bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age-trajectories of higher-order diffusion properties of major brain metabolites in cerebral and cerebellar grey matter using in vivo diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy at 3T
Authors: Şimşek Kadir , Gallea Cécile , Genovese Guglielmo , Lehéricy Stephane , Branzoli Francesca , Palombo Marco 
Published: June 2024

AbstractHealthy brain aging involves changes in both brain structure and function, including alterations in cellular composition and microstructure across brain regions. Unlike diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI), diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy (dMRS) can assess cell-type specific microstructural changes, providing indirect information on both cell composition and microstructure through the quantification and interpretation of metabolites’ diffusion properties. This work investigates age-related changes in the higher-order diffusion properties of three major intracellular metabolites (N-Acetyl-aspartate, Creatine and Choline) beyond the classical apparent diffusion coefficient in cerebral and cerebellar grey matter of healthy human brain. Twenty-five subjects were recruited and scanned using a diffusion-weighted semi-LASER sequence in two brain regions-of-interest (ROI) at 3T: posterior-cingulate (PCC) and cerebellar cortices. Metabolites’ diffusion was characterized by quantifying metrics from both Gaussian and non-Gaussian signal representations and biophysical models. All studied metabolites exhibited lower apparent diffusivities and higher apparent kurtosis values in the cerebellum compared to the PCC, likely stemming from the higher microstructural complexity of cellular composition in the cerebellum. Multivariate regression analysis (accounting for ROI tissue composition as a covariate) showed slight decrease (or no change) of all metabolites’ diffusivities and slight increase of all metabolites’ kurtosis with age, none of which statistically significant (p>0.05). The proposed age-trajectories provide benchmarks for identifying anomalies in the diffusion properties of major brain metabolites which could be related to pathological mechanisms altering both the brain microstructure and cellular composition.
Co-evolution of Yeast and Microalga: Identification of mutations that improve cooperativity
Authors: Oosthuizen Jennifer R , Naidoo-Blassoples Rene K , Rossouw Debra , Bauer Florian F 
Published: June 2024

AbstractLaboratory-based evolution has long been successfully implemented for the generation of desired phenotypes in microbial strain development. The approach also provides insights into evolutionary mechanisms and adaptive molecular strategies which may be too complex to unravel in natural environments. The selection pressure in most of these approaches are physical or chemical factors or stressors, and only a few projects have attempted to use dynamic biotic selection pressures as a driver of evolution.Here we investigate the formation of novel cooperative phenotypes between the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand the microalgaChlorella sorokiniana.A synthetic ecology approach based on the cross-feeding of carbon and nitrogen was used to establish an obligate mutualism between these species which allowed for prolonged physical contact in a continuous co-culture system over 100 generations. Comparative genomic analysis of co-evolved yeast strains identified several potentially high impact Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Of these, two genesETP1andGAT1,were found to synergistically contribute to the cooperative phenotype between yeast and microalgae These genes are involved in carbon (ETP1) and nitrogen catabolite (GAT1) repression withETP1encoding a protein of unknown function, but implicated in ethanol tolerance and control of Hxt3p, whileGAT1encodes a regulator of nitrogen catabolite repression. CRISPR generated null mutants of the parental (ancestral) yeast strain with eitherETP1,GAT1or both genes deleted, were shown to mimic the co-evolved phenotype with improved cooperativity observed when paired withChlorella sorokinianasuggesting a possible role of these genes in the establishment of mutualisms between yeast and microalgae.ImportanceMultispecies cultures have tremendous biotechnological potential but are difficult to control and show unpredictable population dynamics. This research aims to comprehensively characterise the behaviour and attributes of co-cultured microbial species, with the aim of optimising their combined functionality in a targeted manner. Taken together, our results demonstrate the importance and efficacy of thoughtfully integrating biotic selection pressures into strain development projects. The data also provide insights into specific molecular adaptations that favour cooperative behaviour between species. The co-evolutionary dynamics betweenSaccharomyces cerevisiaeand other microbial species hold immense promise for unlocking novel insights into evolutionary biology, biotechnological applications, and our understanding of complex microbiological systems. Finally, the molecular characterisation of ecosystem-relevant traits provides significant impetus to the annotation of microbial genomes within an evolutionary relevant, multispecies context.
Serosurveillance and the first detection of Bourbon virus RNA in a wildlife host
Authors: Bamunuarachchi Gayan , Najera Fernando , Aziati Ishmael D. , Palmer Jamie L. , Biro Elizabeth G. , Wang Dave , Deem Sharon L. , Boon Adrianus C. M. , Adalsteinsson Solny A. 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTBourbon virus (BRBV) is an emerging pathogen that can cause severe and fatal disease in humans. BRBV is vectored byAmblyomma americanum(lone star ticks), which are widely distributed across the central, southern, and eastern United States. Wildlife species are potentially important for the maintenance and transmission of BRBV, but little is known about which species are involved, and what other factors play a role in the exposure to BRBV. To assess the exposure risk to BRBV among wildlife in the St. Louis area, we collected sera from 98 individuals, representing 6 different mammalian species from two locations in St. Louis County: Tyson Research Center (TRC) and WildCare Park (WCP) from fall 2021 to spring 2023. The sera were used in a BRBV neutralization assay to detect neutralizing antibodies and RT-qPCR for viral RNA analysis. We also sampled and compared the abundance ofA. americanumticks at the two locations and modeled which factors influenced BRBV seropositivity across species. In TRC, we observed a high rate of seropositivity in raccoons (Procyon lotor, 23/25), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, 18/27), but a low rate in opossums (Didelphis virginiana, 1/18). Neutralizing antibodies were also detected in sampled TRC bobcats (Lynx rufus, 4/4), coyotes (Canis latrans, 3/3), and a red fox (Vulpes vulpes, 1/1). The virological analysis identified BRBV RNA in one of the coyote serum samples. In contrast to TRC, all sera screened from WCP were negative for BRBV-specific neutralizing antibodies, and significantly fewer ticks were collected at WCP (31) compared to TRC (2,316). Collectively, these findings suggest that BRBV circulates in multiple wildlife species in the St. Louis area and that tick density and host community composition may be important factors in BRBV ecology.
The prelimbic prefrontal cortex mediates the development of lasting social phobia as a consequence of social threat conditioning
Authors: Lozano-Ortiz Kelly , Felix-Ortiz Ada C. , Terrell Jaelyn M. , Ramos Angelica R. , Rodriguez-Romaguera Jose , Burgos-Robles Anthony 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSocial phobia is highly detrimental for social behavior, mental health, and productivity. Despite much previous research, the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms associated with the development of social phobia remain elusive. To investigate these issues, the present study implemented a mouse model of social threat conditioning in which mice received electric shock punishment upon interactions with unfamiliar conspecifics. This resulted in immediate reductions in social behavior and robust increases in defensive mechanisms such as avoidance, freezing, darting, and ambivalent stretched posture. Furthermore, social deficits lasted for prolonged periods and were independent of contextual settings, sex variables, or particular identity of the social stimuli. Shedding new light into the neurobiological factors contributing to this phenomenon, we found that optogenetic silencing of the prelimbic (PL), but not the infralimbic (IL), subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during training led to subsequent forgetting and development of lasting social phobia. Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of NMDARs in PL also impaired the development of social phobia. These findings are consistent with the notion that social-related trauma is a prominent risk factor for the development of social phobia, and that this phenomenon engages learning-related mechanisms within the prelimbic prefrontal cortex to promote prolonged representations of social threat.Abstract Figure
PBX1 and PBX3 transcription factors regulateSHHexpression in the Frontonasal Ectodermal Zone through complementary mechanisms
Authors: Mok Chan Hee , Hu Diane , Losa Marta , Risolino Maurizio , Selleri Licia , Marcucio Ralph S. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling from the frontonasal ectodermal zone (FEZ) is a key regulator of craniofacial morphogenesis. Along with SHH, pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox (PBX) transcription factors regulate midfacial development. PBXs act in the epithelium during fusion of facial primordia, but their specific interactions withSHHhave not been fully investigated. We hypothesized that PBX1/3 regulateSHHexpression in the FEZ by activating or repressing transcription. The hypothesis was tested by manipulatingPBX1/3expression in chick embryos and profiling epigenomic landscapes at early developmental stages.PBX1/3expression was perturbed in the chick face beginning at stage 10 (HH10) using RCAS viruses, and the resultingSHHexpression was assessed at HH22. OverexpressingPBX1expandedSHHexpression, while overexpressingPBX3decreasedSHHexpression. Conversely, reducingPBX1expression decreasedSHHexpression, but reducingPBX3induced ectopicSHHexpression. We performed ATAC-seq and mapped binding of PBX1 and PBX3 with ChIP-seq on the FEZ at HH22 to assess direct interactions of PBX1/3 with theSHHlocus. These multi-omics approaches uncovered a 400 bp PBX1-enriched element within intron 1 ofSHH(chr2:8,173,222-8,173,621). Enhancer activity of this element was demonstrated by electroporation of reporter constructsin ovoand luciferase reporter assaysin vitro. When bound by PBX1, this element upregulates transcription, while it downregulates transcription when bound by PBX3. The present study identifies acis-regulatory element, named SFE1, that interacts with PBX1/3 to modulateSHHexpression in the FEZ and establishes that PBX1 and PBX3 play complementary roles inSHHregulation during embryonic development.
Intracellular pH dynamics respond to microenvironment stiffening and mediate vasculogenic mimicry through β-catenin
Authors: Lund Leah M. , Marchi Angelina N. , Alderfer Laura , Hall Eva , Hammer Jacob , Trull Keelan J. , Hanjaya-Putra Donny , White Katharine A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDysregulated intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics and an altered tumor microenvironment have emerged as drivers of cancer cell phenotypes. However, the molecular integration between the physical properties of the microenvironment and dynamic intracellular signaling responses remains unclear. Here, we use two metastatic cell models, one breast and one lung, to assess pHi response to varying extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. To experimentally model ECM stiffening, we use two tunable-stiffness hydrogel systems: Matrigel and hyaluronic acid (HA) gels, which mimic the increased protein secretion and crosslinking associated with ECM stiffening. We find that single-cell pHi decreases with increased ECM stiffness in both hydrogel systems and both metastatic cell types. We also observed that stiff ECM promotes vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a phenotype associated with metastasis and resistance. Importantly, we show that decreased pHi is both a necessary and sufficient mediator of VM, as raising pHi on stiff ECM reduces VM phenotypes and lowering pHi on soft ECM drives VM. We characterize β-catenin as a pH-dependent molecular mediator of pH-dependent VM, where stiffness-driven changes in β-catenin abundance can be overridden by increased pHi. We uncover a dynamic relationship between matrix stiffness and pHi, thus suggesting pHi dynamics can override mechanosensitive cell responses to the extracellular microenvironment.
Longitudinal patterns of smoking behaviours in adolescence and early adulthood and their association with modifiable and sociodemographic risk factors
Authors: Andrayas Alexandria , Jones Hannah , Khouja Jasmine , Hines Lindsey , Munafò Marcus , Heron Jon , Sallis Hannah 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntroductionSmoking contributes a huge burden on public health; thus, identifying risk factors for smoking remains an important area of research. This study adds to the wealth of existing literature by utilising repeated smoking measures collected in a UK sample of young adults to (a) examine differences between longitudinal smoking behaviours, (b) investigate their association with many risk factors, and c) consider how these associations may change over time.MethodsThis study uses longitudinal latent class analysis and 12 repeated measures to derive patterns of smoking in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The association of these patterns with 402 risk factor measures collected from 0-28 years is then investigated. The selected risk factors include familial and peer factors, lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, mental health, parenthood, adverse childhood experiences and trauma.ResultsFive different latent classes of smoking were derived and referred to as non-smoking, short-term smoking, occasional smoking, early-onset smoking, and late-onset smoking. These showed differences in age of onset, frequency, and cessation. Other substance use, and parental and peer substance use, showed the strongest association with smoking patterns. More risk factors were associated with early-onset than late-onset smoking. Many risk factors of regular smoking did not show the same associations with occasional smoking. Fewer measures differentiated late-onset from short-term smoking. Some associations varied depending on the time of measurement or smoking pattern in question.ConclusionsFindings from this study may be used to identify groups of people most vulnerable to more harmful smoking patterns despite being exposed to strong tobacco prevention efforts. This could also help better tailor smoking interventions and improve tobacco control policies.
Molecular insights into the oligosaccharide binding, recognition and hydrolysis by a fungal exo-β-(1,3)-glucanase
Authors: Banerjee Barnava , Kamale Chinmay K. , Suryawanshi Abhishek B. , Dasgupta Subrata , Noronha Santosh , Bhaumik Prasenjit 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCarbohydrate hydrolysing enzymes assume special industrial and commercial interest as a source for yielding fermentable glucose especially for the biofuel industry. Among these enzymes, the exo-β-(1,3) glucanases are promising for industrial use as they hydrolyze sugars such as laminarin, a major constituent of the algal cell wall. Exploring the structure and function of these enzymes is of particular interest for the improvement of their functional properties for industrial use. We report the structural and biochemical characterizations ofAspergillus oryzaeexo-β-(1,3) glucanase (AoBgl). We have expressed, purified, and performed biochemical characterizations of the recombinant AoBgl. Purified AoBgl is found to hydrolyse β-(1,3)-glycosidic linkages present in the oligosaccharide laminaritriose and the polysaccharide, laminarin effectively while retaining >50% activity at glucose concentrations of around 1.5M. We have determined three high-resolution structures of AoBgl: (a) apo form at 1.75 Å, (b) complexed form with bound disaccharide at 1.73 Å and (c) glucose-bound form at 1.20 Å. Sequence analysis and structural comparison indicate that AoBgl belongs to the GH5 sugar hydrolase family. The sugar-bound structures reveal the mode of substrate binding and interactions at the active site of AoBgl. Further, molecular dynamics simulation and mutational studies indicate that AoBgl can effectively bind trisaccharides and higher oligosaccharides. Our biochemical and structural data provide detailed molecular insights into the active site of this GH5 enzyme and would be helpful in the rational engineering of glycosyl hydrolases belonging to similar families for industrial use.
Comparison of open science portals of India: web accessibility study
Authors: Das Suman , Das Anup Kumar , Awasthi Shipra , Tripathi Manorama 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare ten Open Science Portals in India. The comparison is made using the three primary parameters of accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO) and performance. This study aims to investigate whether the ten selected web portals efficiently meet the web accessibility requirements of the large population at an acceptable rate.

Design/methodology/approach
This study was performed by using the Siteimprove web tool to collect information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. The online accessibility tools provided by Siteimprove make it simple to comply with and follow the global WCAG at all compliance levels. This study selected ten web portals taking into account the open accessibility and the web portals offered by the Indian Government to promote research and innovation.

Findings
The findings of this research will be beneficial for the government website designers, managers and administrators to assess their website’s level of compliance with accepted accessibility standards so they can make tactical choices to increase accessibility.

Originality/value
This study highlights the portals’ robust characteristic features and downsides, where improvement may be required. It also focused on how these portals help in promoting citizen science and public understanding of science nationwide.
A novel ensemble artificial intelligence approach for coronary artery disease prediction
Authors: Namlı Özge H. , Yanık Seda , Erdoğan Aslan , Schmeink Anke 
Published: June 2024

PurposeCoronary artery disease is one of the most common cardiovascular disorders in the world, and it can be deadly. Traditional diagnostic approaches are based on angiography, which is an interventional procedure having side effects such as contrast nephropathy or radio exposure as well as significant expenses. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel artificial intelligence (AI) approach for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease as an effective alternative to traditional diagnostic methods.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a novel ensemble AI approach based on optimization and classification is proposed. The proposed ensemble structure consists of three stages: feature selection, classification and combining. In the first stage, important features for each classification method are identified using the binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (BPSO). In the second stage, individual classification methods are used. In the final stage, the prediction results obtained from the individual methods are combined in an optimized way using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to achieve better predictions.FindingsThe proposed method has been tested using an up-to-date real dataset collected at Basaksehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital. The data of disease prediction are unbalanced. Hence, the proposed ensemble approach improves majorly the F-measure and ROC area which are more prominent measures in case of unbalanced classification. The comparison shows that the proposed approach improves the F-measure and ROC area results of the individual classification methods around 14.5% in average and diagnoses with an accuracy rate of 96%.Originality/valueThis study presents a low-cost and low-risk AI-based approach for diagnosing heart disease compared to traditional diagnostic methods. Most of the existing research studies focus on base classification methods. In this study, we mainly investigate an effective ensemble method that uses optimization approaches for feature selection and combining stages for the medical diagnostic domain. Furthermore, the approaches in the literature are commonly tested on open-access dataset in heart disease diagnoses, whereas we apply our approach on a real and up-to-date dataset.
Impact of technology on interpreting practice: a review of studies on technology and interpreting practice from2013 to 2024
Authors: Chan Venus 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
Studies on technology and interpreting have increasingly explored how technology influences the role and performance of interpreters in their practice; however, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews and analyses. This paper aims to synthetically review the state-of-the-art application and integration of various interpreting technologies, identify the key trends of recent studies, and evaluate the associated opportunities and challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a systematic review approach, 40 articles on technology and interpreting practice from 2013 to 2024 were selected and analysed.

Findings
A growing number of empirical studies on technology-mediated remote interpreting and technology-supported interpreting is observed in public service settings, suggesting that mobile and emerging technologies have gained more attention alongside phone and video. In addition, mixed results are revealed with respect to the impact of technology on interpreting performance.

Originality/value
This review not only provides a bird’s-eye view of how interpreting practice has reconciled with different technologies but also offers insights into the changing role of interpreters, the need for training, and the direction for future research.
Attraction, passion and confidence: the paths to undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Marques Carlos Peixeira , Marques Carla , Sousa Cristina Leal , Leal Carmem 
Published: June 2024

Purpose
This study aims to assess how undergraduates’ exposure to entrepreneurship education (EE) may increase their volitional desire and behavioral control to start-up a business.

Design/methodology/approach
The model establishes three different paths from EE to entrepreneurial intention (EI): attraction and passion through desire and confidence through control. These paths are assessed by partial least-squares structural equation modeling in a sample of 650 undergraduates from Poland, Turkey and Portugal.

Findings
The most effective way by which EE may increase EI is by promoting a favorable change in the attractiveness of the entrepreneurship career. Contrary to expectations based on the literature, the effects of EE on perceived behavioral control are weak and limited to aspects related to financial control.

Practical implications
EE programs should consider desire and control in different phases of training, with the following learning outcomes: explore prospective rewards of an attractive entrepreneurial career, develop self-efficacy regarding management competences and gain control by assuring skills to cope with failure.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to establish a path from EE to EI through passion and desire. It is also the first to consider entrepreneurial passion as a positive anticipated emotion in the model of goal-directed behavior. The results allow to relate the different paths with different learning outcomes of EE programs.