bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impacts of rising vapour pressure deficit in natural and managed ecosystems
Authors: Novick Kimberly A. , Ficklin Darren L. , Grossiord Charlotte , Konings Alexandra G. , Martínez‐Vilalta Jordi , Sadok Walid , Trugman Anna T. , Williams A. Park , Wright Alexandra J. , Abatzoglou John T. , Dannenberg Matthew P. , Gentine Pierre , Guan Kaiyu , Johnston Miriam R. , Lowman Lauren E. L. , Moore David J. P. , McDowell Nate G. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAn exponential rise in the atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the most consequential impacts of climate change in terrestrial ecosystems. Rising VPD has negative and cascading effects on nearly all aspects of plant function including photosynthesis, water status, growth and survival. These responses are exacerbated by land–atmosphere interactions that couple VPD to soil water and govern the evolution of drought, affecting a range of ecosystem services including carbon uptake, biodiversity, the provisioning of water resources and crop yields. However, despite the global nature of this phenomenon, research on how to incorporate these impacts into resilient management regimes is largely in its infancy, due in part to the entanglement of VPD trends with those of other co‐evolving climate drivers. Here, we review the mechanistic bases of VPD impacts at a range of spatial scales, paying particular attention to the independent and interactive influence of VPD in the context of other environmental changes. We then evaluate the consequences of these impacts within key management contexts, including water resources, croplands, wildfire risk mitigation and management of natural grasslands and forests. We conclude with recommendations describing how management regimes could be altered to mitigate the otherwise highly deleterious consequences of rising VPD.
Blue light impairs the repair of UVB‐induced pyrimidine dimers in a human skin model
Authors: Douki Thierry , Bacqueville Daniel , Jacques Carine , Geniès Camille , Roullet Nicolas , Bessou‐Touya Sandrine , Duplan Hélène 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn recent years, interest is growing in the biological cutaneous effects of high‐energy visible light (400–450 nm). In the present study, we explored the impact of blue light (BL) on the repair of pyrimidine dimers, the major class of premutagenic DNA damage induced by exposure to sunlight. We unambiguously demonstrate that the exposure of in vitro reconstructed human epidermis to environmentally relevant doses of BL strongly decreases the rate of repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine (6‐4) pyrimidone photoproducts induced by a subsequent UVB irradiation. Using the highly sensitive and specific liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry assay, we did not observe induction of pyrimidine dimers by BL alone. Finally, we showed that application, during the BL exposure step, of a formula containing a new filter, named TriAsorB and affording BL photoprotection, prevented the decrease in DNA repair efficiency. These results emphasize the potential deleterious effects of BL on DNA repair and the interest in providing adequate skin protection against this wavelength range of sunlight.
Impact of individual, combined and sequential stress on photosynthesis machinery in rice (Oryza sativa L)
Authors: Anwar Khalid , Joshi Rohit , Bahuguna Rajeev N. , Govindjee Govindjee , Sasidharan Rashmi , Singla‐Pareek Sneh L. , Pareek Ashwani 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAbiotic stresses such as heat, drought and submergence are major threats to global food security. Despite simultaneous or sequential occurrence of these stresses being recurrent under field conditions, crop response to such stress combinations is poorly understood. Rice is a staple food crop for the majority of human beings. Exploitation of existing genetic diversity in rice for combined and/or sequential stress is a useful approach for developing climate‐resilient cultivars. We phenotyped ~400 rice accessions under high temperature, drought, or submergence and their combinations. A cumulative performance index revealed Lomello as the best performer across stress and stress combinations at the seedling stage. Lomello showed a remarkable ability to maintain a higher quantum yield of photosystem (PS) II photochemistry. Moreover, the structural integrity of the photosystems, electron flow through both PSI and PSII and the ability to protect photosystems against photoinhibition were identified as the key traits of Lomello across the stress environments. A higher membrane stability and an increased amount of leaf chlorophyll under stress may be due to an efficient management of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the cellular level. Further, an efficient electron flow through the photosystems and, thus, a higher photosynthetic rate in Lomello is expected to act as a sink for ROS by reducing the rate of electron transport to the high amount of molecular oxygen present in the chloroplast. However, further studies are needed to identify the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the stability of photosynthetic machinery and stress management in Lomello during stress conditions.
Exploring the exponential sensitivity of risk perception in the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Kim Min‐Kyu , Lee Bo‐Eun , Chung Ji‐Bum 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIndividual's risk perception regarding specific hazards is a dynamic process that evolves over time. This study analyzed the relationship between the number of COVID‐19 cases and the South Korean public's risk perceptions from the outset of the pandemic to the recent past. More than 70 repeated cross‐sectional surveys were conducted biweekly to measure individuals’ risk perception. An autoregressive integrated moving average with explanatory variable time series analysis was used to characterize the relationship between the number of COVID‐19 cases and level of risk perceptions. It revealed that individuals’ risk perception and the number of COVID‐19 cases were not linearly related but were logarithmically correlated. This finding can be understood as a psychic numbing effect, suggesting that people's perception of risk is not linear but rather exponentially sensitive to changes. The findings also revealed a significant influence of individuals’ trust in local governments on their risk perceptions, highlighting the substantial role played by local governments in direct risk management during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Powered versus manual toothbrushes for plaque removal and gingival health amongst 55 and older individuals: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Saroya Komal Kaur , Gupta Arpit , Shrivastava Richa , Mehta Nishant , Goyal Ashima 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo compare manual and powered toothbrushes in older adults and to culminate available clinical evidence concerning efficiency with respect to plaque removal and reduced gingivitis.BackgroundManual dexterity decreases with age, negatively impacting daily activities, including oral hygiene practices. Effective plaque control in this age group is directly related to nutrition and overall health. Therefore, developing oral health interventions tailored to the ageing population is essential.Material and methodsThis systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42023415876). Five electronic databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials published from inception until March 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Meta‐analyses were also performed for gingival, plaque, and bleeding indices.ResultsA total of 2118 records were identified, and six eligible publications were retrieved. Comparison of Plaque Indices between powered and manual toothbrushes showed a Standard mean difference (SMD) of −0.10; 95% CI [−0.37, 0.18] (p = .38). Comparison of the gingival index and bleeding index between powered and manual toothbrushes showed an SMD of −0.28; 95% CI [−0.72, 0.16] (p = .22) and SMD of −0.03 [−0.38, 0.32] (p = .84), respectively.ConclusionAccording to the available literature, this study suggests the need for more streamlined research to support the superiority of either powered or manual toothbrushes in improving oral health (as measured by the indices) among the older population. The results will hence have significant reverberations for older adults looking to improve their oral hygiene practices.
Spinal lymphoma in a goat
Authors: Nankemann Jannis , Holland Merrilee , Glamann Samantha , Cole Robert , Stockler Jenna , Moon Rachel 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA 3‐year‐old Pygmy Wether was presented for chronic hindlimb paralysis. A neurological exam revealed nonambulatory paraplegia with absent deep pain nociception, lack of hindlimb withdrawal reflexes, and paraspinal pain on palpation with T3 to L3 neurolocalization. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed an extensive, dorsal to dorsolateral, severely compressive, heterogeneously contrast‐enhancing extradural lesion of the lumbar spine with intervertebral foraminal extension into the surrounding paraspinal musculature. Vertebral bone marrow involvement was also noted in the L5 and L6 vertebrae. A diagnosis of lymphoma was obtained after cytological sampling. This is the first case report describing specific MRI findings (signal characteristics, enhancement pattern, and perilesional changes) in a goat with paraspinal lymphoma.
The Loewner–Kufarev energy and foliations by Weil–Petersson quasicircles
Authors: Viklund Fredrik , Wang Yilin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe study foliations by chord–arc Jordan curves of the twice punctured Riemann sphere using the Loewner–Kufarev equation. We associate to such a foliation a function on the plane that describes the “local winding” along each leaf. Our main theorem is that this function has finite Dirichlet energy if and only if the Loewner driving measure has finite Loewner–Kufarev energy, defined by
whenever is of the form , and set to otherwise. Moreover, if either of these two energies is finite, they are equal up to a constant factor, and in this case, the foliation leaves are Weil–Petersson quasicircles. This duality between energies has several consequences. The first is that the Loewner–Kufarev energy is reversible, that is, invariant under inversion and time reversal of the foliation. Furthermore, the Loewner energy of a Jordan curve can be expressed using the minimal Loewner–Kufarev energy of those measures that generate the curve as a leaf. This provides a new and quantitative characterization of Weil–Petersson quasicircles. Finally, we consider conformal distortion of the foliation and show that the Loewner–Kufarev energy satisfies an exact transformation law involving the Schwarzian derivative. The proof of our main theorem uses an isometry between the Dirichlet energy space on the unit disc and that we construct using Hadamard's variational formula expressed by means of the Loewner–Kufarev equation. Our results are related to ‐parameter duality and large deviations of Schramm–Loewner evolutions coupled with Gaussian random fields.
Effect of the aggregated protein dye YAT2150 on
Leishmania
parasite viability
Authors: Román-Álamo Lucía , Avalos-Padilla Yunuen , Bouzón-Arnáiz Inés , Iglesias Valentín , Fernández-Lajo Jorge , Monteiro Juan M. , Rivas Luis , Fisa Roser , Riera Cristina , Andreu David , Pintado-Grima Carlos , Ventura Salvador , Arce Elsa M. , Muñoz-Torrero Diego , Fernàndez-Busquets Xavier 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

The problems associated with the drugs currently used to treat leishmaniasis, including resistance, toxicity, and the high cost of some formulations, call for the urgent identification of new therapeutic agents with novel modes of action. The aggregated protein dye YAT2150 has been found to be a potent antileishmanial compound, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) of approximately 0.5 µM against promastigote and amastigote stages of
Leishmania infantum
. The encapsulation in liposomes of YAT2150 significantly improved its
in vitro
IC
50
to 0.37 and 0.19 µM in promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, and increased the half-maximal cytotoxic concentration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells to >50 µM. YAT2150 became strongly fluorescent when binding intracellular protein deposits in
Leishmania
cells. This fluorescence pattern aligns with the proposed mode of action of this drug in the malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
, the inhibition of protein aggregation. In
Leishmania major
, YAT2150 rapidly reduced ATP levels, suggesting an alternative antileishmanial mechanism. To the best of our knowledge, this first-in-class compound is the only one described so far having significant activity against both
Plasmodium
and
Leishmania
, thus being a potential drug for the treatment of co-infections of both parasites.
Rhodococcus
infection: a 10-year retrospective analysis of clinical experience and antimicrobial susceptibility profile
Authors: Ranganath Nischal , Mendoza Maria Alejandra , Stevens Ryan , Kind Dalton , Wengenack Nancy , Shah Aditya 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Rhodococcus equi
is an opportunistic pathogen known to cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease among immunocompromised patients. Treatment is frequently challenging due to intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. While non-
equi Rhodococcus
spp. are prevalent, their clinical significance is poorly defined. There is also limited data on antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of
Rhodococcus
infection in humans. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluating clinical characteristics, microbiologic profile, and AST of
Rhodococcus
infections between June 2012 and 2022 at our tertiary academic medical center. Identification of
Rhodococcus
spp. was performed by Sanger 16S rRNA gene sequencing and/or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and AST was performed by agar dilution. Three hundred twenty-two isolates of
Rhodococcus
spp. were identified from blood (50%), pulmonary (26%), and bone/joint (12%) sources.
R. equi/hoagii, R. corynebacterioides
, and
R. erythropolis
were the most frequently isolated species, with 19% of isolates identified only to genus level. One hundred ninety-nine isolates evaluated for AST demonstrated high-level resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides. More than 95% susceptibility to imipenem, vancomycin, linezolid, rifampin, and clarithromycin was observed. Non-
equi
species showed a significantly more favorable AST profile relative to
R. equi
. Clinically significant
Rhodococcus
infection was rare with 10 cases diagnosed (majority due to
R. equi
) and managed. The majority of patients received 2- or 3-drug combination therapy for 2–6 months, with favorable clinical response. Significant differences in AST were observed between
R. equi
and non-
equi
species. Despite high antimicrobial resistance to several antibiotic classes, imipenem and vancomycin remain appropriate empiric treatment options for
R. equi
. Future research evaluating mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance is warranted.
NS1-mediated enhancement of MVC transcription and replication promoted by KAT5/H4K12ac
Authors: Zhang Xueyan , Guo Jianhui , Xu Huanzhou , Ding Shuang , Liu Lishi , Chen Zhen , Yang Jingwen , Liu Yi , Hao Haojie , Huang Fang , Qiu Jianming , Guan Wuxiang , Sun Yuning , Liu Haibin 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Histone modifications function in both cellular and viral gene expression. However, the roles of acetyltransferases and histone acetylation in parvoviral infection remain poorly understood. In the current study, we found the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), promoted the replication and transcription of parvovirus minute virus of canines (MVC). Notably, the expression of host acetyltransferases KAT5, GTF3C4, and KAT2A was increased in MVC infection, as well as H4 acetylation (H4K12ac). KAT5 is not only responsible for H4K12ac but also crucial for viral replication and transcription. The viral nonstructural protein NS1 interacted with KAT5 and enhanced its expression. Further study showed that Y44 in KAT5, which may be tyrosine-phosphorylated, is indispensable for NS1-mediated enhancement of KAT5 and efficient MVC replication. The data demonstrated that NS1 interacted with KAT5, which resulted in an enhanced H4K12ac level to promote viral replication and transcription, implying the epigenetic addition of H4K12ac in viral chromatin-like structure by KAT5 is vital for MVC replication.

IMPORTANCE
Parvoviral genomes are chromatinized with host histones. Therefore, histone acetylation and related acetyltransferases are required for the virus to modify histones and open densely packed chromatin structures. This study illustrated that histone acetylation status is important for MVC replication and transcription and revealed a novel mechanism that the viral nonstructural protein NS1 hijacks the host acetyltransferase KAT5 to enhance histone acetylation of H4K12ac, which relies on a potential tyrosine phosphorylation site, Y44 in KAT5. Other parvoviruses share a similar genome organization and coding potential and may adapt a similar strategy for efficient viral replication and transcription.
Characterization of
Acinetobacter baumannii
core oligosaccharide synthesis reveals novel aspects of lipooligosaccharide assembly
Authors: VanOtterloo Leah M. , Macias Luis A. , Powers Matthew J. , Brodbelt Jennifer S. , Trent M. Stephen 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

A fundamental feature of Gram-negative bacteria is their outer membrane that protects the cell against environmental stressors. This defense is predominantly due to its asymmetry, with glycerophospholipids located in the inner leaflet and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or lipooligosaccharide (LOS) confined to the outer leaflet. LPS consists of a lipid A anchor, a core oligosaccharide, and a distal O-antigen while LOS lacks O-antigen. While LPS/LOS is typically essential for growth, this is not the case for
Acinetobacter baumannii
. Despite this unique property, the synthesis of the core oligosaccharide of
A. baumannii
LOS is not well-described. Here, we characterized the LOS chemotypes of
A. baumannii
strains with mutations in a predicted core oligosaccharide locus via tandem mass spectrometry. This allowed for an extensive identification of genes required for core assembly that can be exploited to generate precise structural LOS modifications in many
A. baumannii
strains. We further investigated two chemotypically identical yet phenotypically distinct mutants, ∆
2903
and ∆
lpsB
, that exposed a possible link between LOS and the peptidoglycan cell wall—two cell envelope components whose coordination has not yet been described in
A. baumannii
. Selective reconstruction of the core oligosaccharide via expression of 2903 and LpsB revealed that these proteins rely on each other for the unusual tandem transfer of two residues, KdoIII and N-acetylglucosaminuronic acid. The data presented not only allow for better usage of
A. baumannii
as a tool to study outer membrane integrity but also provide further evidence for a novel mechanism of core oligosaccharide assembly.

IMPORTANCE

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that produces lipooligosaccharide (LOS), a glycolipid that confers protective asymmetry to the bacterial outer membrane. The core oligosaccharide is a ubiquitous component of LOS that typically follows a well-established model of synthesis. In addition to providing an extensive analysis of the genes involved in the synthesis of the core region, we demonstrate that this organism has evidently diverged from the long-held archetype of core synthesis. Moreover, our data suggest that
A. baumannii
LOS assembly is important for cell division and likely intersects with the synthesis of the peptidoglycan cell wall, another essential component of the Gram-negative cell envelope. This connection between LOS and cell wall synthesis provides an intriguing foundation for a unique method of outer membrane biogenesis and cell envelope coordination.
Botulinum neurotoxin X lacks potency in mice and in human neurons
Authors: Gregg Brieana M. , Matsumura Takuhiro , Wentz Travis G. , Tepp William H. , Bradshaw Marite , Stenmark Pål , Johnson Eric A. , Fujinaga Yukako , Pellett Sabine 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a class of toxins produced by
Clostridium botulinum
(
C. botulinum
) and other species of
Clostridia
. BoNT/X is a putative novel botulinum neurotoxin identified through genome sequencing and capable of SNARE cleavage, but its neurotoxic potential in humans and vertebrates remained unclear. The
C. botulinum
strain producing BoNT/X, Strain 111, encodes both a plasmid-borne
bont/b2
as well as the chromosomal putative
bont/x
. This study utilized
C. botulinum
Strain 111 from Japan as well as recombinantly produced full-length BoNT/X to more fully analyze this putative pathogenic toxin. We confirmed production of full-length, catalytically active native BoNT/X by
C. botulinum
Strain 111, produced as a disulfide-bonded dichain polypeptide similar to other BoNTs. Both the purified native and the recombinant BoNT/X had high enzymatic activity
in vitro
but displayed very low potency in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal cells and in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of up to 50 µg of native BoNT/X in mice did not result in botulism; however, mild local paralysis was observed after injection of 2 μg into the gastrocnemius muscle. We further demonstrate that the lack of toxicity by BoNT/X is due to inefficient neuronal cell association and entry, which can be rescued by replacing the receptor binding domain of BoNT/X with that of BoNT/A. These data demonstrate that BoNT/X is not a potent vertebrate neurotoxin like the classical seven serotypes of BoNTs.

IMPORTANCE
The family of botulinum neurotoxins comprises the most potent toxins known to humankind. New members of this family of protein toxins as well as more distantly related homologs are being identified. The discovery of BoNT/X via bioinformatic screen in 2017 as a putative new BoNT serotype raised concern about its potential as a pathogenic agent with no available countermeasures. This study for the first time assessed both recombinantly produced and native purified BoNT/X for its vertebrate neurotoxicity.
Travertine records climate-induced transformations of the Yellowstone hydrothermal system from the late Pleistocene to the present
Authors: Harrison Lauren N. , Hurwitz Shaul , Paces James B. , Whitlock Cathy , Peek Sara , Licciardi Joseph 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Chemical changes in hot springs, as recorded by thermal waters and their deposits, provide a window into the evolution of the postglacial hydrothermal system of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field. Today, most hydrothermal travertine forms to the north and south of the ca. 631 ka Yellowstone caldera where groundwater flow through subsurface sedimentary rocks leads to calcite saturation at hot springs. In contrast, low-Ca rhyolites dominate the subsurface within the Yellowstone caldera, resulting in thermal waters that rarely deposit travertine. We investigated the timing and origin of five small travertine deposits in the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins to understand the conditions that allowed for travertine deposition. New 230Th-U dating, oxygen (δ18O), carbon (δ13C), and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotopic ratios, and elemental concentrations indicate that travertine deposits within the Yellowstone caldera formed during three main episodes that correspond broadly with known periods of wet climate: 13.9–13.6 ka, 12.2–9.5 ka, and 5.2–2.9 ka. Travertine deposition occurred in response to the influx of large volumes of cold meteoric water, which increased the rate of chemical weathering of surficial sediments and recharge into the hydrothermal system. The small volume of intracaldera travertine does not support a massive postglacial surge of CO2 within the Yellowstone caldera, nor was magmatic CO2 the catalyst for postglacial travertine deposition.