bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality assessment of fish vaccine data in the Norwegian Veterinary Prescription Register (VetReg)
Authors: Udhwani Trishang , Dean Katharine R. , Sommerset Ingunn , Helgesen Kari Olli 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Vaccination of farmed salmonids has been an integral part of preventing infectious diseases in Norway’s aquaculture industry. In Norway, vaccine usage is regulated by the government. There is a need to monitor vaccine usage for both regulatory and research purposes, at local and national scales. The Norwegian Veterinary Prescription Register (VetReg) is a national database that includes all prescriptions of medicines to animals dispensed by pharmacies and all medicines used for food producing animals by veterinarians. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of fish vaccination data reported to VetReg in 2016–2022. We considered the following attributes: completeness, validity, and timeliness. For external validation, we compared the data in VetReg to wholesaler statistics.

Results
Pharmacies reported fish vaccines to VetReg in a variety of quantity units, including doses and volumes, which required us to harmonize the data to a single unit. It was not possible to harmonize the quantity units for nine percent of the records, which were mainly bath vaccines reported in doses. We identified specific issues that required manual editing of the units of 1 percent of the records. We validated individual variables such as product codes and location identifiers using external registers. The ‘number of animals’ variable was inconsistent for 31 percent of the records. The coverage of vaccine data in VetReg ranged from 81 to 113 percent for the ten most sold vaccines in 2020–2022, as compared to wholesales statistics. For the timeliness, we found that 75 percent of the records were submitted within 25 days for all years.

Conclusions
Overall, we found that the fish vaccination data in VetReg was of sufficient quality to monitor injectable vaccine usage at hatcheries after 2020. We identified issues at the product level, with bath vaccines, and with single variables (number of animals, weight, and species). We recommend that quality can be improved by reporting all vaccines in volume rather than doses, reporting a single vaccine prescription per report, and including a deadline for pharmacies to report in the legislation.
Therapeutic development to accelerate malaria control through intentional intervention layering
Authors: Braunack-Mayer Lydia , Nekkab Narimane , Malinga Josephine , Kelly Sherrie L. , Ansah Evelyn , Moehrle Joerg J. , Penny Melissa A. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The clinical development of novel vaccines, injectable therapeutics, and oral chemoprevention drugs has the potential to deliver significant advancements in the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These innovations could support regions in accelerating malaria control, transforming existing intervention packages by supplementing interventions with imperfect effectiveness or offering an entirely new tool. However, to layer new medical tools as part of an existing programme, malaria researchers must come to an agreement on the gaps that currently limit the effectiveness of medical interventions for moderate to low transmission settings. In this perspective, three crucial gaps that may prevent new therapeutics from being used to their fullest extent are presented. First, do burden reduction outcomes, which are typically monitored in studies of new medical products, sufficiently capture the broader goal of accelerating malaria control? Layering novel malaria products requires monitoring health outcomes that reflect the novel product’s targeted stage of the parasite life cycle, in addition to all-infection and prevalence-based outcomes. Second, what public health outcome does a novel medical prevention tool provide that existing malaria interventions cannot fully deliver? Novel medical tools should be developed not just for an incremental improvement in preventive efficacy over an existing product, but also to meet a gap in protection. Specifically, this means designing products with components that target parts of the parasite life cycle beyond the scope of existing therapeutics, and better addressing populations and settings not well covered by existing tools. Finally, when do the population-level benefits of a multi-tool prevention programme justify the individual-level outcomes from receiving multiple interventions? An individual-level perspective should be key for exploring when and how layering a novel prevention intervention can accelerate efforts towards P. falciparum malaria control.
Understanding the clinical and molecular epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections within intensive care units of three teaching hospitals
Authors: Zhang Pengyu , Hao Jingchen , Zhang Yafen , Su Junfeng , Sun Guozhuang , Xie Jun , Hu Jian , Li Guocai 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is recognized as a common clinical conditional pathogen with bla
OXA−23 gene-mediated multidrug-resistance that is a significant threat to public health safety. Timely and effective infection control measures are needed to prevent their spread.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of CRAB patients at three teaching hospitals from 2019 to 2022. We identified bacterial isolates, collected clinical data, and performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Genome characteristics of isolates were investigated by whole genome sequencing. Multilocus sequence typing and phylogenetic trees were used to assess the genetic similarity of isolates. Acquired antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors carried in the isolated group genome were analyzed by ResFinder, PubMLST and VFDB. Sequence alignment was used to analyze genetic environment around bla
OXA−23. Phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze the genetic relationship of isolates.

Results
A total of 92 non-repetitive CRAB isolates were collected, with sputum samples accounting for the majority (94.57%, n = 87) of samples. These were distributed into ST2, with ST2 identified to have the highest prevalence of infection, accounting for 99.99% (n = 91) of all isolates. The major resistance genes identified were bla
OXA−23, bla
OXA−66, bla
OXA−51, and bla
ADC. Also, 92 CRAB strains showed high levels of resistance to common clinical antibiotics, but not minocycline. Meanwhile, most of the isolates carried virulence genes such as various ompA, csuA, csuB, csuC, csuD, abaI, abaR, lpxC, lpxA, and bmfRS. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses further indicated that the bacterial genome was progressively polymorphic with time. We analyzed the environment of the bla
OXA−23 gene and found that CRAB accumulated in the context of prominent environmental antibiotic exposure and had longer survival times in the antibiotic environment, resulting in the tendency of bacteria to develop greater antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions
We find that CRAB is prevalent within the ICU and is progressively resistant to antibiotics over time. Enhanced clinical understanding and timely management of CRAB infections will be crucial to minimize or even eliminate the spread of CRAB within the ICU setting.
Improving prognostic evaluations in patients with stage IIIb light chain cardiac amyloidosis: role of haemodynamic parameters
Authors: Li Jingyi , Lu Yang , Xu Xiqi , Tian Zhuang , Li Jian , Zhang Shuyang 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
There is no unified prognostic scoring system for light chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA), particularly stage IIIb AL-CA. This study aimed to use invasive haemodynamic information to investigate markers that can more accurately evaluate the prognosis of patients with stage IIIb AL-CA.

Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we conducted invasive haemodynamic measurements concurrently with myocardial biopsies to diagnose AL-CA. We used Cox regression analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to study the associations between these measurements and overall mortality. Echocardiographic parameters were also recorded and analysed via logistic regression to explore their relationships with haemodynamic changes.

Results
Although traditional haemodynamic parameters, such as the cardiac index (CI), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), pulmonary artery pressure, and vascular resistance, did not correlate with mortality, the PAWP/CI ratio emerged as a vital prognostic marker. Patients with a PAWP/CI ratio above 11 mmHg/L/min/m2 had markedly poorer survival. Kaplan‒Meier analysis highlighted the prognostic significance of the ratio, revealing distinct survival differences. Furthermore, logistic regression confirmed that echocardiographically measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure independently correlated with increases in the PAWP/CI ratio.

Conclusions
In stage IIIb AL-CA patients, the PAWP/CI ratio, which surpasses traditional haemodynamic indicators, significantly predicts all-cause mortality, emphasizing its prognostic value. Our findings suggest that echocardiography-derived PASP could alternatively reflect the PAWP/CI ratio.
Neurofilament light chain (Nf-L) in cerebrospinal fluid and serum as a potential biomarker in the differential diagnosis of neurological diseases in cattle
Authors: Di Muro Giorgia , Tessarolo Carlotta , Cagnotti Giulia , Favole Alessandra , Ferrini Sara , Ala Ugo , Bellino Claudio , Borriello Giuliano , Gallo Marina , Iamone Giulia , Iulini Barbara , Pezzolato Marzia , Casalone Cristina , Caramelli Maria , Capucci Lorenzo , Cavadini Patrizia , Corona Cristiano , D’Angelo Antonio 
Published: January 2025

AbstractNeurofilament light chain (Nf-L) is a biomarker for axonal damage in human neurology but is understudied in cattle. With this study we wanted to determine Nf-L stability at two different storage temperatures and Nf-L levels in healthy cattle and the relationship with age, evaluate whether Nf-L holds diagnostic potential for neurological disorders, and whether an association exists between Nf-L in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To do this, we measured Nf-L levels in CSF and serum samples from 49 healthy and 75 sick cattle. Storage at −80 °C or −20 °C had no impact on Nf-L concentration. Physiological median Nf-L levels were 6.3 pg/mL (serum) and 414 pg/mL (CSF) in calves and 5.5 pg/mL (serum) and 828 pg/mL (CSF) in adult cattle. There was no association between Nf-L levels in CSF and calf age (r2 0.07, p = 0.13), while a weak association was found for Nf-L in serum (r2 0.26, p = 0.01), and a significant association in adult cattle (CSF, r2 0.69, p = 0.0001; serum, r2 0.68, p = 0.0003). CSF Nf-L levels were higher in samples from animals with degenerative (median Nf-L 49971 pg/mL) and infectious central nervous system (CNS) disorders (median Nf-L, age < 2 months 8863 pg/mL; age 2–12 months 17474 pg/mL; age 1–6 years 3546 pg/mL), CNS anomalies and metabolic/toxic disorders. There was a significant association between CSF Nf-L and serum Nf-L in cattle with neurological disorders (r2 0.2, p = 0.009). Taken together, these findings suggest the potential of Nf-L as a diagnostic tool in cattle neurology.
Deciphering the nature and statistical optimization of antimicrobial metabolites of two endophytic bacilli
Authors: Isleem Raghda S. , Eid Ahmed M. , Hassan Saad El-Din , Aboshanab Khaled M. , El-Housseiny Ghadir S. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
In this study, Allium sativum, garlic, was selected to isolate endophytic bacteria and to evaluate the antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of their produced metabolites followed by identification of the biosynthetic gene cluster of the antimicrobial metabolites using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Two bacterial isolates, C6 and C11, were found to have a broad-spectrum antagonistic effect against four standard microbial strains and were molecularly identified using 16 S ribosomal RNA sequence analysis and deposited in a local culture collection as B. velezensis CCASU-C6, and B. subtilis CCASU-C11, respectively. Optimization for the maximum production of antimicrobial metabolites revealed that a four-day incubation period was optimal, with sucrose and tryptone serving as the best carbon and nitrogen sources for the fermentation media. Response surface methodology model using the central composite design was created resulting in a 1.2-fold and 1.8-fold improvement in antimicrobial metabolite(s) production of C6 and C11 isolates, respectively. The optimal production conditions were found to be a temperature of 33 °C, pH of 7, and an agitation rate of 200 rpm for C6 metabolite, and a temperature of 37 °C, pH of 7, and an agitation rate of 250 rpm for C11 metabolite. Both bacterial isolates displayed antioxidant and antiviral activity and mild cytotoxic action. Genomic sequence and antiSMASH analysis showed that the biosynthetic gene clusters of bacillomycin, mycosubtilin, fengycin, and macrolactin H in B. velezensis CCASU-C6 and bacillibactin and Macrolactin H in B. subtilis CCASU-C11 showed 100% conservation.
The effect of traditional agricultural practices on the food consumption of households facing extreme weather events in Tanzania
Authors: Wegenast Tim , Hänze Niklas , Haer Roos , Birulés Marcel 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
An estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute malnutrition. By impacting agricultural production, climate change is likely to further decrease food consumption, particularly in sub-Saharan African states. Against this backdrop, various actors have called for more attention to alternative farming and food systems based on traditional agricultural knowledge capable of ensuring access to sufficient, nutritious, and safe food. So far, however, we have limited systematic evidence on which traditional agricultural practices may promote the food resilience of households exposed to extreme climatic conditions. Focusing on the most prevalent traditional diversification practices in Tanzania, this study assesses the extent to which crop diversification, annual crop intercropping, crop-tree intercropping, crop-livestock integration, and the cultivation of traditional crops increase the food availability and dietary diversity of smallholders facing extreme weather events in Tanzania.

Methods
We combine temperature and rain data with information on farming practices and food consumption information provided by the Living Standards Measurement Study–Integrated Surveys on Agriculture for more than 25,000 Tanzanian households nationwide. We rely on a matched differences-in-differences approach to account for selection bias and allow for causal inference.

Results
Our matching models consistently show that the planting of traditional crops (in particular sorghum) promotes dietary diversity and reduces the need for food rationing in households experiencing climate shocks. In contrast, households relying on maize cultivation show less dietary diversity and increased food rationing behavior. In addition, we find that—under extreme weather conditions—crop diversification furthers households’ dietary diversity, and crop-livestock integration, as well as crop-tree intercropping, seem to reduce households’ need to ration food.

Conclusion and policy recommendation
This study has important implications for policymakers. In light of climate change and weather variability, it underscores the need to better integrate indigenous knowledge into farming systems. Our results call for greater dissemination of traditional diversification strategies and more reliance on indigenous, drought-tolerant crops. Traditional farming practices can function as a safety net, protecting smallholders in Tanzania against the detrimental consequences of weather shocks.
Effect of intermittent infusion hemodiafiltration on cerebral and hepatic oxygenation
Authors: Ookawara Susumu , Ito Kiyonori , Fukuda Kazuma , Iida Tomoko , Yahagi Kazumi , Miyazawa Haruhisa , Hirai Keiji , Yoshizawa Mamoru , Morishita Yoshiyuki 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Hepatosplanchnic circulation plays a crucial role in maintaining hemodynamic stability during hemodialysis (HD). In patients undergoing HD, hepatic oxygenation decreases before the onset of intradialytic hypotension. However, clinical studies comparing systemic tissue oxygenation, particularly in the brain and liver, between HD and intermittent infusion hemodiafiltration (I-HDF) are limited. We aimed to compare changes in the cerebral and hepatic oxygenation during I-HDF and HD.

Methods
This single-center prospective observational study included 25 patients undergoing dialysis therapy. I-HDF involved a dialysate infusion volume of 200 mL, administered at a rate of 150 mL/min via back-filtration every 30 min. Cerebral and hepatic regional oxygenation saturation (rSO2) levels were monitored during HD and I-HDF using the INVOS 5100C oxygen saturation monitor. Changes in these parameters were compared between the two modalities.

Results
The relative blood volume change (%ΔBV) at the end of therapy was significantly smaller with I-HDF compared with HD (−8.0 ± 4.4% versus −10.0 ± 5.0%, p = 0.019). No significant differences in cerebral and hepatic rSO2 were observed at the initiation of HD and I-HDF (cerebral rSO2: 54.5 ± 6.3% versus 54.0 ± 6.0%, p = 0.444; hepatic rSO2: 63.4 ± 11.8% versus 63.4 ± 12.3%, p = 0.977). During I-HDF, cerebral and hepatic rSO2 levels significantly increased in response to dialysate infusion, compared with corresponding time points during HD. The percentage (%) change in hepatic rSO2 after the seventh dialysate infusion was significantly greater than those after the first, third, and fifth infusions. Additionally, percentage changes in hepatic rSO2 were negatively correlated with %ΔBV (ρ = −0.394, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with the ratio of the dialysate infusion volume to circulating BV just before infusion (ρ = 0.387, p < 0.001).

Conclusions
This study demonstrated that BV reduction at the end of I-HDF was significantly smaller than that of HD, and that hepatic oxygenation increased rapidly after dialysate infusion during I-HDF. Further studies are required to elucidate the impact of increased hepatic oxygenation during I-HDF on intradialytic hemodynamic stability.
Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) implementations to control cholera outbreak in Oromia region, Ethiopia
Authors: Gobena Dabesa , Gudina Esayas Kebede , Fetensa Getahun , Degfie Tizta Tilahun , Debela Tessema , Tamiru Afework , Bayissa Zenebu Begna , Diriba Dereje , Sarbessa Tarekegn , Bekele Daniel , Teferi Natinel , Layesa Achalu , Zewdie Abate , Ayele Dawit Worku , Mersha Meron Debebe , Bafikadu Chala , Wake Senahara Korsa , Abebe Lemi , Kebebew Tesfaye , Goshu Tefera , Kenate Birhanu , Dessie Yadeta , Mekonnen Zeleke 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Oromia regional state experiencing cholera outbreaks in a protracted pattern despite various interventions at local and regional levels. This study aimed to examine the implementation of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities for cholera outbreak control in the region.

Methods
We conducted a quantitative and qualitative mixed-method study. The study included 422 respondents for quantitative, 22 key informant interviews (KII), and 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for the qualitative methods. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities were assessed using standard questionnaires adapted from national cholera guideline later categorized as poor, satisfactory and good. The findings have also been derived qualitatively from three distinct themes or pillars, specifically (coordination and logistics, RCCE, and the Oral Cholera Vaccine). The quantitative data were analyzed using Stata, version 14.0, and ATLAS.ti9 software was used for qualitative data analysis. An ordinal logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with the RCCE status, and a thematic content analysis was performed for the qualitative study. Odds Ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to present the findings from the quantitative analysis.

Results
Only 53% (223) of participants had received health information on cholera of whom 22.8% (96) had material for Social Behaviour Change (SBC) in the local language (Afan Oromo). The overall RCCE implementation status was rated as poor by 73% of the respondents, satisfactory by 23%, and only 4% rated it as good. Level of education and occupation of the house are among the factors affecting the implementation of RCCE. The qualitative findings revealed a lack of regular community dialogues, and community engagements were notably minimal during the early phase of the outbreak. Overall, the RCCE implementation activities were characterized by inconsistency, a lack of comprehensiveness, and uniformity across all levels.

Conclusion
The RCCE-related intervention activities were found to be minimal, inconsistent and less focused. The RCCE interventions and awareness creation need to begin with the small units of the community structures, including individuals and families and have to happen continuously with the community, and health workers' involvement at all level. Preliminary evaluation of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) materials before their distribution should be made, and adopting diverse communication modalities to control the outbreak.
In-silico study of E169G and F242K double mutations in leucine-rich repeats (LRR) polygalacturonase inhibiting protein (PGIP) of Gossypium barbadense and associated defense mechanism against plant pathogens
Authors: Murmu Sneha , Rashmi Mayank , Nagrale Dipak T. , Kour Tejasman , Singh Mahender Kumar , Chaurasia Anurag , Behera Santosh Kumar , Shankar Raja , Ranjan Rajiv , Jha Girish Kumar , Gawande Shailesh P. , Hiremani Neelakanth S. , Prasad Y. G. , Kumar Sunil 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) play a pivotal role in plant defense against plant pathogens by inhibiting polygalacturonase (PG), an enzyme produced by pathogens to degrade plant cell wall pectin. PGIPs, also known as leucine-rich repeat pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, activate the host’s defense response upon interaction with PG, thereby reinforcing the host defense against plant pathogens attacks. In Egyptian or extra-long staple cotton (Gossypium barbadense), the interaction between PGIP and PG is one of the crucial steps in the defense mechanism against major pathogens such as Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum and Alternaria macrospora, which are responsible for bacterial leaf blight and leaf spot diseases, respectively.

Results
To unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying these PR proteins, we conducted a comprehensive study involving molecular modeling, protein-protein docking, site-specific double mutation (E169G and F242K), and molecular dynamics simulations. Both wild-type and mutated cotton PGIPs were examined in the interaction with the PG enzyme of a bacterial and fungal pathogen. Our findings revealed that changes in conformations of double-mutated residues in the active site of PGIP lead to the inhibition of PG binding. The molecular dynamics simulation studies provide insights into the dynamic behaviour and stability of the PGIP-PG complexes, shedding light on the intricate details of the inhibitory and exhibitory mechanism against the major fungal and bacterial pathogens of G. barbadense, respectively.

Conclusions
The findings of this study not only enhance our understanding of the molecular interactions between PGs of Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum and Alternaria macrospora and PGIP of G. barbadense but also present a potential strategy for developing the disease-resistant cotton varieties. By variations in the binding affinities of PGs through specific mutations in PGIP, this research offers promising avenues for the development of enhanced resistance to cotton plants against bacterial leaf blight and leaf spot diseases.