bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in COVID-19 Survivors 6 Months After Hospital Discharge: An Application of the Conservation of Resource Theory
Authors: Wang Bingyi , Yang Xue , Fu Leiwen , Hu Yuqing , Luo Dan , Xiao Xin , Ju Niu , Zheng Weiran , Xu Hui , Fang Yuan , Chan Paul Shing Fong , Xu Zhijie , Chen Ping , He Jiaoling , Zhu Hongqiong , Tang Huiwen , Huang Dixi , Hong Zhongsi , Ma Xiaojun , Hao Yanrong , Cai Lianying , Yang Jianrong , Ye Shupei , Yuan Jianhui , Chen Yao-Qing , Xiao Fei , Wang Zixin , Zou Huachun
Published: January 2022

COVID-19 survivors who had acute respiratory symptoms might experience prolonged post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to further rehabilitation, somatic symptoms and related distress. The conservation of resource (COR) theory is a well-developed theory to understand how people develop PTSD symptoms in traumatic events. The current study aimed to examine the potential factors of PTSD symptoms and interrelationships among this factors among COVID-19 survivors based on the COR theory. This cross-sectional telephone survey enrolled 199 COVID-19 patients (Mean age = 42.7; 53.3% females) 6 months after their hospital discharge in five Chinese cities (i.e., Wuhan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, and Nanning). The results showed that 7% of participants were classified as having probable PTSD. The significant potential factors relating to PTSD symptoms included socio-demographic status, hospitalization experiences, post-hospitalization experiences, and psychological status. Besides, the proposed statistical mediation model based on the COR framework showed good model fit, χ2(df) = 17.286 (5), p = 0.004, CFI = 0.962, NNFI = 0.951, RMSEA = 0.077. Perceived resource loss/gain fully mediated the association between exposure to other patients' suffering during hospitalization and PTSD symptoms, and partially mediated the relationships from somatic symptoms/perceived impact of being infected with COVID-19 after discharge to PTSD symptoms. On the other hand, resilience was a full mediator in the relationship from ICU experience to PTSD symptoms and a partial mediator in the relationship from perceived impact to PTSD symptoms. The results provide preliminary support on applying the COR theory to understand the factors of PTSD symptoms among COVID-19 survivors. Interventions to reduce PTSD symptoms in this population can be developed based on the modifiable psychosocial mediators.
Using 24-h Heart Rate Variability to Investigate the Sleep Quality and Depression Symptoms of Medical Students
Authors: Guo Xiansheng , Su Tiehong , Xiao Haoran , Xiao Rong , Xiao Zhongju
Published: January 2022

There have been numerous studies on the relationship between sleep and depression, as well as the relationship between sleep and depression, and heart rate variability (HRV), respectively. Even so, few studies have combined 24-h HRV analysis to study sleep quality and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between depressed symptoms, sleep quality, and 24-h HRV in medical students. The particiants were all students at a medical university in Guangdong province, China. A total of 74 college students participated. They were asked to complete a questionnaire that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and 24-h ECG monitoring. The results showed that 41.7% of the medical students had poor sleep quality, with higher levels of depressive symptoms and more negative emotions, and there was no difference in 24-h HRV indices between the low PSQI group and the high one. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between sleep quality and depressive symptoms (r = 0.617), but the relationship between 24-h HRV indices and PSQI global scores, BDI scores were not significant. However, the correlation analysis of PSQI components and 24-h HRV showed that sleep disturbance was significantly negatively correlated with SDNN and LF in waking period (r = −0.285, −0.235), and with SDNN in sleeping period (r = −0.317). In general, the sleep disturbance in PSQI components can sensitively reflect the relationship between sleep quality and 24-h HRV of medical students. Individuals with higher sleep disturance may have lower SDNN during awake period and bedtime period, and lower LF in awake period. Twenty-four hour HRV has certain application value in clinical sleep quality monitoring, and its sensitivity and specificity in clinical application and daily life are still worth further investigation.
Prevalence and Potential Risk Factors for Occupational Low Back Pain Among Male Military Pilots: A Study Based on Questionnaire and Physical Function Assessment
Authors: Yang Yizhuo , Liu Shuai , Ling Mengyu , Ye Chaoqun
Published: January 2022

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) has negative implications for the military's combat effectiveness. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of LBP among pilots through a questionnaire and physical function assessments.

Methods: Data on the demographic and occupational characteristics, health habits, physical activity, and musculoskeletal injuries of 217 male pilots (114 fighter, 48 helicopter, and 55 transport pilots) were collected using a self-reported questionnaire and physical function assessments.

Results: LBP prevalence was 37.8% in the total cohort and 36.0, 45.8, and 34.5% among fighter, helicopter, and transport pilots, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the risk factors significantly associated with LBP were neck pain [odds ratio (OR): 3.559, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.827–6.934], transversus abdominis activation (OR: 0.346, 95% CI: 0.172–0.698), and hip external rotator strength (OR: 0.001, 95% CI: 0.000–0.563) in the total cohort; neck pain (OR: 3.586, 95% CI: 1.365–9.418), transversus abdominis activation (OR: 0.268, 95% CI: 0.094–0.765), hip external rotator strength (OR: 0.000, 95% CI: 0.000–0.949), and weekly flying hours (OR: 3.889, 95% CI: 1.490–10.149) in fighter pilots; irregular strength training (OR: 0.036, 95% CI: 0.003–0.507) and hip external rotator strength (OR: 0.000, 95% CI: 0.000–0.042) in helicopter pilots; and neck pain (OR: 6.417, 95% CI: 1.424–28.909) in transport pilots.

Conclusions: High volume flight schedules and weak core muscle functions have significant negative effects on pilots' back health. LBP is commonly associated with high weekly flying hours, worsening neck pain, transversus abdominis insufficient activation, and reduced hip extensor/rotator strength. Risk factors vary among pilots of different aircraft. Thus, specific core muscle training would be especially important for military pilots.
Cancer Research in the Time of COVID-19: A Colombian Narrative
Authors: Murillo Raúl , Fernández-Deaza Ginna , Zuluaga María , Lewison Grant , Usgame-Zubieta Diana , Usgame-Zubieta Iván Darío , Manrique María Margarita
Published: January 2022

Cancer research is deficient in Colombia and efforts and resources diverted due to the COVID-19 pandemic could worsen the situation. We explore the impact of the pandemic on cancer research funding, output, and conduct. We sought information at national level and used the experience of an academic reference center to contrast the impact at institutional level. We searched databases and official documents of national governmental institutions, trial registries, hospital registries, and the Web of Science. We interviewed principal investigators (PIs) to retrieve information on the conduct of cancer research. A decline in resource availability and new proposals was observed at the national level with a shift to COVID-19 related research. However, at institutional level there was no decline in the number of cancer research proposals. The predominance of observational studies as opposed to the preponderance of clinical trials and basic science in high-income countries may be related to the lower impact at institutional level. Nevertheless, we found difficulties similar to previous reports for conducting research during the pandemic. PIs reported long recovery times and a great impact on research other than clinical trials, such as observational and qualitative studies. No significant impact on research output was observed. Alternatives to ensure research continuity such as telemedicine and remote data collection have scarcely been implemented given limited access and low technology literacy. In this middle-income setting the situation shows a notable dependency of international collaborations to develop research on COVID-19 and cancer and to overcome challenges for cancer research during the pandemic.
Inter-individual Variation in Receptor Expression Influences MERS-CoV Infection and Immune Responses in Airway Epithelia
Authors: Li Kun , Wohlford-Lenane Christine , Bartlett Jennifer A. , McCray Paul B.
Published: January 2022

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes respiratory infection in humans, with symptom severity that ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. Known risk factors for severe MERS include male sex, older age, and the presence of various comorbidities. MERS-CoV gains entry into cells by binding its receptor, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), on the surface of airway epithelia. We hypothesized that expression of this receptor might be an additional determinant of outcomes in different individuals during MERS-CoV infection. To learn more about the role of DPP4 in facilitating MERS-CoV infection and spread, we used ELISA and immunofluorescent staining to characterize DPP4 expression in well-differentiated primary human airway epithelia (HAE). We noted wide inter-individual variation in DPP4 abundance, varying by as much as 1000-fold between HAE donors. This variability appears to influence multiple aspects of MERS-CoV infection and pathogenesis, with greater DPP4 abundance correlating with early, robust virus replication and increased cell sloughing. We also observed increased induction of interferon and some interferon-stimulated genes in response to MERS-CoV infection in epithelia with the greatest DPP4 abundance. Overall, our results indicate that inter-individual differences in DPP4 abundance are one host factor contributing to MERS-CoV replication and host defense responses, and highlight how HAE may serve as a useful model for identifying risk factors associated with heightened susceptibility to serious respiratory pathogens.
The Uptake and Impact of a Label for Peer-Reviewed Books
Authors: Vandewalle Eline , Guns Raf , Engels Tim C. E.
Published: January 2022

This article presents an analysis of the uptake of the GPRC label (Guaranteed Peer Reviewed Content label) since its introduction in 2010 until 2019. GPRC is a label for books that have been peer reviewed introduced by the Flemish publishers association. The GPRC label allows locally published scholarly books to be included in the regional database for the Social Sciences and Humanities which is used in the Flemish performance-based research funding system. Ten years after the start of the GPRC label, this is the first systematic analysis of the uptake of the label. We use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Our two main data sources are the Flemish regional database for the Social Sciences and Humanities, which currently includes 2,580 GPRC-labeled publications, and three interviews with experts on the GPRC label. Firstly, we study the importance of the label in the Flemish performance-based research funding system. Secondly, we analyse the label in terms of its possible effect on multilingualism and the local or international orientation of publications. Thirdly, we analyse to what extent the label has been used by the different disciplines. Lastly, we discuss the potential implications of the label for the peer review process among book publishers. We find that the GPRC label is of limited importance to the Flemish performance-based research funding system. However, we also conclude that the label has a specific use for locally oriented book publications and in particular for the discipline Law. Furthermore, by requiring publishers to adhere to a formalized peer review procedure, the label affects the peer review practices of local publishers because not all book publishers were using a formal system of peer review before the introduction of the label and even at those publishers who already practiced peer review, the label may have required the publishers to make these procedures more uniform.
Global Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Leaf Area Index: The Impact of Updating More State Variables Within a Land Surface Model
Authors: Rahman Azbina , Zhang Xinxuan , Houser Paul , Sauer Timothy , Maggioni Viviana
Published: January 2022

As vegetation regulates water, carbon, and energy cycles from the local to the global scale, its accurate representation in land surface models is crucial. The assimilation of satellite-based vegetation observations in a land surface model has the potential to improve the estimation of global carbon and energy cycles, which in turn can enhance our ability to monitor and forecast extreme hydroclimatic events, ecosystem dynamics, and crop production. This work proposes the assimilation of a remotely sensed vegetation product (Leaf Area Index, LAI) within the Noah Multi-Parameterization land surface model using an Ensemble Kalman Filter technique. The impact of updating leaf mass along with LAI is also investigated. Results show that assimilating LAI data improves the estimation of transpiration and net ecosystem exchange, which is further enhanced by also updating the leaf mass. Specifically, transpiration anomaly correlation coefficients improve in about 77 and 66% of the global land area thanks to the assimilation of leaf area index with and without updating leaf mass, respectively. Random errors in transpiration are also reduced, with an improvement of the unbiased root mean square error in 70% (74%) of the total area without the update of leaf mass (with the update of leaf mass). Similarly, net ecosystem exchange anomaly correlation coefficients improve from 52 to 75% and random errors improve from 49 to 62% of the total pixels after the update of leaf mass. Better performances for both transpiration and net ecosystem exchange are observed across croplands, but the largest improvement is shown over forests and woodland. The global scope of this work makes it particularly important in data poor regions (e.g., Africa, South Asia), where ground observations are sparse or not available altogether but where an accurate estimation of carbon and energy variables can be critical to improve ecosystem and crop management.
Topsoil Texture Regionalization for Agricultural Soils in Germany—An Iterative Approach to Advance Model Interpretation
Authors: Gebauer Anika , Sakhaee Ali , Don Axel , Poggio Matteo , Ließ Mareike
Published: January 2022

Site-specific spatially continuous soil texture data is required for many purposes such as the simulation of carbon dynamics, the estimation of drought impact on agriculture, or the modeling of water erosion rates. At large scales, there are often only conventional polygon-based soil texture maps, which are hardly reproducible, contain abrupt changes at polygon borders, and therefore are not suitable for most quantitative applications. Digital soil mapping methods can provide the required soil texture information in form of reproducible site-specific predictions with associated uncertainties. Machine learning models were trained in a nested cross-validation approach to predict the spatial distribution of the topsoil (0–30 cm) clay, silt, and sand contents in 100 m resolution. The differential evolution algorithm was applied to optimize the model parameters. High-quality nation-wide soil texture data of 2,991 soil profiles was obtained from the first German agricultural soil inventory. We tested an iterative approach by training models on predictor datasets of increasing size, which contained up to 50 variables. The best results were achieved when training the models on the complete predictor dataset. They explained about 59% of the variance in clay, 75% of the variance in silt, and 77% of the variance in sand content. The RMSE values ranged between approximately 8.2 wt.% (clay), 11.8 wt.% (silt), and 15.0 wt.% (sand). Due to their high performance, models were able to predict the spatial texture distribution. They captured the high importance of the soil forming factors parent material and relief. Our results demonstrate the high predictive power of machine learning in predicting soil texture at large scales. The iterative approach enhanced model interpretability. It revealed that the incorporated soil maps partly substituted the relief and parent material predictors. Overall, the spatially continuous soil texture predictions provide valuable input for many quantitative applications on agricultural topsoils in Germany.
The Potential for Lunar and Martian Regolith Simulants to Sustain Plant Growth: A Multidisciplinary Overview
Authors: Duri Luigi Giuseppe , Caporale Antonio Giandonato , Rouphael Youssef , Vingiani Simona , Palladino Mario , De Pascale Stefania , Adamo Paola
Published: January 2022

Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) are conceived of and developed so as to provide food sources for crewed missions to the Moon or Mars. Thein situresource utilization (ISRU) approach aims to reduce terrestrial input into a BLSS by using native regoliths and recycled organic waste as primary resources. The combination of BLSS and ISRU may allow sustainable food production on Moon and Mars. This task poses several challenges, including the effects of partial gravity, the limited availability of oxygen and water, and the self-sustaining management of resources. Lunar and Martian regoliths are not available on Earth; therefore, space research studies are conducted on regolith simulants that replicate the physicochemical properties of extra-terrestrial regoliths (as assessedin situby previous missions). This review provides an overview of the physicochemical properties and mineralogical composition of commercially available Lunar and Martian regolith simulants. Subsequently, it describes potential strategies and sustainable practices for creating regolith simulants akin to terrestrial soil, which is a highly dynamic environment where microbiota and humified organic matter interact with the mineral moiety. These strategies include the amendment of simulants with composted organic wastes, which can turn nutrient-poor and alkaline crushed rocks into efficient life-sustaining substrates equipped with enhanced physical, hydraulic, and chemical properties. In this regard, we provide a comprehensive analysis of recent scientific works focusing on the exploitation of regolith simulant-based substrates as plant growth media. The literature discussion helps identify the main critical aspects and future challenges related to sustainable space farming by thein situuse and enhancement of Lunar and Martian resources.
Internet Survey of Risk Factors Associated With Training and Competition in Dogs Competing in Agility Competitions
Authors: Pechette Markley Arielle , Shoben Abigail B. , Kieves Nina R.
Published: January 2022

Objective: To describe risk factors associated with training and competition in relation to frequency and severity of injuries experienced by agility dogs.

Procedures: An internet-based survey collected data on competition level variables and training level variables. The primary outcome was history of any injury and a secondary outcome considered history of severe injury (injury lasting > 3 months). Logistic regression was used to estimate associations and final models were obtained via backward selection to identify the strongest associations within variables.

Results: There were 4,197 dogs included in this analysis. Injury was reported for 1,737 (41.4%) dogs and severe injury was reported for 629 (15.0%). In the model with competition level factors, jumping 4” (OR: 1.50) or 2–4” (OR: 1.31) over shoulder height compared to jumping 0–2” lower and competing at national events was associated with increased injury risk, while competing 6+ times on rubber matting was associated with lower risk (OR: 0.62). Training level variables associated with injury risk were age starting jump, teeter, and weave training, with the highest risk observed for dogs starting jump training between 3 and 18 months but starting weave and teeter training after 18 months of age.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Many variables thought to be associated with injury risk were not significant in the final model. Starting jump training at an earlier age was associated with greater risk of injury relative to starting after 18 months. It is possible that the high impact of jump training before skeletal maturity may increase the risk of injuries or musculoskeletal conditions. The increased risk of injury in dogs that jump 2–4, or 4+ inches higher than shoulder height may be due to increased biomechanical forces during takeoff and landing. Faster dogs may be at higher risk of injury; handlers planning competition around big events or competing at the national level are likely to have faster dogs, and may be less likely to compete on rubber matting. These data provide valuable current insight into the possible effects that training and competition variables may have on injury risk in agility dogs.
Extremality of Disordered Phase of λ-Model on Cayley Trees
Authors: Mukhamedov Farrukh
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we consider the λ-model for an arbitrary-order Cayley tree that has a disordered phase. Such a phase corresponds to a splitting Gibbs measure with free boundary conditions. In communication theory, such a measure appears naturally, and its extremality is related to the solvability of the non-reconstruction problem. In general, the disordered phase is not extreme; hence, it is natural to find a condition for their extremality. In the present paper, we present certain conditions for the extremality of the disordered phase of the λ-model.
Influence of Temperature and Screw Pressing on the Quality of Cassava Leaf Fractions
Authors: Ayele Haimanot Hailegiorgis , Latif Sajid , Müller Joachim
Published: January 2022

In this study, the development of a mild processing method for cassava leaves to remove cyanogenic compounds with minimum nutritional loss is evaluated. Fresh leaves were reduced in size using a mixer at temperatures of 25 (room temperature), 55, 80, and 100 °C for 1 min before screw pressing to separate the juice and press cake fractions. Cyanide content in the fresh leaves was reduced by 60% at 100 °C and by 57% in the juice sample processed at 25 °C. The press cake cyanide content was low (210 ppm) in both the control and the sample that was processed at 55 °C. An increase in the temperature for processing cassava leaves to 100 °C resulted in a loss of 5–13% of the CP and 7–18% of the vitamin C content. The press-cake fraction had high beta-carotene, lutein, and chlorophyll a and b content, and low values were registered for the juice fraction. Processing fresh cassava leaves at 25 and 55 °C resulted in fractions with high beta-carotene and lutein content. The protein quality of press cake was better than that of juice for feed. Short thermal shredding with pressing resulted in minimal loss of nutrients and a significant reduction of cyanide in the leaves.
African Swine Fever: Prevalence, Farm Characteristics, Farmer’s Insight and Attitude toward Reporting of African Swine Fever Cases in the Northwest, West, Littoral and Southwest Regions of Cameroon
Authors: Ebwanga Ebanja Joseph , Ghogomu Stephen Mbigha , Paeshuyse Jan
Published: January 2022

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been circulating in and ravaging the swine industry in Cameroon for decades. Annual ASFV epidemics occur in Cameroon from April to August. With the absence of vaccines and antiviral drugs against this virus, biosecurity has been the only effective control tool available. When properly applied, biosecurity measures allow control of the spread of ASFV and the eventual eradication of this virus. Many outbreak investigations by PCR were effected in Cameroon, with ASFV prevalences ranging from 15.23% to 42.80%. Considering that pre-outbreak studies are not available for Cameroon, the present study aimed at assessing the status of the animals before an outbreak. A two-stage cluster sampling study was conducted from January to March 2020. In this study, the primary unit was the farm and the secondary unit was the individual animals. In all, 97 farms were visited and 277 samples were collected. Pre-outbreak ASFV prevalence, as assessed by PCR, was 9.75%. In parallel, data were collected using a survey of farm characteristics, awareness and attitude of the farmers toward ASF. The survey results showed that 34.1% of the farms were backyard cemented piggeries with the majority having less than 10 pigs (54.1%). The majority of farmers (90.6%) had heard of and knew about the disease caused by ASF. Though 69.4% of the farmers were uninformed on the clinical signs of ASF, 73.6% of them did treat sick pigs presenting similar clinical signs to ASF (with no risk of mortality) with antibiotics, while 79.4% did not treat but sold the pigs presenting clinical signs similar to ASF with an increased risk of mortality. Sixty-three percent of the farmers had reported a case of ASF in the past and believed that reporting was useful and had no negative consequences on other farmers or third parties. We established that poor implementation of biosecurity measures in addition to poor training are contributing factors to the enzootic nature of ASFV in Cameroon and, thus, the spread of ASFV. Hence, pig farmers in Cameroon must be properly trained in ASFV awareness and the impact thereof on pig production. Furthermore, training will also facilitate the successful implementation of biosecurity measures to contain ASFV outbreaks.
In Vitro Shoot Culture of Sesuvium portulacastrum: An Important Plant for Phytoremediation
Authors: He Weihong , Wang Dan , Yang Nan , Cao Dingding , Chen Xiaofeng , Chen Jianjun , Wei Xiangying
Published: January 2022

Sesuvium portulacastrum L., a member of the family Aizoaceae, is an important coastal halophyte. Due to its adaptability to salinity and heavy metals, S. portulacastrum has now been widely used for the phytoremediation of saline soils and wastewater and the protection of the coast from erosion. The increasing use of this plant requires a large number of propagules. Stem cutting propagation and seed germination cannot meet this demand, and such propagations can initiate and spread diseases. A recent occurrence of Bipolaris sesuvii J.Z. Zhang and Gibbago trianthemae E.G. Simmons in S. portulacastrum resulted in the substantial loss of the plants during the remediation of aquaculture wastewater. Thus, there is an urgent need for establishing efficient methods of propagating disease-free starting materials. In the present study, we evaluated different growth regulators in the induction of axillary shoots from nodal explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium and identified that zeatin (ZT) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was an appropriate combination for inducing high numbers of axillary shoots. The nodal explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of ZT and NAA, and the combination of ZT at 1.0 mg L−1 and NAA at 0.3 mg L−1 induced more than 12 axillary shoots per explant. The axillary shoots were excised to produce microcuttings or microshoots, which were rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The results showed that IBA at 0.6 mg L−1 induced 91.7% of the microcuttings to root with root numbers of over 36 per cutting. The rooted plantlets were healthy and true-to-type and grew vigorously in plug trays or plastic containers with a 100% survey rate in a greenhouse. Thus, this established protocol could be used for the rapid propagation of genetically identical and disease-free plants of S. portulacastrum for phytoremediation and the protection of shoreline soils from erosion.
Drought Stress Amelioration in Maize (Zea mays L.) by Inoculation of Bacillus spp. Strains under Sterile Soil Conditions
Authors: Azeem Muhammad , Haider Muhammad Zulqurnain , Javed Sadia , Saleem Muhammad Hamzah , Alatawi Aishah
Published: January 2022

The aim of the present study was to promote plant growth characteristics including mineral uptake and various phytohormone production by indigenously isolated Bacillus spp. strains. Plants subjected to normal and water stress conditions were collected after 21 days to measure physiological parameters, photosynthetic pigment estimation, biochemical attributes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme response modulation. Our results correlated with drought stress amelioration with the inoculation of Bacillus spp. strains BEB1, BEB2, BEB3 and BEB4 under sterile soil condition. Inoculated plants of both maize cultivars showed increases in fresh (56.12%) and dry (103.5%) biomass, plant length (42.48%), photosynthetic pigments (32.76%), and biochemical attributes with enhanced nutrient uptake. The overall maize antioxidant response to bacterial inoculation lowered the malonaldehyde level (59.14%), generation of hydrogen peroxide (45.75%) and accumulation of flavonoid contents in both control and water stress condition. Activity of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (62.96%), peroxidase (23.46%), ascorbate peroxidase (24.44%), and superoxide dismutase (55.69%) were also decreased with the application of bacterial treatment. Stress amelioration is dependent on a specific plant–strain interaction evident in the differences in the evaluated biochemical attributes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant responses. Such bacteria could be used for enhancing the crop productivity and plant protection under biotic and abiotic stresses for sustainable agriculture.
European Grapevine Moth and Vitis vinifera L. Phenology in the Douro Region: (A)synchrony and Climate Scenarios
Authors: Reis Samuel , Martins Joana , Gonçalves Fátima , Carlos Cristina , Santos João A.
Published: January 2022

The European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana; Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775) is considered a key pest for grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in the Douro Region, Portugal. The phenology of both the grapevine and the pest has changed in the last decades due to the increase in temperature. Here, we assess the potential impact of climate change on the (a)synchrony of both species. The results show that the phenological stages (budburst, flowering and veraison) undergo an advancement throughout the region (at an ~1 km resolution) under a climate change scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways, RCP8.5) for the period 2051–2080, with respect to the historic period (1989–2015). For cv. Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, the budburst advances up to 14 days, whereas for flowering and veraison the advancements are up to 10 days (mainly at low elevations along the Douro River). For the phenology of Lobesia botrana, earliness was also verified in the three flights (consequently there may be more generations per year), covering the entire region. Furthermore, the third flight advances further compared to the others. For both varieties, the interaction between the third flight (beginning and peak) and the veraison date is the most relevant modification under the future climate change scenario (RCP8.5, 2051–2080). The aforementioned outcomes from the phenology models help to better understand the possible shifts of both trophic levels in the region under future climate, giving insights into their future interactions.
Methane Mitigation Potential of Foliage of Fodder Trees Mixed at Two Levels with a Tropical Grass
Authors: Valencia-Salazar Sara Stephanie , Jiménez-Ferrer Guillermo , Molina-Botero Isabel Cristina , Ku-Vera Juan Carlos , Chirinda Ngonidzashe , Arango Jacobo
Published: January 2022

Enteric methane (CH4) emitted by ruminant species is known as one of the main greenhouse gases produced by the agricultural sector. The objective of this study was to assess the potential the potential for CH4 mitigation and additionally the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, dry matter degradation (DMD), digestibility and CO2 production of five tropical tree species with novel forage potential including: Spondias mombin, Acacia pennatula, Parmentiera aculeata, Brosimum alicastrum and Bursera simaruba mixed at two levels of inclusion (15 and 30%) with a tropical grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The forage samples were incubated for 48 h, and a randomized complete block design was used. Crude protein content was similar across treatments (135 ± 42 g kg−1 DM), while P. purpureum was characterized by a high content of acid detergent fiber (335.9 g kg−1 DM) and B. simaruba by a high concentration of condensed tannins (20 g kg−1 DM). Likewise, A. pennatula and P. aculeata were characterized by a high content of cyanogenic glycosides and alkaloids respectively. Treatments SM30-PP70 (30% S. mombin + 70% P. purpureum) and BA30-PP70 (30% B. alicastrum + 70% P. purpureum) resulted in superior degradability at 48h than P. purpureum, while in the AP30-PP70 (30% A. pennatula + 70% P. purpureum) was lower than the control treatment (p ≤ 0.05). At 24 and 48 h, treatments that contained P. aculeata and B. alicastrum yield higher CH4 mL g−1 DOM than P. purpureum (p ≤ 0.05). The inclusion of these forage species had no statistical effect on the reduction of CH4 emissions per unit of DM incubated or degraded at 24 and 48 h with respect to P. purpureum although reductions were observed. The use of fodders locally available is an economic and viable strategy for the mitigation of the environmental impact generated from tropical livestock systems.
Effects of Dietary Organic and Inorganic Sulfur on Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Ileal Morphology, and Antioxidant Capacity in Laying Hens
Authors: Kim Yoo-Bhin , Lee Sang-Hyeok , Kim Da-Hye , Lee Hyun-Gwan , Choi Yongjun , Lee Sung-Dae , Lee Kyung-Woo
Published: January 2022

The present study was conducted to investigate the comparative effects of organic and inorganic forms of sulfur, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and sodium sulfate (SS), on laying performance, egg quality, ileal morphology, ileal volatile fatty acids, and antioxidant and stress markers in various biological samples in aged laying hens. A total of 144, 73-week-old Lohman Brown-Lite laying hens were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets: basal diet (CONT), CONT + 0.2% MSM (MSM), and CONT + 0.3% SS (SS). The trial lasted for 12 weeks. MSM and SS diets contained 0.07% of sulfur, either organic or inorganic. Dietary MSM did not affect egg production or feed conversion ratio at 12 weeks compared with the CONT group. Dietary sulfur did not affect egg quality except for the Haugh unit at 4 weeks, which was lowered (p < 0.05) in the SS group. Compared with the CONT group, a higher (p < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio was observed in the SS group. Dietary sulfur did not affect the percentages of short-chain fatty acids in the ileum. Total antioxidant capacity of the liver increased (p < 0.05) in laying hens fed MSM- and SS-added diets compared with the CONT group. The MSM and SS groups were found to have lowered (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum samples compared with CONT. Finally, dietary MSM had the lowest (p < 0.05) MDA concentrations in yolk samples. Taken together, our study showed that dietary organic and inorganic sulfur have positive effects on ileal morphology and antioxidant capacity in laying hens. However, SS-mediated inhibition in laying performance needs to be clarified.
Genetic Variability Trend of Lusitano Horse Breed Reared in Italy
Authors: Cozzi Maria Cristina , Valiati Paolo , Longeri Maria , Ferreira Carlos , Abreu Ferreira Sofia
Published: January 2022

The Lusitano Horse (LH) originates from Portugal, but is reared worldwide. Since 1994, the University of Milan has routinely tested the LHs bred in Italy for parentage control. This study aims to assess the genetic variability of the LH reared in Italy using 16 microsatellites markers. Moreover, the genetic variability changes over the years in the total population (n.384) and in unrelated horses (n.47) were evaluated. Horses were grouped according to their date of birth (1975–1990, 1991–2000, 2001–2010, 2010–2019). Standard genetic diversity parameters, including observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE; P-Val), allelic richness, and inbreeding coefficient (Fis) were estimated. In the whole period, the total population showed Ho as high as 0.69, low Fis (0.057), and imbalance for HWE. When considering the unrelated horses, Ho was seen to increase over time (from 0.594 in 1975–1990 to 0.68 in 2010–2019) and frequencies were in HWE, again having low and decreasing values of Fis (from 0.208 in 1975–1990 to 0.019 in 2010–2019). Bottleneck analysis excluded a recent population decline. Principal Coordinate Analysis at the individual level defined two clusters, the major cluster including all the most recent horses. An increasing number of dams (156% more from 2001–2010 to 2011–2019) supports the good variability recorded in the population so far. However, the high number of foals (77.2%) sired by only four stallions in recent years suggests caution in the choice of the sires for the future.
Experimental and Molecular Docking Studies of Cyclic Diphenyl Phosphonates as DNA Gyrase Inhibitors for Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Pathogens
Authors: Saleh Neveen M. , Moemen Yasmine S. , Mohamed Sara H. , Fathy Ghady , Ahmed Abdullah A. S. , Al-Ghamdi Ahmed A. , Ullah Sami , El Sayed Ibrahim El-Tantawy
Published: January 2022

DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are proven to be validated targets in the design of novel antibacterial drugs. In this study, we report the antibacterial evaluation and molecular docking studies of previously synthesized two series of cyclic diphenylphosphonates (1a–e and 2a–e) as DNA gyrase inhibitors. The synthesized compounds were screened for their activity (antibacterial and DNA gyrase inhibition) against ciprofloxacin-resistant E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates having mutations (deletion and substitution) in QRDR region of DNA gyrase. The target compound (2a) that exhibited the most potent activity against ciprofloxacin Gram-negative clinical isolates was selected to screen its inhibitory activity against DNA gyrase displayed IC50 of 12.03 µM. In addition, a docking study was performed with inhibitor (2a), to illustrate its binding mode in the active site of DNA gyrase and the results were compatible with the observed inhibitory potency. Furthermore, the docking study revealed that the binding of inhibitor (2a) to DNA gyrase is mediated and modulated by divalent Mg2+ at good binding energy (–9.08 Kcal/mol). Moreover, structure-activity relationships (SARs) demonstrated that the combination of hydrazinyl moiety in conjunction with the cyclic diphenylphosphonate based scaffold resulted in an optimized molecule that inhibited the bacterial DNA gyrase by its detectable effect in vitro on gyrase-catalyzed DNA supercoiling activity.
Biocompatibility and Comfort during Extended Wear of Mel4 Peptide-Coated Antimicrobial Contact Lenses
Authors: Kalaiselvan Parthasarathi , Dutta Debarun , Konda Nagaraju , Vaddavalli Pravin Krishna , Sharma Savitri , Stapleton Fiona , Willcox Mark D. P.
Published: January 2022

(1) Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mel4 antimicrobial contact lenses (MACL) on the ocular surface and comfort during extended wear. (2) Methods: A prospective, randomised, double-masked, contralateral clinical trial was conducted with 176 subjects to evaluate the biocompatibility of contralateral wear of MACL. The wearing modality was 14-day extended lens wear for three months. The participants were assessed at lens dispensing, after one night, two weeks, one month and three months of extended wear and one month after study completion. (3) Results: There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in ocular redness or palpebral roughness between Mel4 and control eyes at any of the study visits. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in corneal staining between Mel4 and control eyes. There were no significant differences in front surface wettability or deposits or back surface debris (p > 0.05). No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in comfort, dryness, CLDEQ-8 scores lens or edge awareness. There was no evidence for delayed reactions on the ocular surface after cessation of lens wear. (4) Conclusion: The novel MACLs showed similar comfort to control lenses and were biocompatible during extended wear. Thus, these lenses were compatible with the ocular surface.
Fine Tuning of an Oxidative Stress Model with Sodium Iodate Revealed Protective Effect of NF-κB Inhibition and Sex-Specific Difference in Susceptibility of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Authors: Yang Xue , Rai Usha , Chung Jin-Yong , Esumi Noriko
Published: January 2022

Oxidative stress of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a major risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As a dry AMD model via oxidative stress, sodium iodate (NaIO3), which is primarily toxic to the RPE, has often been used at a high dose to cause RPE death for studying photoreceptor degeneration. Thus, characterization of RPE damage by a low dose of NaIO3 is still limited. To quantify RPE damage caused by NaIO3 in mice, we recently developed a morphometric method using RPE flat-mounts. Here, we report that NaIO3 has a narrow range of dose–effect correlation at 11–18 mg/kg body weight in male C57BL/6J mice. We evaluated the usefulness of our quantification method in two experimental settings. First, we tested the effect of NF-κB inhibition on NaIO3-induced RPE damage in male C57BL/6J mice. IKKβ inhibitor BAY 651942 suppressed upregulation of NF-κB targets and protected the RPE from oxidative stress. Second, we tested sex-specific differences in NaIO3-induced RPE damage in C57BL/6J mice using a low dose near the threshold. NaIO3 caused more severe RPE damage in female mice than in male mice. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the quantification method and the importance of fine-tuning of the NaIO3 dose. The results also show the therapeutic potential of IKKβ inhibition for oxidative stress-related RPE diseases, and reveal previously-unrecognized sex-specific differences in RPE susceptibility to oxidative stress.
Chemical Composition of Green Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Pods Extracts and Their Potential Exploitation as Ingredients in Nutraceutical Formulations
Authors: Castaldo Luigi , Izzo Luana , Gaspari Anna , Lombardi Sonia , Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko , Narváez Alfonso , Grosso Michela , Ritieni Alberto
Published: January 2022

Agro-industrial wastes contain a large number of important active compounds which can justify their use as innovative ingredients in nutraceutical products. This study aimed to provide a complete analysis of active molecules, namely (poly)phenols in pea pods water-based extracts, through a UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS methodology. Data showed that 5-caffeoylquinic acid, epicatechin, and hesperidin were the most relevant (poly)phenols found in the assayed extracts, with a mean value of 59.87, 29.46, and 19.94 mg/100 g, respectively. Furthermore, changes in antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of total phenolic compounds (TPC) after the simulated gastrointestinal (GI) process were performed using spectrophotometric assays (FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and TPC by Folin-Ciocalteu). The acid-resistant capsules (ARC) and the non-acid resistant capsules (NARC) containing the pea pod extract underwent simulated GI digestion. The results suggested that the ARC formulations were able to preserve the active compounds along the simulated GI process, highlighting a higher TPC value and antioxidant capacity than the NARC formulations and the not-encapsulated extracts. Hence, the pea pods water-based extracts could be utilized as a potential alternative source of active compounds, and the use of ARC could represent a suitable nutraceutical formulation to vehiculate the active compounds, protecting the chemical and bioactive properties of (poly)phenols.
The Impact of Oxidative Stress of Environmental Origin on the Onset of Placental Diseases
Authors: Ruano Camino San Martin , Miralles Francisco , Méhats Céline , Vaiman Daniel
Published: January 2022

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a pivotal role in placental development; however, abnormal loads in oxidative stress molecules may overwhelm the placental defense mechanisms and cause pathological situations. The environment in which the mother evolves triggers an exposure of the placental tissue to chemical, physical, and biological agents of OS, with potential pathological consequences. Here we shortly review the physiological and developmental functions of OS in the placenta, and present a series of environmental pollutants inducing placental oxidative stress, for which some insights regarding the underlying mechanisms have been proposed, leading to a recapitulation of the noxious effects of OS of environmental origin upon the human placenta.
Effects of Initial Surface Evaporation on the Performance of Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Paste at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Kannangara Thathsarani , Guerrieri Maurice , Fragomeni Sam , Joseph Paul
Published: January 2022

Geopolymer concrete is a valuable and alternative type of concrete that is free of traditional cement. Generally, geopolymer concretes require a source material, which is rich in silicon and aluminum. Furthermore, fly ash-based geopolymer concretes have been proven to have superior fire resistance, primarily due to their ceramic properties, and are inherently environmentally-friendly given their zero-cement content. This paper presents the effects on initial evaporation on the performance of fly ash-based geopolymer pastes after exposure to elevated temperatures of 400 °C and 800 °C. The fly ash (FA) samples used in the present study included: Gladstone and Gladstone/Callide. The results for sealed samples placed in the oven during curing were much more consistent than the samples that were not kept covered. In addition, Gladstone fly ash-based geopolymer samples that were sealed recorded an initial maximum compressive strength reading of ca. 75 MPa, while sealed Gladstone/Callide fly ash-based geopolymer samples, of the same mix design, only recorded an initial maximum compressive strength reading of ca. 50 MPa (both subjected to oven curing at 60 °C for 24 h). However, Gladstone/Callide fly ash-based geopolymer samples exhibited a significant strength gain, ca. 90 MPa, even after being subjected to 400 °C.
Experimental Study on Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in the Circular-Arc-Shaped Flow Channel
Authors: Song Hui , Fan Shuangxiu , Qu Dayi
Published: January 2022

Different parameters of the circular-arc, trapezoidal and equal cross-section-shaped flow channels were analyzed, and the core volume goodness factor was used for the comparison of the three different types of flow channels. During the experiment, the Reynolds number (Re) on the air side ranged from 1200 to 5100. The results showed that the overall heat transfer performance of the three channels in this paper are circular-arc, trapezoidal and equal cross-section in order from good to bad. The overall heat transfer enhancement performance of the circular-arc flow channel is the best, which is 9–26.2% and 3.6–11.8% higher than that of the equal and trapezoidal cross-section flow channels, respectively. This showed that although the divergent flow channel structure reduces the fluid velocity in the flow process, it weakens the convective heat transfer performance in the flow channel. However, this gradually decreasing cross-sectional area improves the downstream heat transfer area and reduces the pressure drop in the flow process, thus promoting the overall heat transfer performance. With the increase in the circular radius (R), both the j and f factors increase, and the highest overall heat transfer performance is obtained at R = 300 mm. The convective heat transfer coefficient increases with the decrease in the inlet height.