bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positional Behavior and Substrate Use in Wild Tibetan Macaques
Authors: Li Peng-Hui , Li Wen-Bo , Li Bo-Wen , Li Ya-Dong , Wang Xi , Li Jin-Hua
Published: March 2022

Body size and individual development significantly affect positional behavior and substrate use. However, only a few studies have been conducted on immature wild macaques. We studied wild Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) inhabiting Mt. Huangshan, China, to explore the degree of interspecific variation in positional behavior in relation to body weight and individual development. From September 2020 to August 2021, we used instantaneous scan sampling (duration 5 min, interval 10 min) to record age–sex groups, locomotions, postures, and substrate attributes. The results showed that Tibetan macaques used terrestrial substrates in nearly two-thirds of the recorded observations. The main postural modes were sitting and quadrupedal standing. The main locomotor modes were quadrupedal walking and climbing among all age–sex group records. Positional behavior and substrate use in adults only significantly differed from those in juveniles and infants. Although adult males were larger than the other age–sex groups, they did not climb and bridge more frequently than the other age–sex groups. The frequency of climbing, leaping, and suspension was significantly higher in juveniles than in adults. In addition, adult males used terrestrial and larger substrates more frequently, while juveniles and infants used arboreal substrates and terminals more frequently than adult males during traveling and feeding. We hypothesize that the more positional behavioral spectrum of Tibetan macaque juveniles’ may be related to rapid skeletal muscle development. These results suggest that differences in interspecific positional behavior may be caused by the individual development and survival needs of individuals, rather than just body size.
Biometric Indices, Physio-Metabolic Responses and Carcass Quality in Rohu (Labeo rohita) during Feed Deprivation
Authors: Yengkokpam Sona , Sahu Narottam Prasad , Pal Asim Kumar , Debnath Dipesh , Jain Kamal Kant , Dalvi Rishikesh Subhashrao , Slama Petr , Kesari Kavindra Kumar , Roychoudhury Shubhadeep
Published: March 2022

Understanding changes in biometric indices and metabolism in fish exposed to feed deprivation may be useful in aquaculture. The present study elucidates the effect of feed deprivation on physio-biochemical responses, such as changes in biometric indices, nutrient mobilization patterns, and enzyme activities in rohu (Labeo rohita). Experimental fish (av. wt. 3.41 ± 0.07 g) were deprived of feed and sampled at intervals of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days to measure weight, length, body composition, and the activities of enzymes involved in digestion, metabolism, and antioxidation. A decrease in body weight, condition factor (CF), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and gastrosomatic index (GSI) was observed during the initial stage of feed deprivation (15 to 30 days) but remained unchanged thereafter. The total carbohydrate and lipid content also decreased rapidly up until 30 days, then stabilized. However, the reduction in tissue protein content (% wet weight) continued gradually with the duration of feed deprivation from 12.85 ± 0.36 at 0 days to 10.04 ± 0.67 at 15 days, 8.79 ± 0.59 at 30 days, 6.95 ± 0.69 at 45 days, and 6.16 ± 0.8 at 60 days, which was lower, compared to the other two body constituents. Amylase, protease. and lipase activities significantly reduced up until 30 days, but then stabilized. Although G6PDH enzyme activity decreased, gluconeogenic (LDH, AST, and ALT) and antioxidative (SOD and catalase) enzyme activities increased during initial feed deprivation (up to 30 days). A tissue-specific difference in amino acid metabolism with a major role of ALT in liver and AST in muscle was observed. This study revealed that rohu fingerlings adapted well to feed deprivation up until 30 days, beyond which there was an overall deterioration in the metabolic functions.
Invited Review: Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance in Pathogens Associated with Diarrhea and Pneumonia in Dairy Calves
Authors: Zhang Xin , Yi Xia , Zhuang Haohua , Deng Zhaoju , Ma Chong
Published: March 2022

Antimicrobial use (AMU) is the major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria in dairy herds. There have been numerous studies on AMU and AMR in dairy cows; however, studies on AMU and AMR in dairy calves are limited. A comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge of AMU and AMR among pathogens in dairy calves is important for the development of scientifically supported and applicable measures to curb antimicrobial use and the increasing risk of AMR. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of research on AMU and AMR in dairy calves. A total of 75 publications were included, of which 19 studies reported AMU data for dairy calves and 68 described AMR profiles of the four most prevalent bacteria that are associated with calf diarrhea and calf pneumonia. Large variation in AMU was found among herds across different regions. There seems to be a positive association between exposure to antimicrobials and occurrence of resistance. Most AMU was accounted for by treatment of diseases, while a small proportion of AMU was prophylactic. AMU was more common in treating calf diarrhea than in treating pneumonia, and the resistance rates in bacteria associated with diarrhea were higher than those in pathogens related to pneumonia. Organic farms used significantly fewer antimicrobials to treat calf disease; however, the antimicrobial resistance rates of bacteria associated with calf diarrhea and pneumonia on both types of farms were comparable. Feeding waste or pasteurized milk was associated with a higher risk of AMR in pathogens. Altogether, this review summarizes AMU and AMR data for dairy calves and suggests areas for future research, providing evidence for the design of antimicrobial use stewardship programs in dairy calf farming.
Humans and Goats: Improving Knowledge for a Better Relationship
Authors: Celozzi Stefania , Battini Monica , Prato-Previde Emanuela , Mattiello Silvana
Published: March 2022

There is consensus that the quality of the human–animal relationship (HAR) is relevant to guarantee appropriate levels of animal welfare. Given the impact that HAR may have on both goats and human beings, the aim of the present review is to elucidate: (1) how humans and goats communicate; (2) which are the factors affecting human–goat interactions; (3) how we can measure the quality of this relationship. The systematic review led to the selection of 58 relevant articles. Effective human–goat communication takes place by means of visual, tactile and auditory stimuli and, to a less extent, via olfactory and gustative stimuli. Goats have well-developed socio-cognitive abilities and rely on humans to get relevant information. A deep knowledge of goats’ communication means and socio-cognitive abilities may greatly help improving the human–goat relationship. Management practices (e.g., rearing methods, amount and quality of interactions), as well as genetic selection for suitable individual traits, may contribute to improving HAR. Several measures to assess the quality of HAR have been validated, including avoidance in the pen and at the feeding rack and latency to first contact. Finally, farmers’ attitudes and empathy with goats, as well as their motivation to work with animals, should be improved through appropriate training.
Determinants of Sick and Dead Pig Waste Recycling—A Case Study of Hebei, Shandong, and Henan Provinces in China
Authors: Ge Xu , Sarkar Apurbo , Ruishi Si , Rahman Md Ashfikur , Azim Jony Abdul , Zhang Shuxia , Qian Lu
Published: March 2022

Improper handling of sick and dead pigs may seriously affect public health, socio-economic conditions, and eventually cause environmental pollution. However, effective promotion of sick and dead pig (SDP) waste recycling has become the prime focus of current rural governance. Therefore, the study explores the impact of commitment, rewards, and punishments to capture the recycling behavior of farmers’ sick and dead pig waste management. The study employs factor analysis, the probit model, and the moderating effect model to craft the findings. The study’s empirical setup comprises the survey data collected from the Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces, representing the major pig-producing provinces in China. The study found that the commitment, reward, and punishment mechanisms are essential factors affecting the farmers’ decision-making on recycling sick and dead pig waste. The marginal effect analysis found that the reward and punishment mechanism is more effective than the farmers’ commitment. The study confirmed that in the recycling treatment of sick and dead pig waste, the farmers’ commitment and the government’s reward and punishment policy are the main factors that influence farmers to manage sick and dead pig waste properly. Therefore, the government should highlight the importance of effective waste management, and training facilities should also be extended firmly. The government should impose strict rules and regulations to restrict the irresponsible dumping of farm waste. Monitoring mechanisms should be put in place promptly.
Inflammatory Response and Electrocardiographic Examination in Horses Vaccinated against Equine Herpesvirus (Ehv-1)
Authors: Biondi Vito , Landi Alessandra , Pugliese Michela , Merola Giordana , Passantino Annamaria
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to evaluate possible abnormalities in electrocardiographic findings, and changes in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and inflammatory biomarkers (serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) after inactivated herpesvirus vaccine administration. Eighteen healthy horses were included. All animals were vaccinated with Pneumoequine® (Merial, France) according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer. They were evaluated 1 day before the first dose of vaccination (D0), and 7 days (D1) and 14 days (D2) afterwards. At D0, D1, and D2, a blood sample was taken for the evaluation of SAA, cTnI, and CRP. An electrocardiographic examination was also performed. The data obtained suggested the possible involvement of the myocardium following vaccination against herpesvirus 1, mostly related to an inflammatory response.
What Is the Real Influence of Climatic and Environmental Factors in the Outbreaks of African Swine Fever?
Authors: Ungur Andrei , Cazan Cristina Daniela , Panait Luciana-Cătălina , Coroian Mircea , Cătoi Cornel
Published: March 2022

African swine fever has a significant economic, social and environmental impact due to official regulation of the disease, namely the mass depopulation of all pigs in confirmed outbreaks. The main objective of the present study was to statistically analyze the possible correlation between the number of outbreaks and infected pigs from backyard farms with the altitude, seasonal average annual humidity, and average temperature during spring, summer, autumn and winter, as well as the distance from forests, rivers, and lakes in Romania. The study included all infected backyard pigs with African swine fever virus (n = 7764) and outbreaks (n = 404) that occurred in Romania between 6 February 2020 and 2 March 2021. The number of infected pigs and ASF outbreaks were significantly higher in localities at altitudes between 100 and 500 m, average annual humidity between 60% and 80%, average spring temperature between 10 and 14 °C, average summer temperature between 16 and 22 °C, average autumn temperature between 10 and 13 °C, average winter temperatures between −1 and 2 °C, and at distances of less than 5 km from the forests, less than 15 km from lakes and less than 5 km from the rivers. The number of affected pigs decreased significantly at summer temperatures below 16 °C.
A Preliminary Study on the Use of HD-sEMG for the Functional Imaging of Equine Superficial Muscle Activation during Dynamic Mobilization Exercises
Authors: Gamucci Fiorenza , Pallante Marcello , Molle Sybille , Merlo Enrico , Bertuglia Andrea
Published: March 2022

Superficial skeletal muscle activation is associated with an electric activity. Bidimensional High-Density Surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG) is a non-invasive technique that uses a grid of equally spaced electrodes applied on the skin surface to detect and portray superficial skeletal muscle activation. The goal of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of HD-sEMG to detect electrical activation of skeletal muscle and its application during rehabilitation exercises in horses. To fulfil this aim, activation of the superficial descending pectoral and external abdominal oblique core muscles were measured using HD-sEMG technology during dynamic mobilization exercises to induce lateral bending and flexion/extension tasks of the trunk. Masseter muscle was instrumented during mastication as a control condition. A 64 surface EMG channel wireless system was used with a single 64 electrode grid or a pair of 32 electrode grids. HD-sEMG provided unique information on the muscular activation onset, duration, and offset, along each motor task, and permitting inferences about the motor control strategy actuated by the central nervous system. Signals were further processed to obtain firing frequencies of few motor-neurons. Estimation of electromyographic amplitude and spectral parameters allowed detecting the onset of muscular fatigue during the motor tasks performed. HD-sEMG allows the assessment of muscular activation in horses performing specific motor tasks, supporting its future application in clinical and research settings.
Comprehensive Analyses of Bone and Cartilage Transcriptomes Evince Ion Transport, Inflammation and Cartilage Development-Related Genes Involved in Chickens’ Femoral Head Separation
Authors: Goldoni Iara , Ibelli Adriana Mércia Guaratini , Fernandes Lana Teixeira , Peixoto Jane de Oliveira , Hul Ludmila Mudri , Cantão Maurício Egídio , Gouveia João José de Simoni , Ledur Mônica Corrêa
Published: March 2022

Femoral head separation (FHS) is usually a subclinical condition characterized by the detachment of articular cartilage from the bone. In this study, a comprehensive analysis identifying shared and exclusive expression profiles, biological processes (BP) and variants related to FHS in the femoral articular cartilage and growth plate in chickens was performed through RNA sequencing analysis. Thirty-six differentially expressed (DE) genes were shared between femoral articular cartilage (AC) and growth plate (GP) tissues. Out of those, 23 genes were enriched in BP related to ion transport, translation factors and immune response. Seventy genes were DE exclusively in the AC and 288 in the GP. Among the BP of AC, the response against bacteria can be highlighted, and for the GP tissue, the processes related to chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage development stand out. When the chicken DE genes were compared to other datasets, eight genes (SLC4A1, RHAG, ANK1, MKNK2, SPTB, ADA, C7 and EPB420) were shared between chickens and humans. Furthermore, 89 variants, including missense in the SPATS2L, PRKAB1 and TRIM25 genes, were identified between groups. Therefore, those genes should be more explored to validate them as candidates to FHS/FHN in chickens and humans.
Thermal and Circulatory Changes in Diverse Body Regions in Dogs and Cats Evaluated by Infrared Thermography
Authors: Casas-Alvarado Alejandro , Martínez-Burnes Julio , Mora-Medina Patricia , Hernández-Avalos Ismael , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Lezama-García Karina , Gómez-Prado Jocelyn , Mota-Rojas Daniel
Published: March 2022

Infrared thermography (IRT) has been proposed as a method for clinical research to detect local inflammatory processes, wounds, neoplasms, pain, and neuropathies. However, evidence of the effectiveness of the thermal windows used in dogs and cats is discrepant. This review aims to analyze and discuss the usefulness of IRT in diverse body regions in household animals (pets) related to recent scientific evidence on the use of the facial, body, and appendicular thermal windows. IRT is a diagnostic method that evaluates thermal and circulatory changes under different clinical conditions. For the face, structures such as the lacrimal caruncle, ocular area, and pinna are sensitive to assessments of stress degrees, but only the ocular window has been validated in felines. The usefulness of body and appendicular thermal windows has not been conclusively demonstrated because evidence indicates that biological and environmental factors may strongly influence thermal responses in those body regions. The above has led to proposals to evaluate specific muscles that receive high circulation, such as the bicepsfemoris and gracilis. The neck area, perivulvar, and perianal regions may also prove to be useful thermal windows, but their degree of statistical reliability must be established. In conclusion, IRT is a non-invasive technique that can be used to diagnose inflammatory and neoplastic conditions early. However, additional research is required to establish the sensitivity and specificity of these thermal windows and validate their clinical use in dogs and cats.
Development and Application of a High-Resolution Melting Analysis with Unlabeled Probes for the Screening of Short-Tailed Sheep TBXT Heterozygotes
Authors: Yang Guang , Wang Caiyun , Su Hong , Wang Daqing , Dou Aolie , Chen Lu , Ma Teng , Liu Moning , Su Jie , Xu Xiaojing , Yang Yanyan , He Tingyi , Li Xihe , Song Yongli , Cao Guifang
Published: March 2022

The short-tailed phenotype has long been considered one of the best traits for population genetic improvement in sheep breeding. In short-tailed sheep, not only is tail fat eliminated but also the pubic area is exposed due to the lack of a tail covering, giving them an advantage in reproduction. Recent studies have shown that two linked mutations in sheep TBXT at nucleotides 333 and 334 are associated with the short-tailed phenotype. In the population of short-tailed sheep, several heterozygous mutants of this gene are found. In our research, we used high-resolution melting (HRM) to identify homozygous and heterozygous genotypes in a flock of short-tailed sheep and compared the results with those of Sanger sequencing, which were identical. This demonstrates that our established HRM method, a rapid and inexpensive genotyping method, can be used to identify homozygous and heterozygous individuals in short-tailed sheep flocks.
GHG Emissions from Dairy Small Ruminants in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), Using the ManleCO2 Simulation Model
Authors: Salcedo Gregorio , García Oscar , Jiménez Lorena , Gallego Roberto , González-Cano Rafael , Arias Ramón
Published: March 2022

The first goal of this work was the description of a model addressed to quantify the carbon footprint in Spanish autochthonous dairy sheep farms (Manchega group), foreign dairy sheep farms (foreigners group: Lacaune and Assaf breeds), and Spanish autochthonous dairy goat farms (Florida group). The second objective was to analyze the GHG emission mitigation potential of 17 different livestock farming practices that were implemented by 36 different livestock farms, in terms of CO2e per hectare (ha), CO2e per livestock unit (LU), and CO2e per liter of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM). The study showed the following results: 1.655 kg CO2e per ha, 6.397 kg CO2e per LU, and 3.78 kg CO2e per liter of FPCM in the Manchega group; 12.634 kg CO2e per ha, 7.810 CO2e kg per LU, and 2.77 kg CO2e per liter of FPCM in the Foreigners group and 1.198 kg CO2e per ha, 6.507 kg CO2e per LU, and 3.06 kg CO2e per liter of FPCM in Florida group. In summary, purchasing off-farm animal feed would increase emissions by up to 3.86%. Conversely, forage management, livestock inventory, electrical supply, and animal genetic improvement would reduce emissions by up to 6.29%, 4.3%, 3.52%, and 0.8%, respectively; finally, an average rise of 2 °C in room temperature would increase emissions by up to 0.62%.
Cryopreservation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Ovarian Tissue in Murray River Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia fluviatilis
Authors: Rivers Nicola , Daly Jonathan , Jones Robert , Currie Peter D. , Temple-Smith Peter
Published: March 2022

Freshwater fish populations are declining with many small, Australian fish species at risk of extinction within the next twenty-years. Cryopreservation of reproductive cells and tissues makes it possible to reproduce individuals from a species even after they are extinct in the wild. We describe the successful cryopreservation of ovarian tissue in the Murray River Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia fluviatilis (Order: Atheriniformes). Histology showed that oogonia are 13.70 µm ± 1.75 µm in size, stain positive for germ-line marker Vasa, and represent approximately 2.29 ± 0.81% of cells in the ovary. Flow cytometry was used to analyse ovarian cell suspensions, requiring an optimised tissue digestion protocol. We found that 0.25% trypsin with 1.13 mM EDTA produced cell suspensions with the highest viability (76.28 ± 4.64%) and the highest number of cells recovered per gram of tissue (1.2 × 108 ± 4.4 × 107 cells/g). Subsequent sorting of ovarian cell suspensions by flow cytometry increased oogonial cells in suspension from 2.53 ± 1.31% in an unsorted sample to 5.85 ± 4.01% in a sorted sample (p = 0.0346). Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue showed DMSO-treated samples had higher cell viability post-thaw (63.5 ± 18.2%) which was comparable to fresh samples (82.5 ± 7.1%; p = 0.36). Tissue cryopreserved in 2.0 M DMSO had the highest cell viability overall (76.07 ± 3.89%). This protocol could be applied to bio-banking programs for other species in the Melanotaeniidae, and perhaps species in other families and orders of Australian fish.
ICU-Associated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infection: Risk Factors Affecting the Outcome Following the Emergence of Colistin-Resistant Isolates in a Regional Greek Hospital
Authors: Karvouniaris Marios , Poulakou Garyphallia , Tsiakos Konstantinos , Chatzimichail Maria , Papamichalis Panagiotis , Katsiaflaka Anna , Oikonomou Katerina , Katsioulis Antonios , Palli Eleni , Komnos Apostolos
Published: March 2022

Intensive care unit patients may present infections by difficult-to-treat-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. Colistin resurfaced as a last resort antibiotic for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, colistin might not improve survival, particularly after the emergence of colistin-resistant isolates. We aimed to (1) examine the first Gram-negative-associated-bloodstream infection (GN-BSI) effect on 28-day mortality and (2) distinguish mortality risk factors. From 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019, we retrospectively studied all adult patients admitted for more than 48 h in the critical care department of a regional Greek hospital, with prevalent difficult-to-treat Gram-negative pathogens. We examined the patient records for the first GN-BSI. The local laboratory used broth microdilution to evaluate bacterial susceptibility to colistin. Seventy-eight patients fulfilled the entry criteria: adult and first GN-BSI. They developed GN-BSI on day 10 (6–18), while the overall mortality was 26.9%. Thirty-two and 46 individuals comprised the respective colistin-resistant and colistin-sensitive groups. The admission Acute Physiology Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was associated with acquiring colistin-resistant GN-BSI in the multivariable logistic regression analysis (οdds ratio (CI), 1.11 (1.03–1.21)). Regarding mortality, the index day sequential organ failure assessment score was solely associated with the outcome (hazard-ratio (CI), 1.23 (1.03–1.48), Cox proportional hazard analysis). GN-BSI was often caused by colistin-resistant bacteria. Concerning our data, sepsis severity was the independent predictor of mortality regardless of the colistin-resistance phenotype or empirical colistin treatment.
The Effect of Toothpastes Containing Natural Extracts on Bacterial Species of a Microcosm Biofilm and on Enamel Caries Development
Authors: Braga Aline Silva , Abdelbary Mohamed Mostafa Hefny , Kim Rafaela Ricci , Melo Fernanda Pereira de Souza Rosa de , Saldanha Luiz Leonardo , Dokkedal Anne Lígia , Conrads Georg , Esteves-Oliveira Marcella , Magalhães Ana Carolina
Published: March 2022

This study investigated the effects of herbal toothpaste on bacterial counts and enamel demineralization. Thirty-six bovine enamel samples were exposed to a microcosm biofilm using human saliva and McBain saliva (0.2% sucrose) for 5 days at 37 °C and first incubated anaerobically, then aerobically–capnophilically. The following experimental toothpaste slurries (2 × 2 min/day) were applied: (1) Vochysia tucanorum (10 mg/g); (2) Myrcia bella (5 mg/g); (3) Matricaria chamomilla (80 mg/g); (4) Myrrha and propolis toothpaste (commercial); (5) fluoride (F) and triclosan (1450 ppm F), 0.3% triclosan and sorbitol (Colgate®, positive control); (6) placebo (negative control). The pH of the medium was measured, bacteria were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enamel demineralization was quantified using transverse microradiography. The total bacterial count was reduced by toothpaste containing Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, fluoride, and triclosan (commercial) compared to the placebo. As far as assessable, Myrcia bella, Matricaria chamomilla, and Myrrha and propolis (commercial) inhibited the outgrowth of S. mutans, while Lactobacillus spp. were reduced/eliminated by all toothpastes except Vochysia tucanorum. Mineral loss and lesion depth were significantly reduced by all toothpastes (total: 1423.6 ± 115.2 vol% × μm; 57.3 ± 9.8 μm) compared to the placebo (2420.0 ± 626.0 vol% × μm; 108.9 ± 21.17 μm). Herbal toothpastes were able to reduce enamel demineralization.
The Inflammatory Response in Human Keratinocytes Exposed to Cinnamaldehyde Is Regulated by Nrf2
Authors: Vallion Romain , Hardonnière Kévin , Bouredji Abderrahmane , Damiens Marie-Hélène , Deloménie Claudine , Pallardy Marc , Ferret Pierre-Jacques , Kerdine-Römer Saadia
Published: March 2022

Keratinocytes (KC) play a crucial role in epidermal barrier function, notably through their metabolic activity and the detection of danger signals. Chemical sensitizers are known to activate the transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), leading to cellular detoxification and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, a key cytokine in skin allergy. We investigated the role of Nrf2 in the control of the proinflammatory response in human KC following treatment with Cinnamaldehyde (CinA), a well-known skin sensitizer. We used the well-described human KC cell line KERTr exposed to CinA. Our results showed that 250 μM of CinA did not induce any Nrf2 accumulation but increased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, 100 μM of CinA induced a rapid accumulation of Nrf2, inhibited IL-1β transcription, and downregulated the zymosan-induced proinflammatory response. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown KERTr cells (KERTr ko) showed an increase in proinflammatory cytokines. Since the inhibition of Nrf2 has been shown to alter cellular metabolism, we performed metabolomic and seahorse analyses. The results showed a decrease in mitochondrial metabolism following KERTr ko exposure to CinA 100 µM. In conclusion, the fate of Nrf2 controls proinflammatory cytokine production in KCs that could be linked to its capacity to preserve mitochondrial metabolism upon chemical sensitizer exposure.
Combination Effects of Metformin and a Mixture of Lemon Balm and Dandelion on High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Alterations in Mice
Authors: Choi Jae Young , Jang Tae-Woo , Song Phil Hyun , Choi Seong Hoon , Ku Sae-Kwang , Song Chang-Hyun
Published: March 2022

Metformin, the first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has additional effects on improvements of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, there are no treatments for both T2DM and NAFLD. Previous studies have shown hepatoprotective effects of a mixture of lemon balm and dandelion (LD) through its antioxidant and anti-steatosis properties. Thus, combination effects of metformin and LD were examined in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disease mouse model. The model received an oral administration of distilled water, monotherapies of metformin and LD, or a metformin combination with LD for 12 weeks. The HFD-induced weight gain and body fat deposition were reduced more by the combination than either monotherapy. Blood parameters for NAFLD (i.e., alanine aminotransferase and triglyceride), T2DM (i.e., glucose and insulin), and renal functions (i.e., blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) were reduced in the combination. The combination further enhanced hepatic antioxidant activities, and improved insulin resistance via the AMP-activated protein kinase and lipid metabolism pathways. Histopathological analyses revealed that the metformin combination ameliorated the hepatic hypertrophy/steatosis, pancreatic endocrine/exocrine alteration, fat tissue hypertrophy, and renal steatosis, more than either monotherapy. These results suggest that metformin combined with LD can be promising for preventing and treating metabolic diseases involving insulin resistance.
Ruscogenin Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia-Induced Ferroptosis through the Activation of BCAT1/BCAT2
Authors: Fu Fei , Lai Qiong , Hu Jingui , Zhang Lu , Zhu Xiaozhou , Kou Junping , Yu Boyang , Li Fang
Published: March 2022

Ruscogenin (RUS), a natural steroidal sapogenin, exerts various biological activities. However, its effectiveness for preventing myocardial ischemia (MI) and its molecular mechanisms need further clarification. The model of MI mice and oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced cardiomyocytes injury was performed. RUS significantly alleviated MI, as evidenced by decreased infarct size, ameliorated biochemical indicators and cardiac pathological features, and markedly inhibited ferroptosis by means of the up-regulation of GPX4 and down-regulation of ACSL4 and FLC. Simultaneously, RUS notably mitigated cell injury and oxidative stress, and ameliorated ferroptosis in vitro. Subsequently, HPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics identified BCAT1/BCAT2 as possible regulatory enzymes responsible for the cardioprotection of RUS. Importantly, RUS treatment significantly increased the expression of BCAT1 and BCAT2 in MI. Furthermore, we found that BCAT1 or BCAT2 siRNA significantly decreased cell viability, promoted ferroptosis, and increased Keap1 expression, and induced Nrf2 and HO-1 degradation in cardiomyocytes. Conversely, cardiac overexpression of BCAT1 or BCAT2 in MI mice activated the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Moreover, RUS significantly activated the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in MI, whereas BCAT1 or BCAT2 siRNA partially weakened the protective effects of RUS, suggesting that RUS might suppress myocardial injury through BCAT1 and BCAT2. Overall, this study demonstrated that BCAT1/BCAT2 could alleviate MI-induced ferroptosis through the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and RUS exerted cardioprotective effects via BCAT1/BCAT2.
Quantitatively Unraveling Hierarchy of Factors Impacting Virgin Olive Oil Phenolic Profile and Oxidative Stability
Authors: Jukić Špika Maja , Liber Zlatko , Montemurro Cinzia , Miazzi Monica Marilena , Ljubenkov Ivica , Soldo Barbara , Žanetić Mirella , Vitanović Elda , Politeo Olivera , Škevin Dubravka
Published: March 2022

A single phenolic group and even a compound play different roles in the sensory properties and stability of virgin olive oil (VOO), which in turn are strongly influenced by several factors. Understanding the causes of differences in phenolic compound composition and oxidative stability (OS) in VOOs is essential for targeted and timely harvest and processing while maintaining desired oil quality. The phenolic profile and OS of two monocultivar VOOs (Oblica and Leccino) grown in two geographical sites of different altitudes (coastal plain and hilly hinterland) were analyzed throughout the ripening period over two years. Concentration of secoiridoids was 30% higher in the Oblica than in the Leccino VOOs, which in turn had significantly higher values of OS. Both cultivars had more than twice as high concentrations of the two most abundant phenolic compounds, the dialdehyde form of decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycone and the dialdehyde form of decarboxymethyl ligstroside aglycone, and OS values in a colder growing site of higher altitude. Among the studied monocultivar VOOs, the secoiridoid group did not behave equally during ripening. The hierarchy of different influencing factors was investigated using multivariate statistics and revealed: cultivar > geographical site > harvest period > growing season. In addition, the possibility of traceability of VOO using molecular markers was investigated by establishing SSR profiles of oils of the studied cultivars and comparing them with SSR profiles of leaves.
Genome-Wide Identification of the Bcl-2 Associated Athanogene (BAG) Gene Family in Solanum lycopersicum and the Functional Role of SlBAG9 in Response to Osmotic Stress
Authors: Jiang Hailong , Ji Yurong , Sheng Jiarong , Wang Yan , Liu Xiaoya , Xiao Peixiang , Ding Haidong
Published: March 2022

The Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) proteins are a family of multi-functional group of co-chaperones regulators, modulating diverse processes from plant growth and development to stress response. Here, 10 members of SlBAG gene family were identified based on the available tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genomic information and named as SlBAG1-10 according to their chromosomal location. All SlBAG proteins harbor a characteristic BAG domain, categorized into two groups, and SlBAG4, SlBAG7, and SlBAG9 of group I contain a plant-specific isoleucine glutamine (IQ) calmodulin-binding motif located in the N terminus. The quantitative real-time PCR expression analysis revealed that these SlBAG genes had organ-specific expression patterns and most SlBAG genes were differentially expressed in multiple abiotic stresses including drought, salt, high temperature, cold, and cadmium stress as well as abscisic acid and H2O2. In addition, heterologous overexpression of SlBAG9 increased the sensitivity of Arabidopsis to drought, salt, and ABA during seed germination and seedling growth. The decreased tolerance may be due to the downregulation of stress-related genes expression and severe oxidative stress. The expression levels of some stress and ABA-related genes, such as ABI3, RD29A, DREB2A, and P5CS1, were significantly inhibited by SlBAG9 overexpression under osmotic stress. Meanwhile, the overexpression of SlBAG9 inhibited the expression of FSD1 and CAT1 under stress conditions and the decreased levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities were detected accompanying the trends in the expression of both genes, which resulted in H2O2 accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Taken together, these findings lay a foundation for the future study of the biological function of SlBAG genes in tomato.
The Impact of Technical Error of Measurement on Somatotype Categorization
Authors: Ryan-Stewart Helen , Faulkner James , Jobson Simon
Published: March 2022

Inquiry into somatotype often seeks to assign participants into somatotype groups. The aim of this study was to demonstrate how the intra-tester reliability of anthropometric measures can influence how somatotype is categorized. Sixty-eight physically active males (mean [SD] 24.8 [7.9] y; 79.8 [14.4] kg; 1.81 [0.07] m) had their anthropometric profiles measured and somatotype components calculated. Technical error of measurement (TEM) was used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall somatotype calculation (RTEM) for the data collected by the lead researcher. CIs were further calculated based on the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry accreditation Level 1 and 2/3 thresholds. Somatotype groups were categorized as either simple (four groups) or detailed (13 groups). RTEM had the smallest TEM values (0.05 somatotype units). Detailed somatotype categorization demonstrated larger potential for misclassification (39.7–72.1%) versus simple categorization (29.4–38.2%). Researchers investigating somatotype should keep technical skill high and group according to the four simple somatotype categories in order to maintain acceptable categorization reliability.
Maxillary Sinusitis of Odontogenic Origin: Prevalence among 3D Imaging—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Mahasneh Sari A. , Al-Hadidi Abeer , Hassona Yazan , Sawair Faleh A. , Al-Nazer Sarah , Bakain Yara , Cunliffe Joanne
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and compare it to the presence of odontogenic pathology of adjacent teeth. Three hundred and twenty-one full maxilla cone-beam computed tomography scans were examined. The parameters investigated included signs of maxillary sinus mucosal thickening and the diagnosis and proximity of the adjacent teeth. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version-16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Out of the 2001 teeth examined, 888 (44.4%) were associated with mucosal thickening with a significant difference between the different tooth types (p = 0.04). Mucosal thickening in a maxillary sinus was more likely if the neighboring teeth had apical disease. Interruption of the maxillary sinus floor was noticed more in specific teeth, particularly the first and second molars (p < 0.001). Sinusitis of odontogenic origin can be more prevalent than clinicians expect. The treatment of odontogenic sinusitis should be straightforward, whereby the diseased tooth is root treated or extracted. The sinusitis will then resolve if there are no other etiological factors.
Ketone Analog of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Exhibits Antioxidant Activity via Activation of ERK-Dependent Nrf2 Pathway
Authors: Bhullar Khushwant S. , Nael Manal A. , Elokely Khaled M. , Doiron Jérémie A. , LeBlanc Luc M. , Lassalle-Claux Grégoire , Salla Mohamed , Aldawsari Fahad S. , Touaibia Mohamed , Rupasinghe H. P. Vasantha
Published: March 2022

Due to their robust antioxidant properties, phenolic acids and their analogs are extensively studied for their ability to activate cellular antioxidant pathways, including nuclear factor (erythroid-derived-2)-like 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. Caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acid are well-studied members of phenolic acids. Constant efforts are made to improve the pharmacological effects and bioavailability of phenolic acids by synthesizing their chemical derivatives. This study determines how modifications of the chemical structure of these phenolic acids affect their antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. We have selected six superior antioxidant compounds (12, 16, 26, 35, 42, and 44) of the 48 caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) analogs based on their ability to scavenge free radicals in vitro using standard antioxidant assays. These compounds exhibited minimal toxicity as indicated by cell cycle and cytochrome C release assays. Among these compounds, 44, the ketone analog of CAPE, exhibited the ability to increase p-Nrf2 (Ser40) levels in 293T cells (p < 0.05). Further, 44, exhibited its antioxidant effect in Drosophila Melanogaster as indicated by an increase in mRNA levels of Nrf2 and GPx (p < 0.05). Finally, the ability of 44 to activate the antioxidant pathway was abolished in the presence of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor in 293T cells. Thus, we identify 44, the ketone analog of CAPE, as a unique antioxidant molecule with the function of ERK-mediated Nrf2 activation.
Life Cycle Assessment of Substitutive Building Materials for Landfill Capping Systems in Vietnam
Authors: S. Naveedh Ahmed , Anh Le Hung , Thanh Nguyen Trung , Thao Pham Thi Mai , Schneider Petra
Published: March 2022

The growing population and urbanization rates in developing countries causes huge pressure on the construction sector to aid the equivalent infrastructure growth. Natural resources are essential to attain the required infrastructure needs. The demand in the construction sector for materials causes significant environmental effects due to the higher consumption rate of finite natural resources. To address such an issue, the study focuses on the landfill capping application demand in Vietnam, based on its extensive landfill presence in its current state and their need to be closed in the years ahead. The study considers utilization of secondary raw materials arising from industrial or anthropogenic waste as an alternative material as a landfill mineral sealing layer, to replace the dependence on conventional clay and bentonite. The selected alternative materials were tested to satisfy the permeability conditions for the landfill sealing layer standards, where results indicated very low permeability values for the mixtures, meeting German quality requirements which require k ≤ 5 × 10−9 m/s for landfill class I (landfills without further environmental requirements) and k ≤ 5 × 10−10 m/s for class II (conventional landfill for non-hazardous waste) for sealing layers of landfills. Further, the various mixes of alternative mineral layers in a life cycle analysis for a functional unit of one hectare landfill mineral sealing layer resulted in lower environmental footprints than the conventional layer. The results of the mineral sealing layer showed that the higher bentonite composition of about 20% in the mix ratio and transport distance of 65 km for the ashes increased the overall environmental footprint of the mix. In this case, mix 6 and mix 7, having 20% bentonite, tended to possess higher impacts, despite the alternative ashes holding zero allocation, along with the 65 km transportation distance associated with ashes. The avoidance factor over the alternative mixes has an effective approximate 25–50% Global Warming Potential (GWP) impact reduction. There was a significant mineral resource scarcity impact reduction on the use of secondary raw materials.
Numerical Simulation of Time-Optimal Path Planning for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Using a Markov Decision Process Method
Authors: Shu Mingrui , Zheng Xiuyu , Li Fengguo , Wang Kaiyong , Li Qiang
Published: March 2022

Many path planning algorithms developed for land or air based autonomous vehicles no longer apply under the water. A time-optimal path planning method for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), based on a Markov decision process (MDP) algorithm, is proposed for the marine environment. Its performance is examined for different oceanic conditions, including complex coastal bathymetry and time-varying ocean currents, revealing advantages compared to the A* algorithm, a traditional path planning method. The ocean current is predicted using a regional ocean model and then provided to the MDP algorithm as a priori. A computation-efficient and feature-resolved spatial resolution are determined through a series of sensitivity experiments. The simulations demonstrate the importance to incorporate ocean currents in the path planning of AUVs in the real ocean. The MDP algorithm remains robust even if the ocean current is complex.
Semantic Modeling Approach Supporting Process Modeling and Analysis in Aircraft Development
Authors: Ma Junda , Wang Guoxin , Lu Jinzhi , Zhu Shaofan , Chen Jingjing , Yan Yan
Published: March 2022

With the increasing complexity of aircraft development programs, the development processes of aircraft and their subsystems are continuously becoming complicated, leading to the growing risks of development cost across the entire life cycle. In this study, we proposed a model-based systems engineering approach to support process modeling of aircraft development using a multi-architecture modeling language KARMA. Simultaneously, property verification and hybrid automata simulation were used to implement the static cost analysis of each work task and dynamic cost analysis of the entire development process. Finally, a development process model of aircraft avionics system was created using a case study, in which cost analysis is implemented by the KARMA language. From the result, we found that the KARMA language enables the integration of the process modeling with static and dynamic analyses of the development process in a multi-architecture modeling tool MetaGraph 2.0.
Identification of Biochemical Differences in White and Brown Adipocytes Using FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Shon DongHyun , Park SeJun , Yoon SukJun , Ko Yong
Published: March 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the developmental characteristics of adipocytes and to identify selectively white and brown adipocytes through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. For the developmental characterization of adipocytes, cells and conditioned media of white and brown adipocytes were respectively collected and analyzed. A higher amide I/amide II ratio was observed in the conditioned medium of brown adipocyte than in that of white adipocyte, indicating differences in secretory protein profiles. In contrast, an amide I/amide II ratio was higher in white adipocytes than in brown adipocytes, and mature adipocytes have higher lipid amounts than pre-adipocytes. Lipid acyl chain length was the longest in white adipocytes. These differences suggested that FTIR spectroscopy can be used to characterize developmental stages and/or types of adipocytes. To identify the possibility of selectively classifying adipose-derived stem cells, FTIR spectroscopy spectra were obtained in cells before/after white/brown adipocyte differentiation using FTIR spectroscopy and then analyzed by the principal component analysis method. All data indicated that the discrimination between adipocytes was possible in the analysis of the infrared spectroscopy spectrum by the principal component analysis technique. This study suggested the possibility of FTIR spectroscopy as a new type of cell sorting system without tagging.
3D Numerical Analysis Method for Simulating Collapse Behavior of RC Structures by Hybrid FEM/DEM
Authors: Min Gyeongjo , Fukuda Daisuke , Cho Sangho
Published: March 2022

Recent years have seen an increase in demand for the demolition of obsolete and potentially hazardous structures, including reinforced concrete (RC) structures, using blasting techniques. However, because the risk of failure is significantly higher when applying blasting to demolish RC structures than mechanical dismantling, it is critical to achieve the optimal demolition design and conditions using blasting by taking into account the major factors affecting a structure’s demolition. To this end, numerical analysis techniques have frequently been used to simulate the progressive failure resulting in the collapse of structures. In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) combined finite discrete element method (FDEM), which is accelerated by a parallel computation technique incorporating a general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), was coupled with the one-dimensional (1D) reinforcing bar (rebar) model as a numerical simulation tool for simulating the process of RC structure demolition by blasting. Three-point bending tests on the RC beams were simulated to validate the developed 3D FDEM code, including the calibration of 3D FDEM input parameters to simulate the concrete fracture in the RC beam accurately. The effect of the elements size for the concrete part on the RC beam’s fracture process was also discussed. Then, the developed 3D FDEM code was used to model the blasting demolition of a small-scale RC structure. The numerical simulation results for the progressive collapse of the RC structure were compared to the actual experimental results and found to be highly consistent.