bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biostimulants Promote Plant Development, Crop Productivity, and Fruit Quality of Protected Strawberries
Authors: Soltaniband Veedaa , Brégard Annie , Gaudreau Linda , Dorais Martine
Published: July 2022

Berries such as strawberries are recognized as a significant constituent of healthy human diets owing to their bioactive secondary metabolites. To improve crop sustainability, yield and berry quality, alternative production systems should be proposed such as organic farming and the use of biostimulants. Thus, we have compared within a complete randomized block design seven biostimulant treatments: 1-control, 2-seaweed extract, 3-Trichoderma, 4-mycorrhiza, 5-mixture of three bacteria, 6-combination of mycorrhiza + bacteria, and 7-citric acid. Strawberry plants were grown in conventional high tunnel (CH), conventional greenhouse (CG) and organic greenhouse (OG). Our results showed that biostimulants did not impact the soil microbial activity (FDA) when compared with the control. Leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic leaf performance were not affected by any studied biostimulants. Bacteria, citric acid, and the combination of mycorrhiza + bacteria increased the number of flowering stalks compared with the control in CH, while bacteria increased the crown diameter and all biostimulants increased fresh and dry shoot plant biomass. Citric acid increased leaf Ca content in CG, when all biostimulants increased leaf N content in CH. Studied biostimulants increased berry productivity in CH, while citric acid treatment had the highest yield in CG. The anthocyanins content increased with the use of biostimulants in CH, whereas Trichoderma (CG) and the combination of mycorrhiza + bacteria (OG) increased the Brix, total polyphenols, and anthocyanin contents of the berries compared with the control.
Fodder Galega vs. Alfalfa: Yield and Feed Value of Leaves, Stems, and Whole Plants
Authors: Ignaczak Stanisław , Andrzejewska Jadwiga , Sadowska Katarzyna , Albrecht Kenneth A.
Published: July 2022

Fodder galega (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a perennial forage legume that can be an alternative to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under more difficult environmental conditions. Galega is characterized by leafiness, and technology is now available to harvest leaves separately from stems, providing opportunity to utilize the more nutritious leaves as a feed protein source, and stems for alternative purposes. Our objective was to assess leaf, stem, and whole plant production and nutritive value of galega relative to alfalfa. Field-grown galega and alfalfa were sequentially harvested from bud to late flower maturity stages in first and second growth over two years. The proportion of leaves in galega at each harvest was greater than that of alfalfa, on average by 35%. The yield of galega leaves and yield of crude protein (CP) from leaves was also greater, on average by 31% and 18%, respectively. However, galega leaves had lower CP concentration, contained more fiber, and were less digestible than alfalfa leaves. Although the proportion of stems in galega was lower, the mean dry matter yield of stems of both species was similar. Crude protein concentration in the stems of both species was similar, but galega stems tended to contain more fiber and be less digestible than alfalfa stems. The dry matter yield of whole plant galega was greater than that of alfalfa, especially in the spring cut. Whole plant galega contained, on average, 6% more CP, and galega protein yield was also 16% greater than that of alfalfa. Whole plants of both species were generally characterized by similar levels of fiber and digestibility. The relatively high leaf-protein yield of galega under a two-harvest regime makes fractional harvest of this crop an attractive management strategy.
High Sink Capacity Improves Rice Grain Yield by Promoting Nitrogen and Dry Matter Accumulation
Authors: Cheng Fangwei , Bin Shiyou , Iqbal Anas , He Lijian , Wei Shanqing , Zheng Hao , Yuan Pengli , Liang He , Ali Izhar , Xie Dongjie , Yang Xinxin , Xu Anjie , Ullah Saif , Jiang Ligeng
Published: July 2022

Sink capacity, nitrogen (N), and dry matter accumulation (DMA) all play essential roles in promoting high rice grain yield, but their relationship is unclear. Here, a field experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2021 with Zhuangxiangyou Baijin 5 as the test cultivar. Two rates of N (T1 = 90 kg ha−1 N and T2 = 180 kg ha−1 N) and three transplanting densities (272,000 hills ha−1 (M1), 238,000 hills ha−1 (M2), and 206,000 hills ha−1 (M3)) were used to investigate rice grain yield and corresponding yield attributes. The results showed significant differences in rice yield, sink capacity, N and DMA, and the leaf area index (LAI) at the heading stage among the different treatments. The results showed that the output of T2M1 was the highest in 2020, increasing by 16.6% compared with the lowest output, while the output of T2M2 was the highest in 2021, increasing by 11.9% compared with the lowest output. During 2020, the highest sink capacity, LAI at the heading stage, and maximum dry matter accumulation at the maturity stage of rice were recorded in T2M1, while the highest N accumulation was recorded in T2M2. Furthermore, the sink capacity, as well as levels of N and DMA, of rice in 2020 was higher in T2M2, and the LAI was higher in T2M1 at the heading stage. Correlation analyses showed that yield was significantly positively correlated with N and DMA. In addition, a significant positive correlation between sink capacity and DMA was observed during both years, while a significant positive correlation between sink capacity and N accumulation was observed in 2021. Thus, we conclude that a high sink capacity can increase rice yield by increasing N and DMA because a high sink capacity is the internal driving force of high rice grain yield. In conclusion, the T2M1 regimen is a promising approach for improving the grain yield of paddy rice.
Copper Distribution and Binding Affinity of Size-Fractioned Humic Substances Taken from Paddy Soil and Correlation with Optical Characteristics
Authors: Huang Wei-Hsiang , Lin Tzu-Che , Huang Chao-Min , Chen Ting-Chien , Yeh Yi-Lung
Published: July 2022

Soil organic matter (SOM) is heterogeneous and a complex mixture, whose concentration, chemical composition, and structure are strongly associated with the binding behavior of heavy metals (HMs) in soil. The HM-SOM binding affinity affects the HM biotoxicity and bioavailability in the environment. This study investigated Cu’s distribution and binding affinity on five size-fractioned alkaline-extracted soil organic matters (AEOMs) taken from paddy fields. The fractioned AEOMs were M-A (100 kDa −0.45 μm), M-B (3–100 kDa), M-C (1–3 kDa), M-D (0.3–1.0 kDa), and M-E (<0.3 kDa). The average organic carbon (OC) mass percentages were 10.0, 40.3, 6.3, 5.0, and 38.4%, and Cu mass percentages were 9.8, 66.7, 4.7, 4.7, and 14.1% for fractioned M-A, M-B, M-C, M-D, and M-E solutions, respectively. The Cu and AEOM binding affinity, [Cu]/[DOC] ratios, ranged from 3.1 to 127.6 μmol/g-C with 41-fold variation. The ratio order was 63.5 ± 32.3 (M-B) > 32.8 ± 12.8 (M-A) > 28.0 ± 10.5 (M-D) > 24.25 ± 10.7 (M-C) > 12.5 ± 6.0 (M-E) μmol g-C−1. Cu preferred binding with size-fractioned AEOMs ranging from 3 to 100 kDa. The specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254), the fluorescence index (FI), and the biological index (BIX) were significantly correlated with the [Cu]/[DOC] ratios. In each site, the combined bulk and the five size-fractioned AEOMs, the selected optical indicators had a significant correlation with the corresponding [Cu]/[DOC] ratios. Cu-AEOM binding affinity was enhanced by AEOM rich in aromaticity. However, high microbial and autochthonous AEOM origins decreased the binding affinity.
Comparative Analyses of Production Performance, Meat Quality, and Gut Microbial Composition between Two Chinese Goose Breeds
Authors: Ni Hongyu , Zhang Yonghong , Yang Yuwei , Li Yumei , Yin Yijing , Sun Xueqi , Xie Hengli , Zheng Jinlei , Dong Liping , Diao Jizhe , Sun Hao , Zhang Yan , Liang Shuang
Published: July 2022

Goose meat is consumed by consumers because it contains a relatively high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). This study was conducted to explore the main differences in production performance, breast meat quality traits, and cecal microbiota compositions between the Zi goose (ZG) and Xianghai flying goose (FG). The production performance and breast meat quality trait analyses showed that compared with the ZG, the FG had a higher right breast muscle index, ileum villi height/crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), and cecum fermentation rate (higher short-chain fatty acid (SFCA) concentration); a lower abdominal fat index; a higher proportion of PUFAs; and a lower shear force. Spearman’s correlation coefficients between the cecal microbiota composition and production performance indexes suggested that the genus Faecalibacterium was positively associated with production performance; in contrast, the genus Candidatus Saccharimonas was negatively correlated with production performance; moreover, the Ruminococcus torques group, Parasutterella, and Methanobrevibacter were negatively related to the VH/CD. Taken together, in this particular trial, FG had better production performance, healthier meat quality traits, and better intestinal digestion and absorption capacities than ZG. These results not only provide a useful data reference for the production of healthy geese for human consumption but can also help guide the utilization of goose breed resources.
Effects of Maternal Nutrient Restriction and Melatonin Supplementation on Cardiomyocyte Cell Development Parameters Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Mazinani Mitra , Contreras-Correa Zully E. , Behzadan Vahid , Gopal Shreya , Lemley Caleb O.
Published: July 2022

The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of maternal feed restriction and melatonin supplementation on fetal cardiomyocyte cell development parameters and predict binucleation and hypertrophy using machine learning techniques using pregnant beef heifers. Brangus heifers (n = 29) were assigned to one of four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design at day 160 of gestation: (1) 100% of nutrient requirements (adequately fed; ADQ) with no dietary melatonin (CON); (2) 100% of nutrient requirements (ADQ) with 20 mg/d of dietary melatonin (MEL); (3) 60% of nutrient requirements (nutrient-restricted; RES) with no dietary melatonin (CON); (4) 60% of nutrient requirements (RES) with 20 mg/d of dietary melatonin (MEL). On day 240 of gestation, fetuses were removed, and fetal heart weight and thickness were determined. The large blood vessel perimeter was increased in fetuses from RES compared with ADQ (p = 0.05). The total number of capillaries per tissue area exhibited a nutrition by treatment interaction (p = 0.01) where RES-MEL increased capillary number compared (p = 0.03) with ADQ-MEL. The binucleated cell number per tissue area showed a nutrition by treatment interaction (p = 0.010), where it was decreased in RES-CON vs. ADQ-CON fetuses. Hypertrophy was estimated by dividing ventricle thickness by heart weight. Based on machine learning results, for the binucleation and hypertrophy target variables, the Bagging model with 5 Decision Tree estimators and 3 Decision Tree estimators produced the best results without overfitting. In the prediction of binucleation, left heart ventricular thickness feature had the highest Gin importance weight followed by fetal body weight. In the case of hypertrophy, heart weight was the most important feature. This study provides evidence that restricted maternal nutrition leads to a reduction in the number of cardiomyocytes while melatonin treatment can mitigate some of these disturbances.
Cryopreservation of Sperm from an Endangered Snake with Tests of Post-Thaw Incubation in Caffeine
Authors: Sandfoss Mark R. , Cantrell Jessica , Roberts Beth M. , Reichling Steve
Published: July 2022

Cryopreservation of sperm to preserve the genetic diversity of declining populations is a promising technique to aid in the recovery of endangered species such as the Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni). However, this technique has been performed on only a handful of snake species and with limited success. Here, we tested a cryoprotective agent (CPA) mixture containing Lake’s buffer with 10% N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), 2% methanol, 5% clarified egg yolk, (v/v% final concentration) against 16 other CPA-treatment mixtures. These contained either Lake’s buffer or TEST egg yolk buffer as the base diluent with a penetrating or non-penetrating CPA on the post-thaw recovery of sperm motility and viability. We also investigated the effect of post-thaw incubation treatment in TL HEPES supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (H10) alone or with caffeine on post-thaw motility parameters. Sperm from 16 Louisiana pinesnakes was cryopreserved, and the effectiveness of the CPA treatment mixtures and post-thaw treatments was determined based on measurements of sperm motility and viability. Sperm cryopreservation significantly reduced initial post-thaw sperm quality for all of the extender treatments. Viability of sperm was best maintained when cryopreserved in an CPA treatment mixture containing Lake’s buffer with 10% DMF, 2% methanol, and 5% clarified egg yolk with the addition of 5 mg/mL bovine serum albumin (BSA). For several extender mixtures a similar percent of post-thaw motility was observed, but no forward motility returned in any post-thaw samples prior to incubation in dilution treatments. Following incubation in both post-thaw treatments, the percent of forward motility and the index of forward progressive movement improved significantly. Post-thaw dilution with H10 containing caffeine improved motility parameters over H10 alone, suggesting further investigation of post-thaw treatment in caffeine could be beneficial. Although, cryopreservation of sperm from the Louisiana pinesnake continues to present a challenge, post-thaw dilution and the addition of BSA to CPA mixtures provides areas for improving cryopreservation methods for this endangered species.
Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Trueperella pyogenes Isolated from Infections in European Bison (Bison bonasus)
Authors: Kwiecień Ewelina , Stefańska Ilona , Kizerwetter-Świda Magdalena , Chrobak-Chmiel Dorota , Didkowska Anna , Bielecki Wojciech , Olech Wanda , Anusz Krzysztof , Rzewuska Magdalena
Published: July 2022

Trueperella pyogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium causing purulent infections in many animal species, including the European bison. However, the data about the virulence and genetic relationships of T. pyogenes strains isolated from these wild ruminants are strongly limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of T. pyogenes infections in the European bison, and to evaluate the genetic diversity of isolates from these animals. In the time span of 10 years, 328 European bison from 16 different locations were examined. The standard bacteriological methods were used for T. pyogenes isolation and identification from clinical specimens obtained from urogenital tract infections and abscesses of different locations. The presence of genes encoding known virulence factors was investigated by PCR, and the genetic diversity of T. pyogenes strains was examined with the RAPD-PCR method. The prevalence of T. pyogenes infections was 14.6%, and the pathogen was isolated from both female (47.9% of isolates) and male (52.1% of isolates) European bison. It should be highlighted that a considerable number of strains were isolated from the prepuce and penis infections. Therefore, the role of T. pyogenes in the pathogenesis of balanoposthitis should be seriously perceived. A total of 39 T. pyogenes strains were subjected to genetic characterization. All studied strains carried the plo gene, while the nanH (25.6%), nanP (23.1%), cbpA (7.7%), fimA (97.4%), fimC (69.2%), fimE (92.3%) and fimG (15.4%) genes were present with a variable frequency among the tested strains. The virulence genotype plo/fimA/fimC/fimE was dominant. RAPD-PCR typing showed a high level of genetic diversity among European bison T. pyogenes strains, and a total of 31 different RAPD profiles were distinguished. In a few cases, the same RAPD profile was found in strains obtained from animals living in the same area. This study provided the first data about the prevalence and genetic relationships of T. pyogenes in the Polish population of European bison. However, further epidemiological investigations are needed to understand the routes of transmission and dissemination of the pathogen in these wild animals.
Anti-Nutritional Factors and Protein Dispersibility Index as Principal Quality Indicators for Soybean Meal in Diet of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus GIFT), a Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ma Shifeng , Wang Hao , Dou Yulong , Liang Xiaofang , Zheng Yinhua , Wu Xiufeng , Xue Min
Published: July 2022

Soybean meal (SBM) is the most important plant protein source in animal feed. This study investigated the characteristics of different SBMs, produced by soybeans from America and Brazil (SBM-A and SBM-B) in 2017–2021 under the same controlled conditions. The effects of different SBMs on the growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, GIFT) and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of nutrients and energy were studied. The results showed that protein dispersibility index (PDI), urease activity (UA), glycinin and fiber were the four primary key indicators for distinguishing the characteristics of the tested SBMs. The meta-analysis results suggested that UA, glycinin, and fiber showed a negative effect on the survival rate (SR) and weight gain rate (WGR) of the Nile tilapia, whereas β-conglycinin, PDI, and nitrogen solubility index (NSI) had a positive effect on the SR and WGR of the fish. The ADCs of dry matter, the gross energy, phosphorus, crude protein, valine (Val), lysine (Lys), histidine (His), serine (Ser), and glutamate (Glu) of the Diet-A group (SBM-A inclusion) were significantly higher than those in the Diet-B group (SBM-B inclusion) (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in ADCs of macro-nutrients between the two SBMs (p > 0.05). Overall, PDI, UA, glycinin, and fiber were the main indicators reflecting the characteristics of the tested SBMs, and UA, glycinin, β-conglycinin, and PDI had the greatest impact on the growth performance of Nile tilapia in this study. PDI was a more sensitive indicator than NSI for representing the protein quality of SBM.
Comparative Study of Classical and Alternative Therapy in Dogs with Allergies
Authors: Micháľová Alena , Takáčová Martina , Karasová Martina , Kunay Lukáš , Grelová Simona , Fialkovičová Mária
Published: July 2022

Allergy is a malfunction of the immune system that causes an inappropriate reaction to normally harmless substances known as allergens, such as food components, pollen, parasites, mites, medication, etc. It is very important to make a correct diagnosis, to identify and to eliminate the offending allergen from the body, and provide control and long-term management to achieve a comfortable life for the animal. In the case of highly intensive pruritus, drugs such as glucocorticoids, antihistamines, and Janus kinase inhibitors are generally administered. Unfortunately, common drugs are not always able to resolve the problem. This comparative clinical-outcomes study focused on the application of alternatives, where a combination of acupuncture with phytotherapy and nutrition was applied. These traditional methods do not affect the body only symptomatologically; instead, they treat the patient as a whole. In this clinical study, the therapeutic effects and partial or complete stabilization of the allergic condition of fourteen dogs divided into two groups were observed, compared, and evaluated.
Intermittent Lighting Program Relieves the Deleterious Effect of Heat Stress on Growth, Stress Biomarkers, Physiological Status, and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Alaqil Abdulaziz A. , Abd El-Atty Hanaa K. , Abbas Ahmed O.
Published: July 2022

The effects of heat stress on broiler performance and immunological response were explored using lighting-program manipulation as a potential tool. The study included 200 Cobb500 broiler chicks that were one day old at the time of recruitment. The birds were divided into four-compartment groups with similar environments (five cages per compartment, ten chicks per cage). Starting from the fourth day of age, birds of two compartments received a continuous lighting program (23L:1D a day; C.L. groups) while birds of the other two compartments received an intermittent lighting program (1L:3D 6 times per day; I.L. groups). Within each lighting program during 22–42 d of age, one group was subjected either to a thermoneutral temperature at 24 °C or heat stress at 35 °C. The results reveal that stress biomarkers, especially the plasma concentrations of corticosterone (CORT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were relieved by 46%, 27%, and 51%, respectively, in the I.L. treatment groups compared to the C.L. program in broiler chicks subjected to heat stress. The liver function was also improved by 24% and 32% in AST and ALT levels, respectively, in the I.L. program compared to the C.L. program in stressed birds. Furthermore, the I.L. program positively influenced the immune response of the heat-stressed broilers. Eventually, the I.L. program increased the heat-stressed broilers’ body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. It can be concluded that applying the I.L. program to broiler chickens can effectively improve their physiological balance and growth performance under heat-stress conditions.
Antibacterial and Antifungal Management in Relation to the Clinical Characteristics of Elderly Patients with Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Budea Camelia Melania , Pricop Marius , Bratosin Felix , Bogdan Iulia , Saenger Miriam , Ciorica Ovidiu , Braescu Laurentiu , Domuta Eugenia Maria , Grigoras Mirela Loredana , Citu Cosmin , Diaconu Mircea Mihai , Marincu Iosif
Published: July 2022

Infective endocarditis (IE) is increasingly prevalent in the elderly, particularly due to the rising frequency of invasive procedures and intracardiac devices placed on these individuals. Several investigations have highlighted the unique clinical and echocardiographic characteristics, the microorganisms implicated, and the prognosis of IE in the elderly. In addition, the old population seems to be fairly diverse, ranging from healthy individuals with no medical history to patients with many ailments and those who are immobile. Furthermore, the therapy of IE in this group has not been well investigated, and worldwide recommendations do not propose tailoring the treatment approach to the patient’s functional state and comorbid conditions. A multicenter research study was designed as a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis, aiming to examine the characteristics of elderly patients over 65 years old with infective endocarditis in relation to the antibiotic and antifungal treatments administered, as well as to quantify the incidence of treatment resistance, adverse effects, and mortality in comparison to patients younger than 65. Based on a convenience sampling method, we included in the analysis a total of 78 patients younger than 65 and 131 patients older than 65 years. A total of 140 patients had endocarditis on native valves and 69 patients had endocarditis on prosthetic valves. A significantly higher proportion of elderly patients had signs of heart failure on admission, and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the elderly population. A majority of infections had a vascular cause, followed by dental, maxillo-facial, and ENT interventions. The most common complications of IE were systemic sepsis (48.1% of patients older than 65 years vs. 30.8% in the younger group). The most frequent bacterium involved was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus spp. in a total of more than 50% of all patients. The most commonly used antibiotics were cephalosporins in 33.5% of cases, followed by penicillin in 31.2% and glycopeptides in 28.7%, while Fluconazole was the initial option of treatment for fungal endocarditis in 24.9% of cases. Heart failure at admission (OR = 4.07), the development of septic shock (OR = 6.19), treatment nephrotoxicity (OR = 3.14), severe treatment complications (OR = 4.65), and antibiotic resistance (OR = 3.24) were significant independent risk factors for mortality in the elderly patients. Even though therapeutic management was initiated sooner in the older patients, the associated complications and mortality rate remained significantly greater than those in the patients under 65 years old.
Combatting Planktonic and Biofilm Populations of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii with Polymyxin-Based Combinations
Authors: Wences Marisol , Wolf Elliot R. , Li Cindy , Singh Nidhi , Bah Nene , Tan Xing , Huang Yanqin , Bulman Zackery P.
Published: July 2022

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) can cause serious infections that are associated with high mortality rates. During the course of an infection, many CRAB isolates are able to form biofilms, which are recalcitrant to several antibiotics and can be difficult to treat. Polymyxin-based regimens are a first-line treatment option for CRAB infections, but they have not been optimized against both planktonic and biofilm phases of growth. The objective of this study was to identify polymyxin-based combinations that are active against planktonic and biofilm populations of CRAB. Four CRAB isolates (meropenem MICs: 8–256 mg/L) capable of forming biofilms were used in each experiment. The activities of polymyxin B alone and in combination with ampicillin/sulbactam, meropenem, minocycline, and rifampin were assessed using time-kill assays, with the CRAB isolates grown in planktonic and biofilm phases. Viable colony counts were used to detect the bactericidal activity and synergy of the antibiotic combinations. Against the planktonic populations, polymyxin B combined with meropenem, minocycline, ampicillin/sulbactam, and rifampin caused 3.78, −0.15, 4.38, and 3.23 mean log10 CFU/mL reductions against all isolates at 24 h, respectively. Polymyxin B combined with meropenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, or rifampin was synergistic against 75–100% (3/4 or 4/4) of CRAB isolates. Against biofilms, polymyxin B combined with meropenem, minocycline, ampicillin/sulbactam, and rifampin caused 1.86, 1.01, 0.66, and 3.55 mean log10 CFU/mL reductions against all isolates at 24 h, respectively. Only the combination of polymyxin B and rifampin retained bactericidal activity or synergy against any of the isolates when grown as biofilms (50% of isolates). The combination of polymyxin B and rifampin may be promising for CRAB infections that have planktonic and biofilm populations present.
Co-Administration of Lactulose Crystals with Amoxicillin Followed by Prolonged Lactulose Treatment Promotes Recovery of the Human Gut Microbiome In Vitro
Authors: Duysburgh Cindy , Van den Abbeele Pieter , Franckenstein Dennis , Westphal Martin , Kuchinka-Koch Angelika , Marzorati Massimo
Published: July 2022

The validated SHIME model was used to assess the effect of repeated administration of two different lactulose dosages (5 g/d and 10 g/d) on the human gut microbiome during and following amoxicillin–clavulanic acid treatment. First, antibiotic treatment strongly decreased Bifidobacteriaceae levels from 54.4% to 0.6% and from 23.8% to 2.3% in the simulated proximal and distal colon, respectively, coinciding with a marked reduction in butyrate concentrations. Treatment with lactulose enhanced acetate and lactate levels during antibiotic treatment, likely through lactulose fermentation by Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillaceae. One week after cessation of antibiotic treatment, Bifidobacteriaceae levels re-increased to 20.4% and 7.6% in the proximal and distal colon of the 5 g lactulose/d co-administered unit, as compared with 1.0% and 2.2% in the antibiotic-treated unit, and were even further stimulated upon extension of lactulose administration. Marked butyrogenic effects were observed upon prolonged lactulose supplementation, suggesting the establishment of cross-feeding interactions between Bifidobacteriaceae and butyrate producers. Furthermore, a limited Enterobacteriaceae outgrowth following antibiotic treatment was observed upon dosing with 10 g lactulose/d, indicating inhibition of pathogenic colonization by lactulose following antibiotic therapy. Overall, lactulose seems to be an interesting candidate for limiting the detrimental effects of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid on the human gut microbiome, though further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Exploring Barriers to One Health Antimicrobial Stewardship in Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Study among Healthcare Professionals
Authors: Gunasekara Yasodhara Deepachandi , Kinnison Tierney , Kottawatta Sanda Arunika , Kalupahana Ruwani Sagarika , Silva-Fletcher Ayona
Published: July 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat, but little is known about the perceptions regarding antimicrobials and AMR among healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka. This research aimed to take a One Health approach to explore the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of antibiotic stewardship and AMR among healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka. A qualitative study, using telephone interviews, allowing for an in-depth exploration of attitudes, beliefs and perspectives was conducted. Healthcare professionals from both the medical and veterinary sectors were included (n = 29). Interviews were conducted by an independent interviewer and were audio-recorded and transcribed. Conventional qualitative content analysis was undertaken. Four main categories were identified: (1) understanding of AMR and observing AMR, (2) barriers to antimicrobial stewardship, (3) personal factors in, and as a result of, inappropriate antibiotic usage and (4) how to tackle AMR. Healthcare professionals showed poor awareness regarding the spread of AMR and identified inappropriate prescribing behaviours by their inter- and intra-professional colleagues. Patient demands and the influence of pharmaceutical companies were factors contributing to poor prescribing behaviour. Suggestions for the future are stricter regulation of AMR control policy, effective government involvement, and awareness campaigns for healthcare professionals and the public.
Lyophilized Human Bone Allograft as an Antibiotic Carrier: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study
Authors: Coraça-Huber Débora C. , Steixner Stephan J. M. , Najman Stevo , Stojanovic Sanja , Finze Ronja , Rimashevskiy Denis , Saginova Dina , Barbeck Mike , Schnettler Reinhard
Published: July 2022

Background: Antibiotics delivered from implanted bone substitute materials (BSM) can potentially be used to prevent acute infections and biofilm formation, providing high concentrations of antibiotics at the surgical site without systemic toxicity. In addition, BSM should allow osteoconductivity supporting bone healing without further surgery. Promising results have been achieved using lyophilized bone allografts mixed with antibiotics. Methods: In this study specially prepared human bone allografts were evaluated as an antibiotic carrier in vitro and in vivo. The efficacy of different antibiotic-impregnated bone allografts was measured by drug release tests in vitro and in vivo and bacterial susceptibility tests using four bacterial species usually responsible for implant-associated infections. Results: The loading procedures of allograft bone substitutes with antibiotics were successful. Some of the antibiotic concentrations exceeded the MIC90 for up to 7 days in vitro and for up to 72 h in vivo. The susceptibility tests showed that S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 was the most susceptible bacterial species in comparison to the other strains tested for all antibiotic substances. Vancomycin and rifampicin showed the best results against standard and patient-isolated strains in vitro. In vivo, new bone formation was comparable in all study groups including the control group without antibiotic loading. Conclusions: Human bone allografts showed the capacity to act as customized loaded antibiotic carriers to prevent acute infections and should be considered in the management of bone infections in combination with systemic antimicrobial therapy.
Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Isolates from Smallholder Poultry Droppings in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria
Authors: Bamidele Oladeji , Yakubu Abdulmojeed , Joseph Ehase Buba , Amole Tunde Adegoke
Published: July 2022

There is a growing risk of antibiotic resistance (AR) in smallholder poultry (SP). This study, therefore, aimed to investigate AR pattern of bacterial isolates from SP in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. A total of 120 fresh poultry droppings were aseptically collected, randomly, from two tropically adapted (FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler) and local chickens. The chickens were raised either using ethnoveterinary medicines (n = 60) or antibiotics (n = 60). Bacterial isolates were characterized and analyzed using standard protocols, and appropriate statistical tools. Compared to Pseudomonas spp. (2.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (5.8%), Salmonella spp. (57.5%) and Escherichia coli (34.2%) were the most prevalent (χ2 = 96.67; p < 0.001). Prevalence of bacterial species was significantly (p = 0.024; Odds Ratio = 2.552) influenced by antibiotics usage. All four species were multi-drug resistant. In total, 30% of the isolates had a multiple AR index ≥ 0.2. Bacterial isolates from FUNAAB Alpha (58.0%) and Noiler (44.0%) were highly resistant to quinolones, while isolates from the local chickens (22.6%) were most resistant to aminoglycosides. Bacterial species isolated from FUNAAB Alpha and local chickens exhibited the lowest and highest percentage of AR, respectively. Clustering of isolates with similar antibiogram revealed inter-species dependence with possibility for inter-species gene transfer. These findings provide a background to investigate the metagenomics of local and improved chickens for AR.
Taurine Alleviates Cadmium-Induced Toxicity via Genetically Specific Strategies in Two Strains of Gibel Carp (Carassius gibelio)
Authors: Xu Wenjie , Li Hongyan , Wu Liyun , Jin Junyan , Han Dong , Zhu Xiaoming , Yang Yunxia , Liu Haokun , Xie Shouqi
Published: July 2022

Our previous studies in gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) have shown that cadmium (Cd) exposure elicits deleterious effects depending on the genetic background, and thus we hypothesized that mitigation via nutritional intervention may vary between strains. Therefore, two gibel carp strains (the A and F strains) were fed diets supplemented with 0% or 1% taurine for 8 weeks prior to 96 h Cd exposure, and the responses of antioxidant pathways, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy, and apoptosis were investigated. The results showed that taurine supplementation had no effect on the growth performance of gibel carp. After Cd exposure, histological damage to mitochondria and ER, induction of oxidative stress and antioxidant responses, occurrence of ER stress, and apoptotic signals were observed in the livers. Upon the diet effects, taurine supplementation alleviated the ER-stress-induced autophagy and apoptosis after Cd exposure and stimulated antioxidant pathways. Regarding the difference between strains, taurine played a protective role in alleviating Cd toxicity through the antioxidant response, ER stress, and autophagy in the F strain, whereas such effects were achieved by the attenuation of apoptosis in the A strain. Taken together, our results demonstrate the potential use of taurine in the mitigation of heavy metal toxicity in aquatic organisms.
Chitosan Oligosaccharide Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction through Suppressing the Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in Mice
Authors: Tao Wenjing , Wang Geng , Pei Xun , Sun Wanjing , Wang Minqi
Published: July 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury. The results demonstrated that COS improved the mucosal morphology of the jejunum and colon in LPS-challenged mice. COS alleviated the LPS-induced down-regulation of tight junction protein expressions and reduction of goblet cells number and mucin expression. The mRNA expressions of anti-microbial peptides secreted by the intestinal cells were also up-regulated by COS. Additionally, COS decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine production and neutrophil recruitment in the jejunum and colon of LPS-treated mice. COS ameliorated intestinal oxidative stress through up-regulating the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 and downstream antioxidant enzymes genes. Correlation analysis indicated that the beneficial effects of COS on intestinal barrier function were associated with its anti-inflammatory activities and antioxidant capacity. Our study provides evidence for the application of COS to the prevention of intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by the stress of a LPS challenge.
Post-Processing Air Temperature Weather Forecast Using Artificial Neural Networks with Measurements from Meteorological Stations
Authors: Araujo Gustavo , Andrade Fabio A. A.
Published: July 2022

Human beings attempt to accurately predict the weather based on their knowledge of climate. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute is responsible for climate-related matters in Norway, and among its contributions is the numerical weather forecast, which is presented in a 2.5 km grid. To conduct a post-processing process that improves the resolution of the forecast and reduces its error, the Institute has developed the GRIDPP tool, which reduces the resolution to 1 km and introduces a correction based on altitude and meteorological station measurements. The present work aims to improve the current post-processing approach of the air temperature parameter by employing neural networks, using meteorological station measurements. Two neural network architectures are developed and tested: a multilayer perceptron and a convolutional neural network. Both architectures are able to achieve a smaller error than the original product. These results open doors for the Institute to plan for the practical implementation of this solution on its product for specific scenarios where the traditional numerical methods historically produce large errors. Among the test samples where the GRIDPP error is higher than 3 K, the proposed solution achieves a smaller error in 74.8% of these samples.
Bridging the Gap between Technological Education and Job Market Requirements through Data Analytics and Decision Support Services
Authors: Karakolis Evangelos , Kapsalis Panagiotis , Skalidakis Stavros , Kontzinos Christos , Kokkinakos Panagiotis , Markaki Ourania , Askounis Dimitrios
Published: July 2022

In the 21st century, technology evolves extremely fast. The same applies to technology-related professions, mostly in terms of skills requirements. Contradictorily, higher education technological institutions are not always in the position to keep up with the labor market requirements. As a result, some of the skills taught in their courses are oftentimes outdated. From a learner’s perspective, the main goal should be to avoid such outdated courses, as for most university students, the long-term objective is to land a job, where they will utilize the skills they acquired from their studies. On the other hand, from an educational decision maker’s perspective, the most important goal is to keep up with the changes in the labor market, offering courses that will be valuable for the prospective careers of students. The work conducted in the context of this publication aims to bridge the gap between education offered in universities and job market skills’ requirements in technology. Specifically, a skill and course recommender system was developed to help learners select courses that are valuable for the job market, as well as a curriculum design service, which recommends updates to a given curriculum based on the job market needs. Both services are built on top of a text mining service that retrieves job posts from several online sources and performs skill extraction from them based on text analytics techniques. Moreover, a decision support service was developed to facilitate optimal decisions for both learners and education decision makers. All services were evaluated positively by 31 early users.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and the Related Scientific Evidence
Authors: Spagnuolo Gianrico
Published: July 2022

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the most common three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique used in dentistry [...]
Numerical Analysis on Self-Propulsion of a Waterjet-Propelled Ship with Different Propulsion Models
Authors: Zhang Yong , Li Zhong , Yang Aiming
Published: July 2022

The hydrodynamics of the waterjet-propelled ship is a challenging issue due to the sophistication of waterjet system geometry as well as waterjet–hull interaction. In current study, three different propulsion models, namely, multiple reference frame (MRF) model, sliding mesh model and body-force model, are utilized to simulate the self-propulsion of a waterjet-propelled ship model. A body-force model based on a User-Defined Function (UDF) on the ANSYS Fluent platform is proposed. The computational cost, wave pattern, jet stream surface, and self-propelled hull resistance of the MRF model and body-force model are compared. Comprehensive comparisons of the internal ingested flow field of the control volume are made, especially at the capture area and nozzle section, with the two different models. In addition, the resistance increment fraction and jet system thrust deduction fraction with the two different models are investigated. Lastly, the flow field with the steady MRF model, the body-force model (RANS) and the transient sliding mesh model (URANS) are compared.
Macro SOStream: An Evolving Algorithm to Self Organizing Density-Based Clustering with Micro and Macroclusters
Authors: Oliveira Andressa Stéfany , de Abreu Rute Souza , Guedes Luiz Affonso
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a new evolving algorithm named Macro SOStream with entirely online learning and based on self-organizing density for data stream clustering. The Macro SOStream is based on the SOStream algorithm, but we incorporate macroclusters composed of microclusters. While microclusters have spherical shapes, macroclusters can have arbitrary shapes. Moreover, the Macro SOStream has the macrocluster merge functionality specially designed to improve its performance under data drift contexts. The Macro SOStream’s performance is compared to SOStream and DenStream algorithms’ performance using four synthetic datasets and the ARI performance metric to validate our proposal. Furthermore, we carry out an exhaustive analysis on the influence of adequate hyperparameter setup on these algorithms’ performance. As a result, the Macro SOStream presents good performance mainly in the context of data drift and for demands of non-spherical clusters.
A Computational Model for Nonlinear Biomechanics Problems of FGA Biological Soft Tissues
Authors: Fahmy Mohamed Abdelsabour
Published: July 2022

The principal objective of this work was to develop a semi-implicit hybrid boundary element method (HBEM) to describe the nonlinear fractional biomechanical interactions in functionally graded anisotropic (FGA) soft tissues. The local radial basis function collocation method (LRBFCM) and general boundary element method (GBEM) were used to solve the nonlinear fractional dual-phase-lag bioheat governing equation. The boundary element method (BEM) was then used to solve the poroelastic governing equation. To solve equations arising from boundary element discretization, an efficient partitioned semi-implicit coupling algorithm was implemented with the generalized modified shift-splitting (GMSS) preconditioners. The computational findings are presented graphically to display the influences of the graded parameter, fractional parameter, and anisotropic property on the bio-thermal stress. Different bioheat transfer models are presented to show the significant differences between the nonlinear bio-thermal stress distributions in functionally graded anisotropic biological tissues. Numerical findings verified the validity, accuracy, and efficiency of the proposed method.
Examination of Postmortem β-Hydroxybutyrate Increase in Forensic Autopsy Cases
Authors: Kondou Hiroki , Bandou Risa , Ichioka Hiroaki , Matsunari Ryota , Kawamoto Masataka , Idota Nozomi , Ting Deng , Kimura Satoko , Ikegaya Hiroshi
Published: July 2022

Ketoacidosis is one of the common diseases that sometimes result in death. In forensic autopsy cases, the measuring of ketone bodies, especially β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), is useful in diagnosing postmortem ketoacidosis as a cause of death. However, increased BHB values are not always indicative of ketoacidosis. Other causes of death, such as hypothermia, are known to increase BHB values. In addition, sometimes, we experience cases of increased BHB values that are unlikely to be associated with the pathophysiology or the cause of death resulting in an increase in BHB values. In this study, autopsies were performed to determine the relationship between blood BHB values and the postmortem interval (PMI). The patients were divided into four groups: PMI ≤ 24 h, PMI ≤ 48 h, PMI ≤ 72 h, and PMI > 72 h. The BHB values for each group were then compared. Based on the analysis, patients with a PMI ≤ 72 h and those with a PMI > 72 h had significantly higher BHB values than patients with a PMI ≤ 24 h. In conclusion, there remains a possibility that the BHB values increase after death. Forensic pathologists should consider PMI when diagnosing ketoacidosis as the cause of death.
Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Pigment Content and Essential Oil Accumulation in Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)
Authors: Semenova Natalya A. , Smirnov Alexandr A. , Ivanitskikh Alina S. , Izmailov Andrey Yu. , Dorokhov Alexey S. , Proshkin Yuri A. , Yanykin Denis V. , Sarimov Ruslan R. , Gudkov Sergey V. , Chilingaryan Narek O.
Published: July 2022

In this study, we investigated the effects of additional ultraviolet radiation (UV) on the main growth fluorescent lamp light on pigment content and essential oil accumulation in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Three different UV light sources from light-emitting diodes and discharge lamps, which emit UV in the UV-A (315–400 nm), UV-B (280–315 nm) and UV-C (100–280 nm) ranges, were tested for basil plant growing. The plants, growing under additional UV-A and UV-B from mercury lamps, on the 60th growing day were higher than control plants by 90% and 53%, respectively. The fresh leaf mass of the UV-A irradiated basil plants was 2.4-fold higher than the control plant mass. The dry mass/fresh mass ratio of the UV-A and UV-B irradiated plants was higher by 45% and 35% in comparison to the control plants. Leaf area was increased by 40% and 20%, respectively. UV-C affected the anthocyanin content most strongly, they increased by 50%, whereas only by 27% and 0% under UV-A and UV-B. Any UV addition did not affect the essential oil total contents but altered the essential oil compositions. UV-A and UV-B increased the linalool proportion from 10% to 20%, and to 25%, respectively, in contrast to UV-C, which reduced it to 3%. UV-C induced the eugenol methyl ether accumulation (17%) and inhibited plant growth. Moreover, UV increased the proportion of α-guaiene, β-cubebene and α-bulnesene and decreased the proportion of sabinene and fenchone. Thus, we concluded that UV (except UV-C) used jointly with main light with PPFD 120 ± 10 μmol photons·m−2·s−1 for sweet basil cultivation may be justified to stimulate basil growth and optimize the essential oil accumulation.