bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Precision and Modular Decomposition Control for Large Hydraulic Manipulators
Authors: Ding Ruqi , Liu Zichen , Li Gang , Deng Zhikai
Published: October 2023

It is difficult to achieve a high-precision motion control in hydraulic manipulators due to their structural redundancy, strong coupling of closed-chain structures, and flow–pressure coupling. In this paper, a high-precision motion control method for hydraulic manipulators is proposed based on the traditional virtual decomposition control (VDC). The method proposed avoids an excessive virtual decomposition of the hydraulic manipulator and requires fewer model parameters than the traditional VDC. Further, the control precision improved by combining an adaptive real-time update of the inertial parameters. Compared with MBC, the proposed control method improved the motion accuracy of the hydraulic manipulator by more than 40% and 20% under elliptical and triangular trajectories. The simulation results showed that the proposed control method reduced the maximum position errors in Cartesian space by 90.4%, 86.8%, 23.6%, and 44.3% compared with PID and model-based control (MBC) in the absence of disturbances. The maximum position error in Cartesian space was reduced by 76.5% compared with that of MBC in a simulation with external disturbances. It can be seen from all the simulation results that with the proposed control method, the position error of the manipulator was less than 50 mm. The proposed control method effectively improved the motion precision of the examined hydraulic manipulator.
Integrating GRU with a Kalman Filter to Enhance Visual Inertial Odometry Performance in Complex Environments
Authors: Tabassum Tarafder Elmi , Xu Zhengjia , Petrunin Ivan , Rana Zeeshan A.
Published: October 2023

To enhance system reliability and mitigate the vulnerabilities of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), it is common to fuse the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and visual sensors with the GNSS receiver in the navigation system design, effectively enabling compensations with absolute positions and reducing data gaps. To address the shortcomings of a traditional Kalman Filter (KF), such as sensor errors, an imperfect non-linear system model, and KF estimation errors, a GRU-aided ESKF architecture is proposed to enhance the positioning performance. This study conducts Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) to prioritize and identify the potential faults in the urban environment, facilitating the design of improved fault-tolerant system architecture. The identified primary fault events are data association errors and navigation environment errors during fault conditions of feature mismatch, especially in the presence of multiple failure modes. A hybrid federated navigation system architecture is employed using a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) to predict state increments for updating the state vector in the Error Estate Kalman Filter (ESKF) measurement step. The proposed algorithm’s performance is evaluated in a simulation environment in MATLAB under multiple visually degraded conditions. Comparative results provide evidence that the GRU-aided ESKF outperforms standard ESKF and state-of-the-art solutions like VINS-Mono, End-to-End VIO, and Self-Supervised VIO, exhibiting accuracy improvement in complex environments in terms of root mean square errors (RMSEs) and maximum errors.
Identification of a Novel KTi-1 Allele Associated with Reduced Trypsin Inhibitor Activity in Soybean Accessions
Authors: Park Aron , Kang Se-Hee , Kang Byeong-Hee , Chowdhury Sreeparna , Shin Seo-Young , Lee Won-Ho , Lee Jeong-Dong , Lee Sungwoo , Choi Yu-Mi , Ha Bo-Keun
Published: October 2023

Trypsin inhibitors (TIs) in soybean seeds reduce the availability of processed soybean foods and animal feed. This study aimed to evaluate the trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) in 999 Korean soybean accessions and conduct molecular characterization of soybean accessions with low TIA. TIA was evaluated using colorimetric analysis through a substrate–enzyme reaction. The average TIA of the 999 soybean accessions was 90.31%, ranging from 43.70% to 99.51%. Kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3 (KTi-3) gene target sequencing analysis was performed on seven soybean germplasm accessions (IT105782, IT170889, IT273590, IT274513, IT274515, IT276197, and IT022891) showing less than 60% TIA. Four soybean accessions (IT274513, IT274515, IT276197, and IT022891) exhibited the same mutations (a G-to-T transversion and an AG deletion) in the KTi-3 gene (Glyma.08g341500) in PI542044. In addition, whole-genome re-sequencing was performed on three soybean accessions with no mutations in the KTi-3 gene. Compared with the reference soybean genome, an in-frame insertion and five missense mutations were identified in the coding sequencing of the KTi-1 gene (Glyma.01g09500) in IT105782. A RT-qPCR analysis showed that the mRNA expression level of KTi-1 was reduced by approximately 17% in IT105782 during seed development. In this study, we identified a previously unreported mutation in the KTi-1 gene and developed a KASP marker using this new KTi-1 variant.
WeChat E-Commerce, Social Connections, and Smallholder Agriculture Sales Performance: A Survey of Orange Farmers in Hubei Province, China
Authors: Liu Di , Wang Pan
Published: October 2023

WeChat is a social media widely used in rural China because of its operability and simplicity. This paper contributes to the role of WeChat in rural e-commerce. Based on 406 orange farmers’ survey data from Hubei Province, China, we used the Heckman model to analyze the factors that influence farmers’ participation in WeChat e-commerce and estimate the impacts of WeChat e-commerce on farmers’ sales performance. We found that information literacy and social connections are important factors affecting farmers’ participation in WeChat e-commerce. WeChat e-commerce has a positive effect on farmers’ sales performance, and the social connections between farmers and consumers can reinforce this effect. Particularly, the beneficial effects are more prominent for farmers with a higher level of Internet development, who operate on a smaller scale, and who are less educated. The results show that WeChat e-commerce improves sales performance mainly by increasing the quantity of sales and the profit rate. These findings will help countries like China to use daily social media to develop rural e-commerce.
Win-Former: Window-Based Transformer for Maize Plant Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Sun Yu , Guo Xindong , Yang Hua
Published: October 2023

Semantic segmentation of plant point clouds is essential for high-throughput phenotyping systems, while existing methods still struggle to balance efficiency and performance. Recently, the Transformer architecture has revolutionized the area of computer vision, and has potential for processing 3D point clouds. Applying the Transformer for semantic segmentation of 3D plant point clouds remains a challenge. To this end, we propose a novel window-based Transformer (Win-Former) network for maize 3D organic segmentation. First, we pre-processed the Pheno4D maize point cloud dataset for training. The maize points were then projected onto a sphere surface, and a window partition mechanism was proposed to construct windows into which points were distributed evenly. After that, we employed local self-attention within windows for computing the relationship of points. To strengthen the windows’ connection, we introduced a Cross-Window self-attention (C-SA) module to gather the cross-window features by moving entire windows along the sphere. The results demonstrate that Win-Former outperforms the famous networks and obtains 83.45% mIoU with the lowest latency of 31 s on maize organ segmentation. We perform extensive experiments on ShapeNet to evaluate stability and robustness, and our proposed model achieves competitive results on part segmentation tasks. Thus, our Win-Former model effectively and efficiently segments the maize point cloud and provides technical support for automated plant phenotyping analysis.
Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Identification of Leaf Blast-Resistant Rice RILs Using Cluster Analysis and MGIDI
Authors: Jalalifar Reza , Sabouri Atefeh , Mousanejad Sedigheh , Dadras Ahmad Reza
Published: October 2023

Rice blast disease, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, poses a significant threat to rice cultivation. One effective way to deal with this disease is to identify and introduce resistant varieties using different breeding methods. This study utilized a population of 153 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the crossing of the Shahpasand (SH) and IR28 varieties, characterized by susceptibility and resistance to leaf blast, respectively. In combination with 12 control varieties, these genotypes were subjected to an extensive evaluation of disease severity (5 stages), the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), type, and the infection rate in 2021 and 2022. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variation, highlighting the potential of the RIL population for identifying and selecting resistant lines. Employing cluster analysis and the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI), 17 lines were identified as the most resistant over a two-year evaluation period. The average AUDPC for these resistant lines was estimated at 2.435 ± 0.114, and lines 17 and 111 had the lowest AUDPC (1.526 and 1.630, respectively) and showed the least infection in two years. Conversely, lines 42 and 43 showed the highest AUDPC values (255.312 and 248.209) along with heightened sensitivity. The use of MGIDI yielded a substantial selection differential (SD) of −59.12% for traits related to leaf blast disease resistance, demonstrating the effectiveness of this method. Furthermore, new recombinant populations are expected to be developed in future plant breeding projects by crossing the most susceptible and resistant lines, which will be new sources of resistance to this disease.
Method and Experiments for Acquiring High Spatial Resolution Images of Abnormal Rice Canopy by Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Field Inspection
Authors: Zhang Qiangzhi , Luo Xiwen , Hu Lian , Liang Chuqi , He Jie , Wang Pei , Zhao Runmao
Published: October 2023

The yield and quality of rice are closely related to field management. The automatic identification of field abnormalities, such as diseases and pests, based on computer vision currently mainly relies on high spatial resolution (HSR) images obtained through manual field inspection. In order to achieve automatic and efficient acquisition of HSR images, based on the capability of high-throughput field inspection of UAV remote sensing and combining the advantages of high-flying efficiency and low-flying resolution, this paper proposes a method of “far-view and close-look” autonomous field inspection by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to acquire HSR images of abnormal areas in the rice canopy. First, the UAV equipped with a multispectral camera flies high to scan the whole field efficiently and obtain multispectral images. Secondly, abnormal areas (namely areas with poor growth) are identified from the multispectral images, and then the geographical locations of identified areas are positioned with a single-image method instead of the most used method of reconstruction, sacrificing part of positioning accuracy for efficiency. Finally, the optimal path for traversing abnormal areas is planned through the nearest-neighbor algorithm, and then the UAV equipped with a visible light camera flies low to capture HSR images of abnormal areas along the planned path, thereby acquiring the “close-look” features of the rice canopy. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can identify abnormal areas, including diseases and pests, lack of seedlings, lodging, etc. The average absolute error (AAE) of single-image positioning is 13.2 cm, which can meet the accuracy requirements of the application in this paper. Additionally, the efficiency is greatly improved compared to reconstruction positioning. The ground sampling distance (GSD) of the acquired HSR image can reach 0.027 cm/pixel, or even smaller, which can meet the resolution requirements of even leaf-scale deep-learning classification. The HSR image can provide high-quality data for subsequent automatic identification of field abnormalities such as diseases and pests, thereby offering technical support for the realization of the UAV-based automatic rice field inspection system. The proposed method can also provide references for the automatic field management of other crops, such as wheat.
Quantifying Airborne Spray Drift Using String Collectors
Authors: Lee Se-yeon , Park Jinseon , Choi Lak-yeong , Daniel Kehinde Favour , Hong Se-woon , Noh Hyun Ho , Yu Seung-Hwa
Published: October 2023

Efficient collection of airborne spray is crucial to reduce environmental contamination and ensure effective pesticide application in agriculture. This study explored the efficacy of passive spray drift samplers, focusing on string collectors for capturing airborne spray droplets. String collectors were assessed in laboratory experiments using a spray drift tunnel. A notable average recovery rate of 82% was observed when string collectors were examined immediately after pesticide capture. Collection efficiency was found to increase with wind speed. Of all the string collectors, string #5, a yarn type, demonstrated consistent collection efficiency, meeting the criteria for passive samplers. This includes effective droplet capture at low wind speeds, a high recovery rate of 93.31%, and suitability for field experiments. Field evaluations further underlined the efficiency of string #5, showcasing its ability to capture spray drift across a wider area and varied heights with less effort and manpower compared to traditional nylon screens.
The Agri-Food and Mountain Products Market: Insights beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Necula Doru , Ungureanu-Iuga Mădălina , Ognean Laurenț
Published: October 2023

Food security is one of the main concerns in the context of a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduction in people’s mobility determined changes in consumers’ behavior and underlined the need for the re-organization of the food supply chains. This paper aims to summarize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global, Romanian and mountain food markets, as well as to discuss the mountain agriculture potential and the food democracy model. The trend in the post-pandemic era is heading toward the digitalization of agriculture and food distribution, with great attention on product sustainability. People are more and more aware of healthy food and the environmental impact of this sector. Many studies revealed the need for specific policies to counteract the effects of the pandemic on food quality and security and on the economic welfare of people. In the post-pandemic period in mountain areas, there is a need for the valorization of food products that originate from here since they have great health and financial potential. Supporting mountain agriculture could ensure the production of high-value products, which are generally preferred by consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the re-orientation of consumers towards local and organic foods. Future research regarding the efficiency of the programs and policies implemented in some mountain areas after the pandemic is necessary.
Microbiocenosis of the Permafrost Soils of Transbaikalia under Agriculture Use
Authors: Korsunova Tsypilma , Chimitdorzhieva Erzhena , Chimitdorzhieva Galina , Merkusheva Maria , Tsybenov Yurii , Valova Elena , Baldanov Nimbu
Published: October 2023

An understanding of how the involvement of soils in agricultural turnover affects soil microbiocenosis has been attained. The aims of this study were to investigate the number of the main groups of microorganisms in microbial complexes, the carbon of microbial biomass and the enzymatic activity in permafrost soils under the influence of tillage. The presented data can provide an insight into the stability of the microbiome in region’s soils under agricultural influence. The significance of the study lies in obtaining new data on the microbiocenosis of permafrost soils, which will make it possible to reveal the orientation and intensity of microbiological processes during their agricultural use. The study uses the classical methods used in soil science and soil microbiology, which are characterized by accuracy and reliability. The general characteristics of the microbiocenosis of different types of the studied region’s soils have been revealed. The quantity of bacteria, including actinomycetes and fungi, in the studied soils was determined. The variability of indicators in time and space is shown. The number of bacteria was revealed to reach its maximum in the autumn period in grey forest non-podzolised soils, and the indicator decreases in the following manner: forest—10.6 billion cells/g, arable land—5.1 billion cells/g, virgin land—2.6 billion cells/g. The lowest indicator of bacterial abundance—0.5 billion cells/g was found on arable permafrost meadow chernozemic soil. A comparatively low bacterial content is characteristic of chernozem meal-carbonated: 1.9 billion cells/g on virgin land and 2.1 billion cells/g on arable land. The length of actinomycete mycelium is dynamic according to the seasons of the year. The maximum length of actinomycete mycelium was observed in grey forest non-podzolised soil (forest) in the autumn period—830 m/g. The maximum length of fungal mycelium was also observed in grey forest non-podzolised soil (forest) in autumn—1200 m/g. In arable variants, the length of fungal mycelium is high in grey forest non-podzolised soils and meadow permafrost soils. In chernozems and permafrost meadow chernozemic soils (virgin and arable) the index is much lower. Assessment of catalase activity showed that the studied soils are poor or moderately enriched in this enzyme. Relatively high invertase activity was found in all variants.
Identification of Vibrio metschnikovii and Vibrio injensis Isolated from Leachate Ponds: Characterization of Their Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence-Associated Genes
Authors: Falco Aura , Villaquirán-Muriel Miguel Ángel , Gallo Pérez José David , Mondragón-Quiguanas Alejandra , Aranaga Carlos , Correa Adriana
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance of 22 environmental Vibrio metschnikovii isolates and 1 Vibrio injensis isolate from landfill leachates in southwestern Colombia. Isolates were identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization–Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF), and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Analysis of the susceptibility to six antibacterial agents by the Kirby–Bauer method showed susceptibility of all the isolates to ciprofloxacin and imipenem. We recorded resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, but no multidrug resistance was observed. The genome of one of the isolates was sequenced to determine the pathogenic potential of V. injensis. Genes associated with virulence were identified, including for flagellar synthesis, biofilm formation, and hemolysins, among others. These results demonstrate that landfill leachates are potential reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic bacteria and highlight the importance of monitoring Vibrio species in different aquatic environments.
Control of Escherichia coli in Fresh-Cut Mixed Vegetables Using a Combination of Bacteriophage and Carvacrol
Authors: Kuek Maryanne , McLean Sarah K. , Palombo Enzo A.
Published: October 2023

The continual emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the slow development of new antibiotics has driven the resurgent interest in the potential application of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents in different medical and industrial sectors. In the present study, the potential of combining phage biocontrol and a natural plant compound (carvacrol) in controlling Escherichia coli on fresh-cut mixed vegetable was evaluated. Four coliphages, designated Escherichia phage SUT_E420, Escherichia phage SUT_E520, Escherichia phage SUT_E1520 and Escherichia phage SUT_E1620, were isolated from raw sewage. Biological characterization revealed that all four phages had a latent period of 20–30 min and a burst size ranging from 116 plaque-forming units (PFU)/colony forming units (CFU) to 441 PFU/CFU. The phages effectively inhibited the growth of respective host bacteria in vitro, especially when used at a high multiplicity of infection (MOI). Based on transmission electron microscopy analysis, all phages were classified as tailed phages in the class of Caudoviricetes. Additionally, next generation sequencing indicated that none of the selected coliphages contained genes encoding virulence or antimicrobial resistance factors, highlighting the suitability of isolated phages as biocontrol agents. When a phage cocktail (~109 PFU/mL) was applied alone onto fresh-cut mixed vegetables artificially contaminated with E. coli, no bacteria were recovered from treated samples on Day 0, followed by a gradual increase in the E. coli population after 24 h of incubation at 8 °C. On the other hand, no significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between treated and non-treated samples in terms of E. coli viable counts when carvacrol at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25 μL/mL was applied alone. When a phage cocktail at an MOI of ~1000 and MIC carvacrol were applied in combination, no E. coli were recovered from treated samples on Day 0 and 1, followed by a slight increase in the E. coli population to approximately 1.2–1.3 log CFU/mL after 48 h of incubation at 8 °C. However, total elimination of E. coli was observed in samples treated with a phage cocktail at a higher MOI of ~2000 and carvacrol at MIC, with a reduction of approximately 4 log CFU/mL observed at the end of Day 3. The results obtained in this study highlight the potential of combined treatment involving phage biocontrol and carvacrol as a new alternative method to reduce E. coli contamination in minimally processed ready-to-eat foods.
Current Uses and Future Perspectives of Genomic Technologies in Clinical Microbiology
Authors: Bianconi Irene , Aschbacher Richard , Pagani Elisabetta
Published: October 2023

Recent advancements in sequencing technology and data analytics have led to a transformative era in pathogen detection and typing. These developments not only expedite the process, but also render it more cost-effective. Genomic analyses of infectious diseases are swiftly becoming the standard for pathogen analysis and control. Additionally, national surveillance systems can derive substantial benefits from genomic data, as they offer profound insights into pathogen epidemiology and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global public health issue. While clinical laboratories have traditionally relied on culture-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing, the integration of genomic data into AMR analysis holds immense promise. Genomic-based AMR data can furnish swift, consistent, and highly accurate predictions of resistance phenotypes for specific strains or populations, all while contributing invaluable insights for surveillance. Moreover, genome sequencing assumes a pivotal role in the investigation of hospital outbreaks. It aids in the identification of infection sources, unveils genetic connections among isolates, and informs strategies for infection control. The One Health initiative, with its focus on the intricate interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, seeks to develop comprehensive approaches for disease surveillance, control, and prevention. When integrated with epidemiological data from surveillance systems, genomic data can forecast the expansion of bacterial populations and species transmissions. Consequently, this provides profound insights into the evolution and genetic relationships of AMR in pathogens, hosts, and the environment.
Impact of Chlorogenic Acid on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Proliferation, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Responses in Racehorses during Exercise
Authors: Dąbrowska Izabela , Grzędzicka Jowita , Niedzielska Adrianna , Witkowska-Piłaszewicz Olga
Published: October 2023

Green coffee extract is currently of great interest to researchers due to its high concentration of chlorogenic acid (CGA) and its potential health benefits. CGA constitutes 6 to 10% of the dry weight of the extract and, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, is a promising natural supplement and agent with therapeutic applications. The purpose of our study was to discover the effects of CGA on peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, and the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as reactive oxidative species (ROS) in horses during exercise. According to the findings, CGA can affect the proliferation of T helper cells. In addition, at a dose of 50 g/mL, CGA increased the activation of CD4+FoxP3+ and CD8+FoxP3+ regulatory cells. Physical activity decreases ROS production in CD5+ monocytes, but this effect depends on the concentration of CGA, and the effect of exercise on oxidative stress was lower in CD14+ than in CD5+ cells. Regardless of CGA content, CGA significantly increased the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Moreover, the production of IL-17 was greater in cells treated with 50 g/mL of CGA from beginners compared to the control and advanced groups of horses. Our findings suggest that CGA may have immune-enhancing properties. This opens new avenues of research into the mechanisms of action of CGA and possible applications in prevention and health promotion in sport animals.
The Roles of NFR2-Regulated Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Quality Control in Chronic Liver Diseases
Authors: Park Jeong-Su , Rustamov Nodir , Roh Yoon-Seok
Published: October 2023

Chronic liver disease (CLD) affects a significant portion of the global population, leading to a substantial number of deaths each year. Distinct forms like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), though they have different etiologies, highlight shared pathologies rooted in oxidative stress. Central to liver metabolism, mitochondria are essential for ATP production, gluconeogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and heme synthesis. However, in diseases like NAFLD, ALD, and liver fibrosis, mitochondrial function is compromised by inflammatory cytokines, hepatotoxins, and metabolic irregularities. This dysfunction, especially electron leakage, exacerbates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), augmenting liver damage. Amidst this, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) emerges as a cellular protector. It not only counters oxidative stress by regulating antioxidant genes but also maintains mitochondrial health by overseeing autophagy and biogenesis. The synergy between NRF2 modulation and mitochondrial function introduces new therapeutic potentials for CLD, focusing on preserving mitochondrial integrity against oxidative threats. This review delves into the intricate role of oxidative stress in CLD, shedding light on innovative strategies for its prevention and treatment, especially through the modulation of the NRF2 and mitochondrial pathways.
Ascorbate Uptake and Retention by Breast Cancer Cell Lines and the Intracellular Distribution of Sodium-Dependent Vitamin C Transporter 2
Authors: Praditi Citra , Bozonet Stephanie M. , Dachs Gabi U. , Vissers Margreet C. M.
Published: October 2023

Ascorbate plays a vital role as a co-factor for a superfamily of enzymes, the 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDDs), which govern numerous pathways in cancer progression, including the hypoxic response and the epigenetic regulation of gene transcription. Ascorbate uptake into most cells is through active transport by the sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2). The aims of this study were to determine the kinetics of ascorbate uptake and retention by breast cancer cell lines under various oxygen conditions, and to investigate the role of SVCT2 in mediating ascorbate uptake and intracellular trafficking. Human MDA-MB231 cells accumulated up to 5.1 nmol ascorbate/106 cells, human MCF7 cells 4.5 nmol/106 cells, and murine EO771 cells 26.7 nmol/106 cells. Intracellular ascorbate concentrations decreased rapidly after reaching maximum levels unless further ascorbate was supplied to the medium, and there was no difference in the rate of ascorbate loss under normoxia or hypoxia. SVCT2 was localised mainly to subcellular compartments, with the nucleus apparently containing the most SVCT2 protein, followed by the mitochondria. Much less SVCT2 staining was observed on the plasma membrane. Our data showed that careful management of the doses and incubation times with ascorbate in vitro allows for an approximation of in vivo conditions. The localisation of SVCT2 suggests that the distribution of ascorbate to intracellular compartments is closely aligned to the known function of ascorbate in supporting 2-OGDD enzymatic functions in the organelles and with supporting antioxidant protection in the mitochondria.
Therapeutic Dosage of Antipsychotic Drug Aripiprazole Induces Persistent Mitochondrial Hyperpolarisation, Moderate Oxidative Stress in Liver Cells, and Haemolysis
Authors: Pirc Marolt Tinkara , Kramar Barbara , Vovk Andrej , Podgornik Helena , Šuput Dušan , Milisav Irina
Published: October 2023

Aripiprazole has fewer metabolic side effects than other antipsychotics; however, there are some severe ones in the liver, leading to drug-induced liver injury. Repeated treatment with aripiprazole affects cell division. Since this process requires a lot of energy, we decided to investigate the impact of aripiprazole on rat liver cells and mitochondria as the main source of cellular energy production by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, oxidative stress, antioxidative response, and human blood haemolysis. Here, we report that mitochondrial hyperpolarisation from aripiprazole treatment is accompanied by higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased antioxidative response. Lower mitochondrial and increased glycolytic ATP synthesis demand more glucose through glycolysis for equal ATP production and may change the partition between the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway in the liver. The uniform low amounts of the haemolysis of erythrocytes in the presence of aripiprazole in 25 individuals indicate lower quantities of the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH+H+), which is in accordance with a decreased activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the lower dehydrogenase activity upon aripiprazole treatment. The lower activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase supports a shift to glycolysis, thus rescuing the decreased mitochondrial ATP synthesis. The putative reduction in NADPH+H+ did not seem to affect the oxidised-to-reduced glutathione ratio, as it remained equal to that in the untreated cells. The effect of aripiprazole on glutathione reduction is likely through direct binding, thus reducing its total amount. As a consequence, the low haemolysis of human erythrocytes was observed. Aripiprazole causes moderate perturbations in metabolism, possibly with one defect rescuing the other. The result of the increased antioxidant enzyme activity upon treatment with aripiprazole is increased resilience to oxidative stress, which makes it an effective drug for schizophrenia in which oxidative stress is constantly present because of disease and treatment.
Inhibition of Indoxyl Sulfate-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species-Related Ferroptosis Alleviates Renal Cell Injury In Vitro and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression In Vivo
Authors: Tsai Li-Ting , Weng Te-I , Chang Ting-Yu , Lan Kuo-Cheng , Chiang Chih-Kang , Liu Shing-Hwa
Published: October 2023

The accumulation of the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a key pathological feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The effect of IS on ferroptosis and the role of IS-related ferroptosis in CKD are not well understood. We used a renal tubular cell model and an adenine-induced CKD mouse model to explore whether IS induces ferroptosis and injury and affects iron metabolism in the renal cells and the kidneys. Our results showed that exposure to IS induced several characteristics for ferroptosis, including iron accumulation, an impaired antioxidant system, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and lipid peroxidation. Exposure to IS triggered intracellular iron accumulation by upregulating transferrin and transferrin receptors, which are involved in cellular iron uptake. We also observed increased levels of the iron storage protein ferritin. The effects of IS-induced ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis, senescence, ER stress, and injury/fibrosis were effectively alleviated by treatments with an iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) in vitro and the adsorbent charcoal AST-120 (scavenging the IS precursor) in vivo. Our findings suggest that IS triggers intracellular iron accumulation and ROS generation, leading to the induction of ferroptosis, senescence, ER stress, and injury/fibrosis in CKD kidneys. AST-120 administration may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Pressurized Hot Water Extraction of Mangosteen Pericarp and Its Associated Molecular Signatures in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Tan Sakeena Si Yu , Shanmugham Meyammai , Chin Yu Ling , An Jia , Chua Chee Kai , Ong Eng Shi , Leo Chen Huei
Published: October 2023

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) pericarp is known to be rich in potent bioactive phytochemical compounds such as xanthones, which possess pharmacologically important antioxidant activity and beneficial cardiometabolic properties. Mangosteen pericarp is typically classified as unavoidable food waste and discarded, despite being rich in bioactive phytochemical compounds that therefore present an exciting opportunity for valorization. Thus, this study aims to extract phytochemical compounds from mangosteen pericarp using pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) and determine its biological effects in endothelial cells using RNA sequencing. Liquid chromatography with MS/MS (LC/MSMS) and UV detection (LC/UV) was subsequently used to identify three key phytochemical compounds extracted from the mangosteen pericarp: α-Mangostin, γ-Mangostin, and Gartanin. Within the tested range of extraction temperatures by PHWE, our results demonstrated that an extraction temperature of 120 °C yielded the highest concentrations of α-Mangostin, γ-Mangostin, and Gartanin with a concomitant improvement in antioxidant capacity compared to other extraction temperatures. Using global transcriptomic profiling and bioinformatic analysis, the treatment of endothelial cells with mangosteen pericarp extracts (120 °C PHWE) for 48 h caused 408 genes to be differentially expressed. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that key biological processes related to “steroid biosynthesis and metabolism”, likely involving the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway, were upregulated by mangosteen pericarp extract treatment. In conclusion, our study suggests a green extraction method to valorize phytochemical compounds from mangosteen pericarp as a natural product with potential beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health.
Synergic versus Antagonist Effects of Rutin on Gallic Acid or Coumarin Incorporated into Chitosan Active Films: Impacts on Their Release Kinetics and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Jacobs Elizabeth , Chambin Odile , Debeaufort Frédéric , Benbettaieb Nasreddine
Published: October 2023

This work deals with the study of the release and antioxidant activity kinetics of three natural antioxidants associated as binary mixture (coumarin, and/or gallic acid and rutin) from chitosan films. Antioxidants were incorporated into film alone or in binary mixture. The aim was to determine the influence of rutin on the phenolic acid and benzopyrone. The UV-visible light transmission spectra of the films were also investigated. Neat chitosan films and chitosan incorporated coumarin exhibited high transmittance in the UV-visible light range, while GA-added chitosan films showed excellent UV light barrier properties. The molecular interactions between chitosan network and antioxidants were confirmed by FTIR where spectra displayed a shift of the amide-III peak. Rutin has a complex structure that can undergo ionization. The chitosan network structure induced change was found to influence the release behavior. The film containing rutin showed the highest antioxidant activity (65.58 ± 0.26%), followed by gallic acid (44.82 ± 3.73%), while coumarin displayed the lowest activity (27.27 ± 4.04%). The kinetic rate against DPPH-free radical of rutin is three times higher than coumarin. The kinetic rates were influenced by the structure and interactions of the antioxidants with chitosan. Rutin exhibited a slow release due to its molecular interactions with chitosan, while coumarin and gallic acid showed faster release. The diffusion coefficient of coumarin is 900 times higher than that of rutin. The rutin presence significantly delayed the release of the gallic acid and coumarin, suggesting an antagonistic effect. However, their presence weakly affects the release behavior of rutin.
Korean Chestnut Honey Suppresses HSV-1 Infection by Regulating the ROS–NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway
Authors: Kwon Eun-Bin , Kim Young Soo , Kim Buyun , Kim Se-Gun , Na Sung-Joon , Go Younghoon , Choi Hong Min , Lee Hye Jin , Han Sang Mi , Choi Jang-Gi
Published: October 2023

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthoherpesviridae family. It causes serious neurological diseases of the central nervous system, such as encephalitis. The current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for preventing HSV-1 infection include acyclovir (ACV) and valacyclovir; however, their long-term use causes severe side effects and often results in the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, it is important to discover new antiviral agents that are safe and effective against HSV-1 infection. Korean chestnut honey (KCH) has various pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammation effects; however, antiviral effects against HSV-1 have not yet been reported. Therefore, we determined the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of KCH after HSV-1 infection on the cellular level. KCH inhibited the HSV-1 infection of host cells through binding and virucidal steps. KCH decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+) following HSV-1 infection and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-кB) activity. Furthermore, we found that KCH inhibited the expression of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome during HSV-1 infection. Taken together, the antiviral effects of KCH occur through multiple targets, including the inhibition of viral replication and the ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Our findings suggest that KCH has potential for the treatment of HSV-1 infection and related diseases.
Multi-Oxidant Environment as a Suicidal Inhibitor of Myeloperoxidase
Authors: Clemen Ramona , Minkus Lara , Singer Debora , Schulan Paul , von Woedtke Thomas , Wende Kristian , Bekeschus Sander
Published: October 2023

Tissue inflammation drives the infiltration of innate immune cells that generate reactive species to kill bacteria and recruit adaptive immune cells. Neutrophil activation fosters the release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme, a heme-containing protein generating hypochlorous acid (HOCl) from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chloride ions. MPO-dependent oxidant formation initiates bioactive oxidation and chlorination products and induces oxidative post-translational modifications (oxPTMs) on proteins and lipid oxidation. Besides HOCl and H2O2, further reactive species such as singlet oxygen and nitric oxide are generated in inflammation, leading to modified proteins, potentially resulting in their altered bioactivity. So far, knowledge about multiple free radical-induced modifications of MPO and its effects on HOCl generation is lacking. To mimic this multi-oxidant microenvironment, human MPO was exposed to several reactive species produced simultaneously via argon plasma operated at body temperature. Several molecular gas admixes were used to modify the reactive species type profiles generated. MPO was investigated by studying its oxPTMs, changes in protein structure, and enzymatic activity. MPO activity was significantly reduced after treatment with all five tested plasma gas conditions. Dynamic light scattering and CD-spectroscopy revealed altered MPO protein morphology indicative of oligomerization. Using mass spectrometry, various oxPTMs, such as +1O, +2O, and +3O, were determined on methionine and cysteine (Cys), and -1H-1N+1O was detected in asparagine (Asp). The modification types identified differed between argon-oxygen and argon-nitrogen plasmas. However, all plasma gas conditions led to the deamidation of Asp and oxidation of Cys residues, suggesting an inactivation of MPO due to oxPTM-mediated conformational changes.
A Minimum Cost Design Approach for Steel Frames Based on a Parallelized Firefly Algorithm and Parameter Control
Authors: Sánchez-Olivares Gregorio , Tomás Antonio , García-Ayllón Salvador
Published: October 2023

In this work, the applicability of a Firefly Algorithm (FA) to the real problem of the minimum cost of a detailed design for steel frames is studied. To reduce the calculation time, which is a common problem of meta-heuristic algorithms when they are used to solve real design cases, and to better suit the characteristics of the algorithm, a parallel migration strategy has been implemented and tested. As it is well known that the performance of any metaheuristic algorithm depends on the chosen value of its parameters, an extensive sensitivity analysis has been carried out. This not only serves to improve performance but also provides information on how it depends on the values of these parameters. With the information obtained from this analysis, and in order to achieve the robust behavior of the algorithm, a parameter control strategy has also been implemented and tested. Finally, a study demonstrating the close dependence between one of the parameters and the number of variables considered in the examples has been carried out. As a result of this final study, a simple expression is proposed that provides the minimum necessary population based on the number of variables in the problem.
Sensory Acceptance and Characterisation of Turmeric- and Black-Pepper-Enriched Ice Cream
Authors: Lučan Čolić Mirela , Antunović Martina , Jukić Marko , Popović Ivana , Lukinac Jasmina
Published: October 2023

This study investigated the sensory characteristics and overall acceptability of turmeric- and black-pepper-enriched ice creams. For this purpose, a control sample (C) and a series of flavoured ice creams were prepared as follows: samples with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% of turmeric powder (T0, T1, and T2), and samples with a mixture of turmeric (0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%), and 0.02% of black pepper (T0p, T1p, and T2p). Participants (n = 103) were asked to rate the acceptability of the ice creams using a nine-point hedonic scale, the liking of attributes by a five-point scale, the evaluation of attributes intensity by a just-about-right (JAR) scale, and attribute characterisation through a CATA test. They were also asked about their purchase and consumption intention of prepared ice cream samples. The addition of turmeric powder significantly (p < 0.05) affected the sensory properties of the ice cream, whereas no correlation was found between the addition of black pepper and consumers’ ratings of the evaluated samples. According to the results, besides the control sample, the ice cream with 0.5% of turmeric powder and 0.02% black pepper (T0p) had the most desired attributes and the highest score for overall liking (6.94). In conclusion, these valuable spices could be used in the production of ice cream with potential functional properties.
Risk Assessment Method and Application for Tunnel Lining Demolition Construction
Authors: Li Lei , Zhao Jinpeng , Fan Xiaomin
Published: October 2023

The maintenance, reconstruction, and expansion of tunnels often require the removal of existing tunnel linings. However, there is a paucity of research on risk assessments during tunnel lining demolitions. In order to address this gap, we developed a risk assessment model for tunnel lining demolitions using a fuzzy hierarchy comprehensive evaluation and expert surveys. This model draws on on-site construction experience. A fuzzy hierarchy comprehensive evaluation assesses risk probability, while expert questionnaires evaluate risk loss. Our study applied this model to a tunnel project in Qinghai, determining that the overall risk level falls within category “V3”, indicating acceptable risk. Nonetheless, ongoing vigilance and monitoring measures are necessary throughout the construction process. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of tunnel lining demolition risk assessments for improving project management and safety.
Segmenting Cervical Arteries in Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Convolutional Encoder–Decoder Networks
Authors: Campbell Britney , Yadav Dhruv , Hussein Ramy , Jovin Maria , Hoover Sierrah , Halbert Kim , Holley Dawn , Khalighi Mehdi , Davidzon Guido A. , Tong Elizabeth , Steinberg Gary K. , Moseley Michael , Zhao Moss Y. , Zaharchuk Greg
Published: October 2023

Phase contrast (PC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a primary method used to quantify blood flow. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is an important hemodynamic parameter to characterize cerebrovascular and neurological diseases. However, a critical step in CBF quantification using PC MRI is vessel segmentation, which is largely manual, and thus time-consuming and prone to interrater variability. Here, we present encoder–decoder deep learning models to automate segmentation of neck arteries to accurately quantify CBF. The PC-MRI data were collected from 46 Moyamoya (MM) patients and 107 healthy control (HC) participants. Three segmentation U-Net models (Standard, Nested, and Attention) were compared. The PC MRI images were taken before and 15 min after vasodilation. The models were assessed based on their ability to detect the internal carotid arteries (ICAs), external carotid arteries (ECAs), and vertebral arteries (VAs), using the Dice score coefficient (DSC) of overlap between manual and predicted segmentations and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) metric. Analysis of variance, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and paired t-test were used for comparisons. The Standard U-NET, Attention U-Net, and Nest U-Net models achieved results of mean DSCs of 0.81 ± 0.21, and 0.85 ± 0.14, and 0.85 ± 0.13, respectively. The ROC curves revealed high area under the curve scores for all methods (≥0.95). While the Nested and Attention U-Net architectures accomplished reliable segmentation performance for HC and MM subsets, Standard U-Net did not perform as well in the subset of MM patients. Blood flow velocities calculated by the models were statistically comparable. In conclusion, optimized deep learning architectures can successfully segment neck arteries in PC MRI images and provide precise quantification of their blood flow.