bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palynological Study of Fossil Plants from Miocene Murree Formation of Pakistan: Clues to Investigate Palaeoclimate and Palaeoenvironment
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Ahmad Mushtaq , Fawzy Ramadan Mohamed , Sultana Shazia , Papini Alessio , Ullah Fazal , Saqib Saddam , Ayaz Asma , Ahmed Bazai Mansoor , Zaman Wajid , Zafar Muhammad
Published: January 2023

Palaeoflora in Pakistan in the Miocene is characterized by its high biodiversity. The present study investigated the pollen of fossil plants from the Murree Formation of Pakistan. Shales and mudstones were collected from the Murree section located at the foothills of the Margalla hills and analyzed by palynofacies and palynostratigraphic analyses. In this paleopalynological study of the Miocene Murree Formations of Pakistan, 31 samples were analyzed using microscopic techniques containing 48 pollen types from 12 families. The quantitative and qualitative morphological features of pollen were determined using light and scanning electron microscopy to help identify the pollen grains. Exine ornamentations and spines were the most important diagnostic features for distinguishing one pollen grain from another. The maximum exine thickness was observed in Ocimum basilicum of 4.25 μm, whereas the maximum pollen diameter was recorded for Pinus of 69.5 μm. Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae were the dominant families. The results showed that the preservation of floral records was not optimal. The presented results provide data on the dominant fossil plant taxa that existed in Pakistan (23.03–5.33 Ma). The evolution and phytogeographical histories of fossil plants can be unraveled using rock sediments to preserve biodiversity.
Chemical Composition, Antioxidants, Antibacterial, and Insecticidal Activities of Origanum elongatum (Bonnet) Emberger & Maire Aerial Part Essential Oil from Morocco
Authors: Tagnaout Imane , Zerkani Hannou , Bencheikh Noureddine , Amalich Smail , Bouhrim Mohamed , Mothana Ramzi A. , Alhuzani Mohammed R. , Bouharroud Rachid , Hano Christophe , Zair Touriya
Published: January 2023

The aim of this research is to profile the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the aerial parts of Origanum elongatum (O. elongatum) and to evaluate its antioxidant, antibacterial and insecticidal activities on Ceratitis capitata adults. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed a total of 27 constituents in EO of O. elongatum, which accounted for 99.08% of its constituents. Carvacrol (57.32%) was a main component, followed by p-cymene (14.70%) and γ-terpinene (9.84%). The antioxidant activity of O. elongatum EO was investigated using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TCA (the total antioxidant capacity) methods. This EO exhibited a remarkable antiradical and reducing power against DPPH (IC50 = 2.855 ± 0.018μL/mL), FRAP (EC0.5 = 0.124 ± 0.013µL/mL) and TCA (IC50 = 14.099 ± 0.389 mg AAE/g of the EO). The antibacterial tests in vitro, using the disc and dilution methods, were carried out on nine pathogenic bacteria isolated from the hospital patients, such as Enterococcus faecalis, Serratia fonticola, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinétobacter baumannii, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae sensible, E.coli sensible, E.coli resistante, and Enterobacter aerogenes. The EO demonstrated a considerable antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) from 2 to 8 µL/mL against all strains except Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 32 µL/mL). Regarding the insecticidal activity, the fumigation test indicated a high efficacy (100% mortality), and a lethal dose of LD50  =  17 ± 0.53 μL/L air was found after 24 h of exposureTherefore, O. elongatum EO could be utilized as a natural antioxidant, antibiotic and biopesticides.
Infection-Related Ventilator-Associated Complications in Critically Ill Patients with Trauma: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Russo Emanuele , Antonini Marta Velia , Sica Andrea , Dell’Amore Cristian , Martino Costanza , Gamberini Emiliano , Bissoni Luca , Circelli Alessandro , Bolondi Giuliano , Santonastaso Domenico Pietro , Cristini Francesco , Raumer Luigi , Catena Fausto , Agnoletti Vanni
Published: January 2023

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability. Patients with trauma undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are at risk for ventilator-associated events (VAEs) potentially associated with a longer duration of IMV and increased stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the incidence of infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVACs), possible ventilator-associated pneumonia (PVAP), and their characteristics among patients experiencing severe trauma that required ICU admission and IMV for at least four days. We also determined pathogens implicated in PVAP episodes and characterized the use of antimicrobial therapy. Results: In total, 88 adult patients were included in the main analysis. In this study, we observed that 29.5% of patients developed a respiratory infection during ICU stay. Among them, five patients (19.2%) suffered from respiratory infections due to multi-drug resistant bacteria. Patients who developed IVAC/PVAP presented lower total GCS (median value, 7; (IQR, 9) vs. 12.5, (IQR, 8); p = 0.068) than those who did not develop IVAC/PVAP. Conclusions: We observed that less than one-third of trauma patients fulfilling criteria for ventilator associated events developed a respiratory infection during the ICU stay.
Chemical Profile, Anti-Microbial and Anti-Inflammaging Activities of Santolina rosmarinifolia L. Essential Oil from Portugal
Authors: Alves-Silva Jorge M. , Gonçalves Maria José , Silva Ana , Cavaleiro Carlos , Cruz Maria Teresa , Salgueiro Lígia
Published: January 2023

Fungal infections and the accompanying inflammatory responses are associated with great morbidity and mortality due to the frequent relapses triggered by an increased resistance to antifungal agents. Furthermore, this inflammatory state can be exacerbated during inflammaging and cellular senescence. Essential oils (EO) are receiving increasing interest in the field of drug discovery due to their lipophilic nature and complex composition, making them suitable candidates in the development of new antifungal drugs and modulators of numerous molecular targets. This work chemically characterized the EO from Santolina rosmarinifolia L., collected in Setúbal (Portugal), and assessed its antifungal potential by determining its minimum inhibitory (MIC) and minimum lethal (MLC) concentration in accordance with the Clinical Laboratory Standard Guidelines (CLSI) guidelines, as well as its effect on several Candida albicans virulence factors. The anti-inflammatory effect was unveiled using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages by assessing several pro-inflammatory mediators. The wound healing and anti-senescence potential of the EO was also disclosed. The EO was mainly characterized by β-pinene (29.6%), borneol (16.9%), myrcene (15.4%) and limonene (5.7%). It showed a strong antifungal effect against yeasts and filamentous fungi (MIC = 0.07–0.29 mg/mL). Furthermore, it inhibited dimorphic transition (MIC/16), decreased biofilm formation with a preeminent effect after 24 h (MIC/2) and disrupted preformed biofilms in C. albicans. Additionally, the EO decreased nitric oxide (NO) release (IC50 = 0.52 mg/mL) and pro-IL-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages, promoted wound healing (91% vs. 81% closed wound) and reduced cellular senescence (53% vs. 73% β-galactosidase-positive cells). Overall, this study highlights the relevant pharmacological properties of S. rosmarinifolia, opening new avenues for its industrial exploitation.
Preparation of Bioactive De-Chlorophyll Rhein-Rich Senna alata Extract
Authors: Aung Wah Wah , Panich Kanokpon , Watthanophas Suchawalee , Naridsirikul Sutada , Ponphaiboon Juthaporn , Krongrawa Wantanwa , Kulpicheswanich Pattranit , Limmatvapirat Sontaya , Limmatvapirat Chutima
Published: January 2023

Senna alata leaves display various biological activities as a result of their rhein and phenolic composition. The objective of this study was to develop bioactive de-chlorophyll rhein-rich S. alata extracts. The rhein content was quantified using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) method. The best process parameters for maximizing rhein were established using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The optimal conditions for the parameters were determined using the Box–Behnken design (BBD); 95% v/v ethanol was used as the extraction solvent at 59.52 °C for 18.4 min with a solvent-to-solid ratio of 25.48:1 (mL/g) to obtain the predicted value of rhein at 10.44 mg/g extract. However, the color of the rhein-rich extract remained dark brown. For the removal of chlorophyll, liquid–liquid extraction with vegetable oils and adsorption with bleaching agents were employed. The bleaching agents were significantly more effective at removing chlorophyll and had less of an effect on the reduction in rhein content than vegetable oils. The presence of rhein and phenolics in the de-chlorophyll extracts might be responsible for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. These findings indicate that rhein-rich extract and its de-chlorophyll extracts possess sufficient biological activities for the further development of cosmeceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Antibacterial Activity of Selected Essential Oils against Foodborne Pathogens and Their Application in Fresh Turkey Sausages
Authors: Šojić Branislav , Ikonić Predrag , Kocić-Tanackov Sunčica , Peulić Tatjana , Teslić Nemanja , Županjac Miloš , Lončarević Ivana , Zeković Zoran , Popović Milica , Vidaković Stefan , Pavlić Branimir
Published: January 2023

Essential oils (EOs) isolated from different plant materials, namely Origanum majorana L., Satureja hortensis L., and Satureja montana L. (OMEO, SHEO, and SMEO, respectively), were used in fresh turkey sausage processing. The chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial potential of selected EOs and their mixture were determined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes) ranged in the interval of 0.44–7.1 µL/mL. Fresh turkey sausages were produced with EOs addition and marked as follows: TOMEO—0.150 µL/g OMEO; TSHEO—0.150 µL/g SHEO; TSMEO—0.150 µL/g SMEO; TEOM—0.050 µL/g OMEO, 0.050 µL/g SHEO and 0.050 µL/g SMEO, and control (C) (without EOs). Microbiological profile and biogenic amines content in fresh turkey sausages were recorded during storage. The selected EOs and their mixture efficiently reduced bacterial growth and biogenic amines formation and accumulation. The lowest Enterobacteriaceae count and total biogenic amine (BA) concentration were determined through treatment TSHEO. The results of this study show that selected EOs could be useful in fresh turkey sausage processing in order to improve safety and shelf-life.
Fluoroquinolones Are Useful as Directed Treatment for Complicated UTI in a Setting with a High Prevalence of Quinolone-Resistant Microorganisms
Authors: Artero Arturo , López-Cruz Ian , Piles Laura , Alberola Juan , Eiros José María , Salavert Sofia , Madrazo Manuel
Published: January 2023

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) have been widely used for treating urinary tract infections (UTIs); however, the increasing emergence of resistant strains has compromised their use. We aimed to know the usefulness of FQs for the treatment of community-acquired UTI in a setting with a high prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant microorganisms. A prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with community-acquired UTI was conducted, in which their outcomes according to whether they had FQs or not in their empirical and directed treatments were compared. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for UTIs due to ciprofloxacin-resistant microorganisms. A total of 419 patients were included; 162 (38.7%) patients were treated with FQs, as empirical treatment in 27 (6.4%), and as directed treatment in 135 (32.2%). In-hospital mortality (2.2% vs. 6.6%, p 0.044) and 30-day mortality (4.4 vs. 11%, p 0.028) were both lower in the group of patients directly treated with FQ, while there were no differences when FQs were used as empirical treatment. A total of 37.2% of the cases were resistant to ciprofloxacin, which was associated with healthcare-associated UTI (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2–3.7) and prior exposure to FQs (OR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.9–3.7). In conclusion, our findings show that in a setting with a high prevalence of community-acquired UTI caused by quinolone-resistant microorganisms, FQs as directed treatment for community-acquired UTI were associated with better outcomes than other antibiotics, but their use as empirical treatment is not indicated, even in those cases without risk factors for quinolones resistance.
Obesity Affects Maternal and Neonatal HDL Metabolism and Function
Authors: Stadler Julia T. , van Poppel Mireille N. M. , Wadsack Christian , Holzer Michael , Pammer Anja , Simmons David , Hill David , Desoye Gernot , Marsche Gunther ,   DALI Core Investigator Group
Published: January 2023

Pregravid obesity is one of the major risk factors for pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and an increased risk of cardiovascular events in children of affected mothers. However, the biological mechanisms that underpin these adverse outcomes are not well understood. High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are antiatherogenic by promoting the efflux of cholesterol from macrophages and by suppression of inflammation. Functional impairment of HDLs in obese and GDM-complicated pregnancies may have long-term effects on maternal and offspring health. In the present study, we assessed metrics of HDL function in sera of pregnant women with overweight/obesity of the DALI lifestyle trial (prepregnancy BMI ≥ 29 kg/m2) and women with normal weight (prepregnancy BMI < 25 kg/m2), as well as HDL functionalities in cord blood at delivery. We observed that pregravid obesity was associated with impaired serum antioxidative capacity and lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase activity in both mothers and offspring, whereas maternal HDL cholesterol efflux capacity was increased. Interestingly, functionalities of maternal and fetal HDL correlated robustly. GDM did not significantly further alter the parameters of HDL function and metabolism in women with obesity, so obesity itself appears to have a major impact on HDL functionality in mothers and their offspring.
Dihydromyricetin Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Necroptosis via Sirtuin 3 Activation
Authors: Chen Yun , Zheng Yangyang , Chen Ruixiang , Shen Jieru , Zhang Shuping , Gu Yunhui , Shi Jiahai , Meng Guoliang
Published: January 2023

Dihydromyricetin (DHY), the main flavonoid component in Ampelopsis grossedentata, has important benefits for health. The present study aimed to investigate the exact effects and possible mechanisms of DHY on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Male C57BL/6 mice and sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) knockout (SIRT3-KO) mice were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce a diabetic model. Two weeks later, DHY (250 mg/kg) or carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were administrated once daily by gavage for twelve weeks. We found that DHY alleviated fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglyceride (TG) as well as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels; increased fasting insulin (FINS); improved cardiac dysfunction; ameliorated myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and injury; suppressed oxidative stress, inflammasome and necroptosis; but improved SIRT3 expression in STZ-induced mice. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were pre-treated with DHY (80 μM) with or without high glucose (HG) stimulation. The results showed that DHY attenuated cell damage but improved SIRT3 expression and inhibited oxidative stress, inflammasome and necroptosis in cardiomyocytes with high glucose stimulation. Moreover, the above protective effects of DHY on DCM were unavailable in SIRT3-KO mice, implying a promising medical potential of DHY for DCM treatment. In sum, DHY improved cardiac dysfunction; ameliorated myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis and injury; and suppressed oxidative stress, inflammation and necroptosis via SIRT3 activation in STZ-induced diabetic mice, suggesting DHY may serve as a candidate for an agent to attenuate diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Potential Antioxidative Activity of Homocysteine in Erythrocytes under Oxidative Stress
Authors: Ye Mingxin , Li Hui , Luo Hongjun , Zhou Yongyin , Luo Wenhong , Lin Zhexuan
Published: January 2023

Homocysteine is an amino acid containing a free sulfhydryl group, making it probably contribute to the antioxidative capacity in the body. We recently found that plasma total homocysteine (total-Hcy) concentration increased with time when whole blood samples were kept at room temperature. The present study was to elucidate how increased plasma total-Hcy is produced and explore the potential physiological role of homocysteine. Erythrocytes and leukocytes were separated and incubated in vitro; the amount of total-Hcy released by these two kinds of cells was then determined by HPLC-MS. The effects of homocysteine and methionine on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, osmotic fragility, and methemoglobin formation in erythrocytes under oxidative stress were studied. The reducing activities of homocysteine and methionine were tested by ferryl hemoglobin (Hb) decay assay. As a result, it was discovered that erythrocytes metabolized methionine to homocysteine, which was then oxidized within the cells and released to the plasma. Homocysteine and its precursor methionine could significantly decrease Rosup-induced ROS production in erythrocytes and inhibit Rosup-induced erythrocyte’s osmotic fragility increase and methemoglobin formation. Homocysteine (but not methionine) was demonstrated to enhance ferryl Hb reduction. In conclusion, erythrocytes metabolize methionine to homocysteine, which contributes to the antioxidative capability under oxidative stress and might be a supplementary protective factor for erythrocytes against ROS damage.
Importance of Insoluble-Bound Phenolics to the Antioxidant Potential Is Dictated by Source Material
Authors: Shahidi Fereidoon , Hossain Abul
Published: January 2023

Insoluble-bound phenolics (IBPs) are extensively found in the cell wall and distributed in various tissues/organs of plants, mainly cereals, legumes, and pulses. In particular, IBPs are mainly distributed in the protective tissues, such as seed coat, pericarp, and hull, and are also available in nutritional tissues, including germ, epicotyl, hypocotyl radicle, and endosperm, among others. IBPs account for 20–60% of the total phenolics in food matrices and can exceed 70% in leaves, flowers, peels, pulps, seeds, and other counterparts of fruits and vegetables, and up to 99% in cereal brans. These phenolics are mostly covalently bound to various macromolecules such as hemicellulose, cellulose, structural protein, arabinoxylan, and pectin, which can be extracted by acid, alkali, or enzymatic hydrolysis along with various thermal and non-thermal treatments. IBPs obtained from various sources exhibited a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anticancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties. In this contribution, the chemistry, distribution, biological activities, metabolism, and extraction methods of IBPs, and how they are affected by various treatments, are summarized. In particular, the effect of thermal and non-thermal processing on the release of IBPs and their antioxidant potential is discussed.
Effect of Ascosphaera apis Infestation on the Activities of Four Antioxidant Enzymes in Asian Honey Bee Larval Guts
Authors: Zhang Kaiyao , Fu Zhongmin , Fan Xiaoxue , Wang Zixin , Wang Siyi , Guo Sijia , Gao Xuze , Zhao Haodong , Jing Xin , Zou Peiyuan , Li Qiming , Chen Mengjun , Chen Dafu , Guo Rui
Published: January 2023

Ascosphaera apis infects exclusively bee larvae and causes chalkbrood, a lethal fungal disease that results in a sharp reduction in adult bees and colony productivity. However, little is known about the effect of A. apis infestation on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in bee larvae. Here, A. apis spores were purified and used to inoculate Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) larvae, followed by the detection of the host survival rate and an evaluation of the activities of four major antioxidant enzymes. At 6 days after inoculation (dpi) with A. apis spores, obvious symptoms of chalkbrood disease similar to what occurs in Apis mellifera larvae were observed. PCR identification verified the A. apis infection of A. cerana larvae. Additionally, the survival rate of larvae inoculated with A. apis was high at 1–2 dpi, which sharply decreased to 4.16% at 4 dpi and which reached 0% at 5 dpi, whereas that of uninoculated larvae was always high at 1~8 dpi, with an average survival rate of 95.37%, indicating the negative impact of A. apis infection on larval survival. As compared with those in the corresponding uninoculated groups, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the 5- and 6-day-old larval guts in the A. apis–inoculated groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the 4- and 5-day-old larval guts was significantly increased (p < 0.05), which suggests that the inhibition of SOD and CAT activities and the activation of GST activity in the larval guts was caused by A. apis infestation. In comparison with that in the corresponding uninoculated groups, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the 5-day-old larval gut but significantly reduced (p < 0.01) in the 6-day-old larval gut, indicating that the PPO activity in the larval guts was first enhanced and then suppressed. Our findings not only unravel the response of A. cerana larvae to A. apis infestation from a biochemical perspective but also offer a valuable insight into the interaction between Asian honey bee larvae and A. apis.
Facile Fabrication of α-Bisabolol Nanoparticles with Improved Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effects
Authors: Kim Sangwoo , Yu Sohyeon , Kim Jisu , Khaliq Nisar Ul , Choi Won Il , Kim Hyungjun , Sung Daekyung
Published: January 2023

Bioactive compounds are widely used in the bio-industry because of their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Because of excessive oxidative stress, which causes various diseases in humans, and because preservatives used in bioproducts cause allergies and contact dermatitis, it is important to use natural bioactive compounds in bioproducts to minimize oxidative stress. α-bisabolol (ABS) is a natural compound with both antioxidant and antibacterial properties. However, its water-insolubility makes its utilization in bioproducts difficult. In this study, ABS-loaded polyglyceryl-4 caprate nanoparticles (ABS@NPs) with improved aqueous stability and ABS loading were fabricated using an encapsulation method. The long-term stability of the ABS@NPs was analyzed with dynamic light scattering and methylene blue-staining to determine the optimized ABS concentration in ABS@NPs (10 wt%). The ABS@NPs exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, according to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and in vitro reactive oxygen species generation in NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, and an outstanding antibacterial effect, as determined using the Staphylococcus aureus colony-counting method. Furthermore, we evaluated the biocompatibility of the ABS@NPs in vitro. This study suggests that ABS@NPs with improved antioxidant and antibacterial properties can be used to treat diseases related to various oxidative stresses and can be applied in many fields, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods.
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Pomegranate Peel with Xylanase on Egg Quality and Antioxidant Parameters in Laying Hens
Authors: Lioliopoulou Styliani , Papadopoulos Georgios A. , Giannenas Ilias , Vasilopoulou Konstantina , Squires Clare , Fortomaris Paschalis , Mantzouridou Fani Th.
Published: January 2023

Pomegranate contains bioactive compounds in all its parts. In this study, two levels of pomegranate peel byproduct (PPB) with or without the inclusion of xylanase enzyme were used to supplement laying hens’ diet, in a 2 × 2 full factorial design. A total of 48 Isa brown laying hens were fed the following experimental diets for 8 weeks: T1 (2.5% PPB); T2 (2.5% PPB and xylanase); T3 (5% PPB); T4 (5% PPB and xylanase). Eggs collected were analyzed for egg quality parameters. Moreover, egg yolks were analyzed for Malondialdehyde content (MDA), fatty acid profile and total phenolic content. The T2 eggs showed enhanced yolk coloration and greater yolk total phenolic content. The T3 and T4 egg yolks showed lower MDA levels compared with T1, T2. Overall, results have shown that (a) xylanase inclusion affected egg yolk coloration and total phenolic content when combined with 2.5% PPB dietary supplementation; (b) dietary supplementation of 5% PPB resulted in eggs with reduced MDA levels.
Dietary Methionine Level Impacts the Growth, Nutrient Metabolism, Antioxidant Capacity and Immunity of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) under Chronic Heat Stress
Authors: Liu Jiadai , Zhang Cong , Wang Xiaodan , Li Xinyu , Huang Qincheng , Wang Han , Miao Yixin , Li Erchao , Qin Jianguang , Chen Liqiao
Published: January 2023

This study examined whether diets with high dietary methionine levels could alleviate chronic heat stress in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. Crabs were fed three dietary methionine levels of 0.49%, 1.29% and 2.09% for six weeks. The analyzed methionine concentration of diets was 0.48%, 1.05% and 1.72%, respectively. Crabs were fed three different supplemental concentrations of dietary methionine at 24 °C and 30 °C, respectively. The trial was divided into six groups with five replicates in each group, and 40 juvenile crabs (initial average weight 0.71 ± 0.01 g) in each replicate. During the trial, crabs were fed twice daily (the diet of 4% of the body weight was delivered daily). The effects of dietary methionine level on nutrient metabolism, antioxidant capacity, apoptosis factors and immunity were evaluated at a normal water temperature of 24 °C and high temperature of 30 °C. Feed conversion ratio decreased under chronic heat stress. Chronic heat stress increased weight gain, specific growth rate, molting frequency, and protein efficiency ratio. The survival of crabs decreased under chronic heat stress, whereas a high level of dietary methionine significantly improved survival. Chronic heat stress induced lipid accumulation and protein content reduction. The high-methionine diet decreased lipid in the body and hepatopancreas, but increased protein in the body, muscle and hepatopancreas under chronic heat stress. Simultaneously, the high dietary methionine levels mitigated oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation, restoring the antioxidant enzyme system, decreasing apoptosis and activating immune function under chronic heat stress. This study suggests that supplementing 1.72% dietary methionine could alleviate the adverse effects of a high water temperature in E. sinensis farming.
Oral Combination Treatment of Gefitinib (IressaTM) and Sasam-Kyeongokgo: Synergistic Effects on the NCI-H520 Tumor Cell Line
Authors: Oh Jeong-Hoon , Kim Joo Wan , Jung Chul-Jong , Choi Jae-Suk , Ku Sae Kwang
Published: January 2023

The aim of this research was to confirm the possible synergic effects of sasam-Kyeongokgo (SKOG) on the anti-tumor activity of gefitinib using athymic nude mice bearing the human non-small-cell lung squamous cell carcinoma (NSCLC) NCI-H520 cell line after continuous oral combination treatment provided daily for 35 days within a timeframe of 5 min, as a developing process of novel preventive and therapeutic regimes for various types of lung cancer. After 35 days, BW, tumor volume and weight, and lymphatic and periovarian fat pad weight measurements, as well as serum IFN-γ and IL-6 level, NK cell activity, and splenic cytokine content measurements, together with histopathological observations, and immunohistochemistry measurements of the treated and control mice, were performed. The results suggest that the co-administration of SKOG 400, 200, or 100 mg/kg with gefitinib markedly increased the anti-tumor activity of gefitinib through immunostimulatory effects and also dramatically inhibited cancer cachexia through the immunostimulatory effect, potentiating the anti-tumor activity of gefitinib, with favorable anti-cachexia effects. Therefore, the co-administration of over 100 mg/kg of SKOG and gefitinib can provide an effective novel treatment regimen for various lung cancer patients.
A Model to Measure U-Learning in Virtual Higher Education: U-CLX
Authors: Ramírez Villegas Gabriel M. , Collazos César A. , Díaz Jaime
Published: January 2023

Ubiquitous learning is an evolution of educational learning processes that implements the concept of ubiquity. That is to say, it is found at all times and in all places. This article summarizes our previous works and proposes an alternative to answer our main research question: how can we develop a U-Learning model that integrates connective learning and xAPI user experiences? This paper presents the U-Learning Model Supported by Learning Experiences and Connective Learning for virtual higher education (U-CLX Model) to measure U-Learning in virtual institutions. The U-CLX Model measures ubiquitous learning in four dimensions: time, place, medium, and context. To develop the model, we proposed a theoretical and technological framework, a definition of the U-Learning concept, a unit of measurement for ubiquitous learning (UbiquoL), and a description of the measurement process. We validated the proposal by thematic specialists and applied the instrument in two universities. The model aims to assess the level of ubiquitous learning in virtual higher education institutions and to suggest how these institutions can improve within their current operations.
Experimental Study of the Self-Potential Response Characteristics of Anisotropic Bituminous Coal during Deformation and Fracturing
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liu Shengdong , Yang Cai , Li Juanjuan
Published: January 2023

The deformation and fracturing of coal rock is a crucial part of coal and rock dynamic disasters and is accompanied by variations in the electrical field of the rock. In this study, the self-potential characteristics of coal rock were measured to dynamically monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of coal rock deformation and fracturing. By using an MTS816 rock mechanics test system, an AE acoustic emission system and a self-developed SEMOS-LAB experimental system, synchronous measurements of the self-potential, stress and acoustic emission of anisotropic bituminous coal under uniaxial compression were obtained. The self-potential of anisotropic bituminous coal exhibited a good correspondence with the stress and acoustic emission counts during the damage and fracturing. As the stress gradually increased, the bedding-perpendicular coal samples exhibited a stronger linear relationship with the stress during initial loading than the bedding-parallel samples. The amplitude of the self-potential and stress of the bedding-perpendicular samples were higher than those of the bedding-parallel samples. Anisotropy is an important factor that affects the variation in the self-potential of a rock mass under loading. The results of this study can be applied to evaluate the stress state of coal by measuring its loading-induced electrical potential; thus, this work is important in the field for the monitoring and warning of coal and rock dynamic disasters.
Privacy-Preserving E-Voting System Supporting Score Voting Using Blockchain
Authors: Alshehri Ali , Baza Mohamed , Srivastava Gautam , Rajeh Wahid , Alrowaily Majed , Almusali Majed
Published: January 2023

With the advancement of cyber threats, blockchain technology has evolved to have a significant role in providing secure and reliable decentralized applications. One of these applications is a remote voting system that allow voters to participate in elections remotely. This work proposes a privacy-preserving e-voting system supporting score voting using blockchain technology. The main challenge with score voting compared to the regular yes/no voting approach is that a voter is allowed to assign a score from a defined range for each candidate. To preserve privacy, votes shall be encrypted before submission to the Blockchain, however, a malicious voter can modify the score value before encrypting it to manipulate the elections result for the favor of a certain candidate. To address this challenge, the proposed scheme allows voters to first prove that the submitted score lies in the predefined range before the vote is added to the Blockchain to ensure fairness of the election. The performance of our scheme is evaluated against a set of comprehensive experiments designed to determine optimal bounds for workload and transaction send rates and measure the impact of exceeding these bounds on critical performance metrics. The results of these simulations and their implications therefore indicate that the proposed scheme is secure while being able to handle up to 10,000 transactions at a time.
Taxonomic Structure Evolution, Chemical Composition and Anaerobic Digestibility of Microalgae-Bacterial Granular Sludge (M-BGS) Grown during Treatment of Digestate
Authors: Kazimierowicz Joanna , Dębowski Marcin , Zieliński Marcin
Published: January 2023

The liquid fraction from the dewatering of digested sewage sludge (LF-DSS) represents a major processing complication for wastewater treatment facilities, thus necessitating new and effective methods of LF-DSS neutralization. This pilot-scale study examined the evolution of a Chlorella sp. monoculture into microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (M-BGS) during treatment of LF-DSS in a hybrid photo-bioreactor (H-PBR). The M-BGS reached a stable taxonomic and morphological structure after 60 days of H-PBR operation. The biomass was primarily composed of Chlorella sp., Microthrix parvicella, and type 1851 and 1701 filamentous bacteria. A greater abundance of bacteria led to a faster-growing M-BGS biomass (to a level of 4800 ± 503 mgTS/dm3), as well as improved TOC and COD removal from the LF-DSS (88.2 ± 7.2% and 84.1 ± 5.1%). The efficiency of N/P removal was comparable, since regardless of the composition and concentration of biomass, it ranged from 68.9 ± 3.1% to 71.3 ± 3.1% for N and from 54.2 ± 4.1% to 56, 2 ± 4.6% for P. As the M-BGS taxonomic structure evolved and the C/N ratio improved, so did the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance. Biogas yield from the M-BGS peaked at 531 ± 38 cm3/gVS (methane fraction = 66.2 ± 2.7%). It was found that final effects of AD were also strongly correlated with the N and TOC content in the substrate and pH value. A mature M-BGS significantly improved settleability and separability through filtration.
Heat Load Forecasting of Marine Diesel Engine Based on Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Zhou Rui , Cao Jiyin , Zhang Gang , Yang Xia , Wang Xinyu
Published: January 2023

High heat load on diesel engines is a main cause of ship failure, which can lead to ship downtime and pose a risk to personal safety and the environment. As such, predictive detection and maintenance measures are highly important. During the operation of marine diesel engines, operating data present strong dynamic, time lag, and nonlinear characteristics, and traditional models and prediction methods cause difficulties in accurately predicting the heat load. Therefore, the prediction of its heat load is a challenging and significant task. The continuously developing machine learning technology provides methods and ideas for intelligent detection and diagnosis maintenance. The prediction of diesel engine exhaust temperature using long short-term memory network (LSTM) is analyzed in this study to determine the diesel engine heat load and introduce an effective method. Spearman correlation coefficient method with the addition of artificial experience is utilized for feature selection to obtain the optimal input for the LSTM model. The model is applied to validate the ship data of the Shanghai Fuhai ship, and results show that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of the model is lowest at 0.089. Compared with other models, the constructed prediction model presents higher accuracy and stability, as well as an optimal evaluation index. A new idea is thus provided for combining artificial knowledge experience with data-driven applications in engineering practice.
Robust Full-Screen Wavelength Calibration Algorithm
Authors: Jiang Baisong , Zhang Chunxia , Zhao Nanqi , Li Hongguang , Yuan Liang , Chen Juan , Bai Haowen , Wang Le
Published: January 2023

In spectrometer measurement, it is very important to accurately calibrate the wavelength of all target characteristic spectra. Although wavelength calibration methods have long been investigated, no techniques have been designed for the scanning, double-layer, secondary diffraction, linear-array CCD spectrometer, to the best of our knowledge. Based on the grating diffraction equation and experimental results, a mathematical model of wavelength calibration was established for the scanning, double-layer, secondary diffraction, linear-array CCD spectrometer. In this study, a robust, full-screen, wavelength calibration algorithm is proposed, based on the related working principle and the requirements of both accuracy and robustness. The detailed steps are as follows. First, we established a wavelength calibration model at central pixels, following the grating diffraction equation. Then, according to the relationship between the difference in pixels and the feedback values of the grating ruler, a model was established to show the association between these factors. Finally, we combined the two models and built a full-screen wavelength calibration model. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that the proposed calibration algorithm is an excellent calibration tool, which can conveniently and accurately calibrate the wavelengths of central and non-central pixels at the same time.
Blade Crack Diagnosis Based on Blade Tip Timing and Convolution Neural Networks
Authors: Zhu Guangya , Wang Chongyu , Zhao Wei , Xie Yonghui , Guo Ding , Zhang Di
Published: January 2023

The diagnosis of blade crack faults is critical to ensuring the safety of turbomachinery. Blade tip timing (BTT) is a non-contact vibration displacement measurement technique, which has been extensively studied for blade vibration condition monitoring recently. The fault diagnosis methods based on deep learning can be summarized as studying the internal logical relationship of data, automatically mining features, and intelligently identifying faults. This research proposes a crack fault diagnostic method based on BTT measurement data and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the crack fault detection of blades. There are two main aspects: the numerical analysis of the rotating blade crack fault diagnosis and the experimental research in rotating blade crack fault diagnosis. The results show that the method outperforms many other traditional machine learning models in both numerical models and tests for diagnosing the depth and location of blade cracks. The findings of this study contribute to the real-time online crack fault diagnosis of blades.
Monitoring of “7-20” Rainstorm Damage in the Zhengzhou Road Network Using Heterogeneous SAR Images
Authors: Li Siyi , Jin Guowang , Li Jiahao
Published: January 2023

Flooding is one of the most frequently occurring meteorological disasters nowadays, and its occurrence can cause significant socio-economic losses. Aiming at the problem that traditional optical remote sensing makes it difficult to monitor floods, this paper designs a scheme to jointly extract the scope of the affected area by using heterogeneous satellite-based SAR images acquired at different times within the flood period. This paper takes the “7-20” rainstorm in Zhengzhou City as an example and uses two kinds of heterogeneous SAR images, Sentinel-1A and GF-3, to extract the flooding damage in the main urban area. In addition, combinations with the vector data of the Gaode road network were performed to further monitor and analyze the “7-20” rainstorm damage in the main urban area of Zhengzhou. The results showed that the main urban area of Zhengzhou City was affected by the “7-20” rainstorm. The roads in the main urban area of Zhengzhou were seriously affected, and the total length of the affected roads reached 1324.63 km. The monitoring scheme for flooding road network damage using Sentinel-1A and GF-3 heterogeneous SAR images has certain feasibility.
Chinese Lip-Reading Research Based on ShuffleNet and CBAM
Authors: Fu Yixian , Lu Yuanyao , Ni Ran
Published: January 2023

Lip reading has attracted increasing attention recently due to advances in deep learning. However, most research targets English datasets. The study of Chinese lip-reading technology is still in its initial stage. Firstly, in this paper, we expand the naturally distributed word-level Chinese dataset called ‘Databox’ previously built by our laboratory. Secondly, the current state-of-the-art model consists of a residual network and a temporal convolutional network. The residual network leads to excessive computational cost and is not suitable for the on-device applications. In the new model, the residual network is replaced with ShuffleNet, which is an extremely computation-efficient Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture. Thirdly, to help the network focus on the most useful information, we insert a simple but effective attention module called Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) into the ShuffleNet. In our experiment, we compare several model architectures and find that our model achieves a comparable accuracy to the residual network (3.5 GFLOPs) under the computational budget of 1.01 GFLOPs.
Changes of Some Physicochemical Properties of Canola Oil by Adding n-Hexane and Ethanol Regarding Its Application as Diesel Fuel
Authors: Longwic Rafał , Sander Przemysław , Zdziennicka Anna , Szymczyk Katarzyna , Jańczuk Bronisław
Published: January 2023

Canola oil cannot be directly used as a fuel in diesel engines because its physicochemical properties differ considerably from those of diesel oil. Therefore, the studies were intended to make closer the surface tension, viscosity and density of the canola oil to those of diesel fuel by adding n-hexane and ethanol. The surface tension and its components as well as density and viscosity were determined not only for the canola oil mixtures with n-hexane and ethanol but also for the canola oil components. The surface tension components were determined based on the contact angle measurements on PTFE. To obtain the components and parameters of saturated fatty acids, the contact angles of water, diiodomethane and formamide on their layers were measured. The contact angles of the studied mixtures were also measured on the engine valve. The obtained results and theoretical considerations allowed us to explain why the values of the surface tension, density and viscosity of canola oil are higher than those for its components. They also contributed to the explanation of the mechanism of the reduction in these quantities for canola oil by the addition of n-hexane and ethanol. It appeared, for example, that viscosity of the canola oil mixture with 20% n-hexane contacted with ethanol is close to that of diesel fuel.
Effect of Damage on the Corrosion Performance of Thermal Spray Aluminium (TSA) Coating in Synthetic Seawater
Authors: Paul Shiladitya
Published: January 2023

A widely used coating system for corrosion mitigation of offshore steel structures is thermally sprayed aluminium (TSA). Even though these coatings have been used for decades, it is not always clear how they perform in service over long periods, particularly if damaged during installation or in service. To understand the corrosion behaviour of damaged TSA coatings in seawater and their tolerance to levels of damage, TSA coatings (1050 Al) were prepared on carbon steel substrates using wire arc spray and tested in synthetic seawater. Prior to testing, various levels of holidays or damage (~5%, 10%, 15% and 18%) reaching the steel substrate were drilled on the front surface of the coated specimens. Open circuit potential was measured and linear polarization resistance technique was used to calculate the corrosion rate. The work showed that the TSA coatings polarised steel to potentials below −800 mV (Ag/AgCl) at 25 °C, even in the presence of damage or holiday (up to ~18%). The SEM/EDX and XRD data confirmed the presence of brucite and aragonite in the damage region. The presence of damage impacted the short-term corrosion rate at the start, but did not significantly affect the overall corrosion performance of the TSA coatings in 420 days of testing.
Research on Safe Following Distance on an Expressway Based on Braking Process Analysis
Authors: Wu Xinye , Fu Shude
Published: January 2023

As an important part of the vehicle active collision avoidance system, improvement of the minimum safe following distance model has aroused the interest of researchers at home and abroad. According to the characteristics of the safe driving of vehicles on expressways, the braking process of vehicles is analyzed using the principle of kinematics. According to the requirements of the safe following distance between vehicles, the safe following distance of different braking system structures, different following states, different speeds and different slope sections on expressways is quantitatively analyzed. Three different safe following distance calculation methods based on braking deceleration under different slope conditions are established. Matlab software was used for simulation analysis. The simulation results show that the calculation method of the safe following distance meets the requirements of keeping safe distance in the Implementation Regulations of Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China and provides a more specific reference basis for speed limit used on expressways. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application and interpretation of the parking sight distance value stipulated in the Design Specification for Highway Alignment, and has certain practical guiding significance for improving the density and transportation efficiency of expressway vehicles and reducing the incidence of rear-end traffic accidents.
An Accurate, Efficient, and Stable Perspective-n-Point Algorithm in 3D Space
Authors: Qiao Rui , Xu Guili , Wang Ping , Cheng Yuehua , Dong Wende
Published: January 2023

The Perspective-n-Point problem is usually addressed by means of a projective imaging model of 3D points, but the spatial distribution and quantity of 3D reference points vary, making it difficult for the Perspective-n-Point algorithm to balance accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency. To address this issue, this paper introduces Hidden PnP, a hidden variable method. Following the parameterization of the rotation matrix by CGR parameters, the method, unlike the existing best matrix synthesis technique (Gröbner technology), does not require construction of a larger matrix elimination template in the polynomial solution phase. Therefore, it is able to solve CGR parameter rapidly, and achieve an accurate location of the solution using the Gauss–Newton method. According to the synthetic data test, the PnP algorithm solution, based on hidden variables, outperforms the existing best Perspective-n-Point method in accuracy and robustness, under cases of Ordinary 3D, Planar Case, and Quasi-Singular. Furthermore, its computational efficiency can be up to seven times that of existing excellent algorithms when the spatially redundant reference points are increased to 500. In physical experiments on pose reprojection from monocular cameras, this algorithm even showed higher accuracy than the best existing algorithm.