bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of water pollution virtual disposal cost approach for environmental damage value quantification of oil removal and cleaning wastewater.
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Liu Yunfang , Hong Wei , Wen Jing , Hua Feng , Liu Wenhua , Wang Zhen 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Many countries’ laws stipulate compensation from responsible parties for environmental damage events, while the amount of environmental damage is commonly determined through environmental damage valuation. For cases where the environmental damage facts are unclear, or the ecological environment has naturally recovered, or the cost of restoration projects far exceeds their benefits, China implemented Technical Guidelines for Identification and Assessment of Ecological Environment Damage Part 2: Water Pollution Virtual Disposal Cost Approach (GB/T 39793.2–2020) in 2021, using the water pollution virtual disposal cost approach to calculate the amount of damage to surface water environments. However, problems such as inconsistent scope of application, inaccurate calculation of unit treatment costs, and biased parameter selection still exist in current practical applications. Therefore, this study, based on GB/T 39793.2–2020, combined with a case of illegal discharge of oil removal and cleaning wastewater, illustrated how to avoid common mistakes in the application of the water pollution virtual disposal cost approach and calculated the amount of environmental damage, providing a new method for calculating unit treatment costs. The results showed that the unit treatment cost of oil removal and cleaning wastewater was around 74.1 yuan/ton, and the environmental damage caused by the illegal discharge of oil removal and cleaning wastewater amounted to 186031.8 yuan. This study will advance the research progress of the virtual disposal cost approach for water pollution and provide crucial technical references for future ecological environment damage assessment.
Association Between Physical Activity, Performance Scores, and Clinical Trial Enrollment in Cancer Survivors
Authors: Maslana Kelsey E , Burns Ryan D , Estabrooks Paul A , Playdon Mary C , Shaw Janet M , Akerley Wallace , Coletta Adriana M 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

To investigate the association between patient-reported habitual physical activity (PA) and physician-assessed physical performance scores, specifically the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, and experimental therapeutic clinical trial enrollment in adult cancer survivors. This was a retrospective analysis of patient-reported and clinical cancer data from the Total Cancer Care (TCC) cohort at the Huntsman Cancer Institute between 2016 and 2022. Patients completed a modified Godin questionnaire to assess average weekly PA (METhrs/week) for the previous 12 months. A demographics questionnaire collected information on sex, race, ethnicity, education level, and income status. ECOG performance scores were retrieved from the medical record and classified as either “Good” (ECOG of 0 or 1) or “Poor” (ECOG of 2, 3 or 4) physical function. Binary logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship between PA levels (total PA, moderate-vigorous PA, and light PA) and ECOG ratings, and PA levels and clinical trial enrollment (yes/no). Models were adjusted for demographics and cancer characteristics. Patients who completed the TCC questionnaire packet (n = 603) were primarily female (51%), non-Hispanic (95%), white (95%) with an average age of 61.9 ± 15.5 years. The top three cancer types represented were Head and Neck (30%), Thyroid (24%), and Lung (24%); all cancer stages were represented. Higher PA levels were linked with increased odds of having a good ECOG rating in unadjusted models (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.02), but not in adjusted models (OR 1.01, 95% CI .99 to 1.03). Higher levels of light PA were linked with greater odds of having good ECOG rating in unadjusted and adjusted models (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11; OR 1.072, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.13; respectively). Statistically significant associations were not observed between moderate-vigorous PA and ECOG rating, and PA and clinical trial enrollment. Patient-reported light PA may serve utility in physician decision making of ECOG rating. More work is needed identifying patient centered subjective and objective tools to complement physician-assessed ECOG scores considering the implications of ECOG in cancer treatment decisions and eligibility for clinical trials.
ALZET pump implantation in mice for chronic drug delivery to the cochlea
Authors: Depreux Frederic , Whitlon Donna , Richter Claus-Peter 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Drugs, chemical compounds, and other elements are often delivered to the ears of experimental animals to manipulate cochlear function, study how the ear works, identify drugs that prevent hearing loss, and test for ototoxicity. Delivery procedures for acute studies have been described in the literature. However, detailed information on methods that allow weeks of continuous drug delivery to mice cochleae is sparse. This paper describes a method for chronic drug delivery to the mouse cochlea. We illustrate the steps for the surgical implantation of an ALZET infusion pump and the placement of its catheter. We propose a ventral approach to the cochlea, using a surgical laser to make the cochleostomy and the placement of the pumps’ delivery ports into scala tympani or scala vestibuli. Depending on the experimental questions to be tested, the catheter can be directed toward the cochlear base, the vestibular system, or the cochlear apex.
Analysis of differential expression and functional annotation of non-coding RNAs in the blood transcriptome of male and female Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)
Authors: Que Jianglong , Liu Fangning , Yu Jinxiang , Dai Yingen , Chen Shiwei , Huang Yi , Tian Zhen , Rao Rongcheng , Min Jianlin , Yang Ying 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis, YFP) is the only extant cetacean in the Yangtze River, and is listed as critically endangered species in the IUCN Red List. There are significant differences in growth and development between male and female YFPs. In order to reveal the potential mechanism of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) involved in this phenomenon, this study took female and male YFP blood as experimental samples, built a database for RNA transcriptome sequencing, and detected ncRNA gene expression profiles such as circRNA, miRNA and lncRNA, and screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and performed GO and KEGG functional annotation analysis on DEGs. A total of 205 differentially expressed circRNAs were detected, 87 up-regulated and 118 down-regulated in female YFPs, and the enriched items mainly included energy metabolism and nutritional development of nerves. There were 122 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 54 up-regulated and 68 down-regulated in female YFPs, and the enriched items mainly included heme synthesis and metabolism, immune regulation and immune function. There were 48 differentially expressed miRNAs, 32 up-regulated and 16 down-regulated in female YFPs, and the enriched items mainly included cancer occurrence, energy metabolism and signal transduction. Real-time PCR verified the expression levels of MAPK1, IRS1, ALAD and CIQC were consistent with the sequencing results. This study revealed that ncRNA differentially expressed genes may be involved in the mechanism of sex differences in growth through metabolism, immunity and signal transduction, which provides a new perspective for explaining the growth differences between male and female YFPs, and provides a scientific reference for the protection of YFPs.
Transcriptome analysis of sugar beet in response to the pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides
Authors: Rossi Valentina , Holmquist Louise , Alexandersson Erik , Grenville-Briggs Laura 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Aphanomyces root rot is one of the most severe diseases in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), resulting in drastic losses of sugar yield and plant degeneration. The causal agent is the soil-borne pathogen Aphanomyces cochlioides, a phytopathogenic oomycete able to infect sugar beet roots from the seedling stage until harvest. Reliable control measures and fully resistant varieties to prevent the disease on mature roots are currently not available. Furthermore, the quantitative nature of the resistance mechanisms to the root rot disease remains unclear. With the aim to identify key genes involved in plant defense responses against the root rot, we performed a transcriptome analysis of sugar beet interaction with A. cochlioides. The transcriptome responses of two partially resistant and two susceptible sugar beet breeding lines, inoculated with three A. cochlioides isolates with different geographical origins have been investigated in this study.
Results
The results showed that the transcriptional responses to A. cochlioides infection were mainly genotype-dependent. Comparisons of transcriptome profiles of partially resistant and susceptible breeding lines revealed the presence of differentially expressed genes that play a key role in defense mechanisms during the initial stages of infection. Gene Ontology (GO) categories associated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) metabolism, detoxification and cell wall organization were significantly enriched in the differentially expressed gene set from the two partially resistant lines, while photosynthesis-related GO terms were significantly enriched in the two susceptible lines. Transcription factors belonging to the WRKY and ERF families were up-regulated in all genotypes. Furthermore, increased expression of genes encoding for disease resistant proteins have been identified in the two partially resistant genotypes.
Conclusions
This research offers new insights into the transcriptomic events that regulate the sugar beet defense responses to A. cochlioides infection. The findings of this study, combined with the genome mapping of the candidate genes reported here, can be used to improve future breeding and to assist in the development of resistant cultivars.
A Classical Chiral Spin Liquid from Chiral Interactions on the Pyrochlore Lattice
Authors: Lozano-Gómez Daniel , Vojta Matthias , Iqbal Yasir 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Classical spin liquids are paramagnetic phases that feature nontrivial patterns of spin correlations within their ground-state manifold whose degeneracy scales with system size. Often they harbor fractionalized excitations, and their low-energy fluctuations are described by emergent gauge theories. In this work, we discuss a model composed of chiral three-body spin interactions on the pyrochlore lattice that realizes a novel classical chiral spin liquid whose excitations are fractonalized while also displaying a fracton-like behavior. We demonstrate that the ground-state manifold of this spin liquid is given by a subset of the so-called color-ice states. We demonstrate that the low-energy states are captured by an effective gauge theory which possesses a divergence-free condition and an additional chiral term that constrains the total flux of the fields through a single tetrahedron. The divergence-free constraint on the gauge fields results in two-fold pinch points in the spin structure factor and the identification of bionic charges as excitations of the system.
Influencing factors of fertilization failure during in vitro fertilization
Authors: Shi Hongzhi , Liu Jiajia , Liu Rongrong , Li Chen , Song Qi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Objective: To explore the influencing factors of fertilization failure (FF) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to prevent and manage it in clinical practice and improve treatment efficiency.
Methods: IVF cycles were included and grouped according to the fertilization rate. There were 75 cycles with a fertilization rate of 0, i.e., complete FF, and 98 cycles with a fertilization rate of <30%, i.e., partial FF, and these cycles were included in the FF group; and there were 2301 cycles with a fertilization rate of ≥30%, and included in the normal fertilization(NF) group. Sperm quality of males, basic conditions of females, clinical ovulation induction and laboratory fertilization were compared between the two groups, and no differences were observed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using FF in the IVF process as the dependent variable, and the indicators with statistically significant differences in the univariate analysis as independent variables to screen the independent risk factors for FF in IVF.
Results: There were significant differences in female age, infertile duration, initial dose of Gn, Gn dose/egg, sperm concentration before treatment, sperm motility, percentage of normal sperm morphology, sperm concentration after treatment, and fertilization concentration(10,000 sperms/ml), and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high percentage of primary infertility, a low percentage of tubal factors, a low percentage of normal sperm morphology, and low sperm concentration after treatment were independent risk factors for FF, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Logistic binary regression fitting was used to construct a ROC curve prediction model for combined prediction of fertilization failure using various indicators, and the AUC was 74.6%.
Conclusion: A high percentage of primary infertility, a low percentage of tubal factors, a low percentage of normal sperm morphology, and low sperm concentration after treatment are independent risk factors for FF. The ROC curve model using combined indicators to predict FF constructed by logistic binary regression fitting is valuable in FF prediction.
Transcriptome analysis reveals candidate genes and provides insights in resistance to European canker in apple
Authors: Karlström Amanda , Gómez-Cortecero Antonio , Connell John , Nellist Charlotte Florence , Ordidge Matthew , Dunwell Jim M. , Harrison Richard Jonathan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
The fungal pathogen Neonectria ditissima causes wood cankers on a wide range of dicotyledonous species, and is a major disease threat to apple production globally. However, understanding of host response and genetic mechanisms underlying resistance remains limited. A transcriptome analysis of RNA sequencing data from infected apple stems was used to assess the response of apple to a single isolate of N. ditissima. The analysis was performed on two partially resistant cultivars; the scion variety ‘Golden Delicious’ and the rootstock cultivar ‘M9 EMLA’. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of full-sibling apple genotypes carrying partial resistant (QTL-R) and susceptible (QTL-S) alleles at six resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) to study the genetic mechanisms underlying quantitative resistance to this wood pathogen.
Results
The transcriptome profiling of ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘M9 EMLA’ trees during infection with N. ditissima show that >5,000 genes were differentially expressed in the two cultivars during fungal infection. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) and protein family (PFAM) enrichment analyses of the differentially regulated genes suggest that secondary metabolism, hormone signalling, pathogen recognition, and metabolism of sugar and carbon are involved in the response to infection. The comparative transcriptome analysis of QTL-R/QTL-S progeny revealed differential expression of genes functioning in pathogen recognition, secondary metabolism, and detoxification within the QTL intervals.
Notable candidate genes encompass putative 4-Coumarate-CoA Ligases (4CL) located within the QTL on chromosome 16, as well as clusters of putative Wall Associated Kinases (WAK) and Wall Associated Kinase Like (WAKL) situated within the QTLs on chromosomes 10 and 2, respectively.
Conclusion
Our study indicate that the host's reaction to N. ditissima involves both intracellular and extracellular immune receptors and that the presence of the pathogen triggers hormone signalling and modifies the metabolism of sugars, carbon, and secondary metabolites. The exploration of candidate genes within resistance QTL highlighted genes that can be used in marker development for breeding. Our findings identifies candidate genes associated with partial resistance to European canker that exhibit a broad impact on pathogen interaction, potentially extending their role to confer resistance against other apple diseases.
Intrusion Detection Using Statistical Classifier Based on Packet Header Analysis
Authors: S Vishnu Prasad , Malarkodi B , KG Michael Kutty , Dhruw Shiv Kumar 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

From a network perspective, any attack that can prevent a network or system from performing its tasks can be considered an intrusion. Network intrusions pose a significant threat, potentially leading to damage, modification, or data loss. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can detect intrusions into a network. Multiple techniques have been designed to detect intrusions into a network, such as signature-based and anomaly-based techniques. Machine Learning (ML) techniques can also be used for intrusion detection, but their reliance on traffic flow parameters can introduce prediction delays. This work presents a novel statistical classifier for anomaly-based IDS that uses features extracted from packet headers to make predictions, thus avoiding such delays. The proposed technique is designed by modifying the conventional Packet Header Anomaly Detection (PHAD). In PHAD, packet headers are used to generate scores, which are compared to a threshold to make predictions. Conventional packet header-based anomaly detection techniques have the demerit of generating a lot of false alarms. The proposed approach utilizes a comprehensive set of statistical features from the scores generated by the packet header anomaly detection technique to make predictions. The proposed classifier was tested using publicly available intrusion detection datasets, and the results show that the proposed classifier can make more accurate predictions than conventional PHAD techniques without high false alarms. The proposed classifier performance was also compared and cross-verified with other techniques from the literature, and it performed better than those techniques, showcasing its superior performance in accurately classifying network attacks while minimizing false alarms.
Improving Hydrocolloid Dental Impressions: Assessing the Influence of Environmentally Friendly Nanoparticles and Syzygium aromaticum/Zingiber officinale Plant Extracts
Authors: Beuter Leonie , Bourauel Christoph , Singer Lamia 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Impression materials can harbour microorganisms from saliva and blood, posing cross-contamination risks. However, post-setting disinfection might compromise the dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of alginates. Hence, it was the aim of this research to assess the detail reproduction, tear strength, elastic recovery, and surface quality of the gypsum model of newly developed dental alginates with inherent antimicrobial properties.
Methods
Three dental alginate groups with antimicrobial alterations were formulated. One group replaced water with 0.2% chlorhexidine solution (CHX group), while the other two utilized water-based extracts of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) or Zingiber officinale (ginger) to reduce silver nitrate, resulting in two silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)/extract (clove or ginger) mixture solutions. These mixture solutions were employed for the preparation of dental alginate yielding the SA + AgNP and ZO + AgNPs groups. All modified groups were compared to an unmodified control group that used water for mixing. Elastic recovery, detail reproduction, and tear strength were assessed following the ISO 21563:2021 standard. The surface roughness of plaster models was analysed using the optical profilometer. Elastic recovery was assessed by applying and then releasing load on alginate specimens to measure their ability to recover from deformation. Detail reproduction was evaluated by observing the reproducibility of a 50 µm line in a metallic mold using a light microscope, while tear strength was determined by stretching the specimens until failure at a constant speed of 500 mm/min.
Results
All tested groups exhibited elastic recovery values meeting ISO standards for hydrocolloid impression materials. Regarding detail reproduction, both the control and modified alginates successfully reproduced the 50-µm line without interruption in all specimens. Tear strength values for all tested groups remained within the acceptable documented ranges, surpassing the minimum requirement of 0.38 N/mm as mandated by ISO 21563:2021. The ZO + AgNPs (0.94 ± 0.17 N/mm) demonstrated significantly higher tear strength values and surface roughness values compared to the other tested groups.
Conclusions
Chlorhexidine, Syzygium aromaticum, and Zingiber officinale green-synthesized silver nanoparticles are promising, cost-effective alternatives for disinfecting alginate impressions without compromising performance. Green nanoparticle synthesis is a safe, efficient, and non-toxic method, potentially synergizing metal ions with plant extract.
Synergistic antidepressant-like effects of biotics and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on dopaminergic pathway through the brain-gut axis in rats exposed to chronic mild stress
Authors: Cho Hyunji , Park Yongsoon 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Probiotics, postbiotics, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have antidepressant-like effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of the dopaminergic pathway are unclear. The present study investigated the hypothesis that probiotics and postbiotics combined with n-3 PUFA synergistically improve depression by modulating the dopaminergic pathway through the brain-gut axis. Rats were randomly divided into seven groups: non-chronic mild stress (CMS) with n-6 PUFA, and CMS with n-6 PUFA, n-3 PUFA, probiotics, postbiotics, probiotics combined with n-3 PUFA, and postbiotics combined with n-3 PUFA. Probiotics, postbiotics, and n-3 PUFA improved depressive behaviors, decreased blood concentrations of corticosterone, interferon-γ, and interleukin-1β, and increased the brain and gut concentrations of short chain fatty acids and dopamine. Moreover, probiotics, postbiotics, and n-3 PUFA increased the brain and gut expression of glucocorticoid receptor, tyrosine hydroxylase, and occludin; brain expression of l-type amino acid transporter 1 and dopamine receptor (DR) D1; and gut expression of DRD2. The expression of phosphorylated protein kinase A/protein kinase A and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein/cAMP response element-binding protein increased in the brain, however, decreased in the gut by the supplementation of probiotics, postbiotics, and n-3 PUFA. There was synergistic effect of probiotics and postbiotics combined with n-3 PUFA on the depressive behaviors and dopaminergic pathway in blood, brain, and gut. Moreover, no significant difference in the dopaminergic pathways between the probiotics and postbiotics was observed. In conclusion, probiotics and postbiotics, combined with n-3 PUFA have synergistic antidepressant-like effects on the dopaminergic pathway through the brain-gut axis in rats exposed to CMS.