bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased HIV‐1 infection in PBMCs treated in vitro with menstrual cycle phase hormones or medroxyprogesterone acetate likely occurs via different mechanisms
Authors: Bick Alexis J. , Avenant Chanel , Tomasicchio Michele , van der Spuy Zephne , Hapgood Janet P. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractProblemBoth luteal phase progesterone (P4) levels and use of the intramuscular (IM) injectable progestin‐only contraceptive depo‐medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‐IM) have been linked to increased S/HIV acquisition in animal, clinical and in vitro models. Several plausible mechanisms could explain MPA‐induced HIV‐1 acquisition while those for the luteal phase are underexplored.Method of studyPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with P4 and estrogen at concentrations mimicking the luteal phase, follicular phase or with levels of MPA mimicking peak serum levels in DMPA‐IM users. Cells were infected with an R5‐tropic infectious molecular clone and HIV‐1 infection was measured. A role for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was investigated using the GR/PR antagonist RU486. CCR5 protein levels and activation status, assessed by levels of the activation marker CD69, were measured by flow cytometry after treatment in vitro and in PBMCs from naturally‐cycling women or DMPA‐IM users.ResultsBoth MPA and luteal phase hormones significantly increased HIV‐1 infection in vitro. However, MPA but not luteal phase hormones increased the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio, CCR5 protein expression on CD4+ T cells and increased expression of the activation marker CD69. The GR is involved in MPA‐induced, but not luteal phase hormone‐induced increased HIV‐1 infection. In DMPA‐IM users, the frequency of CCR5‐expressing CD3+ and CD8+ cells was higher than for women in the luteal phase.ConclusionsMPA increases HIV‐1 infection in a manner different from that of luteal phase hormones, most likely involving the GR and at least in part changes in the frequency and/or expression of CCR5 and CD69.
The predictive value of common symptoms in early pregnancy for complications later in pregnancy and at birth
Authors: Ertmann Ruth Kirk , Nicolaisdottir Dagny Ros , Kragstrup Jakob , Overbeck Gritt , Kriegbaum Margit , Siersma Volkert 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIntroductionThe aim was to investigate whether common pregnancy‐related symptoms—nausea, vomiting, back pain, pelvic girdle pain, pelvic cavity pain, vaginal bleeding, itching of vulva, pregnancy itching, leg cramps, uterine contractions and varicose veins—in the first trimester of pregnancy add to the identification of women at high risk of future pregnancy and birth complications.Material and methodsSurvey data linked to national register data. All women booking an appointment for a first prenatal visit in one of 192 randomly selected General Practices in East Denmark in the period April 2015–August 2016. The General Practices included 1491 women to this prospective study. Two outcomes, pregnancy complications and birth complications, were collected from the Danish Medical Birth Register.ResultsAmong the 1413 included women, 199 (14%) experienced complications in later pregnancy. The most serious complication, miscarriage, was experienced by 65 women (4.6%). Other common pregnancy complications were gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 11, 0.8%), gestational hypertension without proteinuria (n = 34, 2.4%), mild to moderate preeclampsia (n = 34, 2.4%) and gestational itching with effect on liver (n = 17, 1.2%). Women who experienced pelvic girdle pain, pelvic cavity pain or vaginal bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy had a higher risk of pregnancy complications later on in later pregnancy. None of the other examined symptoms showed associations to pregnancy complications. No associations were found between pregnancy‐related physical symptoms in first trimester and birth complications.ConclusionsSymptoms in early pregnancy do not add much information about the risk of pregnancy or birth complications, although pain and bleeding may give reason for some concern. This is an important message to women experiencing these common symptoms and to their caregivers.
Virtual and Augmented Reality: A Glance into the Future
Authors: Jackson Thaddeus , Arnoux Dmitri , Pye Olivia 
Published: October 2022

Over the past two decades, we have seen an unimaginable amount of change in the technology we use and how we use that technology.Get ready for the future (and some ways you may already be experiencing it) with this primer on augmented and virtual realities.
The frequency and position of stable associations offset their transitivity in a diversity of vertebrate social networks
Authors: Péron Guillaume 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWhen the estimated strength of social associations corresponds to the proportion of time spent together, strong links, those that take up most of the recorded time of individuals, are compulsorily transitive and tend to occur in clusters. However, I describe three ways in which the frequency and position of strong associations apparently offset the expected transitivity of strong links in published association networks from 26 species of vertebrates. Instead of occurring in groups of three, strong links were mostly isolated. When they did occur in clusters, the clusters were small. The phenomena increased in intensity as the overall number of links of all strengths and the overall network transitivity increased. Since stable transitive motifs are beneficial to cooperation, these results can help explain why cooperative behaviors are not more frequent than they are in group‐living vertebrates. Inversely, stable transitive motifs may be rare and small because the benefits of cooperation do not overcome the costs associated with these motifs. The summary statistics developed for this study captured information not conveyed by other network‐level metrics; thus they may help quantify the socio‐spatial structure of populations and potentially tease apart the environmental, species‐specific, and individual drivers.
Elevated ozone decreases the multifunctionality of belowground ecosystems
Authors: Gu Xian , Wang Tianzuo , Li Caihong 
Published: October 2022

AbstractElevated tropospheric ozone (O3) affects the allocation of biomass aboveground and belowground and influences terrestrial ecosystem functions. However, how belowground functions respond to elevated O3 concentrations ([O3]) remains unclear at the global scale. Here, we conducted a detailed synthesis of belowground functioning responses to elevated [O3] by performing a meta‐analysis of 2395 paired observations from 222 publications. We found that elevated [O3] significantly reduced the primary productivity of roots by 19.8%, 16.3%, and 26.9% for crops, trees and grasses, respectively. Elevated [O3] strongly decreased the root/shoot ratio by 11.3% for crops and by 4.9% for trees, which indicated that roots were highly sensitive to O3. Elevated [O3] impacted carbon and nitrogen cycling in croplands, as evidenced by decreased dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, total soil nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, microbial biomass nitrogen, and nitrification rates in association with increased nitrate nitrogen and denitrification rates. Elevated [O3] significantly decreased fungal phospholipid fatty acids in croplands, which suggested that O3 altered the microbial community and composition. The responses of belowground functions to elevated [O3] were modified by experimental methods, root environments, and additional global change factors. Therefore, these factors should be considered to avoid the underestimation or overestimation of the impacts of elevated [O3] on belowground functioning. The significant negative relationships between O3‐treated intensity and the multifunctionality index for croplands, forests, and grasslands implied that elevated [O3] decreases belowground ecosystem multifunctionality.
BLOEM: A spatially explicit model of bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, applied to Brazil
Authors: Tagomori Isabela , Daioglou Vassilis , Rochedo Pedro , Angelkorte Gerd , Schaeffer Roberto , van Vuuren Detlef , Szklo Alexandre 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBioenergy could play a major role in decarbonizing energy systems in the context of the Paris Agreement. Large‐scale bioenergy deployment could be related to sustainability issues and requires major infrastructure investments. It, therefore, needs to be studied carefully. The Bioenergy and Land Optimization Spatially Explicit Model (BLOEM) presented here allows for assessing different bioenergy pathways while encompassing various dimensions that influence their optimal deployment. In this study, BLOEM was applied to the Brazilian context by coupling it with the Brazilian Land Use and Energy Systems (BLUES) model. This allowed investigating the most cost‐effective ways of attending future bioenergy supply projections and studying the role of recovered degraded pasture lands in improving land availability in a sustainable and competitive manner. The results show optimizing for limiting deforestation and minimizing logistics costs results in different outcomes. It also indicates that recovering degraded pasture lands is attractive from both logistics and climate perspectives. The systemic approach of BLOEM provides spatial results, highlighting the trade‐offs between crop allocation, land use and the logistics dynamics between production, conversion, and demand, providing valuable insights for regional and national climate policy design. This makes it a useful tool for mapping sustainable bioenergy value chain pathways.
Left atrial appendage dimension predicts elevated brain natriuretic peptide in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Cook Jason A. , Lancaster Megan C. , Kanagasundram Arvindh N. , Prigmore Heather L. , Sandler Kim L. , Deegan Robert J. , Ellis Christopher R. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIntroductionBNP elevation in patients with AF is observed in the absence of heart failure; however, prior mechanistic studies have not included direct left atrial pressure measurements. This study sought to understand how emptying function of the left atrial appendage (LAA) and LAA dimension contributes to brain‐natriuretic peptide elevations (BNP) in atrial fibrillation (AF) accounting for left atrial pressure (LAP).Methods132 patients referredfor left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) were prospectively enrolled in this study. BNP levels and LAP were measured just before LAAO. Statistical analysis considered BNP, rhythm at time of procedure, LAP, LAA morphology, LAA size (ostial diameter, depth, volume), LAA emptying velocity, CHADS2‐VASc score, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosis as covariates.ResultsBivariate statistical analysis demonstrated positive associations with age, LAA ostial diameter, depth, and volume, LAP, AF status at time of measurement, OSA, and CHADS2‐VASc score. BNP was negatively associated with LVEF, eGFR, LAA emptying velocity and BMI. With multivariate logistic regression including LAP as covariate, significant relationships between BNP and AF/AFL(OR 1.99 [1.03, 3.85]), LAP (OR 1.13 [1.06, 1.20]), LAA diameter (OR 1.14 [1.03, 1.27]), LAA depth (OR 1.14 [1.07, 1.22]), and LAA emptying velocity (OR 0.97 [0.96,0.99]) were observed; however, no significant associations were seen with LAA morphology or CHADS2‐VASc score.ConclusionsBNP elevations in AF are associated with LAA size and function, but not CHADS2‐VASc score or appendage morphology after accounting for changes in LAP.
Thermo‐physical properties of wheat germ: Heat and mass transfer during convective heating
Authors: Meriles Silvina Patricia , Curet Sebastien , Boillereaux Lionel , Ribotta Pablo Daniel , Penci María Cecilia 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWheat germ is one of the most nutritious parts of the grain. It is not fully exploited because it is highly perishable. Many attempts were done in order to stabilize the germ, being the most traditional one convective heating. The aim of the present work is the determination of thermo‐physical properties of wheat germ by using a specific methodology considering temperature and moisture content variations. A single‐phase mathematical model was used to validate the properties of wheat germ. The particulate material was considered from a continuum approach. Coupled heat and mass transfer equations were solved using a finite element method. The model was validated against experimental trials at three different oven temperatures (150°C, 180°C, and 200°C). A good accuracy was achieved considering the complexity of the material and processes involved. Water activity and lipase activity (two very important stability parameters) of the heated samples were predicted from average moisture content and temperature.Practical ApplicationsWheat germ is a highly available by‐product. Stabilization procedures are mandatory in order to use it in food formulation. Properties like density, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of the particle and bulk, as well as effective moisture diffusivity, heat, and mass transfer coefficients might be useful when describing similar thermal stabilization procedures of wheat germ or other particulate materials. Changes of these properties during thermal treatment involving a wide range of temperature (25–100°C) and moisture content (0%–13%) are also useful in designing, optimization, or scaling‐up processes.
Crosstalk between heat shock factor 1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 mediated by interleukin‐8 autocrine signaling maintains the cancer stem cell phenotype in liver cancer
Authors: Yang Zhengyan , Wan Wenjuan , Zhang Pai , Wang Shuangfeng , Zhao Zhi , Xue Jingrui , Yao Mengzhuo , Zhao Yiwei , Zheng Weifeng , Niu Baohua , Wang Mingli , Li Hui , Guo Weikai , Ren Zhiguang , Hu Yanzhong 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackground and AimLiver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) cause therapeutic refractoriness and relapse in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) plays versatile roles in multiple cancers. However, the role of HSF1 in LCSCs is not well understood. This study investigated the function and signal mechanisms of HSF1 in maintaining LCSC phenotypes.MethodsWe established two LCSC lines, HepG2‐R and HuH‐7‐R. Constitutive activation of HSF1 was observed in these LCSCs. Specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) and chemical inhibitors were used to identify the relationship between HSF1 expression and LCSCs phenotypes.ResultsWe revealed a concomitant activation modality involving HSF1 and STAT3 in LCSCs and liver cancer tissues. We also found that liver cancer patients whose HSF1 and STAT3 mRNA expression levels were high presented with unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. Moreover, the secretion of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) was elevated in the LCSC medium and was directly regulated by HSF1 at the transcriptional level. In turn, IL‐8 activated HSF1 and STAT3 signaling, and a neutralizing IL‐8 antibody inhibited HSF1 and STAT3 activity, reduced cancer stem cell marker expression, and decreased LCSC microsphere formation. Simultaneous intervention with HSF1 and STAT3 led to synergistically suppressed stemness acquisition and growth suppression in the LCSCs in vivo and in vitro.ConclusionsOur study indicates that IL‐8 mediates the crosstalk between the HSF1 and Stat3 signaling pathways in LCSCs and that the combined targeting of HSF1 and STAT3 is a promising treatment strategy for patients with advanced liver cancer.
Cell wall organic matrix composition and biomineralization across reef‐building coralline algae under global change
Authors: Bergstrom Ellie , Lahnstein Jelle , Collins Helen , Page Tessa M. , Bulone Vincent , Diaz‐Pulido Guillermo 
Published: October 2022

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) are one of the most important benthic substrate consolidators on coral reefs through their ability to deposit calcium carbonate on an organic matrix in their cell walls. Discrete polysaccharides have been recognized for their role in biomineralization, yet little is known about the carbohydrate composition of organic matrices across CCA taxa and whether they have the capacity to modulate their organic matrix constituents amidst environmental change, particularly the threats of ocean acidification (OA) and warming. We simulated elevated pCO2 and temperature (IPCC RCP 8.5) and subjected four mid‐shelf Great Barrier Reef species of CCA to 2 months of experimentation. To assess the variability in surficial monosaccharide composition and biomineralization across species and treatments, we determined the monosaccharide composition of the polysaccharides present in the cell walls of surficial algal tissue and quantified calcification. Our results revealed dissimilarity among species' monosaccharide constituents, which suggests that organic matrices are composed of different polysaccharides across CCA taxa. We also observed that species differentially modulate composition in response to ocean acidification and warming. Our findings suggest that both variability in composition and ability to modulate monosaccharide abundance may play a crucial role in surficial biomineralization dynamics under the stress of OA and global warming.
Oral fluconazole has variable pharmacokinetics in dogs
Authors: KuKanich Kate , KuKanich Butch , Magnin Geraldine 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the effects of food and manufacturer on the oral bioavailability of fluconazole in dogs. We hypothesized feeding would decrease fluconazole bioavailability and large variability between manufacturers would occur. Six healthy purpose‐bred dogs aged 2–3 years, weighing 9.5–13.7 kg, were enrolled. Each dog was administered a 100 mg fluconazole tablet from three FDA approved manufacturers (1‐Glenmark, 2‐Citron, 3‐Harris) in a randomized crossover block study, fasted for 12 h (fasted) or 15 min after feeding (fed); each dog had 6 treatments. Blood was collected for 72 h after dosing with a 10‐day washout between treatments. Fluconazole plasma concentrations were determined with mass spectrometry. Overall variability in dose‐normalized drug exposure (AUC/dose) was large (range 1.9–2.9x) within each treatment, while the overall range across all treatments was 3.3‐fold. The inter‐dog variability in the terminal half‐life was also large, 3.1‐fold. The mean fed relative oral bioavailability was lower (82%–90%) compared to fasted for each formulation. Due to the large variability, the formulations were not bioequivalent. These data suggest the variability in the half‐life was a major contributor to the large variability in fluconazole pharmacokinetics in dogs, while the feeding status and manufacturer were minor contributors.
Life‐history stage and the population genetics of the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus at a fine spatial scale
Authors: Reed Emily M. X. , Reiskind Michael H. , Burford Reiskind Martha O. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAs a widespread vector of disease with an expanding range, the mosquito Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) is a high priority for research and management. A. albopictus has a complex life history with aquatic egg, larval and pupal stages, and a terrestrial adult stage. This requires targeted management strategies for each life stage, coordinated across time and space. Population genetics can aid in A. albopictus control by evaluating patterns of genetic diversity and dispersal. However, how life stage impacts population genetic characteristics is unknown. We examined whether patterns of A. albopictus genetic diversity and differentiation changed with life stage at a spatial scale relevant to management efforts. We first conducted a literature review of field‐caught A. albopictus population genetic papers and identified 101 peer‐reviewed publications, none of which compared results between life stages. Our study uniquely examines population genomic patterns of egg and adult A. albopictus at five sites in Wake County, North Carolina, USA, using 8425 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We found that the level of genetic diversity and connectivity between sites varied between adults and eggs. This warrants further study and is critical for research aimed at informing local management.
A highly polymorphic effector protein promotes fungal virulence through suppression of plant‐associated Actinobacteria
Authors: Snelders Nick C. , Boshoven Jordi C. , Song Yin , Schmitz Natalie , Fiorin Gabriel L. , Rovenich Hanna , van den Berg Grardy C. M. , Torres David E. , Petti Gabriella C. , Prockl Zoe , Faino Luigi , Seidl Michael F. , Thomma Bart P. H. J. 
Published: October 2022

Summary

Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins to support host colonization through a wide range of molecular mechanisms, while plant immune systems evolved receptors to recognize effectors or their activities to mount immune responses to halt pathogens. Importantly, plants do not act as single organisms, but rather as holobionts that actively shape their microbiota as a determinant of health. The soil‐borne fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae was recently demonstrated to exploit the VdAve1 effector to manipulate the host microbiota to promote vascular wilt disease in the absence of the corresponding immune receptor Ve1.

We identify a multiallelic V. dahliae gene displaying c. 65% sequence similarity to VdAve1, named VdAve1‐like (VdAve1L), which shows extreme sequence variation, including alleles that encode dysfunctional proteins, indicative of selection pressure to overcome host recognition.

We show that the orphan cell surface receptor Ve2, encoded at the Ve locus, does not recognize VdAve1L. Additionally, we demonstrate that the full‐length variant VdAve1L2 possesses antimicrobial activity, like VdAve1, yet with a divergent activity spectrum, that is exploited by V. dahliae to mediate tomato colonization through the direct suppression of antagonistic Actinobacteria in the host microbiota.

Our findings open up strategies for more targeted biocontrol against microbial plant pathogens.
The impact of obesity and adipokines on breast and gynecologic malignancies
Authors: Tewari Surabhi , Vargas Roberto , Reizes Ofer 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe link between obesity and multiple disease comorbidities is well established. In 2003, Calle and colleagues presented the relationship between obesity and several cancer types, including breast, ovarian, and endometrial malignancies. Nearly, 20% of cancer‐related deaths in females can be accounted for by obesity. Identifying obesity as a risk factor for cancer led to a focus on the role of fat‐secreted cytokines, known as adipokines, on carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Early studies indicated that the adipokine leptin increases cell proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis in multiple cancer types. As a greater appreciation of the obesity–cancer link has amassed, we now know that additional adipokines can impact tumorigenesis. A deeper understanding of the adipokine‐activated signaling in cancer may identify new treatment strategies irrespective of obesity. Moreover, adipokines may serve as disease biomarkers, harnessing the potential of obesity‐associated factors to serve as indicators of treatment response and disease prognosis. As studies investigating obesity and women's cancers continue to expand, it has become evident that breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers are distinctly impacted by adipokines. While complex, these distinct interactions may provide insight into cancer progression in these organs and new opportunities for targeted therapies. This review aims to organize and present the literature from the last 5 years investigating the mechanisms and implications of adipokine signaling in breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers with a special focus on leptin and adiponectin.