bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Update on Targeted Treatment of IgA Nephropathy: An Autoimmune Perspective
Authors: Huang Xin , Xu Gaosi
Published: August 2021

Immunoglobulin (Ig) A nephropathy (IgAN) is the commonest form of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and is, considered a significant cause of end-stage renal disease in young adults. The precise pathogenesis of IgAN is unclear. The clinical and pathological features vary significantly between individuals and races, which makes treating IgAN difficult. Currently, the therapeutic strategies in IgAN are still optimal blood pressure control and proteinuria remission to improve the renal function in most cases. Immunosuppressive drugs such as corticosteroids can be considered in patients with persistent proteinuria and a high risk of renal function decline; however, they include a high toxicity profile. Therefore, the safety and selectivity of medications are critical concerns in the treatment of IgAN. Various pharmacological therapeutic targets have emerged based on the evolving understanding of the autoimmune pathogenesis of IgAN, which involves the immune response, mucosal immunity, renal inflammation, complement activation, and autophagy; treatments based on these mechanisms have been explored in preclinical and clinical studies. This review summarizes the progress concerning targeted therapeutic strategies and the relevant autoimmune pathogenesis in IgAN.
Aging, Cell Senescence, the Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapies of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Zhang Xin-Xin , He Shi-Hao , Liang Xu , Li Wei , Li Tian-Fang , Li Dai-Feng
Published: August 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, debilitating joint disease characterized by progressive destruction of articular cartilage. For a long time, OA has been considered as a degenerative disease, while recent observations indicate the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of OA are multifaceted. Aging is a key factor in its development. Current treatments are palliative and no disease modifying anti-osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) are available. In addition to articular cartilage degradation, cellular senescence, synovial inflammation, and epigenetic alterations may all have a role in its formation. Accumulating data demonstrate a clear relationship between the senescence of articular chondrocytes and OA formation and progression. Inhibition of cell senescence may help identify new agents with the properties of DMOADs. Several anti-cellular senescence strategies have been proposed and these include sirtuin-activating compounds (STACs), senolytics, and senomorphics drugs. These agents may selectively remove senescent cells or ameliorate their harmful effects. The results from preclinical experiments and clinical trials are inspiring. However, more studies are warranted to confirm their efficacy, safety profiles and adverse effects of these agents.
ACNPD: The Database for Elucidating the Relationships Between Natural Products, Compounds, Molecular Mechanisms, and Cancer Types
Authors: Tan Xiaojie , Fu Jiahui , Yuan Zhaoxin , Zhu Lingjuan , Fu Leilei
Published: August 2021

Objectives: Cancer is well-known as a collection of diseases of uncontrolled proliferation of cells caused by mutated genes which are generated by external or internal factors. As the mechanisms of cancer have been constantly revealed, including cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis and so on, a series of new emerging anti-cancer drugs acting on each stage have also been developed. It is worth noting that natural products are one of the important sources for the development of anti-cancer drugs. To the best of our knowledge, there is not any database summarizing the relationships between natural products, compounds, molecular mechanisms, and cancer types.

Materials and methods: Based upon published literatures and other sources, we have constructed an anti-cancer natural product database (ACNPD) (http://www.acnpd-fu.com/). The database currently contains 521 compounds, which specifically refer to natural compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine plants (derivatives are not considered herein). And, it includes 1,593 molecular mechanisms/signaling pathways, covering 10 common cancer types, such as breast cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer.

Results: Integrating existing data sources, we have obtained a large amount of information on natural anti-cancer products, including herbal sources, regulatory targets and signaling pathways. ACNPD is a valuable online resource that illustrates the complex pharmacological relationship between natural products and human cancers.

Conclusion: In summary, ACNPD is crucial for better understanding of the relationships between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and cancer, which is not only conducive to expand the influence of TCM, but help to find more new anti-cancer drugs in the future.
Visibility of Polychromatic Grating-Based X-Ray Imaging Systems Based on Wave-Optical Theories and Frequency Domain Analysis
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Wu Chengpeng , Gao Hewei , Zhang Xi , Zhang Li
Published: August 2021

Grating-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging and tomography, applicable with traditional polychromatic X-ray tubes, have shown great potential for future applications of imaging with multimodal information indicating materials and microstructures simultaneously. The parameters and performance of the grating system could be simulated by a wave-optical simulation framework and proved feasible for the design and optimization of both coherent and incoherent gratings systems. However, the simulation involves real-space point-wise calculation of the Fourier transformation, and the direct expression of the relationship of the parameters was absent. In this work, we analyzed the Fourier domain characteristics of the simulated system and the presented visibility of the system of different energies in an analytical form. The derived direct expression which omitted the simulation process was validated with results of both simulation and real experiments and may help future designs, optimizations and studies of the energy-resolved characteristics of the system.
The Immunostimulatory Effects of Commercial Feed Additives on Growth Performance, Non-specific Immune Response, Antioxidants Assay, and Intestinal Morphometry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Kord Mohamed Ibrahim , Srour Tarek Mohamed , Omar Eglal Ali , Farag Ahmed Awny , Nour Abdel Aziz Moussa , Khalil Hala Saber
Published: August 2021

Graphical Abstract

The immunostimulatory effects of commercial feed additives on growth performance, non-specific immune response, antioxidants assay, and intestinal morphometry of Nile tilapia, O. niloticus.
Ethnic Differences on Cardiac Rhythms and Autonomic Nervous System Responses During a High-Altitude Trek: A Pilot Study Comparing Italian Trekkers to Nepalese Porters
Authors: Verratti Vittore , Tonacci Alessandro , Bondi Danilo , Chiavaroli Annalisa , Ferrante Claudio , Brunetti Luigi , Crisafulli Antonio , Cerretelli Paolo
Published: August 2021

Altitude hypoxia exposure results in increased sympathetic activity and heart rate due to several mechanisms. Recent studies have contested the validity of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis on sympathetic activity measurement. But the plethora of HRV metrics may provide meaningful insights, particularly if linked with cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system parameters. However, the population-specific nature of HRV and cardiorespiratory response to altitude hypoxia are still missing. Six Italian trekkers and six Nepalese porters completed 300 km of a Himalayan trek. The ECG analysis was conducted at baseline, and before (bBC) and after (aBC) the high-altitude (HA) circuit. Urine was collected before and after the expedition in Italians, for assessing catecholamines. Heart rate increased with altitude significantly (p < 0.001) in the Italian group; systolic (p = 0.030) and diastolic (p = 0.012) blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.004) increased with altitude. Instead, pulse pressure did not change, although the Nepalese group showed lower baseline values than the Italians. As expected, peripheral oxygen saturation decreased with altitude (p < 0.001), independently of the ethnic groups. Nepalese had a higher respiratory rate (p = 0.007), independent of altitude. The cardiac vagal index increased at altitude, from baseline to bBC (p = 0.008). Higuchi fractal dimension (HFD) showed higher basal values in the Nepalese group (p = 0.041), and a tendency for the highest values at bBC. Regarding the urinary catecholamine response, exposure to HA increased urinary levels, particularly of norepinephrine (p = 0.005, d = 1.623). Our findings suggest a better cardiovascular resilience of the Nepalese group when compared with Italians, which might be due to an intrinsic adaptation to HA, resulting from their job.
Physiological Responses to Hypoxia on Triglyceride Levels
Authors: Morin Renée , Goulet Nicholas , Mauger Jean-François , Imbeault Pascal
Published: August 2021

Hypoxia is a condition during which the body or specific tissues are deprived of oxygen. This phenomenon can occur in response to exposure to hypoxic environmental conditions such as high-altitude, or because of pathophysiological conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. Circumstances such as these can restrict supply or increase consumption of oxygen, leading to oxyhemoglobin desaturation and tissue hypoxia. In certain cases, hypoxia may lead to severe health consequences such as an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. A potential explanation for the link between hypoxia and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases lies in the disturbing effect of hypoxia on circulating blood lipids, specifically its capacity to increase plasma triglyceride concentrations. Increased circulating triglyceride levels result from the production of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, such as very-low-density lipoproteins and chylomicrons, exceeding their clearance rate. Considerable research in murine models reports that hypoxia may have detrimental effects on several aspects of triglyceride metabolism. However, in humans, the mechanisms underlying the disturbing effect of hypoxia on triglyceride levels remain unclear. In this mini-review, we outline the available evidence on the physiological responses to hypoxia and their impact on circulating triglyceride levels. We also discuss mechanisms by which hypoxia affects various organs involved in the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. This information will benefit scientists and clinicians interested in the mechanistic of the regulatory cascade responsible for the response to hypoxia and how this response could lead to a deteriorated lipid profile and an increased risk of developing hypoxia-related health consequences.
Does Product Semantics Matter in Stimulating Impulse Buying Behavior for Internet Products?
Authors: Huang Xiangmeng , Cai Ruilin
Published: August 2021

Design-driven innovation has become the source of the third-dimensional innovation driving force behind technology and outside the market, aiming to explore breakthrough innovation in product semantics for Internet products. This research tries to define the concept of product semantics and construct a consumer purchase decision model for Internet products with product semantic perception as the antecedent variable. In addition, how product semantics could stimulate consumers' expected regret and impulse purchase for Internet products is explained. The research finds that product semantic perception significantly affects consumers' expected inaction regret, which promotes their impulse purchase intention for Internet products; and expected inaction regret partially mediates between product semantic perception and impulse purchase intention. Self-control ability of consumers negatively moderates the relationship between their expected inaction regret and impulsive purchase intention for Internet products. Thus, the “non-use function” design of product semantics can effectively meet and lead the spiritual and cultural needs in hedonistic Internet shopping for consumers.
Neuro-Behavioral Correlates of Executive Dysfunctions in Dyslexia Over Development From Childhood to Adulthood
Authors: Farah Rola , Ionta Silvio , Horowitz-Kraus Tzipi
Published: August 2021

Dyslexia is a neurobiological learning disability in the reading domain that has symptoms in early childhood and persists throughout life. Individuals with dyslexia experience difficulties in academia and cognitive and emotional challenges that can affect wellbeing. Early intervention is critical to minimize the long-term difficulties of these individuals. However, the behavioral and neural correlates which predict dyslexia are challenging to depict before reading is acquired. One of the precursors for language and reading acquisition is executive functions (EF). The present review aims to highlight the current atypicality found in individuals with dyslexia in the domain of EF using behavioral measures, brain mapping, functional connectivity, and diffusion tensor imaging along development. Individuals with dyslexia show EF abnormalities in both behavioral and neurobiological domains, starting in early childhood that persist into adulthood. EF impairment precedes reading disability, therefore adding an EF assessment to the neuropsychological testing is recommended for early intervention. EF training should also be considered for the most comprehensive outcomes.
Using Imagery Rescripting as an Early Intervention for Depression in Young People
Authors: Pile Victoria , Smith Patrick , Lau Jennifer Y. F.
Published: August 2021

Innovation is urgently needed for school-based early interventions for depression. Imagery rescripting for aversive memories has been shown to be a valuable therapeutic approach in adults. Yet it is rarely applied to young people or to depression. This is surprising given that intrusive images of aversive memories are implicated in the development and maintenance of depression. We review the literature and describe the co-development of an imagery rescripting protocol for young people (age 16–18) with high symptoms of depression. To contextualize and illustrate this approach, we identify three themes of negative images emerging from the 37 participants who completed imagery rescripting and provide a detailed case example for each theme. The identified themes arefailure, interpersonal adversity, andfamily conflict or disruption. Given that there is some therapist concern about using imagery rescripting, we highlight any reported negative consequences of engaging in imagery rescripting. We propose that imagery rescripting is an acceptable and potentially effective tool for early intervention in depression, which is significantly underutilized in current practice.
The Mediating Role of Loneliness Between Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Rural Adolescents During COVID-19 Outbreak: A Comparative Study Between Left-Behind and Non-left-behind Students
Authors: Hou Tianya , Xie Yawei , Mao Xiaofei , Liu Ying , Zhang Jianguo , Wen Jing , Chen Yan , Luo Zhechao , Cai Wenpeng
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted people's life across the globe. In a public health crisis, rural adolescents are more prone to mental health problems. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among Chinese rural adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak, and examine the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms and its underlying mechanisms.

Method: Perceived Social Support Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were administrated to 826 rural adolescents from Anhui Province, China, amid the COVID-19 crisis. Mackinnon's four-step procedure was employed to examine the mediating effect, while Hayes PROCESS macro was utilized to test the moderated mediation model.

Results: The results showed the rate of depressive symptoms among rural adolescents in China was 77.6% during the outbreak of COVID-19. Female left-behind students and non-left-behind students from disrupted families experienced more depressive symptoms (all P < 0.05). Loneliness mediated the association between perceive social support and depressive symptoms and the indirect effect was stronger in left-behind adolescents in comparison to non-left-behind adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are extremely prevalent among Chinese rural adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak, and perceived social support plays a protective role against depressive symptoms. Chinese rural adolescents, especially left-behind students, could benefit from the interventions aimed at enhancing the perceived social support and reducing loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emergency Medical Service Use Among Latinos Aged 50 and Older in California Counties, Except Los Angeles, During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic Period
Authors: Melgoza Esmeralda , Beltrán-Sánchez Hiram , Bustamante Arturo Vargas
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Latino adults aged 50 and older in California. Among adults aged 50–64, Latinos constitute approximately one-third (32%) of the population, but over half (52%) of COVID-19 cases, and more than two-thirds (64%) of COVID-related deaths as of June 2, 2021. These health disparities are also prevalent among Latinos 65 years and older who constitute 22% of the population, but 40% of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 50% of COVID-related deaths. Emergency medical services (EMS) are an essential component of the United States healthcare system and a vital sector in COVID-19 response efforts. Using data from the California Emergency Medical Services Information System (CEMSIS), this study examines racial and ethnic differences in respiratory distress related EMS calls among adults aged 50 and older in all counties except Los Angeles. This study compares the early pandemic period, January to June 2020, to the same time period in 2019. Between January and June 2019, Latinos aged 50 and older had statistically significantly lower odds of respiratory distress related EMS calls compared to Blacks, Asians, and Whites. During the early pandemic period, January to June 2020, Latinos aged 50 and older had statistically significantly lower odds of respiratory distress related EMS calls compared to Blacks but slightly higher odds compared to Whites. Differences by race/ethnicity and region were statistically significant. Understanding EMS health disparities is crucial to inform policies that create a more equitable prehospital care system for the heterogeneous population of middle aged and older adults.
Home Sweet Home: New Insights Into the Location of Equine Premises in France and Keeping Habits to Inform Health Prevention and Disease Surveillance
Authors: Farchati Halifa , Merlin Aurelie , Saussac Mathilde , Dornier Xavier , Dhollande Mathilde , Garon David , Tapprest Jackie , Sala Carole
Published: August 2021

Identifying and tracking equines are key activities in equine health prevention. France is one of the few European countries with an operational centralized database that records information on equines, owners, and keepers but not on the location and keeping conditions of equines. The objective of our study was to collect information on keeping habits of equines and the relative location of a wide range of equines, owners, and keepers and discuss their implication for surveillance and control of outbreak improvement. A national email survey was conducted among the 1.9% of people registered as owners and 8.2% of people registered as keepers in the French national equine identification database having given their agreement to be contacted by email. It led to the collection of information from 728 owners, 121 keepers, and 2,669 owner–keepers. Most of them housed their equines in a single commune (smallest geographic administrative unit in France) at their home as private individuals. The distance between the communes of residence and of holding was, in most cases (including 79% of owners in the owner survey, 89.5% of the keepers in the keeper survey, and about 94% of the owner–keepers in both surveys), less than 30 km. More than half of the keepers kept a maximum of five equines and the majority with two different uses/destinations together, mostly leisure-retirement, leisure-breeding, leisure-sport, and sport-breeding. The main limitation of the study was that a relatively limited number of people (n = 3518) were reachable due to the low availability of an email address and contact agreement. Nonetheless, the findings provide an overview of how equines are kept by non-professional owners and keepers and complements information usually collected by the French riding institute. Additionally, information collected is very helpful to determine a realistic estimate of the spatial distribution of equines in France. This information is very important for the equine sector, for demographic knowledge and also improvement of surveillance plans and control measures and for the management and monitoring of health events to limit the spread of diseases.
A Real-Time Network Traffic Classifier for Online Applications Using Machine Learning
Authors: Ahmed Ahmed Abdelmoamen , Agunsoye Gbenga
Published: August 2021

The increasing ubiquity of network traffic and the new online applications’ deployment has increased traffic analysis complexity. Traditionally, network administrators rely on recognizing well-known static ports for classifying the traffic flowing their networks. However, modern network traffic uses dynamic ports and is transported over secure application-layer protocols (e.g., HTTPS, SSL, and SSH). This makes it a challenging task for network administrators to identify online applications using traditional port-based approaches. One way for classifying the modern network traffic is to use machine learning (ML) to distinguish between the different traffic attributes such as packet count and size, packet inter-arrival time, packet send–receive ratio, etc. This paper presents the design and implementation of NetScrapper, a flow-based network traffic classifier for online applications. NetScrapper uses three ML models, namely K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), for classifying the most popular 53 online applications, including Amazon, Youtube, Google, Twitter, and many others. We collected a network traffic dataset containing 3,577,296 packet flows with different 87 features for training, validating, and testing the ML models. A web-based user-friendly interface is developed to enable users to either upload a snapshot of their network traffic to NetScrapper or sniff the network traffic directly from the network interface card in real time. Additionally, we created a middleware pipeline for interfacing the three models with the Flask GUI. Finally, we evaluated NetScrapper using various performance metrics such as classification accuracy and prediction time. Most notably, we found that our ANN model achieves an overall classification accuracy of 99.86% in recognizing the online applications in our dataset.
Response of Hops to Algae-Based and Nutrient-Rich Foliar Sprays
Authors: Afonso Sandra , Arrobas Margarida , Rodrigues M. Ângelo
Published: August 2021

Over recent years, some hopyards of northeast Portugal have presented poorly developed plants and reduced productivity. In this study, an attempt was made to improve the homogeneity of hop fields and restore their productivity by using plant biostimulants as foliar sprays. The experimental apparatus included four field trials carried out in four plots of different plant vigour, as evaluated by farmers over previous years (weak, fair, good and very good). The experiments were arranged as a factorial of foliar treatment (two plant biostimulants containing extracts of seaweed algae and an untreated control) and year (2017 and 2018). The plot and the year influenced greatly almost all the measured variables related to tissue nutrient concentration and crop performance. In the control plots, cone dry matter (DM) yield varied from 83.3 to 394.4 g plant−1 from the weak to the very good plots. In 2018, cone DM yield was significantly higher than in 2017. The use of foliar sprays influenced less the elemental composition of plant tissue than the plot or the year. The use of foliar sprays only increased significantly crop yield in the plot of weak plant vigour. The foliar treatments did not increase α- and β-acid concentration in the cones; in the control treatment of the most productive plot, the values were, respectively, 11.2 and 3.9%. Although seaweed extracts tend to help plants cope with several abiotic and biotic stresses, they showed to be effective in mitigating the stress that is affecting these plants, which probably is poor soil drainage caused by the flooding irrigation system, only under conditions of severe stress.
Wheat Straw Incorporation Affecting Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Fractions in Chinese Paddy Soil
Authors: Dai Wei , Wang Jun , Fang Kaikai , Cao Luqi , Sha Zhimin , Cao Linkui
Published: August 2021

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) fractions greatly affect soil health and quality. This study explored the effects of wheat straw incorporation on Chinese rice paddy fields with four treatments: (1) a control (CK), (2) a mineral NPK fertilizer (NPK), (3) the moderate wheat straw (3 t ha−1) plus NPK (MSNPK), and (4) the high wheat straw (6 t ha−1) plus NPK (HSNPK). In total, 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm soil depths were sampled from paddy soil in China. Compared with the CK, the HSNPK treatment (p < 0.05) increased the C fraction content (from 13.91 to 53.78%), mainly including SOC, microbial biomass C (MBC), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), and labile organic C (LOC) in the soil profile (0–30 cm), and it also (p < 0.05) increased the soil N fraction content (from 10.70 to 55.31%) such as the soil total N (TN) at 0–10 cm depth, microbial biomass N (MBN) at 0–20 cm depth, total water-soluble N (WSTN) at 0–5 and 20–30 cm depths, and total labile N (LTN) at 0–30 cm depth. The primary components of soil LOC and LTN are MBC and MBN. Various soil C and N fractions positively correlated with each other (p < 0.05). The HSNPK treatment promoted the soil MBC, WSOC, and LOC to SOC ratios, and also promoted MBN, WSTN, and LTN to soil TN ratios at a depth of 0–20 cm. To summarize, the application of HSNPK could maintain and improve rice paddy soil quality, which leads to increased rice grain yields.
What Are the Keys to the Adaptive Success of European Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Iberian Peninsula?
Authors: Marín-García Pablo Jesús , Llobat Lola
Published: August 2021

The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) plays an important ecological role in the ecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula. Recently, rabbit populations have drastically reduced, so the species is now considered endangered. However, in some places, this animal is considered a pest. This is the conservation paradox of the 21st century: the wild rabbit is both an invasive alien and an endangered native species. The authors of this review aimed to understand the keys to the adaptive success of European rabbits, addressing all aspects of their biology in order to provide the keys to the ecological management of this species. Aspects including nutrition, genetics, immunity interactions with the environment, behaviour, and conflict with human activities were reviewed. Ultimately, rabbits are resilient and adaptable. The main adaptations that explain the rabbit’s adaptive success are its nutrition (wide adaptation to food and good nutritional use of caecotrophy), immune system (powerful and developed), and other aspects related to genetics and behaviour. Rabbits’ relationship with humans has led them to colonise other places where they have become pests. Despite these adaptations, populations in native places have been drastically reduced in recent years. Since it serves as a bastion of the Mediterranean ecosystem, a specific conservation program for this species must be carried out. Therefore, a study of the rabbit’s response to diseases and nutrition (especially protein), as well as the interaction between them, is of special interest.
Effects of Ferulic Acid Supplementation on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Histochemical Characteristics of Muscle Fibers in Finishing Pigs
Authors: Valenzuela-Grijalva Nidia , Jiménez-Estrada Ismael , Mariscal-Tovar Silvia , López-García Kenia , Pinelli-Saavedra Araceli , Peña-Ramos Etna Aida , Muhlia-Almazán Adriana , Zamorano-García Libertad , Valenzuela-Melendres Martín , González-Ríos Humberto
Published: August 2021

FA dietary supplementation on the growth performance, carcass traits and histochemical characteristics of the Longissimus thoracis muscle from finishing pigs was investigated. Four hundred and twenty pigs were used in this study, and 105 animals (with five replicate pens and 21 pigs per pen) were assigned to one of four treatments: basal diet (BD) without additives (C−); BD + 10 ppm ractopamine hydrochloride + 0.97% lysine (C+); BD + 25 ppm of FA (FA); and BD + 25 ppm of FA + 0.97% lysine (FA-Lys). Dietary supplementation with FA or ractopamine increased both the average daily gain (14%) and loin muscle area (19%), while fat deposition decreased by 53%, in comparison with C− (p < 0.05). The growth performance of pigs treated with FA was similar to those of ractopamine (p > 0.05). The histochemical analysis showed that FA and C+ treatments induced a shift in muscle fiber types: from fast fibers to intermediate (alkaline ATPase) and from oxidative to glycolytic fibers. Muscle tissues from animals treated with FA or ractopamine had a lower cross-sectional area and a greater number of muscle fibers per area (p < 0.05). Findings regarding growth performance and carcass traits indicate that FA supplementation at 25 ppm without extra-lysine can replace the use of ractopamine as a growth promoter in finishing pigs.
Environment-Dependent Variation in Gut Microbiota of an Oviparous Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
Authors: Zhang Lin , Yang Fang , Li Ning , Dayananda Buddhi
Published: August 2021

Vertebrates maintain complex symbiotic relationships with microbiota living within their gastrointestinal tracts which reflects the ecological and evolutionary relationship between hosts and their gut microbiota. However, this understanding is limited in lizards and the spatial heterogeneity and co-occurrence patterns of gut microbiota inside the gastrointestinal tracts of a host and variations of microbial community among samples remain poorly understood. To address this issue and provide a guide for gut microbiota sampling from lizards, we investigated the bacteria in three gut locations of the oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) and the data were analyzed for bacterial composition by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing. We found the relative abundance of the dominant phyla exhibited an increasing trend from the small intestine to the large intestine, and phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the three primary phyla in the gut microbiota of C. versicolor. There were a higher abundance of genus Bacteroides (Class: Bacteroidia), Coprobacillus and Eubacterium (Class: Erysipelotrichia), Parabacteroides (Family: Porphyromonadaceae) and Ruminococcus (Family: Lachnospiraceae), and Family Odoribacteraceae and Rikenellaceae in the sample from the hindgut. The secondary bile acid biosynthesis, glycosaminoglycan degradation, sphingolipid metabolism and lysosome were significantly higher in the hindgut than that in the small intestine. Taken together our results indicate variations of gut microbiota composition and metabolic pathway in different parts of the oriental garden lizard.
Prevalence of Potential Indicators of Welfare Status in Young Calves at Meat Processing Premises in New Zealand
Authors: Palmer Anna L. , Beausoleil Ngaio J. , Boulton Alana C. , Cogger Naomi
Published: August 2021

In New Zealand, over two million dairy calves between four and seven days of age are sent to meat processing premises every year. There is a need to develop protocols for holistically assessing the welfare of calves sent to slaughter in the first week of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of potential animal-based indicators of the welfare state in bobby calves in lairage. The study observed calves in lairage between June and October 2016. Data collection involved assessing groups of calves in pens followed by non-invasive measurements on up to five calves within each pen. We made 23 visits to 12 meat processing premises with group-level observations made on 5910 calves in 102 pens, followed by a non-invasive examination of 504 calves. During the group level observations, none of the calves had their heads tilted or were panting, and coughing and play behaviour were observed in only 1% of pens. In contrast, at least one calf had faecal soiling in all the observed pens, with the percentage of calves affected in each pen ranging from 1% to 48%. In the individual observations, more than 60% of calves had signs of some degree of dehydration, and nearly 40% had some faecal soiling present. In addition, 24% of calves had a respiratory rate over 36 breaths per minute, considered higher than normal. The change in prevalence of some indicators—as time spent in lairage increased or as the calving season progressed—is worth further exploration. Identification of prevalent animal-based indicators facilitates better understanding of the welfare status of young calves in lairage, and these should be incorporated into more holistic calf welfare assessment schemes.
Bacterial Skin Infections in Livestock and Plant-Based Alternatives to Their Antibiotic Treatment
Authors: Mala Lucie , Lalouckova Klara , Skrivanova Eva
Published: August 2021

Due to its large surface area, the skin is susceptible to various injuries, possibly accompanied by the entrance of infective agents into the body. Commensal organisms that constitute the skin microbiota play important roles in the orchestration of cutaneous homeostasis and immune competence. The opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is present as part of the normal biota of the skin and mucous membranes in both humans and animals, but can cause disease when it invades the body either due to trauma or because of the impaired immune response of the host. Colonization of livestock skin by S. aureus is a precursor for majority of bacterial skin infections, which range from boils to sepsis, with the best-characterized being bovine mastitis. Antibiotic treatment of these infections can contribute to the promotion of resistant bacterial strains and even to multidrug resistance. The development of antibiotic resistance to currently available antibiotics is a worldwide problem. Considering the increasing ability of bacteria to effectively resist antibacterial agents, it is important to reduce the livestock consumption of antibiotics to preserve antibiotic effectiveness in the future. Plants are recognized as sources of various bioactive substances, including antibacterial activity towards clinically important microorganisms. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the major groups of phytochemicals with antibacterial activity and their modes of action. It also provides a list of currently known and used plant species aimed at treating or preventing bacterial skin infections in livestock.
Dual Agents: Fungal Macrocidins and Synthetic Analogues with Herbicidal and Antibiofilm Activities
Authors: Treiber Laura , Pezolt Christine , Zeng Haoxuan , Schrey Hedda , Jungwirth Stefan , Shekhar Aditya , Stadler Marc , Bilitewski Ursula , Erb-Brinkmann Maike , Schobert Rainer
Published: August 2021

Eight analogues of the bioherbicides macrocidin A (1) and Z (2) with structural variance in the size of the macrocycle, its para- or meta-cyclophane character, and its functional groups were synthesized on two modular routes and tested for herbicidal, antibiotic, and antibiofilm activities. Apart from the lead compounds 1 and 2, the structurally simplified dihydromacrocidin Z (3) and normacrocidin Z (4) showed high herbicidal activity in either thistles, dandelions or in both. The derivatives 2, 3, and dibromide 9 also inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by ca 70% when applied at subtoxic concentrations as low as ca 20 µM, which are unlikely to induce bacterial resistance. They also led to the dispersion of preformed biofilms of S. aureus, exceeding a similar effect by microporenic acid A, a known biofilm inhibitor. Compounds 3 and 9 showed no noticeable cytotoxicity against human cancer and endothelial cells at concentrations below 50 µM, making them conceivable candidates for application as anti-biofilm agents in a medicinal context.
Impact of Drying Processes on the Nutritional Composition, Volatile Profile, Phytochemical Content and Bioactivity of Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods
Authors: Oliveira-Alves Sheila C. , Andrade Fábio , Prazeres Inês , Silva Andreia B. , Capelo Jorge , Duarte Bernardo , Caçador Isabel , Coelho Júlio , Serra Ana Teresa , Bronze Maria R.
Published: August 2021

Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods is a halophyte plant recognized as a promising natural ingredient and will eventually be recognized a salt substitute (NaCl). However, its shelf-life and applicability in several food matrices requires the use of drying processes, which may have an impact on its nutritional and functional value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oven and freeze-drying processes on the nutritional composition, volatile profile, phytochemical content, and bioactivity of S. ramosissima using several analytical tools (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and SPME-GC-MS) and bioactivity assays (ORAC, HOSC, and ACE inhibition and antiproliferative effect on HT29 cells). Overall, results show that the drying process changes the chemical composition of the plant. When compared to freeze-drying, the oven-drying process had a lower impact on the nutritional composition but the phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity were significantly reduced. Despite this, oven-dried and freeze-dried samples demonstrated similar antiproliferative (17.56 mg/mL and 17.24 mg/mL, respectively) and antihypertensive (24.56 mg/mL and 18.96 mg/mL, respectively) activities. The volatile composition was also affected when comparing fresh and dried plants and between both drying processes: while for the freeze-dried sample, terpenes corresponded to 57% of the total peak area, a decrease to 17% was observed for the oven-dried sample. The oven-dried S. ramosissima was selected to formulate a ketchup and the product formulated with 2.2% (w/w) of the oven-dried plant showed a good consumer acceptance score. These findings support the use of dried S. ramosissima as a promising functional ingredient that can eventually replace the use of salt.
Dietary Blueberry and Soluble Fiber Improve Serum Antioxidant and Adipokine Biomarkers and Lipid Peroxidation in Pregnant Women with Obesity and at Risk for Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Basu Arpita , Crew Jeannette , Ebersole Jeffrey L. , Kinney Jefferson W. , Salazar Arnold M. , Planinic Petar , Alexander James M.
Published: August 2021

Pregnancies affected by obesity are at high risk for developing metabolic complications with oxidative stress and adipocyte dysfunction contributing to the underlying pathologies. Few studies have examined the role of dietary interventions, especially those involving antioxidants including polyphenolic flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables on these pathologies in high-risk pregnant women. We conducted an 18 gestation-week randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a dietary intervention comprising of whole blueberries and soluble fiber vs. control (standard prenatal care) on biomarkers of oxidative stress/antioxidant status and adipocyte and hormonal functions in pregnant women with obesity (n = 34). Serum samples were collected at baseline (<20 gestation weeks) and at the end of the study period (32–26 gestation weeks). Study findings showed maternal serum glutathione and antioxidant capacity to be significantly increased, and malondialdehyde to be decreased in the dietary intervention vs. control group (all p < 0.05). Among the adipokine biomarkers, serum plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and visfatin, as biomarkers of adipocyte dysfunction and insulin resistance, were also decreased following dietary intervention (all p < 0.05). These findings support the need for supplementing maternal diets with berries and fiber to improve oxidative stress and risks of metabolic complications during pregnancy.
Expert Recommendation for Answering Questions on Social Media
Authors: Bok Kyoungsoo , Song Heesub , Choi Dojin , Lim Jongtae , Park Deukbae , Yoo Jaesoo
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we propose a method for recommending experts to appropriately answer questions based on social activity analysis on social media. By analyzing various social activities performed on social media, the user’s interests are identified. Through the human relation analysis of the users of a particular interest field and by considering the response speed and answer quality of the user, we determine the influence of a user. An expert group is matched by analyzing the content of queries by a user and using a hierarchical structure of words. For a user question, the accuracy of an expert recommendation is enhanced by incorporating the question content and sublevel words based on the hierarchical structure of words. Various evaluations have demonstrated that the performance of the proposed method is superior to existing methods.
A Modular Web-Based Software Solution for Mobile Networks Planning, Operation and Optimization
Authors: Lopes Adriano , Oliveira João , Sebastião Pedro , Sousa Marco , Vieira Pedro
Published: August 2021

Mobile networks management is increasingly critical due to heavy communications usage by customers and complex due to the multiple technologies and systems deployed. Thus, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are constantly looking for better software solutions and tools to help them increase network performance and manage their networks more efficiently. In this paper, we present a modular web-based software solution to tackle problems related to mobile network planning, operation and optimization. The solution is focused on a set of functional requirements carefully chosen to support the network life cycle management, from planning to Operation and Maintenance (OAM) and optimisation stages. Based on a 3-tier modular architecture and implemented using only open-source software, the solution handles multiple data sources (e.g., Drive Test (DT) and Performance Management (PM)) and multiple Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies. MNOs can explore all available data through a flexible and user-friendly web interface, that also includes map-based visualization of the network. Moreover, the solution incorporates a set of recently developed and validated RAN algorithms, supporting tasks of network diagnosis, optimization, and planning. Also, with the purpose of optimizing the network, MNOs can investigate network simulations, using the RAN algorithms, of how the network will behave under certain conditions, and visualize the outcome of those simulations.
Power Response and Modal Decay Estimation of Room Reflections from Spherical Microphone Array Measurements Using Eigenbeam Spatial Correlation Model
Authors: Bastine Amy , Abhayapala Thushara D. , Zhang Jihui (Aimee)
Published: August 2021

Modal decays and modal power distribution in acoustic environments are key factors in deciding the perceptual quality and performance accuracy of audio applications. This paper presents the application of the eigenbeam spatial correlation method in estimating the time-frequency-dependent directional reflection powers and modal decay times. The experimental results evaluate the application of the proposed technique for two rooms with distinct environments using their room impulse response (RIR) measurements recorded by a spherical microphone array. The paper discusses the classical concepts behind room mode distribution and the reasons behind their complex behavior in real environments. The time-frequency spectrum of room reflections, the dominant reflection locations, and the directional decay rates emulate a realistic response with respect to the theoretical expectations. The experimental observations prove that our model is a promising tool in characterizing early and late reflections, which will be beneficial in controlling the perceptual factors of room acoustics.
Evaluation of Shear Effect on Deflection of RC Beams
Authors: Kim Sang-Woo , Han Dong-Seok , Kim Kil-Hee
Published: August 2021

This study evaluates the effect of shear on the deflection of reinforced concrete (RC) beams subjected to combined bending and shear. A total of nine simply supported beams were manufactured with the shear span-to-depth ratio, tension steel ratio, and shear capacity ratio as test variables. The experimental results were used to evaluate the effect of shear on the deflection by separating them into flexural and shear deformations. The theoretical deflection of the specimens was calculated using the effective moment of inertia equation recommended by ACI 318-19 based on the curvature relationships and experimental results of the flexure critical beams. By comparing the experimental and analytical results, it was revealed that the deflection obtained using the ACI equation underestimated the experimental results by up to about 1.6 times when the shear effect was large.
Analytical Algorithm for Oxygen Concentration of Aircraft Fuel Tank in Various Inerting Stages
Authors: Wei Yuhao , Pei Yang , Ge Yuxue
Published: August 2021

Ullage washing is an efficient inerting method to keep the ullage oxygen concentration under the safe value, thus reducing the hazard and loss of fire and explosion of aircraft fuel tanks. In the conventional model of ullage washing, the initial derivatives of oxygen concentration that are used to solve the differential equations are selected subjectively by researchers and the empirical select influences the accuracy of the result. Therefore, this paper proposes an analytical algorithm that can calculate the ullage oxygen concentration without selecting any initial derivative value. The algorithm is based on a fuel tank ullage washing model regarding various inerting stages. It has been experimentally validated with an average relative error of 5.781%. Moreover, sensitive analyses carried out on the proposed model show that ground-based inerting can effectively reduce the ullage oxygen, concentration in the climb phase. Increasing 5 min of pre-takeoff inerting duration can shorten the time of decreasing the ullage oxygen concentration to 9% after takeoff by 2.1 min.