bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A dual insect symbiont and plant pathogen improves insect host fitness under arginine limitation
Authors: Kwak Younghwan , Argandona Jacob A. , Miao Sen , Son Thomas J. , Hansen Allison K. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Some facultative bacterial symbionts are known to benefit insects, but nutritional advantages are rare among these non-obligate symbionts. Here, we demonstrate that the facultative symbiont
Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous
enhances the fitness of its psyllid insect host,
Bactericera cockerelli
, by providing nutritional benefits.
L. psyllaurous
, an unculturable pathogen of solanaceous crops, also establishes a close relationship with its insect vector,
B. cockerelli
, increasing in titer during insect development, vertically transmitting through eggs, and colonizing various tissues, including the bacteriome, which houses the obligate nutritional symbiont,
Carsonella. Carsonella
supplies essential amino acids to its insect host but has gaps in some of its essential amino acid pathways that the psyllid complements with its own genes, many of which have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria. Our findings reveal that
L. psyllaurous
increases psyllid fitness on plants by reducing developmental time and increasing adult weight. In addition, through metagenomic sequencing, we reveal that
L. psyllaurous
maintains complete pathways for synthesizing the essential amino acids arginine, lysine, and threonine, unlike the psyllid’s other resident microbiota,
Carsonella,
and two co-occurring
Wolbachia
strains. RNA sequencing reveals the downregulation of a HGT collaborative psyllid gene (
ASL
), which indicates a reduced demand for arginine supplied by
Carsonella
when the psyllid is infected with
L. psyllaurous
. Notably, artificial diet assays show that
L. psyllaurous
enhances psyllid fitness on an arginine-deplete diet. These results corroborate the role of
L. psyllaurous
as a beneficial insect symbiont, contributing to the nutrition of its insect host.

IMPORTANCE

Unlike obligate symbionts that are permanently associated with their hosts, facultative symbionts rarely show direct nutritional contributions, especially under nutrient-limited conditions. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that
Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous
, a facultative symbiont and a plant pathogen, enhances the fitness of its
Bactericera cockerelli
host by supplying an essential nutrient arginine that is lacking in the plant sap diet. Our findings reveal how facultative symbionts can play a vital role in helping their insect hosts adapt to nutrient-limited environments. This work provides new insights into the dynamic interactions between insect hosts, their symbiotic microbes, and their shared ecological niches, broadening our understanding of symbiosis and its role in shaping adaptation and survival.
Complete genome sequence of
Methylocystis echinoides
strain RIM isolated from soil
Authors: Abdel-Hamid Ahmed M. , Putman Taylor , Furukawa Megan , Palivos William , Walden Kimberly K. O. , Fields Christopher J. , Schimmel Patrick , Mackie Roderick I. , Cann Isaac 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

We report here the complete genome sequence of a type II methanotrophic bacterium,
Methylocystis echinoides
strain RIM, isolated from the soil surface at Urbana, Illinois. This genome was obtained via HiFi PacBio Sequel II sequencing.
mSphere of Influence: Rapid evolution of pathogenesis and drug resistance in human pathogenic fungi
Authors: Hu Pengjie 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Pengjie Hu works in the field of fungal pathogenesis, drug resistance, and evolution. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how three works, “Transposon mobilization in the human fungal pathogen
Cryptococcus
is mutagenic during infection and promotes drug resistance in vitro” and “Genome-wide analysis of heat stress-stimulated transposon mobility in the human fungal pathogen
Cryptococcus deneoformans
” by Gusa et al. and “Rapid evolution of an adaptive multicellular morphology of
Candida auris
during systemic infection” by Bing et al. have impacted his work on the evolution of virulence, resistance, and adaptation in human fungal pathogens.
Minimum Acceptable Simulation Box Size Based on a Comparison of the Stability of Lysozyme Oligomers Using Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Kordonskaya Yu. V. , Garipov I. F. , Timofeev V. I. , Marchenkova M. A. , Dyakova Yu. A. , Pisarevsky Yu. V. , Kovalchuk M. V. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The duration of a simulation directly depends on the size of the system under study: the larger its volume, the longer the calculations. Using a simulation box of minimal size is the most efficient in terms of calculation speed; however, its reduction is permissible only as long as it does not lead to a loss of accuracy of the results. To establish the threshold to which a box can be reduced, the molecular dynamics of lysozyme dimers and hexamers in a crystallization solution is modelled in simulation boxes of different sizes. Since dimers (and octamers) are present in lysozyme crystallization solutions, but hexamers (and tetramers) are absent, a comparison of their stability makes it possible to determine the correctness of the simulation results in each box. It is found that the dimer is more stable than the hexamer in all boxes under consideration, the smallest of which is set so that the minimum distance between the protein atoms and the box face is 1 nm. Thus, this offset is the minimum permissible one in the study of protein crystallization solutions.
Demographic, occupational factors and pandemic-related stressors associated with heightened mental health difficulties among UK health and social care workers supported by regional Resilience Hubs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Varese Filippo , Allsopp Kate , Carter Lesley-Anne , Wilkinson Jack , Shields Gemma E , Rowlandson Aleix , Chung Priscilla , Hassan Alysha A , White Hannah , Wright Sally-Anne , Young Ellie , Davey Jess , Barrett Alan , Bhutani Gita , Hind Daniel , McGuirk Katherine , Huntley Fay , Sarsam May , Walker Holly , Jordan Joanne , Ten Cate Hein , Watson Ruth , Willbourn Jenni , French Paul 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, 40 mental health and well-being hubs were funded in England to support health and social care staff affected by the pandemic.AimsTo describe the characteristics of staff accessing four hubs for support and identify characteristics associated with clinically significant mental health difficulties and work and social functioning.MethodRoutinely collected screening data were analysed from 1973 individuals across 4 hubs, including mental health, demographic and occupational data and pandemic-related stressors. Factors associated with clinically significant mental health difficulties were identified via logistic regression.ResultsMost hub clients identified as white women who worked for the UK National Health Service; other groups were less well represented. Hub clients reported high levels of clinically significant mental health difficulties: 60% had severe and often co-occurring difficulties (ie, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or alcohol use) and 80% reported significantly impaired functioning. Younger age, disability status, identifying as from a minority ethnic group, and sexual orientations excluding heterosexual were associated with higher likelihood of having clinically significant mental health difficulties. Suffering financial loss during the pandemic, and prepandemic emotional well-being concerns were the most consistent factors associated with higher difficulties.ConclusionsThe hubs supported health and social care staff with significant mental health difficulties. Outreach and engagement with under-represented groups should be undertaken to address potential barriers to service access. The findings add to the knowledge base on the support needs of the health and social care workforce and the planning of support in response to future crises.
Evidence map of liver surgery: study protocol of a living systematic review
Authors: Heersche Sidney , Giron Héloïse , Uldry Emilie , Joliat Gaëtan-Romain , Hüttner Felix , Probst Pascal , Melloul Emmanuel , Labgaa Ismail 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionThe amount of scientific data on liver surgery is exploding. There is a critical unmet need to develop tools that will facilitate navigating the literature and offer easy, fast and accurate access to data with a high level of evidence. Evidence maps (EM) combining living systematic reviews (SR) and user-friendly synthesis with graphs and figures were developed for this purpose in other medical fields and showed promising results but remain yet unavailable in liver surgery. The present study protocol aims to generate an EM in liver surgery, gathering randomised clinical trials (RCT) and SR.Methods and analysisA systematic search will be conducted in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Embase and Medline to identify all RCT and SR concerning liver surgery. RCT and SR will be classified in research topics. Selected endpoints will be extracted and meta-analysed. Results will be freely available for patients, clinicians and researchers via a web-based evidence map platform. EM and meta-analyses (MA) will be updated at regular intervals.Ethics and disseminationIncluding publicly available data, this type of study design did not require ethical committee approval. EM displays the required properties to facilitate literature search and to get a rapid overview of the current evidence, an unavailable tool in liver surgery, to date. Generating such an aid may considerably help patients, clinicians and researchers in many aspects: accessing accurate data, helping in decision-making and identifying gaps in the field. On completion of the project, results will be published, freely available viawww.evidencemap.surgeryand permanently updated.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023489201 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/)
Evaluating an evidence-based iSupport for Dementia programme in routine care services: study protocol for a hybrid type II trial
Authors: Xiao Lily Dongxia , Cheng Ada , Xie Candy , Chiu Kam , Yu Ying , Ullah Shahid , Wang Jing , Hu Rujun , Xu Dingxin , Pan Xiaoying , Zhang Angela Rong Yang 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionDisparities in supporting carers of people with dementia exist in carer populations. The WHO developed an evidence-based iSupport for Dementia programme to address the disparities. However, evidence on how to embed the iSupport programme in routine health and aged care services to optimise support for carers remains largely unknown.Methods and analysisThis study will apply a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate the embedment of two iSupport innovations: ‘usual iSupport’ and ‘tailored iSupport’ in health and aged care services in Australia and China. The RE-AIM framework informed the study design. Three aged care organisations in Australia, two public hospitals and a community health centre in China will participate in the trial by delivering the two iSupport innovations to 158 carers of people with dementia with 79 carers in each intervention group using a randomised controlled trial design. The effectiveness of the two iSupport innovations will be determined by measuring the quality of life and self-efficacy of carers, and the quality of life of people with dementia, unplanned hospital admissions, emergency department presentations and admissions to permanent nursing homes and perceived quality of care of people with dementia at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. The effectiveness of strategies used to embed the iSupport innovations in routine care services will be evaluated using qualitative data collected from focus groups or interviews with carers, staff and management involved in the study and records from the participating organisations.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from Flinders University (project number: 5819), Xi’an Jiaotong University (project number: 2023–1629) and Zunyi Medical University (project number: KLL-2023–245). We will obtain informed written or oral consent from participants in the trial. We will publish the results in peer-reviewed journals to disseminate the study and generate impact on policy and practice changes.Trial registration numberACTRN12623000323628; The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR); registered on 27 March 2023.
mHealth intervention (mTB-Tobacco) for smoking cessation in people with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis in Bangladesh and Pakistan: protocol for an adaptive design, cluster randomised controlled trial (Quit4TB)
Authors: Zahid Maham , Rahman Fahmidur , Chowdhury Asiful , Rana Shakhawat Hossain , Ansaari Saeed , Lim Ai Keow , Danaee Mahmoud , Boeckmann Melanie , Parrott Steve , Norrie John , Khan Amina , Huque Rumana , Siddiqi Kamran 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionPeople with tuberculosis (TB) who continue to smoke are more likely to have poor health outcomes than those who quit. Established smoking cessation approaches such as mHealth may help patients with TB quit smoking. This paper summarises the methodology proposed to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mTB-Tobacco (an mHealth intervention) in helping patients with TB stop smoking and have improved health outcomes.Methods and analysisA two-arm, parallel, open-label, multicentre, cluster randomised, two-stage adaptive design trial is proposed to first evaluate the superiority of mTB-Tobacco, compared with usual care and then the non-inferiority of mTB-tobacco compared with face-to-face behaviour support. Study settings include TB treatment centres in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The study population includes adult patients, newly diagnosed (within 4 weeks) with pulmonary TB disease, daily smokers, willing to quit and have access to mobile phones. The primary outcome includes biochemically verified continuous smoking abstinence assessed at 6 months per Russell Standard. A generalised linear mixed-effects model will be used to assess the impact of mTB-Tobacco intervention on continuous outcomes, incorporating fixed effects for the intervention, random effects for clusters and relevant covariates. Cost-effectiveness analysis will be done to estimate the cost per quitter and cost per quality-adjusted life year gained, calculate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios to establish the value for money for mTB-Tobacco.Ethics and disseminationThis trial will be conducted in compliance with International Council on Harmonisation - Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki. The study has been approved by the ethics committees of the University of Edinburgh Medical School Research Ethics Committee (EMREC) of UK, the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) and the National Bioethics Committee (PMRC) of Pakistan. The results of this trial will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented in academic conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN86971818(https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN86971818); pre-enrolment, submission date: 29 August 2023; registration date: 11 September 2023.
Effectiveness of SMS-based interventions in enhancing antenatal care in developing countries: a systematic review
Authors: Kante Mahamadou , Målqvist Mats 
Published: February 2025

ObjectivesPregnant women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Mali, often face challenges such as limited access to comprehensive health information and services. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, particularly SMS-based interventions, have shown promise in addressing maternal health challenges. This review aims to provide an overview of existing SMS-based antenatal care (ANC) applications and assess their effectiveness in improving maternal and child health outcomes.DesignA systematic literature review was conducted based on updated PRISMA 2020 guidelines.Data sourcesPubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Association for Information Systems eLibrary, Direct Science and Google Scholar were searched through 25 March 2024.Eligibility criteriaStudies that focused on SMS-based interventions designed to improve ANC information and attendance, published in English or French, conducted in LMICs and published between 2014 and 2024 were included. Exclusion criteria eliminated studies that did not report primary outcomes or did not directly involve SMS-based interventions for ANC.Data extraction and synthesisRelevant data were systematically extracted, including study characteristics, intervention details, and outcome measures. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2), the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) and the Checklist for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in Healthcare (CReDECI), depending on the study design. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore variations in outcomes by region and study design.ResultsThe review identified a range of SMS-based interventions (n=12) that differed in target audience, message frequency (weekly, pregnancy stage-oriented) and content (reminders (91.7% of cases, 11/12), educational (75%) and danger signs (16.7%)). Regional analysis highlighted significant research activity in East Africa but with mixed significance levels. The study design analysis revealed that randomised controlled trials yielded the most significant results, with five of eight studies showing full significance, whereas quasi-experimental studies demonstrated consistent but less frequent effectiveness. Implementation tools varied from SMS gateways to custom applications and third-party platforms, with some interventions combining these approaches. SMS interventions positively impacted ANC attendance, maternal health knowledge and behaviours, with effectiveness varying based on the intervention type, content, frequency and implementation approach.ConclusionSMS-based interventions have the potential to enhance ANC in LMICs by providing tailored health information and promoting healthy behaviours. Further research should focus on refining or replicating these interventions and exploring their long-term effects on maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in underrepresented regions.
Motivational interviewing training for caregiver counsellors: study protocol of a mixed-methods evaluation using the Kirkpatrick model
Authors: Schmidt Johanna , Bösl Sophia , Lauer Natascha , Graessel Elmar , Henßler Oliver-Timo , Pendergrass Anna 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionCaring for a relative in the home environment is a great challenge for many informal caregivers (CGs). Caregiver counselling offers support to the CGs and can, thus, help them improve CGs’ burdensome home care situations, especially if the caregiver counsellors (CCs) have good communication skills. Motivational interviewing (MI) has the potential to further enhance the communication skills of CCs and the effectiveness of MI has been demonstrated internationally in a wide variety of contexts. However, MI has not been implemented and evaluated in the caregiver counselling context yet.Methods and analysisThe goals of our prospective, interventional, mixed-methods study are the development, implementation and evaluation of a training course for CCs on the topic of ‘Motivational Interviewing for caregiver counselling’ in Germany. The training is specifically adapted to the caregiver counselling context and consists of an e-Learning, an on-site workshop and a voluntary follow-up support phase. Its quality and benefits will be evaluated according to Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model. Measured outcomes will be participants' satisfaction with the training (level I: reaction), MI knowledge (level II: learning), perceived use (level III: behaviour) and counselling competence, self-efficacy, social cognitions about the use of MI and perceived impact of MI (level IV: results). Primary outcome is counselling competence measured by Counsellor Activity Self-Efficacy Scale. The data will be collected at baseline (t0), after the on-site workshop (t1), after the voluntary follow-up support (t2) and 6 months after the training (t6). Quantitative data will be analysed with several repeated-measures ANOVAs and qualitative data with qualitative content analysis. Recruitment is ongoing until 31 July 2024.Ethics and disseminationAll procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Friedrich–Alexander University Erlangen–Nürnberg (project number 24–108-B). Informed consent will be obtained before participants are enrolled. Serious adverse events are not expected. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN14218056.
Physical and psychological predictors for persistent and recurrent non-specific neck pain: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Cho Wai Geoffrey , Wongwitwichote Kanya , Mansfield Michael , Deane Janet , Falla Deborah 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionBoth physical adaptations (e.g., altered neck kinematics and muscle coordination) and psychological features are common in people presenting with neck pain (NP). Additionally, both physical and psychological features may be relevant for the development of persistent or recurrent NP. Although a number of original studies have reported this, currently there is no available systematic review reporting physical and psychological predictors for the recurrence of non-specific NP.Methods and analysisThe report of this systematic review protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Studies will be searched from PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO and grey literature. Title, abstract and full-text screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be conducted by two independent reviewers. Studies investigating the prediction of persistent or recurrent NP from physical or psychological predictors will be included. Physical predictors will be commonly reported objective measures including neck kinematics, measures of muscle activity and sensory function. Psychological predictors will include variables such as kinesiophobia, self-efficacy, pain coping strategies and quality of life. The main outcomes of interest are the Neck Disability Index, presence of pain recurrence, as well as pain intensity and frequency during a persistent or recurrent NP episode. Observational cohort studies will be included, and studies on both single-factor and multifactor predictions or associations will be investigated. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. The certainty of evidence will be rated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). A random-effect meta-analysis will be conducted if methodological and clinical homogeneity is deemed satisfactory.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval will not be required for this review as there is no primary data collection involving humans. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024596844.