bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Physiological Insights into Salt Resistance in Rice through Analysis of Germination, Seedling Traits, and QTL Identification
Authors: Yuan Jie , Wang Qi , Wang Xueying , Yuan Bo , Wang Guojiao , Wang Fengbin , Wang Jiayu
Published: August 2024

Understanding the genetic basis of salt resistance in crops is crucial for agricultural productivity. This study investigates the phenotypic and genetic basis of salt stress response in rice (Oryza sativa L.), focusing on germination and seedling traits. Under salt stress conditions, significant differences were observed in seed germination and seedling traits between parental LH99 (Indica rice LuHui 99) and SN265 (japonica rice ShenNong 265). Transgressive segregation was evident within the RIL population, indicating complex genetic interactions. Nine QTLs were detected at germination and seedling stages under salt stress, namely qSGE5 and qSGE7 for seed germination energy (SGE); qSGP7 for seed germination percentage (SGP); qSSH7, qSSH9-1, and qSSH9-2 for seeding height (SSH); qSRN6 for root number (SRN); and qSDW6 and qSDW9 for dry weight (SDW). Among them, qSSH9-1 and qSDW9 were localized in the same interval, derived from the salt-resistant parent SN265. PCA revealed distinct trait patterns under salt stress, captured by six PCs explaining 81.12% of the total variance. PC composite scores were used to localize a QTL associated with early salt resistance in rice qESC9, which was located in the same interval as qSSH9-1 and qSDW9, and was subsequently unified under the name qESC9, an important QTL for early-growth salt tolerance in rice. Correlation analysis also confirmed a relationship between alleles of qESC9 and the resistance to salt, underscoring the critical role this locus plays in the determination of overall salt tolerance in rice. Physiological analyses of extreme phenotype lines highlighted the importance of ion exclusion mechanisms in salt-resistant lines, while salt-susceptible lines exhibited elevated oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defense, contributing to cellular damage. This comprehensive analysis sheds light on the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying salt stress response in rice, providing valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at enhancing salt resistance in rice.
An Improved Three-Term Conjugate Gradient Algorithm for Constrained Nonlinear Equations under Non-Lipschitz Conditions and Its Applications
Authors: Li Dandan , Li Yong , Wang Songhua
Published: August 2024

This paper proposes an improved three-term conjugate gradient algorithm designed to solve nonlinear equations with convex constraints. The key features of the proposed algorithm are as follows: (i) It only requires that nonlinear equations have continuous and monotone properties; (ii) The designed search direction inherently ensures sufficient descent and trust-region properties, eliminating the need for line search formulas; (iii) Global convergence is established without the necessity of the Lipschitz continuity condition. Benchmark problem numerical results illustrate the proposed algorithm’s effectiveness and competitiveness relative to other three-term algorithms. Additionally, the algorithm is extended to effectively address the image denoising problem.
Estimation of Anthocyanins in Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Bean Landraces Using Probabilistic Colorimetric Representation with a Neuroevolutionary Approach
Authors: Morales-Reyes José-Luis , Aquino-Bolaños Elia-Nora , Acosta-Mesa Héctor-Gabriel , Márquez-Grajales Aldo
Published: August 2024

The concentration of anthocyanins in common beans indicates their nutritional value. Understanding this concentration makes it possible to identify the functional compounds present. Previous studies have presented color characterization as two-dimensional histograms, based on the probability mass function. In this work, we proposed a new type of color characterization represented by three two-dimensional histograms that consider chromaticity and luminosity channels in order to verify the robustness of the information. Using a neuroevolutionary approach, we also found a convolutional neural network (CNN) for the regression task. The results demonstrate that using three two-dimensional histograms increases the accuracy compared to the color characterization represented by one two-dimensional histogram. As a result, the precision was 93.00 ± 5.26 for the HSI color space and 94.30 ± 8.61 for CIE L*a*b*. Our procedure is suitable for estimating anthocyanins in homogeneous and heterogeneous colored bean landraces.
Evaluation of the Impact of a Less-Invasive Trunk and Pelvic Trauma Protocol on Mortality in Patients with Severe Injury by Interrupted Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Ishida Tokiya , Iwasaki Yudai , Yamamoto Ryohei , Tomita Nozomi , Shinohara Kazuaki , Kawamae Kaneyuki , Yamauchi Masanori
Published: August 2024

Background and Objectives: Minimally invasive trauma management, including interventional radiology and non-operative approaches, has proven effective. Consequently, our hospital established a trauma IVR protocol called “Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital trauma protocol (ONH trauma protocol) in 2013, mainly for trunk trauma. However, the efficacy of the ONH trauma protocol has remained unverified. We aimed to assess the protocol’s impact using interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Ohta Nishinouchi hospital, a tertiary emergency hospital, from January 2004 to December 2019. We included patients aged ≥ 18 years who presented to our institution due to severe trauma characterized by an Abbreviated Injury Scale of ≥3 in any region. The primary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital deaths per 100 transported patients with trauma. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted with in-hospital mortality as the outcome, with no exposure before protocol implementation and with exposure after protocol implementation. Results: Overall, 4558 patients were included in the analysis. The ITSA showed no significant change in in-hospital deaths after protocol induction (level change −1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) −4.82 to 1.84, p = 0.39; trend change −0.044, 95% CI −0.22 to 0.14, p = 0.63). However, the logistic regression analysis revealed a reduced mortality effect following protocol induction (odds ratio: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.66, p < 0.01, average marginal effects: −3.2%, 95% CI: −4.5 to −2.0, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The ITSA showed no association between the protocol and mortality. However, before-and-after testing revealed a positive impact on mortality. A comprehensive analysis, including ITSA, is recommended over before-and-after comparisons to assess the impact of the protocol.
Reports of Batch-Dependent Suspected Adverse Events of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine: Comparison of Results from Denmark and Sweden
Authors: Manniche Vibeke , Schmeling Max , Gilthorpe Jonathan D. , Hansen Peter Riis
Published: August 2024

Background and Objective: An unexpected batch-dependent safety signal for the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was recently identified in a nationwide study from Denmark, but the generalizability of this finding is unknown. Therefore, we compared batch-dependent rates of suspected adverse events (SAEs) reported to national authorities in Denmark and Sweden. Materials and Methods: SAE and vaccine batch data were received from national authorities in Denmark and Sweden, and analyses of heterogeneity in the relationship between numbers of vaccine doses and SAEs per batch were performed, along with comparison of SAE rates and severities for batches that were shared between the two countries. Results: Significant batch-dependent heterogeneity was found in the number of SAEs per 1000 doses for both countries, with batches associated with high SAE rates detected in the early phase of the vaccination campaign and positive correlations observed between the two countries for the severity of SAEs from vaccine batches that they shared. Mild SAEs predominated in the batches used in the early part of the vaccination roll-out, where markedly higher SAE rates per 1000 doses in Denmark for the batches that were shared between the two countries suggested that a large proportion of these SAEs were under-reported in Sweden. Conclusions: The batch-dependent safety signal observed in Denmark and now confirmed in Sweden suggests that early commercial batches of BNT162b2 may have differed from those used later on, and these preliminary and hypothesis-generating results warrant further study.
Local and Systemic Micro-Rheological Changes during Intestinal Anastomosis Operation: A Metabolic Dependence in an Experimental Model
Authors: Varga Adam , Matrai Adam Attila , Bedocs-Barath Barbara , Fazekas Laszlo Adam , Brasil Felipe Salignac , Mehta Aashna , Vanyolos Erzsebet , Deak Adam , Lesznyak Tamas , Peto Katalin , Nemeth Norbert
Published: August 2024

Hemorheological factors may show arterio-venous differences. Alterations in acid-base and metabolic parameters may also influence these factors. However, little is known about changes in micro-rheological parameters during abdominal surgery, influencing splanchnic circulation. In anesthetized pigs, the external jugular vein, femoral artery and vein were cannulated unilaterally, and paramedian laparotomy was performed. In the anastomosis group, after resecting a bowel segment, end-to-end jejuno-jejunostomy was completed. Blood samples (from cannulas and by puncturing the portal vein) were taken before and after the intervention. Hematological, acid-base and blood gas parameters, metabolites, red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation were determined. The highest hematocrit was found in portal blood, increasing further by the end of operation. A significant pH decrease was seen, and portal blood showed the highest lactate and creatinine concentration. The highest RBC aggregation values were found in arterial, the lowest in renal venous blood. The RBC aggregation increased with higher lactate concentration and lower pH. Osmotic gradient deformability declined, with the lowest values in portal and renal venous samples. In conclusion, micro-rheological parameters showed arterio-venous and porto-renal venous differences, influenced by oxygenation level, pH and lactate concentration. The intestinal anastomosis operation caused an immediate micro-rheological deterioration with portal venous dominancy in this experiment.
Estimating Dietary Protein and Sodium Intake with Sodium Removal in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Bontić Ana , Kezić Aleksandra , Pavlović Jelena , Baralić Marko , Gajić Selena , Petrovic Kristina , Ristanović Vidna Karadžić , Petrović Olga , Stjepanović Vera , Stanković Sanja , Radović Milan
Published: August 2024

An increase in dietary protein intake (DPI) carries a risk with respect to increased sodium intake, which further leads to the development of cardiovascular morbidity in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Dialytic (DSR) and urinary sodium removal (USR) are potential indicators of sodium intake. In this single-center cross-sectional study with 60 prevalent PD patients, we analyze the correlation of DPI with sodium intake and the association between residual renal function (RRF) and comorbidity grade, expressed as the Davies score with sodium removal and protein metabolism indices such as normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) and lean body mass (LBM). The value of RRF < 2 mL/min/1.73 m2 is significantly associated with lower USR (p = 0.000) and lower %LBM (p < 0.001). The greatest USR is detected in patients with low Davies comorbidity grade (p = 0.018). Compared to patients with DPI < 0.8 g/kg/day, patients with DPI > 0.8 g/kg/day have a greater sodium intake (3.69 ± 0.71 vs. 2.94 ± 0.86; p < 0.018) and a greater nPCR (p < 0.001). Protein intake is significantly correlated with sodium intake (p = 0.041), but not with total sodium removal (TSR). A strong correlation is observed between sodium intake and TSR (p = 0.000), although single TSR values are not the same as the corresponding sodium intake values. An increasing protein intake implies the necessity to determine both sodium intake and sodium removal. Preservation of RRF has a beneficial role not just in sodium removal, but also in the increase of LBM.
Challenges in Lipidomics Biomarker Identification: Avoiding the Pitfalls and Improving Reproducibility
Authors: von Gerichten Johanna , Saunders Kyle , Bailey Melanie J. , Gethings Lee A. , Onoja Anthony , Geifman Nophar , Spick Matt
Published: August 2024

Identification of features with high levels of confidence in liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) lipidomics research is an essential part of biomarker discovery, but existing software platforms can give inconsistent results, even from identical spectral data. This poses a clear challenge for reproducibility in biomarker identification. In this work, we illustrate the reproducibility gap for two open-access lipidomics platforms, MS DIAL and Lipostar, finding just 14.0% identification agreement when analyzing identical LC–MS spectra using default settings. Whilst the software platforms performed more consistently using fragmentation data, agreement was still only 36.1% for MS2 spectra. This highlights the critical importance of validation across positive and negative LC–MS modes, as well as the manual curation of spectra and lipidomics software outputs, in order to reduce identification errors caused by closely related lipids and co-elution issues. This curation process can be supplemented by data-driven outlier detection in assessing spectral outputs, which is demonstrated here using a novel machine learning approach based on support vector machine regression combined with leave-one-out cross-validation. These steps are essential to reduce the frequency of false positive identifications and close the reproducibility gap, including between software platforms, which, for downstream users such as bioinformaticians and clinicians, can be an underappreciated source of biomarker identification errors.
Effects of Common Anti-Inflammatories on Adenovirus Entry and Their Physicochemical Properties: An In-Depth Study Using Cellular and Animal Models
Authors: Galvan-Salazar Hector R. , Delgado-Machuca Marina , Hernandez-Fuentes Gustavo A. , Aurelien-Cabezas Nomely S. , Rodriguez-Hernandez Alejandrina , Garza-Veloz Idalia , Mendoza-Hernandez Martha A. , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L. , Zaizar-Fregoso Sergio A. , Rodriguez-Sanchez Iram P. , Rojas-Larios Fabian , Del-Toro-Equihua Mario , Ceja-Espiritu Gabriel , Delgado-Enciso Ivan
Published: August 2024

The severity of adenovirus infection or the success of adenovirus-vectorized gene therapy largely depends on the efficiency of viral entry into cells. Various drugs can alter viral entry. This study evaluated the effects of dexamethasone, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and ketorolac on adenovirus entry into cells in vitro and in vivo. SiHa cell cultures pretreated with dexamethasone, paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketorolac, or no drug were exposed to the Ad-BGal vector. The percentage of cells showing vector entry was quantified microscopically. In vivo, BALB-C mice pretreated for 7 days with the drugs or no drug were exposed to the Ad-BGal vector intravenously (IV) or via oral (VO). Organs showing vector entry were identified by X-Gal staining and eosin counterstaining. Hepatic areas with adenovirus entry were quantified in µm2. Dexamethasone, paracetamol, and ibuprofen increased adenovirus entry both in vitro and in vivo. Diclofenac increased entry only in vitro. Ketorolac did not affect adenoviral entry. The liver exhibited the most significant changes, with dexamethasone, paracetamol, and ibuprofen increasing adenovirus entry the most. Oral administration of the vector showed that dexamethasone increased its entry into the pharynx. Some physicochemical properties of the drugs (MW (g/mol), LogP, MR [cm3/mol], tPSA, CMR, LogS, and ClogP) were analyzed, and their possible implications on cell membrane properties that could potentially influence adenovirus entry through mechanisms independent of cellular receptors were discussed. Anti-inflammatory drugs could alter adenoviral infections and adenovirus vector-based gene therapies, necessitating further research.
Research Progress in the Development of Vaccines against Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae
Authors: Wu Shaopeng , Wang Miaoli , Yang Xiaoxue , Zhao Lu , Lan Zouran , Sun Shuhong
Published: August 2024

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are the primary agents responsible for mycoplasma disease in poultry. MG has been identified as a significant cause of chronic respiratory disease in chickens, while MS has been linked to the development of tenosynovitis, joint swelling and other symptoms in chickens, leading to considerable economic losses for the poultry industry. Unfortunately, there is no specific drug for treatment and vaccination is the most important way to control the disease. There are some different types of vaccines, including live vaccines, inactivated vaccines, sub-unit vaccines and vector vaccines. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the development of vaccines for MG and MS.
Impact of Seasonal Variation in Pasture on Rumen Microbial Community and Volatile Fatty Acids in Grazing Yaks: Insights from High-Altitude Environments
Authors: He Shichun , Zhao Shusheng , Wang Zibei , Dai Sifan , Mao Huaming , Wu Dongwang
Published: August 2024

The environment is one of the most important factors influencing the variation and diversity of the host gut microbiome in plateau areas. It is well-established that dietary variations substantially alter the rumen microbiota. However, there is limited research on the response of the rumen microbiota of grazing yaks to changes in seasonal diet composition under high-altitude environments. This study investigates the seasonal variations in rumen fermentation parameters, bacterial, and fungal communities in yaks, with a focus on the cold and warm seasons. Quantitative data revealed that in the cold season, yaks had an increased acetic acid proportion (p < 0.05) and acetic acid/propionic acid ratio (p < 0.05) compared to the warm season. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were 64.67% and 25.82% in the cold season, respectively, and 66.77% and 26.87% in the warm season. The fungal community showed a higher abundance of Ascomycetes (58.72% to 76.91%) and Neocallimastigomycota in the cold season. These findings highlight the adaptation mechanisms of yaks to seasonal dietary changes and their implications for optimizing yak husbandry practices.
Tracing Acinetobacter baumannii’s Journey from Hospitals to Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Gheorghe-Barbu Irina , Dragomir Rares-Ionut , Gradisteanu Pircalabioru Gratiela , Surleac Marius , Dinu Iulia Adelina , Gaboreanu Madalina Diana , Czobor Barbu Ilda
Published: August 2024

Background: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii in aquatic environments and fish microbiota by integrating culture-dependent methods, 16S metagenomics, and antibiotic resistance profiling. Methods: A total of 83 A. baumannii isolates were recovered using culture-dependent methods from intra-hospital infections (IHI) and wastewater (WW) and surface water (SW) samples from two southern Romanian cities in August 2022. The antibiotic susceptibility was screened using disc diffusion, microdilution, PCR, and Whole Genome Sequencing assays. Results: The highest microbial load in the analyzed samples was found in Glina, Bucharest, for both WW and SW samples across all investigated phenotypes. For Bucharest isolates, the resistance levels corresponded to fluoroquinolones > aminoglycosides > β-lactam antibiotics. In contrast, A. baumannii from upstream SW samples in Târgoviște showed the highest resistance to aminoglycosides. The blaOXA-23 gene was frequently detected in IHI, WW, and SW isolates in Bucharest, but was absent in Târgoviște. Molecular phylogeny revealed the presence of ST10 in Târgoviște isolates and ST2 in Bucharest isolates, while other minor STs were not specifically correlated with a sampling point. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, significant differences in microbial populations between the two locations was identified. The low abundance of Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria in both locations suggests environmental pressures or contamination events. Conclusions: These findings indicate significant fecal contamination and potential public health risks, emphasizing the need for improved water quality monitoring and management.
Parvovirus B19 in Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Arvia Rosaria , Stincarelli Maria A. , Manaresi Elisabetta , Gallinella Giorgio , Zakrzewska Krystyna
Published: August 2024

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a human pathogen belonging to the Parvoviridae family. It is widely diffused in the population and responsible for a wide range of diseases, diverse in pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical course, and severity. B19V infects and replicates in erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) in the bone marrow leading to their apoptosis. Moreover, it can also infect, in an abortive manner, a wide set of different cell types, normally non-permissive, and modify their normal physiology. Differences in the characteristics of virus–cell interaction may translate into different pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical outcomes. Joint involvement is a typical manifestation of B19V infection in adults. Moreover, several reports suggest, that B19V could be involved in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune rheumatologic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or vasculitis. This review provides basic information on the B19 virus, highlights characteristics of viral infection in permissive and non-permissive systems, and focuses on recent findings concerning the pathogenic role of B19V in rheumatologic diseases.
A New Generation of Postbiotics for Skin and Scalp: In Situ Production of Lipid Metabolites by Malassezia
Authors: Pagac Martin Patrick , Gempeler Mathias , Campiche Remo
Published: August 2024

Effects of pre- and probiotics on intestinal health are well researched and microbiome-targeting solutions are commercially available. Even though a trend to appreciate the presence of certain microbes on the skin is seeing an increase in momentum, our understanding is limited as to whether the utilization of skin-resident microbes for beneficial effects holds the same potential as the targeted manipulation of the gut microflora. Here, we present a selection of molecular mechanisms of cross-communication between human skin and the skin microbial community and the impact of these interactions on the host’s cutaneous health with implications for the development of skin cosmetic and therapeutic solutions. Malassezia yeasts, as the main fungal representatives of the skin microfloral community, interact with the human host skin via lipid mediators, of which several are characterized by exhibiting potent anti-inflammatory activities. This review therefore puts a spotlight on Malassezia and provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge about these fungal-derived lipid mediators and their capability to reduce aesthetical and sensory burdens, such as redness and itching, commonly associated with inflammatory skin conditions. Finally, several examples of current skin microbiome-based interventions for cosmetic solutions are discussed, and models are presented for the use of skin-resident microbes as endogenous bio-manufacturing platforms for the in situ supplementation of the skin with beneficial metabolites.
Experimental Investigation into Deploying a Wi-Fi6 Mesh System for Underground Gold and Platinum Mine Stopes
Authors: Chetty Brenton Lloyd , Walingo Tom Mmbasu , Kruger Carel Phillip , Isaac Sherrin John
Published: August 2024

Stopes suffer from unreliable wireless communication due to their harsh environment. There is a lack of confidence within industry regarding the effectiveness of existing solutions in providing reliable high-bandwidth performance in hard rock stopes. This work proposes that Wi-Fi6 is a good candidate for reliable high-bandwidth communications in underground hard rock stopes. Experiments in a tunnel and mine stope were conducted to evaluate the performance of Wi-Fi6 in terms of latency, jitter, and throughput. Different criteria, such as multi-hop systems, varying multipath, mesh routing protocols, and frequencies at different bandwidths, were used to evaluate performance. The results show that Wi-Fi6 performance is greater in stopes compared to tunnels. Signal quality evaluations were conducted using the Asus RT-AX53U running OpenWrt, and an additional experiment was conducted on the nrf7002dk running Zephyr OS to evaluate the power consumption of Wi-Fi6 against the industry standard for low-powered wireless communications, IEEE 802.15.4. Wi-Fi6 was found to be more power-efficient than IEEE 802.15.4 for Mbps communications. These experiments highlight the signal robustness of Wi-Fi6 in stope environments and also highlights its low-powered nature. This work also highlights the performance of the two most widely used open-source mesh routing protocols for Wi-Fi.
Full Validation and Application to Clinical Research of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Assessment of Urinary 3-Indoxyl Sulfate in Pediatric Patients with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Authors: Olivetti Christian Ezequiel , Fernández María Florencia , Stojanova Jana , Ruvinsky Silvina , Mangano Andrea , Schaiquevich Paula
Published: August 2024

3-indoxyl sulfate (3-IS) results from a hepatic transformation of indole, a tryptophan degradation product produced by commensal gut bacteria. The metabolite has shown promise as a biomarker of dysbiosis and clinical outcomes following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in adults. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding microbiome health and outcomes in the pediatric HSCT setting. We developed and thoroughly validated an affordable high-performance liquid chromatography/fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) method to quantify 3-IS in urine for use in the pediatric setting. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm × 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of pH 4.0 acetic acid-triethylamine buffer and acetonitrile (88:12, v/v), eluted isocratically at 1 mL/min. 3-IS fluorescence detection was set at excitation/emission of 280 and 375, respectively. The method was fully validated according to FDA-specified limits including selectivity, linearity (0.10 to 10.00 mg/L, r2 > 0.997), intra- and inter-day accuracy, and precision. 3-IS stability was confirmed after three freeze–thaw cycles, for short- and medium-term on a benchtop and at 4 °C and for long-term up to 60 days at −20 °C. The validated method was used to quantify 3-IS in urine samples from HSCT pediatric patients.
Balance of Nitrate and Ammonium in Tropical Soil Conditions: Soil Factors Analyzed by Machine Learning
Authors: Ferraz-Almeida Risely
Published: August 2024

The nitrogen/N dynamic is complex and affected by soil management (i.e., residue accumulation and correction/fertilization). In soil, most of the N is combined with organic matter (organic forms), but the N forms absorbed by plants are ammonium/NH4+ and nitrate/NO3− (inorganic forms). The N recommendation for agriculture crops does not observe the N available in the soil (organic or inorganic), indicating a low efficiency in nitrogen management in soil. Based on the hypothesis that the stocks of NO3− and NH4 can be used as indicative of N status in soil but with high variation according to soil factors (soil uses and management), the objective of the study was to (i) analyze the balance of nitrate and ammonium in tropical soil with different uses and management and (ii) use machine learning to explain the nitrogen dynamic in soil and the balance of nitrate and ammonium. The results showed that soil N stocks and pH promoted the formation of three clusters with the similarity between Cluster 1 (clay texture) and Cluster 2 (loam texture), represented by higher contents of nitrate as a result of high nitrification rate and lower contents of ammonium in soil. Cluster 3 (sand texture) was isolated with different N dynamics in the soil. In agricultural soils, the content of NO3− tends to be higher than the content of NH4+. There is a high nitrification rate in clay soil explained by higher organic matter and clay content that promotes soil biology. Based on the results of machine learning, for clay and loam soil, the contents of NO3 can be used as indicative of N status as a final result of nitrification rate and higher variation in soil. However, in sandy soil, NO3 can not be used as indicative of N status due to N losses by leaching.
Green Tea Catechin Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Vegetative Cell Outgrowth and Expression of Beta-Lactamase Genes in Penicillin-Resistant Bacillus anthracis Strain PCr
Authors: Okutani Akiko , Morikawa Shigeru , Maeda Ken
Published: August 2024

The green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) has antimicrobial effects on many bacteria. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of EGCg on Bacillus anthracis spores and vegetative cells. The B. anthracis spores were insensitive to EGCg, but the growth of vegetative cells derived from germinated spores was inhibited by EGCg. Moreover, EGCg decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration of penicillin and meropenem for penicillin-resistant B. anthracis. In the penicillin-resistant B. anthracis strain, the transcription levels of the beta-lactamase genes (bla1 and bla2) decreased significantly following the treatment with 50 µg/mL EGCg. These results suggest that the appropriate application of EGCg may effectively control the penicillin-resistant B. anthracis growth and beta-lactamase production.
Wittgenstein and Poetry: A Reading of Czeslaw Milosz’s “Realism”
Authors: Macarthur David
Published: August 2024

In this paper I hope to cast light on Wittgenstein enigmatic remark, “one should really only create philosophy poetically”. I discuss Wittgenstein’s ambition to overcome metaphysics by way of an appeal to ordinary language. For this purpose I contrast “realism” in philosophy (i.e., metaphysical realism, particularly its modern scientific version) with “realism” in poetry. My theme is the capacity of poetry to provide a model for Wittgenstein’s resistance to the inhumanity unleashed in metaphysics—exemplified by two distinct forms of skepticism—which obliterates the ordinary world under the guise of discovering its true nature. The poem I shall use to illustrate the difficulty in maintaining our grip on reality, hence our grip on our humanity, is Czeslaw Milosz’s poem “Realism”.
Optical Frequency References at 1542 nm: Precision Spectroscopy of the R(106)50-0, R(100)49-0, R(84)47-0, R(59)45-0, P(82)47-0, and P(71)46-0 Lines of 127I2 at 514 nm
Authors: Matsunaga Shogo , Isawa Yuta , Akamatsu Daisuke , Hong Feng-Lei
Published: August 2024

Frequency-stabilized lasers are fundamental topics in research relating to optical frequency and wavelength standards. The absolute frequencies and hyperfine structures of the R(106)50-0, R(100)49-0, R(84)47-0, R(59)45-0, P(82)47-0, and P(71)46-0 lines of molecular iodine (127I2) at 514 nm were measured using a frequency-stabilized laser based on modulation transfer spectroscopy. The hyperfine splitting of each line was fitted to a four-term Hamiltonian with an uncertainty of several kilohertz to obtain the hyperfine constants for the line. A total of 97 hyperfine transitions of the six lines were measured with an uncertainty of 5.6 kHz (fractionally 9.6 × 10−12). They can provide new optical frequency references for telecommunication and other applications.
Paclobutrazol Enhanced Stem Lodging Resistance of Direct-Seeded Rice by Affecting Basal Internode Development
Authors: Liu Weiyang , Cui Jiehao , Ran Cheng , Zhang Yuchen , Liang Jianuo , Shao Xiwen , Zhang Qiang , Geng Yanqiu , Guo Liying
Published: August 2024

The objectives of this study were to explore the mechanism of stem mechanical strength in direct-seeded rice (DSR) as affected by paclobutrazol, especially its related endogenous hormone and cell wall component changes in culm tissue and response to the application of paclobutrazol. Field experiments were conducted in Changchun County, Jilin Province, China, by using two japonica rice varieties, Jiyujing and Jijing305, with soaking seeds in paclobutrazol at concentrations of (0 mg L−1, S0; 50 mg L−1; S1; 100 mg L−1; S2; 150 mg L−1, S3; 200 mg L−1, S4) in 2021 and 2022. The results suggest that the application of paclobutrazol increased the grain yield and reduced the lodging rate of DSR. Compared with the S0 treatments, soaking the seeds in paclobutrazol treatments rapidly shortened the length of the basal internode by decreasing the endogenous indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin A3 (GA3) contents in culm tissue. The larger breaking strength (M) was attributed to a higher section modulus (SM) and bending stress (BS). The higher mechanical tissue thickness in culm tissue under paclobutrazol treatments, which was raised by higher endogenous zeatin and zeatin riboside (Z+ZR) content in culm tissue, increased the culm diameter, culm wall thickness, and section modulus (SM) of the internode. Compared with the S0 treatments, soaking the seeds in paclobutrazol treatments increased the cellulose content, lignin content, activities of lignin-related enzymes, and expression of key genes in lignin biosynthesis, as well as resulted in a higher bending stress (BS) to enhance the culm breaking strength (M).
Physiological Responses of Crotalaria spp. to the Presence of High Aluminum Availability in the Soil
Authors: dos Santos Beatriz Silvério , Ferreira Tassia Caroline , Olívio Maiara Luzia Grigoli , de Souza Lucas Anjos , de Camargos Liliane Santos
Published: August 2024

Brazilian soils are predominantly rich in aluminum, which becomes mobile at pH < 5, affecting sensitive plants; however, some species have developed aluminum tolerance mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological responses of Crotalaria genus species, family Fabaceae, which have the ability to associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria under the influence of Al3+ in the soil. The soil used was Oxisol; the experimental design was in randomized blocks in a factorial scheme (2 × 3): soil factor (available toxic aluminum content; correction of dolomitic limestone—MgCO3) and species factor (C. juncea; C. spectabilis; C. ochroleuca); cultivated within 43, 53, and 53 days, respectively, with five replications; 30 experimental samples. Mass and length, pigments, gas exchange, and changes in nitrogen metabolism were evaluated. C. juncea showed a higher concentration of amino acids in the leaves, internal carbon, and stomatal conductance in soil with Al3+, as well as higher production of ureides, allantoinic acid, allantoic acid, proteins, and amino acids in the nodules, with 78% of the Al3+ accumulation occurring in the roots. C. ochroleuca demonstrated greater shoot length and nodule number production in limed soil; in soil with Al3+, it showed a 91% increase in chlorophyll a content and 93% in carotenoids. C. spectabilis showed a 93% increase in ureide production in the leaves in soil with Al3+.
Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharide O-Acetyltransferases
Authors: Zhong Ruiqin , Zhou Dayong , Chen Lirong , Rose John P. , Wang Bi-Cheng , Ye Zheng-Hua
Published: August 2024

Plant cell walls are largely composed of polysaccharide polymers, including cellulose, hemicelluloses (xyloglucan, xylan, mannan, and mixed-linkage β-1,3/1,4-glucan), and pectins. Among these cell wall polysaccharides, xyloglucan, xylan, mannan, and pectins are often O-acetylated, and polysaccharide O-acetylation plays important roles in cell wall assembly and disease resistance. Genetic and biochemical analyses have implicated the involvement of three groups of proteins in plant cell wall polysaccharide O-acetylation: trichome birefringence-like (TBL)/domain of unknown function 231 (DUF231), reduced wall acetylation (RWA), and altered xyloglucan 9 (AXY9). Although the exact roles of RWAs and AXY9 are yet to be identified, members of the TBL/DUF231 family have been found to be O-acetyltransferases responsible for the O-acetylation of xyloglucan, xylan, mannan, and pectins. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of O-acetylated cell wall polysaccharides, the biochemical properties, structural features, and evolution of cell wall polysaccharide O-acetyltransferases, and the potential biotechnological applications of manipulations of cell wall polysaccharide acetylation. Further in-depth studies of the biochemical mechanisms of cell wall polysaccharide O-acetylation will not only enrich our understanding of cell wall biology, but also have important implications in engineering plants with increased disease resistance and reduced recalcitrance for biofuel production.
General Relations between Stress Fluctuations and Viscoelasticity in Amorphous Polymer and Glass-Forming Systems
Authors: Semenov Alexander , Baschnagel Jörg
Published: August 2024

Mechanical stress governs the dynamics of viscoelastic polymer systems and supercooled glass-forming fluids. It was recently established that liquids with long terminal relaxation times are characterized by transiently frozen stress fields, which, moreover, exhibit long-range correlations contributing to the dynamically heterogeneous nature of such systems. Recent studies show that stress correlations and relaxation elastic moduli are intimately related in isotropic viscoelastic systems. However, the origin of these relations (involving spatially resolved material relaxation functions) is non-trivial: some relations are based on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT), while others involve approximations. Generalizing our recent results on 2D systems, we here rigorously derive three exact FDT relations (already established in our recent investigations and, partially, in classical studies) between spatio-temporal stress correlations and generalized relaxation moduli, and a couple of new exact relations. We also derive several new approximate relations valid in the hydrodynamic regime, taking into account the effects of thermal conductivity and composition fluctuations for arbitrary space dimension. One approximate relation was heuristically obtained in our previous studies and verified using our extended simulation data on two-dimensional (2D) glass-forming systems. As a result, we provide the means to obtain, in any spatial dimension, all stress-correlation functions in terms of relaxation moduli and vice versa. The new approximate relations are tested using simulation data on 2D systems of polydisperse Lennard–Jones particles.
The Separation of Church and State as an Imperial Project in the Philippines during the Early American Colonial Period
Authors: Xiao Yiwei , Wang Yuanlin
Published: August 2024

This paper examines the separation of church and state in the Philippines during the early American colonial period, contextualizing it within the process of American overseas expansion and considering it as one of the projects of imperial hegemony construction. After the Spanish–American War, the United States substituted Spain as the new colonial ruler of the Philippines, legitimizing its regime as the spread of ‘civilization’ to the Filipinos. On this basis, the Americans enacted laws guaranteeing religious freedom and introduced an American-style institution dealing with church–state relations. Beyond the legal and administrative initiatives, the new regime also constructed an official narrative of the transformation of political–religious relations in the Philippine that emphasized the absolute ‘difference’ between the American human rights principle, which guaranteed freedom of worship, and the Spanish theocracy, which was dedicated to the consolidation of privileges. By legislating the separation of church and state, buying up church properties, recognizing the equality of denominations, and constructing the official imperial narrative of church–state relations, the Americans hoped to ‘teach’ Filipinos that the ‘true’ belief was rooted in the inner convictions of individual Christians, not in the authority and coercion of the hierarchical church. By disciplining the construction of ‘difference’ under tutelary colonialism, the separation of church and state movement initiated by the American colonial government in the Philippines became an important source of imperial self-endowed legitimacy.
Precise Positioning in Nitrogen Fertility Sensing in Maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Setiyono Tri
Published: August 2024

This study documented the contribution of precise positioning involving a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and a real-time kinematic (RTK) system in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, particularly for establishing the coordinate data of ground control points (GCPs). Without augmentation, GNSS positioning solutions are inaccurate and pose a high degree of uncertainty if such data are used in UAV data processing for mapping. The evaluation included a comparative assessment of sample coordinates involving RTK and an ordinary GPS device and the application of precise GCP data for UAV photogrammetry in field crop research, monitoring nitrogen deficiency stress in maize. This study confirmed the superior performance of the RTK system in providing positional data, with 4 cm bias as compared to 311 cm with the non-augmented GNSS technique, making it suitable for use in agronomic research involving row crops. Precise GCP data in this study allow the UAV-based Normalized Difference Red-Edge Index (NDRE) data to effectively characterize maize crop responses to N nutrition during the growing season, with detailed analyses revealing the causal relationship in that a compromised optimum canopy chlorophyll content under limiting nitrogen environment was the reason for reduced canopy cover under an N-deficiency environment. Without RTK-based GCPs, different and, to some degree, misleading results were evident, and therefore, this study warrants the requirement of precise GCP data for scientific research investigations attempting to use UAV photogrammetry for agronomic field crop study.
A Magneto-Electric Device for Fluid Pipelines with Vibration Damping and Vibration Energy Harvesting
Authors: Wang Yi-Ren , Huang Po-Chuan
Published: August 2024

This study introduces an innovative energy harvesting system designed for industrial applications such as fluid pipelines, air conditioning ducts, sewer systems, and subsea oil pipelines. The system integrates magneto-electric flow coupling and utilizes a dynamic vibration absorber (DVA) to mitigate the vibrations induced by fluid flow while simultaneously harvesting energy through magnetic dipole–dipole interactions in a vibration energy harvester (VEH). The theoretical models, based on Hamilton’s Principle and the Biot–Savart Law, were validated through comprehensive experiments. The results indicate the superior performance of the small-magnet system over the large-magnet system in both damping and power generation. The study analyzed the frequency response and energy conversion efficiency across different parameters, including the DVA mass, spring constant, and placement location. The experimental findings demonstrated significant vibration reduction and increased voltage output, validating the theoretical model. This research offers new avenues for energy harvesting systems in pipeline infrastructures, potentially enhancing energy efficiency and structural integrity.
Reconstruction of the Permittivity of Ex Vivo Animal Tissues in the Frequency Range 1–20 GHz Using a Water-Based Dielectric Model
Authors: Liporace Flavia , Ciarleglio Gianluca , Santonicola Maria Gabriella , Cavagnaro Marta
Published: August 2024

Several medical techniques are based on the application of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the human body with therapeutic and/or diagnostic aims. The response of human tissues to the applied EMF is mediated by the tissues’ dielectric properties, which must therefore be characterized at the frequencies of the considered technique. Due to the heterogeneity and complexity of biological tissues, it is necessary to know their properties in vivo for the specific condition of interest. Traditional techniques for the dielectric characterization of biological tissues are invasive and, as such, not adoptable for this aim. Accordingly, alternative sensors and/or sensing methods are needed. Recently, a new wideband spectroscopy technique was proposed, based on quantities derived from the Magnetic Resonance (MRI) signal. Among these quantities, the water content was proposed to evaluate the dielectric properties at frequencies around a few GHz. This work verifies the possibility of deriving tissues’ dielectric properties in the frequency range of 1–20 GHz based on knowledge of the water content. The water content was retrieved through a dehydration procedure for five different ex vivo tissues. The achieved results were compared with references from the literature.
An Anti-Forensics Video Forgery Detection Method Based on Noise Transfer Matrix Analysis
Authors: Bao Qing , Wang Yagang , Hua Huaimiao , Dong Kexin , Lee Feifei
Published: August 2024

The dispute over the authenticity of video has become a hot topic in judicial practice in recent years. Despite detection methods being updated rapidly, methods for determining authenticity have limitations, especially against high-level forgery. Deleting the integral group of pictures (GOP) length in static scenes could remove key information in the video, leading to unjust sentencing. Anyone can conduct such an operation using publicly available software, thus escaping state-of-the-art detection methods. In this paper, we propose a detection method based on noise transfer matrix analysis. A pyramid structure and a weight learning module are adopted to improve the detection rate and reduce the false positive rate. In total, 80 videos were examined through delicate anti-forensic forgery operations to verify the detection performance of the proposed method and three previously reported methods against anti-forensic forgery operations. In addition, two of the latest learning-based methods were included in our experiments to evaluate the proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed method significantly improves the detection of frame deletion points compared with traditional and learning-based methods, especially in low false positive rate (FPR) intervals, which is meaningful in forensic science.
Category-Level Object Pose Estimation with Statistic Attention
Authors: Jiang Changhong , Mu Xiaoqiao , Zhang Bingbing , Liang Chao , Xie Mujun
Published: August 2024

Six-dimensional object pose estimation is a fundamental problem in the field of computer vision. Recently, category-level object pose estimation methods based on 3D-GC have made significant breakthroughs due to advancements in 3D-GC. However, current methods often fail to capture long-range dependencies, which are crucial for modeling complex and occluded object shapes. Additionally, discerning detailed differences between different objects is essential. Some existing methods utilize self-attention mechanisms or Transformer encoder–decoder structures to address the lack of long-range dependencies, but they only focus on first-order information of features, failing to explore more complex information and neglecting detailed differences between objects. In this paper, we propose SAPENet, which follows the 3D-GC architecture but replaces the 3D-GC in the encoder part with HS-layer to extract features and incorporates statistical attention to compute higher-order statistical information. Additionally, three sub-modules are designed for pose regression, point cloud reconstruction, and bounding box voting. The pose regression module also integrates statistical attention to leverage higher-order statistical information for modeling geometric relationships and aiding regression. Experiments demonstrate that our method achieves outstanding performance, attaining an mAP of 49.5 on the 5°2 cm metric, which is 3.4 higher than the baseline model. Our method achieves state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance on the REAL275 dataset.