bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Voluntary Sector's Roles and Relevance as Alternative Arenas for Promotion of Health and Social Inclusion of Migrant Parents and Families of Children With Special Health and Welfare Needs in Norway
Authors: Tanyanyiwa Archlove Takunda , Chimhutu Victor , Pettersen Henning 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMigrant families of children with special health and welfare needs such as mental, developmental, and physical disabilities face significant barriers to health and welfare services. This could result in social inequalities and exclusion. The aim of this article was to explore the role and relevance of voluntary sector in promoting health and social inclusion of migrant families of children with special health and welfare needs in Norway. The study is based on a qualitative participatory research design using co‐production and interdisciplinary research methodologies. A total of 15 voluntary sector employees participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews. We found three major themes to summarise the role of voluntary sector: 1) Providing arenas for social inclusion and belonging; 2) Facilitating access to public health and welfare services; and 3) Provision of complementary health and welfare services. Results indicate that voluntary services use more informal community centered caring approaches and are supplementary to public health and welfare services. An exploration of more opportunities for participation of migrant families of children with special health and welfare needs in the development of services and collaboration between voluntary services and public welfare providers may foster inclusion and could be of relevance to future welfare research and practice. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's .
Soybean yield was not influenced by foliar insecticide application at R3 and R5 stages
Authors: Zelaya Mejia William David , Tilmon Kelley , Ortez Osler , Lindsey Laura E. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDue to low cost, farmers often combine foliar insecticide with a foliar fungicide application without assessing insect activity in their soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] field. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine if prophylactic application of foliar insecticide improves soybean yield in Ohio. Objectives were to evaluate the effect of foliar insecticide applied at the R3 and R5 soybean stage on insect defoliation, insect pod and seed damage, and soybean grain yield. The experiment was conducted in 2022 and 2023 for a total of 10 site‐years in Ohio. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications of each treatment. Treatments included foliar insecticide applied at the R3 soybean stage (beginning pod), insecticide applied at the R5 soybean stage (beginning seed), and a non‐treated control (no insecticide). Soybean leaf area affected by defoliation was evaluated the day of application and 2 weeks after application. At the R8 soybean stage (physiological maturity), soybean plants were collected and evaluated for insect pod damage and seed damage. The foliar insecticide application did not result in any significant change in soybean yield, likely explained by low insect defoliation and low pod damage. Prior to insecticide application, farmers should scout their fields and base decisions on integrated pest management strategies, considering threshold levels.
Overexpressed Palladin Rescues Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) Pedestal Lengths in ArpC2 Depleted Cells
Authors: Bruzzini Kaitlin M. , Mann S. Tara , Guttman Julian A. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTEnteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) causes diarrheal disease. Once ingested, these extracellular pathogens attach to the intestinal epithelial cells of their host, collapse the localized microvilli, and generate actin‐rich structures within the host cells that are located beneath the attached bacteria, called “pedestals.” Palladin is an actin‐associated protein that cross‐links and stabilizes actin filaments. This protein also acts as a scaffolding protein for other actin‐binding proteins. Here, we examine the role of Palladin during EPEC infections and show that Palladin is co‐opted by EPEC. Depletion of Palladin resulted in shorter pedestals, and when Palladin containing mutations in either its actin‐ or VASP‐binding domains were overexpressed in cells, pedestals decreased in length. Importantly, we show that the overexpression of Palladin in ArpC2−/− (Arp2/3 complex–depleted) cells rescued pedestal length. Together, our results demonstrate that Palladin has the ability to rescue pedestal length during EPEC infections when the function of the Arp2/3 complex is diminished.
Ultrastructural Analysis Reveals Mitochondrial Placement Independent of Synapse Placement in Fine Caliber C. elegans Neurons
Authors: Riboul Danielle V. , Crill Sarah , Oliva Carlos D. , Restifo Maria Gabriela , Joseph Reggie , Joseph Kerdes , Nguyen Ken C. Q. , Hall David H. , Fily Yaouen , Macleod Gregory T. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTNeurons rely on mitochondria for an efficient supply of ATP and other metabolites. However, while neurons are highly elongated, mitochondria are discrete and limited in number. Due to the slow rates of metabolite diffusion over long distances, it follows that neurons would benefit from an ability to control the distribution of mitochondria to sites of high metabolic activity such as synapses. Ultrastructural data over substantial portions of a neuron's extent that would allow for tests of such hypotheses are scarce. Here, we mined the Caenorhabditis elegans’ electron micrographs of John White and Sydney Brenner and found systematic differences in average mitochondrial length (ranging from 1.3 to 2.4 µm), diameter (0.18–0.24 µm) and volume density (3.7%–6.5%) between neurons of different function and neurotransmitter type, but found limited differences in mitochondrial length, diameter, and density between axons and dendrites of the same neurons. In analyses of mitochondrial distribution, mitochondria were found to be distributed randomly with respect to presynaptic sites. Presynaptic sites were primarily localized to varicosities, but mitochondria were no more likely to be found in synaptic varicosities than non‐synaptic varicosities. Consistently, mitochondrial volume density was no greater in synaptic varicosities than non‐synaptic varicosities. Therefore, beyond the capacity to disperse mitochondria throughout their length, at least in C. elegans, fine caliber neurons manifest limited subcellular control of mitochondrial size and distribution.
Virtual Reality Interventions and Psychosocial Functioning in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hoşgelen Emine Ilgın , Güneri Sinem , Erdeniz Burak , Alptekin Köksal 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) intervention programs that aim to improve psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and evaluate the quality assessment of these studies.MethodsPRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses) guideline was followed to conduct this systematic review. The literature search was performed in Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed, by two independent researchers on two occasions, on 1 March 2023 and 20 August 2023. Risk of bias of the studies was evaluated by The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies.ResultsFifteen studies met inclusion criteria, targeting social skills (n = 5), social cognitive skills (n = 7) and vocational training (n = 3). In these studies, a total of 292 participants enrolled in VR interventions and a total of 258 participants enrolled in control groups. In this systematic review, there were eight cohort studies, where seven were with a single‐group pretreatment and posttreatment evaluation and one was with a control group, and one controlled trial and six randomized controlled trials were included. Several studies reported significant improvements in both psychosocial functioning and clinical symptoms, whereas others found improvements only in either psychosocial functioning or clinical symptoms, and still others found no improvements at all. The limitations of the studies include small sample sizes and standardized intervention methods. There is a very high variability in session duration, frequency and total treatment period.ConclusionAlthough VR intervention programs offer unique opportunities for psychosocial improvement, heterogeneity in methodologies and mixed results highlight the need for further research.
PARylation of HMGA1 desensitizes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to olaparib
Authors: Lei Xin‐Yuan , He Kai‐Yue , Li Qiu‐Tong , Zhang Lei , Wu Dan‐Hui , Yang Jing‐Yu , Guo Jin‐Rong , Liu Meng‐Jie , Zhao Zi‐Long , Li Jun‐Qi , Liu Huai , Zhao Yuan , Li Yu‐Jia , Sun Qian‐Hui , Wu Chen‐Guang , Wang Yun‐Fan , Cao Geng‐Sheng , Wang Gang , Jian Yong‐Ping , Xu Zhi‐Xiang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAs a chromatin remodelling factor, high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) plays various roles in both physiological and pathological conditions. However, its role in DNA damage response and DNA damage‐based chemotherapy remains largely unexplored. In this study, we report the poly ADP‐ribosylation (PARylation) of HMGA1 during DNA damage, leading to desensitization of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells to the poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) inhibitor, olaparib. We found that HMGA1 accumulates at sites of DNA damage, where it interacts with PARP1 and undergoes PARylation at residues E47 and E50 in its conserved AT‐hook domain. This modification enhances the accumulation of Ku70/Ku80 at the site of DNA damage and activates the DNA‐dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, facilitating nonhomologous end‐joining repair. In both subcutaneous tumour models and genetically engineered mouse models of in situ esophageal cancer, HMGA1 interference increased tumour sensitivity to olaparib. Moreover, HMGA1 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and positively correlated with PARP1 levels as well as poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Taken together, these findings reveal a mechanistic link between HMGA1 and PARP1 in regulating cell responses to DNA damage and suggest that targeting HMGA1 could be a promising strategy to increase cancer cell sensitivity to olaparib.
Microenvironmental G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor‐mediated glutamine metabolic coupling between cancer‐associated fibroblasts and triple‐negative breast cancer cells governs tumour progression
Authors: He Chongwu , Peng Meixi , Zeng Xiaoqiang , Dong Hanzhi , Sun Zhengkui , Xu Jiawei , Liu Manran , Liu Liyan , Huang Yanxiao , Peng Zhiqiang , Qiu Yu‐An , Jiang Chunling , Xu Bin , Yu Tenghua 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundTriple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer, known for its lack of effective treatments and unfavorable prognosis. The G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a novel estrogen receptor, is linked to increased malignancy in various cancers. However, its involvement in the metabolic regulation of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a key component in the tumour microenvironment, remains largely unexplored. This study investigates how GPER influences the metabolic interaction between CAFs and TNBC cells, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets.MethodsThe co‐culture system is performed to examine the interaction between CAFs and TNBC cells, with a focus on GPER‐mediated glutamine production and release by CAFs and its subsequent uptake and utilization by TNBC cells. The definite roles of microenvironmental GPER/cAMP/PKA/CREB signalling in regulating the expression of glutamine synthetase (GLUL) and lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) are further investigated.ResultsOur findings reveal that estrogen‐activated GPER in CAFs significantly upregulates the expression of GLUL and LDHB, leading to increased glutamine production. This glutamine is then secreted into the extracellular matrix and absorbed by TNBC cells, enhancing their viability, motility, and chemoresistance both in vitro and in vivo. TNBC cells further metabolize the glutamine through the glutamine transporter (ASCT2) and glutaminase (GLS1) axes, which, in turn, promote mitochondrial activity and tumour progression.ConclusionsThe study identifies GPER as a critical mediator of metabolic coupling between CAFs and TNBC cells, primarily through glutamine metabolism. Targeting the estrogen/GPER/glutamine signalling axis in CAFs offers a promising therapeutic strategy to inhibit TNBC progression and improve patient outcomes. This novel insight into the tumour microenvironment highlights the potential of metabolic interventions in treating TNBC.Key points
Estrogen‐activated GPER in CAFs enhances GLUL and LDHB expression via the cAMP/PKA/CREB signalling, facilitating glutamine production and utilization.
Microenvironmental GPER‐induced glutamine serves as a crucial mediator of metabolic coupling between CAFs and TNBC cells, boosting tumour progression by enhancing mitochondrial function.
Targeting the glutamine metabolic coupling triggered by estrogen/GPER/GLUL signalling in CAFs is a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC treatment.
Differential coping capacities underlie the overall resistance of temperate seagrasses to herbivory
Authors: Boada J. , Smith T. M. , Ricart A. M. , Alcoverro T. , Pérez M. , Romero J. , Sanmartí N. , Ontoria Y. , Pierrejen M. , Arthur R. , Alonso D. , Adams M. P. , Rossi F. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGrazing can impart long‐lasting changes in vegetated ecosystems. How ecosystems respond to herbivory depends on the ecological and evolutionary histories of their foundational species. The overall ecosystem functioning and associated biodiversity depend on these responses but there is still little understanding on how the intensity and duration of herbivory interact and impact vegetated ecosystems. We experimentally tested in the field the responses of three seagrass species with distinct life history traits to increasing intensities of herbivory over time. Specifically, we assessed structural responses (i.e., canopy height and shoot density) to reflect the ecosystem state. Additionally, we used mechanistic models to assess induced and constitutive responses in the different seagrass species. Results show that seagrasses coped with herbivory differentially in relation to their life history traits. Posidonia oceanica (persistent species) was resistant and only registered declines in canopy height, whereas both canopy heigh and shoot density rapidly decreased for Cymodocea nodosa (intermediate‐colonizing species) and Zostera noltei (colonizing species). Seagrasses also differed in the type of structural response, with the colonizing species experiencing reductions in shoot density, and the persistent P. oceanica registering declines in canopy height. After months of exposure to cumulative herbivory, all three species showed signs of stability. Interestingly, none of the species disappeared completely even when exposed to extreme herbivory. Mechanistic models indicate that herbivory‐induced responses are a potential explanation for these patterns. This study suggests that given the long evolutionary history of herbivory, some seagrasses may be remarkably well adapted to both intense and cumulative herbivory.
Individual patterns of anadromy determine the cost of salmon lice exposure in brown trout
Authors: Hawley K. L. , Urke H. A. , Kristensen T. , Haugen T. O. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractFacultative anadromous salmonids may alter migratory behavior to mitigate against detrimental infections of aquaculture‐derived salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis); however, this likely incurs negative growth and fitness consequences. This flexibility in migratory behavior also creates analytical challenges in estimating lice infestation levels and the consequences of exposure. We utilized simulated individual migration trajectories of facultatively anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta) (N = 8049), generated from spatial‐temporal fjord‐use models fitted to empirical tracking data (N = 517). These trajectories were superimposed with open‐access spatial‐temporal modeled lice densities. Individual accumulated lice exposure and infestation were simulated over a 6‐month period for smolts and annually for veteran migrant life‐stages. The degree of lice‐induced mortality was estimated according to year (2013–2015), population (N = 5), and life‐stage of brown trout, within a semi‐enclosed fjord system (Sognefjorden, Norway). A gradient of lice was spatially distributed throughout the fjord. Highest densities were modeled in the outer‐fjord at a closer vicinity to aquaculture facilities. Accordingly, estimates of accumulated lice infestation were higher for individuals that underwent long‐distance migrations, residing for longer in the outer‐fjord, with limited differences observed between years. As most brown trout remained in the inner‐fjord, an area protected from aquaculture, individual accumulated levels of lice exposure and infestation were low, resulting in infestation estimates largely below critical‐mortality thresholds. The fraction of total mortality attributed to lice during sea‐sojourn was greater for long‐distance migrants (smolts: 25.3%; veteran migrants: 14.8%) versus those remaining within the inner‐fjord (smolts: 14.7%; veteran migrants: 1.7%). This resulted in an unequal contribution of lice to total mortality among populations (range: 3.3%–34.3%). Despite an equal distribution of lice exposure for all populations within the fjord, diverse mortality consequences among populations were estimated, largely resulting from individual selection of migration trajectory. Therefore, generic models of lice effects on facultative anadromous salmonids should be used with caution. Instead, the application of simulated migration trajectories to incorporate flexible behavior at the individual level is suggested. The findings indicate that Sognefjorden brown trout may have reduced their seaward migration extent to avoid direct mortality from salmon lice. This emphasizes the importance of monitoring and management actions to preserve selection for anadromy.
Capturing spatiotemporal variation in salt marsh belowground biomass, a key resilience metric, through geoinformatics
Authors: Runion Kyle D. , Mishra Deepak R. , Alber Merryl , Lever Mark A. , O'Connell Jessica L. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe Belowground Ecosystem Resiliency Model (BERM) is a geoinformatics tool that was developed to predict belowground biomass (BGB) of Spartina alterniflora in salt marshes based on remote sensing of aboveground characteristics and other readily available hydrologic, climatic, and physical data. We sought to characterize variation in S. alterniflora BGB over both temporal and spatial gradients through extensive marsh field observations in coastal Georgia, USA, to quantify their relationship with a suite of predictor variables, and to use these results to improve performance and expand the parameter space of BERM. We conducted pairwise comparisons of S. alterniflora growth metrics measured at nine sites over 3–8 years and found that BGB grouped by site differed in 69% of comparisons, while only in 21% when grouped by year. This suggests that BGB varies more spatially than temporally. We used the BERM machine learning algorithms to evaluate how variables relating to biological, climatic, hydrologic, and physical attributes covaried with these BGB observations. Flooding frequency and intensity were most influential in predicting BGB, with predictor variables related to hydrology composing 61% of the total feature importance in the BERM framework. When we used this expanded calibration dataset and associated predictors to advance BERM, model error was reduced from a normalized root‐mean‐square error of 13.0%–9.4% in comparison with the original BERM formulation. This reflects both an improvement in predictive performance and an expansion in conditions for potential model application. Finally, we used regression commonality analysis to show that model estimates reflected the spatiotemporal structure of BGB variation observed in field measurements. These results can help guide future data collection efforts to describe landscape‐scale BGB trends. The advanced BERM is a robust tool that can characterize S. alterniflora productivity and resilience over broad spatial and temporal scales.
Habitat associations of six‐lined racerunners in longleaf pine managed with a short fire rotation for northern bobwhites
Authors: Samek Isaiah W. , Price Steven J. , Terhune Theron M. , McNeil Darin J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savanna ecosystem is an imperiled, fire‐dominated community that supports exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism. Area of this community has declined by more than 95% due to unsustainable logging, fire suppression, and changes in land‐use practices. In recent decades, efforts to restore fire‐dominated communities like longleaf pine savanna have gained popularity, especially in light of benefits to charismatic species like the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Although reptiles are important members of this ecological community, far less information exists as to how this group responds to longleaf pine management, especially when game bird conservation is a primary management focus. Although bobwhite management in these systems is mostly synonymous with longleaf pine restoration, additional conservation practices aimed at game birds (promoting fallow fields, supplemental feeding, meso‐carnivore control, cross sectional mowing, etc.) might affect the extent to which squamates benefit from habitat management. To better understand how squamate reptiles may benefit from longleaf pine savanna managed for northern bobwhites, we surveyed for six‐lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) across a large, contiguous tract of longleaf pine with varied land cover characteristics, managed to maximize the conservation of northern bobwhites. Racerunner detection probability on transect surveys was low ( = 0.23); however, occupancy probability was relatively high ( = 0.60) across the property and driven by percent open ground (positive; 25‐m scale), percent grass cover (negative; 25‐m scale), and percent wetland (negative; 100‐m scale). Our findings support those of past studies about six‐lined racerunners in longleaf pine savannas suggesting the species thrives in the context of a short fire rotation (e.g., 2–3 years), even when game bird management is a primary objective of conservation efforts. Racerunners may also specialize on microhabitats (e.g., upland areas with relatively high bare ground cover) that occur most frequently in recently burned portions of bobwhite management units.