bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production and use of rapid responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec (Canada): perspectives from evidence synthesis producers and decision makers
Authors: McSween-Cadieux Esther , Lane Julie , Hong Quan Nha , Houle Andrée-Anne , Lauzier-Jobin François , Saint-Pierre Mousset Eliane , Prigent Ollivier , Ziam Saliha , Poder Thomas , Lesage Alain , Dagenais Pierre 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has required evidence to be made available more rapidly than usual, in order to meet the needs of decision makers in a timely manner. These exceptional circumstances have caused significant challenges for organizations and teams responsible for evidence synthesis. They had to adapt to provide rapid responses to support decision-making. This study aimed to document (1) the challenges and adaptations made to produce rapid responses during the pandemic, (2) their perceived usefulness, reported use and factors influencing their use and (3) the methodological adaptations made to produce rapid responses.

Methods
A qualitative study was conducted in 2021 with eight organizations in the health and social services system in Quebec (Canada), including three institutes with a provincial mandate. Data collection included focus groups (n = 9 groups in 8 organizations with 64 participants), interviews with decision makers (n = 12), and a document analysis of COVID-19 rapid responses (n = 128). A thematic analysis of qualitative data (objectives 1 and 2) and a descriptive analysis of documents (objective 3) were conducted.

Results
The results highlight the teams and organizations’ agility to deal with the many challenges encountered during the pandemic (e.g., increased their workloads, adoption of new technological tools or work processes, improved collaboration, development of scientific monitoring, adaptation of evidence synthesis methodologies and products). The challenge of balancing rigor and speed was reported by teams and organizations. When available at the right time, rapid responses have been reported as a useful tool for informing or justifying decisions in a context of uncertainty. Several factors that may influence their use were identified (e.g., clearly identify needs, interactions with producers, perceived rigor and credibility, precise and feasible recommendations). Certain trends in the methodological approaches used to speed up the evidence synthesis process were identified.

Conclusions
This study documented rapid responses producers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, and decision makers who requested, consulted, or used these products. Potential areas of improvements are identified such as reinforce coordination, improve communication loops, clarify guidelines or methodological benchmarks, and enhance utility of rapid response products for decision makers.
Progranulin haploinsufficiency mediates cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation with lysosomal abnormalities in human microglia
Authors: Sung Wonjae , Noh Min-Young , Nahm Minyeop , Kim Yong Sung , Ki Chang-Seok , Kim Young-Eun , Kim Hee-Jin , Kim Seung Hyun 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Progranulin (PGRN) haploinsufficiency due to progranulin gene (GRN) variants can cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with aberrant TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) accumulation. Despite microglial burden with TDP-43-related pathophysiology, direct microglial TDP-43 pathology has not been clarified yet, only emphasized in neuronal pathology. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate TDP-43 pathology in microglia of patients with PGRN haploinsufficiency.

Methods
To design a human microglial cell model with PGRN haploinsufficiency, monocyte-derived microglia (iMGs) were generated from FTD–GRN patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (p.M1? and p.W147*) and three healthy controls.

Results
iMGs from FTD–GRN patients with PGRN deficiency exhibited severe neuroinflammation phenotype and failure to maintain their homeostatic molecular signatures, along with impaired phagocytosis. In FTD–GRN patients-derived iMGs, significant cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation and accumulation of lipid droplets with profound lysosomal abnormalities were observed. These pathomechanisms were mediated by complement C1q activation and upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions
Our study provides considerable cellular and molecular evidence that loss-of-function variants of GRN in human microglia can cause microglial dysfunction with abnormal TDP-43 aggregation induced by inflammatory milieu as well as the impaired lysosome. Elucidating the role of microglial TDP-43 pathology in intensifying neuroinflammation in individuals with FTD due to PGRN deficiency and examining consequential effects on microglial dysfunction might yield novel insights into the mechanisms underlying FTD and neurodegenerative disorders.
Endoscopic peroneus brevis tendon transfer for chronic ruptures of the Achilles tendon: surgical technique
Authors: Poeta Nicola , Maffulli Nicola , Bucolo Fabrizio , Charpail Christel , Migliorini Filippo , Guillo Stéphane 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChronic Achilles tendon rupture is usually defined as a rupture diagnosed 4–6 weeks after injury. The management of chronic Achilles tendon rupture (CATR) is a topic of hot debate, and no consensus has been achieved. Surgical management of CATR is recommended. Several approaches, techniques, and grafts have been described. Open techniques carry a high risk of wound breakdown, infection, and necessitate long rehabilitation times. Surgical techniques with smaller incisions to reduce the risk of scar fibrosis, pain, and infection are becoming common. The ipsilateral tendon of the hallux flexor longus and the peroneus brevis is commonly used. Endoscopic transfer of the peroneus brevis tendon is an innovative alternative to other procedures, with comparable results of other autografts even in elite athletes. The tendon of the peroneus brevis is harvested by tendoscopy before performing a calcaneal tendon endoscopy and fixing the graft in a calcaneal tunnel using an interference screw. After surgery, an anterior splint is placed for 3 weeks with immediate forefoot weight bearing. The rehabilitation starts on the 15th postoperative day.
Surgical management of chronic Achilles tendon rupture: evidence-based guidelines
Authors: Feng Shi-Ming , Maffulli Nicola , Oliva Francesco , Saxena Amol , Hao Yue-Feng , Hua Ying-Hui , Xu Hai-Lin , Tao Xu , Xu Wei , Migliorini Filippo , Ma Chao 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures (CATR) often require surgical intervention to restore function. Despite numerous treatment modalities available, the optimal management strategy remains controversial given the limited high-quality evidence available. This article aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for the surgical management of CATR through a comprehensive systematic review of the available data. The consensus reached by synthesizing the findings will assist clinicians in making informed decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Methods
A group of 9 foot surgeons in three continents was consulted to gather their expertise on guidelines regarding the surgical management of CATR. Following the proposal of 9 clinical topics, a thorough and comprehensive search of relevant literature published since 1980 was conducted for each topic using electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant studies published until 1 October 2023. All authors collaborated in drafting, discussing, and finalizing the recommendations and statements. The recommendations were then categorized into two grades: grade a (strong) and grade b (weak), following the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) concept. Additionally, feedback from 21 external specialists, who were independent from the authors, was taken into account to further refine and finalize the clinical guidelines.

Results
Nine statements and guidelines were completed regarding surgical indications, surgical strategies, and postoperative rehabilitation protocol.

Conclusion
Based on the findings of the systematic review, this guideline provides recommendations for the surgical management of CATR. We are confident that this guideline will serve as a valuable resource for physicians when making decisions regarding the surgical treatment of patients with CATR.
The effects of resveratrol in animal models of primary osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: An Rongxian , Luo Qian , Li Lei , Cui Dinglu , Jin Jingchun 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
There is still a lack of sufficient evidence-based medical data on the effect of resveratrol (Res) on primary osteoporosis (OP). This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the role of Res in animal models of primary OP.

Methods
The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases were searched up to August 2023. The risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE RoB tool. Random- or fixed-effects models were used to determine the 90% confidence interval (CI) or standardized mean difference (SMD). Statistical analysis was performed with RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0.

Results
A total of 24 studies containing 714 individuals were included. Compared with those in the control group, the bone mineral density (BMD) (P < 0.00001), bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) (P < 0.001), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) (P < 0.00001), and trabecular number (Tb.N) (P < 0.00001) were markedly greater, and the trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) (P < 0.00001) was significantly greater. Compared with the control group, the Res group also exhibited marked decreases in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P < 0.05), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b) (P < 0.01), and type I collagen strong carboxyl peptide (CTX-1) (P < 0.00001) and a marked increase in osteoprotegerin (OPG) (P < 0.00001).

Conclusion
In summary, we concluded that Res can markedly increase BMD, improve morphometric indices of trabecular microstructure and serum bone turnover markers (BTMs), and exert a protective effect in animal models of primary osteoporosis. This study can supply experimental reference for Res in primary osteoporosis treatment.
Aspartyl protease in the secretome of honey bee trypanosomatid parasite contributes to infection of bees
Authors: Yuan Xuye , Sun Jianying , Kadowaki Tatsuhiko 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The exoproteome, which consists of both secreted proteins and those originating from cell surfaces and lysed cells, is a critical component of trypanosomatid parasites, facilitating interactions with host cells and gut microbiota. However, its specific roles in the insect hosts of these parasites remain poorly understood.

Methods
We conducted a comprehensive characterization of the exoproteome in Lotmaria passim, a trypanosomatid parasite infecting honey bees, under culture conditions. We further investigated the functions of two conventionally secreted proteins, aspartyl protease (LpAsp) and chitinase (LpCht), as representative models to elucidate the role of the secretome in L. passim infection of honey bees.

Results
Approximately 48% of L. passim exoproteome proteins were found to share homologs with those found in seven Leishmania spp., suggesting the existence of a core exoproteome with conserved functions in the Leishmaniinae lineage. Bioinformatics analyses suggested that the L. passim exoproteome may play a pivotal role in interactions with both the host and its microbiota. Notably, the deletion of genes encoding two secretome proteins revealed the important role of LpAsp, but not LpCht, in L. passim development under culture conditions and its efficiency in infecting the honey bee gut.

Conclusions
Our results highlight the exoproteome as a valuable resource for unraveling the mechanisms employed by trypanosomatid parasites to infect insect hosts by interacting with the gut environment.

Graphical Abstract
Anti-Toxoplasma gondii effect of tylosin in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Han Ru-Xia , Jiang Pi-Cheng , Han Bing , Zhou Huai-Yu , Wang Yong-Liang , Guan Jing-Yu , Liu Zhi-Rong , He Shen-Yi , Zhou Chun-Xue 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Toxoplasma gondii is an important protozoan pathogen with medical and veterinary importance worldwide. Drugs currently used for treatment of toxoplasmosis are less effective and sometimes cause serious side effects. There is an urgent need for the development of more effective drugs with relatively low toxicity.

Methods
The effect of tylosin on the viability of host cells was measured using CCK8 assays. To assess the inhibition of tylosin on T. gondii proliferation, a real-time PCR targeting the B1 gene was developed for T. gondii detection and quantification. Total RNA was extracted from parasites treated with tylosin and then subjected to transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Finally, murine infection models of toxoplasmosis were used to evaluate the protective efficacy of tylosin against T. gondii virulent RH strain or avirulent ME49 strain.

Results
We found that tylosin displayed low host toxicity, and its 50% inhibitory concentration was 175.3 μM. Tylsoin also inhibited intracellular T. gondii tachyzoite proliferation, with a 50% effective concentration of 9.759 μM. Transcriptome analysis showed that tylosin remarkably perturbed the gene expression of T. gondii, and genes involved in “ribosome biogenesis (GO:0042254)” and “ribosome (GO:0005840)” were significantly dys-regulated. In a murine model, tylosin treatment alone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or in combination with sulfadiazine sodium (200 mg/kg, i.g.) significantly prolonged the survival time and raised the survival rate of animals infected with T. gondii virulent RH or avirulent ME49 strain. Meanwhile, treatment with tylosin significantly decreased the parasite burdens in multiple organs and decreased the spleen index of mice with acute toxoplasmosis.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that tylosin exhibited potency against T. gondii both in vitro and in vivo, which offers promise for treatment of human toxoplasmosis.

Graphical Abstract
The COVID-19 lockdown as a model of detraining in division 1 college softball players
Authors: Zeppieri Giorgio , Hung Cheng-Ju , Pazik Marissa , Moser Michael , Farmer Kevin , Pozzi Federico 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the organized training of softball players, similar to the abrupt cessation of sports participation that can happen after an injury. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique model to study how sudden detraining influences softball players.

Methods
We recruited a sample of convenience of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 softball players. They participated in three data collections: pre-lockdown (Jan 2020, T1), post-lockdown (Sept 2020, T2), and before the 2021 season (Jan 2021, T3). Between T1 and T2, players received an at-home conditioning and throwing program, but compliance was not strictly monitored. Between T2-T3, players resumed formal fall training (team-organized workouts, on-field practice, and within-team scrimmage games). At each time point, we collected bilaterally: 1) shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM); 2) shoulder IR and ER strength; 3) hip IR and ER ROM; and 4) hip abduction and extension strength. We used four independent (2 Sides × 3 Timepoints) MANOVA with repeated measures; we followed up significant MANOVA main effect of time with Sidak posthoc tests for pairwise comparisons between time points.

Results
Fifteen players participated in this study. We found a significant MANOVA main effect of time for shoulder and hip ROM (p < 0.01). Between T1-T2, dominant shoulder ER ROM decreased 6.5°, dominant shoulder IR ROM increased 4.3°, and lead hip IR ROM increased 4.4°. Between T2-T3, dominant shoulder ER ROM increased 6.3° and trail hip ER ROM increased 5.9°. We found a significant MANOVA main effect of time for shoulder strength (p = 0.03) but not for hip strength (p = 0.18). Between T2-T3, non-dominant shoulder IR and ER increased 1.8 kg and 1.5 kg, respectively.

Conclusion
A sudden and prolonged cessation of organized training generated changes in shoulder and hip ROM but affected strength to a lesser extent. The loss of shoulder ER and increased lead hip IR ROM are maladaptive as they are associated with injury in overhead athletes. Resuming team-organized training and scrimmage reversed some (shoulder ER), but not all of these changes. Practitioners should monitor clinical variables regularly and be aware of potential changes due to unexpected and prolonged interruptions in training, such as when players suffer sports-related injuries.
Corticosteroid treatment for acute hydrocephalus in neurosarcoidosis: a case report
Authors: Schilke Edoardo Dalmato , Remoli Giulia , Cutellé Claudia , Balducci Claudia , Cereda Diletta , Fusco Maria Letizia , Tremolizzo Lucio , Ferrarese Carlo , Appollonio Ildebrando , Frigo Maura 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Neurosarcoidosis occurs symptomatically in 5–10% of patients with sarcoidosis, and hydrocephalus is a rare complication of neurosarcoidosis, with either acute or subacute onset and presenting symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure. It represents a potentially fatal manifestation with a mortality rate of 22% (increased to 75% in case of coexistence of seizures) that requires a prompt initiation of treatment. High-dose intravenous corticosteroid treatment and neurosurgical treatment must be considered in all cases of neurosarcoidosis hydrocephalus.

Case presentation
Here we present a case of hydrocephalus in neurosarcoidosis, complicated by generalized seizures, in a 29-year-old Caucasian male patient treated with medical treatment only, with optimal response.

Conclusion
Since neurosurgery treatment can lead to severe complications, this case report underlines the possibility to undergo only medical treatment in selected cases. Further studies are needed to stratify patients and better identify those eligible for only medical approach.
Co-colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. in children with malignancies
Authors: Baharvand Raziyeh , Fallah Fatemeh , Jafari Parvaneh , Azimi Leila 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the interaction between methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and Candida spp. in the oral cavity of children with malignancies under chemotherapy. We evaluated the expression level of Als3p and mecA in Candida spp. and MRSA strains in both single colonization and co-colonization condition. Oral and nasal samples were collected by dry sponge swabs in 10 ml of sterile phosphate-buffered saline. The MRSA and Candida spp. was confirmed using the PCR method and mecA and Als3p genes, respectively. The SYBR Green-based quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the relative expression levels of mecA and Als3p genes in MRSA and Candida spp., respectively. The frequency of S. aureus in oral-only and nasal-only swab samples were 14.1% (n = 24/170). 58.3% (n = 14/24) and 29.2% (n = 7/24) of S. aureus isolated from oral and nasal samples were MRSA, respectively. Among Candida species, C. albicans (n = 28/170; 16.5%) had the highest frequency. The oral co-colonization of MRSA and Candida spp. was detected in 4.7% (n = 8/170) patients. The overall average of gene expression levels among all Candida spp. and MRSA isolates indicated that the mecA and Als3p genes expression increased six and two times in co-colonization conditions compared to single colonization conditions, respectively. Our findings revealed the importance of polymicrobial infection in clinical settings and stated that it is possible that Candida spp. facilitates the infection of S. aureus and can lead to systemic infection in co-colonized patients.
Vulnerability issues in Automatic Speaker Verification (ASV) systems
Authors: Gupta Priyanka , Patil Hemant A. , Guido Rodrigo Capobianco 
Published: February 2024

AbstractClaimed identities of speakers can be verified by means of automatic speaker verification (ASV) systems, also known as voice biometric systems. Focusing on security and robustness against spoofing attacks on ASV systems, and observing that the investigation of attacker’s perspectives is capable of leading the way to prevent known and unknown threats to ASV systems, several countermeasures (CMs) have been proposed during ASVspoof 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 challenge campaigns that were organized during INTERSPEECH conferences. Furthermore, there is a recent initiative to organize the ASVSpoof 5 challenge with the objective of collecting the massive spoofing/deepfake attack data (i.e., phase 1), and the design of a spoofing-aware ASV system using a single classifier for both ASV and CM, to design integrated CM-ASV solutions (phase 2). To that effect, this paper presents a survey on a diversity of possible strategies and vulnerabilities explored to successfully attack an ASV system, such as target selection, unavailability of global countermeasures to reduce the attacker’s chance to explore the weaknesses, state-of-the-art adversarial attacks based on machine learning, and deepfake generation. This paper also covers thepossibilityof attacks, such as hardware attacks on ASV systems. Finally, we also discuss the several technological challenges from the attacker’s perspective, which can be exploited to come up with better defence mechanisms for the security of ASV systems.
Detection and performance analysis for MIMO visible light communication system using joint optical spatial and pulse amplitude width modulation
Authors: Wu Wei-Chiang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractConventional optical spatial modulation (SM) scheme activates one of the light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit an intensity-modulated optical signal, in which the index of the activated LED is determined by spatial symbol and the emitted intensity is controlled by temporal symbol. In order to enhance the spectral efficiency (bits per channel use), we propose a joint SM and pulse amplitude width modulation (PAWM) as a novel optical spatial–temporal signaling scheme. In this paper, the proposed SM-PAWM optical signaling scheme is applied in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) visible light communication (VLC) system. Employing optimal maximum likelihood (ML) algorithm to extract the spatial and temporal symbols is computationally prohibitive; hence, we develop a novel low-complexity detection scheme that converts the joint optimization problem separately to decode the spatial and temporal symbols. Moreover, theoretical results in terms of the successful identification probability of activated LED as well as the overall symbol error rate are derived. Extensive computer simulations are performed to validate the analytical results. It is shown that the proposed detection scheme is a feasible alternative to the ML detector in the VLC-MIMO system employing SM-PAWM.