bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kinematic Investigation of Healthy, Arthritic, and Postsurgery Thumbs: Is the Metacarpophalangeal Joint the Gateway to Carpometacarpal Arthritis?
Authors: Chrzan Adam J. , Arnold Nicole D. , Chan Kevin , Hess Daniel E. , Duquette Stephen P. , Hinkelman Levi L. , Kelpin John , Bush Tamara Reid 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint is one of the most likely joints to develop osteoarthritis (OA). If conservative treatments fail to alleviate symptoms, surgery may be pursued. Kinematic outcomes of CMC surgery techniques have been described, but current tools have limitations in capturing motion abilities. The goals of this study were (1) develop a new and robust set of kinematic outcome measures, and apply them to (2) a cohort of younger and older control individuals without CMC OA to determine age and sex-related changes, and (3) a cohort of participants with CMC OA before, 3 months, and 6 months after undergoing thumb ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition surgery to detect the impacts of surgery. 52 (26 males, 26 females) control and 18 (3 males, 15 females) surgical participants were tested. Kinematics were investigated using motion capture by mapping the three-dimensional motion space of the whole thumb, and two-dimensional motion boundaries of the metacarpal (MC) and proximal phalange (PP). Visual analog pain score was recorded. Older control participants had shifted regions of motion compared to younger participants (p ≤ 0.027), suggesting asymptomatic CMC wear. Control females had 31% more metacarpophalangeal (MCP) motion than control males (p = 0.013), which could alter loading paths through the CMC joint and increase OA risk. Pain at 6 months postsurgery was 72% less than presurgery (p &lt; 0.001), but motion abilities were 20–28% less than presurgery (p ≤ 0.074) and 24–40% less than control participants (p ≤ 0.066). These techniques have the possibility of identifying presymptomatic motion changes, including those at the metacarpophalangeal joint in CMC OA progression.
Overall Cooling Effectiveness With Internal Serpentine Channels and Optimized Film Cooling Holes
Authors: Yoon Christopher , Flachs Elise M. , Ellinger Molly E. , Bogard David G. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The overall cooling effectiveness for gas turbine airfoils is a function of the combined cooling due to internal cooling configurations and film cooling configurations. Typically, film cooling configurations are evaluated independent of the cooling effects of the internal feed channels, generally based on adiabatic effectiveness measurements. In this study, we consider the coupled effects of internal cooling and film cooling configurations through measurements of overall cooling effectiveness for film cooling holes fed by a coflow/counterflow channel and a serpentine channel. A film cooling hole designed by adjoint optimization techniques (X-AOpt) is compared to a standard-shaped hole with 7 deg forward and lateral expansions (7-7-7 SI). Experiments without film cooling showed that the serpentine channel had 35–50% greater overall cooling effectiveness than the straight, coflow channel. Experiments with the X-AOpt hole combined with a serpentine channel showed an area-averaged overall cooling effectiveness of ϕ¯¯=0.58, which was a 70% increase compared to the overall cooling effectiveness of the serpentine channel without film cooling. When the X-AOpt hole was fed with a coflow channel with similar coolant mass flowrate, the overall cooling effectiveness was ϕ¯¯=0.44, i.e., 30% lower than when using the serpentine channel. Interestingly, adiabatic effectiveness measurements with the X-AOpt holes showed a more uniform hole-to-hole performance when using the serpentine channel compared to the coflow channel.
Countermovement-Jump and Pull-Up Performance Before and After a Swimming Race in Preparatory and Competitive Phases of a Swimming Season
Authors: Gonzalez-Rave José M. , Sorgente Vincenzo , Agudo-Ortega Aaron , Rodrigo-Carranza Víctor , Psycharakis Stelios , Turner Anthony P. 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Monitoring performance athletes’ training responses can be efficiently completed at competitive events. This study aimed to explore the changes in swimming, countermovement-jump (CMJ), and pull-up (PU) performance following training across a competitive phase, as well as immediately before and after each race. Methods: Fourteen well-trained male sprint/middle-distance swimmers (height 179 [7] cm, mass 70 [8] kg, age 18 [2] y), from 3 regional training groups, completed CMJ and PU tests before and after the national competitions in October and May, when race performance was also assessed. Results: Swimming race performance was significantly improved from before the national competitions in October to after the national competitions in May (1.8% [3.2%], P = .044, d = 0.60, moderate effect). Although there were no significant changes in PU velocity, CMJ performance significantly improved from before the national competitions in October to after the national competitions in May (mean difference 2.29 cm, P = .004, d = 3.52) and showed before-to-after race decreases (mean difference −1.64 cm, P = .04, d = 2.28). Conclusion: Swimming performance and CMJ performance improved as the season progressed, although these improvements were not directly correlated. PU performance did not appear to be sensitive to training or race-induced fatigue, in contrast to CMJ, in this group of male swimmers.
Plasmalogen, a glycerophospholipid crucial for
Streptococcus mutans
acid tolerance and colonization
Authors: Mu Rong , Momeni Stephanie , Krieger Madeline , Xie Baotong , Cao Xixi , Merritt Justin , Wu Hui 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Plasmalogen is a specific glycerophospholipid present in both animal and bacterial organisms. It plays a crucial function in eukaryotic cellular processes and is closely related to several human diseases, including neurological disorders and cancers. Nonetheless, the precise biological role of plasmalogen in bacteria is not well understood. In this study, we identified SMU_438c as the enzyme responsible for plasmalogen production in
Streptococcus mutans
under anaerobic conditions. The heterologous expression of SMU_438c in a plasmalogen-negative strain,
Streptococcus sanguinis
, resulted in the production of plasmalogen, indicating that this enzyme is sufficient for plasmalogen production. Additionally, the plasmalogen-deficient
S. mutans
exhibited significantly lower acid tolerance and diminished its colonization in
Drosophila
flies compared to the wild-type strain and complemented strain. In summary, our data suggest that plasmalogen plays a vital role in bacterial stress tolerance and
in vivo
colonization.

IMPORTANCE

This study sheds light on the biological role of plasmalogen, a specific glycerophospholipid, in bacteria, particularly in
Streptococcus mutans
. Plasmalogens are known for their significant roles in eukaryotic cells and have been linked to human diseases like neurological disorders and cancers. The enzyme SMU_438c, identified as essential for plasmalogen production under anaerobic conditions, was crucial for acid tolerance and
in vivo
colonization in
Drosophila
by
S. mutans
, underscoring its importance in bacterial stress response and colonization. These findings bridge the knowledge gap in bacterial physiology, highlighting plasmalogen’s role in microbial survival and offering potential insights into microbial pathogenesis and host–microbe interactions.
Cryogenic electron tomography reveals novel structures in the apical complex of
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Sun Stella Y. , Segev-Zarko Li-av , Pintilie Grigore D. , Kim Chi Yong , Staggers Sophia R. , Schmid Michael F. , Egan Elizabeth S. , Chiu Wah , Boothroyd John C. 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Intracellular infectious agents, like the malaria parasite,
Plasmodium falciparum
, face the daunting challenge of how to invade a host cell. This problem may be even harder when the host cell in question is the enucleated red blood cell, which lacks the host machinery co-opted by many pathogens for internalization. Evolution has provided
P. falciparum
and related single-celled parasites within the phylum Apicomplexa with a collection of organelles at their apical end that mediate invasion. This apical complex includes at least two sets of secretory organelles, micronemes and rhoptries, and several structural features like apical rings and a putative pore through which proteins may be introduced into the host cell during invasion. We perform cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) equipped with Volta Phase Plate on isolated and vitrified merozoites to visualize the apical machinery. Through tomographic reconstruction of cellular compartments, we see new details of known structures like the rhoptry tip interacting directly with a rosette resembling the recently described rhoptry secretory apparatus (RSA)
,
or with an apical vesicle docked beneath the RSA. Subtomogram averaging reveals that the apical rings have a fixed number of repeating units, each of which is similar in overall size and shape to the units in the apical rings of tachyzoites of
Toxoplasma gondii
. Comparison of these polar rings in
Plasmodium
and
Toxoplasma
parasites also reveals them to have a structurally conserved assembly pattern. These results provide new insight into the essential and structurally conserved features of this remarkable machinery used by apicomplexan parasites to invade their respective host cells.

IMPORTANCE

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus
Plasmodium
and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Upon infection,
Plasmodium
parasites invade and replicate in red blood cells, where they are largely protected from the immune system. To enter host cells, the parasites employ a specialized apparatus at their anterior end. In this study, advanced imaging techniques like cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) and Volta Phase Plate enable unprecedented visualization of whole
Plasmodium falciparum
merozoites, revealing previously unknown structural details of their invasion machinery. Key findings include new insights into the structural conservation of apical rings shared between
Plasmodium
and its apicomplexan cousin,
Toxoplasma
. These discoveries shed light on the essential and conserved elements of the invasion machinery used by these pathogens. Moreover, the research provides a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying parasite-host interactions, potentially informing strategies for combating diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites.
High-quality draft genome of Gammaproteobacterial SUP05 cluster from non-buoyant hydrothermal plumes of ultraslow spreading Gakkel Ridge (Central Arctic Ocean)
Authors: Scilipoti Stefano , Molari Massimiliano 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Hydrothermal plumes are an important yet understudied component of deep-sea microbial ecosystems. We report metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of three Bacteria belonging to the Gammaproteobacterial SUP05 cluster (family
Thioglobaceae
), assembled from the metagenomes of two non-buoyant hydrothermal plumes in the ultraslow spreading Gakkel Ridge.
PNPLA3fatty liver allele was fixed in Neanderthals and segregates neutrally in humans
Authors: Geier Andreas , Trost Jonas , Wang Ke , Schmid Clemens , Krawczyk Marcin , Schiffels Stephan 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveFat deposition is modulated by environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Genome-wide association studies identifiedPNPLA3p.I148M (rs738409) as a common variant that increases risk of developing liver steatosis. When and how this variant evolved in humans has not been studied to date.DesignHere we analyse ancient DNA to track the history of this allele throughout human history. In total, 6444 published ancient (modern humans, Neanderthal, Denisovan) and 3943 published present day genomes were used for analysis after extracting genotype calls forPNPLA3p.I148M. To quantify changes through time, logistic and, by grouping individuals according to geography and age, linear regression analyses were performed.ResultsWe find that archaic human individuals (Neanderthal, Denisovan) exclusively carried a fixedPNPLA3risk allele, whereas allele frequencies in modern human populations range from very low in Africa to >50% in Mesoamerica. Over the last 15 000 years, distributions of ancestral and derived alleles roughly match the present day distribution. Logistic regression analyses did not yield signals of natural selection during the last 10 000 years.ConclusionArchaic human individuals exclusively carried a fixedPNPLA3allele associated with fatty liver, whereas allele frequencies in modern human populations are variable even in the oldest samples. Our observation might underscore the advantage of fat storage in cold climate and particularly for Neanderthal under ice age conditions. The absent signals of natural selection during modern human history does not support the thrifty gene hypothesis in case ofPNPLA3p.I148M.
Joint online distance learning to complement postgraduate pathology training in preparation for national board examinations
Authors: de Leng Bas , Helle Laura , Jokelainen Otto , Kainulainen Mikko , Kronqvist Pauliina , Mol Christian , Pawelka Friedrich , Pohjanen Vesa-Matti , Vincken Koen 
Published: March 2024

AimsTo meet the flexible learning needs of pathology residents preparing for national board examinations, a joint distance learning approach was developed using both asynchronous and synchronous activities with whole slide images, drawing on empirical educational research on online distance learning.MethodsIn a case study of an implementation of the designed joint distance learning approach with a geographically dispersed group of pathology residents in Finland, the participants’ perceptions were measured with a 12-item questionnaire covering the value of the learning opportunity, the quality of the sociocognitive processes and their emotional engagement and social cohesion. Communication during the online session was also recorded and analysed to provide objectivity to the self-report data.ResultsThe effectiveness of joint online learning for knowledge acquisition and preparation for national board examinations was highly rated. However, despite strong emotional engagement during synchronous activities, participants reported minimal interpersonal interaction, which was also reflected in the recordings of the online session.ConclusionUsing a technology integration framework and guided by the principles of self-determination theory, joint distance learning is emerging as a beneficial addition to postgraduate pathology programmes in preparation for national examinations. However, to realise the full potential of interpersonal interaction, participants should be prepared for an appropriate mindset.
Socioeconomic disparities in diet and physical activity in children: evidence from well-child visit electronic health records in the Canary Islands, Spain
Authors: Rodriguez-Mireles Silvia , Lopez-Valcarcel Beatriz G , Galdos-Arias Patricia , Perez-Diaz Enrique , Serra-Majem Lluis 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundDiet and physical activity (PA) in childhood are heavily influenced by the living environment. While diet quality follows a socioeconomic pattern, limited evidence is available in relation to PA in children. We assessed the effect of socioeconomic status at the individual (SES) and neighbourhood (NSES) levels on diet and PA among children from the general population of the Canary Islands, Spain.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, patients aged 6–14 years from the Canary Health Service in 2018 were included (n=89 953). Diet and PA surveys from the electronic health records of the well-child visit programme were used. A healthy habits (HH) score was defined to assess the level of adherence to the dietary and leisure time PA guidelines. We modelled the association between the HH score, SES and NSES using a stepwise multilevel linear regression analysis, differentiating between specific and general contextual observational effects.ResultsA strong positive association between SES and the HH score was found, as children living in more affluent families were more likely to follow a healthy diet and being physically active. Differences in the HH score between geographical areas were of minor relevance (variance partition coefficient=1.8%) and the general contextual effects were not substantially mediated by NSES (proportional change in variance=3.5%). However, the HH score was significantly lower in children from areas with a higher percentage of annual incomes below the €18 000 threshold.ConclusionHH followed a socioeconomic gradient at the individual and the neighbourhood level. In the study population, the geographical component of the inequalities found were low.
Biallelic variants in Plexin B2 (
PLXNB2
) cause amelogenesis imperfecta, hearing loss and intellectual disability
Authors: Smith Claire E L , Laugel-Haushalter Virginie , Hany Ummey , Best Sunayna , Taylor Rachel L , Poulter James A , Wortmann Saskia B , Feichtinger Rene G , Mayr Johannes A , Al Bahlani Suhaila , Nikolopoulos Georgios , Rigby Alice , Black Graeme C , Watson Christopher M , Mansour Sahar , Inglehearn Chris F , Mighell Alan J , Bloch-Zupan Agnès 
Published: March 2024

Background

Plexins are large transmembrane receptors for the semaphorin family of signalling proteins. Semaphorin-plexin signalling controls cellular interactions that are critical during development as well as in adult life stages. Nine plexin genes have been identified in humans, but despite the apparent importance of plexins in development, only biallelic
PLXND1
and
PLXNA1
variants have so far been associated with Mendelian genetic disease.

Methods
Eight individuals from six families presented with a recessively inherited variable clinical condition, with core features of amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), with variable intellectual disability. Probands were investigated by exome or genome sequencing. Common variants and those unlikely to affect function were excluded. Variants consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance were prioritised. Variant segregation analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing. RNA expression analysis was conducted in C57Bl6 mice.

Results

Rare biallelic pathogenic variants in plexin B2 (
PLXNB2
), a large transmembrane semaphorin receptor protein, were found to segregate with disease in all six families. The variants identified include missense, nonsense, splicing changes and a multiexon deletion.
Plxnb2
expression was detected in differentiating ameloblasts.

Conclusion

We identify rare biallelic pathogenic variants in
PLXNB2
as a cause of a new autosomal recessive, phenotypically diverse syndrome with AI and SNHL as core features. Intellectual disability, ocular disease, ear developmental abnormalities and lymphoedema were also present in multiple cases. The variable syndromic human phenotype overlaps with that seen in
Plxnb2
knockout mice, and, together with the rarity of human
PLXNB2
variants, may explain why pathogenic variants in
PLXNB2
have not been reported previously.
Metastatic spinal cord compression: the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score and early surgical intervention
Authors: Kovarik Petr Daniel Edward , Fadulelmola Ahmed , Hashmi Ahmed , Kelly Charles , West Nick , Patil Rahul , Iqbal Muhammad Shahid 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesTo evaluate the value of Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) in patients with spine metastasis who subsequently developed or did not develop metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC).MethodsIn this single institutional retrospective descriptive observational study, of 589 patients with MSCC who were referred for radiotherapy, 34 patients (with 41 compression sites) met the inclusion criteria: availability of diagnostic MRI spine pre-development of MSCC (MRI-1) and at the time of MSCC development (MRI-2) (CordGroup).For comparison, NoCordGroup consisted of 152 patients (160 sites) treated with radiotherapy to spinal metastases. SINS was compared between the two groups.ResultsIn CordGroup, the median interval between MRI-1 and MRI-2 was 11 weeks. The median SINS was 8 (range: 4–14) and 9 (range: 7–14) on MRI-1 and MRI-2, respectively. In NoCordGroup, the median SINS was 6 (range: 4–10).ConclusionsOur study showed a trend in difference in SINS value between the two groups. This difference should be a subject of future prospective research in this patient population with poor survival.
A novel experimental search channel for very light higgs bosons in the 2HDM type I
Authors: Moretti S. , Semlali S. , Shepherd-Themistocleous C. H. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe present a reinterpretation study of existing results from the CMS Collaboration, specifically, searches for light Beyond the Standard Model (BSM) Higgs pairs produced in the chain decay $$pp\rightarrow H_\textrm{SM}\rightarrow hh(aa)$$

p
p
→

H
SM

→
h
h

(
a
a
)

into a variety of final states, in the context of the CP-conserving 2-Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) Type-I. Through this, we test the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) sensitivity to a possible new signature, $$pp\rightarrow H_\textrm{SM}\rightarrow ZA\rightarrow ZZ h$$

p
p
→

H
SM

→
Z
A
→
Z
Z
h

, with $$ZZ\rightarrow jj \mu ^+\mu ^-$$

Z
Z
→
j
j

μ
+

μ
-

and $$h\rightarrow b\bar{b}$$

h
→
b

b

¯

. We perform a systematic scan over the 2HDM Type-I parameter space, by taking into account all available theoretical and experimental constraints, in order to find a region with a potentially visible signal. We investigate the significance of it through a full Monte Carlo simulation down to the parametrised detector level. We show that such a signal is an alternative promising channel to standard four-body searches for light BSM Higgs bosons at the LHC already with an integrated luminosity of $${{\mathcal {L}}} = 300~\textrm{fb}^{-1}$$

L
=
300

fb

-
1

. For a tenfold increase of the latter, discovery should be possible over most of the allowed parameter space.
FLRW universe in Weyl type f(Q,T) gravity with variable q
Authors: Shukla B. K. , Tiwari R. K. , Beesham A. , Sofuoĝlu D. 
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we study an isotropic and homogeneous Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker cosmological model in Weyl type [Formula: see text] gravity with a dynamic deceleration parameter. The solution of the field equations is found using a variable deceleration parameter, viz., [Formula: see text], with q the deceleration parameter, n and m constants, and H the Hubble parameter [Tiwari et al., Eur. Phys. J. Plus 132, 1 (2017)]. Then we calculate the values of the model parameters that are most likely to accord with the most recent observational data sets. We make use of the 57 CC points, SN and BAO datasets. We have contracted a graphical representation of the dynamical behavior of the cosmological parameters (the Hubble parameter, the deceleration parameter, the energy density and the equation of state) in terms of the redshift. To investigate the various eras of the universe, the evolution of the statefinder trajectory pairs [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are studied. It is shown that the main energy component of the model is ordinary matter, which behaves initially as the SCDM model and then later as a fluid resembling quintessence, which behaves as the well-known [Formula: see text]CDM model. A suitable cosmological model is constructed after analyzing the physical parameters of the model, the [Formula: see text] diagnostic analysis.
Bounded orbits for three bodies in ℝ4
Authors: Albouy Alain , Dullin Holger R. 
Published: March 2024

We consider the Newtonian 3-body problem in dimension 4, and fix a value of the angular momentum which is compatible with this dimension. We show that the energy function cannot tend to its infimum on an unbounded sequence of states. Consequently the infimum of the energy is its minimum. This completes our previous work [A. Albouy and H. R. Dullin, Relative equilibria of the 3-body problem in [Formula: see text], J. Geom. Mech. 12(3) (2020) 323–341] on the existence of Lyapunov stable relative periodic orbits in the 3-body problem in [Formula: see text].