bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Why and how is photovoice used as a decolonising method for health research with Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada? A scoping review
Authors: Vining Rebecca , Finn Mairéad 
Published: October 2023

AbstractGlobally, including in North America, Indigenous populations have poorer health than non‐Indigenous populations. This health disparity results from inequality and marginalisation associated with colonialism. Photovoice is a community‐based participatory research method that amplifies the voices of research participants. Why and how photovoice has been used as a decolonising method for addressing Indigenous health inequalities has not been mapped. A scoping review of the literature on photovoice for Indigenous health research in the United States and Canada was carried out. Five electronic databases and the grey literature were searched, with no time limit. A total of 215 titles and abstracts and 97 full texts were screened resulting in 57 included articles. Analysis incorporated Lalita Bharadwaj's Framework For Building Research Partnerships with First Nations Communities. Photovoice was selected to improve knowledge mobilisation and participant empowerment and engagement. Studies incorporated relationship building, meaningful data collection, and public dissemination but had a lesser focus on the inclusion of Indigenous peer researchers or participant involvement in analysis. For photovoice to truly realise its decolonising potential, it must be incorporated into a broader participatory and decolonising research paradigm. In addition, more resources are required to support the involvement of Indigenous people in the research process.
Institutional factors driving citizen perceptions of AI in government: Evidence from a survey experiment on policing
Authors: Schiff Kaylyn Jackson , Schiff Daniel S. , Adams Ian T. , McCrain Joshua , Mourtgos Scott M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractLaw enforcement agencies are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI)‐powered tools. While prior work emphasizes the technological features driving public opinion, we investigate how public trust and support for AI in government vary with the institutional context. We administer a pre‐registered survey experiment to 4200 respondents about AI use cases in policing to measure responsiveness to three key institutional factors: bureaucratic proximity (i.e., local sheriff versus national Federal Bureau of Investigation), algorithmic targets (i.e., public targets via predictive policing versus detecting officer misconduct through automated case review), and agency capacity (i.e., necessary resources and expertise). We find that the public clearly prefers local over national law enforcement use of AI, while reactions to different algorithmic targets are more limited and politicized. However, we find no responsiveness to agency capacity or lack thereof. The findings suggest the need for greater scholarly, practitioner, and public attention to organizational, not only technical, prerequisites for successful government implementation of AI.
Accuracy of ultrasound and visual inspection in antral follicular count in crossbred Holstein cows raised under grazing systems at high altitude
Authors: Ayala Luis , Dutan Jorge , Samaniego Jorge , Jácome Andrés , Garay Gabriela , Rodas Ramiro , Astiz Susana 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe objective of this research was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of post‐mortem ultrasound in antral follicle count (AFC) determination and compare it with visual AFC in grazing crossbred Holstein cows, at high altitude in Ecuador. Pre‐mortem blood from 80 cows was collected, and AFC and ovarian characteristics were analysed post‐mortem by ultrasound and visual techniques. AFC counts were stratified as high, medium or low by terciles. Mean AMH concentration in pre‐mortem blood was 280.1 ± 15.53 pg/mL. The AFC obtained by visual inspection (26.9 ± 9.49 follicles) was 23.8% higher than by ultrasound (20.5 ± 7.53 follicles) in all ovaries. Body condition score, age and weight of the cattle did not interact with the count technique. In the low AFC group, visual inspection and ultrasound provided similar AFC results. However, in the Medium‐ and High‐AFC groups, AFC by ultrasound was 14.9% lower than AFC by visual inspection. We confirm that ultrasound can be used with great accuracy for AFC >3 mm (close to the resolution limit) in grazing crossbred Holstein cows at high altitude.
Flight-Path Optimization for a Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
Authors: Papadopoulos Konstantinos I. , Nasoulis Christos P. , Gkoutzamanis Vasilis G. , Kalfas Anestis I. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
This study aims to illustrate a sequence that optimizes the flight-path trajectory for a hybrid-electric aircraft at mission level, in addition to identifying the respective optimum power management strategy. An in-house framework for hybrid-electric propulsion system modeling is utilized. A hybrid-electric commuter aircraft serves as a virtual test-bench. Vectorized calculations, decision variable count, and optimization algorithms are considered for reducing the computational time of the framework. Performance improvements are evaluated for the aircraft's design mission profile. Total energy consumption is set as the objective function. Emphasis lies on minimizing the average value and standard deviation of the energy consumption and timeframe metrics. The best performing application decreases computational time by two orders of magnitude, while retaining equal accuracy and consistency as the original model. It is employed for creating a dataset for training an artificial neural network (ANN) against random mission patterns. The trained network is integrated into a surrogate model. The latter part of the analysis evaluates optimized mission profile characteristics with respect to energy consumption, against a benchmark flight-path. The combined optimization process decreases the multihour-scale timeframe by two orders of magnitude to a 3-min sequence. Using the novel framework, a 12% average energy consumption benefit is calculated for short, medium, and long regional missions, against equivalent benchmark profiles.
Match Running Performance in Australian Football Is Related to Muscle Fiber Typology
Authors: Hopwood Henry J. , Bellinger Phillip M. , Compton Heidi R. , Bourne Matthew N. , Derave Wim , Lievens Eline , Kennedy Ben , Minahan Clare L. 
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To examine the association between muscle fiber typology and match running performance in professional Australian football (AF) athletes.
Methods: An observational time–motion analysis was performed on 23 professional AF athletes during 224 games throughout the 2020 competitive season. Athletes were categorized by position as hybrid, small, or tall. Athlete running performance was measured using Global Navigation Satellite System devices. Mean total match running performance and maximal mean intensity values were calculated for moving mean durations between 1 and 10 minutes for speed (in meters per minute), high-speed-running distance (HSR, >4.17 m·s−1), and acceleration (in meters per second squared), while intercept and slopes were calculated using power law. Carnosine content was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the gastrocnemius and soleus and expressed as a carnosine aggregate z score (CAZ score) to estimate muscle fiber typology. Mixed linear models were used to determine the association between CAZ score and running performance.
Results: The mean (range) CAZ score was −0.60 (−1.89 to 1.25), indicating that most athletes possessed a greater estimated proportion of type I muscle fibers. A greater estimated proportion of type I fibers (ie, lower CAZ score) was associated with a larger accumulation of HSR (>4.17 m·s−1) and an increased ability to maintain HSR as the peak period duration increased.
Conclusion: AF athletes with a greater estimated proportion of type I muscle fibers were associated with a greater capacity to accumulate distance running at high speeds, as well as a greater capacity to maintain higher output of HSR running during peak periods as duration increases.
Does the Position of the Ankle Matter During the Single Gluteal Bridge in Futsal Players? An Electromyographic Analysis
Authors: Elias Gonzalo , Jerez-Mayorga Daniel , Intelangelo Leonardo 
Published: October 2023

Context: The aim of this study was to analyze the muscle activity of the hamstring muscles and the lateral gastrocnemius during different variants of the single-leg bridge (SLB) in futsal players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-two futsal players (age = 24.8 [3.9] y) volunteered to participate in this study. The participants performed 3 variations of the SLB with the knee flexed at 45°. The first position was performed with the ankle in plantar position with flat support, the second with the ankle in dorsiflexion (DF) with heel support, and the third with the ankle in DF and external rotation (ER) with heel support. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test assessed the difference between variables for samples with the rank-biserial correlation effect size. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine the associations of the percentage maximal voluntary isometric contraction for each muscle with peak force and rate of force development with 3 different variances of the SLB. Results: The variation of ankle DF and ER with heel support generated higher muscle activity in BF in concentric (P < .01, effect size [ES] = −0.613); isometric (P < .042, ES = −0.494); and eccentric (P < .005, ES = −0.668) contraction than ankle DF with heel support. In contrast, the variation of ankle DF and ER with heel support generated fewer muscle activity in lateral gastrocnemius in concentric (P < .001, ES = 0.779); isometric (P < .003, ES = 0.708); and eccentric (P < .014, ES = 0.589) contraction than ankle DF with heel support. Conclusions: The position of DF and ER was the best position in SLB to train the BF. It could be convenient to start rehabilitation of the BF with flat foot postition or ankle in DF with heel support and progress with the position of the ankle in DF and ER with heel support.
Comprehensive summary of steroid metabolism in
Comamonas testosteroni
TA441: entire degradation process of basic four rings and removal of C12 hydroxyl group
Authors: Horinouchi Masae , Hayashi Toshiaki 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Comamonas testosteroni
is one of the representative aerobic steroid-degrading bacteria. We previously revealed the mechanism of steroidal A,B,C,D-ring degradation by
C. testosteroni
TA441. The corresponding genes are located in two clusters at both ends of a mega-cluster of steroid degradation genes. ORF7 and ORF6 are the only two genes in these clusters, whose function has not been determined. Here, we characterized ORF7 as encoding the dehydrase responsible for converting the C12β hydroxyl group to the C10(12) double bond on the C-ring (SteC), and ORF6 as encoding the hydrogenase responsible for converting the C10(12) double bond to a single bond (SteD). SteA and SteB, encoded just upstream of SteC and SteD, are in charge of oxidizing the C12α hydroxyl group to a ketone group and of reducing the latter to the C12β hydroxyl group, respectively. Therefore, the C12α hydroxyl group in steroids is removed with SteABCD via the C12 ketone and C12β hydroxyl groups. Given the functional characterization of ORF6 and ORF7, we disclose the entire pathway of steroidal A,B,C,D-ring breakdown by
C. testosteroni
TA441.

IMPORTANCE

Studies on bacterial steroid degradation were initiated more than 50 years ago, primarily to obtain materials for steroid drugs. Now, their implications for the environment and humans, especially in relation to the infection and the brain-gut-microbiota axis, are attracting increasing attention.
Comamonas testosteroni
TA441 is the leading model of bacterial aerobic steroid degradation with the ability to break down cholic acid, the main component of bile acids. Bile acids are known for their variety of physiological activities according to their substituent group(s). In this study, we identified and functionally characterized the genes for the removal of C12 hydroxyl groups and provided a comprehensive summary of the entire A,B,C,D-ring degradation pathway by
C. testosteroni
TA441 as the representable bacterial aerobic degradation process of the steroid core structure.
Identification of “missing links” in C- and D-ring cleavage of steroids by
Comamonas testosteroni
TA441
Authors: Horinouchi Masae , Hayashi Toshiaki 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Comamonas testosteroni
TA441 is capable of aerobically degrading steroids through the aromatization and cleavage of the A- and B-rings, followed by D- and C-ring cleavage via β-oxidation. While most of the degradation steps have been previously characterized, a few intermediate compounds remained unidentified. In this study, we proposed that the cleavage of the D-ring at C13-17 required the ScdY hydratase, followed by C-ring cleavage via the ScdL1L2 transferase. The anticipated reaction was expected to yield 6-methyl-3,7-dioxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-coenzyme A (CoA) ester. To confirm this hypothesis, we constructed a plasmid enabling the induction of targeted genes in TA441 mutant strains. Induction experiments of ScdL1L2 revealed that the major product was 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-7-oxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-CoA ester. Similarly, induction experiments of ScdY demonstrated that the substrate of ScdY was a geminal diol, 17-dihydroxy-9-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,10,19-octanorandrost-8(14)-en-7-oic acid-CoA ester. These findings suggest that ScdY catalyzes the addition of a water molecule at C14 of 17-dihydroxy-9-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,10,19-octanorandrost-8(14)-en-7-oic acid-CoA ester, leading to D-ring cleavage at C13-17. Subsequently, the C9 ketone of the D-ring cleavage product is converted to a hydroxyl group, followed by C-ring cleavage, resulting in the production of 3-hydroxy-6-methyl-7-oxo-decane-1,10-dioic acid-CoA ester.

IMPORTANCE

Studies on bacterial steroid degradation were initiated more than 50 years ago primarily to obtain substrates for steroid drugs. In recent years, the role of steroid-degrading bacteria in relation to human health has gained significant attention, as emerging evidence suggests that the intestinal microflora plays a crucial role in human health. Furthermore, cholic acid, a major component of bile acid secreted in the intestines, is closely associated with the gut microbiota. While
Comamonas testosteroni
TA441 is recognized as the leading bacterial model for aerobic steroid degradation, the involvement of aerobic steroid degradation in the intestinal microflora remains largely unexplored. Nonetheless, the presence of
C. testosteroni
in the cecum suggests the potential influence of aerobic steroid degradation on gut microbiota. To establish essential information about the role of these bacteria, here, we identified the missing compounds and propose more details of C-, and D-ring cleavage, which have remained unclear until now.
A core-genome multilocus sequence typing scheme for the detection of genetically related
Streptococcus pyogenes
clusters
Authors: Toorop Myrthe M. A. , Kraakman Margriet E. M. , Hoogendijk Irene V. , van Prehn Joffrey , Claas Eric C. J. , Wessels Els , Boers Stefan A. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

The recently observed increase in invasive
Streptococcus pyogenes
infections causes concern in Europe. However, conventional molecular typing methods lack discriminatory power to aid investigations of outbreaks caused by
S. pyogenes
. Therefore, there is an urgent need for high-resolution molecular typing methods to assess genetic relatedness between
S. pyogenes
isolates. In the current study, we aimed to develop a novel high-resolution core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme for
S. pyogenes
and compared its discriminatory power to conventional molecular typing methods. The cgMLST scheme was designed with the commercial Ridom SeqSphere+ software package. To define a cluster threshold, the scheme was evaluated using publicly available data from nine defined
S. pyogenes
outbreaks in the United Kingdom. The cgMLST scheme was then applied to 23 isolates from a suspected
S. pyogenes
outbreak and 117
S
.
pyogenes
surveillance isolates both from the Netherlands. MLST and
emm
-typing results were used for comparison to cgMLST results. The allelic differences between isolates from defined outbreaks ranged between 6 and 31 for isolates with the same
emm-
type, resulting in a proposed cluster threshold of
<
5 allelic differences out of 1,095 target loci. Seven out of twenty-three (30%) isolates from the suspected outbreak had an allelic difference of
<
2, thereby identifying a potential cluster that could not be linked to other isolates. The proposed cgMLST scheme shows a higher discriminatory ability when compared to conventional typing methods. The rapid and simple analysis workflow allows for extended detection of clusters of potential outbreak isolates and surveillance and may facilitate the sharing of sequencing results between (inter)national laboratories.
Draft genome sequence of
Bifidobacterium breve
DSM 32583, isolated from human milk
Authors: Kujawska Magdalena , Schaubeck Monika , Hall Lindsay J. , Neuhaus Klaus 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Here, we describe the draft genome sequence of
Bifidobacterium breve
DSM 32583 isolated from human milk obtained from a healthy mother. Potentially, this
B. breve
strain could serve as a probiotic.
In vitro
antibacterial activity of dinuclear thiolato-bridged ruthenium(II)-arene compounds
Authors: Bugnon Quentin , Melendez Camilo , Desiatkina Oksana , Fayolles de Chaptes Louis , Holzer Isabelle , Păunescu Emilia , Hilty Markus , Furrer Julien 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

The antibacterial activity of 22 thiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene compounds was assessed
in vitro
against
Escherichia coli
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, and
Staphylococcus aureus
. None of the compounds efficiently inhibited the growth of the three
E. coli
strains tested, and only compound
5
exhibited a medium activity against this bacterium [MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of 25 µM]. However, a significant antibacterial activity was observed against
S. pneumoniae
, with MIC values ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 µM for compounds
1–3
,
5,
and
6
. Similarly, compounds
2
,
5–7,
and
20–22
had MIC values ranging from 2.5 to 5 µM against
S. aureus
. The tested diruthenium compounds have a bactericidal effect significantly faster than that of penicillin. Fluorescence microscopy assays performed on
S. aureus
using the BODIPY-tagged diruthenium complex
15
showed that this type of metal compound enters the bacteria and does not accumulate in the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. Cellular internalization was further confirmed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry experiments. The nature of the substituents anchored on the bridging thiols and the compounds molecular weight appears to significantly influence the antibacterial activity. Thus, if overall a decrease of the bactericidal effect with the increase of compounds’ molecular weight is observed, however, the complexes bearing larger benzo-fused lactam substituents had low MIC values. This first antibacterial activity screening demonstrated that the thiolato-diruthenium compounds exhibit promising activity against
S. aureus
and
S. pneumoniae
and deserve to be considered for further studies.

IMPORTANCE

The
in vitro
assessment of diruthenium(II)-arene compounds against
Escherichia coli
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, and
Staphylococcus aureus
showed a significant antibacterial activity of some compounds against
S. pneumoniae
, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 µM, and a medium activity against
E. coli
, with MIC of 25 µM. The nature of the substituents anchored on the bridging thiols and the compounds molecular weight appear to significantly influence the antibacterial activity. Fluorescence microscopy showed that these ruthenium compounds enter the bacteria and do not accumulate in the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. These diruthenium(II)-arene compounds exhibit promising activity against
S. aureus
and
S. pneumoniae
and deserve to be considered for further studies, especially the compounds bearing larger benzo-fused lactam substituents.
Probability of outbreaks and cross-border dissemination of the emerging pathogen: a genomic survey of
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
Authors: Hu Shaohua , Chen Yingying , Xu Hao , Chen Jing , Hu Shaojun , Meng Xiaohua , Ni Shujun , Xiao Yonghong , Zheng Beiwen 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

The emerging infectious agent
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
is associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data on its geographic distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission. In this study, we comprehensively analyze and compare the genomic features, evolutionary history, emergence date, and transmission networks of global
E. meningoseptica
. Geographical distribution reveals the presence of the emerging bacteria in Asia, Europe, and North America, three continents with similar latitudes. Phylogenetic analyses show no relationship between the strain’s evolutionary history and its location, origin, or source, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Analysis of the emergence timeline suggests that America is the most likely source of
E. meningoseptica
with the common ancestor of this pathogen dating back 90 years. Putative transmission networks indicate that
E. meningoseptica
bacteria can spread within the same hospital and even across borders. Minor variations in resistance genotypes and virulence genes are observed, supporting existing evidence of inherent resistance and pathogenicity in
E. meningoseptica
. Additionally, minocycline and doxycycline demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against this pathogen, making them promising candidates for treating
E. meningoseptica
infections. Our research highlights the potential for severe nosocomial outbreaks caused by
E. meningoseptica
with horizontal transmission occurring between countries worldwide. To prevent future outbreak infections, increased genomic surveillance of global
E. meningoseptica
populations is necessary.

IMPORTANCE

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
is an emerging infectious agent associated with life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. However, there are limited data available on the genomic features of
E. meningoseptica
. This study aims to characterize the geographical distribution, phylogenetic evolution, pathogenesis, and transmission of this bacterium. A systematic analysis of the
E. meningoseptica
genome revealed that a common ancestor of this bacterium existed 90 years ago. The evolutionary history showed no significant relationship with the sample source, origin, or region, despite the presence of genetic diversity. Whole genome sequencing data also demonstrated that
E. meningoseptica
bacteria possess inherent resistance and pathogenicity, enabling them to spread within the same hospital and even across borders. This study highlights the potential for
E. meningoseptica
to cause severe nosocomial outbreaks and horizontal transmission between countries worldwide. The available evidence is crucial for the development of evidence-based public health policies to prevent global outbreaks caused by emerging pathogens.