bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of TNF‐α, omentin‐1, and IL‐6 before and after adjunctive treatment with a bioactive antimicrobial peptide periodontal gel
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Lulu , Liu Chang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the expression levels of TNF‐α, omentin‐1, and IL‐6 in periodontitis patients before and after treatment with biological antimicrobial peptide (AMP) periodontal gel.MethodsThere involved 86 periodontitis patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to March 2021. They were equally and randomly distributed into the study group and the control group. The efficacy and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups after treatment, Additionally, the sulcus bleeding index (SBI), plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), periodontal probing depth (PD), and levels of TNF‐α, omentin‐1, and IL‐6 were measured before and after treatment.ResultsAfter treatment, the total effective rate of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05), while the scores of four indicators (SBI, PLI, GI, and PD) and the levels of TNF‐α, omentin‐1, and IL‐6 in the study group were evidently lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The study group had 1 case of mild irritant reaction, with an adverse reaction rate of 2.33% (1/43). And the control group had 1 case of nausea and 1 case of allergy, with an adverse reaction rate of 4.65% (2/43). The adverse reactions demonstrated no statistical difference between the two groups (χ2 = 0.345, p = 0.557).ConclusionsThe levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 were highly expressed before the auxiliary therapy of biological AMP periodontal gel for periodontitis, alongside low expression of omentin‐1. Subsequently, the biological antibacterial polypeptide periodontal gel demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of periodontitis.
Melatonin inhibits the stemness of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by modulating HA synthesis via the FOSL1/HAS3 axis
Authors: Luo Xinyue , Wang Jingjing , Chen Yang , Zhou Xiaocheng , Shao Zhe , Liu Ke , Shang Zhengjun 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan and the main component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has been reported to interact with its receptor CD44 to play critical roles in the self‐renewal and maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) of multiple malignancies. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone with pleiotropic antitumor properties. However, whether melatonin could regulate HA accumulation in the ECM to modulate the stemness of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown. In this study, we found that melatonin suppressed CSC‐related markers, such as CD44, of HNSCC cells and decreased the tumor‐initiating frequency of CSCs in vivo. In addition, melatonin modulated HA synthesis of HNSCC cells by downregulating the expression of hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3). Further study showed that the Fos‐like 1 (FOSL1)/HAS3 axis mediated the inhibitory effects of melatonin on HA accumulation and stemness of HNSCC in a receptor‐independent manner. Taken together, melatonin modulated HA synthesis through the FOSL1/HAS3 axis to inhibit the stemness of HNSCC cells, which elucidates the effect of melatonin on the ECM and provides a novel perspective on melatonin in HNSCC treatment.
Tropical bloom‐forming mesoalgae Cladophoropsis sp. and Laurencia sp.—responses to ammonium enrichment and a simulated heatwave
Authors: Fricke Anna , Bast Felix , Moreira‐Saporiti Agustín , Martins Bussanello Giovanni , Msuya Flower E. , Teichberg Mirta 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAlgal blooms are increasing worldwide, driven by elevated nutrient inputs. However, it is still unknown how tropical benthic algae will respond to heatwaves, which are expected to be more frequent under global warming. In the present study, a multifactorial experiment was carried out to investigate the potential synergistic effects of increased ammonium inputs (25 μM, control at 2.5 μM) and a heatwave (31°C, control at 25°C) on the growth and physiology (e.g., ammonium uptake, nutrient assimilation, photosynthetic performance, and pigment concentrations) of two bloom‐forming algal species, Cladophoropsis sp. and Laurencia sp. Both algae positively responded to elevated ammonium concentrations with higher growth and chlorophyll a and lutein concentrations. Increased temperature was generally a less important driver, interacting with elevated ammonium by decreasing the algaes' %N content and N:P ratios. Interestingly, this stress response was not captured by the photosynthetic yield (Fv/Fm) nor by the carbon assimilation (%C), which increased for both algae at higher temperatures. The negative effects of higher temperature were, however, buffered by nutrient inputs, showing an antagonistic response in the combined treatment for the concentration of VAZ (violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin) and thalli growth. Ammonium uptake was initially higher for Cladophoropsis sp. and increased for Laurencia sp. over experimental time, showing an acclimation capacity even in a short time interval. This experiment shows that both algae benefited from increased ammonium pulses and were able to overcome the otherwise detrimental stress of increasingly emerging temperature anomalies, which provide them a strong competitive advantage and might support their further expansions in tropical marine systems.
Untangling the origin and diversification of the Carthamus–Carduncellus complex (Cardueae, Compositae) in the Mediterranean basin
Authors: Vilatersana Roser , Calleja Juan Antonio , Herrando‐Moraira Sonia , Garcia‐Jacas Núria , Susanna Alfonso 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the richness and diversification processes in the Mediterranean basin requires both knowledge of the current environmental complexity and paleogeographic and paleoclimate events and information from studies that introduce the temporal dimension. The Carthamus–Carduncellus complex (Cardueae, Compositae) constitutes a good case study to investigate the biogeographic history of this region because it evolved throughout the basin. We performed molecular dating, ancestral area estimation, and diversification analyses based on previous phylogenetic studies of a nearly complete taxon sampling of the complex. The main aims were to determine the role of tectonic and climatic events in the disjunction of the complex and the expansion route of the two main lineages, Carduncellus s.l. and Carthamus. Our results suggest that the main lineages in the complex originated during the Miocene. Later, all main paleogeographic and paleoclimatic events during the Neogene and Pleistocene in the Mediterranean basin had an important imprint on the evolutionary history of the complex. The Messinian Salinity Crisis facilitated the dispersion of the genus Carduncellus from North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula and the split of the genera Phonus and Femeniasia from the Carduncellus lineage. The onset of the Mediterranean climate in the Pliocene together with some orogenic processes could be the main causes of the diversification of the genus Carduncellus. In contrast, Pleistocene glaciations played a key role in the species diversification of Carthamus. In addition, we emphasize the problems derived from secondary dating and the existing differences between two previous dating analyses of the tribe Cardueae.
Shorter telomeres are associated with shell anomalies in a long‐lived tortoise
Authors: Mira‐Jover Andrea , Rodríguez‐Caro R. C. , Noguera J. C. , Fritz U. , Kehlmaier C. , García de la Fuente M. I. , Giménez A. , Graciá E. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAge‐related telomere length (TL) variation is relatively well‐described for mammals, birds and other model organisms. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown in ectotherms, especially turtles and tortoises, which are extremely long‐lived species with slow or negligible senescence. In this study, we described TL dynamics in wild spur‐thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca), one of the chelonian species with the lowest aging rates. By combining cross‐sectional (single) and longitudinal (capture–recapture) samplings, we assessed the relationship between TL and individual characteristics (sex, age, individual growth rate, body condition index, presence of shell anomalies). We did not find any association between TL and sex, individual growth rate, or body condition. However, the relationship with age remains uncertain, likely due to the complex dynamics of TL over time. Interestingly, shorter telomeres correlated significantly with shell anomalies, which are usually assumed as a fitness proxy for reptiles. Overall, our results suggest TL as a potential indicator for ontogenetic studies on tortoises, while its utility as a marker of biological age appears limited.
Segmental duplications drive the evolution of accessory regions in a major crop pathogen
Authors: van Westerhoven Anouk C. , Aguilera‐Galvez Carolina , Nakasato‐Tagami Giuliana , Shi‐Kunne Xiaoqian , Martinez de la Parte Einar , Chavarro‐Carrero Edgar , Meijer Harold J. G. , Feurtey Alice , Maryani Nani , Ordóñez Nadia , Schneiders Harrie , Nijbroek Koen , Wittenberg Alexander H. J. , Hofstede Rene , García‐Bastidas Fernando , Sørensen Anker , Swennen Ronny , Drenth Andre , Stukenbrock Eva H. , Kema Gert H. J. , Seidl Michael F. 
Published: February 2024

Summary
Many pathogens evolved compartmentalized genomes with conserved core and variable accessory regions (ARs) that carry effector genes mediating virulence. The fungal plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum has such ARs, often spanning entire chromosomes. The presence of specific ARs influences the host range, and horizontal transfer of ARs can modify the pathogenicity of the receiving strain. However, how these ARs evolve in strains that infect the same host remains largely unknown.
We defined the pan‐genome of 69 diverse F. oxysporum strains that cause Fusarium wilt of banana, a significant constraint to global banana production, and analyzed the diversity and evolution of the ARs.
Accessory regions in F. oxysporum strains infecting the same banana cultivar are highly diverse, and we could not identify any shared genomic regions and in planta‐induced effectors. We demonstrate that segmental duplications drive the evolution of ARs. Furthermore, we show that recent segmental duplications specifically in accessory chromosomes cause the expansion of ARs in F. oxysporum.
Taken together, we conclude that extensive recent duplications drive the evolution of ARs in F. oxysporum, which contribute to the evolution of virulence.
Drought resistance and resilience of rhizosphere communities in forest soils from the cellular to ecosystem scale – insights from 13C pulse labeling
Authors: Gao Decai , Luster Jörg , Zürcher Alois , Arend Matthias , Bai Edith , Gessler Arthur , Rigling Andreas , Schaub Marcus , Hartmann Martin , Werner Roland A. , Joseph Jobin , Poll Christian , Hagedorn Frank 
Published: February 2024

Summary

The link between above‐ and belowground communities is a key uncertainty in drought and rewetting effects on forest carbon (C) cycle.

In young beech model ecosystems and mature naturally dry pine forest exposed to 15‐yr‐long irrigation, we performed 13C pulse labeling experiments, one during drought and one 2 wk after rewetting, tracing tree assimilates into rhizosphere communities.

The 13C pulses applied in tree crowns reached soil microbial communities of the young and mature forests one and 4 d later, respectively. Drought decreased the transfer of labeled assimilates relative to the irrigation treatment. The 13C label in phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) indicated greater drought reduction of assimilate incorporation by fungi (−85%) than by gram‐positive (−43%) and gram‐negative bacteria (−58%).

13C label incorporation was more strongly reduced for PLFAs (cell membrane) than for microbial cytoplasm extracted by chloroform. This suggests that fresh rhizodeposits are predominantly used for osmoregulation or storage under drought, at the expense of new cell formation. Two weeks after rewetting, 13C enrichment in PLFAs was greater in previously dry than in continuously moist soils. Drought and rewetting effects were greater in beech systems than in pine forest.

Belowground C allocation and rhizosphere communities are highly resilient to drought.
Ethylene‐MPK8‐ERF.C1‐PR module confers resistance against Botrytis cinerea in tomato fruit without compromising ripening
Authors: Deng Heng , Pei Yangang , Xu Xin , Du Xiaofei , Xue Qihan , Gao Zhuo , Shu Peng , Wu Yi , Liu Zhaoqiao , Jian Yongfei , Wu Mengbo , Wang Yikui , Li Zhengguo , Pirrello Julien , Bouzayen Mondher , Deng Wei , Hong Yiguo , Liu Mingchun 
Published: February 2024

Summary
The plant hormone ethylene plays a critical role in fruit defense against Botrytis cinerea attack, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that ethylene response factor SlERF.C1 acts as a key regulator to trigger the ethylene‐mediated defense against B. cinerea in tomato fruits without compromising ripening.
Knockout of SlERF.C1 increased fruit susceptibility to B. cinerea with no effect on ripening process, while overexpression enhanced resistance. RNA‐Seq, transactivation assays, EMSA and ChIP‐qPCR results indicated that SlERF.C1 activated the transcription of PR genes by binding to their promoters.
Moreover, SlERF.C1 interacted with the mitogen‐activated protein kinase SlMPK8 which allowed SlMPK8 to phosphorylate SlERF.C1 at the Ser174 residue and increases its transcriptional activity. Knocking out of SlMPK8 increased fruit susceptibility to B. cinerea, whereas overexpression enhanced resistance without affecting ripening. Furthermore, genetic crosses between SlMPK8‐KO and SlERF.C1‐OE lines reduced the resistance to B. cinerea attack in SlERF.C1‐OE fruits. In addition, B. cinerea infection induced ethylene production which in turn triggered SlMPK8 transcription and enhanced the phosphorylation of SlERF.C1.
Overall, our findings reveal the regulatory mechanism of the ‘Ethylene‐MPK8‐ERF.C1‐PR’ module in resistance against B. cinerea and provide new insight into the manipulation of gray mold disease in fruits.
Pollen, anther, stamen, and androecium mimicry
Authors: Lunau K. , De Camargo M. G. G. , Brito V. L. G. 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACTFloral colours represent a highly diverse communication signal mainly involved in flower visitors' attraction and guidance, but also flower discrimination, filtering non‐pollinators and discouraging floral antagonists. The divergent visual systems and colour preferences of flower visitors, as well as the necessity of cues for flower detection and discrimination, foster the diversity of floral colours and colour patterns. Despite the bewildering diversity of floral colour patterns, a recurrent component is a yellow UV‐absorbing floral centre, and it is still not clear why this pattern is so frequent in angiosperms. The pollen, anther, stamen, and androecium mimicry (PASAM) hypothesis suggests that the system composed of the flowers possessing such yellow UV‐absorbing floral reproductive structures, the flowers displaying central yellow UV‐absorbing structures as floral guides, and the pollen‐collecting, as well as pollen‐eating, flower visitors responding to such signals constitute the world's most speciose mimicry system. In this review, we call the attention of researchers to some hypothetical PASAM systems around the globe, presenting some fascinating examples that illustrate their huge diversity. We will also present new and published data on pollen‐eating and pollen‐collecting pollinators' responses to PASAM structures supporting the PASAM hypothesis and will discuss how widespread these systems are around the globe. Ultimately, our goal is to promote the idea that PASAM is a plausible first approach to understanding floral colour patterns in angiosperms.
Election results can decrease intergroup threat and through that positively affect intergroup relations
Authors: Roth Jenny , Steinmann Miriam , Loughnane Jack , Devine Paula , Muldoon Orla , Shelly Catriona , van Tilburg Wijnand A. P. , Steffens Melanie C. , Campbell Claire 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPrevious research has established that intergroup threat is pivotal to intergroup relations in divided societies. We used the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections in 2022 as a unique chance to investigate how elections can affect feelings of threat and intergroup relations between communities with a history of violent intergroup conflict. We argued that because of their conflicting goals, if Sinn Féin (i.e., a Republican party that promotes a united Ireland) gains more votes than the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP, i.e., a party promoting Northern Ireland's union with the United Kingdom), it would threaten DUP supporters and vice versa. We assessed whether participants supported Sinn Féin or DUP relatively to each other, intergroup threat, and intergroup bias before and after the elections (N = 285). Following an election outcome where Sinn Féin gained more votes than DUP, Sinn Féin supporters showed decreased feelings of threat which in turn decreased their intergroup bias. DUP supporters, the party that received fewer votes, showed no changes in their feelings of threat or intergroup bias. This research highlights how electoral results affect intergroup relations in postconflict societies.
Prevalence of mild behavioural impairment and its association with cognitive and functional impairment in normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and mild Alzheimer's dementia
Authors: Park Jong‐Il ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundMild behavioural impairment (MBI) is an emergent and persistent neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS) in subjects aged 50 and older who are at risk for cognitive decline. We examined the prevalence of MBI across the spectrum from cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), to dementia, and further investigated the association between the MBI domain and cognitive and functional impairment.MethodMBI was assessed in 2337 elderly patients in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database (mean age, 73.04 years; 52.8% male). Among the subjects, 868 (37.1%) had normal cognition, 1066 (45.6%) had MCI, and 403 (17.2%) had mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD). MBI was evaluated in accordance with the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment diagnostic criteria for MBI, utilising the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. We compared the prevalence of the MBI domain with CN using multinominal logistic regression analysis and further quantified the magnitude of the association between MCI/AD and the MBI domains by calculating the population attributable risk (PAR). We assessed the association between the MBI domains and cognitive and functional impairment using simultaneous linear regression analysis.ResultsThe most common MBI domains in each diagnostic group were affective dysregulation followed by impulse dyscontrol, decreased motivation, social inappropriateness, and abnormal perception or thought content. The PARs for MBI domains in subjects with MCI or AD were respectively: 16.60% and 24.34% for affective dysregulation; 3.72% and 18.06% for impulse dyscontrol; 4.78% and 14.13% for decreased motivation, 1.91% and 2.29% for social inappropriateness; and 0.68% and 3.85% for abnormal perception or thought content. All MBI domains except for social inappropriateness were significantly associated with a higher 11‐item Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale total score. All MBI domains were significantly associated with a higher Functional Activities Questionnaire total score.ConclusionOur findings show that MBI is highly prevalent across subjects with CN, MCI, and AD and is associated with cognitive and functional decline. MBI could be a crucial clinical phenotype relevant to the risk of cognitive and functional impairment, and provides a useful dimension pertinent to diagnostic approaches.
Interplay among photoreceptors determines the strategy of coping with excess light in tomato
Authors: Shomali Aida , Aliniaeifard Sasan , Kamrani Yousef Yari , Lotfi Mahmoud , Aghdam Morteza Soleymani , Rastogi Anshu , Brestič Marian 
Published: February 2024

SUMMARYThis study investigates photoreceptor's role in the adaption of photosynthetic apparatus to high light (HL) intensity by examining the response of tomato wild type (WT) (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Moneymaker) and tomato mutants (phyA, phyB1, phyB2, cry1) plants to HL. Our results showed a photoreceptor‐dependent effect of HL on the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) with phyB1 exhibiting a decrease, while phyB2 exhibiting an increase in Fv/Fm. HL resulted in an increase in the efficient quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and a decrease in the non‐photochemical quantum yields (ΦNPQ and ΦN0) solely in phyA. Under HL, phyA showed a significant decrease in the energy‐dependent quenching component of NPQ (qE), while phyB2 mutants showed an increase in the state transition (qT) component. Furthermore, ΔΔFv/Fm revealed that PHYB1 compensates for the deficit of PHYA in phyA mutants. PHYA signaling likely emerges as the dominant effector of PHYB1 and PHYB2 signaling within the HL‐induced signaling network. In addition, PHYB1 compensates for the role of CRY1 in regulating Fv/Fm in cry1 mutants. Overall, the results of this research provide valuable insights into the unique role of each photoreceptor and their interplay in balancing photon energy and photoprotection under HL condition.
Structural transformation and inequality: Does trade openness matter?
Authors: Durongkaveroj Wannaphong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to examine income inequality in the process of economic growth and structural transformation with emphasis on the role of economic openness using a new measure of trade openness (the price convergence index [PCI]), which is an alternative measure to the widely used trade‐to‐GDP ratio. The analysis is based on a multi‐country panel data covering 48 countries for the period from 1960 to 2010. The results suggest that an increase in the share of employment in manufacturing is associated with a reduction in income inequality. This inequality‐reducing effect is significantly greater for countries with more open trade regimes. In addition, the Kuznets‐type relationship exists between services employment share and income inequality, with inequality first increasing with the movement of workers from agriculture to services and then decreasing. This inequality‐increasing effect of services employment share is also larger for countries with more open trade regimes. The findings withstand the inclusion of relevant explanatory variables, an alternative measure of income inequality, and alternative estimator to address possible endogeneity.