bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Sample-to-Result POCKIT Central SARS-CoV-2 PCR System
Authors: Zhu Jin-Hui , Tai Chia-Hsing , Ping Chia-Fong , Chou Pin-Hsing , Tsai Yun-Long , Chung Simon , Bradner Laura , Pentella Michael , Gauger Phillip , Zhang Jianqiang
Published: June 2023

The emergence of COVID-19 has caused unprecedented impacts on global public health and many other aspects. Meanwhile, many types of methods have been developed to detect the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2; this has greatly advanced the technologies in the diagnostic field. Here, we describe the development and validation of a sample-in-result-out POCKIT Central SARS-CoV-2 PCR system for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with a commercial reference real-time RT-PCR assay (TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit). Both assays were specific and did not cross-react with non-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Both assays were able to detect various SARS-CoV-2 strains including some variants. Based on testing serial dilutions of SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 isolate, the limit of detection was 0.8 TCID50/mL (1.87 × 103 genomic copies/mL) for POCKIT Central SARS-CoV-2 PCR and 0.16 TCID50/mL (3.75 × 102 genomic copies/mL) for the reference PCR. Subsequently, 183 clinical samples were tested by both assays and the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of the POCKIT Central SARS-CoV-2 PCR were 91.7%, 100%, and 94.0%, respectively, when compared to the reference PCR. The compact sample-to-result POCKIT Central SARS-CoV-2 PCR system is a simplified and efficient point-of-care tool for SARS-CoV-2 detection. In addition, this platform can be readily adapted to detect other human and animal viruses.
Super-High Magnification Dermoscopy in 190 Clinically Atypical Pigmented Lesions
Authors: Cinotti Elisa , Cioppa Vittoria , Tognetti Linda , Perrot Jean Luc , Rossi Renato , Gnone Matteo , Cartocci Alessandra , Rubegni Pietro , Cortonesi Giulio
Published: June 2023

Super-high (×400) magnification dermoscopy (D400) is a new non-invasive imaging technique that has been shown to add information for the differential diagnosis of melanocytic lesions in a pilot study. Our study aimed to confirm if D400 can add details for the discrimination of clinically atypical nevus and melanoma. This is a retrospective observational, multicentric study enrolling patients who received ×20 (D20) and ×400 (D400) magnification dermoscopic examinations of pigmented skin lesions. Dermoscopic images were retrospectively evaluated by three observers for the presence/absence of nine D20 and twenty D400 dermoscopic features defined in the previous pilot study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to find predictors of benign and malignant behaviors. At D20, an atypical pigment network, blue-whitish veil, atypical vascular pattern, regression, and homogenous pattern were more frequent in melanoma than in nevi (p < 0.001). At D400, melanoma showed more frequently than benign lesions, melanocytes with an irregular arrangement and irregular in shape and size (p < 0.001). A network with edged papillae was more frequent in benign lesions than melanomas (p < 0.001). Our study confirms that D400 can identify melanocytes with an irregular arrangement, and irregularities in shape and size in melanomas, adding information to the conventional D20 examination.
Native T2 Predicts Myocardial Inflammation Irrespective of a Patient’s Volume Status
Authors: Wolter Jan Sebastian , Treiber Julia M. , Fischer Selina , Fischer-Rasokat Ulrich , Kriechbaum Steffen D. , Rieth Andreas , Weferling Maren , von Jeinsen Beatrice , Hain Andreas , Hamm Christian W. , Keller Till , Rolf Andreas
Published: June 2023

Myocardial inflammation and edema are major pathological features in myocarditis. Myocardial tissue water content and myocardial edema can be quantified via T2 mapping. Thus, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the noninvasive gold standard for diagnosing myocarditis. Several studies showed an impact of short-term volume changes on T2 relaxation time. Plasma volume status (PVS) is a good surrogate parameter to quantify a patient’s volume status, and it is simple to use. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PVS on the diagnostic value of T2 relaxation time in myocardial inflammation. Between April 2017 and December 2022, patients who were indicated for cardiac CMR were included in our prospective clinical registry. Patients with myocardial inflammation and those with unremarkable findings were analyzed in the present study. A blood sample was drawn, and PVS was calculated. Patients were separated into PVS tertiles to explore a possible nonlinear dose–response relationship. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether T2 is an independent predictor of myocardial inflammation. A total of 700 patients (47.43% female) were eligible for analysis. Of these, 551 patients were healthy (78.7%), while 149 (21.3%) showed signs of myocardial inflammation. The T2 relaxation time was elevated in patients with myocardial inflammation (40 ms [IQR 37–42 ms] vs. 38.0 ms [IQR 36–39 ms], p < 0.001). PVS showed no difference between the groups (−12.94 [IQR −18.4–−7.28] vs.−12.19 [IQR −18.93–−5.87], p = 0.384). T2 showed a clear dose–response relationship with PVS, with increasing T2 values along the PVS tertiles. In spite of this, T2 was found to be an independent marker of myocardial inflammation in logistic regression (OR T2 1.3 [95% CI 1.21–1.39], p < 0.001), even after adjusting for PVS (OR T2 [adj. PVS] 1.31 [95% CI 1.22–1.40], p < 0.001). Despite a dose–response relationship between T2 and the volume status, T2 was found to be an independent indicator of myocardial inflammation.
Modeling Terror Attacks with Self-Exciting Point Processes and Forecasting the Number of Terror Events
Authors: Wang Siyi , Wang Xu , Li Chenlong
Published: June 2023

Rampant terrorism poses a serious threat to the national security of many countries worldwide, particularly due to separatism and extreme nationalism. This paper focuses on the development and application of a temporal self-exciting point process model to the terror data of three countries: the US, Turkey, and the Philippines. To account for occurrences with the same time-stamp, this paper introduces the order mark and reward term in parameter selection. The reward term considers the triggering effect between events in the same time-stamp but different order. Additionally, this paper provides comparisons between the self-exciting models generated by day-based and month-based arrival times. Another highlight of this paper is the development of a model to predict the number of terror events using a combination of simulation and machine learning, specifically the random forest method, to achieve better predictions. This research offers an insightful approach to discover terror event patterns and forecast future occurrences of terror events, which may have practical application towards national security strategies.
Aquaculture: How German Preservice Teachers’ Perception Interacts with Values, Knowledge, and Conceptions of Environmental Concern When Making Purchasing Decisions
Authors: Maurer Michaela , Pietzner Verena , Winkler Holger , Hößle Corinna
Published: June 2023

Responsibly using resources is an essential goal of the 2030 agenda. An overall need for 180 tonnes of fish per year is pushing the limits of sustainable fishing. Teachers can focus on this topic to enhance the environmental awareness of sustainability issues in learners (e.g., sustainable consumption, production, and supporting sustainable judgements). For this purpose, we developed a questionnaire on the topic of aquaculture using LimeSurvey and administered this survey to preservice teachers. The survey contained five open questions relating to aquaculture terms, a semantic differential with 14 adjective pairs that concern the interest in and usefulness of aquacultures; the environmental motives scale to determine the environmental concern of the teachers, and a self-developed set of items on systems—consumption knowledge, and social influence. Individuals in the target group (n = 158) indicated that they thought aquaculture products were rather useless and uninteresting, and they purchased them less. The results showed that the participants mostly correctly defined the aquaculture terms, but an overall understanding of system- and consumption-related knowledge, for example, was missing. Aquaculture seems to be associated more with profit than with nutrition or environmental concerns. We illustrate a possible barrier to the communication of less-familiar issues in society.
Power Control Strategy for a Ferry’s DC Power System Using Supercapacitors
Authors: Yun Qinsheng , Fu Lijun , Cheng Li , Wang Xiangjun
Published: June 2023

Integrated power systems are gaining popularity in the field of power systems and DC integrated power systems are considered promising for electric propulsion ships due to their simple grid topology, low fuel consumption, and easy access to new energy sources. However, the dynamic response characteristics of the power plant can be compromised when a variable speed generator is used in a DC power system, despite achieving energy savings. In this research, we investigate the power control strategy of a specific type of a ferry’s DC power plant. We establish a mathematical model and a Matlab/Simulink-based simulation model to analyze the performance of the proposed strategy. The research utilizes the fast charging and discharging advantages of supercapacitor storage devices to compensate for the dynamic impact delay of the power output when using the variable speed generator set. Additionally, an improved DC bus voltage droop control method that incorporates voltage compensation is proposed to mitigate problems related to large bus voltage fluctuations under sudden load change conditions, enabling better load distribution between different power sources. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in optimizing the speed-seeking method of the variable speed diesel engine sets matching with the supercapacitor, and its positive impact on the dynamic performance of the propulsion system is demonstrated under variable load conditions resulting from ferry operations.
Review of Advances in Speech Processing with Focus on Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: O’Shaughnessy Douglas
Published: June 2023

Speech is the primary way via which most humans communicate. Computers facilitate this transfer of information, especially when people interact with databases. While some methods to manipulate and interpret speech date back many decades (e.g., Fourier analysis), other processing techniques were developed late last century (e.g., linear predictive coding and hidden Markov models). Nonetheless, the last 25 years have seen major advances leading to the wide acceptance of computer-based speech processing, e.g., cellular telephones and real-time online conversations. This paper reviews older techniques and recent methods that focus largely on artificial neural networks. The major highlights in speech research are examined, without delving into mathematical detail, while giving insight into the research choices that have been made. The focus of this work is to understand how and why the discussed methods function well.
Airflow Resistance of Solid-Separated Dairy Waste for Drying and Storage
Authors: Baticados El Jirie N. , Capareda Sergio C. , Mitchell Cole I.
Published: June 2023

The resistance of solid-separated solid wastes (SSDWs) to moderate airflow ranging from 0.05 to 0.30 m3/s-m2 was measured at various bed depths and moisture levels. The pressure drop across a loose-fill fixed bed column was observed to increase more rapidly with increasing airflow rates than with increasing bed depths. An increase in the moisture content (10 percentage points) caused a decrease in the pressure drop by an average of 13.2–17.0%, evaluated within a 10–40% moisture content (MC) range. A full-factorial model analysis using standard least squares was used to describe the main effects and interactions of the test parameters in predicting the pressure drop. The Hukill and Ives nonlinear model was able to accurately describe the airflow resistance data of SSDWs at various MCs. Empirical curves describing the SSDW resistance to airflow were developed to aid in the preliminary design of ventilation systems for drying and storage.
An Overview of Methods and Technologies for Estimating Battery State of Charge in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Marques Taysa Millena Banik , dos Santos João Lucas Ferreira , Castanho Diego Solak , Ferreira Mariane Bigarelli , Stevan Sergio L. , Illa Font Carlos Henrique , Antonini Alves Thiago , Piekarski Cassiano Moro , Siqueira Hugo Valadares , Corrêa Fernanda Cristina
Published: June 2023

Recently, electric vehicles have gained enormous popularity due to their performance and efficiency. The investment in developing this new technology is justified by the increased awareness of the environmental impacts caused by combustion vehicles, such as greenhouse gas emissions, which have contributed to global warming and the depletion of oil reserves that are not renewable energy sources. Lithium-ion batteries are the most promising for electric vehicle (EV) applications. They have been widely used for their advantages, such as high energy density, many cycles, and low self-discharge. This work extensively investigates the main methods of estimating the state of charge (SoC) obtained through a literature review. A total of 109 relevant articles were found using the prism method. Some basic concepts of the state of health (SoH); a battery management system (BMS); and some models that can perform SoC estimation are presented. Challenges encountered in this task are discussed, such as the nonlinear characteristics of lithium-ion batteries that must be considered in the algorithms applied to the BMS. Thus, the set of concepts examined in this review supports the need to evolve the devices and develop new methods for estimating the SoC, which is increasingly more accurate and faster. This review shows that these tools tend to be continuously more dependent on artificial intelligence methods, especially hybrid algorithms, which require less training time and low computational cost, delivering real-time information to embedded systems.
Bioethanol Production from Woody Biomass: Recent Advances on the Effect of Pretreatments on the Bioconversion Process and Energy Yield Aspects
Authors: El Hage Maria , Louka Nicolas , Rezzoug Sid-Ahmed , Maugard Thierry , Sablé Sophie , Koubaa Mohamed , Debs Espérance , Maache-Rezzoug Zoulikha
Published: June 2023

As greenhouse gas emissions are continuously increasing, research is now privileging greener and more sustainable human activities. An attractive strategy in the pursuit of sustainability is the valorization of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of bioethanol. This approach relies on the bioconversion of wood and agricultural waste, which are abundant globally. They represent considerable sources of fermentable sugars that can be recovered through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the presence of lignin in wood waste makes it more recalcitrant to enzymatic hydrolysis, and reduces the efficiency of the bioconversion process. Therefore, a pretreatment preceding hydrolysis is highly necessary in order to disrupt the resistant structure of woody biomass. The type and severity of the pretreatment affect the outcomes of the hydrolysis and fermentation steps, just as they strongly influence the overall process costs. Given this context, bioenergy production from this biomass is a promising alternative method of sustainably responding to energy demands while reducing the amounts of waste left in nature. The aim of this review is to thoroughly compare the recent bioconversion processes performed on woody substrates over the past five years, with a focus on thermomechanical pretreatments. Moreover, this review will discuss the outcomes of their separate steps, their impact on the overall process, and their energetic aspects.
Editorial on the Special Issue Entitled “Regulatory Frameworks Addressed to Promote Renewable Energy Sources and Microgrids. Regulatory Constraints and Implications on Conception, Design and Energy Management of Microgrids”
Authors: de la Hoz Jordi , Martín Helena , Matas José
Published: June 2023

As renewable energy sources and microgrids have developed, the need to use a transversal approach for dealing with issues on the design and energy management of these assets is clear. Although renewable energy sources and microgrids are used within the electricity sector in a significant number of countries, the technical and scientific literature often dismisses the effects that in-force regulatory frameworks have on this type of assets. This Special Issue aims to enlighten readers on the relationship between the electricity sector’s regulatory frameworks and microgrids, providing clear evidence on the need to consider regulatory constraints in their design and energy management.
Status of Foam as a Liquid Blocking Agent in Porous Media: A Review
Authors: Solbakken Jonas S.
Published: June 2023

This article summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge gained from field observations and laboratory studies regarding foam as a liquid controlling agent in porous media. Being the least explored property of foam, its effect and potential have often been overlooked or simply ignored. The aim with this review is therefore to demonstrate the abilities that foam could have to block, reduce, delay, suppress, or divert water flow in porous media. As a liquid controlling agent in porous media, foam has potential for industrial processes that involve fluid injections or fluid withdrawals in porous geological formations, such as improved/enhanced oil recovery (IOR/EOR), matrix-stimulation treatments, underground storage of CO2, hydrogen, compressed-air or natural gas withdrawal, geothermal energy, and contaminated soil-groundwater remediation processes with unwanted aquifer impacts. Improving the water utilization factor and water management in these applications might result in tremendous energic, economic, and environmental incentives that are worth pursuing. Specific focus in this review is given to the post-foam water injection, which determines the ultimate stability and water-blocking capabilities of the foam treatment. Main parameters and mechanisms that can influence foam stability against water injection/intrusion after generation and placement are assessed and discussed. Unresolved issues are highlighted, which give recommendations for further research and field-scale operations.
Relationship between the Radial Growth of Two Dominant Coniferous Species and GPP in the Arid Region of Northwest China
Authors: Liu Na , Wu Zhitao , Du Ziqiang , Lei Tianjie , Sun Bin
Published: June 2023

Radial growth of trees is closely related to canopy activity. Revealing the relationship between radial growth and canopy activity is of great significance for forest protection under climate change. In this study, we built tree-ring chronologies for two tree species, spruce (Picea aspruceerata) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis), from the Helan Mountains in the arid region of northwest China. Correlation coefficients were then calculated to reveal the relationships among tree rings, two kinds of gross primary productivity (GPP) indices, and climate data. The results demonstrated that the radial growth of both spruce and Chinese pine was positively correlated with GPP from late February to early March, and moisture conditions may be the driving factor of tree growth. However, radial growth of Chinese pine was also correlated with GPP from the end of March to the end of August. This study aimed to further supplement the relationship between trunk radial growth and canopy dynamics in the arid zone of northwest China and to provide theoretical guidance for vegetation restoration and forest conservation in the arid zone of northwest China under climate change.
Elevational Patterns of Tree Species Richness and Forest Biomass on Two Subtropical Mountains in China
Authors: Cai Qiong , Ma Suhui , Sun Lijuan , Chen Guoping , Xiao Jian , Fang Wenjing , Ji Chengjun , Tang Zhiyao , Fang Jingyun
Published: June 2023

Increasing evidence shows that both abiotic and biotic factors affect species richness and stand biomass in forests, yet the relative and interactive impacts of these factors remain debated in different forest ecosystems. We sampled 55 forest plots (600 m2 per plot) on two subtropical mountains with distinct diversity levels in China to explore the elevational patterns of tree species richness and stand biomass and examined how they were affected by climate, stand structure, and dominance of mycorrhizal types. The tree species richness of both mountains decreased with elevation, while the stand biomass exhibited unimodal or no apparent trends. On both mountains, the tree species richness was strongly shaped by climatic factors, especially the mean annual temperature, whereas the stand biomass was mainly affected by the stand structure. Specifically, on the mountain with higher species richness, both the tree height variation and maximum tree size were strongly correlated with the stand biomass. Meanwhile, on the species-poor mountain with higher elevations, only the maximum tree size correlated with the stand biomass. The dominance of ectomycorrhizal trees also had positive effects on the stand biomass of both mountains. These results suggest that climate, stand structure, and mycorrhizal dominance may jointly drive the decoupling between tree species richness and stand biomass, which should be given more attention in further research and forest management to achieve the climate change mitigation goals.
Si Supply Could Alter N Uptake and Assimilation of Saplings—A 15N Tracer Study of Four Subtropical Species
Authors: Liu Xiaoyu , Tang Xinghao , Ran Huan , Deng Mengyang , Song Qingni , Yang Qingpei , Huang Dongmei , Liu Jun
Published: June 2023

Si availability may be altered by bamboo expansion when other trees are replaced by bamboo due to the influence of plant communities on the quantity of phytoliths and Si accumulation. It has been shown that Si availability can modify nutrient-use efficiency (e.g., N and P) of some Si-accumulating plants. However, it is unclear how Si availability might alter N uptake and assimilation between Si-accumulating plants such as bamboo compared to other species, particularly for different chemical forms such as ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−). To explore the influences of Si availability on uptake and assimilation rates for different forms of inorganic N between bamboo and other trees, we selected one-year-old seedlings of bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and three other native subtropical species, namely Phoebe bournei, Schima superba, and Cunninghamia lanceolata. We applied three levels of Si and 15N tracers in a pot experiment and then measured the concentrations of Si (total Si, soluble Si, and exchangeable Si), C, N (total N, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N), and N uptake and assimilation rates for both roots and leaves. We found that there were higher inorganic N root uptake and assimilation rates for bamboo compared to other species, likely due to higher biomass accumulation and quicker turnover of fine roots. Moreover, Si supply did not change the uptake preference for N forms or overall uptake and assimilation rates in most species; however, a high concentration of the Si supply slightly increased NO3−-N uptake and assimilation rates in fine roots and leaves of P. bournei, particularly immediately following the addition of Si. These results have implications for predicting the coexistence and competition between bamboo and other trees through the uptake and assimilation of different forms of inorganic N (i.e., high Si-accumulating plants compared to other plants), particularly when Si availability is altered in ecosystems.
The Importance of Using Permanent Plots Data to Fit the Self-Thinning Line: An Example for Maritime Pine Stands in Portugal
Authors: Pavel Muha Abdullah Al , Barreiro Susana , Tomé Margarida
Published: June 2023

Density-dependent mortality occurs in the evolution of even-aged populations when these approach crown closure age. This density-dependent mortality is regulated by the so-called “3/2 power law of self-thinning” that assumes a constant slope for the line relating the log of stand density with the log of the average tree size, the self-thinning line or maximum size–density relationship, MSDR. A good estimate of the self-thinning line is therefore an essential component to any forest growth model. Two concepts for the MSDR have emerged: (1) a static upper limit for the species; and (2) a dynamic self-thinning line influenced by several factors (e.g., management techniques, site quality and/or genetics). The objective of this study was to estimate a new static self-thinning line based on the quadratic mean diameter at breast height (Reineke’s self-thinning line) for the generalized use in maritime pine growth models in Portugal. Data from 41 observations obtained in nine long-term permanent experimental trials of maritime pine species were carefully selected from a data set of 186 plots as being under self-thinning. Two methods were used: OLS and mixed linear models. An exploratory analysis on the impact of each environmental variable on the slope and intercept of the self-thinning line led to the selection of a subset of environmental variables later used in an all possible regressions algorithm to find the subsets leading to the lowest values of Akaike information criterion (AIC). The OLS procedure showed that the differences between the plots could be explained by site index, by climate variables (e.g., evaporation or climatic indices) and the use of more than one covariable slightly improved the fit. Nevertheless, the best MSDR line fitted with mixed linear models (ln N = 12.97158 − 1.83926 ln dg) having the plot random effect in the intercept, largely outperformed the best OLS model and is therefore recommended for generalized use in forest growth models.
Using Remote Sensing and Climate Data to Map the Extent and Severity of Balsam Woolly Adelgid Infestation in Northern Utah, USA
Authors: Campbell Michael J. , Williams Justin P. , Berryman Erin M.
Published: June 2023

Balsam woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelges picea Ratzeburg; BWA) is a nonnative, invasive insect that has infested fir trees in the US for over a century, yet robust methods for mapping BWA have remained elusive. We compare three approaches to mapping BWA in the subalpine fir forests of northern Utah, the forefront of BWA spread in the western US: (1) using moderate-resolution, multispectral satellite imagery; (2) using terrain and climate data; and (3) using a combination of imagery, terrain, and climate data. While the spectral data successfully detected forest degradation, they failed to distinguish between causal agents of change (R2mean = 0.482; RMSEmean = 0.112). Terrain and climate data identified landscape conditions that promote BWA infestation but lacked the ability to characterize local-scale tree damage (R2mean = 0.746; RMSEmean = 0.078). By combining spectral, terrain, and climate data, we present a repeatable approach for accurately mapping infestation severity that captures both regional abiotic drivers and the local damage signals of BWA (R2mean = 0.836; RMSEmean = 0.065). Highly infested areas featured increased visible and shortwave infrared reflectance over time in the spectral data. The terrain bore little influence on severity, but climate variables indicated that warmer areas are more prone to severe infestation. This research study presents an analytical framework upon which future BWA monitoring efforts can be built.
Investigation on Self-Admitted Technical Debt in Open-Source Blockchain Projects
Authors: Pinna Andrea , Lunesu Maria Ilaria , Orrù Stefano , Tonelli Roberto
Published: June 2023

Technical debt refers to decisions made during the design and development of software that postpone the resolution of technical problems or the enhancement of the software’s features to a later date. If not properly managed, technical debt can put long-term software quality and maintainability at risk. Self-admitted technical debt is defined as the addition of specific comments to source code as a result of conscious and deliberate decisions to accumulate technical debt. In this paper, we will look at the presence of self-admitted technical debt in open-source blockchain projects, which are characterized by the use of a relatively novel technology and the need to generate trust. The self-admitted technical debt was analyzed using NLP techniques for the classification of comments extracted from the source code of ten projects chosen based on capitalization and popularity. The analysis of self-admitted technical debt in blockchain projects was compared with the results of previous non-blockchain open-source project analyses. The findings show that self-admitted design technical debt outnumbers requirement technical debt in blockchain projects. The analysis discovered that some projects had a low percentage of self-admitted technical debt in the comments but a high percentage of source code files with debt. In addition, self-admitted technical debt is on average more prevalent in blockchain projects and more equally distributed than in reference Java projects.If not managed, the relatively high presence of detected technical debt in blockchain projects could represent a threat to the needed trust between the blockchain system and the users. Blockchain projects development teams could benefit from self-admitted technical debt detection for targeted technical debt management.
A Method to Reduce the Occurrence of Egg Translucency and Its Effect on Bacterial Invasion
Authors: Shi Xuefeng , Liang Qianni , Wang Enling , Jiang Caiyun , Zeng Lingsen , Chen Ruochen , Li Junying , Xu Guiyun , Zheng Jiangxia
Published: June 2023

Translucent egg consumption is low due to consumer acceptance and quality concerns, which is a problem that egg producers need to address. This study was performed to evaluate the reasons for the high occurrence of egg translucency in summer, as well as whether the addition of mono-dicalcium phosphate (MDCP) to the diet can relieve eggshell translucency and whether eggshell translucency is associated with the risk of bacterial invasion. A total of 72 laying hens that were 36 weeks old were randomly divided into control (CON) and MDCP groups and fed in the same environment. Results showed that the number of translucent eggs increases in July and August as the temperature and humidity increase. Compared with the CON group, in July, August, and October, the translucent egg grade (TEG) of the MDCP group was lower than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). TEG was correlated with mastoid space height (MSH), width (MSW), and area (MSA) (correlation coefficients 0.63, 0.59, and 0.68, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference in the invasion rate of E. coli between translucent and non-translucent egg groups (47.2% vs. 39.33%), and translucent area and non-translucent area (13.49% vs. 15.08%). In conclusion, our results show that dietary MDCP may alleviate eggshell translucency and that eggshell translucency would not increase the probability of E. coli cross-shell penetration rate.
The Influence of (Poly)phenol Intake in Saliva Proteome: Short- and Medium-Term Effects of Apple
Authors: Louro Teresa , Carreira Laura , Caeiro Inês , Simões Carla , Ricardo-Rodrigues Sara , Rato Ana , Capela e Silva Fernando , Luís Henrique , Moreira Pedro , Lamy Elsa
Published: June 2023

The relationship between salivary proteome and dietary habits was studied in previous works, where a relationship between salivary proteins like cystatins and polyphenol/tannin levels in diet was observed. However, it remains to be elucidated if this association results from an effect of polyphenol-rich food ingestion on saliva composition. The aim of this work was to test the effects of apple intake on the saliva proteome, both in the short and medium term (after 4 days of continuous intake). By incubating saliva samples with apple phenolic-rich extract, protein bands containing α-amylase, S-type cystatins, and proline-rich proteins (PRPs) appeared in the fraction that precipitated, showing the potential of these (poly)phenols to precipitate salivary proteins. Among these, it was salivary cystatins that presented changes in their levels both in the saliva samples collected immediately after apple intake and in the ones collected after 4 days of intake of an extra amount of apple. These results support the thought that intake is reflected in the salivary proteome. The effect of a polyphenol-rich food, like the apple, on salivary cystatin levels is in line with results observed in animal models and, due to the involvement of these proteins in oral food perception, it would be interesting to explore in future studies the effect of these changes on sensory perception and acceptance of polyphenol-rich food.
Antioxidants and Phenolic Acid Composition of Wholemeal and Refined-Flour, and Related Biscuits in Old and Modern Cultivars Belonging to Three Cereal Species
Authors: Borrelli Grazia Maria , Menga Valeria , Giovanniello Valentina , Ficco Donatella Bianca Maria
Published: June 2023

Cereals are a good source of phenolics and carotenoids with beneficial effects on human health. In this study, a 2-year evaluation was undertaken on grain, wholemeal and refined-flour of two cultivars, one old and one modern, belonging to three cereal species. Wholemeal of selected cultivars for each species was used for biscuit making. In the grain, some yield-related traits and proteins (PC) were evaluated. In the flours and biscuits, total polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), proanthocyanidins (TPAC), carotenoids (TYPC) and antioxidant activities (DPPH and TEAC) were spectrophotometrically determined, whereas HPLC was used for the composition of soluble free and conjugated, and insoluble bound phenolic acids. Species (S), genotype (G) and ‘SxG’ were highly significant for yield-related and all antioxidant traits, whereas cropping year (Y) significantly affected yield-related traits, PC, TPC, TPAC, TEAC and ‘SxGxY’ interaction was significant for yield-related traits, TPAC, TYPC, TEAC, DPPH and all phenolic acid fractions. Apart from the TYPC that prevailed in durum wheat together with yield-related traits, barley was found to have significantly higher values for all the other parameters. Generally, the modern cultivars are richest in antioxidant compounds. The free and conjugated fractions were more representative in emmer, while the bound fraction was prevalent in barley and durum wheat. Insoluble bound phenolic acids represented 86.0% of the total, and ferulic acid was the most abundant in all species. A consistent loss of antioxidants was observed in all refined flours. The experimental biscuits were highest in phytochemicals than commercial control. Although barley biscuits were nutritionally superior, their lower consumer acceptance could limit their diffusion. New insights are required to find optimal formulations for better nutritional, sensorial and health biscuits.
Advances in Low-Lactose/Lactose-Free Dairy Products and Their Production
Authors: Li Aili , Zheng Jie , Han Xueting , Yang Sijia , Cheng Shihui , Zhao Jingwen , Zhou Wenjia , Lu Yan
Published: June 2023

With increasing health awareness worldwide, lactose intolerance has become a major concern of consumers, creating new market opportunities for low-lactose/lactose-free dairy foods. In recent years, through innovating processes and technologies, dairy manufacturers have significantly improved the variety, and functional and sensory qualities of low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products. Based on this, this paper first covers the pathology and epidemiology of lactose intolerance and market trends. Then, we focus on current advantages and disadvantages of different lactose hydrolysis technologies and improvements in these technologies to enhance nutritional value, and functional, sensory, and quality properties of lactose-free dairy products. We found that more and more cutting-edge technologies are being applied to the production of lactose-free dairy products, and that these technologies greatly improve the quality and production efficiency of lactose-free dairy products. Hopefully, our review can provide a theoretical basis for the marketing expansion and consumption guidance for low-lactose/lactose-free dairy products.
Growth Kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on Dehydrated Vegetables during Rehydration and Subsequent Storage
Authors: Fay Megan L. , Salazar Joelle K. , Ren Yuying , Wu Zihui , Mate Madhuri , Khouja Bashayer A. , Lingareddygari Pravalika , Liggans Girvin
Published: June 2023

Dehydrated vegetables have low water activities and do not support the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Once rehydrated, vegetables can be incorporated into other foods or held for later use. The aim of this study was to examine the survival and proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on dehydrated vegetables during rehydration and subsequent storage. Carrots, corn, onion, bell peppers, and potatoes were heat dehydrated, inoculated at 4 log CFU/g, and rehydrated at either 5 or 25 °C for 24 h. Following rehydration, vegetables were stored at 5, 10, or 25 °C for 7 d. Both L. monocytogenes and S. enterica survived on all vegetables under all conditions examined. After 24 h of rehydration at 5 °C, pathogen populations on the vegetables were generally <1.70 log CFU/g, whereas rehydration at 25 °C resulted in populations of 2.28 to 6.25 log CFU/g. The highest growth rates during storage were observed by L. monocytogenes on potatoes and S. enterica on carrots (2.37 ± 0.61 and 1.63 ± 0.18 log CFU/g/d, respectively) at 25 °C when rehydration occurred at 5 °C. Results indicate that pathogen proliferation on the vegetables is both rehydration temperature and matrix dependent and highlight the importance of holding rehydrated vegetables at refrigeration temperatures to hinder pathogen proliferation. Results from this study inform time and temperature controls for the safety of these food products.
Effects of ESA_00986 Gene on Adhesion/Invasion and Virulence of Cronobacter sakazakii and Its Molecular Mechanism
Authors: Fan Yufei , Li Ping , Zhu Dongdong , Zhao Chumin , Jiao Jingbo , Ji Xuemeng , Du Xinjun
Published: June 2023

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that has been identified as a causative agent of severe foodborne infections with a higher risk of mortality in neonates, premature infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised populations. The specific pathogenesis mechanisms of C. sakazakii, such as adhesion and colonization, remain unclear. Previously, we conducted comparative proteomic studies on the two strains with the stronger and weaker infection ability, respectively, and found an interesting protein, ESA_00986, which was more highly expressed in the strain with the stronger ability. This unknown protein, predicted to be a type of invasitin related to invasion, may be a critical factor contributing to its virulence. This study aimed to elucidate the precise roles of the ESA_00986 gene in C. sakazakii by generating gene knockout mutants and complementary strains. The mutant and complementary strains were assessed for their biofilm formation, mobility, cell adhesion and invasion, and virulence in a rat model. Compared with the wild-type strain, the mutant strain exhibited a decrease in motility, whereas the complementary strain showed comparable motility to the wild-type. The biofilm-forming ability of the mutant was weakened, and the mutant also exhibited attenuated adhesion to/invasion of intestinal epithelial cells (HCT-8, HICE-6) and virulence in a rat model. This indicated that ESA_00986 plays a positive role in adhesion/invasion and virulence. This study proves that the ESA_00986 gene encodes a novel virulence factor and advances our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of C. sakazakii.
Mosquito (MS), a DD37E Family of Tc1/Mariner, Displaying a Distinct Evolution Profile from DD37E/TRT and DD37E/L18
Authors: Xiang Kuilin , Puzakov Mikhail , Shi Shasha , Diaby Mohamed , Ullah Numan , Gao Bo , Song Chengyi
Published: June 2023

Diverse Tc1/mariner elements with the DD37E signature have been detected. However, their evolutionary relationship and profiles are largely unknown. Using bioinformatics methods, we defined the evolution profile of a Tc1/Mariner family, which harbors the catalytic domain with the DD37E signature, and renamed it DD37E/Mosquito (MS). MS transposons form a separate monophyletic clade in the phylogenetic tree, distinct from the other two groups of elements with the DD37E signature, DD37E/L18 and DD37E/TRT (transposon related to Tc1), and represent a very different taxonomic distribution from that of DD37E/TRT. MS is only detected in invertebrate and is mostly present in Arthropoda, as well as in Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Mollusca, Nematoda, and Platyhelminthes, with a total length of about 1.3 kb, containing an open reading frame (ORF) encoding about 340 amino acids transposases, with a conserved DD37E catalytic domain. The terminal inverted repeat (TIR) lengths range from 19 bp to 203 bp, and the target site duplication (TSD) is TA. We also identified few occurrences of MS horizontal transfers (HT) across lineages of diptera. In this paper, the distribution characteristics, structural characteristics, phylogenetic evolution, and horizontal transfer of the MS family are fully analyzed, which is conducive to supplementing and improving the Tc1/Mariner superfamily and excavating active transposons.
A Novel KCNN2 Variant in a Family with Essential Tremor Plus: Clinical Characteristics and In Silico Analysis
Authors: d’Apolito Maria , Ceccarini Caterina , Savino Rosa , Adipietro Iolanda , di Bari Ighli , Santacroce Rosa , Curcetti Maria , D’Andrea Giovanna , Croce Anna-Irma , Cesarano Carla , Polito Anna Nunzia , Margaglione Maurizio
Published: June 2023

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is one of the more common movement disorders. Current diagnosis is solely based on clinical findings. ET appears to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Several loci on specific chromosomes have been studied by linkage analysis, but the causes of essential tremor are still unknown in many patients. Genetic studies described the association of several genes with familial ET. However, they were found only in distinct families, suggesting that some can be private pathogenic variants. Aim of the Study: to characterize the phenotype of an Italian family with ET and identify the genetic variant associated. Methods: Clinical and genetic examinations were performed. Genetic testing was done with whole-exome sequencing (WES) using the Illumina platform. Bidirectional capillary Sanger sequencing was used to investigate the presence of variant in all affected members of the family. In silico prediction of pathogenicity was used to study the effect of gene variants on protein structure. Results: The proband was a 15-year-old boy. The patient was the first of two children of a non-consanguineous couple. Family history was remarkable for tremor in the mother line. His mother suffered from bilateral upper extremity kinetic tremors (since she was 20 years old), anxiety, and depression. Other relatives referred bilateral upper extremity tremors. In the index case, WES analysis performed supposing a dominant mode of inheritance, identified a novel heterozygous missense variant in potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily N member 2 (KCNN2) (NM_021614.3: c.1145G>A, p.Gly382Asp). In the pedigree investigation, all carriers of the gene variant had ET and showed variable expressivity, the elder symptomatic relative showing cognitive impairment and hallucinations in the last decade, in addition to tremor since a young age. The amino acid residue #382 is located in a transmembrane region and in silico analysis suggested a causative role for the variant. Modelling of the mutant protein structure showed that the variant causes a clash in the protein structure. Therefore, the variant could cause a conformational change that alters the ability of the protein in the modulation of ion channels Conclusions: The KCNN2 gene variant identified could be associated with ET. The variant could modify a voltage-independent potassium channel activated by intracellular calcium.
Prediction of Prognosis and Chemotherapeutic Sensitivity Based on Cuproptosis-Associated lncRNAs in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Endocervical Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhou Jianghong , Xu Lili , Zhou Hong , Wang Jingjin , Xing Xiaoliang
Published: June 2023

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer. The 5-year survival rate for metastatic cervical cancer is less than 10%. The survival time of patients with recurrent cervical cancer is approximately 13–17 months. Cuproptosis is a novel type of cell death related to mitochondrial respiration. Accumulative studies showed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulated cervical cancer progression. Compressive bioinformatic analysis showed that nine cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (CRLs), including C002128.2, AC002563.1, AC009237.14, AC048337.1, AC145423.1, AL117336.1, AP001542.3, ATP2A1-AS1, and LINC00426, were independently correlated with the overall survival (OS) of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) patients. The time-dependent area under curve value reached 0.716 at 1 year, 0.718 at 3 years, and 0.719 at 5 years. Notably, CESC patients in the low-risk group had increased immune cell infiltration and expression of several immune checkpoints, which indicated that they may benefit more from immune checkpoint blockade therapy. In addition, we also used the model for drug sensitivity analysis. Several drug sensitivities were more sensitive in high-risk patients and showed significant correlations with the risk models, such as Bortezomib_1191, Luminespib_1559, and Rapamycin_1084, suggesting that these drugs may be candidate clinical drugs for patients with a high risk of CESC. In summary, this study further explored the mechanism of CRLs in CESC and provided a more optimized prognostic model and some insights into chemotherapy of CESC.
Synthetic Adrenocorticotropic Peptides Modulate the Expression Pattern of Immune Genes in Rat Brain following the Early Post-Stroke Period
Authors: Filippenkov Ivan B. , Remizova Julia A. , Stavchansky Vasily V. , Denisova Alina E. , Gubsky Leonid V. , Myasoedov Nikolay F. , Limborska Svetlana A. , Dergunova Lyudmila V.
Published: June 2023

Ischemic stroke is an acute local decrease in cerebral blood flow due to a thrombus or embolus. Of particular importance is the study of the genetic systems that determine the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of a therapeutic window (a time interval of up to 6 h after a stroke) when effective treatment can be provided. Here, we used a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in rats to study two synthetic derivatives of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The first was ACTH(4-7)PGP, which is known as Semax. It is actively used as a neuroprotective drug. The second was the ACTH(6-9)PGP peptide, which is elucidated as a prospective agent only. Using RNA-Seq analysis, we revealed hundreds of ischemia-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 131 and 322 DEGs related to the first and second peptide at 4.5 h after tMCAO, respectively, in dorsolateral areas of the frontal cortex of rats. Furthermore, we showed that both Semax and ACTH(6-9)PGP can partially prevent changes in the immune- and neurosignaling-related gene expression profiles disturbed by the action of ischemia at 4.5 h after tMCAO. However, their different actions with regard to predominantly immune-related genes were also revealed. This study gives insight into how the transcriptome depends on the variation in the structure of the related peptides, and it is valuable from the standpoint of the development of measures for early post-stroke therapy.