bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reliability of the Enterprise Point‐of‐Care (EPOC) blood analyzer's calculated arterial oxygen‐hemoglobin saturation in immobilized white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum)
Authors: Mtetwa Thembeka K. , Snelling Edward P. , Donaldson Ashleigh C. , Buss Peter E. , Meyer Leith C. R. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundEnterprise Point‐of‐Care (EPOC) blood analysis is used routinely in wildlife veterinary practice to monitor blood oxygenation, but the reliability of the EPOC calculated arterial oxygen‐hemoglobin saturation (cSaO2) has never been validated in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), despite their susceptibility to hypoxemia during chemical immobilization.ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the reliability of the EPOC cSaO2 by comparing it against arterial oxygen‐hemoglobin saturation (SaO2) measured by a co‐oximeter reference method in immobilized white rhinoceroses.MethodsMale white rhinoceroses in two studies (both n = 8) were immobilized by darting with different etorphine‐based drug combinations, followed by butorphanol or saline (administered intravenously). Animals in both studies received oxygen via intranasal insufflation after 60 min. Blood samples were drawn, at predetermined time points, from a catheter inserted into the auricular artery and analyzed using the EPOC and a co‐oximeter. Bland–Altman (to estimate bias and precision) and area root mean squares (ARMS) plots were used to determine the reliability of the EPOC cSaO2 compared with simultaneous co‐oximeter SaO2 readings.ResultsThe rhinoceros were acidotic (pH of 7.3 ± 0.1 [mean ± standard deviation]), hypercapnic (PaCO2 of 73.7 ± 10.5 mmHg), and normothermic (body temperature of 37.4 ± 1.8°C). In total, 389 paired cSaO2‐SaO2 measurements were recorded (the cSaO2 ranged between 13.2% and 99.0%, and the SaO2 ranged between 11.8% and 99.9%). The EPOC cSaO2 readings were unreliable (inaccurate, imprecise, and poor ARMS) across the entire saturation range (bias −6%, precision 5%, and ARMS 8%).ConclusionsThe EPOC cSaO2 is unreliable and should not be used to monitor blood oxygenation in immobilized white rhinoceroses.
Two motor neuron synergies, invariant across ankle joint angles, activate the triceps surae during plantarflexion
Authors: Levine Jackson , Avrillon Simon , Farina Dario , Hug François , Pons José L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractRecent studies have suggested that the nervous system generates movements by controlling groups of motor neurons (synergies) that do not always align with muscle anatomy. In this study, we determined whether these synergies are robust across tasks with different mechanical constraints. We identified motor neuron synergies using principal component analysis (PCA) and cross‐correlations between smoothed discharge rates of motor neurons. In part 1, we used simulations to validate these methods. The results suggested that PCA can accurately identify the number of common inputs and their distribution across active motor neurons. Moreover, the results confirmed that cross‐correlation can separate pairs of motor neurons that receive common inputs from those that do not receive common inputs. In part 2, 16 individuals performed plantarflexion at three ankle angles while we recorded EMG signals from the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) and medialis (GM) and the soleus (SOL) with grids of surface electrodes. The PCA revealed two motor neuron synergies. These motor neuron synergies were relatively stable, with no significant differences in the distribution of motor neuron weights across ankle angles (P = 0.62). When the cross‐correlation was calculated for pairs of motor units tracked across ankle angles, we observed that only 13.0% of pairs of motor units from GL and GM exhibited significant correlations of their smoothed discharge rates across angles, confirming the low level of common inputs between these muscles. Overall, these results highlight the modularity of movement control at the motor neuron level, suggesting a sensible reduction of computational resources for movement control.
imageKey points
The CNS might generate movements by activating groups of motor neurons (synergies) with common inputs.
We show here that two main sources of common inputs drive the motor neurons innervating the triceps surae muscles during isometric ankle plantarflexions.
We report that the distribution of these common inputs is globally invariant despite changing the mechanical constraints of the tasks, i.e. the ankle angle.
These results suggest the functional relevance of the modular organization of the CNS to control movements.
Decision-Making Processes Used by Canadian National Sport Organization Boards: Differences Between Design Archetypes
Authors: Hoye Russell , Parent Milena M. , Thompson Ashley , Lachance Erik L. , Naraine Michael L. , Taks Marijke , Séguin Benoit 
Published: August 2023

This paper examines the decision-making role of Canadian national sport organization boards, identifies the processes used to facilitate decision making by these boards, and explores whether these elements differ between the various design archetypes that exist among these organizations. Forty-five semistructured interviews were conducted with board members and senior staff of 22 Canadian national sport organizations, and data were thematically analyzed. Findings indicate board members and senior staff focused on strategy as their primary role, along with control over other roles (e.g., providing advice and counsel or securing resources). Roles differed according to the organization’s design archetype. Our analysis showed clear differences between design archetypes in terms of how these the organizations used structural artifacts such as subcommittees to facilitate decision making, navigated decision rights between board members and paid staff, and adhered to the Carver policy governance model promoted for national sport organizations by Sport Canada.
CDPK2A and CDPK1 form a signaling module upstream of
Toxoplasma
motility
Authors: Shortt Emily , Hackett Caroline G. , Stadler Rachel V. , Kent Robyn S. , Herneisen Alice L. , Ward Gary E. , Lourido Sebastian 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

In apicomplexan parasites, the transition between replication and dissemination is regulated by fluctuations in cytosolic calcium concentrations, transduced in part by calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs). We examined the role of CDPK2A in the lytic cycle of
Toxoplasma
, analyzing its role in the regulation of cellular processes associated with parasite motility. We used chemical-genetic approaches and conditional depletion to determine that CDPK2A contributes to the initiation of parasite motility through microneme discharge. We demonstrate that the N-terminal extension of CDPK2A is necessary for the protein’s function. Conditional depletion revealed an epistatic interaction between CDPK2A and CDPK1, suggesting that the two kinases work together to mediate motility in response to certain stimuli. This signaling module appears distinct from that of CDPK3 and protein kinase G, which also control egress. CDPK2A is revealed as an important regulator of the
Toxoplasma
kinetic phase, linked to other kinases that govern this critical transition. Our work uncovers extensive interconnectedness between the signaling pathways that regulate parasite motility.

IMPORTANCE

This work uncovers interactions between various signaling pathways that govern
Toxoplasma gondii
egress. Specifically, we compare the function of three canonical calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) using chemical-genetic and conditional-depletion approaches. We describe the function of a previously uncharacterized CDPK, CDPK2A, in the
Toxoplasma
lytic cycle, demonstrating that it contributes to parasite fitness through regulation of microneme discharge, gliding motility, and egress from infected host cells. Comparison of analog-sensitive kinase alleles and conditionally depleted alleles uncovered epistasis between CDPK2A and CDPK1, implying a partial functional redundancy. Understanding the topology of signaling pathways underlying key events in the parasite life cycle can aid in efforts targeting kinases for anti-parasitic therapies.
Dual RNA-seq identifies genes and pathways modulated during
Clostridioides difficile
colonization
Authors: Frost Lucy R. , Stark Richard , Anonye Blessing O. , MacCreath Thomas O. , Ferreira Ludmila R. P. , Unnikrishnan Meera 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

The gastrointestinal pathogen
Clostridioides difficile
is the most common cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Bacterial interactions with the gut mucosa are crucial for the establishment of
C. difficile
infection; however, key infection events like bacterial attachment and gut penetration are still poorly defined. To better understand the initial events that occur when this anaerobe interacts with the human gut epithelium, we employed a dual RNA-sequencing approach to study the bacterial and host transcriptomic profiles during
C. difficile
infection in a dual environment
in vitro
human gut model. Temporal changes in gene expression during infection were studied in bacterial and epithelial cells over 3–24 hours. While there were several common differentially expressed bacterial genes across different timepoints after infection, mammalian transcriptional profiles were quite distinct, with little overlap. Interestingly, an induction of colonic receptors for
C. difficile
toxins was observed, along with the downregulation of genes encoding immune response markers. Several cell wall-associated proteins were downregulated in
C. difficile
when associated with host cells, including
slpA
, which encodes the main S-layer protein. Gene function and pathway enrichment analyses revealed a potential modulation of the purine/pyrimidine synthesis pathways both in the mammalian and bacterial cells. We observed that proline-proline endopeptidase, a secreted metalloprotease responsible for cell surface protein cleavage, is downregulated during infection, and a mutant lacking this enzyme demonstrated enhanced adhesion to epithelial cells during infection. This study provides new insight into the host and bacterial pathways based on gene expression modulation during the initial contact of
C. difficile
with gut cells.

IMPORTANCE

The initial interactions between the colonic epithelium and the bacterium are likely critical in the establishment of
Clostridioides difficile
infection, one of the major causes of hospital-acquired diarrhea worldwide. Molecular interactions between
C. difficile
and human gut cells have not been well defined mainly due to the technical challenges of studying cellular host–pathogen interactions with this anaerobe. Here we have examined transcriptional changes occurring in the pathogen and host cells during the initial 24 hours of infection. Our data indicate several changes in metabolic pathways and virulence-associated factors during the initial bacterium-host cell contact and early stages of infection. We describe canonical pathways enriched based on the expression profiles of a dual RNA sequencing in the host and bacterium, and functions of bacterial factors that are modulated during infection. This study thus provides fresh insight into the early
C. difficile
infection process.
Diagnostic performance of DNA probe-based and PCR-based molecular vaginitis testing
Authors: Navarathna Dhammika H. , Lukey Janell , Coppin John David , Jinadatha Chetan 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Vaginitis is usually diagnosed empirically, microscopically, via cultures, or by molecular testing for the detection of bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), or
Trichomonas vaginalis
(TV). The DNA probe–based technique detects BV by identifying
Gardnerella vaginalis
, VVC by identifying
Candida
spp., while real-time PCR-based detection methods identify BV by algorithmic analysis of the absence or presence of known vaginal flora. We examined 8,878 total orders placed for DNA probe–based identification (ID) and 10,464 total orders placed for molecular panel ID. We found that PCR-based BV test positivity reduced from 30% to 23% compared with the population tested with DNA probe–based testing. We also found that PCR-based testing VVC positivity increased from 6.3% and 11.6% when compared with DNA probe–based testing. Bayesian generalized linear analysis estimated a lower mean proportion of positive tests for BV in PCR-based molecular panels than DNA probe testing suggesting an under-call of BV. The same models estimated a higher mean proportion of positive tests for molecular vaginal panels than DNA probe testing suggesting an increased detection of candidal vaginitis. In addition, the mean (SD) age for patients with
Candida albicans
was 40.5 (40.0–41.1) years. Patients with
Candida glabrata
(now
N. glabrata
) were 5.2–8.1 (mean 6.7) years older than patients with
Candida albicans
. Our retrospective data analysis found that BD Max MVP’s ability to discriminate between vaginal candidiasis versus other yeast will help to implement CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)-recommended treatment options. We also believe that providers’ inattention to non-albicans treatment could be an issue nationwide.

IMPORTANCE

Using retrospective data from U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved/cleared molecular vaginal panels, molecular methods were found to have higher detection for
Candida
vaginitis and lower detection for bacterial vaginitis when compared to probe-based methods. In addition, the differentiation of
Candida
and non-
Candida
yeast has not reached the physician community as we observed noncompliance in recommended therapy. Furthermore, the pros and cons of migrating to molecular testing from conventional microscopy for identifying bacterial vaginitis and fungal vaginitis have been examined and reported in this paper. Interestingly, the mean (SD) age for patients with
Candida albicans
was 40.5 (40.0–41.1) years. Patients with
N. glabrata
were 5.2–8.1 (mean 6.7) years older than patients with
Candida albicans
.
Efficacy of augmented-dosed surgery versus botulinum toxin A injection for acute acquired concomitant esotropia: a 2-year follow-up
Authors: Yu Xiaoning , Pan Weiyi , Tang Xiajing , Zhang Yidong , Lou Lixia , Zheng Sifan , Yao Ke , Sun Zhaohui 
Published: August 2023

Background/aims
This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injection and augmented-dosed surgery in the treatment of acute acquired concomitant esotropia (AACE), and explore potential risk factors associated with recurrence.

Methods
A total of 104 patients diagnosed with AACE between October 2020 and January 2021 were included and voluntarily chose to undergo augmented surgery or BTXA injection. The follow-up assessments ended in November 2022. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify potential factors that influence the dose-response of bilateral medial rectus recession (MRrec). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate rate and risk factors for AACE relapse.

Results

A total of 31 AACE patients chose augmented-dosed esotropia surgery, and 73 chose BTXA treatment. During the 2-year follow-up, the surgical group achieved more stable postoperative results with no recurrence of diplopia, while only 68.68% (95% CI 55.31% to 78.79%) patients achieved orthophoria in the BTXA group. For patients undergoing BTXA treatment, hours of near work per day were demonstrated to be a significant risk factor for AACE relapse (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.67). The dose-response of augmented-dosed bilateral MRrec was positively correlated with preoperative deviation angle (R
2
=0.833; β=0.043, 95% CI 0.031 to 0.055; p<0.001).

Conclusion
Our findings provided quantitative evidence that augmented-dosed surgery would achieve more stable and favourable surgical outcomes for AACE patients compared with BTXA injection. However, BTXA treatment is still proposed for patients with small deviation angles due to its advantages of reduced trauma, operational simplicity, low cost and quick recovery.
Efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies on pain intensity and disability for plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lourenço Bianca Martins , Campos Mariana Gabrich Moraes , Maia Laísa , Castro Brenda , Trede Renato Guilherme , Oliveira Vinícius Cunha 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies on pain intensity and disability for plantar fasciitis.DesignSystematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Data sourcesAMED, MEDLINE, PEDro, Cochrane, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO without language or date restrictions up to 3 February 2023.Eligibility criteriaRCTs that evaluated the efficacy of any pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies compared with control (placebo, sham, waiting list or no intervention) on pain intensity and disability in people with plantar fasciitis. Two reviewers independently screened eligible trials, extracted data, assessed the methodological quality of included trials and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs were reported.ResultsSeventeen different therapies investigated in 28 trials were included in the quantitative analysis. For non-pharmacological therapies, moderate certainty evidence showed short-term effects of customised orthoses on pain intensity when compared with control (MD of −12.0 points (95% CI −17.1 to −7.0) on a 0–100 scale). Low certainty evidence showed short-term effects of taping on pain intensity (−21.3 (95% CI −38.6 to −4.0)). Long-term effects and effects on disability are still uncertain. For pharmacological therapies, low to very low quality evidence from few trials with small samples was inconclusive and supports that high-quality trials are needed.ConclusionsModerate-quality and low-quality evidence demonstrates customised orthoses and taping, respectively, reduce pain intensity in the short term in patients with plantar fasciitis.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021224416.
Employing diffusion of innovation theory for ‘not missing the mass’ in community-engaged research
Authors: Turin Tanvir C , Kazi Mashrur , Rumana Nahid , Lasker Mohammad Ali Ashraf , Chowdhury Nashit 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionEngaging with minority communities, such as immigrants and ethnic minorities, often involves adopting top-down approaches, wherein researchers and policymakers provide solutions based on their perspective. However, these approaches may not adequately address the needs and preferences of the community members, who have valuable insights and experiences to share. Therefore, community-engaged approaches, which involve collaborative partnerships between community members and researchers to identify issues, co-create solutions, and recommend policy changes, are becoming more recognized for their effectiveness and relevance. Yet, prevailing community engagement efforts often focus on easily reachable and already engaged segments of the community, sometimes overlooking the broader population.MethodsWhen working with immigrant and racialized communities, we encountered difficulties in engaging the wider community through traditional researcher-led approaches. We realized that overcoming these challenges required innovative strategies rooted in community-based participatory research principles and the diffusion of innovation theory. We recognized that a nuanced understanding of the community's dynamics and preferences was crucial in shaping our approach and building trust and rapport with the community members.ResultsThe need to bridge the gap between researcher-led initiatives and community-driven involvement has never been more pronounced. Our experience, chronicled in this article, highlights the journey of our research program with an immigrant/racialized community. This reflection enhances our comprehension of community engagement that deliberately strives to reach a larger cross-section of the community. By providing practical methods for reaching the broader community and navigating the intricacies of engagement, we aim to assist fellow researchers in conducting effective community-engaged research across various minority communities.ConclusionIn sharing our insights and successful strategies for community engagement, we hope to contribute to the field's knowledge. Our commitment to fostering meaningful collaboration underscores the importance of co-creating solutions that resonate with the diverse voices within these communities. Through these efforts, we envision a more inclusive and impactful approach to addressing the complex challenges faced by minority populations.
Responsible exit of humanitarian aid agencies at the end of programmes: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Bahati Djoki , Sy Houssynatou , Kalhor Aram , Marchal Bruno 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionIn humanitarian settings, aid agencies are constantly challenged by difficult decisions such as when and how to terminate aid without harming the aid recipients, local institutions, staff members and the organisation. Despite important efforts devoted to responsibly leaving a setting, hurtful exits are still common in contemporary relief aid. Moreover, debates on how humanitarian aid agencies exit are limited, with no previous comprehensive evidence synthesis on the concept of ‘responsible exit’. The objective of this scoping review is to map evidence and knowledge gaps, to identify and describe concepts, theories and existing frameworks related to ‘responsible exit’ of humanitarian aid agencies.Methods and analysisOur search uses searches of several bibliographic databases (CAB Direct (including Global Health), Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar) as well as manual searches of specific journals and retrieval of grey literature through searches of organisational websites and direct contact with experts and organisations. Reference tracking will be used to identify additional sources. Searches will cover papers available up to the dates of the searches (December 2022 to January 2023), with no date restrictions applied to the literature search. To be included, published or unpublished papers must explicitly discuss the exit of humanitarian aid agencies from humanitarian settings and be accessible. We will exclude all exits related to military, local and governmental humanitarian operations, education, development, employment, and business sectors. Only papers written in English and French will be considered. Three reviewers will conduct the selection process against the predefined criteria. Data will be extracted in an iterative process following pre-established items and the results will be presented in a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Extension for Scoping Reviews flow chart, tables and/or graphs, and descriptive formats.Ethics and disseminationBeing a review, conducted on publicly available information, no ethical approval is required. The results will be disseminated through publication in an open access journal, scientific conferences, workshops, and via humanitarian aid agencies to facilitate further research and possible practical translations of generated knowledge.