bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The snow alga Chloromonas kaweckae sp. nov. (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) causes green surface blooms in the high tatras (Slovakia) and tolerates high irradiance
Authors: Procházková Lenka , Matsuzaki Ryo , Řezanka Tomáš , Nedbalová Linda , Remias Daniel 
Published: December 2022

Seasonally slowly melting mountain snowfields are populated by extremophilic microalgae. In alpine habitats, high‐light sensitive, green phytoflagellates are usually observed in subsurface layers deeper in the snowpack under dim conditions, while robust orange to reddish cyst stages can be seen exposed on the surface. In this study, uncommon surface green snow was investigated in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). The monospecific community found in the green surface bloom consisted of vegetative Chloromonas cells (Volvocales, Chlorophyta). Molecular data demonstrated that the field sample and the strain isolated and established from the bloom were conspecific, and they represent a new species, Chloromonas kaweckae sp. nov., which is described based on the morphology of the vegetative cells and asexual reproduction and on molecular analyses of the strain. Cells of C. kaweckae accumulated approximately 50% polyunsaturated fatty acids, which is advantageous at low temperatures. In addition, this new species performed active photosynthesis at temperatures close to the freezing point showed a light compensation point of 126 ± 22 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1 and some signs of photoinhibition at irradiances greater than 600 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1. These data indicate that the photosynthetic apparatus of C. kaweckae could be regarded as adapted to relatively high light intensities, otherwise unusual for most flagellate stages of snow algae.
First fossil evidence of samaras ofVentilagoGaertn. (Rhamnaceae) from India and its implications
Authors: Hazra Taposhi , Kundu Sampa , Bera Subir , Chakraborty Tapan , Khan Mahasin Ali 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTheVentilagoGaertn. (Rhamnaceae) is widely distributed in pantropical areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia. However, fossil records of this taxon are sparse, which limits understanding of the evolution and biogeographic history of the genus. In the present study, we report and describe two new fossil species ofVentilago,V. siwalikasp. nov. from the Miocene sediments of Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya, andV.pliocenicasp. nov. from the Pliocene sediments of Jharkhand, eastern India based on single‐winged samaras.Ventilago pliocenicais characterized by a prominent midvein, obtuse to sub‐round apex with mucronate tip, longitudinal secondary veins extending the full length of the fruit, and reticulate nature of higher‐order veins, the presence of equatorial rim, the hypanthium, and short pedicel. On the other hand,V. siwalikais characterized by a prominent midvein, obtuse to sub‐round apex with mucronate tip, longitudinal secondary veins extending the full length of the fruit, and reticulate nature of higher‐order veins. Our discovery represents the first unambiguous fossil record of single‐winged samara ofVentilagofrom India and provides valuable insights into the evolution of this genus. In this paper, we also review its biogeographic history and add new information to understand its hypothetical migration route. Present and earlier records ofVentilagoalso suggest that this genus was a common forest element during Neogene (Miocene time) in Asia.
Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus treatments: The bold and the beautiful
Authors: Abdelhamed Walaa , El‐Kassas Mohamed 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most serious complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Recently, effective antiviral medications have made sustained viral response (SVR) or cure a realistic therapeutic goal for most chronic HCV patients. Given HCV's tumorigenic propensity, it is not surprising that achieving SVR is helpful in preventing HCC. This review briefly summarizes and discusses the existing evidence on the relationship between hepatic carcinogenesis and viral eradication by antivirals, which is mainly divided into interferon‐based and direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) based therapy. DAAs have changed the treatment landscape of chronic HCV, reaching high rates of SVR even in patients with advanced cirrhosis, with few contraindications and little side effects. Although some early reports suggested that DAA treatment increased the chance of HCC occurrence, more subsequent observational studies have refuted this theory. The probability of HCC recurrence after HCV eradication appears to be decreasing over time following SVR. Despite virological suppression/cure, individuals with liver cirrhosis are still at risk of HCC and should be monitored. There is a considerable need for markers/scores to predict the long‐term risk of HCC in patients with HCV‐related liver disease who attain SVR with direct‐acting antivirals.
Evaluation of serummiR‐216a andmiR‐375 as biomarkers in dogs with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Lee Dohee , Yun Taesik , Koo Yoonhoi , Chae Yeon , Choi Minseok , Kang Byeong‐Teck , Yang Mhan‐Pyo , Kim Hakhyun 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundSerum microRNAs have emerged as biomarkers of various diseases. Overexpression of serum miR‐216a and miR‐375 occurs in dogs with experimentally induced acute pancreatitis (AP).ObjectivesTo identify the possibility of using serum miR‐216a and miR‐375 as biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response in dogs with naturally occurring AP.AnimalsTwenty‐one dogs with AP and 20 healthy dogs.MethodsCross‐sectional study. The relative expression of serum hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p, cfa‐miR‐216a, and cfa‐miR‐375 were analyzed using reverse transcription and real‐time PCR.ResultsA significant difference in the serum expression of cfa‐miR‐375 was found between dogs with AP (median [interquartile range] 3.59 [1.55‐24.52]‐fold) and healthy dogs (0.81 [0.54‐2.21]‐fold,P < .001), and no significant differences were observed in hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p and cfa‐miR‐216a (P > .05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of serum cfa‐miR‐375 for differentiating between AP dogs and healthy dogs was 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71‐0.96). The expressions of hsa‐miR‐216a‐5p and cfa‐miR‐375 were positively correlated with the concentrations of serum C‐reactive protein (rs = .46,rs = .48,respectively), but not with the serum specific canine pancreatic lipase. The expression of cfa‐miR‐375 was significantly less after treatment in dogs with AP (P = .02).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSerum cfa‐miR‐375 could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and evaluation of treatment response of AP in dogs. In addition, miR‐216a and miR‐375 could be associated with inflammatory processes in dogs with AP.
Ethnic conflicts and the power of collective identity in Guy Gunaratne's In Our Mad and Furious City (2018)
Authors: Savitskaya Anna 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLonglisted for the Booker Prize 2018 and winner of the International Dylan Thomas Prize 2019, Guy Gunaratne's debut novel, In Our Mad and Furious City (2018), depicts a cultural conflict unfolding in contemporary London. Set off as the result of a killing of a white soldier by a black Muslim boy, violent riots force Yusuf, a son of immigrants from Pakistan, to recognise his migrant background and question his sense of self and belonging in the city. At the same time, for Nelson and Caroline, immigrants of a different time, the events evoke the memories of the past that haunts them and prove that the cultural divide they witnessed decades ago still prevails. By following the narratives of these characters and depicting violent ethnic clashes, the novel captures the driving forces of blind ethnic brutality on the one hand and the loss of a meaningful sense of self on the other. Drawing on Vamik Volkan's studies on large‐group psychology and collective trauma, this article analyses the power of the collective identity—be it a nation, an ethnicity, or a religious movement—in times of crisis and examines its influence on a personal sense of self. In Our Mad and Furious City illustrates the many ways in which the impact of the shared cultural identity not only generates cultural conflicts but can also lead to displacement and identity crises. This article explores the intricate ways in which Gunaratne's transcultural narrative depicts these age‐old yet contemporary issues.
Female re‐writings of the Jewish diaspora: Metamemory novels and contemporary British‐Jewish women writers
Authors: Pellicer‐Ortín Silvia 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn keeping with the interdisciplinary dialogue featuring the fields of Diaspora and Memory Studies, some current fictions seem to have absorbed, reproduced and deconstructed those contemporary discourses that reflect on the complex relation between the individual and collective construction of memory in the diaspora. It is in this context that British‐Jewish women authors deserve special attention since they have struggled with numerous memory tensions together with the multifarious identity factors of being Jews, immigrants (or their descendants) and women, adding their multifaceted perspectives on affiliation and belonging to the complexity that defines Jewish identity and culture. This article starts from the neurobiological notion of ʻmetamemoryʼ and the idea that its study leads to understand better both memory and diasporic phenomena. Some contemporary fictional creations by British‐Jewish women writers exemplify what could be defined as ʻthe metamemory novelʼ. In particular, I focus on the fictional works of some pertinent second‐ and third‐generation British‐Jewish female authors—Lisa Appignanesi'sThe Memory Man(2004), Linda Grant'sThe Clothes on their Backs(2008), and Zina Rohan'sThe Small Book(2010). Following Birgit Neumann's notion of ‘fictions of metamemory’ (2008a, b), I detail the key narrative features that configure these novels, such as polyphony, metafictionality and the blurring of time dimensions. Moreover, I study the generational bonds that are (de)constructed in these stories, thanks to Hirsch's notion of ‘postmemory’ (2008), which acquire healing properties for the protagonists. Finally, I conclude that the formal experimentation identified in these writings may confirm that today's Jewish female writers are resorting to literature as a platform to make their diasporic identities more dynamic.
Disorienting empathy: Reimagining the global border regime through Mohsin Hamid's Exit West
Authors: Bellin Stefano 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis article explores how literature can sensitise us to our potential implication in the injustice and violence of the global border regime. The violence of borders today sustains a large economic and political system that “produces precarity and disposability, exposes migrants and refugees to harm and exploitation, and reinforces global inequalities”. While it manifests itself in direct events, policies, and actions, the violence produced by the global border regime is structural, widespread, and racially charged. Citizens of the global North are not precisely perpetrators of border violence, yet they bear a certain kind of political responsibility for the experiences of trauma, death, impoverishment, and discrimination that borders generate and institutionalise. Reading Mohsin Hamid's Exit West (2017), I investigate how we can recognise ourselves in the position of the ‘implicated subject’ (Michael Rothberg) through a process of what I call ‘disorienting empathy’. This form of expanded and self‐aware perspective‐taking elicits our concern for others, but simultaneously de‐centres our self, leading us to reflect critically on our subject position and on our potential indirect involvement in systemic violence. By examining Exit West's literary strategies, I argue that empathy, non‐appropriative identification, and disorientation can generate a self‐reflexivity about our responsibility in relation to the global border regime. Drawing on affect theory, literary theory, migration studies, and critical race theory, the article highlights contemporary fiction's capacity to represent diasporic experiences and reimagine the freedom of movement in the twenty‐first century.
Extracellular vesicles in fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis: Role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets
Authors: Eguchi Akiko , Iwasa Motoh , Nakagawa Hayato 
Published: December 2022

AbstractNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) are characterized by lipid deposition in hepatocytes in the absence or presence of excessive alcohol consumption, respectively, ranging from simple steatosis to non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and from mild fibrosis to cirrhosis. Fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis similarly occur in individuals who have both metabolic syndrome and excessive alcohol intake; therefore, the single overarching term metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed to better reflect these risk factors and the continuity of disease progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane‐bound endogenous nanoparticles released into the extracellular space by a majority of cell types. Liver disease‐related EVs contain a variety of cellular cargo and are internalized into target cells resulting in the transfer of bioinformation reflecting the state of the donor cell to the recipient. Furthermore, EV composition can be used to identify the degree and type of liver disease, suggesting that EV composition may be a useful biomarker. With regard to MAFLD, the presence of metabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance, will be indicated by adipose tissue‐derived EVs and with that comes the potential to use as a clinical monitor of overall metabolic status. However, the inhibition of specific EV composition may be difficult to implement as a real‐world therapeutic approach. Current global evidence shows that mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs)‐derived EVs (MSC‐EVs) play an important role in regulating the immune response, which has spawned a clinical trial to treat liver disease.
Out of Asia? Expansion of Eurasian Lyme borreliosis causing genospecies display unique evolutionary trajectories
Authors: Rollins Robert E. , Sato Kozue , Nakao Minoru , Tawfeeq Mohammed T. , Herrera‐Mesías Fernanda , Pereira Ricardo J. , Kovalev Sergey , Margos Gabriele , Fingerle Volker , Kawabata Hiroki , Becker Noémie S. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractVector‐borne pathogens exist in obligate transmission cycles between vector and reservoir host species. Host and vector shifts can lead to geographic expansion of infectious agents and the emergence of new diseases in susceptible individuals. Three bacterial genospecies (Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis, and Borrelia garinii) predominantly utilize two distinct tick species as vectors in Asia (Ixodes persulcatus) and Europe (Ixodes ricinus). Through these vectors, the bacteria can infect various vertebrate groups (e.g., rodents, birds) including humans where they cause Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector‐borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Yet, how and in which order the three Borrelia genospecies colonized each continent remains unclear including the evolutionary consequences of this geographic expansion. Here, by reconstructing the evolutionary history of 142 Eurasian isolates, we found evidence that the ancestors of each of the three genospecies probably have an Asian origin. Even so, each genospecies studied displayed a unique substructuring and evolutionary response to the colonization of Europe. The pattern of allele sharing between continents is consistent with the dispersal rate of the respective vertebrate hosts, supporting the concept that adaptation of Borrelia genospecies to the host is important for pathogen dispersal. Our results highlight that Eurasian Lyme borreliosis agents are all capable of geographic expansion with host association influencing their dispersal; further displaying the importance of host and vector association to the geographic expansion of vector‐borne pathogens and potentially conditioning their capacity as emergent pathogens.
Riverscape community genomics: A comparative analytical approach to identify common drivers of spatial structure
Authors: Zbinden Zachery D. , Douglas Marlis R. , Chafin Tyler K. , Douglas Michael E. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGenetic differentiation among local groups of individuals, that is, genetic β‐diversity, is a key component of population persistence related to connectivity and isolation. However, most genetic investigations of natural populations focus on a single species, overlooking opportunities for multispecies conservation plans to benefit entire communities in an ecosystem. We present an approach to evaluate genetic β‐diversity within and among many species and demonstrate how this riverscape community genomics approach can be applied to identify common drivers of genetic structure. Our study evaluated genetic β‐diversity in 31 co‐distributed native stream fishes sampled from 75 sites across the White River Basin (Ozarks, USA) using SNP genotyping (ddRAD). Despite variance among species in the degree of genetic divergence, general spatial patterns were identified corresponding to river network architecture. Most species (N = 24) were partitioned into discrete subpopulations (K = 2–7). We used partial redundancy analysis to compare species‐specific genetic β‐diversity across four models of genetic structure: Isolation by distance (IBD), isolation by barrier (IBB), isolation by stream hierarchy (IBH), and isolation by environment (IBE). A significant proportion of intraspecific genetic variation was explained by IBH (x̄ = 62%), with the remaining models generally redundant. We found evidence for consistent spatial modularity in that gene flow is higher within rather than between hierarchical units (i.e., catchments, watersheds, basins), supporting the generalization of the stream hierarchy model. We discuss our conclusions regarding conservation and management and identify the 8‐digit hydrologic unit (HUC) as the most relevant spatial scale for managing genetic diversity across riverine networks.
Habitat fragmentation matters more than habitat loss: The case of host–parasite interactions
Authors: Perrin Antoine , Khimoun Aurélie , Ollivier Anthony , Richard Yves , Pérez‐Rodríguez Antón , Faivre Bruno , Garnier Stéphane 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWhile ecologists agree that habitat loss has a substantial negative effect on biodiversity it is still very much a matter of debate whether habitat fragmentation has a lesser effect and whether this effect is positive or negative for biodiversity. Here, we assess the relative influence of tropical forest loss and fragmentation on the prevalence of vector‐borne blood parasites of the generaPlasmodiumandHaemoproteusin six forest bird species. We also determine whether habitat loss and fragmentation are associated with a rise or fall in prevalence. We sample more than 4000 individual birds from 58 forest sites in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Considering 34 host–parasite combinations independently and a fine characterization of the amount and spatial configuration of habitat, we use partial least square regressions to disentangle the relative effects of forest loss, forest fragmentation, landscape heterogeneity, and local weather conditions on spatial variability of parasite prevalence. Then we test for the magnitude and the sign of the effect of each environmental descriptor. Strikingly, we show that forest fragmentation explains twice as much of the variance in prevalence as habitat loss or landscape heterogeneity. In addition, habitat fragmentation leads to an overall rise in prevalence in Guadeloupe, but its effect is variable in Martinique. Both habitat loss and landscape heterogeneity exhibit taxon‐specific effects. Our results suggest that habitat loss and fragmentation may have contrasting effects between tropical and temperate regions and that inter‐specific interactions may not respond in the same way as more commonly used biodiversity metrics such as abundance and diversity.
Functional characterization reveals a diverse array of metazoan fatty acid biosynthesis genes
Authors: Boyen Jens , Ribes‐Navarro Alberto , Kabeya Naoki , Monroig Óscar , Rigaux Annelien , Fink Patrick , Hablützel Pascal I. , Navarro Juan Carlos , De Troch Marleen 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLong‐chain (≥C20) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFAs) are physiologically important fatty acids for most animals, including humans. Although most LC‐PUFA production occurs in aquatic primary producers such as microalgae, recent research indicates the ability of certain groups of (mainly marine) invertebrates for endogenous LC‐PUFA biosynthesis and/or bioconversion from dietary precursors. The genetic pathways for and mechanisms behind LC‐PUFA biosynthesis remain unknown in many invertebrates to date, especially in non‐model species. However, the numerous genomic and transcriptomic resources currently available can contribute to our knowledge of the LC‐PUFA biosynthetic capabilities of metazoans. Within our previously generated transcriptome of the benthic harpacticoid copepod Platychelipus littoralis, we detected expression of one methyl‐end desaturase, one front‐end desaturase, and seven elongases, key enzymes responsible for LC‐PUFA biosynthesis. To demonstrate their functionality, we characterized eight of them using heterologous expression in yeast. The P. littoralis methyl‐end desaturase has Δ15/17/19 desaturation activity, enabling biosynthesis of α‐linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from 18:2 n−6, 20:4 n−6 and 22:5 n−6, respectively. Its front‐end desaturase has Δ4 desaturation activity from 22:5 n−3 to DHA, implying that P. littoralis has multiple pathways to produce this physiologically important fatty acid. All studied P. littoralis elongases possess varying degrees of elongation activity for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, producing aliphatic hydrocarbon chains with lengths of up to 30 carbons. Our investigation revealed a functionally diverse range of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in copepods, which highlights the need to scrutinize the role that primary consumers could perform in providing essential nutrients to upper trophic levels.
Geographical distance, host evolutionary history and diet drive gut microbiome diversity of fish across the Yellow River
Authors: Pan Baozhu , Han Xu , Yu Ke , Sun He , Mu Rong , Lian Chun‐Ang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFish represent a large part of the taxonomic diversity of vertebrates and are of high commercial value. However, the factors influencing the gut microbiota composition of freshwater fish over large spatial scales remain unclear. Therefore, this study explored gut microbiome diversity in 24 fish species from the Yellow River, which spans over 1500 km across China. The results showed that geographical distance, host phylogeny and diet significantly influenced gut microbial community diversity, whereas sex, body length and body weight had minimal influence. Geographical distance was the primary factor shaping gut microbiota, and dissimilarity in microbial community structure increased with an increase in geographical distance, which was mainly driven by dispersal limitation. The microbial communities were more homogeneous at higher host taxonomic resolutions due to the dominant role of homogeneous selection in community convergence. Phylosymbiosis was observed across all host species, with a stronger pattern in Cypriniformes, which harbour host‐specific microbial taxa. Host diet explained little variation in gut microbiome diversity, although it was significant for all diversity metrics tested. These findings collectively suggest that the geographical and host‐based patterns of fish gut microbiota tend to be shaped by different ecological forces across the Yellow River. The present work provides a robust assessment of multiple factors driving fish gut microbial community assembly and offers insight into the mechanisms underlying shifts in fish gut microbiota in rivers across large spatial scales.