bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Musculoskeletal Computed Tomography: How to Add Value When Reporting Adult Lower Limb Trauma
Authors: Asran Yacer , Mutungi Thomas , Shirodkar Kapil , Hegde Ganesh , Shamshuddin Sameer , Proctor Robin , Naqvi Jawad , Knowles David , Ali Imran 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Computed tomography plays an ever-increasing role in the management of fractures and dislocations due to its capability in efficiently providing multiplanar reformats and 3-dimensional volume rendered images. It can reveal findings that are occult on plain radiography and therefore allow for more accurate decision making with regard to fracture classification and management. Clinical radiologists play a critical role in facilitating the processing of imaging to provide adequate image reformats in the desired planes, producing 3 dimensional images but most crucially identifying pertinent findings, which will contribute between the selection of nonoperative and operative management and potentially influence surgical technique. In an earlier article we have outlined the key findings that the radiologist should search for in major upper limb fractures and dislocations. In this second article we focus on the pelvis, acetabulum, femur, tibia, ankle, and foot and through a case-based approach provide a succinct overview of radiological findings that can play an important role in determining patient management.
Reconstruction Kernel Optimization for Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography of the Lung
Authors: Tóth Adrienn , Chamberlin Jordan H. , Smith Carter D. , Maisuria Dhruw , McGuire Aaron M. , Schoepf U. Joseph , O'Doherty Jim , Munden Reginald F. , Burt Jeremy , Baruah Dhiraj , Kabakus Ismail M. 
Published: November 2024

Background
The latest generation of computed tomography (CT) systems based on photon-counting detector promises significant improvements in several clinical applications, including chest imaging.

Purpose
The aim of the study is to evaluate the image quality of ultra-high-resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) of the lung using four sharp reconstruction kernels.

Material and Methods
This retrospective study included 25 patients (11 women and 14 men; median age, 71 years) who underwent unenhanced chest CT from April to May 2023. Images were acquired in UHR mode on a clinical dual-source PCD-CT scanner and reconstructed with four sharp kernels (Bl64, Br76, Br84, Br96). Quantitative image analysis included the measurement of image noise, and the calculation of signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio. Two radiologists independently rated the images on a 5-point Likert scale for image sharpness, image noise, overall image quality, and airway details. The 4 image sets were compared pairwise in the statistical analysis.

Results
Image noise was lowest for Br76 (74.16 ± 22.05, P < 0.001). Signal-to-noise ratio was significantly higher in the Br76 images (13.34 ± 3.47), than in the other 3 image sets (all P < 0.001). The Br76 images demonstrated the highest contrast-to-noise ratio among all reconstructions (1.54 ± 0.86, all P < 0.001). Subjective image sharpness, image noise, overall image quality, and airway detail were best in the Br76 images (all P < 0.001 to P < 0.01, for both readers).

Conclusions
The use of the Br76 reconstruction kernel provided the best quantitative and qualitative image quality for UHR PCD-CT of the lungs.
Chartering Patient Flights for Surgery in a Road Inaccessible Nation: The Samaritan’s Purse Cleft Lip Missions Model in South Sudan
Authors: Rhodes Isaiah J. , Rohde Christine C. , Rhodes William R. , Ng Jinggang J. , Lumaya Justin R. 
Published: November 2024

Introduction:
Few patients in South Sudan have access to cleft lip repair due to limitations in health care facilities, personnel and road infrastructure. Samaritan’s Purse is a non-governmental organization that provides chartered flights from road inaccessible regions to a single central hospital in this nation’s capital. This study’s purpose was to describe the chartered flight model for conducting nationwide cleft lip mission trips.

Methods:
The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who received cleft lip surgery at Juba Teaching Hospital during mission trips from 2011 to 2023. Patient sex, age, cleft characteristics, and home location were retrieved. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated and compared with the GDP/capita to assess cost-effectiveness using World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Results:
Chart review identified 1085 patients who received cleft lip surgery. The average age of patients decreased from a high of 14.0 years in 2013 to a low of 8.2 years in 2023 (P<0.001). Patients were flown to Juba from all 10 states of South Sudan. The number of patients treated correlated with the state population (P<0.001). Each mission utilized an average of 14 flight paths. The cost of intervention per DALY averted was less than the GDP/capita of South Sudan, indicating the procedure was very cost-effective by WHO standards.

Conclusions:
Flight chartered mission trips in South Sudan have significantly decreased the backlog of patients with cleft lip in that country and are very cost-effective according to WHO standards. Investigating this model’s utility for other surgical missions while continuing to build local surgical capacity is warranted.
Erector Spinae Plane Block for Pain Management in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Left Hemihepatectomy: A Retrospective Propensity Score-matched Study
Authors: Lu Heng , Zhao Xin , Lu Wen-Jiang , Yang Jie , Zhou Zhao-Hua , Lei Ze-Hua , Xie Qing-Yun 
Published: November 2024

Objective:
The objective of this investigation was to ascertain the effectiveness of an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) administered to patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma who were subjected to laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy.

Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 172 patients, comparing 2 groups: one comprising 90 individuals who were administered intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) simultaneously with ESPB, and a second group of 82 patients who received PCA monotherapy. To equilibrate covariates across the groups, propensity score matching was executed, yielding 25 matched pairs as a result.

Results:
At 12 and 24 hours postprocedure, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, both at rest and during movement, were significantly reduced in the group receiving PCA in conjunction with ESPB. Furthermore, this group exhibited a substantially lower incidence of rescue analgesia utilization, a significantly abbreviated duration to ambulation, a reduced hospitalization period, and a significantly elevated level of patient satisfaction.

Conclusion:
ESPB serves as an efficacious ancillary analgesic for laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy, offering superior pain management and recuperation relative to the administration of intravenous analgesia in isolation. The implementation of ESPB as an adjunct to PCA in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy proved to be both safe and efficacious. Notably, PCA augmented with ESPB demonstrated greater efficacy in mitigating postoperative pain compared with PCA as a standalone therapy.
Alterisphingorhabdus coralli gen. nov. sp. nov., a novel aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria isolated from reef-building coral
Authors: Yan Chang , Zhang Kun , Shi Songbiao , Jian Lili , Chen Beilin , Quadri Syed Raziuddin , Tian Xinpeng 
Published: November 2024

The photosynthetic microorganisms within the coral holobiont produce energy and organic compounds through photosynthesis, which are vital for the biocalcification and heat tolerance of coral hosts. However, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAPB), which are one of the most important photosynthetic microorganisms, have not been thoroughly investigated in this environment. In this study, a novel AAPB, SCSIO 66989T, was isolated from the reef-building coral Favia sp. and considered a beneficial microorganism for corals (BMC). The polyphasic taxonomic analysis showed that it had the highest similarities with Parasphingorhabdus litoris DSM 22379T (95.9%) and Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis ATCC BAA-2084T (95.7%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that it formed an independent clade, distinguishing it from other genera within the family Sphingomonadaceae. The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1
ω7c and/or C18 : 1
ω6c and C16 : 0. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). Sphingolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine were the diagnostic polar lipids. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between SCSIO 66989T and the type strains of P. litoris DSM 22379T and A. ishigakiensis ATCC BAA-2084T were 69.2–70.0%, 58.6–61.2% and 19.2–19.7%, respectively. These results indicate that strain SCSIO 66989T represents a new species of a novel genus in the family Sphingomonadaceae, for which the name Alterisphingorhabdus coralli gen. nov. sp. nov. is proposed.
Multiple Imputation Approaches for Missing Time-to-Event Outcomes with Informative Censoring: Practical Considerations from a Simulation Study Based on Real Data
Authors: Bellavia Andrea , Guo Min , Murphy Sabina A. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractMissing outcomes data represent a common threat to the validity and robustness of clinical trials and prospective epidemiologic studies with time-to-event outcomes. Several studies have outlined the importance of critically evaluating missing outcome data in clinical studies, as well as the relevance of multiple imputations (MI) in this context. Recent MI extensions, namely controlled-MI, have been introduced as a viable alternative for sensitivity analysis in the presence of informative censoring, yet they lack validation based on real data. In this study we used data from a randomized trial to generate realistic scenarios of potential censoring mechanisms, used to assess the practical relevance of several imputation approaches for missing outcome data. Our results confirm the relevance of multiple imputations approaches, especially in studies with long follow-up and higher proportion of potentially informative censoring. This first study comparing MI and controlled-MI approaches for missing outcome data can help practitioners appreciate the advantages of different imputation approaches under realistic settings in prospective studies in clinical epidemiology.
Sigma Ligand-mediated Cytosolic Calcium Modulation in BV2 Microglia Cells
Authors: Lodholz Eric , Simin Faria Anjum , Crider Michael , Neumann William , Schober Joseph 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWhile initially protective, prolonged neuroinflammation can lead to a disrupted brain microenvironment and neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia cells are the primary regulators of neuroinflammation, with anti- or pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Just as microglia are crucial in neuroinflammation, calcium is a crucial regulator in the activation of the microglia. Intracellular calcium dynamics can be modulated by small, membrane bound chaperone proteins called sigma receptors. Both sigma receptors 1 and 2, which are involved in a wide variety of cellular functions, have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatry, and cancer. We examined the use of sigma-receptor ligands to modulate cytosolic calcium levels in BV2 cells, an immortalized mouse microglia cell line. Immunofluorescence staining detected both sigma 1 and 2 receptors in perinuclear regions and the cell cytoplasm. Our selection of compounds was a mixture of commercially available sigma receptor ligands and compounds synthesized at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. We used the Fluo-8-AM calcium probe to measure cytosolic calcium concentrations using flow cytometry after 15-, 25- and 35-minute ligand exposure. With 1 µM ligand concentration, we found significantly increased cytosolic calcium levels in BV2 cells after 15-minute exposure. A moderate correlation was determined between sigma receptor 2 selectivity and calcium activity, suggesting a sigma-mediated calcium effect. In addition, we aimed to determine the location of calcium flux by pretreating cells with thapsigargin and EGTA to inhibit both the endoplasmic reticulum and extracellular space of suspected calcium entry. We found all four compounds tested, siramesine, PB-28, cis-8-OMe BBZI, and BN-IX-111-F1 promote calcium entry from the extracellular space, but only siramesine promotes calcium entry from both locations. We tested for a common drug-induced effect called phospholipidosis using HCS LipidTOX phospholipid detection reagent to determine a correlation between calcium activity and a membrane-mediated effect. Only two out of the five compounds tested, PB-28 and amiodarone, resulted in significant phospholipid accumulation at 10 µM treatment, suggesting little to no correlation between calcium levels and phospholipidosis. Further investigations are required to target the exact mechanism of calcium flux and characterize the connection between phospholipidosis and sigma receptors after sigma ligand exposure. Nevertheless, our work emphasizes the importance of sigma ligand-modulated intracellular calcium dynamics as a potential route of therapy, specifically for modulation of neuroinflammation.
A platform for multimodalin vivopooled genetic screens reveals regulators of liver function
Authors: Saunders Reuben A. , Allen William E. , Pan Xingjie , Sandhu Jaspreet , Lu Jiaqi , Lau Thomas K. , Smolyar Karina , Sullivan Zuri A. , Dulac Catherine , Weissman Jonathan S. , Zhuang Xiaowei 
Published: November 2024

SUMMARYOrgan function requires coordinated activities of thousands of genes in distinct, spatially organized cell types. Understanding the basis of emergent tissue function requires approaches to dissect the genetic control of diverse cellular and tissue phenotypesin vivo. Here, we develop paired imaging and sequencing methods to construct large-scale, multi-modal genotype-phenotypes maps in tissue with pooled genetic perturbations. Using imaging, we identify genetic perturbations in individual cells while simultaneously measuring their gene expression and subcellular morphology. Using single-cell sequencing, we measure transcriptomic responses to the same genetic perturbations. We apply this approach to study hundreds of genetic perturbations in the mouse liver. Our study reveals regulators of hepatocyte zonation and liver unfolded protein response, as well as distinct pathways that cause hepatocyte steatosis. Our approach enables new ways of interrogating the genetic basis of complex cellular and organismal physiology and provides crucial training data for emerging machine-learning models of cellular function.
Obesity’s Impact on Pulmonary Hypertension Progression: A Cohort Study of Body Composition Metrics in UAE Population
Authors: Itikhar Hassa 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundObesity is recognized as a major public health concern in UAE that significantly contributes to complications of obesity-induced metabolic and cardiac stress particularly pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study explored the relationship between obesity and body composition changes to address the role of visceral fat and sex differences using a combination of real and simulated data.MethodsA cohort of 500 participants was analyzed, categorized BMI (normal weight, overweight, obese I-III) with echocardiographic parameters including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), right ventricular size, and body composition metrics were collected five-year period (2019-2024). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the time onset of PH adverse events as the primary outcome. The influence of age and gender with metrics alteration such as muscle and fat mass, on pulmonary issues was evaluated through statistical models using IBM SPSS Statistics version 2.0.ResultsThe study identified Obese Class III men 45-age-group, who revealed the highest incidence of PH (60%) respectively. Longitudinal analysis showed that BMI and visceral fat distribution are the strongest predictors of PH severity which causes right ventricular remodeling, indicating that specific fat distribution worsens the PH outcomes.ConclusionObesity plays a critical role in accelerating the progression of mechanistic fat distribution. The study highlights monitoring body composition rather than relying only on BMI could enhance the importance of PH obese patients’ intervention. These findings provide insight into tailoring the obesity-PH linkage approach to mitigate improvements in obese patients.
Functional insights on chemical communication of fishing cats: a strategic mechanism for adaptation in semi-aquatic habitat
Authors: Das Subhadeep , Das Payel , Manna Sourav , Poddar Sarkar Mousumi 
Published: November 2024

AbstractChemical communication system of fishing cats, focusing on volatile organic compounds present in their urine (UR) and ‘marking fluid’ (MF) has been explored. Using solid-phase microextraction guided gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis, a diverse range of functional groups from UR and MF were detected, including ketones, aldehydes, sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, among which 3-Mercapto-3-methylbutanol (3MMB) and its related sulfur compounds were found to be sex-specific, predominantly present in males. The unique behavior of fishing cats to urinate frequently in water when experimentally tested with synthetic 3MMB, was aligned for its retention in aqueous medium upto 21 days. This suggests that fishing cats may employ an energy-efficient scent-marking strategy by leveraging aquatic environments for prolonging chemical signalling process. The analysis of less-volatile compounds, such as triglycerides and fatty acids, suggests that these compounds could be acted as fixatives, helping to stabilize and prolong the intensity of chemical messages coded to highly volatile molecules. The combination of highly volatile, less volatile compounds and lipids may create complex synergy to facilitate interindividual communication, potentially serving as pheromones. This research enhances our understanding of the fishing cat’s adaptation to semi-aquatic environments and its unique behavioural pattern in marshy landforms, thus concentrated with high population density in deltaic South Bengal.
Reintroduction of wild song culture to a critically endangered songbird
Authors: Appleby Daniel Lloyd , Langmore Naomi E , Pitcher Benjamin , Heinsohn Robert , Tripovich Joy , Matkovics Richard , Crates Ross Alexander 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTAnimal cultures are learned behaviours, traditions, and collective knowledge that are maintained within populations through social learning. Global biodiversity decline can lead to the loss of animal culture within small and sparsely distributed populations, making the conservation of animal cultures increasingly important. The Critically Endangered regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)is an Australian songbird whose population is declining to the extent that song culture is being lost in the wild. Reintroduced, zoo-bred males that supplement the wild population sing songs that differ from all wild birds, representing a significant cultural barrier that may impact their fitness after release to the wild. Over three breeding seasons within the applied breeding system, we undertook adaptive song tutoring experiments using combinations of song broadcast and live tutoring from two wild-origin males to teach zoo-bred juveniles the wild song. The proportion of juveniles that learned the wild song increased from 0 before the experiment to 42% after three years. The entire population is predicted to sing the wild song within two years. The full version of the wild song taught to zoo-bred males disappeared from the wild over the course of the experiment, making the zoo population the only remaining repository of traditional song culture. Using just two wild founders, we show how animal cultures can be restored in ex-situ populations with simple modifications to husbandry protocols. Ex-situ populations can then play important roles in the maintenance and restoration of wild animal cultures through reintroductions.
Exploring the Connection Between Pet Attachment and Owner Mental Health: The Roles of Owner-Pet Compatibility, Perceived Pet Welfare, and Behavioral Issues
Authors: Hawkins Roxanne D. , Ellis Annalyse , Robinson Charlotte 
Published: November 2024

AbstractResearch exploring the connection between pet ownership and mental health has expanded substantially in recent years, yet scientific evidence remains inconclusive. Existing studies have oversimplified this relationship by focusing primarily on pet ownership itself, without accounting for crucial factors such as species of the pet, or important relationship dynamics such as owner-pet attachment orientations. This study sought to investigate whether the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health could be better understood through the lens of owner-perceived pet compatibility, perceived pet welfare, and pet behavioral issues. These aspects, often overlooked in previous research, are believed to play crucial roles in shaping owner-pet relationships and owner mental wellbeing. This study surveyed emerging adults (ages 18-26) from the UK (N=600) with anxiety and/or low mood who owned dogs and/or cats. A large portion of the sample met clinical criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder. Our findings revealed that dog owners exhibited more secure pet attachments than cat owners. Attachment notably influenced mental health whereby anxious attachment was linked to poorer mental health among dog owners, while avoidant attachment was associated with better mental health in both dog and cat owners. Insecure attachment related to poorer pet quality of life, increased reports of pet behavioral problems, and poorer owner-pet compatibility, regardless of pet species. Additionally, poorer welfare and more behavioural problems were associated with poorer mental health for dog owners; these findings were not replicated for cat owners. Notably, a dog’s mental state (such as appearing depressed), as well as fear and anxiety in dogs, mediated the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health. Owner-dog compatibility, particularly in the affection domain, influenced owner anxiety, positively mediating the relationship between anxious attachment and poorer mental health, while negatively mediating the relationship between avoidant attachment and better mental health. These findings suggest that a simplistic view of pet ownership fails to capture the complexity of the factors that shape the mental health of pet owners and underscores the need to consider important owner-pet factors to fully understand how the human-pet relationship can impact the wellbeing of both people and their pets.