bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fecal microbiota transplantation improves chicken growth performance by balancing jejunal Th17/Treg cells
Authors: Ma Ziyu , Akhtar Muhammad , Pan Hong , Liu Qiyao , Chen Yan , Zhou Xinxin , You Yingting , Shi Deshi , Liu Huazhen 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Intestinal inflammation has become a threatening concern in chicken production worldwide and is closely associated with Th17/Treg cell imbalance. Several studies described that gut microbiota is significantly implicated in chicken growth by modulating intestinal immune homeostasis and immune cell differentiation. Whether reshaping gut microbiota by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could improve chicken growth by balancing Th17/Treg cells is an interesting question.

Results
Here, the chickens with significantly different body weight from three different breeds (Turpan cockfighting × White Leghorn chickens, white feather chickens, and yellow feather chickens) were used to compare Th17 and Treg cells. qPCR and IHC staining results indicated that Th17 cell-associated transcriptional factors Stat3 and rorγt and cytokines IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-21 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the jejunum of low body weight chickens, while Treg cell-associated transcriptional factor foxp3 and cytokines TGF-β and IL-10 were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the jejunum of low body weight chickens, indicating imbalanced Th17/Treg cells were closely related to chicken growth performance. Transferring fecal microbiota from the healthy donor with better growth performance and abundant Lactobacillus in feces to 1-day-old chicks markedly increased growth performance (P < 0.001), significantly decreased Th17 cell-associated transcriptional factors and cytokines, and increased Treg cell-associated transcriptional factors and cytokines in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Furthermore, FMT increased the abundance of Lactobacillus (FMT vs Con; 84.98% vs 66.94%). Besides, the metabolites of tryptophan including serotonin, indole, and 5-methoxyindoleacetate were increased as well, which activated their receptor aryl-hydrocarbon-receptor (AhR) and expressed more CYP1A2 and IL-22 to maintain Th17/Treg cell balance and immune homeostasis.

Conclusion
These findings suggested that imbalanced Th17/Treg cells decreased chicken growth performance, while FMT-reshaped gut microbiota, i.e., higher Lactobacilli, increased chicken growth performance by balancing Th17/Treg cells.
Alcohol-induced damage to the fimbria/fornix reduces hippocampal-prefrontal cortex connection during early abstinence
Authors: Pérez-Cervera Laura , De Santis Silvia , Marcos Encarni , Ghorbanzad-Ghaziany Zahra , Trouvé-Carpena Alejandro , Selim Mohamed Kotb , Pérez-Ramírez Úrsula , Pfarr Simone , Bach Patrick , Halli Patrick , Kiefer Falk , Moratal David , Kirsch Peter , Sommer Wolfgang H. , Canals Santiago 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Alcohol dependence is characterized by a gradual reduction in cognitive control and inflexibility to contingency changes. The neuroadaptations underlying this aberrant behavior are poorly understood. Using an animal model of alcohol use disorders (AUD) and complementing diffusion-weighted (dw)-MRI with quantitative immunohistochemistry and electrophysiological recordings, we provide causal evidence that chronic intermittent alcohol exposure affects the microstructural integrity of the fimbria/fornix, decreasing myelin basic protein content, and reducing the effective communication from the hippocampus (HC) to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Using a simple quantitative neural network model, we show how disturbed HC-PFC communication may impede the extinction of maladaptive memories, decreasing flexibility. Finally, combining dw-MRI and psychometric data in AUD patients, we discovered an association between the magnitude of microstructural alteration in the fimbria/fornix and the reduction in cognitive flexibility. Overall, these findings highlight the vulnerability of the fimbria/fornix microstructure in AUD and its potential contribution to alcohol pathophysiology.

Summary
Fimbria vulnerability to alcohol underlies hippocampal-prefrontal cortex dysfunction and correlates with cognitive impairment.
Novel mathematical model for the classification of music and rhythmic genre using deep neural network
Authors: Patil Swati A. , Pradeepini G. , Komati Thirupathi Rao 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMusic Genre Classification (MGC) is a crucial undertaking that categorizes Music Genre (MG) based on auditory information. MGC is commonly employed in the retrieval of music information. The three main stages of the proposed system are data readiness, feature mining, and categorization. To categorize MG, a new neural network was deployed. The proposed system uses features from spectrographs derived from short clips of songs as inputs to a projected scheme building to categorize songs into an appropriate MG. Extensive experiment on the GTZAN dataset, Indian Music Genre(IMG) dataset, Hindustan Music Rhythm (HMR) and Tabala Dataset show that the proposed strategy is more effective than existing methods. Indian rhythms were used to test the proposed system design. The proposed system design was compared with other existing algorithms based on time and space complexity.
Self-Reported Pre-Pandemic Physical Activity and Likelihood of COVID-19 Infection: Data from the First Wave of the CoCo-Fakt Survey
Authors: Schmidt Nikola , Gehlhar Andreas , Grüne Barbara , Kossow Annelene , Kraus Thomas , Nießen Johannes , Wessely Stefanie , Joisten Christine 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the potential protective role of exercise on the odds of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated contact persons (CPs) who were at higher risk of infection due to confirmed contact with infected persons.

Methods
Before the onset of the vaccination campaign, the first wave of the CoCo-Fakt online survey was conducted with SARS-CoV-2-positive persons and their confirmed contacts who were isolated/quarantined between 1 March 2020 and 9 December 2020. Within this analysis, 5338 CPs were included and divided into those who subsequently tested positive (CP-P) and those who remained negative (CP-N). We assessed demographics as well as pre-pandemic lifestyle characteristics including physical activity (PA; type, frequency, time, intensity; duration clustered as ‘below PA guidelines’, ‘meeting PA guidelines’, and ‘above PA guidelines’; intensity clustered as ‘low intensity’ and ‘moderate-to-vigorous intensity’) and sedentary behaviour.

Results
A greater percentage of CP-Ns reported being active before the pandemic compared to CP-Ps (69% vs. 63%; p = .004). Moreover, CP-Ns reported higher PA duration (164.1 min/week vs. 143.2 min/week; p = .038) and higher PA intensities than CP-Ps (67% vs. 60% moderate-to-vigorous intensity, 33% vs. 40% low intensity; p = .003). Adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, migration background, and pre-existing chronic diseases, the odds of infection were negatively associated with exercise (yes/no) (Nagelkerke R2 = 1.9%), PA levels above PA guidelines (Nagelkerke R2 = 2.0%), and PA intensity (Nagelkerke R2 = 1.8%).

Conclusion
Due to the beneficial effects of PA on the odds of infection, an active lifestyle should be promoted especially during possible subsequent pandemics (while taking into account necessary hygiene measures). Moreover, inactive and chronically ill persons should be especially encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme affect shattercane (Sorghum bicolor) response to ALS-inhibiting herbicides
Authors: Dweikat Ismail M. , Gelli Malleswari , Bernards Mark , Martin Alex , Jhala Amit 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Shattercane [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. Arundinaceum (Desv.)] is a competitive weed in North America's corn, soybean, sorghum, and other agronomic crops. Control of shattercane with POST herbicides in corn became possible with the introduction of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in the 1980s, and their extensive use resulted in the evolution of ALS-inhibitors resistant shattercane.

Results
Shattercane seeds were collected from 16 south-eastern and south-central Nebraska fields that were treated with primisulfuron for three consecutive years. Three resistant plants were found in greenhouse evaluations of more than 30,000 plants. Results from a greenhouse bioassay conducted to assess the response of each shattercane biotype to ALS-inhibiting herbicides showed a differential response to ALS inhibitors within and between chemical classes. Biotype P8-30 was resistant or partially resistant to all ALS-inhibiting herbicides applied and displayed a unique amino acid sequence substitution (Trp574 to Leu) relative to the other two resistant biotypes, P2-205 and P9-102. Whole plant dose–response studies confirmed a 4- to the 12-fold level of primisulfuron resistance in three shattercane biotypes compared with the known primisulfuron-susceptible shattercane biotype. The ALS gene was sequenced using primers designed from the corn ALS sequence to identify mutations in the ALS gene that confer resistance. A total of seven nucleotide substitutions were detected in the three herbicide-resistant biotypes P2-205, P8-30, and P9-102. These biotypes are being crossed to adapted sorghum lines (grain, sweet, and forage) to broaden germplasm with resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides.

Conclusion
The discovery of these mutants should accelerate the development of sorghum genotypes that tolerate ALS-based herbicides, which provide additional choices for sorghum farmers to control weeds, especially grasses, in their fields.
Drivers of railway container transports between China and Finland
Authors: Hilmola Olli-Pekka , Li Weidong 
Published: June 2023

AbstractOn the China–Europe route, the sea used to dominate entirely continental transports, but in the last decade the railways started to gain some ground. However, it took number of years that railway volumes grew as significant, and finally coronavirus era (2020–2021) promoted much higher usage. This was the case not only on the main route Poland–China, but also on the more northern and lower-volume routes, such as Finland–China. This research uses regression analysis of the latter route to reveal factors that have an effect on rail container volumes. It is shown that Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and coronavirus related variables have influenced most container volumes on the Finland–China route. Oil price development has also played some sort of role. Interestingly, sea port handling of Finland does not play any significance in the model, nor does foreign trade between countries. Findings could be explained with the low starting ground of service, and dominance of sea transportation.
Leveraging open dataset and transfer learning for accurate recognition of chronic pulmonary embolism from CT angiogram maximum intensity projection images
Authors: Vainio Tuomas , Mäkelä Teemu , Arkko Anssi , Savolainen Sauli , Kangasniemi Marko 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Early diagnosis of the potentially fatal but curable chronic pulmonary embolism (CPE) is challenging. We have developed and investigated a novel convolutional neural network (CNN) model to recognise CPE from CT pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) based on the general vascular morphology in two-dimensional (2D) maximum intensity projection images.

Methods
A CNN model was trained on a curated subset of a public pulmonary embolism CT dataset (RSPECT) with 755 CTPA studies, including patient-level labels of CPE, acute pulmonary embolism (APE), or no pulmonary embolism. CPE patients with right-to-left-ventricular ratio (RV/LV) < 1 and APE patients with RV/LV ≥ 1 were excluded from the training. Additional CNN model selection and testing were done on local data with 78 patients without the RV/LV-based exclusion. We calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) and balanced accuracies to evaluate the CNN performance.

Results
We achieved a very high CPE versus no-CPE classification AUC 0.94 and balanced accuracy 0.89 on the local dataset using an ensemble model and considering CPE to be present in either one or both lungs.

Conclusions
We propose a novel CNN model with excellent predictive accuracy to differentiate chronic pulmonary embolism with RV/LV ≥ 1 from acute pulmonary embolism and non-embolic cases from 2D maximum intensity projection reconstructions of CTPA.

Relevance statement
A DL CNN model identifies chronic pulmonary embolism from CTA with an excellent predictive accuracy.

Key points
• Automatic recognition of CPE from computed tomography pulmonary angiography was developed.
• Deep learning was applied on two-dimensional maximum intensity projection images.
• A large public dataset was used for training the deep learning model.
• The proposed model showed an excellent predictive accuracy.

Graphical Abstract
Fungal endophytes of crop plants: diversity, stress tolerance and biocontrol potential
Authors: Malarvizhi K. , Murali T. S. , Kumaresan V. 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
There is a growing perception among the scientific community to utilize endophytes in improving crop productivity. The presence of these microorganisms offers benefits to host plants that include enhanced resistance to various insect pests, increased fitness and improved tolerance to abiotic stresses including heavy metal pollutants and higher salinity, albeit with no harm to the environment.

Main body
Since reports indicated that fungal endophytes afford protection to cereal crops from a wide variety of pathogenic microbes, in this short review, the diversity and potential of fungal endophytes of some major crop plants including rice, wheat, maize and sugarcane were discussed.

Conclusion
Considering the global challenges caused by food security, there is an immediate need to look at effective and environmental friendly solutions to increase crop productivity and endophytes present a solution due to their long-term symbiotic association with their hosts. However, it remains critical to understand their functional significance and overall role in improving the host fitness in natural environments.
Safety and efficacy of sodium oligomannate in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nourelden Anas Zakarya , Kamal Ibrahim , Tawfik Abdelrahman G. , Hagrass Abdulrahman Ibrahim , Fathallah Ahmed Hashem , Zaazouee Mohamed Sayed 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new marine oligosaccharide drug, sodium oligomannate (GV-971), developed in China to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods
We researched the following databases: Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Scopus until Sep 2022. We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the risk of bias and the GRADE scale to assess the quality of the evidence. The meta-analysis was performed using review manager 5.4.

Results
We included three randomized controlled trials with 1108 patients. Sodium oligomannate improved the AD assessment scale-cognitive subscale compared to the placebo at 12, 24, and 36 weeks (mean difference (MD) = − 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) [− 1.23 to − 0.14], p = 0.01), (MD = − 0.68, 95% CI [− 1.26 to − 0.10], P = 0.02), and (MD = − 3.84, 95% CI [− 6.40 to − 1.27], and P = 0.003), respectively. On the other hand, results showed no significance in terms of adverse events and other assessed scales (Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input, AD Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory) (p > 0.05).

Conclusions
Sodium oligomannate is a well-tolerated and promising drug for Alzheimer’s patients. However, to better evaluate sodium oligomannate’s efficacy in the clinical setting, we need more randomized controlled trials with larger samples and higher quality.
Regular Islamic prayers have different corpus callosum: a shape analysis study
Authors: Baykara Sema , Baykara Murat , Atmaca Murad 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Religious practices and experiences are thought to involve a variety of thoughts and behaviors, and various studies hypothesize the relationship between religion and changes in the brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the corpus callosum (CC) of prayers by statistical shape analysis (SSA) and compare it with healthy ones who did not.

Methods
The study group consisted of 13 healthy people who pray regularly and the control group consisted of 14 healthy people who did not pray. Participants were scanned with a 1.5 T scanner and a high-resolution structural image of the entire brain was obtained with sagittal 3D spiral fast spin echo. In mid-sagittal images of each individual, the CC was marked using landmarks. The mean of 'Procrustes' points was calculated and shape deformations were evaluated using thin plate spline analysis.

Results
There was no significant difference between the CC area of prayers and controls. Maximum CC deformation was observed in the body and rostrum region markings during prayers. There was no significant difference in the other parameters of the individuals who performed regular prayers compared to the controls.

Conclusions
Corpus callosum analysis with SSA revealed differences between prayers and healthies. The study findings highlighted the abnormal distribution of white matter in the CC and the variable subregional nature of CC in prayers. The study findings showed that shape analysis could be a useful technique to show variations in the corpus callosum using MRI images.
Objective wearable measures and subjective questionnaires for predicting response to neurostimulation in people with chronic pain
Authors: Heros Robert , Patterson Denis , Huygen Frank , Skaribas Ioannis , Schultz David , Wilson Derron , Fishman Michael , Falowski Steven , Moore Gregory , Kallewaard Jan Willem , Dehghan Soroush , Kyani Anahita , Mansouri Misagh 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Neurostimulation is an effective therapy for treating and management of refractory chronic pain. However, the complex nature of pain and infrequent in-clinic visits, determining subject’s long-term response to the therapy remains difficult. Frequent measurement of pain in this population can help with early diagnosis, disease progression monitoring, and evaluating long-term therapeutic efficacy. This paper compares the utilization of the common subjective patient-reported outcomes with objective measures captured through a wearable device for predicting the response to neurostimulation therapy.

Method
Data is from the ongoing international prospective post-market REALITY clinical study, which collects long-term patient-reported outcomes from 557 subjects implanted by Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) or Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) neurostimulators. The REALITY sub-study was designed for collecting additional wearables data on a subset of 20 participants implanted with SCS devices for up to six months post implantation. We first implemented a combination of dimensionality reduction algorithms and correlation analyses to explore the mathematical relationships between objective wearable data and subjective patient-reported outcomes. We then developed machine learning models to predict therapy outcome based on the subject’s response to the numerical rating scale (NRS) or patient global impression of change (PGIC).

Results
Principal component analysis showed that psychological aspects of pain were associated with heart rate variability, while movement-related measures were strongly associated with patient-reported outcomes related to physical function and social role participation. Our machine learning models using objective wearable data predicted PGIC and NRS outcomes with high accuracy without subjective data. The prediction accuracy was higher for PGIC compared with the NRS using subjective-only measures primarily driven by the patient satisfaction feature. Similarly, the PGIC questions reflect an overall change since the study onset and could be a better predictor of long-term neurostimulation therapy outcome.

Conclusions
The significance of this study is to introduce a novel use of wearable data collected from a subset of patients to capture multi-dimensional aspects of pain and compare the prediction power with the subjective data from a larger data set. The discovery of pain digital biomarkers could result in a better understanding of the patient’s response to therapy and their general well-being.
Toxicity assessment of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus, a traditionally used anthelmintic plant of India
Authors: Deori Khirod , Soren Amar Deep , Yadav Arun K. 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
The leaves of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus are used as an anthelmintic remedy by the tribes of upper Assam. This study evaluates its toxic effects in laboratory bred mice and rats. Mice were orally dosed for 5 days, whereas rats were dosed for 28 days and variations in behaviour, feeding habits and blood parameters were recorded. The vital organs were processed for histopathology to observe any alternations from normal architecture.

Results
No mortality or adverse toxic effects were manifested in this assessment. Evaluated parameters, namely feeding behaviour, body weights and relative organ weights, appeared to be similar to the control animals. Also, the haematological and serum biochemical parameters and histopathological studies revealed normal results.

Conclusions
The study indicates that P. thyrsiflorus may not be capable of causing toxic effects in mice and rats, and hence, its traditional use as an anthelmintic could be continued. However, other studies to further validate this may be carried out.
Synchronous bilateral idiopathic external auditory canal cholesteatoma: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Klopper Gerhard Johan , Favara Claudio 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
External auditory canal cholesteatoma (EACC) is a rare pathological condition representing 0.1% of all new otologic cases. Bilaterality manifests in 10% of EACC cases. Similar disease processes include keratosis obturans (KO) and benign necrotizing otitis externa (BNOE). Diagnostic differentiation may not always be unexacting but does however influence management and eventual outcome. This study aims to briefly review the literature, describe an unusual case of synchronous bilateral primary EACC, and simplify the diagnostic challenges surrounding this disease.

Case presentation
A 66-year-old man with no relevant family history, no concurrent or intercurrent illnesses, having undergone no relevant surgery, and had visited the Department of Otorhinolaryngology regarding right-sided otorrhoea and aural pruritis 9 years ago. At the time, he was diagnosed clinically with KO. Nine years later after having defaulted follow-up, he presented again with the same symptoms. Oto-microscopy now revealed excavation of the posterior canal wall, keratinous desquamation, and an intact tympanic membrane. Oto-endoscopy demonstrated extension posteriorly into the mastoid segment of the temporal bone. Computed tomography evinced a soft tissue attenuating mass within the excavated sub-adjacent bone, with extension into the mastoid air cell system. The contralateral ear had a smaller epithelial defect of the canal floor with underlying tympanic plate erosion. A closed mastoidectomy with the reconstruction of the posterior canal wall was performed on the right ear. The left ear was managed conservatively with micro-suctioning and aural toilette. Six months post-surgery, however, the reconstructed posterior canal wall underwent necrotic breakdown. The contralateral lesion gradually progressed into a Naim et al. (2005) Stage III EACC.

Conclusion
This case illustrates the diagnostic challenge presented by EACC and is unusual regarding its bilaterality. The importance of diagnostic differentiation, both in the management of this disease and in the prevention of its progression, is highlighted. The idea of oto-endoscopy as a routine clinical tool is introduced, and endoscopic images are compared to high-definition computed tomography scans of the affected temporal bones.