bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a High-Throughput Urosepsis Mouse Model
Authors: Herout Roman , Vappala Sreeparna , Hanstock Sarah , Moskalev Igor , Chew Ben H. , Kizhakkedathu Jayachandran N. , Lange Dirk
Published: April 2023

Murine sepsis models are typically polymicrobial, and are associated with high mortality. We aimed to develop a high-throughput murine model that mimics a slow-paced, monomicrobial sepsis originating from the urinary tract. A total of 23 male C57Bl/6 mice underwent percutaneous insertion of a 4 mm catheter into the bladder using an ultrasound-guided method, previously developed by our group. The following day, Proteus mirabilis (PM) was introduced percutaneously in the bladder in three groups: g1—50 µL 1 × 108 CFU/mL solution (n = 10); g2—50 µL 1 × 107 CFU/mL solution (n = 10); and g3 (sham mice)—50 µL sterile saline (n = 3). On day 4, mice were sacrificed. The number of planktonic bacteria in urine, adherent to catheters, and adherent to/invaded into the bladder and spleen was assessed. Cell-free DNA, D-dimer, thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT), and 32 pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were quantified in the blood. All mice survived the 4 day postinterventional period. Mean weight loss was 11% in g1, 9% in g2, and 3% in the control mice. Mean urine CFU counts were highest in group 1. All catheters showed high catheter-adhered bacterial counts. Of the infected mice, 17/20 had CFU counts in the splenic tissue, indicating septicemia. Plasma levels of cell-free DNA, D-dimer, and the proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-6, IP-10, MIG, and G-CSF were significantly elevated in infected mice versus controls. We present a reproducible, monomicrobial murine model of urosepsis that does not lead to rapid deterioration and death, and is useful for studying prolonged urosepsis.
In Silico Evaluation of Quercetin Methylated Derivatives on the Interaction with Secretory Phospholipases A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops jararacussu
Authors: Belchor Mariana Novo , Costa Caroline Ramos da Cruz , Roggero Airam , Moraes Laila L. F. , Samelo Ricardo , Annunciato Isabelly , de Oliveira Marcos Antonio , Sousa Sergio F. , Toyama Marcos Hikari
Published: April 2023

Quercetin derivatives have already shown their anti-inflammatory potential, inhibiting essential enzymes involved in this process. Among diverse pro-inflammatory toxins from snake venoms, phospholipase A2 is one of the most abundant in some species, such as Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops jararacussu from the Viperidae family. These enzymes can induce the inflammatory process through hydrolysis at the sn-2 position of glycerophospholipids. Hence, elucidating the main residues involved in the biological effects of these macromolecules can help to identify potential compounds with inhibitory activity. In silico tools were used in this study to evaluate the potential of quercetin methylated derivatives in the inhibition of bothropstoxin I (BthTX-I) and II (BthTX-II) from Bothrops jararacussu and phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus. The use of a transitional analogous and two classical inhibitors of phospholipase A2 guided this work to find the role of residues involved in the phospholipid anchoring and the subsequent development of the inflammatory process. First, main cavities were studied, revealing the best regions to be inhibited by a compound. Focusing on these regions, molecular docking assays were made to show main interactions between each compound. Results reveal that analogue and inhibitors, Varespladib (Var) and p-bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), guided quercetins derivatives analysis, revealing that Leu2, Phe5, Tyr28, glycine in the calcium-binding loop, His48, Asp49 of BthTX-II and Cdtspla2 were the main residues to be inhibited. 3MQ exhibited great interaction with the active site, similar to Var results, while Q anchored better in the BthTX-II active site. However, strong interactions in the C-terminal region, highlighting His120, seem to be crucial to decreasing contacts with phospholipid and BthTX-II. Hence, quercetin derivatives anchor differently with each toxin and further in vitro and in vivo studies are essential to elucidate these data.
Hidden Pool of Cardiac Adenine Nucleotides That Controls Adenosine Production
Authors: Zabielska-Kaczorowska Magdalena A. , Braczko Alicja , Pelikant-Malecka Iwona , Slominska Ewa M. , Smolenski Ryszard T.
Published: April 2023

Myocardial ischemic adenosine production decreases in subsequent events that may blunt its protective functions. To test the relation between total or mitochondrial cardiac adenine nucleotide pool (TAN) on the energy status with adenosine production, Langendorff perfused rat hearts were subjected to three protocols: 1 min ischemia at 40 min, 10 min ischemia at 50 min, and 1 min ischemia at 85 min in Group I; additional infusion of adenosine (30 µM) for 15 min after 10 min ischemia in Group I-Ado, and 1 min ischemia at 40 and 85 min in the controls (Group No I). A 31P NMR and an HPLC were used for the analysis of nucleotide and catabolite concentrations in the heart and coronary effluent. Cardiac adenosine production in Group I measured after 1 min ischemia at 85 min decreased to less than 15% of that at 40 min in Group I, accompanied by a decrease in cardiac ATP and TAN to 65% of the initial results. Adenosine production at 85 min was restored to 45% of that at 40 min in Group I-Ado, accompanied by a rebound of ATP and TAN by 10% vs. Group I. Mitochondrial TAN and free AMP concentrations paralleled that of total cardiac TAN. Changes in energy equilibrium or mitochondrial function were minor. This study highlights that only a fraction of the cardiac adenine nucleotide pool is available for adenosine production, but further studies are necessary to clarify its nature.
Chronic Effects of Apelin on Cardiovascular Regulation and Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Zhang Qi , Shen Yue , Niloy Sayeman Islam , O'Rourke Stephen T. , Sun Chengwen
Published: April 2023

Apelin, by stimulation of APJ receptors, induces transient blood pressure (BP) reduction and positive inotropic effects. APJ receptors share high homology with the Ang II type 1 receptor; thus, apelin was proposed to play a protective role in cardiovascular disease by antagonizing the actions of Ang II. In this regard, apelin and apelin-mimetics are currently being studied in clinical trials. However, the chronic effect of apelin in cardiovascular regulation has not been fully investigated. In the current study, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded using a telemetry implantation approach in conscious rats, before and during chronic subcutaneous infusion of apelin-13, using osmotic minipumps. At the end of the recording, the cardiac myocyte morphology was examined using H&E staining, and cardiac fibrosis was evaluated by Sirius Red in each group of rats. The results demonstrated that the chronic infusion of apelin-13 did not change either BP or HR. However, under the same condition, the chronic infusion of Ang II induced significant BP elevation, cardiac hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Co-administration of apelin-13 did not significantly alter the Ang II-induced elevation in BP, changes in cardiac morphology, and fibrosis. Taken together, our experiments showed an unexpected result indicating that the chronic administration of apelin-13 did not alter basal BP, nor did it change Ang II-induced hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. The findings suggest that an APJ receptor biased agonist could be a better therapeutic alternative for treatment of hypertension.
PET Imaging in Bladder Cancer: An Update and Future Direction
Authors: Zhang-Yin Jules , Girard Antoine , Marchal Etienne , Lebret Thierry , Homo Seban Marie , Uhl Marine , Bertaux Marc
Published: April 2023

Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography is a powerful tool in bladder cancer management. In this review, we aim to address the current place of the PET imaging in bladder cancer care and offer perspectives on potential future radiopharmaceutical and technological advancements. A special focus is given to the following: the role of [18F] 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography in the clinical management of bladder cancer patients, especially for staging and follow-up; treatment guided by [18F]FDG PET/CT; the role of [18F]FDG PET/MRI, the other PET radiopharmaceuticals beyond [18F]FDG, such as [68Ga]- or [18F]-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor; and the application of artificial intelligence.
Predicting Hydroxychloroquine Clearance in Healthy and Diseased Populations Using a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Approach
Authors: Alqahtani Faleh , Asiri Ali Mohammed , Zamir Ammara , Rasool Muhammad Fawad , Alali Amer S. , Alsanea Sary , Walbi Ismail A.
Published: April 2023

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a congener of chloroquine, is widely used in prophylaxis and the treatment of malaria, and also as a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and various other diseases. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling (PBPK) has attracted great interest in the past few years in predicting drug pharmacokinetics (PK). This study focuses on predicting the PK of HCQ in the healthy population and extrapolating it to the diseased populations, i.e., liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD), utilizing a systematically built whole-body PBPK model. The time vs. concentration profiles and drug-related parameters were obtained from the literature after a laborious search and in turn were integrated into PK-Sim software for designing healthy intravenous, oral, and diseased models. The model’s evaluation was performed using observed-to-predicted ratios (Robs/Rpre) and visual predictive checks within a 2-fold error range. The healthy model was then extrapolated to liver cirrhosis and CKD populations after incorporating various disease-specific pathophysiological changes. Box–whisker plots showed an increase in AUC0-t in liver cirrhosis, whereas a decrease in AUC0-t was seen in the CKD population. These model predictions may assist clinicians in adjusting the administered HCQ doses in patients with different degrees of hepatic and renal impairment.
Characterization of Increased Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Tigecycline Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Cho Hyejin , Sondak Tesalonika , Kim Kwang-sun
Published: April 2023

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is the most detrimental pathogen that causes hospital-acquired infections. Tigecycline (TIG) is currently used as a potent antibiotic for treating CRAB infections; however, its overuse substantially induces the development of resistant isolates. Some molecular aspects of the resistance mechanisms of AB to TIG have been reported, but they are expected to be far more complicated and diverse than what has been characterized thus far. In this study, we identified bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are nano-sized lipid-bilayered spherical structures, as mediators of TIG resistance. Using laboratory-made TIG-resistant AB (TIG-R AB), we demonstrated that TIG-R AB produced more EVs than control TIG-susceptible AB (TIG-S AB). Transfer analysis of TIG-R AB-derived EVs treated with proteinase or DNase to recipient TIG-S AB showed that TIG-R EV proteins are major factors in TIG resistance transfer. Additional transfer spectrum analysis demonstrated that EV-mediated TIG resistance was selectively transferred to Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Proteus mirabilis. However, this action was not observed in Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, we showed that EVs are more likely to induce TIG resistance than antibiotics. Our data provide direct evidence that EVs are potent cell-derived components with a high, selective occurrence of TIG resistance in neighboring bacterial cells.
Clinical Relevance of Targeted Therapy and Immune-Checkpoint Inhibition in Lung Cancer
Authors: Leone Gian Marco , Candido Saverio , Lavoro Alessandro , Vivarelli Silvia , Gattuso Giuseppe , Calina Daniela , Libra Massimo , Falzone Luca
Published: April 2023

Lung cancer (LC) represents the second most diagnosed tumor and the malignancy with the highest mortality rate. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of this tumor thanks to the discovery, testing, and clinical approval of novel therapeutic approaches. Firstly, targeted therapies aimed at inhibiting specific mutated tyrosine kinases or downstream factors were approved in clinical practice. Secondly, immunotherapy inducing the reactivation of the immune system to efficiently eliminate LC cells has been approved. This review describes in depth both current and ongoing clinical studies, which allowed the approval of targeted therapies and immune-checkpoint inhibitors as standard of care for LC. Moreover, the present advantages and pitfalls of new therapeutic approaches will be discussed. Finally, the acquired importance of human microbiota as a novel source of LC biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets to improve the efficacy of available therapies, was analyzed. Therapy against LC is increasingly becoming holistic, taking into consideration not only the genetic landscape of the tumor, but also the immune background and other individual variables, such as patient-specific gut microbial composition. On these bases, in the future, the research milestones reached will allow clinicians to treat LC patients with tailored approaches.
Profiling Docetaxel in Plasma and Urine Samples from a Pediatric Cancer Patient Using Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Combined with LC–MS/MS
Authors: Maliszewska Olga , Roszkowska Anna , Lipiński Marcin , Treder Natalia , Olędzka Ilona , Kowalski Piotr , Bączek Tomasz , Bień Ewa , Krawczyk Małgorzata Anna , Plenis Alina
Published: April 2023

In recent years, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been applied in docetaxel (DOC)-based anticancer therapy to precisely control various pharmacokinetic parameters, including the concentration of DOC in biofluids (e.g., plasma or urine), its clearance, and its area under the curve (AUC). The ability to determine these values and to monitor DOC levels in biological samples depends on the availability of precise and accurate analytical methods that both enable fast and sensitive analysis and can be implemented in routine clinical practice. This paper presents a new method for isolating DOC from plasma and urine samples based on the coupling of microextraction and advanced liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In the proposed method, biological samples are prepared via ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (UA-DLLME) using ethanol (EtOH) and chloroform (Chl) as the desorption and extraction solvents, respectively. The proposed protocol was fully validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) requirements. The developed method was then applied to monitor the DOC profile in plasma and urine samples collected from a pediatric patient suffering from cardiac angiosarcoma (AS) with metastasis to lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, who was receiving treatment with DOC at a dose of 30 mg/m2 body surface area. Due to the rarity of this disease, TDM was carried out to determine the exact levels of DOC at particular time points to ascertain which levels were conducive to maximizing the treatment’s effectiveness while minimizing the drug’s toxicity. To this end, the concentration-time profiles of DOC in the plasma and urine samples were determined, and the levels of DOC at specific time intervals up to 3 days after administration were measured. The results showed that DOC was present at higher concentrations in the plasma than in the urine samples, which is due to the fact that this drug is primarily metabolized in the liver and then eliminated with the bile. The obtained data provided information about the pharmacokinetic profile of DOC in pediatric patients with cardiac AS, which enabled the dose to be adjusted to achieve the optimal therapeutic regimen. The findings of this work demonstrate that the optimized method can be applied for the routine monitoring of DOC levels in plasma and urine samples as a part of pharmacotherapy in oncological patients.
Single-Strain Probiotic Lactobacilli for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fijan Sabina , Kolč Nina , Hrašovec Metka , Jamtvedt Gro , Pogačar Maja Šikić , Mičetić Turk Dušanka , Maver Uroš
Published: April 2023

Probiotics are known for their positive effects on the gut microbiota. There is growing evidence that the infant gut and skin colonization have a role in the development of the immune system, which may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. This systematic review focused on evaluating the effect of single-strain probiotic lactobacilli consumption on treating children’s atopic dermatitis. Seventeen randomized placebo-controlled trials with the primary outcome of the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index were included in the systematic review. Clinical trials using single-strain lactobacilli were included. The search was conducted until October 2022 using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane library and manual searches. The Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analyses and sub meta-analyses were performed using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Due to different methods of reporting the SCORAD index, only 14 clinical trials with 1124 children were included in the meta-analysis (574 in the single-strain probiotic lactobacilli group and 550 in the placebo group) and showed that single-strain probiotic lactobacilli statistically significantly reduced the SCORAD index compared to the placebo in children with atopic dermatitis (mean difference [MD]: −4.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −7.50 to −1.49; Z = 2.93; p = 0.003; heterogeneity I2 = 90%). The subgroup meta-analysis showed that strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum were significantly more effective than strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus. A longer treatment time and younger treatment age statistically significantly reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis shows that certain single-strain probiotic lactobacilli are more successful than others in reducing atopic dermatitis severity in children. Therefore, careful consideration to strain selection, treatment time and the age of the treated patients are important factors in enhancing the effectiveness of reducing atopic dermatitis in children when choosing probiotic single-strain lactobacilli.
Living Cells and Cell-Derived Vesicles: A Trojan Horse Technique for Brain Delivery
Authors: Ou Ante , Wang Yuewei , Zhang Jiaxin , Huang Yongzhuo
Published: April 2023

Brain diseases remain a significant global healthcare burden. Conventional pharmacological therapy for brain diseases encounters huge challenges because of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) limiting the delivery of therapeutics into the brain parenchyma. To address this issue, researchers have explored various types of drug delivery systems. Cells and cell derivatives have attracted increasing interest as “Trojan horse” delivery systems for brain diseases, owing to their superior biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and BBB penetration properties. This review provided an overview of recent advancements in cell- and cell-derivative-based delivery systems for the diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases. Additionally, it discussed the challenges and potential solutions for clinical translation.
Inference-Optimized High-Performance Photoelectric Target Detection Based on GPU Framework
Authors: Zhang Shicheng , Zhang Laixian , Guo Huichao , Zheng Yonghui , Ma Song , Chen Ying
Published: April 2023

Deep learning has better detection efficiency than typical methods in photoelectric target detection. However, classical CNNs on GPU frameworks consume too much computing power and memory resources. We propose a multi-stream inference-optimized TensorRT (MSIOT) method to solve this problem effectively. MSIOT uses knowledge distillation to effectively reduce the number of model parameters by layer guidance between CNNs and lightweight networks. Moreover, we use the TensorRT and multi-stream mode to reduce the number of model computations. MSIOT again increases inference speed by 9.3% based on the 4.3–7.2× acceleration of TensorRT. The experimental results show that the model’s mean average accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score after distillation can reach up to 94.20%, 93.16%, 95.4%, and 94.27%, respectively. It is of great significance for designing a real-time photoelectric target detection system.
Silicon Differently Affects Apoplastic Binding of Excess Boron in Wheat and Sunflower Leaves
Authors: Savic Jasna , Pavlovic Jelena , Stanojevic Milos , Bosnic Predrag , Kostic Kravljanac Ljiljana , Nikolic Nina , Nikolic Miroslav
Published: April 2023

Monocots and dicots differ in their boron (B) requirement, but also in their capacity to accumulate silicon (Si). Although an ameliorative effect of Si on B toxicity has been reported in various crops, differences among monocots and dicots are not clear, in particular in light of their ability to retain B in the leaf apoplast. In hydroponic experiments under controlled conditions, we studied the role of Si in the compartmentation of B within the leaves of wheat (Triticum vulgare L.) as a model of a high-Si monocot and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as a model of a low-Si dicot, with the focus on the leaf apoplast. The stable isotopes 10B and 11B were used to investigate the dynamics of cell wall B binding capacity. In both crops, the application of Si did not affect B concentration in the root, but significantly decreased the B concentration in the leaves. However, the application of Si differently influenced the binding capacity of the leaf apoplast for excess B in wheat and sunflower. In wheat, whose capacity to retain B in the leaf cell walls is lower than in sunflower, the continuous supply of Si is crucial for an enhancement of high B tolerance in the shoot. On the other hand, the supply of Si did not contribute significantly in the extension of the B binding sites in sunflower leaves.
Breeding and Growth Performance of ‘Ningzhi 4’, a New Blackberry Cultivar with High Yield Potential and Good Quality in China
Authors: Wu Yaqiong , Wu Wenlong , Zhang Chunhong , Lyu Lianfei , Li Weilin
Published: April 2023

The thornless blackberry cultivar ‘Ningzhi 4’ was developed by the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen). The new blackberry cultivar was selected from the ‘Kiowa’ (female parent) and ‘Hull Thornless’ (male parent) F1 hybrid. ‘Ningzhi 4’ had excellent plant characteristics, including thornlessness, semi-erect to erect canes, vigorous growth and good disease resistance. ‘Ningzhi 4’ had large fruit and high yield. In addition, the parents of the superior hybrid plant were further identified by SSR markers, which provided the basis for the fingerprint of the new blackberry cultivar ‘Ningzhi 4’. This is a commercial cultivar to be grown for fruit production for either shipping or local sales. It also has value as a home-garden plant. This unique type of blackberry fruit was a traditional summer fruit. This new cultivar has thornless semi-erect to erect canes and produces high-quality berries with large size, good firmness, excellent flavor, and potential for shipping and postharvest storage. The new blackberry cultivar ‘Ningzhi 4’ is adapted to all areas of southern China and is expected to replace or complement ‘Kiowa’, ‘Hull Thornless’, ‘Chester Thornless’ and ‘Triple Crown’. A local cultivar patent has been approved by the Jiangsu Variety Approval Committee as ‘Rubus spp. Ningzhi 4′ in 2020 (S-SV-RS-014-2020). In the future, ‘Ningzhi 4’ could be promoted as an advantageous thornless blackberry cultivar in the main production regions of China.
Allelopathic Potential of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon against Four Test Plants and the Biological Activity of Its Allelopathic Novel Compound, 8-Dehydroxy-11β-O-Acetyl-12β-O-Tigloyl-17β-Marsdenin
Authors: Moh Seinn Moh , Kurisawa Naoaki , Suenaga Kiyotake , Kato-Noguchi Hisashi
Published: April 2023

Plant parts and extracts that are rich in bioactive substances with allelopathic potential can be explored as a possible alternative to herbicides for natural weed control in sustainable agriculture. In the present study, we investigated the allelopathic potential of Marsdenia tenacissima leaves and its active substances. Aqueous methanol extracts of M. tenacissima showed significant inhibitory activities against the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv.). The extracts were purified through various chromatography steps, and one active substance was isolated and determined by spectral data to be a novel compound, assigned as steroidal glycoside 3 (8-dehydroxy-11β-O-acetyl-12β-O-tigloyl-17β-marsdenin). Steroidal glycoside 3 significantly inhibited the seedling growth of cress at a concentration of 0.03 mM. The concentrations needed for 50% growth inhibition of the cress shoots and roots were 0.25 and 0.03 mM, respectively. These results suggest that steroidal glycoside 3 may be responsible for the allelopathy of M. tenacissima leaves.
Modifications in Ultrastructural Characteristics and Redox Status of Plants under Environmental Stress: A Review
Authors: Ďúranová Hana , Šimora Veronika , Ďurišová Ľuba , Olexiková Lucia , Kovár Marek , Požgajová Miroslava
Published: April 2023

The rate of global environmental change is unprecedented, with climate change causing an increase in the oscillation and intensification of various abiotic stress factors that have negative impacts on crop production. This issue has become an alarming global concern, especially for countries already facing the threat of food insecurity. Abiotic stressors, such as drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and metal (nanoparticle) toxicities, are recognized as major constraints in agriculture, and are closely associated with the crop yield penalty and losses in food supply. In order to combat abiotic stress, it is important to understand how plant organs adapt to changing conditions, as this can help produce more stress-resistant or stress-tolerant plants. The investigation of plant tissue ultrastructure and subcellular components can provide valuable insights into plant responses to abiotic stress-related stimuli. In particular, the columella cells (statocytes) of the root cap exhibit a unique architecture that is easily recognizable under a transmission electron microscope, making them a useful experimental model for ultrastructural observations. In combination with the assessment of plant oxidative/antioxidative status, both approaches can shed more light on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in plant adaptation to environmental cues. This review summarizes life-threatening factors of the changing environment that lead to stress-related damage to plants, with an emphasis on their subcellular components. Additionally, selected plant responses to such conditions in the context of their ability to adapt and survive in a challenging environment are also described.
A Look at Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria
Authors: Gómez-Godínez Lorena Jacqueline , Aguirre-Noyola José Luis , Martínez-Romero Esperanza , Arteaga-Garibay Ramón Ignacio , Ireta-Moreno Javier , Ruvalcaba-Gómez José Martín
Published: April 2023

Bacteria have been used to increase crop yields. For their application on crops, bacteria are provided in inoculant formulations that are continuously changing, with liquid- and solid-based products. Bacteria for inoculants are mainly selected from natural isolates. In nature, microorganisms that favor plants exhibit various strategies to succeed and prevail in the rhizosphere, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and siderophore production. On the other hand, plants have strategies to maintain beneficial microorganisms, such as the exudation of chemoattractanst for specific microorganisms and signaling pathways that regulate plant–bacteria interactions. Transcriptomic approaches are helpful in attempting to elucidate plant–microorganism interactions. Here, we present a review of these issues.
Characterization of Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Antioxidant Defense Parameters of Two Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis Strains under Different Temperatures
Authors: Li Xiaomei , Meng Xue , Yang Xiaoqi , Duan Delin
Published: April 2023

In this study, two Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis strains—the wild type and a green-pigmented mutant—were cultured at three temperatures (8, 20, and 30 °C) for 7 days to explore their temperature tolerance using photosynthetic performance and antioxidant defense parameters. When the two strains of G. lemaneiformis were separately cultured at 30 °C, the fast chlorophyll fluorescence intensity of the wild type decreased, whereas the green mutant showed no significant change. The decrease in the performance index on absorption basis value under heat stress was lower in the green mutant than in the wild type. In addition, the green mutant had stronger antioxidant activity at 30 °C. Furthermore, a greater decrease in the values of maximum photochemical quantum yield and performance index on an absorption basis in the green mutant indicated that it had a greater degree of inhibition of photosynthetic performance under low temperatures. However, the green mutant produced less reactive oxygen species under low temperatures, suggesting that the antioxidant potential of the green mutant might be higher. In conclusion, the green mutant exhibited heat tolerance and could recover from low-temperature damage; therefore, it has the potential for large-scale cultivation.
Sustainable Weed Management
Authors: Restuccia Alessia , Scavo Aurelio
Published: April 2023

Weeds are the most important biological constraint determining yield losses for field crops [...]
Genetic Mapping of Flavonoid Grain Pigments in Durum Wheat
Authors: Sgaramella Natalia , Nigro Domenica , Pasqualone Antonella , Signorile Massimo Antonio , Laddomada Barbara , Sonnante Gabriella , Blanco Emanuela , Simeone Rosanna , Blanco Antonio
Published: April 2023

Pigmented cereal grains with high levels of flavonoid compounds have attracted the attention of nutritional science backing the development of functional foods with claimed health benefits. In this study, we report results on the genetic factors controlling grain pigmentation in durum wheat using a segregant population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between an Ethiopian purple grain accession and an Italian amber grain cultivar. The RIL population was genotyped by the wheat 25K SNP array and phenotyped for total anthocyanin content (TAC), grain color, and the L*, a*, and b* color index of wholemeal flour, based on four field trials. The mapping population showed a wide variation for the five traits in the different environments, a significant genotype x environment interaction, and high heritability. A total of 5942 SNP markers were used for constructing the genetic linkage map, with an SNP density ranging from 1.4 to 2.9 markers/cM. Two quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified for TAC mapping on chromosome arms 2AL and 7BS in the same genomic regions of two detected QTL for purple grain. The interaction between the two QTL was indicative of an inheritance pattern of two loci having complementary effects. Moreover, two QTL for red grain color were detected on chromosome arms 3AL and 3BL. The projection of the four QTL genomic regions on the durum wheat Svevo reference genome disclosed the occurrence of the candidate genes Pp-A3, Pp-B1, R-A1, and R-B1 involved in flavonoid biosynthetic pathways and encoding of transcription factors bHLH (Myc-1) and MYB (Mpc1, Myb10), previously reported in common wheat. The present study provides a set of molecular markers associated with grain pigments useful for the selection of essential alleles for flavonoid synthesis in durum wheat breeding programs and enhancement of the health-promoting quality of derived foods.
Antibacterial Activity and Anxiolytic Effect in Adult Zebrafish of Genus Lippia L. Species
Authors: Nonato Carla de Fatima Alves , de Melo Emerson Vinicius Silva , Camilo Cicera Janaine , Ferreira Maria Kueirislene Amâncio , de Meneses Jane Eire Alencar , da Silva Antonio Wlisses , Santos Hélcio Silva dos , Ribeiro-Filho Jaime , Paolla Raimundo e Silva Joanda , Tavares Josean Fechine , Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar de , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , Kowalska Grażyna , Baj Tomasz , Kowalski Radosław , da Costa José Galberto Martins
Published: April 2023

Species belonging to the genus Lippia are used worldwide as foods, beverages, and seasonings. Studies have demonstrated that these species have antioxidant, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. This work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and anxiolytic effect by different pathways of essential oils and ethanolic extracts of three species of Lippia (Lippia alba, Lippia sidoides, and Lippia gracilis). The ethanolic extracts were characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn and their phenolics were quantified. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration and modulation of antibiotic activity, and toxic and anxiolytic effects were evaluated in the zebrafish model. The extracts showed compositions with a low ratio and shared compounds. L. alba and L. gracilis showed higher amounts of phenols and flavonoids, respectively. All extracts and essential oils presented antibacterial activity, especially those obtained from L. sidoides. On the other hand, L. alba extract presented the most significant antibiotic-enhancing effect. The samples were not toxic after 96 h of exposure, but showed an anxiolytic effect through modulation of the GABAA receptor, while L. alba extract acted via modulation of the 5-HT receptor. This new pharmacological evidence opens horizons for therapeutic approaches targeting anxiolytic and antibacterial therapies and food conservation using these species and their constituents.
Influence of Biochar and Bio-Oil Loading on the Properties of Epoxy Resin Composites
Authors: Hidalgo Pamela , Salgado Luis , Ibacache Nayadeth , Hunter Renato
Published: April 2023

In this study, we evaluated the use of bio-oil and biochar on epoxy resin. Bio-oil and biochar were obtained from the pyrolysis of wheat straw and hazelnut hull biomass. A range of bio-oil and biochar proportions on the epoxy resin properties and the effect of their substitution were investigated. TGA curves showed improved thermal stability for degradation temperature at the 5% (T5%), 10% (T10%), and 50% (T50%) weight losses on bioepoxy blends with the incorporation of bio-oil and biochar with respect to neat resin. However, decreases in the maximum mass loss rate temperature (Tmax) and the onset of thermal degradation (Tonset) were obtained. Raman characterization showed that the degree of reticulation with the addition of bio-oil and biochar does not significantly affect chemical curing. The mechanical properties were improved when bio-oil and biochar were incorporated into the epoxy resin. All bio-based epoxy blends showed a large increase in Young’s modulus and tensile strength with respect to neat resin. Young’s modulus was approximately 1955.90 to 3982.05 MPa, and the tensile strength was between 8.73 and 13.58 MPa for bio-based blends of wheat straw. Instead, in bio-based blends of hazelnut hulls, Young´s modulus was 3060.02 to 3957.84 MPa, and tensile strength was 4.11 to 18.11 Mpa.
Preparation and Thermo-Mechanical Characteristics of Composites Based on Epoxy Resin with Kaolinite and Clinoptilolite
Authors: Puszka Andrzej , Kneć Marcin , Franus Wojciech , Podkościelna Beata
Published: April 2023

Herein the synthesis, characterization, and study of spectroscopic, thermal, and thermo-mechanical properties of polymeric composites are presented. The composites were obtained in special molds (8 × 10 cm) based on the commercially available epoxy resin Epidian® 601 cross-linked by 10% w/w triethylenetetramine (TETA). To improve the thermal and mechanical properties of the synthetic epoxy resins, natural fillers in the form of minerals from the silicate cluster kaolinite (KA) or clinoptilolite (CL) were added to the composites. The structures of the materials obtained were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR). The thermal properties of the resins were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) in an inert atmosphere. The hardness of the crosslinked products was determined using the Shore D method. Moreover, strength tests were performed on the 3PB (three-point bending) specimen, with the analysis of tensile strains conducted using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique.
Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers in Thin Films Swollen-Rich in Solvent Vapors
Authors: Babutan Iulia , Todor-Boer Otto , Atanase Leonard Ionut , Vulpoi Adriana , Botiz Ioan
Published: April 2023

In this study we have employed a polymer processing method based on solvent vapor annealing in order to condense relatively large amounts of solvent vapors onto thin films of block copolymers and thus to promote their self-assembly into ordered nanostructures. As revealed by the atomic force microscopy, a periodic lamellar morphology of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-polybutadiene and an ordered morphology comprised of hexagonally-packed structures made of poly(2-vinylpyridine)-b-poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) were both successfully generated on solid substrates for the first time.
Chain Dynamics of Partially Disentangled UHMWPE around Melting Point Characterized by 1H Low-Field Solid-State NMR
Authors: Zhao Yan , Liang Yuling , Yao Yingjie , Wang Hao , Lin Tong , Gao Yun , Wang Xiaoliang , Xue Gi
Published: April 2023

Melts of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) entangled significantly, suffering processing difficulty. In this work, we prepared partially disentangled UHMWPE by freeze-extracting, exploring the corresponding enchantment of chain mobility. Fully refocused 1H free induction decay (FID) was used to capture the difference in chain segmental mobility during the melting of UHMWPE with different degrees of entanglement by low-field solid-state NMR. The longer the polyethylene (PE) chain is in a less-entangled state, the harder the process of merging into mobile parts after detaching from crystalline lamella during melting. 1H double quantum (DQ) NMR was further used to obtain information caused by residual dipolar interaction. Before melting, the DQ peak appeared earlier in intramolecular-nucleated PE than in intermolecular-nucleated PE because of the strong constraints of crystals in the former one. During melting, less-entangled UHMWPE could keep disentangled while less-entangled high density polyethylene (HDPE) could not. Unfortunately, no noticeable difference was found in DQ experiments between PE melts with different degrees of entanglement after melting. It was ascribed to the small contribution of entanglements compared with total residual dipolar interaction in melts. Overall, less-entangled UHMWPE could reserve its disentangled state around the melting point long enough to achieve a better way of processing.
Pauline Pseudepigrapha and Early Christian Literacy: Are the Clues Hidden Right in Front of US?
Authors: Paley Justin P.
Published: April 2023

Within Biblical scholarship, there have been a limited number of studies which examine ancient literacy and education in relation to the production of the Deutero-Pauline letters. When such topics are addressed together, the discussions rarely go beyond some generalities, and this article seeks to partly address that gap. Literacy rates in the Greco-Roman world, of which the earliest Christians were a part, are universally agreed to be significantly lower than modern literacy rates, with most estimates being between 5 and 15%. This fact, coupled with the limited number of Christians by the end of the first and the beginning of the second century CE, should be taken more seriously when considering how the Deutero-Pauline literature came to be produced and, eventually, circulate with other authentic Pauline letters. In short, this article will argue that when the realities of the educational landscape of the New Testament world are taken in conjunction with what we know about textual production, early Christian communities and leadership structures, there is a plausible argument to be made that those who were responsible for at least some of the Deutero-Pauline letters may be hiding in plain sight.
Religion and Cultural Mediations: Perspectives from Contemporary Portuguese Society
Authors: Teixeira Alfredo
Published: April 2023

The article reviews the concept of “cultural religion”, pursuing its different modulations. The limits of the idea oscillate between its interpretation as a form of obsolescence of religion in secularized societies and the possibility that it is a specific modality of religious identification. However, this theoretical construct does not sufficiently incorporate a focus on the processes of cultural transmission in complex societies. From the notion of “cultural mediation (medium)”, an observation framework of contemporary Portuguese society is attempted in order to identify the structuring dimensions that facilitate the mobilization of religious memory in different logics of action.
Baron Eric Hermelin—Translation and the Merge of Traditions; Encoding and Reception of Persian Sufi Poetry in 20th Century Sweden
Authors: Friberg von Sydow Rikard
Published: April 2023

The mysticism of the 19th and 20th centuries has often been perceived as a reaction towards the new fast, dense, and modern world. But is it not so that it thrives on the same material foundations, globalism, networks, and mass production of text, that built our contemporary global information society? In this article, thoughts found in the writings of the Swedish mystic and translator Baron Eric Hermelin are analyzed. Hermelin was born into a Swedish noble aristocratic family in 1860. After traveling through the British Empire as a soldier in his youth, he returned to Sweden with books and knowledge. Unfortunately, he spent most of his remaining life incarcerated in the mental hospital St. Lars in the university town of Lund in the south of Sweden. But from the hospital, he released translations of Rumi, Khayyam, and other Persian mystics as well as reflections on Böhme and Swedenborg. The analysis will use Eric Hermelin’s work and focus on the process of creating and delivering the texts of the Persian Sufis to a Swedish audience.
Estimation of Tropical Cyclone Intensity Using Multi-Platform Remote Sensing and Deep Learning with Environmental Field Information
Authors: Tian Wei , Lai Linhong , Niu Xianghua , Zhou Xinxin , Zhang Yonghong , Kenny Kenny Thiam Choy Lim Kam
Published: April 2023

Accurate tropical cyclone (TC) intensity estimation is crucial for prediction and disaster prevention. Currently, significant progress has been achieved for the application of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in TC intensity estimation. However, many studies have overlooked the fact that the local convolution used by CNNs does not consider the global spatial relationships between pixels. Hence, they can only capture limited spatial contextual information. In addition, the special rotation invariance and symmetry structure of TC cannot be fully expressed by convolutional kernels alone. Therefore, this study proposes a new deep learning-based model for TC intensity estimation, which uses a combination of rotation equivariant convolution and Transformer to address the rotation invariance and symmetry structure of TC. Combining the two can allow capturing both local and global spatial contextual information, thereby achieving more accurate intensity estimation. Furthermore, we fused multi-platform satellite remote sensing data into the model to provide more information about the TC structure. At the same time, we integrate the physical environmental field information into the model, which can help capture the impact of these external factors on TC intensity and further improve the estimation accuracy. Finally, we use TCs from 2003 to 2015 to train our model and use 2016 and 2017 data as independent validation sets to verify our model. The overall root mean square error (RMSE) is 8.19 kt. For a subset of 482 samples (from the East Pacific and Atlantic) observed by aircraft reconnaissance, the root mean square error is 7.88 kt.
Remote Sensing Inversion of Typical Offshore Water Quality Parameter Concentration Based on Improved SVR Algorithm
Authors: Ren Jianghua , Cui Jianyong , Dong Wen , Xiao Yanfang , Xu Mingming , Liu Shanwei , Wan Jianhua , Li Zhongwei , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2023

Chlorophyll a concentration and suspended matter concentration, as typical water quality parameters related to spectral characteristics, are essential for characterizing the degree of eutrophication in water bodies. They have become crucial indicators for water quality assessment of inland water bodies. The support vector regression model (SVR) is suitable for small samples, has excellent generalization ability, and has high prediction accuracy. Still, it has the problem of difficult selection of model parameters and quickly falling into local extremes. To solve this problem, a hybrid Differential Evolution-Grey Wolf Optimizer (DE-GWO) algorithm is introduced into the parameter selection process of the support vector regression model, and an improved SVR algorithm (DE-GWO-SVR) is proposed for the remote sensing inversion of chlorophyll a concentration and suspended sediment concentration in water bodies. In this paper, the spectral reflectance of the water surface and the chlorophyll a and broken matter concentration values were obtained by field measurements in the Tangdao Bay waters of Qingdao, Shandong Province. The inverse model between the concentration values of the two water quality parameters and the corresponding sensitive factors was established by first determining the sensitive factors based on the response of the spectral reflectance to the two water quality parameters and introducing the DE-GWO optimization algorithm into the parameter selection process of the SVR model. Finally, the accuracy of the model was verified using Sentinel II satellite remote sensing spectral data, and then the inverse accuracy of the two water quality parameters was obtained. The mean relative error (MRE) of the chlorophyll a prediction model built by the DE-GWO algorithm optimizing the SVR is 25.1%, and the mean relative error (MRE) of the suspended matter prediction model is 32.5%. The inversion results were all better than the other models (linear regression, SVR, and GWO-SVR model). When the best model, built from the measured water surface spectral data, was applied to the Sentinel II satellite data, the improved SVR model outperformed the other models in terms of mean relative error. The experimental results confirm that the DE-GWO-SVR algorithm is an effective method for remote sensing inversion of chlorophyll a and suspended matter concentrations in water bodies, which can provide a reference for remote sensing inversion of chlorophyll a and suspended matter concentrations in Chinese offshore waters and subsequent scientific management of waters.