bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals and Applications of the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve Analysis in the Research of Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Roumeliotis Stefanos , Abd ElHafeez Samar , D’Arrigo Graziella , Fusaro Maria , Leonardis Daniela , Mezzatesta Sabrina , Tripepi Giovanni
Published: September 2022

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) starts early in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is the hallmark of atherosclerosis in these patients. During recent years, numerous markers have emerged, aiming to predict the onset of ED in CKD patients. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate and assess the discriminatory ability (or diagnostic accuracy) of such a marker (i.e., the ability to correctly classify individuals as having a given disease or not) and identify the optimal cut-off value. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis has been used in the majority of the research papers evaluating the predictive ability of a marker of ED. It is a graphical plot combining pairs of sensitivity (true positive rate) on the y axis and the complement of specificity (1—specificity, false positive rate) in the x axis, corresponding to several of the cut-off values covering the complete range of possible values that this test/marker might take. Herein, using a series of practical examples derived from clinical studies on ED in the special population of CKD, we address the principles, fundamentals, advantages and limitations regarding the interpretation of the ROC analysis.
HER2 in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Pathology, Somatic Alterations, and Perspectives for Novel Therapeutic Schemes
Authors: Ivanova Mariia , Venetis Konstantinos , Guerini-Rocco Elena , Bottiglieri Luca , Mastropasqua Mauro Giuseppe , Garrone Ornella , Fusco Nicola , Ghidini Michele
Published: September 2022

HER2 is an emerging biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC). This oncogene plays an essential role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and, more in general, tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The most frequent types of HER2 alterations in CRC include gene amplification and missense mutations in 7–8% of CRC, often being mirrored by HER2 protein overexpression, representing founder events in solid tumors, including CRC. There are currently no approved HER2-targeted therapy guidelines for CRC; however, several studies have shown that HER2 can be effectively targeted in meta-static CRC settings. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of HER2 testing in CRC and the immediate future perspectives for HER2 targeting in the metastatic setting.
COVID-19 Smell Impairment and Crosstalk with Hypoxia Physiology
Authors: Mazzatenta Andrea , Maffei Margherita , Di Giulio Camillo , Neri Giampiero
Published: September 2022

Since its apomorphic appearance in 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nowadays circulates as a plesiomorphic human virus in several synapomorphic variants. The respiratory tract is the most important site of infection, the viral effects in the lungs are well described, and more than half of the patients could develop shortness of breath and dyspnea and require ventilatory support. The physiological sign of this condition is the decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, leading to acute hypoxia, which could be a factor in the disease. In severe patients, we recorded several physiological parameters: breath frequency (BF), partial pressure of oxygen in the blood (pO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood (pCO2), hemoglobin (Hb), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure in correlation with the olfactory threshold. We found significant correlations between reduced olfactory threshold with pO2 and hemoglobin levels, changes in heart rate, and increased HR and pCO2. These results suggest that COVID-19 causes an impaired sense of smell that decreases in threshold corresponding to the disease severity.
Myostatin/AKT/FOXO Signaling Is Altered in Human Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hildebrandt Lea , Dieterlen Maja-Theresa , Klaeske Kristin , Haunschild Josephina , Saeed Diyar , Eifert Sandra , Borger Michael A. , Jawad Khalil
Published: September 2022

Disturbances in the ubiquitin proteasome system, and especially changes of the E3 ligases, are subjects of interest when searching for causes and therapies for cardiomyopathies. The aim of this study was to clarify whether the myostatin/AKT/forkhead box O (FOXO) pathway, which regulates the expression of the E3 ligases muscle atrophy F-box gene (MAFbx) and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), is changed in dilated cardiomyopathy of ischemic origin (IDCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy of non-ischemic origin (NIDCM). The mRNA and protein expression of myostatin, AKT, FOXO1, FOXO3, MAFbx and MuRF1 were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively, in myocardial tissue from 26 IDCM and 23 NIDCM patients. Septal tissue from 17 patients undergoing Morrow resection served as a control. MAFbx and FOXO1 mRNA and protein expression (all p < 0.05), AKT mRNA (p < 0.01) and myostatin protein expression (p = 0.02) were decreased in NIDCM patients compared to the control group. Apart from decreases of AKT and MAFbx mRNA expression (both p < 0.01), no significant differences were detected in IDCM patients compared to the control group. Our results demonstrate that the myostatin/AKT/FOXO pathway is altered in NIDCM but not in IDCM patients. FOXO1 seems to be an important drug target for regulating the expression of MAFbx in NIDCM patients.
Application of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in COVID-19: A Narrative Review
Authors: Liu Cheng-Wei , Cheng Shih-Lung
Published: September 2022

Background: During the first wave of COVID-19, the large influx of severely ill patients led to insufficient availability of beds in intensive care units and a shortage of ventilators. The shortage of ventilators, high mortality of intubated patients, and high risk of infections among healthcare workers involved in intubation were the main factors that led to the prevalence of noninvasive respiratory support during the pandemic. The high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a commonly used, popular form of noninvasive respiratory support. Due to its unique physiological effects, HFNC can provide a high fraction of humidified oxygen and is satisfactorily comfortable for patients with COVID-19. However, before the COVID-19 era, there was little evidence on the application of HFNC in patients with acute respiratory failure caused by viral infection. Aim: This narrative review provides an overview of recent studies on the use of HFNC in patients with COVID-19-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The main topics discussed include the probability of successful use of HFNC in these patients, whether late intubation increases mortality, the availability of convenient and accurate monitoring tools, comparison of HFNC with other types of noninvasive respiratory support, whether HFNC combined with the prone position is more clinically useful, and strategies to further reduce the infection risk associated with HFNC. The implication of this study is to identify some of the limitations and research gaps of the current literature and to give some advice for future research.
Utilization of Metallurgical Slags in Cu-free Friction Material Formulations
Authors: Matějka Vlastimil , Jayashree Priyadarshini , Leonardi Mara , Vlček Jozef , Sabovčík Tomáš , Straffelini Giovanni
Published: September 2022

The aim of our research was to indicate the suitability of metallurgical slags (two blast furnace slags and one steel furnace slag) as the components of Cu-free friction materials. The base mixture consisted of nine components including phenolic resin, graphite, tin sulphide, steel and aramid fibers, iron powder, a mixture of barite with calcite, and vermiculite. To this base mixture, the slags with a particle size below 0.1 mm were added individually in the amount of 20 wt.%. A base friction mixture with alumina in the amount of 20 wt.% represented the reference. Samples for the friction-wear tests were produced in the form of pins by hot press molding. The prepared pins were tested using a pin-on-disc tester in a drag mode at the pressure of 1 MPa and a constant sliding speed of 1.51 m/s for 90 min. The samples with slags exhibited slightly lower values of steady-state friction coefficient compared to the reference composite with alumina, and at the same time produced lower wear particle emissions. The particle concentration was reduced for the samples with slowly cooled blast furnace and steel furnace slag. The results obtained indicated steel furnace slag as a promising component of Cu-free friction composites.
Effect of Laser Shock Peening on High-Cycle Fatigue Performance of 1Cr18Ni9Ti/GH1140 Weld
Authors: Zhou Liucheng , Zhao Tianxiao , Yu Yanqing , Liu Ping , Pan Xinlei
Published: September 2022

The welded joints of 1Cr18Ni9Ti austenitic stainless steel and GH1140 nickel-based superalloy dissimilar materials used in certain types of aero-engine combustion liner components are prone to crack initiation during service, seriously affecting the service life of the combustion liner. In this study, laser shock peening (LSP) was applied to the dissimilar metal weld of 1Cr18Ni9Ti and GH1140, which are used in the combustion liner parts of aero engines. The effects of LSP on the residual stress, microhardness, microstructure and high-cycle fatigue performance of the weld were analyzed. The results show that the residual stress in the weld and heat-affected zones was converted from tensile residual stress to high amplitude compressive residual stress via LSP. Furthermore, the surface hardness of every region of the combustion liner weld was increased, especially in the weld zone, where an increase of 41.4% from 162 HV to 229 HV was observed. Simultaneously, with the introduction of grain refinement, gradient plastic deformation in the depth direction and the dislocation structure of the surface material, the high-cycle fatigue limit of the weld specimen was significantly increased and the fatigue limit of the 1Cr18Ni9Ti/GH1140 welded joint was improved by 65.39%, from 289 to 478 MPa.
Influence of Stress Relief Annealing Parameters on Mechanical Properties and Decomposition of Eutectic Si Network of L-PBF Additive Manufactured Alloy AlSi10Mg
Authors: Růžičková Ludmila , Sobotová Jana , Beránek Libor , Pelikán Lukáš , Šimota Jan
Published: September 2022

This paper evaluates the effect of stress-relieving heat treatment on the AlSi10Mg alloy prepared by additive manufacturing using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) with print parameters: 370 W, 1400 m/s, and 50 μm. The as-built state and four different annealing modes (240 °C/2 h, 240 °C/6 h, 300 °C/2 h, and 300 °C/2 h/water-quenched) are investigated. To determine the effect of the annealing mode on the mechanical properties of the L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloy, heat-treated samples were compared with the as-built state and with each other. The mechanical properties of the samples were determined by tensile and hardness tests. The strength in the as-built state is 488 MPa, depending on the method of heat treatment, the strength values range from 296 MPa to 417 MPa, and the HV10 hardness values are in accordance with the measured strength values. Furthermore, the microstructure of the samples was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, which was then linked to the measured mechanical properties. The composition of the microstructure of the alloy and its influence on the mechanical properties were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Furthermore, the differences between the individual heat treatments in comparison with the as-built state were analyzed and the phenomenon of decomposition of the silicon network after reaching specific temperatures was discussed and confirmed. The paper evaluates the effect of dwelling time on stress relief annealing. It was found that if annealing at intermediate temperatures of 240 and 300 °C is applied, changes in structure and mechanical properties are more temperature- than dwell-time-dependent.
Comparison between Fractal and Statistical Approaches to Model Size Effects in VHCF
Authors: Invernizzi Stefano , Paolino Davide , Montagnoli Francesco , Tridello Andrea , Carpinteri Alberto
Published: September 2022

Size effects concern the anomalous scaling of relevant mechanical properties of materials and structures over a sufficiently wide dimensional range. In the last few years, thanks to technological advances, such effects have been experimentally detected also in the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) tests. Research groups at Politecnico di Torino are very active in this field, observing size effects on fatigue strength, fatigue life and fatigue limit up to the VHCF regime for different metal alloys. In addition, different theoretical models have been put forward to explain these effects. In the present paper, two of them are introduced, respectively based on fractal geometry and statistical concepts. Furthermore, a comparison between the models and experimental results is provided. Both models are able to predict the decrement in the fatigue life and in the conventional fatigue limit.
Advances in the Study of Magnesium Alloys and Their Use in Bone Implant Material
Authors: Zhi Peixuan , Liu Leixin , Chang Jinke , Liu Chaozong , Zhang Qiliang , Zhou Jian , Liu Ziyu , Fan Yubo
Published: September 2022

Magnesium and magnesium alloys have great application potential in the field of orthopaedics. Compared with traditional inorganic nonmetallic materials and medical polymer materials, magnesium alloys have many advantages, such as better strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and easy processing. Its mechanical properties are suitable and controllable. It can meet the same elastic modulus, cell compatibility, and biodegradability as human cortical bone. There are also some drawbacks for biodegradability, as magnesium and its alloys, with their high degradation rate, can cause insufficient integrity of the mechanical properties. This paper summarises the research on magnesium and its magnesium alloy materials in the field of bone implantation, looking at what magnesium and its magnesium alloys are, the history of magnesium alloys in bone implant materials, the manufacturing of magnesium alloys, the mechanical properties of magnesium alloys, the bio-compatibility and clinical applications of magnesium alloys, the shortcomings, and the progress of research in recent years.
Study on Key Parameters of Dilution Ratio of the Bead Deposited by GTAW Method for Nuclear Components
Authors: Lu Li , Cai Zhipeng , Yang Jia , Liang Zhenxin , Sun Qian , Pan Jiluan
Published: September 2022

It is of great significance to reduce welding hot cracks and improve the corrosion resistance of nuclear power components by controlling the dilution ratio of the cladding weld bead formed by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). This paper presents a method to predict the dilution ratio by using the ratio of the thermal power of forming a unit length weld to the cross-section of the fuse, that is, the linear energy of forming a unit volume of deposited metal, which is characterized by the “Heat Equivalent for Melting Welding Wire” (HEMW). It is found that there is a linear positive correlation between the HEMW and the dilution ratio. With the increase in HEMW, the proportion of deposition heat energy in the whole effective heat input energy decreases, the proportion of base metal melting heat energy increases, and the proportion of non-melting heat energy diffused to the base metal remains basically unchanged. The HEMW is used to predict and control the dilution rate under the condition of pulse welding. By increasing the wire feeding speed under the condition of pulse peak current and reducing the welding speed, a high deposition efficiency, low dilution rate and low heat input is realized, which plays an important guiding role in improving the deposition quality.
CFD-DEM Investigation on Pressure Drops of Heterogeneous Alternative-Layer Particle Beds for Low-Carbon Operating Blast Furnaces
Authors: Li Qiang , Guo Shuai , Wang Shuai , Zou Zongshu
Published: September 2022

Low-carbon operation technologies of the blast furnace (BF) are crucial for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the steelmaking industry. The variation characteristic of permeability and structure in a BF lumpy zone has a critical impact on achieving low-carbon operations. Still, their influences have not been fully understood, and related studies are very limited. To solve the problem of the deteriorating permeability of blast furnaces after lowering the coke ratio, this study aims to provide insights into the pressure drop of the lumpy zone in an ironmaking BF based on computational fluid dynamics coupled with the discrete element method (CFD-DEM) model. The study systematically investigates the influence of different packing configurations on permeability using a heterogeneous alternating-layer (HAL) packed bed. After the model was validated by comparing the simulation’s results with ones calculated by the Ergun equation, it was used to investigate the effects of the number of layers, coke-mixing ratio, nut coke replacement ratio, and particle-size ratio on the structure, void fraction variation, and pressure drop of the HAL packed bed. The results reveal the effect of these factors on the permeability of the lumpy zone, providing fundamental guidance towards low-carbon operations of BFs.
Role of Vacancy Defects in Reducing the Responsivity of AlGaN Schottky Barrier Ultraviolet Detectors
Authors: Huang Yujie , Yang Jing , Zhao Degang , Zhang Yuheng , Liu Zongshun , Liang Feng , Chen Ping
Published: September 2022

The spectral response properties of AlGaN Schottky barrier detectors with different Al content were investigated. It was found that the responsivity of AlGaN detectors decreases with increase in Al content in AlGaN. It was found that neither dislocation density nor the concentration of carbon and oxygen impurities made any remarkable difference in these AlGaN devices. However, the positron annihilation experiments showed that the concentration of Al or Ga vacancy defects (more likely Ga vacancy defects) in AlGaN active layers increased with the increase in Al content. It is assumed that the Al or Ga vacancy defects play a negative role in a detector’s performance, which increases the recombination of photogenerated carriers and reduces the detector responsivity. It is necessary to control the concentration of vacancy defects for the high performance AlGaN detectors.
Do or Die: HPV E5, E6 and E7 in Cell Death Evasion
Authors: Skelin Josipa , Sabol Ivan , Tomaić Vjekoslav
Published: September 2022

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) infect the dividing cells of human epithelia and hijack the cellular replication machinery to ensure their own propagation. In the effort to adapt the cell to suit their own reproductive needs, the virus changes a number of processes, amongst which is the ability of the cell to undergo programmed cell death. Viral infections, forced cell divisions and mutations, which accumulate as a result of uncontrolled proliferation, all trigger one of several cell death pathways. Here, we examine the mechanisms employed by HPVs to ensure the survival of infected cells manipulated into cell cycle progression and proliferation.
Characterization of a Near Full-Length Hepatitis E Virus Genome of Subtype 3c Generated from Naturally Infected South African Backyard Pigs
Authors: Chauhan Ravendra P. , Gordon Michelle L.
Published: September 2022

Eight genotypes of the hepatitis E virus (Orthohepevirus A; HEV) designated HEV-1 to HEV-8 have been reported from various mammalian hosts. Notably, domestic pigs and wild boars are the natural reservoirs of HEV-3 and HEV-4 genotypes with zoonotic propensity. Since HEV infection in domestic pigs is usually subclinical, it may remain undetected, facilitating zoonotic spillover of HEV to the exposed human populations. A previous study from our group in 2021, using deep sequencing of a pooled saliva sample, generated various swine enteric virus genomes, including a near full-length swine HEV genome (7040 nt; 97.7% genome coverage) from five-month-old grower pigs at a backyard pig farm in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In the present study, we describe the further characterization, including genotyping and subtyping of the swine HEV isolate using phylogenetics and ‘HEVnet Typing Tool’. Our analyses confirmed that the South African swine HEV genome characterized in this study belonged to HEV genotype 3 subtype 3c (HEV-3c). While HEV-3c infections in domestic pigs have been previously reported from Brazil, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, they only generated partial genome sequences of open reading frame 1 (ORF1) and/or ORF2. To our knowledge, this is the first near full-length swine HEV-3c genome generated from naturally infected domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) in South Africa. However, due to the gap in the information on the HEV-3c genome sequences in various geographical locations worldwide, including South Africa, the epidemiology of the South African swine HEV genome characterized in this study remains inconclusive. Molecular and genomic surveillance of HEV in domestic pig populations in South Africa would be useful to determine their prevalence, circulating subtypes, and zoonosis risk.
The Emergence of the Genus Comamonas as Important Opportunistic Pathogens
Authors: Ryan Michael P. , Sevjahova Ludmila , Gorman Rachel , White Sandra
Published: September 2022

Comamonas spp. are non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli. They were first discovered in 1894, and since then, twenty-four species have been characterized. The natural habitat of these bacteria is soil, wastewater/sludge, fresh water such as ponds and rivers, and the animal intestinal microbiome. They were also isolated from industrial settings, such as activated sludge and polluted soil, and from the hospital environment and clinical samples, such as urine, pus, blood, feces, and kidney. Comamonas spp. are associated with environmental bioremediation and are considered an important environmental bacterium rather than a human pathogen. However, in the 1980s, they became a concern when several human infections associated with these species were reported. Here, the Comamonas genus was examined in terms of its members, identification techniques, and pathogenicity. Seventy-seven infection cases associated with these microorganisms that have been discussed in the literature were identified and investigated in this project. All relevant information regarding year of infection, country of origin, patient information such as age, sex, underlying medical conditions if any, type of infection caused by the Comamonas species, antibiotic susceptibility testing, treatment, and outcomes for the patient were extracted from case reports. The findings suggest that even though Comamonas spp. are thought of as being of low virulence, they have caused harmful health conditions in many healthy individuals and even death in patients with underlying conditions. Antimicrobial treatment of infections associated with these species, in general, was not very difficult; however, it can become an issue in the future because some strains are already resistant to different classes of antibiotics. Therefore, these pathogens should be considered of such importance that they should be included in the hospital screening programs.
Mucosal Responses to Zika Virus Infection in Cynomolgus Macaques
Authors: Berry Neil , Stein Monja , Ferguson Deborah , Ham Claire , Hall Jo , Giles Elaine , Kempster Sarah , Adedeji Yemisi , Almond Neil , Herrera Carolina
Published: September 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) cases continue to be reported, and no vaccine or specific antiviral agent has been approved for the prevention or treatment of infection. Though ZIKV is primarily transmitted by mosquitos, cases of sexual transmission and prolonged viral RNA presence in semen have been reported. In this observational study, we report the mucosal responses to sub-cutaneous and mucosal ZIKV exposure in cynomolgus macaques during acute and late chronic infection. Subcutaneous challenge induced a decrease in the growth factor VEGF in colorectal and cervicovaginal tissues 100 days post-challenge, in contrast to the observed increase in these tissues following vaginal infection. This different pattern was not observed in the uterus, where VEGF was upregulated independently of the challenge route. Vaginal challenge induced a pro-inflammatory profile in all mucosal tissues during late chronic infection. Similar responses were already observed during acute infection in a vaginal tissue explant model of ex vivo challenge. Non-productive and productive infection 100 days post-in vivo vaginal challenge induced distinct proteomic profiles which were characterized by further VEGF increase and IL-10 decrease in non-infected animals. Ex vivo challenge of mucosal explants revealed tissue-specific modulation of cytokine levels during the acute phase of infection. Mucosal cytokine profiles could represent biosignatures of persistent ZIKV infection.
Intranasal Immunization with Liposome-Displayed Receptor-Binding Domain Induces Mucosal Immunity and Protection against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Huang Wei-Chiao , Chiem Kevin , Martinez-Sobrido Luis , Lovell Jonathan F.
Published: September 2022

The global pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to efforts in developing effective vaccine approaches. Currently, approved coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are administered through an intramuscular (I.M.) route. Here, we show that the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein receptor-binding domain (RBD), when displayed on immunogenic liposomes, can be intranasally (I.N.) administered, resulting in the production of antigen-specific IgA and antigen-specific cellular responses in the lungs. Following I.N. immunization, antigen-presenting cells of the lungs took up liposomes displaying the RBD. K18 human ACE2-transgenic mice that were immunized I.M or I.N with sub-microgram doses of RBD liposomes and that were then challenged with SARS-CoV-2 had a reduced viral load in the early course of infection, with I.M. achieving complete viral clearance. Nevertheless, both vaccine administration routes led to full protection against lethal viral infection, demonstrating the potential for the further exploration and optimization of I.N immunization with liposome-displayed antigen vaccines.
Abscisic Acid Induces Adventitious Rooting in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) by Enhancing Sugar Synthesis
Authors: Li Changxia , Zhang Meiling , Qi Nana , Liu Huwei , Zhao Zongxi , Huang Panpan , Liao Weibiao
Published: September 2022

Abscisic acid (ABA) affects many important plant processes, such as seed germination, root elongation and stomatal movement. However, little information is available about the relationship between ABA and sugar synthesis during adventitious root formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ABA on adventitious root formation in cucumber and whether the effect of this plant hormone on sugar synthesis could be included as a causative factor for adventitious root development. We determined the contents of glucose, sucrose, starch, total sugar and sugar-related enzymes, including sucrose synthase (SS), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) activities in ABA treatment. We also quantified the relative expression of sucrose or glucose synthesis genes during this process. Increasing ABA concentrations significantly improved adventitious root formation, with the most considerable effect at 0.05 μM. Compared to the control, ABA treatment showed higher glucose, sucrose, starch and total sugar contents. Moreover, ABA treatment increased glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and glucose-1-phosphate (G1P) contents in cucumber explants during adventitious root development, which was followed by an increase of activities of sucrose-related enzymes SS and SPS, glucose-related enzymes HK and PK. ABA, meanwhile, upregulated the expression levels of sucrose or glucose synthesis-related genes, including CsSuSy1, CsSuSy6, CsHK1 and CsHK3. These results suggest that ABA may promote adventitious root development by increasing the contents of glucose, sucrose, starch, total sugar, G6P, F6P and G1P, the activities of SS, SPS, HK, SPS and the expression levels of CsSuSy1, CsSuSy6, CsHK1 and CsHK3 genes. These findings provide evidence for the physiological role of ABA during adventitious root formation and provide a new understanding of the possible relationship between ABA and sugar synthesis during adventitious rooting in plants.
Biological Activity of Bark Extracts from Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.): An Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Enzymatic Inhibitory Evaluation
Authors: Tanase Corneliu , Nicolescu Alexandru , Nisca Adrian , Ștefănescu Ruxandra , Babotă Mihai , Mare Anca Delia , Ciurea Cristina Nicoleta , Man Adrian
Published: September 2022

The northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) is an ornamental oak species native to eastern America, being an invasive species in Europe, with increasing coverage. The aim of this work was to evaluate the biological potential of red oak bark extracts. Aqueous and ethanolic preparations were obtained by two extraction methods: ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE). The total phenolic and tannin contents were measured using spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by two complementary methods (DPPH and ABTS). Antimicrobial potential was tested against five bacteria and three Candida species, and the effect on biofilm formation and synergism with gentamicin was also evaluated. Finally, enzyme inhibitory properties were assessed for α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, and acetylcholinesterase. The results indicated a higher phenolic content for the extracts obtained through MAE, while UAE bark extracts were rich in tannins. All the extracts exhibited antioxidant, anti-glucosidase, and anti-tyrosinase activity, while the antibacterial potential was mostly observed for the MAE extracts, especially against S. aureus, C. parapsilopsis, and C. krusei; inhibition of biofilm formation was observed only for MRSA. These findings show that the red oak bark might be an important source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Leaf Removal at Véraison and Foliar K+ Application to Beibinghong Vines Improved Berry Quality under Cold-Climate Conditions
Authors: Le Zhao , Zheng Wei , Dong Mengde , Cai Ming , Gutiérrez-Gamboa Gastón , Sun Baoshan
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: Beibinghong is a grapevine variety that is well distributed in Northeastern China due to its adaptation to extreme cold conditions and vine diseases. Nonetheless, Beibinghong wines are extremely acidic and rich in phenolic compounds. The aim of this research was to study the effects of leaf removal at véraison and foliar K+ applications on Beibinghong vines to reduce the acidity and increase their polyphenol content. (2) Methods: Beibinghong berries were harvested when they reached close to 20 °Brix, and the physicochemical parameters were determined. (3) Results: Leaf removal at véraison plus K+ foliar applications to Beibinghong vines decreased the titratable acidity and increased the total phenolic and phenolic acid contents compared with the control. Moreover, the titratable acidity in the Beibinghong berries was negatively related to their total contents of phenols, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. (4) Conclusions: Leaf removal at véraison performed with foliar K+ applications to vines could be an interesting alternative for Beibinghong production under cold-climate viticulture because it allows for a decrease in the acidity and an increase in the phenolic content of the berries, without incurring the risk of sunburn.
Combined Pulsed Electric Field and Microwave-Assisted Extraction as a Green Method for the Recovery of Antioxidant Compounds with Electroactive Potential from Coffee Agro-Waste
Authors: Macías-Garbett Rodrigo , Sosa-Hernández Juan Eduardo , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Contreras-Esquivel Juan Carlos , Chen Wei Ning , Melchor-Martínez Elda M. , Parra-Saldívar Roberto
Published: September 2022

Coffee agro-waste is a potential source of polyphenols with antioxidant activity and application in the food and cosmetic trades. The usage of these byproducts persists as a challenge in the industrial landscape due to their high content of purported toxic substances hindering management. This study presents a green extractive process using pulsed electric field (PEF) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE) to recover polyphenols from coffee parchment and two varieties of pulp, posing quick processing times and the use of water as the only solvent. The performance of this process with regard to the bioactivity was assessed through the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, total flavonoid content, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP antioxidant tests. The phenolic composition of the extracts was also determined through HPLC-MS and quantified through HPLC-DAD. When compared to treatment controls, PEF + MAE treated samples presented enhanced yields of total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity in all analyzed residues (Tukey test significance: 95%). The chromatographic studies reveal the presence of caffeic acid on the three analyzed by-products. The HPLC-DAD caffeic acid quantification validated that a combination of MAE + PEF treatment in yellow coffee pulp had the highest caffeic acid concentration of all studied extraction methods.
Exogenous Application of Melatonin to Green Horn Pepper Fruit Reduces Chilling Injury during Postharvest Cold Storage by Regulating Enzymatic Activities in the Antioxidant System
Authors: Wang Luyao , Shen Xuemeng , Chen Xiumei , Ouyang Qiuli , Tan Xiaoli , Tao Nengguo
Published: September 2022

Chilling injury (CI) caused by exposure to low temperatures is a serious problem in the postharvest cold storage of pepper fruit. Melatonin (MT) has been reported to minimize CI in several plants. To evaluate the effectiveness of MT to minimize CI in green horn pepper and the possible mechanism involved, freshly picked green horn peppers were treated with MT solution at 100 μmol L−1 or water and then stored at 4 °C for 25 d. Results showed that MT treatment reduced CI in green horn pepper fruit, as evidenced by lower CI rate and CI index. MT treatment maintained lower postharvest metabolism rate and higher fruit quality of green horn peppers, as shown by reduced weight loss and respiratory rate, maintened fruit firmness and higher contents of chlorophyll, total phenols, flavonoids, total soluble solids and ATP. Additionally, the contents of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radical, and malondialdehyde were kept low in the MT-treated fruit, and the activities of the enzymes peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly elevated. Similarly, the ascorbate–glutathione cycle was enhanced by elevating the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase, to increase the regeneration of ascorbic acid and glutathione. Our results show that MT treatment protected green horn pepper fruit from CI and maintained high fruit quality during cold storage by triggering the antioxidant system
Characterization of Colletotrichum Isolates from Strawberry and Other Hosts with Reference to Cross-Inoculation Potential
Authors: Sharma Gunjan , Maymon Marcel , Meshram Vineet , Freeman Stanley
Published: September 2022

Colletotrichum is an important phytopathogenic fungus that causes anthracnose disease in diverse agronomically important tropical food crops. Accurate pathogen identification is critical for early diagnosis and efficient management of anthracnose. ITS is not a reliable marker for this fungal genus due to its failure to phylogenetically resolve cryptic species. In this study, 36 Colletotrichum isolates belonging to the Acutatum, Boninense and Gloeosporioides species complexes were characterized using multigene phylogenetic analyses, morphology and pathogenicity assays. Additionally, the cross-inoculation potential of a representative subset of isolates was evaluated revealing that cross-infection potential is possible among the isolates belonging to the same species complex.
Biochar and Cropping Systems Changed Soil Copper Speciation and Accumulation in Sweet Corn and Soybean
Authors: Yang Wenting , Pan Yuzhuo , Yu Xia , Xiao Shihao , Wang Weihu , Lu Meijuan
Published: September 2022

In order to explore the effects of biochar and cropping systems on soil copper (Cu) speciation and copper accumulation in sweet corn (Zea mays L. var. Rugosa Bonaf.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), three ratios of biochar (C0, 0%, C1, 2%, C2, 5% by mass ratio, (w/w)) and three cropping systems (monocropped sweet corn, MC; monocropped soybean, MS; sweet corn–soybean intercropping, CS) were studied under three Cu levels (Cu0, 0 mg·kg−1, Cu1, 200 mg·kg−1, and Cu2, 400 mg·kg−1) in a pot experiment. The following results were obtained: (1) Compared with C0, adding biochar (C1, C2) could significantly reduce the Cu concentration in sweet corn, and C2 significantly reduced the Cu concentration in soybean under Cu1 and Cu2; the Cu concentrations in sweet corn and soybeans under Cu1 were lower than 10 mg·kg−1. (2) Compared with MC or MS, C2 significantly reduced the Cu concentration (below the detection limit) in sweet corn and the Cu concentration (1.65 mg·kg−1) in soybean straw in CS under Cu1. The Cu concentration in sweet corn ears and soybean straw in CS under Cu2 also decreased significantly, reaching 1.84 and 10.36 mg·kg−1, respectively. (3) Compared with C0, C2 significantly reduced the soil acid-soluble Cu concentration under Cu1 and Cu2, but significantly increased soil oxidated Cu concentration. (4) Compared with MC, the concentration of soil acid-soluble Cu was significantly decreased in CSC1 under Cu2. Under Cu1, the concentrations of reducible Cu were significantly increased in CSC1 and CSC2, and the oxidizable Cu concentration was increased in CSC2. In conclusion, sweet corn–soybean intercropping combined with biochar 5% (w/w) is beneficial to reducing the concentration of acid-soluble Cu, and increases the concentration of oxidizable Cu in copper-contaminated soil. Under Cu1 (200 mg·kg−1), the Cu concentrations in sweet corn and soybean were lower than 10 mg·kg−1, which meets the national food safety standard of China. Under Cu2 (400 mg·kg−1), the Cu concentration in sweet corn was lower than 10 mg·kg−1, but it was higher than 10 mg·kg−1 in soybean.
Deep Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Dynamic Skid Steer Vehicle Trajectory Tracking
Authors: Srikonda Sandeep , Norris William Robert , Nottage Dustin , Soylemezoglu Ahmet
Published: September 2022

Designing controllers for skid-steered wheeled robots is complex due to the interaction of the tires with the ground and wheel slip due to the skid-steer driving mechanism, leading to nonlinear dynamics. Due to the recent success of reinforcement learning algorithms for mobile robot control, the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradients (DDPG) was successfully implemented and an algorithm was designed for continuous control problems. The complex dynamics of the vehicle model were dealt with and the advantages of deep neural networks were leveraged for their generalizability. Reinforcement learning was used to gather information and train the agent in an unsupervised manner. The performance of the trained policy on the six degrees of freedom dynamic model simulation was demonstrated with ground force interactions. The system met the requirement to stay within the distance of half the vehicle width from reference paths.
İNFERTİL HASTALARIN COVID-19 AŞISINA UYUMU VE IVF TEDAVİ SONUÇLARI
Authors: MUTLU Ahmet Emin , KAYA Didem
Published: September 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı, infertil hastaların Koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 (COVID-19) aşısına bakış açılarını değerlendirmek; uygulanan COVID-19 aşısının kadınların over rezerv testleri üzerine ve in vitro fertilizasyon (IVF) tedavi sonuçlarına etkisini ölçmektir. Prospektif olarak planlanan bu çalışma Hüma Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum Hastanesi, Tüp Bebek Ünitesi’nde yapılmıştır. Çalışmaya Nisan 2022-Haziran 2022 tarihleri arasında infertilite nedeniyle başvuran 187 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Hastalar COVID-19 aşısı yaptırıp yaptırmama durumuna göre 2 gruba ayrıldı. Aşı yaptırmayı kabul eden 1. gruptaki 94 hastanın aşı öncesi Folikül Stimülan Hormon (FSH), Estradiol (E2), Anti Müllerian Hormon (AMH) değerlerine ve toplam antral follikül sayılarına (AFS) bakıldı. Aşı yaptırmayı kabul etmeyen 93 hastanın da aynı parametrelerine bakıldı. Aşı yaptıran ve yaptırmayan bu iki grup arasındaki over rezerv testleri ile IVF tedavi sonuçları karşılaştırıldı. Aşı yaptıran hastaların aşı öncesi ve sonrası over rezerv testleri değerlendirildiğinde FSH, AMH, E2 ve AFS bakımından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık bulunamadı. IVF tedavi sürecinde aşı yaptıran grup ile yaptırmayan grup arasında toplanan oosit sayısı, M2 oosit sayısı, fertilizasyon, implantasyon ve klinik gebelik oranlarında anlamlı istatistiksel bir farklılık izlenmedi (p>0.05). COVID-19 aşısı kişileri enfeksiyondan korurken over rezervi üzerinde herhangi bir azalma yapmadığı çalışmamızda gösterilmiştir. İnfertil hastalarda IVF tedavisi öncesi aşı yaptırmanın, tedavi sürecini ve sonuçlarını olumsuz etkilemediği yine bu çalışmada kanıtlanmıştır.
Meta-heurísticas para o sequenciamento de famílias de tarefas em máquinas paralelas idênticas de processamento em lote
Authors: Fidelis Michele Bernardino , Arroyo José Elias Claudio
Published: September 2022

Este artigo aborda um problema de sequenciamento de tarefas em máquinas paralelas idênticas de processamento em lote. Neste problema uma máquina pode executar um lote de tarefas simultaneamente. Além disso, as tarefas são classificadas em famílias, onde uma família agrupa tarefas que possuam alguma característica em comum. Assim, os lotes devem conter somente tarefas de uma mesma família. O problema também considera tarefas com diferentes tempos de chegada (release times). As tarefas possuem ainda uma data de entrega e um peso. O objetivo do problema é determinar os lotes de tarefas para serem sequenciados nas máquinas de tal maneira que o atraso total ponderado das tarefas seja minimizado. O problema envolvendo sequenciamento de lotes é uma extensão do sequenciamento de tarefas clássico (onde uma máquina processa apenas uma tarefa por vez) e possui muitas aplicações reais.  Para resolver o problema abordado, três algoritmos baseados em meta-heurísticas foram desenvolvidos: Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS), Iterated Greedy (IG) e Simulated Annealing (SA). Todos estes algoritmos utilizam técnicas de busca em vizinhança para melhorar a qualidade de uma solução. Experimentos computacionais, utilizando dados da literatura, foram realizados a fim de avaliar o desempenho dos algoritmos. Para instâncias de grande porte, os algoritmos propostos são comparados com dois algoritmos da literatura (Memetic Algorithm e Variable Neighborhood Search). Os experimentos e testes realizados demonstram que os algoritmos desenvolvidos neste trabalho geram soluções válidas de excelente qualidade superando as melhores soluções encontradas na literatura.
O papel do enfermeiro intensivista na hipotermia terapêutica em pacientes pós-parada cardiorrespiratória
Authors: Vasconcelos Izabelle Salviano de , Rosenstock Karelline Izaltemberg Vasconcelos , Souza Eclesia de Oliveira , Santos Maria Carolina Salustino dos , Olanda Débora Evelly da Silva , Nascimento Nathalia Claudino do
Published: September 2022

As doenças vasculares são a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo as síndromes coronarianas agudas as principais causadoras da PCR (parada cardiorrespiratória) e os danos decorrentes deste agravo levam a lesões irreversíveis no sistema nervoso central. A indução da hipotermia visa a diminuição do metabolismo cerebral, limitação da lesão miocárdica e sistêmica. Visando a importância do enfermeiro nos diferentes direcionamentos e cuidados da saúde, estudos o apontam como principal executor da terapia e os cuidados fornecidos são de extrema importância para a recuperação, por meio de uma assistência sistematizada, holística e humanizada. Este estudo tem como objetivo relatar as principais dificuldades relacionadas a indução hipotérmica e discutir principais medidas a serem tomadas durante o uso de hipotermia induzida em ambiente hospitalar após ocorrência de parada cardiorrespiratória e ampliar o conhecimento dos enfermeiros dentro da assistência desses pacientes. Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo pesquisa bibliográfica de caráter explicativo-descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, a partir de revisões bibliográficas. Conforme o material analisado, observa-se a importância do conhecimento dos enfermeiros em relação ao método de hipotermia em PCR e em seus respectivos benefícios terapêuticos, e que para isso é necessário que estes tenham uma base adequada a partir de um conhecimento direcionado por meio de cursos, capacitações, palestras e embasamento teórico qualificado.
Ocimum campechianum essential oil: chemical composition and antifungal activity against filamentous fungi
Authors: Souza Franscristhiany Silva , Mouchrek Adenilde Nascimento , Serra Josilene Lima , Mendonça Cáritas de Jesus Silva , Borges Kátia Regina Assunção , Mendonça Sergiane de Jesus Rocha , Santos Angela Maria Correa Mouzinho , Filho Victor Elias Mouchrek , Silva Fernando Carvalho
Published: September 2022

Ocimum campechianum (OC), an aromatic and medicinal plant from the Amazon region, is rich in essential oils with antimicrobial potential. This study aimed to analyze the quality, toxicity, and antifungal action of Ocimum campechianum essential oil(OCEO). The plant species were collected in the city of São Luís-MA (Brazil). The essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus, and the physical-chemical parameters were analyzed according to the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia norms. The essential oil constituents were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Toxicity was evaluated against brine shrimp (Artemia salina Leach). The antifungal activity was evaluated by the method of disk diffusion and microdilution in broth against ATCC strains of filamentous fungi Aspergillus Niger (ATCC 6275), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (ATCC 96723), and Penicillium chrysogenum (ATCC 10106. The essential oil showed a slightly yellowish color, intense clove aroma, a density of 1.0 ± 0.0  g/mL, a refractive index of 1.52 ± 0.00, solubility in ethanol (1:2), and a yield of 1.40%. The chromatographic profile showed 36 volatile compounds, the majority being eugenol (49.18%), followed by β- caryophyllene (17.26%), elixene (9.46%), methyl eugenol (7.65%), and eucalyptol (2,55%). It presented LC 50 = 955 μg / mL against Artemia salina. The fungi induced growth inhibition zones (14.90 to 17.85 mm). The fungus P. chrysogenum was the most susceptible (MIC 220 μg/ml) compared to the fungi A. niger (MIC 250 μg/mL) and C. gloeosporioides (MIC 270 μg/mL). The minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) was sufficient to inhibit the growth of P. chrysogenum at 380 μg/mL, A. niger at 400.25 μg/mL, and C. gloeosporioides at 416.66 μg/mL. The OCEO showed good quality, low toxicity, and fungicidal action against the filamentous fungi analyzed, suggesting its application as a promising natural antifungal, mainly in combating diseases in post-harvest crops.