bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Human Challenge Model Using an LT-Expressing Enterotoxigenic E. coli Strain (LSN03-016011) and Characterization of Potential Amelioration of Disease by an Investigational Oral Vaccine Candidate (VLA1701)
Authors: Talaat Kawsar R. , Porter Chad K. , Chakraborty Subhra , Feijoo Brittany L. , Brubaker Jessica , Adjoodani Brittany M. , DeNearing Barbara , Prouty Michael G. , Poole Steven T. , Bourgeois A. Louis , Billingsley Madison , Sack David A. , Eder-Lingelbach Susanne , Taucher Christian
Published: April 2024

Controlled human infection models are important tools for the evaluation of vaccines against diseases where an appropriate correlate of protection has not been identified. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain LSN03-016011/A (LSN03) is an LT enterotoxin and CS17-expressing ETEC strain useful for evaluating vaccine candidates targeting LT-expressing strains. We sought to confirm the ability of the LSN03 strain to induce moderate-to-severe diarrhea in a healthy American adult population, as well as the impact of immunization with an investigational cholera/ETEC vaccine (VLA-1701) on disease outcomes. A randomized, double-blinded pilot study was conducted in which participants received two doses of VLA1701 or placebo orally, one week apart; eight days after the second vaccination, 30 participants (15 vaccinees and 15 placebo recipients) were challenged with approximately 5 × 109 colony-forming units of LSN03. The vaccine was well tolerated, with no significant adverse events. The vaccine also induced serum IgA and IgG responses to LT. After challenge, 11 of the placebo recipients (73.3%; 95%CI: 48.0–89.1) and 7 of the VLA1701 recipients (46.7%; 95%CI: 24.8–68.8) had moderate-to-severe diarrhea (p = 0.26), while 14 placebo recipients (93%) and 8 vaccine recipients (53.3%) experienced diarrhea of any severity, resulting in a protective efficacy of 42.9% (p = 0.035). In addition, the vaccine also appeared to provide protection against more severe diarrhea (p = 0.054). Vaccinees also tended to shed lower levels of the LSN03 challenge strain compared to placebo recipients (p = 0.056). In addition, the disease severity score was lower for the vaccinees than for the placebo recipients (p = 0.046). In summary, the LSN03 ETEC challenge strain induced moderate-to-severe diarrhea in 73.3% of placebo recipients. VLA1701 vaccination ameliorated disease severity, as observed by several parameters, including the percentage of participants experiencing diarrhea, as well as stool frequency and ETEC severity scores. These data highlight the potential value of LSN03 as a suitable ETEC challenge strain to evaluate LT-based vaccine targets (NCT03576183).
Repeated Occurrence of Mobile Colistin Resistance Gene-Carrying Plasmids in Pathogenic Escherichia coli from German Pig Farms
Authors: Göpel Lisa , Prenger-Berninghoff Ellen , Wolf Silver A. , Semmler Torsten , Bauerfeind Rolf , Ewers Christa
Published: April 2024

The global spread of plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes threatens the vital role of colistin as a drug of last resort. We investigated whether the recurrent occurrence of specific E. coli pathotypes and plasmids in individual pig farms resulted from the continued presence or repeated reintroduction of distinct E. coli strains. E. coli isolates (n = 154) obtained from three pig farms with at least four consecutive years of mcr detection positive for virulence-associated genes (VAGs) predicting an intestinal pathogenic pathotype via polymerase chain reaction were analyzed. Detailed investigation of VAGs, antimicrobial resistance genes and plasmid Inc types was conducted using whole genome sequencing for 87 selected isolates. Sixty-one E. coli isolates harbored mcr-1, and one isolate carried mcr-4. On Farm 1, mcr-positive isolates were either edema disease E. coli (EDEC; 77.3%) or enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC; 22.7%). On Farm 2, all mcr-positive strains were ETEC, while mcr-positive isolates from Farm 3 showed a wider range of pathotypes. The mcr-1.1 gene was located on IncHI2 (Farm 1), IncX4 (Farm 2) or IncX4 and IncI2 plasmids (Farm 3). These findings suggest that various pathogenic E. coli strains play an important role in maintaining plasmid-encoded colistin resistance genes in the pig environment over time.
Inhibitory Effect of Lactococcus and Enterococcus faecalis on Citrobacter Colitis in Mice
Authors: Naveed Ullah , Jiang Chenxi , Yan Qingsong , Wu Yupeng , Zhao Jinhui , Zhang Bowen , Xing Junhong , Niu Tianming , Shi Chunwei , Wang Chunfeng
Published: April 2024

Probiotics are beneficial for intestinal diseases. Research shows that probiotics can regulate intestinal microbiota and alleviate inflammation. Little research has been done on the effects of probiotics on colitis in mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of the strains isolated and screened from the feces of healthy piglets on the enteritis of rocitrobacter. The compound ratio of isolated Lactobacillus L9 and Enterococcus faecalis L16 was determined, and the optimal compound ratio was selected according to acid production tests and bacteriostatic tests in vitro. The results showed that when the ratio of Lactobacillus L9 to Enterococcus faecalis L16 was 4:1, the pH value was the lowest, and the antibacterial diameter was the largest. Then, in animal experiments, flow cytometry was used to detect the number of T lymphocytes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of mice immunized with complex lactic acid bacteria. The results showed that the number of T lymphocytes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of mice immunized with complex lactic acid bacteria significantly increased, which could improve the cellular immunity of mice. The microbiota in mouse feces were sequenced and analyzed, and the results showed that compound lactic acid bacteria could increase the diversity of mouse microbiota. It stabilized the intestinal microbiota structure of mice and resisted the damage of pathogenic bacteria. The combination of lactic acid bacteria was determined to inhibit the intestinal colitis induced by Citrobacter, improve the cellular immune response of the body, and promote the growth of animals.
The Impact of Latent Cytomegalovirus Infection on Spontaneous Abortion History and Pregnancy Outcomes in Romanian Pregnant Women
Authors: Mocanu Adelina Geanina , Stoian Dana Liana , Daescu Ana-Maria Cristina , Motofelea Alexandru Catalin , Ciohat Ioana Mihaela , Navolan Dan Bogdan , Vilibic-Cavlek Tatjana , Bogdanic Maja , Nemescu Dragos , Tomescu Larisa , Carabineanu Adrian
Published: April 2024

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a DNA virus that belongs to the Orthoherpesviridae family, infects 40–100% of people. Primary/non-primary CMV infection during pregnancy could cause fetal disabilities. After primary infection, CMV causes a latent infection and resides in cells of the myeloid compartment (CD34+, monocytes). Few studies have analyzed the impact of latent CMV infections on miscarriage history, pregnancy complications, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Serum samples from 806 pregnant women (28.29 ± 4.50 years old) who came for a consultation at the Timisoara Clinical Emergency City Hospital between 2008 and 2010 were tested for anti-CMV IgM/IgG antibodies, and data about demography, obstetrical history, pregnancy complications, birth, and neonate were collected. The data were compared between the groups with and without latent CMV infection, and statistical significance was calculated. Results: We did not find a difference regarding cesarean section (OR = 0.916, p = 0.856), placental abruption (OR = 1.004, p = 1.00), pregnancy-induced hypertension rate (OR = 1.078, p = 1.00), secondary sex ratio (0.882, p = 0.857), APGAR score (p = 0.225), gestational age at birth (p = 0.434), or birth weight (p = 0.365). A borderline significant difference was found regarding the presence of miscarriage history: OR = 8.467, p = 0.051. Conclusions: The presence of latent CMV infection does not affect the likelihood of complications in healthy women. A borderline significantly higher prevalence of miscarriage history was found in women with latent CMV infection.
How Does Airway Surface Liquid Composition Vary in Different Pulmonary Diseases, and How Can We Use This Knowledge to Model Microbial Infections?
Authors: Walsh Dean , Bevan Jennifer , Harrison Freya
Published: April 2024

Growth environment greatly alters many facets of pathogen physiology, including pathogenesis and antimicrobial tolerance. The importance of host-mimicking environments for attaining an accurate picture of pathogen behaviour is widely recognised. Whilst this recognition has translated into the extensive development of artificial cystic fibrosis (CF) sputum medium, attempts to mimic the growth environment in other respiratory disease states have been completely neglected. The composition of the airway surface liquid (ASL) in different pulmonary diseases is far less well characterised than CF sputum, making it very difficult for researchers to model these infection environments. In this review, we discuss the components of human ASL, how different lung pathologies affect ASL composition, and how different pathogens interact with these components. This will provide researchers interested in mimicking different respiratory environments with the information necessary to design a host-mimicking medium, allowing for better understanding of how to treat pathogens causing infection in these environments.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ticks Blood-Feeding on Migratory Birds in Sweden
Authors: Wilhelmsson Peter , Lager Malin , Jaenson Thomas G. T. , Waldenström Jonas , Olsen Björn , Lindgren Per-Eric
Published: April 2024

Migratory birds play a dual role as potential reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, and potential dispersers of pathogen-containing ticks during their migratory journeys. Ixodes ricinus, a prevalent tick species in Northern and Western Europe, serves as a primary vector for Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a bacterium with implications for human and animal health. There is limited information available regarding A. phagocytophilum in birds. Our investigation focused on A. phagocytophilum prevalence in ticks collected from migratory birds in southeastern Sweden. The identification of ticks involved both molecular analyses for species determination and morphological classification to ascertain the developmental stage. The presence of A. phagocytophilum was determined using real-time PCR. Of the 1115 ticks analyzed from 4601 birds, 0.9% (n = 10), including I. ricinus and Ixodes frontalis, tested positive for A. phagocytophilum. Notably, common blackbirds (Turdus merula) yielded the highest number of A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks. The findings suggest that A. phagocytophilum is present in a small proportion of ticks infesting migratory birds in southeastern Sweden. Consequently, the role of birds as hosts for ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum appears to be low, suggesting that birds seem to play a minor indirect role in the geographic dispersal of A. phagocytophilum.
Characterization of Crude and Processed Pulp Cell Walls of Three Selected Mamey Accessions (Mammea americana L.)
Authors: Palmont Déborah , Bonnin Estelle , Smith Ravin Emilie J. , Lahaye Marc , Marcelin Odile
Published: April 2024

Mamey (Mammea americana L.) is a tropical fleshy fruit native from the West Indies and northern South America. It is very appreciated for its flavor and color but has been little described. The present study investigates the composition and histochemistry of the pulp cell walls of three mamey accessions readily available in Martinique. The impact of pulp processing into puree on cell wall composition is evaluated. The histology and rheology of mamey puree are assessed considering these characterizations. Mamey pulp cell wall composition is dominated by highly methyl-esterified pectins (DM: 66.2–76.7%) of high molecular weight, and show few hemicelluloses, mainly xyloglucans. Processing reduced methyl-esterified uronic acid contents and gave purees with significantly different viscosities. Mamey puree was composed of polydisperse particles (20–2343 µm), which size distributions were different depending on the accession: Ti Jacques was dominated by smaller particles (50% had approximated diameters lower than 160 µm), Sonson’s by larger particles (50% had approximated diameters higher than 900 µm), and Galion’s had an intermediate profile. This new knowledge on mamey pulp is valuable for future works on mamey processing into new food products, even more so for those including cell wall polysaccharide-degrading enzymes.
UV-Triggered Drug Release from Mesoporous Titanium Nanoparticles Loaded with Berberine Hydrochloride: Enhanced Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Zuo Fanjiao , Wang Boyao , Wang Lizhi , He Jun , Qiu Xilong
Published: April 2024

Mesoporous titanium nanoparticles (MTN) have always been a concern and are considered to have great potential for overcoming antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In our study, MTN modified with functionalized UV-responsive ethylene imine polymer (PEI) was synthesized. The characterization of all products was performed by different analyses, including SEM, TEM, FT-IR, TGA, XRD, XPS, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. The typical antibacterial drug berberine hydrochloride (BH) was encapsulated in MTN-PEI. The process exhibited a high drug loading capacity (22.71 ± 1.12%) and encapsulation rate (46.56 ± 0.52%) due to its high specific surface area of 238.43 m2/g. Moreover, UV-controlled drug release was achieved by utilizing the photocatalytic performance of MTN. The antibacterial effect of BH@MTN-PEI was investigated, which showed that it could be controlled to release BH and achieve a corresponding antibacterial effect by UV illumination for different lengths of time, with bacterial lethality reaching 37.76% after only 8 min of irradiation. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the nanoparticles have also been studied. The MIC of BH@MTN-PEI was confirmed as 1 mg/mL against Escherichia coli (E. coli), at which the growth of bacteria was completely inhibited during 24 h and the concentration of 5 mg/mL for BH@MTN-PEI was regarded as MBC against E. coli. Although this proof-of-concept study is far from a real-life application, it provides a possible route to the discovery and application of antimicrobial drugs.
Progressive Insights into Metal-Organic Frameworks and Metal-Organic Framework-Membrane Composite Systems for Wastewater Management
Authors: Han Jilong , Zhang Hanya , Fan Yuheng , Zhou Lilong , Zhang Zhikun , Li Pengfei , Li Zhengjie , Du Yongsheng , Meng Qingfen
Published: April 2024

The sustainable management of wastewater through recycling and utilization stands as a pressing concern in the trajectory of societal advancement. Prioritizing the elimination of diverse organic contaminants is paramount in wastewater treatment, garnering significant attention from researchers worldwide. Emerging metal-organic framework materials (MOFs), bridging organic and inorganic attributes, have surfaced as novel adsorbents, showcasing pivotal potential in wastewater remediation. Nevertheless, challenges like limited water stability, elevated dissolution rates, and inadequate hydrophobicity persist in the context of wastewater treatment. To enhance the performance of MOFs, they can be modified through chemical or physical methods, and combined with membrane materials as additives to create membrane composite materials. These membrane composites, derived from MOFs, exhibit remarkable characteristics including enhanced porosity, adjustable pore dimensions, superior permeability, optimal conductivity, and robust water stability. Their ability to effectively sequester organic compounds has spurred significant research in this field. This paper introduces methods for enhancing the performance of MOFs and explores their potential applications in water treatment. It delves into the detailed design, synthesis strategies, and fabrication of composite membranes using MOFs. Furthermore, it focuses on the application prospects, challenges, and opportunities associated with MOF composite membranes in water treatment.
Photocatalytic Activity of Ag Nanoparticles Deposited on Thermoexfoliated g-C3N4
Authors: Portillo-Cortez Karina , Caudillo-Flores Uriel , Sánchez-López Perla , Smolentseva Elena , Dominguez David , Fuentes-Moyado Sergio
Published: April 2024

The limited access to fresh water and the increased presence of emergent pollutants (EPs) in wastewater has increased the interest in developing strategies for wastewater remediation, including photocatalysis. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a 2D non-metal material with outstanding properties, such as a 2.7 eV bandgap and physicochemical stability, making it a promising photocatalyst. This work reports the process of obtaining high-surface-area (SA) g-C3N4 using the thermal-exfoliation process and the posterior effect of Ag-nanoparticle loading over the exfoliated g-C3N4 surface. The photocatalytic activity of samples was evaluated through methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible-light radiation and correlated to its physical properties obtained by XRD, TEM, BET, and UV–Vis analyses. Moreover, 74% MB degradation was achieved by exfoliated g-C3N4 compared to its bulk counterpart (55%) in 180 min. Moreover, better photocatalytic performances (94% MB remotion) were registered at low Ag loading, with 5 wt.% as the optimal value. Such an improvement is attributed to the synergetic effect produced by a higher SA and the role of Ag nanoparticles in preventing charge-recombination processes. Based on the results, this work provides a simple and efficient methodology to obtain Ag/g-C3N4 photocatalysts with enhanced photocatalytic performance that is adequate for water remediation under sunlight conditions.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Lead-Free Cesium Bismuth Iodide Perovskite through Antisolvent-Assisted Crystallization
Authors: Masawa Salma Maneno , Zhao Chenxu , Liu Jing , Xu Jia , Yao Jianxi
Published: April 2024

Cesium bismuth iodide perovskite material offers good stability toward ambient conditions and has potential optoelectronic characteristics. However, wide bandgap, absorber surface roughness, and poor surface coverage with pinholes are among the key impediments to its adoption as a photovoltaic absorber material. Herein, bandgap modification and the tailoring of surface morphology have been performed through molar ratio variation and antisolvent treatment, whereby type III antisolvent (toluene) based on Hansen space has been utilized. XRD and Raman spectroscopy analyses confirm the formation of a 0D/2D mixed dimensional structure with improved optoelectronic properties when the molar ratio of CsI/BiI3 was adjusted from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5. The absorption results and Tauc plot determination show that the fabricated film has a lower bandgap of 1.80 eV. TRPL analysis reveals that the film possesses a very low charge carrier lifetime of 0.94 ns, suggesting deep defects. Toluene improves the charge carrier lifetime to 1.89 ns. The average grain size also increases from 323.26 nm to 444.3 nm upon toluene addition. Additionally, the inclusion of toluene results in a modest improvement in PCE, from 0.23% to 0.33%.
Association of Average Daily Morphine Milligram Equivalents and Falls in Older Adult Chronic Opioid Users
Authors: Hwang Stephanie , Hughes Tamera D. , Niznik Joshua , Ferreri Stefanie P.
Published: April 2024

Opioids remain commonly prescribed in older adults, despite the known association with falls and fall-related injuries. This retrospective cohort study sought to determine the association of opioid use and falls in older adult opioid users. Using a one-year lookback period in electronic health records, daily morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) were calculated using prescription orders. Fall history was based on patient self-reporting. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the threshold of average daily MMEs at which the likelihood of falls was increased. Older opioid users were most often women and White, with 30% having fallen in the prior year. In ROC analyses (n = 590), the threshold where fall risk increased was 37 MMEs (p = 0.07). Older adults prescribed more than 37 MMEs daily may be at increased fall risk and should be targeted for deprescribing interventions. Additionally, analysis on patient characteristics and covariates suggest that sex, age, COPD, sleep apnea, cancer, and psychiatric conditions may indicate an increased risk of falls in older adults taking chronic opioids (p < 0.05). Multifactorial interventions may be needed to modify fall risk beyond medication use alone.
Measurement of Group Delay Ripples of Chirped Fiber Bragg Gratings for CPA Lasers, and Their Effect on Performance
Authors: Ouellette François , Wang Hui
Published: April 2024

The deleterious effect of group delay ripples (GDR) on the performance of a chirped fiber Bragg grating used as a stretcher in a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser is analyzed through simulations of CFBGs with various amounts of noise. We show that GDR with a standard deviation of less than one-half the transform-limited pulse duration are required for consistent good performance. We furthermore describe a simple method to measure the group delay response of such CFBGs written in polarization-maintaining fiber, using the beat spectrum of the reflections from the two polarization axes after passing through a polarizer. The method can be used to extract GDR, as well as the phase response of the CFBG, which is used to predict the pulse recompression performance of a CPA laser. The method is theoretically described, and we show that despite limitations on its spatial resolution, it can capture the most deleterious GDR. Experimental measurements of GDR as low as 161 fs in an actual CFBG are demonstrated using our method, indicating a resolution better than 50 fs and very good reproducibility, with pulse recompression performance in agreement with the measurement prediction.
The Evolution of Agrarian Landscapes in the Tropical Andes
Authors: Shadik Courtney R. , Bush Mark B. , Valencia Bryan G. , Rozas-Davila Angela , Plekhov Daniel , Breininger Robert D. , Davin Claire , Benko Lindsay , Peterson Larry C. , VanValkenburgh Parker
Published: April 2024

Changes in land-use practices have been a central element of human adaptation to Holocene climate change. Many practices that result in the short-term stabilization of socio-natural systems, however, have longer-term, unanticipated consequences that present cascading challenges for human subsistence strategies and opportunities for subsequent adaptations. Investigating complex sequences of interaction between climate change and human land-use in the past—rather than short-term causes and effects—is therefore essential for understanding processes of adaptation and change, but this approach has been stymied by a lack of suitably-scaled paleoecological data. Through a high-resolution paleoecological analysis, we provide a 7000-year history of changing climate and land management around Lake Acopia in the Andes of southern Peru. We identify evidence of the onset of pastoralism, maize cultivation, and possibly cultivation of quinoa and potatoes to form a complex agrarian landscape by c. 4300 years ago. Cumulative interactive climate-cultivation effects resulting in erosion ended abruptly c. 2300 years ago. After this time, reduced sedimentation rates are attributed to the construction and use of agricultural terraces within the catchment of the lake. These results provide new insights into the role of humans in the manufacture of Andean landscapes and the incremental, adaptive processes through which land-use practices take shape.
How Do Mixed Cover Crops (White Mustard + Oats) Contribute to Labile Carbon Pools in an Organic Cropping System in Serbia?
Authors: Ugrenović Vladan , Filipović Vladimir , Miladinović Vladimir , Simić Divna , Janković Snežana , Stanković Slađan , Saljnikov Elmira
Published: April 2024

Sustainable farming is one of the priority goals of the “4 per 1000” concept with regard to the preservation of soil fertility and carbon sequestration. This paper presents a study on the use of a mixture of cover crops of self-grown oats (Avena sativa L.) and sown white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) in organic farming under the agroecological conditions of Serbia. The main objective was to identify sensitive carbon pools (microbial carbon and nitrogen, basal respiration and a number of specific groups of soil microorganisms) in organic farming with and without cover crops. The inclusion of a mixture of white mustard and self-grown oats as a cover crop led to a significantly increased biogenity of the soil compared to a control after only a few years of investigation. The number of microorganisms, soil respiration and microbial biomass carbon were significantly higher in the cover crop treatment compared to the control soil on an organic farm in Serbia. This is the first study in Serbia to investigate the effect of self-grown oats as a cover crop. Further research will incorporate a wider range of variables and factors in order to develop a sustainable and effective site-specific system for organic crop production in Serbia.
Changes in Photosystem II Complex and Physiological Activities in Pea and Maize Plants in Response to Salt Stress
Authors: Stefanov Martin A. , Rashkov Georgi D. , Borisova Preslava B. , Apostolova Emilia L.
Published: April 2024

Salt stress significantly impacts the functions of the photosynthetic apparatus, with varying degrees of damage to its components. Photosystem II (PSII) is more sensitive to environmental stresses, including salinity, than photosystem I (PSI). This study investigated the effects of different salinity levels (0 to 200 mM NaCl) on the PSII complex in isolated thylakoid membranes from hydroponically grown pea (Pisum sativum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) plants treated with NaCl for 5 days. The data revealed that salt stress inhibits the photochemical activity of PSII (H2O → BQ), affecting the energy transfer between the pigment–protein complexes of PSII (as indicated by the fluorescence emission ratio F695/F685), QA reoxidation, and the function of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). These processes were more significantly affected in pea than in maize under salinity. Analysis of the oxygen evolution curves after flashes and continuous illumination showed a stronger influence on the PSIIα than PSIIβ centers. The inhibition of oxygen evolution was associated with an increase in misses (α), double hits (β), and blocked centers (SB) and a decrease in the rate constant of turnover of PSII reaction centers (KD). Salinity had different effects on the two pathways of QA reoxidation in maize and pea. In maize, the electron flow from QA- to plastoquinone was dominant after treatment with higher NaCl concentrations (150 mM and 200 mM), while in pea, the electron recombination on QAQB- with oxidized S2 (or S3) of the OEC was more pronounced. Analysis of the 77 K fluorescence emission spectra revealed changes in the ratio of the light-harvesting complex of PSII (LHCII) monomers and trimers to LHCII aggregates after salt treatment. There was also a decrease in pigment composition and an increase in oxidative stress markers, membrane injury index, antioxidant activity (FRAP assay), and antiradical activity (DPPH assay). These effects were more pronounced in pea than in maize after treatment with higher NaCl concentrations (150 mM–200 mM). This study provides insights into how salinity influences the processes in the donor and acceptor sides of PSII in plants with different salt sensitivity.
Improving the Functionality of Yogurt after Fortification with a Synbiotic Combination of a Potential Probiotic and Bacteriocin-Producing Bacteria and Hydnora abyssinica Phytosomes
Authors: Daba Ghoson , Elkhateeb Waill , Soliman Tarek Nour , Negm El-Dein Asmaa , Zendo Takeshi
Published: April 2024

Functional dairy products are attracting consumers’ attention, as they simultaneously have nutritional and health benefits. Hence, we aimed in this study to fortify a dairy product (yogurt) with phytosomes of extract from Hydnora abyssinica (a holoparasitic plant that has ethnobotanical value) and a potential bacteriocin-producing probiotic lactic acid bacterium (LAB). Goat cheese was screened for LAB with promising antimicrobial activity, and the safety and probiotic potential of the selected isolate were studied. As a result, strain GA5 was selected due to its wide antimicrobial activity that was suggested to be caused by bacteriocin production. Moreover, this strain showed promising stress tolerance, in vitro antioxidant activity (95 ± 2.8%), and hydrophobic potential (87.18 ± 3.43%). Strain GA5 was molecularly identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GA5. On the other hand, a hydromethanolic extract was prepared from H. abyssinica flowers, and its prebiotic potential and polyphenol content were evaluated. This extract was also encapsulated in phytosomes. Then, the physical and morphological characteristics of prepared phytosomes were studied. Yogurt fortified with these ingredients (L. plantarum GA5 together with free H. abyssinica extract or its extract encapsulated in phytosomes) showed higher antioxidant content, viscosity, texture profile, and sensory properties than the control. Furthermore, the yogurt remained unspoiled for over 21 days, indicating that the added ingredients prolonged its shelf life. As far as we know, this is the first study describing the fortification of yogurt with H. abyssinica phytosomes and a potential bacteriocin-producing probiotic LAB.
Estimating the Influencing Factors of Gas–Water Relative Permeability in Condensate Gas Reservoirs under High-Temperature and High-Pressure Conditions
Authors: Cui Shuheng , Wu Qilin , Wang Zixuan
Published: April 2024

The gas–water relative permeability curve plays a crucial role in reservoir simulation and development for condensate gas reservoirs. This paper conducted a series of high-temperature and high-pressure analysis experiments on real gas cores from Wells A and B in Block L of the Yinggehai Basin to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, and different types of gas media on gas–water seepage. The gas–water relative permeability was simulated in this experiment through variations in temperature, pressure, and gas composition. Temperature has a significant impact on both gas and water relative permeability, particularly on gas relative permeability. As temperature increases, gas relative permeability shows a substantial increase, while water relative permeability remains relatively unchanged. Under the same effective stress, increasing pressure causes downward shifts in both the gas and water relative permeability curves; however, there is a more pronounced decrease in gas relative permeability. Gas composition has minimal influence on the gas–water relative permeability except at higher water saturation where differences become apparent. When water saturation ranges from 80% to 50%, there is no significant variation observed in the measured relative permeability of different displacement gases. However, as water saturation exceeds 80%, distinctions gradually emerge. The relative permeability of nitrogen is approximately 92% lower than that of mixed gas when the bound water saturation reaches 80%. This investigation provides valuable insights into the characteristics of gas–water relative permeability in high-temperature and high-pressure condensate reservoirs within Yinggehai Basin, thereby offering significant contributions to development strategies for similar reservoirs.
A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial on Lithium Disilicate Veneers Manufactured by the CAD–CAM Method: Digital Versus Hybrid Workflow
Authors: Verniani Giulia , Ferrari Marco , Manfredini Daniele , Ferrari Cagidiaco Edoardo
Published: April 2024

Pressed lithium disilicate is largely used for veneer manufacturing, but a new block formulation has recently been released on the market. This study evaluated the clinical performance of milled lithium disilicate veneers (LiSi Block, GC Co., Tokyo, Japan) realized with a fully digital or hybrid workflow using modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) evaluation criteria and survival rates after 24 months of clinical service together with the patient’s satisfaction using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). A total of 105 veneers on natural anterior teeth were made on twenty-nine patients with LiSi Block (GC, Tokyo, Japan). Patients were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1, 35 veneers realized with a completely digital workflow using Trios 3 (3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark); Group 2, 35 veneers realized with a completely digital workflow using Experimental IOS (GC, Tokyo, Japan); and Group 3, 35 veneers realized with a hybrid workflow. The restorations were followed up for 24 months, and the modified USPHS evaluation was performed at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months together with periodontal evaluation. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA and the Tukey test were applied to compare the modified USPHS method values (α = 0.05). STATISTICA 10.0 software and SIGMAPLOT 12.0 software were used to perform statistical analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups and with the interaction of group vs. time periods. The satisfaction scores of 7.35 ± 1.8 and 9.4 ± 0.37 were recorded before and after treatment, respectively. Milled lithium disilicate veneers showed a good clinical outcome after 2 years of clinical service. No difference was found between fully digital or hybrid workflow.
Comprehensive Proteome Profiling of a Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris B100 Culture Grown in Minimal Medium with a Specific Focus on Nutrient Consumption and Xanthan Biosynthesis
Authors: Struck Ben , Wiersma Sanne Jitske , Ortseifen Vera , Pühler Alfred , Niehaus Karsten
Published: April 2024

Xanthan, a bacterial polysaccharide, is widespread in industrial applications, particularly as a food additive. However, little is known about the process of xanthan synthesis on the proteome level, even though Xanthomonas campestris is frequently used for xanthan fermentation. A label-free LC-MS/MS method was employed to study the protein changes during xanthan fermentation in minimal medium. According to the reference database, 2416 proteins were identified, representing 54.75 % of the proteome. The study examined changes in protein abundances concerning the growth phase and xanthan productivity. Throughout the experiment, changes in nitrate concentration appeared to affect the abundance of most proteins involved in nitrogen metabolism, except Gdh and GlnA. Proteins involved in sugar nucleotide metabolism stay unchanged across all growth phases. Apart from GumD, GumB, and GumC, the gum proteins showed no significant changes throughout the experiment. GumD, the first enzyme in the assembly of the xanthan-repeating unit, peaked during the early stationary phase but decreased during the late stationary phase. GumB and GumC, which are involved in exporting xanthan, increased significantly during the stationary phase. This study suggests that a potential bottleneck for xanthan productivity does not reside in the abundance of proteins directly involved in the synthesis pathways.
Preaching the Impossible in the Face of the Unthinkable: Nonviolence, Love, and Thanksgiving in a Coptic Easter Sermon
Authors: Halvorsen J. Sergius
Published: April 2024

This essay examines the Holy Monday sermon by Boules George, a senior priest at St. Mark Church in Cairo, that was preached the day after the Palm Sunday suicide bomb attacks against St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Tanta and St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria in Egypt in 2017, which left forty-four people dead and more than one hundred injured. The sermon addressed Coptic Orthodox Christians in Cairo as well as the wider Coptic Orthodox community in Egypt and throughout the world through a live video broadcast. The sermon is remarkable for presenting a radical call to nonviolence and Christian love. Notably, the preacher speaks to “those who are killing us”, and says “thank you” for the opportunity to die as Christ died, for “this is the greatest honor that we could have”. This essay analyzes the sermon in light of the work of Walter Brueggemann and Alexander Schmemann, and argues that the sermon is an example of daring speech that offers divine empowerment to the suffering and the fearful.
Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy Provides a Reproducible Estimate of Muscle Aerobic Capacity, but Not Whole-Body Aerobic Power
Authors: Venckunas Tomas , Satas Andrius , Brazaitis Marius , Eimantas Nerijus , Sipaviciene Saule , Kamandulis Sigitas
Published: April 2024

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during repeated limb occlusions is a noninvasive tool for assessing muscle oxidative capacity. However, the method’s reliability and validity remain under investigation. This study aimed to determine the reliability of the NIRS-derived mitochondrial power of the musculus vastus lateralis and its correlation with whole-body (cycling) aerobic power (V̇O2 peak). Eleven healthy active men (28 ± 10 y) twice (2 days apart) underwent repeated arterial occlusions to induce changes in muscle oxygen delivery after 15 s of electrical muscle stimulation. The muscle oxygen consumption (mV̇O2) recovery time and rate (k) constants were calculated from the NIRS O2Hb signal. We assessed the reliability (coefficient of variation and intraclass coefficient of correlation [ICC]) and equivalency (t-test) between visits. The results showed high reproducibility for the mV̇O2 recovery time constant (ICC = 0.859) and moderate reproducibility for the k value (ICC = 0.674), with no significant differences between visits (p > 0.05). NIRS-derived k did not correlate with the V̇O2 peak relative to body mass (r = 0.441, p = 0.17) or the absolute V̇O2 peak (r = 0.366, p = 0.26). In conclusion, NIRS provides a reproducible estimate of muscle mitochondrial power, which, however, was not correlated with whole-body aerobic capacity in the current study, suggesting that even if somewhat overlapping, not the same set of factors underpin these distinct indices of aerobic capacity at the different (peripheral and whole-body systemic) levels.
Incremental Clustering for Predictive Maintenance in Cryogenics for Radio Astronomy
Authors: Cabras Alessandro , Ortu Pierluigi , Pisanu Tonino , Maxia Paolo , Caocci Roberto
Published: April 2024

In a cooling system for radio astronomy receivers, maintaining cold heads and compressors is essential for consistent performance. This project focuses on monitoring the power currents of the cold head’s motor to address potential mechanical deterioration, which could jeopardize the overall functionality of the system. Using Hall effect sensors, a microcontroller-based electronic board, and artificial intelligence, the system detects and predicts anomalies. The model operates using an unsupervised approach based on incremental clustering. Since potential fault scenarios can be multiple and often challenging to simulate or identify during training, the system is initially trained using known operational categories. Over time, the system adapts and evolves by incorporating new data, which can be assigned to existing categories or, in the case of new anomalies, form new categories. This incremental approach enables the system to enhance its performance over the years, adapting to new anomaly scenarios and ensuring precise and reliable monitoring of the cold head’s health.
The Impacts of Burn Severity and Frequency on Erosion in Western Arnhem Land, Australia
Authors: Bretreger David , Hancock Gregory R. , Lowry John , Senanayake Indishe P. , Yeo In-Young
Published: April 2024

Wildfires are pivotal to the functioning of many ecosystems globally, including the magnitude of surface erosion rates. This study aims to investigate the relationships between surface erosion rates and wildfire intensity in the tropical north savanna of Australia. The occurrence of fires in western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia was determined with remotely sensed digital datasets as well as analogue erosion measurement methods. Analysis was performed using satellite imagery to quantify burn severity via a monthly delta normalised burn ratio (dNBR). This was compared and correlated against on-ground erosion measurements (erosion pins) for 13 years. The dNBR for each year (up to +0.4) displayed no relationship with subsequent erosion (up to ±4 mm of erosion/deposition per year). Poor correlation was attributed to low fire severity, patchy burning, significant time between fires and erosion-inducing rainfall. Other influences included surface roughness from disturbances from feral pigs and cyclone impacts. The findings here oppose many other studies that have found that fires increase surface erosion. This accentuates the unique ecosystem characteristics and fire regime properties found in the tropical Northern Territory. Scenarios of late dry season fires with high severity were not observed in this study and require more investigations. Ecosystems such as the one examined here require specialised management practices acknowledging the specific ecosystem functions and processes. The methods employed here combine both analogue and digital sensors to improve understandings of a unique environmental system.
Impact of Reducing Statistically Small Population Sampling on Threshold Detection in FBG Optical Sensing
Authors: Cibira Gabriel , Glesk Ivan , Dubovan Jozef , Benedikovič Daniel
Published: April 2024

Many techniques have been studied for recovering information from shared media such as optical fiber that carries different types of communication, sensing, and data streaming. This article focuses on a simple method for retrieving the targeted information with the least necessary number of significant samples when using statistical population sampling. Here, the focus is on the statistical denoising and detection of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) power spectra. The impact of the two-sided and one-sided sliding window technique is investigated. The size of the window is varied up to one-half of the symmetrical FBG power spectra bandwidth. Both, two- and one-sided small population sampling techniques were experimentally investigated. We found that the shorter sliding window delivered less processing latency, which would benefit real-time applications. The calculated detection thresholds were used for in-depth analysis of the data we obtained. It was found that the normality three-sigma rule does not need to be followed when a small population sampling is used. Experimental demonstrations and analyses also showed that novel denoising and statistical threshold detection do not depend on prior knowledge of the probability distribution functions that describe the FBG power spectra peaks and background noise. We have demonstrated that the detection thresholds’ adaptability strongly depends on the mean and standard deviation values of the small population sampling.
S-LIGHT: Synthetic Dataset for the Separation of Diffuse and Specular Reflection Images
Authors: Jo Sangho , Jang Ohtae , Bhattacharyya Chaitali , Kim Minjun , Lee Taeseok , Jang Yewon , Song Haekang , Kwon Hyukmin , Do Saebyeol , Kim Sungho
Published: April 2024

Several studies in computer vision have examined specular removal, which is crucial for object detection and recognition. This research has traditionally been divided into two tasks: specular highlight removal, which focuses on removing specular highlights on object surfaces, and reflection removal, which deals with specular reflections occurring on glass surfaces. In reality, however, both types of specular effects often coexist, making it a fundamental challenge that has not been adequately addressed. Recognizing the necessity of integrating specular components handled in both tasks, we constructed a specular-light (S-Light) DB for training single-image-based deep learning models. Moreover, considering the absence of benchmark datasets for quantitative evaluation, the multi-scale normalized cross correlation (MS-NCC) metric, which considers the correlation between specular and diffuse components, was introduced to assess the learning outcomes.
Migration and Youth: The Lived Experiences of Russian Youth in Finland
Authors: Stasulane Anita
Published: April 2024

The number of Russian immigrants to Finland has already been steadily increasing since 1990, when the President of Finland launched an initiative aimed at facilitating the repatriation of Ingrian Finns living in the territories incorporated into the USSR. Today Russian-speaking immigrants account for approximately 1.3% of Finland’s population. The segmented assimilation theory encourages one to explore the lived experiences of second-generation immigrants. This article analyses the data from qualitative interviews conducted within the framework of the field work carried out in the central part of Finland, from 1 October to 31 December 2021. Young people who spoke Russian in their family and were a part of groups where Russian is a tool of communication and used for the intergenerational transmission of cultural traditions were selected for interviews. The empirical data resulting from a study conducted in Finland provide insight into the factors that have contributed to the migration of their families, from the perspective of these young people. Applying the concept of identity as a “moveable feast”, this article focuses on the process of self-identification as depending, first, on the dynamics between inherited and obtained identity and, second, on the identity level (ethnicity, nationality, global identity) at which these dynamics are present.
Impact of Biosolids-Derived Biochar on the Remediation and Ecotoxicity of Diesel-Impacted Soil
Authors: Dike Charles Chinyere , Krohn Christian , Khudur Leadin S. , Batra Alka Rani , Nnorom Mac-Anthony , Surapaneni Aravind , Shah Kalpit , Ball Andrew S.
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of biosolids-derived biochar on the remediation of Australian soil contaminated with diesel while investigating the role of biochar in the remediation. To achieve the latter aim, sodium azide (NaN3) was added to a separate biochar treatment (BN) to alter the bacterial community structure. Biochar (B) reduced detectable hydrocarbons by 2353 mg/kg compared to the control (C) treatment at week 24. However, the BN treatment reduced the hydrocarbon concentration by 3827 and 6180 mg/kg, relative to B and C, respectively. Soil toxicity significantly decreased at week 24 compared to the start of the remediation in B, but not in the control. Biochar and control treatments generally showed a similar bacterial community structure throughout the incubation, while the bacterial community structure in BN differed significantly. Biodegradation was found to play a significant role in hydrocarbon removal, as the variation in the bacteria community coincided with differences in hydrocarbon removal between B and BN. The increased removal of hydrocarbons in the BN treatment relative to B coincided with increased and reduced relative abundances of Gordonia and JG30-KF-CM45 genera, respectively. This study showed that NaN3 led to a transient and selective inhibition of bacteria. This study makes an important contribution towards understanding the use of NaN3 in examining the role of biochar in the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil. Overall, we conclude that biochar has the potential to enhance the remediation of diesel-contaminated soil and that biodegradation is the dominant mechanism.