bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Promotes Mouse Gut Microbiota Diversity and T Cell Differentiation
Authors: Shi Chun-wei , Cheng Ming-yang , Yang Xin , Lu Yi-yuan , Yin Hong-duo , Zeng Yan , Wang Ru-yu , Jiang Yan-long , Yang Wen-tao , Wang Jian-zhong , Zhao Dan-dan , Huang Hai-bin , Ye Li-ping , Cao Xin , Yang Gui-lian , Wang Chun-feng
Published: December 2020

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the primary genera of the intestinal flora and have many probiotic functions. In the present study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) ATCC 53103 was used to treat BALB/c mice. After LGG intervention, both low and high LGG doses were shown to improve the observed OTU, Chao1, ACE, and Shannon indices, while the Simpson index decreased, demonstrating that LGG can promote intestinal microbiota abundance and diversity. Furthermore, LGG treatment increased the abundances of intestinal Firmicutes, Bacteroides and Actinomycetes while reducing that of Proteobacteria. In addition to its effect on gut the microbiota, LGG could also regulate the host immune system. In the present study, we showed that LGG could affect the percentage of CD3+ T lymphocytes in the spleens (SPLs), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), Peyer’s patches (PPs) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) of mice, including total CD3+ T, CD3+CD4+ T, and CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, LGG could effectively increase the expression of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4) in CD4+ T cells, indicating that the proportion of Th1 and Th2 cells in mice with LGG treatment was in a high equilibrium state compared to the control group. In addition, the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was greater than 1 in mice with LGG intervention, suggesting that LGG tends to mediate the Th1 immune response. The results of the present study also showed that LGG upregulated the expression of IL-17 in CD4+ T cells and regulated the percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg cells in various secondary immunological organs, indicating that LGG may promote the balance of Th-17 and Treg cells.
Prognostic Performance of Albumin–Bilirubin Grade With Artificial Intelligence for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined With Sorafenib
Authors: Zhong Bin-Yan , Yan Zhi-Ping , Sun Jun-Hui , Zhang Lei , Hou Zhong-Heng , Yang Min-Jie , Zhou Guan-Hui , Wang Wan-Sheng , Li Zhi , Huang Peng , Zhang Shen , Zhu Xiao-Li , Ni Cai-Fang
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To establish albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade-based and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) grade-based nomograms, as well as to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to compare the prognostic performance and discrimination of these two grades for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib as an initial treatment.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study included patients from three hospitals between January 2013 and August 2018. In the training cohort, independent risk factors associated with overall survival (OS) were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. The nomograms and ANN were established and then validated in two validation cohorts.

Results

A total of 504 patients (319, 61, and 124 patients from hospitals A, B, and C, respectively) were included. The median OS was 15.2, 26.9, and 14.8 months in the training cohort and validation cohorts 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.218). In the training cohort, both ALBI grade and CTP grade were identified as independent risk factors. The ALBI grade-based and CTP grade-based nomograms were established separately and showed similar prognostic performance and discrimination when validated in the validation cohorts (C-index in validation cohort 1: 0.799 vs. 0.779, P = 0.762; in validation cohort 2: 0.700 vs. 0.693, P = 0.803). The ANN model showed that the ALBI grade had higher importance in survival prediction than the CTP grade.

Conclusions

The ALBI grade and CTP grade have comparable prognostic performance for HCC patients treated with TACE combined with sorafenib. ALBI grades 1 and 2 have the potential to act as a stratification factor for clinical trials on the combination therapy of TACE and systemic therapy.
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Regulatory Mechanisms, Research Strategies, and Future Directions in Cancers
Authors: Gao Na , Li Yueheng , Li Jing , Gao Zhengfan , Yang Zhenzhen , Li Yong , Liu Hongtao , Fan Tianli
Published: December 2020

The development and application of whole genome sequencing technology has greatly broadened our horizons on the capabilities of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNAs are more than 200 nucleotides in length and lack protein-coding potential. Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs exert an irreplaceable role in tumor initiation, progression, as well as metastasis, and are novel molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. Furthermore, lncRNAs and the pathways they influence might represent promising therapeutic targets for a number of tumors. Here, we discuss the recent advances in understanding of the specific regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs. We focused on the signal, decoy, guide, and scaffold functions of lncRNAs at the epigenetic, transcription, and post-transcription levels in cancer cells. Additionally, we summarize the research strategies used to investigate the roles of lncRNAs in tumors, including lncRNAs screening, lncRNAs characteristic analyses, functional studies, and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs. This review will provide a short but comprehensive description of the lncRNA functions in tumor development and progression, thus accelerating the clinical implementation of lncRNAs as tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Development of EGFR TKIs and Options to Manage Resistance of Third-Generation EGFR TKI Osimertinib: Conventional Ways and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Authors: Wu Leilei , Ke Linping , Zhang Zhenshan , Yu Jinming , Meng Xue
Published: December 2020

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) have been first-line therapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR sensitive mutations. Progression inevitably happens after 10–14 months of first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs treatment for acquired resistance. Owing to the successful identification of EGFR T790M, third-generation EGFR TKIs such as osimertinib were developed to target such resistance mutation. Nowadays, osimertinib has shown its efficacy both in first-line and second-line after resistance to previous generations of TKI treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLC. However, drug resistance also emerges on third-generation EGFR TKIs. Multiple mechanisms of acquired resistance have been identified, and some novel strategies were reported to overcome third-generation TKI resistance. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically changed the prognosis of selected patients. For patients with EGFR-addicted metastatic NSCLC, ICIs have also revealed a potential role. In this review, we will take stock of mechanisms of acquired resistance to third-generation TKIs and discuss current challenges and future perspectives in clinical practice.
Analysis of Emission Infrared Spectra of Protein Solutions in Low Concentrations
Authors: Penkov Nikita , Penkova Nadezda
Published: December 2020

In this work, based on the method of infrared emission spectroscopy, the study of emission spectra of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) solution in a mixture or surrounded by three low-concentration solutions (IFNγ, antibodies to IFNγ, glycine buffer) or water control was performed. First of all, the solutions of low concentrations themselves were studied. It was shown that low-concentration solutions of IFNγ and antibodies to IFNγ had lower emission intensity in three spectral bands near 800, 1,300 and 2000 cm−1 compared to water control. Glycine buffer solution had a radiation level indistinguishable from that of the control. In this work, the effect of adding these low-concentration solutions to IFNγ (1 mg/ml) was compared to the effect of adding water control to IFNγ. All solutions or water were added in 10% (v/v). It was found that adding each of the three test solutions induced an increase in the radiation intensity of the IFNγ solution in the spectral range of 400–1700 cm−1 (compared to the IFNγ solution with control spike). It was also tested whether the radiation of the studied low-concentration solutions surrounding the IFNγ solution (1 mg/ml) affected the IFNγ radiation. The measurement results were compared to the data obtained for IFNγ surrounded by water control. All three solutions were found to exert a distant effect on the IFNγ solution (1 mg/ml), which was manifested in a decrease in the intensity of its radiation near 1,000 and 1,500 cm−1 compared to the control solution of IFNγ. Thus, the emission spectra of low-concentration aqueous solutions were measured for the first time, and differences in the emission spectra of the IFNγ solution depending on low-concentration additives and the environment were shown. The paper interprets the observed differences and discusses possible mechanisms underlying the observed phenomena.
The Case for Measuring Long Bone Hemodynamics With Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Chuan , McCully Kevin K.
Published: December 2020

Diseases and associated fragility of bone is an important medical issue. There is increasing evidence that bone health is related to blood flow and oxygen delivery. The development of non-invasive methods to evaluate bone blood flow and oxygen delivery promise to improve the detection and treatment of bone health in human. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to evaluate oxygen levels, blood flow, and metabolism in skeletal muscle and brain. While the limited penetration depth of NIRS restricts its application, NIRS studies have been performed on the medial aspect of the tibia and some other prominent bone sites. Two approaches using NIRS to evaluate bone health are discussed: (1) the rate of re-oxygenation of bone after a short bout of ischemia, and (2) the dynamics of oxygen levels during an intervention such as resistance exercise. Early studies have shown these approaches to have the potential to evaluate bone vascular health as well as the predicted efficacy of an intervention before changes in bone composition are detectable. Future studies are needed to fully develop and exploit the use of NIRS technology for the study of bone health.
Ecological Location of a Water Source and Spatial Dynamics of Behavior Under Temporally Scheduled Water Deliveries in a Modified Open-Field System: An Integrative Approach
Authors: León Alejandro , Hernández Varsovia , Huerta Ursula , Hernández-Linares Carlos Alberto , Toledo Porfirio , Avendaño Garrido Martha Lorena , Escamilla Navarro Esteban , Guzmán Isiris
Published: December 2020

It has been reported in non-contingent schedules that the variety of patterns of behavior is affected by the temporal variation of water deliveries. While temporal variation is accomplished by delivering water at fixed or variable times, spatial variation is usually accomplished by varying the number of dispensers and distance among them. Such criteria do not consider the possible ecological relevance of the location of water dispensers. Nevertheless, it is plausible to suppose that the intersection of the programed contingencies (e.g., time-based schedules), the ecological differentiated space (e.g., open vs. closed zones), and the relative location of relevant objects and events (e.g., location of the water source—peripherical vs. center zone) could set up an integrated system with the behavioral patterns of the organism. In the present study, we evaluated the eco-functional relevance of two locations of the dispensers upon behavioral dynamics in Wistar rats using fixed and variable time schedules in a modified open-field system. In Experiment 1, three subjects were exposed to a fixed time 30-s water delivery schedule. In the first condition, the water dispenser was located at the center of the experimental chamber. In the second condition, the water dispenser was located at the center of a wall of the experimental chamber. Each location was present for 20 sessions. In Experiment 2, conditions were the same, but a variable time schedule was used. Routes, distance to the dispenser, recurrence patterns, time spent in zones, entropy, and divergence were analyzed. Our findings suggest a robust differential relevance of the location of the dispensers that should be considered in studies evaluating behavioral dynamics. Results are discussed from an integrative, ecological-parametric framework.
Psychological Symptoms in Health Professionals in Spain After the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Dosil María , Ozamiz-Etxebarria Naiara , Redondo Iratxe , Picaza Maitane , Jaureguizar Joana
Published: December 2020

Following the declaration of the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic in March 2020, a state of alarm was decreed in Spain. In this situation, healthcare workers experienced high levels of stress, anxiety and depression due to the heavy workload and working conditions. Although Spain experienced a progressive decline in the number of COVID-19 cases until the last week of May (when a flattening of the case curve was achieved) and the work overload among health workers was substantially reduced, several studies have shown that this work overload is associated with the later emergence of psychological symptoms induced by stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and compassionate fatigue in health professionals. The sample consisted of 973 health professionals 16.5% men, 82.9% women, and one non-binary person. The data were collected through an online questionnaire sent to the participants by e-mail. DASS-21 was used to measure anxiety, stress and depression, PCL-C to measure post-traumatic stress and ProQOL -vIV to measure compassion fatigue. In addition, other descriptive variables that could be related to these levels of psychological symptomatology were evaluated. The results reveal that after the work overload experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers report psychological symptoms, post-traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. It is therefore recommended that these professionals be provided with psychological help in order to reduce the emotional impact of COVID-19, and consequently improve their mental health.
Predictive Validity of Operationalized Criteria for the Assessment of Criminal Responsibility of Sexual Offenders With Paraphilic Disorders—A Randomized Control Trial With Mental Health and Legal Professionals
Authors: Dobbrunz Sascha , Daubmann Anne , Müller Jürgen Leo , Briken Peer
Published: December 2020

The prevention of sexual violence is a major goal of sexual health. In cases of accused sexual offenders, the assessment of diminished criminal responsibility of the accused is one of the most important procedures undertaken by experts in the German legal system. This assessment follows a two-stage method assessing first the severity of a paraphilic disorder and then second criteria for or against diminished capacity. The present study examines the predictive validity of two different sets of criteria for the assessment of criminal responsibility in the context of paraphilic disorders combined with sexual offending. Two exemplary case vignettes of two suspected sexual offenders were developed to assess the criteria. For each participant, one of the two exemplary case vignettes was randomly presented. The presentation of the two different sets of criteria was also randomized, so that each participant was assigned only one of the two criteria sets to rate one of the presented cases. N = 349 participants from different professional backgrounds (mental health and legal professionals) completed their assessments and were included in the data analysis. The data were evaluated using logistic regression. Results show that the more recently published criteria set (Briken and Müller, 2014) predicts both the severity of the disorder as well as the diminished capacity twice as good as the older criteria set of Boetticher et al. (2005) currently used regularly for forensic court reports. In preliminary conclusion, the new criteria of Briken and Müller (2014) form an empirically based assessment of criminal responsibility. However, the proposed criteria cannot replace an extensive exploration of the accused person and a careful file analysis. Validity and reliability of the results are also limited due to the methodical choice of a vignette study.
Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Improve Growth and Modify Essential Oil in Rose (Rosa hybrida L.) cv. Black Prince
Authors: Araújo Neilton Antonio Fiusa , Brandão Rafaela Magalhães , Barguil Beatriz Meireles , Cardoso Maria das Graças , Pasqual Moacir , Rezende Renata Alves Lara Silva , Pereira Maysa Mathias Alves , Buttrós Victor Hugo Teixeira , Dória Joyce
Published: December 2020

Rose essential oil is rich in compounds widely used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, due to the biological activities it presents. However, obtaining oil is costly, as the yield per plant is low, which requires several techniques that aim to increase its production. The application of growth-promoting bacteria has been studied for this purpose. Thus, the objective of this work was to select efficient bacteria for production and evaluate their influence on the phytotechnical characteristics and composition of the essential oils of roses. Seven species of bacteria were evaluated for the potential to promote growth in vitro, being tested for nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, protease production and auxin production. From bacteria tested, four were selected and inoculated on rose plants of cultivar Black Prince to evaluate the influence on phytotechnical variables of flower and stem and the oil production. The evaluation of the production of roses was performed through the characteristics of the flowers (size, weight, and diameter of the stem) and floral bud. The essential oils from the inoculated flowers were extracted and evaluated in terms of content, yield, and chemical composition. The application of B. acidiceler, B. subtilis and B. pumilus resulted in flowers with a diameter up to 29% larger. The floral stem was increased by up to 24.5% when B. acidiceler and B. pumilus were used. Meanwhile, the stem diameter was around 41% greater in the presence of B. acidiceler, B. subtilis and in the control. Bacillus pumilus also increased the weight of fresh petals (104%) and essential oil yield (26%), changing the chemical composition of the extracted essential oil. Thus, it is concluded that B. acidiceler, B. pumilus, and B. subtilis improved the phytotechnical characteristics of roses. Among bacteria, B. pumilus increased the essential oil content as well as positively changed the chemical composition of the extracted essential oil.
Value of 3D MRI and Vaginal Opacification for the Diagnosis of Vaginal Endometriosis
Authors: Bazot Marc , Beldjord Selma , Jarboui Lamia , Ferrier Clement , Bendifallah Sofiane , Daraï Emile
Published: December 2020

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) T2 MRI before and after vaginal opacification (VO) by gel (3DT2VO) and the additional value of 3DT1 with fat-suppression (3DT1FS) MRI in the diagnosis of vaginal endometriosis.

Methods: In this study conducted from 2010 to 2013, 51 patients scheduled for surgical treatment of endometriosis underwent MRI 1 day before surgery. Three readers (novice, intermediate, expert) were asked to retrospectively diagnose vaginal endometriosis independently and blindly using four different readings (i.e., 3DT2, 3DT2VO, 3DT2 with 3DT1FS, 3DT2VO with 3DT1FS). Vaginal endometriosis diagnosis was positive on observation of a thickening of vaginal walls on 3DT2 with or without high-signal-intensity spots on 3DT2 and/or 3DT1FS. The reference standard was surgery and histology. Descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and ROC curves were used for statistical analysis.

Results: For all readers, the combination of 3DT2 and 3DT1FS significantly improved the diagnosis of vaginal endometriosis compared with 3DT2 (p = 0.002, p = 0.02, and p = 0.003). 3DT2VO significantly improved diagnosis for the intermediate reader (p = 0.01). High-signal-intensity spots on 3DT1FS had a sensitivity of 50–63.6%, specificity of 86.2–96.6%, and high positive likelihood ratios (14.5-Inf).

Conclusion: 3DT2 in association with 3DT1FS appears to be the best 3D MRI protocol for the diagnosis of vaginal endometriosis, whatever the level of experience of readers. The additional value of 3DT2VO is variable among the readers.
Intra-vitam Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Pigs: Concordance Between Interferon-Gamma Release Assay and Comparative Tuberculin Skin Test
Authors: Ippolito Dorotea , Fiasconaro Michele , Pruiti Ciarello Flavia , Aliberti Antonino , Vitale Maria , Amato Benedetta , Pasquali Paolo , Di Marco Lo Presti Vincenzo
Published: December 2020

The role of pigs in the maintenance of bovine tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis has been demonstrated in many settings; however, the current control programs usually do not state any intra-vitam diagnostic procedure in this species, as for the cattle. Carcass inspection has shown to be insufficient to detect infection in swine; thus, the assessment of intradermal tuberculin test and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in this species is mandatory. The current study compares the performances of the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test and IGRA. A total of 628 Nebrodi Black pigs raised in free-roaming farms were subjected to the two tests simultaneously. Besides, 124 animals underwent postmortem examination for the detection of tuberculous lesions and isolation of mycobacteria from target organs. The two tests showed a concordance of 94.42% with a Cohen's k coefficient of 0.786 and McNemar chi-square of 4.83 (P = 0.03). Slightly lower levels of concordance (90.32%) between SICCT and IGRA were obtained in the group of 124 animals, with a Cohen's k = 0.797 and McNemar chi-squared value of 0.69 with a non-significant P = 0.41. Moreover, the results showed how IGRA tends to result positive in higher rates, mostly when non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated, suggesting a possible impairment of specificity in the event of coinfections in the swine. In conclusion, the results obtained support the possibility of the strategic use of IGRA or SICCT in combination or alternatively one to the other, particularly IGRA which showed lower specificity but has evident advantages over SICCT.
Effect of Limestone Particle Size and Potassium Supplementation on Growth Performance, Blood Physiology, and Breast Muscle Myopathy of Male Broiler Chickens
Authors: Joardar Dinabandhu , Livingston Kimberly A. , Edens Frank W. , Nusairat Basheer , Qudsieh Rasha , Livingston Matthew L. , Brake John
Published: December 2020

The experiment investigated the effects of limestone particle size and dietary potassium (K) on live performance, blood physiology, and muscle myopathies in broilers raised to 35 days of age. A total of 384 Ross male broilers were placed in 24 floor pens and fed four diets during the starter (0–16 days of age) and grower (17–33 days of age) periods containing two limestone particle sizes (fine: 0.2 mm and coarse: 0.9 mm), and amended with either 0% basal K (K–) or 0.2% added dietary K (K+) as potassium carbonate to complete the 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Live performance was measured from 1–33 days of age. Blood physiology, woody breast (WB), and white striping (WS) scores were measured at 35 days of age. The K+ dietary treatment reduced (P< 0.05) feed intake and BWG when compared to K– during the starter and grower period. The K+ dietary treatment decreased blood Na (mmol/L), blood glucose (mg/dl), ionized blood Ca (mg/dl), TCO2(mmol/L), blood HCO3(mmol/L), and base excess in extracellular fluid (mmol/L) when compared to K– birds of similar body weight at 35 days of age (P≤ 0.05). Fine limestone diets tended to reduce WB scores (3.0 vs. 2.59) when compared to coarse limestone diets at 35 days of age (P= 0.08). This study demonstrated that using 0.2% of K as potassium carbonate did not negatively affect FCR even though FI and BWG were reduced. Furthermore, fine limestone has the potential to reduce WB in breast muscle tissues; however, further research is needed to confirm these outcomes.
Seasonal Phenology of the Major Insect Pests of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and Their Natural Enemies in a Traditional Zone and Two New Production Zones of Peru
Authors: Cruces Luis , Peña Eduardo de la , De Clercq Patrick
Published: December 2020

Over the last decade, the sown area of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has been increasingly expanding in Peru, and new production fields have emerged, stretching from the Andes to coastal areas. The fields at low altitudes have the potential to produce higher yields than those in the highlands. This study investigated the occurrence of insect pests and the natural enemies of quinoa in a traditional production zone, San Lorenzo (in the Andes), and in two new zones at lower altitudes, La Molina (on the coast) and Majes (in the “Maritime Yunga” ecoregion), by plant sampling and pitfall trapping. Our data indicated that the pest pressure in quinoa was higher at lower elevations than in the highlands. The major insect pest infesting quinoa at high densities in San Lorenzo was Eurysacca melanocampta; in La Molina, the major pests were E. melanocampta, Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Liriomyza huidobrensis; and in Majes, Frankliniella occidentalis was the most abundant pest. The natural enemy complex played an important role in controlling M. euphorbiae and L. huidobrensis by preventing pest resurgence. The findings of this study may assist quinoa producers (from the Andes and from regions at lower altitudes) in establishing better farming practices in the framework of integrated pest management.
A Global Screening Assay to Select for Maize Phenotypes with a High Tolerance or Resistance to Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg Rots
Authors: Román Shamir Gabriel , Quiroz-Chávez Jesús , Villalobos Miguel , Urías-Gutiérrez Vianey , Nava-Pérez Eusebio , Ruíz-May Eliel , Singh Rupesh Kumar , Sharma Lav , Quiroz-Figueroa Francisco Roberto
Published: December 2020

Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (Fv) causes rots in maize around the world and produces mycotoxins that contaminate grains, making this species a significant health concern for both animals and humans. One of the best approaches to address rots is to identify highly tolerant or resistant genotypes that can be used for genetic improvement. The aim of the study was to evaluate dose-response assays to tolerance or resistance for Fv rots throughout the maize life cycle. These tests assessed the effects of Fv during post-germination development and the seedling (V2) stage by seed infection, the plantlet (V4) stage by substrate infection, and in the reproductive phase in maize stalks (R2 stage) and ears (R6 stage) by R1 stage inoculation. In all assays, the doses were effective at distinguishing contrasting phenotypes. Severity, root fresh weight, and aerial length were the most informative parameters at the V2 and V4 stages. Evaluation of the stalk necrosis area between and within the internodes of susceptible genotypes revealed significant differences among doses, and a positive correlation between necrosis and conidia concentration was observed in internodes. Injecting eight million conidia in the ear was sufficient for selecting different phenotypes. A total of 85% of the genotypes conserved their same capacity to respond to Fv infection throughout the maize life cycle, so that screening at the early vegetative stage (e.g., V2) could be useful for distinguishing contrasting phenotypes in the reproductive stage. Implementing these screening assays in a maize breeding program could be valuable for classifying the degrees of resilience of maize germplasms to Fv rots. This global screening has the potential to be employed to select against other Fusarium species.
Aegilops Species for the Improvement of the Leaf and Stripe Rust Resistance in Cultivated Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack)
Authors: Ulaszewski Waldemar , Kwiatek Michał Tomasz
Published: December 2020

Hexaploid triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack, 2n = 6x = 42 chromosomes, AABBRR) is a cultivated hybrid, which combines wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) properties. It has a better ability to be grown on poor soils, compared to wheat. Mainly, triticale is produced for forage feed and bioethanol. Considering the limited diversity of this human-made crop, there is a need to widen its genetic variability, especially to introduce new genes, responsible for agronomic traits, such as resistance to biotic stresses. Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. and stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend are the most destructive foliar diseases of triticale and related cereals. Developing resistant triticale varieties is an important strategy for the control of these diseases. A number of leaf and stripe rust resistance genes have been already introduced into bread wheat from related species using chromosome manipulations. Exploitation of related species conferring desirable loci is the most effective non-GMO way of improving the rust resistance of triticale. The procedure encompasses chromosome doubling of obtained hybrids followed by a number of backcrosses to eliminate unnecessary alien chromatin and to reduce the linkage drag. In this review, we show the recent status of pre-breeding studies, which are focused on transfer of leaf and stripe rust resistance genes from Aegilops species into cultivated triticale using distant crossing and chromosome engineering.
Using Temporally Resolved Floral Resource Maps to Explain Bumblebee Colony Performance in Agricultural Landscapes
Authors: Eckerter Philipp W. , Albus Lars , Natarajan Sharumathi , Albrecht Matthias , Ammann Lolita , Gobet Erika , Herzog Felix , Tinner Willy , Entling Martin H.
Published: December 2020

Wild bumblebees are key pollinators of crops and wild plants that rely on the continuous availability of floral resources. A better understanding of the spatio-temporal availability and use of floral food resources may help to promote bumblebees and their pollination services in agricultural landscapes. We placed colonies of Bombus terrestris L. in 24 agricultural landscapes with various degrees of floral resource availability and assessed different parameters of colony growth and fitness. We estimated pollen availability during different periods of colony development based on detailed information of the bumblebee pollen diet and the spatial distribution of the visited plant species. Total pollen availability did not significantly explain colony growth or fitness. However, when using habitat maps, the weight gain of colonies, the number of queen cells, and colony survival decreased with increasing distance from the forest. The better explanation of bumblebee performance by forest proximity than by (plant-inferred) pollen availability indicates that other functions of forests than pollen provision were important. The conservation of forests next to agricultural land might help to sustain high populations of these important wild pollinators and enhance their crop pollination services. Combining different mapping approaches might help to further disentangle complex relationships between B. terrestris and their environment in agricultural landscapes.
Efficiency of a Tetracycline-Adjuvant Combination Against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Tunisian Clinical Isolates
Authors: Troudi Azza , Fethi Meha , Selim El Asli Mohamed , Bolla Jean Michel , Klibi Naouel , Brunel Jean Michel
Published: December 2020

The growing number of multidrug resistant strains in Tunisia has become a serious health concern contributing to high rate of mortality and morbidity. Since current antibiotics are rapidly becoming ineffective, novel strategies to combat resistance are needed. Recently, we demonstrated that combination of a tetracycline antibiotic with various polyaminoisoprenyl adjuvants can sustain the life span and enhance the activity of these drugs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa reference strain (PA01). In the context of our continuing studies, the effective approach of antibiotic-adjuvant was investigated against a large panel of P. aeruginosa Tunisian clinical strains collected from the Military Hospital of Tunis. In this paper, we demonstrated that the combination of a farnesyl spermine compound 3 used at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 µM, in the presence of doxycycline or minocycline leads to a significant decrease of P. aeruginosa antibiotic resistance.
Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection: Implications of Antimicrobial Resistance on Clinical Outcomes and Therapy
Authors: Al-Hasan Majdi N.
Published: December 2020

The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of Gram-negative bloodstream infection (GN-BSI) is 84 [...]
Effect of Castor and Cashew Nut Shell Oils, Selenium and Vitamin E as Antioxidants on the Health and Meat Stability of Lambs Fed a High-Concentrate Diet
Authors: Bezerra Helena Viel Alves , Buarque Vicente Luiz Macedo , Silva Lucas Santos Bermudes , Leme Paulo Roberto Pedroso , Vidal Ana Maria Centola , Vaz Andréia Cristina Nakashima , Gallo Sarita Bonagurio , Silva Saulo Luz , Leme Paulo Roberto
Published: December 2020

Functional oils are known for their compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and are used in ruminant nutrition as alternatives to chemicals in order to improve performance. This study aimed to compare the influence of castor and cashew nut shell oils with pure organic selenium (hydroxy-selenomethionine) plus vitamin E, which are known and well-stablished antioxidants, on the performance traits, shelf life and microbial quality of the meat, physiological functions and oxidative stress control of lambs. Thirty-two Dorper x Santa Ines lambs (initial bodyweight of 22.42 ± 3.9 kg and 60 days of age) were submitted to a diet consisting of Cynodon dactylon hay (6%) and concentrate (94%). The animals were divided into four treatments: control, without additives; functional oils (FO), 0.50 g/kg DM of castor and cashew nut shell oils; hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E (SeE), 0.50 mg/kg of organic selenium and 100 IU/kg DM of vitamin E; FO plus SeE, at the same doses as the other groups. Blood samples were collected after 1, 30 and 53 days on feed. After 54 days, the lambs were slaughtered and rumen health, carcass and meat traits, shelf life, and microbiological quality were evaluated. There were no differences in performance or carcass traits. A higher muscle and serum Se concentration (p < 0.0001), lower lipid peroxidation in meat during display (p < 0.0001), and a lower count of psychrotrophic microorganisms on day 5 were observed in the SeE and FO plus SeE groups. The treatments reduced the counts of Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus spp. FO animals showed higher GSH-Px activity on day 30, while the peroxidase activity was higher in FO plus SeE animals (p = 0.035). SeE and FO plus SeE animals had lower serum ALT and AST levels. Functional oils improved the microbiological quality of meat. Hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E prevented oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and microbial spoilage.
Melatonin Reduces NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Increasing α7 nAChR-Mediated Autophagic Flux
Authors: Farré-Alins Víctor , Narros-Fernández Paloma , Palomino-Antolín Alejandra , Decouty-Pérez Céline , Lopez-Rodriguez Ana Belen , Parada Esther , Muñoz-Montero Alicia , Gómez-Rangel Vanessa , López-Muñoz Francisco , Ramos Eva , González-Rodríguez Águeda , Gandía Luis , Romero Alejandro , Egea Javier
Published: December 2020

Microglia controls the immune system response in the brain. Specifically, the activation and dysregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is responsible for the initiation of the inflammatory process through IL-1β and IL-18 release. In this work, we have focused on studying the effect of melatonin on the regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome through α7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) and its relationship with autophagy. For this purpose, we have used pharmacological and genetic approaches in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation models in both in vitro and in vivo models. In the BV2 cell line, LPS inhibited autophagy, which increased NLRP3 protein levels. However, melatonin promoted an increase in the autophagic flux. Treatment of glial cultures from wild-type (WT) mice with LPS followed by extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced the release of IL-1β, which was reversed by melatonin pretreatment. In cultures from α7 nAChR knock-out (KO) mice, melatonin did not reduce IL-1β release. Furthermore, melatonin decreased the expression of inflammasome components and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by LPS; co-incubation of melatonin with α-bungarotoxin (α-bgt) or luzindole abolished the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In vivo, melatonin reverted LPS-induced cognitive decline, reduced NLRP3 levels and promoted autophagic flux in the hippocampi of WT mice, whereas in α7 nAChR KO mice melatonin effect was not observed. These results suggest that melatonin may modulate the complex interplay between α7 nAChR and autophagy signaling.
Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress in Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Unifying Mechanism and Therapeutic Target
Authors: Kim Kyoungrae , Anderson Erik M. , Scali Salvatore T. , Ryan Terence E.
Published: December 2020

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by atherosclerosis in the lower extremities, which leads to a spectrum of life-altering symptomatology, including claudication, ischemic rest pain, and gangrene requiring limb amputation. Current treatments for PAD are focused primarily on re-establishing blood flow to the ischemic tissue, implying that blood flow is the decisive factor that determines whether or not the tissue survives. Unfortunately, failure rates of endovascular and revascularization procedures remain unacceptably high and numerous cell- and gene-based vascular therapies have failed to demonstrate efficacy in clinical trials. The low success of vascular-focused therapies implies that non-vascular tissues, such as skeletal muscle and oxidative stress, may substantially contribute to PAD pathobiology. Clues toward the importance of skeletal muscle in PAD pathobiology stem from clinical observations that muscle function is a strong predictor of mortality. Mitochondrial impairments in muscle have been documented in PAD patients, although its potential role in clinical pathology is incompletely understood. In this review, we discuss the underlying mechanisms causing mitochondrial dysfunction in ischemic skeletal muscle, including causal evidence in rodent studies, and highlight emerging mitochondrial-targeted therapies that have potential to improve PAD outcomes. Particularly, we will analyze literature data on reactive oxygen species production and potential counteracting endogenous and exogenous antioxidants.
Development of a Preliminary-Risk-Based Flood Management Approach to Address the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Risk under the Kaldor–Hicks Compensation Principle
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Farooq Rashid , van de Giesen Nick
Published: December 2020

All over the world, probability-based flood protection designs are the ones most commonly used. Different return-period design floods are standard criteria for designing structural measures. Recently, risk-based flood management has received a significant appraisal, but the fixed return period is still the de facto standard for flood management designs due to the absence of a robust framework for risk-based flood management. The objective of this paper is to discuss the economics and criteria of project appraisal, as well as to recommend the most suitable approach for a risk-based project feasibility evaluation. When it comes to flood management, decision-makers, who are generally politicians, have to prioritize the allocation of resources to different civic welfare projects. This research provides a connection between engineering, economics, and management. Taking account of socioeconomic and environmental constraints, several measures can be employed in a floodplain. The Kaldor–Hicks compensation principle provides the basis for a risk-based feasibility analysis. Floods should be managed in a way that reduces the damage from minimum investments to ensure maximum output from floodplain land use. Specifically, marginal losses due to flood damage and the expense of flood management must be minimized. This point of minimum expenses is known as the “optimum risk point” or “optimal state”. This optimal state can be estimated using a risk-based assessment. Internal rate of return, net present value, and benefit–cost ratio are indicators that describe the feasibility of a project. However, considering expected annual damage is strongly recommended for flood management to ensure a simultaneous envisage of the performance of land-use practices and flood measures. Flood management ratios can be used to describe the current ratio of expected annual damage to the expected annual damage at the optimal risk point. Further development of the approach may replace probability-based standards at the national level.
A Systematic Review of Virtual Reality Interfaces for Controlling and Interacting with Robots
Authors: Wonsick Murphy , Padir Taskin
Published: December 2020

There is a significant amount of synergy between virtual reality (VR) and the field of robotics. However, it has only been in approximately the past five years that commercial immersive VR devices have been available to developers. This new availability has led to a rapid increase in research using VR devices in the field of robotics, especially in the development of VR interfaces for operating robots. In this paper, we present a systematic review on VR interfaces for robot operation that utilize commercially available immersive VR devices. A total of 41 papers published between 2016–2020 were collected for review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Papers are discussed and categorized into five categories: (1) Visualization, which focuses on displaying data or information to operators; (2) Robot Control and Planning, which focuses on connecting human input or movement to robot movement; (3) Interaction, which focuses on the development of new interaction techniques and/or identifying best interaction practices; (4) Usability, which focuses on user experiences of VR interfaces; and (5) Infrastructure, which focuses on system architectures or software to support connecting VR and robots for interface development. Additionally, we provide future directions to continue development in VR interfaces for operating robots.
Microalgal Biomass Generation via Electroflotation: A Cost-Effective Dewatering Technology
Authors: Jeevanandam Jaison , Harun Mohd Razif , Lau Sie Yon , Sewu Divine D. , Danquah Michael K.
Published: December 2020

Microalgae are an excellent source of bioactive compounds for the production of a wide range of vital consumer products in the biofuel, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, and agricultural industries, in addition to huge upstream benefits relating to carbon dioxide biosequestration and wastewater treatment. However, energy-efficient, cost-effective, and scalable microalgal technologies for commercial-scale applications are limited, and this has significantly impacted the full-scale implementation of microalgal biosystems for bioproduct development, phycoremediation, and biorefinery applications. Microalgae culture dewatering continues to be a major challenge to large-scale biomass generation, and this is primarily due to the low cell densities of microalgal cultures and the small hydrodynamic size of microalgal cells. With such biophysical characteristics, energy-intensive solid–liquid separation processes such as centrifugation and filtration are generally used for continuous generation of biomass in large-scale settings, making dewatering a major contributor to the microalgae bioprocess economics. This article analyzes the potential of electroflotation as a cost-effective dewatering process that can be integrated into microalgae bioprocesses for continuous biomass production. Electroflotation hinges on the generation of fine bubbles at the surface of an electrode system to entrain microalgal particulates to the surface. A modification of electroflotation, which combines electrocoagulation to catalyze the coalescence of microalgae cells before gaseous entrainment, is also discussed. A technoeconomic appraisal of the prospects of electroflotation compared with other dewatering technologies is presented.
Sandwich Panels with Polymeric Foam Cores Exposed to Blast Loading: An Experimental and Numerical Investigation
Authors: Brekken Kristoffer Aune , Reyes Aase , Berstad Torodd , Langseth Magnus , Børvik Tore
Published: December 2020

Sandwich panels have proven to be excellent energy absorbents. Such panels may be used as a protective structure in, for example, façades subjected to explosions. In this study, the dynamic response of sandwich structures subjected to blast loading has been investigated both experimentally and numerically, utilizing a shock tube facility. Sandwich panels made of aluminium skins and a core of extruded polystyrene (XPS) with different densities were subjected to various blast load intensities. Low-velocity impact tests on XPS samples were also conducted for validation and calibration of a viscoplastic extension of the Deshpande-Fleck crushable foam model. The experimental results revealed a significant increase in blast load mitigation for sandwich panels compared to skins without a foam core, and that the back-skin deformation and the core compression correlated with the foam density. Numerical models of the shock tube tests were created using LS-DYNA, incorporating the new viscoplastic formulation of the foam material. The numerical models were able to capture the trends observed in the experimental tests, and good quantitative agreement between the experimental and predicted responses was in general obtained. One aim of this study is to provide high-precision experimental data, combined with a validated numerical modelling strategy, that can be used in simulation-based optimisation of sandwich panels exposed to blast loading.