bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Honey Handling Practices Along the Supply Chain From Gera District to Jimma Town, Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Abdi Gemechu G. , Tola Yetenayet B. , Kuyu Chala G , Muleta Obsuman D 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Honey is one of the agricultural products produced for different purposes as a food, and condiment, and has medicinal value. The quality and safety of honey supplied to the market are in question due to mishandling practices and suspected adulteration for unfair economic gain. This study aimed to assess honey handling practices along the supply chain from the Gera district to the main market destination (Jimma town) in the southwest part of Ethiopia. Information was gathered from a total of 292 sampled members of different chain actors (262 beekeeper households, 5 beekeeper cooperatives, and 25 retailers). Data on handling practices affecting quality and safety were collected through observation and interviews using pretested semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Most of the beekeeper households (88%) do not store many portions of harvested honey for more than six months; whereas, the majority of cooperative beekeepers (80%) store from 6 months to one year. In the study area, different types of plastic containers like jute sacks with polyethylene plastic lining (76%), clay pots (17%), bottle gourd, and containers made up of aluminum (7%) were commonly used honey packaging materials. Traders (73% in Chira, 40% in Agaro, and 44% in Jimma) store honey together with other commodities like wax and cow butter in the storage place. The majority of the household beekeepers (92%) and all of the cooperative respondents responded that the potential honey adulterants are flour of wheat and maize, banana fruit, cooked sweet potato, water, and most commonly with sugar syrup. Quick adulteration detection methods such as rubbing a small amount of honey sample between fingers, visually observing the clarity of the honey, and checking the aroma and odor of the honey were used in the study area. Generally, poor handling practices and adulteration at each supply chain actor in the study area could negatively affect the quality and safety of honey.
Assessment of biosecurity traits and in situ antibacterial activities of Weissella cibaria strains isolated from Campos das Vertentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil focused for a potential probiotic and food application
Authors: Teixeira Camila Gonçalves , Belguesmia Yanath , Rodrigues Rafaela Silva , Lucau-Danila Anca , Nero Luís Augusto , Carvalho Antônio Fernandes , Drider Djamel 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The antagonistic Weissella cibaria strains W21, W25 and W42 are characterized in this study for additional beneficial properties. These strains display therefore high scores of adhesion to intestinal cell-lines and capacities to exclude in situ pathogens such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA S1) and Escherichia coli 184, which is resistant to colistin. Further, W. cibaria W21, W25 and W42 were hemolysis-negative, non-cytotoxic towards a mix of eukaryotic Caco2 and HT-29 cell-lines, do not induce inflammation on the promonocytic human cell line U937, but were unable to survive conditions mimicking the human gastrointestinal tract. Their biosafety aspect was addressed in silico and experimentally by studying their blood-hemolysis and susceptibility to antibiotics. To sum up, W. cibaria W21, W25 and W42 have no acquired related antimicrobial resistance genes and mobile genetic elements (MGE) in their genomes. Nevertheless, their intrinsic resistance to vancomycin was established in vitro and confirmed with in silico analyses. Their difficulties to face the gastrointestinal conditions could be overcome by using appropriate delivery systems. Taking all these data together, we claim that W. cibaria W21, W25 and W42 are coming as excellent strains candidates with wide a range of industrial applications and bio-functional properties .
Long-term outcome and prognostic factors of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma after laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Peng Xu , Ke Jianji , Wan Qian , Liu Yahui 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is recognized as one of the most malignant malignancies and has a very poor prognosis. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is one of the radical surgeries for early PDAC. However, the long-term survival outcomes of PDAC patients undergoing LPD surgery and what factors influence their prognosis have been rarely reported. To find the answers to these questions, we designed and implemented this study. A total of 141 patients who underwent LPD and had pathologically confirmed PDAC between May 2016 and August 2020 at the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University(Changchun, China) were enrolled in the study. We followed them regularly after their discharge and collected their clinicopathological data until December 2021. We analyzed these clinicopathological data and performed a survival analysis. During the patients' follow-up period, recurrence occurred in 98 patients; deaths occurred in 93 patients. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) of PDAC patients was 12.6 months, while the median overall survival (OS) of PDAC patients was 16.3 months. Patients with elevated CA242 and CA19-9 levels, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size > 3cm had worse prognoses (P < 0.05). In conclusion, elevated CA242 and CA19-9 levels, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size > 3cm were unfavorable independent prognostic factors for PDAC patients undergoing LPD.
Lung recruitment and hyperinflation with higher positive end-expiratory pressure in COVID-19: a computed tomography study
Authors: Protti Alessandro , Santini Alessandro , Pennati Francesca , Corte Francesca Dalla , Martinetti Nicolò , Pugliese Luca , Picardo Giorgio , Chiurazzi Chiara , Ferrari Michele , Costantini Elena , Aliverti Andrea , Cecconi Maurizio 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
A higher (> 10 cmH2O) positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is commonly used in patients with moderate to severe hypoxemia due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, compliance more commonly decreases when PEEP is increased from 10 to 15 cmH2O, as for lung hyperinflation. In this study, we directly measured lung recruitment and hyperinflation induced by increasing PEEP from 10 to 15 cmH2O in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.
Methods
Twenty mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 underwent a lung computed tomography (CT) at 10 and 15 cmH2O of airway pressure. Gas exchange and compliance were then measured with 10 and 15 cmH2O of PEEP. Recruitment was computed as the decrease of the non-aerated lung volume (density above − 100 HU) and hyperinflation as the increase of the over-aerated lung volume (density below − 900 HU). If recruitment was larger than hyperinflation, the net morphological response was “recruitment”; otherwise, it was “hyperinflation”.
Results
With 10 cmH2O of PEEP, the median (Q1-Q3) arterial tension to the inspiratory fraction of oxygen (PaO2:FiO2) was 146 (107–197) mmHg. The net morphological response to increasing PEEP was recruitment in nine (45%) patients and hyperinflation in eleven (55%). Oxygenation improved in twelve (60%) patients, but compliance in only three (15%). Compliance with 10 cmH2O of PEEP ≤ 45 cmH2O/ml predicted net recruitment in response to increasing PEEP with a positive predictive value of 0.89 (95%-confidence intervals: 0.49-1.00) and a negative predictive value of 0.91 (0.59-1.00).
Conclusions
The morphological response to a higher PEEP is largely variable in patients with COVID-19, ranging from net recruitment (in half of the patients) to net hyperinflation (in the other half). Baseline compliance may help to predict the individual response to increasing PEEP.
Genetic diversity analysis of Rumex patientia L. in different habitats
Authors: Chang Mingzhu , Yunhe Cui , Tingyu Li , Yupeng Li , Runhong Mu , Jianyu Zhu 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Objective
The present study was undertaken to investigate the genetic diversity of Rumex patientia L. in distinct habitat types.
Methods
Eighty samples from 4 natural populations in Jilin Province of China were analyzed by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR).
Results
ISSR techniques produced 135 bands and 71 polymorphic bands, of which the polymorphic bands (PPB) accounted for 52.6% among natural populations; the gene diversity (H) was 0.1751, and Shannon's diversity index (I) was 0.2634. In the population, the percentage of polymorphic loci (P) was 25.93% and 37.04%, the genetic diversity index (H) was 0.0714–0.1124 and Shannon’s diversity index (I) was 0.1121–0.1676. Population E had the highest genetic diversity, however, population S had the lowest. Based on the species genetic differentiation analysis, the total Nei diversity index (Ht) of Rumex patientia L. from Jilin City was 0.1110 and the within-population genetic diversity (Hs) was 0.1751. The coefficient of genetic differentiation between population areas (GST) was 0.3662. The Gene flow between populations was 0.8654.
Conclusion
The results showed that the inter-population variation accounted for 36.62% of the total variation, and the intra-population variation accounted for 63.38%. Cluster analysis based on Nei’s genetic distance showed that the greatest genetic distance between E and S (0.1218) and the closest genetic distance between W and N (0.0794).
Antibiotic resistance Lactobacillus spp. from human breast milk: can be an option as probiotics?
Authors: Hernández Taimy , Sánchez Ileana , López Naldis , Prieto Leyanis , Hernández Aldo , Arenal Amilcar 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Aim: The present study aimed to characterize microbial isolates from human breast milk.
Methods and Results: The isolates were identified using its 16S rDNA sequences. The isolates were characterized by determining their resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH, bile salts, and lysozyme), antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial activity, biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production, and carbohydrate fermentation profile. Five isolates were obtained belongi with probiotic properties were obtained belonging to the species of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus arizonensisort about L. arizonensis isolated from human breast milk. The isolates LT1512 and LM1563C presented the best probiotic properties due to high percentages of survival under gastrointestinal conditions, antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, resistance to twelve antibiotics, biofilm formation, and a wide fermentative characteristic related to carbohydrates contained in food.
Conclusions: This study confirmed that the breast milk of women with a healthy food pattern is a good source of isolation from lactic acid bacteria.
Significance and Impact of the Study:
Milk carries a microbiota with potential probiotic properties making it a source and a focus for further research.
Impacts of Tax Digitalisation on Tax Revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bassongui Nassibou , Houngbédji Honoré 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
This study investigates whether and how tax digitalisation reforms operated in sub-Saharan African countries generate more tax revenues. To this end, we performed a systematic literature review based on case-country studies. Our conceptual model shows that new business creation, tax morale, tax compliance, efficiency in tax collection and e-governance are channels through which the digital economy affects the mobilisation of tax revenues. We also found that tax digitalisation significantly improved tax revenues in the sample. However, our findings reveal a scarcity of evidence on the nexus of digitalisation and tax revenues. Further research is needed to fill this gap.
JEL Code: M15, E62, O55.
A Robust Ferroptosis-Related Prognostic Model Associated With Immune Infiltration, Tumor Mutation Burden in Bladder Cancer
Authors: Dai Xianyu , Cao Hongliang , Wang Hongjie , Zhong Rong , Luo Chenming , Ge Pinxu , Zhang Zhongqi , Yuan Tengfei , Fan Yanpeng , Liu Heng , Hou Yuchuan 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common clinical disease with a poor prognosis caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Despite many treatments available, the risk of recurrence and metastasis remains high. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered iron-dependent programmed cell death. More and more scientific studies have shown that inducing ferroptosis of tumor cells can inhibit tumor cell growth and disease progression, especially for some tumors that are not sensitive to traditional treatments. However, whether the ferroptosis-related genes(FRGs) can accurately predict the prognosis of BC patients is still not very clear and significant biomarkers are still insufficient.
Results: Six genes (EGFR, FADS1, ISCU, PGRMC1, PTPN6, and TRIM26) were identified to construct a prognostic risk model. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) training cohort was divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the median risk score. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that the overall survival (OS) of the high-risk group was worse than that of the low-risk group. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves showed excellent predictive accuracy. TCGA validation cohort and three independent Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to conduct further external validation. A series of functional analyses demonstrated the relationship between tumor microenvironment and FRGs, and between tumor mutation burden and immunotherapy in the high- and low-risk groups. Conclusion: A robust prognostic risk model was established, which has independent predictive value for the prognosis of BC patients. The correlations between ferroptosis and tumor immune infiltration, immunotherapy, and tumor mutation burden were studied, providing insights into the treatment of bladder cancer patients in the future.
Methods: We downloaded the gene expression data and corresponding clinical information of bladder cancer samples from TCGA database in the UCSC-Xena and GEO public database, and obtained FRGs from the FerrDb platform. Univariate Cox regression analysis, multivariate Cox regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to screen out FRGs with clinical predictive value. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed to explore the classical signaling pathways related to ferroptosis. CIBERSORT was used to quantify the infiltration of 22 kinds of immune cells.
Detoxification effects and potential mechanisms of NP-induced hepatotoxicity by ethanolic extracts from Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f.) Lindau leaf
Authors: Xiao Xueman , Chen Congying , Huang Huiying , Shi Jian , Liu Huan , Liu Chunhong 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Clinacanthus nutans(Burm.f.) Lindau (C. nutans) is native to tropical Asian countries and is an important ingredient in the traditional medicinal system. It is of interest because of the flavonoids it contains, which are rare in plants. It has traditionally been used to treat herpes infections and snake venoms. However, the ability of C. nutans to counteract exogenous chemical-induced hepatotoxicity is not yet known. Nonylphenol (NP) is a widely distributed environmental endocrine disruptor, and the liver is one of the target organs for its toxic effects. In this study, we designed in vitro tests to investigate the protective effect of ethanolic extracts from C. nutans leaf (CE) on NP-induced hepatotoxicity and its molecular mechanism. Sixty µM NP was selected as the optimum to treat Hep G2 cells for 24 h to establish a cell injury model, and the intervention doses of CE were 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 mg/mL, followed by ERK inhibitor (PD98059), P38 inhibitor (SB202190), Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) to assist in validation of the intervention mechanism. The results showed that CE could reverse NP-induced Hep G2 cytotoxicity and upregulated cell survival, cellular GSH content, CAT viability and ATP content which was probably achieved by inhibiting ERK/P38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway and activating the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway. These data suggest that CE play a detoxifying role in NP-induced hepatotoxicity, which may be achieved by inhibiting the ERK/P38 MAPKs pathway and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
Thermodynamic properties of a GaAs quantum well from semi-relativistic quantum mechanics
Authors: Tshipa Moletlanyi 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
A semi-relativistic quantum mechanical equation is arrived at. This is achieved by considering the Taylor series expansion of the energy of a particle to the fourth, sixth order and later generalized to infinity. As an illustration of the equations obtained herein, thermodynamic properties of a GaAs quantum well are evaluated. The results obtained considering the fourth and sixth order contributions are compared with those obtained from the second order Schrodinger equation. The contributions of the fourth and sixth order corrections are studied under different conditions. Results show that fourth order contributions are more significant than those of the sixth order, particularly for narrow quantum wells.
Reverse auctions with transportation and convex costs
Authors: Heymann Benjamin , Jofré Alejandro 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We discuss a procurement problem with transportation losses and piecewise linear production costs.We first provide an algorithm based on Knaster-Tarski's fixed point theorem to solve the allocationproblem in the quadratic losses case. We then identify a monotony condition on the types distribution under which the Bayesian cost minimizing mechanism takes a simple form.
Computational design of Novel Casein kinase 2 small molecule inhibitors for cancer therapy
Authors: Gopalakrishna Keerthi Priya , Gopinathan Kirthika , DAB REX , Kanekar Saptami , Pavadai Parasuraman , Chandrasekaran Jaikanth 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a key role in the regulation of a wide range of cellular processes. Recent studies have suggested that CK2 may be involved in cancer development and progression. CK2 has been found to be overexpressed in several types of cancer, including breast, lung, and prostate cancer. Despite the twelve ATP competitive CK2 inhibitors, only the carboxylic derivative CX-4945 is now in Phase I/II clinical trials. The feasibility of synthesis and the diversity of chemical structures with acceptable biological properties are the most compelling challenges in small molecule discovery. To overcome these constraints, we used an e-pharmacophore model for the CX4945-CK2 complex, followed by virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs, and repositioned five drugs in the current study based on their docking score, interaction pattern with critical amino acid residues, and occupancy at the active site. Furthermore, in the "DrugSpaceX" database, first level transformation (set 1 analogues) was performed, yielding 1,589 analogues. DE153270 was the top-ranked set 1 analogue based on virtual screening, with a docking score of -10.854 kcal/mol and a SA score of 2.7, followed by DE153526 (docking score -10.852), DE13269 (docking score -10.617), DE150709 (docking score -10.608), and DE153268 (docking score -10.608). (Docking score -9.543). According to the t-SNE visualization, the transformation around Deferasirox, Masoprocol, and Bromozepam are more promising for building CK2 inhibitors. The complex CK2-DE153270 (analogue from deferasirox) was simulated for 200 nanoseconds using additional parameters, and the protein and ligand RMSD showed that DE153270 firmly bonded to active site residues and preserved important contacts at Lys68, Asp175, and Trp176. Other databases do not include information on the lead DE153270. These data suggest that the new candidate DE153270 is likely to have an inhibitory effect at the CK2 binding site.
Prediction of neoplastic gallbladder polyps in patients with different age level based on preoperative ultrasound: a multi-center retrospective real-world study
Authors: Li Qi , Dou Minghui , Liu Hengchao , Jia Pengbo , Wang Xintuan , Geng Xilin , Zhang Yu , Yang Rui , Li Junhui , Yang Wenbin , Yao Chunhe , Zhang Xiaodi , Lei Da , Yang Chenglin , Hao Qiwei , Liu Yimin , Guo Zhihua , Geng Zhimin , Zhang Dong 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of neoplastic polyps in gallbladder polyps (GPs) increases sharply with age and is associated with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). This study aims to predict neoplastic polyps and provide appropriate treatment strategies based on preoperative ultrasound features in patients with different age level.
Methods: According to the age classification of WHO, 1523 patients with GPs who underwent cholecystectomy from January 2015 to December 2019 at 11 tertiary hospitals in China were divided into young adults group (n=622), middle-aged group (n=665) and elderly group (n=236). Linear scoring models were established based on independent risk variables screened by Logistic regression model in different age groups. The area under ROC (AUC) to evaluate the predictive ability of linear scoring models, long- and short diameter of GPs.
Results: Independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps included number of polyps, polyp size (long diameter), and fundus in young adults and elderly groups, while number of polyps, polyp size (long diameter), and polyp size (short diameter) in middle-aged groups. In different age groups, the AUCs of its linear scoring model was higher than the AUCs of the long- and short diameter of GPs for differentiating neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps (all P<0.05), and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test showed that the prediction accuracy of the linear scoring models was higher than the long- and short diameter of GPs (all P>0.05).
Conclusion: The linear scoring models of young adults, middle-aged and elderly groups can effectively distinguish neoplastic polyps from non-neoplastic polyps based on preoperative ultrasound features.
Selective effects of ginseng fibrous root necromass on the fungal community in the rhizosphere and the related mechanism of ginseng replant disease
Authors: Zhu Si-Heng , Li Yu-Ting , Baoyin Bate , Zhang Lianxue , Li Yu , Xiao Shengyuan 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Summer Surface Warming Driven by the Strong El Niño in the South China Sea
Authors: Bi Hanwen , Liu Qin-Yan , Chen Xianyao 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The interannual variability of sea surface temperature (SST) in the South China Sea (SCS) exhibits two peaks around January and August in the subsequent year of the El Niño. We show that the second basin-scale summer SST warming feature peaked in August [+1] is only distinct after strong El Niño events, not regular El Niño events. The upper ocean heat budget analysis demonstrates that the abnormal Ekman advection (Eka) dominants the second warming features during the whole developing stages from June [+1] to August [+1], while the abnormal geostrophic advection (Goa) leads to the warm tendency in June [+1], by reducing the Vietnam coastal upwelling. The local dynamical effects of abnormal Eka and Goa in the SCS are attributed to the advanced abnormal easterly wind breakout in the western Pacific, coincided with the development of West North Pacific anomalous anticyclone (WNPAC) in response to strong El Niño. Our results suggest that the second warming features of SCS SST during the next summer are the footprints of strong El Niño events via the establishment of the WNPAC, which is tightly related to Indo-Pacific remote processes.