bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vigabatrin‐associated brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities and clinical symptoms in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Stevering Carmen , Lequin Maarten , Szczepaniak Kinga , Sadowski Krzysztof , Ishrat Saba , De Luca Alberto , Leemans Alexander , Otte Willem , Kwiatkowski David J. , Curatolo Paolo , Weschke Bernhard , Riney Kate , Feucht Martha , Krsek Pavel , Nabbout Rima , Jansen Anna , Wojdan Konrad , Sijko Kamil , Glowacka‐Walas Jagoda , Borkowska Julita , Domanska‐Pakiela Dorota , Moavero Romina , Hertzberg Christoph , Hulshof Hanna , Scholl Theresa , Petrák Bořivoj , Maminak Miroslav , Aronica Eleonora , De Ridder Jessie , Lagae Lieven , Jozwiak Sergiusz , Kotulska Katarzyna , Braun Kees , Jansen Floor 
Published: December 2024

AbstractObjectivePrevious retrospective studies have reported vigabatrin‐associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (VABAM), although clinical impact is unknown. We evaluated the association between vigabatrin and predefined brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in a large homogenous tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) cohort and assessed to what extent VABAM‐related symptoms were reported in TSC infants.MethodsThe Dutch TSC Registry and the EPISTOP cohort provided retrospective and prospective data from 80 TSC patients treated with vigabatrin (VGB) before the age of 2 years and 23 TSC patients without VGB. Twenty‐nine age‐matched non‐TSC epilepsy patients not receiving VGB were included as controls. VABAM, specified as T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensity or diffusion restriction in predefined brain areas, were examined on brain MRI before, during, and after VGB, and once in the controls (at approximately age 2 years). Additionally, the presence of VABAM accompanying symptoms was evaluated.ResultsPrevalence of VABAM in VGB‐treated TSC patients was 35.5%. VABAM‐like abnormalities were observed in 13.5% of all patients without VGB. VGB was significantly associated with VABAM (risk ratio [RR] = 3.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43–6.39), whereas TSC and refractory epilepsy were not. In all 13 VGB‐treated patients with VABAM for whom posttreatment MRIs were available, VABAM entirely resolved after VGB discontinuation. The prevalence of symptoms was 11.7% in patients with VABAM or VABAM‐like MRI abnormalities and 4.3% in those without, implicating no significant association (RR = 2.76, 95% CI = .68–8.77).SignificanceVABAM are common in VGB‐treated TSC infants; however, VABAM‐like abnormalities also occurred in children without either VGB or TSC. The cause of these MRI changes is unknown. Possible contributing factors are abnormal myelination, underlying etiology, recurrent seizures, and other antiseizure medication. Furthermore, the presence of VABAM (or VABAM‐like abnormalities) did not appear to be associated with clinical symptoms. This study confirms that the well‐known antiseizure effects of VGB outweigh the risk of VABAM and related symptoms.
Discrimination Against Non‐Nestmates Functions to Exclude Socially Parasitic Conspecifics in an Ant
Authors: Nakamura Takuma P. , Dobata Shigeto 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSocial animals utilise various communication methods to organise their societies. In social insects, nestmate discrimination plays a crucial role in regulating colony membership. Counter to this system, socially parasitic species employ diverse behavioural and chemical strategies to bypass their host's detection. In this study, we tested whether such parasitic adaptations could be detected in the incipient stage of social parasitism that is observed as intraspecific phenomena in some social insects. The Japanese parthenogenetic ant Pristomyrmex punctatus harbours a genetically distinct cheater lineage which infiltrates and exploits host colonies. We found that intrusion of this intraspecific social parasite was defended by nestmate discrimination of host colonies without any behavioural strategies specialised in social parasitism. Most of the cheaters were eliminated through aggression by host workers that are typically observed against non‐nestmates, resulting in a low intrusion success rate for the cheaters (6.7%). Our result contrasts with the expectation from interspecific social parasitism but rather resembles the intraspecific counterpart reported in Cape honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis), illustrating the role of nestmate discrimination in defence against the intrusion of intraspecific social parasites.
Deciphering the tight metabolite‐level regulation of glucose‐1‐phosphate adenylyltransferase (GlgC) for glycogen synthesis in cyanobacteria
Authors: Lee Kenric , Doello Sofia , Hagemann Martin , Forchhammer Karl 
Published: December 2024

The enzyme glucose‐1‐phosphate adenylyltransferase (GlgC, EC:2.7.7.27) catalyses the first step in glycogen synthesis by converting glucose‐1‐phosphate into ADP‐glucose, which is added in turn to a growing glycogen chain by glycogen synthases. Thus far, in vitro studies of GlgC were mainly performed using colorimetric or radiolabel‐based phosphate release assays, limiting the option for analysing this reaction. With this work, we present a novel in vitro continuous assay coupling the subsequent glycogen synthase reaction to the GlgC reaction, thus simulating the process of glycogen synthesis in vivo. Using this assay, we revisited GlgC catalytic parameters and screened for metabolites that affect GlgC activity in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We also describe in further detail the antagonistic interplay between the GlgC activator, 3‐PGA and the inhibitor, inorganic phosphate, revealing the intricate mechanism by which glycogen formation responds to fluctuations in carbon and energy supply in cyanobacteria.
Political connections cause resource misallocation: Evidence from the fall of fascism in Italy
Authors: Faccio Mara , McConnell John J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe fall of fascism in Italy in 1943–1944 was followed by the issuance of laws and decrees that made former fascist politicians ineligible for political office. This setting provides a unique quasi‐natural experiment that exogenously and permanently disrupted then prevalent corporate political connections. We find that following the exogenous disruption of their political connections, previously politically connected firms significantly underperform their peers both economically and statistically. These results imply that political connections lead to misallocation of economic resources.
Phenotypic Plasticity, Multiple Paternity, and Shell Shape Divergence Across Lake‐Stream Habitats in a Freshwater Mussel Brood (Pyganodon grandis)
Authors: Keogh Sean M. , Minerich Ben J. , Ohlman Lindsay M. , Pletta Madeline E. , Scheunemann Anna E. , Schroeder Zoe K. , Secrist Zebulin A. , Franzen Alex J. , Sietman Bernard E. , Simons Andrew M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Hydrodynamic forces and their absence appear to exert differential selection pressure on aquatic biodiversity in lake and stream habitats, creating a tight fit between organismal phenotypes and their environments. Ecophenotypic variants may be the result of genetic differentiation or phenotypic plasticity, where a genotype can produce multiple phenotypes dependent on the environment. Freshwater mussels possess a wide degree of morphological variation that frequently covaries with the environment, making them a good system to understand the mechanisms of ecophenotypic variation across hydrological conditions.

We designed a two‐year experiment where individuals from the same Pyganodon grandis maternal brood (half and full siblings) were reared at a controlled site and four natural sites involving one lake and three streams. At the end of the experiment, shell shape was quantified for recaptured (N = 70), wild (N = 206), and zoo‐reared (N = 305) mussels. The maternal individual and 46 recaptured mussels were sequenced for genomic single nucleotide polymorphisms to test for multiple paternity and its effect on offspring morphology.

Analysis of covariance found significant differences in shell shape between rearing sites, particularly between stream and lake habitats, but no shape differences were detected across the three stream sites. At two of the four sites, the shell shape of recaptured individuals was not significantly different than that of wild populations. Genomic sequencing and parentage analysis identified 11–27 different fathers among recaptured individuals. Yet no genetic differences were present between stream and lake habitats, and there was no paternal effect on shell shape.

Taken together, phenotypic plasticity, over genetic differentiation, is identified as the primary mechanism of ecophenotypic variation. Plasticity is likely ubiquitous across freshwater mussels and may be a key adaptation given their high variance in habitat use. Multiple paternity may also play a role in the evolution of phenotypic plasticity, allowing more males from greater distances opportunities for fertilization, thus increasing genetic connectivity. Lastly, phenotypic plasticity and multiple paternity are convenient properties for freshwater mussel conservation and propagation. Multiple fathers increase the genetic variation of propagated broods, while plasticity may provide resilience to the release of stocked individuals across environmental heterogeneity.
Crises for Private Higher Education in Taiwan? A Conjunctural Analysis
Authors: Chan Sheng‐Ju 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPrivate higher education (PHE) in Taiwan, similar to other East Asian systems, is a distinct sector that has played several significant roles. It experienced growth and prosperity during the massification of the entire higher education system. However, a multitude of emerging circumstances has ushered in dramatic changes and crises, impacting not only PHE but also the entire sector as a whole. These ongoing developments have the potential to fundamentally reshape the current components and structures of Taiwanese higher education. Therefore, we have adopted conjunctural analysis as a methodological approach to examine these forces and their effects on the evolving role of the private sector in the context of higher education system reconfigurations in Taiwan. Our findings reveal that PHE has faced a series of crises, encompassing demographic shifts, financial challenges, and legal complexities. The pursuit of greater “publicness” and the implementation of intervention measures through policy enactment and legal regulations have shifted the entire system toward a more “publicized” configuration. This new direction marks the onset of a new era in Taiwanese higher education.
Bacteraemia over 4 years in a Greater Western Sydney Metropolitan Local Health District: a retrospective descriptive study
Authors: Menon Vidthiya 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundBacteraemia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding local patterns of bacteraemia including pathogen distribution, infection source, clinical speciality team burden, susceptibility data and mortality rates can inform empiric antibiotic choices, prevention approaches and education strategies.AimsTo obtain descriptive data from positive blood cultures identified from Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District in Greater Western Sydney.MethodsA retrospective descriptive study was performed from August 2018 to March 2023 with data extracted from electronic medical records.ResultsA total of 6720 isolates were identified from positive blood cultures, of which 71.2% were clinically significant. The median age was 69 years. A total of 74.6% of clinically significant isolates were acquired in the community. The most commonly isolated pathogen was Escherichia coli (31.3%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14.3%), and 8.6% of patients with clinically significant positive blood cultures were neutropenic. Neutropenic patients were more likely to have Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the causative pathogen (11.4%) compared to the entire study population (3.9%). The most commonly identified source of infection was the urinary tract. The 30‐day all‐cause mortality rate for clinically significant positive blood cultures was 16.8%, with higher mortality rates seen with Candida species (and species previously known as Candida), P. aeruginosa and Enterococcus species. 94% of bacteraemia from Enterobacterales tested susceptible in vitro to ampicillin and/or gentamicin. The rate of methicillin resistance in S. aureus was 24%.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insight into the local epidemiology of bacteraemia, which will allow for targeted prevention, management and educational strategies to improve outcomes.
Infants' Knowledge of Individual Words: Investigating Links Between Parent Report and Looking Time
Authors: López Pérez Melanie , Moore Charlotte , Sander‐Montant Andrea , Byers‐Heinlein Krista 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAssessing early vocabulary development commonly involves parent report methods and behavioral tasks like looking‐while‐listening. While both yield reliable aggregate scores, findings are mixed regarding their reliability in measuring infants' knowledge of individual words. Using archival data from 126 monolingual and bilingual 14–31‐month‐olds, we further examined links across these methods at the word level, while controlling for potentially confounding child‐level factors. When data were averaged at the child level, performance on the looking‐while‐listening task correlated well with parent‐reported word production of the same words, as expected. However, mixed‐effects model comparisons suggested that at the word level, looking‐while‐listening performance was significantly predicted by age and total productive vocabulary, but not by parent‐reported knowledge of a word once these factors were controlled for. These findings invite careful consideration regarding the adequacy of these two popular methods for capturing children's idiosyncratic knowledge of individual words.
Climate Change Effects on the Only Western Palearctic Plethodontids: Range Changes and Possible Depletion of Intraspecific Genetic Diversity
Authors: Iannella Mattia , Cerasoli Francesco , Lunghi Enrico , Console Giulia , Biondi Maurizio , Sillero Neftalí 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAimAmphibians are particularly sensitive to rapid climatic shifts, due to their eco‐physiology, life history traits and high frequency of narrowly distributed species. The genus Speleomantes encompasses the only extant Western Palearctic plethodontids, with three species occurring in peninsular Italy and the remaining five endemic to Sardinia Island.Given the restricted ranges of Speleomantes species and their vulnerability to environmental change, we implemented Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) to estimate the likely impacts of various global warming scenarios on the extent and geographical location of climatically suitable areas.Time PeriodCurrent, with ENMs projected to 2030, 2050 and 2070 under alternative Shared Socioeconomic Pathways.LocationItalian Peninsula and Sardinia Island.Major Taxa StudiedSpeleomantes Dubois 1984 (Caudata: Plethodontidae).MethodsEnsembles of ENMs were fitted for each Speleomantes species, using the ‘biomod2’ modelling platform in R environment. Then, post‐modelling analyses were applied in GIS environment to highlight: (i) the primary geographic direction of predicted suitability shifts for each species and (ii) the proportion of stable, gained and lost suitable areas for each genetic lineage of the single species.ResultsWe found a noticeable shrinking of suitable areas for all Speleomantes species, being particularly extensive under ‘business‐as‐usual’ scenarios for the Sardinian ones. Moreover, core suitable areas were predicted to shift for most species and suitability losses emerged to differently affect distinct genetic lineages, posing additional challenges for designing effective conservation measures.Main ConclusionsThe predicted shrinkage and shifting of climatically suitable areas for most Speleomantes species point to the urgency of evaluating in due time alternative conservation strategies for these endemic urodeles, to prevent losses of taxonomic and genetic diversity. Our modelling framework may be applied to other species with similar traits (e.g., low dispersal ability and narrow environmental niche breadth) to predict climate‐induced range contractions or shifts, using the gained information to optimise conservation outcomes.
Exclusive or partial breastfeeding and estimated protein intake in infancy: Associations with childhood growth and body composition at 7 years of age in the Odense Child Cohort
Authors: Honoré Karina Dyrvig , Bruun Signe , Michaelsen Kim F. , Möller Sören , Husby Steffen , Jacobsen Lotte Neergaard , Christesen Henrik Thybo , Andersen Marianne Skovsager , Zachariassen Gitte 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundProtein intake in infancy influences infant growth, body composition, and possibly metabolic programming later in life. Our objectives were to investigate whether macronutrient content in mother's own milk (MOM) differed between exclusive (EBF) or partial breastfeeding (PBF), including an estimation of protein intake (ePI) during the first 6 months of life. Second, to investigate associations of feeding type and ePI with childhood growth and body composition at 7 years.MethodsIn a subset of 150 participants from the Odense Child Cohort, MOM was analysed for macronutrient content using midinfrared transmission spectroscopy. Information on breastfeeding duration was collected through weekly SMS questionnaires and used to calculate ePI. Outcomes were weight‐for‐age z‐scores (WAZ) and height‐for‐age z‐scores (HAZ) from birth to 7 years, and body composition in terms of dual X‐ray absorptiometry fat mass, fat‐free mass and calculated indexes at 7 years.ResultsThe macronutrient content in MOM did not differ between EBF and PBF, but ePI was significantly higher in PBF infants than in EBF infants at 6 months. We found no difference in WAZ or HAZ until 7 years of age according to feeding type, but within the PBF group, ePI was positively associated with 7‐year WAZ (β = 0.001; 95% CI 0.000–0.003; p = 0.03) and HAZ (β = 0.002; 0.001–0.003;p = 0.007). ePI was not associated with body composition at 7 years.ConclusionMilk macronutrient content and childhood growth did not differ between EBF and PBF during infancy. Estimated protein intake in partially breastfed infants was positively associated with childhood growth, but not body composition, at 7 years of age.
Nucleated red blood cells for characterization of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in dogs
Authors: Cho ARom , Bae Hyeona , Kim Youngju , Jeon Yeseul , Jung Rankyung , Kim Minji , Kang Minjeong , Cha Sumin , Cho Kyu‐Woan , Jung Dong‐In , Park Jinho , Yu DoHyeon 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundNucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) are increased by disease processes and hematopoietic stress.ObjectivesTo evaluate the utility of nRBCs as a marker of disease severity and prognosis in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).AnimalsSixty‐two client‐owned dogs met the criteria of SIRS without anemia.MethodsnRBC‐positive (nRBCs: ≥5/500, n = 32) and nRBC‐negative (nRBCs: <5/500, n = 30) dogs were classified, and clinicopathological data, Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation (APPLEfast) scores, cytokines, 2‐ and 4‐weeks survival were compared.ResultsThe median WBC (17.63, interquartile range [IQR]: 11.72‐20.24 × 109/L), neutrophils (12.28, IQR: 7.17‐16.88 × 109/L), band neutrophils (1288.5, IQR: 252.5‐2575 cells/μL), serum IL‐6 (731.80, IQR: 299.79‐5522.05 pg/mL), and plasma C‐reactive protein (4.10, IQR: 1.00‐8.58 mg/L) were significantly higher in nRBC‐positive dogs than negative dogs (11.27, IQR: 7.63‐15.13 × 109/L; 7.57, IQR: 4.96‐11.71 × 109/L; 62.5, IQR: 0‐350.25 cells/μL; 232.30, IQR: 99.33‐447.01 pg/mL; 0.40, IQR: 0.10‐3.00 mg/L, respectively; P < .05). The median reticulocyte count (87.95, IQR: 52.45‐130.55 × 103/μL) and serum IL‐3 (40.94, IQR: 29.85‐53.52 ng/L) were also significantly greater in nRBC‐positive dogs than nRBC‐negative dogs (46.00, IQR: 26.43‐68.15 × 103/μL; 25.24, IQR: 21.65‐37.40 ng/L, respectively; P < .01). The presence of circulating nRBCs, but not the reticulocyte count, at admission was predictive of death in dogs with SIRS at 2 weeks (P = .01, AUC: 0.729) and 4 weeks (P = .002, AUC: 0.731). The overall survival time was shorter in nRBC‐positive dogs (95% CI, 47.35‐113.90) than nRBC‐negative dogs (95% CI, 90.92‐135.55; P = .03).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMeasuring peripheral nRBCs in dogs with SIRS is rapid and clinically applicable, reflecting disease severity and associated prognosis.
Exosomal ETV4 Derived From M2 Macrophages Induces Growth, Glycolysis and Stemness in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by UpRegulating SULT2B1 Expression
Authors: Xu Qiaodong , Chen Xinyue , Ma Zhiyan , Zhong Haibin , Feng Gengren , Gu Songgang 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundM2 macrophage‐derived exosomes have been identified to modulate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. E‐twenty‐six (ETS) variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) shows protumoral effects in HCC. Here, we aimed to probe whether ETV4 performed oncogenic effects on HCC by macrophage‐derived exosomes and its associated mechanism.MethodsExosomes were isolated from macrophages and co‐cultured with HCC cells. qRT‐PCR and western blotting were utilised for the detection of mRNA and protein. Cell survival was evaluated using EdU assay and flow cytometry. Glycolysis was determined by measuring the glucose uptake, lactate production, and ATP levels. Cell stemness was assessed by sphere formation and flow cytometry. The interaction between ETV4 and SULT2B1 (sulfotransferase family 2B member 1) was determined by a dual‐luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In vivo assay was performed by establishing mouse xenograft models.ResultsETV4 was highly expressed in the exosomes of M2 macrophages and could be internalised by HCC cells. ETV4 derived from M2 macrophage exosomes promoted HCC cell proliferation, glycolysis and stemness in vitro, and enhanced HCC growth in nude mice. Mechanistically, ETV4 interacted with SULT2B1 and promoted it transcription. SULT2B1 silencing suppressed HCC cell proliferation, glycolysis and stemness. In addition, exosomal ETV4 derived from M2 macrophage performed its effects by modulating SULT2B1.ConclusionETV4 derived from M2 macrophage exosomes promoted HCC cell proliferation, glycolysis and stemness by interacting with SULT2B1, suggesting a novel insight into developing exosome‐based therapy for HCC.