bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving Register Ascertainment of Children With Post‐Neonatally Acquired Cerebral Palsy Through Health Service Partnerships
Authors: Waight Emma , Epps Adrienne , Smithers‐Sheedy Hayley , Goldsmith Shona , Woolfenden Sue , Paget Simon , Hanns Kerry , French Kylie , Burnett Heather , Ward Anna , Shaw Amy , Bau Karen , Diviney Leanne , Henry Georgina , Badawi Nadia , Kyriagis Maria , McIntyre Sarah 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe New South Wales (NSW) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Cerebral Palsy (CP) Register is a database of clinical and demographic information from children with CP. A child with CP resulting from an insult to the developing brain sustained between 29 days and 2 years of age is classified as having post‐neonatally acquired CP (PNN‐CP). In clinical services, children may meet the criteria and timing for PNN‐CP but have a singular diagnosis of acquired/traumatic brain injury.ObjectivesTo implement and evaluate a new CP register ascertainment strategy focused on identifying children with PNN‐CP attending acquired brain injury rehabilitation services.MethodsElectronic medical records of children with an acquired brain injury attending the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and John Hunter Hospital rehabilitation departments 2019–2024 were reviewed by researchers and rehabilitation paediatricians to identify children with PNN‐CP. Children who fulfilled the criteria for CP were invited to participate in the CP Register. To evaluate this ascertainment strategy, we (i) ran descriptive statistics to analyse proportional changes of children with PNN‐CP on the register and (ii) calculated temporal trends in prevalence per 10,000 live births for birth years 2003–2016, before and after the record ascertainment period.ResultsOf 1051 children with an acquired brain injury, 46 had PNN‐CP (2003–2019) and had not previously been included on the register. This ascertainment strategy resulted in increased prevalence of PNN‐CP in all 2‐year time points between 2003 and 2016 and equated to a 31% improvement in ascertainment of children with PNN‐CP on the register.ConclusionsAscertainment of children with PNN‐CP for the NSW/ACT CP Register has been improved by systematically reviewing children with an acquired brain injury. This is now part of standard practice, and other registers should consider whether this strategy may improve ascertainment of PNN‐CP in their regions.
Unveiling herbaceous plant responses to future triple interaction of drought and elevated temperature and [CO2]: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yoldi‐Achalandabaso Ander , Vicente Rubén , Muñoz‐Rueda Alberto , Pérez‐López Usue 
Published: February 2025

AbstractDuring the last decades, the breeding of major crops is growing at a slower rate than desirable to meet future food demands in many agro‐environments. Moreover, extreme climatic conditions, and particularly, drought impairments associated with climate change, are limiting the genetic gains of crops in temperate areas, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Drought events and atmospheric air temperatures and CO2 concentrations are increasing at an accelerating pace. Unfortunately, not all breeding programmes have been oriented towards developing climate‐resilient crops to cope with future climate predictions, so it is unclear how crops will respond under future multiple stress conditions. In this regard, special attention should be paid to the triple interaction effect of drought, elevated temperature and CO2 concentration on plant responses. Our aim was i) to perform a systematic review of the existing literature on the physiological and agronomic responses of herbaceous plants, mainly grasses, legumes, and forbs to this triple interaction, and ii) elucidate general responses through a meta‐analysis. The analysis of the literature unveils the great heterogeneity that exists in the experimental designs carried out to date to study multiple stress conditions in herbaceous plants, making it difficult to extrapolate general responses. A meta‐analysis of a subset of studies that met the criteria of having grown plants under elevated CO2 concentrations along the whole experiment suggests that the negative effects of drought on plant performance will be mitigated under future climate conditions, although the responses depend on the severity of the stressors and the experimental variables measured.
Role of aconitase in plant stress response and signaling
Authors: Rahikainen Moona , Berkowitz Oliver , Whelan James , Kangasjärvi Saijaliisa , Pascual Jesús 
Published: February 2025

AbstractMitochondria are the centres of carbon and energy metabolism in cells and are functionally integrated with other organelles. Under environmental stress, disturbances in organellar functions trigger stress signals that activate the necessary metabolic responses and maintain cell redox homeostasis. The tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme aconitase has emerged as a key component in stress‐induced organellar signalling and a regulator of metabolic and redox balance in photosynthetic organisms. Aconitase mediates mitochondrial and chloroplast retrograde signalling and contributes to the activation of the alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway in mitochondria. Aconitase‐driven citrate metabolism plays a crucial role in providing reducing equivalents and metabolic precursors for cytosolic nitrogen metabolism and biosynthetic pathways relevant for stress acclimation. Besides its enzymatic activity, aconitase has a non‐canonical function as it is a post‐transcriptional regulator of specific gene transcripts. The varied functions of aconitase under stress are facilitated by the regulation of specific aconitase isoforms at multiple levels. This review discusses the emerging role of aconitase as a central regulator of stress responses and signalling in photosynthetic organisms.
Accelerating the EU's climate transformation: The European Green Deal's Fit for 55 Package unpacked
Authors: Oberthür Sebastian , Kulovesi Kati 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThis article analyses the qualitative changes made to European Union (EU) climate law through the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package, which aims to implement the EU's upgraded greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55% compared with 1990 levels. The Package consists of 19 pieces of legislation. We investigate the Package's impact on key aspects of EU climate governance, including (a) ambition and stringency, (b) sectoral reach and (c) policy mix. We find that the Package has strengthened and detailed the EU's climate and energy targets and consolidated oversight of Member State implementation (ambition and stringency). The Package has also significantly expanded the reach of EU climate law to new sectors and policy areas. Finally, the Package has enriched the EU's climate policy mix, especially by introducing new economic and regulatory instruments. If fully implemented, the Package should enable the EU to achieve its 2030 emission reduction target. However, full implementation cannot be taken for granted given the current public backlash against climate policies in Europe. This enhances the importance of upgrading the EU framework for procedural climate governance, including with respect to public participation and deliberation. Overall, the Package must be complemented by further development of EU climate law and governance towards 2040 and beyond.
Does the Asset‐Type Matter in Vulnerability Reduction? Evidence From Rural Indian Households
Authors: Dhar Niladri Sekhar , Dutta Meghna 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe importance of assets for household emanates from its consumption‐smoothing ability and also for providing self‐insurance. However, the extent of cushion provided by assets against economic shock is contingent on the type of asset. This paper examines the relation between asset ownership and vulnerability of households and whether the asset types owned by the households can help generate value. We use household level asset data from eight villages of the Indian state of Bihar to study the type of assets rural households own and their contribution in mitigating poverty levels. Our results confirm that there is significant heterogeneity in asset ownership across social groups with low value asset being owned by households belonging to the disadvantaged castes. Poorer households are trapped in a spiral of low assets and low income which inhibits further generation of high value assets and income therefrom. In general, ownership of unproductive assets across households is quite high compared to productive assets indicating the poor development of capital in Bihar providing little buffer against possible economic shocks.
On a Bistable Delayed Nonlinear Reaction–Diffusion Equation for a Two‐Phase Free Boundary: Semi‐Wave and Its Numerical Simulation
Authors: Nguyen Thanh‐Hieu 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we investigate the existence and uniqueness of the semi‐wave solution to a bistable delayed reaction–diffusion equation with a double free boundary. This equation captures key features of biological systems and has broad applications in mathematical biology, including population dynamics, gene expression, virus propagation, and tumor growth. In particular, we employ the technique that was developed in the previous study by M. Alfaro et al. [Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society (3), 116, no. 4 (2018): 729–759], and use it to prove the existence and uniqueness of semi‐wave solutions. Our results demonstrate that the semi‐wave solutions depend on both the delay parameter and the free boundary condition. Additionally, we conduct numerical simulations to validate our theoretical results, and explore the effects of various parameters on the semi‐wave solution and spreading speed.
Ecological divergence of sibling allopolyploid marsh orchids is associated with species specific plasticity and distinct fungal communities
Authors: Emelianova Katie , Hawranek Anna‐Sophie , Eriksson Mimmi C. , Wolfe Thomas M. , Paun Ovidiu 
Published: February 2025

SUMMARYPhenotypic plasticity, the dynamic adjustment of traits to environmental variations, is crucial for enabling species to exploit broader niches and withstand suboptimal conditions. This adaptability is particularly relevant for newly formed allopolyploids, which possess redundant gene copies and must become established in diverse environments distinct from their parents and other relatives. By evaluating gene expression and root mycobiome among two ecologically divergent sibling allopolyploid marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza majalis and D. traunsteineri) in reciprocal transplants at localities where both species are native, we aimed to understand the drivers of species persistence in the face of interspecific gene flow. Despite consistent abiotic differences characterising the alternative environments at each locality, the majority of gene expression differences between the allopolyploids appears to be plastic. Ecologically relevant processes, such as photosynthesis and transmembrane transport, include some genes that are differentially expressed between the two orchids regardless of the environment, while others change their activity plastically in one species or the other. This suggests that although plasticity helps define the specific ecological range of each sibling allopolyploid, it also mediates gene flow between them, thereby preventing differentiation. Extending our investigations to the root mycobiome, we uncover more diverse fungal communities for either species when grown in the environment with nutrient‐poor soils, indicating that both abiotic and biotic factors drive the distribution of sibling marsh orchids. Altogether, our results indicate that plasticity can simultaneously promote diversification and homogenisation of lineages, influencing the establishment and persistence of recurrently formed allopolyploid species.
“I Don’t Think I’ve Done Justice to the Inclusion of Queer Students in Phys. Ed.”: Creating Physical Education Learning Environments for 2SLGBTQ+ Preservice Teachers
Authors: Stoddart Alexandra L. , St. Amant Niya 
Published: February 2025

Purpose: Traditionally, physical education (PE) has been a subject that reproduces heteronormativity and hegemonic masculinity. Particularly for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning (2SLGBTQ+) students, PE can be an unsafe and uncomfortable space. Unfortunately, research has also demonstrated that Physical Education Teacher Education programs can perpetuate the same negative and harmful discourse. Individuals who embark on a career in education will spend years in a postsecondary institution learning how to become teachers. Regardless of being in a generalist or a PE specialist degree program, the potential exists for preservice teachers (PSTs) to encounter this subject once again in their postsecondary education. The purpose of this research was to explore how three teacher educators created their PE learning environments for 2SLGBTQ+ PSTs. Method: As part of a larger explanatory sequential research project about 2SLGBTQ+ PSTs’ experiences in PE, teacher educators engaged in semistructured interviews for a qualitative study framed by queer theory. Results: Three themes were generated through Reflexive Thematic Analysis: (a) Problematic PE with Positive Potential illustrates how aspects of the subject can have negative impacts on students, but that teacher educators are working to showcase the subject’s merit; (b) Wicked (Gender) Games showcases that dominant binary norms and gender stereotypes are still prominent despite teacher educator push back; and (c) Last, Good for One, Good for All? details how teacher educators’ primary focus was general inclusion rather than an intentional focus to support 2SLGBTQ+ PSTs. Discussion/Conclusion: To truly become a more inclusive space, teacher educators need to critically reflect on and unpack heteronormative practices and discourses, gender stereotypes, and how they are intentionally supporting their 2SLGBTQ+ PSTs through PE learning environments and beyond.
Large diversity in the O-chain biosynthetic cluster within populations of Pelagibacterales
Authors: Haro-Moreno Jose M. , López-Pérez Mario , Molina-Pardines Carmen , Rodriguez-Valera Francisco 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Genomic diversity in prokaryotic species is largely due to the existence of extensive pangenomes, allowing different gene complements to be drawn depending on the strain. Here, we have studied the diversity of the O-chain polysaccharide biosynthesis cluster (OBC) in marine bacteria of the Pelagibacterales order as a proxy to measure such genetic diversity in a single population. The study of single-amplified genomes (SAGs) from the whole order found a pattern similar to that of other well-studied microbes, such as the Enterobacteriales or
Alteromonas
, where distinct OBCs represent strains containing different gene pools. We found that most of the OBC sharing happened among individuals of the same clonal frame (>99% average nucleotide identity). Moreover, given the parsimonious way this cluster changes, the diversity of the OBCs can be extrapolated to the size of the population’s pangenome. This assumes that different OBCs correspond to lineages containing unique flexible gene pools, as seen in the aforementioned microbes. Through long-read metagenomics, we could detect 380 different OBCs at a single Mediterranean sampling site. Within a single population (single species and sample) of the endemic Ia.3/VII (gMED) genomospecies, we identified 158 OBCs, of which 130 were unique. These findings suggest that the gene pool within a single population might be substantial (several thousands). While this figure is large, it aligns with the complexity of the dissolved organic matter that these organisms can potentially degrade.

IMPORTANCE

Different strains of the same bacterial species contain very different gene pools. This has been long known by epidemiologists. However, it is unknown what gene pool is present in a single set of environmental conditions, i.e., the same time and place in free-living bacteria. Here, we have leveraged information from SAGs to analyze the diversity of the gene cluster coding for the O-chain polysaccharide, a typical component of the flexible gene pool classically used as a tool to differentiate strains in clinical microbiology. It evolves at a similar rate to the rest of the genome and does not seem to be affected by an arms race with phages. One single species of Pelagibacteriales (gMED) revealed an astounding diversity in one sample studied by long-read metagenomics. Our results point to a large gene pool (local pangenome) present in a single population, which is critical to interpreting the biological meaning of the pangenome,
i.e
., it provides intrapopulation diversity rather than characterizing strains with different distribution in time and/or space.
Unveiling novel features and phylogenomic assessment of indigenous
Priestia megaterium
AB-S79 using comparative genomics
Authors: Adeniji Adetomiwa Ayodele , Chukwuneme Chinenyenwa Fortune , Conceição Emilyn Costa , Ayangbenro Ayansina Segun , Wilkinson Eduan , Maasdorp Elizna , de Oliveira Tulio , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Priestia megaterium
strain AB-S79 isolated from active gold mine soil previously expressed
in vitro
heavy metal resistance and has a 5.7 Mb genome useful for biotechnological exploitation. This study used web-based bioinformatic resources to analyze
P. megaterium
AB-S79 genomic relatedness, decipher its secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and better comprehend its taxa. Genes were highly conserved across the 14
P
.
megaterium
genomes examined here. The pangenome reflected a total of 61,397 protein-coding genes, 59,745 homolog protein family hits, and 1,652 singleton protein family hits. There were also 7,735 protein families, including 1,653 singleton families and 6,082 homolog families. OrthoVenn3 comparison of AB-S79 protein sequences with 13 other
P. megaterium
strains, 7 other
Priestia
spp., and 6 other
Bacillus
spp. highlighted AB-S79’s unique genomic and evolutionary trait. antiSMASH identified two key transcription factor binding site regulators in AB-S79’s genome: zinc-responsive repressor (Zur) and antibiotic production activator (AbrC3), plus putative enzymes for the biosynthesis of terpenes and ranthipeptides. AB-S79 also harbors BGCs for two unique siderophores (synechobactins and schizokinens), phosphonate, dienelactone hydrolase family protein, and phenazine biosynthesis protein (phzF), which is significant for this study. Phosphonate particularly showed specificity for the
P. megaterium
sp. validating the effect of gene family expansion and contraction.
P. megaterium
AB-S79 looks to be a viable source for value-added compounds. Thus, this study contributes to the theoretical framework for the systematic metabolic and genetic exploitation of the
P. megaterium
sp., particularly the value-yielding strains.

IMPORTANCE

This study explores microbial natural product discovery using genome mining, focusing on
Priestia megaterium
. Key findings highlight the potential of
P. megaterium
, particularly strain AB-S79, for biotechnological applications. The research shows a limited output of
P. megaterium
genome sequences from Africa, emphasizing the importance of the native strain AB-S79. Additionally, the study underlines the strain’s diverse metabolic capabilities, reinforcing its suitability as a model for microbial cell factories and its foundational role in future biotechnological exploitation.
Impact of NICE Guideline NG241 ‘Ovarian Cancer: identifying and managing familial and genetic risk’ on a regional NHS family history and clinical genetics service
Authors: Roe Alexander , Forman Andrea , Lalloo Fiona , McVeigh Terri P , Hanson Helen , Snape Katie 
Published: February 2025

BackgroundNICE Guideline NG241: identifying and managing familial and genetic risk of ovarian cancer (OC) was published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in March 2024. NG241 advises germline genetic testing of genes predisposing to OC in unaffected individuals with an OC family history at different mutation likelihood thresholds depending on age and sex, ranging from 2% to 10% likelihood of finding a germline pathogenic variant (GPV). Prior to implementation of NG241, updates to the NHS England National Genomic Test Directory would be required. Clinical genetics services have to consider equity of access to assessment and testing across all familial cancer types, best use of their limited resources and other factors such as complexity of delivery of clinical pathways.MethodsWe analysed data from 8011 patients who provided digital family histories to the South West Thames Centre for Genomics between October 2019 and June 2024.ResultsWe estimate 527/782 (68%) females and 28/77 (36%) males would meet test criteria for NICE NG241. We estimate we would reject 2919/5485 (53%) females and 135/1208 (11%) males with the same likelihood of carrying a GPV, but with a breast cancer rather than OC family history. Testing the familial OC cohort at a universal 5% threshold in OC families would detect ~11 carriers for 229 tests compared with ~8 carriers for 278 tests following NG241 criteria.ConclusionOur data highlight additional factors needing to be considered before the NICE Guideline NG241 can be implemented by regional genetics services.
Occupational exposure to respirable and inhalable dust and its components in a Nicaraguan sugarcane plantation
Authors: d'Errico Antonio , Peraza Sandra , Weiss Ilana , Martinez William , Monge Esteban Arias , Wouters Inge Maria , Wegman David H , Jakobsson Kristina , Kromhout Hans 
Published: February 2025

ObjectiveTo assess personal exposure to respirable and inhalable dust and its components endotoxin, black carbon and crystalline silica among sugarcane workers in Nicaragua.MethodsIndividual exposures to respirable (measurements=98) and inhalable (measurements=36) dust were collected in January and March 2020, with the month of March generally being hotter and less humid. Respirable dust and its components black carbon and crystalline silica, as well as inhalable dust and its component endotoxin, were personally measured. Linear mixed models were used to identify the determinants of occupational dust exposure considering different job tasks and meteorological conditions.ResultsRespirable dust and black carbon concentrations were higher in March among burned cane cutters compared with the other job groups (respirable dust geometric mean (GM)=1.9 mg m−3; black carbon GM=13.7 µg m−3), with considerably lower levels in January (respirable dust GM=0.2 mg m−3; black carbon GM=3.4 µg m−3). Almost all respirable crystalline silica measurements were below the limit of detection, except for four measurements, which ranged from 8 µg m−³ to 15 µg m−³. Seed cutters (GM=3.1 mg m−3) and weeders (GM=2.5 mg m−3) had the highest exposure to inhalable dust, while endotoxin concentrations were higher among seed cutters (GM=100 EU m−3) and burned cane cutters (GM=63 EU m−3) than the other work groups.ConclusionsOverall, exposure levels to the assessed agents varied across work groups, with higher levels observed among burned cane and seed cutters.