bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production of protein-rich fungal biomass from pistachio dehulling waste using edible Neurospora intermedia
Authors: Toghiani Javad , Fallah Narges , Nasernejad Bahram , Mahboubi Amir , Taherzadeh Mohammad J. , Afsham Neda 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Pistachio dehulling waste, known as Pistachio byproduct mixture (PBM), is a valuable resource that is often overlooked. An effective sustainable approach involves utilizing this agricultural waste through a fermentation process using edible filamentous fungi, demonstrating potential applications in nutrition and animal feed. The focus of this study was on converting PBM extract obtained from a hot water extraction pre-treatment into a protein-rich fungal biomass of Neurospora intermedia. The optimal conditions for growth were achieved at 72 h, pH 5.5, and 30 °C which are achieved by one-factor-at-a-time approach (OFAT), resulting in 6.7 g/L of dried fungal biomass, with a protein content of 20.4%. The conversion efficiency, expressed as grams of fungal biomass per gram of initial Total COD, was 0.37 g/g, highlighting the significant potential of PBM extract with high COD levels and low sugar content for fermentation processes. Additionally, an investigation was carried out to assess the impact of inoculation method, culture adaptation, COD/N ratio, and pH control on fungal biomass growth during cultivation. The results of optimal conditions with response of fungal biomass growth showed production of 0.44, 0.45, and 0.49 g of fungal biomass per gram of initial total COD, with protein contents of 20.2%, 27.1%, and 18.6%, respectively, leading to improved fungal biomass yield. The resulting protein-rich fungal biomass with a focus on the biorefinery platform to complete the value-added cycle, holds promise for applications in various sectors including food, animal feed, biochemical, and biomaterial industries.
Results of digitised blood smear differentiations by veterinary students using item analysis
Authors: Marahrens Hannah , Freise Fritjof , Kiene Frederik , Ganter Martin , Wagener Matthias Gerhard 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Familiarisation with manual blood examination methods and the morphologies of leukocytes in peripheral blood contributes to routine veterinary practice. It enables veterinarians to verify automated analysis results and to examine blood cell morphology using the microscope. Third-year students therefore participated in an online module including 10 clinical cases of various mammal species with a haematological focus. Each case required the differentiation of 100 leukocytes using digitised cell images (= items) photographed from corresponding blood films. The study aims to provide insights into student difficulties with different leukocyte morphologies by calculating the Difficulty Index (DI) values. Out of 247 participating students, 96% completed the course in full, contributing 2197 differential white blood count (dWBC) responses for evaluation. The mean DI for all items (n = 1033) was 0.95 (± 0.09 SD), indicating overall low difficulty. Nucleated red blood cells (nRBC) (DI 0.98 ± 0.03 SD), segmented neutrophils (0.98 ± 0.07), and lymphocytes (0.97 ± 0.05) obtained high scores, whereas DIs for myelocytes (0.72 ± 0.14) and monocytes (0.82 ± 0.20) posed a greater challenge for the students to recognise these types of cells. Basophils, metamyelocytes, band neutrophils, platelets, and eosinophils ranged between DIs of 0.83 (± 0.12) to 0.94 (± 0.08). In contrast to hands-on microscopy, this digital format provided valuable training to gain routine in leukocyte differentiation and presentation, particularly of uncommon cell types. These should, however, be reliably distinguished by the examiner from the more common cell types, as they usually have a relatively high clinical significance even if they occur in small numbers. Nevertheless, the lack of dynamic manual adjustments during the microscopic examination emphasises the need for hands-on microscopy in combination with a digital format.
Early-life environmental enrichment promotes positive animal welfare for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in aquaculture research
Authors: Prentice Pamela M. , Chivite Alcalde Mauro , Císař Petr , Rey Planellas Sonia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Early life experiences have long-lasting effects on behaviour and physiology, influencing development of adaptive natural behaviours. Enriching farmed environments encourages expression of natural behaviours in captive fish, promoting positive animal welfare, important for conducting valid and reproducible research and informing better management practices. Using juvenile Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), we tested whether provision of environmental enrichment in early life improves welfare. Welfare indicators were measured comparing enriched to non-enriched tanks. Morphological (fin damage and body condition), physiological (plasma cortisol) and behavioural traits (activity, group cohesion, and neophobia) were recorded. Molecular expression of brain mRNA transcripts related to stress response, neuroplasticity and serotonergic system was analysed. Environmental enrichment did not affect morphological welfare indicators, activity, or cortisol. Enriched fish were more cohesive than non-enriched fish, less neophobic, with higher serotonergic turnover, suggesting enrichment mitigates against stress, promoting positive emotional states. Genes related to neuronal development and activity (bdnf and ndf1), cellular stress (hsp90 and hsp70), and serotonin synthesis (tph2) increased in enriched fish following stress, enhancing cognitive function. Our findings suggest early life environmental enrichment is advantageous for positive animal welfare by improving emotional states in captive environments, ensuring animals are free of negative experiences and able to access positive ones.
Carboxylate and coordination influence on the formation of an active RuV Oxo species
Authors: El-Abid Jamal , Dorst Kevin M. , Inge Andrew K. , Verho Oscar , Kundi Varun , Kumar Priyank V. , Thapper Anders , Das Biswanath 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Understanding the structure of Ru(V)-oxo species is crucial for designing novel catalysts for sustainable energy applications, such as water splitting for green hydrogen production. This study reports the EPR detection of a Ru(V)-oxo intermediate stabilized by terpyridine and phenanthroline carboxylate ligands. The interaction between the carboxylate group and the ruthenium center, along with PCET-dependent hemilability under oxidative conditions, plays a critical role in achieving the high-valent state. Subtle changes in the coordination environment around the central metal also proved to be essential. Low-temperature NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations support these findings.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of suspended sediment in coastal Mekong Delta: a hydrodynamic modelling approach under tropical monsoon climate
Authors: An Nguyen Ngoc , Hong Pham Viet , Binh Nguyen An , Thao Giang Thi Phuong , Van Tinh Le , Hanh Nguyen Cao , Tran Thai Thanh 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) plays a pivotal role in shaping coastal dynamics, impacting terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This study employed the hydrodynamic model MIKE21 to simulate hydrological runoff and sediment transport within the Mekong River’s fluvial-marine continuum, the longest river in Southeast Asia currently challenged with escalating anthropogenic pressures and sea-level rise. By strategically selecting hourly observed data from various locations (river channel, coastal estuary) and periods (dry and rainy seasons) for model calibration and validation, we demonstrated the robust performance of the model simulation of both water levels (RMSE: 0.343 m) and SSC (RMSE: 0.006 kg.m−3). Spatiotemporal analysis of 2019–2023 revealed the pronounced sensitivity of water level, velocity, and flow direction under tropical monsoon regime. SSC time series decomposition further extracted seasonal amplitudes, while spatial patterns showed distinctly the lowest concentrations occurring in April and the highest in September annually. Furthermore, SSC upward trends were observed during low-flow periods, while downward trends predominated during high-flow periods. Our quantitative analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of hydrological processes within tropical monsoon coastal regions. These findings support the establishment of long-term monitoring frameworks to inform nature-based strategies for sustainable coastal development.
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from freshwater fishes at Middle Upper Egypt
Authors: Abo-Shama Usama H. , El Raheem Amany A. Abd , Alsaadawy Reem M. , Sayed Haitham H. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Aeromonas hydrophila is a common fish pathogen and a significant foodborne pathogen of increasing public health concern. This study was conducted in Middle Upper Egypt to determine the prevalence of A. hydrophila among the diseased Oreochromis niloticus (n = 100) and Clarias gariepinus (n = 100) at Assiut and Sohag Governorates. A. hydrophila isolates (n = 44) were assessed for antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm production. Moreover, PCR was performed to analyze the incidence of some genes in 20 isolates of A. hydrophila. The results showed that 24% and 20% of the examined O. niloticus and C. gariepinus were infected with A. hydrophila respectively, with all (100%) showing a variety of clinical signs of septicemia. A. hydrophila isolates were all biofilm producers, with varied degrees of biofilm production. 79.5% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant and had a high multiple antimicrobial resistance index > 0.2. PCR analysis revealed that all isolates carried act and blaTEM genes but not carried int2 gene. Additionally, sul1, aer, tetA, int1, and qnrA genes were present in 75%, 60%, 55%, 55% and 45% of them, respectively. This study highlights the high incidence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic A. hydrophila in the infected fishes, posing a serious risk to humans and fish.
Dependent Infrastructure Service Disruption Mapping (DISruptionMap): A method to assess cascading service disruptions in disaster scenarios
Authors: Schneider Moritz , Halekotte Lukas , Mentges Andrea , Fiedrich Frank 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Critical infrastructures provide essential services for our modern society. Large-scale natural hazards, such as floods or storms, can disrupt multiple critical infrastructures at once. In addition, a localized failure of one service can trigger a cascade of failures of other dependent services. This makes it challenging to anticipate and prepare adequately for direct and indirect consequences of such events. Existing methods that are spatially explicit and consider service dependencies currently lack practicality, as they require large amounts of data. To address this gap, we propose a novel method called DISruptionMap which analyzes complex disruptions to critical infrastructure services. The proposed method combines (i) spatial service models to assess direct service disruptions with (ii) a service dependency model to assess indirect (cascading) service disruptions. A fault tree-based approach is implemented, resulting in a significant decrease in the information required to set up the service dependency model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in a case study examining the impact of an extreme flood on health, transport, and power services in Cologne, Germany.
Exploring the low-carbon development path of resource-based cities based on scenario simulation
Authors: Cao Liyong , Chong Peian 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Resource-based cities (RBCs) have historically been constrained by their inherent characteristics, impeding rapid shifts in energy consumption patterns and exerting substantial pressure on regional decarbonization efforts. Herein, 18 RBCs in southwestern China were taken as the research object. Firstly, a resilience index system was constructed for the resource ecosystem and socio-economic system of RBCs, and the optimization mutation level algorithm was used to measure the resilience level of each city. Secondly, an interval prediction model was established for carbon emissions in RBCs based on the GA-DBN-KDE algorithm. Finally, by setting 16 scenarios, the carbon emission range and “carbon peak” time range of RBCs in Southwest China from 2023 to 2040 were predicted, and the scientific path of low-carbon development of RBCs was explored under differentiated scenarios. The research results indicated that: (1) The carbon emissions and urban resilience levels of RBCs in southwestern China were both on the rise; (2) The interval prediction model based on GA-DBN-KDE demonstrated excellent prediction performance; (3) The simulation results of 16 scenarios revealed varying specific paths for 18 cities to achieve carbon peak, underscoring the necessity for city-specific policy formulation. Overall, this paper provides a new analytical method for the low-carbon transformation and development of RBCs, further forging a basis for decision-makers to formulate carbon reduction measures.
Effects of stimulus polarity on the local evoked potential in auditory brainstem implant users
Authors: Schröder Anne , Takanen Marko , Schwarz Konrad , Lenarz Thomas , Gärtner Lutz , Büchner Andreas 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Auditory brainstem implants (ABI) can enable hearing sensation through electrical stimulation of the cochlear nucleus. The basic stimulation and signal coding strategies of the ABI are based on those of the cochlear implant. This may not always be optimal, and ABI-specific strategies may be preferred. In a cohort of ten ABI users, we examined the feasibility of measuring local evoked potentials (LEP) via fine-grained stimulation with a forward masking paradigm. We introduce a new baseline-dependent definition of LEP amplitude for analyzing the LEP amplitude growth function to obtain threshold stimulation levels and slope values. The processing of biphasic pulses by the cochlear nucleus and the influence of the leading phase polarity were examined. There were no statistically significant differences in LEP thresholds or slopes between cathodic and anodic leading pulses. LEP thresholds measured with cathodic leading pulses (r = 0.77, t
31 = 6.81, p < 0.0001) and anodic leading pulses (r = 0.70, t
27 = 45.14, p < 0.0001) correlated significantly with perceptual hearing thresholds. The correlation analysis was impacted by outlier values, especially in the case of LEP thresholds measured with anodic leading pulses. Cathodic leading pulses had significantly shorter LEP peak latencies (t
104.8 = 2.63, p < 0.01). These results show that the cathodic leading pulses are superior for eliciting LEPs. We suggest that cathodic leading pulses should be the basis for ABI-specific coding strategies.
Clinically meaningful interpretability of an AI model for ECG classification
Authors: Gliner Vadim , Levy Idan , Tsutsui Kenta , Acha Moshe Rav , Schliamser Jorge , Schuster Assaf , Yaniv Yael 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Despite the high accuracy of AI-based automated analysis of 12-lead ECG images for classification of cardiac conditions, clinical integration of such tools is hindered by limited interpretability of model recommendations. We aim to demonstrate the feasibility of a generic, clinical resource interpretability tool for AI models analyzing digitized 12-lead ECG images. To this end, we utilized the sensitivity of the Jacobian matrix to compute the gradient of the classifier for each pixel and provide medical relevance interpretability. Our methodology was validated using a dataset consisting of 79,226 labeled scanned ECG images, 11,316 unlabeled and 1807 labeled images obtained via mobile camera in clinical settings. The tool provided interpretability for both morphological and arrhythmogenic conditions, highlighting features in terms understandable to physician. It also emphasized significant signal features indicating the absence of certain cardiac conditions. High correlation was achieved between our method of interpretability and gold standard interpretations of 3 electrophysiologists.
Tafazzin regulates neutrophil maturation and inflammatory response
Authors: Zakrzewski Przemysław , Rice Christopher M , Fleming Kathryn , Cela Drinalda , Groves Sarah J , Ponce-Garcia Fernando M , Gibbs Willem , Roberts Kiran , Pike Tobias , Strathdee Douglas , Anderson Eve , Nobbs Angela H , Toye Ashley M , Steward Colin , Amulic Borko 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the TAFAZZIN gene. It is characterized by neutropenia, cardiomyopathy and skeletal myopathy. Neutropenia in BTHS is associated with life-threatening infections, yet there is little understanding of the molecular and physiological causes of this phenomenon. We combined bone marrow analysis, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in hematopoietic stem cells and functional characterization of circulating BTHS patient neutrophils to investigate the role of TAFAZZIN in neutrophils and their progenitors. We demonstrate a partial cell intrinsic differentiation defect, along with a dysregulated neutrophil inflammatory response in BTHS, including elevated degranulation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in response to calcium flux. Developmental and functional alterations in BTHS neutrophils are underpinned by perturbations in the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathway, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for targeting BTHS neutropenia.
Acute Comparison of Mild-Gain Hearing Aid Approaches in an Adult With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Long-Term Effects of Mild-Gain Amplification on Speech Perception in Noise and Self-Reported Hearing-Related Disability, Hyperacusis, and Quality of Life
Authors: Chung Acayla P. , Brennan Christine , Glick Hannah , Baiduc Rachael R. 
Published: February 2025

Objective:
This report documents the effects of hearing treatment in an adult with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and normal peripheral hearing acuity.

Design:
This report details a case study of a 26-year-old female with a history of mTBI.

Study Sample:
A 26-year-old female with a history of mTBI presented with auditory symptoms including tinnitus, hyperacusis, listening fatigue, and speech-in-noise (SIN) difficulties despite diagnostic audiological findings showing normal peripheral auditory function and suprathreshold SIN performance within the normal range. The patient was fit with premium-level receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) hearing aids (HAs) using several different mild-gain fitting approaches involving wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) or linearized gain. A combination of objective and subjective methods was utilized to guide clinical decision making on the fitting approach and to verify/validate treatment outcomes.

Results:
Despite no difference in acutely aided SIN performance between the WDRC or linearized fitting approaches, the patient expressed a clear preference for the HA fitting approach involving application of 2–10 dB of shaped linearized gain > 1.5 kHz for soft, medium, and loud input levels (with greatest gain applied at 3–4 kHz). These settings were preferred in terms of loudness and sound quality even compared to the WDRC fitting approaches previously reported in literature. This fitting approach was verified and validated by SIN testing showing improved performance in the aided condition, as well as high levels of self-reported benefit and satisfaction, reduction in self-reported hearing handicap, reduction in sound sensitivity, and enhanced quality of life with HAs.

Conclusions:
Results add to the growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of mild-gain HAs for adults with mTBI and self-reported SIN deficits despite normal hearing acuity. Results also support the importance of using a combination of measures (e.g., SIN testing, patient report, outcome questionnaires) to guide the HA fitting process and to verify/validate treatment outcomes. Although findings were derived from a single case study and should be interpreted with caution, the patient's preference for a shaped linearized mild-gain approach is noteworthy. There exists a lack of clinical guidelines and prescriptive fitting methodology for fitting HAs in mTBI adults with SIN difficulty despite normal peripheral hearing acuity. Future research should systematically compare WDRC versus linearized gain approaches of fitting in this population to develop a clinical methodology for HA fitting and optimize outcomes in this special subpopulation.
Postural Control in Adults With Age-Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Tobener Elizabeth , Doettl Steven , Plyler Patrick , McCaslin Devin 
Published: February 2025

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate postural control in adults with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) by adding a variation of a 30° lateral head tilt for each measure.

Method:
Individuals between the ages of 50 and 70 years were recruited (10 with normal hearing, 32 with ARHL) and evaluated using pure-tone audiometry, vestibular function assessments, and postural control measures. Vestibular function assessments used were video head impulse test (vHIT), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs), and ocular VEMPs. Postural control measures used were single leg stance (SLS), Romberg on foam (RF), and tandem walking (TW). Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between pure-tone average, vestibular function assessments, and postural control measures.

Results:
Results revealed significant correlations between ARHL and cervical VEMPs and ocular VEMPs. As ARHL increased, amplitude of cervical and ocular VEMPs decreased. There were no significant correlations for ARHL and vHIT gain. SLS with lateral head tilt was significantly associated with ARHL. As ARHL increased, the time for SLS with lateral head tilt decreased. There were no significant findings for ARHL and SLS without lateral head tilt, TW with and without lateral head tilt, or RF with and without lateral head tilt.

Conclusions:
The results of this study described the decreased postural control with lateral head tilt present as ARHL increased. Furthermore, this study supported the previously documented vestibular degradation that is present in the ARHL population compared to normal hearing. This study suggested that the postural control measure most sensitive to detecting reduced postural control in individuals with ARHL was SLS with lateral head tilt. Further study is needed to hone the specific parameters of using SLS with lateral head tilt as a screening measure to assess risk of falls in the ARHL population.