bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biostimulants Improve Plant Growth and Bioactive Compounds of Young Olive Trees under Abiotic Stress Conditions
Authors: Graziani Giulia , Cirillo Aurora , Giannini Paola , Conti Stefano , El-Nakhel Christophe , Rouphael Youssef , Ritieni Alberto , Di Vaio Claudio
Published: February 2022

The negative impacts of extreme heat and drought on olive plants have driven the quest for mitigation approaches based on the use of biostimulants, which have proved to be effective in contrasting environmental stresses. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of six biostimulants in mitigating high temperature and water stress in young olive trees in terms of vegetative and eco-physiological parameters as well as bioactive compound content. Biostimulants based on glycine betaine and macro- and micro-algae effectively protected the plants from abiotic stress by improving their eco-physiological and vegetative parameters. At the end of the growing season, olive plants were experiencing water deficit which had built up through the summer months. At this time, the glycine betaine-treated plants had a three-fold higher stomatal conductance compared with the control, while plants sprayed with the seaweed mix had a relative water content 33% higher than the control. The kaolin treatment resulted in higher total phenolics and antioxidant activities (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS) in water stress conditions and caused an increase of 238.53 and 443.49% in leaves total polyphenols content in 100% and 50% water regime, respectively. This study showed the effectiveness of biostimulants in mitigating the damage from abiotic stress on young olive trees, by improving some vegetative, eco-physiological and leaf nutraceutical parameters. Further studies are needed to test the efficiency of these biostimulants in open field conditions on olive trees in full production.
A Lightweight Attention-Based Convolutional Neural Networks for Tomato Leaf Disease Classification
Authors: Bhujel Anil , Kim Na-Eun , Arulmozhi Elanchezhian , Basak Jayanta Kumar , Kim Hyeon-Tae
Published: February 2022

Plant diseases pose a significant challenge for food production and safety. Therefore, it is indispensable to correctly identify plant diseases for timely intervention to protect crops from massive losses. The application of computer vision technology in phytopathology has increased exponentially due to automatic and accurate disease detection capability. However, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) requires high computational resources, limiting its portability. In this study, a lightweight convolutional neural network was designed by incorporating different attention modules to improve the performance of the models. The models were trained, validated, and tested using tomato leaf disease datasets split into an 8:1:1 ratio. The efficacy of the various attention modules in plant disease classification was compared in terms of the performance and computational complexity of the models. The performance of the models was evaluated using the standard classification accuracy metrics (precision, recall, and F1 score). The results showed that CNN with attention mechanism improved the interclass precision and recall, thus increasing the overall accuracy (>1.1%). Moreover, the lightweight model significantly reduced network parameters (~16 times) and complexity (~23 times) compared to the standard ResNet50 model. However, amongst the proposed lightweight models, the model with attention mechanism nominally increased the network complexity and parameters compared to the model without attention modules, thereby producing better detection accuracy. Although all the attention modules enhanced the performance of CNN, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) was the best (average accuracy 99.69%), followed by the self-attention (SA) mechanism (average accuracy 99.34%).
Biochemical Changes in Vitis vinifera Buds between Dormancy and Forced Bursting: A Case Study of Three Portuguese White Varieties
Authors: Monteiro Ana I. , Aires Alfredo , Malheiro Aureliano C. , Bacelar Eunice A.
Published: February 2022

The transition between the dormancy and budburst is accompanied by physiological and biochemical changes, which include variations in the carbohydrates, enzymatic activity, as well as hormones present inside the buds. The present study aimed to evaluate the biochemical changes that occur in dormant buds and forced bursting of three Vitis vinifera L. white varieties (Alvarinho, Fernão-Pires, and Loureiro) from two vineyards located in the Vinhos Verdes Demarcated Region, NW Portugal. For this purpose, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, carbohydrates, and gibberellic acid (GA3), as well as antioxidant enzymes activity were analysed. The results showed that the MDA, proline, total soluble sugars, and GA3 contents tended to be higher at budburst. In contrast, the starch content was higher at dormancy. The enzymatic activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were lower at budburst, compared with dormancy, while the reverse was observed in catalase (CAT). Significant differences were also observed between varieties for most biochemical parameters analysed, with the exception of CAT activity. Alvarinho stood out from other varieties for presenting higher MDA, proline, soluble sugars, and GA3 content, while Fernão-Pires displayed higher values of APX and POX activities and starch content. To our knowledge, the present work is the first attempt to examine the biochemical changes in dormant buds and bursting, which determine the vegetative and reproductive continuity of grapevines. This information contributes to better vineyard management, particularly important in light of the climate change scenarios, which can affect the biochemical mechanisms of the buds and compromise the yield and quality of grapevines.
Developing and Testing Remote-Sensing Indices to Represent within-Field Variation of Wheat Yields: Assessment of the Variation Explained by Simple Models
Authors: Ulfa Fathiyya , Orton Thomas G. , Dang Yash P. , Menzies Neal W.
Published: February 2022

One important issue faced by wheat producers is temporal and spatial yield variation management at a within-field scale. Vegetation indices derived from remote-sensing platforms, such as Landsat, can provide vital information characterising this variability and allow crop yield indicators development to map productivity. However, the most appropriate vegetation index and crop growth stage for use in yield mapping is often unclear. This study considered vegetation indices and growth stages selection and built and tested models to predict within-field yield variation. We used 48 wheat yield monitor maps to build linear-mixed models for predicting yield that were tested using leave-one-field-out cross-validation. It was found that some of the simplest models were not improved upon (by more complex models) for the prediction of the spatial pattern of the high and low yielding areas (the within-field yield ranking). In addition, predictions of longer-term average yields were generally more accurate than predictions of yield for single years. Therefore, the predictions over multiple years are valuable for revealing consistent spatial patterns in yield. The results demonstrate the potential and limitations of tools based on remote-sensing data that might provide growers with better knowledge of within-field variation to make more informed management decisions.
Ammonium to Total Nitrogen Ratio Interactive Effects with Salinity Application on Solanum lycopersicum Growth, Physiology, and Fruit Storage in a Closed Hydroponic System
Authors: Tzortzakis Nikolaos , Pitsikoulaki Georgia , Stamatakis Aristeidis , Chrysargyris Antonios
Published: February 2022

Using high-salinity water for plant fertigation may have negative consequences for plant growth, overall yield and crop quality. In the present study, the effects of NaCl-salinity in conjunction with three different ammonium to nitrate ratios (Nr) on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) plant growth, nutritional status, yield, fruit quality and postharvest storage were examined. The electrical conductivity (EC) was increased by adding NaCl into the nutrient solution and three different Nr ratios were applied, Nr0.05, Nr0.10 and Nr0.15, while the other macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations were constant in all treatments. The EC of the nutrient solution supplied to the plants was 2.2 mS cm−1 at the low salinity treatments and 7.5 mS cm−1 at the high salinity treatments. Increased salinity resulted in decreased plant growth factors and fruit yield, despite the Nr. An increased Nr reduced the pH value of the nutrient solution, while the fruits of the plants cultivated under high salinity obtained reduced Ca, K, Mg, P and N content. Reduced Ca content can lead to blossom end rot disorder and this was evidenced on tomato cultivation under high salinity. However, in the present study, this disorder appeared at the very late stages and did not affect the marketability of the fruits. On the other hand, both salinity and Nr0.15 increased fruit firmness at harvest or following storage, while citric acid, total soluble solid and vitamin C contents were also increased by salinity. Total phenols were increased by salinity at harvest, and lycopene and β-carotene content were increased by salinity at harvest and/or following storage at 12 °C or 25 °C. Salinity enhances fruit quality and improves the organoleptic characteristics of the crop, while an appropriate Nr ratio may restrict the detrimental effects of salinity on the nutritional status of plants by regulating the pH in hydroponic systems.
Biological Activity of Pogostemon cablin Essential Oil and Its Potential Use for Food Preservation
Authors: Galovičová Lucia , Borotová Petra , Valková Veronika , Ďúranová Hana , Štefániková Jana , Vukovic Nenad L. , Vukic Milena , Kačániová Miroslava
Published: February 2022

This study aimed to analyze the biological activity of the essential oil Pogostemon cablin (PCEO) to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, insecticidal activity, and chemical composition of the essential oil. We analyzed the structure of biofilms on various surfaces using the MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper and evaluated the antimicrobial effect of the vapor phase of the essential oil in a food model. We determined the main volatile components of PCEO as patchouli alcohol 31.0%, α-bulnesene 21.3%, and α-guaiene 14.3%. The free radical scavenging activity was high and reached 71.4 ± 0.9%, corresponding to 732 ± 8.1 TEAC. The antimicrobial activity against bacteria was weak to moderate. We recorded strong activity against yeast. The antifungal activity was very weak in the contact application. Biofilm-producing bacteria were moderately inhibited by PCEO. The change in biofilm structure due to essential oil was demonstrated by MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper analysis. Vapor phase application in a food model showed relatively strong effects against bacteria and significantly higher antifungal efficacy. The insecticidal activity was observed only at higher concentrations of essential oil. Based on the findings, PCEO can be used in the food industry as an antifungal substance in extending the shelf life of bakery products and as protection in the storage of root vegetables.
Control of Postharvest Gray Mold at Strawberry Fruits Caused by Botrytis cinerea and Improving Fruit Storability through Origanum onites L. and Ziziphora clinopodioides L. Volatile Essential Oils
Authors: Kahramanoğlu İbrahim , Panfilova Olga , Kesimci Tuba Genç , Bozhüyük Ayse Usanmaz , Gürbüz Ramazan , Alptekin Harun
Published: February 2022

The present research was undertaken to study the antifungal activities of Origanum onites L. and Ziziphora clinopodioides L. essential oils against three different isolates (M1-5, M2-1 and M3-5) of Botrytis cinerea (in vitro tests) and to investigate the vapor contact impacts on fungus and strawberry fruit quality (in vivo tests). Antifungal activities of these oils were tested by following the poisoned food technique at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mL/L) against B. cinerea. In vitro studies suggested that the 0.50 mL/L and 1.00 mL/L doses of O. onites and 1.00 mL/L and 2.00 mL/L doses of Z. clinopodioides provide high mycelial growth inhibition, 85.29–94.12% and 39.12–94.12%, respectively, by direct addition to food. Thus, these doses were tested in in vivo conditions, as a vapor contact treatment against two isolates (M1-5 and M3-5) of B. cinerea inoculated on strawberry cv. Camarosa fruits. Results showed that both O. onites and Z. clinopodioides essential oils have a moderate to high impact on the prevention of gray mold. The oils were also found to have a slight to moderate impact on weight loss and the loss of soluble solids concentration. Overall, the results demonstrated that the tested oils are a potential biodegradable alternative to fungicides.
Investigating Welfare Metrics for Snakes at the Saint Louis Zoo
Authors: Augustine Lauren , Baskir Eli , Kozlowski Corinne P. , Hammack Stephen , Elden Justin , Wanner Mark D. , Franklin Ashley D. , Powell David M.
Published: February 2022

Modern herpetoculture has seen a rise in welfare-related habitat modifications, although ethologically-informed enclosure design and evidence-based husbandry are lacking. The diversity that exists within snakes complicates standardizing snake welfare assessment tools and evaluation techniques. Utilizing behavioral indicators in conjunction with physiological measures, such as fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, could aid in the validation of evidence-based metrics for evaluating snake welfare. We increased habitat cleaning, to identify behavioral or physiological indicators that might indicate heightened arousal in snakes as a response to the disturbance. While glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations increased significantly during a period of increased disturbance, this increase was not associated with a significant increase in tongue-flicking, a behavior previously associated with arousal in snakes. Locomotion behavior and the proportion of time spent exposed were also not affected by more frequent habitat cleaning. These results demonstrate the need to further investigate the behavioral and physiological responses of snakes to different aspects of animal care at a species and individual level. They also highlight the need to collect baseline behavioral and physiological data for animals, in order to make meaningful comparisons when evaluating changes in animal care.
Effectiveness of Administering a Mixture of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Control Salmonella ser. Enteritidis Infections in Broilers
Authors: Kim Yu-Jin , Youk Sungsu , Song Chang-Seon
Published: February 2022

Non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. cause persistent asymptomatic infections in poultry. The consumption of Salmonella-infected poultry products is associated with food poisoning. One of the pathogens that causes such infections is Salmonella ser. Enteritidis (SE). Therefore, alternative measures are required for better control of salmonellosis and to reduce potential antibiotic use. Here, the efficacy of a mixture of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), formulated based on competitive exclusion, was evaluated. The LAB mixture was administered to 1- to 20-day-old chickens using different schemes; the chickens were then inoculated with an SE strain, which was previously identified to be prevalent in broiler breeder farms. Even with short-term administration, the group treated with LAB exhibited lower SE isolation levels in the spleen and cecal content and greater weight gain than that in the control group. This protective efficacy of LAB was retained even after two weeks without LAB administration. According to the results of animal experiments and field tests, evidence of SE infection was absent after treatment of the animals with the LAB formulation used in this study. Thus, this LAB mixture can be used as a potential strategy for protecting poultry farms from Salmonella contamination. This will also help reduce potential antibiotic use.
Why and How European Farmers Are Dedicated to Breeding the Dwarf Dahomey Cattle
Authors: Vanvanhossou Sèyi Fridaïus Ulrich , Houessou Sandrine Odounyèmi , Halli Kathrin , Giambra Isabella Jasmin , Brügemann Kerstin , Dossa Luc Hippolyte , König Sven
Published: February 2022

This study investigates the motivations and breeding practices of farmers keeping Dahomey cattle in European countries. Data were collected using a web-based open-closed questionnaire survey targeting 55 farmers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Descriptive analyses revealed that the earliest European Dahomey herds were established in 2005. Moreover, interest in the breed recently increased as 63.7% of the investigated farmers established their herds between 2016 and 2020. The average herd size comprises seven Dahomey cattle, kept for managing grassland (59.3%), for production of meat or as breeding stock (32.1%) and for a hobby (8.6%). The animals are mostly kept in grazing systems throughout the year, partly fattened with supplement feeds. The low disease incidence and no need for extra health care in the herds indicate the robustness of the breed. Furthermore, meat quality, calving ease, small size, calm character and low feed requirements of Dahomey cattle were valued by the farmers. For the preservation of these features, farmers confirmed their enthusiasm to support any breeding and conservation program of this smallholder breed in Europe and Benin. This study highlights the importance of small-sized cattle for sustainable breeding systems and with regard to ecosystem management practices.
Efficacy and Safety of Oral Fosfomycin-Trometamol in Male Urinary Tract Infections with Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales
Authors: Bouiller Kévin , Zayet Souheil , Lalloz Paul-Emile , Potron Anaïs , Gendrin Vincent , Chirouze Catherine , Klopfenstein Timothée
Published: February 2022

Background: Antimicrobial drugs to treat male urinary tract infection (UTI) with multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales are limited. We studied oral fosfomycin-trometamol (FT) in this situation. The objective was to assess the clinical cure rate in patients presenting UTIs treated with oral FT. Methods: We conducted a single-center observational retrospective study from January 2017 to August 2018. The primary endpoint was clinical cure; and the secondary endpoints were incidence of recurrences, oral FT safety, and microbiological cure. Results: Sixteen male patients were included, presenting 21 UTI episodes. Fourteen patients (88%) have at least one underlying urologic disorder. We described 4 episodes of acute UTI and 17 episodes of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). Sixteen out of twenty-one Enterobacterales were extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producers and all the patients presented a resistance to fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. In acute UTI, the regimen was a daily dose of oral FT for a mean duration of 2.5 weeks (+/−7.0 days). Clinical and microbiological recovery was achieved in all patients, with no recurrence after 5.3 months follow-up on average (+/−10.4 days). In CBP, the regimen was one oral dose of fosfomycin every 24–48 h, for a mean duration of 5.5 weeks/UTI episodes (+/−15.3 days). Clinical and microbiological recovery was found in 16/17 cases. Seven of the twelve patients with CBP had relapsed and 3/12 had had a new episode of infection after an average follow-up of 5.8 months. Only 6/21 of patients presented minor or moderate adverse effects, such as digestive disorders. Conclusions: FT could be an alternative option to carbapenems in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales infections for male UTIs.
From Pathophysiological Hypotheses to Case–Control Study Design: Resistance from Antibiotic Exposure in Community-Onset Infections
Authors: Abbara Salam , Guillemot Didier , Brun-Buisson Christian , Watier Laurence
Published: February 2022

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern, at least partly due to the misuse of antibiotics. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant infections in the community has shifted at-risk populations into the general population. Numerous case–control studies attempt to better understand the link between antibiotic use and antibiotic-resistant community-onset infections. We review the designs of such studies, focusing on community-onset bloodstream and urinary tract infections. We highlight their methodological heterogeneity in the key points related to the antibiotic exposure, the population and design. We show the impact of this heterogeneity on study results, through the example of extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae. Finally, we emphasize the need for the greater standardization of such studies and discuss how the definition of a pathophysiological hypothesis specific to the bacteria–resistance pair studied is an important prerequisite to clarify the design of future studies.
Elevated CO2 Differentially Mitigated Oxidative Stress Induced by Indium Oxide Nanoparticles in Young and Old Leaves of C3 and C4 Crops
Authors: Shabbaj Ibrahim I. , AbdElgawad Hamada , Balkhyour Mansour A. , Tammar Abdurazag , Madany Mahmoud M. Y.
Published: February 2022

Soil contamination with indium (In) oxide nanoparticles (In2O3-NPs) threatens plant growth and development. However, their toxicity in plants under ambient (aCO2) and elevated (eCO2) conditions is scarcely studied. To this end, this study was conducted to investigate In2O3-NPs toxicity in the young and old leaves of C3 (barley) and C4 (maize) plants and to understand the mechanisms underlying the stress mitigating impact of eCO2. Treatment of C3 and C4 plants with In2O3-NPs significantly reduced growth and photosynthesis, induced oxidative damage (H2O2, lipid peroxidation), and impaired P and Fe homeostasis, particularly in the young leaves of C4 plants. On the other hand, this phytotoxic hazard was mitigated by eCO2 which improved both C3 and C4 growth, decreased In accumulation and increased phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) uptake, particularly in the young leaves of C4 plants. Moreover, the improved photosynthesis by eCO2 accordingly enhanced carbon availability under the challenge of In2O3-NPs that were directed to the elevated production of metabolites involved in antioxidant and detoxification systems. Our physiological and biochemical analyses implicated the role of the antioxidant defenses, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) in stress mitigation under eCO2. This was validated by studying the effect of In2O3-stress on a transgenic maize line (TG) constitutively overexpressing the AtFeSOD gene and its wild type (WT). Although it did not alter In accumulation, the TG plants showed improved growth and photosynthesis and reduced oxidative damage. Overall, this work demonstrated that C3 was more sensitive to In2O3-NPs stress; however, C4 plants were more responsive to eCO2. Moreover, it demonstrated the role of SOD in determining the hazardous effect of In2O3-NPs.
Melatonin Improves Drought Stress Tolerance of Tomato by Modulating Plant Growth, Root Architecture, Photosynthesis, and Antioxidant Defense System
Authors: Altaf Muhammad Ahsan , Shahid Rabia , Ren Ming-Xun , Naz Safina , Altaf Muhammad Mohsin , Khan Latif Ullah , Tiwari Rahul Kumar , Lal Milan Kumar , Shahid Muhammad Adnan , Kumar Ravinder , Nawaz Muhammad Azher , Jahan Mohammad Shah , Jan Basit Latief , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: February 2022

Tomato is an important vegetable that is highly sensitive to drought (DR) stress which impairs the development of tomato seedlings. Recently, melatonin (ME) has emerged as a nontoxic, regulatory biomolecule that regulates plant growth and enhances the DR tolerance mechanism in plants. The present study was conducted to examine the defensive role of ME in photosynthesis, root architecture, and the antioxidant enzymes’ activities of tomato seedlings subjected to DR stress. Our results indicated that DR stress strongly suppressed growth and biomass production, inhibited photosynthesis, negatively affected root morphology, and reduced photosynthetic pigments in tomato seedlings. Per contra, soluble sugars, proline, and ROS (reactive oxygen species) were suggested to be improved in seedlings under DR stress. Conversely, ME (100 µM) pretreatment improved the detrimental-effect of DR by restoring chlorophyll content, root architecture, gas exchange parameters and plant growth attributes compared with DR-group only. Moreover, ME supplementation also mitigated the antioxidant enzymes [APX (ascorbate peroxidase), CAT (catalase), DHAR (dehydroascorbate reductase), GST (glutathione S-transferase), GR (glutathione reductase), MDHAR (monodehydroascorbate reductase), POD (peroxidase), and SOD (superoxide dismutase)], non-enzymatic antioxidant [AsA (ascorbate), DHA (dehydroascorbic acid), GSH (glutathione), and GSSG, (oxidized glutathione)] activities, reduced oxidative damage [EL (electrolyte leakage), H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), MDA (malondialdehyde), and O2•− (superoxide ion)] and osmoregulation (soluble sugars and proline) of tomato seedlings, by regulating gene expression for SOD, CAT, APX, GR, POD, GST, DHAR, and MDHAR. These findings determine that ME pretreatment could efficiently improve the seedlings growth, root characteristics, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant machinery under DR stress and thereby increasing the seedlings’ adaptability to DR stress.
Anti-Obesity Effects of Ecklonia cava Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats
Authors: Abbas Muhammad Aleem , Boby Naila , Lee Eon-Bee , Hong Joo-Heon , Park Seung-Chun
Published: February 2022

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic as a result of high-calorie food intake and unhealthy lifestyles. Different marine plants, especially brown algae (Ecklonia cava), are traditionally used to treat different health-related issues. The study was carried out to investigate the anti-obesity properties of E. cava 70% ethanol extract. To evaluate the anti-obesity effect of E. cava, both in vitro and in vivo tests were performed. E. cava suppresses pre-adipocyte 3T3-L1 differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. In HFD-induced obese rats’ models, administration of E. cava 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg significantly decreases total body weight and organs, especially liver weight, in all treatment groups. Adipose tissue weight, including subcutaneous, epididymal, peritoneal, and mesenteric adipose tissue, was markedly reduced in E. cava-treated HFD rats in dose-dependent manners. In addition, liver-related biomarkers AST, ALP, ALT, and GGT were evaluated; the lower level of liver-related biomarkers indicates no liver injury or fatty liver issue in E. cava HFD treatment groups. In addition, E. cava treatment has significant effects on the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic (PPAR-γ, FAS, LPL, and SREBP-1c) genes. Altogether, these results show the anti-obesity effect of E. cava. We concluded that E. cava could be a potential candidate for the prevention of obesity-induced by a high-fat diet.
Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer Cells Reprogram Their Metabolic Signature upon GLUT1 Upregulation by Manganese Superoxide Dismutase
Authors: Quiros-Gonzalez Isabel , Gonzalez-Menendez Pedro , Mayo Juan C. , Hevia David , Artime-Naveda Francisco , Fernandez-Vega Sheila , Fernandez-Fernandez Mario , Rodriguez-Gonzalez Pablo , Garcia-Alonso José I. , Sainz Rosa M.
Published: February 2022

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men across the globe. The prostate gland accounts for some unique glycolytic metabolic characteristics, which causes the metabolic features of prostate tumor initiation and progression to remain poorly characterized. The mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) is one of the major redox metabolism regulators. This study points out SOD2 as one major regulator for both redox and glycolytic metabolism in prostate cancer. SOD2 overexpression increases glucose transporter GLUT-1 and glucose uptake. This is not an insulin-mediated effect and seems to be sex-dependent, being present in male mice only. This event concurs with a series of substantial metabolic rearrangements at cytoplasmic and mitochondrial level. A concomitant decrease in glycolytic and pentose phosphate activity, and an increase in electron transfer in the mitochondrial electronic chain, were observed. The Krebs Cycle is altered to produce amino-acid intermediates by decreasing succinate dehydrogenase. This in turn generates a 13-fold increase in the oncometabolite succinate. The protein energy sensor AMPK is decreased at basal and phosphorylated levels in response to glucose deprivation. Finally, preliminary results in prostate cancer patients indicate that glandular areas presenting high levels of SOD2 show a very strong correlation with GLUT-1 protein levels (R2 = 0.287 p-value < 0.0001), indicating that in patients there may exist an analogous phenomenon to those observed in cell culture and mice.
Cellular Localization of Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase in the Brain: Challenging the Dogma
Authors: Sathyasaikumar Korrapati V. , Pérez de la Cruz Verónica , Pineda Benjamín , Vázquez Cervantes Gustavo Ignacio , Ramírez Ortega Daniela , Donley David W. , Severson Paul L. , West Brian L. , Giorgini Flaviano , Fox Jonathan H. , Schwarcz Robert
Published: February 2022

Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key player in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, regulates the synthesis of the neuroactive metabolites 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and kynurenic acid (KYNA). KMO activity has been implicated in several major brain diseases including Huntington’s disease (HD) and schizophrenia. In the brain, KMO is widely believed to be predominantly localized in microglial cells, but verification in vivo has not been provided so far. Here, we examined KP metabolism in the brain after depleting microglial cells pharmacologically with the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622. Young adult mice were fed PLX5622 for 21 days and were euthanized either on the next day or after receiving normal chow for an additional 21 days. Expression of microglial marker genes was dramatically reduced on day 22 but had fully recovered by day 43. In both groups, PLX5622 treatment failed to affect Kmo expression, KMO activity or tissue levels of 3-HK and KYNA in the brain. In a parallel experiment, PLX5622 treatment also did not reduce KMO activity, 3-HK and KYNA in the brain of R6/2 mice (a model of HD with activated microglia). Finally, using freshly isolated mouse cells ex vivo, we found KMO only in microglia and neurons but not in astrocytes. Taken together, these data unexpectedly revealed that neurons contain a large proportion of functional KMO in the adult mouse brain under both physiological and pathological conditions.
Effect of Various Proportions of Rice Husk Powder on Swelling Soil from New Cairo City, Egypt
Authors: Sakr Mohamed A. H. , Omar Ali E. , Ene Antoaneta , Hanfi Mohamed Y.
Published: February 2022

Swelling soil leads to many types of constructional damages, deformations, and failures in the constructions’ roads, shoulders, and foundations. Depending on the amount of swell, they can be insignificant, moderate, or massive. This paper presents a method for swelling soil stabilization by adding rice husk powder (RHP) in variable percentages of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 by weight of dry soil. The properties of swelling soil stabilization were investigated by various lab tests such as consistency limits (plastic limit, liquid limit, and plasticity index), swelling potential, swelling pressure, free swelling, and free swell index. The swelling soil was also mineralogically examined using X-ray diffraction of clay mineralogy. This stabilization reduced the plasticity from 56% (extremely high plasticity) to 4.5% (low plasticity). Swelling potential (S) and swelling pressure (SP) decreased by 48% to 45.5, 44.7, and 34.6%, from 1003 kN/m2 to 800, 653, and 489 kN/m2 for the partial replacement of the soil by 5%, 10%, and 15% RHP, respectively. The results show that the present approach is very efficient for improving the swelling soil properties and that the optimal amount of added RHP of the swelling soil is 15%. It will also be a database aimed at reducing construction risks in the future.
Using Technology for the Efficient and Precise Assessment of Cognitive Skills in Countries with Limited Standardized Assessment Instruments: A Report on the Case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Tan Mei , Li Nan , Mourgues Catalina , Hart Lesley , Qataee Abdullah , Grossnickle Mark , Errato Chris , Grigorenko Elena
Published: February 2022

In Saudi Arabia, the country’s progress toward appropriate and inclusive education programs for children with disabilities is still evolving. A crucial aspect of this evolution has been the development of a comprehensive assessment battery that covers a broad range of cognitive factors for the diagnosis of neurodevelopment disorders and other types of intellectual atypicalities, including giftedness. The Alif–Ya Assessment Battery consists of 47 subtests based on various theories of intelligence. Alif–Ya capitalizes on advanced technologies to enable its delivery either in person or remotely. Moreover, over half of Alif–Ya’s subtests are adaptive; items are selected for the test takers based on their previous responses. In this paper, we provide an overview of the Alif–Ya Assessment Battery, describe how it was designed to make the best use of the latest and best features of technology for the appropriate and accurate assessment of children and adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via remote or in-person administration, and present initial data collected with the battery.
Collection of Data Variation Using a High-Throughput Image-Based Assay Platform Facilitates Data-Driven Understanding of TRPA1 Agonist Diversity
Authors: Terada Yuko , Tanaka Kenjiro , Matsuyama Minami , Fujitani Masaya , Shibuya Masatoshi , Yamamoto Yoshihiko , Kato Ryuji , Ito Keisuke
Published: February 2022

Because transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is involved in various physiological functions, TRPA1-targeting drugs have been energetically developed. Although TRPA1 is considered a multimodal receptor, the structural diversity of TRPA1 agonists is not fully elucidated. We hypothesized that collecting a wider variation of TRPA1–compound interaction data would aid the understanding of its complex mechanism and aimed to challenge such data collection using an “image-based TRPA1 assay system combined with an in silico chemical space clustering concept.” Our library was clustered with 27 physicochemical molecular descriptors in silico, and structurally diverse compounds from each cluster were selected for a detailed kinetic assay to investigate variations of agonist structural rules. Through two sets of assays evaluating various compounds in parallel with validating effects of the previously established structural rules, we discovered that different chemical groups contribute to agonist activity, indicating that there are multiple agonist design concepts. A novel core structure for a TRPA1 agonist has been also proposed. Our new approach, “collection of TRPA1 activity data on compounds with physicochemical diversity,” will not only facilitate the understanding of the structural diversity of TRPA1 agonists but also contribute to the development of a new type of TRPA1-targeting drug.
Study on the Propeller Rope Cutter Concerning Transient Torsional Vibration Due to Cutting Action
Authors: Kwon Woo-Seok , Vuong Quang Dao , Choi Jae-Hyuk , Lee Jae-ung , Lee Ji-woong , Yoon Sung Hwan , Nyongesa Antony John , Park Min-Ho , Yang Seung-Kwon , Lee Won-Ju
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, damage to ships due to marine debris at sea is increasingly reported. Specifically, a piece of rope or fishing net can wrap around the propeller shaft, stopping it from rotating. Although various efforts have been made, there are still numerous practical challenges. A rope cutter system, which was designed to cut suspended objects wrapped around the propeller shaft, offers a great advantage in protecting the propulsion system. Since the cutting action produces the transient torsional vibration, the connecting bolts should be stable and sufficiently rigid under normal conditions. However, in the event of an encounter with an object that is too hard to cut, the bolts must be broken so that the rope cutter is released. Those kinds of objects may not be long enough to wrap around the shaft, such as a piece of wood. Therefore, this research presents the novelty in maintaining the safety of the propulsion system installed with a rope cutter. In this study, a method for obtaining the maximum diameter of the connecting bolt as a safety device is described, and the torques required to cut ropes of various thicknesses were determined based on actual measurements. Finally, a series of experiments in the laboratory-scale and shipboard test on an actual ship show that the rope cutter does not significantly reduce the ship’s power performance or increase the structural vibration.
Continuous Autonomous Ship Learning Framework for Human Policies on Simulation
Authors: Kim Junoh , Park Jisun , Cho Kyungeun
Published: February 2022

Considering autonomous navigation in busy marine traffic environments (including harbors and coasts), major study issues to be solved for autonomous ships are avoidance of static and dynamic obstacles, surface vehicle control in consideration of the environment, and compliance with human-defined navigation rules. The reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm, which demonstrates high potential in autonomous cars, has been presented as an alternative to mathematical algorithms and has advanced in studies on autonomous ships. However, the RL algorithm, through interactions with the environment, receives relatively fewer data from the marine environment. Moreover, the open marine environment causes difficulties for autonomous ships in learning human-defined navigation rules because of excessive degrees of freedom. This study proposes a sustainable, intelligent learning framework for autonomous ships (ILFAS), which helps solve these difficulties and learns navigation rules specified by human beings through neighboring ships. The application of case-based RL enables the participation of humans in the RL learning process through neighboring ships and the learning of human-defined rules. Cases built as curriculums can achieve high learning effects with fewer data along with the RL of layered autonomous ships. The experiment aims at autonomous navigation from a harbor, where marine traffic occurs on a neighboring coast. The learning results using ILFAS and those in an environment where random marine traffic occurs are compared. Based on the experiment, the learning time was reduced by a tenth. Moreover, the success rate of arrival at a destination was higher with fewer controls than the random method in the new marine traffic scenario. ILFAS can continuously respond to advances in ship manufacturing technology and changes in the marine environment.
Moving Surface Boundary-Layer Control on the Wake of Flow around a Square Cylinder
Authors: Song Te , Liu Xin , Xu Feng
Published: February 2022

In this paper, the entire process of the flow around a fixed square cylinder and the moving surface boundary-layer control (MSBC) at a low Reynolds number was numerically simulated. Two small rotating circular cylinders were located in each of the two rear corners of the square cylinder, respectively, to transfer momentum into the near wake behind the square cylinder. The rotations of the two circular cylinders were realized via dynamic mesh technology, when the two-dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for the flow around the square cylinder were solved. We analyzed the effects of different rotation directions, wind angles θ, and velocity ratios k (the ratio of the tangential velocity of the rotating cylinder to the incoming flow velocity) on the wake of flow around a square cylinder to evaluate the control effectiveness of the MSBC method. In the present work, the aerodynamic forces, the pressure distributions, and the wake patterns of the square cylinder are discussed in detail. The results show that the high suction areas near the surfaces of the rotating cylinders can delay or prevent the separation of the shear layer, reduce the wake width, achieve drag reduction, and eliminate the alternating vortex shedding. For a wind angle of 0°, the inward rotation of the small circular cylinders is the optimal arrangement to manipulate the wake vortex street behind the square cylinder, and k=2 is the optimal velocity ratio between the control effectiveness and external energy consumption.
Investigation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Fingerprints of Water and Sediment Samples of the Nestos River Estuary in Northern Greece
Authors: Mitkidou Sophia , Kokkinos Nikolaos , Emmanouilidou Elissavet , Yohannah Yusuf , Spanos Thomas , Chatzichristou Christina , Ene Antoaneta
Published: February 2022

The oil and gas industry is definitely considered the main contributor in the energy sector, acting as the lifeblood of our planet. However, environmental contamination by crude oil and petroleum products due to anthropogenic activities is of great concern. Nestos River springs from Bulgaria and has a total length of 234 km, from which 135 km belong on Greek land. It is globally recognized as nature’s miracle accommodating a variety of habitats, flora, and fauna species at the deltaic area protected by the RAMSAR Convention. In the current study, water and sediment samples from three different sites along the river course and other six sites of the delta region and the surrounding sea area were selected in order to investigate the potential environmental impact of the nearby oil and gas industry in the Prinos-Kavala basin that operates over 40 years. The samples were analyzed by fingerprinting techniques using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Crude oil samples and different petroleum products were also analyzed to disclose specific markers (biomarkers) that characterize the different sources of oil spills. The analytical data revealed that the distribution of biomarkers is a valuable tool in oil spill identification as well as in their correlation to suspected sources. Extract ion chromatograms of the reference samples showed significant differences in the distribution of n-alkane, isoprenoid, sterane, triterpane, and dibenzothiophene compounds. The results on the analyzed water and sediment samples bared no evidence of environmental hazards associated with the hydrocarbon exploration and production activities of the neighboring oil and gas company.
Modeling of Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Plasma Thrusters: Optimization of Physical and Geometrical Parameters
Authors: Calvo Eduardo M. , Pinheiro Mario J. , Sá Paulo A.
Published: February 2022

This work aims to optimize a previous self-consistent model of a single stage electrohydrodynamic (EHD) thruster for space applications. The investigated parameters were the thruster performance (propulsion force T, the thrust to power ratio T/P, the electric potential distribution, the spatial distribution for the electrons and ions, and the laminar flow velocity) under several conditions, such as the design features related to the cathode’s cylindrical geometry (height and radius) and some electric parameters such as the ballast resistor, and the applied potential voltage. In addition, we examined the influence of the secondary electron emission coefficient on the plasma propellant parameters. The anode to cathode potential voltage ranges between 0.9 and 40 kV, and the ballast resistance varies between 500 and 2500 M. Argon and xenon are the working gases. We assumed the gas temperature and pressure constant, 300 K and 1.3 kPa (10 Torr), respectively. The optimal matching for Xe brings off a thrust of 3.80 μN and an efficiency T/P = 434 mN/kW, while for Ar, T = 2.75 μN, and thruster to the power of 295 mN/kW. To our knowledge, the missing data in technical literature does not allow the verification and validation (V&V) of our numerical model.
Flexural Behavior of Self-Prestressed RC Slabs with Fe-Based Shape Memory Alloy Rebar
Authors: Yeon Yeong-Mo , Hong Ki-Nam , Ji Sang-Won
Published: February 2022

A lot of studies have been conducted to introduce self-prestress to structures using Fe-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMAs). Technology to introduce self-prestress using Fe-SMAs can resolve the disadvantages of conventional prestressed concrete. However, most of the research to introduce a self-prestress force to a structure using Fe-SMAs has been focused on using Fe-SMAs for the repair and strengthening of aging structures. Therefore, in this paper, a study was conducted to introduce self-prestress into a new structure. To this end, in this paper, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the flexural behavior of self-prestressed concrete slabs with Fe-SMA rebar. Nine specimens were built with consideration of the amount and activation of Fe-SMA rebars as experimental variables. The Fe-SMA rebars used in the specimens exhibited recovery stress of about 335 MPa under the conditions of a pre-strain of 0.04 and a heating temperature of 160 °C. Activation of the Fe-SMA rebars by electrical resistance heating applied an eccentric compression force to the specimen to induce a camber of 0.208–0.496 mm. It was confirmed through a 4-point bending test that the initial crack loads of the activated specimens were 40~101% larger than that of the non-activated specimens. However, the ultimate loads of the activated specimens showed a difference within 3% from that of the non-activated specimens, confirming that the effect of activation on improving the ultimate strength was negligible. Finally, it was confirmed that repetitive activation of the Fe-SMA rebar could repeatedly apply compressive force to the slab.
Architecture and Contemporary Visual Culture, the Image of Realism and the Realism of Image
Authors: Bergera Iñaki , Esteban Javier de
Published: February 2022

The rise of visual culture and the role of images in shaping contemporary thought and global society has been a constant since the end of the last century. Called “Iconic turn” in the field of philosophy of perception and image theory, this process has captured increasing attention in diverse academic fields, even in disciplines such as architecture where the role of images has not always been well considered. There is no doubt, however, that the visual nature of architecture makes the image essential in its conception, representation or perception. Within this relationship between architecture and image can be noted a recent change: a progressive attention toward realism as an alternative to an arbitrariness of form whose main consequence has been an uncritical use of images by architects and their consumption by society. The visual nature of some of the most influential works of the British architects Sergison Bates and Tony Fretton are exemplary for this purpose, aware of the importance of images in the shaping of everyday life and in the architectural narratives of the real. These works, in turn, allow us to explore the reciprocal strengthening that this realism as an attitude in being (architecture) and in looking (photography) has for an architectural practice that feeds on images and engenders them.