bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Merging integrated population models and individual-based models to project population dynamics of recolonizing species
Authors: Petracca Lisanne S. , Gardner Beth , Maletzke Benjamin T. , Converse Sarah J.
Published: March 2023

Recolonizing species exhibit unique population dynamics, namely dispersal to and colonization of new areas, that have important implications for management. A resulting challenge is how to simultaneously model demographic and movement processes so that recolonizing species can be accurately projected over time and space. Integrated population models (IPMs) have proven useful for making inference about population dynamics by integrating multiple data streams related to population states and demographic rates. However, traditional IPMs are not capable of representing complex dispersal and colonization processes, and the data requirements for building spatially explicit IPMs to do so are often prohibitive. Contrastingly, individual-based models (IBMs) have been developed to describe dispersal and colonization processes but do not traditionally integrate an estimation component, a major strength of IPMs. We introduce a framework for spatially explicit projection modeling that answers the challenge of how to project an expanding population using IPM-based parameter estimation while harnessing the movement modeling made possible by an IBM. Our model has two main components: [1] a Bayesian IPM-driven age- and state-structured population model that governs the population state process and estimation of demographic rates, and [2] an IBM-driven spatial model describing the dispersal of individuals and colonization of sites. We applied this model to estimate current and project future dynamics of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Washington State, USA. We used data from 74 telemetered wolves and yearly pup and pack counts to parameterize the model, and then projected statewide dynamics over 50 years. Mean population growth was 1.29 (95% CRI 1.26-1.33) during initial recolonization from 2009-2020 and decreased to 1.03 (IQR 1.00-1.05) in the projection period (2021-2070). Our results suggest that gray wolves have a >99% probability of colonizing the last of Washington State’s three specified recovery regions by 2030, regardless of alternative assumptions about how dispersing wolves select new territories. The spatially explicit modeling framework developed here can be used to project the dynamics of any species for which spatial spread is an important driver of population dynamics.
A thermodynamic analysis of CLC transporter dimerization in lipid bilayers
Authors: Chadda Rahul , Lee Taeho , Sandal Priyanka , Mahoney-Kruszka Robyn , Robertson Janice L.
Published: March 2023

The CLC-ec1 chloride/proton antiporter is a membrane embedded homodimer where subunits can dissociate and associate, but the thermodynamic driving forces favor the assembled form at biological densities. Yet, the physical reasons for this stability are confounding since binding occurs via the burial of hydrophobic protein interfaces yet the hydrophobic effect should not apply since there is little water within the membrane. To investigate this further, we quantified the thermodynamic changes associated with CLC dimerization in membranes by carrying out a van ′t Hoff analysis of the temperature dependency of the free energy of dimerization,ΔG°. To ensure that the reaction reached equilibrium under changing conditions, we utilized a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer based assay to report on the relaxation kinetics of subunit exchange as a function of temperature. These equilibration times were then applied to measure CLC-ec1 dimerization isotherms as a function of temperature using the single-molecule subunit-capture photobleaching analysis approach. The results demonstrate that the dimerization free energy of CLC inE. colimembranes exhibits a non-linear temperature dependency corresponding to a large, negative change in heat capacity, a signature of solvent ordering effects including the hydrophobic effect. Consolidating this with our previous molecular analyses suggests that the non-bilayer defect required to solvate the monomeric state is the molecular source of this large change in heat capacity and is a major and generalizable driving force for protein association in membranes.
Importance of head movements in gaze tracking during table tennis forehand stroke
Authors: Shinkai Ryosuke , Ando Shintaro , Nonaka Yuki , Yoshimura Yusei , Kizuka Tomohiro , Ono Seiji
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to clarify the properties of gaze and head movements during forehand stroke in table tennis. Collegiate table tennis players (n = 12) conducted forehand strokes toward a ball launched by a skilled experimenter. A total of ten trials were conducted for the experimental task. Horizontal and vertical movements of the ball, gaze, head and eye were analyzed from the image recorded by an eye tracking device. The results showed that participants did not always keep their gaze and head position on the ball throughout the entire ball path. Our results indicate that table tennis players tend to gaze at the ball in the initial ball-tracking phase. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between eye and head position especially in the vertical direction. This result suggests that horizontal VOR is relatively suppressed than vertical VOR in ball-tracking during table tennis forehand stroke. Finally, multiple regression analysis showed that the contribution of head position to gaze position was significantly higher than that of eye position. This result indicates that gaze position during forehand stroke could be associated with head position rather than eye position. Taken together, head movements may play an important role in maintaining the ball in a constant egocentric direction in table tennis forehand stroke.
Adrenal extramedullary hematopoiesis as an inducible model of the adult hematopoietic niche
Authors: Schyrr Frédérica , Alonso-Calleja Alejandro , Vijaykumar Anjali , Gebhard Sandra , Sarkis Rita , Lopes Silvia F. , Oggier Aurélien , De Leval Laurence , Nombela-Arrieta César , Naveiras Olaia
Published: March 2023

Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (HSPCs) reside in the hematopoietic niche, a structure that regulates the balance of cellular quiescence, self-renewal and commitment in a demand-adapted manner. The bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic niche is formed by several cellular players, mainly endothelial cells, osteoblasts, adipocytes, and stromal cells. While the BM niche forms a complex structure, evidence exists for simpler, albeit functional, extramedullary hematopoietic niches. However, the composition of what constitutes the simplest unit of an HSPC supportive microenvironment remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the adult adrenal gland can be transformed into a hematopoietic supportive environment. Upon splenectomy and hormonal stimulation, the adult adrenal gland can be induced to recruit and host HSPC function, including serial transplantation. Furthermore, the adrenal stroma contains a CXCL12+ population, reminiscent of BM CXCL12-Abundant Reticular (CAR) cells. Mirroring this, we found CXCL12+ cells in patient samples obtained from a local cohort of myelolipoma, a benign adrenal tumor composed of adipose and hematopoietic tissue that constitutes the most common site of extramedullary hematopoiesis specific to the adult. We present our model as a novel tool to increase our understanding of the physiology of hematopoietic support and to facilitate the development of a boneless niche model.
Primate Cerebellar Scaling in Connection to the Cerebrum: A 34-Species Phylogenetic Comparative Analysis
Authors: Magielse Neville , Toro Roberto , Steigauf Vanessa , Abbaspour Mahta , Eickhoff Simon B. , Heuer Katja , Valk Sofie L.
Published: March 2023

The cerebellum has increasingly been recognized for its role in diverse functional processes. The reciprocally connected cerebello-cerebral system may scaffold both brain size increase and advanced associative abilities, evolving highly coordinately in primates. In parallel, functional cerebello-cerebral modules have undergone reorganization and cerebellar lobules crura I-II (the ansiform area across mammals) have been reported to be specifically expanded in humans. Here we manually segmented 63 cerebella (34 primate species; 9 infraorders) and 30 crura I-II (13 species; 8 infraorders). We show that both constraints and reorganization may shape the evolution of the primate cerebello-cerebral system. Using phylogenetic generalized least squares, we find that the cerebellum scales isometrically with the cerebral cortex, whereas crura I-II scale hyper-allometrically versus both. Our phylogenetic analyses evidence primate-general crura I-II hyperscaling in contrast to virtually isometric cerebello-cerebral scaling. Crura I-II hyperscaling may be important for associative and cognitive brain functions in an evolutionary context.
Intracellular biotransformation and disposal mechanisms of magnetosomes in macrophages and cancer cells
Authors: Gandarias L. , Gubieda A.G. , Gorni G. , Mathon O. , Olivi L. , Abad-Díaz-de-Cerio Ana , Fdez-Gubieda M.L. , Muela A. , García-Prieto A.
Published: March 2023

Magnetosomes are magnetite nanoparticles biosynthesized by magnetotactic bacteria. Given their potential clinical applications for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, it is essential to understand what becomes of them once they are within the body. With this aim, here we have followed the intracellular long-term fate of magnetosomes in two cell types: cancer cells (A549 cell line), because they are the actual target for the therapeutic activity of the magnetosomes, and macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line), because of their role at capturing foreign agents. We show that cells dispose of magnetosomes using three mechanisms: splitting them into daughter cells, excreting them to the surrounding environment, and degrading them yielding less or non-magnetic iron products. A deeper insight into the degradation mechanisms by means of time-resolved X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy has allowed us to follow the intracellular biotransformation of magnetosomes by identifying and quantifying the iron species occurring during the process. In both cell types there is a first oxidation of magnetite to maghemite and then, earlier in macrophages than in cancer cells, ferrihydrite starts to appear. Given that ferrihydrite is the iron mineral phase stored in the cores of ferritin proteins, this suggests that cells use the iron released from the degradation of magnetosomes to load ferritin. Comparison of both cellular types evidences that macrophages are more efficient at disposing of magnetosomes than cancer cells, attributed to their role in degrading external debris and in iron homeostasis.

Graphical Abstract
Sublethal heat reduces overall reproductive investment and male allocation in a simultaneously hermaphroditic snail species
Authors: van Dijk Shanna , Zizzari Valentina , Koene Joris M. , Nakadera Yumi
Published: March 2023

A well-known effect of sub-lethal temperature exposure in a diversity of species is a decrease in reproductive performance. Although this effect has been particularly emphasized for males or male reproductive functioning, it remains to be firmly demonstrated that the effect of heat on fertility is sex-specific. To contribute to this question, here we examined the impact of sub-lethally high temperature on male and female functions in a simultaneously hermaphroditic snail species,Lymnaea stagnalis. Examining hermaphrodites is useful to evaluate the sex-specific impacts of heat exposure, since they possess male and female functions within a single individual, sharing genetic and environmental factors. Moreover, previously developed sex allocation theory allows us to compare the differential performance of sex functions. In this study, we exposed snails to temperatures ranging from 20 to 28 °C for 14 days and assessed their egg and sperm production, sperm transfer, mating behaviour and growth. Both types of gamete production were significantly reduced by higher temperature, leading to an overall reduction of reproductive investment. By quantifying sex allocation, we furthermore revealed that the heat-stressed snails reduced the relative investment in their male function. In addition, even though sperm production and its transfer were drastically decreased by high temperature, male mating motivation was not affected. This study illustrates that examining simultaneous hermaphrodites can provide significant insights for the impact of heat, and the proximate mechanism, on reproduction in wildlife.
Improved integration of single cell transcriptome data demonstrated on heart failure in mice and men
Authors: Jurado Mariano Ruz , Tombor Lukas Stefan , Arsalan Mani , Holubec Thomas , Emrich Fabian , Walther Thomas , Zeiher Andreas M. , Schulz Marcel H. , Dimmeler Stefanie , John David
Published: March 2023

Biomedical research frequently uses murine models to study disease mechanisms. However, the translation of these findings to human disease remains a significant challenge. In order to improve the comparability of mouse and human data, we present a cross-species integration pipeline for single-cell transcriptomic assays. The pipeline merges expression matrices and assigns clear orthologous relationships. Starting from Ensembl ortholog assignments, we allocated 82% of mouse genes to unique orthologs by using additional publicly available resources such as Uniprot, and NCBI databases. For genes with multiple matches, we employed the Needleman-Wunsch global alignment based on either amino acid or nucleotide sequence to identify the ortholog with the highest degree of similarity. The workflow was tested for its functionality and efficiency by integrating scRNA-seq datasets from heart failure patients with the corresponding mouse model. We were able to assign unique human orthologs to up to 80% of the mouse genes, utilizing the known 17,492 orthologous pairs. Curiously, the integration process enabled the identification of both common and unique regulatory pathways between species in heart failure. In conclusion, our pipeline streamlines the integration process, enhances gene nomenclature alignment and simplifies the translation of mouse models to human disease. We have made the OrthoIntegrate R-package accessible on GitHub (https://github.com/MarianoRuzJurado/OrthoIntegrate), which includes the assignment of ortholog definitions for human and mouse, as well as the pipeline for integrating single cells.
Threat specificity in fear appeals: examination of fear response and motivated behavior
Authors: Sobol Kamila , Giroux Marilyn
Published: March 2023

Purpose

A fear appeal is a communication tactic designed to scare people into adopting desired behaviors (e.g. wash hands to avoid contracting COVID-19). While it is generally acknowledged that fear appeals can be persuasive at motivating behavior, this paper aims to identify how to optimally identify how to optimally frame the focal threat to increase their effectiveness as well as to uncover additional underlying processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted four experimental studies.

Findings

This research validates that exposure to fear appeals can strongly motivate behavior. However, this study shows that this effect is moderated by threat specificity. Specifically, this study demonstrates that people are more motivated to engage in behaviors that facilitate threat avoidance after exposure to a personally relevant threat that represents a nonspecific (e.g. aging appearance) rather than a specific outcome (e.g. wrinkles). This effect is mediated by perceptions of assimilation (versus contrast) to the focal threat. This study reliably shows the effect across three threat domains (i.e. aging appearance, weight gain, illness) and for different behaviors.

Originality/value

Theoretically speaking, this study contributes to the fear appeal literature by identifying a new type of message framing that has the potential to increase fear appeal’s persuasive power, and uncovering a distinct mechanism by which fear appeals impact behavior. Practically speaking, the findings confirm that fear appeals have the potential to help marketers mobilize consumer behavior, especially when the communication highlights a nonspecific rather than specific threat.
Piperacillin/tazobactam versus carbapenems in patients with severe bacterial infections: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Munch Marie Warrer , Granholm Anders , Jonsson Andreas Bender , Sjövall Fredrik , Helleberg Marie , Hertz Frederik Boëtius , Andersen Jakob Steen , Steensen Morten , Achiam Michael Patrick , Perner Anders , Møller Morten Hylander
Published: March 2023

Background

Piperacillin/tazobactam or meropenem are often used to treat patients with severe bacterial infections. We aimed to compare the desirable and undesirable effects of empirical and/or definitive piperacillin/tazobactam versus carbapenems in patients with severe bacterial infections.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Epistemonikos, and trial registers for randomised clinical trials of empirical and/or definitive piperacillin/tazobactam versus carbapenems in adult patients with severe bacterial infection (i.e., any bacterial infection requiring hospitalisation). The primary outcome was all‐cause short‐term mortality within 90 days. Secondary outcomes were all‐cause long‐term mortality, adverse events, quality of life, days alive without or duration of life support, secondary infections, selection of fungi or resistant bacteria, and days alive and out of hospital or hospital length of stay. We calculated relative risks (RRs) using random effects and fixed effect meta‐analyses along with trial sequential analyses.

Results

We included 31 trials (n = 8790 patients) with overall high risk of bias. The RR for all‐cause short‐term mortality was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94–1.43, low certainty evidence), for adverse events 1.00 (98% CI: 0.96–1.04, moderate certainty evidence), for secondary infections 1.13 (98% CI: 0.76–1.68, very low certainty evidence), and for selection of fungi or resistant bacteria 1.61 (98% CI: 0.89–2.89, very low certainty evidence). There were no or limited data for the remaining outcomes.

Conclusions

Based on very low or low certainty evidence, piperacillin/tazobactam may be associated with less favourable outcomes in patients with severe bacterial infections as compared with carbapenems, but the information size for a robust conclusion has not been reached.
Theory‐based behaviour change intervention to promote mental health help‐seeking among older adults in Australia: Initial dissemination and acceptability
Authors: Adams Claire , Gringart Eyal , Strobel Natalie
Published: March 2023

Objective

Rates of help‐seeking for mental health problems among older adults are low and initiatives to increase help‐seeking in older populations are limited. To our knowledge, no interventions have aimed to promote help‐seeking among older adults by tapping internal motivations to seek help. In this paper, we describe the development of a theory‐based intervention designed to promote mental health help‐seeking among older adults in Australia, using an internal motivation paradigm.

Methods

The intervention was co‐designed through a consultative process with nine key stakeholders who represented five main groups: primary health‐care providers, mental health professionals, health‐care executives, community organisations and consumers. Development was an iterative process, based on best practice guidelines. Nineteen older adults (≥65 years) provided feedback on the acceptability of the intervention.

Results

The intervention consisted of a help‐seeking brochure with behaviour change messages based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Messages targeted older adults' attitudes towards help‐seeking, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and barriers to seeking help. Most participants (74%) responded with agree/strongly agree to 10 items measuring the acceptability of the intervention, indicating the intervention is relevant, clear, appropriate and appealing.

Conclusions

The present intervention appears to be an acceptable way to promote help‐seeking for mental health problems among older adults. A larger, robust trial is warranted to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in improving help‐seeking attitudes, intentions and behaviour. The intervention has the potential to increase older adults' engagement with mental health support and improve health outcomes in this population.
Palm live aboveground biomass in the riparian zones of a forest in Central Amazonia
Authors: Falen Lourdes , Guedes Mariane , de Castilho Carolina V. , Jorge Rafael F. , Bezerra Francisco M. , Magnusson William E.
Published: March 2023

Aboveground biomass estimates in the Amazon region remain uncertain, partly due to extrapolations based mainly on samples collected in upland terrains of terra‐firme forests. Most biomass estimates were focused on dicotyledonous trees or included other plant groups as a category of trees. Palms dominate areas that represent 20% of the Brazilian Amazon. However, their contribution to biomass estimates and the variation within riparian zones remain poorly documented. We estimated the biomass of palms larger than 1–cm diameter at breast height (1.3 m aboveground) in riparian plots (n = 40); investigated the potential bias caused by the use of dicotyledonous‐ or family‐ rather than species‐level equations for biomass estimation; compared palm biomass between riparian and non‐riparian plots (n = 72); and evaluated the effects of soil, topography, and stream characteristics in riparian plots on palm biomass. Mean palm biomass in riparian zones estimated with species‐level equations (27.50 ± 12.94 Mg/ha, range: 3.32–63.27 Mg/ha) was three times greater than biomass estimated with a family‐level equation (9.04 ± 4.29 Mg/ha, range: 1.51–21.25 Mg/ha) and was greater than mean biomass estimated with a pantropical equation (20.46 ± 9.29 Mg/ha, range: 3.67–47.99 Mg/ha). Mean palm biomass in riparian zones was four times greater than in non‐riparian zones. Palm biomass was high in flatter areas with poorly drained soils, but lower around streams with higher discharge. Inclusion of palms can contribute to reducing the uncertainties in biomass estimates in Amazonian forests. Recognition of the importance of riparian zones may improve conservation policies.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
A score for predicting invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompetent critically ill patients
Authors: Li Wen , Chen Gang , Lin Fengyu , Yang Hang , Cui Yanhui , Lu Rongli , Song Chao , Li Haitao , Li Yi , Pan Pinhua
Published: March 2023

Background

Delayed treatment leads to increased mortality in critically ill patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). We aimed to develop and validate a prediction score based on novel biomarkers and clinical risk factors to identify IPA in immunocompetent patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to collect medical information and novel biomarkers upon ICU admission. Risk factors adopted for the final prediction score were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

We retrospectively collected 1841 critical ill patients between January 2018 and August 2022. Patients with IPA had higher C‐reactive protein‐to‐albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune‐inflammation index and lower prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), high dose of corticosteroids, broad‐spectrum antibiotics, blood galactomannan (GM) positivity and high CAR were independent risk factors for IPA and were entered into the final prediction score. The score had good discrimination, with the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.816 and 0.780 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively, and good calibration.

Conclusion

A score based on six clinical and novel immunological biomarkers showed promising predictive value for antifungal treatment in immunocompetent ICU patients.
Expert consensus established around flexible, individualized migraine treatment utilizing a modified Delphi panel
Authors: Graf Marlon , Kim Edward , Brewer Iris , Hernandez Jennifer , Chou Jacquelyn W. , Cirillo Jessica , Jensen Christopher , Lipton Richard
Published: March 2023

Objective

To characterize treatment decision‐making processes and formalize consensus regarding key factors headache specialists consider in treatment decisions for patients with migraine, considering novel therapies.

Background

Migraine therapies have long been subject to binary classification, acute versus preventive, due to limitations of available drugs. The emergence of novel therapies that can be used more flexibly creates an opportunity to rethink this binary classification. To determine the role of these novel therapies in treatment, it is critical to understand whether existing guidelines reflect clinical practice and to establish consensus around factors driving management.

Methods

A three‐round modified Delphi process was conducted with migraine clinical experts. Round 1 consisted of an online questionnaire; Round 2 involved an online discussion of aggregated Round 1 results; and Round 3 allowed participants to revise Round 1 responses, incorporating Round 2 insights. Questions elicited likelihood ratings (0 = highly unlikely to 100 = highly likely), rankings, and estimates on treatment decision‐making.

Results

Nineteen experts completed three Delphi rounds. Experts strongly agreed on definitions for “acute” (median = 100, inter‐quartile range [IQR] = 5) and “preventive” treatment (median = 90, IQR = 15), but noted a need for treatment customization for patients (median = 100, IQR = 6). Experts noted certain aspects of guidelines may no longer apply based on established tolerability and efficacy of newer acute and preventive agents (median = 91, IQR = 17). Further, experts agreed on a treatment category referred to as “situational prevention” (or “short‐term prevention”) for patients with reliable and predictable migraine triggers (median = 100, IQR = 10) or time‐limited periods when headache avoidance is important (median = 100, IQR = 12).

Conclusions

Using the modified Delphi method, a panel of migraine experts identified the importance of customizing treatment for people with migraine and the utility of “situational prevention,” given the ability of new treatment options to meet this need and the potential to clinically identify patients and time periods when this approach would add value.
RETRACTED: The outcome of prolonged postoperative antibiotics on wound healing in orthognathic surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Lu Ying , Li Jian
Published: March 2023

We conducted a meta‐analysis to assess the outcome of prolonged postoperative antibiotics (PA) on wound healing in orthognathic surgery (OS). A systematic literature search up to January 2023 was performed and 1021 related studies were evaluated. The chosen studies comprised 1057 OS subjects who participated in the selected studies' baseline, 446 of them used short‐term PA, and 611 used long‐term PA. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effect of prolonged PA on wound infection after OS by the dichotomous methods with a random or fixed effect model. The short‐term PA resulted in significantly higher wound infection (OR, 4.27; 95% CI, 2.97–6.14, P < 0.001) with low heterogeneity (I2 = 27%) compared to the long‐term PA in OS. The short‐term PA resulted in significantly higher wound infection compared to the long‐term PA in OS. Though care should be taken when dealing with the results since a large number of the selected studies had <100 subjects as a sample size.
BDH1 promotes lung cancer cell proliferation and metastases by PARP1‐mediated autophagy
Authors: Zhang Zhimin , Bi Xin , Lian Xiaojuan , Niu Zhongxi
Published: March 2023

Lymph node metastases and distant metastases were the important limiting factor for therapy of unresectable locally advanced (IIIB stage) and oligotransduction (IVa stage) lung cancer. This study was undertaken to identify a novel predictive biomarker for predicting lymph node metastases of lung cancer. A total of 364 patients with lung cancer which comprised of 198 patients with transcriptome sequencing data, 110 cases with immunohistochemistry data and 66 patients with serum samples were included to identify and validate the candidate gene. Autophagy was measured by western blots, immunofluorescence and electron microscope. We found that 3‐hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1 (BDH1) was associated with proliferation and metastases of lung cancer. BDH1 expression in both tissue and serum samples was associated with lung cancer metastases. Mechanical studies revealed that the AMPK‐mTOR signalling pathway mediated by PARP1 played an important role in BDH1‐induced autophagy. Activation of mTOR pathway markedly increased the effect of BDH1 in cell proliferation and metastases. These results were verified by the knockdown of PARP1. Furthermore, in vivo administration of BDH1 effectively promoted tumour growth in H460 xenografts mice. Our finding not only suggested that BDH1 might be useful as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer metastases, but also imply that PARP1‐mediated AMPK‐mTOR signalling pathway might play a critical role in BDH1‐induced autophagy and lung cancer proliferation and metastases.
OsWR2 recruits HDA704 to regulate the deacetylation of H4K8ac in the promoter of OsABI5 in response to drought stress
Authors: Guo Yalu , Tan Yiqing , Qu Minghao , Hong Kai , Zeng Longjun , Wang Lei , Zhuang Chuxiong , Qian Qian , Hu Jiang , Xiong Guosheng
Published: March 2023

Drought stress is a major environmental factor that limits the growth, development, and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are involved in the regulation of drought stress responses. HDA704 is an RPD3/HDA1 class HDAC that mediates the deacetylation of H4K8 (lysine 8 of histone H4) for drought tolerance in rice. In this study, we show that plants overexpressing HDA704 (HDA704‐OE) are resistant to drought stress and sensitive to abscisic acid (ABA), whereas HDA704 knockout mutant (hda704) plants displayed decreased drought tolerance and ABA sensitivity. Transcriptome analysis revealed that HDA704 regulates the expression of ABA‐related genes in response to drought stress. Moreover, HDA704 was recruited by a drought‐resistant transcription factor, WAX SYNTHESIS REGULATORY 2 (OsWR2), and co‐regulated the expression of the ABA biosynthesis genes NINE‐CIS‐EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3 (NCED3), NCED4, and NCED5 under drought stress. HDA704 also repressed the expression of ABA‐INSENSITIVE 5 (OsABI5) and DWARF AND SMALL SEED 1 (OsDSS1) by regulating H4K8ac levels in the promoter regions in response to polyethylene glycol 6000 treatment. In agreement, the loss of OsABI5 function increased resistance to dehydration stress in rice. Our results demonstrate that HDA704 is a positive regulator of the drought stress response and offers avenues for improving drought resistance in rice.
Factors related to parenting styles of Chinese mothers of children with and without intellectual disability
Authors: Su H. , Cuskelly M. , Gilmore L.
Published: March 2023

Background

Parenting styles play a crucial role in children's development. However, approaches to parenting children with intellectual disability (ID) beyond Western cultures have been underexamined. This study compared the self‐reported parenting styles of Chinese mothers of children with and without ID and examined some factors that might be related.

Methods

Chinese mothers of children with ID (n = 173) and mothers of typically developing children (n = 119) completed measures of their parenting style, parenting stress, parenting sense of competence and family support.

Results

Both groups endorsed similar levels of authoritative parenting, but mothers of children with ID were more likely to report adopting strategies aligned with authoritarian parenting. For mothers in the ID group, family support moderated the effects of parenting stress and parenting sense of competence on authoritative parenting. Parenting stress and parenting sense of competence, respectively, predicted authoritarian parenting for mothers of children with and without ID.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of reducing parenting stress, strengthening parenting sense of competence and providing family support in order to promote optimal parenting styles for Chinese mothers of children with ID.
Effects of bone type and occlusal loading pattern on bone remodeling in implant‐supported single crown: A finite element study
Authors: Rungsiyakull Pimduen , Rungsiyakull Chaiy , Monstaporn Montip , Sae‐lee Daraporn , Elsaka Shaymaa
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To assess the influence of bone types and loading patterns on the remodeling process over 12 months according to the variations in stress, strain, strain energy density (SED), and density allocation in the bone of implant‐supported single crown.

Materials and methods

A three‐dimensional finite element of a single crown implant was modeled in five different bone types (D1–D4, and grafted bone). A 200 N load was applied on an implant crown with three occlusal loading patterns (nonfunctional contact, functional contact at center, and at 2‐mm offset loading). During the first 12 months after implant placement, the SED was employed as a mechanical stimulus to simulate cortical and cancellous bone remodeling.

Results

Functional contact at 2‐mm offset loading led to a higher bone remodeling rate and stress compared to functional contact at center and nonfunctional contact. Under 2‐mm offset loading, the greatest remodeling rate after 12 months was achieved with D3 and D4, D2, grafted, and D1 cortical bone with an average peri‐implant density of 1.95, 1.77, 1.56, and 1.50 g/cm3, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest von Mises stresses were found in D4 (22.2 MPa) and D3 (21.9 MPa) bones.

Conclusions

A greater stress concentration and remodeling rate were found when an off‐axial load was applied on an implant placed in low bone density. Although the fastest remodeling processes resulting in increased bone density and strength were found in D3 and D4 bone types with greater off‐axial loading that may provide greater bone engagement, it could increase stress concentrations that are susceptible to inducing implant failure.
Pre‐conditioning of gingival epithelial cells with sub‐apoptotic concentrations of curcumin prevents pro‐inflammatory cytokine release
Authors: Grant Melissa M. , Scott Ann E. , Matthews John B. , Griffiths Helen R. , Chapple Iain L. C.
Published: March 2023

Background and Objective

Plaque‐induced gingival inflammation (gingivitis) is ubiquitous in humans. The epithelial barrier reacts to the presence of oral bacteria and induces inflammatory cascades. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which the small molecule micronutrient curcumin could decrease inflammatory response in vitro to oral bacterium heat‐killed Fusobacterium nucleatum as curcumin could be a useful compound for combatting gingivitis already consumed by humans.

Methods

H400 oral epithelial cell line was pre‐conditioned with curcumin and the production of cytokines was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and translocation of transcription factors was used to monitor inflammatory responses. Haem oxygenase (HO‐1) expression and molecules that HO‐1 releases were evaluated for their potential to reduce the quantity of cytokine production. Immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blotting were used to evaluate changes in transcription factor and enzyme location.

Results

Pre‐conditioning of H400 cells with a sub‐apoptotic concentration of curcumin (20 μM) attenuated secretion of Granulocyte‐Macrophage – Colony‐Stimulating Factor (GM‐CSF) and reduced NFkB nuclear translocation. This pre‐conditioning caused an increase in nuclear Nrf2; an initial drop (at 8 h) followed by an adaptive increase (at 24 h) in glutathione; and an increase in haem oxygenase (HO‐1) expression. Inhibition of HO‐1 by SnPPIX prevented the curcumin‐induced attenuation of GM‐CSF production. HO‐1 catalyses the breakdown of haem to carbon monoxide, free iron and biliverdin: the HO‐1/CO anti‐inflammatory pathway. Elevations in carbon monoxide, achieved using carbon monoxide releasing molecule‐2 (CORM2) treatment alone abrogated F. nucleatum‐induced cytokine production. Biliverdin is converted to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase (BVR). This pleiotropic protein was found to increase in cell membrane expression upon curcumin treatment.

Conclusion

Curcumin decreased inflammatory cytokine production induced by Fusobacterium nucleatum in H400 oral epithelial cells. The mechanism of action appears to be driven by the increase of haem oxygenase and the production of carbon monoxide.
Reliability of parental reporting of child snoring in children referred for obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Bokov Plamen , Dudoignon Benjamin , Spruyt Karen , Delclaux Christophe
Published: March 2023

Despite the high number of studies based on subjective reports of snoring, self‐reported snoring has hardly been validated at all. As there is no “gold‐standard” for objective snoring measurements, studies must evaluate whether the presence of snoring based on parental judgement is linked to objective measurements of nasal and/or pharyngeal obstruction in children referred for obstructive sleep apnea. A total of 146 children (median age 11 years) underwent polysomnography (with snoring recording using nasal cannula signal), acoustic rhinometry and pharyngometry, while their parents filled out the Spruyt–Gozal questionnaire assessing both frequency and loudness of subjective snoring. Three categories were further differentiated (null, low and high) for both frequency and loudness. The apnea–hypopnea index was significantly different in the three groups for both frequency (p = 0.04) and loudness (p = 0.01) of subjective snoring. Children in the low or high groups (frequency or loudness), compared with those in the null group, experienced a decline in both pharyngeal (sitting and supine positions) and nasopharyngeal (supine position) volumes (frequency, pharynx sitting: p = 0.03; supine: 0.005 and nasopharynx: p = 0.002; loudness, p = 0.03; p = 0.007 and p = 0.03; three group comparisons). Objective snoring frequency during the night obtained with cannula was weakly related to loudness of subjective snoring but not to subjective snoring frequency during the week, and was biased by nasal obstruction. In conclusion, our study showed that parental assessment of snoring is related to a reduction in both pharyngeal and nasopharyngeal volumes in snorers, arguing for the adequacy of their evaluation of both snoring frequency and loudness.
Begomoviral βC1 orchestrates organellar genomic instability to augment viral infection
Authors: Nair Ashwin , Harshith Chitthavalli Y. , Narjala Anushree , Shivaprasad Padubidri V.
Published: March 2023

Chloroplast is the site for transforming light energy to chemical energy. It also acts as a production unit for a variety of defense‐related molecules. These defense moieties are necessary to mount a successful counter defense against pathogens, including viruses. Previous studies indicated disruption of chloroplast homeostasis as a basic strategy of Begomovirus for its successful infection leading to the production of vein‐clearing, mosaic, and chlorotic symptoms in infected plants. Although begomoviral pathogenicity determinant protein Beta C1 (βC1) was implicated for pathogenicity, the underlying mechanism was unclear. Here we show that, begomoviral βC1 directly interferes with the host plastid homeostasis. βC1 induced DPD1, an organelle‐specific nuclease, implicated in nutrient salvage and senescence, as well as modulated the function of a major plastid genome maintainer protein RecA1, to subvert plastid genome. We show that βC1 was able to physically interact with bacterial RecA and its plant homolog RecA1, resulting in its altered activity. We observed that knocking‐down DPD1 during virus infection significantly reduced virus‐induced necrosis. These results indicate the presence of a strategy in which a viral protein alters host defense by targeting modulators of chloroplast DNA. We predict that the mechanism identified here might have similarities in other plant–pathogen interactions.
Structural basis for motilin and erythromycin recognition by motilin receptor
Authors: You Chongzhao , Zhang Yumu , Xu Youwei , Xu Peiyu , Li Zhen , Li Huadong , Huang Sijie , Chen Zecai , Li Jingru , Xu H. Eric , Jiang Yi
Published: March 2023

Motilin is an endogenous peptide hormone almost exclusively expressed in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It activates the motilin receptor (MTLR), a class A G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR), and stimulates GI motility. To our knowledge, MTLR is the first GPCR reported to be activated by macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin. It has attracted extensive attention as a potential drug target for GI disorders. We report two structures of G
q
-coupled human MTLR bound to motilin and erythromycin. Our structures reveal the recognition mechanism of both ligands and explain the specificity of motilin and ghrelin, a related gut peptide hormone, for their respective receptors. These structures also provide the basis for understanding the different recognition modes of erythromycin by MTLR and ribosome. These findings provide a framework for understanding the physiological regulation of MTLR and guiding drug design targeting MTLR for the treatment of GI motility disorders.
CD4
+
T cells produce GM-CSF and drive immune-mediated glomerular disease by licensing monocyte-derived cells to produce MMP12
Authors: Paust Hans-Joachim , Song Ning , De Feo Donatella , Asada Nariaki , Tuzlak Selma , Zhao Yu , Riedel Jan-Hendrik , Hellmig Malte , Sivayoganathan Amirrtavarshni , Peters Anett , Kaffke Anna , Borchers Alina , Wenzel Ulrich O. , Steinmetz Oliver M. , Tiegs Gisa , Meister Elisabeth , Mack Matthias , Kurts Christian , von Vietinghoff Sibylle , Lindenmeyer Maja T. , Hoxha Elion , Stahl Rolf A. K. , Huber Tobias B. , Bonn Stefan , Meyer-Schwesinger Catherine , Wiech Thorsten , Turner Jan-Eric , Becher Burkhard , Krebs Christian F. , Panzer Ulf
Published: March 2023

GM-CSF in glomerulonephritis

Despite glomerulonephritis being an immune-mediated disease, the contributions of individual immune cell types are not clear. To address this gap in knowledge, Paust
et al
. characterized pathological immune cells in samples from patients with glomerulonephritis and in samples from mice with the disease. The authors found that CD4+ T cells producing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) licensed monocytes to promote disease by producing matrix metalloproteinase 12 and disrupting the glomerular basement membrane. Targeting GM-CSF to inhibit this axis reduced disease severity in mice, implicating this cytokine as a potential therapeutic target for patients with glomerulonephritis. —CM
Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of ST133 Siderophore-Encoding Extensively Drug-Resistant Enterobacter hormaechei
Authors: Huang Yonglu , Wu Yuchen , Cai Chang , Zhang Rong , Chen Gongxiang , Dong Ning
Published: March 2023

We identified an ST133 extensively drug-resistant
Enterobacter hormaechei
, C210017, with increased virulence in the
Galleria mellonella
infection model. Genomic analysis suggested it carried antibiotic resistance genes
bla
KPC-2
and
mcr-9.1
, and genes
iutAiucABCD
and
iroBCDEN
encoding the virulence factor, siderophores.
Biodiversity of Tricholoma matsutake (syn. T. nauseosum) and its related species based on repetitive DNA and genomics
Authors: Murata Hitoshi , Yamada Akiyoshi , Ichida Hiroyuki , Nakamura Noritaka , Neda Hitoshi
Published: March 2023

Tricholoma matsutake and its related species are ectomycorrhizal Agaricomycetes that produce prized mushrooms collectively called “ matsutake”. These mushrooms are mainly distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. In this review, we describe both the pioneering work and recent advances in our understanding of the distribution and evolution of matsutake, with a special focus on genomic studies. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence analyses revealed that Tricholoma caligatum was the earliest species within this group, followed by Tricholoma fulvocastaneum, the cluster with Tricholoma ilkkae, Tricholoma dulciolens, and Tricholoma bakamatsutake, and finally the cluster with Tricholoma murrillianum, Tricholoma mesoamericanum, Tricholoma anatolicum, and Tricholoma matsutake. Although analyses based on mobile DNAs and whole-genome sequences revealed a similar clustering pattern, there are distinct differences in the distribution of mobile DNAs and genomic structure of Tricholoma bakamatsutake and Tricholoma matsutake. Furthermore, repetitive DNA can be used as markers to distinguish among strains and populations of Tricholoma matsutake from different geographical regions, including identifying dispersals of basidiospores. “Telomere-to-telomere genome sequencing” analyses unearthed that both Tricholoma matsutake and Tricholoma bakamatsutake underwent explosive multiplications of retrotransposons within their genomes but with different mobile DNA elements expanded between them. Contrastingly, the structure of the mating loci between Tricholoma matsutake and Tricholoma bakamatsutake is highly conserved.
Transitioning to and Navigating Virtual Conferences as a Result of COVID
Authors: Geringer Jamie
Published: March 2023

Conferences offer a venue to share ideas, present and hear about current research, and network. Medical conferences include an added dimension of being a form of continuing medical education. The COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible to conduct traditional in-person conferences, and, out of necessity, everyone had to transition to a virtual platform. Organizing a conference requires a tremendous amount of planning, preparation, and persistence to ensure the intended vision is met. But there is insufficient evidence and guidance on conducting effective conferences. This paper will discuss my experience planning and conducting a virtual medical conference. I will present my process for conducting the conference, and the lessons learned that could help other conference planners.