bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Local thermal adaptation and local temperature regimes drive the performance of a parasitic helminth under climate change: The case of Marshallagia marshalli from wild ungulates
Authors: Aleuy O. Alejandro , Peacock Stephanie J. , Molnár Péter K. , Ruckstuhl Kathreen E. , Kutz Susan J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAcross a species' range, populations are exposed to their local thermal environments, which on an evolutionary scale, may cause adaptative differences among populations. Helminths often have broad geographic ranges and temperature‐sensitive life stages but little is known about whether and how local thermal adaptation can influence their response to climate change. We studied the thermal responses of the free‐living stages of Marshallagia marshalli, a parasitic nematode of wild ungulates, along a latitudinal gradient. We first determine its distribution in wild sheep species in North America. Then we cultured M. marshalli eggs from different locations at temperatures from 5 to 38°C. We fit performance curves based on the metabolic theory of ecology to determine whether development and mortality showed evidence of local thermal adaptation. We used parameter estimates in life‐cycle‐based host–parasite models to understand how local thermal responses may influence parasite performance under general and location‐specific climate‐change projections. We found that M. marshalli has a wide latitudinal and host range, infecting wild sheep species from New Mexico to Yukon. Increases in mortality and development time at higher temperatures were most evident for isolates from northern locations. Accounting for location‐specific parasite parameters primarily influenced the magnitude of climate change parasite performance, while accounting for location‐specific climates primarily influenced the phenology of parasite performance. Despite differences in development and mortality among M. marshalli populations, when using site‐specific climate change projections, there was a similar magnitude of impact on the relative performance of M. marshalli among populations. Climate change is predicted to decrease the expected lifetime reproductive output of M. marshalli in all populations while delaying its seasonal peak by approximately 1 month. Our research suggests that accurate projections of the impacts of climate change on broadly distributed species need to consider local adaptations of organisms together with local temperature profiles and climate projections.
Quantifying microcyte and macrocyte percentages in archived red blood cell volume histogram images
Authors: Barton James C. , Barton J. Clayborn 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionWe sought to quantify percentages of microcytes and macrocytes in archived automated hematology analyzer (AHA) red blood cell (RBC) volume histogram images.MethodsIn preliminary studies, we demonstrated that an on‐line application of Gauss' area formula (SketchAndCalc™) measured percentage areas of 20 segments under a computer‐generated normal distribution curve (−3.0 standard deviations [SD] to +3.0 SD) with accuracy and precision (Pearson's correlation of measured areas with corresponding theoretical areas r [20] = 0.9962 [p < 0.0001]). Thus, we used SketchAndCalc™ to quantify percentages of microcytes (50–80 fL) and macrocytes (110–200 fL) in archived AHA histogram images in women with previously untreated iron‐deficiency anemia (IDA) and previously untreated hemochromatosis.ResultsMedian microcyte percentages in 13 women with IDA and 13 women with hemochromatosis were 63.6% (range 13.5–76.8) and 6.7% (range 3.4–24.8), respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean macrocyte percentages in women with IDA and hemochromatosis were 8.8% ± 6.1 SD and 33.8% ± 11.7 SD, respectively (p < 0.0001). Spearman's correlations of microcyte percentages with macrocyte percentages, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in 26 women were rs [26] = −0.9485, rs [26] = −0.9641, and rs [26] = −0.9036, respectively (each p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThis method of quantifying microcyte and macrocyte percentages could enable other studies of RBC volume subpopulations in archived AHA histogram images.
Mutations in the bZip region of the CEBPA gene: A novel prognostic factor in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Rivera Juan Carlos , Nuñez Daniel , Millar Elizabet , Ramirez Kimberly , Chandía Mauricio , Aguayo Claudio 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundHematopoiesis, the process of blood cell formation involves on a complex network of transcription factors. Among them, the CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein alpha (CEBPA) plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance between myeloid proliferation and differentiation. Imbalances in this network can lead to disrupted differentiation and contribute to the development of malignant diseases.AimUnderstanding of disease development and explore potential therapeutic strategies for hematological disorders associated CEPBA gen.Materials and MethodsThe research involved a comprehensive analysis of CEBPA gene mutations in the context of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This encompassed a thorough exploration of point mutations and double mutations in AML patients.ResultsIn the context of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), mutations in the CEBPA gene, especially point mutations, are frequently observed. A significant number of AML patients present with double mutations in CEBPA, which have been linked to a more favorable prognosis in terms of overall survival and event‐free survival. These patients also tend to exhibit enhanced responsiveness to treatment. Discussion: Unraveling the intricate interplay of transcription factors, particularly CEBPA, holds significant implications for decoding the mechanisms governing hematopoiesis. This understanding offers a potential avenue for deciphering disease development and devising novel therapeutic strategies for hematological disorders.ConclusionThe findings underscore that CEBPA mutations correlate with enhanced overall survival and event‐free survival, with relevance to those presenting within the bZip framework. This knowledge may contribute to advancing personalized treatments for hematological conditions.
Does vision therapy for visual information processing improve academic performance? A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Fricke Timothy R. , Metha Andrew B. , Anderson Dianne P. , Lea Amanda K. , Anderson Andrew J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurposeTo determine whether a typical vision therapy (VT) programme designed to improve visual information processing (VIP) skills is effective in improving these skills and/or academic performance.MethodsWe used a double‐blind, randomised clinical trial to compare VIP VT to placebo training. Participating schools referred a sample of 579 early primary school children identified as being within the lower third of their class for literacy. From the referred sample, we identified 247 children eligible to participate (passed visions and auditory processing screening, and VIP performance <34th percentile), 94 of whom participated. Matching IQ, school grade and sex was achieved by sorting hierarchically on these values and then alternately allocating to VT or placebo groups. Both programmes ran for 10 weeks and consisted of 33 h working at home and 4 h working in office. The VT programme was indicative of that employed in Australian paediatric optometry practices, with the placebo programme containing similar activities, except targeting skills within a child's competencies and with specific VIP development activities removed. The main outcome measures were score change on three standardised educational tests (reading comprehension, spelling and mathematics) and six VIP tests, both immediately post‐intervention (PI) and 6 months later.ResultsSixty‐nine children completed the programmes. The VT programme produced no significant improvement in the three educational tests or in five of the six VIP tests compared to the control. The VT programme improved visual sequential memory (VSM) by a moderate amount compared to the control (Cohen's d = 0.57 and 0.52, immediately PI and at 6 months, respectively: p < 0.03 and p < 0.02).ConclusionsThe VIP and academic performance benefits from a VT programme were largely identical to those from a control programme, both immediately and 6‐month PI. Placebo effects and general effects such as improvements in executive function and/or regression‐to‐the‐mean could be mistaken for specific programme effectiveness.
Heat‐dependent postpollination limitations on maize pollen tube growth and kernel sterility
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Lv Xuanlong , Sheng Dechang , Hou Xinfang , Mandal Shreya , Liu Xiaoli , Zhang Ping , Shen Si , Wang Pu , Krishna Jagadish S. V. , Huang Shoubing 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHeat stress has a negative impact on pollen development in maize (Zea mays L.) but the postpollination events that determine kernel sterility are less well characterised. The impact of short‐term (hours) heat exposure during postpollination was therefore assessed in silks and ovaries. The temperatures inside the kernels housed within the husks was significantly lower than the imposed heat stress. This protected the ovaries and possibly the later phase of pollen tube growth from the adverse effects of heat stress. Failure of maize kernel fertilization was observed within 6 h of heat stress exposure postpollination. This was accompanied by a significant restriction of early pollen tube growth rather than pollen germination. Limitations on early pollen tube growth were therefore a major factor contributing to heat stress‐induced kernel sterility. Exposure to heat stress altered the sugar composition of silks, suggesting that hexose supply contributed to the limitations on pollen tube growth. Moreover, the activities of sucrose metabolising enzymes, the expression of sucrose degradation and trehalose biosynthesis genes were decreased following heat stress. Significant increases in reactive oxygen species, abscisic acid and auxin levels accompanied by altered expression of phytohormone‐related genes may also be important in the heat‐induced suppression of pollen tube growth.
Characterization of cell wall polysaccharide from Cladosiphon okamuranus cultivated in different locations
Authors: Awanthi Mahanama Geegana Gamage , Nakasone Natsuki , Oku Hirosuke , Kitahara Kanefumi , Ito Michihiro , Tanaka Atsuko , Sato Yoichi , Numata Yuichiro , Konishi Teruko 
Published: August 2023

SUMMARYCladosiphon okamuranus is an excellent source of fucoidan among any brown algae spp. However, the structure of polysaccharide varies significantly depending on the species, harvesting season and geographical location. To understand how geographic location affects the structure of cell wall polysaccharide, C. okamuranus cultivated in eight places (Bise, Katsuren, Yonashiro, Shikiya, Karimata, Nishihara, Hisamatsu and Ishigaki) in Ryukyu archipelago were collected during the peak harvesting time and the cell wall polysaccharide was analyzed physiochemically. The cell wall was sequentially fractionated into five fractions and its 80% was consisted of hot water fraction (HW) (60–70%) and hemicellulose‐I fraction (HC‐I) (15–20%), which mainly contained fucoidan composed of fucose (Fuc), glucuronic acid (GlcA) and sulfate (SO3−). Although the chemical composition and molecular weight of fucoidan in HW was slightly different at different places, the composition of Fuc, GlcA and SO3− was constant in the molar ratio of 1.0:0.5:0.7–1.0 respectively, suggesting that relatively similar structural fucoidan from C. okamuranus can be obtained from any geographical location in Okinawa Prefecture during peak time. However, considerable variation in the sugar composition in HC‐I was observed, despite the uniform molecular weight and SO3−. Particularly, HC‐I from Bise, where is the northern part of Okinawa Island, is composed of significantly higher amounts of Glc, Gal, Man, Xyl and morphologically thicker lateral branches compared to algae from the other parts of the island.
Sparse additive models in high dimensions with wavelets
Authors: Sardy Sylvain , Ma Xiaoyu 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn multiple regression, when covariates are numerous, it is often reasonable to assume that only a small number of them has predictive information. In some medical applications for instance, it is believed that only a few genes out of thousands are responsible for cancer. In that case, the aim is not only to propose a good fit, but also to select the relevant covariates (genes). We propose to perform model selection with additive models in high dimensions (sample size and number of covariates). Our approach is computationally efficient thanks to fast wavelet transforms, it does not rely on cross validation, and it solves a convex optimization problem for a prescribed penalty parameter, called the quantile universal threshold. We also propose a second rule based on Stein unbiased risk estimation geared toward prediction. We use Monte Carlo simulations and real data to compare various methods based on false discovery rate (FDR), true positive rate (TPR) and mean squared error. Our approach is the only one to handle high dimensions, and has a good FDR–TPR trade‐off.
Small RNAs contribute to citrus Huanglongbing tolerance by manipulating methyl salicylate signaling and exogenous methyl salicylate primes citrus groves from emerging infection
Authors: Cheng Baoping , Xu Le , Bilal Muhammad Saqib , Huang Qing , Niu Dongdong , Ma Hongyu , Zhou Shaoxia , Peng Aitian , Wei Guo , Chen Feng , Zeng Liang , Lin Hong , Baig Ayesha , Wang Xuefeng , Zou Xiuping , Zhao Hongwei 
Published: August 2023

SUMMARYCitrus production is severely threatened by the devastating Huanglongbing (HLB) disease globally. By studying and analyzing the defensive behaviors of an HLB‐tolerant citrus cultivar ‘Shatangju’, we discovered that citrus can sense Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) infection and induce immune responses against HLB, which can be further strengthened by both endogenously produced and exogenously applied methyl salicylate (MeSA). This immune circuit is turned on by an miR2977‐SAMT (encoding a citrus Salicylate [SA] O‐methyltransferase) cascade, by which CLas infection leads to more in planta MeSA production and aerial emission. We provided both transgenic and multi‐year trail evidences that MeSA is an effective community immune signal. Ambient MeSA accumulation and foliage application can effectively induce defense gene expression and significantly boost citrus performance. We also found that miRNAs are battle fields between citrus and CLas, and about 30% of the differential gene expression upon CLas infection are regulated by miRNAs. Furthermore, CLas hijacks host key processes by manipulating key citrus miRNAs, and citrus employs miRNAs that coordinately regulate defense‐related genes. Based on our results, we proposed that miRNAs and associated components are key targets for engineering or breeding resistant citrus varieties. We anticipate that MeSA‐based management, either induced expression or external application, would be a promising tool for HLB control.
On the multiplicity spaces of spherical subgroups of minimal rank
Authors: Francone Luca , Ressayre Nicolas 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLet be a complex connected semisimple Lie group and be a connected semisimple subgroup of . Consider the branching problem of decomposing the simple ‐representations as a sum of simple ‐representations . When , it is the tensor product decomposition. The multiplicity space satisfies , where the sum runs over the isomorphism classes of simple ‐representations. In the case when is spherical of minimal rank, we describe as the intersection of kernels of powers of root operators in some weight space of the dual space of . When , we recover by geometric methods a well‐known result.
The Vibration Attenuation Characteristics of Dynamic Vibration Absorbers Array for Tuned and Mistuned Bladed Disk
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wang Fangchao , Chen Hong-yong , Zheng Changjun , Bi Chuanxing 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Dynamic vibration absorbers array (DVAA) is a newly developed and promising technique for vibration attenuation of integrally bladed disk (blisk) by mounting underneath the disk. In this paper, the vibration attenuation characteristics and energy dissipation mechanism of DVAA for tuned and mistuned blisk are parametrically studied, where the viscous and frictional damping are both considered. The lumped parameter model of a blisk is employed for the convenience of parametrical study. Analytical power flow formulas within the blisk–DVAA system are derived to characterize the dynamic interaction between blisk and DVAA. Four typical modes of a blisk with different nodal diameters and deformation characteristics are selected to evaluate the performance of DVAA. Then, the effects of the mass ratio, the frequency ratio and the damping ratio of DVAA on the vibration of tuned and mistuned blisk are addressed. Numerical results show that a light DVAA can significantly mitigate the resonant amplitudes of the tuned and mistuned blisk. Such damper is effective for the modes with different modal characteristics and can provide robust vibration attenuation performance against random mistuning.
Molecular characterization and comparison of
bla
NDM-1
-carrying and
bla
NDM-5
-harboring IncX3-type plasmids in carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Yang Yunxing , Liu Haiyang , Chen Lingxia , Mao Minjie , Zhang Xiaofan , Zhou Longjie , Duan Darong , Li Xi , Zhou Hua 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP), which harbors the
bla
NDM
plasmid, has been reported extensively and is considered a global threat clinically. However, characterization and comparisons of
bla
NDM-1
-carrying and
bla
NDM-5
-harboring IncX3-type plasmids in CRKP are lacking. Here, we systematically compared the differences in the characteristics, genetic backgrounds, transferability, and fitness costs between
bla
NDM-1
-carrying and
bla
NDM-5
-carrying plasmids in
K. pneumoniae
isolates. Fifteen NDM-producing CRKP isolates were recovered from 1376 CRKP isolates between 2019 and 2021, of which 4 were positive for
bla
NDM-1
and 11 were positive for
bla
NDM-5
. All strains were highly resistant to carbapenem but remained susceptible to tigecycline and colistin. Core-genome-based phylogenetic analyses revealed that these strains were not clonally related. Whole-genome sequencing showed that
bla
NDM-1
and
bla
NDM-5
were located on ~54 kb and ~46 kb IncX3-type plasmids, respectively. The backbone, genetic context, and fitness cost of the
bla
NDM-1
-bearing plasmid were highly similar to those of the
bla
NDM-5
-carrying plasmid, but the transferability of the
bla
NDM-1
-positive plasmid was greater than that of the
bla
NDM-5
-positive plasmid. In conclusion, the transmission of
bla
NDM-1
or
bla
NDM-5
is mainly disseminated by plasmids rather than clonal spread. The high transfer frequency of the IncX3 plasmid facilitates the prevalence and dissemination of NDM-KP among
Enterobacteriaceae
.

IMPORTANCE

The emergence of NDM-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
is a severe challenge to public health. The widespread presence of
bla
NDM-1
and
bla
NDM-5
in
Enterobacteriaceae
has aroused broad concern. In this study, we performed molecular characterization of
bla
NDM-1
-carrying and
bla
NDM-5
-harboring IncX3-type plasmids in carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP) and compared their phenotypes between strains with different
bla
NDM
subtype. Our findings highlight the importance of IncX3-type plasmids in the transfer of the
bla
NDM-1
and
bla
NDM-5
genes and demonstrate that the
bla
NDM-1
plasmid possesses higher transfer ability. These data will provide important insights into carbapenem resistance gene transfer via plasmids and their further spread in clinical settings.
Effect of home cook interventions for salt reduction in China: cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Xiaochang , Zhang Puhong , Shen Danyang , Li Yuan , He Feng J , Ma Jixiang , Yan Wei , Gao Yifu , Jin Donghui , Deng Ying , Guo Fangming , Yan Shichun , Song Jing , MacGregor Graham A , Wu Jing 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Objective
To determine the effects of salt reduction interventions designed for home cooks and family members.

Design
Cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting
Six provinces in northern, central, and southern China from 15 October 2018 to 30 December 2019.

Participants
60 communities from six provinces (10 communities from each province) were randomised; each community comprised 26 people (two people from each of 13 families).

Interventions
Participants in the intervention group received 12 month interventions, including supportive environment building for salt reduction, six education sessions on salt reduction, and salt intake monitoring by seven day weighed record of salt and salty condiments. The control group did not receive any of the interventions.

Main outcome measure
Difference between the two groups in change in salt intake measured by 24 hour urinary sodium during the 12 month follow-up.

Results
1576 participants (775 (49.2%) men; mean age 55.8 (standard deviation 10.8) years) from 788 families (one home cook and one other adult in each family) completed the baseline assessment. After baseline assessment, 30 communities with 786 participants were allocated to the intervention group and 30 communities with 790 participants to the control group. During the trial, 157 (10%) participants were lost to follow-up, and the remaining 706 participants in the intervention group and 713 participants in the control group completed the follow-up assessment. During the 12 month follow-up, the urinary sodium excretion decreased from 4368.7 (standard deviation 1880.3) mg per 24 hours to 3977.0 (1688.8) mg per 24 hours in the intervention group and from 4418.7 (1973.7) mg per 24 hours to 4330.9 (1859.8) mg per 24 hours in the control group. Compared with the control group, adjusted mixed linear model analysis showed that the 24 hour urinary sodium excretion in the intervention group was reduced by 336.8 (95% confidence interval 127.9 to 545.7) mg per 24 hours (P=0.002); the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were reduced by 2.0 (0.4 to 3.5) (P=0.01) and 1.1 (0.1 to 2.0) mm Hg (P=0.03), respectively; and the knowledge, attitude, and behaviours in the intervention group improved significantly.

Conclusions
The community based salt reduction package targeting home cooks and family members was effective in lowering salt intake and blood pressure. This intervention has the potential to be widely applied in China and other countries where home cooking remains a major source of salt intake.

Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800016804.
Fibrotic extracellular vesicles contribute to mechanical ventilation-induced pulmonary fibrosis development by activating lung fibroblasts via JNK signalling pathway: an experimental study
Authors: Tang Ri , Zhou Yang , Mei Shuya , Xu Qiaoyi , Feng Jinhua , Xing Shunpeng , Gao Yuan , Qin Shaojie , He Zhengyu 
Published: August 2023

AbstractRecent research has revealed that mechanical ventilation (MV) could initiate ventilator-induced lung injury along with the initiation of the process of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), leading to MV-induced PF (MVPF). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of MV-induced extracellular vesicles (MV-EVs) and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of MVPF in vivo and in vitro. The process of MV is accompanied by the secretion of MV-EVs, which could induce lung fibroblast activation. Furthermore, single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the JNK pathway in lung fibroblasts was activated after MV initiation. Inhibiting the JNK pathway could both restrain MV-EV-induced lung fibroblast activation in vitro or reduce the severity of MVPF in vivo. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that MV-EVs contribute to MVPF progression by activating lung fibroblasts via the JNK signalling pathway and that inhibiting the secretion of EV and the activation of the JNK signalling pathway is a promising strategy for treating MVPF.