bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organic Fertilizer Based on Rhizophagus intraradices: Valorization in a Farming Environment for Maize in the South, Center and North of Benin
Authors: Aguégué Ricardos M. , Assogba Sylvestre A. , Salami Hafiz A. A. , Koda Abdel D. , Agbodjato Nadège A. , Amogou Olaréwadjou , Sina Haziz , Salako K. Valère , Ahoyo Adjovi Nestor R. , Dagbénonbakin Gustave , Kakai Romain Glélé , Adjanohoun Adolphe , Baba-Moussa Lamine
Published: November 2021

Maize plays an important role in agricultural production systems in all agro-ecological zones of Benin. Despite its importance, its production faces many constraints including soil fertility. One of the ecological technologies aimed at improving agricultural production is the use of soil microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Rhizophagus intraradices, an indigenous strain, on maize productivity in farmers' areas in the Research and Development (RD) sites of the North (Ouénou), Center (Miniffi), and South (Zouzouvou). Three maize producers were selected at each RD site, for nine maize producers. The experimental design was a randomized complete block of three treatments with three replications. The different treatments were (i) Control–farmer's practice, (ii) R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and (iii) 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. Soil samples from the different RD sites were taken at a depth of 0–20 cm before sowing for chemical analysis. The different growth parameters (height, crown diameter, and leaf area), grain yield, and endomycorrhizal infection of maize plants were evaluated. The results showed that the soils were moderately acidic (5.5 ≤ pH waters ≤ 6.8) and low in organic matter (0.95 ≤ 33 OM ≤ 1.17) regardless of the study area. The greater maize grain yield was recorded with application of 100% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea, and R. intraradices + 50% of the recommended dose of NPK and urea. In the RD sites at the South, Center, and North recorded with R. intraradices + 50% of recommended dose of NPK and urea, the grain yields of 1.9, 3.4, and 1.74 t/ha with an increase of 28, 38.21, and 13.21%, respectively, compared with farmer's practice. Mycorrhization frequencies in plants treated with Ri¹ N15P15K15 vary between 37.44 and 51.67% in the three zones. The results of the current study have proven the potential use of R. intraradices in sustainable intensification of maize production in Benin.
Morphological Description and Ethnobotanical Review of the Orphan Crop Myin-Hkwa (Centella asiatica L.) From Myanmar
Authors: Shukurova Musavvara Khaitovna , Myint Daisy , Yi San San , Saw Ohm Mar , Watanabe Kazuo N.
Published: November 2021

Centella asiatica is a medicinal herb commonly known as Asiatic pennywort or gotu kola. The species is valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. It is a perennial plant with leaves and stems that can be consumed as a green leafy vegetable. It is used as a folk remedy to cure various mild and chronic diseases due to its anti-rheumatic, antipyretic, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, and as a mental rejuvenator. Although the species is widely distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics, its recognition was limited. The morphological description of C. asiatica is not well-documented in Myanmar, in Burmese or other local languages. Plant assessment via morphological markers is one of the ultimate methods for the primary description and characterization of their phenotypic traits. The objectives of this study were focused on the description of Myanmarese C. asiatica grown in Japan through morphological markers and a brief overview of its ethnobotanical use in Asia. Morphological characterization revealed the quantitative and qualitative differences regarding several traits among assessed C. asiatica samples. Furthermore, the study can provide information on the primary C. asiatica cultivation system in Japan, as it can be a potentially new and economically important crop for the Japanese market.
Modified Systemic Inflammation Score Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Outcome in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagogastric Junction
Authors: Xiong Jianping , Kang Wenzhe , Ma Fuhai , Liu Hao , Ma Shuai , Li Yang , Jin Peng , Hu Haitao , Tian Yantao
Published: November 2021

Background: The modified systemic inflammation score (mSIS), which is calculated by a composite score of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio and the albumin content in serum, is identified as the new score to predict the prognosis for various cancers. However, its significance for patients with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEJ), who receive surgery, remains unclear.

Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 317 patients with AEJ receiving surgery between September 2010 and December 2016. The associations between the mSIS and the clinicopathological features, overall survival (OS), as well as relapse-free survival (RFS), were assessed. In addition, the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (t-ROC) curve analysis was performed for comparing the value of those scoring systems in predicting patient prognosis.

Results: Of the 317 cases, 119 were rated as mSIS 0, 123 as mSIS 1, and 75 as mSIS 2. Besides, mSIS was significantly related to age and tumor size. On multivariate analysis, mSIS was identified as a predictor to independently predict OS (p < 0.001) along with RFS (p < 0.001), and a significantly strong correlation was observed at the advanced pTNM stages based on the mSIS system. In the subgroup analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery alone, mSIS was still the predictor for independently predicting patient OS (p < 0.001) together with RFS (p < 0.001) for the two groups. T-ROC analysis showed that mSIS was more accurate than controlling nutritional status score in predicting OS and RFS.

Conclusions: The mSIS can serve as an easy, useful scoring system to independently predict the preoperative survival for AEJ cases undergoing surgery.
Comparative Assessment of Heart Rate Variability Obtained via Ambulatory ECG and Polar Heart Rate Monitors in Healthy Cats: A Pilot Study
Authors: Grigg Emma K. , Ueda Yu , Walker Ashley L. , Hart Lynette A. , Simas Samany , Stern Joshua A.
Published: November 2021

Chronic exposure to stressful environments can negatively impact cats' health and welfare, affecting behavioral, autonomic, endocrine, and immune function, as with cats in shelters. Low-stress handling practices likely improve shelter cat welfare, but data supporting improved outcomes remain limited. Cardiac activity, particularly heart rate variability (HRV), is an indicator of stress and emotional state in humans and non-human animals, tracking important body functions associated with stress responsiveness, environmental adaptability, mental, and physical health. HRV studies in cats are limited, involving mainly anesthetized or restrained cats. This pilot study tested the feasibility of obtaining HRV data from unrestrained cats, using a commercially available cardiac monitoring system (Polar H10 with chest strap), compared with data from a traditional ambulatory electrocardiogram. Simultaneous data for the two systems were obtained for five adult cats. Overall, the Polar H10 monitor assessments of HRV were lower than the true HRV assessment by ambulatory ECG, except for SDNN. Correlation between the two systems was weak. Possible reasons for the lack of agreement between the two methods are discussed. At this time, our results do not support the use of Polar H10 heart rate monitors for studies of HRV in cats.
Micro-Range Actuation by Pressure-Induced Elastic Deformation of 316L Steel Membranes Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Fettweis Florian , Verrelst Bjorn , Bram Svend
Published: November 2021

In this paper, fundamental research is performed on membrane type actuators made out of 316L stainless steel, manufactured with Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). A total of six membranes with membrane thicknesses ranging from 0.6 mm up to 1.2 mm were scanned using a high precision metrology system to measure the membrane for displacement at different actuating pressures. The membranes were furthermore investigated for roughness, porosity and thickness. This showed that the thinnest membranes skewed in the print direction when actuated. The remaining membranes achieved higher specific displacements than finite element simulations (FES) predicted, due to surface roughness and porosity. Membrane type actuators can be used for precise actuation within the micrometre range. LPBF allows the creation of internal pockets and membranes in a single metal piece. In opposition to the more commonly used polymers for membrane-type actuators, LPBF steel printed parts offer high stiffness and actuation force. However, due to limitations of the LPBF process on thin walls, large deviations from FES occur. In this paper, a CAD and FES compensation strategy is suggested, which makes future, more complex and effective, designs possible.
Do Traditional Livestock Systems Fit into Contemporary Landscapes? Integrating Social Perceptions and Values on Landscape Change
Authors: Acebes Pablo , Iglesias-González Zuriñe , Muñoz-Galvez Francisco J.
Published: November 2021

European traditional cultural landscapes are increasingly modified by rural abandonment and urban growth processes. Acknowledged as of High Nature Value for providing multiple ecosystem services while contributing to human well-being, the future of these social-ecological systems is uncertain. Here we aim to (1) explore dominant land use and cover (LULC) changes linked to extensive livestock farming across an urban-rural gradient defined by a large city (Madrid) over the last three decades; (2) identify and classify the main driving forces shaping these landscape trajectories and; (3) acknowledge the main landscape values for promoting landscape stewardship under participatory governance frameworks. For doing so, we combine mapping analyses (CORINE Land cover) with stakeholder perceptions and positions. Our results show a dual process of progressive abandonment of agroecosystems linked to traditional livestock farming and an ever-increasing urban growth over the last three decades as the most important driving forces. The growing urban sprawl in areas close to Madrid begins to be perceived as problematic for interviewees. The decline of extensive livestock farming in detriment of tourism, particularly evident in rural areas far from Madrid, is perceived as a threat to the cultural heritage and traditions of rural people. This decline is also perceived as a worrying increase of wildfire risk. Stakeholders stressed the need of valuing extensive livestock farming to prevent rural-urban migration, dynamizing rural economies, conserving landscapes and traditions while producing food-quality products. Interviewees advocated for science-based, stakeholder-inclusive and participatory landscape planning and co-management, leading to more context-specific, regionalized policymaking.
Hatching Success Rather Than Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination as the Main Driver of Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Nesting Activity in the Pacific Coast of Central America
Authors: Morales Mérida Alejandra , Helier Aude , Cortés-Gómez Adriana A. , Girondot Marc
Published: November 2021

In marine turtles, sex is determined during a precise period during incubation: males are produced at lower temperatures and females at higher temperatures, a phenomenon called temperature-dependent sex determination. Nest temperature depends on many factors, including solar radiation. Albedo is the measure of the proportion of reflected solar radiation, and in terms of sand color, black sand absorbs the most energy, while white sand reflects more solar radiation. Based on this observation, darker sand beaches with higher temperatures should produce more females. As marine turtles show a high degree of philopatry, including natal homing, dark beaches should also produce more female hatchlings that return to nest when mature. When sand color is heterogeneous in a region, we hypothesize that darker beaches would have the most nests. Nevertheless, the high incubation temperature on beaches with a low albedo may result in low hatching success. Using Google Earth images and the SWOT database of nesting olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, we modeled sand color and nesting activity to test the hypothesis that darker beaches host larger concentrations of females because of feminization on darker beaches and female philopatry. We found the opposite result: the lower hatching success at beaches with a lower albedo could be the main driver of nesting activity heterogeneity for olive ridleys in Central America.
The Agreement between Feline Pancreatic Lipase Immunoreactivity and DGGR-Lipase Assay in Cats—Preliminary Results
Authors: Krasztel Magdalena Maria , Czopowicz Michał , Szaluś-Jordanow Olga , Moroz Agata , Mickiewicz Marcin , Kaba Jarosław
Published: November 2021

The colorimetric catalytic assay based on the use of 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6′-methylresorufin) (DGGR) ester as a substrate for pancreatic lipase activity is commonly used for the diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats. Even though the assay has generally been shown to yield consistent results with feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) assay, the agreement may vary between assays of different manufacturers. In this study, the chance-corrected agreement between a DGGR-lipase assay offered by one of the biggest providers of diagnostic solutions in Poland and fPLI assay was investigated. The study was carried out on 50 cats in which DGGR-lipase activity and fPLI were tested in the same blood sample. The chance-corrected agreement was determined using Gwet’s AC1 coefficient separately for the fPLI assay’s cut-off values of >3.5 μg/L and >5.3 μg/L. The DGGR-lipase activity significantly positively correlated with fPLI (Rs = 0.665; CI 95%: 0.451, 0.807, p < 0.001). The chance-corrected agreement between the fPLI assay and DGGR-lipase assay differed considerably depending on the cut-off values of the DGGR-lipase assay. When the cut-off value reported in the literature (>26 U/L) was used, it was poor to fair. It was moderate at the cut-off value recommended by the laboratory (>45 U/L), and good at the cut-off value recommended by the assay’s manufacturer (>60 U/L). The highest agreement was obtained between the fPLI assay at the cut-off value of 3.5 μg/L and the DGGR-lipase assay at the cut-off value of 55 U/L (AC1 = 0.725; CI 95%: 0.537, 0.914) and between the fPLI assay at the cut-off value of 5.3 μg/L and the DGGR-lipase assay at the cut-off value of 70 U/L (AC1 = 0.749; CI 95%: 0.577, 0.921). The study confirms that the chance-corrected agreement between the two assays is good. Prospective studies comparing both assays to a diagnostic gold standard are needed to determine which of them is more accurate.
Dietary Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis Promote Goose Growth by Improving Intestinal Structure and Function, Antioxidative Capacity and Microbial Composition
Authors: Yu Jie , Dong Biao , Zhao Minmeng , Liu Long , Geng Tuoyu , Gong Daoqing , Wang Jian
Published: November 2021

Probiotics are a substitute for antibiotics in the sense of intestinal health maintenance. Clostridium butyricum and Bacillus subtilis, as probiotic bacteria, have been widely used in animal production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the two probiotic bacteria in geese. A total of 288 1-day old, healthy Yangzhou geese were randomly assigned into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) with 6 replicates of 12 birds each. Group A, as control, was fed a basal diet, and the treatment groups (B, C and D) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg Clostridium butyricum (the viable count was 3.0 × 106 CFU/g), 250 mg/kg Bacillus subtilis (the viable count was 2.0 × 107 CFU/g), or a combination of the two probiotic bacteria for 70 days, respectively. The results indicated that: compared with the control group, dietary probiotics (1) promoted the growth and feed intake of the geese, (2) increased the absolute weight of duodenum, (3) increased the antioxidative capacity (total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)) of intestinal mucosa, (4) improved intestinal morphology (the ratio of villus height to crypt depth), (5) but did not induce inflammation and changes of tight junction in the intestine, which was indicated by no induction of pro/inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNFAIP3) and tight junction related genes (TJP1 and OCLN). Moreover, dietary probiotics increased the relative abundances of Firmicutes phylum and Lactobacillus genus and decreased the relative abundances of Proteobacteria phylum or Ralstonia genus in the intestinal content. In addition, the alpha diversity (observed species, Chao1, and estimate the number of OTUs in the community(ACE)) was reduced and the predicted functions of intestinal microflora, including peptidases, carbon fixation and metabolic function of starch and sugar, were enhanced by dietary probiotics. In conclusion, dietary probiotics promote the growth of geese by their positive effects on intestinal structure and function, the composition and functions of gut microflora, and intestinal antioxidative capacity.
Micronuclei and Nuclear Buds Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Crocodylus moreletii as Useful Biomarkers in Aquatic Environments
Authors: Zamora-Perez Ana Lourdes , Luna-Aguirre Jaime , Zúñiga-González Guillermo Moisés , Torres-Bugarín Olivia , Torres-Mendoza Blanca Miriam , Gallegos-Arreola Martha Patricia , Ortiz-García Ramón Guillermo , Gutiérrez-Sevilla Juan Ernesto , Gómez-Meda Belinda Claudia
Published: November 2021

Micronuclei (MN) are used to assess genotoxic exposure, whereas nuclear buds (NBs) have been linked to genotoxic events. Crocodylus moreletii was studied to identify MN and NBs. Three groups were formed: Group 1 (water) and groups 2 and 3 (7 or 10 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide). A drop of blood was obtained daily from the claw tip at 0 to 120 h. Spontaneous micronucleated erythrocytes (MNEs) and erythrocytes with nuclear buds (NBEs) were counted. The frequencies of micronucleated young erythrocytes (MNYEs) and NB young erythrocytes (NBYEs) were evaluated, including the ratio of young erythrocytes (YE)/1000 total erythrocytes. No significant differences were observed in the YE proportion on sampling days; group 1 did not show differences for any parameter, whereas group 2 showed significant differences in MNEs and NBEs, and group 3 showed differences in NBEs and NBYEs. Some mitotic activity in circulation was observed in YEs. In conclusion, NBEs could be a more sensitive biomarker to genotoxic damage than MNEs. The identification of these biomarkers leads us to propose Crocodylus moreletii as a possible environment bioindicator because these parameters could be useful to analyze the in vivo health status of these reptiles and for biomonitoring genotoxic pollutants in their habitats.
Effects of Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation on Productive Performance, Pectoral Myopathies, and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Khalil Shady , Saenbungkhor Nualprae , Kesnava Kajorn , Sivapirunthep Panneepa , Sitthigripong Ronachai , Jumanee Sukanya , Chaosap Chanporn
Published: November 2021

The effects of guanidinoacteic acid (GAA) supplementation on productive performance, pectoral myopathies, and meat quality of broilers were studied. Treatments consisted of corn/soybean-based diets with a GAA supplement (0%, 0.06%, and 0.12%). A total of 546 one-day-old Ross-308 males were randomly allocated to 42 floor pens with 14 replicates (13 birds/pens) for each treatment. The results showed that GAA at doses of 0.06% and 0.12% improved feed conversion, increased the percentage of normal breast, and decreased the severity of wooden breast. Breast muscle myopathy severity was positively correlated with heavy birds and negatively correlated with breast muscle creatine and glycogen. Breast muscle creatine and glycogen correlated positively with normal, less severe pectoral myopathies and meat quality. In conclusion, GAA supplementation improved broiler performance without exacerbating pectoral myopathy or affecting meat quality.
Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Antioxidant Status of Sheep Supplemented with Tannins: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Orzuna-Orzuna José Felipe , Dorantes-Iturbide Griselda , Lara-Bueno Alejandro , Mendoza-Martínez Germán David , Miranda-Romero Luis Alberto , Lee-Rangel Héctor Aarón
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with tannins (TANs) on productive performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, oxidative stability, and blood serum antioxidant capacity of sheep through a meta-analysis. Using Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases, a systematic search was performed for studies published in scientific journals that investigated the effects of TANs supplementation on the variables of interest. Only studies with weaned or older sheep were included. The data analyzed were extracted from 53 peer-reviewed publications. The sheep included in the present study were between 2 and 6 months old, and between 12 and 31 kg of body weight. The effects of TANs were analyzed using random-effects statistical models to examine the standardized mean difference (SMD) between treatments with TANs and control (no TANs). Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and a subgroup analysis was performed for covariates that were significant. Supplementation with TANs did not affect dry matter intake, pH, color (L* and b*), Warner–Bratzler shear force, cooking loss and meat chemical composition (p > 0.05). Supplementation with TANs increased daily weight gain (SMD = 0.274, p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity (SMD = 1.120, p < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity (SMD = 0.801, p < 0.001) and catalase (SMD = 0.848, p < 0.001), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in blood serum (SMD = −0.535, p < 0.05). Supplementation with TANs decreased feed conversion rate (SMD = −0.246, p < 0.05), and the concentration of MDA (SMD = −2.020, p < 0.001) and metmyoglobin (SMD = −0.482, p < 0.05) in meat. However, meat redness (SMD = 0.365), hot carcass yield (SMD = 0.234), cold carcass yield (SMD = 0.510), backfat thickness (SMD = 0.565) and the Longissimus dorsi muscle area (SMD = 0.413) increased in response to TANs supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of tannins in sheep diets improves productive performance, antioxidant status in blood serum, oxidative stability of meat and some other characteristics related to meat and carcass quality.
The Mechanism of the Neuroprotective Effect of Kynurenic Acid in the Experimental Model of Neonatal Hypoxia–Ischemia: The Link to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Bratek-Gerej Ewelina , Ziembowicz Apolonia , Godlewski Jakub , Salinska Elzbieta
Published: November 2021

The over-activation of NMDA receptors and oxidative stress are important components of neonatal hypoxia–ischemia (HI). Kynurenic acid (KYNA) acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist and is known as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, which makes it a potential therapeutic compound. This study aimed to establish the neuroprotective and antioxidant potential of KYNA in an experimental model of HI. HI on seven-day-old rats was used as an experimental model. The animals were injected i.p. with different doses of KYNA 1 h or 6 h after HI. The neuroprotective effect of KYNA was determined by the measurement of brain damage and elements of oxidative stress (ROS and glutathione (GSH) level, SOD, GPx, and catalase activity). KYNA applied 1 h after HI significantly reduced weight loss of the ischemic hemisphere, and prevented neuronal loss in the hippocampus and cortex. KYNA significantly reduced HI-increased ROS, GSH level, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Only the highest used concentration of KYNA showed neuroprotection when applied 6 h after HI. The presented results indicate induction of neuroprotection at the ROS formation stage. However, based on the presented data, it is not possible to pinpoint whether NMDA receptor inhibition or the scavenging abilities are the dominant KYNA-mediated neuroprotective mechanisms.
Vitamin E Delivery Systems Increase Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Red Deer Sperm Cells: Hydrogel and Nanoemulsion Carriers
Authors: Jurado-Campos Alejandro , Soria-Meneses Pedro Javier , Sánchez-Rubio Francisca , Niza Enrique , Bravo Iván , Alonso-Moreno Carlos , Arenas-Moreira María , García-Álvarez Olga , Soler Ana Josefa , Garde José Julián , Fernández-Santos María del Rocío
Published: November 2021

Oxidative stress has become a major concern in the field of spermatology, and one of the possible solutions to this acute problem would be the use of antioxidant protection; however, more studies are required in this field, as highly contradictory results regarding the addition of antioxidants have been obtained. Vitamin E is a powerful biological antioxidant, but its low stability and high hydrophobicity limit its application in spermatology, making the use of organic solvents necessary, which renders spermatozoa practically motionless. Keeping this in mind, we propose the use of hydrogels (HVEs) and nanoemulsions (NVEs), alone or in combination, as carriers for the controlled release of vitamin E, thus, improving its solubility and stability and preventing oxidative stress in sperm cells. Cryopreserved sperm from six stags was thawed and extended to 30 × 106 sperm/mL in Bovine Gamete Medium (BGM). Once aliquoted, the samples were incubated as follows: control, free vitamin E (1 mM), NVEs (9 mM), HVEs (1 mM), and the combination of HVEs and NVEs (H + N), with or without induced oxidative stress (100 µM Fe2+/ascorbate). The different treatments were analyzed after 0, 2, 5, and 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Motility (CASA®), viability (YO-PRO-1/IP), mitochondrial membrane potential (Mitotracker Deep Red 633), lipid peroxidation (C11 BODIPY 581/591), intracellular reactive oxygen species production (CM-H2DCFDA), and DNA status (SCSA®) were assessed. Our results show that the deleterious effects of exogenous oxidative stress were prevented by the vitamin E-loaded carriers proposed, while the kinematic sperm parameters (p ˂ 0.05) and sperm viability were always preserved. Moreover, the vitamin E formulations maintained and preserved mitochondrial activity, prevented sperm lipid peroxidation, and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (p ˂ 0.05) under oxidative stress conditions. Vitamin E formulations were significantly different as regards the free vitamin E samples (p < 0.001), whose sperm kinematic parameters drastically decreased. This is the first time that vitamin E has been formulated as hydrogels. This new formulation could be highly relevant for sperm physiology preservation, signifying an excellent approach against sperm oxidative damage.
μ-Opioid Receptor-Mediated AT1R–TLR4 Crosstalk Promotes Microglial Activation to Modulate Blood Pressure Control in the Central Nervous System
Authors: Sun Gwo-Ching , Tse Jockey , Hsu Yung-Ho , Ho Chiu-Yi , Tseng Ching-Jiunn , Cheng Pei-Wen
Published: November 2021

Opioids, a kind of peptide hormone involved in the development of hypertension, cause systemic and cerebral inflammation, and affects regions of the brain that are important for blood pressure (BP) control. A cause-and-effect relationship exists between hypertension and inflammation; however, the role of blood pressure in cerebral inflammation is not clear. Evidence showed that AT1R and μOR heterodimers’ formation in the NTS might lead to the progression of hypertension. In this study, we investigated the formation of the μOR/AT1R heterodimer, determined its correlation with μORs level in the NTS, and explored the role of TLR4-dependent inflammation in the development of hypertension. Results showed that Ang II increased superoxide and Iba-1 (microgliosis marker: ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule (1) levels in the NTS of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The AT1R II inhibitor, losartan, significantly decreased BP and abolished superoxide, Iba-1, TLR4 expression induced by Ang II. Furthermore, losartan significantly increased nNsOSS1416 phosphorylation. Administration of a μOR agonist or antagonist in the NTS of WKY and SHRs increased endogenous μ-opioids, triggered the formation of μOR/AT1R heterodimers and the TLR4-dependent inflammatory pathway, and attenuated the effect of depressor nitric oxide (NO). These results imply an important link between neurotoxicity and superoxides wherein abnormal increases in NTS endogenous μ-opioids promote the interaction between Ang II and μOR, the binding of Ang II to AT1R, and the activation of microglia. In addition, the interaction between Ang II and μOR enhanced the formation of the AT1R and μOR heterodimers, and inactivated nNOS-derived NO, leading to the development of progressive hypertension.
Towards Enhanced Mobile Broadband Communications: A Tutorial on Enabling Technologies, Design Considerations, and Prospects of 5G and beyond Fixed Wireless Access Networks
Authors: Alimi Isiaka A. , Patel Romil K. , Muga Nelson J. , Pinto Armando N. , Teixeira António L. , Monteiro Paulo P.
Published: November 2021

There has been a growing interconnection across the world owing to various multimedia applications and services. Fixed wireless access (FWA) is an attractive wireless solution for delivering multimedia services to different homes. With the fifth-generation (5G) and beyond mobile networks, the FWA performance can be enhanced significantly. However, their implementation will present different challenges on the transport network due to the incessant increase in the number of required cell-sites and the subsequent increase in the per-site requirements. This paper presents a comprehensive tutorial on the enabling technologies, design considerations, requirements, and prospects of broadband schemes. Furthermore, the related technical challenges of FWA are reviewed, and we proffer potential solutions to address them. Besides, we review various transport network options that can be employed for FWA deployment. In this regard, we offer an in-depth discussion on their related requirements for different use cases. Moreover, we give an insight into the 3GPP RAN functional split implementations and implications on the 5G FWA transport network solutions. The concepts of virtualized RANs for attending flexibly to the dynamic nature of different use cases are also presented.
A Knowledge Graph-Enhanced Attention Aggregation Network for Making Recommendations
Authors: Zhang Dehai , Yang Xiaobo , Liu Linan , Liu Qing
Published: November 2021

In recent years, many researchers have devoted time to designing algorithms used to introduce external information from knowledge graphs, to solve the problems of data sparseness and the cold start, and thus improve the performance of recommendation systems. Inspired by these studies, we proposed KANR, a knowledge graph-enhanced attention aggregation network for making recommendations. This is an end-to-end deep learning model using knowledge graph embedding to enhance the attention aggregation network for making recommendations. It consists of three main parts. The first is the attention aggregation network, which collect the user’s interaction history and captures the user’s preference for each item. The second is the knowledge graph-embedded model, which aims to integrate the knowledge. The semantic information of the nodes and edges in the graph is mapped to the low-dimensional vector space. The final part is the information interaction unit, which is used for fusing the features of two vectors. Experiments showed that our model achieved a stable improvement compared to the baseline model in making recommendations for movies, books, and music.
Three-Dimensional Buckling Analysis of Functionally Graded Saturated Porous Rectangular Plates under Combined Loading Conditions
Authors: Kiarasi Faraz , Babaei Masoud , Asemi Kamran , Dimitri Rossana , Tornabene Francesco
Published: November 2021

The present work studies the buckling behavior of functionally graded (FG) porous rectangular plates subjected to different loading conditions. Three different porosity distributions are assumed throughout the thickness, namely, a nonlinear symmetric, a nonlinear asymmetric and a uniform distribution. A novel approach is proposed here based on a combination of the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method and finite elements (FEs), labeled here as the FE-GDQ method, while assuming a Biot’s constitutive law in lieu of the classical elasticity relations. A parametric study is performed systematically to study the sensitivity of the buckling response of porous structures, to different input parameters, such as the aspect ratio, porosity and Skempton coefficients, along with different boundary conditions (BCs) and porosity distributions, with promising and useful conclusions for design purposes of many engineering structural porous members.
Transcriptome Analyses of In Vitro Exercise Models by Clenbuterol Supplementation or Electrical Pulse Stimulation
Authors: Fukushima Taku , Takata Miho , Kato Ayano , Uchida Takayuki , Nikawa Takeshi , Sakakibara Iori
Published: November 2021

Exercise has beneficial effects on human health and is affected by two different pathways; motoneuron and endocrine. For the advancement of exercise research, in vitro exercise models are essential. We established two in vitro exercise models using C2C12 myotubes; EPS (electrical pulse stimulation) for a motoneuron model and clenbuterol, a specific β2 adrenergic receptor agonist, treatment for an endocrine model. For clenbuterol treatment, we found that Ppargc1a was induced only in low glucose media (1 mg/mL) using a 1-h treatment of 30 ng/mL clenbuterol. Global transcriptional changes of clenbuterol treatment were analyzed by RNA-seq and gene ontology analyses and indicated that mitogenesis and the PI3K-Akt pathway were enhanced, which is consistent with the effects of exercise. Cxcl1 and Cxcl5 were identified as candidate myokines induced by adrenaline. As for the EPS model, we compared 1 Hz of 1-pulse EPS and 1 Hz of 10-pulse EPS for 24 h and determined Myh gene expressions. Ten-pulse EPS induced higher Myh2 and Myh7 expression. Global transcriptional changes of 10-pulse EPS were also analyzed using RNA-seq, and gene ontology analyses indicated that CaMK signaling and hypertrophy pathways were enhanced, which is also consistent with the effects of exercise. In this paper, we provided two transcriptome results of in vitro exercise models and these databases will contribute to advances in exercise research.
Influence of Cavity Size on the Survival of Single Surface Atraumatic Restorative Treatment Using Glass Ionomer Cement with or without Chlorhexidine Diacetate—A Randomized Trial
Authors: Mohamed Roshan Noor , Basha Sakeenabi , S. Joshi Jooie , Parameshwarappa Poornima
Published: November 2021

The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of cavity size on the survival of conventional and CHX modified GIC in single surface primary molars receiving Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART). A randomized controlled trial with a split-mouth design was conducted on 90 children with symmetrical bilateral single surface carious lesions on primary molars. The teeth were randomly allotted to the conventional GIC group (group 1, n = 90) and CHX modified GIC group (group 2, n = 90). Both groups received atraumatic restorative treatment under rubber dam isolation. The cavity size was measured in terms of depth, mesiodistal, and buccolingual dimensions. The survival of ART restorations was measured after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The difference in proportion was tested using the Kruskal–Wallis H test, and survival curve estimation was carried out using the Kaplan–Meier method. The overall survival of all ART restorations was 83.3% at 24 months for the total sample. The survival of conventional GIC at 24 months was 83.9%, and for CHX-modified GIC was 82.7% (p > 0.05). The collective overall success of 65.1% was seen in the cavity volume category of 10–29.9 mm3. CHX modified GIC showed high survival percentage (60%) with depth >3 mm. To conclude, no significant difference was observed in the overall survival percentage of conventional and CHX modified GIC. Survival percentage was highest for cavities with a volume of 10–19.9 mm3.
Characterisation of COVID-19-Related Tweets in the Croatian Language: Framework Based on the Cro-CoV-cseBERT Model
Authors: Babić Karlo , Petrović Milan , Beliga Slobodan , Martinčić-Ipšić Sanda , Matešić Mihaela , Meštrović Ana
Published: November 2021

This study aims to provide insights into the COVID-19-related communication on Twitter in the Republic of Croatia. For that purpose, we developed an NL-based framework that enables automatic analysis of a large dataset of tweets in the Croatian language. We collected and analysed 206,196 tweets related to COVID-19 and constructed a dataset of 10,000 tweets which we manually annotated with a sentiment label. We trained the Cro-CoV-cseBERT language model for the representation and clustering of tweets. Additionally, we compared the performance of four machine learning algorithms on the task of sentiment classification. After identifying the best performing setup of NLP methods, we applied the proposed framework in the task of characterisation of COVID-19 tweets in Croatia. More precisely, we performed sentiment analysis and tracked the sentiment over time. Furthermore, we detected how tweets are grouped into clusters with similar themes across three pandemic waves. Additionally, we characterised the tweets by analysing the distribution of sentiment polarity (in each thematic cluster and over time) and the number of retweets (in each thematic cluster and sentiment class). These results could be useful for additional research and interpretation in the domains of sociology, psychology or other sciences, as well as for the authorities, who could use them to address crisis communication problems.
Interoperability between Real and Virtual Environments Connected by a GAN for the Path-Planning Problem
Authors: Maldonado-Romo Javier , Aldape-Pérez Mario
Published: November 2021

Path planning is a fundamental issue in robotic systems because it requires coordination between the environment and an agent. The path-planning generator is composed of two modules: perception and planning. The first module scans the environment to determine the location, detect obstacles, estimate objects in motion, and build the planner module’s restrictions. On the other hand, the second module controls the flight of the system. This process is computationally expensive and requires adequate performance to avoid accidents. For this reason, we propose a novel solution to improve conventional robotic systems’ functions, such as systems having a small-capacity battery, a restricted size, and a limited number of sensors, using fewer elements. A navigation dataset was generated through a virtual simulator and a generative adversarial network to connect the virtual and real environments under an end-to-end approach. Furthermore, three path generators were analyzed using deep-learning solutions: a deep convolutional neural network, hierarchical clustering, and an auto-encoder. Since the path generators share a characteristic vector, transfer learning approaches complex problems by using solutions with fewer features, minimizing the costs and optimizing the resources of conventional system architectures, thus improving the limitations with respect to the implementation in embedded devices. Finally, a visualizer applying augmented reality was used to display the path generated by the proposed system.
Quantifying Auditory Presence Using Electroencephalography
Authors: Zhang Shufeng , Feng Xuelei , Shen Yong
Published: November 2021

Presence is used to assess the subjective experience of being in one place when physically situated in another. Recently, the research on presence has gained increasing attention due to the wide use of immersive audio technologies. Currently, the most widely-used measurement of presence is based on post-experiment self-report questionnaires. It is reliable but imperfect due to the psychological changes caused by the act of answering the questionnaire when immersed in the virtual environment. Therefore, the present work aims to find an objective way to measure presence, and electroencephalography (EEG) was investigated as a possible tool for this objective measurement. In this study, two listening tests were conducted, where eight loudspeakers were used to reproduce urban soundscapes to stimulate auditory presence. Presence was measured by both questionnaires and EEG. Results showed a significant correlation between T/B (Theta/Beta Ratio) extracted from EEG and subjective presence levels assessed by questionnaires, suggesting the possible use of EEG to measure presence objectively. This study could bring some insight for the research of presence, and related technologies, such as VR, video games and immersive audio production.
A Language Model for Misogyny Detection in Latin American Spanish Driven by Multisource Feature Extraction and Transformers
Authors: Aldana-Bobadilla Edwin , Molina-Villegas Alejandro , Montelongo-Padilla Yuridia , Lopez-Arevalo Ivan , S. Sordia Oscar
Published: November 2021

Creating effective mechanisms to detect misogyny online automatically represents significant scientific and technological challenges. The complexity of recognizing misogyny through computer models lies in the fact that it is a subtle type of violence, it is not always explicitly aggressive, and it can even hide behind seemingly flattering words, jokes, parodies, and other expressions. Currently, it is even difficult to have an exact figure for the rate of misogynistic comments online because, unlike other types of violence, such as physical violence, these events are not registered by any statistical systems. This research contributes to the development of models for the automatic detection of misogynistic texts in Latin American Spanish and contributes to the design of data augmentation methodologies since the amount of data required for deep learning models is considerable.
A Novel Framework to Assess Soil Structure Interaction (SSI) Effects with Equivalent Fixed-Based Models
Authors: Forcellini Davide
Published: November 2021

Soil structure interaction (SSI) effects have been extensively studied with advanced numerical simulations even if these approaches are time consuming and require much effort to perform. In particular, when SSI models are compared with fixed based ones, two main effects need to be considered: period elongation and damping increase. The paper proposes numerical models to build fixed based models calibrated on these two parameters and perform complex SSI analyses. A new framework that may be used to assess SSI with equivalent fixed-based models is herein presented and validated with non-linear dynamic numerical simulations. Opensees was performed to reproduce non-linear numerical simulations by considering hysteretic materials and advanced soil models.
Estimation of Burst Pressure of PVC Pipe Using Average Shear Stress Yield Criterion: Experimental and Numerical Studies
Authors: Yang Jinhui , Hu Shaowei
Published: November 2021

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes have been extensively applied in water supply network fields. Understanding the mechanical properties and burst pressure of PVC pipes is necessary because a large number of pipes rupture due to excessive internal water pressure. In this paper, a practical approach based on the average shear stress yield (ASSY) criterion was proposed to assess the PVC pipe burst pressure. In addition, the PVC uniaxial tensile tests and the pipe burst tests were carried out to determine the material characteristic parameters and burst pressure of the PVC pipe. Furthermore, a finite element analysis (FEA) of PVC burst pressure was also performed based on the tangent intersection (TI) method to validate the proposed method and experimental results. Moreover, the impact of material parameters and pipe size, such as the strain hardening exponent and standard dimension ratio (SDR) on bursting pressure, were investigated. The comparison with the proposed theoretical model and the experimental and FEA results shows that the burst pressure derived from ASSY was consistent with the experimental data, with a relative error ranging from −2.76% to 2.65%, which is more accurate compared to other yield criteria. The burst pressure obtained by the ASSY approach declined with the increase of the hardening exponent n and increased with the increase of SDR. Therefore, the burst pressure solution-based ASSY proposed in this paper is an adequately suitable and precise predictive tool for assessing the failure pressure of PVC pipes.
Systematic Experimental Evaluation of Function Based Cellular Lattice Structure Manufactured by 3D Printing
Authors: Perween Shaheen , Fahad Muhammad , Khan Maqsood A.
Published: November 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) has a greater potential to construct lighter parts, having complex geometries with no additional cost, by embedding cellular lattice structures within an object. The geometry of lattice structure can be engineered to achieve improved strength and extra level of performance with the advantage of consuming less material and energy. This paper provides a systematic experimental evaluation of a series of cellular lattice structures, embedded within a cylindrical specimen and constructed according to terms and requirements of ASTMD1621-16, which is standard for the compressive properties of rigid cellular plastics. The modeling of test specimens is based on function representation (FRep) and constructed by fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. Two different test series, each having eleven test specimens of different parameters, are printed along with their replicates of 70% and 100% infill density. Test specimens are subjected to uniaxial compressive load to produce 13% deformation to the height of the specimen. Comparison of results reveals that specimens, having cellular lattice structure and printed with 70% infill density, exhibit greater strength and improvement in strength to mass ratio, as compared to the solid printed specimen without structure.