bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Agrobacterium pusense, a new plant tumour‐inducing pathogen isolated from Lawson cypress
Authors: Basavand Esmaeil , Charkhabi Nargues Falahi , Khodaygan Pejman , Rahimian Heshmatollah 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), an important landscape tree, is widely planted in gardens and parks throughout Iran. Crown gall disease on Lawson cypress trees was observed in Sari and Juybar Counties, Mazandaran province, northern Iran, in 2017. Isolation from galls on potato dextrose agar (PDA) containing CaCO3 yielded bacterial colonies, the predominant types of which were purified and selected for characterization. The isolates were Gram‐negative, oxidase positive, able to grow in 2% NaCl and produced 3‐ketolactose. They hydrolysed esculin, casein and arbutin but not starch, gelatin or Tween 80. Two representative isolates were selected for PCR amplification and sequencing of DNA gyrase subunit B (gyrB) gene. In the phylogenetic tree based on the partial sequence of the gyrB gene, isolates KH1 and KH2 clustered with Agrobacterium pusense. The pathogenicity of all isolates was confirmed by inoculation on Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and carrot discs (Daucus carota). Confirmation of the presence of genes involved in pathogenicity was made by performing PCR with the virD2A/virD2C and VCF/VCR primer pairs which resulted in amplification of the expected 224 and 730 bp fragments in all studied isolates, respectively. A. pusense was therefore identified as the causal agent of crown and stem gall of Lawson cypress. This appears to be the first report on the natural occurrence of crown gall disease on Lawson cypress and the first record of a plant disease caused by A. pusense.
First report of Calonectria cerciana causing leaf blight of Eucalyptus in northern India
Authors: Bose Ratnaboli , Pandey Shailesh , Joshi Pooja , Banerjee Sabyasachi , Pandey Amit , Bhandari Maneesh S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractEucalyptus spp. and their hybrids are frequently cloned and mass planted across farmland tracts and commercial plantations in northern India. It is a viable feeder species to the paper and pulp industries in this region. In 2018 and 2019, during field surveys conducted in northern India, a serious leaf blight disease was frequently observed in E. tereticornis plantations. Isolation from the blighted leaf samples consistently yielded fungal isolates having Calonectria‐like morphology. Morphological features coupled with sequence analysis of partial β‐tubulin (TUB2) and partial translation elongation factor‐alpha (TEF1) gene regions of two fungal isolates confirmed the species as Ca. cerciana. In detached leaf assays and glasshouse inoculation experiments, both isolates produced symptoms similar to those observed on the naturally infected leaves. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating Ca. cerciana from the inoculated leaves. This work is the first to confirm that Ca. cerciana is associated with a serious leaf blight disease of Eucalyptus in northern India and is an important addition to the taxonomy of Calonectria fungi in India.
Role of anatomical insular subdivisions in interoception: Interoceptive attention and accuracy have dissociable substrates
Authors: Haruki Yusuke , Ogawa Kenji 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPrior neuroimaging studies have supported the idea that the human insular cortex plays an important role in processing and representing internal bodily states, also termed “interoception.” According to recent theoretical studies, interoception includes several aspects such as attention and accuracy. However, there is no consensus on the laterality and location of the insula to support each aspect of interoception. Thus, we aimed to identify the anatomical insular subdivisions involved in interoceptive attention and accuracy; we examined 28 healthy volunteers who completed the behavioral heartbeat counting task and interoceptive attention paradigm using functional magnetic resonance imaging. First, interoceptive attention induced significant activation in the bilateral frontal operculum, precentral gyrus, middle insula, middle cingulate cortex, and supplementary motor area. Then, we compared the activation in anatomically predefined insular subdivisions during interoceptive attention. The highest activation of the middle short gyrus was noted within the insular cortex, followed by the anterior short gyrus and posterior short gyrus, while no significant hemispheric differences were observed. Finally, the interoceptive accuracy index, measured using the heartbeat counting task, strongly correlated with the activity of the right dorsal anterior insula/frontal operculum. These findings suggest that interoceptive attention is associated with the bilateral dorsal mid‐anterior insula, which supports the processing and representation of bodily signals. In contrast, the more dorsal anterior portion of the right insula plays a key role in obtaining accurate interoception.
Structural determinants underlying the adduct lifetime in the LOV proteins of Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Arinkin Vladimir , Granzin Joachim , Krauss Ulrich , Jaeger Karl‐Erich , Willbold Dieter , Batra‐Safferling Renu 
Published: February 2021

The primary photochemistry is similar among the flavin‐bound sensory domains of light–oxygen–voltage (LOV) photoreceptors, where upon blue‐light illumination a covalent adduct is formed on the microseconds time scale between the flavin chromophore and a strictly conserved cysteine residue. In contrast, the adduct‐state decay kinetics vary from seconds to days or longer. The molecular basis for this variation among structurally conserved LOV domains is not fully understood. Here, we selected PpSB2‐LOV, a fast‐cycling (τrec 3.5 min, 20 °C) short LOV protein from Pseudomonas putida that shares 67% sequence identity with a slow‐cycling (τrec 2467 min, 20 °C) homologous protein PpSB1‐LOV. Based on the crystal structure of the PpSB2‐LOV in the dark state reported here, we used a comparative approach, in which we combined structure and sequence information with molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to address the mechanistic basis for the vastly different adduct‐state lifetimes in the two homologous proteins. MD simulations pointed toward dynamically distinct structural region, which were subsequently targeted by site‐directed mutagenesis of PpSB2‐LOV, where we introduced single‐ and multisite substitutions exchanging them with the corresponding residues from PpSB1‐LOV. Collectively, the data presented identify key amino acids on the Aβ‐Bβ, Eα‐Fα loops, and the Fα helix, such as E27 and I66, that play a decisive role in determining the adduct lifetime. Our results additionally suggest a correlation between the solvent accessibility of the chromophore pocket and adduct‐state lifetime. The presented results add to our understanding of LOV signaling and will have important implications in tuning the signaling behavior (on/off kinetics) of LOV‐based optogenetic tools.
Minimum levels of atmospheric oxygen from fossil tree roots imply new plant−oxygen feedback
Authors: Sønderholm Fredrik , Bjerrum Christian J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe appearance and subsequent evolution of land plants is among the most important events in the earth system. Plant resulted in a change of earth surface albedo and the hydrological cycle, as well as increased rock weatherability thereby causing a persistent change in atmospheric CO2 and O2. Land plants are, however, themselves dependent on O2 for respiration and long‐term survival, something not considered in current geochemical models. In this perspective, we highlight two aspects of land plants’ dependency on O2 relevant for the geobiological community: (a) fossil root systems can be used as a proxy for minimum levels of past atmospheric O2 consistent with a given fossil root depth; and (b) by identifying a positive feedback mechanism involving atmospheric O2, root intensity, terrestrial primary production and organic carbon burial. As an example, we consider archaeopterid fossil root systems, resembling those of modern mature conifers. Our soil–plant model suggest that atmospheric O2 with 1 SD probably reached pressures of 18.2 ± 1.9 kPa and 16.8 ± 2.1 kPa by the Middle and Late Devonian, respectively, that is 86 ± 9% and 79 ± 10% of the present‐day 21.2 kPa.
Is there a relationship between breastfeeding status and life style changes, eating behaviors, attitudes, and orthorexia nervosa tendencies of mothers? A web‐based study
Authors: Fenercioğlu Eken Tuba , Ayhan Başer Duygu , Kasım İsmail , Şencan İrfan , Özkara Adem 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimsIt was aimed to compare the breastfeeding status and healthy life style changes, eating behaviors, attitudes, and orthorectic tendencies of mothers.MethodsAll volunteered mothers who have a child between the ages of 0 and 2 were included in this cross‐sectional study. Five hundred fourteen individuals were included. Five parted questionnaire and “ORTO‐11" test and "Eating Attitude Test" were used.ResultsA statistically significant relationship was found between breastfeeding status and working status and professions of mothers. Mothers who did not breastfeed, skipped main meal more frequently, and smoking and occasional alcohol consumption was higher. The mean score of the participants on the ORTO‐11 scale was 25.09 ± 4.80, EAT‐40 scale mean score was 18.80 ± 10.42. High‐risk in eating attitudes was found in 12.0% of all participants. It was observed that mothers who did not breastfeed were mostly in high‐risk group in terms of eating attitude.ConclusionMothers who did not breastfeed were mostly in high‐risk group in terms of eating attitude compared with breastfeeding mothers. It is of great importance that healthcare professionals organize trainings for increasing the general level of knowledge of mothers and provide healthy living and breastfeeding counseling.
Population structure, inbreeding and admixture in local cattle populations managed by community‐based breeding programs in Burkina Faso
Authors: Ouédraogo Dominique , Ouédraogo‐Koné Salifou , Yougbaré Bernadette , Soudré Albert , Zoma‐Traoré Bienvenue , Mészáros Gábor , Khayatzadeh Negar , Traoré Amadou , Sanou Moumouni , Mwai Okeyo Ally , Wurzinger Maria , Burger Pamela A. , Sölkner Johann 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHigh‐throughput genomic markers provide an opportunity to assess important indicators of genetic diversity for populations managed in livestock breeding programs. While well‐structured breeding programs are common in developed countries, in developing country situations, especially in West Africa, on‐farm performance and pedigree recordings are rare, and thus, genomic markers provide insights to the levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding and introgression by other breeds. In this study, we analysed key population parameters such as population structure, admixture and levels of inbreeding in three neighbouring populations of African taurine and taurine × Zebu crosses managed by community‐based breeding programs in the South‐West of Burkina Faso. The three populations were pure Baoulé (called Lobi locally) in sedentary production systems, Baoulé x Zebu crossbreds in sedentary systems and Zebu × Baoulé crossbreds in transhumant production systems, respectively. The total sample analysed included 631 animals and 38,207 single nucleotide polymorphisms after quality control. Results of principal component and admixture analyses confirmed the genetic background of two distinct ancestral populations (taurine and zebuine) and levels of admixture in all three breeding populations, including the presumably pure Baoulé group of animals. Inbreeding levels were moderate, compared to European dairy and beef cattle populations and higher than those of Brazilian Nellore cattle. Very few animals with inbreeding levels indicating parent–offspring or full sib mating were observed, and inbreeding levels indicating half sib mating were also rare. For the management of breeding populations, farmers were advised to exchange best young bulls. The crossbreeding levels of presumably pure Baoulé animals are of concern to the breeding program due to the high level of endangerment of pure African taurine cattle populations across West Africa. Future rounds of bull selection in the community‐based breeding program will make use of genomic information about admixture levels.
Genomic data from the Brazilian sibilator frog reveal contrasting pleistocene dynamics and regionalism in two South American dry biomes
Authors: Thomé Maria Tereza C. , Carstens Bryan C. , Rodrigues Miguel T. , Alexandrino João , Haddad Célio F. B. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimKnowledge about the Neotropical dry formations, particularly the Caatinga, remains rudimentary compared to other biotas in the region. Here we address several biogeographical hypotheses by combining intense geographical and genomic sampling obtained for the Brazilian sibilator frog. We specifically test predictions related to the putative roles of past climate shifts (Pleistocene and Holocene) and local geographical barriers (past and current courses of the São Francisco River, SFR) in causing population differentiation in this species.LocationCaatinga and eastern Cerrado.TaxonBrazilian sibilator frogLeptodactylus troglodytes.MethodsWe sequenced up to ~15,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms for 159 samples from 61 locations. We inferred genetic structure using spatial clustering and examined population sizes through time. We estimated the relationship among populations using phylogenetic reconstruction, estimated historical distributions with ecological niche modelling and inferred demographic history under isolation‐with‐migration models.ResultsGenetic diversity inL. troglodytescorresponds to biome boundaries, with one population in the Cerrado and two populations in the Caatinga, separated by the SFR. Demographic model selection indicates the Caatinga populations expanded since the end of the Pleistocene while the Cerrado population declined. Within the Caatinga, population expansion began earlier and was more extreme in the north. A continuous stability area maintained the two Caatinga populations, which share a common origin and began diverging in the mid‐Pleistocene, first with symmetric gene flow and later under pronounced migration from the north.Main conclusionsWe could not reject a role of past climate change in causing diversification of relictual populations in the Cerrado, but we found no evidence of multiple refuges or long‐term isolation within the Caatinga. Instead, diversification in this biome appears to be caused by the SFR acting as a ‘soft barrier’ that constrains migration over an extended period of time.
Is the newest angiotensin‐receptor blocker azilsartan medoxomil more efficacious in lowering blood pressure than the older ones? A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Ji‐Guang , Zhang Miao , Feng Ying‐Qing , Ma Chang‐Sheng , Wang Tzung‐Dau , Zhu Zhi‐Ming , Kario Kazuomi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAngiotensin‐receptor blockers are often considered insufficiently efficacious in reducing blood pressure. However, newer angiotensin‐receptor blockers may be more effective than the older ones. A network meta‐analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of various angiotensin‐receptor blockers in reducing office and ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Relevant literature was searched from English and Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials involving angiotensin‐receptor blockers in hypertension. Efficacy variables included systolic and diastolic blood pressure either in the office or on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Absolute blood pressure reductions at 6‐12 weeks of treatment and their credible intervals were reported. A total of 34 publications provided adequate data for analysis (n = 14 859). In 28 studies on office systolic blood pressure (n = 12 731), against the common comparator valsartan 80 mg, the differences in systolic blood pressure were in favor of azilsartan medoxomil (20‐80 mg), irbesartan (300 mg), olmesartan (20‐40 mg), telmisartan (80 mg), and valsartan (160‐320 mg), but not candesartan (8‐16 mg), losartan (50‐100 mg), irbesartan (150 mg), olmesartan (10 mg), and telmisartan (40 mg). The ranking plot shows that azilsartan medoxomil 80 mg had a possibility of 99% being the best in the class. Similar results were observed for office diastolic blood pressure and from 13 studies for 24‐hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, angiotensin‐receptor blockers had different blood pressure lowering efficacy. The newest angiotensin‐receptor blocker azilsartan medoxomil at the dose of 80 mg seemed to be most efficacious in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the office and on ambulatory measurement.
Identification of rare variants causing urea cycle disorders: A clinical, genetic, and biophysical study
Authors: Liu Fang , Bao Li‐sha , Liang Ru‐jia , Zhao Xiao‐ying , Li Zhi , Du Zhi‐fang , Lv Shao‐guang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractUrea cycle disorders (UCDs) are a group of rare metabolic conditions characterized by hyperammonemia and a broad spectrum of phenotypic severity. They are caused by the congenital deficiency in the eight biomolecules involved in urea cycle. In the present study, five cases of UCD were recruited and submitted to a series of clinical, biochemical, and genetic analysis with a combination of high throughput techniques. Moreover, in silico analysis was conducted on the identified missense genetic variants. Various clinical and biochemical indications (including profiles of amino acids and urinary orotic acids) of UCD were manifested by the five probands. Sequence analysis revealed nine diagnostic variants, including three novel ones, which caused Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) in one case, Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1deficiency (CPS1D) in two cases, Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) in one case, and Citrin deficiency in 1case. Results of in silico biophysical analysis strongly suggested the pathogenicity of each the five missense variants and provided insight into their intramolecular impacts. In conclusion, this study expanded the genetic variation spectrum of UCD, gave solid evidence for counselling to the affected families, and should facilitate the functional study on the proteins in urea cycle.
Prostate adenocarcinoma and COVID‐19: The possible impacts of TMPRSS2 expressions in susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Cheng Jingliang , Zhou Ju , Fu Shangyi , Fu Jiewen , Zhou Baixu , Chen Hanchun , Fu Junjiang , Wei Chunli 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTMPRSS2 (OMIM: 602060) is a cellular protease involved in many physiological and pathological processes, and it facilitates entry of viruses such as SARS‐CoV‐2 into host cells. It is important to predict the prostate's susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in cancer patients and the disease outcome by assessing TMPRSS2 expression in cancer tissues. In this study, we conducted the expression profiles of the TMPRSS2 gene for COVID‐19 in different normal tissues and PRAD (prostate adenocarcinoma) tumour tissues. TMPRSS2 is highly expressed in normal tissues including the small intestine, prostate, pancreas, salivary gland, colon, stomach, seminal vesicle and lung, and is increased in PRAD tissues, indicating that SARS‐CoV‐2 might attack not only the lungs and other normal organs, but also in PRAD cancer tissues. Hypomethylation of TMPRSS2 promoter may not be the mechanism for TMPRSS2 overexpression in PRAD tissues and PRAD pathogenesis. TMPRSS2 expresses eleven isoforms in PRAD tissues, with the TMPRSS2‐001 isoform expressed highest and followed by TMPRSS2‐201. Further isoform structures prediction showed that these two highly expressed isoforms have both SRCR_2 and Trypsin (Tryp_SPc) domains, which may be essential for TMPRSS2 functional roles for tumorigenesis and entry for SARS‐CoV‐2 in PRAD patients. Analyses of functional annotation and enrichment in TMPRSS2 showed that TMPRSS2 is mostly enriched in regulation of viral entry into host cells, protein processing and serine‐type peptidase activity. TMPRSS2 is also associated with prostate gland cancer cell expression, different complex(es) formation, human influenza and carcinoma, pathways in prostate cancer, influenza A, and transcriptional misregulation in cancer. Altogether, even though high expression of TMPRSS2 may not be favourable for PRAD patient's survival, increased expression in these patients should play roles in susceptibility of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and clinical severity for COVID‐19, highlighting the value of protective actions of PRAD cases by targeting or androgen‐mediated therapeutic strategies in the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Estimating cage‐level mortality distributions following different delousing treatments of Atlantic salmon (salmo salar) in Norway
Authors: Sviland Walde Cecilie , Bang Jensen Britt , Pettersen Jostein Mulder , Stormoen Marit 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis retrospective descriptive study estimates cage‐level mortality distributions after six immediate delousing methods: thermal, mechanical, hydrogen peroxide, medicinal, freshwater and combination of medicinal treatments. We investigated mortality patterns associated with 4 644 delousing treatment of 1 837 cohorts of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocked in sea along the Norwegian coast between 2014 and 2017. The mortality is expressed as mortality rates. We found distributions of delta mortality rate within 1, 7 and 14 days after all six delousing treatments, using mortality rate within 7 days before treatments as baseline. The results show that we can expect increased mortality rates after all six delousing methods. The median delta mortality rates after thermal and mechanical delousing are 5.4 and 6.3 times higher than medicinal treatment, respectively, for the 2017 year‐class. There is a reduction in the delta median mortality for thermal and freshwater delousing from 2015 to 2019. There is a wide variability in the mortality rates, in particular for thermal delousing. Our results suggest that the variability in delta mortality for thermal delousing has been reduced from the 2014 to 2017 year‐class, indicating an improvement of the technique. However, a significant increase in the number of thermal treatments from 14 in 2015 to 738 in 2018 probably contributes to the overall increased mortality in Norwegian salmon farming.