bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomics Combined with Photosynthetic Physiology and Leaf Structure Analysis Revealed Increased Sugarcane Yield by Fenlong-Ridging
Authors: Zhu Shuifang , Xiao Jiming , Han Shijian , Li Xinzhu , Li Zhigang , Wei Benhui , Zhang Demei , Wang Rui , Li Ruiling , Yang Lipei , Li Suli
Published: April 2023

Fenlong-ridging (FL) is a new type of conservation tillage. In many crops, FL increases crop yield and quality; however, the cytology and molecular mechanisms of crops under FL is not completely understood. This study investigated soil physical and chemical properties under FL and conventional tillage (CK) during 2018–2019 (plant cane) and 2019–2022 (first stubble), and analyzed the agronomic trait, physiology, leaf anatomical structure, and gene expression related to photosynthesis between FL and CK of sugarcane (Guitang 42). Soil bulk density significantly increased, and soil porosity, water storage, and content of available nitrogen and phosphorus under FL were significantly higher than those under CK. Plant height, stem diameter, single stem weight, effective stem number and yield significantly increased under FL compared to under CK. Sugar content significantly increased in plant cane under FL. Chlorophyll content and the photosynthetic rate increased, with significantly higher activity of photosynthetic enzymes including NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPC) under FL compared to CK. Fenlong-ridging cytology results showed that the mesophyll cells were large and arranged well, the Kranz anatomy was noticeable, and there were a high number of large chloroplasts in mesophyll cell and in the vascular bundle sheath. Furthermore, the bundle sheath in FL was larger than that in CK. Transcriptomics results showed that 19,357 differentially genes (DEGs) were up-regulated and 28,349 DEGs were down-regulated in sugarcane leaves under FL vs. CK. The Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that abundant DEGs were enriched in photosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna protein, carotenoid biosynthesis, and other pathways associated with photosynthesis. Most expression was up-regulated, thus, facilitating photosynthesis regulation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed the up-regulation of genes related to photosynthesis (PsaH and PsbS) under FL. Overall, this study provides insights into the role of FL in increased sugarcane yield by integrating physiology, cytology, and proteomics analysis. These findings could be used to further improve its application and promotion.
Origin Identification of Saposhnikovia divaricata by CNN Embedded with the Hierarchical Residual Connection Block
Authors: Li Dongming , Yang Chenglin , Yao Rui , Ma Li
Published: April 2023

This paper proposes a method for recognizing the origin of Saposhnikovia divaricata using the IResNet model to achieve computer vision-based classification. Firstly, we created a small sample dataset and applied data augmentation techniques to enhance its diversity. After that, we introduced the hierarchical residual connection block in the early stage of the original model to expand the perceptual field of the neural network and enhance the extraction of scale features. Meanwhile, a depth-separable convolution operation was adopted in the later stage of the model to replace the conventional convolution operation and further reduce the time cost of the model. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved network model achieved a 5.03% improvement in accuracy compared to the original model while also significantly reducing the number of parameters required for the model. In our experiments, we compared the accuracy of the proposed model with several classical convolutional neural network models, including ResNet50, Resnest50, Res2net50, RepVggNet_B0, and ConvNext_T. The results showed that our proposed model achieved an accuracy of 93.72%, which outperformed ResNet50 (86.68%), Resnest50 (89.38%), Res2net50 (91.83%), RepVggNet_B0 (88.68%), and ConvNext_T (92.18%). Furthermore, our proposed model achieved the highest accuracy among the compared models, with a transmission frame rate of 158.9 fps and an inference time of only 6.29 ms. The research methodology employed in this study has demonstrated the ability to reduce potential errors caused by manual observation, effectively improving the recognition ability of Saposhnikovia divaricata based on existing data. Furthermore, the findings of this study provide valuable reference and support for future efforts to develop lightweight models in this area.
Macroscopic Anatomy of the Stifle Joint in the Pampa’s Deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus-Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: König Horst Erich , Duro Sokol , Pérez William
Published: April 2023

The objective of this paper was to describe the anatomy of the stifle joint (Articulatio genus) of the pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus, Linnaeus, 1758) by dissection and imaging studies. Twenty-six pelvic limbs were used for gross dissection, and four stifle regions from two animals were used for radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The stifle joint of the pampas deer comprised the femoropatellar joint (joint between the distal part of the femur and the patella), and the femorotibial joint joined the femoral condyles to the proximal extremity of the tibia. The general anatomy of the stifle joint, including the overall morphology of the joint with its bones, complementary parts, means of attachment, and anatomical relationships, was like that of other ruminant species of similar size. Imaging techniques such as MRI allow adequate visualization of most components of the stifle joint.
Different Conditions during Confinement in Pasture-Based Systems and Feeding Systems Affect the Fatty Acid Profile in the Milk and Cheese of Holstein Dairy Cows
Authors: Grille Lucía , Escobar Daniela , Méndez Maria Noel , Adrien María de Lourdes , Olazabal Laura , Rodríguez Víctor , Pelaggio Ronny , Chilibroste Pablo , Meikle Ana , Damián Juan Pablo
Published: April 2023

The diet of dairy cows influences the fatty acid (FA) profiles of their milk and cheese, but how these are affected by different conditions during confinement in a mixed system (MS:grazing + total mixed ration:TMR) is not known. The aim of this study was to compare the FAs of the milk and cheese from MS in a compost-bedded pack barns (CB-GRZ) versus an outdoor soil-bedded pen (OD-GRZ) during confinement, and with a confinement system (100%TMR) in a compost-bedded pack barns (CB-TMR). Individual milk samples (n = 12 cows/group), cheese, and pooled milk (MilkP) samples were collected. The saturated FA percentages in the milk and the omega 6/omega 3 ratio in the MilkP and cheese were greater for the CB-TMR (p < 0.0001), while the unsaturated and monounsaturated FA percentages in the milk were lower for the CB-TMR than the MS (p < 0.001). The milk n-3, C18:3, and conjugated linoleic acid percentages were lower for the CB-TMR than the MS (p < 0.001). The milk n-3 and C18:3 were higher for the CB-GRZ than the OD-GRZ (p < 0.01), but no differences were observed between the MS in the MilkP and cheese. In conclusion, CB-GRZ cows during confinement produced better quality milk compared to OD-GRZ cows. However, the FA profiles of the milk, MilkP, and cheese were affected to a greater extent by the feeding management than by the conditions during confinement.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the KLF Gene Family in Chicken: Characterization and Expression Profile
Authors: Ling Xuanze , Wang Qifan , Zhang Jin , Zhang Genxi
Published: April 2023

The kruppel-like factor (KLF) gene family is a group of transcription factors containing highly conserved zinc-finger motifs, which play a crucial role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Chicken has been widely used as a model animal for analyzing gene function, however, little is known about the function of the KLF gene family in chickens. In this study, we performed genome-wide studies of chicken KLF genes and analyzed their biological and expression characteristics. We identified 13 KLF genes from chickens. Our phylogenetic, motif, and conserved domain analyses indicate that the KLF gene family has remained conserved through evolution. Synteny analysis showed the collinear relationship among KLFs, which indicated that they had related biomolecular functions. Interaction network analysis revealed that KLFs worked with 20 genes in biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that KLF2 was involved in Apelin and Forkhead Box O (FOXO) signaling pathways. Moreover, qPCR showed that 13 KLF genes were expressed in the nine selected tissues and displayed various gene expression patterns in chickens. RNA-seq showed that KLF3 and KLF10 genes were differentially expressed in the normal and high-fat diet fed groups, and KLF4, KLF5, KLF6, KLF7, KLF9, KLF12, and KLF13 genes were differentially expressed between undifferentiated and differentiated chicken preadipocytes. Besides, RNA-seq also showed that KLF genes displayed different expression patterns in muscle at 11 and 16 embryonic days old, and in 1-day-old chickens. These results indicated that the KLF genes were involved in the development of muscle and fat in chickens. Our findings provide some valuable reference points for the subsequent study of the function of KLF genes.
Individual Monitoring of Activity and Lameness in Conventional and Slower-Growing Breeds of Broiler Chickens Using Accelerometers
Authors: Pearce Justine , Chang Yu-Mei , Abeyesinghe Siobhan
Published: April 2023

Accelerometers are increasingly being investigated to detect animal behavior as a method for monitoring individual welfare that overcomes manual challenges associated with time, resource, and discrete sampling. We investigated the effects of broiler chicken hybrid (hereafter breed) and weight on accelerometer activity (activityA; calculated as percentage of time spent active (%)) and its association with lameness as a major broiler welfare concern. Accelerometers were attached to birds of different breeds on between 2 and 4 occasions from 26 to 30 days old (conventional breed CNV) and 26 to 49 days old (two slower-growing breeds SGH; SGN). At 2.2 kg, lameness was scored using a 6-point gait scoring system (0: unaffected to 5: severely lame). Linear mixed effects models and breed-stratified generalized linear models together with a random-effect meta-analysis were used for data analyses. ActivityA was lower in faster-growing, heavier birds compared to slower-growing, lighter birds, showing overall consistency with previous behavioral research, but did not vary linearly with gait score. Accelerometers offer the potential for simple broad-scale continuous monitoring of broiler chicken activity behavior that requires limited data processing. Exploration of the ability of accelerometers to capture more subtle and specific changes in behavioral patterning, such as non-linear acceleration with gait score that could indicate early development of lameness, warrants further investigation.
A Coupled Human and Natural Systems Framework to Characterize Emerging Infectious Diseases—The Case of Fibropapillomatosis in Marine Turtles
Authors: Manes Costanza , Carthy Raymond R. , Hull Vanessa
Published: April 2023

Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife have markedly increased in the last few decades. Unsustainable, continuous, and rapid alterations within and between coupled human and natural systems have significantly disrupted wildlife disease dynamics. Direct and indirect anthropogenic effects, such as climate change, pollution, encroachment, urbanization, travel, and trade, can promote outbreaks of infectious diseases in wildlife. We constructed a coupled human and natural systems framework identifying three main wildlife disease risk factors behind these anthropogenic effects: (i) immune suppression, (ii) viral spillover, and (iii) disease propagation. Through complex and convoluted dynamics, each of the anthropogenic effects and activities listed in our framework can lead, to some extent, to one or more of the identified risk factors accelerating disease outbreaks in wildlife. In this review, we present a novel framework to study anthropogenic effects within coupled human and natural systems that facilitate the emergence of infectious disease involving wildlife. We demonstrate the utility of the framework by applying it to Fibropapillomatosis disease of marine turtles. We aim to articulate the intricate and complex nature of anthropogenically exacerbated wildlife infectious diseases as multifactorial. This paper supports the adoption of a One Health approach and invites the integration of multiple disciplines for the achievement of effective and long-lasting conservation and the mitigation of wildlife emerging diseases.
Glucose Starvation Inhibits Ferroptosis by Activating the LKB1/AMPK Signaling Pathway and Promotes the High Speed Linear Motility of Dairy Goat Sperm
Authors: Li Yu , Zhang Guangzhi , Wen Fei , Xian Ming , Guo Songmao , Zhang Xing , Feng Xianzhou , Hu Zhangtao , Hu Jianhong
Published: April 2023

In mammals, sperm acquire fertilization ability after capacitation in vitro or when in the female reproductive tract. The motility patterns of sperm undergo continuous changes from the moment of ejaculation until fertilization in the female reproductive tract. In vitro, hyperactivated motility can be induced through high glucose mediums, while in vivo, it is induced by oviduct fluids. Conversely, sperm maintain linear motility in seminal plasma or uterine fluids that contain low glucose levels. In dairy goat sperm, energy metabolism associated with capacitation depends on the energy sources in vitro, seminal plasma, or the female reproductive tract, especially the glucose levels. However, there is little experimental knowledge that glucose levels affect sperm energy metabolism in dairy goats. To clarify these hypotheses, we incubated dairy goat spermatozoa with different concentrations of rotenone-glucose (ROT), carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP), and tigecycline (TIG) in vitro. Sperm motility attributes, ATP content, pyruvate and lactate levels, mitochondrial permeability transition pore fluorescence intensity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and protein synthesis were analyzed. Sperm motility patterns changed from circular to linear under low glucose conditions compared with those in high glucose conditions and showed a significant improvement in progressive motility and straight line speed, whereas lactate and pyruvate levels and MMP decreased remarkably. Incubation of spermatozoa with ROT, FCCP, and TIG inhibited sperm mitochondrial activity, protein synthesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP levels, thereby reducing sperm motility, including the progressive motility, straight line speed, and total motility. Simultaneously, incubation of spermatozoa with Compound C under low glucose conditions significantly decreased the ATP levels and MMP, as well as liver kinase B1 and AMPK protein expression. Under low glucose conditions, sperm mainly produce ATP through mitochondrial OXPHOS to achieve high speed linear movement, inhibit ferroptosis through the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway, and further maintain energy metabolism homeostasis.
Nisin Z Potential for the Control of Diabetic Foot Infections Promoted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Persisters
Authors: Zina Rafaela , Cunha Eva , Serrano Isa , Silva Elisabete , Tavares Luís , Oliveira Manuela
Published: April 2023

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus and a public health concern worldwide. The ability of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms is a key factor responsible for the chronicity of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) and frequently associated with the presence of persister cells. These are a subpopulation of phenotypic variants highly tolerant to antibiotics for which new therapeutic alternatives are urgently needed, such as those based on antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of nisin Z on P. aeruginosa DFI persisters. To induce the development of a persister state in both planktonic suspensions and biofilms, P. aeruginosa DFI isolates were exposed to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and ciprofloxacin, respectively. After RNA extraction from CCCP-induced persisters, transcriptome analysis was performed to evaluate the differential gene expression between the control, persisters, and persister cells exposed to nisin Z. Nisin Z presented a high inhibitory effect against P. aeruginosa persister cells but was unable to eradicate them when present in established biofilms. Transcriptome analysis revealed that persistence was associated with downregulation of genes related to metabolic processes, cell wall synthesis, and dysregulation of stress response and biofilm formation. After nisin Z treatment, some of the transcriptomic changes induced by persistence were reversed. In conclusion, nisin Z could be considered as a potential complementary therapy for treating P. aeruginosa DFI, but it should be applied as an early treatment or after wound debridement.
Sorangicin A Is Active against Chlamydia in Cell Culture, Explanted Fallopian Tubes, and Topical In Vivo Treatment
Authors: Graspeuntner Simon , Koethke Katharina , Scholz Celeste , Semmler Lea , Lupatsii Mariia , Kirchhoff Laura , Herrmann Jennifer , Rox Katharina , Wittstein Kathrin , Käding Nadja , Hanker Lars C. , Stadler Marc , Brönstrup Mark , Müller Rolf , Shima Kensuke , Rupp Jan
Published: April 2023

Current treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis using doxycycline and azithromycin introduces detrimental side effects on the host’s microbiota. As a potential alternative treatment, the myxobacterial natural product sorangicin A (SorA) blocks the bacterial RNA polymerase. In this study we analyzed the effectiveness of SorA against C. trachomatis in cell culture, and explanted fallopian tubes and systemic and local treatment in mice, providing also pharmacokinetic data on SorA. Potential side effects of SorA on the vaginal and gut microbiome were assessed in mice and against human-derived Lactobacillus species. SorA showed minimal inhibitory concentrations of 80 ng/mL (normoxia) to 120 ng/mL (hypoxia) against C. trachomatis in vitro and was eradicating C. trachomatis at a concentration of 1 µg/mL from fallopian tubes. In vivo, SorA reduced chlamydial shedding by more than 100-fold within the first days of infection by topical application corresponding with vaginal detection of SorA only upon topical treatment, but not after systemic application. SorA changed gut microbial composition during intraperitoneal application only and did neither alter the vaginal microbiota in mice nor affect growth of human-derived lactobacilli. Additional dose escalations and/or pharmaceutical modifications will be needed to optimize application of SorA and to reach sufficient anti-chlamydial activity in vivo.
The Prevalence of Carbapenemase-Producing Microorganisms and Use of Novel Cephalosporins for the Treatment of Severe Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Tripiciano Costanza , Romani Lorenza , Mercadante Stefania , Cursi Laura , Di Giuseppe Martina , Calo Carducci Francesca Ippolita , Fragasso Tiziana , Di Chiara Luca , Garisto Cristiana , Sisto Annamaria , Vallesi Leonardo , Costabile Valentino , Lancella Laura , Bernaschi Paola , De Luca Maia
Published: April 2023

Background: The spread of carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) is an increasingly serious threat globally, especially in vulnerable populations, such as intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Currently, the antibiotic options for CROs are very limited, particularly in pediatric settings. We describe a cohort of pediatric patients affected by CRO infections, highlighting the important changes in carbapenemase production in recent years and comparing the treatment with novel cephalosporins (N-CEFs) to Colistin-based regimens (COLI). Methods: All patients admitted to the cardiac ICU of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome during the 2016–2022 period with an invasive infection caused by a CRO were enrolled. Results: The data were collected from 42 patients. The most frequently detected pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (64%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%) and Enterobacter spp. (14%). Thirty-three percent of the isolated microorganisms were carbapenemase producers, with a majority of VIM (71%), followed by KPC (22%) and OXA-48 (7%). A total of 67% of patients in the N-CEF group and 29% of patients in the comparative group achieved clinical remission (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The increase over the years of MBL-producing pathogens in our hospital is challenging in terms of therapeutic options. According to the present study, N-CEFs are a safe and effective option in pediatric patients affected by CRO infections.
Chlorhexidine Resistance or Cross-Resistance, That Is the Question
Authors: Abbood Hadeel Mohammed , Hijazi Karolin , Gould Ian M.
Published: April 2023

Chlorohexidine (CHX) is a widely used biocide in clinical and household settings. Studies over the last few decades have reported CHX resistance in different bacterial species, but at concentrations well below those used in the clinical setting. Synthesis of these findings is hampered by the inconsistent compliance with standard laboratory procedures for biocide susceptibility testing. Meanwhile, studies of in vitro CHX-adapted bacteria have reported cross-resistance between CHX and other antimicrobials. This could be related to common resistance mechanisms of CHX and other antimicrobials and/or the selective pressure driven by the intensive use of CHX. Importantly, CHX resistance and cross-resistance to antimicrobials should be investigated in clinical as well as environmental isolates to further our understanding of the role of CHX in selection of multidrug resistance. Whilst clinical studies to support the hypothesis of CHX cross-resistance with antibiotics are currently lacking, we recommend raising the awareness of healthcare providers in a range of clinical disciplines regarding the potential adverse impact of the unfettered use of CHX on tackling antimicrobial resistance.
Exploring the Antimicrobial Activity of Sodium Titanate Nanotube Biomaterials in Combating Bone Infections: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study
Authors: Almalki Atiah H. , Hassan Walid Hamdy , Belal Amany , Farghali Ahmed , Saleh Romissaa M. , Allah Abeer Enaiet , Abdelwahab Abdalla , Lee Sangmin , Hassan Ahmed H.E. , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Abdullah Omeima , Mahmoud Rehab , Abo El-Ela Fatma I.
Published: April 2023

The majority of bone and joint infections are caused by Gram-positive organisms, specifically staphylococci. Additionally, gram-negative organisms such as E. coli can infect various organs through infected wounds. Fungal arthritis is a rare condition, with examples including Mucormycosis (Mucor rhizopus). These infections are difficult to treat, making the use of novel antibacterial materials for bone diseases crucial. Sodium titanate nanotubes (NaTNTs) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and characterized using a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and Zeta sizer. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the NaTNT framework nanostructure was evaluated using Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), Disc Diffusion assays for bacterial activity, and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) for antifungal investigation. In addition to examining in vivo antibacterial activity in rats through wound induction and infection, pathogen counts and histological examinations were also conducted. In vitro and in vivo tests revealed that NaTNT has substantial antifungal and antibacterial effects on various bone-infected pathogens. In conclusion, current research indicates that NaTNT is an efficient antibacterial agent against a variety of microbial pathogenic bone diseases.
Aerosolized Antibiotics to Manage Ventilator-Associated Infections: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Myrianthefs Pavlos , Zakynthinos George E. , Tsolaki Vasiliki , Makris Demosthenes
Published: April 2023

Background: Ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infectious complications in critically ill patients cover a wide spectrum of one disease process (respiratory infection), initiating from tracheal tube and/or tracheobronchial colonization, to ventilator associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). VAP occurence has been associated with increased intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity (ventilator days, as well as length of ICU and hospital stay) and ICU mortality. Therefore, treatments that aim at VAP/VAT incidence reduction are a high priority. Aim: The aim of the present review is to discuss the current literature concerning two major aspects: (a) can aerosolized antibiotics (AA) administered in a pre-emptive way prevent the occurrence of ventilator-associated infections? and (b) can VAT treatment with aerosolized avert the potential evolution to VAP? Results: There were identified eight studies that provided data on the use of aerosolized antibiotics for the prevention of VAT/VAP. Most of them report favorable data on reducing the colonisation rate and the progression to VAP/VAT. Another four studies dealt with the treatment of VAT/VAP. The results support the decrease in the incidence to VAP transition and/or the improvement in signs and symptoms of VAP. Moreover, there are concise reports on higher cure rates and microbiological eradication in patients treated with aerosolized antibiotics. Yet, differences in the delivery modality adopted and resistance emergence issues preclude the generalisability of the results. Conclusion: Aerosolized antibiotic therapy can be used to manage ventilator-associated infections, especially those with difficult to treat resistance. The limited clinical data raise the need for large randomized controlled trials to confirm the benefits of AA and to evaluate the impact on antibiotic selection pressure.
A Systematic Review on Antimicrobial Pharmacokinetic Differences between Asian and Non-Asian Adult Populations
Authors: Setiawan Eko , Cotta Menino Osbert , Roberts Jason A. , Abdul-Aziz Mohd Hafiz
Published: April 2023

While the relevance of inter-ethnic differences to the pharmacokinetic variabilities of antimicrobials has been reported in studies recruiting healthy subjects, differences in antimicrobial pharmacokinetics between Asian and non-Asian patients with severe pathologic conditions require further investigation. For the purpose of describing the potential differences in antimicrobial pharmacokinetics between Asian and non-Asian populations, a systematic review was performed using six journal databases and six theses/dissertation databases (PROSPERO record CRD42018090054). The pharmacokinetic data of healthy volunteers and non-critically ill and critically ill patients were reviewed. Thirty studies on meropenem, imipenem, doripenem, linezolid, and vancomycin were included in the final descriptive summaries. In studies recruiting hospitalised patients, inconsistent differences in the volume of distribution (Vd) and drug clearance (CL) of the studied antimicrobials between Asian and non-Asian patients were observed. Additionally, factors other than ethnicity, such as demographic (e.g., age) or clinical (e.g., sepsis) factors, were suggested to better characterise these pharmacokinetic differences. Inconsistent differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between Asian and non-Asian subjects/patients may suggest that ethnicity is not an important predictor to characterise interindividual pharmacokinetic differences between meropenem, imipenem, doripenem, linezolid, and vancomycin. Therefore, the dosing regimens of these antimicrobials should be adjusted according to patients’ demographic or clinical characteristics that can better describe pharmacokinetic differences.
Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Favorable Health-Related Quality of Life, Physical Activity, and Sleep Quality in a Community-Dwelling Greek Older Population
Authors: Mantzorou Maria , Mentzelou Maria , Vasios Georgios K. , Kontogiorgis Christos , Antasouras Georgios , Vadikolias Konstantinos , Psara Evmorfia , Vorvolakos Theofanis , Poulios Efthymios , Serdari Aspasia , Papadopoulou Sousana K. , Giaginis Constantinos
Published: April 2023

Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is a beneficial dietary pattern with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can promote mental and physical human health. This study aims to assess the impact of MD adherence on health-related quality of life, physical activity levels, and sleep quality in a representative Greek elderly population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 3254 persons ≥65 years from 14 different Greek regions, urban, rural and islands participated in this study, of which 48.4% were female and 51.6% were male. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) was evaluated utilizing a short form healthy survey, physical activity was determined by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), sleep quality was assessed utilizing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and MD adherence was assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore). Results: Moderate adherence to the MD and an increased prevalence of poor quality of life, low physical activity levels and inadequate sleep quality among the elderly population were recorded. High MD adherence was independently associated with better quality of life (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 2.06–2.68, p = 0.0008), higher physical activity (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47–2.35, p = 0.0141) and adequate sleep quality (OR: 2.11, 95%: 1.79–2.44, p = 0.0018), female sex (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02–1.68, p = 0.0032) and living with others (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.81–1.76, p = 0.0375), after adjustment for potential confounding factors. In unadjusted analysis, participants’ age (p < 0.0001), anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.005), educational (p = 0.0026) and financial status (p = 0.0005) and smoking habits (p = 0.0031) were also identified as indicators of MD adherence; however, their impact on MD adherence was considerably attenuated after adjusting for confounding factors (p > 0.05). Conclusion: High MD adherence was correlated with favorable quality of life, higher levels of physical activity, and a more adequate sleep quality score. Strategies and public health policies that facilitate MD adherence and physical activity in older adults may improve sleep and quality of life, impacting overall wellbeing in this age group.
Iron Uptake Controls Trypanosoma cruzi Metabolic Shift and Cell Proliferation
Authors: Dick Claudia F. , Alcantara Carolina L. , Carvalho-Kelly Luiz F. , Lacerda-Abreu Marco Antonio , Cunha-e-Silva Narcisa L. , Meyer-Fernandes José R. , Vieyra Adalberto
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Ionic transport in Trypanosoma cruzi is the object of intense studies. T. cruzi expresses a Fe-reductase (TcFR) and a Fe transporter (TcIT). We investigated the effect of Fe depletion and Fe supplementation on different structures and functions of T. cruzi epimastigotes in culture. (2) Methods: We investigated growth and metacyclogenesis, variations of intracellular Fe, endocytosis of transferrin, hemoglobin, and albumin by cell cytometry, structural changes of organelles by transmission electron microscopy, O2 consumption by oximetry, mitochondrial membrane potential measuring JC-1 fluorescence at different wavelengths, intracellular ATP by bioluminescence, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase following reduction of ferricytochrome c, production of H2O2 following oxidation of the Amplex® red probe, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity following the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, expression of SOD, elements of the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, TcFR and TcIT by quantitative PCR, PKA activity by luminescence, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase abundance and activity by Western blotting and NAD+ reduction, and glucokinase activity recording NADP+ reduction. (3) Results: Fe depletion increased oxidative stress, inhibited mitochondrial function and ATP formation, increased lipid accumulation in the reservosomes, and inhibited differentiation toward trypomastigotes, with the simultaneous metabolic shift from respiration to glycolysis. (4) Conclusion: The processes modulated for ionic Fe provide energy for the T. cruzi life cycle and the propagation of Chagas disease.
Research on Plastic Flow Characteristic Parameter Distribution of Shaped-Charge Jet: Theory, Experiment, and Simulation
Authors: Song Ping , Li Wenbin , Liu Jianghai , Zhang Qing , Wang Zhenxiong
Published: April 2023

To investigate the plastic deformation (PD) response of a liner material during the shaped-charge jet (SCJ) formation process, the state of motion of liner material and the pattern of change in its deformation environment under explosive loading were theoretically analyzed and modeled. The distribution patterns of the characteristic PD parameters (that is, strain, strain rate, temperature, and flow stress) of the jet at any given time were theoretically predicted. The distribution patterns of the characteristic PD parameters of jets formed from two materials, namely, oxygen-free high-thermal-conductivity copper (OFHC-Cu) and molybdenum (Mo), during their formation process were theoretically analyzed. A series of experimental and numerical simulation studies were conducted to examine the accuracy of the theoretical predictions. As per the results, the developed theoretical model is effective in predicting the one-dimensional distribution of the characteristic PD parameters in the direction of jet formation. At any given time, the distribution of the characteristic PD parameters varies considerably between different parts of the jet. There is no significant difference in the distribution of the strain and strain rate between the jets formed from the two materials in the presence of the same warhead structure. A theoretical analysis predicted average temperatures of 804 and 2277.8 K and average flow stresses of 193.1 and 344.3 MPa for the OFHC-Cu and Mo jets, respectively. A hardness analysis of the jet fragments revealed average strengths of 144.32 and 286.66 MPa for the OFHC-Cu and Mo jets during their formation process, respectively. These results differed by 34% and 20% from the corresponding theoretical predictions.
An Image Processing Method for Measuring the Surface Area of Rapeseed Pods
Authors: Li Fangyi , Li Xumeng , Huang Huang , Xiang Hao , Guan Chunyun , Guan Mei
Published: April 2023

An image processing method that considers pods to be irregular cylinders composed of several oblique cylinder slices with different diameters was proposed to achieve the “highly accurate, highly efficient and large-scale” target of measuring the surface area of rapeseed pods. The total side area of all the oblique cylinder slices, specifically the pod surface area, was calculated. A high-precision 3-dimensional method was used to measure and correct the actual area of the silique for the first time. The results of the measurement accuracy analysis showed that the image processing method could accurately measure the surface area of rapeseed pods. The average measurement error was 2.46%, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.92 cm2. To prove the superiority of this method, we measured the same test samples using four other methods: the Clark formula, the Leng formula, flattening scanning, and quasi-cylinder side area methods. The accuracy and efficiency of the image processing method were much higher than the other four measurement methods. The surface area of multiple pods from 83 rape plants was measured using the image processing method; the results were consistent with the expectations of the experimental design. The 3D measurement and image processing technology were compared and analyzed, and the latter was preliminarily designed for future rape pod seed testing. Thus, this method can provide technical support to measure the surface area of numerous rapeseed pods.
Luminous Flux Utilization of Static Birefringent Fourier Transform Imaging Spectrometer with Zoomable Spectral Resolution
Authors: Zhang Xiangzhe , Zhu Jingping , Huang Liqing , Zhang Yu , Wang Huimin , Deng Jinxin , Guo Fengqi
Published: April 2023

The optical displacement calculation formula for the dual Wollaston prism is derived for any incident plane and angle using the wave normal tracing method. The validity of the calculation is confirmed by comparing it with captured photographs. The relationship between the maximum incident aperture, incident angle, and incident surface angle is given when plane and spherical waves incident on the prism group. The aperture utilization of a novel static birefringent Fourier transform imaging spectrometer based on dual Wollaston prisms is also analyzed. The relationship of aperture utilization with the incident surface angle, incident angle, and prisms’ air gap thickness is given. The results provide a theoretical foundation for fully describing the optical transmission characteristics of the dual Wollaston prism group and developing a high-performance spatio-tempo hybrid modulated birefringent spectral zoom Fourier transform imaging spectrometer.
Multi-Mode Imaging of Ambient Background Noise for Karst Detection in the Limestone Area Based on Frequency-Bessel Transform
Authors: Chen Song , Liu Daohan , Cheng Fei , Xu Junjie
Published: April 2023

In response to the challenges of karst geophysical exploration in an environment with strong external interference, this paper proposes a new method, namely the frequency-Bessel transform method, for extracting multi-order dispersion curves of surface waves from background noise to characterize karst. The observation noise data of the Wuhan karst development area are used as an example, where the dolomitic limestone and limestone mixed with dolomite of the Jialing River Formation of the middle lower Triassic are widely developed in the observation area. The frequency-Bessel transform method involves performing a Bessel integral transformation on the cross-correlation coefficient of background noise in the frequency domain. Firstly, by synthesizing theoretical noise data and comparing it with the spatial autocorrelation method—which is currently the main method for extracting the fundamental dispersion curve of surface waves—it is verified that the frequency-Bessel transform method can extract the higher-mode dispersion curve. Then, by taking the actual measured single-point noise data as an example, the effect of applying the frequency-Bessel transform to the actual noise data is tested, and the inversion of the fine structure of the strata by the addition of higher-mode dispersion, the use of the damped least squares inversion method, and the joint inversion of fundamental and higher-mode dispersion curves are analyzed. The higher-mode dispersion curve of Rayleigh surface wave extracted by the frequency-Bessel transform is much clearer, and the 2D shear wave velocity structure profile obtained from inversion explains the karst development area, karst strip area, and thickness of the Quaternary overburden. The inferred results match with the actual borehole data. Multi-mode imaging of background noise based on the frequency-Bessel method can be applied to depict karst in complex backgrounds, and has significant potentiality in the field of ambient seismic noise tomography, providing a new idea and method for karst detection in near-surface engineering.
A Fuzzy Model for Reasoning and Predicting Student’s Academic Performance
Authors: Hegazi Mohamed O. , Almaslukh Bandar , Siddig Khadra
Published: April 2023

Evaluating students’ academic performance is crucial for assessing the quality of education and educational strategies. However, it can be challenging to predict and evaluate academic performance under uncertain and imprecise conditions. To address this issue, many research works have employed fuzzy concepts to analyze, predict, and make decisions about students’ academic performance. This paper investigates the use of fuzzy concepts in research related to evaluating, analyzing, predicting, or making decisions about student academic performance. The paper proposes a fuzzy model, called FPM (Fuzzy Propositional Model), for reasoning and predicting students’ academic performance. FPM aims to address the limitations of previous studies by incorporating propositional logic with fuzzy sets concept, which allows for the representation of uncertainty and imprecision in the data. FPM integrates and transforms if-then rules into weighted fuzzy production rules to predict and evaluate academic performance. This paper tests and evaluates the FPM in two scenarios. In the first scenario, the model predicts and examines the impact of absenteeism on academic performance where there is no clear relation between the two parts of the dataset. In the second scenario, the model predicts the final exam results using the lab exam results, where the data are more related. The FPM provides good results in both scenarios, demonstrating its effectiveness in predicting and evaluating students’ academic performance. A comparison study of the FPM’s results with a linear regression model and previous work showed that the FPM performs better in predicting academic performance and provides more insights into the underlying factors affecting it. Therefore, the FPM could be useful in educational institutions to predict and evaluate students’ academic performance, identify underlying factors affecting it, and improve educational strategies.
Research on Feature Extraction of Meteorological Disaster Emergency Response Capability Based on an RNN Autoencoder
Authors: Tang Jiansong , Yang Ruijia , Dai Qiangsheng , Yuan Gaoteng , Mao Yingchi
Published: April 2023

Climate change has increased the frequency of various types of meteorological disasters in recent years. Finding the primary factors that limit the emergency response capability of meteorological disasters through the evaluation of that capability and proposing corresponding improvement measures in order to increase that capability is of great practical importance. The evaluation of meteorological disaster emergency response capability still has some issues. The majority of research methods use qualitative analysis, which makes it challenging to deal with fuzzy factors, leading to conclusions that are subjective and insufficiently rigorous. The evaluation models themselves are also complex and challenging to simulate and analyze, making it challenging to promote and use them in practice. Deep learning techniques have made it easier to collect and process large amounts of data, which has opened new avenues for advancement in the emergency management of weather-related disasters. In this paper, we suggest a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN)-based dynamic capability feature extraction method. The process of evaluation content determination and index selection is used to build a meteorological disaster emergency response capability evaluation index system before an encoder, based on the encoder–decoder architecture, is built for dynamic feature extraction. The RNN autoencoder deep learning ability dynamic rating method used in this paper has been shown through a series of experiments to be able to not only efficiently extract ability features from time series data and reduce the dimensionality of ability features, but also to reduce the focus of the ability evaluation model on simple and abnormal samples, concentrate the model learning on difficult samples, and have a higher accuracy. As a result, it is more suitable for the problem situation at evaluation of the disaster capability.
Dynamical Neural Network Based Dynamic Inverse Control Method for a Flexible Air-Breathing Hypersonic Vehicle
Authors: Gao Haiyan , Chen Zhichao , Tang Weiqiang
Published: April 2023

A novel dynamic inverse control method based on a dynamical neural network (DNN) is proposed for the trajectory tracking control of a flexible air-breathing hypersonic vehicle (FAHV). Firstly, considering that the accurate model of FAHV is difficult to obtain, the FAHV is regarded as a completely unknown system, and a DNN is designed to identify its nonlinear model. On the basis of Lyapunov’s second law, the weight vectors of the DNN are adaptively updated. Then, a dynamic inverse controller is designed based on the identification model, which avoids the transformation of the nonlinear model of FAHV, thereby simplifying the controller design process. The simulation results verify that the DNN can identify FAHV accurately, and velocity and altitude can track the given reference signal accurately with the proposed dynamic inverse control method. Compared with the back-stepping control method, the proposed method has better tracking accuracy, and the amplitude of the initial control law is smaller.
Optimized Implementation and Analysis of CHAM in Quantum Computing
Authors: Yang Yujin , Jang Kyungbae , Baksi Anubhab , Seo Hwajeong
Published: April 2023

A quantum computer capable of running the Grover search algorithm, which reduces the complexity of brute-force attacks by a square root, has the potential to undermine the security strength of symmetric-key cryptography and hash functions. Recently, studies on quantum approaches have proposed analyzing potential quantum attacks using the Grover search algorithm in conjunction with optimized quantum circuit implementations for symmetric-key cryptography and hash functions. Analyzing quantum attacks on a cipher (i.e., quantum cryptanalysis) and estimating the necessary quantum resources are related to evaluating post-quantum security for the target cryptography algorithms. In this paper, we revisit quantum implementations of CHAM block cipher, an ultra lightweight cipher, with a focus on optimizing the linear operations in its key schedule. We optimized the linear equations of CHAM as matrices by applying novel optimized decomposition techniques. Using the improved CHAM quantum circuits, we estimate the cost of Grover’s key search and evaluate the post-quantum security strength with further reduced costs.
Climatology of 557.7 nm Emission Layer Parameters over South-East Siberia, Observations and Model Data
Authors: Vasilyev Roman , Saunkin Andrei , Zorkaltseva Olga , Artamonov Maksim , Mikhalev Alexander
Published: April 2023

The paper deals with long-term means of 557.7 nm atomic oxygen airglow intensity (OI) and air temperature within the mesopause over the southern regions of East Siberia. Data on temperature and emission parameters were obtained with a SABER radiometer, KEO Scientific “Arinae” Fabry–Pérot interferometer, SATI spectrometer and NRLMSIS model over the Tory Geophysical Observatory (52° N, 103° E). Annual variations of 557.7 nm emission intensity and temperature obtained in observations differ from model approximations. Potential reasons for the discrepancies revealed are discussed.