bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate change perceptions and adaptation by Sebei pastoralists in Mount Elgon, Uganda; a qualitative survey
Authors: Aggrey Siya , Varela Elsa , Batumike Rodrigue , Cuni-Sanchez Aida 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Pastoralists’ sedentarisation and agriculturalization might increase their vulnerability to climate change impacts, but few studies have investigated if this is the case in mountain areas. In Uganda, little is known about how Sebei pastoralists have perceived and adapted to such changes. This study sought to establish perspectives of Sebei pastoralists on climate change in terms of its occurrence and impacts as well as access to livelihood assets and or opportunities to withstand such challenges.
Method
This study was conducted in Mount Elgon areas of Uganda. A cross sectional study design was employed using qualitative approaches. Data was collected using focus-group discussions with men and women village elders to assess their perceptions regarding climatic changes, impacts and adaption strategies used. Data was analysed using thematic and content analysis approaches. All analyses were done using NVivo version 14.
Results
Respondents reported changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, fog and temperatures, with negative impacts on fodder availability, milk production and pests and diseases. Study participants mentioned using several adaptation strategies with regard to animal rearing, crop farming and livelihood diversification. Among others, participants reduced herd size, migrated longer distances, stored wild grass, used crop residues as feed and increased ‘self-medication’ of their cattle.
Conclusions
Access to funds, markets and technical advice were the main barriers to adaptation identified. Institutional support- now only focused on improved breeds – should consider the multiple strategies used by pastoralists, and the constraints they highlighted, including the need for mutual learning space.
Authentication and Traceability for Federated Learning Models via Group Signatures
Authors: Liu Hong , Wei Jiahui , Xu Zhu , Zhao Zhiqiang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Federated learning, due to its distributed and privacy-protecting properties, is a good solution to the data silo problem in machine learning, but there are still many hidden dangers that threaten the security of federated learning, such as privacy leakage and potential malicious users. In this paper, we propose a federated learning copyright protection framework FedAaT. Our framework employs group signatures for authentication as well as user traceability, and reduces the computational cost of the server by aggregating signatures. To prevent models from being distributed maliciously, we introduce a conditional loss function to add traceability to local models.First, for the problem of difficult to verify the identity in the anonymity scenario of federated learning, considering that group signature has both anonymity and verifiability, a federated learning environment is organically combined with group signature, and a federated learning model copyright protection method based on group signature, FedAaT, is proposed.Second, to address the problem of excessive authentication overhead in federated learning scenarios, the process of authentication is optimized by introducing the aggregate signature technique, which reduces the computational overhead used for authentication by reducing the number of signatures that need to be verified.Finally, the problem of difficult traceability of illegally distributed models is addressed.For a specific set of inputs, we assign unique output sequences to each user and embed them into the model through a conditional loss function, and trace the model by detecting the output sequences.Experimental results show that our proposed FedAaT is effective in federated learning for authentication, user traceability, and reducing computational cost.
Comparing the experiences of cancer survivors living with sleep disturbances between differing levels of psychological distress: a qualitative study
Authors: Chan Julia , Ng Danielle Wing Lam , Fielding Richard , Lam Wendy Wing Tak 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Psychological distress often co-occurs with sleep disturbances; but the specific mechanisms linking the two remain unclear. A qualitative study explored perceptions and factors associated with sleep disturbances in cancer survivors between patients with varying levels of psychological distress.
Methods
33 Cantonese speaking mixed type cancer survivors were recruited from a community cancer care program. Participants that scored > 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and had non-clinical or borderline to clinical levels of psychological distress underwent semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory.
Results
Common triggers of sleep disturbances included unresolved treatment side-effects, intrusive thoughts about cancer, fear of cancer recurrence or progression. Those with higher levels of distress exhibited more worry about recovery after cancer and engaged in thought suppression and meta-worry about negative emotions and worry of poor sleep impacting recovery and cancer progression. They commonly exhibited high sleep reactivity and were observed to have limited social support. In contrast, those with low distress adopted better adaptive mechanisms, including a changed commitment to prioritizing health and positive reappraisal of their recovery progress. Self-distraction was used to cope with sleep disturbances and they had fewer expectations of good sleep quality.
Conclusions
Findings provided insights into the suitability of interventions for patients with sleep disturbances. Interventions targeting maladaptive emotion-focused coping may be more effective in addressing sleep disturbances in cancer survivors with higher distress. Interventions adopting a stepped-care approach may be advantageous in managing sleep disturbances by catering for varying levels of distress.
Simulation Study of Closed Pit AMD Multi-stage Permeable Reactive Barrier In-Situ Processing
Authors: Qi Yueming , Zhou Pei , Zhou Lai , Jiang Dan , Liu Yanzhuo , Zhang Jiehui 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The closure of high-sulfur coal mines has resulted in buried acid-producing pollution sites, posing potential risks to regional aquifers and the surrounding environment. This study focuses on a specific closed mine area, employing modeling experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the pollution distribution model. The effectiveness of a multi-stage permeable reactive barrier (PRB) system for controlling acid mine drainage (AMD) and its impact on hydrodynamic and hydrochemical fields were analyzed at both laboratory scale and field scale. The results indicate that, after 10 years of continuous acid production, pollutants in the adjacent aquifer have horizontally migrated up to 1332 meters, covering an area of 2.48 km², with a maximum vertical migration of 120 meters. A multi-stage PRB treatment system was proposed, which effectively reduced SO42−, total Fe, and total Mn concentrations to 212.07 mg/L, 0.16 mg/L, and 0.048 mg/L, respectively, after 10 years of operation. These levels are below the water quality standards of 250, 0.3, and 0.1 mg/L, with removal rates of 81.6%, 98.6%, and 99.3%. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for managing AMD pollution in closed mines and offers a scientific reference for similar sites.
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of the Chikungunya virus during 2021 outbreak in Malaysia
Authors: Kalyanasundram Jeevanathan , Zawawi Zarina Mohd , Kamel Khayri Azizi , Aroidoss Emmanuel Tiagaraj , Ellan Kavithambigai , Anasir Mohd Ishtiaq , Azizan Muhammad Afif , Zulkifli Murni Maya Sari , Zain Rozainanee Mohd 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Chikungunya cases was reported to be on the rise in Malaysia from 2019 to 2021. Although potential endemicity was described previously, genotype shift during 2008 outbreak originating from the 2004 Indian Ocean Islands outbreak presents the probability of current CHIKV spread from neighboring countries. This is due to the prevalence of the new IOL sub-lineage which consists of E1-226A wildtype or reverted strains that are circulating in the Indian subcontinent before spreading to neighboring Thailand during 2018-2019 outbreak.
Method
In this study, samples received mostly from the Tangkak, Johor were analyzed. A total 56 CHIKV positive serum samples received in 2021 by Institute of Medical Research Malaysia (IMR), were collected based on sample selection criteria. Selected samples were subjected to total RNA extraction, whole-genome sequencing as well as bioinformatic analysis such as phylogenetic, variant and mutation analysis.
Results
Based on the genomic and phylogenetic analysis, the CHIKV samples from 2021 outbreak were of ECSA-IOL genotype. Genome similarity analysis also revealed that these CHIKVs are highly similar to 2018-2019 outbreak strain from Thailand. In comparison to the 2008 outbreak CHIKV isolate, the current CHIKVs lacked the E1-A226V mutation and harbored the new E1-K211E/E2-V264A sub-linage mutation. Since the E1-K211E/E2-V264A mutation facilitates adaptation to Ae. aegypti as opposed to the E1-A226V mutation which improves adaptation to Ae. albopictus, the emergence 2021 CHIKV outbreak in Malaysia can be postulated due to vector shift. Interestingly, a novel nsP3-T441A/V mutation detected in this study, may also play a role in virus transmission, pathogenicity, fitness and vector adaptation
Conclusion
In summary, the current CHIKV outbreak are strains originated from the Indian subcontinent through Thailand which may have capitalized on vector shifting by adapting to Ae. aegypti. The presence of novel nsP3-T441A/V mutation may also contribute to the spread of this virus across peninsular Malaysia.
Spatio-temporal disparities in phytoplankton dynamics and metabolite production depending on weather conditions
Authors: Noirmain Fanny , Marie Benjamin , Legrand Benjamin , Baelen Joël , Latour Delphine 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Various studies suggest that global change is causing an increase in phytoplankton biomass, cyanobacteria prevalence and cyanotoxin production. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the response of cyanobacteria blooms to global warming and meteorological events, probably because of the lack of global approaches. Metabolomics approaches in natural system hold great promise in investigating the factors leading to variations in phytoplankton successions and subsequent cyanotoxin production. However, eco-metabolomics studies are still scares in literature and suffer to adequately unravel the biologically relevant variables under environmental changes. In this study, we investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of phytoplankton community and the production of their primary and secondary untargeted metabolites in response to local meteorological events. Thus, we collected water samples in two points of the Aydat Lake (France): near the inflowing waters from Veyre River and at the middle of the lake during the 2021 summer. Untargeted intracellular metabolites were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer, as well as phytoplankton biovolume and diversity and physicochemical lake’s parameters. Primarily, our results show the increase of the biovolume of diazotrophic cyanobacteria at the end of the drought and after rain events at both sites. During the drought, we observe a strong increase of intracellular lipid contents, probably in response to sudden nitrogen and phosphorus limitation. Differently, during the wet periods, we observe an increase of the phytoplankton glycerophospholipid content, especially at the middle of the lake, whereas significantly higher abundance of secondary metabolites was monitored at site near the wetland area. Since then, we report a strong correlation between the abundance of different cyanopeptides and the biovolume of Dolichospermum, which is present at both sites, we suggest acclimative responses to cope with the phytoplankton growing stimulation related with the increase of the nutritive ion influx following the rain events. The significant difference in the intra-cellular content in metabolites between the 2 sampling sites, separated by only 200m, while phytoplankton communities were similar suggests the existence of local metabolomic niches.
Therapeutic drug monitoring-guided treatment determination in a ganciclovir-unresponsive lung transplant recipient
Authors: Umemura Keisuke , Katada Yoshiki , Katsube Yurie , Hira Daiki , Tsuda Masahiro , Nakagawa Shunsaku , Shima Chiaki , Matsumoto Akira , Ohsumi Akihiro , Date Hiroshi , Nagao Miki , Terada Tomohiro 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are used for cytomegalovirus infection after lung transplantation, but the emergence of resistant viruses complicates treatment. We experienced a lung transplant case where cytomegalovirus reactivation was observed under the valganciclovir prophylaxis. We utilized therapeutic drug monitoring for this case, and immediately suspected that the cytomegalovirus might be resistant to ganciclovir because the area under the curve of ganciclovir was sufficient for prophylaxis. Therefore, we determined to change the antiviral regimen to foscarnet and letermovir, which resulted in immediate cytomegalovirus clearance. This report demonstrated the utility of therapeutic drug monitoring of ganciclovir for suspecting the resistance to ganciclovir.
Inflatable penile prosthesis implantation in the outpatient setting
Authors: Patel Premal , Fidel Maximilian , Shah Jainik , Bal Dhiraj , Roque Connor , Ko Yool , Dhillon Harliv , Bard Robert , Pandian Alagarsamy , Nayak Jasmir , Patel Premal 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantations are commonly performed in hospital settings which accommodate an overnight stay and are increasingly being performed as day procedures in outpatient settings with same-day discharge. This study sought to investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery insertion of an IPP. Surgical parameters and incidence of postoperative complications including infection, hospital admission, emergency room visitation, and additional analgesia were investigated. This prospective study included all adult patients undergoing day surgery insertion of an IPP at an ambulatory surgical centre classified as ASA 1-3, between February 2023 and April 2024. All procedures were performed via an infrapubic approach under spinal anesthesia or deep sedation with local anesthesia. 52 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 62.5 ± 3.1 years. All procedures were performed successfully with no intra-operative complications. The mean surgery duration was 65.2 ± 17.9 minutes. The mean recovery time was 115.9 ± 58.2 minutes. No patients required hospital admission or had acquired a post-operative infection. One patient required emergency room visitation, which was unrelated to the surgery. 5.9% (n=3) of patients required additional postoperative analgesia. Our results demonstrate the safety and feasibility of performing an IPP implantation in an outpatient setting.
Microbial Diversity, Functional Genomics and Antibiotic Resistance in Integrated Chicken and Fish Farming Systems in Bangladesh
Authors: Kador S. M. , Shila Jannatul Ferdus , Afrin Sinthea , Jannat Jarin , Islam Khondoker Tanjim , Rahman M. Shaminur , Islam Ovinu Kibria , Chakrovarty Tanay , Hasan Md. Shazid , Sakib Najmuj , Islam Md. Tanvir 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The Integrated Fish Farming (IFF) system, practiced in Bangladesh for its economic benefits and resource efficiency, requires an understanding of microbial diversity, functional genomics, and antimicrobial resistance to optimize efficiency and sustainability. This study delves into the microbial compositions, diversity, and antibiotic resistance within diverse environmental samples using 16S rRNA sequencing and KEGG pathway analysis. The taxonomic analysis revealed a microbial community comprising 2838 OTUs, with Bacteria (99.81%) dominating over Archaea (0.19%). Sediment samples exhibited the highest archaeal diversity, primarily consisting of Euryarchaeota, Parvarchaeota, and Crenarchaeota. Bacterial diversity encompassed 70 phyla, with Firmicutes being predominant, particularly in chicken gut samples. Notable bacterial genera included Lactobacillus and Weissella. Alpha diversity analysis highlighted significant microbial richness in sediment and fish intestine samples, while beta diversity analysis using Bray-Curtis PCoA indicated distinct microbial community compositions across sample types. Functional genomic analysis revealed metabolic genes as the most predominant across all samples, focusing on amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism. Noteworthy pathways included ribosome biogenesis and ABC transporters, particularly abundant in sediment and feed samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 55 isolates demonstrated high resistance rates, notably against Tetracyclines and Fluoroquinolones, with Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis exhibiting the highest resistance. Antibiotic resistance genes identified through KEGG pathways, such as bcrC and vanX, were abundant in sediment and chicken gut samples, indicating significant resistance profiles. This comprehensive profiling underscores the diverse and complex microbial ecosystems in various samples, the metabolic dominance in these environments, and the concerning levels of antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities. This is the first study in the country to reveal microbial diversity, antimicrobial resistance and functional genomics in Integrated Chicken and Fish Farming settings.
Characterization of Natural Therapeutic Compounds Producing novel strains of bacteria Isolated from Rhizosphere soil samples.
Authors: Bhrdwaj Anushka , Nayarisseri Anuraj , Singh Sanjeev Kumar 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Natural products (NPs) are secondary metabolites that exert their biological effects within organisms and on other organisms. Among the microbial consortia, bacteria have been demonstrated to be potent microbial producers of bioactive natural therapeutic products due to their versatile biocatalytic activity. Therefore, the present study encompasses the isolation, identification, and characterization of four novel bacterial strains that exhibited the potential to produce natural therapeutic products. The novel cadre of the isolates was determined via taxonomical assessment, employment of myriad biochemical, antagonistic screening tests, followed by 16S rRNA molecular characterization, and bioinformatics analysis, which allowed the naming of the subsequent isolates as, Klebsiella pneumoniae strain ABSKALAB01, Klebsiella quasipneumonia strain ABSKSLAB02, Streptomyces minutiscleroticus strain ABSKSLAB03, and Streptomyces peucetius strain ABSKSLAB04, and was deposited in the GenBank under accession numbers ‘OP597532’, ‘OP597545’, ‘OQ061473’ and ‘PP086938’, respectively. Media optimization via OVAT approach, and statistical optimization via Plackett–Burman and RSM-mediated Box–Behnken designs were also conducted to assess the antagonistic, and NP-producing potential, followed by the construction of the secondary structure of 16S rRNA. The results signified that the subsequent bacterial strains hold the potential to produce natural therapeutic products in diacritic conditions, and the Streptomyces peucetius strain ABSKSLAB04 demonstrated the highest NP-producing potential among all the other isolates. The study also signifies the subsequent isolates can further be utilized for industrial-driven investigations.
Evaluating Drought Patterns in Gediz Basin with Advanced Statistical Techniques and Indices
Authors: Dalkılıç Hüseyin Y. , Alkoyun Muhammet Safa 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Drought, defined as a reduction in water resources over a period of time, has become one of the most costly natural disasters in recent years due to industrialisation, rapid population growth and climate change. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of drought trends in the Gediz Basin, Turkey, and to provide information to relevant institutions and organisations to mitigate the effects of drought. To achieve this goal, drought analyses were conducted using seven different drought indices and five different statistical methods based on data from six meteorological stations in the Gediz Basin. The results of the drought indices indicated the occurrence of both dry and wet periods at different times. Significant correlations were observed between the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) and the percent of normal index (PNI). Additionally, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) also captured drought conditions during the same period as the RDI and PNI. However, the correlation between SPI and the other two indices was lower, primarily due to the SPI detecting lower levels of drought severity. Trend analyses showed a decrease in precipitation values, especially during the summer months, and an increasing trend in temperature values. The study recommends using the RDI index to assess meteorological drought, while the Pinna Combinative index can be used to assess hydrological drought in the basin. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for the development of drought management plans and necessary measures in the Gediz Basin.
miR-1323 inhibits bladder cancer growth by targeting PMEPA1
Authors: Yang Haoran , Wang Jing , Huang Tao , Li Yu 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Bladder cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the urinary system, and its incidence has been increasing year by year in recent years. However, effective treatment options for advanced bladder cancer are still lacking at present. The molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of bladder cancer have not been fully elucidated. Previous studies have found that various genes are abnormally regulated in bladder cancer tumor tissues, and the abnormal expression of microRNAs also affects protein expression.
Methods
The analysis of the TCGA-BLCA dataset was used to identify differentially expressed genes in bladder cancer. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of PMEPA1, miR-1323, and SMAD/p-SMAD proteins. The CCK-8 assay and wound healing assay were used to evaluate cell proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry with AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI double labeling was used to detect apoptosis. The interaction between miR-1323 and PMEPA1 was verified by Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay.
Results:
The results indicate that PMEPA1 is upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells. High expression of PMEPA1 stimulates bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration while inhibiting apoptosis. Databases such as TargetScan_8.0 predicted and Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay and Western blot experiments verified the interaction between miR-1323 and PMEPA1. Knockdown of miR-1323 promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration, inhibits apoptosis, and reduces the expression of SMAD2/SMAD3 and p-SMAD2/p-SMAD3 proteins, while simultaneous knockdown of PMEPA1 can counteract these changes induced by miR-1323 knockdown.
Conclusions:
In summary, miR-1323 can inhibit bladder cancer progression by targeting PMEPA1, potentially through suppression of the SMAD-dependent TGF-β signaling pathway. Both miR-1323 and PMEPA1 may serve as potential therapeutic targets for bladder cancer.