bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
miR-644a is a tumor cell-intrinsic mediator of sex bias in glioblastoma
Authors: Hong Ellen S , Wang Sabrina Z , Ponti András K , Hajdari Nicole , Lee Juyeun , Mulkearns-Hubert Erin E , Volovetz Josephine , Kay Kristen E , Lathia Justin D , Dhawan Andrew
Published: October 2024

Background

Biological sex is an important risk factor for glioblastoma (GBM), with males having a higher incidence and poorer prognosis. The mechanisms for this sex bias are thought to be both tumor intrinsic and tumor extrinsic. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), key posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression, have been previously linked to sex differences in various cell types and diseases, but their role in the sex bias of GBM remains unknown.

Methods

We leveraged previously published paired miRNA and mRNA sequencing of 39 GBM patients (22 male, 17 female) to identify sex-biased miRNAs. We further interrogated a separate single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset of 110 GBM patients to examine whether differences in miRNA target gene expression were tumor cell-intrinsic or tumor cell extrinsic. Results were validated in a panel of patient-derived cell models.

Results

We identified 10 sex-biased miRNAs (padjusted < .1), of which 3 were more highly expressed in males and 7 more highly expressed in females. Of these, miR-644a was higher in females, and increased expression of miR-644a target genes was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (HR 1.3, P = .02). Furthermore, analysis of an independent single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset confirmed sex-specific expression of miR-644a target genes in tumor cells (P < 10−15). Among patient-derived models, miR-644a was expressed a median of 4.8-fold higher in females compared to males.

Conclusions

Our findings implicate miR-644a as a candidate tumor cell-intrinsic regulator of sex-biased gene expression in GBM.
An interview with Professor Benjamin Becker: understanding our brain and mental disorders requires collaboration across all disciplines
Authors: Cui (崔龙彪) Long-Biao
Published: October 2024

From July 20 to 22, 2024, the ISMRM Endorsed Workshop on MR for Psychiatry was held in Chengdu City, China. This prestigious event attracted numerous academic elites worldwide, and Professor Benjamin Becker from the University of Hong Kong was invited. On the morning of July 20, during the “Advances in MR Technology” session, Professor Becker delivered an engaging lecture entitled “Novel approaches to precision MRI-imaging of human emotion.” His presentation was met with great enthusiasm and sparked lively discussions among the participants. Following the conference, the Psychoradiology journal interviewed Professor Becker. In the interview, Benjamin emphasized the significant role of interdisciplinary collaboration, spanning various fields including psychology, neuroscience, clinical medicine, biomedical engineering, and computer science. Professor Becker firmly believed that such collaboration was crucial for a deeper understanding of the brain and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, he highly valued the importance of international cooperation, especially in addressing global mental health issues and challenges related to psychiatric disorders.
War Reparations, Structural Change, and Intergenerational Mobility
Authors: Mitrunen Matti
Published: October 2024

From 1944 to 1952, largely agrarian Finland had to export, on average, 4% of its yearly GDP in industrial products to the Soviet Union as war reparations. To meet the reparation demands, the Finnish state needed to provide extensive temporary support to Soviet-assigned industries with insufficient production capacity. This article documents the long-term effects of this extensive and temporary industrial policy on industrial and local development and on individual outcomes. Using newly digitized data sets, I show in a difference-in-differences setup that the short-term nonmarket production persistently and significantly increased the employment and production of the manufacturing industries exposed to the policy. These industries plausibly benefited from large initial investments and exposure to export markets associated with the war reparations. The episode further led to local development and structural change, as the more exposed regions became persistently more industrialized. I substantiate these within-Finland results with triple-difference setups using comparable Norwegian data. I use Finnish administrative data to study the long-term individual effects of the episode. Tracking individuals over 30 years, I show that the initial state investments and the persistent change in the local industrial structure increased long-term incomes, led to more educational attainment, and promoted the upward mobility of children and young adults in the more exposed regions before the war reparations period. The observed effects are driven by the more advanced heavy industry, which received the majority of state assistance.
Current Self-reported Pain Before and After Cure of Hepatitis C Among Persons Who Actively Inject Drugs
Authors: Tsui Judith I. , Ludwig-Barron Natasha T. , James Jocelyn R. , Heo Moonseong , Sivaraj Laksika B. , Arnsten Julia , Lum Paula J. , Taylor Lynn E. , Mehta Shruti H. , Falade-Nwulia Oluwaseun , Feinberg Judith , Kim Arthur Y. , Norton Brianna , Page Kimberly , Litwin Alain H.
Published: October 2024

Background

Questions remain on the relationship between pain and hepatitis C virus cure among persons who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to explore whether achieving hepatitis C virus cure reduced pain severity.

Methods

Prespecified secondary analysis utilized data from a pragmatic clinical trial of care delivery models that enrolled PWIDs between 2016 and 2018 and treated with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir. Current pain severity (0–100) was assessed before and after treatment and 5-point Likert pain scales were used to determine moderate or greater current pain at baseline; the duration and etiology of current pain were not assessed. We used generalized mixed-effects linear models to test whether achieving sustained virologic response (SVR), that is, cure, was associated with lower numeric pain scores (primary outcome) posttreatment, adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, intervention assignment, time/visit, and baseline pain severity category) and to examine changes in pain over time. Adjusted means estimated from a fitted model for pain severity at each visit were compared between participants who did and did not achieve SVR, both for the sample overall and for the subsample of participants who reported moderate or greater pain at baseline.

Results

Of the 501 participants who were randomized, treated with DAAs and had SVR data, moderate or greater pain was reported at baseline in 174 (34.7%) of participants. Numeric pain severity did not significantly differ by SVR status at any study visit except for the week 48 visit from baseline, when the estimated pain score was significantly higher for those who failed treatment (38.0 vs 26.3, P = 0.033). Among the subsample with baseline moderate or greater pain, pain severity scores were significantly lower in subsequent visits compared to the baseline visit, with the exception of week 48 among participants who did not achieve SVR.

Conclusions

Among PWID, achieving SVR did not improve pain severity. However, participants who failed treatment had significantly greater pain at the visit immediately following visit for SVR, which may relate to adverse psychological effects of treatment failure. Among those with baseline moderate or greater pain, pain scores declined post treatment, suggesting that treatment itself (irrespective of SVR) may be associated with improved pain.
Passive smoking and risk of head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Fei , Mu Nan , Song Yang , Ma Meili
Published: October 2024

Studies on the association between passive smoking and head and neck cancer (HNC) are controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to explore this association. A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted up to July 2024 to identify relevant studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the DerSimonian–Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed, and the risk of bias was evaluated. A total of 1036 records were identified, of which 17 studies were included. Passive smoking was significantly associated with an increased risk of HNC overall (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.27–2.28, P < 0.001). The association was particularly strong for oral cancer (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.07–3.17, P = 0.026), oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.29–5.98, P = 0.009), laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.24–2.06, P < 0.001), and hypopharyngeal cancer (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.45–4.66, P = 0.001). No significant association was observed for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.78–1.66, P = 0.498). Geographically, the risk was elevated among both Asian and European populations. Passive smoking is associated with an increased risk of HNC, particularly for subtypes such as oral, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers. These findings underscore the importance of mitigating exposure to passive smoking as a public health measure.
The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Liver Diseases and Potential Phytochemical Treatments
Authors: Balaji Dhanvee , Balakrishnan Ranjith , Srinivasan Dhasarathdev , Subbarayan Rajasekaran , Shrestha Rupendra , Srivastava Nityanand , Chauhan Ankush
Published: October 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has brought about numerous challenges. One of these challenges is the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver. Although this virus primarily affects the lungs, it can induce elevated transaminase levels and the development of scar tissue in the liver, exacerbating preexisting liver conditions. Individuals with preexisting conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol-induced liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, face an increased risk of mortality from COVID-19. However, drugs currently used to treat COVID-19 have undesirable side effects, which make them unsuitable for patients with preexisting liver conditions. In this review, we explore the potential of phytochemicals, such as apigenin, berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, resveratrol and silymarin, for treatment of the liver conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol-induced liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. We also discuss significant associations between phytochemicals and COVID-19 by depicting their molecular interactions. Based on the discussed overlapping functions, it is important to assess the therapeutic efficacy of phytochemicals that possess hepatoprotective properties as potential alternative treatments for COVID-19.
Eosinophilic Meningitis in a Patient With Early HIV Infection, Latent Syphilis and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Meningitis
Authors: Deng Chaowen , Yang Qingyan , Li Lina , Xing Fanfan
Published: October 2024

Eosinophilic meningitis is an unusual condition, particularly in patients with HIV infection or syphilis. The detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 and HIV-1 in cerebrospinal fluid from a patient with acute eosinophilic meningitis has not been previously reported. Herein, we report a case of a 26-year-old cisgender man newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection and latent syphilis, who presented with headache and low-grade fever. He was diagnosed with both acute eosinophilic meningitis and HSV-2 meningitis, and his condition improved after treatment with acyclovir and penicillin. The compelling case indicates that HSV-2 meningitis may manifest concurrently with acute eosinophilia meningitis in patients coinfected with HIV and Treponema pallidum. Metagenomics next-generation sequencing plays an important role in identifying and further confirming pathogens responsible for central nervous system infections.
An Innovative Model to Add Mindfulness to Total Worker Health Training
Authors: Kuehl Kerry S. , Elliot Diane L. , DeFrancesco Carol , McGinnis Wendy , Ek Susanna , Van Horne Allee , Kempany Katherine , Garg Bharti
Published: October 2024

Objective

To assess a novel worksite wellness program to enhance mindfulness and well-being of corrections professionals.

Methods

This is a quasi-experimental prospective study of a total worker health and mindfulness program. Sessions were observed. Prestudy and poststudy surveys assessed program outcomes and poststudy-only surveys evaluated acceptability.

Results

The intervention was feasible and delivered with high fidelity. Participants uniformly rated the program highly and would recommend it to others. Almost half were doing brief daily meditations after the program, and most gained abilities to use breathing to reduce stress (P < 0.001). Significant positive changes also were observed in vigorous physical activity (P = 0.01), sleep (P < 0.001), and knowledge of the recommended health maintenance components (P < 0.005).

Conclusions

This 12-week worksite wellness program is innovative combining a health and safety e-learning curriculum with a group format to promote mindfulness. This positive proof-of-concept trial is a new model for adding mindfulness training to other components of Total Worker Health.
Early Targeted Heart Rate Aerobic Exercise Reduces Proportion of Subacute Musculoskeletal Injuries After Recovery From Sport-Related Concussion
Authors: Leddy John J. , Witte Matthew , Chizuk Haley M. , Willer Barry S. , Miecznikowski Jeffrey C. , Master Christina L. , Mannix Rebekah C. , Meehan William P. , Haider Mohammad N.
Published: October 2024

Objective:

There is greater risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury after clinical recovery from sport-related concussion (SRC). We determined whether aerobic exercise treatment within 10 days of SRC reduced the proportion of MSK injury in recovered adolescent athletes at 4 months since injury.

Design:

Planned secondary analysis of a randomized trial of aerobic exercise versus stretching exercise in adolescents after SRC.

Setting:

Outpatient and hospital-based sports medicine centers.

Participants:

Aerobic exercise (n = 38, 58% male, 15.6 years) and stretching exercise (n = 25, 64% male, 15.9 years) participants completed a questionnaire at 3.5 and 3.3 months since recovery, respectively.

Interventions:

Individualized subthreshold aerobic exercise versus placebo-like stretching.

Main Outcome Measures:

Proportion of MSK injury, subsequent concussion, and return to exercise training, school, and sport determined 3 months after clinical recovery from SRC.

Results:

Overall, 24% of participants randomized to stretching experienced an MSK injury versus 5.3% of participants randomized to aerobic exercise. There was no difference in time to return to school, sport, or incidence of subsequent concussion. Stretching participants were 6.4 times (95% confidence interval 1.135–36.053) more likely to sustain MSK injury than aerobic exercise participants when controlling for the duration of exposure to sport and return to preinjury sport participation. All injuries were in male participants.

Conclusion:

Adolescent male athletes prescribed aerobic exercise within 10 days of SRC had a significantly lower proportion of individuals injured in the 3 months following clinical recovery when compared with stretching. This may be due to a habituation/rehabilitation effect of aerobic activities to improve autonomic, vestibular, and/or oculomotor function after SRC.
Revised Classification of Inner Ear Schwannomas
Authors: Plontke Stefan K. , Lloyd Simon K.W. , Freeman Simon R.M. , Kösling Sabrina , Arnoldner Christoph , Biggs Nigel , Borsetto Daniele , Gubbels Samuel , Hess-Erga Janette , Koo Ja-Won , Lohse Christine M. , Marinelli John P. , di Micco Riccardo , Nassiri Ashley M. , Rahne Torsten , Scheffler Jonas , Cayé-Thomasen Per , Carlson Matthew L.
Published: October 2024

Over the past two decades, there has been increasing interest in the diagnosis and management of schwannomas of the inner ear including hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implants. However, tumor nomenclature and classification within the literature have been variable and oftentimes cumbersome. The term “intralabyrinthine schwannoma” is in common use when describing these tumors but is a potential source of confusion given that people often use the term “labyrinth” or “labyrinthine” to refer to the vestibular component of the inner ear only (i.e., labyrinthectomy or the translabyrinthine approach).

During the Ninth Quadrennial Conference on Vestibular Schwannoma and Other Cerebellopontine Angle Lesions in Bergen, Norway, in May 2023, a multidisciplinary group of conference participants met and discussed issues pertaining to current terminology and classifications to enhance clarity and to reflect recent advances in tumor management and hearing rehabilitation.

Although a variety of terms have been previously used to describe inner ear schwannomas, consensus was achieved on the term “inner ear schwannoma (IES)” to describe eighth nerve schwannomas of the cochlea, vestibule, or semicircular canals. Subgroups under this term comprise intravestibular, intracochlear, or intravestibulocochlear inner ear schwannomas (low complexity tumors), inner ear schwannomas with transfundal extension into the internal auditory canal but without modiolar involvement (intermediate complexity tumors), and inner ear schwannomas with transfundal extension with modiolar involvement (high complexity tumors).

The details of the recommendations for an updated and simplified tumor nomenclature centered around tumor control and hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implantation are presented.
Culprit vessel revascularization prior to complete angiography as a strategy to minimize delays in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bulhões Elísio , Antunes Vanio L.J. , Defante Maria L.R. , Mazetto Roberto , Garcia Anselmo C. , Garcia Thiago C.C. , Guida Camila
Published: October 2024

The rapid restoration of blood flow in patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is crucial for the survival of this population. Attempts to decrease the time from diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to arrival at the catheterization laboratory have been extensively investigated. However, strategies during the procedure aiming to reduce the time to reperfusion are lacking. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate culprit vessel revascularization prior to complete angiography as a strategy to minimize delays in primary PCI for patients with STEMI. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central. Outcomes: vascular access-to-balloon, door-to-balloon, and first medical contact-to-balloon times; death, reinfarction in 30 days, Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥3 type, coronary artery bypass grafting referral, and left ventricular ejection fraction %. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program (version 4.3.2). Heterogeneity was assessed with I
2 statistics. We included 2050 patients from six studies, of which two were randomized controlled trials and four were observational studies. Culprit vessel revascularization prior to complete angiography was associated with a statistically significant decrease of times: vascular access-to-balloon time (mean difference −6.79 min; 95% CI: −8.00 to −5.58; P < 0.01; I
2 = 82%) and door-to-balloon time (mean difference −9.02 min; 95% CI: −12.83 to −5.22; P < 0.01; I
2 = 93%). In this meta-analysis, performing PCI on the culprit lesion prior to complete coronary angiography led to significantly shorter reperfusion times, with no discernible differences in complication rates.
Clinical relevance of current patient-reported outcome measures for ankle fracture: surgeons' perspective
Authors: Schweser Kyle , Leary Emily , Levack Ashley E. , Marmor Meir T. ,   members of the OTA Classification and Outcomes Committee,   OTA Evidence Based Quality, Value and Safety Committee
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

Determine the relevance of the most frequently used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for monitoring patient recovery after ankle fracture, from the clinical perspective of orthopaedic trauma surgeons, given lack of validated PROMs.

Design:

Prospective cohort.

Setting:

Orthopaedic Trauma Association committee meetings, electronic correspondence.

Patients/Participants:

Orthopaedic trauma surgeons.

Intervention:

Delphi method for consensus activities.

Level of Evidence:

IV.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Most clinically relevant PROMs for ankle fracture recovery.

Results:

Several English-language PROMs were identified based on use in literature and relevance to ankle fractures. 7 were selected by expert consensus. These are the Ankle Fracture Outcome of Rehabilitation Measure (A-FORM), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) Score, Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Olerud–Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF). The most clinically relevant PROM is the A-FORM, followed by the AAOS, LEFS, PROMIS PF, FADI, and OMAS, and the least clinically relevant overall, the FAAM.

Conclusions:

Understanding which PROM best matches physician expectations for tracking recovery is an important step toward a robust, evidence-based approach to patient care. The A-FORM was identified as the most clinically relevant among the most used PROMs. These results will aid surgeons, clinicians, and scientists to identify a uniformly, clinically relevant PROM for the treatment and study of outcomes and recovery after isolated ankle fracture.
Sialadenopapillary Ductal Tumors
Authors: Hahn Elan , Weinreb Ilan , Seethala Raja R. , O’Regan Esther , Baumhoer Daniel , Bilodeau Elizabeth Ann , Gagan Jeffrey , Sabatini Peter J.B. , Ko Yen Chen Kevin , Binmadi Nada , McComb R. John , Leong Iona T. , Bishop Justin A.
Published: October 2024

Sialadenoma papilliferum is a tumor characterized by surface papillary projections and glandular/microcystic proliferation at the lesion base. Cases in which surface involvement is absent have been termed “sialadenoma papilliferum-like intraductal papillary tumor.” Similar tumors that are present in the mandible have been termed “tubulopapillary hidradenoma-like tumor of the mandible.” While previously considered benign, these tumors demonstrate variable clinical behavior and likely exist on a spectrum, rather than as discrete entities. In this study, we present a detailed clinicopathologic and molecular analysis of these lesions and propose a unifying diagnostic term: sialadenopapillary ductal tumor (SDT). Twenty-two cases with similar histologic features were reviewed, with special attention being paid to the clinicopathologic features. Immunohistochemistry for BRAF V600E and molecular testing were performed where material was available. The cases had varying diagnoses, ranging from benign to malignant. Six cases involved bone, 1 of which metastasized to a local lymph node. Of the 20 cases tested for BRAF V600E by immunohistochemistry, 18 were positive. Molecular testing was performed in 5 cases, where BRAF, PTPN11, and PIK3CA mutations were identified, predominantly members of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway. In addition, 1 case was reclassified as an intraductal carcinoma after the identification of an NCOA4::RET gene fusion. Tumors on the SDT spectrum all share morphologic and molecular commonalities with unreliable distinguishing features. These tumors demonstrate the potential for aggressive local growth and regional metastasis. We propose a unifying diagnostic term for these lesions to reflect their common morphologic and molecular features and, most importantly, low malignant potential.
Diagnostic Utility of Deeper Level Tissue Sections of Negative Peritoneal Biopsies for Clinically Suspected Endometriosis
Authors: Chen Constance V. , Orlando Megan S. , Abel Mary Kathryn , Opoku-Anane Jessica , Rabban Joseph T.
Published: October 2024

Definitive diagnosis of endometriosis is established by histologic confirmation in tissue from surgically visualized lesions; however, the diagnostic sensitivity of this approach varies widely. We hypothesized that incomplete tissue block sampling may contribute to false-negative diagnosis, particularly if the focus of endometriosis in the tissue section is scant. This study defined the diagnostic value of deeper level tissue sections in cases in which none of the specimen parts contained endometriosis on the initial tissue sections, using the World Health Organization essential criteria for diagnosis of endometriosis (presence of endometrial glands and endometrial stroma). Among 135 patients who underwent surgery for suspected endometriosis by a single surgeon at an academic institution from 2015 to 2019, the initial tissue sections resulted in a diagnosis of endometriosis in 73.3% (99/135), at an average diagnostic yield of 5.9 slides per diagnosis of endometriosis. An additional 9 patients were diagnosed with endometriosis by deeper level tissue sections, increasing the diagnostic rate to 80% (108/135). This 6.7% gain in the diagnostic rate came at an increase in resource utilization, with an overall overage diagnostic yield of 9.8 slides per diagnosis of endometriosis. Overall, 8.3% of patients had a false-negative diagnosis on the initial tissue sections. When extrapolated to a population level, the number of patients potentially affected by this source of false-negative diagnosis and the implications for patients merit consideration of the use of deeper level sections if none of the initial sections of any of the specimens contains endometriosis.
Hepatic steatosis-insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in people with HIV at diagnosis: effect of initial antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Luisa Montes Maria , Busca Carmen , Rava Marta , Bernardino José Ignacio , Rivero Antonio , Martín-Carbonero Luz , Cañas-Ruano Esperanza , Ibarra Ugarte Sofia , Galindo María José , Cabello Alfonso , González-García Juan ,   CoRIS∗
Published: October 2024

We evaluated the impact of hepatic steatosis-insulin resistance (HS-IR) and liver fibrosis (LF) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) using triglyceride-glucose (TyG) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4). The incidence of DM2 was 12.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 16.9–9.7] and 9.8 (95% CI, 6.9–13.6) per 1000 person-years in HS-IR and LF. The prevalence of HS-IR was significantly lower at 12 and 24 months with TDF + (3TC or FTC) + RPV [hazard ratio (HR) 0.5 [95% CI, 0.3–0.8], P < 0.01 at 12 months; 0.6 [0.4–0.9], P = 0.01 at 24 months].
The post-translational modification O-GlcNAc is a sensor and regulator of metabolism
Authors: Morales Murielle M. , Pratt Matthew R.
Published: October 2024

Cells must rapidly adapt to changes in nutrient conditions through responsive signalling cascades to maintain homeostasis. One of these adaptive pathways results in the post-translational modification of proteins by O-GlcNAc. O-GlcNAc modifies thousands of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins in response to nutrient availability through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. O-GlcNAc is highly dynamic and can be added and removed from proteins multiple times throughout their life cycle, setting it up to be an ideal regulator of cellular processes in response to metabolic changes. Here, we describe the link between cellular metabolism and O-GlcNAc, and we explore O-GlcNAc’s role in regulating cellular processes in response to nutrient levels. Specifically, we discuss the mechanisms of elevated O-GlcNAc levels in contributing to diabetes and cancer, as well as the role of decreased O-GlcNAc levels in neurodegeneration. These studies form a foundational understanding of aberrant O-GlcNAc in human disease and provide an opportunity to further improve disease identification and treatment.
No cardiac phase bias for threat-related distance perception under naturalistic conditions in immersive virtual reality
Authors: Klotzsche Felix , Motyka Paweł , Molak Aleksander , Sahula Václav , Darmová Barbora , Byrnes Conor , Fajnerová Iveta , Gaebler Michael
Published: October 2024

Previous studies have found that threatening stimuli are more readily perceived and more intensely experienced when presented during cardiac systole compared with diastole. Also, threatening stimuli are judged as physically closer than neutral ones. In a pre-registered study, we tested these effects and their interaction using a naturalistic (interactive and three-dimensional) experimental design in immersive virtual reality: we briefly displayed threatening and non-threatening animals (four each) at varying distances (1.5–5.5 m) to a group of young, healthy participants (
n
= 41) while recording their electrocardiograms (ECGs). Participants then pointed to the location where they had seen the animal (approx. 29 000 trials in total). Our pre-registered analyses indicated that perceived distances to both threatening and non-threatening animals did not differ significantly between cardiac phases—with Bayesian analysis supporting the null hypothesis. There was also no evidence for an association between subjective fear and perceived proximity to threatening animals. These results contrast with previous findings that used verbal or declarative distance measures in less naturalistic experimental conditions. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the cardiac phase-related variation in threat processing may not generalize across different paradigms and may be less relevant in naturalistic scenarios than under more abstract experimental conditions.
Strategic housing decisions and the evolution of urban settlements: optimality modelling and empirical application in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Authors: Fedorova Natalia , Kandler Anne , McElreath Richard
Published: October 2024

Investments in housing influence migration and landscape construction, making them a key component of human–environment interactions. However, the strategic decision-making that builds residential landscapes is an underdeveloped area of research in evolutionary approaches to human behaviour. Our contribution to this literature is a theoretical model and an empirical test of this model using data from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. We develop a model of strategic housing decisions using stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) to explore the trade-offs between building, moving and saving over time, finding different trade-offs depending on optimization scenarios and housing costs. Household strategies are then estimated using data on 825 households that settled in the Ger districts of Ulaanbaatar between 1942 and 2020. The Ger districts are areas of self-built housing that feature both mobile dwellings (gers) and immobile houses (bashins). Using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), we find the parameters of our dynamic programming model that best fit the empirical data. The model is able to capture the time horizon of housing changes and their bi-directionality, showing that moving from a fixed to mobile dwelling can also be an optimal strategy. However, the model underpredicts household persistence in dwelling types. We discuss deviations from model predictions and identify a more detailed exploration of risk and population mixes of strategies as key steps for future research.
The impact of time delays on mutant fixation in pairwise social dilemma games
Authors: Mohamadichamgavi Javad , Broom Mark
Published: October 2024

Evolutionary game theory examines how strategies spread and persist in populations through reproduction and imitation based on their fitness. Traditionally, models assume instantaneous dynamics where fitness depends on the current population state. However, some real-world processes unfold over time, with outcomes emerging from history. This motivates incorporating time delays into evolutionary game models, where fitness relies on the past. We study the impact of time delays on mutant fixation in a Moran Birth–death process with two strategies in a well-mixed population. At each time step of the process, an individual reproduces proportionally to fitness coming from the past. We model this as an absorbing Markov chain, allowing computational calculation of the fixation probability and time. We focus on three important games: the Stag-Hunt, Snowdrift and Prisoner’s Dilemma. We will show time delays reduce the fixation probability in the Stag-Hunt and the Prisoner’s Dilemma but increase it in the Snowdrift. For the Stag-Hunt and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, time delays lengthen the fixation time until a critical point, then reduce it. The Snowdrift exhibits the opposite trend.
Directional pollutant extraction—the mathematics of the two-dimensional Aaberg exhaust hood
Authors: Hunt G. R. , Wise N. H.
Published: October 2024

By deflecting unpolluted air away from the exhaust inlet by means of directional air jets, the Aaberg exhaust hood can focus the extraction flow it produces directly onto a source of contaminant and, thereby, achieve directional extraction of pollutant at high concentration. While significantly outperforming conventional hoods, such ‘jet-reinforced’ flows are notoriously challenging to control in practice and if operating incorrectly disperse, rather than extract, airborne pollutants. To provide a rapid predictive capability and insight into the role of device geometry, a mathematical model for the airflow created by the Aaberg exhaust hood is developed. Modelling the induced flow as potential flow, conformal mapping techniques are used to develop analytical solutions for the stream function and airspeed, from which we identify the region of pollutant capture. Investigating these flows as the directionality of the air jets and the ratio of jet-to-suction strengths are varied, our analytical solutions offer insights into the effective deployment of jet-reinforced exhaust hoods to improve indoor air quality in industrial workplaces.
Deterministic and stochastic geometric mechanics for Hall magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Holm D. D. , Hu R. , Street O. D.
Published: October 2024

We derive new models of stochastic Hall magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) by applying Lie group symmetry reduction in a stochastic Euler–Poincaré variational principle. The resulting new theory of stochastic Hall MHD has potential applications for uncertainty quantification and data assimilation in space plasma (space weather), planetary science and solar physics. The stochastic geometric mechanics approach we take here produces coordinate-free results that may then be applied in a variety of spatial configurations.
Hooked on fish blood: the reliance of a gill parasite on haematophagy
Authors: Riera-Ferrer Enrique , Estensoro Itziar , López-Gurillo Beatriz , Del Pozo Raquel , Montero Francisco Esteban , Sitjà-Bobadilla Ariadna , Palenzuela Oswaldo
Published: October 2024

Parasitism involves diverse evolutionary strategies, including adaptations for blood feeding, which provides essential nutrients for growth and reproduction.
Sparicotyle chrysophrii
(Polyopisthocotyla: Microcotylidae), an ectoparasitic flatworm, infects the gills of gilthead seabream (
Sparus aurata
), significantly affecting fish health, welfare and Mediterranean cage farm profitability. Despite its impact, limited information exists on its feeding behaviour. This study demonstrates the presence of blood and exogenous haem groups in
S. chrysophrii
and explores its digestive tract using light and electron microscopy, elucidating its internal morphology and spatial arrangement. Elemental analysis of the digestive haematin cells shows residual oxidized haem depots as haematin crystals. Additionally, we studied the impact of the blood feeding on the host by estimating the average volume of blood intake for an adult parasite (2.84 ± 2.12µl·24h
–1
) and we described the significant drop of the plasmatic free iron levels in infected hosts. Overall, we demonstrate the parasite’s reliance on its host blood, the parasite’s buccal and digestive morphological adaptations for blood feeding and the provoked effect on the fish host's health.
Mitochondrial efficiency impacts nocturnal sheltering in juvenile salmon (
Salmo salar
), affecting the trade-off between foraging and predation risk
Authors: Dawson Neal J. , Magierecka Agnieszka , McLennan Darryl , Millet Caroline , Czyzewski Jakub , Metcalfe Neil B.
Published: October 2024

At cold winter temperatures, juvenile salmonids typically spend much of their time sheltering from predators, which negatively impacts foraging for food. Previous work shows that inter-individual variation in mitochondrial efficiency explains variation in food intake, growth and metabolic rate. Here, we examine whether inter-individual variation in mitochondrial efficiency predicts sheltering as a proxy of foraging patterns for overwintering juvenile Atlantic salmon (
Salmo salar
). PIT-tagged salmon were housed individually under winter conditions, and their use of a custom-built shelter was recorded automatically. In line with the previous research and estimates of relative predation risk, fish showed a broad preference for sheltering during the day and emerging to feed at night. However, they exhibited marked among-individual variation in their use of shelter, which was unrelated to body size but was predicted by mitochondrial function: there was a positive relationship between muscle mitochondrial phosphorylation efficiency and proportion of time spent in the shelter during the night but not during the day. Individuals with the most efficient mitochondria at producing ATP were thus able to spend more time sheltering from predators. This suggests that individual heterogeneity in cellular function may drive variation in the trade-off between foraging and sheltering, which has implications for selection pressures acting on wild populations.
Salmonella Weltevreden lung abscess and empyema without preceding gastrointestinal symptoms: an emerging pathogen in Australia?
Authors: Grey Victoria , Tee Ernest , Phillips Lauren , Micalizzi Gino , Armstrong Mark
Published: October 2024

Non-typhoidal Salmonella lung infections are rare and are usually confined to immunocompromised hosts. Previous case reports have found that usually patients have either gastroenteritis or bacteraemia in addition to pulmonary involvement. We present the first known reported case of a Salmonella Weltevreden lung abscess and empyema in an immunocompetent patient without gastroenteritis. Despite the use of antimicrobials active against the pathogen, the patient needed surgical intervention to achieve adequate source control. While S. Weltevreden has previously been associated with returned travellers, especially from Southeast Asia, its incidence in Queensland is now increasing. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to be aware of its potential severity as well as the range of presentations.
Naohidea akebiae fa. sp. nov., an anamorphic basidiomycete yeast species
Authors: Xi Zhi-Wen , Wang Xiao-Xi , Hui Feng-Li
Published: October 2024

A novel basidiomycete yeast species represented by strain NYNU 2211328 was isolated from a leaf of Akebia trifoliata collected from the Baotianman Nature Reserve in Henan Province, central China. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region suggested that this strain is closely related to Naohidea sebacea CBS 8477, exhibiting the similarity values of 96.5% and 91.3% in the D1/D2 domain and the ITS region, respectively. Physiologically, the novel strain differs from N. sebacea in its ability to assimilate inulin, trehalose and d-arabinose, its inability to assimilate dl-lactate and its incapability of growth at 30 °C. Both phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the isolated strain represents a novel species in the genus Naohidea, and the name Naohidea akebiae fa. sp. nov. (holotype: CICC 33584; MycoBank number: MB 855585) is proposed.
Genomic epidemiology and resistant genes of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains in Vietnamese hospitals
Authors: Ha Vu Nhi , Huy Hoang Tran , Đac Trung Nguyen , Nguyen Phuong Anh , Cuong Le Duy
Published: October 2024

Introduction.
Acinetobacter baumannii is a common cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections worldwide, including Vietnam.

Hypothesis. Analysis of crucial genetic factors may link to epidemiological characteristics and antibiotic resistance of A. baumannii clinical strains in Vietnamese hospitals.

Methodology. Fifty-one A. baumannii clinical strains from six different tertiary hospitals in Vietnam were analysed using whole genome sequencing (WGS), between 2017 and 2019.

Results. Eleven sequence types (STs) were identified, including four STs reported for the first time in Vietnam based on the PubMLST database and three new STs not previously documented. ST1336, ST1260 and ST575 were found exclusively in Vietnam. These STs were widely distributed in all hospitals in Vietnam, with ST2 and ST571 being the most dominant. Resistant rates to eight antibiotics, belonging to four antibiotic groups, were very high (72.5–94.1 %) with high MIC values, while resistance to colistin was 29.4%. Fifty-one isolates were identified as MDR, with 100% (51/51) isolates carrying antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) genes, and 52 antibiotic-resistant genes were detected among these strains, including β-lactam (22 genes), chloramphenicol (5 genes), lincosamide (2 genes), aminoglycoside (11 genes), rifampicin (1 gene), quinolone (2 genes), sulfonamide and trimethoprim (4 genes) and tetracycline (5 genes) resistance. The most commonly found mobile structures carried partial or complete transposons: ISaba24/ISEc29/ISEc35 contains a series of antibiotic-resistant genes.

Conclusion. The WGS results of the 51 strains of A. baumannii provided important information regarding the distribution of STs and associated antibiotic-resistant genes among A. baumannii strains.
BakRep – a searchable large-scale web repository for bacterial genomes, characterizations and metadata
Authors: Fenske Linda , Jelonek Lukas , Goesmann Alexander , Schwengers Oliver
Published: October 2024

Bacteria are fascinating research objects in many disciplines for countless reasons, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has become the paramount methodology to advance our microbiological understanding. Meanwhile, access to cost-effective sequencing platforms has accelerated bacterial WGS to unprecedented levels, introducing new challenges in terms of data accessibility, computational demands, heterogeneity of analysis workflows and, thus, ultimately its scientific usability. To this end, a previous study released a uniformly processed set of 661 405 bacterial genome assemblies obtained from the European Nucleotide Archive as of November 2018. Building on these accomplishments, we conducted further genome-based analyses like taxonomic classification, multilocus sequence typing and annotation of all genomes. Here, we present BakRep, a searchable large-scale web repository of these genomes enriched with consistent genome characterizations and original metadata. The platform provides a flexible search engine combining taxonomic, genomic and metadata information, as well as interactive elements to visualize genomic features. Furthermore, all results can be downloaded for offline analyses via an accompanying command line tool. The web repository is accessible via https://bakrep.computational.bio.
Understanding the clinical and environmental drivers of antifungal resistance in the One Health context
Authors: Williams Catrin C. , Gregory Jack B. , Usher Jane
Published: October 2024

Antifungal drugs have had a tremendous impact on human health and the yields of crops. However, in recent years, due to usage both in a health setting and in agriculture, there has been a rapid emergence of antifungal drug resistance that has outpaced novel compound discovery. It is now globally recognized that new strategies to tackle fungal infection are urgently needed, with such approaches requiring the cooperation of both sectors and the development of robust antifungal stewardship rationales. In this review, we examine the current antifungal regimes in clinical and agricultural settings, focusing on two pathogens of importance, Candida auris and Aspergillus fumigatus, examining their drivers of antifungal resistance, the impact of dual-use azoles and the impact agricultural practices have on driving the emergence of resistance. Finally, we postulate that a One Health approach could offer a viable alternative to prolonging the efficacy of current antifungal agents.
Adaptive behavior in response to the 2022 mpox epidemic in the Paris region
Authors: Maniscalco Davide , Robineau Olivier , Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Mazzoli Mattia , Barret Anne-Sophie , Chazelle Emilie , Mailles Alexandra , Noël Harold , Tarantola Arnaud , Velter Annie , Zanetti Laura , Colizza Vittoria
Published: October 2024

The 2022 mpox outbreak saw a rapid case surge among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in previously unaffected regions, driven by heterogeneity in sexual networks. A sudden decline followed, but its drivers remain unclear as it is difficult to distinguish the roles of vaccination, herd immunity, and behavioral changes. We developed a network model of mpox transmission among MSM based on sexual behavior data and fitted it to the Paris region epidemic. We studied whether the decline was driven by post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccination, immunity among highly active MSM, or behavioral changes. Behavioral shifts were modeled as either uniform or based on individual risk factors, like sexual activity or exposure to diagnosed cases. We used the cross-sectional 2023 ERAS survey to validate findings. Behavioral changes adopted by 49% (95%CI 47-51%) of MSM regardless of individual risk factors best explained the observed epidemic decline. These changes prevented an estimated 73% (28-99%) of mpox cases in summer 2022. Findings aligned with the ERAS survey data, showing that 46% (45-48%) of MSM reduced sexual partners. On the contrary, PEP vaccination and immunity among highly active MSM were insufficient to curb the outbreak. Widespread behavioral change was the primary driver of the mpox epidemic decline in the Paris region, before preventive vaccination or immunity could affect epidemic spread. These findings highlight the importance of effective risk communication and community engagement in outbreak management. Tailored public health responses that encourage adaptive behaviors, especially as vaccination efforts ramp up, are essential for supporting affected communities.