bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticles (CS-NPs) on In Vitro Regeneration Response and Production of Potato virus Y (PVY)-Free Plants of Potato
Authors: Elsahhar Sary , Shahba Mohamed , Elsayed Tarek , Mikhail Maurice , Galal Azza
Published: November 2022

Potato virus Y (PVY) causes serious loss in the yield and quality of potatoes. The effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) on the regeneration response and production of PVY-free plants under in vitro conditions was studied. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L−1 Gibberellic acid (GA3), 0.1 mg L−1 Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 500 mg L−1 malt extract was used for regeneration of plantlets from sprouts. Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) and Reverse Transcript Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used for virus indexing of the mother plant and in vitro-regenerated plantlets. Explants of PVY positive potato plants were cultured on same medium amended with 100, 200, 250, and 300 mg L−1 of (CS-NPs). Shoot regeneration decreased from 100 to 200 mg L−1 as the concentrations of antiviral (CS-NPs) up to 250 mg L−1. It was decreased with the increase in the concentration of the antiviral (CS-NPs) up to 300 mg L−1. Antiviral (CS-NPs) at the concentration of 250 mg L−1 showed a positive effect on shoot regeneration. In vitro-regenerated plantlets were virus free and tested negative in both ELISA and RT-PCR. The level of 100 mg L−1 of (CS_NPs) produced 38.8% PVY-free plants and 30.50% of cultures showed shoot regeneration. The level of 200 mg L−1 of (CS-NPs) produced 49.6% PVY-free plants while 46.8% of cultures showed shoot regeneration. The level of 250 mg L−1 of (CS-NPs) was the most effective and produced 100.0% PVY-free plants and 100.0% of cultures showed shoot regeneration. Histopathological changes simultaneously with elucidation of resistance and growth enhancement were evident in the treated plants with (CS-NPs) than those untreated control. In conclusion, (CS-NPs) treatment is an effective tool to produce PVY-free sprouts explants and has potential for producing virus-free planting material for the potato industry.
Tillage System and Seeding Rate Impact on Yield, Oil Accumulation and Photosynthetic Potential of Different Cultivars of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in Southern Russia
Authors: Voronov Sergey , Pleskachiov Yurii , Kurbanov Serazhutdin , Magomedova Diana , Zargar Meisam
Published: November 2022

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a high-value oilseed crop with growing importance in numerous countries around the globe. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the basic tillage technique and various seeding rates on the yield, oil accumulation and photosynthetic potential of different safflower cultivars (Kamyshinskiy 73, Zavolzhskiy 1 and Alexandrite) in the Volgograd Region of Southern Russia. Three field experiments were conducted at the research farm of Volgograd Agricultural State University during 2018–2020. The treatments were arranged as split plots based on a randomized complete block design with three blocks. Tillage treatments (basic tillage as the control (moldboard PN-4-35, depth 20–22 cm), chisel ploughing (OCHO 5-40, depth 35–37 cm) and disc ploughing (BDM-4, depth 12–14 cm)) were assigned to the main plots, and seeding rates (200, 300 and 400 m2/m2) were allocated to the subplots. The maximum leaf area, with a value of 26.35 m2/m2 and the greatest photosynthetic potential of 1489 thousand m2 × day ha−1, was obtained in Alexandrite with the interaction of deep chisel ploughing and a seeding rate of 400 thousand seeds ha−1. The highest dry biomass was also achieved in Alexandrite, with a value of 3.24 t ha−1, with the interaction of deep chisel ploughing and a seeding rate of 400 thousand seeds ha−1. The highest yield (1.84 t ha−1) and oil accumulation (28.75%) were recorded for Alexandrite with the interaction of deep chisel ploughing and a seeding rate of 300 and 400 thousand seeds ha−1 respectively. Overall, in terms of tillage treatments, the safflower productivity was highest when chisel tillage was performed, and the lowest yield was observed with the small disc ploughing practice. The yield of Alexandrite cultivar was noted to be 4.4–4.8% higher than that of the Zavolzhsky cultivar and 9.2–10.8% higher than that of the Kamyshinsky 73 cultivar.
Development Trends in Precision Agriculture and Its Management in China Based on Data Visualization
Authors: Song Chuanhong , Ma Wenbo , Li Junjie , Qi Baoshan , Liu Bangfan
Published: November 2022

Recent innovations are increasingly recognizing applications in precision agricultural systems that use data science techniques as well as so-called machine learning techniques. Big data analytics have created various data-intensive decision-making opportunities. This study reviews the big data analysis practices in the agriculture industry to resolve various problems to provide prospects and exciting fields of application in China. In the successful implementation of precise farming, the high-volume and complicated data generated present challenges for the economic growth of China. Emerging deep learning techniques seem promising and must be reinvented to meet current challenges. Thus, this paper suggests a big data analytics agriculture monitoring system (BDA-AMS) to ensure the highly accurate prediction of crop yield in precision agriculture and economic management using a deep learning algorithm. The convolution neural network gathers the raw images from UAVs and performs early predictions of crop yield. The simulation analysis using an open-source agricultural dataset resulted in a high parameter–precision ratio (98.8%), high accuracy (98.9%), a better performance ratio (95.5%), an improved data transmission rate (97.8%), a reduced power consumption ratio (18.8%), and an enhanced weather forecasting ratio (94.8%), production density ratio (98.8%), and reliability ratio (98.6%) compared to the baseline models.
Effect of Oxidized β-Carotene on Swine Growth Performance under Commercial Production Conditions in Vietnam
Authors: Kinh La Van , Riley William W. , Nickerson James G. , Huyen La Thi Thanh , Burton Graham W.
Published: November 2022

The effects of oxidized β-carotene (OxBC) were determined upon the growth performance of swine through their full growth cycle under commercial production conditions in Vietnam. Five hundred 28-day-old-weaned barrows and gilts were used in a 140-day complete wean-to-finish feeding trial. Animals were randomized by weight, and each pen contained 20 pigs with the same ratio of barrows to gilts. There were five dietary treatment groups with five replicate pens per treatment: Control basal diet, no antibiotics or OxBC; Basal diet with antibiotics; no OxBC; Basal diet supplemented with 2, 4, or 8 mg OxBC/kg of diet, no antibiotics. Growth performance parameters were calculated for each production stage (Starter: Days 1–28, Grower: Days 29–84, Finisher: Days 85–140) and for the overall study (Days 1–140). OxBC and antibiotics each improved growth rate, feed efficiency, and body weight compared to the unsupplemented control (p < 0.001). Animals receiving 4 and 8 mg/kg OxBC performed better than animals on antibiotics (p < 0.001). In Starter pigs, OxBC reduced the occurrence of diarrhea dose-dependently (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg) and more so than did antibiotics (p < 0.001). These findings support the concept that oxidized β-carotene can facilitate swine growth and health in the absence of in-feed antibiotics.
Comparison of the Mineral Profile of Two Types of Horse Diet, Silage and Commercial Concentrate, and Their Impacts on Hoof Tensile Strength
Authors: Rueda-Carrillo Gabriel , Rosiles-Martínez René , Corona-Gochi Luis , Hernández-García Anaid , López-Navarro Gabriela , Trigo-Tavera Francisco
Published: November 2022

The type of diet that a horse consumes is one of the most important factors determining the mineral profile and tensile strength of its hooves, so the quality and nutritional value of the supplied feed are fundamental to achieving satisfactory hoof quality. The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the mineral concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) between two diets, namely silage and a commercial concentrate, using atomic absorption spectrometry and to determine which led to higher increases in the hoof tensile strength of horses consuming these diets. Thirty-two Spanish horses were randomly divided into two groups, where the diet of the horses in group 1 was silage oat hay, and that of the horses in group 2 was a commercial concentrate and oat hay. Both diets were provided for 12 months. The hoof tensile strength was then measured using an Instron universal testing machine. Mg and Fe levels were higher (p < 0.05) in the silage than in the commercial concentrate, and hoof Mg, Zn, K, and tensile strength were also influenced by the hormonal stage (p < 0.05). The type of diet directly affected the hoof Mg, Zn, K, Na, and tensile strength (p < 0.05), which Mg, K and Na were higher in horses fed with concentrate. It was found that for each unit of Zn (μg/g and Na (μg/g)), in the hoof, the tensile strength is affected by −0.10 N/mm2 and −0.003 N/mm2, respectively for each mineral.
A Note on the Conditioning of the H−1 Matrix Used in Single-Step GBLUP
Authors: Nilforooshan Mohammad Ali
Published: November 2022

The single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) is used worldwide for the simultaneous genetic evaluation of genotyped and non-genotyped animals. It is easily extendible to all BLUP models by replacing the pedigree-based additive genetic relationship matrix (A) with an augmented pedigree–genomic relationship matrix (H). Theoretically, H does not introduce any artificially inflated variance. However, inflated genetic variances have been observed due to the incomparability between the genomic relationship matrix (G) and A used in H. Usually, G is blended and tuned with A22 (the block of A for genotyped animals) to improve its numerical condition and compatibility. If deflation/inflation is still needed, a common approach is weighting G−1−A22−1 in the form of τG−1−ωA22−1, added to A−1 to form H−1. In some situations, this can violate the conditional properties upon which H is built. Different ways of weighting the H−1 components (A−1, G−1, A22−1, and H−1 itself) were studied to avoid/minimise the violations of the conditional properties of H. Data were simulated on ten populations and twenty generations. Responses to weighting different components of H−1 were measured in terms of the regression of phenotypes on the estimated breeding values (the lower the slope, the higher the inflation) and the correlation between phenotypes and the estimated breeding values (predictive ability). Increasing the weight on H−1 increased the inflation. The responses to weighting G−1 were similar to those for H−1. Increasing the weight on A−1 (together with A22−1) was not influential and slightly increased the inflation. Predictive ability is a direct function of the slope of the regression line and followed similar trends. Responses to weighting G−1−A22−1 depend on the inflation/deflation of evaluations from A−1 to H−1 and the compatibility of the two matrices with the heritability used in the model. One possibility is a combination of weighting G−1−A22−1 and weighting H−1. Given recent advances in ssGBLUP, conditioning H−1 might become an interim solution from the past and then not be needed in the future.
The Potential of Bemegride as an Activation Agent in Electroencephalography in Dogs
Authors: Hirashima Junya , Saito Miyoko , Yokomori Minoru
Published: November 2022

The present study investigated the potential of bemegride as a pharmacological activation agent that elicits epileptiform discharges (EDs) in interictal electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in dogs. Four laboratory dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and four without epilepsy were included. The dogs were anesthetized using sevoflurane during EEG recordings. Bemegride was administered intravenously and repeatedly until EDs were enhanced or induced, or until the maximum dose (20 mg/kg) had been administered. Bemegride activated EDs in all dogs with epilepsy. These EDs predominantly occurred in each dog’s spontaneous irritative zones, which were identified without the administration of bemegride. EDs occurred after the administration of bemegride in 50% of dogs without epilepsy. The dose required for activation was significantly lower in dogs with epilepsy (median; 7.3 mg/kg) than in those without (median; 19.7 mg/kg) (p = 0.0294). The only suspected adverse effect associated with the administration of bemegride was vomiting in two dogs after awakening from anesthesia. There were no other adverse effects, including seizures. The present results demonstrated the potential of bemegride as a safe and effective pharmacological activation agent of EDs in anesthetized dogs with epilepsy and provided more options for the diagnosis and therapeutic planning of epilepsy, including presurgical evaluations, in dogs.
Hazelnut Skin in Ewes’ Diet: Effects on Colostrum Immunoglobulin G and Passive Transfer of Immunity to the Lambs
Authors: Viola Irene , Tizzani Paolo , Perona Giovanni , Lussiana Carola , Mimosi Antonio , Ponzio Patrizia , Cornale Paolo
Published: November 2022

Passive immunity transfer has a pivotal role in newborn lambs, where the colostrum represents the primary source of immunoglobulins. This study hypothesized that the high content in polyphenolic compounds, mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E of hazelnut skin affects blood and colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and related gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in sheep and their lambs. In the last 45 days of pregnancy, ewes were divided into a control (CTR) and a hazelnut skin supplemented group (HZN). Blood and colostrum were collected from ewes and lambs before the first suckling, at 24 and 48 h after birth, then IgG concentration, GGT and LDH activity levels were measured. IgG concentration in the colostrum and in lamb’s serum were significantly greater in HZN than CTR. No significant difference was detected for ewe’s blood. A significant positive correlation was found between IgG and GGT in lambs’ serum and colostrum, between IgG and LDH, as well as between GGT and LDH in lambs’ serum and colostrum. Our results suggest that hazelnut skin supplementation influences IgG colostrum concentration, with improved immune passive transfer to the suckling lambs. The transfer of maternal derived immune factors is confirmed by the GGT and LDH enzyme activity levels.
Risk-Based Control Strategies of Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody Charge Variants
Authors: Beck Alain , Nowak Christine , Meshulam Deborah , Reynolds Kristina , Chen David , Pacardo Dennis B. , Nicholls Samantha B. , Carven Gregory J. , Gu Zhenyu , Fang Jing , Wang Dongdong , Katiyar Amit , Xiang Tao , Liu Hongcheng
Published: November 2022

Since the first approval of the anti-CD3 recombinant monoclonal antibody (mAb), muromonab-CD3, a mouse antibody for the prevention of transplant rejection, by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986, mAb therapeutics have become increasingly important to medical care. A wealth of information about mAbs regarding their structure, stability, post-translation modifications, and the relationship between modification and function has been reported. Yet, substantial resources are still required throughout development and commercialization to have appropriate control strategies to maintain consistent product quality, safety, and efficacy. A typical feature of mAbs is charge heterogeneity, which stems from a variety of modifications, including modifications that are common to many mAbs or unique to a specific molecule or process. Charge heterogeneity is highly sensitive to process changes and thus a good indicator of a robust process. It is a high-risk quality attribute that could potentially fail the specification and comparability required for batch disposition. Failure to meet product specifications or comparability can substantially affect clinical development timelines. To mitigate these risks, the general rule is to maintain a comparable charge profile when process changes are inevitably introduced during development and even after commercialization. Otherwise, new peaks or varied levels of acidic and basic species must be justified based on scientific knowledge and clinical experience for a specific molecule. Here, we summarize the current understanding of mAb charge variants and outline risk-based control strategies to support process development and ultimately commercialization.
Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Shigella Species in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Salleh Mohd Zulkifli , Nik Zuraina Nik Mohd Noor , Hajissa Khalid , Ilias Mohamad Ikram , Banga Singh Kirnpal Kaur , Deris Zakuan Zainy
Published: November 2022

Shigellosis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is the second leading cause of diarrheal mortality among all age groups. However, the global emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella strains, limiting the choice of effective drugs for shigellosis, has become the major challenge in the treatment of Shigella infections. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an updated picture of the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Shigella species in Asia. A comprehensive and systematic search was performed on three electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus), in which 63 eligible studies published between 2010 and 2022 were identified. From our meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model, the overall prevalence of Shigella spp. in Asian patients was estimated to be 8.0% (95% CI: 5.5–10.5). The pooled prevalence rates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Shigella strains were 68.7% (95% CI: 59.9–77.5) and 23.9% (95% CI: 12.9–34.8), respectively. Concerning recommended antimicrobial drugs for Shigella, the prevalence of resistance was highest for ciprofloxacin (29.8%) and azithromycin (29.2%), followed by ceftriaxone (23.8%), in spite of their importance as first- and second-line treatments for shigellosis. In contrast, resistance to carbapenems, such as ertapenem (0.0%), imipenem (0.1%) and meropenem (0.0%), was almost non-existent among the 49 tested antibiotics. The significantly high prevalence estimation suggests that the multidrug-resistant Shigella is a pressing threat to public health worthy of careful and justified interventions. Effective antibiotic treatment strategies, which may lead to better outcomes for the control and treatment of shigellosis in Asia, are essential.
Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Activity of Pyrones from a Pseudomonas mosselii Strain
Authors: Liu Xueling , Wang Yali , Zaleta-Pinet Diana A. , Borris Robert P. , Clark Benjamin R.
Published: November 2022

The emergence of drug resistant microbes over recent decades represents one of the greatest threats to human health; the resilience of many of these organisms can be attributed to their ability to produce biofilms. Natural products have played a crucial role in drug discovery, with microbial natural products in particular proving a rich and diverse source of antimicrobial agents. During antimicrobial activity screening, the strain Pseudomonas mosselii P33 was found to inhibit the growth of multiple pathogens. Following chemical investigation of this strain, pseudopyronines A-C were isolated as the main active principles, with all three pseudopyronines showing outstanding activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The analogue pseudopyronine C, which has not been well-characterized previously, displayed sub-micromolar activity against S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, the inhibitory abilities of the pseudopyronines against the biofilms of S. aureus were further studied. The results indicated all three pseudopyronines could directly reduce the growth of biofilm in both adhesion stage and maturation stage, displaying significant activity at micromolar concentrations.
Bioactive Peptides against Human Apicomplexan Parasites
Authors: Rivera-Fernández Norma , Anacleto-Santos Jhony , Casarrubias-Tabarez Brenda , López-Pérez Teresa de Jesús , Rojas-Lemus Marcela , López-Valdez Nelly , Fortoul Teresa I.
Published: November 2022

Apicomplexan parasites are the causal agents of different medically important diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and malaria. Toxoplasmosis is considered a neglected parasitosis, even though it can cause severe cerebral complications and death in immunocompromised patients, including children and pregnant women. Drugs against Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, are highly toxic and lack efficacy in eradicating tissue cysts, promoting the establishment of latent infection and acute relapsing disease. Cryptosporidiosis has been recognized as the most frequent waterborne parasitosis in US outbreaks; anti-cryptosporidium drug discovery still faces a major obstacle: drugs that can act on the epicellular parasite. Severe malaria is most commonly caused by the progression of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. In recent years, great progress has been made in the field of antimalarial drugs and vaccines, although the resistance of P. falciparum to artemisinin has recently gained a foothold in Africa. As seen, the search for new drugs against these parasites remains a challenge. Peptide-based drugs seem to be attractive alternative therapeutic agents recently recognized by the pharmaceutical industry, as they can kill different infectious agents and modulate the immune response. A review of the experimental effects of bioactive peptides on these parasites follows, along with comments. In addition, some biological and metabolomic generalities of the parasites are reviewed to elucidate peptide mechanisms of action on Apicomplexan targets.
Design of a Bacteriophage Cocktail Active against Shigella Species and Testing of Its Therapeutic Potential in Galleria mellonella
Authors: Filippov Andrey A. , Su Wanwen , Sergueev Kirill V. , Kevorkian Richard T. , Snesrud Erik C. , Srijan Apichai , He Yunxiu , Fouts Derrick E. , Lurchachaiwong Woradee , McGann Patrick T. , Ellison Damon W. , Swierczewski Brett E. , Nikolich Mikeljon P.
Published: November 2022

Shigellosis is a leading global cause of diarrheal disease and travelers’ diarrhea now being complicated by the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, necessitating the development of alternative antibacterials such as therapeutic bacteriophages (phages). Phages with lytic activity against Shigella strains were isolated from sewage. The genomes of 32 phages were sequenced, and based on genomic comparisons belong to seven taxonomic genera: Teetrevirus, Teseptimavirus, Kayfunavirus, Tequatrovirus, Mooglevirus, Mosigvirus and Hanrivervirus. Phage host ranges were determined with a diverse panel of 95 clinical isolates of Shigella from Southeast Asia and other geographic regions, representing different species and serotypes. Three-phage mixtures were designed, with one possessing lytic activity against 89% of the strain panel. This cocktail exhibited lytic activity against 100% of S. sonnei isolates, 97.2% of S. flexneri (multiple serotypes) and 100% of S. dysenteriae serotypes 1 and 2. Another 3-phage cocktail composed of two myophages and one podophage showed both a broad host range and the ability to completely sterilize liquid culture of a model virulent strain S. flexneri 2457T. In a Galleria mellonella model of lethal infection with S. flexneri 2457T, this 3-phage cocktail provided a significant increase in survival.
Association of Physcion and Chitosan Can Efficiently Control Powdery Mildew in Rosa roxburghii
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Li Jiaohong , Su Yue , Wu Xiaomao
Published: November 2022

Powdery mildew is an extremely serious disease of all Rosa roxburghii production regions in China and frequently causes 30~40% of economic losses. Natural products are considered excellent alternatives to chemical fungicides. In this work, we investigated the efficacy of physcion used together with chitosan controls R. roxburghii powdery mildew and impacts its resistance, growth, yield, and quality. The results reveal that the foliar application of 12.5 mg L−1 0.5% physcion aqueous solutions (AS) + 250 mg L−1 chitosan efficiently controlled powdery mildew with the efficacies of 92.65% and 90.68% after 7 d and 14 d, respectively, which conspicuously (p < 0.05) higher than 83.62% and 80.43% of 25 mg L−1 0.5% physcion AS, as well as 70.75% and 77.80% of 500 mg L−1 chitosan. Meanwhile, this association prominently ameliorated the resistant and photosynthetic capabilities of R. roxburghii. Simultaneously, this association was more efficient than physcion or chitosan alone for ameliorating the yield and quality of R. roxburghii. This work emphasizes that the association of physcion and chitosan can be nominated as a natural, efficient and environmental-friendly alternative ingredient in controlling R. roxburghii powdery mildew and ameliorating its resistant, photosynthesis, yield, and quality.
Targeting SAM-I Riboswitch Using Antisense Oligonucleotide Technology for Inhibiting the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Traykovska Martina , Penchovsky Robert
Published: November 2022

With the discovery of antibiotics, a productive period of antibacterial drug innovation and application in healthcare systems and agriculture resulted in saving millions of lives. Unfortunately, the misusage of antibiotics led to the emergence of many resistant pathogenic strains. Some riboswitches have risen as promising targets for developing antibacterial drugs. Here, we describe the design and applications of the chimeric antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) as a novel antibacterial agent. The pVEC-ASO-1 consists of a cell-penetrating oligopeptide known as pVEC attached to an oligonucleotide part with modifications of the first and the second generations. This combination of modifications enables specific mRNA degradation under multiple turnover conditions via RNase H. The pVEC-ASO targets the S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-I riboswitch found in the genome of many Gram-positive bacteria. The SAM-I riboswitch controls not only the biosynthesis but also the transport of SAM. We have established an antibiotic dosage of 700 nM (4.5 µg/mL) of pVEC-ASO that inhibits 80% of the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The pVEC-ASO-1 does not show any toxicity in the human cell line at MIC80’s concentration. We have proven that the SAM-I riboswitch is a suitable target for antibacterial drug development based on ASO. The approach is rational and easily adapted to other bacterial RNA targets.
Investigating the Role of Antibiotics on Induction, Inhibition and Eradication of Biofilms of Poultry Associated Escherichia coli Isolated from Retail Chicken Meat
Authors: Noreen Aisha , Masood Hamid , Zaib Jaweria , Rafaque Zara , Fatima Areeta , Shabbir Hira , Alam Javaria , Habib Aisha , Noor Saba , Dil Kinza , Dasti Javid Iqbal
Published: November 2022

Background: Widespread use of antibiotics as growth promoters and prophylactic agents has dramatic consequences for the development of antibiotic resistance. In this study, we investigated effects of selected antibiotics on bacterial biofilms and performed extensive antibiotic and VF profiling of poultry-meat associated E. coli strains. Methods: Antibiotic susceptibility was performed by a disc diffusion method, followed by molecular screening of resistance and virulence determinants. Further biofilm formation assays, MIC-p, MIC-b, MBIC and MBEC, were performed using standard tissue culture plate method. Results: In total, 83 (75%) samples were confirmed as E. coli from poultry sources, 26 different antibiotics were tested, and maximum numbers of the isolates were resistant to lincomycin (100%), while the least resistance was seen against cefotaxime (1%) and polymyxin B (1%). Overall, 48% of the isolates were ESBL producers and 40% showed carbapenemase activity; important virulence genes were detected in following percentages: fimH32 (39%), papC21 (25%), iutA34 (41%), kpsMT-II23 (28%), papEF9 (11%), papGII22 (27%) and fyuA13 (16%). Colistin showed remarkable anti-biofilm activity, while at sub-MIC levels, gentamicin, ceftriaxone and enrofloxin significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited the biofilms. A strong induction of bacterial biofilm, after exposure to sub-minimal levels of colistin clearly indicates risk of bacterial overgrowth in a farm environment, while use of colistin aggravates the risk of emergence of colistin resistant Enterobacteriaceae, a highly undesirable public health scenario.
Octenidine’s Efficacy: A Matter of Interpretation or the Influence of Experimental Setups?
Authors: Vejzovic Djenana , Iftic Azra , Ön Ayse , Semeraro Enrico F. , Malanovic Nermina
Published: November 2022

With its broad antimicrobial spectrum and non-specific mode of action via membrane disruption, any resistance to octenidine (OCT) seems unlikely and has not been observed in clinical settings so far. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of OCT against Escherichia coli and mutants lacking specific lipid head groups which, due to altered membrane properties, might be the root cause for resistance development of membrane-active compounds. Furthermore, we aimed to test its efficacy under different experimental conditions including different solvents for OCT, bacterial concentration and methods for analysis. Our primary goal was to estimate how many OCT molecules are needed to kill one bacterium. We performed susceptibility assays by observing bacterial growth behavior, using a Bioscreen in an analogous manner for every condition. The growth curves were recorded for 20 h at 420–580 nm in presence of different OCT concentrations and were used to assess the inhibitory concentrations (IC100%) for OCT. Bacterial concentrations given in cell numbers were determined, followed by Bioscreen measurement by manual colony counting on agar plates and QUANTOMTM cell staining. This indicated a significant variance between both methods, which influenced IC100% of OCT, especially when used at low doses. The binding capacity of OCT to E. coli was investigated by measuring UV-absorbance of OCT exposed to bacteria and a common thermodynamic framework based on Bioscreen measurements. Results showed that OCT’s antimicrobial activity in E. coli is not affected by changes at the membrane level but strongly dependent on experimental settings in respect to solvents and applied bacterial counts. More OCT was required when the active was dissolved in phosphate or Hepes buffers instead of water and when higher bacterial concentration was used. Furthermore, binding studies revealed that 107–108 OCT molecules bind to bacteria, which is necessary for the saturation of the bacterial surface to initiate the killing cascade. Our results clearly demonstrate that in vitro data, depending on the applied materials and the methods for determination of IC100%, can easily be misinterpreted as reduced bacterial susceptibility towards OCT.
Virulence Determinants and Methicillin Resistance in Biofilm-Forming Staphylococcus aureus from Various Food Sources in Bangladesh
Authors: Ballah Fatimah Muhammad , Islam Md. Saiful , Rana Md. Liton , Ullah Md. Ashek , Ferdous Farhana Binte , Neloy Fahim Haque , Ievy Samina , Sobur Md. Abdus , Rahman AMM Taufiquer , Khatun Mst. Minara , Rahman Marzia , Rahman Md. Tanvir
Published: November 2022

The eradication of staphylococcal infections has become more difficult due to the development of antibiotic resistance and virulence in biofilm-forming Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of the life-threatening zoonotic pathogen, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), in foods indicates a public health issue. This study, therefore, aimed to determine virulence factors and methicillin resistance in biofilm-forming S. aureus isolates from different foods and food handlers. A total of 100 PCR-positive S. aureus isolates (97 biofilm formers and three non-biofilm formers) were screened using the disk diffusion method and PCR assay. By PCR, genes encoding virulence factors, e.g., enterotoxin (sea, 30%, 95% CI: 21.90–39.59%), toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst, 20%, 95% CI: 13.34–28.88%), and Panton–Valentine leukocidin toxin (PVL, 15%, 95% CI: 9.31–23.28%), were detected in the S. aureus isolates. By the disk diffusion method, 100% (95% CI: 96.30–100.00%) of S. aureus isolates were phenotypically MRSA in nature, showing 100% resistance to oxacillin and cefoxitin. Moreover, the methicillin-resistant gene mecA was found in 61 (61%, 95% CI: 51.20–69.98%) MRSA isolates. Furthermore, all the S. aureus isolates were phenotypically resistant to ampicillin and penicillin, 30% to erythromycin, and 11% to gentamycin. Among them, 51% (95% CI: 41.35–60.58%) of S. aureus isolates were phenotypically multidrug-resistant in nature, and the multiple antibiotic resistance index varied from 0.33 to 0.55. Genes encoding resistance to beta-lactams (blaZ, 100%, 95% CI: 96.30–100.00%) and tetracyclines (tetA and tetC, 3%, 95% CI: 0.82–8.45%) were found positive in the S. aureus isolates. Genes encoding virulence determinants and MRSA were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in strong biofilm-forming S. aureus than in moderate and non-biofilm-forming isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Bangladesh to incorporate preliminary data on the occurrence of virulence determinants and methicillin resistance, including resistance to clinically important antibiotics, in biofilm-forming S. aureus isolates from different foods and food handlers in Bangladesh, emphasizing a potential threat to human health.
Safety Assessment of 3S, 3’S Astaxanthin Derived from Metabolically Engineered K. marxianus
Authors: Samuel Sabrina Yeo , Wang Hui-Min David , Huang Meng-Yuan , Cheng Yu-Shen , Chen Juine-Ruey , Li Wen-Hsiung , Chang Jui-Jen
Published: November 2022

Previous reviews have already explored the safety and bioavailability of astaxanthin, as well as its beneficial effects on human body. The great commercial potential in a variety of industries, such as the pharmaceutical and health supplement industries, has led to a skyrocketing demand for natural astaxanthin. In this study, we have successfully optimized the astaxanthin yield up to 12.8 mg/g DCW in a probiotic yeast and purity to 97%. We also verified that it is the desired free-form 3S, 3’S configurational stereoisomer by NMR and FITR that can significantly increase the bioavailability of astaxanthin. In addition, we have proven that our extracted astaxanthin crystals have higher antioxidant capabilities compared with natural esterified astaxanthin from H. pluvialis. We also screened for potential adverse effects of the pure astaxanthin crystals extracted from the engineered probiotic yeast by dosing SD rats with 6, 12, and 24 mg/kg/day of astaxanthin crystals via oral gavages for a 13-week period and have found no significant biological differences between the control and treatment groups in rats of both genders, further confirming the safety of astaxanthin crystals. This study demonstrates that developing metabolically engineered microorganisms provides a safe and feasible approach for the bio-based production of many beneficial compounds, including astaxanthin.
Multi-Modal Synergistic 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT and MRI for Evaluation of the Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in CO-Induced Delayed Parkinsonian and Non-Parkinsonian Syndromes
Authors: Yeh Skye Hsin-Hsien , Chiu Chuang-Hsin , Kao Hung-Wen , Lin Ching-Po , Lai Yu-Hus , Huang Wen-Sheng
Published: November 2022

Background: Delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome (DNS) is characterized by motor dysfunction after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. We examined the relationship between dopamine transporter (DAT) loss using kit-based Tc-99m-TRODAT-1 (DAT single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) radioligand) and globus pallidus necrosis on MRI, DAT availability before and after hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and feasibility of Tc-99m-TRODAT-1 as an index for parkinsonian syndrome in CO poisoning. Methods: Twenty-one CO-intoxicated patients (mean ± SD age, 38.6 ± 11.4; range, 20–68 years) with DNS underwent Tc-99m-TRODAT-1 SPECT and MRI before HBOT and follow-up Tc-99m-TRODAT-1 SPECT to assess DAT recovery. Neurological examinations for Parkinsonism were performed after development of DNS. Results: Over 70% (15/21) of DNS patients showed globus pallidus necrosis on MRI. Significantly lower bilateral striatal DAT availability was associated with globus pallidus necrosis (p < 0.005). Moreover, 68.4% (13/19) of DNS subjects with Parkinsonian syndrome had lower bilateral striatal DAT availability vs. non-parkinsonian subjects pre- or post-HBOT. The SURs for both striata increased by ~11% post-HBOT in the Parkinsonian group; however, the left striatum presented a significantly higher DAT recovery rate than the right (*** p < 0.005). Conclusions: Coupled Tc-99m TRODAT-1 SPECT and MRI could assist evaluation of Parkinsonism risk and indicate DAT availability after HBOT in CO-poisoned patients with DNS.
Tissue Oxidative Ecology along an Aridity Gradient in a Mammalian Subterranean Species
Authors: Jacobs Paul J. , Hart Daniel W. , Merchant Hana N. , Janse van Vuuren Andries K. , Faulkes Chris G. , Portugal Steven J. , Van Jaarsveld Barry , Bennett Nigel C.
Published: November 2022

Climate change has caused aridification which can alter habitat vegetation, soil and precipitation profiles potentially affecting resident species. Vegetation and soil profiles are important for subterranean mole-rats as increasing aridity causes soils to become harder and geophytes less evenly distributed, and the inter-geophyte distance increases. Mole-rats obtain all water and dietary requirements from geophytes, and thus digging in harder soils may amplify stressors (hyperthermia, dehydration- or exercise-induced damage). This study assessed the oxidative status of the wild common mole-rat along an aridity gradient (arid, semi-arid and mesic). Kidney and liver oxidative markers, including total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Liver oxidative status did not demonstrate any significance with the degree of the aridity gradient. Aridity affected the TAC and OSI of the kidney, with individuals in the most arid habitats possessing the highest TAC. The evolution of increased group size to promote survival in African mole-rats in arid habitats may have resulted in the additional benefit of reduced oxidative stress in the kidneys. The SOD activity of the kidneys was higher than that of the liver with lower oxidative damage, suggesting this species pre-emptively protects its kidneys as these are important for water balance and retention.
The Role of DNA Damage and Repair in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: Zhu Jiahui , Liu Lexin , Ma Xiaodi , Cao Xinyu , Chen Yu , Qu Xiangping , Ji Ming , Liu Huijun , Liu Chi , Qin Xiaoqun , Xiang Yang
Published: November 2022

The mortality rate of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) increases yearly due to ineffective treatment. Given that the lung is exposed to the external environment, it is likely that oxidative stress, especially the stimulation of DNA, would be of particular importance in pulmonary fibrosis. DNA damage is known to play an important role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis initiation, so DNA repair systems targeting damage are also crucial for the survival of lung cells. Although many contemporary reports have summarized the role of individual DNA damage and repair pathways in their hypotheses, they have not focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This review, therefore, aims to provide a concise overview for researchers to understand the pathways of DNA damage and repair and their roles in IPF.
Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Ceria Nanoparticles Modulate Leukocyte–Endothelium Cell Interactions and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Díaz-Pozo Pedro , Canet Francisco , Grirrane Abdessamad , Lopez-Domenech Sandra , Herance José Raul , Apostolova Nadezda , Luna-Marco Clara , Rovira-Llopis Susana , Marti Miguel , Morillas Carlos , Rocha Milagros , Garcia Hermenegildo , Victor Victor M.
Published: November 2022

Gold-ceria nanoparticles (Au/CeO2) are known to have antioxidant properties. However, whether these nanoparticles can provide benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) remains unknown. This work aimed to study the effects of Au/CeO2 nanoparticles at different rates of gold purity (10, 4.4, 1.79 and 0.82) on leukocyte–endothelium interactions and inflammation in T2D patients. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters, leukocyte–endothelium interactions, ROS production and NF-κB expression were assessed in 57 T2D patients and 51 healthy subjects. T2D patients displayed higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and characteristic alterations in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. ROS production was increased in leukocytes of T2D patients and decreased by Au/CeO2 at 0.82% gold. Interestingly, Au/CeO2 0.82% modulated leukocyte–endothelium interactions (the first step in the atherosclerotic process) by increasing leukocyte rolling velocity and decreasing rolling flux and adhesion in T2D. A static adhesion assay also revealed diminished leukocyte–endothelium interactions by Au/CeO2 0.82% treatment. NF-κB (p65) levels increased in T2D patients and were reduced by Au/CeO2 treatment. Cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis assays demonstrated no toxicity produced by Au/CeO2 nanoparticles. These results demonstrate that Au/CeO2 nanoparticles at 0.82% exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in the leukocyte–endothelium interaction of T2D patients, suggesting a protective role against the appearance of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases when this condition exists.
Amharic Speech Search Using Text Word Query Based on Automatic Sentence-like Segmentation
Authors: Brhanemeskel Getnet Mezgebu , Abate Solomon Teferra , Ayall Tewodros Alemu , Seid Abegaz Mohammed
Published: November 2022

More than 7000 languages are spoken in the world today. Amharic is one of the languages spoken in the East African country Ethiopia. A lot of speech data is being made every day in different languages as machines are getting better at processing and have improved storing capacity. However, searching for a particular word with its respective time frame inside a given audio file is a challenge. Since Amharic has its own distinguishing characteristics, such as glottal, palatal, and labialized consonants, it is not possible to directly use models that are developed for other languages. A popular approach in developing systems for searching particular information in speech involves using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module that generates the text version of the speech where the word or phrase is searched based on text query. However, it is not possible to transcribe a long audio file without segmentation, which in turn affects the performance of the ASR module. In this paper, we are reporting our investigation on the effects of manual and automatic speech segmentation of Amharic audio files in a spiritual domain. We have used manual segmentation as a baseline for our investigation and found out that sentence-like automatic segmentation resulted in a word error rate (WER) closer to the WER achieved on the manually segmented test speech. Based on the experimental results, we propose Amharic speech search using text word query (ASSTWQ) based on automatic sentence-like segmentation. Since we have achieved lower WER using the previously developed speech corpus, which is in a broadcast news domain, together with the in-domain speech corpus, we recommend using both in- and out-domain speech corpora to develop the Amharic ASR module. The performance of the proposed ASR is a WER of 53% that needs further improvement. Combining two language models (LMs) developed using training text from the two different domains (spiritual and broadcast news) allowed a WER reduction from 53% to 46%. Therefore, we have developed two ASSTWQ systems using the two ASR modules with WERs of 53% and 46%.
An Improved Surface Treatment Process of 304 Stainless Steel Based on Low-Temperature Chromizing and Ultrasonic Vibration Extrusion
Authors: Cao Yansheng , Zheng Lianyu , Fan Wei
Published: November 2022

The ultrasonic vibration extrusion process is a widely used surface treatment process of stainless steel, e.g., 304 stainless steel, to improve the surface quality and increase hardness and wear resistance. However, for high-hardness 304 stainless steel, the traditional process, i.e., a single ultrasonic vibration extrusion process, does not fulfil its application requirements. To cope with this problem, this paper proposes an improved surface treatment method based on low-temperature chromizing and ultrasonic vibration extrusion to obtain the expected surface quality of 304 stainless steel. Using orthogonal design and multivariate regression, the influence of ultrasonic impact parameters on the surface integrity of 304 stainless steel was studied in this work. Finally, the experimental results show that the hardness of the surface processed by the proposed method is increased by about 2.55 times compared with the ultrasonic vibration extrusion process, and the surface roughness of the composite process is reduced by an average of 60.8% compared with that of unfinished surface. In addition, the optimal combination of process parameters is obtained: the spindle speed of 240 rpm, the feed of 0.1 mm/r, and the static extrusion of 40 μm, which can provide the optimal process parameter support for the surface treatment of 304 stainless steel.
Hybrid Decision Models of Leasing Business for Thailand Using Neural Network
Authors: Jiamahasap Nachapong , Ramingwong Sakgasem
Published: November 2022

The research aims to improve the effectiveness of financial lending business decision-making by developing dynamic models involved in the money-lending business. The objectives of this study are to identify preference factors that affect a customer’s decision of choosing a particular financial institution, to determine the important approval factors that providers need to take into consideration while approving loans and to identify any relationship between and among the factors. The data are taken from a case study of a lending company in northern Thailand. The first model is the preference model, comprising 68 inputs factors, which are used to determine the reasons why a customer chooses service providers, which can be either commercial or non-commercial banks. The model is developed using a neural network (NN) with a history data of 2973 records and comprising four sub-models. The model is improved by varying the NN structure and EPOC. The best model provides an accuracy rate of 100%. The second model is the approval model, comprising 55 input factors for predicting the result of loan requests, which can determine if the loan should be approved with the full amount of the request, approved with a lesser amount or another outcome. The model is developed using a neural network with history data of 787 records. This model is composed of three sub-models; the best model of which gives an accuracy rate of 55%. The third model is the hybrid decision model, linking preference factors and approval factors with external factors. The model is constructed using system dynamics factors, approval factors, financial institutions and system dynamic modeling and the model can simulate the result if the input is changed.