bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic Mechanisms Driving Adaptation in Tropical and Subtropical Plants: Insights and Future Directions
Authors: Miryeganeh Matin 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTEpigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and Noncoding RNAs, play a critical role in enabling plants to adapt to environmental changes without altering their DNA sequence. These processes dynamically regulate gene expression in response to diverse stressors, making them essential for plant resilience under changing global conditions. This review synthesises research on tropical and subtropical plants—species naturally exposed to extreme temperatures, salinity, drought, and other stressors—while drawing parallels with similar mechanisms observed in arid and temperate ecosystems. By integrating molecular biology with plant ecology, this synthesis highlights how tropical plants provide valuable models for understanding resilience strategies applicable across broader plant taxa. This review underscores the potential of epigenetic mechanisms to inform conservation strategies and agricultural innovations aimed at bolstering plant resilience in the face of climate change.
Parental Living Donor Liver Transplantation as a Solution in Medical Treatment‐Resistant Cystathionine‐β‐Synthase Deficiency: A Single‐Center Case Series
Authors: Huang Yong‐Fa , Wei Lin , Qu Wei , Zeng Zhi‐Gui , Sun Li‐Ying , Zhu Zhi‐Jun 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTIntroductionCystathionine‐β‐synthase deficiency (CBSd) is an inherited metabolic liver disease causing morbidities in eyes, skeleton, brain, and vasculature. Despite its potential lethality due to thromboembolism and liver failure, sole diagnosis of CBSd seemed not to fulfill the enlistment criteria for deceased donor liver transplantation in previous reports.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed three cases of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for pediatric CBSd patients responding poorly to conservative treatment in Beijing Friendship Hospital, and a literature review was performed.ResultsPatients 1 and 3 received donated partial liver from heterozygous carrier parents, and Patient 2 received donated partial liver from a CBS‐competent parent. Patient 2 developed portal thrombus 1 day after LDLT, which was resolved with surgical thrombectomy and reconstruction. Patients 1 and 3 had their resected liver donated to other patients with advanced liver cancer, and the domino grafts functioned well until the death due to tumor recurrence.ConclusionParental LDLT, whether from carriers or not, is an appropriate alternative for CBSd patients resistant to medical treatment. Risk of peri‐operative thromboembolism might be higher in CBSd than in other LDLT cases, and explanted livers with CBSd could serve as domino grafts.
Intraspecific and intra‐individual chemodiversity and phenotypic integration of terpenes across plant parts and development stages in an aromatic plant
Authors: Ziaja D. , Müller C. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Some plant species produce an extraordinary diversity of specialized metabolites. The diverse class of terpenes is characteristic for many aromatic plants, and terpenes can occur as both emitted volatiles and stored compounds. Little is known about how intraspecific chemodiversity and phenotypic integration of both emitted volatile and stored terpenes differ intra‐individually across plant development and between different plant parts, and studies considering both spatial and temporal scales are scarce.
To comprehensively investigate this diversity, we used the aromatic plant Tanacetum vulgare that differs in foliar terpene composition, forming chemotypes. We collected emitted volatile terpenes of both young and old leaves during the rosette, elongated stem, and flowering stage as well as emitted volatiles of flower heads at the flowering stage. Moreover, at the flowering stage, stored terpenes were extracted from different plant parts, including roots. Terpene profiles were measured with (TD)‐GC‐MS.
The composition of emitted volatile terpenes depended on the specific combination of chemotype, plant part, and time point; the chemodiversity of emitted volatiles was mainly affected by the development stage, indicating that at specific development stages individuals require a higher chemodiversity, potentially to mediate different interactions. For stored terpenes, intra‐individual differences, mostly between aboveground and belowground plant parts, were found only for specific components of chemodiversity, such as richness and evenness, but not for functional Hill diversity. Phenotypic integration differed mainly across development stage and plant part for emitted volatile terpenes, and across chemotype and plant part for stored terpenes.
Our results suggest that intraspecific chemodiversity of terpenes and their integration is a highly plastic trait that may be shaped in dependence of interactions with the environment, and the value that each plant part contributes to the fitness of an individual. Such variation on different scales, both spatially and temporally, should be considered in chemical ecological studies.
Body Composition in Adults Born at Very Low Birthweight—A Sibling Study
Authors: Sandboge Samuel , Kuula Juho , Hauta‐alus Helena , Kaseva Nina , Jussinniemi Laura , Björkqvist Johan , Hovi Petteri , Eriksson Johan G. , Mäkitie Outi , Pietiläinen Kirsi H. , Kajantie Eero 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundIndividuals born preterm at very low birthweight (VLBW, < 1500 g) tend to attain a smaller adult body size compared with term‐born peers but less is known regarding specific body composition characteristics.ObjectivesWe aimed to assess whether adults born at VLBW have less beneficial body composition characteristics, potentially mediating the association between VLBW birth and cardiometabolic disease. Sibling controls were used to account for the potential influence of shared genetic and/or lifestyle factors.MethodsThis cohort study featured 77 adults born at VLBW and 70 term‐born siblings. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry assessment took place at a mean age of 29 years. Fat mass (FM) distribution was calculated by dividing appendicular by truncal FM. Appendicular skeletal mass (ASM) measurements were used to calculate two indices: Skeletal mass index (SMI, ASM divided by height squared) and ASM/BMI (ASM divided by body mass index). Data were analysed by linear mixed models. An exploratory analysis subdivided the VLBW group by size at gestational age [small or appropriate for gestational age (SGA, defined as a birthweight < 2 SD, or AGA)].ResultsParticipants born at VLBW were lighter (−4.7 kg, 95% CI −8.2, −1.2) and shorter (−4.3 cm, 95% CI −6.2, −2.4) than sibling peers. After controlling for sex, age, and maternal factors, they had lower limb/trunk fat ratios (−0.06, 95% CI −0.11, −0.003), LBM (−2.02 kg, 95% CI −3.92, −0.12), ASM (−1.22 kg, 95% CI −2.14, −0.30) and ASM/BMI (−0.05, 95% CI −0.10, −0.004). FM and SMI did not differ between groups. In the subgroup analysis, findings were limited to those born VLBW + SGA.ConclusionsIndividuals born at VLBW had, on average, lower limb/trunk fat ratios and lower relative ASM compared with term‐born siblings. A more centralised fat distribution, as well as lower appendicular muscle mass, could potentially mediate the association between VLBW birth and cardiometabolic risk.
The 1435 Scipio–Caesar debate in Venetian Zadar and the political horizons of the first Dalmatian humanists☆
Authors: Špoljarić Luka 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe controversy over the relative merits of Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gaius Julius Caesar, which involved two major Italian humanists, Poggio Bracciolini and Guarino Veronese, is one of the more famous episodes from the early history of the humanist movement. It is less well known that this controversy provoked a debate in Zadar, the central city of Venetian Dalmatia, which took place in November of 1435 after the arrival of the Anconitan merchant and humanist Ciriaco Pizzicolli in the city. This paper reconstructs the Zadar debate, identifying its participants and analysing how their backgrounds and political horizons influenced their engagement with humanism and their take on the controversy. In the focus are Juraj Benja of Zadar and Petar Cipiko of Trogir, two patricians long celebrated as the pioneers of the humanist movement in Dalmatia. By exploring their lives, humanist manuscripts, letters and notes, this paper argues that the Dalmatian humanists had no less strong views on the controversy than their counterparts in Italy, and that this was the result of the Venetian war over Dalmatia with Sigismund of Luxembourg.
How Do Single Mothers Evaluate and Cope with Living in Rural Peripheries? Insights into the Interplay of Social and Spatial Disadvantage*
Authors: Keim‐Klärner Sylvia , Bernard Josef , Decker Anja 
Published: January 2025

AbstractWhen social and spatial disadvantages meet, are they doubled? Empirical studies have convincingly demonstrated that disadvantages tend to accumulate. Our paper advances this scholarship by focusing on the under‐researched issue of social positions, subjective perspectives, and agency among single mothers in rural peripheries characterized by weak labor markets and accessibility issues. Drawing from problem‐centered interviews conducted in eastern Germany and Czechia, we investigate how single mothers perceive and evaluate the local and regional opportunities available to them. Additionally, we employ the concept of coping to analyze how they navigate spatial constraints. Our findings reveal that while our respondents encounter various spatial limitations and some feel ensnared in cycles of accumulating disadvantages, they often view these constraints as balanced or outweighed by the advantages of their living environment. Our in‐depth analysis identifies room to maneuver in coping with spatial disadvantages and sheds light on the costs and risks associated with different coping strategies. In conclusion, we argue that incorporating a perspective on agency and subjectivity into research on inequalities allows for a nuanced understanding of the interrelation of social and spatial disadvantages.
Complements of unions: Insights on spaceability and applications
Authors: Araújo Gustavo , Barbosa Anderson , Baganha Raposo Anselmo , Ribeiro Geivison 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis paper presents two general criteria to determine spaceability results in the complements of unions of subspaces. The first criterion applies to countable unions of subspaces under specific conditions and is closely related to the results of Kitson and Timoney [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 378 (2011), 680–686]. This criterion extends and recovers some classical results in this theory. The second criterion establishes sufficient conditions for the complement of a union of Lebesgue spaces to be ‐spaceable, or not, even when they are not locally convex. We use this result to characterize measurable subsets having positive measure. Armed with these results, we have improved existing results in environments such as Lebesgue measurable function sets, spaces of continuous functions, sequence spaces, nowhere Hölder function sets, Sobolev spaces, non‐absolutely summing operator spaces and even sets of functions of bounded variation.
Sex‐specific differences in mortality and neurocardiac interactions in the Kv1.1 knockout mouse model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
Authors: Paulhus Kelsey , Kumar Praveen , Kneale Kelly , Hutson T. Noah , Gautier‐Hall Nicole M. , Shiau Deng‐Shan , Watts Megan , Trosclair Krystle , Dhaibar Hemangini A. , Dominic Paari , Iasemidis Leonidas , Glasscock Edward 
Published: January 2025

AbstractSudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a devastating complication of epilepsy with possible sex‐specific risk factors, although the exact relationship between sex and SUDEP remains unclear. To investigate this, we studied Kcna1 knockout (Kcna1−/−) mice, which lack voltage‐gated Kv1.1 channel subunits and are widely used as a SUDEP model that mirrors key features in humans. To assess sex differences, we first performed survival analysis, EEG‐ECG recordings, seizure threshold testing and retrospective analysis of previous intracardiac pacing data. We then applied a novel modelling approach across organs (organomics) to uncover potential sex‐specific differences in brain–heart communication. Our findings revealed female Kcna1−/− mice have significantly longer lifespans than males, suggesting lower SUDEP rates. Although no sex differences were found in seizure frequency, duration, burden, susceptibility or interictal heart rate variability, females showed a higher incidence of bradycardia during spontaneous seizures than males, as well as resistance to inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias in response to programmed electrical stimulation. Two captured SUDEP events, one per sex, displayed similar patterns of ictal bradycardia in both sexes, progressing to postictal cardiorespiratory failure. Going beyond traditional seizure and cardiac metrics, organomics analysis revealed that seizures affect brain–heart communication differently between sexes. Females exhibited more effective resetting of brain–heart interactions postictally than males. This finding may contribute to the lower SUDEP risk in females and underscores the complex interplay between sex, cardiac function and brain–heart communication in determining SUDEP susceptibility. Furthermore, seizure‐resetting measures could represent a promising class of biomarkers for SUDEP risk stratification.
imageKey points
Female Kcna1−/− mice live longer than males, suggesting lower sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) rates.
There are no sex differences in seizure metrics or interictal heart rate variability.
Females show more bradycardia during seizures and are resistant to inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
Seizures affect brain–heart communication differently between the sexes.
Seizures in females reset brain–heart interactions more effectively postictally, potentially lowering SUDEP risk.
Association between recorded physical activity and cancer progression or mortality in individuals diagnosed with cancer in South Africa
Authors: Mabena Ntokozo , Rugbeer Nivash , Lehmann Sandra , Torres Georgia , Patel Deepak , Mabunda Mosima , Greyling Mike , Thornton Jane S , Choi Yun-Hee , Stranges Saverio , Patricios Jon S 
Published: January 2025

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the association between progression and mortality in individuals with stage 1 cancer and their recorded physical activity before the diagnosis of the cancer.MethodsWe included 28 248 members with stage 1 cancers enrolled in an oncology programme in South Africa. Physical activity was recorded using fitness devices, logged gym sessions and participation in organised fitness events. Levels of physical activity over the 12 months before cancer diagnosis were categorised as no physical activity, low physical activity (an average of <60 min/week) and moderate to high physical activity (≥60 min/week). Measured outcomes were time to progression, time to death and all cause mortality.ResultsPhysically active members showed lower rates of cancer progression and lower rates of death from all causes. The HR for progression to higher stages or death was 0.84 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.89), comparing low activity with no physical activity, and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.77), comparing medium to high physical activity with no physical activity. The HR for all cause mortality was 0.67 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.74), comparing low physical activity with no activity, and 0.53 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.58), comparing medium to high physical activity with no physical activity.ConclusionsIndividuals engaging in any level of recorded physical activity showed a reduced risk of cancer progression or mortality than those not physically active. There was a further reduction among individuals with moderate to high levels of physical activity compared with those with lower levels.
Study protocol for an international registry observational study evaluating clinical outcomes of transcatheter versus standard surgical mitral valve operation for secondary mitral regurgitation: the TEERMISO study
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Singh Sanjeet Singh Avtaar , Salsano Antonio , Spadaccio Cristiano , Shingu Yasushige , Wakasa Satoru , Fiore Antonio 
Published: January 2025

BackgroundSecondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is a condition affecting the left ventricle (LV) rather than the mitral valve (MV). If the MV remains structurally unchanged, enlargement of the LV or impairment of the papillary muscles can occur. Several mechanical interventions are available to dictate the resolution of MR. However, there is a lack of robust data to compare MV replacement, MV repair (including subvalvular repair) and transcatheter mitral valve procedures (TMVp). This study aims to compare the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of TMVp using the edge-to-edge mitral valve repair technique and standard surgical mitral valve procedures in patients with SMR.Methods and analysisFive cardiac surgery centres from four European countries and Japan have collaborated to create a multicentre observational registry (TEERMISO). The registry will enrol consecutive patients who underwent mechanical intervention for SMR between January 2007 and December 2023. The investigators assessed the difference between replacement and repair for both the standard surgical approach and the transcatheter procedure. The main clinical outcome will be the degree of LV remodelling as assessed by the Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Volume Index at 10 years. The study will measure several secondary endpoints, including all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint, followed by functional status, hospitalisation, neurocognition, physiological measures (echocardiographic assessment), adverse events and reoperation.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained in Montpellier University Hospital on 24 May 2022 (Institutional Review Board Approval Number: IRB-MTP_2022_05_202201143). The results of the main study and each sub-analysis will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberNCT05090540.
Prevalence and factors associated with severe fatigue 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional population-based study in Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: Graindorge Clément Romain Hugo , Schrempft Stephanie , Pullen Nick , Baysson Hélène , Zaballa María-Eugenia , Stringhini Silvia , Nehme Mayssam , Guessous Idris 
Published: January 2025

ObjectivesThis study aims (1) to assess the prevalence of severe fatigue among the general population of Geneva, 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) to identify pandemic and non-pandemic factors associated with severe fatigue.DesignCross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Spring 2022.SettingGeneral adult population of Geneva, Switzerland.Participants6870 adult participants, randomly selected from the general population, included in the Specchio-COVID-19 cohort study, were invited to answer an online health survey.Outcome and cofactor measurePrevalence of severe fatigue was measured by the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire with a cut-off score≥4 out of 11. We assessed prevalence ratios of severe fatigue considering sociodemographic factors, health and behavioural characteristics (body mass index, depression, recent diagnosis of chronic disease or allergy, acute health event, smoking status, physical activity and sleep quality) and recent self-reported COVID-19 infections.ResultsA total of 4040 individuals participated (participation rate 59%, 58% were women, mean age 53.2 (SD=14.1 years)). Overall prevalence of severe fatigue was 30.7% (95% CI=29.2%–32.1%). After adjusting for age, sex, educational level and pre-existing comorbidities, the following characteristics were associated with severe fatigue: individuals aged 18–24 years (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR)=1.39 (1.10–1.76)) and 25–34 years (aPR=1.23 (1.05–1.45)), female sex (aPR=1.28 (1.16–1.41)), depression (aPR=2.78 (2.56–3.01)), occurrence of health events unrelated to COVID-19 (aPR=1.51 (1.38–1.65)) and self-reported COVID-19 infection in the past 12 months (aPR=1.41 (1.28–1.56)). After further adjustment for depression, previous associations were maintained except for young age.ConclusionsAbout one-third of the adult general population of Geneva experienced severe fatigue, 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened fatigue among young adults is partly explained by depressive symptoms. Recent COVID-19 infection is substantially associated with severe fatigue, regardless of infection severity or co-occurrence of depressive disorder.Trial registration numberCCER project ID 2020-00881.
Effect of exercise on kidney-relevant biomarkers in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Qiaoling , Celis-Morales Carlos , Lees Jennifer , Mark Patrick , Welsh Paul 
Published: January 2025

ObjectivePhysical activity (PA) has been generally recognised as beneficial for health. The effect of a change in PA on kidney biomarkers in healthy individuals without kidney disease remains unclear. This manuscript synthesised the evidence of the association of changes in PA with kidney biomarkers in the general population free from kidney disease.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesEmbase, PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to 12 March 2023.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesStudies of longitudinal or interventional design were selected initially. The following studies were excluded: (1) case-control studies, (2) studies where PA was measured at a single time point, (3) populations with known kidney disease, (4) studies evaluating the impact of a single episode/event of PA and (5) non-English language studies.Data extraction and synthesisTwo independent reviewers extracted data from a pre-designed table and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Hedge’s g was used to synthesise effect sizes and obtain an overall estimate. Heterogeneity between studies was measured using I2. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were performed to evaluate the risk of biased results.Results16 interventional studies with randomised or non-randomised designs involving 500 participants were identified. The median follow-up was 84 days. 10 studies were at high risk of bias. Studies with low quality were published prior to the year 2000. Changes in PA were found only to have a positive association with serum creatinine (SCr) (Hedge’s g=0.69; 95% CI 0.13, 1.24; I2=81.37%) and not with plasma renin activity (PRA), urea, or urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). The positive association was only observed in people with obesity and those who exercised for more than 84 days.ConclusionsHigher levels of PA are associated with increased SCr levels in healthy people. It remains unclear if this association is related to impaired kidney function or gain in muscle mass, as data on other kidney biomarkers did not support a certain link.PROSPERO registration numberThis review has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023407820).