bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ensemble Learning of Lightweight Deep Learning Models Using Knowledge Distillation for Image Classification
Authors: Kang Jaeyong , Gwak Jeonghwan
Published: September 2020

In recent years, deep learning models have been used successfully in almost every field including both industry and academia, especially for computer vision tasks. However, these models are huge in size, with millions (and billions) of parameters, and thus cannot be deployed on the systems and devices with limited resources (e.g., embedded systems and mobile phones). To tackle this, several techniques on model compression and acceleration have been proposed. As a representative type of them, knowledge distillation suggests a way to effectively learn a small student model from large teacher model(s). It has attracted increasing attention since it showed its promising performance. In the work, we propose an ensemble model that combines feature-based, response-based, and relation-based lightweight knowledge distillation models for simple image classification tasks. In our knowledge distillation framework, we use ResNet−20 as a student network and ResNet−110 as a teacher network. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed ensemble model outperforms other knowledge distillation models as well as the large teacher model for image classification tasks, with less computational power than the teacher model.
Integrated Membrane Process for the Treatment and Reuse of Residual Table Olive Fermentation Brine and Anaerobically Digested Sludge Centrate
Authors: Carbonell-Alcaina Carlos , Soler-Cabezas Jose Luis , Bes-Piá Amparo , Vincent-Vela María Cinta , Mendoza-Roca Jose Antonio , Pastor-Alcañiz Laura , Álvarez-Blanco Silvia
Published: September 2020

Management of wastewater is a major challenge nowadays, due to increasing water demand, growing population and more stringent regulations on water quality. Wastewaters from food conservation are especially difficult to treat, since they have high salinity and high organic matter concentration. The aim of this work is the treatment of the effluent from a table olive fermentation process (FTOP) with the aim of reusing it once the organic matter is separated. The process proposed in this work consists of the following membrane-based technologies: Ultrafiltration (UF) (UP005, Microdyn Nadir), Forward Osmosis (FO) (Osmen2521, Hydration Technology Innovation) and Nanofiltration (NF) (NF245, Dow). The FO process was implemented to reduce the salinity entering the NF process, using the FTOP as draw solution and, at the same time, to concentrate the centrate produced in the sludge treatment of a municipal wastewater treatment plant with the aim of obtaining a stream enriched in nutrients. The UF step achieved the elimination of 50% of the chemical oxygen demand of the FTOP. The UF permeate was pumped to the FO system reducing the volume of the anaerobically digested sludge centrate (ADSC) by a factor of 3 in 6.5 h. Finally, the ultrafiltrated FTOP diluted by FO was subjected to NF. The transmembrane pressure needed in the NF stage was 40% lower than that required if the ultrafiltration permeate was directly nanofiltered. By means of the integrated process, the concentration of organic matter and phenolic compounds in the FTOP decreased by 97%. Therefore, the proposed process was able to obtain a treated brine that could be reused in other processes and simultaneously to concentrate a stream, such as the ADSC.
Performance of an Integrated Membrane Process with Electrochemical Pre-Treatment on Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater Purification
Authors: Meiramkulova Kulyash , Devrishov Davud , Zhumagulov Mikhail , Arystanova Sholpan , Karagoishin Zhaskhaiyr , Marzanova Saida , Kydyrbekova Aliya , Mkilima Timoth , Li Jianxin
Published: September 2020

Industrial activities produce a variety of pollutants that may not be easily treated using centralized wastewater treatment systems based on a single treatment unit. The variability of the pollutants brings the importance of industrial-specific integrated wastewater treatment plants such as integrated membrane filtration systems. However, the performance of a membrane filtration process can be highly affected by the presence of high amounts of suspended particles in the raw wastewater. Therefore, proper selection of a pre-treatment unit prior to a membrane filtration wastewater treatment system is a key aspect of its performance. This study investigated the performance of an integrated membrane filtration treatment system connected to an electrochemical process (pre-treatment) on the purification of a poultry slaughterhouse wastewater toward achieving a high-quality effluent. The industrial-scale treatment plant installed at the Izhevsk Production Corporative (PC) poultry farm in Kazakhstan is composed of an electrochemical, ultrafiltration (UF), and reverse osmosis (RO) as the main treatment units. From the analysis results, the electrochemical pre-treatment unit was observed to be highly effective for the removal of some physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, color, total suspended solids, total iron, aluminum, chemical oxygen demand, and biochemical oxygen demand; with removal efficiency ranging from 71 to 85%. The low removal efficiency of the pre-treatment system was also observed from free and total chlorine, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, and ammonium nitrogen; with removal efficiency ranging from 4 to 45%. While in general, the overall treatment train was observed to be highly efficient for some physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, color, total suspended solids, as well as chemical and biochemical oxygen demand; maintaining almost 100% removal efficiency throughout the study period. Also, the high removal efficiency of the electrochemical pre-treatment processes led to a relatively low rate of cake formation on the membrane filters.
Effect of Double Pulse Resistance Spot Welding Process on 15B22 Hot Stamped Boron Steel
Authors: Lee Hwa-Teng , Chang Yuan-Chih
Published: September 2020

Double pulse resistance spot welding process by applying a second step welding current is a new pathway to alter the mechanical properties for advanced high strength steels. Herein, the resistance spot welding (RSW) of hot stamped boron steel 15B22 by one-step and two-step welding with different welding currents is investigated. The results of the tensile–shear test, size of the weld nugget, hardness distribution, microstructure, and failure mode of different welding parameters are analyzed. The weldment of the two-step RSW with a higher heat input exhibits a lower tensile–shear load and lower fracture energy when the size of the weld nugget is large. The microstructural study reveals the appearance of a partially melted zone and sub-critical heat affected zone in the weldment where the fracture readily occurred. Thus, the two-step RSW process weakens the strength of the sample, which is attributed to the partial softening in the weldment due to the higher heat input.
Initial Corrosion Behavior of 12Cr1MoV Steel in Thiosulfate-Containing Sodium Aluminate Solution
Authors: Yuan Jingjiu , Chen Chaoyi , Li Junqi , Quan Bianli , Lan Yuanpei , Wang Linzhu , Fu Hui , Gai Jiaxuan
Published: September 2020

When alumina is produced by the Bayer process with high-sulfur bauxite, the sulfur would strongly corrode the 12Cr1MoV steel made heat exchanger. This study investigated the initial corrosion behavior of the 12Cr1MoV steel exposed to a thiosulfate-containing sodium aluminate (TCSA) solution under the evaporation conditions of alumina production. The obtained corrosion rate equation is V = 6.306·t·exp(−0.71). As corrosion progressed, with the corrosion product film growing, the corrosion current density declines slowly, and the corrosion resistance of the steel is increased. At 1–3 days, the corrosion product film consisted of FeO, Fe2O3, and FeOOH. S2O32− lead to corrosion in local areas of the steel and pits appeared. AlO2− is transformed into Al(OH)3 and filled in the corrosion pits. At 4 and 5 days, Fe3O4 is generated in the outermost layer, and Al(OH)3 is shed from the corrosion pits. The corrosion mechanism of 12Cr1MoV steel in a TCSA solution is proposed based on the experimental results.
Influence of Manufacturing Conditions on Inclusion Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of FeCrNiMnCo Alloy
Authors: Choi Nuri , Park Nokeun , Kim Jin-kyung , Karasev Andrey V. , Jönsson Pär G. , Park Joo Hyun
Published: September 2020

Three CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were produced by vacuum induction melting, induction melting under inert gas atmosphere, and melting under inert gas atmosphere followed by air exposure, respectively. The different manufacturing conditions for the three investigated alloys resulted in different levels and types of inclusions. The alloys melted under vacuum or inert gas contained Al2O3 inclusions formed by impurity Al, due to its high oxidation tendency. The molten alloy exposed in air showed an excessive oxidation. During oxidation of the molten alloy in air, impurity Al was initially oxidized, and fine MnCr2O4 inclusions were formed rather than pure Al2O3 inclusions. This difference was analyzed based on thermodynamic calculations. Specifically, the influence of impurity content on the inclusion characteristics was investigated for the three HEAs. Moreover, the inclusion characteristics were found to have an influence on mechanical properties of the alloys also. In air-exposed HEA, smaller inclusions were formed, resulting in a higher dislocation density at the matrix/inclusion interface and thus strengthening of the HEA. Thus, it is proposed that atmospheric conditions could be an important factor to control the inclusion characteristics and to form fine inclusion particles, which could improve the mechanical properties of HEAs.
Assessment of Flow through Microchannels for Inertia-Based Sorting: Steps toward Microfluidic Medical Devices
Authors: Natu Rucha , Guha Suvajyoti , Dibaji Seyed Ahmad Reza , Herbertson Luke
Published: September 2020

The development of new standardized test methods would allow for the consistent evaluation of microfluidic medical devices and enable high-quality products to reach the market faster. A comprehensive flow characterization study was conducted to identify regulatory knowledge gaps using a generic inertia-based spiral channel model for particle sorting and facilitate standards development in the microfluidics community. Testing was performed using 2–20 µm rigid particles to represent blood elements and flow rates of 200–5000 µL/min to assess the effects of flow-related factors on overall system performance. Two channel designs were studied to determine the variability associated with using the same microchannel multiple times (coefficient of variation (CV) of 27% for Design 1 and 18% for Design 2, respectively). The impact of commonly occurring failure modes on device performance was also investigated by simulating progressive and complete channel outlet blockages. The pressure increased by 10–250% of the normal channel pressure depending on the extent of the blockage. Lastly, two common data analysis approaches were compared—imaging and particle counting. Both approaches were similar in terms of their sensitivity and consistency. Continued research is needed to develop standardized test methods for microfluidic systems, which will improve medical device performance testing and drive innovation in the biomedical field.
Potential Control of Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Ochratoxin A in Stored Coffee Using Gaseous Ozone Treatment
Authors: Akbar Asya , Medina Angel , Magan Naresh
Published: September 2020

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of treatment of Arabica green coffee beans with gaseous ozone (O3) for the control of ochratoxigenic fungi and ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination by Aspergillus westerdijkiae, A. ochraceus, and A. carbonarius during storage. Studies included (i) relative control of the populations of each of these three species when inoculated on irradiated green coffee beans of different initial water availabilities using 400 and 600 ppm gaseous O3 treatment for 60 min at a flow rate of 6 L−1 and on OTA contamination after 12 days storage at 30 °C and (ii) effect of 600 ppm O3 treatment on natural populations of green stored coffee beans at 0.75, 0.90, and 0.95 water activity (aw) or with additional inoculum of a mixture of these three ochratoxigenic fungi after treatment and storage for 12 days at 30 °C on fungal populations and OTA contamination. Exposure to 400 and 600 ppm O3 of coffee beans inoculated with the toxigenic species showed that there was less effect on fungal populations at the lowered aw (0.75). However, toxigenic fungal populations significantly increased 48 h after exposure and when stored at 0.90 and 0.95 aw for 12 days. All three species produced high amounts of OTA in both O3 treatments of the wetter coffee beans at 0.90 and 0.95 aw. Gaseous O3 (600 ppm) treatment of naturally contaminated green coffee beans had little effect on fungal populations after treatment, regardless of the initial aw level. However, after storage, there was some reduction (26%) observed in coffee at 0.95 aw. In addition, no fungal populations or OTA contamination occurred in the 0.75 and 0.90 aw treatments after exposure to 600 ppm gaseous O3 and storage for 12 days. It appears that under wetter conditions (≥0.90–95 aw) it is unlikely that fungal populations and OTA contamination of stored coffee beans, even with such high O3 concentrations would be controlled. The results are discussed in the context of potential application of O3 as an intervention system for stored coffee post-fermentation and during medium term storage and transport.
Association of Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella—Statistical and Computational Insights into a Selected Set of Clinical Isolates
Authors: Higgins Daleniece , Mukherjee Nabanita , Pal Chandan , Sulaiman Irshad M. , Jiang Yu , Hanna Samir , Dunn John R. , Karmaus Wilfried , Banerjee Pratik
Published: September 2020

The acquisition of antibiotic resistance (AR) by foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella enterica, has emerged as a serious public health concern. The relationship between the two key survival mechanisms (i.e., antibiotic resistance and virulence) of bacterial pathogens is complex. However, it is unclear if the presence of certain virulence determinants (i.e., virulence genes) and AR have any association in Salmonella. In this study, we report the prevalence of selected virulence genes and their association with AR in a set of phenotypically tested antibiotic-resistant (n = 117) and antibiotic-susceptible (n = 94) clinical isolates of Salmonella collected from Tennessee, USA. Profiling of virulence genes (i.e., virulotyping) in Salmonella isolates (n = 211) was conducted by targeting 13 known virulence genes and a gene for class 1 integron. The association of the presence/absence of virulence genes in an isolate with their AR phenotypes was determined by the machine learning algorithm Random Forest. The analysis revealed that Salmonella virulotypes with gene clusters consisting of avrA, gipA, sodC1, and sopE1 were strongly associated with any resistant phenotypes. To conclude, the results of this exploratory study shed light on the association of specific virulence genes with drug-resistant phenotypes of Salmonella. The presence of certain virulence genes clusters in resistant isolates may become useful for the risk assessment and management of salmonellosis caused by drug-resistant Salmonella in humans.
Modelling—International Open Access Journal of Modelling in Engineering Science
Authors: Cuzzocrea Alfredo
Published: September 2020

Modelling in engineering science embraces a wide area of theoretical results, methodological aspects and practical findings, with particular regard to computer-based modelling approaches [...]
Comparison of the Partial Structure and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharides from Two Species of Chinese Truffles
Authors: Li Xiaolin , Zhu Zhongkai , Ye Lei , Kang Zongjing , Zhang Xiaoping , Huang Yue , Zhang Bo , Zou Yuanfeng
Published: September 2020

Truffles are world-renowned premium commodities. Due to their unique aroma and rarity, the price of truffles has always been very high. In this study, Diethylaminoethyl anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration were employed for polysaccharide purification from two different species of Chinese truffles. Three polysaccharide fractions were obtained from Tuber panzhihuanense and referred to as TPZ-NP, TPZ-I, and TPZ-II. Additionally, two polysaccharide fractions were purified from T. pseudoexcavatum (TPD-NP and TPD-I). The results of structural elucidation indicated that the polysaccharide from different species showed different monosaccharide composition and linkage units, as well as molecular weight. Two of the polysaccharide fractions with the highest yield, TPZ-I and TPD-I, were chosen for biological testing. The results indicated that both fractions displayed antioxidant properties through mediation of the intestinal cellular antioxidant defense system, which could protect cultured intestinal cells from oxidative stress-induced damage and cell viability suppression. The TPD-I fraction showed stronger antioxidant effects, which may be due to the difference in structure. Further study on the structure-activity relationship is needed to be done.
A Two-Layer SVM Ensemble-Classifier to Predict Interface Residue Pairs of Protein Trimers
Authors: Lyu Yanfen , Gong Xinqi
Published: September 2020

Study of interface residue pairs is important for understanding the interactions between monomers inside a trimer protein–protein complex. We developed a two-layer support vector machine (SVM) ensemble-classifier that considers physicochemical and geometric properties of amino acids and the influence of surrounding amino acids. Different descriptors and different combinations may give different prediction results. We propose feature combination engineering based on correlation coefficients and F-values. The accuracy of our method is 65.38% in independent test set, indicating biological significance. Our predictions are consistent with the experimental results. It shows the effectiveness and reliability of our method to predict interface residue pairs of protein trimers.
The Effect of Modified Porcine Surfactant Alone or in Combination with Polymyxin B on Lung Homeostasis in LPS-Challenged and Mechanically Ventilated Adult Rats
Authors: Kolomaznik Maros , Kopincova Jana , Nova Zuzana , Topercerova Juliana , Zila Ivan , Mikolka Pavol , Kosutova Petra , Matasova Katarina , Skovierova Henrieta , Grendar Marian , Mokra Daniela , Calkovska Andrea
Published: September 2020

The study aimed to prove the hypothesis that exogenous surfactant and an antibiotic polymyxin B (PxB) can more effectively reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) than surfactant treatment alone, and to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the gene expression of surfactant proteins (SPs). Anesthetized rats were intratracheally instilled with different doses of LPS to induce ALI. Animals with LPS 500 μg/kg have been treated with exogenous surfactant (poractant alfa, Curosurf®, 50 mg PL/kg b.w.) or surfactant with PxB 1% w.w. (PSUR + PxB) and mechanically ventilated for 5 hrs. LPS at 500 μg/kg increased lung edema, oxidative stress, and the levels of proinflammatory mediators in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). PSUR reduced lung edema and oxidative stress in the lungs and IL-6 in BALF. This effect was further potentiated by PxB added to PSUR. Exogenous surfactant enhanced the gene expression of SP-A, SP-B, and SP-C, however, gene expression for all SPs was reduced after treatment with PSUR + PxB. In mechanically ventilated rats with LPS-induced ALI, the positive effect of exogenous surfactant on inflammation and oxidative stress was potentiated with PxB. Due to the tendency for reduced SPs gene expression after surfactant/PxB treatment topical use of PxB should be considered with caution.
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Inhibits Rotenone-Induced Microglia Inflammation by Enhancing Autophagy
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhou Jing , Shen Mi , Xu Hui , Yu Shu , Cheng Qiong , Ding Fei
Published: September 2020

Neuroinflammation is a feature common to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), which might be responsive to therapeutic intervention. Rotenone has been widely used to establish PD models by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. Our previous studies have reported that pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a naturally occurring redox cofactor, could prevent mitochondrial dysfunction in rotenone induced PD models by regulating mitochondrial functions. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of PQQ on neuroinflammation and the mechanism involved. BV2 microglia cells were pre-treated with PQQ followed by rotenone incubation. The data showed that PQQ did not affect the cell viability of BV2 cells treated with rotenone, while the conditioned medium (CM) of BV2 cells pre-treated with PQQ significantly increased cell viability of SH-SY5Y cells. In rotenone-treated BV2 cells, PQQ dose-dependently decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and suppressed the up-regulation of pro-inflammation factors, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cultured media, as well as nitric oxide (NO) release induced by rotenone. PQQ pretreatment also increased the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I and expression of Atg5 in BV2 cells stimulated with rotenone. Additionally, the autophagosome observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and co-localization of mitochondria with lysosomes indicated that mitophagy was induced by PQQ in rotenone-injured BV2 cells, and the PINK1/parkin mediated mitophagy pathway was regulated by PQQ. Further, autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), partially abolished the neuroprotective effect of PQQ and attenuated the inhibition of inflammation with PQQ pretreatment. Taken together, our data extend our understanding of the neuroprotective effect of PQQ against rotenone-induced injury and provide evidence that autophagy enhancement might be a novel therapeutic strategy for PD treatment.
Chalcone Methoxy Derivatives Exhibit Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Activity on Canine Lymphoma and Leukemia Cells
Authors: Pawlak Aleksandra , Henklewska Marta , Hernández Suárez Beatriz , Łużny Mateusz , Kozłowska Ewa , Obmińska-Mrukowicz Bożena , Janeczko Tomasz
Published: September 2020

Chalcones are interesting candidates for anti-cancer drugs due to the ease of their synthesis and their extensive biological activity. The study presents antitumor activity of newly synthesized chalcone analogues with a methoxy group on a panel of canine lymphoma and leukemia cell lines. The antiproliferative effect of the 2′-hydroxychalcone and its methoxylated derivatives was evaluated in MTT assay after 48 h of treatment in different concentrations. The proapoptotic activity was studied by cytometric analysis of cells stained with Annexin V/FITC and propidium iodide and by measure caspases 3/7 and 8 activation. The DNA damage was evaluated by Western blot analysis of phosphorylated histone H2AX. The new compounds had selective antiproliferative activity against the studied cell lines, the most effective were the 2′-hydroxy-2″,5″-dimethoxychalcone and 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone. 2′-Hydroxychalcone and the two most active derivatives induced apoptosis and caspases participation, but some percentage of necrotic cells was also observed. Comparing phosphatidylserine externalization after treatment with the different compounds it was noted that the addition of two methoxy groups increased the proapoptotic potential. The most active compounds triggered DNA damage even in the cell lines resistant to chalcone-induced apoptosis. The results confirmed that the analogues could have anticancer potential in the treatment of canine lymphoma or leukemia.
Inactivation of Thioglucosidase from Sinapis alba (White Mustard) Seed by Metal Salts
Authors: Marcinkowska Monika , Jeleń Henryk H.
Published: September 2020

The glucosinolates which are specialized plant metabolites of Brassica vegetables are prone to hydrolysis catalyzed by an endogenous enzyme myrosinase (thioglycoside hydrolase, thioglucosidase) that exists in Brassica plant tissue causing volatile isothiocyanates release. Currently existing literature data on the inactivation of myrosinase is insufficient in particular for use in the analysis of volatile and odor compounds in vegetables rich in glucosinolates. In this study, the impact of different metal salts in effective inactivation of enzyme activity was investigated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and GC/MS system in aqueous samples and kohlrabi matrix. A saturated solution of calcium chloride which is commonly used to stop enzyme activity in plant tissue inactivates the myrosinase–glucosinolate system. However, even without the participation of myrosinase, it changes the reaction pathway towards nitrile formation. The model experiment shows that optimum efficiency in inhibition of the enzyme system shows iron(III) ions, silver ions, and anhydride sodium sulfate resulting in no volatile products derived from glucosinolates. However, in the kohlrabi matrix, the strongest enzyme inhibition effect was observed for silver salt resulting in no volatile products, also both anhydrous Na2SO4 and saturated CaCl2 solution seem to be useful inhibitors in flavor studies.
Nucleophilic Synthesis of 6-l-[18F]FDOPA. Is Copper-Mediated Radiofluorination the Answer?
Authors: Krasikova Raisa N.
Published: September 2020

Positron emission tomography employing 6-l-[18F]fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (6-l-[18F]FDOPA) is currently a highly relevant clinical tool for detection of gliomas, neuroendocrine tumors and evaluation of Parkinson’s disease progression. Yet, the deficiencies of electrophilic synthesis of 6-l-[18F]FDOPA hold back its wider use. To fulfill growing clinical demands for this radiotracer, novel synthetic strategies via direct nucleophilic 18F-radiloabeling starting from multi-Curie amounts of [18F]fluoride, have been recently introduced. In particular, Cu-mediated radiofluorination of arylpinacol boronates and arylstannanes show significant promise for introduction into clinical practice. In this short review these current developments will be discussed with a focus on their applicability to automation.
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid-Enriched Fermented Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Increases the Length of the Growth Plate on the Proximal Tibia Bone in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Lee Hyesook , Hwangbo Hyun , Ji Seon Yeong , Kim Min Yeong , Kim So Young , Kim Da Hye , Hong Su Hyun , Lee Su Jeong , Assefa Freshet , Kim Gi-Young , Park Eui Kyun , Park Joung-Hyun , Lee Bae-Jin , Jeon You-Jin , Choi Yung Hyun
Published: September 2020

Bone growth during childhood and puberty determines an adult’s final stature. Although several prior studies have reported that fermented oyster (FO) consisting of a high amount of gamma aminobutyric acid can be attributed to bone health, there is no research on the efficacy of FO on growth regulation and the proximal tibial growth plate. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of FO oral administration on hepatic and serum growth regulator levels and the development of the proximal tibial growth plate in young Sprague-Dawley rats. Both oral administration of FO (FO 100, 100 mg/kg FO and FO 200, 200 mg/kg FO) and subcutaneous injection of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH, 200 μg/kg of rhGH) for two weeks showed no toxicity. Circulating levels of growth hormone (GH) significantly increased in the FO 200 group. The expression and secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were enhanced by FO administration. FO administration promoted the expression of bone morphogenic proteins IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the proximal tibial growth plate. This positive effect of FO resulted in incremental growth of the entire plate length by expanding the proliferating and hypertrophic zones in the proximal tibial growth plate. Collectively, our results suggested that oral administration of FO is beneficial for bone health, which may ultimately result in increased height.
The Pathology of Parkinson’s Disease and Potential Benefit of Dietary Polyphenols
Authors: Aryal Sunisha , Skinner Taylor , Bridges Bronwyn , Weber John T.
Published: September 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor at rest, and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms such as olfactory impairment, pain, autonomic dysfunction, impaired sleep, fatigue, and behavioral changes. The pathogenesis of PD is believed to involve oxidative stress, disruption to mitochondria, alterations to the protein α-synuclein, and neuroinflammatory processes. There is currently no cure for the disease. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants, which have shown benefit in several experimental models of PD. Intake of polyphenols through diet is also associated with lower PD risk in humans. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathology of PD and the data supporting the potential neuroprotective capacity of increased polyphenols in the diet. Evidence suggests that the intake of dietary polyphenols may inhibit neurodegeneration and the progression of PD. Polyphenols appear to have a positive effect on the gut microbiome, which may decrease inflammation that contributes to the disease. Therefore, a diet rich in polyphenols may decrease the symptoms and increase quality of life in PD patients.
Transstadial Transmission and Replication Kinetics of West Nile Virus Lineage 1 in Laboratory Reared Ixodes ricinus Ticks
Authors: Răileanu Cristian , Tauchmann Oliver , Vasić Ana , Neumann Ulrike , Tews Birke Andrea , Silaghi Cornelia
Published: September 2020

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne agent that has also been isolated from several tick species. Vector competence of Ixodes ricinus, one of the most common tick species in Europe, has been poorly investigated for WNV to date. As such, to evaluate the vector competence, laboratory reared Ixodes ricinus nymphs were in vitro fed with WNV lineage 1 infectious blood, allowed to molt, and the resulting females artificially fed to study the virus transmission. Furthermore, we studied the kinetics of WNV replication in ticks after infecting nymphs using an automatic injector. Active replication of WNV was detected in injected nymphs from day 7 post-infection until 28 dpi. In the nymphs infected by artificial feeding, the transstadial transmission of WNV was confirmed molecularly in 46.7% of males, while virus transmission during in vitro feeding of I. ricinus females originating from infected nymphs was not registered. The long persistence of WNV in I. ricinus ticks did not correlate with the transmission of the virus and it is unlikely that I. ricinus represents a competent vector. However, there is a potential reservoir role that this tick species can play, with hosts potentially acquiring the viral agent after ingesting the infected ticks.
Detection of Babesia odocoilei in Ixodes scapularis Ticks Collected from Songbirds in Ontario and Quebec, Canada
Authors: Scott John D. , Pascoe Emily L. , Sajid Muhammad S. , Foley Janet E.
Published: September 2020

Songbirds widely disperse ticks that carry a diversity of pathogens, some of which are pathogenic to humans. Among ticks commonly removed from songbirds, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, can harbor any combination of nine zoonotic pathogens, including Babesia species. From May through September 2019, a total 157 ticks were collected from 93 songbirds of 29 species in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec. PCR testing for the 18S gene of Babesia species detected Babesia odocoilei in 12.63% of I. scapularis nymphs parasitizing songbirds in Ontario and Québec; none of the relatively small numbers of Ixodes muris, Ixodes brunneus, or Haemaphysalis leporispalustris were PCR-positive. For ticks at each site, the prevalence of B. odocoilei was 16.67% in Ontario and 8.89% and 5.26% in Québec. Of 31 live, engorged I. scapularis larvae and nymphs held to molt, 25 ticks completed the molt; five of these molted ticks were positive for B. odocoilei. PCR-positive ticks were collected from six bird species—namely, Common Yellowthroat, Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, and American Robin. Phylogenetic analysis documented the close relationship of B. odocoilei to Babesia canis canis and Babesia divergens, the latter a known pathogen to humans. For the first time in Canada, we confirm the transstadial passage of B. odocoilei in I. scapularis molting from larvae to nymphs. A novel host record reveals I. scapularis on a Palm Warbler. Our findings show that B. odocoilei is present in all mobile life stages of I. scapularis, and it is widely dispersed by songbirds in Ontario and Québec.
Occurrence of Fungi in the Potable Water of Hospitals: A Public Health Threat
Authors: Caggiano Giuseppina , Diella Giusy , Triggiano Francesco , Bartolomeo Nicola , Apollonio Francesca , Campanale Carmen , Lopuzzo Marco , Montagna Maria Teresa
Published: September 2020

Since the last decade, attention towards the occurrence of fungi in potable water has increased. Commensal and saprophytic microorganisms widely distributed in nature are also responsible for causing public health problems. Fungi can contaminate hospital environments, surviving and proliferating in moist and unsterile conditions. According to Italian regulations, the absence of fungi is not a mandatory parameter to define potable water, as a threshold value for the fungal occurrence has not been defined. This study evaluated the occurrence of fungi in potable water distribution systems in hospitals. The frequency of samples positive for the presence of fungi was 56.9%; among them, filamentous fungi and yeasts were isolated from 94.2% and 9.2% of the samples, respectively. The intensive care unit (87.1%) had the highest frequency of positive samples. Multivariable model (p < 0.0001), the variables of the period of the year (p < 0.0001) and type of department (p = 0.0002) were found to be statistically significant, suggesting a high distribution of filamentous fungi in the potable water of hospitals. Further studies are necessary to validate these results and identify the threshold values of fungi levels for different types of water used for various purposes to ensure the water is safe for consumption and protect public health.
The SMC5/6 Complex Represses the Replicative Program of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Type 31
Authors: Gibson Ryan T. , Androphy Elliot J.
Published: September 2020

The multi-subunit structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) 5/6 complex includes SMC6 and non-SMC element (NSE)3. SMC5/6 is essential for homologous recombination DNA repair and functions as an antiviral factor during hepatitis B (HBV) and herpes simplex-1 (HSV-1) viral infections. Intriguingly, SMC5/6 has been found to associate with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E2 regulatory proteins, but the functions of this interaction and its role during HPV infection remain unclear. Here, we further characterize SMC5/6 interactions with HPV-31 E2 and its role in the HPV life cycle. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) revealed that SMC6 interactions with HPV-31 E2 require the E2 transactivation domain, implying that SMC5/6 interacts with full-length E2. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we found that SMC6 is present on HPV-31 episomes at E2 binding sites. The depletion of SMC6 and NSE3 increased viral replication and transcription in keratinocytes maintaining episomal HPV-31, indicating that SMC5/6 restricts the viral replicative program. SMC6 interactions with E2 were reduced in the presence of HPV-31 E1, suggesting that SMC6 and E1 compete for E2 binding. Our findings demonstrate SMC5/6 functions as a repressor of the viral replicative program and this may involve inhibiting the initiation of viral replication.
Characterization of Neopestalotiopsis Species Associated with Mango Grey Leaf Spot Disease in Sinaloa, Mexico
Authors: Gerardo-Lugo Saida S. , Tovar-Pedraza Juan M. , Maharachchikumbura Sajeewa S. N. , Apodaca-Sánchez Miguel A. , Correia Kamila C. , Sauceda-Acosta Carlos P. , Camacho-Tapia Moisés , Hyde Kevin D. , Marraiki Najat , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Beltrán-Peña Hugo
Published: September 2020

Mango is one of the most popular and nutritious fruits in the world and Mexico is the world’s largest exporter. There are many diseases that directly affect fruit yield and quality. During the period 2016–2017, leaves with grey leaf spots were collected from 28 commercial mango orchards distributed in two main production areas in Sinaloa State of Mexico, and 50 Neopestalotiopsis isolates were obtained. Fungal identification of 20 representative isolates was performed using morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, part of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) and the β-tubulin (TUB) genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 20 isolates from this study formed four consistent groups, however, overall tree topologies do not consistently provide a stable and sufficient resolution. Therefore, even though morphological and phylogenetic separation is evident, these isolates were not assigned to any new taxa and were tentatively placed into four clades (clades A–D). Pathogenicity tests on detached mango leaves of cv. Kent showed that the 20 isolates that belong to the four Neopestalotiopsis clades from this study and induce lesions on mango leaves. This is the first report of species of Neopestalotiopsis causing mango grey leaf spot disease in Mexico.
Are There Differences in the Reaction of the Light-Tolerant Subgenus Pinus spp. Biomass to Climate Change as Compared to Light-Intolerant Genus Picea spp.?
Authors: Usoltsev Vladimir A. , Lin Hui , Shobairi Seyed Omid Reza , Tsepordey Ivan S. , Ye Zilin
Published: September 2020

Currently, the problem of the impact of climate change on the productivity of forest ecosystems and their carbon-depositing capacity is far from being solved. Therefore, this paper presents the models for the stand biomass of the two-needled subgenus’ (Pinus spp.) and the genus Picea spp.’s trends along the trans-Eurasian hydrothermal gradients, designed for pure stands in a number of 2110- and 870-sample plots with Pinus and Picea correspondingly. It was found that in the case of an increase in mean winter temperatures by 1 °C, pine and spruce respond by increasing the biomass of most components, and in the case of an increase in the annual sum of precipitation by 100 mm, the total, aboveground, stem and root biomasses of pine and spruce react the same way, but crown biomass reacts in the opposite way. Therefore, all identified trends are species-specific.
Inflorescence Development and Floral Organogenesis in Taraxacum kok-saghyz
Authors: Schuchovski Carolina , Meulia Tea , Sant’Anna-Santos Bruno Francisco , Fresnedo-Ramírez Jonathan
Published: September 2020

Rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin; TK) has received attention for its natural rubber content as a strategic biomaterial, and a promising, sustainable, and renewable alternative to synthetic rubber from fossil carbon sources. Extensive research on the domestication and rubber content of TK has demonstrated TK’s potential in industrial applications as a relevant natural rubber and latex-producing alternative crop. However, many aspects of its biology have been neglected in published studies. For example, floral development is still poorly characterized. TK inflorescences were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Nine stages of early inflorescence development are proposed, and floral micromorphology is detailed. Individual flower primordia development starts at the periphery and proceeds centripetally in the newly-formed inflorescence meristem. Floral organogenesis begins in the outermost flowers of the capitulum, with corolla ring and androecium formation. Following, pappus primordium—forming a ring around the base of the corolla tube—and gynoecium are observed. The transition from vegetative to inflorescence meristem was observed 21 days after germination. This description of inflorescence and flower development in TK sheds light on the complex process of flowering, pollination, and reproduction. This study will be useful for genetics, breeding, systematics, and development of agronomical practices for this new rubber-producing crop.
A Dual Strategy of Breeding for Drought Tolerance and Introducing Drought-Tolerant, Underutilized Crops into Production Systems to Enhance Their Resilience to Water Deficiency
Authors: Rosero Amparo , Granda Leiter , Berdugo-Cely Jhon A. , Šamajová Olga , Šamaj Jozef , Cerkal Radim
Published: September 2020

Water scarcity is the primary constraint on crop productivity in arid and semiarid tropical areas suffering from climate alterations; in accordance, agricultural systems have to be optimized. Several concepts and strategies should be considered to improve crop yield and quality, particularly in vulnerable regions where such environmental changes cause a risk of food insecurity. In this work, we review two strategies aiming to increase drought stress tolerance: (i) the use of natural genes that have evolved over time and are preserved in crop wild relatives and landraces for drought tolerance breeding using conventional and molecular methods and (ii) exploiting the reservoir of neglected and underutilized species to identify those that are known to be more drought-tolerant than conventional staple crops while possessing other desired agronomic and nutritive characteristics, as well as introducing them into existing cropping systems to make them more resilient to water deficiency conditions. In the past, the existence of drought tolerance genes in crop wild relatives and landraces was either unknown or difficult to exploit using traditional breeding techniques to secure potential long-term solutions. Today, with the advances in genomics and phenomics, there are a number of new tools available that facilitate the discovery of drought resistance genes in crop wild relatives and landraces and their relatively easy transfer into advanced breeding lines, thus accelerating breeding progress and creating resilient varieties that can withstand prolonged drought periods. Among those tools are marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and targeted gene editing (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology). The integration of these two major strategies, the advances in conventional and molecular breeding for the drought tolerance of conventional staple crops, and the introduction of drought-tolerant neglected and underutilized species into existing production systems has the potential to enhance the resilience of agricultural production under conditions of water scarcity.
Integrative Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Identifies Major Molecular Regulation Pathways Involved in Ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) under Nitrogen and Water Co-Limitation
Authors: Chen Jikang , Gao Gang , Chen Ping , Chen Kunmei , Wang Xiaofei , Bai Lianyang , Yu Chunming , Zhu Aiguo
Published: September 2020

Water and N are the most important factors affecting ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) growth. In this study, de novo transcriptome assembly and Tandem Mass Tags (TMT) based quantitative proteome analysis of ramie under nitrogen and water co-limitation conditions were performed, and exposed to treatments, including drought and N-deficit (WdNd), proper water but N-deficit (WNd), proper N but drought (WdN), and proper N and water (CK), respectively. A total of 64,848 unigenes (41.92% of total unigenes) were annotated in at least one database, including NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (Nr), Swiss-Prot, Protein family (Pfam), Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG Orthology (KO), and 4268 protein groups were identified. Most significant changes in transcript levels happened under water-limited conditions, but most significant changes in protein level happened under water-limited conditions only with proper N. Poor correlation between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) was observed in ramie responding to the treatments. DEG/DEP regulation patterns related to major metabolic processes responding to water and N deficiency were analyzed, including photosynthesis, ethylene responding, glycolysis, and nitrogen metabolism. Moreover, 41 DEGs and 61 DEPs involved in regulating adaptation of ramie under water and N stresses were provided in the study, including DEGs/DEPs related to UDP—glucuronosyhransferase (UGT), ATP synthase, and carbonate dehydratase. The strong dependency of N-response of ramie on water conditions at the gene and protein levels was highlighted. Advices for simultaneously improving water and N efficiency in ramie were also provided, especially in breeding N efficient varieties with drought resistance. This study provided extensive new information on the transcriptome, proteome, their correlation, and diversification in ramie responding to water and N co-limitation.
Occupancy Grid and Topological Maps Extraction from Satellite Images for Path Planning in Agricultural Robots
Authors: Santos Luís Carlos , Aguiar André Silva , Santos Filipe Neves , Valente António , Petry Marcelo
Published: September 2020

Robotics will significantly impact large sectors of the economy with relatively low productivity, such as Agri-Food production. Deploying agricultural robots on the farm is still a challenging task. When it comes to localising the robot, there is a need for a preliminary map, which is obtained from a first robot visit to the farm. Mapping is a semi-autonomous task that requires a human operator to drive the robot throughout the environment using a control pad. Visual and geometric features are used by Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) Algorithms to model and recognise places, and track the robot’s motion. In agricultural fields, this represents a time-consuming operation. This work proposes a novel solution—called AgRoBPP-bridge—to autonomously extract Occupancy Grid and Topological maps from satellites images. These preliminary maps are used by the robot in its first visit, reducing the need of human intervention and making the path planning algorithms more efficient. AgRoBPP-bridge consists of two stages: vineyards row detection and topological map extraction. For vineyards row detection, we explored two approaches, one that is based on conventional machine learning technique, by considering Support Vector Machine with Local Binary Pattern-based features, and another one found in deep learning techniques (ResNET and DenseNET). From the vineyards row detection, we extracted an occupation grid map and, by considering advanced image processing techniques and Voronoi diagrams concept, we obtained a topological map. Our results demonstrated an overall accuracy higher than 85% for detecting vineyards and free paths for robot navigation. The Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based approach demonstrated the best performance in terms of precision and computational resources consumption. AgRoBPP-bridge shows to be a relevant contribution to simplify the deployment of robots in agriculture.