bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corticosteroid-sparing topical treatment with cyclosporin for juvenile keratoconjunctivitis
Authors: Barcsay-Veres Amarilla , Csorba Anita , Kovacs Illes , Tothfalusi Laszlo , Maneschg Otto Alexander 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Ocular surface inflammation due to allergy and blepharitis can lead to corneal complications and visual impairment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a cyclosporin 0.1% topical treatment achieving steroid-sparing. Eighty pediatric patients with moderate and severe vernal and blepharitis-related keratoconjunctivitis were included. Symptoms (photosensitivity, itching, discharge, tearing), signs (corneal fluorescein staining, papillary hypertrophy) and patients’ subjective assessment were evaluated during a 6-month follow-up. At the follow-up, all patients treated with topical cyclosporin showed a significant improvement in all subjective symptoms and objective signs (p < 0.001). The total number of courses of rescue steroids courses decreased from 3.71 ± 1.72 to 0.25 ± 0.49 at month 3 and to 0.13 ± 0.38 dropping bottle at month 6 (p < 0.001 at both time points). The 96.1% of the allergic cohort and 96.4% of the blepharitis cohort experienced a satisfactory good or rapid and good effect during the 6-month follow-up. The probability of needing rescue corticosteroids increased with an odds ratio of 1.98, (95% CI: 1.19–3.28, p = 0.008) for each unit increase in Oxford score when analysing the whole cohort. Topical cyclosporin seems to be very effective reducing the number of recurrences of corneal involvement and the need for steroid treatment.
Carboxymethyl cellulose assisted reforming of poly acrylic acid co methyl methacrylate composite for wastewater treatment and effective hosting of antimicrobial silver
Authors: Hamdy Ahmed , Nageh Hassan , Hassan S. A. , Mekewi Mohamed A. , Darwish Atef S. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Herein, novel polymer composite is fabricated by hybridizing poly (acrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) filaments with carboxymethyl cellulose, which efficiently reorients and strictly ties the fibrous chains to form polymeric units of plate-like morphology. This innovative hybrid polymer composite is analyzed using XRD, FT-IR, swelling and contact angle studies, DLS, AFM, and SEM. Removal efficiency of such polymer composite is scrutinized in colored wastewater treatment. Langmuir and pseudo-first-order kinetic models best describe safranine dye removal from wastewater, adopting exothermic adsorption progression with elevated capacity (~ 59.47 mg/g) and accelerated rate (~ 1.06 h− 1). Such polymer composite exhibits persistent removal efficiency of ~ 90% within 10 min for five consecutive cycles. Hybrid polymer composite is good candidate platform for hosting Ag particles to heighten their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, far exceeding 75% reduction. Future studies on applicability of oxygen-rich polymer composites in wastewater treatment and disinfection are optimistic and extremely competent.
Genotype B of deformed wing virus and related recombinant viruses become dominant in European honey bee colonies
Authors: Sircoulomb Fabrice , Dubois Eric , Schurr Frank , Lucas Pierrick , Meixner Marina , Bertolotti Alicia , Blanchard Yannick , Thiéry Richard 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The Varroa destructor mite’s transmission of deformed wing virus (DWV) to honey bees is responsible for most winter mortalities of colonies worldwide. Four DWV genotypes (A, B, C and D) and numerous recombinants have been described. The most recent studies have reported the greater prevalence of DWV-B over DWV-A in several countries, including European ones, while C and D genotypes appear rare or extinct. However, no global evaluation of DWV-A and DWV-B distribution was available at the European level to date. In this study, we quantified both DWV genotypes by real-time PCR from pools or individual honey bees and from V. destructor mites sampled in 15 European countries between 2010 and 2017. These data and the sequencing of the viral RNA provide a first insight into DWV diversity, with a clear dominance of DWV-B and recombinants (A/B) in Europe. Chimeric sequencing reads were used to locate the recombinant junctions along the DWV genome. These were not randomly distributed, but mainly clustered in three genomic areas: the 5’UTR, leader peptide and helicase coding sequences. In our study, the DWV recombinant genomes shared at least the VP1-VP3 coding sequences with the DWV-B. Further studies are needed to explore the apicultural context explaining these differences in DWV genotype dominance.
Performance evaluation and prediction of optimal operational conditions for a compact date seeds milling unit using feedforward neural networks
Authors: Ali Khaled Abdeen Mousa , Li Changyou , Han Wang , Issa Sali , Eid Mohamed Hamdy , Mahmoud Samy F. , Mohammed Marwa Abd-Elnaby 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Date seed grinding remains a significant challenge limiting the utilization of this valuable agricultural by-product." In this study, a compact date seeds grinding unit was designed, tested, and evaluated. The machine has two primary: a pair of toothed cylinders and a hammer mill. The machine’s performance was assessed in terms of throughput, specific energy consumption, and mean particle size of the product. First, the cylindrical section was tested under various conditions, including cylinder rotational speed (150, 250, 350, and 450 rpm), feed gate opening size (30, 37.5, and 45 cm2), and the clearance between cylinders (0, 1, and 2 mm). The feedforward neural network (FNN) framework predicated the optimal operating conditions for this part, which were recorded as 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 45 cm2 feed gate opening, and 2 mm cylinder clearance. This optimal operational condition was utilized as the starting conditions for subsequent testing of the hammer mill section. Then, the hammer mill was tested with different hammer rotational speeds (1250, 1500, and 1750 rpm) and screen hole diameters (2, 4, and 6 mm) underneath the hammers. The FNN model was again employed to predicate the most suitable operating parameters for the grinding unit. The key results included the optimal operational parameters at 150 rpm cylinder rotational speed, 2 mm clearance, 45 cm2 feeding area, 1750 rpm hammer speed, and 6 mm screen hole diameter. That operational condition resulted in 30 kg/h for machine’s throughput, 49 kW h/ton specific energy consumption, and 2.14 mm mean product size. With FNN model accuracy R2 of 0.99974, demonstrating high prediction reliability. Meanwhile, the operating cost was 0.027 $/kg, suitable for small to medium-scale operations. The significance of these findings lies in the development of an efficient, versatile milling solution for date seeds and similar agricultural materials. This research pioneers the application of machine learning in optimizing date seed processing, potentially revolutionizing agricultural waste valorization and opening new avenues for sustainable resource utilization.
Modeling and estimation of physiochemical properties of cancer drugs using entropy measures
Authors: Tawhari Qasem M. , Naeem Muhammad , Rauf Abdul , Siddiqui Muhammad Kamran , Oyelakin Oladele 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel conjugate is a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system that combines hyaluronic acid with paclitaxel, enhancing its solubility, stability, and targeting specificity. This conjugate shows promise in treating breast, lung, and ovarian cancers with reduced side effects. Entropy measures are used to predict physical and chemical properties of drugs. In this paper, we compute entropy measures for the hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel conjugate using the edge/connectivity partition approach. We establish a quantitative structure-property relationship using reverse entropy measures to predict physical properties of cancer drugs. Multiple linear, Ridge, Lasso, ElasticNet, and Support Vector regression models are employed using Python software. Our results show that reverse entropy measures exhibit high predictive capability for physical properties, based on the highest coefficient of determination and lowest mean squared error. We conclude that physical properties, including boiling point, enthalpy of vaporization, flash point, molar refractivity, molar volume, polarization, molecular weight, monoisotopic mass, topological polar surface area, and complexity, can be predicted using reverse entropy measures. We propose models for each relationship, including only the most significant models for estimating uncalculated physical properties.
Clinical and dermoscopic assessment of the efficacy of topical trichloroacetic acid 70% versus methoxsalen 0.2% paint in stable acral vitiligo
Authors: Elshahed Ahmed R. , Ammar Amr M. , Ali Abdallah M. , Elsaie Mohamed L. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Loss and absence of melanocytes due to a number of factors is responsible for vitiligo; known to be the commonest disorder of pigmentation. The aim of the study was to assess clinically and dermoscopically the efficacy of topical trichloroacetic acid 70% versus methoxsalen 0.2% paint in stable acral vitiligo. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group a (n = 35) received topical 0.2% methoxsalen every other day for 4 months duration with dermoscopic follow up while group b (n = 35) received received topical TCA 70% application at the clinic every two weeks for 4 months with dermoscopic follow up. The majority of subjects in both groups experienced either no or mild improvement. In TCA group, mean improvement was 4.0 ± 11.6% with range of 0–60% while in the methoxsalen group, mean improvement was 0.57 ± 3.3% with range of 0–20% (p = 0.051). The majority of patients reported poor satisfaction. Both modalities did not demonstrate a significant clinical nor dermoscopic response. TCA 70% had a lower effective rate than other studies probably due to resistance of acral vitiliginous lesions to treatment in comparison to other sites of the body. Further larger multi centre studies with different concentration and combination modalities are required to detect promising treatments for vitligo.
Composite acoustic system for low-frequency sound absorption
Authors: Gliścińska Eulalia , Michalak Marina 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Absorption of low-frequency sound is a difficult engineering problem because long-wave sound energy is poorly dissipated. Traditional sound absorbing materials such as porous materials, microperforated sheets or sound absorbing wedges have a poor low-frequency sound absorption performance. In this work a porous composite absorbing plate connected with a resonant cavity is developed to absorb low frequency sounds. The special developed sound-absorbing plate is rigid and consists of a more fibrous layer (up to approx. 3.0 mm thick) and a more plastic, thin polymer surface layer (up to approx. 0.5 mm thick). The walls of resonant cavity are rigid and smooth. By changing the angle between the absorbing plate and the direction of the incident sound wave and changing the length of the cavity, it is possible to create acoustic systems with a given level of sound absorption and in a given low-frequency range. The larger the angle, the maximum absorption occurs for sounds of lower frequencies. As the cavity length increases, the range of maximum absorption occurring at the resonant frequency shifts towards lower frequencies and the maximum value of the sound absorption coefficient increases. The results are compared with composite variant without a polymer surface layer.
Targeting TRPM3 as a potential therapeutic approach for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Gül Hüseyin , Davies Jamie A. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Cystic diseases, especially autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD; incidence approx. 1/1000), are a leading cause of renal failure, caused by appearance and growth of renal cysts that can lead to renal failure in middle age. Most ADPKD cases are caused by mutations in PKD1 or PKD2, encoding polycystin-1 (PC1) and polycystin-2 (PC2). PC1 is a mechanosensor that controls PC2, a Ca2+-permeable cation channel that, by regulating cytoplasmic Ca2+, prevents adenylyl cyclase producing cyst-promoting concentrations of cAMP. In other systems, there is evidence that PC2 interacts with TRPM3. We therefore examined the effect of pharmacological activators and inhibitors of TRPM3 on cyst formation in cultured mouse kidney rudiments exposed to a range of concentrations of forskolin, a cAMP-elevating drug commonly used experimentally to induce cysts in cultured kidneys. We found that TRPM3 inhibitors (isosakuranetin, primidone, diclofenac) increased cyst formation, while TRPM3 activators (CIM0216 and nifedipine) greatly reduced cyst formation and reduced the sensitivity of kidneys to forskolin. These preclinical, in-vitro data suggest that TRPM3 may be a promising target in ADPKD management.
Estimation of yield and nitrogen use efficiencies in hybrid maize varieties through site specific nitrogen management based on leaf color chart (LCC)
Authors: Fayaz Suhail , Kanth Raihana Habib , Bhat Tauseef A. , Dar Eajaz Ahmad , Shah Zahoor Ahmad , Bashir Moneesa , Nazir Aijaz , Jamsheed Bilkees , Mir Mohd. Salim , Dar Zahoor A. , Sharma Shailja , Lone Aabid Hussain , Yousuf Dawood , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Mattar Mohamed A. , Salem Ali 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Exorbitant praxis of nitrogen pioneered and opened up the usage of time-specific and need-based nitrogen management. The leaf color chart (LCC), being one of the handy tool, is put to use for the estimation of the indirect leaf N, and also heightens the competence of crop N administration. Integrating leaf color chart assessments into maize cultivation practices can provide a practical and cost-effective approach for tailoring nitrogen applications, leading to improved resource-use efficiency and sustainable maize production. To perceive the specific leaf color chart (LCC) value for precision maneuvering of nitrogen in different maize hybrids, a field experiment was carried out at the research farm of Division of Agronomy, FoA, Wadura, Sopore, SKUAST-Kashmir, in the years 2019 and 2020 (Kharif seasons). Split Plot Design (SPD) employing three maize varieties (Shalimar Maize Hybrid-2 (SMH-2), Kanchan-517 and Vivek-45) in main plots and precision management of nitrogen (T1: Control, T2: Recommended Nitrogen (120 kg N ha–1), T3: 25% N as basal LCC @20 (≤ 3) kg N ha−1, T4: 25% N as basal LCC @30 (≤ 3) kg N ha−1, T5: 25% N as basal LCC @20 (≤ 4) kg N ha−1, T6: 25% N as basal LCC @30 (≤ 4) kg N ha−1, T7: 25% N as basal LCC @20 (≤ 5) kg N ha−1 and T8: 25% N as basal LCC @30 (≤ 5) kg N ha−1) in sub-plots was systemized. The pooled means indicated that SMH-2 chalked up utmost values in growth (plant height 189.4 cm) and periodic leaf area index and yield parameters with a grain yield of 6.1 t ha–1, straw yield of 10.6 t ha–1, respectively. The LCC value of @ 30 (≤ 5) kg N ha–1 set down statistically highest and significant grain (6.0 t ha–1) and straw yield (10.8 t ha–1) pooled over the years amidst other nitrogen management treatments, respectively. LCC @ 20 (≤ 5) kg N ha–1 turned up to have highest apparent N recovery (REN) followed by LCC @ 30 (≤ 5) kg N ha-1 whereas LCC @ 20 (≤ 4) kg N ha–1 which was at par with LCC @ 20 (≤ 5) kg N ha-1 recorded maximum agronomic efficiency (AE). LCC @ 20 (≤ 3) kg N ha–1 showed the highest physiological efficiency (PE) and partial factor productivity (Pfp). Furthermore, different rice genotypes manifested significant effects vis-à-vis Pfp and REN, which were maximum in SMH-2 contrasted with Kanchan-517 and Vivek-45. In the interim, the economics of pooled data divulged that the maximum B: C ratio was observed in SMH-2 and LCC @ 30 (≤ 5) kg N ha–1. Therefore, site-specific nutrient management through LCC proved to be an effective strategy to maximize yield and nitrogen use efficiency in hybrid maize.
Exploring microbial players for metagenomic profiling of carbon cycling bacteria in sundarban mangrove soils
Authors: Das Basanta Kumar , Gadnayak Ayushman , Chakraborty Hirak Jyoti , Pradhan Smruti Priyambada , Raut Subhashree Subhasmita , Das Sanjoy Kumar 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest tidal mangrove forest, acts as a crucial ecosystem for production, conservation, and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen. The study explored the hypothesis that microbial communities in mangrove ecosystems exhibit unique taxonomic and functional traits that play a vital part in carbon cycling and ecosystem resilience. Using metagenomic analysis to evaluate microbial communities in mangrove and non-mangrove environment, evaluating their composition, functional functions, and ecological relevance. The analysis revealed distinct microbial profiles, in mangrove and non-mangrove environments, with bacteria, proteobacteria, and viruses being the most prevalent groups, with varying abundances in each environment. Functional and taxonomical analysis identified genes involved in carbon regulation, including Triacylglycerol lipase, NarG, DsrB, DNA-binding transcriptional dual regulator CRP, Vanillate O-demethylase oxygenase, succinate-CoA ligase, Tetrahydrofolate ligase, Carboxylase, Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, Glycine hydroxymethyltransferase, MAG: urease, Endosymbiont of Oligobrachia haakonmosbiensis, Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, Aconitate hydratase AcnA, and nitrous oxide reductase, suggesting the metabolic versatility of these microbial communities for carbon cycling. The findings emphasize the key role of microbial activity in preserving mangrove ecosystem health and resilience, highlighting the intricate interplay between microbial diversity, functional capabilities, and environmental factors.
Comprehensive analysis of antimicrobial resistance dynamics among broiler and duck intensive production systems
Authors: Szoke Zsombor , Fauszt Peter , Mikolas Maja , David Peter , Szilagyi-Tolnai Emese , Pesti-Asboth Georgina , Homoki Judit Rita , Kovacs-Forgacs Ildiko , Gal Ferenc , Stundl Laszlo , Czegledi Levente , Stagel Aniko , Biro Sandor , Remenyik Judit , Paholcsek Melinda 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health challenge requiring cross-sector action, with research largely focused on chickens, leaving ducks underexplored. This study examines AMR dynamics in Ross 308 broilers and Cherry Valley ducks over 15 months and 15 stocking periods under consistent rearing conditions. A total of 96 pooled samples were collected: 50 from broiler farms (26 biological, 24 environmental) and 46 from duck farms (24 biological, 22 environmental). Using next-generation shotgun sequencing, 3,665 distinct AMR types were identified: 1,918 in broilers and 1,747 in ducks. Host-specific AMRs comprised 25.3% in broilers and 18% in ducks, while 56.7% were shared. AMR diversity declined across production phases, with broilers losing 641 types and ducks losing 308, yet AMR frequencies increased significantly by the finisher phase (p < 0.0001). Based on in silico data, prophylactic antibiotic use significantly reduced the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in both poultry species (p < 0.05). Hospital-acquired infection-associated AMRs were higher in broilers than in ducks at the start of production but declined significantly by the end of the rearing period (p < 0.0001). Above-average resistance markers accounted for approximately 10% of all detected resistance determinants. Tetracycline and phenicol resistances emerged as the most prevalent. 13 high-resistance carrier (HRC) species were shared between both hosts. Broiler-specific HRCs exhibited significantly higher abundances (relative frequency: 0.08) than duck-specific HRCs (relative frequency: 0.003, p = 0.035). The grower phase emerged as a critical intervention point. In farm environments 15 broiler-specific and 9 duck-specific biomarker species were identified, each strongly correlated with poultry-core HRCs (correlation coefficient > 0.7). Broiler exhibited higher abundances of key resistance genes, with tetracycline resistance predominantly associated with Bacteroides coprosuis, Pasteurella multocida, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Despite its limitations, this research provides key insights into AMR trends in two major poultry types, guiding targeted interventions and sustainable management strategies.
SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and associated risk factors in healthcare workers: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bansal Amit , Trieu Mai-Chi , Eriksson Emily M. , Zhou Fan , McVernon Jodie , Brokstad Karl Albert , Cox Rebecca Jane 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
To protect healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, rigorous efforts were made to reduce infection rates among healthcare workers (HCWs), especially prior to vaccine availability. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs and identify potential risk factors associated with transmission. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar from 1 December 2019 to 5 February 2024. From 498 initial records, 190 articles were reviewed, and 63 studies were eligible. ROBINS-E tool revealed a lower risk of bias in several domains; however, some concerns related to confounding and exposure measurement were identified. Globally, 11% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9–13) of 283,932 HCWs were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Infection rates were associated with a constellation of risk factors and major circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Household exposure (odds ratio (OR) 7.07; 95% CI 3.93–12.73), working as a cleaner (OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.39–5.32), occupational exposure (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.49–2.14), inadequate training on infection prevention and control (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.14–1.87), insufficient use of personal protective equipment (OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.14–1.84), performing aerosol generating procedures (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.21–1.52) and inadequate hand hygiene (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.79–1.73) were associated with an increased SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conversely, history of quarantine (OR 0.23; 95% CI 0.08–0.60) and frequent decontamination of high touch areas (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.42–0.64) were protective factors against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study quantifies the substantial global burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs. We underscore the urgent need for effective infection prevention and control measures, particularly addressing factors such as household exposure and occupational practices by HCWs, including cleaning staff.