bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pollinators and policy: the intersecting path of various actors across an evolving CAP
Authors: Giovanetti Manuela , Bortolotti Laura 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPollinators are a crucial group of organisms due to their role in the maintenance of environmental biodiversity and crop production. Pollinators may be very diverse; however, in temperate areas they are mainly insects, and the most active and important are certainly the bees. Not only the well-known honeybee: there are almost 2000 species of wild bees in Europe, and about 1000 just in Italy. There is an increasing public worry related to their decline and to the impact that this decline may have on agricultural production. The way public perception of the pollinator issue arises is generally neglected, especially by important stakeholders such as the farmers. Moreover, direct actions were not indicated by the policy till recently. We surveyed the main steps that possibly drove the current political perspective at the European and national (Italian) level. We found an increased boost toward healthier environments through the release of various documents. To look for changes that may include pollinator protection, we need to address the Common Agricultural Policies (CAPs), the tool that shapes the European agro-environments. A new CAP document has been recently released, and the Member States are moving toward the definition of eco-schemes to be adopted by farmers after payments. Italy placed pollinators in pole position with a dedicated eco-scheme: will pollinators finally be acknowledged?
2-Oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes as saturated bioisosteres of the ortho-substituted phenyl ring
Authors: Denisenko Aleksandr , Garbuz Pavel , Voloshchuk Nataliya M. , Holota Yuliia , Al-Maali Galeb , Borysko Petro , Mykhailiuk Pavel K. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe ortho-substituted phenyl ring is a basic structural element in chemistry. It is found in more than three hundred drugs and agrochemicals. During the past decade, scientists have tried to replace the phenyl ring in bioactive compounds with saturated bioisosteres to obtain novel patentable structures. However, most of the research in this area has been devoted to the replacement of the para-substituted phenyl ring. Here we have developed saturated bioisosteres of the ortho-substituted phenyl ring with improved physicochemical properties: 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes. Crystallographic analysis revealed that these structures and the ortho-substituted phenyl ring indeed have similar geometric properties. Replacement of the phenyl ring in marketed agrochemicals fluxapyroxad (BASF) and boscalid (BASF) with 2-oxabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes dramatically improved their water solubility, reduced lipophilicity and most importantly retained bioactivity. This work suggests an opportunity for chemists to replace the ortho-substituted phenyl ring in bioactive compounds with saturated bioisosteres in medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry.
A multi-enzyme machine polymerizes the Haemophilus influenzae type b capsule
Authors: Cifuente Javier O. , Schulze Julia , Bethe Andrea , Di Domenico Valerio , Litschko Christa , Budde Insa , Eidenberger Lukas , Thiesler Hauke , Ramón Roth Isabel , Berger Monika , Claus Heike , D’Angelo Cecilia , Marina Alberto , Gerardy-Schahn Rita , Schubert Mario , Guerin Marcelo E. , Fiebig Timm 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBacterial capsules have critical roles in host-pathogen interactions. They provide a protective envelope against host recognition, leading to immune evasion and bacterial survival. Here we define the capsule biosynthesis pathway of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib), a Gram-negative bacterium that causes severe infections in infants and children. Reconstitution of this pathway enabled the fermentation-free production of Hib vaccine antigens starting from widely available precursors and detailed characterization of the enzymatic machinery. The X-ray crystal structure of the capsule polymerase Bcs3 reveals a multi-enzyme machine adopting a basket-like shape that creates a protected environment for the synthesis of the complex Hib polymer. This architecture is commonly exploited for surface glycan synthesis by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Supported by biochemical studies and comprehensive 2D nuclear magnetic resonance, our data explain how the ribofuranosyltransferase CriT, the phosphatase CrpP, the ribitol-phosphate transferase CroT and a polymer-binding domain function as a unique multi-enzyme assembly.
How to establish and maintain a multimodal animal research dataset using DataLad
Authors: Kalantari Aref , Szczepanik Michał , Heunis Stephan , Mönch Christian , Hanke Michael , Wachtler Thomas , Aswendt Markus 
Published: June 2023

AbstractSharing of data, processing tools, and workflows require open data hosting services and management tools. Despite FAIR guidelines and the increasing demand from funding agencies and publishers, only a few animal studies share all experimental data and processing tools. We present a step-by-step protocol to perform version control and remote collaboration for large multimodal datasets. A data management plan was introduced to ensure data security in addition to a homogeneous file and folder structure. Changes to the data were automatically tracked using DataLad and all data was shared on the research data platform GIN. This simple and cost-effective workflow facilitates the adoption of FAIR data logistics and processing workflows by making the raw and processed data available and providing the technical infrastructure to independently reproduce the data processing steps. It enables the community to collect heterogeneously acquired and stored datasets not limited to a specific category of data and serves as a technical infrastructure blueprint with rich potential to improve data handling at other sites and extend to other research areas.
A spike in circulating cytokines TNF-α and TGF-β alters barrier function between vascular and musculoskeletal tissues
Authors: Ngo Lucy , Knothe Tate Melissa L. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMolecular transport between the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems regulates articular joint physiology in health and disease. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease linked to systemic and local inflammation. Inflammatory events involve cytokines, which are secreted by cells of the immune system and modulate molecular transport across tissue interfaces (referred to as tight junction [TJ] barrier function). In a previous study from our group, OA knee joint tissues were shown to exhibit size separation of different sized molecules delivered as a single bolus to the heart (Ngo et al. in Sci. Rep. 8:10254, 2018). Here, in a follow up study of parallel design, we test the hypothesis that two common cytokines, with multifaceted roles in the etiology of osteoarthritis as well as immune state in general, modulate the barrier function properties of joint tissue interfaces. Specifically, we probe the effect of an acute cytokine increase (spike) on molecular transport within tissues and across tissue interfaces of the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems. A single bolus of fluorescent-tagged 70 kDa dextran, was delivered intracardially, either alone, or with either the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α or the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β, to skeletally mature (11 to 13-month-old) guinea pigs (Dunkin-Hartley, a spontaneous OA animal model). After five minutes' circulation, whole knee joints were serial sectioned and fluorescent block face cryo-imaged at near-single-cell resolution. The 70 kDa fluorescent-tagged tracer is analogous in size to albumin, the most prevalent blood transporter protein, and quantification of tracer fluorescence intensity gave a measure of tracer concentration. Within five minutes, a spike (acute doubling) in circulating cytokines TNF-α or TGF-β significantly disrupted barrier function between the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems, with barrier function essentially abrogated in the TNF-α group. In the entire volume of the joint (including all tissue compartments and the bounding musculature), tracer concentration was significantly decreased in the TGF-β- and TNF-α- compared to the control-group. These studies implicate inflammatory cytokines as gatekeepers for molecular passage within and between tissue compartments of our joints and may open new means to delay the onset and mitigate the progression of degenerative joint diseases such as OA, using pharmaceutical and/or physical measures.
Analysis of contact tracing data showed contribution of asymptomatic and non-severe infections to the maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Senegal
Authors: Diarra Maryam , Ndiaye Ramatoulaye , Barry Aliou , Talla Cheikh , Diagne Moussa Moise , Dia Ndongo , Faye Joseph , Sarr Fatoumata Diene , Gaye Aboubacry , Diallo Amadou , Cisse Mamadou , Dieng Idrissa , Fall Gamou , Tall Adama , Faye Oumar , Faye Ousmane , Sall Amadou A. , Loucoubar Cheikh 
Published: June 2023

AbstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal, contact tracing was done to identify transmission clusters, their analysis allowed to understand their dynamics and evolution. In this study, we used information from the surveillance data and phone interviews to construct, represent and analyze COVID-19 transmission clusters from March 2, 2020, to May 31, 2021. In total, 114,040 samples were tested and 2153 transmission clusters identified. A maximum of 7 generations of secondary infections were noted. Clusters had an average of 29.58 members and 7.63 infected among them; their average duration was 27.95 days. Most of the clusters (77.3%) are concentrated in Dakar, capital city of Senegal. The 29 cases identified as super-spreaders, i.e., the indexes that had the most positive contacts, showed few symptoms or were asymptomatic. Deepest transmission clusters are those with the highest percentage of asymptomatic members. The correlation between proportion of asymptomatic and degree of transmission clusters showed that asymptomatic strongly contributed to the continuity of transmission within clusters. During this pandemic, all the efforts towards epidemiological investigations, active case-contact detection, allowed to identify in a short delay growing clusters and help response teams to mitigate the spread of the disease.
The relationships between microbiome diversity and epidemiology in domestic species of malaria-mediated mosquitoes of Korea
Authors: Lee Jeong Hyeon , Kim Hyun-Woo , Mustafa Bilal , Lee Hee Il , Kwon Hyung Wook 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMicrobiota in the mosquito plays an important role in their behavior and vector competence. The composition of their microbiome is strongly influenced by the environment, especially their habitat. The microbiome profiles of adult female Anopheles sinensis mosquitoes from malaria hyperendemic and hypoendemic areas in Republic of Korea were compared using 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. In different epidemiology groups, the alpha and beta diversity analyses were significant. The major bacterial phylum was Proteobacteria. The most abundant species in the microbiome of hyperendemic mosquitoes were the genera Staphylococcus, Erwinia, Serratia, and Pantoea. Notably, a distinct microbiome profile characterized by the dominance of Pseudomonas synxantha was identified in the hypoendemic area, suggesting a potential correlation between the microbiome profiles and the incidence of malaria cases.
Oral micronized progesterone for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes a Phase III Canada-wide randomized placebo-controlled 4 month trial
Authors: Prior Jerilynn C. , Cameron Andrea , Fung Michelle , Hitchcock Christine L. , Janssen Patricia , Lee Terry , Singer Joel 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis study tested progesterone for perimenopausal hot flush ± night sweat (vasomotor symptom, VMS) treatment. It was a double-blind, randomized trial of 300 mg oral micronized progesterone@bedtime versus placebo for 3-months (m) after a 1-m untreated baseline during 2012/1–2017/4. We randomized untreated, non-depressed, screen- and baseline-eligible by VMS, perimenopausal women (with flow within 1-year), ages 35–58 (n = 189). Participants aged 50 (± SD = 4.6) were mostly White, educated, minimally overweight with 63% in late perimenopause; 93% participated remotely. The 1° outcome was 3rd-m VMS Score difference. Participants recorded VMS number and intensity (0–4 scale)/24 h on a VMS Calendar. Randomization required VMS (intensity 2–4/4) of sufficient frequency and/or ≥ 2/week night sweat awakenings. Baseline total VMS Score (SD) was 12.2 (11.3) without assignment difference. Third-m VMS Score did not differ by therapy (Rate Difference − 1.51). However, the 95% CI [− 3.97, 0.95] P = 0.222, did not exclude 3, a minimal clinically important difference. Women perceived progesterone caused decreased night sweats (P = 0.023) and improved sleep quality (P = 0.005); it decreased perimenopause-related life interference (P = 0.017) without increased depression. No serious adverse events occurred. Perimenopausal night sweats ± hot flushes are variable; this RCT was underpowered but could not exclude a minimal clinically important VMS benefit. Perceived night sweats and sleep quality significantly improved.
34-kDa salivary protein enhances duck Tembusu virus infectivity in the salivary glands of Aedes albopictus by modulating the innate immune response
Authors: Sri-in Chalida , Thontiravong Aunyaratana , Bartholomay Lyric C. , Wechtaisong Wittawat , Thongmeesee Kritsada , Riana Elizabeth , Tiawsirisup Sonthaya 
Published: June 2023

AbstractDuck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is an important flavivirus that can be transmitted to poultry via Aedes albopictus bites. Furthermore, humans residing in the DTMUV epidemic area display activated antiviral immune responses to local DTMUV isolates during the pathogenic invasion, thereby raising the primary concern that this flavivirus may be transmitted to humans via mosquito bites. Therefore, we identified the gene AALF004421, which is a homolog of the 34-kDa salivary protein (34 kDa) of Ae. albopictus and studied the salivary protein-mediated enhancement of DTMUV infection in Ae. albopictus salivary glands. We observed that double-stranded RNA-mediated silencing of the 34 kDa in mosquito salivary glands demonstrated that the silenced 34 kDa impaired DTMUV infectivity, similar to inhibition through serine protease. This impairment occurred as a consequence of triggering the innate immune response function of a macroglobulin complement-related factor (MCR). 34-kDa in the salivary gland which had similar activity as a serine protease, results in the abrogation of antimicrobial peptides production and strong enhance DTMUV replication and transmission. Although the function of the 34 kDa in Ae. albopictus is currently unknown; in the present study, we showed that it may have a major role in DTMUV infection in mosquito salivary glands through the suppression of the antiviral immune response in the earliest stages of infection. This finding provides the first identification of a prominently expressed 34 kDa protein in Ae. albopictus saliva that could serve as a target for controlling DTMUV replication in mosquito vectors.
Screening properties of trend tests in genetic association studies
Authors: Jiang Zhenzhen , Guo Hongping , Wang Jinjuan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIn genome-wide association study, extracting disease-associated genetic variants among millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms is of great importance. When the response is a binary variable, the Cochran-Armitage trend tests and associated MAX test are among the most widely used methods for association analysis. However, the theoretical guarantees for applying these methods to variable screening have not been built. To fill this gap, we propose screening procedures based on adjusted versions of these methods and prove their sure screening properties and ranking consistency properties. Extensive simulations are conducted to compare the performances of different screening procedures and demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of MAX test-based screening procedure. A case study on a dataset of type 1 diabetes further verifies their effectiveness.
Effects of modified sleeper stretch and modified cross-body stretch on upper limb functions and shoulder ROM in tennis players: a randomized trial
Authors: D. Anjupriya , Sudhan M. Aparna , Chandran Shilpa , Nuhmani Shibili , Ahsan Mohammad , Alghadir Ahmad H. , Khan Masood 
Published: June 2023

AbstractTennis players often experience posterior shoulder pain due to restricted internal rotation (IR) range of motion (ROM) of the glenohumeral joint. No research has compared the effects of modified sleeper stretch (MSS) versus modified cross-body stretch (MCBS) on tennis players’ upper limb functions and IR ROM. The study aimed to compare the efficacy of modified sleeper and cross-body adduction stretch in improving shoulder IR ROM and upper limb functions in tennis players. Thirty male lawn tennis players (aged 20 to 35 years) with more than 15° glenohumeral IR deficiency on the dominant side compared to the non-dominant side were recruited and divided into two groups: Modified sleeper stretch group (MSSG) and modified cross-body stretch group (MCBSG). MSSG received MSS, and MCBSG received MCBS, 3–5 repetitions once daily for 4 weeks. Upper limb functions were measured using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scale, and the IR ROM of the shoulder joint was measured using a universal goniometer. Both groups observed significant (p < 0.05) DASH scores and IR ROM improvements. DASH scores decreased by 85% in MSSG and 79.60% in MCBSG. IR ROM increased by 94.64% in MSSG and 89.52% in MCBSG. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in post-intervention DASH scores and IR ROM values between both groups. MSS and MCBS improved upper limb functions and IR ROM of the shoulder joint in the selected sample population of lawn tennis players. No difference was observed between both stretching techniques in improving upper limb functions and IR ROM of the shoulder joint.
Characterization of two lytic bacteriophages, infecting Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBSEC) from Korean ruminant
Authors: Park Seon Young , Kwon Hyemin , Kim Sang Guen , Park Se Chang , Kim Ji Hyung , Seo Seongwon 
Published: June 2023

AbstractStreptococcus bovis/equinuscomplex (SBSEC) is one of the most important lactic acid-producing rumen bacteria causing subacute ruminal acidosis. Despite the significance of the ruminal bacteria, lytic bacteriophages (phages) capable of infecting SBSEC in the rumen have been rarely characterized. Hence, we describe the biological and genomic characteristics of two lytic phages (designated as vB_SbRt-pBovineB21 and vB_SbRt-pBovineS21) infecting various SBSEC species, including the newly reportedS.ruminicola. The isolated SBSEC phages were morphologically similar toPodoviridaeand could infect other genera of lactic acid-producing bacteria, includingLactococcusandLactobacillus. Additionally, they showed high thermal- and pH-stability, and those characteristics induce strong adaptation to the ruminal environment, such as the low pH found in subacute ruminal acidosis. Genome-based phylogeny revealed that both phages were related toStreptococcusphage C1 in theFischettivirus. However, they had a lower nucleotide similarity and distinct genomic arrangements than phage C1. The phage bacteriolytic activity was evaluated usingS.ruminicola, and the phages efficiently inhibited planktonic bacterial growth. Moreover, both phages could prevent bacterial biofilms of various SBSEC strains and other lactic acid-producing bacteria in vitro. Thus, the newly isolated two SBSEC phages were classified as newFischettivirusmembers and could be considered as potential biocontrol agents against ruminal SBSEC bacteria and their biofilms.
Effects of fishery complementary photovoltaic power plant on radiation, energy flux and driving forces under different synoptic conditions
Authors: Li Peidu , Gao Xiaoqing , Li Zhenchao , Ye Tiange , Zhou Xiyin 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe underlying surface was the important media of air-lake interaction by transferring energy. The deployment of photovoltaic arrays on the lake has formed a new underlying surface type. But the new underlying surface is different from the natural lake. The impact of fishery complementary photovoltaic (FPV) power plants on the radiation, energy flux, and driving force is unclear. Therefore, the analysis of radiation, energy flux, and driving force by comparing the difference in the two sites under various synoptic conditions. The results indicated that the radiation components are not significantly different in the two sites under diverse synoptic conditions. The downward shortwave radiation (DSR) and net radiation ($${R}_{n}$$

R
n

) were presented with one peak on a sunny day. The daily average DSR and Rn in the two sites were 279.1 W·m−2, 209.3 W·m−2, respectively. The daily average (cloudy day and rainy day) sensible heat flux in the two sites was 39.5 W·m−2 (FPV site), 19.2 W·m−2 (REF site), respectively. The latent heat flux was 53.2 W·m−2 and 75.2 W·m−2 on counterpart. The water body generally absorbs heat from the air (daily average ∆Q was 16.6 W·m−2) in the FPV site on a sunny day. The driving force of sensible heat flux in the FPV site was governed by the temperature of the FPV panel under sunny and cloudy conditions. The latent heat flux was determined by the product between wind speed and water-atmosphere temperature difference.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Exposure to pesticide components causes recurrent pregnancy loss by increasing placental oxidative stress and apoptosis: a case–control study
Authors: El-Baz Mona A. H. , Amin Ahmed F. , Mohany Khalid M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe investigated the plasma levels of pesticides components namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), ethion, malathion, and chlorpyrifos in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) cases, and tested their associations with placental oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers [nitric oxide (NO.), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] and with placental apoptotic/antiapoptotic indices (Bcl-2 and caspase-3), and evaluated their possible cut-off points to distinguish RPL cases. The study recruited 101 pregnant women divided into; G1 [n = 49, control, normal 1st-trimester pregnancy, normal obstetric history with at least one previous normal live birth], G2 [n = 26, cases with missed abortion (< 3 abortions) before 24 weeks of gestation], and G3 [n = 26, cases with missed abortion (≥ 3 abortions) before 24 weeks of gestation]. The plasma pesticide levels were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Plasma human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), placental OS, Bcl-2, and caspase-3, were analyzed by their corresponding methods and kits. Plasma PCBs, DDE, dieldrin, and ethion levels were significantly higher in RPL cases than in normal pregnancies (p ≤ 0.001). These levels correlated positively with placental OS and apoptosis and negatively with plasma HCG levels. Also, these levels were reliable markers of risk to RPL. Malathion and chlorpyrifos were not detected in any of the study’s participants. Pesticides may be risk factors in cases of spontaneous RPL cases. They are associated with an increasing placental OS and placental apoptosis. Specific measures should be taken to decrease maternal exposure to these pollutants’ sources, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries.