bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of contagious respiratory infections on breath biomarkers
Authors: Kemnitz Nele , Fuchs Patricia , Remy Rasmus , Rührmund Leo , Bartels Julia , Klemenz Ann-Christin , Trefz Phillip , Miekisch Wolfram , Schubert Jochen K. , Sukul Pritam 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Due to their immediate exhalation after generation at the cellular/microbiome levels, exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may provide real-time information on pathophysiological mechanisms and host response to infections. In recent years, metabolic profiling of most frequent respiratory infection gained interest as it holds potential for early non-invasive detection of pathogens and monitoring of disease progression and response to therapy.
Methods
In contrast to previous studies with pre-selected patient groups, we conducted a real-time mass-spectrometry based breath profiling in hundreds of consecutive subjects under an actual respiratory infection screening scenario. Recruited subjects were grouped for further comparisons, based on multiplex-PCR confirmed infection (infected by common respiratory pathogen(s) and healthy) and presence or absence of flu like symptoms.
Results
Amongst recruitments, we obtained 256 healthy cases and 223 infected/coinfected (171 mono-infections, 52 coinfections) with Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Rhinovirus. We observed multiple effects of these mono-infections and co-infections onto the exhaled VOC profiles and variations, especially on endogenous ketone, short-chain fatty acid, organosulfur, aldehyde and terpene concentrations. Based on VOCs origins, we encountered changes in patient’s energy metabolism, systemic microbial immune homeostasis, inflammation, oxidative stress and antioxidative defense. Presence of bacterial pathogens depicted more complex metabolic effects and cross-talk – most likely due to their own metabolism.
Conclusion
Alike our recent reports on COVID-19 and in line with other recent multi-omics and clinical microbiological reports, these results offered unique insight into common respiratory infections, pathogenesis, ‘host-microbiome-pathogen’ interactions. Breathomics depicted the non-invasive potential for ‘monitoring’ respiratory mono-infections and coinfections.
Accidental child poisoning and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at a referral Children’s Hospital in Greece
Authors: Kotsi Elisabeth , Milas Gerasimos Panagiotis , Thanasia Marina , Papantzimas Konstantinos , Kostaridou Stavroula 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose Poisoning remains a major health problem worldwide. Most non-intentional acute exposures are non- or minimally toxic, but occasionally highly toxic substances need specific medical interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic with the lockdown that followed had a negative impact on the poisoning incidence.Methods This was a retrospective study including data from 103 children that were examined during the period 2019–2021 at the Penteli Children’s General Hospital.Results The most common poisons were drugs (N = 39, 37.9%) and cigarettes (N = 33, 32.0%). Detergents and insecticides followed with 5.9% (N = 6) and 4.9% (N = 5), respectively. The number of poisoned children was lower in 2019 (N = 25) compared to 2020 (N = 46). The majority were observed in 2020 (44.7%), during the Covid19 lockdown.Conclusion Pediatric poisoning constitutes a global emergency. Despite the overall decrease in the pediatric visits, an increase in the poisonings was noted during the lockdown. Prevention should focus on adult supervision and proper storage of chemicals.
Effect of spark plasma sintering temperature on phase evaluation and mechanical behaviour of Cu- 4wt% SiC composite
Authors: Venkatesh V. S.S , Rao R. N. , Patnaik Lokeswar 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a novel approach to fabricate Cu- SiC composites which have a relatively broad range of potential uses in space applications. The Cu- 4wt% SiC composite with homogeneously dispersed SiC particles has been successfully synthesized at various SPS temperatures. In this study, the effect of SPS temperatures on the phase evaluation and mechanical characteristics of the Cu- 4wt% SiC composite was investigated. From the results, it was confirmed that the optimum sintering temperature for Cu- 4wt% SiC composite is 950 ℃. Raising the spark plasma sintering temperature from 850 ℃ to 950 ℃ led to a higher concentration of copper-liquid phase which accelerates the SiC particle rearrangement and fills the interstitial voids present in the interfaces of matrix and reinforcements which improves the mechanical properties of the Cu- 4wt% SiC composite. However, increasing the SPS temperature by more than 950 ℃ prone to the generation of the copper net and inhomogeneous SiC particle dispersion in the copper phases and declines the performance characteristics of the synthesized composite. The Cu- 20wt% SiC composite sintered at 950 ℃ exhibits superior mechanical characteristics than the composite sintered at 850 ℃, 900 ℃ and 1000 ℃.
Towards provably efficient quantum algorithms for large-scale machine learning models
Authors: Eisert Jens , Liu Junyu , Liu Minzhao , Liu Jin-Peng , Ye Ziyu , Alexeev Yuri , Jiang Liang 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Large machine learning models are revolutionary technologies of artificial intelligence whose bottlenecks include huge computational expenses, power, and time used both in the pre-training and fine-tuning process. In this work, we show that fault-tolerant quantum computing could possibly provide provably efficient resolutions for generic (stochastic) gradient descent algorithms, scaling as O(T2 × polylog(n)), where n is the size of the models and T is the number of iterations in the training, as long as the models are both sufficiently dissipative and sparse, with small learning rates. Based on earlier efficient quantum algorithms for dissipative differential equations, we find and prove that similar algorithms work for (stochastic) gradient descent, the primary algorithm for machine learning. In practice, we benchmark instances of large machine learning models from 7 million to 103 million parameters. We find that, in the context of sparse training, a quantum enhancement is possible at the early stage of learning after model pruning, motivating a sparse parameter download and re-upload scheme. Our work shows solidly that fault-tolerant quantum algorithms could potentially contribute to most state-of-the-art, large-scale machine-learning problems.
Marrying plasmonic earth-abundant metals with catalytic metals for visible-light- promoted hydrogen generation on biobased materials
Authors: Ramírez Oscar , Castillo Sebastian , Bonardd Sebastian , Saldías César , O’Shea James N. , Ryder Christopher Philip Clive , Díaz David Díaz , Angel Leiva 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Bimetallic CuPt alloyed nanoparticles were conveniently synthesized on biohydrogels and were capable of carrying out hydrogen release from ammonium borane hydrolysis. The biohydrogel consisted of bead-shaped alginate chains crosslinked by calcium ions, which were used as support material to synthesize and stabilize the bimetallic nanoparticles, employing adsorption and coreduction strategy steps. The as-prepared nanoparticles exhibited light absorption in the visible range (580 nm) resulting from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon ascribed to the presence of copper in the alloyed system. On the other hand, the presence of platinum atoms in these nanoalloys endows them with a notable catalytic performance toward ammonia borane hydrolysis as a hydrogen release reaction, reaching kr values from 0.32 x 10-4 to 2.23 x 10-4 mol L-1 min-1 as the Pt content increases. Finally, by taking advantage of the SPR light absorption shown by CuPt 1:1, it was demonstrated that these entities could be successfully employed as photocatalysts for the hydrogen generation reaction, boosting its activity by almost 2.06 times compared to its performance in dark conditions. This catalytic enhancement was mainly ascribed to the plasmonic-derived light-harvesting properties and the specimen's metallic composition.
A sex-specific trade-off between pesticide resistance and thermal tolerance in Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Costa Sofia G. , Magalhães Sara , Santos Inês , Zélé Flore , Rodrigues Leonor R. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Current pest management relies extensively on pesticide application worldwide, despite the frequent rise of pesticide resistance in crop pests. This is particularly worrisome because resistance is often not costly enough to be lost in populations after pesticide application, resulting in increased dependency on pesticide application. As climate warming increases, effort should be put into understanding how thermal tolerance will affect the persistence of pesticide resistance in populations. To address this, we measured thermal tolerance in two populations of the spider mite crop pest Tetranychus urticae that differ solely in the presence or absence of a target-site mutation conferring resistance to etoxazole pesticide. We found that developmental time and fertility, but not survival, were negatively affected by increasing temperatures in the susceptible population. Furthermore, we found no difference between resistant and susceptible populations in all life-history traits when both sexes developed at control temperature, nor when females developed at high temperature. Resistant heat-stressed males, in contrast, showed lower fertility than susceptible ones, indicating a sex-specific trade-off between thermal tolerance and pesticide resistance. This suggests that global warming can lead to reduced pesticide resistance in natural populations. However, resistant females, being as affected by high temperature as susceptible individuals, may buffer the toll in resistant male fertility. In addition, the decrease in developmental time of both sexes at high temperature may accelerate adaptation to both temperature and pesticide, which can promote the maintenance of resistant populations under climate warming.
Comparison of bone reamer and trephine for foraminoplasty in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy based on 3D slicer and Digimizer software
Authors: Sun Jiewei , Wang Jun , Wu Ruiji , Zhao Zhi , Fan Bingkai , Cai Jie , Feng Fabo 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Objective:To explore the applicability of bone reamer and trephine for foraminoscopy in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy(PELD), and to provide a theoretical basis for foraminoplasty options in clinical practice.Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study. Sixty-three consecutive patients who underwentPELD for lumbar disc herniation between May 2021 and July 2022 were analysed. Foraminoplasty were performed by bone reamer or trephine. The amount of bone resected and the area enlarged during foraminoplasty by both tools were measured by 3D slicer as well as Digimizer software, and the numbers of fluoroscopic views were recorded.Results:The bone reamer resected less bone in the Superior Articular Process (SAP) than the trephine (t=17.507, P<0.001)，and the area enlarged by the bone reamer was smaller than that of the trephine (t=10.042, P=0.002). The overall numbers of fluoroscopic views were significantly more in the bone reamer group than in the trephine group (t=19.003, P<0.001). In the bone reamer group, when the area of preoperative foraminoplasty zone was no less than 54.55 mm², the mean number of fluoroscopic views significantly decreased.(t=14.443,P=0.001).Conclusion:Bone reamer was safer and trephine was more efficient for foraminoscopy in PELD. An area of preoperative foraminoplasty zone of 54.55 mm²can be used as a critical value: bone reamer reduced the risk for cases above the value, while trephine improved the efficiency for cases less than the value.
Ecofriendly one-pot fabrication of 7-methoxy coumarin encapsulated zeolitic imidazole nanocomposite for pH-responsive wound healing application and its biosafety evaluations
Authors: Raju Prabhu , Rajkumar Mangaiyarkarasi , Muthu Jegatheeswaran Sona 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Biocompatible 7-methoxy coumarin encapsulated 7-MC@ZIF-L nanocomposite was fabricated to develop efficient wound healing. The stimuli-responsive drug release mechanism was examined at pH 5 and 7.4. The release of coumarin was increased within three hours by burst release under acidic conditions. The 7-MC@ZIF-L nanocomposite shows significant bacterial growth control against human infectious pathogens S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. epidermis. Moreover, the MTT and AO/EB assays revealed that nanocomposite had high cell viability towards L929 fibroblast cells. The present study enlightens a novel one-pot fabrication of 7-MC@ZIF-L nanocomposite as a drug delivery system and its stimuli-responsive drug release ability. The current methodology is an effective approach than any existing post-synthesis methods. The synthesized 7-MC@ZIF-L nanocomposite demonstrates ultrahigh thermal and chemical stability. The anti-biofilm results confirmed that the nanocomposite effectively inhibits biofilm formation and damages the biofilm architectural matrix based on the dose-dependent manner. In vitro wound scratch assay revealed that the sustainable and slow release of 7-methoxy coumarin and zinc ions promotes the cell proliferation rate. Bio-compatibility study results confirmed that the 7-MC@ZIF-L nanocomposite is safer and non-toxic for human use. In vivo artemia, salina lethality assay concluded that the nanocomposite is highly suitable for wound healing and other biomedical applications. The overall results signify that the 7-MC-ZIF-L nanocomposite is an efficient material for stimuli-responsive wound healing treatment in the future for wound care therapy.
Quantitative analysis of vertebral fat fraction in osteoporosis using IDEAL-IQ sequences
Authors: Zhou Feng , Sheng Bo , Lv Furong 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Objective To investigate the predictive value of vertebral fat fraction (FF) values from IDEAL-IQ sequences in distinguishing between normal bone mass, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.Methods We recruited 105 women and 69 men over 30 years of age who voluntarily underwent DXA, QCT scans, and MRI examinations and collected clinical information from each subject. Bone mineral density (BMD) values measured by DXA and QCT were used as reference standards. The intra-observer correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reproducibility of inter-observer and intra-observer measurements. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and subject work characteristic curve analysis were performed.Results The age, height, weight, BMD, and FF values in the DXA and QCT subgroups were significantly different (P < 0.05). Interestingly, FF was correlated with visceral adiposity (r = 0.221, P = 0.003) in the QCT grouping. FF was moderately negatively correlated with aBMD values (r = − 0.515, P < 0.001; after correcting for gender and age: r = − 0.316, P < 0.001), and FF showed a significant negative correlation with vBMD (r = − 0.790, P < 0.001; after correcting for gender and age: r = − 0.601, P < 0.001). Lumbar FF was positively correlated with age (r = 0.643, P < 0.001). In the DXA subgroup, the area under the curve (AUC) value of the FF values for distinguishing low bone mass was estimated to be 0.714, with a sensitivity of 0.822, a specificity of 0.518, and a cut-off value of 42.85%. In the QCT subgroup, the AUC of the FF values for distinguishing low bone mass was estimated to be 0.869, with a sensitivity of 0.841, a specificity of 0.721, and a cut-off value of 47.97%.Conclusions The vertebral FF value from IDEAL-IQ sequences has the potential to be a new biological marker for the assessment of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The FF value was more effective in assessing low bone mass measured by QCT than DXA, so QCT combined with IDEAL-IQ sequences is superior for obtaining a comprehensive assessment of osteoporosis.
Endophyte mediated restoration of citrus microbiome and modulation of host defense genes against Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
Authors: Li Yongmei , He Pengfei , Ahmed Ayesha , Liu Yinglong , Ahmed Waqar , Wu Yixin , He Yueqiu , He Pengbo , Munir Shahzad 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background Phloem limited non-culturable bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) affects the worldwide citrus production through causing citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). Despite the efficient colonization of citrus endophyte in the phloem as same niche as CLas pathogen, citrus microbiome manipulation and recruitment as well as citrus defense mechanisms in the presence of indigenous citrus endophyte against this pathogen are still unknown.Results Endophyte-mediated microbiome manipulation may potentially play a significant role in restoration of disease suppressive endophytic microbiome in vascular pathogen affected diseased plants and positively influence the citrus defense. For this, citrus endophyte Bacillus subtilis L1-21 was introduced in CLas-infected citrus groves for one year and pathogen reduction from 105 to 10 copies/gram/leaves was recorded. Resident bacterial community composition in diseased host dramatically changed after introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 and positive enrichment of certain bacteria was recorded in diseased citrus host. These enrichments were predominantly driven by high and low relative abundance of Bacillus and CLas pathogen respectively, after one year of endophyte application. Moreover, endophyte application resulted in citrus defence gene induction against CLas pathogen and demonstrated key resistance genes (PR-1, PR-4, RPS5, RBOHD) in endophyte-pathogen interaction pathway in infected citrus. Upon introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 in the diseased citrus plants, we identified high level of up-regulated genes (> 2-fold) involved in defense pathway (padj < 0.05) underpinning the fundamental defense mechanisms.Conclusion Thorough evaluation of disease suppressive mechanism of endophyte against pathogen requires further exploration. However, introduction of B. subtilis L1-21 restructured citrus microbiome by regulating key bacterial communities which might help plant to control this pathogen. In addition, we highlight advanced insights regarding activation of multiple disease resistance and secondary metabolites encoding genes in endophyte treated HLB-infected citrus plants showing potential resistance against CLas pathogen. Conclusively, endophyte-mediated manipulation could play decisive role in restoration of microbiome to positively influence the citrus defense.
The involvement of the serotonergic system in ketamine and fluoxetine combination-induced cognitive impairments in mice
Authors: Uyar Emre , Erdinç Meral , Kelle İlker , Erdinç Levent , Şeker Uğur , Nergiz Yusuf 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have vital roles in memory formation. Changes in the activity of these receptors can influence memory processes. Ketamine is a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist drug with promising mood-altering and pain-reducing effects in low doses. The present study investigated the effects of low-dose ketamine administrations on memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval processes. Sixty-four male BALB/c mice used in this experiment were treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, and a serotonin depletion agent, p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA). A serotonin antagonist, methiothepin, and ketamine were administered 60 mins before or after the behavioral tests. A passive avoidance test measured emotional memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval processes. Hippocampi malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were analyzed, and histopathological examinations were performed. Ketamine alone did not significantly affect memory encoding processes, while the ketamine-fluoxetine combination disrupted memory consolidation. Antiserotonergic drugs, pCPA, and methiothepin augmented memory only in the consolidation trial. The memory acquisition process was also affected by fluoxetine. Ketamine application insignificantly increased MDA levels. In all ketamine-applied groups, histopathologic alterations were evident. Ketamine, even in low doses, combined with fluoxetine, can potentially disrupt memory-encoding processes and cause neurotoxicity through increased serotonergic activity.
Nitrogen uptake in lentil cultivar mixtures is not predictable from pure stands performance but is correlated with agronomic parameters and cropping conditions
Authors: Lorenzetti Elisa , Carlesi Stefano , Michelsen Anders , Bàrberi Paolo 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In the context of rising costs of raw materials and environmental degradation caused by livestock farming, the agri-food sector faces significant challenges in sourcing sustainable proteins. Grain legumes have emerged as cost-effective protein sources, with lower water footprint and GHG emissions compared to animal sources. However, their cultivation is threatened by strong yield fluctuations. Leveraging intra-specific diversity through cultivar mixtures in cropping systems can effectively buffer biotic and abiotic stresses, hence increasing yield stability. In this study, we investigate the effect of intra-specific diversity on lentil nitrogen uptake under pot (2020) and field conditions (2021). Our aim is to examine the interactions between cultivars grown in mixtures and their correlations with grain production, total biomass, and nodules number. We hypothesize that cultivars with higher affinity for nitrogen fixation may influence the other components of the mixture, and that nitrogen uptake dynamics may be a possible driver in modulating cultivar mixture behaviour. We designed two-, three-, and four-cultivar mixtures with a trait-blind approach and compared them to sole cultivars. Our results show inconsistencies across the two experimental years, indicating that lentils may shift their nitrogen source from the atmosphere to the soil when grown in pots. Mixtures 15N enrichment was not always consistent with pure stand performance, suggesting that cultivar mixtures may have an unpredictable cumulative effect on soil microbiota. Regarding correlations with agronomic parameters from previous study, we observed a robust association between nodules number and nitrogen concentration, regardless of experimental conditions. Finally, we found that 15N excess emerged as a significant predictor for pure stands’ yield, but the differences were diluted with the increase in diversity levels.
Integrative Transcriptomics Analysis of Early-Onset and Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Al-Madhagi Haitham 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer as it accounts for approximately 7% of all cancer types. The goal of this study is to identify and analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in early-onset CRC (EOCRC) and late-onset CRC (LOCRC). The RNA-seq data was downloaded from GEO database and analyzed using GEO2R tool. This was followed by gene and pathway enrichment, detection of protein-protein interactions, predicting the governing transcriptional factors. Besides, survival rate and response to chemotherapy were also assessed. 250 DEGs were obtained, 235 down-regulated and 15 up-regulated. Extracellular structure organization, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, platelet-derived growth factor and protein digestion and absorption were the most common biological process, cellular compartment, molecular function and KEGG pathway. Moreover, ten hub genes were filtered, namely COL1A1, VWF, COL3A1, EGF, IGF1, COL1A2, ITGB3, COL11A2, COL6A1, CD163 as the top-ten hub genes while FOXC1, GATA2, YY1, TFAP2A and PPARG were predicted to be the most significant transcriptional factors controlling them. Only EGF was considered as prognostic biomarker while COL1A1 as predictive biomarker. In conclusion, the shortlisted hub genes account for the discrimination between EOCRC and LOCRC which should be further explored in-depth.