bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential expression patterns of sIgA in Human Breast milk (HBM) is dependent on birth outcome
Authors: Nye Gareth A , Rzepecka Magdalena J , Jones Christopher E , Harrison Kate 
Published: February 2025

AbstractBreast milk is key for the development of newborns, particularly their immune systems and gut microbiota. In times of neonatal care, newborns are often supplemented with donor breast milk for a range of practical and medical reasons. However, we do not currently understand whether specific breast milk samples may be better suited at boosting the immune system. One of the most influential immune components is sIgA immunoglobulin.MethodsDonor human breast milk samples provided by the North West Human Milk Bank were analysed for levels of sIgA using Abnova sIgA (Human) ELISA Kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions and analysed via statistical software packages based on the anonymised maternal characteristics.ResultssIgA levels were significantly increased in breast milk samples following preterm and stillbirth outcomes compared with term and live deliveries. In preterm deliveries, sIgA levels remained significantly higher in breast milk for a longer postnatal period when compared with term deliveries. There was no significant changes in sIgA levels with antibiotic use.ConclusionThe results presented in this study suggest that human breast milk is tailored to the baby from an immunological perspective. Higher levels of sIgA in breast milk being seen in pregnancies which did not end in a healthy baby i.e. pregnancies ending in preterm delivery or stillbirth would suggest there is an internal mechanism within the mother to provide additional support to a baby which is failing to grow successfully. This may open up new avenues to select donor samples specifically to assist in babies which are born premature to improve their immune systems.Key MessagesResearch has long shown that human breast milk is best for the development of newborn immune systems and gut microbiotaIn neonatal settings, donor breast milk is used to supplement in times of needThis study shows for the first time that immunological factors can be altered based on fetal outcome measuresThis may inform the provision of donor breast milk in neonatal feeding to ensure maximum immune development in preterm babies.
The Black community’s perspectives on the Black maternal health crisis
Authors: Felix Kaytura , Mawuli Jay , McGhee Alejandro , Paloma Marjorie , Pollack Porter Keshia 
Published: February 2025

AbstractMany Black people in the United States have responded to their excessively high risk for maternal mortality and morbidity by moving childbirth from hospital settings to community homes and birth centers. Black perinatal health leaders are increasingly advocating for investments in community strategies such as birth centers and community midwifery. Despite the excess burden of death and disease carried by that community, few studies have sought to investigate community solutions. This qualitative study was conducted between January and October of 2023 to explore how the Black community was responding to the maternal health crisis. It consisted of structured and unstructured conversations with fifty-seven experts, leaders, artists, and practitioners who were deeply knowledgeable about community approaches and an observation of one Black midwife caring for two Black postpartum clients in their homes. Participants perceived that the overemphasis on the negative mortality and morbidity statistics on Black birthing people in the media, without a concomitant attention to the solutions, is harmful to that community and discourages childbearing. They described significant yet often ignored positive contributions of Black women and identified Black community midwifery as an important yet under-resourced strategy. Direct observation of community midwifery care illustrated dominant themes of spirituality, support, and rest. These findings suggest that Black community midwifery is an important model of care that offers protective factors during the times that Black birthing people —postpartum—are most vulnerable to death and disease and warrant further investments and study.
Plasmodium falciparumgenomic surveillance reveals a diversity ofkelch13mutations in Zambia
Authors: Aranda-Díaz Andrés , Mwanza Sydney , Makhanthisa Takalani I. , Lauterbach Sonja B. , De Amaral Faith , Chisenga Mukosha , Mangena Brighton , Routledge Isobel , Letinić Blaženka , Kasonde Bertha , Chongwe Gershom , Mwenda Mulenga C. , Miller John M. , Hibwato Tricia , Jacob Chirwa , Hamainza Busiku , Bwalya Stephen , Chiwaula Japhet , Matoba Japhet , Sikaala Chadwick , Chimumbwa John , Wesolowski Amy , Smith Jennifer L. , Raman Jaishree , Hawela Moonga 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAntimalarials are central to Zambia’s strategies for malaria control and elimination. Antimalarial drug resistance poses a significant threat to the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapies and preventive strategies such as sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine chemoprevention in pregnant women. In this genomic surveillance study, dried blood spots and epidemiological data were collected from confirmed Plasmodium falciparum cases at 61 health facilities across all 10 Zambian provinces from March to July 2023. A total of 2,486 samples were genotyped using multiplexed amplicon sequencing to identify mutations in 12 genes associated with resistance to seven antimalarial drugs. Several mutations potentially associated with artemisinin partial resistance were identified, including the validated k13 P574L marker (0.66% adjusted national prevalence) and the candidate k13 P441L marker (1.39%). The distribution of mutations was heterogeneous, with many health facilities reporting resistance markers in more than 5% of infections, and in some instances, up to 46%. The mdr1 N86 genotype, associated with decreased lumefantrine susceptibility, was found in all samples. Very high levels of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance markers were observed, including dhps K540E (93.26%). The variable prevalence of resistance markers underscores the need for routine molecular surveillance to detect emergent resistance and guide malaria control strategies. These results also call for studies to understand the clinical implications of these mutations and ensure the continued efficacy of antimalarial interventions in Zambia.
Time-series modeling of epidemics in complex populations: detecting changes in incidence volatility over time
Authors: Aber Rachael , Di Yanming , Dalziel Benjamin D. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractTrends in infectious disease incidence provide important information about epidemic dynamics and prospects for control. Higher-frequency variation around incidence trends can shed light on the processes driving epidemics in complex populations, as transmission heterogeneity, shifting landscapes of susceptibility, and fluctuations in reporting can impact the volatility of observed case counts. However, measures of temporal volatility in incidence, and how volatility changes over time, are often overlooked in population-level analyses of incidence data, which typically focus on moving averages. Here we present a statistical framework to quantify temporal changes in incidence dispersion and detect rapid shifts in the dispersion parameter, which may signal new epidemic phases. We apply the method to COVID-19 incidence data in 144 United States (US) counties from the January 1st, 2020 to March 23rd, 2023. Theory predicts that dispersion should be inversely proportional to incidence, however our method reveals pronounced temporal trends in dispersion that are not explained by incidence alone, but which are replicated across counties. In particular, dispersion increased around the major surge in cases in 2022, and highly overdispersed patterns became more frequent later in the time series. These findings suggest that heterogeneity in transmission, susceptibility, and reporting could play important roles in driving large surges and extending epidemic duration. The dispersion of incidence time series can contain structured information which enhances predictive understanding of the underlying drivers of transmission, with potential applications as leading indicators for public health response.Author summaryUnderstanding patterns in infectious disease incidence is crucial for understanding epidemic dynamics and for developing effective public health policy. Traditional metrics used to quantify incidence patterns often overlook variability as an important characteristic of incidence time series. Quantifying variability around incidence trends can elucidate important underlying processes, including transmission heterogeneity. We developed a statistical framework to quantify temporal changes in case count dispersion within a single time series and applied the method to COVID-19 case count data. We found that conspicuous shifts in dispersion occurred across counties concurrently, and that these shifts were not explained by incidence alone. Dispersion increased around peaks in incidence such as the major surge in cases in 2022, and dispersion also increased as the pandemic progressed. These increases potentially indicate transmission heterogeneity, changes in the susceptibility landscape, or that there were changes in reporting. Shifts in dispersion can also indicate shifts in epidemic phase, so our method provides a way for public health officials to anticipate and manage changes in epidemic regime and the drivers of transmission.
Neurochemical markers of uncertainty processing in humans
Authors: Jassim Nazia , Waade Peter Thestrup , Parsons Owen , Petzschner Frederike H , Rua Caterina , Rodgers Christopher T , Baron-Cohen Simon , Suckling John , Mathys Christoph , Lawson Rebecca P 
Published: February 2025

AbstractHow individuals process and respond to uncertainty has important implications for cognition and mental health. Here we use computational phenotyping to examine individualised “uncertainty fingerprints” in relation to neurometabolites and trait anxiety in humans. We introduce a novel categorical state-transition extension of the Hierarchical Gaussian Filter (HGF) to capture implicit learning in a four-choice probabilistic sensorimotor reversal learning task by tracking beliefs about stimulus transitions. Using 7-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, we measured baseline neurotransmitter levels in the primary motor cortex (M1). Model-based results revealed dynamic belief updating in response to environmental changes. We further found region-specific relationships between M1 glutamate+ glutamine levels and prediction errors and volatility beliefs, revealing an important neural marker of probabilistic reversal learning in humans. High trait anxiety was associated with faster post-reversal responses. By integrating computational modelling with neurochemical assessments, this study provides novel insights into the neurocomputations that drive individual differences in processing uncertainty.
Glyco-STORM: Nanoscale Mapping of the Cellular Glycosylation Landscape
Authors: Schroeter Helene Gregoria , Sass Steffen , Heilemann Mike , Kuner Thomas , Klevanski Maja 
Published: February 2025

SummaryGlycosylation is a crucial biochemical modification of proteins and other biomolecules in cells that generates an exceptional structural and functional diversity. Aberrant glycosylation is implicated in numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Despite its significance, methodological constraints to date have limited the exploration of the nanometer scale spatial arrangement of glycans across entire cells. We developed Glyco-STORM, a super-resolution imaging approach that generates nano-structural maps of cellular glycosylation. Glyco-STORM employs fluorophore-labeled lectins and multiplexed single-molecule super-resolution microscopy, in combination with nanoscale spatial pattern analysis. For example, Glyco-STORM unraveled nanodomains within the endoplasmic reticulum, subdomains along the Golgi axes, and a polarized lysosomal clathrin coat. At synaptic contact sites, mature glycans delineate the synaptic cleft and subsynaptic tubules adjacent to the postsynaptic density. In summary, Glyco-STORM elucidates the spatial arrangement of glycosylation sites from subcellular to molecular levels, revealing the previously obscured glycosylation landscape at nanoscale and establishing a ’spatial glycosylation code’ that provides a unique perspective on cellular organization distinct from traditional protein-centric views.
A Single Mutation in TRPC6 Protects Mice from Acute Lung Injury by Regenerating Endothelium
Authors: Anwar Mumtaz , Balaji Raghunathrao Vijay Avin , Amin Ruhul , Vellingiri Vigneshwaran , Joshi Jagdish Chandra , Akhter Md Zahid , Tauseef Mohammad , El-Erian Ibrahim Hassan , Khaki Nazanin , Fancher Ibra S. , Abdelkarim Hazem , Levitan Irena , Chronis Konstantinos , Gaponenko Vadim , Mehta Dolly 
Published: February 2025

AbstractRegenerating vascular endothelium under sepsis, trauma, and viral infections is vital for promoting the resolution of inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI). Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels mediated Ca2+entry compromises organ functions and survival from lung injury. Through decoding the domain in TRPC6 responsible for vascular injury, we unveiled the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying vascular regeneration in injured tissue. We found that the substitution of isoleucine111within the Istankyrin domain of TRPC6 for its isomer111leucine (I111L-TRPC6) altered channel localization at the membrane, blocked TRPC6-mediated Ca2+entry and cation currents without affecting TRPC6 protein expression. Next, we delivered WT-TRPC6 and I111L-TRPC6 to the endothelial cells (ECs) of TRPC6 knockout mice using liposomes and found that while WT-TRPC6 induced lung vascular inflammatory injury and EC death these responses were blocked in lungs expressing I111L-TRPC6 mutant. Instead, the I111L-TRPC6 mutant promoted lung EC proliferation and prevented vascular injury. These responses were recapitulated in a preclinical mouse model of ALI after injection of engineered TRPC6-blocking peptide, suggesting a novel strategy for regenerating anti-inflammatory vascular niche and preventing ALI therapeutically.
Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 enables viable aneuploidy following centrosome amplification
Authors: Blackmer Jane E. , Jezuit Erin A. , Chakraborty Archan , Montague Ruth A. , Peterson Nora G. , Outlaw William , Fox Donald T. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAmplified centrosome number causes genomic instability, most severely through division into more than two aneuploid daughter cells (multipolar mitosis). Several mechanisms that suppress multipolar division have been uncovered, yet mechanisms that favor viable multipolar division are poorly understood. To uncover factors that promote viability in cells with frequent centrosome amplification and multipolar division, we conducted an unbiasedDrosophilagenetic screen. In 642 mutagenized lines, we exploited the ability of intestinal papillar cells to form and function despite multipolar divisions. Our top hit is an unnamed gene,CG3168. We name this genesynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2, reflecting homology to human Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2 (SV2) proteins. GFP-tagged SV2 localizes to the plasma membrane. In cells with amplified centrosomes, SV2 positions membrane-adjacent centrosomes, which prevents severe errors in chromosome alignment and segregation. Our results uncover membrane-based multipolar division regulation and reveal a novel vulnerability in cells with common cancer properties.
Leveraging seasonal dynamics to identify the strength of disease transmission along multiple environmental pathways
Authors: Shioda Kayoko , Watanabe Miwa , Freeman Matthew , Levy Karen , Brouwer Andrew 
Published: February 2025

AbstractBackgroundMany pathogens spread through multiple transmission pathways, making it difficult to identify the dominant transmission pathway for a given pathogen. Including a comprehensive set of relevant pathways in infectious disease transmission (IDT) models can provide insight into the contribution of each pathway to infections and allow for comparisons of the potential impact of control strategies targeting various pathways. Seasonal patterns in pathogen prevalence, combined with environmental testing, may allow us to differentiate the contributions of different pathways.MethodsWe conducted an identifiability analysis for an IDT model with three transmission pathways: direct person-to-person and two indirect, environmental pathways (water-to-person and food-to-person). We ran a series of simulations to understand the conditions under which we can successfully identify the dominant transmission pathway. Specifically, we explored the effects of different magnitudes of the transmission rate for each pathway and the seasonal timing of peak pathogen concentrations in water and food.ResultsUnder the proposed data collection approach, we were able to successfully determine the dominant transmission pathway when simulated peak seasonality in water and food contamination differed by at least one month, even when the difference in the true transmission rates was small. However, we did not always correctly estimate the transmission rates used to generate the simulated data, even if we correctly determined the relative strengths of the pathways. When the simulated contamination in water and food peaked at the same time, the IDT model failed to determine the dominant pathway, regardless of the relative magnitudes of the true transmission rates.DiscussionOur analysis found that IDT models can be a powerful tool to differentiate the contribution of different pathways to human infection with relevant empirical data on pathogen contamination in exposure sources. Our findings can help researchers design future studies and determine the feasibility of a study based on the seasonality in environmental samples if such data are available.
Associations of Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality with MNBI, PSPW-I, and ECJ-CI in rGERD, FH, and RH Patients: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Lou Lunsheng , Huang Yurong , Yang Wangliu , Song Gengqing , Yang Jie 
Published: February 2025

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined the impact of anxiety, depression, and sleep quality on mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI), post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index (PSPW-I), and esophagogastric junction contractile index (EGJ- CI) in patients with refractory gastro-esophageal reflux disease (rGERD), functional heartburn (FH), and reflux hypersensitivity (RH).MethodsRetrospective analysis included 75 patients aged 18-70 with persistent reflux symptoms despite 8 weeks of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Evaluations included esophagogastroduodenoscopy, high-resolution manometry, 24-hour pH- impedance monitoring, and psychological assessments (SAS, SDS, PSQI). Patients were grouped into rGERD, FH, and RH. MNBI, PSPW-I, and EGJ-CI were compared, and correlations with psychological and sleep parameters were analyzed.ResultsDistal MNBI was significantly lower in rGERD (1177.91 ± 707.22 Ω) vs. FH (1995.77 ± 476.02 Ω) and RH (2062.35 ± 509.93 Ω) (P < 0.001). Anxiety prevalence was 85.7% in rGERD, 64.7% in FH, and 67.5% in RH (P = 0.302); depression affected 78.6% of rGERD, 70.8% of FH, and 72.9% of RH patients (P = 0.942). Poor sleep quality was present in >80% of all groups. PSPW-I negatively correlated with anxiety (r = −0.181, P < 0.05) and depression (r = −0.158, P < 0.05), as did proximal MNBI with depression (r = −0.175, P < 0.05). A distal MNBI cutoff of 1531 Ω distinguished rGERD from FH/RH with 71.4% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity (AUC = 0.80).ConclusionAnxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality impair PPI efficacy and worsen esophageal acid clearance. Distal MNBI effectively differentiates rGERD from FH/RH. Addressing psychological and sleep disturbances may improve treatment outcomes in refractory reflux patients.
Validity and wear compliance of wrist-wearable activity trackers in free-living schoolchildren: validation study
Authors: Yamakita Mitsuya , Ando Daisuke , Sato Miri , Akiyama Yuka , Yamaguchi Kaori , Yamagata Zentaro 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIntroductionWearable activity trackers are widely available for promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB). However, studies assessing their validity for PA and SB measurement in free-living conditions in school-age children remain limited.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the criterion validity and wear compliance of the Fitbit Ace, a wrist-worn wearable activity tracker designed for children, in measuring PA and SB under free-living conditions.MethodsA total of 102 children (mean age: 10.2 years; 44.1% girls) simultaneously wore a waist-worn accelerometer (Omron Active Style Pro HJA-750c; ASP HJA-750c) and a Fitbit Ace for 11 consecutive days. Step count and time spent in SB, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), and vigorous PA (VPA) were collected from both devices. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations assessed criterion validity, while Bland–Altman plots, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate agreement. Wear compliance was compared between the two devices.ResultsThe Fitbit Ace showed a very strong correlation with step count and strong correlations with SB, LPA, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). However, significant differences were observed for all PA variables. The Fitbit Ace overestimated step count, SB, VPA, and MVPA, whereas it underestimated LPA and MPA. Agreement between devices was low, with proportional errors in step count, LPA, VPA, and MVPA. MAPE exceeded 20% for all variables, including step count (21.7%), SB (31.2%), LPA (30.3%), and MVPA (120.7%). The proportion of children meeting the criterion of ≥10 h/day wear criterion was higher for the Fitbit Ace (83.2%) than for the ASP HJA-750c (57.8%), as was adherence to ≥4 days (97.0% vs. 62.2%).ConclusionWhile caution is needed when using the Fitbit Ace for precise measurement of individual PA, it is a useful tool for assessing overall patterns of step count, SB, and LPA in school-aged children.
Estimating physical conditions supporting gradients of ATP concentration in the eukaryotic cell
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Johnston Iain G. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe ATP molecule serves as an energy currency in eukaryotes (and all life), providing the energy needed for many essential cellular processes. But the extent to which substantial spatial differences exist in ATP concentration in the cell remains incompletely known. It is variously argued that ATP diffuses too quickly for large gradients to be established, or that the high rates of ATP production and use (sources and sinks) can support large gradients even with rapid diffusion – and microscopic models and detailed experiments in different specific cases support both pictures. Here we attempt a mesoscopic investigation, using reaction-diffusion modelling in a simple biophysical picture of the cell to attempt to ask, generally, which conditions cause substantial ATP gradients to emerge within eukaryotic cells. If ATP sources (like mitochondria) or sinks (like the nucleus) are spatially clustered, large fold changes in concentration can exist across the cell; if sources and sinks are more spread then rapid diffusion indeed prevents large gradients being established. This dependence holds in model cells of different sizes, suggesting its generality across cell types. Our theoretical work will complement developing intracellular approaches exploring ATP concentration inside eukaryotic cells.