bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of corn unsound kernels based on GAN sample enhancement and improved lightweight network
Authors: Zhu Yuhua , Wang Hao , Li Zhihui , Zhen Tong 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe presence of corn unsound kernels, one of the world's major food crops, could have a significant impact on the food industry and the food supply. The traditional method of detecting unsound corn kernels by hand during grain acquisition has many drawbacks, and computer vision‐based detection methods have become mainstream. In this paper, a corn unsound kernel detection algorithm based on generative adversarial network (GAN) sample enhancement and an improved lightweight network is introduced. The article first builds a corn unsound kernel image acquisition platform and makes a dataset by preprocessing and segmenting the collected corn seed cluster images with the improved concave point segmentation algorithm. Then, to increase the diversity and number of datasets, the StyleGANv2 network was improved to generate corn‐unsound kernel images with diverse features. Finally, to meet the demand for lightweight detection, the MobileVit network was optimized to improve the network's recognition accuracy, which reached 96.2%. The article verifies the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm through experiments.
Model uncertainty versus variability in the life cycle assessment of commercial fisheries
Authors: Codotto Giovanni , Pizzol Massimo , Hegland Troels J. , Madsen Niels 
Published: December 2023

AbstractResults from life cycle assessment (LCA) studies are sensitive to modeling choices and data used in building the underlying model. This is also relevant for the case of fisheries and LCAs of fish products. Fisheries' product systems show both multifunctionality because of the simultaneous co‐catch of multiple species and potential constraints to supply due to natural stock limits or socially established limits such as quota systems. The performance of fisheries also varies across seasons, locations, vessels, and target species. In this study, we investigate the combined effect of modeling choices and variability on the uncertainty of LCA results of fish products. We use time series data from official Danish statistics for catch and fuel use of several fisheries disaggregated using a top‐down procedure. We apply multiple modeling approaches with different assumptions regarding the type of partitioning, substitution, and constraints. The analysis demonstrates that, in the presence of relevant multifunctionality, the results are substantially affected by the modeling approach chosen. These findings are robust across years and fisheries, indicating that modeling choices contribute to uncertainty more than the variability in fishing conditions. We stress the need for a more careful alignment of research questions and methods for LCA studies of fisheries and recommend a very transparent statement of assumptions, combined with uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. This article met the requirements for a gold‐gold data openness badge described at http://jie.click.badges.
How does the green efficiency of urban land use evolve in the urban agglomeration of China's middle Yangtze river?
Authors: Hong Jiaxuan , Mao Yanling 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze river (MYRUA) is the second largest national urban agglomeration in China, with an excellent ecological foundation. As the construction of urban agglomerations accelerated towards both extension and connotation, land prices of various cities rose, and the contradiction in the demand and utilization of land resources became acute. Therefore, exploring the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of land green utilization efficiency within MYRUA had positive significance. This article focused on 28 prefecture‐level cities in the MYRUA and measured their urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) from 2006 to 2018 using the super slack‐based measure model with undesirable output (Super‐SBM‐U). Then, the improved Fixed Malmquist–Luenberger index was developed to improve the accuracy of dynamic efficiency analysis. Further, the internal and external driving factors were explored using the index decomposition and the spatial error model with fixed effects. The results showed that the land use mode of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River was relatively green, but efficiency gaps still existed. Although the green total factor productivity of the whole cluster has improved by 3.30% a year on average, the excessive pursuit of technological innovation has led to the stagnation of urban land management in various cities, and there are numerous inherent contradictions in urban development. But at the same time, feasible economic development directions, industrial upgrading, high‐quality employees, land marketization, and positive environmental behaviors are conducive to the green and sustainable development of ULGUE. This article depicted the internal land use characteristics of the MYRUA from the perspective of spatiotemporal evolution and efficiency, providing a theoretical reference for the green development and coordinated management of urban agglomeration land.
Predictors Associated with Forgotten Knee in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty Based on Multivariable Linear Regression
Authors: Li Peifang , Xie Jingying , Ning Ning , Chen Jiali 
Published: December 2023

ObjectiveExisting studies have conflicting results about the predictors of forgotten joints in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and the relationship between psychosocial factors and forgotten knees is unknown. The purpose of this study was to confirm predictors for the forgotten joint in TKA patients.MethodsThis was an observational, prospective longitudinal study. A total of 205 patients who underwent TKA and a 6‐month follow‐up were included between August 2020 and September 2021. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and psychosocial variables were collected before TKA surgery (T0). The forgotten joint score (FJS) was taken before TKA surgery (T0) and at 1 month (T1), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T6) after TKA surgery. The psychosocial variables were also completed at T6. Bivariate and multivariable linear regressions (LR) were performed to screen the predictors associated with FJS (T6).ResultsPatients who underwent TKA in our study had a mean FJS of 20.3 ± 12.2 before surgery, 15.9 ± 10.3 at 1 month, 28.7 ± 12.6 at 3 months, and 40.3 ± 12.5 at 6 months. The predictors were sex, combined musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), operation time, FJS (T3), range of motion (ROM) (T6), pain score (T6), Groningen orthopaedic social support scale (GO‐SSS) score (T6), and the generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD) score (T6). The data satisfied the assumptions of multivariable linear regressions. The multiple R2of LR was 0.71, and the adjusted R2 was 0.70. The F‐statistic of the LR model was 59.5 (p < 0.000).ConclusionOur study revealed the level of forgotten knee decreased slightly from preoperation to 1 month postoperatively and then increased from 1 month postoperatively to 6 months postoperatively in TKA patients. The main predictors associated with the FJS at 6 months after surgery were sex, combined MSD, operation time, FJS (T3), ROM (T6), pain score (T6), GO‐SSS score (T6), and anxiety (T6).
Dorsal root ganglion stimulator—A targeted therapy for post‐herpetic neuralgia: The Middle East Experience
Authors: Verma Amit , Francois Eric , Maiti Tanmoy , Cassidy Leanne , Tolba Reda 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundPost herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic neuropathic pain syndrome which presents after an episode of herpes zoster caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus. Conservative treatment starts with pharmacological measures using Anti‐epileptics and Antidepressants. Some patients also respond well to epidural steroid injections too, but the effect is usually short lasting. Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator (DRG‐S) has recently been suggested as a new treatment modality for PHN due to its selective targeting of the pathophysiologic focus.Case SeriesWe are reporting three cases, who were suffering from neuropathic pain after an episode of herpes zoster. Pain and pain related suffering scores were high, even with multiple antiepileptics and opioid medications. They underwent DRG‐S implant and appreciated more than 50% reduction of their pain score, meaningful reduction in the dose of medications along with significant improvement of their general well being measured using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD‐7), pain disability index (PDI), and 9 Question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9). To our knowledge this is the first report on DRG stimulator from the Middle East Region.ConclusionDRG‐S has potential to be a preferable treatment option in patients with refractory PHN and acts as a specific targeted therapy in the treatment of these patients.
Regulation of haemoglobin concentration at high altitude
Authors: Siebenmann Christoph , Roche Johanna , Schlittler Maja , Simpson Lydia L , Stembridge Mike 
Published: December 2023

AbstractLowlanders sojourning for more than 1 day at high altitude (HA) experience a reduction in plasma volume (PV) that increases haemoglobin concentration and thus restores arterial oxygen content. If the sojourn extends over weeks, an expansion of total red cell volume (RCV) occurs and contributes to the haemoconcentration. While the reduction in PV was classically attributed to an increased diuretic fluid loss, recent studies support fluid redistribution, rather than loss, as the underlying mechanism. The fluid redistribution is presumably driven by a disappearance of proteins from the circulation and the resulting reduction in oncotic pressure exerted by the plasma, although the fate of the disappearing proteins remains unclear. The RCV expansion is the result of an accelerated erythropoietic activity secondary to enhanced renal erythropoietin release, but a contribution of other mechanisms cannot be excluded. After return from HA, intravascular volumes return to normal values and the normalisation of RCV might involve selective destruction of newly formed erythrocytes, although this explanation has been strongly challenged by recent studies. In contrast to acclimatised lowlanders, native highlanders originating from the Tibetan and the Ethiopian plateaus present with a normal or only mildly elevated haemoglobin concentration. Genetic adaptations blunting the erythropoietic response to HA exposure have been proposed as an explanation for the absence of more pronounced haemoconcentration in these populations, but new evidence also supports a contribution of a larger than expected PV. The functional significance of the relatively low haemoglobin concentration in Tibetan and Ethiopian highlanders is incompletely understood and warrants further investigation.
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Therapeutic effect of iturin A on
Candida albicans
oral infection and its pathogenic factors
Authors: Han Di , Ji Yulan , Yang Saixue , Song Pei , Shi Yihong , Shao Dongyan , Chen Xianqing , Shang Li , Shi Junling , Jiang Chunmei 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Candida albicans
is responsible for conditions ranging from superficial infections such as oral or vaginal candidiasis to potentially fatal systemic infections. It produces pathogenic factors contributing to its virulence. Iturin A, a lipopeptide derived from
Bacillus
sp., exhibits a significant inhibitory effect against
C. albicans
. However, its exact mechanism in mitigating the pathogenic factors of
C. albicans
remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to explore the influence of iturin A on several pathogenic attributes of
C. albicans
, including hypha formation, cell membrane permeability, cell adhesion, biofilm formation, and therapeutic efficacy in an oral
C. albicans
infection model in mice. The minimal inhibitory concentration of iturin A against
C. albicans
was determined to be 25 µg/mL in both YEPD and RPMI-1640 media. Iturin A effectively inhibited
C. albicans
hyphal formation, decreased cell viability within biofilms, enhanced cell membrane permeability, and disrupted cell adhesion
in vitro
. Nonetheless, iturin A did not significantly affect the phospholipase activity or hydrophobicity of
C. albicans
. A comparative study with nystatin demonstrated the superior therapeutic efficacy of iturin A in a mouse model of oral
C. albicans
infection, significantly decreasing
C. albicans
count and inhibiting both fungal hypha formation and tongue surface adhesion. High-dose iturin A treatment (25 µg/mL) in mice had no significant effects on blood indices, tongue condition, or body weight, indicating the potential for iturin A in managing oral infections. This study confirmed the therapeutic potential of iturin A and provided valuable insights for developing effective antifungal therapies targeting
C. albicans
pathogenic factors.
Soil microbiome analysis supports claims of ineffectiveness of
Pseudomonas fluorescens
D7 as a biocontrol agent of
Bromus tectorum
Authors: Custer Gordon F. , Mealor Brian A. , Fowers Beth , van Diepen Linda T. A. 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Cheatgrass (
Bromus tectorum
) is one of the most problematic invasive plants in the western United States. Invasion by annual grasses disrupts nutrient cycling and negatively affects above- and below-ground biodiversity. Land managers use chemical herbicides, mechanical controls, cultural practices, and bioherbicides to combat this invasive plant. Recently, the biocontrol agent
Pseudomonas fluorescens
D7 has been touted as a non-chemical herbicide that offers lasting control of cheatgrass. However, experimental results report limited effectiveness under field conditions. To understand the underlying cause of the variable efficacy of this commercially available bioherbicide, soil samples from an active cheatgrass invasion treated with
P. fluorescens
D7 were collected and screened using high-throughput sequencing. At 18 months post-application, the bioherbicide had limited lasting effects on bacterial community composition, and few reads assigned to
P. fluorescens
were found in our sequence data. We suggest that the failure to establish sufficiently may partially explain the inability of this biocontrol agent to suppress
B. tectorum
under field conditions.

IMPORTANCE

Cheatgrass is one of North America’s most problematic invasive species. Invasion by this annual grass alters ecosystem structure and function and has proven very challenging to remove with traditional approaches. Commercially available bioherbicides, like
P
.
fluorescens
D7, are applied with the goal of providing lasting control from a single application. However, experimental results suggest that this bioherbicide has limited efficacy under field conditions. Potential explanations for variable efficacy include a failure of this bioherbicide to establish in the soil microbiome. However, to our knowledge, no data exist to support or refute this hypothesis. Here, we use a deep-sequencing approach to better understand the effects of this bioherbicide on the soil microbiome and screen for
P. fluorescens
at 18 months post-application.
Identification of a glutathione transporter in
A. actinomycetemcomitans
Authors: Klementiev Alexander D. , Garg Neha , Whiteley Marvin 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Bacteria rely on extracellular chemical cues to sense their environment, interact with one another, and shape their chemical landscape. Understanding this biochemistry can help us elucidate the mechanisms by which bacterial interactions impact community function. By applying mass spectrometry to mono- and co-cultures of the oral pathogen
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
and the oral commensal
Streptococcus gordonii
, we identified hundreds of extracellular small molecules produced by these bacteria. We discovered that
A. actinomycetemcomitans
secretes millimolar amounts of glutathione and identified a five-gene operon (called
gttABCDE
) that is important for maximum secretion. The metabolomics data set generated in this study provides a valuable data set for unraveling the importance of individual molecules for mediating polymicrobial interactions in the oral cavity.

IMPORTANCE

Microbes produce a large array of extracellular molecules, which serve as signals and cues to promote polymicrobial interactions and alter the function of microbial communities. This has been particularly well studied in the human oral microbiome, where key metabolites have been shown to impact both health and disease. Here, we used an untargeted mass spectrometry approach to comprehensively assess the extracellular metabolome of the pathogen
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
and the commensal
Streptococcus gordonii
during mono- and co-culture. We generated and made publicly available a metabolomic data set that includes hundreds of potential metabolites and leveraged this data set to identify an operon important for glutathione secretion in
A. actinomycetemcomitans
.
Influenza A virus infection alters the resistance profile of gut microbiota to clinically relevant antibiotics
Authors: Robas Marina , Presa Jesús , Arranz-Herrero Javier , Yildiz Soner , Rius-Rocabert Sergio , Llinares-Pinel Francisco , Probanza Agustin , Schmolke Mirco , Jiménez Pedro A. , Nistal-Villan Estanislao 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection triggers quantitative and qualitative modifications in lung and intestinal microbiota composition, which contain an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes. Analysis of genetic changes is a common practice in studies that analyze microbiota modifications. However, there is little evidence of functional changes linked to such microbiota modifications. This study evaluates some cecal microbiota’s functional changes, comparing sublethal IAV with mock-infected mice. Community-wide phenotypic metabolic profile (Biolog EcoPlatesTM) and relative antibiotic resistance changes to clinically relevant antibiotics (cenoantibiogram) have been performed in this context. Results reveal a temporal association between IAV infection and alterations in nutrient substrate profile usage as well as changes in antibiotic resistance of cecal microbiota. Alterations are transient and predominantly occur at early time points post-IAV infection. There is a functional rebalance in nutrient substrate usage and antibiotic resistance under the established culture conditions, accompanied by a decrease in microbial density of the cecal community on days 5 and 7 after the IAV infection. Our data underline that active IAV infections altering microbial populations are associated with changes in nutrient usage preferences and affect community behaviors toward specific antibiotics. These findings could have implications including activation of nutrient-related metabolic stress at the microbiota community level and additional antibiotic resistance selection mechanisms of clinically relevant infections.

IMPORTANCE
Influenza virus infection affects both lung and intestinal bacterial community composition. Most of the published analyses focus on the characterization of the microbiota composition changes. Here we assess functional alterations of gut microbiota such as nutrient and antibiotic resistance changes during an acute respiratory tract infection. Upon influenza A virus (IAV) infection, cecal microbiota drops accompanied by a decrease in the ability to metabolize some common nutrients under aerobic conditions. At the same time, the cecal community presents an increase in resistance against clinically relevant antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins. Functional characterization of complex communities presents an additional and necessary element of analysis that nowadays is mainly limited to taxonomic description. The consequences of these functional alterations could affect treatment strategies, especially in multimicrobial infections.
Survival of surface bacteriophages and their hosts in
in situ
deep-sea environments
Authors: Wei Wei , Tian Yuan , Cai Lanlan , Xu Yongle , Xiao Xilin , Wang Qiong , Wang Haowen , Dong Chunming , Shao Zongze , Jiao Nianzhi , Zhang Rui 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT

Through particles sinking as well as the movement of water masses, a fraction of bacterioplankton and virioplankton can be transported vertically from the surface to the deep oceans, and display significant changes in viral–bacterial interactions. The survival and activity of the sinking prokaryotes and viruses in the deep-sea environment is crucial for our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. However, due to the substantial challenge involved
in situ
deep-sea incubation, the effect of the deep-sea environments on the ecology of surface prokaryotes and viruses is poorly studied. To fill this knowledge gap, we used an
in situ
deep-sea long-term incubation device to examine the effect of the natural deep-sea environment on the stability and activity of four viruses and their hosts (
Prochlorococcus
,
Synechococcus
, and heterotrophic bacteria) isolated from the surface ocean. Our results showed that viral particles had still not decayed completely after
in situ
incubation for 1 year, with an average retention rate of 5.69% ± 5.13% (ranging from 1.25% to 13.06%) for infectivity and 68.11% ± 40.50% (ranging from 8.55% to 99.08%) for particles. This suggests that surface viruses probably retain long-term infectivity after sinking and may influence deep-sea microbial populations in terms of activity, function, diversity, and community structure through viral–bacterial interactions and ultimately affect deep-sea biogeochemical cycles.

IMPORTANCE

The survival of the sinking prokaryotes and viruses in the deep-sea environment is crucial for deep-sea ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. Through an
in situ
deep-sea long-term incubation device, our results showed that viral particles and infectivity had still not decayed completely after
in situ
incubation for 1 year. This suggests that, via infection and lysis, surface viruses with long-term infectious activity
in situ
deep-sea environments may influence deep-sea microbial populations in terms of activity, function, diversity, and community structure and ultimately affect deep-sea biogeochemical cycles, highlighting the need for additional research in this area.