bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A recombinant porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus type 2 field strain derived from two PRRSV-2-modified live virus vaccines
Authors: Trevisan Giovani , Magstadt Drew , Woods Amy , Sparks Joel , Zeller Michael , Li Ganwu , Krueger Karen M. , Saxena Anugrah , Zhang Jianqiang , Gauger Phillip C.
Published: March 2023

A porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) type 2 (PRRSV-2) isolate was obtained from lung samples collected from a 4.5-month-old pig at a wean-to-finish site in Indiana, USA, although no gross or microscopic lesions suggestive of PRRSV infection were observed in the lung tissue. Phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analyses based on the obtained virus sequences indicated that PRRSV USA/IN105404/2021 was a natural recombinant isolate from Ingelvac PRRS® MLV and Prevacent® PRRS, which are PRRSV-2-modified live virus vaccines commercially available in the United States. This study is the first to report the detection of a PRRSV-2 recombinant strain consisting entirely of two modified live virus vaccine strains under field conditions. Based on clinical data and the absence of lung lesions, this PRRSV-2 recombinant strain was not virulent in swine, although its pathogenicity needs to be confirmed by clinical trials.
Quantification of Impact of Land Use Systems on Runoff and Soil Loss from Ravine Ecosystem of Western India
Authors: Meena Gopal Lal , Sethy Bira Kishore , Meena Hem Raj , Ali Shakir , Kumar Ashok , Singh Rajive Kumar , Meena Raghuvir Singh , Meena Ram Bhawan , Sharma Gulshan Kumar , Mina Bansi Lal , Kumar Kuldeep
Published: March 2023

Ravine and gully formations are both spectacular and also the worst forms of water-induced soil erosion and have in situ and ex situ impact on geomorphology, hydrology, productivity and environmental security, and they are the root causes of degradation of marginal and adjacent land along with reduced production potential. A long-term (2011–2019) study was conducted on marginal land of the Chambal ravine to assess the impact of six land uses, i.e., Agriculture (T1—Rainfed Soybean), Agri-horticulture (T2—Soybean + Manilkara achras), Horti-Pastoral (T3—Emblica officinalis + Cenchurus ciliaris), Pasture (T4—C. ciliaris), Silviculture (T5—Acacia nilotica) and Silvi-pasture (T6—A. nilotica + C. Ciliaris) on soil properties, runoff interception, sediment trapping and soil loss reduction. The lowest average annual soil loss (4.83 ton ha−1 year−1) and runoff (109.52 mm) were recorded under T4, while the highest sediment loss (8.09 ton ha−1 year−1) and runoff (136.07 mm), respectively, were under T5. The runoff coefficient of land uses was in the order of T3 (20.30%) < T4 (20.56%) < T1 (21.95%) < T2 (22.26%) < T6 (22.83%) < T5 (25.54%). The C. ciliaris improved bulk density and recorded lowest in horti-pasture (1.63 ± 0.04 g cm−3) followed by pasture (1.66 ± 0.03 g cm−3) land use system. The active SOC content in pasture, horti-pasture and silvi-pasture was 0.95, 0.87 and 0.64 times higher, respectively, than agriculture land use. Under pure C. ciliaris cover, resistance to penetration varied from 0.68 to 1.97 MPa, while in silviculture land use, it ranges from 1.19 to 2.90 Mpa. Grass cover had substantial impact on soil loss and runoff reduction, SOC content, soil aggregation and resistance to penetration. In degraded ecosystems, Cenchrus ciliaris can be used alone and in combination with plants for protection of natural resources from water-induced soil erosion, runoff conservation, soil quality improvement and maximization of precipitation water use.
Detection of Male and Female Litchi Flowers Using YOLO-HPFD Multi-Teacher Feature Distillation and FPGA-Embedded Platform
Authors: Lyu Shilei , Zhao Yawen , Liu Xueya , Li Zhen , Wang Chao , Shen Jiyuan
Published: March 2023

Litchi florescence has large flower spikes and volume; reasonable control of the ratio of male to female litchi flowers is the key operational aspect of litchi orchards for preserving quality and increasing production. To achieve the rapid detection of male and female litchi flowers, reduce manual statistical errors, and meet the demand for accurate fertilizer regulation, an intelligent detection method for male and female litchi flowers suitable for deployment to low-power embedded platforms is proposed. The method uses multi-teacher pre-activation feature distillation (MPFD) and chooses the relatively complex YOLOv4 and YOLOv5-l as the teacher models and the relatively simple YOLOv4-Tiny as the student model. By dynamically learning the intermediate feature knowledge of the different teacher models, the student model can improve its detection performance by meeting the embedded platform application requirements such as low power consumption and real-time performance. The main objectives of this study are as follows: optimize the distillation position before the activation function (pre-activation) to reduce the feature distillation loss; use the LogCosh-Squared function as the distillation distance loss function to improve distillation performance; adopt the margin-activation method to improve the features of the teacher model passed to the student model; and propose to adopt the Convolution and Group Normalization (Conv-GN) structure for the feature transformation of the student model to prevent effective information loss. Moreover, the distilled student model is quantified and ported for deployment to a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-embedded platform to design and implement a fast, intelligent detection system for male and female litchi flowers. The experimental results show that compared with an undistilled student model, the mAP of the student model obtained after MPFD feature distillation is improved by 4.42 to 94.21%; the size of the detection model ported and deployed to the FPGA-embedded platform is 5.91 MB, and the power consumption is only 10 W, which is 73.85% and 94.54% lower than that of the detection models on the server and PC platforms, respectively, and it can better meet the application requirements of rapid detection and accurate statistics of male and female litchi flowers.
The Stromal Vascular Fraction from Canine Adipose Tissue Contains Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Subpopulations That Show Time-Dependent Adhesion to Cell Culture Plastic Vessels
Authors: Scattini Gabriele , Pellegrini Martina , Severi Giulio , Cagiola Monica , Pascucci Luisa
Published: March 2023

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are extensively studied in both human and veterinary medicine. Their isolation is usually performed by collagenase digestion followed by filtration and removal of nonadherent tissue remnants 48 h after seeding. We observed that waste tissue fragments contain cells that adhere belatedly to the plastic. We aimed to investigate their basic properties to speculate on the possible existence of MSC subpopulations. Adipose tissue from three dogs was enzymatically digested. Three cell populations that adhered to the culture plastic 48, 96, and 144 h after seeding were obtained. After expansion, they were analyzed by flow cytometry for MSC-positive (CD90, CD44, and CD29) and -negative (CD14, MHCII, and CD45) markers as well as for endothelial, pericyte, and smooth muscle cell markers (CD31, CD146, and alpha-SMA). Furthermore, cells were assessed for viability, doubling time, and trilineage differentiation ability. No significant differences were found between the three subpopulations. As a result, this procedure has proven to be a valuable method for dramatically improving MSCs yield. As a consequence of cell recovery optimization, the amount of tissue harvested could be reduced, and the time required to obtain sufficient cells for clinical applications could be shortened. Further studies are needed to uncover possible different functional properties.
Regulation of Host Defense Peptide Synthesis by Polyphenols
Authors: Tobin Isabel , Zhang Guolong
Published: March 2023

The rise of antimicrobial resistance has created an urgent need for antibiotic-alternative strategies for disease control and prevention. Host defense peptides (HDPs), which have both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, are an important component of the innate immune system. A host-directed approach to stimulate the synthesis of endogenous HDPs has emerged as a promising solution to treat infections with a minimum risk for developing antimicrobial resistance. Among a diverse group of compounds that have been identified as inducers of HDP synthesis are polyphenols, which are naturally occurring secondary metabolites of plants characterized by the presence of multiple phenol units. In addition to their well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, a variety of polyphenols have been shown to stimulate HDP synthesis across animal species. This review summarizes both the in vitro and in vivo evidence of polyphenols regulating HDP synthesis. The mechanisms by which polyphenols induce HDP gene expression are also discussed. Natural polyphenols warrant further investigation as potential antibiotic alternatives for the control and prevention of infectious diseases.
Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBL) Producing Bacteria in Animals
Authors: Tseng Chien-Hao , Liu Chia-Wei , Liu Po-Yu
Published: March 2023

Animals have been identified as potential reservoirs and vectors of resistance genes, with studies showing that Gram-negative bacteria can acquire resistance through the horizontal transmission of resistance genes on plasmids. It is important to understand the distribution of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and their drug-resistant genes in animals. Previous review articles mostly focused on a single bacterium or a single animal. Our objective is to compile all ESBL-producing bacteria isolated from various animals in recent years and provide a comprehensive viewpoint. Using a thorough PubMed literature search spanning from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2022, studies exploring extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria in animals were included. ESBL-producing bacteria are present in animals from various countries around the world. The most common sources of these bacteria were farm animals, and the most frequently isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The most detected ESBL genes were blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M. The presence of ESBL-producing bacteria in animals highlights the importance of the One Health approach to address the issue of antibiotic resistance. Further research is needed to better understand the epidemiology and mechanisms of the spread of ESBL-producing bacteria in animal populations and their potential impact on human and animal health.
Kaurane-Type Diterpenoids as Potential Inhibitors of Dihydrofolate Reductase-Thymidylate Synthase in New World Leishmania Species
Authors: Herrera-Acevedo Chonny , de Menezes Renata Priscila Barros , de Sousa Natália Ferreira , Scotti Luciana , Scotti Marcus Tullius , Coy-Barrera Ericsson
Published: March 2023

The bifunctional enzyme Dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) plays a crucial role in the survival of the Leishmania parasite, as folates are essential cofactors for purine and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. However, DHFR inhibitors are largely ineffective in controlling trypanosomatid infections, largely due to the presence of Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1). Therefore, the search for structures with dual inhibitory activity against PTR1/DHFR-TS is crucial in the development of new anti-Leishmania chemotherapies. In this research, using the Leishmania major DHFR-TS recombinant protein, enzymatic inhibitory assays were performed on four kauranes and two derivatives that had been previously tested against LmPTR1. The structure 302 (6.3 µM) and its derivative 302a (4.5 µM) showed the lowest IC50 values among the evaluated molecules. To evaluate the mechanism of action of these structures, molecular docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were performed using a DHFR-TS hybrid model. Results showed that hydrogen bond interactions are critical for the inhibitory activity against LmDHFR-TS, as well as the presence of the p-hydroxyl group of the phenylpropanoid moiety of 302a. Finally, additional computational studies were performed on DHFR-TS structures from Leishmania species that cause cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World (L. braziliensis, L. panamensis, and L. amazonensis) to explore the targeting potential of these kauranes in these species. It was demonstrated that structures 302 and 302a are multi-Leishmania species compounds with dual DHFR-TS/PTR1 inhibitory activity.
Total Flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae Mitigates Aflatoxin B1-Induced Liver Toxicity in Chickens via Microbiota-Gut-Liver Axis Interaction Mechanisms
Authors: Huang Shucheng , Lin Luxi , Wang Shiqiong , Ding Wenli , Zhang Chaodong , Shaukat Aftab , Xu Bowen , Yue Ke , Zhang Cai , Liu Fang
Published: March 2023

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common mycotoxin that widely occurs in feed and has severe hepatotoxic effects both in humans and animals. Total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynaria (TFRD), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have multiple biological activities and potential hepatoprotective activity. This study investigated the protective effects and potential mechanisms of TFRD against AFB1-induced liver injury. The results revealed that supplementation with TFRD markedly lessened broiler intestinal permeability by increasing the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, as well as correcting the changes in gut microbiota and liver damage induced by AFB1. Metabolomics analysis revealed that the alterations in plasma metabolites, especially taurolithocholic acid, were significantly improved by TFRD treatment in AFB1-exposed chickens. In addition, these metabolites were closely associated with [Ruminococcus], ACC, and GPX1, indicating that AFB1 may cause liver injury by inducing bile acid metabolism involving the microbiota–gut–liver axis. We further found that TFRD treatment markedly suppressed oxidative stress and hepatic lipid deposition, increased plasma glutathione (GSH) concentrations, and reversed hepatic ferroptosis gene expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that ferroptosis might contribute to the hepatotoxicity of AFB1-exposed chickens through the microbiota–gut–liver axis interaction mechanisms; furthermore, TFRD was confirmed as an herbal extract that could potentially antagonize mycotoxins detrimental effects.
NAD+ Biosynthesis Impairment and Acute Kidney Injury after Major Vascular Surgery
Authors: Mede Annmarie I. , Milne Ginger L. , Wei Dawei , Smith Derek K. , Smith Loren E.
Published: March 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication after vascular surgery. Reduced synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) from tryptophan is associated with an increased risk of AKI in critically ill patients, patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and cardiac surgery patients, and is marked by elevated urinary quinolinate and quinolinate to tryptophan ratios. We measured quinolinate concentrations in vascular surgery patients to determine if impaired NAD+ synthesis was associated with AKI in this patient population. Eight preoperative and eight postoperative vascular surgery patients who developed AKI were selected from a parent study to participate in this single-center case-control study. They were matched with controls who did not develop AKI based on age, sex, BMI, eGFR, hypertension, and diabetes. Urinary quinolinate and tryptophan concentrations were measured at anesthetic induction and on postoperative day one. Two-sided Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare quinolinate and quinolinate to tryptophan ratios. Multivariate linear regression modeling was used to estimate the relationship between quinolinate and serum creatinine. There was no difference in preoperative or postoperative urine quinolinate concentrations or the preoperative quinolinate to tryptophan ratio between patients that did and did not develop AKI (p = 0.07, 0.50, and 0.32, respectively). However, postoperative quinolinate to tryptophan ratios were higher in AKI patients (p = 0.04). Further, after adjustment for AKI risk factors, higher preoperative quinolinate concentrations and higher postoperative quinolinate to tryptophan ratios were associated with greater postoperative creatinine increases (p = 0.04 and 0.04, respectively). These data suggest that impaired NAD+ synthesis may contribute to AKI development in vascular surgery patients.
Time-Varying Wind-Resistance Global Reliability Analysis of In-Service Transmission Tower Using High-Order Moments-Based Improved Maximum Entropy Method
Authors: Liu Cheng , Wang Tao , Tang Zhengqi , Li Zhengliang
Published: March 2023

The transmission tower is an important infrastructure for transmission lines. To secure the operation of the power grid, it is particularly important to evaluate the safety of the in-service transmission tower under the action of random wind loads throughout their entire life cycle. Thus, this paper firstly establishes the time-varying equivalent performance function of the in-service transmission tower under the action of random wind loads. Then, in order to address the shortcomings of the traditional maximum entropy method, the high-order moments-based improved maximum entropy method (HM-IMEM) is proposed and extended to assess the wind resistance global reliability of the in-service transmission tower. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated evaluating the wind resistance global reliability of an in-service transmission tower in an engineering setting. Analytic results indicate that: (1) The proposed method can ensure a balance between calculation accuracy and efficiency. Compared with Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method, the relative error is only 0.11% and the computational cost is much lower than that of the MCS method. (2) The reliability of the in-service transmission tower significantly decreased over time. In order to guide maintenance and reinforcement by predicting the time-varying performance of in-service transmission towers, it is of great engineering value to evaluate the wind resistance global reliability of the in-service transmission tower.
Exploring the Effects of Blockchain Scalability Limitations on Performance and User Behavior in Blockchain-Based Shared Manufacturing Systems: An Experimental Approach
Authors: Rožman Nejc , Corn Marko , Škulj Gašper , Berlec Tomaž , Diaci Janez , Podržaj Primož
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the effects of blockchain technology scalability limitations on the performance of Blockchain-Based Shared Manufacturing (BBSM), an innovative smart-manufacturing paradigm aimed at enhancing the utilization of global manufacturing resources via peer-to-peer (P2P) collaboration of self-organized manufacturing assets. Despite the prevalence of research highlighting blockchain technology’s scalability limitations as the main barrier for adoption, few studies have explored their effects on the operation of blockchain-based systems. The primary goal of the presented research work is to explore the implications of blockchain technology scalability limitations on the BBSM system’s performance and user behavior. To obtain realistic behavior, an experiment is conducted using an online game played by human participants. Analysis of the players’ strategy is used for implementation of a multi-agent simulation model, which is then employed to assess the influence of varying blockchain network configurations on the BBSM concept’s performance. Preliminary experimental findings reveal that a congested blockchain network leads to increased transaction costs and reduced service prices, consequently devaluing the manufacturing role in the BBSM system and causing underutilization of existing maximum production capacities. Moreover, allocating funds to financial activities rather than manufacturing activities yields superior outcomes for system users. Simulation results indicate that the BBSM system’s response to alterations in blockchain network throughput is contingent upon the production function. The findings of this study reveal that the scalability limitations of blockchain technology impair the performance of the BBSM system and affect user behavior in the system, underscoring the necessity for future research to concentrate on incorporating scalable solutions within blockchain-based manufacturing systems.
Adaptive Dimensional Gaussian Mutation of PSO-Optimized Convolutional Neural Network Hyperparameters
Authors: Wang Chaoxue , Shi Tengteng , Han Danni
Published: March 2023

The configuration of the hyperparameters in convolutional neural networks (CNN) is crucial for determining their performance. However, traditional methods for hyperparameter configuration, such as grid searches and random searches, are time consuming and labor intensive. The optimization of CNN hyperparameters is a complex problem involving multiple local optima that poses a challenge for traditional particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms, which are prone to getting stuck in the local optima and achieving suboptimal results. To address the above issues, we proposed an adaptive dimensional Gaussian mutation PSO (ADGMPSO) to efficiently select the optimal hyperparameter configurations. The ADGMPSO algorithm utilized a cat chaos initialization strategy to generate an initial population with a more uniform distribution. It combined the sine-based inertia weights and an asynchronous change learning factor strategy to balance the global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. Finally, an elite particle adaptive dimensional Gaussian mutation strategy was proposed to improve the population diversity and convergence accuracy at the different stages of evolution. The performance of the proposed algorithm was compared to five other evolutionary algorithms, including PSO, BOA, WOA, SSA, and GWO, on ten benchmark test functions, and the results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed algorithm in terms of the optimal value, mean value, and standard deviation. The ADGMPSO algorithm was then applied to the hyperparameter optimization for the LeNet-5 and ResNet-18 network models. The results on the MNIST and CIFAR10 datasets showed that the proposed algorithm achieved a higher accuracy and generalization ability than the other optimization algorithms, such as PSO-CNN, LDWPSO-CNN, and GA-CNN.
Energy Productivity Potential of Offshore Wind in Poland and Cooperation with Onshore Wind Farm
Authors: Olczak Piotr , Surma Tomasz
Published: March 2023

Wind power is the leader in electricity production among the standing RES technologies, both in Poland and in Europe/World. In Poland, so far there are only onshore wind turbines. Their dynamic increase in installed capacity has been observed, especially between 2011 and 2017. This study analyzed the impact of offshore wind energy on the ability of the Polish power system to meet power demands. For this purpose, methods of statistical analysis (of existing onshore and planned offshore technologies) for the determination of wind turbine productivity based on wind speed components data from the ERA5 service were used. For onshore wind turbines, the value of the capacity factor CF(P) in Poland was 25.5% in 2021 and 30.1% in 2022. As a result of the simulation, it was calculated that for the planned offshore wind farms, the capacity factor CF(B) would be 55.6% under 2022 wind speed conditions. The 2022 peak load demands in the Polish system were also analyzed. The quantitative impact of installing 6 GW of offshore wind turbine capacity on the national power system was also identified.
Special Issue on Human–Computer Interactions 2.0
Authors: Meen Teen-Hang , Tijus Charles , Chang Chun-Yen
Published: March 2023

Human–computer interaction (HCI) research involves the design and use of computer technology, focusing in particular on the interfaces between people (users) and computers. HCI researchers observe the ways in which humans interact with computers and design technologies that allow them to interact in novel ways. As HCI evolves into HCI 2.0, user experiences and feedback become ever more relevant. This Special Issue, “Human Computer Interactions 2.0”, presents 11 excellent papers about topics related to human–computer interactions. It aims to provide a broad international forum for world researchers, engineers and professionals in human–computer interaction research for the discussion and exchange of various scientific, technical and management discoveries across the world.
Methodological Issues in Evaluating Machine Learning Models for EEG Seizure Prediction: Good Cross-Validation Accuracy Does Not Guarantee Generalization to New Patients
Authors: Shafiezadeh Sina , Duma Gian Marco , Mento Giovanni , Danieli Alberto , Antoniazzi Lisa , Del Popolo Cristaldi Fiorella , Bonanni Paolo , Testolin Alberto
Published: March 2023

There is an increasing interest in applying artificial intelligence techniques to forecast epileptic seizures. In particular, machine learning algorithms could extract nonlinear statistical regularities from electroencephalographic (EEG) time series that can anticipate abnormal brain activity. The recent literature reports promising results in seizure detection and prediction tasks using machine and deep learning methods. However, performance evaluation is often based on questionable randomized cross-validation schemes, which can introduce correlated signals (e.g., EEG data recorded from the same patient during nearby periods of the day) into the partitioning of training and test sets. The present study demonstrates that the use of more stringent evaluation strategies, such as those based on leave-one-patient-out partitioning, leads to a drop in accuracy from about 80% to 50% for a standard eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) classifier on two different data sets. Our findings suggest that the definition of rigorous evaluation protocols is crucial to ensure the generalizability of predictive models before proceeding to clinical trials.
Feature Analysis of Predictors Affecting the Nidus Obliteration of Linear Accelerator-Based Radiosurgery for Arteriovenous Malformations Using Explainable Predictive Modeling
Authors: Kim Kwang Hyeon , Sohn Moon-Jun
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to evaluate prognostic factors associated with nidus obliteration following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for cerebral arteriovenous malformations. From January 2001 to January 2018, 119 patients who underwent SRS with AVM were studied to analyze major prognostic factors (age, prescription dose (Gy), volume (mm3), nidus size (cm), and Spetzler–Martin (SM) grade) for nidus obliteration. A random forest and tree explainer was used to construct a predictive model of nidus obliteration. The prognostic factors affecting nidus obliteration from most to least important were age, nidus size, volume, total prescription dose, and SM grade, using a predictive model. In a specific case for nidus size (1.5 cm), total dose (23 Gy), and SM grade (2), the result showed a high obliteration score of 0.75 with the actual obliteration period of 6 months spent; the mean AUC was 0.90 in K-fold cross validation. The predictive model identified the main contributing factors associated with a prognostic of nidus obliteration from linear accelerator-based SRS for cerebral AVM. It was confirmed that the results, including the prognostic factors, are potentially useful for outcome prediction for patient and treatment.
Special Issue on Frontier Research in Waters, Air and Wastes
Authors: Carnevale Miino Marco , Abbà Alessandro , Collivignarelli Maria Cristina
Published: March 2023

To solve global problems about water and air pollution and waste production, research plays a key and essential role [...]
Deep Learning-Based Univariate Prediction of Daily Rainfall: Application to a Flood-Prone, Data-Deficient Country
Authors: Necesito Imee V. , Kim Donghyun , Bae Young Hye , Kim Kyunghun , Kim Soojun , Kim Hung Soo
Published: March 2023

There are several attempts to model rainfall time series which have been explored by members of the hydrological research communities. Rainfall, being one of the defining factors for a flooding event, is rarely modeled singularly in deep learning, as it is usually performed in multivariate analysis. This study will attempt to explore a time series modeling method in four subcatchments located in Samar, Philippines. In this study, the rainfall time series was treated as a signal and was reconstructed into a combination of a ‘smoothened’ or ‘denoised’ signal, and a ‘detailed’ or noise signal. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) method was used as a reconstruction technique, in combination with the univariate long short-term memory (LSTM) network method. The combination of the two methods showed consistently high values of performance indicators, such as Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), correlation coefficient (CC), Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE), index of agreement (IA), and Legates–McCabe index (LMI), with mean average percentage error (MAPE) values at almost zero, and consistently low values for both residual mean square error (RMSE) and RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR). The authors believe that the proposed method can give efficient, time-bound results to flood-prone countries such as the Philippines, where hydrological data are deficient.
Are Portuguese Cowpea Genotypes Adapted to Drought? Phenological Development and Grain Quality Evaluation
Authors: Moreira Rita , Nunes Cátia , P. Pais Isabel , Nobre Semedo José , Moreira José , Sofia Bagulho Ana , Pereira Graça , Manuela Veloso Maria , Scotti-Campos Paula
Published: March 2023

Along with population growth, global climate change represents a critical threat to agricultural production, compromising the goal of achieving food and nutrition security for all. It is urgent to create sustainable and resilient agri-food systems capable of feeding the world without debilitating the planet. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) refers to pulses as a superfood, as one of the most nutritious crops with high health benefits. Considered to be low-cost, many can be produced in arid lands and have an extended shelf-life. Their cultivation helps reduce greenhouse gases and increases carbon sequestration, also improving soil fertility. Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. is particularly drought tolerant, with a wide diversity of landraces adapted to different environments. Considering the importance of knowing and valuing the genetic variability of this species in Portugal, this study assessed the impact of drought on four landraces of cowpea (L1 to L4) from different regions of the country and a national commercial variety (CV) as a reference. The development and evaluation of morphological characteristics were monitored in response to terminal drought (imposed during the reproductive phase), and its effects were evaluated on the yield and quality of the produced grain, namely the weight of 100 grains, color, protein content, and soluble sugars. Under drought conditions, the landraces L1 and L2 showed early maturation as a strategy to avoid water deficit. Morphological alteration of the aerial part of the plants was evident in all genotypes, with a rapid reduction in the number of leaves and a reduction in the number of flowers and pods by between 44 and 72%. The parameters of grain quality, the weight of 100 grains, color, protein, and soluble sugars did not vary significantly, except for sugars of the raffinose family that is associated with the adaptive mechanisms of plants to drought. The performance and maintenance of the evaluated characteristics reflect the adaptation acquired in the past by exposure to the Mediterranean climate, highlighting the potential agronomic and genetic value, still little exploited, that could contribute to production stability, preserved nutritional value, and food safety under water stress.
Inputs and Outputs of the Mammalian Circadian Clock
Authors: Starnes Ashley N. , Jones Jeff R.
Published: March 2023

Circadian rhythms in mammals are coordinated by the central circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Light and other environmental inputs change the timing of the SCN neural network oscillator, which, in turn, sends output signals that entrain daily behavioral and physiological rhythms. While much is known about the molecular, neuronal, and network properties of the SCN itself, the circuits linking the outside world to the SCN and the SCN to rhythmic outputs are understudied. In this article, we review our current understanding of the synaptic and non-synaptic inputs onto and outputs from the SCN. We propose that a more complete description of SCN connectivity is needed to better explain how rhythms in nearly all behaviors and physiological processes are generated and to determine how, mechanistically, these rhythms are disrupted by disease or lifestyle.
Is It Still Possible to Think about HSP70 as a Therapeutic Target in Onco-Hematological Diseases?
Authors: Mouawad Nayla , Capasso Guido , Ruggeri Edoardo , Martinello Leonardo , Severin Filippo , Visentin Andrea , Facco Monica , Trentin Livio , Frezzato Federica
Published: March 2023

The search for molecules to be targeted that are involved in apoptosis resistance/increased survival and pathogenesis of onco-hematological malignancies is ongoing since these diseases are still not completely understood. Over the years, a good candidate has been identified in the Heat Shock Protein of 70kDa (HSP70), a molecule defined as “the most cytoprotective protein ever been described”. HSP70 is induced in response to a wide variety of physiological and environmental insults, allowing cells to survive lethal conditions. This molecular chaperone has been detected and studied in almost all the onco-hematological diseases and is also correlated to poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. In this review, we give an overview of the discoveries that have led us to consider HSP70 as a therapeutic target for mono- or combination-therapies in acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myeloma and different types of lymphomas. In this excursus, we will also consider HSP70 partners, such as its transcription factor HSF1 or its co-chaperones whose druggability could indirectly affect HSP70. Finally, we will try to answer the question asked in the title of this review considering that, despite the effort made by research in this field, HSP70 inhibitors never reached the clinic.
The N-Glycosylation of Total Plasma Proteins and IgG in Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Plavša Branimir , Szavits-Nossan Janko , Blivajs Aleksandar , Rapčan Borna , Radovani Barbara , Šesto Igor , Štambuk Krešimir , Mustapić Vito , Đerek Lovorka , Rudan Diana , Lauc Gordan , Gudelj Ivan
Published: March 2023

Atrial fibrillation is a disease with a complex pathophysiology, whose occurrence and persistence are caused not only by aberrant electrical signaling in the heart, but by the development of a susceptible heart substrate. These changes, such as the accumulation of adipose tissue and interstitial fibrosis, are characterized by the presence of inflammation. N-glycans have shown great promise as biomarkers in different diseases, specifically those involving inflammatory changes. To assess the changes in the N-glycosylation of the plasma proteins and IgG in atrial fibrillation, we analyzed the N-glycosylation of 172 patients with atrial fibrillation, before and six months after a pulmonary vein isolation procedure, with 54 cardiovascularly healthy controls. An analysis was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. We found one oligomannose N-glycan structure from the plasma N-glycome and six IgG N-glycans, mainly revolving around the presence of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine, that were significantly different between the case and control groups. In addition, four plasma N-glycans, mostly oligomannose structures and a derived trait that was related to them, were found to be different in the patients who experienced an atrial fibrillation recurrence during the six-month follow-up. IgG N-glycosylation was extensively associated with the CHA2DS2-VASc score, confirming its previously reported associations with the conditions that make up the score. This is the first study looking at the N-glycosylation patterns in atrial fibrillation and warrants further investigation into the prospect of glycans as biomarkers for atrial fibrillation.
Recent Advances in Field Effect Transistor Biosensors: Designing Strategies and Applications for Sensitive Assay
Authors: Hao Ruisha , Liu Lei , Yuan Jiangyan , Wu Lingli , Lei Shengbin
Published: March 2023

In comparison with traditional clinical diagnosis methods, field−effect transistor (FET)−based biosensors have the advantages of fast response, easy miniaturization and integration for high−throughput screening, which demonstrates their great technical potential in the biomarker detection platform. This mini review mainly summarizes recent advances in FET biosensors. Firstly, the review gives an overview of the design strategies of biosensors for sensitive assay, including the structures of devices, functionalization methods and semiconductor materials used. Having established this background, the review then focuses on the following aspects: immunoassay based on a single biosensor for disease diagnosis; the efficient integration of FET biosensors into a large−area array, where multiplexing provides valuable insights for high−throughput testing options; and the integration of FET biosensors into microfluidics, which contributes to the rapid development of lab−on−chip (LOC) sensing platforms and the integration of biosensors with other types of sensors for multifunctional applications. Finally, we summarize the long−term prospects for the commercialization of FET sensing systems.
Editorial: Frontiers in Neuro Oncology and Neurosurgery
Authors: Altieri Roberto
Published: March 2023

Despite advances in our knowledge and treatments, Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors remain the most difficult clinical challenge for the worldwide medical community [...]
Suicidal Attempts among Secondary School-Going Adolescents in Kilimanjaro Region, Northern Tanzania
Authors: Shirima Jackline , Mhando Lisbeth , Mavura Rehema , Mboya Innocent B. , Ngocho James S.
Published: March 2023

Suicide attempts among adolescents are common and can lead to death. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with suicide attempts among secondary school-going adolescents in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. The study used data from two repeated regional school-based student health surveys (RSHS), conducted in 2019 (Survey 1) and 2022 (Survey 2). Data were analyzed for secondary school students aged 13 to 17 years from four districts of the Kilimanjaro region. The study included 4188 secondary school-going adolescents: 3182 in Survey 1 and 1006 in Survey 2. The mean age in Survey 1 was 14 years and the median age in Survey 2 was 17 years (p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of suicide attempts was 3.3% (3.0% in Survey 1 and 4.2% in Survey 2). Female adolescents had higher odds of suicide attempts (aOR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.2–5.5), as did those who felt lonely (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.0–3.6), had ever been worried (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.5), or had ever been bullied (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.1). Suicidal attempts are prevalent among secondary school-going adolescents in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. In-school programs should be established to prevent such attempts.
Impact of Synthesized Indoloquinoline Analog to Isolates from Cryptolepis sanguinolenta on Tumor Growth Inhibition and Hepatotoxicity in Ehrlich Solid Tumor-Bearing Female Mice
Authors: Nofal Amany E. , Elmongy Elshaymaa I. , Hassan Engy Abo , Tousson Ehab , Ahmed Abdullah A. S. , El Sayed Ibrahim El Tantawy , Binsuwaidan Reem , Sakr Manar
Published: March 2023

The study evaluated the antitumor efficacy of APAN, “synthesized indoloquinoline analog derived from the parent neocryptolepine isolated from the roots of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta”, versus the chemotherapeutic drug etoposide (ETO) in Ehrlich solid tumor (EST)-bearing female mice as well as its protective effect against etoposide-triggered hepatic disorders. APAN showed an ameliorative activity against Ehrlich solid tumor and hepatic toxicity, and the greatest improvement was found in the combined treatment of APAN with ETO. The results indicated that EST altered the levels of tumor markers (AFP, CEA, and anti-dsDNA) and liver biomarker function (ALT, AST, ALP, ALB, and T. protein). Furthermore, EST elevated CD68 and anti-survivin proteins immuno-expressions in the solid tumor and liver tissue. Molecular docking studies were demonstrated to investigate their affinity for both TNF-α and topoisomerase II as target proteins, as etoposide is based on the inhibition of topoisomerase II, and TNF-α is quite highly expressed in the solid tumor and liver tissues of EST-bearing animals, which prompted the authors’ interest to explore APAN affinity to its binding site. Treatment of mice bearing EST with APAN and ETO nearly regularized serum levels of the altered parameters and ameliorated the impact of EST on the tissue structure of the liver better than that by treatment with each of them separately.
Jasmonic Acid as a Mediator in Plant Response to Necrotrophic Fungi
Authors: Macioszek Violetta Katarzyna , Jęcz Tomasz , Ciereszko Iwona , Kononowicz Andrzej Kiejstut
Published: March 2023

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives, all named jasmonates, are the simplest phytohormones which regulate multifarious plant physiological processes including development, growth and defense responses to various abiotic and biotic stress factors. Moreover, jasmonate plays an important mediator’s role during plant interactions with necrotrophic oomycetes and fungi. Over the last 20 years of research on physiology and genetics of plant JA-dependent responses to pathogens and herbivorous insects, beginning from the discovery of the JA co-receptor CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1), research has speeded up in gathering new knowledge on the complexity of plant innate immunity signaling. It has been observed that biosynthesis and accumulation of jasmonates are induced specifically in plants resistant to necrotrophic fungi (and also hemibiotrophs) such as mostly investigated model ones, i.e., Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicicola or Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. However, it has to be emphasized that the activation of JA-dependent responses takes place also during susceptible interactions of plants with necrotrophic fungi. Nevertheless, many steps of JA function and signaling in plant resistance and susceptibility to necrotrophs still remain obscure. The purpose of this review is to highlight and summarize the main findings on selected steps of JA biosynthesis, perception and regulation in the context of plant defense responses to necrotrophic fungal pathogens.
Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Salmonella Flagellin Activation of Interferon-β-Related Immune Responses in Macrophages
Authors: Song Li , Xiong Dan , Wen Yaya , Tan Ruimeng , Kang Xilong , Jiao Xinan , Pan Zhiming
Published: March 2023

The flagellin (FliC) of Salmonella typhimurium is a potential vaccine adjuvant as it can activate innate immunity and promote acquired immune responses. Macrophages are an important component of the innate immune system. The mechanism of flagellin’s adjuvant activity has been shown to be related to its ability to activate macrophages. However, few studies have comprehensively investigated the effects of Salmonella flagellin in macrophages using transcriptome sequencing. In this study, RNA-Seq was used to analyze the expression patterns of RAW264.7 macrophages induced by FliC to identify novel transcriptomic signatures in macrophages. A total of 2204 differentially expressed genes were found in the FliC-treated group compared with the control. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses identified the top significantly regulated functional classification and canonical pathways, which were mainly related to immune responses and regulation. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, etc.) and chemokines (CXCL2, CXCL10, CCL2, etc.) were highly expressed in RAW264.7 cells following stimulation. Notably, flagellin significantly increased the expression of interferon (IFN)-β. In addition, previously unidentified IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) were also significantly upregulated. The results of RNA-Seq were verified, and furthermore, we demonstrated that flagellin increased the expression of IFN-β and IFN-related genes (IRFs and ISGs) in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and macrophages. These results suggested that Salmonella flagellin can activate IFN-β-related immune responses in macrophages, which provides new insight into the immune mechanisms of flagellin adjuvant.
Association of Sleep Reactivity and Anxiety Sensitivity with Insomnia-Related Depression and Anxiety among City Government Employees in Japan
Authors: Okajima Isa , Kadotani Hiroshi ,   on behalf of the NinJa Sleep Study Group
Published: March 2023

It has recently been noted that a reduction in sleep reactivity, characterized as the trait-like degree to which exposure to stress interferes with sleep, and anxiety sensitivity are associated with reduced insomnia severity. This study aimed to examine whether sleep reactivity and anxiety sensitivity are associated with insomnia-related depression and anxiety among city government employees in Japan. This cross-sectional study included 1810 city government employees of Koka City, Japan (mean age (standard deviation): 45.33 (12.20) years) who completely answered the scales for sleep reactivity, anxiety sensitivity, anxiety, and depression. Stepwise multiple regression analysis adjusted for demographic data showed that anxiety sensitivity (β = 0.39) was significantly linked to anxiety, and sleep reactivity (β = 0.36) was significantly linked to depression in individuals with insomnia. Additionally, the results of a logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographic data showed that anxiety sensitivity and sleep reactivity were relevant factors for anxious insomnia (OR = 12.69) and depressive insomnia (OR = 8.73), respectively. Whereas both sleep reactivity (OR = 14.67) and anxiety sensitivity (OR = 6.14) were associated with combined insomnia. These findings indicate that sleep reactivity is strongly associated with depressive symptoms, and anxiety sensitivity is strongly associated with anxiety symptoms in individuals with insomnia.