bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Spatial AI-Based Agricultural Robotic Platform for Wheat Detection and Collision Avoidance
Authors: Gunturu Sujith , Munir Arslan , Ullah Hayat , Welch Stephen , Flippo Daniel
Published: August 2022

To obtain more consistent measurements through the course of a wheat growing season, we conceived and designed an autonomous robotic platform that performs collision avoidance while navigating in crop rows using spatial artificial intelligence (AI). The main constraint the agronomists have is to not run over the wheat while driving. Accordingly, we have trained a spatial deep learning model that helps navigate the robot autonomously in the field while avoiding collisions with the wheat. To train this model, we used publicly available databases of prelabeled images of wheat, along with the images of wheat that we have collected in the field. We used the MobileNet single shot detector (SSD) as our deep learning model to detect wheat in the field. To increase the frame rate for real-time robot response to field environments, we trained MobileNet SSD on the wheat images and used a new stereo camera, the Luxonis Depth AI Camera. Together, the newly trained model and camera could achieve a frame rate of 18–23 frames per second (fps)—fast enough for the robot to process its surroundings once every 2–3 inches of driving. Once we knew the robot accurately detects its surroundings, we addressed the autonomous navigation of the robot. The new stereo camera allows the robot to determine its distance from the trained objects. In this work, we also developed a navigation and collision avoidance algorithm that utilizes this distance information to help the robot see its surroundings and maneuver in the field, thereby precisely avoiding collisions with the wheat crop. Extensive experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of our proposed method. We also compared the quantitative results obtained by our proposed MobileNet SSD model with those of other state-of-the-art object detection models, such as the YOLO V5 and Faster region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) models. The detailed comparative analysis reveals the effectiveness of our method in terms of both model precision and inference speed.
The Role of Ewes’ Udder Health on Echotexture and Blood Flow Changes during the Dry and Lactation Periods
Authors: Ntemka Aikaterini , Tsakmakidis Ioannis , Boscos Constantin , Theodoridis Alexandros , Kiossis Evangelos
Published: August 2022

The objective of the current study was to investigate the echotextural and hemodynamic changes of ewes entering the dry period with or without subclinical mastitis. B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography were applied to 12 Chios ewes (6 with healthy udders (group A) and 6 with subclinical mastitis (group B)) before the dry period, during the dry period (the involution phase, steady state, and transition phase), and postpartum. The color Doppler of the mammary arteries was used to evaluate them according to the pulsatility index (PI), resistive index (RI), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV), blood flow volume (BFV), and artery diameter (D). Udder parenchyma images, analyzed by Echovet v2.0, were used to evaluate the mean value (MV), standard deviation (SD), gradient mean value (GMV), gradient variance (GV), contrast (Con), entropy (Ent), gray value distribution (GVD), run length distribution (RunLD), and long run emphasis (LRunEm). In the involution phase, the PI was higher in group B compared to group A (p ≤ 0.05). The PI and RI were higher postpartum, whereas the EDV, TAVM, and D were higher in the transition phase (p ≤ 0.05). Neither the period nor the ewe group affected the MV, SD, GMV, GV, Con, and GVD values (p ≤ 0.05). In the steady state, the LRunEm was higher in group B, but postpartum, it was higher in group A (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, B-mode and Doppler can reveal differences (i) between healthy ewes and ewes with subclinical mastitis and (ii) among the different periods studied. Further research is needed on the blood flow and echotexture indices of the udders of ewes with unilateral subclinical mastitis.
Physicochemical Changes of Heat-Treated Corn Grain Used in Ruminant Nutrition
Authors: Kokić Bojana , Dokić Ljubica , Pezo Lato , Jovanović Rade , Spasevski Nedeljka , Kojić Jovana , Hadnađev Miroslav
Published: August 2022

Cereal grain is processed using different combinations of heat, moisture, time, and mechanical action in order to improve its digestibility. The objective of the present research was to quantitatively represent the physicochemical properties of raw and processed starch using an in vitro methodology, as well as to describe the changes that occurred after heat treatment, such as pelleting, steam flaking, micronization, and extrusion of corn. Based on the obtained results, pelleting, steam flaking, and micronization can be considered as mild heat treatment methods, whereas extrusion proved to be a severe heat treatment method. Analysis of functional and pasting properties implied a possible interaction between the degraded components in the steam-flaked sample, as well as in the micronized sample, through to a lesser extent. Additionally, the occurrence of dextrins was noted after extrusion. The obtained results indicate the existence of significant differences in the physicochemical properties of corn starch depending on the heat treatment applied, which could possibly affect rumen starch degradation traits.
The Odontocete Ear Canal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (ECALT) and Lymph Nodes: Morphological and Pathological Description with Immuno-Phenotypic Characterisation
Authors: De Vreese Steffen , Centelleghe Cinzia , Graïc Jean-Marie , Corrazola Giorgia , IJsseldijk Lonneke L. , André Michel , Mazzariol Sandro
Published: August 2022

A changing marine environment with emerging natural and anthropogenic stressors challenges the marine mammal immune system. The skin and adnexa form a first protective barrier in the immune response, although this is still relatively understudied in cetaceans. The cellular and tissue morphology of the nodular and diffuse lymphoid tissue are not fully charted and the physiological responses are not yet completely understood. The odontocete’s external ear canal has a complex relationship with the external environment, with an artificial lumen rendering the inside of the canal a relatively secluded environment. In this work, we studied the odontocete ear canal-associated lymphoid tissue (ECALT) by histo- and immunohistochemistry (HC, IHC) with anti-CD3, anti-CD20, anti-Iba-1, anti-HLA-DR, and anti-vimentin antibodies. The ECALT cellular composition consists mainly of B-lymphocytes with the occasional presence of T-lymphocytes and the dispersed distribution of the macrophages. In cases of activation, the cellular reaction showed a similar pattern with the occasional presence of T-cells, plasma cells, and neutrophils. Nodular lymphoid tissue was generally in line with the description in other odontocetes, although with abundant erythrocytes throughout the entire organ. This study contributes to the understanding of the cellular composition of diffuse and nodular lymphoid tissue in several species of odontocetes, and in association with inflammation of the external ear canal.
Ketosis Alters Transcriptional Adaptations of Subcutaneous White Adipose Tissue in Holstein Cows during the Transition Period
Authors: Ning Mao , Zhao Yihan , Li Zhixin , Cao Jie
Published: August 2022

Ketosis is a common nutritional, metabolic disease during the perinatal period in dairy cows characterized by elevated blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate adaptive changes in adipose tissue during the perinatal period of dairy cows. Blood and tailhead subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) were obtained from ketotic cows (Ket = 8, BHBA ≥ 1.4 mmol/L) and non-ketotic cows (Nket = 6, BHBA < 1.4 mmol/L) 21 d pre-partum and 10 d post-partum. Compared with pre-partum, decreased lipid synthesis due to down-regulation of PCK1 may be in a strong association with clinical ketosis. Simultaneously, PCK2 was downregulated in the Ket postnatally compared to its expression prenatally, and the expression of PCK2 was 2.7~4.2 times higher than that of PCK1, implying a more severe lipid storage impairment in the Ket. Moreover, compared to pre-partum, the upregulated differentially expressed genes post-partum in the Ket were enriched in the inflammatory response biological process. The higher expression of TNC (tenascin C) in the post-partum Ket relative to the Nket suggested that the adipose tissue of ketotic cows might also be accompanied by tissue fibrosis. Notably, pre-partum CD209 was higher in the Ket than in the Nket, which might be used as a candidate marker for the pre-partum prediction of ketosis. Combined with published gene expression traits, these results suggested that inflammation leads to a more widespread downregulation of the lipid synthesis gene network in adipose tissue in ketotic cows. Additionally, sWAT in post-partum cows with ketosis might also be accompanied by tissue fibrosis which could make the treatment of ketosis more difficult.
Using Untargeted LC-MS Metabolomics to Identify the Association of Biomarkers in Cattle Feces with Marbling Standard Longissimus Lumborum
Authors: Chen Dong , Su Minchao , Zhu He , Zhong Gang , Wang Xiaoyan , Ma Weimin , Wanapat Metha , Tan Zhiliang
Published: August 2022

Background: To improve the grade of beef marbling has great economic value in the cattle industry since marbling has the traits of high quality and comprehensive nutrition. And because of the marbling’s importance and complexity, it is indispensable to explore marbled beef at multiple levels. This experiment studied the relationship between fecal metabolites and marbling characters, and further screened biomarkers. Results: We performed fecal metabolomics analysis on 30 individuals selected from 100 crossbreed cattle (Luxi Yellow cattle ♀ × Japanese Wagyu cattle ♂), 15 with an extremely high-grade marbling beef and 15 with an extremely low-grade marbling beef. A total of 9959 and 8389 m/z features were detected in positive ionization and negative ionization mode by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Unfortunately, the sample separation in the PCA is not obvious, and the predictive ability of the orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA) model is not good. However, we got six differential metabolites filtered by VIP > 1 and p < 0.05. After that, we used weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and found out a module in each positive and negative mode most related to the trait of marbling beef, and then identified three metabolites in positive mode. By further annotation of the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), it was found that these metabolites involved a variety of metabolic ways, including sphingomyelin metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and so on. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the predictability of metabolites, and the result showed that SM(d18:0/16:1(9Z)) (AUC = 0.72), PC(15:0/18:2(9Z,12Z)) (AUC = 0.72), ADP (AUC = 0.71), PC(16:0/16:0) (AUC = 0.73), and 3-O-Sulfogalactosylceramide (d18:1/18:0) (AUC = 0.69) have an accuracy diagnosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study supports new opinions for the successive evaluation of marbling beef through metabolites. Furthermore, six non-invasive fecal metabolites that can evaluate beef marbling grade were found, including SM(d18:0/16:1(9Z)), PC(15:0/18:2(9Z,12Z)), ADP, PC(16:0/16:0), and 3-O-Sulfogalactosylceramide.
Effects of Multi-Strain Probiotics and Perilla frutescens Seed Extract Supplementation Alone or Combined on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Indices, and Intestinal Health of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Li Jian , Zhang Qianqian , Zhuo Yong , Fang Zhengfeng , Che Lianqiang , Xu Shengyu , Feng Bin , Lin Yan , Jiang Xuemei , Zhao Xilun , Wu De
Published: August 2022

This study examined the effects of multi-strain probiotics (BL) and Perilla frutescens seed extract (PSE), alone or in combination, on weaning piglets. In total, 96 weaning piglets were allocated into four treatments: CON group (the basal diet), PSE group (basal diet + 1g/kg PSE), BL group (basal diet + 2 g/kg BL), and BL+PSE group (basal diet +1 g/kg PSE + 2 g/kg BL) according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The supplementation of BL or PSE improved the gain to feed ratio. Dietary BL reduced diarrhea occurrence and Escherichia coli, but increased Lactobacillus counts in the ileal digesta. Dietary PSE tended to increase Lactobacillus counts in the ileal digesta. Interactive effects were found in terms of ileal villus height, the gene expression of IL-1β, and malondialdehyde in the ileal mucosa. Dietary BL lowered malondialdehyde in the spleen, liver, and jejunal mucosa but increased the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the liver and ileum mucosa. The supplementation of PSE improved superoxide dismutase in serum and T-AOC in the liver, and reduced MDA in liver, spleen, and jejunum mucosa. Taken together, BL or PSE showed positive effects, improving growth and intestinal morphology and enhancing antioxidant capacity. However, their interaction showed no beneficial effects on the antioxidant indices and the intestinal morphology of weaned piglets.
Relationship between FGF 23, SDMA, Urea, Creatinine and Phosphate in Relation to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Grelová Simona , Karasová Martina , Tóthová Csilla , Kisková Terézia , Baranová Darina , Lukáč Branislav , Fialkovičová Mária , Micháľová Alena , Kunay Lukáš , Svoboda Miroslav
Published: August 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common diagnosis in older cats, and its prevalence increases with age. Conventional indirect biomarkers of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have their limitations, and are not efficient in detecting early decreases in glomerular filtration rate. Recently, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations have been proposed as a novel biomarker of GFR for the early detection of CKD. This study discusses the relationship between SDMA, FGF 23 and previously used indicators of kidney function, mainly creatinine, urea and phosphate. Ninety-nine cats were included in this study. Based on their SDMA values, 48 cats had CKD and the remaining 51 cats were used as a healthy control group. Serum of these cats was assayed for creatinine, urea and phosphate concentrations as well as FGF 23 values, and correlations between them were evaluated. Cats with CKD had higher FGF 23 concentrations than healthy cats, and no correlation was found between FGF 23 and SDMA, nor between FGF 23 and phosphate. On the other hand, phosphate strongly correlated with SDMA, urea and creatinine, making it a possible independent factor of CKD progression.
A Stereological Study of the Three Types of Ganglia of Male, Female, and Undifferentiated Scrobicularia plana (Bivalvia)
Authors: Tantiwisawaruji Sukanlaya , Rocha Maria J. , Silva Ana , Pardal Miguel A. , Kovitvadhi Uthaiwan , Rocha Eduardo
Published: August 2022

Neurotransmitters modulate gonadal maturation in bivalves. However, it remains unclear whether there are differences in the nervous system structure between sexes, maturation, and ganglia. Therefore, a stereological study was conducted on the ganglia of adult peppery furrow shell (Scrobicularia plana). Equal-sized males, females, and undifferentiated (gamete absence) animals were fixed with 10% formalin and processed for light microscopy. They were serially cut into 35 µm paraffin thick sections and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Sections with cerebral (cerebropleural), pedal, and visceral ganglia were studied. The parameters estimated were the volumes of the ganglia, the total and relative volumes of their cortex (outer layer) and medulla (neuropil), and the total number of cells (neurons, glia, and pigmented) per ganglia and compartment. The volumes and numbers were estimated, respectively, by the Cavalieri principle and by the optical fractionator. Females show a larger glia to neuron numerical ratio. Further, females have a greater ganglionic volume than undifferentiated adults, with males showing intermediate values. These facts indicate that the ganglia size is related somehow to maturation. The cell size forms the basis of the differences because total cellularity is equal among the groups. The three ganglion types differ in total volumes and the volume ratio of the cortex versus the medulla. The greater volumes of the pedal ganglia (vis-a-vis the cerebral ones) and of the visceral ganglia (in relation to all others) imply more voluminous cortexes and medullae, but more neuronal and non-neuronal cells only in the visceral. The new fundamental data can help interpret bivalve neurophysiology.
WGS-Based Lineage and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated during 2000–2017 in Peru
Authors: Hurtado Raquel , Barh Debmalya , Weimer Bart C. , Viana Marcus Vinicius Canário , Profeta Rodrigo , Sousa Thiago Jesus , Aburjaile Flávia Figueira , Quino Willi , Souza Renan Pedra , Mestanza Orson , Gavilán Ronnie G. , Azevedo Vasco
Published: August 2022

Salmonella Typhimurium is associated with foodborne diseases worldwide, including in Peru, and its emerging antibiotic resistance (AMR) is now a global public health problem. Therefore, country-specific monitoring of the AMR emergence is vital to control this pathogen, and in these aspects, whole genome sequence (WGS)—based approaches are better than gene-based analyses. Here, we performed the antimicrobial susceptibility test for ten widely used antibiotics and WGS-based various analyses of 90 S. Typhimurium isolates (human, animal, and environment) from 14 cities of Peru isolated from 2000 to 2017 to understand the lineage and antimicrobial resistance pattern of this pathogen in Peru. Our results suggest that the Peruvian isolates are of Typhimurium serovar and predominantly belong to sequence type ST19. Genomic diversity analyses indicate an open pan-genome, and at least ten lineages are circulating in Peru. A total of 48.8% and 31.0% of isolates are phenotypically and genotypically resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 12.0% are multi-drug resistant (MDR). Genotype–phenotype correlations for ten tested drugs show >80% accuracy, and >90% specificity. Sensitivity above 90% was only achieved for ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime. Two lineages exhibit the majority of the MDR isolates. A total of 63 different AMR genes are detected, of which 30 are found in 17 different plasmids. Transmissible plasmids such as lncI-gamma/k, IncI1-I(Alpha), Col(pHAD28), IncFIB, IncHI2, and lncI2 that carry AMR genes associated with third-generation antibiotics are also identified. Finally, three new non-synonymous single nucleotide variations (SNVs) for nalidixic acid and eight new SNVs for nitrofurantoin resistance are predicted using genome-wide association studies, comparative genomics, and functional annotation. Our analysis provides for the first time the WGS-based details of the circulating S. Typhimurium lineages and their antimicrobial resistance pattern in Peru.
Physiological and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanism by Which Exogenous 24-Epibrassinolide Application Enhances Drought Resistance in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Zheng Hao , Ma Jie , Huang Wenli , Di Hongmei , Xia Xue , Ma Wei , Ma Jun , Yang Jiao , Li Xiaomei , Lian Huashan , Huang Zhi , Tang Yi , Zheng Yangxia , Li Huanxiu , Zhang Fen , Sun Bo
Published: August 2022

Drought stress is a key factor limiting the growth and tuber yield of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.). Brassinosteroids (BRs) have been shown to alleviate drought stress in several plant species; however, little is known about the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which BRs enhance drought resistance in potatoes. Here, we characterized changes in the physiology and transcriptome of the tetraploid potato variety ‘Xuanshu-2′ in response to drought stress after 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) pretreatment. The abscisic acid (ABA) content, photosynthetic capacity, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were increased; the intercellular CO2 concentration, relative conductivity, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, proline, and soluble sugar content were decreased after EBR pretreatment compared with plants under drought stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1330 differently expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the response to drought stress after EBR pretreatment. DEGs were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, circadian rhythm, flavonoid biosynthesis, and carotenoid biosynthesis. DEGs associated with the BR signaling and biosynthesis pathways, as well as ABA metabolic pathways were identified. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms by which BRs enhance the drought resistance of potatoes.
Hesperidin Protects SH−SY5Y Neuronal Cells against High Glucose−Induced Apoptosis via Regulation of MAPK Signaling
Authors: Lim Chaemoon , Zhen Ao Xuan , Ok Sungwoo , Fernando Pincha Devage Sameera Madushan , Herath Herath Mudiyanselage Udari Lakmini , Piao Mei Jing , Kang Kyoung Ah , Hyun Jin Won
Published: August 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with neuronal cell death through apoptosis. Apoptosis is tightly associated with the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and high glucose levels contribute to higher oxidative stress in diabetic patients. Hesperidin, a natural active compound, has been reported to scavenge free radicals. Only a few studies have explored the protective effects of hesperidin against high glucose−induced apoptosis in SH−SY5Y neuronal cells. Glucose stimulated neuronal cells to generate excessive ROS and caused DNA damage. In addition, glucose triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress and upregulated cytoplasmic as well as mitochondrial calcium levels. Hesperidin inhibited glucose−induced ROS production and mitigated the associated DNA damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The downregulation of antiapoptotic protein Bcl−2 following glucose treatment was reversed by a hesperidin treatment. Furthermore, hesperidin repressed the glucose−induced Bcl−2−associated X protein, cleaved caspase−9, and cleaved caspase−3. Hesperidin also suppressed the glucose−induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal−regulated kinase and c−Jun N−terminal kinase. The current results confirmed that hesperidin could protect neuronal cells against glucose−induced ROS. Mechanistically, hesperidin was shown to promote cell viability via attenuation of the mitogen−activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
Exploring the Formation of Polymers with Anti-Amyloid Properties within the 2′3′-Dihydroxyflavone Autoxidation Process
Authors: Sakalauskas Andrius , Janoniene Agne , Zvinys Gediminas , Mikalauskaite Kamile , Ziaunys Mantas , Smirnovas Vytautas
Published: August 2022

Amyloid-β and α-synuclein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is linked to the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. While there are only a few disease-modifying drugs, it is essential to search for new, more effective ways to encounter these neurodegenerative diseases. Multiple research articles have shown that the autoxidation of flavone is a critical factor for activating the inhibitory potential against the protein aggregation. Despite this, the structure of the newly-formed inhibitors is unknown. In this research, we examined the autoxidation products of 2′,3′-dihydroxyflavone that were previously shown to possess one of the most prominent inhibitory effects against amyloid-β aggregation. Their analysis using HPLC suggested the formation of polymeric molecules that were isolated using a 3 kDa cut-off. These polymeric structures were indicated as the most potent inhibitors based on protein aggregation kinetics and AFM studies. This revelation was confirmed using MALDI-TOF and NMR. We also show that active molecules have a tendency to reduce the Amyloid-β and α-synuclein aggregates toxicity to SH-SY5Y cells.
ROS Suppression by Egg White Hydrolysate in DOCA-Salt Rats—An Alternative Tool against Vascular Dysfunction in Severe Hypertension
Authors: Abreu Edina da Luz , Rodrigues Moro Camila , Hassan Husein Kanaan Samia , de Paula Ricardo Bernardino , Herrera Camila Teixeira , Costa Pedro Henrique Dorneles , Peçanha Franck Maciel , Vassallo Dalton Valentim , Rossoni Luciana Venturini , Miguel-Castro Marta , Wiggers Giulia Alessandra
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the potential for lowering blood pressure and beneficial effects on mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) and conductance vessels (aorta) produced by dietary supplementation of an egg white hydrolysate (EWH) in rats with severe hypertension induced by deoxycorticosterone plus salt treatment (DOCA-salt), as well as the underlying mechanisms involved. The DOCA-salt model presented higher blood pressure, which was significantly reduced by EWH. The impaired acetylcholine-induced relaxation and eNOS expression observed in MRA and aorta from DOCA-salt rats was ameliorated by EWH. This effect on vessels (MRA and aorta) was related to the antioxidant effect of EWH, since hydrolysate intake prevented the NF-κB/TNFα inflammatory pathway and NADPH oxidase-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, as well as the mitochondrial source of ROS in MRA. At the plasma level, EWH blocked the higher ROS and MDA generation by DOCA-salt treatment, without altering the antioxidant marker. In conclusion, EWH demonstrated an antihypertensive effect in a model of severe hypertension. This effect could be related to its endothelium-dependent vasodilator properties mediated by an ameliorated vessel’s redox imbalance and inflammatory state.
Laminarin Attenuates ROS-Mediated Cell Migration and Invasiveness through Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Lee Woonghee , Song Gwonhwa , Bae Hyocheol
Published: August 2022

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a notoriously aggressive type of cancer with a high metastasis rate. It is conventionally treated by surgical resection and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, continuous chemotherapy leads to relapse in most PDAC patients due to chemical resistance. Therefore, novel anticancer agents need to be identified and developed. The antitumor activities of laminarin extracted from brown algae against hepatocarcinoma, lung, and colon cancer have been established. However, its effects on pancreatic cancer have remained obscure. Our study identified the anticancer effects of laminarin on pancreatic cancer cells and tried to explain its intracellular mechanisms. We assessed the cell viability of PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells using MTT assay. Hanging drop method was used for the spheroid formation. Flow cytometry was conducted to evaluate the several intracellular alterations including apoptosis, ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and calcium concentration induced by laminarin. An invasion test was performed to assess the inhibitory effect of laminarin on cell migration and the invasive genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR. Signaling pathway related with anticancer effects of laminarin was analyzed by western blot. We report that inhibiting laminarin increased the proliferation and viability of the representative pancreatic cancer cell lines, MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1. Laminarin triggered apoptosis and mitochondrial impairment as evidenced by depolarized mitochondrial membranes, disrupted calcium, and suppressed cell migration caused by reactive oxygen species production and related intracellular signaling pathways. Moreover, laminarin showed synergistic effects when combined with 5-FU, a standard anticancer agent for PDAC. The present study is the first to report that laminarin exerts anticancer effect through ROS production in pancreatic cancer cells. Laminarin shows potential to serve as a new anticancer agent for treating PDAC.
Natural Compounds Affecting Inflammatory Pathways of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lee Yi Ting , Yunus Mohd Heikal Mohd , Ugusman Azizah , Yazid Muhammad Dain
Published: August 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and chronic joint disease, affecting more than 240 million people worldwide. Although there are numerous advances in using drugs in treating OA, the use of natural compounds has aroused much interest among researchers due to their safety margin. Recent discovery shows that natural compounds play an extensive role in the oxidative stress signaling pathway in treating OA. Thus, this review summarizes the commonly used natural compounds for treating OA focusing on the oxidative stress signaling pathway and its downstream mediators. Selected databases—such as Scopus, Web of Science, Nature, and PubMed—were used to search for potentially relevant articles. The search is limited to the last 15 years and the search was completed using the Boolean operator’s guideline using the keywords of natural product AND oxidative stress AND osteoarthritis OR natural extract AND ROS AND degenerative arthritis OR natural plant AND free radicals AND degenerative joint disease. In total, 37 articles were selected for further review. Different downstream mechanisms of oxidative stress involved in the usage of natural compounds for OA treatment and anabolic and catabolic effects of natural compounds that exhibit chondroprotective effects have been discussed with the evidence of in vitro and in vivo trials in this review.
Aquila Optimizer with Bayesian Neural Network for Breast Cancer Detection on Ultrasound Images
Authors: Obayya Marwa , Haj Hassine Siwar Ben , Alazwari Sana , K. Nour Mohamed , Mohamed Abdullah , Motwakel Abdelwahed , Yaseen Ishfaq , Sarwar Zamani Abu , Abdelmageed Amgad Atta , Mohammed Gouse Pasha
Published: August 2022

Breast cancer is the second most dominant kind of cancer among women. Breast Ultrasound images (BUI) are commonly employed for the detection and classification of abnormalities that exist in the breast. The ultrasound images are necessary to develop artificial intelligence (AI) enabled diagnostic support technologies. For improving the detection performance, Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) models are useful for breast cancer detection and classification. The current advancement of the deep learning (DL) model enables the detection and classification of breast cancer with the use of biomedical images. With this motivation, this article presents an Aquila Optimizer with Bayesian Neural Network for Breast Cancer Detection (AOBNN-BDNN) model on BUI. The presented AOBNN-BDNN model follows a series of processes to detect and classify breast cancer on BUI. To accomplish this, the AOBNN-BDNN model initially employs Wiener filtering (WF) related noise removal and U-Net segmentation as a pre-processing step. Besides, the SqueezeNet model derives a collection of feature vectors from the pre-processed image. Next, the BNN algorithm will be utilized to allocate appropriate class labels to the input images. Finally, the AO technique was exploited to fine-tune the parameters related to the BNN method so that the classification performance is improved. To validate the enhanced performance of the AOBNN-BDNN method, a wide experimental study is executed on benchmark datasets. A wide-ranging experimental analysis specified the enhancements of the AOBNN-BDNN method in recent techniques.
Towards Flexible and Cognitive Production—Addressing the Production Challenges
Authors: Abdul Hadi Muaaz , Kraus Daniel , Kajmakovic Amer , Suschnigg Josef , Guiza Ouijdane , Gashi Milot , Sopidis Georgios , Vukovic Matej , Milenkovic Katarina , Haslgruebler Michael , Brillinger Markus , Diwold Konrad
Published: August 2022

Globalization in the field of industry is fostering the need for cognitive production systems. To implement modern concepts that enable tools and systems for such a cognitive production system, several challenges on the shop floor level must first be resolved. This paper discusses the implementation of selected cognitive technologies on a real industrial case-study of a construction machine manufacturer. The partner company works on the concept of mass customization but utilizes manual labour for the high-variety assembly stations or lines. Sensing and guidance devices are used to provide information to the worker and also retrieve and monitor the working, with respecting data privacy policies. Next, a specified process of data contextualization, visual analytics, and causal discovery is used to extract useful information from the retrieved data via sensors. Communications and safety systems are explained further to complete the loop of implementation of cognitive entities on a manual assembly line. This deepened involvement of cognitive technologies are human-centered, rather than automated systems. The explained cognitive technologies enhance human interaction with the processes and ease the production methods. These concepts form a quintessential vision for an effective assembly line. This paper revolutionizes the existing industry 4.0 with an even-intensified human–machine interaction and moving towards cognitivity.
Analysis of Excavation Stability and Reinforcement Treatment of the Cutting Slope under the Influence of Old Goaf
Authors: Han Chunpeng , Zu Fajin , Du Chao , Shi Liang
Published: August 2022

To analyze the excavation stability and reasonable reinforcement measures of cutting slope with a goaf collapsed roadway and collapsed mining face, the finite element software Midas GTS NX was used to model and analyze the change in the slope stability coefficient under different excavation slope ratios. Combined with the scope of the project land, it is proposed that the slope ratio of grades 1–3 (close to the top of the cut) is 1:1.5, while the slope ratio of grades 4–6 (close to the bottom of the cut) is 1:1, to excavate the slope. During the excavation process, the change in the plastic zone after each level of slope excavation was further analyzed, and the control variable method was used to analyze the influence of the collapsed roadway and the collapsed mining face on the slope stability. We found that the collapsed mining face was one of the main factors affecting the stability of the slope. During the reinforcement of the slope, the reinforcement effects of different schemes were analyzed, and we found that the slope can be stabilized by reinforcement of the third- and fourth-level slopes adjacent to the collapsed mining face. In this study, the old goaf and cutting slope excavation are combined, and the stability of slope excavation with a goaf collapsed roadway and collapsed mining face is analyzed by coupling. This research provides a scientific basis for the stability analysis of cutting slope excavation in old goafs in the future and has great practical engineering significance.
A QoS-Enabled Medium-Transparent MAC Protocol for Fiber-Wireless 5G RAN Transport Networks
Authors: Kalfas George , Palianopoulos Dimitris , Mesodiakaki Agapi , Gatzianas Marios , Vagionas Christos , Maximidis Ronis , Pleros Nikos
Published: August 2022

In order to meet the ever-increasing 5G and beyond Radio Access Network (RAN) densification demands, Fiber-Wireless transport networks are expected to play a key role in accelerating 5G deployment by providing the essential RAN flexibility, while at the same time avoiding costly fiber-trenching. Due to the inefficiency of the Radio-and-Fiber (R&F) networks for application in dense RAN topologies, Analog-Radio-over-Fiber (A-RoF) technology is regarded as a key enabling solution, since it greatly simplifies the remote antenna while offering very high spectral efficiency. For this type of dense A-RoF network, new and efficient Medium-Transparent-Medium Access Control (MT-MAC) protocols are required that can concurrently arbitrate optical and wireless resources, while at the same time offering the necessary Quality-of-Service (QoS) for correct operation of the combined Fronthaul/Midhaul/Backhaul segments present in 5G disaggregated RANs. In this paper, we propose a QoS-enabled MT-MAC (qMT-MAC) protocol that can combine Fronthaul/Midhaul/Backhaul flows under the same framework, while satisfying the strict delay and jitter requirements set by the relevant standards. Results show that qMT-MAC concurrently achieves the delay and jitter requirements for combined Fronthaul/Midhaul/Backhaul traffic even when loads approach the network’s capacity, while attested enhanced prioritization policies can offer up to a 64% delay reduction over State-of-the-Art MT-MAC protocols.
Research on Anti-Frequency Sweeping Jamming Method for Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave Radio Fuze Based on Wavelet Packet Transform Features
Authors: Liu Bing , Hao Xinhong
Published: August 2022

Frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) radio fuze is widely used in military equipment, due to its excellent range and anti-jamming ability. However, the widespread use of radio fuze jammers on modern battlefields poses a serious threat to fuzes. In this study, a classification method of targeting and sweeping frequency jamming signals of FMCW radio fuze based on wavelet packet transform features is proposed, which improves the anti-jamming ability of fuze. The wavelet packet transform of the output signal of the radio fuze detector is used to form a feature vector, which is fed into a support vector machine for targeting and jamming signal classification. The experimental results of the measured data show that the proposed method can achieve a high accuracy rate of classification and identification of FMCW radio fuze targets and frequency sweeping jamming signals. The highest recognition accuracy reached is 98.81% ± 0.0037. The lowest false alarm probability is 0.57% ± 0.0043, which indicates its potential application values in the near future.
Special Issue on Antioxidants in Natural Products
Authors: Calokerinos Antony C. , Apak Reşat , Bener Mustafa
Published: August 2022

The importance of consuming antioxidants in food and beverages has increased enormously in recent years [...]
Moisture Origin and Transport for Extreme Precipitation over Indonesia’s New Capital City, Nusantara in August 2021
Authors: Purwaningsih Anis , Lubis Sandro W. , Hermawan Eddy , Andarini Dita Fatria , Harjana Teguh , Ratri Dian Nur , Ridho Ainur , Risyanto  , Sujalu Akas Pinaringan
Published: August 2022

Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital city, experienced a rare extreme rainfall event on 27–28 August 2021. This heavy rainfall occurred in August, the driest month of the year based on the monthly climatology data, and caused severe flooding and landslides. To better understand the underlying mechanisms for such extreme precipitation events, we investigated the moisture sources and transport processes using the Lagrangian model HYSPLIT. Our findings revealed that moisture was mostly transported to Nusantara along three major routes: from Borneo Island (BRN, 53.73%), the Banda Sea and its surroundings (BSS, 32.03%), and Sulawesi Island (SUL, 9.05%). Overall, BRN and SUL were the main sources of terrestrial moisture, whereas the BSS was the main oceanic moisture source, having a lower contribution than its terrestrial counterpart. The terrestrial moisture transport from BRN was mainly driven by the large-scale high vortex flow, whereas the moisture transport from the SUL was driven by the circulation induced by boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) and low-frequency variability associated with La Niña. The near-surface oceanic moisture transport from BSS is primarily associated with prevailing winds due to the Australian monsoon system. These insights into moisture sources and pathways can potentially improve the accuracy of predictions of summer precipitation extremes in Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara, and benefit natural resource managers in the region.
Measurements of Particulate Matter from Electronic and Conventional Cigarettes: A Comparative Analysis of Methods
Authors: Ruprecht Ario , Borgini Alessandro , Veronese Chiara , Tittarelli Andrea , Boffi Roberto , Bertoldi Martina , Fernández Esteve , De Marco Cinzia ,   TackSHS Project Investigators
Published: August 2022

Due to the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (ECs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) as alternatives to conventional cigarettes (CCs), there is an increasing need to monitor the emissions of these new devices. ECs generate significant concentrations of second-hand aerosol (ECSHA), which is visible in dense clouds and can be smelled. Particulate matter (PM) is an important component of CC, HTP and EC aerosols, and Optical Particle Counters (OPCs) enable its real-time measurement, which is expressed either as the number of particles or as mass. This study specifically addresses the limitations associated with EC mass measurement using OPC technology and identifies the strict necessity of the measurement of a corresponding density (k factor) not only for each specific PM source but also for the desired PM size. Therefore, a standard measurement requires the simultaneous operation of the OPC equipment and a certified reference instrument. Four different OPCs were used. Crucially, this study also proves that this setup may be inapplicable because the extreme volatility of EC-generated aerosols makes it impractical to gauge the correct EC k factor.
Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of High-Temperature Heat Wave Disasters in Chongqing
Authors: Huang Haijing , Jie Pengyu , Yang Yufei , Mi Shaoying
Published: August 2022

In the background of global warming, heat wave disasters have become more frequent globally, and mountainous cities are more seriously affected by heat wave disasters due to the special features of topography and urban morphology. This paper analyzes the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of heat wave disasters in Chongqing, a mountainous city. The results shows that heat wave disasters in Chongqing tend to increase overall and decrease locally before increasing. Significant growth in heat waves since 2010 and time series model prediction analysis shows that Chongqing will face more severe heat waves in the future. The spatial distribution of heat wave disasters varies significantly, high in the middle and low at the ends. There is a tendency for the center of heat wave disasters to shift from the south-central part of Chongqing to the northeast. In addition to the influence of atmospheric circulation and mountain topography, the causes are also positively related to urban development intensity and urbanization trends. It is necessary to develop specific control and management measures for heat waves depending on the characteristics of them. The take-home message of the study is the spatial and temporal trends of heat waves in Chongqing to provide a theoretical basis for high-temperature mitigation.
A Novel Design Method of Gradient Porous Structure for Stabilized and Lightweight Mandibular Prosthesis
Authors: Liu Renshun , Su Yuxiong , Yang Weifa , Wu Kai , Du Ruxu , Zhong Yong
Published: August 2022

Compared to conventional prostheses with homogenous structures, a stress-optimized functionally gradient prosthesis will better adapt to the host bone due to its mechanical and biological advantages. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the damage resistance of four regular lattice scaffolds and proposed a new gradient algorithm for stabilized and lightweight mandibular prostheses. Scaffolds with four configurations (regular hexahedron, regular octahedron, rhombic dodecahedron, and body-centered cubic) having different porosities underwent finite element analysis to select an optimal unit cell. Meanwhile, a homogenization algorithm was used to control the maximum stress and increase the porosity of the scaffold by adjusting the strut diameters, thereby avoiding fatigue failure and material wastage. Additionally, the effectiveness of the algorithm was verified by compression tests. The results showed that the load transmission capacity of the scaffold was strongly correlated with both configuration and porosity. Scaffolds with regular hexahedron unit cells can withstand stronger loads at the same porosity. The optimized gradient scaffold showed higher porosity and lower maximum stress than the target stress value, and the compression tests also confirmed the simulation results. A mandibular prosthesis was established using a regular hexahedron unit cell, and the strut diameters were gradually changed according to the proposed algorithm and the simulation results. Compared with the initial homogeneous prosthesis, the optimized gradient prosthesis reduced the maximum stress by 24.48% and increased the porosity by 6.82%, providing a better solution for mandibular reconstruction.
Human Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Delivered on Decellularized Muscle Improve Muscle Regeneration and Regulate RAGE and P38 MAPK
Authors: Olson Lucas C. , Redden James T. , Gilliam LaStar , Nguyen Tri M. , Vossen Josephina A. , Cohen David J. , Schwartz Zvi , McClure Michael J.
Published: August 2022

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) is the acute loss of muscle mass due to trauma. Such injuries occur primarily in the extremities and are debilitating, as there is no clinical treatment to restore muscle function. Pro-inflammatory advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are known to increase in acute trauma patient’s serum and are correlated with increased injury severity. However, it is unclear whether AGEs and RAGE increase in muscle post-trauma. To test this, we used decellularized muscle matrix (DMM), a pro-myogenic, non-immunogenic extracellular matrix biomaterial derived from skeletal muscle. We delivered adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) and primary myoblasts to support myogenesis and immunomodulation (N = 8 rats/group). DMM non-seeded and seeded grafts were compared to empty defect and sham controls. Then, 56 days after surgery muscle force was assessed, histology characterized, and protein levels for AGEs, RAGE, p38 MAPK, and myosin heavy chains were measured. Overall, our data showed improved muscle regeneration in ASC-treated injury sites and a regulation of RAGE and p38 MAPK signaling, while myoblast-treated injuries resulted in minor improvements. Taken together, these results suggested that ASCs combined with DMM provides a pro-myogenic microenvironment with immunomodulatory capabilities and indicates further exploration of RAGE signaling in VML.
3D-Printed PCL Scaffolds Combined with Juglone for Skin Tissue Engineering
Authors: Ayran Musa , Dirican Akif Yahya , Saatcioglu Elif , Ulag Songul , Sahin Ali , Aksu Burak , Croitoru Alexa-Maria , Ficai Denisa , Gunduz Oguzhan , Ficai Anton
Published: August 2022

Skin diseases are commonly treated with antihistamines, antibiotics, laser therapy, topical medications, local vitamins, or steroids. Since conventional treatments for wound healing (skin allografts, amnion, xenografts, etc.) have disadvantages such as antigenicity of the donor tissue, risk of infection, or lack of basement membrane, skin tissue engineering has become a popular new approach. The current study presents the design and fabrication of a new wound-dressing material by the addition of Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) to a 25% Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold. Juglone (J) is a significant allelochemical found in walnut trees and, in this study is used as a bioactive material. The effects of different amounts of J (1.25, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg) on the biocompatibility, mechanical, chemical, thermal, morphological, and antimicrobial properties of the 3D-printed 25% PCL scaffolds were investigated. The addition of J increased the pore diameter of the 25% PCL scaffold. The maximum pore size (290.72 ± 14 µm) was observed for the highest amount of J (10 mg). The biocompatibility tests on the scaffolds demonstrated biocompatible behavior from the first day of incubation, the 25% PCL/7.5 J scaffold having the highest viability value (118%) among all of the J-loaded scaffolds. Drug release of J into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 showed that J was completely released from all 25% PCL/J scaffolds within 7 days of incubation.