bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong
Authors: Zhao Sheng Zhi , Luk Tzu Tsun , Wu Yongda , Weng Xue , Wong Janet Yuen Ha , Wang Man Ping , Lam Tai Hing
Published: June 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increasing mental health burden. We examined the factors associated with mental health symptoms in Chinese general adults in Hong Kong.

Methods: We conducted a dual-frame (landline and mobile) survey on Chinese adults aged 18 years or older in April 2020. Shortage of preventive materials, perceptions of the outbreak (each item range 1–5), and reduction in income were assessed. Mental health symptoms measured included stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4, range 0–16), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders-2, range 0–6, cutoff >2), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2, range 0–6, cutoff >2). Results were weighted by the general population distribution. Associations were analyzed by multivariable linear (for stress) and logistic (for anxiety and depressive symptoms) regression adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates, including confirmed or in close contacts of confirmed cases, chronic disease, self-rated health, and smoking and alcohol drinking behavior.

Results: Of the 1,501 participants (52.5% female, 55.0 aged 30–59 years), the average stress score was 7.20 (SD 2.12). 218 (15.8%) and 206 (14.8%) participants had anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. Shortage in facemasks (20.8%), alcohol-based hand sanitizers (13.9%), and cleaning products (7.3%) was reported. Participants generally disagree with the perception of at risk of getting infected in the coming 6 months (mean 2.2, SD 1.1), but tended to agree with the perception of worry that the people around pose a threat to them (mean 3.6, SD 0.9) and the outbreak has greatly affected their daily life (mean 3.7, SD 0.9). 59.3% employed participants had income reduction and 6.2% had become unemployed since the outbreak. Stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were more prevalent in those with shortages of preventive materials and negative perceptions of the outbreak (all P < 0.05). Reduction in income and unemployment were associated with more mental health symptoms (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Shortage of preventive materials, negative perceptions, financial loss, and unemployment were prevalent during the outbreak and found in association with higher stress and more anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further research and urgent actions are warranted to relieve stress and promote mental health, targeting the many risk factors identified by our study.
The ADCYAP1R1 Gene Is Correlated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Through Diverse Epistases in a Traumatized Chinese Population
Authors: Wang Li , Zhang Jingyi , Li Gen , Cao Chengqi , Fang Ruojiao , Liu Ping , Luo Shu , Zhao Guangyi , Zhang Yingqian , Zhang Kunlin
Published: June 2021

The adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide 1 (pituitary) receptor (ADCYAP1R1) gene is associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls stress responses. The single-nucleotide polymorphism of ADCYAP1R1, rs2267735, has been investigated in many studies to test its association with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the results have not been consistent. It is worth systematically exploring the role of rs2267735 in PTSD development. In this study, we analyzed rs2267735 in 1,132 trauma-exposed Chinese individuals (772 females and 360 males). We utilized the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) to measure the PTSD symptoms. Then, we analyzed the main, G × E (rs2267735 × trauma exposure), and G × G (with other HPA axis gene polymorphisms) effects of rs2267735 on PTSD severity (total symptoms). There were no significant main or G × E effects (P > 0.05). The G × G ADCYAP1R1-FKBP5 interaction (rs2267735 × rs1360780) was associated with PTSD severity (beta = −1.31 and P = 0.049) based on all subjects, and the G × G ADCYAP1R1-CRHR1 interaction (rs2267735 × rs242924) was correlated with PTSD severity in men (beta = −4.72 and P = 0.023). Our study indicated that the ADCYAP1R1 polymorphism rs2267735 may affect PTSD development through diverse gene-gene interactions.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Willingness Toward Kidney Donation Among Health Sciences Students at King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University
Authors: Sharaan Raghad , Alsulami Sara , Arab Raneem , Alzeair Ghida , Elamin Nadia , Alsaywid Basim , Lytras Miltiadis
Published: June 2021

Background: End-stage renal disease, as one of the most serious and major health problems, does not have many treatment options available. One of the best treatment modalities used to cure this debilitating disease is kidney transplantation. However, with the continuous increase in number of patients diagnosed with it, there is not enough supply of the organ. The aim of our study is to assess knowledge about, attitude toward, and willingness to donate kidney among health science students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University in comparison to the general population in Jeddah and to investigate the factors that play a role on their willingness.

Methods: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study design conducted in 2019. Two target populations were included: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences students and the general population in Jeddah. Data were collected via a self-administered, close-ended, structured, and previously validated questionnaire that contained 39 items divided into four sections. SPSS program version 22 was used in data analysis.

Results: Out of 685 surveyed participants, 179 (26.1%) were willing to donate their kidney, with students showing a higher rate of willingness (N = 101; 32.3%) than the general population (N = 78; 21%). However, only 46 (6.7%) out of the total population hold an organ donor card. In bivariate analysis, it was found that knowledge significantly associated with a higher rate of willingness among the student population than the general population, while positive beliefs were associated with increased willingness in the general population than students. Positive attitude appeared to play a role in higher willingness among the general population and student population.

Conclusion: There is a low perception of awareness regarding kidney donation in both populations of this study. The willingness rate of health science students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University and the general population was low when compared with other studies conducted internationally.
Internalized Stigma in Persons With Mental Illness in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kehyayan Vahe , Mahfoud Ziyad , Ghuloum Suhaila , Marji Tamara , Al-Amin Hassen
Published: June 2021

Stigma impacts persons with mental illness (PWMI), their families and network of friends, the public and health care professionals. Stigma is a major barrier for PWMI to seeking treatment, which contributes to the burden of disease, disability, and mortality. Research on stigma is relatively scant in the Middle East region and particularly in Qatar. To address stigma effectively in each culture, it is essential to study its nature in the context where the PWMI experience stigma. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of internalized stigma in PWMI in Qatar. A cross-sectional study of PWMI receiving outpatient mental health services in Qatar was done. We interviewed 417 PWMI using a modified 18-item version of the short form of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) Scale. Descriptive and regression models were used to analyze the data. The Cronbach alpha for the modified 18-items ISMI was 0.87. Participants' average score on this scale was 2.07 ± 0.38 with 41 (9.8%) of them scoring more than 2.5 which is considered “high” stigma score. In multivariate logistic regression, high stigma (modified ISMI score >2.5) was significantly higher among PWMI with no formal education and among those who reported lower levels of social support. The reported levels of internalized stigma in this vulnerable population of Qatar fall at the lower spectrum reported worldwide. An anti-stigma education program designed for the context of Qatar emphasizing on education and support for PWMI may be conducive to creating an all-inclusive society.
Environmental Justice and Green Infrastructure in the Ruhr. From Distributive to Institutional Conceptions of Justice
Authors: Zimmermann Karsten , Lee Dahae
Published: June 2021

Over the last 50 years, the Ruhr region experienced a remarkable transformation from an industrial to a post-industrial region. With regard to the rehabilitation of the environmental damages of more than 100 years of coal mining and steel production, investment in green infrastructure, and the creation of regional landscape parks constituted one of the main pillars of the economic and physical transformation of the region. However, little is known about the social effects of this green transformation. Many observers state that the Ruhr area is sharply divided by an east–west line (the A40 Highway) and in fact the Emscher zone was hit most by environmental degradation. We argue that environmental justice is a question of scale. While on the regional scale, the investments made in the Emscher zone can be seen as a trial to balance and repair a long-standing unequal provision with environmental qualities (not least parks), on a smaller scale (i.e., cities and neighbourhoods) we can demonstrate that in the cities of the Emscher zone environmental inequality is still observable. Some neighbourhoods benefit stronger from investment in regional parks and green infrastructure than others. The paper will describe the Emscher green regeneration programme and will give detailed insights into two cities of the Ruhr (including maps and data analysis).
Generalized Holographic Principle, Gauge Invariance and the Emergence of Gravity à la Wilczek
Authors: Addazi Andrea , Chen Pisin , Fabrocini Filippo , Fields Chris , Greco Enrico , Lulli Matteo , Marcianò Antonino , Pasechnik Roman
Published: June 2021

We show that a generalized version of the holographic principle can be derived from the Hamiltonian description of information flow within a quantum system that maintains a separable state. We then show that this generalized holographic principle entails a general principle of gauge invariance. When this is realized in an ambient Lorentzian space-time, gauge invariance under the Poincaré group is immediately achieved. We apply this pathway to retrieve the action of gravity. The latter is cast à la Wilczek through a similar formulation derived by MacDowell and Mansouri, which involves the representation theory of the Lie groups SO(3,2) and SO(4,1).
Soil Application of Almond Residue Biomass Following Black Soldier Fly Larvae Cultivation
Authors: Axelrod Robert , Palma Miner Lydia , VanderGheynst Jean S. , Simmons Christopher W. , Fernandez-Bayo Jesús D.
Published: June 2021

Insect farming has the potential to transform abundant residual biomass into feed that is compatible with non-ruminant animal production systems. However, insect cultivation generates its own by-products. There is a need to find valuable and sustainable applications for this material to enable commercial-scale insect farming. Soil application of by-products, which may be either basic broadcasting incorporation or part of a sustainable soil borne pest management practice, such as biosolarization, could offer an agricultural outlet. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of applying black soldier fly larvae (BSFL)-digested substrate as soil amendment for soil biosolarization and evaluate its impact on soil health. Sandy loam (SL) and sandy clay loam (CL) soils amended with BSFL-digested almond processing residues, i.e., spent pollinator hulls (SPH), at 2% dry weight (dw) were incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions for 15 days under a daily fluctuating temperature-interval (30–50°C). The microbial respiration, pH, electrical conductivity, volatile fatty acids, macronutrients, and germination index using radish seeds (Raphanus sativusL.) were quantified to assess the soil health after amendment application. Incubation showed a statistically significant (p< 0.05) increase in electrical conductivity related to amendment addition and a decrease potentially linked to microbiological activity, i.e., sequestering of ions. Under aerobic conditions, SPH addition increased the CO2-accumulation by a factor of 5–6 compared to the non-amended soils in SL and CL, respectively. This increase further suggests a higher microbiological activity and that SPH behaves like a partially stabilized organic material. Under anaerobic conditions, CO2-development remained unchanged. BSFL-digested residues significantly increased the carbon, nitrogen, C/N, phosphate, ammonium, and potassium in the two soil types, replenishing soils with essential macronutrients. However, greenhouse trials with lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) lasting 14 days resulted in a decrease of the biomass by 44.6 ± 35.4 and 35.2 ± 25.3% for SL and CL, respectively, compared to their respective non-amended soil samples. This reduction of the biomass resulted from residual phytotoxic compounds, indicating that BSFL-digested SPH have the potential to be used for biosolarization and as soil amendments, depending on the concentration and mitigation strategies. Application and environmental conditions must be carefully selected to minimize the persistence of soil phytotoxicity.
Development of a Performance Monitoring Instrument for Rating Explosives Search Dog Performance
Authors: Rooney Nicola J. , Clark Corinna C. A.
Published: June 2021

The growing body of working dog literature includes many examples of scales robustly developed to measure aspects of dog behavior. However, when comparing behavior to working dog ability, most studies rely on training organizations' own long-established ratings of performance, or simply pass/fail at selection or certification as measures of success. Working ability is multifaceted, and it is likely that different aspects of ability are differentially affected by external factors. In order to understand how specific aspects of selection, training, and operations influence a dog's working ability, numerous facets of performance should be considered. An accurate and validated method for quantifying multiple aspects of performance is therefore required. Here, we describe the first stages of formulating a meaningful performance measurement tool for two types of working search dogs. The systematic methodology used was: (1) interviews and workshops with a representative cross-section of stakeholders to produce a shortlist of behaviors integral to current operational performance of vehicle (VS) and high assurance (HAS) search dogs; (2) assessing the reliability and construct validity of the shortlisted behavioral measures (at the behavior and the individual rater level) using ratings of diverse videoed searches by experienced personnel; and (3) selecting the most essential and meaningful behaviors based on their reliability/validity and importance. The resulting performance measurement tool was composed of 12 shortlisted behaviors, most of which proved reliable and valid when assessed by a group of raters. At the individual rater level, however, there was variability between raters in the ability to use and interpret behavioral measures, in particular, more abstract behaviors such as Independence. This illustrates the importance of examining individual rater scores rather than extrapolating from group consensus (as is often done), especially when designing a tool that will ultimately be used by single raters. For ratings to be practically valuable, individual rater reliability needs to be improved, especially for behaviors deemed as essential (e.g., control and confidence). We suggest that the next steps are to investigate why individuals vary in their ratings and to undertake efforts to increase the likelihood that they reach a common conceptualization of each behavioral construct. Plausible approaches are improving the format in which behaviors are presented, e.g., by adding benchmarks and utilizing rater training.
The Effects of In Ovo Injection of Synbiotics on the Early Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Chicks
Authors: Duan Ao-yi , Ju An-qi , Zhang Ying-nan , Qin Yan-jun , Xue Li-gang , Ma Xin , Luan Wei-min , Yang Shu-bao
Published: June 2021

In this study, the effects of synbiotic inclusion at the intra-amniotic stage in layer chicks were evaluated with different parameters, such as performance, immunological function, intestinal development, and cecal microflora content. A total of 1,200 eggs with fertile embryos were allocated into four treatment groups. For every treatment, five replicates were used, and 60 eggs were included in each replicate. The following four treatment groups were established: the non-injected group, 0.9% physiological saline injection (saline) group, 1 × 106 CFU/egg Lactobacillus plantarum injection (probiotic) group, and 1 × 106 CFU/egg L. plantarum + 2 mg/egg Astragalus polysaccharide injection (synbiotic) group. In ovo injection was carried out at 18.5 days of incubation. The results showed that in ovo injection of probiotics or synbiotics did not affect the hatching or growth performance of the chicks but significantly increased their feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), and the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Additionally, in ovo injection of synbiotics enhanced the levels of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in intestinal lavage fluid and the histomorphological development of the small intestine. Our results also indicated that intra-amniotic synbiotic injection significantly increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium colonization while decreasing the relative abundance of Escherichia coli in the chicken cecum (P < 0.05). In summary, in ovo injection of synbiotics had positive impacts on the performance, immunological function, gut development, and microbiota of growing chicks.
A New Torque Distribution Control for Four-Wheel Independent-Drive Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yin Dejun , Wang Junjie , Du Jinjian , Chen Gang , Hu Jia-Sheng
Published: June 2021

Torque distribution control is a key technique for four-wheel independent-drive electric vehicles because it significantly affects vehicle stability and handling performance, especially under extreme driving conditions. This paper, which focuses on the global yaw moment generated by both the longitudinal and the lateral tire forces, proposes a new distribution control to allocate driving torques to four-wheel motors. The proposed objective function not only minimizes the longitudinal tire usage, but also make increased use of each tire to generate yaw moment and achieve a quicker yaw response. By analysis and a comparison with prior torque distribution control, the proposed control approach is shown to have better control performance in hardware-in-the-loop simulations.
Fruit Development and Primary Metabolism in Apple
Authors: Tijero Verónica , Girardi Francesco , Botton Alessandro
Published: June 2021

Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) represent one of the most produced fruits worldwide, along with citrus and bananas. As high quality is an important trait for the consumer, many studies have focused on the research of new techniques to ensure and preserve the optimal organoleptic characteristics of this fruit. However, despite the huge number of studies on recent technological advances dealing with fruit final quality, less research has focused on the physiological aspects of apple development, including a variety of processes triggered after fertilization, such as photosynthesis, assimilation of carbohydrates, cell division, and cell enlargement, which determine apple final quality. In the present review, we summarize some of the most important changes and mechanisms linked to the primary metabolism of apples, as well as the effect of agronomic practices, such as fruit thinning, as key factors to improve apple quality and meet consumer demands, with the aim of amassing available information and suggesting future directions of research.
Crop Response to Leaf and Seed Applications of the Biostimulant ComCat® under Stress Conditions
Authors: Gerhards Roland , Ouidoh Fructueuse N. , Adjogboto André , Avohou Vodéa Armand Pascal , Dossounon Berteulot Latus Sètondji , Adisso Alexandra Koupamba Ditti , Heyn Alexandra , Messelhäuser Miriam , Santel Hans-Joachim , Oebel Horst
Published: June 2021

Although clear evidence for benefits in crop production is partly missing, several natural compounds and microorganisms have been introduced to the market as biostimulants. They are supposed to enhance nutrient efficiency and availability in the rhizosphere, reduce abiotic stress, and improve crop quality parameters. Biostimulants often derive from natural compounds, such as microorganisms, algae, and plant extracts. In this study, the commercial plant extract-based biostimulant ComCat® was tested in two field experiments with maize in the communities of Banikoara and Matéri in Northern Benin and six pot experiments (four with maize and two with winter barley) at the University of Hohenheim in Germany. Maize was grown under nutrient deficiency, drought, and weed competition, and winter barley was stressed by the herbicide Luximo (cinmethylin). ComCat® was applied at half, full, and double the recommended field rate (50, 100, and 200 g ha−1) on the stressed and unstressed control plants as leaf or seed treatment. The experiments were conducted in randomized complete block designs with four replications. The above-ground biomass and yield data of one experiment in Benin were collected. The biostimulant did not promote maize and winter barley biomass production of the unstressed plants. When exposed to stress, ComCat® resulted only in one out of eight experiments in higher barley biomass compared to the stressed treatment without ComCat® application. There was a reduced phytotoxic effect of cinmethylin after seed treatment with ComCat®. Crop response to ComCat® was independent of the application rate. Basic and applied studies are needed to investigate the response of crops to biostimulants and their mechanisms of action in the plants before they should be used in practical farming.
An Evaluation of Growth Characteristics of Faba Bean Cultivars
Authors: Shabbir Asad , Widderick Michael , Walsh Michael J.
Published: June 2021

Resistance to herbicides and the lack of new herbicide options have led researchers to explore alternate methods to manage weed populations in large-scale cropping systems. Crop competition is an effective weed management approach that can reduce the pressure on herbicides. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important winter legume crop in Australia. Crop traits such as, height, biomass, growth rate, tillering capacity, leaf area, and root growth have been suggested as indicators of the competitive ability of crops against weeds. Based on pot studies at Narrabri and Toowoomba, we assessed the growth traits (biomass, height, leaf area, relative growth rate, and branch number) of six faba bean cultivars and ranked them for their potential ability to compete with weeds. PBA Marne and PBA Zahra were identified as highly competitive faba bean cultivars based on their higher overall ranking score achieved at both locations. PBA Nasma and PBA Samira were ranked highly and moderately competitive at Narrabri and Toowoomba sites, respectively. At Narrabri, PBA Nanu was ranked poorly competitive based on its lower biomass, height, and leaf area than the other cultivars. The weed suppressive ability of these cultivars needs to be assessed in the presence of weeds under field conditions.
Artificial Intelligence in Smart Farms: Plant Phenotyping for Species Recognition and Health Condition Identification Using Deep Learning
Authors: Hati Anirban Jyoti , Singh Rajiv Ranjan
Published: June 2021

This paper analyses the contribution of residual network (ResNet) based convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture employed in two tasks related to plant phenotyping. Among the contemporary works for species recognition (SR) and infection detection of plants, the majority of them have performed experiments on balanced datasets and used accuracy as the evaluation parameter. However, this work used an imbalanced dataset having an unequal number of images, applied data augmentation to increase accuracy, organised data as multiple test cases and classes, and, most importantly, employed multiclass classifier evaluation parameters useful for asymmetric class distribution. Additionally, the work addresses typical issues faced such as selecting the size of the dataset, depth of classifiers, training time needed, and analysing the classifier’s performance if various test cases are deployed. In this work, ResNet 20 (V2) architecture has performed significantly well in the tasks of Species Recognition (SR) and Identification of Healthy and Infected Leaves (IHIL) with a Precision of 91.84% and 84.00%, Recall of 91.67% and 83.14% and F1 Score of 91.49% and 83.19%, respectively.
Effect of Endometrial Sampling Procedures on Subsequent Pregnancy Rate of Cattle
Authors: Ramirez-Garzon Orlando , Soares Magalhaes Ricardo , Satake Nana , Hill Jonathan , Jimenez Claudia , Holland Michael K. , McGowan Michael
Published: June 2021

Endometrial infections are a common cause of reproductive loss in cattle. Accurate diagnosis is important to reduce the economic losses caused by endometritis. A range of sampling procedures have been developed which enable collection of endometrial tissue or luminal cells or uterine fluid. However, as these are all invasive procedures, there is a risk that sampling around the time of breeding may adversely affect subsequent pregnancy rate. This systematic review compared the pregnancy rates (PR) of cattle which underwent uterine lavage (UL), cotton swab (CS), cytobrush (CB), cytotape (CT), or endometrial biopsy (EB) sampling procedures with those that were not sampled. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol, relevant databases, including Pubmed, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, VetMed Resource–Ruminants, and Scopus, were searched. The outcome measured was the pregnancy rate after the collection of endometrial sample(s). Seven studies, involving a total of 3693 cows, fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and allowed the comparison of PR between sampled (n = 1254) and non-sampled cows (n = 2409). The results of the systematic review showed that endometrial sampling procedures can be performed before breeding or shortly after insemination without adversely affecting pregnancy rates in cattle. However, further studies are needed to validate this information.
Estimation of Phosphorus and Nitrogen Waste in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum, 1792) Diets Including Different Inorganic Phosphorus Sources
Authors: Milián-Sorribes Maria Consolación , Tomás-Vidal Ana , Peñaranda David S. , Carpintero Laura , Mesa Juan S. , Dupuy Javier , Donadeu Andrés , Macías-Vidal Judit , Martínez-Llorens Silvia
Published: June 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the apparent availability and P and N excretion in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using different inorganic phosphorus sources. With this goal, fish (153 ± 14.1 g) fed four inorganic P sources were assayed: monoammonium phosphate (MAP, NH4H2PO4), monosodium/monocalcium phosphate (SCP-2%, AQphos+, NaH2PO4/Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O in proportion 12/88), monosodium/monocalcium phosphate (SCP-5%, NaH2PO4/Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O in proportion 30/70) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP, Ca(H2PO4)2·H2O). Phosphorus (P) digestibility, in diets that included MAP and SCP-2% as inorganic phosphorus sources, were significantly higher than for SCP-5% and MCP sources. In relation to the P excretion pattern, independent of the diet, a peak at 6 h after feeding was registered, but at different levels depending on inorganic P sources. Fish fed an MAP diet excreted a higher amount of dissolved P in comparison with the rest of the inorganic P sources, although the total P losses were lower in MAP and SCP-2% (33.02% and 28.13, respectively) than in SCP-5% and MCP sources (43.35% and 47.83, respectively). Nitrogen (N) excretion was also studied, and the fish fed an SCP-5% diet provided lower values (15.8%) than MAP (28.0%). When N total wastes were calculated, SCP-2% and SCP-5% showed the lowest values (31.54 and 28.25%, respectively). In conclusion, based on P and N digestibility and excretion, the SCP-2% diet showed the best results from a nutritional and environmental point of view.
Changes of Dorsal Root Ganglion Volume in Dogs with Clinical Signs of Degenerative Myelopathy Detected by Water-Excitation Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Naito Eiji , Nakata Kohei , Nakano Yukiko , Nozue Yuta , Kimura Shintaro , Sakai Hiroki , Yamato Osamu , Islam Md Shafiqul , Maeda Sadatoshi , Kamishina Hiroaki
Published: June 2021

Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. However, a definitive diagnosis of DM can only be achieved by postmortem histopathological examination of the spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the volumetry of DRG using the ability of water-excitation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the DRG in dogs has premortem diagnostic value for DM. Eight dogs with DM, twenty-four dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH), and eight control dogs were scanned using a 3.0-tesla MRI system, and water-excitation images were obtained to visualize and measure the volume of DRG, normalized by body surface area. The normalized mean DRG volume between each spinal cord segment and mean volume of all DRG between T8 and L2 in the DM group was significantly lower than that in the control and the IVDH groups (P = 0.011, P = 0.002, respectively). There were no correlations within the normalized mean DRG volume between DM stage 1 and stage 4 (rs = 0.312, P = 0.128, respectively). In conclusion, DRG volumetry by the water-excitation MRI provides a non-invasive and quantitative assessment of neurodegeneration in DRG and may have diagnostic potential for DM.
Occurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Pigs and Farm Environment in Northwestern Italy
Authors: Bonvegna Miryam , Grego Elena , Sona Bruno , Stella Maria Cristina , Nebbia Patrizia , Mannelli Alessandro , Tomassone Laura
Published: June 2021

Swine farming as a source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been well documented. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) have been less studied, but their importance as pathogens is increasing. MRCoNS are indeed considered relevant nosocomial pathogens; identifying putative sources of MRCoNS is thus gaining importance to prevent human health hazards. In the present study, we investigated MRSA and MRCoNS in animals and environment in five pigsties in a high farm-density area of northwestern Italy. Farms were three intensive, one intensive with antibiotic-free finishing, and one organic. We tested nasal swabs from 195 animals and 26 environmental samples from three production phases: post-weaning, finishing and female breeders. Phenotypic tests, including MALDI-TOF MS, were used for the identification of Staphylococcus species; PCR and nucleotide sequencing confirmed resistance and bacterial species. MRCoNS were recovered in 64.5% of nasal swabs, in all farms and animal categories, while MRSA was detected only in one post-weaning sample in one farm. The lowest prevalence of MRCoNS was detected in pigs from the organic farm and in the finishing of the antibiotic-free farm. MRCoNS were mainly Staphylococcus sciuri, but we also recovered S. pasteuri, S. haemolyticus, S. cohnii, S. equorum and S. xylosus. Fifteen environmental samples were positive for MRCoNS, which were mainly S. sciuri; no MRSA was found in the farms’ environment. The analyses of the mecA gene and the PBP2-a protein highlighted the same mecA fragment in strains of S. aureus, S. sciuri and S. haemolyticus. Our results show the emergence of MRCoNS carrying the mecA gene in swine farms. Moreover, they suggest that this gene might be horizontally transferred from MRCoNS to bacterial species more relevant for human health, such as S. aureus.
Colistin Selection of the Mcr-1 Gene in Broiler Chicken Intestinal Microbiota
Authors: Miguela-Villoldo Pedro , Moreno Miguel A. , Rebollada-Merino Agustín , Rodríguez-Bertos Antonio , Hernández Marta , Rodríguez-Lázaro David , Gallardo Alejandro , Quesada Alberto , Goyache Joaquín , Domínguez Lucas , Ugarte-Ruiz María
Published: June 2021

Colistin has a long story of safe use in animals for the treatment and prevention of certain bacterial diseases. Nevertheless, the first description of the mcr-1 gene showed that colistin resistance can spread by horizontal gene transfer and changed the landscape. This study aimed to assess the effect of colistin administration on the dispersion of resistance in the microbiota of day-old broiler chicks and how the presence of mcr-1 genes influences the spread of colistin resistance determinants. In this study, 100 one-day-old chicks were divided into four groups of 25 animals (G1, G2, G3, and G4). Animals from G3/G4 were challenged with mcr-1-carrying Salmonella (day 7), while colistin (600 mg/L) was administered daily to G2/G4 animals through drinking water (from day 8 to day 15). Two quantitative PCR assays were performed to compare the amount of Salmonella and mcr-1 that were present in the caecal samples. We observed that levels of mcr-1 were higher in G3/G4 animals, especially G4, due to the spread of mcr-1-carrying Salmonella. On day 21, Salmonella levels decreased in G4, reaching similar values as those for G3, but mcr-1 levels remained significantly higher, suggesting that colistin may accelerate the spreading process when mcr-1-carrying bacteria reach the gut.
Procyanidin B2 Reduces Vascular Calcification through Inactivation of ERK1/2-RUNX2 Pathway
Authors: Liang Yingquan , Chen Guilan , Zhang Feng , Yang Xiaoxiao , Chen Yuanli , Duan Yajun , Yu Maoyun , Zhang Shuang , Han Jihong
Published: June 2021

Vascular calcification is strongly associated with atherosclerotic plaque burden and plaque instability. The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) increases runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) expression to promote vascular calcification. Procyanidin B2 (PB2), a potent antioxidant, can inhibit ERK1/2 activation in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). However, the effects and involved mechanisms of PB2 on atherosclerotic calcification remain unknown. In current study, we fed apoE-deficient (apoE−/−) mice a high-fat diet (HFD) while treating the animals with PB2 for 18 weeks. At the end of the study, we collected blood and aorta samples to determine atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. We found PB2 treatment decreased lesions in en face aorta, thoracic, and abdominal aortas by 21.4, 24.6, and 33.5%, respectively, and reduced sinus lesions in the aortic root by 17.1%. PB2 also increased α-smooth muscle actin expression and collagen content in lesion areas. In the aortic root, PB2 reduced atherosclerotic calcification areas by 75.8%. In vitro, PB2 inhibited inorganic phosphate-induced osteogenesis in HASMCs and aortic rings. Mechanistically, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and RUNX2 were markedly downregulated by PB2 treatment. Additionally, PB2 inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the aortic root plaques of apoE−/− mice and calcified HASMCs. Reciprocally, the activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by C2-MEK1-mut or epidermal growth factor can partially restore the PB2-inhibited RUNX2 expression or HASMC calcification. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that PB2 inhibits vascular calcification through the inactivation of the ERK1/2-RUNX2 pathway. Our study also suggests that PB2 can be a potential option for vascular calcification treatment.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Plant Extracts
Authors: Rodríguez-Yoldi María Jesús
Published: June 2021

Since the ancient times, a great variety of plants have been used for therapeutic purposes [...]
Development and Study of the Structure and Properties of a Composite Textile Material with Encapsulated Heat-Preserving Components for Heat-Protective Clothing
Authors: Cherunova Irina , Kornev Nikolai , Lukyanova Ekaterina , Varavka Valery
Published: June 2021

The modern technology of heat-protective clothing is increasingly aimed at maintaining the active function of materials. Adding heat-preserving components into the volume of heat-insulating fibrous materials changes their structure and properties. In this article, the methods of forming the structure of multi-component insulants with heat-preserving components, as well as the study of structural and thermophysical properties, are presented. Composite textile materials were used in this study, namely a 0/30/50/100% Outlast textile (based on polyester fleece, 70%) + Termofiber (fiber-insulated polyester material, 100%). Based on the research, we established the structural parameters of Termofiber fibrous canvas and the Outlast textile. The study of the thermal conductivity of complex combined insulation materials was performed for different temperature conditions (up to +25 °C) and for the proportion of the heat-accumulating textile components. Based on the obtained research results for the development of complex materials from Termofiber + the Outlast textile, the fraction of the Outlast textile component should be limited to no more than 40% for textile shells in clothing that are operated at a temperature of +5 °C or below. Further conditions for determining the composition of the studied materials for clothing can be settled by taking into account the density of the materials, the mass, and the general thermal insulation of clothing.
Micro Vibration Measurement with Microscopic Speckle Interferometry Based on Orthogonal Phase
Authors: Gao Chenjia , Gao Zhan , Niu Yuhao , Wang Xu , Zhao Jieming , Deng Lin
Published: June 2021

A micro-device vibration measurement method based on microscopic speckle interferometry combined with orthogonal phase is presented. This method utilizes the approximate linear distribution characteristics of orthogonal points (points satisfying the condition that the initial phase difference equal to π/2) to quickly obtain the vibration information of the measured object. Compared with common optical measurement methods, this method does not require scanning imaging and can realize real-time full-field measurement. Moreover, the measurement principle and equipment is simple, so there is no need to introduce a stroboscopic light source or heterodyne device.
The Role of Epigenetics in Periodontal and Systemic Diseases and Smoking: A Systematic Review
Authors: Khouly Ismael , Braun Rosalie Salus , Ordway Michelle , Ghassib Iya , Larsson Lena , Asa’ad Farah
Published: June 2021

The aims of this systematic review were to identify and synthesize the evidence for an association in DNA methylation/histone modifications between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases/smoking. Electronic database searches using relevant search terms in PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO, and manual searches, were independently conducted to identify articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Nine studies of 1482 participants were included. Periodontitis was compared to metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cancer, and smokers, as well as healthy controls. Substantial variation regarding the reporting of sample sizes and patient characteristics, statistical analyses, and methodology was found. IL6 and TNF were modified similarly in RA and periodontitis. While TIMP-3 and GSTP-1 were significantly lower in periodontitis patients and controls than in cancer, SOCS-1, RMI2, CDH1, and COX2 were modified similarly in both cancer and periodontitis. While TLR4 in and CXCL8 were affected in periodontitis independent of smoking habit, smoking might change the transcription and methylation states of ECM organization-related genes, which exacerbated the periodontal condition. There was some evidence, albeit inconsistent, for an association between DNA methylation and periodontal diseases and systemic diseases or smokers compared to healthy patients or non-smokers.
Fuzzy-Based Quality Adaptation Algorithm for Improving QoE from MPEG-DASH Video
Authors: Rahman Waqas ur , Hossain Md Delowar , Huh Eui-Nam
Published: June 2021

Video clients employ HTTP-based adaptive bitrate (ABR) algorithms to optimize users’ quality of experience (QoE). ABR algorithms adopt video quality based on the network conditions during playback. The existing state-of-the-art ABR algorithms ignore the fact that video streaming services deploy segment durations differently in different services, and HTTP clients offer distinct buffer sizes. The existing ABR algorithms use fixed control laws and are designed with predefined client/server settings. As a result, adaptation algorithms fail to achieve optimal performance across a variety of video client settings and QoE objectives. We propose a buffer- and segment-aware fuzzy-based ABR algorithm that selects video rates for future video segments based on segment duration and the client’s buffer size in addition to throughput and playback buffer level. We demonstrate that the proposed algorithm guarantees high QoE across various video player settings and video content characteristics. The proposed algorithm efficiently utilizes bandwidth in order to download high-quality video segments and to guarantee high QoE. The results from our experiments reveal that the proposed adaptation algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms, providing improvements in average video rate, QoE, and bandwidth utilization, respectively, of 5% to 18%, about 13% to 30%, and up to 45%.
An Innovative Bioceramic Bone Graft with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Rapid Bone Healing and Regeneration in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Syam Syamsiah , Chang Chun-Wei , Lan Wen-Chien , Ou Keng-Liang , Huang Bai-Hung , Lin Yu-Yeong , Saito Takashi , Tsai Hsin-Yu , Chuo Yen-Chun , Yang Tzu-Sen , Liu Chung-Ming , Hou Ping-Jen
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to investigate the effect of combining an innovative bioceramic α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate (α-CSH, CaSO4⋅0.5H2O) bone graft and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to accelerate bone healing and regeneration in a rabbit model. The bone graft material was implanted bilaterally on rabbit’s artificially maxillary sinus defects: the right maxillary sinus received α-CSH, while α-CSH combine with PRP (α-CSH/PRP) was grafted in left site. The quantity and quality of bone formation after implantation were analyzed radiographically and histologically at 1, 2, and 3 weeks. The micro-computed tomographic results indicated that the bone density of sinus implanted with α-CSH increased and defect volume decreased most after 2 weeks. In histological analysis, both hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining of α-CSH/PRP displays better bone healing and regeneration progress than α-CSH after 2 weeks implantation. Therefore, the innovative α-CSH combined with PRP was revealed to be useful in accelerating bone healing and regeneration for the successful defect treatment.
Mean Dynamic Topography Modeling Based on Optimal Interpolation from Satellite Gravimetry and Altimetry Data
Authors: Wu Yihao , Huang Jia , Shi Hongkai , He Xiufeng
Published: June 2021

Mean dynamic topography (MDT) is crucial for research in oceanography and climatology. The optimal interpolation method (OIM) is applied to MDT modeling, where the error variance–covariance information of the observations is established. The global geopotential model (GGM) derived from GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) gravity data and the mean sea surface model derived from satellite altimetry data are combined to construct MDT. Numerical experiments in the Kuroshio over Japan show that the use of recently released GOCE-derived GGM derives a better MDT compared to the previous models. The MDT solution computed based on the sixth-generation model illustrates a lower level of root mean square error (77.0 mm) compared with the ocean reanalysis data, which is 2.4 mm (5.4 mm) smaller than that derived from the fifth-generation (fourth-generation) model. This illustrates that the accumulation of GOCE data and updated data preprocessing methods can be beneficial for MDT recovery. Moreover, the results show that the OIM outperforms the Gaussian filtering approach, where the geostrophic velocity derived from the OIM method has a smaller misfit against the buoy data, by a magnitude of 10 mm/s (17 mm/s) when the zonal (meridional) component is validated. This is mainly due to the error information of input data being used in the optimal interpolation method, which may obtain more reasonable weights of observations than the Gaussian filtering method.
Experimental Validation of a Thermo-Electric Model of the Photovoltaic Module under Outdoor Conditions
Authors: Sredenšek Klemen , Štumberger Bojan , Hadžiselimović Miralem , Seme Sebastijan , Deželak Klemen
Published: June 2021

An operating temperature of the photovoltaic (PV) module greatly affects performance and its lifetime. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate operating temperature of the photovoltaic module in different weather conditions and how it affects its performance. The primary objective of this paper is to present a dynamic thermo-electric model for determining the temperature and output power of the photovoltaic module. The presented model is validated with field measurement at the Institute of Energy Technology, Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor, Slovenia. The presented model was compared with other models in different weather conditions, such as clear, cloudy and overcast. The evaluation was performed for the operating temperature and output power of the photovoltaic module using Root-Mean-Square-Error (RMSE) and Mean-Absolute-Error (MAE). The average RMSE and MAE values are 1.75 °C and 1.14 °C for the thermal part and 20.34 W and 10.97 W for the electrical part.
Characterization and Biotechnological Potential of Two Native Marine Microalgae Isolated from the Tunisian Coast
Authors: Mohamed Jamila Ben , Elleuch Jihen , Drira Marwa , Esteban Maria Ángeles , Michaud Philippe , Abdelkafi Slim , Fendri Imen
Published: June 2021

Microalgae are attracting considerable interest worldwide. In the present study, two native microalgae strains isolated from Tunisian cost were identified as Chlamydomonas sp. and Navicula sp. We characterized their pigment and protein contents, as well as their carbohydrate and lipid productivity. The predominant fatty acids were found to be α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7) for Chlamydomonas sp. and Navicula sp. strains respectively. Microalgae methanol extracts showed important in vitro antibacterial activity against all tested gram negative bacteria. Antioxidant activities of methanol extracts were investigated by determining radical scavenging activity according to DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) methods. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay showed that the newly isolated microalgae were not toxic and have potential application in the fish feeds domain as a supplement in fish meal. Also, the biosorption of cadmium from aqueous solutions by microalgae living cells was evaluated. Large removal capacities were obtained with values ranging from 89.8% to 99.38%. These results are very promising as a starting point for a potential application of these new isolates for in situ bioremediation of heavy metals contaminating aqueous systems.