bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Compared with pure forest, mixed forest alters microbial diversity and increases the complexity of interdomain networks in arid areas
Authors: Guo Qian , Gong Lu 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Soil microbial communities are key to material cycling and energy exchange in forest soils. As the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang are rich in tree species, it is important to understand the impact of tree species composition on soil microbial community structure and co-occurrence networks in arid mountain habitats. In this study, soil microbial community structure of five typical vegetation types in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, China, was investigated using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS sequences. The results showed that the relationship between the fungal community and tree species was strong, while the bacterial community was mainly affected by soil carbon. The dominant bacterial composition was Ascomycota, which had the highest relative abundance in herbaceous soils (27%–41%); the dominant fungal phylum was Ascomycota (50.22%–63.95% of the total sequences), followed by Stramonium (8.99%–28.09%). The fungal community structure of mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests was similar to that of conifers, while the bacterial community structure was similar to that of pure broadleaf forests. Mixed forests (mean connectivity: 812.50, clustering coefficient: 8.89) showed a more complex co-occurrence network and a significant increase in microbial structure related to soil carbon and nitrogen than pure forests (broad: mean connectivity: 710.69, clustering coefficient: 6.94; coniferous: mean connectivity: 730.79, clustering coefficient: 7.76). The results contribute to the understanding of the interactions between soil microorganisms and soil factors in different forest ecosystems and provide new insights into the interactions among forest microorganisms in arid zones.

IMPORTANCE
The results provide a comparative study of the response of soil microbial ecology to the afforestation of different tree species and deepen the understanding of the factors controlling soil microbial community structure.
Comparative analysis of a rapid diagnostic test and scoring tools for ESBL detection in
Enterobacterales
bloodstream infections for optimizing antimicrobial therapy
Authors: Andrews Sam R. , Timbrook Tristan T. , Fisher Mark A. , Tritle Brandon J. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing
Enterobacterales
bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with increased cost, morbidity, and mortality compared with BSI by non-ESBL-producing bacteria. Phenotypic susceptibility data from blood cultures can take up to 72 hours to result, leading to delays in appropriate antimicrobial administration and unnecessary carbapenem usage. We sought to evaluate the performance of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and two published diagnostic scoring tools for predicting ceftriaxone resistance in BSI by
Enterobacterales
. This was a retrospective observational cohort study evaluating adult patients with BSI by select
Enterobacterales
species (
Escherichia coli
,
Klebsiella oxytoca
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
group,
Proteus mirabilis
, and
Salmonella
spp.). We compared the performance of a multiplex-PCR panel by BioFire (BCID2) with two diagnostic scoring tools for predicting ceftriaxone resistance. Among 356 patients, ceftriaxone resistance was observed in 41 of 356 (11.5%) isolates. BCID2 accurately predicted ceftriaxone susceptibility in 99.2% of isolates (92.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity), compared with <90% for the two scoring tools (
P
< 0.05 for both). In ceftriaxone-resistant isolates (
n
= 41), BCID2 led to fewer instances of undertreatment with ceftriaxone compared with scoring tools (7.3% vs 68.3% and 92.7%). In ceftriaxone-susceptible isolates (
n
= 315), BCID2 led to no instances of overtreatment with carbapenems compared with 3.8% and 5.7% with the scoring tools. The BCID2 panel outperformed both ESBL scoring tools in our population. Local evaluation of RDT and scoring tools should be performed in conjunction with institutional implementation.

IMPORTANCE
Our study addresses a significant issue in the medical and scientific community—the delayed administration of appropriate antimicrobial treatments due to the time-consuming process of phenotypic susceptibility data collection in gram-negative bloodstream infections. Our research indicates that a multiplex PCR rapid diagnostic test (RDT) significantly outperformed two clinical scoring tools in predicting ceftriaxone susceptibility. Multiplex PCR also led to reduced instances of undertreatment with ceftriaxone and minimized overtreatment with carbapenems. Furthermore, multiplex PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in predicting ceftriaxone susceptibility. The results of our study underscore the potential RDTs to reduce the time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
Middle Devonian, late Carboniferous, and Triassic magmatic flare-ups in eastern Armorica (Sakarya Zone, Turkey) as revealed by detrital zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic data
Authors: Topuz Gültekin , Candan Osman , Laurent Oscar , Mohammadi Ali , Okuyucu Cengiz , Çelik Ömer Faruk , Wang Jia-Min 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The Sakarya Zone of northern Turkey contains a well-preserved Early–Middle Jurassic and Late Cretaceous submarine magmatic arc constructed over pre-Jurassic bedrocks that are considered to be the eastward extension of the Armorican Terrane Assemblage in Europe. In this study, we present U-Pb-Hf isotopic data from the detrital zircons of middle Permian and Lower Jurassic sandstones to reveal episodes of Paleozoic–early Mesozoic magmatic flare-ups. Detrital zircon ages, together with data from the literature, define three major age groups at 400–380 Ma, 326–310 Ma, and 250–230 Ma, which indicates three distinct magmatic flare-ups. In addition, there are minor age clusters at 460–430 Ma and 215–195 Ma. Initial εHf values of the detrital zircons indicate significant juvenile input during the Triassic flare-up, the involvement of significantly reworked crustal material during the late Carboniferous magmatic flare-up, and both juvenile and reworked crustal material during the Middle Devonian magmatic flare-up. Within the pre-Jurassic continental basement rocks of the Sakarya Zone, the late Carboniferous igneous rocks are well documented and most voluminous, and the Middle Devonian rocks are known locally, while the Triassic igneous rocks—apart from those in Triassic accretionary complexes—are hardly known. Because the Sakarya Zone is a Gondwana-derived continental block that was later involved in the Variscan and Alpine orogenies, these magmatic flare-ups cannot be explained by subduction-related processes along a single subduction zone. We propose that the Sakarya Zone rifted from the northern margin of Gondwana during the Late Ordovician–Silurian, the Devonian magmatic flare-up (400–380 Ma) was related to the southward subduction of the Rheic Ocean beneath the Sakarya Zone during its northward drift, the late Carboniferous magmatic flare-up (326–310 Ma) occurred following the collision of the Sakarya Zone with Laurussia, and the Triassic flare-up (250–230 Ma) resulted from northward subduction of the Tethys Ocean beneath the Sakarya Zone. Comparison with data from the literature shows that the Triassic and late Carboniferous magmatic flare-ups are also characteristic features of neighboring Armorican domains, such as the Balkans and the Caucasus; however, the Middle Devonian flare-up appears to be restricted to the Sakarya Zone. Along with the late Carboniferous flare-up, the Late Ordovician–Silurian flare-up, which is locally recorded in the Sakarya Zone, is typical of the Armorican Terrane Assemblage as a whole.
Reconciling complex stratigraphic frameworks reveals temporally and geographically variable depositional patterns of the Campanian Ignimbrite
Authors: Gallo Rose I. , Ort Michael H. , Iacovino Kayla , Silleni Aurora , Smith Victoria C. , Giordano Guido , Isaia Roberto , Boro Joseph 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The 39.8-ka Campanian Ignimbrite was emplaced during a large caldera-forming eruption of Campi Flegrei near Naples, Italy. The ignimbrite is found up to 80 km from the caldera, and co-ignimbrite ash-fall deposits occur 3200 km away. The proximal and distal stratigraphy of the Campanian Ignimbrite has not been definitively correlated due to the dissimilar appearance of the proximal and distal deposits, a lack of medial exposures, and the inconsistency and heterogeneity of the proximal stratigraphy. Here, we document the major-element glass-shard chemistry, matrix componentry, and lithic componentry of the proximal and distal stratigraphic sequences of the ignimbrite to attempt to correlate the units. The results of these disparate observations taken together suggest that the established stratigraphic units cannot be directly and uniquely correlated between the proximal and distal regions and that neither the proximal nor distal stratigraphy provides a record of the entire eruptive sequence. However, the characteristics studied can be used to demarcate eruptive phases that are connected to some of the defined units in the proximal and distal stratigraphy.
Predictive biomarkers and specific immune responses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in patients with cancer: prospective results from the CACOV-VAC trial
Authors: Spehner Laurie , Orillard Emeline , Falcoz Antoine , Lepiller Quentin , Bouard Adeline , Almotlak Hamadi , Kim Stefano , Curtit Elsa , Meynard Guillaume , Jary Marine , Nardin Charlee , Asgarov Kamal , Abdeljaoued Syrine , Chartral Ugo , Mougey Virginie , Ben Khelil Myriam , Lopez Morgane , Loyon Romain , Vernerey Dewi , Adotevi Olivier , Borg Christophe , Mansi Laura , Kroemer Marie 
Published: December 2023

ObjectiveVaccinated patients with cancer in follow-up studies showed a high seropositivity rate but impaired antibody titres and T cell responses following mRNA vaccine against COVID-19. Besides clinical characteristics and the type of anticancer treatment before vaccination, the identification of patients susceptible to non-response following vaccination using immunological markers is worth to be investigated.Methods and analysisAll patients (n=138, solid cancers) were included in the CACOV-VAC Study comprising three cohorts ((neo)-adjuvant, metastatic and surveillance). Immune responses were assessed using, respectively, anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) SARS-CoV-S-IgG assay and interferon-γ ELISpot assay 3 months following the prime vaccination dose. Immunophenotyping of T cells and immunosuppressive cells from peripheral blood was performed before the prime dose. The serological threshold 3563 AU/mL was used to discriminate non-responders or suboptimal responders versus responders.ResultsMost patients achieved seroconversion after receiving the two doses of vaccine (97.6%). The median serological level of anti-RBD SARS-CoV-S-IgG was equal to 3029 for patients at the metastatic stage. The patient’s age was the main demographic characteristic that influenced vaccine efficacy. Among the immunological parameters measured at baseline, lower TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) expression on CD8 T cells was associated with a better vaccine immunogenicity both in terms of humoral and cellular immune responses.ConclusionDespite a high seroconversion rate, median serological levels of patients with cancer, particularly elderly patients, were below the threshold equal to 3563 AU/mL considered as a humoral correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2. Our findings suggest that the inhibitory receptor TIGIT might be an interesting predictive biomarker of COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity and beyond in an anticancer vaccine context.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04836793).
‘When there is love between a father and mother, the child will also be loved’: a qualitative exploration of the links between couples’ relationships, parenting and early childhood development in Mwanza, Tanzania
Authors: McCann Juliet K , Alsager Alya , Bhojani Alina , Joachim Damas , Joseph Julieth , Kabati Mary , Jeong Joshua 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe relationship between parents is a key component of the family system that is associated with various child outcomes. However, less is known about how caregivers and community members make meaning of the influence of couples’ relationships on child outcomes and to what extent family caregiving processes underlie these links in low-income and middle-income countries. We therefore aimed to qualitatively investigate the pathways through which positive and negative couples’ relationship dynamics influence early child development.MethodsIn June 2022, we conducted 60 in-depth interviews (29 fathers and 23 mothers and 8 community stakeholders) and 9 focus group discussions (3 with fathers only, 2 with mothers only and 4 mixed parent groups) from across four purposively sampled communities in Mwanza, Tanzania. We analysed data using elements of thematic content analysis and a grounded theory methodology.ResultsWe identified five main mechanisms through which couples’ relationships influenced early child outcomes, including child emotional well-being, health, nutrition and development: (1) parents’ nurturing care practices, (2) parental violence against children, (3) parent–child bonding, (4) parental mental health and (5) child indirect exposures through witnessing interparental relationships. Many of these pathways were interconnected and shaped by gender norms.ConclusionsOur results highlight the importance of engaging couples and targeting marital relationship dynamics as part of caregiving interventions that aim to improve early child outcomes. Strengthening family caregiving relationships between mothers, fathers, and each with their children is crucial for promoting early childhood development.
Documenting capacity and existing gaps in reporting adverse events following immunisation in Northern Ghana: a quantitative cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers
Authors: Ansah Nana Akosua , Weibel Daniel , Oladokun Samuel Tomilola , Duah Enyonam , Ansah Patrick , Oduro Abraham , Sturkenboom Miriam 
Published: December 2023

BackgroundImmunisation remains an indispensable tool in preventing infectious diseases. A robust pharmacovigilance system assures the public of vaccine safety, particularly in countries like Ghana where there is relatively low reporting of adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs). We explored the experiences of health workers in Ghana to ascertain the existing capacity for data collection and information reporting flows for health events associated with vaccination in the country.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Ghana between December 2020 and April 2021. We documented their experiences with regard to knowledge, perceptions and practice of reporting AEFIs to the national pharmacovigilance centre (Ghana Food and Drugs Authority).ResultsOut of 851 participants, 49.2% said their institutions had processes for AEFI reporting. Additionally, 25% of participants had encountered an AEFI within the past year. Out of this number, 55% reported the AEFI. Only 31.2% of community health nurses (vaccinators) considered AEFI reporting part of their job description. Most HCWs (59.34%) had fair to poor knowledge of AEFIs. The main factors affecting AEFI reporting were heavy workload and lack of time (54.1%) and unavailability of reporting forms (57.5%). Only 2% of participants were aware AEFIs could be reported online. Logistic regression analysis revealed female gender as a negative factor influencing AEFI reporting. Training (p<0.0001) and profession (p=0.006) significantly influenced knowledge level of AEFIs. Results of the multiple binary logistic regression indicate that the age and profession of HCWs are the main factors influencing knowledge of reporting AEFIs.ConclusionThe vaccine pharmacovigilance system in Ghana can be strengthened with targeted regular training on AEFI reporting, guidelines for reporting in all health facilities and prompt feedback from the national pharmacovigilance centre to health workers.
Hydrogen sulfide regulates arsenic-induced cell death in yeast cells by modulating the antioxidative system
Authors: Wu Lihua , Yao Xia , Li Haiyan , Chen Yanfei 
Published: December 2023

Arsenic (As) is a metal with potentially toxic effects on different organisms. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a vital role in mitigating heavy metal toxicity by reducing oxidative stress in plants and animals. However, the role of H2S in alleviating arsenic toxicity in yeast cells remains unclear. In this study, the role of NaHS (exogenous physiological H2S) in alleviating As-induced yeast cell death was investigated. Yeast cells in the logarithmic phase were pretreated with 0.05 mmol/L NaHS for 6 h, and then incubated in the YPD medium with or without 1 mmol/L As. After 12 h of treatment, relative survival rate, H2S content, oxidative stress biomarkers, and antioxidant machinery were measured. Our results showed that sodium arsenite-induced yeast cell death and pretreatment with 0.05 mmol/L NaHS significantly alleviated sodium arsenite-induced cell death. Under sodium arsenite conditions, the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, accompanied by the inhibition of the catalase (CAT) activity and the downregulation of CTT1 expression. However, the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathion peroxidase (GPX) increased, and the expression of SOD1 and GPX2 was markedly upregulated in the group treated with sodium arsenite. When yeast cells were pretreated with NaHS, the intracellular ROS and MDA levels decreased significantly, and the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPX increased significantly. This was associated with a significant increase in relative survival rate and H2S content compared to the arsenic treatment alone. Our findings indicate that NaHS alleviates sodium arsenite-induced yeast cell death, mainly by enhancing the antioxidant defense system.
Effects of co-overexpression of ALDH1, CYP71AV1, and iaaM on the density, length, and width of glandular secretory trichomes and the contents of artemisinin in Artemisia annua
Authors: Zhao Yan , Xiao Nan , Long Yanxing , Luo Jie , Liu Xiaozhu , Zhang Xuewen 
Published: December 2023

Sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin is one of the main agents used to treat malaria. Artemisinin is produced in the glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) of Artemisia annua. The plant hormones and metabolic pathways regulate the artemisinin content of A. annua. It was possible to examine the functions of auxin, an important plant hormone, in the development of GSTs in A. annua by enhancing the expression of iaaM, which encodes a tryptophan monooxygenase involved in the biosynthesis of auxin. Additionally, the effects of co-overexpression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 ( ALDH1), P450 monooxygenase ( CYP71AV1), and iaaM on the density, length, and width of GSTs and the contents of artemisinin were further investigated. Results indicated that overexpression of iaaM might increase the density, length, and width of GSTs by enhancing auxin biosynthesis. This study also proved the key regulatory role of ALDH1 in the biosynthesis of artemisinin. Moreover, co-overexpression of ALDH1, CYP71AV1, and iaaM successfully increased the density, length, and width of GSTs and improved the artemisinin content in A. annua. Therefore, we established a theoretical basis for modifying artemisinin accumulation in this study by regulating the expression of auxin and artemisinin synthesis-related genes using a metabolic engineering method.
Global comparison between experimentally measured isomeric yield ratios and nuclear model calculations
Authors: Cannarozzo Simone , Pomp Stephan , Solders Andreas , Al-Adili Ali , Göök Alf , Koning Arjan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe level density steers transition probabilities between different states in the decay and de-excitation of excited nuclei. Reliable level density modelling is, therefore, key in describing, e.g., de-excitation of fission fragments, with implications on neutron and gamma-rays multiplicities, and also manifested in the population of isomeric states. We test six currently used level density models and the spin distribution in the level density by comparing calculations with measured isomeric yield ratios. The model calculations are performed with the TALYS code and experimental data for nuclear reactions populating spin isomers are retrieved from the EXFOR database. On average, calculations are in agreement with measured data. However, we find that the population of the high-spin state in an isomeric pair is clearly favoured in all of the six studied level density models. Further studies are then performed on the three used phenomenological level density models, to investigate the significance of their effect. We find that a significant reduction of the spin width distribution improves the agreement between calculated and experimentally observed isomeric yield ratios. This result is independent of the incident particle in the nuclear reaction. The needed reduction of the spin width distribution to comply with empirical data has, e.g., implications for studies in angular momentum generation in fission using isomeric yield rations, calculations of anti-neutrino spectra from nuclear reactors, as well as neutron and gamma-ray multiplicities in nuclear reactor calculations.
Weak equivalence principle violation for mixed scalar particles
Authors: Blasone Massimo , Jizba Petr , Lambiase Gaetano , Petruzziello Luciano 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe investigate the non-relativistic limit of the Klein–Gordon equation for mixed scalar particles and show that, in this regime, one unavoidably arrives at redefining the particle’s inertial mass. This happens because, in contrast to the case when mixing is absent, the antiparticle sector contribution cannot be neglected for particles with definite flavor. To clearly demonstrate this feature, we adopt the Feshbach–Villars formalism for Klein–Gordon particles. Furthermore, within the same framework, we also demonstrate that, in the presence of a weak gravitational field, the mass parameter that couples to gravity (gravitational mass) does not match the effective inertial mass. This, in turn, implies a violation of the weak equivalence principle. Finally, we prove that the Bargmann’s superselection rule, which prohibits oscillating particles on the basis of the Galilean transformation, is incompatible with the non-relativistic limit of the Lorentz transformation and hence does not collide with the results obtained.
A new solution for a generalized cosmological wormhole
Authors: Pérez Daniela , Neto Mário Raia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWe find a new exact solution to Einstein field equations that represents a cosmological wormhole embedded in a flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker universe. The new metric is a generalization of a previous cosmological wormhole solution found by Kim. We explicitly show that the flaring out condition is satisfied at the throat at all cosmic times; in addition, the null energy condition is violated at the throat regardless of the background cosmological model; thus, the spacetime geometry presented here describes a wormhole coupled to the cosmic dynamics that exists at all cosmic times and whose throat remains open in any cosmological model.