bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection among participants of the national LTBI screening program in South Korea – A problem of low coverage rate with current LTBI strategy
Authors: Kim Hyung Woo , Min Jinsoo , Choi Joon Young , Shin Ah Young , Myong Jun-Pyo , Lee Yunhee , Yim Hyeon Woo , Jeong Hyunsuk , Bae Sanghyuk , Choi Hoyong , In Hyekyung , Park Ahyoung , Jang Miri , Koo Hyeon-Kyoung , Lee Sung-Soon , Park Jae Seuk , Kim Ju Sang
Published: January 2023

Background

The Government of South Korea launched a national preemptive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening program in 2016, including more than 1. 6 million population in congregate settings. The objective of this study was to analyze LTBI prevalence and its risk factors in each setting. Additionally, the proportion of LTBI pool covered by the current national LTBI strategy was investigated.

Methods

Database for results of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), X-ray, and baseline demographic information was linked with National Health Information Database, national tuberculosis (TB) surveillance database, and national contact investigation database. Participants were categorized into three groups: Group A, workers of postpartum care centers, social welfare facilities and educational institutions; Group B, first year students in high school and out-of-school youths; and Group C, inmates of correctional facilities. Relative risks of LTBI by sex, age, place of living, income level, and comorbidities were calculated.

Results

A total of 444,394 participants in Group A, 272,224 participants in Group B, and 11,511 participants in Group C who participated in the national LTBI screening program between 2017 and 2018 were included, with LTBI prevalence of 20.7, 2.0, and 33.2%, respectively. Age was the single most important risk factor in Group A and Group C. Low-income level was another risk factor commonly identified in all groups. Among participants with positive IGRA results, 2.7, 4.4, and 3.3% in Groups A, B and C, respectively, had past TB exposure history since 2013. Current LTBI guideline targeting high or moderate TB risk disease covered 6.5, 0.6, and 1.1% of participants with positive IGRA results in Groups A, B and C, respectively.

Conclusion

Only a small proportion of participants with positive IGRA results could be covered by the current LTBI strategy. Expansion of LTBI strategy by identifying further high-TB risk group in the general population is required.
Advancing solar and heliospheric science through the ongoing development and support of atomic and laboratory plasma physics
Authors: Rivera Y. J. , Landi E. , Raymond J. C. , Murphy N. A. , Reep J. W. , Barnes W. , Higginson A. , Young P. , Daw A. , Pesnell W. D. , Paraschiv A. R. , Lacatus D. A. , Bryans P. , Chen T. Y. , Del Zanna G.
Published: January 2023

This paper outlines the necessity for the availability, accessibility, and expansion of atomic physics data and analysis tools for the meaningful interpretation of spectroscopic and polarimetric observations. As we move towards observing the Sun at higher spatio-temporal resolutions, and near-continuously at a range of wavelengths, it becomes critical to develop the appropriate atomic data and physics tools to facilitate scientific progress. We recommend the continued improvement and expansion of current databases to support the development of optically-thick/radiative transfer models, evaluate non-thermal and non-equilibrium ionization effects, and quantify uncertainties in atomic and molecular values. A critical long-term goal will require extending and strengthening collaborations across the atomic, solar/heliospheric, and laboratory plasma physics communities through the participation and training of early career scientists. We also recommend establishing funding for a centralized atomic physics resource made up of a comprehensive and user-oriented atomic database and modeling framework.
Soil Bacterial Community Tolerance to Three Tetracycline Antibiotics Induced by Ni and Zn
Authors: Santás-Miguel Vanesa , Rodríguez-González Laura , Núñez-Delgado Avelino , Álvarez-Rodríguez Esperanza , Díaz-Raviña Montserrat , Arias-Estévez Manuel , Fernández-Calviño David
Published: January 2023

A laboratory work has been carried out to determine the tolerance of soil bacterial communities to Ni and Zn and co-tolerance to tetracycline antibiotics (chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and tetracycline (TC)) in soils individually spiked with five different concentrations of Ni or Zn (1,000, 750, 500, 250, and 125 mg kg−1), and an uncontaminated (0 mg kg−1) control soil. The PICT parameter (pollution-induced community tolerance) was estimated for the bacterial community using the tritium (3H)-labeled leucine incorporation technique, and the values corresponding to log IC50 were used as toxicity index. The mean log IC50 values observed in the uncontaminated soil samples indicate that Zn (with log IC50 = −2.83) was more toxic than Ni (log IC50 = −2.73). In addition, for the soil with the lowest carbon content (C = 1.9%), Ni-contaminated samples showed increased tolerance when the Ni concentrations added were ≥500 mg kg−1, while for the soils with higher carbon content (between 5.3% and 10.9%) tolerance increased when Ni concentrations added were ≥1,000 mg kg−1. Regarding the soils contaminated with Zn, tolerance increased in all the soils studied when the Zn concentrations added were ≥125 mg kg−1, regardless of the soil carbon content. The co-tolerance increases obtained after exposure of the bacterial suspension to TC, OTC and CTC showed an identical behavior within these tetracycline antibiotics. However, it was dependent on the heavy metal tested (Ni or Zn). In the case of soils 1 (C = 1.1%) and 2 (C = 5.3%), the soil bacterial communities showed increases in co-tolerance to TC, OTC and CTC for Ni concentrations added of ≥125 mg kg−1, while for soil 3 (with C = 10.9%) co-tolerance took place when Ni was added at ≥1,000 mg kg−1. However, in soils contaminated with Zn, increases in co-tolerance to CTC, OTC and TC occurred at Zn concentrations added of ≥125 mg kg−1 for the 3 soils tested. These results can be considered relevant when anticipating possible environmental repercussions related to the simultaneous presence of various types of pollutants, specifically certain heavy metals and antibiotics.
A Review of Cooperative Actuator and Sensor Systems Based on Dielectric Elastomer Transducers
Authors: Rizzello Gianluca
Published: January 2023

This paper presents an overview of cooperative actuator and sensor systems based on dielectric elastomer (DE) transducers. A DE consists of a flexible capacitor made of a thin layer of soft dielectric material (e.g., acrylic, silicone) surrounded with a compliant electrode, which is able to work as an actuator or as a sensor. Features such as large deformation, high compliance, flexibility, energy efficiency, lightweight, self-sensing, and low cost make DE technology particularly attractive for the realization of mechatronic systems that are capable of performance not achievable with alternative technologies. If several DEs are arranged in an array-like configuration, new concepts of cooperative actuator/sensor systems can be enabled, in which novel applications and features are made possible by the synergistic operations among nearby elements. The goal of this paper is to review recent advances in the area of cooperative DE systems technology. After summarizing the basic operating principle of DE transducers, several applications of cooperative DE actuators and sensors from the recent literature are discussed, ranging from haptic interfaces and bio-inspired robots to micro-scale devices and tactile sensors. Finally, challenges and perspectives for the future development of cooperative DE systems are discussed.
Evaluation of Large-Eddy Simulation Coupled with an Homogeneous Equilibrium Model for the Prediction of Coaxial Cryogenic Flames under Subcritical Conditions
Authors: Schmitt Thomas , Ducruix Sébastien
Published: January 2023

Large Eddy Simulations of liquid O2/gaseous H2 coaxial flames at subcritical pressure conditions are reported in this paper. These simulations reproduce the experimental Mascotte cases A1, A10 and A30, operating at 1, 10 and 30 bar, respectively, and for which temperature measurements and experimental visualisations are available. The main objective of this work is to assess the accuracy of the multi-fluid Homogeneous Equilibrium Model (HEM) described in Pelletier et al. (Computers & Fluids, 2020) for rocket engine applications. Of particular interest is the comparison with the experimental temperature measurements from Grisch et al. (Aerospace science and technology, 2003). To that purpose, numerical simulations are conducted with care, in order to ensure a proper statistical convergence and estimate the influence of the grid resolution for each case. Despite the crude assumptions—no surface tension and no atomisation model, for instance—that are made with the HEM used in this work, results are found to be in reasonable agreements with the measurements for case A10, even with the coarser grid. For case A30, a fine mesh resolution is required to capture the low intensity recirculation zone downstream of the inner jet necessary to reproduce the shape of the experimental profile. Finally, case A1 simulations, with the lowest Weber number, show large departures with the experimental measurements. This is expected to be due to a deficiency of the model to properly reproduce the two-phase dispersed flow.
Multi-Objective Optimization Design Method for Whole-Aeroengine Coupling Vibration
Authors: Qu Meijiao , Li Mengqi , Song Yuheng , Zhu Hanrui , Chen Guo
Published: January 2023

With the increasing thrust-to-weight ratio of modern aeroengines and the widespread adoption of thin-walled casing, the impact of the coupling vibration effect between the rotor and stator on the critical speed, rotor–stator mode shape coordination, and response characteristics of the whole engine have become increasingly prominent. However, the vibrational design of the whole-engine coupling has thus far relied on human experience, revealing a need for the study of its intelligent optimization. In this study, to quantitatively analyze the vibration of the whole engine, three vibration evaluation indexes were defined, which were risk coefficients for the critical speed, rotor strain energy, and cross-section rotor–stator rubbing. Using these indexes as the optimization targets, a multi-objective intelligent optimization design method for aeroengine support stiffness was proposed. The design optimization of the support stiffness of a turbofan engine with a large bypass ratio was performed. The results showed that the vibration index of the whole machine can be reduced to different degrees and that the whole-engine coupling vibration is optimized.
Hugoniot Relation for a Bow-Shaped Detonation Wave Generated in RP Laser Propulsion
Authors: Sugamura Kenya , Kato Kyohei , Komurasaki Kimiya , Sekine Hokuto , Itakura Yuma , Koizumi Hiroyuki
Published: January 2023

Repetitive-pulsed (RP) laser propulsion is expected to replace chemical propulsion systems because it can reduce launch costs. A laser-supported detonation wave (LSD) plays an important role in the thrust-generation process of RP laser propulsion. The LSD propagation mechanism has been studied. Nevertheless, the LSD propagation velocity measured in an earlier study was lower than the Chapman–Jouguet (CJ) velocity, which meant that Hugoniot analysis produced no solution. The findings suggest that the radial flow from the central axis of LSD exerts some effects, but it has not been evaluated quantitatively. Two-dimensional axisymmetric computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis using the measured propagation velocity was performed for this study to evaluate effects of the radial flow of a bow-shaped LSD. Results show that the ratios of the radial flow of mass, momentum, and enthalpy from the central axis can be calculated, respectively, as 0.82, 0.13, and 0.17. Additionally, the measured propagation velocity of a bow-shaped LSD was shown to be higher than the CJ velocity calculated using the two-dimensional axisymmetric CFD reproducing the experiment conditions.
Bioactivity of Essential Oil from Citrus aurantium Peel against the Pulse Beetle Callosbruchus maculatus F. on Chickpea
Authors: El Kasimi Rachid , Douiri Fatima , Haddi Khalid , Boughdad Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Plant essential oils (EOs) and their active compounds are recognized as sustainable tools for the management of arthropod pests. The bitter orange, Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae), is a widespread tree in the Mediterranean region that is used especially as a rootstock for other Citrus. Although most of this plant’s parts are accredited with medicinal properties, its fruits are not consumable and generally considered as non-valued waste. The aim of this work was to assess the potential use of the EO extracted by hydrodistillation from C. aurantium peel in the fumigation of chickpea seeds against Calloosbruchus maculatus. Analysis of EO of the bitter orange peel by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) identified twenty-two compounds with limonene as the major component (86%). EOs of C. aurantium peel exerted toxic effects, in a concentration-dependent manner, on eggs (LC50 = 62.7 µL/L air), larval stages inside the seed (LC50 = 62.8 µL/L air), and adults (females: LC50 = 148 μL/L air and males: LC50 = 109 µL/L air). The C. aurantium EO also negatively affected the biological and demographic performances of the weevil compared to the untreated control. Fecundity and the number of emerged adults were reduced by more than 57 and 71, respectively, while the net reproduction rate and the intrinsic rate of increase were respectively decreased by over 71% and 37%, resulting in the total extinction of the pest at a concentration equal to 100 µL/L air. Our findings suggest the possible valorization of bitter orange peel by using them as a source of bioinsecticide to be integrated within sustainable programs for the management of stored product pests. Further studies are needed to verify similar uses of essential oils extracted from solid wastes from citrus-processing industries.
Design and Optimization of High Ground Clearance Self-Propelled Sprayer Chassis Frame
Authors: Lu Liquan , Liu Bin , Mao Enrong , Song Zhenghe , Chen Jun , Chen Yu
Published: January 2023

As an important machine for agricultural application, the upland gap self-propelled sprayer is environmental friendly and operates efficiently. In this paper, the chassis frame, which is one of the important components of the sprayer, is studied and a disconnected longitudinal beam frame with an X-shaped reinforcement beam was designed. The static mechanical properties of the frame under bending, torsion, emergency braking and emergency turning conditions are analyzed by a finite element method, and the optimization idea was proposed. On this basis, the topology optimization method was applied to optimize the crossbeam and the reinforcement beam positions, resulting in a 2.2% reduction in the overall mass of the frame, a 19.4% reduction in the maximum deformation while maintaining a small change in the maximum stress in the bending condition, and a 4.1% and 15.1% reduction in the maximum deformation and maximum stress of the frame in the torsion condition, respectively. The frame section width and thickness parameters were optimized by multi-objective driven optimization. The results showed that the frame mass and maximum stress were reduced by 6.8% and 1.9%, respectively, in the bending condition at the cost of a slight increase in frame deformation.
Consumer Preferences for Processed Meat Reformulation Strategies: A Prototype for Sensory Evaluation Combined with a Choice-Based Conjoint Experiment
Authors: Hong Xinyi , Li Chenguang , Wang Liming , Wang Mansi , Grasso Simona , Monahan Frank J.
Published: January 2023

Consumption trends demand healthier meat products and require research into reformulation strategies. Ambiguities in consumer preferences for two processed meat reformulation strategies (i.e., ingredient “reduction” and nutrient “addition”) were investigated. Using physical prototypes of omega-3-enriched pork sausages and sensory evaluation to reduce hypothetical bias, followed by a choice-based conjoint experiment, results suggested that consumers valued both “addition” and “reduction” reformulation strategies, and consumers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) premiums were the highest for omega-3 addition, followed by fat reduction, and were lowest for salt reduction. Moreover, WTP was influenced by sensory preferences and was positively correlated with sensory liking levels. Providing health-related information improved consumers’ sensory perceptions of omega-3-enriched sausages. Findings imply that reformulated healthier meat products are acceptable to consumers. Moreover, to enhance consumers’ valuation on new launches of healthier processed meat products, meat manufacturers should inform consumers of health-related reformulation information, provide consumers with opportunities to taste newly developed healthier processed meat products, and continuously optimize consumers’ sensory experience.
Survival Dynamics of Trichoderma longibrachiatum Tr58 in Conidia- and Chlamydospore-Amended Soils with Different Moisture Levels
Authors: Cao Qiulin , Liang Yao , Tian Ying , Lian Hua , Jiang Xiliang , Li Mei
Published: January 2023

Two types of Trichoderma longibrachiatum Tr58 propagules, conidia and chlamydospores, were added to soils with different moisture levels. The survival dynamics of Tr58 in soils were determined. There are positive linear relationships between soil moisture levels and germination rates of the two propagules. In natural non-sterilized soil, the germination of more than 95% conidia and 60% chlamydospores was inhibited, while a high soil moisture content and sterilization were beneficial to spore germination. The inhibitory effect of soil with 80% moisture content on the germination of chlamydospores was almost completely eliminated after sterilization. Twelve months after the conidia inoculated to the natural soil, the Tr58 propagules decreased continuously, which was hastened in soils with lower moisture content and almost near zero 24 months later, in all soils. In chlamydospore-amended soils, the Tr58 propagules generally showed a dynamic process of decreasing in the first month, increasing in the 2nd month, and then decreasing gradually. The average Tr58 content in chlamydospore-amended soils with 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% moisture content was 19.2 times that of conidia-amended soils at 12 months. At 24 months, the Tr58 content was about 2.2% of the initial Tr58 content and 114 times that of conidia in soils with 20% moisture content. However, for 80% moisture content, the Tr58 content in soil was 0.0038% of the initial content of Tr58. According to the results of this study, 10–20% soil moisture content was the most favorable for the long-term survival of Tr58, and the survival ability of chlamydospores was stronger than that of conidia and had greater application potential in disease control.
Effects of Bioactive Composition in Oryza sativa L. cv. KDML105 Bran Extract on Gene Expression Related to Hair Cycle in Human Hair Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells
Authors: Khantham Chiranan , Ruksiriwanich Warintorn , Sringarm Korawan , Prom-u-thai Chanakan , Jamjod Sansanee , Arjin Chaiwat , Muangsanguan Anurak , Rachtanapun Pornchai , Jantanasakulwong Kittisak , Phimolsiripol Yuthana , Barba Francisco J. , Sommano Sarana Rose , Chutoprapat Romchat , Boonpisuttinant Korawinwich
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to identify the effects of KDML105 bran extract on gene expression involving the hair cycle in HFDPCs and investigate its bioactive constituents, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The content of tocopherols, γ-oryzanol, phytic acid, and phenolic compounds was quantified by liquid chromatography. Free fatty acids were determined using gas chromatography. Antioxidant capacities were estimated by DPPH, ABTS, and metal chelating assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reaction. Gene expression was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The major compounds in the extract were α- and γ-tocopherol, phytic acid, γ-oryzanol, chlorogenic acid, o-coumaric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, giving its antioxidant capacities. The nitrite level in lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages (2.76 ± 0.13 μM) was significantly mitigated by the extract (0.81 ± 0.11 μM). Additionally, SRD5A2 and TGFB1 expressions in HFDPCs were downregulated, whereas CTNNB1 and VEGF genes were upregulated after treatment with the extract. KDML105 extract ameliorated oxidative stress and NO production. According to the gene expression study, KDML105 bran extract may be involved in the induction and maintenance of the anagen phase and angiogenesis in the hair growth pathway. Therefore, KDML105 bran extract might be a promising source of anti-hair loss substances.
Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245 Induces Anatomical Changes in Cuttings of Olive (Olea europaea L., cultivar Leccino): Preliminary Results
Authors: Bartolini Susanna , Pappalettere Livia , Toffanin Annita
Published: January 2023

The purpose of the research was to assess the potential effectiveness of Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245 in stimulating the induction processes related to adventitious root formation. In this short communication, we present the preliminary results obtained for the first time for the Leccino olive cultivar (Olea europaea L.). Semi-hardwood cuttings were collected at different sampling times (autumn, winter, and spring) and subjected to root-inductive treatments with Azospirillum baldaniorum strain Sp245 (AZO) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), the most employed synthetic auxin used in nursery production of olive plants. Moreover, two growing substrates, perlite (an inorganic medium) and Elepot® (a blend of peat, coconut fiber, and perlite) were tested. Histological assays were carried out to identify the main cellular changes leading to adventitious root formation. The highest rates of cuttings showing more advanced stages of rooting inductive signals were observed with the spring sample. The events observed after AZO treatments were comparable to those observed with IBA, which were mainly associated with the Elepot® growing substrate. The positive responses of semi-hardwood cuttings of Leccino cultivar to AZO could provide the possibility of replacing IBA and develop perspectives in a context of organic nursery systems where alternative compounds, able to improve the rooting rate of cuttings, could substitute the non-permitted synthetic rooting agents. AZO induced significant cellular activities and could be considered a valid alternative rooting agent.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Local Coffee Populations in Southwestern Saudi Arabia Using SRAP Markers
Authors: Al-Ghamedi Khalef , Alaraidh Ibrahim , Afzal Muhammad , Mahdhi Mosbah , Al-Faifi Zarraq , Oteef Mohammed D. Y. , Tounekti Taieb , Alghamdi Salem S. , Khemira Habib
Published: January 2023

Coffea arabica, a member of the Rubiaceae family, is the most commercially important species of the genus Coffea. It has been grown on the mountain terraces of southwestern Saudi Arabia for centuries. At present, the species is subject to increased genetic erosion due to the abandonment of many gardens by their owners and the increasingly dry climate. The current study was carried out to determine the genetic diversity of 56 local coffee accessions collected from the southern regions of Saudi Arabia using 30 sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. Six SRAP markers showed polymorphism among the 56 accessions. A total of 1125 bands, with an average of 187.5, was produced from all six SRAP primers. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 74.8 to 97.7, with an average of 91.4 for all studied SRAP markers. The high polymorphism percentage seen in this study, along with the high number of alleles produced and the high PIC values of the primers used, demonstrate that the SRAP approach was an effective molecular technique for assessing genetic diversity in the studied populations. The structural analysis showed a sharp peak, with no ambiguity, demonstrating the highest delta K value at K = 3 and K = 6, and the coffee accessions could be grouped into three and six main populations, respectively. The PCoA, cluster analysis, and structural population analysis results suggest considerable genetic diversity among coffee populations growing on the southwestern mountain terraces of Saudi Arabia. The 56 accessions were segregated into five groups, mostly according to geographic distribution. The accessions from the southern districts of Jazan region mostly clustered in groups 2 and 4, while the accessions from the northern districts of Al-Baha and Assir regions formed separate groups. Based on these analyses, accessions KSA1R, KSA6R, KSA21, KSA25, KSA37, KSA38, KSA42, KSA59, KSA60, KSA62, and KSA63 were the most divergent. The genotypes should be conserved for use in coffee-breeding programs to improve the agronomic value of the crop, broaden the genetic base of C. arabica in Saudi Arabia and increase environmental resilience. Additional molecular and functional genomics studies are necessary to further elucidate how this germplasm has evolved and enhance the value of local Arabica coffee diversity in the Kingdom.
Advances in Neuroanatomy through Brain Atlasing
Authors: Nowinski Wieslaw L.
Published: January 2023

Human brain atlases are tools to gather, present, use, and discover knowledge about the human brain. The developments in brain atlases parallel the advances in neuroanatomy. The brain atlas evolution has been from hand-drawn cortical maps to print atlases to digital platforms which, thanks to tremendous advancements in acquisition techniques and computing, has enabled progress in neuroanatomy from gross (macro) to meso-, micro-, and nano-neuroanatomy. Advances in neuroanatomy have been feasible because of introducing new modalities, from the initial cadaveric dissections, morphology, light microscopy imaging and neuroelectrophysiology to non-invasive in vivo imaging, connectivity, electron microscopy imaging, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics. Presently, large and long-term brain projects along with big data drive the development in micro- and nano-neuroanatomy. The goal of this work is to address the relationship between neuroanatomy and human brain atlases and, particularly, the impact of these atlases on the understanding, presentation, and advancement of neuroanatomy. To better illustrate this relationship, a brief outline on the evolution of the human brain atlas concept, creation of brain atlases, atlas-based applications, and future brain-related developments is also presented. In conclusion, human brain atlases are excellent means to represent, present, disseminate, and support neuroanatomy.
Expression and Localization of Fas-Associated Factor 1 in Testicular Tissues of Different Ages and Ovaries at Different Reproductive Cycle Phases of Bos grunniens
Authors: Wang Jingyu , Pan Yangyang , Zhang Rui , Xu Gengquan , Wu Rentaodi , Zhang Wenlan , Wang Xiaoshan , Su Xue , Si Qintuya , Yu Sijiu
Published: January 2023

Fas-associated factor 1 (FAF1), a member of the Fas family, is involved in biological processes such as apoptosis, inflammation, cell proliferation and proteostasis. This study aimed to explore the biological role of FAF1 in testicular tissue at different ages (juveniles (1 and 2 years old), adults (3, 4, 6, and 7 years old) and old-aged animals (11 years old)) and ovaries during different reproductive cycle phases (follicular, luteal, and pregnancy phases). FAF1 mRNA, relative protein expression and protein expression localization were determined in testes and ovaries using real-time quantification, WB and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Real-time quantification of testis tissues showed that the relative expression of FAF1 mRNA in testis tissues at 3, 4 and 7 years of age was significantly higher than of those in other ages, and in ovarian tissues was significantly higher in luteal phase ovaries than those in follicular and pregnancy phase ovaries; follicular phase ovaries were the lowest. WB of testis tissues showed that the relative protein expression of FAF1 protein was significantly higher at 11 and 7 years of age; in ovarian tissue, the relative protein expression of FAF1 protein was significantly higher in follicular phase ovaries than in luteal and pregnancy phase ovaries, and lowest in luteal phase ovaries. The relative protein expression of FAF1 at 3, 4 and 7 years of age was the lowest. IHC showed that FAF1 was mainly expressed in spermatozoa, spermatocytes, spermatogonia and supporting cells; in ovarian tissue, FAF1 was expressed in ovarian germ epithelial cells, granulosa cells, cumulus cells and luteal cells. The IHC results showed that FAF1 mRNA and protein were significantly differentially expressed in testes of different ages and ovarian tissues of different reproductive cycle phases, revealing the significance of FAF1 in the regulation of male and female B. grunniens reproductive physiology. Furthermore, our results provide a basis for the further exploration of FAF1 in the reproductive physiology of B. grunniens.
Salvianolic Acid B Regulates Oxidative Stress, Autophagy and Apoptosis against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Hepatic Injury in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Cao Liping , Yin Guojun , Du Jinliang , Jia Rui , Gao Jiancao , Shao Nailin , Li Quanjie , Zhu Haojun , Zheng Yao , Nie Zhijuan , Ding Weidong , Xu Gangchun
Published: January 2023

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), as one of the main water-soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhizae, has significant pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, free radical elimination and biofilm protection actions. However, the protective effect of Sal B on Nile tilapia and the underlying mechanism are rarely reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Sal B on antioxidant stress, apoptosis and autophagy in Nile tilapia liver. In this experiment, Nile tilapia were fed diets containing sal B (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g·kg−1) for 60 days, and then the oxidative hepatic injury of the tilapia was induced via intrapleural injection of 50 g·kg−1 cyclophosphamide (CTX) three times. After the final exposure to CTX, the Nile tilapia were weighed and blood and liver samples were collected for the detection of growth and biochemical indicators, pathological observations and TUNEL detection, as well as the determination of mRNA expression levels. The results showed that after the CTX treatment, the liver was severely damaged, the antioxidant capacity of the Nile tilapia was significantly decreased and the hepatocyte autophagy and apoptosis levels were significantly increased. Meanwhile, dietary Sal B can not only significantly improve the growth performance of tilapia and effectively reduce CTX-induced liver morphological lesions, but can also alleviate CTX-induced hepatocyte autophagy and apoptosis. In addition, Sal B also significantly regulated the expression of genes related to antioxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis pathways. This suggested that the hepatoprotective effect of Sal B may be achieved through various pathways, including scavenging free radicals and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and autophagy.
In Vitro Study of the Effect of Ensiling Length and Processing on the Nutritive Value of Maize Silages
Authors: Gordo Ana , Hernando Belén , Artajona Jesús , Fondevila Manuel
Published: January 2023

The effect of the ensiling length (3, 6, or 9 months), and the processing by dehydration (D) or dehydration and pelleting (P) with respect to the fresh silages (F) were studied in vitro on three maize cultivars in three incubation runs to study the effect of these factors on the nutritive value of maize silage. Gas production pattern, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), methane concentration (6 and 12 h), ammonia, and volatile fatty acid concentration (VFA) at 12 h were measured. The moisture and pH of F averaged 676 g/kg and 4.09, respectively, and were not affected by the ensiling length, but moisture was reduced, and the pH increased in D and P with respect to F (p < 0.05). The ensiling length did not affect the chemical composition, but differences among the processing forms were detected in a higher acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) proportion in P than D, and D than F (p < 0.001). Silages opened at 9 months showed the lowest gas production (p < 0.05), and those that opened after 3 months showed the highest IVTD. The effects of processing on nutrient utilisation only manifested on 3 month silages, with the volume of gas production and IVTD being lower in D than F. However, processing tended (p = 0.064) to reduce the methane proportion at 12 h, indicating both a more efficient fermentation and a lower potential of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the fresh silages. Extending the length of ensiling to 9 months reduced the fermentation of maize silage. The processing increased the dry matter and buffered the feed as well as contributed to an increase in fermentation in 3 month silages.
Role of Dietary Methyl Sulfonyl Methane in Poultry
Authors: Kim Yoo-Bhin , Lee Kyung-Woo
Published: January 2023

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants within biological systems, leading to tissue damage and compromising the health of afflicted animals. The incorporation of dietary anti-oxidants into chicken diets has been a common practice to improve the performance, health, and welfare of the host by protecting against oxidative stress-induced damage. Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), a naturally occurring organosulfur compound found in various plant sources, has demonstrated various beneficial biological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties in both in vitro and in vivo studies. MSM has been utilized as a dietary supplement for humans for its anti-oxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been administered to domestic animals, including cattle, pigs, and chickens, owing to its recognized anti-oxidant effect. This review summarizes the biological and physiological functions of dietary MSM in poultry.
Mitochondrial Complex I, a Possible Sensible Site of cAMP Pathway in Aging
Authors: Signorile Anna , De Rasmo Domenico
Published: January 2023

In mammals during aging, reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by the mitochondrial respiratory chain, cause oxidative damage of macromolecules leading to respiratory chain dysfunction, which in turn increases ROS mitochondrial production. Many efforts have been made to understand the role of oxidative stress in aging and age-related diseases. The complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is the major source of ROS production and its dysfunctions have been associated with several forms of neurodegeneration, other common human diseases and aging. Complex I-ROS production and complex I content have been proposed as the major determinants for longevity. The cAMP signal has a role in the regulation of complex I activity and the decrease of ROS production. In the last years, an increasing number of studies have attempted to activate cAMP signaling to treat age-related diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunctions and ROS production. This idea comes from a long-line of studies showing a main role of cAMP signal in the memory consolidation mechanism and in the regulation of mitochondrial functions. Here, we discuss several evidences on the possible connection between complex I and cAMP pathway in the aging process.
Selenium Deficiency-Induced Oxidative Stress Causes Myocardial Injury in Calves by Activating Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis
Authors: Lei Lei , Mu Jing , Zheng Yingce , Liu Yun
Published: January 2023

Selenium (Se) is essential for human and animal health, but there have been few studies on the mechanisms of injury in dairy cows with Se deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Se deficiency on myocardial injury in weaned calves. The Se-D group had significantly lower myocardial Se concentrations than the Se-C group. Histological analysis indicated that Se deficiency induced a large area of necrosis in the myocardium, accompanied by inflammatory changes. Se deficiency significantly decreased the expression of 10 of the 21 selenoprotein genes and increased the expression of SEPHS2. Furthermore, we found that oxidative stress occurred in the Se-D group by detection of redox-related indicators. Additionally, TUNEL staining showed that Se deficiency causes severe apoptosis in the myocardium, which was characterized by activating the exogenous apoptotic pathway and the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Se deficiency also induced necroptosis in the myocardium by upregulating MLKL, RIPK1, and RIPK3. Moreover, Se-deficient calves have severe inflammation in the myocardium. Se deficiency significantly reduced anti-inflammatory factor levels while increasing pro-inflammatory factor levels. We also found that the NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were activated in Se-deficient conditions. Our findings suggest that Se deficiency causes myocardial injury in weaned calves by regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and necroptosis.
Vitamin C Modes of Action in Calcium-Involved Signaling in the Brain
Authors: Zylinska Ludmila , Lisek Malwina , Guo Feng , Boczek Tomasz
Published: January 2023

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is well known for its potent antioxidant properties, as it can neutralize ROS and free radicals, thereby protecting cellular elements from oxidative stress. It predominantly exists as an ascorbate anion and after oxidation to dehydroascorbic acid and further breakdown, is removed from the cells. In nervous tissue, a progressive decrease in vitamin C level or its prolonged deficiency have been associated with an increased risk of disturbances in neurotransmission, leading to dysregulation in brain function. Therefore, understanding the regulatory function of vitamin C in antioxidant defence and identification of its molecular targets deserves more attention. One of the key signalling ions is calcium and a transient rise in its concentration is crucial for all neuronal processes. Extracellular Ca2+ influx (through specific ion channels) or Ca2+ release from intracellular stores (endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria) are precisely controlled. Ca2+ regulates the functioning of the CNS, including growth, development, myelin formation, synthesis of catecholamines, modulation of neurotransmission and antioxidant protection. A growing body of evidence indicates a unique role for vitamin C in these processes. In this short review, we focus on vitamin C in the regulation of calcium-involved pathways under physiological and stress conditions in the brain.
Blockchain-Based Internet of Medical Things
Authors: Taherdoost Hamed
Published: January 2023

IoMT sensor nodes, Internet of Things (IoT) wearable medical equipment, healthcare facilities, patients, and insurance firms are all increasingly being included in IoMT systems. Therefore, it is difficult to create a blockchain design for such systems, since scalability is among the most important aspects of blockchain technology. This realization prompted us to comprehensively analyze blockchain-based IoMT solutions developed in English between 2017 and 2022. This review incorporates the theoretical underpinnings of a large body of work published in highly regarded academic journals over the past decade, to standardize evaluation methods and fully capture the rapidly developing blockchain space. This study categorizes blockchain-enabled applications across various industries such as information management, privacy, healthcare, business, and supply chains according to a structured, systematic evaluation, and thematic content analysis of the literature that is already identified. The gaps in the literature on the topic have also been highlighted, with a special focus on the restrictions posed by blockchain technology and the knock-on effects that such restrictions have in other fields. Based on these results, several open research questions and potential avenues for further investigation that are likely to be useful to academics and professionals alike are pinpointed.
Multiscale Analysis for Improving Texture Classification
Authors: Ataky Steve Tsham Mpinda , Saqui Diego , de Matos Jonathan , de Souza Britto Junior Alceu , Lameiras Koerich Alessandro
Published: January 2023

Information from an image occurs over multiple and distinct spatial scales. Image pyramid multiresolution representations are a useful data structure for image analysis and manipulation over a spectrum of spatial scales. This paper employs the Gaussian–Laplacian pyramid to separately treat different spatial frequency bands of a texture. First, we generate three images corresponding to three levels of the Gaussian–Laplacian pyramid for an input image to capture intrinsic details. Then, we aggregate features extracted from gray and color texture images using bioinspired texture descriptors, information-theoretic measures, gray-level co-occurrence matrix feature descriptors, and Haralick statistical feature descriptors into a single feature vector. Such an aggregation aims at producing features that characterize textures to their maximum extent, unlike employing each descriptor separately, which may lose some relevant textural information and reduce the classification performance. The experimental results on texture and histopathologic image datasets have shown the advantages of the proposed method compared to state-of-the-art approaches. Such findings emphasize the importance of multiscale image analysis and corroborate that the descriptors mentioned above are complementary.
Validation of a Horizontally Dynamic Armrest for Joystick Controlled Mobile Equipment
Authors: Govers Megan E. , Boucher Danielle , Oliver Michele L.
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this work was to validate an addition to a dynamic armrest design (DA) for use during inward–outward and fore–aft joystick manipulation. The design was validated compared to a stationary armrest (SA) and no armrest (NA) using surface electromyography (EMG) and a questionnaire. The DA was not successful in reducing muscle activation for inward–outward movements when compared to the SA. Furthermore, the addition of inward–outward dynamic portion negated the improvements seen with the fore–aft dynamic armrest design. Despite the lack of significant muscular activation findings, most participants preferred the DA to the SA or NA. However, unlike the fore–aft dynamic armrest, which was found to successfully reduce muscle activation in multiple muscles involved in joystick manipulation, results suggest that the horizontally dynamic support addition may not be necessary for inward and outward joystick movements.
SA-SGRU: Combining Improved Self-Attention and Skip-GRU for Text Classification
Authors: Huang Yuan , Dai Xiaohong , Yu Junhao , Huang Zheng
Published: January 2023

When reading texts for text classification tasks, a large number of words are irrelevant, and in text classification tasks, the traditional self-attention mechanism has the problem of weight distribution limitations. Therefore, a text classification model that combines an improved self-attention mechanism with a Skip-GRU (Skip-grate recurrent unit) network (SA-SGRU) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, Skip-GRU, the enhanced model of GRU (Grate Recurrent Unit), is used to skip the content that is not important for text classification when reading texts and only capture effective global information. Then, the improved self-attention mechanism is introduced to redistribute the weight of the deep text sequences. Secondly, the optimized CNN (convolutional neural network) is combined to bring up the local features of texts. Finally, a Softmax classifier is used to obtain the classification results of sample labels. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve better performance on three public datasets compared with other baseline methods. The ablation experiments also demonstrate the effectiveness of each module in the proposed model.
A Self-Adaptive Approximated-Gradient-Simulation Method for Black-Box Adversarial Sample Generation
Authors: Zhang Yue , Shin Seong-Yoon , Tan Xujie , Xiong Bin
Published: January 2023

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have famously been applied in various ordinary duties. However, DNNs are sensitive to adversarial attacks which, by adding imperceptible perturbation samples to an original image, can easily alter the output. In state-of-the-art white-box attack methods, perturbation samples can successfully fool DNNs through the network gradient. In addition, they generate perturbation samples by only considering the sign information of the gradient and by dropping the magnitude. Accordingly, gradients of different magnitudes may adopt the same sign to construct perturbation samples, resulting in inefficiency. Unfortunately, it is often impractical to acquire the gradient in real-world scenarios. Consequently, we propose a self-adaptive approximated-gradient-simulation method for black-box adversarial attacks (SAGM) to generate efficient perturbation samples. Our proposed method uses knowledge-based differential evolution to simulate gradients and the self-adaptive momentum gradient to generate adversarial samples. To estimate the efficiency of the proposed SAGM, a series of experiments were carried out on two datasets, namely MNIST and CIFAR-10. Compared to state-of-the-art attack techniques, our proposed method can quickly and efficiently search for perturbation samples to misclassify the original samples. The results reveal that the SAGM is an effective and efficient technique for generating perturbation samples.
Microbiological and Physical Changes Produced by Different Air–Powders on Contaminated Titanium Implant Surfaces: An In Vitro Pilot Study
Authors: Francis Samy , Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Spirito Francesca , Perrotti Vittoria , Quaranta Alessandro
Published: January 2023

Air–powder abrasive treatment has shown interesting results for dental implant treatments; however, which powder is most effective is still an open question. This in vitro pilot study aims to compare the ability of six different powders (sodium bicarbonate powder—65 µm and 40 µm; glycine powder; erythritol powder—with and without cetylpyridinium chloride and calcium carbonate) to remove biofilm from contaminated titanium discs and to evaluate the physical effects of such treatments on surface topography. Seventy-four titanium discs with two different surface roughness were treated after S. sanguinis contamination. Cleaning ability and surface changes were assessed by scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy as well as profilometry. All treated surfaces showed minimal bacterial residues compared to untreated ones, regardless of the treatment provided (remaining biofilm range 11.4% to 28.4% on machined discs—range 10.7% to 18.3% on moderately rough surface discs). No relevant changes on the microscopic ultrastructure of the disc surfaces were noted. The different treatments reduced biofilm up to 89.3 and 88.6% on moderately rough and machined discs, respectively, and they all showed statistically significant superiority over calcium carbonate powder. None of the tested treatments rendered the disc surfaces biofilm-free. Therefore, combined mechanical and chemical decontamination methods are still recommended to achieve maximum biofilm removal for peri-implantitis treatment.