bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecological Restoration of Inland Aquaculture in Land‐Locked Europe: The Role of Semi‐Intensive Fishponds and Multitrophic Technologies in Transforming Food Systems
Authors: Roy Koushik , Verdegem Marc C. J. , Mraz Jan 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPond aquaculture and water protection in Europe suffer from conflicts, whereas multitrophic freshwater aquaculture technologies face hardships with over‐regulations in Europe. As such, inland freshwater aquaculture in land‐locked Europe has not given its contribution or echoed its importance in regional food system dialogues. The emphasis on marine cages and RAS‐based aquaculture is enormous. Almost if they are the only viable way to carry the future European aquaculture forward. In this scoping review, we have hypothesized that semi‐intensive fishponds and freshwater multitrophic aquaculture could be an overlooked component in the European food system. The analysis we present reviewed: (1) current positioning of inland freshwater aquaculture in European food system; (2) European fishponds' current positioning within food system and inland freshwater aquaculture; (3) way forward for semi‐intensive European fishponds through ecological pond nutrition research; (4) ecological technologies for realizing ‘net zero’ aquatic foods in land‐locked Europe; (5) risks and potential for making the transition. We conclude ample circular technologies and nature‐based solutions in pond and multitrophic freshwater aquaculture in land‐locked Europe. They have the potential to transform food systems locally with low‐impact aquatic food. European inland freshwater aquaculture may be a sleeping giant among EU's planetary healthy diet ambitions. As an example, 0.25 million hectares available Central Eastern European fishponds have the potential to ecologically substitute 1 billion marine fish oil capsules (EPA + DHA in 1 kt marine fish oil) and 11.9 kt of casein (leucine from 0.45 billion litres milk) equivalents, fulfilling singlehandedly annual leucine or EPA + DHA requirements of 1.2–3 million adults.
Powerful Sounds of Prayer. Christianity and Electricity in Northern Malawi
Authors: Cichocki Piotr 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe Christianity in Northern Region of Malawi serves as an illustrative case study where technological objects affect religious practices. To elucidate the role of material objects in the constitution of the religious world, the article discusses the example of electricity as a key infrastructure and its role in bridging the modern material world with the colonization of religious practices. Within this analyze, religiosity is conceived not merely as a system of symbols but rather in terms of holistic, embodied, yet institutionalized practices. The pivotal role played by electric musical instruments concerns the establishment of a centralized public sphere closely intertwined with a Christianization project and technological advancements. Electronic keyboards operate within a religiously significant electrical infrastructure, which is intricately interwoven with political and religious ideologies, embodiment, and subjectivity. The electronic sound becomes agents of profound influence, imbuing religious musical experience with the affect of civilization. This transformative impact, however, also underscores the historical marginalization and suppression of indigenous drumming traditions, initially by early missionaries, and later by institutionalized Christian churches. The historical relation between electricity, embodied affect, and religion are exemplified by two case studies: the history of the industrial Presbyterian mission of Livingstonia and the adoption of electric instruments by Katawa Singers and other local gospel choirs. Paradoxically, the development of electrical infrastructures obscures significant asymmetries within the religious socio‐spiritual world. In the Northern Region, other spiritual practices rooted in ancestral reverence and traditional healing modalities construct an antagonistic yet interconnected network that is overshadowed by the mediated public sphere shaped by technical developments.
BIL7 enhances plant growth by regulating the transcription factor BIL1/BZR1 during brassinosteroid signaling‡
Authors: Miyaji Tomoko , Yamagami Ayumi , Nakamura Yusuke , Nishida Kaisei , Tachibana Ryo , Surina Surina , Fujioka Shozo , Garcia‐Hourquet Mariano , Mora‐García Santiago , Nosaki Shohei , Miyakawa Takuya , Tanokura Masaru , Matsui Minami , Osada Hiroyuki , Shinozaki Kazuo , Asami Tadao , Nakano Takeshi 
Published: December 2024

SUMMARYBrassinosteroids (BRs) are plant steroid hormones that regulate plant development and environmental responses. BIL1/BZR1, a master transcription factor that regulates approximately 3000 genes in the BR signaling pathway, is transported to the nucleus from the cytosol in response to BR signaling; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this process is unknown. Here, we identify a novel BR signaling factor, BIL7, that enhances plant growth and positively regulates the nuclear accumulation of BIL1/BZR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. BIL7‐overexpressing plants were resistant to the BR biosynthesis inhibitor Brz and taller than wild‐type (WT) plants were due to increased cell division. BIL7 is mainly localized to the plasma membrane, but during the early stages of cell growth, it was also localized to the nucleus. BIL7 was directly phosphorylated by the kinase BIN2, and nuclear localization of BIL7 was enhanced by the BIN2 inhibitor bikinin. BIL7 was found to bind to BIL1/BZR1, and nuclear accumulation of BIL1/BZR1 was strongly enhanced by BIL7 overexpression. Finally, double overexpression of BIL1/BZR1 and BIL7 led to greatly elongated hypocotyls in the presence of Brz. These findings suggest that BIL7 mediates nuclear accumulation of BIL1/BZR1, which activates inflorescence elongation in plants via BR signaling.
Corticolimbic structures activation during preparation and execution of respiratory manoeuvres in voluntary olfactory sampling: An intracranial EEG study
Authors: Granget Jules , Niérat Marie Cécile , Lehongre Katia , Lambrecq Virginie , Frazzini Valerio , Navarro Vincent , Buonviso Nathalie , Similowski Thomas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractVolitional respiratory manoeuvres such as sniffing and apnoea play a key role in the active olfactory exploration of the environment. Their impairment by neurodegenerative processes could thus impair olfactory abilities with the ensuing impact on quality of life. Functional brain imaging studies have identified brain networks engaged in sniffing and voluntary apnoea, comprising the primary motor and somatosensory cortices, the insula, the anterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala. The temporal organization and the oscillatory activities of these networks are not known. To elucidate these aspects, we recorded intracranial electroencephalograms in six patients during voluntary sniffs and short apnoeas (12 s). The preparation phase of both manoeuvres involved increased alpha and theta activity in the posterior insula, amygdala and temporal regions, with a specific preparatory activity in the parahippocampus for the short apnoeas and the hippocampus for sniff. Subsequently, it narrowed to the superior and median temporal areas, immediately after the manoeuvres. During short apnoeas, a particular dynamic was observed, consisting of a rapid decline in alpha and theta activity followed by a slow recovery and increase. Volitional respiratory manoeuvres involved in olfactory control involve corticolimbic structures in both a preparatory and executive manner. Further studies are needed to determine whether diseases altering deep brain structures can disrupt these mechanisms and if such disruption contributes to the corresponding olfactory deficits.
imageKey points
Both sniff manoeuvres and short apnoeas are associated with oscillatory activity predominantly in low‐frequency bands (alpha and theta).
Preparation of sniff manoeuvres and short apnoeas involve activities in low‐frequency bands in the posterior insula and temporal regions that extend to amygdala during the execution of both manoeuvres.
During short apnoeas, activities in low‐frequency bands initially decline before continuously increasing until the apnoeas end.
Métodos en la elaboración del análisis de situación de salud ASIS en América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Ruiz Taborda Juan Paulo , Otálvaro-Castro Gabriel Jaime , Agudelo García Héctor Byron , Rodríguez Ospina Fabio León 
Published: December 2024

Introducción: Los análisis de situación de salud (ASIS) permiten describir y explicar los perfiles de salud/enfermedad de una población y las condiciones en que las personas viven y trabajan. Sin embargo, persisten retos en cuanto a la integralidad en sus diferentes fases de implementación. Objetivo: describir los métodos utilizados en las diferentes etapas del diseño de los ASIS de América latina. Métodos: análisis de contenido de diferentes ASIS oficiales y guías para su elaboración de los países de América Latina disponibles en la web. Resultados: la participación comunitaria se identificó en el 63% de las guías analizadas. Las principales fuentes cuantitativas de información sobre determinantes sociales fueron fuentes secundarias gubernamental (96%), seguido de fuentes primarias locales (36%). las principales fuentes de información sobre condiciones de salud fueron las fuentes secundarias institucionales (100%), seguidas de las fuentes primarias locales (57%). El análisis más allá de lo descriptivo (en términos estadísticos) se identificó en el 29% de los casos Por su parte las fuentes cualitativas se utilizaron en el 54% de las guías, cobrando gran importancia en áreas pequeñas y de difícil acceso. Dentro de las guías revisadas se encontró que 15 países (62%) incorporan la priorización y el 37.5% utiliza diferentes alternativas para comunicar los resultados Conclusión: es necesario que se hagan nuevas investigaciones que permitan abrir el debate sobre la renovación de las guías y orientaciones metodológicas para la elaboración de los ASIS tomando en cuenta los principales experiencias, avances y críticas de los ASIS en América Latina.
Metodologías Lean en salud. Propuesta de mapa analítico-conceptual para sistematizar su impacto y resultados
Authors: Danet Alina , Pérez Lázaro Juan José 
Published: December 2024

Objetivo: Diseñar una propuesta teórico-metodológica para sistematizar los resultados del uso de metodologías Lean en salud y aplicar dicho modelo en el ámbito sanitario occidental. Metodología: Se diseñó una herramienta teórico-metodológica que combina los sistemas de indicadores del modelo de Donabedian, el Sistema Nacional de Salud y el modelo de Atención Sanitaria Basada en el Valor. El mapa analítico-conceptual creado se aplicó en una revisión sistemática de estudios empíricos cuantitativos y mixtos publicados en los últimos cinco años sobre el impacto de Lean en salud. Resultados: Los 33 estudios analizados, principalmente diseños cuantitativos pre-post, describen y evalúan el impacto de diversas intervenciones Lean (flujo de valor, ciclo PDSA/PDCA, Lean Six Sigma y eventos Kaizen) orientadas a mejorar la eficiencia y la calidad asistencial. La mayoría de los estudios se concentran en contextos hospitalarios (quirófanos, cuidados intensivos y farmacia) y en mediciones centradas en el eje organizacional (oferta de servicios, accesibilidad, gestión del tiempo y organización del trabajo, reducción de costos, eficiencia y seguridad), con menor atención a los aspectos centrados en el valor para los pacientes (resultados en salud, satisfacción y efectos a largo plazo). Conclusiones: El análisis estructurado basado en el mapa analítico-conceptual permitió dimensionar los resultados de Lean en salud, identificar las áreas de gestión y calidad con mayor aplicación e impacto Lean, y señalar la necesidad de ampliar las investigaciones en torno al valor para los pacientes.
Rheological and Electro-Pitting Performance of Electric Vehicle Motor Greases With Various Nanoparticle Greases
Authors: Janik Jack R. , Saha Sudip , Jackson Robert L. , Mills German 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
As the performance and efficiency requirements of electric vehicles (EVs) continue to expand, the demand for advanced driveline lubricants has grown exponentially. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs experience unique challenges, including increased acceleration and deceleration rates, immediate torque delivery, higher operating speeds, and elevated drivetrain temperatures. Moreover, EV lubricants must endure exposure to damaging bearing currents, which can lead to morphological damage on bearing surfaces, such as electrical pitting. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring the longevity and reliability of EV components. This study aims to explore and validate innovative lubricant solutions tailored explicitly for EV applications. This work provides experimental validation of the capabilities of silver (Ag) and different concentrations of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (NPs) in reducing damage through reciprocating rolling ball-on-disk tests. Additionally, an electrically conductive carbon black lithium-thickened grease was tested under comparable conditions. The significance of this research lies in its potential to revolutionize the EV lubricant industry by offering a robust solution to a prevalent problem. Successful implementation of nanoparticle-enhanced lubricants could lead to increased durability and efficiency of EV drivetrains, reducing maintenance costs and improving overall vehicle performance. This advancement aligns with the evolving demands of the EV market and sets a new standard for lubricant technology in electrified mobility.
Mitigating genetic instability caused by the excision activity of the
phi
C31 integrase in
Streptomyces
Authors: Duan Yadan , Liu Zhangliang , Huang Xiaofang , Xu Lu , Wang Xianxue , Liu Hao , Xie Zhoujie 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Over the past three decades, the integrase (Int) from
Streptomyces
phage
phi
C31 has become a valuable genome engineering tool across various species.
phi
C31 Int was thought to mediate unidirectional site-specific integration (
attP
×
attB
to
attL
and
attR
) in the absence of the phage-encoded recombination directionality factor (RDF). However, we have shown in this study that Int can also catalyze reverse excision (
attL
×
attR
to
attP
and
attB
) at low frequencies in
Streptomyces lividans
and
Escherichia coli
, causing genetic instability in engineered strains. To address this issue, we developed a two-plasmid co-conjugation (TPC) system. This system consists of an
attP
-containing integration vector and an Int expression suicide plasmid, both carrying
oriT
to facilitate efficient conjugation transfer from
E. coli
to
Streptomyces
. Using the TPC system, genetically stable integrants free of Int can be generated quickly and easily. The indigoidine-producing strains generated by the TPC system exhibited higher genetic stability and production efficiency compared to the indigoidine-producing strain generated by the conventional integration system, further demonstrating the utility of the TPC system in the field of biotechnology. We anticipate that the strategies presented here will be widely adopted for stable genetic engineering of industrial microbes using phage integrase-based integration systems.

IMPORTANCE

Large serine recombinases (LSRs), including the bacteriophage
phi
C31 integrase, were previously thought to allow only unidirectional site-specific integration (
attP
×
attB
to
attL
and attR). Our study is the first to show that the
phi
C31 integrase can also catalyze a low-efficiency reverse excision reaction in
Streptomyces
and
E. coli
without the involvement of the phage-encoded recombination directionality factor (RDF). The genetic instability caused by the low
in vivo
excisionase activity of the
phi
C31 integrase is a major challenge for biotechnological applications. Our study addresses this issue by developing a two-plasmid co-conjugation (TPC) system that facilitates the construction of Int-deficient genomic engineering strains. The Int-deficient integrants produced by this TPC system exhibit strong genetic stability for introduced genes and maintain stable production traits even in the absence of selection pressure, making them highly valuable for industrial applications.
Identification and characterization of the functional tetrameric UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Ramón Roth Isabel , Kats Pavel , Fiebig Timm , Routier Françoise , Fedorov Roman , Dirr Larissa , Führing Jana I. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

In all kingdoms of life, the enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) occupies a central role in metabolism, as its reaction product uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc) is involved in various crucial cellular processes. Pathogens, including fungi, parasites, and bacteria, depend on UGP for the synthesis of virulence factors; in particular, various bacterial species utilize UDP-Glc and its derivatives for the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, and biofilm exopolysaccharides. UGPs have, therefore, gained attention as anti-bacterial drug target candidates, prompting us to study their structure-function relationships to provide a basis for the rational development of specific inhibitors. UGP function is tied to its oligomeric state, and the majority of bacterial homologs have been described as tetramers encoded by the
galU
gene. Uniquely, enterobacterial species harbor a second gene,
galF
, encoding a protein with high homology to UGP, whose function is somewhat controversial. Here, we show that the
galF
gene of the opportunistic pathogen
Klebsiella pneumoniae
encodes a dimeric protein that has lost UGP activity, likely due to a combination of active site mutations and an inability to tetramerize, whereas the functional
K. pneumoniae
UGP, encoded by
galU
, is an active tetramer. Our AlphaFold-assisted structure-function relationship studies underline that tetramerization is essential for bacterial UGP function and is facilitated by a common mechanism utilizing conserved key residues. Targeting the respective molecular interfaces, which are absent in human UGP, could provide a means of selectively inhibiting the bacterial virulence factor UGP and potentially rendering pathogenic species avirulent.

IMPORTANCE

The enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP) is important for the virulence of bacterial pathogens and, therefore, a potential drug target. In this study, we identify the gene encoding the functional UGP in
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, a bacterium notoriously causing severe antibiotic-resistant infections in humans, and reveal structural and functional features that may aid in the development of new antibiotics.
Temperate phage-antibiotic synergy is widespread—extending to
Pseudomonas
—but varies by phage, host strain, and antibiotic pairing
Authors: Fatima Rabia , Hynes Alexander P. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial-specific viruses that can be used alone or with antibiotics to reduce bacterial load. Most phages are unsuitable for therapy because they are “temperate” and can integrate into the host genome, forming a lysogen that is protected from subsequent phage infections. However, integrated phages can be awakened by stressors such as antibiotics. Supported by this interaction, here we explore the potential use of combined temperate phage and antibiotic against the multi-drug-resistant pathogen,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. In all, thirty-nine temperate phages were isolated from clinical strains, and a subset was screened for synergy with six antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, meropenem, piperacillin, tobramycin, and polymyxin B), using checkerboard assays. Interestingly, our screen identified phages that can synergize with each antibiotic, despite their widely differing targets; however, these are highly phage-antibiotic and phage-host pairing specific. Screening across multiple clinical strains reveals that temperate phages can reduce the antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration up to 32-fold, even in a resistant isolate, functionally re-sensitizing the bacterium to the antibiotic. Meropenem and tobramycin did not reduce the frequency of lysogens, suggesting a mechanism of action independent of the temperate nature of the phages. By contrast, ciprofloxacin and piperacillin were able to reduce the frequency of lysogeny, the former by inducing phages—as previously reported in
E. coli
. Curiously, synergy with piperacillin reduced lysogen survivors, but not by inducing the phages, suggesting an alternative mechanism for biasing the phage lysis-lysogeny equilibrium. Overall, our findings indicate that temperate phages can act as adjuvants in clinically relevant pathogens, even in the presence of antibiotic resistance, thereby drastically expanding their therapeutic potential.

IMPORTANCE

The recent discovery that otherwise therapeutically unusable temperate phages can potentiate the activity of antibiotics, resulting in a potent synergy, has only been tested in
E. coli
, and with a single model phage. Here, working with clinical isolates of
Pseudomonas
and phages from these isolates, we highlight the broad applicability of this synergy—across a variety of mechanisms but also highlight the limitations of predicting the phage, host, and antibiotic combinations that will synergize.
Genome characterization of a simian foamy virus from a human bitten by an African green monkey
Authors: Shankar Anupama , Smith James M. , Switzer William M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

We obtained the near-complete simian foamy virus (SFV) genome from an infected human bitten by an African green monkey (
Chlorocebus aethiops;
SFVcae_hu501). The genome is 13,062 nucleotides long with the classical SFV genome structure. Phylogenetically, SFVcae_hu501 clustered closely with SFV from
Ch. aethiops
(SFVagm_LK3).
When HSFs bring the heat—mapping the transcriptional circuitries of HSF-type regulators in
Candida albicans
Authors: Znaidi Sadri 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Heat shock factor (HSF)-type regulators are stress-responsive transcription factors widely distributed among eukaryotes, including fungi. They carry a four-stranded winged helix-turn-helix DNA-binding domain considered as the signature domain for HSFs. The genome of the opportunistic yeast
Candida albicans
encodes four HSF members, namely, Sfl1, Sfl2, Skn7, and the essential regulator, Hsf1.
C. albicans
HSFs do not only respond to heat shock and/or temperature variation but also to CO
2
levels, oxidative stress, and quorum sensing, acting this way as central decision makers. In this minireview, I follow on the heels of my mSphere of Influence commentary (2020) to provide an overview of the repertoire of HSF regulators in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
and
C. albicans
and describe how their genetic perturbation in
C. albicans
, coupled with genome-wide expression and location analyses, allow to map their transcriptional circuitry. I highlight how they can regulate, in common, a crucial developmental program: filamentous growth.