bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of biomembranes and their dynamics on organismic aging: insights from a fungal aging model
Authors: Osiewacz Heinz D.
Published: January 2024

Biomembranes fulfill several essential functions. They delimitate cells and control the exchange of compounds between cells and the environment. They generate specialized cellular reaction spaces, house functional units such as the respiratory chain (RC), and are involved in content trafficking. Biomembranes are dynamic and able to adjust their properties to changing conditions and requirements. An example is the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), which houses the RC involved in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the superoxide anion as a reactive oxygen species (ROS). The IMM forms a characteristic ultrastructure that can adapt to changing physiological situations. In the fungal aging model Podospora anserina, characteristic age-related changes of the mitochondrial ultrastructure occur. More recently, the impact of membranes on aging was extended to membranes involved in autophagy, an important pathway involved in cellular quality control (QC). Moreover, the effect of oleic acid on the lifespan was linked to basic biochemical processes and the function of membranes, providing perspectives for the elucidation of the mechanistic effects of this nutritional component, which positively affects human health and aging.
Advancements in veterinary medicine: the use of Flowgy for nasal airflow simulation and surgical predictions in big felids (a case study in lions)
Authors: Burgos Manuel , Pérez-Ramos Alejandro , Mulot Baptiste , Sanz-Prieto Daniel , Esteban Francisco , Bastir Markus
Published: January 2024

Flowgy is a semi-automated tool designed to simulate airflow across the nasal passage and detect airflow alterations in humans. In this study, we tested the use and accuracy of Flowgy in non-human vertebrates, using large felids as the study group. Understanding the dynamics of nasal airflow in large felids such as lions (Panthera leo) is crucial for their health and conservation. Therefore, we simulated airflow during inspiration through the nasal passage in three lions (Panthera leo), two of which were siblings (specimens ZPB_PL_002 and ZPB_PL_003), without breathing obstructions. However, one of the specimens (ZPB_PL_001) exhibited a slight obstruction in the nasal vestibule, which precluded the specimen from breathing efficiently. Computed tomography (CT) scans of each specimen were obtained to create detailed three-dimensional models of the nasal passage. These models were then imported into Flowgy to simulate the airflow dynamics. Virtual surgery was performed on ZPB_PL_001 to remove the obstruction and re-simulate the airflow. In parallel, we simulated the respiration of the two sibling specimens and performed an obstructive operation followed by an operation to remove the obstruction at the same level and under the same conditions as the original specimen (ZPB_PL_001). Thus, we obtained a pattern of precision for the operation by having two comparable replicas with the obstructed and operated specimens. The simulations revealed consistent airflow patterns in the healthy specimens, demonstrating the accuracy of Flowgy. The originally obstructed specimen and two artificially obstructed specimens showed a significant reduction in airflow through the right nostril, which was restored after virtual surgery. Postoperative simulation indicated an improvement of >100% in respiratory function. Additionally, the temperature and humidity profiles within the nostrils showed marked improvements after surgery. These findings underscore the potential of Flowgy in simulating nasal airflow and predicting the outcomes of surgical interventions in large felids. This could aid in the early detection of respiratory diseases and inform clinical decision-making, contributing to improved veterinary care and conservation efforts. However, further research is needed to validate these findings in other species and explore the potential of integrating Flowgy with other diagnostic and treatment tools in veterinary medicine.
Background and common lesions in the female reproductive organs of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
Authors: de Moura Fernanda Barthelson Carvalho , Lacerda Zara Alves , Catão-Dias José Luiz , Navas-Suárez Pedro Enrique , Werther Karin , Simões Sarah Raquel Jesus Santos , Santos Renato de Lima , Murillo Daniel Felipe Barrantes , Watanabe Tatiane Terumi Negrão , Fonseca-Alves Carlos Eduardo , Rocha Noeme Sousa
Published: January 2024

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a vulnerable species in South America and is considered endangered or near extinction in Central America. Therefore, studies describing the reproductive characteristics of this species are pivotal for its conservation. Thus, this study aimed to provide a morphological description of the female reproductive tissues of this species. We collected tissue samples from six female giant anteaters and performed gross, morphological, and histochemical analyses. Five adult subjects and one juvenile were included in the study. In the ovary, classifications were made according to the follicle and oocyte sizes: primordial, primary, secondary, early antral, or antral. Typical follicles with a single oocyte surrounded by a simple or stratified layer of cubic epithelium, atretic follicles, corpora lutea, corpora albicans, and ovarian cysts were also observed. No ovarian lesions were observed. By contrast, endometritis, metritis, mucometra, and endometrial cysts were identified in the uterus. Uterine alterations in these subjects were frequent and could affect reproduction.
A Particle Swarm and Smell Agent-Based Hybrid Algorithm for Enhanced Optimization
Authors: Sulaiman Abdullahi T. , Bello-Salau Habeeb , Onumanyi Adeiza J. , Mu’azu Muhammed B. , Adedokun Emmanuel A. , Salawudeen Ahmed T. , Adekale Abdulfatai D.
Published: January 2024

The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is widely used for optimization purposes across various domains, such as in precision agriculture, vehicular ad hoc networks, path planning, and for the assessment of mathematical test functions towards benchmarking different optimization algorithms. However, because of the inherent limitations in the velocity update mechanism of the algorithm, PSO often converges to suboptimal solutions. Thus, this paper aims to enhance the convergence rate and accuracy of the PSO algorithm by introducing a modified variant, which is based on a hybrid of the PSO and the smell agent optimization (SAO), termed the PSO-SAO algorithm. Our specific objective involves the incorporation of the trailing mode of the SAO algorithm into the PSO framework, with the goal of effectively regulating the velocity updates of the original PSO, thus improving its overall performance. By using the trailing mode, agents are continuously introduced to track molecules with higher concentrations, thus guiding the PSO’s particles towards optimal fitness locations. We evaluated the performance of the PSO-SAO, PSO, and SAO algorithms using a set of 37 benchmark functions categorized into unimodal and non-separable (UN), multimodal and non-separable (MS), and unimodal and separable (US) classes. The PSO-SAO achieved better convergence towards global solutions, performing better than the original PSO in 76% of the assessed functions. Specifically, it achieved a faster convergence rate and achieved a maximum fitness value of −2.02180678324 when tested on the Adjiman test function at a hopping frequency of 9. Consequently, these results underscore the potential of PSO-SAO for solving engineering problems effectively, such as in vehicle routing, network design, and energy system optimization. These findings serve as an initial stride towards the formulation of a robust hyperparameter tuning strategy applicable to supervised machine learning and deep learning models, particularly in the domains of natural language processing and path-loss modeling.
A New Smith Predictor Motor Control System to Reduce Disturbance Effects Caused by Unknown Terrain Slopes in Mobile Robots
Authors: Mehallel Aissa , Mérida-Calvo Luis , Rivas-Perez Raúl , Feliu-Batlle Vicente
Published: January 2024

Accurate trajectory tracking is a paramount objective when a mobile robot must perform complicated tasks. In high-speed movements, hardware-induced delays may produce overshoots and even instability when controlling the system. In this case, Smith predictor controllers can be used because they are well suited for delayed processes. This paper addresses the accurate positioning of a mobile robot on a terrain of an unknown slope. This slope produces disturbance torques of unknown amplitudes in the robot actuators that yield a steady-state error in the positioning. Because our actuators are integrating plus time delay plants, the standard Smith predictor cannot remove these disturbances. This paper proposes a modification of this control scheme in order to remove these disturbances yielding a zero steady-state error in the actuators. Our new scheme is compared with other modified SPs existing in the literature by means of simulations. These simulations show the superior performance of our scheme in the sense of removing the steady-state error more efficiently (i.e., faster) than other schemes. Finally, the performance of our control scheme is tested experimentally in a low-cost mobile robot.
Tolerance of Forage Grass to Abiotic Stresses by Melatonin Application: Effects, Mechanisms, and Progresses
Authors: Fan Yufeng , Li Lingling , Guo Fenghui , Hou Xiangyang
Published: January 2024

Climate change related abiotic stress has been potentially impacting the quantity and quality of forage grass. Melatonin, a multifunctional molecule that has been found to be present in all plants examined to date, plays a crucial role in improving forage grass tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, research on melatonin’s role in forage grass is still developing. In this review, the effects of melatonin application on abiotic stress are the primary topic, and we try to find relative mechanisms. In order to determine whether melatonin has a good effect on forage grass, we compared and summarized the adapting ability of different forage grasses under abiotic stress after melatonin application in aspects of growth and development, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, plant hormone interactions, and ion homeostasis. According to part of the data, we found that different forage grasses exhibited varying responses to endogenous melatonin content and exogenous melatonin dose applications. Meanwhile, the regulatory mechanisms of melatonin application include the expression of chlorophyll synthesis and degradation genes, electron transport and phosphorylation genes, stress regulation pathway genes, and plant hormone synthesis genes. We propose possible future studies that can further explore the metabolic pathways of melatonin and the molecular mechanisms of melatonin regulation of abiotic stress in forage grass. Specifically, research can focus on elucidating the signaling pathways, gene expression of regulatory networks, and interactions with other plant hormones. This will provide valuable theoretical and practical guidance for adapting to climate change and forage grass development.
Comparative Assessment of the Nutritional and Sanogenic Features of Certain Cheese Sorts Originating in Conventional Dairy Farms and in “Mountainous” Quality System Farms
Authors: Maciuc Vasile , Pânzaru Claudia , Ciocan-Alupii Maria , Radu-Rusu Cristina-Gabriela , Radu-Rusu Răzvan-Mihail
Published: January 2024

In order to highlight the influence of cattle farming systems on dairy products, assessments were carried out on certain varieties of cheese—marked with the “Mountain product” quality label in comparison with those conventionally produced ones not bearing the quality label. The study was carried out using products obtained from raw milk issued from seven farms and transformed into cheese in four small dairy factories from the mountainous area of Dornelor Basin, Suceava County, Northeastern Romania. The analyzed cheese issued from the “mountain” production system were “Călimani” Schweizer, “Călimani” Cașcaval, “Călimani” smoked Cașcaval, and “Călimani” Telemea—salty brined cheese. Both the “Mountain cheese” and conventional cheese samples produced throughout the same shift were collected and kept under refrigeration conditions until laboratory analysis in order to compare the production systems. The physico-chemical analysis revealed higher amounts of minerals (2.8 to 10.7% Ca; 2.8 to 9.5% P; 12.3% to double the amount of Fe, p < 0.001) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (+5.6 to +13.7%), in mountain cheeses versus the conventionally processed ones. Also, the sanogenic indices had higher values in the “Mountain cheese”, such as the polyunsaturation index (+4.3 to 7.8%) and hypocholesterolic/hypercholesterolic fatty acid ratio (+1.8 to 3.7%), while the atherogenic index and the thrombogenic index had lower values (−1.9 to −4.3%) compared to the conventionally produced cheese, thus revealing healthier properties for consumers. The Enterobacteriaceae family species were identified in “Mountain cheese”, while they were absent from conventionally processed cheese, knowing the raw matter milk is thermally treated at ultra-high temperatures in the latter ones. In the “Mountain cheese”, such microorganisms were found within the safety regulation limits and contributed to providing flavor, taste, color, and specific texture, making it superior in terms of sensorial quality compared to the conventionally produced cheese.
Effects of a Delayed Harvest and Additives on the Fermentation Quality of Corn Stalk Silage
Authors: Wang Li-Li , Li Yan-Fen , Yu Young-Sang , Kim Hak-Jin , Lee Won-Jin , Kim Jong-Geun
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the effects of harvest time, cellulase, lactic acid bacteria, and ensiling with alfalfa hay on the chemical parameters, bacterial community composition, and fermentation of corn stalk silage. Corn stalks were ensiled after the ear harvest at 0 days (D0) and 20 days (D20). Each harvest was treated with alfalfa hay [AL, 5% of fresh matter (FM)], Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) (1 × 106 CFU/g of FM), Trichoderma cellulase (TC) (100 mg/kg of FM), or both Lp and TC (Lp+TC). The silos were opened after 60 days of fermentation. The dry matter (DM) content of raw materials increased from 18.79% to 28.32% with the harvest time. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content also significantly increased (p < 0.05), while water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). After 60 days, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ADF contents increased, and all chemical composition and fermentation state parameters of silages had significant differences (p < 0.05) with the harvest time. Compared with the control group, the AL treatment resulted in higher (p < 0.05) DM and crude protein (CP) contents, and the Lp+TC treatment resulted in a lower NDF (p < 0.05) content. For D0, the TC and Lp+TC treatments resulted in a higher WSC content and lower NDF and ADF contents than in D20. Meanwhile, the ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) content in each treatment was less than 10% of the DM. The pH values were all approximately 3.70. The AL treatment significantly increased the lactic acid (LA) content and lactic/acetic acid ratio (LA/AA). Additionally, the silages had a similar microbial environment before and after fermentation. We recommend harvesting corn stalks for silage immediately after the corn ear harvest. Adding cellulase improved the corn stalk feed value, and ensiling with alfalfa hay improved its fermentation quality.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Scale Weed Segmentation Method Based on Image Analysis Technology for Enhanced Accuracy of Maize Seedling Counting
Authors: Yang Tianle , Zhu Shaolong , Zhang Weijun , Zhao Yuanyuan , Song Xiaoxin , Yang Guanshuo , Yao Zhaosheng , Wu Wei , Liu Tao , Sun Chengming , Zhang Zujian
Published: January 2024

The number of maize seedlings is a key determinant of maize yield. Thus, timely, accurate estimation of seedlings helps optimize and adjust field management measures. Differentiating “multiple seedlings in a single hole” of maize accurately using deep learning and object detection methods presents challenges that hinder effectiveness. Multivariate regression techniques prove more suitable in such cases, yet the presence of weeds considerably affects regression estimation accuracy. Therefore, this paper proposes a maize and weed identification method that combines shape features with threshold skeleton clustering to mitigate the impact of weeds on maize counting. The threshold skeleton method (TS) ensured that the accuracy and precision values of eliminating weeds exceeded 97% and that the missed inspection rate and misunderstanding rate did not exceed 6%, which is a significant improvement compared with traditional methods. Multi-image characteristics of the maize coverage, maize seedling edge pixel percentage, maize skeleton characteristic pixel percentage, and connecting domain features gradually returned to maize seedlings. After applying the TS method to remove weeds, the estimated R2 is 0.83, RMSE is 1.43, MAE is 1.05, and the overall counting accuracy is 99.2%. The weed segmentation method proposed in this paper can adapt to various seedling conditions. Under different emergence conditions, the estimated R2 of seedling count reaches a maximum of 0.88, with an RMSE below 1.29. The proposed approach in this study shows improved weed recognition accuracy on drone images compared to conventional image processing methods. It exhibits strong adaptability and stability, enhancing maize counting accuracy even in the presence of weeds.
Development and Optimization of a Rapid In Vitro Micropropagation System for the Perennial Vegetable Night Lily, Hemerocallis citrina Baroni
Authors: Zuo Gaoya , Li Ke , Guo Yining , Niu Xiaorun , Yin Lijin , Wu Zhiqiang , Zhang Xiaomin , Cheng Xiaojing , Yu Jie , Zheng Shaowen , Wang Yanfang , Xing Guoming , Li Sen , Hou Feifan
Published: January 2024

The perennial herbaceous night lily, Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, is an important vegetable crop with an increasing production and consumption in China. The long lifecycle and slow growth of the night lily are becoming bottlenecks for the large-scale production of elite lines and various genetic and breeding studies. There is a lack of a protocol for rapid and efficient micropropagation for this crop. Here, we reported the systematic investigation and optimization of in vitro plant regeneration through tissue-culture-based organogenesis in the night lily variety ‘Datong Huanghua’. We evaluated various factors affecting the efficiency of callus induction and subculture, shoot regeneration, rooting and plantlet establishment, including explant type and age, inoculation methods, basal culture media and the type and concentration of plant growth regulator (phytohormones) in various growth media. We developed an optimized protocol, as follows. The highest efficiency of callus induction was observed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplied with 22.7 µM TDZ (thidiazuron) using the young scape (flower stem or stalk) as the explant, which was cut longitudinally in half to produce a segment approximately 0.5 cm in length. Callus subculture and proliferation were more efficient on MS medium containing 9.0 µM 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) under light culture conditions. Shoot regeneration showed the highest efficiency on MS medium supplemented with 8.9 µM 6-BA (6-benzylaminopurine) + 5.4 µM NAA (α-naphthaleneacetic acid), while the best rooting medium was MS medium containing 2.7 µM NAA. After transplanting, the transplanted regenerated seedlings showed the highest survival rate (96%) on a substrate mixture with a 2:1:1 ratio of peat/perlite/vermiculite. A protocol and flowchart for the rapid in vitro micropropagation of night lily plants is proposed that will facilitate various genetic, genomic and breeding studies on this crop.
Research Needs and Pathways to Advance Hydrothermal Carbonization Technology
Authors: Dang Chau Huyen , Cappai Giovanna , Chung Jae-Wook , Jeong Changyoon , Kulli Beatrice , Marchelli Filippo , Ro Kyoung S. , Román Silvia
Published: January 2024

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a proven cost-effective and energy-efficient method for waste management and value-added product recovery. There are, however, several issues that require further improvement or research. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of HTC in comparison to traditional pyrolysis is crucial for scientists to choose between them or use both (complementary) to achieve specific product properties. Additionally, sharing information on diverse modeling approaches and scales is crucial to enhance the robustness and universality of HTC process models. In addition, the study on the applicability of hydrochars on target applications such as soil amendment is crucial to give back nutrients to soils and face the dependence on finite specific feedstocks in this field. Also, proper management of the process by-products, especially process water, must be addressed to improve the carbon and hydric footprint of the process. Reviewing the suitability of HTC to treat specific challenging wastes, whose strength is not related to their calorific value but to their nutrient composition (i.e., manures), is also an appealing topic for HTC research. This paper aims to tackle the above-mentioned issues through an updated review and discussion of research gaps that require further investigation.
The Effects of Caustic Soda and Benzocaine on Directed Grooming to the Eyestalk in the Glass Prawn, Palaemon elegans, Are Consistent with the Idea of Pain in Decapods
Authors: Barr Stuart , Elwood Robert W.
Published: January 2024

Acceptance of the possibility of pain in animals usually requires that various criteria are fulfilled. One such criterion is that a noxious stimulus or wound would elicit directed rubbing or grooming at the site of the stimulus. There is also an expectation that local anaesthetics would reduce these responses to damage. These expectations have been fulfilled in decapod crustaceans but there has been criticism of a lack of replication. Here, we report an experiment on the effects of a noxious chemical, sodium hydroxide, applied to one eyestalk of the glass prawn. This caused an immediate escape tail-flick response. It then caused nipping and picking with the chelipeds at the treated eyestalk but much less so at the alternative eyestalk. Prior treatment with benzocaine also caused an immediate tail-flick and directed behaviour, suggesting that this agent is aversive. Subsequently, however, it reduced the directed behaviour caused by caustic soda. We thus demonstrated responses that are consistent with the idea of pain in decapod crustaceans.
Genotyping KIF1C (c.608G>A) Mutant Reveals a Wide Distribution of Progressive Ataxia in German Charolais Cattle
Authors: Bischofberger Felix Manuel , Reinartz Sina , Distl Ottmar
Published: January 2024

Bovine progressive ataxia in Charolais cattle was first described in the 1970s; then, cases were reported in Charolais worldwide. A homozygous loss-of-function mutation within the KIF1C gene (c.608G>A) was found to be responsible for this neurodegenerative disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether the mutated KIF1C allele segregates in the German Charolais population and whether the estimated breeding values for growth and muscle conformation are associated with the mutated genotypes. Genetic test results of the KIF1C:c.608G>A variant were available for 1315 Charolais cattle from 35 herds located in Germany. In addition, 324 samples from eight other beef cattle breeds were tested for the mutated KIF1C allele. We were able to demonstrate that the KIF1C mutation is common, with a frequency of 11.75% in the German Charolais population. All but two of the eight (2/8 = 25%) homozygous mutated individuals showed clinical signs consistent with progressive ataxia. The estimated breeding values of muscle conformation in 200- and 365-day-old animals indicated a significant superiority for homozygous mutated animals when compared either with heterozygous or homozygous wild-type genotypes; this was also the case for heterozygous genotypes in comparison with homozygous wild-type genotypes. For the estimated breeding values of daily weight gain in 200- and 365-day-old animals, the significant differences between homozygous mutated and heterozygous or wild-type genotypes were in favour of the homozygous mutant animals. There were no differences in the estimated maternal breeding values among all three KIF1C genotypes. For the first time, two German Angus cattle carrying the KIF1C mutation heterozygous were detected. The breeders’ survey highlighted that increased awareness would facilitate increased conviction among breeders of the need for genetic testing in order to eliminate the lethal KIF1C allele.
Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Relationship between Reproductive Performance and the Presence of Antibodies against Coxiellosis in Dairy Farm Milk Tanks in the Northwest of Spain
Authors: Yáñez Uxía , Álvarez Jacobo , Pisón Cristina , Acción Antía , Becerra Juan J. , Jiménez Antonio , Gisbert Philippe , Herradón Pedro G. , Peña Ana I. , Prieto Alberto , Díaz-Cao José M. , Quintela Luis A.
Published: January 2024

Q fever is a zoonotic disease that has been associated with reproductive problems in animals. As there is little epidemiological data regarding the distribution and risk factors of this disorder in cattle, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii among dairy herds in the northwest of Spain, and to determine the on-farm risk factors associated with the disease and its effects on reproductive performance. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were collected from 262 commercial dairy herds from A Coruña, Lugo, and Pontevedra provinces. Data about location, mean age, and herd management features were obtained. A commercial indirect ELISA kit was used to determine the presence of antibodies against C. burnetii in BTM samples. The relationship between seropositivity to C. burnetii and the risk factors was checked using a Pearson’s χ2 test and a classification tree analysis. In addition, a one-way ANOVA test and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to check the impact of seropositivity to C. burnetii on reproductive performance. A total of 60.1% of the farms tested positive for coxiellosis, the herd size, the external purchase of livestock, and the geographical area were identified as the main risk factors. Conception rate and first-service conception rate were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in positive farms (37.1 and 32.9%) compared to negative farms (39.8 and 36.1%). Similarly, positive farms had significant higher incidence of endometritis (13.7% vs. 11.2%, p < 0.05). Consequently, a high seropositivity and slightly negative effects of coxiellosis on reproductive performance were observed, which intensifies the need for further research, including the identification an active infection in positive herds and the characterization of the genotype.
Influence of Grazing on Canola Grain, Canola Forage Yield, and Beef Cattle Performance
Authors: Lauriault Leonard M. , Angadi Sangu V. , Duff Glenn C. , Scholljegerdes Eric J. , Darapuneni Murali K. , Martinez Gasper K.
Published: January 2024

Interest is increasing in grazing winter canola (Brassica napus) as an alternative crop in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) rotations in the Southern High Plains (SHP) of the USA and similar environments. In this stidy, winter cereal rye (Secale cereale) and winter canola pastures (forage) were compared for two winter growing seasons at New Mexico State University’s Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM, USA, to determine the relative effect of pasture type on late-gestation beef cows and growing yearling cattle, along with the effect of grazing on canola grain production. Canola grain yields were reduced by 25% when canola was grazed until removal approximately one month after grazing was initiated, but before the onset of rapid regrowth after winter (641 vs. 486 kg grain ha−1 for never grazed or grazed canola, respectively, p < 0.0256). No differences existed for forage mass, nutritive value, or animal performance, although forage mineral composition of canola could be a concern. Grazing winter canola as a dual-purpose crop in the SHP and similar environments is feasible when proper grazing management is applied; producers should anticipate a 20–25% reduction in grain yield, but expect animal gains to offset that loss.
Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Zoo Animals and Phylogenetic Characterization of Toxascaris leonina (Linstow, 1902) and Baylisascaris transfuga (Rudolphi, 1819) in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China
Authors: Cai Weimin , Zhu Yu , Wang Feiyan , Feng Qianqian , Zhang Zhizhi , Xue Nianyu , Xu Xun , Hou Zhaofeng , Liu Dandan , Xu Jinjun , Tao Jianping
Published: January 2024

The burden of gastrointestinal parasites in zoo animals has serious implications for their welfare and the health of veterinarians and visitors. Zhuyuwan Zoo is located in the eastern suburb of Yangzhou city in eastern China, in which over 40 species of zoo animals are kept. In order to understand the infection status of GI parasites in Zhuyuwan Zoo, a total of 104 fresh fecal samples collected randomly from birds (n = 19), primates (n = 19), and non-primate mammals (n = 66) were analyzed using the saturated saline flotation technique and nylon sifter elutriation and sieving method for eggs/oocysts, respectively. Two Ascaris species were molecularly characterized. The results showed that the overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 42.3% (44/104). The parasitic infection rate in birds, primates, and non-primate mammals were 26.3% (5/19), 31.6% (6/19), and 50.0% (33/66), respectively. A total of 11 species of parasites were identified, namely, Trichostrongylidae, Capillaria sp., Trichuris spp., Strongyloides spp., Amidostomum sp., Toxascaris leonina, Baylisascaris transfuga, Parascaris equorum, Paramphistomum spp., Fasciola spp., and Eimeria spp. Paramphistomum spp. eggs were first detected from the captive Père David’s deer, and Fasciola spp. eggs were first reported from sika deer in zoo in China. A sequence analysis of ITS-2 and cox1 showed that the eggs isolated from the African lion (Panthera leo Linnaeus, 1758) were T. leonina, and the eggs from the brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) were B. transfuga. The public health threat posed by these potential zoonotic parasitic agents requires attention. These results lay a theoretical foundation for prevention and control of wild animal parasitic diseases at zoos in China.
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Plant Intake in Laying Hens: n-Alkanes as Predictive Fecal Markers for Dietary Composition Assessment
Authors: Dardabou Laid , Martínez-Ávila José Carlos , Schmidt Markus Werner , Dublecz Károly , Schwarz Christiane , Ibáñez Miguel Angel , Gierus Martin
Published: January 2024

The shift in animal welfare standards towards free-range housing for laying hens in the EU has raised questions about changes in dietary composition. Accurate assessment of outdoor plant material intake is crucial for effective feeding strategies. This study introduces an approach using n-alkanes as markers to determine plant intake in laying hens, involving n-alkane recovery rate assessment, discriminant analysis and linear equation-solving for both qualitative and quantitative assessment, respectively, considering systematic n-alkane combinations. Two diets: a standard commercial diet and a diet incorporating 1% alfalfa were tested. Chemical analyses showed an altered n-alkane profile due to alfalfa inclusion, resulting a recovery rates ranging from 30–44% depending on the n-alkane type and diet. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in recovery rates among the different alkanes for the same diets and between the diets for the same alkane, together with an interaction between n-alkane carbon chain length and initial concentration in the diet. The method accurately predicted plant inclusion, with a slight overestimation (2.80%) using the combination C25-C29-C33. Accurate qualitative classification of the animals based on fecal n-alkanes profiles was observed. The study successfully demonstrated the utility of n-alkanes for estimating dietary composition, providing a non-invasive approach for future free-range studies.
The Role of Prophage ϕSa3 in the Adaption of Staphylococcus aureus ST398 Sublineages from Human to Animal Hosts
Authors: Saei Habib Dastmalchi , McClure Jo-Ann , Kashif Ayesha , Chen Sidong , Conly John M. , Zhang Kunyan
Published: January 2024

Staphylococcus aureus sequence type (ST) 398 is a lineage affecting both humans and livestock worldwide. However, the mechanisms underlying its clonal evolution are still not clearly elucidated. We applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) typing to 45 S. aureus strains from China and Canada between 2005 and 2014, in order to gain insight into their evolutionary pathway. Based on WGS phylogenetic analysis, 42 isolates were assigned to the human-associated clade (I/II-GOI) and 3 isolates to livestock-associated clade (IIa). Phylogeny of ϕSa3 sequences revealed five phage groups (Groups 1–5), with Group 1 carrying ϕSa3-Group 1 (ϕSa3-G1), Group 2 carrying ϕSa3-G2, Group 3 carrying ϕSa3-G3, Group 4 carrying ϕSa3-G4 and Group 5 lacking ϕSa3. ϕSa3-G1 was only found in strains that accounted for the most ancestral human clade I, while ϕSa3-G2, ϕSa3-G3 and ϕSa3-G4 were found restricted to sublineages within clade II-GOI. Some isolates of clade II-GOI were also found to be ϕSa3-negative or resistant to methicillin which are unusual characteristics for human-adapted isolates. This study demonstrated a strong association between phylogenetic grouping and phage type, suggesting an important role of ϕSa3 prophage in the evolution of human-adapted ST398 subclones. In addition, our results suggest that this subclone slowly began to adapt to animal hosts by losing ϕSa3 and acquiring methicillin resistance, which was observed in some strains of human-associated clade II-GOI, an intermediate human to livestock transmission clade.
The Impact of Heterologous Regulatory Genes from Lipodepsipeptide Biosynthetic Gene Clusters on the Production of Teicoplanin and A40926
Authors: Zhukrovska Kseniia , Binda Elisa , Fedorenko Victor , Marinelli Flavia , Yushchuk Oleksandr
Published: January 2024

StrR-like pathway-specific transcriptional regulators (PSRs) function as activators in the biosynthesis of various antibiotics, including glycopeptides (GPAs), aminoglycosides, aminocoumarins, and ramoplanin-like lipodepsipeptides (LDPs). In particular, the roles of StrR-like PSRs have been previously investigated in the biosynthesis of streptomycin, novobiocin, GPAs like balhimycin, teicoplanin, and A40926, as well as LDP enduracidin. In the current study, we focused on StrR-like PSRs from the ramoplanin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) in Actinoplanes ramoplaninifer ATCC 33076 (Ramo5) and the chersinamycin BGC in Micromonospora chersina DSM 44151 (Chers28). Through the analysis of the amino acid sequences of Ramo5 and Chers28, we discovered that these proteins are phylogenetically distant from other experimentally investigated StrR PSRs, although all StrR-like PSRs found in BGCs for different antibiotics share a conserved secondary structure. To investigate whether Ramo5 and Chers28, given their phylogenetic positions, might influence the biosynthesis of other antibiotic pathways governed by StrR-like PSRs, the corresponding genes (ramo5 and chers28) were heterologously expressed in Actinoplanes teichomyceticus NRRL B-16726 and Nonomuraea gerenzanensis ATCC 39727, which produce the clinically-relevant GPAs teicoplanin and A40926, respectively. Recombinant strains of NRRL B-16726 and ATCC 39727 expressing chers28 exhibited improved antibiotic production, although the expression of ramo5 did not yield the same effect. These results demonstrate that some StrR-like PSRs can “cross-talk” between distant biosynthetic pathways and might be utilized as tools for the activation of silent BGCs regulated by StrR-like PSRs.
Mechanism of Antiradical Activity of Coumarin-Trihydroxybenzohydrazide Derivatives: A Comprehensive Kinetic DFT Study
Authors: Milanović Žiko , Dimić Dušan , Avdović Edina H. , Simijonović Dušica M. , Nakarada Đura , Jakovljević Vladimir , Vojinović Radiša , Marković Zoran S.
Published: January 2024

As part of this study, the mechanisms of the antioxidant activity of previously synthesized coumarin–trihydrobenzohydrazine derivatives were investigated: (E)-2,4-dioxo-3-(1-(2-(2″,3″,4″-trihydroxybenzoyl)hydrazineyl)ethylidene)chroman-7-yl acetate (1) and (E)-2,4-dioxo-3-(1-(2-(3″,4″,5″-trihydroxybenzoyl)hydrazineyl)ethylidene)chroman-7-yl acetate (2). The capacity of the compounds to neutralize HO• was assessed by EPR spectroscopy. The standard mechanisms of antioxidant action, Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT), Sequential Proton Loss followed by Electron Transfer (SPLET), Single-Electron Transfer followed by Proton Transfer (SET-PT), and Radical Adduct/Coupling Formation (RAF/RCF) were examined using the QM-ORSA methodology. It was estimated that the newly synthesized compounds, under physiological conditions, exhibited antiradical activity via SPLET and RCF mechanisms. Based on the estimated overall rate constants (koverall), it can be concluded that 2 exhibited a greater antiradical capacity. The obtained values indicated a good correlation with the EPR spectroscopy results. Both compounds exhibit approximately 1.5 times more activity in comparison to the precursor compound used in the synthesis (gallic acid).
Acute Antioxidant Response to Two Types of Exercises: 2000 M Run vs. Burpee Test
Authors: Carrera-Quintanar Lucrecia , Funes Lorena , Herranz-López María , Vicente-Salar Néstor , Mielgo-Ayuso Juan , Moya-Ramón Manuel , Pons Antoni , Micol Vicente , Roche Enrique
Published: January 2024

Physical activity results in oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased production of reactive oxygen, nitrogen species, and inflammatory mediators. The management of these components is instrumental for antioxidant adaptation to exercise and post-exercise recovery. Therefore, the present report aims to study the antioxidant response to two types of exercise (a 2000 m run and a burpee test) in healthy volunteers after a long period of inactivity (1–2 months). Antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers (protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde content) were measured in neutrophils, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and plasma. These parameters were determined under basal conditions and immediately post-exercise. Compared to those in basal state, neutrophil superoxide dismutase (28.3 vs. 22.9 pkat/109 cells), glutathione peroxidase (147.5 vs. 120.1 nkat/109 cells), and catalase (106.3 vs. 57.9 k/109 cells) were activated significantly (p < 0.05) after the burpee test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibited only significant (p < 0.05) catalase activation (113.6 vs. 89.4 k/109 cells) after the burpee test. Other enzymes, such as glutathione reductase and myeloperoxidase, tended to increase post-exercise, although the differences from baseline were not significant. Finally, compared to basal conditions, the protein carbonyl (24.5 vs. 14.5 mmol/L) and malondialdehyde (39.6 vs. 18.3 mmol/L) contents increased significantly (p < 0.05) in neutrophils and in plasma (115.1 vs. 97.8 and 130.2 vs. 123.4 μmol/L, respectively) after the burpee test. In conclusion, high-intensity exercise seems to induce immediate oxidative stress in inactive individuals, and the acute antioxidant response was slightly greater after the burpee test than after the 2000 m run. Glutathione-dependent antioxidant systems are activated immediately as protective mechanisms.
Impact of Part Positioning along Chamber Z-Axis and Processing Parameters in Selective Laser Sintering on Polyamide Properties
Authors: Pilipović Ana , Ilinčić Petar , Tujmer Mislav , Rujnić Havstad Maja
Published: January 2024

Additive manufacturing procedures are being increasingly developed, from prototyping to finished functional products. However, their rapid development also brings along the testing of properties with different manufacturing parameters. In selective laser sintering, the most influential manufacturing parameter is the energy density, which also consists, among other things, of the hatch distance. For better usage of the entire chamber and a reduction in the overall price of the finished product, in practice, the manufacturing of products at different heights (levels) of the working chamber with different orientations is inevitable. The study examines how hatch distance and product orientation impact the tensile strength and dimensional stability of polyamide products across two levels within the chamber. Upon analysis, it was observed that manufacturing products at different levels within the working chamber does not influence their dimensions. Achieving precise product dimensions comparable to those in the CAD model is possible. Furthermore, the same factors (orientation and hatch distance) and their combinations affect the length, thickness, and width of the product. Although all test specimens were tested, a tensile strength analysis of variance (ANOVA) of test specimens produced at the lower level of the chamber with a combination of hatch distance (ranging from 0.23 to 0.6 mm) and orientation (ranging from 0° to 60°) was not feasible in the design of the experiment. Despite this limitation, it was noted that both chamber levels had the potential to reach a maximum tensile strength of 47 N/mm2. Nevertheless, the average tensile strength of PA12, obtained through combinations of input factors, stood at only 30 N/mm2, which is quite a low value for polyamide made by selective laser sintering.
Construction Project Cost Prediction Method Based on Improved BiLSTM
Authors: Wang Chaoxue , Qiao Jiale
Published: January 2024

In construction project management, accurate cost forecasting is critical for ensuring informed decision making. In this article, a construction cost prediction method based on an improved bidirectional long- and short-term memory (BiLSTM) network is proposed to address the high interactivity among construction cost data and difficulty in feature extraction. Firstly, the correlation between cost-influencing factors and the unilateral cost is calculated via grey correlation analysis to select the characteristic index. Secondly, a BiLSTM network is used to capture the temporal interactions in the cost data at a deep level, and the hybrid attention mechanism is incorporated to enhance the model’s feature extraction capability to comprehensively capture the interactions among the features in the cost data. Finally, a hyperparameter optimisation method based on the improved particle swarm optimisation algorithm is proposed using the prediction accuracy as the fitness function of the algorithm. The MAE, RMSE, MPE, MAPE, and coefficient of determination of the simulated prediction results of the proposed method on the dataset are 7.487, 8.936, 0.236, 0.393, and 0.996%, respectively, where MPE is a positive coefficient. This avoids the serious consequences of underestimating the cost. Compared with the unimproved BiLSTM, the MAE, RMSE, and MAPE are reduced by 15.271, 18.193, and 0.784%, respectively, which reflects the superiority and effectiveness of the method and can provide technical support for project cost estimation in the construction field.
Optimization of Customized Industrial Pneumatic Nozzle to Reduce Noise Emissions
Authors: Maffiodo Daniela , Volpiano Riccardo
Published: January 2024

This study proposes a customized industrial nozzle for generating impulsive air jets. It is installed on an automatic machine in which wine caps are stacked and shot consecutively into a rotating cylinder by an air jet. This process is very noisy; hence, this study aimed to investigate possible geometric variations of the nozzle that can reduce the emitted noise. First, the nozzle was tested in a laboratory to measure the air consumptions at different supply pressures. Subsequently, 3D models of the nozzle and its variations were created and used for computational fluid dynamics simulations. Different boundary conditions were set, first to validate the model and compare it with the experimental test results, and then to simulate the real working conditions and determine the geometry that is less noisy while maintaining the velocity peak. Among the various possibilities, shortening the final ducts of the nozzle appears to be the most promising solution. These modified nozzles could be easily added to current machines to provide immediate benefits, and this study represents a promising start for action on other machines in which this type of device is present.
A Simulator for Investigation of Breakdown Characteristics of SiC MOSFETs
Authors: Hu Yuanzhao , Liu Fei , Liu Xiaoyan
Published: January 2024

Breakdown characteristics play an important role in silicon carbide (SiC) power devices; however, the wide bandgap of SiC poses a challenge for numerical simulation of breakdown characteristics. In this work, a self-developed simulator employing a novel numerical processing method to prevent convergence issues, based on semi-classical transport models and including several kinds of mobility, generation and recombination models, is used to investigate the performance and breakdown characteristics of 4H-SiC MOSFETs in high-power applications. Good agreement between our simulator and an experiment and commercial TCAD was achieved. The simulator has good stability and convergence and can be used as a powerful tool to design and optimize semiconductor devices. Further, the breakdown characteristics are evaluated with different factors, including lattice temperature, device structure and doping profiles. Our results show that the doping profile plays the most important role in the breakdown voltage, followed by the device structure, while the impact of lattice temperature is found to be minimal.
Optimized Design of Pipe Elbows for Erosion Wear
Authors: Ma Rui , Tang Rui , Gao Zhibo , Yu Tao
Published: January 2024

Multiphase flows are widely used to transport solid–liquid mixtures in oil and gas fields. The pipeline structures used can suffer damage from the high-pressure sand-carrying fracturing fluid, causing erosion and wear failures in the engineering field. In this work, an erosion model that considers particle turbulent kinetic energy and the effect of the design’s structural parameters on the erosion wear of spatial pipe structures is established using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Structural parameters such as the bending diameter ratio, bending angle and spatial angle are discussed, and the location and degree of each parameter with regard to the erosion rate are obtained. The results show that the included angle of the pipe elbow has the greatest influence on erosion wear among the structural parameters. Several typical anti-erosion optimization models are compared and analysed, and a corrugated anti-erosion structure based on a bionic structure is further proposed. It is found that the anti-erosion performance of the T-type blind long header pipe is better in terms of the numerical value of the erosion rate, while for the erosion cloud diagram, the anti-erosion performance of the corrugated structure is superior. Finally, some suggestions for the application of the anti-erosion structure in the engineering field are given, and technical support is provided for the anti-erosion structure design and practical application of space pipeline systems in the future.