bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disentangling the Effect of Seasonal Dynamics on Meiobenthic Community Structure From River Matla of Sundarbans Estuarine System, India
Authors: Ghosh Moumita , Mandal Sumit
Published: June 2021

In estuarine sediment, meiobenthos serve as an excellent candidate to perform a range of ecosystem services. However, even though the taxonomic sufficiency of meiobenthos in detecting spatiotemporal gradients is well recognized, very little is known about their functional attributes in response to environmental descriptors. To bridge this knowledge gap, the taxonomic structure and trait-based functional diversity patterns of meiobenthic assemblage, focusing on nematode species composition, were assessed for the first time from the unexplored central sector of Sundarbans Estuarine System (SES). Sediment samples were collected seasonally (monsoon, winter, spring, and summer) selecting a total of eight stations across River Matla (the widest and longest river of SES). Distinct seasonal successional patterns had been observed in meiobenthic abundance modulated by seasonal alteration in the sedimentary environment (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Our study revealed a strong preponderance of meiobenthic density in spring (2978 ± 689.98 ind. 10 cm–2) and lowest during monsoon (405 ± 51.22 ind. 10 cm–2). A total of 11 meiobenthic taxa were identified with the dominance of nematodes. Altogether, 79 species of nematode belonging to 22 families had been identified across the entire study area and nematode assemblage was dominated by Sabatieria praedatrix, Sphaerolaimus balticus, Desmodora communis, Dorylaimopsis punctata, and Daptonema hirsutum. Principal component analysis depicted a distinct separation of seasons with reference to environmental variables. Distance-based redundancy analysis delineated that meiobenthic communities were mainly structured by organic matter, salinity, and dissolved oxygen concentration. Biological trait analyses of nematode assemblages were applied to gather the ecological information based on morphological and ecological characteristics. The most common morphotypes were slender body shape, clavate tail shape, striated cuticle pattern, and non-selective deposit feeders with colonizing abilities of 2–3 (c–p score in a scale from 1 to 5). Results from BIO-ENV showed that sediment organic matter and dissolved oxygen played overriding roles in shaping the functional compositions of nematodes. Thus, the characterization of meiobenthos and nematode assemblages in the context of taxonomic as well as functional attributes represents a first step toward building of baseline data which could help to evaluate the ecological status of SES and direct future research priorities concurrently.
Machine Learning Based Methodology to Predict Point Defect Energies in Multi-Principal Element Alloys
Authors: Manzoor Anus , Arora Gaurav , Jerome Bryant , Linton Nathan , Norman Bailey , Aidhy Dilpuneet S.
Published: June 2021

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) are a new class of alloys that consist of many principal elements randomly distributed on a crystal lattice. The random presence of many elements lends large variations in the point defect formation and migration energies even within a given alloy composition. Compounded by the fact that there could be exponentially large number of MPEA compositions, there is a major computational challenge to capture complete point-defect energy phase-space in MPEAs. In this work, we present a machine learning based framework in which the point defect energies in MPEAs are predicted from a database of their constituent binary alloys. We demonstrate predictions of vacancy migration and formation energies in face centered cubic ternary, quaternary and quinary alloys in Ni-Fe-Cr-Co-Cu system. A key benefit of building this framework based on the database of binary alloys is that it enables defect-energy predictions in alloy compositions that may be unearthed in future. Furthermore, the methodology enables identifying the impact of a given alloying element on the defect energies thereby enabling design of alloys with tailored defect properties.
Sliding Mode Active Disturbance Rejection Control for Magnetorheological Impact Buffer System
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Wanjun , Li Zhaochun
Published: June 2021

In the magnetorheological (MR) impact buffer system, the internal or external disturbance of the MR damper is one of the main factors that affect the buffer performance of the system. This study aims to suppress or eliminate the influence of the disturbance of the MR damper. The continuous terminal sliding mode control (CTSMC) strategy with a high gain has a strong antidisturbance ability. However, the high gain may cause fluctuation of the damping force of the system. Therefore, a composite control strategy of sliding mode active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) based on an extended state observer (ESO) is proposed in this study. The total disturbance of the system is estimated by the ESO in real time, and the estimated disturbance is used as a feedforward compensation to the controller to reduce the influence of disturbance on the system. The gain of the CTSMC law of the closed-loop system can be reduced. In addition, the Lyapunov stability criterion is used to ensure the stability of the proposed controller. In order to verify the performance of the proposed CTSMC controller on response speed, overshoot, and hysteresis suppression ability, the window function, square wave function, and multistep function are given as the inputs of the control system. To verify the performance of the proposed sliding mode ADRC for the MR impact buffer system, the mechanical model and the control model are established and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results show that the CTSMC controller has the fastest response time and no overshoot and can suppress the hysteresis nonlinearity of the MR device compared with the open-loop control, PID control, and fractional order PID control. The MR impact buffer system with the sliding mode ADRC obtained the minimum peak value of 4350N within the permitted buffer displacement range compared with the other three traditional control methods. That means the proposed control method in this study has the advantage on buffer performance for the MR impact buffer system.
Protein Family Content Uncovers Lineage Relationships and Bacterial Pathway Maintenance Mechanisms in DPANN Archaea
Authors: Castelle Cindy J. , Méheust Raphaël , Jaffe Alexander L. , Seitz Kiley , Gong Xianzhe , Baker Brett J. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: June 2021

DPANN are small-celled archaea that are generally predicted to be symbionts, and in some cases are known episymbionts of other archaea. As the monophyly of the DPANN remains uncertain, we hypothesized that proteome content could reveal relationships among DPANN lineages, constrain genetic overlap with bacteria, and illustrate how organisms with hybrid bacterial and archaeal protein sets might function. We tested this hypothesis using protein family content that was defined in part using 3,197 genomes including 569 newly reconstructed genomes. Protein family content clearly separates the final set of 390 DPANN genomes from other archaea, paralleling the separation of Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria from all other bacteria. This separation is partly driven by hypothetical proteins, some of which may be symbiosis-related. Pacearchaeota with the most limited predicted metabolic capacities have Form II/III and III-like Rubisco, suggesting metabolisms based on scavenged nucleotides. Intriguingly, the Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota with the smallest genomes also tend to encode large extracellular murein-like lytic transglycosylase domain proteins that may bind and degrade components of bacterial cell walls, indicating that some might be episymbionts of bacteria. The pathway for biosynthesis of bacterial isoprenoids is widespread in Woesearchaeota genomes and is encoded in proximity to genes involved in bacterial fatty acids synthesis. Surprisingly, in some DPANN genomes we identified a pathway for synthesis of queuosine, an unusual nucleotide in tRNAs of bacteria. Other bacterial systems are predicted to be involved in protein refolding. For example, many DPANN have the complete bacterial DnaK-DnaJ-GrpE system and many Woesearchaeota and Pacearchaeota possess bacterial group I chaperones. Thus, many DPANN appear to have mechanisms to ensure efficient protein folding of both archaeal and laterally acquired bacterial proteins.
Role of Elm1, Tos3, and Sak1 Protein Kinases in the Maltose Metabolism of Baker’s Yeast
Authors: Yang Xu , Meng Lu , Lin Xue , Jiang Huan-Yuan , Hu Xiao-Ping , Li Cong-Fa
Published: June 2021

Glucose repression is a key regulatory system controlling the metabolism of non-glucose carbon source in yeast. Glucose represses the utilization of maltose, the most abundant fermentable sugar in lean dough and wort, thereby negatively affecting the fermentation efficiency and product quality of pasta products and beer. In this study, the focus was on the role of three kinases, Elm1, Tos3, and Sak1, in the maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast in lean dough. The results suggested that the three kinases played different roles in the regulation of the maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast with differential regulations on MAL genes. Elm1 was necessary for the maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast in maltose and maltose-glucose, and the overexpression of ELM1 could enhance the maltose metabolism and lean dough fermentation ability by upregulating the transcription of MALx1 (x is the locus) in maltose and maltose-glucose and MALx2 in maltose. The native level of TOS3 and SAK1 was essential for yeast cells to adapt glucose repression, but the overexpression of TOS3 and SAK1 alone repressed the expression of MALx1 in maltose-glucose and MALx2 in maltose. Moreover, the three kinases might regulate the maltose metabolism via the Snf1-parallel pathways with a carbon source-dependent manner. These results, for the first time, suggested that Elm1, rather than Tos3 and Sak1, might be the dominant regulator in the maltose metabolism of baker’s yeast. These findings provided knowledge about the glucose repression of maltose and gave a new perspective for breeding industrial yeasts with rapid maltose metabolism.
Hippocampal Somatostatin Interneurons, Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity and Memory
Authors: Honoré Eve , Khlaifia Abdessattar , Bosson Anthony , Lacaille Jean-Claude
Published: June 2021

A distinctive feature of the hippocampal structure is the diversity of inhibitory interneurons. These complex inhibitory interconnections largely contribute to the tight modulation of hippocampal circuitry, as well as to the formation and coordination of neuronal assemblies underlying learning and memory. Inhibitory interneurons provide more than a simple transitory inhibition of hippocampal principal cells (PCs). The synaptic plasticity of inhibitory neurons provides long-lasting changes in the hippocampal network and is a key component of memory formation. The dendrite targeting interneurons expressing the peptide somatostatin (SOM) are particularly interesting in this regard because they display unique long-lasting synaptic changes leading to metaplastic regulation of hippocampal networks. In this article, we examine the actions of the neuropeptide SOM on hippocampal cells, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. We address the different subtypes of hippocampal SOM interneurons. We describe the long-term synaptic plasticity that takes place at the excitatory synapses of SOM interneurons, its singular induction and expression mechanisms, as well as the consequences of these changes on the hippocampal network, learning, and memory. We also review evidence that astrocytes provide cell-specific dynamic regulation of inhibition of PC dendrites by SOM interneurons. Finally, we cover how, in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dysfunction of plasticity of SOM interneuron excitatory synapses may also contribute to cognitive impairments in brain disorders.
Maternal Dietary Protein Patterns During Pregnancy and the Risk of Infant Eczema: A Cohort Study
Authors: Zeng Jingjing , Wu Weijia , Tang Nu , Chen Yajun , Jing Jin , Cai Li
Published: June 2021

Background: Previous studies have suggested that maternal dietary protein was associated with allergic diseases in offspring, but few studies have evaluated the influence of dietary protein patterns. This study aimed to explore the prospective association between maternal dietary protein patterns during pregnancy and the risk of infant eczema.

Methods: A total of 713 mother-child pairs from a prospective cohort in Guangzhou, China were recruited. Maternal dietary protein was estimated using a validated face-to-face food frequency questionnaire at 20–28 weeks' gestation from 2017 to 2018. Dietary protein patterns were calculated based on the sources of protein. The data of infant eczema was assessed at 6 months of age using the symptom questionnaire of eczema. Logistic regression was carried out to examine the associations between maternal dietary protein patterns and infant eczema.

Results: The cumulative incidence of infant eczema at 6 months of age was 51.19%. Mothers of infants with eczema consumed more protein from poultry source during pregnancy than mothers of infants without eczema, while no statistical differences were observed in maternal intakes of protein from cereals and tubers, vegetables, fruits, red meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy, soybean, and nuts and seeds. Four dietary protein patterns were identified and termed poultry, plant, dairy and eggs, and red meat and fish. The cumulative incidence of eczema was 61.2, 45.8, 48.0, 51.4% for these four patterns, respectively. Compared to the poultry dietary pattern, the plant pattern and the dairy and eggs pattern were associated with a reduced risk of infant eczema, and the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 0.572 (0.330–0.992), 0.478 (0.274–0.837), respectively. No such association was observed for the red meat and fish dietary protein pattern.

Conclusion: This is the first study that focused on the association between maternal dietary protein during pregnancy from a whole-diet perspective and infant eczema. Compared with the poultry dietary protein pattern, the maternal plant pattern and the dairy and eggs pattern during pregnancy were associated with a reduced risk of infant eczema.
Post-harvest Industrial Processes of Almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily Influence the Nutraceutical Properties of By-Products at Harvest and During Storage
Authors: Caltagirone Chiara , Peano Cristiana , Sottile Francesco
Published: June 2021

Almond cultivation in Sicily is experiencing a phase of great interest which is mainly concentrated in the development of specialized orchards, with irrigation and by adopting cultivars with high qualitative and quantitative performances. These are mostly Mediterranean genotypes with high fat content and hard or semi-hard shell, extremely different from the varieties of Californian diffusion. The development of the sector comprises the primary production of almonds but also a series of secondary products which often represent a burden for the company. From these considerations several researches have been developed with the aim of giving a value to these by-products through circular economy paths. One of the by-products widely produced, besides the shell, is the skin which covers the seed and is produced during the peeling phase. It is well-known that tegument is an important component of almond because it contains important bioactive substances (phenols and aromas) which are usually dispersed during peeling. This paper examined three different Italian cultivars widely spread in Sicily, two of Apulian origin, (Genco and Tuono), and one locally cultivated variety (Vinci a tutti). These three cultivars occupy an increasingly large area and are very popular with consumers and industry. The production of secondary products, therefore, evidences significant quantities and the possibility to give them an added value becomes a need for the sector. Therefore, the content of phenols and proanthocyanins in the skin at harvest and during storage was analyzed, adopting two different separation methods, with and without water. During the analysis it was possible to observe the different behavior of the three cultivars due to genetic and industrial factors. Skin separated without using hot water showed a higher total phenolic presence with average increases of about 20%, and with even higher increases, between 28 and 32%, for proanthocyanins. Vinci a tutti evidenced the highest total phenolic content after 8 months of storing while roasting has revealed to be a more effective skin separation approach.
Differentiation of Low-Grade Astrocytoma From Anaplastic Astrocytoma Using Radiomics-Based Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Chen Boran , Chen Chaoyue , Wang Jian , Teng Yuen , Ma Xuelei , Xu Jianguo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To investigate the diagnostic ability of radiomics-based machine learning in differentiating atypical low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) from anaplastic astrocytoma (AA).

Methods

The current study involved 175 patients diagnosed with LGA (n = 95) or AA (n = 80) and treated in the Neurosurgery Department of West China Hospital from April 2010 to December 2019. Radiomics features were extracted from pre-treatment contrast-enhanced T1 weighted imaging (T1C). Nine diagnostic models were established with three selection methods [Distance Correlation, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO), and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT)] and three classification algorithms [Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and random forest (RF)]. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of each model were calculated. Diagnostic ability of each model was evaluated based on these indexes.

Results

Nine radiomics-based machine learning models with promising diagnostic performances were established. For LDA-based models, the optimal one was the combination of LASSO + LDA with AUC of 0.825. For SVM-based modes, Distance Correlation + SVM represented the most promising diagnostic performance with AUC of 0.808. And for RF-based models, Distance Correlation + RF were observed to be the optimal model with AUC of 0.821.

Conclusion

Radiomic-based machine-learning has the potential to be utilized in differentiating atypical LGA from AA with reliable diagnostic performance.
Personalized Treatment Planning Automation in Prostate Cancer Radiation Oncology: A Comprehensive Dosimetric Study
Authors: Cilla Savino , Romano Carmela , Morabito Vittoria E. , Macchia Gabriella , Buwenge Milly , Dinapoli Nicola , Indovina Luca , Strigari Lidia , Morganti Alessio G. , Valentini Vincenzo , Deodato Francesco
Published: June 2021

Background

In radiation oncology, automation of treatment planning has reported the potential to improve plan quality and increase planning efficiency. We performed a comprehensive dosimetric evaluation of the new Personalized algorithm implemented in Pinnacle3 for full planning automation of VMAT prostate cancer treatments.

Material and Methods

Thirteen low-risk prostate (without lymph-nodes irradiation) and 13 high-risk prostate (with lymph-nodes irradiation) treatments were retrospectively taken from our clinical database and re-optimized using two different automated engines implemented in the Pinnacle treatment system. These two automated engines, the currently used Autoplanning and the new Personalized are both template-based algorithms that use a wish-list to formulate the planning goals and an iterative approach able to mimic the planning procedure usually adopted by experienced planners. In addition, the new Personalized module integrates a new engine, the Feasibility module, able to generate an “a priori” DVH prediction of the achievability of planning goals. Comparison between clinically accepted manually generated (MP) and automated plans generated with both Autoplanning (AP) and Personalized engines (Pers) were performed using dose-volume histogram metrics and conformity indexes. Three different normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCPs) models were used for rectal toxicity evaluation. The planning efficiency and the accuracy of dose delivery were assessed for all plans.

Results

For similar targets coverage, Pers plans reported a significant increase of dose conformity and less irradiation of healthy tissue, with significant dose reduction for rectum, bladder, and femurs. On average, Pers plans decreased rectal mean dose by 11.3 and 8.3 Gy for low-risk and high-risk cohorts, respectively. Similarly, the Pers plans decreased the bladder mean doses by 7.3 and 7.6 Gy for low-risk and high-risk cohorts, respectively. The integral dose was reduced by 11–16% with respect to MP plans. Overall planning times were dramatically reduced to about 7 and 15 min for Pers plans. Despite the increased complexity, all plans passed the 3%/2 mm γ-analysis for dose verification.

Conclusions

The Personalized engine provided an overall increase of plan quality, in terms of dose conformity and sparing of normal tissues for prostate cancer patients. The Feasibility “a priori” DVH prediction module provided OARs dose sparing well beyond the clinical objectives. The new Pinnacle Personalized algorithms outperformed the currently used Autoplanning ones as solution for treatment planning automation.
Correlation Analysis Between MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Uterine Fibroids: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Shen Jiahui , Jiang Yanhui , Wu Fengzhi , Chen Hui , Wu Qiujing , Zang Xiaoxiao , Chen Le , Chen Yong , Yuan Qiwen
Published: June 2021

Background

Uterine fibroids(UF) are the most common benign tumors in women, with high incidence and unknown causes. We aimed to explore the correlation between Methylenetetra-hydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and UF.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study. Data were collected from 2411 women detected for MTHFR C677T polymorphism in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2018 to 2020. B-ultrasound (BU) and the first page of medical records were used to analyze whether they had ever been diagnosed with UF. The collected data were analyzed. Using the chi-square test and regression analysis to explore the correlation, and the risk factors was screened by multifactor logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 2411 pregnant women were in the MTHFR C677T polymorphism detection. Among them, 226(9.37%) were diagnosed as UF by BU or clinical diagnosis. The allele and genotype of MTHFR C677T were significantly different between the case and control group (p<0.05), and the distribution of the allele was following Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium. Comparing with the wild-type (C/C), the mutant group (C/T+T/T) was more likely to form UF(OR,1.43;OR95%CI,1.07-1.89). After adjusting for confoundings, the heterozygous mutant (C/T) was more susceptible to UF than the wild-type (aOR,1.41;aOR95%CI,1.41-1.91). In the case group, BMI, gravidity and parity were not associated with the size and number of UF and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (p>0.05). However, older maternal age was associated with the incidence of UF, especially the multiple UF (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our results found that MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with UF occurrence for the first time. This could imply that it may increase the risk of forming UF in women of gestational age.
Regulatory Mechanisms and Functional Roles of Hypoxia-Induced Long Non-Coding RNA MTORT1 in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Cheng Yi-Chun , Su Li-Yu , Chen Li-Han , Lu Tzu-Pin , Chuang Eric Y. , Tsai Mong-Hsun , Chuang Li-Ling , Lai Liang-Chuan
Published: June 2021

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to participate in multiple genetic pathways in cancer. Also, mitochondria-associated lncRNAs have been discovered to modulate mitochondrial function and metabolism. Previously, we identified oxygen-responsive lncRNAs in MCF-7 breast cancer cells under different oxygen concentrations. Among them, a novel mitochondria-encoded lncRNA, mitochondrial oxygen-responsive transcript 1 (MTORT1), was chosen for further investigation. Nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial fractionation assays were performed to evaluate the endogenous expression levels of MTORT1 in breast cancer cells. In vitro proliferation and migration assays were conducted to investigate the functions of MTORT1 in breast cancer cells by knockdown of MTORT1. RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays were used to examine the physical binding between MTORT1 and microRNAs. Our results showed that MTORT1 had low endogenous expression levels in breast cancer cells and was mainly located in the mitochondria. Knockdown of MTORT1 enhanced cell proliferation and migration, implying a tumor suppressor role of this novel mitochondrial lncRNA. MTORT1 served as sponge of miR-26a-5p to up-regulate its target genes, CREB1 and STK4. Our findings shed some light on the characterization, function, and regulatory mechanism of the novel hypoxia-induced mitochondrial lncRNA MTORT1, which functions as a microRNA sponge and may inhibit breast cancer progression. These data suggest that MTORT1 may be a candidate for therapeutic targeting of breast cancer progression.
Comparison of the Diagnostic Performances of Ultrasound-Based Models for Predicting Malignancy in Patients With Adnexal Masses
Authors: Qian Le , Du Qinwen , Jiang Meijiao , Yuan Fei , Chen Hui , Feng Weiwei
Published: June 2021

Aim

This study aimed to compare different ultrasound-based International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) prediction models, namely, the Simple Rules (SRs) the Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa (ADNEX) models, and the Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI), for the pre-operative diagnosis of adnexal mass.

Methods

This single-centre diagnostic accuracy study involved 486 patients. All ultrasound examinations were analyzed and the prediction models were applied. Pathology was the clinical reference standard. The diagnostic performances of prediction models were measured by evaluating receiver-operating characteristic curves, sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and diagnostic odds ratios.

Results

To discriminate benign and malignant tumors, areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for ADNEX models were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.92–0.96) with CA125 and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91–0.96) without CA125, which were significantly higher than the AUCs for RMI I-III: 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83–0.90), 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80–0.86), and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78–0.86), (all P < 0.0001). At a cut-off of 10%, the ADNEX model with CA125 had the highest sensitivity (0.93; 95% CI: 0.87–0.97) compared with the other models. The SRs model achieved a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.86–0.97) and a specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82–0.89) when inconclusive diagnoses (11.7%) were classified as malignant.

Conclusion

ADNEX and SRs models were excellent at characterising adnexal masses which were superior to the RMI in Chinese patients.
A High-Density SNP Genetic Map Construction Using ddRAD-Seq and Mapping of Capsule Shattering Trait in Sesame
Authors: Yol Engin , Basak Merve , Kızıl Sibel , Lucas Stuart James , Uzun Bulent
Published: June 2021

The seed-bearing capsule of sesame shatters at harvest. This wildish trait makes the crop unsuitable for mechanized harvesting and also restricts its commercial potential by limiting the cultivation for countries that have no access to low-cost labor. Therefore, the underlying genetic basis of the capsule shattering trait is highly important in order to develop mechanization-ready varieties for sustainable sesame farming. In the present study, we generated a sesame F2 population derived from a cross between a capsule shattering cultivar (Muganli-57) and a non-shattering mutant (PI 599446), which was used to construct a genetic map based on double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing. The resulting high-density genetic map contained 782 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and spanned a length of 697.3 cM, with an average marker interval of 0.89 cM. Based on the reference genome, the capsule shattering trait was mapped onto SNP marker S8_5062843 (78.9 cM) near the distal end of LG8 (chromosome 8). In order to reveal genes potentially controlling the shattering trait, the marker region (S8_5062843) was examined, and a candidate gene including six CDSs was identified. Annotation showed that the gene encodes a protein with 440 amino acids, sharing ∼99% homology with transcription repressor KAN1. Compared with the capsule shattering allele, the SNP change and altered splicing in the flanking region of S8_5062843 caused a frameshift mutation in the mRNA, resulting in the loss of function of this gene in the mutant parent and thus in non-shattering capsules and leaf curling. With the use of genomic data, InDel and CAPS markers were developed to differentiate shattering and non-shattering capsule genotypes in marker-assisted selection studies. The obtained results in the study can be beneficial in breeding programs to improve the shattering trait and enhance sesame productivity.
Perfectionism Classes and Aggression in Adolescents
Authors: Ruiz-Esteban Cecilia , Méndez Inmaculada , Fernández-Sogorb Aitana , Álvarez Teruel José Daniel
Published: June 2021

Some of the components of perfectionism produce a variety of problems, such as interpersonal hypersensitivity and hostility, that may be associated with aggression behavior during adolescence. This study aims to identify classes of adolescents depending on their levels of Perfectionistic Strivings (PS) and Perfectionistic Concerns (PC) as well as to examine whether there are significant differences in the manifestations of the four components of aggression behavior (i.e., anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression) between them. A total of 1,074 high school students from various educational centers participated in this study (M = 14.78, SD = 1.84). The Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire short form were used. The Latent Class Analysis identified three classes of adolescent perfectionism: (a) Non-Perfectionists (low PS and PC), (b) Maladaptive Perfectionists (high PS and PC), and (c) Adaptive Perfectionists (moderate PS and PC). Results revealed significant differences between classes regarding the different manifestations of aggression. Maladaptive Perfectionists and Adaptive Perfectionists reported, respectively, the highest and lowest levels of aggression behavior. This study assists in educational programs to prevent conflicts related to school violence through emotional adjustment.
Psychological Distress, Social Support, Coping Style, and Perceived Stress Among Medical Staff and Medical Students in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Epidemic in China
Authors: Li Zhe , Yi Xin , Zhong Mengting , Li Zhixiong , Xiang Weiyi , Wu Shuang , Xiong Zhenzhen
Published: June 2021

Background:The COVID-19 pandemic has had impact that may contribute to a rise in mental health problems. The present study was aimed to better understand psychological status among medical staff and medical students during the early epidemic and to explore the influence factors of psychological distress.

Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted online from February 2–14, 2020. We collected general information related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Respondents were assessed using the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale (K6), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors influencing psychological distress.

Results:Five hundred and twenty-eight respondents returned valid questionnaires. Medical staff and Medical students scored averages of 6.77 ± 5.04, 15.48 ± 8.66 on the K6, 37.22 ± 11.39, 22.62 ± 11.25 on the SSRS and 18.52 ± 7.54, 28.49 ± 11.17 on the PSS, respectively. Most medical staff (279, 91.77%) and 148 medical students (66.07%) showed a positive coping style. Social support, perceived stress, hours spent watching epidemic-related information per day and frequency of epidemic-related dreams were identified as factors influencing psychological distress among medical staff and medical students. Coping style emerged as a determinant of psychological distress among medical staff.

Conclusions:In the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, medical staff and medical students were at moderate to high risk of psychological distress. Our results suggest that psychological interventions designed to strengthen social support, reduce perceived stress and adopt a positive coping style may be effective at improving the mental health of medical staff and medical students.
A Concise and Geometrically Exact Planar Beam Model for Arbitrarily Large Elastic Deformation Dynamics
Authors: Huber Gerold , Wollherr Dirk , Buss Martin
Published: June 2021

The potential of large elastic deformations in control applications, e.g., robotic manipulation, is not yet fully exploited, especially in dynamic contexts. Mainly because essential geometrically exact continuum models are necessary to express these arbitrarily large deformation dynamics, they typically result in a set of nonlinear, coupled, partial differential equations that are unsuited for control applications. Due to this lack of appropriate models, current approaches that try to exploit elastic properties are limited to either small deflection assumptions or quasistatic considerations only. To promote further exploration of this exciting research field of large elastic deflection control, we propose a geometrically exact, but yet concise a beam model for a planar, shear-, and torsion-free case without elongation. The model is derived by reducing the general geometrically exact the 3D Simo–Reissner beam model to this special case, where the assumption of inextensibility allows expressing the couple of planar Cartesian parameters in terms of the curve tangent angle of the beam center line alone. We further elaborate on how the necessary coupling between position-related boundary conditions (i.e., clamped and hinged ends) and the tangent angle parametrization of the beam model can be incorporated in a finite element method formulation and verify all derived expressions by comparison to analytic initial value solutions and an energy analysis of a dynamic simulation result. The presented beam model opens the possibility of designing online feedback control structures for accessing the full potential that elasticity in planar beam dynamics has to offer.
Economic Resilience of EU Dairy Farms: An Evaluation of Economic Viability
Authors: Wilczyński Artur , Kołoszycz Ewa
Published: June 2021

The economic viability of dairy farms is a measure of their ability to survive and grow. Its measurement is particularly important in periods of changes taking place in the environment of these entities. The last decade of the European dairy market was characterized by significant changes in regulations, which resulted in fluctuations in farm gate milk prices and, consequently, impacts on farm income. The main objective of the research was to assess the economic viability of dairy farms located in the European Union. The research area covered the countries that have the most raw cows’ milk delivered to dairies in the EU, and FADN data from 2009 to 2018. A comparative analysis was carried out on the level of temporal viability and permanent viability of farms classified by economic size. The research results showed that better temporal viability was achieved by farms with a larger production scale. On the other hand, the permanent economic viability was lower on farms belonging to a higher economic size class. Most of the analyzed groups of farms were in the survival phase. This means that dairy farms struggled to meet the costs of unpaid labor. Including direct payments in the calculation resulted in an improvement in temporal viability only in farms with the lowest economic size classes.
Selenomethionine: A Pink Trojan Redox Horse with Implications in Aging and Various Age-Related Diseases
Authors: Nasim Muhammad Jawad , Zuraik Mhd Mouayad , Abdin Ahmad Yaman , Ney Yannick , Jacob Claus
Published: June 2021

Selenium is an essential trace element. Although this chalcogen forms a wide variety of compounds, there are surprisingly few small-molecule organic selenium compounds (OSeCs) in biology. Besides its more prominent relative selenocysteine (SeCys), the amino acid selenomethionine (SeMet) is one example. SeMet is synthesized in plants and some fungi and, via nutrition, finds its way into mammalian cells. In contrast to its sulfur analog methionine (Met), SeMet is extraordinarily redox active under physiological conditions and via its catalytic selenide (RSeR’)/selenoxide (RSe(O)R’) couple provides protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other possibly harmful oxidants. In contrast to SeCys, which is incorporated via an eloquent ribosomal mechanism, SeMet can enter such biomolecules by simply replacing proteinogenic Met. Interestingly, eukaryotes, such as yeast and mammals, also metabolize SeMet to a small family of reactive selenium species (RSeS). Together, SeMet, proteins containing SeMet and metabolites of SeMet form a powerful triad of redox-active metabolites with a plethora of biological implications. In any case, SeMet and its family of natural RSeS provide plenty of opportunities for studies in the fields of nutrition, aging, health and redox biology.
Impact of Sugar Type Addition and Fermentation Temperature on Pomegranate Alcoholic Beverage Production and Characteristics
Authors: Kokkinomagoulos Evangelos , Nikolaou Anastasios , Kourkoutas Yiannis , Biliaderis Costas G. , Kandylis Panagiotis
Published: June 2021

The present study focuses on the production of pomegranate alcoholic beverage (PAB) from juice of the Wonderful variety. The effect of fermentation temperature (15 and 25 °C) and type of sugar added (adjustment to 20 °Brix) on the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, and volatile composition were studied. Sucrose, concentrated pomegranate juice, concentrated grape juice, and honey were used to increase the initial sugar content. The produced PABs contained ethanol in concentrations ranging from 7.9 to 10.0% v/v and glycerol from 4.8 to 6.1 g L−1. A decrease in total phenolics content, free radical-scavenging activity, and total monomeric anthocyanin content was observed following fermentation. Total flavonoids content appeared to increase after fermentation only in the cases of concentrated pomegranate and grape juice addition. In general, 22 volatile compounds were identified in PABs (13 esters, 2 fatty acids, and 7 alcohols). Major compounds detected were 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, and ethyl acetate. These findings demonstrate the production prospect of PABs with increased ethanol content, while elaborating on the importance of fermentation temperature and the differences between the selected types of added sugars on end-product composition.
Threshold Effects of Infectious Disease Outbreaks on Livestock Prices: Cases of African Swine Fever and Avian Influenza in South Korea
Authors: Rah HyungChul , Kim Hyeon-Woong , Nasridinov Aziz , Cho Wan-Sup , Choi SeokHwa , Yoo Kwan-Hee
Published: June 2021

In this paper we demonstrate the threshold effects of infectious diseases on livestock prices. Daily retail prices of pork and chicken were used as structured data; news and SNS mentions of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian Influenza (AI) were used as unstructured data. Models were tested for the threshold effects of disease-related news and SNS frequencies, specifically those related to ASF and AI, on the retail prices of pork and chicken, respectively. The effects were found to exist, and the values of ASF-related news on pork prices were estimated to be −9 and 8, indicating that the threshold autoregressive (TAR) model can be divided into three regimes. The coefficients of the ASF-related SNS frequencies on pork prices were 1.1666, 0.2663 and −0.1035 for regimes 1, 2 and 3, respectively, suggesting that pork prices increased by 1.1666 Korean won in regime 1 when ASF-related SNS frequencies increased. To promote pork consumption by SNS posts, the required SNS frequencies were estimated to have impacts as great as one standard deviation in the pork price. These values were 247.057, 1309.158 and 2817.266 for regimes 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The impact response periods for pork prices were estimated to last 48, 6, and 8 days for regimes 1, 2 and 3, respectively. When the prediction accuracies of the TAR and autoregressive (AR) models with regard to pork prices were compared for the root mean square error, the prediction accuracy of the TAR model was found to be slightly better than that of the AR. When the threshold effect of AI-related news on chicken prices was tested, a linear relationship appeared without a threshold effect. These findings suggest that when infectious diseases such as ASF occur for the first time, the impact on livestock prices is significant, as indicated by the threshold effect and the long impact response period. Our findings also suggest that the impact on livestock prices is not remarkable when infectious diseases occur multiple times, as in the case of AI. To date, this study is the first to suggest the use of SNS to promote meat consumption.
Identification and Quantification of Valuable Compounds in Red Grape Seeds
Authors: Tița Ovidiu , Lengyel Ecaterina , Stegăruș Diana Ionela , Săvescu Petre , Ciubara Alexandru Bogdan , Constantinescu Maria Adelina , Tița Mihaela Adriana , Rață Diana , Ciubara Anamaria
Published: June 2021

Grape seeds are a by-product of the wine industry. They represent 38–52% of grape pomace and about 5% of the weight of grapes. The main objective of this study is to establish some important characteristics of grape seeds from red varieties cultivated in Romania. The analyzed grape varieties were Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot noir, Burgund Mare, Cadarcă, Syrah, Novac. The grape seeds were dried and ground and the following determinations were made: determination of total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, antiradical capacity and determination of phenolic compounds. The analyses were performed on the first day after obtaining the grape extract, on the 14th day and the 30th day. The obtained results demonstrate that all the analyzed samples have a high content of polyphenols and show antioxidant and antiradical capacity. The highest values were obtained on the first day after separation, drying, grinding and extraction of the grape seeds and began to decrease almost constantly in time, so that for 30 days from storage the values obtained could ensure good operating yields. The seeds from the Novac grape variety obtained the best results throughout the analysis period. In the case of the total polyphenol content, the average value of the three samples Novac was 394.57 mgGAE/g dry extract and the average value of antioxidant capacity was 284.35 mgAAE/g dry extract. The greatest antiradical capacity was presented by the seeds of the Syrah and Novac varieties. The average value of the three samples from the Syrah variety was 62.1%, and in the case of the Novac variety was 61.33%. The paper demonstrates the opportunity of superior capitalization of seeds from the seven grape varieties cultivated on the territory of Romania due to the characteristics it possesses. At present, there is a major interest of consumers in the most natural products, with a major contribution to increasing the body’s immunity. The use of natural compounds in the food and pharmaceutical industry can be an important alternative.
Dye Removal from Colored Textile Wastewater Using Seeds and Biochar of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Authors: Mansouri Fouad El , Farissi Hammadi El , Zerrouk Mohamed Hassani , Cacciola Francesco , Bakkali Chaimae , Brigui Jamal , Lovillo Miguel Palma , Esteves da Silva Joaquim C. G.
Published: June 2021

Phenol red (X-PR) and malachite green carbinol (MGC) are two textile finishing dyes, which are present in aquatic environments through industrial effluents. Due to the toxic nature of both dyes, they are harmful to human health. In the present study, two materials, barley seeds and the biochar of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), were used to remove the dyes in an aqueous solution. The materials used are characterized by AFM, FTIR, SEM, XRD and EDX techniques. In this study, the parameters studied are the adsorbent dose, pH, initial adsorbate concentration and contact time. The maximum equilibrium time was found to be 90 min for all dyes. Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption of X-PR and MGC on barley seeds (BS-HVL) and the biochar of barley (BC-HVL) followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and that both porous and intraparticle diffusion mechanisms were involved. The adsorption equilibrium data were well fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model for both materials, and the maximum adsorption capacity of monolayer and multilayers for X-PR and MGC were 71.642 mg g−1 and 50 mg g−1 on BS-HVL, and 44.843 mg g−1 and 121.95 mg g−1 on BC-HVL, respectively. The thermodynamic results reveal that the dye removal on barley was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.
Cationic and Anionic Dye Adsorption on a Natural Clayey Composite
Authors: Márquez Carmen Omaira , García Víctor Julio , Guaypatin Jefferson Raúl , Fernández-Martínez Francisco , Ríos Anita Cecilia
Published: June 2021

One of the main challenges for environmental sciences today is the effective treatment of dye-laden industrial effluents. This work aimed to study the potential of an untreated (natural occurring clayey composite) red clay (RC) for the adsorption of a cationic dye Basic Navy Blue 2RN (CNB) and anionic dye Drimaren Yellow CL-2R (ADY). We evaluated the effect of pH, dye concentration, and adsorbent concentration on the removal effectiveness to study the absorption process. Also, we studied the adsorption process by analyzing the feasibility of several known adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. The results show that at a pH of less than 4, the CNB and ADY removal percentages were 97% and 96%, respectively. At a pH greater than 8, the CNB and ADY removals were 75% and 25%, respectively. The CNB adsorption happened by chemisorption of a monolayer on iron-containing particles (IPs). In congtrast, the ADY adsorption occurred by monolayer physisorption on kaolinite particles (KPs) and Na, K-rich Laumontite particles (LPs). The Langmuir isotherm model fits very well with CNB experimental data. The Temkin model shows the best fit between the isotherm function and the ADY dye-adsorption data. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits the CNB and ADY dye-adsorption data on RC particles. The heterogeneous composition of naturally occurring clay favors different adsorption mechanisms and opens an avenue for the separation process’s engineering.