bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of All Disease-Relevant Lysine Acetylation Sites in α-Synuclein Enabled by Non-canonical Amino Acid Mutagenesis
Authors: Shimogawa Marie , Li Ming-Hao , Park Grace Shin Hye , Ramirez Jennifer , Lee Hudson , Watson Paris R. , Sharma Swati , Lin Zongtao , Peng Chao , Garcia Benjamin A. , Christianson David W. , Rhoades Elizabeth , Eliezer David , Petersson E. James 
Published: January 2025

AbstractAggregates of α-synuclein (αS) are hallmarks of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). We have recently shown that αS lysine acetylation in the soluble monomer pool varies between healthy controls, PD, and MSA patients. To study the effects of lysine acetylation at all disease-relevant sites of αS, we first compared production of acetylated αS through either native chemical ligation or non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) mutagenesis. Since yields were comparable, ncAA mutagenesis was deemed superior for scanning many acetylation sites. We expressed and purified 12 disease-relevant variants and studied their binding to membranes as well as their aggregation propensities, and found that acetylation of lysine 12, 43, and 80 had particularly strong effects. To understand the implications for acetylation of monomeric αS found in healthy cells, we performed NMR experiments to study protein conformation and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiments to quantify lipid binding. We also investigated the effects of acetylation at lysine 12, 43, and 80 on fibril seeding in neurons. Collectively, our biochemical and cell biological investigations indicated that acetylation of K80could inhibit aggregation without conferring negative effects on monomer function in healthy cells. Therefore, we studied the structures of fibrils with K80acetylation through cryo-electron microscopy to uncover the structural basis for these effects. Finally, we identified inhibition of HDAC8 as a way of potentially increasing acetylation at K80and other inhibitory sites for therapeutic benefit.
Characterization of cytotrophoblast cell population dynamics throughout pregnancy
Authors: Schäffers Olivier , Verburgt Simone , Harhangi Madhavi , Broekhuizen Michelle , van Hengel Eline , van der Meeren Lotte , Schoenmakers Sam , Dekkers Dick , Doff Wouter , Demmers Jeroen , Reiss Irwin , Gribnau Joost , van Rijn Bas 
Published: January 2025

AbstractTo understand cytotrophoblast (CTB) dynamics during pregnancy, we constructed a single-cell RNA sequencing dataset profiling over 35,000 CTBs isolated from human placental tissues at various gestational stages. Our analysis revealed a robust set of transcripts defining distinct CTB subsets and their spatial relationships within the placenta. We identified a transit-amplifying primitive trophoblast population that may contribute to the CTB pool and found that CTBs located at the smooth chorion form a leak-tight epithelial layer that adapts to low oxygen environments without undergoing syncytialization. Additionally, our study suggests that CTB fate in the villous chorion may be influenced by interactions with the basal lamina, as indicated by a population of BCAM+ CTBs. This subset, isolated from term placental tissue, displayed progenitor capabilities in organoid cultures, supporting the hypothesis that BCAM+ CTBs maintain a progenitor role late in pregnancy.
Sulfonamide resistance genesul4is hosted by common wastewater sludge bacteria and found in various newly described contexts and hosts including clinically relevant species
Authors: Markkanen Melina , Pezzutto Denise , Virta Marko , Karkman Antti 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe introduction of the first broad-spectrum antibiotics, sulfonamide drugs fundamentally revolutionized medicine in the 1930s. Shortly after and ever since sulfonamide resistance genes (sulgenes) have been widely detected. Still, the most recent variant of these genessul4, was first described only in 2017 and its host range and transmission mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here we applied PacBio long-read metagenomic sequencing and bacterial methylation signals to investigate the genetic contexts and bacterial carriage of thesul4gene in wastewater. Furthermore, we extended our description ofsul4carriers to previously published data sets. Our results indicate thatsul4is prominently found in sludge and hosted by various bacteria such as the species from the phyla Myxococcota and Chloroflexota and generaTrichlorobacter, andDesulfobacillus, which are commonly found in activated sludge. Additionally, according to our results,sul4has already spread into multiple strains of opportunistic human pathogens, such asAeromonasandMoraxellain addition to the previously describedSalmonella. The sequence region flankingsul4included a truncatedfolK gene, and an ISCR28-element, and exhibited a high degree of conservation across the investigated sequences. Furthermore, the module was associated with various integron integrase genes. Also, other mobility-related elements that could further increase the likelihood ofsul4mobilization were detected. Altogether, our results describing thesul4hosts of bacteria from distant lineages indicate the efficient mobility ofsul4by genetic elements that traverse both clinical and environmental bacteria. Finally, we suggest that wastewater may provide favorable conditions for such horizontal gene transfer events.ImportanceAntibiotic resistance is an ancient phenomenon and a common trait for many environmental bacteria. However, human activities in the post-antibiotic era, coupled with the bacteria’s ability to exchange genetic material across different lineages, have drastically increased the spread of resistance traits among bacteria from various niches. The primary concern is the resistance genes encoded by infections causing pathogens, already causing over one million deaths annually and indirectly contributing to nearly four million more. Therefore, understanding the bacteria that harbor ARGs and the genetic mechanisms driving their mobilization is crucial for understanding the dynamics and emerging trends of resistance. Here, we focus on revealing these crucial aspects of the newly discovered sulfonamide resistance genesul4. Given the limitations of the metagenomic approach in linking the functional genes to their host genomes, the significance of our research lies in our workflow that allows this linkage by identification of shared methylation profiles.
Optimisation of skeletal muscle sampling for cultured fat production
Authors: Dohmen Richard G. J. , Hueber Rui , Martins Beatriz , Gouveia Maria Ana , Zschieschang Simon , de Vries Marjolein , Caubergh John , Eussen Ralph , Post Mark J. , Flack Joshua E. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractTo produce cultured meat at a commercially-relevant scale, bioprocesses must be robust, standardised and cost-efficient. In this respect, the limitedin vitrolifespan of primary cells poses a major challenge, which requires regular cell sourcing by means of biopsy. We have previously shown that muscle-derived fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs) represent a promising starting cell type for cultured fat production. These cells proliferate for a high number of population doublings (PDs) in serum-free growth medium. However, with accumulating PDs, FAPs lose their adipogenic differentiation capacity, thereby limiting the amount of cultured fat that can be produced from a given starting sample. Donor animal characteristics, including age, may affect this loss of differentiation. Here, we performed a longitudinal biopsy study to ask whether physiological differences between donor animals are reflected in FAP cell biology, and if this has an effect on loss of FAP differentiation capacity. We sampled twelve Limousin cattle over the first two years of their lives, successfully performing 144 muscle biopsies. Animals younger than six months demonstrated higher FAP yields per gram of muscle tissue, making them ideal donors for cultured fat production, but we observed little difference in the proliferation or differentiation of derived cell cultures. This work also provides valuable insights into the tissue harvesting process, highlighting the need for new, robust and standardised biopsy systems to mitigate contamination risk.
Exotic and Zoological Birds Resident and Imported into Nigeria harbour Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus: Threat to Poultry Production, Food security and Public Health
Authors: Yakubu Atuman , Inuwa Bitrus , Bakam Judith , Orioko Edmond , Emmanuel Hambolu Sunday , Meseko Clement 
Published: January 2025

AbstractInfluenza is a major infectious disease challenge affecting animal and human health globally, and wild birds are historically the primary reservoirs of all the known Influenza A virus subtypes. Here, we detected the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus in exotic and aquatic birds in three different locations in Nigeria. On the 8thof February 2021, exotic birds: Yellow Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus), Sultan chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), Lakenvelder chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), and Common pheasant (Phasianus calchicus), imported from Libya and transported across the Niger Republic border to Nigeria, were presented to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, for screening. Also, a family in Lagos State bought some exotic aquatic birds from a live bird market in Sokoto State, Nigeria, where sudden death was recorded with the birds showing few clinical signs. Similarly, the sudden death of some aquatic birds was reported in Mandela Parks and Gardens in Asaba, Delta State, few weeks after some captured wild birds were introduced to the Park and Gardens. Oropharyngeal, cloacal, and tissue samples were all collected from the reported cases. Total viral nucleic acid was extracted and screened for Influenza A viruses using real-time RT-PCR. The HPAI viruses H5N1 and H5N8 were detected in the imported aquatic (geese and ducks) and exotic (yellow golden pheasant) birds. The samples tested negative for low-pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (H9N2) as well as other avian viruses, viz.,Avian avulavirus-1 (Newcastle disease Virus) and infectious bronchitis virus. This highlights the role of these resident and imported exotic birds in the local transmission and spread of the HPAI virus to domestic poultry. The findings call for proper biosecurity and quarantine measures for exotic and wild birds to reduce the potential risk to animal and public health in Nigeria.
A phenomenological interpretation of multiple bursting patterns in Lateral Habenula neurons
Authors: Fedorov Dmitry , Campillo Fabien , Desroches Mathieu , Soria-Gómez Edgar , Piriz Joaquin , Rodrigues Serafim 
Published: January 2025

AbstractWe present lateral habenula (LHb) neural data that display a variety of bursting patterns, with two dominant types and a third one that appears as a mix of the other two. We analyse these patterns using elementary statistical tools and characterise them from the perspective of average frequency during the burst and burst duration, which yields two main categories. We then propose an idealised multiple-timescale dynamical model that captures the two main types of bursting patterns observed in the data, namelysquare-waveandparabolicbursting, as well as the intermediatemixed-type(also termedtriangular) bursting. We identify a special point in parameter space, termedsaddle-node homoclinic, which acts as an organising center to distinguish between the two main bursting patterns. Finally, we relate the bursting categories inherent to the model and those identified through statistical analysis, discussing their possible convergence and limitations.
Development of a floxedGabbr2gene allows for widespread conditional disruption of GABBR2 and recapitulates the phenotype of germline Gabbr2 knockout mice
Authors: Hens Julie R. , Brown Stacey , Licznerski Pawel , Suarez Jacqueline , Jonas Elizabeth , Wysolmerski John J. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTGABBR1 and GABBR2 are widely expressed in the brain and genetic inhibition of their function leads to widespread neurologic dysfunction and premature death in mice. Given that GABBR1 and GABBR2 heterodimerize to form a functional receptor, global knockout of GABBR1 or GABBR2 results in a similar phenotype, characterized by spontaneous epileptiform activity, hyperlocomotor activity, hyperalgesia, impaired memory and premature death. It is now known that both GABBR1 and GABBR2 are expressed in a variety of tissues outside the nervous system and that GABA-B receptors can heterodimerize with other class C GPCRs, including the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Studies in vitro have demonstrated that interactions with GABBR1 and GABBR2 can alter CaSR signaling in human embryonic kidney cells and breast cancer cells. The neurologic consequences of global loss of function of GABBR1 or GABBR2 has made it difficult to study the effects of loss of GABBR function in other organs. While a conditional knockout for GABBR1 is available, the GABBR2 gene had not been “floxed”. We have used CRISPR to insert loxP sites into the GABBR2 locus in mice. These mice are normal at baseline but when bred with mice expressing Cre-recombinase under the control of the ubiquitously expressed Actin gene promoter, they recapitulate the phenotype of global GABBR2 knockout mice. Phenotypic changes through the brain, including the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Evidence of abnormal neuronal function, increase cell death, and changes in neuronal architecture are seen throughout the brain of CRISPR knockout mice. These mice should be useful tools to study cell type-specific loss of GABBR2 function in the brain and other organs.
Co-Conservation of Synaptic Gene Expression and Circuitry in Collicular Neurons
Authors: Liu Yuanming , McDaniel John A. , Chen Chen , Yang Lu , Kipcak Arda , Savier Elise L. , Erisir Alev , Cang Jianhua , Campbell John N. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe superior colliculus (SC), a midbrain sensorimotor hub, is anatomically and functionally similar across vertebrates, but how its cell types have evolved is unclear. Using single-nucleus transcriptomics, we compared the SC’s molecular and cellular organization in mice, tree shrews, and humans. Despite over 96 million years of evolutionary divergence, we identified ∼30 consensus neuronal subtypes, includingCbln2+ neurons that form the SC-pulvinar circuit in mice and tree shrews. Synapse-related genes were among the most conserved, unlike neocortex, suggesting co-conservation of synaptic genes and circuitry. In contrast, cilia-related genes diverged significantly across species, highlighting the potential importance of the neuronal primary cilium in SC evolution. Additionally, we identified a novel inhibitory SC neuron in tree shrews and humans but not mice. Our findings reveal that the SC has evolved by conserving neuron subtypes, synaptic genes, and circuitry, while diversifying ciliary gene expression and an inhibitory neuron subtype.
Modulation of the modulated magnetic structure of an Ho i-MAX phase described by a magnetic (3+2)-dimensional superspace group
Authors: Colin Claire V. , Tao Quanzheng , Opagiste Christine , Balou Rafik , Rosen Johanna , Ouisse Thierry , Petříček Václav 
Published: January 2025

The magnetic structures of the Ho-based i-MAX phase (Mo2/3Ho1/3)2GaC were studied with neutron powder diffraction at low temperature. (Mo2/3Ho1/3)2GaC crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm. The material undergoes two successive antiferromagnetic transitions at T
N1 = 10 K and T
N2 = 7.2 K. The magnetic structure below T
N1 is incommensurate with the propagation vector k
1 = (0, ky
, 0) with ky
= 0.696 (1) at 9 K. For the analysis of the magnetic structure, a group-theoretical approach based on the space group of the nuclear structure and its subgroups was employed. A model in the (3+1)D superspace group Cmcm.1′(0β0)s0ss yielded the most accurate results in neutron powder diffraction refinements. The determined structure was found to be an incommensurate longitudinal amplitude-modulated magnetic structure. Below T
N2, additional magnetic satellites develop. They could be indexed by a propagation vector k
2 = (τ
x
, 0, 0) with the τ
x
value increasing below T
N2 until it stabilizes at approximately 3 K at 0.075. A magnetic structure determination considering two propagation vectors k
1 and k
2 was carried out using the superspace formalism by building the corresponding (3+2)D model. The determination was based on the observation that the additional magnetic peaks emerge exclusively in the vicinity of the incommensurate magnetic peaks with propagation vector k
1, and not in the vicinity of nuclear peaks. This indicates that only mixed-index reflections were observed, and not reflections purely related to k
2. The magnetic superspace group (MSSG) that was determined is Amma.1′ (0,β,0)00s0 (0,0,γ)ss0s. The structure can be described as a longitudinal amplitude-modulated structure, which itself is amplitude-modulated in a perpendicular direction. This represents a very unusual case of a 2-k magnetic structure with no symmetry relation between the propagation vectors.
Consumers’ green attitudes and their green purchase intentions: the mediating role of consumer-green product congruence and a comparison between genders
Authors: Olfat Mohammad 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThis research sought to show that consumers with strong green attitudes modify their consumption criteria, getting them to consider green products as more aligned with their preferences. Utilizing the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and self-regulation theory, this study investigated how consumers’ green attitudes influence their intentions to buy eco-friendly products, both directly and through the mediating role of consumer-green product congruence. Furthermore, to find more specific insights for businesses, drawing on attitude-behavior-context (ABC) theory, this study compared the results between males and females.Design/methodology/approachTo evaluate the proposed conceptual model, this study surveyed 272 consumers and analyzed the data using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the help of Smart-PLS 4.0 software.FindingsThe results indicated that consumers with green attitudes have higher intentions to buy green products, both directly and through the mediating role of consumer-green product congruence. While, in contrast to women, no significant direct relationship between men’s green attitude and their green purchase intentions was observed, we found a stronger mediating role for green-product congruence among males than females.Originality/valueThe findings suggest that fostering consumers’ green attitudes not only enhances consumers’ perceived alignment with green products but also significantly increases their intentions to purchase eco-friendly products. Furthermore, a comparison between males and females shows that men only decide to purchase green products when they see an alignment between their preferences and those products. Green attitudes are not sufficient for men to purchase green products. This is among a few studies addressing the above issues from the perspective of TRA, self-regulation theory and ABC theory.
Method for positioning a group of UAVs for organizing stable wireless communication with seismic modules
Authors: Saveliev Anton , Anikin Dmitry , Ronzhin Andrey , Agafonov Vadim , Erokhin Gennady 
Published: January 2025

PurposeA new method for positioning a group of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that collect data from seismic modules via wireless communication is proposed.Design/methodology/approachThe developed method of positioning a group of UAVs includes five main stages: constructing a heat map of Wi-Fi signal propagation, identifying points of maximum signal strength on the heat map, optimal target distribution between UAVs in the group, constructing optimal trajectories considering the complexity of the terrain and resolving conflict situations. The proposed algorithms were implemented programmatically in the ROS2 system in C++, then their operation was simulated in the Gazebo simulation environment.FindingsSimulation of flights of a group of 4, 7 and 10 UAVs in areas of 5 × 5 and 10 × 10 sq km with the presence of 60 and 180 peaks respectively with a height from −50 to −63 dBm, using the developed method made it possible to solve the problem of collecting data from seismic sensors via a wireless communication channel in 34, 18 and 11 min for each group in 5 × 5 area and 83, 37, 32 min for 10 × 10 area. The comparison with other methods showed scalability and performance improvements by an average of 6–18%, depending on the number of UAVs in the group.Originality/valueThe main advantage of this method is the formation of global reciprocating trajectories of a group of UAVs, covering the coordinates of all seismic sensors in the minimum possible time and the iterative construction of local reciprocating trajectories in the process of flying around each sensor.
Conceptual model generation of the relationship between digital marketing capability and business performance: evidence from Turkey
Authors: Acayip Esma , Kirselioglu Dilsad , Akel Gokhan 
Published: January 2025

PurposeThe study develops a model that associates digital marketing capabilities with customer relations orientation, technology orientation and social customer relationship management (CRM) competence with business performance, considering market environment factors. It also aims to contribute to the literature with dynamic capability theory by testing this model.Design/methodology/approachThe model suggested is tested by data obtained online from a sample of 178 Turkish companies that use digital marketing tools. The data obtained were analyzed using the structural equation model (SEM).FindingsIn this study, it has been determined that digital marketing capabilities affect business performance. Also, a positive moderating effect of dynamism is seen in the relationship of digital marketing capabilities with business performance. Also, technology orientation, social CRM competence and customer relations orientation affect and explain digital marketing capabilities as antecedents.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only focuses on Turkish companies, and no distinction has been made in terms of business type/size. Also, since this research was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, the data may have been affected by this period.Originality/valueContextual and methodological research gaps still exist in digital marketing capabilities literature. This study is evaluating Turkish companies’ digital marketing capabilities with business performance, and in the context of Turkey, it is important for other developing countries with a similar market environment. Also, it contributes to the dynamic capabilities theory literature by constructing a novel conceptual model examining the relationship among dynamic digital marketing capabilities, their antecedents and business performance.