bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the impact of fatty acid composition on carcass and meat quality in Bos taurus indicus influenced cattle
Authors: Rodriguez Eduardo E , Hamblen Heather , Leal-Gutierrez Joel D , Carr Charles , Scheffler Tracy , Scheffler Jason M , Mateescu Raluca G 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The study of fatty acid (FA) and mineral content in beef is crucial for bridging health and taste. Understanding these components is essential for catering to consumer preferences for nutritious and tasty food, in line with current dietary trends and health recommendations. This holistic view of beef quality is key to helping both producers and consumers make more knowledgeable and health-oriented decisions in meat consumption. The objectives of this study were to 1) characterize the FA composition and mineral concentration of beef from Brangus cattle; 2) estimate their heritability; and 3) calculate the genetic and phenotypic correlations of carcass and meat quality traits to FA composition and mineral concentrations. Brangus steers were evaluated for meat quality and sampled for nutritional content measurements. Brangus cattle had palmitic acid levels as low as 21%, and stearic acid levels as high as 26%, which is notable since stearic acid is considered to have a neutral or potentially beneficial impact on cholesterol levels, unlike other saturated fats. Additionally, Brangus cattle had oleic acid levels as high as 53%, a beneficial monounsaturated fat, and linoleic acid concentrations as high as 12%, an essential omega-6 FA. Saturated FA showed weak negative correlations (−0.06 to −0.15) with hot carcass weight, marbling, and fat over ribeye, similar to polyunsaturated FA which had moderate negative correlations (−0.19 to −0.37) with these traits. Conversely, monounsaturated FA was positively correlated (0.16 to 0.34) with these traits, suggesting that higher levels of monounsaturated FA, particularly oleic acid, are associated with improved meat quality and consumer-desirable traits such as increased marbling. This relationship where higher marbling is linked with increased monounsaturated FA and decreased saturated FA is unique in Brangus cattle, differing from other breeds where increased intramuscular fat typically raises FA saturation levels. The variation in FA observed in Brangus cattle highlights the breed’s potential to provide nutritionally enriched beef. With selective breeding, it may be possible to improve both the nutritional value and marbling of the meat, meeting consumer demand for healthier, tastier options. Overall, the study underscores the intricate relationships between FA composition, mineral content, and meat quality, with implications for breeding and nutrition strategies aimed at improving meat quality and healthfulness.
Building bridges with the Pennsylvania State Police: A pilot assessment of a Law Enforcement Community Outreach Program
Authors: Kruis Nathan E , Lin Ziwei , Kinney Alexander B , Rowland Nicholas J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
In 2021, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) created and implemented the Building Bridges Community Outreach Program (BBCOP), which is a positive law enforcement-initiated non-enforcement contact intervention designed to educate the public and improve community relations. To date, there have been no empirical assessments of the influence that this program has had on public perceptions of police. The current study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by offering an assessment of BBCOP participants’ perceptions of the program, and their perceptions of police before and after participating in the program. Specifically, the current study uses a mixed-method analysis of matched (i.e. pre- and post-intervention) survey data (n = 106) collected from student participants of initial iterations of the PSP BBCOP intervention occurring between the end of January 2023 and the end of January 2024. Findings reveal that BBCOP participants overwhelmingly reported positive sentiments about their experiences with the program. Further, statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in perceptions of law enforcement effectiveness, procedural justice, and legitimacy following participation in the program. Implications based on these findings are discussed within.
Use of over-the-counter supplements, sleep aids and analgesic medicines in rheumatology: results of a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Soomro Mehreen , Lyons Stephanie , Bravo Ramiro , McBeth John , Lunt Mark , Dixon William G , Jani Meghna 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances are common symptoms in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) that may prompt the use of over-the-counter (OTC) supplements, sleep aids and analgesics as self-management strategies. This study evaluated the prevalence of OTC supplements, sleep aids and pain relievers and the financial burden associated with their use in rheumatology.

Methods
A web-based survey developed with patients was administered in rheumatology clinics in an English hospital. Participants shared demographic information and detailed their use of OTC supplements, sleep aids and pain relief in the past week. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to identify influencing factors.

Results
A total of 876 people consented to participate in the survey. More than half of patients (54.5%) reported daily supplement intake, typically spending £10/month (interquartile range 5–20), ranging up to £200/month. The most commonly administered supplements were vitamin D, multivitamins, vitamin C, vitamin B/B complex and omega-3/-6 supplements, with multiple overlaps. Prescription, OTC or non-prescription pain relief use was reported by 82% of respondents, with sleep aids being used by 13%. Of the 327 patients who took NSAIDs, 165 (50.4%) also reported taking OTC supplements, while among the 131 patients using opioids (20.5%), 66 (50.3%) reported supplement use, some of which have documented interactions.

Conclusion
The use of OTC supplements, pain relief and sleep aids is common in patients with RMDs. Healthcare professionals should be encouraged to proactively ask about these during consultations, especially from a drug safety perspective, but also to provide timely, reliable advice about such strategies that may be sought by patients.
10Plant Theory
Authors: Roy Sumana 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Over a hundred years after the publication of the scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose’s 1922 Abyakta, a book of essays in Bangla where he writes about his experiments on plant life, the response of plants to external stimuli, particularly electrical energy, a nervous system in plants, and his work towards revealing what he calls ‘torulipi’, a plant script, so as to be able to prove that plants were indeed living beings, scientists are now proving many of the Indian scientist’s findings. Simultaneous with this has been a public enthusiasm for the work of writers and artists that feature speculation over, and the subsequent creation of, a plant script. This review of works published in 2023 considers two key publications that illuminate the prescience of Bose’s thought for the contemporary investment in the plant humanities: Katie Holten’s edited anthology The Language of Trees and the spring 2023 special issue of Orion on ‘The Language of Nature’. This review therefore focuses on literature about the plant script while also recording and contextualizing the zeitgeist that compels and indulges such an imagining.
Do Not Forget the Spine MRI in Children With Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita: High Prevalence of Tethered Spinal Cord and Preliminary Clinical Findings Following Detethering
Authors: Nugraha Hans K. , Hariharan Arun R. , Huser Aaron J. , Feldman David S. , Asadi-Moghaddam Kaveh 
Published: October 2024

Background:
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) encompasses congenital conditions with joint contractures in 2 or more joints. Patients with AMC may have scoliosis and neural axis malformations. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of tethered spinal cord (TSC), characterized by a low-lying conus medullaris, and secondarily, present preliminary findings following surgical untethering in children with AMC.

Methods:
Patients 18 years of age and younger with a diagnosis of AMC and a spine MRI were identified. The presence of a TSC was defined as a low-lying conus with termination at or below the lower third of the L2 vertebral body. A pediatric neurosurgeon and a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon independently reviewed MRIs. The medical records of patients with AMC who underwent untethering were examined to evaluate preoperative and postoperative clinical findings. The prevalence of TSC in our AMC patients was compared with published normative data using χ2 analysis.

Results:
Forty-two of 105 AMC patients (40%) had TSCs. There was a greater percentage of patients with AMC and a TSC compared with the unaffected population (P<0.0001). Sixteen patients underwent detethering through filum terminale sectioning. Nine patients had preoperative neurological deficits in addition to their AMC. There were no postoperative complications. All patients had improvement in their bowel and bladder symptoms within 3 months after their detethering procedure.

Conclusions:
TSC is more prevalent in the pediatric population with AMC compared with those without AMC. MRI is recommended for all patients with AMC due to its high prevalence. Although not a benign procedure, surgical detethering may have potential benefits for children with AMC.

Level of Evidence:
Level IV—therapeutic study.
Macular hole associated Retinal Detachment in presumed Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy (ARB)– A retrospective observational series of two cases
Authors: Kannan Naresh Babu , Vallinayagam Muthukrishnan , Goswami Ananya , Dara Reshma 
Published: October 2024

Purpose:
Surgical outcome of presumed Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy (ARB)with full thickness macular hole and retinal detachment managed by pars plana vitrectomy.

Methods:
A retrospective observational case series of two eyes of two patients who underwent 25 G pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of internal limiting membrane and SF6 tamponade and were assessed with respect to best corrected visual acuity, fundus photographs and spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Results:
Type 1 closure of macular hole was achieved along with resolution of retinal detachment in both patients.

Conclusion:
25 G pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of internal limiting membrane and SF6 tamponade can result in favorable outcome in macular hole associated retinal detachment in patients with presumed Autosomal recessive Bestrophinopathy.
Prospective In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of the Central Cornea in Terrien Marginal Degeneration
Authors: Ruutila Minna , Immonen Annamari T. , Turunen Joni A. , Fagerholm Per , Lagali Neil , Hjortdal Jesper , Bram Thue , Krootila Kari , Moilanen Jukka , Kivelä Tero T. 
Published: October 2024

Purpose:
To analyze central corneal in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in Terrien marginal degeneration (TMD).

Methods:
An observational prospective case–control study. Ten Finnish patients with TMD from a tertiary referral center were compared with 10 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Seven patients had bilateral TMD. Age, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, extent of thinning in clock hours, grade of microdots, and stage of TMD were analyzed.

Results:
According to Süveges and Wang classification, the median stage of TMD was 2 (range, 2–3) and 2 (range, 2–6), respectively. Twelve (71%) of 17 eyes with clinical TMD showed corneal thinning at all clock hours. The median age at the time of examination was 70 years (range, 28–81), and the median time from diagnosis 8.8 years (range, 6.0–15.2). By IVCM, the epithelium, subepithelial nerve plexus, and endothelium were intact in all eyes. The anterior stroma showed bilateral hyperreflective dots in the central cornea beneath the subepithelial nerve plexus in all eyes, and larger patches were detected in the posterior stroma anterior to Descemet membrane; both were invisible by anterior segment optical coherence tomography. As compared with controls, the grade of anterior microdots increased faster with age before the age of 65, and that of posterior stromal patches was higher. Two patients additionally had bilateral hyperreflective needle-like deposits in the anterior and midstroma.

Conclusions:
By IVCM, TMD is characterized regardless of clinical laterality by bilateral microdots in the central corneal stroma. They might be a supporting diagnostic criterion and alone could suggest subclinical disease.
Lymphatic Channel Distribution in Comparison With Blood Vessels in the Upper Eyelid
Authors: Kakizaki Hirohiko , Ambat Jose Miguel , Teope Jonnah Kristina , Naito Munekazu , Takahashi Yasuhiro 
Published: October 2024

Purpose:
To examine microscopically the distribution of the lymphatic channels in comparison with the blood vessels in the upper eyelid.

Methods:
Central sagittal sections of 13 upper eyelids (8 right, 5 left) from 11 Japanese cadavers, aged 36 to 87 years old (average age: 66.6 years), were histologically examined. The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin. Staining with D2-40 for lymphatic channels and with the antibody for α-smooth muscle actin for blood vessels was utilized.

Results:
The lymphatic channels were mainly distributed superficially, just under the skin, but the blood vessels were situated deeper, and diffusely spread throughout the upper eyelid.

Conclusion:
The positional predispositions of the lymphatic channels and the blood vessels were different. The former is mainly superficial and the latter is deeper and diffuse.
Therapeutic agents for the treatment of human mpox
Authors: Braddick Maxwell , Singh Kasha Priya 
Published: October 2024

Purpose of review
The aim of this study was to summarize the current knowledge of therapeutic options for mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the context of recent outbreaks and the ongoing evolution of the virus.

Recent findings
Multiple therapeutic agents, including tecovirimat, cidofovir, brincidofovir, and vaccinia immune globulin, have been used during the multicountry outbreak of mpox caused by Clade 2b monkeypox virus that began in 2022. Tecovirimat has been most extensively used, based on efficacy against mpox lethal challenge in animal models, and human safety data. Real-world observational evidence has further supported safety with minimal adverse events in large cohorts and mixed reports of reductions in time to lesion resolution. Several prospective randomized controlled trials using tecovirimat are underway with headline results from a study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo showing no difference in lesion resolution compared to placebo. Other studies including in outpatient settings are underway in Europe and the Americas. Cidofovir and brincidofovir, limited by adverse event profiles, have been less extensively studied. Vaccinia immune globulin has been used predominantly in salvage therapy for severe mpox, with no large observational series available.

Summary
The 2022 multicountry outbreak of mpox marked a public health emergency. Agents approved for smallpox management were widely used for mpox, supported by animal and in-vitro evidence, and human safety data. The large number of human cases has allowed retrospective observational study of these agents and facilitated recruitment in prospective trials. The ongoing evolution of the virus may pose challenges for therapeutic interventions, necessitating rigorous randomized controlled trials to guide clinical use.
Growth Dynamic of the Dorsum Sellae in Fetuses
Authors: Şencan Zeynep , İnce Rümeysa , Çalişir Ebru Sena , Öztürk Cansu , Cihan Ömer Faruk , Beger Orhan 
Published: October 2024

Objective:
To determine the dimension of the dorsum sellae (DS) in fetuses.

Methods:
Skull bases of 32 fetuses aged from 17 to 32 weeks were included in the work. The length of the DS at its superior border (DSL-SB) and the thickness of DS at its middle part (DST-ML) were measured. In addition, DS’s height at its right lateral margin (DSH-RLB), at its left lateral margin (DSH-LLB), and at its middle part (DSH-ML) were measured.

Results:
DSL-SB, DSH-RLB, DSH-LLB, DSH-ML, and DST-ML were measured as 8.42±1.89, 2.67±0.68, 2.73±0.68, 2.48±0.75, and 2.00±0.50 mm, respectively. All parameters were statistically similar for both sexes (P>0.05). All parameters increased with advancing gestational weeks (P<0.001). Linear functions were calculated for DSL-SB (y=− 1.756 + 0.426 × age), DSH-RLB (y=− 1.072 + 0.156 × age), DSH-LLB (y=− 0.851 + 0.150 × age), DSH-ML (y=− 1.687 + 0.174 × age), and DST-ML (y=− 0.473 + 0.103 × age).

Conclusion:
In fetuses, DS size grows with age. The linear functions regarding DS-related parameters may be used to estimate its size.
C. elegansbehavior, fitness, and lifespan, are modulated by AWB/ASH-dependent death perception
Authors: Hernandez-Lima Mirella A. , Seo Brian , Urban Nicholas D. , Truttmann Matthias C. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe ability of the nervous system to initiate intricate goal-directed behaviors in response to environmental stimuli is essential for metazoan survival. In this study, we demonstrate that the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansperceives and reacts to dead conspecifics. The exposure toC. eleganscorpses as well as corpse lysates activates sensory neurons AWB and ASH, triggering a glutamate-and acetylcholine-dependent signaling cascade that regulates both immediate (aversion) and long-term (survival) responses to the presence of a death signature. We identify increased adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and cysteine concentrations as chemical fingerprints for the presence of metazoan corpses and show that death cue sensing by AWB and ASH leads to physiological changes which promote reproduction at the expense of lifespan. Our findings illuminate a novel signaling paradigm that allows organisms to detect and interpret the environmental enrichment of intracellular metabolites as a death cue.
Structural insights and rational design ofPseudomonas putidaKT2440 Omega transaminases for enhanced biotransformation of (R)-Phenylacetylcarbinol to (1R, 2S)-Norephedrine
Authors: Das Parijat , Noronha Santosh , Bhaumik Prasenjit 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTOmega transaminases (ω-TAs) can mediate the chiral amination of several unnatural substrates without the requirement of an α-COOH group, and are highly relevant in the production of several pharmaceutical intermediates of commercial interest. Development of better variants of ω-TAs are hence essential for their industrial uses. We have studied the active site architecture of the wild-type ω-TAs, to develop engineered enzymes for enhancing the biotransformation of (R)-Phenylacetylcarbinol to (1R, 2S)-Norephedrine. Two such ω-TAs (TA_5182 and TA_2799) fromP. putidaKT2440 strain were overexpressed and purified as recombinant proteins. Crystal structures of TA_5182 were solved in two conformations, and significant movements of two highly flexible loops were observed in these different states. The TA_2799 structure was determined in the co-factor bound state with a PLP molecule covalently bonded to the catalytic K286 as an internal aldimine. Enzyme assays indicated that TA_2799 required significantly higher concentrations of co-factor than TA_5182 to achieve satisfactory biotransformation of (R)-PAC. A key mutation of L322F in TA_2799 drastically reduced the co-factor dependency of the TA_2799_L322F mutant enzyme, and the mutant remained active for 96h at 30°C. The crystal structure of the mutant enzyme revealed an asparagine residue that mediates a hydrogen bonding network at the dimeric interface of the enzyme and is absent in TA_5182. The TA_5182_G119N mutant also showed enhanced co-factor affinity. The results of our studies will help generatePseudomonadω-TAs and ω-TAs from other organisms with high efficiency for asymmetric synthesis, to be used in host systems for optimal large-scale industrial biotransformation.
Within-ejaculate haploid selection reduces disease biomarkers in human sperm
Authors: Marcu Daniel , Cohen-Krais Jayme , Godden Alice , Alavioon Ghazal , Martins Carlo , Almstrup Kristian , Saalbach Gerhard , Immler Simone 
Published: October 2024

SUMMARY PARAGRAPHMales produce millions of sperm in a single ejaculate, but only a single sperm fertilises the egg. Fertilisation is the perfect opportunity for natural selection where sperm of poor quality are eliminated, and the fittest sperm sire the offspring. However, the biomarkers of the fittest sperm are currently elusive. Here, we selected human sperm pools for fitness within ejaculates of healthy donors usingin vitroassays and identify phenotypic, genomic and proteomic biomarkers of fitter sperm. Fitter sperm showed prolonged motility and incrsed morphological normality and DNA condensation, and their genomes and proteomes differed from less fit sperm. The genes diverging between sperm pools are involved in neurodevelopmental processes, cell signalling and cell proliferation and are linked to heritable diseases including neurodevelopmental disorders and cancers. The genomic signatures of haploid selection in human sperm strongly overlapped in function with the genomic signature in zebrafish sperm suggesting that the sperm functions under haploid selection are highly conserved. The five top peptides downregulated in fitter sperm across all donors are known markers for inflammation, immune function and cancer-related cell proliferation. Selecting for high-performance long-lived sperm prior to fertilisation may therefore help prevent ageing-related heritable diseases in the offspring later in life.
Scalable Extraction of Airway Mucins from Porcine Trachea
Authors: Yang Sydney , Engle Elizabeth M. , Boboltz Allison , Kumar Sahana , Stern Alexa , Duncan Gregg A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTMucins are a major component of the innate defense system in the airways and their biological functions are important to consider in pulmonary disease research. However, the available mucus models for basic research relevant to the lung can be difficult to acquire in sufficient quantity to conduct such studies. Here, we present a new strategy to isolate airway mucins from pig trachea at the milligram to gram scale for use in pulmonary disease research. Using this protocol, we were able to isolate mucins with minimal DNA contamination consisting of ∼70% by weight protein. Compared to porcine gastric mucins extracted with the same procedure, the porcine tracheal extract possessed significantly greater O-linked glycoprotein (mucin) content. Particle tracking microrheology was used to evaluate the biophysical properties of porcine trachea mucins. We found porcine tracheal mucins formed a much tighter mesh network and possessed a significantly greater microviscosity compared to lab extracted porcine gastric mucins. In comparison to mucus harvested from human airway tissue cultures, we found porcine tracheal mucins also possessed a greater microviscosity suggesting these mucins can form into a gel-like material at physiological total solids concentrations. These studies establish an accessible means to isolate airway mucins from porcine trachea at large scale for use in pulmonary disease research.