bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peri-flight Neuromusculoskeletal Injuries in Astronauts
Authors: Ward Gavin H. , Anderson Danielle N. , Scheuring Richard A.
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION: The space sector is growing remarkably fast. Its value is expected to increase from $447 billion in 2022 to $2.7 trillion by 2040. The demand for astronauts and astro-civilians is growing, and there will be an increased need for experts who understand the effects of spaceflight on the neuromusculoskeletal (NMSK) system. Orthopedic specialists in space medicine are sparsely reported in the literature, and standards of care for astro-civilians are not well established. This review discusses the current prevalence of peri-flight NMSK injuries in astronauts, the role of orthopedic specialists, and considerations for standards of care for astro-civilians.

METHODS: A systematic review using PubMed, MEDLINE, and NASA Technical Report Server was performed to identify original research containing NMSK injuries in astronauts.

RESULTS: There were 29 studies included in the review. In 2388 documented injuries, the prevalence of injuries during preflight is 46.5%, in flight is 37.0%, and postflight is 16.5%. In 2081 documented injury locations, the prevalence of injuries in the upper extremity is 32.4%, in the shoulder is 31.4%, in the back is 26.4%, in the lower extremity is 5.5%, and in the neck is 2.3%.

DISCUSSION: Common peri-flight injuries involve the shoulder, back, and hand, such as shoulder tendonitis, space adaptation back pain, and herniated nucleus pulposus. It is critical to consider NMSK injuries for the growing space sector. As public interest grows, costs related to space are expected to decrease. Decreased costs increase accessibility to space and, consequently, the risk of NMSK injuries, increasing the demand for medical standards and experts in orthopedics and space medicine.

Ward GH, Anderson DN, Scheuring RA. Peri-flight neuromusculoskeletal injuries in astronauts. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(2):155–167.
Adaptive Inert Gas Exchange Model for Improved Hypobaric Decompression Sickness Risk Estimation
Authors: De Ridder Sven , Neyt Xavier , Germonpré Peter
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION: Future high-altitude military operations and spaceflight will require new procedures to protect crews from decompression sickness while limiting the operational impact. It is hypothesized that the current prediction models do not accurately reflect actual inert gas dynamics, making them unsuitable for the risk estimation of new hypobaric exposure profiles.

METHODS: A biophysical gas exchange model was created, allowing modification of various physiological parameters. Predicted nitrogen (N2) volume flows were compared with an experimental study by the Swedish Aerospace Physiology Centre. Bubble growth predictions, made using the Tissue Bubble Dynamics Model, were compared with measured venous gas emboli (VGE).

RESULTS: While the simulated washout curves captured the general trends, some important discrepancies were observed when using the nominal model parameters. The new biophysical gas exchange model, incorporating changes in cardiac output and individual anthropometric variations, improved the predictions and approximated the experimentally observed N2 washout. The standard bubble growth predictions did not match measured VGE. Using weighing factors based on the N2 gas flow components predicted by the new biophysical model, the bubble growth pattern agrees much better with the measured VGE scores.

DISCUSSION: Traditional decompression models do not account for variations in physiological and environmental factors, leading to incorrect estimates of N2 washout and bubble growth predictions. Using an adaptive biophysical gas exchange model significantly improves the predictions for various altitude exposure profiles. We therefore strongly recommend incorporating adaptive physiological parameters in any model to be used for estimating decompression sickness risk and designing mitigation procedures.

De Ridder S, Neyt X, Germonpré P. Adaptive inert gas exchange model for improved hypobaric decompression sickness risk estimation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(2):85–92.
Cardiac Causes of Disqualification in Portuguese Air Force Pilots
Authors: Pereira Joana Certo , Monge José , Baptista André , Reis Pedro , Dores Helder
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION: Aviation is a high-risk activity, particularly in pilots with cardiovascular (CV) disease. The occurrence of acute clinical events during flight may have catastrophic implications, justifying the relevance of cardiological evaluation in aviation medicine. However, evidence of the impact of CV diseases in this population is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac causes of disqualification among pilot candidates and pilots of the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) over a period of 20 yr.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of cardiac causes of disqualification between 1999–2018, both in PoAF candidates and pilots.

RESULTS: In this period, the overall number of candidates was 2529 and the number of PoAF pilots was 760. Among the candidates, 41% (N = 1047) were considered unfit, of which 4% (N = 39) were due to cardiac causes (all men aged 17–25), namely valvular diseases (N = 27) and conduction/heart rhythm disturbances (N = 12). Among the pilots, 2% (N = 18) were considered unfit, mainly due to cardiac disease (50%; N = 9)—all men with mean age of 47 ± 9 (30–60) yr old, all unfit due to acute myocardial infarction, none occurring during flight.

DISCUSSION: Cardiac diseases were an uncommon cause of disqualification among the pilot aviator candidates, but it was the main cause among the pilots of the PoAF over two decades, all due to acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac evaluation in aviation medicine is essential, focusing on CV risk stratification and preclinical detection of coronary artery disease.

Certo Pereira J, Monge J, Baptista A, Reis P, Dores H. Cardiac causes of disqualification in Portuguese Air Force pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(2):128–134.
Choosing the most suitable NGS technology to combine with a standardized viral enrichment protocol for obtaining complete avian orthoreovirus genomes from metagenomic samples
Authors: Álvarez-Narváez Sonsiray , Harrell Telvin L. , Nour Islam , Mohanty Sujit K. , Conrad Steven J.
Published: February 2025

Since viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens, sequencing their genomes results in metagenomic data from both the virus and the host. Virology researchers are constantly seeking new, cost-effective strategies and bioinformatic pipelines for the retrieval of complete viral genomes from these metagenomic samples. Avian orthoreoviruses (ARVs) pose a significant and growing threat to the poultry industry and frequently cause economic losses associated with disease in production birds. Currently available commercial vaccines are ineffective against new ARV variants and ARV outbreaks are increasing worldwide, requiring whole genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize strains that evade vaccines. This study compares the effectiveness of long-read and short-read sequencing technologies for obtaining ARV complete genomes. We used eight clinical isolates of ARV, each previously processed using our published viral genome enrichment protocol. Additionally, we evaluate three assembly methods to determine which provided the most complete and reliable whole genomes: De novo, reference-guided or hybrid. The results suggest that our ARV genome enrichment protocol caused some fragmentation of the viral cDNA that impacted the length of the long reads (but not the short reads) and, as a result, caused a failure to produce complete genomes via de novo assembly. Overall, we observed that regardless of the sequencing technology, the best quality assemblies were generated by mapping quality-trimmed reads to a custom reference genome. The custom reference genomes were in turn constructed with the publicly available ARV genomic segments that shared the highest sequence similarity with the contigs from short-read de novo assemblies. Hence, we conclude that short-read sequencing is the most suitable technology to combine with our ARV genome enrichment protocol.
Implication of protein post translational modifications in gastric cancer
Authors: Song Houji , Zhang Mingze , Guo Chengwang , Guo Xi , Ma Yuqi , Ma Yuntao
Published: February 2025

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and highly lethal malignant tumors worldwide, and its occurrence and development are regulated by multiple molecular mechanisms. Post-translational modifications (PTM) common forms include ubiquitylation, phosphorylation, acetylation and methylation. Emerging research has highlighted lactylation and glycosylation. The diverse realm of PTM and PTM crosstalk is linked to many critical signaling events involved in neoplastic transformation, carcinogenesis and metastasis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of PTM on the occurrence and progression of GC. Specifically, aberrant PTM have been shown to alter the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of GC cells. Moreover, PTM are closely associated with resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in GC. Notably, this review also discusses the phenomenon of PTM crosstalk, highlighting the interactions among PTM and their roles in regulating signaling pathways and protein functions. Therefore, in-depth investigation into the mechanisms of PTM and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies hold promise for advancing early diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of GC, offering novel insights and future research directions.
Ocular neuroinflammatory response secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection-a review
Authors: Zhao Yun , Tang Ying , Wang Qi Yao , Li Jia
Published: February 2025

With the consistent occurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the prevalence of various ocular complications has increased over time. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been shown to have neurotropism and therefore to lead to not only peripheral inflammatory responses but also neuroinflammation. Because the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), can be found in many intraocular tissues, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may also contribute to persistent intraocular neuroinflammation, microcirculation dysfunction and ocular symptoms. Increased awareness of neuroinflammation and future research on interventional strategies for SARS-CoV-2 infection are important for improving long-term outcomes, reducing disease burden, and improving quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on SARS-CoV-2 infection and intraocular neuroinflammation and to discuss current evidence and future perspectives, especially possible connections between conditions and potential treatment strategies.
High throughput single cell metagenomic sequencing with semi-permeable capsules: unraveling microbial diversity at the single-cell level in sewage and fecal microbiomes
Authors: Ling Meilee , Szarvas Judit , Kurmauskaitė Vaida , Kiseliovas Vaidotas , Žilionis Rapolas , Avot Baptiste , Munk Patrick , Aarestrup Frank M.
Published: February 2025

Single-cell sequencing may serve as a powerful complementary technique to shotgun metagenomics to study microbiomes. This emerging technology allows the separation of complex microbial communities into individual bacterial cells, enabling high-throughput sequencing of genetic material from thousands of singular bacterial cells in parallel. Here, we validated the use of microfluidics and semi-permeable capsules (SPCs) technology (Atrandi) to isolate individual bacterial cells from sewage and pig fecal samples. Our method involves extracting and amplifying single bacterial DNA within individual SPCs, followed by combinatorial split-and-pool single-amplified genome (SAG) barcoding and short-read sequencing. We tested two different sequencing approaches with different numbers of SPCs from the same sample for each sequencing run. Using a deep sequencing approach, we detected 1,796 and 1,220 SAGs, of which 576 and 599 were used for further analysis from one sewage and one fecal sample, respectively. In shallow sequencing data, we aimed for 10-times more cells and detected 12,731 and 17,909 SAGs, of which we used 2,456 and 1,599 for further analysis for sewage and fecal samples, respectively. Additionally, we identified the top 10 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in both sewage and feces samples and linked them to their individual host bacterial species.
Brucella osteoarthritis: recent progress and future directions
Authors: Chen Jinlei , Zhi Feijie , Zhao Guanghai , Su Mengru , Geng Hao , Song Wei , Chu Yuefeng , Zhang Haihong
Published: February 2025

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis, and Brucella osteoarthritis is the most common chronic complication of brucellosis. Development of brucellosis osteoarthritis involves multiple organs, tissues, and cells. Brucella grows and multiplies in intrinsic cells of the skeleton, including osteoblasts, osteocyte and osteoclasts, which results in sustained release of bacteria that leads to exacerbation of the immune response. Concurrently, activation of the immune system caused by invasion with Brucella may affect the dynamic balance of the skeleton. A variety of in vitro and in vivo models have been employed to study Brucella osteoarthritis, such as using bone marrow-derived macrophages to establish cell models and mice to develop animal models of Brucella osteoarthritis. However, limited studies on the molecular pathological mechanisms of Brucella osteoarthritis have been performed and inadequate animal models have been developed due to the challenging parameters of Brucella research. This paper reviews recent advances in the clinical features, molecular pathological mechanisms, and animal models of Brucella osteoarticular infections. This review underscores the complexity of the pathogenesis of Brucella osteoarticular infections and highlights inflammation as a contributing factor to bone loss caused by Brucella. Additionally, the significant proliferation of Brucella in skeletal resident cells also is an important factor leading to bone loss. A deeper understanding of the molecular pathological mechanism of Brucella osteoarthrosis and their animal models could provide robust support for the prevention and treatment of Brucella osteoarticular disease.
Pipeline embolization device-assisted angioplasty for type II proatlantal intersegmental artery dissection inducing an embolic shower
Authors: Bao Li , Pan Zhenguo , Ji Haifeng , He Shuang
Published: February 2025

The proatlantal intersegmental artery (PIA) plays a crucial role in blood supply during embryonic development, and failure of its closure can lead to the persistent proatlantal intersegmental artery (PPIA), which may result in pathological changes such as dissection and aneurysms. We present a case of a patient with right type II PPIA dissection inducing an embolic shower, accompanied by left vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and high-resolution magnetic resonance vascular wall imaging (HRMR-VWI) showed the aneurysmal dilation of the false lumen in the right PPIA dissection and indicated the high risk of mural thrombosis and dislodgement. Following a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s condition, we conducted pipeline embolization device (PED)-assisted angioplasty to treat the PPIA dissection and mitigate the risk of recurrent strokes. Postoperative follow-up indicated that the patient recovered smoothly, with no signs of recurrent stroke. This case highlights the critical need for prompt recognition and intervention in cases of rare vascular variants. The flow diverter implantation can greatly enhance patient outcomes and lower the risk of recurrent strokes, offering important insights for the clinical management of similar cases. Additional research is necessary to investigate the underlying pathological mechanisms of PPIA and its connection to stroke occurrence, which will help refine treatment strategies in the future.
World-wide survey on the treatment of peripheral vestibular disorders
Authors: Strupp Michael , Kern Nils Lucca , Laurell Göran , Lehner Louisa , Grill Eva , Strobl Ralf
Published: February 2025

Objective

The aim of this world-wide survey was to evaluate the currently applied treatment options for the six most frequent peripheral vestibular disorders: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUVP)/vestibular neuritis, Menière’s disease (MD), bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), vestibular paroxysmia (VP) and superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS).

Background

For the therapy of vestibular disorders, there are four treatment options: vestibular physical therapy (canalith repositioning maneuvers or balance training), pharmacotherapy, surgery, and psychotherapy. Since there are very few state-of-the-art RCTs, the treatment of vestibular disorders is so far not standardized and various methods are applied with heterogeneous efficacy.

Design/methods

A web-based standardized survey questionnaire on the treatment of the six most frequent peripheral vestibular disorders was used to collect data.

Results

234 replies from five continents, 47 countries, 162 cities and 188 centers were received: (% from all 234 replies; multiple answers possible): BPPV: posterior canal BPPV: 71% Epley, 40% Semont, and 12% others. Horizontal canal BPPV canalolithiasis: 58% Lempert (roll-over) maneuver, 33% Gufoni, 7% prolonged rest, and 9% others. Horizontal canal BPPV cupulolithiasis: 35% Gufoni, 27% Lempert (roll-over) maneuver, 9% Zuma, and 7% head shaking: AUVP: 79% pharmacotherapy, namely 47% glucocorticoids, 39% antiemetics, and 24% betahistine; 67% vestibular physical therapy. MD: 85% pharmacotherapy, namely 65% betahistine, 21% diuretics, 20% steroids, 16% antiemetics, 14% gentamicin; 37% surgery. VP: 65% pharmacotherapy, namely 57% anticonvulsants; 7% surgery. BVP: 77% vestibular physical therapy. SCDS: 50% surgery, namely 38.8% canal plugging, 23.3% capping and 15.5% resurfacing.

Conclusion

In this world-wide survey with 234 replies from 188 centers, widely heterogeneous applied treatment options were reported for the six most frequent peripheral vestibular disorders. This study shows in particular that certain drugs are often used despite low or very low evidence. Namely in AUVP, MD and VP well-designed controlled trials with clinically meaningful endpoints are needed.
Higher oxidative balance score is associated with a decreased risk of infertility: an analysis of NHANES 2013–2020
Authors: Ma Mingjun , Xu Huanying , Wang Kexin , Chen Yanfen , Pan Ting , Zhu Qiaoling
Published: February 2025

Background

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the female reproductive system. The oxidative balance score (OBS) is a new measure for assessing the balance between antioxidant and pro-oxidative factors in diet and lifestyle. However, limited studies have explored the relationship between OBS and infertility.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study including 2,664 women aged 20–45 years, based on data from the 2013–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The OBS was derived from 16 dietary components and 4 lifestyle factors. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine the association between OBS and infertility.

Results

The analysis revealed a significant negative association between higher OBS and infertility risk, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95–1.00) after full adjustment. Compared to the first quartile of OBS, the second, third, and fourth quartiles showed ORs of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.45–1.11), 0.79 (95% CI, 0.51–1.22), and 0.57 (95% CI, 0.35–0.92), respectively. Similarly, women in the highest dietary OBS and lifestyle OBS quartiles had a lower infertility risk compared to those in the lowest quartiles, with ORs of 0.60 (95% CI, 0.39–0.94) and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.32–0.93), respectively. Furthermore, subgroup analysis indicated that the association between the fourth quartile of OBS and infertility remained consistent, except among women with other ethnicities—including multi-racial, and college graduate or higher.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that high dietary OBS and lifestyle OBS are associated with a lower risk of infertility.
Association between the intake of potentially risky beverages and the occurrence of endometrial polyps: a case–control study
Authors: Fu Rui , Zhang Shipeng , Cai Chang , Wang Xiaocui , Jiang Yanjie , Zhuang Xiulian , Zhang Jiating , Ji Xiaoli , Yang Chengcheng
Published: February 2025

Background

This case–control study aimed to examine the association between the frequency of potentially risky beverage consumption, levels of anxiety, and the prevalence of endometrial polyps.

Methods

A total of 418 participants were enrolled in the study, comprising 206 cases and 212 controls. The case group consisted of patients who visited the gynecological clinic at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and were diagnosed with endometrial polyps (Eps) based on international diagnostic criteria. The control group consisted of women of childbearing age who visited the gynecological clinic with similar clinical symptoms but did not have EPs. Basic information, consumption of potentially risky beverages (PRB), and anxiety levels for both groups were collected through a questionnaire survey. Finally, the relationship between the frequency of PRB consumption, anxiety levels, and the prevalence of EPs was evaluated.

Results

In this study, we identified a significant positive association between the consumption of PRB and the prevalence of EPs. PRB intake was categorized into three groups based on the cumulative total score: 5–8 for the Low potentially risky beverages (LPRB) intake group, 9–12 for the medium potentially risky beverages (MPRB) intake group, and 13–21 for the high potentially risky beverages (HPRB) intake group. The results revealed that PRB consumption frequency was significantly associated with EPs (OR: 2.348, 95% CI: 1.153–4.78), with higher PRB intake correlating with an increased risk of EPs (p-value: 0.014). However, no significant difference was observed between the LPRB, MPRB, HPRB intake frequency groups and the different levels of anxiety (p-value: 0.793).

Conclusion

Increased consumption of PRB was clearly associated with a greater risk of EPs, and over half of the participants exhibited varying degrees of anxiety. These findings suggest that the risk of EPs can be mitigated by controlling beverage intake and highlight the need for increased attention to women’s mental health.

Clinical trial registration

NCT06295510.
Analysis of the prognostic value of thyroglobulin antibody change trends during follow-up after 131I treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Ge Hua , Chen Wenxin , Lin Zhiyi , Li Yuxuan , Chen Shuting
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The prognostic value of thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and its trends during follow-up periods may guide the treatment plans in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following surgery, however, there is still a lack of sufficient data. This study aims to evaluate the impact of change trends in TgAb levels on the prognosis of patients with DTC and to explore its potential application in clinical practice.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 2,981 DTC patients who underwent surgery followed by 131I treatment. Among these, 248 patients with positive TgAb before treatment and had a follow-up period at least 12 months were included. Patients were categorized into four subgroups based on changes in TgAb levels: the Negative Conversion Group (TgAb shifted from positive to sustained negativity), the Decrease Group (TgAb decreased by more than 50% but remained positive), the Stable Group (TgAb fluctuated by ≤ 50% throughout follow-up), and the Increase Group (TgAb increased by 50% or more). Clinical and histopathological data among the four groups, as well as disease persistence/recurrence status after 131I treatment, were compared.

Results

Pre-treatment TgAb levels in the Negative Conversion Group were significantly lower than those in the other three groups (P<0.001). Compared to the Negative Conversion Group, the Stable Group had more postoperative lymph node metastases (P<0.05). Although pre-treatment TgAb levels in the Increase Group were lower than those in the Decrease Group, the Increase Group required significantly more treatments and a higher total dose of 131I (P<0.05). Analysis of the relationship between TgAb trends and treatment outcomes revealed 34 cases of recurrent/persistent DTC. The Negative Conversion Group had significantly better outcomes than the Stable Group and Increase Group (P<0.001, P=0.007), while the Decrease Group showed better outcomes than the Stable Group (P=0.045).

Conclusions

Negative conversion or a decrease in TgAb levels was associated with a favorable prognosis, whereas stable or increased TgAb levels indicated a higher risk of persistent/recurrent DTC. For patients with positive TgAb serum levels, monitoring the TgAb trend changes during follow-up should be a clinical priority, with timely adjustments to individualized treatment plans.
Investigating the impact of persistent HPV infection on recurrence of lesions post-surgery for early-stage cervical cancer and related influencing factors
Authors: Na Jing , Li Ya , Lu Qiao , Wang Yang , Han Shichao , Wang Jun
Published: February 2025

Objective

To explore the influencing factors of recurrence after surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer (stages IA1-IIA1) and to investigate the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and postoperative recurrence of lesions.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 242 patients who underwent surgical treatment for early-stage cervical cancer (FIGO stages IA1-IIA1) at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University between 2015 and 2022. Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between persistent postoperative HPV infection and lesion vaginal local recurrence while identifying the associated risk factors for persistent HPV infection following surgery.

Results

Within 12 months postoperatively, the HPV clearance rate was 88.11%. HPV infection persisted beyond 12 months in 19 patients (7.9%), with 3 cases demonstrating the same HPV genotypes (types 52, 58) as those identified preoperatively. Multivariate analysis identified persistent postoperative HPV infection (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.14 to 5, p=0.001*) as an independent risk factor for recurrence. Additionally, smoking (OR 7.49, 95% CI 1.19 to 47.13, p=0.032), abnormal vaginal microbiota (OR 0.663, 95% CI 0.403 to 1.088, p=0.001*), and the type of surgical procedure (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.91, p=0.033) were significantly associated with a higher rate of persistent HPV infection.

Conclusion

Persistent HPV infection after surgery is an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. Surgical approach, abnormal vaginal microbiota, and smoking are associated factors for persistent HPV infection after surgery.
Ultrasonic radiomics-based nomogram for preoperative prediction of residual tumor in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Li Shanshan , Ding Qiuping , Li Lijuan , Liu Yuwei , Zou Hanyu , Wang Yushuang , Wang Xiangyu , Deng Bingqing , Ai Qingxiu
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To identify radiomic features extracted from ultrasound images and to develop and externally validate a comprehensive model that combines clinical data with ultrasound radiomics features to predict the residual tumor status in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods

The study included 112 patients with advanced epithelial OC who underwent preoperative transvaginal ultrasound. Of these, 78 patients were assigned to the development cohort and 34 to the external validation cohort. Tumor contours were manually delineated as regions of interest (ROI) on the ultrasound images, and radiomic features were extracted. The final set of variables was identified using LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression. Clinical features were also collected and incorporated into the model. A combination model integrating ultrasound radiomics and clinical variables was developed and externally validated. The performance of the predictive models was assessed.

Results

A total of 1,561 radiomic features and 18 clinical features were extracted. The final model included 10 significant ultrasound radiomic variables and 4 clinical features. The comprehensive model outperformed models based on either clinical or radiomic features alone, achieving an accuracy of 0.84, a sensitivity of 0.80, a specificity of 0.75, a precision of 0.88, a positive predictive value of 0.81, a negative predictive value of 0.86, an F1-score of 0.78, and an AUC of 0.82 in the external validation set.

Conclusions

The comprehensive model, which integrated clinical and ultrasound radiomic features, exhibited strong performance and generalizability in preoperatively identifying patients likely to achieve complete resection of all visible disease.
Optimizing the thermostability of triketone dioxygenase for engineering tolerance to mesotrione herbicide in soybean and cotton
Authors: Duff Stephen M. G. , Shi Lei , Chen Danqi , Fu Xiaoran , Peng Mingsheng , Larue Clayton T. , Weihe Janice , Koczan Jessica , Krebel Brian , Qi Qungang
Published: February 2025

Optimized triketone dioxygenase (TDO) variants with enhanced temperature stability parameters were engineered to enable robust triketone tolerance in transgenic cotton and soybean crops. This herbicide tolerance trait, which can metabolize triketone herbicides such as mesotrione and tembotrione, could be useful for weed management systems and provide additional tools for farmers to control weeds. TDO has a low melting point (~39°C–40°C). We designed an optimization scheme using a hypothesis-based rational design to improve the temperature stability of TDO. Temperature stabilization resulted in enzymes with Kcat values less than half of wild-type TDO. The best variant TDO had a Kcat of 1.2 min−1 compared to wild-type TDO, which had a Kcat of 2.7 min−1. However Km values did not change much due to temperature stabilization. Recovery of the Kcat without losing heat stability was the focus of additional optimization. Multiple variants were found that had better heat stability in vitro and efficacies against mesotrione equaling the wild-type (WT) TDO in greenhouse and field tests.
Soil organic carbon and related properties under conservation agriculture and contrasting conventional fields in Northern Malawi
Authors: Manzeke-Kangara Muneta G. , Ligowe Ivy S. , Tibu Austin , Gondwe Timothy N. , Greathead Henry M. R. , Galdos Marcelo V.
Published: February 2025

Conservation agriculture (CA) is widely promoted as an agroecology-based approach for soil conservation. Several studies have focused on effects of CA on crop yields and soil moisture dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa, with limited focus on effects of CA on soil organic carbon (SOC) and associated fractions. We collected representative soil samples from 30 paired farms under CA and conventional tillage in Mzimba district, north of Malawi to determine effects of tillage and soil depth on soil physico-chemical properties, total SOC, and organic carbon fractions. Undisturbed soil cores were collected for bulk density measurements. Different SOC pools were determined using the soil fractionation method, while soil physico-chemical analyses were conducted using standard laboratory methods on disturbed soil samples. Soil organic carbon content ranged from 0.4-1.8% in CA plots. This was significantly larger than SOC contents of 0.4-1.5% measured under conventional tilled plots. Tillage type and soil depth had significant interaction effects on SOC. For example, larger contents of SOC were measured at depths of 0-10 cm compared to 10-30 cm under CA plots. Soil depth had significant effects on most soil properties compared to tillage. Examples include Heavy Particulate Organic Matter-Carbon (POM-C) fraction, Mineral Associated Organic Matter-Carbon (MAOM-C), nitrogen in MAOM fraction and nitrogen in the Light POM fractions. These were larger in the 0-10 cm soil depth than in the 10-30 cm soil depth. In contrast, tillage type only had significant effects on the Heavy POM-C and MAOM-C fractions, which were larger under CA than conventional tilled plots. Conservation agriculture showed capacity to improve total SOC and its associated fractions, a finding relevant towards understanding effects of land management on carbon storage. However, challenges of competing residue use as feed, mulch, and fuel continue to impede mulching under CA systems. Longer term studies and use of alternative mulching options could be employed to recognise noticeable changes in other SOC beneficial pools in fields under CA.
Machine Learning Models to Predict Google Stock Prices
Authors: Bucura Cosmina Elena , Giudici Paolo
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to predict Google stock price using different datasets and machine learning models, and understand which models perform better. The novelty of our approach is that we compare models not only by predictive accuracy but also by explainability and robustness. Our findings show that the choice of the best model to employ to predict Google stock prices depends on the desired objective. If the goal is accuracy, the recurrent neural network is the best model, while, for robustness, the Ridge regression model is the most resilient to changes and, for explainability, the Gradient Boosting model is the best choice.
Analysis of Soil–Straw Movement Behavior in Saline–Alkali Soil Under Dual-Axis Rotary Tillage Based on EDEM
Authors: Zhao Zhuang , Hou Jialin , Guo Peng , Xia Chao , Yan Haipeng , Wang Dongwei
Published: February 2025

The layered soil crushing rotary tillage machine with L-shaped reclamation rotary blades and rotary-reclamation rotary blades combination was designed to deal with the problems of a low soil fragmentation rate, low straw mulching rate, and poor surface leveling after plowing in the traditional rotary tiller tillage mode in the coastal saline land of the Yellow River Delta. A dual active layered soil fragmentation tillage mode was proposed, and the key structural parameters, blade axis arrangement, and spatial layout of L-shaped reclamation rotary blades and rotary-reclamation rotary blades were determined based on the sliding cutting principle analysis. A discrete element model of soil straw tillage component aggregates suitable for coastal saline alkali land was constructed using EDEM, and the influence of L-shaped reclamation rotary blades and rotary-reclamation rotary blades on the soil tillage layer displacement performance and straw burial performance of saline alkali land was comprehensively analyzed from a microscopic perspective. Taking the rotation speed of the L-shaped reclamation rotary blades, the rotation speed of the rotary-reclamation rotary blades, and the forward speed as experimental factors, and using soil fragmentation rate and straw burial rate as evaluation indicators for experimental optimization analysis, the optimal parameters were obtained: the rotation speed of the L-shaped reclamation rotary blades was 295.04 r/min, the rotation speed of the rotary-reclamation rotary blades was 359.06 r/min, and the forward speed was 3.12 km/h. At this time, the theoretical soil fragmentation rate of saline alkali land was 94.67%, and the straw burial rate was 93.56%. Field experiments have shown that the average soil fragmentation rate of the L-shaped reclamation rotary blades and rotary-reclamation rotary blades combined layered soil crushing rotary tiller after cultivation is 94.37%, the straw burial rate is 95.68%, the surface flatness is 25.82 mm, and the stability of the tillage depth is 95.64%. The machine has shown increased performance in comparison to traditional single axis rotary tillers, meeting the needs of crop bed preparation in saline alkali land.
Mechanism of ABA in Plants Exposed to Cold Stress
Authors: Li Changxia , Pan Yuna , Cui Jing , Lu Xuefang , Yu Wenjin
Published: February 2025

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a natural hormone produced in plants, which plays an important role in plant growth and development and in response to adversity. Increasing research indicates that ABA is involved in plant response to cold stress and enhances the cold tolerance of plants through various pathways. Therefore, the roles, regulator mechanisms and regulator pathways of ABA in plant response to cold stress are summarized. In this paper, we first discuss the mechanism of cold damage in plants. Second, we review the important roles of ABA in enhancing plant cold tolerance, including the interactions between endogenous and exogenous ABA, ABA and other substances, ABA and specific genes and transcription factors, and ABA and phosphorylation. On the whole, the involvement of ABA in the plant’s response to cold stress constitutes a complex and multi-dimensional system. ABA interacts with various factors, including hormones, enzymes, genes and so on, to establish a regulatory network that enhances plant resistance to cold injury. Finally, we also provide some perspectives for future research on plant ABA, and we hope that this paper can provide some lessons for future research on the mechanism of ABA involvement in plant adversity stress.
Safety and Digestibility of a Novel Ingredient, Brewed Lamb Protein, in Healthy Adult Dogs
Authors: French Stephen , Cochrane Chun-Yen , Faurot Michael , Audibert Pernilla , Belloso Tomas , Badri Dayakar V.
Published: February 2025

Protein production through precision fermentation is an attractive option to reduce animal use in food production. This study focused on the safety and digestibility of food containing a test ingredient, brewed lamb protein (Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing a lamb protein), at inclusion levels of 0% (control), 15%, 30%, or 40% were evaluated over 182 days in 40 dogs. No significant differences in body weight, body condition score, body composition, physical examination, food intake, or urinary parameters were observed among groups. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters were within reference ranges and were largely similar among groups. Levels of chloride, cholesterol, and homocysteine were significantly lower at some time points in dogs fed the test ingredient foods compared with the control food, but all remained within reference ranges. Whole blood taurine levels indicated no deficiency. Alanine aminotransferase levels were above the normal range at Day 177 in dogs in the control and 15% test ingredient groups. Fecal score was slightly decreased in dogs fed the 30% or 40% test ingredient foods, and fecal pH was decreased in dogs fed any of the test ingredient foods. Digestibility of most parameters was similar among foods, but apparent fat digestibility was significantly lower in foods with the test ingredient. Overall, these results indicate that the test ingredient is safe for use in dog food.
Field Investigation Evaluating the Efficacy of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Type 2 (PRRSV-2) Modified Live Vaccines in Nursery Pigs Exposed to Multiple Heterologous PRRSV Strains
Authors: Mebumroong Sunit , Lin Hongyao , Jermsutjarit Patumporn , Tantituvanont Angkana , Nilubol Dachrit
Published: February 2025

This study was conducted to evaluate the protective efficacy of modified live vaccines (MLVs) against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in nursery pigs in a worst case scenario where MLV does not match the genetic profile of the field isolate, different MLVs are used for sows and piglets, and piglets are naturally exposed to genetically distinct heterologous PRRS virus (PRRSV) isolates. We divided 76,075, 2-week-old piglets from a seropositive sow herd vaccinated with US1-MLV into four groups. US1-MLV, US2-MLV, and US3-MLV groups were vaccinated with PRRSV-2 MLV including Ingelvac® PRRS MLV (Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany), HP-PRRSV-2 based MLV (Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Harbin, China), and Prime Pac® PRRS (MSD Animal Health, Rahway, NJ, USA), respectively. The NonVac group was left unvaccinated. At 0, 14, 28, and 56 days post-vaccination (DPV), sera were assayed for the presence of PRRSV-specific antibodies using ELISA and serum neutralization (SN), and PRRSV RNA using PCR. Average daily gain (ADG) and survival rates were compared between treatment groups. The results demonstrated vaccinated groups significantly improved in ADG compared to the non-vaccinated control group. Only US1-MLV and US3-MLV were able to significantly reduce mortality associated with field PRRSV infection in nursery pigs. Pigs vaccinated with US3-MLV displayed significantly lower mortality and higher ADG compared to all other groups. Field isolates were isolated and genetically compared to all three MLV vaccines at the start of the trial. The MLV with closest genetic similarity to the field isolate was US2-MLV by ORF5 gene comparison. This provided the lowest protection judging by ADG improvement and mortality reduction, as compared to US1-MLV and US3-MLV. Separately, strains of Thai PRRSV-2 isolates collected in 2017, 2019, and 2020 in the study area were investigated for evolutionary changes. Over time, we observed a shift in PRRSV-2 isolates from lineage 8.7 to lineage 1. The field isolates found shared 82.59–84.42%, 83.75–85.74%, and 84.25–85.90% nucleotide identity with the US1-MLV, US3-MLV and US2-MLV based vaccine, respectively. Our findings suggest genetic similarity between field viruses and vaccine strains should not be used as a predictor of field performance. We found that zootechnical performance of piglets was best in US3-MLV, despite sows being treated with a different vaccine The results also support that different MLVs can be used at different stages of production. Finally, we concluded that the shift from lineage 8.7 to lineage 1 was due to shifts in the worldwide prevalence of PRRSV isolates during that period of time and not due to vaccine recombination between isolates. Overall, MLV vaccine selection should be based on production performance and safety profile.
Integrating Conservation and Community Engagement in Free-Roaming Cat Management: A Case Study from a Natura 2000 Protected Area
Authors: Luzardo Octavio P. , Hansen Andrea , Martín-Cruz Beatriz , Macías-Montes Ana , Travieso-Aja María del Mar
Published: February 2025

La Graciosa, a Natura 2000 site in the Canary Islands, faces substantial conservation challenges, including a large free-roaming cat population that threatens the island’s native biodiversity. In July 2024, a Trap–Neuter–Return (TNR) campaign achieved an 81.4% sterilization rate within urban areas, highlighting TNR’s short-term effectiveness in reducing reproductive potential and, consequently, mitigating predation pressures primarily through the prevention of new litters and reduced reproductive activity in cats. The campaign’s success relied heavily on the active involvement of the local community, who assisted with identifying, trapping, and monitoring free-roaming cats, thereby facilitating a high sterilization rate. However, administrative restrictions hindered access to peri-urban zones, leaving essential population clusters unsterilized and limiting the campaign’s overall scope. Additionally, strong opposition from conservation groups, amplified by extensive media coverage, halted the project prematurely, reducing the effective sterilization rate to 69.3% within three months. Population Viability Analysis (PVA) suggests that achieving high sterilization rates could lead to population reduction over time; however, the inability to access all population segments and to reach the ideal 93–95% sterilization threshold limits TNR’s potential as a long-term standalone solution. Our findings underscore the need for adaptive, context-specific management frameworks in ecologically sensitive areas that integrate TNR with complementary measures, consider regulatory barriers, and value community involvement. This case study provides crucial insights for policymakers and conservationists seeking to balance biodiversity conservation with humane management practices in protected areas.
Post-Fishing Ban Period: The Fish Diversity and Community Structure in the Poyang Lake Basin, Jiangxi Province, China
Authors: Kong Chiping , Luo Yulan , Xu Qun , Zhang Bao , Gao Xiaoping , Wang Xianyong , Luo Zhen , Luo Zhengli , Li Lekang , Gong Xiaoling
Published: February 2025

Between 2022 and 2023, four systematic fish surveys were carried out in the Poyang Lake basin (PLB), capturing 49,192 fish (7017 kg) and identifying 120 species from 10 orders, 21 families, and 70 genera. Cypriniformes were the most dominant, accounting for 79 species. The spring and autumn surveys collected 25,734 and 23,458 individuals, respectively, with corresponding biomasses of 3978 kg and 3038 kg. Dominant species (IRI > 1000) in the study area included Hemiculter leucisculus, Megalobrama skolkovii, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, and Aristichthys nobilis. Additionally, critically endangered species such as Ochetobius elongatus, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, and Acipenser sinensis as well as exotic species like Cirrhinus mrigala and euryhaline species like Cynoglossus gracilis and Hyporhamphus intermedius were observed. Hierarchical clustering grouped the survey stations into three distinct areas (PYS, XBMS, and XBUS), with the ANOSIM analysis showing highly significant differences (R = 0.893, p < 0.01). Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that in spring, total phosphorus (TP) and temperature were the main factors influencing variability (80.50%), while in autumn, temperature, oil, and pH were the key factors (75.20%). This study emphasizes the predictable changes in fish community composition caused by environmental gradients and highlights the need for ongoing monitoring to effectively manage and protect the ecosystem, particularly in the post-fishing ban period.
The First Case of the Identification of a Microorganism Directly from Whole Blood Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry in an Onco-Hematological Pediatric Patient with Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Cortazzo Venere , Pereyra Boza Maria del Carmen , Tuccio Guarna Assanti Vanessa , Foglietta Gianluca , Vrenna Gianluca , Agosta Marilena , Chaiter Elena , Rossitto Martina , Lucignano Barbara , Onori Manuela , Fox Valeria , Becilli Marco , Merli Pietro , Frioni Filippo , Perno Carlo Federico , Bernaschi Paola
Published: February 2025

Background: Bloodstream infections affect up to 20% of pediatric cancer patients receiving intensive care, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality, with infection-related mortality rates reported to be as high as 16%. Methods: The identification of microorganisms directly from whole blood is difficult due to several factors, such as interference from host genomic material, low bacterial load, the endogenous components of whole blood and exogenous substances, which can interfere with the identification process. Nevertheless, rapid microbial diagnosis remains of paramount importance in these patients. Results and Conclusion: Here, we present the first case of bacterial pathogen identification directly from whole blood using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in an onco-hematological pediatric patient affected by sepsis and admitted to Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS) in Rome, Italy.