bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formulation and Evaluation of Serum Gel from Sengkubak Leaf Extract (Pycnarrhena Cauliflora Diels)
Authors: Rini Ilma Widya , Budi Setia , Tumanggor Agustina Hotma Uli
Published: August 2024

Background: Serum has a high concentration but a low viscosity. a facial serum that has a fairly good ability to absorb into the skin, releases the active substance of the serum well and is easy to apply to the face. Sengkubak (Pycnarrhena cauliflora Diels) is a type of plant in the Menispermaceae family which can be found in West Kalimantan. Sengkubak also has good potential to be developed as a source of antioxidant compounds
Objectives: Knowing the optimal formulation of sengkubak leaf extract serum gel (Pycnarrhena Cauliflora Diels) and knowing the evaluation of the physical properties of Sengkubak leaf extract serum gel (Pycnarrhena Cauliflora Diels)
Method: The study used a quasi-experimental design method with varying concentrations of 1 gram, 1.5 grams and 2 grams of natrosol. Serum gel was evaluated for physical organoleptic, homogeneity, spreadability, dry time, adhesion, pH, and viscosity.
Results:  The results of the observations on the viscous liquid organoleptic test and on the homogeneity test of homogeneous preparations. the most optimal spreadability test results were formulation 1, the most optimal drying time was formulation 1. the most optimal adhesion test results were formulation 1, the most optimal ph test results were formula 1, and the most optimal viscosity test were formulation 2.
Conclusion:  The most optimal serum gel of sengkubak leaf extract (Pycnarrhena Cauliflora Diels) is formulation 1, with a concentration of 1 gram.
Penetapan Kadar Metilparaben Pada Krim Pemutih Wajah Yang Beredar Di Kecamatan Mentaya Hilir Utara Menggunakan HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
Authors: Sa'diyah Halimatus , Rahmadani Rahmadani , Malahayati Siti
Published: August 2024

Latar belakang: Berdasarkan hasil observasi langsung yang dilakukan oleh peneliti, di Kecamatan Mentaya Hilir Utara masih banyak pasar tradisional atau toko-toko kosmetik yang menjual produk kosmetik khususnya krim pemutih wajah yang belum teregistrasi BPOM dan tidak memenuhi persyaratan yang telah ditetapkan, dan diindikasi mengandung metilparaben melebihi batas maksimum yang telah ditetapkan oleh BPOM.
Tujuan: Untuk menganalisis perbedaan kadar metilparaben yang terkandung dalam sediaan krim pemutih wajah teregistrasi BPOM dan tidak teregistrasi BPOM.
Metode: Analisis kualitatif dilakukan dengan pengamatan waktu retensi, analisis kuantitatif dengan menggunakan HPLC, dan melakukan perbandingan untuk melihat perbedaan kadar yang terkandung dalam sediaan krim pemutih wajah teregistrasi BPOM dan tidak teregistrasi BPOM dengan uji statistik parametrik Paired Sampel T-Test.
Hasil: Hasil penelitian krim pemutih wajah teregistrasi BPOM dan tidak teregistrasi BPOM positif mengandung metilparaben dengan rata-rata kadar yang terkandung pada krim pemutih wajah teregistrasi BPOM sampel A 0,19 ± 0,003% dan sampel B 0,79 ± 0,008%. Sedangkan kadar yang terkandung pada krim pemutih wajah tidak teregistrasi BPOM pada sampel A 0,18 ± 0,0005% dan sampel B 1,16 ± 0,066%. Dari hasil penetapan kadar tersebut tidak terdapat perbedaan kadar metilparaben yang terkandung.
Kesimpulan: Krim pemutih wajah yang teregistrasi BPOM dan tidak teregistrasi BPOM yang beredar di kecamatan Mentaya Hilir Utara mengandung metilparaben.
Efektivitas Metode Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Menggunakan Media Reminder Medication Card Terhadap Kepatuhan Ibu Hamil Dalam Mengkonsumsi Tablet Tambah Darah di Puskesmas Pelambuan
Authors: Wardhani Yuliana , Saputri Rina , Hateriah Siti
Published: August 2024

Latar Belakang: Ketidakpatuhan ibu hamil mengkonsumsi tablet tambah darah masih tinggi. Edukasi kesehatan dengan metode focus group discussion (FGD) dan media reminder medication card diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kepatuhan konsumsi tablet tambah darah secara rutin.
Tujuan: Menganalisis efektivitas metode Focus Group Discussion (FGD) menggunakan media reminder medication card terhadap kepatuhan ibu hamil dalam mengkosumsi tablet tambah darah di Puskesmas Pelambuan.
Metode: Penelitian true experimental pretest – posttest control group ini dilakukan pada 64 ibu hamil kelompok intervensi dan kontrol secara simple random sampling di bulan Juni di Puskesmas Pelambuan analisa data menggunakan uji Wilcoxon serta uji Mann Whitney U Test.
Hasil: Sebanyak 65,6% kelompok intervensi tidak patuh dan 81,3% kelompok kontrol tidak patuh saat pretest. Sebanyak 90,6% kelompok intervensi patuh dan 75% kelompok kontrol tidak patuh saat posttest. Ada perbedaan hasil pretest dan posttest kelompok intervensi (p value = 0,000) dan tidak ada perbedaan pada kelompok kontrol (p value = 0,317). Ada perbedaan kelompok intervensi dan kelompok kontrol (p value = 0,000).
Simpulan: Metode Focus Group Discussion (FGD) menggunakan media reminder medication card efektif terhadap kepatuhan ibu hamil dalam mengkosumsi tablet tambah darah di Puskesmas Pelambuan.
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing targeted and metagenomic next-generation sequencing for pulmonary infection in HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected individuals
Authors: Sun Luyao , Zhang Kaiyu , Liu Yong , Che Lihe , Zhang Peng , Wang Bin , Du Na
Published: August 2024

Background

When individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience pulmonary infections, they often exhibit severe symptoms and face a grim prognosis. Consequently, early, rapid, and accurate pathogen diagnosis is vital for informing effective treatment strategies. This study aimed to use metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and targeted mNGS (tNGS) to elucidate the characteristics of pulmonary infections in HIV and non-HIV individuals.

Methods

This study enrolled 90 patients with pulmonary infection at the Department of Infectious Diseases of The First Hospital of Jilin University from June 2022 to May 2023, and they were divided into HIV (n=46) and non-HIV (n=44) infection groups. Their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for mNGS analysis to evaluate the differences in pulmonary infection pathogens, and tNGS detection was performed on BALF samples from 15 HIV-infected patients.

Results

A total of 37 pathogens were identified in this study, including 21 bacteria, 5 fungi, 5 viruses, 5 mycobacteria, and 1 mycoplasma. The sensitivity of mNGS was 78.9% (71/90), which is significantly higher than that of conventional methods (CTM) (39/90, P=1.5E-8). The combination of mNGS with CTM can greatly enhance the sensitivity of pathogen detection. The prevalence of Pneumocystis jirovecii (82.6% vs. 9.1%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (58.7% vs. 0%), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (17.4% vs. 2.3%) was significantly higher in the HIV infection group than in the non-HIV infection group (P<0.05). Although no statistically significant difference was observed, the detection rate of Mycobacteria was higher in HIV-infected patients (17.4%) than in the non-HIV group (6.8%). Furthermore, the tNGS results of BALF from 15 HIV-infected patients were not entirely consistent with the mNGS results., and the concordance rate of tNGS for the detection of main pathogens reached 86.7% (13/15).

Conclusion

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can accurately detect pathogens in the BALF of patients with pulmonary infection. The sensitivity of tNGS is comparable to that of mNGS. Therefore, this technique should be promoted in the clinic for better patient outcomes.
Effectiveness of foot skin protection technology in elderly patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Zhou Lin , Song Pin-Fang , Qin Wen , Jia Qing , Miao Fei , Bai Jiao-Jiao
Published: August 2024

Objective

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of foot skin protection technology in elderly patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods

The foot skin protection technology was developed based on a comprehensive literature review and preliminary research conducted by our research team. Subsequently, 88 elderly patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and experiencing foot skin problems were recruited from two community health service centers in Shanghai. Using a random number table, the participants were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. Patients in the experimental group received foot skin protection technology interventions, while those in the control group received standard community nursing guidance for a duration of 3 months. The incidence, severity, and discomfort associated with foot skin problems were evaluated before and after the intervention period in both groups.

Results

The incidence, severity, and discomfort of foot skin problems notably reduced in the experimental group (all P< 0.05).

Conclusion

The foot skin protection technology demonstrates significant potential in enhancing foot skin condition.
The diverse and widespread Southern Ocean ophiuroid Amphiura belgicae should be considered a species complex
Authors: Sands Chester J. , Goodall-Copestake William P. , Stöhr Sabine , Narayanaswamy Bhavani E. , Convey Peter , O’Hara Timothy D. , Martín-Ledo Rafael
Published: August 2024

Accurate knowledge of geographic ranges of species is essential for effective conservation management. Species with large distributions and good connectivity are presumed to be resilient to adverse localized/regional conditions, whereas those with small ranges and, thus, smaller population sizes are more likely to be vulnerable. The rich benthic assemblages across the Southern Ocean are generally considered “Antarctic” with some input from South America contributing to diversity on the sub-Antarctic island shelves. However, molecular work over the past two decades is challenging the paradigm of a general Antarctic benthic fauna, with evidence mounting for assemblages being regionally unique in terms of genetic diversity, regardless of formal taxonomic species composition. The widely distributed brittle star, Amphiura belgicae, is one element of the Southern Ocean benthic assemblage that has a complex historical taxonomic background hinting that it may in reality be a complex of species, each with small geographic range and little connectivity. Our study identified deep genetic divisions between geographically isolated populations, particularly between those on the Patagonian shelf and elsewhere. Indeed, populations on the Patagonian shelf were more closely related to the sympatric sister species A. eugeniae than to any other Southern Ocean population. We compare our data with a study of Ophiuroglypha lymani from similar collections, highlighting that both show highly regionalized populations, particularly on Island shelves, and both share the curious phenomenon of a presumed outgroup species being an element of the ingroup. We suggest that the isolated populations of both these species are following distinct evolutionary and ecological trajectories and that both should be treated as species complexes.
Mannitol mediates the mummification behavior of Thitarodes xiaojinensis larvae infected with Ophiocordyceps sinensis
Authors: Chai Wenmin , Mao Xianbing , Li Chunfeng , Zhu Liancai , He Zongyi , Wang Bochu
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Parasites can facilitate their own spread and reproduction by manipulating insect hosts behavior, as seen in the interaction between Thitarodes xiaojinensis and Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Infection by O. sinensis leads to the mummification of T. xiaojinensis larvae, but the underlying mechanisms remain mysterious.

Methods

The morphology of O. sinensis infected larvae and fungal growth were first observed. Subsequently, the metabolite changes in the larvae before and after infection with the fungus were analyzed by LC/MS and targeted metabolomics. The expression of mannitol-related genes was detected using RT-qPCR, and morphological changes in larvae were observed after injection of different concentrations of mannitol into the O. sinensis-infected larvae.

Results

Significant changes were found in phenotype, fungal morphology in hemocoel, larval hardness, and mannitol metabolites in infected, mummified 0 h larvae and larvae 5 days after mummification behavior. Surprisingly, the occurrence of mummification behavior was accompanied by fungal dimorphism, as well as the absence of mannitol in both infected and non-infected larvae, until the initial accumulation of mannitol and the expression of mannitol-associated genes occurred at the time of mummification behavior. The presence of mannitol may promote fungal dimorphism to mediate changes in fungal toxicity or resistance, leading to the end of the fungus-insect coexistence period and the incidence of mummification behavior. Furthermore, mannitol injections increase the mummification rate of the infected larvae without significant difference from the normal mummification phenotype.

Discussion

This finding suggests the importance of mannitol in the mummification of host larvae infected with O. sinensis.
Insight into diversity change, variability and co-occurrence patterns of phytoplankton assemblage in headwater streams: a study of the Xijiang River basin, South China
Authors: Peng Yuyang , Wu Chuangfeng , Ma Guibin , Chen Haiming , Wu Qinglong L. , He Dan , Jeppesen Erik , Ren Lijuan
Published: August 2024

Phytoplankton has been used as a paradigm for studies of coexistence of species since the publication of the “paradox of the plankton.” Although there are a wealth of studies about phytoplankton assemblages of lakes, reservoirs and rivers, our knowledge about phytoplankton biodiversity and its underlying mechanisms in mountain headwater stream ecosystems is limited, especially across regional scales with broad environmental gradients. In this study, we collected 144 phytoplankton samples from the Xijiang headwater streams of the Pearl River across low altitude (< 1,000 m) located in Guangxi province, intermediate altitude (1,000 m < altitude <2,000 m) in Guizhou province and high altitude (> 2,000 m) in Yunnan province of China. Our study revealed high phytoplankton diversity in these streams. Freshwater phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta, Glaucophyta, Phaeophyta and Cryptophyta, were all detected. However, phytoplankton alpha diversity exhibited a monotonic decreasing relationship with increasing altitude. High altitudes amplified the “isolated island” effect of headwater streams on phytoplankton assemblages, which were characterized by lower homogeneous selection and higher dispersal limitation. Variability and network vulnerability of phytoplankton assemblages increased with increasing altitudes. Our findings demonstrated diversity, variability and co-occurrence patterns of phytoplankton assemblages linked to environmental factors co-varying with altitude across regional scales.
Melatonin feeding changed the microbial diversity and metabolism of the broiler cecum
Authors: Zhen Li , Huang Yi , Bi Xuewen , Gao Anyu , Peng Linlin , Chen Yong
Published: August 2024

To study the effect of melatonin supplementation on the gut microbes of broilers, 160 healthy 3-week-old Ross 308 broilers with similar body weights were selected and randomly divided into four groups (M0, M20, M40, and M80) supplemented with 0, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg melatonin. The results showed that the abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) index of cecum microorganisms was significantly lower in the M80 group. The dominant phyla of intestinal contents in the M0, M20, M40, and M80 groups were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The M40 group showed an increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes spp. in the intestine, while the relative abundance of Ruminococcus spp. in the intestine of the M20, M40, and M80 groups was significantly greater than that of the M0 group. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analyses revealed that the supplementation of melatonin increases the expression of genes related to cellular processes (cell motility, cell growth and death, and cellular community-eukaryotes), environmental information processing (membrane transport and signal transduction), and genetic information processing (transport and transcription), and Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG) of proteins functional analyses revealed that the supplementation of melatonin resulted in a significant increase in cellular processes and signaling (cell motility, signal transduction mechanisms, intracellular trafficking, secretion, and vesicular transport), information storage and processing (RNA processing and modification, chromatin structure and dynamics, translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis), metabolism (energy production and conversion, lipid transportation and metabolism, inorganic ion transport and metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism), and poorly characterized (general function prediction only). In summary, supplementation of feed with melatonin can increase the diversity of intestinal microorganisms and the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the cecum, improve digestive ability and nutrient absorption ability, and positively regulate the metabolic ability of broilers.
Multiple biological characteristics and functions of intestinal biofilm extracellular polymers: friend or foe?
Authors: Gong Fengrong , Xin Shuzi , Liu Xiaohui , He Chengwei , Yu Xinyi , Pan Luming , Zhang Sitian , Gao Han , Xu Jingdong
Published: August 2024

The gut microbiota is vital to human health, and their biofilms significantly impact intestinal immunity and the maintenance of microbial balance. Certain pathogens, however, can employ biofilms to elude identification by the immune system and medical therapy, resulting in intestinal diseases. The biofilm is formed by extracellular polymorphic substances (EPS), which shield microbial pathogens from the host immune system and enhance its antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, investigating the impact of extracellular polysaccharides released by pathogens that form biofilms on virulence and defence mechanisms is crucial. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of current pathogenic biofilm research, deal with the role of extracellular polymers in the formation and maintenance of pathogenic biofilm, and elaborate different prevention and treatment strategies to provide an innovative approach to the treatment of intestinal pathogen-based diseases.
Lesion region inpainting: an approach for pseudo-healthy image synthesis in intracranial infection imaging
Authors: Liu Xiaojuan , Xiang Cong , Lan Libin , Li Chuan , Xiao Hanguang , Liu Zhi
Published: August 2024

The synthesis of pseudo-healthy images, involving the generation of healthy counterparts for pathological images, is crucial for data augmentation, clinical disease diagnosis, and understanding pathology-induced changes. Recently, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have shown substantial promise in this domain. However, the heterogeneity of intracranial infection symptoms caused by various infections complicates the model's ability to accurately differentiate between pathological and healthy regions, leading to the loss of critical information in healthy areas and impairing the precise preservation of the subject's identity. Moreover, for images with extensive lesion areas, the pseudo-healthy images generated by these methods often lack distinct organ and tissue structures. To address these challenges, we propose a three-stage method (localization, inpainting, synthesis) that achieves nearly perfect preservation of the subject's identity through precise pseudo-healthy synthesis of the lesion region and its surroundings. The process begins with a Segmentor, which identifies the lesion areas and differentiates them from healthy regions. Subsequently, a Vague-Filler fills the lesion areas to construct a healthy outline, thereby preventing structural loss in cases of extensive lesions. Finally, leveraging this healthy outline, a Generative Adversarial Network integrated with a contextual residual attention module generates a more realistic and clearer image. Our method was validated through extensive experiments across different modalities within the BraTS2021 dataset, achieving a healthiness score of 0.957. The visual quality of the generated images markedly exceeded those produced by competing methods, with enhanced capabilities in repairing large lesion areas. Further testing on the COVID-19-20 dataset showed that our model could effectively partially reconstruct images of other organs.
Capturing subjective cognitive decline with a new combined index in low education patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Huang Juan , Wang Hui , Chen Lin , Hu Binbin , Qin Xin , Yang Qiushuang , Cui Yajing , Chen Shenjian , Huang Wei
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) refers to self-reported cognitive decline with normal global cognition. This study aimed to capture SCD among low educated patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) using a newly established indicator.

Methods

We recruited 64 PD patients with low education levels (education ≤12 years) for the study. The presence of SCD was determined based on a Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part I (1.1) score ≥ 1. Spearman analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate factors associated with the PD-SCD group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the new combined index.

Results

The prevalence of SCD in PD patients was 43.75%. Low educated PD-SCD patients had higher scores on the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale (PFS), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), as well as higher scores on the UPDRS-I and UPDRS-II, compared to PD patients without SCD. They also demonstrated poorer performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), particularly in the domains of executive abilities/attention/language. Multivariate binary regression confirmed the significant association between PD-SCD and MoCA-executive abilities/attention/language. Based on these findings, a combined index was established by summing the scores of MoCA-executive abilities, MoCA-attention, and MoCA-language. ROC analysis showed that the combined index could differentiate PD-SCD patients with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.876. A score of 12 or less on the combined index had a sensitivity of 73.9% and a specificity of 76.2% for diagnosing PD-SCD.

Conclusion

These low education patients with PD-SCD may exhibit potential PD-related pathological changes. It is important for clinicians to identify PD-SCD patients as early as possible. The newly combined index can help capture these low educated PD-SCD patients, with an AUC of 0.867, and is expected to assist clinicians in earlier identification and better management of PD patients.
Umami and saltiness enhancements of vegetable soup by enzyme-produced glutamic acid and branched-chain amino acids
Authors: Sakai Kiyota , Okada Masamichi , Yamaguchi Shotaro
Published: August 2024

Introduction

One major challenge of reducing salt content in food is the risk of the overall taste becoming bland. Enhancing saltiness is an effective strategy for salt reduction, and the development of salt-reduced foods using these saltiness-enhancing flavorants as food additives is underway. However, an increasing number of consumers demand a reduction in additives in clean-label foods.

Objective

Enzyme processing of food is an attractive strategy for developing clean-label foods because enzymes are not considered additives. We aimed to improve the saltiness and umami intensity of vegetable soups by enzyme treatment while meeting clean-label requirements. We first optimized the enzymatic reaction conditions of a protease and glutaminase blend and then investigated the synergistic effects of this enzyme blend on the taste of vegetable soup.

Results

Sensory evaluations indicated that the reaction products (e.g., protein hydrolysates or amino acids) could enhance the umami, kokumi, and saltiness intensity of vegetable soup supplemented with 0.5% NaCl. Notably, the saltiness intensity ratio of the enzyme-treated soup with 0.50, 0.45, and 0.40% NaCl were increased by 1.31-, 1.16-, and 0.99-fold, respectively, when this ratio for the control soup with 0.50% NaCl was set to 1.0. This indicates a 20% salt reduction rate can be achieved by enzyme treatment. Moreover, we found that these enhancements were synergically caused by enzyme-produced glutamic acid and branched-chain amino acids.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that using enzyme blends of bacterial and fungal proteases and glutaminase is an effective approach to enhancing the saltiness levels of vegetable soups while meeting clean-label requirements.
Chromosome-level genome assemblies for two quinoa inbred lines from northern and southern highlands of Altiplano where quinoa originated
Authors: Kobayashi Yasufumi , Hirakawa Hideki , Shirasawa Kenta , Nishimura Kazusa , Fujii Kenichiro , Oros Rolando , Almanza Giovanna R. , Nagatoshi Yukari , Yasui Yasuo , Fujita Yasunari
Published: August 2024

Quinoa is emerging as a key seed crop for global food security due to its ability to grow in marginal environments and its excellent nutritional properties. Because quinoa is partially allogamous, we have developed quinoa inbred lines necessary for molecular genetic analysis. Our comprehensive genomic analysis showed that the quinoa inbred lines fall into three genetic subpopulations: northern highland, southern highland, and lowland. Lowland and highland quinoa are the same species, but have very different genotypes and phenotypes. Lowland quinoa has relatively small grains and a darker grain color, and is widely tested and grown around the world. In contrast, the white, large-grained highland quinoa is grown in the Andean highlands, including the region where quinoa originated, and is exported worldwide as high-quality quinoa. Recently, we have shown that viral vectors can be used to regulate endogenous genes in quinoa, paving the way for functional genomics to reveal the diversity of quinoa. However, although a high-quality assembly has recently been reported for a lowland quinoa line, genomic resources of the quality required for functional genomics are not available for highland quinoa lines. Here we present high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies for two highland inbred quinoa lines, J075 representing the northern highland line and J100 representing the southern highland line, using PacBio HiFi sequencing and dpMIG-seq. In addition, we demonstrate the importance of verifying and correcting reference-based scaffold assembly with other approaches such as linkage maps. The assembled genome sizes of J075 and J100 are 1.29 and 1.32 Gb, with contigs N50 of 66.3 and 12.6 Mb, and scaffold N50 of 71.2 and 70.6 Mb, respectively, comprising 18 pseudochromosomes. The repetitive sequences of J075 and J100 represent 72.6% and 71.5% of the genome, the majority of which are long terminal repeats, representing 44.0% and 42.7% of the genome, respectively. The de novo assembled genomes of J075 and J100 were predicted to contain 65,303 and 64,945 protein-coding genes, respectively. The high quality genomes of these highland quinoa lines will facilitate quinoa functional genomics research on quinoa and contribute to the identification of key genes involved in environmental adaptation and quinoa domestication.
A Novel Transformer Network Based on Cross–Spatial Learning and Deformable Attention for Composite Fault Diagnosis of Agricultural Machinery Bearings
Authors: Li Xuemei , Li Min , Liu Bin , Lv Shangsong , Liu Chengjie
Published: August 2024

Diagnosing agricultural machinery faults is critical to agricultural automation, and identifying vibration signals from faulty bearings is important for agricultural machinery fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance. In recent years, data–driven methods based on deep learning have received much attention. Considering the roughness of the attention receptive fields in Vision Transformer and Swin Transformer, this paper proposes a Shift–Deformable Transformer (S–DT) network model with multi–attention fusion to achieve accurate diagnosis of composite faults. In this method, the vibration signal is first transformed into a time–frequency graph representation through continuous wavelet transform (CWT); secondly, dilated convolutional residual blocks and efficient attention for cross–spatial learning are used for low–level local feature enhancement. Then, the shift window and deformable attention are fused into S–D Attention, which has a more focused receptive field to learn global features accurately. Finally, the diagnosis result is obtained through the classifier. Experiments were conducted on self–collected datasets and public datasets. The results show that the proposed S–DT network performs excellently in all cases. With a slight decrease in the number of parameters, the validation accuracy improves by more than 2%, and the training network has a fast convergence period. This provides an effective solution for monitoring the efficient and stable operation of agricultural automation machinery and equipment.
Numerical Method for Optimizing Soil Distribution Using DEM Simulation and Empirical Validation by Chemical Properties
Authors: Kang Seokho , Kim Yonggik , Park Hyunggyu , Son JinHo , Han Yujin , Kim YeongSu , Woo Seungmin , Kwon Seunggwi , Jang Youngyoon , Ha Yushin
Published: August 2024

Manure distribution in soil creates a ground environment that is conducive to crop cultivation. However, the lumping and concentration of manure in the field can occur, hindering the fertilization of the soil for plant growth, and the randomization of nutrients under different soil depths accelerates it. To overcome the challenges associated with agricultural testing, such as high cost, inclement weather, and other constraints, computational analysis is often used. In this study, rotary operations are performed using the discrete element method (DEM) to ensure the uniform distribution of manure and four soil layers. DEM analysis was conducted with three experimental factors, and simulation sets were designed using the Box-Behnken central combination method. The DEM results were evaluated using the uniformity index (UI), and the field test of the rotary operation was performed with the set showing the most uniform distribution among the results. Due to undistinguishable particles in reality, the uniformity was validated by a comparison of the chemical characteristics of the L1 and L5 in terms of before and after the rotary operation. The DEM parameter of the soil was determined by performing field measurements at different soil depths (0–20 cm), and this parameter was calibrated by conducting a penetration test. The Box–Behnken central combination method was implemented using the following factors: tillage depth (X1), PTO revolution speed (X2), and forward machine velocity (X3). These factors were obtained using the UI regression model and the response surface method. In the results, it was indicated that the UI was affected by the factors in the following order: X1 > X2 > X3. The optimized factor values were X1 = 25 cm, X2 = 800 RPM, and X3 = 1.8 km/h, leading to a UI of 6.07, which was consistent with the analysis results. The operating parameters were maintained throughout the field test, and the acquired data were input into the measurement system. The lowest UI value of 6.07 had the strongest effect on decreasing the disparity between L1 and L5, especially in terms of pH, organic matter, P, Ca, and Mg. In summary, the results indicated that soil distribution can be controlled by adjusting mechanical parameters to ensure uniform chemical characteristics across various soil depths.
Zinc Seed Priming Alleviates Salinity Stress and Enhances Sorghum Growth by Regulating Antioxidant Activities, Nutrient Homeostasis, and Osmolyte Synthesis
Authors: Umair Hassan Muhammad , Chattha Muhammad Umer , Khan Imran , Khan Tahir Abbas , Nawaz Mohsin , Tang Haiying , Noor Mehmood Ali , Asseri Tahani A. Y. , Hashem Mohamed , Guoqin Huang
Published: August 2024

Salinity is a serious abiotic stress that limits crop production and food security. Micronutrient application has shown promising results in mitigating the toxic impacts of salinity. This study assessed the impacts of zinc seed priming (ZSP) on the germination, growth, physiological and biochemical functioning of sorghum cultivars. The study comprised sorghum cultivars (JS-2002 and JS-263), salinity stress (control (0 mM) and 120 mM)), and control and ZSP (4 mM). Salinity stress reduced germination and seedling growth by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL: 60.65%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 109.50%), malondialdehyde (MDA; 115.30%), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) accumulation and decreasing chlorophyll synthesis, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins (TSPs), and potassium (K) uptake and accumulation. Nonetheless, ZSP mitigated the deleterious impacts of salinity and led to faster germination and better seedling growth. Zinc seed priming improved the chlorophyll synthesis, leaf water contents, antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxide: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD, superoxide dismutase: SOD), TSPs, proline, K uptake and accumulation, and reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2 production, as well as the accumulation of toxic ions (Na and Cl), thereby promoting better germination and growth. Thus, these findings suggested that ZSP can mitigate the toxicity of salinity by favoring nutrient homeostasis, antioxidant activities, chlorophyll synthesis, osmolyte accumulation, and maintaining leaf water status.
The Influence of Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles on Photosynthetic Efficiency, Antioxidant Responses and Grain Quality throughout the Soybean Life Cycle
Authors: Wang Nan , Tian Xiangrong , Song Peipei , Guo Wei , Zhang Kaiyue , Li Juan , Ma Zhanqiang
Published: August 2024

The widespread application of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture has not only enhanced the efficiency of agrochemical use but also introduced environmental pollution, potentially impacting human health through absorption and accumulation in edible plants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects and ecological risks of Cu2O nanoparticles (nCu2O) in the life cycle of soybean, and to provide a theoretical basis for the safe application of NPs in agriculture. Soybeans were grown in natural soil modified with nCu2O, bulk cuprous oxide (bCu2O) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) at concentrations of 0, 50, 200, and 800 mg/kg. Samples and grains from treated soybeans were collected at the flowering, podding, and seed-filling stages for analysis. The results indicated that treatments with nCu2O, bCu2O, and Cu2+ reduced the chlorophyll content in soybean leaves, thereby affecting photosynthesis. Significant reductions were observed in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), the quantum yield of photosystem II (Y(II)), photochemical quenching (qP), and the electron transport rate (ETR) at high concentrations. However, the toxicity of nCu2O to photosynthesis recovers as the plant grows. Almost all treatments increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and reduced oxidative stress. In the nCu2O and bCu2O treatments, grain protein content was significantly reduced, while fat and water content increased. Phosphorus (P) content decreased, whereas sulfur (S), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) contents increased. The accumulation of copper in plants followed the order nCu2O > bCu2O > Cu2+, with the bCu2O treatment being slightly more toxic than the nCu2O treatment, and both being more toxic than the Cu2+ treatment. The above data indicated that nCu2O had a dose-dependent effect, which significantly inhibited soybean growth and changed grain quality at high concentrations.
Glomalin-Related Soil Protein Plays Different Roles in Soil Organic Carbon Pool Maintaining among Different Grassland Types
Authors: Yang Meiniu , Fan Lianlian , Ma Xuexi , Liang Yuanye , Mao Jiefei , Li Jiangyue , Li Yaoming
Published: August 2024

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), which can promote long-term SOC sequestration. However, GRSP distribution characteristics and its contribution to the SOC pool among different grassland types remain poorly understood. Therefore, six grassland types (alpine meadow, mountain meadow, temperate meadow steppe, temperate steppe, temperate desert steppe, and temperate desert) were chosen to evaluate the contribution of GRSP to the SOC pool and the factors that influence GRSP accumulation in the Irtysh River Basin in China. The results revealed that GRSP (EE-GRSP, T-GRSP) accumulated more in the 0–10 cm soil layer than in the 10–20 cm soil layer (p < 0.05). GRSP content was higher in alpine grasslands (15.69 mg·g−1) than in desert grasslands (5.45 mg·g−1). However, their contribution to the SOC pool exhibited an opposite trend, whereas GRSP-C/SOC even accounted for 11.88% in the desert grasslands. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that SOC was the top important positive regulator for GRSP accumulation both in the two layers (explanatory rate > 80%). Besides the SOC factor, the two soil layers had different factors in regulating GRSP accumulation. Changes in GRSP content in the 0–10 cm soil layer were more strongly associated with mean annual temperature (MAT), sand content, soil water content (SWC), and silt content. In contrast, in the 10–20 cm soil layer, GRSP content was more influenced by SWC, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH (p < 0.05). Additionally, the main factor in the GRSP content variation was the interaction between climate and soil in the two soil layers (explanatory rate > 80%). Our findings underscore the critical role of GRSP in facilitating SOC sequestration within desert grasslands and elucidate the primary factors driving GRSP distribution across varying soil depths.
Oxidative Stress in Transthyretin-Mediated Amyloidosis: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Fiore Marco , Cambieri Chiara , Libonati Laura , Moret Federica , D’Andrea Edoardo , Di Certo Maria Grazia , Passananti Claudio , Gabanella Francesca , Corbi Nicoletta , Garibaldi Matteo , Chimenti Cristina , Alfarano Maria , Ferraguti Giampiero , Francati Silvia , Inghilleri Maurizio , Ceccanti Marco
Published: August 2024

Transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) is a systemic disease with protein precipitation in many tissues, mainly the peripheral nerve and heart. Both genetic (ATTRv, “v” for variant) and wild-type (ATTRwt) forms are known. Beyond the steric encumbrance, precipitated transthyretin seems to have a toxic effect. In this study carried out in men, we recruited 15 ATTRv patients, 7 ATTRv asymptomatic carriers, 14 ATTRwt patients and 10 young and 13 old healthy controls to evaluate the oxidative stress using FORD (Free Oxygen Radicals Defense) and FORT (Free Oxygen Radicals Test) analyses. ATTRv patients showed reduced FORD compared to ATTRwt and ATTRv asymptomatic carriers. FORD independently predicted the disease stage, with the early stages characterized by the highest consumption. These findings suggest a role for oxidative stress in the early stages of ATTRv.
Controlled Cultivation Confers Rhodiola rosea Synergistic Activity on Muscle Cell Homeostasis, Metabolism and Antioxidant Defense in Primary Human Myoblasts
Authors: Iannuzzo Fortuna , Schiano Elisabetta , Pastore Arianna , Guerra Fabrizia , Tenore Gian Carlo , Novellino Ettore , Stornaiuolo Mariano
Published: August 2024

Rhodiola rosea L. is recognized for its adaptogenic properties and ability to promote muscle health, function and recovery from exercise. The plethora of biological effects of this plant is ascribed to the synergism existing among the molecules composing its phytocomplex. In this manuscript, we analyze the activity of a bioactive fraction extracted from Rhodiola rosea L. controlled cultivation. Biological assays were performed on human skeletal myoblasts and revealed that the extract is able to modulate in vitro expression of transcription factors, namely Pax7 and myoD, involved in muscle differentiation and recovery. The extract also promotes ROS scavenging, ATP production and mitochondrial respiration. Untargeted metabolomics further reveals that the mechanism underpinning the plant involves the synergistic interconnection between antioxidant enzymes and the folic/acid polyamine pathway. Finally, by examining the phytochemical profiles of the extract, we identify the specific combination of secondary plant metabolites contributing to muscle repair, recovery from stress and regeneration.
Commentary on A Meta-Analysis of Exercise Intervention and the Effect on Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms: What Activities Are Best?
Authors: Ahmad Syed Omar , Stiles Dana , Born Emily , Scheffler Julie , Vogel Katie
Published: August 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide [...]
Inhibitory Effect of Fennel Fruit Essential Oil and Its Main Component Anethole of Corrosion on Steel Plates in 1 M HCL
Authors: Pencheva Martina , Nikolova Maria , Damianova Stanka , Dushkova Mariya , Menkov Nikolay , Stoyanova Albena
Published: August 2024

Corrosion worldwide causes large losses of metal, which is why various ways are being sought to slow it down. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of fennel fruit essential oil (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and its main component anethole. The inhibitory effect of three different concentrations of the fennel essential oil and anethole (1.0 mL/L, 1.5 mL/L, and 2.5 mL/L) in a solution of 1 M HCl at 298 K for 6 h on a sheet of low-carbon steel was investigated. The inhibitory effect was established using gravimetric methods evaluating weight loss, corrosion rate, and inhibition efficiency, as well as electrochemical methods. In gravimetric studies, the inhibition effect of the inhibitors fennel essential oil and isolate anethole at a concentration of 2.0 mL/L was 70.85% and 45.86%, respectively. The anodic polarization curve data at 298 K demonstrate that the anethole and fennel essential oil adsorption on the metal surface creates a barrier that hinders hydrogen ions’ access and prevents them from being reduced on the steel surface’s cathode sites. Fennel essential oil acting as a mixed type-inhibitor can replace synthetic organic substances and could become an alternative to be used as environmental corrosion inhibitors.
Enhancing Firm Performance: How Entrepreneurial Orientation and Information Technology Capability Interact
Authors: Campos-Núñez Franco , Serrano-Malebrán Jorge
Published: August 2024

Applying information technology capabilities (ITC) to business processes is critical in the current data and information age. However, various bottlenecks and barriers restrict the adoption of ITC. To address these obstacles, fostering an entrepreneurial orientation (EO) can be beneficial. Drawing on the dynamic capabilities view, this study develops and tests a model that empirically analyzes how EO influences the adoption of ITC. The proposed model also assesses the separate and joint effects of EO and ITC on firm performance (FP). The research hypotheses were tested using a survey of 157 Chilean firms, and the PLS-SEM method was applied. The findings indicate that EO promotes the development of ITC and that the synergistic relationship between the two positively affects FP. These findings provide valuable insight for managers in terms of aligning their strategic approach with technological capabilities to enhance their company’s success.
Research on Solidification Methods and Stabilization Mechanisms of Sulfate Saline Soils
Authors: Li Sining , Huang Yong , Sun Jian , Yu Rui , Liu Yubin , Cui Qiushuang
Published: August 2024

In cold regions, saline soils can cause dissolution, settlement, and salt expansion of the roadbed under the influence of freeze–thaw cycles, so they need to be stabilized during road construction. In this study, lime, fly ash (FA), and polyacrylamide (PAM) were used to stabilize sulfate saline soils, and the stabilized saline soils were subjected to the unconfined compressive strength test (UCS), splitting test, and freeze–thaw cycle tests (FTs). The stabilization mechanism of the three materials on saline soils was also studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The test results showed that the addition of lime, FA, and PAM to saline soils can improve the mechanical properties and frost resistance of saline soils. After 28 d of curing, the UCS of FA-, PAM-, and lime-stabilized saline soils increased by at least 55%, 23%, and 1068%, respectively, and the splitting strength increased by at least 161%, 75%, and 2720%, respectively. After five freeze–thaw cycles, the residual strength ratios (BDRs) of the UCS of L2 (lime 8%), F2 (FA 11%), and P2 (PAM 1%) stabilized soils and saline soils were 71.78%, 56.42%, 39.05%, and 17.95%, respectively, and the decreasing trend tended to be stable. The saline soils stabilized by lime and FA were chemically stabilized, and their mechanical properties and frost resistance were better than the physical stabilization of PAM.
Analysis of Severe Spinal Injuries in Korean Elite Female Wrestlers
Authors: Song Munku , Yoon Sewoon , Choi Yongchul , Yoo Sangcheol
Published: August 2024

Women’s wrestling is actively practiced in many countries. While severe spinal injuries pose a threat to an athlete’s career and health, research on severe spinal injuries in female wrestlers remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of severe spinal injuries and post-injury management in Korean female wrestlers. We enrolled 54 female wrestlers participating in the national team selection competition. Interviews were conducted to examine the characteristics of spinal injuries that resulted in a time loss of more than three weeks from training throughout their athletic careers and their post-injury management practices. Approximately 46% of participants experienced severe spinal injuries, and 52% faced re-injuries during their wrestling careers. These injuries predominantly occurred during technical training due to overuse during tackling and standing attacks. The most frequent injuries were lumbosacral disc injuries (72%) and cervical disc injuries (20%), with 36% requiring surgery. Nearly half of the injured athletes received specialized rehabilitation, yet roughly 76% resumed training without medical clearance. Athletes injured during their student years were notably less likely to receive specialized rehabilitation compared with those injured during their professional careers (p = 0.011). On average, athletes returned to play within 2.7 to 3.0 months. Spinal injury characteristics and post-injury management were not significantly different between the light- and heavyweight classes. While Korean female wrestlers are at a high risk of experiencing severe spinal injuries and re-injuries during their careers, appropriate post-injury management is often lacking, highlighting the need for proactive intervention by healthcare professionals to prevent recurrent spinal injuries in female wrestlers and to ensure safe return to training.