bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Control of two insect pests by expression of a mismatch corrected double‐stranded RNA in plants
Authors: Dong Yi , Zhang Qi , Mao Yarou , Wu Mengting , Wang Zican , Chang Ling , Zhang Jiang 
Published: March 2024

SummaryRNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as an efficient technology for pest control by silencing the essential genes of targeted insects. Owing to its nucleotide sequence‐guided working mechanism, RNAi has a high degree of species‐specificity without impacts on non‐target organisms. However, as plants are inevitably under threat by two or more insect pests in nature, the species‐specific mode of RNAi‐based technology restricts its wide application for pest control. In this study, we artificially designed an intermediate dsRNA (iACT) targeting two β‐Actin (ACT) genes of sap‐sucking pests Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae by mutual correction of their mismatches. When expressing hairpin iACT (hpiACT) from tobacco nuclear genome, transgenic plants are well protected from both B. tabaci and M. persicae, either individually or simultaneously, as evidenced by reduced fecundity and suppressed ACT gene expression, whereas expression of hpRNA targeting BtACT or MpACT in transgenic tobacco plants could only confer specific resistance to either B. tabaci or M. persicae, respectively. In sum, our data provide a novel proof‐of‐concept that two different insect species could be simultaneously controlled by artificial synthesis of dsRNA with sequence optimization, which expands the range of transgenic RNAi methods for crop protection.
Maternal effects and inbreeding depression in post‐translocation progeny of Campanula glomerata
Authors: Van Rossum F. , Le Pajolec S. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Evaluation of plant translocation success based on fitness‐related quantitative traits combined with molecular markers may contribute to a finer assessment of inbreeding, selective and rescue processes, which might have long‐term consequences for population dynamics and viability.
We investigated fitness traits (seed germination, seedling viability, and juvenile growth and mortality) combined with 15 microsatellite loci of the first post‐translocation seed progeny from two translocated populations of Campanula glomerata, an insect‐pollinated, self‐incompatible perennial herb. We examined whether inbreeding, heterosis through admixture, translocation site and maternal transplant seed source origin and lineage might affect seed quality and juvenile growth in controlled cultivation conditions.
Flower production and seed germination of the transplants was higher in one of the two translocation sites, which might be related to differences in soil and vegetation composition and cover. Strong maternal effects related to seed source origin and lineage were found on progeny size, with the largest transplants producing the largest progeny. The differences in rosette diameter were maintained across the whole growth period measured. There was inbreeding depression (rather than heterosis) related to biparental inbreeding at the early progeny growth stage, also expressed through juvenile mortality.
Our findings highlight that maternal transplant origin, especially when seed sources consisted of small, fragmented remnants, might have a selective value on fitness in the post‐translocation generations. If maternal effects and inbreeding depression persist, they might affect global genetic diversity patterns in the long term. Further admixture in the next generations might buffer maternal and inbreeding effects or lead to outbreeding depression.
The promoting physical activity in regional and remote cancer survivors (PPARCS) trial: Physical activity maintenance
Authors: Hardcastle Sarah J. , Maxwell‐Smith Chloe , Cavalheri Vinicius , Boyle Terry , Román Marta Leyton , Platell Cameron , Levitt Michael , Saunders Christobel , Sardelic Frank , Nightingale Sophie , McCormick Jacob , Lynch Craig , Cohen Paul A. , Bulsara Max , Hince Dana 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe study examined whether increased physical activity (PA) in nonmetropolitan cancer survivors was maintained 12 weeks following the PPARCS intervention.MethodsPA outcomes were assessed using an accelerometer at baseline, end of the intervention, and at 24 weeks. Linear mixed models were used to examine between‐group changes in PA outcomes.ResultsThe increased moderate‐to‐vigorous PA (MVPA) following intervention was maintained with significantly higher MVPA in the intervention group at 24 weeks (vs. controls) compared to baseline nett change of 52.5 min/week (95% CI 11.0–94.0.4).ConclusionsDistance‐based interventions using wearables and health coaching may produce MVPA maintenance amongst nonmetropolitan cancer survivors.
Causal inference for psychologists who think that causal inference is not for them
Authors: Rohrer Julia M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCorrelation does not imply causation and psychologists' causal inference training often focuses on the conclusion that therefore experiments are needed—without much consideration for the causal inference frameworks used elsewhere. This leaves researchers ill‐equipped to solve inferential problems that they encounter in their work, leading to mistaken conclusions and incoherent statistical analyses. For a more systematic approach to causal inference, this article provides brief introductions to the potential outcomes framework—the “lingua franca” of causal inference—and to directed acyclic graphs, a graphical notation that makes it easier to systematically reason about complex causal situations. I then discuss two issues that may be of interest to researchers in social and personality psychology who think that formalized causal inference is of little relevance to their work. First, posttreatment bias: In various common scenarios (noncompliance, mediation analysis, missing data), researchers may analyze data from experimental studies in a manner that results in internally invalid conclusions, despite randomization. Second, tests of incremental validity: Routine practices in personality psychology suggest that they may be conducted for at least two different reasons (to demonstrate the non‐redundancy of new scales, to support causal conclusions) without being particularly suited for either purpose. Taking causal inference seriously is challenging; it reveals assumptions that may make many uncomfortable. However, ultimately it is a necessary step to ensure the validity of psychological research.
Stigmatizing deferrals disproportionally reduce donor return rates: Evidence from Brazil
Authors: Vieites Yan , Ferreira Claudio M. , Goldszmidt Rafael , Andrade Eduardo B. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesPrior research has shown that temporary deferrals negatively influence donor return rates, but it remains unknown the extent to which these effects vary across reasons for deferral. We investigate whether deferrals differ in their degree of perceived stigmatization and, if so, how being deferred for stigmatizing (vs. non‐stigmatizing) reasons affects subsequent donation behaviour.Materials and MethodsWe examined whether reasons for deferral vary on their perceived level of stigmatization through an online survey (n = 400). Furthermore, we used a dataset encompassing 25 years of donation records from the state‐run blood collection agency (BCA) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to investigate how stigmatizing (vs. non‐stigmatizing) reasons for deferral affected return rates of 82,648 donors over a 60‐month follow‐up period.ResultsBeing deferred for sex‐ and drug‐related reasons was perceived as much more stigmatizing than other reasons for deferral (odds ratio = 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.33–4.25). Controlling for multiple observables, prospective donors were less likely to return to the BCA when deferred for stigmatizing (vs. non‐stigmatizing) reasons (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83–0.93).ConclusionDonors perceive deferrals motivated by sex‐ and drug‐related reasons as particularly stigmatizing, which is negatively associated with donor return rates. BCAs may want to pay special attention when communicating stigmatizing reasons for deferral to prospective donors.
The infected diabetic foot: Analysis of diabetic and non‐diabetic foot infections
Authors: Lavery Lawrence A. , Suludere Mehmet A. , Ryan Easton , Crisologo Peter A. , Tarricone Arthur , Malone Matthew , Oz Orhan K. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare outcomes of moderate and severe foot infections in people with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). We retrospectively evaluated 382 patients (77% with DM and 23% non‐DM). We collected demographic data, co‐morbidities and one‐year outcomes including healing, surgical interventions, number of surgeries, length of stay, re‐infection and re‐hospitalisation. DM patients required more surgeries (2.3 ± 2.2 vs. 1.7 ± 1.3, p = 0.01), but did not have a longer hospital length of stay during the index hospitalisation (DM 10.9 days ±9.2 vs. non‐DM = 8.8 days ±5.8, p = 0.43). After the index hospitalisation, DM patients had increased rates of re‐hospitalisation for any reason (63.3% vs. 35.2%, CI 1.9–5.2, OR 3.2, p < 0.01), re‐infection at the index wound infection site (48% vs. 30.7%, CI 1.3–3.5, OR 2.1, p < 0.01), re‐hospitalisation for a foot pathology (47.3% vs. 29.5%, CI 1.3–3.6, OR 2.1, p < 0.01), and longer times to ulcer healing (151.8 days ±108.8 vs. 108.8 ± 90.6 days, p = 0.04). Patients with DM admitted to hospital with foot infections have worse clinical outcomes during the index hospitalisation and are more likely to have re‐infection and re‐admission to hospital in the next year.
A New Global Gas Dynamics Performance Optimization Method for Refrigeration Centrifugal Compressor Stage Based on the Immune Algorithm
Authors: Liang Lu , Gong Wuqi , Liu Yitong , Wang Fang 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This study proposes a new global gas dynamics optimization method, which was applied to a multi-objective optimization task of centrifugal compressor performance with the aim of determining the improvement probability for achieving high efficiency across a wide operating range. Initially, the original nondominated neighbor immune algorithm (NNIA) was extended to solve constrained multi-objective optimization problems for the first time, which mainly incorporated a procedure for handling inequality and equality constraints without additional parameters. Subsequently, an adaptive topological back-propagation multilayer feed-forward artificial neural network (BP-MLFANN) was trained using the modified NNIA to quickly evaluate the fitness value of the centrifugal compressor stage performance during the optimization. The feasibility of the method was validated using the first stage of a refrigeration centrifugal compressor. The results indicated a substantial enhancement in the stage efficiency of the optimized impeller at the Near-stall, Design, and Near-choke operating points, with increasement of 1.8%, 1.9%, and 4%, respectively, as compared to the baseline stage. The flow field analysis shows that the impact loss at impeller leading edge and flow separation in the passage reduced greatly, the mixing process between the leakage flow and mainstream in the channel is significantly weakened, thus the flow field becomes more uniform after optimization. The new global gas dynamics optimization method provides a reference for the development of efficient and rapid optimization techniques for centrifugal compressor.
Unaligned Hip Radiograph Assessment Utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks for the Assessment of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Authors: Perry Sheridan , Folkman Matthew , O'Brien Takara , Wilson Lauren A. , Coyle Eric , Liu Raymond W. , Price Charles T. , Huayamave Victor A. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition in which the acetabular socket inadequately contains the femoral head (FH). If left untreated, DDH can result in degenerative changes in the hip joint. Several imaging techniques are used for DDH assessment. In radiographs, the acetabular index (ACIN), center-edge angle, Sharp's angle (SA), and migration percentage (MP) metrics are used to assess DDH. Determining these metrics is time-consuming and repetitive. This study uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify radiographic measurements and improve traditional methods of identifying DDH. The dataset consisted of 60 subject radiographs rotated along the craniocaudal and mediolateral axes 25 times, generating 1500 images. A CNN detection algorithm was used to identify key radiographic metrics for the diagnosis of DDH. The algorithm was able to detect the metrics with reasonable accuracy in comparison to the manually computed metrics. The CNN performed well on images with high contrast margins between bone and soft tissues. In comparison, the CNN was not able to identify some critical points for metric calculation on a few images that had poor definition due to low contrast between bone and soft tissues. This study shows that CNNs can efficiently measure clinical parameters to assess DDH on radiographs with high contrast margins between bone and soft tissues with purposeful rotation away from an ideal image. Results from this study could help inform and broaden the existing bank of information on using CNNs for radiographic measurement and medical condition prediction.
Physiological characterization of single-gene lysis proteins
Authors: Antillon S. Francesca , Bernhardt Thomas G. , Chamakura Karthik , Young Ry 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Single-strand RNA (ssRNA) and single-strand DNA phages elicit host lysis using a single gene, in each case designated as
sgl
. Of the 11 identified Sgls, three have been shown to be specific inhibitors of different steps in the pathway that supplies lipid II to the peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis machinery. These Sgls have been called “protein antibiotics” because the lytic event is a septal catastrophe indistinguishable from that caused by cell wall antibiotics. Here, we designate these as type I Sgls. In this formalism, the other eight Sgls are assigned to type II, the best-studied of which is protein L of the paradigm F-specific ssRNA phage MS2. Comparisons have suggested that type II Sgls have four sequence elements distinguished by hydrophobic and polar character. Environmental metatranscriptomics has revealed thousands of new ssRNA phage genomes, each of which presumably has an Sgl. Here, we describe methods to distinguish type I and type II Sgls. Using phase contrast microscopy, we show that both classes of Sgls cause the formation of blebs prior to lysis, but the location of the blebs differs significantly. In addition, we show that L and other type II Sgls do not inhibit the net synthesis of PG, as measured by radio-labeling of PG. Finally, we provide direct evidence that the Sgl from
Pseudomonas
phage PP7 is a type I Sgl, in support of a recent report based on a genetic selection. This shows that the putative four-element sequence structure suggested for L is not a reliable discriminator for the operational characterization of Sgls.

IMPORTANCE

The ssRNA phage world has recently undergone a metagenomic expansion upward of a thousandfold. Each genome likely carries at least one single-gene lysis (
sgl
) cistron encoding a protein that single-handedly induces host autolysis. Here, we initiate an approach to segregate the Sgls into operational types based on physiological analysis, as a first step toward the alluring goal of finding many new ways to induce bacterial death and the attendant expectations for new antibiotic development.
Stoichiometry for entry and binding properties of the Env protein of R5 T cell-tropic HIV-1 and its evolutionary variant of macrophage-tropic HIV-1
Authors: Bonner Xavier , Sondgeroth Amy , McCue Amelia , Nicely Nathan , Tripathy Ashutosh , Spielvogel Ean , Moeser Matthew , Ke Ruian , Leiderman Karin , Joseph Sarah B. , Swanstrom Ronald 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 typically requires a high density of CD4 for efficient entry as a mechanism to target CD4+ T cells (T-tropic), with CCR5 being used most often as the coreceptor. When target T cells are limiting, the virus can evolve to infect cells with a low density of CD4 such as macrophages (M-tropic). The entry phenotype is known to be encoded in the viral Env protein on the surface of the virus particle. Using data showing a dose response for infectivity based on CD4 surface density, we built a model consistent with T-tropic viruses requiring multiple CD4 molecules to mediate infection, whereas M-tropic viruses can infect cells using a single CD4 receptor molecule interaction. We also found that T-tropic viruses bound to the surface of cells with a low density of CD4 are released more slowly than M-tropic viruses which we modeled to be due to multiple interactions of the T-tropic virus with multiple CD4 molecules to allow the initial stable binding. Finally, we found that some M-tropic Env proteins, as the gp120 subunit, possess an enhanced affinity for CD4 compared with their T-tropic pair, indicating that the evolution of macrophage tropism can be reflected both in the closed Env trimer conformation on the virion surface and, in some cases, also in the open confirmation of gp120 Env. Collectively, these studies reveal differences in the stoichiometry of interaction of T-tropic and M-tropic viruses with CD4 and start to identify the basis of binding differences at the biochemical level.

IMPORTANCE
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 normally targets CD4+ T cells for viral replication. When T cells are limiting, the virus can evolve to infect myeloid cells. The evolutionary step involves a change from requiring a high surface density of CD4 for entry to being able to infect cells with a low density of CD4, as is found on myeloid lineage cells such as macrophage and microglia. Viruses able to infect macrophages efficiently are most often found in the CNS late in the disease course, and such viruses may contribute to neurocognitive impairment. Here, we examine the CD4 binding properties of the viral Env protein to explore these two different entry phenotypes.
L-arginine supplementation abrogates hypoxia-induced virulence of
Staphylococcus aureus
in a murine diabetic pressure wound model
Authors: Baker Carol L. , Seo Keun Seok , Park Nogi , Rutter Jaime K. , Thornton Justin A. , Pruett Stephen B. , Park Joo Youn 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are the most common complications of diabetes resulting from hyperglycemia leading to ischemic hypoxic tissue and nerve damage.
Staphylococcus aureus
is the most frequently isolated bacteria from DFUs and causes severe necrotic infections leading to amputations with a poor 5-year survival rate. However, very little is known about the mechanisms by which
S. aureus
dominantly colonizes and causes severe disease in DFUs. Herein, we utilized a pressure wound model in diabetic TALLYHO/JngJ mice to reproduce ischemic hypoxic tissue damage seen in DFUs and demonstrated that anaerobic fermentative growth of
S. aureus
significantly increased the virulence and the severity of disease by activating two-component regulatory systems leading to expression of virulence factors. Our
in vitro
studies showed that supplementation of nitrate as a terminal electron acceptor promotes anaerobic respiration and suppresses the expression of
S. aureus
virulence factors through inactivation of two-component regulatory systems, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits by promoting anaerobic nitrate respiration. Our
in vivo
studies revealed that dietary supplementation of L-arginine (L-Arg) significantly attenuated the severity of disease caused by
S. aureus
in the pressure wound model by providing nitrate. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of anaerobic fermentative growth in
S. aureus
pathogenesis and the potential of dietary L-Arg supplementation as a therapeutic to prevent severe
S. aureus
infection in DFUs.

IMPORTANCE

S. aureus
is the most common cause of infection in DFUs, often resulting in lower-extremity amputation with a distressingly poor 5-year survival rate. Treatment for
S. aureus
infections has largely remained unchanged for decades and involves tissue debridement with antibiotic therapy. With high levels of conservative treatment failure, recurrence of ulcers, and antibiotic resistance, a new approach is necessary to prevent lower-extremity amputations. Nutritional aspects of DFU treatment have largely been overlooked as there has been contradictory clinical trial evidence, but very few
in vitro
and
in vivo
modelings of nutritional treatment studies have been performed. Here we demonstrate that dietary supplementation of L-Arg in a diabetic mouse model significantly reduced duration and severity of disease caused by
S. aureus
. These findings suggest that L-Arg supplementation could be useful as a potential preventive measure against severe
S. aureus
infections in DFUs.
Bisphenol A exposure affects specific gut taxa and drives microbiota dynamics in childhood obesity
Authors: Lopez-Moreno Ana , Cerk Klara , Rodrigo Lourdes , Suarez Antonio , Aguilera Margarita , Ruiz-Rodriguez Alicia 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Cumulative xenobiotic exposure has an environmental and human health impact which is currently assessed under the One Health approach. Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and its potential link with childhood obesity that has parallelly increased during the last decades deserve special attention. It stands during prenatal or early life and could trigger comorbidities and non-communicable diseases along life. Accumulation in the nature of synthetic chemicals supports the “environmental obesogen” hypothesis, such as BPA. This estrogen-mimicking xenobiotic has shown endocrine disruptive and obesogenic effects accompanied by gut microbiota misbalance that is not yet well elucidated. This study aimed to investigate specific microbiota taxa isolated and selected by direct BPA exposure and reveal its role on the overall children microbiota community and dynamics, driving toward specific obesity dysbiosis. A total of 333 BPA-resistant isolated species obtained through culturing after several exposure conditions were evaluated for their role and interplay with the global microbial community. The selected BPA-cultured taxa biomarkers showed a significant impact on alpha diversity. Specifically,
Clostridium
and
Romboutsia
were positively associated promoting the richness of microbiota communities, while
Intestinibacter
,
Escherichia-Shigella
,
Bifidobacterium
, and
Lactobacillus
were negatively associated. Microbial community dynamics and networks analyses showed differences according to the study groups. The normal-weight children group exhibited a more enriched, structured, and connected taxa network compared to overweight and obese groups, which could represent a more resilient community to xenobiotic substances. In this sense, subnetwork analysis generated with the BPA-cultured genera showed a correlation between taxa connectivity and more diverse potential enzymatic BPA degradation capacities.

IMPORTANCE
Our findings indicate how gut microbiota taxa with the capacity to grow in BPA were differentially represented within differential body mass index children study groups and how these taxa affected the overall dynamics toward patterns of diversity generally recognized in dysbiosis. Community network and subnetwork analyses corroborated the better connectedness and stability profiles for normal-weight group compared to the overweight and obese groups.