bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Indonesian version for quality of life among breast cancer patients
Authors: Solikhah Solikhah , Perwitasari Dyah Aryani , Rejeki Dwi Sarwani Sri
Published: March 2023

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most important health problems worldwide. Quality of life (QoL) is an important indicator to evaluate symptoms in cancer patients, including those with breast cancer. Culturally suitable, valid, reliable, and appropriate instruments to measure the QoL of breast cancer patients are needed, which is still rare in Indonesia. This study aimed to translate the EORTC QLQ-BR45 instrument into Indonesian and evaluate its psychometrics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed on 635 patients conveniently selected from the oncology department in referral hospital. The first phase of this study involved translation of the existing EORTC QLQ-BR45 into Indonesian, and in the second phase, we evaluated its psychometric properties. Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Criterion validity was examined according to the association between disease stage and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS).

Results

A total of 635 (99.00%) completed the EORTC QLQ-BR45 successfully. The instrument indicated good readability and high content validity. All Cronbach's alpha coefficients were satisfactory (overall value, 0.87). For construct validity, patients with KPS ≥80% did better than those with KPS ≤70% as did two multi-item scales in functional scales (body image and breast satisfaction) and five multi-item scales in symptom scales (systemic therapy side effects, endocrine therapy, and arm, breast, and endocrine sexual symptoms). Body image score of late-stage patients was significantly higher. CFA indicated that the nine-factor structure of the Indonesian EORTC QLQ-BR45 was a good fit for the data.

Conclusion

The Indonesian EORTC QLQ-BR45 questionnaire is reliable and valid with good psychometric properties, thus can be used for breast cancer patients in Indonesia.
The use of deep learning for smartphone-based human activity recognition
Authors: Stampfler Tristan , Elgendi Mohamed , Fletcher Richard Ribon , Menon Carlo
Published: March 2023

The emerging field of digital phenotyping leverages the numerous sensors embedded in a smartphone to better understand its user's current psychological state and behavior, enabling improved health support systems for patients. As part of this work, a common task is to use the smartphone accelerometer to automatically recognize or classify the behavior of the user, known as human activity recognition (HAR). In this article, we present a deep learning method using the Resnet architecture to implement HAR using the popular UniMiB-SHAR public dataset, containing 11,771 measurement segments from 30 users ranging in age between 18 and 60 years. We present a unified deep learning approach based on a Resnet architecture that consistently exceeds the state-of-the-art accuracy and F1-score across all classification tasks and evaluation methods mentioned in the literature. The most notable increase we disclose regards the leave-one-subject-out evaluation, known as the most rigorous evaluation method, where we push the state-of-the-art accuracy from 78.24 to 80.09% and the F1-score from 78.40 to 79.36%. For such results, we resorted to deep learning techniques, such as hyper-parameter tuning, label smoothing, and dropout, which helped regularize the Resnet training and reduced overfitting. We discuss how our approach could easily be adapted to perform HAR in real-time and discuss future research directions.
Early palliative care for solid and blood cancer patients and caregivers: Quantitative and qualitative results of a long-term experience as a case of value-based medicine
Authors: Bigi Sarah , Borelli Eleonora , Potenza Leonardo , Gilioli Fabio , Artioli Fabrizio , Porzio Giampiero , Luppi Mario , Bandieri Elena
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Cancer patients and their caregivers have substantial unmet needs, that negatively impact the clinical outcome and quality of life. However, interventions aimed to address such needs are still suboptimal, failing to answer the recent healthcare call for the adoption of value-based models of care. In the case of incurable oncologic and hematologic cancers, a value-based model of care should plan advanced care on patients' needs and include the quality of death as an outcome. The integration of early palliative care into standard oncologic care for patients with advanced cancers represents a recent innovative model of assistance whose benefits for patients and caregivers are now widely recognized. The key elements underlying the reasons behind these benefits are the multidisciplinary collaboration (teamwork), an honest and empathetic communication between the early palliative care team, the patient, and the caregiver (rapport building), and the ability to detect changes in the physical/psychosocial wellbeing of the patient, along the whole disease trajectory (constant monitoring).

Methods

This community case study documents the quantitative and qualitative results of a long term clinical and research experience in delivering early palliative care service to address both solid and blood cancer patients' and their primary caregivers' needs.

Results

Data showed decreased use of chemotherapy, blood transfusions and referral to intensive care units near the end of life; increased life expectancy; improved symptom burden and mood; increased frequency of goals-of-care and advanced care planning conversations. Hope perception among bereaved caregivers was associated with resilience and realistic expectations raising from honest communication with the early palliative care team and appreciation toward the model. Patients and caregivers perceived the possibility of a good death as realistic and not as an unlikely event as it was for patients and caregivers on standard oncologic care only. Gratitude expressions toward the model and the team were frequently identified in their reports and positively associated with communication and spirituality.

Conclusions

These findings are discussed in the context of an updated literature review regarding value-based care and suggest that early palliative care integrated into standard oncology care may be considered as an effective model of value-based care.
The stake of informing patients of the risk of hypofertility after chemotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Martinet-Kosinski Florian , Lamy Sébastien , Bauvin Eric , Dalenc Florence , Vaysse Charlotte , Grosclaude Pascale
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Too few women with invasive breast cancer are informed of the risk of hypofertility after chemotherapy. However, this risk can be prevented by offering gamete preservation by a specialized team. We believe that if more women were informed about gamete preservation, more of them would accept it.

Objectives

The primary objective is to describe each step of the oncofertility care pathway from provision of information to gamete preservation. The secondary objective is to estimate the impact of not receiving information by determining the proportion of women who would have undergone gamete preservation if they had been informed.

Method

575 women aged 18–40 years treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer between 2012 and 2017 in the Ouest-Occitanie region (~3 million inhabitants) were included. We first constructed a multivariate predictive model to determine the parameters influencing the uptake of the offer of gamete preservation among women who were informed and then applied it to the population of uninformed women.

Results

Only 39% of women were informed of the risks of hypofertility related to chemotherapy and 11% ultimately received gamete preservation. If all had been informed of the risk, our model predicted an increase in gamete preservation of 15.35% in the youngest women (<30 years), 22.88% in women aged between 30 and 35 years and zero in those aged ≥36 years. We did not find any association with the European Deprivation Index (EDI).

Conclusion

Oncologists should be aware of the need to inform patients aged ≤ 35 years about gamete preservation. If all received such information, the impact in terms of gamete preservation would likely be major.
Gun violence in United States during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ssentongo Paddy , Ssentongo Anna , Heilbrunn Emily S. , Chinchilli Vernon M.
Published: March 2023

Objective

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence (GV) rates in the United States (US) rose by 30%. We estimate the relative risk of GV in the US in the second year compared to the first year of the pandemic, in time and space.

Methods

Daily police reports of gun-related injuries and deaths in the 50 states and the District of Columbia from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2022, were obtained from the GV Archive. Generalized linear mixed-effects models in the form of Poisson regression analyses were utilized to estimate state-specific rates of GV.

Results

Nationally, GV rates during the second year of the pandemic (March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022) remained the same as that of the first year (March 1, 2020, through February 28, 2021) (Intensity Ratio = 0.996; 95% CI 0.98, 1.01; p = 0.53). Nevertheless, hotspots of GV were identified. Nine (18%) states registered a significantly higher risk of GV during the second year of the pandemic compared to the same period in the first year. In 10 (20%) states, the risk of GV during the second year of the pandemic was significantly lower compared to the same period in the first year.

Conclusion

GV risk in the US is heterogeneous. It continues to be a public health crisis, with 18% of the states demonstrating significantly higher GV rates during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same timeframe 1 year prior.
Metabolic engineering of B. subtilis 168 for increased precursor supply and poly-γ-glutamic acid production
Authors: Halmschlag Birthe , Völker Frederik , Hanke René , Putri Sastia P. , Fukusaki Eiichiro , Büchs Jochen , Blank Lars M.
Published: March 2023

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is an emerging biopolymer produced by several Bacillus species. To improve γ-PGA synthesis, metabolic engineering of the production host B. subtilis poses great potential and is facilitated by the convenient genetical amenability of the organism. In this study, a 3.7-fold increase in γ-PGA production using a bdhA, alsSD, pta, yvmC, and cypX deletion mutant with blocked by-product synthesis pathways was obtained. A detailed analysis of intracellular metabolites for reference strains and the γ-PGA-producing deletion strain identified the accumulation of pyruvate and acetyl-CoA in deletion mutants, highlighting the citrate synthase activity as an important metabolic engineering target for further metabolic flux optimization towards γ-PGA synthesis. An in-depth analysis of growth and γ-PGA production with on-line measurement techniques revealed significant variations across cultivations with deletion mutants that are likely caused by culture acidification due to pyruvate accumulation. Despite the observed acidification, the by-product deletion mutants outperformed the reference strains independent of the promoter controlling the PGA synthetase expression. The constructed deletion strains exhibit high γ-PGA production in minimal medium with glucose as sole carbon source as well as in modified Medium E reaching γ-PGA concentrations of 0.57 gL-1 and 14.46 gL-1, respectively. The results presented in this work broaden the understanding of the microbial metabolism during γ-PGA production and will be useful to guide future metabolic engineering for improved γ-PGA production.
What can Evolution Teach us About Being Sick?
Authors: Natterson-Horowitz Barbara , Blumstein Daniel T.
Published: March 2023

Why do we get sick? Medical doctors would say there are many causes, depending on the sickness: the SARS-CoV2 virus causes COVID-19, poor eating habits cause obesity, smoking causes lung cancer. But what if we looked at this question differently…as a species, why have we evolved bodies that are vulnerable to getting sick? Should we not have evolved to be healthy all the time? The field of evolutionary medicine aims to join ideas from medical science with ideas from evolutionary science to better explain health and disease. This approach could provide entirely new ideas for treating human health threats like cancer, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, obesity, and COVID-19, just to name a few!
Pancosmorio (world limit) theory of the sustainability of human migration and settlement in space
Authors: Irons Lee G. , Irons Morgan A.
Published: March 2023

It seems to be an accepted assumption that human migration into space is inevitable. However, almost 60 years of scientific studies of the effects of space on Earth life suggest this is not a given. Life on Earth evolved in the context of conditions that are unique to Earth and are not duplicated anywhere else in our solar system. The science indicates that life-sustaining conditions on Earth could be the very things that inhibit our ability to live off-Earth. This paper combines 100 years of scientific development of a theory of ecological thermodynamics with classical mechanics theory and analytical models of self-restoring heat engines to explain how the Sun and Earth have evolved into islands of order in the entropy of space. An explanation is provided regarding how naturally occurring conservative force fields engage a diversity of natural resources in semi-reversible cycles that build a high-exergy ecosphere. The science infers that the ability to establish a human settlement in space without Earth-like self-restoring order, capacity, and organization will result in settlement sustainment challenges. Historical evidence of Earth settlements with disrupted ecosystems point to the following possibilities. Supply chains would disappear, market resources would be depleted, advancement in human pursuits would be disrupted, social and governance systems would falter or collapse, human population numbers would decline, genetic diversity in the human genome would be lost, average human individual biomass would decrease, and human knowledge and understanding would be forgotten. What does it mean to have a location in space outside of Earth be “like Earth?” The results of research are presented as a pancosmorio theory ofhuman sustainability that is developed using the scientific philosophy methodology of abductive reasoning. Four analytical models of space ecosphere sustainability and five hypotheses with proposed tests for falsifiability are provided, including a theorem that suggests a limit to human expansion into space. A new quantitative method of human sustainability is developed from theories of network ecology, providing orthogonal properties of an ecosystem network stability function based upon an ecosystem network production function. Conclusions are made regarding the potential for sustainable development in space using balanced sustainability. Insights are provided regarding human endeavors on the Moon and Mars, as well as the Fermi paradox.
Prioritizing limb loading improves symmetry during dual-tasking in individuals following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Chan Ming-Sheng , Sigward Susan
Published: March 2023

Understanding the extent to which attention prioritization interfere with limb loading in daily activities following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLr) is important for reshaping loading behaviors. A dual-task paradigm, prioritizing limb loading symmetry (LLS) during standing or response time during an upper extremity task response time task was used to probe the effects of attention prioritization of loading. Individuals 115.6 ± 17.8 days post-ACLr (ACLr; n = 13) and matched healthy individuals (n = 13; CTRL) performed a simple response time (RT) task and 2 dual tasks prioritizing limb loading (LS-RT) and response time (RT-LS). 2 × 3 General Linear Model repeated measures analyses determined effects of group and focus condition on LLS error and response time. Significant interaction (P = 0.010) was noted in LLS error. ACLr group, exhibited greater LLS error in RT (P = 0.001) and RT-LS (P = 0.001) than LS-RT condition. ACLr group exhibited greater LLS error in the RT (P = 0.001) and RT-LS (P = 0.040) than CTRL, but not in LS-RT. A main effect of condition (P < 0.001) for response time indicated that times were slower in LS-RT compared to RT (P < 0.001) and to RT-LS (P < 0.001) for both groups. These data suggest that limb loading symmetry during standing is more automatic for controls than individuals following ACLr. Unlike controls, improving loading symmetry during standing requires additional attention in individuals in early recovery following ACLr.
Assessment of fatigue and recovery in elite cheerleaders prior to and during the ICU World Championships
Authors: Gavanda Simon , von Andrian-Werburg Christoph , Wiewelhove Thimo
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Little is known about the demands of competitive cheerleading. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess fatigue and recovery during preparation for world championships.

Methods

Fifteen participants from the German senior “All-Girl” and “Coed” national teams (nine males and six women) were recruited. Data were collected during the final preparation (T1 -T7) and competition days (C1 -C2). Heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate (HR) were measured every morning. Data on training load, recovery, and stress (Short Scale for Recovery and Stress) were surveyed after training. Countermovement jump height (CMJ), sit-and-reach, and exercise-induced muscle damage (EMID) scores were taken in the afternoon.

Results

There was a practically relevant decrease in CMJ (T2, T6). A trend for HR to increase (T5–C2) and HRV to decrease (T4, T6–C2) was evident. Through training, recovery decreased and recovered as C1 approached (mental performance: T2–T4 p = 0.004; T2–C1 p = 0.029; T3–T4 p = 0.029; emotional balance: T3–T4 p = 0.023; T3–C1 p = 0.014; general recovery status T1–T3 p = 0.008; T3–T4 p = 0.024; T3–C1 p = 0.041), whereas stress increased during the first days and returned to normal before C1 (emotional dysbalance: T2–T4 p = 0.014; T2–C1 p = 0.009; T3–T4 p = 0.023; T3–C1 p = 0.014). EMID scores increased for the upper and lower body between T3, T5–T7 (p ≤ 0.036) and T3, T6–T7 (p ≤ 0.047), respectively.

Discussion

Pre-competition training led to substantial fatigue, and most markers indicate that athletes do not compete fully recovered. This could possibly be avoided by optimizing the training load or implementing recovery strategies.
Environment-friendly nitrogen management practices in wetland paddy cultivation
Authors: Alam Mohammad Saiful , Khanam Mariam , Rahman Md. Mizanur
Published: March 2023

A large amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is required for paddy cultivation, but nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in paddy farming is low (20–40%). Much of the unutilized N potentially degrades the quality of soil, water, and air and disintegrates the functions of different ecosystems. It is a great challenge to increase NUE and sustain rice production to meet the food demand of the growing population. This review attempted to find out promising N management practices that might increase NUE while reducing the trade-off between rice production and environmental pollution. We collected and collated information on N management practices and associated barriers. A set of existing soil, crop, and fertilizer management strategies can be suggested for increasing NUE, which, however, might not be capable to halve N waste by 2030 as stated in the “Colombo Declaration” by the United Nations Environment Program. Therefore, more efficient N management tools are yet to be developed through research and extension. Awareness-raising campaign among farmers is a must against their misunderstanding that higher N fertilizer provides higher yields. The findings might help policymakers to formulate suitable policies regarding eco-friendly N management strategies for wetland paddy cultivation and ensure better utilization of costly N fertilizer.
Innovation capacity, food system development, and the size of the agricultural research system
Authors: Nin-Pratt Alejandro , Stads Gert-Jan
Published: March 2023

Introduction

This article contributes to a better understanding of the context in which agricultural R&D investment takes place in low- and middle-income countries, and how innovation capacity, the development of the food system, and the size of the research system affect R&D investment.

Methods

A three-step methodology is proposed where the first step consists of creating an index of the development of a food system using indicators of the technological transformation of the food supply chain and the changes in diets on the demand side. The second step involves developing a measure of innovation capacity at the country level, while the final step consists of systematic comparisons of countries with large and small agricultural research systems to find the relationship between the size of a country's research system, the level of development of its food system, and its overall capacity to innovate.

Results

The results reveal that there is a high and positive correlation between innovation capacity and the development of the food system and a negative correlation between these two indicators and the size of the agricultural research system in low- and middle-income countries. The lower overall quality and level of development of the education and scientific research systems in countries with small agricultural research systems are important factors contributing to reduced innovation capacity. In addition, countries with small agricultural research systems are challenged with a comparatively poor innovation environment, poor market development, a weak private sector, a lack of competition in domestic markets, and a largely rural population with poor links to markets.

Discussion

The results of the analysis stress the need to increase the efficiency and productivity of agricultural research by implementing policies that get the most out of available resources while minimizing the negative effect of small-scale research operations. Increased coordination and integration of agricultural research at the regional and global level can help avoid duplication, enhance the efficiency of small-scale organizations, and make research more cost-effective and impactful.
Soil properties and silage quality in response to oat and pea seeding ratios and harvest stage on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Liu Wen , Zhao Liansheng , Chen Yakun , Shen Yifan , Luo Zhijie , Chen Yanbin , Evans Alexander C. O. , Bu Dengpan
Published: March 2023

Livestock intensification improves production efficiency and enhances the demand for quality forage to feed ruminants. Novel combinations of forage plants, especially including Gramineae and Leguminous plants, benefit both ruminant animals and contribute to a sustainable environment. This study explored an oat-pea mixed seeding strategy as an approach to improving silage quality. Before ensialing, lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brucelli) were added to forage from five different mixed seeding proportions of oats (O) and peas (P) (10:0, 8:2, 7:3, 5:5, and 0:10 oat to pea ratio) at two harvesting periods (the early flowering stage and the milk ripening stage for the oats). The results showed that mixed seeding changed the soil quality parameters. Moreover, the silage from the O5P5 (5:5 oat to pea ratio) group showed the lowest pH values (4.16) and highest LA contents (7.74% DM) after ensiling for 7d (p < 0.05) in early flowering stage. Also, the O5P5 group increased the number of tillers/branches and produced silage with the highest CP content (13.14–14.06) after ensiling for 7d in early flowering stage and both 7d and 30d in early flowering stage and milk ripening stage (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study found that the selection of oat-pea mixed seeding as O5P5 and harvesting at the milk ripening stage of oat is recommended as a desirable oat-pea mixed seeding strategy for producing high quality silage.
Setting-up place-based and transdisciplinary research to foster agrifood system transformation: Insights from the Aliment'Actions project in western France
Authors: Berthet Elsa T. , Gaba Sabrina , Bombard Cyrille , Goinard Mathieu , Benvegnu Nicolas , Fournout Olivier , Bretagnolle Vincent
Published: March 2023

Many agrifood systems around the world can be characterized as unsustainable. Research is increasingly required to inform the necessary radical transformations of the ways we produce, process, transport, and consume food. This article presents the research approach and methods of an ongoing project carried out at a long-term social–ecological research site, the Zone Atelier Plaine and Val de Sèvre (western France). The research project presented here, Aliment'Actions, started in 2018 and within 10 years of its implementation seeks to study and trigger transformation to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the regional agrifood system. Its research agenda contains four types of actions: (a) backdrop actions that enhance communication and trust between researchers and local stakeholders, (b) targeted actions that are conducted in specific villages with a wide range of stakeholders to elaborate and implement various transformation levers, (c) assessment actions evaluating the effects of different interventions, and (d) communication and result from dissemination actions. Overall, these actions aim to co-produce knowledge, raise awareness regarding challenges in the food system, envision new interactions between stakeholders, collectively generate innovative ideas, and catalyze actions oriented toward agrifood system transformation. The project implementation is adaptive and iterative, from theory to practice. This Methods paper puts this ongoing project into the perspective of other place-based research initiatives and provides insights on how to foster the engagement of non-academic actors in transdisciplinary research supporting agrifood system transformation.
A modified oblique lumbar interbody fusion: A better way to establish an exposure under direct microscopic vision
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhang Xiangyu , Zhao Zirun , Chou Dean , Jian Fengzeng , Wu Hao
Published: March 2023

Study design

This is a retrospective study.

Objective

To demonstrate a modified oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OILF) technique for L1–L5.

Methods

The modified technique splits anterior portion of psoas belly to access the oblique corridor (OC) anteroinferior to psoas, minimizing psoas manipulation and retraction and avoiding nerve injury while offering excellent microscopic visualization. Psoas weakness and neurovascular complication rates in patients treated with traditional OLIF (T-OLIF) or anteroinferior psoas OLIF (AP-OLIF) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes were also reviewed.

Results

A total of 162 cases treated with T-OLIF (n = 73) and AP-OLIF (n = 89) for degenerative lumbar disease were included. The mean operative time and blood loss were less with AP-OLIF (P < 0.01). Approach related complications were 14 (19.1%) with T-OLIF and 4 (4.5%) with AP-OLIF. Postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores improved in both T-OIF and AP-OIF groups (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The modified OLIF technique (AP-OLIF) is characterized by an easy exposure of the lumbar spine under direct microscopic vision, resulting in less psoas weakness and neurovascular injury.
Development of a droplet digital PCR assay for detection of group A porcine rotavirus
Authors: Liu Yangkun , Han Xueying , Zhang Xinru , Liu Jiaxing , Yao Lunguang
Published: March 2023

Group A porcine rotavirus (PoRVA) is an important pathogen of acute enteritis in piglets, which has caused severe economic losses in the pig industry worldwide. A convenient, sensitive and specific diagnosis method is an urgent requirement for the surveillance of the PoRVA circulating in clinical samples. In this study, a novel and convenient droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) for the detection of PoRVA was developed using the conserved region of the VP6 gene. The detection limit of ddPCR was 1.81 ± 0.14 copies/rection, ~10 times greater sensitivity than TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Both ddPCR and qPCR assays exhibited good linearity and repeatability, and the established ddPCR method was highly specific for PoRVA. The results of clinical sample testing showed that the positivity rate of ddPCR (5.6%) was higher than that of qPCR (4.4%). Therefore, the newly developed ddPCR assay could be widely used in clinical diagnosis of PoRVA infections.
Study on the mechanism of Wumei San in treating piglet diarrhea using network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Yin Huihui , Liu Wei , Ji Xiaoyu , Yan Guoqing , Zeng Xueyan , Zhao Wu , Wang Yanhua
Published: March 2023

Wumei San (WMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely applied in the treatment of piglet diarrhea (PD). However, the mechanism of WMS in PD has not been investigated. In this study, the main active compounds of WMS and the target proteins were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology, PubChem, and SwissTargetPrediction databases. The molecular targets of PD were identified using GeneCards, OMIM, and NCBI databases. The common targets of WMS and PD were screened out and converted into UniProt gene symbols. PD-related target genes were constructed into a protein-protein interaction network, which was further analyzed by the STRING online database. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to construct the component-target gene-disease network. Molecular docking was then used to examine the relationship between the core compounds and proteins. As a result, a total of 32 active compounds and 638 target genes of WMS were identified, and a WMS-compound-target network was successfully constructed. Through network pharmacology analysis, 14 core compounds in WMS that showed an effect on PD were identified. The targets revealed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were associated with the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and other pathways and physiological processes. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the active compounds in WMS spontaneously bind to their targets. The results indicated that WMS may regulate the local immune response and inflammatory factors mainly through the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and other pathways. WMS is a promising treatment strategy for PD. This study provides new insights into the potential mechanism of WMS in PD.
Effects of thiram exposure on liver metabolism of chickens
Authors: Wang Meng , Wang Lei , Shabbir Sana , Zhou Dongliang , Shahid Muhammad Akbar , Luo Houqiang , Li Huixia , Li Ziwei , Sun Xingya , Wu Chunqin , Zhao Yan
Published: March 2023

Pesticides are widely used to control crop diseases, which have made an important contribution to the increase of global crop production. However, a considerable part of pesticides may remain in plants, posing a huge threat to animal safety. Thiram is a common pesticide and has been proven that its residues in the feed can affect the growth performance, bone formation, and intestinal health of chickens. However, there are few studies on the liver metabolism of chickens exposed to thiram. Here, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of thiram exposure on liver metabolism of chickens. Metabolomics analysis shows that 62 metabolites were down-regulated (ginsenoside F5, arbekacin, coproporphyrinogen III, 3-keto Fusidic acid, marmesin, isofumonisin B1, 3-Hydroxyquinine, melleolide B, naphazoline, marmesin, dibenzyl ether, etc.) and 35 metabolites were up-regulated (tetrabromodiphenyl ethers, deoxycholic acid glycine conjugate, L-Palmitoylcarnitine, austalide K, hericene B, pentadecanoylcarnitine, glyceryl palmitostearate, quinestrol, 7-Ketocholesterol, tetrabromodiphenyl ethers, etc.) in thiram-induced chickens, mainly involved in the metabolic pathways including glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Taken together, this research showed that thiram exposure significantly altered hepatic metabolism in chickens. Moreover, this study also provided a basis for regulating the use and disposal of thiram to ensure environmental quality and poultry health.
Oral intake of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ONRICb0240 partially protects mice against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Kiso Maki , Uraki Ryuta , Ito Mutsumi , Yamayoshi Seiya , Kotani Yoshifumi , Imai Masaki , Kohda Noriyuki , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: March 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Besides vaccines and antiviral drugs, probiotics have attracted attention for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we examined the efficacy of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ONRICb0240 (b240) against SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice. We observed that oral intake of heat-killed b240 did not affect virus titers in the respiratory organs of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice, but did provide partial protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, heat-killed b240 treatment suppressed the expression of IL-6, a key proinflammatory cytokine, on Day 2 post-infection. Our results highlight the promising protective role of heat-killed b240 and suggest a possible mechanism by which heat-killed b240 partially protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection by modulating host responses.
Nazwy własne o proweniencji biblijnej w poezji Wacława Potockiego
Authors: Sornat Katarzyna
Published: March 2023

This article presents the results of an analysis covering a portion of the vocabulary found in Wacław Potocki’s literary works. The examinayion of the lexical structure of the poet’s writings was limited to the biblical proper names coming from the three-volume edition of the poet’s Dzieła (Works) (Kukulski 1987). The material was excerpted using the corpus method and the Electronic Corpus of 17th- and 18th-century Polish Texts (until 1772). The aim of this article is to divide the collected biblisms according to the onomastic classification and to discuss the findings of their functional analysis. The Bible was a significant source of creative and ideological inspiration for the 17th-century author, which was reflected in the presented collection of proper names, with the anthroponyms that fulfilled allusive and content functions winning the greatest share. The study is concluded with a compilation of the outcomes of the comparative analysis performed with regard to the frequency of biblical proper names, cetified in W. Potocki’s Dzieła
and in the corpus of Baroque texts.
Concepts for Increased Energy Dissipation in CFRP Composites Subjected to Impact Loading Conditions by Optimising Interlaminar Properties
Authors: Kuhtz Moritz , Richter Jonas , Wiegand Jens , Langkamp Albert , Hornig Andreas , Gude Maik
Published: March 2023

Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) are predestined for use in high-performance components due to their superior specific mechanical properties. In addition, these materials have the advantage that the material properties and in particular, the failure behaviour can be adjusted. Fibre-dominated failure modes are usually brittle and catastrophic. In contrast, delaminations successively absorb energy and retain in-plane structural integrity. Previous investigations have shown that interface modifications can be used to selectively adjust the interlaminar properties, which decisively influence the delamination behaviour and the associated failure behaviour of structures. However, a systematic analysis of the influences of the positioning and characteristics of the interface modifications on the structural failure behaviour is still missing. Based on existing experimental investigations on the energy dissipation of CFRP impact-loaded beams, the failure behaviour is described here with the help of numerical simulations. The structural failure behaviour and the energy dissipation are represented in a three-dimensional, parameterised finite element analysis (FEA) model. Furthermore, the parameterised models are used to maximise the energy absorption of the three-point bending test through three concepts of interface modification. The large number of model input parameters requires a metamodel-based description of the correlation between the positioning and characteristics of the interface modification and the energy dissipation. Within the scope of the present work, a procedure is therefore developed which enables an efficient design of interface-modified CFRP under impact loads.
Leveraging Important Covariate Groups for Corn Yield Prediction
Authors: Schumacher Britta L. , Burchfield Emily K. , Bean Brennan , Yost Matt A.
Published: March 2023

Accurate yield information empowers farmers to adapt, their governments to adopt timely agricultural and food policy interventions, and the markets they supply to prepare for production shifts. Unfortunately, the most representative yield data in the US, provided by the US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) Surveys, are spatiotemporally patchy and inconsistent. This paper builds a more complete data product by examining the spatiotemporal efficacy of random forests (RF) in predicting county-level yields of corn—the most widely cultivated crop in the US. To meet our objective, we compare RF cross-validated prediction accuracy using several combinations of explanatory variables. We also utilize variable importance measures and partial dependence plots to compare and contextualize how key variables interact with corn yield. Results suggest that RF predicts US corn yields well using a relatively small subset of climate variables along with year and geographical location (RMSE = 17.1 bushels/acre (1.2 tons/hectare)). Of note is the insensitivity of RF prediction accuracy when removing variables traditionally thought to be predictive of yield or variables flagged as important by RF variable importance measures. Understanding what variables are needed to accurately predict corn yields provides a template for applying machine learning approaches to estimate county-level yields for other US crops.
Dissecting Physiological and Agronomic Diversity in Safflower Populations Using Proximal Phenotyping
Authors: Thoday-Kennedy Emily , Banerjee Bikram , Panozzo Joe , Maharjan Pankaj , Hudson David , Spangenberg German , Hayden Matthew , Kant Surya
Published: March 2023

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a highly adaptable but underutilized oilseed crop capable of growing in marginal environments, with crucial agronomical, commercial, and industrial uses. Considerable research is still needed to develop commercially relevant varieties, requiring effective, high-throughput digital phenotyping to identify key selection traits. In this study, field trials comprising a globally diverse collection of 350 safflower genotypes were conducted during 2017–2019. Crop traits assessed included phenology, grain yield, and oil quality, as well as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral data for estimating vegetation indices. Phenotypic traits and crop performance were highly dependent on environmental conditions, especially rainfall. High-performing genotypes had intermediate growth and phenology, with spineless genotypes performing similarly to spiked genotypes. Phenology parameters were significantly correlated to height, with significantly weak interaction with yield traits. The genotypes produced total oil content values ranging from 20.6–41.07%, oleic acid values ranging 7.57–74.5%, and linoleic acid values ranging from 17.0–83.1%. Multispectral data were used to model crop height, NDVI and EVI changes, and crop yield. NDVI data identified the start of flowering and dissected genotypes according to flowering class, growth pattern, and yield estimation. Overall, UAV-multispectral derived data are applicable to phenotyping key agronomical traits in large collections suitable for safflower breeding programs.
Niche and Interspecific Association of the Dominant Species during the Invasion of Alternanthera philoxeroides in the Yangtze River Basin, China
Authors: Nan Qianru , Zhang Qing , Li Xinghao , Zheng Danni , Li Zhaohua , Zhao Liya
Published: March 2023

The effects of invasive species on the local community (e.g., structure and stability) are highly environmentally dependent. Invasions of amphibious species usually take place in both xeric and humid environments, yet they are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the communities that were dominated by Alternanthera philoxeroides using ecological niche and interspecific association. A total of 66 species and 67 species were recorded in the xeric environment and humid environment, respectively. In both environments, species in family Gramineae, such as Echinochloa crusgalli and Cynodon dactylon, exhibited a higher level of importance values and greater ecological niche widths. The interspecific association and stability of the dominant species were weak and the dominant species were relatively independent of each other. In the xeric environment, A. philoxeroides was more compatible with E. crusgalli and C. dactylon in terms of ecological niche requirements and habitat suitability. In humid habitats, A. philoxeroides had a greater correlation with E. crusgalli, C. dactylon, and Persicaria lapathifolia, suggesting a higher possibility of concomitant occurrence. Overall, we suggested that during the revegetation after A. philoxeroides invasion, E. crusgalli and C. dactylon can be the alternative plants. Meanwhile, alternative control measures for A. philoxeroides invasion in agricultural fields should give more consideration to the use of plants with economic or ecological value.
Biological Control Efficacy of Indigenous Antagonistic Bacteria Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Cabbage Grown in Biofumigated Soil against Pythium aphanidermatum Damping-Off of Cucumber
Authors: Al-Daghari Dhuha Sulaiman Salim , Al-Sadi Abdullah Mohammed , Al-Mahmooli Issa Hashil , Janke Rhonda , Velazhahan Rethinasamy
Published: March 2023

Soil biofumigation is a widely used farming practice for soil-borne disease management in vegetable crops. Soil biofumigation is the practice of the incorporation of fresh plant materials from the members of the Brassicaceae family into the soil which release antimicrobial volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products. However, the VOCs may affect non-target beneficial soil biota including microbial biocontrol agents (MBAs) due to their broad-spectrum toxicity. In this study, native antagonistic rhizobacteria were isolated from cabbage plants grown in biofumigated fields and their potential in the management of Pythium aphanidermatum cucumber damping-off was evaluated with and also without biofumigation using cabbage leaf residue. A total of 20 morphologically distinct, culturable bacterial strains were recovered from the rhizosphere soil of cabbage cultivated in a biofumigated field, with the largest fraction of the isolates belonging to the genus Bacillus. The other bacterial genera isolated were Pseudomonas, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium and Priestia. Of the 20 bacterial isolates, Pseudomonas aeruginosa B1-SQU, Pseudomonas indica B2-SQU, Serratia marcescens B3-SQU and Pseudomonas brenneri B4-SQU exhibited inhibitory activity against P. aphanidermatum in a co-culture assay. The deformation and shrinkage of P. aphanidermatum hyphae due to diffusible antimicrobial compounds from these bacterial strains were witnessed through scanning electron microscopy. A biofilm was formed by these bacterial strains in vitro and they exhibited compatibility with each other; however, they had no significant plant growth promotion effect on cucumber. These bacterial strains significantly reduced damping-off in cucumber under greenhouse conditions when applied to soil singly, but failed to show a significant effect when combined with biofumigation treatment, though the bacterial population in the soil was maintained at higher levels. Soil biofumigation alone was also not effective in suppressing the damping-off of cucumber. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed that 1-butanol, n-butyl butyrate and butyl acetate were the predominant VOCs in the soil amended with cabbage leaf residue. The results suggest that soil biofumigation with cabbage leaf residue has no significant effect on P. aphanidermatum under high inoculum levels; furthermore, it affects the efficiency of the bacterial antagonists in controlling damping-off in cucumber.
Dose-Dependent Effects of Antioxidants on Root-Knot Nematode Infection in Vegetable Crops and Dosage Standardization for Preventive Measures
Authors: Molinari Sergio
Published: March 2023

Different antioxidant compounds (ACs) were applied to vegetable plants as foliar spray or soil drench before inoculation with root-knot nematodes (RKNs). Different doses of salicylic acid (SA), methyl-salicylate (MetSA), methyl jasmonate (MetJA), and ascorbate (ASC) were tested; doses were chosen according to the size and weights of the plants to be treated. Generally, low doses of ACs increased nematode infection; conversely, when doses were raised, ACs acted as effective resistance inducers and reduced infection, measured as numbers of individuals developed in roots and reproduction rates. The activation of defense often occurred at the expense of plant fitness, although in infected plants, the benefits of treatments on plant growth were caused by relief from the symptoms monitored in untreated plants. Single pre-treatments of SA, MetSA, and ASC, in the proper amounts, almost halved infection variables; repeated applications of SA during nematode pathogenesis annulled the effectiveness of single pre-treatments. MetJA application was generally toxic to plants, and, also when provided in minimal amounts, this compound was always ineffective against nematodes. Other phenols and phenolic acids were tested at the same doses that were effective for SA with no reduction of infection except for duroquinone, which caused almost total suppression of infection, although associated with a decrease in root growth.