bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pervasive morphological responses to climate change in bird body and appendage size
Authors: Ryding Sara , McQueen Alexandra , Klaassen Marcel , Tattersall Glenn J. , Symonds Matthew R.E.
Published: October 2023

Changes to body size and shape have been identified as potential adaptive responses to climate change, but the pervasiveness of these responses is questioned. To address this, we measured body and appendage size from 5013 museum bird skins of ecologically and evolutionary diverse species. We found that morphological change is a shared response to climate change across birds. Birds increased bill surface area, tarsus length, and relative wing length through time, consistent with expectations of increasing appendage size in warmer climates. Furthermore, birds decreased in absolute wing length, consistent with the expectation of decreasing body size in warmer climates. Interestingly, these trends were generally consistent across different diets, foraging habitats, and migratory and thermoregulatory behaviours. Shorter-term responses to hot weather were contrary to long-term effects for appendages. Overall, our findings support that morphological adaptation is a widespread response to climate change in birds that is independent of other ecological traits.
Commensal myeloid crosstalk in neonatal skin regulates long-term cutaneous type 17 inflammation
Authors: Dhariwala Miqdad O. , DeRogatis Andrea M. , Okoro Joy N. , Weckel Antonin , Tran Victoria M. , Habrylo Irek , Ojewumi Oluwasunmisola T. , Tammen Allison E. , Leech John M. , Merana Geil R. , Carale Ricardo O. , Barrere-Cain Rio , Hiam-Galvez Kamir J. , Spitzer Matthew H. , Scharschmidt Tiffany C.
Published: October 2023

Early life microbe-immune interactions at barrier surfaces have lasting impacts on the trajectory towards health versus disease. Monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells are primary sentinels in barrier tissues, yet the salient contributions of commensal-myeloid crosstalk during tissue development remain poorly understood. Here, we identify that commensal microbes facilitate accumulation of a population of monocytes in neonatal skin. Transient postnatal depletion of these monocytes resulted in heightened IL-17A production by skin T cells, which was particularly sustained among CD4+T cells into adulthood and sufficient to exacerbate inflammatory skin pathologies. Neonatal skin monocytes were enriched in expression of negative regulators of the IL-1 pathway. Functional in vivo experiments confirmed a key role for excessive IL-1R1 signaling in T cells as contributing to the dysregulated type 17 response in neonatal monocyte-depleted mice. Thus, a commensal-driven wave of monocytes into neonatal skin critically facilitates long-term immune homeostasis in this prominent barrier tissue.
Translation fidelity and respiration deficits in CLPP-deficient tissues: Mechanistic insights from mitochondrial complexome
Authors: Key Jana , Gispert Suzana , Koepf Gabriele , Steinhoff-Wagner Julia , Reichlmeir Marina , Auburger Georg
Published: September 2023

Mitochondrial matrix peptidase CLPP is crucial during cell stress. Its loss causes Perrault syndrome type 3 (PRLTS3) with infertility, neurodegeneration and growth deficit. Its target proteins are disaggregated by CLPX, which also regulates heme biosynthesis via unfolding ALAS enzyme, providing access of pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (PLP). Despite efforts in diverse organisms with multiple techniques, CLPXP substrates remain controversial. Here, avoiding recombinant overexpression, we employed complexomics in mitochondria from three mouse tissues to identify endogenous targets. CLPP absence caused accumulation and dispersion of CLPX-VWA8 as AAA+ unfoldases, and of PLPBP. Similar changes and CLPX-VWA8 comigration were evident for mitoribosomal central protuberance clusters, translation factors like GFM1-HARS2, RNA granule components LRPPRC-SLIRP, and enzymes OAT-ALDH18A1. Mitochondrially translated proteins in testis showed reductions to <30% for MTCO1-3, misassembly of complex-IV supercomplex, and accumulated metal-binding assembly factors COX15-SFXN4. Indeed, heavy metal levels were increased for iron, molybdenum, cobalt and manganese. RT-qPCR showed compensatory downregulation only forClpxmRNA, most accumulated proteins appeared transcriptionally upregulated. Immunoblots validated VWA8, MRPL38, MRPL18, GFM1 and OAT accumulation. Coimmunoprecipitation confirmed CLPX binding to MRPL38, GFM1 and OAT, so excess CLPX and PLP may affect their activity. Our data elucidate mechanistically the mitochondrial translation fidelity deficits, which underlie progressive hearing impairment in PRLTS3.
Repeated FRAP of the actin-binding protein CapG in the cell nucleus - a functional assay for EGF signaling in the single live breast cancer cell
Authors: Fernandez MK , Sinha M , Renz M
Published: October 2023

Compartmentalization and differential distribution of proteins within a cell maintain cellular function and viability. CapG is the only gelsolin-related actin-binding protein that distributes in steady state diffusively throughout cytoplasm and cell nucleus. To detect changes in CapG’s nuclear shuttling in response to external stimuli on the single cell level, we established repeated FRAP experiments of one and the same breast cancer cell. With this experimental set up, we found that ATP-depletion reversibly decreased CapG’s shuttling into the cell nucleus. The addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased CapG’s nuclear shuttling within minutes. Serum-starvation doubled the number of breast cancer cells from 40% to 80% displaying increased CapG shuttling in response to EGF. Testing five different potential CapG phosphorylation sites, we found that serine 70 mediates the increase in CapG’s nuclear shuttling triggered by EGF. Thus, repeated FRAP of CapG in the cell nucleus can be used as functional readout of signaling cascades in the same single live breast cancer cell.
Resident Synovial Macrophages in Synovial Fluid: Implications for Immunoregulation in Infectious and Inflammatory Arthritis
Authors: Cyndari Karen I. , Scorza Breanna M. , Zacharias Zeb R. , Strand Leela , Mahachi Kurayi , Oviedo Juan Marcos , Gibbs Lisa , Pessoa-Pereira Danielle , Ausdal Graham , Hendricks Dylan , Yahashiri Rika , Elkins Jacob M. , Gulbrandsen Trevor , Peterson Andrew R. , Willey Michael C. , Fairfax Keke C. , Petersen Christine A.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

Resident synovial macrophages (RSM) provide immune sequestration of the joint space and are likely involved in initiation and perpetuation of the joint-specific immune response. We sought to identify RSM in synovial fluid (SF) and demonstrate migratory ability, in additional to functional changes that may perpetuate a chronic inflammatory response within joint spaces.

Methods

We recruited human patients presenting with undifferentiated arthritis in multiple clinical settings. We used flow cytometry to identify mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and SF. We used a novel transwell migration assay with humanex-vivosynovium obtained intra-operatively to validate flow cytometry findings. We used single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to further identify macrophage/monocyte subsets. ELISA was used to evaluate the bone-resorption potential of SF.

Results

We were able to identify a rare population of CD14dim, OPG+, ZO-1+cells consistent with RSM in SF via flow cytometry. These cells were relatively enriched in the SF during infectious processes, but absolutely decreased compared to healthy controls. Similar putative RSM were identified usingex vivomigration assays when MCP-1 and LPS were used as migratory stimulus. scRNA-seq revealed a population consistent with RSM transcriptionally related to CD56+cytotoxic dendritic cells and IDO+M2 macrophages.

Conclusion

We identified a rare cell population consistent with RSM, indicating these cells are likely migratory and able to initiate or coordinate both acute (septic) or chronic (autoimmune or inflammatory) arthritis. RSM analysis via scRNA-seq indicated these cells are M2 skewed, capable of antigen presentation, and have consistent functions in both septic and inflammatory arthritis.
Introducing Molecular Hypernetworks for Discovery in Multidimensional Metabolomics Data
Authors: Colby Sean M , Shapiro Madelyn R , Lin Andy , Bilbao Aivett , Broeckling Corey D , Purvine Emilie , Joslyn Cliff A
Published: October 2023

Orthogonal separations of data from high-resolution mass spectrometry can provide insight into sample composition and help address the challenge of complete annotation of molecules in untargeted metabolomics. “Molecular networks” (MNs), as used, for example, in the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking platform, are an increasingly popular computational strategy for exploring and visualizing molecular relationships and improving annotation. MNs use graph representations to show the re-lationships between measured multidimensional data features. MNs also show promise for using network science algorithms to automatically identify targets for annotation candidates and to dereplicate features associated to a single molecular identity. How-ever, more advanced methods may better represent the complexity present in samples. Our work aims to increase confidence in annotation propagation by extending molecular network methods to include “molecular hypernetworks” (MHNs), able to natively repre-sent multiway relationships among observations supporting both human and analytical processing. In this paper we first introduce MHNs illustrated with simple examples, and demonstrate how to build them from liquid chromatography-and ion mobility spectrometry-separated MS data. We then describe a method to construct MHNs di-rectly from existing MNs as their “clique reconstructions”, demonstrating their utility by comparing examples of previously published graph-based MNs to their respective MHNs.
Nuanced patterns of biological collecting trends revealed by informatic investigation of zoological natural history collection records
Authors: Card Daren C.
Published: October 2023

Natural history museums comprise a unique and important component of biological infrastructure worldwide, and underlie diverse research, education, and outreach in the natural sciences. Each museum is built around one or more biological collections that serve as a repository of important materials for study, which have contributed to scientific research in increasingly important areas ranging from understanding global climate change to developing new biotechnological applications. However, despite centuries of existence, global collections sizes have only been recently estimated, and aside from analyses of certain institutions or well-studied clades, little is known about how patterns of collecting activity across institutions, geographic regions, or taxonomic clades, or how these patterns vary across time. To address this important gap in our understanding of critical life sciences infrastructure, I gathered and analyzed zoological records associated with preserved specimens collected between 1900 and 2015 and housed in worldwide natural history collections using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. My analysis indicated that global, museum-associated collecting activity focused on animals has varied greatly over time, peaking around 2000 and declining significantly since. By stratifying data by institution, nation, and taxonomic phylum and class, I also illuminated how individual data series contribute to these global patterns. Institutions and nations had either concentrated or dispersed periods of relatively high collecting activity that occurred over different time periods, although most growth occurred in the second half of the 20th century for both many individual institutions and globally. Certain taxonomic clades comprise the largest proportions of collections records over this time period, namely arthropods (especially insects) and chordates (especially vertebrates), underscoring the taxonomically biased collecting histories of many institutions. Altogether, my analyses provide a critical, early view of historical zoological collecting activity and, to help other museum stakeholders to explore the data and results in more depth, I also describe and release NHMinformatics, an interactive dashboard built using R Shiny. These resources, when combined with recommendations I have made for sustainable collections growth, will be helpful for establishing policy goals, provisioning museum infrastructure, and training curatorial personnel.
Genome Mining ofSalinisporaUncovers a Repertoire of Secondary Metabolites and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes
Authors: Hossain Md. Saddam , Islam Md. Tarikul , Rahman Md. Hadisur , Zubaer Abdullah Al , Hashem Abu
Published: October 2023

Natural products derived from microorganisms are a significant part of the pharmaceutical industry’s arsenal today. These efforts have increasingly centred on marine microbes, which have produced a variety of intriguing novel chemicals. Marine-derived strains are likely candidates for natural product discovery since actinomycetes are a significant source of microbially produced natural compounds. The availability of microbial genome sequencing has revealed a number of natural products (NPs) that have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The genome mining potential of the genusSalinispora, which has potential for the production of secondary metabolites of clinical importance, remains unexplored. In this study, we have demonstrated a thorough comprehension of the genetic characteristics, biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and genetic clusters for carbohydrate-active enzymes found in theSalinisporagenomes. In our analysis, we have identified 686 BGCs, among which 3.79% are identical to the BGCs that produce ketomemicin B3/ketomemicin B4, salinilactam, lymphostin/neolymphostinol B/lymphostinol/neolymphostin B, benzastatin, and thiolactomycin. We have found 19.5% of the BGCs, which are only present in the genomes ofSalinisporaand may open the door to the development of novel drugs. We have also found a total of 3604 genes in 62 various categories of the six major carbohydrate-active enzymes. The development of new-generation bioactive compounds that are significant for biotechnology relies heavily on the scientific insights provided by genome mining in this genus.
Direct serotonin release in humans shapes decision computations within aversive environments
Authors: Colwell Michael J , Tagomori Hosana , Shang Fei , Cheng Hoi , Wigg Chloe , Browning Michael , Cowen Phil J , Murphy Susannah E , Harmer Catherine J
Published: October 2023

The role of serotonin in human behaviour is critically informed by approaches which allowin vivomodification of synaptic serotonin. However, characterising the effects of increased serotonin signalling in human models of behaviour is challenging given the limitations of available experimental probes (e.g., SSRIs). Here we use a now accessible approach to directly increase synaptic serotonin in humans – a selective serotonin releasing agent – and examine its influence on domains of behaviour historically considered core functions of serotonin. Computational techniques including reinforcement learning and drift diffusion modelling were fit to observed behaviour. Reinforcement learning models revealed that increased synaptic serotonin reduced sensitivity specifically for outcomes in aversive but not appetitive contexts. Furthermore, increasing synaptic serotonin enhanced behavioural inhibition, and shifted bias towards impulse control during exposure to aversive emotional probes. These effects were seen in the context of overall improvements in memory for neutral verbal information. Our findings highlight the direct effects of increased synaptic serotonin on human behaviour, underlining its critical role in guiding decision-making within aversive and neutral contexts, and offering broad implications for longstanding theories of central serotonin function.
A model-driven machine learning approach for personalized kidney graft risk prediction
Authors: Savvopoulos Symeon V. , Scheffner Irina , Reppas Andreas , Gwinner Wilfried , Hatzikirou Haralampos
Published: October 2023

Graft failure after renal transplantation is a multifactorial process. Predicting the risk of graft failure accurately is imperative since such knowledge allows for identifying patients at risk and treatment personalization. In this study, we were interested in predicting the temporal evolution of graft function (expressed as estimated glomerular filtration rate; eGFR) based on pretransplant data and early post-operative graft function. Toward this aim, we developed a tailored approach that combines a dynamic GFR mathematical model and machine learning while taking into account the corresponding parameter uncertainty. A cohort of 892 patients was used to train the algorithm and a cohort of 847 patients for validation. Our analysis indicates that an eGFR threshold exists that allows for classifying high-risk patients. Using minimal inputs, our approach predicted the graft outcome with an accuracy greater than 80% for the first and second years after kidney transplantation and risk predictions were robust over time.
Aspergillus fumigatushypoxia adaptation is critical for the establishment of fungal keratitis
Authors: Lightfoot Jorge D. , Adams Emily M. , Kamath Manali M. , Wells Becca L. , Fuller Kevin K.
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The poor visual outcomes associated with fungal keratitis (FK) underscore a need to identify fungal pathways that can serve as novel antifungal targets. In this report, we investigated whether hypoxia develops in the FK cornea and, by extension, if fungal hypoxia adaptation is essential for virulence in this setting. Methods: C57BL/6j mice were inoculated withAspergillus fumigatusandFusarium solanivarpetroliphilumvia topical overlay or instrastromal injection. At various time points post-inoculation (p.i.), animals we were injected with pimonidazole for the detection of tissue hypoxia through immunofluorescence imaging. TheA. fumigatus srbAgene was deleted through Cas9-mediated homologous recombination and its virulence was assessed in the topical infection model using slit-lamp microscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Topical inoculation withA. fumigatusresulted in diffuse pimonidazole staining across the epithelial and endothelial layers within 6 h. Stromal hypoxia was evident by 48 h p.i., which corresponded to leukocytic infiltration. Instrastromal inoculation with eitherA. fumigatusorF. solanisimilarly led to diffuse staining patterns across all corneal cell layers. TheA. fumigatus srbAdeletion mutant was unable to grow at oxygen levels below 3%in vitro,and corneas inoculated with the mutant failed to develop signs of corneal opacification, inflammation or fungal burden. Conclusions: These results suggest that fungal antigen rapidly drives the development of corneal hypoxia, thus rendering fungal SrbA or related pathways essential for the establishment of infection. Such pathways may therefore serve as targets for novel antifungal intervention.
Keeping pace with the times: research on the impact of digital leadership on radical green innovation of manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Tian Hongna , Han Jingge , Sun Meiling , Lv Xichen
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Toward sustainable development, radical green innovation (RGI) is necessary. Despite extensive research on the factors influencing green innovation, few studies have been conducted on the precursors. Based on upper echelons (UE) theory, dynamic capability (DC) theory, “stimulus-organism-response” (SOR) theory, social information processing (SIP) theory and cognitive appraisal (CA) theory of emotion, the study explores how digital leadership (DL) affects RGI and investigates the mediating effects of green organizational identity (GOI) and the moderating effects of digital threat (DT) and technology for social good (TSG), as well as the multiple concurrent causalities that trigger high RGI.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of combining structural equation model (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs QCA) is adopted in the study. Data from 233 questionnaires were collected at two different time points.

Findings

This study's findings indicate that the four dimensions of DL can positively influence RGI and GOI partially mediates between the four dimensions of DL and RGI. DT has a negative moderating effect between DL and GOI, while TSG is positively regulated between them, DT and TSG linkage moderates the partial mediating effect of GOI in DL and RGI. Further, fs QCA is used to analyze the causal complexity of DL dimensions and GOI to RGI and nine effective configuration paths are identified. It is found that the synergy of digital thinking ability (DTA), digital detection ability (DDA), digital social ability (DSA), digital reserve ability (DRA) and GOI is crucial to high RGI. Among them, GOI core appears the most times, indicating that GOI plays a vital role in improving enterprise RGI.

Originality/value

This study expands the literature on leadership and innovation by constructing a framework of “DL-GOI-RGI” and exploring the transmission of GOI and the boundary effect of DT and TSG. The study used fs QCA and SEM to better understand the statistical associations and the set relations between the conjunctions and conditions.
Pollinator community and generalisation of pollinator spectra changes with plant niche width and local dominance
Authors: Janovský Zdeněk , Štenc Jakub
Published: September 2023

Floral traits are assumed to be the main determinants of plant's pollinator spectrum, yet a majority of temperate plant species possess traits allowing to a certain degree of generalisation of their pollinator spectrum. The actual level of pollinator spectrum generalisation is likely to be the result of both plant floral traits and the diversity and abundance of plant species a plant co‐occurs with. We expect that plant species co‐occurring in highly diverse plant communities should host more generalised pollinator spectra.

In the present study, we explore the degree to which the composition and generalisation of plant–pollinator spectra depend on the plant's niche width (measured as co‐occurrence with other plant species) and its local dominance (as measured by mean cover in the community). For this purpose, we compiled a database of >250 plant species pollinator spectra from the literature and coupled it with data on plant niche width and local dominance based on the Czech National Phytosociological Database.

Species with wider niches had on average more generalised pollinator spectra, ranging from bumblebee‐dominated spectra to diptera‐ and/or nitidulid beetle‐dominated spectra, which was strongly related to plant phylogeny. Plants with bumblebee‐dominated spectra had neither wide niches nor niche specialists.

The majority of plants had either muscid‐, hoverfly‐ or nitidulid‐dominated or completely generalised pollinator spectra. Among such plants, higher local dominance increased the proportion of opportune muscids in pollinator spectrum, while hoverflies showed the opposite pattern. Honeybees although rather infrequent in pollinator spectra also showed a strong preference for locally dominant plant species.

Synthesis: The composition of a plant's pollinator spectrum is not independent of other aspects of the plant's life history, namely niche width and the ability to dominate the community. Wider plant species niches result in more generalised pollinator spectra, supporting our hypothesis that habitat generalists are less prone to specialisation on particular pollinator groups. Conversely, the ability to dominate local plant communities influenced pollinator spectra mainly through specific responses of individual pollinator groups.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Populist radical right rhetoric increases discrimination towards minorities: Welfare ethnocentrism and anti‐Roma attitudes
Authors: MAGALHÃES PEDRO C. , COSTA‐LOPES RUI
Published: September 2023

‘Welfare chauvinism’ (or ‘welfare ethnocentrism,’ when directed against native‐born ethnic minorities) is a declination of nativism within the social policy domain and a common element of populist radical right discourse. Previous studies have shown that this rhetoric can influence how people perceive the deservingness and entitlement of certain groups to welfare rights. In this study, we propose it has additional effects by evoking a purported lack of reciprocity in what concerns benefits from, and contributions to, the welfare system, such rhetoric can also justify and legitimize discrimination against out‐groups in other domains that are unrelated to welfare. We use a pre‐registered experiment embedded in a survey of a nationally representative sample of the Portuguese population to examine whether individuals who are exposed to the issue of illegitimate ‘takers’ of the welfare system become more likely to express discriminatory intentions regarding an out‐group's freedom of movement and establishment. We find that in the Portuguese context, where the populist radical right frequently portrays the Roma minority as welfare abusers, highlighting the issue of reciprocity can trigger a sizeable increase in discriminatory intentions against the Romani even in domains unrelated to welfare rights.
Predicting minty compounds binary mixtures’ pleasantness by odor intensity in aqueous solutions
Authors: Du Huanzhe , Lu Hongbing , Tuo Suxing , Li Yanchun , Zhong Kejun , Kang Yuxuan , Zhu Guangyong , Yu Genfa , Yi Fengping , Kong Bo
Published: October 2023

The aroma of mint is well‐liked by the public, and key flavor odorants in mint aroma had been found, but how these molecules interact and form a satisfying odor remains a challenge. Quality, intensity, and pleasantness are our most basic perceptions of aromas; both intensity and pleasantness can be quantified. However, compared to intensity, research on pleasantness was lacking. Pleasantness was one of the most important indicators for formulating a satisfying mint flavor, and the study of binary mixtures was fundamental to our understanding of more complex mixtures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the characteristics of pleasantness as a function of concentration and, at the same time, to investigate the relationship between intensity and pleasantness in binary mixtures. Thirty sensory evaluation volunteers participated in the evaluation of the intensity and pleasantness of six key flavor odorants of mint and five binary mixtures. The results showed that the pleasantness increased first and then decreased or stabilized with the rising of concentration; even though the interactions in binary mixtures were not the same, their pleasantness could be predicted using the intensities of the components by Response Surface Design of Experiments, and the goodness of fit was greater than 0.92, indicating that the models had the great predictive ability.

Practical Application

Whether blending flavors or evaluating them, a great deal of experience is required, yet the acquisition of this experience is a long process. Performing these tasks is difficult for the novice, and it helps to quantify the feeling for the flavor and build some mathematical models.
Colour perception develops throughout childhood with increased risk of deficiencies in children born prematurely
Authors: Pueyo Victoria , Cedillo Ley Mauricio , Fanlo‐Zarazaga Álvaro , Hu Liu , Pan Xian , Perez‐Roche Teresa , Balasanyan Victoria , Solanas David , de Fernando Sandra , Prieto Esther , Yam Jason C. S. , Pham Chau , Ortin Marta , Castillo Olimpia , Gutierrez Diego ,   the TrackAI Research Consortium
Published: September 2023

Aim

To quantify the impact of prematurity on chromatic discrimination throughout childhood, from 2 to 15 years of age.

Methods

We recruited two cohorts of children, as part of the TrackAI Project, an international project with seven different study sites: a control group of full‐term children with normal visual development and a group of children born prematurely. All children underwent a complete ophthalmological exam and an assessment of colour discrimination along the three colour axes: deutan, protan and trytan using a DIVE device with eye tracking technology.

Results

We enrolled a total of 1872 children (928 females and 944 males) with a mean age of 6.64 years. Out of them, 374 were children born prematurely and 1498 were full‐term controls. Using data from all the children born at term, reference normative curves were plotted for colour discrimination in every colour axis. Pre‐term children presented worse colour discrimination than full‐term in the three colour axes (p < 0.001). Even after removing from the comparison, all pre‐term children with any visual disorder colour discrimination outcomes remained significantly worse than those from full‐term children.

Conclusion

While colour perception develops throughout the first years of life, children born pre‐term face an increased risk for colour vision deficiencies.
Trends in childhood body mass index between 1936 and 2011 showed that underweight remained more common than obesity among 398 970 Danish school children
Authors: Aarestrup J. , Pedersen D. C. , Bjerregaard L. G. , Jensen B. W. , Leth‐Møller K. B. , Jacobsen R. K. , Johnson W. , Baker J. L.
Published: September 2023

Aim

To examine trends in all body mass index (BMI) groups in children from 1936 to 2011.

Methods

We included 197 694 girls and 201 276 boys from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register, born between 1930 and 1996, with longitudinal weight and height measurements (6–14 years). Using International Obesity Task Force criteria, BMI was classified as underweight, normal‐weight, overweight and obesity. Sex‐ and age‐specific prevalences were calculated.

Results

From the 1930s, the prevalence of underweight was stable until a small increase occurred from 1950 to 1970s, and thereafter it declined into the early 2000s. Using 7‐year‐olds as an example, underweight changed from 10% to 7% in girls and from 9% to 6% in boys during the study period. The prevalence of overweight plateaued from 1950 to 1970s and then steeply increased from 1970s onwards and in 1990–2000s 15% girls and 11% boys at 7 years had overweight. The prevalence of obesity particularly increased from 1980s onwards and in 1990–2000s 5% girls and 4% boys at 7 years had obesity. These trends slightly differed by age.

Conclusion

Among Danish schoolchildren, the prevalence of underweight was greater than overweight until the 1980s and greater than obesity throughout the period. Thus, monitoring the prevalence of childhood underweight remains an important public health issue.
Defective monocyte plasticity and altered cAMP pathway characterize USB1‐mutated poikiloderma with neutropenia Clericuzio type
Authors: Parajuli Prahlad , Craig Douglas B. , Gadgeel Manisha , Bagla Shruti , Wright Robert E. , Chu Roland , Shanti Christina M. , Thirunagari Rajeev , Grover Sudershan K. , Ravindranath Yaddanapudi
Published: October 2023

Poikiloderma with neutropenia (PN) Clericuzio type (OMIM #604173) is a rare disease with areas of skin hyper‐ and hypopigmentation caused by biallelic USB1 variants. The current study was spurred by poor healing of a perianal tear wound in one affected child homozygous for c.266‐1G>A (p.E90Sfster8) mutation, from a family reported previously. Treatment with G‐CSF/CSF3 or GM‐CSF/CSF2 transiently increased neutrophil/monocytes count with no effect on wound healing. Analysis of peripheral blood revealed a lack of non‐classical (CD14+/−CD16+) monocytes, associated with a systemic inflammatory cytokine profile, in the two affected brothers. Importantly, despite normal expression of cognate receptors, monocytes from PN patients did not respond to M‐CSF or IL‐34 in vitro, as determined by cytokine secretion or CD16 expression. RNAseq of monocytes showed 293 differentially expressed genes, including significant downregulation of GATA2, AKAP6 and PDE4DIP that are associated with leucocyte differentiation and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signalling. Notably, the plasma cAMP was significantly low in the PN patients. Our study revealed a novel association of PN with a lack of non‐classical monocyte population. The defects in monocyte plasticity may contribute to disease manifestations in PN and a defective cAMP signalling may be the primary effect of the splicing errors caused by USB1 mutation.
Episodic evolution of a protracted convergent margin revealed by detrital zircon geochronology in the Greater Caucasus
Authors: Vasey Dylan A. , Garcia Leslie , Cowgill Eric , Trexler Charles C. , Godoladze Tea
Published: September 2023

Convergent margins play a fundamental role in the construction and modification of Earth's lithosphere and are characterized by poorly understood episodic processes that occur during the progression from subduction to terminal collision. On the northern margin of the active Arabia‐Eurasia collision zone, the Greater Caucasus Mountains provide an opportunity to study a protracted convergent margin that spanned most of the Phanerozoic and culminated in Cenozoic continental collision. However, the main episodes of lithosphere formation and deformation along this margin remain enigmatic. Here, we use detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology from Paleozoic and Mesozoic (meta)sedimentary rocks in the Greater Caucasus, along with select zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data from coeval igneous rocks, to link key magmatic and depositional episodes along the Caucasus convergent margin. Devonian to Early Carboniferous rocks were deposited prior to Late Carboniferous accretion of the Greater Caucasus crystalline core onto the Laurussian margin. Permian to Triassic rocks document a period of northward subduction and forearc deposition south of a continental margin volcanic arc in the Northern Caucasus and Scythian Platform. Jurassic rocks record the opening of the Caucasus Basin as a back‐arc rift during southward migration of the arc front into the Lesser Caucasus. Cretaceous rocks have few Jurassic‐Cretaceous zircons, indicating a period of relative magmatic quiescence and minimal exhumation within this basin. Late Cenozoic closure of the Caucasus Basin juxtaposed the Lesser Caucasus arc to the south against the crystalline core of the Greater Caucasus to the north and led to the formation of a hypothesized terminal suture. We expect this suture to be within ~20 km of the southern range front of the Greater Caucasus because all analysed rocks to the north exhibit a provenance affinity with the crystalline core of the Greater Caucasus.
Leaf‐roll gall formation in Reynoutria × bohemica and its implications for biological control with Aphalara itadori
Authors: Jones Ian M. , Kurose Daisuke , Shaw Richard H. , Smith Sandy M. , Bourchier Robert S.
Published: September 2023

The psyllid Aphalara itadori Shinji (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is a biocontrol agent against invasive knotweed species (Polygonaceae) in Europe and North America. Despite an extensive release program, successful establishment of the agent has never been confirmed. The slow establishment of A. itadori in its introduced range appears to be predominantly the result of nymphal mortality, either through desiccation, predation, or the adaptation of captive populations to low‐stress environments. In 2016, CABI UK collected a new line of psyllids from Murakami, Niigata Prefecture, in Japan, where it was observed causing severe leaf‐roll galling on one of the many varieties of native knotweeds. The induction of leaf‐roll galls by Murakami psyllids on invasive Bohemian knotweed, Reynoutria × bohemica, has the potential to alleviate some or all of the observed nymphal mortality factors. We conducted a series of growth chamber experiments to explore the psyllid behaviors that initiate leaf‐roll galls, and the ways in which the galls might benefit the psyllids and inhibit invasive knotweed. Reynoutria × bohemica exposed to A. itadori for 4 weeks suffered reduced stem elongation and leaf area compared to control plants. Artificial leaf‐roll galls were consistently utilized by developing A. itadori nymphs, and contributed to their survival. Leaf‐roll galling in R. × bohemica was predominantly initiated by early instar nymphs of A. itadori, and only occurred when leaves were attacked at a very early stage in their development. Our results can inform the knotweed biocontrol program in several key ways. Releases of A. itadori should be timed so that developing nymphs have access to newly emerging leaves. Monitoring efforts at release sites should focus on the growing tips of R. × bohemica, where the highly mobile nymphs appear to migrate. Finally, our results provide motivation to seek additional lines of A. itadori that may affect other invasive knotweed species in similar ways.
Radiographic and computed tomographic features of a subarachnoid diverticulum causing compressive cervical myelopathy in a yearling Warmblood horse
Authors: Olszewska Agnieszka , Raes Els , Lefere Laurence , Vanderperren Katrien
Published: October 2023

A 1‐year‐old Belgian Warmblood with a previously known history of successfully repaired temporal and parietal bone fractures sustained at 14 days of age was presented for investigation of a recent, acute and progressive quadrilateral ataxia. The owner reported a lack of coordination and difficulty getting up, with progressing paresis 2 weeks prior to the presentation. Neurological examination revealed pronounced hypermetria/dysmetria in the walk and trot in all four limbs. No evidence of cranial nerve deficits was observed. The horse was in good general condition with unremarkable clinical parameters. Survey lateral radiographs of the cervical spine revealed significant signs of cervical vertebral malformation, including hypertrophy of the articular process joints, indicating narrowing of the spinal canal with suspected cervical stenotic myelopathy. Cervical computed tomographic (CT) myelography revealed the presence of multiple dorsal subarachnoid diverticula causing significant spinal cord compression at multiple locations, with osteoarthrosis of the cervical articular process joints. Due to a poor prognosis and guarded surgical outcome, the owner declined further treatment, and the horse was discharged with conservative corticosteroid treatment. The patient was euthanised shortly after the initial presentation due to progressive worsening signs. To the authors' knowledge, CT myelography findings in a yearling with cervical subarachnoid multiple diverticula have not been previously published. This case illustrates the usefulness of advanced imaging techniques, such as CT myelography, in combination with static and dynamic radiography to provide a better and more accurate diagnosis.
Deep learning methods to detect Alzheimer's disease from MRI: A systematic review
Authors: Coelho Mariana , Cerny Martin , Tavares João Manuel R. S.
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative condition in the brain that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour. To overcome this problem, which according to the World Health Organization, is on the rise, creating strategies is essential to identify and predict the disease in its early stages before clinical manifestation. In addition to cognitive and mental tests, neuroimaging is promising in this field, especially in assessing brain matter loss. Therefore, computer‐aided diagnosis systems have been imposed as fundamental tools to help imaging technicians as the diagnosis becomes less subjective and time‐consuming. Thus, machine learning and deep learning (DL) techniques have come into play. In recent years, articles addressing the topic of Alzheimer's diagnosis through DL models are increasingly popular, with an exponential increase from year to year with increasingly higher accuracy values. However, the disease classification remains a challenging and progressing issue, not only in distinguishing between healthy controls and AD patients but mainly in differentiating intermediate stages such as mild cognitive impairment. Therefore, there is a need to develop more valuable and innovative techniques. This article presents an up‐to‐date systematic review of deep models to detect AD and its intermediate phase by evaluating magnetic resonance images. The DL models chosen by different authors are analysed, as well as their approaches regarding the used dataset and the data pre‐processing and analysis techniques.
Reduction of testing effort for fatigue tests: Application of Bayesian optimal experimental design
Authors: Frie Christian , Kolyshkin Anton , Mordeja Sven , Riza Durmaz Ali , Eberl Chris
Published: September 2023

S‐N curve parameter determination is a time‐ and cost‐intensive procedure. A standardized method for simultaneously determining all S‐N curve parameters with minimum testing effort is still missing. The Bayesian optimal experimental design (BOED) approach can reduce testing effort and accelerates uncertainty reduction during fatigue testing for S‐N curve parameters. The concept is applicable to all S‐N curve models and is exemplary illustrated for a bilinear S‐N curve model. We demonstrate the fatigue testing workflow for the bilinear S‐N curve in detail while discussing steps and challenges when generalizing to other S‐N curve models. Applying the BOED to the bilinear S‐N curve models, minor errors and uncertainties for all S‐N curve parameters are obtained after only 10 experiments for data scatter values below 1.1. For such, the relative error in fatigue limit estimation was less than 1% after five tests. When S‐N data scatter higher than 1.2 is concerned, 17 tests were required for robust analysis. The BOED methodology should be applied to other S‐N curve models in the future. The high computational effort and the approximation of the posterior distribution with a normal distribution are the limitations of the presented BOED approach.
The role of Zfp352 in the regulation of transient expression of 2‐cell specific genes in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Mwalilino Lusubilo , Yamane Mariko , Ishiguro Kei‐ichiro , Usuki Shingo , Endoh Mitsuhiro , Niwa Hitoshi
Published: October 2023

Mouse ES cell populations contain a minor sub‐population that expresses genes specifically expressed in 2‐cell stage embryos. This sub‐population consists of 2‐cell‐gene labeled cells (2CLCs) generated by the transient activation of the 2‐cell specific genes initiated by the master regulator, Dux. However, the mechanism regulating the transient expression remains largely unclear. Here we reported a novel function of Zfp352, one of the 2‐cell specific genes, in regulating the 2CLC sub‐population. Zfp352 encodes zinc‐finger transcription factor belonging to the Klf family. Dux transiently activates Zfp352 after the activation of Zscan4c in a subset of the 2CLC subpopulation. Interestingly, in the reporter assay, the transcriptional activation of Zscan4c by Dux is strongly repressed by the co‐expression of Zfp352. However, the knockout of Zfp352 resulted in the repression of a subset of the 2‐cell‐specific genes. These data suggest the dual roles of Zfp352 in regulating the transient activation of the 2‐cell‐specific genes.
Collection of menopause data in studies of women living with HIV: A systematic literature review
Authors: Graham Emma Eileen , Michala Lina , Hachfeld Anna , Moseholm Ellen ,   Women Against Viruses in Europe (WAVE), European AIDS Clinical Society
Published: September 2023

Objectives

An increasing number of women living with HIV are transitioning through midlife and menopause. Women living with HIV may experience earlier menopause and a higher symptom burden than women without HIV, but more evidence is needed. Data collection on menopause in women living with HIV is scarce and often not standardized. We sought to assess how menopause data are collected in cohorts and studies of women living with HIV.

Methods

This was a literature review conducted within the PubMed database. We included original studies and cohorts assessing menopause and/or menopausal symptoms in women living with HIV. Study characteristics and menopause data collection, including the definition of menopause, symptom assessment tools, and measurement of biomedical parameters, were noted and summarized systematically in data tables.

Results

We included 40 articles describing 37 separate studies published between 2000 and 2023; 27 of these were conducted in high‐income countries, the majority in the USA (n = 16). Ten studies were from low‐ and middle‐income countries; four of these were conducted in Brazil. In 20 studies, menopause was defined according to the World Health Organization's definition of over 12 months of amenorrhea. Twelve studies used the Menopause Rating Scale to characterize menopausal symptoms, five studies used other specified symptom assessment tools, and 12 studies used a study‐specific tool.

Conclusions

Menopause data collection in women living with HIV is heterogeneous. We propose that standardized tools should be used to enable comparisons between studies and countries, thereby improving the quality of research and clinical treatment. Further research into the validity of menopausal symptom scoring tools is warranted.
Rate of response to initial antiretroviral therapy according to level of pre‐existing HIV‐1 drug resistance detected by next‐generation sequencing in the strategic timing of antiretroviral treatment (START) study
Authors: Cozzi‐Lepri Alessandro , Dunn David , Tostevin Anna , Marvig Rasmus L. , Bennedbæk Marc , Sharma Shweta , Kozal Michael J. , Gompels Mark , Pinto Angie N. , Lundgren Jens , Baxter John D. ,   for the INSIGHT START Study Group
Published: September 2023

Objectives

The main objective of this analysis was to evaluate the impact of pre‐existing drug resistance by next‐generation sequencing (NGS) on the risk of treatment failure (TF) of first‐line regimens in participants enrolled in the START study.

Methods

Stored plasma from participants with entry HIV RNA >1000 copies/mL were analysed using NGS (llumina MiSeq). Pre‐existing drug resistance was defined using the mutations considered by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVDB v8.6) to calculate the genotypic susceptibility score (GSS, estimating the number of active drugs) for the first‐line regimen at the detection threshold windows of >20%, >5%, and >2% of the viral population. Survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between the GSS and risk of TF (viral load >200 copies/mL plus treatment change).

Results

Baseline NGS data were available for 1380 antiretroviral therapy (ART)‐naïve participants enrolled over 2009–2013. First‐line ART included a non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in 976 (71%), a boosted protease inhibitor in 297 (22%), or an integrase strand transfer inhibitor in 107 (8%). The proportions of participants with GSS <3 were 7% for >20%, 10% for >5%, and 17% for the >2% thresholds, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio of TF associated with a GSS of 0–2.75 versus 3 in the subset of participants with mutations detected at the >2% threshold was 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.01–2.74; p = 0.05) and 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.32–4.09; p = 0.003) after restricting the analysis to participants who started an NNRTI‐based regimen.

Conclusions

Up to 17% of participants initiated ART with a GSS <3 on the basis of NGS data. Minority variants were predictive of TF, especially for participants starting NNRTI‐based regimens.