bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Positive regulation of the PhcB neighbouring regulator PrhX on expression of the type III secretion system and pathogenesis in Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Huang Jiajun , Wang Rongsheng , Zhang Qi , Wang Chunli , Liang Tao , Hikichi Yasufumi , Ohnishi Kouhei , Jiang Gaofei , Guo Tao , Zhang Yong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRalstonia solanacearum PhcB and PhcA control a quorum‐sensing (QS) system that globally regulates expression of about one third of all genes, including pathogenesis genes. The PhcB–PhcA QS system positively regulates the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) and negatively regulates hrp gene expression, which is crucial for the type III secretion system (T3SS). Both EPS and the T3SS are essential for pathogenicity. The gene rsc2734 is located upstream of a phcBSR operon and annotated as a response regulator of a two‐component system. Here, we demonstrated that RSc2734, hereafter named PrhX, positively regulated hrp gene expression via a PrhA–PrhIR–PrhJ–HrpG signalling cascade. Moreover, PrhX was crucial for R. solanacearum to invade host roots and grow in planta naturally. prhX expression was independent of the PhcB–PhcA QS system. PrhX did not affect the expression of phcB and phcA and the QS‐dependent phenotypes, such as EPS production and biofilm formation. Our results provide novel insights into the complex regulatory network of the T3SS and pathogenesis in R. solanacearum.
Trypanosoma cruzi infection reduces the population fitness of Mepraia spinolai, a Chagas disease vector
Authors: de Bona Sophie , Chi Hsin , Bustamante Ramiro O. , Botto‐Mahan Carezza 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe hematophagous insect Mepraia spinolai (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) is naturally infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease in humans. In this study, we compared the demographic parameters of M. spinolai with and without T. cruzi infection. We collected the immature life table data of 479 M. spinolai individuals of control cohort (reared on mice without T. cruzi infection) and 563 M. spinolai individuals of treatment cohort (reared on mice with T. cruzi infection). Nymphs were maintained in individual compartments inside a growth chamber (26°C; 65–75%) until adult emergence; moulting and survival were recorded daily. For the adult life table study of the control, we used 24 pairs of adults from the control cohort. For the adult life table study of T. cruzi‐infected cohort, 25 infected females were paired with 25 males from the control cohort. Life table data were analysed using bootstrap‐match technique based on the age‐stage, two‐sex life table. The preadult survival rate (0.5282) of the control cohort was significantly higher than that of the infected cohort (0.2913). However, the mean fecundity of reproductive females (Fr = 22.29 eggs/♀) and net reproductive rate of population (R0 = 5.07 offspring/individual) of the 0.5th percentile bootstrap‐match control cohort were not significantly different from those of the infected cohort (Fr = 23.35 eggs/♀, R0 = 3.77 offspring/individual). Due to the shorter total preoviposition period and higher proportion of reproductive female, the intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.0053 d−1) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.0053 d−1) of control cohort of M. spinolai were significantly higher than those of the T. cruzi‐infected cohort (r = 0.0035 d−1, λ = 1.0035 d−1). These results suggest that T. cruzi infection reduces the population fitness of the Chagas disease vector M. spinolai.
Allometries of cell and tissue anatomy and photosynthetic rate across leaves of C3 and C4 grasses
Authors: Baird Alec S. , Taylor Samuel H. , Reddi Sachin , Pasquet‐Kok Jessica , Vuong Christine , Zhang Yu , Watcharamongkol Teera , John Grace P. , Scoffoni Christine , Osborne Colin P. , Sack Lawren 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAllometric relationships among the dimensions of leaves and their cells hold across diverse eudicotyledons, but have remained untested in the leaves of grasses. We hypothesised that geometric (proportional) allometries of cell sizes across tissues and of leaf dimensions would arise due to the coordination of cell development and that of cell functions such as water, nutrient and energy transport, and that cell sizes across tissues would be associated with light‐saturated photosynthetic rate. We tested predictions across 27 globally distributed C3 and C4 grass species grown in a common garden. We found positive relationships among average cell sizes within and across tissues, and of cell sizes with leaf dimensions. Grass leaf anatomical allometries were similar to those of eudicots, with exceptions consistent with the fewer cell layers and narrower form of grass leaves, and the specialised roles of epidermis and bundle sheath in storage and leaf movement. Across species, mean cell sizes in each tissue were associated with light‐saturated photosynthetic rate per leaf mass, supporting the functional coordination of cell sizes. These findings highlight the generality of evolutionary allometries within the grass lineage and their interlinkage with coordinated development and function.
Revisiting an ecophysiological oddity: Hydathode‐mediated foliar water uptake in Crassula species from southern Africa
Authors: Fradera‐Soler Marc , Mravec Jozef , Schulz Alexander , Taboryski Rafael , Jørgensen Bodil , Grace Olwen M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHydathodes are usually associated with water exudation in plants. However, foliar water uptake (FWU) through the hydathodes has long been suspected in the leaf‐succulent genus Crassula (Crassulaceae), a highly diverse group in southern Africa, and, to our knowledge, no empirical observations exist in the literature that unequivocally link FWU to hydathodes in this genus. FWU is expected to be particularly beneficial on the arid western side of southern Africa, where up to 50% of Crassula species occur and where periodically high air humidity leads to fog and/or dew formation. To investigate if hydathode‐mediated FWU is operational in different Crassula species, we used the apoplastic fluorescent tracer Lucifer Yellow in combination with different imaging techniques. Our images of dye‐treated leaves confirm that hydathode‐mediated FWU does indeed occur in Crassula and that it might be widespread across the genus. Hydathodes in Crassula serve as moisture‐harvesting structures, besides their more common purpose of guttation, an adaptation that has likely played an important role in the evolutionary history of the genus. Our observations suggest that ability for FWU is independent of geographical distribution and not restricted to arid environments under fog influence, as FWU is also operational in Crassula species from the rather humid eastern side of southern Africa. Our observations point towards no apparent link between FWU ability and overall leaf surface wettability in Crassula. Instead, the hierarchically sculptured leaf surfaces of several Crassula species may facilitate FWU due to hydrophilic leaf surface microdomains, even in seemingly hydrophobic species. Overall, these results confirm the ecophysiological relevance of hydathode‐mediated FWU in Crassula and reassert the importance of atmospheric humidity for some arid‐adapted plant groups.
Correlation between plant cell wall stiffening and root extension arrest phenotype in the combined abiotic stress of Fe and Al
Authors: Kaur Harinderbir , Teulon Jean‐Marie , Godon Christian , Desnos Thierry , Chen Shu‐wen W. , Pellequer Jean‐Luc 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe plasticity and growth of plant cell walls (CWs) remain poorly understood at the molecular level. In this work, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe elastic responses of the root transition zone of 4‐day‐old Arabidopsis thaliana wild‐type and almt1‐mutant seedlings grown under Fe or Al stresses. Elastic parameters were deduced from force‐distance curve measurements using the trimechanic‐3PCS framework. The presence of single metal species Fe2+ or Al3+ at 10 µM exerts no noticeable effect on the root growth compared with the control conditions. On the contrary, a mix of both the metal ions produced a strong root‐extension arrest concomitant with significant increase of CW stiffness. Raising the concentration of either Fe2+ or Al3+ to 20 µM, no root‐extension arrest was observed; nevertheless, an increase in root stiffness occurred. In the presence of both the metal ions at 10 µM, root‐extension arrest was not observed in the almt1 mutant, which substantially abolishes the ability to exude malate. Our results indicate that the combination of Fe2+ and Al3+ with exuded malate is crucial for both CW stiffening and root‐extension arrest. However, stiffness increase induced by single Fe2+ or Al3+ is not sufficient for arresting root growth in our experimental conditions.
Natural variation in a K+‐preferring HKT transporter contributes to wheat shoot K+ accumulation and salt tolerance
Authors: Du Linying , Ding Li , Huang Xueling , Tang Dongling , Chen Bin , Tian Hui , Kang Zhensheng , Mao Hude 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSoil salinity can adversely affect crop growth and yield, and an improved understanding of the genetic factors that confer salt tolerance could inform breeding strategies to engineer salt‐tolerant crops and improve productivity. Here, a group of K+‐preferring HKT transporters, TaHKT8, TaHKT9 and TaHKT10, were identified and negatively regulate the wheat shoot K+ accumulation and salt tolerance. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and candidate gene association analysis further revealed that TaHKT9‐B substantially underlies the natural variation of wheat shoot K+ accumulation under saline soil conditions. Specifically, an auxin responsive element (ARE) within an 8‐bp insertion in the promoter of TaHKT9‐B is strongly associated with shoot K+ content among wheat accessions. This ARE can be directly bound by TaARF4 for transcriptional activation of TaHKT9‐B, which subsequently attenuates shoot K+ accumulation and salt tolerance. Moreover, the tae‐miR390/TaTAS3/TaARF4 pathway was identified to regulate the salt‐induced root development and salt tolerance in wheat. Taken together, our study describes the genetic basis and accompanying mechanism driving phenotypic variation in wheat shoot K+ accumulation and salt tolerance. The identified tae‐miR390/TaTAS3/TaARF4/TaHKT9‐B module is an important regulator in wheat subjected to salt stress, which provides the potentially important genetic resources for breeders to improve wheat salt tolerance.
Demoralization in cancer survivors: an updated systematic review and meta‐analysis for quantitative studies
Authors: Lin Cian‐Cian , Her Yu‐Ning 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundDemoralization can cause impairments across all life aspects of cancer patients. Cancer patients are also vulnerable during their survivorship. The purpose of this review is to examine the risk of demoralization and associated risk factors among cancer survivors who have completed their primary anti‐cancer treatment or time since diagnosis ≥5 years without recurrence.MethodsWe searched databases of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, PsycINFO and ClinicalTrial.gov to identify eligible studies which reported the demoralization level among cancer survivors. A random‐effect meta‐analysis model was used for calculating mean demoralization level. Heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 statistics. Funnel plots and Egger's regression tests were performed for checking publication bias. We used one‐study‐removed method for sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analysis was also done to examine the difference of demoralization level between cancer types. Meta‐regression was performed to reveal risk factors of demoralization.ResultsA meta‐analysis of 12 articles involving 2902 cancer survivors was conducted. The mean demoralization score among cancer survivors was 25.98 (95% CI: 23.53–28.43). Higher demoralization level was seen in participants with older age, higher female ratio, higher married/living together status ratio and higher patient health questionnaire‐9 score. The literature review revealed correlations between demoralization and suicide risk, anxiety and quality of life. No consistent correlation between demoralization and post‐traumatic stress symptoms could be seen.ConclusionsHigh demoralization level is noticed among cancer survivors. Risks for females, elder patients or breast cancer survivors are identified. More longitudinal or interventional studies for cancer survivors' demoralization are expected in the future.
Effect of interleukin‐12 gene expression on insulin resistance in patients with acne vulgaris
Authors: AbdElneam Ahmed Ibrahim , Al‐Dhubaibi Mohammed Saleh , Bahaj Saleh Salem , Mohammed Ghada Farouk , Alantry Ahmed Kaid , Atef Lina M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is a condition where cells become resistant to insulin, causing impaired glucose uptake and increased blood glucose levels. Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), a cytokine, regulates the immune system. High levels of IL‐12 can lead to chronic inflammation, exacerbate resistance to insulin, and contribute to type 2 diabetes. Also, link IR to acne vulgaris (AV), as it reduces tissue sensitivity to insulin, causing increased insulin levels and sebum production, which can contribute to acne development.AimTo explore the role of IL‐12 gene expression on IR in AV patients and to study the role of IL‐12 gene in the development of AV.Subjects and MethodsA case–control study was performed on 68 AV patients and 68 healthy controls. The biochemical analysis included fasting glucose, fasting insulin, (HOMA‐IR), and serum IL‐12 level. IL‐12 gene expression was performed by quantitative real‐time PCR for both two groups. In addition, folding change was calculated by using the standard 2–(∆∆Ct) method.ResultIL‐12 level, IL‐12 folding change, fasting insulin, and IR were all increased in acne patients. A highly significant linear correlation was found between IL‐12 folding change and both IL‐12 levels and IR. There is a substantial positive significant simple linear association between IL‐12 level and IL‐12 folding change, as well as IR and IL‐12 folding change, in moderate and severe acne.ConclusionIL‐12 gene has an important role in IR and the development of acne in AV patients.
Moduli of polarised Enriques surfaces — Computational aspects
Authors: Sikirić Mathieu Dutour , Hulek Klaus 
Published: October 2023

AbstractModuli spaces of (polarised) Enriques surfaces can be described as open subsets of modular varieties of orthogonal type. It was shown by Gritsenko and Hulek that there are, up to isomorphism, only finitely many different moduli spaces of polarised Enriques surfaces. Here, we investigate the possible arithmetic groups and show that there are exactly 87 such groups up to conjugacy. We also show that all moduli spaces are dominated by a moduli space of polarised Enriques surfaces of degree 1240. Ciliberto, Dedieu, Galati and Knutsen have also investigated moduli spaces of polarised Enriques surfaces in detail. We discuss how our enumeration relates to theirs. We further compute the Tits building of the groups in question. Our computation is based on groups and indefinite quadratic forms and the algorithms used are explained.
Modulation of sarcopenia phenotypes by glutathione peroxidase 4 overexpression in mice
Authors: Xu Hongyang , Czyżowska Agnieszka , Van Remmen Holly , Brown Jacob L. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOur laboratory previously showed lipid hydroperoxides and oxylipin levels are elevated in response to loss of skeletal muscle innervation and are associated with muscle pathologies. To elucidate the pathological impact of lipid hydroperoxides, we overexpressed glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), an enzyme that targets reduction of lipid hydroperoxides in membranes, in adult CuZn superoxide dismutase knockout (Sod1KO) mice that show accelerated muscle atrophy associated with loss of innervation. The gastrocnemius muscle from Sod1KO mice shows reduced mitochondrial respiration and elevated oxidative stress (F2‐isoprostanes and hydroperoxides) compared to wild‐type (WT) mice. Overexpression of GPx4 improved mitochondrial respiration and reduced hydroperoxide generation in Sod1KO mice, but did not attenuate the muscle loss that occurs in Sod1KO mice. In contrast, contractile force generation is reduced in EDL muscle in Sod1KO mice relative to WT mice, and overexpression of GPx4 restored force generation to WT levels in Sod1KO mice. GPx4 overexpression also prevented loss of muscle contractility at the single fibre level in fast‐twitch fibres from Sod1KO mice. Muscle fibres from Sod1KO mice were less sensitive to both depolarization and calcium at the single fibre level and exhibited a reduced activation by S‐glutathionylation. GPx4 overexpression in Sod1KO mice rescued the deficits in both membrane excitability and calcium sensitivity of fast‐twitch muscle fibres. Overexpression of GPx4 also restored the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase activity in Sod1KO gastrocnemius muscles. These data suggest that GPx4 plays an important role in preserving excitation–contraction coupling function and Ca2+ homeostasis, and in maintaining muscle and mitochondrial function in oxidative stress‐induced sarcopenia.
imageKey points
Knockout of CuZn superoxide dismutase (Sod1KO) induces elevated oxidative stress with accelerated muscle atrophy and weakness.
Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) plays a fundamental role in the reduction of lipid hydroperoxides in membranes, and overexpression of GPx4 improves mitochondrial respiration and reduces hydroperoxide generation in Sod1KO mice.
Muscle contractile function deficits in Sod1KO mice are alleviated by the overexpression of GPx4.
GPx4 overexpression in Sod1KO mice rescues the impaired muscle membrane excitability of fast‐twitch muscle fibres and improves their calcium sensitivity.
Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase activity in Sod1KO muscles is decreased, and it is restored by the overexpression of GPx4.
Our results confirm that GPx4 plays an important role in preserving excitation–contraction coupling function and Ca2+ homeostasis, and maintaining muscle and mitochondrial function in oxidative stress‐induced sarcopenia.
Whole genome sequencing-based identification of human tuberculosis caused by animal-lineage
Mycobacterium orygis
Authors: Islam Md Rashedul , Sharma Meenu K. , KhunKhun Rupinder , Shandro Cary , Sekirov Inna , Tyrrell Gregory J. , Soualhine Hafid 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

A recently described member of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) is
Mycobacterium orygis
, which can cause disease primarily in animals but also in humans. Although
M. orygis
has been reported from different geographic regions around the world, due to a lack of proper identification techniques, the contribution of this emerging pathogen to the global burden of zoonotic tuberculosis is not fully understood. In the present work, we report single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis using whole genome sequencing (WGS) that can accurately identify
M. orygis
and differentiate it from other members of the MTBC species. WGS-based SNP analysis was performed for 61 isolates from different provinces in Canada that were identified as
M. orygis
. A total of 56
M
.
orygis
sequences from the public databases were also included in the analysis. Several unique SNPs in the
gyrB
,
PPE55
,
Rv2042c
,
leuS
,
mmpL6
, and
mmpS6
genes were used to determine their effectiveness as genetic markers for the identification of
M. orygis
. To the best of our knowledge, five of these SNPs, viz.,
gyrB
277
(A→G),
gyrB
1478
(T→C),
leuS
1064
(A→T),
mmpL6
486
(T→C), and
mmpS6
334
(C→G), are reported for the first time in this study. Our results also revealed several SNPs specific to other species within MTBC. The phylogenetic analysis shows that the studied genomes were genetically diverse and clustered with
M. orygis
sequences of human and animal origin reported from different geographic locations. Therefore, the present study provides a new insight into the high-confidence identification of
M. orygis
from MTBC species based on WGS data, which can be useful for reference and diagnostic laboratories.
Microbiological characterization of
Pneumocystis jirovecii
pneumonia using quantitative PCR from nasopharyngeal specimens: a retrospective study in a Canadian province from 2019 to 2023
Authors: Lieu Anthony , Lee Todd C. , Lawandi Alexander , Tellier Raymond , Cheng Matthew P. , Dufresne Philippe J. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Bronchoalveolar lavage is usually employed for molecular diagnosis of
Pneumocystis jirovecii
but requires a specialized procedure. By contrast, nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens are easily obtained. In this retrospective study of 35 patients with paired NP and bronchoscopy specimens, NP specimens had a 100% negative percent agreement (95% CI 80.5–100) but only 72.2% positive percent agreement (95% CI 46.5–90.3).
Transfer-bound community college students’ biology identity and perception of teaching
Authors: Teshera-Levye Jennifer , Atchison Tammy , Callis-Duehl Kristine , Gould Thomas , Lichti Deborah , Scemama Jean-Luc , Stiller John , Vance-Chalcraft Heather D. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT
Community colleges are frequently an affordable, accessible entrance to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and career, but the transition from a 2-year program to a 4-year institution can be tumultuous. In this mixed-methods study, we explore the experiences of transfer and prospective transfer students. Through surveys and interviews, we identify the challenges faced by and the supports desired by biology transfer students. We describe how community college students perceive their introductory biology courses, and we compare the biology identity and self-efficacy of these students to peers at a 4-year institution. Students expressed uncertainty about what to expect from the transfer experience, and they benefitted from interventions that made the university experience more concrete or clarified their expectations. We found that community college students are just as interested in biology as peers at a 4-year university, but they are significantly less likely to believe that others recognize them as “biology people” and report less self-efficacy regarding biology courses. Students felt particularly well-prepared for transfer after community college biology courses they described as “rigorous” and “demanding,” especially because students expressed that the community college environment helped support them through the challenges of higher education.