bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of PGPR obtained from different arsenic contaminated soil samples and their effect on photosynthetic characters of maize grown under arsenic stress
Authors: Waheed Zainab , Iqbal Sumera , Irfan Muhammad , Jabeen Khajista , Ilyas Noshin , Al-Qahtani Wahidah H. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Contamination of the environment due to speedup of anthropogenic activities become a serious threat to modern humanity. Among the contaminant the new emerging concern is the heavy metals (HMs) contamination in the environment. Because the persistence and harmfulness of heavy metals affect the ecosystem and the health of plants, animals and humans, they are the most toxic substances in the environment. Among them, Arsenic (As) emerged as major environmental constraint leading to enormous negative effects on the plant, animal and human health. Even in minute quantity, As is known to cause various critical diseases in humans and toxicity in plants. Research was performed to observe the capability of plant growth promoting strains of bacteria in enhancingZea mays(L.) growth in arsenic polluted soil. Total 30 bacterial strains were isolated from the polluted soils, screened for plant growth promotion potential and arsenic tolerance. Eighteen isolates showed resistance to different levels of sodium arsenate (ranging from 0 to 50 mM) in agar plate using LB media. Of 18 isolates, 83.3% produced IAA, methyl red and hydrogen cyanide, 55.5% exhibited catalase activity, 61.1% showed siderophore production, 88.8% showed phosphate solubilization and 44.4% showed oxidase, Voges proskauer activity and KOH solubility. The most efficient isolates SR3, SD5 and MD3 with significant arsenic tolerance and plant growth promoting (PGP) activity were examined via sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA gene. Isolates of bacteria i.e., SR3, SD5 and MD3 showing multiple PGP-traits were identified asBacillus pumilus(NCBI accession number: OR459628),Paenibacillus faecalis(NCBI accession number: OR461560) andPseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticum(NCBI accession number: OR458922), respectively. Maize seeds treated with these PGPR strains were grown in pots contaminated with 50 ppm and 100 ppm sodium arsenate. Compared to untreated arsenic stressed plants, bacterial inoculationPseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticum(MD3) resulted 20.54%, 18.55%, 33.45%, 45.08% and 48.55% improvement of photosynthetic pigments (carotenoid content, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance (gs), substomatal CO2and photosynthetic rate respectively. Principal component analysis explained that first two components were more than 96% of the variability for each tested parameter. The results indicate that in comparison to other isolates,Pseudochrobactrum asaccharolyticumisolate can be used as efficient agent for improving maize growth under arsenic polluted soil.
Elevated acylcarnitines C4 and C5 in cerebrospinal fluid distinguish viral CNS infections from autoimmune neuroinflammation
Authors: Al-Mekhlafi Amani , Waqas Fakhar , Krueger Maike , Klawonn Frank , Akmatov Manas , Müller-Vahl Kirsten , Trebst Corinna , Skripuletz Thomas , Stangel Martin , Sühs Kurt-Wolfram , Pessler Frank 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background.
Viral and autoimmune encephalitis may present with similar symptoms, but require different treatments. Thus, there is a need for biomarkers to improve diagnosis and understanding of pathogenesis. We hypothesized that virus-host cell interactions effect different changes in central nervous system (CNS) metabolism than autoimmune processes and searched for metabolite biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to distinguish between the two conditions.
Methods.
We applied a targeted metabolomic/lipidomic analysis to CSF samples from patients with viral CNS infections (n = 34; due to herpes simplex virus [n = 9], varicella zoster virus [n = 15], enteroviruses [n = 10]), autoimmune neuroinflammation (n = 25; autoimmune anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis [n = 8], multiple sclerosis [n = 17), and non-inflamed controls (n = 31; Gilles de la Tourette syndrome [n = 20], Bell’s palsy with normal CSF cell count [n = 11]). 85 metabolites passed quality screening and were evaluated as biomarkers. Standard diagnostic CSF parameters were assessed for comparison.
Results.
Of the standard CSF parameters, the best biomarkers were: CSF cell count for viral infections vs. controls (area under the ROC curve, AUC = 0.93), Q-albumin for viral infections vs. autoimmune neuroinflammation (AUC = 0.86), and IgG index for autoimmune neuroinflammation vs. controls (AUC = 0.90). Concentrations of 2 metabolites differed significantly (p < 0.05) between autoimmune neuroinflammation and controls, with proline being the best biomarker (AUC = 0.77). In contrast, concentrations of 67 metabolites were significantly higher in viral infections than controls, with SM.C16.0 being the best biomarker (AUC = 0.94). Concentrations of 68 metabolites were significantly higher in viral infections than in autoimmune neuroinflammation, and the 10 most accurate metabolite biomarkers (AUC = 0.89–0.93) were substantially better than Q-albumin (AUC = 0.86). These biomarkers comprised six phosphatidylcholines (AUC = 0.89–0.92), two sphingomyelins (AUC = 0.89, 0.91), and acylcarnitines isobutyrylcarnitine (C4, AUC = 0.92) and isovalerylcarnitine (C5, AUC = 0.93). Elevated C4 and C5 concentrations suggested dysfunctional mitochondrial β-oxidation and correlated only moderately with CSF cell count (Spearman ρ = 0.41 and 0.44), indicating that their increase is not primarily driven by inflammation.
Conclusions.
As opposed to autoimmune neuroinflammation, viral CNS infections likely interfere with mitochondrial energy generation in target cells, thus identifying short-chain acylcarnitines as potential diagnostic biomarkers for the differentiation between the two conditions.
Spatial Assessment of forest litterfall in Central Himalayas (India): Comparison of geospatial, remote sensing and data-driven estimates
Authors: K Kripa M , K Dadhwal V , Kaushik Atul 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
A comparison of multiple approaches for annual litterfall estimation and spatial assessment of forests was carried out for the state of Uttarakhand (Geog. Area = 54533 sq. km, Forest Area- 24652.32 sq. km) in Central Himalayas, India. Non-spatial approach used meta-analysis of published litterfall studies in Uttarakhand (29 studies with 115 measurements over sites/years) classified by forest types and area under forest types estimated by remote sensing by Forest Survey of India. The measured mean litterfall ranged from a high of 7.88 t/ha/yr for the sub-tropical broad- leaved forests to a low of 3.70 t/ha/yr in plantations. Spatial models of litterfall used a data-driven approach with 100 measurements and a random forest (RF) model that used bioclimate, elevation and forest type as covariates at a spatial grid of 1km resolution. This estimate was compared with published global (Li et al., 2019) and European (Neumann et al., 2018) spatial models. The total litterfall with five different forest-type area and estimated mean litterfall varied between 12.34 to 14.69 Mt/yr and with spatial allocation to forest type map estimated 14.02 Mt/yr litterfall. Data-driven spatial model using Random Forest approach estimated 13.305 Mt/yr of total litterfall. Use of spatial litterfall models developed for other study areas resulted in estimates that ranged from 9.11–15.81 Mt/yr. The study provides important insights towards developing a spatial gridded annual litterfall dataset for India and its use for studying the dynamics of forest carbon cycle.
Effects of CLIC family expression levels on the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Yang Di , Zhou Guomei , Tang Ning , Qin Huaxing , Gai Shasha , Yao Mingzhe , Peng Huixin , Chen Wencheng , Huang Qun , Liang Zhengfang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose
CLIC family members act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in multiple cancer processes. However, the CLIC family of genes in bladder cancer is currently not well characterized.
Methods
375 bladder cancer samples containing RNASeq and clinical data were downloaded from the TCGA database. The present study aimed to analyze the role of CLIC members in bladder cancer using bioinformatics analysis. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were performed to quantify gene and protein expression, respectively. The impact of CLIC members on the characteristics of the TME was also analyzed.
Results
The differences in expression among the 5 CLIC family members were statistically significant in bladder cancer, including CLIC1, CLIC2, CLIC3, CLIC4, and CLIC5. CLIC3 and CLIC4 were two independent prognostic factors associated with poor overall survival in patients with bladder cancer. The results of q-PCR and western bloting showed that CLIC3 was overexpressed in bladder cancer and CLIC4 was expressed at low level in bladder cancer. Similar trends were observed in both q-PCR and western blotting. Among the tumor microenvironmental scores, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint genes, CLIC3 and CLIC4 were associated. CLIC3 and CLIC4 were able to influence bladder cancer chemotherapy sensitivity as well as immunotherapy efficacy.
Conclusion
A study like this improves the method of assessing bladder cancer patients' prognoses, and would help optimize chemotherapeutic strategies as well as immunotherapy efficacy in consideration of the expression of CLIC3 and CLIC4.
Frequency Analysis of Rainfall &amp; Discharge for a Sub-Watershed of Cauvery River
Authors: Madasamy Nagarajan , M Manikandan , E Sujitha , A Valliammai 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

The analysis of precipitation data would upgrade the management and effective utilization of water resources, which thus anticipates flood and dry season. Precipitation and temperature data from 1901 to 2016 were extracted from the CRU TS 4.01 data set for the grid enclosing the sub-watershed of the Cauvery river. Basic statistical analyses were conducted on this data to learn about the long-term characteristics of the rainfall. From the analysis of rainfall characteristics, it has been observed that NEM and SWM contribute and accounts for 83.4% of the total annual rainfall. Using Weibull (1951) method, the estimation of probability of exceedance was carried out through rainfall frequency analysis and 50%, 75% and 90% dependable rainfall values were found to be 894.40 mm, 801.10 mm and 683.30 mm, respectively. The Departure analysis of rainfall was also conducted and the result showed that 72% of the total years (116 years) were observed under normal rainfall. For the analysis of rainfall, the CARTODEM tiles corresponding to the location were downloaded from Bhuvan website and the watershed boundary map was generated in ArcMap 10.1. An empirical equation was used to estimate the discharges corresponding to the rainfall period and the annual average discharge for the watershed was calculated as 63.88 cumecs. The flow duration curves within the watershed were developed and plotted through the estimated discharge. The 50%, 75% and 90% of probability of exceedance values were found to be 62.4, 54.4 & 44.3 cumecs, respectively for the yearly discharges.
In Vitro Explant Sterilization and Bud Proliferation Studies on Some Imported Peach Rootstocks
Authors: Eliwa Galal I. , El-Dengawy El-Refaey F. , Gawish Mohamed S. , Yamany Mona M. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The present investigation was conducted in the Laboratory of Tissue Culture, Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Egypt. The objective of this study was to establish a micropropagation protocol suitable for three imported peach rootstocks {Okinawa (P. persica), Nemared (P. persica × P. davidiana) × P. persica) and Garnem (P. dulcis × P. persica)} In vitro. According to the results, soaking the explants in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at 20% for 15 min achieved the highest value of responsive (82.81%) and Survived (96.61%) with a minimum value of dead (3.14%) and contaminated (0.24%). Garnem genotype explants had achieved the best response (89.12%) and Survived (90.62%) with minimum dead (0.00%) and maximum contamination (9.37%). The shoot tips showed the highest responsive, Survived, and dead% (100, 87.40 and12.59% respectively) and minimum significant contaminated (0.00%). Also, the explants differed significantly in their percentages of responsive, survived, dead, and contaminated at the different collected dates.
The 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) concentrations used (3 to 5.0 mg/L-1) demonstrated similar behavior in terms of in vitro proliferation, with rates of 3.77 to 6.11, 4.33 to 8.88 and 3.33 to 7.44 shoots per explant for Okinawa, Nemared, and Garnem peach rootstocks respectively, indicating that the number of shoots proliferation is genotype dependent. Moreover, using 5.0 mg/L-1 BAP in combination with 0.2 mg/L-1 IBA produced higher significant values of average shoot proliferation % (96.29%) as well as number of shoots per explant (7.48) and average Leaves number/explant (16.33) than the other treatments. From these results, we could conclude that indole-butyric acid (IBA) synergists with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) improved adventitious bud development in vitro multiplication of Okinawa, Nemared, and Garnem peach rootstocks.
Practical, high-speed Gaussian coherent state continuous variable quantum key distribution with real-time parameter monitoring, optimised slicing, and post-processed key distillation
Authors: Weerasinghe Amanda , Alhussein Muataz , Alderton Adam , Wonfor Adrian , Penty Richard 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Gaussian coherent state continuous variable quantum key distribution has gained interest owing to its security and compatibility with classical coherent optical fibre networks. For successful system deployment it is necessary to implement practical high speed systems which distil keys efficiently. Here, we demonstrate a Gaussian coherent state continuous variable quantum key distribution system at a 50 MHz symbol rate. Unlike most demonstrations to date which measure excess noise and infer key rates from this, we record signals in real time and distil keys. We also demonstrate, for the first time, slice reconciliation with optimised guard bands to maximise achievable secret key rates. Using this optimisation with multilevel slicing, a record 5 Mb/s secret key rate after a transmission distance of 25 km is achieved. This is a significant improvement on the 3 Mb/s secret key rate which is achieved with single level optimised slice reconciliation.
EANDL: A High-performance and Low-cost Effort-Aware Just-in-Time Software Defect Prediction Model
Authors: Chen Liqiong , Wang Ying , Song Shilong , Yu Caizhu , Sun Huaiying 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Just-in-time software defect prediction (JIT-SDP) is a fine-grained software defect prediction technology and its predictive entity is code changes. Effort-aware just-in-time software defect prediction (Effort-aware JIT-SDP) is a defect prediction technology that takes the cost of detection into consideration with the goal of detecting more defect changes with less cost. To solve the problem of poor prediction performance of Effort aware JIT-SDP model, an Effort-aware JIT-SDP model called EANDL based on NSGA3, Differential Evolution and Logistic Regression is proposed. Firstly, two evaluation metrics called DPR and LDSOD are proposed to evaluate the sorting performance. Secondly, the prediction model is constructed by using logistic regression and maximizing two evaluation metrics using NSGA3-DE so as to determine the optimal coefficient vector of logistic regression. In addition, two metrics called ACE and ACEP to measure the effort consumption of Effort-aware JIT-SDP models are proposed. Finally, intensive simulation experiments have been conducted on six open-source datasets to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method. Empirical results demonstrate that EANDL outperforms eight typical and classical supervised and unsupervised models in terms of sorting performance, effort consumption, and response time.
Physcion and its mixture with several fungicides improve the yield of wheat by increasing the control effect to wheat powdery mildew, the antioxidant activity, and photosynthetic efficiency
Authors: Tian Zhixiang , Li Jingchong , Zhang Fulong , Xu Li , Zhou Feng , Wang Hongliang , Liu Runqiang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Soil-borne diseases are one of the greatest constraints to wheat productivity. Physcion could induce the resistance of plant and is used to control powdery mildew by spraying in China. In this study, field trial of physcion and its mixtures with fungicide commonly used on wheat was applied as seed coating agent in Huang-Huai-hai plain, the main production region of wheat in China. The emergence rate, tiller number, control effect to powdery mildew, antioxidant enzyme activity, chlorophyll content and final yield of wheat were determined. Results showed that the combination of physcion, validamycin, pyrimidine nucleotide (1#), and physcion, azoxystrobin (3#) at 1:50 exhibit the highest emergence rate, tillering number, control effect to wheat powdery mildew, defense ability enhancement of wheat leaves to stress, photosynthetic efficiency improvement, the accumulation of dry matter and the increasement of yields. The results provided an alternative approach to increase the control effect to disease in wheat fields and laid basis on the reasonable application of physcion.
Behavioral skills training for teaching safety skills to mental health service providers compared to training-as-usual: a pragmatic randomized control trial
Authors: Lin Elizabeth , Malhas Mais , Bratsalis Emmanuel , Thomson Kendra , Hargreaves Fabienne , Donner Kayle , Baig Heba , Boateng Rhonda , Swain Rajlaxmi , Benadict Mary Benisha , Busch Louis 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background:
Violence in the healthcare workplace has been a global concern for over two decades, with a high prevalence of violence towards healthcare workers reported. Workplace violence has become a healthcare quality indicator and embedded in quality improvement initiatives of many healthcare organizations. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s largest mental health hospital, provides all clinical staff with mandated staff safety training for self-protection and team-control skills. These skills are to be used as a last resort when a patient is at imminent risk of harm to self or others. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy by comparing two training methods of this mandated staff safety training for workplace violence in a large psychiatric hospital setting.
Methods:
Using a pragmatic randomized control trial design, this study compares two approaches to teaching safety skills; CAMH’s training-as-usual (TAU) using the 3D approach (description, demonstration and doing) and behavioural skills training (BST), from the field of applied behaviour analysis, using instruction, modeling, practice and feedback loop. Staff were assessed on three outcome measures (competency, mastery and confidence), across three time points: before training (baseline), immediately after training (post-training) and one month later (follow-up). This study has been registered (ISRCTN18133140, September 6, 2023).
Results:
With a sample size of 99 new staff, results indicate that BST was significantly better than TAU in improving observed performance of self-protection and team-control skills. Both methods were associated with improved skills and confidence. However, there was a decrease in skill performance levels at the one-month follow-up for both methods, with BST remaining higher than TAU scores across all three time points. The impact of training improved staff confidence in both training methods and remained high across all three time points.
Conclusions:
The study findings suggest that BST is more effective than TAU in improving safety skills among healthcare workers. However, the retention of skills over time remains a concern, and therefore a single training session without on-the-job-feedback or booster sessions based on objective assessments of skill may not be sufficient. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings in different settings.
What is the stable internal fixation for the unstable and osteoporotic supracondylar femoral fractures: A Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Rao Jianwei , Zhang Junchao , Ye Zhou , Zhang Liguang , Xu Jiangbao 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background:
Osteoporotic supracondylar femoral fractures (OSFF) have historically been managed by the lateral anatomical locking plate with reasonable success. However, for some kinds of unstable and osteoporotic supracondylar femoral fractures (UOSFF), especially with bone defects, unilateral locking plate (ULLP) fixation failed or resulted in implant breakage. This paper is going to explore what is the stable internal fixation for UOSFF by adding the bilateral locking plate (BLLP) fixation.
Methods:
OSFF models were divided into two groups according to the fracture line type, which would be further subdivided according to their angle of fracture line, presence of bone defect, location and degree of bone defect. Thereafter, kinds of locking plate fixation were constructed. A 2010-N load was applied to the femoral head, and a 1086-N load was applied to the greater trochanter. In this condition, the maximum von Mises stress distribution of models were investigated.
Results:
Firstly, it was obviously found that the stress concentration in the BLLP group was more dispersed than that in the ULLP group. Secondly, according to the fracture line analysis, the stress value of fracture line type in “\” model group was higher than that of “/” model group. Moreover, with the increase of fracture line angle, the stress value of the model increased. Thirdly, from the bone defect analysis, the stress value of the medial bone defect (MBD) model group was higher than that of the lateral bone defect (LBD) model group. And as the degree of bone defect increased, the stress value increased gradually in the model group.
Conclusion:
In the following four cases, lateral unilateral locking plate fixation cannot effectively stabilize the fracture end, and double locking plate internal fixation is a necessary choice. First, when the angle of the fracture line is large (30, 45). Second, when the fracture line type is “/”. Third, when the bone defect is large.Fourth, when the bone defect is medial.