bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interspecific trait differences drive plant community responses on serpentine soils
Authors: Delhaye Guillaume , Dimitrakopoulos Panayiotis G. , Adamidis George C. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Serpentine ecosystems are characterised by multiple environmental stressors: high levels of trace metals such as nickel (Ni), low availability of macronutrients and low water retention. These harsh environmental conditions exert a strong selective force on the vegetation, but their effect on community assembly processes and the functional trait composition remains unknown.

In 26 plots on four serpentine sites on Lesbos Island (Greece), we measured six leaf functional traits related to resource acquisition and stress resistance on the 20 most abundant plant species. We quantified the proportion of variance explained by inter‐ and intraspecific trait differences and tested if individual species showed changes in trait values explained by soil Ni content. We investigated the adaptive value and the community level changes for each trait along the natural soil Ni gradient using a mixed model approach and functional diversity analyses. We tested the role of the abundant serpentine endemic and Ni‐hyperaccumulating species Odontarrhena lesbiaca in driving these patterns.

Intraspecific variation explained by soil Ni content is smaller than 4%, and most of the variance is explained by interspecific differences in trait values. Most species do not show significant changes in trait values in response to soil Ni. At the community level, low specific leaf areas, small and thick leaves are selected on high Ni soils. Functional diversity analyses suggest a shift towards a stress tolerance syndrome (thick and small leaves with low SLA values) and an increase in functional diversity on Ni‐rich soils. However, these patterns are driven by the increasing abundance of O. lesbiaca.

The endemic Ni hyperaccumulator has a stress tolerance strategy with small thick leaves and low SLA, while the community of broadly distributed species show an increase in trait values related to dominance and fast growth.

Synthesis. Intraspecific variation in leaf trait responds little to soil metal toxicity. Endemic species harbour unique trait values compared to species with broad distribution which should justify their conservation as a priority.
Persian version of the McHale co‐parenting scale: The evaluation of the psychometric properties
Authors: Kaviyani Faezeh , Saadati Hasan , Bahreinian Seyed Abdolmajid 
Published: November 2024

AbstractValidation of the MacHale Co‐parenting Scale (1997) was examined in a sample of 192 Persian‐speaking parents who had children in primary school. Translation of this scale was performed using the forward–backward method. To assess reliability, internal consistency was used after translating the items into Persian. Face validity, content validity and structural validity were also applied to ensure tool validity. The results indicated that Ballit's sphericity test yielded a value of 1153.138 at a significance level of p < .05. Using varimax rotation, three factors (Family Integrity, Consistency and Conflict) were identified with eigenvalues greater than 1 and factor loadings higher than 0.5. The total factors explained 58.18 per cent of the variance in the data. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire questionnaire was 0.84. The Persian version of the co‐parenting questionnaire has satisfactory psychometric properties with acceptable reliability and validity for measuring joint parenting among Iranian parents in terms of family integrity, consistency and conflict dimensions.
Centralised by Design: Anglocentric Constitutionalism, Accountability and the Failure of English Devolution
Authors: Denham John , Morphet Janice 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe Labour manifesto in this year's election implied a radical restructuring of the UK state, the way in which England is governed and in relations across the United Kingdom. The aim of making English devolution the ‘default option’ is set against fifty years of unsuccessful and partial devolution initiatives which have failed to reverse the accretion of power in the central UK state. Centralisation can be seen as the consequence of an Anglocentric constitutionalism which vests power in the centre, underpins England's fragmented departmental governance and where accountability mechanisms flow to HM Treasury. Labour's success will reflect its willingness to challenge these constitutional assumptions, which are deeply embedded in the culture, practice and structures of Westminster and Whitehall. Successful devolution will require breaking the chains of accountability that tie local spending decisions to the centre and placing devolved English local government on a stronger constitutional basis.
AI in microbiome‐related healthcare
Authors: Probul Niklas , Huang Zihua , Saak Christina Caroline , Baumbach Jan , List Markus 
Published: November 2024

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform clinical practice and healthcare. Following impressive advancements in fields such as computer vision and medical imaging, AI is poised to drive changes in microbiome‐based healthcare while facing challenges specific to the field. This review describes the state‐of‐the‐art use of AI in microbiome‐related healthcare. It points out limitations across topics such as data handling, AI modelling and safeguarding patient privacy. Furthermore, we indicate how these current shortcomings could be overcome in the future and discuss the influence and opportunities of increasingly complex data on microbiome‐based healthcare.
Optimized psilocybin production in tryptophan catabolism‐repressed fungi
Authors: Janevska Slavica , Weiser Sophie , Huang Ying , Lin Jun , Hoefgen Sandra , Jojić Katarina , Barber Amelia E. , Schäfer Tim , Fricke Janis , Hoffmeister Dirk , Regestein Lars , Valiante Vito , Kufs Johann E. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe high therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a prodrug of the psychotropic psilocin, holds great promise for the treatment of mental disorders such as therapy‐refractory depression, alcohol use disorder and anorexia nervosa. Psilocybin has been designated a ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ by the US Food and Drug Administration, and therefore a sustainable production process must be established to meet future market demands. Here, we present the development of an in vivo psilocybin production chassis based on repression of l‐tryptophan catabolism. We demonstrate the proof of principle in Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the psilocybin biosynthetic genes. Deletion of the two aminotransferase genes ARO8/9 and the indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase gene BNA2 yielded a fivefold increase of psilocybin titre. We transferred this knowledge to the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans and identified functional ARO8/9 orthologs involved in fungal l‐tryptophan catabolism by genome mining and cross‐complementation. The double deletion mutant of A. nidulans resulted in a 10‐fold increased psilocybin production. Process optimization based on respiratory activity measurements led to a final psilocybin titre of 267 mg/L in batch cultures with a space–time‐yield of 3.7 mg/L/h. These results demonstrate the suitability of our engineered A. nidulans to serve as a production strain for psilocybin and other tryptamine‐derived pharmaceuticals.
Unlocking the potential for microbiome‐based therapeutics to address the sustainable development goal of good health and wellbeing
Authors: Gulliver Emily L. , Di Simone Sara K. , Chonwerawong Michelle , Forster Samuel C. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractRecent years have witnessed major advances and an ever‐growing list of healthcare applications for microbiome‐based therapeutics. However, these advances have disproportionately targeted diseases common in high‐income countries (HICs). Within low‐ to middle‐income countries (LMIC), opportunities for microbiome‐based therapeutics include sexual health epidemics, maternal health, early life mortality, malnutrition, vaccine response and infectious diseases. In this review we detail the advances that have been achieved in microbiome‐based therapeutics for these areas of healthcare and identify where further work is required. Current efforts to characterise microbiomes from LMICs will aid in targeting and optimisation of therapeutics and preventative strategies specifically suited to the unmet needs within these populations. Once achieved, opportunities from disease treatment and improved treatment efficacy through to disease prevention and vector control can be effectively addressed using probiotics and live biotherapeutics. Together these strategies have the potential to increase individual health, overcome logistical challenges and reduce overall medical, individual, societal and economic costs.
Proton motive force and antibiotic tolerance in bacteria
Authors: Wan Yingkun , Zheng Jiaqi , Chan Edward Wai‐Chi , Chen Sheng 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBacterial antibiotic tolerance is a decades‐old phenomenon in which a bacterial sub‐population, commonly known as persisters, does not respond to antibiotics and remains viable upon prolonged antimicrobial treatment. Persisters are detectable in populations of bacterial strains that are not antibiotic‐resistant and are known to be responsible for treatment failure and the occurrence of chronic and recurrent infection. The clinical significance of antibiotic tolerance is increasingly being recognized and comparable to antibiotic resistance. To eradicate persisters, it is necessary to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying tolerance development. Previous works showed that bacterial antibiotic tolerance was attributed to the reduction in metabolic activities and activation of the stringent response, SOS response and the toxin–antitoxin system which down‐regulates transcription functions. The latest research findings, however, showed that decreased metabolic activities alone do not confer a long‐lasting tolerance phenotype in persisters, and that active defence mechanisms such as efflux and DNA repair are required for the long‐term maintenance of phenotypic tolerance. As such active tolerance‐maintenance mechanisms are energy‐demanding, persisters need to generate and maintain the transmembrane proton motive force (PMF) for oxidative phosphorylation. This minireview summarizes the current understanding of cellular mechanisms essential for prolonged expression of phenotypic antibiotic tolerance in bacteria, with an emphasis on the importance of generation and maintenance of PMF in enabling proper functioning of the active tolerance mechanisms in persisters. How such mechanisms can be utilized as targets for the development of anti‐persister strategies will be discussed.
Impaired suppression of fatty acid release by insulin is a strong predictor of reduced whole‐body insulin‐mediated glucose uptake and skeletal muscle insulin receptor activation
Authors: Schleh Michael W. , Ryan Benjamin J. , Ahn Cheehoon , Ludzki Alison C. , Van Pelt Douglas W. , Pitchford Lisa M. , Chugh Olivia K. , Luker Austin T. , Luker Kathryn E. , Samovski Dmitri , Abumrad Nada A. , Burant Charles F. , Horowitz Jeffrey F. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAimTo examine factors underlying why most, but not all, adults with obesity exhibit impaired insulin‐mediated glucose uptake, we compared: (1) adipose tissue fatty acid (FA) release, (2) skeletal muscle lipid droplet (LD) characteristics, and (3) insulin signalling events, in skeletal muscle of adults with obesity with relatively high versus low insulin‐mediated glucose uptake.MethodsSeventeen adults with obesity (BMI: 36 ± 3 kg/m2) completed a 2 h hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp with stable isotope tracer infusions to measure glucose rate of disappearance (glucose Rd) and FA rate of appearance (FA Ra). Skeletal muscle biopsies were collected at baseline and 30 min into the insulin infusion. Participants were stratified into HIGH (n = 7) and LOW (n = 10) insulin sensitivity cohorts by their glucose Rd during the hyperinsulinemic clamp (LOW< 400; HIGH >550 nmol/kgFFM/min/[μU/mL]).ResultsInsulin‐mediated suppression of FA Ra was lower in LOW compared with HIGH (p < 0.01). In skeletal muscle, total intramyocellular lipid content did not differ between cohorts. However, the size of LDs in the subsarcolemmal region (SS) of type II muscle fibres was larger in LOW compared with HIGH (p = 0.01). Additionally, insulin receptor‐β (IRβ) interactions with regulatory proteins CD36 and Fyn were lower in LOW versus HIGH (p < 0.01), which aligned with attenuated insulin‐mediated Tyr phosphorylation of IRβ and downstream insulin‐signalling proteins in LOW.ConclusionCollectively, reduced ability for insulin to suppress FA mobilization, with accompanying modifications in intramyocellular LD size and distribution, and diminished IRβ interaction with key regulatory proteins may be key contributors to impaired insulin‐mediated glucose uptake commonly found in adults with obesity.
Promising biomarker panel to monitor therapeutic efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients
Authors: Gillson Josef E. , Byeon Sooin , Chou Angela , Maloney Sarah , Pavlakis Nick , Clarke Stephen J. , Chan David L. , Diakos Connie I. , Gill Anthony J. , Samra Jaswinder S. , Mittal Anubhav , Sahni Sumit 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) can provide improved survival outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who respond to treatment, but currently available biomarkers cannot reliably predict NAC response. This study aimed to determine the potential of a previously identified diagnostic and prognostic biomarker panel (i.e. Ca‐125, S100A2, S100A4, Mesothelin and Ca19‐9) for the monitoring of NAC‐response in PDAC patients.MethodsThis single‐centre, retrospective study, utilised serum from NAC treated PDAC patients to determine the levels of biomarkers by Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The percentage of the tumour bed occupied by viable carcinoma (PVC) was used to divide patients into good (PVC < 50%) and poor (PVC ≥ 50%) NAC‐responders. Statistical analysis was performed to measure the ability of individual biomarkers and a biomarker panel in NAC treatment response and patient survival.ResultsSerum specimens from a total of 108 PDAC patients were assessed. Ca‐125, Ca19‐9 and S100A2 showed a significant positive correlation with PVC. Ca‐125 demonstrated a superior ability to monitor NAC treatment response (Area under receiver operating curve (AUC): .6954) compared to the more widely used clinical biomarker, Ca19‐9 (AUC: .6291). A panel of Ca‐125 and Ca19‐9 showed good ability to monitor NAC response in PDAC patients (AUC: .7349). Patients with high levels of both Ca‐125 and Ca19‐9 were shown to have the poorest overall survival (median overall survival: 17 vs. 30 months).ConclusionA serum biomarker panel of Ca‐125 and Ca19‐9 could be used for effective clinical management of PDAC patients undergoing NAC treatment.
Evidence‐Based Potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models on Dental Avulsion: ChatGPT Versus Gemini
Authors: Tokgöz Kaplan Taibe , Cankar Muhammet 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn this study, the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the answers given to questions about dental avulsion by two artificial intelligence‐based language models, ChatGPT and Gemini, were comparatively evaluated.Materials and MethodsBased on the guidelines of the International Society of Dental Traumatology, a total of 33 questions were prepared, including multiple‐choice questions, binary questions, and open‐ended questions as technical questions and patient questions about dental avulsion. They were directed to ChatGPT and Gemini. Responses were recorded and scored by four pediatric dentists. Statistical analyses, including ICC analysis, were performed to determine the agreement and accuracy of the responses. The significance level was set as p < 0.050.ResultsThe mean score of the Gemini model was statistically significantly higher than the ChatGPT (p = 0.001). ChatGPT gave more correct answers to open‐ended questions and T/F questions on dental avulsion; it showed the lowest accuracy in the MCQ section. There was no significant difference between the responses of the Gemini model to different types of questions on dental avulsion and the median scores (p = 0.088). ChatGPT and Gemini were analyzed with the Mann–Whitney U test without making a distinction between question types, and Gemini answers were found to be statistically significantly more accurate (p = 0.004).ConclusionsThe Gemini and ChatGPT language models based on the IADT guideline for dental avulsion undoubtedly show promise. To guarantee the successful incorporation of LLMs into practice, it is imperative to conduct additional research, clinical validation, and improvements to the models.
Non‐Surgical Endodontic Management of Large Periapical Lesions After Traumatic Dental Injuries
Authors: Tewari Nitesh , Rajeswary Amritha , Wikström Alina , Tsilingaridis Georgios 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTTraumatic dental injuries of permanent teeth result in multiple immediate and long‐term consequences depending upon the severity of trauma, age of the patient, the status of root maturity, and the emergency care provided. The healing responses may get disturbed due to severe damage, loss of vascularity of the supporting structures, and infections. As a result, the prohealing mediators and pathways are overpowered by the destructive stimuli often manifested by an increased osteoclastic activity. Among the various late complications, the apical periodontitis or the periapical lesions are most worrisome for the patients and create clinical dilemma for the dentists. In the past, many such lesions were classified as cysts and subjected to surgical management. However, better understanding of lesion pathophysiology, three‐dimensional imaging, and molecular pathways have established their inflammatory nature. The advancements in materials such as calcium silicates, and regenerative techniques have propelled the research related to non‐surgical endodontic management as its clinical acceptability. The treatment largely follows the recommendations of regenerative medicine and is based on four principles: (a) establishing the drainage or an endodontic access to the area, (b) removal of most of the triggering agents such as necrosed pulp, toxins, and inflammatory mediators, (c) disinfection of the area, controlling inflammation and reversal of the acidic pH, and (d) maintenance of this infection/inflammation‐free state for a long time through adequate sealing. This review aims to highlight the rationale of the approach, case selection, pathophysiology of the causation and healing, clinical protocols, and the limitations of non‐surgical endodontic management of large periapical lesions secondary to traumatic dental injuries.
Role of cholesterol in modulating brain hyperexcitability
Authors: Wheless James W. , Rho Jong M. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractCholesterol is a critical molecule in the central nervous system, and imbalances in the synthesis and metabolism of brain cholesterol can result in a range of pathologies, including those related to hyperexcitability. The impact of cholesterol on disorders of epilepsy and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies is an area of growing interest. Cholesterol cannot cross the blood–brain barrier, and thus the brain synthesizes and metabolizes its own pool of cholesterol. The primary metabolic enzyme for brain cholesterol is cholesterol 24‐hydroxylase (CH24H), which metabolizes cholesterol into 24S‐hydroxycholesterol (24HC). Dysregulation of CH24H and 24HC can affect neuronal excitability through a range of mechanisms. 24HC is a positive allosteric modulator of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors and can increase glutamate release via tumor necrosis factor‐α‐dependent pathways. Increasing cholesterol metabolism can lead to dysfunction of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 and impair glutamate reuptake. Finally, overstimulation of NMDA receptors can further activate metabolism of cholesterol, leading to a vicious cycle of overactivation. All of these mechanisms increase extracellular glutamate and can lead to hyperexcitability. For these reasons, the cholesterol pathway represents a new potential mechanistic target for antiseizure medications. CH24H inhibition has been shown to decrease seizure behavior and improve survival in multiple animal models of epilepsy and could be a promising new mechanism of action for the treatment of neuronal hyperexcitability and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.
ESG, corporate piracy and Coasian contracting efficiency
Authors: DeAngelo Harry 
Published: November 2024

AbstractEnvironmental, Social and Governance activism entails a subtle form of corporate piracy. It manifests in opportunistic backdoor attempts to convert firms that were incorporated to advance shareholders' pecuniary interests into firms that sacrifice pecuniary benefits to advance a social/political agenda favoured by a subset of activist shareholders. These surreptitious property rights encroachments raise an important issue: How should governance architecture (laws and charters) be structured and enforced to deal with shareholder disagreements and the resource dissipation (losses) that results therefrom? I address this issue using basic contracting efficiency principles of property rights economics traceable to Coase and to Alchian and Demsetz.
Lineage Differentiation and Genomic Vulnerability in a Relict Tree From Subtropical Forests
Authors: Zhu Xian‐Liang , Wang Jing , Chen Hong‐Feng , Kang Ming 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThe subtropical forests of East Asia are renowned for their high plant diversity, particularly the abundance of ancient relict species. However, both the evolutionary history of these relict species and their capacity for resilience in the face of impending climatic changes remain unclear. Using whole‐genome resequencing data, we investigated the lineage differentiation and demographic history of the relict and endangered tree, Bretschneidera sinensis (Akaniaceae). We employed a combination of population genomic and landscape genomic approaches to evaluate variation in mutation load and genomic offset, aiming to predict how different populations may respond to climate change. Our analysis revealed a profound genomic divergence between the East and West lineages, likely as the result of recurrent bottlenecks due to climatic fluctuations during the glacial period. Furthermore, we identified several genes potentially linked to growth characteristics and hypoxia response that had been subjected to positive selection during the lineage differentiation. Our assessment of genomic vulnerability uncovered a significantly higher mutation load and genomic offset in the edge populations of B. sinensis compared to their core counterparts. This implies that the edge populations are likely to experience the most significant impact from the predicted climate conditions. Overall, our research sheds light on the historical lineage differentiation and contemporary genomic vulnerability of B. sinensis. Broadening our understanding of the speciation history and future resilience of relict and endangered species such as B. sinensis, is crucial in developing effective conservation strategies in anticipation of future climatic changes.