bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Subclinical Hypothyroidism With Anxiety Symptom in Young First-Episode and Drug-Naïve Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Yang Ruchang , Du Xiangdong , Li Zhe , Zhao Xueli , Lyu Xiaoli , Ye Gang , Lu Xinchuan , Zhang Guangya , Li Chuanwei , Yue Yan , Wu Yuxuan , Peng Ruijie , Zhou Yue , Wang Haitao , Wu Siqi , Ganapathi Pallavi B. , Wu Hanjing Emily , Zhang Xiangyang
Published: June 2022

Backgrounds

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) was reported to be associated with depression; however, its role in coexisting anxiety symptom in young patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between SCH and anxiety symptom in young first-episode and drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients.

Methods

A total of 520 outpatients diagnosed as FEDN MDD with SCH were recruited in this study. Their socio-demographic, clinical data and thyroid function parameters were collected. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were employed to measure the severity of anxiety symptom and depressive symptom, respectively. Based on the HAMA scores, patients who scored ≥ 25 were defined as anxious major depressive disorder (A-MDD) while others as non-anxious major depressive disorder (NA-MDD).

Results

The prevalence rate of A-MDD was 15.8% in young FEDN MDD patients with comorbid SCH. Moreover, serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in patients with A-MDD compared with those with NA-MDD (p < 0.001). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis indicated that A-MDD was associated with serum TSH levels with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.602. Serum TSH level of 6.17 mIU/L was the critical value to distinguish A-MDD and NA-MDD, with sensitivity of 0.805 and specificity of 0.539. There were no statistically significant differences between NA-MDD and A-MDD patients in terms of socio-demographic variables, serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid peroxidases antibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb) levels.

Conclusions

A-MDD patients presented higher serum TSH level. It is suggested that serum TSH level may be a potential biomarker for predicting moderate and severe anxiety symptoms in young FEDN MDD patients with SCH.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Vortioxetine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults
Authors: Zhang Xinyan , Cai Yuchun , Hu Xiaowen , Lu Christine Y. , Nie Xiaoyan , Shi Luwen
Published: June 2022

Objective

We aimed to compare the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of vortioxetine in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults.

Method

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials (CENTRAL), and www.ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized controlled trials that examined vortioxetine vs. placebo or other antidepressants for the treatment of MDD from database inception to August 30, 2021, using keywords Vortioxetine, Brintellix, Trintellix, LuAA21004, major depressive disorder, mood disorder, affective disorder, and MDD. We identified 789 publications after removing duplicates. After screening, 20 eligible randomized controlled trials were identified, of which 19 were included in the final meta-analysis. We included adults (aged 18 years and older) with a primary diagnosis of MDD. Two review authors independently selected the studies and extracted data. We extracted data on study characteristics, participant characteristics, intervention details and outcome measures in terms of efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability. Analyses were performed using random-effects models, and outcomes were pooled as risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs).

Results

In total, 20 studies (8,547 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Vortioxetine outperformed the placebo in efficacy outcomes, including response (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.23–1.48; P < 0.001), remission (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.17–1.52; P < 0.001), and cognitive function (SMD 0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.52; P = 0.0003). Compared with the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), vortioxetine had better tolerability (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86–0.94; P < 0.001) but no significant difference in response (RR 0.91, 95%CI 0.82–1.00; P = 0.06) or remission (RR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.81–1.20, P = 0.88). Vortioxetine had no difference in response (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.88–1.32; P = 0.46), remission (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.41–2.44; P = 1.00) comparing with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Conclusions

Vortioxetine is more advantageous over placebo in treating MDD among adults, but no significant difference compared to SNRIs and SSRIs in general.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021278355, identifier: CRD42021278355.
Meta-Analysis of Structural and Functional Brain Abnormalities in Cocaine Addiction
Authors: Dang Jinghan , Tao Qiuying , Niu Xiaoyu , Zhang Mengzhe , Gao Xinyu , Yang Zhengui , Yu Miaomiao , Wang Weijian , Han Shaoqiang , Cheng Jingliang , Zhang Yong
Published: June 2022

Background

Previous voxel-based morphometric (VBM) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown changes in brain structure and function in cocaine addiction (CD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). However, the results of these studies are poorly reproducible, and it is unclear whether there are common and specific neuroimaging changes. This meta-analysis study aimed to identify structural, functional, and multimodal abnormalities in CD patients.

Methods

The PubMed database was searched for VBM and task-state fMRI studies performed in CD patients between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2021, using the SEED-BASE d MAP software package to perform two independent meta-groups of functional neural activation and gray matter volume, respectively. Analysis, followed by multimodal analysis to uncover structural, functional, and multimodal abnormalities between CD and HC.

Results

The meta-analysis included 14 CD fMRI studies (400 CD patients and 387 HCs) and 11 CD VBM studies (368 CD patients and 387 controls). Structurally, VBM analysis revealed significantly lower gray matter volumes in the right superior temporal gyrus, right insula, and right retrocentral gyrus than in the HC. On the other hand, the right inferior parietal gyrus increased in gray matter (GM) volume in CD patients. Functionally, fMRI analysis revealed activation in the right temporal pole, right insula, and right parahippocampal gyrus. In the right inferior parietal gyrus, the left inferior parietal gyrus, the left middle occipital gyrus, and the right middle frontal gyrus, the degree of activation was lower.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis showed that CD patients had significant brain GM and neural changes compared with normal controls. Furthermore, multi-domain assessments capture different aspects of neuronal alterations in CD, which may help develop effective interventions for specific functions.
Direct Medical Costs of Tetanus, Dengue, and Sepsis Patients in an Intensive Care Unit in Vietnam
Authors: Hung Trinh Manh , Van Hao Nguyen , Yen Lam Minh , McBride Angela , Dat Vu Quoc , van Doorn H. Rogier , Loan Huynh Thi , Phong Nguyen Thanh , Llewelyn Martin J. , Nadjm Behzad , Yacoub Sophie , Thwaites C. Louise , Ahmed Sayem , Van Vinh Chau Nguyen , Turner Hugo C. ,   The Vietnam ICU Translational Applications Laboratory (VITAL) Investigators
Published: June 2022

Background

Critically ill patients often require complex clinical care by highly trained staff within a specialized intensive care unit (ICU) with advanced equipment. There are currently limited data on the costs of critical care in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to investigate the direct-medical costs of key infectious disease (tetanus, sepsis, and dengue) patients admitted to ICU in a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, and explores how the costs and cost drivers can vary between the different diseases.

Methods

We calculated the direct medical costs for patients requiring critical care for tetanus, dengue and sepsis. Costing data (stratified into different cost categories) were extracted from the bills of patients hospitalized to the adult ICU with a dengue, sepsis and tetanus diagnosis that were enrolled in three studies conducted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in HCMC from January 2017 to December 2019. The costs were considered from the health sector perspective. The total sample size in this study was 342 patients.

Results

ICU care was associated with significant direct medical costs. For patients that did not require mechanical ventilation, the median total ICU cost per patient varied between US$64.40 and US$675 for the different diseases. The costs were higher for patients that required mechanical ventilation, with the median total ICU cost per patient for the different diseases varying between US$2,590 and US$4,250. The main cost drivers varied according to disease and associated severity.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the notable cost of ICU care in Vietnam and in similar LMIC settings. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the costs and economic burden incurred by ICU patients. The data also highlight the importance of evaluating novel critical care interventions that could reduce the costs of ICU care.
Vaccination and Government Stringent Control as Effective Strategies in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infections: A Global Perspective
Authors: Yang Peng , Yang Zhe , Zhao Chenxi , Li Xinrui , Shao Zhongjun , Liu Kun , Shang Lei
Published: June 2022

With the rapid implementation of global vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the threat posed by the disease has been mitigated, yet it remains a major global public health concern. Few studies have estimated the effects of vaccination and government stringent control measures on the disease transmission from a global perspective. To address this, we collected 216 countries' data on COVID-19 daily reported cases, daily vaccinations, daily government stringency indexes (GSIs), and the human development index (HDI) from the dataset of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Our World in Data COVID-19 (OWID). We utilized the interrupted time series (ITS) model to examine how the incidence was affected by the vaccination and GSI at continental and country levels from 22 January 2020 to 13 February 2022. We found that the effectiveness of vaccination was better in Europe, North America, and Africa than in Asia, South America, and Oceania. The long-term effects outperformed the short-term effects in most cases. Countries with a high HDI usually had a high vaccination coverage, resulting in better vaccination effects. Nonetheless, some countries with high vaccination coverage did not receive a relatively low incidence due to the weaker GSI. The results suggest that in addition to increasing population vaccination coverage, it is crucial to maintain a certain level of government stringent measures to prevent and control the disease. The strategy is particularly appropriate for countries with low vaccination coverage at present.
Effect of Window and Hole Pattern Cut-Outs on Design Optimization of 3D Printed Braces
Authors: Rizza Robert , Liu XueCheng , Anewenter Vince
Published: June 2022

Background

There are many different Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis style brace designs available in the market for the correction of scoliosis deformity. Hole cut out patterns, are commonly used in brace designs. These cut-outs may be subdivided into two groups: hole patterns and windows. Hole patterns are an array of holes which are implemented to lighten the weight of a brace and allow for the skin to breathe. Windows provide space for spinal derotation and/or breathing. From an examination of the literature, it appears that a systematic analysis of the effect of these cut-outs on the structural integrity and functionality of the brace has not been undertaken. Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding on the effect of spacing, size and geometry of the cut-outs on the mechanical behavior of the brace.

Method of Approach

In this study, Finite Element Analysis is employed to examine the mechanical response of the brace to these cut-outs. Geometry for the Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Orthosis was obtained by scanning an existing brace using an optical scan and converted into a Computer Aided Design model. A systematic approach was undertaken where cut-out geometry, spacing and size was varied. The deformation and stress in the thickness of the brace was ascertained from the Finite Element Analysis. An appropriate factor of safety for the structural analysis was determined using a standardized approach and used to quantify the structural integrity of the brace due to the cut-out. Various geometries were analyzed for the hole patterns including circle, triangle, diamond, and hexagon. For the window, the geometries considered were circle, trapezoidal and the “bib” geometry.

Results

It was found that linear hole patterns where the holes are aligned do not provide a desirable structural factor safety. Furthermore, among all the possible geometries, the hexagonal cut-out was the best structurally while reducing the weight of the brace the most. The optimal spacing was found to be 12 mm, and the optimal hole surface area was found to be 78.54 mm2. For the windows in the abdominal area, the “bib” shape provided the best structural integrity and generated the lowest amount of deformation. An increase in the size of this window had a small effect on the stress but an almost negligible effect on the deformation.

Conclusions

A hexagonal hole pattern should be used with a spacing of 12 mm and each hole should have a surface area of 78.54 mm2. Windows in the abdominal area should be of “bib” shape. The size of the window cut-outs does not affect the brace stress and deformation significantly. Thus, the size of these windows should be based on the functional aspects of the brace, i.e., the minimum required size needed to permit the patient to breathe comfortably as in the case of the abdominal window or to allow for proper derotation, as in the case of the derotation window.
A Meta-Agent Based Approach to Exploit the Collective Product of Mobile Cyber-Physical Collectives
Authors: Khenifar Afra , Jamont Jean-Paul , Occello Michel , Ben-Yelles Choukri-Bey , Koudil Mouloud
Published: June 2022

A cyber-physical system (CPS) is a system with integrated computational and physical abilities. Deriving the notion of cyber-physical collective (CPC) from a social view of CPS, we consider the nodes of a CPS as individuals (agents) that interact to overcome their limits in the collective. When CPC agents are able to move in their environment, the CPC is considered as a Mobile CPC (MCPC). The interactions of the agents give rise to the appearance of a phenomenon collectively generated by the agents of the CPC that we call a collective product. This phenomenon is not recorded as “a whole” in the CPC because an agent has only a partial view of its environment. This paper presents COPE (COllective Product Exploitation), an approach that allows one MCPC to exploit the collective product of another one. The approach is based on the deployment of meta-agents in both systems. A meta-agent is an agent that is external to a MCPC but is associated with one of its agents. Each meta-agent is able to monitor the agent with which it is associated and can fake its perceptions to influence its behavior. The meta-agents deployed in the system from which the collective product emerges provide indicators related to this product. Utilizing these indicators, the meta-agents deployed in the other system can act on the agents in order to adapt the global dynamics of the whole system. The proposed coupling approach is evaluated in a “fire detection and control” use case. It allows a system of UAVs to use the collective product of a network of sensors to monitor the fire.
A Very Fast Copy-Move Forgery Detection Method for 4K Ultra HD Images
Authors: Bertojo Laura , Néraud Christophe , Puech William
Published: June 2022

Copy-move forgery detection is a challenging task in digital image forensics. Keypoint-based detection methods have proven to be very efficient to detect copied-moved forged areas in images. Although these methods are effective, the keypoint matching phase has a high complexity, which takes a long time to detect forgeries, especially for very large images such as 4K Ultra HD images. In this paper, we propose a new keypoint-based method with a new fast feature matching algorithm, based on the generalized two nearest-neighbor (g2NN) algorithm allowing us to greatly reduce the complexity and thus the computation time. First, we extract keypoints from the input image. After ordering them, we perform a match search restricted to a window around the current keypoint. To detect the keypoints, we propose not to use a threshold, which allows low intensity keypoint matching and a very efficient detection of copy-move forgery, even in very uniform or weakly textured areas. Then, we apply a new matching algorithm, and finally we compute the cluster thanks to the DBSCAN algorithm. Our experimental results show that the method we propose can detect copied-moved areas in forged images very accurately and with a very short computation time which allows for the fast detection of forgeries on 4K images.
Diabetes Changes Your Lifestyle, But it Does not Change You
Authors: Rydosz Artur , Pregowska Agnieszka , Osial Magdalena
Published: June 2022

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about diabetes in children. Have you ever wondered what diabetes is and where it comes from? Diabetes is a disease with a long history. It causes a high sugar level in the blood, which is dangerous for many organs including the heart and kidneys. Diabetes also damages blood vessels and the nervous system. Unfortunately, diabetes is often detected by accident during tests for other diseases or by standard blood tests performed during a check-up. The earliest symptoms of diabetes that a person might notice include increased hunger and thirst, tiredness, or frequent urination. If you experience these symptoms, do not take them lightly—have a doctor check your blood sugar level.
Chytridiomycosis Outbreak in a Chilean Giant Frog (Calyptocephalella gayi) Captive Breeding Program: Genomic Characterization and Pathological Findings
Authors: Alvarado-Rybak Mario , Acuña Paz , Peñafiel-Ricaurte Alexandra , Sewell Thomas R. , O'Hanlon Simon J. , Fisher Matthew C. , Valenzuela-Sánchez Andres , Cunningham Andrew A. , Azat Claudio
Published: June 2022

Emerging infectious diseases in wildlife are increasingly associated with animal mortality and species declines, but their source and genetic characterization often remains elusive. Amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungusBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Bd), has been associated with catastrophic and well-documented amphibian population declines and extinctions at the global scale. We used histology and whole-genome sequencing to describe the lesions caused by, and the genetic variability of, twoBdisolates obtained from a mass mortality event in a captive population of the threatened Chilean giant frog (Calyptocephalella gayi). This was the first time an association betweenBdand high mortality had been detected in this charismatic and declining frog species. Pathological examinations revealed that 30 dead metamorphosed frogs presented agnathia or brachygnathia, a condition that is reported for the first time in association with chytridiomycosis. Phylogenomic analyses revealed thatBdisolates (PA1 and PA2) from captiveC. gayigroup with otherBdisolates (AVS2, AVS4, and AVS7) forming a single highly supported ChileanBdclade within the global panzootic lineage ofBd(BdGPL). These findings are important to inform the strengthening of biosecurity measures to prevent the impacts of chytridiomycosis in captive breeding programs elsewhere.
Mixed Modeling in Genetic Divergence Study of Elite Popcorn Hybrids (Zea mays var. everta)
Authors: Pena Guilherme Ferreira , Mafra Gabrielle Sousa , do Amaral Júnior Antônio Teixeira , Alfenas Rafael Ferreira , Bhering Leonardo Lopes , Santos Juliana Saltires , Kamphorst Samuel Henrique , de Lima Valter Jário , de Oliveira Santos Talles , Bispo Rosimeire Barboza , Viana Flávia Nicácio , Pereira Messias Gonzaga , de Amaral Gravina Geraldo , Daher Rogério Figueiredo
Published: June 2022

Popcorn is a food highly appreciated throughout the world, generating billions of dollars annually just in the North American market alone. Even in the face of the historical superiority of American hybrids, which occupy almost 100% of the grain production fields in Brazil, our researchers have been working to develop cultivars that combine important traits for the crop, such as tolerance to leaf diseases and high rates of grain yield and popping expansion. This work investigated the degree of genetic divergence among 40 diallel hybrids of popcorn, 16 parents and 6 elite controls using mixed models to discriminate superior materials to be adopted in the Brazilian agribusiness. Based on the individual Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) of each of the 15 variables analyzed, the Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) and Tocher clusters were performed, and the study of Pearson correlation was carried out. The results pointed out that there is genetic variability among the genotypes evaluated and that the best candidates for composing superior genotypes are in the combination between the P10×L77 parents and/or between the P7 and L88 lines. Linear correlations showed that earlier flowering and taller genotypes exhibited an association with materials more tolerant to Exserohilum turcicum intensity.
Fine Soil Texture Is Conducive to Crop Productivity and Nitrogen Retention in Irrigated Cropland in a Desert-Oasis Ecotone, Northwest China
Authors: Wang Lisha , He Zhibin , Zhao Wenzhi , Wang Chuan , Ma Dengke
Published: June 2022

Agricultural production in oases requires extensive irrigation and nitrogen (N) inputs, which result in a high incidence of non-point-source pollution. Information on how soil texture affects crop productivity and water and N use efficiency is needed to improve N management in oases. A two-year field study with six free-draining leaching pits was set up to quantify soil water content (SWC), drainage, yield, N uptake, soil residual N, N leaching, water-use efficiency (WUE), and N fertilizer-use efficiency (NFUE) on sandy-textured soils in a young oasis field (24 years, YOF) and loam-textured soils in an old oasis field (>60 years; OOF) within an intensive oasis agricultural zone in Northwest China. The results showed that sand content in the YOF was significantly higher than that in the OOF (p < 0.01), while both clay and silt contents in the YOF were significantly lower than those in the OOF (p < 0.01). Soil water storage (SW) in the 0–100 cm soil layer, evapotranspiration water-use efficiency (WUEET) and irrigation water-use efficiency (WUEIrrig) in the OOF were, respectively, 87.1, 23.5, and 24.1% higher than those in the YOF (p < 0.05), and deep drainage in the YOF was 6.2 times higher than that in the OOF (p < 0.01). Maize N uptake and soil N accumulation in the OOF in the 0–100 cm soil layer were, respectively, 33.4 and 10.3% higher than those in the YOF (p < 0.05), and N leaching loss in the YOF was 1.65 times higher than that in the OOF (p > 0.01). Crop yield and NFUE in the OOF were, respectively, 23.9 and 27.2% higher than those in the YOF (p < 0.05). These results indicated that sandy-textured soils with high sand content were not conducive to water and N retention, resulting in lower crop yields and water- and fertilizer-use efficiency in YOF. Therefore, it is imperative that management practices in sandy-textured land promote improvements in soil structure and maintain the long-term productivity of the young cultivated fields.
Neurotrophins in Zebrafish Taste Buds
Authors: Gatta Claudia , Schiano Valentina , Attanasio Chiara , Lucini Carla , Palladino Antonio
Published: June 2022

The neurotrophin family is composed of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin 3 (NT3) and NT4. These neurotrophins regulate several crucial functions through the activation of two types of transmembrane receptors, namely p75, which binds all neurotrophins with a similar affinity, and tyrosine kinase (Trk) receptors. Neurotrophins, besides their well-known pivotal role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system, also display the ability to regulate the development of taste buds in mammals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate if NGF, BDNF, NT3 and NT4 are also present in the taste buds of zebrafish (Danio rerio), a powerful vertebrate model organism. Morphological analyses carried out on adult zebrafish showed the presence of neurotrophins in taste bud cells of the oropharyngeal cavity, also suggesting that BDNF positive cells are the prevalent cell population in the posterior part of the oropharyngeal region. In conclusion, by suggesting that all tested neurotrophins are present in zebrafish sensory cells, our results lead to the assumption that taste bud cells in this fish species contain the same homologous neurotrophins reported in mammals, further confirming the high impact of the zebrafish model in translational research.
The Potentialities of Machine Learning for Cow-Specific Milking: Automatically Setting Variables in Milking Machines
Authors: Wang Jintao , Lovarelli Daniela , Rota Nicola , Shen Mingxia , Lu Mingzhou , Guarino Marcella
Published: June 2022

In dairy farming, milking-related operations are time-consuming and expensive, but are also directly linked to the farm’s economic profit. Therefore, reducing the duration of milking operations without harming the cows is paramount. This study aimed to test the variation in different parameters of milking operations on non-automatic milking machines to evaluate their effect on a herd and finally reduce the milking time. Two trials were set up on a dairy farm in Northern Italy to explore the influence of the pulsation ratio (60:40 vs. 65:35 pulsation ratio) and that of the detachment flow rate (600 g/min vs. 800 g/min) on milking performance, somatic cell counts, clinical mastitis, and teats score. Moreover, the innovative aspect of this study relates to the development of an optimized least-squares support vector machine (LSSVM) classification model based on the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) to predict the proper pulsation ratio and detachment flow rate for individual cows within the first two minutes of milking. The accuracy and precision of this model were 92% and 97% for shortening milking time at different pulsation ratios, and 78% and 79% for different detachment rates. The implementation of this algorithm in non-automatic milking machines could make milking operations cow-specific.
Genetic Variations within the Bovine CRY2 Gene Are Significantly Associated with Carcass Traits
Authors: Li Xuelan , Jiang Enhui , Zhang Kejing , Zhang Sihuan , Jiang Fugui , Song Enliang , Chen Hong , Guo Peng , Lan Xianyong
Published: June 2022

As an important part of the circadian rhythm, the circadian regulation factor 2 of cryptochrome (CRY2), regulates many physiological functions. Previous studies have reported that CRY2 is involved in growth and development. However, the relationship between CRY2 gene polymorphism and cattle carcass traits remains unclear. The aim of this study was to detect the possible variations of the CRY2 gene and elucidate the association between the CRY2 gene and carcass traits in the Shandong Black Cattle Genetic Resource (SDBCGR) population (n = 705). We identified a 24-bp deletion variation (CRY2-P6) and a 6-bp insertion variation (CRY2-P7) in the bovine CRY2 gene. The frequency of the homozygous II genotype is higher than the heterozygous ID genotype in both two loci. In addition, CRY2-P6 was consistent with HWE (p > 0.05). Importantly, the CRY2-P6 variant was significantly associated with 12 carcass traits, including gross weight, ribeye, high rib, thick flank, etc. and the II was the dominant genotype. The CRY2-P7 site was also significantly correlated with five traits (gross weight, beef-tongue, etc.). Collectively, these outcomes indicated that the two Indel loci in the CRY2 gene could be used for marker-assisted selection of cattle carcass traits.
Relationship among Sex, Skin Color, and Production Parameters of Broiler in Pectoral Myopathies
Authors: Novoa Martín , Francisco Iván , Lage Almudena , Benedito José Luis , García Lucio , Vázquez Luis , Cobas Noemi
Published: June 2022

Breast anomalies in broilers, especially wooden breast (WB) and spaghetti meat (SM), cause high economic losses to the poultry meat sector. In order to identify the parameters that have a causal effect and to reduce the incidence of these myopathies, 141,792 broilers were analyzed in a total of 1477 batches using a visual grading system. The relationship among productive parameters such as the feed conversion ratio, live weight, growth rate, and mortality, was evaluated. Effects due to skin color (white vs. yellow), broiler sex (male, female, and mixed groups), feed presentation (grain vs. mash), and veterinary treatments (treated vs. untreated) were also included in the statistical study. Live weight was observed to have a significant effect (p < 0.001) on WB incidence, which increased by 1.11 for each 100 g of weight. Weight did not significantly affect the incidence of SM. Males had a higher incidence of WB and a lower incidence of SM than females. The incidence of both myopathies varied between samples that turned out to be significantly affected by some of the variables considered in the model, such as grain feeding and the feed conversion ratio. Controlling these factors in the broiler production could help to reduce the incidence of WB and SM.
Rational Sampling Numbers of Soil pH for Spatial Variation: A Case Study from Yellow River Delta in China
Authors: Zhang Yingxin , Duan Mengqi , Li Shimei , Zhang Xiaoguang , Song Xiangyun , Cui Dejie
Published: June 2022

Spatial variation of soil pH is important for the evaluation of environmental quality. A reasonable number of sampling points has an important meaning for accurate quantitative expression on spatial distribution of soil pH and resource savings. Based on the grid distribution point method, 908, 797, 700, 594, 499, 398, 299, 200, 149, 100, 75 and 50 sampling points, which were randomly selected from 908 sampling points, constituted 12 sample sets. Semi-variance structure analysis was carried out for different point sets, and ordinary Kriging was used for spatial prediction and accuracy verification, and the influence of different sampling points on spatial variation of soil pH was discussed. The results show that the pH value in Kenli County (China) was generally between 7.8 and 8.1, and the soil was alkaline. Semi-variance models fitted by different point sets could reflect the spatial structure characteristics of soil pH with accuracy. With a decrease in the number of sampling points, the Sill value of sample set increased, and the spatial autocorrelation gradually weakened. Considering the prediction accuracy, spatial distribution and investigation cost, a number of sampling points greater than or equal to 150 could satisfy the spatial variation expression of soil pH at the county level in the Yellow River Delta. This is equivalent to taking at least 107 sampling points per 1000 km2. The results in this study are applicable to areas with similar environmental and soil conditions as the Yellow River Delta, and have reference significance for these areas.
Mathematical Estimation of the Energy, Nutritional and Health-Promoting Values of Multi-Layer Freeze-Dried Vegetable Snacks
Authors: Janowicz Monika , Ciurzyńska Agnieszka , Karwacka Magdalena , Kowalska Jolanta , Galus Sabina
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, the popularity of snack foods is increasing due to the fast-paced lifestyle of society. Thanks to the prevailing trends related to a healthy lifestyle and organic food, the need to create new products is increasing, but also more and more attention is being paid to high nutritional value. The aim of the study has been to evaluate the energy, nutritional, and health-promoting value of freeze-dried vegetable-based products with hydrocolloids as structure forming additives. The research included mathematical estimation of the energy and nutrients content, as well as selected health-promoting components, such as vitamins and micro- and macro-nutrients. The calculation was based on tabular data of the nutritional values each components of the products. In addition, the quality of the bars has been assessed by means of the daily requirement and the nutritional quality index. The bars have proven to be characterized by high energy and nutritional and health-promoting value. The Index Nutritional Quality (INQ) indicator has shown that the tested products are incorrectly adjusted in terms of the content of nutrients in relation to the energy supplied. The broccoli bar has turned out to be the best option because it has the highest content of protein, fat, and all the relevant vitamins and minerals. Obtained results verified that tested snacks were not enough to cover daily intake of specific nutrients, but introducing such products to balanced diet may have beneficial influence on human health and well-being.
An Ensemble-Based Analysis of a Liminal Extreme Rainfall Event near Taiwan
Authors: Cole Alexandra S. , Bell Michael M. , DeHart Jennifer C.
Published: June 2022

This study analyzes an ensemble of numerical simulations of a heavy rainfall event east of Taiwan on 9 June 2020. Heavy rainfall was produced by quasi-stationary back-building mesoscale convective systems (MCS) associated with a mei-yu front. Global model forecast skill was poor in location and intensity of rainfall. The mesoscale ensemble showed liminal conditions between heavy rainfall or little to no rainfall. The two most accurate and two least accurate ensemble members are selected for analysis via validation against radar-estimated rainfall observations. All members feature moist soundings with low levels of free convection (LFC) and sufficient instability for deep convection. We find that stronger gradients in 100-m θe and θv in the most accurate members associated with a near-surface frontal boundary focus the lifting mechanism for deep, moist convection and enhanced rainfall. As the simulations progress, stronger southerly winds in the least accurate members advect drier mid-level air into the region of interest and shift the near-surface boundary further north and west. Analysis of the verification ensemble mean analysis reveals a strong near-surface frontal boundary similarly positioned as in the most accurate members and dry air aloft more similar to that in the least accurate members, suggesting that the positioning of the frontal boundary is more critical to accurately reproducing rainfall patterns and intensity in this case. The analyses suggest that subtle details in the simulation of frontal boundaries and mesoscale flow structures can lead to bifurcations in producing extreme or almost no rainfall. Implications for improved probabilistic forecasts of heavy rainfall events will be discussed.
Seasonal Aerosol Acidity, Liquid Water Content and Their Impact on Fine Urban Aerosol in SE Canada
Authors: Arangio Andrea M. , Shahpoury Pourya , Dabek-Zlotorzynska Ewa , Nenes Athanasios
Published: June 2022

This study explores the drivers of aerosol pH and their impact on the inorganic fraction and mass of aerosol in the S.E. Canadian urban environments of Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario. We find that inter-seasonal pH variability is mostly driven by temperature changes, which cause variations of up to one pH unit. Wintertime acidity is reduced, compared to summertime values. Because of this, the response of aerosol to precursors fundamentally changes between seasons, with a strong sensitivity of aerosol mass to levels of HNO3 in the wintertime. Liquid water content (LWC) fundamentally influences the aerosol sensitivity to NH3 and HNO3 levels. In the summertime, organic aerosol is mostly responsible for the LWC at Toronto, and ammonium sulfate for Hamilton; in the winter, LWC was mostly associated with ammonium nitrate at both sites. The combination of pH and LWC in the two sites also affects N dry deposition flux; NO3− fluxes were comparable between the two sites, but NH3 deposition flux at Toronto is almost twice what was seen in Hamilton; from November to March N deposition flux slows down leading to an accumulation of N as NO3− in the particle phase and an increase in PM2.5 levels. Given the higher aerosol pH in Toronto, aerosol masses at this site are more sensitive to the emission of HNO3 precursors compared to Hamilton. For both sites, NOx emissions should be better regulated to improve air quality during winter; this is specifically important for the Toronto site as it is thermodynamically more sensitive to the emissions of HNO3 precursors.
A Simultaneous Estimation of the Baseline Intensity and Parameters for Modulated Renewal Processes
Authors: Zhuang Jiancang , Siew Hai-Yen
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a semiparametric solution to estimate the intensity (hazard) function of modulated renewal processes: a nonparametric estimate for the baseline intensity function together with a parametric estimate of the model parameters of the covariate processes. Based on the martingale property associated with the conditional intensity, we construct a statistic from a residual analysis to estimate the baseline renewal intensity function, when the model parameters of the covariate processes are known. In addition, when the baseline intensity is obtained, the model parameters can be estimated using the usual maximum likelihood estimation. In practice, both the baseline intensity and model parameters are suggested to be estimated simultaneously via an expectation–maximization (E–M)-type iterative algorithm. A more important feature of the newly proposed algorithm is that, given n events in the observation dataset, its computation time is of order O(n2), while the Nelson–Aalen–Breslow estimator takes a computation time of order O(n3). For illustration, we apply the proposed estimation procedure to a set of data simulated from a modulated gamma renewal process and the aftershock sequence following the Ms8 Wenchuan earthquake, which occurred in Sichuan Province, China on 12 May 2008.
The Role of Serendipita indica (Piriformospora indica) in Improving Plant Resistance to Drought and Salinity Stresses
Authors: Boorboori Mohammad Reza , Zhang Hai-Yang
Published: June 2022

Plant stress is one of the biggest threats to crops, causing irreparable damage to farmers’ incomes; Therefore, finding suitable, affordable, and practical solutions will help the agricultural economy and prevent the loss of millions of tons of agricultural products. Scientists have taken significant steps toward improving farm productivity in the last few decades by discovering how beneficial soil microorganisms enhance plant resistance to environmental stresses. Among these microorganisms is Serendipita indica, which the benefits of coexisting this fungus with plant roots have been extensively explored in recent years. By investigating fungus specification and its effects on plants’ morphological, physiological, and molecular traits, the present study seeks to understand how Serendipita indica affects plant resistance to salinity and drought conditions. Furthermore, this study attempts to identify the unknown mechanisms of action of the coexistence of Serendipita indica with plants in the face of stress using information from previous studies. Thus, it provides a way for future research to assess the impact of this fungus on tackling environmental stresses and enhancing agricultural productivity.
The Complete Genome of the “Flavescence Dorée” Phytoplasma Reveals Characteristics of Low Genome Plasticity
Authors: Debonneville Christophe , Mandelli Léa , Brodard Justine , Groux Raphaël , Roquis David , Schumpp Olivier
Published: June 2022

Members of the genus ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ are obligate intracellular bacteria restricted to phloem sieve elements and are able to colonize several tissues and the hemolymph in their insect vectors. The current unfeasibility of axenic culture and the low complexity of genomic sequences are obstacles in assembling complete chromosomes. Here, a method combining pathogen DNA enrichment from infected insects and dual deep-sequencing technologies was used to obtain the complete genome of a phytoplasma causing Grapevine Flavescence dorée. The de novo assembly generated a circular chromosome of 654,223 bp containing 506 protein-coding genes. Quality assessment of the draft showed a high degree of completeness. Comparative analysis with other phytoplasmas revealed the absence of potential mobile units and a reduced amount of putative phage-derived segments, suggesting a low genome plasticity. Phylogenetic analyses identified Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi as the closest fully sequenced relative. The “Flavescence dorée” phytoplasma strain CH genome also encoded for several putative effector proteins potentially playing a role in pathogen virulence. The availability of this genome provides the basis for the study of the pathogenicity mechanisms and evolution of the Flavescence dorée phytoplasma.
Reduced Cytokine Tumour Necrosis Factor by Pharmacological Intervention in a Preclinical Study
Authors: Mooranian Armin , Chester Jacqueline , Johnston Edan , Ionescu Corina Mihaela , Walker Daniel , Jones Melissa , Wagle Susbin Raj , Kovacevic Bozica , Foster Thomas , Mikov Momir , Al-Salami Hani
Published: June 2022

Recent preclinical studies in our laboratory have shown that the bile acid profile is altered during diabetes development and such alteration has been linked to the diabetes-associated inflammatory profile. Hence, this study aimed to investigate if the first-line antidiabetic drug metformin will alter the bile acid profile and diabetes-associated inflammation in a murine model of pre-type 2 diabetes. C57 mice were randomly allocated into three equal groups of eight. Group One was given a low-fat diet (LFD), Group Two was given a high-fat diet (HFD), and Group Three was given an HFD and, upon prediabetes confirmation, daily oral metformin for one month. Blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, drug concentrations in tissues and faeces, and the inflammatory and bile acid profiles were measured. Metformin showed wide tissue distribution and was also present in faeces. The bile acid profile showed significant alteration due to prediabetes, and although metformin did not completely normalize it, it did exert significant effects on both the bile acid and the inflammatory profiles, suggesting a direct and, to some extent, positive impact, particularly on the diabetes-associated inflammatory profile.
The Determinants of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dai Chia-Yen , Fang Tzu-Jung , Hung Wei-Wen , Tsai Hui-Ju , Tsai Yi-Chun
Published: June 2022

Liver fibrosis is a key pathophysiology process in chronic liver disease. It is still unclear whether the impact of liver fibrosis is not fully realized in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the factors affecting nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or liver stiffness also remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the determinants of liver fibrosis and in T2D patients with NAFLD. Liver fibrosis and steatosis were measured using transient elastography (FibroScan). Of 226 T2D patients with NAFLD, 50 with liver fibrosis had higher body mass index, serum uric acid, triglyceride and glycated hemoglobin levels and lower high density lipoprotein levels than 176 without liver fibrosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that aging, obesity, sulfonylurea usage and high levels of AST increased the risk of liver fibrosis in T2D patients with NAFLD. Our findings provide useful information to clinical physicians for earlier detection of liver fibrosis in T2D patients with NAFLD and to prevent liver fibrosis through controlling these risk factors.
Heterocycle-Based Multicomponent Reactions in Drug Discovery: From Hit Finding to Rational Design
Authors: Nadal Rodríguez Pau , Ghashghaei Ouldouz , Bagán Andrea , Escolano Carmen , Lavilla Rodolfo
Published: June 2022

In the context of the structural complexity necessary for a molecule to selectively display a therapeutical action and the requirements for suitable pharmacokinetics, a robust synthetic approach is essential. Typically, thousands of relatively similar compounds should be prepared along the drug discovery process. In this respect, heterocycle-based multicomponent reactions offer advantages over traditional stepwise sequences in terms of synthetic economy, as well as the fast access to chemsets to study the structure activity relationships, the fine tuning of properties, and the preparation of larger amounts for preclinical phases. In this account, we briefly summarize the scientific methodology backing the research line followed by the group. We comment on the main results, clustered according to the targets and, finally, in the conclusion section, we offer a general appraisal of the situation and some perspectives regarding future directions in academic and private research.
Nucleic Acids Detection for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Based on Gold Nanoparticles Counting and Rolling-Circle Amplification
Authors: Pei Xiaojing , Hong Hu , Liu Sitong , Li Na
Published: June 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which usually disturbs the lungs, and remains the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide after the human immunodeficiency virus. Herein, we constructed a simple and sensitive method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific DNA detection with the dark-field microscopic imaging of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) counting strategy and rolling-circle amplification (RCA). Taking advantage of RCA amplification, one target molecule produced hundreds of general oligonucleotides, which could form the sandwich structure with capture-strand-modified magnetic beads and AuNPs. After magnetic separation, AuNPs were released and detected by dark-field imaging; about 10 fM Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific DNA target can still be differentiated from the blank. No significant change of the absorbance signals was observed when the target DNA to genomic DNA ratio (in mass) was from 1:0 to 1:106. The spike recovery results in genomic DNA from human and Klebsiella pneumoniae suggested that the proposed method has the feasibility for application with biological samples. This proposed method is performed on an entry-level dark-field microscope setup with only a 6 μL detection volume, which creates a new, simple, sensitive, and valuable tool for pathogen detection.