bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maine organic dairy producers’ receptiveness to seaweed supplementation and effect of Chondrus crispus on enteric methane emissions in lactating cows
Authors: Reyes Diana C. , Meredith Jennifer , Puro Leah , Berry Katherine , Kersbergen Richard , Soder Kathy J. , Quigley Charlotte , Donihue Michael , Cox Dorn , Price Nichole N. , Brito Andre F.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

There is a growing interest in utilizing seaweed in ruminant diets for mitigating enteric methane (CH4) emissions while improving animal health. Chondrus crispus is a red seaweed that grows in the Gulf of Maine (United States) and has shown to suppress CH4 production in vitro. Organic dairy producers in Maine are currently feeding seaweed due to herd health promoting benefits. However, large-scale adoption depends on technical and financial factors, as well as validation from pilot studies.

Methods

A survey was developed to identify barriers and drivers towards the adoption of CH4-reducing algal-based feeds. Concurrently, a randomized complete block design study was conducted to investigate the effect of C. crispus on enteric CH4 emissions and milk production in a typical Maine organic dairy farm. Twenty-two organically certified Holstein and Jersey cows averaging 29 ± 6.8 kg of milk/d and 150 ± 69 days in milk, were blocked and randomly assigned to a control diet without C. crispus (0CC), or with 6% [dry matter (DM) basis] C. crispus (6CC). Samples were collected on the last week of the 2-wk covariate period, and wk 3, 5, 8, and 10 after initiation of treatments for a total of 12 weeks. Gaseous emissions were measured using a GreenFeed unit. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with repeated measures over time.

Results

All survey respondents (n = 35; 54% response rate) were familiar with seaweeds as feed, and 34% were already users. Producers who were willing to pay 0.64 USD/cow/d on average for a CH4-reducing algal-based feed, also stated the need for co-benefits in terms of cattle health and performance as a requirement for adoption. Feeding 6CC decreased enteric CH4 production by 13.9% compared with 0CC (401 vs. 466 g/d). Further, milk yield (mean = 27.1 kg/d), CH4 intensity (mean = 15.2 g of CH4/kg of energy corrected milk), and concentrations and yields of milk fat and true protein were not affected by treatments.

Discussion

Producer receptiveness to CH4-reducing algal-based feeds will not only be dependent on purchase price, but also on co-benefits and simplicity of integration into existing feed practices. Feeding C. crispus at 6% of the diet DM decreased CH4 production in dairy cows by 13.9% without negative effects on milk yield and composition. Identifying the bioactive compounds in C. crispus is critical to understand the effect of this red seaweed on mitigating enteric CH4 emissions in dairy cows.
Investigation of the impact of clonal hematopoiesis on severity and pathophysiology of COVID-19 in rhesus macaques
Authors: Shin Tae-Hoon , Zhou Yifan , Lee Byung-Chul , Hong So Gun , Andrew Shayne F. , Flynn Barbara J. , Gagne Matthew , Todd John-Paul M. , Moore Ian N. , Cook Anthony , Lewis Mark G. , Foulds Kathryn E. , Seder Robert A. , Douek Daniel C. , Roederer Mario , Dunbar Cynthia E.
Published: July 2023

Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic to severe respiratory failure with profound inflammation. Although risk factors for severe illness have been identified, definitive determinants remain elusive. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), the expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells bearing acquired somatic mutations, is associated with advanced age and hyperinflammation. Given the similar age range and hyperinflammatory phenotype between frequent CH and severe COVID-19, CH could impact the risk of severe COVID-19. Human cohort studies have attempted to prove this relationship, but conclusions are conflicting. Rhesus macaques (RMs) are being utilized to test vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. However, RMs, even other species, have not yet been reported to develop late inflammatory COVID-19 disease. Here, RMs with either spontaneous DNMT3A or engineered TET2 CH along with similarly transplanted and conditioned controls were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and monitored until 12 days post-inoculation (dpi). Although no significant differences in clinical symptoms and blood counts were noted, an aged animal with natural DNMT3A CH died on 10 dpi. CH macaques showed evidence of sustained local inflammatory responses compared to controls. Interestingly, viral loads in respiratory tracts were higher at every timepoint in the CH group. Lung sections from euthanasia showed evidence of mild inflammation in all animals, while viral antigen was more frequently detected in the lung tissues of CH macaques even at the time of autopsy. Despite the lack of striking inflammation and serious illness, our findings suggest potential pathophysiological differences in RMs with or without CH upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen after a single Oral administration of 20 or 40 mg/kg to 7–9 Day-old foals
Authors: Gold Jenifer R. , Grubb Tamara , Court Michael H. , Villarino Nicolas F.
Published: July 2023

Background

Acetaminophen is utilized in human infants for pain management and fever. Neonatal foals might benefit from administration of acetaminophen but effective and safe dosage regimens for neonatal foals remains to be determined.

Objective

The objective was to determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen following oral administration of a single dose of 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg to neonatal foals. A secondary objective was to evaluate any changes in hematology and biochemistry profiles.

Study design

Randomized study.

Methods

Eight clinically healthy 7–9-day old Quarter Horse foals (3 colts and 5 fillies) received a single oral dose of acetaminophen either 20 (n = 4) or 40 (n = 4) mg/kg. Hematology and biochemistry profiles were evaluated before and 7 days after drug administration. Blood samples were collected before and 8 times after acetaminophen administration for 48 h to quantify plasma acetaminophen concentrations. Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non- compartmental analysis.

Results

The median peak plasma concentrations (and range) occurred at 1.5 (0.5–2) hours, and 1.0 (1–2) hours for the 20 and 40 mg/kg doses. The maximum plasma concentration (and range) was 12 (7.9–17.4) μg/mL for the 20 mg/kg dose and 14 (11–18) μg/mL for 40 mg/kg dose. The median AUC0-∞ ranged from 46 to 100 and 79 to 160 h*-μg/mL for the 20 and 40 mg/kg dose, respectively. Hematology and biochemistry profiles remained within normal limits.

Conclusion

Plasma disposition of acetaminophen after oral administration of 20 and 40 mg/kg to neonates is comparable to adult horses. However, safety and the optimal dosage regimen of acetaminophen for treating pain and or pyrexia in neonates in this age group remains to be determined.
Improving the Aerodynamic Performance of WIG Aircraft with a Micro-Vortex Generator (MVG) in Low-Speed Condition
Authors: Methal Zinnyrah , Talib Ahmad Syahin Abu , Bakar Mohd Supian Abu , Rahman Mohd Rosdzimin Abdul , Sulaiman Mohamad Syafiq , Saad Mohd Rashdan
Published: July 2023

This present study investigated the potential of passive flow control to reduce induced drag by using a micro-vortex generator (MVG) at a backward-facing step (BFS) location. A wing-in-ground (WIG) craft is a fast watercraft that resembles a dynamically stabilised ship that can move or glide across the surface of water or land. Therefore, the wing of the WIG is designed to glide when in contact with water, which helps to decrease drag and enhance the lift of the overall vehicle. However, the existing design of the hull-fuselage of WIG tends to induce more drag during the flight, especially at a flow downstream of a BFS, which will cause inefficient fuel consumption over the distance travelled. MVG with the ramp type was chosen and tested at various angles (°) and heights (h). The angles (°) tested were 12°, 16°, and 24°, while the heights (h) tested were 0.4 δ, 0.6 δ, and 0.8 δ, where δ refers to the boundary layer height. The model was designed and fabricated using a 3D printer. The 3D model was tested in a subsonic wind tunnel at Re = 6.1 × 104 m−1 to 6.1 × 105 m−1 between 1 and 10 m/s. This study demonstrated that the most effective angle and height of MVG for reducing the drag coefficient were 16° and 0.6 δ, respectively. In comparison to an uncontrolled case, the drag coefficient decreased significantly by 38% compared to the baseline.
Evaluation of Methane Emission Reduction Potential of Water Management and Chinese Milk Vetch Planting in Hunan Paddy Rice Fields
Authors: Zhang Zhiwei , Fan Jianling , Wan Yunfan , Wang Jinming , Liao Yulin , Lu Yanhong , Qin Xiaobo
Published: July 2023

In order to explore the methane reduction potential with two scenarios of water management and Chinese Milk Vetch return, we calculated the methane emissions of Hunan Province rice fields in 2019 using the SECTOR tool based on Excel and released by the International Rice Research Institute. Thus, we preliminarily established an agricultural carbon emissions monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system. The results showed that: (1) There was significant spatial variation in methane emissions in Hunan rice fields, with higher emissions in both the south and north and lower emissions in the east and west. Late rice was the main contributor to methane emissions, and the cities of Changde, Hengyang, Yueyang, and Shaoyang were high-emission areas due to differences in rice planting types and areas. Compared with flooding (1275.75 Gg), optimized water management measures (mid-drainage and AWD irrigation) reduced methane emissions by 29~45% (905.79 and 701.66 Gg, respectively). (2) Under the same nitrogen input conditions, compared with a solely straw return (375.24 Gg), combining green manure with straw return could partially reduce methane emissions from Hunan super hybrid rice (327.63 Gg). Compared with the control fertilizers (404.28 Gg), the reduction rates of winter-planted Chinese Milk Vetch, the return of rice straw, and the incorporation of both Chinese Milk Vetch and straw were 7.19%, 13.01%, and 18.96%, respectively. Based on scientific accounting tools, a preliminary MRV system for rice field carbon emissions was established. Under the national demand for reducing fertilizer use and increasing efficiency, equal nitrogen organic amendments could effectively contribute to the development of green, low-carbon, and high-quality agriculture.
The Enhanced Milk Yield Effect of Early Lactation Increased Milking Frequency and Bovine Somatotropin Is Additive and Not Synergistic
Authors: Hanling Haylee H. , McGilliard Michael L. , Corl Benjamin A.
Published: July 2023

Dairy farm profitability depends on milk yield, so the dairy industry manages cows to improve their productivity. Both bovine somatotropin (bST) and early lactation increased milking frequency (IMF) and milk yield (MY) in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mid-lactation bST administration on milk production in established lactation when combined with the milk yield carry-over effect from early lactation IMF. Thirteen multiparous Holstein cows were milked unilaterally for 20 days in early lactation. The left udder halves were milked twice daily (2X) and the right udder halves were milked four times daily (4X). Udder halves milked 4X produced 8.60 ± 1.40 kg more than 2X on the final day of IMF treatment. Cows were then returned to 2X milking for the remainder of lactation and sampled on alternate days from 74–94 days in milk (DIM). Bovine somatotropin was administered to all cows at 80 DIM. The 4X halves continued to make 2.66 ± 0.12 kg/d more milk than 2X through 94 DIM. Fat, protein, and lactose yields were significantly greater in the 4X halves compared to the 2X from 74–94 DIM. Overall milk yield increased by 2.71 kg/d with bST administration. However, there was no significant interaction between MF and bST administration. We can infer from these data that the mechanisms by which bST and IMF in early lactation increase milk yield are complementary due to their non-synergistic nature of enhancing MY.
Automatic Detection of Group Recumbency in Pigs via AI-Supported Camera Systems
Authors: Kühnemund Alexander , Götz Sven , Recke Guido
Published: July 2023

The resting behavior of rearing pigs provides information about their perception of the current temperature. A pen that is too cold or too warm can impact the well-being of the animals as well as their physical development. Previous studies that have automatically recorded animal behavior often utilized body posture. However, this method is error-prone because hidden animals (so-called false positives) strongly influence the results. In the present study, a method was developed for the automated identification of time periods in which all pigs are lying down using video recordings (an AI-supported camera system). We used velocity data (measured by the camera) of pigs in the pen to identify these periods. To determine the threshold value for images with the highest probability of containing only recumbent pigs, a dataset with 9634 images and velocity values was used. The resulting velocity threshold (0.0006020622 m/s) yielded an accuracy of 94.1%. Analysis of the testing dataset revealed that recumbent pigs were correctly identified based on velocity values derived from video recordings. This represents an advance toward automated detection from the previous manual detection method.
Adsorptive–Photocatalytic Performance for Antibiotic and Personal Care Product Using Cu0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4
Authors: Chokejaroenrat Chanat , Sakulthaew Chainarong , Angkaew Athaphon , Pattanateeradetch Apiladda , Raksajit Wuttinun , Teingtham Kanokwan , Phansak Piyaporn , Klongvessa Pawee , Snow Daniel D. , Harris Clifford E. , Comfort Steve D.
Published: July 2023

The amount of antibiotics and personal care products entering local sewage systems and ultimately natural waters is increasing and raising concerns about long-term human health effects. We developed an adsorptive photocatalyst, Cu0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles, utilizing co-precipitation and calcination with melamine, and quantified its efficacy in removing paraben and oxytetracycline (OTC). During melamine calcination, Cu0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 recrystallized, improving material crystallinity and purity for the adsorptive–photocatalytic reaction. Kinetic experiments showed that all four parabens and OTC were removed within 120 and 45 min. We found that contaminant adsorption and reaction with active radicals occurred almost simultaneously with the photocatalyst. OTC adsorption could be adequately described by the Brouers–Sotolongo kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. OTC photocatalytic degradation started with a series of reactions at different carbon locations (i.e., decarboxamidation, deamination, dehydroxylation, demethylation, and tautomerization). Further toxicity testing showed that Zea mays L. and Vigna radiata L. shoot indexes were less affected by treated water than root indexes. The Zea mays L. endodermis thickness and area decreased considerably after exposure to the 25% (v/v)-treated water. Overall, Cu0.5Mn0.5Fe2O4 nanoparticles exhibit a remarkable adsorptive–photocatalytic performance for the degradation of tested antibiotics and personal care products.
The Effects of Citric Acid Crosslinking on Fabrication and Characterization of Gelatin/Curcumin-Based Electrospun Antioxidant Nanofibers
Authors: Hasan Reem , Sumnu Gulum , Sahin Serpil , Oz Emel , Oz Fatih
Published: July 2023

Nanofibers, produced through the novel method of electrospinning, have a high ratio of surface area to volume, which allows them to have different optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties than macroscale materials. In this study, it was aimed to produce nanofibers with gelatin and curcumin. The effects of gelatin concentration and crosslinking with citric acid on the characteristics of electrospun nanofibers were studied. Gelatin film containing neither citric acid nor curcumin was used as control. Solutions were evaluated by solution conductivity, color analysis, and rheological properties. Obtained nanofibers were characterized by morphological analysis (SEM), antioxidant activity (AA), thermal properties (TGA, XRD, DSC), water vapor permeability (WVP), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. It was found that the functional groups of gelatin were not changed significantly but some degree of crosslinking was seen, as indicated by the changes in AA, crystallinity, etc. Improvement in antioxidant activities was seen, which was the highest for gelatin and curcumin films (32%). The highest melting temperature (78 °C) and WVP (2.365 × 10−10 gm−1 s−1 Pa−1) was seen for gelatin and curcumin films crosslinked with 0.5% citric acid. Gelatin with curcumin films crosslinked with 1% citric acid showed the lowest crystallinity (1.56%). It was concluded that even though citric acid might not prove to be a stable crosslinking agent for the protein (gelatin), it contributed to the antioxidant nature of the films, along with curcumin. These films are promising candidates to be applied on cut fruits, to reduce water loss and oxidation and hence extend their shelf lives.
YOLOv5s-D: A Railway Catenary Dropper State Identification and Small Defect Detection Model
Authors: Li Ziyi , Rao Zhiqiang , Ding Lu , Ding Biao , Fang Jianjun , Ma Xiaoning
Published: July 2023

High-speed railway catenaries are vital components in railway traction power supply systems. To ensure stable contact between the pantograph and the catenary, droppers are positioned between the messenger wire and contact line. The failure of one or more droppers will affect the power supply of the catenary and the operation of the railway. In this paper, we modify the You Only Look Once version five (YOLOv5) model in several ways and propose a method for improving the identification of dropper status and the detection of small defects. Firstly, to focus on small target features, the selective kernel attention module is added to the backbone. Secondly, the feature graphs of different scales extracted from the backbone network are fed into the bidirectional feature pyramid network for multiscale feature fusion. Thirdly, the YOLO head is replaced by a decoupled head to improve the convergence speed and detection accuracy of the model. The experimental results show that the proposed model achieves a mean average precision of 92.9% on the dropper dataset, an increase of 3.8% over the results using YOLOv5s. The detection accuracy of small dropper defects reaches 79.2%, representing an increase of 10.8% compared with YOLOv5s and demonstrating that our model is better at detecting small defects.
Cross-Domain Transfer Learning for Natural Scene Classification of Remote-Sensing Imagery
Authors: Akhtar Muhammad , Murtza Iqbal , Adnan Muhammad , Saadia Ayesha
Published: July 2023

Natural scene classification, which has potential applications in precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management, poses significant challenges due to variations in the spatial resolution, spectral resolution, texture, and size of remotely sensed images of natural scenes on Earth. For such challenging problems, deep-learning-based algorithms have demonstrated amazing performances in recent years. Among these methodologies, transfer learning is a useful technique which employs the learned features already extracted from the pre-trained models from large-scale datasets for the problem at hand, resulting in quicker and more accurate models. In this study, we deployed cross-domain transfer learning for the land-cover classification of remotely sensed images of natural scenes. We conducted extensive experiments to measure the performance of the proposed method and explored the factors that affect the performance of the models. Our findings suggest that fine-tuning the ResNet-50 model outperforms various other models in terms of the classification accuracy. The experimental results showed that the deployed cross-domain transfer-learning system achieved outstanding (99.5% and 99.1%) accurate performances compared to previous benchmarks on the NaSC-TG2 dataset with the final tuning of the whole structure and only the last three layers, respectively.
A Polishing Processes Optimization Method for Ring-Pendulum Double-Sided Polisher
Authors: Liang Shuning , Xiao Bo , Wang Chunyang , Wang Lin , Wang Zishuo
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an optimization method that aims to mitigate disturbances in the radial-feed system of the ring-pendulum double-sided polisher (RDP) during processing. We built a radial-feed system model of an RDP and developed a single-tube robust model predictive control system to enhance the disturbance rejection capability of the radial-feed system. To constrain the system states inside the terminal constraint set and further enhance the system’s robustness, we added the ε-approximation to approach the single-tube terminal constraint set. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method for the RDP radial-feed system was verified through simulations and experiments. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed method for improving the performance of the RDP radial-feed system in practical applications. The polish processing results demonstrated a substantial improvement in the accuracy of the surface shape measurements obtained by applying the STRMPC method. Compared to the MPC method, the PV value decreased from 1.49 λ PV to 0.99 λ PV, indicating an improvement in the convergence rate of approximately 9.78%. Additionally, the RMS value decreased from 0.257 λ RMS to 0.163 λ RMS, demonstrating a remarkable 35.6% enhancement in the convergence rate.
Electrochemical Analysis of MnO2 (α, β, and γ)-Based Electrode for High-Performance Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Devi Raman , Kumar Vinay , Kumar Sunil , Bulla Mamta , Sharma Shruti , Sharma Ashutosh
Published: July 2023

MnO2 is the most favorable material in power storage due to its technological significance and potential applications in pseudocapacitance (due to various oxidative states allowing efficient charge transfer to meet energy demands), where its properties are considerably influenced by its structure and surface morphology. In the present study, a facile hydrothermal route was used to produce different phases of MnO2 (α, β, and γ) with different morphologies. The electrochemical performance of the synthesized phases was studied in aqueous sodium sulfate as an electrolyte. X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized material. The surface morphology and topography were examined using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The direct band gap of α-, β-, and γ-MnO2 was found to be 1.86 eV, 1.08 eV, and 1.68 eV, lying in the semiconducting range, further enhancing the electrochemical performance. It was found that α-MnO2 had a maximum specific capacitance of 138 F/g at 1 A/g, and the symmetric device fabricated using α-MnO2 had a specific capacitance of 86 F/g at 1 A/g.
DABaCLT: A Data Augmentation Bias-Aware Contrastive Learning Framework for Time Series Representation
Authors: Zheng Yubo , Luo Yingying , Shao Hengyi , Zhang Lin , Li Lei
Published: July 2023

Contrastive learning, as an unsupervised technique, has emerged as a prominent method in time series representation learning tasks, serving as a viable solution to the scarcity of annotated data. However, the application of data augmentation methods during training can distort the distribution of raw data. This discrepancy between the representations learned from augmented data in contrastive learning and those obtained from supervised learning results in an incomplete understanding of the information contained in the real data from the trained encoder. We refer to this as the data augmentation bias (DAB), representing the disparity between the two sets of learned representations. To mitigate the influence of DAB, we propose a DAB-aware contrastive learning framework for time series representation (DABaCLT). This framework leverages a raw features stream (RFS) to extract features from raw data, which are then combined with augmented data to create positive and negative pairs for DAB-aware contrastive learning. Additionally, we introduce a DAB-minimizing loss function (DABMinLoss) within the contrasting module to minimize the DAB of the extracted temporal and contextual features. Our proposed method is evaluated on three time series classification tasks, including sleep staging classification (SSC) and epilepsy seizure prediction (ESP) based on EEG and human activity recognition (HAR) based on sensors signals. The experimental results demonstrate that our DABaCLT achieves strong performance in self-supervised time series representation, 0.19% to 22.95% accuracy improvement for SSC, 2.96% to 5.05% for HAR, 1.00% to 2.46% for ESP, and achieves comparable performance to the supervised approach. The source code for our framework is open-source.
Decolonizing Photography
Authors: Johnstone Mary Shannon
Published: July 2023

How can photography challenge anthropocentrism and contribute to the decolonization process for animals? The first part of this article offers two historical examples of photography’s colonial ties to hunting, and explains the harm done to animals through linking cameras and guns. The second part of this article focuses on three contemporary photographers dedicated to challenging anthropocentrism, and discusses how their work engages in decolonization as a process. The analysis and the examples presented in this article will help us to work toward a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world for all; human and nonhuman alike.
Insights on Polar Day Antarctica Radio Propagation Using Amateur Radio Beacons on Circumnavigating Balloons
Authors: McKinney Todd , Perlaky Nick , Newchurch Mike , Brown Bill
Published: July 2023

We deployed six pico balloons with 20 m transmitters (14.09 MHz) from Neumayer Station III in the 2022 Antarctic summer. Our objective was to evaluate ionospheric propagation in lower latitudes. Leveraging the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) protocol, we transmitted and received telemetry data on a global scale. Each balloon remained airborne for over a month, with one completing eight circumnavigations of the southern hemisphere, transmitting WSPR beacon data for 98 days. Our analysis focused on signal propagation characteristics in the polar ionosphere and surrounding regions, considering factors such as location relative to the WSPR network and solar elevation angles. Alignment between solar elevation angles at transmitting and receiving stations indicated a relationship with signal reception; lower solar elevation angles proved crucial for long-range propagation. We discovered that, beyond a solar angle of 60 degrees above the horizon, no decodes were recorded beyond 7500 km. Most signal spots were observed within a 1000–5000 km range and solar elevation angles ranging from 1 to 80 degrees. Over Antarctica, spot occurrences peaked around 4 UTC, particularly during the early hours of the day. Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of pico balloons for propagation studies, providing insights into the WSPR network’s coverage over Antarctica and surrounding lower latitudes.
Bioactive Aspergteroids G–J from Soft-Coral-Associated Symbiotic and Epiphytic Fungus Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1
Authors: Fan Hao , Wang Li , Zhang Ze-Kun , Wu Ping-Ping , He Yu-Pei , Chen Le-Yi , Wang Qian , Zhang Cui-Xian
Published: July 2023

Two new disubstituted maleimides, aspergteroids G–H (1–2), and two trisubstituted butenolides aspergteroids I–J (3–4), along with four known analogs, were isolated and structurally identified from the fermentation extract of soft-coral-associated symbiotic and epiphytic fungus Aspergillus terreus EGF7-0-1. The structures of the new compounds were established mainly via spectroscopic data analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined via X-ray diffraction analysis and comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism. Myocardial protection assays showed that compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 possess protective effects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced H9c2 (rat myocardial cells) apoptosis at low concentrations. Based on the analyses of the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and Western blotting, compound 1 may inhibit the apoptosis and inflammatory response of cardiomyocytes after TBHP induction and improve the antioxidant capacity of cardiomyocytes. We speculate that the anti-inflammatory response of compound 1 is suppressed by the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), downregulated by the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, and suppressed by the expression of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3) and B-cell lymphoma-2 associated X protein (Bax).
An Isolated CNN Architecture for Classification of Finger-Tapping Tasks Using Initial Dip Images: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Ali Muhammad Umair , Zafar Amad , Kallu Karam Dad , Yaqub M. Atif , Masood Haris , Hong Keum-Shik , Bhutta Muhammad Raheel
Published: July 2023

This work investigates the classification of finger-tapping task images constructed for the initial dip duration of hemodynamics (HR) associated with the small brain area of the left motor cortex using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Different layers (i.e., 16-layers, 19-layers, 22-layers, and 25-layers) of isolated convolutional neural network (CNN) designed from scratch are tested to classify the right-hand thumb and little finger-tapping tasks. Functional t-maps of finger-tapping tasks (thumb, little) were constructed for various durations (0.5 to 4 s with a uniform interval of 0.5 s) for the initial dip duration using a three gamma functions-based designed HR function. The results show that the 22-layered isolated CNN model yielded the highest classification accuracy of 89.2% with less complexity in classifying the functional t-maps of thumb and little fingers associated with the same small brain area using the initial dip. The results further demonstrated that the active brain area of the two tapping tasks from the same small brain area are highly different and well classified using functional t-maps of the initial dip (0.5 to 4 s) compared to functional t-maps generated for delayed HR (14 s). This study shows that the images constructed for initial dip duration can be helpful in the future for fNIRS-based diagnosis or cortical analysis of abnormal cerebral oxygen exchange in patients.
Pathological Approach to Kidney Allograft Infection
Authors: Udomkarnjananun Suwasin , Iampenkhae Kroonpong
Published: July 2023

Infectious agents can pose a significant challenge in kidney transplantation, as they have the potential to cause direct infections in the transplanted kidney. These infections can lead to a decline in kidney function and reduce the longevity of the transplanted kidney. Common post-transplant allograft infections include bacterial pyelonephritis and the BK virus infection, while adenovirus, JC virus, and cytomegalovirus are less frequent but can also lead to significant allograft dysfunctions. The histopathological features of these infections are characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the kidney interstitial area and the presence of viral nuclear inclusions or cytopathic changes in the renal tubular epithelial cells. The confirmation of causative organisms can be achieved by immunohistochemical staining or the visualization of viral particles using electron microscopic examination. However, these methods typically require a longer turnaround time and are not readily available in developing countries, unlike standard hematoxylin-eosin staining. Notably, the differential diagnosis of interstitial inflammation in kidney allografts almost always includes T cell-mediated rejection, which has a different treatment approach than allograft infections. The aim of this review was to prompt clinicians to identify diverse pathological alterations as observed in kidney allograft biopsies, thereby facilitating further investigations and the management of suspected kidney allograft infections.
Exploring the Heart–Mind Connection: Unraveling the Shared Pathways between Depression and Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Sobolewska-Nowak Justyna , Wachowska Katarzyna , Nowak Artur , Orzechowska Agata , Szulc Agata , Płaza Olga , Gałecki Piotr
Published: July 2023

Civilization diseases are defined as non-communicable diseases that affect a large part of the population. Examples of such diseases are depression and cardiovascular disease. Importantly, the World Health Organization warns against an increase in both of these. This narrative review aims to summarize the available information on measurable risk factors for CVD and depression based on the existing literature. The paper reviews the epidemiology and main risk factors for the coexistence of depression and cardiovascular disease. The authors emphasize that there is evidence of a link between depression and cardiovascular disease. Here, we highlight common risk factors for depression and cardiovascular disease, including obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity, as well as the importance of the prevention and treatment of CVD in preventing depression and other mental disorders. Conversely, effective treatment of CVD can also help prevent depression and improve mental health outcomes. It seems advisable to introduce screening tests for depression in patients treated for cardiac reasons. Importantly, in patients treated for mood disorders, it is worth controlling CVD risk factors, for example, by checking blood pressure and pulse during routine visits. It is also worth paying attention to the mental condition of patients with CVD. This study underlines the importance of interdisciplinary co-operation.
Role of Macrophage lncRNAs in Mediating Inflammatory Processes in Atherosclerosis and Sepsis
Authors: Shin Hyeung-Seob , Shin Jae-Joon , Park Jeongkwang , Arab Imene , Suk Kyoungho , Lee Won-Ha
Published: July 2023

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are molecules >200 bases in length without protein-coding functions implicated in signal transduction and gene expression regulation via interaction with proteins or RNAs, exhibiting various functions. The expression of lncRNAs has been detected in many cell types, including macrophages, a type of immune cell involved in acute and chronic inflammation, removal of dead or damaged cells, and tissue repair. Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs play essential roles in macrophage functions and disease development. Additionally, many animal studies have reported that blockage or modulation of lncRNA functions alleviates disease severity or morbidity rate. The present review summarizes the current knowledge regarding lncRNAs expressed in macrophages, focusing on their molecular targets and the biological processes regulated by them during the development of inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and sepsis. Possible application of this information to lncRNA-targeting therapy is also discussed. The studies regarding macrophage lncRNAs described in this review can help provide valuable information for developing treatments for various pathological conditions involving macrophages.
Therapeutic Potential of EVs: Targeting Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Laura Francés Javier , Pagiatakis Christina , Di Mauro Vittoria , Climent Montserrat
Published: July 2023

Due to their different biological functions, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have great potential from a therapeutic point of view. They are released by all cell types, carrying and delivering different kinds of biologically functional cargo. Under pathological events, cells can increase their secretion of EVs and can release different amounts of cargo, thus making EVs great biomarkers as indicators of pathological progression. Moreover, EVs are also known to be able to transport and deliver cargo to different recipient cells, having an important role in cellular communication. Interestingly, EVs have recently been explored as biological alternatives for the delivery of therapeutics, being considered natural drug delivery carriers. Because cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, in this review, we will discuss the up-to-date knowledge regarding the biophysical properties and biological components of EVs, focusing on myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, three very different types of CVDs.
Comment on Hochfellner et al. Accuracy Assessment of the GlucoMen® Day CGM System in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study. Biosensors 2022, 12, 106
Authors: Freckmann Guido , Eichenlaub Manuel , Waldenmaier Delia , Pleus Stefan
Published: July 2023

In their recent article entitled “Accuracy Assessment of the GlucoMen® Day CGM System in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study” [...]
Experimental and Numerical Study of the Flexural Performance of Spontaneous Combustion Gangue Coarse Aggregate Concrete Laminated Slab
Authors: Zhang Kai , Zhou Mei , Zhang Boqun , Luan Congqi , Li Chao , Liu Yan , Gao Yue , Yu Yanfu
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: to study the differences in flexural performance and failure characteristics of spontaneous combustion gangue coarse aggregate concrete (SCGAC) laminated slabs and ordinary concrete laminated slabs, comparative flexural performance tests of one ordinary concrete laminated slab and four spontaneous combustion gangue coarse aggregate concrete laminated slabs (SCGACLSs) full-scale specimens were carried out. (2) Methods: The loading method was four-point unidirectional static loading; the failure mode, load–deflection curve, load–reinforcement strain curve, and load–concrete strain curve of each specimen were analyzed. In addition, the load–deflection curve of the five slabs were predicted by ABAQUS. (3) Results: The five laminated slabs showed similar behaviors in terms of failure mode, load–strain curve, load–deflection curve, and deformation and all the properties satisfied the Chinese standard GB50010 (2010). Compared with ordinary concrete laminated slabs, the cracking load of SCGACLS with a precast layer of SCGAC(C30) decreased by 15.2% and the span deflection increased by 28.3% in the ultimate condition; however, when the strength grade of SCGAC of the precast layer was increased to SCGAC(C40), the cracking load increased by 7.8% and the span deflection was similar to that of the ordinary concrete laminated slabs. All specimens conformed to the planar section assumption. In addition, the finite element model (FEM) prediction results showed that the maximum relative errors of load and deflection were <5% and <10%, respectively, indicating that the established FEM had high prediction accuracy. (4) Conclusions: The defects of reduced load-carrying capacity and uncoordinated deformation caused by the different elastic modulus of precast and cast-in-place layer concrete can be compensated by appropriately increasing the strength grade of precast layer concrete of SCGACLSs. The application of SCGACLSs in structures is feasible.
The Evolving Approach to Breast Cancer: Moving toward De-Escalating Treatment and Personalized Medicine
Authors: Khoury Thaer
Published: July 2023

In recent years, more attention has been directed to personalized medicine in the management and treatment of breast cancer (BC) [...]
Systemic Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapies in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma—A Narrative Review
Authors: Chamseddine Shadi , LaPelusa Michael , Kaseb Ahmed Omar
Published: July 2023

The burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to pose a significant global health problem. Several systemic therapies have recently been shown to improve survival for patients with unresectable disease. However, evidence to support the use of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapies in patients with resectable disease is limited, despite the high risk of recurrence. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic therapies are being investigated for their potential to reduce recurrence after resection and improve overall survival. Our review identified various early-phase clinical trials showing impressive preliminary signals of pathologic complete response in resectable disease, and others suggesting that neoadjuvant therapies—particularly when combined with adjuvant strategies—may convert unresectable disease to resectable disease and cause significant tumor necrosis, potentially decreasing recurrence rates. The role of adjuvant therapies alone may also play a part in the management of these patients, particularly in reducing recurrence rates. Heterogeneity in trial design, therapies used, patient selection, and a scarcity of randomized phase III trials necessitate the cautious implementation of these treatment strategies. Future research is required to identify predictive biomarkers, optimize the timing and type of therapeutic combinations, and minimize treatment-related adverse effects, thereby personalizing and enhancing treatment strategies for patients with resectable and borderline resectable HCC.
Lighting Up the Fire in the Microenvironment of Cold Tumors: A Major Challenge to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Benoit Alice , Vogin Guillaume , Duhem Caroline , Berchem Guy , Janji Bassam
Published: July 2023

Immunotherapy includes immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as antibodies targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) or the programmed cell death protein/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis. Experimental and clinical evidence show that immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) provides long-term survival benefits to cancer patients in whom other conventional therapies have failed. However, only a minority of patients show high clinical benefits via the use of ICI alone. One of the major factors limiting the clinical benefits to ICI can be attributed to the lack of immune cell infiltration within the tumor microenvironment. Such tumors are classified as “cold/warm” or an immune “desert”; those displaying significant infiltration are considered “hot” or inflamed. This review will provide a brief summary of different tumor properties contributing to the establishment of cold tumors and describe major strategies that could reprogram non-inflamed cold tumors into inflamed hot tumors. More particularly, we will describe how targeting hypoxia can induce metabolic reprogramming that results in improving and extending the benefit of ICI.
Adult Multipotent Cardiac Progenitor-Derived Spheroids: A Reproducible Model of In Vitro Cardiomyocyte Commitment and Specification
Authors: Scalise Mariangela , Marino Fabiola , Salerno Luca , Amato Nunzia , Quercia Claudia , Siracusa Chiara , Filardo Andrea , Chiefalo Antonio , Pagano Loredana , Misdea Giuseppe , Salerno Nadia , De Angelis Antonella , Urbanek Konrad , Viglietto Giuseppe , Torella Daniele , Cianflone Eleonora
Published: July 2023

Background: Three-dimensional cell culture systems hold great promise for bridging the gap between in vitro cell-based model systems and small animal models to study tissue biology and disease. Among 3D cell culture systems, stem-cell-derived spheroids have attracted significant interest as a strategy to better mimic in vivo conditions. Cardiac stem cell/progenitor (CSC)-derived spheroids (CSs) provide a relevant platform for cardiac regeneration. Methods: We compared three different cell culture scaffold-free systems, (i) ultra-low attachment plates, (ii) hanging drops (both requiring a 2D/3D switch), and (iii) agarose micro-molds (entirely 3D), for CSC-derived CS formation and their cardiomyocyte commitment in vitro. Results: The switch from a 2D to a 3D culture microenvironment per se guides cell plasticity and myogenic differentiation within CS and is necessary for robust cardiomyocyte differentiation. On the contrary, 2D monolayer CSC cultures show a significant reduced cardiomyocyte differentiation potential compared to 3D CS culture. Forced aggregation into spheroids using hanging drop improves CS myogenic differentiation when compared to ultra-low attachment plates. Performing CS formation and myogenic differentiation exclusively in 3D culture using agarose micro-molds maximizes the cardiomyocyte yield. Conclusions: A 3D culture system instructs CS myogenic differentiation, thus representing a valid model that can be used to study adult cardiac regenerative biology.
Application the Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition Technique for the Development of Spin-Wave Structures on Ferroelectric Substrates
Authors: Sharko Sergei A. , Serokurova Aleksandra I. , Novitskii Nikolay N. , Ketsko Valerii A. , Stognij Alexandre I.
Published: July 2023

The microwave properties of structures in the form of the 2 μm iron-yttrium garnet (YIG) films, grown by the ion beam sputtering deposition method on epitaxially mismatched substrates of ferroelectric ceramics based on lead zirconate titanate (PZT, PbZr0.45Ti0.55O3), are discussed. The obtained structures were formed and pre-smoothed by the ion beam planarization substrates with the use of an anti-diffusion layer of titanium dioxide TiO2. The atomic force microscopy showed that the planarization of the substrates allows for reaching a nanoscale level of roughness (up to 10 nm). The presence of smooth plane–parallel interfaces of YIG/TiO2 and TiO2/PZT is evidenced by scanning electron microscopy performed in focused gallium ion beams. Ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed a broadening in the absorption line of the ferrite garnet layers in the resonance ≈ 100 Oe. This broadening is associated with the presence of defects caused by the of the ceramic substrate non-ideality. The estimated damping coefficient of spin waves turned out to be ~10−3, which is two orders of magnitude higher than in an ideal YIG single crystal. The YIG/TiO2/PZT structures obtained can be used for the study of spin waves.
Determination of Elemental Composition and Content in Stream Sediments by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Hongpeng , Yan Xinru , Xin Yingjian , Fang Peipei , Wang Yian , Liu Sicong , Jia Jianjun , Zhang Liang , Wan Xiong
Published: July 2023

The stream sediment (SS) records evolution information of the water system structure and sedimentary environment in specific regions during different geological periods, which is of great significance for studying the ancient planetary environment and the law of water system changes. Based on the SS of different geographical environments on Earth, remote laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (remote-LIBS) technology combined with the multidimensional scaling-back propagation neural network (MDS-BPNN) algorithm was used to conduct an in-depth analysis of remote qualitative and quantitative detection of the elemental composition and content of SS. The results show that the detection system based on remote LIBS combined with an artificial neural network algorithm can achieve an ideal quantitative analysis of major and trace elements. The coefficients of determination (R2) of the test set for major elements is greater than 0.9996, and the root mean square error (RMSE) is less than 0.7325. The coefficients of determination (R2) of the test set for trace elements is greater than 0.9837, and the root mean square error is less than 42.21. In addition, for the application scenario of exploring extraterrestrial life, biominerals represented by stromatolite phosphorite (SP) are easy to form sand and enter into SS under weathering. Therefore, this paper discusses the feasibility of using remote-LIBS technology to detect and identify such minerals under the disappearance of SPs’ macro- and micro-characteristics. From our research, we can find that remote-LIBS technology is the preferred candidate for discovering dust-covered biominerals. In geological environments rich in water system sedimentary rocks, such as Mars’ ancient riverbeds, LIBS technology is crucial for deciphering the “life signals” hidden in the Martian sand.