bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Underactuated Cable-Driven Parallel Robot for Marine Automated Launch and Recovery Operations
Authors: Angelini Michele , Ida’ Edoardo , Bertin Daniele , Mantovani Enrico , Bazzi Davide , Orassi Vincenzo , Carricato Marco 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This article presents the feasibility study and preliminary testing of an underactuated cable-driven parallel robot for automated launch and recovery operations on the sea surface. The robot frame is mounted onto a primary vessel (PV) subject to sea-induced motions. During launch, the end-effector (EE) is required to deploy a secondary vessel (SV) by lowering it from the PV onto the sea surface. During recovery, the EE has to track and grasp a SV, and the EE-SV assembly needs to be stabilized during lifting from the sea surface to the PV. Sea conditions and the underactuated nature of the EE influence the operational feasibility and the overall robot performance. This article presents the conceptual design and the robot model, as well as the methodologies for winch dimensioning and robot control. An extensive simulation campaign is conducted to optimize performances and assess the system behavior. Finally, the operations are tested on a scaled prototype in a laboratory environment.
Azole resistance mechanisms and population structure of the human pathogen
Aspergillus fumigatus
on retail plant products
Authors: Wang Caroline , Miller Natalie , Vines Douglas , Severns Paul M. , Momany Michelle , Brewer Marin T. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Aspergillus fumigatus
is a ubiquitous saprotroph and human-pathogenic fungus that is life-threatening to the immunocompromised. Triazole-resistant
A. fumigatus
was found in patients without prior treatment with azoles, leading researchers to conclude that resistance had developed in agricultural environments where azoles are used against plant pathogens. Previous studies have documented azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
across agricultural environments, but few have looked at retail plant products. Our objectives were to determine if azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
is prevalent in retail plant products produced in the United States (U.S.), as well as to identify the resistance mechanism(s) and population genetic structure of these isolates. Five hundred twenty-five isolates were collected from retail plant products and screened for azole resistance. Twenty-four isolates collected from compost, soil, flower bulbs, and raw peanuts were pan-azole resistant. These isolates had the TR
34
/L98H, TR
46
/Y121F/T289A, G448S, and H147Y
cyp51A
alleles, all known to underly pan-azole resistance, as well as WT alleles, suggesting that non-cyp51A mechanisms contribute to pan-azole resistance in these isolates. Minimum spanning networks showed two lineages containing isolates with TR alleles or the F46Y/M172V/E427K allele, and discriminant analysis of principle components identified three primary clusters. This is consistent with previous studies detecting three clades of
A. fumigatus
and identifying pan-azole-resistant isolates with TR alleles in a single clade. We found pan-azole resistance in U.S. retail plant products, particularly compost and flower bulbs, which indicates a risk of exposure to these products for susceptible populations and that highly resistant isolates are likely distributed worldwide on these products.

IMPORTANCE

Aspergillus fumigatus
has recently been designated as a critical fungal pathogen by the World Health Organization. It is most deadly to people with compromised immune systems, and with the emergence of antifungal resistance to multiple azole drugs, this disease carries a nearly 100% fatality rate without treatment or if isolates are resistant to the drugs used to treat the disease. It is important to determine the relatedness and origins of resistant
A. fumigatus
isolates in the environment, including plant-based retail products, so that factors promoting the development and propagation of resistant isolates can be identified.
Complete genome sequences of
Aerococcus loyolae
ATCC TSD-300
T
,
Aerococcus mictus
ATCC TSD-301
T
, and
Aerococcus tenax
ATCC TSD-302
T
Authors: Choi Brian I. , Fontes Noronha Melline , Kaindl Jacob , Wolfe Alan J. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Previously identified under the single designation of
Aerococcus urinae
, three distinct taxonomic species have been distinguished as
Aerococcus loyolae, Aerococcus mictus,
and
Aerococcus tenax
. Here, we present the complete genome sequences of the type strains of these species assembled via a combination of short-read and long-read sequencing techniques.

Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (
NCT01166438
).
A novel cgMLST for genomic surveillance of
Yersinia enterocolitica
infections in France allowed the detection and investigation of outbreaks in 2017–2021
Authors: Le Guern Anne-Sophie , Savin Cyril , Chereau Fanny , Tessier Sabrina , Guglielmini Julien , Brémont Sylvie , Pizarro-Cerdá Javier 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Enteric yersiniosis, the third most common food-borne zoonosis in Europe, is mainly caused by the pathogen
Yersinia enterocolitica
. In France
,
the yersiniosis microbiological surveillance is conducted at the
Yersinia
National Reference Laboratory (YNRL). Since 2017, isolates have been characterized by whole genome sequencing (WGS) followed by a 500-gene
Yersinia
-cgMLST. We report here the data of the WGS-based surveillance on
Y. enterocolitica
isolates for the 2017–2021 period. The YNRL characterized 7,642
Y. enterocolitica
strains distributed in 2,497 non-pathogenic isolates from lineages 1Aa and 1Ab, and 5,145 specimens belonging to 8 pathogenic lineages. Among pathogenic isolates, lineage 4 was the most common (87.2%) followed by lineages 2/3-9b (10.6%), 2/3-5a (1.2%), 2/3-9a (0.6%), 3-3b, 3-3c, 1B, and 3-3d (0.1% per each). Importantly, we developed a routine surveillance system based on a new typing method consisting of a 1,727-genes core genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) specific to the species
Y. enterocolitica
followed by isolate clustering. Thresholds of allelic distances (AD) were determined and fixed for the clustering of isolates: AD ≤ 5 for lineages 4, 2/3-5a, and 2/3-9a, and AD ≤ 3 for lineage 2/3-9b. Clustering programs were implemented in 2019 in routine surveillance to detect genomic clusters of pathogenic isolates. In total, 419 clusters with at least 2 isolates were identified, representing 2,504 of the 3,503 isolates characterized between 2019 and 2021. Most clusters (
n
= 325) comprised 2 to 5 isolates. The new typing method proved to be useful for the molecular investigation of unusual grouping of cases as well as for the detection of genomic clusters in routine surveillance.

IMPORTANCE

We describe here the new typing method used for molecular surveillance of
Yersinia enterocolitica
infections in France based on a novel core genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) specific to
Y. enterocolitica
species. This method can reliably identify the pathogenic
Y. enterocolitica
subspecies and compare the isolates with a high discriminatory power. Between 2017 and 2021, 5,145 pathogenic isolates belonging to 8 lineages were characterized and lineage 4 was by far the most common followed by lineage 2/3-9b. A clustering program was implemented, and detection thresholds were cross-validated by the molecular and epidemiological investigation of three unusual groups of
Y. enterocolitica
infections. The routine molecular surveillance system has been able to detect genomic clusters, leading to epidemiological investigations.
Misidentification and misreporting of antibiotic resistance in
Kluyvera
bacteremia by blood culture molecular identification panels
Authors: Vatterrodt Darrick , Lee Janelle , Ho Dooil , Stevig Craig , Chow Siu-Kei 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

The use of molecular identification panels has advanced the diagnosis for blood stream infections with fast turnaround time and high accuracy. Yet, this technology cannot completely replace conventional blood culture and standardized antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) given its limitations and occasional false results. Here we present two cases of bacteremia caused by
Kluyvera
. Its identification and antibiotic resistance were at least partially mispresented by blood culture molecular identification panels on ePlex, Verigene, and Biofire. The detection of CTX-M resistance marker did not align with the susceptibility to the third generation cephalosporins among a wide range of antibiotics for this organism. Conventional extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) testing was used to confirm the absence of ESBL. Caution should be taken when managing cases with CTX-M or ESBL detection in blood culture caused by uncommon pathogens. Conventional culture with microbial identification and standardized AST should continue to be the gold standard for routine patient care.

IMPORTANCE

This is the first report that highlights the limitations of blood culture molecular identification panels on identifying
Kluyvera
and its associated antibiotic resistance patterns. Both the false identification and overreporting of antibiotic resistance could mislead the treatment for bacteremia caused by this pathogen. Patient isolation could have been avoided due to the lack of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) activity of the organism. This report emphasizes the importance of confirming rapid identification and antibiotic resistance by molecular technologies with standardized methods. It also provides insight into the development of new diagnostic panels.
‘God protects us from death through faith and science’: a qualitative study on the role of faith leaders in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and in building COVID-19 vaccine trust in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Yibeltal Kalkidan , Workneh Firehiwot , Melesse Hanna , Wolde Habtamu , Kidane Workagegnhu Tarekegn , Berhane Yemane , Herzig van Wees Sibylle 
Published: April 2024

ObjectiveThis study explored faith leaders’ perspectives on the COVID-19 vaccine and their role in building COVID-19 vaccine trust in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.DesignA qualitative study with in-depth interviews and thematic analysis was conducted.ParticipantsTwenty-one faith leaders from the seven religious groups represented in the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia participated in the study.SettingThe study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.ResultsThe thematic analysis revealed three themes. First, faith leaders were aware of the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, although most ascribed a spiritual meaning to the advent of the pandemic. The pandemic seriously affected the faith communities, inflicting financial losses. Second, faith leaders were essential allies during the pandemic by effectively collaborating with government and health professionals in COVID-19 prevention activities and public health interventions using spiritual reasoning. They were actively informing the community about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, where many faith leaders were publicly vaccinated to build trust in the vaccine and act as role models. Third, despite this, they faced multiple questions from the congregation about the vaccine, including rumours.ConclusionsThis research showed that faith leaders played crucial roles in encouraging vaccine use but were limited in their persuasion power because of intense rumours and misinformation. Empowering faith leaders with the latest vaccine evidence needs to be prioritised in the future.
Epirubicin for the Treatment of Sepsis and Septic Shock (EPOS-1): study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled phase IIa dose-escalation trial
Authors: Thomas-Rüddel Daniel , Bauer Michael , Moita Luís Ferreira , Helbig Christiane , Schlattmann Peter , Ehler Johannes , Rahmel Tim , Meybohm Patrick , Gründling Matthias , Schenk Heiko , Köcher Thomas , Brunkhorst Frank M , Gräler Markus , Heger Ann-Julika , Weis Sebastian ,   EPOS-1 study group
Published: April 2024

IntroductionSepsis remains the major cause of death among hospitalised patients in intensive care. While targeting sepsis-causing pathogens with source control or antimicrobials has had a dramatic impact on morbidity and mortality of sepsis patients, this strategy remains insufficient for about one-third of the affected individuals who succumb. Pharmacological targeting of mechanisms that reduce sepsis-defining organ dysfunction may be beneficial. When given at low doses, the anthracycline epirubicin promotes tissue damage control and lessens the severity of sepsis independently of the host–pathogen load by conferring disease tolerance to infection. Since epirubicin at higher doses can be myelotoxic, a first dose–response trial is necessary to assess the potential harm of this drug in this new indication.Methods and analysisEpirubicin for the Treatment of Sepsis and Septic Shock-1 is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 dose-escalation phase IIa clinical trial to assess the safety of epirubicin as an adjunctive in patients with sepsis. The primary endpoint is the 14-day myelotoxicity. Secondary and explorative outcomes include 30-day and 90-day mortality, organ dysfunction, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) and cytokine release. Patients will be randomised in three consecutive phases. For each study phase, patients are randomised to one of the two study arms (epirubicin or placebo) in a 4:1 ratio. Approximately 45 patients will be recruited. Patients in the epirubicin group will receive a single dose of epirubicin (3.75, 7.5 or 15 mg/m2depending on the study phase. After each study phase, a data and safety monitoring board will recommend continuation or premature stopping of the trial. The primary analyses for each dose level will report the proportion of myelotoxicity together with a 95% CI. A potential dose-toxicity association will be analysed using a logistic regression model with dose as a covariate. All further analyses will be descriptive.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol is approved by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT05033808.
Resonant detectors of gravitational wave in the linear and quadratic generalized uncertainty principle framework
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sukanta , Sen Soham , Gangopadhyay Sunandan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this work, we consider a resonant bar detector of gravitational waves in the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) framework with linear and quadratic momentum uncertainties. The phonon modes in these detectors vibrate due to the interaction with the incoming gravitational wave. In this uncertainty principle framework, we calculate the resonant frequencies and transition rates induced by the incoming gravitational waves on these detectors. We observe that the energy eigenstates and the eigenvalues get modified by the GUP parameters. We also observe non-vanishing transition probabilities between two adjacent energy levels due to the existence of the linear order momentum correction in the generalized uncertainty relation which was not present in the quadratic GUP analysis (Class Quantum Gravity 37:195006, 2020). We finally obtain bounds on the dimensionless GUP parameters using the form of the transition rates obtained during this analysis.
Abstract 603: Cardioprotection by p300 During Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion and Infarction in vivo
Authors: Wei Jianqin , Llanos Alexander , Rodrigues Claudia , Steen Dylan , Webster Keith , Bishopric Nanette 
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The acetyltransferase p300 is a critical regulator of cardiac growth and MEF-2- and GATA-4-dependent gene expression. We have previously shown that p300 is inducible by adrenergic stimulation and pressure overload in both in vitro and in vivo models. The p300 promoter contains 2 consensus HIF-1 binding sites.
Hypothesis: p300 induction is an early survival signal during myocardial stress.
Methods: A previously described mouse line expressing a cardiac-restricted p300 transgene (p300TG) with ~2.5x of control p300 levels was subjected to permanent left coronary occlusion (MI) or 40 min occlusion/24h reperfusion (I/R). Control mice from each genotype received thoracotomy without coronary ligation (sham). Cardiac function was assessed at 1h, 3d, 8d, and 6 wk by 30 MHz ultrasonography, and myocardial infarction size was assessed by histologic and biologic (TTC staining) assays at 6 wk. Infarct size was determined by TTC staining of coronal sections from apex to base and evaluated by planimetry.
Results: In wt mice, p300 protein levels increased markedly by Western analysis in ischemic myocardium compared with remote non-ischemic tissue (2.0 fold at 3 d, 2.5 fold at 8d; n=34, p<0.001 for both) and with sham-operated hearts (n=9, p <0.001). Infarct size was reduced by 32% in p300TG mice compared to WT littermates (26.5%Ã‘Â =0.9 vs 38.6 Ã‘Â ±1.3 infarcted myocardium, p<0.001, N=28). TUNEL analysis revealed extensive apoptosis in WT myocardium that was markedly reduced in p300TG hearts (N= 4). Similarly, p300TG mice experienced less cardiac functional loss from MI than wt littermates (fractional shortening=63.9 Ã‘Â ±2.6 vs. 44.3 Ã‘Â ±1.4 %, p <.001, n= 10). In I/R mice, injury area was 29.2% less in p300TG vs. WT littermates (23.6 Ã‘Â ±1.7 vs. 33.8 Ã‘Â ±1.1% of total LV, p<0.001, n=10). STAT3, HIF-1 and ERK1/2 protein levels were all induced by both ischemic and I/R injury, and this induction was significantly greater in p300TG myocardium (STAT-3, HIF-1, ERK1/2{1.5, 1.4, 2.1fold,p<0.001 respectively).
Conclusions: p300 is induced by ischemic stress, and exerts protection against ischemic injury in vivo. This effect is likely through induction of specific pro-hypertrophic, pro-angiogenic and anti-apoptotic signals.
2009 Distinguished Scientist Lecture—Highlights of Hormones and Heart Disease: Forty Years in Forty Minutes: The Rancho Bernardo Study
Authors: Barrett-Connor Elizabeth 
Published: April 2024

The Rancho Bernardo Study began in 1972 as one of 12 Lipid Research Clinic Prevalence Studies sponsored by the National Heart Institute. Each site was allowed to select its own epidemiologist, who could then select a cohort of 5000 to 6000 individuals. I was given the great opportunity to choose the San Diego LRC cohort. I chose Rancho Bernardo for several reasons, of which perhaps the most important was that it was a new town with many “old people” over the age 50 years. Beyond any expectation, Rancho Bernardo is now in its fortieth year of continuous funding from the NIH, plus intermittent and critically important additional grants to junior faculty and visiting scholars from the American Heart Association.
In the beginning, I knew little about cohort studies or heart disease epidemiology. I did know that heart disease had 6 accepted risk factors: age, male sex, cholesterol, smoking, blood pressure, and diabetes. Every clinician knew male sex was a strong heart disease risk factor, but clinical studies of sex differences were few. The LRC had not planned to study diabetes, which “belonged to another institute,” but I managed to add fasting glucose and 2 pages about noncholesterol risk factors, including diabetes, to the baseline 2-page questionnaire. During the next 40 years, that small beginning allowed me and many new colleagues the opportunity to try to understand the interface between sex differences in coronary heart disease and diabetes.
This talk summarizes cardiovascular insights based on epidemiological data from the Rancho Bernardo Study. I am grateful to the many scholars at diverse levels of training who began their careers using Rancho Bernardo data and the many who continue to do so.
Abstract 4758: Multiple Inter-strut Hollow, a Unique Finding of Optical Coherence Tomography After Sirolimus Eluting Stent Implantation: The Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Hosogi Shingo , Shimizu Hayato , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Fuku Yasushi , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Goto Tsuyoshi , Kadota Kazushige , Mitsudo Kazuaki 
Published: April 2024

Background: It has been reported that Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) revealed cavities formation between and outside of the stent strut, Multiple Inter-strut Hollow (MIH) after Sirorimus eluting stent (SES) implantation. However, the incidence and the clinical characteristics of MIH are unknown.
Methods: We analyzed the findings of OCT, in 60 cases with in-stent restenosis (ISR) after SES (n=52) and bare metal stent (BMS) (n=8) implantation. MIH was defined as multiple cavity formation which maximum depth was over 0.3mm between and outside of the stent strut in OCT. Furthermore, we examined the relation between the maximum depth of MIH and the clinical characteristics of the lesions with MIH, such as, original lesion type (AMI/UAP, stable AP, CTO or ISR) and period to restenosis (more than 1 year or less than 1 year).
Results: The incidence of MIH was significantly higher in SES group compared with BMS group (42.3% v.s. 0.0%; p<0.05) and also showed the tendency to increase in the group which original lesion type was CTO. Regarding the maximum depth of MIH, there was no significant difference between more and less than 1 year groups (0.62+−0.24mm v.s. 0.53+−0.12mm; p=0.34), however, the depth of MIH tended to increase in CTO group.
Conclusions: MIH is peculiar phenomenon after SES implantation on OCT findings. Further careful follow-up is needed to reveal the clinical implication of MIH.

Incidence of MIH
Abstract 4851: Three-year Target Systolic Blood Pressure Less Than 120 mmHg for More Than 65 Aged Hypertension Patients With Chronic Renal Disease
Authors: Zeng Xianghong , Li Yunyun , Zeng Xianghong , Liu Zhaohuan , Zeng Xiangji , Chen Xiaoyun 
Published: April 2024

Background: Many studies demonstrate that systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg does not provide renal protection in renal disease with hypertension, but SBP≤120 mmHg may be able to slow progress of renal disease. However, target SBP≤150 mmHg in elderly hypertension patients was recommended in Chinese hypertension guideline in 2005.The safety and efficacy of SBP≤120 mmHg in elderly hypertension patients with chronic renal disease is hardly reported.

Methods: In a prospective, controlled open-label studies, the authors have evaluated the safety and efficacy of three-year treatment on progress of renal disease and risk of development of cardiovascular disease in 122 >65 aged hypertension patients with chronic renal disease. Before randomization, all patients have already been treated for one-year with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin AT
1
receptor blockade(ARBs) and other antihypertensive drugs, but their SBP are above 140 mmHg but less than 150 mmHg. Blood pressure, serum creatinine(Cr) and potassium were monitored every 14 days in the period of follow-up..

Results: By the end of three years, Cr clearance increased from 51±2.0 to 63±3.2 ml/min, p<0.001,in the group of strict control of SBP, By contrast, Cr clearance decreased significantly from 52±1.9 to 42±2.1 ml/min, P<0.01, in the controls. During this time, urine protein excretion decreased from 1.4±0.5 to 0.4±0.4g every 24 hours (P<0.01) in the treatment group, but urine protein excretion decreased slightly (from 1.3±0.4 to 1.2±0.5, P>0.05) in the controls. Nine patients had got ACS, 10 patients stroke, three patients died in SCD and 2 patients died in chronic heart failure in controls but one patient had ACS, two patients stroke, one died in non-cardiac cause and 2 patients had mild dizzy who can continue to take theses drugs in the treatment group(p<0.01).However, the incidence of hyperkalaemia was similar between two groups.
Conclusions: Long-term SBP≤120 mmHg is safe and was more apparently in decreasing proteinuria, slowing the progress of renal disease and reducing the risk of development of acute cardiovascular events in elderly hypertensive patients with chronic renal disease.