bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrospective analysis of thermographic imaging in early detection of pressure injuries
Authors: Burke Olivia M. , Kirsner Robert S. , Elman Scott A.
Published: February 2025

Pressure injuries in critically ill patients present a significant healthcare burden. Traditional methods, such as the Braden score, assess the risk of developing pressure injuries by evaluating factors like sensory perception, moisture and mobility. In contrast, thermographic imaging, which measures variations in skin temperature, offers a promising tool for not only assessing risk but also enabling earlier identification of pressure injuries. This study assessed thermographic imaging's ability to detect existing and evolving pressure injuries in surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients and compared its accuracy with the Braden score. Among 465 patients, 76 underwent thermographic evaluations of the sacrum and/or heel. Of 25 patients with pressure injuries at admission, 23 had abnormal thermographic scores. Fifteen patient developed pressure injuries during SICU admission. Logistic regression showed that abnormal thermographic scores significantly increased the likelihood of detecting both existing and new injuries, while the Braden score was not a significant predictor. Thermographic imaging appears to be a superior predictor of pressure injuries, offering earlier detection and potentially improving patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.
Pressure injuries and biofilms: Microbiome, model systems and therapies
Authors: Kabir Fahad , Yung Deborah Bow Yue , da Cruz Nizer Waleska Stephanie , Allison Kira Noelle , Zigic Sandra , Russell Emily , DeZeeuw Katrina G. , Marek Jonah E. , Cassol Edana , Pletzer Daniel , Overhage Joerg
Published: February 2025

Chronic wounds have emerged as significant clinical problems owing to their increasing incidence and greater recognition of associated morbidity and socio‐economic burden. They are defined as wounds that do not progress normally through the stages of healing in a timely and/or orderly manner. Pressure injuries, in particular, represent a serious problem for patients who are elderly or have limited mobility, such as wheelchair users or those who spend most of the day in bed. These injuries often result from prolonged pressure exerted on the skin over the bone. Treatment of pressure injuries is complex and costly. Emerging evidence suggests that the pressure injury microbiome plays a vital role in chronic wound formation and delaying wound healing. Additionally, antibiotics often fail due to the formation of resistant biofilms and the emergence of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. In this review, we will summarise the current knowledge on: (a) biofilms and microbiomes in pressure injuries; (b) in vitro and in vivo model systems to study pressure injuries, and (c) current therapies and novel treatment approaches. Understanding the complex interactions between microbes and the host immune system in pressure injuries will provide valuable insights to improve patient outcomes.
Tunable metamaterial lens for ultra-broadband hydroacoustic focusing
Authors: Guo Rui , Liu Runquan , Liu Hao , Zuo Lei , Zhang Kai , Zhang Quan
Published: February 2025

Acoustic metamaterial plays a vital role in underwater engineering applications. Here we present a novel tunable underwater metamaterial for ultra-broadband hydroacoustic focusing. The material consists of a soft matrix embedded with cavities that are surrounded by solid shells. The proposed design enables on-demand tuning of the effective acoustic parameters of the composite material through two independent regulation strategies, namely, i) filling the cavities with different liquids, and ii) stretching the soft matrix. We develop a theoretical framework for calculating the effective parameters of the material and validate it through finite element simulations and experiments. Our theoretical analysis indicates that the proposed material is able to achieve a widely tunable refraction index while maintaining a high transmission coefficient. In addition, a hydroacoustic focusing functionality is demonstrated using the proposed metamaterials. These findings set the stage for the development of next-generation hydroacoustic materials for underwater communication and acoustic imaging technologies.
Zirconium disulfide single crystal, ZrS2(0001), characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Chavez Daniela , Berube Abigail D. , Davis Luke M.
Published: February 2025

We analyzed the surface of a freshly exfoliated single crystal of zirconium(IV) sulfide, ZrS2. Survey spectra and high-resolution spectra from the core levels Zr 4p, Zr 4s, Zr 3d, Zr 3p, Zr 3s, S 2p, S 2s, O 1s, and C 1s were acquired. The binding energies and peak area ratios of a stoichiometric ZrS2 single crystal provide a pure reference of well-defined composition for material deposited by chemical or physical vapor deposition methods.
Hormonal Contraceptive Use and Self-Reported Menstrual Cycle-Related Symptom Frequency and Severity in Norwegian Team Handball Players of Different Competition Levels
Authors: Osborne John O. , Andersson Erik P. , Pedersen Sigurd , Welde Boye , Arne Pettersen Svein , Emaus Aina , Solli Guro Strøm , Gunnarshaug Tora Vilje D. , Engseth Tina Pettersen
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To compare the frequency and severity of self-perceived negative symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle or hormonal-contraceptive (HC) cycle between (1) HC users and non–HC users and (2) different competition levels. An additional aim was to describe the rate and type of HC use and prevalence of potential menstrual-cycle disturbances in female team handball players. Methods: A total of 136 team handball players, competing at different levels (international, 48; national, 52; local/regional, 36), completed a cross-sectional survey regarding self-reported negative cycle-related symptom frequency and severity, perceived influence on training/competition performance, menstrual function, and current and/or past HC use. Results: Although most players regularly experienced negative cycle-related symptoms, non–HC users reported more frequent and severe cramps (P = .001 to .026), as well as a higher occurrence of fatigue and skin problems (P = .019 to .045), compared with HC users. Negative symptoms such as fatigue were more common and severe for local/regional-level players compared with players at higher (international) competition levels (P = .006–.046). Half (47%) of the players currently used HC, primarily long-acting reversible contraceptives (52%), as well as the combined oral (33%) or progestin-only pill (14%). Notably, only 2% of players altered their training in response to negative cycle-related symptoms, despite 41% perceiving that these symptoms interfered with training quality and athletic performance. Conclusions: Negative cycle-related symptoms are common among team handball players, regardless of HC use, and are perceived by many players to adversely influence their athletic performance.
How Does Push-Off Distance Influence Force–Velocity Profile and Performance During Vertical Jumping?
Authors: Pommerell Félicie , Boyas Sébastien , Samozino Pierre , Morel Baptiste , Begue Jérémie , Rahmani Abderrahmane , Peyrot Nicolas
Published: February 2025

In many sports, practitioners must reach their maximal jump height (hmax) under time constraints. This requires a reduction of the countermovement depth and so of the push-off distance (hPO). The purpose of this study was to investigate how hPO influences force–velocity (F–v) profiles (, , , and SFv) and performance. Eleven participants (age: 26 [5] y, height: 175.6 [11.2] cm, mass: 76 [15] kg; squat 1RM: 129 [34] kg) performed maximal countermovement jumps. Kinetic and kinematic measurements were used to assess individual F–v profiles for 3 different hPO conditions (hPO-SMALL, hPO-MEDIUM, hPO-LARGE) from countermovement jumps performed under different load conditions (bodyweight [BW], BW + 8 kg, BW + 17 kg, BW + 40%1RM, BW + 70%1RM). Results indicated that and changed across hPO conditions, while remained constant. A lower hPO led to a significantly higher and . These changes resulted in a steeper SFv leading to a more force-oriented profile, a lower optimal SFv and a greater F–v imbalance. Reducing hPO and modifying F–v profile led, to some extent, to a reduction in hmax. Performance is a compromise between hPO, , and F–v imbalance, all influenced by countermovement depth. This explains why reducing countermovement depth to meet time constraint may lower performance.
The Impact of Physical Activity Behavior Change Training for Preprofessional Health Students—A Systematic Review
Authors: Lehman Emily , Healy Genevieve N. , Forbes Roma , Phillips Mia , Gilbert Casey , Gomersall Sjaan R.
Published: February 2025

Background: Health professionals play a crucial role in promoting physical activity, but the impact of physical activity behavior change training on preprofessional health students is underresearched. This systematic review examined the impact of such training for preprofessional health students. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINAHL up to October 2024. Included studies reported training interventions for preprofessional health students, with outcomes related to changes in knowledge, skills, confidence, and attitudes/intentions toward physical activity promotion. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies published in English, excluding qualitative studies, reviews, study protocols, and grey literature. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool was used to assess risk of bias. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to study heterogeneity, with meta-analysis not feasible. The review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42023428847). Results: Sixteen studies from 8 countries were included (median duration: 23 weeks), featuring training approaches such as theoretical, practical, or mixed learning. Participants included medical, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, or other health-related degree students. All studies reported positive effects on knowledge, skills, confidence, or attitudes. Approaches combining theoretical and practical components yielded higher improvements in knowledge and confidence compared with single-component approaches. Risk of bias was high in 12/16 studies. Conclusions: Training preprofessional health students in physical activity support and behavior change can enhance their knowledge, skills, confidence, or attitudes in this area. Variability in methods and risk of bias in the included studies necessitate caution in interpretation. Assessment of long-term training impacts on both preprofessional health students and patient outcomes is needed.
Intrasession and Intersession Reliability of Neck Retraction Strength Using a Strain Gauge Device
Authors: Burkitt Josh , Ryan Chloe , Ye-Lee Dana , Cronin John
Published: February 2025

Neck pain ranks among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions and is commonly accompanied by altered physical function. With 10.8% of sports-related injuries affecting the head and neck, evaluating neck strength is vital for detecting muscle weakness and monitoring rehabilitation progress. The purpose of this study was to determine the intrasession and intersession reliability of a strain gauge for measuring neck retraction strength in healthy adult men. Ten male participants (age, 22.7 [2.6] y; body mass, 90.8 [13.3] kg; height, 184.2 [7.1] cm) completed a neck retraction isometric test across 3 testing occasions separated by 7 days. Contraction duration, peak and mean force, impulse, and peak rate of force development were quantified within and between sessions. Contraction duration, peak force, and impulse demonstrated moderate to excellent intra- (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] [3,1] = .72–.98, coefficient of variation [CV] = 2.7%–2.1%) and intersession reliability (ICC [3,k] = .66–.89, CV = 4.8%–7.1%); however, only acceptable intrasession reliability was found for peak rate of force development and mean force (ICC = .71–.99, CV = 3.4%–22.7%). It appears that a portable fixed strain gauge can be used to reliably measure neck retraction strength in a healthy male population.
Cartilage Deformation, Outcomes, and Running Force Comparisons in Females With and Without Knee Injuries
Authors: Cattano Nicole M. , Magee Danielle , Clark Kenneth P. , Smith John
Published: February 2025

Context: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a known risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Since no disease-modifying treatments for OA exist, it is critical to understand joint responses to physical activity following an ACLR. Understanding knee cartilage deformation through ultrasound may provide a better understanding of how knee cartilage responds to running, and how this may contribute to OA pathophysiology and risk. Objective: To compare medial femoral cartilage deformation, outcomes, and forces during running in females with and without a unilateral ACLR knee. Design: Cross-sectional laboratory study. Methods: Sixteen females (8 ACLR history, 8 controls) participated. ACLR participants had an average age of 20.75 (1.83) years, height of 165.07 (7.43) cm, mass of 65.97 (8.55) kg, and were 36.13 (18.74) months postsurgery; controls had an average age of 20.62 (1.84) years, height of 166.00 (5.76) cm, and mass of 63.18 (4.94) kg. Independent variables were group and limb, with dependent variables including patient reported outcomes Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), medial femoral cartilage thickness changes, and indirect measures of stance-averaged vertical ground reaction forces and vertical rate of loading normalized to body weight during treadmill running. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics with significance defined as P ≤ .05. Results: All participants exhibited cartilage thickness reduction after 30 minutes of running (P < .001), with no significant group or limb differences in cartilage deformation, vertical ground reaction forces, or vertical rate of loading. ACLR participants reported significantly poorer patient reported outcome scores across all KOOS subscales. Moderate negative correlations were found between involved cartilage percent change and KOOS Symptoms (P = .025) and Sport/Rec (P = .043). Conclusions: Cartilage thickness significantly decreased in all participants after running, with no group or limb differences observed despite lower patient-reported outcomes in the ACLR group. Exploring the relationship between KOOS scores and cartilage response to activity may inform future research and strategies to mitigate OA risk.
Dissecting the role of CAR signaling architectures on T cell activation and persistence using pooled screens and single-cell sequencing
Authors: Castellanos-Rueda Rocío , Wang Kai-Ling K. , Forster Juliette L. , Driessen Alice , Frank Jessica A. , Martínez María Rodríguez , Reddy Sai T.
Published: February 2025

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells offer a promising cancer treatment, yet challenges such as limited T cell persistence hinder efficacy. Given its critical role in modulating T cell responses, it is crucial to understand how the CAR signaling architecture influences T cell function. Here, we designed a combinatorial CAR signaling domain library and performed repeated antigen stimulation assays, pooled screens, and single-cell sequencing to systematically investigate the impact of modifying CAR signaling domains on T cell activation and persistence. Our data reveal the predominant influence of membrane-proximal domains in driving T cell phenotype. Notably, CD40 costimulation was crucial for fostering robust and lasting T cell responses. Furthermore, we correlated in vitro generated CAR T cell phenotypes with clinical outcomes in patients treated with CAR T therapy, establishing the foundation for a clinically informed screening approach. This work deepens our understanding of CAR T cell biology and may guide future CAR engineering efforts.
Efficient perovskite LEDs with tailored atomic layer number emission at fixed wavelengths
Authors: Wang Ligang , Ooi Zher Ying , Jia Feng-Yan , Sun Yuqi , Liu Yun , Dai Linjie , Ye Junzhi , Zhang Jincan , Un Hio-Ieng , Chiang Yu-Hsien , Han Sanyang , Mirabelli Alessandro James , Anaya Miguel , Zhang Zhilong , Lu Yang , Zou Chen , Zhao Baodan , Di Dawei , Yang Xiaodong , Guo Dengyang , Tan Yu , Dong Hao , Liu Shaocheng , Liu Tianjun , Zhou Huanping , Stranks Samuel D. , Sun Ling-Dong , Yan Chun-Hua , Friend Richard H.
Published: February 2025

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have illuminated computer monitors and television screens due to their fascinating color-tunable properties depending on the size. Here, the electroluminescence (EL) wavelength of perovskite LEDs was tuned via the atomic layer number (ALN) of nanoplates (NPs) instead of the “size” in conventional QDs. We demonstrated efficient LEDs with controllably tailored emission from
n
= 3, 4, 5, and ≥7 ALN perovskite NPs with specific and discrete major peaks at 607, 638, 669, and 728 nanometers. These LEDs demonstrated peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 26.8% and high wavelength reproducibility with less than 1 to 2 nm difference between batches. High color stability without observable EL spectral change and operating stability with the best
T
50
of 267 minutes at 1.0 milliampere per square centimeter was also achieved. This work demonstrates a concept of tailoring specific ALN emission with fixed wavelengths, shedding light on efficient, emission-discrete, and color-stable LEDs for next-generation display.
Distinct input-specific mechanisms enable presynaptic homeostatic plasticity
Authors: Chien Chun , He Kaikai , Perry Sarah , Tchitchkan Elizabeth , Han Yifu , Li Xiling , Dickman Dion
Published: February 2025

Synapses are endowed with the flexibility to change through experience, but must be sufficiently stable to last a lifetime. This tension is illustrated at the
Drosophila
neuromuscular junction (NMJ), where two motor inputs that differ in structural and functional properties coinnervate most muscles to coordinate locomotion. To stabilize NMJ activity, motor neurons augment neurotransmitter release following diminished postsynaptic glutamate receptor functionality, termed presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP). How these distinct inputs contribute to PHP plasticity remains enigmatic. We have used a botulinum neurotoxin to selectively silence each input and resolve their roles in PHP, demonstrating that PHP is input specific: Chronic (genetic) PHP selectively targets the tonic MN-Ib, where active zone remodeling enhances Ca
2+
influx to promote increased glutamate release. In contrast, acute (pharmacological) PHP selectively increases vesicle pools to potentiate phasic MN-Is. Thus, distinct homeostatic modulations in active zone nanoarchitecture, vesicle pools, and Ca
2+
influx collaborate to enable input-specific PHP expression.
High-performance electroadhesive clutches with multilayered architecture
Authors: Aksoy Bekir , Tan Sylvia , Peshkin Michael A. , Colgate J. Edward
Published: February 2025

Electroadhesive (EA) clutches are promising for advanced motion and force control in robotics, haptics, and rehabilitation, owing to their compactness and light weight. However, their practical use is limited by the inability to deliver high forces at low voltages, primarily due to a lack of understanding of their mechanics. We introduce a novel deformable body fracture mechanics approach and high-resolution strain field imaging to reveal that nonuniform stress distributions cause EA clutches to fail through delamination and crack propagation. Using this insight, we developed EA clutches sustaining 22 newtons over 1 square centimeter at 100 volts, achieving the highest stress per voltage among similar clutches. This was achieved by incorporating a soft interlayer and peeling stopper for uniform stress distribution and mitigating the failure modes. These EA clutches were integrated into a lightweight ring-based wearable system for finger rehabilitation and haptics. Our findings lay the groundwork for designing low-voltage, high-performance EA clutches for next-generation motion and force control applications.
Finding independent sets in large-scale graphs with a coherent Ising machine
Authors: Takesue Hiroki , Inaba Kensuke , Honjo Toshimori , Yamada Yasuhiro , Ikuta Takuya , Yonezu Yuya , Inagaki Takahiro , Umeki Takeshi , Kasahara Ryoichi
Published: February 2025

Combinatorial optimizers using physical systems, or “Ising machines,” have been intensively studied as a way of computation that is more efficient than current digital computers. Here, we demonstrate that a coherent Ising machine (CIM) based on degenerate optical parametric oscillator (DOPO) pulses can find solutions to large-scale maximum independent set problems, which is an essential optimization problem that is closely related to real-world optimization tasks. We implemented a stable external field for each Ising spin as an interaction between a DOPO pulse and a group of ferromagnetically coupled auxiliary pulses. Consequently, the CIM delivered independent sets for dense graphs with up to 40,000 nodes. We compared the performance of the CIM with that of optimized simulated annealing algorithm implemented on a digital computer and found that the CIM outperformed the central processing unit (CPU) in terms of the time needed to obtain good approximate solutions when the graph size exceeded several thousand nodes.
Shortcuts to adiabatic non-Abelian braiding on silicon photonic chips
Authors: Song Wange , Liu Xuanyu , Sun Jiacheng , You Oubo , Wu Shengjie , Chen Chen , Zhu Shining , Li Tao , Zhang Shuang
Published: February 2025

Non-Abelian braiding describes the exchange behavior of anyons, useful for encoding qubits for quantum computing. Recently, this concept has been realized in classical photonic and acoustic systems. However, these implementations are constrained by adiabatic conditions, necessitating long operation distances and hindering practical applications. Here, we conceive and demonstrate shortcut to adiabatic (STA) braiding of light in three-dimensional silicon photonic chips. Our device comprises trilayer silicon waveguides embedded in the SU-8 polymer, using an STA strategy to expedite the braiding operations, resulting in compact devices that function as photonic quantum X, Y, and Z gates. We further experimentally observed non-Abelian braiding behaviors based on this STA-braiding scheme. Our work represents a compact braiding apparatus with a size reduction of nearly three orders of magnitude compared to previous works. This work presents a feasible approach to accelerating adiabatic braiding evolutions, paving the way for compact, CMOS-compatible non-Abelian photonic devices.
Linking vaccine adjuvant mechanisms of action to function
Authors: Ben-Akiva Elana , Chapman Asheley , Mao Tianyang , Irvine Darrell J.
Published: February 2025

Vaccines deliver an immunogen in a manner designed to safely provoke an immune response, leading to the generation of memory T and B cells and long-lived antibody-producing plasma cells. Adjuvants play a critical role in vaccines by controlling how the immune system is exposed to the immunogen and providing inflammatory cues that enable productive immune priming. However, mechanisms of action underlying adjuvant function at the molecular, cell, and tissue levels are diverse and often poorly understood. Here, we review the current understanding of mechanisms of action underlying adjuvants used in subunit protein/polysaccharide vaccines and mRNA vaccines, discuss where possible how these mechanisms of action link to downstream effects on the immune response, and identify knowledge gaps that will be important to fill in order to enable the continued development of more effective adjuvants for challenging pathogens such as HIV and emerging threats.
Borrelia burgdorferi
loses essential genetic elements and cell proliferative potential during stationary phase in culture but not in the tick vector
Authors: Zhang Jessica , Takacs Constantin N. , McCausland Joshua W. , Mueller Elizabeth A. , Buron Jeline , Thappeta Yashna , Wachter Jenny , Rosa Patricia A. , Jacobs-Wagner Christine
Published: February 2025

The Lyme disease agent
Borrelia burgdorferi
is a polyploid bacterium with a segmented genome in which both the chromosome and over 20 distinct plasmids are present in multiple copies per cell. This pathogen can survive for at least 9 months in its tick vector in an apparent dormant state between blood meals, without losing cell proliferative capability when re-exposed to nutrients. Cultivated
B. burgdorferi
cells grown to stationary phase or resuspended in nutrient-limited media are often used to study the effects of nutrient deprivation. However, a thorough assessment of the spirochete’s ability to recover from nutrient depletion has been lacking. Our study shows that starved
B. burgdorferi
cultures rapidly lose cell proliferative ability. Loss of genetic elements essential for cell proliferation contributes to the observed proliferative defect in stationary phase. The gradual decline in copies of genetic elements is not perfectly synchronized between chromosomes and plasmids, generating cells that harbor one or more copies of the essential chromosome but lack all copies of one or more non-essential plasmids. This phenomenon likely contributes to the well-documented issue of plasmid loss during
in vitro
cultivation of
B. burgdorferi
. In contrast,
B. burgdorferi
cells from ticks starved for 14 months showed no evidence of reduced cell proliferative ability or plasmid loss. Beyond their practical implications for studying
B. burgdorferi
, these findings suggest that the midgut of the tick vector offers a unique environment that supports the maintenance of
B. burgdorferi
’s segmented genome and cell proliferative potential during periods of tick fasting.

IMPORTANCE

Borrelia burgdorferi
causes Lyme disease, a prevalent tick-borne illness.
B. burgdorferi
must survive long periods (months to a year) of apparent dormancy in the midgut of the tick vector between blood meals. Resilience to starvation is a common trait among bacteria. However, this study reveals that, in laboratory cultures,
B. burgdorferi
poorly endures starvation and rapidly loses viability. This decline is linked to a gradual loss of genetic elements required for cell proliferation. These results suggest that the persistence of
B. burgdorferi
in nature is likely shaped more by unique environmental conditions in the midgut of the tick vector than by an innate ability of this bacterium to endure nutrient deprivation.
Capsular polysaccharide enables
Klebsiella pneumoniae
to evade phagocytosis by blocking host-bacteria interactions
Authors: Liu Xiaoxuan , Xu Qi , Yang Xuemei , Heng Heng , Yang Chen , Yang Guan , Peng Mingxiu , Chan Edward Wai-Chi , Chen Sheng
Published: February 2025

Capsule polysaccharide (CPS) is among the most important virulence factors of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. Previous studies demonstrated that CPS plays multiple functional roles, but the mechanism by which this virulence factor enhances the survival fitness of
K. pneumoniae
remains unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that CPS is the main cellular component that not only elicits the host immune response to
K. pneumoniae
but also enables this pathogen to survive for a prolonged period under adverse environmental conditions. Consistently, our
in vitro
experiments suggest that CPS prevents
K. pneumoniae
from phagocytosis, rendering the encapsulated strain more difficult to be eradicated by the host. We also found that phagocytosis of
K. pneumoniae
is partially mediated by LOX-1, a scavenger receptor of the host, and that CPS may impede interaction between LOX-1 and this pathogenic bacteria, therefore reducing the phagocytosis process. These findings provide insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of this important clinical pathogen and should facilitate the design of new strategies to combat
K. pneumoniae
infections.

IMPORTANCE

Klebsiella pneumoniae
has become one of the most important clinical bacterial pathogens due to its evolution into hyperresistant and hypervirulent phenotypes. The mechanism of virulence of this pathogen is not well understood, particularly because it differs from other
Enterobacteriaceae
pathogens such as
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella
. The capsule polysaccharide (CPS) of this pathogen is well recognized for contributing to the virulence of
K. pneumoniae
, but the exact mechanisms underlying its contribution are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that CPS does not directly contribute to the host response; rather, it forms an external coat that blocks host recognition and prevents immune cells from binding to receptor proteins on
K. pneumoniae
, thus inhibiting phagocytosis, which makes it more challenging for the body to fight off infections. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing new treatments against
K. pneumoniae
infections, ultimately improving patient outcomes and public health.
A type-specific B-cell epitope at the apex of outer surface protein C (OspC) of the Lyme disease spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
Authors: Vance David J. , Freeman-Gallant Grace , McCarthy Kathleen , Piazza Carol Lyn , Chen Yang , Vorauer Clint , Muriuki Beatrice , Rudolph Michael J. , Cavacini Lisa , Guttman Miklos , Mantis Nicholas J.
Published: February 2025

Broadly protective immunity to the Lyme disease spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
, is constrained by antibodies against type-specific epitopes on outer surface protein C (OspC), a homodimeric helix-rich lipoprotein essential for early stages of spirochete dissemination in vertebrate hosts. However, the molecular basis for type-specific immunity has not been fully elucidated. In this report, we produced and characterized an OspC mouse monoclonal antibody, 8C1, that recognizes native and recombinant OspC type A (OspC
A
) but not OspC type B or K. Epitope mapping by hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) localized 8C1’s epitope to a protruding ridge on the apex of OspC
A
α-helix 3 (residues 130–150) previously known to be an immunodominant region of the molecule. Alanine scanning pinpointed 8C1’s core binding motif to a solvent exposed patch consisting of residues K
141
, H
142
, T
143
, and D
144
. Analysis of 26 Lyme disease-positive serum samples confirmed human antibody reactivity with this region of OspC
A
, with residues E
140
and D
144
as being the most consequential. Our results underscore the importance of α-helix 3 as a target of type-specific epitopes on OspC
A
that should be taken into consideration in Lyme disease vaccine design.

IMPORTANCE

A central challenge in the development of vaccines against Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne infection in the United States, is the antigenically variable nature of the lipoproteins displayed on the surface of the disease-causing spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
. For example, antibodies against one type of outer surface protein C (OspC), a lipoprotein involved in
B. burgdorferi
transmission and early stages of infection, may have little or no cross reactivity with another seemingly closely related variant of OspC, thereby hampering the use of a single OspC type as a vaccine antigen. For the sake of vaccine design, it is critical to identify the specific epitopes on OspC that both restrict and enable cross-reactivity.
Real-world experience of renal outcomes and management of PrEP users with estimated glomerular filtration rates less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m
2
Authors: Tittle Victoria , Girometti Nicolo , Goodfellow Jonathan Joseph , Cole Stephen , Patel Sheel , Boffito Marta , McCormack Sheena , Jones Rachael
Published: February 2025

This retrospective service evaluation reviews practical measures for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m
2
. Of 35 724 PrEP users, 361 had an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m
2
, of whom 16% required non-tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine PrEP formulations. Majority of cases required simple and conservative management, with repeat sampling and/or stopping of the supplements and/or recreational drugs.
Comparative Study of Metaheuristic Algorithms for the Vehicle Routing Problem with Application to Recycling Waste Management
Authors: Passias Athanasios , Sirakoulis Georgios Ch.
Published: February 2025

This study presents a comparative analysis of metaheuristic algorithms applied to the Asymmetric Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem (ACVRP) within the context of municipal recycling waste management. The main goal is to optimize the collection routes for municipal waste collection vehicles to reduce operational costs, particularly in relation to the total distance traveled and the number of vehicles required. The problem was modeled as a graph in a case paradigm of a small municipality in Greece, namely Xanthi, where bins represent nodes and streets represent directed edges. A variety of initialization methods (Cheapest Arc, Most Constrained Arc, Savings Heuristic, etc.) and optimization algorithms (Greedy Descent, Guided Local Search, Simulated Annealing, and Tabu Search) were applied to the graph. Results show that by dynamically adjusting routes based on bin load data, the total distance traveled by waste vehicles was reduced by 65%, and the number of required vehicles was halved. Economic analysis demonstrated a 55% reduction in total costs when applying distance constraints, with further reductions possible under unconstrained scenarios. This research highlights the potential of advanced metaheuristic optimization to significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of waste management operations.
Potential for Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns in the Kish Basin, offshore Ireland
Authors: Byrne Keith , White James , O'Neill Nick , Irwin Samuel , Mitchinson Alice
Published: February 2025

This study, completed in 2023, is the first to assess the hydrogen storage potential within manmade salt caverns off the coast of Ireland, representing an innovative use of existing data to support the renewable energy industry, in particular the storage of green hydrogen, and the potential for net energy export solutions. The research involved detailed interpretation of legacy petroleum industry well and seismic data combined with a review of potential geohazards and environmental constraints using data acquired by the Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource project (INFOMAR) and other relevant bodies of information.

The salt occurrence subsurface in the Kish Basin is extensive and is sufficiently thick and at the optimum depth for the creation of manmade salt caverns for hydrogen storage. Over 270 potential salt cavern locations have been identified across the study area.

A surface constraints mapping exercise has reviewed shipping density, archaeological heritage, telecommunications and fishing activity, allowing a spatial overview of constraints layers with potential cavern locations. An area underlying the planned Dublin Array wind farm has been high graded, with the potential for at least 8 caverns at up to 146 GWh
H2
of storage each, representing approximately 1 TWh
H2
of storage. Watt hours of hydrogen (Wh
H2
) is the standard unit of energy used to define hydrogen storage projects.
Review-Enhanced Universal Sequence Representation Learning for Recommender Systems
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Sun Wenqi , Hou Yupeng , Zhao Xin , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: February 2025

With the widespread deployment of recommender systems on various online platforms, researchers are striving to develop transferable recommendation algorithms that can effectively adapt to new task scenarios without requiring the re-training of new recommenders. However, there have been challenges in dealing with explicit ID modeling in this context. Recently, researchers have drawn inspiration from the achievements of pre-trained language models (PLMs), making it possible to acquire ID-agnostic representations by utilizing the corresponding texts of items. These representations have shown to be transferable across diverse domains. However, while these methods demonstrate generalization, they are less proficient in making
personalized
recommendations as they learn
universal
representation.

In light of this issue, we present a review-enhanced universal sequence representation learning approach named
RUNSRec
. Our goal is to not only comprehend universal user behavioral patterns across different domains but also capture their inherent preferences to make recommendations. Our approach makes three technical advancements toward this objective. Firstly, we introduce a lightweight item encoding architecture based on parametric whitening and mixture-of-experts enhanced adapter. It learns discriminative item textual representations by encoding their corresponding identity text and review text, with a discriminative keyword extraction method to enhance the representation identifiability. Secondly, we propose a universal sequence representation learning method that enables the training of transferable recommenders across diverse domains, based on two novel contrastive learning tasks. Furthermore, we introduce a personalized adapter tuning mechanism that enables the universal recommender to capture user personal preferences in a parameter-efficient way. By incorporating universal behavioral patterns learned during the pre-training stage and personalized user tastes captured through adapter tuning, our approach achieves a better balance between generalization and personalization in transferable recommender systems. Extensive experiments conducted on five real-world datasets have demonstrated the effectiveness of our proposed approach.
Electrochemical-Mechanical Coupling Strongly Affects the Performance of Nanopore, Thin-Film, and Solid-State Batteries
Authors: Song Yueming , Jung Taeho , Rubloff Gary W. , Stewart David M. , Albertus Paul
Published: February 2025

The present study focuses on the electrochemical-mechanical (ECM) coupling effects of a thin-film, solid-state battery with only stiff, ceramic materials, in contrast to prior investigations that focus on individual active material particles or aggregations of particles. We model the impacts of ECM couplings including stress-transport and stress-equilibrium potential on the full-cell performance and potential mechanical failure modes of a thin-film battery conformally deposited in a nanopore scaffold, which is an experimentally achievable device. Model results indicate electrode volume changes due to lithium insertion or removal, along with mechanical boundary conditions, result in stress gradients that alter the lithium-ion flux, reduce lithium concentration gradients, and improve cell rate capability. However, the high stress levels in the cell can also lead to mechanics-related failure such as the separation of cell layers. For the parameter set in this work, stress-transport coupling has a much greater influence on rate capability than stress-potential coupling. Optimization of thin-film batteries to harness the benefits of ECM coupling effects requires leveraging geometric design and material selection. The current work underscores the need for further theoretical and experimental investigation into ECM coupling effects in thin-film batteries to enhance their understanding and design optimization.
Hormonal Birth Control Is Associated with Altered Gut Microbiota Beta-Diversity in Physically Active Females Across the Menstrual Cycle: A Pilot Trial
Authors: Brito Julian , Grosicki Gregory J. , Robinson Austin T. , Coburn Jared W. , Costa Pablo B. , Holmes Kristen E , Lyon Gabrielle , Hakonsson Zoe , Conti Federica , Galpin Andrew J.
Published: February 2025

Understanding changes to gut microbiota composition in response to hormonal birth control (HBC) may provide insight into the microbial mechanisms underlying the metabolic effects of HBC, for example, altered short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Athletes' unique physiological demands may interact with these microbial mechanisms in distinct ways; however, there is limited research on HBC and gut microbiota diversity and composition across different menstrual cycle phases in physically active females. A pilot cohort of physically active females using HBC (oral contraceptives, hormone-based intrauterine devices, or arm implants) and a control group not using HBC (n=12 per group; 22±2yrs, 24±4kg/m2 vs. 22±4yrs, 23±4kg/m2; Ps≥0.496) provided fecal samples alongside self-reported menstrual phase and circulating sex hormones. Alpha diversity (microbial richness and evenness) was assessed using Shannon Index while beta-diversity (microbial composition differences) was analyzed using PERMANOVA based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. Circulating estrogen and luteinizing hormone increased from early (days 1-5) to mid-cycle (days 12-17) in both groups (time effect Ps≤0.01), with greater changes in Control ( Ps≤0.046) than HBC ( Ps≥0.231). While no menstrual phase effect was observed on either diversity measure ( Ps≥0.473), beta-diversity differed between Control and HBC groups ( P=0.015), reflecting distinct gut microbiota profiles irrespective of menstrual phase. Seven taxa linked to SCFA production were less abundant in the HBC group (unadjusted Ps≤0.046), though significance was lost after adjusting for multiple comparisons. These findings suggest that in physically active females, hormonal contraception influences gut microbial composition, which may have downstream effects on metabolism and performance.
Horizontal, Vertical, and Torsional Optokinetic Responses and their Adaptations in fish
Authors: Tadokoro Shin , Miki Shuntaro , Yamanaka Toshimi , Hirata Yutaka
Published: February 2025

Eye movements in vertebrates moving around stabilize retinal images, achieved through the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) and the optokinetic response (OKR). While VOR compensates for head velocity, its effectiveness declines with prolonged motion, necessitating the OKR. This study explores the three-dimensional (3D) nature of the OKR in goldfish, focusing on horizontal (H), vertical (V), and torsional (T) responses and their adaptation. We found that naïve goldfish exhibited minimal V and TOKR unlike robust HOKR having low-pass characteristics. Through visual training, V and TOKR manifested with flatter frequency spectra, although TOKR toward intorsion unchanged. Memory retention revealed a slower decay of adapted TOKR compared to others. These are the first evaluation of V and TOKR in fish, demonstrating that while naïve goldfish do not rely on V and TOKR in their natural behavior, they retain adaptative capabilities. Vertical and torsional ocular ranges, measured through tilt VOR, well exceeded OKR movement ranges, indicating that minimal VOKR and TOKR are not due to ocular muscle limitations but inherent OKR properties. Head motion analysis in freely-swimming goldfish and carp, a closely related species, revealed small, flat frequency spectra in roll and pitch, and large low-pass spectra in yaw in the former, and a significant pitch-down bias during foraging in the latter. These findings suggest that goldfish OKRs are adaptable across axes, reflecting the unique vestibular and visual experiences associated with goldfish locomotor behavior patterns. Notably, the asymmetrical adaptability of TOKR potentially linked to foraging behaviors.
Case Report and Literature Review of Conjunctival Melanoma in the Black Population
Authors: Chen Oscar , Kayarian Fae , Kelly Elaine , Grostern Richard J. , Tannan Anjali
Published: February 2025

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of conjunctival melanoma (CM) in a black male patient and provide a comprehensive literature review of all documented cases of CM in the black population.

Methods: A case report highlighting a black patient with newly diagnosed CM was described. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to determine the prevalence of CM in the black population.

Results: Extensive CM in situ in a 46‐year‐old black male patient was treated with excision and cryotherapy. The patient subsequently required repeat cryotherapy and topical Mitomycin C therapy due to a recurrence of pigmentation. A literature review identified 46 cases of CM in the black population.

Conclusions: CM has rarely been observed in the black population. With this current case report, there are only 47 black patients found in the literature with this ocular surface tumor. Further detailed documentation on the presentation, location, and outcomes of CM in this population is imperative to better screen and treat this demographic.
Prevalence of Mismatch Repair Deficiency in Primary Prostate Cancer in a Large Prospective Cohort
Authors: McNevin Ciara S. , Keogh Anna , Mohammed Nur Mutaz , McGovern Brianán , McFadden Julie , Baird Anne-Marie , Cadoo Karen , Mc Carron Sarah , O’Brien Cathal , Barr Martin P. , Gray Steven G. , Sheils Orla , Sutton Lesley A. , Flanagan Sinéad , Mucci Lorelei A. , Stopsack Konrad H. , Finn Stephen P.
Published: February 2025

Background: Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and microsatellite instability are predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response. The best approach to identify patients with such tumors is unclear in prostate cancer. Methods: This study included 1,016 men diagnosed with primary prostate cancer during prospective follow-up of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Physicians’ Health Study. Highest-grade/index lesions from radical prostatectomy (95%) or transurethral resections of the prostate were mounted on tissue microarrays. Scoring of immunohistochemistry for the MMR proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 required a non-tumor internal positive control for designating deficiency. Validation was done on full sections and with PCR-based quantification of microsatellite repeats. Results: Tumor stage was predominantly pathologically localized with a full distribution of Gleason scores. MMR tumor scoring could be performed with available internal positive control tissue in 75%–90% of cases, depending on the MMR protein. Of the 903 tumors evaluable for MSH2 protein loss, 4 tumors had loss of MSH2 (prevalence 0.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2–1.1%), and 3 of 708 evaluable tumors had concomitant loss of MSH6 (prevalence 0.4%, 95% CI 0.1–1.2%). No tumor had loss of MLH1 or PMS2. The 4 MMR-deficient cases had higher Gleason scores, and 3 had non-zero microsatellite repeats. Conclusions: In this nationwide prospective study, MMR deficiency was rare in primary, surgically treated prostate cancer. The low prevalence and the need for an internal positive control for this assay are feasibility concerns for unselected routine immunohistochemistry-based screening for MMR deficiency on limited tissue specimens, such as prostate biopsies.
Figure 2 from Expression Patterns of DLL3 across Neuroendocrine and Non-neuroendocrine Neoplasms Reveal Broad Opportunities for Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Lozada John R. , Elliott Andrew , Evans Mark G. , Wacker James , Storey Kathleen M. , Egusa Emily A. , Zorko Nicholas A. , Kumar Akhilesh , Crymes Anthony , Heath Elisabeth I. , Carneiro Benedito A. , Soares Heloisa P. , Cichocki Frank , Miller Jeffrey S. , Lou Emil , Beltran Himisha , Antonarakis Emmanuel S. , Ryan Charles J. , Hwang Justin H.
Published: February 2025

Correlates of DLL3 expression with immune repertoire, alternative targets, and non-neuroendocrine cancers. A, Radar plots displaying differences in immune infiltrates between DLL3-high and -low NENs. B, Ridgeline plots comparing the expression density of DLL3 and alternative precision targets in NENs and site-matched ADCs. C, Violin plots, bar plots, and heatmap displaying expression of DLL3, percent DLL3-high, and hazard ratio, respectively, across 47 cancer types. Dotted line depicts threshold for DLL3-high status. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.