bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of resistance to colicinogenic synthetic phage antimicrobial system
Authors: McGillin Meghan , Tokman Jeffrey I. , Hsu Ella , Alcaine Samuel D. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT

This work presents a multi-hurdle approach that addresses antimicrobial resistance by minimizing the selective pressure of antimicrobials using a novel colicinogenic–phage system. We have created two synthetic T7 phages (T7-E1 and T7-M) by inserting the gene of colicin E1 (Cea) or colicin M (Cma) into the genome of the T7 phage, thereby adding an additional colicin-based hurdle to the T7 lytic cycle. The colicin–phages' efficacy in suppressing the outgrowth of a T7-resistant sub-population within a mixed culture of
Escherichia coli
was demonstrated using a challenge matrix design under planktonic and structured conditions. When T7-resistant cells were present at 1% of the total planktonic population, T7-E1 delayed the outgrowth. At 0.1% resistance, T7-M delayed resistant outgrowth, whereas T7-E1 suppressed the resistant sub-population. When T7-E1 and T7-M were combined into a triple-hurdle treatment, the T7-E1/T7-M cocktail completely suppressed a mixed planktonic population of 50% resistance cell concentrations. In structured environments, the colicin–phage treatments formed clear and confluent plaque-like zones of clearing in the mixed populations of 50% resistant cells with a lawn density of 1 × 10
6
CFU/mL. Reducing the lawn density to 1 × 10
5
CFU/mL diminished the multi-hurdle treatments' effectiveness, as demonstrated by localized zones of clearing within turbid bacterial lawns, highlighting the relationship between bacterial lawn density and phage effectiveness in structured environments. Fluctuation assays revealed persistence as the predominant mechanism for overcoming the treatments by T7-sensitive
E. coli
. Results indicate that T7-M treatment significantly reduces persister formation compared to WT-T7, while T7-E1 unexpectedly increases persister formation significantly. This suggests a complex relationship between antimicrobial stress and persister formation.

IMPORTANCE

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant challenge in treating bacterial infections. To address this, we present a multi-hurdle approach that combines the power of different antimicrobials to target resistance. We have weaponized the natural predator of
Escherichia coli
, the T7-phage, by engineering it to produce toxins called colicins, resulting in a colicin–phage antimicrobial. This multi-hurdled approach aims to decrease resistance risk because survival requires different tactics to overcome the phage and colicin activity, thus adding a hurdle in a bacterium's pathway to resistance. In cases of pre-existing resistance, the colicin effectively controlled the sub-population resistant to the phage. When investigating the emergence of resistance, we discovered that antimicrobial persistence was the predominant survival strategy. These findings reveal an essential slice of the AMR pie by emphasizing bacterial survival tactics that are not based on resistance genes. By expanding our AMR lens to include persistence, we can more effectively address treatment failure.
Hybrid Photoexcitation in Undoped Diamond by Mid-Infrared Femtosecond Laser Pulses
Authors: Kudryashov S. I. , Smirnov N. A. , Buga S. G. , Blank V. D. , Pakholchuk P. P. , Busleev N. I. , Kornilov N. V. 
Published: October 2024

Direct interband and intragap photoexcitation by intense mid-infrared (4.0 and 4.7 μm) femtosecond (fs) laser pulses was explored in ultrapure chemical-vapor deposited (CVD) diamond via acquisition of characteristic ultraviolet photoluminescence of free excitons and A-band photoluminescence of electrons anchored at deep donor–acceptor or dislocation-related traps, respectively. At lower laser intensities (<10 TW/cm2) the excitonic photoluminescence yields exhibit highly nonlinear dependences with Iλ2-scaling and power slopes N ≈ 17 (4.0 μm) and 14 (4.7 μm), still insufficient to cross over the direct bandgap (≥6.5 eV) by ≈1.2 and 2.8 eV, respectively. Similarly high slope of ≈9 (4.7 μm) for intragap (≥3.5 eV) photo-population of donor–acceptor traps is still insufficient for their direct excitation by ≈1 eV. At the intermediate Iλ2-dependent values of the Keldysh parameter γ ∼ 1 such incomplete multiphoton excitation anticipates the hybrid total “multiphoton + tunneling” photoexcitation generally predicted by the Keldysh theory, but never unambiguously experimentally demonstrated. At higher laser intensities (>10 TW/cm2) both the excitonic and A-band photoluminescence yields exhibit (sub)linear slopes, apparently, indicating formation of more strongly absorbing electron–hole plasma. These findings shed light on the hybrid multiphoton + tunneling character of Keldysh photoexcitation at intermediate values γ and pave the way to defect/impurity band engineering of intragap nonlinear optical properties in bulk dielectrics for their precise fs-laser nanomodification.
Increased choroidal stromal area in patients with active Graves’ ophthalmopathy based on binarisation method of optical coherence tomographic images
Authors: Zhou Min , Wu Dide , Cai Leqi , Wang Congyao , Su Yihua , Li Ye , Ke Wanyi , Chen Tingting , Hong Shubin , Xiao Haipeng , Wan Pengxia 
Published: October 2024

ObjectiveTo investigate the change in choroidal components of patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) with different degrees of disease activity and severity by using the image binarisation method of optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 151 eyes of 90 patients with GO. Patients were grouped according to the clinical activity score (CAS) and disease severity. Total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area, stromal area (SA) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were acquired by image binarisation of the OCT. Ocular parameters between groups were compared using generalised estimating equations, accounting for intereye correlation and adjusting for relevant factors.ResultsAs for the included eyes, 104 eyes were inactive GO and 47 eyes were active GO. Local choroidal thicknesses were thicker in active GO than in inactive GO. TCA and SA were significantly larger in active GO than in inactive GO group (3.44±0.91 mm2vs 3.14±0.88 mm2, p=0.046; 1.16 (1.03–1.50) mm2vs 1.10 (0.96–1.27) mm2, p=0.002, respectively). CAS was positively correlated with TCA (r=0.171, p=0.036) and SA (r=0.172, p=0.035), and negatively associated with CVI (r=−0.174, p=0.032). In multiple regression models, age, diopter and intraocular pressure (IOP) exhibited significant correlations with the SA (β=−0.006, p=0.010; β=0.076, p<0.001; β=0.015, p=0.010, respectively).ConclusionsThickened choroid was observed in active GO compared with inactive GO. The proportional increase of SA was augmented as the disease activity progressed. Age, diopter and IOP were independent factors that affected choroidal area and components in patients with GO. Multicentre prospective cohort studies with a large sample size are still needed.
Implementation of a mixed-methods heat acclimation programme in a professional soccer referee before the 2022 FIFA world cup in Qatar: a case study
Authors: Read Dale B , Evans Daniel T , Breivik Simon , Elliott Joshua D , Gibson Oliver R , Birdsey Laurence P 
Published: October 2024

ObjectivesThis case study reports the real-world practicalities of implementing a mixed-methods heat acclimation (HA) programme before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.MethodsOne male English soccer referee (age: 44 years; height: 1.82 m; body mass: 76.0 kg) who had officiated professionally for over 17 years and had over 10 years’ experience officiating in European and international matches undertook an 11-session HA programme over 22 days. On days 1 and 22, a 30 min fixed-intensity heat tolerance test (9 km.h-1, 2% gradient, 40°C, 40% relative humidity) was performed, and physiological and perceptual responses were measured. A mixed-methods HA approach was used, including environmental chamber isothermic training, post-temperate training saunas and hot water immersion.ResultsCompared with the pre-test, peak core temperature reduced by 0.40°C (38.4 vs 38.0°C; minimal detectable change (MDC) = 0.34°C), peak skin temperature reduced by 0.5°C (36.7 vs 36.2°C; MDC=0.28°C) and peak heart rate reduced by 5 b·min-1(167 vs. 162 b·min-1; MDC=4 b·min-1) in the post-test. In the post-test, the sweat rate increased by 17% (1.94 vs 2.27 L.h-1; MDC=0.42 L.h-1). Peak thermal sensation (7 = ‘hot’) and the rating of perceived exertion (3 = ‘moderate’) were unchanged between the tests. However, peak thermal comfort (3 = ‘slightly uncomfortable’ vs 2 = ‘uncomfortable’) was rated lower in the post-test.ConclusionThe HA programme elicited positive physiological but indifferent perceptual responses, highlighting that mixed-methods HA can be implemented when a referee still has officiating, travel and training responsibilities during the HA window.
Development and validation of Parents’ Health Literacy Scale on Preventing Road Traffic Injuries for children aged 0–6 years in China
Authors: Li Xiaohong , Chen Miaomiao , Feng Yuheng , Ma Xueqi , Zheng Jicui , Shen Hanlin , Xia Jingwei , Chen Kaiyue , Guo Ying , Xia Qianghua , Jiang Yu , Lu Jun , Chang Fengshui 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundRoad traffic injuries are the leading cause of death in children. Parents’ health literacy (HL) is closely related to child safety, especially for the young children. This study aimed to develop an intervention-oriented parent HL scale: Parents’ Health Literacy Scale on Preventing Road Traffic Injuries (PHLS-PRTIs).MethodsWe developed the scale including four parts: (1) definition and conceptualisation of PHLS-PRTIs; (2) domain and item development; (3) instrument construction; and (4) psychometric property validation. 685 parents participated in process of development (n=333) and validation (n=352). Cronbach’s α and test–retest correlation were used to assess reliability. Content validity and construct validity were used to assess validity.ResultsThe scale consisted of five domains (access, understand, belief, communication and use) and 16 subdomains. The Cronbach’s α for each domain and the whole scale was 0.85, 0.70, 0.87, 0.80, 0.79 and 0.85, respectively. The test–retest reliability was acceptable (intraclass correlations >0.70). Content validity was good (item-level content validity index >0.79, average of the scale-level content validity index >0.80, kappa >0.74). For construct validity for domain understand, χ2/df=1.723, p=0.009, standardised root mean square residual (SRMR)=0.0404, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.045, Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=0.942, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI)=0.910; and for the other four domains, χ2/df=1.840, p<0.001, SRMR=0.043, RMSEA=0.049, CFI=0.958, TLI=0.952.ConclusionsPHLS-PRTIs was developed and validated by a rigorous process, providing a tool for community doctors to measure parents’ HL on child road traffic safety and develop targeted health education interventions.
Is there an association between psychological distress during early adulthood and later trajectories of physical activity during adulthood? Longitudinal data from two cohort studies
Authors: Werneck André Oliveira , Araujo Raphael Henrique de Oliveira , Silva Danilo Rodrigues , Stubbs Brendon 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundOur aim was to analyse the prospective association between psychological distress during early adulthood and physical activity trajectories between early and middle adulthood.MethodsWe used data from the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS) (n=8994, 4388 women) and the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS) (n=7014, 4388 women). Psychological distress was assessed using the Malaise inventory at 23 years in the 1958 NCDS and at 26 years at the 1970 BCS. Self-report leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was assessed at 33 years, 42 years, 46 years, 50 years and 55 years in the 1958 NCDS as well as at 30 years, 34 years, 42 years and 46 years in the 1970 BCS. We created physical activity trajectories, using latent class growth analysis. Poisson regression analysis was used for association.ResultsWe identified three trajectories of physical activity during adulthood in both cohorts. Participants with psychological distress at 23 years were less likely to be in the persistently high trajectory (RRadjusted: 0.79; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.98) in the 1958 NCDS. In addition, participants with psychological distress at 26 years were less likely to be in the increased LTPA (0.73; 0.59 to 0.89) and persistently high (0.59; 0.50 to 0.69) trajectories, comparing with participants without psychological distress.ConclusionElevated psychological distress during early adulthood is associated with a lower probability of adopting positive trajectories of LTPA during adulthood.
Predictors of death without prior appropriate therapy in ICD recipients: the comorbidities, frailty and functional status (COMFFORT study)
Authors: Wilson David G , Sharma-Oates Archana , Sheldon James , Power Daniel F , Lord Janet M , Roberts Paul R , Morgan John M 
Published: October 2024

ObjectiveMost patients who have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implant do not receive life-prolonging therapy from it. Little research has been undertaken to determine which patients benefit the least from ICD therapy. As patients age and accumulate comorbidities, the risk of death increases and the benefit of ICDs diminishes. We sought to evaluate the impact of comorbidity, frailty, functional status on death with no prior appropriate ICD therapy.MethodsA prospective, multicentre, observational study involving 12 English hospitals was undertaken. Patients were eligible for inclusion for the study if they were scheduled to have a de novo, upgrade to or replacement of a transvenous or subcutaneous ICD or cardiac resynchronisation therapy device and defibrillator (CRT-D). Baseline characteristics were collected. Participants were asked to complete a frailty assessment (Fried score) and a functional status questionnaire (EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L)). The Charlson Comorbidity Index was calculated. Patients were prospectively followed up for 2.5 years. The primary outcome was death with no prior appropriate therapy.ResultsIn total, 675 patients were enrolled, mean age 65.7 (IQR 65–75) years. A total of 63 patients (9.5%) died during follow-up, 58 without receiving appropriate ICD therapy. Frailty was present in 86/675 (12.7%) and severe comorbidity in 69/675 (10.2%). Multivariate predictors of death with no appropriate therapy were identified and a risk score comprising frailty, comorbidity, increasing age, estimated glomerular filtration rate and EQ-5D-5L was developed.ConclusionComorbidities, frailty and the EQ-5D-5L score are powerful, independent predictors of death with no prior appropriate therapy in ICD/CRT-D recipients.
The deceleration parameter in perturbed Bianchi universes with a peculiar-velocity “tilt”
Authors: Tzartinoglou Amalia , Tsagas Christos G. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBianchi cosmologies are “natural” anisotropic extensions of the Friedmann universes and they have long been used to investigate the cosmological implications of anisotropy. The latter introduces new ingredients to the standard scenarios, although there are physical processes and effects that maintain their basic Friedmann features when extended to Bianchi universes. Here, we assume a perturbed Bianchi model and look into the implications of the observers’ peculiar flow for their measurement and their interpretation of the deceleration parameter. Our motivation is twofold. To begin with, relative motions have long been known to deceive the observers by “contaminating” the observations, which also still suffer from sample limitations that cloud the statistical significance of the findings. Further motivation comes from claims that observers in bulk flows that expand slightly slower than their surroundings can have the illusion of cosmic acceleration in a universe that is actually decelerating. The claim was originally based on studies of a perturbed tilted Einstein–de Sitter model, but persisted when the background cosmology was replaced by any of the three Friedmann universes. This raised the possibility that the peculiar-motion effect on the deceleration parameter may be generic and largely independent of the host spacetime. Here, we investigate this possibility by extending the earlier studies to perturbed Bianchi models. We find that the Friedmann picture remains unchanged, unless the Bianchi background has unrealistically high anisotropy. The bulk-flow observers can still be misled to the illusion of accelerated expansion by their own peculiar motion.
A new class of traversable wormhole metrics
Authors: Nath Partha Pratim , Sarma Debojit 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn this work, we have formulated a new class of traversable wormhole metrics. Initially, we have considered a wormhole metric in which the temporal component is an exponential function of r but the spatial components of the metrics are fixed. Following that, we have again constructed a generalized wormhole metric in which the spatial component is an exponential function of r, but the temporal component is fixed. Finally, we have considered the generalized wormhole metric in which both the temporal and spatial components are generalized exponential functions of r. We have also studied some of their properties including throat radius, stability, and energy conditions, examined singularity, the metric in curvature coordinates, effective refractive index, innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) and photon sphere, Regge–Wheeler potential and their quasinormal modes, gravitational entropy, and determined the curvature tensor. The radius of the throat is found to be consistent with the properties of wormholes and does not contain any types of singularities. Most interestingly, we find that their throat radius is the same for the same spatial component and the same range of values of m. In addition to these, they also violate the Null Energy Condition (NEC) near the throat. These newly constructed metrics form a new class of traversable wormholes.
Depressive Symptoms, Social Support and Employment: A Longitudinal Examination of Alcohol Use in Women
Authors: Robinson Laura D. , Ingram Isabella , Degan Tayla J. 
Published: October 2024

Introduction: There is a worrying upward trend in alcohol consumption by women during the middle of life stages. Alcohol consumption can have negative health consequences, some of which women are particularly susceptible. To address this alarming trend, it is necessary to understand the antecedents of alcohol consumption among women. The purpose of this longitudinal study is to examine the predictors of alcohol consumption between 2009 and 2018, in a sample of women in their 40s at the final time point.Methods: Data were drawn from four waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health over 9 years at four time points (2009–2018; N = 6900). Women were between 31 and 36 years old in 2009 and between 40 and 45 years old in 2018.Results: There was a 3% increase in the proportion of women drinking at risk levels between 2009 and 2018. A multinominal logistic mixed effects model found that, after adjusting for covariates, depression (relative risk ratio [RR] = 1.04, p < 0.001), high social support (RR = 1.17, p < 0.001) and employment relative to not working (RR = 2.32, p < 0.001), working in management compared to a professional role (RR = 1.51, p < 0.001) and no dependent child at home (RR = 0.80 [0.07], p = 0.017) were predictors of risky drinking compared to not drinking.Discussion: These findings underscore the importance of peer influence, mental health and stress associated with managing multiple responsibilities as key factors to address in targeting high‐risk drinking behaviors among women. There is a clear need for more opportunities for women to assess their relationships with alcohol and seek help in the process. Addressing this issue is paramount, especially considering its increasing prevalence.
Informality and Relations in International Judicial Appointments: Evidence from Sub-regional Courts in Africa
Authors: Kisakye Diana , Stroh Alexander 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Informality in international judicial selection practices has been acknowledged but rarely systematically researched. Described as “design innovations” that are hard to grasp, national judicial appointments to international courts (IC s), even in the most established democracies, are permeated by opacity and secretiveness that remains puzzling to researchers and the legal complex alike. This article presents evidence from three African sub-regional courts to reify the informal dimension of international judicial appointments. Drawing on qualitative research that employs two country case studies, Uganda and Malawi, we demonstrate how the particularly thin formal selection rules leave much leverage to informalities at various levels of governance. Through interviews and judicial biographical data, we reconstruct judicial appointment practices and their dynamics to account for relevant informalities and relations that shed light on the selection of judges to IC s. We argue that appointment practices are less ad hoc or arbitrary than they often appear but mirror the states’ commitment to regional integration, political assessment of the respective regional organisation, and perceptions of the courts’ relevance and ambitions in relation to the political appointers and selectors. Moreover, we raise new concerns about the risk of more silent and subtle backlash against bold regional courts.
Ryle’s Logical Geography of Perception Verbs
Authors: Kalis Annemarie 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Gilbert Ryle’s account of perception has not become widely known. Moreover, most of the responses to his account have been critical. Ryle’s method was to analyze our everyday use of perception verbs such as ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’, in order to argue that perception is a skill that we learn by doing. His critics concluded that by focusing on the use of perception verbs, Ryle dodged all central problems of perception. The current article aims to rebut this conclusion, by showing how Ryle’s work on perception builds on his logical-geographical method. That method leads Ryle to the conclusion that perceptual skill is a form of knowing how. Perception recipes, defined as shared criteria for correct use of perception verbs, display the normative structure of this knowledge. Although this analysis raises questions of its own, it shows that Ryle was in fact engaging seriously with core philosophical questions about the nature of perception.