bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the metabolites isolated from a sponge-associated strain of Streptomyces sp. NBU3429
Authors: Ding Lijian , Huang Guobao , Wang Qiang , Wen Huimin , Li Jinling , Wang Xiao , He Shan 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can easily form biofilms on food surfaces, thus leading to cross-contamination, which is difficult to remove. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternatives with good antibacterial and antibiofilm effects. In this study, two indole sesquiterpene compounds, xiamycin (1) and chlorinated metabolite chloroxiamycin (2), were isolated from fermentation liquid of Streptomyces sp. NBU3429 for the first time. The chemical structures of the two compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data interpretation, including 1D NMR and HRESIMS analysis. Antimicrobial test showed that chloroxiamycin (2) (MIC = 16µg/mL) exhibited superior antibacterial activity than xiamycin (1) (MIC = 32µg/mL) against MRSA ATCC43300. Moreover, compound (2) decreased the biofilm formation rate of MRSA ATCC43300 by 12.7%-84.6% in the concentration range of 32–512 µg/mL, which is relatively stronger than xiamycin (1) (4.1%-49.9%) as well. Antibacterial/antibiofilm mechanisms investigation indicated that chloroxiamycin (2) could disrupt the cell wall and membrane of MRSA, inhibiting the production of biofilm extracellular polysaccharides. All these results illustrated that chloroxiamycin (2) is an effective antibacterial/biofilm agent, which makes it an attractive candidate for food preservative.
Comparative Study of DTMUV and LPS on Duck Liver Disease
Authors: Lan Zhenghui , Sun Zhigang , Wang Yi , Li Huatao , Sun Xuejing 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
In order to study the structure of adult duck liver and compare the pathological changes induced by duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in duck liver, the structural characteristics of duck liver were identified by HE staining, reticular fiber staining, trichromatic staining, and then the pathological changes caused by DTMUV virus strains XZ-2012 and LPS in adult duck liver were studied from the perspective of comparing viral and bacterial infections.
Results
The results showed that normal duck liver was reddish brown, the liver lobule boundary was not obvious, and no obvious interlobular bile duct and bile duct were found. By injecting ink into the jugular vein, the location of Kupffer's cells can be located. After DTMUV infection, the liver was swollen, congested, and yellow in color. Lymphocyte infiltration, increased reticular fibers, thickened basement membrane, obvious vacuoles in the liver cells, and increased number of red blood cells in the hepatic sinuses can be seen in the central vein and around the portal area. After LPS infection, the liver was slightly enlarged, no vacuolar degeneration was found in the liver cells, a large number of lymphocytes gathered around the blood vessels, and reticular fibers were significantly increased. The number of Kupffer cells increased after infection.
Conclusions
The pathological changes induced by DTMUV and lipopolysaccharide after invading the liver were explored, which provide theoretical basis for the pathogenicity of avian virus and bacteria and the defense mechanism of the liver.
Levy Based Optimisation in Performance Enhanced Smart Antenna System for 5G Communication
Authors: FAWAD IFFATH , KUMARASWAMY H V 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Optimisation in Antenna arrays is essential for enhancing various performance parameters such as Side Lobe Levels (SLL), Null positioning and Beam Steering by choosing optimum values for element positions, amplitude excitations or phase values. The objective of this paper is to find the optimum element positions and amplitude excitations using hybridised optimisation algorithm namely: Levy Grey Wolf Optimisation (LGWO) Algorithm. This paper explains the hybridisation of the optimisation algorithm with the Levy Flights (LF) walk concept. The performance of the hybridised algorithm is analysed numerically for a 10-element Dipole Array using MATLAB and compared with results from High Frequency Simulation Software (HFSS). LGWO resulted in 13.18 dB SLL reduction with 0.7 dB Gain enhancement and 20 reduction in First Null Beam Width (FNBW) as compared to the Uniform Linear Dipole Array. MATLAB simulations are carried out for a 28-element Uniform Linear Dipole Array to demonstrate applicability of LGWO in Null positioning and beam steering: 3 Nulls were placed at [1200, 122.50, 1250] with SLL reduced to -19.29 dB for a beam steered pattern using amplitude excitation optimisation.
Non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds stimulates the sprout growth and the production of nutraceutical compounds
Authors: Motrescu Iuliana , Lungoci Constantin , Ciolan Mihai Alexandru , Jitareanu Gerard 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The possibility to stimulate the production of some nutraceutical properties of fenugreek sprouts by non-thermal plasma (NTP) processing of the seeds in different conditions was studied. Seeds were treated in direct plasma and direct plasma with a cover, to keep the reactive species near the place where the seeds were. Moreover, the effect of seed pre-soaking was investigated. The outcome of plasma processing was analyzed on the seeds by micro-imagining their surface after treatments, determining the water contact angle, and studying the germination potential. Biometric and biochemical measurements were performed on the resulting sprouts to determine their length, weight, concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, polyphenols, flavonoids, and total protein, with Pearson correlation analysis of the results. We found that it is possible to stimulate the germination of the sprouts, especially for the pre-soaked seeds, and also the growth of the sprouts by about 50%. The concentrations of chlorophyll pigments increased mostly for pre-soaked seeds when exposed to direct plasma without cover more than in with-cover treatments. Direct plasma treatment for 30 s of dry seeds led to a flavonoid concentration triple compared to one of untreated seeds. For polyphenols and antioxidant activity, with cover treatment proved to be better, with an increase, especially for 90 s treatment with cover of the pre-soaked seeds. All the results indicate the possibility of tuning the nutraceutical properties of fenugreek sprouts by NTP treatment.
The selective vulnerability and susceptibility of cerebellar subdivisions in Alzheimer's disease: A study from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhao Kui , Duan Ruihua , Qiu Shijun , Initiative Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Alzheimer's Dise 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
The cerebellum undergoes substantial alternations in Alzheimer's disease (AD) both pathologically and morphologically. However, there were few studies focusing on morphological changes occurring within distinct subregions of the cerebellum in AD. In this vein, we aimed to investigate the selective vulnerability and susceptibility of cerebellar subdivisions in AD and the impacts of their volume alterations on cognition.
Methods
We screened data from 44 patients with AD and 61 healthy controls (HCs) from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative-2 database. T1-weighted images were utilized to determine volumetric changes. A standardized pipeline was implemented for cerebellar parcellation and volume calculation. The relationships between volumetric changes in cerebellar subunits and cognition were explored.
Results
AD group had higher Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) scores compared to the HCs, whereas their Mini-Mental State Examination scores were lower than the HCs. After adjusting for age, gender, duration of education, and intracranial volume and conducting false discovery rate correction, six out of the 28 subunits exhibited significant difference between groups including lobules bilateral Crus I, Left V, bilateral VIIB, Right VIIIA. Specifically, the volume of bilateral Crus I, Left V lobules in AD group were smaller, whereas the rest of the subunits with group difference were volumetrically larger in AD group. The volume of the Left V lobule in the AD group showed a negative correlation with ADAS-Cog scores.
Conclusions
In summary, the study highlighted that certain cerebellar subdivisions were susceptible to AD, and revealed the potential impacts of volume alterations in these regions on cognition.
The predictive value of peripheral blood CD4 cells ATP concentration for immune-related adverse events in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Hou Kailian , Ye Weifan , Huang Qunfeng , Li Weiyi , Tan Zhiqiong , tao Na , yang Dongheng , Lin Haoxin , Deng Zihao , Xia Yuanyuan , Yu Guifang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objective
Lung cancer with the highest incidence and mortality in the world. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), can bring long-term survival benefits to patients, but also can bring immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in some patients during therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictive effect of peripheral blood WBC, NLR, sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 on irAEs in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Methods
Clinical data of 112 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with PD -1/PD -L1 inhibitor in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from December 15, 2019 to April 30, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into the irAEs group (n = 27) and non-irAEs group (n = 85). The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the threshold value of baseline peripheral blood parameters to predict the occurrence of irAEs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between peripheral blood markers and the incidence of irAEs.
Results
The patient characteristics have no significant difference between irAEs and non-irAEs group. But the baseline peripheral blood WBC, sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 of patients in the irAEs group were higher than those in the non-irAEs group (p < 0.05), and the NLR in irAEs group was similar to in the non-irAEs group (p = 0.639).Univariate analysis showed that high WBC, sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 may the risk factors for the occurrence of irAEs (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 were independent risk factors for the occurrence of irAEs (p < 0.05). The best critical values of WBC, sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 before treatment for predicting the occurrence of irAEs were 8.165×109cells/L (AUC = 0.705) ,484.5 ng/mL (AUC = 0.777), and 156 ng/mL (AUC = 0.840), respectively.
Conclusions
sATPCD4 and nATPCD4 were independent risk factors for the occurrence of irAEs in advanced NSCLC patients. This discovery provides a new method to predict the occurrence of irAEs in patients. Based on the prediction results, corresponding treatment measures can be taken to reduce the incidence of adverse events
Exploring and optimizing models to predict the risk of death during hospitalization (within 30 days) in elderly patients with COVID-19
Authors: Ma Yimeng , Liu Bowei , Zeng Linna 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
To explore new models on the basis of the CURB-65 score for predicting the risk of death in elderly patients with COVID-19 during their hospitalization and estimate their prediction effectiveness. A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 200 patients aged ≥ 60 years who received inpatient treatment for COVID-19 at the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao between December 13, 2022 and January 16, 2023 was done. The study population was divided into two groups, death (n = 55) and survival (n = 145), and the clinical data of patients in both groups were compared. The new risk predictors of death and their respective β values were obtained by Logistic univariate regression analysis and multivariate analysis. The score weights of the variables contained in the new models were determined according to the β values. New models were constructed, and the AUC of the ROC curve was applied to evaluate the predictive performance of each model. Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed CRP/albumin ratio (β = 1.517, P < 0.001), AST (β = 0.879, P = 0.021), and D-dimer (β = 1.025, P = 0.008) as independent risk predictors of death in elderly inpatients with COVID-19. The construction of models to predict the risk of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with COVID-19 showed that the AUC for Model 1 (CURB-65 score) to predict the risk of death during hospitalization in elderly patients with COVID-19 was 0.777 (95%CI: 0.700-0.854), the AUC for Model 2 (CURB-65 + CRP/albumin ratio score) was 0.829 (95%CI: 0.762–0.896), the AUC for Model 3 (CURB-65 + CRP/albumin ratio + AST score) was 0.846 (95%CI: 0.782–0.910), and the AUC for Model 4 (CURB-65 + CRP/albumin ratio + D-dimer score) was 0.836 (95%CI: 0.771–0.901), Model 5 (CRP/albumin ratio + AST + D-dimer score) had an AUC of 0.782 (95%CI: 0.704–0.860), Model 6 (CURB-65 + CRP/albumin ratio + AST + D-dimer score) had an AUC of 0.849 (95%CI: 0.785–0.914), Model 7 (CURB-65 + AST score) had an AUC of 0.817 (95%CI: 0.747–0.886), Model 8 (CURB-65 + D-dimer score) had an AUC of 0.796 (95%CI: 0.723–0.869), and Model 9 (CURB-65 + AST + D-dimer score) had an AUC of 0.824 (95%CI: 0.754–0.895). Model 3 and Model 6 showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) compared to AUC with CURB-65 scores. The difference in AUC between Model 3 and Model 6 is not statistically significant, but the sensitivity of Model 3 is higher at 0.898. Model 3 and Model 6 have better predictive power compared to the CURB-65 score for the risk of death during hospitalization for elderly patients with COVID-19, and Model 3 is more concise.
Can Bipartite Graph Be Effective Tool for Clustering: A Self Organizing Map-based Automated Plant Disease Detection
Authors: Ghosh Aditi , Roy Parthajit 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

An innovative approach for automated plant disease identification has been proposed in this study. The main contribution of this study is the introduction of a bipartite graph-based clustering technique that has been used for image segmentation, a feature extraction methodology using Self Organizing Map (SOM), and a ray tracing method. Numerous research works have already been done in this area with their respective merits and demerits. But this bipartite graph-based clustering for image segmentation, feature extraction using SOM and ray tracing technique has not been used in any of these studies as far as we are aware. The core idea behind this clustering technique is to represent similar spatial data points using a bipartite graph and then Singular Value Decomposition has been used on that graph for clustering. It is common to use SOM for clustering. However, in this study, SOM has been used for feature extraction. First, a spatial dependency matrix based on the pixel value of the gray image has been constructed using SOM. Then some statistical features have been computed from this matrix. Using the ray tracing method, the length of the most extended cluster i.e. the length of the most extended disease-affected patch, and the distribution of the clusters in the image have been computed. The accuracy of our model has been greatly enhanced using these features only. It has been experimented on disease-affected Grape leaf images taken from the Plant Village Dataset. This model outperforms state-of-the-art models which is shown in the result section. Not only that, the proposed features produce better accuracy rather than using some existing features. This comparison has also been shown in the result section. The result has been validated using K-fold cross-validation. Last, but not the least, these features produce good accuracy using different classifiers also.
Using Coleoptera and Odonata as a monitoring tool for improving protected lake habitat characterisation: a case study from Ireland
Authors: Cappelli Giovanni , Gray Emma , Gammell Martin , Lally Heather 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

“Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains” (code 3110) and “Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds” (code 3160) are two protected lake habitats under Annex I of the European Union Habitats Directive, despite this, their conservation condition is considered unfavourable in most European biogeographic regions. The available classifications rely heavily on water chemistry and phytosociology while leaving other taxa under described. This study used Coleoptera and Odonata communities as a monitoring tool to characterise and distinguish both lake habitat types. Samples were collected from 24 sites in western Ireland over two seasons (spring and summer) using standard sweep netting methods. Despite considerable overlap in assemblages, communities were shaped by lake habitat type, sampling region and season, where lake habitat 3110 hosted a higher diversity of taxa in summer dominated by dragonflies associated with larger, warmer oligotrophic waters, while lake habitat 3160 reflected higher beetle fauna in spring resembling small, turbid, stagnant waterbodies. This research highlights the potential use of aquatic invertebrates as an important monitoring tool for these lake habitats, serves to deepen the current knowledge and fill gaps in their classification, hence improving their conservation condition assessment methods for Member States when reporting under the Habitat Directive.
Optimization of Cloud Services Performance using Static and Dynamic Load Balancing Algorithms
Authors: kumar Raj , Garg Rachit , Sharma Ravi Kumar , Dalip Dalip , Singh Tejbir , Malik Arun , Kumpsuprom Siridech 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Cloud computing occurs across many operating systems, there is a possibility of resource stalemate during resource allocation. The currently available algorithms, such as Min-Min, Min-Max, and Round Robin, among others, all have issues with overhead, hunger, and deadlock. The strategy that was proposed is successful in overcoming the restrictions that were described before. The proposed technique was carried out by taking into account the virtual machine's average response time, maximum response time, lowest response time, and waiting time throughout the migration process. This was done with the goal of avoiding the stalemate. The proposed approach decreases the amount of time required to respond while simultaneously increasing the cloud's overall efficiency.
Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis Identifies a Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Signature for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapeutic Responses in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Liu Jinhua , Han Jingjing , Yang Zheng , Hou Yinglong , Wang Qiying 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Objective: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most prominent cellular component in the stroma of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). The aim of this study was to explore the CAFs-related genes and to develop a CAFs-related model to predict the prognosis and immunotherapeutic efficacy of SKCM.
Method: We collected mRNA expression and clinical information for 449 SKCM patients from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database and 210 patients in the GSE65904 dataset of the GEO (Gene expression Omnibus) database. CAFs infiltrations were quantified by the estimate the proportion of immune and cancer cells (EPIC) method. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify genes CAFs-related genes. A CAFs risk signature was then developed using the univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) Cox regression model. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were applied to elucidate the molecular mechanisms. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm is further used to assess immunotherapeutic responses.
Results: A six-gene (NOTCH3, HEYL, BGN, COL5A1, SULF1, COL1A1) CAFs prediction model was constructed. SKCM patients were divided into high– and low–CAFs-risk groups according to the median CAFs risk score. patients in the CAFs high-risk group had a significantly worse prognosis. GSEA showed that the ECM receptor-interacting and basal cell oncogene set was highly and significantly enriched in the high–CAFs-risk group. The ssGSEA results showed that CAFs risk scores were significantly positively correlated with basal cell carcinoma, melanogenesis and Notch signaling pathways, and significantly negatively correlated with regulation of autophagy and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. ssGSEA results also showed that patients in the high–CAFs-risk group had a poorer response to immunotherapy.
Conclusion: The six CAFs signature genes explored in this study not only reliably predicted prognosis, but also assessed clinical immunotherapy response in SKCM patients, which may have important clinical implications for tailoring anti-CAFs therapy and immunotherapy regimen for each SKCM patient.
Comparative analysis of bacterial diversity of pond water with different output of Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis in dark greenhouse mode
Authors: Wang Yaguang , Chang Xiao , Yan Baoguo , Zhang Huijuan , Guan Yueqiang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Dark greenhouse culture is one of the main culture methods of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. The present study found that the outputs of P. sinensis differed among five ponds with the same initial stocking density and management measures, with the output of pond B with maximum yield being 1.69 times higher than that of pond A with minimum yield. Therefore, the physicochemical factors and bacterial communities of the two ponds were monitored, analyzed and compared. The contents of total nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen in pond B were extremely significantly higher than those in pond A at the late stage of cultivation. Correspondingly, the microbial diversity and richness were also higher in pond B. Additionally, the higher relative abundances of Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, Nitrosomonas, Saccharimonadales andAzospira in pond B conferred it higher nitrification and denitrification ability than pond A in the middle and late stage of cultivation. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed that the Saccharimonadales andAzospira were correlated with total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen. Our results provide a reference for the modulation of the water environment in the dark greenhouse mode that used for turtle cultivation.
Hypertension and gout: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: yanfang li , Xie Yufeng , Li Jun , Chang Zhichun , Zhang Jianmei , Zhou Zunming , Ren Rong , Chen Yun 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background: Although there is solid epidemiological evidence supporting the connection between hypertension and gout, the causal relationship and direction associated are uncertain, so we aim to research the causal relationship between hypertension and gout.
Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal effect between hypertension (including diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure) and gout (including gout, drug-induced gout, idiopathic gout, unspecified gout, and strictly defined gout) using genome-wide association study statistics. The inverse variance weighting method was used to generate the main results, while sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger, weighted median, Cochran’s Q test, Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis, were performed to assess the stability and reliability of the results.
Results: After the screening, we found a causal relationship between diastolic blood pressure and gout, idiopathic gout, unspecified gout, and strictly defined gout, and a causal relationship between systolic blood pressure and gout, idiopathic gout, unspecified gout, and strictly defined gout.
Conclusion: It is indicated that the control of hypertension may reduce the risk of gout.