bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic Resistance in Potential Probiotic Lactobacillary Strains of Fermented Foods and Human Origin From Nigeria
Authors: Duche Rachael T. , Singh Anamika , Wandhare Arundhati Ganesh , Sangwan Vikas , Sihag Manvesh Kumar , Nwagu Tochukwu T. N. , Panwar Harsh , Ezeogu Lewis. I. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Probiotic Lactobacillus strains are generally recognized as safe and are being used in several food and pharma formulations. Antimicrobial resistance is of growing concern globally. The presence of antibiotic resistance traits in bacterial strains of food origin and their possible transmission via functional foods is increasingly being emphasized. To be adequately suitable for use in foods/feed production for human and animal consumption, probiotic strains need to be free from transferable antibiotic resistance traits. This study screened potential probiotic Lactobacillus strains for their phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance (AR) profiles. A wide spectrum of susceptibility and resistance was observed against different antibiotic classes. LAB isolates irrespective of origin displayed marked resistance against cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, quinolones, glycopeptides and methicillin among beta-lactams with few exceptions. In contrary, high sensitivity was recorded against macrolides, sulphonamides and carbapenems sub-group of beta-lactams with few variations. The parC gene, associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected in 76.5% of the strains. Other prevalent resistant determinants observed were aac(6’)Ii (42.1%), ermB and ermC (29.4%), and tetM (20.5%). Six (≈ 17.6%) of isolates showed none of the resistance genes screened in this study. Study revealed the presence of AR genes among Lactobacillus species isolated from both fermented foods and human sources.
Spatial trend and Probabilistic health risk assessment of heavy metals, Nitrate, and Fluoride in groundwater resources, West Azerbaijan province, Iran
Authors: Jahani Hamed , Mohammadi Amir , Khatibi Mohammad Shaker , Sabeti Zahra , Mosaferi Mohammad 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The quality of water resources used for drinking and their health effects is vitally important. The present study investigated the concentrations of F¯, NO3¯, and metal elements like Hg, Mn, As, and Pb in the groundwater resources and their health risk assessment. The study area was part of West Azerbaijan, west of Urmia Lake, located northwest of Iran. Sampling points were selected and were taken from 121 groundwater resources. Heavy metals (Pb, As, Mn, and Hg) and ions (Na+, NO3¯, F¯, and Cl¯) were measured, respectively. The probabilistic method and Monte-Carlo simulation are used to estimate carcinogenic and Noncarcinogenic risks. The Concentration of study elements was obtained in the range of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended. The order of Heavy metals (HMs) concentrations is based on the overall mean: Mn > As > Hg > Pb. The hazard index (HI) level was found to be more than 1 for noncarcinogenic risk for As and NO3¯, also permissible risks for the other elements. ELCR levels of As were acceptable, except for some sampling points, the central region in the study area, near the seashore of Urmia Lake. Finally, it can be stated that the groundwater resources in the studied area are acceptable for drinking in most places. Still, due to the effects of As and NO3¯ contaminated water, the quality is unacceptable for drinking in some places. So, in the study area, monitoring water quality is recommended by finding contamination sources to decrease the health risks of drinking consumption.
Efficiently accelerated free electrons by metallic laser accelerator
Authors: Li Jianqi , Zheng Dingguo , Huang Siyuan , Li Jun , Tian Yuan , Zhang Yongzhao , Li Zhongwen , Tian Huanfang , Yang H. X. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Strong electron-photon (e-p) interactions occurring in a dielectric laser accelerator provide the potential for development of a compact electron accelerator, and certain critical features of the p-e interactions can be characterized well using ultrafast electron microscopy. Theoretically, metallic materials with notable surface plasmon-field enhancements can possibly generate a high electron acceleration capability. Herein, we present a design for metallic material-based on-chip laser-driven accelerators that show a remarkable electron acceleration capability, as demonstrated in ultrafast electron microscopy investigations. Under phase-matching conditions, efficient and continuous acceleration of free electrons on a periodic nanostructure is achieved. Momentum transfer via inelastic scattering is also studied in association with the electron beam acceleration. Importantly, an asymmetric spectral structure where the vast majority of the electrons are in the energy-gain states has been obtained in a periodic bowtie-structure accelerator. The nonlinear optical effects are found to promote the p-e interactions efficiently and improve the acceleration gradient to be as high as 0.335 GV/m. This demonstrates that a prototype metallic laser accelerator could provide a new way to develop compact accelerators on chip.
Performance evaluation of the main kinetic models applied in anaerobic co-digestion process: description of synergistic effect of total solids concentration and particle size in biogas production
Authors: Leite Valderi D. , Ramos Railson Oliveira , Lopes Wilton Silva , de Araújo Mário César Ugulino , de Almeida Valber Elias , Viriato Crislanne Lemos 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

The present study investigated the kinetic modeling of anaerobic co-digestion under the optics of Modified Gompertz, Function transfer, Logistic function, Modified first order, and Cone models. As substrate, vegetables and fruits solid waste (VSW) and anaerobic sewage sludge (ASS) were used. The synergistic effects of substrate particle size (SPS) and total solids (TS) concentration were investigated. With the application of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the NRMSE it was possible to determine the performance order of performance of the models: Logistic function > Cone > Modified 1st order > Modified Gompertz > Function transfer. The biogas production and kinetic parameters predicted by Logistic function model reached the maximum likelihood in relation to the experimental result (AIC 36; NRMSE 43.292). SPS had a statistic significant effect on the cumulative biogas (Mmax) yield and on the hydrolysis constant (K’’hyd). In turn, the TS concentration influenced the latency phase time (λ) and the maximum rate of biogas production (Rmax).
Anomalously 13C-depleted organic matter from CO in early Mars atmosphere
Authors: Ueno Yuichiro , Schmidt Johan , Johnson Matthew , Zang Xiaofeng , Gilbert Alexis , Kurokawa Hiroyuki , Usui Tomohiro 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Organic matter found in early Martian sediment1-4 may help in defining early Martian environmental conditions and provide the key to understanding Mars’ prebiotic chemistry and habitability. However, the origin of this organic matter remains uncertain. Anomalous 13C depletion was recently discovered in this organic matter5, and has the potential to elucidate their origins, though plausible mechanism to cause the strong 13C depletion is unknown. Here, we present experimental and theoretical studies which demonstrated that solar ultraviolet photolysis of CO2 yields strongly 13C-depleted CO. In a reducing atmosphere, isotopically anomalous CO is converted into organic molecules that are deposited into sediments. Therefore, atmospheric synthesis of organics from CO is a plausible mechanism to explain the presence of organics in early Martian sediments and its strong 13C depletion. Furthermore, this mechanism could explain 13C enrichment of early Martian CO2 without the aid of long-term carbon escape into space. A mass balance model calculation using the estimated isotopic fractionation factor indicated approximately 20% conversion of volcanic CO2 into organics via CO, which satisfied the available data for carbon isotopes. Consequently, our results suggest that considerable amounts of organic matter may have been synthesized in a reducing early Martian atmosphere and stored within sediment.
Surgical Management Outcome and Its Associated Factors Among Intestinal Obstruction Patients Admitted to Adult Surgical Ward of Wollega University Referral Hospital, Ethiopia
Authors: Shama Adisu Tafari , Terefa Olana , Gadisa Iyasu , Feyera Gemechu , Tamiru Getnet , Terefa Dufera Rikitu , Merdassa Emiru 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Globally, bowel obstruction is the most common cause of surgical emergencies. It remains a challenge to healthcare workers in spite of improvements in management techniques. There is a lack of the study to determine the surgical management outcome and its associated factors in the area of study. Hence, this study aimed to determine management outcome and its associated factors among surgically treated intestinal obstruction patients at Wollega University Referral Hospital, 2021.
Methods
Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among all cases surgically managed for intestinal obstruction between September 1, 2018 and September 1, 2021. Data were collected using a structured checklist. The collected data were checked for completeness and entered into data entry software and then exported to SPSS version 24 for data cleaning and analysis. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regressions were run. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association in multivariable logistic regression. The odds ratio along with 95%CI was estimated to measure the strength of the association.
Result
116 (59.2%) patients had favorable surgical management outcome for intestinal obstruction. Male sex (AOR = 3.694;95%CI:1.501,9.089), absence of fever (AOR = 2.636; 95%CI:1.124,6.18), ≤ 48hours duration of illness before operation (AOR = 3.045; 95%CI:1.399,6.629), viable intraoperative bowel condition (AOR = 2.372; 95%CI:1.088, 5.175), having bowel resection and anastomosis (AOR = 0.234; 95%CI:0.101,0.544) were the significantly associated factors of the favorable surgical management outcome for intestinal obstruction.
Conclusion and recommendation:
The favorable management outcome of patients with intestinal obstruction who were treated surgically in this study was low. Factors like sex, fever, short duration of illness, viable intraoperative bowel condition, and bowel resection and anastomosis were found to influence the surgical management outcome of patients with intestinal obstruction. The patient with intestinal obstruction should seek health care on time. Health professionals have to be skilled and provide appropriate care for the patients to reduce the risk of complications.
Repeatability of scheimpflug based corneal tomography parameters in advanced keratoconus with thin corneas
Authors: Wadhwa Himanshu , Gokul Akilesh , Li Ye , Cheung Isabella , Angelo Lize , McGhee Charles , Ziaei Mohammed 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Objective
To determine the repeatability limits of corneal tomography parameters in patients with advanced and moderately thin keratoconic corneas to assist in planning thickness-based procedural interventions.
Methods
Prospective, single-centre, repeatability study. Three tomography scans using the Pentacam AXL were obtained from patients with keratoconus with thinnest corneal thickness TCT ≦ 400 µm (sub-400 group) and compared to those with TCT = 450–500 µm (450-plus group). Eyes with previous crosslinking, intraocular surgery, or acute corneal hydrops were excluded. Eyes were age and gender-matched. The within-subject standard deviations for flat keratometry (K1), steep keratometry (K2), maximal keratometry (Kmax), astigmatism and TCT were used to calculate respective repeatability limits (r). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were also analysed.
Results
The sub-400 group comprised 114 eyes from 114 participants, and the 450-plus group comprised 114 eyes from 114 participants. In the sub-400 group, TCT was amongst the least repeatable parameters (33.92 µm; ICC 0.96), compared with the 450-plus group (14.32 µm; ICC 0.99, p < 0.01). In the sub-400 group, K1 and K2 of the anterior surface were the most repeatable parameters (r 3.79 and 3.22 respectively; ICC 0.97 and 0.98 respectively) compared with the 450-plus group (r 1.17 and 0.92 respectively; and ICC 0.98 and 0.99 respectively, p < 0.01).
Conclusions
The repeatability of corneal tomography measurements is significantly reduced in sub-400 keratoconic corneas when compared to 450-plus corneas. Consideration to repeatability limits should be carefully considered when surgical interventions are planned for such patients.
In-hospital mortality of older patients with COVID-19 throughout the epidemic waves in the Great Paris Area: A multicenter cohort study
Authors: Thietart Sara , Rozes Antoine , Tubach Florence , Marot Stéphane , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Raux Mathieu , Vallet Hélène , Riou Bruno , Boddaert Jacques , Zerah Lorène 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Mortality is high in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Previous studies observed lower mortality during the Omicron wave, yet no data is available on older patients. The objective was to compare in-hospital mortality between the Omicron and previous waves in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Methods
This retrospective observational multicenter cohort study used the Greater Paris University Hospitals Group’s data warehouse (38 hospitals). Patients aged ≥ 75 years with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalized from March 2020 to January 2022 were included. The study period was divided into five waves. The fifth wave (January 1st to 31st 2022) was considered as the Omicron wave as it was the predominant variant (≥ 50%), and was compared with waves 1 (March-July 2020), 2 (August-December 2020), 3 (January-June 2021) and 4 (July-December 2021). Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome was occurrence of ICU admission or in-hospital death. Multivariate logistic regression was performed, with a sensitivity analysis according to variant type.
Results
Of the 195,084 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 19,909 patients aged ≥ 75 years were included (median age 85 [IQR 79–90] years, 53% women). Overall in-hospital mortality was 4,337 (22%), reaching 345 (17%) during wave 5. Waves 1 and 3 were significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality in comparison with wave 5 (adjusted Odds Ratios aOR 1.42 [95%CI 1.21–1.66] and 1.56 [95%CI 1.33–1.83] respectively). Waves 1 to 3 were associated with an increased risk of occurrence of ICU admission or in-hospital death in comparison with wave 5: aOR 1.29 [95% CI 1.12 to 1.49] for wave 1, aOR 1.25 [95% CI 1.08 to 1.45] for wave 2 and aOR 1.56 [95% CI 1.36 to 1.79] for wave 3. Sensitivity analysis found that Omicron variant was associated with decreased mortality, in comparison with previous variants.
Conclusions
Mortality was lower during the 5th Omicron wave in the older population, but remained high, implying that this variant could be considered as “milder” but not “mild”. This persistently high mortality during the 5th Omicron wave highlights the importance of including older patients in clinical trials to confirm the benefit/risk balance of COVID-19 treatments in this fragile population.
Neonatal risk factors for functional gastrointestinal disorders in preterm infants in the first year of life
Authors: Bi Dengqin , Jiang Honghua , Yang Kaiting , Guan Ting , Hou Ling , Shu Guihua 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Objective: An assessment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in premature infants in their first year of life and neonatal factors influencing the progression of FGIDs is conducted in this research.
Methods: Subjects selected for the retrospective study involved preterm infants being hospitalized in the neonatal department of Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital from September 2018 to September 2021. Data on neonatal risk factors such as gestational age, gender, birth weight, mode of delivery, feeding pattern, antibiotic administration and addition of probiotics, duration of hospitalization, maternal history of smoking, and mental condition, were all collected and analyzed. FGIDs were diagnosed as per Rome IV criteria and a multivariate logistic regression model has been applied for determining factors linked to it.
Results: This study included 988 preterm infants, with 725 (73.4%) having at least one FGID, 449 (45.4%) having infant colic, 411 (41.6%) having infant regurgitation, 237 (24.0%) having infant dyschezia, 190 (19.2%) having functional constipation, and 34 (3.4%) having functional diarrhea throughout the first year of life. There was no evidence identified for infant rumination syndrome and recurrent vomiting syndrome. In total, 263 infants (26.6%) without FGID symptoms were included in the control group. Infant colic and infant regurgitation were found as the most prevalent FGIDs. Further, a higher prevalence of FGIDs was observed in preterm infants with infant colic as well as infant regurgitation in particular as being characterized by a low gestational age (<32w), low birth weight (<1.5kg), cesarean section, formula feeding, neonatal antibiotics use, hospitalization longer than 7 days, and maternal history of smoking. It was found from association analyses that infants exclusively breastfed in their first month of life were at lower risk for regurgitation than those in the control group. Moreover, a significantly low occurrence of functional constipation was found in infants being subjected to probiotics treatment than in the control.
Conclusion: Therefore, unnecessary antibiotic use in the neonatal period, cesarean delivery, passive smoking, lack of breastfeeding, along with inappropriate probiotics usage are major risk factors for FGIDs, and their systematic control may be effective in reducing the susceptibility to and prevalence of FGIDs in preterm infants in the first year of life.
The relationship between clinical phenotype and kallikrein-kinin bioregulation in different forms of arthritis
Authors: Tan Dino Bee Aik , Tedja Chantalia , Raymond Warren D , Harsanyi Andrea , Kuster Lukas , Misso Neil L , Bhoola Kanti D , Chowalloor Priya V , Argawal Shashi , Keen Helen I 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Objective
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have shown increased levels of neutrophils generating kallikrein-kinin peptides in blood which are potent mediators of inflammation. This study investigated the association between the bioregulation of kinin-mediated inflammation with the clinical characteristics (e.g. ultrasound synovitis or pain score) of different arthritic diseases.
Methods
Patients with osteoarthritis (OA, n = 29), gout (n = 10) and RA (n = 8) were recruited and screened for clinical symptoms, quality of life, and inflammatory burden of affected joints using ultrasonography. Blood neutrophils were assessed for the expression of bradykinin receptors (B1R and B2R), kininogens and kallikreins by immunocytochemistry with visualization by bright field microscopy. Levels of plasma biomarkers were measured by ELISA and cytometric bead array.
Results
Quality of life (SF-36 domains and summary scores; and, HAQ) was similar across OA, gout and RA patients, including pain; with the exception of worse physical functioning scores between OA vs gout patients. Synovial hypertrophy (on ultrasound) was significantly different between groups (p = 0.001), and the dichotomised Power Doppler (PD) score of greater than or equal to 2 (PD-GE2) was marginally significant (p = 0.09). Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-8 were highest in patients with gout followed by RA and OA (both, P < 0.05). Patients with RA had higher plasma levels of sTNFR1, IL-1β, IL-12p70, TNF and IL-6, compared to OA and gout patients (all, P < 0.05). Patients with OA had higher expression of K1B and KLK1on blood neutrophils followed by RA and gout patients, both P < 0.05. Bodily pain correlated with B1R expression on blood neutrophils (r = 0.334, p = 0.05), and inversely with plasma levels of CRP (r=-0.55), sTNFR1 (r=-0.352) and IL-6 (r=-0.422), all P < 0.05. Expression of B1R on blood neutrophils also correlated with Knee PD (r = 0.403) and PD-GE2 (r = 0.480), both P < 0.05.
Conclusions
Pain levels and quality of life were similar between patients with OA, RA and gout with knee arthritis. Plasma inflammatory biomarkers and B1R expression on blood neutrophils correlated with pain. Targeting B1R to modulate the kinin-kallikrein system may pose as a new therapeutic target in the treatment of arthritis.
Thermal Fractional Diffusion: Experimental Evidence from the Discrepancies in the Amplitude and Phase in Photothermal Technique
Authors: Somer Aloisi , Novatski Andressa , Cruz Gerson Kniphoff da , Cruz Claudia Bonardi Kniphoff da , Serbena Francisco Carlos , Lenzi Ervin Kaminski 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The photoacoustic (PA) signal is the pressure variation in the PA cell and by means of the open photoacoustic cell (OPC) technique, its amplitude and phase components are measured. In this work, the issue of disagreement between experimental measured amplitude and phase for AISI 316 samples with the expected theoretical result from the classical model is studied. The results of the thermal diffusivity obtained from amplitude are inconsistent with phase analysis. This work aims to show a way to get a unique value of thermal parameters from simultaneous analysis of the amplitude and phase of the PA signal. Also, the fractional models were applied to improve the fit of experimental data and provided results closed with the expected thermal diffusivity value.
Psychosocial Stressors and E-cigarette Use in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Authors: Erhabor John , Boakye Ellen , Osuji Ngozi , Obisesan Olufunmilayo , Osei Albert D. , Mirbolouk Hassan , Stokes Andrew C. , Dzaye Omar , El-Shahawy Omar , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Hirsch Glenn A. , Benjamin Emelia J. , DeFilippis Andrew P. , Robertson Rose Marie , Bhatnagar Aruni , Blaha Michael J. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background: Psychosocial stressors may influence tobacco use. Few studies have examined the association of stressors and e-cigarette use in adolescents. Therefore, we examined the associations between psychosocial stressors and e-cigarette use among adolescents in the United States (U.S.).
Methods: Using the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (YRBS) (N=13,677), students were categorized as non, e-cigarette, and combustible cigarette users based on past 30-day use. The prevalence of use was assessed by participants’ sociodemographic characteristics. Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between stressors and e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use. To estimate the stressor burden score, stressors were grouped into scores: 0, 1-2, 3-4, and 5-7.
Results: Overall, 65.0%, 32.7% and 6.0% were non, e-cigarette and combustible cigarettes users, respectively. E-cigarette use prevalence was higher among students who experienced stressors than those who did not ([bullying: 43.9% vs 29.0%]; [skipping school due to safety concerns: 48.0% vs 29.0%]; [depressive symptoms: 43.5% vs 26.5%]; [suicidal thoughts: 47.6% vs 29.3%]; [physical fight: 51.1% vs 28.3%]; [threatened with a weapon56.4% vs 30.9%]). Similar patterns were observed with combustible cigarette use. Students who experienced stressors were more likely to use e-cigarettes (Prevalence Ratio [PR] range: 1.08-1.21) and combustible cigarettes (PR range: 1.34-2.06) than students who did not. Students with higher burden scores had a higher prevalence and PR of e-cigarette use than those with score of zero (1-2 [1.28; 95% CI:1.15-1.42]; 3-4 [1.42; 95% CI:1.23-1.65]; 5-7 [1.45; 95% CI:1.22-1.73]) (ptrends <0.001).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant association between psychosocial stressors and e-cigarette use.