bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trend assessment of changing climate patterns over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab
Authors: Qureshi Haris Uddin , Shah Syed Muzzamil Hussain , Teo Fang Yenn
Published: September 2023

The agriculture sector, due to its significant dependence on climate patterns and water availability, is highly vulnerable to changing climate patterns. Pakistan is an agrarian economy with 30% of its land area under cultivation and 93% of its water resources being utilized for agricultural production. Therefore, the changing climate patterns may adversely affect the agriculture and water resources of the country. This study was conducted to assess the climate variations over the major agro-climatic zones of Sindh and Punjab, which serve as an important hub for the production of major food and cash crops in Pakistan. For this purpose, the climate data of 21 stations were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator method for the period 1990–2022. The results obtained from the analysis revealed that, in Sindh, the mean annual temperature rose by ~0.1 to 1.4°C, with ~0.1 to 1.2°C in cotton-wheat Sindh and 0.8 to 1.4°C in rice-other Sindh during the study period. Similarly, in Punjab, the mean annual temperature increased by ~0.1 to 1.0°C, with 0.6 to 0.9°C in cotton-wheat Punjab and 0.2 to 0.6°C in rainfed Punjab. Seasonally, warming was found to be highest during the spring season. The precipitation analysis showed a rising annual precipitation trend in Sindh (+30 to +60 mm) and Punjab (+100 to 300 mm), while the monsoon precipitation increased by ~50 to 200 mm. For winter precipitation, an upward trend was found in mixed Punjab, while the remaining stations showed a declining pattern. Conclusively, the warming temperatures as found in the analysis may result in increased irrigation requirements, soil moisture desiccation, and wilting of crops, ultimately leading to low crop yield and threatening the livelihoods of local farmers. On the other hand, the increasing precipitation may favor national agriculture in terms of less freshwater withdrawals. However, it may also result in increased rainfall-induced floods inundating the crop fields and causing water logging and soil salinization. The study outcomes comprehensively highlighted the prevailing climate trends over the important agro-climatic zones of Pakistan, which may aid in devising an effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategy to ensure the state of water and food security in the country.
Exiled at home: British Muslims’ experiences of integration
Authors: Elsayed Sara
Published: September 2023

This article takes up the question of Muslim integration in the United Kingdom with one main argument: British Muslims, including those who are UK-born, endure wider exilic narratives that stand in clear contradiction to a rooted sense of belonging and equal citizenship. Referring to data from 12 months of ethnographic research, this article argues that integration as a lived experience for this community is ironically characterised by a range of exilic narratives entailing stereotyping, misrecognition, misrepresentation, and inequalities that put their sense of Britian as ‘home’ at stake. While these conditions do not necessarily work in the same way for all Muslims across their differences, they generally shape—in many different ways—their perceptions and understandings of belonging, home, and integration. Exploring everyday integration practices and dynamics in a local community, this paper discusses Muslims’ sense of belonging and the barriers they encounter in achieving a sense of home. It investigates the roles of fear and citizenship built in inequalities in creating an exilic space that impinges on Muslims’ sense of belonging. The analysis at the end extends this to highlight the responses and approaches Muslims adopt in their efforts to construct belonging in an exilic context.
Multilayered safety framework for living diagnostics in the colon
Authors: Mecacci Sonia , Torregrosa-Barragán Lucía , Asin-Garcia Enrique , Smith Robert W.
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer worldwide. Current screening methods have low detection rates and frequently provide false positive results, leading to missed diagnoses or unnecessary colonoscopies. To tackle this issue, the Wageningen UR iGEM team from 2022 developed “Colourectal”, a living diagnostic tool for colorectal cancer. Following a synthetic biology approach, the project used an engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain capable of binding to tumour cells that detects two distinct cancer biomarkers, and secretes a coloured protein observable in stool. Due to the utilization of genetically modified bacteria in vivo, precautionary biosafety measures were included within a three level safe-by-design strategy.

Results: The first genetic safeguard ensured confinement of the living diagnostic to the colon environment by implementing auxotrophy to mucin that is abundant in the colon lining. For this, a synthetic chimeric receptor was generated to ensure expression of essential genes in the presence of mucin. The second strategy limited the viability of the engineered bacteria to the human body, preventing proliferation in open environments. The use of a temperature sensitive kill switch induced bacterial cell death at temperatures below 37°C. The third biocontainment strategy was installed as an emergency kill switch to stop the Colourectal test at any point. By inducing a highly genotoxic response through CRISPR-Cas-mediated DNA degradation, cell death of E. coli Nissle is triggered.

Discussion: While the use of engineered microorganisms in human applications is not yet a reality, the safety considerations of our multi-layered strategy provide a framework for the development of future living diagnostic tools.
Livestock health and disease economics: a scoping review of selected literature
Authors: Kappes Alexander , Tozooneyi Takesure , Shakil Golam , Railey Ashley F. , McIntyre K. Marie , Mayberry Dianne E. , Rushton Jonathan , Pendell Dustin L. , Marsh Thomas L.
Published: September 2023

Animal diseases in production and subsistence environments have the potential to negatively affect consumers, producers, and economies as a whole. A growing global demand for animal sourced food requires safe and efficient production systems. Understanding the burden of animal disease and the distribution of burden throughout a value chain informs policy that promotes safe consumption and efficient markets, as well as providing more effective pathways for investment. This paper surveys existing knowledge on the burden of animal disease across economic categories of production, prevention and treatment, animal welfare, and trade and regulation. Our scoping review covers 192 papers across peer-reviewed journals and reports published by organizations. We find there exists a gap in knowledge in evaluating what the global burdens of animal diseases are and how these burdens are distributed in value chains. We also point to a need for creating an analytical framework based on established methods that guides future evaluation of animal disease burden, which will provide improved access to information on animal health impacts.
Effects of rumen-protective γ-aminobutyric acid additive on lactation performance and serum biochemistry in heat-stressed cows
Authors: Su Yanjing , Cheng Zhiqiang , Liu Wengboyang , Wu Tianyou , Wang Wendan , Lin Miao
Published: September 2023

In the context of global warming, heat stress has become one of the major stress factors limiting dairy cattle production. Although many methods have been explored to help cows mitigate the negative effects of heat stress during the hot summer months, maintaining the performance of high-yielding cows under heat stress is still a great challenge. The aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of RP-GABA in the diet on milk yield, milk composition and serum biochemical parameters in heat-stressed cows. Twenty Chinese Holstein cows in early lactation (51.00 ± 4.92 kg milk/d, 71 ± 10.94 d in milk and 2.68 ± 0.73 parities) were included in this experiment and randomly divided into four groups (n = 5/group). The four experimental groups consisted of one control group (0 g RP-GABA/d) and three treatment groups, given 5, 7.5 and 10 g RP-GABA/d of dry matter (DM) per cow, respectively. The results showed that supplementing high-yielding cows with 10 g/d of RP-GABA improved milk protein production but had no effect on the improvement of other production performance, the alleviation of heat stress in cows, or the improvement of immune function and antioxidant capacity. Ultimately, we conclude that the supplementation of 10 g/d RP-GABA to heat-stressed, high-yielding dairy cows can provide a degree of performance enhancement. Furthermore, our study provides some reference for nutritional improvement measures for summer heat stress in dairy cows, especially high-yielding cows.
First report of a novel polymorphism and genetic characteristics of the leporine prion protein (PRNP) gene
Authors: Kim Dong-Ju , Kim Yong-Chan , Jeong Byung-Hoon
Published: September 2023

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have been reported in a broad spectrum of hosts. The genetic polymorphisms and characteristics of the prion protein (PRNP) gene have a vital impact on the development of TSEs. Notably, natural TSE infection cases have never been reported in rabbits, and genetic variations of the leporine PRNP gene have not been investigated to date. To identify leporine PRNP gene polymorphism, we performed amplicon sequencing in 203 rabbits. We report a novel single nucleotide polymorphism on the leporine PRNP gene. In addition, we performed a comparative analysis of amino acid sequences of prion protein (PrP) across several hosts using ClustalW2. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of changes of unique leporine PrP amino acids with those conserved among various species using Swiss-Pdb Viewer. Interestingly, we found seven unique leporine amino acids, and the change of unique leporine amino acids with those conserved among other species, including S175N, Q221K, Q221R, A226Y, A230G, and A230S, was predicted to reduce hydrogen bonds in leporine PrP.
Inferring bovine tuberculosis transmission between cattle and badgers via the environment and risk mapping
Authors: Chang You , Hartemink Nienke , Byrne Andrew W. , Gormley Eamonn , McGrath Guy , Tratalos Jamie A. , Breslin Philip , More Simon J. , de Jong Mart C. M.
Published: September 2023

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is one of the most challenging and persistent health issues in many countries worldwide. In several countries, bTB control is complicated due to the presence of wildlife reservoirs of infection, i.e. European badger (Meles meles) in Ireland and the UK, which can transmit infection to cattle. However, a quantitative understanding of the role of cattle and badgers in bTB transmission is elusive, especially where there is spatial variation in relative density between badgers and cattle. Moreover, as these two species have infrequent direct contact, environmental transmission is likely to play a role, but the quantitative importance of the environment has not been assessed. Therefore, the objective of this study is to better understand bTB transmission between cattle and badgers via the environment in a spatially explicit context and to identify high-risk areas. We developed an environmental transmission model that incorporates both within-herd/territory transmission and between-species transmission, with the latter facilitated by badger territories overlapping with herd areas. Model parameters such as transmission rate parameters and the decay rate parameter of M. bovis were estimated by maximum likelihood estimation using infection data from badgers and cattle collected during a 4-year badger vaccination trial. Our estimation showed that the environment can play an important role in the transmission of bTB, with a half-life of M. bovis in the environment of around 177 days. Based on the estimated transmission rate parameters, we calculate the basic reproduction ratio (R) within a herd, which reveals how relative badger density dictates transmission. In addition, we simulated transmission in each small local area to generate a first between-herd R map that identifies high-risk areas.
Current definition, diagnosis, and treatment of canine and feline idiopathic vestibular syndrome
Authors: Mertens Anna Morgana , Schenk Henning Christian , Volk Holger Andreas
Published: September 2023

Idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) is one of the most common neurological disorders in veterinary medicine. However, its diagnosis and treatment varies between publications. The aim of the current study was to gather experts’ opinion about IVS definition, diagnosis, and treatment. An online-survey was used to assess neurology specialists’ opinion about the definition, diagnosis and treatment of IVS. The study demonstrated that the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of IVS are largely consistent worldwide, with the EU prioritising less frequently advanced imaging and more often otoscopy to rule out other diseases. IVS was defined by most specialists as an acute to peracute, improving, non-painful peripheral vestibular disorder that often affects cats of any age and geriatric dogs. Regarding diagnosis, a detailed neurological examination and comprehensive blood tests, including thyroid values, blood pressure, and otoscopic examination, was seen as crucial. A thorough workup may also involve MRI and CSF analysis to rule out other causes of vestibular dysfunction. Treatment of IVS typically involved intravenous fluid therapy and the use of an antiemetic, with maropitant once daily being the preferred choice among specialists. Antinausea treatment was considered, however, only by a handful specialists. This survey-based study provides valuable insights from neurology experts and highlights areas that require further research to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Disentangling Workplace Sexism in Age Generations: A Multi-Group Analysis on the Effects on Job Satisfaction and Task Performance
Authors: Morando Martina
Published: September 2023

The gender gap is a current topical issue. Sexist assumptions that manifest as gender stereotypes are partially responsible for these inequalities. The ambivalent sexism theory argues that hostile sexism refers to explicitly antagonistic sexist attitudes, while benevolent sexism refers to apparently positive but implicitly malevolent attitudes. There has been evidence reported that benevolent sexism is detrimental to women’s personal and professional well-being, implies lower levels of career aspiration and impacts task performance. This study is aimed at examining the impact that the experience of benevolent and hostile sexism could have on performance and job satisfaction. A total of 402 female workers were enrolled. The results showed that an experience with benevolent sexism significantly decreased the positive relationship between work engagement, psychological capital and organisational support and outcomes. Conversely, hostile sexism only reduces job satisfaction in its interaction with work engagement and organisational support. Moreover, through a multi-group analysis, possible differences across age were examined in the theorised model. Here, the younger generation seems to be more affected and experience more benevolent sexism than the older generation, which is seen both in individual moderators and in their interactions with predictors. This study is helpful for a deeper comprehension of contemporary sexism, offering also suggestions for equality policies’ design.
Investigation of the Influence of Wake Field Characteristic Structures on Downstream Targets Using the POD Method
Authors: Fu Jiawei , Wang Junhui , Wu Jifei , Xu Ke , Tian Shuling
Published: September 2023

This research investigated the impact of complex low-speed wake flow structures on the aerodynamic characteristics of objects downstream. It employed the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method and the domain precursor simulation method to compare traditional methods and validate this approach. The study generated several flow structures of parallel dual-cylinder wakes with different scales and spacing. The variations in the aerodynamic coefficient of three downstream objects at various times passing through wakes of varying scales were appropriately compared and analyzed. The study established that the wake with a cylinder spacing of G = 1.5 has a more compact and concentrated modal structure than that with a cylinder spacing of G = 0.35. Smaller objects were more responsive to the wake flow structure with a spacing of G = 1.5, whereas larger objects responded more to the flow structure with a spacing of G = 0.35. The achieved results also revealed that the aerodynamic force coefficients of objects passing through the wakefield at different times were closely related to the temporal characteristics of the wake flow structure with different scales.
Improvement of Hot Air Dried Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Product Quality: Optimization of Drying and Blanching Process by Experimental Design
Authors: Ozsan Kilic Tugce , Boyar Ismail , Gungor Keziban Kubra , Torun Mehmet , Perendeci Nuriye Altınay , Ertekin Can , Onus Ahmet Naci
Published: September 2023

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) is a plant species belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, growing in tropical regions and containing health-promoting beneficial compounds. In the current study, bitter gourds prepared for drying were sliced in three different thicknesses (6, 8 and 10 mm) and dried in a hot-air dryer at three different temperatures (60, 70 and 80 °C) to preserve their medicinal efficacy. In the experiments, the samples were subjected to blanching at 93.5 °C and 2% salt water for 0, 2.5 and 5 min, and drying processes were conducted. After the drying process, drying time, total color change (∆E), total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA), and vitamin C properties were examined. The highest levels of TPC and TAA were found at lower drying air temperatures (DATs), and while these values increased with longer blanching times at lower DATs, they decreased with longer blanching times at higher DATs. According to the different drying temperatures used, it was discovered that the total color change peaked at 70 °C and that vitamin C levels declined as DAT rose. The optimal drying conditions for the 3D response surface methodology include 60 °C DAT, a slice thickness of 10 mm, and without blanching to maximize TPC, TAA and vitamin C content and minimize drying time and ∆E.
Design and Experimental Testing of an Overhead Rail Automatic Variable-Distance Targeted Spray System for Solar Greenhouses
Authors: Luo Yahui , Huang Defan , Jiang Ping , Xiang Siliang , Liu Jianfei , Xu Minzi , Shi Yixin
Published: September 2023

Crop cultivation in solar greenhouses is affected by issues such as low levels of automation in spraying machinery, inefficient spraying, and a lack of suitable spraying equipment for vertically cultivated crops, all of which are in urgent need of resolution. To address these problems, this paper proposes a suspended-rail automatic variable-distance targeted spray system. The rated working speed of the spray system is 0.3 m/s, and the rated working pressure is 0.3 MPa. This system achieves precise spraying of crops at varying heights by dynamically adjusting the position of the spray nozzle. To ensure accuracy in spraying, the system employs a laser ranging sensor for real-time measurement of crop positions and spraying distances. Combined with a parameter processing scheme, the system generates control signals to adjust the operation of the electric push rod and electromagnetic valve, thereby dynamically adjusting the spraying distance and timing. Using vertically cultivated potted peppers as experimental subjects, this study compares the performance of fixed- and variable-distance spraying modes. The results indicate that, compared to the fixed-distance mode, the automatic variable-distance mode increases pesticide adherence by 16.65% and reduces pesticide usage by 29.58%. The proposed suspended-rail automatic variable-distance targeted spray system offers an effective technical solution for the precise spraying of vertically cultivated crops in solar greenhouses and thus contributes to improved pesticide utilization efficiency, reduced pesticide residue, and lower environmental pollution.
Deciphering the Roles of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Type-One Protein Phosphatase (TOPP) Family in Abiotic Stress Tolerance
Authors: Wang Qi , Shan Shihua
Published: September 2023

Dephosphorylation is one of the important mechanisms regulating signal transduction in plant growth and development and in response to abiotic stresses. Type-one protein phosphatases (TOPPs) catalyze a significant number of important dephosphorylation events in cells, and play essential roles in plant developmental regulations and multiple stress responses. Nevertheless, the knowledge regarding the peanut’s TOPP gene family remains extremely restricted. Thirteen TOPP genes (AhTOPP1-13) were discovered in the peanut genome database through the utilization of HMMER and BLASTP methods in this research. The thirteen AhTOPP genes were classed into three clades together with their Arabidopsis homologs based on phylogenetic tree, and mapped on nine of twenty chromosomes. The examination of gene compositions and protein patterns indicated resemblance in the structure of exons and introns, as well as the arrangement of motifs within the identical clade, which further reinforces the findings of phylogenetic analysis. All AhTOPP proteins possessed STPPase_N, Metallophos domains, and the core catalytic sites. Promoter analysis showed that the AhTOPP genes may be widely involved in peanut development, hormones, and stress response. The RNA-seq data revealed the presence of AhTOPP genes in twenty-two tissues, suggesting potential variations in the functionality of AhTOPP genes. Furthermore, drought and salt stresses induced the expression of multiple AhTOPP genes, including AhTOPP1, AhTOPP4, AhTOPP7, AhTOPP9, and AhTOPP13. It is worth mentioning that the AhTOPP genes’ expression could potentially be controlled by various transcription factors with different functions, including ERF, WRKY, MYB, and Dof. We will conduct specific functional studies on the peanut TOPP genes through transgenics in future research.
Nutritional, Functional Properties and Applications of Mee (Madhuca longifolia) Seed Fat
Authors: Hippola Asanthi , Jayakodi Yasasvi , Gamage Ashoka , Madhujith Terrence , Merah Othmane
Published: September 2023

Mee (Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) J.F. Macb. var. longifolia) is a salient economic tree spread throughout the subtropical region of the Indian subcontinent. Its seed constituents have distinctive chemical properties and thus extracted fat have distinctive nutritional and functional characteristics. This seed fat is edible and can Meet the fat requirements of a human diet in an economical way. Research on potential utilizations, understanding of the chemical composition, and nutritionally beneficial properties and industrial applications of Mee fat are important for efficient utilization. There are some reports available on potential applications of Mee fat in the food-processing industry. But, presently, it can only be considered as an underutilized seed fat. In India, Mee fat is used for edible purposes to a certain extent and similarly in Sri Lanka. Therefore, more scientific research should be conducted on Sri Lankan Mee varieties for edible purposes. Popularization of this valuable fat source is important. Scientific knowledge and agricultural tools have been effectively applied to make Mee fat beneficial for commercial applications. This review article summarizes recent research and studies available on botany, phytochemistry, functional properties, processing as well as food and other industrial applications of Mee fat.
Determination of the Most Efficient Forage Sorghum Irrigation Scheduling Strategies in the U.S. Central High Plains Using the AquaCrop Model and Field Experiments
Authors: Fazel Forough , Ansari Hossein , Aguilar Jonathan
Published: September 2023

The current status of water resources in the U.S. Central High Plains necessitates adopting water conservation practices to move toward a sustainable agricultural economy. Identifying proper irrigation scheduling techniques is a conservative practice to maintain the sustainability of the agricultural systems. However, conducting field experiments is time and money consuming. Thus, the utilization of crop models, such as AquaCrop, could be a convenient alternative to field experiments. The FAO AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated for simulating forage sorghum yield response to various deficit irrigation conditions in a semi-arid region. Afterwards, the model was used to investigate the efficiency of the pre-season and in-season irrigation scheduling scenarios. In this study, the soil water status at the planting time was considered as the indicator of the pre-season irrigation level. Therefore, the pre-season irrigation scenarios were arranged as the replenishment of soil water deficiency at the time of planting at up to 30, 50, and 100% of the soil’s total available water for the first 60 cm of soil depth and the same replenishment levels for the entire crop root zone (150 cm soil depth). Then, AquaCrop long-term (37 years) simulations of forage sorghum biomass and irrigation water use efficiency reactions to three levels of maximum allowable depletion (MAD) (40, 55, and 70%) were compared to three fixed irrigation interval (4, 6, and 10 days) scenarios by considering six pre-season irrigation conditions (36 scenarios). The scenarios analysis found the 10-day irrigation interval and the MAD levels of 55% and 70% to be the most efficient irrigation scheduling strategies if combined with pre-season irrigation that brought the crop root zone (0–150 cm soil depth) to field capacity. Moreover, the 40% MAD application was the least efficient strategy. This study’s outputs can be a baseline for establishing forage sorghum irrigation scheduling in the U.S. Central High Plains. However, exploring the interactions of irrigation scheduling strategies with other irrigation and agronomic practices, such as salinity management and fertilizer application, is highly recommended.
Investigation of the Thermodynamics for the Removal of As(III) and As(V) from Water Using Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles and the Effects of pH, Temperature, and Time
Authors: Morales Helia Magali , Torreblanca Grecia , Mar Arnulfo , Alcoutlabi Mataz , Eubanks Thomas Mark , Plata Erik , Parsons Jason George
Published: September 2023

In the present study, the removal of both As(III) and As(V) from aqueous solutions using synthesized ZnO nanomaterials was achieved. The ZnO nanomaterial was synthesized using a precipitation technique and characterized using XRD, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the ZnO nanoparticles were present in the hexagonal wurtzite structure. SEM of the particles showed they were aggregates of triangular and spherical particles. The average nanoparticle size was determined to be 62.03 ± 4.06 nm using Scherrer’s analysis of the three largest diffraction peaks. Raman spectroscopy of the ZnO nanoparticles showed only ZnO peaks, whereas the after-reaction samples indicated that As(V) was present in both As(V)- and As(III)-reacted samples. The adsorption of the ions was determined to be pH-independent, and a binding pH of 4 was selected as the pH for reaction. Batch isotherm studies showed the highest binding capacities occurred at 4 °C with 5.83 mg/g and 14.68 mg/g for As(III) and As(V), respectively. Thermodynamic studies indicated an exothermic reaction occurred and the binding of both As(III) and As(VI) took place through chemisorption, which was determined by the ΔH values of −47.29 and −63.4 kJ/mol for As(V) and As(III), respectively. In addition, the change in Gibbs free energy, ΔG, for the reaction confirmed the exothermic nature of the reaction; the spontaneity of the reaction decreased with increasing temperature. Results from batch time dependency studies showed the reaction occurred within the first 60 min of contact time.
Desquamative Gingivitis, Oral Hygiene, and Autoimmune Oral Diseases: A Scoping Review
Authors: Scribante Andrea , Pellegrini Matteo , Li Vigni Giacomo , Pulicari Federica , Spadari Francesco
Published: September 2023

Desquamative gingivitis is a clinical condition with a chronic course, not specific to a particular disease, characterized by intense erythema, scaling, vesicles, and/or blisters that may involve both the marginal free gingiva (MG) and the neighboring adherent gingiva (AG). This scoping review aimed to investigate whether there is a correlation between oral hygiene and gingival lesions induced by autoimmune diseases of the oral cavity and whether periodontal disease can negatively influence a clinical picture of desquamative gingivitis due to an immune disorder of the oral cavity. Case series studies and randomized controlled trials were considered for this scoping review; studies that did not comply with the inclusion criteria were excluded. A total of seven studies were selected for this review. The PRISMA-ScR (preferred reporting items for scoping reviews) consensus has been followed. Based on the included studies, it is possible to state that improvement in disease and patient-reported outcomes may be the result of appropriate oral hygiene education when patients are found to have autoimmune diseases with gingival manifestations.
An Overview of the Relevance of Human Gut and Skin Microbiome in Disease: The Influence on Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Ferraz Maria Pia
Published: September 2023

It is acknowledged that humans have a diverse and abundant microbial community known as the human microbiome. Nevertheless, our comprehension of the numerous functions these microorganisms have in human health is still in its early stages. Microorganisms belonging to the human microbiome typically coexist with their host, but in certain situations, they can lead to diseases. They are found in several areas of the human body in healthy individuals. The microbiome is highly diverse, and its composition varies depending on the body site. It primarily comprises bacteria that are crucial for upholding a state of well-being and equilibrium. The microbiome’s influence on atopic dermatitis development was, therefore, analyzed. The importance of maintaining a balanced and functional commensal microbiota, as well as the use of prebiotics and probiotics in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis were also explored. The skin microbiome’s association with atopic dermatitis will allow for a better understanding of pathogenesis and also exploring new therapeutic approaches, making the skin microbiome an increasingly relevant therapeutic target.
A Multivariate Model of Drinking Water Quality Based on Regular Monitoring of Radioactivity and Chemical Composition
Authors: Tăban Cecilia Ionela , Benedek Ana Maria , Stoia Mihaela , Cocîrlea Maria Denisa , Oancea Simona
Published: September 2023

From a public health perspective, the monitoring of water quality intended for human consumption belongs to the operational and audit management of the supply zones. Our study explores the spatial and temporal patterns of the parameters of drinking water in Sibiu County, Romania. We related the relevant physical-chemical parameters (ammonia, chlorine, nitrates, Al, Fe, Pb, Cd, Mn, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and oxidizability) and radioactivity (gross alpha activity, gross beta activity, and radon-222 content) from a 5-year survey to the water source (surface water and groundwater, which may be of subsurface or deep origin), space (sampling locality) and time (sampling month and year). We conducted a combined evaluation using the generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), Pearson correlation analysis of the physical-chemical parameter, multivariate linear redundancy analysis (RDA), t-value biplots construction, and co-inertia analysis. The obtained regional model shows that the source, locality, and month of sampling are significant factors in physical-chemical parameters’ variation. Fe and turbidity have significantly higher values in surface water, and nitrates and conductivity in groundwater. The highest values are recorded in January (nitrates), March (Cl, ammonia, pH) and August (Fe, turbidity). The RDA ordination diagram illustrates the localities with particular or similar characteristics of drinking water, two of which (rural sources) being of concern. The water source is the best predictor for radioactivity, which increases from surface to ground. The gross alpha and beta activities are significantly and positively correlated, and are both correlated with conductivity. In addition, the gross alpha activity is positively correlated with nitrates and negatively with pH, while the gross beta activity is positively correlated with Mn and negatively with Fe; these relationships are also revealed by the co-inertia analysis. In conclusion, our model using multilevel statistical techniques illustrates a potential approach to short-term dynamics of water quality which will be useful to local authorities.
The Association between BMI, Days Spent in Hospital, Blood Loss, Surgery Time and Polytrauma Pelvic Fracture—A Retrospective Analysis of 76 Patients
Authors: Pielak Tomasz , Wójcicki Rafał , Walus Piotr , Jabłoński Adam , Wiciński Michał , Jasiewicz Przemysław , Małkowski Bartłomiej , Nowak Szymon , Zabrzyński Jan
Published: September 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between BMI, days spent in hospital, blood loss, and surgery time in patients who suffered from isolated pelvic fractures and pelvic fractures with concomitant injuries (polytrauma patients). Methods: This study included 76 consecutive patients who were admitted for pelvic ring fracture surgery between 2017 and 2022. The inclusion criteria were pelvic fractures and indications for operative treatment (LC II and III, APC II and III, and VS). The exclusion criteria were non-operative treatment for pelvic ring fractures, acetabular fractures and fractures requiring primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), and periprosthetic acetabular fractures. Demographic data were collected, including age (in years), sex, type of fracture according to Young–Burgess, date of injury and surgery, surgical approach and stabilization methods, mechanism of trauma, concomitant trauma in other regions, body mass index (BMI), blood transfusions, number of days spent in the hospital, and surgery duration. Results: Patients who suffered from a pelvic ring injury with concomitant injuries had a significantly greater amount of blood units transferred (1.02 units vs. 0.55 units), and the length of hospital stay was also longer compared to the mean results (5.84 days vs. 3.58 days), p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively. Moreover, patients with a higher BMI had more frequent APC II and APC III fractures (p = 0.012). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that polytrauma patients who suffered from pelvic ring injury are, indeed, at risk of blood transfusion in terms of greater units of blood and a longer duration of hospital stay. Moreover, BMI has an impact on pelvic ring fracture morphology. However, there is no doubt that there is an absolute need for further studies and investigations to provide better overall management of polytrauma patients with pelvic fractures.
Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antiviral Compounds from Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. Resin and Their Promising Application with Biochar
Authors: Kim Jin Woo , Park Saerom , Sung Young Whan , Song Hak Jin , Yang Sung Woo , Han Jiwoo , Jo Jeong Wook , Lee Im-Soon , Lee Sang Hyun , Choi Yong-Keun , Kim Hyung Joo
Published: September 2023

Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were prepared via immersion in extraction solvents (hot water, DMSO, hexane, ethanol, and methanol) which have various physical properties, such as different polarity and dielectric constant values. Methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts showed broad antibacterial activity against isolated airborne bacteria. All methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were analyzed using GC-MS and Furanoeudesma-1,3-diene and curzerene were found as the main terpenoids. In addition, the methanolic C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts were found to have antiviral activity (81.2% viral RNA inhibition) against the H1N1 influenza virus. Biochars (wood powder- and rice husk-derived) coated with C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extracts also showed antiviral activity (22.6% and 24.3% viral RNA inhibition) due to the adsorption of terpenoids onto biochar. C. myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. resin extract using methanol as the extraction solvent is a promising agent with antibacterial and antiviral efficacy that can be utilized as a novel material via adsorption onto biochar for air filtration processes, cosmetics, fertilizers, drug delivery, and corrosion inhibition.
Advanced Technology and Data Analysis of Monitoring Observations in Seismology
Authors: Vargas Carlos Alberto
Published: September 2023

Over more than a century of systematic observational seismology, the instrumental capabilities to detect, record, and analyze elastic waves and other physical variables associated with the source, medium, and recording site of earthquakes have evolved substantially [...]
Microbial Colony Detection Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Yang Fan , Zhong Yongjie , Yang Hui , Wan Yi , Hu Zhuhua , Peng Shengsen
Published: September 2023

In clinical drug sensitivity experiments, it is necessary to plate culture pathogenic bacteria and pick suitable colonies for bacterial solution preparation, which is a process that is currently carried out completely by hand. Moreover, the problems of plate contamination, a long culture period, and large image annotation in colony plate image acquisition can lead to a small amount of usable data. To address the issues mentioned above, we adopt a deep learning approach and conduct experiments on the AGAR dataset. We propose to use style transfer to extend the trainable dataset and successfully obtain 4k microbial colony images using this method. In addition, we introduce the Swin Transformer as a feature extraction network in the Cascade Mask R-CNN model architecture to better extract the feature information of the images. After our experimental comparison, the model achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 61.4% at the Intersection over Union (IoU) [0.50:0.95]. This performance surpasses that of the Cascade R-CNN with HRNet, which is the top-performing model in experiments conducted on the AGAR dataset, by a margin of 2.2%. Furthermore, we perform experiments using YOLOv8x on the AGAR dataset, which results in a mAP of 76.7%.
Optimizing Port Multi-AGV Trajectory Planning through Priority Coordination: Enhancing Efficiency and Safety
Authors: Chen Yongjun , Shi Shuquan , Chen Zong , Wang Tengfei , Miao Longkun , Song Huiting
Published: September 2023

Efficient logistics and transport at the port heavily relies on efficient AGV scheduling and planning for container transshipment. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to address the challenges in AGV path planning and coordination within the domain of intelligent transportation systems. We propose an enhanced graph search method for constructing the global path of a single AGV that mitigates the issues associated with paths closely aligned with obstacle corner points. Moreover, a centralized global planning module is developed to facilitate planning and scheduling. Each individual AGV establishes real-time communication with the upper layers to accurately determine its position at complex intersections. By computing its priority sequence within a coordination circle, the AGV effectively treats the high-priority trajectories of other vehicles as dynamic obstacles for its local trajectory planning. The feasibility of trajectory information is ensured by solving the online real-time Optimal Control Problem (OCP). In the trajectory planning process for a single AGV, we incorporate a linear programming-based obstacle avoidance strategy. This strategy transforms the obstacle avoidance optimization problem into trajectory planning constraints using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. Consequently, seamless and secure AGV movement within the port environment is guaranteed. The global planning module encompasses a global regulatory mechanism that provides each AGV with an initial feasible path. This approach not only facilitates complexity decomposition for large-scale problems, but also maintains path feasibility through continuous real-time communication with the upper layers during AGV travel. A key advantage of our progressive solution lies in its flexibility and scalability. This approach readily accommodates extensions based on the original problem and allows adjustments in the overall problem size in response to varying port cargo throughput, all without requiring a complete system overhaul.
On the Modified Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations Involving Fractional Derivatives
Authors: Alsidrani Fahad , Kılıçman Adem , Senu Norazak
Published: September 2023

This paper provides both analytical and numerical solutions of (PDEs) involving time-fractional derivatives. We implemented three powerful techniques, including the modified variational iteration technique, the modified Adomian decomposition technique, and the modified homotopy analysis technique, to obtain an approximate solution for the bounded space variable ν. The Laplace transformation is used in the time-fractional derivative operator to enhance the proposed numerical methods’ performance and accuracy and find an approximate solution to time-fractional Fornberg–Whitham equations. To confirm the accuracy of the proposed methods, we evaluate homogeneous time-fractional Fornberg–Whitham equations in terms of non-integer order and variable coefficients. The obtained results of the modified methods are shown through tables and graphs.
Molybdenum-Based Electrode Materials Applied in High-Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Yu , Wang Hai , Qu Gan
Published: September 2023

As a novel type of green energy storage device, supercapacitors exhibit several orders of magnitude higher capacities than the traditional dielectric capacitors and significantly higher power density than the traditional secondary batteries. Supercapacitors have been widely applied in energy storage fields. Electrode materials, as pivotal components of supercapacitors, play an important role in electrochemical performance. Molybdenum-based materials have attracted widespread attention for their high theoretical capacitance, abundant resources, and facile synthesis tactics. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically summarize the application of Mo-based electrode materials in high-performance supercapacitors and unveil their developmental direction and trends. In this paper, we provide a review of binary Mo-based materials, ternary Mo-based materials, nanocomposites of Mo-based materials, and Mo-based MOFs and derivative materials. In addition, we further point out the key issues on the development of Mo-based materials in supercapacitors. This review may inspire more insightful works and enlighten other electrochemical areas concerning Mo-based materials.
eDNA Metabarcoding- and Microscopic Analysis for Diet Determination in Waterfowl, a Comparative Study in Vejlerne, Denmark
Authors: Svendsen Anna-Sofie Lützhøft , Nielsen Louise Bach , Schmidt Jakob Braüner , Bruhn Dan , Andersen Line Holm , Pertoldi Cino
Published: September 2023

Understanding diets and structural food webs are keys to the apprehension of ecological communities, upon which conservation and management biology are based. The understanding of grazing and habitat choice for waterfowl is one of the most important topics for avian ecologists today and can, to some degree, be answered by dietary analysis. Droppings collected from four waterfowl, the Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), Greylag goose (Anser anser), pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) and Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) in Vejlerne (Denmark), were analysed microscopically and through eDNA metabarcoding with the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) to accumulate knowledge about the diet of these waterfowl. In total, 120 dropping samples were microscopically analysed, of which the eDNA metabarcoding analysis was done on 79 samples. The prey items were identified according to the taxonomic level of species, and a qualitative method, frequency of occurrence (FO) and FO calculated as a percentage, was used in order to compare the results from the two methods. As neither of the methods was able to encompass all species discovered when combining the two methods, it was concluded in this study that the two methods can support each other in a dietary analysis of waterfowl, but not replace one another.
Analysis of Acute and Chronic Methamphetamine Treatment in Mice on Gdnf System Expression Reveals a Potential Mechanism of Schizophrenia Susceptibility
Authors: Casserly Laoise , Garton Daniel R. , Montaño-Rodriguez Ana , Andressoo Jaan-Olle
Published: September 2023

The increase in presynaptic striatal dopamine is the main dopaminergic abnormality in schizophrenia (SCZ). SCZ is primarily treated by modulating the activity of monoamine systems, with a focus on dopamine and serotonin receptors. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a strong dopaminergic factor, that recently was shown to correlate with SCZ in human CSF and in striatal tissue. A 2-3-fold increase in GDNF in the brain was sufficient to induce SCZ-like dopaminergic and behavioural changes in mice. Here, we analysed the effect of acute, chronic, and embryonic methamphetamine, a drug known to enhance the risk of psychosis, on Gdnf and its receptors, Gfra1 and Ret, as well as on monoamine metabolism-related gene expression in the mouse brain. We found that acute methamphetamine application increases Gdnf expression in the striatum and chronic methamphetamine decreases the striatal expression of GDNF receptors Gfra1 and Ret. Both chronic and acute methamphetamine treatment upregulated the expression of genes related to dopamine and serotonin metabolism in the striatum, prefrontal cortex, and substantia nigra. Our results suggest a potential mechanism as to how methamphetamine elicits individual psychosis risk in young adults—variation in initial striatal GDNF induction and subsequent GFRα1 and RET downregulation may determine individual susceptibility to psychosis. Our results may guide future experiments and precision medicine development for methamphetamine-induced psychosis using GDNF/GFRa1/RET antagonists.