bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equine Umbilical Cord Serum Composition and Its Healing Effects in Equine Corneal Ulceration
Authors: Peyrecave-Capo Xavier , Saulnier Nathalie , Maddens Stéphane , Gremillet Bérengère , Desjardins Isabelle
Published: March 2022

Background

Human autologous serum (AS) and umbilical cord serum (UCS) both contain growth and neurotrophic factors that promote corneal healing.

Aim

Our objectives were to compare equine AS and UCS cytokine and growth factor profiles and to assess the safety and clinical feasibility of the therapeutic use of UCS eye drops in cases of spontaneous complex ulcers.

Study Design

Prospective clinical trial.

Methods

Vitamin A insulin growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were determined in 10 AS collected from different horses and 10 UCS sampled at delivery. Six client-owned horses presenting with complex non-healing corneal defects of >5 mm2 were included in a clinical trial and treated with conventional therapy and conditioned UCS drops for 8–15 days. Ulcer surface and time to complete epithelialization were recorded.

Results

Median concentrations of vitamin A, insulin growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB were not significantly different in AS compared with UCS (respectively, 14.5 vs. 12.05 μg/ml; 107.8 vs. 107.3 pg/ml; and 369.1 vs. 924.2 pg/ml). TGF-β1 median concentration in UCS was significantly higher than in AS (3,245 vs. 2571pg/ml) (p = 0.04). IL-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentrations were variable in AS and undetectable in UCS. The corneal median ulcerative area was 37.2 mm2 (6.28–57.14 mm2) and had a duration of 4–186 days (median 19 days). All lesions healed within 13–42 days (median 17 days). No adverse effects nor recurrences within 1 month were noticed.

Limitations

The sample size was small. Spontaneous corneal epithelial defects presented with variable clinical characteristics. There were no age-matched control horses to assess corneal healing time and rate.

Conclusion and Clinical Significance

Equine UCS may be beneficial, as it contains no pro-inflammatory cytokines and a greater concentration of TGF-β1 compared with AS. Topical UCS appears safe and may potentially be used as adjunctive therapy for equine complex non-healing ulcers.
Does Social Pension Expansion Relieve Depression and Decrease Medical Costs? Evidence From the Rural Elderly in China
Authors: Zhou Mi , Sun Xiaotong , Huang Li
Published: March 2022

Objectives: This study was designed to explore the effect of the New Rural Pension Scheme on depressive symptoms or medical costs induced by depression.

Methods: We used the Logit, OLS and 2SLS models to explore the impact of the pension on depression and medical costs. We also adopt the method of quantile regression and discontinuity regression to verify the causal relationship between the New Rural Pension Scheme and depression or medical costs induced by depression of the rural elderly.

Results: We have found that the New Rural Pension Scheme decreases depressive symptoms of elderly in rural China (OR = 0.90), and the medical costs induced by depressive symptoms by 4.6%. Regression discontinuity results showed that pension significantly reduced the depressive symptoms (depression) and the medical expenditure caused by depressive symptoms (depression) by using parametric and non-parametric methods, and performing a placebo test. The mediating effect results showed that pension may improve mental health by increasing confidence about the future.

Conclusion: We demonstrate that the pension significantly decreased both mental health problems and the medical expenses due to depressive symptoms and depression of elderly in rural China. Therefore, our results suggest that the Chinese government should perfect the New Rural Pension Scheme to eliminate barriers to mental health resources, especially for the rural elderly.
Interactive Effects of Honeysuckle Planting and Biochar Amendment on Soil Structure and Hydraulic Properties of Hillslope Farmland
Authors: Tuyishimire Etienne , Cui Junfang , Tang Xiangyu , Sun Zhixiang , Cheng Jianhua
Published: March 2022

Plant roots and biochar amendment cause changes in soil structure and hydraulic properties; however, their interactive influences are still inadequately understood. A six-year field study was conducted on hillslope farmland in the Sichuan basin, China, to evaluate how honeysuckle planting and biochar application affect soil structure and hydraulic properties. Various parameters related to soil structure (soil organic matter (SOM), soil aggregate stability, bulk density were obtained in the laboratory) and hydraulic (hydraulic conductivity, and soil water retention characteristics by single porosity of van Genuchten 1980 and dual porosity bi-exponential model) properties were determined. The results showed that honeysuckle planting alone increased (SOM) content, honeysuckle planting following biochar amendment could not only enhance SOM content to a greater magnitude in top 20 cm soil but also markedly increase the SOM content in deeper soil layers (20–30 and 30–40 cm), while the application of biochar alone enhanced the SOM content in top 20 cm soil. The combination of honeysuckle planting and biochar amendment could increase soil aggregate stability. Furthermore, It was found that soil pores with size r > 125 µm were the dominant macropores in all treatments. Honeysuckle planting increased saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) significantly (p < 0.05). Biochar amendment also significantly increased Ks directly or indirectly through enhancement of SOM content. Results also showed that honeysuckle planting and biochar amendment could lead to a greater increase in saturated soil water content than saturated soil hydraulic conductivity. However, SOM showed lower value in bare land plots suggesting that both honeysuckle planting and biochar could increase SOM in soil, hence improving soil quality. Therefore, our field study demonstrated that the practice of honeysuckle planting and biochar amendment jointly in sloping farmland of purple soil could effectively strengthen soil structure and improve soil water retention.
Impacts of Soil and Water Conservation Practice on Soil Moisture in Debre Mewi and Sholit Watersheds, Abbay Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Damtie Bekele Bedada , Mengistu Daniel Ayalew , Waktola Daniel Kassahun , Meshesha Derege Tsegaye
Published: March 2022

Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been widely implemented to reduce surface runoff in the Debre Mewi watershed. However, studies on the issue have disproportionately focused on the lost or preserved soils, expressed in tons per hectare, while the impacts on the lost or preserved moisture were inadequately addressed. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of soil and water conservation practice on soil moisture in the Debre Mewi and Sholit watersheds, Abbay basin, Ethiopia. We compared soil moisture between the treated (Debre Mewi) and the untreated (Sholit) watersheds with SWCs, based on Sentinel-1A data and the field-measured soil moisture, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and water cloud model (WCM). Field-measurement was based on satellite-synchronized 63 soil moisture samples, systematically collected from the two treatment slope positions, two treatment positions, and two depths. We employed ANOVA to compare samples and discern patterns along space and time. The result indicated that the LAI, a predictor of crop yield, was higher in the SWC treated watershed, demonstrating the potential of conserving moisture for boosting crop production. In addition, the results reveal that the higher soil moisture was recorded on the grasslands of the treated watershed at a depth of 15–30 cm, while the lowest was from croplands and eucalyptus trees at 0–15 cm depth. A higher correlation was observed between the measured and estimated soil moisture across three stages of crop development. The soil moisture estimation using WCM from the Sentinel-1 satellite data gives promising results with good correlation (R2 = 0.69, 0.43 and 0.75, RMSE = 0.16, 2.24 and 0.02, and in Sholit (0.7539, 0.933, and 0.3673 and the RMSEs are 0.17%, 0.02%, and 1.02%) for different dates: August, September, and November 2020, respectively. We conclude that in the face of climate change-induced rainfall variability in tropical countries, predicted to elongate the dry spell during the cropping season, the accurate measurement of soil moistures with the mix of satellite and in-situ data could support rain-fed agriculture planning and assist in fine-tuning the climate adaptation measures at the local and regional scales.
Self-Sufficiency Assessment: Defining the Foodshed Spatial Signature of Supply Chains for Beef in Avignon, France
Authors: Mouléry Michel , Sanz Sanz Esther , Debolini Marta , Napoléone Claude , Josselin Didier , Mabire Luc , Vicente-Vicente José Luis
Published: March 2022

Foodshed approaches allow for the assessment of the theoretical food self-sufficiency capacity of a specific region based on biophysical conditions. Recent analyses show that the focus needs to be shifted from foodshed size portrayed as an isotropic circle to a commodity–group-specific spatial configuration of the foodshed that takes into account the socio-economic and biophysical conditions essential to the development of local food supply chains. We focused on a specific animal product (beef) and used an innovative modeling approach based on spatial analysis to detect the areas of the foodshed dedicated to beef feeding (forage, pasture, and grassland), considering the foodshed as a complex of complementary areas called an archipelago. We used available statistical data including a census to address the city-region of Avignon, France covering a 100 km radius. Our results showed that the factors driving the use of short supply chains for beef feeding areas are the foodshed archipelago’s number of patches, the connectivity between them, and the rugosity of the boundaries. In addition, our beef self-sufficiency assessment results differ depending on geographical context. For instance, being located within the perimeters of a nature park seems to help orient beef production toward short supply chains. We discuss possible leverage for public action to reconnect beef production areas to consumption areas (the city) via short supply chains (e.g., green, home-grown school food programs) to increase local food security through increased local food self-sufficiency.
Crop Monitoring Strategy Based on Remote Sensing Data (Sentinel-2 and Planet), Study Case in a Rice Field after Applying Glycinebetaine
Authors: San Bautista Alberto , Fita David , Franch Belén , Castiñeira-Ibáñez Sergio , Arizo Patricia , Sánchez-Torres María José , Becker-Reshef Inbal , Uris Antonio , Rubio Constanza
Published: March 2022

World agriculture is facing a great challenge since it is necessary to find a sustainable way to increase food production. Current trends in advancing the agriculture sector are based on leveraging remote sensing technology and the use of biostimulants. However, the efficient implementation of both of these on a commercial scale for the purposes of productivity improvement remains a challenge. Thus, by proposing a crop monitoring strategy based on remote sensing data, this paper aims to verify and anticipate the impact of applying a Glycinebetaine biostimulant (GB) on the final yield. The study was carried out in a rice-producing area in Eastern Spain (Valencia) in 2021. GB was applied by drone 33 days after sowing (tillering phase). Phenology was monitored and crop production parameters were determined. Regarding satellite data, Sentinel-2 cloud-free images were obtained from sowing to harvest, using the bands at 10 m. Planet data were used to evaluate the results from Sentinel-2. The results show that GB applied 33 days after sowing improves both crop productive parameters and commercial yield (13.06% increase). The design of the proposed monitoring strategy was based on the dynamics and correlations between the visible (green and red) and NIR bands. The analysis showed differences when comparing the GB and control areas, and permitted the determination of the moment in which the effect of GB on yield (tillering and maturity) may be greater. In addition, an index was constructed to verify the crop monitoring strategy, its mathematical expression being: NCMI = (NIR − (red + green))/(NIR + red + green). Compared with the other VIs (NDVI, GNDVI and EVI2), the NCMI presents a greater sensitivity to changes in the green, red and NIR bands, a lower saturation phenomenon than NDVI and a better monitoring of rice phenology and management than GNDVI and EVI2. These results were evaluated with Planet images, obtaining similar results. In conclusion, in this study, we confirm the improvement in rice crop productivity by improving sustainable plant nutrition with the use of biostimulants and by increasing the components that define crop yield (productive tillers, spikelets and grains). Additionally, crop monitoring using remote sensing technology permits the anticipation and understanding of the productive behavior and the evolution of the phenological stages of the crop, in accordance with crop management.
Non-Destructive Estimation of the Leaf Weight and Leaf Area in Common Bean
Authors: Suárez Juan Carlos , Casanoves Fernando , Di Rienzo Julio
Published: March 2022

Regression models to predict leaf area and leaf weight in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were fitted using the three leaflets of the leaves. A total of 1504 leaves from 40 genotypes were collected, covering a large range of leaf sizes. Width, length, area, and weight were measured for each leaflet. The total leaf area and weight was obtained by the sum of left, central, and right leaflets. The dataset was randomly divided into training and validation sets. The training set was used for model fitting and selection, and the validation dataset was used to obtain statistics for model prediction ability. The leaf area and leaf weight were modeled using different linear regression models based on the length and width of the leaflet. Polynomial regressions involving both length and width of the leaflet provided very good models to estimate the expected area (R2 = 0.978) and weight (R2 = 0.820) of leaves.
Low-Phytate Grains to Enhance Phosphorus Sustainability in Agriculture: Chasing Drought Stress in lpa1-1 Mutant
Authors: Colombo Federico , Bertagnon Greta , Ghidoli Martina , Pesenti Michele , Giupponi Luca , Pilu Roberto
Published: March 2022

Phytic acid (PA) is an anti-nutritional factor for monogastrics and contributes to phosphorus pollution. The low phytic acid (lpa) trait can provide several benefits to the nutritional quality of foods/feeds and to environmental sustainability. In maize, four lpa1 mutants have been isolated, and lpa1-1 is the most promising. Nevertheless, these mutations are frequently accompanied by many negative pleiotropic effects affecting plant performance. One of these is a greater susceptibility to drought stress, probably caused by an alteration in the root system. In this work, we set up an experiment in hydroponics and two in mesocosms, where pots were built using transparent PVC sheets to better access the roots. The results suggested that neither root architecture nor root depth are limiting factors in mutant plants. In hydroponics, the dry weight of the mutant and the root area per unit of length were twice that of B73. However, lpa1-1 exhibited a reduced efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm, 0.810 vs. 0.800) and a reduced leaf temperature (−0.5 °C compared to wild-type), probably due to increased water loss. Furthermore, molecular analysis performed on genes involved in root development (rtcs, rtcl, rum1, and BIGE1) revealed the abundance of rtcs transcripts in the mutant, suggesting an alteration in auxin polar transport.
Peptide Mediated Adhesion to Beta-Lactam Ring of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Pilot Study
Authors: Merlo Barbara , Baldassarro Vito Antonio , Flagelli Alessandra , Marcoccia Romina , Giraldi Valentina , Focarete Maria Letizia , Giacomini Daria , Iacono Eleonora
Published: March 2022

Regenerative medicine applied to skin lesions is a field in constant improvement. The use of biomaterials with integrin agonists could promote cell adhesion increasing tissue repair processes. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the effect of an α4β1 integrin agonist on cell adhesion of equine adipose tissue (AT) and Wharton’s jelly (WJ) derived MSCs and to investigate their adhesion ability to GM18 incorporated poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds. Adhesion assays were performed after culturing AT- and WJ-MSCs with GM18 coating or soluble GM18. Cell adhesion on GM18 containing PLLA scaffolds after 20 min co-incubation was assessed by HCS. Soluble GM18 affects the adhesion of equine AT- and WJ-MSCs, even if its effect is variable between donors. Adhesion to PLLA scaffolds containing GM18 is not significantly influenced by GM18 for AT-MSCs after 20 min or 24 h of culture and for WJ-MSCs after 20 min, but increased cell adhesion by 15% GM18 after 24 h. In conclusion, the α4β1 integrin agonist GM18 affects equine AT- and WJ-MSCs adhesion ability with a donor-related variability. These preliminary results represent a first step in the study of equine MSCs adhesion to PLLA scaffolds containing GM18, suggesting that WJ-MSCs might be more suitable than AT-MSCs. However, the results need to be confirmed by increasing the number of samples before drawing definite conclusions.
The Etiology, Incidence, Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Treatment of Canine Babesiosis Caused by Babesia gibsoni Infection
Authors: Karasová Martina , Tóthová Csilla , Grelová Simona , Fialkovičová Mária
Published: March 2022

Babesia gibsoni is one of the small Babesia species and the infection this pathogen causes is usually asymptomatic, which complicates the capture of potential parasite carriers. In endemic areas, especially in Asia, B. gibsoni occurs quite often due to direct transmission by way of a tick vector. Due to the absence of vectors, its occurrence is described only sporadically in Europe; but, it is increasingly occurring in predisposed, so-called fighting breeds, especially the American pit bull terrier. This review describes the etiology, incidence, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnostics, and treatment of B. gibsoni infection, with an emphasis on the clinical and laboratory peculiarities of the disease. As the treated dogs do not eliminate the parasite from the body—only reducing parasitemia and improving clinical signs—the treatment of B. gibsoni infection is a challenge in many cases, and its study therefore deserves great attention.
Potential Role of Protocatechuic Acid as Natural Feed Additives in Farm Animal Production
Authors: Mahfuz Shad , Mun Hong-Seok , Dilawar Muhammad Ammar , Ampode Keiven Mark B. , Yang Chul-Ju
Published: March 2022

Restriction on using antibiotics in animal feed that generates demand for antibiotics alternatives in animal breeding. Providing safe food to humans free from the residual effects of antibiotics is a great challenge to animal producers and food-producing industry owners. Medicinal plants and their extracts as feed supplements have been used to promote the growth and health of farm animals for centuries. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a phenolic compound that originated from natural plants. For years, the health-promoting role of PCA has been becoming an attraction of research in nutrition and pharmacy. Thus, it can be used as an active natural feed additive while synthetic antibiotics are illegal to use in animal breeding. However, the practical application of PCA in view of dosages in animal nutrition, together with its mode of action on animal health, is not well known. In this regard, this review study has explored the mode of action of PCA and the feasibility of using those compounds in animal nutrition. This review study concludes that phenolic-rich protocatechuic acid as a natural feed additive may be useful in enhancing antioxidant status, immune function, antimicrobial, intestinal health and growth performance of farm animals.
Spatial Distribution and Habitat Overlap of Five Columbidae Species in the Czech Republic
Authors: Floigl Kristina , Benedetti Yanina , Reif Jiří , Morelli Federico
Published: March 2022

Habitat overlap occurs when two species co-exist in the same habitat and utilise the same resources. Using common bird monitoring data in Czech Republic from 2015 and 2016, we compared the affinities of five Columbidae species regarding land use types. Moreover, we analysed the effects of land use types and land use heterogeneity on five species distributions. The aim of the study was to quantify the habitat overlap of five Columbidae species regarding types of land use and land use heterogeneity. We predicted a high level of habitat overlap between most of the species and its occurrence in farmlands and urban areas. Our results confirmed the high habitat overlap of all five Columbidae species in farmlands. An almost complete overlap was recorded between Columba livia domestica and Streptopelia decaocto, as well as between Columba palumbus and Streptopelia turtur. Considering land use utilisation, C. livia and S. decaocto mainly utilised farmlands and urban areas. Furthermore, deciduous forests were utilised by Columba oenas and coniferous and mixed forests by C. palumbus. Finally, S. turtur mainly utilised grasslands and avoided urban areas. We conclude that Columbidae species overlap in spatial distributions, mostly in urban areas, forests, and farmlands. Our study provides a summary of these common species habitat affinities.
The Immune Mechanisms of Severe Equine Asthma—Current Understanding and What Is Missing
Authors: Simões Joana , Batista Mariana , Tilley Paula
Published: March 2022

Severe equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease of adult horses, occurring when genetically susceptible individuals are exposed to environmental aeroallergens. This results in airway inflammation, mucus accumulation and bronchial constriction. Although several studies aimed at evaluating the genetic and immune pathways associated with the disease, the results reported are inconsistent. Furthermore, the complexity and heterogeneity of this disease bears great similarity to what is described for human asthma. Currently available studies identified two chromosome regions (ECA13 and ECA15) and several genes associated with the disease. The inflammatory response appears to be mediated by T helper cells (Th1, Th2, Th17) and neutrophilic inflammation significantly contributes to the persistence of airway inflammatory status. This review evaluates the reported findings pertaining to the genetical and immunological background of severe equine asthma and reflects on their implications in the pathophysiology of the disease whilst discussing further areas of research interest aiming at advancing treatment and prognosis of affected individuals.
Efficacy of Stem Cell Therapy in Large Animal Models of Ischemic Cardiomyopathies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: La Mantia Debora , Bernardini Chiara , Zannoni Augusta , Salaroli Roberta , Wang Changzhen , Bencivenni Silvia , Forni Monica
Published: March 2022

Stem-cell therapy provides a promising strategy for patients with ischemic heart disease. In recent years, numerous studies related to this therapeutic approach were performed; however, the results were often heterogeneous and contradictory. For this reason, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials, reporting the use of stem-cell treatment against acute or chronic ischemic cardiomyopathies in large animal models with regard to Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF). The defined research strategy was applied to the PubMed database to identify relevant studies published from January 2011 to July 2021. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed on LVEF mean data at follow-up between control and stem-cell-treated animals. In order to improve the definition of the effect measure and to analyze the factors that could influence the outcomes, a subgroup comparison was conducted. Sixty-six studies (n = 1183 animals) satisfied our inclusion criteria. Ischemia/reperfusion infarction was performed in 37 studies, and chronic occlusion in 29 studies; moreover, 58 studies were on a pig animal model. The meta-analysis showed that cell therapy increased LVEF by 7.41% (95% Confidence Interval 6.23–8.59%; p < 0.001) at follow-up, with significative heterogeneity and high inconsistency (I2 = 82%, p < 0.001). By subgroup comparison, the follow-up after 31–60 days (p = 0.025), the late cell injection (>7 days, p = 0.005) and the route of cellular delivery by surgical treatment (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of LVEF improvement. This meta-analysis showed that stem-cell therapy may improve heart function in large animal models and that the swine specie is confirmed as a relevant animal model in the cardiovascular field. Due to the significative heterogeneity and high inconsistency, future translational studies should be designed to take into account the evidenced predictors to allow for the reduction of the number of animals used.
The Effect of Tannin-Rich Witch Hazel on Growth of Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Rasooly Reuven , Howard Alex C. , Balaban Naomi , Hernlem Bradley , Apostolidis Emmanouil
Published: March 2022

Probiotic bacteria help maintain microbiome homeostasis and promote gut health. Maintaining the competitive advantage of the probiotics over pathogenic bacteria is a challenge, as they are part of the gut microbiome that is continuously exposed to digestive and nutritional changes and various stressors. Witch hazel that is rich in hamamelitannin (WH, whISOBAXTM) is an inhibitor of growth and virulence of pathogenic bacteria. To test for its effect on probiotic bacteria, WH was tested on the growth and biofilm formation of a commercially available probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum PS128. As these bacteria are aerotolerant, the experiments were carried out aerobically and in nutritionally inadequate/poor (nutrient broth) or adequate/rich (MRS broth) conditions. Interestingly, despite its negative effect on the growth and biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, WH promotes the growth of the probiotic bacteria in a nutritionally inadequate environment while maintaining their growth under a nutritionally rich environment. In the absence of WH, no significant biofilm is formed on the surfaces tested (polystyrene and alginate), but in the presence of WH, biofilm formation was significantly enhanced. These results indicate that WH may thus be used to enhance the growth and survival of probiotics.
Increased Association of Pulmonary Thromboembolism and Tuberculosis during COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from an Italian Infectious Disease Referral Hospital
Authors: Di Bari Virginia , Gualano Gina , Musso Maria , Libertone Raffaella , Nisii Carla , Ianniello Stefania , Mosti Silvia , Mastrobattista Annelisa , Cerva Carlotta , Bevilacqua Nazario , Iacomi Fabio , Mondi Annalisa , Topino Simone , Goletti Delia , Girardi Enrico , Palmieri Fabrizio ,   on behalf of the TB-INMI Working Group
Published: March 2022

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) has been associated with tuberculosis (TB), but the true incidence is unknown. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the PTE prevalence in TB patients hospitalized at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani during the January 2016–December 2021 period. Retrospective data collection and evaluation were conducted. Among 1801 TB patients, 29 (1.61%) exhibited PTE. Twenty (69%) had comorbidities; eleven (37.9%) had predisposing factors for PTE. Nineteen (65.5%) had extensive TB disease. The commonest respiratory symptoms were cough (37.9%), dyspnea (31%), chest pain (10.3%), and hemoptysis (6.9%). Twenty-five (86.2%) had elevated serum D-dimer levels. An increased prevalence of PTE from 0.6% in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period to 4.6% in the pandemic period was found. Acute respiratory failure and extensive TB disease increased significantly in the pandemic period. The increase in PTE could be explained by the increased severity of TB in patients in the pandemic period and by increased clinical suspicion and, consequently, increased requests for D-dimer testing, including in patients with non-COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients with extensive pulmonary disease are at high risk of developing PTE. Clinicians should be aware of this potentially life-threatening complication of TB, and patients should receive a thromboembolism risk assessment.
Enhanced Photosynthetic Capacity, Osmotic Adjustment and Antioxidant Defenses Contribute to Improve Tolerance to Moderate Water Deficit and Recovery of Triploid Citrus Genotypes
Authors: Lourkisti Radia , Froelicher Yann , Morillon Raphaël , Berti Liliane , Santini Jérémie
Published: March 2022

Currently, drought stress is a major issue for crop productivity, and future climate models predict a rise in frequency and severity of drought episodes. Polyploidy has been related to improved tolerance of plants to environmental stresses. In Citrus breeding programs, the use of triploidy is an effective way to produce seedless fruits, one of the greatest consumer expectations. The current study used physiological and biochemical parameters to assess the differential responses to moderate water deficit of 3x genotypes compared to 2x genotypes belonging to the same hybridization. Both parents, the mandarin Fortune and Ellendale tangor, were also included in the experimental design, while the 2x common clementine tree was used as reference. Water deficit affects leaf water status, as well as physiological and detoxification processes. Triploid genotypes showed a better ability to maintain water status through increased proline content and photosynthetic capacity. Moreover, less oxidative damage was associated with stronger antioxidant defenses in triploid genotypes. We also found that triploidy improved the recovery capacity after a water deficit episode.
Contribution of Nanoscience Research in Antioxidants Delivery Used in Nutricosmetic Sector
Authors: Dini Irene
Published: March 2022

Nanoscience applications in the food and cosmetic industry offer many potential benefits for consumers and society. Nanotechnologies permit the manipulation of matter at the nanoscale level, resulting in new properties and characteristics useful in food and cosmetic production, processing, packaging, and storage. Nanotechnology protects sensitive bioactive compounds, improves their bioavailability and water solubility, guarantees their release at a site of action, avoids contact with other constituents, and masks unpleasant taste. Biopolymeric nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, and colloids are delivery systems used to produce food supplements and cosmetics. There are no barriers to nanoscience applications in food supplements and cosmetic industries, although the toxicity of nano-sized delivery systems is not clear. The physicochemical and toxicological characterization of nanoscale delivery systems used by the nutricosmeceutic industry is reviewed in this work.
Artemisia gmelinii Attenuates Lung Inflammation by Suppressing the NF-κB/MAPK Pathway
Authors: Kim Seung Yong , Shin Dong-Uk , Eom Ji-Eun , Jung Sun Young , Song Hyeon-Ji , Lim Kyung min , Kim Gun-Dong , Yun Soon-Il , Kim Mi-Yeon , Shin Hee Soon , Lee So-Young
Published: March 2022

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and continuous CS exposure causes lung inflammation and deterioration. To investigate the protective effects of Artemisia gmelinii against lung inflammation in this study, cigarette smoke extract (CSE)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated alveolar macrophages (AMs) and mice stimulated with CSE/porcine pancreas elastase (PPE) were used. Artemisia gmelinii ethanol extract (AGE) was effective in decreasing the levels of cytokines, chemokine, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway in AMs. Additionally, oral administration of AGE suppressed inflammatory cells’ infiltration and secretion of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, matrix metallopeptidase 9, and neutrophil extracellular traps in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the COPD model. Moreover, the obstruction of small airways, the destruction of the lung parenchyma, and expression of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and MIP-2 were suppressed by inhibiting NF-κB activation in the lung tissues of the AGE group. These effects are associated with scopolin, chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, which are the main components of AGE. These data demonstrate the mitigation effect of AGE on lung inflammation via inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB pathways, suggesting that AGE may be instrumental in improving respiratory and lung health.
Methods of Atmospheric Coherence Length Measurement
Authors: Li Ming , Zhang Pengxin , Han Jiawei
Published: March 2022

Free-space optical (FSO) communication possesses the advantages of high security, large information capacity, high-speed transmission, small terminal size, low power consumption, easy and flexible deployment, etc. It is a promising communication technique, and could be an alternative to optical fiber communication and traditional radio frequency (RF) communication. One of principal challenges that FSO faces is the susceptibility of the atmospheric channel, which is turbulent in nature. After the optical signals propagate over the atmospheric channel, their wavefronts suffer from deleterious perturbation, thus resulting in degradation in the performance of the FSO. This knowledge with respect to FSO links helps to optimize the system design and reduce the adverse effects of atmospheric turbulence. The atmospheric coherence length of FSO links reflects the atmospheric turbulence effects, and it is one of the key parameters of FSO systems. Measuring the atmospheric coherence length, as a result, is of great interest as well as importance to the FSO community. In this paper, several methods associated with atmospheric coherence length measurement are reviewed.
Machine Learning Approach for Personality Recognition in Spanish Texts
Authors: Hernández Yasmín , Martínez Alicia , Estrada Hugo , Ortiz Javier , Acevedo Carlos
Published: March 2022

Personality is a unique trait that distinguishes an individual. It includes an ensemble of peculiarities on how people think, feel, and behave that affects the interactions and relationships of people. Personality is useful in diverse areas such as marketing, training, education, and human resource management. There are various approaches for personality recognition and different psychological models. Preceding work indicates that linguistic analysis is a promising way to recognize personality. In this work, a proposal for personality recognition relying on the dominance, influence, steadiness, and compliance (DISC) model and statistical methods for language analysis is presented. To build the model, a survey was conducted with 120 participants. The survey consisted in the completion of a personality test and handwritten paragraphs. The study resulted in a dataset that was used to train several machine learning algorithms. It was found that the AdaBoost classifier achieved the best results followed by Random Forest. In both cases a feature selection pre-process with Pearson’s Correlation was conducted. AdaBoost classifier obtained the average scores: accuracy = 0.782, precision = 0.795, recall = 0.782, F-measure = 0.786, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area = 0.939.
Fungi Affecting Wall Paintings of Historical Value: A Worldwide Meta-Analysis of Their Detected Diversity
Authors: Zucconi Laura , Canini Fabiana , Isola Daniela , Caneva Giulia
Published: March 2022

Wall paintings have been a cultural expression of human creativity throughout history. Their degradation or destruction represents a loss to the world’s cultural heritage, and fungi have been identified as a major contributor to their decay. We provide a critical review of fungi isolated from worldwide wall paintings between 1961–2021. One-hundred three scientific papers were reviewed focusing on fungal diversity, isolation protocols, and spatial distribution of data. The study sites were grouped into five environmental categories on the basis of the expected major microclimatic conditions (temperature, relative humidity, ventilation), and the possible relationship with the species found was investigated. The highest number of records were localized in Europe, with 38 sites on a total of 74, 20 of which were from Italy. A total of 378 fungal entries were obtained, consisting of 1209 records, belonging to 260 different species and 173 genera. The accuracy level in taxa determination was highly variable among different papers analyzed. Data showed a dominance of Ascomycota, mainly of orders Eurotiales and Hypocreales probably due to their wide distribution and easily air dispersed spores and due to the possible pitfalls linked to the isolation methods, favoring rapidly growing taxa. Statistical analyses revealed that fungal communities were not strictly linked to environmental categories with different ventilation, temperature, and humidity. Such findings may be due to the wide geographical area, the wide heterogeneity of the data, and/or the absence of standardized sampling and analyses protocols. They could also be the result of the dominance of some prevailing factors in the various sites that mask the influence one of each other.
Detection and Analysis of Partial Discharges in Oil-Immersed Power Transformers Using Low-Cost Acoustic Sensors
Authors: Besharatifard Hamidreza , Hasanzadeh Saeed , Heydarian-Forushani Ehsan , Alhelou Hassan Haes , Siano Pierluigi
Published: March 2022

Partial Discharge (PD) is one of the symptoms of an electrical insulation problem, and its permanence can lead to the complete deterioration of the electrical insulation in high-voltage equipment such as power transformers. The acoustic emission (AE) method is a well-known technique used to detect and localize PD activity inside oil-filled transformers. However, the commercially available monitoring systems based on acoustic sensors still have a high cost. This paper analyses the ability of low-cost piezoelectric sensors to identify PDs within oil-filled power transformers. To this end, two types of low-cost piezoelectric sensors were fully investigated using time-domain, frequency-domain, and time-frequency analysis, separately. Thereafter, the effectiveness of these sensors for PD detection and monitoring was studied. A three-phase distribution transformer filled with oil was examined. PDs were produced inside an oil-immersed transformer by applying a high voltage over two copper electrodes, and the AE sensors were coupled to the housing of the transformer. By extracting typical features from the AE signals, the PD signals were differentiated from on-site noise and interference. The AE signals were analyzed using acoustic signal metrics such as peak value, energy criterion, and other statistical parameters. The obtained results indicated that the used low-cost piezoelectric sensors have the capability of PD monitoring within power transformers.
Stress Behaviors at Rib-to-Floorbeam Weld and Cutout Details under Controlled Truck Loading
Authors: Li Jianpeng , Zhu Zhiwen
Published: March 2022

The rib-to-floorbeam (RF) connection is the most complicated joint in orthotropic steel decks (OSDs), where four fatigue-prone details are created, i.e., the RF at the rib side (RF-R), RF at the floor beam side (RF-F), RF at the rib wall (RF-W), as well as the floor beam cutout detail. In order to clarify the behavior of those details under the passage of trucks, a controlled truck loading test and finite element analysis (FEA) are performed at various typical transverse loading locations on a newly built long-span cable-stayed bridge. The research finds that, in the bridge transverse direction, stresses at the four details presented significant local effects. Only when these details are underneath the deck plate covered by the wheel patch a notable stress can be produced at these details. In the bridge longitudinal direction, the wheel loading effect at the four details can be discerned only when the wheels load on the deck supported by their adjacent floor beams. The results find that, under wheel loading, the stress ranges at the RF-R, RF-F and Cutout details are compressive, while the stress at the RF-W detail is in tension. The riding-rib-wall loading is the most critical transverse loading location for the RF and Cutout details, and the RF-W is the most critical fatigue detail in the RF connection. The FEA indicates that, due to offset of wheel loads, floor beams may suffer from severe out-of-plane bending, while ribs may experience notable warping and distortion. Under the passage of the tandem axles, the individual axle cannot be identified, and only one stress cycle is produced at the four details.
Numerical Modeling of a Green Tide Migration Process with Multiple Artificial Structures in the Western Bohai Sea, China
Authors: Han Xuejian , Kuang Cuiping , Li Yan , Song Wei , Qin Rufu , Wang Dan
Published: March 2022

Green tides have increasingly become a nuisance worldwide in recent years, and especially in China. Since 2015, green tides have started recurring in Jinmeng Bay, Qinhuangdao, western Bohai Sea of China, and have severely deteriorated the tourism environment there. In order to investigate the migration process of the green tides in Jinmeng Bay, a hydrodynamic model and a particle-tracking model were applied based on the latest green tide event in August 2021. The hydrodynamic model was applied with triple-level 2DH meshes with different refinements and scales, which provided the hydrodynamics to drive the green macroalgae into the particle-tracking model. From the model results, the semi-enclosed waters surrounded by multiple artificial structures are a low-energy hydrodynamic environment, which is not helpful for water exchange and thus the dispersal of nutrients. The green macroalgae are distributed substantially within the semi-enclosed waters, and few are transported out with low biomass. The effects of wind and artificial structures both increase the coverage of the green macroalgae trajectories; the effect of wind plays a more important role. A sensitivity analysis of the effect of wind showed that 6 m/s wind in ENE led to the maximum coverage of the green macroalgae trajectories in the cases of different magnitudes and directions of winds. This study can provide references for the pre-warning and mitigation of green tides in Jinmeng Bay and other similar places.
Research on Multi-Optimal Project of Outlet Guide Vanes of Nuclear Grade Axial Flow Fan Based on Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Jin Weiya , Mao Zijian , Zhou Shuiqing , Zhang Tianle , Hu Yinjie , Wu Zhenghui
Published: March 2022

Nuclear grade axial flow fans are widely used in nuclear power plants for ventilation and heat dissipation and have the advantages of high efficiency and high flow rates. A nuclear grade axial flow fan with OGVs (outlet guide vanes) can recover the kinetic energy of the dynamic impeller outlet winding to increase the ventilator pressure, thus improving the ventilator efficiency; therefore, the OGVs play an essential role in the performance of the axial flow fan. Based on accurate numerical simulations, an MRGP approximation model was developed to analyse the factors affecting the OGVs duct and optimise the guide vane structure, combined with the Sobol method for sensitivity analysis. The experiments and numerical simulations show that the total pressure of the optimised model increases by 154 Pa, and the noise decreases by 4.1 dB. The multi-objective optimisation method using the parametric approach and combining it with the MRGP model is highly reliable. It provides a key design direction for optimising nuclear grade axial flow fans.
A Resilience-Based (RB) Methodology to Assess Resilience of Health System Infrastructures to Epidemic Crisis
Authors: Forcellini Davide
Published: March 2022

The assessment of resilience of health infrastructures during an epidemic crisis is a fundamental issue in civil engineering, as shown by the recent COVID-19 crisis. During epidemic crises, health services and infrastructures need to maintain a level of functionality and avoid failures. In addition, it is important to evaluate post-hazard procedures, such as emergency and recovery actions. In this regard, the paper applied resilience as a parameter to assess investments, countermeasures and mitigations. The Resilience-Based (RB) methodology herein proposed was then applied to quantify the resilience of health infrastructure systems by considering the recovery of four European Countries (Germany, France, United Kingdom and Italy) after the first wave of COVID-19. The results demonstrated that the resilience of health system infrastructures (HSI) depends significantly on the policies that every government management applied—these being ultimately responsible for the differences in respective COVID impacts. In particular, the principal advantage of using resilience lies in its readability by many stakeholders, such as health infrastructure managers, government owners and public authorities.
Three-Dimensional Inversion of Semi-Airborne Transient Electromagnetic Data Based on a Particle Swarm Optimization-Gradient Descent Algorithm
Authors: He Yiming , Xue Guoqiang , Chen Weiying , Tian Zhongbin
Published: March 2022

Semi-airborne transient electromagnetics (SATEM) is a geophysical survey tool known for its ability to perform three-dimensional (3D) observations and collect high-density data in large volumes. However, SATEM data processing is presently restricted to 3D model-driven inversion, which is not conducive to detailed surveys. This paper presents a new 3D model- and data-driven inversion algorithm using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gradient descent (GD) algorithms. PSO is used to suppress the multiplicity of solutions associated with inverse problems, and the GD algorithm is employed to accelerate the convergence of the inversion process. For the PSO-GD algorithm, a new model-updating equation is established and a cosine probability function is introduced as a weighting term for PSO and GD algorithms to ensure a smooth transition between the two algorithms in the iterative process. The α-trimmed filter function is used as a regularization constraint to smooth the model. The stability and reliability of the PSO-GD algorithm are verified through numerical simulations. Finally, the new algorithm is applied to the processing of SATEM measurements of the Qinshui coal mine in Jincheng, Shanxi Province, China.
DCP: Prediction of Dental Caries Using Machine Learning in Personalized Medicine
Authors: Kang In-Ae , Ngnamsie Njimbouom Soualihou , Lee Kyung-Oh , Kim Jeong-Dong
Published: March 2022

Dental caries is an infectious disease that deteriorates the tooth structure, with tooth cavities as the most common result. Classified as one of the most prevalent oral health issues, research on dental caries has been carried out for early detection due to pain and cost of treatment. Medical research in oral healthcare has shown limitations such as considerable funds and time required; therefore, artificial intelligence has been used in recent years to develop models that can predict the risk of dental caries. The data used in our study were collected from a children’s oral health survey conducted in 2018 by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Several Machine Learning algorithms were applied to this data, and their performances were evaluated using accuracy, F1-score, precision, and recall. Random forest has achieved the highest performance compared to other machine learnings methods, with an accuracy of 92%, F1-score of 90%, precision of 94%, and recall of 87%. The results of the proposed paper show that ML is highly recommended for dental professionals in assisting them in decision making for the early detection and treatment of dental caries.