bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soil organic carbon pools and Carbon sequestration of major Agroforestry tree species in semiarid region
Authors: Varshitha M. , Chaitanya T. , Jayasree G. , Neelima T. L. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

A study was conducted to estimate soil organic carbon pools and the carbon sequestration of major agroforestry tree species in semiarid region of Telangana during the year, 2022. Major agroforestry tree species studied were eucalyptus, malabar neem, sandal wood, red sanders, teak, subabul, malabar neem + sandal wood, red sanders + sandalwood and barren land. There is an interaction between land use systems and soil depth. Significantly higher organic carbon (6.17 g kg− 1) was recorded in the eucalyptus tree species at 0–20 cm soil depth. Significantly low organic carbon (1.41 g kg− 1) was recorded in barren land at 20–40 cm soil depth. Significantly higher values of soil organic carbon pools viz., very labile (3.64 g kg− 1), labile (2.56 g kg− 1), less labile (2.11 g kg− 1) and nonlabile (2.06 g kg− 1), total organic carbon (10.37 g kg− 1) were recorded under eucalyptus tree species at 0–20 cm. Significantly low soil organic carbon pools viz., very labile (1.10 g kg− 1), labile (0.51 g kg− 1), less labile (0.66 g kg− 1), nonlabile (0.88 g kg− 1), total organic carbon (3.15g kg− 1) were recorded under barren land at 20–40 cm soil depth. Carbon sequestration of eucalyptus tree species ranged from 15 to 821 kg tree− 1(5–15 years), teak ranged from 11 to 704 kg tree− 1 (5–20 years), malabar neem ranged from 118–392 kg tree− 1 (5–8 years), sandalwood ranged from 33–164 kg tree− 1 (5–8 years), red sanders ranged from 17–611 kg tree− 1 (5–10 years), subabul ranged from 11–591 kg tree− 1 (5–10 years). There was significant and positive correlation between soil organic carbon and organic carbon pool and carbon sequestration. Amount of carbon sequestered by all these tree species was positively correlated with organic carbon of their respective soils (r = 0.408). This study reported the rate of carbon sequestration by these tree species and their importance in raising them in barren lands and as border plantations.
Breast milk dominant phyla and probiotic bacteria population in obese lactating women: a case-control study
Authors: Karami Shahla , Mousavi Seyedeh Neda , Shapouri Reza , Naderloo Hasti , Heidarzadeh Siamak , Afshar Davoud 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
The main purpose was to determine amount of dominant phyla, Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus in breast milk of obese mothers versus normal at 3rd of lactation in Iranian population.
Methods
Eighty health women at the third month of lactation, without any chronic, and gastrointestinal disorders were included and categorized base on body mass index (BMI) to two groups as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and normal (18.5 < BMI < 24.9). Bacterial DNA was extracted and qPCR of the 16S region was performed after human milk donation in sterile conditions. A linear regressions model was used to determine the baseline parameters on the population.
Results
Bifidobacteria population was significantly higher in normal group than obese mothers. Current BMI showed a significant effect on the Actinobacteria population in milk. Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes population were significantly lower in mother’s milk with cesarean delivery (p = 0.04). Pre-pregnancy obesity was associated with lower Firmicutes and Lactobacillus population in maternal milk (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01). A significant association was observed between the infant height with Actinobacteria and Bifidobacteria population of milk (p = 0.008 and p = 0.04).
Conclusions
Current and pre-pregnancy obesity are associated with lower beneficial phylum and probiotic bacteria in breast milk. Both of them are associated with infant’s height.
Construction of a Nomogram to Predict the Progression Free Survival in Patients With Lung Cancer
Authors: TAFENZI Hassan Abdelilah , CHOULLI Farah , ESSAADI Ismail , BELBARAKA Rhizlane 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

PURPOSE
For a personalized cancer prognosis, a nomogram is a practical and helpful tool. In addition to creating a clinical nomogram to forecast progression free survival (PFS) for patients with various histological types, clinical stages, and treatment regimens, our goals included assessing the prognostic variables of lung cancer (LC) patients.
METHODS
Clinical characteristics, peripheral blood parameters, and treatment records were collected from 1200 newly diagnosed LC patients in the Medical Oncology Department at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech between 2013 and 2021. Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Analysis was used to identify the independent prognostic factors. The nomogram we created and tested was used to predict the PFS of patients with LC. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were drawn, stratified, and compared using the log rank test.
RESULTS
A total of 342 individuals met the inclusion criteria and were then included in the study. Prognostic factors for LC included gender, tabacco status, number of cures of the first-line chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and thrombocytopenia; these factors were combined to create the nomogram. The clinical prediction model performed satisfactorily in prognosis prediction, as evidenced by the calibration and receiver operating characteristics curves. In comparison to the clinical TNM staging method for a one-year prediction, the nomogram's area under the ROC curve (AUC) value for 6- and 12-month PFS rates was 0.8 and 0.83, respectively.
CONCLUSION
We developed and verified a unique nomogram that can offer personalised PFS predictions for Moroccan and African LC patients. The development of this tool is extremely important for clinical study design and decision-making.
Characterization of a Novel Natural Cellulosic Fiber Extracted from the Petiole of Corypha umbraculifera for Potential Application as a Reinforcing Agent in Fiber-based Composites
Authors: Jayasooriya B.G. Nilupul Piyumantha , SAMARASINGHE S.A.S.C. SAMARASINGHE 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

This study investigated the potential of Corypha umbraculifera fibers as reinforcing agents in fiber-based composites, providing a novel sustainable solution. The chemical, thermal, mechanical, crystallographic, and morphological characteristics of the fibers were determined to evaluate their performance as reinforcing agents. The high cellulose content (66.37%) found in the chemical analysis suggested good potential for fiber strength, which was further supported by the measured mechanical properties, a tensile strength of 516.1 ± 115 MPa, and a Young's modulus of 3.15 ± 0.57 GPa. The maximum breaking elongation was 2.73 ± 0.37%. FTIR analysis confirmed the functional groups of the chemical components. The low density of the fibers (0.52 ± 0.009 g/cm3) shows their potential for use as a reinforcing agent for lightweight composites. The hollow fiber structure of these fibers observed in the SEM images also contributes to their low density. The analysis identified fibers with extraordinary lengths (1.5-3.0 m) and diameters ranging from 230 to 820 µm. XRD was employed for crystallographic analysis, and a microfibril angle of 18.32 ± 1.28°, influenced the axial strength of the fibers. The fibers demonstrate notable thermal stability with a maximum degradation temperature of 323.3 ℃, as measured by TGA, making them ideal for withstanding high-temperature processing conditions in composites. Upon thorough examination of the characteristics in this study, it was established that fibers extracted from Corypha umbraculifera are promising and environmentally friendly as reinforcing agents for fiber-based composites.
Mendelian Randomization Analysis of the Causal Relationship Between Immune Cells and Epilepsy: The Mediating Role of Metabolites
Authors: Chen Jiangwei , Yu Haichun , Liu Huihua , Yu Han , Liang Shuang , Wu Qiong , Zhang Xian , Zeng Rong , Diao Limei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Our study investigated the causal relationship between immune cells, metabolites, and epilepsy using two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) and mediation MR analysis of 731 immune cell traits and 1,400 metabolites. Our core methodology centered on inverse-variance weighted MR, supplemented by other methods. This approach was crucial in clarifying the potential intermediary functions of metabolites in the genetic links between traits of immune cells and epilepsy. We found a causal relationship between immune cells and epilepsy. Specifically, the genetically predicted levels of CD64 on CD14-CD16 are positively correlated with the risk of epilepsy (p < 0.001, OR = 1.0826, 95% CI 1.0361–1.1312). Similarly, metabolites also exhibit a causal relationship with both immune cells (OR = 1.0438, 95% CI:1.0087–1.0801, p = 0.0140) and epilepsy (p = 0.0334, OR = 1.0897, 95% CI: 1.0068–1.1795), and sensitivity analysis was conducted to further validate these relationships. Importantly, our intermediate MR results suggest that the metabolite Paraxanthine to linoleate (18:2n6) ratio may mediate the causal relationship between immune cell CD64 on CD14-CD16 and epilepsy, with a mediation effect of 5.05%. The results suggest the importance of specific immune cell levels and metabolites in understanding epilepsy's pathogenesis. This is significant for understanding the pathogenesis of epilepsy and its prevention and treatment.
Sense of alienation, security, and life satisfaction among undergraduate: a cross-sectional study from China
Authors: Wu Hui , You Jing , An Zhen , Hu Han , Tian Meichen , Cao Tingting , Li Huijun , Song Jie , Ding Yu , Zhang Guofu , Zhang Xintian , Wu Weidong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective
To explore the factors influencing alienation among college students and to explore the relationship between alienation and feelings of security and life satisfaction.
Methods
2,932 students in university were surveyed by using web-based survey, the adolescent students alienation scale(ASAS), the Life Satisfaction Scale for Adolescent Students(ASLSS), and the Security questionnaire(SQ) in the form of a questionnaire star.
Results
The average score of alienation sense was 3.46. Dichotomous logistic regression analysis showed that gender, grade, major field, relationship with parents of alienation were different. Alienation were negatively correlated with satisfaction and sense of security. Life satisfaction had a direct effect on alienation, and the mediating effect of security accounted for 49.02% of the total effect, and the mediating effect explained 49.02% of the variance variance of the dependent variable.
Conclusion
life satisfaction was an important factor influencing alienation and was predictive of alienation; and security was a partial mediating variable.
Factors associated with muscle mass
Authors: Zhu Xiao , Zheng Yongli , Gao Lei , Liu Ying , Wang Yan , Zhang Wei , Hu Ting ting , Yang Meiling 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:Sarcopenia is a common elderly syndrome that increases the risk of falls and fractures, affects the ability to live daily and reduces quality of life.The present study try to explore the factors associated with muscle mass by using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DXA) in Chinese postmenopausal women.
Methods: The clinical information of 234 postmenopausal women, ages 50 to 79, was included in this study. Every subject's height, weight, calf circumference (CC), and grip strength were recorded. The body mass index, or BMI, was computed. All subjects' DXA characteristics, such as their total mass, lean mass, fat mass, T value, and relative skeletal muscle index (RSMI), were also noted. Based on RSMI, the patients were separated into two groups: those with sarcopenia and those without. An analysis was conducted on the variations in grip strength, CC, DXA parameters, and demographic data between the two groups. The relationship between a number of variables and RSMI was investigated using bivariate correlation analysis. The link between each index and RSMI was examined using both univariate and multiple linear regression analysis, and a regression equation was produced.
Results:The study revealed that the sarcopenia group had significantly reduced BMI, grip strength, CC, RSMI, T value, total mass, lean mass, and fat mass compared to the non-sarcopenia group (P<0.05). Weight, fat mass, and CC had moderate correlations with RSMI (r=0.696, r=0.507, r=0.638, respectively, P < 0.05); T value and grip strength had weak correlations with RSMI (r=0.280, r=0.265, respectively, P < 0.05); BMI, total mass, and lean mass had strong correlations with RSMI (r=0.736, r=0.726, r=0.782, respectively, P < 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that BMI (r=0.120, P<0.001) and CC (r=0.078, P<0.001) were the key variables linked to the muscle mass of postmenopausal women. We have RSMI = 0.473 + 0.120×BMI + 0.078×CC as the regression equation.
Conclusions: Compared to patients without sarcopenia, people with sarcopenia have lower BMIs, grip strengths, CCs, T values, total masses, lean masses, and fat masses. In postmenopausal women, there is a positive correlation between muscle mass and BMI and CC.
An innovative process chain for the production of antibiofouling polymer parts using ultra-fast laser texturing
Authors: Oubellaouch Keltoum , Orazi Leonardo , Brun Paola , Lucchetta Giovanni , Pelaccia Riccardo , Sorgato Marco 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Polymers are versatile materials widely used in various industries, with significant applications in biomedicine where biofouling on polymer surfaces presents major health and economic challenges. Biofouling, initiated by bacterial adhesion, can be mitigated by modifying surface properties through laser micro- and nano-texturing, an approach that offers advantages over chemical treatments. This study introduces an economical mass production process for textured polymeric components using injection molding to replicate hierarchical textures. Testing revealed that all textured samples significantly reduced bacterial adhesion compared to untextured surfaces across different designs and bacteria types after 24 hours of culture. The study examined factors like wettability, nanoscale roughness, and pattern dimensions to explain these outcomes, comparing them with existing studies. Despite all textured samples showing decreased wettability and roughness, these factors alone did not ensure reduced bacterial adhesion. The most effective anti-adhesive performance was observed in surfaces with parallel ridge patterns, which segmented the surface into isolated areas that limited bacterial interaction and hindered micro-colony formation, highlighting the importance of specific surface patterning in combating biofouling.
Malignant Triton tumor of the retroperitoneum: a case report about a rare diagnostic trap and a geriatric challenge
Authors: SAUVINET Guillaume , ALGHAMDI Khalid , WEINGERTNER Noëlle , SCHEER Louise , TAIEB Elias , HEITZ Damien , BRIGAND Cécile 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Malignant Triton Tumor (MTT) constitutes a subtype of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor, whose retroperitoneal localization is extremely rare: at this time, only some twenty cases reports have been reported since its first description. We present the case of a MTT diagnosed on the histological examination after the mass resection, which was previously considered as myxofibrosarcoma according to biopsy findings.
Case presentation: A 76-year-old woman suffered from femoral pains resulting from a left retroperitoneal mass, 33cm in diameter, arising from the major psoas muscle. In view of the so-called diagnosis and the age, we decided to perform an up-front R1 left compartmentectomy sparing pancreas without neoadjuvant treatment. The tumor was found to involve the femoral trunk nerve, necessitating its resection so that the piece remains unfragmented. Immunohistochemical analysis finally revealed a MTT with a focal positivity for S100, as well as a focal staining with markers of skeletal muscle differentiation. The postoperative course was uneventful besides the foreseeable femoral paralysis, and adjuvant irradiation was proposed.
Tumor heterogeneity can explain the discrepancy between the settings of the core needle biopsy and the definitive histological conclusions, and highlights the difficulty bringing the correct diagnosis with a biopsy alone. Nevertheless, according to the acknowledged poor prognosis, the risk-benefit balance in this particular context should have discouraged a wider resection even if MTT was diagnosed before surgery.
Conclusions: This case report raises the question of the major place of geriatric preoperative assessment and the appropriateness of multi-organs removals in elder patients, more specifically in those presenting aggressive sarcomas such as MTT.
The MTIST platform: a microbiome time series inference standardized test
Authors: Schluter Jonas , Hussey Grant , Valeriano João , Zhang Chenzhen , Sullivan Alexis , Fenyö David 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The human gut microbiome is a promising therapeutic target, but interventions are hampered by our limited understanding of microbial ecosystems. Here, we present a platform to develop, evaluate, and score approaches to learn ecological interactions from microbiome time series data. The microbiome time series inference standardized test (MTIST) comprises: a simulation framework for the in silico generation of microbiome study data akin to what is obtained with quantitative next-generation sequencing approaches, a compilation of a large curated data set generated by the simulation framework representing 648 simulated microbiome studies containing 18,360 time series, with a total of 2,182,800 species abundance measurements, and a scoring method to rank ecological inference algorithms. We use the MTIST platform to rank five implementations of microbiome inference approaches, revealing that while all algorithms performed well on ecosystems with few species (3 and 10), all algorithms failed to infer most interaction in a large ecosystem with 100 member species. However, we do find that the strongest interactions within a large ecosystem are inferred with higher success by all algorithms. Finally, we use the MTIST platform to compare different microbiome study designs, characterizing tradeoffs between samples per subject and number of subjects. Interestingly, we find that when only few samples can be collected per subject, ecological inference is most successful when these samples are collected with highest feasible temporal frequency. Taken together, we provide a computational tool to aid the development of better microbiome ecosystem inference approaches, which will be crucial towards the development of reliable and predictable therapeutic approaches that target the microbiome ecosystem.
New objective simple evaluation methods of amyloid PET/CT using whole brain histogram and Top20%-Map
Authors: Okuyama Chio , Higashi Tatsuya , Ishizu Koichi , Oishi Naoya , Kusano Kuninori , Ito Miki , Kagawa Shinya , Okina Tomoko , Suzuki Norio , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Nagahama Yasuhiro , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Ono Masahiro , Yamauchi Hiroshi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective
This study aims to assess the utility of newly developed objective methods for the evaluation of intracranial abnormal amyloid deposition using PET/CT histogram without use of cortical ROI analyses.
Methods
Twenty-five healthy volunteers (HV) and 38 patients with diagnosed or suspected dementia who had undergone 18F-FPYBF-2 PET/CT were retrospectively included in this study. Out of them, 11C-PiB PET/CT had been also performed in 13 subjects. In addition to the conventional methods, namely visual judgement and quantitative analyses using composed standardized uptake value ratio (comSUVR), the PET images were also evaluated by the following new parameters: the skewness and mode to mean ratio (MMR) obtained from the histogram of the brain parenchyma; Top20%-map that highlights the areas with high tracer accumulation occupying 20% volume of the total brain parenchymal on the individual’s CT images. We evaluated the utility of the new methods using histogram compared with the visual assessment and comSUVR. The results of these new methods between 18F-FPYBF-2 and 11C-PiB were also compared in 13 subjects.
Results
In visual analysis, 32, 9, 22 subjects showed negative, border, and positive results, and composed SUVR in each group were 1.11 ± 0.06, 1.20 ± 0.13, 1.48 ± 0.18 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Visually positive subjects showed significantly low skewness and high MMR (p < 0.0001), and the Top20%-Map showed the presence or absence of abnormal deposits clearly. In comparison between the two tracers, visual evaluation was all consistent, and the ComSUVR, skewness, MMR showed significant good correlation. The Top20%-Maps showed similar pattern.
Conclusions
Our new methods using the histogram of the brain parenchymal accumulation are simple and suitable for clinical practice of amyloid PET, and Top20%-Map on the individual’s brain CT can be the great help for the visual assessment.
Severe distributive shock, neutrophilic dermatosis, and Kounis syndrome in the setting of azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome
Authors: Su Samuel , Wang Yu Ming , Zaborniak Karver , Hamza Sate , Jassal Davinder S. , Blouw Marcus 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background: Azathioprine is a purine synthesis inhibitor used as an immunosuppressive therapy for many immune-mediated diseases. Azathioprine hypersensitivity reaction is a rare, life-threatening adverse reaction characterized by a range of multisystem manifestations including fever, abdominal pain, arthralgias, erythematous cutaneous eruption, acute renal failure, neutrophilia, and more rarely, distributive shock. Furthermore, allergic coronary vasospasm (Kounis syndrome) has been described as a reaction to several allergens, but has previously never been associated with azathioprine or its hypersensitivity syndrome.
Case Presentation: We describe a case of a 59-year-old male with Crohn’s disease who developed severe azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome that included distributive shock, cutaneous eruption of neutrophilic dermatosis, and ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome consistent with Kounis syndrome. Clinical improvement was seen after cessation of azathioprine and administration of glucocorticoid therapy. This case report is the first of its kind to describe such a severe reaction to azathioprine, especially with the occurrence of Kounis syndrome.
Conclusion: In patients receiving azathioprine, hypersensitivity syndrome, distributive shock, neutrophilic dermatosis, and Kounis syndrome should be recognized as potential adverse events.
Distinct impacts of pure El Niño events on spring rainfall of Sri Lanka
Authors: Kajakokulan Pathmarasa , Pathirana Gayan , Geng Xin , Premarathne Upul 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) strongly influences the climate of the tropical Indo-Pacific region, but the specific impact of pure El Niño events on Sri Lanka's rainfall remains largely unexplored. By analyzing observational and reanalysis datasets from 1981 to 2023, we investigate this relationship, particularly during the El Niño decaying spring season. Our results show that during pure Central Pacific (CP) El Niño events, Sri Lanka experiences enhanced spring rainfall due to warmer sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tropical Indian Ocean and strong westerly winds over the Arabian Sea, which favor moisture convergence and subsequent rainfall enhancement over Sri Lanka. Conversely, during pure Eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño events, spring rainfall is reduced due to cooler SST and stronger easterly winds inducing anti-cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea, resulting in moisture divergence and reduced rainfall. These contrasting responses highlight the distinct impacts of pure El Niño events on the rainfall of Sri Lanka and associated ocean-atmosphere dynamics, providing valuable insights for future climate projections and adaptation strategies in the country.