bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New evidence confirms the presence of the diamond stingray Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert 1880) in Chile and extends its southern range
Authors: Almendras Diego , Villafaña Jaime A. , Bustamante Carlos , Contreras Ignacio , Campoy Ana N. , Dufflocq Pablo , Rivadeneira Marcelo M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe diamond stingray (Hypanus dipterurus) is a species of cartilaginous fish that, according to the IUCN, is globally in a vulnerable state of conservation and its populations show a decline. New records of this ray species in southern Peru and northern Chile have expanded their known range. The species is distributed in the Eastern Central Pacific, from southern California to San Andres, on the central coast of Peru, but is poorly known in Chile. Angler records mined from social media and historical data confirmed the presence of H. dipterurus along southern Peru and northern Chile, extending southward over 1250 km. A species distribution model (SDM) based on previous global occurrences combined with oceanographic layers was built to identify areas of potential and undocumented presence of H. dipterurus. The SDM showed high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.95) and predicted the potential presence of H. dipterurus along vast areas of the Peruvian and Chilean coasts, where the presence of the species was poorly documented. Comprehensive surveys are required to understand the distribution, population dynamics, habitat requirements, and threats to effective conservation efforts in the southern region of its distribution range.
Decentralized Exchange: The Uniswap Automated Market Maker
Authors: LEHAR ALFRED , PARLOUR CHRISTINE 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTUniswap is a system of smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain and is the largest decentralized exchange with a liquidity balance worth up to 4 billion USD and daily trading volume of up to 7 billion USD. It is a new model of liquidity provision, so‐called automated market making. For this new market form, we characterize equilibrium in the liquidity pools. We collect all 95.8 million Uniswap interactions and compare this automated market maker (AMM) to a centralized limit order book. We document absence of long‐lived arbitrage opportunities, and show conditions under which the AMM dominates a limit order market.
The Heterogeneous Effects of EU Structural Funds: A Spatial VAR Approach
Authors: Destefanis Sergio , Di Giacinto Valter 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThis paper focuses on the impact of EU structural funds (SFs) on the GDP per capita of 183 European NUTS‐2 regions throughout the 1990–2018 period. To allow for the endogeneity of funds allocation to regions, we estimate a bivariate structural panel VAR model, including a rich menu of control variables. Our main identifying restriction is based on the widely documented long lags affecting the implementation of EU's cohesion policy. Through a spatial VAR specification, we also estimate spillovers from local SF expenditure on other areas. We find highly significant multipliers measuring the local response of GDP to an exogenous shock in local SF expenditure, with a long‐run value settling at 2.7. Spillovers for GDP from an exogenous shock to SFs are also positive and significant, but much smaller (about one‐fifth of the within‐region responses). When partitioning our sample according to features suggested by the literature (stage of development, EU funding regimes, size), we find that within‐region multipliers are higher in lagging regions, especially if located in countries supported by the Cohesion Fund, and in regions with a larger population. Spillovers are also heterogeneous across different groups of regions, turning out to be negative in regions belonging to countries not supported by the Cohesion Fund. This evidence is largely validated in qualitative terms by refinements of the analysis concerned with the choice of proximity matrices.
Challenges and consensus: A survey of the management of neonatal hypoglycaemia within the Pacific Islands
Authors: Liu Julia , Irvine Lauren , Lindsay Natalie , Woods Lisa , Harris Deborah L 
Published: December 2024

AimTo describe the management of neonatal hypoglycaemia within Pacific Island countries and territories by surveying practising clinicians.MethodsSurvey questions were adapted from a similar survey conducted across Australian and New Zealand neonatal nurseries. An anonymous, electronic survey link and QR code were disseminated to clinicians via our partner organisations, Facebook and direct email. Data collected were primarily descriptive.ResultsFifty‐one surveys were received from 13 Pacific Island countries. Two‐t hirds (69%) of respondents reported having a neonatal hypoglycaemia protocol in their nursery. The four protocols received defined hypoglycaemia as a blood glucose concentration <2.6 mmol/L. However, treatment thresholds reported varied from <1.0 mmol/L to <3.0 mmol/L. Feeding was the most common treatment. One‐third of the respondents reported resource barriers to effective management, such as a lack of specialist training and limited resources.ConclusionsThere are variations in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia in the Pacific Island countries, despite consistency in the management of neonatal hypoglycaemia within the clinical protocols. Barriers to the safe and effective management of neonatal hypoglycaemia remain concerning.
Decoding transnationalism within the Georgian far right: ‘The good, the bad and the ugly’
Authors: Gozalishvili Nino 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe contemporary far right is entangled in multidimensional ways including various forms of reciprocal influences, the diffusion of subject matters and issue‐framings, the relevance of external examples for local political discussions and an extra‐national platform for influencing transnational developments. Departing from the ‘globalisation front’ in the study of the phenomenon, this article aims to deconstruct the nature of this transnationality by focusing on the forms of indirect diffusion and both negative as well as affirmative forms of referential inspirations. In doing so, the article proceeds from providing an overview of various perceptions of transnationalism in the study of the contemporary far right to offering an empirical analysis of the Georgian case to demonstrate nuances of the transnationality within far right discourses. The analysis is based on the social media data as well as the two sets of qualitative interviews with the leaders and representatives of national‐populist formations that are utilised for reconstructing discursive topics and strategies. Ultimately, the article demonstrates the importance of negative source inspiration and drawing of fictitious scenarios on top of lesson‐drawing and mimicking of political discourses as illustrative designs of increasing transnationalism.
Exogenous melatonin improves drought stress tolerance via regulating tryptophan metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in wheat
Authors: Li Jingyu , Li Yuanxin , Du Mengxue , Zang Dongtian , Men Qingmei , Su Peisen , Guo Shangjing 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMelatonin (MT) serves an indispensable function in plant development and their response to abiotic stress. Although numerous drought‐tolerance genes have been ascertained in wheat, further investigation into the molecular pathways controlling drought stress tolerance remains necessary. In this investigation, it was observed that MT treatment markedly enhanced drought resistance in wheat by diminishing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and augmenting the activity of antioxidant enzymes POD, APX, and CAT compared to untreated control plants. Transcriptomic analysis disclosed that melatonin treatment activated the tryptophan metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR) outcomes validated that the expression trends of these differentially expressed genes aligned with the transcriptomic data. Metabolomic profiling identified alterations in the abundance of several metabolites, including tryptamine, MT, formylanthranilate, 3‐hydroxyanthranilate, 6‐hydroxymelatonin, naringenin chalcone, astragalin, pinbanksin, and caffeoyl quinic acid. Co‐expression analysis suggested that various transcription factors—encompassing AP2/ERF‐ERF, WRKY, bZIP, C2H2, bHLH, NAC, and MYB—participated in controlling the differentially expressed genes across multiple pathways. Ultimately, these findings highlight that exogenous MT application bolsters wheat's drought tolerance through the modulation of tryptophan metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. These insights provide novel perspectives on the molecular frameworks mediating MT's effect on drought resistance and pinpointing candidate genes for potential genetic enhancement programs in wheat.
The isohydric strategy of Platanus × hispanica tree shapes its response to drought in an urban environment
Authors: Claude Alice , Nadam Paul , Brajon Ludvine , Leitao Luis , Planchais Séverine , Lameth Valentin , Castell Jean‐François , Dellero Younès , Savouré Arnould , Repellin Anne , Leymarie Juliette , Puga‐Freitas Ruben 
Published: December 2024

AbstractUrban vegetation provides many ecosystem services like heat island mitigation. However, urban trees are subjected to the stresses that they are meant to alleviate, with drought being a main constraint. We investigated the drought response strategy of plane trees (Platanus × hispanica), focusing on stomatal regulation and metabolic remodelling. To address this question, a semi‐controlled experiment was performed in an urban site with fourteen plane trees grown in containers. From May to June 2022, those trees were physiologically characterized in response to a controlled edaphic drought completed by a targeted metabolome analysis focused on amino acids, sugars, polyols and organic acids. Early P. × hispanica response to drought consisted in stomatal closure limiting carbon assimilation and osmotic adjustment, which was likely related to malate and trehalose accumulation. Both allowed the maintenance of stem water potential and Relative Water Content. As the drought became severe, when the extractable soil water content (eSWC) dropped below 30%, a non‐stomatal limitation of photosynthesis was observed and was associated with photosynthetic apparatus damage (reduced chlorophyll content and decrease in Fv/Fm) and a further decline in carbon assimilation. When eSWC decreased below 25%, severe drought induced defoliation. Together, these results highlight the isohydric strategy of P. × hispanica, based notably on osmotic adjustment and explain its resistance to drought combined with other urban constraints. In the context of climatic change in cities, it would be interesting to analyse the impact of successive drought cycles in the long term, aiming for sustainable planning and management of urban trees.
Forty‐eight‐hour cold‐stored whole blood in paediatric cardiac surgery: Implications for haemostasis and blood donor exposures
Authors: Kiskaddon Amy L. , Andrews Jennifer , Josephson Cassandra D. , Kuntz Michael T. , Tran Dominique , Jones Jennifer , Kartha Vyas , Do Nhue L. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesCold‐stored whole blood (CS‐WB) in paediatric cardiac surgery is making a resurgence, given its identified benefits compared to conventional blood component therapy (CT).Study Design and MethodsA single‐centre retrospective study was conducted from January 2018 to October 2018 by including children <18 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. ABO‐compatible CS‐WB from non‐directed random donors was leukoreduced with platelet‐sparing filters and compared with CT.ResultsFifty‐seven patients (30, 53% CS‐WB; 27, 47% CT) were studied. Patient demographics were similar, although CT patients were cooled to a lower intra‐operative temperature. Blood product requirements 24 h post operation were less in the CS‐WB group (11.1 vs. 26.7 mL/kg, p = 0.048). Twelve (40%) patients in the CS‐WB cohort had more than one donor exposure versus 25 (93%) in the CT group (p < 0.001). CT patients compared to CS‐WB patients had a greater decrease in pre‐operative versus 48‐h post‐operative haemoglobin, platelets and prothrombin time. Patients who received CT compared to CS‐WB had a trend towards higher median (interquartile range [IQR]) chest‐tube output (mL/kg/h) in the first 4 h post cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) admission (2.1 [0.8, 3] vs. 1.6 [0.8, 2.2], p = 0.197). There was no difference in antifibrinolytic use, length of stay, sepsis, acute kidney injury or wound infection. Survival to discharge was similar.ConclusionCS‐WB in paediatric cardiac surgery may reduce donor exposure and improve haemostatic balance. Future multi‐centre prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and identify patients who would benefit from CS‐WB in paediatric cardiac surgery.
A Radiation Heating-Based Oscillatory Polymerase Chain Reaction System for Detecting Donkey-Hide Gelatin
Authors: Chen Jyh Jian , Kuo Tsung Yueh , Sheu Shyang Chwen , Song Yi Syuan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a biochemical technique for copying DNA by repeatedly changing the temperature of nucleic acid samples. In this study, we aim to create an oscillatory PCR system with a short reaction time, which could have significant practical implications. The device uses an electromechanical module with a servo motor and a homemade heating–cooling system that combines a halogen lamp, a Peltier element, a cooling fin, and a blower fan. We code the motor program to control the reaction chamber moving back and forth in the infrared thermal cycling system. The system uses one infrared lamp for heating and one Peltier element/thermal dissipation fins/blower fan for cooling to shorten the overall reaction time of the thermal process. Results show that using the radiant heating and convection cooling method and a micro-sample of 10 μL to perform a PCR, the total time spent is 35 min, which saves about 1 h compared to commercially available PCR instruments. The proposed PCR approach could specifically detect donkey-hide gelatin (DHG) made from donkey skin, offering a rapid and cost-effective solution. Therefore, our device has the advantages of easy manufacturing, low cost, and rapid temperature ramping rate for PCR.
Study of Temperature Field in Helical Carcass-Supported Flexible Cryogenic Pipes for Liquefied Natural Gas
Authors: Bu Yufeng , Yan Jun , Yang Zhixun , Fu Ying , Lu Hailong , Yin Yuanchao 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Helical carcass-supported composite flexible cryogenic pipes (HC-FCP) for liquefied natural gas (LNG) are critical components in floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) storage and offloading systems. The complex cross-sectional structure of HC-FCP must withstand cryogenic temperatures as low as −163 °C, which significantly affects the mechanical properties of the pipe materials. Predicting the temperature distribution within the pipe is essential for evaluating its performance under operational conditions. In this study, a three-dimensional axisymmetric steady-state heat transfer numerical model of HC-FCP is developed, achieving a maximum deviation of only 5.1% when compared to experimental temperature measurements. The temperature field at operational conditions exhibits a gradient distribution along the radial direction and a corrugated distribution along the axial direction. Additionally, the influence of external environmental factors on the pipe's temperature field is analyzed. The results indicate that the temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces increases with rising ambient temperature. Similarly, the temperature change between the inner and outer surfaces grows as wind speed increases, although the effect of wind speed on the pipe's temperature diminishes at higher wind speeds.
Three new species of the genus Aceria (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from medicinal plants in Thailand
Authors: Konvipasruang Ploychompoo , Thainoi Kittisak , Buttachon Suradet 
Published: December 2024

Three new Aceria species from Thailand are described and illustrated. Aceria krabianae sp. nov. was collected as a vagrant on Ceriscoides turgida (Roxb.) Tirveng (Rubiaceae) leaves, and no symptoms were observed on the host plant. Aceria insuavisae sp. nov. was collected on Senegalia insuavis (Lace) Pedley (Fabaceae), inducing galls on both surfaces of the leaves, and Aceria tratae sp. nov. was collected on Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. (Phyllanthaceae), causing the formation of galls on the undersurface of the leaves.
Shared mechanisms of enhanced plasmid maintenance and antibiotic tolerance mediated by the VapBC toxin:antitoxin system
Authors: Hollingshead Sarah , McVicker Gareth , Nielsen Maria R. , Zhang YuGeng , Pilla Giulia , Jones Rebekah A. , Thomas Jonathan C. , Johansen Sarah E. H. , Exley Rachel M. , Brodersen Ditlev E. , Tang Christoph M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Toxin:antitoxin (TA) systems are widespread in bacteria and were first identified as plasmid addiction systems that kill bacteria lacking a TA-encoding plasmid following cell division. TA systems have also been implicated in bacterial persistence and antibiotic tolerance, which can be precursors of antibiotic resistance. Here, we identified a clinical isolate of
Shigella sonnei
(CS14) with a remarkably stable pINV virulence plasmid; pINV is usually frequently lost from
S. sonnei
, but plasmid loss was not detected from CS14. We found that the plasmid in CS14 is stabilized by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in its
vapBC
TA system. VapBC TA systems are the most common Type II TA system in bacteria, and consist of a VapB antitoxin and VapC PIN domain-containing toxin. The plasmid stabilizing SNP leads to a Q12L substitution in the DNA-binding domain of VapB, which reduces VapBC binding to its own promoter, impairing
vapBC
autorepression. However, VapB
L12
C mediates high-level plasmid stabilization because VapB
L12
is more prone to degradation by Lon than wild-type VapB; this liberates VapC to efficiently kill bacteria that no longer contain a plasmid. Of note, mutations that confer tolerance to antibiotics in
Escherichia coli
also map to the DNA-binding domain of VapBC encoded by the chromosomally integrated F plasmid. We demonstrate that the tolerance mutations also enhance plasmid stabilization by the same mechanism as VapB
L12
. Our findings highlight the links between plasmid maintenance and antibiotic tolerance, both of which can promote the development of antimicrobial resistance.

IMPORTANCE

Our work addresses two processes, the maintenance of plasmids and antibiotic tolerance; both contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria that cause human disease. Here, we found a single nucleotide change in the vapBC toxin:antitoxin system that stabilizes the large virulence plasmid of
Shigella sonnei
. The mutation is in the vapB antitoxin gene and makes the antitoxin more likely to be degraded, releasing the VapC toxin to efficiently kill cells without the plasmid (and thus unable to produce more antitoxin as an antidote). We found that vapBC mutations in
E. coli
that lead to antibiotic tolerance (a precursor to resistance) also operate by the same mechanism (
i.e.
, generating VapB that is prone to cleavage); free VapC during tolerance will arrest bacterial growth and prevent susceptibility to antibiotics. This work shows the mechanistic links between plasmid maintenance and tolerance, and has applications in biotech and in the design and evaluation of vaccines against shigellosis.
Acinetobacter baumannii
represses type VI secretion system through a manganese-dependent small RNA-mediated regulation
Authors: Bhowmik Somok , Pathak Avik , Pandey Shivam , Devnath Kuldip , Sett Abhiroop , Jyoti Nishant , Bhando Timsy , Akhter Jawed , Chugh Saurabh , Singh Ramandeep , Sharma Tarun Kumar , Pathania Ranjana 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is utilized by many Gram-negative bacteria to eliminate competing bacterial species and manipulate host cells.
Acinetobacter baumannii
ATCC 17978 utilizes T6SS at the expense of losing pAB3 plasmid to induce contact-dependent killing of competitor microbes, resulting in the loss of antibiotic resistance carried by pAB3. However, the regulatory network associated with T6SS in
A. baumannii
remains poorly understood. Here, we identified an Mn
2+
-dependent post-transcriptional regulation of T6SS mediated by a bonafide small RNA, AbsR28.
A. baumannii
utilizes MumT, an Mn
2+
-uptake inner membrane transporter, for the uptake of extracellular Mn
2+
during oxidative stress. We demonstrate that the abundance of intracellular Mn
2+
enables complementary base pairing of AbsR28-
tssM
mRNA (that translates to TssM, one of the vital inner membrane components of T6SS), inducing RNase E-mediated degradation of
tssM
mRNA and resulting in T6SS repression. Thus, AbsR28 mediates a crosstalk between MumT and T6SS in
A. baumannii
.

IMPORTANCE

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are identified as critical components within the bacterial regulatory networks involved in fine regulation of virulence-associated factors. The sRNA-mediated regulation of type VI secretion system (T6SS) in
Acinetobacter baumannii
was unchartered. Previously, it was demonstrated that
A. baumannii
ATCC 17978 cells switch from T6− to T6+ phenotype, resulting in the loss of antibiotic resistance conferred by plasmid pAB3. Furthermore, the derivatives of pAB3 found in recent clinical isolates of
A. baumannii
harbor expanded antibiotic resistance genes and multiple determinants for virulence factors. Hence, the loss of this plasmid for T6SS activity renders
A. baumannii
T6+ cells susceptible to antibiotics and compromises their virulence. Our findings show how
A. baumannii
tends to inactivate T6SS through an sRNA-mediated regulation that relies on Mn
2+
and retains pAB3 during infection to retain antibiotic resistance genes carried on the plasmid.