bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution of decreased sensitivity to azole fungicides in western European populations of Plenodomus lingam (Phoma stem canker on oilseed rape)
Authors: King Kevin M. , Barr Leo , Bousquet Louise , Glaab Anna , Canning Gail , Ritchie Faye , Kildea Steven , Fraaije Bart A. , West Jonathan S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPlenodomus lingam (Leptosphaeria maculans) and P. biglobosus (L. biglobosa) are fungi causing Phoma leaf spot/stem canker, an international damaging disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and other brassicas. In Europe, fungicides used for disease management are mainly sterol 14α‐demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors (DMIs/azoles); quinone‐outside inhibitors (QoIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) are also used. Decreased DMI sensitivity has emerged in Australian and eastern European P. lingam populations and is mediated by CYP51 promoter inserts resulting in target site overexpression. In this study using in vitro sensitivity testing, we report decreased DMI (prothioconazole‐desthio, mefentrifluconazole) sensitivity in modern western European P. lingam isolates (collected 2022–2023) compared to older baseline (1992–2005) isolates. Around 85% of modern western European P. lingam isolates collected, for which the CYP51 promoter region was sequenced, carried a promoter insert, but target site alterations were not detected. Six different CYP51 promoter inserts were identified, most commonly a 237 bp fragment of the Sahana transposable element. Inserts were associated with an approximately 3‐ to 10‐fold decrease in sensitivity to the DMIs tested. In contrast to P. lingam, PCR screening revealed CYP51 promoter inserts were absent in modern western European P. biglobosus isolates (2021–2023). Combined data indicate P. lingam isolates lacking an insert were similarly (or slightly more) sensitive to the DMIs tested for P. biglobosus, whereas those carrying an insert were slightly less sensitive than P. biglobosus. No evidence for substantive sensitivity shifts to the QoI (pyraclostrobin) or SDHI (boscalid) fungicides tested was obtained for either Plenodomus species.
Invisible plastics problem in intensive aquaculture: The case of polyvinylpyrrolidone
Authors: Robison‐Smith Charlotte , Cable Jo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFor over 70 years, aquaculture practices have relied on the same methods for biosecurity, however epidemics remain a primary limitation of global aquaculture yields with billions in revenue being lost every year due to disease. The intense nature of fish and shellfish farming necessitates the regular use of synthetic chemicals as both preventive and treatment measures, covering broodstocks to hatching and continuing through all stages of rearing. This practice, however, results in the contamination of rearing environments with persistent xenobiotics. A specific drawback in this foundational strategy for aquaculture biosecurity is highlighted in the current review: the consistent use of a water‐soluble polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) across most, if not all, stages of rearing aquacultural livestock. PVP is used intensively within aquaculture practices as it is a ubiquitous additive within commercially available germicidal, prophylactic, and therapeutic products applied to control and prevent disease outbreaks within aquacultural farms. As a polymer, PVP is synthetic and biodegradation‐resistant, and has recently been described as an emerging contaminant of freshwater ecosystems. It is well documented that other persistent, synthetic polymer pollutants such as microplastics, reduce the fecundity, growth, and significantly deplete immune function in commercially important aquatic species. Despite this, intentionally added persistent soluble polymers, such as PVP, have not been considered in the context of aquaculture productivity. This review explores the potential impact of PVP on fish and shellfish highlighting the need for aquaculture to adopt sustainable chemical practices, drawing inspiration from advancements in nanotechnology applied within human medicines to address biosecurity protocol deficiencies.
Facing and dealing with emotional turbulence: Living with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hammarlund Catharina Sjödahl , Khalaf Atika , Westergren Albert , Hagell Petra Lilja , Hagell Peter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe experiences of living with Parkinson's disease (PD) from the perspective of newly diagnosed persons with PD (PwPD) have not been previously described.AimThis study aimed to gain a better understanding of the impact of living with the early stages of PD.MethodsA qualitative interview study was conducted among nine persons, seven men and two women, from southern Sweden. Participants had a median age of 71 (min–max, 64–77) years and had been diagnosed with PD for a median of 5 (min–max, 2–12) months. Interviews were recorded and analysed using systematic text condensation.ResultsThe analysis resulted in one core category, Facing and dealing with emotional turbulence, and four categories with 2–3 subcategories each: Something is wrong (Vague signs of change; Losing control); The going gets tough (Recalling; Lack of motivation); Losing direction (Uncertainties; Frightened of disease progression) and Dealing with life (Avoiding social situations; Hope and despair; Ease worries).ConclusionNewly diagnosed PwPD face emotional turbulence with increasing challenges in managing everyday basic needs. Impaired functioning affects self‐esteem and identity, which calls for strategies to overcome emotional reactions of embarrassment, frustration and worry. A sense of lost control and direction increased as the future became more uncertain. The participants’ emotional burden and struggle to find a reason to go on or some solution to their new situation left them with both hope and despair. Our results suggest that a person‐centred needs‐based approach may help newly diagnosed PwPD deal with their new life situation.
Trends in adherence to the 24‐h movement guidelines among US adolescents from 2011 to 2019: Evidence from repeated cross‐sectional cycles of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Authors: Chen Sitong , Brown Denver , Parker Kate , Lee Eun‐Young 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundAdherence to the 24‐h movement guidelines is associated with various health benefits, but given the novelty of these integrative recommendations, little is known about year‐to‐year trends in guideline adherence in adolescents. This study investigated trends of adherence to the 24‐h movement guidelines among US adolescents.MethodsData from 2011 to 2019 cycles of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System were used, which included 62 589 US adolescents aged 14–17 years (female: unweighted sample size = 31 876, 51%; weighted% = 50.1%). Participants self‐reported their demographic information (i.e., sex, age, race/ethnicity), physical activity, screen time and sleep duration. Meeting the 24‐h movement guidelines was operationalized as simultaneously engaging in 60 min or more of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity, no more than 2 h of screen time, and 8–10 h of sleep per day. Trend analysis was used to examine the secular changes in adherence to the integrated guidelines from 2011 to 2019.ResultsDownward trends in adherence to the 24‐h movement guidelines were observed among adolescents from 2011 (3.6%) to 2019 (2.6%). After stratification by sex, age, and race/ethnicity, similar downward trends in the guideline adherence were observed in females and Black/African American adolescents. The lowest prevalence of meeting the individual guidelines was for the PA guidelines (25.6%). Movement guideline adherence was consistently lowest among females, older adolescents, and those who identified as Black/African American.ConclusionsAdherence to the 24‐h movement guidelines has declined among US adolescents over the past decade. Interventions should prioritize an integrative approach that could increase concurrent adherence to each of the 24‐h movement guideline, particularly among female, older and minority adolescents.
Characterization of the in vivo transient responses of the femoral cartilage by means of quantitative ultrasound imaging techniques
Authors: Monte Andrea , Franchi Martino V. , Zamparo Paola 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundQuantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques are new diagnostic tools able to identify changes in structural and material properties of the investigated tissue. For the first time, we evaluated the capability of QUS techniques in determining the in vivo transient changes in knee joint cartilage after a stressful task.MethodsAn ultrasound scanner collecting B‐mode and radiofrequency data simultaneously was used to collect data from the femoral cartilage of the right knee in 15 participants. Cartilage thickness (CTK), ultrasound roughness index (URI), average magnitude ratio (AMR), and Nakagami parameters (NA) were evaluated before, immediately after and every 5 min up to 45 min a stressful task (30 min of running on a treadmill with a negative slope of 5%).ResultsCTK was affected by time (main effect: p < 0.001). Post hoc test showed significant differences with CTK at rest, which were observed up to 30 min after the run. AMR and NA were affected by time (p < 0.01 for both variables), while URI was unaffected by it. For AMR, post hoc test showed significant differences with rest values in the first 35 min of recovery, while NA was increased compared to rest values in all time points.ConclusionData suggest that a single running trial is not able to modify the integrity of the femoral cartilage, as reported by URI data. In vivo evaluation of QUS parameters of the femoral cartilage (NA, AMR, and URI) are able to characterize changes in cartilage properties over time.
Long‐term application of different organic and inorganic fertilizers in no‐tillage crops changes the soil microstructural viscoelasticity and shear resistance to transient stresses
Authors: Alves Amanda Romeiro , Holthusen Dörthe , Marchezan Carina , Brunetto Gustavo , Peth Stephan , Reichert José Miguel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe processes involved in deformation, internal strength and stability of soils with long‐term application of fertilizers (organic and inorganic sources) remain poorly investigated and hence understood, particularly in agricultural systems under subtropical climatic conditions. We investigated how long‐term fertilizer management with organic and inorganic amendments in no‐till crops affects the microstructural stability of a sandy Alfisol under oscillatory shear. The study was conducted in southern Brazil on a 17‐year completely randomized block experiment with five fertilizer treatments: pig slurry (PS), cattle slurry (CS), pig deep litter (PDL), mineral fertilizer (MF) and control, i.e. unfertilized (CL). Soil samples were collected from two layers (0–5 and 5–15 cm) for physical and chemical analyses and evaluation of soil rheological properties under oscillatory shear at two matric potentials (0 and −10 kPa). Organic matter accumulation in soil provided by the PDL and CS fertilizers resulted in higher soil stability and elasticity under oscillatory shear, especially in the 0–5 cm layer. Conversely, MF and PS enhanced the soil susceptibility towards deformation under transient stresses, mainly in the 0–5 cm layer under saturated conditions. The PDL significantly increased soil shear resistance under low‐shear strain conditions. Significant differences ceased under high‐shear strain conditions, though PS and MF yielded at significantly lower strains. Hence, under subtropical conditions, long‐term application of organic fertilizers with fibrous components promoted soil microstructure strengthening, reducing soil susceptibility to erosive processes and compaction.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CONCRETE BINARY BLENDED WITH FLY ASH AND GGBS
Authors: Cheruvu Rajasekhar , Kameswara Rao B 
Published: March 2024

It is vital for the sustainability of industry to reduce these emissions while still meeting the ever-increasing demand for infrastructure worldwide. This challenge drew the focus of academics, area experts, and researchers to objectivize their work to investigate alternatives to the cement industry. The present study aims to determine how to reduce the amount of cement by using GGBS and fly ash The study adopted the binder ratios of 0.3,0.4, and 0.5 for both Fly ash and GGBS and compared them with conventional concrete (OPC). Further, the RCPT test examines the durability of the resistance to chloride penetration across different durations, such as 28,56 and 90 days. Also, the sorpitivity test is performed for the above binder ratios to determine the susceptibility of the concrete. The results suggest that the binder ratios adopted for the study have shown better results compared to conventional concrete if the supplementary cementitious materials are restricted to specific percentages.
A Self-Paced Walk Test for Individual Calibration of Heart Rate to Energy Expenditure
Authors: Westgate Kate , Gonzales Tomas I. , Hollidge Stefanie , Lindsay Tim , Wareham Nick , Brage Søren 
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Estimating free-living physical activity (PA) with continuous heart rate (HR) monitoring is challenging due to individual variation in the relationship between HR and energy expenditure. This variation can be captured through individual calibration with graded exercise tests, but structured tests with prescribed load require medical screening and are not always feasible in population settings. We present and evaluate an individual calibration method using HR response to a less demanding self-paced walk test. Methods: Six hundred and forty-three participants from the Fenland Study (Cambridgeshire, the United Kingdom) completed a 200-m self-paced walk test, a treadmill test, and 1 week of continuous HR and accelerometry monitoring. Mixed-effects regression was used to derive a walk test calibration model from HR response to the walk using treadmill-based parameters as criterion. Free-living PA estimates from the calibration model were compared with treadmill-calibrated and non-exercise-calibrated estimates. Results: Walk calibration captured 57% of the variance in the HR–energy expenditure relationship determined by the treadmill test. Applying walk calibration to data from free-living yielded similar PA estimates to those using treadmill calibration (52.7 vs. 52.0 kJ·kg−1·day−1; mean difference: 0.7 kJ·kg−1·day−1, 95% confidence interval [−0.0, 1.5]) and high correlation (r = .89). Individual differences were observed (root mean square error: 10.0 kJ·kg−1·day−1; 95% limits of agreement: −20.6, 19.1 kJ·kg−1·day−1). Walk calibration improved precision by 29% compared with nonexercise group calibration (root mean square error: 14.0 kJ·kg−1·day−1; 95% limits of agreement: −30.4, 24.5 kJ·kg−1·day−1). Conclusions: A 200-m self-paced walk test captures between-individual variation in the HR–energy expenditure relationship and facilitates estimation of free-living PA in population settings.
Enhanced transport of bacteria along root systems by protists can impact plant health
Authors: Micciulla Jamie L. , Shor Leslie M. , Gage Daniel J. 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Soil protists have been shown to contribute to the structure and function of the rhizosphere in a variety of ways. Protists are key contributors to nutrient cycling through the microbial loop, where biomass is digested by protists and otherwise stored nutrients are returned to the environment. Protists have also been shown to feed on plant pathogenic bacteria and alter root microbiomes in ways that may benefit plants. Recently, a mechanism involving bacterial transport, facilitated by protists, has been hypothesized to contribute to the spatial distribution of bacteria in the rhizosphere. Here, we observe the differential abilities of three soil protists: a ciliate (
Colpoda
sp.), a flagellate (
Cercomonas
sp.), and a naked amoeba (
Acanthamoeba castellanii
) to transport nitrogen-fixing
Sinorhizobium meliloti
to infectible root tips. Co-inoculation of protists plus
S. meliloti
resulted in the movement of bacteria, as measured by the presence of nitrogen-fixing nodules, up to 15 cm farther down the root systems when compared to plants inoculated with
S. meliloti
alone. Co-inoculation of the ciliate
, Colpoda
sp., with
S. meliloti
, resulted in shoot weights that were similar to plants that grew in nitrogen-replete potting mix.
Colpoda
sp.-feeding style and motility likely contributed to their success at transporting bacteria through the rhizosphere. We observed that the addition of protists alone without the co-inoculum of
S. meliloti
resulted in plants with larger shoot weights than control plants. Follow-up experiments showed that protists plus their associated microbiomes were aiding in plant health, likely through means of nutrient cycling.

IMPORTANCE

Protists represent a significant portion of the rhizosphere microbiome and have been shown to contribute to plant health, yet they are understudied compared to their bacterial and fungal counterparts. This study elucidates their role in the rhizosphere community and suggests a mechanism by which protists can be used to move bacteria along plant roots. We found that the co-inoculation of protists with nitrogen-fixing beneficial bacteria,
Sinorhizobium meliloti
, resulted in nodules farther down the roots when compared to plants inoculated with S.
meliloti
alone, and shoot weights similar to plants that received nitrogen fertilizer. These data illustrate the ability of protists to transport viable bacteria to uninhabited regions of the root system.
Proteus mirabilis
UreR coordinates cellular functions required for urease activity
Authors: Fitzgerald Madison J. , Pearson Melanie M. , Mobley Harry L. T. 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

A hallmark of
Proteus mirabilis
infection of the urinary tract is the formation of stones. The ability to induce urinary stone formation requires urease, a nickel metalloenzyme that hydrolyzes urea. This reaction produces ammonia as a byproduct, which can serve as a nitrogen source and weak base that raises the local pH. The resulting alkalinity induces the precipitation of ions to form stones. Transcriptional regulator UreR activates expression of urease genes in a urea-dependent manner. Thus, urease genes are highly expressed in the urinary tract where urea is abundant. Production of mature urease also requires the import of nickel into the cytoplasm and its incorporation into the urease apoenzyme. Urease accessory proteins primarily acquire nickel from one of two nickel transporters and facilitate incorporation of nickel to form mature urease. In this study, we performed a comprehensive RNA-seq to define the
P. mirabilis
urea-induced transcriptome as well as the UreR regulon. We identified UreR as the first defined regulator of nickel transport in
P. mirabilis
. We also offer evidence for the direct regulation of the Ynt nickel transporter by UreR. Using bioinformatics, we identified UreR-regulated urease loci in 15
Morganellaceae
family species across three genera. Additionally, we located two mobilized UreR-regulated urease loci that also encode the
ynt
transporter, implying that UreR regulation of nickel transport is a conserved regulatory relationship. Our study demonstrates that UreR specifically regulates genes required to produce mature urease, an essential virulence factor for
P. mirabilis
uropathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) account for over 40% of acute nosocomial infections in the USA and generate $340 million in healthcare costs annually. A major causative agent of CAUTIs is
Proteus mirabilis
, an understudied Gram-negative pathogen noted for its ability to form urinary stones via the activity of urease. Urease mutants cannot induce stones and are attenuated in a murine UTI model, indicating this enzyme is essential to
P. mirabilis
pathogenesis. Transcriptional regulation of urease genes by UreR is well established; here, we expand the UreR regulon to include regulation of nickel import, a function required to produce mature urease. Furthermore, we reflect on the role of urea catalysis in
P. mirabilis
metabolism and provide evidence for its importance.
Enrichable consortia of microbial symbionts degrade macroalgal polysaccharides in
Kyphosus
fish
Authors: Oliver Aaron , Podell Sheila , Wegley Kelly Linda , Sparagon Wesley J. , Plominsky Alvaro M. , Nelson Robert S. , Laurens Lieve M. L. , Augyte Simona , Sims Neil A. , Nelson Craig E. , Allen Eric E. 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Coastal herbivorous fishes consume macroalgae, which is then degraded by microbes along their digestive tract. However, there is scarce genomic information about the microbiota that perform this degradation. This study explores the potential of
Kyphosus
gastrointestinal microbial symbionts to collaboratively degrade and ferment polysaccharides from red, green, and brown macroalgae through
in silico
study of carbohydrate-active enzyme and sulfatase sequences. Recovery of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from previously described
Kyphosus
gut metagenomes and newly sequenced bioreactor enrichments reveals differences in enzymatic capabilities between the major microbial taxa in
Kyphosus
guts. The most versatile of the recovered MAGs were from the
Bacteroidota
phylum, whose MAGs house enzyme collections able to decompose a variety of algal polysaccharides. Unique enzymes and predicted degradative capacities of genomes from the
Bacillota
(genus
Vallitalea
) and
Verrucomicrobiota
(order
Kiritimatiellales
) highlight the importance of metabolic contributions from multiple phyla to broaden polysaccharide degradation capabilities. Few genomes contain the required enzymes to fully degrade any complex sulfated algal polysaccharide alone. The distribution of suitable enzymes between MAGs originating from different taxa, along with the widespread detection of signal peptides in candidate enzymes, is consistent with cooperative extracellular degradation of these carbohydrates. This study leverages genomic evidence to reveal an untapped diversity at the enzyme and strain level among
Kyphosus
symbionts and their contributions to macroalgae decomposition. Bioreactor enrichments provide a genomic foundation for degradative and fermentative processes central to translating the knowledge gained from this system to the aquaculture and bioenergy sectors.

IMPORTANCE

Seaweed has long been considered a promising source of sustainable biomass for bioenergy and aquaculture feed, but scalable industrial methods for decomposing terrestrial compounds can struggle to break down seaweed polysaccharides efficiently due to their unique sulfated structures. Fish of the genus
Kyphosus
feed on seaweed by leveraging gastrointestinal bacteria to degrade algal polysaccharides into simple sugars. This study reconstructs metagenome-assembled genomes for these gastrointestinal bacteria to enhance our understanding of herbivorous fish digestion and fermentation of algal sugars. Investigations at the gene level identify
Kyphosus
guts as an untapped source of seaweed-degrading enzymes ripe for further characterization. These discoveries set the stage for future work incorporating marine enzymes and microbial communities in the industrial degradation of algal polysaccharides.