bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of air pollution on adult chronic diseases: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China
Authors: Li Yan , Xu Sheng , Yin Jinghua , Huang Guan
Published: January 2023

We utilize a quasi-experiment derived from China's Huai River policy to investigate the effect of air pollution on adult chronic diseases. The policy led to higher pollution exposure in cities north of the river boundary because they received centralized coal-based heating supply from the government during winter, whereas cities in the south did not. By applying a geographic regression discontinuity design based on distance from the Huai River, we determine that a 10 μg/m3 increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises chronic diseases rates by 3.2% in adults, particularly cardiorespiratory system diseases. Furthermore, the same effects are observed on multiple chronic disease rates, but the rates are reduced to 1.3%. The effect of pollution exposure varies depending on age, gender, and urban/rural status. Our findings imply that reducing 10 μg/m3 of the average nationwide level of PM2.5 concentration will save 27.46 billion CNY (4.16 billion USD) in chronic disease costs.
Intimate partner violence among HIV-positive women in discordant relationships attending care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Mathania Milka , Sirili Nathanael
Published: January 2023

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) toward women is a public health concern affecting many countries across the world. Globally, 30% of women experience lifetime physical, sexual, or psychological harm. HIV-positive women in discordant relationships are at higher risk of experiencing IPV than other women. This study aimed to determine the magnitude and factors associated with intimate partner violence among HIV-positive women in discordant relationships attending HIV care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 411 HIV-positive women who were in discordant relationships attending HIV care and treatment clinics in eight selected healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam from June 2021 to July 2021. A questionnaire with structured questions on social-demographic information and factors associated with intimate partner violence was used. Data were collected electronically using the Open Data Kit (ODK) system, cleaned, and stored. Descriptive analysis was done and presented in frequency distribution and cross-tabulation. A chi-square was used to determine the differences in variables, and the modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate adjusted prevalence risk ratios (APRRs) with 95% CI for factors associated with IPV. Variables were considered statistically significant at 95% CI and p < 0.05. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA version 15.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 36.2 (standard deviation [SD] ±7.8). The majority of women had attained primary education, i.e., 237 (57.7%). Over 65.7% of HIV-positive women in discordant relationships had ever experienced IPV. Women whose partners had primary and secondary education, were alcohol users, and were solely decision-makers in the family were strongly associated with IPV.

Conclusion

Close to two-thirds of HIV-positive women who were in discordant relationships attending HIV care and treatment clinics in selected healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam had ever experienced at least one form of IPV. Low level of education of the partner, alcohol use, and power relation in decision-making were significantly associated with IPV. We recommend routine screening of IPV for HIV-positive women who are in discordant relationships attending HIV care and treatment clinics. Joint efforts are needed in addressing the factors associated with IPV in discordant couples.
Clinical concept recognition: Evaluation of existing systems on EHRs
Authors: Lossio-Ventura Juan Antonio , Sun Ran , Boussard Sebastien , Hernandez-Boussard Tina
Published: January 2023

Objective

The adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) has produced enormous amounts of data, creating research opportunities in clinical data sciences. Several concept recognition systems have been developed to facilitate clinical information extraction from these data. While studies exist that compare the performance of many concept recognition systems, they are typically developed internally and may be biased due to different internal implementations, parameters used, and limited number of systems included in the evaluations. The goal of this research is to evaluate the performance of existing systems to retrieve relevant clinical concepts from EHRs.

Methods

We investigated six concept recognition systems, including CLAMP, cTAKES, MetaMap, NCBO Annotator, QuickUMLS, and ScispaCy. Clinical concepts extracted included procedures, disorders, medications, and anatomical location. The system performance was evaluated on two datasets: the 2010 i2b2 and the MIMIC-III. Additionally, we assessed the performance of these systems in five challenging situations, including negation, severity, abbreviation, ambiguity, and misspelling.

Results

For clinical concept extraction, CLAMP achieved the best performance on exact and inexact matching, with an F-score of 0.70 and 0.94, respectively, on i2b2; and 0.39 and 0.50, respectively, on MIMIC-III. Across the five challenging situations, ScispaCy excelled in extracting abbreviation information (F-score: 0.86) followed by NCBO Annotator (F-score: 0.79). CLAMP outperformed in extracting severity terms (F-score 0.73) followed by NCBO Annotator (F-score: 0.68). CLAMP outperformed other systems in extracting negated concepts (F-score 0.63).

Conclusions

Several concept recognition systems exist to extract clinical information from unstructured data. This study provides an external evaluation by end-users of six commonly used systems across different extraction tasks. Our findings suggest that CLAMP provides the most comprehensive set of annotations for clinical concept extraction tasks and associated challenges. Comparing standard extraction tasks across systems provides guidance to other clinical researchers when selecting a concept recognition system relevant to their clinical information extraction task.
Reconfigured securityscapes in Louis Trichardt: Possibilities, limitations, and contradictions
Authors: Chakwizira James
Published: January 2023

Insecurity, violence, and xenophobia manifest at different geographic scales of the South African landscape threatening to compromise, reverse, derail, and contradict the envisaged democratic processes and gains in the country. Since the dawn of the new democracy in 1994, the South African landscape has witnessed surges of different scales of violence, protests, riots, looting, criminality, and vigilantism in which question marks have been raised with respect to the right to the city or urban space and the right to national resources and opportunities, i.e., access, use, distribution and spread of social, economic, environmental, and political resources and benefits. Louis Trichardt is a small rural agricultural town located in the Makhado municipality of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province, South Africa. In the study, this town is used as a securityscapes lens of analysis to explore urban conflict and violence. The relative importance index (RII) was used to measure the barriers and solutions to advance safe neighborhoods' settlements and built environment areas in the study area. In this way, issues influencing the performance of reconfigured securityscapes in Louis Trichardt were explored by highlighting how new town neighborhood securityscape initiatives and activities are contributing to space, place, and culture change management transitions. The discussion pressure and pain points revolve around the widening societal inequalities, deepening poverty, influx of (ll)legal migrants and migrant labor, lingering xenophobia, and failure to embrace the otherness difficulties in the country. Findings highlight the options for urban (in)security, social (in)justice, and (re)design in post-colonies possibilities, limitations, and contradictions of securityscapes in (re)configured spaces of Louis Trichardt. Policy and planning proposals to improve safety and security spatial logic and innovation are explored. The critical role of community and local neighborhood watch groups in complementing state security and private registered security systems is one way of tackling this matter.
A New Strategy of Satellite Autonomy with Machine Learning for Efficient Resource Utilization of a Standard Performance CubeSat
Authors: Zeleke Desalegn Abebaw , Kim Hae-Dong
Published: January 2023

A mega constellation of Nano/microsatellites is the contemporary solution for global-level Earth observation demands. However, as most of the images taken by Earth-observing satellites are covered by clouds, storing and downlinking these images results in inefficient utilization of scarce onboard resources and bandwidth. In addition, the trend of making satellite task execution plans by ground operators demands the efforts of experts or simulators to predict the real-time situation of satellites and to decide which tasks should be executed next. Granting controlled autonomy to satellites to perform onboard tasks will boost mission effectiveness. We experimented with granting controlled autonomy for satellites in performing onboard image classification and task scheduling. We designed a convolutional neural network-based binary image classification model with more than 99% accuracy in classifying clear and cloudy images. The model is configured to perform inference in low-performance computers of ordinary Cubesats. Moreover, we designed an autonomous satellite task scheduling mechanism based on reinforcement learning. It performs better than a custom heuristic-based method in scheduling onboard tasks. As a result, the proposed classification and scheduling techniques with machine learning ensured efficient utilization of onboard memory, power, and bandwidth in the highly resource-constrained CubeSat platforms and mission accomplishment of Nano/microsatellite constellations.
Combination of Mechanical/Physical Pretreatments with Trypsin or Pancreatin on Arthrospira platensis Protein Degradation
Authors: Costa Mónica M. , Spínola Maria P. , Prates José A. M.
Published: January 2023

Arthrospira platensis contains high protein content and quality, which makes it a promising feed source for livestock animals. However, this microalga presents a recalcitrant peptidoglycan cell wall, and its main proteins form protein-pigment complexes attached to the algal thylakoid membrane. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical/physical pretreatments (bead milling, extrusion, freeze-drying, heating, microwave and sonication) combined with commercial enzymes (trypsin or pancreatin) on the degradation of A. platensis proteins. Protein degradation was assessed through the quantification of total protein and protein fractions (18–26 kDa, 40–48 kDa and others) on SDS-PAGE gels and the evaluation of the coefficient of protein degradation (CPD). The results showed that no significant differences were found among treatments for CPD values, except for an increase related to 18–26 kDa protein (phycocyanin subunits) with extrusion combined with pancreatin. In addition, extrusion and microwave caused a decrease of total protein in algal supernatant probably due to a denaturation/aggregation and reduction of solubility. Overall, extrusion is a promising pretreatment for A. platensis cell wall disruption and protein bioaccessibility. Further studies could elucidate how the effect of extrusion on protein solubility affects the activity of peptidases on protein degradation.
Technological Revolution in the Field: Green Development of Chinese Agriculture Driven by Digital Information Technology (DIT)
Authors: Dai Xiaowen , Chen Yi , Zhang Chunyan , He Yanqiu , Li Jiajia
Published: January 2023

According to the Plan for Rural Development of Digital Agriculture (2019–2025), accelerated integration of digital technologies and agriculture is crucial to promoting high-quality agriculture in China. The application of DIT in agricultural activities will not only help improve the efficiency of agricultural production, but also promote the green development of agriculture and the achievement of the Dual Carbon Target (DCT). In order to further clarify the comprehensive effects of the application of DIT in agricultural systems and provide routes for government decision-makers to assist in reducing agricultural emissions by DIT, this paper adopts the logical deductive method and starts with the application status to draw out the specific paths of low-carbon transformation in DIT-driven agriculture, while further discussing the potential issues in the process and corresponding solutions. DIT is a double-edged sword. It can promote the green and low-carbon transformation of agriculture by implementing precision operation, environmental monitoring, optimizing carbon emission accounting, and supervising the carbon market. However, at the same time, it may face problems such as unbalanced rural development and excessive financialization of the carbon market. Therefore, we should be optimistic but cautious about the application of DIT in reducing agricultural emissions. We can address potential problems by strengthening government-led investment, broadening channels for capital investment, strengthening skills training for farmers, and enhancing the regulation of trading in carbon sink markets.
Establishment of DNA Molecular Fingerprint of Caladium Core Collections
Authors: Ye Yuanjun , Fu Haiping , Zhou Yiwei , Zhang Shanxin , Wang Zehuang , Tian Lihua , Tan Jianjun , Zhu Genfa , Liu Jinmei , Xu Yechun
Published: January 2023

Caladiums are promising colorful foliage plants due to their unique leaf shapes and dazzling colors. Until now, over 2000 varieties of Caladium have been cultivated worldwide. The long-term natural variation and artificial selection have enriched the germplasm resources of Caladium in the market, yet have blurred its genetic background. In this study, 16 informative EST-SSR markers were used to screen 144 Caladium accessions, indicating that 16 EST-SSRs could distinguish all genotypes with a minimum cumulative identity probability (PI) of 2.0 2 × 10−15. Using the simulated annealing method, the richest genetic information was acquired at the same compression ratio. A final core of 44 accessions was selected, comprising 30.6% of the individuals and retraining more than 95% of the total genetic information. No significant differences were observed in allele frequency distributions or genetic diversity parameters between the core collection and the entire population. Cluster analysis roughly divided the core collections into four populations, where 66.7% of the private alleles were detected in Pop2. Finally, DNA molecular fingerprints of 44 core accessions were established, including barcodes and quick response (QR) code molecular identities (ID). The results will lay a theoretical foundation for identifying, preserving, and utilizing Caladium germplasm resources.
Validating the Contribution of Nature-Based Farming Solutions (NBFS) to Agrobiodiversity Values through a Multi-Scale Landscape Approach
Authors: Vagge Ilda , Chiaffarelli Gemma
Published: January 2023

Nature-Based Farming Solutions (NBFS) are envisaged practices that still strongly demand further context-specific scientific validation for their viable deployment at the local scale. In this context, our study deals with the test of a multi-scale system of landscape ecology indicators, interpreted as surrogates for the accounting of the contributions of NBFS to agrobiodiversity values and to the consequent environmental stability and resilience capacities of agroecosystems, recognized as pivotal for facing the ongoing climate change challenges. We here present the preliminary results obtained in a first pilot case study (Po Plain context). Landscape ecology analyses were undertaken at extra-local, local, and farm scales (with different levels of analytical detail), comparing the pilot farm to the surrounding conventionally managed context. A set of structural and functional indicators were tested, allowing a preliminary screening of the most suitable ones (good sensitivity to treatment changes, informative potential). Results suggested a multi-faceted positive contribution given by NBFS implementation and were the basis for orienting further NBFS implementation strategies based on vulnerability and resilience properties analysis. Further investigations are envisaged on wider datasets coming from other pilot case studies belonging to similar pedo-climatic conditions, in order to improve the informative potential of the here presented methodology.
An Experimental Study of Stem Transported-Posture Adjustment Mechanism in Potato Harvesting
Authors: Fan Jiali , Li Yuyao , Luo Weiwen , Yang Ke , Yu Zhaoyang , Wang Shenying , Hu Zhichao , Wang Bing , Gu Fengwei , Wu Feng
Published: January 2023

Potato stem removal is one of the critical technical problems of potato mechanized harvesting; it directly affects the quality of potato harvesting and potato storage. There have been several studies on potato stem removal mechanisms. In practice, however, it was found that the potato stem removal rate was greatly influenced by the posture of the stem before it entered the removal mechanism. In this study, we designed a potato stem posture adjustment mechanism consisting of elastic curtains. A test rig was built to investigate the effect of curtain height, curtain width, and curtain suspension height on potato passage rate and potato stem removal rate. The Box–Behnken design (BBD), combined with the response surface method, was used to conduct the test. The optimal construction and installation parameters for each elastic curtain were determined as 278.93 mm for the curtain height, 20 mm for the curtain width, and 260 mm for the curtain suspension height. The predicted values of potato passage rate and potato stem removal rate under the optimal parameters were 92.36% and 82.83%, which were consistent with the validation test results. Based on the optimization results, a rigid-flexible coupled simulation model for a potato stem transported-posture adjustment process based on Abaqus and Adams was constructed. The maximum impact of the elastic curtain of the stem posture adjustment mechanism on the potato stem was 15.91 N and caused the stem to spring back. The projection angle β′ of the stem posture angle in the xoz plane before posture adjustment was 19.07°, and the β′ of the stem after posture adjustment was 87.18°. At this time, the stem was basically parallel to the rod of the separating sieve and had a high probability of falling from the gap of the bar to complete the removal of the stem. Overall, the stem transport position adjustment mechanism effectively adjusted the stem transported posture and improved the stem removal rate in potato mechanical harvesting.
Identification of the bZIP Gene Family and Investigation of Their Response to Drought Stress in Dendrobium catenatum
Authors: Wang Peng , Li Yuxin , Zhang Tingting , Kang Yuqian , Li Wei , Wang Jian , Yu Wengang , Zhou Yang
Published: January 2023

Dendrobium catenatum is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine that naturally grows on cliffs and tree trunks and is often threatened by adverse environmental conditions. The bZIP transcription factor is known to play a critical role in the response of plant to stress. However, the functions of the bZIP gene family in D. catenatum are poorly understood. In this study, 62 bZIP genes were identified from D. catenatum, which encoded proteins with an amino acid number of 130~692, a molecular weight of 15.24 to 74.94 kDa, and an isoelectric point of 5.13 to 11.58. The bZIP family can be divided into 10 subgroups by evolutionary tree analysis, and the conserved motifs of each protein subgroup were similar. The exon number of bZIP genes ranged from 1 to 12 as shown by gene structure analysis. DcbZIP promoter prediction analysis identified 21 cis-acting elements. The expression of DcbZIP genes under drought treatment was analyzed using the public RNA-seq data, and 33 upregulated genes were further screened. A co-expression network analysis revealed that 17 core genes were closely correlated with other genes and their expression was measured using RT-qPCR. The results showed that DcbZIP6, DcbZIP34, DcbZIP42 and DcbZIP47 are the main contributors to drought tolerance in D. catenatum. In summary, we identified candidate bZIP genes in D. catenatum with a apotential contribution to drought stress response, and this study lays the foundation for exploring the functions of bZIP and provides a theoretical basis for improving the drought tolerance of D. catenatum.
Effects of Tillage and N Applications on the Cassava Rhizosphere Fungal Communities
Authors: Li Liangwu , Shen Zhangyou , Qin Fengyan , Yang Weixian , Zhou Jia , Yang Taiyi , Han Xiao , Wang Ziting , Wei Maogui
Published: January 2023

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is mainly cultivated in marginal land in the south of China where seasonal drought stress occurs frequently and the soil becomes more compact year by year. The study aimed to explore the effect of Fenlong tillage (FLT) combined with nitrogen applications on cassava rhizosphere soil particle composition and fungal community diversity. Conventional tillage (CT) was set as the control. The results indicated that the contents of clay and silt of the cassava rhizosphere soil were influenced by the tillage method, nitrogen (N), and their interaction. There was no difference in the richness and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungal communities among all treatments in 2019, while the richness of FLT was lower than that of CT in 2020. FLT caused a stronger influence on the community structure of rhizosphere fungi than N applications in the first year. The differences in the community structure of all treatments were reduced by continuous cropping of cassava in the second year. The top 10 dominant rhizosphere fungi at the class level of cassava found in 2019 and 2020 were Sordariomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Agaricomycetes, Intramacronucleata, norank_p__Mucoromycota, unclassified_p__Ascomycota, unclassified_k__Fungi, Pezizomycetes, and Glomeromycetes, which had an important relationship with soil pH, activity of urease, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, organic matter, and clay. These results indicated that FLT created a better soil environment for cassava growth than CT, thus promoting the formation of more stable rhizosphere fungal community structures.
Involvement of CYP51A and CYP51B in Growth, Reproduction, Pathogenicity, and Sensitivity to Fungicides in Colletotrichum siamense
Authors: Hu Shuodan , Wu Jianyan , Yang Xiaoqi , Xiao Wenfei , Yu Hong , Zhang Chuanqing
Published: January 2023

Strawberry crown rot is a serious fungal disease that poses a great threat to strawberry production in the growth cycle. The dominant pathogens of strawberry crown rot pathogens were different in different periods. The main pathogen of strawberry crown rot at the seedling stage is unclear. In this study, 74 Colletotrichum spp. were isolated from 100 strawberry plants at the seedling stage. Based on the morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of multiple genes (ACT, CAL, CHS, GAPDH, and ITS), all 74 tested isolates were identified as C. gloeosporioides species complex, including 69 isolates of C. siamense and 5 isolates of C. fructicola. Colletotrichum siamense is the main pathogen of strawberry crown rot at the seedling stage in Zhejiang, China. The sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) were used to control strawberry crown rot, and their target was the CYP51 gene. The role of the homologous CYP51 gene in growth, reproduction, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to DMI fungicides in C. siamense has not been determined. Our study found that the pathogenicity of CsCYP51A deletion mutants to strawberry leaves and stems was weakened. The hyphae growth rate of CsCYP51B deletion mutants was significantly slower than that of the wild type, but the sporulation and appressorium production rates increased. CsCYP51B deletion mutants had significantly increased pathogenicity to the stem. Deletion of CsCYP51A led to increased sensitivity to prothioconazole, ipconazole, hexaconazole, triadimefon, prochloraz, tebuconazole, metconazole, propiconazole, and difenoconazole. CsCYP51B deletion mutants were more insensitive. Our results indicate that the effect of the homologous CsCYP51 gene on hyphae growth, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to DMI fungicides differs.
Historical Changes in Agricultural Systems and the Current Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Southern Chile
Authors: Meneses Francisca , Montenegro Nicole , Schapheer Constanza , Perez-Quezada Jorge F.
Published: January 2023

Agricultural activities are important contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in southern Chile. Three types of agricultural systems coexist within this region: traditional, conventional and agroecological. Historical changes in agricultural practices were identified from bibliographic sources and field surveys of 10 farms of each system type. A similarity analysis between systems was carried out using the survey data, which were also input to the Cool Farm Tool software to estimate GHG emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The main historical changes identified were: (i) replacement of organic inputs by chemical products, (ii) replacement of workforce by agricultural machinery, (iii) decrease in crop diversity and (iv) decrease in total agricultural area. A multivariate analysis showed that agroecological systems are different from the traditional and conventional systems mainly because of the land use and the amount of organic fertiliser applied. However, no significant differences were found in the GHG emissions, which on average were 2999 ± 1521, 3443 ± 2376 and 3746 ± 1837 kg CO2-eq ha−1 year−1 (traditional, conventional and agroecological, respectively). Enteric fermentation was the main source of emissions in all agricultural systems, therefore methane was the most important GHG. Identifying the sources and practices that produce more emissions should help to improve management to reduce GHG emissions.
Folate Biofortification in Soybean: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Agyenim-Boateng Kwadwo Gyapong , Zhang Shengrui , Shohag Md. Jahidul Islam , Shaibu Abdulwahab S. , Li Jing , Li Bin , Sun Junming
Published: January 2023

Folate deficiency is a significant global health issue that affects millions of people and causes severe adverse effects. Major staple crops, which provide significant amounts of calories, often contain inadequate folate levels. Synthetic fortification has contributed to a reduction in low-folate populations, but a more sustainable solution is needed. Biofortification, or the breeding of crops to naturally increase their nutrient content, is a promising alternative. Soybean is a highly nutritious crop and a good candidate for folate biofortification. However, studies on folate have been limited due to the challenges in folate analysis. The development of sensitive and selective tools, reference materials, and studies on the stability of folate vitamers in crops has facilitated the development of improved folate determination methods. Additionally, the soybean folate biofortification program can be improved by leveraging previous studies in major cereals, common bean and pea, as well as combining conventional breeding with new genomics approaches. In this review, we discuss the folate content, composition, and analytical challenges in soybean and suggest possible frameworks and strategies for folate biofortification in soybean. We also conducted an in silico analysis of key folate biosynthesis enzymes in soybean.
The Impact of Lethal, Enforcement-Centred Cat Management on Human Wellbeing: Exploring Lived Experiences of Cat Carers Affected by Cat Culling at the Port of Newcastle
Authors: Scotney Rebekah , Rand Jacquie , Rohlf Vanessa , Hayward Andrea , Bennett Pauleen
Published: January 2023

In urban and peri-urban areas of the world, free-roaming cats often pose management challenges for authorities. Most are wandering owned or semi-owned cats (fed by people who do not perceive ownership). Some are lost or abandoned, or unowned cats who obtain food from humans unintentionally. Unidentified cats are classified as “stray” in shelter data, and by government agencies as “stray” or “feral” based on their behaviour. However, legally feral cats are usually considered to live and reproduce in the wild with no support from humans. Cats classified as feral in Australia can be managed using lethal methods, including shooting, poisoning, trapping, and blunt trauma. The impact of killing animals on shelter staff is well documented. However, no previous research has investigated psychological impacts of lethal cat management on citizens who care for free-roaming cats. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explored the lived experience of six cat caregivers affected by lethal management of cats by shooting, instigated by the Port of Newcastle in 2020. Results demonstrated strong relationships between the caregivers and cats, and negative impacts on caregiver psychological health and quality of life associated with lethal management. It is recommended that a care-centred approach to cat management be prioritized in future, whereby authorities aid neutering and, if possible, adoption, to improve cat welfare, minimize cat nuisance complaints, and reduce psychological hazards to caregivers. Further, a revision of relevant legislation used to distinguish between domestic and feral cats in Australia should be actioned to prevent unnecessary killing of domestic cats.
Effect of Strategic Supplementation of Dietary By-Pass Linseed Oil on Fertility and Milk Quality in Sarda Ewes
Authors: Contreras-Solís Ignacio , Porcu Cristian , Sotgiu Francesca D. , Chessa Fabrizio , Pasciu Valeria , Dattena Maria , Caredda Marco , Abecia José Alfonso , Molle Giovanni , Berlinguer Fiammetta
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present study was to assess whether the strategic supplementation of bypass LO can enhance reproductive indexes—fertility, lambing rate, and prolificacy—in dairy Sarda ewes at the end of lactation. To assess whether LO supplementation leads to the adsorptions of PUFAs and their subsequent utilization by the body tissues, milk composition and fatty acid content were analyzed. Forty-eight ewes were assigned to the following groups: the control group (CT; N = 24), fed with a control diet without LO; and the treatment group (LO; N = 24), fed with a diet supplemented with LO (10.8 g/ewe/day). Both diets had similar crude protein and energy levels and were offered for 38 days (−21 to +17 days after artificial insemination). The trial included an adaptation period (7 days) followed by a regular supplementation (31 days) period. Estrus synchronization was induced in all the ewes using an intravaginal sponge and equine chorionic gonadotropin. Fifty-five hours after pessaries withdrawal, all ewes were inseminated using the cervical route and fresh semen. Cholesterol (p < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001), and triglyceride (p < 0.05) levels in plasma were higher in the LO group. Plasmatic levels of non-esterified fatty acids were lower in the LO group after the end of the supplementation period (p < 0.05). Milk unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), PUFAs omega 3 (PUFAs-ω3) and 6 (PUFAs-ω6), and trans fatty acids were higher in the LO group (p < 0.001), while saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were higher in the CT group during the supplementation period (p < 0.001). Three days after the end of the supplementation period, the content of milk UFAs (p < 0.05), PUFAs (p < 0.001), MUFAs, and PUFAs-ω6 (p < 0.01) were still higher in the LO group. whereas SFA was higher in the CT group (p < 0.01). There was no difference between groups in terms of ovulation rate, progesterone levels in plasma, fertility rate, prolificacy, and total reproductive wastage. However, the total area of luteal tissue was higher in the LO group (p < 0.01). Results obtained demonstrated that LO supplementation exerts a positive role in corpus luteum size at the onset of the peri-implantation period in Sarda dairy ewes. Additionally, the results obtained in the present study showed that the use of dietary bypass LO affects lipid metabolites in plasma and milk fatty acid profiles, demonstrating the ALA uptake by body tissues.
Design, Production, Characterization, and Use of Peptide Antibodies
Authors: Trier Nicole H. , Houen Gunnar
Published: January 2023

Antibodies are key reagents in diagnostics, therapeutics, and experimental biology, capable of detecting numerous targets [...]
Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance and Toxin-Encoding Genes of Clostridioides difficile from Environmental Sources Contaminated by Feces
Authors: Blau Khald , Gallert Claudia
Published: January 2023

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is the most common pathogen causing antibiotic-associated intestinal diseases in humans and some animal species, but it can also be present in various environments outside hospitals. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence and the characteristics of toxin-encoding genes and antimicrobial resistance of C. difficile isolates from different environmental sources. C. difficile was found in 32 out of 81 samples (39.50%) after selective enrichment of spore-forming bacteria and in 45 samples (55.56%) using a TaqMan-based qPCR assay. A total of 169 C. difficile isolates were recovered from those 32 C. difficile-positive environmental samples. The majority of environmental C. difficile isolates were toxigenic, with many (88.75%) positive for tcdA and tcdB. Seventy-four isolates (43.78%) were positive for binary toxins, cdtA and cdtB, and 19 isolates were non-toxigenic. All the environmental C. difficile isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, and most isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (66.86%) and clindamycin (46.15%), followed by moxifloxacin (13.02%) and tetracycline (4.73%). Seventy-five isolates (44.38%) showed resistance to at least two of the tested antimicrobials. C. difficile strains are commonly present in various environmental sources contaminated by feces and could be a potential source of community-associated C. difficile infections.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Features of Colonizing Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Report of a Novel Sequence Type (ST) 3910 from Thailand
Authors: Chukamnerd Arnon , Pomwised Rattanaruji , Chusri Sarunyou , Singkhamanan Kamonnut , Chumtong Sanicha , Jeenkeawpiam Kongpop , Sakunrang Chanida , Saroeng Kuwanhusna , Saengsuwan Phanvasri , Wonglapsuwan Monwadee , Surachat Komwit
Published: January 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important pathogen as it can cause hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, it can also colonize in patients and in other various environments. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility, and to study the molecular features, of colonizing isolates of P. aeruginosa from Songklanagarind Hospital, Thailand. Genomic DNA extraction, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and bioinformatics analysis were performed in all studied isolates. The findings demonstrated that the majority of isolates were non-susceptible to colistin and carbapenem. For in silico study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed one novel sequence type (ST) 3910 and multiple defined STs. The isolates carried several antimicrobial resistance genes (blaOXA-50, aph(3′)-IIb, etc.) and virulence-associated genes (fleN, waaA, etc.). CRISPR-Cas sequences with different spacers and integrated bacteriophage sequences were also identified in these isolates. Very high SNPs were found in the alignments of the novel ST-3910 isolate with other isolates. A comparative genomic analysis exhibited phylogenetic clustering of our colonizing isolates with clinical isolates from many countries. Interestingly, ST-3981, ST-3982, ST-3983, ST-3984, ST-3985, ST-3986, ST-3986, ST-3986, ST-3987, and ST-3988, the new STs from published genomes, were assigned in this study. In conclusion, this WGS data might be useful for tracking the spread of P. aeruginosa colonizing isolates.
Above the Invasive and Ornamental Attributes of the Traveler’s Palm: An In Vitro and In Silico Insight into the Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Enzymatic, Cytotoxic and Phytochemical Characterization of Ravenala madagascariensis
Authors: Suroowan Shanoo , Llorent-Martínez Eulogio Jose , Zengin Gokhan , Dall’Acqua Stefano , Sut Stefania , Buskaran Kalaivani , Fakurazi Sharida , Le Van Bao , Abdalla Mohnad , Abdalla Ashraf N. , Khalid Asaad , Mahomoodally Mohamad Fawzi
Published: January 2023

Ravenala madagascariensis is a widely known ornamental and medicinal plant, but with a dearth of scientific investigations regarding its phytochemical and pharmacological properties. Hence, these properties were appraised in this study. The DPPH (154.08 ± 2.43 mgTE/g), FRAP (249.40 ± 3.01 mgTE/g), CUPRAC (384.57 ± 1.99 mgTE/g), metal chelating (29.68 ± 0.74 mgEDTAE/g) and phosphomolybdenum assay (2.38 ± 0.07 mmolTE/g) results demonstrated that the aqueous extract had the most prominent antioxidant activity, while the methanolic extract displayed the best antioxidant potential in the ABTS assay (438.46 ± 1.69 mgTE/g). The HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS-MS analysis allowed the characterization of 41 metabolites. The methanolic extract was the most active against acetylcholinesterase. All extracts were active against the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes, with the ethyl acetate extract being the most active against the alpha-amylase enzyme, while the methanolic extract showed the best alpha-glucosidase inhibition. A plethora of metabolites bonded more energetically with the assayed enzymes active sites based on the results of the in silico studies. R. madagascariensis extracts used in this study exhibited cytotoxicity against HT29 cells. The IC50 of the methanolic extract was lower (506.99 ug/mL). Based on the heat map, whereby flavonoids were found to be in greater proportion in the extracts, it can be concluded that the flavonoid portion of the extracts contributed to the most activity.
In Mild and Moderate Acute Ischemic Stroke, Increased Lipid Peroxidation and Lowered Antioxidant Defenses Are Strongly Associated with Disabilities and Final Stroke Core Volume
Authors: Maes Michael , Brinholi Francis F. , Michelin Ana Paula , Matsumoto Andressa K. , de Oliveira Semeão Laura , Almulla Abbas F. , Supasitthumrong Thitiporn , Tunvirachaisakul Chavit , Barbosa Decio S.
Published: January 2023

In acute ischemic stroke (AIS), there are no data on whether oxidative stress biomarkers have effects above and beyond known risk factors and measurements of stroke volume. This study was conducted in 122 mild-moderate AIS patients and 40 controls and assessed the modified ranking scale (mRS) at baseline, and 3 and 6 months later. We measured lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities and PON1 Q192R genotypes, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), sulfhydryl (-SH) groups), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) stroke volume and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal intensity. We found that (a) AIS is characterized by lower chloromethyl acetate CMPAase PON1 activity, HDL and -SH groups and increased LOOH and neurotoxicity (a composite of LOOH, inflammatory markers and glycated hemoglobin); (b) oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers strongly and independently predict mRS scores 3 and 6 months later, DWI stroke volume and FLAIR signal intensity; and (c) the PON1 Q192R variant has multiple effects on stroke outcomes that are mediated by its effects on antioxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation and lowered -SH and PON1-HDL activity are drug targets to prevent AIS and consequent neurodegenerative processes and increased oxidative reperfusion mediators due to ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Compound Identification and Quantification in Western Australian Honeys
Authors: Lawag Ivan Lozada , Islam Md Khairul , Sostaric Tomislav , Lim Lee Yong , Hammer Katherine , Locher Cornelia
Published: January 2023

This study reports on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as well as the phenolic compounds that are present in Calothamnus spp. (Red Bell), Agonis flexuosa (Coastal Peppermint), Corymbia calophylla (Marri) and Eucalyptus marginata (Jarrah) honeys from Western Australia. The honey’s total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using a modified Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while their total antioxidant activity was determined using FRAP and DPPH assays. Phenolic constituents were identified using a High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HTPLC)-derived phenolic database, and the identified phenolic compounds were quantified using HPTLC. Finally, constituents that contribute to the honeys’ antioxidant activity were identified using a DPPH-HPTLC bioautography assay. Based on the results, Calothamnus spp. honey (n = 8) was found to contain the highest (59.4 ± 7.91 mg GAE/100 g) TPC, followed by Eucalyptus marginata honey (50.58 ± 3.76 mg GAE/100 g), Agonis flexuosa honey (36.08 ± 4.2 mg GAE/100 g) and Corymbia calophylla honey (29.15 ± 5.46 mg GAE/100 g). In the FRAP assay, Calothamnus spp. honey also had the highest activity (9.24 ± 1.68 mmol Fe2+/kg), followed by Eucalyptus marginata honey (mmol Fe2+/kg), whereas Agonis flexuosa (5.45 ± 1.64 mmol Fe2+/kg) and Corymbia calophylla honeys (4.48 ± 0.82 mmol Fe2+/kg) had comparable FRAP activity. In the DPPH assay, when the mean values were compared, it was found that Calothamnus spp. honey again had the highest activity (3.88 ± 0.96 mmol TE/kg) while the mean DPPH antioxidant activity of Eucalyptus marginata, Agonis flexuosa, and Corymbia calophylla honeys were comparable. Kojic acid and epigallocatechin gallate were found in all honeys, whilst other constituents (e.g., m-coumaric acid, lumichrome, gallic acid, taxifolin, luteolin, epicatechin, hesperitin, eudesmic acid, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, t-cinnamic acid, o-anisic acid) were only identified in some of the honeys. DPPH-HPTLC bioautography demonstrated that most of the identified compounds possess antioxidant activity, except for t-cinnamic acid, eudesmic acid, o-anisic acid, and lumichrome.
Auditory Fine-Tuned Suppressor of TMS-Clicks (TMS-Click AFTS): A Novel, Perceptually Driven/Tuned Approach for the Reduction in AEP Artifacts in TMS-EEG Studies
Authors: Pastiadis Konstantinos , Vlachos Ioannis , Chatzikyriakou Evangelia , Roth Yiftach , Zibman Samuel , Zangen Abraham , Kugiumtzis Dimitris , Kimiskidis Vasilios K.
Published: January 2023

TMS contaminates concurrent EEG recordings with Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs), which are caused by the perceived impulsive acoustic noise of the TMS coils. We hereby introduce a novel and perceptually motivated/tuned method for the suppression of auditory evoked EEG artifacts of rTMS under the name of “Auditory Fine-Tuned Suppressor of TMS-Clicks” (TMS-click AFTS). The proposed method is based on the deployment of a psychophysically-matched wide-band noise (WBN) masking stimulus, whose parametric synthesis and presentation are based upon adaptive psychophysical optimization. The masking stimulus is constructed individually for each patient/subject, thus facilitating aspects of precision medicine. A specially designed automation software is used for the realization of an adaptive procedure for optimal parameterization of masking noise level, optimizing both the subject’s comfort and the degree of AEP reduction. The proposed adaptive procedure also takes into account the combined effect of TMS intensity level and can as well account for any possibly available subject’s hearing acuity data. To assess the efficacy of the proposed method in reducing the acoustic effects of TMS, we performed TMS-EEG recordings with a 60 channel TMS-compatible EEG system in a cohort of healthy subjects (n = 10) and patients with epilepsy (n = 10) under four conditions (i.e., resting EEG with and without acoustic mask and sham TMS-EEG with and without acoustic mask at various stimulus intensity levels). The proposed approach shows promising results in terms of efficiency of AEP suppression and subject’s comfort and warrants further investigation in research and clinical settings.
Authentication of a Stradivarius “Petite Violin” Type from 1723
Authors: Sandu Ion , Tănasă Petru Ovidiu , Brînză Florin , Vasilache Viorica , Drob Ana , Drobotă Vasile
Published: January 2023

By correlating the structural–functional dimensional data with a series of archaeometric and chemometric characteristics determined by dendrochronological analysis and by three instrumental techniques (Scanning Electronic Microscopy, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray, µ-FTIR Spectroscopy and Thermal Analysis in Dynamic Mode), a Stradivarius violin was authenticated as having been made by one of the two Stradivari sons (Francesco or Omobono) in 1723. It should be noted that the “petite” type violin, which comes from a private collection and was recently purchased on the open market, has the original label and is in a poor preservation state. There is only one revarnishing intervention on the violin, and it is older than 80 years. There have been several attempts at sampling (all of which are under 30 years old) for the wooden support and varnish (from the top cover of the resonance box), but the existence of some analysis results is unknown. The dimensional characteristics of the structural–functional components place the violin in “petite violins”, and it is one of the more than 40 still preserved as an authentic artifact.
Non-Parametric Calibration of the Inverse Kinematic Matrix of a Three-Wheeled Omnidirectional Mobile Robot Based on Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Palacín Jordi , Rubies Elena , Bitrià Ricard , Clotet Eduard
Published: January 2023

Odometry is a computation method that provides a periodic estimation of the relative displacements performed by a mobile robot based on its inverse kinematic matrix, its previous orientation and position, and the estimation of the angular rotational velocity of its driving wheels. Odometry is cumulatively updated from tens to hundreds of times per second, so any inaccuracy in the definition of the inverse kinematic matrix of a robot leads to systematic trajectory errors. This paper proposes a non-parametric calibration of the inverse kinematic (IK) matrix of a three-wheeled omnidirectional mobile robot based on the use of genetic algorithms (GA) to minimize the positioning error registered in a set of calibration trajectories. The application of this non-parametric procedure has provided an average improvement of 82% in the estimation of the final position and orientation of the mobile robot. This is similar to the improvement achieved with analogous parametric methods. The advantage of this non-parametric approach is that it covers a larger search space because it eliminates the need to define feasible physical limits to the search performed to calibrate the inverse kinematic matrix of the mobile robot.
Design of a Dynamic Secondary Mirror Truss Adjustment Mechanism for Large Aperture Telescopes
Authors: Lu Baowei , Wang Fuguo , Zhang Benlei
Published: January 2023

This study focuses on the dynamic secondary mirror truss adjustment mechanism for large aperture telescopes. The relative positions between the primary and secondary mirrors have stringent requirements for large aperture optical telescopes, with an aperture of more than 2 m. Due to the large mass of the primary mirror, the secondary mirror system is designed as an adjustable mechanism with multiple degrees of freedom, dramatically impacting telescope imaging. The kinematic modeling is followed by a detailed description of the designed adjustment mechanism, and then a static and modal analysis of the designed mechanism is performed. Subsequently, a kinematic performance test of the experimental prototype is conducted. The developed mechanism can travel up to ±5 mm in the z-direction with an accuracy of 16 µm and deflection of ±0.574° in the xy-direction. It provides accuracy better than 6.4 arcseconds.