bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le Rossiniane op.121 (n.3) para violão de Mauro Giuliani: considerações sobre a construção da performance
Authors: Scarduelli Fabio
Published: April 2023

Nossa pesquisa, cujo resultado é publicado aqui através de gravação áudio-visual e resumo do processo de preparação, situa-se na linha Música e Processos Criativos – performance. Teve como objetivo a preparação de uma obra específica – Le Rossiniane Op.121 (n.3) de Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) – fundamentada em questões técnicas e estilísticas, baseadas sobretudo em Fernandez (2000), Brown (2002) e Zangari (2013). Teve como base metodológica as frentes bibliográfica, analítica e exploratória / autoetnografica. Para além do resultado artístico, desenvolveu reflexões a respeito de meios de abordagem de problemas específicos desse repertório desafiador no âmbito da técnica e do estilo de interpretação.
DEEPCYPs: A deep learning platform for enhanced cytochrome P450 activity prediction
Authors: Ai Daiqiao , Cai Hanxuan , Wei Jiajia , Zhao Duancheng , Chen Yihao , Wang Ling
Published: April 2023

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a superfamily of heme-containing oxidizing enzymes involved in the metabolism of a wide range of medicines, xenobiotics, and endogenous compounds. Five of the CYPs (1A2, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A4) are responsible for metabolizing the vast majority of approved drugs. Adverse drug-drug interactions, many of which are mediated by CYPs, are one of the important causes for the premature termination of drug development and drug withdrawal from the market. In this work, we reported in silicon classification models to predict the inhibitory activity of molecules against these five CYP isoforms using our recently developed FP-GNN deep learning method. The evaluation results showed that, to the best of our knowledge, the multi-task FP-GNN model achieved the best predictive performance with the highest average AUC (0.905), F1 (0.779), BA (0.819), and MCC (0.647) values for the test sets, even compared to advanced machine learning, deep learning, and existing models. Y-scrambling testing confirmed that the results of the multi-task FP-GNN model were not attributed to chance correlation. Furthermore, the interpretability of the multi-task FP-GNN model enables the discovery of critical structural fragments associated with CYPs inhibition. Finally, an online webserver called DEEPCYPs and its local version software were created based on the optimal multi-task FP-GNN model to detect whether compounds bear potential inhibitory activity against CYPs, thereby promoting the prediction of drug-drug interactions in clinical practice and could be used to rule out inappropriate compounds in the early stages of drug discovery and/or identify new CYPs inhibitors.
Quantitative evaluation of the spinal cord compression in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy using synthetic MRI
Authors: Liu Qiufeng , Shao Haoyue , Liu Chaoxu , Liu Weiyin Vivian , Saeed Azzam , Zhang Qiya , Lu Jun , Zhang Guiling , Li Li , Tang Xiangyu , Du Guanghui , Zhu Wenzhen
Published: April 2023

Objectives: This work aimed to investigate the feasibility and diagnostic value of synthetic MRI, including T1, T2 and PD values in determining the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Methods: All subjects (51 CSM patients and 9 healthy controls) underwent synthetic MRI scan on a 3.0T GE MR scanner. The cervical canal stenosis degree of subjects was graded 0—III based on the method of a MRI grading system. Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn at the maximal compression level (MCL) by covering the whole spinal cord to generate T1MCL, T2MCL, and PDMCL values in grade I-III groups. Besides, anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (Trans) diameters of the spinal cord at MCL were measured in grade II and grade III groups, and relative values were calculated as follows: rAP = APMCL/APnormal, rTrans = TransMCL/Transnormal. rMIN = rAP/rTrans.

Results: T1MCL value showed a decreasing trend with severity of grades (from grade 0 to grade II, p < 0.05), while it increased dramatically at grade III. T2MCL value showed no significant difference among grade groups (from grade 0 to grade II), while it increased dramatically at grade III compared to grade II (p < 0.05). PDMCL value showed no statistical difference among all grade groups. rMIN of grade III was significantly lower than that of grade II (p < 0.05). T2MCL value was negatively correlated with rMIN, whereas positively correlated with rTrans.

Conclusion: Synthetic MRI can provide not only multiple contrast images but also quantitative mapping, which is showed promisingly to be a reliable and efficient method in the quantitative diagnosis of CSM.
Down-Regulation of Strigolactone Biosynthesis Gene D17 Alters the VOC Content and Increases Sogatella furcifera Infectivity in Rice
Authors: Li Shanshan , He Hualiang , Qiu Lin , Gao Qiao , Li Youzhi , Ding Wenbing
Published: April 2023

DWARF17 (D17/HTD1) is a well-defined rice strigolactone (SL) biosynthesis gene that influences rice tiller development and the production of rice. To investigate whether SLs play a role in the regulation of rice’s defense against the white-backed planthopper (WBPH, Sogatella furcifera), we compared a SL-biosynthetic defective mutant (d17) with WT rice plants. Our olfactory bioassay results revealed that WBPHs are attracted to d17 plants, which may be attributed to changes in rice volatile substances. Hexanal, a volatile substance, was significantly reduced in the d17 plants, and it was demonstrated that it repelled WBPHs at a concentration of 100 μL/L. Compared to the WT plants, WBPH female adults preferred to oviposit on d17 plants, where the egg hatching rate was higher. The transcript level analysis of defense-associated genes in the JA and SA pathways showed that the expression of OsJAmyb, OsJAZ8, OsPR1a and OsWRKY62 were significantly reduced in d17 plants compared to WT plants following WBPH infection. These findings suggest that silencing the strigolactone biosynthesis gene D17 weakens defenses against S. furcifera in rice.
A Study of a Model for Predicting Pneumatic Subsoiling Resistance Based on Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Li Xia , Jiang Zhangjun , Wang Sichao , Li Xinglong , Liu Yu , Wang Xuhui
Published: April 2023

In order to explore the drag reduction mechanism of pneumatic subsoiling and study the influence of pneumatic subsoiling on the soil, this study used machine learning models to predict the working resistance of a pneumatic subsoiler and adopted random forest (RF), error back-propagation (BP), eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and support vector regression (SVR) to analyze and compare the predictions of these four models. Field experiments were carried out in two fields with different bulk densities and moisture content. The effects of these parameters on the resistance of pneumatic subsoiling were studied by changing the working air pressure, depth and forward speed. In the RF, SVR, XGBoost and BP models, five parameters (working air pressure, working depth, forward speed, bulk density and moisture content) were inputted as independent variables, and the operating resistance of pneumatic subsoiling was used as the predicted value. After training the four models, the results showed that the R2 value of the RF model was the highest and the error was the smallest, which made it better than the SVR, XGBoost and BP models. The values of MAPE, R2 and RMSE for the RF model’s test set were 0.01, 0.99, and 3.61 N, respectively, indicating that the RF model could predict the resistance value of subsoiling well. When the RF model was used to analyze the five input parameters, the experimental results showed that the contribution of working air pressure to reducing the resistance of subsoiling reached 29%, indicating that pneumatic subsoiling can reduce the resistance, drag and consumption.
Deep-Learning-Based Trunk Perception with Depth Estimation and DWA for Robust Navigation of Robotics in Orchards
Authors: Huang Peichen , Huang Peikui , Wang Zihong , Wu Xiao , Liu Jie , Zhu Lixue
Published: April 2023

Agricultural robotics is a complex, challenging, and exciting research topic nowadays. However, orchard environments present harsh conditions for robotics operability, such as terrain irregularities, illumination, and inaccuracies in GPS signals. To overcome these challenges, reliable landmarks must be extracted from the environment. This study addresses the challenge of accurate, low-cost, and efficient landmark identification in orchards to enable robot row-following. First, deep learning, integrated with depth information, is used for real-time trunk detection and location. The in-house dataset used to train the models includes a total of 2453 manually annotated trunks. The results show that the trunk detection achieves an overall mAP of 81.6%, an inference time of 60 ms, and a location accuracy error of 9 mm at 2.8 m. Secondly, the environmental features obtained in the first step are fed into the DWA. The DWA performs reactive obstacle avoidance while attempting to reach the row-end destination. The final solution considers the limitations of the robot’s kinematics and dynamics, enabling it to maintain the row path and avoid obstacles. Simulations and field tests demonstrated that even with a certain initial deviation, the robot could automatically adjust its position and drive through the rows in the real orchard.
Research Progress and Development Trends of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cereal–Legume Intercropping Systems
Authors: Yao Fanyun , Wu Yang , Liu Xiaodan , Cao Yujun , Lv Yanjie , Wei Wenwen , Xu Wenhua , Liu Zhiming , Liang Jie , Wang Yongjun
Published: April 2023

High yields and low carbon emissions are new challenges for modern crop production. Balancing the crop yield and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become a new field of agronomic technology innovation. Cereal–legume intercropping is a typical diversification planting system, which has been expected to achieve the dual goals of high production and low GHG emissions. However, the synergistic effect of integrating various technologies in an intercropping system on GHG emissions and whether it will achieve the high yield and low emissions goal remains to be determined. Therefore, bibliometric analysis has investigated the worldwide development trend of cereal–legume intercropping designs. The literature on the GHG emissions of the cereal–legume intercropping system was summarized. Additionally, the effects and mechanisms of different agricultural management methods regarding soil nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions in the cereal–legume intercropping system were summarized. The research on GHG emissions of cereal–legume intercropping systems in non-growing seasons must be revised. In situ observations of GHG emissions from intercropping systems in different regions should be strengthened. This work is valuable in supporting and evaluating the potential of GHG reduction in a cereal–legume intercropping system in various farming areas.
Activity of Patchouli and Tea Tree Essential Oils against Staphylococci Isolated from Pyoderma in Dogs and Their Synergistic Potential with Gentamicin and Enrofloxacin
Authors: Szewczuk Małgorzata Anna , Zych Sławomir , Oster Nicola , Karakulska Jolanta
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we show the effect of some essential oils (EOs) on staphylococci, including multidrug-resistant strains isolated from pyoderma in dogs. A total of 13 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and 8 Staphylococcus aureus strains were studied. To assess the sensitivity of each strain to the antimicrobial agents, two commercial EOs from patchouli (Pogostemon cablin; PcEO) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia; MaEO) as well as two antibiotics (gentamicin and enrofloxacin) were used. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) followed by checkerboards in the combination of EO-antibiotic were performed. Finally, fractional inhibitory concentrations were calculated to determine possible interactions between these antimicrobial agents. PcEO MIC ranged from 0.125 to 0.5 % v/v (1.2–4.8 mg/mL), whereas MaEO MIC was tenfold higher (0.625–5% v/v or 5.6–44.8 mg/mL). Gentamicin appeared to be highly prone to interacting with EOs. Dual synergy (38.1% of cases) and PcEO additive/MaEO synergism (53.4%) were predominantly observed. On the contrary, usually, no interactions between enrofloxacin and EOs were observed (57.1%). Both commercial EOs were characterized by natural composition without artificial adulteration. Patchouli and tea tree oils can be good alternatives for treating severe cases of pyoderma in dogs, especially when dealing with multidrug-resistant strains.
The Effect of Insect Bite Hypersensitivity on Movement Activity and Behaviour of the Horse
Authors: Söderroos Denise , Ignell Rickard , Haubro Andersen Pia , Bergvall Kerstin , Riihimäki Miia
Published: April 2023

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) associated with Culicoides biting midges is a common allergic skin disease in horses, reducing the welfare of affected horses. This study investigated the effect of IBH on animal welfare and behaviour and assessed a new prophylactic insect repellent. In total, 30 horses were recruited for a prospective cross-over and case–control study. Clinical signs of IBH, inflammatory markers in skin biopsies and behavioural data (direct observations, motion index) were scored longitudinally during two consecutive summers. No differences were observed in the total number of itching behaviours or motion index between IBH-affected horses and controls, but higher numbers of itching behaviours were observed in the evening. IBH-affected horses showed both clinical and histopathological signs of inflammatory skin lesions, with even short periods of scratching being associated with moderate/severe inflammatory skin lesions. In order to improve the welfare of the IBH-affected horses, they should be stabled/given extra protection in the evening and even short-term exposure to Culicoides should be avoided. Preliminary results showed that the repellent tested can be used as a safe and non-toxic prophylactic to potentially reduce allergen exposure in horses with IBH, but further studies are needed to determine its efficacy.
Natal Origin and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Strandings at a Foraging Hotspot in Temperate Waters of the Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Vélez-Rubio Gabriela M. , Prosdocimi Laura , López-Mendilaharsu Milagros , Caraccio Maria Noel , Fallabrino Alejandro , LaCasella Erin L. , Dutton Peter H.
Published: April 2023

Leatherback turtles migrate long distances between nesting beaches and distant foraging areas worldwide. This study analyzes the genetic diversity, life history stage, spatiotemporal distribution, and associated threats of a foraging aggregation in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. A total of 242 leatherbacks stranded or bycaught by artisanal fisheries were recorded from 1997 to 2021 in Uruguay, with sizes ranging from 110.0 to 170.0 cm carapace lengths, indicating that the aggregation is composed of large juveniles and adults. Results of Bayesian mixed-stock analysis show that leatherbacks come primarily from the West African rookeries, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from 59 of the turtles representing seven haplotypes, including a novel one (Dc1.7). The main threat identified in the area is the fisheries bycatch but most of the carcasses observed were badly decomposed. There was significant seasonal and interannual variability in strandings that is likely associated with the availability of prey and the intensity of the fishing effort. Taken together, these findings reinforce the importance of these South American foraging areas for leatherbacks and the need to determine regional habitat use and migratory routes across the broader Atlantic region, in order to develop effective conservation measures to mitigate threats both at nesting beaches and foraging areas.
A Camera-Trap Survey of Mammals in Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Thailand
Authors: Vinitpornsawan Supagit , Fuller Todd K.
Published: April 2023

The Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife Sanctuary (TYNE), in the core area of the Western Forest Complex of Thailand, harbors a diverse assemblage of wildlife, and the region has become globally significant for mammal conservation. From April 2010 to January 2012, 106 camera traps were set, and, in 1817 trap-nights, registered 1821 independent records of 32 mammal species. Of the 17 IUCN-listed (from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered) mammal species recorded, 5 species listed as endangered or critically endangered included the Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), and Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica). The northern red muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis), large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha), Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyuran), and sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) were the most frequently recorded species (10–22 photos/100 trap-nights), representing 62% of all independent records, while the golden jackal (Canis aureus), clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), marbled cat (Pardofelis marmorata), and Sunda pangolin were the least photographed (<0.1/100 trap-nights). Species accumulation curves indicated that the number of camera trap locations needed to record 90% of taxa recorded varied from 26 sites for herbivores to 67 sites for all mammals. TYNE holds a rich community of mammals, but some differences in photo-rates from an adjacent sanctuary and comparisons with other research on local mammals suggest that some species are rare and some are missed because of the limitations of our technique. We also conclude that the management and conservation plan, which involves the exclusion of human activities from some protected areas and strict protection efforts in the sanctuaries, is still suitable for providing key habitats for endangered wildlife populations, and that augmented and regular survey efforts will help in this endeavor.
Uncovering the Effects of COVID-19 Mask Wearing on Bird Flight Initiation Distance in Urbanized Areas in the Southern Philippines
Authors: Fabrero Gerald Vince N. , Manceras Leanne Jay S. , Agduma Angelo Rellama , Tanalgo Krizler Cejuela
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in public and human activities worldwide, including using masks and reducing human interaction. These changes have also affected wildlife behavior, especially in urban areas. However, there is limited understanding of the impact of COVID-19-related human activities, mainly mask wearing, on the behavior of urban bird species. This case is intriguing in the Philippines, where COVID-19 restrictions and mask wearing have been more prolonged than in other countries. We studied two common urban bird species (Geopelia striata and Passer montanus) in Southcentral Mindanao, Philippines, to assess their response to mask wearing by examining their alert distance (AD) and flight initiation distance (FID). We found that birds had a reduced FID to mask wearing, but only significantly in G. striata (Zebra Doves) and not in P. montanus (Eurasian tree sparrow). The effect of the variables related to urbanization on FID was contrasting. For example, ambient noise increased bird vigilance while proximity to roads reduced bird FID in urbanized areas, but their effects were weaker compared to mask wearing. We conclude that mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic is a significant environmental element that alters bird escape responses in urban areas, and the effects may be species-specific.
Doxycycline Attenuates Pig Intestinal Microbial Interactions and Changes Microbial Metabolic Pathways
Authors: Xu Jiaojiao , Liang Jiadi , Chen Wenjun , Wen Xin , Zhang Na , Ma Baohua , Zou Yongde , Mi Jiandui , Wang Yan , Liao Xindi , Wu Yinbao
Published: April 2023

Doxycycline is a therapeutic veterinary antibiotic commonly used in pig breeding. In this study, 27 fattening pigs of 33.5 ± 0.72 kg were divided equally into 3 groups. Doxycycline at 0, 3, and 5 mg/kg body weight was added to the feed in groups CK, L and H. The medication and withdrawal periods were set at 5 and 28 days. The results showed that the doxycycline average concentrations in groups L and H during the medication period were 117.63 ± 13.54 and 202.03 ± 24.91 mg/kg dry matter, respectively. Doxycycline levels were lower than the detection limit after 20 days. Doxycycline did not affect the diversity of the intestinal microbial community structure. The relative abundances of Streptococcus were significantly higher in treatment groups than that in group CK, and Alishewanella, Vagococcus, Cloacibacterium, and Campylobacter abundances were significantly positively correlated with doxycycline concentration. Interestingly, the microbiota cooccurrence network suggested that high doxycycline concentration weakened the interactions among bacteria until day 33. Functional prediction showed that doxycycline significantly altered metabolic pathways related to the cell membrane. The results revealed that the use of doxycycline during pig breeding can affect bacterial abundance during the withdrawal period, and it may affect interactions among bacteria and change the intestinal metabolic pathways.
Establishment and Functional Characterization of Murine Monoclonal Antibodies Recognizing Neuritin
Authors: Papadogianni Georgia , Ravens Inga , Hassan Ahmed , Flatley Andrew , Feederle Regina , Bernhardt Günter , Georgiev Hristo
Published: April 2023

Neuritin represents a neurotrophic factor that is not only important in neuronal development and plasticity but also impacts endothelial angiogenesis, cell migration, tumor growth and the production of antibodies by B cells. We established monoclonal mouse anti-mouse neuritin antibodies by immunizing knock-out mice with two different neuritin-derived peptides. Because neuritin is well conserved between species, these new monoclonal antibodies recognize the neuritin of a wide variety of species, including human. Moreover, they not only recognize specifically surface-bound neuritin expressed by murine follicular regulatory T cells but also the block binding of recombinant neuritin to germinal center B cells. This suggests that these newly generated tools will be of great use in studying neuritin expression and function.
Efflux, Signaling and Warfare in a Polymicrobial World
Authors: Moore-Machacek Ay’sha , Gloe Antje , O’Leary Niall , Reen F. Jerry
Published: April 2023

The discovery void of antimicrobial development has occurred at a time when the world has seen a rapid emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, the ‘perfect storm’ as it has often been described. While the discovery and development of new antibiotics has continued in the research sphere, the pipeline to clinic has largely been fed by derivatives of existing classes of antibiotics, each prone to pre-existing resistance mechanisms. A novel approach to infection management has come from the ecological perspective whereby microbial networks and evolved communities already possess small molecular capabilities for pathogen control. The spatiotemporal nature of microbial interactions is such that mutualism and parasitism are often two ends of the same stick. Small molecule efflux inhibitors can directly target antibiotic efflux, a primary resistance mechanism adopted by many species of bacteria and fungi. However, a much broader anti-infective capability resides within the action of these inhibitors, borne from the role of efflux in key physiological and virulence processes, including biofilm formation, toxin efflux, and stress management. Understanding how these behaviors manifest within complex polymicrobial communities is key to unlocking the full potential of the advanced repertoires of efflux inhibitors.
Influence of Isolated Resistance Exercise on Cardiac Remodeling, Myocardial Oxidative Stress, and Metabolism in Infarcted Rats
Authors: Rodrigues Eder , Lima Aline , Gomes Mariana , Souza Lidiane , Pontes Thierres , Pagan Luana , Murata Gilson , Damatto Felipe , Carvalho Depra Igor , Rego Amanda , Reyes David , Zornoff Leonardo , Okoshi Katashi , Okoshi Marina
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Exercise is an important therapeutic strategy for preventing and treating myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodeling and heart failure. However, the myocardial effects of resistance exercise on infarcted hearts are not completely established. In this study, we investigated the effects of resistance exercise on structural, functional, and molecular cardiac alterations in infarcted rats. Methods: Three months after MI induction or simulated surgery, Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: Sham (n = 14); MI (n = 9); and exercised MI (MI-Ex, n = 13). Exercised rats performed, 3 times a week for 12 weeks, four climbs on a ladder with progressive loads. Cardiac structure and left ventricle (LV) function were analyzed by echocardiogram. Myocyte diameters were evaluated in hematoxylin- and eosin-stained histological sections as the smallest distance between borders drawn across the nucleus. Myocardial energy metabolism, lipid hydroperoxide, malondialdehyde, protein carbonylation, and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Gene expressions of NADPH oxidase subunits were evaluated by RT-PCR. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey or Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s test. Results: Mortality did not differ between the MI-Ex and MI groups. MI had dilated left atrium and LV, with LV systolic dysfunction. Exercise increased the maximum load-carrying capacity, with no changes in cardiac structure or LV function. Myocyte diameters were lower in MI than in Sham and MI-Ex. Lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activity were lower in MI than in Sham. Citrate synthase and catalase activity were lower in MI and MI-Ex than in Sham. Lipid hydroperoxide concentration was lower in MI-Ex than in MI. Nox2 and p22phox gene expressions were higher in MI-Ex than in Sham. Gene expression of Nox4 was higher in MI and MI-Ex than in Sham, and p47phox was lower in MI than in Sham. Conclusion: Late resistance exercise was safe in infarcted rats. Resistance exercise improved maximum load-carrying capacity, reduced myocardial oxidative stress, and preserved myocardial metabolism, with no changes in cardiac structure or left ventricle function in infarcted rats.
Clinical Relevance of lncRNA and Mitochondrial Targeted Antioxidants as Therapeutic Options in Regulating Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Function in Vascular Complications of Diabetes
Authors: Pant Tarun , Uche Nnamdi , Juric Matea , Bosnjak Zeljko J.
Published: April 2023

Metabolic imbalances and persistent hyperglycemia are widely recognized as driving forces for augmented cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diabetes mellitus (DM), fostering the development of vascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, specific therapeutic approaches capable of modulating oxidative milieu may provide a preventative and/or therapeutic benefit against the development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes patients. Recent studies have demonstrated epigenetic alterations in circulating and tissue-specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) signatures in vascular complications of DM regulating mitochondrial function under oxidative stress. Intriguingly, over the past decade mitochondria-targeted antioxidants (MTAs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for managing oxidative stress-induced diseases. Here, we review the present status of lncRNA as a diagnostic biomarker and potential regulator of oxidative stress in vascular complications of DM. We also discuss the recent advances in using MTAs in different animal models and clinical trials. We summarize the prospects and challenges for the use of MTAs in treating vascular diseases and their application in translation medicine, which may be beneficial in MTA drug design development, and their application in translational medicine.
Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Nine Hypericum Species from Greece
Authors: Kakouri Eleni , Trigas Panayiotis , Daferera Dimitra , Skotti Efstathia , Tarantilis Petros A. , Kanakis Charalabos
Published: April 2023

Hypericum L. comprises about 500 species distributed almost worldwide. Research has mainly focused on H. perforatum with confirmed biological activity on the alleviation of depression symptoms, among others. The compounds responsible for such activity are considered naphthodianthrones and acylphloroglucinols. Other Hypericum species are less studied or not studied, and further research is needed to complete the characterization of the genus. In this study we evaluated the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical profile of nine Hypericum species native to Greece, namely H. perforatum, H. tetrapterum, H. perfoliatum, H. rumeliacum subsp. apollinis, H. vesiculosum, H. cycladicum, H. fragile, H. olympicum and H. delphicum. Qualitative analysis was performed using the LC/Q-TOF/HRMS technique, while quantitative data were calculated with the single point external standard method. Additionally, we estimated the antioxidant activity of the extracts using DPPH and ABTS assays. Three species endemic to Greece (H. cycladicum, H. fragile, H. delphicum) were studied for the first time. Our results indicated that all studied species are rich in secondary metabolites, mainly of the flavonoids family, with strong antioxidant activity.
Mitochondrial ROS Triggers KIN Pathogenesis in FAN1-Deficient Kidneys
Authors: Airik Merlin , Arbore Haley , Childs Elizabeth , Huynh Amy B. , Phua Yu Leng , Chen Chi Wei , Aird Katherine , Bharathi Sivakama , Zhang Bob , Conlon Peter , Kmoch Stanislav , Kidd Kendrah , Bleyer Anthony J. , Vockley Jerry , Goetzman Eric , Wipf Peter , Airik Rannar
Published: April 2023

Karyomegalic interstitial nephritis (KIN) is a genetic adult-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) characterized by genomic instability and mitotic abnormalities in the tubular epithelial cells. KIN is caused by recessive mutations in the FAN1 DNA repair enzyme. However, the endogenous source of DNA damage in FAN1/KIN kidneys has not been identified. Here we show, using FAN1-deficient human renal tubular epithelial cells (hRTECs) and FAN1-null mice as a model of KIN, that FAN1 kidney pathophysiology is triggered by hypersensitivity to endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause chronic oxidative and double-strand DNA damage in the kidney tubular epithelial cells, accompanied by an intrinsic failure to repair DNA damage. Furthermore, persistent oxidative stress in FAN1-deficient RTECs and FAN1 kidneys caused mitochondrial deficiencies in oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation. The administration of subclinical, low-dose cisplatin increased oxidative stress and aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction in FAN1-deficient kidneys, thereby exacerbating KIN pathophysiology. In contrast, treatment of FAN1 mice with a mitochondria-targeted ROS scavenger, JP4-039, attenuated oxidative stress and accumulation of DNA damage, mitigated tubular injury, and preserved kidney function in cisplatin-treated FAN1-null mice, demonstrating that endogenous oxygen stress is an important source of DNA damage in FAN1-deficient kidneys and a driver of KIN pathogenesis. Our findings indicate that therapeutic modulation of kidney oxidative stress may be a promising avenue to mitigate FAN1/KIN kidney pathophysiology and disease progression in patients.
The Cytoprotective Effects of Baicalein on H2O2-Induced ROS by Maintaining Mitochondrial Homeostasis and Cellular Tight Junction in HaCaT Keratinocytes
Authors: Kim Gyeonghyeon , Han Dong-Wook , Lee Jong Hun
Published: April 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote oxidative stress, which directly causes molecular damage and disrupts cellular homeostasis, leading to skin aging. Baicalein, a flavonoid compound isolated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other medicinal properties. We aimed to investigate the protective effect of baicalein on the disruption of tight junctions and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes. The cells were pretreated with 20 and 40 µM baicalein followed by treatment with 500 µM H2O2. The results revealed that baicalein exerted antioxidant effects by reducing intracellular ROS production. Baicalein attenuated the degradation of the ECM (MMP-1 and Col1A1) and the disruption of tight junctions (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-4). In addition, baicalein prevented mitochondrial dysfunction (PGC-1α, PINK1, and Parkin) and restored mitochondrial respiration. Furthermore, baicalein regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes, including NQO-1 and HO-1, via the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Our data suggest that the cytoprotective effects of baicalein against H2O2-induced oxidative stress may be mediated through the Nrf2/NQO-1/HO-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, baicalein exerts potent antioxidant effects against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and cellular tight junctions.
The Effect of Bioactive Aliment Compounds and Micronutrients on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Munteanu Camelia , Schwartz Betty
Published: April 2023

In the current review, we focused on identifying aliment compounds and micronutrients, as well as addressed promising bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD advance and ultimately affect this disease progress. In this regard, we targeted: 1. Potential bioactive nutrients that may interfere with NAFLD, specifically dark chocolate, cocoa butter, and peanut butter which may be involved in decreasing cholesterol concentrations. 2. The role of sweeteners used in coffee and other frequent beverages; in this sense, stevia has proven to be adequate for improving carbohydrate metabolism, liver steatosis, and liver fibrosis. 3. Additional compounds were shown to exert a beneficial action on NAFLD, namely glutathione, soy lecithin, silymarin, Aquamin, and cannabinoids which were shown to lower the serum concentration of triglycerides. 4. The effects of micronutrients, especially vitamins, on NAFLD. Even if most studies demonstrate the beneficial role of vitamins in this pathology, there are exceptions. 5. We provide information regarding the modulation of the activity of some enzymes related to NAFLD and their effect on this disease. We conclude that NAFLD can be prevented or improved by different factors through their involvement in the signaling, genetic, and biochemical pathways that underlie NAFLD. Therefore, exposing this vast knowledge to the public is particularly important.
Inhibitory Peptide of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase/Trx1 Interface Blunts the Dual Redox Signaling Functions of the Complex
Authors: Cui Chuanlong , Shu Ping , Sadeghian Tanaz , Younis Waqas , Li Hong , Beuve Annie
Published: April 2023

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (GC1) and oxido-reductase thioredoxin (Trx1) form a complex that mediates two NO signaling pathways as a function of the redox state of cells. Under physiological conditions, reduced Trx1 (rTrx1) supports the canonical NO-GC1-cGMP pathway by protecting GC1 activity from thiol oxidation. Under oxidative stress, the NO-cGMP pathway is disrupted by the S-nitrosation of GC1 (addition of a NO group to a cysteine). In turn, SNO-GC1 initiates transnitrosation cascades, using oxidized thioredoxin (oTrx1) as a nitrosothiol relay. We designed an inhibitory peptide that blocked the interaction between GC1 and Trx1. This inhibition resulted in the loss of a) the rTrx1 enhancing effect of GC1 cGMP-forming activity in vitro and in cells and its ability to reduce the multimeric oxidized GC1 and b) GC1’s ability to fully reduce oTrx1, thus identifying GC1 novel reductase activity. Moreover, an inhibitory peptide blocked the transfer of S-nitrosothiols from SNO-GC1 to oTrx1. In Jurkat T cells, oTrx1 transnitrosates procaspase-3, thereby inhibiting caspase-3 activity. Using the inhibitory peptide, we demonstrated that S-nitrosation of caspase-3 is the result of a transnitrosation cascade initiated by SNO-GC1 and mediated by oTrx1. Consequently, the peptide significantly increased caspase-3 activity in Jurkat cells, providing a promising therapy for some cancers.
Geometric Analysis of Sun-Assisted Lunar Transfer Trajectories in the Planar Bicircular Four-Body Model
Authors: Tselousova Anastasia , Trofimov Sergey , Shirobokov Maksim , Ovchinnikov Mikhail
Published: April 2023

This research presents a geometric analysis of Sun-assisted low-energy lunar transfers and several convenient tools that enable the systematic trajectory design in the framework of the planar bicircular restricted four-body problem. By analogy with the patched conic approximation approach for high-energy transfers, a Sun-assisted low-energy trajectory is divided into three legs. Two interior legs, departing and arriving, are located inside the Earth–Moon region of prevalence and designed in the Earth–Moon circular restricted three-body problem, whereas the exterior leg lies outside the region of prevalence and is calculated in the Earth–Moon–Sun bicircular restricted four-body model. The whole trajectory is obtained by smoothly patching the three legs on the boundary of the region of prevalence. The arrival conditions are met by targeting a specific point in the L2 lunar gateway. The interior legs are easily adjustable to the four-body dynamics. The database of planar lunar transfer trajectories can be used to select an initial guess for the multiple-shooting procedure of designing a three-dimensional Sun-assisted lunar transfer in high-fidelity dynamical models.
Machine Learning Approaches for Slope Deformation Prediction Based on Monitored Time-Series Displacement Data: A Comparative Investigation
Authors: Xi Ning , Yang Qiang , Sun Yingjie , Mei Gang
Published: April 2023

Slope deformation prediction is one of the critical factors in the early warning of slope failure. Establishing an accurate slope deformation prediction model is important. Time-series displacement data of slopes directly reflect the deformation characteristics and stability properties of slopes. The use of existing data analysis approaches, such as statistical methods and machine learning algorithms, to establish a reasonable and accurate prediction model based on the monitored time-series displacement data is a common solution to slope deformation prediction. In this paper, we conduct a comparative investigation of machine learning approaches for slope deformation prediction based on monitored time-series displacement data. First, we established eleven slope deformation prediction models based on the time-series displacement data obtained from seven in situ monitoring points of the Huanglianshu landslide using machine learning approaches. Second, four evaluation metrics were used to comparatively analyze the prediction performance of all models at each monitoring point. The experimental results of the Huanglianshu landslide indicated that the long-short-term memory (LSTM) model with an attention mechanism and the transformer model achieved the highest prediction accuracy. The comparative analysis of model characteristics suggested that the Transformer model is better adapted to predict nonlinear landslide displacements that are affected by multiple factors. The drawn conclusion could help select a suitable slope deformation model for early landslide warnings.
Wild Mushroom Classification Based on Improved MobileViT Deep Learning
Authors: Peng Youju , Xu Yang , Shi Jin , Jiang Shiyi
Published: April 2023

Wild mushrooms are not only tasty but also rich in nutritional value, but it is difficult for non-specialists to distinguish poisonous wild mushrooms accurately. Given the frequent occurrence of wild mushroom poisoning, we propose a new multidimensional feature fusion attention network (M-ViT) combining convolutional networks (ConvNets) and attention networks to compensate for the deficiency of pure ConvNets and pure attention networks. First, we introduced an attention mechanism Squeeze and Excitation (SE) module in the MobilenetV2 (MV2) structure of the network to enhance the representation of picture channels. Then, we designed a Multidimension Attention module (MDA) to guide the network to thoroughly learn and utilize local and global features through short connections. Moreover, using the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module to obtain longer distance relations, we fused the model features from different layers, and used the obtained joint features for wild mushroom classification. We validated the model on two datasets, mushroom and MO106, and the results showed that M-ViT performed the best on the two test datasets, with accurate dimensions of 96.21% and 91.83%, respectively. We compared the performance of our method with that of more advanced ConvNets and attention networks (Transformer), and our method achieved good results.
Sensing and Device Neighborhood-Based Slot Assignment Approach for the Internet of Things
Authors: Khan Mushtaq , Khan Rahim , Shah Nadir , Ghani Abdullah , Chelloug Samia Allaoua , Nisar Wasif , Teo Jason
Published: April 2023

Concurrent communication constitutes one of the challenging issues associated with IoT networks, as it is highly likely that multiple devices may start communication simultaneously. This issue has become more complex as devices belonging to the IoT networks increasingly become mobile. To resolve this issue, various mechanisms have been reported in the literature. However, none of these approaches has considered the neighborhood information of a server module to resolve this issue. In this paper, a neighborhood-based smart slot allocation scheme for the IoT is presented where member devices are mobile. In this scheme, every CH or server module is bound to maintain two different types of slots, i.e., dedicated and reserved. Dedicated slots are assigned to every device on a First-Come-First-Serve (FCFS) basis, whereas reserved slots are assigned to the migrated devices. Additionally, as long as a device Ci is located inside the server module’s coverage area, it is required to use these dedicated slots. Simulation results verified that the proposed neighborhood-based slot allocation scheme performed better than existing approaches and considerably improved various performance metrics, such as 20% in lifetime, 27.8% in slot allocation, and 30.50% in slot waiting time.
Analysis of Fire Resistance of Prestressed Concrete T-Beam Based on ABAQUS Numerical Simulation
Authors: Wang Zhongqiang , Chen Miao , Liao Yong
Published: April 2023

The analytical fire resistance calculations were carried out on 57 prestressed concrete T-beam models using the finite element software ABAQUS. The effects of different fire modes, different concrete strengths, different flange plate thicknesses, different ratios of the prestressing bar, and different concrete protection layer thicknesses were investigated in three cases with load ratios of n = 0.4, n = 0.6, and n = 0.8. The fire resistance of prestressed concrete T-beams shows a large variability under different fire modes. The fire mode significantly affects the fire resistance of the structure and should be given more consideration in the subsequent fire resistance design of the structure. The configuration of prestressing bars will significantly increase the fire resistance of concrete T-beams, while the thickness of the concrete protective layer and the concrete strength will significantly affect the fire resistance of prestressed concrete T-beams. Therefore, the fire resistance can be improved by adding prestressing bars, increasing the concrete strength, and increasing the thickness of the protective layer in the design. Finally, a fitting equation for fire resistance of the prestressed concrete T-beams based on the finite element model calculation data was created. The equation has good prediction accuracy and can provide a reference for the fire resistance design of prestressed concrete T-beams.
The Possibility of Using Bee Drone Brood to Design Novel Dietary Supplements for Apitherapy
Authors: Dżugan Małgorzata , Sidor Ewelina , Miłek Michał , Tomczyk Monika
Published: April 2023

Drone brood is a little-known bee product, often treated as beekeeping waste or natural varroosis bait. Obtaining drone brood from beehives does not weaken the bee family, which is why this product is used as natural medicine in Eastern European countries. The main objective of this work was to design an innovative dietary supplement containing freeze-dried drone brood (DB) enriched with calcium ions (3:1). As the calcium component, inorganic calcium carbonate (CC) and ground chicken eggshells (ES) were used. Bioaccessibility of hormones, selected nutrients (proteins and amino acids), non-nutritive polyphenols from pure drone brood (DB), and designed supplements (DB + CC, DB + ES) were analyzed using an in vitro gastrointestinal system. It was shown that drone brood components are better bioaccessible from the DB + ES compared to DB + CC and DB capsules. An increase was achieved by up to 93.33%, 21.29%, 105.14%, and 52.34% for testosterone, estradiol, calcium, and polyphenols, respectively. Drone brood proteins were completely digested to free amino acids which was confirmed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Due to the demonstrated synergistic action of drone brood and the calcium of eggshells, the newly proposed two-ingredient supplement seems to be an efficient treatment to equalize hormonal and calcium deficiency in osteoporosis; however, its application requires further studies.
Analysis of Pressure Effect on Three-Dimensional Flame Surface Density Estimation
Authors: Zhang Meng , Wang Jinhua , Huang Zuohua
Published: April 2023

In experiments, flame surface density (FSD), defined as flame area per volume, is usually approximated by its two-dimensional (2D) value, as flame length per area. However, this approximation may underestimate the flame wrinkle due to the presence of a fluctuating component outside the measurement plane. Obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) flame surface density (FSD) from experiments is challenging, but it can be estimated from low-dimensional measurements under certain assumptions. Models used to estimate 3D FSD can be significantly affected by ambient pressure, as high pressure can cause a substantial decrease in small flame front scales. In this study, a CH4/air premixed turbulent flame is stabilized on a Bunsen burner and measured using the OH-PLIF technique at pressures up to 1.0 MPa. The flame front is extracted with an in-house auto adaptive threshold binarization code. Different models estimating 3D FSD with the corresponding assumptions are summarized from the definition of FSD. The reliability of the assumptions under different pressures is investigated and analyzed. The models are compared through analyzing the assumptions, and are tested in terms of global fuel consumption. The pressure’s effect on the reliability of the models could provide an essential improvement in the context of modeling turbulent combustion.