bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surfactin secreted by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Ba01 is required to combat Streptomyces scabies causing potato common scab
Authors: Feng Ru-Ying , Chen Yi-Hsuan , Lin Chih , Tsai Chia-Hsin , Yang Yu-Liang , Chen Ying-Lien
Published: November 2022

Potato common scab, which is mainly caused by the bacterium Streptomyces scabies, occurs in key potato growing regions worldwide. It causes necrotic or corky symptoms on potato tubers and decreases the economic value of potato. At present, there is no recommended chemical or biological control for combating potato common scab in Taiwan. It can only reduce the occurrence by cultivation control, but the efficacy is limited. Previously we found that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Ba01 could control potato common scab in pot assay and in the field. The potential anti-S. scabies mechanism was associated with surfactin secretion, but further molecular dissection was not conducted. Thus, in this study we aimed to determine whether surfactin is the main compound active against S. scabies by knocking out the srf gene cluster in Ba01. The cloning plasmid pRY1 was transformed to Ba01 by electroporation for in-frame deletion. Two independent Δsrf mutants were obtained and confirmed by specific primers and mass spectrometry. The swarming ability and S. scabies inhibition was significantly decreased (P<0.001) in Δsrf mutants. The swarming ability of Δsrf mutants could be restored by the addition of surfactin. Furthermore, we found that Ba01 formed wrinkled biofilm in MSgg liquid medium, while Δsrf mutants formed biofilm abnormally. Furthermore, the α-amylase, protease and phosphate-solubilizing ability of Δsrf mutants was decreased, and the mutants could not inhibit the growth and sporulation of S. scabies on potato tuber slices. In conclusion, srf gene cluster of B. amyloliquefaciens Ba01 is responsible for the secretion of surfactin and inhibition of S. scabies.
‘Mens sana in corpore Sano’: Home food consumption implications over child cognitive performance in vulnerable contexts
Authors: Company-Córdoba Rosalba , Accerenzi Michela , Simpson Ian Craig , Ibáñez-Alfonso Joaquín A.
Published: November 2022

Diet directly affects children’s physical and mental development. Nonetheless, how food insecurity and household food consumption impact the cognitive performance of children at risk of social exclusion remains poorly understood. In this regard, children in Guatemala face various hazards, mainly related to the socioeconomic difficulties that thousands of families have in the country. The main objective of this study was to analyze the differences in cognitive performance considering food insecurity and household food consumption in a sample of rural and urban Guatemalan children and adolescents at risk of social exclusion. Child cognitive performance was assessed in 134 children and adolescents (age M = 11.37; SD = 3.54) from rural and urban settings. Language, attention, and executive functions were assessed using neuropsychological tasks. Differences in cognitive performance in each level of food insecurity and household diet consumption were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors may influence cognitive scores. The results showed that rural and urban groups did not differ in terms of food insecurity. However, considering just rural areas, differences were found between groups with food security and insecurity in attention and executive function tasks. Moreover, differences were found in food consumption for certain groups of food (e.g., meat, U = 1,146, p < 0.001, g = 0.72). Regarding regressions, protein food consumption (e.g., meat and fish), which is related to having a more balanced diet, was a relevant factor in executive performance. Contrary to what we expected, performance in attentional tasks was not related to the consumption of any food group. These findings could help politicians and decision-makers to select actions focused on improving diet balance and food security in families at risk of social exclusion. It is necessary to carry out more specific studies on the factors related to diet that affect the cognitive development of minors at risk of social exclusion. In addition, it is necessary to study the implementation of alternative interventions that include low-cost nutrients, thus ensuring that minors have access to a more balanced diet.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Cobas 6800 RT-PCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA
Authors: Mahmoud Sally , Ganesan Subhashini , Raheja Preety , Cantarutti Flavia , Ateia Hagar , Zaher Walid
Published: November 2022

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid development and launch of several commercial RT-PCR-based assays for identification of SARS-CoV-2. However, there is need for peer-reviewed evaluation of these assays that can support their clinical performance. In this study, we, therefore, conduct an in-house evaluation of the automated Cobas 68000 RT-PCR assay in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections using different pooling techniques.

Methods: An observational study is conducted to evaluate the clinical performance of the Cobas 6800 SARS-CoV-2 assay in comparison with the Labgun Exofast RT-PCR kit, using both pooled and non-pooled sample techniques. A total of 300 nasopharyngeal swab samples, 40 known positive samples and 260 negative samples, are used for pooling, while the performance is evaluated in three different sample pool sizes of 4, 5, and 6.

Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the Cobas 6,800 was 100% when compared to the comparable assay. The sample pooling technique showed that specificity was 100% in all pool sizes and the sensitivity varied from 95% in the 6-pooled sample to 100% in both the 5- and 4-pooled samples. The lower limit of detection was verified as 25 copies/ml for un-pooled samples, and, therefore, the limit of detection was 100, 125, and 150 copies/ml for the 4, 5, and 6 sample pools, respectively. Strong correlation was observed between the Ct values of the target genes of both assays.

Conclusion: Cobas 6800 RT-PCR assay is a reliable platform for qualitative and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and can be effectively utilized for pooling of samples with highly efficient performance when disease prevalence is lower.
Human Riddles in Behavioral Economics
Authors: Kahneman Daniel
Published: November 2022

Human behavior is a diverse, complex, and highly interesting phenomenon. Despite the many differences that exist between any two people, we can find patterns that characterize typical behaviors in various situations, such as in a classroom or at a family dinner. The research field called behavioral economics studies human behavior in financial situations. In this article, I will present the main findings of the prospect theory, which I developed together with the late Amos Tversky. Prospect theory explains human choices in situations that involve gambling, and it answers questions such as whether people consider gains and losses equally and how a person’s initial financial situation influences the value they give to gains and losses. At the end of the article, I will share important insights from my scientific career and explain why happiness has two faces.
Distant Planets and Big Promises: How to Detect Exoplanets and Whether They Have Life
Authors: Mayor Michel
Published: November 2022

One of the most interesting, exhilarating, and captivating questions that we can ask ourselves is: does life exist in other places in the universe? This question has sparked the imagination of many generations of science fiction authors, scientists, and intrigued citizens. In this article, I will tell you about the discovery of the first planet orbiting a sun-like star outside of our solar system (exoplanet), for which I was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2019. I will also tell you about the progress that was made since my discovery, and the current challenges we are facing when dealing with the question of discovering life elsewhere in the universe. How close are we to answering this long-standing question? Let us find out.
Interface region imaging spectrograph (IRIS) observations of the fractal dimension in the solar atmosphere
Authors: Aschwanden Markus J. , Vilangot Nhalil Nived
Published: November 2022

We focus here on impulsive phenomena and Quiet-Sun features in the solar transition region, observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) at 1,400 Å (at formation temperatures of Te ≈ 104–106 K). Summarizing additional literature values we find the following fractal dimensions (in increasing order): DA = 1.23 ± 0.09 for photospheric granulation, DA =1.40 ± 0.09 for chromospheric (network) patterns, DA = 1.54 ± 0.04 for plages in the transition region, DA = 1.56 ± 0.08 for extreme ultra-violet (EUV) nanoflares, DA = 1.59 ± 0.20 for active regions in photospheric magnetograms, and DA = 1.76 ± 0.14 for large solar flares. We interpret low values of the fractal dimension (1.0 ≲ DA ≲ 1.5) in terms of sparse curvi-linear flow patterns, while high values of the fractal dimension (1.5 ≲ DA ≲ 2.0) indicate quasi-space-filling transport processes, such as chromospheric evaporation in flares. Phenomena in the solar transition region appear to be consistent with self-organized criticality (SOC) models, based on their fractality and their size distributions of fractal areas A and (radiative) energies E, which show power law slopes of αAobs=2.51±0.21 (with αAtheo=2.33 predicted), and αEobs=2.03±0.18 (with αEtheo=1.80 predicted). This agreement suggests that brightenings detected with IRIS at 1,400 Å reveal the same nonlinear SOC statistics as their coronal counterparts in EUV.
Laparoscopic vs. open colectomy for T4 colon cancer: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of prospective observational studies
Authors: Chen Peng , Zhou Hang , Chen Chuwen , Qian Xin , Yang Lie , Zhou Zongguang
Published: November 2022

Background

To evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic colectomy (LC) vs. open colectomy (OC) in patients with T4 colon cancer.

Methods

Three authors independently searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov for articles before June 3, 2022 to compare the clinical outcomes of T4 colon cancer patients undergoing LC or OC.

Results

This meta-analysis included 7 articles with 1,635 cases. Compared with OC, LC had lesser blood loss, lesser perioperative transfusion, lesser complications, lesser wound infection, and shorter length of hospital stay. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of 5-year overall survival (5y OS), and 5-year disease-free survival (5y DFS), R0 resection rate, positive resection margin, lymph nodes harvested ≥12, and recurrence. Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) results suggested that the potential advantages of LC on perioperative transfusion and the comparable oncological outcomes in terms of 5y OS, 5y DFS, lymph nodes harvested ≥12, and R0 resection rate was reliable and no need of further study.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible in T4 colon cancer in terms of short- and long-term outcomes. TSA results suggested that future studies were not required to evaluate the 5y OS, 5y DFS, R0 resection rate, positive resection margin status, lymph nodes harvested ≥12 and perioperative transfusion differences between LC and OC.

Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022297792.
A novel method of manual positioning based on anatomical mark (shoulder-to-shoulder) to prevent postoperative leg-length discrepancy for femoral neck fractures in hip arthroplasty
Authors: Zhang Jin-shan , Zheng Yong-qiang , Liu Xiao-feng , Xu Yong-quan , Fang Yang-zhen , Lin Zhen-yu , Lin Liang , Xu You-jia
Published: November 2022

Objective

To determine whether the two lower extremities are of equal length after hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures, we developed a novel method of manual positioning based on anatomical mark (shoulder-to-shoulder) in hip arthroplasty.

Methods

Patients with femoral neck fractures requiring hip arthroplasty from July 2020 to March 2022 in the orthopedic department of Jinjiang Municipal Hospital, Fujian Province, China were recruited. Hip arthroplasty was performed using the proposed “shoulder-to-shoulder” method of manual positioning based on anatomical mark in 52 patients with femoral neck fractures who met the inclusion criteria. “Shoulder-to-shoulder” was achieved by alignment of the marked femoral “shoulder” and the “shoulder” of prosthesis stem. There were 16 male and 36 female patients, with 27 undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 25 undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty (HA). The fractures were categorized according to the Garden classification: type II, type III, and type IV in 5, 11, and 36 patients, respectively. The vertical distance from the apex of the medial margin of the femoral trochanter to the tear drop line on both sides which was regarded as the length of both limbs were compared via postoperative imaging, and the apex–shoulder distance on the ipsilateral side measured via postoperative imaging was compared with those measured intraoperatively.

Results

All patients completed the surgery successfully. The measurement results for the lower extremities after THA were as follows: contralateral group, 43.87 ± 5.59 mm; ipsilateral group, 44.64 ± 5.43 mm. The measurement results for the lower extremities after HA were as follows: contralateral group, 45.18 ± 7.82 mm; ipsilateral group, 45.16 ± 6.43 mm. The measurement results for the lower extremities after all arthroplasties were as follows: contralateral group, 44.50 ± 6.72 mm; ipsilateral group, 44.89 ± 5.90 mm. The results for the apex–shoulder distance were as follows: postoperative imaging, 19.44 ± 3.54 mm; intraoperative apex–shoulder distance, 27.28 ± 2.84 mm. Statistical analysis results indicated no statistically significant difference in the postoperative bilateral lower extremity length after hip arthroplasty (P = 0.75), while a statistically significant difference was found between the intraoperative and postoperative imaging measurements of the apex–shoulder distance (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The novel method of manual positioning based on anatomical mark (shoulder-to-shoulder) for femoral neck fractures in hip arthroplasty is simple and accurate, making it effective for preventing postoperative bilateral leg length discrepancy.
Effect of perioperative steroids application on dysphagia, fusion rate, and visual analogue scale (VAS) following anterior cervical spine surgery: A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Yang Yi , Shen Yi-Wei , Zhang Ke-Rui , Ma Li-Tai , Liu Hao
Published: November 2022

Objective

To conduct a high-level meta-analysis of the RCTs to evaluate perioperative steroids use in the management of fusion rate, dysphagia, and VAS following anterior cervical spine surgery for up to 1 year.

Methods

We searched the database PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Ovid, and ClinicalTrials.gov without time restriction to identify RCTs that evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative steroids after anterior cervical spine surgery. A subgroup analysis was undertaken to investigate the effects of intravenous and local steroids. This study was registered in the PROSPERO database prior to initiation (CRD42022313444).

Results

A total of 14 RCTs were eligible for final inclusion. This meta-analysis showed that steroids could achieve lower dysphagia rate (p < 0.001), severe dysphagia rate within 1 year (p < 0.001), lower VAS scores at both 1 day (p = 0.005), 2 weeks (p < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (p = 0.014). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding operation time (p = 0.670), fusion rates (p = 0.678), VAS scores at 6 months (p = 0.104) and 1 year (p = 0.062). There was no significant difference between intravenous and local steroid administration regarding dysphagia rates (p = 0.82), fusion rate (p = 1.00), and operative time (p = 0.10).

Conclusion

Steroids intravenously or locally following anterior cervical spine surgery can reduce incidence and severity of dysphagia within 1 year, VAS score within 2 weeks, and shorten the length of hospital stay without affecting fusion rates, increasing the operating time, VAS score at 6 months and 1 year.
Tissue damage-tracking control system for image-guided photothermal therapy of cancer
Authors: Céspedes Tenorio Mauricio , Wattson Sánchez Carlos A. , Dumani Diego S.
Published: November 2022

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a type of cancer treatment capable of damaging tumors using laser irradiation. This procedure can be a promising approach to complement current cancer therapies, due in part to its minimal invasiveness. One of the challenges of photothermal therapy is the potential collateral damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, as well as excessive temperature increase in the target tumor region that can cause tissue carbonization and evaporation. With the aim of increasing the performance of photothermal therapy in damaging targeted tumor while keeping healthy nearby tissue unaffected, this research proposes the use of a feedback control system that considers the cumulative thermal damage to both types of tissue. Two separate control algorithms (fuzzy logic and PI) were designed and tested in silico using simulations made in MATLAB® and Python. Results showed that both controllers successfully accomplished the proposed goals. Therefore, the feasibility of using these automated systems to improve the efficacy and safety of PTT was demonstrated.
Clinicopathological Features and Prognostic Evaluation of UBR5 in Liver Cancer Patients
Authors: Huo Qi , Hu Junjie , Hou Binfen , Zhao Mei , Han Xue , Du Yulin , Li Yao
Published: November 2022

Background: Typically, liver cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a poor prognosis. N-recognin 5 (UBR5), a component of the ubiquitin protein ligase E3, is involved in the genesis and progression of several types of cancer. As of yet, it is unknown what the exact biological function of UBR5 is in liver cancer.

Methods: A Kaplan-Meier survival curve (OS) was used to examine the effect of UBR5 expression on overall survival based on the TCGA database. To determine the molecular functions of UBR5 in liver cancer, we used the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established for the screening of UBR5-related proteins in liver cancer. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression levels of UBR5 and YWHAZ (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta), and in order to detect cell proliferation, an MTT assay was used.

Results: The expression of UBR5 in liver cancer patient samples is significantly higher than in adjacent normal tissues. A high level of UBR5 expression was associated with older patients, a higher tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and poor survival. We discovered YWHAZ with high connectivity, and UBR5 expression correlated positively with YWHAZ expression (r = 0.83, p < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that elevated UBR5 levels directly correlated with YWHAZ overexpression, and that UBR5 promoted cell proliferation by affecting YWHAZ expression. Additionally, the TCGA databases confirmed that patients with liver cancer who expressed higher levels of YWHAZ had poorer outcomes.

Conclusion: This suggests that UBR5 associated with YWHAZ may influence prognosis in patients with liver cancer, and that UBR5 may be a candidate treatment target for liver cancer. Therefore, UBR5 associated with YWHAZ may influence prognosis in patients with liver cancer, and UBR5 could serve as a potential target for liver cancer treatment.
Formulación de caso mediante Mapas Cognitivos Borrosos
Authors: Botella Luis , Barrado Mariscal Estefanía , Sanfeliciano Alejandro , Saúl Luis Angel
Published: November 2022

El presente estudio muestra la utilización de Mapas Cognitivos Borrosos para la formulación de caso y como herramienta facilitadora del proceso de cambio en psicoterapia. Desde la línea constructivista se aborda el caso de un hombre de 55 años (Henry) que muestra dificultades en las relaciones socio-afectivas, evita todo tipo de conflicto y su rigidez en la convivencia familiar le provoca estallidos de ira. Se utilizó un diseño de caso único siguiendo el formato de conceptualización de caso según el Mapa Cognitivo Borroso de Formación y Resolución de Problemas Humanos. En la base metodológica se utiliza la Técnica de Rejilla, la Rejilla de Implicaciones y el software GridFCM como procedimiento de obtención del Mapa Cognitivo Borroso. Los resultados muestran que incluir Mapas Cognitivos Borrosos en la formulación de casos facilita al paciente tener un rol más activo hacia el proceso de cambio, crear escenarios de simulación ofreciendo una imagen dinámica y causal de su Sistema de Significados Personales, aporta una retroalimentación del patrón del cambio tanto sincrónica como diacrónica y facilita la monitorización de las dinámicas de cambio.
La Formulación Funcional de caso del Modelo Dinámico Maduracional del Apego y el Rol de la Entrevista de Apego Adulto Dentro de la Misma
Authors: Milozzi Silvana
Published: November 2022

El presente artículo se propone presentar la formulación de caso desde la perspectiva del Modelo Dinámico Maduracional del Apego y la Adaptación, poniendo especial énfasis en la Entrevista de Apego Adulto. La formulación funcional de caso, propuesta por el DMM permite comprender la funcionalidad del síntoma dentro del contexto en el que aparece. Dentro de este proceso de evaluación y elaboración de hipótesis, se destaca la Entrevista de Apego Adulto como herramienta que brinda al clínico la posibilidad de conocer en profundidad la historia vincular del sujeto, los riesgos que debió afrontar, la forma en que se auto-refiere su experiencia, las situaciones de trauma o pérdidas no resueltas, sus capacidades reflexivas y la estrategia de apego que desarrolló.
A Pneumatic Control Method for Commercial Vehicle Electronic Brake System Based on EPV Module
Authors: Zhang Lanjiang , Yan Yang , Zhu Qingwei , Zhao Gang , Feng Deying , Wu Jian
Published: November 2022

The traditional electronic braking system (EBS) of a commercial vehicle has the problems of sluggish pressure response, large dynamic error and unsatisfactory braking effect during braking. First, a novel EBS system based on electronic pneumatic valves (EPV) module is designed, which integrated the control of each pneumatic valve. Secondly, the hardware of the EBS bottom controller and the air pressure closed-loop control are carried out. A kind of similar to PWM (SPWM) air pressure control method is proposed. By controlling the opening and closing time of the solenoid valves, the brake air pressure could be precisely regulated, and the dynamic response characteristics of the system are improved. Eventually, commercial vehicle air brake hardware in the loop (HIL) test platform based on LabVIEW and NI-PXI system is built to verify the effectiveness of the EBS dynamic response characteristics. The experimental results showed that the continuous control of EBS solenoid valves is realized by using the SPWM control method, and the fine dynamic response characteristics of EBS air pressure closed-loop control are ensured.
A Study on the Key Factors of CSR Indicators for Tenderers in Procurement Screening Using the Delphi Method and DEMATEL-Based Analytic Network Process
Authors: Peng Kuo-Yu , Liao Hsiu-Li
Published: November 2022

European Union public procurement law increasingly allows countries’ authorities to take corporate social responsibility (CSR) into account in public procurement decisions. Up to 2022, few public procurements were determined by these key factors of CSR scoring items. It is worthy to study whether there is consistency in tenderers’ views on CSR indicators and factors. In this study, 10 experts working in companies from different government entities were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey. In this study, a DEMATEL-based analytic network process (DANP) was applied to find out the weights of each indicator. Our finding shows the important criteria selected for tenderers were measures to support “work–life balance” for employees and “salary increase for employees”. These are important responses to the problems encountered by companies in CSR practices and can be used as a reference to enhance corporations’ CSR goals or pursue future sustainable business excellence.
Pyramiding Submergence Tolerance and Three Bacterial Blight Resistance Genes in Popular Rice Variety Hasanta through Marker-Assisted Backcross Breeding
Authors: Das Goutam , Pradhan Banshidhar , Bastia Debendranath , Samantaray Sanghamitra , Jena Debarchana , Rout Diptibala , Arsode Paduranga Bhagwan , Singh Vineeta , Mukherjee Arup Kumar , Mohan Chander , Verma Ramlakhan
Published: November 2022

Flash flooding (FF) along with bacterial blight (BB) outbreak are very destructive for rice production in the rainfed shallow-lowland (RSL) ecosystem. The presence of dynamic Xoo races with varying levels of genetic diversity and virulence renders their management extremely challenging under RSL. In this context, the marker-assisted improvement of plant resistance/tolerance has been proven as one of the most promising strategies towards the development of sustainable cultivars. The present study demonstrates the marker-assisted introgression of the submergence tolerant (Sub1) and three bacterial blight resistant genes (Xa21 + xa13 + xa5) into the genetic background of Hasanta, a long duration popular rice variety in the eastern coastal region of India. The rice genotypes, Swarna Sub1 (carrying Sub1) and IRBB66 (carrying Xa21 + xa13 + Xa7 + xa5 + Xa4) had maximum genetic similarity (0.84 and 0.73, respectively) with Hasanta; recurrent parent (RP) was used as donor. The forward analysis of target genes in F1s, IC1F1s and backcross (BC) generations was performed by linked/genic markers (Sub1bc2; pTA248, xa13prom and RM122), whereas background recovery of RP in each BC and segregating generations was performed utilizing 108 hypervariable SSR markers. Intervened speed breeding (SB) strategy and intensive phenotyping could lead the development of near isogenic lines (NILs) as to the RP in all basic traits. The performance of the near isogenic lines (NILs, BC2F3 and BC2F4), HS 232-411-391-756-37, HS 232-411-391-809-8, HS 232-411-391-756-18, HS 110-224-197-10-36, HS 232-411-391-809-81, HS 110-224-197-10-41 and HS 232-411-391-809-63 establishes the utility of marker-assisted backcross-breeding (MAB) and SB in accelerated trait introgression. The introgressed lines carrying Sub1 + Xa21 + xa13 + xa5 showed 76% to 91% survival under 14 days of submergence and durable BB resistance (percent disease index-PDI of 2.68 ± 0.26 to 6.22 ± 1.08 and lesion length, LL of 1.29 ± 0.12 to 4.2 ± 0.64 cm). Physiological analysis revealed that improved NILs, carrying Sub1 gene conquered adaptive physiological modulations, had reduced the consumption of soluble sugar and the degradation of total chlorophyll contents (TCC), and an enhanced level of Alcohol Dehydrogenase activity (ADH) and proline accumulation in all submergence regimes. The pyramided lines attained complete product profile of RP, that will contribute to sustainable rice production under RSL, particularly in the coastal region that has substantial acreage under the variety Hasanta.
Habitat Suitability of Fig (Ficus carica L.) in Mexico under Current and Future Climates
Authors: Martínez-Macias Karla Janeth , Márquez-Guerrero Selenne Yuridia , Martínez-Sifuentes Aldo Rafael , Segura-Castruita Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2022

Emerging or alternative crops are those that have been recently introduced in response to new demands and commercial opportunities. The fig has been introduced as an alternative fruit crop in Mexico due to its high nutritional, nutraceutical, and antioxidant capacity. A total of 644 points of presence were downloaded and filtered according to climatic ranges and agricultural areas, leaving 68 records. The MaxEnt algorithm was used to develop the habitat suitability models for current and future climate. The bioclimatic variables of the global circulation models, Hadley Centre Global Environment Model version 2-EarthSystem (HADGEM2-ES) and Max Planck Institute for Meteorology-Earth System Model Low Resolution (MPI-ESM-LR), were used under scenarios 2.6 and 8.5. The changes in the fig area for Mexico were analyzed based on the generated models. Under the current climate, 359,575.76 km2 were estimated for 2050, and a loss of area for the excellent category was estimated for both models and scenarios; however, for the MPI-ESM-LR model projected to 2070, an increase of 5.51% and 0.39% was estimated for scenarios 2.6 and 8.5, respectively. The effect of climate change on agronomic species such as figs will be expressed in variations in climatic ranges and areas suitable for their development. The results of this study reveal the negative and positive effects of climate change on fig habitat suitability in Mexico. The dynamics of changes in surface area will be reflected mainly in northern and central Mexico.
Combining Proximal and Remote Sensors in Spatial Prediction of Five Micronutrients and Soil Texture in a Case Study at Farmland Scale in Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Pierangeli Luiza Maria Pereira , Silva Sérgio Henrique Godinho , Teixeira Anita Fernanda dos Santos , Mancini Marcelo , Andrade Renata , de Menezes Michele Duarte , Marques João José , Weindorf David C. , Curi Nilton
Published: November 2022

Despite the increasing adoption of proximal sensors worldwide, rare works have coupled proximal with remotely sensed data to spatially predict soil properties. This study evaluated the contribution of proximal and remotely sensed data to predict soil texture and available contents of micronutrients using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility (MS), and terrain attributes (TA) via random forest algorithm. Samples were collected in Brazil from soils with high, moderate, and low weathering degrees (Oxisols, Ultisols, Inceptisols, respectively), and analyzed by pXRF and MS and for texture and available micronutrients. Seventeen TA were generated from a digital elevation model of 12.5 m spatial resolution. Predictions were made via: (i) TA; (ii) TA + pXRF; (iii) TA + MS; (iv) TA + MS + pXRF; (v) MS + pXRF; and (vi) pXRF; and validated via root mean square error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The best predictions were achieved by: pXRF dataset alone for available Cu (R² = 0.80) and clay (R2 = 0.67) content; MS + pXRF dataset for available Fe (R2 = 0.68) and sand (R2 = 0.69) content; TA + pXRF + MS dataset for available Mn (R2 = 0.87) content. PXRF data were key to the best predictions. Soil property maps created from these predictions supported the adoption of sustainable soil management practices.
The Free-Living Nematodes as Indicators of the Soil Quality in Relation to the Clay Content, When Coffee Waste Is Applied
Authors: Kekelis Panagiotis , Papatheodorou Efimia M. , Terpsidou Eleni , Dimou Maria , Aschonitis Vassilis , Monokrousos Nikolaos
Published: November 2022

Coffee waste is an organic material that can potentially be used in agricultural systems as an organic amendment. This study investigated the effects of the application of three concentrations of coffee waste (1%, 2%, and 4% w/v), used as an organic amendment, on soil free-living nematode communities, and in two different soil types (clay and sandy loam). Coffee waste incorporation did not appear to be toxic to the soil’s free-living nematodes; on the contrary, it favored the nematode populations; this increase was greater in the sandy loam soil type. Our results show that the abundance of the cp-1 bacteria-feeding nematodes can be used as an indicator of the soil’s enrichment or depletion phase. Panagrolaimus was the most promising genus to describe quality differentiations that occur in the soil system. Three months after coffee waste application, Panagrolaimus was found to be dominant in all coffee waste applications, indicating that the soil was in a phase of enrichment. Six months after the application, nematode community structure indices (enrichment and structure) showed that coffee waste was decomposed in the 1 and 2% treatments and that these systems were in a stage of nutrient depletion. In terms of agricultural practices, when a coffee waste dose is lesser than 4%, a second application is recommended before 6 months to avoid soil degradation.
Genomic Insights into the Colistin Resistant mcr-Carrying Escherichia coli Strains in a Tertiary Hospital in China
Authors: Li Guoli , Li Xinyang , Wu Yuye , Xu Juan , He Fang
Published: November 2022

Colistin is an important antimicrobial agent in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. The horizontal transfer of mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr) poses a major threat to the public health worldwide. In this study, a total of thirteen mcr-carrying Escherichia coli (MCREC) strains were recovered from a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang, China, between 2016 and 2019. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobial agents, epidemiological characteristics, and transmission dynamics of mcr-carrying isolates were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE), and southern blotting analysis. All strains were discovered to be resistant to colistin, and the majority displayed MDR phenotype. However, none of the 13 MCREC strains were resistant to carbapenems. The 13 MCREC isolates were divided into 10 different STs, including ST744, ST156, ST453, ST410, ST57, ST131, ST7034, ST2599, ST457, and ST13239, in which ST13239 was discovered for the first time. Based on core genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis, no clear epidemiological link was discovered in these strains with the exception of EC2118 and EC3807, which differ by just one SNP. A total of 35 antimicrobial resistance genes which can be divided into 14 classes were identified from the 13 MCREC isolates. According to S1-PFGE and southern blotting analyses, all 13 MCREC strains had plasmid-mediated mcr-1, and nine of them carried conjugative plasmids. In conclusion, our study revealed the emergence and dissemination of colistin-resistant E. coli isolates carrying mcr-1 in a Chinese hospital, which poses a potential risk to anti-infective therapy. More efforts should be taken to monitor the prevalence of mcr-1-carrying bacteria in China.
Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin among Patients with Chemotherapy-Associated Febrile Neutropenia: Which Would Be the Best Dosing to Obtain Appropriate Exposure?
Authors: Parra González Daniel , Pérez Mesa Jefferson Alejandro , Cuervo Maldonado Sonia Isabel , Díaz Rojas Jorge Augusto , Cortés Jorge Alberto , Silva Gómez Edelberto , Saavedra Trujillo Carlos Humberto , Gómez Julio
Published: November 2022

Previous research has determined that the required doses for treating febrile neutropenia with vancomycin are higher than the doses used conventionally. These recommendations have been made considering pharmacotherapeutic goals based on minimum concentration (Cmin) between 15–20 mg/L. This study was developed to evaluate dose recommendations based on the achievement of a target consisting of ratio of area under the curve over minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC24h/MIC) ≥400 in this population of individuals. This study was conducted in a referral hospital for cancer treatment, study participants received vancomycin doses of 1g every 12 h in 2-4-h infusions. Vancomycin was described by a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with clearance dependent on the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Simulations were performed taking into account a reduced version of the model to establish the influence of controllable and non-controllable variables on the probability of achieving several PK-PD targets. A dose of 2.5g/day in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 80 and 122mL/min/1.73m2 was adequate to achieve the pharmacotherapeutic target. A discrepancy was found between AUC-based and Cmin-based PK/PD indices, the former being affected by the dose and creatinine clearance while the latter highly influenced by the interval between doses.
Hydrogen Sulfide: A Gaseous Mediator and Its Key Role in Programmed Cell Death, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Zhu Zhixing , Lian Xihua , Bhatia Madhav
Published: November 2022

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been acknowledged as a novel gaseous mediator. The metabolism of H2S in mammals is tightly controlled and is mainly achieved by many physiological reactions catalyzed by a suite of enzymes. Although the precise actions of H2S in regulating programmed cell death, oxidative stress and inflammation are yet to be fully understood, it is becoming increasingly clear that H2S is extensively involved in these crucial processes. Since programmed cell death, oxidative stress and inflammation have been demonstrated as three important mechanisms participating in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary diseases, it can be inferred that aberrant H2S metabolism also functions as a critical contributor to pulmonary diseases, which has also been extensively investigated. In the meantime, substantial attention has been paid to developing therapeutic approaches targeting H2S for pulmonary diseases. In this review, we summarize the cutting-edge knowledge on the metabolism of H2S and the relevance of H2S to programmed cell death, oxidative stress and inflammation. We also provide an update on the crucial roles played by H2S in the pathogenesis of several pulmonary diseases. Finally, we discuss the perspective on targeting H2S metabolism in the treatment of pulmonary diseases.
Numerical Simulation and Experimental Research on Multi-Channel Laser Directional Energy Deposition of IN718
Authors: Hu Ankai , Huang Yanlu , Wang Yu , Yang Yongqiang , Li Wei , Wang Tianyu
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the deposition layer calculation model is proposed for laser-directed energy deposition (DED) with coaxial powder feeding by combining the powder feeding equation with the volume of fluid (VOF) method, and the single-channel IN718 forming process is simulated in real-time with moving boundary conditions in a fixed coordinate system and experimentally validated. Under single-layer single-channel deposition processing, the deposition height and width decreased by 57.1% and 21.6%, respectively, as the scanning speed increased from 8 mm/s to 14 mm/s. The calculated deposition height, width, and melt pool depth were in good agreement with the experimental results. Calculating the temperature field distribution of the single-layer double-channel deposition at an overlapping-rate of 30% yielded the temperature fluctuation pattern of the deposition at various lap moments. Under the influence of the thermal accumulation of the first deposition channel, the latent heat effect of the melt pool will cause the maximum surface temperature during overlap processing to be slightly lower than the maximum surface temperature during single channel processing; at the same time, under the influence of the high-temperature state of the overlap deposition channel during the scanning process, the first deposition channel will exhibit rewarming during the overlap scanning process. The deposition layer and temperature field of single-layer multi-channel laser deposition are modelled using this information. It has been proved that the model may be used to forecast deposition and temperature fields for intricate processing procedures. The study findings are significant for understanding the process mechanism of coaxial powder feeding laser-directed energy deposition in detail and optimizing the process.
The Design Vehicle Steering Path Construction Based on the Hairpin Bend Geometry—Application in Roundabout Design
Authors: Ahac Saša , Ahac Maja , Džambas Tamara , Dragčević Vesna
Published: November 2022

A prerequisite for a well-designed roundabout is the definition of the design vehicle movement geometry and its turning envelopes. This is because kinematic and dynamic requirements lose their importance due to low driving speed. In this paper, the investigation of the deviations of design vehicle steering paths for straight passage through the roundabout constructed according to the two approaches is presented. The first approach (A-1) includes the application of short, straight lines between the adjacent arcs on the path, and the second (A-2) implies the application of consecutive circular arcs. A computer simulation of vehicle movement was conducted using the Autodesk Vehicle Tracking 2020 software. The results showed that A-2, a faster and simpler approach, is applicable with caution, as the resulting turning envelopes derived from this approach are more offset from the roundabout centers compared to the A-1 approach. A total of 72% of right-hand-side path and resulting right-hand-side design vehicle body and chassis turning envelope deviations were between 0.00 and 0.15 m, 27% were over 0.15 m, and 7% were over 0.25 m. This results in larger roundabout entry and exit widths as well as the need for large lateral clearances for entries and exits on roundabouts where heavy pedestrian traffic on sidewalks is expected. The noted offset of left-hand-side design vehicle trajectories on the circulatory roadway (which was mostly between 0.05 and 0.15 m) could have a positive impact on the deflection around the central island.
Analysis of Surface Profile Error of Ultra-Precision Diamond Planing Based on Power Spectral Density
Authors: Yao Jianhua , Yin Ziqiang , Guo Yawen
Published: November 2022

Vibration in ultra-precision machining is an inherent physical phenomenon and a key factor affecting surface generation. However, the influence of the vibration characteristics of aerostatic guideways on the machining morphology has not been fully studied. In this article, a diamond micro-planing experiment was carried out on an oxygen-free copper workpiece using a homemade three-axis machine tool, and a white-light interferometer was used to measure the surface topography of the planing surface. The power spectral density of the surface topography was analyzed, and the spatial wavelength components of the surface topography were extracted. Then, the vibration characteristics of the aerostatic guideway were measured in both the space domain and the time domain. A comprehensive analysis of the main components of the workpiece surface error morphology and the vibration characteristics of the guideway shows that the time-domain vibration of the aerostatic guideway is the main factor causing the surface topography error of the workpiece.
Numerical Analysis of Pillar Stability in Longwall Mining of Two Adjacent Panels of an Inclined Coal Seam
Authors: Eremin Mikhail , Peryshkin Alexey , Esterhuizen Gabriel , Pavlova Larisa , Fryanov Victor
Published: November 2022

Longwall mining is one of the most widespread methods globally. During the preliminary development of the working, the coal seam is sectioned into panels divided by protective pillars. The pillars are necessary for maintaining the service life of underground mines, a highly productive stope, and personnel safety. In this work, we apply the finite-difference continuum damage mechanics approach to modeling the stress–strain evolution of the rock mass during the extraction of two adjacent longwall panels of an inclined seam. A new modification of the damage accumulation kinetic equation is proposed. The numerical-modeling approach accounts for an explicit number of numerous factors affecting the rock mass behavior. These factors are gravity forces, lithology, tectonic stresses, natural discontinuities, geotechnical, and mining parameters. When the model parameters are calibrated against the in situ observations, the results of the numerical-modeling approach provide a reliable basis for a pillar stability assessment. We build a structural model of a rock mass containing an underground working based on a simplified stratigraphy of the Kondomsky deposit, Kuznetsk coal basin, Russia. Based on the results of the numerical modeling, the stability of a pillar is analyzed. A new numerical technique extending the classical approach to the stability analysis is proposed and verified against the field data.
Motion Characteristics of Collapse Body during the Process of Expanding a Rescue Channel
Authors: Fu Yanlong , Xie Kai , Xiao Fukun , Liu Gang , Hou Zhiyuan , Zhang Rui
Published: November 2022

For the rapid construction of a rescue channel in the process of underground emergency rescue, a method for the expanded rescue channel in the collapse body is proposed and verified by a model test and a numerical simulation experiment. The motion characteristics and motion law of the expanded collapse body are analyzed on the basis of the mechanics of granular media, and a comparative simulation study on the main influencing factors of the collapse body motion is carried out. The results show that: (1) When the collapse body is expanded for a rescue channel, it will form three types of six relative slip planes. According to the position of the slip plane and the distribution of displacement, the collapse body can be divided into a direct displacement region, a stable region, and an indirect displacement region. (2) The expansion process can be divided into the initial start-up stage, the uplift stage, and the collapse stage, according to the formation time of the slip plane and the displacement law of the collapse body. (3) The results of the numerical simulation and the theoretical analysis of the granular media show that the dip angle of the slip plane is determined by the internal friction angle of the collapse particles, and the dip angles of the three slip planes are below θ1=90°−φ, θ2=45°+φ/2, and θ3=90°+φ/2. (4) The transverse scope and longitudinal distance is brought by the expansion increase with the increase in the expansion size, and the simulated dip angles of the slip plane are larger than the theoretical values due to the size effect. (5) In the expansion process, the strong force chain in the collapse body is concentrated in the stress arch above the expander device, and the failure and reconstruction laws of the stress arch at each stage are consistent with the formation of the slip plane and the uplift and instability law of the collapse body.