bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep learning-based elaiosome detection in milk thistle seed for efficient high-throughput phenotyping
Authors: Kim Younguk , Abebe Alebel Mekuriaw , Kim Jaeyoung , Hong Suyoung , An Kwanghoon , Shim Jeehyoung , Baek Jeongho
Published: July 2024

Milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L.), is a well-known medicinal plant used for the treatment of liver diseases due to its high content of silymarin. The seeds contain elaiosome, a fleshy structure attached to the seeds, which is believed to be a rich source of many metabolites including silymarin. Segmentation of elaiosomes using only image analysis is difficult, and this makes it impossible to quantify the elaiosome phenotypes. This study proposes a new approach for semi-automated detection and segmentation of elaiosomes in milk thistle seed using the Detectron2 deep learning algorithm. One hundred manually labeled images were used to train the initial elaiosome detection model. This model was used to predict elaiosome from new datasets, and the precise predictions were manually selected and used as new labeled images for retraining the model. Such semi-automatic image labeling, i.e., using the prediction results of the previous stage for retraining the model, allowed the production of sufficient labeled data for retraining. Finally, a total of 6,000 labeled images were used to train Detectron2 for elaiosome detection and attained a promising result. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of Detectron2 in detecting milk thistle seed elaiosomes with an accuracy of 99.9%. The proposed method automatically detects and segments elaiosome from the milk thistle seed. The predicted mask images of elaiosome were used to analyze its area as one of the seed phenotypic traits along with other seed morphological traits by image-based high-throughput phenotyping in ImageJ. Enabling high-throughput phenotyping of elaiosome and other seed morphological traits will be useful for breeding milk thistle cultivars with desirable traits.
Antibiotic-resistant characteristics and horizontal gene transfer ability analysis of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from giant pandas
Authors: Liu Haifeng , Fan Siping , Zhang Xiaoli , Yuan Yu , Zhong Wenhao , Wang Liqin , Wang Chengdong , Zhou Ziyao , Zhang Shaqiu , Geng Yi , Peng Guangneng , Wang Ya , Zhang Kun , Yan Qigui , Luo Yan , Shi Keyun , Zhong Zhijun
Published: July 2024

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) is regarded as one of the most important priority pathogens within the One Health interface. However, few studies have investigated the occurrence of ESBL-EC in giant pandas, along with their antibiotic-resistant characteristics and horizontal gene transfer abilities. In this study, we successfully identified 12 ESBL-EC strains (8.33%, 12/144) out of 144 E. coli strains which isolated from giant pandas. We further detected antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence-associated genes (VAGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among the 12 ESBL-EC strains, and the results showed that 13 ARGs and 11 VAGs were detected, of which blaCTX-M (100.00%, 12/12, with 5 variants observed) and papA (83.33%, 10/12) were the most prevalent, respectively. And ISEcp1 (66.67%, 8/12) and IS26 (66.67%, 8/12) were the predominant MGEs. Furthermore, horizontal gene transfer ability analysis of the 12 ESBL-EC showed that all blaCTX-M genes could be transferred by conjugative plasmids, indicating high horizontal gene transfer ability. In addition, ARGs of rmtB and sul2, VAGs of papA, fimC and ompT, MGEs of ISEcp1 and IS26 were all found to be co-transferred with blaCTX-M. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these ESBL-EC strains into group B2 (75.00%, 9/12), D (16.67%, 2/12), and B1 (8.33%, 1/12), and 10 sequence types (STs) were identified among 12 ESBL-EC (including ST48, ST127, ST206, ST354, ST648, ST1706, and four new STs). Our present study showed that ESBL-EC strains from captive giant pandas are reservoirs of ARGs, VAGs and MGEs that can co-transfer with blaCTX-M via plasmids. Transmissible ESBL-EC strains with high diversity of resistance and virulence elements are a potential threat to humans, animals and surrounding environment.
Dihydromyricetin improves growth performance, immunity, and intestinal functions in weaned pigs challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Xie Kunhong , Qi Jiawen , Deng Lili , Yu Bing , Luo Yuheng , Huang Zhiqing , Mao Xiangbing , Yu Jie , Zheng Ping , Yan Hui , Li Yan , Li Hua , He Jun
Published: July 2024

Enteric infection is a major cause of enteric disorder in neonatal pigs during the weaning transition. Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural flavanonol compound extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata with numerous biological activities such as antioxidative and immunomodulatory functions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary dihydromyricetin supplementation on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal functions in weaned pigs challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). In total, 24 weaned DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs were allotted to 3 treatments. Pigs fed with basal diet or basal diet containing 300 mg/kg DMY were orally infused with sterilized culture or ETEC (2.5 × 1011 colony-forming units). Dietary DMY supplementation significantly elevated the final weight and average daily gain (ADG) but reduced diarrhea incidence in the weaned pigs of the EDMY group compared to the pigs of the ECON group (p < 0.05). Compared to the ECON group, DMY also improved the digestibility of dry matter (DM), ether extract (EE), gross energy (GE), and ash of the EDMY group (p < 0.05). Moreover, DMY not only significantly decreased the ratio of albumin/globulin but also elevated serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (e.g., IgA and IgG) in the weaned pigs of the EDMY group compared to the pigs of the ECON group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the villus height, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (V:C), and the activities of mucosal alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and maltase in the duodenum and jejunum of the EDMY group were higher than those in the ECON group (p < 0.05). Importantly, DMY significantly elevated the expression levels of jejunal zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-1, cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1), and fatty acid transport protein-1 (FATP-1) in the weaned pigs of the EDMY group compared to the pigs of the ECON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, compared to the ECON group, DMY increased the concentrations of microbial SCFA metabolites (e.g., acetic acid and propanoic acid), but reduced the abundance of Escherichia coli in the cecum of the EDMY group (p < 0.05). Dietary DMY supplementation can attenuate the ETEC–induced growth retardation and intestinal injury, which was attributed to the amelioration of intestinal nutrient digestion and transport functions as well as the improved microbiota.
Case report: Evaluation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma metastasized to lymph nodes using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in a dog
Authors: Seok Jin , Lee Sungin
Published: July 2024

Introduction

18F-fluorodeoxy-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is used with high sensitivity in human medicine for initial staging and treatment planning of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To the best of our knowledge, 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) has not been used for canine cutaneous SCC with lymph node metastasis.

Case presentation

A 13 year-old spayed female Maltese had rapidly growing flank SCC, which had previously recurred twice. Radiography revealed no metastases. On PET/CT imaging, increased FDG uptake was observed not only in the flank but also in the left axillary lymph node and left inguinal lymph node (standardized uptake value max [SUVmax]: 8.602, 5.354, and 1.96, respectively). Despite the evidence of metastasis, palliative skin mass resection with a 3-cm margin and lymph node dissection were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of metastases in both lymph nodes.

Discussion

18F-FDG PET/CT is valuable for the detection of metastatic tumors in various organs. Cutaneous SCC can accumulate 18F-FDG, making it detectable on PET/CT. In this dog with flank SCC, 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed high SUVmax values, indicating its potential for tumor assessment. In veterinary medicine, SUVmax values of 2.5–3.5 are commonly used to identify metastatic lymph nodes in other cancers. Therefore, the interpretation of an SUVmax of 1.96 in an inguinal lymph node for metastatic involvement may be uncertain. Owing to the partial volume effect, 18F-FDG PET/CT has limited sensitivity in identifying LN metastases, particularly in cases of small lesions. Lower SUVmax values adjusted for smaller sizes may better distinguish between benign and malignant lymph nodes. Hence, combining differentiated SUVmax cut-offs based on lymph node size with CT assessment could enhance lymph node evaluation and assist in surgical planning.
Health Workforce Challenges: Key Findings From the Swiss Cohort of Healthcare Professionals and Informal Caregivers (SCOHPICA)
Authors: Jolidon Vladimir , Jubin Jonathan , Zuercher Emilie , Roth Leonard , Carron Tania , Oulevey Bachmann Annie , Gilles Ingrid , Peytremann-Bridevaux Isabelle
Published: July 2024

Objectives

The Swiss Cohort of Healthcare Professionals and Informal Caregivers (SCOHPICA) was created to study the career trajectories, retention intentions, and wellbeing of healthcare professionals (HCPs), addressing challenges such as staff turnover, low job satisfaction and burnout.

Methods

SCOHPICA is a prospective open cohort. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data from HCPs across multiple healthcare settings in Switzerland, encompassing the intention to stay in the profession, wellbeing, and various organizational, psychosocial, occupational and sociodemographic determinants.

Results

The first (2022) baseline sample included 1707 HCPs from over 20 professions. Notably, 13% did not intend to stay in their profession, with intermediate caregivers (24%), registered nurses (17%) and pharmacists (17%) reporting the highest rates. Pharmacists scored lowest in wellbeing. Across determinants, pharmacists, physicians, and registered nurses reported worse scores for workload and work-life balance. Nursing professions had lower scores in various determinants, including influence at work, staffing and resource adequacy, and possibilities for development.

Conclusion

SCOHPICA will provide critical insights on HCPs’ work conditions and experiences, supporting health workforce monitoring and management, and informing policy-making to ensure high-quality healthcare delivery.
Design and Implementation of Bulk Feeders Using Voice Coil Motors
Authors: Yang Yu-Ting , Wang Wen-Tan , Wong Ching-Chang
Published: July 2024

Bulk feeders that can automatically feed materials are one of the most commonly used vibration devices in the electronics industry. This study uses voice coil motors to design and implement a dual-axis bulk feeder and a quad-axis bulk feeder, allowing them to handle many kinds of materials. The implemented feeders can improve some of the problems in traditional bulk feeders, such as only one direction of movement, can only handle one kind of material, the contact time between the material and the platform is too long, and the feeder is not suitable to process materials with particular shapes. Two or four voice coil motors are placed under the platform of the implemented feeder. The vibration of the platform is controlled by the up-and-down movements of the voice coil motors, so that the bulk materials on the platform can be moved to the desired direction according to the feeding requirements. This study proposes a control method to control voice coil motors. For example, using different combinations of up-and-down movements of these four voice coil motors, the quad-axis voice coil feeder can move the material in eight horizontal directions, such as up, down, right, left, up right, up left, down right, and down left, as well as vertically flip. Since the frequency and amplitude of each vibration of the voice coil motor can be easily and instantly adjusted through the program, the implemented feeder can handle other types of materials without modifying the hardware of the device. Finally, some experimental results illustrate that the implemented dual-axis and quad-axis voice coil feeders can indeed effectively handle various bulk materials.
Assessing Characteristics and Variability of Fluorescent Aerosol Particles: Comparison of Two Case Studies in Southeastern Italy Using a Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor
Authors: Fragola Mattia , Peccarrisi Dalila , Romano Salvatore , Quarta Gianluca , Calcagnile Lucio
Published: July 2024

This study aims to investigate the seasonal variation and source identification of fluorescent aerosol particles at the monitoring site of the University of Salento in Lecce, southeastern Italy. Utilizing a wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS), this research work analyzes data from two specific monitoring days: one in winter (10 January 2024), marked by significant transport of anthropogenic particles from Eastern Europe, and another in early spring (6 March 2024), characterized by marine aerosol sources and occasional desert dust. This study focuses on the seven WIBS particle categories (A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, ABC), which exhibited distinct characteristics between the two days, indicating different aerosol compositions. Winter measurements revealed a predominance of fine-mode particles, particularly soot and bacteria. In contrast, spring measurements showed larger particles, including fungal spores, pollen fragments, and mineral dust. Fluorescence intensity data further emphasized an increase in biological and organic airborne material in early spring. These results highlight the dynamic nature of fluorescent aerosol sources in the Mediterranean region and the necessity of continuous monitoring for air quality assessments. By integrating WIBS measurements with air mass back-trajectories, this study effectively identifies fluorescent aerosol sources and their seasonal impacts, offering valuable insights into the environmental and health implications of aerosol variability in the investigated Mediterranean area.
Green Growth, Green Development and Climate Change Perceptions: Evidence from a Greek Region
Authors: Karelakis Christos , Papanikolaou Zacharias , Keramopoulou Christina , Theodossiou George
Published: July 2024

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the planet confronts today and is predicted to continue to face in the future. It is one of the greatest threats to humanity, seriously affecting human health, the natural environment, and security. This research aims to investigate the factors related to the perception of Greek citizens regarding climate change and green development and the obstacles that exist in Greece in the transition to enhanced green growth. For this reason, four cases related to communication and education, energy, actions to protect the environment, and each one’s responsibility were investigated. Data were collected through a survey (structured questionnaire) of 745 respondents in the regional unit of the Greek city of Larissa with an overall response rate of 69% and analyzed through a combination of factor and path analysis. The results show that communication, actions related to environmental protection, and energy-saving actions are the ones that have significant associations with the goal of green development.
Enhanced Food-Production Efficiencies through Integrated Farming Systems in the Hau Giang Province in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Authors: Berg Håkan , Tam Nguyen Thanh , Lan Thai Huynh Phuong , Da Chau Thi
Published: July 2024

This study compares the food-production efficiencies of integrated rice-fish farming and rice monoculture and evaluates how these farming systems contribute to sustainable food production in the Mekong Delta. The study explores how food-production efficiencies are influenced by the systems’ ecological connectivity by comparing more integrated systems that apply integrated rice-fish farming and integrated pest management (IPM) with less integrated systems farming only rice. Rice-fish farmers with plenty of fish had significantly higher rice yields than farmers with less or no fish, especially during the second crop when the rice was grown together with the fish. A positive correlation between the fish and rice yields, indicated synergistic effects between the fish and rice, due to strengthened ecological connectivity and trophic interactions within the rice-field ecosystem. Overall, rice-fish farmers had higher rice yields than rice farmers, despite using lower amounts of fertilizers and pesticides. They also had lower rice production costs compared to rice farmers, partly because the fish helped fertilize the rice and control rice pests. They had a significantly higher profit and benefit cost ratio than rice farmers because of lower production costs, and high rice and fish yields. The results indicate that food-production efficiencies in the Mekong Delta can be enhanced through diversification and increased ecological connectivity, leading to a more efficient use of rice field ecosystem services that support a long-term and healthy production of food.
S-Benzyl-L-cysteine Inhibits Growth and Photosynthesis, and Triggers Oxidative Stress in Ipomoea grandifolia
Authors: Martarello Danielly Caroline Inacio , Grizza Luiz Henryque Escher , Foletto-Felipe Marcela de Paiva , Mendonça Ana Paula da Silva , Constantin Renato Polimeni , Ferro Ana Paula , dos Santos Wanderley Dantas , Constantin Rodrigo Polimeni , Marchiosi Rogerio , Ferrarese-Filho Osvaldo
Published: July 2024

L-cysteine, a precursor of essential components for plant growth, is synthesized by the cysteine synthase complex, which includes O-acetylserine(thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) and serine acetyltransferase. In this work, we investigated how S-benzyl-L-cysteine (SBC), an OAS-TL inhibitor, affects the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress of Ipomoea grandifolia plants. SBC impaired gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence, indicating damage that compromised photosynthesis and reduced plant growth. Critical parameters such as the electron transport rate (J), triose phosphate utilization (TPU), light-saturation point (LSP), maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), and light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) decreased by 19%, 20%, 22%, 23%, and 24%, respectively. The photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (ϕPSII), electron transport rate through PSII (ETR), and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased by 12%, 19%, 19%, and 34%, respectively. Additionally, SBC decreased the maximum fluorescence yield (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), and chlorophyll (SPAD index) by 14%, 15%, and 15%, respectively, indicating possible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. SBC triggered root oxidative stress by increasing malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, and conjugated dienes by 30%, 55%, and 61%, respectively. We hypothesize that dysfunctions in sulfur-containing components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, such as the cytochrome b6f complex, ferredoxin, and the iron–sulfur (Fe-S) centers are the cause of these effects, which ultimately reduce the efficiency of electron transport and hinder photosynthesis in I. grandifolia plants. In short, our findings suggest that targeting OAS-TL with inhibitors like SBC could be a promising strategy for the development of novel herbicides.
Performance of Machine Learning Models in Predicting Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Crop Nitrogen Using NIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Tavares Marcos Silva , Silva Carlos Augusto Alves Cardoso , Regazzo Jamile Raquel , Sardinha Edson José de Souza , da Silva Thiago Lima , Fiorio Peterson Ricardo , Baesso Murilo Mesquita
Published: July 2024

Beans are the main direct source of protein consumed by humans in the world and their productivity is directly linked to nitrogen. The short crop cycle imposes the need for fast methodologies for N quantification. In this work, we evaluated the performance of four machine learning algorithms in nitrogen estimation using NIR spectroscopy, comparing predictions between complete spectral data and only intervals obtained with the variable importance in projection (VIP). Doses of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1 of N were applied and leaf reflectance was collected. Weka software was used to test the algorithms. The selection of the most effective spectral zones was made with the variable importance in projection (VIP). The intervals of 700–740 nm and 983–995 nm were considered the most important for the study of nitrogen. More efficient predictions were verified for RF and KNN models (R2 = 0.89, RMSE = 2.23 g kg−1; and R2 = 0.80, RMSE = 2.89 g kg−1, respectively) when only the most important spectral regions were included. The efficiency of nitrogen prediction based on NIR reflectance combined with machine learning was verified, which can serve as an important tool in precision agriculture.
The Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies—Volume II
Authors: Porcel Rosa
Published: July 2024

This Special Issue “Adaptation of Crops to the Environment under Climate Change: Physiological and Agronomic Strategies—Volume II” compiles eleven original research articles, addressing different strategies to cope with the current climate change scenario [...]
Improving the Accuracy of Agricultural Pest Identification: Application of AEC-YOLOv8n to Large-Scale Pest Datasets
Authors: Wei Jinfan , Gong He , Li Shijun , You Minghui , Zhu Hang , Ni Lingyun , Luo Lan , Chen Mengchao , Chao Hongli , Hu Jinghuan , Zhu Caocan , Wang Heyang , Liu Jingyi , Nian Jiaxin , Fan Wenye , Mu Ye , Sun Yu
Published: July 2024

Crop diseases and pests are important factors restricting agricultural production. Traditional pest detection methods are mainly targeted at a single pest species, which is difficult to meet the needs of multi-target identification and rapid response in real scenes. Therefore, this paper improves the YOLOv8n model for efficient multi-target pest detection. Two feature enhancement modules, EMSFEM and AFEM_SIE, are proposed in this paper. The EMSFEM module enriches the model’s receptive field through the combination of multi-scale asymmetric convolution kernel and different expansion rates and can better extract the width, height, texture, and edge information of the target. The AFEM_SIE module captures the similarities and differences between upper and lower features through spatial information exchange and enhances feature representation through inter-feature information exchange. In addition, an improved feature fusion operation, Concat_Weighting, is proposed on the basis of Concat. The module uses the learned weights to carry out channel weighting and feature graph weighting for input features, which realizes more flexible and effective feature fusion. The results of experiments conducted on the publicly available large-scale crop pest and disease dataset IP102 show that the performance of the AEC-YOLOv8n model is significantly improved compared with the original YOLOv8n model, with mAP50 increased by 8.9%, accuracy increased by 6.8%, and recall rate increased by 6.3%. The AEC-YOLOv8n model proposed in this study can effectively identify and deal with a variety of crop pests and has achieved the best detection accuracy on the IP102 dataset, which has high application value.
Design of an Adaptive Height Control System for Sugarcane Harvester Header
Authors: Shi Meiqi , Li Yanzhou , Pan Yingchun , Lu Linfei , Wei Jin
Published: July 2024

This study addresses the issue of low control accuracy and harvesting efficiency resulting from the manual adjustment of the header height during the sugarcane harvesting process in hilly and mountainous regions. An adaptive header height adjustment system was designed and implemented. A test bench for the sugarcane harvester header was designed and constructed, incorporating a LiDAR to measure the ground height at the sugarcane growth point in front, and a draw-wire displacement sensor to monitor the real-time height of the header. I/O ports were allocated, and the control program was developed in the TIA Portal environment. The PLC control system achieves the precise adjustment of the cutting height based on the collected data. The experimental results indicate that the system can quickly respond and adjust the cutting height under complex terrain conditions. When the cutting height into the soil is 0 mm, the adaptive control system’s average cutting height error is 0.28 cm, and the average response time is 2.3 s. When the cutting depth into the soil is 2 cm, the average cutting height error is 0.21 cm, and the average response time is 2.31 s.
Introducing the Mellorater—The Five Domains Model in a Welfare Monitoring App for Animal Guardians
Authors: Wilkins Cristina L. , McGreevy Paul D. , Cosh Suzanne M. , Henshall Cathrynne , Jones Bidda , Lykins Amy D. , Billingsley William
Published: July 2024

When monitoring an animal’s welfare, it helps to have comprehensive and day-to-day information about the animal’s life. The goal is to ensure that animal guardians (carers, keepers, and owners) use such information to act in the animals’ best interests. This article introduces the Mellorater, an animal welfare monitoring app based on the 2020 Five Domains Model. This framework provides a means of capturing comprehensive information about the world in which individual animals exist. The Mellorater asks animal guardians to rate their agreement with 18 statements covering any focal animal’s nutrition, environment, health, and behavioural interactions using a five-point Likert scale. No specialist training is required other than following straightforward instructions on using the app, which are provided. The Mellorater is not proposed as a validated welfare auditing tool because it relies on reflective self-reporting and, thus, is vulnerable to the user’s subjectivity. If users’ subjectivity is stable over time, then the longitudinal data may be considered useful proxies for trends in quality of life. That said, it has the potential to be used by trained auditors if scientifically validated, species-specific indicators are applied. The Mellorater collects anonymous data and has been approved for a study to explore how the use of such scales may differ among guardians of different species and in different contexts. In this paper, we conduct the following: (1) summarise the app’s purposes; (2) clarify its capabilities and limitations; and (3) invite animal welfare scholars, veterinarians, health and welfare professionals, and animal guardians to use it.
Screening of Organic Acid Type and Dosage in Drinking Water for Young Rabbits
Authors: Ramón-Moragues Adrián , Vaggi Chiara María , Franch-Dasí Jorge , Martínez-Paredes Eugenio , Peixoto-Gonçalves Catarina , Ródenas Luis , López-Luján Maria del Carmen , Marín-García Pablo Jesús , Blas Enrique , Pascual Juan José , Cambra-López María
Published: July 2024

Organic acids (OAs) are employed in animal feed to regulate gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhoea thanks to their ability to modulate the gastrointestinal environment and their antimicrobial capacity. However, there is not enough evidence regarding the most adequate OA and its effectiveness in rabbit farming. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen and evaluate the response of young rabbits to six OAs, administered via drinking water, at three different concentrations (pH levels). Organic acids (acetic, ACET; formic, FOR; propionic, PROP; lactic, LAC; citric, CIT; and butyric, BUT) were tested at three concentrations (pH 3, 4, and 5). A negative control (CON; non-acidified water) was also included. We used 240 weaned rabbits (28 days old) divided into 2 batches. In each batch, animals were randomly allocated to 1 of the 19 experimental treatments and were housed in group cages of 6 animals per cage, treatment, and batch. Among the 240 rabbits, an additional cage with 6 animals was included to determine the initial physiological state of the animals. All animals were fed with commercial pelleted feed throughout the whole experiment. The duration of the study was 7 days, until 35 days of age. At 31 and 35 days of age, in each batch, three animals per day and treatment were slaughtered. The pH of the digestive contents in the fundus, antrum, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and cecum, as well as the gastric pepsin enzyme activity, was measured. Water and feed consumption per cage and individual body weight (BW) were recorded daily. The type and dosage of OAs affected water intake. ACET 3, PROP 3, and BUT 3 reduced water intake compared to CON, negatively impacting feed intake and weight gain. FOR and CIT acids led to the highest BW and weight gain at 35 days, compared to PROP, LAC, and BUT (p < 0.05); showing ACET intermediate values. While OAs had limited effects on gastric and small intestine pH, acidified water at pH 4 and 5 lowered ileum and caecum pH (p < 0.05) compared to pH 3. Acidified water at pH 4 showed the highest (p < 0.05) pepsin activity compared to pH 3 and pH 5. Considering the limited sample size and short-term assessment period of our screening test, the OAs with the highest potential for use in post-weaning rabbits were FOR, ACET, and CIT at pH 4. The selected combinations did not exhibit any early adverse effects in young rabbits. These results should be further confirmed in a broader population of animals. It would also be advisable to extend the application of OAs over longer periods to evaluate their effects throughout the entire growing period of rabbits.
Inclusion Effect of Various Levels of Jack Mackerel Meal in Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Diets Substituting 50% Fish Meal with Duck By-Product Meal on Growth and Feed Utilization
Authors: Islam Md Rabiul , Cho Sung Hwoan , Kim Taeho
Published: July 2024

This experiment was performed to evaluate the inclusion impact of various levels of jack mackerel meal (JMM) in olive flounder (P. olivaceus) feeds substituting 50% FM by duck by-product meal (DBM) on growth, feed availability, and economic efficiency. Seven experimental diets were prepared. The control (Con) diet contained 60% FM. Fifty percent FM in the Con diet was substituted with DBM, and then the graded levels (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) of JMM were added instead of FM, named the DJ0, DJ10, DJ20, DJ30, DJ40, and DJ50 diets, respectively. All feeds were assigned to triplicate fish groups. At the end of 56 days’ feeding, fish fed the DJ40 and DJ50 diets exhibited comparable weight gain and specific growth rate to fish fed the Con diet. Higher feed consumption was observed in fish fed the Con, DJ40, and DJ50 diets compared to fish fed the DJ0 and DJ10 diets. Lower feed conversion ratio was observed in fish fed the Con diet compared to fish fed the DJ0, DJ10, DJ20, and DJ30 diets. Furthermore, the DJ50 diet led to the highest economic profit index (EPI). In conclusion, inclusion of 50% JMM in the olive flounder diet replacing 50% FM with DBM seems to be the most recommendable dietary treatment based on growth and feed consumption of olive flounder and EPI.
Vitis vinifera L. Leaf Extract, a Microbiota Green Ally against Infectious and Inflammatory Skin and Scalp Diseases: An In-Depth Update
Authors: Armari Marta , Zavattaro Elisa , Trejo Cesar Francisco , Galeazzi Alice , Grossetti Alessia , Veronese Federica , Savoia Paola , Azzimonti Barbara
Published: July 2024

The skin microbiota, with its millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plays a key role in balancing the health of the skin and scalp. Its continuous exposure to potentially harmful stressors can lead to abnormalities such as local dysbiosis, altered barrier function, pathobiont overabundance, and infections often sustained by multidrug-resistant bacteria. These factors contribute to skin impairment, deregulation of immune response, and chronic inflammation, with local and systemic consequences. In this scenario, according to the needs of the bio-circular-green economy model, novel harmless strategies, both for regulating the diverse epidermal infectious and inflammatory processes and for preserving or restoring the host skin eubiosis and barrier selectivity, are requested. Vitis vinifera L. leaves and their derived extracts are rich in plant secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties that can be further exploited through microbe-driven fermentation processes. On this premise, this literature review aims to provide an informative summary of the most updated evidence on their interactions with skin commensals and pathogens and on their ability to manage inflammatory conditions and restore microbial biodiversity. The emerging research showcases the potential novel beneficial ingredients for addressing various skincare concerns and advancing the cosmeceutics field as well.
Clinical Outcomes of Ceftazidime–Avibactam versus Ceftolozane–Tazobactam in Managing Pseudomonal Infections in Patients Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: El Nekidy Wasim S. , Al Ali Mooza , Abidi Emna , El Lababidi Rania , Alrahmany Diaa , Ghazi Islam M. , Mooty Mohamad , Hijazi Fadi , Ghosn Muriel , Mallat Jihad
Published: July 2024

The optimal doses of ceftazidime–avibactam (CZA) and ceftolozane–tazobactam (C/T) for treating multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) in patients utilizing renal replacement therapy (RRT) are not well established. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with the suggested doses of CZA and C/T in patients with PSA infection utilizing RRT. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at our hospital between September 2018 and March 2022. Clinical cure was the primary endpoint, while microbiologic cure, 30-day recurrence, and 30-day mortality were the secondary endpoints. Results: In total, 45 subjects met the inclusion criteria, with 25 receiving CZA and 20 receiving C/T. The median age was 69 (52–81) and 69 (61.5–83) years, respectively, while the median weight was 70 (55.5–81.5) and 66 (57–79) kg, respectively. Clinical cure was achieved in 12 (48%) subjects in the CZA group and 12 (60%) in the C/T group (p = 0.432). Of the 36 subjects who had repeated cultures, a microbiologic cure was achieved in 14/23 (60%) subjects and 10/13 (76.9%) subjects (p = 0.273). Thirty-day recurrence was reported in 3 (12%) cases in the CZA group and 6 (30%) in the C/T group (p = 0.082). The 30-day mortality was 13 (52%) subjects in the CZA group and 10 (50%) in the C/T group (p = 0.894). The median maintenance dose of CZA was 1.88 (0.94–3.75) g and 2.25 (1.5–2.25) g for C/T. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that both drugs did not differ significantly in clinical cure. Bloodstream infection (BSI) (OR = 25, 95% CI: 1.63–411.7, p = 0.021) was the only independent factor associated with clinical cure in this population. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that C/T and CZA did not significantly differ in achieving clinical cure in patients with MDR PSA infections undergoing RRT. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings.
Causal Effects of Oxidative Stress on Diabetes Mellitus and Microvascular Complications: Insights Integrating Genome-Wide Mendelian Randomization, DNA Methylation, and Proteome
Authors: Liu Kang , Chen Zitong , Liu Lishan , Li Ting , Xing Changying , Han Feng , Mao Huijuan
Published: July 2024

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) is involved in the development of diabetes, but the genetic mechanisms are not completely understood. We integrated multi-omics data in order to explore the genetic relations between OS-related genes, diabetes mellitus, and microvascular complications using Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis. Methods: Summary-level data related to OS were acquired from respective studies of methylation, expression, and protein abundance quantitative trait loci. Genetic associations concerning diabetes, diabetic nephropathy (DN), and diabetic retinopathy (DR) were derived from the FinnGen study. Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlations between molecular features concerned with OS-related genes and diabetes mellitus, along with its microvascular complications. Additionally, we performed colocalization analysis to determine if the detected signal pairs shared a causal genetic variant. Results: At the genetic level, we identified ten potential causal associations of oxidative stress genes with diabetes, along with microvascular complications, through SMR and colocalization analysis. After integrating the DNA methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL) and expression QTL (eQTL) data, our analyses revealed a correlation between the methylation site cg26343298 and reduced expression of TP53INP1, supporting the protective role of cg26343298 methylation on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and diabetic nephropathy. Similarly, an inverse association was observed between gene methylation and expression in CHEK1 (cg07110182), confirming the beneficial effect of modification of CHEK1 by cg07110182 in diabetic retinopathy. In addition, upregulation of SUOX expression by cg22580629 was linked to a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy. At circulating protein levels, genetically predicted a higher level of ICAM1 (OR 1.05, 95%CI 1.03–1.08) was positively connected with the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: This SMR study elucidated that the TP53INP1 gene was putatively associated with T2D and DN risk, while the SUOX and CHEK1 genes were associated with DR risk through oxidative stress mechanisms. Additionally, our study showed a positive correlation between the ICAM-1 protein and DR. These findings may enhance our understanding of their pathogenesis and suggest new therapeutic targets for clinical practice.
Intragland Expression of the Shh Gene Alleviates Irradiation-Induced Salivary Gland Injury through Microvessel Protection and the Regulation of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Hu Meijun , Hu Liang , Yang Tao , Zhou Bowen , Feng Xuanhe , Fan Zhipeng , Shan Zhaochen
Published: July 2024

Radiation-induced salivary gland injury (RISGI) is a common complication of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Intragland expression of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) gene may partially rescue irradiation (IR)-induced hyposalivation by preserving salivary stem/progenitor cells and parasympathetic innervation, maintaining resident macrophages, and maintaining microvascular density. Previous studies have revealed that Ad-Rat Shh transduction through the salivary glands of miniature pigs can ameliorate oxidative stress-induced microvascular dysfunction after radiotherapy. Changes in the parotid salivary flow rate were analyzed, and the parotid tissue was collected at 5 and 20 weeks after IR. Changes in the Hedgehog pathway and vascular function-related markers (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31) and oxidative stress-related markers were detected via immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. A stable Shh-overexpressing cell line was generated from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and exposed to 10 Gy X-ray irradiation, after which endothelial cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, and vascular function were evaluated. We found that intragland expression of the Shh gene efficiently alleviated IR-induced parotid gland injury in a miniature pig model. Our results indicate that the antioxidative stress and microvascular-protective effects of the Hh pathway are regulated by nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).
Electrical Characteristics of Ultrasonic Piezoelectric Devices Using Pb0.88 (La0.6 Sm0.4)0.08 (Mn1/3 Sb2/3)0.02 Ti0.98 O3 Ceramics for Alleviating Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Pain
Authors: Yoo Juhyun , Whang Sun A
Published: July 2024

In this study, to develop the composition ceramics for the application of an ultrasonic transducer device for alleviating temporomandibular joint disorder pain, Pb0.88 (La0.6 Sm0.4)0.08(Mn1/3 Sb2/3)0.02Ti0.98 O3 ceramics were manufactured using CuO as sintering aids, and their piezoelectric and resonant properties were investigated. For the specimen sintered at 1200 °C, excellent values of piezoelectric properties appeared: the dielectric constant (εr) of 202, piezoelectric constant (d33) of 56 pC/N, first and third overtone electromechanical coupling factors kt of 0.548 and kt3 of 0.219, and first and third overtone mechanical quality factors Qmt1 of 345 and Qmt3 of 292, respectively, made the device suitable for application as an ultrasonic transducer. When the length of the piezoelectric device was 7.7 mm, the first and third overtone electromechanical coupling factors kt1 of 0.555 and kt3 of 0.196, first and third overtone mechanical quality factors Qmt1 of 381 and Qmt3 of 393, and first and third overtone dynamic ratios (D.Rs) of 63.7 (dB) and 37.7 (dB) were suitable for device applications as an ultrasonic transducer and facial skin massage, respectively.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Slip Flow and Heat Transfer at the Entrance Region of a Circular Pipe
Authors: Matouq Jumana , Al-Waked Rafat , Al-Rashdan Ma’en , Bani Mustafa Diala , Nasif Mohammad S.
Published: July 2024

In the era of sustainable development goals (SDGs), energy efficient heat transfer systems are a must. Convective heat transfer within circular pipes is an important field of research on a rarely addressed limitation of fluid flows. Vacuum solar tubes is one of many applications that could benefit from the existence of nanoparticles, Al2O3, for example, to enhance the heating of air or water steam. The current research investigates the impacts of the Reynolds number (Re), Prandtl number (Pr), Knudsen number (Kn), aspect ratio (x/Dh), and volume fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles (ϕ) on the Nusselt number (Nu) under constant wall heat flux conditions. An axisymmetric computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the nanofluid flowing at the entrance region of a circular pipe was conducted under a slip flow at steady-state developing laminar conditions using the Ansys-Fluent 2018 software package. A mesh sensitivity analysis was conducted, and a proper number of mesh elements was selected. The results showed that an increasing Re and/or ϕ would result in an increasing Nu. The dependance of Nu on Kn was strong due to the high slip values and temperature jump. An increasing x/Dh ratio resulted in reduced Nu values. The major impact was due to Kn, which caused a reduction of up to 40% in the Nu value due to slip conditions. However, there was an enhancement of 2.5% in the heat transfer due to the addition of nanoparticles, which was found at Re = 250, Kn = 0.1, and ϕ = 0.1 (Pr = 0.729). Finally, Nuavg, Nux, U/Um, and ReCf were corelated with Kn, Pr, Re, and x/Dh with proper coefficient of determination (R2) values.
High-Precision Pointing and Tracking System Design for Near-Space Balloon-Based Optical Observation
Authors: Qian Lulu , Huang Min , Zhao Wenhao , Sun Yan , Lu Xiangning , Zhang Zixuan , Wang Guangming , Zhao Yixin , Wang Zhanchao
Published: July 2024

Near-space high-altitude balloon-based platforms have a series of advantages and provide superior conditions for optical observation. In order to ensure the stability of the optical axis of the optical detection load and stable tracking of the target, a near-space high-altitude balloon-based high-precision pointing and tracking system was designed, which can compensate for changes in the pitch angle and azimuth angle of the platform during flight. The system includes a primary platform stable pointing system and a secondary precise tracking system. In the finished flight experiment, the primary platform pointing system and secondary precise tracking system on the balloon-based observation platform worked normally, providing a guarantee for the coronagraph’s stable tracking and detection of the sun. The primary platform pointing system can realize ±1° pointing accuracy, and the simulated accuracy of the secondary precise tracking system is 4″, which guaranteed that the coronagraph obtained more than 20,000 images. In subsequent works, we will upgrade and optimize the whole system and conduct our next flight experiment in the future.
The Effect of a Wearable Assistive Trunk Exoskeleton on the Motor Coordination of People with Cerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Tatarelli Antonella , Babič Jan , Casali Carlo , Castiglia Stefano Filippo , Chini Giorgia , Ciancia Rosanna , Cioffi Ettore , Fiori Lorenzo , Michieli Mariagrazia , Montante Barbara , Serrao Mariano , Varrecchia Tiwana , Ranavolo Alberto
Published: July 2024

The motor features of people with cerebellar ataxia suggest that locomotion is substantially impaired due to incoordination of the head, trunk, and limbs. The purpose of this study was to investigate how well a wearable soft passive exoskeleton worked for motor coordination in these patients. We used an optoelectronic system to examine the gait of nine ataxic people in three different conditions: without an exoskeleton and with two variants of the exoskeleton, one less and the other more flexible. We investigated kinematics using trunk ranges of motion, the displacement of the center of mass in the medio-lateral direction, and the parameters of mechanical energy consumption and recovery. Furthermore, we investigated the lower limb and trunk muscle coactivation. The results revealed a reduction of the medio-lateral sway of the center of mass, a more efficient behavior of the body in the antero-posterior direction, an energy expenditure optimization, a reduction of muscle coactivation and a better coordination between muscle activations. As a result, the findings laid the groundwork for the device to be used in the rehabilitation of individuals with cerebellar ataxia.
Excavation Method Comparison and Optimization for a Super Large Cross-Section Tunnel
Authors: Huang Yingjing , Fang Tao , Wang Ning
Published: July 2024

Characterized by long spans, low aspect ratios, and intricate construction sequences, super-large cross-section tunnels present substantial construction risks. Therefore, the selection of the optimal excavation method and construction sequence is crucial for ensuring the safety of tunnel construction and minimizing project costs. This paper takes a super large transverse-section highway tunnel as a case study, employing field monitoring data combined with ABAQUS software to analyze the stress and deformation of surrounding rock and support structures under different excavation methods. The findings reveal that the deformation of surrounding rock and support structures excavated by the Double-Side Drift Method is smaller than those caused by the three-benching seven-step method and the CRD excavation method. Nevertheless, the significant stresses of surrounding rock and support structures are released by the Double-Side Drift Method, leading to potential stress concentrations. Thus, it is necessary to ensure the rapid completion of early support and quick sealing of the tunnel. Furthermore, the sixth process achieves smaller deformation (including arch displacement and surface settlement) of the tunnel, a shorter construction period, and lower economic costs when compared to other construction processes. Consequently, it can obviously be concluded that both the Double-Side Drift Method and the sixth construction process stand out as the most appropriate choices for excavating super large cross-section tunnels. The insights obtained from this study provide theoretical guidance for the design and construction of similar tunnel projects.