bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of volatile anaesthetics on haematology and clinical chemistry in ferrets
Authors: Schröder Marie-Luise , Reitmeier Aline 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
During our years of working with ferrets in our laboratory animal facility, we observed that in several healthy young female ferrets, signs of anaemia could be detected during the entry examination although none of the ferrets expressed any clinical symptoms at the time of blood withdrawal. We aimed to compare the influence of inhalation anaesthesia with isoflurane and sevoflurane to restrained, awake ferrets on several blood parameters. After arrival at our facility all ferrets received a hormone chip to subdue oestrus. Routine blood withdrawal was conducted followed by routine blood work including haematology, clinical chemistry and electrolytes. Since the size of the cannula for implementation of the hormone chip is relatively large and the insertion probably quite painful the procedure was always performed during a short inhalation anaesthesia with isoflurane or sevoflurane. In ferrets showing anaemia (haemetocrit below 0.37 l/L, haemoglobin below 11 g/dL), we performed a control blood work (venous blood) the following week. In order to rule out an effect of inhalation anaesthesia on the laboratory results, the blood withdrawal was performed in restraint and awake ferrets without anaesthesia. The study was performed as randomized controlled crossover design.

Results
Thirty ferrets were enrolled, and divided in three groups. Comparison of the three methods (isoflurane, sevoflurane or restraint and awake without anaesthesia) of blood withdrawal showed statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in most haematological parameters (e.g. red blood cell count, haematocrit), clinical chemistry parameters (e.g. total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase) and electrolytes (e.g. sodium, chloride and potassium). Restraint ferrets without anaesthesia showed no signs of anaemia. In anaesthetized ferrets, reticulocytes were about four to six times lower compared to ferrets anaesthetized with isoflurane or sevoflurane.

Conclusions
The results of the study suggest that inhalation anesthesia has a significant effect on hematological and biochemical parameters in ferrets. In particular, the detection of anemia in an animal undergoing inhalation anesthesia needs to be contextualized in a clinical setting and in research context.
Nomogram for predicting pregnancy-related relapse of myasthenia gravis
Authors: Su Manqiqige , Liu Xiaoqing , Wu Zongtai , Song Jie , Huan Xiao , Zhong Huahua , Zhao Rui , Zhao Chongbo , Zhang Yali , Luo Sushan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease mediated by autoantibodies primarily affecting the neuromuscular junction. This study aims to identify risk factors for pregnancy-related MG relapse and develop a predictive model to improve clinical outcomes.

Methods
We enrolled 113 MG female patients with a pregnancy history during follow-up at Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University, between January 2015 and October 2021. The study analyzed relapse rates and risk factors during pregnancy and postpartum using multivariate logistic regression. A nomogram was constructed to predict relapse probability, with model performance evaluated by discrimination and calibration metrics.

Results
Of the 113 patients, 52 (46.02%) experienced 115 relapses, including 52 (45.22%) occurring during the first trimester of pregnancy, 11 (9.56%) during the second trimester of pregnancy, and 52 relapses (45.22%) during the three months after delivery/abortion. Significant factors associated with pregnancy-relate relapse, included age at delivery/abortion (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.65), MG stable duration (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.63), thymic hyperplasia (OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.35–9.3), pre-pregnancy thymectomy (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.36), and inadequate treatment during pregnancy (OR 4.44, 95% CI 1.35–17.76). The Nomogram model demonstrated robust predictive performance.

Conclusion
The first trimester of pregnancy and three months following delivery or abortion are high-risk periods for MG relapse. Younger ages, shorter MG stable duration before pregnancy, thymic hyperplasia, and inadequate treatments during pregnancy increase relapse risk.
MoCHI: neural networks to fit interpretable models and quantify energies, energetic couplings, epistasis, and allostery from deep mutational scanning data
Authors: Faure Andre J. , Lehner Ben 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe present MoCHI, a tool to fit interpretable models using deep mutational scanning data. MoCHI infers free energy changes, as well as interaction terms (energetic couplings) for specified biophysical models, including from multimodal phenotypic data. When a user-specified model is unavailable, global nonlinearities (epistasis) can be estimated from the data. MoCHI also leverages ensemble, background-averaged epistasis to learn sparse models that can incorporate higher-order epistatic terms. MoCHI is freely available as a Python package (https://github.com/lehner-lab/MoCHI) relying on the PyTorch machine learning framework and allows biophysical measurements at scale, including the construction of allosteric maps of proteins.
Biofilm formation in Streptococcus suis: in vitro impact of serovars and assessment of coinfections with other porcine respiratory disease complex bacterial pathogens
Authors: Miguélez-Pérez Rubén , Mencía-Ares Oscar , Gutiérrez-Martín César B. , González-Fernández Alba , Petrocchi-Rilo Máximo , Delgado-García Mario , Martínez-Martínez Sonia 
Published: December 2024

AbstractStreptococcus suis is a worldwide pathogen that impacts the swine industry, causing severe clinical signs, including meningitis and arthritis, in postweaning piglets. A key virulence mechanism of S. suis is biofilm formation, which improves its persistence and resistance to external factors. Here, we assessed the in vitro biofilm formation of 240 S. suis isolates from Spanish swine farms and evaluated the effects of serovars (SVs) and coinfections with other porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) pathogens. Our study revealed significant heterogeneity in biofilm formation among S. suis SVs. Notably, SV2 resulted in the lowest degree of biofilm formation, in contrast with the high biofilm-forming capacities of SV1, SV7, and SV9. Other PRDC pathogens, including Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Glaesserella parasuis, and Pasteurella multocida, formed biofilms, although they were generally less robust than those of S. suis (except for SV2), which contrasts with the high biofilm formation of Staphylococcus hyicus. Coinfections enhanced biofilm formation in mixed cultures of S. suis, particularly with P. multocida. Other coinfections revealed variable results in pathogen interactions, suggesting the potential of biofilms for increased persistence and pathogenicity in coinfections. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of serovar-specific differences in biofilm formation among S. suis isolates, with significant implications for pathogenicity and persistence. The heterogeneous biofilm formation observed in coinfections with other PRDC pathogens reveals a complex interplay that could exacerbate disease severity. These findings provide a foundation for further research on biofilm mechanisms to mitigate the impact of PRDC in the swine industry.
Determinants of plant species richness along elevational gradients: insights with climate, energy and water–energy dynamics
Authors: Kumar Abhishek , Patil Meenu , Kumar Pardeep , Singh Anand Narain 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Understanding the patterns and processes of species distributions has long remained a central focus of biogeographical and ecological research. While the evidence for elevational patterns in species richness is widespread, our understanding of underlying causes and mechanisms remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to entangle the influence of environmental variables on plant species richness along elevational gradients in the Western Himalayas.

Methods
We compiled elevational distribution for about 1150 vascular plants using the published literature and available database. The species richness was estimated in 100-m elevational bands using the range interpolation method. We used the generalised linear model and structural equation modelling (SEM) framework to identify the direct and indirect effects of climatic factors on species richness.

Results
Our results indicated that primary environmental correlates of species richness varied with elevational gradients. Climatic variables combined with energy and water availability were more important than the topographic heterogeneity. Further, the direct and interaction effects of climatic variables were more substantial than their indirect effects. The indirect effects of climate are more strongly mediated by water–energy dynamics than the energy alone.

Conclusions
Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of considering direct effects and interactions among environmental variables while studying the underlying mechanisms governing elevational biodiversity gradients. Species richness appeared to be shaped by climatic tolerances rather than habitat heterogeneity at regional scales. This information can have implications for biodiversity dynamics under environmental change.
Diagnostic performance of hepatitis C virus core antigen testing for detecting hepatitis C in people living with hepatitis B: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Treviño-Nakoura Ana , Sepúlveda-Crespo Daniel , Bellon José M , Codina Helena , Quero-Delgado Marta , Ryan Pablo , Martínez Isidoro , Resino Salvador 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
The current diagnostic strategy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection involves a two-step approach: antibody HCV screening followed by confirmatory nucleic acid testing. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Abbott ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay in serum/plasma samples as a potential one-step alternative for diagnosing active HCV infection in people living with hepatitis B virus (PLWHB) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA-DTA guidelines. This protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023402093). A comprehensive search of electronic databases identified studies published up to 1 November 2024, comparing the ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay to an HCV-RNA reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were pooled using a random-effects model within the MIDAS module of Stata software. Study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic, quantified using the I², and further explored through meta-regression.

Results
Ten studies (n = 494 participants) met inclusion criteria. The Abbott ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay demonstrated high sensitivity [91%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 76–97%] and specificity (99%, 95% CI: 99–100%). The positive likelihood ratio (PLR) was 81.20 (95% CI: 12.34–534.36), and the negative likelihood ratio (NLR) was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03–0.27). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-SROC) was 99% (95% CI 98–100%). In regions with high HCV prevalence (≥ 10%), the test accurately confirmed active HCV infection in over 90% of cases. However, confirmatory testing remains necessary in low-prevalence settings (≤ 5%). The assay demonstrated an excellent ability to identify individuals without HCV infection, with a low false-negative rate (≤ 2%) regardless of HCV prevalence. Heterogeneity analysis revealed moderate to substantial variation in test performance (I² = 72.09% for sensitivity, 35.47% for PLR, and 78.33% for NLR). QUADAS-2 applicability concerns predicted heterogeneity, but differences were likely insignificant due to minimal variations and limited studies.

Conclusions
The Abbott ARCHITECT HCV Ag assay exhibited promising accuracy in detecting active HCV infection among PLWHB. This test might help diagnose active HCV infection in high-prevalence scenarios (≥ 10%) but needs further confirmation in low-prevalence settings (≤ 5%).

Graphical Abstract
Urging bioactive peptide exploration in African fermented legumes: insights from microbial proteolysis to gastrointestinal stability
Authors: Moyo Siphosanele M. , Famuyide Oluyimika Y. , Kayitesi Eugénie 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMicroorganisms such as Bacillus spp., Propionibacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp, and Aspergillus spp. play vital roles in fermenting macromolecules present in African legumes, resulting in beneficial derivatives with diverse bioactivities advantageous to human health. While fermentation of legumes is a common practice in Africa, yielding nutritious products rich in phenolic compounds, the specific contribution of peptides generated during this process to the health-promoting qualities of legumes remains underexplored. This review aims to demonstrate the possibility of the occurrence of bioactive peptides in fermented African legume products by investigating the intricate processes underlying microbial conversion of proteins into peptides and explaining the structure–activity relationship governing their bioactivity. The review also evaluates the stability of bioactive peptides during digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract, shedding light on their potential health benefits. African fermented legume products could be utilized in various food systems such as condiments, meat binders and components of high-protein snacks, as sources of bioactive compounds in the production of functional foods and nutraceuticals. In summary, this comprehensive examination not only summarizes our understanding of the health-promoting qualities of fermented African legume products but also underscores their potential as sustainable food sources for commercial utilization in diverse food industries.
Graphical Abstract
From freeze to function: optimised cryopreservation and mitochondrial analysis workflow for skeletal muscle biopsies
Authors: Wahid Maheen , Mackenzie Graeme , Rooney Liam M. , Greig Justin C. , McConnell Gail , Combet Emilie , Gray Stuart , Murray James T. , Currie Susan , Gould Gwyn W. , Cunningham Margaret R. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Skeletal muscle biopsies are valuable in clinical and research settings, contributing to advancements in diagnosing, understanding, and treating muscle-related conditions. Traditional freezing methods often cause artefacts mistaken for disease, leading to incorrect diagnoses or misinterpretation of research findings. Proper handling of muscle biopsies is critical for accurate histopathological and mitochondrial analysis. It is essential to preserve the entire tissue, especially for small needle biopsies. While most research focuses on mitochondrial analysis in cells, there are few studies on whole tissue samples. This study aimed to provide an effective methodological workflow to improve cryopreservation techniques for human and rodent muscle biopsies and create a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in muscle tissues.

Methods
Human muscle samples were preserved with different concentrations of formaldehyde after freezing with liquid nitrogen to study the effects of freeze–thaw cycles. We compared the edge and belly of muscle samples embedded in Optimal Cutting Temperature compound (OCT) to see how OCT affects ice crystal formation. Rat muscle biopsies were frozen using six different methods, using liquid nitrogen and precooled isopentane as freezing media. Each medium involved direct immersion, OCT dip before immersion, and placement in histocassettes before immersion. Effectiveness of these methods was evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical staining. Mitochondrial analysis in type I and II myofibres was attempted by employing the Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin using Fiji.

Results
Histologically stained human tissue sections showed that freeze–thaw and formaldehyde fixation led to freezing artefacts, disrupted endomysium, and widely spaced cells. Quantitative differences in ice crystal artefacts between edge and belly of rat whole muscle samples demonstrated effects of OCT in crystal formation. Histological and immunohistochemical staining of sections from rat muscle biopsies frozen in six different cryopreservation techniques revealed that only isopentane/histocassette combination preserved tissue integrity in both core and periphery of tissue sections. Moreover, an optimised Fiji workflow enabled accurate quantification and mapping of mitochondrial networks.

Discussion
The isopentane/histocassette combination is an effective cryopreservation method, ensuring artefact-free preservation of both core and periphery of tissue sections. Our workflow utilising Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin provides a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in skeletal muscle tissues, facilitating future studies in muscle research.
Self-harm-related mental health presentations to emergency departments by children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups in South Western Sydney
Authors: John James Rufus , Khan Jahidur Rahman , Middleton Paul M. , Huang Yao , Lin Daniel Ping-I , Hu Nan , Jalaludin Bin , Chay Paul , Lingam Raghu , Eapen Valsamma 
Published: December 2024

Background
Rates of self-harm among children and young people (CYP) have been on the rise, presenting major public health concerns in Australia and worldwide. However, there is a scarcity of evidence relating to self-harm among CYP from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Aims
To analyse the relationship between self-harm-related mental health presentations of CYP to emergency departments and CALD status in South Western Sydney (SWS), Australia.

Method
We analysed electronic medical records of mental health-related emergency department presentations by CYP aged between 10 and up to 18 years in six public hospitals in the SWS region from January 2016 to March 2022. A multilevel logistic regression model was used on these data to assess the association between self-harm-related presentations and CALD status while adjusting for covariates and individual-level clustering.

Results
Self-harm accounted for 2457 (31.5%) of the 7789 mental health-related emergency department presentations by CYP; CYP from a CALD background accounted for only 8% (n = 198) of the self-harm-related presentations. CYP from the lowest two most socioeconomic disadvantaged areas made 63% (n = 1544) of the total self-harm-related presentations. Findings of the regression models showed that CYP from a CALD background (compared with those from non-CALD backgrounds) had 19% lower odds of self-harm (adjusted odds ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.66–0.99).

Conclusions
Findings of this study provide insights into the self-harm-related mental health presentations and other critical clinical features related to CYP from CALD backgrounds that could better inform health service planning and policy to manage self-harm presentations and mental health problems among CYP.
Sleep disturbances and racial–ethnic disparities in 10-year dementia risk among a national sample of older adults in the USA
Authors: Wong Roger , Grullon Jason Rafael 
Published: December 2024

Background
Race/ethnicity and sleep disturbances are associated with dementia risk.

Aims
To explore racial–ethnic disparities in sleep disturbances, and whether race/ethnicity moderates the relationship between sleep disturbances and dementia risk among older adults.

Method
We analysed ten annual waves (2011–2020) of prospective cohort data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative USA sample of 6284 non-Hispanic White (n = 4394), non-Hispanic Black (n = 1311), Hispanic (n = 342) and non-Hispanic Asian (n = 108) community-dwelling older adults. Sleep disturbances were converted into three longitudinal measures: (a) sleep-initiation difficulty (trouble falling asleep within 30 min), (b) sleep-maintenance difficulty (trouble falling asleep after waking up early) and (c) sleep medication usage (taking medication to sleep). Cox proportional hazards models analysed time to dementia, after applying sampling weights and adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and health.

Results
Black, Hispanic and Asian respondents exhibited higher frequencies of sleep-initiation and sleep-maintenance difficulties, but had less sleep medication usage, compared with White older adults. Among Hispanic respondents, sleep-initiation difficulty was associated with significantly decreased dementia risk (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.34, 95% CI 0.15–0.76), but sleep-maintenance difficulty was associated with increased dementia risk (aHR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.17–6.13), compared with White respondents. Asian respondents using sleep medications had a significantly higher dementia risk (aHR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.64–9.04). There were no significant interactions for Black respondents.

Conclusions
Sleep disturbances are more frequent among older Black, Hispanic and Asian adults, and should be considered when addressing dementia disparities. Research is needed to explore how certain sleep disturbances may elevate dementia risk across different racial and ethnic subgroups.
Επισκόπηση και ανάλυση σύγχρονων δημοσιευμένων εφαρμογών για τη διδασκαλία της Φυσικής υπό το πρίσμα του καθολικού σχεδιασμού για τη μάθηση
Authors: Πετροπούλου Αντιγόνη , Στυλιανίδου Νάγια , Σοφιανίδης Άγγελος 
Published: December 2024

Η παρούσα εργασία επιδιώκει να διερευνήσει κατά πόσο βέλτιστες πρακτικές στη διδασκαλία της Φυσικής που έχουν δημοσιευθεί ως άρθρα εφαρμογών σε έγκριτο διεθνές επιστημονικό περιοδικό με έμφαση στη δημοσίευση καλών πρακτικών, ανταποκρίνονται στο γενικότερο αίτημα και την ανάγκη για ένταξη πιο συμπεριληπτικών πρακτικών στη διδασκαλία και τη μάθηση. Για το σκοπό αυτό αναλύθηκαν 19 δημοσιευμένα άρθρα στο επιστημονικό περιοδικό Physics Teacher που αφορούν διδακτικούς σχεδιασμούς και προτάσεις για την διδασκαλία της Φυσικής στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση, υπό το πρίσμα του Καθολικού Σχεδιασμού για τη Μάθηση (ΚΣΜ). Η ανάλυση των άρθρων έγινε με χρήση των Κατευθυντήριων Οδηγιών του ΚΣΜ και τα αποτελέσματα της ανάλυσης έγιναν αντικείμενο στατιστικής επεξεργασίας. Τα αποτελέσματα αναδεικνύουν ισχυρά και αδύναμα σημεία των πρακτικών αυτών, που με τη σειρά τους φανερώνουν την ανάγκη για διαμόρφωση πιο συμπεριληπτικών πρακτικών στη διδασκαλία και τη μάθηση της Φυσικής στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση καθώς και την ανάγκη να δοθεί μεγαλύτερη έμφαση στην χρήση συμπεριληπτικών πλαισίων σχεδιασμού, όπως του ΚΣΜ, για το σχεδιασμό περιβαλλόντων μάθησης χωρίς αποκλεισμούς στις Φυσικές Επιστήμες.
Αξιολόγηση των πεποιθήσεων αποτελεσματικότητας εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης στη διδασκαλία της Φυσικής
Authors: Βλάχος Ιωάννης , Στύλος Γεώργιος , Κώτσης Κωνσταντίνος Θ. 
Published: December 2024

Τα αποτελέσματα διεθνών ερευνών δείχνουν ότι οι εκπαιδευτικοί Π.Ε. δεν έχουν το απαιτούμενο επίπεδο αυτό-αποτελεσματικότητας για να διδάξουν με τον ενδεδειγμένο τρόπο τις Φυσικές Επιστήμες στους μαθητές τους. Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση της έρευνας που πραγματοποιήθηκε σε εκπαιδευτικούς Π.Ε. των τεσσάρων νομών της Ηπείρου σχετικά με τη διερεύνηση της αυτό-αποτελεσματικότητας στη διδασκαλία της Φυσικής καθώς και της προσδοκίας τους για το αποτέλεσμα. Το ερευνητικό εργαλείο που χρησιμοποιήθηκε (STEBI-B) αξιολογεί δύο διαστάσεις: την προσωπική διδασκαλία στα μαθήματα των Φυσικών Επιστημών (PSTEB) και την προσδοκία για το αποτέλεσμα της διδασκαλίας στις Φ.Ε. (STOE).