bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strain-specific alterations in gut microbiome and host immune responses elicited by tolerogenic Bifidobacterium pseudolongum
Authors: Ma Bing , Gavzy Samuel J. , Saxena Vikas , Song Yang , Piao Wenji , Lwin Hnin Wai , Lakhan Ram , Lyyathurai Jegan , Li Lushen , France Michael , Paluskievicz Christina , WillsonShirkey Marina , Hittle Lauren , Munawwar Arshi , Mongodin Emmanuel F. , Bromberg Jonathan S. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The beneficial effects attributed to Bifidobacterium are largely attributed to their immunomodulatory capabilities, which are likely to be species- and even strain-specific. However, their strain-specificity in direct and indirect immune modulation remain largely uncharacterized. We have shown that B. pseudolongum UMB-MBP-01, a murine isolate, is capable of suppressing inflammation and reducing fibrosis in vivo. To ascertain the mechanism driving this activity and to determine if it is specific to UMB-MBP-01, we compared it to B. pseudolongum type strain ATCC25526 of porcine origin using a combination of in vitro and in vivo experimentation and comparative genomics approaches. Despite many shared features, we demonstrate that these two strains possess distinct genetic repertoires in carbohydrate assimilation, differential activation signatures and cytokine responses in innate immune cells, and differential effects on lymph node morphology with unique local and systemic leukocyte distribution. Importantly, the administration of each B. pseudolongum strain resulted in major divergence in the structure, composition, and function of gut microbiota. This was accompanied by markedly different changes in intestinal transcriptional activities, suggesting strain-specific modulation of the endogenous gut microbiota as a key to host responses of immune modulation and changes in intestinal B. pseudolongum strains. Our study demonstrated a single probiotic strain can influence local, regional, and systemic immunity through both innate and adaptive pathways in a strain-specific manner. It highlights the importance to investigate both the endogenous gut microbiome and the intestinal responses in response to probiotic supplementation, which underpins the mechanisms through which the probiotic strains drive the strain-specific effect to impact health outcomes.
Peak Ground Acceleration Prediction using supervised Machine Learning algorithm for earthquakes of Mw5.6-7.9 occurring in India and Nepal
Authors: Mandal Prantik , Mandal Priyank 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The absence of key input parameters and use of least squares technique have resulted in most of the available empirical ground motion prediction models (GMPEs) in India, as a function of epicentral distances and magnitudes, resulting in large uncertainty in the predictive model. Here we apply a supervised Machine Learning technique (XGBoost) to design a robust improved GMPE of peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the Indian sub-continent and Nepal, utilizing independent input parameters viz., moment magnitudes, hypocentral distances, focal depths and site proxy (in terms of average seismic shear-wave velocity from the surface to a depth of 30m (Vs30)). This has been achieved using PGA dataset of nine earthquakes of Mw5.6-7.9 from Nepal Himalaya, Uttarakhand Himalaya, Kachchh (Gujarat), and Koyna (Maharashtra). Our dataset also includes 225 strong-motion records of 30 significant Bhuj aftershocks of Mw3.3-5.0 (during 2002–2008) with epicentral distances ranging from 1.0 to 288 km. We also test the ground motion predictability of our supervised ML model using the whole dataset and randomized test dataset (30% of total data points). The correlation coefficient of observed and predicted PGA values for the whole dataset is found to be ±0.994 while our predictability on the randomized test dataset suggests a correlation coefficient of 0.944. Also, the model predictability of our supervised ML model suggests a good prediction of the observed PGA dataset for twelve Indian and Nepal earthquakes of Mw5.6-7.9 (viz., the 2001 Bhuj (Gujarat) earthquake sequence, the 2015 Nepal earthquake sequence, the 1999 Chamoli earthquake, the 1967 Koyna earthquake, the 2009 Mw6.2 Bhutan event and two Mw5.9 Myanmar-India border earthquakes of September 2009 and January 2013), suggesting that our ML GMPE model would work for earthquakes occurring in India and Nepal, within the range of Mw [3.3–7.9], focal depths [3–94 km], epicentral distances [1-565 km] and Vs30 [177–760 m/s].
A precise mathematical approach for analyzing the performance of MIMO-STBC systems over Weibull fading channels
Authors: Bessate Abdelmajid , Miftah Youssef , Ben-Azza Hussain , Bouanani Faissal El 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
MIMO systems have shown to be effective in addressing today’s high demand for WC, particularly next generation (4G and 5G) mobile technologies, by combating the problem of fading and improving the quality and rate of wireless communications. MIMO-systems with space-time block codes (STBC) is a good choice to provide a complete variety with coherent flat-fading channels. We used a new accurate approximation probability density function (PDF) of the totality of correlated Weibull random variables to examine the performance metrics of MIMO-STBC systems with correlated Weibull fading channels and to emphasize the correlation impacts on such systems in this work. New tight approximation equations for numerous performance metrics, like OP, average capacity under various rate adaption methods, and average symbol/bit error rate (ASER/ABER), have been derived based on this PDF. The Monte-Carlo simulation method has validated all derived expressions.
Factors Associated With Contraceptive Uptake After Elective Safe Abortion Care at Reproductive Health Care Centres in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana
Authors: Odame Frank , Mumuni Kareem , Samba Ali , Asah-Opoku Kwaku , Sifa Jerry 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Globally, post-abortion contraception has been shown to reduce unplanned pregnancies and therefore repeat abortion as well as abortion related complications in women in their reproductive age. However, the determinants of post-abortion contraception uptake in the Greater Accra Region are unclear. This study therefore sought to examine the factors associated with post abortion contraceptive uptake after elective safe abortion in the region.
Methods
The study adopted a prospective study design. The study employed a consecutive sampling involving women seeking elective abortion services at the selected public reproductive health units in the region. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used. The Pearson’s chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests were used, depending on the number of values in each cell, for bivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used for modelling the relationship between the covariates and the outcome variable using a 95% confidence interval.
Results
Approximately 82% of the 357 participants accepted contraception after the elective safe abortion care. The multivariate analysis shows that having the partner fund for the abortion increased the woman’s odds for contraceptive uptake (aOR = 4.76; 95% CI = 1.73–13.12), compared to self-funding. The women who have experienced modern contraceptives were 6.6(95% CI = 2.67–16.24) times more likely to accept contraception post-abortion care compared to counterparts who have never used a modern contraceptive. Compared to those who underwent manual vacuum abortion, the women who underwent medication were less likely to accept a contraceptive after abortion (aOR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.13–0.89).
Conclusion
Post-abortion contraceptive uptake was high in the Greater Accra Region. Some of the predicting factors associated with post-abortion contraception uptake after elective safe abortion care are modifiable.
Protection by amino acids against certain metal ion-induced toxicity in Spirulina platensis
Authors: Vijayarti HS , Agarwal Vanshita , Sah Nand Kishore , Seniya Chandrabhan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Numerous health issues, such as allergy, cardiovascular, renal, lung, and nose cancers, among others, may be brought on by nickel (Ni) exposure. However, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are frequently linked to nickel ions even though the molecular mechanism(s) of nickel-induced toxicity is poorly understood. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is a reliable source of high-quality nutritive proteins for man as well as domestic animals. The present research work demonstrates a significant defensive effect of amino acids like methionine, glutathione and ascorbic acid against the abiotic metabolic stress induced by heavy metals. The changes in biomass, carbohydrate, protein, pigmentation (chlorophyll-a), antioxidant potential, and nitric oxide radical scavenging potential have been investigated in metabolic stressed Spirulina platensis. Our experimental results showed that the growth hampered by doses of nickel and silver was overcome in the presence of amino acids. The effect was significantly attenuated when the culture medium was supplemented with 10 µg/ml amino acids (namely, methionine, glutathione, and ascorbic acid). Further, metabolically stressed S. platensis cultures supplemented with amino acids not only boosted biomass but also phycocyanin that to exhibit a variety of pharmacological properties. The supplementation with the amino acids showed insignificant protection against Ni-induced toxicity.
Engineering of a cellulose synthase gene improves brown rice processing efficiency and disease resistance
Authors: Chen Xuewei , Zou Li , Yin Junjie , Zhu Xiaobo , Chern Mawsheng , Wan Jiang , Wei Yan , Zhu Xiao , Lu Xiang , Xiong Qing , Tang Yongyan , Qi Tuo , Song Li , Yang Yi , Hou Qingqing , Zhang Cheng , Yuan Miao , Wang Qian , Yuan Hong , Shao Jing , Wang Long , Ye Dai , Li Mingwu , Qing Hai , Bi Yu , Liu Jiali , HE MIN , Wang Wenming , Li Shigui , Wang Jing , Li Weitao 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Post-harvest processing efficiency and in-field disease resistance are two major traits for crop improvement. Higher grain-processing efficiency saves energy while stronger disease resistance reduces pesticide usage contributing to human health and environmental safety. However, simultaneous improvement on these two traits is exceptionally difficult due to the lack of suitable germplasm/gene resources and technologies. To address this problem in rice, we screened a rice mutant population and identified a rice mutant, improved brown rice processing efficiency 1 (ipe1), which has OsCesA7 mutated leading to improved brown rice processing efficiency. However, ipe1 shows reduced disease resistance. To restore disease resistance in ipe1 but keep its improved grain processing efficiency, we identified a rice intrinsic histone deacetylase 705 (HDA705) gene promoter, which has a similar expression pattern as the OsCesA7 promoter except with little expression in rice glumes, and expressed OsCesA7 with this promoter (proHDA705:OsCesA7). The proHDA705:OsCesA7 lines carry enhanced disease resistance and elevated brown rice processing efficiency with no compromises in other agronomic traits. This engineering strategy greatly saves energy used for brown rice processing and reduces pesticide usage, contributing not only to grain yield but also to human health, environmental safety, and energy saving.
Delaying methane mitigation increases the risk of breaching the 2°C warming limit
Authors: Nzotungicimpaye Claude-Michel , MacIsaac Alexander , Zickfeld Kirsten 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Atmospheric methane levels are growing rapidly, raising concerns that sustained methane growth could constitute a challenge for limiting global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, even under stringent CO2 mitigation. Here we use an Earth system model to investigate the importance of immediate versus delayed methane mitigation to comply with the 2°C limit under a future scenario of low CO2 emissions. Our results suggest that methane mitigation initiated before 2030, alongside stringent CO2 mitigation, could enable to limit global warming to well below 2°C over the next three centuries. However, delaying methane mitigation to 2040 or beyond increases the risk of breaching
the 2°C limit, with every 10-year delay resulting in an additional peak warming of ~0.1°C. We find that CO2 feedbacks
amplify the peak warming level under delayed versus early methane mitigation. We conclude that urgent methane mitigation is needed to increase the likelihood of achieving the 2°C goal.
Rapid quantification of goat milk adulteration with cow milk using Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Li Wangfang , Huang Wei , Fan Desheng , Gao Xuhui , Zhang Xian , Meng Yaoyong , Cheng Timon Cheng-yi 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
As goat milk has a higher economic value compared to cow milk, the phenomenon of adulterating goat milk with cow milk appears in the market. In this article, the potential of Raman spectroscopy along with chemometrics was investigated for authentication and quantitation liquid goat milk adulterated with cow milk. First, the Raman spectra of goat milk and cow milk were examined by principal component analysis (PCA), the results showed that there were differences between the Raman spectra of cow and goat milk, which made quantitative experiments possible. For quantification, three different brands of cow milk and goat milk were selected randomly and adulterated goat milk with cow milk at the proportion of 5%-95%. 342 samples were used for the construction of the partial least square regression (PLSR) model, with 80% for the training set and 20% for the test set. The PLSR model showed the excellent performance for quantifying the level of adulteration, for the prediction set, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9781, root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.82%, ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 6.8. The results demonstrated the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a rapid, low cost and nondestructive analytical tool for adulteration detection in goat milk.
Introducing the Circularity Index for Dam/Reservoirs (CIDR)
Authors: Patino Carmen , Molina Jose-Luis , Espejo Fernando , Zazo Santiago 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The world currently faces significant hydrologic changes associated with global climate change. Such as changes in precipitation patterns, rising surface temperature, and increases in frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, will affect the design capacity and operating characteristics of dams/reservoirs. This brings new challenges to current water management strategies. This research is aimed to create, apply, and provide a novel indicator named Circularity Index for Dam/Reservoir (CIDR) that allows to the determination of the water circularity level on the dual dam/reservoir system. This new method includes hydrological, economic, and environmental variables as well as social ones. This indicator is defined as the sum of the scores of the eleven indicators comprising the model multiplied by the weight. The method has been implemented giving the same weight for each indicator. It has been successfully applied in the 18 dams/reservoirs systems managed by the Duero River Basin, located in the region of “Castilla y León” (Spain). The CIDR provides maximum information in a single indicator value ranging from 0 to 55. A higher value of CIDR indicates a better practice of water circularity management. The results probe the increased utility of the index and suggest that six dams/reservoirs present high circularity of water flow.
Comparison of cultural preferences and cultural practices in website design in Pakistan
Authors: Nizamani Sehrish , Nizamani Saad , Basir Nazish , Khoumbati Khalil , Nizamani Sarwat , Memon Shahzad 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Culture influences website designs. These websites benefit from the cultural elements incorporated into them. A website that is designed and used based on the preferences of its users and their culture is considered usable. Individuals' cultural preferences refer to their level of cultural comfort, whereas cultural practices are shared perceptions of how people behave in a culture regularly as a whole. This article discusses the comparison of the web design preferences of users with the actual working practices of the three categories of websites in Pakistan. The disparity between preferences and practices is examined using Hofstede's six cultural dimensions. The website design practices are collected using the observational research method. This paper concludes that web design practices in Pakistan correspond to preferences in the individualism versus collectivism and indulgence versus restraint dimensions of Hofstede dimensions of culture. The design practices for the remaining dimensions vary and do not adhere to the associated cultural dimension. The implications are discussed considering cultural research and website design.
Comparison of the accuracy of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index with that of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and GLIM criteria in assessing nutritional status to predict the 1-year prognosis of hospitalized Japanese older adults: A single-institutional cohort study
Authors: Hiraike Taeko , Momoki Chika , Habu Daiki 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
BackgroundThe global leadership initiative on malnutrition (GLIM) proposed the first international standards (GLIM criteria) for undernutrition diagnosis. Early screening using a prognostic nutritional assessment tool is recommended to improve the prognosis of older patients. The association between Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNAⓇ-SF) and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and prognosis has been reported, but there is insufficient evidence to develop the GLIM criteria for older inpatients. In the present study, the nutritional assessment tools MNAⓇ-SF, GNRI, and GLIM criteria were investigated to determine whether contribute to the prognosis of hospitalized older patients 1 year after discharge.MethodsA total of 386 patients were hospitalized between September 2014 and October 2015, May and December 2019 were enrolled. After excluding 18 patients who died during initial hospitalization, 22 who were lost to follow-up after 1 year, 40 who had missing data on admission, and 1 who discontinued follow-up, only 318 were included in the final analysis.The primary outcome was death within 1 year after discharge, assessed using the MNA®-SF, GNRI, and GLIM criteria; survival analysis was conducted. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was also performed to identify the nutritional assessment tools that contribute to patients’ prognosis.ResultsA total of 43 died within 1 year. Of these patients, 58.1% had malnutrition and 39.5% had moderate malnutrition assessed using the MNAⓇ-SF, 27.9% had severe malnutrition using the GNRI, and 58.1% had severe malnutrition using the GLIM criteria. The percentages of malnutrition and severe malnutrition were significantly higher in the mortality group than in the survival group.Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that MNAⓇ-SF had a hazard ratio of 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24–4.71) for at risk, 2.17 (95% CI: 0.48–9.84) for malnutrition, 5.68 (95% CI: 2.74–11.80) for moderate GNRI, 7.69 (95% CI: 3.13–18.91) for severe GNRI, and 1.47 (95% CI: 0.48–4.50) for moderate GLIM criteria, 2.45 (95% CI: 1.22–4.93) for severe GLIM criteria; GNRI had the most significant contribution to the prognosis.ConclusionsGNRI contributed to the prognosis 1 year after discharge of hospitalized older patients than MNAⓇ-SF and GLIM criteria.
Coupling fermentation of glutamic acid and γ-polyglutamic acid and preparation of poly(amino acid) superabsorbent polymers
Authors: Zhao Jianbo , Jun Wei , Xuanlin Wang , Hui Cao 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a biomarker that can be directly obtained by microbial fermentation, poly (amino acid) superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were prepared with purified γPGA as raw material and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE) as cross-linking agent. However, γ-PGA fermentation broth has a high viscosity, requires complex extraction and separation processes, and entails high energy consumption, resulting in the high cost of poly (amino acid) SAPs. Therefore, the coupling fermentation processes of glutamate polyglutamic acid, using glutamate fermentation broth instead of pure glutamate powder for fermentation, and treating the fermentation broth with centrifugation, UV irradiation, and high temperature, respectively were studied. The γ-PGA-co-PASP SAPs were prepared with fermentation broth instead of some part being water by combining the process of preparing polyaspartic acid (PASP) SAPs with polysuccinimide (PSI). The results showed that the yield of γ-PGA after centrifugation decreased by 5%, but it did not affect the synthesis of hydrogels. The addition of γ-PGA fermentation broth had a significant effect on the performance of γ-PGA-co-PASP SAPs. When the liquid-solid ratio of PSI: PGA was 2:1, the water absorption of super-absorbent resin was 40.4% which was higher than that of pure PASP, and the heat resistance and viscoelasticity were significantly improved. This work not only avoids the separation of complex γ-PGA fermentation broth, reduces the cost, but can improve the performance of super-absorbent resin, which has application potential.
Interpretation and Investigations of Topology based Routing Protocols applied in Dynamic System of VANET
Authors: sehrawat preeti , Chawla Mridul 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The intelligent transportation system is necessary for smart connection among vehicles and roadways equipment. VANET is an emerging research area and gaining attention for this smart connection where each vehicle is a node in the ad-hoc network consists of groups of stationary or moving vehicles. These dynamic system of vehicles are linked together through a wireless link i.e., VANET. It provides an infrastructure that builds new solution for safety, comfort of drivers and passengers but the implementation of the VANET presents a hurdle in the selection and designing of a routing mechanism for dynamic vehicle system which is capable of providing reliable and efficient transportation of packets. To improve performance of dynamic system of VANET there are several routing protocols which may enable packet transport from the source node to the destination node. The prior objective of this research is to select and suggest reliable routing protocol for VANET’s implementation in vehicle system dynamics. This research presents the overall investigation and interpretation of routing protocol based on topology i.e., AODV, OLSR, DSR, and DSDV on the grounds of simulation parameters (packet delivery ratio, overhead, throughput). The performance is evaluated using network simulator (NS-3) and mobility simulator (SUMO). The result shows that in case of throughput and overhead, protocol DSR outperforms but in case of PDR, protocol AODV outperforms. From the above, conclusion is that this research will assist the researchers in selecting the better routing protocol in the implementation of dynamic system of VANET infrastructure.