bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Validation of Potential Ferroptosis-Related Genes in Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Authors: Chen Ning , Meng Yuan , Zhan Huixian , Li Gang
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives. Glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIONFH) is a serve complication of long-term administration of glucocorticoids. Previous experimental studies have shown that ferroptosis might be involved in the pathological process of GIONFH. The purpose of this study is to identify the ferroptosis-related genes and pathways of GIONFH by bioinformatics to further illustrate the mechanism of ferroptosis in SONFH through bioinformatics analysis. Materials and Methods. The GSE123568 mRNA expression profile dataset, including 30 GIONFH samples and 10 non-GIONFH samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Ferroptosis-related genes were obtained from the FerrDb database. First, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the serum samples from GIONFH cases and those from controls. Ferroptosis-related DEGs were obtained from the intersection of ferroptosis-related genes and DEGs. Only ferroptosis DEGs were used for all analyses. Then, we conducted a Kyoto encyclopedia of genome (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) pathway enrichment analysis. We constructed a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network to screen out hub genes. Additionally, the expression levels of the hub genes were validated in an independent dataset GSE10311. Results. A total of 27 ferroptosis-related DEGs were obtained between the peripheral blood samples of GIONFH cases and non-GIONFH controls. Then, GO, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that ferroptosis-related DEGs were mainly enriched in the regulation of the apoptotic process, oxidation-reduction process, and cell redox homeostasis, as well as HIF-1, TNF, FoxO signaling pathways, and osteoclast differentiation. Eight hub genes, including TLR4, PTGS2, SNCA, MAPK1, CYBB, SLC2A1, TXNIP, and MAP3K5, were identified by PPI network analysis. The expression levels of TLR4, TXNIP and MAP3K5 were further validated in the dataset GSE10311. Conclusion. A total of 27 ferroptosis-related DEGs involved in GIONFH were identified via bioinformatics analysis. TLR4, TXNIP, and MAP3K5 might serve as potential biomarkers and drug targets for GIONFH.
Electromyographic Evaluation of Muscle Activity in Patients Rehabilitated with Full Arch Fixed Implant-Supported Prostheses
Authors: Mostovei Mihail , Solomon Oleg , Chele Nicolae , Sinescu Cosmin , Duma Virgil-Florin , Mostovei Andrei
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Implant rehabilitation of complete edentulous arches has become more and more popular because of the increased access of the population to this type of treatment. Furthermore, the development of new rehabilitation procedures can be applied in most clinical cases, including in those with severe atrophy. Hence, this study aimed to assess the functional changes that can occur in the stomatognathic system after implant rehabilitation procedures. Materials and Methods: A total of 63 patients were accepted in the study. They were divided into a first control (dentate) group (CG) and a second study group (edentulous, SG). For the latter, 30 patients received 204 two-stage implants immediately loaded with provisional prostheses. Surface electromyography (EMG) was assessed at the time of prostheses fixation, while for some patients it was applied six months after the fixation of the fixed prostheses, as well. These supplemental investigated patients formed a third, follow-up study group (FSG). All assessments were performed during the processes of clenching and mastication. The obtained data of the two study groups, SG and FSG, were compared with those of the control group, CG. Results: No statistical differences were found in the electrical muscular activity between the study and control groups during both clenching and mastication (p > 0.05). In addition, there were no differences within the same study group, both initially and after 6 months. The only changes were noticed between static and dynamic values for the right masseter muscle in the follow-up group FSG (p = 0.008). Deviations of the overlapping coefficients were similar for all groups (p = 0.086): for CG, 20.5%, median 11.1 (min. 0, max. 104); for SG, 21.4%, median 12.2 (min. 0, max. 103); for FSG, 36.1%, median 26.9 (min. 0, max. 160). This revealed no neuromuscular adaption to the prostheses. Conclusions: Implant-prosthetic rehabilitation led to an EMG activity that was similar to that of dentate patients immediately after the placement of the fixed implant-supported prostheses. Moreover, the measured values did not change after six months of functioning for all evaluated parameters. This may point to an immediate restoration of the muscle contraction capacity, without the necessity of adaptation over time. The study serves as an argument for the application and reliability of the immediate fixed implant-supported prostheses from the perspective of muscle adaptation and functioning.
Experimental Evaluation of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Segregated Al-Mg-Si Alloy Filled with Alumina and Silicon Carbide through Different Types of Casting Molds
Authors: Abdellah Mohammed Y. , Fadhl Bandar M. , Abu El-Ainin H. M. , Hassan Mohamed K. , Backar Ahmed H. , Mohamed Ahmed F.
Published: February 2023

A 6061 aluminum alloy has almost 0.8–1.2 wt.% Mg and 0.4–0.8 wt.% Si content. These two components, along with other alloying elements, therefore, were characterized by high mechanical and abrasive strength. The aims of the present work were to understand the effect of different types of cooling rates through different molds materials and to investigate the effect of casting with ceramic additives on segregation of the aluminum alloy itself as a composite material forum. Therefore, a series of mechanical tests were conducted, such as compression test, Vickers hardness, and pin-on-disc wear test. The samples were cast at 650 °C and in electric furnaces for 2 h to ensure that the metal achieved adequate homogeneity and temperature. Then, abrasive macroparticles of Al2O3 and Sic with a size close to 40–60 µm were used. The particles were poured under constant stirring for 1 min. Then, they were cast in two types of molds: steel and graphite. The cast specimens were obtained as a reference without particles and with 0.5 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 4 wt.%, and 8 wt.%. The thermal effect and the heat due to conduction and radiation were calculated. The maximum compressive strength was found to increase by ≈21% with SiCp casted in graphite molds, and HV was found to increase by ≈29% with SiC casted in graphite molds. The same was found for wear resistance, which became good with SiC casted in graphite molds, and it was generally found that the cooling rate through the mold weakened the alloy due to the segregation effect. The presence of tough particulate through the aluminum matrix barrier created a number of loads. Additionally, the high specific heat of graphite, which plays a dominant role in the slaw cooling rate of casting, led to grain enlargement, whereas the higher cooling rate of steel led to grain refinement. These concepts are the main rules of heat treatments through the casting process itself, and they save time and effort.
Investigation of the Electrochemical Performance of Titanium-Based MXene Hybridisation with Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as an Anode Catalyst Support Material
Authors: Nazamdin Muhamad Kamil , Mohamed Ariff Azmah Hanim , Saidur Rahman , Abdullah Norulsamani , Tan Kim Han , Abdul Aziz Nuraini
Published: February 2023

MXenes possess unique features that are useful for broader industrial development. However, although many different compositions of MXenes have been discovered, little research has been conducted on the optimal synthesis strategy for producing the best MXenes yield. Therefore, substantial work is performed on the synthesis’ structure and property relationship for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications since MXenes have been successfully hybridised with rice husk ash (RHA). In this study, to produce titanium-based MXene, Ti3C2 nanopowders are added to the rice husk ash matrix to synthesise hybrid RHA/MXene composites (R-MX). Using different weight percentages of MXene hybridised with rice husk ash (2 wt. % R-MX, 4 wt. % R-MX and 6 wt. % R-MX), different electrochemical properties are obtained. Meanwhile, electrochemical analysis is undertaken to investigate the methanol oxidation performance using Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV). The highest percentage of the R-MX hybrid composite, 6 wt. % MXene, showed the lowest Tafel slope (148 mV/dec) and the highest ionic exchange current density in the same Tafel analysis. Moreover, the incorporation of MXene into RHA produced good results from the chronoamperometry analysis (CA), with the highest percentage of the hybrid composite, R-6MX, showing the highest retention rate of 97.28%. Meanwhile, the Nyquist plot analysis showed an increasing semicircle arc diameter at the lower-frequency region, implying a lower interfacial charge resistance upon the addition of MXene into RHA. This outcome corresponded to the CA and LSV analysis findings, R-6MX showed a remarkable performance in terms of having the highest peak current density of 0.9454 mA/cm2 and retention rate of 97.28%. Both of these values show that hybrid R-6MX was able to maintain a high current for the entire duration. The current is maintained in a stable form for some time, proving that R-6MX was the most stable, with a minimal corrosion reaction and tolerance in a methanol medium. The results from this study enabled an evaluation of the possibility of utilising low-cost, green RHA material for fuel cell applications to promote sustainability. The novelty of this work is that a cheap source of silica-based RHA, a type of waste material, is incorporated with MXene through hybridisation processes.
Activation of MyD88-Dependent TLR Signaling Modulates Immune Response of the Mouse Heart during Pasteurella multocida Infection
Authors: Fu Qiaoyu , Jiang Junming , Li Xubo , Zhai Zhe , Wang Xuemei , Li Chongrui , Chen Qiaoling , Man Churiga , Du Li , Wang Fengyang , Chen Si
Published: February 2023

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is an important zoonotic pathogen. In addition to lung lesions, necropsies have revealed macroscopic lesions in the heart in clinical cases. However, most previous studies focused on lung lesions while ignoring heart lesions. Therefore, to investigate the immune response of the P. multocida-infected heart, two murine infection models were established by using P. multocida serotype A (Pm HN02) and D (Pm HN01) strains. Histopathological examination revealed heterogeneous inflammatory responses, including immune cell infiltration in the epicardial and myocardial areas of the heart. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on infected cardiac tissues. To explore the traits of immune responses, we performed the functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, gene set enrichment analysis and gene set variation analysis. The results showed that the innate immune pathways were significantly regulated in both groups, including the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, the complement and coagulation cascade and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. The Toll-like receptor signaling pathway was only significantly activated in the Pm HN02 group. For the Pm HN02 group, immunohistochemistry analysis further verified the significant upregulation of the hub component MyD88 at the protein level. In conclusion, this study reveals critical pathways for host heart recognition and defense against P. multocida serotypes A and D. Moreover, MyD88 was upregulated by P. multocida serotype A in the heart, providing a theoretical basis for future prevention, diagnosis and treatment research.
Impact of Pomegranate on Probiotic Growth, Viability, Transcriptome and Metabolism
Authors: O’Flaherty Sarah , Cobian Natalia , Barrangou Rodolphe
Published: February 2023

Despite rising interest in understanding intestinal bacterial survival in situ, relatively little attention has been devoted to deciphering the interaction between bacteria and functional food ingredients. Here, we examined the interplay between diverse beneficial Lactobacillaceae species and a pomegranate (POM) extract and determined the impact of this functional ingredient on bacterial growth, cell survival, transcription and target metabolite genesis. Three commercially available probiotic strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp-115) were used in growth assays and flow cytometry analysis, indicating differential responses to the presence of POM extract across the three strains. The inclusion of POM extract in the growth medium had the greatest impact on L. acidophilus cell counts. LIVE/DEAD staining determined significantly fewer dead cells when L. acidophilus was grown with POM extract compared to the control with no POM (1.23% versus 7.23%). Whole-transcriptome analysis following exposure to POM extract showed markedly different global transcriptome responses, with 15.88% of the L. acidophilus transcriptome, 19.32% of the L. rhamnosus transcriptome and only 2.37% of the L. plantarum transcriptome differentially expressed. We also noted strain-dependent metabolite concentrations in the medium with POM extract compared to the control medium for punicalagin, ellagic acid and gallic acid. Overall, the results show that POM extract triggers species-specific responses by probiotic strains and substantiates the rising interest in using POM as a prebiotic compound.
Biodegradation of Oil by a Newly Isolated Strain Acinetobacter junii WCO-9 and Its Comparative Pan-Genome Analysis
Authors: Jiang Shijie , Fan Qingfeng , Zhang Zeying , Deng Yunfeng , Wang Lihong , Dai Qilin , Wang Jin , Lin Min , Zhou Jian , Long Zhijian , He Guiqiang , Zhou Zhengfu
Published: February 2023

Waste oil pollution and the treatment of oily waste present a challenge, and the exploitation of microbial resources is a safe and efficient method to resolve these problems. Lipase-producing microorganisms can directly degrade waste oil and promote the degradation of oily waste and, therefore, have very significant research and application value. The isolation of efficient oil-degrading strains is of great practical significance in research into microbial remediation in oil-contaminated environments and for the enrichment of the microbial lipase resource library. In this study, Acinetobacter junii WCO-9, an efficient oil-degrading bacterium, was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil using olive oil as the sole carbon source, and its enzyme activity of ρ-nitrophenyl decanoate (ρ-NPD) decomposition was 3000 U/L. The WCO-9 strain could degrade a variety of edible oils, and its degradation capability was significantly better than that of the control strain, A junii ATCC 17908. Comparative pan-genome and lipid degradation pathway analyses indicated that A. junii isolated from the same environment shared a similar set of core genes and that the species accumulated more specific genes that facilitated resistance to environmental stresses under different environmental conditions. WCO-9 has accumulated a complete set of oil metabolism genes under a long-term oil-contamination environment, and the compact arrangement of abundant lipase and lipase chaperones has further strengthened the ability of the strain to survive in such environments. This is the main reason why WCO-9 is able to degrade oil significantly more effectively than ATCC 17908. In addition, WCO-9 possesses a specific lipase that is not found in homologous strains. In summary, A. junii WCO-9, with a complete triglyceride degradation pathway and the specific lipase gene, has great potential in environmental remediation and lipase for industry.
May a Former Municipal Landfill Contaminate Groundwater in Microplastics? First Investigations from the “Prairie de Mauves Site” (Nantes, France)
Authors: Ledieu Lauriane , Phuong Ngoc-Nam , Flahaut Bernard , Radigois Pauline , Papin Julya , Le Guern Cécile , Béchet Batrice , Gasperi Johnny
Published: February 2023

Municipal landfills receive a high amount of plastic waste and due to the occurring physical and biochemical degradation processes, could be significant sources of microplastics (MP). Evaluating the threat to groundwater through the transfer of MP via landfill leachates require more research. The former “Prairie de Mauves” landfill, operated from 1963 to 1987 by the municipality of Nantes (France), and located above the alluvial groundwater of the Loire River, represents a good candidate for such investigations. Leachates and groundwater were sampled along a transect line from upstream to downstream of the landfill, in March and June 2022. MP (>25 µm) were quantified and characterized using µFTIR imaging in transmission mode. MP were observed in every sample with concentrations ranging from 0.71 to 106.7 MP/L. Concentrations in the leachates and the alluvial groundwater illustrate a migration of MP. Twelve polymers were identified and polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were predominant. After a conventional rainfall event (14.3 mm), higher concentrations, diversity, and size ranges of MP were observed. Water infiltration through the heterogeneous geological substratum therefore enhanced the migration of larger MP towards the alluvial groundwater of the Loire River.
Observations of Nematicity, Dopants, and Zero-Bias Conductance Peaks for the Ca0.9La0.1FeAs2 Superconductor
Authors: Kim Jae-Joon , Park Min Seok , Lee Kyoung Seok , Joo Sang Hyun , Yoo Jung Hoon , Bhoi Dilip , Min Byeong Hun , Kim Kee Hoon , Lee Jinho
Published: February 2023

Ca1−xLaxFeAs2 (CLFA112) belongs to a new family of Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs) and has a unique crystal structure featuring an arsenic zigzag chain layer, which has been proposed to be a possible two-dimensional topological insulator. This suggests that CLFA112 is a potential topological superconductor—a platform to realize Majorana fermions. Up to now, even a clear superconducting (SC) gap in CLFA112 has never been observed, and the SC properties of CLFA112 remain largely elusive. In this letter, we report the results of an atomic-scale investigation of the electronic structure of CLFA112 crystals using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We revealed four different types of surfaces exhibiting distinct electronic properties, with all surfaces displaying dominating 2 × 1 surface reconstructions. On a Ca/La layer on top of an FeAs layer, a clear SC gap of ~12 mV was observed only at the crevices (vacancies) where the FeAs layer can be directly accessed. Remarkably, the FeAs termination layer displayed a dispersing nematic modulation both in real and q space. We also present peculiar zero-bias conductance peaks for the very As chain layer that is believed to exhibit a topological edge state as well as the influence of La dopants on the As chain layer.
Detection and Complete Genomic Analysis of Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3) in Diarrheic Pigs from the Dominican Republic: First Report on PCV3 from the Caribbean Region
Authors: Gainor Kerry , Fortuna Yussaira Castillo , Alakkaparambil Angeline Steny , González Wendy , Malik Yashpal Singh , Ghosh Souvik
Published: February 2023

The increasing detection of Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV3, family Circoviridae) in clinically ill pigs worldwide has raised concerns on the implications of the virus on porcine health and the pork industry. Although pork production constitutes an important component of the livestock economy and is a major source of animal protein in the Caribbean Islands, there are no reports on PCV3 in pigs from the region so far. In the present study, PCV3 was detected in 21% (21/100) of diarrheic pigs (sampled at three farms) from the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic (DR). Although the sample size varied between porcine age groups, the highest PCV3 detection rates (35.3% each, respectively) were observed in piglets and growers. Co-infections with PCV2 and porcine adenovirus were observed in 38.09% and 9.52% of the PCV3 positive samples, respectively. The complete genomes of 11 DR PCV3 strains were analyzed in the present study, revealing a unique deletion (corresponding to nucleotide residue at position 1165 of reference PCV3 sequences) in one of the DR PCV3 sequences. Based on sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis (open reading frame 2 and complete genome sequences), the DR PCV3 strains were assigned to genotype PCV3a, and shared high sequence homologies (>98% identities) between themselves and with those of other PCV3a (Clade-1) strains, corroborating previous observations on the genetic stability of PCV3 worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection and molecular characterization of PCV3 in pigs from the Caribbean region, providing important insights into the expanding global distribution of the virus, even in isolated geographical regions (the Island of Hispaniola). Our findings warrant further investigations on the molecular epidemiology and economic implications of PCV3 in pigs with diarrhea and other clinical conditions across the Caribbean region.
Infective Endocarditis after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Zakhour Johnny , Allaw Fatima , Kalash Suha , Wehbe Saliba , Kanj Souha S.
Published: February 2023

Although initially conceived for high-risk patients who are ineligible for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now recommended in a wider spectrum of indications, including among young patients. However, similar to SAVR, TAVR is also associated with a risk of infectious complications, namely, prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). As the number of performed TAVR procedures increases, and despite the low incidence of PVE post-TAVR, clinicians should be familiar with its associated risk factors and clinical presentation. Whereas the diagnosis of native valve endocarditis can be achieved straightforwardly by applying the modified Duke criteria, the diagnosis of PVE is more challenging given its atypical symptoms, the lower sensitivity of the criteria involved, and the low diagnostic yield of conventional echocardiography. Delay in proper management can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion and initiate proper work-up according to the severity of the illness, the underlying host, and the local epidemiology of the causative organisms. The most common causative pathogens are Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. (particularly the viridans group), while less-likely causative pathogens include Gram-negative and fungal pathogens. The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance complicates the choice of therapy. There remain controversies regarding the optimal management strategies including indications for surgical interventions. Surgical assessment is recommended early in the course of illness and surgical intervention should be considered in selected patients. As in other PVE, the duration of therapy depends on the isolated pathogen, the host, and the clinical response. Since TAVR is a relatively new procedure, the outcome of TAVR-PVE is yet to be fully understood.
Outcomes of Thoracoscopic Lobectomy after Recent COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Leonardi Beatrice , Sagnelli Caterina , Natale Giovanni , Leone Francesco , Noro Antonio , Opromolla Giorgia , Capaccio Damiano , Ferrigno Francesco , Vicidomini Giovanni , Messina Gaetana , Di Crescenzo Rosa Maria , Sica Antonello , Fiorelli Alfonso
Published: February 2023

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak had a massive impact on lung cancer patients with the rise in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer. Methods: We evaluated whether a recent COVID-19 infection affected the outcome of patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer using a retrospective observational mono-centric study conducted between January 2020 and August 2022. Postoperative complications and 90-day mortality were reported. We compared lung cancer patients with a recent history of COVID-19 infection prior to thoracoscopic lobectomy to those without recent COVID-19 infection. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: One hundred and fifty-three consecutive lung cancer patients were enrolled. Of these 30 (19%), had a history of recent COVID-19 infection prior to surgery. COVID-19 was not associated with a higher complication rate or 90-day mortality. Patients with recent COVID-19 infection had more frequent pleural adhesions (p = 0.006). There were no differences between groups regarding postoperative complications, conversion, drain removal time, total drainage output, and length of hospital stay. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection did not affect the outcomes of thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer. The treatment of these patients should not be delayed in case of recent COVID-19 infection and should not differ from that of the general population.
Intramammary Ethno-Veterinary Formulation in Bovine Mastitis Treatment for Optimization of Antibiotic Use
Authors: Tomanić Dragana , Kladar Nebojša , Radinović Miodrag , Stančić Ivan , Erdeljan Mihajlo , Stanojević Jovan , Galić Ivan , Bijelić Katarina , Kovačević Zorana
Published: February 2023

Increasing pressure on animal and human health as well as food security, due to antimicrobial resistance, is leading to increased demand for natural-product-derived antibiotics worldwide. Considering the importance of bovine mastitis as well as the huge challenge posed by mastitis therapy in cattle production, the main goal of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the essential oil-based pharmaceutical (Phyto-Bomat), as an alternative to the existing treatment with antibiotics. The therapeutic response of the cows was monitored using clinical and bacteriological cure of the proposed formulation. Among 550 dairy cows, 75 were diagnosed with a clinical or subclinical form of mastitis and divided into three experimental groups: treated with antibiotic; Phyto-Bomat; antibiotic and Phyto-Bomat. Indicators of bacteriological cure were somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count, and causative agent isolation, while the clinical cure was accessed by observing physical udder conditions. All mentioned indicators were assessed before and after the treatment (1st and 7th day post-treatment), with all of the three therapeutic protocols. After Phyto-Bomat treatment, no visible signs of irritation were noticed, while no significant effect in reducing SCC and total bacterial count was observed. Phyto-Bomat has shown promising results in the treatment of mastitis, without the risk of udder irritation, alone or in combination with antibiotics as part of a mastitis control program during lactation.
Student Pharmacists’ Perspectives Regarding a Virtually Delivered Research Proposal Course in the Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum
Authors: Axon David R.
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to assess third-year student pharmacists’ perspectives regarding a virtually delivered research proposal course. A 23-item questionnaire was distributed to third-year student pharmacists enrolled in a research proposal course over three weeks in April 2021. The questionnaire contained 15 Likert-scale items, seven descriptive items, and a free-text item for additional comments about the course. Items were summarized using descriptive statistics. Fifty-four student pharmacists (response rate = 40.9%) participated in the survey. The student pharmacists surveyed generally had a positive perception of the virtually delivered research proposal course with median scores ≥ 4 (indicating agreement) for the majority (13/15) of survey items. Students did not agree that there was no difference in their motivation to succeed in the virtual course versus an in-person course and did not agree that they were more likely to pursue a career that involves undertaking a research project. This study found that student pharmacists generally had a positive perception of a virtually delivered research proposal course. These findings offer some support for the provision of an online, virtually delivered research proposal course for student pharmacists. Further research with a larger sample of students from multiple pharmacy schools is needed to improve the generalizability of the results.
Simultaneous Detection of Gas Concentration and Light Intensity Based on Dual-Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic-Photothermal Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Hao , Chen Xiang , Yao Lu , Xu Zhenyu , Hu Mai , Kan Ruifeng
Published: February 2023

This research proposes a method for the simultaneous acquisition of the second harmonic (2f) signal of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) and the first harmonic (1f) signal of quartz-enhanced photothermal spectroscopy (QEPTS) based on the dual-quartz-enhanced photoacoustic–photothermal spectroscopy. The laser beam is first wavelength-modulated by the injection current and then intensity-modulated by an acoustic-optic modulator. The frequency of the wavelength modulation is half of the QTF1 resonant frequency, and the frequency of the intensity modulation is equal to the QTF2 resonant frequency. A modulated laser beam traveled through the two arms of the QTF1 and converged on the root of the QTF2. The 2f photoacoustic and 1f photothermal signals are concurrently obtained using the frequency division multiplexing technology and lock-in amplifiers, which allows the simultaneous detection of the gas concentration and laser light intensity. CH4 is chosen as the target gas, and the variations of the 2f photoacoustic and 1f photothermal signals are evaluated at various gas concentrations and light intensities. According to the experiments, the amplitude of the 1f photothermal signal has a good linear connection with light intensity (R2 = 0.998), which can be utilized to accurately revise the 2f photoacoustic signal while light intensity fluctuates. Over a wide range of concentrations, the normalized 2f photoacoustic signals exhibit an excellent linear response (R2 = 0.996). According to the Allan deviation analysis, the minimum detection limit for CH4 is 0.39 ppm when the integration time is 430 s. Compared with the light intensity correction using a photodetector for the QEPAS system, this approach offers a novel and effective light intensity correction method for concentration measurements employing 2f analysis. It also has the advantages of low cost and compact volume, especially for mid-infrared and terahertz systems.
Hard-Templated Porous Niobia Films for Optical Sensing Applications
Authors: Pavlov Venelin , Georgiev Rosen , Lazarova Katerina , Georgieva Biliana , Babeva Tsvetanka
Published: February 2023

Porous Nb2O5 films obtained by a modified hard-template method were studied and their optical and sensing properties were optimized in order to find applications in chemo-optical sensing. Porous films were prepared by following three steps: liquid mixing of niobium sol and SiO2 colloids in different volume fractions, thermal annealing of spin-coated films for formation of a rigid niobia matrix, and selective removal of silica phase by wet etching thus generating free volume in the films. The morphology and structure of the films were studied using transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction, while their optical and sensing properties were estimated using UV-VIS-NIR reflectance measurements in different ambiences such as air, argon and acetone vapors and nonlinear curve fitting of the measured reflectance spectra. Bruggeman effective medium approximation was applied for determination of the volume fraction of silica and air in the films, thus revealing the formation of porosity inside the films. For further characterization of composite films, their water contact angles were measured and finally conclusions about the impact of initial chemical composition and etching duration on properties of the films were drawn.
Demodulation of Fiber Specklegram Curvature Sensor Using Deep Learning
Authors: Yang Zihan , Gu Liangliang , Gao Han , Hu Haifeng
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a learning-based fiber specklegram sensor for bending recognition is proposed and demonstrated. Specifically, since the curvature-induced variations of mode interference in optical fibers can be characterized by speckle patterns, Resnet18, a classification model based on convolutional neural network architecture with excellent performance, is used to identify the bending state and disturbed position simultaneously according to the speckle patterns collected from the distal end of the multimode fiber. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is verified by rigorous experiments, and the test results indicate that the proposed sensing system is effective and robust. The accuracy of the trained model is 99.13%, and the prediction speed can reach 4.75 ms per frame. The scheme proposed in this work has the advantages of low cost, easy implementation, and a simple measurement system and is expected to find applications in distributed sensing and bending identification in complex environments.
Bio-Intensive Tactics for the Management of Invasive Fall Armyworm for Organic Maize Production
Authors: Keerthi Manikyanahalli Chandrashekara , Suroshe Sachin Suresh , Doddachowdappa Sagar , Shivakumara Kadanakuppe Thammayya , Mahesha Hosapura Shekhararaju , Rana Virendra Singh , Gupta Ankita , Murukesan Ajith , Casini Ryan , Elansary Hosam O. , Shakil Najam Akhtar
Published: February 2023

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an invasive pest native to the American continent. The present study focused on bio-intensive tactics like intercropping, using natural enemies, botanical insecticides and biopesticides for managing S. frugiperda for the organic production of maize in Indian conditions. A total of eight different parasitoids attacking the different stages of S. frugiperda viz., eggs and larvae were found in the study area. The total parasitism rate due to all the parasitoids ranged from 28.37 to 42.44%. The egg-larval parasitoid, Chelonus formosanus Sonan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the dominant parasitoid (12.55%), followed by Chelonus nr. blackburni (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) (10.98%) and Coccygydium sp. (4.85%). About 36.58 percent of the egg masses collected was parasitized by egg parasitoids, among which Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was the dominant parasitoid. The botanicals insecticides such as citronella and annona extract were most effective, resulting in 100% mortality of FAW larvae (168 h after treatment). The essential oil of garlic (100%) was found highly effective in inhibiting egg hatching, followed by geraniol (90.76%). The maize intercropped with lady’s finger (okra) recorded significantly the lowest pest infestation and recorded higher grain yield (6.17 q/ha) than other intercropping systems and control (5.10 q/ha). The overall bioefficacy of commercial biopesticides against the larvae of S. frugiperda was in the following order azadirachtin > Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) > Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) at 168 h after treatment.
Anthocyanin Content and Fusarium Mycotoxins in Pigmented Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. spp. aestivum): An Open Field Evaluation
Authors: Gozzi Marco , Blandino Massimo , Dall’Asta Chiara , Martinek Petr , Bruni Renato , Righetti Laura
Published: February 2023

Twelve Triticum aestivum L. spp. aestivum varieties with pigmented grain, namely one red, six purple, three blue, and two black, were grown in open fields over two consecutive years and screened to investigate their risk to the accumulation of multiple Fusarium-related mycotoxins. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its modified forms DON3Glc, 3Ac-DON, 15Ac-DON, and T-2, HT-2, ZEN, and Enniatin B were quantified by means of UHPLC-MS/MS, along with 14 different cyanidin, petunidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin glycosides. A significant strong influence effect of the harvesting year (p = 0.0002) was noticed for DON content, which was more than doubled between harvesting years growing seasons (mean of 3746 µg kg−1 vs. 1463 µg kg−1). In addition, a striking influence of varieties with different grain colour on DON content (p < 0.0001) emerged in combination with the harvesting year (year×colour, p = 0.0091), with blue grains being more contaminated (mean of 5352 µg kg−1) and red grain being less contaminated (mean of 715 µg kg−1). The trend was maintained between the two harvesting years despite the highly variable absolute mycotoxin content. Varieties accumulating anthocyanins in the pericarp (purple coloration) had significantly lower DON content compared to those in which aleurone was involved (blue coloration).
Xanthones: Biosynthesis and Trafficking in Plants, Fungi and Lichens
Authors: Badiali Camilla , Petruccelli Valerio , Brasili Elisa , Pasqua Gabriella
Published: February 2023

Xanthones are a class of secondary metabolites produced by plant organisms. They are characterized by a wide structural variety and numerous biological activities that make them valuable metabolites for use in the pharmaceutical field. This review shows the current knowledge of the xanthone biosynthetic pathway with a focus on the precursors and the enzymes involved, as well as on the cellular and organ localization of xanthones in plants. Xanthone biosynthesis in plants involves the shikimate and the acetate pathways which originate in plastids and endoplasmic reticulum, respectively. The pathway continues following three alternative routes, two phenylalanine-dependent and one phenylalanine-independent. All three routes lead to the biosynthesis of 2,3′,4,6-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, which is the central intermediate. Unlike plants, the xanthone core in fungi and lichens is wholly derived from polyketide. Although organs and tissues synthesizing and accumulating xanthones are known in plants, no information is yet available on their subcellular and cellular localization in fungi and lichens. This review highlights the studies published to date on xanthone biosynthesis and trafficking in plant organisms, from which it emerges that the mechanisms underlying their synthesis need to be further investigated in order to exploit them for application purposes.
Proteomic Analysis Comparison on the Ecological Adaptability of Quinclorac-Resistant Echinochloa crus-galli
Authors: Wu Lamei , Wu Can , Yang Haona , Yang Jiangshan , Wang Lifeng , Zhou Shangfeng
Published: February 2023

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L.) is the most serious weed threatening rice production, and its effects are aggravated by resistance to the quinclorac herbicide in the Chinese rice fields. This study conducted a comparative proteomic characterization of the quinclorac-treated and non-treated resistant and susceptible E. crus-galli using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). The results indicated that the quinclorac-resistant E. crus-galli had weaker photosynthesis and a weaker capacity to mitigate abiotic stress, which suggested its lower environmental adaptability. Quinclorac treatment significantly increased the number and expression of the photosynthesis-related proteins in the resistant E. crus-galli and elevated its photosynthetic parameters, indicating a higher photosynthetic rate compared to those of the susceptible E. crus-galli. The improved adaptability of the resistant E. crus-galli to quinclorac stress could be attributed to the observed up-regulated expression of eight herbicide resistance-related proteins and the down-regulation of two proteins associated with abscisic acid biosynthesis. In addition, high photosynthetic parameters and low glutathione thiotransferase (GST) activity were observed in the quinclorac-resistant E. crus-galli compared with the susceptible biotype, which was consistent with the proteomic sequencing results. Overall, this study demonstrated that the resistant E. crus-galli enhanced its adaptability to quinclorac by improving the photosynthetic efficiency and GST activity.
Nutritionally Improved Wheat Bread Supplemented with Quinoa Flour of Large, Medium and Small Particle Sizes at Typical Doses
Authors: Coţovanu Ionica , Mironeasa Costel , Mironeasa Silvia
Published: February 2023

One of the food industry’s challenges is to enhance bread quality from a nutritional point of view without impacting negatively sensorial characteristics and consumer decisions on product choice. This study aimed to assess the baking characteristics of wheat bread supplemented with quinoa flour (QF) of large, medium and small particle sizes at typical doses previously established based on an optimization process, and to evaluate the optimal bread from a physical, textural, nutritional, and sensorial point of view. The results showed a decrease in the Falling number index, water absorption, dough stability, speed of protein weakening, dough extensibility, and creep-recovery compliances for optimal wheat–quinoa composite samples with large and medium particle sizes; meanwhile, for the samples with small particle sizes an opposite trend was recorded, with the exception of dough extensibility. Dough fermentation parameters and bread volume rose for all optimal formulations, while firmness decreased compared to wheat bread. All optimal bread samples presented an improved nutritional profile depending on the particle size. The protein content was up to 19% higher, ash up to 13.8%, and lipids up to fifteen times higher. A noticeable enrichment in minerals (mainly K, Mg, Na, Zn, up to 2.3 times) and essential amino acids (with 13.53%) was also obtained for all optimal breads. From an acceptability point of view, the highest score (8.70) was recorded for the optimal bread with a QF of medium particle size. These findings offer processors new information which will be useful for diversifying bakery products with an enhanced nutritional profile.
Phytosanitary Rules for the Movement of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Propagation Material into the European Union (EU)
Authors: Montilon Vito , Potere Oriana , Susca Leonardo , Bottalico Giovanna
Published: February 2023

Phytosanitary legislation involves government laws that are essential to minimize the risk of the introduction and diffusion of pests, especially invasive non-native species, as a consequence of the international exchange of plant material, thus allowing us to safeguard agricultural production and biodiversity of a territory. These measures ensure compliance with adequate requirements relating to the absence of pests, especially of harmful quarantine organisms through inspections and diagnosis tests of the consignments to ascertain the presence of the pests concerned. They also regulate the eradication and containment measures that are implemented in the eventuality of an unintentional introduction of these organisms. In the present contribution, the current plant protection legislation for the exchange of plants or propagation material within the European Union or for export to foreign countries, represented by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, has been reviewed, with a particular focus on the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Furthermore, a brief summary of the main olive tree pests transmissible with the propagation material is also reported, indicating their current categorization with respect to the relative quarantine status.
Abutilon theophrasti’s Resilience against Allelochemical-Based Weed Management in Sustainable Agriculture – Due to Collection of Highly Advantageous Microorganisms?
Authors: Tabaglio Vincenzo , Fiorini Andrea , Sterling Tracy M. , Schulz Margot
Published: February 2023

Abutilon theophrasti Medik. (velvetleaf) is a problematic annual weed in field crops which has invaded many temperate parts of the world. Since the loss of crop yields can be extensive, approaches to manage the weed include not only conventional methods, but also biological methods, for instance by microorganisms releasing phytotoxins and plant-derived allelochemicals. Additionally, benzoxazinoid-rich rye mulches effective in managing common weeds like Amaranthus retroflexus L. have been tested for this purpose. However, recent methods for biological control are still unreliable in terms of intensity and duration. Rye mulches were also ineffective in managing velvetleaf. In this review, we present the attempts to reduce velvetleaf infestation by biological methods and discuss possible reasons for the failure. The resilience of velvetleaf may be due to the extraordinary capacity of the plant to collect, for its own survival, the most suitable microorganisms from a given farming site, genetic and epigenetic adaptations, and a high stress memory. Such properties may have developed together with other advantageous abilities during selection by humans when the plant was used as a crop. Rewilding could be responsible for improving the microbiomes of A. theophrasti.
Hydrocharis laevigata in Europe
Authors: Garcia-Murillo Pablo
Published: February 2023

Hydrocharis laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Byng & Christenh. [= Limnobium laevigatum (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Heine], Hydrocharitaceae, is a floating-leaf aquatic plant that is native to inland South America. It is an invasive species in several parts of the world. Reports of its presence in Europe have been recently published: naturalised populations occur in three locations on the Iberian Peninsula. The literature also contains records of the species in Hungary and Poland. In addition, it has been observed in Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. H. laevigata is highly adaptable and can profoundly transform habitat conditions in its invasive range, causing major issues for ecosystem conservation and human activities. Until recently, H. laevigata was not to be found in natural environments in Europe. Factors explaining its spread include its use as an ornamental plant, the eutrophication of inland waters, and the effects of global warming. With a focus on Europe, this short communication provides information on the species’ distribution, taxonomy, biology, habitat, and negative impacts.
Screening of Alfalfa Varieties Resistant to Phytophthora cactorum and Related Resistance Mechanism
Authors: Tao Menghuan , Zhao Yao , Hu Tianxue , Zhang Quan , Feng Hui , Lu Yiwen , Guo Zhenfei , Yang Bo
Published: February 2023

Alfalfa is one of the most important legume forages in the world. Root rot caused by soil-borne pathogens severely restricts the production of alfalfa. The knowledge of the interaction between alfalfa and root rot-pathogens is still lacking in China. Phytophthora cactorum was isolated from symptomatic seedlings of an alfalfa field in Nanjing with high levels of damping-off. We observed the different infection stages of P. cactorum on alfalfa, and found that the purified P. cactorum strain was aggressive in causing alfalfa seed and root rot. The infecting hyphae penetrated the epidermal cells and wrapped around the alfalfa roots within 48 h. By evaluating the resistance of 37 alfalfa cultivars from different countries to P. cactorum, we found Weston is a resistant variety, while Longdong is a susceptible variety. We further compared the activities of various enzymes in the plant antioxidant enzyme system between Weston and Longdong during P. cactorum infection, as well as gene expression associated with plant hormone biosynthesis and response pathways. The results showed that the disease-resistant variety Weston has stronger antioxidant enzyme activity and high levels of SA-responsive PR genes, when compared to the susceptible variety Longdong. These findings highlighted the process of interaction between P. cactorum and alfalfa, as well as the mechanism of alfalfa resistance to P. cactorum, which provides an important foundation for breeding resistant alfalfa varieties, as well as managing Phytophthora-caused alfalfa root rot.