bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the pulp of Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia on the bioactive and sensory properties of ice cream
Authors: Mauricio-Sandoval Enrique Alonso , Espinoza-Espinoza Luis Alfredo , Ruiz-Flores Luis Alberto , Valdiviezo-Marcelo Jaime , Moreno-Quispe Luz Arelis , Cornelio-Santiago Heber Peleg
Published: March 2023

Ice cream is a widely consumed product in the world. Unfortunately, its standard presentation is very poor in nutraceuticals; fruits such as Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia have an important bioactive potential, which can be used to enrich this type of product in phytochemicals. However, maintaining the health and sensory aspects of a functional ice cream is still under investigation. The influence of Mangifera indica and Myrciaria dubia pulp on the bioactive and sensory properties of ice cream was studied. Four ice cream treatments were prepared with Mangifera indica (15% and 20%) and Myrciaria dubia (5% and 10%). Ascorbic acid content (reduction of 2,6 dichlorophenolindophenol), total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu reaction) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical inhibition) were evaluated in addition to a sensory sorting test. The treatments with 10% Myrciaria dubia showed the highest ascorbic acid contents (83.46 and 71.27 mg/100g), total phenolic compounds (80.10 and 79.06 mgGAE/100g) and antioxidant capacity (61.0 and 64.05 mg ice/ml solvent) compared to the 5% treatment and the control; while the influence of Mangifera indica on these parameters was relatively minor. However, sensory evaluation showed that T3 (5% Myrciaria dubia; 20% Mangifera indica) were the most preferred, outperforming the control ice cream. It is evident that Myrciaria dubia stands out for its high ascorbic acid content, total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of the ice cream while Mangifera indica improves its sensory aspect, allowing an overall balance of sweet-acid taste pleasant to the consumer and maintaining its health properties.
Looking up and going down: Does sustainable adaptation to climate change ensure dietary diversity and food security among rural communities or vice versa?
Authors: Haq Shamsheer ul , Shahbaz Pomi , Abbas Azhar , Alhafi Alotaibi Bader , Nadeem Nasir , Nayak Roshan K.
Published: March 2023

Sustainable food systems are essential to ensure food security and mitigate climate change. Adaptation to climate change is part and parcel of sustainable food systems. Prior literature merely documented the climate-smart agricultural practices and explored the relationship with food security of adopters without taking the period of the strategies into account. Therefore, this study explored the factors affecting sustainable adaptation to climate change and created a further link between sustainable adaptation to climate change and the food security of rural households. The cross-sectional data were collected from 384 farmers through a face-to-face survey in Pakistan, selected by a multistage random sampling method. An ordered probit model and propensity score matching technique were used to analyze the data. Education, farm size, credit access, extension services, internet use for agriculture information, women's participation in farm-related decision making, and considering climate change a significant problem for agriculture were all positively influencing the sustainable adaptation to climate change at farms. The results indicated that farmers with a higher level of sustainable adaptation to climate change consumed more diversified diets and more daily calories as compared to those with a lower level of sustainable adaptation. Similarly, farmers with a lower level of sustainable adaptation to climate change had significantly lower food security than farmers with a high level of sustainable adaptation at their farms. This research indicated that farmers can gain food and nutrition benefits by becoming more sustainable adapters to climate change. This study has important policy implications for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG 2) and climate action (SDG 13) in developing countries.
Effect of pecto-intercostal fascial block on extubation time in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Lu , Jiang Luyang , Xin Ling , Jiang Bailin , Chen Yu , Feng Yi
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Epidural and paravertebral block reduce the extubation time in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia but are relatively contraindicated in heparinized patients due to the potential risk of hematoma. The Pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) is an alternative in such patients.

Methods

This is a single-center randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for elective open cardiac surgery were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive PIFB (30 ml 0.3% ropivacaine plus 2.5 mg dexamethasone on each side) or saline (30 ml normal saline on each side) after induction of general anesthesia. The primary outcome was extubation time after surgery. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption during surgery, postoperative pain scores, adverse events related to opioids, and length of stay in the hospital.

Results

A total of 50 patients (mean age: 61.8 years; 34 men) were randomized (25 in each group). The surgeries included sole coronary artery bypass grafting in 38 patients, sole valve surgery in three patients, and both procedures in the remaining nine patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 20 (40%) patients. The time to extubation was 9.4 ± 4.1 h in the PIFB group vs. 12.1 ± 4.6 h in the control group (p = 0.031). Opioid (sufentanil) consumption during surgery was 153.2 ± 48.3 and 199.4 ± 51.7 μg, respectively (p = 0.002). In comparison to the control group, the PIFB group had a lower pain score while coughing (1.45 ± 1.43 vs. 3.00 ± 1.71, p = 0.021) and a similar pain score at rest at 12 h after surgery. The two groups did not differ in the rate of adverse events.

Conclusions

PIFB decreased the time to extubation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Trial Registration

This trial is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052743) on November 4, 2021.
Characterization of in-barn heat processed swine mortalities
Authors: Ramirez Brett C. , Jeon Ryan , Stender Dave R. , Kohl Kris D. , Rademacher Chris J. , Brown Justin T. , Mogler Dwight
Published: March 2023

In-barn heat processing of mass swine mortalities to inactivate pathogens could facilitate more carcass disposal options and reduce the risk of pathogen spread in the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. A 12.2 × 12.2 × 2.4 m (W × L × H) heat processing room was created using a temporary wall inside a de-commissioned commercial gestation barn in northwest Iowa. Eighteen swine carcasses (six per group) divided into three weight groups (mean ± SD initial carcass weights: 31.8 ± 3.3, 102.7 ± 8.1, and 226.3 ± 27.6 kg) were randomly assigned a location inside the room. Three carcasses per weight group were placed directly on concrete slats and on a raised platform. One carcass per weight group and placement (n=6) was instrumented with five temperature sensors, inserted into the brain, pleura, peritoneal, ham, and bone marrow of the femur, and a sensor was attached directly to the skin surface. Environmental conditions (ambient and room) and carcass temperatures were collected at 15-min intervals. Carcasses were subjected to an average room temperature of 57.3 ± 1.2°C for 14 days. The average (±SD) reduction from initial weight for the carcasses on slats was 45.0 ± 4.70% (feeder), 33.0 ± 8.30% (market), and 34.0 ± 15.80% (sow), and for the carcasses on a raised platform, it was 39.0 ± 6.80% (feeder), 49.0 ± 11.30% (market), and 45.0 ± 6.70% (sow). There was a significant interaction between carcass placement (slats and raised) and carcass weight loss for the market weight group. When average carcass surface temperature was at 40.6, 43.3, and 46.1°C (data grouped for analysis), the average internal carcass temperature for most measurement locations was significantly different across carcass weight groups and between the carcasses on a raised platform and those on slats. This preliminary analysis of carcass weight loss, leachate production, and temperature variation in carcasses of different sizes can be used for planning and evaluating mass swine mortality management strategies.
Mandibularezekált páciens protetikai ellátása
Authors: Jász Bálint , König János , Déri Tamás , Kádár László , Hermann Péter , Körmendi Szandra
Published: March 2023

Hazánk európai szinten első helyen áll a szájüregi daganatok számát tekintve, melyek felismerése legtöbbször meglehetősen későn történik, így sokszor rezektív műtétekre kerül sor. Az ezek eredményeként létrejött állapot helyreállítása komoly feladat, ami csapatmunkát igényel. Ebben a teamben fontos szerepe van a fogorvosnak is. A helyreállító protetika a fogpótlástan egy kevéssé előtérben lévő és a hétköznapokban kevésbé tárgyalt ága, holott a páciensek száma hazánkban a fenti okok miatt európai viszonylatban magasnak mondható, ellátásuk pedig sok tervezést, találékonyságot, egyéni megoldást követel. Ebben a közleményben egy mandibula segment resektión átesett páciens rehabilitációján keresztül szeretnénk bemutatni az ellátás nehézségeit. Ilyen esetekben a műtét során eltávolított mandibula segment hiányából ered az összes kompenzálandó probléma, így ugyanis a rágóizmok tapadása megszűnik, ezáltal húzóerejük hatására malocclusio, nyitáskor pedig egy erős deflexió alakul ki. Ezek kompenzálása dupla fogsoros vagy vezetőfelszínnel rendelkező lemezes fogpótlással lehetséges. Az ellátáshoz ez utóbbit választottuk. A hosszas előkészítést követően, a kivitelezés alatti kisebb problémákat leküzdve, egy orvosi szempontból is megfelelő és a páciens számára is komfortos restaurációt tudtunk készíteni.
Endodontic Treatment of Compromised Teeth
Authors: Serota Kenneth
Published: March 2023

A pozitív endodontiai kezelési eredmények százalékos aránya jelentősen megnőtt az elmúlt néhány évtizedben az új diagnosztikai technológiák, anyagok, műszerek és mikrosebészeti protokollok megjelenésével. Egyre növekszik a kúpnyalábos komputertomográfia (CBCT) alkalmazása az endodonciai problémák diagnosztizálásában és/vagy kezelésében. Értéke a kezeletlen csatornák, krónikus gyökértörések, perforáló belső gyökérreszorpció azonosításában, a szekunder parodontális érintettséggel járó primer endodonciai elváltozások diagnosztizálásában, prognózisában és kezelésének tervezésében elvitathatatlan. Ez a cikk egy esetsorozat a sérült fogak kezeléséről hosszú távú pozitív eredménnyel, amelyet ezen innovációk előtt vagy a csúcsidején végeztek. Célja annak bemutatása, hogy a periapicalis és periradicularis patózis a bioterhelés megszüntetése és a gyökércsatorna-rendszer biomimetikus záródása technológiától függetlenül a legösszetettebb esetekben gyógyul.
Effect of Dietary Salicin Standardized Extract from Salix alba Bark on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Intestinal Microflora of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Heat Stress
Authors: Saracila Mihaela , Panaite Tatiana Dumitra , Predescu Nicoleta Corina , Untea Arabela Elena , Vlaicu Petru Alexandru
Published: March 2023

The implication of heat stress (HS) in the oxidative stress phenomenon and its related diseases in chickens has been widely reported. Salicin is a precursor for the synthesis of salicylic acid and aspirin obtained from the bark of Salix alba, with an undeniable anti-inflammatory effect. However, little attention has been paid to salicin’s antioxidant/oxidative stress-reducing effect compared to its well-known anti-inflammatory effect. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of dietary salicin standardized extract from Salix alba bark (SAB) on oxidative stress biomarkers and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens exposed to heat stress. In our study, chickens (14 days) were randomly allocated to three treatment groups (SAB0; SAB25; SAB50), each of which included five replicates with eight birds per replicate. Broilers were exposed to heat stress (32 ± 2 °C) between 14 and 42 days. The liver tissues were collected to analyze oxidative stress biomarkers (total antioxidant capacity, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase). The intestinal content was collected and measurements of the intestinal microbial population were performed (E. coli, staphylococci, lactobacilli). Results indicated that liver malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls activity decreased (p  < 0.05) in SAB50 treatment concomitantly with linearly increased total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione concentration. Dietary supplementation with SAB reduced (p < 0.05) the abundance of staphylococci and increased the number of lactobacilli. Taken together, SAB possesses an advantageous effect on liver oxidative status and the balance of intestinal microflora in broilers exposed to heat stress. These findings provide new insight into the potential use of salicin standardized extract from Salix alba bark for liver damage prevention and dysbiosis related to heat stress.
Current Status and Future Prospects of Head Rice Yield
Authors: Ali Fawad , Jighly Abdulqader , Joukhadar Reem , Niazi Nabeel Khan , Al-Misned Fahad
Published: March 2023

Global warming poses a serious threat to food security because of its impacts on thermosensitive food crop production. Rice is of paramount significance due to the world’s three-billion-population dependence on it as a staple food. It is well established that the high temperatures at day or night times during the grain-filling period can reduce rice grain yield, although the intriguing impact of high temperatures on head rice yields (HRY) is poorly discussed. This is because high and stable HRY is vital to meet the demand for rice grain, which is a staple food for many developing and developed nations. Hence, identifying the novel heat-tolerant rice germplasm with higher head rice yields may help mitigate a critical problem threatening global food security resulting from climate change. This review addresses the key factors, including pre-and-post-harvest scenarios related to overall reductions in the HRY and how grain molecular composition can play a significant role in determining head rice yields. Moreover, the underlying genetics of head rice is discussed as and possible mechanism to breach the complexity of HRY before identifying the key alleles and genomic regions related to the reduction in the HRY. Future research should focus on understanding the mechanisms of tolerating heat stress in rice by combining modern statistical, physiological, and molecular techniques to increase HRY. This may include high-throughput phenotyping techniques, mapping quantitative loci affecting HRY loss processes and genomic prediction using a broad wild and cultivated rice germplasm.
The Relationship between Financial Literacy and Income Structure of Rural Farm Households: Evidence from Jiangsu, China
Authors: Xu Huidan , Song Kun , Li Yichao , Ankrah Twumasi Martinson
Published: March 2023

Improving the income of rural residents is a requirement for poverty alleviation in all countries. Based on China Land Economic Survey (CLES) 2021 data, this paper investigates the homogenous and heterogeneous relations between financial literacy and the income structure of rural farm households. It finds that financial literacy is significantly related to farmers’ income levels, which still holds after the robustness testing. Regarding the structure of household income, financial literacy has a more profound association with farmers’ property income than wage income. Moreover, it has a relatively weak impact on transfer income with significance. Financial literacy has a more significant role in increasing the income of farmers with higher income levels than lower income levels. Moreover, it has different impacts on the income structure of different income groups. Therefore, this paper suggests that the government should co-operate with county-seated financial institutions to provide farmers with regular financial literacy education.
Yield and Quality of Processing Tomato as Improved by Biostimulants Based on Trichoderma sp. and Ascophyllum nodosum and Biodegradable Mulching Films
Authors: Di Mola Ida , Ottaiano Lucia , Cozzolino Eugenio , Marra Roberta , Vitale Stefania , Pironti Angela , Fiorentino Nunzio , Mori Mauro
Published: March 2023

Tomato is a great source of bioactive compounds, is important for human health, and is cultivated worldwide. However, the high inputs required for its cultivation must be sustainably managed in order to limit yield losses, thus obtaining high-quality and environmentally friendly production. In this perspective, we compared four biostimulant treatments, i.e., Ascophyllum nodosum extract—Bio; microbial biostimulant containing the micro-organism Trichoderma afroharzianum—Mic; a combination of both—M-B; not treated—Control) and three mulch treatments (biodegradable film Ecovio—ECO; biodegradable film MaterBi®—NOV; bare soil—BS) and evaluated their effects on yield and quality traits in processing tomato. Both biodegradable films elicited a 27.0% yield increase compared to plants grown on bare soil, and biostimulants determined a 23.7% increase over the Control, with the best performance recorded for M-B (+24.8%). Biodegradable MaterBi® film (NOV) was associated with higher total soluble solids (TSS) and firmness values (average of 4.9 °Brix and 1.30 kg cm−2, respectively), even if a significant effect of biostimulants was observed only for the second element. Carotenoid content was higher in non-treated plants grown on bare soil as well as hydrophilic antioxidant activity (AA), but in this case, no differences between biostimulant treatments were recorded. The lipophilic AA in NOV-treated plants was about six and four times higher than observed in BS and ECO treatments, respectively; NOV also caused a 38.7% increase in ascorbic acid content over the Control but was not different from ECO. All biostimulant treatments elicited a 30% increase in phenol content compared to Control plants. Our findings highlight that microbial biostimulants based on A. nodosum extract and T. afroharzianum (both applied singularly and combined) can be considered a sustainable tool for increasing yield and improve some quality traits of processing tomato; in addition, we also confirmed the capability of biodegradable mulches, in particular, MaterBi®, to enhance the agronomic performance of tomato.
Impact of Spatial Soil Variability on Rainfed Maize Yield in Kansas under a Changing Climate
Authors: Sen Rintu , Zambreski Zachary T. , Sharda Vaishali
Published: March 2023

As the climate changes, a growing demand exists to identify and manage spatial variation in crop yield to ensure global food security. This study assesses spatial soil variability and its impact on maize yield under a future climate in eastern Kansas’ top ten maize-producing counties. A cropping system model, CERES-Maize of Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) was calibrated using observed maize yield. To account for the spatial variability of soils, the gSSURGO soil database was used. The model was run for a baseline and future climate change scenarios under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) to assess the impact of future climate change on rainfed maize yield. The simulation results showed that maize yield was impacted by spatial soil variability, and that using spatially distributed soils produces a better simulation of yield as compared to using the most dominant soil in a county. The projected increased temperature and lower precipitation patterns during the maize growing season resulted in a higher yield loss. Climate change scenarios projected 28% and 45% higher yield loss under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 at the end of the century, respectively. The results indicate the uncertainties of growing maize in our study region under the changing climate, emphasizing the need for developing strategies to sustain maize production in the region.
Grain Yield Formation and Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency of Different Winter Wheat Varieties under Rainfed Conditions in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
Authors: Xu Xuexin , Liu Shuai , Meng Fangang , Zhang Xia , Zhao Jinke , Qu Wenkai , Shi Yan , Zhao Changxing
Published: March 2023

Winter wheat production is threatened by drought stress under rainfed conditions; thus, screening high- and stable-yielding wheat varieties to ensure the sustainable development of wheat production and food security in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP) is vital. In this research, four-year field experiments with twelve winter wheat varieties were conducted during the winter wheat-growing seasons between 2016 and 2020 in order to: (1) screen high- and stable-yielding winter wheat varieties under rainfed conditions, (2) investigate the mechanism of high-yielding wheat yield formation and the relationships among grain-yield formation traits, and (3) investigate the nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) of high-yielding wheat. The results showed that high-yield level wheat varieties (HL; Yannong999, Taimai1918 and Yannong173) obtained a higher average grain yield than medium-yield level wheat varieties (ML) and low-yield level wheat varieties (LL) by 10.1% and 29.0%, respectively. Compared with ML and LL, HL had a higher biomass at anthesis, higher spike dry matter at anthesis, higher spike partitioning index and fruiting efficiency (grain set per unit of spike dry weight at anthesis), and the highest grain number per square meter (24.2 × 103 m−2). Simultaneously, HL maintained a higher leaf area index (LAI) at anthesis and a higher net photosynthesis rate (Pn) of flag leaves after anthesis, which contributed to a higher post-anthesis biomass; HL also had higher maturity biomass, harvest index (HI), and biomass remobilization in comparison to ML and LL. The above results demonstrated that HL improved grain yield by increasing grain number per square meter, post-anthesis biomass, biomass remobilization, maturity biomass, and HI. Additionally, HL also obtained higher NUtE by improving grain yield. Therefore, screening winter wheat varieties with traits such as HL can help achieve high and stable yields and high NUtE under rainfed conditions.
Impacts of Environmental Factors and Nutrients Management on Tomato Grown under Controlled and Open Field Conditions
Authors: Amirahmadi Elnaz , Ghorbani Mohammad , Moudrý Jan , Konvalina Petr , Kopecký Marek
Published: March 2023

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is commonly cultivated in the greenhouse and open fields. Organic and conventional nutrients are two common inputs for crops. Since there are different methods for producing tomatoes, the four most important scenarios were selected, focusing on two types of nutrient management options (organic and conventional), and two types of cultivation methods (open field and greenhouse). The greenhouse organic (scenario one: GH-O), greenhouse conventional (scenario two: GH-C), open field organic (scenario three: OF-O), and open field conventional (scenario four: OF-C) were the four scenarios examined in this research. This study aims to investigate the environmental effects of greenhouse and open field tomatoes in the organic and conventional system of nutrients. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to assess the environmental impact of different scenarios. This paper uses midpoint attributional LCA to analyze environmental damages during tomato production. In this study, the environmental effect of scenarios was evaluated in three categories: human health, ecosystem quality, and resources. The system boundary starts from the cradle and ends at the farm gate with the harvest of tomatoes. One ton of tomatoes (mass unit) is considered the functional unit for this research. The ReCiPe 2016 model was used for the assessment of the environmental impact. The results of this research showed that scenario two (GH-C) had the highest yield among the other scenarios, and scenario one (GH-O) had the lowest environmental damage. According to the results of this study, the use of compost in the organic open-field scenario was not suggested to be a good option for tomato cultivation because of its negative environmental impact on human health, ecosystem quality, and resources.
Disc Diffusion and ComASP® Cefiderocol Microdilution Panel to Overcome the Challenge of Cefiderocol Susceptibility Testing in Clinical Laboratory Routine
Authors: Bianco Gabriele , Boattini Matteo , Comini Sara , Banche Giuliana , Cavallo Rossana , Costa Cristina
Published: March 2023

Cefiderocol susceptibility testing represents a major challenge for clinical microbiology. Although disc diffusion showed robustness to test cefiderocol susceptibility, large areas of technical uncertainty (ATU) are reported by current EUCAST breakpoints. Herein, we evaluated the in vitro activity of cefiderocol on a collection of 286 difficult-to-treat Gram-negative isolates using disc diffusion and ComASP® cefiderocol microdilution panel. Broth microdilution (BMD) in iron-depleted Mueller–Hinton broth was used as reference method. Following the EUCAST guidelines, disc diffusion allowed to determine cefiderocol susceptibility (susceptible or resistant) in 78.6%, 88.1%, 85.4% and 100% of Enterobacterales, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and S. maltophilia isolates tested, respectively. ComASP® cefiderocol panel showed 94% and 84% of overall categorical agreement and essential agreement. Only one very major error and two major errors were observed, for MIC values nearly close to the resistance breakpoint (2 mg/L). Overall, 20.5% of the carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that achieved ATU results by the disc diffusion method tested resistant by both ComASP® panel and reference BMD. Conversely, all VIM-producing P. aeruginosa showed MIC values in the susceptible range (≤2 mg/L). Lastly, only six out of seven (85.7%) A. baumannii isolates showing inhibition zones <17 mm tested resistant by both ComASP® panel and the reference BMD suggesting that inhibition zone <17 mm are not unequivocally suggestive of resistance. Our results, although obtained on a limited number of isolates, suggest that the combination of disc diffusion with a ComASP® cefiderocol microdilution panel could be a viable solution to overcome the challenge of cefiderocol susceptibility testing in routine microbiology laboratories.
Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma against Listeria monocytogenes Mixed-Culture Biofilms on Food-Contact Surfaces
Authors: Song Min Gyu , Roy Pantu Kumar , Jeon Eun Bi , Kim So Hee , Heu Min Soo , Lee Jung-Suck , Choi Jae-Suk , Kim Jin-Soo , Park Shin Young
Published: March 2023

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen. Various methods can be used to control biofilms formed by foodborne pathogens. Recently, the food industry has become interested in plasma, which can be used as a non-thermal technology with minimum changes to product quality. In this study, the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on L. monocytogenes mixed-culture biofilms formed on stainless steel (SS), latex hand glove (HG), and silicone rubber (SR) were investigated. DBD plasma effectuated reductions of 0.11–1.14, 0.28–1.27 and 0.37–1.55 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) demonstrated that DBD plasma cuts off intercellular contact and induces cell decomposition to prevent the development of biological membranes. It was confirmed that the formed biofilms collapsed and separated into individual bacteria. Our findings suggest that DBD plasma can be used as an alternative non-heating sterilization technology in the food industry to reduce biofilm formation on bacterial targets.
Prevalence and Predictors of Antibiotic Self-Medication in Sudan: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hussain Mohamed A. , Mohamed Ahmed O. , Abdelkarim Omalhassan A. , Yousef Bashir A. , Babikir Asma A. , Mirghani Maysoon M. , Mohamed Entsar A. , Osman Wadah , Mothana Ramzi A. , Elhag Rashid
Published: March 2023

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is one of the common factors which precipitate antimicrobial resistance, yet if effective implementations are amended it can be effortlessly controlled. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence and predictors of SMA in Sudan. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design conducted in all Sudan states between June and December 2021. Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was used. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Binary logistic regression was computed to investigate the possible factors which associated with SMA. Results: Out of 1492 participants surveyed, 71.3% utilize antibiotics as self-medication. The derived reasons for SMA were convenience (63.3%) and cost-saving (34.8%). Tonsillitis was the most common ailment behind SMA (55.5%). Log-binominal regression revealed that non-insured and low level of education participants were more likely to predict SMA. Regarding the practice, 40% changed the dose and/or antibiotics mainly owing to improvement (53.7%) or worsening of the condition (37.9%). The most commonly used antibiotic was amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (32.5%). Conclusions: Two out of three individuals in Sudan practice SMA mainly to manage upper respiratory tract ailments. Thus, the necessity of implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program throughout the country, as well as implementing effective legislation to prohibit dispensing antibiotics without prescription is urgently required.
Steady-State Piperacillin Concentrations in the Proximity of an Orthopedic Implant: A Microdialysis Porcine Study
Authors: Lilleøre Johanne Gade , Jørgensen Andrea René , Knudsen Martin Bruun , Hanberg Pelle , Öbrink-Hansen Kristina , Tøstesen Sara Kousgaard , Søballe Kjeld , Stilling Maiken , Bue Mats
Published: March 2023

Implant-associated osteomyelitis is one of the most feared complications following orthopedic surgery. Although the risk is low, sufficient antibiotic protection of the implant surface is important. The aim of this study was to assess steady-state piperacillin concentrations in the proximity of an orthopedic implant. Time above the minimal inhibitory concentration (fT>MIC) was evaluated for MIC of 8 (low target) and 16 μg/mL (high target). Six female pigs received an intravenous bolus infusion of 4 g/0.5 g piperacillin/tazobactam over 30 min every 6 h. Steady state was assumed achieved in the third dosing interval (12–18 h). Microdialysis catheters were placed in a cannulated screw in the proximal tibial cancellous bone, in cancellous bone next to the screw, and in cancellous bone on the contralateral tibia. Dialysates were collected from time 12 to 18 h and plasma samples were collected as reference. For the low piperacillin target (8 µg/mL), comparable mean fT>MIC across all the investigated compartments (mean range: 54–74%) was found. For the high target (16 µg/mL), fT>MIC was shorter inside the cannulated screw (mean: 16%) than in the cancellous bone next to the screw and plasma (mean range: 49–54%), and similar between the two cancellous bone compartments. To reach more aggressive piperacillin fT>MIC targets in relation to the implant, alternative dosing regimens such as continuous infusion may be considered.
Jellyfish Peptide as an Alternative Source of Antioxidant
Authors: Teng Lichao , Wang Xueqin , Yu Huahua , Li Rongfeng , Geng Hao , Xing Ronge , Liu Song , Li Pengcheng
Published: March 2023

Jellyfish is a valuable biological resource in marine ecosystems, and blooms been observed in numerous coastal regions. However, their utility is limited by their high water content. Recent research has focused on extracting antioxidants from marine sources. In this study, we obtained jellyfish peptides (JPHT-2) through enzymatic hydrolysis of lyophilized jellyfish powder under optimal conditions and measured their antioxidant activity. Our findings indicate that JPHT-2 possesses significant radical-scavenging activity and reducing power. At a concentration of 0.74 mg/mL, JPHT-2 exhibited a remarkable ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, with a rate of up to 50%. The EC50 values for scavenging superoxide anion and DPPH radical were 1.55 mg/mL and 1.99 mg/mL, respectively. At the cellular level, JPHT-2 was able to protect HaCaT cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage by increasing the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in cells. In conclusion, jellyfish peptides with low molecular weight can be easily obtained through hydrolysis with three enzymes and exhibit excellent antioxidant activity and safety. Jellyfish can serve as a promising source of antioxidants.
Plant-Based Antioxidants for Prevention and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Phytotherapeutic Potential of Laurus nobilis, Aronia melanocarpa, and Celastrol
Authors: Pilipović Kristina , Jurišić Grubešić Renata , Dolenec Petra , Kučić Natalia , Juretić Lea , Mršić-Pelčić Jasenka
Published: March 2023

With the progress of medicine, especially in the last century, life expectancy increased considerably. As a result, age-related diseases also increased, especially malignancies and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. The incidence and prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases steadily increased over the years, but despite efforts to uncover the pathophysiological processes behind these conditions, they remain elusive. Among the many theories, oxidative stress was proposed to be involved in neurodegenerative processes and to play an important role in the morbidity and progression of various neurodegenerative disorders. Accordingly, a number of studies discovered the potential of natural plant constituents to have significant antioxidant activity. This review focused on several plant-based antioxidants that showed promising results in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Laurus nobilis, Aronia melanocarpa, and celastrol, a chemical compound isolated from the root extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii and T. regelii, are all known to be rich in antioxidant polyphenols.
The Impact of a Very Short Abstinence Period on Assisted Reproductive Technique Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Barbagallo Federica , Cannarella Rossella , Crafa Andrea , La Vignera Sandro , Condorelli Rosita A. , Manna Claudio , Calogero Aldo E.
Published: March 2023

Background: Previous studies supported the beneficial effects of a very short abstinence period on sperm quality. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of a very short abstinence period (within 4 h) on assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcomes. Methods: A literature search was performed using the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. A meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). All eligible studies were selected following the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison/Comparator, Outcomes, Study type) model. The following pregnancy outcomes after ART were considered: fertilization rate (FR), implantation rate (IR), clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), and miscarriage rate (MR). This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023396429). Results: We evaluated 414 records for eligibility, and 7 studies were ultimately included. Our analysis showed that a very short abstinence period significantly increased the IR, CPR, and LBR after ART. No significant differences were found for the FR and MR. Conclusions: A second ejaculation collected very shortly after the first one could represent a simple strategy to improve the results of ART, especially in couples including patients with abnormal sperm parameters.
Biodegradable Active Packaging Enriched with Essential Oils for Enhancing the Shelf Life of Strawberries
Authors: Rusková Magdaléna , Opálková Šišková Alena , Mosnáčková Katarína , Gago Custódia , Guerreiro Adriana , Bučková Mária , Puškárová Andrea , Pangallo Domenico , Antunes Maria Dulce
Published: March 2023

The strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) is a nutrient-rich fruit with high content of health-beneficial compounds. However, strawberries are susceptible to mechanical damage and microbiological contamination which can cause changes in fruit sensory properties. These changes consequently effect on ripening and shelf life of the strawberry. In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have been famous for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and are promising ecological alternatives to chemical antimicrobial substances. Nowadays, active packaging is one of several techniques developed for slowing down the metabolic processes of fresh fruits. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the several polymers suitable for encapsulation EOs, whereas at the same time represent non-toxic, biodegradable, and compostable polymer derived from renewable resources. Suitable packaging prolongs the shelf life of fruit, keeps the products at the highest possible nutrition level, improves quality, and attracts customer attention. In the current study, we encapsulated EOs (lemongrass and oregano) into a PLA and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) packaging film and explored their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Moreover, biochemical and quality parameters for strawberry preservation and shelf-life extension were also assessed. Our tested active packaging film with EOs was proven to be useful for postharvest quality maintenance and shelf-life extension of strawberries, with PLA/PHB/ATBC + 5% lemongrass EO being slightly better than PLA/PHB/ATBC + 5% oregano EO.
Research on Selection and Matching of Truck-Shovel in Oversized Open-Pit Mines
Authors: Xu Hai , Liu Fuchun , Liao Jiangnan , Liu Taoying
Published: March 2023

The equipment investment is large and the annual operating cost is high in oversized open-pit mines. The rationality of the truck-shovel selection and matching has a more prominent influence on the economic benefit of mines. Therefore, we set up an optimization method of truck-shovel selection for oversized open-pit mines, and developed a software system of truck-shovel matching to solve the problem of truck-shovel selection and matching for oversized open-pit mines. First, based on the likelihood statistics method to decide the reasonable quantity range of shovels in the oversized open-pit mine, the selection and matching of shovels under different production scales are realized according to the production ability equation of shovels. Then, according to the principal of deciding the truck by shovel, and by deciding the shovel equipment, the truck-shovel efficiency model is constructed, the proper bucket-to-capacity ratio is obtained in the oversized open-pit mine, and the economic range of truck matching under different shovel specifications is determined by the bucket-to-ability ratio. Finally, using this method, the software system of truck-shovel matching is developed by using C# language, which can automatically calculate the quantity of equipment and the material consumption. The results show that the reasonable number of shovels for the oversized open-pit mine should be 4~7, and the bucket-to-capacity ratio should be 4~5:1. When the annual excavation quantity of the mine is 80~150 million tons, the 35~55 m3 shovels should be the mainstream specification. The research results were applied to a new oversized open-pit mine in Tibet, China, and the problem of equipment selection was solved.
Real-Time Obstacle Detection Method in the Driving Process of Driverless Rail Locomotives Based on DeblurGANv2 and Improved YOLOv4
Authors: Wang Wenshan , Wang Shuang , Zhao Yanqiu , Tong Jiale , Yang Tun , Li Deyong
Published: March 2023

In order to improve the detection accuracy of an algorithm in the complex environment of a coal mine, including low-illumination, motion-blur, occlusions, small-targets, and background-interference conditions; reduce the number of model parameters; improve the detection speed of the algorithm; and make it meet the real-time detection requirements of edge equipment, a real-time obstacle detection method in the driving of driverless rail locomotives based on DeblurGANv2 and improved YOLOv4 is proposed in this study. A blurred image was deblurred using DeblurGANv2. The improved design was based on YOLOv4, and the lightweight feature extraction network MobileNetv2 was used to replace the original CSPDarknet53 network to improve the detection speed of the algorithm. There was a high amount of background interference in the target detection of the coal mine scene. In order to strengthen the attention paid to the target, the SANet attention module was embedded in the Neck network to improve the detection accuracy of the algorithm under low-illumination, target-occlusion, small-target, and other conditions. To further improve the detection accuracy of the algorithm, the K-means++ algorithm was adopted to cluster prior frames, and the focal loss function was introduced to increase the weight loss of small-target samples. The experimental results show that the deblurring of the motion-blurred image can effectively improve the detection accuracy of obstacles and reduce missed detections. Compared with the original YOLOv4 algorithm, the improved YOLOv4 algorithm increases the detection speed by 65.85% to 68 FPS and the detection accuracy by 0.68% to 98.02%.
Impact of LGE-MRI in Arrhythmia Ablation
Authors: Garre Paz , Vázquez-Calvo Sara , Ferro Elisenda , Althoff Till , Roca-Luque Ivo
Published: March 2023

The use of late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) in arrhythmia ablation is increasing due to the capacity to detect, quantify and characterize cardiac fibrosis both in atrium and ventricle. Catheter ablation has become a standard treatment for arrhythmias, and LGE-MRI has demonstrated to be a useful tool to plan and guide ablation. Furthermore, recent studies have proved the usefulness in substrate analysis and postablation evaluation. This review will analyze the application and the current role of LGE-MRI to improve strategies for the two main cardiac arrhythmias: Atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Enterococcus spp.: A Retrospective Study in Hospitals of Southeast Romania
Authors: Iancu Alina-Viorica , Arbune Manuela , Zaharia Eliza-Andreea , Tutunaru Dana , Maftei Nicoleta-Maricica , Peptine Lucian-Daniel , Țocu George , Gurău Gabriela
Published: March 2023

Enterococci cause infections with various localizations, the most common being urinary infections. The purpose of the study was to identify the profile of the antimicrobial resistance of enterococci species (AMRE) isolated from patients hospitalized in three hospitals in Romania. We evaluated AMRE retrospectively (2019–2021) in various biological samples. The microbiological diagnosis was sustained by classical methods of bacteria culture and automatic identification. The sensitivity testing was performed by the Kirby–Bauer method, and the antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentration was tested by the automated Vitek system. We analyzed 86 strains of Enterococcus spp., identifying the following species: 47.7% E. faecalis, 47.7% E. faecium, 3.55% E. gallinarum, and 1% E. hirae. Most of the bacterial strains were isolated from urocultures (38.4%) and hemocultures (32.6%). Overall, the rate of vancomycin resistance was 5.8% for E. faecalis and 15.1%. for E. faecium. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains was found to be 100% in E. gallinarum, 75.6% in E. faecium, and 21.9% in E. faecalis. The results confirm the high level of AMRE, which creates difficulties with adequate antibiotic prescriptions. The continuous monitoring of AMRE is essential for updating the local diagnostic and treatment protocols for enterococcal infections.
Magneto-Acoustic Imaging in Biology
Authors: Roth Bradley J.
Published: March 2023

This review examines the use of magneto-acoustic methods to measure electrical conductivity. It focuses on two techniques developed in the last two decades: Magneto-Acoustic Tomography with Magnetic Induction (MAT-MI) and Magneto-Acousto-Electrical Tomography (MAET). These developments have the potential to change the way medical doctors image biological tissue.
Moment-Based Stochastic Analysis of a Bistable Energy Harvester with Matching Network
Authors: Song Kailing , Bonnin Michele , Traversa Fabio L. , Bonani Fabrizio
Published: March 2023

We discuss the analysis of a piezoelectric energy harvester for random mechanical vibrations, and we assess the performance improvement guaranteed by interposing a matching network between the transducer and the electrical load, in terms of average output power and power efficiency. The mathematical model describing the harvester is a system of stochastic differential equations, where both cases of linear and nonlinear devices are considered. In the linear case, the power delivered to the load is increased by a factor of about 20 with respect to the direct connection, with a similar increase in the conversion efficiency. In the nonlinear case, we use a moment closure technique to calculate the first- and second-order moments of the electro-mechanical variables in the weak noise limit. Moment calculation is used to determine the optimal values of the matching network components that maximize the performance. In the strong noise limit, the state equations are integrated numerically to determine the same performance metrics. Our analysis shows that a properly designed matching network improves the performance by a significant amount, especially at low noise intensity.
Definition of Bubbly Liquids Parameters for the Optimization of Their Nonlinear Effects on Ultrasound
Authors: Tejedor Sastre María Teresa , Vanhille Christian
Published: March 2023

The aim of this paper is to optimize the generation of frequencies obtained nonlinearly from the propagation of ultrasound in a bubbly liquid. A study is presented for which the number and size of the gas bubbles in the liquid are varied to determine the optimal medium, which is the one that allows the highest amplitude for these frequency components. We use a previously developed numerical software that tracks the nonlinear behavior of both ultrasound and bubble vibrations in time to carry out several simulations. We focus our attention on two one-dimensional configurations, a resonator of length set at a quarter of the wavelength with a free-wall condition and a cavity of length set at sixteen wavelengths with open-field condition. In each case, we analyze the generation of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th harmonics of the source frequency. Our results show that, in both cases, the use of higher source amplitudes and lower source frequencies is more useful to increase the harmonic amplitudes. Moreover, smaller bubbles are more adequate when the void fraction is kept constant for this purpose in the first configuration, whereas the modification of void fraction has no influence in the second configuration, for which given a void fraction value, bubble sizes whose ratio are f0/f≈5, f0/f≈7, and f0/f≈9 maximize the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th harmonics, respectively. These conclusions could be of interest for some applications.