bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Effects of Growth Stimulation of the Bifidobacterium with Polysaccharides from Siberian Larch
Authors:   Irkutsk State Medical University, Makarova A. E. , Yurinova G. V. ,   Irkutsk State University, Dzhioev Yu. P. ,   Irkutsk State Medical University, Sukhov B. G ,   V. V. Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion SB RAS, Pristavka A. A. ,   Irkutsk State University, Teterina G. A. ,   Irkutsk State University, Arefieva N. A. ,   Irkutsk State Medical University, Borisenko A. Yu ,   Irkutsk State Medical University, Salovarova V. P. ,   Irkutsk State University
Published: July 2023

Due to the rich chemical composition of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb), its products are widely used in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, perfumery and cosmetics industry. Larch wood and bark contain a large amount of low molecular weight substances with high biological activity, namely: essential oils, ascorbic acid, tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, organic acids. The most important and useful of them are flavonoids due to their significant content in raw materials such compounds as: dihydroquercetin (DHA), arabinogalactan (AG), quercetin (QU), ardixin (ARD). On the basis of dihydroquercetin, preparations for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, capillary-strengthening agents, anti-allergic drugs are created, and due to the high ability to complex formation, it actively removes heavy metals, including radionuclides, from the body. The main experimentally established properties of AG are immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. In the diet, there is often a deficiency of dietary fiber needed by the human body. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that increases the body's resistance to radiation and a food antioxidant. It can also enhance antiinflammatory, antiviral, and immunoprotective effects. Ardiksin is a nanobiocomposite containing no. more than 95.0% of the natural polysaccharide arabinogalactan and no. less than 5% of the bioflavonoid dihydroquercetin. The biological activity of ardixin has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of oncological diseases as a concomitant agent during radiation and chemotherapy. Based on the significant importance of these polysaccharide compounds in the creation of new functional food products and therapeutic agents for medicine, in this study, the goal was to identify the effect of stimulating the growth of the commercial probiotic preparation Bifidobacterium bifidum when cultivated on media with polysaccharide compounds: purified arabinogalactan, dihydroquercetin, quercetin, ardixin. These polysaccharide compounds are processed products of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb). In the course of a study on the evaluation of growth stimulation of B. bifidum by polysaccharides: AG-purified, DHA, QU, ADC, it was found that: 1) growth of B. bifidum is most effective in a medium with DHA; 2) when growing on a medium with AG-clean. there is almost five times less growth stimulation compared to DHA; 3) the smallest growth of B. bifidum is observed in the medium with QU, which is more than 208 times less than its growth on the medium with DHA.
Comparative thermal performance investigation of the straight tube and square tube solar water heater
Authors: Anand Kishorbhai Patel
Published: July 2023

Sustainable energy is a need and demand of time to overcome issues related to greenhouse emissions and climate change and the most easily available and sustainable energy is solar energy which can be used for heating, cooking, and power generation. The most common application of solar energy is water heating and such hot water is used for domestic and industrial purposes for such purposes solar water heater (SWH) is commonly used; in the present work, an attempt has been made by changing the shape of pipe of copper pipe which is commonly used in SWH from a circular cross-section to square and comparing the results of the proposed model with conventional one. The K-type thermocouples measure the temperature at various locations of the experimental setup.
Models of modern school science education: the curriculum of the discipline for higher education applicants of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the specialty "014 Secondary education"
Authors:   Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine, Ilchenko Vira , Holovko Mykola ,   Institute of Pedagogy of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine
Published: July 2023

The content of the course reveals the specifics of models of natural school education of domestic STEM-education and models of education for sustainable development "Environment" - the domestic analogue of STEM-education; gives an idea of the basic natural science concepts as the basis of modern PNKS; reveals the role of man in the biosphere, the possibility of forming in students high levels of intelligence, levels of social maturity and recovery of students.
Empowerment Through Understanding Religious Harmony in Timbang Deli Urban Village
Authors: Nasution Faiz Albar , Ritonga Alwi Dahlan , Anshari Andry , Indainanto Yofiendi Indah
Published: July 2023

The Republic of Indonesia must retain its unity above all else, which requires religious harmony. However, every candidate for the Regional Head Election in Medan City still faces a severe challenge related to identity and religion. Thus, everyone in Medan City still has a responsibility to realize harmony and peace for religious communities. In the Medan Amplas District of Medan City's Timbang Deli Village, this activity took place. Understanding religious freedom and religious concord is the primary goal of this activity. Second, the contribution of local authorities to fostering religious peace. The third is a plan to promote religious harmony. It is hoped that the participants of the activities and conversations can understand the information presented using the participatory method. The outcomes of this initiative show the community's commitment to sharing responsibilities in each Timbang Deli Village neighborhood in order to raise public awareness. In addition, coordinate to talk to the authorities in great detail. In addition, achieving inter-religious harmony requires internalizing an attitude of tolerance, upholding brotherly ties, showing respect and appreciation for one another, placing full faith in one another without bias, confirming and clarifying any information learned, and being able to act fairly. for the benefit of the whole society.
Utilization of Digital Platforms and Social Media in Marketing Products of the PKK Group in Improving the Economy and Food Security of Batu Rejo Villagers
Authors: Br Ginting Dewi Sartika , Harumy T. Henny Febriana , Huzaifah Ade Sarah , Rosalia Vicky , Saragih Mhd Afifan Aly Rahman , Dalimunthe Muhammad Daud Arbani Asfi , Arrahmi Ridha , Jernih
Published: July 2023

After the millennium era, the development of information technology has become quite fast, and changes in business patterns have also increased sharply. One of them is in the world of marketing. During the pandemic and post-pandemic times, digital transformation has been carried out, namely digital marketing or marketing products in cyberspace. Community service is one of the right ways to carry out the socialization of information technology in marketing techniques to support economic development. The community service that will be carried out is entitled Utilization of Digital Platforms and Social Media in Marketing Product Creativity for the PKK Desa Batu Rejo Group, to help the PKK Desa Batu to produce products that will be marketed online through digital platforms and social media that are already widely used by people. PKK groups will be guided and trained to be able to manufacture and market their products in the online market, so they can remain productive even from home. The activities carried out in this service are workshops on digital platforms and social media as well as training on their utilization in online marketing of the creative products of the PKK Batu Rejo Village group.
Кримінальне право України. Особлива частина : навчальний посібник
Authors:   Чернівецький юридичний інститут Національного університету «Одеська юридична академія», Попович О. В. , Томаш Л. В. , Латковський П. П. , Бабій А. Ю.
Published: July 2023

Навчальний посібник підготовлений відповідно до програми навчальної дисципліни «Кримінальне право України». У ньому на основі чинного Кримінального кодексу України і сучасних наукових позицій подаються конструктивні особливості складів кримінальних правопорушення у формі лаконічних, структурованих та викладених з логічною послідовністю таблиць. Пропонується для студентів, викладачів, аспірантів, практикуючих юристів та громадян, які мають бажання ознайомитися з основними положеннями Особливої частини курсу «Кримінальне право України».
Teahouse or Not? Meng Jinghui’s Avant-garde Version of Lao She’s Classic Play
Authors: LEONESI Barbara
Published: July 2023

Lao She’s Teahouse is considered a masterpiece of Chinese theatre, a classic crystallized in the Beijing People’s Art Theatre’s production by Jiao Juyin from 1958, which has been regularly staged up to the present day. In 2018 a production by the well-known “pop avant-garde” director Meng Jinghui premiered at the Wuzhen Theatre Festival, giving rise to a heated debate about the concept of “classics.” This so-called “Teahouse incident” was one of the hot topics of the Chinese theatre scene in 2019, and this article explores the production’s polarized reception and debate. Meng Jinghui’s Teahouse is not examined as a one-way influence between Lao She’s source text and the new text/performance but from the perspective of a network relationship that sets the performance in a web that includes several other texts (plays, novellas, poems, etc.) by Chinese and foreign writers. This perspective shows how Meng Jinghui’s hybridization and his selection of intertexts and stage reminders aim to erase time and space coordinates in order to amplify the main themes of the play and, ultimately, reflect on the human condition. Based on this analysis, the polarized reception of the play and the reactions of the general public, critics, and academics are investigated, illuminating the reasons behind the controversy.
The action of physiological and synthetic steroids on the calcium channel CatSper in human sperm
Authors: Wehrli Lydia , Galdadas Ioannis , Voirol Lionel , Smieško Martin , Cambet Yves , Jaquet Vincent , Guerrier Stéphane , Gervasio Francesco Luigi , Nef Serge , Rahban Rita
Published: July 2023

The sperm-specific channel CatSper (cation channel of sperm) controls the intracellular Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) and plays an essential role in sperm function. It is mainly activated by the steroid progesterone (P4) but is also promiscuously activated by a wide range of synthetic and physiological compounds. These compounds include diverse steroids whose action on the channel is so far still controversial. To investigate the effect of these compounds on CatSper and sperm function, we developed a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay to measure changes in [Ca2+]iin human sperm and screened 1,280 approved and off-patent drugs including 90 steroids from the Prestwick chemical library. More than half of the steroids tested (53%) induced an increase in [Ca2+]iand reduced the P4-induced Ca2+influx in human sperm in a dose-dependent manner. Ten of the most potent steroids (activating and P4-inhibiting) were selected for a detailed analysis of their action on CatSper and their ability to act on sperm acrosome reaction (AR) and penetration in viscous media. We found that these steroids show an inhibitory effect on P4 but not on prostaglandin E1-induced CatSper activation, suggesting that they compete for the same binding site as P4. Pregnenolone, dydrogesterone, epiandrosterone, nandrolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone acetate (DHEA) were found to activate CatSper at physiologically relevant concentrations within the nanomolar range. Like P4, most tested steroids did not significantly affect the AR while stanozolol and estropipate slightly increased sperm penetration into viscous medium. Furthermore, using a hybrid approach integrating pharmacophore analysis and statistical modelling, we were able to screenin silicofor steroids that can activate the channel and define the physicochemical and structural properties required for a steroid to exhibit agonist activity against CatSper. Overall, our results indicate that not only physiological but also synthetic steroids can modulate the activity of CatSper with varying potency and if bound to CatSper prior to P4, could impair the timely CatSper activation necessary for proper fertilization to occur.
Root exudates influence rhizosphere fungi and thereby synergistically regulate Panax ginseng yield and quality
Authors: Sun Jin , Yang Jing , Zhao Shuyue , Yu Qian , Weng Lili , Xiao Chunping
Published: July 2023

Root exudates contain a complex array of primary and specialized metabolites that play important roles in plant growth due to their stimulatory and inhibitory activities that can select for specific microbes. In this study, we investigated the effects of different root exudate concentrations on the growth of ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey), ginsenoside levels, and soil fungal community composition and diversity. The results showed that low root exudate concentrations in the soil promoted ginseng rhizome biomass and ginsenoside levels (Rg1, Re, Rf, Rg2, Rb1, Ro, Rc, Rb2, Rb3, and Rd) in rhizomes. However, the rhizome biomass and ginsenoside levels gradually decreased with further increases in the root exudate concentration. ITS sequencing showed that low root exudate concentrations in the soil hardly altered the rhizosphere fungal community structure. High root exudate concentrations altered the structure, involving microecological imbalance, with reduced abundances of potentially beneficial fungi (such as Mortierella) and increased abundances of potentially pathogenic fungi (such as Fusarium). Correlation analysis showed that rhizome biomass and ginsenoside levels were significantly positively correlated with the abundances of potentially beneficial fungi, while the opposite was true for potentially pathogenic fungi. Overall, low root exudate concentrations promote the growth and development of ginseng; high root exudate concentrations lead to an imbalance in the rhizosphere fungal community of ginseng and reduce the plant’s adaptability. This may be an important factor in the reduced ginseng yield and quality and soil sickness when ginseng is grown continuously.
High posterior cerebral artery flow predicts ischemia recurrence in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion
Authors: Jud Simon , Klövekorn Robert , van Niftrik Christiaan Hendrik Bas , Herzog Lisa , Sebök Martina , Schweizer Juliane , Luft Andreas R. , Fierstra Jorn , Wegener Susanne
Published: July 2023

Recurrent stroke is a dreaded complication of symptomatic internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO). Transcranial Duplex (TCD)-derived increased flow velocity in the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA)-P2 segment indicates activated leptomeningeal collateral recruitment and hemodynamic impairment. Leptomeningeal collaterals are pial vascular connections between the anterior and posterior vascular territories. These secondary collateral routes are activated when primary collaterals via the Circle of Willis are insufficient. Our goal was to test the TCD parameter PCA-P2 flow for prediction of ipsilateral ischemia recurrence. We retrospectively analyzed clinical and ultrasound parameters in patients with ICAO. Together with clinical variables, we tested systolic PCA-P2 flow velocity as predictor of a recurrent ischemic event using logistic regression models. Of 111 patients, 13 showed a recurrent ischemic event within the same vascular territory. Increased flow in the ipsilateral PCA-P2 on transcranial ultrasound (median and interquartile range [IQR]: 60 cm/s [IQR 26] vs. 86 cm/s [IQR 41], p = <0.001), as well as previous transient ischemic attack (TIA) and low NIHSS were associated with ischemia recurrence. Combined into one model, accuracy of these parameters to predict recurrent ischemia was 89.2%. Our data suggest that in patients with symptomatic ICAO, flow increases in the ipsilateral PCA-P2 suggest intensified compensatory efforts when other collaterals are insufficient. Together with the clinical variables, this non-invasive and easily assessable duplex parameter detects ICAO patients at particular risk of recurrent ischemia.
Sport-specific balance tests account for youth alpine skiers’ ranking
Authors: Rizzato Alex , Verdel Nina , Paoli Antonio , Supej Matej , Marcolin Giuseppe
Published: July 2023

Objective: Alpine skiing requires complex motor skills and fine adjustments to maintain balance in dynamic and challenging conditions. This study aimed to understand whether the balance ability in unspecific (UST) and sport-specific (SST) tasks could depend on the skiers’ ranking level. The balance performance of the dominant and non-dominant limbs in the SST was also investigated.

Methods: Twenty-five skiers (14.96 ± 1.61 yrs; 1.69 ± 0.69 m; 59.9 ± 9.52 kg) were divided into high-ranking (position < 50) and low-ranking (position > 50) groups. Subjects performed three balance conditions: static (ST), dynamic UST, and dynamic SST. Subjects stood on an unstable board over a force platform during UST. During SST, subjects wore ski boots, grasped ski poles, and each foot was clipped to an unstable board over two force plates. From the center-of-pressure (CoP) trajectory the area of the 95th percentile ellipse and the CoP mean velocity were calculated. Angular displacements were recorded by a 12-camera system, to calculate the full balance (FB), fine (FiB), and gross (GB) balance in UST and SST.

Results: Balance control was higher (p < 0.01) in high-ranking than low-ranking skiers only in the SST. Kinematic parameters (i.e., FB, FiB, and GB) showed a higher (p < 0.001) balance performance in SST than UST independently from the group. Dominant and non-dominant limbs motion was similar (Pearson correlation, r = 0.97) in SST independently from the skiers’ ranking.

Conclusion: High-ranking skiers showed better balance control and performance than low-ranking skiers only when the task was sport-specific. Therefore, we suggest testing balance under sport-specific conditions to discriminate the youth skiers’ abilities.
Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale in the Honduran population
Authors: Landa-Blanco Miguel , Cortés-Ramos Antonio , Vásquez Gabriela , Reyes Yarell , Echenique Yarani
Published: July 2023

Studying Flourishing is important to understand wellbeing. The current study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale (FS) in the Honduran population. The primary sample consisted of 422 residents of the Central District of Honduras; this included 275 (65.17%) women and 147 men (34.83%). Their average age was 28.18 years (SD = 10.58). Findings from the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis support a unidimensional factor structure. The FS achieved a high internal consistency with McDonald’s ω = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86, 0.91]. The average inter-item correlation was 0.48, 95% CI [0.43, 0.53]. Using Student’s t-test for paired samples, results indicate that none of the FS items varied significantly between baseline and post-test. Additionally, Spearman’s rho was used to correlate test–retest scores; this yielded a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.66. The Flourishing Scale had adequate convergent validity with the Subjective Happiness Scale (r = 0.70) and the PANAS-Positive Affect Subscale (r = 0.70) (p < 0.001). In contrast, it correlates inversely with the PANAS-Negative Affect Subscale (r = −0.34) and the PHQ-9 (r = −0.51). Strict measurement invariance for sex was supported. The results indicate that the Flourishing Scale has robust psychometric properties for the Honduran population. Practical implications for public policy are discussed.
Characteristics of macroscopic sleep structure in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review
Authors: Liang Yahui , Liu Weihua , Wang Meizi
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Conducting a systematic analysis of objective measurement tools to assess the characteristics of macroscopic sleep architecture in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), amnestic MCI (aMCI), and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) in order to provide sleep disorder guidance for MCI patients.

Methods

PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang Data, and VIP Data were examined to find literature relating to sleep in patients with MCI, aMCI, and naMCI, with a search time frame of build to April 2023. Following independent literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation by two researchers, statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.

Results

Twenty-five papers with 1,165 study subjects were included. Patients with MCI and aMCI were found to have altered total sleep time (TST), reduced sleep efficiency (SE), more wake-time after sleep onset (WASO), longer sleep latency (SL), a higher proportion of N1 stage and a lower proportion of N2 and N3 stage. naMCI was only found to have statistically significant differences in WASO.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide evidence for macroscopic sleep architecture abnormalities among MCI patients with sleep disorders. Maintaining a normal sleep time, improving SE, and reducing sleep fragmentation may have an association with a slowed development of cognitive impairment. Further exploration is required of the effects each component of macroscopic sleep structure after the intervention has on altered sleep disturbance and cognition in MCI, aMCI, and naMCI.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023401937, identifier: CRD42023401937.
Dynamics of Biomass and Carbon Stocks during Reforestation on Abandoned Agricultural Lands in Southern Ural Region
Authors: Fedorov Nikolay , Shirokikh Pavel , Zhigunova Svetlana , Baisheva Elvira , Tuktamyshev Ilshat , Bikbaev Ilnur , Komissarov Mikhail , Zaitsev Gleb , Giniyatullin Raphak , Gabbasova Ilyusya , Urazgildin Ruslan , Kulagin Aleksey , Suleymanov Ruslan , Gabbasova Dilara , Muldashev Albert , Maksyutov Shamil
Published: July 2023

Due to the global increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, studies focusing on the carbon balance in forest ecosystems are currently particularly relevant. Abandoned agricultural lands could provide an important contribution to carbon sequestration in many parts of the world. In the broad-leaved forest zone of the Cis-Ural (Southern Ural region, Russia), the carbon sequestration dynamics in the biomass of woody and herbaceous plants, as well as in the litter and soil on abandoned arable lands repopulated with silver birch (Betula pendula), was studied. The data were collected on 35 round (with diameter of 30 m) sample plots located within communities representing the different stages of reforestation with tree stands aged 3 to 30 years. It was found that the carbon content of the stem wood and herbaceous understory did not depend on the succession stages, which largely corresponds to the literature data. The carbon content in root biomass and soil organic matter increased along with the growth of tree stands. While the forest stand grew, the carbon content in the grey forest soil increased from 2.5 to 4.4%, and in the more fertile dark grey forest soil it changed only slightly. The carbon deposition by the forest stands on the sample plots located on the dark grey forest soils was higher than on grey forest soils. The average rate of carbon sequestration in the tree stand was 2.7 t/ha/year. Most mature, 25–30-years-old silver birch tree stands provided the highest average annual increase in tree biomass and the rate of carbon sequestration evaluated was 9 t/ha/year. Also, the carbon pool in the 30 cm soil layer was 2.7 times greater than in the tree stand. It was concluded that abandoned agricultural lands overgrowing by forest in the Cis-Ural are promising for carbon sequestration.
Seed Germination Behavior, Molecular Analysis of Four Populations of Arbutus andrachne Species from Greece, and Cultivation Practice for Producing High-Quality Plants
Authors: Pipinis Elias , Stampoulidis Athanasios , Kotoula Aikaterini Angeliki , Milios Elias , Kostas Stefanos , Hatzilazarou Stefanos , Papaioannou Evgenia , Papaeirinaios Alexandros , Kitikidou Kyriaki , Radoglou Kalliopi
Published: July 2023

Arbutus andrachne, the Greek strawberry tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae native to the Mediterranean basin, and is a valuable phytogenetic resource. In the context of sustainable exploitation of A. andrachne, four Greek natural populations of species were selected and a detailed germination protocol, molecular analysis, and cultivation practices were reported herein for the first time. The 1 month period of cold stratification or the treatment with gibberellic acid resulted in similar patterns of seed germination over a wide temperature range for all four populations. Differences among the four populations were observed in five of six morphological traits measured in 1-year-old seedlings. The 2-year-old plants grown in plastic bags (2.26 L in volume) showed superior growth rates. Foliage, but not roots, of 2-year-old seedlings supplemented with mineral fertilizers had higher fresh masses than untreated seedlings. The four A. andrachne accessions exhibited more genetic variability within than among populations.
An Adaptive Nutcracker Optimization Approach for Distribution of Fresh Agricultural Products with Dynamic Demands
Authors: Wu Daqing , Yan Rong , Jin Hongtao , Cai Fengmao
Published: July 2023

In the operational, strategic and tactical decision-making problems of the agri-food supply chain, the perishable nature of the commodities can represent a particular complexity problem. It is, therefore, appropriate to consider decision support tools that take into account the characteristics of the products, the needs and the requirements of producers, sellers and consumers. This paper presents a green vehicle routing model for fresh agricultural product distribution and designs an adaptive hybrid nutcracker optimization algorithm (AH-NOA) based on k-means clustering to solve the problem. In the process, the AH-NOA uses the CW algorithm to increase population diversity and adds genetic operators and local search operators to enhance the global search ability for nutcracker optimization. Finally, the experimental data show that the proposed approaches effectively avoid local optima, promote population diversity and reduce total costs and carbon emission costs.
Minimization of Inhibitor Generation in Rice Straw Hydrolysate Using RSM Optimization Technique
Authors: Gupta Vikas Chandra , Singh Meenu , Prasad Shiv , Mishra Bhartendu Nath
Published: July 2023

Ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass comprises pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation. However, several inhibitors are generated during rice straw chemical hydrolysis, including furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and phenolics. These inhibitors, i.e., furfural and HMF, are toxic to yeast cells, can negatively impact yeast growth and metabolism, and reduce the process efficiency and production yield. Total phenolics are also reported to inhibit yeast growth and metabolism and act as a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage yeast cells. Therefore, minimizing the generation of these inhibitors during rice straw hydrolysis is essential to improve the efficiency and yield of ethanol fermentation. Optimization of process variables can help reduce inhibitor generation and increase the efficiency of used detoxification methods such as adsorption, ion exchange, and biological methods. This study aimed to minimize inhibitor generation during the chemical hydrolysis of rice straw biomass. Minitab 17 software was employed and response surface curve regression analysis was used to develop a quadratic equation of an optimized process for minimized release of inhibitors molecules. The main inhibitors in pretreated rice straw hydrolysate identified were furfural (48.60%/100 g solid biomass), HMF (2.32%/100 g solid biomass), and total phenolics (1.65%/100 g solid biomass). The optimal pretreatment conditions were a biomass solid loading rate of 15% w/v, an H2SO4concentration of 12% v/v, a pretreatment reaction time of 30 min, and a temperature of 100 °C. Optimization of these process variables reduced the inhibitor generation by up to one and a half fold.
The Comprehensive Detection of mRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs in Lychee Response to Lychee Downy Blight
Authors: Yin Mao , Wen Yingjie , Liu Juge , Jiang Yonghua , Shi Fachao , Chen Jiezhen , Cai Changhe , Ou Liangxi , Yan Qian , Liu Hailun
Published: July 2023

Lychee downy blight (LDB) is an oomycete pathogen (Peronophythora litchi) disease, which affects the fruits and leaves of lychee, resulting in economic losses. Chemical fungicides are commonly used for disease control, while for eco-safety measures, the study of molecular mechanisms involved in lychee resistance against LDB is necessary. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), circular (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs), play a crucial role in plant disease resistance. To examine lychee response (fruits and leaves) to LDB, we studied the expression patterns of ncRNAs and mRNAs under LDB treatment. By whole transcriptome sequencing analyses, a total of 36,885 mRNAs, 2627 lncRNAs, 4682 circRNAs, and 525 miRNAs were identified in lychee. A differential expression (DE) analysis revealed that there were 1095 DEmRNAs, 89 DElncRNAs, 28 DEcircRNAs, and 28 DEmiRNAs in the LDB-treated fruits, as well as 1158 DEmRNAs, 132 DElncRNAs, 13 DEcircRNAs, and 197 DEmiRNAs in the LDB-treated leaves. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the potential function of DEmRNAs and the targets of ncRNAs were involved in plant defense. Furthermore, co-expression networks of putative interacting ncRNAs and mRNAs were developed, in which mRNAs encoded some receptor proteins, pointing to potential ncRNAs associated with LDB infection. Our study provided a new, brief insight to the putative role of ncRNAs in lychee response to LDB.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Uptake in Rain-Fed Corn as Affected by NPK Fertilization
Authors: Singh Ravinder , Sawatzky Steven Kyle , Thomas Matthew , Akin Samuel , Zhang Hailin , Raun William , Arnall Daryl Brian
Published: July 2023

Effective nutrient management requires understanding nutrient uptake at various growth stages and nutrient removal by the harvested portion. Information on nutrient accumulation was provided by some older literature, and a few researchers have focused on this issue in this modern period with modern hybrids and improved corn cultivation practices. While almost all the studies were conducted in northern states of the US, information for the Southern Great Plains is still limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, a 2-year field study was conducted in a rain-fed corn production system. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization on N, P, and K contents in aboveground plants at different growth stages. Pre-plant application of N (0, 67, 133 kg N ha−1), P (0 and 20 kg ha−1) and K (0 and 60 kg ha−1) fertilizers was done. Results from our study revealed that nutrient uptake values, pattern and dynamics depend on environmental conditions, soil type and management practices. N concentration in plants showed a linear response to N application rate while P and K concentrations were unaffected by NPK fertilization rates. Total N, P and K uptake was primarily driven by N application rate, showing a linear increase with higher N rates. Co-application of P and K with N did not significantly affect nutrient concentration and uptake.
Innovative Spring Barley Cultivation Technology Based on the Use of Microbial Products Together with Living Mulch in Organic Farming
Authors: Górski Rafał , Rosa Robert , Niewiadomska Alicja , Wolna-Maruwka Agnieszka , Płaza Anna
Published: July 2023

Field research was conducted in Poland in 2019–2021 to determine the effect of microbial products and living mulches on grain yield and grain yield structure elements as well as the biological index of soil fertility (BIF) in spring barley grown in organic agriculture. Two factors were examined: I. microbial products: control (no treatment with microbial products), inoculation with phosphorus-releasing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, Arthrobacter agilis), and co-inoculation (simultaneous inoculation) with phosphorus-releasing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, Arthrobacter agilis) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azospirillum lipoferum Br17, Azotobacter chroococcum); II. living mulch: control (no living mulch—spring barley grown in a pure stand), red clover, red clover and Italian ryegrass, and Italian ryegrass. The study results demonstrated that the highest grain yield at 4.5 t ha−1 with superior structure was produced by spring barley following co-inoculation with phosphorus-releasing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, Arthrobacter agilis) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azospirillum lipoferum Br17, Azotobacter chroococcum). The highest value of the biological index of soil fertility (BIF II) determined at the flowering stage was obtained in plots with spring barley cultivated with the living mulch of red clover mixed with Italian ryegrass or red clover following inoculation with phosphorus-releasing bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria 6.9 and 5.7, respectively.
Development of a Polymicrobial Checkerboard Assay as a Tool for Determining Combinatorial Antibiotic Effectiveness in Polymicrobial Communities
Authors: Black Caroline , Al Mahmud Hafij , Howle Victoria , Wilson Sabrina , Smith Allie C. , Wakeman Catherine A.
Published: July 2023

The checkerboard assay is a well-established tool used to determine the antimicrobial effects of two compounds in combination. Usually, data collected from the checkerboard assay use visible turbidity and optical density as a readout. While helpful in traditional checkerboard assays, these measurements become less useful in a polymicrobial context as they do not enable assessment of the drug effects on the individual members of the community. The methodology described herein allows for the determination of cell viability through selective and differential plating of each individual species in a community while retaining much of the high-throughput nature of a turbidity-based analysis and requiring no specialized equipment. This methodology further improves turbidity-based measurements by providing a distinction between bacteriostatic versus bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics. Herein, we use this method to demonstrate that the clinically used antibiotic combination of ceftazidime and gentamicin works synergistically against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in monoculture but antagonistically in a polymicrobial culture also containing Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, highlighting the fundamental importance of this methodology in improving clinical practices. We propose that this method could be implemented in clinical microbiology laboratories with minimal impact on the overall time for diagnosis.
Interactions between Angiotensin Type-1 Antagonists, Statins, and ROCK Inhibitors in a Rat Model of L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia
Authors: Lopez-Lopez Andrea , Valenzuela Rita , Rodriguez-Perez Ana Isabel , Guerra María J. , Labandeira-Garcia Jose Luis , Muñoz Ana
Published: July 2023

Statins have been proposed for L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID) treatment. Statin anti-dyskinetic effects were related to the inhibition of the Ras-ERK pathway. However, the mechanisms responsible for the anti-LID effect are unclear. Changes in cholesterol homeostasis and oxidative stress- and inflammation-related mechanisms such as angiotensin II and Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibition may be involved. The nigra and striatum of dyskinetic rats showed increased levels of cholesterol, ROCK, and the inflammatory marker IL-1β, which were reduced by the angiotensin type-1 receptor (AT1) antagonist candesartan, simvastatin, and the ROCK inhibitor fasudil. As observed for LID, angiotensin II-induced, via AT1, increased levels of cholesterol and ROCK in the rat nigra and striatum. In cultured dopaminergic neurons, angiotensin II increased cholesterol biosynthesis and cholesterol efflux without changes in cholesterol uptake. In astrocytes, angiotensin induced an increase in cholesterol uptake, decrease in biosynthesis, and no change in cholesterol efflux, suggesting a neuronal accumulation of cholesterol that is reduced via transfer to astrocytes. Our data suggest mutual interactions between angiotensin/AT1, cholesterol, and ROCK pathways in LID, which are attenuated by the corresponding inhibitors. Interestingly, these three drugs have also been suggested as neuroprotective treatments against Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, they may reduce dyskinesia and the progression of the disease using common mechanisms.
Protective Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts against Neurotoxicity Elicited by Paraquat or Rotenone in Cellular Models of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Tambe Mitali A. , de Rus Jacquet Aurélie , Strathearn Katherine E. , Hensel Jennifer A. , Colón Bryce D. , Chandran Aswathy , Yousef Gad G. , Grace Mary H. , Ferruzzi Mario G. , Wu Qingli , Simon James E. , Lila Mary Ann , Rochet Jean-Christophe
Published: July 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving motor symptoms caused by a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Epidemiological evidence suggests that anthocyanin (ANC) intake is associated with a low risk of PD. Previously, we reported that extracts enriched with ANC and proanthocyanidins (PAC) suppressed dopaminergic neuron death elicited by the PD-related toxin rotenone in a primary midbrain culture model. Here, we characterized botanical extracts enriched with a mixed profile of polyphenols, as well as a set of purified polyphenolic standards, in terms of their ability to mitigate dopaminergic cell death in midbrain cultures exposed to another PD-related toxicant, paraquat (PQ), and we examined underlying neuroprotective mechanisms. Extracts prepared from blueberries, black currants, grape seeds, grape skin, mulberries, and plums, as well as several ANC, were found to rescue dopaminergic neuron loss in PQ-treated cultures. Comparison of a subset of ANC-rich extracts for the ability to mitigate neurotoxicity elicited by PQ versus rotenone revealed that a hibiscus or plum extract was only neuroprotective in cultures exposed to rotenone or PQ, respectively. Several extracts or compounds with the ability to protect against PQ neurotoxicity increased the activity of the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 in cultured astrocytes, and PQ-induced dopaminergic cell death was attenuated in Nrf2-expressing midbrain cultures. In other studies, we found that extracts prepared from hibiscus, grape skin, or purple basil (but not plums) rescued defects in O2 consumption in neuronal cells treated with rotenone. Collectively, these findings suggest that extracts enriched with certain combinations of ANC, PAC, stilbenes, and other polyphenols could potentially slow neurodegeneration in the brains of individuals exposed to PQ or rotenone by activating cellular antioxidant mechanisms and/or alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction.
The Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of the Punching Shear Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs: An Advanced M5P Model Tree Approach
Authors: Abdallah Marwa Hameed , Thoeny Zainab Abdulrdha , Henedy Sadiq N. , Al-Abdaly Nadia Moneem , Imran Hamza , Bernardo Luís Filipe Almeida , Al-Khafaji Zainab
Published: July 2023

Reinforced concrete (RC) flat slabs are widely employed in modern construction, and accurately predicting their load-carrying capacity is crucial for ensuring safety and reliability. Existing design methods and empirical equations still exhibit discrepancies in determining the ultimate load capacity of flat slabs. This study aims to develop a robust machine learning model, specifically the M5P model tree, for predicting the punching shear capacity of a RC flat slab without shear reinforcement. A comprehensive dataset of 482 experimentally tested flat slabs without shear reinforcement was gathered through an extensive literature review and utilized for the development of the M5P model. The model takes into account influential parameters, such as slab thickness, longitudinal reinforcement ratios, and concrete strength. The performance of the proposed M5P model was compared with existing design codes and other empirical models. The comparison highlights that the developed M5P model tree provides a more accurate and reliable prediction of the punching shear capacity of RC flat slabs. This study contributes to the advancement of structural engineering knowledge and has the potential to improve the design and safety assessment of concrete flat slab structures.
Unsupervised Feature Extraction for Various Computer-Aided Diagnosis Using Multiple Convolutional Autoencoders and 2.5-Dimensional Local Image Analysis
Authors: Nemoto Mitsutaka , Ushifusa Kazuyuki , Kimura Yuichi , Nagaoka Takashi , Yamada Takahiro , Yoshikawa Takeharu
Published: July 2023

There are growing expectations for AI computer-aided diagnosis: computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems can be used to improve the accuracy of diagnostic imaging. However, it is not easy to collect large amounts of disease medical image data with lesion area annotations for the supervised learning of CAD systems. This study proposes an unsupervised local image feature extraction method running without such disease medical image datasets. Local image features are one of the key determinants of system performance. The proposed method requires only a normal image dataset that does not include lesions and can be collected easier than a disease dataset. The unsupervised features are extracted by applying multiple convolutional autoencoders to analyze various 2.5-dimensional images. The proposed method is evaluated by two kinds of problems: the detection of cerebral aneurysms in head MRA images and the detection of lung nodules in chest CT images. In both cases, the performance is high, showing an AUC of more than 0.96. These results show that the proposed method can automatically learn features that are useful for lesion recognition from lesion-free normal data, regardless of the type of image or lesion.
Shoplifting Detection Using Hybrid Neural Network CNN-BiLSMT and Development of Benchmark Dataset
Authors: Muneer Iqra , Saddique Mubbashar , Habib Zulfiqar , Mohamed Heba G.
Published: July 2023

Shoplifting poses a significant challenge for shop owners as well as other stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies. In recent years, the task of shoplifting detection has gained the interest of researchers due to video surveillance generating vast quantities of data that cannot be processed in real-time by human staff. In previous studies, different datasets and methods have been developed for the task of shoplifting detection. However, there is a lack of a large benchmark dataset containing different behaviors of shoplifting and standard methods for the task of shoplifting detection. To overcome this limitation, in this study, a large benchmark dataset has been developed, having 900 instances with 450 cases of shoplifting and 450 of non-shoplifting with manual annotation based on five different ways of shoplifting. Moreover, a method for the detection of shoplifting is proposed for evaluating the developed dataset. The dataset is also evaluated with methods as baseline methods, including 2D CNN and 3D CNN. Our proposed method, which is a combination of Inception V3 and BILSTM, outperforms all baseline methods with 81 % accuracy. The developed dataset will be publicly available to foster in various areas related to human activity recognition. These areas encompass the development of systems for detecting behaviors such as robbery, identifying human movements, enhancing safety measures, and detecting instances of theft.
Collaborative Planning in Non-Hierarchical Networks—An Intelligent Negotiation-Based Framework
Authors: Bastos João , Azevedo Américo , Ávila Paulo , Mota Alzira , Costa Lino , Castro Hélio
Published: July 2023

In today’s competing business market, companies are constantly challenged to dynamically adapt to customer expectations by diminishing the time response that goes from the beginning of the business opportunity to the satisfaction of the customer need. Simultaneously, there is increased recognition of the advantages that companies obtain in focusing on their core business and seeking other competencies through partnerships with other partners by forming collaborative networks. These new collaborative organizational structures require a new set of methods and tools to support the management of manufacturing processes across the entire supply chain. The present paper addresses the collaborative production planning problem in networks of non-hierarchical, decentralized, and independent companies. By proposing a collaborative planning intelligent framework composed of a web-based set of methods, tools, and technologies, the present study intends to provide network stakeholders with the necessary means to responsively and efficiently address each one of the market business opportunities. Through this new holistic framework, the managers of the networked companies can address the challenges posed during collaborative network formation and supply chain production planning.
A Method for Synthesizing Iron Silicate Slags to Evaluate Their Performance as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Authors: Andersson Anton , Brander Linus , Lennartsson Andreas , Roos Åke , Engström Fredrik
Published: July 2023

Utilizing iron silicate copper slag as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is a means to improve resource efficiency and lower the carbon dioxide emissions from cement production. Despite multiple studies on the performance of these slags in SCM applications, the variations in cooling procedure, grinding, and methods for evaluating reactivity limit the ability to assess the influence of chemical composition on reactivity from the literature data. In this study, a methodology was developed to synthesize iron silicate slags, which were then evaluated for their inherent reactivity using the R3 calorimeter-based experiments. The results demonstrated that laboratory-scale granulation produced the same reactivity as industrially granulated slag. Furthermore, a synthesized triplicate sample showed high repeatability. Based on these two aspects, this method can be used to systematically study the influence of chemical composition on the inherent reactivity of iron silicate slags while producing results that are directly translatable to industrial slags.