bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case study of a strategic initiative in pediatric rehabilitation transition services: An insiders' perspective on team principles and practices
Authors: King Gillian , Bowman Laura R. , Curran C. J. , Oh Anna , Thompson Laura , McDougall Carolyn , Menna-Dack Dolly , Howson-Strong Laura
Published: December 2022

Aims

The aim was to describe an innovative initiative that took place in a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. The goal of this organization-wide strategic initiative, called the Transition Strategy, was to improve service delivery to children/youth with disabilities and their families at times of life transition. The research question was: What are the key elements that have contributed to the success of the Strategy, from the perspective of team members? The objectives were to describe: (a) the guiding principles underlying team functioning and team practices, (b) key enablers of positive team functioning, (c) the nature of effective team practices, and (d) lessons learned.

Methods

A holistic descriptive case study was conducted, utilizing historical documents, tracked outcome data, and the experiences and insights of multidisciplinary team members (the authors). Reflecting an insiders' perspective, the impressions of team members were key sources of data. The perspectives of team members were used to generate key teamwork principles, enablers of team functioning, team practices, and key learnings.

Findings and Discussion

Team members identified four guiding humanistic principles (respect, support, partnership, and open communication). These principles underpinned three novel practices that contributed to team effectiveness in the eyes of team members: supportive relational practices, human-centered co-design, and solution-focused communication. Key enablers were the relational style of leadership, and a team climate of innovation, autonomy, and trust, supported by the organizational vision. This team climate fostered a sense of psychological safety, thereby encouraging both experimentation and learning from failure.

Conclusions

This article provides information for other healthcare organizations interested in understanding the Strategy's value and its implementation. It provides a practical example of how to adopt a humanistic approach to health care, leading to both innovative service development and thriving among team members.
Experience of localized flooding predicts urban flood risk perception and perceived safety of nature-based solutions
Authors: Li Jiayang , Nassauer Joan Iverson , Webster Noah J. , Preston Stephanie D. , Mason Lisa Reyes
Published: December 2022

Understanding community members' flood risk perceptions is critical for developing new approaches to managing flood risks for climate resilience. “Risk as feelings” has informed research on how people perceive flood risks based on intuition and personal experiences, complementing experts' technical assessment. However, attention has been primarily on riverine and coastal flooding. We expand the “risk as feelings” concept to investigate community members' risk perceptions of urban pluvial flooding as well as perceived safety of novel vs. familiar nature-based solutions (NBS). For the novel practice, we focus on floodable sites that temporarily inundate urban open spaces under storm conditions. For the familiar practice, we focus on retention ponds that store excessive runoff under storm conditions. Data were collected through visualization-assisted surveys of residents from high and low flood hazard areas in three US cities (N = 884). We found that over half of respondents indicated some degree of worry about stormwater-related damage, and overall, respondents perceived floodable as less safe than retention ponds under storm conditions. Further, respondents who had more frequently experienced localized flooding near their homes were more worried about potential property damage caused by flooding. They also perceived floodable sites as less safe under storm conditions. However, more frequent experience of localized flooding was not associated with perceived safety of retention ponds under storm conditions. Some other contextual and socio-demographic factors (e.g., prior stormwater-related property damage, knowledge of and involvement in stormwater management issues, gender, age, race, and having children) also had notable effects on flood risk perception and perceived safety of NBS. We discuss the implications of these findings for urban flood risk management and NBS development.
The effect of high-intensity interval training on cognitive function in patients with substance use disorder: Study protocol for a two-armed randomized controlled trial
Authors: Haberstroh Carolin , Weider Siri , Flemmen Grete , Loe Henrik , Andersson Helle Wessel , Hallgren Mats , Mosti Mats Peder
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Substance use disorder (SUD) is characterized by cognitive impairment, especially executive dysfunction. Executive function is recognized as an important determinant of treatment outcome as it is associated with dropout rate, attendance to therapy and potential relapse after treatment termination. Physical activity can have beneficial effects on cognitive function, but there is still a lack of knowledge regarding potential benefits of aerobic exercise for executive function in SUD treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of aerobic high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cognitive function and the subsequent effect on treatment outcome in patients with SUD.

Methods and analysis

This study is a randomized controlled trial, including men and women ≥18 years with diagnosed SUD by ICD-10. The patients will be recruited from the department for inpatient treatment at Blue Cross - Lade Addiction Treatment Center, Trondheim, Norway. Participants will be randomized 1:1 into either HIIT (3x/week) + treatment as usual (TAU), or TAU alone. Study outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after eight weeks of intervention, and at 3- and 12-months follow-up. The primary outcome is to compare the change in executive function (via altered BRIEF-A score, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult) measured between the two study groups after eight weeks. Secondary outcomes include mapping of cognitive function in different subgroups (e.g. type of substance, age, fitness level), collecting self-reported information about quality of life, craving, sleep quality, etc., as well as assessing compliance to TAU and long-term treatment outcome.

Ethics and dissemination

The project was approved by the Regional Ethical Committee and will be performed in accordance with this protocol and the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to inclusion. This project will explore a novel approach to how exercise can be applied in SUD treatment, beyond the well-known effects on physical health. We expect to achieve new knowledge in regard to what extent HIIT can improve cognitive abilities and subsequent treatment outcome in SUD.

Trial registration number

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT05324085.
Factors Associated With Functional Limitations in Daily Living Among Older Adults in Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nguyen Van Cuong , Moon SeolHawa , Oh Eunmi , Hong Gwi-Ryung Son
Published: December 2022

Objective:This paper assesses the relationship between demographics, health parameters, and functional limitations among older adults in Korea, including limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Methods:We analyzed data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging survey in 2020 and included only participants aged 65 and older. Multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to evaluate the factors that predicted functional limitations.

Results:The prevalence of at least one ADL and IADL limitations were 6.14% (severe 1.94% and moderate 4.20%) and 15.49% (severe 3.11% and moderate 12.38%), respectively. People aged 85 and older had high rates of severe disability with 7.37% for ADLs and 12.06% for IADLs. High rates also occurred among people with low education, underweight, physical inactivity, depression, and three or more chronic diseases.

Conclusion:Factors associated with functional limitations were age, educational status, body mass index, physical activity, depression, and chronic diseases. To prevent and improve functional limitations in the older populations, active and applicable interventions should be considered for modifiable factors such as physical activity, depression, and abnormal weight.
A Synergic Approach of Deep Learning towards Digital Additive Manufacturing: A Review
Authors: Pratap Ayush , Sardana Neha , Utomo Sapdo , Ayeelyan John , Karthikeyan P. , Hsiung Pao-Ann
Published: December 2022

Deep learning and additive manufacturing have progressed together in the previous couple of decades. Despite being one of the most promising technologies, they have several flaws that a collaborative effort may address. However, digital manufacturing has established itself in the current industrial revolution and it has slowed down quality control and inspection due to the different defects linked with it. Industry 4.0, the most recent industrial revolution, emphasizes the integration of intelligent production systems and current information technologies. As a result, deep learning has received a lot of attention and has been shown to be quite effective at understanding image data. This review aims to provide a cutting-edge deep learning application of the AM approach and application. This article also addresses the current issues of data privacy and security and potential solutions to provide a more significant dimension to future studies.
Research on an Intelligent Control Method of a Magnetic Actuator for Micro Electrical Discharge Machining
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Xu Fangchao , Sun Feng , Zhang Xiaoyou , Jin Junjie , Luan Boran , Oka Koichi
Published: December 2022

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is not limited to the strength and hardness of conductive materials, and is a non-contact special processing technology. In micro-EDM, there are problems such as untimely axial positioning, unstable inter-electrode machining voltage, and difficulty in discharging inter-electrode electric erosion products. This paper considers a magnetic actuator with fast response and high accuracy as the local actuator for a micro-EDM. By introducing a domain adjustment mechanism, a variable domain fuzzy PID controller was designed to control the inter-electrode voltage control system of the magnetic actuator for micro-EDM using an intelligent control strategy. During the micro-EDM machining process, the controlled magnetic actuator drives the tool electrode in the axial direction for rapid micro-positioning, thus maintaining effective inter-electrode machining voltage and achieving a high-speed and high precision EDM. Simulation and experimental results showed that compared with traditional micro-EDM, the machining efficiency of the variable domain fuzzy PID control magnetic actuator, and traditional micro-EDM cooperative control, was increased by 40%, the machining process was more stable, and the quality of the machined surface was better.
Symbiotic and Antagonistic Functions of the Bacterium Burkholderia cepacia BsNLG8, from the Nilaparvata lugens (Stal)
Authors: Wang Xuemei , Yang Rongrong , Zafar Junaid , Peng Chen , Zhang Xuewei , Hong Yingying , Mandal Surajit De , Zhang Wenqing , Jin Fengliang , Xu Xiaoxia
Published: December 2022

Bacterial symbionts are widespread in insects and other animals. These microbes play crucial roles in many aspects of insect physiology and biology, including immunity, nutrition and confronting plant defenses. In the present study, we isolated and identified the bacterium Burkholderia cepacia BsNLG8 from the brown planthopper (BPHs), Nilaparvata lugens, a devastating pest of rice crops worldwide. Plate confrontation assay indicated that BsNLG8 significantly inhibited the growth of phytopathogenic fungi. In addition, the BsNLG8 strain demonstrated the ability to produce siderophores, which explains its antagonistic mechanism. Lastly, we explored the nicotine degradation ability of BsNLG8 using in vitro and in vivo methods. In vitro, HPLC analysis results showed that BsNLG8 could significantly reduce the concentration of nicotine in the medium at 36 h. Moreover, microinjection of BsNLG8 in axenic BPHs increased the survival rate of the host on nicotine-containing rice seedlings. These findings could serve as the basis of future research in deciphering the interaction between host and symbionts.
Bacterial Burden in the Air of Indoor Riding Arenas
Authors: Lühe Torsten , Volkmann Nina , Probst Jeanette , Dreyer-Rendelsmann Cornelia , Schulz Jochen , Kemper Nicole
Published: December 2022

Airway diseases in horses are often multifactorial and have a strong environmental background because diseased horses react to inhaled agents. In this study, the air quality of closed riding arenas was analyzed monthly in four riding arenas over the course of one year with special emphasis on bacteriology. A standardized riding program with one horse was used to measure exposures to airborne bacteria. Air samples were taken from the heights of the riders’ and the horses’ breathing zone (2.5 m and 1.5 m, respectively) at four sampling points before and after the riding program. The bacterial loads in all four arenas significantly increased after the riding program. However, the results showed no differences between the breathing zones of the riders (2.5 m height) and those of the horses (1.5 m height). Gram-positive bacteria and especially Staphylococcus spp. occurred as the predominant aerobic mesophilic bacteria; 80% of the identified Staphylococci were Staphylococcus xylosus. The cultured samples from the ground of the arenas indicated that the ground was probably the main source of airborne Staphylococcus spp. during riding. The impact of an additional bacterial burden in riding halls on the health of riders and horses remains unknown; however, the air quality of riding arenas should be of special interest in future studies in terms of the high air consumption of horses during training periods.
Primary Mapping and Analysis of the CmARM14 Candidate Gene for Mature Fruit Abscission in Melon
Authors: Dai Dongyang , Wang Ling , Zhang Junming , Qin Haojie , Liu Huiying , Sheng Yunyan
Published: December 2022

Mature fruit abscission (MFA) is an important trait in terms of both harvest and yield. MFA can affect the production and economic value of melon fruit. An F3 population segregating for a single gene and derived from a cross between line M2-10, which shows no mature fruit abscission (None MFA), and the MFA line ZT00091 was used to map candidate genes. Specific length amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing, in conjunction with bulked-segregant analysis (BSA), was used to map loci governing the natural fruit abscission of plants composing the F3-57 family. A candidate locus, mfa10.1, located on chromosome 10 between genomic positions 73,229 and 818,251, was obtained. An insertion-deletion (InDel) marker and 46 recombinant individuals were used to narrow the candidate region to within 35 kb at the genomic position of 650,203 to 685,250; this region included six candidate genes. qRT–PCR gene expression and gene sequence data showed that the CmARM14 gene, which encodes a RING-type E3 ubiquitin transferase (MELO3C012406), was a candidate for melon MFA. Subcellular localization observations revealed that the CmARM14 fusion protein was localized to the golgi apparatus. Taken together, these results provide a molecular basis for melon breeding.
Evaluation of Wood Vinegar as an Herbicide for Weed Control
Authors: Chu Lei , Liu Haifeng , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhan Yue , Wang Kang , Yang Deyu , Liu Ziqiang , Yu Jialin
Published: December 2022

Wood vinegar, a by-product of wood pyrolysis, is mostly discarded. Wood vinegar has a phytotoxic effect and could be potentially used as a naturally derived herbicide for weed control. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of wood vinegar from the pyrolysis of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) tree branch wastes to control weeds. The wood vinegar concentrations required to inhibit 50% motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), Spanish needles (Bidens pilosa L.), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) seed germination measured 0.51%, 0.48%, 0.16%, and 1.1%, respectively. The wood vinegar application rates (spray volume) required to provide 50% control of motherwort and Spanish needles measured 1911 L ha−1 and 653 L ha−1, respectively, while the highest evaluated rate at 4000 L ha−1 controlled 35% tall fescue by 10 days after treatment (DAT). Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) control increased as the wood vinegar application rate increased from 500 L ha−1 to 2000 L ha−1. Wood vinegar was more effective in dark than light conditions for controlling common purslane. By 5 DAT, averaged over application rates, wood vinegar provided 95% and 87% control of common purslane in dark and light conditions, respectively. These findings suggest that wood vinegar obtained from the pyrolysis of apple tree branches could be used for weed management.
Stranding of Mesopelagic Fishes in the Canary Islands
Authors: Sarmiento-Lezcano Airam N. , Couret María , Lombarte Antoni , Olivar María Pilar , Landeira José María , Hernández-León Santiago , Tuset Víctor M.
Published: December 2022

Most mesopelagic fishes perform large diel vertical migrations from the deep-sea zone to the surface. Although there is a trade-off between a higher food availability at the upper layers and an energy cost and predation risk, incursion towards the surface also implies a transport by currents, where the fish are exposed to a stranding risk on the coast. Here, we reported the first documented stranding of mesopelagic fishes along the southeast shore of Gran Canaria Island. Our study hypothesized that (1) the influence of the Canary Current, (2) the dominant incidence of the Trade Winds during summer, and (3) the presence of an upwelling filament coupled with an anticyclonic eddy south of Gran Canaria Island were the causative mechanisms of the strandings. Diaphus dumerilii (Myctophidae family) was the main species found as observed from an external morphological analysis using traditional taxonomy. The otolith contour analysis suggested the presence of other Diaphus spp. and Lobianchia dofleini. Nevertheless, the otolith morphological features described in the literature suggested that all the specimens were actually D. dumerelii. Errors in the identification were mainly due to the high intraspecific variability found in the otolith morphology. Even so, two patterns of oval and elliptic shapes were described with significant differences in its morphometry.
Comparison of the Transdermal and Intravenous Administration of Buprenorphine in the Management of Intra- and Postoperative Pain in Dogs Undergoing a Unilateral Mastectomy
Authors: Galosi Margherita , Troisi Alessandro , Toniolo Pietro , Pennasilico Luca , Cicirelli Vincenzo , Palumbo Piccionello Angela , Di Bella Caterina
Published: December 2022

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transdermal patches of buprenorphine as an alternative route for the management of perioperative pain in dogs undergoing a unilateral mastectomy. Our hypothesis was that the transdermal route would allow the obtainment of an analgesic plan comparable to that of the injectable administration. Twelve dogs were divided in two groups. In the BupreP group (six dogs), buprenorphine patches were applied 40 h before the start of the surgery, guaranteeing a dosage of 5–6 μg/kg/h. In the BupreI group (six dogs), 20 μg/kg of buprenorphine was administered intravenously 30 min before the induction of anesthesia, and this was repeated every 6 h for 24 h. The main physiological parameters, sedation scores (0 = no sedation; 11 = deep sedation), and pain scores were monitored from 30 min before the surgery to 24 h after the end of anesthesia. All p values < 0.05 were defined as statistically significant. Thirty minutes before the surgery, the sedation scores were higher in BupreI (score = 10) compared to the BupreP group (score = 1). Moreover, during the mastectomy, the mean arterial pressure significantly increased in both groups even if nobody required additional analgesia. In the postoperative period, the pain scores did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups, maintaining values below the pain threshold at all times of the study. In conclusion, the transdermal administration of buprenorphine could guarantee an analgesic quality equal to that of the injectable route.
The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota
Authors: Perricone Vera , Sandrini Silvia , Irshad Nida , Comi Marcello , Lecchi Cristina , Savoini Giovanni , Agazzi Alessandro
Published: December 2022

To support the overall health of horses, it is essential to maintain an optimal gut health (GH) status, which encompasses several physiological and functional aspects, including the balance and functionality of intestinal microbial populations and, accordingly, the effective digestion and absorption of nutrients. Numerous biotic and abiotic stressors can lead to an imbalance of GH, such as the quality of forages and the composition of diet, e.g., the inclusion of high energy-dense feeds to meet the energy requirements of performance horses. To support the digestive function and the intestinal microbial populations, the diet can be supplemented with feed additives, such as probiotic yeasts, that promote the ability of cellulolytic bacteria in the hindgut to digest the available fiber fractions, finally increasing feed efficiency. Among the different yeasts available, S. cerevisiae is the most used in horses’ nutrition; however, results of digestibility trials, as well as data on intestinal and fecal microbial populations, are sometimes contradictory. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize the effects of S. cerevisiae on in vivo and in vitro digestibility, providing an updated overview of its effects on the intestinal and fecal microbial population.
Feral Cat Populations and Feline Retrovirus Prevalence in San Mateo County, California in Three Time Periods between 2001 and 2016
Authors: Edinboro Charlotte H.
Published: December 2022

This study was initiated in 2004 because the prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infections in feral cats in San Mateo County (SMC) was not known. The cities attributed to the feral cat population presented to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Spay/Neuter Clinic and to the Shelter itself were analyzed to examine potential geographic concentrations of feral cats with positive retroviral status. Trends in FIV and FeLV status were examined in three 3-year periods (2001–2003, 2005–2007, and 2014–2016). Population trends over the 15 years of this study for feral cats admitted to the Shelter were also examined. In each study period, more female feral cats were presented to the S/N Clinic (54.06%, 57.37%, 54.89%). FIV prevalence increased from 5.52% to 6.41% (p = 0.29) from the first to third period; FeLV prevalence decreased significantly from 1.73% to 0.29% (p = 0.01). Significantly more FIV-positive males than females were identified each year and for each period (p < 0.01). The four largest SMC cities were the major source of feral cats to the Shelter, S/N Clinic, and of FIV- and FeLV-positive cats in the first two periods; in the third period, 50% of feral cats to the Shelter and of FeLV-positive cats were from these cities. Despite a 61.63% reduction in feral cat admissions to the S/N Clinic, the FIV prevalence for males remained similar and increased for females. The retrovirus prevalence suggests the need for continued testing and surveillance of FIV among SMC free-living cats.
Using Dextran Instead of Egg Yolk in Extender for Cryopreservation of Spermatozoa of Dogs of Different Ages
Authors: Yurchuk Taisiia , Pavlovich Olena , Petrushko Maryna
Published: December 2022

Egg yolk is a very common supplement of extenders aimed to protect sperm from cryoinjury, but due to their biological risks and difficulties with media standardization, there is a search for alternative. In addition, sperm cryoresistance can be affected by the initial decrease of their functional characteristics caused by age. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of using dextran (molecular weight 500 kDa) in the extenders instead of egg yolk for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa of dogs (Chinese Crested breed) of different ages. The obtained ejaculates were divided into three groups depending on the animal’s age: 1–3, 4–6 and 7–10 years old. Sperm was cryopreserved by using 7% glycerol and 20% egg yolk, or 20% dextran. The cryoresistance of spermatozoa of the oldest age category was dramatically decreased, which was manifested in their morphology, motility, and DNA fragmentation rate. There were no differences between the cryoprotectant effect of the dextran-based extender on spermatozoa and the egg yolk-based extender in all age categories of dogs. However, given the benefits of dextran-containing media, its use for the cryopreservation of canine spermatozoa has potential benefits that need to be confirmed by sperm fertilization outcomes.
Composition of Slow-Growing Male Chicken’s Meat and Bone Quality as Affected by Dietary Moringa oleifera Lam. Meal
Authors: Faustin-Evaris Esther , Sarmiento-Franco Luis A. , Capetillo-Leal Concepción M. , Sandoval-Castro Carlos A.
Published: December 2022

This study investigated the impact of Moringa oleifera Lam. meal (MOM) on meat nutritional properties and bone quality of slow-growing layer-type male chickens raised in semi-intensive conditions. A total of 198, 72-d-old Dominant Blue D 107 male chickens, with an average weight of 1093 ± 15.2 g, were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments supplemented with 0, 3, and 6% of MOM that corresponded to T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Each treatment, consisting of six replicated floor pens of 11 birds, had access to the outdoors for 49 days. The results showed that breast muscle ash percentage was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) in T2 in comparison to the T1 group. Meat dry matter, protein, and fat content were not influenced by the treatments (P > 0.05). Regardless of the treatments, oleic acid (C18:1N9C) was numerically more abundant in the breast than in the leg muscle. Alternatively, femoral and tibial lengths were shorter (P ≤ 0.05) in birds fed 3% MOM than the two other groups. Moreover, birds fed with MOM had greater tibial diameter (P ≤ 0.05) than those that were fed without MOM. In addition, bone ash content and phosphorous amount were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in birds fed 6% MOM compared to those fed without MOM. The data of this study indicate that up to 6% of MOM may be added to the diet of slow-growing layer-type male chickens raised with outdoor access under tropical conditions to improve bone quality traits.
Facing Resistant Bacteria with Plant Essential Oils: Reviewing the Oregano Case
Authors: Fimbres-García Jorge O. , Flores-Sauceda Marcela , Othon-Díaz Elsa Daniela , García-Galaz Alfonso , Tapia-Rodríguez Melvin R. , Silva-Espinoza Brenda A. , Ayala-Zavala Jesus F.
Published: December 2022

Antibiotic resistance is a serious global threat, and the misuse of antibiotics is considered its main cause. It is characterized by the expression of bacterial defense mechanisms, e.g., β-lactamases, expulsion pumps, and biofilm development. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are antibiotic-resistant species that cause high morbidity and mortality. Several alternatives are proposed to defeat antibiotic resistance, including antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, and plant compounds. Terpenes from different plant essential oils have proven antimicrobial action against pathogenic bacteria, and evidence is being generated about their effect against antibiotic-resistant species. That is the case for oregano essential oil (Lippia graveolens), whose antibacterial effect is widely attributed to carvacrol, its main component; however, minor constituents could have an important contribution. The analyzed evidence reveals that most antibacterial evaluations have been performed on single species; however, it is necessary to analyze their activity against multispecies systems. Hence, another alternative is using plant compounds to inactivate hydrolytic enzymes and biofilms to potentiate antibiotics’ effects. Despite the promising results of plant terpenes, more extensive and deep mechanistic studies are needed involving antibiotic-resistant multispecies to understand their full potential against this problem.
Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli Strains in a Local Farm and Packing Facilities of Honeydew Melon in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Authors: Enciso-Martínez Yessica , Barrios-Villa Edwin , Sepúlveda-Moreno César O. , Ballesteros-Monrreal Manuel G. , Valencia-Rivera Dora E. , González-Aguilar Gustavo A. , Martínez-Téllez Miguel A. , Ayala-Zavala Jesús Fernando
Published: December 2022

Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli threaten public health due to their virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the virulence of this bacterium varies by region depending on environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and the use of antibiotics and disinfectants. However, there is limited research on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in agriculture. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance of E. coli isolated from the Honeydew melon production system in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Thirty-two E. coli strains were isolated from 445 samples obtained from irrigation water, harvested melons, the hands of packaging workers, boxes, and discarded melons. The resistance profile of the E. coli strains was carried out to 12 antibiotics used in antimicrobial therapeutics against this bacterium; a high level of resistance to ertapenem (100%) was detected, followed by meropenem (97%), and ampicillin (94%); 47% of the strains were classified as multidrug-resistant. It was possible to identify the prevalence of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) gene blaTEM (15.6%), as well as the non-ESBL genes qepA (3.1%) and aac(6′)lb-cr (3.1%). The E. coli strains isolated from irrigation water were significantly associated with resistance to aztreonam, cefuroxime, amikacin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Irrigation water, packing workers’ hands, and discarded melons showed a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant, ESBL, and non-ESBL genes of E. coli strains in a farm and packing facility of Honeydew melon in Hermosillo, Sonora.
Dietary Intake of 91 Individual Polyphenols and 5-Year Body Weight Change in the EPIC-PANACEA Cohort
Authors: Gil-Lespinard Mercedes , Castañeda Jazmín , Almanza-Aguilera Enrique , Gómez Jesús Humberto , Tjønneland Anne , Kyrø Cecilie , Overvad Kim , Katzke Verena , Schulze Matthias B. , Masala Giovanna , Agnoli Claudia , Santucci de Magistris Maria , Tumino Rosario , Sacerdote Carlotta , Skeie Guri , Lasheras Cristina , Molina-Montes Esther , Huerta José María , Barricarte Aurelio , Amiano Pilar , Sonestedt Emily , da Silva Marisa , Johansson Ingegerd , Hultdin Johan , May Anne M. , Forouhi Nita G. , Heath Alicia K. , Freisling Heinz , Weiderpass Elisabete , Scalbert Augustin , Zamora-Ros Raul
Published: December 2022

Polyphenols are bioactive compounds from plants with antioxidant properties that may have a protective role against body weight gain, with adipose tissue and systemic oxidative stress as potential targets. We aimed to investigate the dietary intake of individual polyphenols and their association with 5-year body weight change in a sub-cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). This study included 349,165 adult participants from nine European countries. Polyphenol intake was estimated through country-specific validated dietary questionnaires and the Phenol-Explorer database. Body weight was obtained at recruitment and after a mean follow-up time of 5 years. Associations were estimated using multilevel mixed linear regression models. From 91 polyphenols included, the majority (n = 67) were inversely associated with 5-year body weight change after FDR-correction (q < 0.05). The greatest inverse associations were observed for quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (change in weight for doubling in intake: −0.071 (95% CI: −0.085; −0.056) kg/5 years). Only 13 polyphenols showed positive associations with body weight gain, mainly from the subclass hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) with coffee as the main dietary source, such as 4-caffeoylquinic acid (0.029 (95% CI: 0.021; 0.038) kg/5 years). Individual polyphenols with fruit, tea, cocoa and whole grain cereals as the main dietary sources may contribute to body weight maintenance in adults. Individual HCAs may have different roles in body weight change depending on their dietary source.
Hatched Eggshell Membrane Can Be a Novel Source of Antioxidant Hydrolysates to Protect against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Chondrocytes
Authors: Zhu Lingjiao , Ma Meihu , Ahn Dong Uk , Guyonnet Vincent , Wang Limei , Zheng Yuting , He Qin , Xiong Hanguo , Huang Xi
Published: December 2022

Natural antioxidants derived from agricultural by-products have great promise and ecological advantages in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. The eggshell membrane (ESM) from hatched eggs, i.e., the hatched ESM, is a globally abundant agricultural byproduct, and its high-value utilization has been rarely studied compared to the well-studied ESM from fresh eggs. In this research, we systematically characterized the hatched ESM as a novel source of antioxidant hydrolysates and explored their potential role in H2O2-induced human chondrocytes. The results showed that the hatched ESM is a protein-rich fibrous mesh material with a significantly different structure and composition from those of fresh ESM. Enzymatic hydrolysis of hatched ESM can produce antioxidant hydrolysates rich in low molecular weight (MW) peptides, which mainly derived from the Lysyl oxidase homolog by Nano-LC-MS/MS analysis. The peptide fraction with MW < 3 kDa (HEMH-I) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging, Fe2+-chelating, and Fe3+-reducing abilities. In H2O2-induced human SW1353 chondrocytes, HEMH-I treatment significantly increased the cell viability and ameliorated oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cartilage matrix degradation by reducing the level of ROS, matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP3), MMP13, and IL-6, and by promoting the expression of SOD and type II collagen, potentially through activating the cellular Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for the value-added application of hatched ESM waste to produce antioxidant hydrolysates and indicates their potential as functional food and pharmaceuticals.
Correlation between Blunted Nocturnal Decrease in Diastolic Blood Pressure and Oxidative Stress: An Observational Study
Authors: Vazquez-Agra Nestor , Cruces-Sande Anton , Mendez-Alvarez Estefania , Soto-Otero Ramon , Cinza-Sanjurjo Sergio , Lopez-Paz Jose-Enrique , Pose-Reino Antonio , Hermida-Ameijeiras Alvaro
Published: December 2022

An impaired nocturnal decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increases the blood pressure (BP) load, which is a main factor in endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and arterial stiffness. We aimed to quantify some markers of oxidative stress in hypertensive patients, to compare their levels between individuals with dipper and non-dipper DBP profiles, and to assess their correlation with the nocturnal DBP (nDBP) dipping. It was an observational study that included patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of essential hypertension who consented to participate. The collected variables were some indices of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory variables. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced thiols, together with serum vitamin E, vitamin A, copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) levels were assessed as oxidative stress markers. We recruited 248 patients with a median age of 56 years (56% women). The percentage of nDBP dipping showed a weak positive correlation with reduced thiol, vitamin E, and vitamin A levels; and a weak negative correlation with Cu levels. We also found a negative correlation between nDBP dipping and the TBARS/Thiol, TBARS/Vitamin E, and TBARS/Vitamin A ratios. After multivariate analysis, we found that increased TBARS/Thiol ratio and serum Cu levels were associated with a higher risk of a non-dipper DBP profile. As in other situations of increased cardiovascular risk, an impaired nDBP decrease may coincide with abnormalities in redox status.
Lung Nodules Localization and Report Analysis from Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan Using a Novel Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Haq Inayatul , Mazhar Tehseen , Malik Muhammad Amir , Kamal Mian Muhammad , Ullah Inam , Kim Taejoon , Hamdi Monia , Hamam Habib
Published: December 2022

A lung nodule is a tiny growth that develops in the lung. Non-cancerous nodules do not spread to other sections of the body. Malignant nodules can spread rapidly. One of the numerous dangerous kinds of cancer is lung cancer. It is responsible for taking the lives of millions of individuals each year. It is necessary to have a highly efficient technology capable of analyzing the nodule in the pre-cancerous phases of the disease. However, it is still difficult to detect nodules in CT scan data, which is an issue that has to be overcome if the following treatment is going to be effective. CT scans have been used for several years to diagnose nodules for future therapy. The radiologist can make a mistake while determining the nodule’s presence and size. There is room for error in this process. Radiologists will compare and analyze the images obtained from the CT scan to ascertain the nodule’s location and current status. It is necessary to have a dependable system that can locate the nodule in the CT scan images and provide radiologists with an automated report analysis that is easy to comprehend. In this study, we created and evaluated an algorithm that can identify a nodule by comparing multiple photos. This gives the radiologist additional data to work with in diagnosing cancer in its earliest stages in the nodule. In addition to accuracy, various characteristics were assessed during the performance assessment process. The final CNN algorithm has 84.8% accuracy, 90.47% precision, and 90.64% specificity. These numbers are all relatively close to one another. As a result, one may argue that CNN is capable of minimizing the number of false positives through in-depth training that is performed frequently.
Bioactive Compounds from the Plants of the Elaeodendron Genus and Their Biological Activities—A Review
Authors: Jennifer Nambooze , Mishra Abhay Prakash , Nigam Manisha , Devkota Hari Prasad , Paudel Keshav Raj , Matsabisa Motlalepula Gilbert
Published: December 2022

Elaeodendron is a genus of tiny trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs consisting of about 23 species. It is used in traditional medicine and has a wide range of pharmacological activities. From the plants in this genus, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, and cardenolides have been isolated. Elaeodendron species have been the subject of numerous in vitro investigations; however, not many vivo studies are available. Preclinical investigations have also revealed antiviral, anti-HIV, anticancer, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammation, cytotoxic, anti-plasmodial, anti-arthritic, antibacterial, and anti-diabetic activities. Bioactive substances found in Elaedendron that function in a variety of ways are related to these biological processes. Several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, etc., were searched using keywords such as “Elaeodendron”, “chemical constituents”, “anti-cancer”, “anti-viral”, “pharmacology”, etc., to perform a comprehensive review of the current literature. In this sense, this review intends to provide the most recent developments in the ethnomedical use of Elaeodendron species, and their therapeutic benefits and bioactive compounds. Many species of this genus are reported to be toxic. To provide stronger scientific support for their conventional usage, more in vivo and clinical research for mechanism-based pharmacological evaluation as well as toxicological studies should be carried out in the future.
Self-Supervised Video Representation and Temporally Adaptive Attention for Audio-Visual Event Localization
Authors: Ran Yue , Tang Hongying , Li Baoqing , Wang Guohui
Published: December 2022

Localizing the audio-visual events in video requires a combined judgment of visual and audio components. To integrate multimodal information, existing methods modeled the cross-modal relationships by feeding unimodal features into attention modules. However, these unimodal features are encoded in separate spaces, resulting in a large heterogeneity gap between modalities. Existing attention modules, on the other hand, ignore the temporal asynchrony between vision and hearing when constructing cross-modal connections, which may lead to the misinterpretation of one modality by another. Therefore, this paper aims to improve event localization performance by addressing these two problems and proposes a framework that feeds audio and visual features encoded in the same semantic space into a temporally adaptive attention module. Specifically, we develop a self-supervised representation method to encode features with a smaller heterogeneity gap by matching corresponding semantic cues between synchronized audio and visual signals. Furthermore, we develop a temporally adaptive cross-modal attention based on a weighting method that dynamically channels attention according to the time differences between event-related features. The proposed framework achieves state-of-the-art performance on the public audio-visual event dataset and the experimental results not only show that our self-supervised method can learn more discriminative features but also verify the effectiveness of our strategy for assigning attention.
Investigation of Antibacterial Activity of Carob-Mediated Calcium Hydroxide Nanoparticles against Different Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria
Authors: Alayed Hajar S. , Devanesan Sandhanasamy , AlSalhi Mohamad S. , Alkindi Mohammed G. , Alghamdi Osama G. , Alqhtani Nasser R.
Published: December 2022

Carob-mediated calcium hydroxide nanoparticles (C-CaOH2 NPs) are a type of NPs, newly developed via a green synthesis method, that have demonstrated good in vitro biocompatibility. However, their antibacterial potential has not yet been explored. Both calcium hydroxide and carob are known for their antibacterial potency as bulk materials; thus, we hypothesized that C-CaOH2 NPs may exhibit promising antibacterial efficacy. This study aimed to examine the antibacterial activity of C-CaOH2 NPs against aerobic and anaerobic strains using zone of inhibition (ZOI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. The results showed that the Gram-negative aerobic strains are more susceptible than the Gram-positive stains. The most susceptible bacteria were P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and S. aureus, in that order. Conversely, P. micra and E. faecalis were the least susceptible strains. The best recorded ZOIs were at 100 and 150 mg/mL concentrations in all bacteria, with the greatest diameter (11.7 ± 0.6 mm) exhibited in P. aeruginosa. Moreover, the MICs for aerobes were 3.12 mg/mL, except for E. faecalis (0.78 mg/mL) and K. pneumoniae (1.56 mg/mL). MBCs were 12.5 mg/mL for all except P. aeruginosa (3.12 mg/mL) and K. pneumoniae (6.25 mg/mL). The anaerobic strain P. micra exhibited the highest values for both MIC (15.62 mg/mL) and MBC (31.25 mg/mL). The current investigation revealed that C-CaOH2 NPs have intermediate and dose-dependent antibacterial activity that may have variable biomedical applications.
Motion Estimation of Non-Cooperative Space Objects Based on Monocular Sequence Images
Authors: Deng Runran , Wang Dayi , E Wei , Ge Dongming , Zhu Weihong
Published: December 2022

The motion estimation of non-cooperative space objects is an important prerequisite for successfully completing on-orbit servicing, debris removing and asteroid exploration missions. The motion estimation of non-cooperative space objects is a challenging task because of the lack of prior information about the object in unknown scenarios. In this paper, a motion estimation method of non-cooperative space objects for autonomous navigation based on a monocular sequence of images is proposed. The rotational attitude estimation of the non-cooperative space object is realized by matching the feature points of adjacent frame images, and the conditions required for translational estimation are discussed. This method has small calculation costs and runs stably, which meets the requirements of real-time computation on-board. As a result, this method implements the estimation of the complete unknown information of the object, including the attitude quaternion and angular velocity. Numerical simulations and results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Match Movement Profiles Differences in Spanish Soccer Competitive Leagues According to Opposition’s Team Ranking: A Comparison Study
Authors: Ponce-Bordón José C. , Nobari Hadi , Lobo-Triviño David , García-Calvo Tomás , Vicente-Giménez Jesús , López del Campo Roberto , Resta Ricardo , Fernández-Navarro Javier
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: This study analyzed the differences in match movement profiles according to opponent quality (i.e., match balance) in the professional Spanish soccer leagues over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019); (2) Methods: The ChyronHego® system was used to record competition movement data from all matches played in the First (Liga Santander; n = 1520) and Second Spanish Division (Liga Smartbank; n = 1848). The total distance (TD) and high-intensity running distance (TD > 21 km∙h−1) covered with and without ball possession (TDWP and TDWOP, respectively) were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model, considering the opponent quality contextual variable; (3) Results: Results showed that teams covered a significantly greater TD when played against the lowest quality teams in L1 (p < 0.05), while in L2 teams covered a significantly greater TD when played against the highest quality teams (p < 0.05). Teams covered a significantly greater TDWP and TDWP > 21 km∙h−1 when playing against the highest quality teams in both L1 and L2 (p < 0.05). On the contrary, playing against the lowest quality teams in L1 versus the highest quality teams in L2 implied more TDWOP and TDWOP > 21 km⋅h−1 (p < 0.05); (4) Conclusions: The present study indicates that match movement profiles depend on contextually related variables.