bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Enterobacterales causing Bloodstream Infection in United States Medical Centres: Comparison of Aztreonam-Avibactam with Beta-Lactams Active against Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales
Authors: Sader Helio S. , Kimbrough John H. , Mendes Rodrigo E. , Castanheira Mariana 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Bloodstream infection (BSI) is associated with poor outcomes especially when effective antimicrobial therapy and control of infection source are delayed. As the frequency of Enterobacterales producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and/or OXA-48–like carbapenemases is increasing in some United States (US) medical centres, effective antimicrobials to treat the infections caused by these organisms are urgently needed. Aztreonam-avibactam is under clinical development for treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, including MBL producers.
Objectives
To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacterales causing BSI in US medical centres and compare the activity of aztreonam-avibactam with ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, cefiderocol, and other antimicrobials used to treat BSI.
Methods
4,802 Enterobacterales were consecutively collected (1/patient) from 72 US medical centres in 2020–2022 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. Aztreonam-avibactam was tested with avibactam at a fixed 4 mg/L. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic susceptible breakpoint of ≤ 8 mg/L was applied for aztreonam-avibactam for comparison. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates were tested for β-lactamase–encoding genes using Next-generation sequencing.
Results
Aztreonam-avibactam was highly active against Enterobacterales; only 2 isolates showed aztreonam-avibactam MICs > 8 mg/L: 1 meropenem-susceptible E. coli and 1 K. aerogenes (CRE). All carbapenemase producers and 98.0% of CRE were inhibited at an aztreonam-avibactam MIC of ≤ 8 mg/L. CRE susceptibility rates were 81.6% for ceftazidime-avibactam, 65.3% for meropenem-vaborbactam, 61.2% for imipenem-relebactam, and 87.8% for cefiderocol. Aztreonam-avibactam retained activity (MIC, ≤ 8 mg/L) against all (100.0%) meropenem-vaborbactam nonsusceptible (n = 17), 99.5% of imipenem-relebactam nonsusceptible (n = 206), and 90.0% of ceftazidime-avibactam nonsusceptible (n = 10) isolates. The most common carbapenemases were KPC-2/3 (57.1% of CREs), OXA-48–like (16.3%), and NDM (14.3%). A carbapenemase gene was not observed in 12.3% of CREs. Ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam were active against 100.0% of KPC producers, but ceftazidime-avibactam showed limited activity against MBL producers and meropenem-vaborbactam showed limited activity against OXA-48–like and MBL producers. The most active non–β-lactam comparators against CRE were gentamicin (49.0% susceptible) and amikacin (44.9% susceptible).
Conclusions
Aztreonam-avibactam demonstrated potent activity against a large collection of Enterobacterales isolated from patients with BSI in US hospitals, including CRE, MBL producers, and isolates resistant to recently approved β-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
Assessment of bacterial hand contamination and associated factors among food handlers working in catering establishments in Hossana town, Hadiya zone, south Ethiopia, 2023
Authors: Woime Ashenafi 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background: - Hands are the major source of contamination, and can never be completely free of microorganisms, especially bacteria. Food can become contaminated by dirty hands if there is a lack of proper hygiene among the food handlers when handling food. Human hands are in regular contact with the surrounding environment, and a variety of pathogens can reach the mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, eyes, and genitals of humans through the hands and consequently contribute to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Objective: This study assessed bacterial hand contamination and associated factors among food handlers working in food establishments in Hossana Town, southern Ethiopia.
Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among food handlers at food establishments in Hosanna town, Hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia, from March 2023 to May 2023. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to allocate study participants to their catering establishment, and then a random sampling technique was applied to recruit participants. After signed consent was obtained, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic and potential risk factors. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using the SPSS version 20 statistical package, and descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables. The chi-square test was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable.
Results: The overall prevalence of bacterial positivity was 18/156 (11.5%), and among the identified bacterial isolates, 10/156 (6.4%) were Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli (5/156 (3.2%)), and Salmonella typhi. 3/156 (1.9%). The isolated pathogens were associated with those who were not trained in food preparation and handling, those who had no clean nails observed, poor hand washing after sneezing, poor hand washing after touching waste, and those who had no habit of hand washing after latrine usage (defecation) (p < 0.001).
This finding implies the need to strengthen the personal hygiene and redressal training of food handlers on personal hygiene guidelines to improve practices during food processing.
Exploring the Influence of Different Natural Virtual Environments on Psychological Perceptions for Stress Relief
Authors: Chen En-Chen , Li Tsai-Yen 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Natural environments play a crucial role in alleviating stress and improving sleep quality. In particular, the lighting and colors in these environments can impact our circadian rhythms, thereby influencing our physiological processes. In this research, we attempted to identify VRE elements, such as color and light intensity, that may lead to drowsiness and a sense of tranquility. This study investigated participants' emotional responses and their impact on users' perception of VREs in various timeframes following dusk and in scenarios with or without a campfire. We aimed to develop a controllable virtual environment for emotional relaxation and regulation experiments. Specifically, we designed three virtual scenes, sunset, moonlight, and starry sky, to study their influences on stress release. The experiment involved 17 participants aged 20 to 40, and we measured the subjects' emotions, including loneliness, sadness, anxiety, relaxation, calmness, and happiness. The experimental results reveal that Starry Sky with Campfire and Sunset with Campfire received lower loneliness and anxiety ratings. Starry Sky with Campfire was deemed the most suitable for relaxation and calmness. Interestingly, Moonlight with No Campfire and Starry Sky with Campfire scenes had similar calmness ratings. However, Moonlight with No Campfire was more likely to induce loneliness, possibly due to sensory cues triggering implicit memories and unique emotional experiences. This suggests that calmness can arise as a response to loneliness in a moonlit environment, serving as a form of emotional suppression to mitigate anxiety and sadness.
Immune regulation mechanism mediated by Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide
Authors: Song Wangdi , Wang Yunyun , Xue Shengnan , Gao Bo , Shi Luyang , Zhang Genlin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Cancer, rheumatic heart disease, gastrointestinal disease, and arthritis are associated with immune system disorders. Low-molecular-weight Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GP1) can improve immune disorders and intestinal mucosal injury by regulating gut microbiota; however, its immune regulation mechanism remains unclear. Herein, based on the structural analysis of GP1, we aimed to reveal its degradation route and immune regulation mechanism.
Results
GP1 mainly comprised glucose (98.59%) with (1→4)-α-D-Glcp, (1→4,6)-α-D-Glcp, and T-α-D-Glcp as the main backbone. GP1 was primarily degraded by gut microbiota in the colon and significantly increased the abundance of Muribaculum and Lactobacillus. Muribaculum_sp._H5 was the most important bacteria for degrading GP1, metabolized GP1 into D-glucose-1-phosphate by glycogen phosphorylase and produced the characteristic metabolites succinic acid, D-gluconic acid, D-galacturonic acid, and 4-pyridoxic acid, which was the first discovered to regulate immunity. These metabolites and probiotics produced from GP1 exerted an immunoregulatory effect together.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate the prebiotic potential of GP1 as a natural and non-toxic regulator for improving the structure of gut microbiota and alleviating immune disorders, which may be a new strategy to alleviate the side effects of tumor treatment.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in Cabbage Samples from Northern and Central Gondar Zones: Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Practices, Ethiopia
Authors: Tibebe Dessie , Bayeh Fentaye , Kassa Yezbie , Mulugeta Marye , Moges Zerubabel , Yenealem Dereje , Fentie Tarekegn , Amare Agmas , Ayalew Menilek , Yayinie Marie , Sheferaw Hailu 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In this study, cabbage samples were meticulously gathered from various locations in the northern Gondar (Debark and Dabat) and central Gondar zone (Amba-Giorgis, Arada, and Azezo) regions during June 2020. The purpose was to assess the presence and levels of heavy metals including Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), and Cadmium (Cd) within the sampled cabbages. To determine the concentrations of these metals, advanced analytical techniques involving atomic absorption spectrophotometry following optimizing by wet digestion process were employed The obtained results revealed metal concentrations within the cabbage samples ranging from 0.103 ± 0.004 to 0.151 ± 0.002 mg/kg for Cu, 0.104 ± 0.002 to 0.176 ± 0.002 mg/kg for Zn, 0.073 ± 0.007 to 0.135 ± 0.008 mg/kg for Cr, 0.119 ± 0.005 to 0.142 ± 0.003 mg/kg for Mn, 0.041 ± 0.004 to 0.209 ± 0.004 mg/kg for Pb, and 0.073 ± 0.007 to 0.135 ± 0.008 mg/kg for Cd. Notably, the highest concentration of Pb was observed in samples collected from the Arada site, while the lowest concentration was recorded in Dabat, in comparison to the other metals tested. Importantly, all metal concentrations detected were found to be below the permissible levels established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). These findings collectively suggest a reassuring conclusion regarding the absence of significant contamination within the cabbage farms under investigation. This underscores the importance of continued monitoring and adherence to safety standards to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural produce for human consumption.
Energy absorption through radiation in multilayer windows for spacecrafts
Authors: GALUPPI Laura , ROYER-CARFAGNI Gianni 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The overall heating of satellites operating in low orbit, essentially due to direct radiation from the sun and terrestrial albedo, and the planetary radiation, is well studied, but little is found specifically on transparent plates used for windowing spacecrafts. The most historic material of choice is fused silica, as in the cupola of the International Space Station; more recently, acrylic glass is being used, but its refractive properties are poorly documented. Starting from Maxwell’s laws, the effects of electromagnetic waves incident on multilayer windows composed of panes of fused silica or acrylic glass, or a composition of these, are analyzed. Using data of refractive index from the literature, which however are incomplete and sometimes contradictory, the problem is addressed by distinguishing the frequency of the radiation, because this affects the transmissibility and absorption of each material; moreover, the frequency content of the radiation of the solar and terrestrial albedo is different from that of the planet. Worked examples show that fused silica allows most radiation to pass directly through; absorption occurs in such a thin surface layer that it can be modeled as a boundary condition. Acrylic glass, on the other hand, is characterized by absorption depending on the thickness; this can potentially increase its temperature, posing a problem since the mechanical properties decay at temperatures above 100 °C. This study represents a key step to analyze the thermal problem for space windows, of considerable interest since glazing can fail due to thermal shocks, constrained thermal variations, or temperature concentrations.
Effects of Drone Technology on access to blood and blood components for improved maternal health outcomes in underserved communities in Ghana: A cross sectional study
Authors: Haruna Florence , Opoku Daniel , Agyei-Baffour Peter 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background

Access to specialized blood components such as fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate is fraught with challenges due to supply-demand imbalances, logistical and transportation constraints in most lower-middle income countries such as Ghana. These barriers have significant implications on maternal health, contributing to preventable deaths and disabilities resulting from postpartum hemorrhage. The study sought to assess how the adoption of medical drone technology (aerial logistics) has improved access to blood and blood components for improved maternal health outcomes in the Eastern region of Ghana.

Methods

A cross sectional study of 16 transfusion facilities was employed to estimate the impact of medical drone technology on blood products access and maternal health outcomes using data from administrative records of the Eastern region Ghana Health Service and Zipline, an unmanned aerial logistics company in Ghana. Descriptive statistics were used to establish associations between blood utilization from the medical drone technology source and other traditional sources, while a difference in difference analysis was conducted to determine pre-post differences between the weighted average of MMR among transfusion facilities served by the aerial logistics company and those not served.
Results
The use of medical drone technology has significantly diversified the range of available blood components(34% drone delivery of whole blood, 40% concentrated red cells (CRC), 18% fresh frozen plasma (FFPs), and 8% Cryoprecipitate), enabling more targeted treatment protocols compared to 90% whole blood and less than 10% were CRC and FFP utilized from other sources. There has been a significant increase in the availability of blood products and a substantial reduction in maternal mortality ratios.
Conclusions
The findings revealed that medical drone technology effectively addresses existing healthcare supply chain gaps with regards to blood distribution. It not only enhances the availability of specialized blood components but also improves maternal health outcomes.
Gut virome and microbiome dynamics before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in women living with HIV and their infants
Authors: Maqsood Rabia , Holland LaRinda A. , Wu Lily I. , Begnel Emily R. , Adhiambo Judith , Owiti Prestone , Chohan Bhavna H. , Gantt Soren , Kinuthia John , Wamalwa Dalton , Ojee Ednah , Richardson Barbra A. , Slyker Jennifer , Lehman Dara A. , Lim Efrem S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Microbiome perturbations can have long-term effects on health. The dynamics of the gut microbiome and virome in women living with HIV (WLHIV) and their newborn infants is poorly understood. Here, we performed metagenomic sequencing analyses on longitudinal stool samples including 23 mothers (13 WLHIV, 10 HIV-negative) and 12 infants that experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection with mild disease, as well as 40 mothers (18 WLHIV, 22 HIV-negative) and 60 infants that remained SARS-CoV-2 seronegative throughout the study follow-up. Regardless of HIV or SARS-CoV-2 status, maternal bacterial and viral profiles were distinct from infants. Using linear mixed effects models, we showed that while the microbiome alpha diversity trajectory was not significantly different between SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and seronegative women. However, seropositive women’s positive trajectory while uninfected was abruptly reversed after SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.015). However, gut virome signatures of women were not associated with SARS-CoV-2. Alterations in infant microbiome and virome diversities were generally not impacted by SARS-CoV-2 but were rather driven by development. We did not find statistically significant interactions between HIV and SARS-CoV-2 on the gut microbiome and virome. Overall, our study provides insights into the complex interplay between maternal and infant bacterial microbiome, virome, and the influence of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV status.
RoCNet: 3D robust registration of point clouds using deep learning
Authors: SLIMANI Karim , Tamadazte Brahim , Achard Catherine 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

This paper introduces a new method for 3D point cloud registration based on deep learning. The architecture is composed of three distinct blocs: (i) an encoder with a convolutional graph-based descriptor that encodes the immediate neighbourhood of each point and an attention mechanism that encodes the variations of the surface normals. Such descriptors are refined by highlighting attention between the points of the same set (source and target) and then between the points of the two sets. (ii) a matching process that estimates a matrix of correspondences using the Sinkhorn algorithm. (iii) Finally, the rigid transformation between the two point clouds is calculated by RANSAC using the best scores of the correspondence matrix. We conduct experiments on the ModelNet40 dataset and real-world Bunny dataset, and our proposed architecture shows very promising results, outperforming state-of-the-art methods in most of the simulated configurations
Active ions’ impact in the enhanced oil recovery process: a microfluidic-based approach
Authors: Zhang Yajun , Chai Menghao , Xie Yumeng , Liang Kunming , Fan Yiqiang 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

More than 50% of the crude oil is trapped inside the pores of the rock after the primary and the secondary oil recovery stage, various methods have been currently used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to recover the trapped oil. Brine injection, as the most commonly used approach in EOR, was heavily influenced by the concentration of active ions like Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42−. In this study, two kinds of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic devices were designed and fabricated to mimic the porous structure in order to study the active ion’s impact in the brine flooding process. Since the PDMS is transparent in the visible range, the fluid flow inside the fabricated porous structure can be observed directly during the brine flooding process. The effect of active ions including Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42− in the brine flooding process was studied in detail with the microfluidic devices. The proposed method could have wide application potential in the screening of flooding reagents in the oil industry.
Chromosome-level baobab (Adansonia digitata) genome illuminates its evolutionary insights
Authors: Michael Todd , Kitony Justine , Colt Kelly , Abramson Bradley , Hartwick Nolan , Petrus Semar , Konozy Emadeldin , Karimi Nisa , Yant Levi 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Baobab, (Adansonia digitata), is a long-lived tree endemic to Africa that holds great economic, ecological, and cultural value. However, our knowledge of its genomic features, evolutionary history, and diversity is limited, rendering it orphaned scientifically. We generated a haploid chromosome-level reference genome anchored into 42 chromosomes for A. digitata, as well as draft assemblies for a sibling tree, two trees from distinct locations in Africa, and a related species, A. za from Madagascar. Unlike any other plant to date, DNA transposable elements (TEs) make up 33% of the A. digitata genome compared to only 10% long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs), which are usually predominant in plant genomes. Baobab has undergone a whole genome duplication (WGD) shared with the Malvoideae ~30 million years ago (MYA), as well as a confirmed autotetraplody event 3-4 million MYA that coincides with the most recent burst of TE insertions. Resequencing 25 A. digitata trees from Africa revealed three subpopulations that suggest gene flow through most of West Africa but separated from East Africa. Gene enrichment analysis for baobab-specific and high fixation index (Fst) suggested baobab may have retained multiple copies of circadian, light and growth genes to coordinate genome protection for longevity through the UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) and synchronizing flower development with pollinators. This study lays the groundwork for the creation of breeding resources and the conservation of baobab biodiversity.
Ensemble Regressors for Half Cell Potential Prediction
Authors: Murthy Yogesh Iyer , Pandey Shikha , Gandhi Sumit 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This study addresses the critical issue of steel corrosion in concrete structures, a major concern in the construction industry. By integrating advanced machine learning techniques, particularly ensemble methods, the research aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of corrosion prediction models for reinforced concrete structures. Through experimentation and meticulous data collection, key input parameters such as distances from the anode, relative humidity, temperature, and concrete age were identified. Various ensemble learning methods including Boosted Trees, Bagged Trees, and Optimizable Ensembles were employed and evaluated using performance metrics such as RMSE, R-squared, MSE, MAE, prediction speed, and training time. LSBoost with Bayesian optimization emerged as the top-performing method, achieving the lowest RMSE of 0.018097, highest R-squared of 0.97, lowest MSE of 0.00032752, and smallest MAE of 0.013769. Despite its longer training time, LSBoost with Bayesian optimization offers superior predictive accuracy compared to other methods, warranting consideration for applications where accuracy is paramount. Bagged Trees and Boosted Trees also demonstrated good performance, balancing prediction speed and accuracy, making them suitable for time-sensitive applications. This research provides valuable insights for developing cost-effective maintenance and rehabilitation strategies, ultimately improving the durability and strength of concrete structures.