bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Marine parasite Protaphelidium rhizoclonii gen. et sp. nov. designates the basal environmental cluster at the aphelid phylogenetic tree
Authors: Seliuk Alexei , Karpov Sergey 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Aphelids are a poorly known group of algal parasites that have raised considerable interest because of their pivotal phylogenetic position as a sister lineage to the kingdom Fungi. Recent breakthroughs in sampling, sequencing and bioinformatical analyses of environmental nucleic acids have revealed magnificent biodiversity of aphelids. Nevertheless, only 4 genera have been described (Aphelidium, Paraphelidium, Amoeboaphelidium and Pseudaphelidium); 18S rRNA gene sequences are published for all except for the marine genus Pseudaphelidium. Most of the environmental nucleic acid data is from analysis of freshwater samples. We isolated two new marine aphelid strains (X-138 and X-139), and herein describe the life cycle of Protaphelidium rhizoclonii gen. et sp. nov., a parasite of the green alga Rhizoclonium sp., and provide the first 18S rRNA gene sequences for cultivated marine aphelids. The new marine aphelid life cycle is mostly typical for aphelids, but also includes previously undescribed stages. Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that Protaphelidium rhizoclonii is a member of an environmental clade at the base of the aphelid tree.
Exploring techno-economic landscapes of abatement options for hard-to-electrify sectors
Authors: Bachorz Clara , Verpoort Philipp , Ueckerdt Falko , Luderer Gunnar 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Approximately 20% of global CO2 emissions originate from sectors often labeled as hard-to-abate, which are challenging or impossible to electrify directly. Alternative abatement options are necessary for these sectors; however, they encounter critical technological bottlenecks, particularly concerning the availability and cost of low-emission hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and direct-air capture. Here we conduct a broad techno-economic analysis mapping abatement options and hard-to-electrify sectors while addressing associated technological uncertainties. Our findings reveal a diverse mitigation landscape that can be categorized into three tiers, based on the abatement cost and technologies required. By considering long-term climate neutrality requirements through simple conditions, the mitigation landscape narrows substantially, with a single option dominating within each sector. This outcome justifies targeted political support for sector-specific abatement options, providing a clearer pathway to abate the hard-to-electrify sectors.
The impact of artificial liver support system on intestinal microbiota and serum bile acid profiles in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Zeng Yuyu , Gan Dakai , Zhang Kaige , Long Tao , He Yan , Zhou Rui , Liu Shuanglan , Xiong Molong 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Object:
To observe the impact of artificial liver support system (ALSS) on the intestinal microbiota and serum bile acid (BA) profiles in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), and to investigate the correlation between intestinal microbiota, serum BA profiles, and clinical outcomes in ACLF patients.
Methods
A prospective study was conducted to include 51 patients diagnosed with ACLF. These patients were stratified into two groups based on the utilization of ALSS during their treatment period: a standard medical treatment group (SMT group) comprising 19 patients and an ALSS combined with SMT group (ALSS group) encompassing 32 patients. Blood and stool samples were collected from the patients on the day of admission and 14 days after treatment. Additionally, 8 healthy controls were recruited, and their stool samples were collected. The intestinal microbiota was sequenced using the 16S rRNA sequencing technique, and the serum BA profiles were determined using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.
Results
ACLF patients exhibited imbalances in intestinal microbiota and abnormalities in BA profiles. Compared to SMT alone, the combined ALSS and SMT is more effective in regulating intestinal microbiota imbalance and increasing the concentrations of ursodeoxycholic acid and glycoursodeoxycholic acid. There is a significant correlation between intestinal microbiota and serum BA profiles, with the presence of Faecalibaculum and Gemmiger, as well as taurochenodeoxycholic acid, being associated with clinical outcomes in ACLF patients.
Conclusions
Our study identified the compositional characteristics of the intestinal microbiota and serum BA in ACLF patients, emphasizing the impact of ALSS on both intestinal microbiota and serum BA profiles.
A Recurrent Feature Iterative Network For Suspect Identification using Convolutional and Long Short Term Memory Approach ⋆
Authors: Shree Manu , Mohapatra Amar Kumar , Suwanwiwat Hemmaphan , Vishwakarma Virendra P. , Lee Ickjai 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In suspect identification systems, facial features play a crucial role in recognising individuals. However, the challenge lies in sustaining the accuracy of the system over a long period of time, ensuring that it remains consistently high, reliable, and effective. This research introduces a novel lightweight model that requires low trainable parameters, a significantly smaller number than pre-trained models, which use millions of trainable parameters. The newly proposed recurrent feature iterative network integrates a convolutional neural network and long short-term memory in a single structure to synthesise diverse images and to effectively extract facial features. The long short-term memory-based feature-recurrent system demonstrates a significant improvement in accuracy when tested on the augmented reality face database, enhanced extended Yale B, Cohn-Kanade and extended Yale B datasets, achieving encouraging accuracy rates of 99.23%, 99.16%, 98.99%, and 97.68%, respectively. These accuracies, in general, outperform traditional baselines of 68.65%. This research advances the field by providing an innovative solution to enhance suspect identification systems through advanced facial image feature extraction, resulting in significantly improved accuracy rates.
Building a resilient nursing workforce: Reflective learning and mentalization in education
Authors: MORENON Olivier 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of reflective learning on mentalization and resilience enhancement among nursing students, addressing the emotional challenges in nursing. Nursing professionals face significant stress, underlining the importance of resilience skills. Reflective learning techniques used during the initial nursing curriculum, like portfolios, are explored as means to foster resilience by promoting self-awareness, emotional regulation, and engagement with personal experiences. The research follows a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews with six first-year nursing students from a University of Applied Sciences in Western Switzerland. The findings highlight themes of vulnerability, defense mechanisms facilitating mentalization, and essential resilience skills such as communication, emotional management, and problem-solving. Reflective writing within learning portfolios emerged as a critical tool for developing resilience by enhancing communicative skills and emotional management. This study underlines the need of integrating reflective approaches into nursing education to provide students with the necessary mental strength and resilience skills to manage professional challenges. It proposes more studies on the enduring impacts of reflective learning on nursing students, to advance our understanding of educational practices that promote resilience.
Engineering M1 macrophages with targeting aptamers for enhanced adoptive immunotherapy by modifying the cell surface
Authors: Yang Qian , Hu Shiyi , Wang Yiqiu , Zhong Luyi , Yu Xiaoli , Zhang Yifeng , Zhang Yiting , Zhang Honghua , Wang Shuling , Tian Qingchang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Macrophages play a critical role in the body's defense against cancer by phagocytosing tumor cells, presenting antigens, and activating adaptive T cells. However, macrophages are intrinsically incapable of delivering targeted cancer immunotherapies. Engineered adoptive cell therapy introduces new targeting and antitumor capabilities by modifying macrophages to enhance the innate immune response of cells and improve clinical efficacy. In this study, we developed engineered macrophage cholesterol-AS1411-M1 (CAM1) for cellular immunotherapy. To target macrophages, cholesterol-AS1411 aptamers are anchored to the surface of M1 macrophages to produce CAM1 without genetic modification or cell damage. CAM1 induced significantly higher apoptosis/mortality than unmodified M1 macrophages in murine breast cancer cells. Anchoring AS1411 on the surface of macrophages without modifying their original genes and proteins provides a novel approach to tumor immunotherapy.
An environmental assessment through load capacity factor: The dynamic effects of technological cooperation grants and energy depletion in Pakistan
Authors: Lin Boqiang , Ullah Sami 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

This study aims to fill a crucial gap in current research by examining the multifaceted relationships between energy depletion, technical cooperation grants, industrialization, and environmental degradation. By focusing on Pakistan, a country emblematic of many developing nations facing rapid industrialization and resource constraints, this research offers valuable insights with broad applicability. The significance of this study lies in its innovative approach of utilizing load capacity factor as a novel proxy for environmental sustainability, moving beyond traditional metrics like CO2 emissions and ecological footprints. The study analyzes time series data from 1970 to 2022 using advanced econometric techniques, particularly the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. The findings reveal a nuanced picture of the impact of energy depletion, technical cooperation grants, and industrialization on environmental degradation. Energy depletion and industrialization are found to exert a significant and adverse influence on environmental quality, exacerbating degradation over time. Conversely, technical cooperation grants emerge as a mitigating factor, demonstrating a positive association with environmental sustainability. Moreover, the study conducts a sensitivity analysis by comparing the results obtained using the load capacity factor with those derived from ecological footprints. This comparative analysis offers robust insights into the dynamics of environmental degradation, enriching the understanding of the complex interplay between economic activities and environmental outcomes. Further, policies are discussed for theory and practice.
Effect on the influence of fresh and hardened ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete on usage of industrial wastes for eco-friendly environment
Authors: Natarajan Karthiga Shenbagam , Duraisamy Dhivya 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

This research work was carried out to find the impact of Micro Silica [MS] and Polypropylene Fiber [PF] on Ultra-High Performance Geopolymer Concrete [ U-HPGPC]. Totally 20 samples of concrete mixtures were evaluated to determine the compressive strength, workability, split tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. PF were used at different volume fractions [0%, 7.5%,15%, 25% and 35%] and the results were discussed in detail. From the test results it was concluded that when 15% of MS was used in U-HPGPC the mechanical characteristics reduced gradually, but then improved when the percentage was increased above 15% of MS. Additionally, the use of PF contributes to the increase of mechanical characteristics of U-HPGPC but above 2.75% of PF and 15% of MS there was a decrease in strength of U-HPGPC.
Thermoregulatory adjustments in sepsis: insights from the cecal ligation and puncture experimental model
Authors: Costa Luis HA , Trajano Isis P , Passaglia Patricia , Branco Luiz GS 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Sepsis remains as a major health concern, given its high prevalence and mortality worldwide. Changes in body temperature (Tb), i.e., hypothermia or fever, are important diagnostic clues and part of the pathophysiology of this condition. Experimental studies often use bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the changes in Tb during sepsis, however, this model poorly mimics the complexity of this disease. In this work we aimed to characterize the thermoregulatory mechanisms during sepsis by using a clinically relevant murine model, the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and describe how sepsis severity and ambient temperature (Ta) modulate Tb regulation. We show that at thermoneutral Ta (28℃) the degree of the febrile response is proportional to the disease severity and the inflammatory response. In this condition, tail vasoconstriction, rather than non-shivering thermogenesis, seems to be the main generator of CLP-induced fever. On the other hand, when housed in a subthermoneutral Ta (22℃), animals are able to maintain Tb during mild sepsis, but develop a moderate hypothermia in a severe condition. This reduction in Tb was associated to lower UCP1 expression in the brown adipose tissue and less consistent tail vasoconstriction than the observed in mild sepsis. Although we observe differences in the thermoregulatory responses at the two Ta conditions, sepsis induced a persistent inflammatory response and increased the production of hypothalamic PGE2, a critical mediator of body temperature adjustments during an inflammatory condition. Mortality rate in response to severe sepsis was dramatically impacted by Ta (80% mortality at 28℃ and 0% mortality at 22℃). Our results demonstrate that the ambient temperature and the magnitude of the inflammatory insult deeply modulate the thermoregulatory responses and survival during sepsis.
Exploring genetic associations between leukocyte telomere length and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using mendelian randomization
Authors: Yan Yan , Wang Renjie , Mu Xiaohui , Liu Yunlong , Wang Rongfeng , Xia Mingwu , Cao Shugang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore potential associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using the summary data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS). LTL (n = 472,174), HCM (n = 218792), heart failure (HF) (n = 218792), and HCM with HF (HCM-HF) (n = 218540) were sampled from the GWAS database. Various methods such as MR-Egger, inverse variance weighting (IVW), and weighted median were employed to estimate causal effects. In the forward MR analysis, MR results indicated that shorter LTL might be associated with an increased risk of HCM (IVW: OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.19–3.16, p = 0.008), HF (IVW: OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01–1.29, p = 0.035) and HCM-HF (IVW: OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.05–3.93, p = 0.036). Additionally, the reverse MR analysis did not reveal any significant causal effects. A shorter LTL might be associated with a higher risk of developing HCM, thus offering a basis for subsequent clinical investigations into the causal relationship between LTL and HCM.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense to Acute Changes of Water Ph in Liver and Muscle of Three Ornamental Fish
Authors: SRISAIPRAJ SRISAIPRAJWAL , ZUTSHI BELA 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Ornamental fish during short-term or long-term transportation have stress-related effects due to their exposure to degrading levels of water quality e.g., pH (acidic or alkaline), oxygen, ammonia, temperature levels, etc., and captivity in container. Thus, estimation of biochemical parameters, as lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzymatic activities (SOD-superoxide dismutase, CAT-catalase, GST-glutathione-s-transferase) during pH shift response in liver and muscle of three ornamental fish such as black wagtail platy, rosy barb and lemon-yellow cichlid was reported here. Although 100% survivability was noted among all fish species but oxidative stress was marked with an increase in LPO levels in all fishes transported in different containers /plastic bags for a travel of 6hours by road and those exposed to short-term for 6hours/day for 96 hours to pH5 and pH10 maintained under lab conditions. Exposure of Rosy Barb to pH10 and platy and cichlid to pH5 induced significant increase in LPO in liver tissue compared to all transported fish whereas, muscle tissue of platy and cichlid showed increased activities of LPO during transportation compared to exposed ones and control group of fish. Significantly elevated levels of SOD activity in both tissues of all experimental fishes whereas CAT activity was more in liver tissue of transported fishes to counteract stress response and detoxify products of lipid peroxidation. Therefore, understanding variation in stress levels of ornamental fishes during transportation and exposure to pH levels which is tissue as well as species-specific becomes critically important for their welfare in aquaculture practices as observed in this study.
Longitudinal alterations in the Urinary Virome of Kidney Transplant Recipients are Influenced by BK viremia and Patient Sex
Authors: Maqsood Rabia , Wu Lily I. , Brennan Daniel C. , Lim Efrem S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Little is known about the urinary virome and how it interacts with the host, particularly in renal transplant diseases. Using metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the urinary virome of 23 kidney transplant recipients longitudinally (11 BKV + patients and 12 BKV- patients). We applied linear mixed effects models, PERMANOVA, k-means clustering and MaAsLin2 algorithms to determine virome signatures associated with post-transplant time, BK viremia status, and patient sex. We found that the richness and alpha diversity of urinary virome was significantly different in renal transplant recipients with BKV + over time in comparison to BKV- (richness p = 0.012, alpha p < 0.0001). Female BKV- patients had significantly higher virome richness than males (p = 0.0063). Virome beta diversity was significantly different between patients by BKV status (p < 0.001). Additionally, we identified underlying interactions between patient sex and BKV status, in terms of virome beta diversity (p = 0.008). BK polyomavirus infections were primarily of subtypes IA, IB1 and IB2. The non-BK dominant samples clustered into 6 urinary virome community states. BKV- samples had more anelloviruses than BKV + samples, though this difference was not statistically significant. Lastly, we identified specific viruses, associated with BKV + and time in our samples. Our results indicate that dynamic alterations in the urinary virome over the post-transplant period in kidney transplant recipients can be shaped by BK viremia and patient sex. These findings advance our fundamental understanding of the urinary virome and supports a new line of investigation in renal disease and transplantation.
Longitudinal dynamics of the nasopharyngal microbiome in response to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and HIV infection in Kenyan women and their infants
Authors: Žuštra Ayla , Leonard Victoria R. , Holland LaRinda A. , Hu James C. , Mu Tianchen , Holland Steven C. , Wu Lily I. , Begnel Emily R. , Ojee Ednah , Chohan Bhavna H. , Richardson Barbra A. , Kinuthia John , Wamalwa Dalton , Slyker Jennifer , Lehman Dara A. , Gantt Soren , Lim Efrem S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The nasopharynx and its microbiota are implicated in respiratory health and disease. The interplay between viral infection and the nasopharyngeal microbiome is an area of increased interest and of clinical relevance. The impact of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on the nasopharyngeal microbiome, particularly among individuals living with HIV, is not fully characterized. Here we describe the nasopharyngeal microbiome before, during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a longitudinal cohort of Kenyan women (21 living with HIV and 14 HIV-uninfected) and their infants (18 HIV-exposed, uninfected and 18 HIV-unexposed, uninfected), followed between September 2021 through March 2022. We show using genomic epidemiology that mother and infant dyads were infected with the same strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant that spread rapidly across Kenya. Additionally, we used metagenomic sequencing to characterize the nasopharyngeal microbiome of 20 women and infants infected with SARS-CoV-2, 6 infants negative for SARS-CoV-2 but experiencing respiratory symptoms, and 34 timepoint matched SARS-CoV-2 negative mothers and infants. Since individuals were sampled longitudinally before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection, we could characterize the short- and long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the nasopharyngeal microbiome. We found that mothers and infants had significantly different microbiome composition and bacterial load (p-values <.0001). However, in both mothers and infants, the nasopharyngeal microbiome did not differ before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of HIV-exposure status. Our results indicate that the nasopharyngeal microbiome is resilient to SARS-CoV-2 infection and was not significantly modified by HIV.
An exploration of empathy fatigue in counsellors and their use of self-care strategies
Authors: Venner Marc Alexander 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The ability to join a client on a collaborative, non-expert level is based on a counsellor’s empathy. Yet the very capacity to show empathy and deep understanding of a client’s problems may make counsellors vulnerable to professional fatigue. Experiencing this phenomenon will negatively influence the therapeutic relationship. Self-care measures are at the core of bolstering a therapist’s resilience to ensure a high standard of working with clients. Instead of the more frequently researched compassion fatigue, this qualitative study uses the term empathy fatigue to broaden the scope of reported experiences. It examines the effects of empathy fatigue and self-care strategies reported by six counsellors from Asia-Pacific and Europe. While the lack of conceptual clarity on the different constructs of professional fatigue became apparent, rich data helped to interpret how the individual made sense of this phenomenon. Findings showed that self-care was commonly viewed as a self-mandated regimen satisfying both needs for empathy-free zones and social engagement. To help others, therapists need to help themselves first. Self-directed solution-focussed questions to gauge how effectively self-care measures in place are working prove useful for counsellors in managing and maintaining equilibrium in both professional and private settings.
Detecting AI-Generated Images via CLIP
Authors: Moskowitz Alexander , Gaona Tyler , Peterson Jacob 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

As AI-generated image (AIGI) methods become more powerful and accessible, it has become a critical task to determine if an image is real or AI-generated. Because AIGI lack the signatures of photographs and have their own unique patterns, new models are needed to determine if an image is AI-generated. In this paper, we investigate the ability of the Contrastive Language–Image Pre-training (CLIP) architecture, pre-trained on massive internet-scale data sets, to perform this differentiation. We fine-tune CLIP on real images and AIGI from several generative models, enabling CLIP to determine if an image is AI-generated and, if so, determine what generation method was used to create it. We show that the fine-tuned CLIP architecture is able to differentiate AIGI as well or better than models whose architecture is specifically designed to detect AIGI. Our method will significantly increase access to AIGI-detecting tools and reduce the negative effects of AIGI on society, as our CLIP fine-tuning procedures require no architecture changes from publicly available model repositories and consume significantly less GPU resources than other AIGI detection models.