Bradbury Russell F. , Harman Jeffrey
Published: January 2025

Background and Objectives: Though preventive measures are available to alleviate the burden of dental caries, there remain racial disparities in the utilization of preventative dental care. Our objectives were to determine whether racial disparities persisted in receiving preventive oral procedures between (1) Black children and white children; and (2) Hispanic children and white children. Methods: We used pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data in the United States from 2018 to 2021. The key outcome variable involved the use of preventive dental services (ie, examination, x-rays, cleaning, dental sealant fitting, and fluoride treatment), while the main predictor variable involved race (ie, whether they were white, Black, or Hispanic children). Results: Controlling for covariates, there was no statistical significance in the odds of Hispanic and white children in receiving x-rays, sealants, and fluoride treatment (P < .001). Black children had significantly lower odds of receiving oral examination, x-rays, and fluoride treatment than their white counterparts (P < .01). Conclusions: This study highlights the massive strides made in the utilization of preventive dental services by Hispanic children in the United States along with the persisting disparities largely present for Black children; however, further studies are needed focusing on structural, sociocultural, and factors contributing to these disparities.
Post-COVID cacosmia, esophageal candidiasis, and the imperative for precise diagnosis in alleviating societal impact
Authors: Zaidi Syeda Mahrukh Fatima , Uzair Syyeda Hibba , Rehman Faizan Ur , Zaidi Syeda Dua E Zehra , Suman Jeorge , Rangwala Burhanuddin Sohail
Published: January 2025

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has lasting consequences. Post-infectious olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions (OGD), including the distressing cacosmia, persist beyond the acute phase. Global COVID-19 impact prompts focus on persistent OGD in post-recovery. Beyond physical symptoms, complications like esophageal candidiasis emerge. Recognizing the interplay between OGD and secondary conditions is vital for effective management. Societal implications, including social withdrawal and mental health challenges, highlight the need for a comprehensive approach. This background sets the stage for exploring interactions between OGD, esophageal candidiasis, and broader post-COVID recovery aspects. Early diagnosis, targeted treatment, and a holistic approach are crucial in post-COVID recovery, addressing both physical and societal challenges to ensure enhanced well-being and a smoother recovery process. This paper explores disruptions in smell and investigates the potential link between OGD and esophageal candidiasis, emphasizing the need for careful diagnostics before prescribing steroids or immunosuppressant.
Iron deficiency in acute coronary syndromes: prevalence and prognostic impact
Authors: Esteves Ana Fátima , Gonçalves Sara , Duarte Tatiana , Ferreira Joana , Coelho Rui , Quintal Jéni , Pohle Catarina , Fonseca Nuno , Caria Rui
Published: January 2025

Introduction and Objectives:

Iron deficiency (ID) is a well-known prognostic marker in heart failure (HF), independent of anemia. However, its impact in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) is not well established.

Methods:

This is a retrospective analysis of patients admitted with ACS from January to December 2019. The population was evaluated according to basal characteristics and divided in two groups, with or without ID, compared according to several variables, namely demographic, index hospitalization, comorbidities, analytical and echocardiographic. We determined their predictive value on the occurrence of hemorrhage or need for red blood cell transfusion, all-cause hospitalizations, and all-cause death.

Results:

We included 287 patients, with median age 66 (interquartile range [IQR] 21) years and 72% male. ID was present in 48% of patients. Most presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (57%), and 13% were admitted in Killip–Kimball class III or IV. Almost 40% had a left ventricle ejection fraction < 50% on admission. Patients with non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction presented more frequently with ID, compared with patients with STEMI. Of note, 33% of patients with ID had concomitant anemia. During a median follow-up of 28 (IQR 7) months, 10% had an urgent care admission for HF, 7% were hospitalized for HF, and 18% died. There was a significantly higher rate of emergency department admissions for HF in the group with ID. Age, anemia, and NT-proBNP levels predicted the occurrence of all-cause death, with ID having no impact on none of the evaluated events.

Conclusion:

ID was prevalent in patients with ACS, affecting almost half of the population. In the acute setting of an ACS, anemia seems to have a greater impact on mortality and the role of ID in promoting HF needs further investigation.
The Drivers and Barriers of Clinical Health Professions Student Flourishing: An Integrative Review
Authors: Neary Stephanie , Doolittle Benjamin , Nichols Michelle
Published: January 2025

Introduction

To determine the drivers and barriers to flourishing for clinical health professions students through a review of peer-reviewed literature.

Methods

Articles were analyzed in Scopus, PubMed, and EBSCOHost and hand-searched education journals through May 2024 describing flourishing among clinical health professions students. Whittemore and Knafl's integrative approach was used, and quality was assessed by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

The 26 articles included medical (14/26, 53.8%), pharmacy (8/26, 30.8%), physician assistant (3/26, 11.5%), and nurse anesthetist (1/26%, 3.8%) students. Results were framed by the Social Ecological Model. Individual drivers included meaningful work, feeling valued, and pride in overcoming challenges, while barriers included feelings of self-sacrifice to achieve success. Intrinsic factors were both drivers and barriers (eg, positive affect was positively correlated with flourishing). Interpersonal drivers included feelings of belonging, social relationships, and mentorship, while scheduling conflicts was a barrier. Organizational drivers included integrated wellness efforts and faculty buy-in, while barriers included inadequate recovery time between demanding tasks, required participation in activities perceived to have individual low-value, and resource inaccessibility/insufficiency. There was a deficit in the exploration of the impact of communities, public policy, and race and/or ethnicity on flourishing.

Discussion

Limitations include possible exclusion of relevant articles due to search term and database selection. Students, faculty, and programs are cocreators of environments that promote or thwart flourishing. Educators can intentionally create learning environments that promote flourishing through increasing student autonomy, implementing community-building activities, and developing individual values in the context of training.
Optic Nerve Sheath Meningiomas: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing Outcomes in Treated Versus Observed Patients
Authors: Tien Marko (Chi-Wei) , McDonald Heather M. , Wei Elizabeth , Micieli Jonathan A. , Margolin Edward A.
Published: January 2025

Background:

The rarity of optic nerve sheath meningiomas (ONSMs) complicates the guidelines surrounding optimal treatment strategies and prognostic factors. There are limited data on the visual outcomes of those treated with radiotherapy versus those observed without treatment. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and radiographic presentations of patients diagnosed with ONSMs and to identify factors predicting improvement in visual function after treatment.

Methods:

This is a retrospective case series of 26 patients who presented to 2 tertiary neuro-ophthalmology practices for 10 years with the presumptive diagnosis of ONSM. Demographic, clinical, investigative, radiologic, treatment, and outcome data were collected. Visual improvement was defined as improvement in visual acuity (VA) by ≥2 Snellen lines or visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD) improvement by ≥2 dB. Statistical analyses were performed to compare patients who experienced improvement in visual function with those who did not poststereotactic radiotherapy to identify pretreatment predictors of visual recovery.

Results:

Seventeen patients underwent radiotherapy (16 received 54 Gy in 30 fractions and 1 received 50 Gy in 25 fractions) and 4 elected observation. Five were lost to follow-up. Visual function improvement was seen in 10 patients who underwent radiotherapy. Pretreatment VA (logMAR 0.492 vs 1.42, P = 0.025), tumor size (8.50 vs 18.3 mm, P = 0.028), and a decrease in tumor size postradiotherapy (P = 0.009 for VA and 0.035 for VF MD improvement) were significantly associated with objective visual improvement.

Conclusions:

Pretreatment VA and tumor size may predict improvement in visual function in patients with ONSMs treated with radiotherapy. Future larger scale studies that include these data may be able to draw more definite conclusions.
The status of sodium intake and excretion and the primary dietary sources of sodium in Iranian adults, a comprehensive pilot study
Authors: Esmaeili Mina , Kamali Zahra , Abdollahi Morteza , Houshiarrad Anahita , Soleimani Mohammad , Nematollahi Soroush , Abdollahi Zahra , Salehi Forouzan , Ajami Marjan , Milani-Bonab Ali
Published: January 2025

Background

Coronary artery disease and hypertension are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, primarily due to high sodium intake. Therefore, accurate assessment of the status of sodium intake and excretion is crucial. The present study aimed to assess the dietary sodium intake and excretion in Iranian population.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 150 adults aged 20–65 years in Tehran, Iran. A 24-h dietary recall was used to measure the intake of sodium. A food frequency questionnaire was also used to identify the food items that contributed the highest amount of sodium in the diet. A 24-h urine collection was applied to assess the amount of sodium excretion.

Results

The mean of dietary sodium intake and sodium excreted in 24-h urine collections were 3888 ± 2931 mg/day and 125.2 ± 49 mmol/dl, respectively. Sodium intake and sodium excretion were significantly higher in men compared to women (P = 0.012 and P = 0.004, respectively). Traditional flatbreads were identified as the two main food sources contributing to dietary sodium intake, accounting for 31.2% of the total sodium intake from food sources. The average daily salt intake exceeded the recommended amount (5 g/day) in over 80% of the participants.

Conclusion

Sodium intake in a wide range of Iranian adults may be higher than the recommended values. Iranian flatbreads are the primary source of sodium intake In Iranian diets. If be confirmed in future studies, these results could help policymakers make decisions on reducing salt intake to prevent diseases associated with high salt consumption.
Optimizing contact tracing for avian influenza in poultry flocks
Authors: Lambert Sébastien , Fourtune Lisa , Hobbelen Peter H. F. , Baca Julie , Gonzales José L. , Elbers Armin R. W. , Vergne Timothée
Published: January 2025

Contact tracing is commonly used to manage infectious diseases of both humans and animals. It aims to detect early and control potentially infected individuals or farms that had contact with infectious cases. Because it is very resource-intensive, contact tracing is usually performed on a pre-defined time window, based on previous knowledge of the duration of the incubation period. However, pre-defined time windows may not be always relevant, reducing the efficiency of contact tracing. In this study, we estimated the day when farms were first infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, a devastating pathogen causing severe socio-economic damage in domestic poultry. The estimation was performed by fitting a stochastic mechanistic model to observed daily mortality data from 63 infected poultry farms in France and The Netherlands, using approximate Bayesian computation. Independent of the poultry species or country, the estimates of the time of first infection ranged between 3.4 (95% credible interval—CrI: 2.6, 4.6) and 19.9 (95% CrI: 11.9, 31.3) days prior to the last observation. We developed an online application to provide real-time support to policymakers by estimating realistic ranges of dates of first infection to inform contact tracing and improve its efficiency.
Paternal response to novel predator exposure correlates with transgenerational response in offspring of threespined stickleback
Authors: Rogers Michaela M. , Hellmann Jennifer K.
Published: January 2025

Parental experiences can alter offspring phenotypes via transgenerational plasticity (TGP), which may prime offspring to adaptively respond to novel stressors, including novel predators. However, we know little about the types of sensory cues (e.g. visual, olfactory) that parents use to recognize novel predators and the consequences for offspring. Individuals may respond to novel cues if they mimic historical cues or they may need multiple sensory cues to recognize and respond to novel stimuli. We exposed threespined stickleback (
Gasterosteus aculeatus
) males to a full factorial of visual and olfactory cues of a novel trout predator prior to fertilization and tested offspring for antipredator behaviour and survival against a live predator. Fathers exposed to visual cues oriented more to and spent time closer to the novel predator post-exposure on the first day. Paternal response to visual cues was echoed in their offspring: offspring of fathers exposed to visual cues were caught faster by a live predator, suggesting that multiple cues are not needed to induce a transgenerational effect. While visual cues elicited responses both within- and transgenerationally, they do not seem to result in adaptive priming in offspring, suggesting the possibility of maladaptive TGP in response to novel cues of predation risk.
Formulation for axisymmetric non-slipping contacts between dissimilar elastic solids
Authors: Ma Lifeng , Korsunsky Alexander M. , Hills David A.
Published: January 2025

In this article, the problem of axisymmetric contact between dissimilar elastic bodies is formulated mainly to treat non-slipping cases. When two elastically dissimilar bodies are incrementally pressed into contact, a relative radial displacement along the contact interface emerges because of the material property mismatch. To find the contact relative radial displacement separately for non-adhesive and adhesive conditions, a direct and generic approach is developed. The explicit solutions of the interface relative radial displacement for non-slipping contacts are derived in a rigorous manner, enabling a thorough analysis. In addition, based on the present formulation and approach, as an example, a typical adhesive contact problem with an applied radial mismatch strain is re-examined. This shows that radial mismatch strain may significantly influence the pull-off force. These results may be used to model more accurately contacts at macro, micro and nanoscales.
Paenibacillus zeirhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from surface of the maize (Zea mays) roots in a horticulture field, Hungary
Authors: Márton Dalma , Farkas Milán , Bedics Anna , Tóth Erika , Táncsics András , Bóka Károly , Maróti Gergely , Baka Erzsébet , Kriszt Balázs , Cserháti Mátyás
Published: January 2025

A novel Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacterium with peritrichous flagella, designated as P96T was isolated from the surface of maize roots. Strain P96T grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 7.0. The strain contained A1γ meso-Dpm-direct in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The dominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The genome size of strain P96T was 4.8 Mb, and the G+C content was 50.01%. Phylogenomic analyses based on the whole-genome sequences classified the strain into the genus Paenibacillus. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity relatedness analysis resulted in values below the threshold for prokaryotic species delineation, with the highest values observed for Paenibacillus enshidis KCTC 33519T (29.4 and 85.2%, respectively). Genotypic data together with phenotypic properties supported the classification of strain P96T as representative of a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus zeirhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P96T (=LMG 32802T = NCAIM B 02678T).
Utilizing a pan-transcriptome reveals genotype-specific responses to iron deficiency inSorghum bicolor
Authors: Nnamdi Chinaza Davies , Songsomboon Kittikun , Zarasvand Azita Alasvand , Voelker William G. , Cooper Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Sweet sorghum genotypes are distinguished from non-sweet types by their ability to accumulate high concentrations of sugar in their stems, which makes them valuable for both bioenergy production and as an alternative source of sugar. Previous work has reported numerous gene copy number differences in metal metabolism and iron transport genes between the sweet and non-sweet genotypes. The objective of this study was to investigate which genes are differentially expressed by the sweet and non-sweet genotypes under varying iron conditions.

Methods

Three sweet and three non-sweet sorghum genotypes were grown hydroponically under two conditions (control and low iron), and root tissue from the plants was harvested for RNA extraction and sequencing after 9 days. To obtain a more complete picture of diverse iron-response mechanisms in sorghum, we constructed a pan-transcriptome from 10 founder parents of the Carbon-Partitioning Nested Association Mapping population.

Results

Differential expression analysis using the pan-transcriptome revealed 209 genes that responded differently to iron stress in the sweet and non-sweet types, which was more than twice as many genes found using only a single reference genome. Enrichment analysis based on age of duplication event showed that duplicate gene copies that are differentially expressed due to genotype effect appear to be specific to sorghum while most duplicate gene copies that are differentially expressed due to iron treatment appear to be more evolutionary conserved across plants.

Discussion

This study highlights the importance of the non-core genome and the utility of the pan-transcriptome in sorghum. It also revealed that different sorghum genotypes respond to iron stress differently.
Pseudozyma aphidis bio-active extract inhibit plant pathogens and activate induce resistance in tomato plants
Authors: Harris Raviv , Levy Maggie
Published: January 2025

The constant growth in the world population demands a constant increase in agricultural yields. One of the main ways to increase agricultural yields is by improving the control of pests and pathogens. Human health and environmental concerns regarding the traditional synthetic pesticides challenge the scientific community to discover new and less harmful ways to control pests, such as the development of biocontrol agents and natural-based pesticides.

Previous studies have established that application of liveP. aphidiscan be used for biocontrol of diverse fungal and bacterial phytopathogens. Here demonstrate activity of two semi-purified fractions fromP. aphidis, one containing the antimicrobial metabolites and the other containing the resistance inducing metabolites. Our results from thein vitroexperiments with the antimicrobial extract show thatP. aphidismetabolites strongly inhibit important fungal and bacterial phytopathogens.In plantaexperiments demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent reduction in disease infection when a spore suspension ofB. cinereawas treated or exposed to the extracted metabolites. From the other hand, our results showed that the application a semi-purified aqueous fraction fromP. aphidison tomato plants rapidly up-regulated the expression of defense-related genes, which are associated with both the induced systemic resistance and the systemic acquired resistance pathways.

In conclusion, this study further enhances our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms behindP. aphidismain modes of action: antibiosis and induced resistance. It also demonstrates the great potential of this unique biocontrol agent as a source for new natural-based pesticides and/or enhanced resistance substances.
Global expression profile of EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliO157:H7 in phagosome of murine macrophages
Authors: Riviere Nahuel Agustín , Jiang Lin , Wu Xiuju , Casabonne María Carolina , Guo Lu , Smith Libia Yael , Marques Da Silva Wanderson , Cataldi Ángel Adrián , Xing Ke , Bei Jinlong , Larzábal Mariano
Published: January 2025

EHEC O157:H7 is responsible for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) outbreaks in humans and its virulence is associated with Shiga toxin (Stx). During the pathogenesis of HUS, EHEC O157:H7 is phagocytized by the intestinal host macrophage into the phagosome. According to our study, a low percentage of phagocytized bacteria survived in the murine macrophage phagosome. To understand the initials mechanisms involved in bacterial persistence, we performed a global profile of bacterial RNAseq analysis in the early phagosome of murine macrophage andin vitroassays with more extreme stress conditions. The defense strategy of an early murine phagosome consisted on producing DNA damage, membrane damage, acid pH and nitric oxide (NO) agents. These hostile conditions triggering the bacterial SOS response, lipid biosynthesis and NO detoxification enzymes in response to DNA damage, membrane damage and nitric oxide agents, respectively. In turn, to survive, the bacterium conserves energy by downregulating flagellar biosynthesis, T3SS and T6SS virulence mechanisms. In contrast,stx2aexpression is upregulated. At the same time, it increases the ribosomal levels and amino acid synthesis to react more effectively against adverse conditions. Under more extreme stress conditions, EHEC O157:H7 expressed genes related to an acidic environment (pH 4.5) upregulating the acid stress response pathways AR2-5, whereas, upon high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, it transcribed higher levels of genes of the OxyR pathway and subsequently hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress-related genes.
Insights into the spool-like architecture and infection strategy of the archaeal virus SEV1
Authors: Zhang Haonan , Wang Haina , Li Yan , Fan Yunxuan , Zhang Zhenfeng , Chen Hongyu , Song Kai , Huang Li , Zhu Ping
Published: January 2025

Archaeal viruses are well known for their diverse morphologies and extreme stability. In this study, we used cryo-electron tomography to analyze the structure of SEV1 and its infection strategies in its native state. The results show that SEV1 nucleocapsid adopts a ‘coil-stacking’ architecture which displays a degree of flexibility. VP4, whose homologues are widespread in the thermo-acidic environment globally, is identified as the major capsid protein and binds genomic DNA forming a “beads-on-a-string” arrangement. Simulations in various extreme environments indicate that the envelope of SEV1 is crucial to the thermostability. SEV1 infects the host by membrane fusion revealed by the membrane fusion assay. The infected cell undergoes cytoplasm condensation to form a “viral factory”, leading to the successive production of nascent virions. A series of assembly intermediates of SEV1 are identified revealing an integrated picture of the virus assembly process. The nascent virions are found to be released through virus-associated pyramids (VAPs), composed of unique proteins encoded by SEV1 distinct from other known VAP proteins. Our study provides novel insights to the survival strategies of SEV1, a flexible and enveloped archaeal virus, by using the unique “coil-stacking” architecture and the characteristic infection strategies.
“Men’s is the only and final word.” A qualitative study of community midwives’ insights on violence against women and girls in Yemen, including the forms, causes, and responses of survivors and their families
Authors: Zumair Marwah Al , Zaid Hussein , Leegstra Luz Marina , Pizarro Raisa Ferrer , Shreedhar Priya , Zumair Monia Al , Bawahda Lamya , Jann Albrecht , Maxwell Lauren
Published: January 2025

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a serious human rights violation that has intensified in Yemen due to war, displacement, and pandemics. The cultural stigma surrounding discussions of VAWG, particularly sexual violence, compounded by a lack of resources for affected individuals, poses significant challenges for research and program implementation. This study involved qualitative interviews with 20 community midwives from the National Yemeni Midwifery Association across four governorates to explore the causes, forms, and consequences of VAWG and identify potential resources for survivors. A Yemeni physician trained in ethical VAWG research conducted the interviews, which were analysed thematically by two researchers. The findings indicated that physical partner violence was widely recognised as a crime; however, women and girls facing sexual violence often faced severe social ramifications, including ostracism or violence aimed at preserving family honour, leading to underreporting. Midwives identified patriarchal culture and the ongoing economic crisis as key contributors to VAWG. Health-related consequences for survivors included physical injuries such as vaginal tears and obstetric fistula. Additionally, midwives reported that survivors encountered humiliation within the healthcare system. Most women and girls did not seek help; however, when they did, they turned to their families or local leaders for support. To effectively understand, prevent, and address VAWG in Yemen, strategies should prioritise the safety and needs of women and align with cultural values. Insights from community midwives can guide the development of VAWG-focused community-led initiatives.
Microbial nitrogen removal versus recycling in the redox transition zone of a meromictic lake and its coupling to sulfur
Authors: Tischer Jana , Lehmann Moritz F. , Su Guangyi , Lepori Fabio , Zopfi Jakob
Published: January 2025

Organotrophic denitrification is an important nitrogen (N) removal process in lakes, but alternative N reduction processes such as lithotrophic sulfur (S)-oxidizing denitrification may be greatly underappreciated. We studied the redox transition zone (RTZ) in the meromictic water column of the North Basin of Lake Lugano (Switzerland) to characterize N transformation pathways coupled to the S and carbon (C) cycles. Incubations with15N-labeled and unlabeled nitrate showed low denitrification rates and a general limitation of organic electron donors. The most accessible fractions of exported primary production biomass may have been largely consumed in the oxic water column during sedimentation, and did not reach the RTZ at ∼100 m. Conversely, sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4), major end products of anaerobic degradation of the more recalcitrant organic matter fractions in the sediment, represent a continuous source of energy to the RTZ, fostering the establishment of a community of S- and CH4-dependent nitrate reducers, dominated bySulfuritaleaandCandidatusMethylomirabilis over several years of observation. Anoxic incubation experiments with H2S amendments revealed a strong stimulation of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), but not denitrification. High relative abundances of the archaeal ammonia oxidizerCandidatusNitrosopumilus and bacterial nitrifiers indicate intense nitrate regeneration by nitrification in the upper RTZ. The potential interaction between nitrification and S-driven DNRA is unclear. However, their importance in close proximity suggests that, at least under conditions of carbon limitation, N recycling between the nitrate and ammonium pools, predominates over N removal via complete denitrification in the Lake Lugano North Basin.
Wolbachiaand its pWCP plasmid show differential dynamics during the development ofCulexmosquitoes
Authors: Brunner Alice , Gauliard Camille , Tutagata Jordan , Bordenstein Seth , Bordenstein Sarah , Trouche Blandine , Reveillaud Julie
Published: January 2025

Mosquitoes are major vectors of pathogens such as arboviruses and parasites, causing significant health impacts each year.Wolbachia, an intracellular bacterium widely distributed among arthropods, represents a promising vector control solution. This bacterium can reduce the transmission of dengue, Zika and chikungunya arboviruses and manipulate the reproduction of its host through its prophage WO. Although research on theWolbachiamobilome primarily focuses on WO and the phenotypes it induces, the function ofWolbachiaplasmid pWCP, recently discovered and reported to be strikingly conserved worldwide, remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed the presence and abundance of pWCP as well asWolbachiain two different species ofCulexmosquitoes, one of the most widespread genera in the world and a vector of numerous diseases. We compared relative densities of the bacterium and its mobile genetic element inCulex pipiens molestusandCulex quinquefasciatus, a facultatively autogenous and a anautogenous species, respectively, throughout their development from larval stage L1 to adult individual specimen using quantitative PCR. Our results suggest that 2-5 copies of pWCP occur inWolbachiacells on average, and the plasmid co-replicates withWolbachiacells. Moreover,Wolbachiaand pWCP exhibit differential levels of abundance at specific development stages throughout the mosquito’s life cycle in each species. These findings indicate important, and likely beneficial, roles for the plasmid in the bacterium’s biology in different mosquito species as well as complex interaction dynamics betweenWolbachiaand its host during its life cycle.

Importance

Mosquitoes of theCulexgenus are critical vectors for numerous diseases, causing significant public health concerns. The intracellular bacteriumWolbachiahas emerged as a promising vector control solution due to its ability to interfere with pathogen transmission and manipulate mosquito reproduction. However, unlike the extensively studied WO phage, the biological significance and function ofWolbachia’spWCP plasmid, a recently discovered and strikingly conserved mobile genetic element inCulexspecies, remains unknown. This study investigates the developmental dynamics of pWCP andWolbachiain twoCulexmosquito species,Culex pipiens molestusandCulex quinquefasciatusacross their life cycle. In general, the abundance levels ofWolbachiaand the plasmid were found to vary across life stages and differ between the two species. However, a relatively small number of pWCP copies were observed perWolbachiacell, together with a co-replication of the plasmid with the bacterium for most developmental stages. Altogether, these findings suggest a likely beneficial and non-parasitic role for pWCP inWolbachia’s biology, that may contribute to the intricate interactions between the bacterium and its mosquito hosts.
Seagrass arabinogalactan-proteins: Are they important for adaptation to the marine environment?
Authors: Pfeifer Lukas , Johnson Kim L. , Bacic Antony , Reusch Thorsten B. H. , Duarte Carlos M. , Sinclair Elizabeth A. , Classen Birgit
Published: January 2025

During the late cretaceous period several lineages of angiosperm plants transitioned from land to the sea by successfully adapting to life in salt water, forming the polyphyletic group of seagrasses. Today, four seagrass families inhabit coastal systems and are deeply intertwined with health and welfare of these ecosystems. Adaptation to the ocean environment included changes in the composition of plant cell walls and associated glycoproteins. We have asked the question whether or not there is a convergent and similar arabinogalactan-protein glycan repertoire in all seagrasses, given initial findings of arabinogalactan-proteins with unique features in the well-studied eelgrass,Zostera marina. We isolated and characterized arabinogalactan-proteins from seven species covering the four major seagrass families using carbohydrate analysis and glycan immunoassays, along with a bioinformatic search for relevant gene pathways in newly published seagrass genomes and transcriptomes. Glycan parts of all seagrass arabinogalactan-proteins shared a high proportion of 1,4-linked glucuronic acids and terminal 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid residues. Trait-based dendrograms generated to inform phylogenetic-relatedness showed there was no phylogenetic signal among seagrass families and arabinogalactan-protein features. Transcriptomic datasets fromCymodocea nodosaandThalassia hemprichiigrowing under hypersaline conditions showed an upregulation of enzymes involved in 4O-methylation and glucuronic acid transfer. We therefore conclude that environmental factors, especially salinity with higher monovalent ion concentration, influence seagrass arabinogalactan-proteins structure more intensely than phylogenetic history.
Zero-phase-delay connectivity increases the reliability, concordance with structure, and prognostic ability of functional connectivity metrics
Authors: Mehra Chirag , Beyh Ahmad , Laiou Petroula , Garces Pilar , Murphy Declan , Loth Eva , Dell’Acqua Flavio , Ewen Joshua B , Richardson Mark P , O’Muircheartaigh Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Zero-phase-delay synchrony between the activity of distant neural populations has been robustly observed. Nevertheless, contemporary electroencephalography and magnetencephalography functional connectivity analyses typically exclude zero-phase-delay functional connections, assuming that they are predominantly artefactual. However, the effects of excluding them on the performance of functional connectivity metrics as potential biomarkers are unknown. Here, we showed that most cortico-cortical functional connections occur with zero- or near-zero phase-delay, even where such connectivity was unlikely to be artefactual. Including, rather than excluding, zero-phase-delay connectivity increased the reliability, concordance with structural connectivity, and predictive validity (for longitudinal changes in cognition) of functional connectivity metrics. We found that excluding zero-phase-delay connections penalised functional connectivity strength between the strongest structurally connected regions: stronger structural connections led to functional connections with phase-delays closer to zero, mediated by a shorter signal propagation time. Our findings challenge generally accepted assumptions that zero-phase-exclusive methods are superior to zero-phase-inclusive methods.
Non-Contrast µCT Analysis of Obese Adipose in Response to Cold-Exposure Reveals Sex-Specific Alterations
Authors: Eades Austin E. , Payne Macy M. , Clark Zachary , Evans Logan , Walsh R. McKinnon , Bye Bailey B. , Rekowski Michaella J. , Morris E. Matthew , Bossmann Stefan H. , VanSaun Michael N.
Published: January 2025

In 2020, it was reported that obesity in the United States had increased by 12% from 1999 to 2018. While exercise and diet are optimal lifestyle modifications to curb obesity, drug-based therapeutics focus on glucagon-like peptide (GLP) modifiers. Alternatively, current research suggests that a specialized type of adipose, called thermogenic adipose, may help protect against obesity. Active thermogenic adipose can metabolize free fatty acids (FFAs) and carbohydrates to carry out non-shivering thermogenesis (NST), potentially providing a method for reducing excess energy stores. While brown adipose tissue (BAT) provides the primary thermogenic response, we hypothesized that exposing diet-induced obese (DIO) mice to colder temperatures would also diminish white adipose tissue (WAT) depots and suppress their inflammatory signature. To measure adipose response to coldin vivo, we applied a non-contrast microCT (µCT) imaging analysis. Male and female mice were housed at thermoneutrality (TN) and fed a Western-style diet (WD)ad libuntil they became obese. Once they reached this stage, the mice were subjected to a thermalshift (TS) and exposed to either room temperature (RT) of 22°C or a colder temperature of 18°C. The adipose response was then assessed in post-exposure tissues by histological analysis, proteomics, and molecular characterization to correlate phenotypic changes with our µCT findings. Results from this analysis revealed a sex-specific response to cold exposure: thermogenic adipose was predominantly formed in the interscapular BAT (iBAT) of male mice, while female mice showed formation in their perigonadal WAT (pgWAT) and iBAT when exposed to 18°C. Furthermore, male mice exhibited a decline in serum glucose levels when subjected to 18°C, which was increased in TS female mice. Serum-free fatty acids (FFAs) were unaffected by either sex across different environmental conditions. Importantly, using a mass-spectrometry-based approach, we detected a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the conditioned media (CM) of pgWAT and iBAT from TS male mice compared to TN DIO male mice. Overall, our studies demonstrated a new µCT-based analytical method to detect changes in obese adipose tissue and highlighted unique sex-specific responses to environmental exposure. Our findings suggest that thermogenic adipose may offer a promising avenue for combating obesity and reducing its pathologic characteristics.
Morphogen Patterning in Dynamic Tissues
Authors: Plum Alex M. , Serra Mattia
Published: January 2025

Embryogenesis integrates morphogenesis—coordinated cell movements—with morphogen patterning and cell differentiation. While largely studied independently, morphogenesis and patterning often unfold simultaneously in early embryos. Yet, how cell movements affect patterning remains unclear, as most pattern formation models assume static tissues. We address this gap by developing a mathematical framework for morphogen patterning in dynamic tissues, reformulating advection-reaction-diffusion models in cells’ reference frames—the most natural for signal interpretation and fate decisions. This framework (i) elucidates how morphogenesis mediates morphogen transport and compartmentalization: multicellular attractors enhance cell-cell diffusive transport, while repellers act as barriers, affecting cell fate induction and bifurcations. (ii) It formalizes cell-cell signaling ranges in dynamic tissues, deconfounding morphogenetic movements and identifying which cells can communicate. (iii) It provides two nondimensional numbers—typically distinct from the Péclet number—to assess when and where morphogenesis is relevant for patterning. (iv) It elucidates the generative role of cell density dynamics in patterning. We apply this framework to classic patterning models, morphogenetic motifs, and avian gastrulation data. Broadly, our work provides a quantitative perspective to rationalize dynamic tissue patterning in natural and synthetic embryos.
Identification of cutoff value for Homeostatic Model Assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) in children at a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh
Authors: Jahan Ismat , Biswas Dhiraj Chandra , Sharmin Farzana , Parvin Roksana , Rezaul karim Muhammad , begum Suraiya
Published: January 2025

Objective

The Objective of this study was to find out the optimal cut-off value of HOMA-IR for identification of insulin resistance in Bangladeshi children.

Material and Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted at the department of Paediatrics of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. 613 children aged 6-18years old were investigated for fasting insulin, glucose and lipid profile. HOMA-IR value was calculated from fasting insulin and fasting glucose level. The optimal cut-off value of IR was determined by percentile criteria and metabolic syndrome criteria.

Results

HOMA–IR cutoff value irrespective of age and sex at 85thpercentile ranges between 2.3 to 2.6 and cut off by metabolic syndrome criteria ranges between 2.0 to 2.4 with high sensitivity (93.2%) and specificity (60.1%) while HOMA-IR cut off at 95thpercentile is higher (3.0 to 4.7) than the 85thcentile but at 95thcentile sensitivity (78.6%) and specificity (72.9%) was low. Therefore suggested cut off value of HOMA-IR is 2.4 which is common in both metabolic syndrome criteria and percentile criteria.

Conclusion

This study suggests 2.4 as the optimal cut-off point of insulin resistance as because it is supported by both the percentile criteria and metabolic syndrome criteria.
Serum Slit3 is associated with disease activity and interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhang Xuepei , Shi Maohua , Guo Dongmei , Yu Yangtao , Zhang Hongwei , Chen Guoqiang
Published: January 2025

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease accompanied by high incidence rate of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Slit guidance ligand 3 (Slit3) which is a member of axon guidance molecule superfamily, mediates a series of biological activities. In this study, we explored the potential clinical significance of Slit3, especially as a serum biomarker for evaluating RA-ILD. Patients diagnosed with RA were recruited between July 2022 to April 2024 from the Department of Rheumatology of Foshan First People’s Hospital. The clinical data were collected from hospital records, serum level of Slit3 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among 232 recruited patients, RA patients in high Slit3 subgroup were older, showed higher proportion of positive rheumatoid factor (RF) status and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (APCA) status, as well as higher levels of ESR, CRP, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with four variables, including C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Notably, Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated serum Slit3 was an independent relevant factor of RA-ILD (OR 1.005 [95% CI 1.002-1.008], P=0.002). Our findings evealed that serum Slit3 was associated with disease activity in RA and may hold promise as a useful serum biomarker and therapeutic target for RA-ILD.
Systemic Metabolic Alterations after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Plasma Metabolomics Approach
Authors: Yang Bosco Seong Kyu , Savarraj Jude P.J. , Chen Hua , Hinds Sarah N. , Torres Glenda L. , Ryan Alice S. , Atem Folefac D. , Lorenzi Philip L. , Ren Xuefang S. , Badjatia Neeraj , Choi Huimahn A. , Gusdon Aaron M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) causes systemic changes that contribute to delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and morbidity. Circulating metabolites reflecting underlying pathophysiological mechanisms warrant investigation as biomarker candidates.

Methods

Blood samples, prospectively collected within 24 hours (T1) of admission and 7-days (T2) post ictus, from patients with acute aSAH from two tertiary care centers were retrospectively analyzed. Samples from healthy subjects and patients with non-neurologic critical illness served as controls. A validated external analysis platform was used to perform untargeted metabolomics. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted to identify metabolomic profiles defining each group and delineate metabolic pathways altered in each group. Machine learning (ML) models were developed incorporating key metabolites to improve DCI prediction.

Results

Among 70 aSAH, 30 healthy control, and 17 sick control subjects, a total of 1,117 metabolites were detected. Groups were matched among key clinical variables. DCI occurred in 36% of aSAH subjects, and poor functional outcome was observed in 70% at discharge. Metabolomic profiles readily discriminated the groups. aSAH subjects demonstrated a robust mobilization of lipid metabolites, with increased levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), mono- and diacylglycerols (MAG, DAG) compared with both control groups. aSAH subjects also had decreased circulating amino acid derived metabolites, consistent with increased catabolism. DCI was associated with increased sphingolipids (sphingosine and sphinganine) and decreased acylcarnitines and S- adenosylhomocysteine at T1. Decreased lysophospholipids and acylcarnitines were associated with poor outcomes. Incorporating metabolites into ML models improved prediction of DCI compared with clinical variables alone.

Conclusions

Profound metabolic shifts occur after aSAH with characteristic increases in lipid and decreases in amino acid metabolites. Key lipid metabolites associated with outcomes (sphingolipids, lysophospholipids, and acylcarnitines) provide insight into systemic changes driving secondary complications. These metabolites may also prove to be useful biomarkers to improve prognostication and personalize aSAH care.
Optimizing the Efficacy of Vaccine-Induced Immunotherapy in Melanomas
Authors: Chamseddine Ibrahim , Kambara Manoj , Bhatt Priya , Pilon-Thomas Shari , Rejniak Katarzyna A.
Published: January 2025

Cancer therapeutic vaccines are used to strengthen a patient’s own immune system by amplifying existing immune responses. Intralesional administration of the bacteria-based emm55 vaccine together with the PD1 checkpoint inhibitor produced a strong anti-tumor effect against the B16 melanoma murine model. However, it is not trivial to design an optimal order and frequency of injections for combination therapies. Here, we developed a coupled ordinary differential equations model calibrated to experimental data and used the mesh adaptive direct search method to optimize the treatment protocols of the emm55 vaccine and anti-PD1 combined therapy. This method determined that early consecutive vaccine injections combined with distributed anti-PD1 injections of decreasing separation time yielded the best tumor size reduction. The optimized protocols led to a twofold decrease in tumor area for the vaccine-alone treatment, and a fourfold decrease for the combined therapy. Our results reveal the tumor subpopulation dynamics in the optimal treatment condition, defining the path for efficacious treatment design. Similar computational frameworks can be applied to other tumors and other combination therapies to generate experimentally testable hypotheses in a fairly unrestricted and inexpensive setting.
Plasma Cell-Free DNA in Acute and Chronic Aortic Syndromes
Authors: Weerakkody Ruwan A , Adamowicz Martyna , Robert Christelle , Pound John , Syed Maaz , Pumpe Caroline , Bilal Alsadeg , Laird Alexander , McLaren Duncan B , Falah Orwa , Tambyraja Andrew L , Reed Matthew J , Newby David E , Aitman Timothy J
Published: January 2025

Acute aortic syndromes and other acute aortic events are commonly misdiagnosed and associated with high mortality and morbidity. There is need for a blood-based biomarker to indicate the acutely unstable aorta. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is an established diagnostic marker in prenatal testing and cancer. Its use as a potential diagnostic marker in aortic disease remains to be demonstrated.

We found that plasma short-fragment (50-700bp) cfDNA concentration is significantly increased in patients with both acute and chronic aortic disease compared with several control groups, and is significantly increased in acute versus chronic aortic disease. Plasma sf-cfDNA may differentiate acute aortic syndromes from other acute presentations of chest pain with good diagnostic accuracy and could prove a significant advance in the management of aortic disease.