bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene functions of the Ambystoma altamirani skin microbiome vary across space and time but potential antifungal genes are widespread and prevalent
Authors: Martínez-Ugalde Emanuel , Ávila-Akerberg Víctor , González Martínez Tanya M. , Rebollar Eria A.
Published: January 2024

Amphibian skin microbiomes can play a critical role in host survival against emerging diseases by protecting their host against pathogens. While a plethora of biotic and abiotic factors have been shown to influence the taxonomic diversity of amphibian skin microbiomes it remains unclear whether functional genomic diversity varies in response to temporal and environmental factors. Here we applied a metagenomic approach to evaluate whether seasonality, distinct elevations/sites, and pathogen presence influenced the functional genomic diversity of the A. altamirani skin microbiome. We obtained a gene catalogue of 92 107 nonredundant annotated genes and a set of 50 unique metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Our analysis showed that genes linked to general and potential antifungal traits significantly differed across seasons and sampling locations at different elevations. Moreover, we found that the functional genomic diversity of A. altamirani skin microbiome differed between B. dendrobatidis infected and not infected axolotls only during winter, suggesting an interaction between seasonality and pathogen infection. In addition, we identified the presence of genes and biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) linked to potential antifungal functions such as biofilm formation, quorum sensing, secretion systems, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and chitin degradation. Interestingly genes linked to these potential antifungal traits were mainly identified in Burkholderiales and Chitinophagales MAGs. Overall, our results identified functional traits linked to potential antifungal functions in the A. altamirani skin microbiome regardless of variation in the functional diversity across seasons, elevations/sites, and pathogen presence. Our findings suggest that potential antifungal traits found in Burkholderiales and Chitinophagales taxa could be related to the capacity of A. altamirani to survive in the presence of Bd, although further experimental analyses are required to test this hypothesis.
The Mechanism Insight into Bacterial Degradation of Pentachlorobiphenyl
Authors: Ji Lei , Chang Xiaoyu , Wang Leilei , Fu Xiaowen , Lai Wenkai , Zheng Liwen , Li Qi , Xing Yingna , Yang Zhongfeng , Guan Yuyao , Yang Fenglong
Published: January 2024

Bacterial degradation mechanism for high chlorinated pentachlorobiphenyl (PentaCB) with worse biodegradability has not been fully elucidated, which could limit the full remediation of PCBs-combined pollution. In this research, using enzymatic screening method, a new PentaCB-degrading bacteriumM. paraoxydansthat has not been reported was obtained. The characteristic of its intracellular enzymes, proteome and metabolome variation during PentaCB degradation were investigated systematically. The results showed that PentaCB (PCB101, 1 mg/L) degradation rate could arrive 23.9% within 4 h till complete degradation within 12 h. The intracellular enzyme compound was optimally active at pH 6.0. The 12 up-regulated characterized proteins involved ABC transporter substrate-binding protein, translocase protein TatA and signal peptidase I (SPase I) indicated that functional proteins for PentaCB degradation were present both in the cytoplasm and outer surface of cytoplasmic membrane. There were also 5 differential metabolites strongly associated with above proteins in which the up-regulated 1, 2, 4-benzenetriol was enriched into the degradation pathways of benzoate, chlorocyclohexane, chlorobenzene and aminobenzoate. Bacterial degradation of PentaCB necessitates transmembrane transport, energy consumption, protein export, biofilm formation and quorum sensing. These findings hold significant theory and application value for PCBs biodegradation.
Revealing ultrafast phonon mediated inter-valley scattering through transient absorption and high harmonic spectroscopies
Authors: Lively Kevin , Sato Shunsuke A. , Albareda Guillermo , Rubio Angel , Kelly Aaron
Published: January 2024

Processes involving ultrafast laser driven electron-phonon dynamics play a fundamental role in the response of quantum systems in a growing number of situations of interest, as evinced by phenomena such as strongly driven phase transitions and light driven engineering of material properties. To show how these processes can be captured from a computational perspective, we simulate the transient absorption spectra and high-harmonic generation signals associated with valley selective excitation and intraband charge-carrier relaxation in monolayer hexagonal boron nitride. We show that the multitrajectory Ehrenfest dynamics approach, implemented in combination with real-time time-dependent density-functional theory and tight-binding models, offers a simple, accurate, and efficient method to study ultrafast electron-phonon coupled phenomena in solids under diverse pump-probe regimes which can be easily incorporated into the majority of real-time software packages.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Electromagnetic effects in anti-Hermitian media with gain and loss
Authors: Freter L. , Mirmoosa M. S. , Sihvola A. , Simovski C. R. , Tretyakov S. A.
Published: January 2024

Incorporating both gain and loss into electromagnetic systems provides possibilities to engineer effects in unprecedented ways. Concerning electromagnetic effects in isotropic media that have concurrently electric and magnetic responses, there is, in fact, a degree of freedom to distribute the gain and loss in different effective material parameters. In this paper, we analytically scrutinize wave interactions with those media, and, most importantly, we contemplate the extreme scenario where such media are anti-Hermitian. Considering various conditions for excitation, polarization, and geometry, we uncover important effects and functionalities such as lasing into both surface waves and propagating waves, conversion of evanescent source fields to transmitted propagating waves, full absorption, and enhancing backward to forward scattering ratio. We hope that these findings explicitly show the potential of anti-Hermiticity to be used in optical physics as well as microwave engineering for creating and using unconventional wave phenomena.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Universal properties of repulsive self-propelled particles and attractive driven particles
Authors: Nakano Hiroyoshi , Adachi Kyosuke
Published: January 2024

Motility-induced phase separation (MIPS) is a nonequilibrium phase separation that has a different origin from equilibrium phase separation induced by attractive interactions. Similarities and differences in collective behaviors between these two types of phase separation have been intensely discussed. Here, to study another kind of similarity between MIPS and attraction-induced phase separation under a nonequilibrium condition, we perform simulations of active Brownian particles with uniaxially anisotropic self-propulsion (uniaxial ABPs) in two dimensions. We find that (i) long-range density correlation appears in the homogeneous state; (ii) anisotropic particle configuration appears in MIPS, where the anisotropy removes the possibility of microphase separation suggested for isotropic ABPs [X.-Q. Shi , ]; and (iii) critical phenomena for the anisotropic MIPS presumably belong to the universality class for two-dimensional uniaxial ferromagnets with dipolar long-range interactions. Properties (i)–(iii) are common to the well-studied randomly driven lattice gas (RDLG), which is a particle model that undergoes phase separation by attractive interactions under external driving forces, suggesting that the origin of phase separation is not essential for macroscopic behaviors of uniaxial ABPs and RDLG. Based on the observations in uniaxial ABPs, we construct a coarse-grained Langevin model that shows properties (i)–(iii) and corroborates the generality of the findings.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Swing-up dynamics in quantum emitter cavity systems: Near ideal single photons and entangled photon pairs
Authors: Heinisch Nils , Köcher Nikolas , Bauch David , Schumacher Stefan
Published: January 2024

In the SUPER scheme (Swing-UP of the quantum EmitteR population), excitation of a quantum emitter is achieved with two off-resonant, red-detuned laser pulses. This allows the generation of high-quality single photons without the need of complex laser stray light suppression or careful spectral filtering. In the present work, we extend this promising method to quantum emitters, specifically semiconductor quantum dots, inside a resonant optical cavity. A significant advantage of the SUPER scheme is identified in that it eliminates re-excitation of the quantum emitter by suppressing photon emission during the excitation cycle. This, in turn, leads to almost ideal single-photon purity, overcoming a major factor typically limiting the quality of photons generated with quantum emitters in high-quality cavities. We further find that for cavity-mediated biexciton emission of degenerate photon pairs, the SUPER scheme leads to near-perfect biexciton initialization with very high values of polarization entanglement of emitted photon pairs.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Impact of strong magnetization in cylindrical plasma implosions with applied B-field measured via x-ray emission spectroscopy
Authors: Bailly-Grandvaux M. , Florido R. , Walsh C. A. , Pérez-Callejo G. , Beg F. N. , Bradford P. , Gigosos M. A. , Mancini R. C. , McGuffey C. , Suzuki-Vidal F. , Vlachos C. , Santos J. J.
Published: January 2024

Magnetization is a key strategy for enhancing inertial fusion performance, though accurate characterization of magnetized dense plasmas is needed for a better comprehension of the underlying physics. Measured spectra from imploding Ar-doped D2-filled cylinders at the OMEGA laser show distinctive features with and without an imposed magnetic field. A multizone spectroscopic diagnosis leads to quantitative estimates of the plasma conditions, namely revealing a 50% core temperature rise at half mass density when a 30-T seed field is applied. Concurrently, experimental spectra align well with predictions from extended-magnetohydrodynamics simulations, providing strong evidence that the attained core conditions at peak compression are consistent with the impact of a 10-kT compressed field. These results pave the way for the validation of magnetized transport models in dense plasmas and for future magnetized laser implosion experiments at a larger scale.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Economic powers encompass the largest cultural buildings: market, culture and equality in Stockholm, Sweden (1918–2023)
Authors: Campo-Ruiz Ingrid
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The aim of this research is to understand the relationship between cultural buildings, economic powers and social justice and equality in architecture and how this relationship has evolved over the last hundred years. This research seeks to identify architectural and urban elements that enhance social justice and equality to inform architectural and urban designs and public policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The author explores the relationship between case studies of museums, cultural centers and libraries, and economic powers between 1920 and 2020 in Stockholm, Sweden. The author conducts a historical analysis and combines it with statistical and geographically referenced information in a Geographic Information System, archival data and in situ observations of selected buildings in the city. The author leverages the median income of household data from Statistics Sweden, with the geographical location of main public buildings and the headquarters of main companies operating in Sweden.

Findings

This analysis presents a gradual commercialization of cultural buildings in terms of location, inner layout and management, and the parallel filtering and transforming of the role of users. The author assesses how these cultural buildings gradually conformed to a system in the city and engaged with the market from a more local and national level to global networks. Findings show a cluster of large public buildings in the center of Stockholm, the largest global companies' headquarters and high-income median households. Results show that large shares of the low-income population now live far away from these buildings and the increasing commercialization of cultural space and inequalities.

Originality/value

This research provides a novel image of urban inequalities in Stockholm focusing on cultural buildings and their relationship with economic powers over the last hundred years. Cultural buildings could be a tool to support equality and stronger democracy beyond their primary use. Public cultural buildings offer a compromise between generating revenue for the private sector while catering to the needs and interests of large numbers of people. Therefore, policymakers should consider emphasizing the construction of more engaging public cultural buildings in more distributed locations.
How do children perceive and understand the experience of household food insecurity? A narrative review of the literature
Authors: Velardo Stefania , Stevens Kristen , Watson Michelle , Pollard Christina , Coveney John , Shipman Jessica , Booth Sue
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Children's food insecurity experiences are largely unrepresented in academic literature. Parents and caregivers cannot always accurately evaluate their children's attitudes or experiences, and even within the same family unit, children and their parents may report differing views and experiences of family food insecurity. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify studies that include children's voices and their perceptions, understanding, and experience of food insecurity in the household.

Design/methodology/approach

This narrative review aimed to address the following questions: (1) “What research studies of household food insecurity include children's voices?” and (2) “Across these studies, how do children perceive, understand and experience food insecurity in the household?”. A database search was conducted in October 2022. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 16 articles remained for review.

Findings

The findings from this review were organised into three themes: Theme 1: Ways children coped with accessing food or money for food; Theme 2: Food-related strategies children used to avoid hunger; and Theme 3: Children attempt to mask food insecurity.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should further explore the long-term consequences of social pressures and informal economic engagement on children's well-being and social development. By addressing the social determinants of food insecurity, this study can strive to create supportive environments that enable all children to access adequate nutrition and thrive.

Social implications

Overall, the findings of this review demonstrate the significant social pressures that shape children's responses to food insecurity. Results suggest that children's decision-making processes are influenced by the desire to maintain social standing and avoid the negative consequences of being food insecure. As such, this review underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of the social context in which food insecurity occurs and the impact it has on children's lives. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies addressing the multifaceted challenges food insecure children face.

Originality/value

This review has highlighted a need for interventions to incorporate trauma-informed strategies to protect children from and respond to the psychologically distressing experiences and impact of living in food insecure households.
Strength and microstructural analysis of geopolymer prepared with coal-based synthetic natural gas slag
Authors: Yin Peng , Liu Tao , Pan Baofeng , Liu Ningbo
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The coal-based synthetic natural gas slag (CSNGS) is a solid waste remaining from the incomplete combustion of raw coal to produce gas. With the continuous promotion of efficient and clean utilization of coal in recent years, the stockpiling of CSNGS would increase gradually, and it would have significant social and environmental benefits with reasonable utilization of CSNGS. This study prepared a new geopolymer by mixing CSNGS with PC42.5 cement in a certain mass ratio as the precursor, with sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solution as the alkali activators.

Design/methodology/approach

The formulation of coal-based synthetic natural gas slag geopolymer (CSNGSG) was determined by an orthogonal test, and then the strength mechanism and microstructure of CSNGSG were characterized by multi-scale tests.

Findings

The results show that the optimum ratio of CSNGSG was a sodium silicate modulus of 1.3, an alkali dosage of 21% and a water cement ratio of 0.36 and the maximum unconfined compressive strength of CSNGSG at 7 d was 26.88 MPa. The increase of curing temperature could significantly improve the compressive strength of CSNGSG, and the curing humidity had little effect on the compressive strength of CSNGSG. The development of the internal strength of CSNSG at high temperatures consumed SiO2, Al2O3 and CaO and the intensity of corresponding crystalline peaks decreased.

Originality/value

Moreover, the vibration of chemical bonds in different wavenumbers also revealed the reaction mechanism of CSNSG from another perspective. Finally, the relevant test results indicated that CSNGS had practical application value as a raw material for the preparation of geopolymer cementing materials.
A 6DOF pose measurement method for metal casts object based on stereo vision sensor
Authors: Wan Guoyang , Hu Yaocong , Liu Bingyou , Bai Shoujun , Xing Kaisheng , Tao Xiuwen
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Presently, 6 Degree of Freedom (6DOF) visual pose measurement methods enjoy popularity in the industrial sector. However, challenges persist in accurately measuring the visual pose of blank and rough metal casts. Therefore, this paper introduces a 6DOF pose measurement method utilizing stereo vision, and aims to the 6DOF pose measurement of blank and rough metal casts.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies the 6DOF pose measurement of metal casts from three aspects: sample enhancement of industrial objects, optimization of detector and attention mechanism. Virtual reality technology is used for sample enhancement of metal casts, which solves the problem of large-scale sample sampling in industrial application. The method also includes a novel deep learning detector that uses multiple key points on the object surface as regression objects to detect industrial objects with rotation characteristics. By introducing a mixed paths attention module, the detection accuracy of the detector and the convergence speed of the training are improved.

Findings

The experimental results show that the proposed method has a better detection effect for metal casts with smaller size scaling and rotation characteristics.

Originality/value

A method for 6DOF pose measurement of industrial objects is proposed, which realizes the pose measurement and grasping of metal blanks and rough machined casts by industrial robots.
Impacts of bamboo dominance and die‐off on seedling dynamics in a tropical secondary forest (Brazil)
Authors: Grombone Guaratini Maria Tereza , Gomes Eduardo Pereira Cabral , Alves Luciana F.
Published: January 2024

Aulonemia aristulata is a tropical bamboo species of mixed rhizome type and monocarpic flowering that can become super‐dominant after anthropogenic disturbances in tropical forests. The synchronized reproductive events of flowering and die‐off of monocarpic bamboo systems provide a rare opportunity to evaluate the temporal effects of bamboo dominance on forest regeneration. To evaluate the effects of bamboo dominance on forest regeneration, we compared the structure (abundance, richness, composition) and dynamics (mortality, recruitment, survival and growth) of tree and shrub seedling communities from two non‐contiguous forests stands (bamboo‐dominated vs. non‐dominated sites) for 2 years, before and after a synchronized reproductive event. Bamboo dominated plots had higher abundance, floristic richness and recruitment of tree and shrub seedlings when compared with bamboo non‐dominated plots. Bamboo die‐off did not represent an opportunity to improve establishment and investment in the vertical growth (height) of seedlings in bamboo‐dominated plots. We postulate that the mode of rhizome extension seen in bamboos might be a consistent trait determining the spatial pattern of occupation and population structure and thereby playing a fundamental role in the pattern of native tree community establishment after bamboo die‐off. The formulation of a management approach is necessary in order to better understand the biological traits of bamboo species and their influence on the spatial pattern of occupation and population structure. Additionally, this influence may differently impact restoration and definition of management practices, including the need for direct intervention by manually controlling bamboo cover following die‐off to promote and maintain seedling establishment and diversity.
Comment on published article “A chat about bipolar disorder”
Authors: Daungsupawong Hinpetch , Wiwanitkit Viroj
Published: January 2024

To the Editor, we follow the topic “A chat about bipolar disorder1”. According to the study's findings, ChatGPT proved its ability to deliver basic and informative information on bipolar disorders.
Long‐term changes in lung function after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass in patients with severe obesity
Authors: Roth Kjetil , Støle Maria , Vadseth Ingvild , Samstad Eivind Ottersen , Sandvik Jorunn , Hoff Dag Arne Lihaug
Published: January 2024

Obesity can decrease the lung function. The proposed mechanisms of reduced lung function in persons with obesity have been altered mechanical properties in the lung and chest wall, airway narrowing and increased respiratory resistance. The aim of this current study was to analyse the long‐term results after gastric bypass surgery in patients with reduced lung function. The bariatric surgery observation study invited patients to a follow up 10 years after gastric bypass surgery. We compared the spirometry results before surgery to the spirometry 10 years after surgery. Thirty percent of 198 participants had reduced lung function before surgery. There was no significant relation between body mass index before surgery and lung function. Seventy‐three percent of the participants with reduced lung function had normal lung function 10 years after surgery. There was no significant relation between the degree of weight loss and the improvement in lung function. Most participants with reduced lung function had normal lung function 10 years after gastric bypass surgery. There was no significant correlation between weight loss and improvement in lung function.
Association of metabolic health and obesity with coronary heart disease in adult cancer survivors
Authors: Kim Kyuwoong , Di Giovanna Edvige , Jung Hyeyun , Bethineedi Lakshimi Deepak , Jun Tae Joon , Kim Young‐Hak
Published: January 2024

Background

The metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population. However, association of metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with CHD risk in adult cancer survivors remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations between different metabolic health and obesity phenotypes with incident CHD in adult cancer survivors.

Methods

We used National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) to identify a cohort of 173,951 adult cancer survivors aged more than 20 years free of cardiovascular complications. Metabolically healthy nonobese (MHN), MHO, metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUN), metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotypes were created using as at least three out of five metabolic health criteria along with obesity (body mass index ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). We used Cox proportional hazards model to assess CHD risk in each metabolic health and obesity phenotypes.

Results

During 1,376,050 person‐years of follow‐up, adult cancer survivors with MHO phenotype had a significantly higher risk of CHD (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.41 to 1.65) as compared to those without obesity and metabolic abnormalities. MUN (HR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.59 to 2.06) and MUO (HR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.72 to 2.15) phenotypes were also associated with an increased risk of CHD among adult cancer survivors.

Conclusions

Adult cancer survivors with MHO phenotype had a higher risk of CHD than those who are MHN. Metabolic health status and obesity were jointly associated with CHD risk in adult cancer survivors.
High prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism among children and adolescents living with HIV in Ghana
Authors: Ayanful‐Torgby Ruth , Shabanova Veronika , Essuman Akosua A. , Boafo Emmanuel , Aboagye Frank , Al‐Mahroof Yusuf , Amponsah Jones , Tetteh John K. A. , Amoah Linda E. , Paintsil Elijah
Published: January 2024

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)‐associated metabolic abnormalities, including impairment of glucose metabolism, are prevalent in adults living with HIV. However, the prevalence and pathogenesis of impaired glucose metabolism in children and adolescents living with HIV, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa, are not well characterized. We investigated the prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism among children and adolescents living with perinatally infected HIV in Ghana.

Methods

In this multicentre, cross‐sectional study, we recruited participants from 10 paediatric antiretroviral treatment clinics from January to June 2022 in 10 facilities in Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana. We determined impaired glucose metabolism in the study sample by assessing fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin resistance as defined by the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) index and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism using each criterion was stratified by age and sex. The phenotypic correlates of glucose metabolism markers were also assessed among age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR).

Results

We analysed data from 393 children and adolescents living with HIV aged 6–18 years. A little over half (205/393 or 52.25%) of the children were female. The mean age of the participants was 11.60 years (SD = 3.50), with 122/393 (31.00%) aged 6–9 years, 207/393 (52.67%) aged 10–15 years, and 62/393 (15.78%) aged 16–18 years. The prevalence rates of glucose impairment in the study population were 15.52% [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.26–19.45], 22.39% (95% CI: 18.54–26.78), and 26.21% (95% CI: 22.10–30.78) using HbA1c, HOMA‐IR, and FBS criteria, respectively. Impaired glucose metabolism detected by FBS and HOMA‐IR was higher in the older age group, whereas the prevalence of abnormal HbA1c levels was highest among the youngest age group. Age and BMI were positively associated with FBS and HOMA‐IR (p < 0.001). However, there was negative correlation of WHR with HOMA‐IR (p < 0.01) and HbA1c (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism observed among the children and adolescents living with HIV in sub‐Saharan Africa is of concern as this could contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in adulthood.
Effect of final irrigation protocols with chitosan nanoparticle and genipin on dentine against collagenase degradation: An ex‐vivo study
Authors: Şengül S. N. , Ozturk S. , Ulubayram K. , Pekel Bayramgil N. , Kucukkaya Eren S.
Published: January 2024

Aim

Endodontic irrigants may affect the mechanical and chemical properties of dentine. This study evaluated the effects of various final irrigation protocols including the use of chitosan nanoparticle (CSnp) and cross‐linking with genipin on the (1) mechanical and (2) chemical properties of dentine against enzymatic degradation.

Methodology

CSnp was synthesized and characterized considering physiochemical parameters and stability. The root canals of 90 single‐rooted teeth were prepared and irrigated with NaOCl. Dentine discs were obtained and divided into groups according to the following irrigation protocols: Group NaOCl+EDTA, Group NaOCl+CSnp, Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp, Group NaOCl+CSnp+Genipin, Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp+Genipin and Group distilled water. (1) Mechanical changes were determined by microhardness analysis using Vickers‐tester. (2) Chemical changes were determined by evaluating molecular and elemental compositions of dentine using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM)/energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, respectively. All analyses were repeated after the discs were kept in collagenase for 24 h. Data were analysed with repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction for microhardness analysis, and Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon tests for FTIR and SEM/EDS analyses (p = .05).

Results

(1) Collagenase application did not have a negative effect on microhardness only in Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp+Genipin when compared with the post‐irrigation values (p > .05). Post‐collagenase microhardness of Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp and Group NaOCl+CSnp+Genipin was similar to the initial microhardness (p > .05). (2) After collagenase, Amide III/ ratio presented no change in Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp, Group NaOCl+CSnp+Genipin and Group NaOCl+EDTA+CSnp+Genipin (p > .05), while decreased in other groups (p < .05). Collagenase did not affect / ratio in the groups (p > .05). There were no changes in the groups in terms of elemental level before and after collagenase application (p > .05).

Conclusions

CSnp and genipin positively affected the microhardness and molecular composition of dentine. This effect was more pronounced when CSnp was used after EDTA.
Longitudinal mortality risks and kidney functional outcomes in Japanese living kidney donors
Authors: Hirose Takayuki , Hotta Kiyohiko , Osawa Takahiro , Yokota Isao , Inao Tasuku , Tanabe Tatsu , Iwahara Naoya , Shinohara Nobuo
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Previous studies suggested that living kidney donors do not have a higher risk of death or kidney failure than the general population. However, living kidney donor risk is controversial. Furthermore, only a few studies have evaluated long‐term kidney function after kidney donation.

Methods

This study evaluated Japanese kidney donor' long‐term outcomes, including mortality and kidney function. From 1965 to 2015, 230 donors (76 males, 154 females, and a median age of 54) were enrolled in this study. The median observation period was 11.0 (range, 0.3–41.0) years.

Results

In total, 215 donors were still alive, and 15 had died. Causes of death included malignancies, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, suicide, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney failure. Actual donor survival rates at 10, 20, and 30 years were 95.3%, 90.7%, and 80.9%, respectively. These values were comparable to age‐ and gender‐matched expected survival. Long‐term kidney function after donation was evaluated in 211 donors with serum creatinine data. Two donors developed kidney failure 24 and 26 years post‐donation, respectively. The percentage of donors whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 10, 20, and 30 years after donation were 84.2%, 73.0%, and 63.9%, respectively. Survival rates of donors with eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 were comparable to those in persons with eGFR >45 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that kidney donors did not have a higher long‐term risk of death than the general population. Although some donors showed decreased kidney function after donation, kidney function did not impact their survival.
Surface plasmon resonance effects of Ag@ZnO core–shell nanostructure in UV and visible light for photodiode applications
Authors: Yilmaz Mehmet , Canpolat Nurtac , Aydoğan Sakir
Published: January 2024

Herein, Ag@ZnO core–shell nanostructures were prepared via the wet chemical method and were then dissolved in methanol and drop cast onto a p–Si wafer. Experimental current–voltage measurements of the Ag@ZnO/p–Si heterojunction device were investigated under both visible and UV illumination of 365 and 395 nm. The photocurrent, responsivity, detectivity, and on/off ratio were found to be dependent on the light intensity of visible light and wavelength of UV light. The low photocurrent at low light intensities and its rapid increase at high light intensities was attributed to the recombination of electrons and holes and also to the presence of traps at low light intensities. The responsivity and detectivity of the photodiode reach 1.32 A/W and 5.47 × 1011 Jones, respectively at 365 nm. On the contrary, the high performance under UV light was explained by the surface plasmon resonance between Ag and ZnO.
Age effects on autism heritability and etiological stability of autistic traits
Authors: Martini Miriam I. , Butwicka Agnieszka , Du Rietz Ebba , Kanina Aleksandra , Rosenqvist Mina A. , Larsson Henrik , Lichtenstein Paul , Taylor Mark J.
Published: January 2024

Background

Autism and autistic traits onset in childhood but persist into adulthood. Little is known about how genetic and environmental factors influence autism and autistic traits into adulthood. We aimed to determine age effects on the heritability of clinically diagnosed autism and the etiological stability of autistic traits from childhood to adulthood using twin methods.

Methods

From 23,849 twin pairs in the Swedish Twin Register born between 1959 and 2010, we identified 485 individuals (1.01%, 31.5% female) with a clinical autism diagnosis. We estimated and compared the relative contribution of genetic, shared, and nonshared environmental influences to autism in childhood and adulthood. We further used multivariate twin analysis with four measurement points among 1,348 twin pairs in the longitudinal Twin Study of Child and Adolescent Development to assess the phenotypic and etiological stability of autistic traits – measured with three scales from the Child Behavior Checklist – from childhood to adulthood.

Results

Autism heritability was comparable from childhood, (96% [95% CI, 76–99%]) to adulthood (87% [67–96%]). Autistic traits were moderately stable (phenotypic correlation = 0.35–0.61) from childhood to adulthood, and their heritability varied between 52 and 71%. We observed stable as well as newly emerging genetic influences on autistic traits from ages 8–9 to 19–20, and unique nonshared environmental influences at each age.

Conclusions

Genetic factors are important for autism and autistic traits in adulthood and separate genetic studies in adults are warranted.
Targeting cardiac and cerebrovascular risks of sarcopenia: Is it time to screen for muscle health?
Authors: Mirzai Saeid , Tang W. H. Wilson
Published: January 2024

This Editorial comments on the article by Jauffret et al. in this issue.
Convergent photophysiology and prokaryotic assemblage structure in epilithic cyanobacterial tufts and algal turf communities
Authors: Cissell Ethan C. , McCoy Sophie J.
Published: January 2024

As global change spurs shifts in benthic community composition on coral reefs globally, a better understanding of the defining taxonomic and functional features that differentiate proliferating benthic taxa is needed to predict functional trajectories of reef degradation better. This is especially critical for algal groups, which feature dramatically on changing reefs. Limited attention has been given to characterizing the features that differentiate tufting epilithic cyanobacterial communities from ubiquitous turf algal assemblages. Here, we integrated an in situ assessment of photosynthetic yield with metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomic sequencing to explore photophysiology and prokaryotic assemblage structure within epilithic tufting benthic cyanobacterial communities and epilithic algal turf communities. Significant differences were not detected in the average quantum yield. However, variability in yield was significantly higher in cyanobacterial tufts. Neither prokaryotic assemblage diversity nor structure significantly differed between these functional groups. The sampled cyanobacterial tufts, predominantly built by Okeania sp., were co‐dominated by members of the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, as were turf algal communities. Few detected ASVs were significantly differentially abundant between functional groups and consisted exclusively of taxa belonging to the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Assessment of the distribution of recovered cyanobacterial amplicons demonstrated that alongside sample‐specific cyanobacterial diversification, the dominant cyanobacterial members were conserved across tufting cyanobacterial and turf algal communities. Overall, these data suggest a convergence in taxonomic identity and mean photosynthetic potential between tufting epilithic cyanobacterial communities and algal turf communities, with numerous implications for consumer‐resource dynamics on future reefs and trajectories of reef functional ecology.
Serum symmetric dimethylarginine in older dogs: Reference interval and comparison of a gold standard method with the ELISA
Authors: Marynissen Sofie , Junius Greet , Van den Steen Evi , Patteet Lisbeth , Duchateau Luc , Croubels Siska , Daminet Sylvie , Paepe Dominique
Published: January 2024

Background

Serum symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is used to screen for renal dysfunction in dogs. The gold standard technique for measuring SDMA, liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) is not widely available. Age‐specific reference intervals for SDMA in older dogs are lacking.

Objectives

Prospective study in older dogs to validate a commercially available LC‐MS/MS method for SDMA, compare SDMA concentrations with concentrations measured using ELISA and obtain a reference interval (RI) for older dogs using both methods.

Animals

Client‐owned older dogs undergoing health screening.

Methods

The LC‐MS/MS method was analytically validated (limit of detection, precision, and linearity). Serum was sent cooled overnight for ELISA or was frozen at −80°C until batch analysis using LC‐MS/MS. Results of LC‐MS/MS and ELISA were compared and RIs for older dogs were calculated according to international guidelines.

Results

The LC‐MS/MS method showed good linearity (r2 = .99) and precision (coefficient of variation <10%), with a laboratory RI between 8.0 and 14.0 μg/dL. Paired measurements were available from 118 different dogs. Median SDMA concentration were 9.4 (range, 5.0‐21.2) using LC‐MS/MS and 12.0 (range, 5.0‐22.0) μg/dL using ELISA. Both methods significantly differed with a mean difference of 2.2 μg/dL. The RI for older dogs for LC‐MS/MS was 4.4‐15.0 μg/dL, and for ELISA was 6.4‐17.4 μg/dL.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The ELISA provided significantly higher SDMA concentrations compared to the validated LC‐MS/MS method, indicating the need for device‐ or assay‐specific RI. The obtained age‐specific RI for SDMA is considerably higher in older dogs compared to the general laboratory RI.
A retrospective study of the efficacy of zonisamide in controlling seizures in 57 cats
Authors: Djani Dylan M. , Liou Michael , Aravamuthan Srikanth , Lau Vivian , Cameron Starr
Published: January 2024

Background

Evidence‐based recommendations for antiepileptic drug selection in cats beyond phenobarbital are limited, and additional studies are needed for cats where seizures remain inadequately controlled by administration of phenobarbital alone or for cats that cannot safely receive phenobarbital.

Objective

To compare seizure frequency in cats before and after oral administration of zonisamide and describe adverse clinical or clinicopathologic effects in this cohort.

Animals

Fifty‐seven cats with a history of seizures.

Methods

Multicenter, retrospective study. Median number of seizures per month and number of seizure days per month were compared before and after administration of zonisamide in all cats, a subgroup of cats with idiopathic epilepsy (IE), and a subgroup of cats receiving zonisamide as sole therapy. Clinical and clinicopathologic adverse effect data were also reported.

Results

A median decrease of 1 (P = .001, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.0, −0.5]) seizure per month, and 1 (P = .003, 95% CI [−1.5, −0.2]) seizure days per month was found across all cats after oral administration of zonisamide. The subgroup with IE showed median decreases of 1 (P = .03, 95% CI [−2.0, −0.5]) and 2 (P = .01, 95% CI [−2.5, −1.0]), respectively. The most common clinical adverse effects were sedation (17%), ataxia (11%), hyporexia (17%), and emesis (5%). One cat developed mild nonregenerative anemia, 2 cats developed mild metabolic acidosis, and 6 cats showed mild increases in ALT and ALP.

Conclusion

Zonisamide was well tolerated and efficacious in controlling seizure activity in most cats.
Spontaneous remission and relapse of diabetes mellitus in a male dog
Authors: Rak Mariola B. , Gilor Chen , Niessen Stijn J. M. , Furrow Eva
Published: January 2024

An 8‐year‐old male neutered Miniature Schnauzer was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus based on fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria after a 2‐week history of polydipsia and periuria, in line with the Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology consensus definition. Treatment of insulin and dietary management was initiated. The insulin dose was gradually reduced and eventually discontinued over the next year based on spot blood glucose concentrations that revealed euglycemia or hypoglycemia. After discontinuation, the dog remained free of clinical signs for 1 year until it was again presented for polyuria/polydipsia with fasting hyperglycemia and glucosuria. Insulin therapy was resumed and continued for the remainder of the dog's life. Although diabetic remission often occurs in cats and humans, the presumed etiopathogenesis of pancreatic beta cell loss makes remission rare in dogs, except for cases occurring with diestrus or pregnancy. This case demonstrates that diabetic remission is possible in dogs, even in cases without an identifiable reversible trigger.
Genetic structure, UV‐vision, wing coloration and size coincide with colour polymorphism in Fabriciana adippe butterflies
Authors: Polic Daniela , Yıldırım Yeşerin , Merilaita Sami , Franzén Markus , Forsman Anders
Published: January 2024

Colour polymorphisms have long served as model systems in evolutionary studies and continue to inform about processes involved in the origin and dynamics of biodiversity. Modern sequencing tools allow for evaluating whether phenotypic differences between morphs reflect genetic differentiation rather than developmental plasticity, and for investigating whether polymorphisms represent intermediate stages of diversification towards speciation. We investigated phenotypic and genetic differentiation between two colour morphs of the butterfly Fabriciana adippe using a combination of ddRAD‐sequencing and comparisons of body size, colour patterns and optical properties of bright wing spots. The silvery‐spotted adippe form had larger and darker wings and reflected UV light, while the yellow cleodoxa form displayed more green scales and reflected very little UV, showcasing that they constitute distinct and alternative integrated phenotypes. Genomic analyses revealed genetic structuring according to source population, and to colour morph, suggesting that the phenotypic differentiation reflects evolutionary modifications. We report 17 outlier loci associated with colour morph, including ultraviolet‐sensitive visual pigment (UVRh1), which is associated with intraspecific communication and mate choice in butterflies. Together with the demonstration that the wings of the adippe (but essentially not the cleodoxa) morph reflect UV light, that UV reflectance is higher in females than males and that morphs differ in wing size, this suggests that these colour morphs might represent genetically integrated phenotypes, possibly adapted to different microhabitats. We propose that non‐random mating might contribute to the differentiation and maintenance of the polymorphism.
Androgen receptor deficiency is associated with reduced aromatase expression in the ventromedial hypothalamus of male cichlids
Authors: Lopez Mariana S. , Alward Beau A.
Published: January 2024

Social behaviors are regulated by sex steroid hormones, such as androgens and estrogens. However, the specific molecular and neural processes modulated by steroid hormones to generate social behaviors remain to be elucidated. We investigated whether some actions of androgen signaling in the control of social behavior may occur through the regulation of estradiol synthesis in the highly social cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni. Specifically, we examined the expression of cyp19a1, a brain‐specific aromatase, in the brains of male A. burtoni lacking a functional ARα gene (ar1), which was recently found to be necessary for aggression in this species. We found that cyp19a1 expression is higher in wild‐type males compared to ar1 mutant males in the anterior tuberal nucleus (ATn), the putative fish homolog of the mammalian ventromedial hypothalamus, a brain region that is critical for aggression across taxa. Using in situ hybridization chain reaction, we determined that cyp19a1+ cells coexpress ar1 throughout the brain, including in the ATn. We speculate that ARα may modulate cyp19a1 expression in the ATn to govern aggression in A. burtoni. These studies provide novel insights into the hormonal mechanisms of social behavior in teleosts and lay a foundation for future functional studies.