bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining alterations in fGCM concentrations post‐defaecation across three animal feeding classes (ruminants, hindgut fermenters and carnivores)
Authors: Osburn K. R. , Crossey B. , Majelantle T. L. , Ganswindt A.
Published: February 2025

Quantification of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) is a popular non‐invasive technique for monitoring wildlife's response to stressors, demanding an understanding of the stability of fGCM concentrations post‐defaecation to ensure comparability of determined fGCM values across samples. To provide species‐specific recommendations for the duration within which sampling can take place, we measured the rate at which the fGCM concentrations of nine different species changed throughout a 7‐day period post‐defaecation. In this study, we explored the temporal dynamics of fGCM concentrations in nine species across three feeding classes (ruminants, hindgut fermenters and carnivores): impala (Aepyceros melampus), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), plains zebra (Equus quagga), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) and leopard (Panthera pardus). Utilizing enzyme immunoassays already established for each of the focal species, we identified broader feeding class‐specific patterns. All herbivores exhibited a significant decrease in fGCM concentrations over time, starting from 6 h (impala) to 48 h (giraffe, blue wildebeest, white rhino and African elephant) post‐defaecation. For carnivores, concentrations remained fairly comparable for 12–24 h, after which fGCM concentrations either decreased (spotted hyena), increased (leopard) or remained stable (cheetah), with notable variation in triplicate concentrations (cheetah and leopard). These findings offer insights into scheduling faecal sampling for endocrine monitoring, particularly from free‐roaming wildlife, to ensure comparability of determined hormone metabolite concentrations. Furthermore, the species‐specific variation in fGCM concentration post‐defaecation demonstrated in this study underlines the necessity to investigate every new species to ensure accurate and comparable results. Future studies ought to investigate how the mass of collected material, sex and drying methodologies affect the measurement of fGCMs post‐defaecation.
Acute Transient Aminotransferase Elevation is Common With Intrathecal Methotrexate, but Liver Injury is Infrequent
Authors: Gopalakrishna Harish , Hercun Julian , Shah Nirali N. , Roschewski Mark , Rotman Yaron
Published: February 2025

Background and Aims

Hepatotoxicity is a known risk of oral and intravenous methotrexate (MTX), but whether intrathecal (IT) administration causes hepatotoxicity remains unknown. We aimed to explore whether IT‐MTX causes acute hepatoxicity.

Methods

Retrospective single‐centre analysis of all patients treated with IT‐MTX from 2000 to 2020. We compared liver enzymes (LE) at baseline (within 7 days before IT‐MTX) to post‐MTX (within 7 days after IT‐MTX). LE elevation was defined as ≥ 50% increase in LE from baseline and greater than upper limit of normal. Drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) was defined based on established criteria.

Results

A total of 270 patients (184 adults and 86 paediatric) received IT‐MTX and had available LE data. Aminotransferase elevation was seen post‐MTX in 107 (40%) patients, of whom 96 (36%) had ALT and 68 (25%) had AST elevation. DILI occurred in 16 (6%) patients. Aminotransferases peaked a median of 4 (3–5) days post‐MTX, returning near baseline by day 7. Paediatric patients had higher incidence of aminotransferase elevations and DILI than adults (ALT 51% vs. 28%; AST 41% vs. 18%; DILI 11% vs. 3%; p < 0.01 for all). No significant predictors of LE elevation or DILI were identified, and no patient developed liver failure. The severity of ALT elevation after the first IT‐MTX dose did not predict severity of a subsequent dose.

Conclusion

Acute transient aminotransferase elevation is common after IT‐MTX, especially in paediatric patients. Only a fraction of patients developed DILI, which was self‐limited with no sensitisation or liver failure.
An interactive cross‐multi‐feature fusion approach for salient object detection in crack segmentation
Authors: Liu Jian , Niu Pei , Kou Lei , Zhang Yalin , Chang Honglei , Guo Feng
Published: February 2025

Salient object detection (SOD) is a crucial preprocessing technique in visual computing, which identifies the salient regions in an image by simulating the human visual perception system. It achieves remarkable results in tasks such as image quality assessment, editing, and object recognition. However, due to the particularity of pavement crack detection in terms of scale and feature requirements, the SOD model is rarely applied in pavement surface crack detection at present. In order to break the existing dilemma, this paper proposes a new SOD model (iU2Net) specialized for crack detection, which is based on the encoder–decoder structure of U2Net and incorporates the developed interactive cross‐multi‐feature fusion module (ICMFM). Compared with the existing models, the main contributions of iU2Net are reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, current models are difficult to comprehensively extract the complex features of cracks while iU2Net achieves a breakthrough in feature extraction by efficiently aggregating multiscale crack features and accurately reconstructing them through its unique architecture. On the other hand, iU2Net focuses on infrastructure crack detection, breaking the limitation of independent processing of traditional feature channels and facilitating information exchange. To validate the model's effectiveness, comprehensive experiments are conducted on a public benchmark dataset. iU2Net is compared with eight existing SOD models (EGNet, PoolNet, MINet, F3Net, U2Net, SegNet, BASNet, and DeepCrack). Training and detection performance is evaluated using average mean absolute error (AveMAE), maximum F1 score (MaxF1), mean F1 score (MeanF1), precision–recall curves, and visualizations. Experimental the results indicate that iU2Net exceeds the behavior of other networks during both the training and testing phases, with MaxF1 and MeanF1 achieving maximum values of 0.912 and 0.730, respectively; and AveMAE of 0.048, which is only 0.005 higher than the minimum value, which demonstrates its effectiveness for pavement surface crack detection and indicating potential future applications involving interactive feature fusion.
Constructing a Novel Disease Resistance Mechanism Model for Cruciferous Crops: An Example From Black Rot
Authors: Dai Haojie , Hu Linli , Wang Jie , Yue Zhibin , Wang Jue , Chen Tongyan , Li Jinbao , Dou Tingting , Yu Jihua , Liu Zeci
Published: February 2025

Cruciferous crops are essential components of global agricultural production due to their rich nutritional value and extensive economic benefits. Black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) has caused significant losses to cruciferous crops. Therefore, studying the resistance mechanisms of cruciferous crops to improve the disease resistance of cruciferous crops is of significant practical importance. This review introduces the biological characteristics and epidemiological patterns of the Xcc. The main resistance mechanisms including the physical barrier functions, immune responses, systemic resistance, regulation of photosynthesis, antimicrobial effects of secondary metabolites, production and regulation of reactive oxygen species, and the signalling pathways of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene of cruciferous crops to Xcc are also summarised. Comprehensive knowledge of these resistance mechanisms will provide theoretical support for enhancing disease resistance in crops.
Trends in Intracranial Hemorrhage Mortality in the U.S.: A 22‐Year Analysis (1999–2020)
Authors: Saha Ram , Al‐Salihi Mohammed Maan , Elazim Ahmed Abd , Solanki Dhanshree , Kapuria Progga , Dalal Shamser Singh
Published: February 2025

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe type of stroke with a poor prognosis, contributing significantly to global mortality and morbidity. We analyzed ICH‐related deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020 using data from the CDC to examine trends in mortality rates. Data were sourced from the CDC WONDER database. Age‐adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), mortality rate ratios (MRRs), and percentages of deaths were calculated across various demographic variables for the years 1999–2020. In 1999, 21,902 ICH‐related deaths occurred, increasing to 24,461 by 2020. Over the 22‐year period, the cumulative number of deaths reached 511,798. Despite the increase in deaths, the AAMR declined from 63.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to 46.3 per 100,000 in 2020. MRRs for both genders were below 1, indicating a reduction in AAMRs by 2020 compared to 1999. The MRR for females was 0.71, while for males it was 0.75. There was a significant decline in AAMRs for all demographics and census regions between 1999 and 2020. MRRs reflected consistent reductions across gender, race, and geography. Further research is needed to understand the factors driving this decline, which may guide future strategies to further reduce ICH‐related mortality.
Health literacy and obesity: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Upton Ashleigh , Spirou Dean , Craig Matthew , Saul Natalie , Winmill Olivia , Hay Phillipa , Raman Jayanthi
Published: February 2025

Obesity is a preventable global health epidemic that has serious health consequences. Health literacy has been identified as an underlying and modifiable factor in the development and maintenance of obesity. Adequate levels of health literacy have been shown to significantly impact on weight loss, weight loss maintenance, and associated health outcomes.

Objective

The aim of the current study was to systematically review extant literature to evaluate the way in which health literacy is measured for individuals with obesity and to identify the key areas of health literacy that are commonly assessed.

Method

This systematic scoping review was conducted over five databases and yielded 12 papers (Nparticipants = 15,393) that represented our search strategy and inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

The review highlighted there are currently multiple measures that exist that assess independent or dual domains of health literacy; however, there were no studies that specifically utilized a measure that holistically assessed the three maintaining and modifiable domains of health literacy of obesity (psychological knowledge, nutritional knowledge, and knowledge about physical activity).

Conclusion

Given the dearth of targeted health literacy measures for obesity, our findings highlighted a critical need to develop a distinct measure of health literacy for obesity to guide policy, research, education, and intervention.
Diagnostic Efficiency of MRI in Child and Adolescent Lateral Discoid Meniscus
Authors: You Mingke , Li Junqiao , Zhang Xue , Chen Gang , Li Jian
Published: February 2025

Objective

In the field of diagnosing the adult discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), MRI has undergone extensive research. However, the use of MRI for diagnosing DLM in children and adolescents remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of MRI for DLM in children and adolescents and to determine the diagnostic value of these indicators.

Methods

This retrospective study included children (aged between 4 and 11 years) and adolescents (aged between 12 and 17 years) from September 1, 2019 to January 1, 2023, who were diagnosed with lateral meniscus (LM) or DLM injury through arthroscopic surgery. All patients underwent a 3 T MRI examination before surgery. The MRI indicators included the LM width (LMW), ratio of the LMW to the tibia (RMT), percent coverage of the meniscus (PCM), tibial width (TW), height of the medial tibial spine (HMTS), height of the lateral tibial spine (HLTS), tibial eminence width (TEW), lateral slope angle of the medial tibial eminence (LSAMTE), lateral slope angle of the lateral tibial eminence (LSALTE), and presence of three “bow tie signs.” A diagnostic efficacy analysis of all indicators was conducted to determine characteristic MRI diagnostic indicators and analyze their diagnostic value. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between diagnostic indicators and baseline information.

Results

This study included 90 patients (26 with LM injuries and 64 with DLM injuries). The average age was 12.81 ± 4.34 years, height was 151.24 ± 23.82 cm, weight was 48.20 ± 21.82 kg, and BMI was 19.69 ± 4.22 kg/m2. A total of 10 MRI indicators were included and evaluated for their diagnostic value. The comparison between the DLM and LM groups revealed significant differences in LMW, TW, RMT, PCM, LSAMTE, and “bow tie signs” (p < 0.05). In the diagnostic efficacy analysis, LMW had a sensitivity of 85.94%, specificity of 76%, and accuracy of 83.13%; RMT had a sensitivity of 95.31%, specificity of 76%, and accuracy of 89.89%; PCM had a sensitivity of 75.28%, specificity of 60%, and accuracy of 75.28%; LSAMTE had a sensitivity of 72.92%, specificity of 84%, and accuracy of 72.92%; and “bow tie signs” had a sensitivity of 80.95%, specificity of 81.25%, and accuracy of 81.11%.

Conclusion

The MRI diagnosis of DLM in children and adolescents can be based on LMW, RMT, PCM, LSAMTE, and “bow‐tie signs,” with these indicators demonstrating good diagnostic efficacy.
Vaccine immunity in patients with 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome
Authors: Farpour Leila , Gualtieri Renato , Kotalova Tereza , Lemaître Barbara , Ducreux Julie , Arm‐Vernez Isabelle , Eliez Stephan , Blanchard‐Rohner Geraldine
Published: February 2025

Background

Patients with microdeletion 22q11.2 syndrome (MDS) exhibit immunological defects, characterized by abnormalities in the development of the thymus, which plays a crucial role in T‐cell maturation and immune response. As a result, these patients may have impaired adaptive immunity, with decreased responses to vaccination.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study. Vaccine serology (tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b for children <5 years, measles, varicella, hepatitis A and B, and SARS‐CoV‐2) and immune parameters were assessed in MDS patients aged between 1 and 25 years followed in Geneva between February 2022 and April 2023.

Results

41 MDS patients were included. The median age was 13 years old. Most of them reported recurrent otitis and bronchitis up to 10 years, and a mild COVID‐19 disease in the past. Immunological work‐up indicated normal immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte counts for the majority. Most patients were well vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b and measles, but only half were fully vaccinated for hepatitis B, and SARS‐CoV‐2 and only a quarter for hepatitis A. 70% of the patients had received 3 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infancy but only a minority an additional dose. While most of them were seroprotected against tetanus, diphtheria, and Hib, a substantial number lacked seroprotection against varicella, measles, hepatitis B, and pneumococcus.

Conclusion

This study suggests that regular assessment of antibody levels for measles, hepatitis B, varicella, and pneumococcus, regardless of vaccination status should be encouraged in MDS patients, with reimmunization according to vaccine serology, to enhance vaccine immunity.
Maternal OM‐85 administration alleviates offspring allergic airway inflammation by downregulating IL‐33/ILC2 axis
Authors: Zou Wei , Ma Donghai , Sun Fengfei , Chen Zehu , Chen Ying , Li Xuegang , Chen Meizhu , Lin Minmin , Shi Honglei , Wu Baihe , Chen Lei , Liang Zibin , Liu Jing
Published: February 2025

Background

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are essential for maintaining immune regulation and promoting tissue homeostasis in allergic asthma. How the development of gut microbiota on neonatal ILC2s influences allergic airway inflammation remains unclear. Here we focus on offspring ILC2 development in the context of alterations in maternal gut microbiota.

Methods

C57BL/6 maternal mice were gavaged with OM‐85 during pregnancy and/or lactation, ILC2‐driven allergic airway inflammation in the OVA‐sensitized adult offspring was observed. ILC2 development in offspring early life were investigated using recombinant (r)IL‐33, rIL‐25 and Bromodeoxyuridine in the vivo experiments. Further ILC2 promoting factors‐ IL‐33 and IL‐25 production in offspring early life were analysed. Finally, we examined the changes in gut microbiota and its metabolites in both dams and pups, and explored the effects of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on IL‐33 expression and secretion.

Results

Maternal OM‐85 administration restrained ILC2‐driven allergic airway inflammation in the OVA‐sensitized adult offspring. During ILC2 development in offspring early life, maternal OM‐85 administration suppressed IL‐33 and IL‐25 production to inhibit ILC2 expansion and ILC2 responsiveness to alarmins, and infantile ILC2s could persist into adulthood. Maternal OM‐85 administration increased SCFAs in breast milk and SCFA‐producing gut probiotics (predominant Bacteroides and Blautia) in offspring, especially during pregnancy and lactation. SCFAs down‐regulated IL‐33 expression and reduced IL‐33 secretion by inhibited gasdermin D (GSDMD) formation.

Conclusion

Maternal OM‐85 administration restrains ILC2‐driven allergic airway inflammation in adult offspring by increasing offspring intestinal SCFAs to modulate ILC2 development at an early stage, demonstrating that the transgenerational effects of maternal OM‐85 exposure on offspring innate immunity.
FZP modulates tillering via OsMADS57 in rice
Authors: Xing Hongwei , Wang Huan , Huang Yongyu , Ma Xin , Wu Sheng , Li Yuanjie , Sun Chuanqing , Sun Hongying
Published: February 2025

The number of tillers in rice directly determines the number of panicles, which is crucial for enhancing plant architecture and achieving high yields. Some important genes regulating rice tillering have been identified, but their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. FRIZZY PANICLE (FZP) encodes an AP2/ERF transcription factor. Beyond its well‐established role in promoting spikelet formation during the reproductive phase, here we demonstrate that FZP also inhibits axillary buds outgrowth in the vegetative phase by suppressing the expression of a MADS‐box gene (OsMADS57) that functions as a growth promoter. Consequently, genome editing of the FZP‐bound cis‐motif in the promoter of OsMADS57 releases its expression, leading to more tillers. Furthermore, domestication analysis shows that FZP has undergone strong selection in cultivated rice, while the downstream gene OsMADS57 has been differentiated between indica and japonica subspecies. Four functional SNPs in the promoter of OsMADS57 can increase rice tillering in most indica accessions by enhancing its expression. Our findings expose hidden pleiotropy of classic spikelet identity genes that are redeployed to control stem form, potentially enriching the gene resources for rice genetic improvement.
Acquired Digital Fibrokeratoma in a 6‐Year‐Old Patient: The Youngest Reported Case
Authors: Vance Paul , Hohnadel Michael
Published: February 2025

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma (ADF) is a rare, benign tumor most commonly seen in adults aged 30–60, with pediatric cases being exceedingly rare. We report a case of ADF in a 6‐year‐old male, the youngest documented patient to date, who presented with a persistent 6‐mm papule on the right first finger misdiagnosed as a verruca. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis, and the lesion was successfully treated with surgical excision without recurrence. This case expands the demographic understanding of ADF and underscores the importance of including it in the differential diagnosis of atypical skin lesions in pediatric patients.
Association Between the Visceral Fat‐to‐Muscle Ratio and Severe Exacerbation of COPD: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Wang Lu , Li Zhen , Luo Tao , Sun Qi , Lynn Henry S. , Dai Jianghong
Published: February 2025

Background and Objective

An imbalanced fat and muscle mass ratio might impact exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the association of visceral fat‐to‐muscle ratio (VMR) with severe COPD exacerbation requiring hospitalisation.

Methods

This prospective cohort study in COPD patients was performed along with the Xinjiang Multi‐Ethnic Cohort study between May 2018 and December 2023. Baseline VMR was calculated from visceral fat area and muscle mass measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Numbers of COPD exacerbation hospitalizations were monitored. Associations between various variables and exacerbation were assessed by logistics regression and Zero‐inflated Poisson regression analyses.

Results

A total of 631 COPD patients were included, with 186 (29.48%) and 304 (48.18%) severe COPD exacerbation within 1 and 5 years, respectively. Compared with body mass index and other obesity indicators, VMR had stronger associations with severe exacerbation. A higher VMR was associated with increased risks of 1‐year and 5‐year exacerbation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34 and 1.44, respectively). The subgroup female and overweight individuals showed a strong association (female OR = 1.89 and 1.99, overweight OR = 1.80 and 1.88, for 1 and 5‐year exacerbation, respectively). The number of COPD exacerbation increased by 46% for each one‐point VMR increase. These results remained unchanged in the sensitivity analyses after removing underweight patients or smoke influence, as well as in the competing risk analysis when considering other causes for death.

Conclusion

VMR was a risk factors of severe COPD exacerbation. Proactive assessment of VMR might be helpful to guide management of COPD patients.
Peripheral monocyte subsets are altered during gestation in oocyte donation pregnancy complicated with pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Tian Xuezi , Li Jia , van Bentem Kim , Lindelauf Ciska , Kapsenberg Johanna M. , van der Keur Carin , Lashley Lisa E. E. L. O. , van Unen Vincent , Roelen Dave L. , Koning Frits , Eikmans Michael , van der Hoorn Marie‐Louise P.
Published: February 2025

Oocyte donation (OD) pregnancies show a higher fetal‐maternal incompatibility and a higher risk of developing pre‐eclampsia (PE) than autologous pregnancies. As maternal monocytes play a role in the tolerization of the allogeneic fetus, the aim of this study was to analyse monocyte phenotypes in healthy and PE OD pregnancies. We collected maternal peripheral blood at different gestational time points in healthy (n = 10) and PE (n = 5) OD pregnancies. Fetal‐maternal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches were calculated. We used a 35‐colour antibody panel for Aurora spectral flow cytometry to analyse the composition and surface marker expression of monocyte subsets. Expression of CD38 on intermediate monocytes significantly increased throughout gestation in healthy OD pregnancies. Compared with the healthy group, the PE group exhibited even higher CD38 expression on monocyte subsets, with statistical significance. Immune inhibiting receptors CD85j (LILRB1) and CD85d (LILRB2), as well as monocyte recruitment regulating molecules CCR2 and CD91, also showed significantly enhanced expression on monocyte subsets during PE. When comparing healthy and PE OD only in pregnancies with high HLA mismatches, the different CD38 and CD85j expression in monocyte subsets was still significant. In conclusion, in healthy OD pregnancies, the upregulated CD38 expression might reflect a proinflammatory condition specifically at the third trimester. In PE OD pregnancies, expression of both inflammatory and immune regulatory markers is increased in maternal peripheral monocyte subsets. The elevated expression of CCR2 and CD91 on these subsets might reflect monocyte chemotaxis and the effect from systemic vascular dysfunction at the late stage of PE.
Post‐selection inference for high‐dimensional mediation analysis with survival outcomes
Authors: Huang Tzu‐Jung , Liu Zhonghua , McKeague Ian W.
Published: February 2025

It is of substantial scientific interest to detect mediators that lie in the causal pathway from an exposure to a survival outcome. However, with high‐dimensional mediators, as often encountered in modern genomic data settings, there is a lack of powerful methods that can provide valid post‐selection inference for the identified marginal mediation effect. To resolve this challenge, we develop a post‐selection inference procedure for the maximally selected natural indirect effect using a semiparametric efficient influence function approach. To this end, we establish the asymptotic normality of a stabilized one‐step estimator that takes the selection of the mediator into account. Simulation studies show that our proposed method has good empirical performance. We further apply our proposed approach to a lung cancer dataset and find multiple DNA methylation CpG sites that might mediate the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer survival.
Suicidal Ideation, Planning, and Attempts Changes Among Diverse Canadian Public Safety Personnel After the Emotional Resilience Skills Training
Authors: Nisbet Jolan , Maguire Kirby Q. , Teckchandani Taylor A. , Shields Robyn E. , Andrews Katie L. , Afifi Tracie O. , Brunet Alain , Keane Terence M. , Krätzig Gregory P. , MacPhee Renée S. , Martin Ronald R. , McCarron Michelle C. E. , Neary J. Patrick , Sauer‐Zavala Shannon , Carleton R. Nicholas
Published: February 2025

Background

Public safety personnel (PSP) experience occupational stressors and potentially psychologically traumatic events, which increase the odds of screening positive for mental health disorders, and the risk of suicide. This study estimates suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among Canadian PSP, and assesses associations with Emotional Resilience Skills Training (ERST).

Method

The current study uses a longitudinal prospective sequential experimental cohort design that engages participants for approximately 16 months. Participants (n = 186, 60.5% men) were administered the structured Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview at three time points relative to the ERST: pre‐training, post‐training, and 1‐year follow‐up.

Results

At pre‐training, PSP reported past‐month suicidal ideation (n = 24; 12.9%), planning (n = 7; 3.8%), and no attempts. At post‐training, PSP reported past‐month suicidal ideation (n = 12; 10.1%), suicidal planning (n < 5), and no attempts (n = 0). At the 1‐year follow‐up, PSP reported past‐month suicidal ideation (n = 7; 12.5%), and no planning (n = 0) or attempts (n = 0).

Conclusions

The results indicate suicide‐related challenges for PSP, particularly PSP who self‐identify as women and females. The results suggest sector‐specific differences in suicide attempts, indicating unique sector‐specific challenges among PSP. The results evidenced reductions in suicidal ideation and planning directly after ERST; however, attrition impacted analyses at 1‐year follow‐up. Additional sector‐specific mixed‐methods research would help inform suicide mitigation strategies.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05530642. Hypotheses Registration: aspredicted.org, #90136. Registered 7 March 2022—Prospectively registered
GIS‐Based Platform for Near Real‐Time Prediction of Mosquito Distribution
Authors: Kuchavaram Madhukar , Huang Yuxia
Published: February 2025

Mosquitoes are a major public health threat as carriers of numerous pathogens, making it essential to understand their distribution to prevent and control the spread of vector‐borne diseases effectively. This paper presents a platform that incorporates dynamic datasets from online sources with static data from reliable open repositories to predict and visualize mosquito distribution, particularly in low‐resource settings where traditional trapping methods may be unavailable. The dynamic datasets contain near real‐time weather data from the Open Weather API, while the static datasets mainly cover other key factors such as elevation, vegetation, and built settlements. The platform employs a PostgreSQL database to manage these datasets and leverages the MaxEnt model within ArcGIS Pro for near real‐time predictions of mosquito prevalence. Further, an automated Python‐scripted workflow is proposed to seamlessly transfer data between the PostgreSQL database and MaxEnt. The outcomes are shared through an ArcGIS Online dashboard, providing stakeholders with an interactive tool to monitor mosquito occurrences. This innovative platform offers a dynamic and effective solution for public health officials to control the spread of vector‐borne diseases.
The heat shock factor HSFB1 coordinates plant growth and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zheng Lanjie , Zhang Qianlong , Wang Chen , Wang Zhongbao , Gao Jie , Zhang Runcong , Shi Yong , Zheng Xu
Published: February 2025

Plants are constantly challenged by a diversity of abiotic stressors, and growth arrest is a common plant response aimed at enhancing stress tolerance. Because of this growth/stress tolerance antagonism, plants must finely modulate their growth and responses to environmental stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that HSFB1, a heat shock transcription factor, plays a critical role in the coordination of plant growth and drought stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. First, we found that HSFB1 negatively regulates plant growth and development under normal conditions and that HSFB1 expression is enhanced under drought stress. Conversely, the loss‐of‐function mutant hsfb1 exhibited increased plant growth and reduced drought stress tolerance compared with the wild‐type. Consistently, overexpression of HSFB1 suppressed plant growth and enhanced drought stress tolerance. Subsequently, via chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, RNA sequencing, and transient expression assays, we screened and identified the heat shock protein 101 (HSP101) gene as a direct transcriptional target of HSFB1. Genetic analysis suggested that HSP101 functions downstream of HSFB1 to positively regulate drought tolerance in plants. Furthermore, we found that HSFB1 physically interacts with the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF3G1, and this interaction appears to be further enhanced under drought stress. Notably, the mutation of eif3g1 increased the severity of drought‐induced growth inhibition in the hsfb1 mutant, and eIF3G1 enhanced the transcriptional activation of HSFB1 on the HSP101 promoter under drought stress. Altogether, our findings highlight HSFB1 as a key regulator coordinating plant growth and drought stress responses in Arabidopsis.
Aberrant Right Subclavian Arteries in Dogs Have a Prevalence of 1.2% and Are More Likely to be an Incidental Finding on Computed Tomographic Studies of the Thorax
Authors: Jones Coleen , Klever Julius , Cordella Alessia , Fouriez‐Lablée Virginie , Watton Thom C. , Llabres‐Diaz Francisco
Published: February 2025

Aberrant right subclavian arteries (ARSAs) are a form of vascular ring anomaly (VRA) in dogs and the most common VRA in people. To date, there has been no large‐scale study on ARSA in dogs and their potential clinical significance. For part one, a single‐center retrospective observational study was performed to determine the prevalence of ARSAs in a population of 1000 dogs undergoing contrast‐enhanced CT for various reasons. For part two, further canine ARSA cases were collected to characterize their imaging features further and determine whether any imaging findings were more frequent in dogs with clinical signs attributed to a VRA. The prevalence of ARSA was 1.2% (12/1000). For part two, out of a total of 37 dogs with ARSA, this finding was thought to be incidental in 28 cases (75.6%), clinically relevant in 1 case (2.7%), and potentially relevant in 8 cases (21.6%). Cranial esophageal dilation with gas and fluid and esophageal compression at the site of the ARSA crossing the esophagus was found in the case where the ARSA was considered relevant. Esophageal dilation with esophageal compression by the ARSA was also more frequent in the potentially relevant group. Our study shows that an ARSA is more likely to be an incidental finding; however, due to the low number of cases where the ARSA was considered relevant, no specific imaging findings were found that could help determine their clinical relevance.
Locally constant fibrations and positivity of curvature
Authors: Müller Niklas
Published: February 2025

Up to finite étale cover, any smooth complex projective variety with nef anti‐canonical bundle is a holomorphic fibre bundle over a smooth projective variety with trivial canonical class (K‐trivial variety for short) with locally constant transition functions. We show that this result is optimal by proving that any projective fibre bundle with locally constant transition functions over a ‐trivial variety has a nef anti‐canonical bundle. Moreover, we complement some results on the structure theory of varieties whose tangent bundle admits a singular Hermitian metric of positive curvature.
On the regulation of arterial blood pressure by an intracranial baroreceptor mechanism
Authors: Wittenberg Philippa , McBryde Fiona D. , Korsak Alla , Rodrigues Karla L. , Paton Julian F. R. , Marina Nephtali , Gourine Alexander V.
Published: February 2025

Maintaining sufficient cerebral blood flow is critical for brain function. There is evidence that one of the mechanisms that ensure adequate blood flow to the brain involves the regulation of systemic arterial blood pressure (ABP) by an intracranial baroreceptor mechanism sensitive to changes in brain perfusion. This experimental animal study aimed to provide a detailed characterization of this mechanism. In studies conducted in anaesthetized and conscious rats, cerebral perfusion was experimentally manipulated by applying precise, incremental physiological changes in intracranial pressure (ICP). The data show that (i) the intracranial baroreceptor triggers robust, non‐habituating, proportional sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to acute and repeated ICP increases within the physiological range; (ii) there is a linear relationship between systemic ABP and ICP, as well as between sympathetic nerve activity and ICP; (iii) decreases in brain partial pressure of oxygen induced by physiological changes in ICP are negligible, making the brain tissue hypoxia an unlikely cause of the evoked sympathetic and cardiovascular responses; (iv) ABP responses induced by decreased cerebral perfusion are restrained by inputs from arterial baroreceptors, but are unaffected by renal afferent activity; (v) intracranial baroreceptor mechanism contributes to sympathoexcitatory responses induced by acute arterial hypotension; and (vi) activation of the intracranial baroreceptor mechanism resets the arterial baroreflex centrally, allowing regulation of systemic blood pressure at a higher level required to counteract reduced brain perfusion. These data support the hypothesis that cerebral perfusion is a major determinant of sympathetic activity and systemic arterial blood pressure, regulated by the intracranial baroreceptor mechanism.

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Key points

An intracranial baroreceptor mechanism contributes to the regulation of systemic arterial blood pressure to maintain cerebral blood flow.

The intracranial baroreceptor mechanism triggers robust, non‐habituating, proportional sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to physiological changes in brain perfusion.

Arterial blood pressure increases induced by activation of the intracranial baroreceptor mechanism in response to reduced cerebral perfusion are restrained by inputs from arterial baroreceptors.

The intracranial baroreceptor mechanism resets the arterial baroreflex centrally to regulate systemic blood pressure at a higher level required to counteract reduced brain perfusion.
Transcallosal connections of face and hand representation areas in the primary motor cortex: a transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation–electroencephalography study
Authors: Ginatempo Francesca , Casula Elias P. , Soggia Giulia , Loi Nicola , Zeroual Mohammed , Deriu Franca
Published: February 2025

Conflictual anatomical and neurophysiological findings obtained in both primates and humans raised the question whether the transcallosal pathway connecting the two representation areas of the face in the primary motor cortex (fM1) is absent or present but weak and poorly active. To answer this question in the present study transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) were combined as the TMS–EEG approach to investigate the transcallosal pathway connecting fM1s from both a spatial and a functional point of view. For comparison the same approach was used in hand M1 (hM1). Eighteen healthy subjects underwent two experimental sessions where both hemispheres were investigated: (1) a TMS session, to evaluate interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) for the depressor anguli oris (DAO) and the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) M1 representations, and (2) a TMS–EEG session, to calculate the interhemispheric signal propagation (ISP) for the DAO area in fM1 and the FDI area in hM1. Results found the presence of IHI for hM1 and its absence for fM1. On the contrary ISP analysis demonstrated a significant suppression of activity in the non‐stimulated hemisphere compared to the stimulated one, with no difference between the stimulated hemisphere and the representation area. Finally a significant correlation was detected between IHI and ISP only when stimulating the left hM1. Overall the present study suggests the presence of a transcallosal connection between the two fM1s in humans, as demonstrated by the ISP analysis. This interhemispheric connection is however functionally poorly active, as demonstrated by the lack of IHI.

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Key points

Although the transcallosal connection between hand primary motor cortices (M1) is functionally powerful, to allow hand asymmetrical movements, its role in face motor control is controversial. Indeed to produce face expressions, face muscles are rarely involved symmetrically, and their face M1 control is bilateral and lacks interhemispheric inhibition (IHI).

We investigated the transcallosal connection between face M1s, and for comparison in hand M1 (hM1), both spatially and functionally using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study IHI, and electroencephalography (EEG) combined with TMS, to study interhemispheric signal propagation.

Functional IHI data confirmed its absence in face M1 and its presence in hM1.

In contrast TMS–EEG spatial analysis demonstrated a significant inhibition of activity in the non‐stimulated hemisphere, regardless of the cortical area.

Face M1s are connected by a transcallosal pathway, which is poorly active in physiological conditions. In addition no clear hemispheric dominance exists in face cortical control.
Effects of periconceptional ethanol on mitochondrial content and oxidative stress in maternal liver and placentas from male and female fetuses in rats
Authors: Steane Sarah S. , Das Tulika , Kalisch‐Smith Jacinta I. , Mahaliyanage Dinithi T. , Akison Lisa K. , Moritz Karen M. , Cuffe James S. M.
Published: February 2025

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy disrupts fetal development and programs lifelong disease. We have shown, in rats, that alcohol exposure during the periconceptional period (PC:EtOH), causes placental dysfunction and cardiometabolic disease in offspring. The process of metabolising alcohol can cause oxidative stress and damage mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It is unknown whether alcohol metabolism in a rat model of PC:EtOH impacts oxidative stress markers and mitochondrial content in maternal and placental tissues. We aimed to determine whether PC:EtOH induced oxidative stress and reduced mtDNA in maternal liver and the placental labyrinth and junctional zone. Sprague–Dawley rats were given an ethanol liquid (12.5% v/v) or control (0%) diet for one oestrous cycle before mating to embryonic day (E) 4. Maternal livers were collected at E5 and E20. Placentas were collected at E20 and separated into the junctional zone and labyrinth zone. PC:EtOH reduced Cyp2e1 mRNA levels and mtDNA in the E5 liver with lower mtDNA persisting to E20, at which time mitochondrial proteins were also decreased. PC:EtOH also reduced mitochondrial content in the E20 junctional zone, although mitochondrial protein levels were unaffected. Superoxide dismutase activity was increased in the placental junctional zone and there was no evidence of oxidative stress. The present study demonstrates that alcohol exposure around conception, reduces mitochondrial content within the maternal liver and the junctional zone of the placenta towards the end of pregnancy. These prolonged deficits may have disrupted metabolic processes required for a healthy pregnancy. The study further supports avoiding alcohol when planning a pregnancy.

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Key points

Even when alcohol is consumed only around conception (PC:EtOH), it can have profound impacts on the developing baby.

Here, we use our established rat model to investigate if PC:EtOH causes oxidative stress and reduces mitochondrial content in the maternal liver immediately after exposure on embryonic day (E) 5. We also investigate these parameters at the end of pregnancy (E20) in maternal liver and the placenta.

PC:EtOH reduced mitochondrial DNA content in the maternal liver by 77% at E5 and by 40% at E20. At E20, expression of proteins that form the electron transport chain were also reduced. The placenta had a more subtle reduction in mitochondrial DNA content, but protein levels of mitochondrial complexes were unchanged.

There was no evidence of oxidative stress in the maternal liver or placenta in response to PC:EtOH. The lack of oxidative stress in the placenta may be a result of compensatory increases in antioxidants.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Solidification in Baffled Molten Salt-Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers
Authors: Raj Arun K. , Desai Nishith B. , Haglind Fredrik
Published: February 2025

Due to their high freezing point, molten salt heat exchangers face the problem of salt freezing during cyclic operation. As a result, it is critical to detect the onset of salt solidification and anticipate the phase change behavior in high-temperature heat exchange processes, since these parameters influence heat exchanger design and operation. This study presents a three-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamics analysis of a pilot-scale exchanger with molten salt on the tube side and air on the shell side. The investigation focuses on the effects of the baffle arrangement and initial molten salt temperature on the air outlet temperature, pressure drop, and the onset of salt solidification. The pressure–velocity field coupling and turbulence parameters were solved by employing a segregated solver algorithm and a realizable k−ε turbulence model. Verification of the numerical model involved prior findings from a shell-and-tube heat exchanger using pure water as the shell-side fluid. The novel contribution of this work is to predict the time required for the molten salt to begin solidification within the tube bundle when air is used as the working fluid on the shell side of a single-segmented baffled shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The study concludes that, in the absence of a flow diverter, different baffle arrangements have minimal effect on the air outlet temperature or the start of salt solidification. A flow diverter, on the other hand, successfully slows solidification by distributing the flow, even when recirculation zones cause one-third of the heat exchanger length to remain ineffective. These findings provide a standard for future dynamic operation heat transfer assessments of molten salt-air-cooled heat exchangers.
A direct hit
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: February 2025

Earlier this month, the Trump administration set off a frenzy in the US scientific community when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that indirect cost reimbursement for federally funded research would be capped at 15%, a drastic cut from a usual range of 50 to 70%. In the American system, a federal research grant comes with one component that pays the direct costs of research—covering salaries of the researchers and supplies and equipment they use—and a so-called indirect component that represents the government’s contribution to facilities and administration—the overhead necessary to do the work. The indirect contribution does not cover everything needed to support the research; the remainder is provided by the university. This agreement between higher education and the government has been a hallmark of the funding system for 70 years. The scientific community must unite in speaking out against this betrayal of a partnership that has enabled American innovation and progress.
Effects of azithromycin on alleviating airway inflammation in asthmatic mice by regulating airway microbiota and metabolites
Authors: Huang DanHui , Xie Lingyan , Luo Tingyue , Lin Lishan , Ren QianNan , Zeng Zhaojin , Huang Haohua , Liao Hua , Chang XiaoDan , Chen Yuehua , Zhao Haijin , Cai Shaoxi , Dong Hangming
Published: February 2025

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease with increasing global prevalence, often linked to disrupted airway microbiota. Azithromycin has shown promise in asthma treatment, but whether its effect is owing to its antimicrobial capacity remains largely unknown. A house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthmatic mouse model was used to evaluate the effects of azithromycin on airway inflammation and microbiota. Mice were divided into control, HDM-induced asthma, HDM + azithromycin, and azithromycin-alone groups. Airway microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and metabolomic profiles were assessed via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Azithromycin alleviated type 2 airway inflammation in HDM-induced asthma, restoring microbiota diversity by modulating specific genera, including
Streptococcus
,
Staphylococcus
,
Ruminococcus
,
Coprococcus
,
Bifidobacterium,
etc. Combination analysis with metabolomics revealed that azithromycin significantly regulated airway microbiota-associated sphingomyelin metabolism. Azithromycin’s therapeutic effects in asthma are associated with its ability to regulate airway microbiota and its associated sphingomyelin metabolism, highlighting the potential for microbiota-targeted therapies in asthma.

IMPORTANCE

Asthma, a prevalent chronic respiratory condition, poses a significant global health challenge due to its increasing prevalence and associated morbidity. The role of airway microbiota in asthma pathogenesis is gaining attention, with evidence suggesting that disruptions in this microbial community contribute to disease severity. Our study investigates the impact of azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, on airway inflammation and microbiota in a mouse model of asthma. The findings reveal that azithromycin not only alleviates airway inflammation but also restores microbiota diversity and modulates microbiota-associated sphingomyelin metabolism. This research underscores the potential of microbiota-targeted therapies in asthma management, offering a novel therapeutic strategy that could improve patient outcomes and reduce the healthcare burden associated with asthma.
Yolk sac ovarian cancer with mesenteric metastases
Authors: Irawan Budi , Tjokroprawiro Brahmana Askandar
Published: February 2025

We present a rare case of mesenteric metastases of yolk sac ovarian cancer in an early adolescent girl. The patient initially presented with abdominal distension. The patient underwent physical and diagnostic testing, which yielded findings indicative of a malignant ovarian tumour (solid cystic mass and increased levels of tumour markers). Surgery was performed and histological examination revealed a yolk sac tumour that had spread to the mesentery. Chemotherapy was administered. Yolk sac ovarian cancer metastases usually occur in nearby structures; however, mesenteric metastases are rare.