bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive model of language deficit after removing glioma involving language areas under general anesthesia
Authors: Cui Meng , Guo Qingbao , Chi Yihong , Zhang Meng , Yang Hui , Gao Xin , Chen Hewen , Liu Yukun , Ma Xiaodong
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To establish a predictive model to predict the occurrence of language deficit for patients after surgery of glioma involving language areas (GILAs) under general anesthesia (GA).

Methods

Patients with GILAs were retrospectively collected in our center between January 2009 and December 2020. Clinical variables (age, sex, aphasia quotient [AQ], seizures and KPS), tumor-related variables (recurrent tumor or not, volume, language cortices invaded or not, shortest distance to language areas [SDLA], supplementary motor area or premotor area [SMA/PMA] involved or not and WHO grade) and intraoperative multimodal techniques (used or not) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis to identify their association with temporary or permanent language deficits (TLD/PLD). The predictive model was established according to the identified significant variables. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the accuracy of the predictive model.

Results

Among 530 patients with GILAs, 498 patients and 441 patients were eligible to assess TLD and PLD respectively. The multimodal group had the higher EOR and rate of GTR than conventional group. The incidence of PLD was 13.4% in multimodal group, which was much lower than that (27.6%, P<0.001) in conventional group. Three factors were associated with TLD, including SDLA (OR=0.85, P<0.001), preoperative AQ (OR=1.04, P<0.001) and multimodal techniques used (OR=0.41, P<0.001). Four factors were associated with PLD, including SDLA (OR=0.83, P=0.001), SMA/PMA involved (OR=3.04, P=0.007), preoperative AQ (OR=1.03, P=0.002) and multimodal techniques used (OR=0.35, P<0.001). The optimal shortest distance thresholds in detecting the occurrence of TLD/PLD were 1.5 and 4mm respectively. The optimal AQ thresholds in detecting the occurrence of TLD/PLD were 52 and 61 respectively. The cutoff values of the predictive probability for TLD/PLD were 23.7% and 16.1%. The area under ROC curve of predictive models for TLD and PLD were 0.70 (95%CI: 0.65-0.75) and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.66-0.79) respectively.

Conclusion

The use of multimodal techniques can reduce the risk of postoperative TLD/PLD after removing GILAs under general anesthesia. The established predictive model based on clinical variables can predict the probability of occurrence of TLD and PLD, and it had a moderate predictive accuracy.
Mapping the tumor microenvironment in bladder cancer and exploring the prognostic genes by single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Chen Zhibin , Chen Dongmao , Song Zhenfeng , Lv Yifan , Qi Defeng
Published: January 2023

Despite substantial advances in the treatment using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), the clinical expected therapeutic effect on bladder cancer has not been achieved, in which the tumor microenvironment (TME) occupies a notable position. In this research, 10X single-cell RNA-sequencing technology was conducted to analyze seven primary bladder tumor tissues (three non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and four muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)) and seven corresponding normal tissues adjacent to cancer; eight various cell types were identified in the bladder cancer (BC) TME, and a complete TME atlas in bladder cancer was made. Moreover, bladder cancer epithelial cells were further subdivided into 14 subgroups, indicating a high intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Additionally, the differences between NMIBC and MIBC were compared based on differential gene expression heatmap, copy number variation (CNV) distribution heatmap, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), protein–protein interaction (PPI) network mutual analysis, and the Kaplan–Meier survival prognosis analysis were used to identify six key genes associated with the prognosis of bladder cancer: VEGFA, ANXA1, HSP90B1, PSMA7, PRDX6, and PPP1CB. The dynamic change of the expression distribution of six genes on the pseudo-time axis was further verified by cell pseudo-time analysis.
Reliability and validity of the ankle inversion discrimination apparatus during walking in individuals with chronic ankle instability
Authors: Shao Xuerong , Kang Ming , Luan Lijiang , Deng Fawei , Adams Roger , Wu Tao , Han Jia
Published: January 2023

Purpose: 1) to explore the test-retest reliability of a new device for measuring ankle inversion proprioception during walking, i.e., the Ankle Inversion Discrimination Apparatus—Walking (AIDAW) in individuals with or without Chronic Ankle instability (CAI); 2) to assess its discriminant validity in differentiating individuals with or without CAI; 3) to investigate its convergent validity by examining its association with Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and the Y Balance Test (YBT).

Methods: For test-retest reliability, 15 participants with CAI and 15 non-CAI healthy controls were recruited. Participants completed the AIDAW test twice with a 7-day interval. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was obtained as the AIDAW score. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and MDC90 were calculated. For the validity study, another 20 individuals with CAI and 20 non-CAI healthy controls were involved. The AIDAW scores were analyzed by an independent samples t-test, and the optimal cutoff value of AIDAW scores to best distinguish individuals with CAI was calculated by Youden’s index. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between AIDAW proprioceptive scores and the CAIT and final YBT scores.

Results: For test-retest reliability, the ICC values for the CAI, non-CAI, and the whole group were 0.755, 0.757, and 0.761 respectively. The MDC90 of the CAI and non-CAI group was 0.04 and 0.05. Regarding discriminant validity, the AIDAW proprioceptive discrimination scores in the CAI group were significantly lower than those in the non-CAI group (p = 0.003); and the cutoff score for distinguishing CAI from the non-CAI participants was 0.759. For convergent validity, the AIDAW scores were significantly correlated with the functional balance YBT final scores (p = 0.001) and the CAIT scores (p = 0.009).

Conclusion: The AIDAW is a reliable and valid device for evaluating ankle inversion proprioception during walking in individuals with and without CAI. AIDAW can be used as a clinical assessment tool to discriminate CAI from non-CAI individuals and to monitor effects of rehabilitation. The AIDAW proprioceptive discrimination scores were significantly and positively correlated with YBT and CAIT scores.
Tipping the scales of understanding: An engineering approach to design and implement whole-body cardiac electrophysiology experimental models
Authors: Zenger Brian , Bergquist Jake A. , Busatto Anna , Good Wilson W. , Rupp Lindsay C. , Sharma Vikas , MacLeod Rob S.
Published: January 2023

The study of cardiac electrophysiology is built on experimental models that span all scales, from ion channels to whole-body preparations. Novel discoveries made at each scale have contributed to our fundamental understanding of human cardiac electrophysiology, which informs clinicians as they detect, diagnose, and treat complex cardiac pathologies. This expert review describes an engineering approach to developing experimental models that is applicable across scales. The review also outlines how we applied the approach to create a set of multiscale whole-body experimental models of cardiac electrophysiology, models that are driving new insights into the response of the myocardium to acute ischemia. Specifically, we propose that researchers must address three critical requirements to develop an effective experimental model: 1) how the experimental model replicates and maintains human physiological conditions, 2) how the interventions possible with the experimental model capture human pathophysiology, and 3) what signals need to be measured, at which levels of resolution and fidelity, and what are the resulting requirements of the measurement system and the access to the organs of interest. We will discuss these requirements in the context of two examples of whole-body experimental models, a closed chest in situ model of cardiac ischemia and an isolated-heart, torso-tank preparation, both of which we have developed over decades and used to gather valuable insights from hundreds of experiments.
Do betaine lipids replace phosphatidylcholine as fatty acid editing hubs in microalgae?
Authors: Hoffmann Danielle Yvonne , Shachar-Hill Yair
Published: January 2023

Acyl editing refers to a deacylation and reacylation cycle on a lipid, which allows for fatty acid desaturation and modification prior to being removed and incorporated into other pools. Acyl editing is an important determinant of glycerolipid synthesis and has been well-characterized in land plants, thus this review begins with an overview of acyl editing in plants. Much less is known about acyl editing in algae, including the extent to which acyl editing impacts lipid synthesis and on which lipid substrate(s) it occurs. This review compares what is known about acyl editing on its major hub phosphatidylcholine (PC) in land plants with the evidence for acyl editing of betaine lipids such as diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine (DGTS), the structural analog that replaces PC in several species of microalgae. In land plants, PC is also known to be a major source of fatty acids and diacylglycerol (DAG) for synthesis of the neutral lipid triacylglycerol (TAG). We review the evidence that DGTS contributes substantially to TAG accumulation in algae as a source of fatty acids, but not as a precursor to DAG. We conclude with evidence of acyl editing on other membrane lipid substrates in plants and algae apart from PC or DGTS, and discuss future analyses to elucidate the role of DGTS and other betaine lipids in acyl editing in microalgae.
Light spectra of biophilic LED-sourced system modify essential oils composition and plant morphology of Mentha piperita L. and Ocimum basilicum L
Authors: Beatrice Peter , Saviano Gabriella , Reguzzoni Marcella , Divino Fabio , Fantasma Francesca , Chiatante Donato , Montagnoli Antonio
Published: January 2023

Investigating morphological and molecular mechanisms that plants adopt in response to artificial biophilic lighting is crucial for implementing biophilic approaches in indoor environments. Also, studying the essential oils (EOs) composition in aromatic plants can help unveil the light influence on plant metabolism and open new investigative routes devoted to producing valuable molecules for human health and commercial applications. We assessed the growth performance and the EOs composition of Mentha x piperita and Ocimum basilicum grown under an innovative artificial biophilic lighting system (CoeLux®), that enables the simulation of natural sunlight with a realistic sun perception, and compared it to high-pressure sodium lamps (control) We found that plants grown under the CoeLux® light type experienced a general suppression of both above and belowground biomass, a high leaf area, and a lower leaf thickness, which might be related to the shade avoidance syndrome. The secondary metabolites composition in the plants’ essential oils was scarcely affected by both light intensity and spectral composition of the CoeLux® light type, as similarities above 80% were observed with respect to the control light treatments and within both plant species. The major differences were detected with respect to the EOs extracted from plants grown under natural sunlight (52% similarity in M. piperita and 75% in O. basilicum). Overall, it can be speculated that the growth of these two aromatic plants under the CoeLux® lighting systems is a feasible strategy to improve biophilic approaches in closed environments that include both plants and artificial sunlight. Among the two plant species analyzed, O. basilicum showed an overall better performance in terms of both morphological traits and essential oil composition. To increase biomass production and enhance the EOs quality (e.g., higher menthol concentrations), further studies should focus on technical solutions to raise the light intensity irradiating plants during their growth under the CoeLux® lighting systems.
The integrated effects of leader–member exchange social comparison on job performance and OCB in the Chinese context
Authors: Yang Chunjiang , Chen Yashuo , Chen Aobo , Ahmed Syed Jameel
Published: January 2023

Although it has been long recognized that leader–member exchange social comparison (LMXSC) has critical implications for employee productivity, little attention has been given to systematically exploring the effects of LMXSC on employee performance in a specific cultural context. Integrating social exchange theory with social comparison theory, we examine a dual process model to explain how and when LMXSC affects employee performance outcomes in the Chinese context. Results based on multiphase, multisource data from China revealed that the mediating roles of employees’ perceived obligation toward the leader and self-esteem are examined simultaneously in the relationship between LMXSC and job performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Additionally, guanxi strengthens the connection between LMXSC and perceived obligation, while Zhongyong thinking erodes the connection between LMXSC and self-esteem. Taken together, these findings enhance our understanding of LMXSC in China.
Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
Authors: Nacasch Nitsa , Avni Chen , Toren Paz
Published: January 2023

Targeting the endocannabinoid system may have a role in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of cannabis on symptoms of PTSD, and more research is needed to ascertain cannabis’ effectiveness. In this retrospective naturalistic study, we followed 14 relatively mature (32-68 years of age), treatment-resistant, chronic combat post-traumatic patients who remained severely symptomatic despite treatment with many lines of conventional treatment prior to receiving medicinal cannabis. Our findings show that total sleep score, subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration significantly improved (p < 0.01). Total PTSD symptom score and its subdomains (intrusiveness, avoidance, and alertness) showed improvement (p < 0.05). However, there was no improvement in the frequency of nightmares (p = 0.27). The mean follow-up time was 1.1 ± 0.8 years (range of 0.5 to 3 years).
The recovery of homicidal people diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder—An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Kovács Asztrik , Ladányi Bence , Farkas Noémi , Stempel Laura , Kiss Dániel , Bittermann Évi , Rácz József
Published: January 2023

Objective

Identity recovery in people diagnosed with schizophrenia who have committed homicide poses several difficulties. Premorbid mental illnesses, the experience of psychosis, and the absence of cohesive ego functions may result in the inability to integrate the homicidal act into self-identity. Problems with integration increase the risk of recidivism and further mental problems. The aim of the present research was to explore how homicidal people diagnosed with schizophrenia make sense of their actions, and how they identify with the homicide.

Method

Six semi-structured interviews were conducted at a long-term psychiatric home with people who had committed homicide and who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), an idiographic method rooted in phenomenologist traditions that focuses on how participants experience and make sense of events in their lives, and how those events affect their identity and sense of self.

Results

Three personal experiential themes were established as a result of the analysis: (1) homicide and responsibility; (2) homicide and self; and (3) control over threats to self and self-evaluation. (1) Homicide was often reported to have been committed in a non-conscious, delusional state that may have led to the loss of self-determination. (2) Our interviewees struggled to integrate their acts into their identities. They distanced themselves from the crime or held multiple, parallel interpretations of the act. (3) Recovering patients experienced the constant threat of entering into a delusional reality and losing control. The importance of control was central to their self-evaluation. The patients appeared to distance themselves from the homicidal act and to regard their delusional selves as a threat to their lives.

Conclusion

Therapy aimed at bolstering self-control, supporting the integration of the fragmented self, and raising awareness of the connections between delusional reality and standard, intersubjective reality may be helpful in reducing the instability of the self. Therapy aimed at processing complex grief and loss of family is also needed.
Doctor-patient bilateral matching considering diagnosis and treatment perception in the absence of public health resources
Authors: Zhu Wangqi , He Jitao , Guo Hangxin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The public health crisis is one of the main threats affecting the sustainable development of the economy and strengthening the rational allocation of medical resources is essential for building a strong public health system. Therefore, the study of the doctor-patient bilateral matching has important theoretical and practical significance and perception of diagnosis and treatment is taken as a key consideration in the research.

Methods

Based on the current situation of the medical industry and the main contradiction between supply and demand of medical services, an evaluation index of doctor-patient satisfaction is constructed in this paper. Then, based on the different forms of evaluation, calculate the doctor's satisfaction and patient's satisfaction respectively. Taking maximizing the overall satisfaction of doctors and patients, maximizing the number of patients and minimizing the workload difference between doctors as the decision-making objectives, considering the upper limit of doctors' working hours as the constraint condition, a multi-objective decision-making model is constructed and solved by NSGA-II algorithm to realize the matching between doctors and patients.

Conclusion

Finally, through the comparison with NSGA-III algorithm in three dimensions: the degree of convergence to the reference set, the propagation range of the solution and the running time of the algorithm, it is proved that NSGA-II algorithm has good performance in solving the matching problem of medical service supply and demand.
A Critical Appraisal of the Chronic Pain Rate After Inguinal Hernia Repair
Authors: Gram-Hanssen Anders , Öberg Stina , Rosenberg Jacob
Published: January 2023

Purpose: To critically appraise highly cited studies reporting on the rate of chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: Google Scholar was searched on 23 May 2022. We only included publications with more than 10 citations per year since publication and more than 100 citations in total. Both reports of original data and systematic reviews were included. Risk of bias and quality of the included studies were assessed with either the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Prevalence Studies or the AMSTAR 2 depending on study design.

Results: Twenty studies were included and evaluated. The rate of chronic postoperative inguinal pain of any degree ranged from 10%–63%, and the rate of moderate-to-severe pain ranged from 1%–18%. All studies reported the rate of pain of any degree, and most studies reported the rate of moderate-to-severe pain influencing daily activities. Studies used different temporal definitions of chronic pain, but most studies defined it as pain persisting either three or six months postoperatively. Ten studies used unvalidated questionnaires or significantly modified versions of validated questionnaires. Eleven studies primarily included patients receiving open repair. Included studies had median 21 citations per year (range 10–39) and median 387 citations in total (range 127–788).

Conclusion: The rates of chronic postoperative inguinal pain reported in the included highly cited studies are possibly inaccurate, excessive, and outdated. New prospective studies based on uniform definitions and standards of measurement are warranted to better assess a contemporary chronic pain rate after inguinal hernia repair.
Improved Gradient Descent Iterations for Solving Systems of Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Stanimirović Predrag S. , Shaini Bilall I. , Sabi’u Jamilu , Shah Abdullah , Petrović Milena J. , Ivanov Branislav , Cao Xinwei , Stupina Alena , Li Shuai
Published: January 2023

This research proposes and investigates some improvements in gradient descent iterations that can be applied for solving system of nonlinear equations (SNE). In the available literature, such methods are termed improved gradient descent methods. We use verified advantages of various accelerated double direction and double step size gradient methods in solving single scalar equations. Our strategy is to control the speed of the convergence of gradient methods through the step size value defined using more parameters. As a result, efficient minimization schemes for solving SNE are introduced. Linear global convergence of the proposed iterative method is confirmed by theoretical analysis under standard assumptions. Numerical experiments confirm the significant computational efficiency of proposed methods compared to traditional gradient descent methods for solving SNE.
Cooperative Heterogeneous Robots for Autonomous Insects Trap Monitoring System in a Precision Agriculture Scenario
Authors: Berger Guido S. , Teixeira Marco , Cantieri Alvaro , Lima José , Pereira Ana I. , Valente António , Castro Gabriel G. R. de , Pinto Milena F.
Published: January 2023

The recent advances in precision agriculture are due to the emergence of modern robotics systems. For instance, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) give new possibilities that advance the solution of existing problems in this area in many different aspects. The reason is due to these platforms’ ability to perform activities at varying levels of complexity. Therefore, this research presents a multiple-cooperative robot solution for UAS and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) systems for their joint inspection of olive grove inspect traps. This work evaluated the UAS and UGV vision-based navigation based on a yellow fly trap fixed in the trees to provide visual position data using the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithms. The experimental setup evaluated the fuzzy control algorithm applied to the UAS to make it reach the trap efficiently. Experimental tests were conducted in a realistic simulation environment using a robot operating system (ROS) and CoppeliaSim platforms to verify the methodology’s performance, and all tests considered specific real-world environmental conditions. A search and landing algorithm based on augmented reality tag (AR-Tag) visual processing was evaluated to allow for the return and landing of the UAS to the UGV base. The outcomes obtained in this work demonstrate the robustness and feasibility of the multiple-cooperative robot architecture for UGVs and UASs applied in the olive inspection scenario.
Long-Read cDNA Sequencing Revealed Novel Expressed Genes and Dynamic Transcriptome Landscape of Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) Seed at Different Developing Stages
Authors: Polkhovskaya Ekaterina , Bolotina Anna , Merkulov Pavel , Dudnikov Maxim , Soloviev Alexander , Kirov Ilya
Published: January 2023

Developing seed is a unique stage of plant development with highly dynamic changes in transcriptome. Here, we aimed to detect the novel previously unannotated, genes of the triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack, AABBRR genome constitution) genome that are expressed during different stages and at different parts of the developing seed. For this, we carried out the Oxford Nanopore sequencing of cDNA obtained for middle (15 days post-anthesis, dpa) and late (20 dpa) stages of seed development. The obtained data together with our previous direct RNA sequencing of early stage (10 dpa) of seed development revealed 39,914 expressed genes including 7128 (17.6%) genes that were not previously annotated in A, B, and R genomes. The bioinformatic analysis showed that the identified genes belonged to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), protein-coding RNAs, and TE-derived RNAs. The gene set analysis revealed the transcriptome dynamics during seed development with distinct patterns of over-represented gene functions in early and middle/late stages. We performed analysis of the lncRNA genes polymorphism and showed that the genes of some of the tested lncRNAs are indeed polymorphic in the triticale collection. Altogether, our results provide information on thousands of novel loci expressed during seed development that can be used as new targets for GWAS analysis, the marker-assisted breeding of triticale, and functional elucidation.
Quality of Silage with Different Mixtures of Melon Biomass with Urea as an Additive
Authors: Nascimento Romilda Rodrigues do , Edvan Ricardo Loiola , Nascimento Keuven dos Santos , Barros Lucas de Sousa , Bezerra Leilson Rocha , Miranda Rafael de Souza , Perazzo Alexandre Fernandes , Araújo Marcos Jácome de
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the silage produced with different mixtures of melon biomass with urea used as an additive. It adopted a completely randomized design in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with five replications. The first factor was made up of five mixtures on an as-fed basis (AF) of the melon, including plant (branch and leaf) and fruit (culled melon, after harvest), where the amount of fruit varied as follows: 0% fruit, 5% fruit, 10% fruit, 20% fruit, and 100% fruit. The second factor was represented by the use of urea in the silage as follows: 0% and 1.5% urea AF. The highest silage dry matter (DM) content (200 g/kg DM) was observed in the silage with 20% fruit. Regarding the crude protein, the highest content (69.8 g/kg DM) was found in the silage with the addition of urea. The highest loss through the gas (GAS) was observed in the silages with 0% and 100% fruit (0.6 and 1.13%), with no addition of urea. The silages made with melon biomass and the addition of 20% and 100% fruit showed differences regarding the fermentative pattern, chemical composition, and aerobic stability, thus being the most indicated mixtures for silage making.
Cultivation in an Alpine Region: Implications for Soil Bacteria
Authors: Huang Xiaomin , Shi Jingtao , Sun Wenyuan , Sun Chengming , Shen Xinping
Published: January 2023

Land use change is a major predictor for variations in soil bacteria, which plays a key role in maintaining soil multifunctionality and function of terrestrial ecosystems. The effects of land use change on the soil bacterial community in an alpine region at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) were still unclear. In this study, we investigated soil bacterial profiles under grazed grassland, enclosed grassland, continuous cropland, rotation cropland and abandoned cropland in the Tianzhu alpine agro-pastoral ecotone. Our results showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most three abundant phyla regardless of land use change, accounting for over 60% of the total. Cultivation declined soil bacterial alpha diversity without recovering even after abandonment. Over 73% variations in bacterial diversity can be explained by soil physical and chemical properties. In addition, soil moisture could be the main driver for the difference in bacterial structure between croplands and others. Soil bulk density, pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen contents seem to be the key factors determining the difference in bacterial structure between abandoned croplands and others. Our results have implications for comprehensive understanding about the responses of the soil bacterial community to land use change in alpine regions.
Anthropogenic Contribution and Migration of Soil Heavy Metals in the Vicinity of Typical Highways
Authors: Yang Jinling , Zhao Yuguo , Ruan Xinling , Zhang Ganlin
Published: January 2023

To reveal the secondary anthropogenic contribution and accumulation rate of heavy metals in highway-side soils, we studied soil heavy metals on three representative highways in Southeast China, with different traffic intensities, service years, land use patterns and distances from roads, with high-resolution sampling of soil profiles. Concentrations of soil Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were measured. The comparison of concentrations in surface soils with original values and their vertical distributions shows that soils within 150 m of the highway side are contaminated by heavy metals, with surface accumulation and possible movement down the profiles. The transferring depth of heavy metals was 10–30 cm. The contribution ratios of heavy metals were 1.0–30.5% in the surface at 30 cm, with the sequence of Cd >> Cu > Zn > Pb. The accumulation rates were 1.27–2.03 kg Cu ha−1 y−1, 2.44–5.27 kg Zn ha−1 y−1, 0.71–1.40 kg Pb ha−1 y−1 and 0.010–0.018 kg Cd ha−1 y−1 in soils within 50 m range. Furthermore, the accumulation of these metals varied with the traffic intensity, service years and land use patterns. Soils under forest have less heavy metal accumulation, which suggests a protective forest to set beside highways at a distance of at least 50 m to prevent soils from being contaminated.
Acoustic Monitoring of Black-Tufted Marmosets in a Tropical Forest Disturbed by Mining Noise
Authors: Bittencourt Esther , Vasconcellos Angélica da Silva , Sousa-Lima Renata S. , Young Robert John , Duarte Marina Henriques Lage
Published: January 2023

All habitats have noise, but anthropogenic sounds often differ from natural sounds in terms of frequency, duration and intensity, and therefore may disrupt animal vocal communication. This study aimed to investigate whether vocalizations emitted by black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were affected by the noise produced by mining activity. Through passive acoustic monitoring, we compared the noise levels and acoustic parameters of the contact calls of marmosets living in two study areas (with two sampling points within each area)—one near and one far from an opencast mine in Brazil. The near area had higher anthropogenic background noise levels and the marmosets showed greater calling activity compared to the far area. Calls in the near area had significantly lower minimum, maximum and peak frequencies and higher average power density and bandwidth than those in the far area. Our results indicate that the mining noise affected marmoset vocal communication and may be causing the animals to adjust their acoustic communication patterns to increase the efficiency of signal propagation. Given that vocalizations are an important part of social interactions in this species, concerns arise about the potential negative impact of mining noise on marmosets exposed to this human activity.
Analysis of Potential Genes and Economic Parameters Associated with Growth and Heat Tolerance in Sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Ibrahim Samer , Al-Sharif Mona , Younis Fawzy , Ateya Ahmed , Abdo Mohamed , Fericean Liana
Published: January 2023

This study explored the potential genes and economic factors that might be associated with growth and heat tolerance in two sheep breeds. Data on growth performance from the third month to six months of age were obtained based on records. In comparison to Aboudeleik lambs, Barki lambs developed considerably greater starting body weight, final body weight, final body weight gain, daily weight gain, and percentage increase in BW/month. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found between lambs of the two breeds using PCR-DNA sequencing of CAST, LEP, MYLK4, MEF2B, STAT5A, TRPV1, HSP90AB1, HSPB6, HSF1, ST1P1, and ATP1A1 genes. Lambs from each breed were divided into groups based on detected SNPs in genes related to growth. The least squares means of the differentiated groups revealed a significant correlation of detected SNPs with growth and heat tolerance attributes (p ≤ 0.05). Barki lambs elicited greater total variable costs, total costs, total return, and net return values. The Barki sheep provided the best economic efficiency value when comparing the percentage difference between net profit and economic efficiency. Together with economic considerations, SNPs found may be used as proxies for marker-assisted selection of the best breed of sheep for traits related to growth and heat tolerance.
Flehmen, Osteophagia, and Other Behaviors of Giraffes (Giraffa giraffa angolensis): Vomeronasal Organ Adaptation
Authors: Hart Lynette A. , Hart Benjamin L.
Published: January 2023

The size of adult male giraffes (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) far exceeds the size of the females. At the Namutoni waterholes in Etosha National Park, bulls were seen many times each day screening adult females for their pending sexual receptivity by provoking them to urinate; this mainly involved sniffing their genitalia. If the female accedes to the male’s invitation, she widens her hindleg stance, braces her body, and then urinates, usually for at least five seconds. The male places his muzzle and tongue in the urine stream, and then performs flehmen, often raising his head high in the air. Males never investigated urine on the ground. The bilateral papillae on the giraffe’s hard palate connect with the nasopalatine ducts, which enter the bilateral vomeronasal organ (VNO). Unlike many mammals, the giraffe’s VNO lacks a prominent connection to the nasal cavity and its connections to the oral cavity are primarily via the incisive papillae. Most days, some giraffes were observed searching for bones for extended periods, chewing them, and sometimes being troubled by a bone stuck in their mouth. A giraffe killed by lions was frequented for several days by a procession of giraffes investigating the carcass. A very dark-colored bull giraffe emitted loud pulsed growls that drove off most of the surrounding giraffes.
Regulatory Landscape of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phosphoethanolamine Transferase Gene eptA in the Context of Colistin Resistance
Authors: Cervoni Matteo , Sposato Davide , Lo Sciuto Alessandra , Imperi Francesco
Published: January 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has the genetic potential to acquire colistin resistance through the modification of lipopolysaccharide by the addition of 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (L-Ara4N) or phosphoethanolamine (PEtN), mediated by the arn operon or the eptA gene, respectively. However, in vitro evolution experiments and genetic analysis of clinical isolates indicate that lipopolysaccharide modification with L-Ara4N is invariably preferred over PEtN addition as the colistin resistance mechanism in this bacterium. Since little is known about eptA regulation in P. aeruginosa, we generated luminescent derivatives of the reference strain P. aeruginosa PAO1 to monitor arn and eptA promoter activity. We performed transposon mutagenesis assays to compare the likelihood of acquiring mutations leading to arn or eptA induction and to identify eptA regulators. The analysis revealed that eptA was slightly induced under certain stress conditions, such as arginine or biotin depletion and accumulation of the signal molecule diadenosine tetraphosphate, but the induction did not confer colistin resistance. Moreover, we demonstrated that spontaneous mutations leading to colistin resistance invariably triggered arn rather than eptA expression, and that eptA was not induced in resistant mutants upon colistin exposure. Overall, these results suggest that the contribution of eptA to colistin resistance in P. aeruginosa may be limited by regulatory restraints.
Antimicrobial Polymeric Surfaces Using Embedded Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Sharma Pooja , Fialho Luisa , Figueiredo Nuno Miguel , Serra Ricardo , Cavaleiro Albano , Carvalho Sandra
Published: January 2023

Pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) can survive up to a few days on surfaces and can propagate through surfaces in high percentages, and thus, these surfaces turn into a primary source of pathogen transmission. To prevent and mitigate pathogen transmission, antimicrobial surfaces seem to be a promising option that can be prepared by using resilient, mass-produced polymers with partly embedded antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled size. In the present study, a 6 nm thick Ag nanolayer was sputter deposited on polycarbonate (PC) substrate and then thermally annealed, in a first step at 120 °C (temperature below Tg) for two hours, for promoting NP diffusion and growth, and in a second step at 180 °C (temperature above Tg) for 22 h, for promoting thermal embedding of the NPs into the polymer surface. The variation in the height of NPs on the polymer surface with thermal annealing confirms the embedding of NPs. It was shown that the incorporation of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) had a great impact on the antibacterial capacity, as the Ag NP-embedded polymer surface presented an inhibition effect on the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The tested surface-engineering process of incorporating antimicrobial Ag NPs in a polymer surface is both cost-effective and highly scalable.
Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms Are Planktonic Cell Factories despite Peracetic Acid Exposure under Continuous Flow Conditions
Authors: Klopper Kyle B. , Bester Elanna , Wolfaardt Gideon M.
Published: January 2023

Listeria monocytogenes biofilms are ubiquitous in the food-processing environment, where they frequently show resistance against treatment with disinfectants such as peracetic acid (PAA) due to sub-lethal damage resulting in biofilm persistence or the formation of secondary biofilms. L. monocytogenes serovar ½a EGD-e biofilms were cultivated under continuous flow conditions at 10 °C, 22 °C, and 37 °C and exposed to industrially relevant PAA concentrations. The effect of PAA on biofilm metabolic activity and biomass was monitored in real-time using the CEMS-BioSpec system, in addition to daily measurement of biofilm-derived planktonic cell production. Biofilm-derived planktonic cell yields proved to be consistent with high yields during biofilm establishment (≥106 CFU.mL−1). The exposure of biofilms to the minimum inhibitory PAA concentration (0.16%) resulted in only a brief disruption in whole-biofilm metabolic activity and biofilm biomass accumulation. The recovered biofilm accumulated more biomass and greater activity, but cell yields remained similar. Increasing concentrations of PAA (0.50%, 1.5%, and 4.0%) had a longer-lasting inhibitory effect. Only the maximum dose resulted in a lasting inhibition of biofilm activity and biomass–a factor that needs due consideration in view of dilution in industrial settings. Better disinfection monitoring tools and protocols are required to adequately address the problem of Listeria biofilms in the food-processing environment, and more emphasis should be placed on biofilms serving as a “factory” for cell proliferation rather than only a survival mechanism.
Stability of Important Veterinary Antibiotics Amoxicillin, Sulfadiazine, and Trimethoprim in Practice-Relevant Model Solutions
Authors: Hahne Friederike , Müller Clarissa , Yalman Suzan , Meißner Jessica , Kietzmann Manfred , Hamscher Gerd
Published: January 2023

Due to the frequent use of veterinary drugs in animal husbandry, it is important to know their environmental behavior. In this context, little attention has been paid to the stability of the active ingredients in solutions prepared for administration. This is particularly problematic for antibiotics that trigger resistance when administered subtherapeutically. In order to investigate a possible influence of the preparation and storage of veterinary drugs on compound stability, three widely used antibiotics (amoxicillin, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim) were prepared in different model solutions. Depending on their individual stabilities, the incubation period lasted up to 70 days. Samples were analyzed at regular intervals by high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Following official recommendations, the investigations covered various parameters, e.g., pH, buffer substances, influence of light, and temperature. Sulfadiazine was incubated together with trimethoprim at concentrations of 120 mg L−1 and 80 mg L−1 for 70 days. Both compounds proved to be very stable under all experimental conditions and between 92 and 100% of the active ingredients remained. In 0.1% formic acid, a transformation product was found with less than 5% of the parent substance. In contrast, amoxicillin (500 mg L−1) was instable in almost all solutions under investigation. Within 17 days, the concentration of AMO decreased to 72% in ultrapure water. With the exception of a physiological saline solution, the amount of amoxicillin dropped below 10% or even below the detection limit. Thus, a physiological saline solution is best suited for the storage of dissolved amoxicillin for later administration.
DTPA-Bound Planar Catechin with Potent Antioxidant Activity Triggered by Fe3+ Coordination
Authors: Fukuhara Kiyoshi , Nakanishi Ikuo , Imai Kohei , Mizuno Mirei , Matsumoto Ken-ichiro , Ohno Akiko
Published: January 2023

In diseases related to oxidative stress, accumulation of metal ions at the site of pathogenesis results in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the reductive activation of oxygen molecules catalyzed by the metal ions. If these metals can be removed and the generated ROS can be strongly scavenged, such diseases can be prevented and treated. Planar catechins exhibit stronger radical scavenging activity than natural catechins and can efficiently scavenge hydroxyl radicals generated by the Fenton reaction without showing pro-oxidant effects, even in the presence of iron ions. Hence, in the current study, we designed a compound in which diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), a metal chelator, was bound to a planar catechin with enhanced radical scavenging activity by immobilizing the steric structure of a natural catechin to be planar. This compound showed almost no radical scavenging activity due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding of DTPA with the planar catechins; however, when coordinated with Fe3+, it showed more potent radical scavenging activity than planar catechins. Owing to its potent antioxidant activity triggered by metal coordination and its inhibition of ROS generation by trapping metal ions, this compound might exert excellent preventive and therapeutic effects against oxidative stress-related diseases.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Polyamine Uptake Transporter (Put) Gene Family in Tomatoes and the Role of Put2 in Response to Salt Stress
Authors: Zhong Min , Yue Lingqi , Liu Wei , Qin Hongyi , Lei Bingfu , Huang Riming , Yang Xian , Kang Yunyan
Published: January 2023

The polyamine uptake transporter (Put), an important polyamines-related protein, is involved in plant cell growth, developmental processes, and abiotic stimuli, but no research on the Put family has been carried out in the tomato. Herein, eight tomato Put were identified and scattered across four chromosomes, which were classified into three primary groups by phylogenetic analysis. Protein domains and gene structural organization also showed a significant degree of similarity, and the Put genes were significantly induced by various hormones and polyamines. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that Put genes were expressed in all tissues of the tomato. The majority of Put genes were induced by different abiotic stresses. Furthermore, Put2 transcription was found to be responsive to salt stress, and overexpression of Put2 in yeast conferred salinity tolerance and polyamine uptake. Moreover, overexpression of Put2 in tomatoes promoted salinity tolerance accompanied by a decrease in the Na+/K+ ratio, restricting the generation of reactive oxygen and increasing polyamine metabolism and catabolism, antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD), and nonenzymatic antioxidant activity (GSH/GSSG and ASA/DHA ratios, GABA, and flavonoid content); loss of function of put2 produced opposite effects. These findings highlight that Put2 plays a pivotal role in mediating polyamine synthesis and catabolism, and the antioxidant capacity in tomatoes, providing a valuable gene for salinity tolerance in plants.
Crack Severity Classification from Timber Cross-Sectional Images Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Kato Shigeru , Wada Naoki , Shiogai Kazuki , Tamaki Takashi , Kagawa Tomomichi , Toyosaki Renon , Nobuhara Hajime
Published: January 2023

Cedar and cypress used for wooden construction have high moisture content after harvesting. To be used as building materials, they must undergo high-temperature drying. However, this process causes internal cracks that are invisible on the outer surface. These defects are serious because they reduce the strength of the timber, i.e., the buckling strength and joint durability. Therefore, the severity of internal cracks should be evaluated. A square timber was cut at an arbitrary position and assessed based on the length, thickness, and shape of the cracks in the cross-section; however, this process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, we used a convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically evaluate the severity of cracks from cross-sectional timber images. Previously, we used silver-painted images of cross-sections so that the cracks are easier to observe; however, this task was burdensome. Hence, in this study, we attempted to classify crack severity using ResNet (Residual Neural Network) from unpainted images. First, ResNet50 was employed and trained with supervised data to classify the crack severity level. The classification accuracy was then evaluated using test images (not used for training) and reached 86.67%. In conclusion, we confirmed that the proposed CNN could evaluate cross-sectional cracks on behalf of humans.
A Framework for Evaluating the Load-Carrying Capacity of Bridges without Design Document Using an AI Technique
Authors: Ko Sang-Woo , Kim Jin-Kook
Published: January 2023

As the number of old bridges increases worldwide, economic and maintenance issues are emerging due to the deterioration of these structures. In general, the conventional approach for the safety assessment of existing bridges is based on performing structural analysis and safety verifications, starting from the material properties obtained from experimental tests. In particular, for some old bridges, the design documents are not computerized or stored, so many additional field tests may be required due to the uncertainty of information. In this paper, we proposed a framework that can estimate the load-carrying capacity of old bridges for which the design documents are absent, and field tests are not used in this process. The framework relies on computational design strength and features procedures for calculating calibration factors to reflect the current conditions. With only limited information available with regard to bridges, the key to this study is its use of AI technology. First, the relationship between externally measurable geometric characteristics and the design strength was established based on 124 design documents. In this process, we compared the performance of five regression algorithms: multiple linear regression (MLR), decision tree (DT), boosting tree (BT), support vector machine (SVM), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). It was confirmed that it is possible to predict the design strength using GPR, with an error rate of 0.3%. Second, an ANN model was built to estimate the calibration factor as a condition assessment of 82 in-service bridges. The ANN was determined using optimal parameters with a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.008. Each type of AI used in the proposed framework showed a high predictive performance, implying that it can be used to evaluate the load-carrying capacity of bridges without a design document.