bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Pterygomandibular Space: A Volumetric Evaluation Using the Novel A-Silicone Injections Method
Authors: Darawsheh Hadi , Alsaegh Ali , Kanukoeva Elena , Saleev Rinat , Saleeva Gulshat , Volel Beatrice , Kireeva Natalia , Rebrova Ekaterina , Vasil’ev Yuriy L.
Published: May 2024

Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is one of the most common procedures in operative dentistry, and a deep understanding of the normal anatomical variation of the pterygomandibular space (PM) is essential for its safe and successful administration. This cadaveric anatomical study aimed to use A-silicone injections to evaluate the volume of the PM. This study was conducted using 46 human cadaver heads (25 males and 21 females). A craniometric analysis was performed using the cadavers’ ages, the number of silicone cartridges (carpules) used to fill the pterygomandibular space, Izard’s Facial Index (FI), and the Cranial Index (CI). A Halstead mandibular block was performed by injecting 1.7 mL A-silicone cartridges (as an equivalent to standard local aesthetic carpules volume) into the PM. The cured silicone was extracted from the dissected mandibles. The volume (length, width, and thickness) of the extracted silicone and the number of silicone cartridges used to fill the space were evaluated. The results showed that there are statistically significant positive correlations between the CI and the width of the right PM, as well as the width and length of the left PM. A statistically significant correlation was found between the width of the left PM and the age of the cadaveric heads; the higher the age, the thicker the space on both sides. The volume of the PM corresponded to 1.5 cartridges on average.
Private Doctors’ Perspective towards “Patient First” in TB Diagnostic Cascade, Hisar, India
Authors: Saini Sanjeev , Prasad Banuru Muralidhara , Mahajan Ajay , Duhan Akshay , Jangra Anuj , Gauttam Jitendra , Malik Mandeep , Kayesth Jyoti , Vadera Bhavin , Hobson Reeti Desai
Published: May 2024

TB diagnosis has been simplified in India following advances in available diagnostic tools. This facilitates private doctors’ “patient first” approach toward early diagnosis; however, costs remain high. India’s NTEP established a TB diagnostic network, which is free for patients and incentivizes private doctors to participate. Drawing from this context led to the design and implementation of the One-Stop TB Diagnostic Solution model, which was conducted in the Hisar district, Haryana, allowing specimens from presumptive TB patients from private doctors to be collected and tested as per NTEPs diagnostic algorithm. A subset of data pertaining to private doctors was analyzed for the project period. Qualitative data were also collected by interviewing doctors using a snowball method to capture doctors’ perception about the model. Out of 1159 specimens collected from 60 facilities, MTB was detected in 32% and rifampicin resistance was detected in 7% specimens. All specimens went through the diagnostic algorithm. Thirty doctors interviewed were satisfied with the services offered and were appreciative of the program that implements this “patient centric” model. Results from implementation indicate the need to strengthen private diagnostics through a certification process to ensure provision of quality TB diagnostic services.
What Is Known about Assistive Technologies in Distance and Digital Education for Learners with Disabilities?
Authors: Sánchez Jaime , Reyes-Rojas José , Alé-Silva Jhon
Published: May 2024

Distance education and the development of assistive technologies represent a possibility of balancing the access and participation of people with special educational needs in learning experiences and participation in society. This study is aimed at finding out what is known about distance education mediated by assistive technology based on an analysis of the characteristics of scientific production. Through a review of the literature, the sample content is analyzed, culminating in trends that point towards the autonomy and independence of this people, the need for accommodation and accompaniment in a scenario of permanent technological change, initial training and continuing education of inclusive education teachers, as well as collegiate participation between professionals, community, and family in the design of training courses and technologies for people with special needs. The results reveal limited scientific productivity at all educational levels, with greater use of technologies to assist visual and hearing disabilities. The trends emphasize autonomy, Universal Design for Learning, and the challenges of technological adaptation. Findings are discussed and synthesized with the purpose of informing policy makers, researchers, and school communities.
Guiding Urban Decision-Making: A Study on Recommender Systems in Smart Cities
Authors: Sandu Andra , Cotfas Liviu-Adrian , Stănescu Aurelia , Delcea Camelia
Published: May 2024

In recent years, the research community has increasingly embraced topics related to smart cities, recognizing their potential to enhance residents’ quality of life and create sustainable, efficient urban environments through the integration of diverse systems and services. Concurrently, recommender systems have demonstrated continued improvement in accuracy, delivering more precise recommendations for items or content and aiding users in decision-making processes. This paper explores the utilization of recommender systems in the context of smart cities by analyzing a dataset comprised of papers indexed in the ISI Web of Science database. Through bibliometric analysis, key themes, trends, prominent authors and institutions, preferred journals, and collaboration networks among authors were extracted. The findings revealed an average annual scientific production growth of 25.85%. Additionally, an n-gram analysis across keywords, abstracts, titles, and keywords plus, along with a review of selected papers, enriched the analysis. The insights gained from these efforts offer valuable perspectives, contribute to identifying pertinent issues, and provide guidance on trends in this evolving field. The importance of recommender systems in the context of smart cities lies in their ability to enhance urban living by providing personalized and efficient recommendations, optimizing resource utilization, improving decision-making processes, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and intelligent urban environment.
A Fractional Heston-Type Model as a Singular Stochastic Equation Driven by Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Mpanda Marc Mukendi
Published: May 2024

This paper introduces the fractional Heston-type (fHt) model as a stochastic system comprising the stock price process modeled by a geometric Brownian motion. In this model, the infinitesimal return volatility is characterized by the square of a singular stochastic equation driven by a fractional Brownian motion with a Hurst parameter H∈(0,1). We establish the Malliavin differentiability of the fHt model and derive an expression for the expected payoff function, revealing potential discontinuities. Simulation experiments are conducted to illustrate the dynamics of the stock price process and option prices.
Evaluation of the Oral Microbiome before and after Treatments for Halitosis with Photodynamic Therapy and Probiotics—Pilot Study
Authors: de Barros Motta Pamella , Gonçalves Marcela Leticia Leal , Gallo Juliana Maria Altavista Sagretti , Sobral Ana Paula Taboada , Motta Lara Jansiski , Santos Elaine Marcílio , de Andrade David José Casimiro , Duran Cinthya Cosme Gutierrez , Fernandes Kristianne Porta Santos , Mesquita-Ferrari Raquel Agnelli , Horliana Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini , Bussadori Sandra Kalil
Published: May 2024

Background: To compare photodynamic therapy and the use of probiotics in reducing halitosis assessed through gas chromatography and microbiome analysis. Methods: Participants aged from 18 to 25 years showing sulfide (SH2) ≥ 112 ppb on gas chromatography were selected. They were divided into four treatment groups: Group 1—Tongue Scraping; Group 2—Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT); Group 3—Probiotics; and Group 4—Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) and Probiotics. The halimetry process was performed before, immediately after the treatments, and 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days after the initial collection. The collections for later microbiological analysis were made along with the halimetry for microbiome analysis. Results: Treatment with aPDT or probiotics under these experimental conditions was not able to change the bacteria present in the biofilm of the tongue. Conclusions: More research is needed to know the behavior of the oral microbiome in the presence of halitosis and the effectiveness of new treatments.
The Effectiveness of Mind-Body Intervention on Psychological Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Pre-Post Interventional Study
Authors: Peterson Aaron , Borsellino Philip , Davidson Ryder , Ezeanolue Edozie , Lagasca Gemma , Diaz Jared , Batra Kavita , Weisman Anne
Published: May 2024

The pandemic highlighted the need for alternative, more accessible access to mental health interventions that can be readily administered remotely. The purpose of this pre-post-interventional study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual mind-body medicine training course on stress, anxiety, and depression levels. University employees and members of the Las Vegas community were recruited via self-selection and snowball sampling and subjected to online mind-body practice sessions in December of 2020. Stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life were assessed pre- and post-intervention using standardized psychometric valid tools. The paired t-test and related samples marginal homogeneity tests were used for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. Depression and stress scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Mean scores of professional quality of life improved post-intervention compared to pre-intervention (p = 0.03). A significantly larger proportion of participants reported no depression or stress post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively.) This study suggests that virtual mind-body practices had a pronounced impact on stress and depression levels during the pandemic. These findings support virtual, online-guided mind-body medicine training as an effective intervention that can be administered virtually to reduce stress and depression symptoms.
An Exploratory Study on the Conceptualization of Burnout among the Professional Esports Athletes: Focused on League of Legends Champions Korea League
Authors: Ahn Hyoyeon , Kim Inwoo
Published: May 2024

Research on the stress and burnout experienced by athletes in the esports field remains limited, necessitating an approach that considers the unique environment and circumstances of esports athletes. This study aims to explore the conceptualization of burnout experiences among professional esports athletes. The participants included 88 athletes from the League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK). Among these, in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 athletes who had experience in international tournaments (the World Championship), while an open-ended survey was completed by 81 athletes. Data collected through in-depth interviews and an open-ended survey were digitized and utilized for analysis. Through critical review by another author and inductive categorization, the conceptual components of esports athletes’ burnout were derived. Through the analysis of 251 raw datum, it was conceptualized into five conceptual factors: performance, overtraining, interpersonal relationships, physical and psychological exhaustion, and career and motivation. The results of this study confirm that esports athletes, like athletes in other conventional sports, experience burnout during their careers, highlighting issues in their unique environment, particularly in aspects of interpersonal relationships and training and rest conditions. This research can serve as a foundational resource for effective athletes’ psychological health management in the esports field and underscores the need for further research on burnout among esports athletes.
The Associations of Perceived Self-Efficacy with Emotional Intelligence, Personality, Resilience, and Attitudes Towards Death among Midwives
Authors: Tzamakos Evangelos , Metallinou Dimitra , Tigka Maria , Lykeridou Aikaterini , Sarantaki Antigoni , Nanou Christina
Published: May 2024

Midwives’ self-efficacy can significantly affect the provided care and, therefore, maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate associations of perceived self-efficacy with emotional intelligence, personality, resilience, and attitudes towards death among midwives in Greece. From 2020 to 2022, a total of 348 midwives were recruited in this descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants were employed as independent professionals, in public hospitals or regional health authorities. Data collection involved five research instruments: the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the Connor-Davidson Resilience scale (CD-RISC), and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) scale. The mean score for the GSES was 29.1 (SD = 4.2), suggesting a moderately elevated level of self-efficacy among midwives. The results revealed that higher scores on the GSES were significantly associated with higher scores on the Extraversion subscale (p < 0.001) and lower scores on the Neuroticism (p < 0.001) and Lie (p = 0.002) subscales of the EPQ. Additionally, high self-efficacy was significantly correlated with high emotional intelligence (p < 0.001), high neutral acceptance of death (p = 0.009), and high resilience (p < 0.001). These findings highlight the relationship between the self-efficacy of Greek midwives and various psychological factors, as well as the multifaceted nature of self-efficacy and its importance for midwives’ psychological well-being and professional functioning.
Physical Activity Knowledge and Personal Habits with Recommendations for Patients: Self-Assessment by Primary Care Physicians
Authors: Fominienė Vilija Bitė , Fominaitė Martirija , Sipavičienė Saulė
Published: May 2024

Primary care physicians (PCPs) should be active and reliable promoters of physical activity (PA), but there is no strong evidence that their knowledge and personal habits contribute to this. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of PA recommendations provided by PCPs to patients in terms of their self-assessed PA knowledge and personal habits. This study used a cross-sectional design and data were collected through a self-reported online questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 202 PCPs from a large Lithuanian city, Kaunas, of which 122 were females (60.4%) and 80 were males (39.6%). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 29 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) for Windows. The findings show that the frequency of recommendations related to providing PA to patients is statistically significantly dependent on PCP health-friendly or partially favorable PA habits, their self-assessed level of knowledge about physical activity, and their self-assessed competence related to providing PA recommendations to patients, but this is not statistically dependent on objectively assessed level of knowledge related to PA.
Special Issue “Novel Chemical Tools for Targeted Cancer Therapy”
Authors: Shtil Alexander A.
Published: May 2024

When, in 2022, the International Journal of Molecular Sciences asked me to edit the Special Issue, I was quick to propose the title ‘Novel Chemical Tools for Targeted Cancer Therapy’ [...]
Time Course of Left Ventricular Strain Assessment via Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Myocardial Feature Tracking in Takotsubo Syndrome
Authors: Goto Hiroki , Kato Ken , Imori Yoichi , Wakita Masaki , Eguchi Noriko , Takaoka Hiroyuki , Murakami Tsutomu , Nagatomo Yuji , Isogai Toshiaki , Mitsuhashi Yuya , Saji Mike , Yamashita Satoshi , Maekawa Yuichiro , Mochizuki Hiroki , Takaoka Yoshimitsu , Ono Masafumi , Yamaguchi Tetsuo , Kobayashi Yoshio , Asai Kuniya , Shimizu Wataru , Yoshikawa Tsutomu
Published: May 2024

Background: Although takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV), the time course and mechanism of LV function recovery remain elusive. The aim of this study is to evaluate cardiac functional recovery in TTS via serial cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT). Methods: In this Japanese multicenter registry, patients with newly diagnosed TTS were prospectively enrolled. In patients who underwent serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at 1 month and 1 year after the onset, CMR-FT was performed to determine the global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS) and global longitudinal strain (GLS). We compared LV ejection fraction, GCS, GRS and GLS at 1 month and 1 year after the onset of TTS. Results: Eighteen patients underwent CMR imaging in one month and one year after the onset in the present study. LV ejection fraction had already normalized at 1 month after the onset, with no significant difference between 1 month and 1 year (55.8 ± 9.2% vs. 58.9 ± 7.3%, p = 0.09). CMR-FT demonstrated significant improvement in GCS from 1 month to 1 year (−16.7 ± 3.4% vs. −18.5 ± 3.2%, p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in GRS and GLS between 1 month and year (GRS: 59.6 ± 24.2% vs. 59.4 ± 17.3%, p = 0.95, GLS: −12.8 ± 5.9% vs. −13.8 ± 4.9%, p = 0.42). Conclusions: Serial CMR-FT analysis revealed delayed improvement of GCS compared to GRS and GLS despite of rapid recovery of LV ejection fraction. CMR-FT can detect subtle impairment of LV systolic function during the recovery process in patients with TTS.
Impact of Depression on Postoperative Medical and Surgical Outcomes in Spine Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Aghajanian Sepehr , Shafiee Arman , Teymouri Athar Mohammad Mobin , Mohammadifard Fateme , Goodarzi Saba , Esmailpur Fatemeh , Elsamadicy Aladine A.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The relationship between psychiatric disorders, including depression, and invasive interventions has been a topic of debate in recent literature. While these conditions can impact the quality of life and subjective perceptions of surgical outcomes, the literature lacks consensus regarding the association between depression and objective perioperative medical and surgical complications, especially in the neurosurgical domain. Methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library were queried in a comprehensive manner from inception until 10 November 2023, with no language restrictions, for citations investigating the association between depression and length of hospitalization, medical and surgical complications, and objective postoperative outcomes including readmission, reoperation, and non-routine discharge in patients undergoing spine surgery. Results: A total of 26 articles were considered in this systematic review. Upon pooled analysis of the primary outcome, statistically significantly higher rates were observed for several complications, including delirium (OR:1.92), deep vein thrombosis (OR:3.72), fever (OR:6.34), hematoma formation (OR:4.7), hypotension (OR:4.32), pulmonary embolism (OR:3.79), neurological injury (OR:6.02), surgical site infection (OR:1.36), urinary retention (OR:4.63), and urinary tract infection (OR:1.72). While readmission (OR:1.35) and reoperation (OR:2.22) rates, as well as non-routine discharge (OR:1.72) rates, were significantly higher in depressed patients, hospitalization length was comparable to non-depressed controls. Conclusions: The results of this review emphasize the significant increase in complications and suboptimal outcomes noted in patients with depression undergoing spinal surgery. Although a direct causal relationship may not be established, addressing psychiatric aspects in patient care is crucial for providing comprehensive medical attention.
Swallowing Assessment in Post-Comatose Patients: A Feasibility Study on the SWADOC Tool
Authors: Herr Roxanne , Regnier Amandine , Belorgeot Marion , Mélotte Evelyne , Simon Jessica , Sanz Leandro R. D. , Lejeune Nicolas , Chavet Valérie , Paluszkiewicz Jenny , Pellas Frédéric , Chevallier Jean-Baptiste , Laureys Steven , Kaux Jean-François , Gosseries Olivia
Published: May 2024

Background: After a severe brain injury and a coma, patients may develop disorders of consciousness (DoC), frequently accompanied by severe dysphagia. The evaluation and therapy of swallowing are therefore essential aspects of their management. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the SWallowing Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness (SWADOC) tool in the assessment of swallowing in post-comatose patients. Here, we validate its quantitative items, describe preliminary results and identify limitations. Methods: Fourteen post-comatose patients were repeatedly evaluated with the Simplified Evaluation of CONsciousness Disorders (SECONDs) and with the SWADOC. Results: The internal consistency of the oral and pharyngeal subscales of the SWADOC was good. The test–retest reliability showed that all items, all subscores and the total score were stable except for two items (endo-buccal secretions and bronchial congestion). A comparison to the Facial Oral Tract Therapy Swallowing Assessment of Saliva (F.O.T.T-SAS) confirmed that scoring with the SWADOC offers a greater potential for quantitative observations in assessing swallowing abilities among patients with DoC. The SECONDs scores and SWADOC total scores showed a significant positive correlation (τ = 0.78, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provides preliminary but encouraging results on the psychometric properties of the SWADOC tool. It shows that this tool is relevant and feasible as a bedside assessment of dysphagia in patients with DoC.
Analytical Modeling of Eddy Current Losses and Thermal Analysis of Non-Uniform-Air-Gap Combined-Pole Permanent Magnet Motors for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ma Shilun , Ma Jianwei , Chen Keqi , Li Changwei
Published: May 2024

In order to solve the problem of large eddy current losses and high temperature rises caused by a large number of permanent magnets, a new type of combined-magnetic-pole permanent magnet motor is proposed in this paper. The sinusoidally distributed subdomain model of a non-uniform-air-gap rotor was established using the Laplace equation, and the analytical expression of eddy current losses in the rotor in a uniform air gap and non-uniform air gap was derived. The effect of the rotor’s eccentricity on eddy current losses was obtained. According to the characteristics of the distributed winding of the non-uniform-air-gap combined-pole permanent magnet motor, an equivalent treatment was performed to obtain the equivalent thermal conductivity value; to establish an equivalent thermal network model of the motor; determine the temperature of each component of the motor; and verify the correctness of the thermal network model through magnetothermal bidirectional coupling. Finally, an experimental platform was set up to carry out temperature rise experiments on the two prototypes. The experimental results show that a non-uniform-air-gap rotor structure can effectively reduce a rotor’s eddy current losses and motor temperature rise, as well as verify the accuracy of the analytical model’s calculation results.
Drought-Tolerant Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mitigate the Detrimental Effects of Drought Stress Induced by Withholding Irrigation at Critical Growth Stages of Soybean (Glycine max, L.)
Authors: Nader Aya Ahmed , Hauka Fathi I. A. , Afify Aida H. , El-Sawah Ahmed M.
Published: May 2024

Considering current global climate change, drought stress is regarded as a major problem negatively impacting the growth of soybeans, particularly at the critical stages R3 (early pod) and R5 (seed development). Microbial inoculation is regarded as an ecologically friendly and low-cost-effective strategy for helping soybean plants withstand drought stress. The present study aimed to isolate newly drought-tolerant bacteria from native soil and evaluated their potential for producing growth-promoting substances as well as understanding how these isolated bacteria along with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could mitigate drought stress in soybean plants at critical growth stages in a field experiment. In this study, 30 Bradyrhizobium isolates and 30 rhizobacterial isolates were isolated from the soybean nodules and rhizosphere, respectively. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 was used for evaluating their tolerance to drought, and then the production of growth promotion substances was evaluated under both without/with PEG. The most effective isolates (DTB4 and DTR30) were identified genetically using 16S rRNA gene. A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of inoculation with DTB4 and DTR30 along with AMF (Glomus clarum, Funneliformis mosseae, and Gigaspora margarita) on the growth and yield of drought-stressed soybeans. Our results showed that the bioinoculant applications improved the growth traits (shoot length, root length, leaf area, and dry weight), chlorophyll content, nutrient content (N, P, and K), nodulation, and yield components (pods number, seeds weight, and grain yield) of soybean plants under drought stress (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, proline contents were decreased due to the bioinoculant applications under drought when compared to uninoculated treatments. As well as the count of bacteria, mycorrhizal colonization indices, and the activity of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) were enhanced in the soybean rhizosphere under drought stress. This study’s findings imply that using a mixture of bioinoculants may help soybean plants withstand drought stress, particularly during critical growth stages, and that soybean growth, productivity, and soil microbial activity were improved under drought stress.
Endophytic Fungi Inoculation Reduces Ramulosis Severity in Gossypium hirsutum Plants
Authors: Silva Isabella de Oliveira , Bessa Layara Alexandre , Reis Mateus Neri Oliveira , Augusto Damiana Souza Santos , Roweder Charlys , Souchie Edson Luiz , Vitorino Luciana Cristina
Published: May 2024

Biotic stress in cotton plants caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum gossypii var. cephalosporioides triggers symptoms of ramulosis, a disease characterized by necrotic spots on young leaves, followed by death of the affected branch’s apical meristem, plant growth paralysis, and stimulation of lateral bud production. Severe cases of ramulosis can cause up to 85% yield losses in cotton plantations. Currently, this disease is controlled exclusively by using fungicides. However, few studies have focused on biological alternatives for mitigating the effects of contamination by C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides on cotton plants. Thus, the hypothesis raised is that endophytic fungi isolated from an Arecaceae species (Butia purpurascens), endemic to the Cerrado biome, have the potential to reduce physiological damage caused by ramulosis, decreasing its severity in these plants. This hypothesis was tested using plants grown from seeds contaminated with the pathogen and inoculated with strains of Gibberella moniliformis (BP10EF), Hamigera insecticola (BP33EF), Codinaeopsis sp. (BP328EF), G. moniliformis (BP335EF), and Aspergillus sp. (BP340EF). C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides is a leaf pathogen; thus, the evaluations were focused on leaf parameters: gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and oxidative metabolism. The hypothesis that inoculation with endophytic strains can mitigate physiological and photochemical damage caused by ramulosis in cotton was confirmed, as the fungi improved plant growth and stomatal index and density, increased net photosynthetic rate (A) and carboxylation efficiency (A/Ci), and decreased photochemical stress (ABS/RC and DI0/RC) and oxidative stress by reducing enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, and APX) and the synthesis of malondialdehyde (MDA). Control plants developed leaves with a low adaxial stomatal index and density to reduce colonization of leaf tissues by C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides due to the absence of fungal antagonism. The Codinaeopsis sp. strain BP328EF can efficiently inhibit C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides in vitro (81.11% relative inhibition), improve gas exchange parameters, reduce photochemical stress of chlorophyll-a, and decrease lipid peroxidation in attacked leaves. Thus, BP328EF should be further evaluated for its potential effect as a biological alternative for enhancing the resistance of G. hirsutum plants and minimizing yield losses caused by C. gossypii var. cephalosporioides.
Rational Design for the Complete Synthesis of Stevioside in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Huang Wei , Liu Yongheng , Ma Xiaomei , Ma Cilang , Jiang Yuting , Su Jianyu
Published: May 2024

Stevioside is a secondary metabolite of diterpenoid glycoside production in plants. It has been used as a natural sweetener in various foods because of its high sweetness and low-calorie content. In this study, we constructed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain for the complete synthesis of stevioside using a metabolic engineering strategy. Firstly, the synthesis pathway of steviol was modularly constructed in S. cerevisiae BY4742, and the precursor pathway was strengthened. The yield of steviol was used as an indicator to investigate the expression effect of different sources of diterpene synthases under different combinations, and the strains with further improved steviol yield were screened. Secondly, glycosyltransferases were heterologously expressed in this strain to produce stevioside, the sequence of glycosyltransferase expression was optimized, and the uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc) supply was enhanced. Finally, the results showed that the strain SST-302III-ST2 produced 164.89 mg/L of stevioside in a shake flask experiment, and the yield of stevioside reached 1104.49 mg/L in an experiment employing a 10 L bioreactor with batch feeding, which was the highest yield reported. We constructed strains with a high production of stevioside, thus laying the foundation for the production of other classes of steviol glycosides and holding good prospects for application and promotion.
Biological Significance of Probiotic Microorganisms from Kefir and Kombucha: A Review
Authors: da Anunciação Talita Andrade , Guedes Juan Diego Silva , Tavares Pedro Paulo Lordelo Guimarães , de Melo Borges Fernando Elias , Ferreira Danton Diego , Costa Jorge Alberto Vieira , Umsza-Guez Marcelo Andrés , Magalhães-Guedes Karina Teixeira
Published: May 2024

(1) Background: The human microbiota is essential for maintaining a healthy body. The gut microbiota plays a protective role against pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics are live microorganisms capable of preventing and controlling gastrointestinal and balancing the immune system. They also aid in better nutrients and vitamins absorption. Examples of natural probiotic cultures are kefir and kombucha. (2) Methods: Therefore, the aim of this review was to address the beneficial properties of probiotic kefir and kombucha using a Boxplot analysis to search for scientific data in the online literature up to January 2024: (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), PubMed, Medical Literature Analysis (MED-LINE), Science Direct, Google Scholar/Google Academic, Bioline Inter-national and Springer Link). Boxplots showed the summary of a set of data “Index Terms—Keywords” on kefir and kombucha in three languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish). (3) Results: Google Scholar was the database with the highest number of articles found, when the search for the keywords used in the study (containing ~4 × 106–~4 million articles available). This was Followed by the Science Direct database, containing ~3 × 106–~3 million articles available, and the BVS databases—Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (Virtual Health Library) e Lilacs, both containing a value of ~2 × 106–~2 million articles available. The databases containing the smallest number of articles found were Nutrients and Medline, both containing a value of ≤0.1 × 106–≤100 thousand articles. (4) Conclusions: Scientific studies indicate that kefir and kombucha certainly contain various functional properties, such as antimicrobial, antitumor, anticarcinogenic and immunomodulatory activity, in addition to having a microbiological composition of probiotic bacteria and yeasts. Kefir and kombucha represent key opportunities in the food and clinic/medical fields.
Response of Tahitian Bridal Veil (Gibasis pellucida) and Small-Leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) to Postemergence Herbicides under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Yu Ping , Marble Stephen Christopher , Minogue Patrick
Published: May 2024

Tahitian bridal veil (Gibasis pellucida) and small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) are both invasive species in natural areas throughout Florida. However, very little is known regarding herbicide control. To provide land managers with herbicidal control options for both species, postemergence herbicides were evaluated for efficacy in a greenhouse to identify herbicide options that control both species under similar settings. Four herbicides, including triclopyr acid, triclopyr amine + 2,4-D amine, triclopyr amine, and glufosinate were applied at standard label rates and compared to a non-treated control group for efficacy. Visual control ratings were taken at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment (WAT), and shoot dry weights (WAT 8) and regrowth dry weights (WAT 12) were determined. Triclopyr (acid and amine) generally provided the most consistent control of both species as evidenced by the visual control ratings and shoot dry weight data which showed reductions of 76% to 89% in shoot biomass at trial conclusion. Triclopyr + 2,4-D reduced shoot dry weights by 52% to 54% and was the least effective when considering the control of both species.
Composition Characterization of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira Hydrosol and Its Enhanced Effects on Erectile Function
Authors: Wang Chung-Hsuan , Taso Nai-Wen , Chen Chi-Jung , Chang Hung-Yi , Wang Sheng-Yang
Published: May 2024

Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kanehira (CO) is an endemic species of Taiwan. This study elucidated the composition of CO hydrosol, revealing trans-cinnamaldehyde (65.03%), trans-cinnamyl acetate (7.57%), and coumarin (4.31%) as the main volatile compounds. Seven compounds were identified in the water fraction of hydrosol, including a novel compound, 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)oxetan-3-ol. This marks the first investigation into high-polarity compounds in hydrosol, extending beyond the volatile components. Notably, two compounds, trans-phenyloxetan-3-ol and cis-phenyloxetan-3-ol, demonstrated significant inhibition activity against phosphodiesterase type five (PDE5), with IC50 values of 4.37 µM and 3.40 µM, respectively, indicating their potential as novel PDE5 inhibitors. Furthermore, CO hydrosol was evaluated against enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction, namely acetylcholinesterase (AChE), angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE), and arginase type 2 (ARG2). These findings underscore the potential of CO hydrosol to modulate erectile function through diverse physiological pathways, hinting at its prospects for future development in a beverage or additive with enhanced effects on erectile function.
Desiccation Tolerance of Epiphytic Macrolichens in an Evergreen Temperate Rain Forest (Alerce Costero National Park, Chile)
Authors: Villagra Johana , Raggio José , Alors David , Sancho Leopoldo G.
Published: May 2024

The Valdivian region has a temperate rainy climate with differences in rainfall throughout the year. This heterogeneity results in periods of summer drought that expose the poikilohydric epiphytes to desiccation. With this research, we aim to answer different research questions related to phorophyte preference, response to desiccation, and response to radiation. How does the diversity of macrolichens vary at a local and microclimate scale in three tree species within an evergreen forest? What is the tolerance limit of macrolichens against prolonged desiccation, according to evaluation of the maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and pigment concentration? What is the tolerance limit against a potential increase in radiation? We found that macrolichen communities are determined by tree species, which regulate the suitability of the substrate by modifying the temperature and humidity conditions. In addition, our results show a rapid photosynthetic alteration in temporal exposure to desiccation, measured through Fv/Fm and pigment concentration. Our results showed that the most sensitive lichens to radiation and desiccation are not coincident. We confirm the low tolerance of macrolichen species to high radiation, reflected in the saturation profile obtained for the set studied. The lichen community in the evergreen forest showed high complexity and vulnerability, pointing to the importance of more research.
Thriving under Salinity: Growth, Ecophysiology and Proteomic Insights into the Tolerance Mechanisms of Obligate Halophyte Suaeda fruticosa
Authors: Gul Bilquees , Hameed Abdul , Ahmed Muhammad Zaheer , Hussain Tabassum , Rasool Sarwat Ghulam , Nielsen Brent L.
Published: May 2024

Studies on obligate halophytes combining eco-physiological techniques and proteomic analysis are crucial for understanding salinity tolerance mechanisms but are limited. We thus examined growth, water relations, ion homeostasis, photosynthesis, oxidative stress mitigation and proteomic responses of an obligate halophyte Suaeda fruticosa to increasing salinity under semi-hydroponic culture. Most biomass parameters increased under moderate (300 mmol L−1 of NaCl) salinity, while high (900 mmol L−1 of NaCl) salinity caused some reduction in biomass parameters. Under moderate salinity, plants showed effective osmotic adjustment with concomitant accumulation of Na+ in both roots and leaves. Accumulation of Na+ did not accompany nutrient deficiency, damage to photosynthetic machinery and oxidative damage in plants treated with 300 mmol L−1 of NaCl. Under high salinity, plants showed further decline in sap osmotic potential with higher Na+ accumulation that did not coincide with a decline in relative water content, Fv/Fm, and oxidative damage markers (H2O2 and MDA). There were 22, 54 and 7 proteins in optimal salinity and 29, 46 and 8 proteins in high salinity treatment that were up-regulated, down-regulated or exhibited no change, respectively, as compared to control plants. These data indicate that biomass reduction in S. fruticosa at high salinity might result primarily from increased energetic cost rather than ionic toxicity.
Comprehensive Transcriptome and Proteome Analyses Reveal the Drought Responsive Gene Network in Potato Roots
Authors: Qin Tianyuan , Wang Yihao , Pu Zhuanfang , Shi Ningfan , Dormatey Richard , Wang Huiqiong , Sun Chao
Published: May 2024

The root system plays a decisive role in the growth and development of plants. The water requirement of a root system depends strongly on the plant species. Potatoes are an important food and vegetable crop grown worldwide, especially under irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the expected impact of global warming on potato yields calls for an investigation of genes related to root development and drought resistance signaling pathways in potatoes. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of different drought-tolerant potato root systems in response to drought stress under controlled water conditions, using potato as a model. We analyzed the transcriptome and proteome of the drought-sensitive potato cultivar Atlantic (Atl) and the drought-tolerant cultivar Qingshu 9 (Q9) under normal irrigation (CK) and weekly drought stress (D). The results showed that a total of 14,113 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 5596 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in the cultivars. A heat map analysis of DEGs and DEPs showed that the same genes and proteins in Atl and Q9 exhibited different expression patterns under drought stress. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that in Atl, Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)-enriched pathways were related to pyruvate metabolism and glycolysis, as well as cellular signaling and ion transmembrane transporter protein activity. However, GO terms and KEGG-enriched pathways related to phytohormone signaling and the tricarboxylic acid cycle were predominantly enriched in Q9. The present study provides a unique genetic resource to effectively explore the functional genes and uncover the molecular regulatory mechanism of the potato root system in response to drought stress.
Production Feature Analysis of Global Onshore Carbonate Oil Reservoirs Based on XGBoost Classier
Authors: Qi Guilin , Liu Baolei
Published: May 2024

Carbonate reservoirs account for 60% of global reserves for oil, making them one of the most important types of sedimentary rock reservoirs for petroleum production. This study aimed to identify key production features that significantly impact oil production rates, enhancing reservoir management and optimizing production strategies. A comprehensive dataset is built from reserves and production history data of 377 onshore carbonate oilfields globally, encompassing features such as production, recovery rate, and recovery degree of the whole lifecycle of an oilfield. XGBoost classifier is trained by K-fold cross-validation and its hyperparameters are optimized by Optuna optimization framework. The results show that XGBoost has the best performance evaluated with metrics including accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score comparing with decision tree, random forest, and support vector machine. Key production features are identified by analyzing the classification feature importance of XGBoost classifier, including build-up stage cumulative production, plateau stage cumulative production, plateau stage recovery rate, plateau stage recovery degrees, and peak production. In conclusion, oilfield reserve size, build-up stage cumulative production, plateau stage cumulative production, and peak production increase, while plateau stage recovery rate decreases, and the plateau stage recovery degree of small-sized oilfields is slightly greater than that of moderate and large oilfields. The research methodology of this study can serve as a reference for studying production features of other types of oil and gas reservoirs. By applying the methodology to low-permeability oilfields, this paper concludes the key production features that are as follows: low-permeability oilfields generally have lower peak recovery rate, lower plateau stage recovery rate, lower decline stage recovery degree, and lower decline stage recovery rate, along with a wide but generally lower range of decline stage cumulative production compared to conventional oilfields.
Assessing Container Terminals’ Environmental Efficiency: The Modified Slack-Based Measure Model
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Tam , Hoang Long Van
Published: May 2024

The classic Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model has been posited to be a favorable non-parametric tool to cope with undesirable output. Nevertheless, this model has two significant drawbacks that should be addressed in practice. Thus, this paper aims to revise the classic SBM model to estimate container terminals’ environmental efficiency with undesirable output. The originality of this article includes: (1) introducing the energy consumption method to calculate the quantity of CO2 emitted by container terminal operators (CTOs), (2) adopting cluster analysis to identify homogeneous CTOs acting as Decision-Making Units (DMUs), and (3) introducing the modified SBM model to measure and analyze environmental efficiency for CTOs. Based on this research, the efficiency of the analyzed terminals and the management of the local port sector are improved.
Rational Design of Lipid-Based Vectors for Advanced Therapeutic Vaccines
Authors: Ma Yufei , Chen Yiang , Li Zilu , Zhao Yu
Published: May 2024

Recent advancements in vaccine delivery systems have seen the utilization of various materials, including lipids, polymers, peptides, metals, and inorganic substances, for constructing non-viral vectors. Among these, lipid-based nanoparticles, composed of natural, synthetic, or physiological lipid/phospholipid materials, offer significant advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and safety, making them ideal for vaccine delivery. These lipid-based vectors can protect encapsulated antigens and/or mRNA from degradation, precisely tune chemical and physical properties to mimic viruses, facilitate targeted delivery to specific immune cells, and enable efficient endosomal escape for robust immune activation. Notably, lipid-based vaccines, exemplified by those developed by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna against COVID-19, have gained approval for human use. This review highlights rational design strategies for vaccine delivery, emphasizing lymphoid organ targeting and effective endosomal escape. It also discusses the importance of rational formulation design and structure–activity relationships, along with reviewing components and potential applications of lipid-based vectors. Additionally, it addresses current challenges and future prospects in translating lipid-based vaccine therapies for cancer and infectious diseases into clinical practice.
Makroekonomik ve Sosyal Göstergelerin Mutluluk Üzerindeki Etkilerinin Araştırılması: Panel Kantil Regresyon Yaklaşımı
Authors: Öztürk Kadriye Nurdanay , Yiğit Öyküm Esra
Published: May 2024

Mutluluk, kamu politikalarının belirlenmesi ve toplumun refahının arttırılmasında kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Bu nedenle, mutluluğun ölçülmesi ve mutluluğu etkileyen faktörlerin tespit edilmesine yönelik çalışmalar politika yapıcılara yol göstermek açısından oldukça önemlidir. Bu çalışmada 27 Avrupa ülkesinin 2005-2022 dönemine ait yıllık verileri kullanılarak mutluluğun temel belirleyicilerini belirlemek ve toplanan veriye uygun modelin geçerliliğini ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada kullanılan ve mutluluk düzeylerinin açıklayıcısı olması muhtemel göstergeler kuramsal literatüre uygun olarak seçilmiş ve kullanılan modellere dahil edilmiştir. Bu göstergeler, Dünya Mutluluk Raporunda sunulanların dışında (GSYİH, sağlıklı yaşam beklentisi, sosyal destek, seçim yapma özgürlüğü, cömertlik, yolsuzluk algısı, pozitif etki, negatif etki) ülkelerin işsizlik, enflasyon, gelir eşitsizliği, devlet harcamaları ve ekonomik büyüme gibi makroekonomik değişkenlerdir. Derlenen veri setinin yapısına ve kullanılabilirliğine bağlı olarak ülkelerin mutluluk seviyelerini etkileyen temel göstergeler klasik panel veri modelleri ve panel kantil regresyon modeli ile araştırılmıştır. Çalışmada kullanılan tüm modeller karşılaştırıldığında panel kantil regresyon modelinin mutluluğu etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesinde daha etkili olduğu görülmüştür. Klasik panel veri modellerinde anlamsız bulunan yolsuzluk algısı, pozitif etki ve büyüme değişkenlerinin farklı kantil noktalarında anlamlı çıkması çalışmanın önemli bulgularından biridir. Enflasyon ve gelir eşitsizliği değişkenleri sırasıyla %75 ve %50 kantil noktalarında istatistiksel olarak anlamsız iken diğer kantillerde anlamlı bulunmuştur. Elde edilen bu sonuçlar panel kantil regresyonun, farklı mutluluk seviyelerine sahip ülkelerde mutluluğun belirleyicilerini daha detaylı bir şekilde değerlendirdiğini göstermekte ve politika kararlarının doğru bir şekilde yönlendirilmesi açısından literatüre önemli bir katkı sağlamayı hedeflemektedir.