bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Monilinia fructicola sporulation and pathogenicity through eucalyptol‐mediated targeting of MfCat2 by Streptomyces lincolnensis strain JCP1‐7
Authors: Chen Shan , Yang Haorong , Chen Meijun , Liu Weina , Tian Shaorui , Mu Rong , Jia Fan , Liu Changyun , Ma Guanhua , Sun Xianchao , Chen Guokang
Published: July 2024

Peach brown rot, attributed to Monilinia fructicola, presents a significant threat to postharvest peach cultivation, causing losses of up to 80%. With an increasing number of countries, spearheaded by the European Union, imposing bans on chemical agents in fruit production, there is a growing interest in mining highly active antibacterial compounds from biological control strains for postharvest disease management. In this study, we highlight the unique ability of Streptomyces lincolnensis strain JCP1‐7 to inhibit M. fructicola sporulation, despite its limited antimicrobial efficacy. Through GC–MS analysis, eucalyptol was identified as the key compound. Fumigation of diseased fruits with eucalyptol at a concentration of 0.0335 μg cm−3 demonstrated an in vivo inhibition rate against M. fructicola of 93.13%, completely suppressing spore formation. Transcriptome analysis revealed the impact of eucalyptol on multiple pathogenesis‐related pathways, particularly through the inhibition of catalase 2 (Cat2) expression. Experiments with a MfCat2 knockout strain (ΔMfCat2) showed reduced pathogenicity and sensitivity to JCP1‐7 and eucalyptol, suggesting MfCat2 as a potential target of JCP1‐7 and eucalyptol against M. fructicola. Our findings elucidate that eucalyptol produced by S. lincolnensis JCP1‐7 inhibits M. fructicola sporulation by regulating MfCat2, thereby effectively reducing postharvest peach brown rot occurrence. The use of fumigation of eucalyptol offers insights into peach brown rot management on a large scale, thus making a significant contribution to agricultural research.
Is there still a place for serum galactomannan in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in children at high risk and under antifungal prophylaxis?
Authors: Gerard Rémy , Gabriel Frédéric , Accoceberry Isabelle , Imbert Sébastien , Ducassou Stéphane , Angoso Marie , Jubert Charlotte
Published: July 2024

Background

The performance of serum galactomannan (GM) for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) has been studied mainly in adults. Paediatric data are scarce and based on small and heterogeneous cohorts.

Objective

To evaluate the performance of serum GM for the diagnosis of IA in a paediatric oncologic population at high risk of IA and to clarify the impact of antifungal prophylaxis on this test.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study from January 2014 to December 2020 in the paediatric oncologic haematologic department of the University Hospital of Bordeaux. The diagnosis of IA was made using the recommendations of the EORTC and the MSGERC.

Results

Among the 329 periods at high risk of IA in 222 patients, the prevalence of IA was 1.8% (3 proven and 3 probable IA). In the total population, the sensitivity, and the positive predictive value (PPV) were respectively 50% and 17.6%. Under antifungal prophylaxis, the sensitivity and PPV dropped, respectively, to 33.3% and 14.3%. In this group, the post‐test probability of IA was 2% for a negative serum GM and only 14%.

Conclusion

In this large cohort of children at high risk of IA, the incidence of IA is low and the diagnostic performance of GM is poor, especially in the case of mould‐active prophylaxis. Screening should be targeted rather than systematic and should be reserved for patients at highest risk for IA without mould‐active prophylaxis. Combination with other tests such as Aspergillus PCR would increase the accuracy of GM in screening setting.
Patient capital and no net loss: Applying institutional theory to understand publicly‐owned mitigation banking in an urban context at a United States port
Authors: Thompson‐Spain Austin , Bunds Kyle S. , Larson Lincoln , Cutts Bethany , Hipp J. Aaron
Published: July 2024

As urban areas grow, ecosystem extent and condition continue to decline. Some countries have adopted “no net loss” policies that require compensatory actions for unavoidable ecosystem losses. In the US, mitigation banking has emerged as a means of offsetting losses, but the system remains dominated by private commercial banks and mitigation outside of an urban context. With this in mind, we seek to understand the institutional drivers of innovative finance for urban mitigation projects at the public agency level. Applying institutional logics and institutional isomorphisms as theoretical foundations, we conducted a qualitative case study of innovative finance for habitat restoration at the Port of Seattle, a public port in Seattle, Washington (USA). Findings from interviews, focus groups, and document analysis suggest that hybrid institutional logics, unique organizational characteristics, and coercive and normative isomorphisms drive organizational change in this context, but significant barriers exist to establishing similar systems in the US.
Health professionals’ counselling on the use of infant formula: A scoping review
Authors: Hvatum Ingjerd , Glavin Kari , Irjall Marte , Cand san Anne Marie Eikenæs , Holmberg Fagerlund Bettina
Published: July 2024

Objective

Many parents experience lack of support and access to resources on how to prepare, handle, and provide formula milk to their infants. The purpose of this scoping review was to map and describe key information in existing research about how healthcare professionals receive information and how they inform and counsel parents about formula milk.

Design

A scoping review fulfilling the PRISMA‐ScR checklist criteria used systematic searches targeting the study objective in the databases Embase, MEDLINE, and CINAHL on February 8th and 9th, 2022.

Results

Six studies with 959 participants in total were included. The research designs were focus group studies with and without combining individual interviews, an individual interview study, a study consisting of individual interviews and ethnographic observations, a survey, and a two‐phase study consisting of a qualitative interview and a quantitative survey. Findings indicate lack of evidence‐based information provided about infant formula by health care professionals when they counsel parents on formula feeding.

Conclusions

Few studies focus on how healthcare professionals inform and counsel parents about formula milk. Health authorities should provide more evidence‐based information to make formula feeding more feasible. Due to conflicting and omitted information, mothers often receive poor counselling on formula feeding.
Frequency of avirulence genes and race structure in a Leptosphaeria maculans population in Tunisia
Authors: Maghrebi Essia , Koopmann Birger , Sander Julius , Chaabane Hanene , Bahri Bochra Amina
Published: July 2024

Blackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, is a major oilseed rape disease present in many traditional growing regions worldwide and is also becoming increasingly important in Tunisia. Cultivation of oilseed rape varieties harbouring major blackleg resistance genes (R‐genes) in an integrated approach represents the most effective means of controlling this fungal threat; knowledge of the pathogen population structure is a prerequisite for its efficient use. Leptosphaeria spp. isolates (145) were collected and characterized during 2018–2020 from oilseed rape stubble originating from seven northern Tunisian regions. As in most other growing areas, L. maculans and L. biglobosa occurred together on diseased plants. Most isolates (78.6%, n = 114) were L. maculans. For those, a combination of differential set phenotyping and PCR‐based avirulence gene analyses was used to perform race typing. Overall, 30 races were identified, carrying at least two and up to eight of the 11 avirulence genes tested. The most predominant race (14.9%) carried AvrLm7, AvrLepR1 and AvrLepR2 and was detected each year and in six out of the seven regions sampled, indicating the effectiveness of major R‐genes Rlm7 and LepR1 in Tunisia. Rlm2 was overcome by all Tunisian L. maculans isolates, but most were avirulent on Rlm6 and LepR2 (>50%), suggesting that using these R‐genes would provide protection in Tunisia. Both mating types were identified, with MAT1‐2 being twice as frequent as MAT1‐1. These results endorse the need for regular race surveillance of the local pathogen population at temporal and regional scales to develop appropriate blackleg management strategies.
Topsoil volume optimization in the restoration of post‐mined areas
Authors: Figueiredo Maurílio A. , Messias Maria C. T. B. , Leite Mariangela G. P. , Kozovits Alessandra R.
Published: July 2024

Transferring topsoil to severely degraded areas, such as mined areas, is an effective restoration technique. However, topsoil from pristine areas is a limited resource, making it important to seek techniques that optimize its use. Thus, this study assessed the effects of adding a small topsoil volume (10 L/m2 or 1 cm layer), a seed mix of 14 species, and litter (30 L/m2) alone and in different combinations in the restoration of a rupestrian grassland area degraded by bauxite mining. The substrate in the degraded area was turned prior to applying treatments. Vegetation cover, density of individuals, and species richness were measured 30 months after the experiment was set up. The isolated use of each material and the simultaneous addition of topsoil to the seed mix were not effective. The simultaneous use of topsoil, litter, and seed mix provided the best result, presenting the highest vegetation coverage (60%), density (67 ind/m2), and species richness (26 in 12 m2). Although, to a lesser extent, the combination of seed mix and litter also presented satisfactory results. The combination of the three materials promoted the revegetation of an area that had been without vegetation for around 50 years, presenting a density of individuals and species richness comparable to those obtained with the use of thick topsoil layers (15–30 cm). Furthermore, the topsoil volume used was optimized.
Inequality in Africa: Does injustice matter?
Authors: Kouladoum Jean‐Claude , Nadingar Serge Monglengar , Ngameni Joseph Pasky , Ndinga Mathias Marie Adrien
Published: July 2024

The following study aims to investigate the impact of injustice on income inequality in Africa between 2000 and 2020. Both male and female injustice levels are evaluated using gender‐specific scores to indicate the injustice suffered by both genders. The study utilized the Gini and Palma ratios as proxies for income distribution inequality. After addressing error term‐related problems with the Newey‐West Standard Corrected Error approach, the findings indicate that injustice is a significant contributor to inequality in Africa, especially for females, with little evidence of male injustice. The results are consistent for both middle and low‐income countries that adopted the French civil law and English common law systems to govern their institutions. Additionally, the study found that educational development and basic welfare maintenance contribute to reducing inequality in Africa, which is exacerbated by many barriers to political inclusion. To address the gender bias in income distribution, policymakers in Africa should design policies that provide equal access to justice for both male and female populations. The study also suggests adopting policies that enhance human capital accumulation and political inclusion in‐state activities to create a safe, just, and equal environment.
IMU Data‐Driven and PCA‐Based Approach to Establish Quantifiable and Practically Applicable Measures for V2 Technique Elements in Cross‐Country Skiing
Authors: Debertin Daniel , Haag Luisa , Federolf Peter
Published: July 2024

Quantifying movement coordination in cross‐country (XC) skiing, specifically the technique with its elemental forms, is challenging. Particularly, this applies when trying to establish a bidirectional transfer between scientific theory and practical experts' knowledge as expressed, for example, in ski instruction curricula. The objective of this study was to translate 14 curricula‐informed distinct elements of the V2 ski‐skating technique (horizontal and vertical posture, lateral tilt, head position, upper body rotation, arm swing, shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, hand and leg distance, plantar flexion, ski set‐down, leg push‐off, and gliding phase) into plausible, valid and applicable measures to make the technique training process more quantifiable and scientifically grounded. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) data of 10 highly experienced XC skiers who demonstrated the technique elements by two extreme forms each (e.g., anterior versus posterior positioning for the horizontal posture) were recorded. Element‐specific principal component analyses (PCAs)—driven by the variance produced by the technique extremes—resulted in movement components that express quantifiable measures of the underlying technique elements. Ten measures were found to be sensitive in distinguishing between the inputted extreme variations using statistical parametric mapping (SPM), whereas for four elements the SPM did not detect differences (lateral tilt, plantar flexion, ski set‐down, and leg push‐off). Applicability of the established technique measures was determined based on quantifying individual techniques through them. The study introduces a novel approach to quantitatively assess V2 ski‐skating technique, which might help to enhance technique feedback and bridge the communication gap that often exists between practitioners and scientists.
Trade Policy Review of Turkey
Authors: Altay Serdar
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the WTO's 2023 Trade Policy Review (TPR) of Turkey, covering 2016–2022. As Turkey marked its centenary in 2023, the TPR allows for critical reflections on Turkey's global and European economic integration and its evolving economic policies. The review period witnessed key developments: heightened tensions with the European Union (EU), the country's transition into a presidential system, and the impacts of COVID‐19 and the Ukraine war. Turkey continued its state‐led development and proactive industrial policy post‐Global Financial Crisis, aiming to reduce the current account deficit, diversify exports, advance technological sophistication and enhance its position in global value chains (GVCs). Recently Turkey has further aligned its import–export regimes and trade negotiations with these strategic goals, increasing its Most Favoured Nation tariffs and adopting localisation strategies to support key sectors. Turkey navigated the pandemic effectively, bolstering its role in global supply chains, as indicated by its increased trade‐to‐GDP ratio. This underscores its economic resilience and strategic location. However, Turkey's trade policies are increasingly diverging from those of the EU, its main trade and supply chain partner and Customs Union ally. Turkey's new Regional Trade Agreements aim for deeper sectoral integration with partners other than the EU.
Urban arbovirus exposure in blood donations from an endemic area of Brazil
Authors: de Sant'Anna Rhayany Redon , Nunes Priscila Conrado Guerra , dos Santos Flavia Barreto
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives

In Brazil, urban arboviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), constitute a major public health problem, and due to their endemicity and asymptomatic cases, they pose a potential threat to blood donations. Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil, has been impacted by extensive DENV epidemics over the last 30 years and, after 2015, by CHIKV and ZIKV.

Materials and Methods

Urban arboviruses DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV were investigated in blood donations (n = 778) at the State Institute of Hematology, HEMORIO (RJ) from 2019 to 2022 by serological and molecular methods.

Results

An overall arbovirus exposure was observed in 26.1% of the blood donations. Anti‐DENV IgM was detected in 4.0% of samples and two donations were DENV NS1 positive. Positive anti‐CHIKV IgM was observed in 4.7% of the donations. Co‐detection of anti‐CHIKV IgM and anti‐DENV IgM was observed in 1.0% of donors, and CHIKV prevalence was 21.3%. All blood donations tested were negative for the DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV RNA.

Conclusion

IgM seroprevalence to the arboviruses analyzed here is an indicator of recent infection in asymptomatic donors, showing that the population of blood donors can be a vehicle for new infections, especially during epidemic periods.
Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of tissue construct strength in an equine colopexy model
Authors: Gaitan Hannah M. , Mudge Margaret C. , Litsky Alan S. , Arruda Andreia G. , Gardner Alison K.
Published: July 2024

Objective

To compare strength of left paramedian colopexies using various techniques in equine ex vivo models.

Study design

Experimental study.

Sample population

Equine cadavers euthanized for nongastrointestinal pathology (36 specimens derived from 9 horses).

Methods

Colopexies were performed after euthanasia. Suture pattern (horizontal mattress vs. cruciate) and incorporation of dorsal sheath of the rectus abdominis (partial‐thickness) versus incorporation of dorsal and ventral sheath of the rectus abdominis (full‐thickness) were evaluated. Single cycle load to failure, work to peak load, stiffness, and mode of failure of colopexy tissue constructs were assessed.

Results

Mean load to failure of all constructs ranged from 102.26 to 166.38 N. Partial‐thickness bites demonstrated a mean load to failure and standard deviation (SD) of 111.91 (35.88) N and 102.26 (30.06) N (p < .05) which was significantly lower than the mean and SD of full‐thickness bites (166.3 [72.42] N and 163.21 [51.40 N]), respectively. All full‐thickness bites regardless of suture pattern and over half of partial‐thickness bites failed at the colonic wall. There was no significant difference in load to failure compared to mode of failure.

Conclusion

A stronger colopexy was achieved with a full‐thickness bite regardless of the suture pattern. The most common mode of failure was the colon wall.

Clinical significance

Incorporating ventral and dorsal fascia of the rectus abdominus provided a stronger colopexy structure, which may necessitate a second incision or subcutaneous palpation of the needle when performing a colopexy. The lateral band of the colon failed in most constructs (77%) regardless of technique, which could weaken the colonic wall and risk colonic rupture.
Contribution of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel to cholinergic contraction of rat bladder smooth muscle
Authors: Sharopov Bizhan R. , Philyppov Igor B. , Yeliashov Semen I. , Sotkis Ganna V. , Danshyna Anastasiia O. , Falyush Oksana A. , Shuba Yaroslav M.
Published: July 2024

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a calcium‐permeable ion channel that is gated by the pungent constituent of red chili pepper, capsaicin, and by related chemicals from the group of vanilloids, in addition to noxious heat. It is expressed mostly in sensory neurons to act as a detector of painful stimuli produced by pungent chemicals and high temperatures. Although TRPV1 is also found outside the sensory nervous system, its expression and function in the bladder detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) remain controversial. Here, by using Ca2+ imaging and patch clamp on isolated rat DSM cells, in addition to tensiometry on multicellular DSM strips, we show that TRPV1 is expressed functionally in only a fraction of DSM cells, in which it acts as an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐release channel responsible for the capsaicin‐activated [Ca2+]i rise. Carbachol‐stimulated contractions of multicellular DSM strips contain a TRPV1‐dependent component, which is negligible in the circular DSM but reaches ≤50% in the longitudinal DSM. Activation of TRPV1 in rat DSM during muscarinic cholinergic stimulation is ensured by phospholipase A2‐catalysed derivation of arachidonic acid and its conversion by lipoxygenases to eicosanoids, which act as endogenous TRPV1 agonists. Immunofluorescence detection of TRPV1 protein in bladder sections and isolated DSM cells confirmed both its preferential expression in the longitudinal DSM sublayer and its targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum. We conclude that TRPV1 is an essential contributor to the cholinergic contraction of bladder longitudinal DSM, which might be important for producing spatial and/or temporal anisotropy of bladder wall deformation in different regions during parasympathetic stimulation.

image

Key points

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) heat/capsaicin receptor/channel is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) cells of the rat bladder, operating as a calcium‐release channel.

Isolated DSM cells are separated into two nearly equal groups, within which the cells either show or do not show TRPV1‐dependent [Ca2+]i rise.

Carbachol‐stimulated, muscarinic ACh receptor‐mediated contractions of multicellular DSM strips contain a TRPV1‐dependent component.

This component is negligible in the circular DSM but reaches ≤50% in longitudinal DSM.

Activation of TRPV1 in rat DSM during cholinergic stimulation involves phospholipase A2‐catalysed derivation of arachidonic acid and its conversion by lipoxygenases to eicosanoids, which act as endogenous TRPV1 agonists.
Amplifying the power density in thermoacoustic systems using a spring component
Authors: Tijani M. E. H. , Lycklama à Nijeholt J. A. , Spoelstra S.
Published: July 2024

This paper deals with the introduction of a spring component into a thermoacoustic system to increase the power density. This enables more compact and cheaper thermoacoustic systems. A theoretical and experimental study is presented to demonstrate the effect of the introduction of a spring component to amplify the thermal power in a thermoacoustic heat pump. The required spring constant is determined using an electrical circuit analogy model and a DeltaEC model of an existing heat pump. This is calculated for two locations in the system at the cold and hot side of the regenerator. The theory of the deflection of an elastic membrane loaded by a uniform pressure differential is used to calculate the required pretension of an elastic membrane used as spring to obtain the required spring constant. Elastic membranes are prepared and tested in the heat pump. The experimental results show that the insertion of the membrane at the hot side of the regenerator increases the power density by about 20%. The implementation of the membrane at the cold side of the regenerator increases the thermal power by about 100%. For both cases the improvement in the coefficient of performance is about 10%.
Amoebae as training grounds for microbial pathogens
Authors: Price Christopher T. D. , Hanford Hannah E. , Al-Quadan Tasneem , Santic Marina , Shin Cheon J. , Da'as Manal S. J. , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: July 2024

Grazing of amoebae on microorganisms represents one of the oldest predator-prey dynamic relationships in nature. It represents a genetic “melting pot” for an ancient and continuous multi-directional inter- and intra-kingdom horizontal gene transfer between amoebae and its preys, intracellular microbial residents, endosymbionts, and giant viruses, which has shaped the evolution, selection, and adaptation of microbes that evade degradation by predatory amoeba. Unicellular phagocytic amoebae are thought to be the ancient ancestors of macrophages with highly conserved eukaryotic processes. Selection and evolution of microbes within amoeba through their evolution to target highly conserved eukaryotic processes have facilitated the expansion of their host range to mammals, causing various infectious diseases.
Legionella
and environmental
Chlamydia
harbor an immense number of eukaryotic-like proteins that are involved in ubiquitin-related processes or are tandem repeats-containing proteins involved in protein-protein and protein-chromatin interactions. Some of these eukaryotic-like proteins exhibit novel domain architecture and novel enzymatic functions absent in mammalian cells, such as ubiquitin ligases, likely acquired from amoebae. Mammalian cells and amoebae may respond similarly to microbial factors that target highly conserved eukaryotic processes, but mammalian cells may undergo an accidental response to amoeba-adapted microbial factors. We discuss specific examples of microbes that have evolved to evade amoeba predation, including the bacterial pathogens—
Legionella
,
Chlamydia
,
Coxiella, Rickettssia, Francisella, Mycobacteria
,
Salmonella, Bartonella
,
Rhodococcus
,
Pseudomonas, Vibrio
,
Helicobacter
,
Campylobacter
, and
Aliarcobacter
. We also discuss the fungi
Cryptococcus,
and
Asperigillus
, as well as amoebae mimiviruses/giant viruses. We propose that amoeba-microbe interactions will continue to be a major “training ground” for the evolution, selection, adaptation, and emergence of microbial pathogens equipped with unique pathogenic tools to infect mammalian hosts. However, our progress will continue to be highly dependent on additional genomic, biochemical, and cellular data of unicellular eukaryotes.
Metagenome-assembled microvirus and cressdnavirus genomes from fecal samples of house mice (
Mus musculus
)
Authors: Paietta Elise N. , Kraberger Simona , Custer Joy M. , Vargas Karla L. , Ehmke Erin , Yoder Anne D. , Varsani Arvind
Published: July 2024

House mice,
Mus musculus
, are highly adapted to anthropogenic spaces. Fecal samples were collected from house mice entering primate enclosure areas at the Duke Lemur Center (Durham, NC, USA). We identified 14 cressdnavirus and 59 microvirus genomes in these mouse feces.
Complete genome sequences of paired isogenic
Burkholderia pseudomallei
isolated from a Thai pediatric patient with a urinary tract infection
Authors: Chirakul Sunisa , Suchartlikitwong Pintip , Saninjuk Kritsakorn , Faksri Kiatichai , Patarakul Kanitha , Jenjaroenpun Piroon , Wongsurawat Thidathip
Published: July 2024

Burkholderia pseudomallei
is the causative agent of melioidosis, the disease endemic in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. We report complete genome sequences of paired isogenic
B. pseudomallei
isolated from a 12-year-old Thai male presenting with acute urinary tract infection before (SCBP001) and after (SCBP007) a decrease in susceptibility to ceftazidime.
Quantitative detection and survival analysis of VBNC
Salmonella
Typhimurium in flour using droplet digital PCR and DNA-intercalating dyes
Authors: Li Liyan , Bae Sungwoo
Published: July 2024

The difficulty in detecting viable but non-culturable (VBNC)
Salmonella
by culture-dependent methods poses a risk to food safety. In our study, we applied a viability test to
Salmonella
following a lethal treatment and to flour samples inoculated with
Salmonella
to evaluate the effectiveness of viability polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our findings revealed that the combination of both ddPCR and qPCR with those DNA-intercalating dyes could quantify viable cells at low concentrations when the plate counting method failed to detect them post-inactivation. Prolonged UV exposure did not induce cell membrane disruption, as confirmed with PMA-ddPCR, with insignificant differences in gene copies. However, samples exposed to DyeTox13 and DyeTox13 + EMA showed lower gene copy numbers, implying that enzymatic activity was decreased by UV exposure duration. In addition, temperature-dependent survival in flour revealed uniform decay rates and D values (time required for a 1 log reduction) of DNA in untreated samples across various temperatures. By contrast, different decay rates were observed with DNA-intercalating dyes (DyeTox13 and DyeTox13 + EMA), showing faster metabolic activity loss at higher temperatures in flour. The decay rates and D values, determined through plate counting and those DNA-intercalating dyes, indicated the potential presence of VBNC
Salmonella
. A strong correlation between DyeTox13 dyes and the plate counting method suggested DyeTox13 as a rapid alternative for detecting
Salmonella
in flour. The ddPCR with DNA-intercalating dyes could effectively evaluate
Salmonella
viability, facilitating more precise monitoring of VBNC in food.

IMPORTANCE

Salmonella
, a major foodborne pathogen, poses significant risks, particularly to vulnerable groups like infants, older people, and the immunocompromised. Accurate detection is vital for public health and food safety, given its potential to cause severe and life-threatening symptoms. Our study demonstrated digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) with DNA-intercalating dyes for identifying the different physiological statuses of Salmonella. Also, the application of ddPCR with DNA-intercalating dyes offers quantification of viable cells post-disinfection as an alternative method in food. Utilizing ddPCR and DNA-intercalating dyes, we enhanced the detection of VBNC
Salmonella
, a form often undetectable by conventional methods. This innovative approach could significantly improve the precision and efficiency of detection for viable
Salmonella
. By providing deeper insights into its transmission potential, our method is a critical tool in preventing outbreaks and ensuring the safety of food products. This research contributes substantially to global efforts in controlling foodborne illnesses and safeguarding public health.
Salt-losing nephropathy associated with supraventricular arrhythmia
Authors: Fatima Amanah Sana , Imran Nashat , Yaseen Obead , Alrawi Omer
Published: July 2024

We present a case of a young man with a new-onset supraventricular arrhythmia accompanied by polyuria and natriuresis with subsequent renal salt-wasting causing hypovolemic hyponatremia. Resolution of the electrolyte imbalance occurred only after successful atrial flutter ablation.
Patient engagement in a Canadian health research funding institute: implementation and impact
Authors: Richards Dawn P , Twomey Rosie , Flynn Trudy , Hunter Linda , Lui Eunice , Stordy Allan , Thomas Christine , Khan Karim
Published: July 2024

Background

Patient engagement (PE) or involvement in research is when patient partners are integrated onto teams and initiatives (not participants in research). A number of health research funding organisations have PE frameworks or rubrics but we are unaware of them applying and reporting on their own internal PE efforts. We describe our work at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR IMHA) to implement, evaluate and understand the impact of its internal PE strategy.

Methods

A co-production model was used involving patient partners, a PE specialist and staff from IMHA. A logic model was co-developed to guide implementing and evaluating IMHA’s PE strategy. Some of evaluating the PE strategy and understanding its impact was a collaboration between the Public and Patient Engagement Collaborative (McMaster University) and IMHA.

Results

IMHA convened a PE Research Ambassador (PERA) group which co-led this work with the support of a PE specialist. In doing so, PERA had a number of meetings since 2020, set its own priorities and co-produced a number of outputs (video, publications, webinars, blog and modules called the How-to Guide for PE in Research). This work to evaluate and measure impacts of IMHA’s PE strategy revealed positive results, for example, on PERA members, Institute Advisory Board members and staff, as well as beyond the institute based on uptake and use of the modules. Areas for improvement are mainly related to increasing the diversity of PERA and to improving accessibility of the PE outputs (more languages and formats).

Conclusions

Implementing a PE strategy within CIHR IMHA resulted in several PE activities and outputs with impacts within and beyond the institute. We provide templates and outputs related to this work that may inform the efforts of other health research funding organisations. We encourage health research funders to move beyond encouraging or requiring PE in funded projects to fully ‘walk the talk’ of PE by implementing and evaluating their own PE strategies.
Evaluating the efficacy of wearable biofeedback on the outcomes of exercise interventions in people with chronic non-specific spinal pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Deane Janet , Arvanitidis Michail , Briggs Michelle , Falla Deborah , Johnson Mark
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Wearable neuromuscular and biomechanical biofeedback technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes by facilitating exercise interventions. We will conduct a systematic review to examine whether the addition of wearable biofeedback to exercise interventions improves pain, disability and quality of life beyond exercise alone for adults with chronic non-specific spinal pain. Specific effects on clinical, physiological, psychological, exercise adherence and safety outcomes will also be examined.

Methods and analysis

A systematic search will be conducted from inception to February 2024. Full articles in the English language will be included. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, AMED, SPORTDiscus, CENTRAL databases, clinical trial registries and ProQuest (PQDT) will be used to search for eligible studies. Grey literature and conference proceedings (2022–2024) will be searched for relevant reports. Randomised controlled trials using wearable neuromuscular or kinematic biofeedback devices as an adjunct to exercise interventions for the treatment of chronic spinal pain will be included in this systematic review. The comparators will be wearable biofeedback with exercise versus exercise alone, or wearable biofeedback with exercise versus placebo and exercise. Risk of bias will be assessed using Cochrane Back Review Group criteria and the quality of evidence using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation recommendations.

Ethics and dissemination

The systematic review will be based on published studies, and therefore, does not require ethical approval. The study results will be submitted for publication in an international, open-access, peer-reviewed journal and shared through conferences and public engagement.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023481393.
Study protocol: Collaboration Oriented Approach to Controlling High blood pressure (COACH) in adults – a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Dorr David Andrew , Montgomery Emma , Ghumman Aisha J , Michaels LeAnn , Rolbiecki Abigail , Canfield Shannon , Shaffer Victoria , Johnson Blake , Lockwood Melinda , Ghosh Parijat , Martinez William , Koopman Richelle
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Hypertension, the clinical condition of persistent high blood pressure (BP), is preventable yet remains a significant contributor to poor cardiovascular outcomes. Digital self-management support tools can increase patient self-care behaviours to improve BP. We created a patient-facing and provider-facing clinical decision support (CDS) application, called the Collaboration Oriented Approach to Controlling High BP (COACH), to integrate home BP data, guideline recommendations and patient-centred goals with primary care workflows. We leverage social cognitive theory principles to support enhanced engagement, shared decision-making and self-management support. This study aims to measure the effectiveness of the COACH intervention and evaluate its adoption as part of BP management.

Methods and analysis

The study design is a multisite, two-arm hybrid type III implementation randomised controlled trial set within primary care practices across three health systems. Randomised participants are adults with high BP for whom home BP monitoring is indicated. The intervention arm will receive COACH, a digital web-based intervention with effectively enhanced alerts and displays intended to drive engagement with BP lowering; the control arm will receive COACH without the alerts and a simple display. Outcome measures include BP lowering (primary) and self-efficacy (secondary). Implementation preplanning and postevaluation use the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance metrics with iterative cycles for qualitative integration into the trial and its quantitative evaluation. The trial analysis includes logistic regression and constrained longitudinal data analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

The trial is approved under a single IRB through the University of Missouri-Columbia, #2091483. Dissemination of the intervention specifications and results will be through open-source mechanisms.

Trial registration number

NCT06124716.
‘You come as a human being…’: exploring sense of equality in arts interventions through an ethnographic study of Shared Reading
Authors: Kristensen Mette Marie , Rod Morten Hulvej , Simonsen Peter , Folker Anna Paldam
Published: July 2024

Research shows that the arts hold a particular potential for promoting health, well-being and social inclusion for vulnerable people. However, the use and consumption of the arts tend to be socially skewed in favour of people with high cultural, social and economic capital. While extensive research has been conducted on how to create equal access to arts activities for vulnerable groups, little research has investigated how to ensure meaningful engagement with the arts by this group. Shared Reading (SR) has had considerable success in engaging vulnerable groups in collective literary practices, and research suggests that this may partly be due to the unique forms of social and literary engagement that the concept fosters. These forms of engagement, we suggest, lay the foundation for a sense of equality among participants that may promote social connectedness and well-being. On this basis, the present study aims to investigate whether and how a sense of equality may play a role in SR practices. The study found that SR promotes a sense of equality by creating a space where social interaction and relatedness does not hinge on social roles, but rather on lived experiences—and vulnerabilities inherent to these—conveyed through literary texts and shared among participants. However, to promote a sense of equality in SR, meaningful engagement for all participants must be ensured, making facilitation an essential element of SR practices and an important focus in arts interventions in general. We conclude that SR, and arts interventions more generally, may be a promising way to promote a sense of equality, but further research is needed on the specific qualities of and potential contexts for the promotion of a sense of equality.
Bridging the gap: facilitating the use of rheumatology research results in clinical practice with hybrid implementation effectiveness studies
Authors: van Bodegom-Vos Leti , Vliet Vlieland Theodora P M
Published: July 2024

The implementation of proven effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions into routine rheumatology practice is a lengthy and complex process. Bridging this gap between research and practice is crucial. Hybrid implementation effectiveness studies, integrating effectiveness and implementation aspects, emerge as a proactive and innovative solution to shorten the process of translation of proven interventions into clinical practice. This viewpoint provides an overview of the various types of hybrid implementation effectiveness studies including examples from rheumatology research practice, explains their pivotal role in speeding up the implementation of rheumatology research results and concludes with practical recommendations for the conduct of hybrid implementation effectiveness studies.
Stable isotopes of landfast sea ice as a record of La Grande River under-ice plume dispersal
Authors: Diaz Aura , Kuzyk Zou Zou A. , Guzzi Alessia , Gupta Kaushik , Papakyriakou Tim , Ehn Jens K.
Published: July 2024

Vertical profiles of salinity, and isotopic abundance ratios of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) of 18 landfast ice cores, collected along the northeast coast of James Bay in March 2019, and one ice core collected in Belcher Islands, were used to obtain the winter timeseries of the spatiotemporal evolution of the under-ice plume of La Grande River (LGR), the dominant river in the area. Variability in the isotopic composition and salinity of the ice cores indicated changes to the water source composition at the ice–water interface when the ice layers formed. The increased presence of river water beneath the ice during January–March was marked by more negative isotopic ratios in the lower portion of the ice as river discharge was increased for hydroelectric production. River water was the source of ∼43% of the ice in our ice core samples ( n = 320) with the interquartile range from 16% to 71%. The river water fractions incorporated into the ice indicate that LGR under-ice plume extended more than 75 km north and at least 30 km south of the river mouth for ∼3 months. These findings correspond well with more challenging to obtain hydrographic observations. End-of-winter ice core sampling and analysis for isotopic abundance has potential as a tool to monitor dispersal of LGR discharge into the ice-covered coastal environment.
Contribution of coherent electron production to measurements of heavy-flavor decayed electrons in heavy-ion collisions
Authors: Zhang Shenghui , Ma Rongrong , Ji Yuanjing , Tang Zebo , Yang Qian , Zhang Yifei , Zha Wangwei
Published: July 2024

Heavy quarks, produced at early stages of heavy-ion collisions, are an excellent probe of the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP) also created in these collisions. Electrons from open heavy-flavor hadron decays (HFE) are good proxies for heavy quarks, and have been measured extensively in the last two decades to study QGP properties. These measurements are traditionally carried out by subtracting all known background sources from the inclusive electron sample. More recently, a significant enhancement of $$e^+e^-$$

e
+

e
-

pair production at very low transverse momenta was observed in peripheral heavy-ion collisions. The production characteristics is consistent with coherent photon–photon interactions, which should also constitute a background source to the HFE measurements. In this article, we provide theoretical predictions for the contribution of coherent electron production to HFEs as a function of transverse momentum, centrality and collision energy in Au+Au and Pb+Pb collisions.
Neutron stars in $$f(R,L_m,T)$$ gravity
Authors: Mota Clésio E. , Pretel Juan M. Z. , Flores César O. V.
Published: July 2024

This study explores the behavior of compact stars within the framework of $$f(R,L_m,T)$$

f
(
R
,

L
m

,
T
)

gravity, focusing on the functional form $$f(R,L_m,T) = R + \alpha TL_m$$

f

(
R
,

L
m

,
T
)

=
R
+
α
T

L
m

. The modified Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff (TOV) equations are derived and numerically solved for several values of the free parameter $$\alpha $$
α
by considering both quark and hadronic matter—described by realistic equations of state (EoSs). Furthermore, the stellar structure equations are adapted for two different choices of the matter Lagrangian density (namely, $$L_m= p$$

L
m

=
p

and $$L_m= -\rho $$

L
m

=
-
ρ

), laying the groundwork for our numerical analysis. As expected, we recover the traditional TOV equations in General Relativity (GR) when $$\alpha \rightarrow 0$$

α
→
0

. Remarkably, we found that the two choices for $$L_m$$

L
m

have appreciably different effects on the mass-radius diagrams. Results showcase the impact of $$\alpha $$
α
on compact star properties, while final remarks summarize key findings and discuss implications, including compatibility with observational data from NGC 6397’s neutron star. Overall, this research enhances comprehension of $$f(R,L_m,T)$$

f
(
R
,

L
m

,
T
)

gravity’s effects on compact star internal structures, offering insights for future investigations.
AGENDA: Predicting Trip Purposes with A New Graph Embedding Network and Active Domain Adaptation
Authors: Liao Chengwu , Chen Chao , Zhang Wanyi , Guo Suiming , Liu Chao
Published: July 2024

Trip purpose is a meaningful aspect of travel behaviour for the understanding of urban mobility. However, it is non-trivial to automatically obtain trip purposes. On one hand, trip purposes are naturally diverse and complicated, but the available predictive data sources are limited in real-world scenarios. On the other hand, since trip purpose labeling is costly and the development levels of cities are unbalanced, it is infeasible to access large-scale labeled data in less developed cities to train advanced prediction models. To narrow the gaps, this article presents
A new Graph Embedding Network and active Domain Adaptation based framework (AGENDA)
that only requires open data sources and is capable of predicting in both label-rich cities and label-scarce cities. Specifically, in label-rich source cities, we first use the vehicle’s GPS trajectory and open POI check-ins to augment trip contexts. Then we establish a supervised graph embedding network with two attention mechanisms to extract the passenger’s latent activity semantics and a classifier to predict trip purpose. To enable the prediction in label-scarce target cities, we further devise an active domain adaptation framework, in which adversarial domain adaptation is used to transfer the source-learned knowledge, and active learning is used to integrate human intelligence in the model training. A group of experiments are conducted with real-world datasets in Beijing and Shanghai. Evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly outperforms existing trip purpose prediction algorithms, and could make accurate trip purpose prediction in label-scarce cities with much fewer labeling efforts.
Synthesis, Spectral and Electrochemical Properties, and Theoretical Studies of Highly Functionalized Fused Triazole-Isoindoline Derivatives as a Donor-Acceptor System
Authors: Ravikumar Kavinkumar , Dangate Milind Shrinivas
Published: July 2024

Triazole and propargyl group functionalities are frequently utilized in the construction of efficient blue-emitting materials, serving as acceptors and donors, respectively. Leveraging the synergistic effect of donor-acceptor coupling between these moieties, three new compounds, namely CB-But-I2, Ph-But-I2, and DP-But-I2, were synthesized. Given the advantageous strategy of combining electron donors and acceptors to optimize carrier injection and transport, CB-But-I2, Ph-But-I2, and DP-But-I2 demonstrate remarkable capabilities in both hole and electron transportation. A metal-free synthesis approach was employed to produce highly functionalized 1,2,3-triazole cores incorporating electronic donor and acceptor functionalities. This synthesis method involved the “Click reaction” ring formation between acetylene and azide compounds of 2-(4-bromobutyl) isoindoline-1,3-dione, catalyzed by copper sulfate pentahydrate and assisted by ascorbic acid as a base. The process boasts several advantages, including mild reaction conditions, accessibility of precursors, metal-free synthesis, straightforward setup, and the generation of various substituted regioselective triazole compounds in satisfactory yields. All synthesized compounds were found to possess thermal stability and exhibited fluorescence within the 292–355 nm range. Moreover, a significant positive solvato-chromic behavior was noted across different solvents with varying polarities, and the theoretical values were compared against experimental data for validation.