bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Systemic Immune Inflammatory Index and Prognosis of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Huang Wei , Luo Jiayu , Wen Jianbo , Jiang Mingjun
Published: June 2022

Background

The relationship between systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and the prognosis of cancer has always been a subject of intense interest. However, the prognostic value of SII in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains a controversial topic.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of SII index on prognosis of NSCLC.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases to determine correlation between SII index, clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were used to assess the connection between SII and clinicopathological parameters, and HRs and 95% CIs were used to assess the connection between SII and survival.

Results

Seventeen studies with 8,877 cases were included in the analysis. Compared with NSCLC patients with low SII level, patients with NSCLC with high SII level had a poor OS (HR = 1.75, 95% CI, 1.50–2.00; P < 0.001) and had a poor PFS (HR = 1.61, 95% CI, 1.25–1.96; P < 0.001). In addition, patients with higher pathological stage (II–III) had higher SII levels (OR = 2.32, 95% CI, 2.06–2.62; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The SII index is a promising prognostic biomarker for NSCLC and may help clinicians choose appropriate NSCLC treatments.
Clinical Application of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging in the Resection of Hepatoblastoma: A Single Institution's Experiences
Authors: Shen Yuanchao , Zheng Manna , Li Jiahao , Tan Tianbao , Yang Jiliang , Pan Jing , Hu Chao , Zou Yan , Yang Tianyou
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging is becoming increasingly popular in adult oncologic surgery, but remains relatively uncommon in pediatric oncologic surgery. Herein, we report our experience with the use of ICG fluorescence imaging in the resection of hepatoblastoma (HB).

Patients and Methods

Hepatoblastoma patients who underwent liver resection with ICG fluorescence imaging between January 2020 and March 2021 were included in this study. Patients’ demographic data, clinical information, and detailed information of the use of ICG fluorescence imaging were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Sixteen HB patients underwent ICG fluorescence imaging-guided liver resection. There were 11 males and 5 females, age ranged from 8 to 134 months. The initial alpha-fetoprotein ranged from 436 to 528,390 ng/ml. There were one pre-treatment extent of tumor stage I, nine stage II, four stage III, and two stage IV. Three patients underwent up-front hepatectomy, 13 patients received 2–8 cycles of platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and underwent delayed hepatectomy. ICG (0.5 mg/kg) was given intravenously 48–72 h prior to surgery. The operative time ranged from 180 to 400 min. All patients achieved negative surgical margins. In two patients, ICG identify additional lesions which were not detected in preoperative imaging.

Conclusion

ICG fluorescence imaging is useful in the resection of HB and may detect small lesions not shown in preoperative imaging.
Clinical Evaluation of on-Table Extubation in Patients Aged Over 60 Years Undergoing Minimally Invasive Mitral or Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
Authors: Ge Yunfen , Chen Yue , Hu Zhibin , Mao Hui , Xu Qiong , Wu Qing
Published: June 2022

Aims

To evaluate the clinical efficiency of on-table extubation (OTE) versus delayed extubation in patients aged over 60 years that underwent minimally invasive mitral or aortic valve replacement surgery and evaluate the factors associated with successful OTE implementation.

Materials

Patients over 60 years with mitral or aortic valve disease who received minimally invasive mitral or aortic valve replacement surgery from October 2020 to October 2021 were selected retrospectively. We divided patients into the on-table extubated (OTE) group (n = 71) and the delayed extubation (DE) group (n = 22). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical variables were compared between the two groups.

Results

Patients in the DE group underwent longer surgery time, longer aortic occlusion clamping time and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time than those in the OTE group(217.48 ± 27.83 vs 275.91 ± 77.22, p = 0.002; 76.49 ± 16.00 vs 126.55 ± 54.85, p = 0.001; 112.87 ± 18.91 vs 160.77 ± 52.17, p = 0.001). Patients in the OTE group had shorter postoperative mechanical ventilation time (min), shorter ICU time, shorter postoperative hospital length of stay and lower total cost and medication cost (p < 0.05). The AUC for aortic occlusion clamping time was 0.81 (p < 0.01), making it the most significant predictor of on-table extubation success.

Conclusions

On-table extubation following mitral or aortic valve cardiac surgery was associated with a superior clinical outcome and high cost-effectiveness.
Characteristics of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Strain ES-2 Isolated From Chinese Native Black Pig Lungs
Authors: Zong Bingbing , Zhu Yongwei , Liu Manli , Wang Xiangru , Chen Huanchun , Zhang Yanyan , Tan Chen
Published: June 2022

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the primary pathogen of swine enzootic pneumonia and causes great economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. In China, M. hyopneumoniae seriously hinders the healthy development of the native black pigs. To prevent and treat porcine respiratory disease caused by M. hyopneumoniae, the characteristics of M. hyopneumoniae strain ES-2 isolated from Chinese native black pig lungs with gross lesions at post-mortem were studied for the first time in this study. Strain ES-2 cell was round or oval cells and most sensitive to kanamycin. The diameters of most strain ES-2 cells ranged from 0.4 to 1.0 μm with maximum viability of 1010 CCU/ml. Experimental challenge of animals with strain ES-2 showed respiratory disease could be reproduced, with pneumonic lung lesions evident. Comparative genomics analysis identified that 2 genes are specific to pathogenic M. hyopneumoniae strains, which may be predicted to be a molecular marker. These findings suggest that the study on the characteristics of M. hyopneumoniae strain ES-2 will guide the rapid and accurate drug use in the clinic, and develop a theoretical foundation for accurately diagnosing and treating the infection caused by pathogenic M. hyopneumoniae.
Biomechanical Test of a New Endoprosthesis for Cylindrical Medullary Canals in Dogs
Authors: Mendaza-DeCal Rosa , Ballesteros Yolanda , Peso-Fernandez Salvador , Paz Eva , del Real-Romero Juan Carlos , Rodriguez-Quiros Jesus
Published: June 2022

Exo-endoprosthesis is a limb salvage procedure for animals, although only expensive metal devices have been described. Now-a-days, new materials for this type of implant could be considered due to novel and affordable manufacturing techniques. However, a factor of safety (FoS) should be considered. There are kinetic and kinematic studies of canine natural gaits, which can be used to establish an FoS for mechanical tests for new non-metallic devices. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is used in different specialties in human medicine. Its mechanical properties (and its close mechanical stiffness to that of bone) make this polymer an alternative to metals in veterinary traumatology. PEEK could also be used in 3D printing. The suitability of a novel inner part of an exo-endoprosthesis manufactured by fuse deposition modeling (FDM) was presented in this study for long canine bones. Mechanical characterization of 3D-printed PEEK material and ex vivo mechanical tests of a customized endoprosthesis were performed to address it. Young's modulus of 3D-printed PEEK suffered a reduction of 30% in relation to bulk PEEK. Customized 3D-printed PEEK endoprostheses had promising outcomes for the tibiae of 20 kg dogs. Pure compression tests of the non-inserted endoprostheses showed a maximum force of 936 ± 199 N. In the bending tests of non-inserted endoprostheses, the PEEK part remained intact. Quasistatic mechanical tests of bone-inserted endoprostheses (compression-bending and pure compression tests) reached a maximum force of 785 ± 101 N and 1,642 ± 447 N, respectively. In fatigue tests, the samples reached 500,000 cycles without failure or detriment to their quasistatic results. These outcomes surpass the natural weight-bearing of dogs, even during a galloping pace. In conclusion, the 3D-printed PEEK part of the endoprosthesis for an exo-endoprosthesis can withstand loading, even during a galloping pace.
Dietary Supplementation of Limosilactobacillus mucosae LM1 Enhances Immune Functions and Modulates Gut Microbiota Without Affecting the Growth Performance of Growing Pigs
Authors: Zhang Qianqian , Vasquez Robie , Yoo Jeong Min , Kim Sang Hoon , Kang Dae-Kyung , Kim In Ho
Published: June 2022

Limosilactobacillus mucosae LM1 (LM1) is previously isolated from the intestine of piglets, but its potential as a probiotic supplement has not yet been assessed in growing pigs. In this study, we analyzed the probiotic effect of LM1 on the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, immune properties, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota and their metabolites in growing pigs. The experiment included 145 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) pigs (average body weight: 21.21 ± 1.14 kg) distributed into five treatment groups. The pigs were fed either a control diet (CON), or the control diet supplemented with incremental doses of LM1, namely low-dose LM1 (LL, 8.3 × 108 CFU/kg), moderate-low dose LM1 (ML, 4.2 × 109 CFU/kg), moderate-high dose LM1 (MH, 8.3 × 109 CFU/kg), and high-dose LM1 (HH, 2.1 × 1010 CFU/kg) for 42 d. On d 42, 12 pigs from each of the CON and MH groups were slaughtered. The results indicated that the ATTD of nitrogen (N, P = 0.038) was improved with MH supplementation. In addition, increasing dose of LM1 improved the immune response in pigs by reducing serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10). Pigs fed with MH LM1 also had higher jejunal villus height and ileal villus height: crypt depth ratio, demonstrating improved intestinal morphology. Moreover, moderate-high LM1 supplementation enriched SCFA-producing taxa such as Lactobacillus, Holdemanella, Peptococcus, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium_hallii_group, and Lachnospiraceae_AC2044_group, which correlated positively with increased fecal levels of butyrate and iso-valerate. These results strongly suggest the probiotic potential of LM1 on growing pigs. Overall, the current study provides insights on the use of L. mucosae LM1 as a novel livestock probiotic to improve pig gut health.
Nuclear DNA Fragmentation in Boar Spermatozoa: Measurement Methods and Reproductive Performance Implications
Authors: Ausejo Raquel , Martínez Juan Manuel , Mendoza Noelia , Bolarin Alfonso , Tejedor M. Teresa , Falceto Maria Victoria
Published: June 2022

The aim of this research was to compare the different techniques to measure sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation (sDF) and to check its relations to boar reproductive value, classical spermiogram parameters, and reproductive results of the doses in sows. Sperm chromatin stability assay (SCSA), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD, Halomax®) results were compared, finding a statistically significant correlation only between SCSA and TUNEL results. The fertility direct boar effect (DBE) index, calculated from the whole productive life of the boar, was not correlated (p > 0.05) with sDF (measured by any technique). Total or progressive sperm motility was not correlated with sDF, while it found a positive correlation between TUNEL measure and abnormal acrosomes (%) and between SCD measure and total sperm morphological abnormalities (%). No significant correlations were obtained between fertility or prolificacy results and sDF results with the different techniques. However, in the case of total born and SCSA measure, the correlation was close to significance (r partial = −0.095; p = 0.066), appointing to a tendency; as SCSA increases, the number of total piglets born decreases. In conclusion, although the different techniques for the sDF seem not to target exactly the same DNA events and the relationship between their values and the reproductive results and the classical spermiogram results is still to be elucidated, the studied sDF techniques may offer extra information that could be useful for the management of AI studs.
Economic Growth through the Lenses of Education, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
Authors: Apostu Simona Andreea , Mukli Lindita , Panait Mirela , Gigauri Iza , Hysa Eglantina
Published: June 2022

Economic growth is a major goal pursued by public authorities but can be achieved with the involvement of several categories of stakeholders given the complexity of the phenomenon and the many influencing factors. In this research paper, the authors analyze specific current issues that are representative as influencers of economic growth. This study brings into focus the importance of education, particularly tertiary education, entrepreneurship skills, and innovation capacities of businesses. The objectives are (1) to find out if tertiary education leads to economic growth; (2) to examine if innovation is one of the promotors of economic growth; and (3) to discuss the impact of the dynamic of businesses (enterprise birth) on economic growth. The methodology used in this research is panel regression (static model) for a sample consisting of 30 European countries for the period 2003–2020. The main findings are associated with a positive influence of tertiary education on economic growth, whereas the two other variables, that of entrepreneurship and innovation, are found to be insignificant for this time period.
Improved Production of Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) Microtubers MAC-3 Morphotype in Liquid Medium Using Temporary Immersion System (TIS-RITA®)
Authors: Peña-Rojas Gilmar , Carhuaz-Condori Roxana , Andía-Ayme Vidalina , Leon Victor A. , Herrera-Calderon Oscar
Published: June 2022

Essential molecules are embedded within the millenary crop Tropaeolum tuberosum (mashua); these compounds are critical for the Andean people’s traditional diet and extensively utilized by the pharmaceutical industry in Peru. In the Andean region, conventional cropping techniques generate microtubers susceptible to a viral infection, which substantially endangers mashua’s production. Therefore, we developed an innovative in vitro technique condition for enhancing the agriculture process for micro tubers production. The temporary immersion system (TIS) permits the production of high-quality microtubers in a reduced space, a lower amount of time, and in large quantities compared with tubers grown under traditional conditions. To obtain T. tuberosum’s microtubers via TIS, we propagated seedlings, utilizing TIS-RITA® vessels. A set of immersion frequency times were evaluated. Interestingly, results showed that immersion at 2 min every 3 h was more beneficial compared with 2 min every 5 h based on microtubers produced after 10 weeks from the treatments, revealing an efficient frequency setting which outputted improved microtubers quality and production.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Growth, Photosynthetic Activity, and Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Ecolly under Drought Stress
Authors: Ye Qiuhong , Wang Hua , Li Hua
Published: June 2022

Drought stress has become a limiting factor for viticulture with climate change. The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on grapevine Vitis vinifera L. cv. Ecolly’s leaf water content, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis activity, and chlorophyll fluorescence under drought stress was studied in the greenhouse. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block with four treatments: AMF colonization, well-watered; non-AMF colonization, well-watered; AMF colonization with drought stress; and non-AMF colonization with drought stress. The grapevines inoculated with mycorrhiza had a higher water content in the leaves and higher chlorophyll concentration under drought stress than those without mycorrhiza inoculation. AMF colonization increased the dry biomass of shoots and roots, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate and decreased intercellular CO2 concentration. Mycorrhizal grapevines had higher non-photochemistry efficiency, higher photochemistry efficiency, and higher actual quantum yield than non-mycorrhizal grapevines. The results show that AMF alleviated the negative effects of drought stress on grapevines. The alleviation improved leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic capacity. Altogether, the results of our study indicate that AMF inoculation has the potential to protect grapevines under drought stress.
Changes in Soil Microbial Community along a Chronosequence of Perennial Mugwort Cropping in Northern China Plain
Authors: Tian Furong , Zhou Zhenxing , Wang Xuefei , Zhang Kunpeng , Han Shijie
Published: June 2022

Perennial cropping plays a vital role in regulating soil carbon sequestration and thus mitigating climate change. However, how perennial cropping affects the soil microbial community remains elusive. Using a field investigation, this study was conducted to examine the effects of mugwort cropping along a chronosequence (that is, wheat–maize rotation, 3-year, 6-year, and 20-year mugwort cropping) on a soil microbial community in temperate regions of Northern China. The results showed that the highest total, actinomycete, and fungi phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were found in the 3-year mugwort cropping soils. By contrast, all PLFAs of microbial groups were lowest in the 20-year mugwort cropping soils. Network complexity of the soil microbial community under each of the three durations of mugwort cropping was greater than that under the wheat–maize rotation. Changes in total nitrogen and phosphorus content as well as the ratio of ammonium nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen primarily explained the variations in soil microbial community along the mugwort cropping chronosequence. Our observations highlight the contrasting responses of soil microbial community to short-term and long-term mugwort cropping compared with conventional rotations and would have critical implications for sustainable agricultural management under perennial cropping in temperate regions.
Exogenous Application of Methyl Jasmonate at the Booting Stage Improves Rice’s Heat Tolerance by Enhancing Antioxidant and Photosynthetic Activities
Authors: Tang She , Zhao Yufei , Ran Xuan , Guo Hao , Yin Tongyang , Shen Yingying , Liu Wenzhe , Ding Yanfeng
Published: June 2022

With the intensification of global warming, high temperatures during rice’s growth and development could further lead to a deterioration in rice yields. Therefore, it is particularly important to further clarify the response of the rice booting stage to high temperatures, and to explore reasonable countermeasures on this basis to reduce yield losses. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a derivative of jasmonates and is widely used for stress resistance. However, the role of MeJA in alleviating high temperatures during the rice booting stage has not been given enough attention. This study aimed to further evaluate the alleviation effect of methyl jasmonate on high-temperature stress during the key growth period of local conventional japonica rice. The results showed that high temperatures (37.5 °C/27.0 °C) at the booting stage had a significant impact on the antioxidant system of rice and also significantly reduced the photosynthetic capacity of the plant, resulting in a decrease in the final yields. The exogenous spraying of 0.1 mmol/L MeJA at the booting stage could effectively alleviate the influence of high-temperature stress on rice photosynthesis. Exogenous MeJA increased the stomatal conductance (Gs) of rice leaves under high-temperature stress, and correspondingly increased the transpiration rate (Tr) and decreased the organ temperature of rice plants, thereby reducing the damage to the actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) caused by high temperatures. By increasing the carotenoid content (Car) and reducing the malondialdehyde content (MDA), the antioxidant capacity of the plants was restored to a certain extent under exogenous MeJA, and the yield factor showed an increase in the number of grains per panicle and the seed-setting rate of Wuyunjing 24, which alleviated the booting stage yield losses induced by high-temperature stress. In conclusion, the application of exogenous MeJA at the booting stage alleviated the negative consequences of high temperatures by enhancing the plants’ antioxidant and photosynthetic capacity. Therefore, MeJA may have a potential role in mitigating the challenges of global warming in rice production.
Exogenous Application of GABA Alleviates Alkali Damage in Alfalfa by Increasing the Activities of Antioxidant Enzymes
Authors: Li Donghuan , Zhang Depeng , Zhang Zizhao , Xing Yimei , Sun Na , Wang Shuo , Cai Hua
Published: June 2022

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a widely grown and important forage crop. However, alkali stress is detrimental to alfalfa yield and nutritional quality. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a signaling molecule, it participates in and responds to metabolic regulation related to plant growth and development and stress. In this study, we clarify the effect of spraying alfalfa seedlings with GABA on the alkali tolerance of the seedlings. We determined that exogenous application of GABA at 75 mmol/L improved the resistance of alfalfa seedlings to alkali stress caused by exposure to 100 mmol/L NaHCO3, pH 8.5. Exogenous GABA significantly increased the chlorophyll content, the accumulation of soluble sugars in the plants, significantly decreased their relative electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, and significantly increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD). Exogenous GABA increased the activities of GAD and GABA-T, increased the content of glutamate and endogenous GABA, and regulated the expression of the genes MsGAD, MsGABA-T and MsGDH. In alfalfa plants that survived for a long time, compared to the control group, root length and fresh weight were significantly higher. Exogenous GABA had a positive effect on the resistance of alfalfa seedlings to alkali stress, and the effect was closely associated with GAD and GABA-T activity, glutamate content and the levels of endogenous GABA and antioxidants. This work provides a new method for the cultivation of early-stage alfalfa seedlings under low or moderate alkali stress conditions through the application of 75 mmol/L GABA.
Weed Detection by Faster RCNN Model: An Enhanced Anchor Box Approach
Authors: Saleem Muhammad Hammad , Potgieter Johan , Arif Khalid Mahmood
Published: June 2022

To apply weed control treatments effectively, the weeds must be accurately detected. Deep learning (DL) has been quite successful in performing the weed identification task. However, various aspects of the DL have not been explored in previous studies. This research aimed to achieve a high average precision (AP) of eight classes of weeds and a negative (non-weed) class, using the DeepWeeds dataset. In this regard, a DL-based two-step methodology has been proposed. This article is the second stage of the research, while the first stage has already been published. The former phase presented a weed detection pipeline and consisted of the evaluation of various neural networks, image resizers, and weight optimization techniques. Although a significant improvement in the mean average precision (mAP) was attained. However, the Chinee apple weed did not reach a high average precision. This result provided a solid ground for the next stage of the study. Hence, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of the Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN) with ResNet-101, the best-obtained model in the past step. The architectural details of the Faster RCNN model have been thoroughly studied to investigate each class of weeds. It was empirically found that the generation of anchor boxes affects the training and testing performance of the Faster RCNN model. An enhancement to the anchor box scales and aspect ratios has been attempted by various combinations. The final results, with the addition of 64 × 64 scale size, and aspect ratio of 1:3 and 3:1, produced the best classification and localization of all classes of weeds and a negative class. An enhancement of 24.95% AP was obtained in Chinee apple weed. Furthermore, the mAP was improved by 2.58%. The robustness of the approach has been shown by the stratified k-fold cross-validation technique and testing on an external dataset.
Dynamic Mapping of Paddy Rice Using Multi-Temporal Landsat Data Based on a Deep Semantic Segmentation Model
Authors: Du Meiqi , Huang Jingfeng , Wei Pengliang , Yang Lingbo , Chai Dengfeng , Peng Dailiang , Sha Jinming , Sun Weiwei , Huang Ran
Published: June 2022

Timely, accurate, and repeatable crop mapping is vital for food security. Rice is one of the important food crops. Efficient and timely rice mapping would provide critical support for rice yield and production prediction as well as food security. The development of remote sensing (RS) satellite monitoring technology provides an opportunity for agricultural modernization applications and has become an important method to extract rice. This paper evaluated how a semantic segmentation model U-net that used time series Landsat images and Cropland Data Layer (CDL) performed when applied to extractions of paddy rice in Arkansas. Classifiers were trained based on time series images from 2017–2019, then were transferred to corresponding images in 2020 to obtain resultant maps. The extraction outputs were compared to those produced by Random Forest (RF). The results showed that U-net outperformed RF in most scenarios. The best scenario was when the time resolution of the data composite was fourteen day. The band combination including red band, near-infrared band, and Swir-1 band showed notably better performance than the six widely used bands for extracting rice. This study found a relatively high overall accuracy of 0.92 for extracting rice with training samples including five years from 2015 to 2019. Finally, we generated dynamic maps of rice in 2020. Rice could be identified in the heading stage (two months before maturing) with an overall accuracy of 0.86 on July 23. Accuracy gradually increased with the date of the mapping date. On September 17, overall accuracy was 0.92. There was a significant linear relationship (slope = 0.9, r2 = 0.75) between the mapped areas on July 23 and those from the statistical reports. Dynamic mapping is not only essential to assist farms and governments for growth monitoring and production assessment in the growing season, but also to support mitigation and disaster response strategies in the different growth stages of rice.
Automated Cardiac Chamber Size and Cardiac Physiology Measurement in Water Fleas by U-Net and Mask RCNN Convolutional Networks
Authors: Saputra Ferry , Farhan Ali , Suryanto Michael Edbert , Kurnia Kevin Adi , Chen Kelvin H.-C. , Vasquez Ross D. , Roldan Marri Jmelou M. , Huang Jong-Chin , Lin Yih-Kai , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: June 2022

Water fleas are an important lower invertebrate model that are usually used for ecotoxicity studies. Contrary to mammals, the heart of a water flea has a single chamber, which is relatively big in size and with fast-beating properties. Previous cardiac chamber volume measurement methods are primarily based on ImageJ manual counting at systolic and diastolic phases which suffer from low efficiency, high variation, and tedious operation. This study provides an automated and robust pipeline for cardiac chamber size estimation by a deep learning approach. Image segmentation analysis was performed using U-Net and Mask RCNN convolutional networks on several different species of water fleas such as Moina sp., Daphnia magna, and Daphnia pulex. The results show that Mask RCNN performs better than U-Net at the segmentation of water fleas’ heart chamber in every parameter tested. The predictive model generated by Mask RCNN was further analyzed with the Cv2.fitEllipse function in OpenCV to perform a cardiac physiology assessment of Daphnia magna after challenging with the herbicide of Roundup. Significant increase in normalized stroke volume, cardiac output, and the shortening fraction was observed after Roundup exposure which suggests the possibility of heart chamber alteration after roundup exposure. Overall, the predictive Mask RCNN model established in this study provides a convenient and robust approach for cardiac chamber size and cardiac physiology measurement in water fleas for the first time. This innovative tool can offer many benefits to other research using water fleas for ecotoxicity studies.
Fatty Acid Composition of Muscle and Adipose Tissue in Pigs Fed with Addition of Natural Sorbents
Authors: Domaradzki Piotr , Nowakowicz-Dębek Bożena , Wlazło Łukasz , Ossowski Mateusz , Dmoch Małgorzata , Florek Mariusz
Published: June 2022

The fatty acid composition of meat and fat was studied in Choice Genetics line pigs fed a diet with three natural sorbents. Control (C1 and C2), biochar (D, 0.5%), bentonite–montmorillonite (A, 1.5%) and zeolite–clinoptilolite (B, 1.5%) diets were used in two trials. The samples of back fat, kidney fat and Longissimus lumborum (MLL) and Semimembranosus (MSM) muscle were examined. All sorbents (D, A and B) had no effect on fatty acid composition in MLL, whereas in MSM turned out to be very limited and inconsistent. Although A and B sorbents had a significant impact on the fatty acid profile of kidney fat, their effect was often opposite. Sorbent B’s effects were less beneficial due to a significantly higher proportion of saturated fatty acids, higher value of thrombogenic and atherogenic indexes, n-6/n-3 ratio but lower h/H ratio. Sorbent A’s effects significantly increased polyunsaturated fatty acids, and positively influenced lipid health quality indices. In summary, the feeding of natural sorbents slightly modified the fatty acid profile of muscle tissue, kidney fat and back fat; however, it did not have a negative effect on the indices of nutritional and pro-health quality of adipose tissue of pigs during fattening.
Elevated Mortality Risk from CRKp Associated with Comorbidities: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gonçalves Barbosa Lucas Candido , Silva e Sousa José Arthur , Bordoni Graziela Picciola , Barbosa Gabriel de Oliveira , Carneiro Lilian Carla
Published: June 2022

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a public health problem with therapeutic limitations and high mortality associated with comorbidities. Methods: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis with a search in PubMed, SciELO, and Lilacs. Ten articles were selected, considering cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. Tests for proportions and relative risk of mortality were performed, considering a 5% threshold for significance. Statistical analyses were performe dusing Rstudio® software, version 4.0.2 of Ross Ihaka and Robert Genleman in Auckland, New Zealand. Results: Klebsiella pneumoniae, associated with chronic kidney disease, was responsible for 26%/258 deaths, chronic lung disease 28%/169, diabetes 31%/185, liver disease 15%/262, and heart disease 51%/262 deaths. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with chronic kidney disease was responsible for 49%/83 deaths, with diabetes 29%/73, and with liver disease 33%/73 deaths. The risk of death from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was twice as high as the number of deaths associated with carbapenem-sensitive Klebsiella pneumoniae, RR = 2.07 (p < 0.00001). Conclusions: The present study showed an increase in mortality from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae when associated with comorbidities.
Fucoxanthin’s Optimization from Undaria pinnatifida Using Conventional Heat Extraction, Bioactivity Assays and In Silico Studies
Authors: Lourenço-Lopes Catarina , Fraga-Corral Maria , Soria-Lopez Anton , Nuñes-Estevez Bernabe , Barral-Martinez Marta , Silva Aurora , Li Ningyang , Liu Chao , Simal-Gandara Jesus , Prieto Miguel A.
Published: June 2022

Brown macroalgae are a potential source of natural pigments. Among them, Undaria pinnatifida is recognized for its high concentration of fucoxanthin (Fx), which is a pigment with a wide range of bioactivities. In this study, three independent parameters were optimized for conventional heat extraction (CHE) to maximize the recovery of Fx from Undaria pinnatifida. Optimal conditions (temperature = 45 °C, solvent = 70%, and time = 61 min) extracted 5.1 mg Fx/g dw. Later, the bioactivities of the Fx-rich extracts (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective) were assessed using in vitro and in silico approaches. In vitro assays indicated that Fx has a strong antioxidant capacity and even stronger antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. This data was supported in silico where Fx established a high binding affinity to DR, a Staphylococcus aureus protein, through aa ALA-8, LEU-21, and other alkane interactions. Finally, the in vitro enzymatic inhibition of AChE using Fx, was further supported using docking models that displayed Fx as having a high affinity for aa TYR72 and THR 75; therefore, the Fx extraction behavior explored in this work may reduce the costs associated with energy and solvent consumption. Moreover, this paper demonstrates the efficiency of CHE when recovering high amounts of Fx from Undaria pinnatifida. Furthermore, these findings can be applied in different industries.
Melatonin Prevents NaAsO2-Induced Developmental Cardiotoxicity in Zebrafish through Regulating Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis
Authors: Yan Rui , Ding Jie , Wei Yuanjie , Yang Qianlei , Zhang Xiaoyun , Huang Hairu , Shi Zhuoyue , Feng Yue , Li Heran , Zhang Hengdong , Ding Wenjun , An Yan
Published: June 2022

Melatonin is an indoleamine hormone secreted by the pineal gland. It has antioxidation and anti-apoptosis effects and a clear protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated that embryonic exposure to sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) can lead to an abnormal cardiac development. The aim of this study was to determine whether melatonin could protect against NaAsO2-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, apoptosis, and abnormal cardiac development in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. We found that melatonin decreased NaAsO2-induced zebrafish embryonic heart malformations and abnormal heart rates at a melatonin concentration as low as 10−9 mol/L. The NaAsO2-induced oxidative stress was counteracted by melatonin supplementation. Melatonin blunted the NaAsO2-induced overproduction of ROS, the upregulation of oxidative stress-related genes (sod2, cat, gpx, nrf2, ho-1), and the production of antioxidant enzymes (Total SOD, SOD1, SOD2, CAT). Melatonin attenuated the NaAsO2-induced oxidative damage, DNA damage, and apoptosis, based on malonaldehyde and 8-OHdG levels and apoptosis-related gene expression (caspase-3, bax, bcl-2), respectively. Melatonin also maintained the control levels of heart development-related genes (nkx2.5, sox9b) affected by NaAsO2. In conclusion, melatonin protected against NaAsO2-induced heart malformations by inhibiting the oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish.
Time-Marching Throughflow Analysis of Centrifugal Compressors with Boundary Conditions Based on Newton’s Method
Authors: Yang Chen , Du Juan , Zhang Hongwu , Wu Hu , Tang Qing , Yang Jinguang
Published: June 2022

The meridional distribution of the flow parameters inside the centrifugal compressor is of great importance to its overall performance, as well as its matching performance under a thermal cycle. A time-marching throughflow method for the off-design performance analysis of the centrifugal compressor is described. The method is based on the strictly conservative throughflow-governing equations, and an improved method of boundary-condition enforcement is developed based on Newton’s method to achieve a robust and fast throughflow simulation. An inviscid blade force model was adopted to obtain the flow deflection inside the blade passage. Empirical loss models were integrated into the throughflow model to simulate the viscous force effects in the real three-dimensional flow. Two test cases are presented to validate the throughflow method by comparisons with the experimental data or CFD results, including the NASA low-speed centrifugal compressor (LSCC) and the Allison high-performance centrifugal compressor (HPCC). The simulation indicated that the developed enforcement method for the inlet and outlet boundary conditions significantly improves the computational robustness. For both the LSCC and HPCC cases, reasonable flow-parameter distribution was obtained and accurate overall characteristics were also predicted under the off-design conditions. The results indicated that the developed time-marching throughflow method is effective and efficient for the performance analysis of centrifugal compressors.
Thermal Response of Magnetic Refrigerants: Combined Effect of Temperature Dependent Specific Heat and Thermal Conductivity
Authors: Lopes Antonio P. , Costa Vitor A. F. , Amaral Joao S.
Published: June 2022

Device optimization plays a paramount role in current research on magnetic refrigeration. Solid state refrigerants have been characterized and numerical simulations assume a critical relevance in the development of magnetocaloric technology to have alternatives to vapour-compression systems whose operating elements have high global warming potential. Experimental studies have shown that the thermal properties of several magnetocaloric materials considerably change around their Curie temperatures (TC) and that this temperature dependency should not be dismissed. Current numerical research does not fully predict the complete thermal response of such materials, due to inaccuracies from neglecting the impact of combining both thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat (Cp) dependence on temperature. In this study, a simple unidimensional model includes k(T) and Cp(T) functions as input parameters, highlighting the relevance of considering temperature dependent thermophysical properties’ inputs when simulating the magnetic refrigerant’s heat transfer processes. The obtained results evidence that neglecting the temperature dependence of the magnetocaloric material thermophysical properties, namely its thermal conductivity and its specific heat, affects its temperature response, what may strongly affect the results after a succession of (hundreds or thousands) cycles.
Influence of Micro-Textures on Cutting Insert Heat Dissipation
Authors: Rosas José , Lopes Hernani , Guimarães Bruno , Piloto Paulo A. G. , Miranda Georgina , Silva Filipe S. , Paiva Olga C.
Published: June 2022

Metal machining is one of the most important manufacturing processes in today’s production sector. The tools used in machining have been developed over the years to improve their performance, by reducing the cutting forces, the friction coefficient, and the heat generated during the cutting process. Several cooling systems have emerged as an effective way to remove the excessive heat generated from the chip-tool contact region. In recent years, the introduction of nano and micro-textures on the surface of tools has allowed to further improve their overall performance. However, there is not sufficient scientific data to clearly show how surface texturing can contribute to the reduction of tool temperature and identify its mechanisms. Therefore, this work proposes an experimental setup to study the tool surface characteristics’ impact on the heat transfer rate from the tools’ surface to the cooling fluid. Firstly, a numerical model is developed to mimic the heat energy flow from the tool. Next, the design variables were adjusted to get a linear system response and to achieve a fast steady-state thermal condition. Finally, the experimental device was implemented based on the optimized numerical model. A good agreement was obtained between the experimental tests and numerical simulations, validating the concept and the implementation of the experimental setup. A square grid pattern of 100 μm × 100 μm with grooves depths of 50, 100, and 150 μm was introduced on cutting insert surfaces by laser ablation. The experimental results show that there is a linear increase in heat transfer rate with the depth of the grooves relatively to a standard surface, with an increase of 3.77% for the depth of 150 μm. This is associated with the increase of the contact area with the coolant, the generation of greater fluid turbulence near the surface, and the enhancement of the surface wettability.
Crack Propagation Behavior of Fused Silica during Cyclic Indentation under Incremental Loads
Authors: Kosai Koji , Zhao Yugang , Yan Jiwang
Published: June 2022

Fused silica is an important optical material with important applications, where the surface must be precisely machined without subsurface damage. In this study, multi-cyclic indentations under incremental loads were performed on fused silica using two kinds of indenters to clarify the mechanisms of crack generation and propagation induced by precision grinding. It was found that incremental loading cyclic nanoindentation induced various patterns of subsurface cracking and surface spalling. Four kinds of surface spalling were identified at different locations around an indent, the temporal formation mechanisms of which were clarified by microscopic observation and topographical measurement. Load–displacement curve analysis demonstrated that incremental propagation of lateral cracks during early indentation cycles caused large-scale brittle fractures during later cycles. Compared with a Berkovich indenter, a cube-corner indenter caused more significant brittle fractures and surface spalling. The findings in this study will deepen the understanding of subsurface damaging mechanism of fused silica and other brittle solids caused by cyclic tool-workpiece interactions in grinding and other mechanical machining processes.
Structural and Vibrational Investigations of Mixtures of Cocoa Butter (CB), Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE) and Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF) to Understand Fat Bloom Process
Authors: Hadri Mustapha El , Bresson Serge , Lecuelle Albane , Bougrioua Fatiha , Baeten Vincent , Nguyen Van Hung , Faivre Vincent , Courty Matthieu
Published: June 2022

Some studies found that the proportions of cocoa butter (CB), cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) and milk fatty acid (AMF) tend to influence the blooming delay when mixing them. The goal of our research is to determine the effects of the proportion of CB, CBE and AMF on the structural organization of the final mixtures. X-ray, DSC, MIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the structural features and the vibrational modes of four mixtures: CB + 0.5AMF, CB + AMF, CB + 0.5AMF + CBE and CB + AMF + CBE. At room temperature, the triglycerides are ingredients of CB, and CBE and AMF do not fully exhibit the known crystalline forms V or VI, unlike a recent CB sample. Part of these triglycerides is in the form IV instead. The presence of the latter seems to be a key parameter that favors the deceleration of the transformation to the form VI, which is responsible for the development of fat bloom.
Pan-Cancer Analysis for Immune Cell Infiltration and Mutational Signatures Using Non-Negative Canonical Correlation Analysis
Authors: Rhee Je-Keun
Published: June 2022

Mutational signatures indicate the mutational processes and substitution patterns in cancer cell genomes. However, the functional consequences of mutational signatures remain unclear, and there have been no comprehensive systematic studies to examine the relationships between the mutational signatures and the immune cell infiltration. Here, the relationship between mutational signatures and immune cell infiltration using non-negative canonical correlation analysis based on 8927 patients across 25 tumor types was investigated. By inspecting mutational signatures with the maximal coefficients determined by the non-negative canonical correlation analysis, the study identified mutational signatures related to immune cell infiltration composed of tumor microenvironments. The analysis was validated by showing that the genes associated with the identified mutational signatures were linked to overall survival by a Kaplan–Meier curve and a log-rank test and were mainly related to immunity by gene set enrichment analysis. These results will help expand our knowledge of tumor biology and recognize the functional roles and associations of immune systems with mutational signatures.
Effect of Methane Adsorption on Mechanical Performance of Coal
Authors: Cai Feng , Yin Jingwen , Feng Juqiang
Published: June 2022

Understanding the influence of methane adsorption on coal mechanical properties is an important prerequisite for preventing coal mining and gas mining disasters. In the present research, meager coal and gas coal samples were obtained from Huaneng Yunnan Diandong Energy Co., Ltd. The triaxial compression tests were carried out under different methane adsorption equilibrium pressures and confining pressures. The influence laws of different factors on the mechanical properties of coal were analyzed. The results show that the triaxial stress-strain curve of adsorbed methane coal has similar morphology with that of non-adsorbed coal. Under the same confining pressure, the stress-strain curve morphology of coal before and after adsorbing methane is basically the same but the compressive strength of coal after adsorbing methane decreases. The greater the adsorption equilibrium pressure of methane, the smaller the compressive strength of coal. The change in the mechanical properties (compressive strength and elastic modulus) of coal caused by methane adsorption can be described by the Langmuir curve and the correlation coefficient is more than 0.99. Under any stress environment, high-rank coal shows greater strength and lower elastic modulus than low-rank coal, which is mainly due to the existence of a developed cleat system in high-rank coal that provides more conditions for methane adsorption. The research results provide important data-based support for the prevention of coal and gas outbursts.
Research on Prediction of TBM Performance of Deep-Buried Tunnel Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Ma Tianhui , Jin Yang , Liu Zheng , Prasad Yadav Kedar
Published: June 2022

Based on the relevant data in the construction process of the south of the Qinling tunnel of the Hanjiang-to-Weihe River Diversion Project, this article obtains the main influencing factors of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) performance of the deep-buried tunnel. According to the characteristics of deep-buried tunnel excavation, the random forest algorithm is used to select the features of the factors affecting the TBM penetration rate, and the four factors with large influence weights including total thrust, revolutions per minute, uniaxial compressive strength and volumetric joint count, are used as TBM penetration rate prediction models input parameters, which can improve the prediction accuracy and convergence speed of the model, and enhance the engineering practicality of the prediction model. Three types of TBM penetration rate prediction models are established: multiple regression model (MR), back propagation neural network model (BPNN) and support vector regression model (SVR). The prediction accuracy of the three models is compared and analyzed. The BPNN prediction model exhibits better prediction performance and generalization ability than the multiple regression model and SVR model, which manifest higher prediction accuracy and prediction stability.