bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aeron vs. Gaming Chair - Performance, Perception and Muscle Stiffness in Video Game Players: A Comparative Investigation
Authors: DiFrancisco-Donoghue Joanne , Zwibel Hallie , Werner William G 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study compared an Aeron office chair and a commercial gaming chair (GC) on muscle stiffness (MS), performance, and perceptions during a 2-hour gaming session.Thirty-three esports players (23 ± 4.9) signed consent to participate in this mixed-methods randomized study. Subjects played League of Legends (LoL) in a controlled environment for two 2-hour sessions. MS was measured using oscillation frequency. Investigators recorded evaluations, game statistics, and player perceptions.Descriptive statistics showed lower MS in the thoracic and lumbar region (left -4.4% vs. 0.32%; -2.7% vs. -2.1%; right 0.2% vs. 8.3%; 7% vs. 10.8%). The upper shoulder was higher in the GC only on the right (9.2% vs. -6.4; left 4.7 vs. 7.5). Most participants preferred the GC (58%), and players won 25% more and achieved 15% more kills in the GC.The GC exhibited lower levels of muscle stiffness in the thoracic and lumbar regions. This data suggests that the GC is the preferred choice among this group of LoL gamers and is associated with enhanced performance.
The impact of measures set by national regulatory authority to enhance affordability of medicines in Sudan: when good intention leads to worse outcomes
Authors: Ali Gamal Khalafalla Mohamed , Abuelrish Yasir Abubaker Mohamed , Alfadl Abubakr Abdelraouf , Shigidi Mohamed Abdelrahman Mohamed 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this paper is to assess the impact of the measures and procedures imposed by the National Medicines and Poisons Board (NMPB) on the availability of safe, effective and quality medicines of affordable price on the Sudanese market.MethodsThis is a descriptive study in which pharmacists, who were responsible for the regulatory affairs within their importing and locally manufacturing medicine companies, were asked to complete a 45-question online survey using the Google application, covering relevance and challenges of medicines quality and pricing system. A link to the data collection tool website was sent to all members of the Sudanese Society of Regulatory Affairs Pharmacists through WhatsApp. The survey was available on 6th May 2020 through 6th June 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to report results.ResultsSurvey respondents were 70 regulatory affairs’ pharmacists. 38% of participants believe that the technical procedures adopted by the NMPB do not achieve the goal of establishing Medicine Regulatory Authorities as described by World Health Organization. Almost all respondents believe that Sudan current economic situation, including the scarcity of foreign currency, has greatly impacted the availability of quality-assured medicines in pharmacies. Participants said that the situation is exacerbated by the intervention of NMPB in determining the exchange rate and controlling the medicine prices.ConclusionThe NMPB should consider options for balancing patient access to quality medicines, and reasonable pricing policies that encourage the local pharmaceutical manufacturing to flourish and a steady flow of quality-assured medicines from abroad to the Sudan market.
Navigating the global egg shortage: a comprehensive study of interconnected challenges
Authors: Gunjan K , Pandey Ramendra Pati , Himanshu  , Mukherjee Riya , Chang Chung-Ming 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTPoultry eggs are a critical source of protein, vitamins, and minerals for people worldwide; facing the current global egg shortage is a significant concern. The shortage results from various factors, including avian flu outbreaks, changes in consumer demand, and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has also impacted the availability and affordability of eggs, particularly in low-income countries. The global egg shortage has implications for public health, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely on eggs for essential nutrients. One Health, an approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, provides a useful framework for understanding and addressing the egg shortage. One Health approach to the egg shortage involves collaboration between agriculture and environmental sectors to address the root causes of the lack and ensure the sustainable production and distribution of eggs. Addressing the global egg shortage requires a multifaceted approach considering the complex social, economic, and environmental factors. One Health perspective offers a way to understand and address the interconnected factors contributing to the shortage to ensure access to affordable, nutritious eggs for all in a healthy way.
Modeling the impact of optimized airflow and sick pen management on the spread of infectious diseases in swine barns
Authors: Safari Maryam , Fleming Christian , Galvis Jason A. , Deka Aniruddha , Sanchez Felipe , Machado Gustavo , Yeh Chi-An 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe airborne spread of infectious livestock diseases plays a crucial role in the propagation of epidemics, particularly in populations confined to densely populated facilities, such as commercial swine barns. Therefore, quantitative assessments for the performance of barn ventilation systems may serve as an alternative biocontainment control strategy to reduce the spread of infectious pathogens. In this study, we present a framework to simulate airborne disease dissemination within swine barns and facilitate the strategic design of control actions, including optimization of ventilation and placement of sick animals (sick pen). This framework is based on a susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model that accounts for the between-pen disease spread within swine barns. A pen-to-pen contact network is used to construct a transmission matrix according to the transport of airborne respiratory pathogens across pens in the barns, via our Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver. By employing this CFD-augmented SIR model, we demonstrated that the location of the sick pen and the barn ventilation configuration played crucial roles in modifying disease dissemination dynamics at the barn level. In addition, we examined the effect of natural ventilation through different curtain adjustments. We observed that curtain adjustments either suppress the disease spread by an average of 56.5% or exacerbate the outbreak potential by an average of 5.7%, compared to the scenario where side curtains are not raised. Furthermore, we optimize the ventilation configuration via the selection and placement of ventilation fans through the integration of the CFD-augmented framework with the genetic algorithm to minimize the dissemination of swine disease within barns. Compared to regular barn ventilation settings, our optimized ventilation system significantly reduced disease spread by an average of 43.2%. Our study emphasizes the role of airborne transmission and a strategy for sick pen management in controlling the spread of within-barn disease.
Simultaneous and Dynamic Super-Resolution Imaging of Two Proteins inArabidopsis thalianausing dual-color sptPALM
Authors: Rohr Leander , Ehinger Alexandra , Burmeister Nina Glöckner , Meixner Alfred J. , Kemmerling Birgit , Harter Klaus , Oven-Krockhaus Sven zur 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTSuper-resolution microscopy techniques have revolutionized cell biology by providing insights into the dynamics of single molecules and nanoscale organization within living cells. However, the application of dynamic live-cell methods in plants has been limited by the lack of suitable fluorophores for simultaneous visualization of multiple proteins. To address this challenge, we implemented a two-color sptPALM approach using codon-optimized photoactivatable fluorescent proteins PA-GFP and PATagRFP. Recently, we showed their individual usability in single-color experiments inNicotiana benthamianaandArabidopsis thalianacells. Here, we now demonstrate the suitability of these fluorophores and their combined use for dual-color sptPALM for the simultaneous observation of two different protein fusions in the same plant cell.
A sensorimotor enhanced neuromusculoskeletal model for simulating postural control of upright standing
Authors: Shanbhag Julian , Fleischmann Sophie , Wechsler Iris , Gassner Heiko , Winkler Jürgen , Eskofier Bjoern M. , Koelewijn Anne D. , Wartzack Sandro , Miehling Jörg 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe human’s upright standing is a complex control process that is not yet fully understood. Postural control models can provide insights into the body’s internal control processes of balance behaviour. Using physiologically plausible models can also help explaining pathophysiological motion behaviour. In this paper, we introduce a neuromusculoskeletal postural control model using sensor feedback consisting of somatosensory, vestibular and visual information. The sagittal plane model was restricted to effectively six degrees of freedom and consisted of nine muscles per leg. Physiological plausible neural delays were considered for balance control. We applied forward dynamic simulations and a single shooting approach to generate healthy reactive balance behaviour during quiet and perturbed upright standing. Control parameters were optimized to minimize muscle effort. We showed that our model is capable of fulfilling the applied tasks successfully. We observed joint angles and ranges of motion in physiological plausible ranges and comparable to experimental data. This model represents the starting point for subsequent simulation of pathophysiological postural control behaviour.
Intra-Lymph Node Crosslinking of Antigen-Bearing Polymers Enhances Humoral Immunity and Dendritic Cell Activation
Authors: Euliano Erin M. , Agrawal Anushka , Yu Marina H. , Graf Tyler P. , Henrich Emily M. , Kunkel Alyssa A. , McHugh Kevin J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLymph node (LN)-resident dendritic cells (DCs) are a promising target for vaccination given their professional antigen-presenting capabilities and proximity to a high concentration of immune cells. Direct intra-LN injection has been shown to greatly enhance the immune response to vaccine antigens compared to traditional intramuscular injection but is infeasible to implement clinically. Employing the passive lymphatic flow of antigens to target LNs has been shown to increase total antigen uptake by DCs more than inflammatory adjuvants, which recruit peripheral DCs. Herein, we describe a novel vaccination platform in which two complementary multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers—one covalently bound to the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA)—are injected subcutaneously into two distinct sites that drain to the same LN through different lymphatic vessels and, upon meeting in the LN, rapidly crosslink. This system improves OVA delivery to, and residence time within, the draining LN compared to all control groups, with the crosslinking of the two PEG components improving humoral immunity without the need for any pathogen-mimicking adjuvants. Further, we observed a significant increase in non-B/T lymphocytes in LNs cross-presenting the OVA peptide SIINFEKL on MHC I over a dose-matched control containing alum, the most common clinical adjuvant, as well as an increase in DC activation in the LN. These data suggest that this platform can be used to deliver antigens to LN-resident immune cells to produce a stronger humoral and cellular immune response over materials-matched controls without the use of traditional adjuvants.Translational Impact StatementVaccines save millions of lives each year; however, they often require more than one injection to confer protection and do not always provide long-term immunity. Transitioning from intramuscular injections to intra-lymph node injections has been shown to greatly increase immunity conferred by vaccination but is infeasible to implement clinically. Herein, we present a biomaterial-based vaccination strategy that delivers antigen to the lymph nodes after a pair of remote injections, which increases the duration of immune cell exposure to the vaccine and, consequently, enhances humoral immunity.
Defining Network Topologies that Can Achieve Molecular Memory
Authors: Sevlever F. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the context of cellular signaling and gene regulatory networks, the concept of molecular memory emerges as a crucial determinant of molecular mechanisms. This study introduces a novel memory quantifier designed to comprehensively capture and quantify the memory of a system in response to transient stimuli. We proposed and validate this quantifier through toy models, showcasing its effectiveness in systems with positive feedback loops and bistability. In addition, we develop an algorithm to assess long-term memory in circuits, leading to the identification of minimal motifs that play pivotal roles in conferring memory.The research explores the comparative impact of positive and negative feedback loops on memory, revealing that positive feedback enhances memory while certain negative feedbacks may diminish it. An intriguing finding emerges as oscillating circuits, even in the absence of positive feedback, exhibit memory, with the phase of oscillations storing information about stimulus duration.Finally, we experimentally validate the quantifier using mouse Embryonic Stem Cells (mESCs) subjected to transient differentiation stimuli. The proposed memory quantifier is applied to gene expression dynamics, revealing varying degrees of memory retention among different genes. The vectorial nature of the quantifier proves advantageous in capturing the holistic memory dynamics of the system.
Lipophilic compounds restore wt function of neurodevelopmental-associated KCNQ3 mutations
Authors: Edmond Michaela A. , Hinojo-Perez Andy , Efrem Mekedlawit , Lin Yi-Chun , Shams Iqra , Hayoz Sebastien , Cruz Alicia de la , Rodriguez Marta E. Perez , Diaz-Solares Maykelis , Dykxhoorn Derek M. , Luo Yun Lyna , Barro-Soria Rene 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA major driver of neuronal hyperexcitability is dysfunction of K+channels, including voltage-gated KCNQ2/3 channels. Their slow activation and deactivation kinetics produces a current that regulates membrane potential and impedes repetitive firing. Mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 lead to a wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), ranging from benign familial neonatal seizures to severe epileptic encephalopathies and autism spectrum disorders. However, the impact of these mutations on KCNQ channel function remains poorly understood and existing treatments have unpleasant side effects. Here we use voltage clamp fluorometry and molecular dynamic simulations to investigate how R227Q and R236C, two novel NDD-causing mutations in the voltage sensor of KCNQ3, impair channel function. We show that the two mutations perturb channel gating by two distinct mechanisms: R227Q altering voltage sensor movement and R236C altering voltage sensor-to-gate coupling. Our study further shows that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a novel class of ion channel modulators, primarily target the voltage sensor domain in its activated conformation and yield partial and complete restoration of wt function in R227Q– and R236C-containing channels, respectively. Our results reveal the potential of PUFAs to be developed into therapies for diverse KCNQ3-based channelopathies.
A physically inspired approach to coarse-graining transcriptomes reveals the dynamics of aging
Authors: Li Tao , Mani Madhav 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSingle-cell RNA sequencing has enabled the study of aging at a molecular scale. While substantial progress has been made in measuring age-related gene expression, the underlying patterns and mechanisms of aging transcriptomes remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we propose a physics-inspired, data-analysis approach to extract additional insights from single-cell RNA sequencing data. By considering the genome as a many-body interacting system, we leverage central idea of the Renormalization Group to construct an approach to hierarchically describe aging across a spectrum of scales for the gene expresion. This framework provides a quantitative language to study the multiscale patterns of aging transcriptomes. Overall, our study demonstrates the value of leveraging theoretical physics concepts like the Renormalization Group to gain new biological insights from complex high-dimensional single-cell data.
HaploSight: An alternative approach for Y chromosomal haplogroup identification
Authors: Laoprapaipan Lukkaet , Phusawang Kittichai , Laorchairangsi Peerapan , Kitnitchee Arnond , Wachirawanitchkit Hataitip , Suwanparsert Bun , Promnun Pattarapon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIdentification of Y chromosomal haplogroups holds significance in the study of human evolution. In this context, an alternative approach named HaploSight was introduced for identifying Y chromosomal haplogroups. This approach relied on the algorithm of matched and unmatched informative SNPs extracted from the reference phylogenetic tree, implemented in Python. HaploSight demonstrated high accuracy in identifying haplogroups and offered adequate depth in haplogroup analysis. Furthermore, it was compatible with various genotyping arrays, enabling users to work with both sequencing and SNPs dataset.
A maternal high-fat diet predisposes to infant lung disease via increased neutrophil-mediated IL-6 trans-signaling
Authors: Curren Bodie , Ahmed Tufael , Rashid Ridwan B. , Sebina Ismail , Sikder Md. Al Amin , Howard Daniel R. , Alorro Mariah , Ullah Md. Ashik , Bissell Alec , Rahman Muhammed Mahfuzur , Pearen Michael A. , Ramm Grant A. , Varelias Antiopi , Rose-John Stefan , Hoelzle Robert , Cuív Páraic Ó , Spann Kirsten M. , Dennis Paul G. , Phipps Simon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPoor maternal diet during pregnancy predisposes to severe lower respiratory tract infections (sLRI) in infancy, which in turn, increases childhood asthma risk, however the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the offspring of high fat diet (HFD)-fed mothers (‘HFD-reared pups’) developed a sLRI following pneumovirus inoculation in early-life and subsequent asthma in later-life upon allergen exposure. Prior to infection, HFD-reared pups developed microbial dysbiosis and low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI), characterized by hyper-granulopoiesis in the liver and elevated inflammatory cytokine expression, most notably IL-17A, IL-6 and sIL-6R (indicative of IL-6 trans-signaling) in the circulation and multiple organs, but most prominently the liver. Inhibition of IL-6 trans-signaling, using sgp130Fc transgenic mice or via specific genetic deletion of IL-6Ra on neutrophils, conferred protection against both diseases. Taken together, our findings suggest that a maternal HFD induces neonatal LGSI that predisposes to sLRI and subsequent asthma via neutrophil-mediated IL-6 trans-signaling.
Frequency of Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among University Students Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Macalli Mélissa , Castel Laura , Jacqmin-Gadda Hélène , Tournier Marie , Galéra Cédric , Pereira Edwige , Tzourio Christophe 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have had negative effects on students’ mental health. However, little information is available regarding the frequencies of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation during the post-pandemic period. We aimed to compare prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among university students, before versus after the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsIn this comparative study, 4464 students were recruited during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (2013-2020) and 1768 students, during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period (2022-2023). Standardized frequencies of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were compared between the two time periods. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the pandemic period (with the pre-COVID-19 period as reference) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.ResultsCompared to participants from the pre-pandemic sample, participants from the post-pandemic sample had higher standardized rates of depressive symptoms (40.6% vs 25.6%) and suicidal ideation (29.3% vs 21.1%). With adjustment for age, gender, university campus, scholarship, and past history of depression and suicide attempt, students in the post-pandemic period experienced more depressive symptoms (aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.67-2.13) and suicidal ideation (aOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.28-1.67) compared to students in the pre-COVID-19 era.LimitationsThe main limitations were self-selection bias and information bias due to potential over-reporting linked to media coverage, as well as measures of past history of depression and suicide attempt across the lifespan.ConclusionsThese findings reveal an alarming deterioration of students’ mental health in the post-pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic era. Pending replications in others countries, these results suggest that it is crucial to continue monitoring students’ mental health, strengthening communication on this topic, and reinforcing university mental healthcare systems.
Early warning signals observed in motor activity preceding mood state change in bipolar disorder
Authors: Jakobsen Petter , Côté-Allard Ulysse , Riegler Michael Alexander , Stabell Lena Antonsen , Stautland Andrea , Nordgreen Tine , Torresen Jim , Fasmer Ole Bernt , Oedegaard Ketil Joachim 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundAlterations in motor activity are well-established symptoms of bipolar disorder, and time series of motor activity can be considered complex dynamical systems. In such systems, early warning signals (EWS) occur in a critical transition period preceding a sudden shift (tipping point) in the system. EWS are statistical observations occurring due to a system’s declining ability to maintain homeostasis when approaching a tipping point. The aim was to identify critical transition periods preceding bipolar mood state changes.MethodsParticipants with a validated bipolar diagnosis were included to a one-year follow-up study, with repeated assessments of the participants’ mood. Motor activity was recorded continuously by a wrist-worn actigraph. Participants assessed to have relapsed during follow-up were analyzed. Recognized EWS features were extracted from the motor activity data and analyzed by an unsupervised change point detection algorithm, capable of processing multi-dimensional data and developed to identify when the statistical property of a time series changes.ResultsOf 49 participants, four depressive and four hypomanic/manic relapses among six individuals occurred, recording actigraphy for 23.8 ± 0.2 hours/day, for 39.8 ± 4.6 days. The algorithm detected change points in the time series and identified critical transition periods spanning 13.5 ± 7.2 days. For depressions 11.4 ± 1.8, and hypomania/mania 15.6 ± 10.2 days.ConclusionThe change point detection algorithm seems capable of recognizing impending mood episodes in continuous flowing data streams. Hence, we present an innovative method for forecasting approaching relapses to improve the clinical management of bipolar disorder.