bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RoboCA3T: A Robot‐Inspired Computer‐Assisted adaptive autism therapy for improving joint attention and imitation skills through learning and computing innovations
Authors: Zahid Zunera , Ali Sara , Shariq Shehriyar , Ayaz Yasar , Naseer Noman , Yaseen Irum 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThis study presents a Robot‐Inspired Computer‐Assisted Adaptive Autism Therapy (RoboCA3T) focusing on improving joint attention and imitation skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By harnessing the inherent affinity of children with ASD for robots and technology, RoboCA3T offers a therapeutic environment designed to maximise engagement and facilitate effective skill development. It harnesses the advantages of Robot‐Assisted Therapies (RATs) by employing robot avatars and integrating them with Computer‐Assisted Therapies (CATs) within a web‐based solution. The integration of automatic gaze and pose detection algorithms within RoboCA3T addresses the challenge posed by potential human error and observation bias in assessing the child's progress, thereby ensuring accurate results. This research responds to the need for more effective, technology driven therapies for autism, filling gaps in existing methods.ObjectivesThe primary goal of this research is to create a robot inspired computer assisted adaptive autism therapy that maximises engagement and enhances joint attention and imitation skills.MethodsThe study involves 11 ASD children with 30 sessions (divided into two halves) per module over eight months, comprising 660 experimental trials, 110 familiarizations, and 110 follow‐up sessions. The joint attention module evaluates the subject's gaze pattern using WebGazer for gaze detection in response to four least‐to‐most robot‐generated cues. The imitation module utilises robot‐generated pose for comparing subjects' imitated actions using Tensorflow Lite for pose estimation.Results and ConclusionsThe effectiveness of therapy was substantiated by comparing Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores before and after intervention. Significant improvements were noted between the first and second therapy halves, validated by Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests (p < 0.01) and spearman's correlation analysis, reinforcing the observed improvements in joint attention and imitation skills.
A novel colorectal cancer screening framework with feature interpretability to identify high‐risk populations for colonoscopy
Authors: Li Mingshan , Gong Yangming , Pang Yi , Wu Mengyin , Gu Kai , Wang Yuanyuan , Guo Yi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackground and AimRisk assessment is of paramount importance for the detection and treatment of colorectal cancer. We developed and validated a feature interpretability screening framework to identify high‐risk populations and recommend colonoscopy for them.MethodsWe utilized a training cohort consisting of 1 252 605 participants who underwent colonoscopies in Shanghai from 2013 to 2015 to develop the screening framework. We incorporated Shapley additive explanation values into feature selection to provide interpretability for the framework. Two sampling methods were separately employed to mitigate potential model bias caused by class imbalance. Furthermore, we employed various machine learning algorithms to construct risk assessment models and compared their performance. We tested the screening models on an external validation cohort of 359 462 samples and conducted comprehensive evaluation and statistical analysis of the validation results.ResultsThe external validation results demonstrated that the models in the proposed framework achieved sensitivity over 0.734, specificity over 0.790, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 0.808 to 0.859. In the predictions of the best‐performing model, the prevalence rates of colorectal cancer were 0.059% and 1.056% in the low‐ and high‐risk groups, respectively. If colonoscopies were performed only on the high‐risk group predicted by the model, only 14.36% of total colonoscopies would be needed to detect 74.86% of colorectal cancer cases.ConclusionsWe developed and validated a novel framework to identify populations at high risk for colorectal cancer. Those classified as high risk should undergo colonoscopy for further diagnosis.
Rational modification of melatonin for broad‐spectrum antifungal agents discovery
Authors: Cai Huanyu , Li Renjian , Chen Yu , Bi Ruiqing , Fang Xueru , Wu Peng , Xu Weilong , Bao Longzhu , Liu Zhu , Li Jun , Li Guotian , Teng Huailong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNatural products, known for their environmental safety, are regarded as a significant basis for the modification and advancement of fungicides. Melatonin, as a low‐cost natural indole, exhibits diverse biological functions, including antifungal activity. However, its potential as an antifungal agent has not been fully explored. In this study, a series of melatonin derivatives targeting the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (Mps1) protein of fungal pathogens were synthesized based on properties of melatonin, among which the trifluoromethyl‐substituted derivative Mt‐23 exhibited antifungal activity against seven plant pathogenic fungi, and effectively reduced the severity of crop diseases, including rice blast, Fusarium head blight of wheat and gray mold of tomato. In particular, its EC50 (5.4 µM) against the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is only one‐fourth that of isoprothiolane (22 µM), a commercial fungicide. Comparative analyzes revealed that Mt‐23 simultaneously targets the conserved protein kinase Mps1 and lipid protein Cap20. Surface plasmon resonance assays showed that Mt‐23 directly binds to Mps1 and Cap20. In this study, we provide a strategy for developing antifungal agents by modifying melatonin, and the resultant melatonin derivative Mt‐23 is a commercially valuable, eco‐friendly and broad‐spectrum antifungal agent to combat crop disease.
Next generation sequencing improves the resolution of detecting mixed host blood meal sources in field collected arboviral mosquito vectors
Authors: Tchouassi David P. , Kisero Robinson O. , Rotich Gilbert , Dunlap Christopher , Torto Baldwyn , Muturi Ephantus J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAccurate knowledge of blood meal hosts of different mosquito species is critical for identifying potential vectors and establishing the risk of pathogen transmission. We compared the performance of Miseq next generation sequencing approach relative to conventional Sanger sequencing approach in identification of mosquito blood meals using genetic markers targeting the 12S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) genes. We analysed the blood meals of three mosquito vector species (Aedes aegypti, Aedes simpsoni s.l. and Culex pipiens s.l.) collected outdoors, and compared the frequency of single‐ versus multiple‐blood feeding. Single host blood meals were mostly recovered for Sanger‐based sequencing of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene, whereas Miseq sequencing employing this marker and the COI marker detected both single and multiple blood meal hosts in individual mosquitoes. Multiple blood meals (two or more hosts) which mostly included humans were detected in 19%–22.7% of Ae. aegypti samples. Most single host blood meals for this mosquito species were from humans (47.7%–57.1%) and dogs (9.1%–19.0%), with livestock, reptile and rodent hosts collectively accounting for 4.7%–28.9% of single host blood meals. The frequency of two or more host blood meals in Ae. simpsoni s.l. was 26.3%–45.5% mostly including humans, while single host blood meals were predominantly from humans (31.8%–47.4%) with representation of rodent, reptile and livestock blood meals (18.2%–68.2%). Single host blood meals from Cx. pipiens s.l. were mostly from humans (27.0%–39.4%) and cows (11.5%–27.36%). Multiple blood meal hosts that mostly included humans occurred in 21.2%–24.4% of Cx. pipiens s.l. samples. Estimated human blood indices ranged from 53%–76% for Ae. aegypti, 32%–82% for Ae. simpsoni s.l. and 26%–61% for Cx. pipiens s.l. and were consistently lower for Sanger‐based sequencing approach compared to Miseq‐based sequencing approach. These findings demonstrate that Miseq sequencing approach is superior to Sanger sequencing approach as it can reliably identify mixed host blood meals in a single mosquito, improving our ability to understand the transmission dynamics of mosquito‐borne pathogens.
Changes in planta K nutrient content altered the interaction pattern between Nicotiana benthamiana and Alternaria longipes
Authors: Du Youwei , Liu Guangli , Jia Hongchen , Liu Yi , Tan Ying , Wang Shuanghong , Mu Junxiang , Yu Jingbo , Xue Ke , Zhang Rong , Gleason Mark L. , Liang Xiaofei , Sun Guangyu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPotassium (K) fertilisation has frequently been shown to enhance plant resistance against pathogens, though the mechanisms remain elusive. This study investigates the interaction dynamics between Nicotiana benthamiana and the pathogen Alternaria longipes under different planta K levels. On the host side, adding K activated the expressions of three NLR (nucleotide‐binding domain and leucine‐rich repeat‐containing proteins) resistance genes, including NbRPM1, NbR1B23 and NbNBS12. Silencing these NLRs attenuated resistance in high‐K (HK, 40.8 g/kg) plant, whereas their overexpression strengthened resistance in low‐K (LK, 23.9 g/kg) plant. Typically, these NLRs mainly strengthened plant resistance via promoting the expression of pathogenesis‐related genes (PRs), ROS burst and synthesis of antifungal metabolites in HK plant. On the pathogen side, the expression of effectors HKCSP1, HKCSP2 and LKCSP were shown to be related to planta K content. A. longipes mainly expressed effectors HKCSP1 and HKCSP2 in HK plant to interfere host resistance. HKCSP1 physically interacted with NbRPM1 to promote the degradation of NbRPM1, then attenuated related resistance in HK N. benthamiana. Meanwhile, HKCSP2 directly interacted with NbPR5 to suppress resistance in HK plant. In LK plant, A. longipes mainly deployed LKCSP that interacted with NbR1B23 to interfere reduce resistance in N. benthamiana. Overall, our research insights that both pathogen and host mobilise distinct strategies to outcompete each other during interactions in different K nutrient environments.
High percentage of midpiece defects in Brangus bull sperm with no reduction in sperm kinematics
Authors: Maggi Gabriel , Silveira Diego , Vieira Marcelo Brandi , da Silva Ingrid Gracielle Martins , Barros‐Cordeiro Karine Brenda , Severo Neimar Correa , Báo Sônia Nair , Mondadori Rafael Gianella 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe study investigated midpiece defects in sperm from a 5‐year‐old Brangus bull with a high rate of semen batch rejection, due to morphologically abnormal sperm, with no reduction in sperm kinematics. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted over a 16‐month period, involving 28 ejaculates. Notably, despite the high proportion of midpiece defects (average 37.73%, from 3% to 58%), the study revealed stable sperm production, with no discernible differences in the kinematic data before and after cryopreservation. Electron microscopy identified discontinuities in the mitochondrial sheath, characteristic of midpiece aplasia (MPA). The anomalies were attributed to be of genetic origin, as other predisposing factors were absent. Additionally, the electron microscopy unveiled plasma membrane defects, vacuoles and chromatin decondensation, consistent with previous findings linking acrosome abnormalities with midpiece defects. The findings underscored the necessity of conducting thorough laboratory evaluations before releasing cryopreserved semen for commercialization. Despite substantial morphological alterations, the initial semen evaluation data indicated acceptable levels of sperm kinematics, emphasizing the resilience of sperm production to severe morphological changes. This case report serves as a contribution to the understanding of midpiece defects in bull sperm, emphasizing the need for meticulous evaluation and quality control in semen processing and commercialization.
Oral health status of institutionalized older adults receiving domiciliary dental care: A cross‐sectional retrospective study
Authors: Allenspach Philipp , Srinivasan Murali 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimThis study aimed to evaluate the oral health of care‐dependent institutionalized older adults receiving domiciliary dental care.Methods and ResultsDental health records of institutionalized adults receiving regular domiciliary dental care were examined (observation period: 5 years). Relevant demographic and oral health information were extracted. Statistical analyses included descriptive and non‐parametric tests (α = .05). Records of 398 nursing home residents (mean‐age: 84.9 ± 6.4 years) were included. Average time spent by the residents in the institution was 2.8 ± 1.5 years. The mean number of teeth present and the overall DMF‐T score was 14.7 ± 9.1 and 27.4 ± 6.2, respectively. The DMF‐T score increased until the 3‐year recall, with a significant increase in the number of decayed teeth (2‐year: p = .013; 3‐year: p = .010). An improvement in the residents’ periodontal health was seen during the observation period but was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe findings of this cross‐sectional study confirmed that regular domiciliary dental care provision to institutionalized older adults helps maintain gingival and periodontal health. However, the incidence of dental caries might still be a problem that needs to be addressed with effective measures that improve the daily oral care provision to these older adults.
Can local and global geopolitical risk predict governments' military spending behaviour? International evidence
Authors: Tran Minh Phuoc‐Bao , Vo Duc Hong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGeopolitical risk, encompassing wars, terrorism, and tensions between states, exerts a significant impact on global affairs. Previous studies have examined the relationship between geopolitical risk and military spending. However, these studies were limited by certain shortcomings in the measurement tools used to assess geopolitical risk. The introduction of a new geopolitical risk index, leveraging textual analysis technology, offers a way to overcome some of these limitations. Despite this advancement, research exploring the predictive capacity of this geopolitical risk index on military spending behaviour remains scarce. Specifically, no previous studies have investigated the predictive power of both local and global geopolitical risk indices on military spending behaviour. To bridge this gap, this study employs panel VAR analysis for 34 countries worldwide, spanning from 1993 to 2022. The results indicate that the military spending behaviour of countries is significantly influenced by local geopolitical risk rather than global geopolitical risk. Furthermore, the findings also reveal that an increase in geopolitical risk during a given year can predict military spending behaviour in the subsequent 2 years. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to understand governments' behaviour regarding military spending.
Research hotspots in urticaria: A bibliometric study of the top 100 most cited articles
Authors: Fu Tingting , Wu Yuhong , Wang Ruoxin , Liu Rongqi , Wen Tao , Long Huaqing , Yu Hongyin , Leng Mengyin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackground and PurposeUrticaria is a prevalent recurrent skin allergic condition. Severe itching significantly impacts patients' quality of life. This paper aims to investigate the development status of urticaria through bibliometric analysis to predict future research hotspots and trends.MethodsOn October 29, 2023, a literature search was conducted in the Web of Science (WOS) database to collect urticaria‐related publications. The top 100 most cited articles were charted, and VOSviewer software was utilized for the literature data analysis. A visual analysis was performed on the number of articles, journals, main researchers, keywords, and so on.ResultsThe research involved 415 authors from 28 countries, published across 25 journals, ranging from 1963 to 2023. Marcus Maurer was the leading author, with the United States being the foremost country in urticaria research. CEH Grattan received the most citations, and The Medical University of South Carolina had the highest number of publications. Key research focuses include epidemiology, pathogenesis, drug therapy, and quality of life assessments. “Anti‐high affinity IgE receptor α chain (FcεRIα),” “chronic idiopathic urticaria,” “autoantibodies,” “histamine‐release” emerged as the keywords with the highest prominence.ConclusionThe field of urticaria research has attracted substantial attention over the past few decades, witnessing rapid development. This study highlighted the top 100 articles by citation frequency within the urticaria field. Bibliometric analysis revealed a shift in treatment methods from traditional antihistamines to biological agents, with significant emphasis on improving the quality of life in chronic urticaria management. These areas represent the current research focal points and indicate future trends in urticaria research.
Constructing topology‐constrained distance cartograms with application on spatial interaction data
Authors: Cheng Tianyou , Guo Hao , Chen Xiao‐Jian , Dong Quanhua , Kang Chaogui , Liu Yu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA distance cartogram is a deformed map where the distance between points conforms to a specific proximity indicator. Its readability is crucial, requiring a similar spatial arrangement of points between the original map and cartogram. Previous studies mainly incorporated angle changes of point pairs into the optimization objective. However, this soft constraint fails to provide high readability for spatial interaction data with numerous points and links. This study emphasizes the significance of maintaining Delaunay triangulation during deformation. To achieve this, topology‐constrained particle swarm optimization (TC‐PSO) is proposed, in which triangle intersections and flipping are prevented during optimization. Additionally, a topology error is introduced to evaluate the difference in triangulation between the original and deformed maps. TC‐PSO outperforms previous approaches by exhibiting the smallest topology error and producing more readable cartograms in simulation experiments and Baidu index data. These show TC‐PSO's advantage as a cartographic tool.
Effects of alfaxalone, medetomidine, and xylazine on intraocular pressure in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica)
Authors: Lim Jaegook , Seo Kangmoon 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of alfaxalone, medetomidine, and xylazine on intraocular pressure (IOP) in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica).Animals StudiedEight 12‐month‐old pigeons (16 eyes).ProceduresThe pigeons were randomly assigned to three treatment groups (10 mg/kg of alfaxalone, 0.2 mg/kg of medetomidine, or 10 mg/kg of xylazine) with a 7‐day washout period. The IOP was measured using a rebound tonometer and calibrated using the formula y = 0.439x + 2.059, where y is the tonometric IOP and x is the actual IOP.ResultsAll three drugs significantly reduced IOP. Alfaxalone led to the least reduction at 5.2 mm Hg, medetomidine reduced IOP to 12.5 mm Hg, whereas xylazine resulted in the greatest reduction at 15.3 mm Hg. Alfaxalone achieved its maximum IOP reduction in 6 min, whereas medetomidine and xylazine required 95 and 115 min, respectively. Both alpha‐2 agonists, medetomidine, and xylazine, showed a prolonged duration of effect and a greater reduction in IOP than those of alfaxalone. All three medications provided adequate sedation without any discernible adverse effects.ConclusionsThe findings revealed the varied effects of these drugs on IOP in pigeons, potentially providing valuable insights that could be useful for broader applications in veterinary medicine.
Complete and circularized genome sequences of five nitrogen-fixing
Bradyrhizobium
sp. strains isolated from root nodules of peanut,
Arachis hypogaea
, cultivated in Tunisia
Authors: Bouznif Besma , Boukherissa Amira , Jaszczyszyn Yan , Mars Mohamed , Timchenko Tatiana , Shykoff Jacqui A. , Alunni Benoît 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

This manuscript reports the complete and circularized Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long read-based genome sequences of five nitrogen-fixing symbionts belonging to the genus
Bradyrhizobium
, isolated from root nodules of peanut (
Arachis hypogaea
) grown on soil samples collected from Tunisia.
Unlocking the biosynthetic potential and taxonomy of the Antarctic microbiome along temporal and spatial gradients
Authors: Medeiros William , Hidalgo Kelly , Leão Tiago , de Carvalho Lucas Miguel , Ziemert Nadine , Oliveira Valeria 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Extreme environments, such as Antarctica, select microbial communities that display a range of evolutionary strategies to survive and thrive under harsh environmental conditions. These include a diversity of specialized metabolites, which have the potential to be a source for new natural product discovery. Efforts using (meta)genome mining approaches to identify and understand biosynthetic gene clusters in Antarctica are still scarce, and the extent of their diversity and distribution patterns in the environment have yet to be discovered. Herein, we investigated the biosynthetic gene diversity of the biofilm microbial community of Whalers Bay, Deception Island, in the Antarctic Peninsula and revealed its distribution patterns along spatial and temporal gradients by applying metagenome mining approaches and multivariable analysis. The results showed that the Whalers Bay microbial community harbors a great diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters distributed into seven classes, with terpene being the most abundant. The phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the most abundant in the microbial community and contributed significantly to the biosynthetic gene abundances in Whalers Bay. Furthermore, the results highlighted a significant correlation between the distribution of biosynthetic genes and taxonomic diversity, emphasizing the intricate interplay between microbial taxonomy and their potential for specialized metabolite production.

IMPORTANCE
This research on antarctic microbial biosynthetic diversity in Whalers Bay, Deception Island, unveils the hidden potential of extreme environments for natural product discovery. By employing metagenomic techniques, the research highlights the extensive diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters and identifies key microbial phyla, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, as significant contributors. The correlation between taxonomic diversity and biosynthetic gene distribution underscores the intricate interplay governing specialized metabolite production. These findings are crucial for understanding microbial adaptation in extreme environments and hold significant implications for bioprospecting initiatives. The study opens avenues for discovering novel bioactive compounds with potential applications in medicine and industry, emphasizing the importance of preserving and exploring these polyextreme ecosystems to advance biotechnological and pharmaceutical research.