bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of recombinant rotavirus carrying herpes simplex virus 2 glycoprotein D gene based on reverse genetics technology
Authors: Kawamura Yoshiki , Komoto Satoshi , Fukuda Saori , Kugita Masanori , Tang Shuang , Patel Amita , Pieknik Julianna R. , Nagao Shizuko , Taniguchi Koki , Krause Philip R. , Yoshikawa Tetsushi 
Published: December 2023

AbstractVaccine development for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV‐2) has been attempted, but no vaccines are yet available. A plasmid‐based reverse genetics system for Rotavirus (RV), which can cause gastroenteritis, allows the generation of recombinant RV containing foreign genes. In this study, we sought to develop simian RV (SA11) as a vector to express HSV‐2 glycoprotein D (gD2) and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice. We generated the recombinant SA11‐gD2 virus (rSA11‐gD2) and confirmed its ability to express gD2 in vitro. The virus was orally inoculated into suckling BALB/c mice and into 8‐week‐old mice. Serum IgG and IgA titers against RV and gD2 were measured by ELISA. In the 8‐week‐old mice inoculated with rSA11‐gD2, significant increases in not only antibodies against RV but also IgG against gD2 were demonstrated. In the suckling mice, antibodies against RV were induced, but gD2 antibody was not detected. Diarrhea observed after the first inoculation of rSA11‐gD2 in suckling mice was similar to that induced by the parent virus. A gD2 expressing simian RV recombinant, which was orally inoculated, induced IgG against gD2. This strategy holds possibility for genital herpes vaccine development.
Decadal survival of tropical pioneer seeds in the soil seed bank is accompanied by fungal infection and dormancy release
Authors: Zalamea Paul‐Camilo , Sarmiento Carolina , Arnold A. Elizabeth , Kuo Venus , Delevich Carolyn , Davis Adam S. , Brown Thomas A. , Dalling James W. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Pioneer trees require high‐light environments for successful seedling establishment. Consequently, seeds of these species often persist in the soil seed bank (SSB) for periods ranging from several weeks to decades. How they survive despite extensive pressure from seed predators and soil‐borne pathogens remains an intriguing question.

This study aims to test the hypotheses that decades‐old seeds collected from the SSB in a lowland tropical forest remain viable by (i) escaping infection by fungi, which are major drivers of seed mortality in tropical soils, and/or (ii) maintaining high levels of seed dormancy and seed coat integrity when compared to inviable seeds.

We collected seeds of Trema micrantha and Zanthoxylum ekmanii at Barro Colorado Island, Panama, from sites where adult trees previously occurred in the past 30 years. We used carbon dating to measure seed age and characterized seed coat integrity, seed dormancy and fungal communities.

Viable seeds from the SSB ranged in age from 9 to 30 years for T. micrantha, and 5 to 33 years for Z. ekmanii. We found no evidence that decades‐old seeds maintain high levels of seed dormancy or seed coat integrity. Fungi were rarely detected in fresh seeds (no soil contact), but phylogenetically diverse fungi were detected often in seeds from the SSB. Although fungal infections were more commonly detected in inviable seeds than in viable seeds, a lack of differences in fungal diversity and community composition between viable and inviable seeds suggested that viable seeds are not simply excluding fungal species to survive long periods in the SSB.

Synthesis. Our findings reveal the importance of a previously understudied aspect of seed survival, where the impact of seed–microbial interactions may be critical to understand long‐term persistence in the SSB.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Revisiting the burglar alarm hypothesis: A behavioural cascade mediated by dinoflagellate bioluminescence
Authors: Huang Yuan , Ryderheim Fredrik , Kiørboe Thomas 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Bioluminescence is widespread among marine organisms and has evolved independently multiple times. While its specific adaptive value is diverse, bioluminescence in most cases mediates fundamental interactions between individuals (predator, prey, mates) and thus impacts ecosystem processes. One hypothesized value of bioluminescence in dinoflagellates is through the ‘burglar alarm’: Grazers of phytoplankton will make the ambient water ‘glow’ as they swim, thereby attracting visual predators of the grazer, thus indirectly protecting the dinoflagellates.

However, the most important grazers of dinoflagellates, copepods, are generally too small to elicit dinoflagellates to glow. Only individual cells captured by a copepod will flash, which in turn elicits a powerful escape response in the copepod. Here, we test a variant of this hypothesis that may work for copepods. The behavioural response of the grazer to the flashing of a captured dinoflagellate, rather than the flashing itself, attracts the attention of the grazer's flow‐sensing predators.

We demonstrate that bioluminescence in three dinoflagellates reduces the clearance and ingestion rate of nauplii of the copepod Temora longicornis. The presence of bioluminescent cells also elicited an increased frequency of high‐speed jumps of the grazers.

The increased jump frequency elevated the detectability of the grazers to a flow‐sensing predator, the copepod Centropages typicus, consequently leading to increased predation mortality of T. longicornis nauplii.

The consequent behavioural cascade mediated by bioluminescence works for small grazers that cause only single cells to flash, unlike the traditional description of the burglar alarm. The significance of such behavioural mediated indirect interactions in shaping food webs is becoming increasingly recognized, although rarely demonstrated in pelagic food webs.

We argue that the burglar alarm is a secondary adaptation, while the defence of individual cells is the primary adaptive value of bioluminescence in dinoflagellates.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Drought‐tolerant grassland species are generally more resistant to competition
Authors: Mount Hailey E. , Smith Melinda D. , Knapp Alan K. , Griffin‐Nolan Robert J. , Collins Scott L. , Atkins David H. , Stears Alice E. , Laughlin Daniel C. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Plant populations are limited by resource availability and exhibit physiological trade‐offs in resource acquisition strategies. These trade‐offs may constrain the ability of populations to exhibit fast growth rates under water limitation and high cover of neighbours. However, traits that confer drought tolerance may also confer resistance to competition. It remains unclear how fitness responses to these abiotic conditions and biotic interactions combine to structure grassland communities and how this relationship may change along a gradient of water availability.

To address these knowledge gaps, we estimated the low‐density growth rates of populations in drought conditions with low neighbour cover and in ambient conditions with average neighbour cover for 82 species in six grassland communities across the Central Plains and Southwestern United States. We assessed the relationship between population tolerance to drought and resistance to competition and determined if this relationship was consistent across a precipitation gradient. We also tested whether population growth rates could be predicted using plant functional traits.

Across six sites, we observed a positive correlation between low‐density population growth rates in drought and in the presence of interspecific neighbours. This positive relationship was particularly strong in the grasslands of the northern Great Plains but weak in the most xeric grasslands. High leaf dry matter content and a low (more negative) leaf turgor loss point were associated with high population growth rates in drought and with neighbours in most grassland communities.

Synthesis: A better understanding of how both biotic and abiotic factors impact population fitness provides valuable insights into how grasslands will respond to extreme drought. Our results advance plant strategy theory by suggesting that drought tolerance increases population resistance to interspecific competition in grassland communities. However, this relationship is not evident in the driest grasslands, where above‐ground competition is likely less important. Leaf dry matter content and turgor loss point may help predict which populations will establish and persist based on local water availability and neighbour cover, and these predictions can be used to guide the conservation and restoration of biodiversity in grasslands.
Treaty obligations and support for collective defence: Evidence from Italy after the invasion of Ukraine
Authors: KREPS SARAH , KRINER DOUGLAS L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWhether countries and their publics are responsive to the international legal commitments they make is the source of long‐standing academic debate. Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine brought real‐world significance to these debates. While Ukraine is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the invasion raised the prospect that other NATO members could be targeted and that Article 5 collective security commitments would be invoked. While recent research suggests that emphasizing mutual defence treaties can increase public support for defending an ally, prior work focuses on US opinion in a less fraught political environment. We constructed and fielded a survey experiment in Italy in the initial weeks of the Ukraine invasion to probe support for defending a NATO ally, the relevance of the Article 5 legal commitment on support for defending an ally, and the potential moderating influence of gender and political party. Our findings show that the Article 5 commitment significantly increased support for defending an ally. Consistent with past research, we find a significant gender gap, with men being more supportive of defending an ally than women; however, both men and women responded to the Article 5 commitment to virtually the same degree. The estimated treatment effect was larger for supporters of right‐wing parties than for the left; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
Examining trends in emergency medicine journals' publications about racism
Authors: Ryus Caitlin R. , Yang David , Brackett Alexandria , Barnett Lindsay , Boatright Dowin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectiveIn recent years, the academic medicine community has produced numerous statements and calls to action condemning racism. Though health equity work examining health disparities has expanded, few studies specifically name racism as an operational construct. As emergency departments serve a high proportion of patients with social and economic disadvantage rooted in structural racism, it is critically important that racism be a focus of our academic discourse. This study examines the frequency at which four prominent emergency medicine journals, Annals of Emergency Medicine, Academic Emergency Medicine, the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, and the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, publish on health disparities and racism.MethodsThis is a descriptive analysis measuring the frequency of publications on health disparities and racism in U.S.‐based emergency medicine journals from 2014 to 2021. The search strategies for the concepts of “racism” and “health disparities” used a combination of MeSH and keywords. These search strategies were developed based on prior literature and the MEDLINE/PubMed Health Disparities and Minority Health Search Strategy. Articles identified through the PubMed search were then reviewed by two authors for final inclusion.ResultsSince 2014, a total of 6248 articles were published by the four emergency medicine journals over the 8‐year study period. Of those, 82 research papers that focused on health disparities were identified and only 16 that focused on racism. Most emergency medicine publications on racism and health disparities were in 2021.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the national discourse on racism and calls to action within emergency medicine were followed by an increase in publications on health disparities and racism. Continued investigation is needed to evaluate these trends moving forward.
Habituation of large mammals to passing vehicles
Authors: Pomeroy Derek , Matovu Benard , Kibuule Micheal 
Published: December 2023

AbstractOver a period of 2 years, we noted that many large mammals in the Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, remained fairly close to the road—rather than running away—as we drove past at a relatively slow speed, of about 20–25 kph. We consider that over recent years, many of these animals have become habituated to tourist vehicles passing nearby and we recorded the minimum distances at which nine common species remained at, or close to the road edge as we drove past. Many stayed still actually at the edge, while Oribis and Hartebbest sometimes remained on the road itself.
Bellows and furnace covers in the unalloyed copper metallurgy of the Chalcolithic Southern Levant: reassessing the evidence from Abu Matar
Authors: Rose Thomas , Natali Stefano , Brotzu Andrea , Fabian Peter , Goren Yuval 
Published: December 2023

AbstractUnalloyed copper objects were produced in the Chalcolithic Southern Levant in a two‐step process. Copper ore was smelted in pit furnaces, and the mechanically extracted copper prills melt in crucibles and cast into objects. However, the air supply remained unknown, and practical considerations shed doubt on the validity of some of the reconstructed practices. To refine the reconstruction, the metallurgical material from Abu Matar was reassessed. Most importantly, several previously unreported fragments suggest the use of bellows and covering the furnace with large pottery fragments. Our results provide probably the earliest evidence for the use of bellows.
Maternity clinician use of shared decision‐making in antenatal care: A scoping review
Authors: Hawke Madeline , Considine Julie , Sweet Linda 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundImplementation of shared decision‐making in antenatal care has had limited exploration.ObjectiveTo assess what is known about shared decision‐making in antenatal care.Search StrategyFive databases were searched (1997–2022) limited to English language studies from OECD countries.Data Collection and AnalysisA data collection table was constructed with findings from 32 papers. A narrative synthesis was conducted with subsequent thematic analysis of included papers.Main ResultsFour areas of decision‐making were identified with six themes revealing enablers and barriers to shared decision‐making in antenatal care.ConclusionImplementation of shared decision‐making requires continuity, time and personalisation of care.
Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy in resectable non‐small‐cell lung cancer in Japanese patients from CheckMate 816
Authors: Mitsudomi Tetsuya , Ito Hiroyuki , Okada Morihito , Sugawara Shunichi , Shio Yutaka , Tomii Keisuke , Okami Jiro , Sakakura Noriaki , Kubota Kaoru , Takamochi Kazuya , Atagi Shinji , Tsuboi Masahiro , Oizumi Satoshi , Ikeda Norihiko , Ohde Yasuhisa , Ntambwe Ives , Mahmood Javed , Cai Junliang , Tanaka Fumihiro 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn the open‐label, phase III CheckMate 816 study (NCT02998528), neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy demonstrated statistically significant improvements in event‐free survival (EFS) and pathological complete response (pCR) versus chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here we report efficacy and safety outcomes in the Japanese subpopulation. Patients with stage IB–IIIA, resectable NSCLC were randomized 1:1 to nivolumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone for three cycles before undergoing definitive surgery within 6 weeks of completing neoadjuvant treatment. The primary end‐points (EFS and pCR) and safety were assessed in patients enrolled at 16 centers in Japan. Of the Japanese patients randomized, 93.9% (31/33) in the nivolumab plus chemotherapy arm and 82.9% (29/35) in the chemotherapy arm underwent surgery. At 21.5 months' minimum follow‐up, median EFS was 30.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 16.8–not reached [NR]) with nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus 19.6 months (95% CI, 8.5–NR) with chemotherapy; hazard ratio, 0.60 (95% CI, 0.30–1.24). The pCR rate was 30.3% (95% CI, 15.6–48.7) versus 5.7% (95% CI, 0.7–19.2), respectively; odds ratio, 7.17 (95% CI, 1.44–35.85). Grade 3/4 treatment‐related adverse events were reported in 59.4% versus 42.9% of patients, respectively, with no new safety signals identified. Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy resulted in longer EFS and a higher pCR rate versus chemotherapy alone in Japanese patients, consistent with findings in the global population. These data support nivolumab plus chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment option in Japanese patients with resectable NSCLC.
ARID1A loss induces P4HB to activate fibroblasts to support lung cancer cell growth, invasion, and chemoresistance
Authors: Huang Risheng , Wu Danni , Zhang Kangliang , Hu Guanqiong , Liu Yu , Jiang Yi , Wang Chichao , Zheng Yuanliang 
Published: December 2023

AbstractLoss of AT‐interacting domain‐rich protein 1A (ARID1A) frequently occurs in human malignancies including lung cancer. The biological consequence of ARID1A mutation in lung cancer is not fully understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of ARID1A‐depleted lung cancer cells on fibroblast activation. Conditioned media was collected from ARID1A‐depleted lung cancer cells and employed to treat lung fibroblasts. The proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts were investigated. The secretory genes were profiled in lung cancer cells upon ARID1A knockdown. Antibody‐based neutralization was utilized to confirm their role in mediating the cross‐talk between lung cancer cells and fibroblasts. NOD‐SCID‐IL2RgammaC‐null (NSG) mice received tumor tissues from patients with ARID1A‐mutated lung cancer to establish patient‐derived xenograft (PDX) models. Notably, ARID1A‐depleted lung cancer cells promoted the proliferation and migration of lung fibroblasts. Mechanistically, ARID1A depletion augmented the expression and secretion of prolyl 4‐hydroxylase beta (P4HB) in lung cancer cells, which induced the activation of lung fibroblasts through the β‐catenin signaling pathway. P4HB‐activated lung fibroblasts promoted the proliferation, invasion, and chemoresistance in lung cancer cells. Neutralizing P4HB hampered the tumor growth and increased cisplatin cytotoxic efficacy in two PDX models. Serum P4HB levels were higher in ARID1A‐mutated lung cancer patients than in healthy controls. Moreover, increased serum levels of P4HB were significantly associated with lung cancer metastasis. Together, our work indicates a pivotal role for P4HB in orchestrating the cross‐talk between ARID1A‐mutated cancer cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts during lung cancer progression. P4HB may represent a promising target for improving lung cancer treatment.
Feasibility and acceptability of an online parenting intervention to address behaviour problems in moderately to extremely preterm pre‐school and school‐age children
Authors: Fisher Allison P. , Miley Aimee E. , Glazer Sandra , Gies Lisa M. , Parikh Nehal A. , Lam Leo , Wade Shari L. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundPreterm birth is associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including internalizing problems, social difficulties and inattention. Interventions are needed beyond infancy and toddlerhood to support children and their families. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of the I‐InTERACT Preterm pilot study, an online parenting intervention for preterm children ages 3–8.MethodFamilies participated in a weekly intervention comprised of seven sessions with online modules followed by videoconference coaching sessions with a therapist. Following completion of the study, caregivers completed a survey to assess their satisfaction and were asked to participate in a voluntary semi‐structured interview to provide feedback. We anticipated greater than a 50% participation rate (enrollment feasibility) and 75% completion rate (adherence feasibility). We also hypothesized that at least 80% of participants would be satisfied with the intervention (acceptability).ResultsNineteen of 32 families (59%) enrolled in the study, suggesting adequate enrollment feasibility. Feasibility of programme completion (adherence) was lower than anticipated (59%). Regarding satisfaction, all caregivers agreed that the programme's information was relevant to them and their family. Nearly all participants (92%) indicated that they had a better understanding of the effects of preterm birth on behaviour, that they enjoyed the programme, that it met their expectations and that they recommend the programme to others. In qualitative interviews, caregivers expressed satisfaction with the content, skills they learned, and receiving direct coaching. Caregivers suggested improvements to increase intervention feasibility and skill implementation, including offering biweekly sessions and more hands‐on coaching.ConclusionOur largely satisfactory acceptability rates suggest the value of and need for a parenting intervention for children born preterm past the initial period of early development. Future directions include modifying the intervention in response to caregiver feedback to improve recruitment, engagement and adherence.
Parents' views of benefits and limitations of receiving genetic diagnoses for their offspring
Authors: Klitzman Robert , Bezborodko Ekaterina , Chung Wendy K. , Appelbaum Paul S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundIndividuals with autism with intellectual disabilities (ID) are increasingly undergoing genetic testing, posing questions of how parents view/respond to such results.MethodsTwenty‐eight parents whose offspring had received genetic diagnoses of de novo pathogenic variants associated with autism were interviewed.ResultsGenetic diagnoses parents receive concerning their offspring's autism/intellectual disabilities can be ‘double‐edged’ in several ways, having advantages, but also certain disadvantages and limitations. Benefits were medical/scientific (e.g., ending diagnostic odysseys and potentially contributing to research), emotional (e.g., relief, peace of mind and less self‐blame), cognitive, social (e.g., validation and confirmation with others – it's ‘not just in our head’) and financial (e.g., estate planning), now and in the future (e.g., preparing for possible future symptoms, development and availability of treatment and setting realistic expectations). Limitations included a lack of medical treatments related to the genetic diagnosis, a sense of finality and heightened uncertainties which can increase anxieties (e.g., concerning additional symptoms associated with genetic diagnoses and offspring's ability to live independently in the future). Overall, parents were glad to receive the results, seeing the pros outweighing the cons. Parents responded to these tensions in various ways, having mixed feelings, recognizing the trade‐offs and/or focusing on their offspring's present needs. Factors such as age of offspring at receipt of genetic diagnosis, parent's scientific background and prior views and degrees of self‐blame affected these responses.ConclusionsThese data, the first to examine how parents perceive genetic diagnoses received for offspring with autism and ID through whole exome/whole genome sequencing, highlight practical medical and psychological benefits as well as limitations. These findings thus have important implications for future education, engagement of families and research. Providers should be aware of these issues, to inform and assist families, who are considering such testing, about these potential pros and cons and responses.