bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alarming Antibiotic Resistance of Lactobacilli Isolated from Probiotic Preparations and Dietary Supplements
Authors: Anisimova Elizaveta , Gorokhova Islamiya , Karimullina Guzel , Yarullina Dina
Published: November 2022

In this study, we screened eight commercially available brands of Lactobacillus-containing probiotic preparations and dietary supplements for resistance towards commonly administered antibiotics of different classes. According to disc diffusion results, most of the isolates were resistant to vancomycin and susceptible to penicillin-type antibiotics (ampicillin and amoxicillin), carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem), and inhibitors of protein synthesis (chloramphenicol, erythromycin, tetracycline, clarithromycin, and linezolid). However, based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, six strains were reconsidered as resistant to tetracycline. All tested lactobacilli were resistant towards amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin. Resistance to cephalosporins was highly variable and decreased in the following order: ceftazidime/cefepime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefazolin, and cefoperazone. PCR screening for antibiotic resistance determinants in probiotic lactobacilli revealed a wide occurrence of vancomycin resistance gene vanX, ciprofloxacin resistance gene parC, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaTEM. We also detected the tetK gene for tetracycline resistance in one isolate. Additionally, we identified discrepancies between the claims of the manufacturers and the identified species composition, as well as the enumerated amount of viable bacteria, for several products. The results of this study raise concerns about the safety of lactobacilli for human consumption as probiotics, as they may act as reservoirs of transferable antibiotic resistance genes.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior about Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among Medical, Nursing and Pharmacy Students in Jordan: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Al-Taani Ghaith M. , Karasneh Reema A. , Al-Azzam Sayer , Bin Shaman Maryam , Jirjees Feras , Al-Obaidi Hala , Conway Barbara R. , Aldeyab Mamoon A.
Published: November 2022

The present study aimed to survey medical, nursing and pharmacy students’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding antimicrobial use and resistance. Additionally, the study assessed the teaching and assessment activities received regarding antibiotic use. A cross sectional online survey was distributed to undergraduate students currently in clinical studies in their degree program. A total of 716 medicine, nursing and pharmacy undergraduate students were included. Respondents scored more than 76% on knowledge on effective use, unnecessary use and associated side effects of antibiotics, and 65.2% regarding knowledge on the spread of antibiotic resistance. Some participants (21.0%) agreed or strongly agreed that there has been good promotion of prudent antimicrobial use. Students were aware (13.1%), unaware (29.1%), or unsure (57.8%) that there is a national action plan relating to antimicrobial resistance. A total of 62.8% of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that they have a key role in helping control antibiotic resistance. Participants reported that they require more information about resistance to antibiotics (53.9%), medical conditions for which antibiotics are used (51.7%) and how to use antibiotics (51.0%). Discussion of clinical cases and vignettes and small group teaching were reported as very useful or useful teaching strategies (79.9% and 74.2%, respectively). The findings from this study determined the current situation in relation to education on prudent antimicrobial use for undergraduates and highlighted areas for informing better curriculum design.
Green Carbon Dots as Additives of Biopolymer Films for Preserving from Oxidation of Oil-Based Products
Authors: Rodríguez-Varillas Sandra , Murru Clarissa , Díaz-García Marta Elena , Badía-Laíño Rosana
Published: November 2022

The deterioration of oil-based products during processing, distribution and storage has a major negative impact on the industry from an economic point of view. The spoilage of oil is mainly due to its oxidation which can be triggered by various factors, such as UV light, heating or the presence of impurities that result in the formation of radical species. In this context, several packaging alternatives have recently been developed with the aim to protect and extend the shelf life of oil-based products. This work aimed to study the antioxidant properties of bio-polymer-based films (BPFs) obtained from high methoxylated pectin (HMP) and sodium caseinate (CAS) and enriched with different concentrations of green carbon dots (gCDs), 0.25%, 0.50 and 1% w/w, obtained from apple pomace (APCDs) and rosemary powder (RCDs). The resulting films (gCDs-BPFs) have shown that the presence of gCDs not only modified the surface roughness of the films, but also positively affected their antioxidant properties. The addition of gCDs enhanced the radical inhibiting capacity of the raw BPFs by 42 and 62% for the films containing 1% RCDs and 1% APCDs, respectively. As a proof of the concept, two oil samples (edible and cosmetic) were treated with the obtained antioxidant films, and the results demonstrated that in both types of samples the oxidation process was minimized during the five days of the experiment. These results are promising and suggest that the antioxidant bio-polymer-based films could be excellent candidates for further production of active packaging.
MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ Displays Anticancer Properties and Enhances Cisplatin Effects in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Soares Rita , Manguinhas Rita , Costa João , Saraiva Nuno , Gil Nuno , Rosell Rafael , Camões Sérgio , Batinic-Haberle Ines , Spasojevic Ivan , Castro Matilde , Miranda Joana , Amaro Filipa , Pinto Joana , Fernandes Ana , Guedes de Pinho Paula , Oliveira Nuno
Published: November 2022

The manganese(III) porphyrin MnTnHex-2-PyP5+ (MnTnHex) is a potent superoxide dismutase mimic and modulator of redox-based transcriptional activity that has been studied in the context of different human disease models, including cancer. Nevertheless, for lung cancer, hardly any information is available. Thus, the present work aims to fill this gap and reports the effects of MnTnHex in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, more specifically, A549 and H1975 cells, in vitro. Both cell lines were initially characterized in terms of innate levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase 1, and peroxiredoxins 1 and 2. To assess the effect of MnTnHex in NSCLC, alone or in combination with cisplatin, endpoints related to the cell viability, cell cycle distribution, cell motility, and characterization of the volatile carbonyl compounds (VCCs) generated in the extracellular medium (i.e., exometabolome) were addressed. The results show that MnTnHex as a single drug markedly reduced the viability of both NSCLC cell lines, with some IC50 values reaching sub-micromolar levels. This redox-active drug also altered the cell cycle distribution, induced cell death, and increased the cytotoxicity pattern of cisplatin. MnTnHex also reduced collective cell migration. Finally, the metabolomics study revealed an increase in the levels of a few VCCs associated with oxidative stress in MnTnHex-treated cells. Altogether these results suggest the therapeutic potential of MnTnHex to be further explored, either alone or in combination therapy with cisplatin, in NSCLC.
Visual Signifier for Large Multi-Touch Display to Support Interaction in a Virtual Museum Interface
Authors: Mahamad Saipunidzam , Shuhaili Fasihah Mohammad , Sulaiman Suziah , Awang Rambli Dayang Rohaya , Balogun Abdullateef Oluwagbemiga
Published: November 2022

The signifier is regarded as a crucial part of interface design since it ensures that the user can manage the device appropriately and understand the interaction that is taking place. Useful signifiers keep users’ attention on learning, but poorly designed signifiers can disrupt learning by slowing progress and making it harder to use the interface. The problem is that prior research identified the qualities of signifiers, but their attributes in terms of being visually apparent in broad interaction areas were not well recognized. Implementing the signifier without sufficient visual features such as a picture, figure or gesture may interfere with the user’s ability to navigate the surface, particularly when dealing with domains that demand “leisure exploration,” such as those in culture and heritage, and notably the museum application. As technology has evolved and expanded, adopting a multi-touch tabletop as a medium of viewing should be advantageous in conserving cultural heritage. As technology advances and improves, employing a multi-touch tabletop as a public viewing medium should be advantageous in maintaining cultural heritage. Some visual elements should be incorporated into the signifier to produce a conspicuous presentation and make it easier for users to identify. In this study, a preliminary study, a card sorting survey, and a high-fidelity experiment were used to investigate users’ experience, perspective, and interpretation of the visual signifier of the museum interface for large displays. This work offered a set of integrated visual signifiers on a big multi-touch display that makes a substantial contribution to supporting navigation and interaction on a large display, therefore aiding comprehension of the exhibited information visualization.
Real-Time Evaluation Method of Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle SCR System Based on Ammonia Storage Characteristics in Real-Road Driving Emission Test
Authors: Lei Yan , Liu Chenxi , Guo Dongdong , Yang Jianglong , Qiu Tao , Peng Guangyu
Published: November 2022

In China, where in-use heavy-duty diesel vehicles producing NOx and particulate emissions for air pollution are required to undergo emission spot inspection at check stations, it is significant to adopt a simple method to evaluate emissions due to traffic jams, especially in big cities. To realize convenient vehicle emission spot inspection, this paper investigates the effects of exhaust temperature on the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) de-NOx conversion efficiency and presents a method for evaluating the SCR operation state based on ammonia storage characteristics. The paper proposes a real-road driving test procedure and verifies it by measuring NOx from a heavy-duty diesel vehicle in an on-road driving test. The results show that the SCR de-NOx efficiency experiences three operation states. In state I, SCR works and injects urea, resulting in high de-NOx efficiency (>90%); state III occurs during the cold, starting with the lowest de-NOx efficiency (<50%) due to a lack of NH3; and state II is a transition stage caused by the ammonia storage, with a certain conversion efficiency (50–90%) when SCR de-NOx efficiency linearly relates to exhaust temperature. Whether the SCR works normally can be judged based on the SCRs operation states. This method is simple and easy to implement in different SCR operation states, and it is effective and repeatable.
Spatial Kinematic Analysis of a Tracked Forest Fire Engine with Fish-Bellied Swing Arm Torsion Bar Suspension
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Ding Zian , Ding Dong , Xu Yue , Yang Xinchen , Li Zongxu , Cai Yuwei , Sun Shufa
Published: November 2022

To decrease track derailment of tracked fire trucks in forested areas, a fish-bellied swing arm torsion bar suspension system is proposed in this research. Derived from a tracked forest fire engine, this study converts the shaft tube swing arm of the original vehicle to a fish-bellied swing arm, improving the semi-rigid shaft tube suspension to a torsion bar suspension. Static and kinematic simulation analysis of the improved virtual sample vehicle is carried out, and the stress and dynamic characteristics before and after the improvement are analyzed. The simulation force cloud diagram of the improved swing arm and the motion simulation curve of the supporting wheel is obtained. The results show that the design of the fish-bellied swing arm can effectively reduce the bending moment caused by force acting on the swing arm, and that the design of the torsion bar spring suspension can reduce vertical displacement of the supporting wheel by 58.53%, and reduces horizontal displacement by 46.58% under the same impact force. According to the design of the virtual sample to build a prototype vehicle, a comparative test is carried out to determine an optimized virtual sample vehicle. The results show that the trend of the test curve is essentially consistent with that of the simulation curve.
A Review on Topology Optimization Strategies for Additively Manufactured Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composite Structures
Authors: Gandhi Yogesh , Minak Giangiacomo
Published: November 2022

Topology Optimization (TO) recently gained importance due to the development of Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes that produce components with good mechanical properties. Among all additive manufacturing technologies, continuous fiber fused filament fabrication (CF4) can fabricate high-performance composites compared to those manufactured with conventional technologies. In addition, AM provides the excellent advantage of a high degree of reconfigurability, which is in high demand to support the immediate short-term manufacturing chain in medical, transportation, and other industrial applications. CF4 enables the fabrication of continuous fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) materials structures. Moreover, it allows us to integrate topology optimization strategies to design realizable CFRC structures for a given performance. Various TO strategies for attaining lightweight and high-performance designs have been proposed in the literature, exploiting AM’s design freedom. Therefore, this paper attempts to address works related to strategies employed to obtain optimal FRC structures. This paper intends to review and compare existing methods, analyze their similarities and dissimilarities, and discuss challenges and future trends in this field.
Identification and Visualization of Key Topics in Scientific Publications with Transformer-Based Language Models and Document Clustering Methods
Authors: Weng Min-Hsien , Wu Shaoqun , Dyer Mark
Published: November 2022

With the rapidly growing number of scientific publications, researchers face an increasing challenge of discovering the current research topics and methodologies in a scientific domain. This paper describes an unsupervised topic detection approach that utilizes the new development of transformer-based GPT-3 (Generative Pretrained Transformer 3) similarity embedding models and modern document clustering techniques. In total, 593 publication abstracts across urban study and machine learning domains were used as a case study to demonstrate the three phases of our approach. The iterative clustering phase uses the GPT-3 embeddings to represent the semantic meaning of abstracts and deploys the HDBSCAN (Hierarchical Density-based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) clustering algorithm along with silhouette scores to group similar abstracts. The keyword extraction phase identifies candidate words from each abstract and selects keywords using the Maximal Marginal Relevance ranking algorithm. The keyword grouping phase produces the keyword groups to represent topics in each abstract cluster, again using GPT-3 embeddings, the HDBSCAN algorithm, and silhouette scores. The results are visualized in a web-based interactive tool that allows users to explore abstract clusters and examine the topics in each cluster through keyword grouping. Our unsupervised topic detection approach does not require labeled datasets for training and has the potential to be used in bibliometric analysis in a large collection of publications.
Calculation Method of Rotational Constraint Stiffness for a New Tower-Pier Connected System
Authors: Zhang Yajun , Zhao Yu , Zhou Yongjun , Yang Xia
Published: November 2022

The universal hinge support (UHS) is a new connection system for the tower and pier of a single-tower cable-stayed bridge (STCSB), which could conform the multi-direction rotation of the tower and release the bending moment at the bottom of the tower in all directions. However, UHS is not an ideal hinge in practical projects, and the rotational constraint stiffness (RCS) of UHS is constantly changed with construction. In order to determine the RCS of UHS in situ, parametric analysis was performed by establishing a theoretical mechanical model of plane rotation and a refined solid finite element (FE) model of UHS. The slope of the linear rising segment of the load–displacement curve obtained from the numerical simulation was considered as the RCS of the UHS. The relationships between RCS and the vertical force, geometric parameters, and material parameters were established, and then the calculation formula of RCS was further proposed. To verify the accuracy of the proposed formula, a case study for a real bridge was conducted in this paper. The results show that the error of the tower rotation displacement can be reduced by about 90% using the proposed method compared with the conventional method, which regards the hinge as an ideal one, and the precision is greatly improved. This study has enormous potential to quickly determinate the RCS of UHS in practical applications, and plays a great promotion role in enriching the structural system of cable-stayed bridges.
Comparing OBIA-Generated Labels and Manually Annotated Labels for Semantic Segmentation in Extracting Refugee-Dwelling Footprints
Authors: Gao Yunya , Lang Stefan , Tiede Dirk , Gella Getachew Workineh , Wendt Lorenz
Published: November 2022

Refugee-dwelling footprints derived from satellite imagery are beneficial for humanitarian operations. Recently, deep learning approaches have attracted much attention in this domain. However, most refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries where accurate label data are often unavailable. The Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) approach has been widely applied to this task for humanitarian operations over the last decade. However, the footprints were usually produced urgently, and thus, include delineation errors. Thus far, no research discusses whether these footprints generated by the OBIA approach (OBIA labels) can replace manually annotated labels (Manual labels) for this task. This research compares the performance of OBIA labels and Manual labels under multiple strategies by semantic segmentation. The results reveal that the OBIA labels can produce IoU values greater than 0.5, which can produce applicable results for humanitarian operations. Most falsely predicted pixels source from the boundary of the built-up structures, the occlusion of trees, and the structures with complicated ontology. In addition, we found that using a small number of Manual labels to fine-tune models initially trained with OBIA labels can outperform models trained with purely Manual labels. These findings show high values of the OBIA labels for deep-learning-based refugee-dwelling extraction tasks for future humanitarian operations.
Optimal Option of n-Level Polybinary Transformation in Faster than Nyquist System According to the Time-Packing Factor
Authors: Sun Peng , Zhang Wenbo , Pan Dongwei , Zhang Xiaoguang
Published: November 2022

According to an in-depth analysis of the relationship among n-level polybinary transformation, the time-packing factor and the performance of the decoding algorithm, we find that the appropriate n-level polybinary transformation can improve the performance of the decoding algorithm within a certain range of the time-packing factor in the Faster than Nyquist (FTN) system. In this paper, we explain the reason that this phenomenon occurs. Based on the above analysis, we propose a modified blind phase search (BPS) algorithm to compensate for phase noise (PN) in the FTN system with an extremely small time-packing factor. As a result, the modified-BPS algorithm can cope with the PN with the linewidth × symbol rate at 1.07 × 10−5, 1.79 × 10−5, 2.86 × 10−5 and 3.57 × 10−5 under a time-packing factor of 0.55, 0.50 and 0.45, respectively. At the same time, the spectrum efficiency (SE) is improved to 3.27 bit/s/Hz, 4 bit/s/Hz and 4.88 bit/s/Hz.
DeepCCB-OCC: Deep Learning-Driven Complementary Color Barcode-Based Optical Camera Communications
Authors: Kim Min Tae , Kim Byung Wook
Published: November 2022

Display-to-camera (D2C) communications has emerged as a key method for next-generation videos that offer side information to camera-equipped devices during normal viewing. This paper presents Deep learning-driven Complementary Color Barcode-based Optical Camera Communications (DeepCCB-OCC), a D2C system using multiple deep neural networks built for imperceptible transmission and reliable communication in a D2C link. DeepCCB-OCC takes advantage of a the You Only Look Once (YOLO) model to provide seamless detection of a color barcode area in electronic displays. To identify transmitted color barcode symbols in the received image, we define various color barcode patterns caused by the synchronization jitter between the camera and the display. Then, DeepCCB-OCC incorporates convolutional neural network (CNN) models to accurately detect the pilot and data symbols in the transmission packets, regardless of the various D2C environments. Experiments with a commercial monitor and a smartphone demonstrate that DeepCCB-OCC outperforms the conventional CCB-OCC system from various distances and angles of a D2C link. The experiment results prove that, when the alignment angle was 20 degrees at a distance of 90 cm between the display and the camera, the proposed scheme achieved approximately 79.1 bps, which showed a performance improvement of 14.1% compared to the existing technique.
A Critical Investigation on the Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability of EPB Machines: A Case Study
Authors: Koohsari Ali , Kalatehjari Roohollah , Moosazadeh Sayfoddin , Hajihassani Mohsen , Van Bao
Published: November 2022

Tunnelling is a vital geotechnical engineering feature of underground transportation systems that is potentially hazardous if not properly investigated, studied, planned, and executed. A reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) analysis is one of the main practical techniques in machinery-based projects to recognize the failure and repair rates of machines during or after their operations. RAM analysis of mechanized tunneling can help to manage the project safety and cost, and improve the availability and performance of the machine. There are several methods to obtain and predict the RAM of a system, including the Markov chain simulation and other statistical methods; however, the result of the analysis can be affected by the selected method. This paper presents the results of a critical investigation on the RAM of the Earth pressure balance machines (EPBMs) used in developing an urban metro project in Isfahan, Iran. The five kilometer length of the first line of the Isfahan metro project was excavated using EPBMs over four years. After overhauling the EPBMs and making some minor changes, excavation of the second line started, and to date, about 1.2 km has been excavated by the refurbished machines. In the present study, a RAM analysis has been applied to electrical, mechanical, and cutter head subsystems of the EPBMs in Lines 1 and 2 of the Isfahan metro project over an 18- and 7-month period of machine operation, respectively. The results show that the estimated availability, A(t), determined by the Markov method, is closer to reality but cannot be propagated to reliability R(t) and maintainability M(t) analysis. It was also revealed that by predicting the required maintenance and proper planning, the overall availability of the EPBM was improved from 45% in Line 1 to 61% in Line 2. The outcomes of this study can be used in the future planning of urban tunneling projects to estimate machine, staff, and logistic performance with the least possible error, and appropriately arrange the factors involved in the system.
Prediction of Residual NPK Levels in Crop Fruits by Electronic-Nose VOC Analysis following Application of Multiple Fertilizer Rates
Authors: Tatli Sana , Mirzaee-Ghaleh Esmaeil , Rabbani Hekmat , Karami Hamed , Wilson Alphus Dan
Published: November 2022

The excessive application of nitrogen in cucumber cultivation may lead to nitrate accumulation in fruits with potential toxicity to humans. Harvested fruits of agricultural crops should be evaluated for residual nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) nutrient levels. This is necessary to avoid nutrient toxicity from the consumption of fresh produce with excessive nutrient levels. Electronic noses are instruments well-suited for the nondestructive detection of fruit and vegetable quality based on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. This proof-of-concept study was designed to test the efficacy of using an electronic nose with statistical regression models to indirectly predict excessive fertilizer application based on VOC emissions from cucumber fruits grown under controlled greenhouse conditions to simulate field conditions but eliminate most environmental variables affecting plant volatile emissions. To identify excess nitrogen in cucumber plants, five different levels of urea fertilizer application rates were tested on cucumbers (control without fertilizer, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg/ha). Chemometric methods, such as the partial least squares regression (PLSR) method, the principal component regression (PCR) method, and the multiple linear regression (MLR) method, were used to create separate regression models to predict nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) levels in cucumber fruits following application of different fertilizer rates to greenhouse soils. The correlation coefficients for the MLR model (based on the optimal parameters of PCR and PLSR) were 0.905 and 0.905 for the calibration sets and 0.900 and 0.900 for the validation sets, respectively. The nitrogen prediction model for fruit nitrates was more accurate than other nutrient models. The proposed method could potentially be used to indirectly detect excessive use of fertilizers in cucumber field crops.
Rethinking the Spirit of “Self” and “Theory”: The Practice of “Autotheory” in Contemporary Chinese Art
Authors: Gu Wenwen , Su Ke
Published: November 2022

From genre to interdisciplinary and trans-medial artistic practice, “autotheory” has attracted great attention for formally distilling a troublesome contradiction of dualistic opposition between theory and practice in arts and attempting to solve it. In this paper, autotheory is understood as the joining of reflective thinking through the “collective self” and the reflective thinking of “theory”. Based on Lauren Fournier’s research, this paper investigates two kinds of art practices in contemporary Chinese art. The first developed from the art movements of the late 1970s to the late 1980s, when there was a rethinking of collective selfhood in Chinese art circles. This “collective self” in Chinese culture expands the parameters of autotheory’s individualized, autobiographical “self”, as described by Fournier. The second example of autotheory discussed in this paper explores contemporary Chinese feminist art. Due to its cultural background and historical trajectory, different dimensions of individualized autotheoretical practices have developed in feminist contemporary art in China in the new era. The case studies presented in this paper show the flexibility of autotheory as a methodology, the complex conditions it applies to, and the potential to generate theory from expanded notions of “self” in art practice.
Multi-Channel Blind Restoration of Mixed Noise Images under Atmospheric Turbulence
Authors: Yang Huizhen , Li Songheng , Liu Jinlong , Han Xue , Zhang Zhiguang
Published: November 2022

The imaging quality of astronomical or space objects is significantly degraded by atmospheric turbulence, photon noise, image sensor noise, and other factors. A multi-channel alternating minimization (MCAM) method is proposed to restore degraded images, in which multiple blurred images at different times are selected, and the imaging object and the point spread function are reconstructed alternately. Results show that the restoration index can converge rapidly after two iterations of the MCAM method when six different images are adopted. According to the analysis of the structure similarity index, the stronger the influence of turbulence and mixed noise, the higher the degree of image improvement. The above results can provide a reference for blind restoration of images degraded by atmospheric turbulence and mixed noises.
Hermite–Hadamard’s Integral Inequalities of (α, s)-GA- and (α, s, m)-GA-Convex Functions
Authors: Wang Jing-Yu , Yin Hong-Ping , Sun Wen-Long , Guo Bai-Ni
Published: November 2022

In this paper, the authors propose the notions of (α,s)-geometric-arithmetically convex functions and (α,s,m)-geometric-arithmetically convex functions, while they establish some new integral inequalities of the Hermite–Hadamard type for (α,s)-geometric-arithmetically convex functions and for (α,s,m)-geometric-arithmetically convex functions.
Operator Jensen’s Inequality for Operator Superquadratic Functions
Authors: Alomari Mohammad W. , Chesneau Christophe , Al-Khasawneh Ahmad
Published: November 2022

In this work, an operator superquadratic function (in the operator sense) for positive Hilbert space operators is defined. Several examples with some important properties together with some observations which are related to the operator convexity are pointed out. A general Bohr’s inequality for positive operators is thus deduced. A Jensen-type inequality is proved. Equivalent statements of a non-commutative version of Jensen’s inequality for operator superquadratic function are also established. Finally, several trace inequalities for superquadratic functions (in the ordinary sense) are provided as well.
Estimation of Age-at-Death Using Cortical Bone Histomorphometry of the Rib and Femur: A Validation Study on a British Population
Authors: Karydi Christina , García-Donas Julieta Gómez , Tsiminikaki Konstantina , Bonicelli Andrea , Moraitis Konstantinos , Kranioti Elena F.
Published: November 2022

Histomorphometry constitutes a valuable tool for age estimation. Histological interpopulation variability has been shown to affect the accuracy of age estimation techniques and therefore validation studies are required to test the accuracy of the pre-existing methodologies. The present research constitutes a validation study of widely known histological methods on the sixth rib and the femoral midshaft of a 19th century British population originating from Blackburn, England. An evaluation of the histomorphometric features of eleven ribs and five femora was performed and used to test the accuracy of selected methods. Results indicated that osteon area and circularity were the only histomorphometric variables that presented significant interpopulation variability. Cho et al.’s method for the ribs and the average value produced using Kerley and Ubelaker’s method for intact osteon and percentage of lamellar bone equations for femur were considered the only reliable markers for estimating the age on the Blackburn sample. In the case of old individuals, Goliath et al.’s method provided more satisfactory results. Overall, the present study provides evidence on the applicability of the aging histomorphometric methods on a British sample and highlights the limitations of applying histomorphometric methods developed on different reference populations than the one under investigation.
Occurrence of Anthropogenic Debris in Three Commercial Shrimp Species from South-Western Ionian Sea
Authors: D’Iglio Claudio , Di Fresco Dario , Spanò Nunziacarla , Albano Marco , Panarello Giuseppe , Laface Federica , Faggio Caterina , Capillo Gioele , Savoca Serena
Published: November 2022

Deep Sea environments represent the final collector of anthropogenic debris mainly represented by both plastic and non-plastic materials with different size. This led to potential contamination of deep marine fauna due to direct and indirect ingestion, representing a potential hazard for the species itself and for the final consumer. In this framework, the present study explored the occurrence of anthropogenic debris in the gastrointestinal tract of three Decapoda species of high commercial and ecological value (Parapenaeus longirostris, Aristeus antennatus, and Aristaeomorpha foliacea) from south-western Ionian Sea. After morphometrical measurements and sex determination, the gastrointestinal tract of 136 specimens were extracted and then chemically digested. A total of 230 low density microparticles were isolated, with a high frequency of occurrence in all the analyzed species (76% in P. longirostris, 70% in A. antennatus, and 83% in A. foliacea) mainly represented by fibers (92.6%) with a size between 0.10 and 0.49 mm, and with a dominance of the blue color. The results of the present study report for the first time the anthropogenic debris presence in the studied Decapoda from south-western Ionian Sea, highlighting the necessity to broaden the knowledge about anthropogenic debris pollution status in Mediterranean deep-sea species.
Life History and Fishing Aspects of the Deep-Sea Silver Scabbardfish Lepidopus caudatus in the Azores
Authors: Mariño-Briceño Gloria , Medeiros-Leal Wendell , Peixoto Ualerson Iran , Pinho Mário , Santos Régis
Published: November 2022

Deep-sea fisheries are of important economic value. Therefore, it is necessary to generate biologically and ecologically based fishing plans to make this fishery sustainable over time. The silver scabbardfish, Lepidopus caudatus, is a worldwide-distributed demersal fish, commercially exploited in the Azores. Despite L. caudatus high landings and discharges in the region, information about its ecology, population structure, biology and fisheries remains little-known. This work analyzed scientific survey and fishery-dependent data from the past 30 years to understand the changes in abundance, spatial distribution and life history of this species. Lepidopus caudatus spatial distribution was associated with depths between 200 and 400 m, close to seamounts and islands, and on sandy bottoms. The size structure varied yearly, and the population was dominated by females (sex ratio, M:F = 0.46:1). Growth rates were between the estimated values in previous studies in the Azores and indicated a slow-grower species (L∞ = 171.62 cm, k = 0.12 year−1, Φ’ = 3.52). The abundance indices highlighted a declining tendency, and this result was backed by the high exploitation rate for the fish in the region (E = 0.53). Lack of management measurements and the species’ vulnerability could lead to the depletion of this species.
Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model of Depression: Possible Sources of Poor Reproducibility and Latent Variables
Authors: Markov Dmitrii D. , Novosadova Ekaterina V.
Published: November 2022

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mood disorders worldwide. A lack of understanding of the exact neurobiological mechanisms of depression complicates the search for new effective drugs. Animal models are an important tool in the search for new approaches to the treatment of this disorder. All animal models of depression have certain advantages and disadvantages. We often hear that the main drawback of the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression is its poor reproducibility, but rarely does anyone try to find the real causes and sources of such poor reproducibility. Analyzing the articles available in the PubMed database, we tried to identify the factors that may be the sources of the poor reproducibility of CUMS. Among such factors, there may be chronic sleep deprivation, painful stressors, social stress, the difference in sex and age of animals, different stress susceptibility of different animal strains, handling quality, habituation to stressful factors, various combinations of physical and psychological stressors in the CUMS protocol, the influence of olfactory and auditory stimuli on animals, as well as the possible influence of various other factors that are rarely taken into account by researchers. We assume that careful inspection of these factors will increase the reproducibility of the CUMS model between laboratories and allow to make the interpretation of the obtained results and their comparison between laboratories to be more adequate.
Gut–Liver Axis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Vicious Circle of Dysfunctions Orchestrated by the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Pezzino Salvatore , Sofia Maria , Faletra Gloria , Mazzone Chiara , Litrico Giorgia , La Greca Gaetano , Latteri Saverio
Published: November 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent, multifactorial, and poorly understood liver disease with an increasing incidence worldwide. NAFLD is typically asymptomatic and coupled with other symptoms of metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of NAFLD is rising in tandem with the prevalence of obesity. In the Western hemisphere, NAFLD is one of the most prevalent causes of liver disease and liver transplantation. Recent research suggests that gut microbiome dysbiosis may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD by dysregulating the gut–liver axis. The so-called “gut–liver axis” refers to the communication and feedback loop between the digestive system and the liver. Several pathological mechanisms characterized the alteration of the gut–liver axis, such as the impairment of the gut barrier and the increase of the intestinal permeability which result in endotoxemia and inflammation, and changes in bile acid profiles and metabolite levels produced by the gut microbiome. This review will explore the role of gut–liver axis disruption, mediated by gut microbiome dysbiosis, on NAFLD development.
Early Cretaceous Keteleerioxylon Wood in the Songliao Basin, Northeast China, and Its Geographic and Environmental Implications
Authors: Shi Xiao , Sun Yuewu , Meng Fanli , Yu Jianxin , Lan Zilie
Published: November 2022

The extant Keteleeria is endemic to east and southeast Asia, while Keteleeria-like trees were widely distributed in the northern hemisphere in Earth’s history. In this paper, we reported a novel wood fossil of Keteleerioxylon changchunense Shi, Sun, Meng et Yu sp. nov., collected from the middle part of the Yingcheng Formation, Yingcheng Coal Mine, Changchun City, Jilin Province, northeast China. The quantitative growth-ring analyses of K. changchunense indicate that it was evergreen with a leaf longevity of 1–3 years, which is consistent with the foliar retention of extant Keteleeria. Its high ring-markedness index (RMI) indicates that the climate seasonality was pronounced during the Early Albian period in the Songliao Basin, northeast China. The fossil records of Keteleeria and closely related taxa indicate that this group might have originated from high latitudes in the northern hemisphere, then spread and migrated southward during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, gradually decreased in the Cenozoic period, and so far only survives in east and southeast Asia.
A Comprehensive Study of De Novo Mutations on the Protein-Protein Interaction Interfaces Provides New Insights into Developmental Delay
Authors: Maharjan Dhruba Tara , Song Weichen , Liu Zhe , Wang Weidi , Cai Wenxiang , Chen Jue , Xu Fei , Ying Weihai , Lin Guan Ning
Published: November 2022

Mutations, especially those at the protein-protein interaction (PPI) interface, have been associated with various diseases. Meanwhile, though de novo mutations (DNMs) have been proven important in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as developmental delay (DD), the relationship between PPI interface DNMs and DD has not been well studied. Here we curated developmental delay DNM datasets from the PsyMuKB database and showed that DD patients showed a higher rate and deleteriousness in DNM missense on the PPI interface than sibling control. Next, we identified 302 DD-related PsychiPPIs, defined as PPIs harboring a statistically significant number of DNM missenses at their interface, and 42 DD candidate genes from PsychiPPI. We observed that PsychiPPIs preferentially affected the human protein interactome network hub proteins. When analyzing DD candidate genes using gene ontology and gene spatio-expression, we found that PsychiPPI genes carrying PPI interface mutations, such as FGFR3 and ALOX5, were enriched in development-related pathways and the development of the neocortex, and cerebellar cortex, suggesting their potential involvement in the etiology of DD. Our results demonstrated that DD patients carried an excess burden of PPI-truncating DNM, which could be used to efficiently search for disease-related genes and mutations in large-scale sequencing studies. In conclusion, our comprehensive study indicated the significant role of PPI interface DNMs in developmental delay pathogenicity.
Pathophysiological Role of Variants of the Promoter Region of CITED2 Gene in Sporadic Tetralogy of Fallot Patients with Cellular Function Verification
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Chen Huan-Xin , Hou Hai-Tao , Yin Xiu-Yun , Yang Qin , He Guo-Wei
Published: November 2022

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a common congenital heart malformation. Genetic variants in the CITED2 coding region are known to be significantly associated with cardiac malformation, but the role of variants in the CITED2 promoter region in the development of TOF remains unclear. In this study, we investigated CITED2 promoter variants in the DNA of 605 subjects, including 312 TOF patients and 293 unrelated healthy controls, by Sanger sequencing. We identified nine CITED2 gene promoter variants (including one novel heterozygous variant). Six were found only in patients with TOF and none in the control group. The transcriptional activity of the CITED2 gene promoter in mouse cardiomyocyte (HL-1) cells was significantly altered by the six variants (p < 0.05). The results of the electrophoretic mobility change assay and JASPAR database analysis showed that these variants generated or destroyed a series of possible transcription factor binding sites, resulting in changes in the CITED2 protein expression. We conclude that CITED2 promoter variants in TOF patients affect transcriptional activity and may be involved in the occurrence and progression of TOF. These findings may provide new insights into molecular pathogenesis and potential therapeutic insights in patients with TOF.
Lessons Learned from Two Decades of Modeling the Heat-Shock Response
Authors: Ranawade Ayush , Sharma Rati , Levine Erel
Published: November 2022

The Heat Shock Response (HSR) is a highly conserved genetic system charged with protecting the proteome in a wide range of organisms and species. Experiments since the early 1980s have elucidated key elements in these pathways and revealed a canonical mode of regulation, which relies on a titration feedback. This system has been subject to substantial modeling work, addressing questions about resilience, design and control. The compact core regulatory circuit, as well as its apparent conservation, make this system an ideal ‘hydrogen atom’ model for the regulation of stress response. Here we take a broad view of the models of the HSR, focusing on the different questions asked and the approaches taken. After 20 years of modeling work, we ask what lessons had been learned that would have been hard to discover without mathematical models. We find that while existing models lay strong foundations, many important questions that can benefit from quantitative modeling are still awaiting investigation.
Urinary Bladder Patch Made with Decellularized Vein Scaffold Seeded with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Model in Rabbits
Authors: Piovesana Tadeu Ravazi , Rodrigues Lenize da Silva , Bovolato Ana Livia de Carvalho , Rodríguez-Sánchez Diego Noé , Rinaldi Jaqueline Carvalho , Santos Nilton José , Mori Julia Calvi , Lourenção Pedro Luiz Toledo de Arruda , Birch Lynn , Bertanha Matheus
Published: November 2022

Background: To evaluate tissue regeneration of the urinary bladder after the implantation of a decellularized vein sown with autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) on luminal surfaces. Methods: New Zealand rabbits (n = 10) were distributed in two groups: Group Bioscaffold alone (G1)-decellularized vena cava (1 cm2) was implanted, and Group Bioscaffold plus ACSs (G2)-decellularized vena cava (1 cm2) containing ASCs were implanted. ASCs were expanded, characterized, and maintained for one week in culture with a decellularized vein scaffold. The implants were performed under general anesthesia using a continuous suture pattern. Afterward, 21 d (day) specimens were collected and analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The integrity of the urinary bladder was maintained in both groups. A superior regenerative process was observed in the G2 group, compared to the G1 group. We observed a greater urothelial epithelialization and maturity of the mucosa and submucosa fibroblasts. Furthermore, SEM demonstrated a notable amount of urothelial villus in the G2 group. Conclusion: Decellularized vena cava scaffolds were able to maintain the integrity of the urinary bladder in the proposed model. In addition, ASCs accelerated the regenerative process development, observed primarily by the new urothelial epithelization and the maturity of mucosa and submucosa fibroblasts.
Does Myocardial Atrophy Represent Anti-Arrhythmic Phenotype?
Authors: Bacova Barbara Szeiffova , Andelova Katarina , Sykora Matus , Egan Benova Tamara , Barancik Miroslav , Kurahara Lin Hai , Tribulova Narcis
Published: November 2022

This review focuses on cardiac atrophy resulting from mechanical or metabolic unloading due to various conditions, describing some mechanisms and discussing possible strategies or interventions to prevent, attenuate or reverse myocardial atrophy. An improved awareness of these conditions and an increased focus on the identification of mechanisms and therapeutic targets may facilitate the development of the effective treatment or reversion for cardiac atrophy. It appears that a decrement in the left ventricular mass itself may be the central component in cardiac deconditioning, which avoids the occurrence of life-threatening arrhythmias. The depressed myocardial contractility of atrophied myocardium along with the upregulation of electrical coupling protein, connexin43, the maintenance of its topology, and enhanced PKCε signalling may be involved in the anti-arrhythmic phenotype. Meanwhile, persistent myocardial atrophy accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as extracellular matrix fibrosis, may lead to severe cardiac dysfunction, and heart failure. Data in the literature suggest that the prevention of heart failure via the attenuation or reversion of myocardial atrophy is possible, although this requires further research.