bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Across Retirement Transition as a Predictor of Self-Rated Health
Authors: Fröberg Andreas , Sacco Lawrence , Suorsa Kristin , Leskinen Tuija , Hettiarachchi Pasan , Svartengren Magnus , Stenholm Sari , Westerlund Hugo 
Published: May 2024

Background: Retirement transition has been shown to associate with changes in physical activity (PA) and self-rated health (SRH), but their interrelationship is less studied. The aim was to investigate changes in accelerometer-measured total PA, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary time across retirement transition as a predictor of SRH. Methods: Data from the Swedish Retirement Study and the Finnish Retirement and Aging study were harmonized and pooled. Data from 3 waves (about 12 mo apart) were included: 1 preretirement (wave 1) and 2 postretirement follow-ups (wave 2–3). A totally of 245 participants (27% men) were included. Thigh-worn accelerometers were used to collect data for PA variables (wave 1–2), and SRH was obtained from the questionnaire (wave 1–3). Results: Between wave 1 and 2, total PA decreased with 11 (CI, −22 to −1) minutes per day, MVPA was stable (0 [CI, −3 to 3] min), and sedentary time decreased nonsignificantly with 9 (CI, −20 to 1) minutes. SRH changed between all 3 waves (all P < .001). At preretirement, 10 more minutes of MVPA was associated with greater odds of better SRH when adjusting for accelerometer wear-time, cohort, sex, age, and occupational status (odds ratio: 1.11 [95% CI, 1.02–1.22]). This association was no longer statistically significant when additionally adjusting for marital status, body mass index, and smoking. No significant associations were observed between changes in the PA variables during retirement transition and SRH at postretirement follow-ups. Conclusions: This study showed a cross-sectional association between MVPA and greater odds of reporting better SRH before retirement. No longitudinal associations were observed between changes in the PA variables from before to after retirement and later changes in SRH.
Treating Dystonia in a Soccer Player Through an Integrated Rehabilitative Approach: A Case Report
Authors: Giorgi Valeria , Apostolo Giovanni , Bertelè Laura 
Published: May 2024

Context: Sport-related dystonia is a rare form of activity-specific dystonia that can severely impair an athlete’s ability to perform. Due to a lack of data on the condition, it is difficult to diagnose and often overlooked, and no gold standard treatment has yet been defined. Case Presentation: We present a rare and challenging case of sport-related dystonia that affected a 24-year-old male professional soccer player. The patient presented with severe rigidity and dystonia of the right lower-extremity, particularly the ankle and foot. The symptoms set on >1 year prior to the presentation to our outpatient clinic. He began to complain of stiffness and difficulty moving his lower limbs, especially his right leg, initially when playing soccer, but then also when walking normally. On presentation, he was unable to run and walked with difficulty, supporting his body weight only on the outside of his right foot. He also reported a motor trick and reverse motor trick involving the oral musculature in order to move his lower limb more freely. Management and Outcomes: An integrated rehabilitation approach based on postural rehabilitation, neuromuscular rehabilitation, and dental intervention was used to successfully treat this condition. The approach included: (1) postural rehabilitation with the Mézières-Bertelè method to reduce muscular stiffness, (2) neuromuscular re-education with Tai Chi exercises and electromyography-guided biofeedback, and (3) dental intervention and swallowing rehabilitation to limit impaired oral habits (due to the relationship between his impaired lower limb movements and motor tricks of the oral musculature). After 7 months of integrated rehabilitation, the patient returned to professional soccer. Conclusions: This case report highlights the potential efficacy of an integrative rehabilitation approach for sports dystonia, particularly in cases where traditional treatments may not be effective. Such an approach could be considered a valuable option in the management of this rare, but debilitating, condition in athletes. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of this approach in larger populations.
Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceived Competence Regarding Sustainable Development Among Physical Education and Health Teachers in Sweden
Authors: Wiklander Petter , Fröberg Andreas , Lundvall Suzanne 
Published: May 2024

Purpose: Literature suggest that physical education and health (PEH) may contribute to the sustainable development (SD) agenda, yet little is known how PEH teachers relate SD to their teaching practices. This paper explores Swedish upper secondary PEH teachers’ experiences and perceived competence regarding teaching SD as part of PEH. Method: An online questionnaire was used to examine SD competence. Data from 702 PEH teachers were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Results: PEH teachers perceive higher competence regarding the social dimension of SD compared to the economic and environmental dimensions. Female teachers and those with more than 15 years teaching experiences reported the highest perceived competence. Seventy percent of the respondents perceived that they lacked competence to teach SD. Discussion/Conclusion: PEH teachers struggle to relate SD to PEH practice and call for support to increase their competence in terms of how to conceptualize and transform SD into PEH teaching practice.
Response of Knee Joint Biomechanics to Landing Under Internal and External Focus of Attention in Female Volleyball Players
Authors: Slovák Lukáš , Zahradník David , Land William M. , Sarvestan Javad , Hamill Joseph , Abdollahipour Reza 
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of attentional focus instructions on the biomechanical variables associated with the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury of the knee joint during a drop landing task using a time series analysis. Ten female volleyball players (age: 20.4 ± 0.8 years, height: 169.7 ± 7.1 cm, mass: 57.6 ± 3.1 kg, experience: 6.3 ± 0.8 years) performed landings from a 50 cm height under three different attentional focus conditions: (1) external focus (focus on landing as soft as possible), (2) internal focus (focus on bending your knees when you land), and (3) control (no-focus instruction). Statistical parameter mapping in the sagittal plane during the crucial first 30% of landing time showed a significant effect of attentional focus instructions. Despite the similarity in landing performance across foci instructions, adopting an external focus instruction promoted reduced vertical ground reaction force and lower sagittal flexion moment during the first 30% of execution time compared to internal focus, suggesting reduced knee loading. Therefore, adopting an external focus of attention was suggested to reduce most biomechanical risk variables in the sagittal plane associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, compared to internal focus and control condition. No significant differences were found in the frontal and horizontal planes between the conditions during this crucial interval.
The CpxRA two-component system of adherent and invasive
Escherichia coli
contributes to epithelial cell invasion and early-stage intestinal fitness in a dysbiotic mouse model mediated by type 1 fimbriae expression
Authors: Miki Tsuyoshi , Ito Masahiro , Okada Nobuhiko , Haneda Takeshi 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Adherent and invasive
Escherichia coli
(AIEC) is a pathobiont that is involved in the onset and exacerbation of Crohn’s disease. Although the inducible expression of virulence traits is a critical step for AIEC colonization in the host, the mechanism underlying AIEC colonization remains largely unclear. We here showed that the two-component signal transduction system CpxRA contributes to AIEC gut competitive colonization by activating type 1 fimbriae expression. CpxRA from AIEC strain LF82 functioned as a transcriptional regulator, as evidenced by our finding that an isogenic
cpxRA
mutant exhibits reduced expression of
cpxP
, a known regulon gene. Transcription levels of
cpxP
in LF82 increased in response to envelope stress, such as exposure to antimicrobials compromising the bacterial membrane, whereas the
cpxRA
mutant did not exhibit this response. Furthermore, we found that the
cpxRA
mutant exhibits less invasiveness into host cells than LF82, primarily due to reduced expression of the type 1 fimbriae. Finally, we found that the
cpxRA
mutant is impaired in gut competitive colonization in a mouse model. The colonization defects were reversed by the introduction of a plasmid encoding the
cpxRA
gene or expressing the type 1 fimbriae. Our findings indicate that modulating CpxRA activity could be a promising approach to regulating AIEC-involved Crohn’s disease.
Inhibitory mechanisms of decoy receptor 3 in cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis
Authors: Su Jingqian , Chen Wenzhi , Zhou Fen , Li Rui , Tong Zhiyong , Wu Shun , Ye Zhen , Zhang Yichao , Lin Ben , Yu Xing , Guan Biyun , Feng Zhihua , Chen Kunsen , Chen Qi , Chen Long 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Despite its high mortality, specific and effective drugs for sepsis are lacking. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a potential biomarker for the progression of inflammatory diseases. The recombinant human DcR3-Fc chimera protein (DcR3.Fc) suppresses inflammatory responses in mice with sepsis, which is critical for improving survival. The Fc region can exert detrimental effects on the patient, and endogenous peptides are highly conducive to clinical application. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of DcR3 on sepsis are unknown. Herein, we aimed to demonstrate that DcR3 may be beneficial in treating sepsis and investigated its mechanism of action. Recombinant DcR3 was obtained
in vitro
. Postoperative DcR3 treatment was performed in mouse models of lipopolysaccharide- and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis, and their underlying molecular mechanisms were explored. DcR3 inhibited sustained excessive inflammation
in vitro
, increased the survival rate, reduced the proinflammatory cytokine levels, changed the circulating immune cell composition, regulated the gut microbiota, and induced short-chain fatty acid synthesis
in vivo
. Thus, DcR3 protects against CLP-induced sepsis by inhibiting the inflammatory response and apoptosis. Our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with the protective effects of DcR3 against sepsis, paving the way for future clinical studies.

IMPORTANCE
Sepsis affects millions of hospitalized patients worldwide each year, but there are no sepsis-specific drugs, which makes sepsis therapies urgently needed. Suppression of excessive inflammatory responses is important for improving the survival of patients with sepsis. Our results demonstrate that DcR3 ameliorates sepsis in mice by attenuating systematic inflammation and modulating gut microbiota, and unveil the molecular mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory effect.
Impact of different mutations on Kelch13 protein levels, ART resistance, and fitness cost in
Plasmodium falciparum
parasites
Authors: Behrens Hannah M. , Schmidt Sabine , Henshall Isabelle G. , López-Barona Patricia , Peigney Domitille , Sabitzki Ricarda , May Jürgen , Maïga-Ascofaré Oumou , Spielmann Tobias 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Reduced susceptibility to ART, the first-line treatment against malaria, is common in South East Asia (SEA). It is associated with point mutations, mostly in
kelch13
(
k13
) but also in other genes, like
ubp1
. K13 and its compartment neighbors (KICs), including UBP1, are involved in endocytosis of host cell cytosol. We tested 135 mutations in KICs but none conferred ART resistance. Double mutations of
k13
C580Y with
k13
R539T or
k13
C580Y with
ubp1
R3138H, did also not increase resistance. In contrast,
k13
C580Y parasites subjected to consecutive RSAs did, but the
k13
sequence was not altered. Using isogenic parasites with different
k13
mutations, we found correlations between K13 protein amount, resistance, and fitness cost. Titration of K13 and KIC7 indicated that the cellular levels of these proteins determined resistance through the rate of endocytosis. While fitness cost of
k13
mutations correlated with ART resistance,
ubp1
R3138H caused a disproportionately higher fitness cost.

IMPORTANCE

Parasites with lowered sensitivity to artemisinin-based drugs are becoming widespread. However, even in these “resistant” parasites not all parasites survive treatment. We found that the proportion of surviving parasites correlates with the fitness cost of resistance-inducing mutations which might indicate that the growth disadvantages prevents resistance levels where all parasites survive treatment. We also found that combining two common resistance mutations did not increase resistance levels. However, selection through repeated ART-exposure did, even-though the known resistance genes, including
k13
, were not further altered, suggesting other causes of increased resistance. We also observed a disproportionally high fitness cost of a resistance mutation in resistance gene
ubp1
. Such high fitness costs may explain why mutations in
ubp1
and other genes functioning in the same pathway as
k13
are rare. This highlights that
k13
mutations are unique in their ability to cause resistance at a comparably low fitness cost.
Novel pentafluorosulfanyl-containing triclocarban analogs selectively kill Gram-positive bacteria
Authors: Pormohammad Ali , Moradi Melika , Hommes Josefien W. , Pujol Eugènia , Naesens Lieve , Vázquez Santiago , Surewaard Bas G. J. , Zarei Mohammad , Vazquez-Carrera Manuel , Turner Raymond J. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Novel antimicrobial agents are needed to combat antimicrobial resistance. This study tested novel pentafluorosulfanyl-containing triclocarban analogs for their potential antibacterial efficacy. Standard procedures were used to produce pentafluorosulfanyl-containing triclocarban analogs. Twenty new compounds were tested against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative indicator strains as well as 10 clinical isolates for their antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. Mechanistic investigations focused on damage to cell membrane, oxidizing reduced thiols, iron-sulfur clusters, and oxidative stress to explain the compounds’ activity. Safety profiles were assessed using cytotoxicity experiments in eukaryotic cell lines. Following screening, selected components had significantly better antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against Gram-positive bacteria in lower concentrations in comparison to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin. For instance, one compound had a minimum inhibitory concentration of <0.0003 mM, but ciprofloxacin had 0.08 mM. Mechanistic studies show that these novel compounds do not affect reduced thiol content, iron-sulfur clusters, or hydrogen peroxide pathways. Their impact comes from Gram-positive bacterial cell membrane damage. Tests on cell culture toxicity and host component safety showed promise. Novel diarylurea compounds show promise as Gram-positive antimicrobials. These compounds offer prospects for study and optimization.

IMPORTANCE

The rise of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens poses a significant threat to global health, underscoring the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study presents research on a promising class of novel compounds with potent antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria, notably
Staphylococcus aureus
and
MRSA
. What sets these novel analogs apart is their superior efficacy at substantially lower concentrations compared with commonly used antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and gentamycin. Importantly, these compounds act by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, offering a unique mechanism that could potentially circumvent existing resistance mechanisms. Preliminary safety assessments also highlight their potential for therapeutic use. This study not only opens new avenues for combating antibiotic-resistant infections but also underscores the importance of innovative chemical approaches in addressing the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Tracking antimicrobial resistance transmission in urban and rural communities in Bangladesh: a One Health study of genomic diversity of ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant
Escherichia coli
Authors: Flatgard Brandon M. , Williams Alexander D. , Amin Mohammed Badrul , Hobman Jon L. , Stekel Dov J. , Rousham Emily K. , Islam Mohammad Aminul 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health and sustainable development goals, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to understand the transmission of AMR between poultry, humans, and the environment in Bangladesh using a One Health approach. We analyzed the whole genome sequences (WGS) of 117 extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing
Escherichia coli
(ESBL-Ec) isolates, with 46 being carbapenem resistant. These isolates were obtained from human (
n
= 20) and poultry feces (
n
= 12), as well as proximal environments (wastewater) (
n
= 85) of three different study sites, including rural households (
n
= 48), rural poultry farms (
n
= 20), and urban wet markets (
n
= 49). The WGS of ESBL-Ec isolates were compared with 58 clinical isolates from global databases. No significant differences in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were observed in ESBL-Ec isolated from humans with and without exposure to poultry. Environmental isolates showed higher ARG diversity than human and poultry isolates. No clonal transmission between poultry and human isolates was found, but wastewater was a reservoir for ESBL-Ec for both. Except for one human isolate, all ESBL-Ec isolates were distinct from clinical isolates. Most isolates (77.8%) carried at least one plasmid replicon type, with IncFII being the most prevalent. IncFIA was predominant in human isolates, while IncFII, Col(MG828), and p0111 were common in poultry. We observed putative sharing of ARG-carrying plasmids among isolates, mainly from wastewater. However, in most cases, bacterial isolates sharing plasmids were also clonally related, suggesting clonal spread was more probable than just plasmid transfer.

IMPORTANCE
Our study underscores that wastewater discharged from households and wet markets carries antibiotic-resistant organisms from both human and animal sources. Thus, direct disposal of wastewater into the environment not only threatens human health but also endangers food safety by facilitating the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to surface water, crops, vegetables, and subsequently to food-producing animals. In regions with intensive poultry production heavily reliant on the prophylactic use of antibiotics, compounded by inadequate waste management systems, such as Bangladesh, the ramifications are particularly pronounced. Wastewater serves as a pivotal juncture for the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant organisms and functions as a pathway through which strains of human and animal origin can infiltrate the environment and potentially colonize new hosts. Further research is needed to thoroughly characterize wastewater isolates/populations and understand their potential impact on interconnected environments, communities, and wildlife.
SMARCA4alterations in non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wankhede Durgesh , Grover Sandeep , Hofman Paul 
Published: May 2024

AimsA mutation in theSMARCA4gene which encodes BRG1, a common catalytic subunit of switch/sucrose non-fermentable chromatin-remodelling complexes, plays a vital role in carcinogenesis.SMARCA4mutations are present in approximately 10% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), making it a crucial gene in NSCLC, but with varying prognostic associations. To explore this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prognostic significance ofSMARCA4mutations in NSCLC.MethodsElectronic database search was performed from inception to December 2022. Study characteristics and prognostic data were extracted from each eligible study. Depending on heterogeneity, pooled HR and 95% CI were derived using the random-effects or fixed-effects models.Results8 studies (11 cohorts) enrolling 8371 patients were eligible for inclusion. Data on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were available from 8 (10 cohorts) and 1 (3 cohorts) studies, respectively. ComparingSMARCA4-mutated NSCLC patients withSMARCA4-wild-type NSCLC patients, the summary HRs for OS and PFS were 1.49 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.87; I2=84%) and 3.97 (95% CI 1.32 to 11.92; I2=79%), respectively. The results from the trim-and-fill method for publication bias and sensitivity analysis were inconsistent with the primary analyses. Three studies reported NSCLC prognosis for category I and II mutations separately; category I was significantly associated with OS.ConclusionOur findings suggest thatSMARCA4mutation negatively affects NSCLC OS and PFS. The prognostic effects ofSMARCA4-co-occurring mutations and the predictive role ofSMARCA4mutation status in immunotherapy require further exploration.
View-Independent Adjoint Light Tracing for Lighting Design Optimization
Authors: Lipp Lukas , Hahn David , Ecormier-Nocca Pierre , Rist Florian , Wimmer Michael 
Published: May 2024

Differentiable rendering methods promise the ability to optimize various parameters of three-dimensional (3D) scenes to achieve a desired result. However, lighting design has so far received little attention in this field. In this article, we introduce a method that enables continuous optimization of the arrangement of luminaires in a 3D scene via differentiable light tracing. Our experiments show two major issues when attempting to apply existing methods from differentiable path tracing to this problem: First, many rendering methods produce images, which restricts the ability of a designer to define lighting objectives to image space. Second, most previous methods are designed for scene geometry or material optimization and have not been extensively tested for the case of optimizing light sources. Currently available differentiable ray-tracing methods do not provide satisfactory performance, even on fairly basic test cases in our experience. In this article, we propose, to the best of our knowledge, a novel adjoint light tracing method that overcomes these challenges and enables gradient-based lighting design optimization in a view-independent (camera-free) way. Thus, we allow the user to paint illumination targets directly onto the 3D scene or use existing baked illumination data (e.g., light maps). Using modern ray-tracing hardware, we achieve interactive performance. We find light tracing advantageous over path tracing in this setting, as it naturally handles irregular geometry, resulting in less noise and improved optimization convergence. We compare our adjoint gradients to state-of-the-art image-based differentiable rendering methods. We also demonstrate that our gradient data works with various common optimization algorithms, providing good convergence behaviour. Qualitative comparisons with real-world scenes underline the practical applicability of our method.