bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential IgG4-Producing Plasma Cell Infiltration in Non- and Post-Transplant Plasma Cell Hepatitis
Authors: Horwich Brian H. , Liang Tom Z. , Dodge Jennifer L. , Chopra Shefali , Kahn Jeffrey A. , Saito Takeshi
Published: May 2022

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), post-transplant recurrent AIH (rAIH), and plasma cell-rich rejection (PCR) are clinical diagnoses with the shared histopathologic hallmark of plasma cell hepatitis (PCH). As these histologically and serologically indistinguishable diagnoses are differentiated by clinical context, it remains uncertain whether they represent distinct immunologic phenomena. Improved understanding of immunoglobulin subclass 4-producing plasma cells (IgG4-PC) has brought attention to IgG4 as an immunophenotypic biomarker. To date, degree and clinical significance of IgG4-PC infiltration in PCH remain elusive. This retrospective, single-center study assessed IgG4-PC infiltration in AIH, rAIH, and PCR via standardized immunohistochemistry analysis. Identified cases from 2005 to 2020 (n = 47) included AIH (treatment-naïve AIH (tnAIH): n = 15 and AIH-flare on treatment (fAIH); n = 10), rAIH (n = 8), and PCR (n = 14) were analyzed and correlated with clinical characteristics. IgG4-Positivity (# IgG4-PC/# pan-IgG-expressing cells) distribution was heterogenous and overlapping [tnAIH: 0.060 (IQR 0.040–0.079), fAIH: 0.000 (0.000–0.033), rAIH: 0.000 (0.000–0.035), PCR: 0.228 (0.039–0.558)]. IgG4-Positivity was inversely correlated with corticosteroid use (p < 0.001). IgG4-Positivity ≥0.500 was associated with rapid AST improvement (p = 0.03). The variable IgG4-Positivity of AIH, rAIH and PCR suggests diverse and overlapping immunopathologic mechanisms and that current diagnostic schemes inadequately capture PCH immunopathology. We propose incorporation of IgG4-Positivity to refine current PCH classification and treatment strategies.
Creating a Single Inflow Orifice From Living Donor Kidney Allografts With Multiple Renal Arteries
Authors: Tabbara Marina M. , Guerra Giselle , Riella Juliano , Abreu Phillipe , Alvarez Angel , Vianna Rodrigo , Chen Linda , Morsi Mahmoud , Gaynor Jeffrey J. , Gonzalez Javier , Ciancio Gaetano
Published: May 2022

Background: Multiple renal arteries (MRA) are often encountered during living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), requiring surgeons to pursue complex renovascular reconstructions prior to graft implantation. With improvements in reconstruction and anastomosis techniques, allografts with MRA can be successfully transplanted with similar outcomes to allografts with a single renal artery. Here, we describe in detail various surgical techniques for reconstruction of MRA grafts with the intent of creating a single arterial inflow.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all LDKT recipients with laparoscopically procured MRA kidneys between March 2008 and July 2021. Recipient and donor characteristics, operative data, type of reconstruction, and recipient outcomes were analyzed. The primary outcomes were the incidence of developing delayed graft function (DGF) and/or a vascular or urological complication within 12 months post-transplant.

Results: Seventy-three LDKT recipients of MRA donor allografts were evaluated. Two renal arteries (RA) were encountered in 62 allografts (84.9%) and three RA in 11 allografts (15.1%). Renal artery reconstruction was performed in 95.8% (70/73) of patients. Eighteen different reconstruction techniques of MRA were utilized, the most common being side-to-side anastomosis in allografts with two RA (N = 44) and side-to-side-to-side anastomosis in allografts with three RA (N = 4). Interposition grafting was performed in seven cases (9.6%). A single ostium was created in 69 cases (94.5%), and the median warm ischemia time was 27 (range 20–42) minutes. None of the patients developed DGF or post-operative vascular or urological complications. Median creatinine at 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant remained stable at 1.1 mg/dl. With a median follow-up of 30.4 months post-transplant, only one graft failure has been observed–death-censored graft survival was 98.6%.

Conclusion: Complex reconstruction techniques to create a single renal artery ostium for graft implantation anastomosis in allografts with MRA show acceptable warm ischemic times, with no increased risk of post-operative vascular or urological complications.
Influences of Parameter Deviation on the Vibration Isolation System of an End Effector
Authors: Song Henan , Shan Xiaobiao , Yu Han , Wang Guangyan , Fan Jizhuang
Published: May 2022

The vibration problem influences the precision of the equipment. However, some vibration isolation systems (VISs) with the perfect theoretical and simulation results are still unable to suppress the vibration well, resulting in the damage during the operation, such as the phenomenon of fragments for the end effector of a glass substrate handling robot. Therefore, this paper focuses on the glass substrate handling robot in actual production and simplifies the VIS into a 2D (2 degree) system. From the analysis of the deviation of material parameters and installation deviations between vibration isolators, this paper concludes that, as long as there is a deviation, the vibration isolation performance of the system will be reduced. Through the mutually verified theory, simulation, and experimental structure, this paper also presents that the resonance frequency increase factor of the vibration isolation system is approximately the deviation. As for the end effector, the distance of the two vibration isolations is 579.4 mm. The change of the load does not change the isolation frequency of the same system, but the resonance amplitude will increase. The results of this study can supervise the installation and selection of vibration isolators in VISs. At the same time, the reasons for the weak vibration isolation performance of some systems are explained.
Analysing Farmers’ Herbicide Use Pattern to Estimate the Magnitude and Field-Economic Value of Crop Diversification
Authors: Andert Sabine , Ziesemer Andrea
Published: May 2022

We present an on-farm approach to measure the effect of crop diversification on farmers’ field economic values. Eleven years of data (2010–2020) on the chemical herbicide use, tillage practices and crop yields of 17 farms in north-eastern Germany were examined for winter wheat (WW) and winter oilseed rape (WOSR). We used a common conceptual framework to classify farmers’ crop sequences according to their susceptibility to weeds (‘riskiness’). Linear mixed models were used to analyse the relationship between crop sequence, tillage practice (inversion/non-inversion) and the response variables ‘total herbicide costs’, ‘crop yield’ and ‘economic income’. Our results indicate that farmers in the area surveyed commonly grow crop sequences with a high risk of weeds. The driving forces behind this classification are high ratios of winter cereals and WOSR in the sequences. The most interesting result of our analysis is that farmers’ total herbicide costs (THCfy) significantly decreased from a higher to a lower riskiness class. Diversified crop sequences decreased the THCfy for WW by up to 12 EUR ha−1 and for WOSR by 19–56 EUR ha−1. Considering the crop diversification effects, the combined influence of tillage and crop sequence seems to be important. Significant differences in crop yield between the riskiness classes were found in WW and WOSR solely in non-inversion tillage systems. Hence, the analysis of farmers’ ‘economic income’ revealed the great impact of crop diversification for non-inversion tillage systems. Indeed, we found that simplifying both crop sequence diversity and tillage intensity implies higher herbicide costs and, thereby, higher economic input. The best strategy for reducing herbicide costs in WW and WOSR cropping is to increase the use of summer crops or field grass as previous crops.
Abandonment of Silvopastoral Practices Affects the Use of Habitats by the European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
Authors: Karmiris Ilias , Papachristou Thomas G. , Fotakis Dimitrios
Published: May 2022

Silvopasture, a traditional agroforestry practice, combines the presence of trees, shrubs, herbage, and livestock in time and space to provide multiple ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being. However, the abandonment of traditional agroforestry practices across Europe has led to substantial changes in vegetation characteristics, mainly due to woody plant expansion and, as a consequence, changes in wildlife that rely on open habitats. This study examines the effects of a 20-year abandonment of silvopastoral practices (i.e., livestock grazing and fuelwood harvesting) in a typical agroforestry Mediterranean landscape (kermes oak shrubland, natural grassland, and olive groves) on European hare (Lepus europaeus) habitat use. We estimated tree, shrub, and herb cover using a densitometer and hare habitat use using pellet counts within 2004-m2 rectangular plots in 2002, 2011, and 2021. Hare pellet density in olive groves was significantly lower in 2021 compared to 2002, while the opposite trend was found in grassland for the same period. Woody plant cover expanded from 2002 to 2021. We suggest that the woody plant encroachment that followed the abandonment of traditional silvopastoral practices in the area is the main driver behind the reported decline in hare use of the habitat, as it became less open and therefore less favorable for the species. Maintaining a mosaic of open and closed habitats at the landscape level, which was once provided by silvopastures, is vital for the conservation of this species.
Evaluation of the Activity of Estragole and 2-Isopropylphenol, Phenolic Compounds Present in Cistus ladanifer
Authors: Requesón Elena , Osuna Dolores , Santiago Ana del Rosario , Sosa Teresa
Published: May 2022

A large number of studies of Cistus ladanifer highlight this Mediterranean shrub as a source of the phenolic compounds responsible for the allelopathic potential of this species. There are few phenolic compounds present in C. ladanifer that have not yet been studied. The objective of this work was to evaluate the activity of estragole and 2-isopropylphenol on filter paper and soil on monocotyledons (Allium cepa) and dicotyledons (Lactuca sativa). The results showed that when the test was carried out on paper, the germination and the growth of the L. sativa was strongly inhibited by 2 isopropylphenol and estragole. 2 isopropylphenol showed an IC50 on the germination of 0.7 mM and 0.1 mM on the germination rate, 0.4 mM on the size of radicle and 0.3 mM on the size of hypocotyl. Estragole showed an IC50 on the germination rate of 1.5 mM and 1.1 mM on the size of hypocotyl. The effects of these pure compounds on A. cepa were lower, and when the assays were performed on the soil, they were dissipated. The mixture of these compounds on A. cepa had 0.6 mM IC50 for the length hypocotyl on paper and 1.1 mM for the length of the radicle on soil. The mixture on L. sativa also inhibited the length of the radicle with an IC50 of 0.6 mM. On the other hand, it was also observed that estragole stimulated the growth of the A. cepa radicle length on soil, showing a hormetic effect with an EC50 of 0.1 mM. In conclusion, it can be said that for a species to be allelopathic in nature, it is essential to verify the effect of its possible allelochemicals on the target species, on the soil in which they will exert their action and at the concentrations found in their usual environment, in addition to taking into account the interaction with other compounds present in the medium.
Inducing Drought Tolerance in Wheat through Exopolysaccharide-Producing Rhizobacteria
Authors: Latif Muhammad , Bukhari Syed Asad Hussain , Alrajhi Abdullah A. , Alotaibi Fahad S. , Ahmad Maqshoof , Shahzad Ahmad Naeem , Dewidar Ahmed Z. , Mattar Mohamed A.
Published: May 2022

Wheat is the main staple food in the world, so it is the backbone of food security. Drought not only affects growth and development but also ultimately has a severe impact on the overall productivity of crop plants. Some bacteria are capable of producing exopolysaccharides (EPS) as a survival mechanism, along with other metabolites, which help them survive in stressful conditions. The present study was conducted with the aim of inducing drought stress tolerance in wheat through EPS-producing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this regard, a series of laboratory bioassays were conducted with the aim to isolating, characterizing, and screening the EPS-producing PGPR capable of improving wheat growth under limited water conditions. Thirty rhizobacterial strains (LEW1–LEW30) were isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat. Ten isolates with EPS-producing ability were quantitatively tested for EPS production and IAA production ability. Four of the most efficient EPS-producing strains (LEW3, LEW9, LEW16, and LEW28) were evaluated for their drought tolerance ability along with quantitative production of EPS and IAA under polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000)-induced drought stress. The jar experiment was conducted under gnotobiotic conditions to examine the drought-tolerant wheat genotypes, and two wheat varieties (Johar-16, and Gold-16) were selected for further experiments. The selected varieties were inoculated with EPS-producing rhizobacterial strains and grown under control conditions at different stress levels (0, 2, 4, and 6% PEG-6000). The strain LEW16 showed better results for improving root morphology and seedling growth in both varieties. The maximum increase in germination, growth parameters, percentage, root diameter, root surface area, and root colonization was recorded in Johar-16 by inoculating LEW16 at 6% PEG-6000. Plant growth-promoting traits were tested on the top-performing strains (LEW3, LEW9, and LEW16). Through 16S rRNA sequencing, these strains were identified as Chryseobacterium sp. (LEW3), Acinetobacter sp. (LEW9), and Klebsiella sp. (LEW16), and they showed positive results for phosphorous and zinc solubilization as well as hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production. The partial sequencing results were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under the accession numbers MW829776, MW829777, and MW829778. These strains are recommended for their evaluation as potential bioinoculants for inducing drought stress tolerance in wheat.
Food Autonomy within Food Sovereignty: Evidence from a Structural Model
Authors: Vergara-Romero Arnaldo , Jimber-del-Río Juan-Antonio , Márquez-Sánchez Fidel
Published: May 2022

Food sovereignty as a model to solve food problems is being used in political, economic, and agricultural thought, but academic literature does not offer insight into its impact and the dimension of food autonomy. We have chosen to study Ecuador, given that, in 2008, the country reformed its constitution and adopted the concept of food sovereignty as a right of the Ecuadorian people, being the first country to do so. In this article, we apply the multiple indicators and multiple causes model to uncover scientific findings with the observable data available, and estimate the phenomenon of food sovereignty, which will be called the latent variable. The article aims to determine the main indicators associated with a synthetic index of food sovereignty and one that integrates a measurement model. In order to meet the goal of this research, eight hypotheses are raised, of which four are confirmatory and four are exploratory. The exploratory hypotheses are given because the theoretical foundations contradict themselves in favor of and against the latent variable. The findings of the statistical model relate to inflation, cereal yield, agricultural-value added, prevalence of malnutrition, food export, and food import as causes and indicators that are part of food sovereignty.
Land-Use Conversion Altered Topsoil Properties and Stoichiometry in a Reclaimed Coastal Agroforestry System
Authors: Wang Shuang , Zhu Zhangyan , Yang Ruiping , Yang Li , Ge Baoming
Published: May 2022

Reclaimed coastal areas were mostly used for agricultural purposes in the past, while land-use conversion was initiated in recent decades in eastern China. Elucidation of the effects of land-use conversion on soil properties and stoichiometry is essential for addressing climate change and ecological conservation. In this study, five land-use types in a reclaimed area were chosen to compare the differences of soil properties and stoichiometry, which comprised paddy, upland, upland-forest, forest, and vegetable garden, with a soil age of about 100 years. The results indicated that these land-use types significantly differed in soil water concentration, pH, bulk density, soil salt concentration, soil organic carbon content, total nitrogen content, and total phosphorus, as well as C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Positive correlations were found among soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus; and among pH, bulk density, and soil salt concentration. Total phosphorus and soil organic carbon contents were the main factors shaping the topsoil among the land-use types. Contents of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus in paddy and vegetable garden soils were higher than that in upland and upland-forest soils, while bulk density, pH, and soil salt concentration showed the opposite trends. Forest soil demonstrated intermediate values for most properties. And the highest C:N occurred in the upland and vegetable garden, the highest C:P in paddy and vegetable garden, while the lowest C:N and C:P occurred in upland-forest. The highest and lowest N:P occurred in paddy and upland, respectively. The stoichiometric characteristics presented a narrow range of the ratio, and the C:N:P averaged 48:3:1 similar to the stoichiometry of average Chinese cropland soils. Rotations including legume, the use of organic fertilizers, and appropriate fertilization strategies were suggested for improving cropland management.
Progeny Selection to Develop a Sustainable Arabica Coffee Cultivar
Authors: Moreira Priscila Carvalho , de Rezende Abrahão Juliana Costa , Porto Antonio Carlos da Mota , Nadaleti Denis Henrique Silva , Gonçalves Flávia Maria Avelar , Carvalho Gladyston Rodrigues , Botelho Cesar Elias
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the most efficient way to select F4:5 progenies derived from the Icatu and Catimor groups of Coffea arabica and to study the genotypic correlations between the traits related to coffee grain physical quality, diseases, and productivity. A combination of the predicted additive values for production capacity when considering seven harvests and a simultaneous selection for a high sieve percentage and resistance to specific diseases during the last harvest was used. Analyses that selected progenies without considering the genotype × harvest interaction provided inaccurate results, distorting the progeny ranking. Coffee leaf rust and brown eye spot were correlated, showing the possibility of simultaneously selecting for resistance to both diseases. Of the 68 progenies studied here, five showed satisfactory agronomic traits. Our findings will contribute substantially to the development of new coffee cultivars that will allow us to reduce pesticide use.
Design and Test of Cleaning Loss Kernel Recognition System for Corn Combine Harvester
Authors: Zhang Min , Jiang Lan , Wu Chongyou , Wang Gang
Published: May 2022

Cleaning loss is an important parameter to judge the performance of a corn combine harvester. At present, there exists the phenomenon that corn cleaning loss rate detection devices have a long signal processing time and low recognition accuracy. To solve this problem, based on the principle of the impacting piezoelectric effect, the impacting signals of corn kernels and impurities are analyzed by means of the frequency spectrum method to obtain the characteristic frequency for effectively distinguishing corn kernels and impurities, which is determined as 8.7 kHz. Based on this characteristic frequency, a corn cleaning loss kernel recognition system is designed, which can realize the function of corn kernel recognition and cleaning loss rate recording. In this system, signal processing circuits which mainly include two-order high-pass filtration, envelope wave detection and voltage comparison are designed. On the basis of the signal processing circuit, adding the judgment program for the holding time of the output square wave signal improves the system’s recognition accuracy for kernels impacting the sensitive plate simultaneously. The system was tested in indoor conditions. The results show that 20–30 corn kernels could be accurately recognized per minute on a single sensitive plate, and the recognition accuracy rate of this system could reach 85% when three corn kernels impacted simultaneously. The results serve as a theoretical basis and represent a new method for the design of a cleaning loss kernel recognition system.
Agropyron mongolicum Keng’s Growth in Response to Nitrogen Addition Is Linked to Root Morphological Traits and Nitrogen-Use Efficiency
Authors: Xu Aiyun , Wang Xing , Wang Xiaojia , Xu Dongmei , Cao Bing
Published: May 2022

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant development and growth, and increased N deposition is affecting the diversity and productivity of plants. The objective of this study was to explore the growth response of Agropyron mongolicum Keng to N addition and to determine whether N-induced changes in soil-available nutrients have indirect impacts on the biomass of A. mongolicum via the regulation of root morphological traits and NUE. We conducted a pot experiment subjecting A. mongolicum to five N addition levels (0, 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 4.0 g N m−2 yr−1) under greenhouse conditions. N was provided through urea [CO(NH2)2] delivered with two equal applications and added at the seeding and tillering stages. The results showed that the total biomass response of A. mongolicum to increasing N addition appeared unimodal-shaped with an N saturation threshold at 3.20 g N m−2 yr−1. The total biomass was significantly and positively correlated with the root surface area (RSA), volume (RV), length (RL), forks number (RF), N-uptake efficiency (NUpE), and N-utilization efficiency (NUtE) (p < 0.05). N-induced changes in soil-available nutrients had an indirect impact on the total biomass of A. mongolicum via the regulation of root morphological traits and NUE.
Influence of Water Management Farming Practices on Soil Organic Carbon and Nutrients: A Case Study of Rice Farming in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
Authors: Alavaisha Edmond , Tumbo Madaka , Senyangwa Jacqueline , Mourice Sixbert
Published: May 2022

Water scarcity and nutrient availability for rice farming have become great matters of concern in the contexts of climate change and land use change globally. Both interact and contribute to crop productivity at the expense of nutrients and future water sustainability. The objective of this study was to understand the on-farm potential response of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) to water management practices in rice farming within the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Soil samples were collected from three villages in the study area at four depths: 0–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 cm. Four water management regimes, namely: A = traditional flooding (rainfed) without intensification of rice farming; B = traditional flooding (rainfed) involving a system of rice intensification (SRI); C = alternative wetting and drying (AWD) involving SRI for one cropping season; D = abandoned fields (fallow); and E = AWD involving SRI for two cropping seasons, were investigated as regards their impact on SOC, TN, and TP. There were significant (p < 0.05) effects of water management regimes on SOC, TN, and TP. AWD involving SRI for one cropping season indicated a positive effect on SOC and TN across all depths as compared to other practices. We conclude that water management practice that involves AWD with SRI for one cropping season is a plausible approach to maintaining high SOC and TN, with the potential for increasing crop production while minimizing water consumption.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Porcine Bacterial Pathogens: Investigating the Prospect of Testing a Representative Drug for Each Antimicrobial Family
Authors: Vilaró Anna , Novell Elena , Enrique-Tarancon Vicens , Balielles Jordi , Migura-García Lourdes , Fraile Lorenzo
Published: May 2022

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is necessary to carry out antimicrobial stewardship but a limited number of drugs belonging to each antimicrobial family has to be tested for technical limitations and economic resources. In this study, we have determined the minimal inhibitory concentration, using microdilution following international standards (CLSI), for 490 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, 285 Pasteurella multocida, 73 Bordetella bronchiseptica, 398 Streptococcus suis and 1571 Escherichia coli strains from clinical cases collected in Spain between 2018 and 2020. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was deciphered using a principal component analysis for each bacterium and a matrix correlation (high > 0.8, medium 0.5–0.8 and low < 0.5) was obtained for each pair of antimicrobials. No significant associations were observed between MIC patterns for different antimicrobial families, suggesting that co-selection mechanisms are not generally present in these porcine pathogens. However, a high correlation was observed between the fluroquinolones (marbofloxacin and enrofloxacin) for all mentioned pathogens and for ceftiofur and cefquinome for E. coli and S. suis. Moreover, a significant association was also observed for tetracyclines (doxycycline and oxytetracycline) and B. bronchiseptica and tildipirosin/tulathromycin for P. multocida. These results suggest that generally, a representative drug per antimicrobial class cannot be selected, however, for some drug–bug combinations, MIC values from one representative drug could be extrapolated to the whole antimicrobial family.
Cardiac NF-κB Acetylation Increases While Nrf2-Related Gene Expression and Mitochondrial Activity Are Impaired during the Progression of Diabetes in UCD-T2DM Rats
Authors: Thorwald Max A. , Godoy-Lugo Jose A. , Rodriguez Ruben , Stanhope Kimber L. , Graham James L. , Havel Peter J. , Forman Henry Jay , Ortiz Rudy M.
Published: May 2022

The onset of type II diabetes increases the heart’s susceptibility to oxidative damage because of the associated inflammation and diminished antioxidant response. Transcription factor NF-κB initiates inflammation while Nrf2 controls antioxidant defense. Current evidence suggests crosstalk between these transcription factors that may become dysregulated during type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) manifestation. The objective of this study was to examine the dynamic changes that occur in both transcription factors and target genes during the progression of T2DM in the heart. Novel UC Davis T2DM (UCD-T2DM) rats at the following states were utilized: (1) lean, control Sprague-Dawley (SD; n = 7), (2) insulin-resistant pre-diabetic UCD-T2DM (Pre; n = 9), (3) 2-week recently diabetic UCD-T2DM (2Wk; n = 9), (4) 3-month diabetic UCD-T2DM (3Mo; n = 14), and (5) 6-month diabetic UCD-T2DM (6Mo; n = 9). NF-κB acetylation increased 2-fold in 3Mo and 6Mo diabetic animals compared to SD and Pre animals. Nox4 protein increased 4-fold by 6Mo compared to SD. Nrf2 translocation increased 82% in Pre compared to SD but fell 47% in 6Mo animals. GCLM protein fell 35% in 6Mo animals compared to Pre. Hmox1 mRNA decreased 45% in 6Mo animals compared to SD. These data suggest that during the progression of T2DM, NF-κB related genes increase while Nrf2 genes are suppressed or unchanged, perpetuating inflammation and a lesser ability to handle an oxidant burden altering the heart’s redox state. Collectively, these changes likely contribute to the diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications.
SOD3 Suppresses the Expression of MMP-1 and Increases the Integrity of Extracellular Matrix in Fibroblasts
Authors: Kim Jin Hyung , Jeong Hae Dong , Song Min Ji , Lee Dong Hun , Chung Jin Ho , Lee Seung-Taek
Published: May 2022

The superoxide dismutase (SOD) family functions as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging system by converting superoxide anions into hydrogen peroxide in the cytosol (SOD1), mitochondria (SOD2), and extracellular matrix (SOD3). In this study, we examined the potential roles of SOD family members in skin aging. We found that SOD3 expression levels were significantly more reduced in the skin tissues of old mice and humans than in young counterparts, but SOD1 and SOD2 expression levels remained unchanged with aging. Accordingly, we analyzed the effects of SOD3 on intracellular ROS levels and the integrity of the extracellular matrix in fibroblasts. The treatment of foreskin fibroblasts with recombinant SOD3 reduced the intracellular ROS levels and secretion of MMP-1 while increasing the secretion of type I collagen. The effects of SOD3 were greater in fibroblasts treated with the TNF-α. SOD3 treatment also decreased the mRNA levels and promoter activity of MMP-1 while increasing the mRNA levels and promoter activities of COL1A1 and COL1A2. SOD3 treatment reduced the phosphorylation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK, ERK, and JNK, which are essential for MMP-1 transactivation. In a three-dimensional culture of fibroblasts, SOD3 decreased the amount of type I collagen fragments produced by MMP-1 and increased the amount of nascent type I procollagen. These results demonstrate that SOD3 reduces intracellular ROS levels, suppresses MMP-1 expression, and induces type I collagen expression in fibroblasts. Therefore, SOD3 may play a role in delaying or preventing skin aging.
Insights into the Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and Cytotoxic Activities of Pistacia lentiscus Bark and Phytochemical Profile; In Silico and In Vitro Study
Authors: Selim Samy , Almuhayawi Mohammed S. , Alharbi Mohanned T. , Al Jaouni Soad K. , Alharthi Afaf , Abdel-Wahab Basel A. , Ibrahim Mervat A. R. , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Warrad Mona , Rashed Khaled
Published: May 2022

Foodborne infections and antibiotic resistance pose a serious threat to public health and must be addressed urgently. Pistacia lentiscus is a wild-growing shrub and has been utilized for medicinal applications as well as for culinary purposes. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of P. lentiscus bark in vitro, as well as the phytochemical composition, are the focus of this inquiry. The bark extract of P. lentiscus showed significant antimicrobial activity in experiments on bacteria and yeast isolated from human and food sources. The exposure time for the complete inhibition of cell viability of P. aeruginosa in the extracts was found to be 5% at 15 min. Phytochemical inquiry of the methanol extract demonstrates the existence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Deep phytochemical exploration led to the identification of methyl gallate, gallic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol 3-O-α-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-β-glucoside, and Quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside. When tested using the DPPH assay, the methanol extracts of P. lentiscus bark demonstrated a high free radical scavenging efficiency. Further, we have performed a molecular modelling study which revealed that the extract of P. lentiscus bark could be a beneficial source for novel flavonoid glycosides inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taken together, this study highlights the Pistacia lentiscus bark methanol extract as a promising antimicrobial and antiviral agent.
Antioxidant Activity, Metal Chelating Ability and DNA Protective Effect of the Hydroethanolic Extracts of Crocus sativus Stigmas, Tepals and Leaves
Authors: Ouahhoud Sabir , Khoulati Amine , Kadda Salma , Bencheikh Noureddine , Mamri Samira , Ziani Anas , Baddaoui Sanae , Eddabbeh Fatima-Ezzahra , Lahmass Iliass , Benabbes Redouane , Addi Mohamed , Hano Christophe , Asehraou Abdeslam , Saalaoui Ennouamane
Published: May 2022

The present study investigated the antioxidant activity, metal chelating ability and genoprotective effect of the hydroethanolic extracts of Crocus sativus stigmas (STG), tepals (TPL) and leaves (LV). We evaluated the antioxidant and metal (Fe2+ and Cu2+) chelating activities of the stigmas, tepals and leaves of C. sativus. Similarly, we examined the genotoxic and DNA protective effect of these parts on rat leukocytes by comet assay. The results showed that TPL contains the best polyphenol content (64.66 µg GA eq/mg extract). The highest radical scavenging activity is shown by the TPL (DPPH radical scavenging activity: IC50 = 80.73 µg/mL). The same extracts gave a better ferric reducing power at a dose of 50 µg/mL, and better protective activity against β-carotene degradation (39.31% of oxidized β-carotene at a 100 µg/mL dose). In addition, they showed a good chelating ability of Fe2+ (48.7% at a 500 µg/mL dose) and Cu2+ (85.02% at a dose of 500 µg/mL). Thus, the antioxidant activity and metal chelating ability in the C. sativus plant is important, and it varies according to the part and dose used. In addition, pretreatment with STG, TPL and LV significantly (p < 0.001) protected rat leukocytes against the elevation of percent DNA in the tail, tail length and tail moment in streptozotocin- and alloxan-induced DNA damage. These results suggest that C. sativus by-products contain natural antioxidant, metal chelating and DNA protective compounds, which are capable of reducing the risk of cancer and other diseases associated with daily exposure to genotoxic xenobiotics.
Glycolaldehyde, an Advanced Glycation End Products Precursor, Induces Apoptosis via ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Renal Mesangial Cells
Authors: Gu Min Ji , Hyon Ju-Youg , Lee Hee-Weon , Han Eun Hee , Kim Yoonsook , Cha Youn-Soo , Ha Sang Keun
Published: May 2022

Glycolaldehyde (GA) is a reducing sugar and a precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The role of precursor and precursor-derived AGEs in diabetes and its complications have been actively discussed in the literature. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of GA-induced apoptosis in renal cells. Immunoblotting results showed that GA (100 μM) caused cytotoxicity in murine renal glomerular mesangial cells (SV40 MES 13) and induced apoptosis via major modulators, decreasing Bcl-2 and increasing Bax, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3/-9 expression. GA-derived AGE accumulation and receptor for AGE (RAGE) expression increased in mesangial cells; however, cells that were cotreated with aminoguanidine (AG) showed no increase in GA-derived AGE concentration. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was increased by GA, while AG inhibited AGE formation, leading to a decrease in ROS levels in mesangial cells. We evaluated apoptosis through fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and used TUNEL staining to study DNA fragmentation. Additionally, we measured ATP generation and used MitoTracker staining to access changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. This study showed that GA increased AGE concentration, RAGE expression, and excessive ROS generation, leading to renal mesangial cell damage via GA-induced apoptosis pathway caused by mitochondrial dysfunction.
Estimating the Optimal Overall Slope Angle of Open-Pit Mines with Probabilistic Analysis
Authors: Abdellah Wael R. , Hirohama Chiaki , Sainoki Atsushi , Towfeek Ahmed Rushdy , Ali Mahrous A. M.
Published: May 2022

Slope instability of open-pit mines has adverse impacts on the overall mine profitability, safety and environment. The slope of an open-pit mine is crucially influenced by the slope geometry, quality of rock mass and presence of geological features and their properties. The objective of this study is to demonstrate a method to select the optimal overall slope angle of open-pit mines according to three design parameters, namely, safety (e.g., probability of instability), productivity (e.g., profit) and mining costs (e.g., cost of removal of overburden). Therefore, this study attempts a hybrid approach in which numerical modelling is integrated with probabilistic analysis to evaluate the stability of an open-pit mine at various overall slope angles. Two-dimensional elasto-plastic finite-element, RS2D, has been used to develop a series of models at different ultimate slope angles employing shear strength reduction technique (SSRT). Li’s point-estimate method of n3 has been invoked in deterministic analysis to tackle the inherent uncertainty associated with host rock mass properties. The results reveal that the mine profitability increases and the cost of overburden removal decreases as overall slope angle becomes steeper. However, the slope stability deteriorates. Therefore, it is highly advisable to combine these three design parameters (e.g., safety, productivity, and cost) together when selecting overall slope angle of open-pit mines.
A Reliable Way to Improve Electrochemical Migration (ECM) Resistance of Nanosilver Paste as a Bonding Material
Authors: Ding Zikun , Wang Zhichao , Zhang Bowen , Lu Guo-Quan , Mei Yun-Hui
Published: May 2022

Electrochemical migration (ECM) of sintered nano-Ag could be a serious reliability concern for power devices with high-density packaging. An anti-ECM nano-Ag-SiOx paste was proposed by doping 0.1wt% SiOx nanoparticles rather than previously used expensive noble metals, e.g., palladium. The ECM lifetime of the sintered nano-Ag-SiOx was 1.5 to 3 times longer than that of the sintered nano-Ag, due to the fact that the SiOx could protect the Ag from oxidation. The thermo-mechanical reliability of the sintered nano-Ag-SiOx was also improved by sintering under 5 MPa assisted pressure. The lesser porosity and smaller grain boundaries of the sintered nano-Ag-SiOx could also be beneficial to retard the silver ECM. In the end, a double-sided semiconductor device was demonstrated to validate the better resistance to the ECM using the sintered nano-Ag-SiOx.
Simulation of Nuclear Quantum Effects in Condensed Matter Systems via Quantum Baths
Authors: Huppert Simon , Plé Thomas , Bonella Sara , Depondt Philippe , Finocchi Fabio
Published: May 2022

This paper reviews methods that aim at simulating nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) using generalized thermal baths. Generalized (or quantum) baths simulate statistical quantum features, and in particular zero-point energy effects, through non-Markovian stochastic dynamics. They make use of generalized Langevin Equations (GLEs), in which the quantum Bose–Einstein energy distribution is enforced by tuning the random and friction forces, while the system degrees of freedom remain classical. Although these baths have been formally justified only for harmonic oscillators, they perform well for several systems, while keeping the cost of the simulations comparable to the classical ones. We review the formal properties and main characteristics of classical and quantum GLEs, in relation with the fluctuation–dissipation theorems. Then, we describe the quantum thermostat and quantum thermal bath, the two generalized baths currently most used, providing several examples of applications for condensed matter systems, including the calculation of vibrational spectra. The most important drawback of these methods, zero-point energy leakage, is discussed in detail with the help of model systems, and a recently proposed scheme to monitor and mitigate or eliminate it—the adaptive quantum thermal bath—is summarised. This approach considerably extends the domain of application of generalized baths, leading, for instance, to the successful simulation of liquid water, where a subtle interplay of NQEs is at play. The paper concludes by overviewing further development opportunities and open challenges of generalized baths.
Could Technology and Intelligent Transport Systems Help Improve Mobility in an Emerging Country? Challenges, Opportunities, Gaps and Other Evidence from the Caribbean
Authors: Alonso Francisco , Faus Mireia , Tormo Maria T. , Useche Sergio A.
Published: May 2022

Apart from constituting a topic of high relevance for transport planners and policymakers, support technologies for traffic have the potential to bring significant benefits to mobility. In addition, there are groups of “high potential” users, such as young adults, who constitute an essential part of the current market. Notwithstanding, and especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), their knowledge and acceptance remain understudied. This study aimed to assess the appraisal of intelligent transport systems (ITS) and other technological developments applicable to mobility among Dominican young adults. Methods: In this study, we used the data gathered from 1414 Dominicans aged between 18 and 40, responding to the National Survey on Mobility in 2018 and 2019. Results: Overall, and although there is a relatively high acceptance, attributed value, and attitudinal predisposition towards both intelligent transportation systems and various support technologies applicable to mobility, the actual usage rates remain considerably low, and this is probably exacerbated by the low and middle-income status of the country. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest the need to strengthen information and communication flows over emerging mobility-related technologies and develop further awareness of the potential benefits of technological developments for everyday transport dynamics.
Capacity Estimation Models of Primary Lithium Batteries during Whole Life Cycle of Underwater Vehicles
Authors: Chen Peiyu , Lu Chengyi , Mao Zhaoyong , Tian Wenlong , Zeng Liteng , Li Mengjie , Zhang Jiming , Li Bo
Published: May 2022

Storage and discharge conditions of primary lithium batteries are studied and the capacity estimation models during the whole life cycle of underwater vehicles is developed based on temperature. The storage experiments for 90 days at different temperatures and discharge experiments at different temperatures and current rates are conducted. At low temperatures, experimental results reveal that there is no significant capacity decay during storage. At high temperatures, the charge storage capacity attenuates with the increase of storage, and the attenuation rate is directly related to the temperature. In discharge experiments, maximum available capacity increases with temperature during 0 °C to 25 °C, whereas the given phenomenon is not significant at other temperatures. Moreover, the current rate is less important for the maximum available capacity. To establish capacity estimation models during the storage stage and working stage of underwater vehicles, we have developed a capacity decay model and a temperature calibration model. Moreover, the model accuracy is evaluated, and the errors in capacity decay model and temperature calibration model are less than 2% and 0.7%, respectively. Capacity estimation models provided in this research are not only accurate, but also relatively simple, which have high value for underwater vehicles in engineering applications.
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Adaptive Controller for Trajectory Tracking and Altitude Control of an Aerial Robot
Authors: Barzegar Ali , Lee Deok-Jin
Published: May 2022

This research study presents a new adaptive attitude and altitude controller for an aerial robot. The proposed controlling approach employs a reinforcement learning-based algorithm to actively estimate the controller parameters of the aerial robot. In dealing with highly nonlinear systems and parameter uncertainty, the proposed RL-based adaptive control algorithm has advantages over some types of standard control approaches. When compared to the conventional proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers, the results of the numerical simulation demonstrate the effectiveness of this intelligent control strategy, which can improve the control performance of the whole system, resulting in accurate trajectory tracking and altitude control of the vehicle.
Cross-Regional Dynamic Transfer Characteristics of Liquid Oil Contamination Induced by Random Contact in Machining Workshops in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhao Jinchi , Yang Yinchen , Xu Yukun
Published: May 2022

In industrial sites, the movement and contact behaviors of workers are random, but their frequency and statistical characteristics can be determined. Particularly in machining workshops, metalworking fluids (MWFs) cause liquid oil contamination on the processed workpieces, and the contamination spreads to the entire workshop given the random contact of workers or the handling of workpieces. This study proposes a contact transmission model based on the Markov chain to quantify oil contamination transfer. First, the transfer efficiency between the glove and the workpiece, which is regarded as a key model parameter in this research, was determined through experiments. The model was used to characterize and predict the spread of oil contamination across different regions, including production and assembly areas. Specifically, the oil contamination concentrations on workbench surfaces in seven locations of a machining workshop in Shanghai GKN HUAYU Driveline Systems Co., Ltd. (SDS) were measured on-site. Findings showed that the model could feasibly depict the transfer process of oil contamination across different surfaces. Then, the variation law of oil contamination concentration on the workbench surfaces over time was analyzed, the oil contamination distribution map of the entire workshop plane was drawn, and the effectiveness of two cleaning measures to reduce oil contamination concentrations was compared. The proposed contact transmission model offers a basis for identifying highly polluted surfaces in machining workshops and controlling the spread of liquid oil contamination.
A Machine Learning Approach for the Non-Destructive Estimation of Leaf Area in Medicinal Orchid Dendrobium nobile L.
Authors: Das Madhurima , Deb Chandan Kumar , Pal Ram , Marwaha Sudeep
Published: May 2022

In this study, leaf area prediction models of Dendrobium nobile, were developed through machine learning (ML) techniques including multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting regression (GBR), and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The best model was tested using the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute errors (MAEs), and root mean square errors (RMSEs) and statistically confirmed through average rank (AR). Leaf images were captured through a smartphone and ImageJ was used to calculate the length (L), width (W), and leaf area (LA). Three orders of L, W, and their combinations were taken for model building. Multicollinearity status was checked using Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) and Tolerance (T). A total of 80% of the dataset and the remaining 20% were used for training and validation, respectively. KFold (K = 10) cross-validation checked the model overfit. GBR (R2, MAE and RMSE values ranged at 0.96, (0.82–0.91) and (1.10–1.11) cm2) in the testing phase was the best among the ML models. AR statistically confirms the outperformance of GBR, securing first rank and a frequency of 80% among the top ten ML models. Thus, GBR is the best model imparting its future utilization to estimate leaf area in D. nobile.