bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hormonal Contraceptive Use and Self-Reported Menstrual Cycle-Related Symptom Frequency and Severity in Norwegian Team Handball Players of Different Competition Levels
Authors: Osborne John O. , Andersson Erik P. , Pedersen Sigurd , Welde Boye , Arne Pettersen Svein , Emaus Aina , Solli Guro Strøm , Gunnarshaug Tora Vilje D. , Engseth Tina Pettersen 
Published: February 2025

Purpose: To compare the frequency and severity of self-perceived negative symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle or hormonal-contraceptive (HC) cycle between (1) HC users and non–HC users and (2) different competition levels. An additional aim was to describe the rate and type of HC use and prevalence of potential menstrual-cycle disturbances in female team handball players. Methods: A total of 136 team handball players, competing at different levels (international, 48; national, 52; local/regional, 36), completed a cross-sectional survey regarding self-reported negative cycle-related symptom frequency and severity, perceived influence on training/competition performance, menstrual function, and current and/or past HC use. Results: Although most players regularly experienced negative cycle-related symptoms, non–HC users reported more frequent and severe cramps (P = .001 to .026), as well as a higher occurrence of fatigue and skin problems (P = .019 to .045), compared with HC users. Negative symptoms such as fatigue were more common and severe for local/regional-level players compared with players at higher (international) competition levels (P = .006–.046). Half (47%) of the players currently used HC, primarily long-acting reversible contraceptives (52%), as well as the combined oral (33%) or progestin-only pill (14%). Notably, only 2% of players altered their training in response to negative cycle-related symptoms, despite 41% perceiving that these symptoms interfered with training quality and athletic performance. Conclusions: Negative cycle-related symptoms are common among team handball players, regardless of HC use, and are perceived by many players to adversely influence their athletic performance.
How Does Push-Off Distance Influence Force–Velocity Profile and Performance During Vertical Jumping?
Authors: Pommerell Félicie , Boyas Sébastien , Samozino Pierre , Morel Baptiste , Begue Jérémie , Rahmani Abderrahmane , Peyrot Nicolas 
Published: February 2025

In many sports, practitioners must reach their maximal jump height (hmax) under time constraints. This requires a reduction of the countermovement depth and so of the push-off distance (hPO). The purpose of this study was to investigate how hPO influences force–velocity (F–v) profiles (, , , and SFv) and performance. Eleven participants (age: 26 [5] y, height: 175.6 [11.2] cm, mass: 76 [15] kg; squat 1RM: 129 [34] kg) performed maximal countermovement jumps. Kinetic and kinematic measurements were used to assess individual F–v profiles for 3 different hPO conditions (hPO-SMALL, hPO-MEDIUM, hPO-LARGE) from countermovement jumps performed under different load conditions (bodyweight [BW], BW + 8 kg, BW + 17 kg, BW + 40%1RM, BW + 70%1RM). Results indicated that and changed across hPO conditions, while remained constant. A lower hPO led to a significantly higher and . These changes resulted in a steeper SFv leading to a more force-oriented profile, a lower optimal SFv and a greater F–v imbalance. Reducing hPO and modifying F–v profile led, to some extent, to a reduction in hmax. Performance is a compromise between hPO, , and F–v imbalance, all influenced by countermovement depth. This explains why reducing countermovement depth to meet time constraint may lower performance.
The Impact of Physical Activity Behavior Change Training for Preprofessional Health Students—A Systematic Review
Authors: Lehman Emily , Healy Genevieve N. , Forbes Roma , Phillips Mia , Gilbert Casey , Gomersall Sjaan R. 
Published: February 2025

Background: Health professionals play a crucial role in promoting physical activity, but the impact of physical activity behavior change training on preprofessional health students is underresearched. This systematic review examined the impact of such training for preprofessional health students. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINAHL up to October 2024. Included studies reported training interventions for preprofessional health students, with outcomes related to changes in knowledge, skills, confidence, and attitudes/intentions toward physical activity promotion. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies published in English, excluding qualitative studies, reviews, study protocols, and grey literature. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool was used to assess risk of bias. A narrative synthesis was conducted due to study heterogeneity, with meta-analysis not feasible. The review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42023428847). Results: Sixteen studies from 8 countries were included (median duration: 23 weeks), featuring training approaches such as theoretical, practical, or mixed learning. Participants included medical, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, or other health-related degree students. All studies reported positive effects on knowledge, skills, confidence, or attitudes. Approaches combining theoretical and practical components yielded higher improvements in knowledge and confidence compared with single-component approaches. Risk of bias was high in 12/16 studies. Conclusions: Training preprofessional health students in physical activity support and behavior change can enhance their knowledge, skills, confidence, or attitudes in this area. Variability in methods and risk of bias in the included studies necessitate caution in interpretation. Assessment of long-term training impacts on both preprofessional health students and patient outcomes is needed.
Intrasession and Intersession Reliability of Neck Retraction Strength Using a Strain Gauge Device
Authors: Burkitt Josh , Ryan Chloe , Ye-Lee Dana , Cronin John 
Published: February 2025

Neck pain ranks among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions and is commonly accompanied by altered physical function. With 10.8% of sports-related injuries affecting the head and neck, evaluating neck strength is vital for detecting muscle weakness and monitoring rehabilitation progress. The purpose of this study was to determine the intrasession and intersession reliability of a strain gauge for measuring neck retraction strength in healthy adult men. Ten male participants (age, 22.7 [2.6] y; body mass, 90.8 [13.3] kg; height, 184.2 [7.1] cm) completed a neck retraction isometric test across 3 testing occasions separated by 7 days. Contraction duration, peak and mean force, impulse, and peak rate of force development were quantified within and between sessions. Contraction duration, peak force, and impulse demonstrated moderate to excellent intra- (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] [3,1] = .72–.98, coefficient of variation [CV] = 2.7%–2.1%) and intersession reliability (ICC [3,k] = .66–.89, CV = 4.8%–7.1%); however, only acceptable intrasession reliability was found for peak rate of force development and mean force (ICC = .71–.99, CV = 3.4%–22.7%). It appears that a portable fixed strain gauge can be used to reliably measure neck retraction strength in a healthy male population.
Cartilage Deformation, Outcomes, and Running Force Comparisons in Females With and Without Knee Injuries
Authors: Cattano Nicole M. , Magee Danielle , Clark Kenneth P. , Smith John 
Published: February 2025

Context: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a known risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Since no disease-modifying treatments for OA exist, it is critical to understand joint responses to physical activity following an ACLR. Understanding knee cartilage deformation through ultrasound may provide a better understanding of how knee cartilage responds to running, and how this may contribute to OA pathophysiology and risk. Objective: To compare medial femoral cartilage deformation, outcomes, and forces during running in females with and without a unilateral ACLR knee. Design: Cross-sectional laboratory study. Methods: Sixteen females (8 ACLR history, 8 controls) participated. ACLR participants had an average age of 20.75 (1.83) years, height of 165.07 (7.43) cm, mass of 65.97 (8.55) kg, and were 36.13 (18.74) months postsurgery; controls had an average age of 20.62 (1.84) years, height of 166.00 (5.76) cm, and mass of 63.18 (4.94) kg. Independent variables were group and limb, with dependent variables including patient reported outcomes Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), medial femoral cartilage thickness changes, and indirect measures of stance-averaged vertical ground reaction forces and vertical rate of loading normalized to body weight during treadmill running. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics with significance defined as P ≤ .05. Results: All participants exhibited cartilage thickness reduction after 30 minutes of running (P < .001), with no significant group or limb differences in cartilage deformation, vertical ground reaction forces, or vertical rate of loading. ACLR participants reported significantly poorer patient reported outcome scores across all KOOS subscales. Moderate negative correlations were found between involved cartilage percent change and KOOS Symptoms (P = .025) and Sport/Rec (P = .043). Conclusions: Cartilage thickness significantly decreased in all participants after running, with no group or limb differences observed despite lower patient-reported outcomes in the ACLR group. Exploring the relationship between KOOS scores and cartilage response to activity may inform future research and strategies to mitigate OA risk.
Borrelia burgdorferi
loses essential genetic elements and cell proliferative potential during stationary phase in culture but not in the tick vector
Authors: Zhang Jessica , Takacs Constantin N. , McCausland Joshua W. , Mueller Elizabeth A. , Buron Jeline , Thappeta Yashna , Wachter Jenny , Rosa Patricia A. , Jacobs-Wagner Christine 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

The Lyme disease agent
Borrelia burgdorferi
is a polyploid bacterium with a segmented genome in which both the chromosome and over 20 distinct plasmids are present in multiple copies per cell. This pathogen can survive for at least 9 months in its tick vector in an apparent dormant state between blood meals, without losing cell proliferative capability when re-exposed to nutrients. Cultivated
B. burgdorferi
cells grown to stationary phase or resuspended in nutrient-limited media are often used to study the effects of nutrient deprivation. However, a thorough assessment of the spirochete’s ability to recover from nutrient depletion has been lacking. Our study shows that starved
B. burgdorferi
cultures rapidly lose cell proliferative ability. Loss of genetic elements essential for cell proliferation contributes to the observed proliferative defect in stationary phase. The gradual decline in copies of genetic elements is not perfectly synchronized between chromosomes and plasmids, generating cells that harbor one or more copies of the essential chromosome but lack all copies of one or more non-essential plasmids. This phenomenon likely contributes to the well-documented issue of plasmid loss during
in vitro
cultivation of
B. burgdorferi
. In contrast,
B. burgdorferi
cells from ticks starved for 14 months showed no evidence of reduced cell proliferative ability or plasmid loss. Beyond their practical implications for studying
B. burgdorferi
, these findings suggest that the midgut of the tick vector offers a unique environment that supports the maintenance of
B. burgdorferi
’s segmented genome and cell proliferative potential during periods of tick fasting.

IMPORTANCE

Borrelia burgdorferi
causes Lyme disease, a prevalent tick-borne illness.
B. burgdorferi
must survive long periods (months to a year) of apparent dormancy in the midgut of the tick vector between blood meals. Resilience to starvation is a common trait among bacteria. However, this study reveals that, in laboratory cultures,
B. burgdorferi
poorly endures starvation and rapidly loses viability. This decline is linked to a gradual loss of genetic elements required for cell proliferation. These results suggest that the persistence of
B. burgdorferi
in nature is likely shaped more by unique environmental conditions in the midgut of the tick vector than by an innate ability of this bacterium to endure nutrient deprivation.
Capsular polysaccharide enables
Klebsiella pneumoniae
to evade phagocytosis by blocking host-bacteria interactions
Authors: Liu Xiaoxuan , Xu Qi , Yang Xuemei , Heng Heng , Yang Chen , Yang Guan , Peng Mingxiu , Chan Edward Wai-Chi , Chen Sheng 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Capsule polysaccharide (CPS) is among the most important virulence factors of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. Previous studies demonstrated that CPS plays multiple functional roles, but the mechanism by which this virulence factor enhances the survival fitness of
K. pneumoniae
remains unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that CPS is the main cellular component that not only elicits the host immune response to
K. pneumoniae
but also enables this pathogen to survive for a prolonged period under adverse environmental conditions. Consistently, our
in vitro
experiments suggest that CPS prevents
K. pneumoniae
from phagocytosis, rendering the encapsulated strain more difficult to be eradicated by the host. We also found that phagocytosis of
K. pneumoniae
is partially mediated by LOX-1, a scavenger receptor of the host, and that CPS may impede interaction between LOX-1 and this pathogenic bacteria, therefore reducing the phagocytosis process. These findings provide insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of this important clinical pathogen and should facilitate the design of new strategies to combat
K. pneumoniae
infections.

IMPORTANCE

Klebsiella pneumoniae
has become one of the most important clinical bacterial pathogens due to its evolution into hyperresistant and hypervirulent phenotypes. The mechanism of virulence of this pathogen is not well understood, particularly because it differs from other
Enterobacteriaceae
pathogens such as
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella
. The capsule polysaccharide (CPS) of this pathogen is well recognized for contributing to the virulence of
K. pneumoniae
, but the exact mechanisms underlying its contribution are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that CPS does not directly contribute to the host response; rather, it forms an external coat that blocks host recognition and prevents immune cells from binding to receptor proteins on
K. pneumoniae
, thus inhibiting phagocytosis, which makes it more challenging for the body to fight off infections. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for developing new treatments against
K. pneumoniae
infections, ultimately improving patient outcomes and public health.
A type-specific B-cell epitope at the apex of outer surface protein C (OspC) of the Lyme disease spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
Authors: Vance David J. , Freeman-Gallant Grace , McCarthy Kathleen , Piazza Carol Lyn , Chen Yang , Vorauer Clint , Muriuki Beatrice , Rudolph Michael J. , Cavacini Lisa , Guttman Miklos , Mantis Nicholas J. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Broadly protective immunity to the Lyme disease spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
, is constrained by antibodies against type-specific epitopes on outer surface protein C (OspC), a homodimeric helix-rich lipoprotein essential for early stages of spirochete dissemination in vertebrate hosts. However, the molecular basis for type-specific immunity has not been fully elucidated. In this report, we produced and characterized an OspC mouse monoclonal antibody, 8C1, that recognizes native and recombinant OspC type A (OspC
A
) but not OspC type B or K. Epitope mapping by hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) localized 8C1’s epitope to a protruding ridge on the apex of OspC
A
α-helix 3 (residues 130–150) previously known to be an immunodominant region of the molecule. Alanine scanning pinpointed 8C1’s core binding motif to a solvent exposed patch consisting of residues K
141
, H
142
, T
143
, and D
144
. Analysis of 26 Lyme disease-positive serum samples confirmed human antibody reactivity with this region of OspC
A
, with residues E
140
and D
144
as being the most consequential. Our results underscore the importance of α-helix 3 as a target of type-specific epitopes on OspC
A
that should be taken into consideration in Lyme disease vaccine design.

IMPORTANCE

A central challenge in the development of vaccines against Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne infection in the United States, is the antigenically variable nature of the lipoproteins displayed on the surface of the disease-causing spirochete,
Borreliella burgdorferi
. For example, antibodies against one type of outer surface protein C (OspC), a lipoprotein involved in
B. burgdorferi
transmission and early stages of infection, may have little or no cross reactivity with another seemingly closely related variant of OspC, thereby hampering the use of a single OspC type as a vaccine antigen. For the sake of vaccine design, it is critical to identify the specific epitopes on OspC that both restrict and enable cross-reactivity.
Potential for Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns in the Kish Basin, offshore Ireland
Authors: Byrne Keith , White James , O'Neill Nick , Irwin Samuel , Mitchinson Alice 
Published: February 2025

This study, completed in 2023, is the first to assess the hydrogen storage potential within manmade salt caverns off the coast of Ireland, representing an innovative use of existing data to support the renewable energy industry, in particular the storage of green hydrogen, and the potential for net energy export solutions. The research involved detailed interpretation of legacy petroleum industry well and seismic data combined with a review of potential geohazards and environmental constraints using data acquired by the Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource project (INFOMAR) and other relevant bodies of information.
The salt occurrence subsurface in the Kish Basin is extensive and is sufficiently thick and at the optimum depth for the creation of manmade salt caverns for hydrogen storage. Over 270 potential salt cavern locations have been identified across the study area.

A surface constraints mapping exercise has reviewed shipping density, archaeological heritage, telecommunications and fishing activity, allowing a spatial overview of constraints layers with potential cavern locations. An area underlying the planned Dublin Array wind farm has been high graded, with the potential for at least 8 caverns at up to 146 GWh
H2
of storage each, representing approximately 1 TWh
H2
of storage. Watt hours of hydrogen (Wh
H2
) is the standard unit of energy used to define hydrogen storage projects.
Case Report and Literature Review of Conjunctival Melanoma in the Black Population
Authors: Chen Oscar , Kayarian Fae , Kelly Elaine , Grostern Richard J. , Tannan Anjali 
Published: February 2025

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of conjunctival melanoma (CM) in a black male patient and provide a comprehensive literature review of all documented cases of CM in the black population.Methods: A case report highlighting a black patient with newly diagnosed CM was described. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to determine the prevalence of CM in the black population.Results: Extensive CM in situ in a 46‐year‐old black male patient was treated with excision and cryotherapy. The patient subsequently required repeat cryotherapy and topical Mitomycin C therapy due to a recurrence of pigmentation. A literature review identified 46 cases of CM in the black population.Conclusions: CM has rarely been observed in the black population. With this current case report, there are only 47 black patients found in the literature with this ocular surface tumor. Further detailed documentation on the presentation, location, and outcomes of CM in this population is imperative to better screen and treat this demographic.
Prevalence of Mismatch Repair Deficiency in Primary Prostate Cancer in a Large Prospective Cohort
Authors: McNevin Ciara S. , Keogh Anna , Mohammed Nur Mutaz , McGovern Brianán , McFadden Julie , Baird Anne-Marie , Cadoo Karen , Mc Carron Sarah , O’Brien Cathal , Barr Martin P. , Gray Steven G. , Sheils Orla , Sutton Lesley A. , Flanagan Sinéad , Mucci Lorelei A. , Stopsack Konrad H. , Finn Stephen P. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Background: Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and microsatellite instability are predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response. The best approach to identify patients with such tumors is unclear in prostate cancer. Methods: This study included 1,016 men diagnosed with primary prostate cancer during prospective follow-up of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Physicians’ Health Study. Highest-grade/index lesions from radical prostatectomy (95%) or transurethral resections of the prostate were mounted on tissue microarrays. Scoring of immunohistochemistry for the MMR proteins MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 required a non-tumor internal positive control for designating deficiency. Validation was done on full sections and with PCR-based quantification of microsatellite repeats. Results: Tumor stage was predominantly pathologically localized with a full distribution of Gleason scores. MMR tumor scoring could be performed with available internal positive control tissue in 75%–90% of cases, depending on the MMR protein. Of the 903 tumors evaluable for MSH2 protein loss, 4 tumors had loss of MSH2 (prevalence 0.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2–1.1%), and 3 of 708 evaluable tumors had concomitant loss of MSH6 (prevalence 0.4%, 95% CI 0.1–1.2%). No tumor had loss of MLH1 or PMS2. The 4 MMR-deficient cases had higher Gleason scores, and 3 had non-zero microsatellite repeats. Conclusions: In this nationwide prospective study, MMR deficiency was rare in primary, surgically treated prostate cancer. The low prevalence and the need for an internal positive control for this assay are feasibility concerns for unselected routine immunohistochemistry-based screening for MMR deficiency on limited tissue specimens, such as prostate biopsies.