bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The predictors of fungal infections after liver transplantation and the influence of fungal infections on outcomes
Authors: Jiang Juan , Peng Peng , Wan Qiquan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe primary objective of this study was to assess the incidence, timing, risk factors of fungal infections (FIs) within 3 months after liver transplantation (LT). The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of FIs on outcomes. Four hundred and ten patients undergoing LT from January 2015 until January 2023 in a tertiary university hospital were included in the present retrospective cohort study to investigate the risk factors of FIs and to assess the impacts of FIs on the prognosis of LT recipients using logistic regression. The incidence of FIs was 12.4% (51/410), and median time from LT to the onset of FIs was 3 days. By univariate analysis, advanced recipient age, prolonged hospital stay prior to LT, high Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and elevated white blood cell (WBC) count, increased operating time, massive blood loss and red blood cell transfusion, elevated alanine aminotransferase on day 1 and creatinine on day 3 after LT, prolonged duration of urethral catheter, prophylactic antifungal therapy, the need for mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy were identified as factors of increased post-LT FIs risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that recipient age ≥ 55 years[OR = 2.669, 95%CI: 1.292–5.513, P = 0.008], MELD score at LT ≥ 22[OR = 2.747, 95%CI: 1.274–5.922, P = 0.010], pre-LT WBC count ≥ 10 × 109/L[OR = 2.522, 95%CI: 1.117–5.692, P = 0.026], intraoperative blood loss ≥ 3000 ml [OR = 2.691, 95%CI: 1.262–5.738, P = 0.010], post-LT duration of urethral catheter > 4 d [OR = 3.202, 95%CI: 1.553–6.602, P = 0.002], and post-LT renal replacement therapy [OR = 5.768, 95%CI: 1.822–18.263, P = 0.003] were independently associated with the development of post-LT FIs. Post-LT prophylactic antifungal therapy ≥ 3 days was associated with a lower risk of the development of FIs [OR = 0.157, 95%CI: 0.073–0.340, P < 0.001]. As for clinical outcomes, FIs had a negative impact on intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay ≥ 7 days than those without FIs [OR = 3.027, 95% CI: 1.558–5.878, P = 0.001] but had no impact on hospital length of stay and 1-month all-cause mortality after LT. FIs are frequent complications after LT and the interval between the onset of FIs and LT was short. Risk factors for post-LT FIs included high MELD score at LT, advanced recipient age, pre-LT WBC count, massive intraoperative blood loss, prolonged post-LT duration of urethral catheter, and the need for post-LT renal replacement therapy. However, post-LT prophylactic antifungal therapy was independently associated with the reduction in the risk of FIs. FIs had a significant negative impact on ICU length of stay.
Erweiterte Diagnostik bei dissoziativen Anfällen
Authors: Schöne Catrin , Abourafia Karim , Pensel Max C. 
Published: July 2024

ZusammenfassungBei dissoziativen Anfällen bestehen häufig weitere dissoziative Symptome, die im Zeitverlauf fluktuieren können. Mit der Differenzialdiagnose nichtepileptischer Anfälle ist der diagnostische Prozess daher nicht beendet, sondern macht die Exploration weiterer somato- und psychoformer dissoziativer Symptome notwendig. Das Gesamtbild klinischer Symptomatik nach ICD(International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems)-11 erstreckt sich über die dissoziative Symptomatik und individuelle Symptombewältigung bis hin zu stressbezogenen Störungen und psychischen Komorbiditäten.
Pricing heterogeneous products to heterogeneous customers who buy sequentially
Authors: Hassin Refael , Puerto Justo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper considers optimal pricing in a system with limited substitutable resources, such as certain goods or services. Prices for the different resources have to be set and then customers with heterogeneous preferences show up sequentially. Customers, of n types, select an item from the m available resources, depending on their valuations of the resources and the prices. The goal is to analyze this optimization problem, characterize a set of candidates to optimal solutions and provide methods for solving it. We prove that this problem is NP-hard to approximate within a factor $$O(n^{1-\varepsilon })$$

O
(

n

1
-
ε

)

for any fixed $$\varepsilon >0$$

ε
>
0

. Another important contribution is to prove that, the space of prices (which in principle is a continuous domain in $${\mathbb {R}}^m$$

R

m

), can be reduced to a finite set of vectors of cardinality $$m^{m-2}n^m2^m$$

m

m
-
2

n
m

2
m

. For a deterministic version of the problem, where the customer types are known to the firm, we provide a mathematical program that chooses the best set of prices. We report extensive computational results showing the usefulness of our exact approach to solve medium size problems with up to 200 customers and different assortments of products and customer types. We then show how to approximate the stochastic model by a small number of solutions of deterministic scenarios solved using a mixed-integer linear program.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles induces cell death and consequently leading to incomplete neural tube closure through oxidative stress during embryogenesis
Authors: Yan Yu , Huang Wenyi , Lu Xiaoting , Chen Xianxian , Shan Yingyi , Luo Xin , Li Yu , Yang Xuesong , Li Chun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe implementation of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) raises concerns regarding their potential toxic effects on human health. Although more and more researches have confirmed the toxic effects of ZnO NPs, limited attention has been given to their impact on the early embryonic nervous system. This study aimed to explore the impact of exposure to ZnO NPs on early neurogenesis and explore its underlying mechanisms. We conducted experiments here to confirm the hypothesis that exposure to ZnO NPs causes neural tube defects in early embryonic development. We first used mouse and chicken embryos to confirm that ZnO NPs and the Zn2+ they release are able to penetrate the placental barrier, influence fetal growth and result in incomplete neural tube closure. Using SH-SY5Y cells, we determined that ZnO NPs-induced incomplete neural tube closure was caused by activation of various cell death modes, including ferroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy. Moreover, dissolved Zn2+ played a role in triggering widespread cell death. ZnO NPs were accumulated within mitochondria after entering cells, damaging mitochondrial function and resulting in the over production of reactive oxygen species, ultimately inducing cellular oxidative stress. The N-acetylcysteine (NAC) exhibits significant efficacy in mitigating cellular oxidative stress, thereby alleviating the cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity brought about by ZnO NPs. These findings indicated that the exposure of ZnO NPs in early embryonic development can induce cell death through oxidative stress, resulting in a reduced number of cells involved in early neural tube closure and ultimately resulting in incomplete neural tube closure during embryo development. The findings of this study could raise public awareness regarding the potential risks associated with the exposure and use of ZnO NPs in early pregnancy.
Graphical Abstract
Influences of camp refugees on the environment of Minawao in Cameroon
Authors: Magne Marie Rosette , Aholou Cyprien Coffi 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSince 2013, Minawao, in Cameroon's Far North region, has been home to a camp for Nigerian refugees fleeing the violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram movement. The long-term establishment of the base has significantly impacted all aspects of the locality, particularly the environment. This article focuses on the influence of the refugee camp's presence on the territory of Minawao and its surroundings, emphasising changes in vegetation cover and land-use dynamics. The article was carried out using a methodology that included household surveys, cartographic analysis, and the collection of testimonies in the field. The investigation results reveal that the camp installation first led to declining agricultural and grazing activities. Secondly, the cutting of wood by the refugees has further degraded the region's vegetation cover, particularly in the forest reserve, showing a regression rate of minus 37.38% between 2015 and 2022. Lastly, the land occupied by the camp has gradually grown to exceed 1,493.11 ha of the area initially granted, and signs of soil degradation, mainly erosion (77.04%), are already visible. Initiatives have been implemented to combat this environmental degradation, including the "Make Minawao Green Again" project, activities to promote ecological charcoal and improved stoves, and waves of formal repatriation of refugees. However, these measures have not yet produced satisfactory results due to socio-economic and cultural constraints. Therefore, further humanitarian action to improve environmental management is needed to remedy these problems.
Effects of habitat biotic features on hymenopteran diversity in East Africa
Authors: Schwarz Jonathan , Habel Jan Christian , Eberle Jonas 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Originally, the coastal region of East Africa was largely covered with coastal forest. With the human settlement, the majority of these forests have been transformed into agricultural land for subsistence farming. Today, only small and geographically isolated forest remnants exist and form a mosaic of different habitat types, including natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic ones. The forest remnants may still represent valuable habitats for typical forest plant and animal species.

Methods
In this study, we surveyed hymenopteran diversity and community composition in different habitat types in southern Kenya. Hereby we considered a small remnant of East African coastal forest, adjoining orchards, shrublands, tree plantations, agricultural fields, and settlements. Hymenoptera represent a large variety of taxa and provide relevant ecosystem services such as pollination to the local people. Hymenoptera were collected with coloured pan traps, identified to family or genus level, and sorted to morphospecies. Habitat parameters such as dead wood, leaf litter, vegetation structure, and the availability of flowers has been assessed for each study site.

Results
In total, we found 419 Hymenoptera individuals of 153 morphospecies. The different habitat types showed distinct species communities of Hymenoptera. Increasing shrub layer and increasing herb cover had a negative effect on hymenopteran species richness and abundance. Flowers, trees, leave litter, and deadwood showed no significant effect on hymenopteran diversity.

Conclusion
Our results underline that small-scale habitat diversity lead to high overall diversity of Hymenoptera. Implications for insect conservation: The coastal forest remnant still holds a unique hymenopteran community with 20 Hymenoptera species exclusively found in this habitat type. It is thus of very high conservation value.
Evolution of Acquired Perfumes and Endogenous Lipid Secretions in Orchid Bees
Authors: Eltz Thomas , Mende Tobias , Ramírez Santiago R. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMale orchid bees are unique in the animal kingdom for making perfumes that function as sex pheromone. Males collect volatile chemicals from the environment in the neotropical forests, including floral and non-floral sources, creating complex but species-specific blends. Male orchid bees exhibit several adaptations to facilitate perfume collection and storage. When collecting volatile compounds, males apply lipid substances that they secrete from cephalic labial glands onto the fragrant substrate. These lipids help dissolve and retain the volatiles, similar to the process of ‘enfleurage’ in the traditional perfume industry. We investigated how the chemical composition of acquired perfume and labial gland secretions varied across the phylogeny of orchid bees, including 65 species in five genera from Central and South America. Perfumes showed rapid evolution as revealed by low overall phylogenetic signal, in agreement with the idea that perfume compounds diverge rapidly and substantially among closely related species due to their role in species recognition. A possible exception were perfumes in the genus Eulaema, clustering closely in chemospace, partly mediated by high proportions of carvone and trans-carvone oxide. Labial gland secretions, in contrast, showed a strong phylogenetic signal at the genus level, with secretions of Eufriesea and Exaerete dominated by fatty acids and Eulaema dominated by saturated acetates of chain lengths 12 to 16 C-atoms. Secretions of the majority of Euglossa were heavily dominated by one unsaturated long chain diacetate, (9Z)-Eicosen-1,20-diyldiacetate. However, we also identified few highly divergent species of Euglossa in four subclades (11 species) that appear to have secondarily replaced the diacetate with other compounds. In comparison with environment-derived perfumes, the evolution of labial gland secretion is much slower, likely constrained by the underlying biochemical pathways, but perhaps influenced by perfume-solvent chemical interactions.
Root endophytic bacterial communities are shaped by the specific microbiota associated to mycorrhizal symbionts
Authors: Ujvári Gergely , Grassi Arianna , Avio Luciano , Pagliarani Irene , Cristani Caterina , Giovannetti Manuela , Agnolucci Monica , Turrini Alessandra 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Background and aims
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil microorganisms establishing mutualistic symbioses with most crop plants and promoting plant growth and health. AMF beneficial activities are complemented by their associated microbiota, leading to synergistic interactions positively affecting plant performance. In this work we assessed whether AMF may act as drivers of root bacterial endophytes, facilitating root colonization of host plants by their associated bacteria.

Methods
Two AMF isolates were used, Funneliformis mosseae from Indiana (USA) and Septoglomus sp. from Tuscany (Italy) in an original experimental microcosm system, utilizing micropropagated plants of Prunus persica x Prunus amygdalus inoculated with either intact or mechanically crushed AMF spores, the former able and the latter unable to establish the symbiosis. Spore and root endophytic bacterial communities diversity were analysed by Illumina Miseq sequencing.

Results
This study revealed that AMF with their associated bacteria can shape the root endophytic bacterial communities, inducing differential recruitment depending on the composition of spore-associated microbiota. Such data were consistent between two AMF isolates, associated with diverse bacterial communities, as shown by PERMANOVA, Bray Curtis dissimilarity, hierarchical clustering and indicator species analyses. Moreover, specific bacterial taxa were found exclusively in mycorrhizal roots. Our findings suggested also a differential recruitment depending on the ability of AMF to establish mycorrhizal symbioses.

Conclusion
This work revealed that AMF represent drivers of the endophytic bacterial communities diversity and composition, facilitating root colonization of host plants by their associated bacteria, that become an integral part of the root microbiome as endophytes.
Texture and clay mineralogy as main drivers of the priming effect in temperate forest soils
Authors: Zacháry Dóra , Filep Tibor , Jakab Gergely , Ringer Marianna , Balázs Réka , Németh Tibor , Szalai Zoltán 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Background and aims
This work aimed to determine how the soil parameters affect the magnitude and direction of priming effect (accelerated or decreased decomposition of native SOM under addition of new organic substrates, PE) in temperate acidic forest soils.

Methods
Thirteen topsoil samples were incubated for 163 days with the addition of maize residues. Soil respiration was measured and natural isotope labelling was used in order to separate the respiration sources (SOM, maize and PE). The effect of soil parameters on PE was studied using linear regression and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Results
Soils with high C/N ratio showed the lowest magnitude of cumulative PE (R2 = 0.321, p < 0.05) and the longest negative PE period. A positive relationship was found between PE and the pH (R2 = 0.511, p < 0.05). SEM analysis showed that pH and C/N ratio has direct (β = 0.50) and indirect (β = 0.20, via modifying soil texture and mineralogy) effect on PE. Soil texture and mineralogy had a significant effect on PE: texture affects the proportions of soil respiration sources and PE was reduced by the dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate–extractable Al (AlDCB, R2 = 0.454, p < 0.05), silt + clay (R2 = 0.421, p < 0.05), non-swelling clay mineral (R2 = 0.575, p < 0.05) and illite (R2 = 0.522, p < 0.05) contents. SEM analysis also highlighted that the AlDCB, illite and silt + clay contents has a great effect (β=−0.59) on the PE.

Conclusion
The silt + clay content and mineral composition of the soil, including the Al oxide and illite contents may thus significantly inhibit the magnitude of PE, and consequently the decomposition of SOM under acidic conditions.
Teaching Socioscientific Issues: A Systematic Review
Authors: Högström Per , Gericke Niklas , Wallin Johan , Bergman Eva 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTo provide a comprehensive picture of socioscientific issues (SSI) pedagogy in primary and secondary school contexts, we present a systematic review of research on how SSI in science education practice is characterized in studies of teaching and learning from 1997 to 2021. The review addresses the identified need for guidance on SSI teaching as experienced by practicing teachers. The aim of the study is to define and describe how SSI as a pedagogical approach is characterized in studies of teaching and learning in science education research. From a sample of 5183 peer-reviewed articles, 157 were selected for the data extraction and systematic review process. The result is structured around teaching objectives, teaching topics, and teaching methods. Our findings show that much of the research revolves around the development of students’ higher-order thinking skills and science content knowledge. The topics identified fall mainly within two themes: the environment and sustainable development, and health and technology. Group discussions stand out as the primary teaching method. The findings are discussed in the light of previous reviews, and recommendations for future research are suggested.
LATA: learning automata-based task assignment on heterogeneous cloud computing platform
Authors: Gheisari Soulmaz , ShokrZadeh Hamid 
Published: July 2024

AbstractA cloud computing environment is a distributed system where idle resources are accessible across a wide area network, such as the Internet. Due to the diverse specifications of these resources, computational clouds exhibit high heterogeneity. Task scheduling, the process of dispatching cloud applications onto processing nodes, becomes a critical challenge in such environments. Ensuring high utilization in this heterogeneous environment entails identifying suitable machines or virtual machines capable of efficiently executing jobs, constituting a multi-objective optimization problem. This paper proposes a dynamic Learning Automata-based Task Assignment algorithm, named LATA, to address this challenge. In the algorithm, each application is represented as a Directed Acyclic Graph, with tasks as nodes and data dependencies as edges. Initially, tasks are grouped based on their data dependencies to consolidate independent tasks into one group. Subsequently, a variable-structure learning automaton is assigned to each group of tasks to identify appropriate task-machine combinations. The primary objectives of LATA include minimizing makespan and energy consumption by facilitating efficient task placement to achieve load balance and maximize resource utilization. Additionally, an enhancement is proposed, involving the use of a different grouping policy prior to task assignment to further improve performance. Computer simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithms in highly heterogeneous environments compared to state-of-the-art algorithms. Notably, total execution time and energy consumption decrease by up to 50% and 37%, respectively.
Natural iron-containing minerals catalyze the degradation of polypropylene microplastics: a route to self-remediation learnt from the environment
Authors: Corti Andrea , Mugnaioli Enrico , Manariti Antonella , Paoli Gabriele , Petri Filippo , Tersigni Pier Francesco Maria , Ceccarini Alessio , Castelvetro Valter 
Published: July 2024

AbstractVirgin and environmentally aged polypropylene (PP) micropowders (V-PP and E-PP, respectively) were used as reference microplastics (MPs) in comparative photo- and thermo-oxidative ageing experiments performed on their mixtures with a natural ferrous sand (NS) and with a metal-free silica sand (QS). The ferrous NS was found to catalyze the photo-oxidative degradation of V-PP after both UV and simulated solar light irradiation. The catalytic activity in the V-PP/NS mixture was highlighted by the comparatively higher fraction of photo-oxidized PP extracted in dichloromethane, and the higher carbonyl index of the bulk polymer extracted with boiling xylene, when compared with the V-PP/QS mixture. Similarly, NS showed a catalytic effect on the thermal degradation (at T = 60 °C) of E-PP. The results obtained indicate that, under suitable environmental conditions (in this case, an iron-containing sediment or soil matrix, combined with simulated solar irradiation), the degradation of some types of MPs could be much faster than anticipated. Given the widespread presence of iron minerals (including the magnetite and iron-rich serpentine found in NS) in both coastal and mainland soils and sediments, a higher than expected resilience of the environment to the contamination by this class of pollutants is anticipated, and possible routes to remediation of polluted natural environments by eco-compatible iron-based minerals are envisaged.
Graphical abstract