bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competition of Plants and Microorganisms for Added Nitrogen in Different Fertilizer Forms in a Semi-Arid Climate
Authors: Koch Markus , Akshalov Kanat , Carstens Jannis Florian , Shibistova Olga , Stange Claus Florian , Thiedau Simon , Kassymova Alfiya , Sauheitl Leopold , Meinel Tobias , Guggenberger Georg
Published: December 2021

In nitrogen (N) -limited agricultural systems, a high microbial immobilization of applied fertilizer-N can limit its availability to plants. However, there is scarce information on the effect of the form of fertilizer used on the plant–microorganism competition in clay-rich soils under a severe semi-arid climate. In a field study, we investigated the wheat–microorganism competition after the direct application of NH415NO3 closely to seeds in arable fields in North Kazakhstan, documenting the effect of the use of liquid versus granular fertilizer and mini-tillage versus no-tillage. Our results barely showed any fertilizer-N translocation in the soil. Plants outcompete microorganisms for fertilizer-N during the vegetation period. Microbial-to-plant 15N ratios revealed a predominant fertilizer-15N uptake by plants. The strong competition for N was mainly related to the placement of the fertilizer close to the seeds. Moreover, the long time interval between fertilization and sampling enhanced the competition for N, meaning that previously microbially immobilized N became available to plants through the death of microorganisms and their subsequent mineralization. The fertilizer distribution between microorganisms and plants did depend on the form of fertilizer used, owing to the good solubility of granular fertilizer. The smaller fertilizer-N uptake under the no-tilling condition was probably due to the more intense soil compaction, which caused a reduction in plant growth. The application of fertilizer close to the seeds and the small fertilizer translocation during the vegetation period ultimately resulted in a high level of plant N being derived from the fertilizer.
The Effect of Contract-Rearing on the Health Status of Replacement Dairy Heifers
Authors: McCarthy Marie-Claire , O’Grady Luke , McAloon Conor G. , Mee John F.
Published: December 2021

The aim of this study was to compare the health status of contract- vs. conventionally reared replacement dairy heifers over a 2-year period. A total of 120 dairy farmers were enrolled in the study in spring 2018: 55 farmers were rearing their own heifers (control farmers; CFs), and 65 were sending heifers to a contract-rearing farm (source dairy farmers; SDFs). Between spring 2018 and autumn 2019, approximately 5500 replacement heifers from these farms were monitored for signs of ill health during four farm visits using a modified version of the Wisconsin calf health scoring system. Additionally, faecal and nasal swabs were taken from a proportion of heifers with clinical signs of diarrhoea and respiratory disease to determine the associated aetiological agents. Results indicate few differences in the health status and pathogen exposure status of home-reared versus contract-reared heifers. Additionally, the number of source dairy farms represented and commingling of heifers from multiple origins at the rearing unit were not associated with an increased incidence of respiratory disease or diarrhoea among contract-reared heifers. It was concluded that contract-rearing did not result in adverse health outcomes for replacement dairy heifers. This is the first study to demonstrate this finding in a robust, longitudinal, herd-level population study.
The Re-Addition of Seminal Plasma after Thawing Does Not Improve Buck Sperm Quality Parameters
Authors: Ohaneje Uchechi Linda , Osuagwuh Uchebuchi Ike , Alvarez-Rodríguez Manuel , Yánez-Ortiz Iván , Tabarez Abigail , Palomo María Jesús
Published: December 2021

In order to achieve a higher post-thaw buck sperm quality, an approach in the thawing protocol of cryopreserved sperm doses under in vitro capacitation conditions mimicking the in vivo female environment was studied. Therefore, functional and kinetic characteristics of buck thawed sperm from males of different ages, the season of collection, and melatonin implanted males in the non-breeding season were assessed after 3 h of incubation in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) media with 20% of buck seminal plasma (SP). Previously, fresh ejaculates were collected via artificial vagina from eight males of the Cabra Blanca de Rasquera breed during two consecutive years in breeding and non-breeding periods. Prior to semen collection in non-breeding seasons, males were split into two groups: one group was implanted with melatonin, while the other was not. In each group, semen samples were pooled, centrifuged, and diluted in an extender containing 15% powdered egg yolk and 5% glycerol before freezing. After thawing, sperm were washed and incubated in three different media: (a) control media (modified phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), (b) IVF commercial media, and (c) IVF media + 20% SP. Sperm motility was evaluated by CASA, while plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondria activity, and DNA fragmentation were analysed by flow cytometer at 0 h and after 3 h incubation. A significant reduction in motility, mitochondrial activity, plasma, and acrosome membrane integrity were observed after incubation in the presence of SP, although similar to that observed in IVF media alone. DNA integrity was not affected under in vitro capacitation conditions, regardless of SP addition. In conclusion, the addition of SP failed to improve post-thaw buck sperm quality under in vitro conditions irrespective of male age, the season of collection, and melatonin implant.
Variation in Bird Eggs—Does Female Factor, Season, and Laying Order Impact the Egg Size, Pigmentation, and Eggshell Thickness of the Eggs of Capercaillie?
Authors: Rosenbeger Joanna , Pytlak Kamil , Łukaszewicz Ewa , Kowalczyk Artur
Published: December 2021

Despite numerous studies, intra-species variation in bird eggs is still not well explained. In the presented studies, we investigated the possible sources of this variation: female factor, laying order, and season, using the following traits of Capercaillie eggs as an example: egg size and shape, eggshell lightness, and thickness. Samples were collected for three years from three Capercaillie breeding centres located in different parts of Poland, where birds are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat and have a similar diet. The obtained results showed no significant impact of laying order on egg size, shape, pigmentation, nor eggshell thickness. This indicates that the provided nutrition ensures an adequate supply of minerals for the entire laying period. Most results did not show statistically significant differences between eggs from different breeding centres, but in one breeding centre, eggshells had lighter pigmentation. We assume the observed differences may result from females’ individual features or local environmental conditions. Egg traits were highly consistent for individual females, proving that visual identification can be useful in identifying the eggs of different females.
Pellets Inoculated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 Modulates Diet Preference and Rumen Factors Associated with Appetite Regulation in Steers
Authors: Ngo Thi Thuy , Bang Nguyen N. , Dart Peter , Callaghan Matthew , Klieve Athol , McNeill David
Published: December 2021

This study examined whether the probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain H57 (H57) affects ruminal fermentation parameters that exercise post-ingestive feedback appetite control mechanisms. A 4 × 4 Latin square design was used to separate pre- and post-ingestive effects of H57 in four rumen-fistulated steers. The steers were offered a set amount of feedlot pellets, inoculated with H57 or without H57 (control, C). Half of the total amount of pellets fed were introduced intra-ruminally (r), and then the remaining pellets were orally consumed (o) to make four feeding treatments: H57r/H57o, H57r/Co, Cr/H57o and Cr/Co. Rumen fluid was sampled at 2, 4 and 6 h after feeding. Preference behaviour was tested immediately after the 6 h rumen fluid sampling by simultaneously offering the steers 4 kg of each of H57 and C pellets in adjacent troughs for 5 min. Steers preferred the pellets with added H57 over the C pellets (56:44; p < 0.001) and their preferences were not affected by the treatment protocol imposed to separate post- from pre-ingestive effects (p > 0.05). Steers fed H57 pellets had higher ruminal pH, molar proportions of iso-butyrate and iso-valerate (p < 0.05) and tended to have greater ruminal ammonia concentrations compared to those fed C pellets (p < 0.1). However, post-ingestive signals did not affect diet preference more than pre-ingestive signals.
Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species
Authors: Starik Nicole , Göttert Thomas , Zeller Ulrich
Published: December 2021

Movement behavior and habitat use of the long-eared bat species Plecotus auritus and Plecotus austriacus were studied in the Havelland region in Brandenburg (Germany). Data collection included mist-netting, radiotelemetry, reconstruction of prey items, and monitoring of roosting sites. Body measurements confirm a high degree of phenotypic similarity between the two species. Total activity areas (100% Minimum Convex Polygons, MCPS) of Plecotus austriacus (2828.3 ± 1269.43 ha) were up to five-fold larger compared to Plecotus auritus (544.54 ± 295.89 ha). The activity areas of Plecotus austriacus contained up to 11 distinct core areas, and their mean total size (149.7 ± 0.07 ha) was approximately three-fold larger compared to core areas of Plecotus auritus (49.2 ± 25.6 ha). The mean distance between consecutive fixes per night was 12.72 ± 3.7 km for Plecotus austriacus and 4.23 ± 2.8 km for Plecotus auritus. While Plecotus austriacus was located most frequently over pastures (>40%) and meadows (>20%), P. auritus was located mostly within deciduous (>50%) and mixed forests (>30%) in close vicinity to its roosts. Roost site monitoring indicates that the activity of P. austriacus is delayed relative to P. auritus in spring and declined earlier in autumn. These phenological differences are probably related to the species’ respective diets. Levins’ measure of trophic niche breadth suggests that the prey spectrum for P. auritus is more diverse during spring (B = 2.86) and autumn (B = 2.82) compared to P. austriacus (spring: B = 1.7; autumn: B = 2.1). Our results give reason to consider these interspecific ecological variations and species-specific requirements of P. auritus and P. austriacus to develop adapted and improved conservation measures.
Alternatives in Education—Evaluation of Rat Simulators in Laboratory Animal Training Courses from Participants’ Perspective
Authors: Humpenöder Melanie , Corte Giuliano M. , Pfützner Marcel , Wiegard Mechthild , Merle Roswitha , Hohlbaum Katharina , Erickson Nancy A. , Plendl Johanna , Thöne-Reineke Christa
Published: December 2021

In laboratory animal science (LAS) education and training, five simulators are available for exercises on handling and routine procedures on the rat, which is—beside mice—the most commonly used species in LAS. Since these simulators may have high potential in protecting laboratory rats, the aim of this study is to investigate the simulators’ impact on the 3R (replace, reduce, refine) principle in LAS education and training. Therefore, the simulators were evaluated by 332 course participants in 27 different LAS courses via a practical simulator training workshop and a paper-based two-part questionnaire—both integrated in the official LAS course schedule. The results showed a high positive resonance for simulator training and it was considered especially useful for the inexperienced. However, the current simulators may not completely replace exercises on live animals and improvements regarding more realistic simulators are demanded. In accordance with literature data on simulator-use also in other fields of education, more research on simulators and new developments are needed, particularly with the aim for a broad implementation in LAS education and training benefiting all 3Rs.
Molecular Identification and Characterization of a Genotype 3 Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Strain Detected in a Wolf Faecal Sample, Italy
Authors: Sarchese Vittorio , Fruci Paola , Palombieri Andrea , Di Profio Federica , Robetto Serena , Ercolini Carlo , Orusa Riccardo , Marsilio Fulvio , Martella Vito , Di Martino Barbara
Published: December 2021

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes (Gt) 3 and 4 is caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected pigs and wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, additional animals may harbour HEV or HEV-related strains, including carnivores. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of orthohepeviruses in wild canids by screening a total of 136 archival faecal samples, collected from wolves (42) and red foxes (94) in Northwestern Italy. Orthohepevirus RNA was identified in a faecal specimen, collected from a wolf carcass in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region, Italy). The nearly full-length (7212 nucleotides) genome of the strain HEV/81236/Wolf/2019/ITA (GenBank accession no. MZ463196) was determined by combining a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. Upon phylogenetic analysis, the HEV detected in wolf was segregated into clade HEV-3.1, displaying the highest nucleotide (nt) identity (89.0–93.3%) to Gt3 strains belonging to subtype c. Interestingly, the wolf faecal sample also contained porcine astrovirus sequences, endorsing the hypothesis of a dietary origin of the HEV strain due to preying habits.
Sanguiin H-6 Fractionated from Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) Seeds Can Prevent the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Development during Wound Infection
Authors: Aguilera-Correa John Jairo , Fernández-López Sara , Cuñas-Figueroa Iskra Dennisse , Pérez-Rial Sandra , Alakomi Hanna-Leena , Nohynek Liisa , Oksman-Caldentey Kirsi-Marja , Salminen Juha-Pekka , Esteban Jaime , Cuadros Juan , Puupponen-Pimiä Riitta , Perez-Tanoira Ramon , Kinnari Teemu J.
Published: December 2021

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of surgical site infections and its treatment is challenging due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Natural berry-derived compounds have shown antimicrobial potential, e.g., ellagitannins such as sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C, the main phenolic compounds in Rubus seeds, have shown antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C fractionated from cloudberry seeds, on the MRSA growth, and as treatment of a MRSA biofilm development in different growth media in vitro and in vivo by using a murine wound infection model where sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C were used to prevent the MRSA infection. Sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C inhibited the in vitro biofilm development and growth of MRSA. Furthermore, sanguiin H-6 showed significant anti-MRSA effect in the in vivo wound model. Our study shows the possible use of sanguiin H-6 as a preventive measure in surgical sites to avoid postoperative infections, whilst lambertianin C showed no anti-MRSA activity.
The Two Weapons against Bacterial Biofilms: Detection and Treatment
Authors: Cruz Adriana , Condinho Manuel , Carvalho Beatriz , Arraiano Cecília M. , Pobre Vânia , Pinto Sandra N.
Published: December 2021

Bacterial biofilms are defined as complex aggregates of bacteria that grow attached to surfaces or are associated with interfaces. Bacteria within biofilms are embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix made of polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and proteins. It is recognized that bacterial biofilms are responsible for the majority of microbial infections that occur in the human body, and that biofilm-related infections are extremely difficult to treat. This is related with the fact that microbial cells in biofilms exhibit increased resistance levels to antibiotics in comparison with planktonic (free-floating) cells. In the last years, the introduction into the market of novel compounds that can overcome the resistance to antimicrobial agents associated with biofilm infection has slowed down. If this situation is not altered, millions of lives are at risk, and this will also strongly affect the world economy. As such, research into the identification and eradication of biofilms is important for the future of human health. In this sense, this article provides an overview of techniques developed to detect and imaging biofilms as well as recent strategies that can be applied to treat biofilms during the several biofilm formation steps.
Predicting Antimicrobial Activity at the Target Site: Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Indices versus Time–Kill Approaches
Authors: van Os Wisse , Zeitlinger Markus
Published: December 2021

Antibiotic dosing strategies are generally based on systemic drug concentrations. However, drug concentrations at the infection site drive antimicrobial effect, and efficacy predictions and dosing strategies should be based on these concentrations. We set out to review different translational pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) approaches from a target site perspective. The most common approach involves calculating the probability of attaining animal-derived PK/PD index targets, which link PK parameters to antimicrobial susceptibility measures. This approach is time efficient but ignores some aspects of the shape of the PK profile and inter-species differences in drug clearance and distribution, and provides no information on the PD time-course. Time–kill curves, in contrast, depict bacterial response over time. In vitro dynamic time–kill setups allow for the evaluation of bacterial response to clinical PK profiles, but are not representative of the infection site environment. The translational value of in vivo time–kill experiments, conversely, is limited from a PK perspective. Computational PK/PD models, especially when developed using both in vitro and in vivo data and coupled to target site PK models, can bridge translational gaps in both PK and PD. Ultimately, clinical PK and experimental and computational tools should be combined to tailor antibiotic treatment strategies to the site of infection.
Molecular Characterization of Rifampicin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Retail Foods in China
Authors: Huang Jiahui , Zhang Feng , Zhang Jumei , Dai Jingsha , Rong Dongli , Zhao Miao , Wang Juan , Ding Yu , Chen Moutong , Xue Liang , Gu Qihui , Wu Shi , Wu Qingping
Published: December 2021

This study investigated the molecular characteristics of rifampin-resistant (RIF-R) Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from 4300 retail food samples covering most provincial capitals in China, from 2011 to 2016. Of the 1463 S. aureus enrolled, 149 isolates (142 MSSA and 7 MRSA) were identified as rifampicin-resistant, including 20 high-level (MICs ≥ 8 μg/mL) and 129 low-level (MICs between 2 and 4 μg/mL) rifampicin-resistant strains. Most of the RIF-R S. aureus isolates were resistant to more than three antibiotics. The mutations in the rifampicin resistance-determining region of the rpoB gene were studied in all RIF-R strains. All of the strains presented the mutational change 481 His/Asn and five isolates presented an additional mutation, including 477 Asp/Tyr, 527 Ile/Met, and 466 Leu/Ser, respectively. Thirteen STs and twenty-one spa types were represented, in which five MRSA showed non-type SCCmec and the remaining MRSA belonged to SCCmec type IV—where, ST1-t127 was the predominant type from all of the isolates, while ST398-t034 was the predominant type for the MRSA isolates. In this study, we found that the food-related RIF-R S. aureus may have a unique genetic background selection. However, the scenario regarding the presence of RIF-R S. aureus, especially MRSA, in retail food in China is not favorable and warrants public attention.
Lefamulin in Patients with Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia Caused by Atypical Respiratory Pathogens: Pooled Results from Two Phase 3 Trials
Authors: Paukner Susanne , Mariano David , Das Anita F. , Moran Gregory J. , Sandrock Christian , Waites Ken B. , File Thomas M.
Published: December 2021

Lefamulin was the first systemic pleuromutilin antibiotic approved for intravenous and oral use in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia based on two phase 3 trials (Lefamulin Evaluation Against Pneumonia [LEAP]-1 and LEAP-2). This pooled analysis evaluated lefamulin efficacy and safety in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens (Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Chlamydia pneumoniae). In LEAP-1, participants received intravenous lefamulin 150 mg every 12 h for 5–7 days or moxifloxacin 400 mg every 24 h for 7 days, with optional intravenous-to-oral switch. In LEAP-2, participants received oral lefamulin 600 mg every 12 h for 5 days or moxifloxacin 400 mg every 24 h for 7 days. Primary outcomes were early clinical response at 96 ± 24 h after first dose and investigator assessment of clinical response at test of cure (5–10 days after last dose). Atypical pathogens were identified in 25.0% (91/364) of lefamulin-treated patients and 25.2% (87/345) of moxifloxacin-treated patients; most were identified by ≥1 standard diagnostic modality (M. pneumoniae 71.2% [52/73]; L. pneumophila 96.9% [63/65]; C. pneumoniae 79.3% [46/58]); the most common standard diagnostic modality was serology. In terms of disease severity, more than 90% of patients had CURB-65 (confusion of new onset, blood urea nitrogen > 19 mg/dL, respiratory rate ≥ 30 breaths/min, blood pressure <90 mm Hg systolic or ≤60 mm Hg diastolic, and age ≥ 65 years) scores of 0–2; approximately 50% of patients had PORT (Pneumonia Outcomes Research Team) risk class of III, and the remaining patients were more likely to have PORT risk class of II or IV versus V. In patients with atypical pathogens, early clinical response (lefamulin 84.4–96.6%; moxifloxacin 90.3–96.8%) and investigator assessment of clinical response at test of cure (lefamulin 74.1–89.7%; moxifloxacin 74.2–97.1%) were high and similar between arms. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar in the lefamulin (34.1% [31/91]) and moxifloxacin (32.2% [28/87]) groups. Limitations to this analysis include its post hoc nature, the small numbers of patients infected with atypical pathogens, the possibility of PCR-based diagnostic methods to identify non-etiologically relevant pathogens, and the possibility that these findings may not be generalizable to all patients. Lefamulin as short-course empiric monotherapy, including 5-day oral therapy, was well tolerated in adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and demonstrated high clinical response rates against atypical pathogens.
Mentha arvensis Essential Oil Exerts Anti-Inflammatory in LPS-Stimulated Inflammatory Responses via Inhibition of ERK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Anti-Atopic Dermatitis-like Effects in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobezene-Induced BALB/c Mice
Authors: Kim So-Yeon , Han Sang-Deok , Kim Minju , Mony Tamanna Jahan , Lee Eun-Seok , Kim Kyeong-Min , Choi Seung-Hyuk , Hong Sun Hee , Choi Ji Woong , Park Se Jin
Published: December 2021

The mechanism of atopic dermatitis (AD) is modulated by the release of cytokines and chemokines through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Topical steroids are used to treat AD, but some people need safer anti-inflammatory drugs to avoid side effects. Mentha arvensis has been used as a herbal plant with medicinal properties, but its anti-inflammatory effects have not been elucidated in an AD model. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of M. arvensis essential oil (MAEO) and its underlying molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and HaCaT cells (human epidermal keratinocyte). Additionally, we examined the ameliorating effects of the MAEO in a dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced murine model of AD. We found, in both RAW 264.7 cells and HaCaT cells, MAEO inhibited LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 and proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-6, due to the suppression of COX-2 and iNOS expression. In LPS-stimulated macrophages, we also observed that MAEO inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and P65. Furthermore, MAEO treatment attenuated AD symptoms, including the dermatitis score, ear thickness, epidermal thickness and infiltration of mast cells, in a DNCB-induced animal model of AD. Overall, our findings suggest that MAEO exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-atopic dermatitis effects via inhibition of the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Oxidative Stress-Related Mechanisms in Melanoma and in the Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies
Authors: Pizzimenti Stefania , Ribero Simone , Cucci Marie Angele , Grattarola Margherita , Monge Chiara , Dianzani Chiara , Barrera Giuseppina , Muzio Giuliana
Published: December 2021

Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer with the poorest prognosis, representing the deadliest form of skin cancer. Activating mutations in BRAF are the most frequent genetic alterations, present in approximately 50% of all melanoma cases. The use of specific inhibitors towards mutant BRAF variants and MEK, a downstream signaling target of BRAF in the MAPK pathway, has significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in advanced melanoma patients carrying BRAF mutations. Nevertheless, despite these improvements, resistance still develops within the first year of therapy in around 50% of patients, which is a significant problem in managing BRAF-mutated advanced melanoma. Understanding these mechanisms is one of the mainstreams of the research on BRAFi/MEKi acquired resistance. Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have been described. Moreover, in recent years, oxidative stress has emerged as another major force involved in all the phases of melanoma development, from initiation to progression until the onsets of the metastatic phenotype and chemoresistance, and has thus become a target for therapy. In the present review, we discuss the current knowledge on oxidative stress and its signaling in melanoma, as well as the oxidative stress-related mechanisms in the acquired resistance to targeted therapies.
Red Wine Oxidation Characterization by Accelerated Ageing Tests and Cyclic Voltammetry
Authors: Deshaies Stacy , Garcia Luca , Veran Frédéric , Mouls Laetitia , Saucier Cédric , Garcia François
Published: December 2021

In order to obtain information on the oxidative behavior of red wines, oxygen consumption rates and electrochemical changes (cyclic voltammetry) were measured for nine red wines subject to three different accelerated ageing tests: chemical (with hydrogen peroxide), enzymatic (with laccase from Trametes versicolor), and temperature (at 60 °C). Oxidative behavior depended both on the wine sample and accelerated ageing test type. A good correlation was observed between electrochemical parameters of charges for reference/non-oxidized wines, in accordance with their antioxidant capacity, and the variation of charges after enzymatic and temperature tests, meaning that cyclic voltammetry could be used in order to predict these two oxidation tests and reflect the wine sensitivity towards respective oxidation targets. However, it was not possible to predict wine chemical oxidation test based on hydrogen peroxide from the electrochemical measurements.
Blackberry Leaves as New Functional Food? Screening Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Microbiological Activities in Correlation with Phytochemical Analysis
Authors: Paczkowska-Walendowska Magdalena , Gościniak Anna , Szymanowska Daria , Szwajgier Dominik , Baranowska-Wójcik Ewa , Szulc Piotr , Dreczka Dagna , Simon Marek , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta
Published: December 2021

Blackberry fruits are recognized as functional foods while blackberry leaves are outside this classification and they also contain active compounds with health-promoting potential. Therefore, the aim of this study was the phytochemical analysis of blackberry leaves of varieties (Chester, Loch Ness, Loch Tay and Ruczaj) and screening of their biological activity (antioxidant potential, possibility of inhibition of enzymes, anti-inflammatory and microbial activity). The following compounds from selected groups: phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol) and their glycosides (rutin, isoquercetin, hyperoside) and flavon-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin) were chromatographically determined in the aqueous and hydroalcoholic leaves extracts. All tested blackberry leaves extracts showed antioxidant effects, but the highest compounds content (TPC = 101.31 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (e.g., DPPH IC50 = 57.37 μg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 24.83 μg/mL; CUPRAC IC50 = 62.73 μg/mL; FRAP IC50 = 39.99 μg/mL for hydroalcoholic extracts) was indicated for the Loch Tay variety. Blackberry leaf extracts’ anti-inflammatory effect was also exceptionally high for the Loch Tay variety (IC50 = 129.30 μg/mL), while leaves extracts of the Loch Ness variety showed a significant potential for microbial activity against Lactobacillus spp. and Candida spp. Summarizing, the best multidirectional pro-health effect was noted for leaves extracts of Loch Tay variety.
Peroxiredoxin 6 Applied after Exposure Attenuates Damaging Effects of X-ray Radiation in 3T3 Mouse Fibroblasts
Authors: Novoselova Elena G. , Sharapov Mars G. , Lunin Sergey M. , Parfenyuk Svetlana B. , Khrenov Maxim O. , Mubarakshina Elvira K. , Kuzekova Anna A. , Novoselova Tatyana V. , Goncharov Ruslan G. , Glushkova Olga V.
Published: December 2021

Although many different classes of antioxidants have been evaluated as radioprotectors, none of them are in widespread clinical use because of their low efficiency. The goal of our study was to evaluate the potential of the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) to increase the radioresistance of 3T3 fibroblasts when Prdx6 was applied after exposure to 6 Gy X-ray. In the present study, we analyzed the mRNA expression profiles of genes associated with proliferation, apoptosis, cellular stress, senescence, and the production of corresponding proteins from biological samples after exposure of 3T3 cells to X-ray radiation and application of Prdx6. Our results suggested that Prdx6 treatment normalized p53 and NF-κB/p65 expression, p21 levels, DNA repair-associated genes (XRCC4, XRCC5, H2AX, Apex1), TLR expression, cytokine production (TNF-α and IL-6), and apoptosis, as evidenced by decreased caspase 3 level in irradiated 3T3 cells. In addition, Prdx6 treatment reduced senescence, as evidenced by the decreased percentage of SA-β-Gal positive cells in cultured 3T3 fibroblasts. Importantly, the activity of the NRF2 gene, an important regulator of the antioxidant cellular machinery, was completely suppressed by irradiation but was restored by post-irradiation Prdx6 treatment. These data support the radioprotective therapeutic efficacy of Prdx6.
Cloning and Functional Identification of SlPG49 in Solanum lycopersicum
Authors: Li Weiqiang , Xu Liai , Xia Rui , Shen Ying , Zhu Zhujun , Yu Youjian , Zang Yunxiang
Published: December 2021

The modification and degradation of pectin in cell walls are necessary for the fruit softening process, which involves a series of pectin-modifying enzymes. Polygalacturonases (PGs) are a major group of pectin-hydrolyzing enzymes, which participate in fruit maturation, organ shedding, pollen development, and other processes by catalyzing the degradation of polygalacturonic acid. However, their function in plants has not yet been fully elucidated. In this paper, a full-length cDNA encoding SlPG49 was cloned from a tomato. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that SlPG49 contains four typical conserved domains and belongs to clade E in PG classification. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that SlPG49 was highly expressed in fruits during the softening stage, indicating that SlPG49 may be involved in fruit softening. Subcellular localization results revealed that SlPG49 was located in the cell membrane and the cell wall. In addition, an in vitro enzymatic activity assay confirmed that SlPG49 does have the ability to catalyze the hydrolysis of polygalacturonic acid. These results indicate that SlPG49 is a newly discovered PG gene involved in tomato fruit softening, and provide an experimental basis for elucidating the biological functions of plant PGs during fruit softening.
Improvement of the Classification Accuracy of Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces by Combining L1-MCCA with SVM
Authors: Gao Yuhang , Si Juanning , Wu Sijin , Li Weixian , Liu Hao , Chen Jianhu , He Qing , Zhang Yujin
Published: December 2021

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) has been used for the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based brain-computer interface (BCI) for a long time. However, the reference signal of CCA is relatively simple and lacks subject-specific information. Moreover, over-fitting may occur when a short time window (TW) length was used in CCA. In this article, an optimized L1-regularized multiway canonical correlation analysis (L1-MCCA) is combined with a support vector machine (SVM) to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings in CCA. The correlation coefficients obtained by L1-MCCA were transferred into a particle-swarm-optimization (PSO)-optimized support vector machine (SVM) classifier to improve the classification accuracy. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated and compared with the traditional CCA and power spectral density (PSD) methods. The results showed that the accuracy of the L1-MCCA-PSO-SVM was 96.36% and 98.18% respectively when the TW lengths were 2 s and 6 s. This accuracy is higher than that of the traditional CCA and PSD methods.
Aspects Regarding the Optimal Insulation Thickness, the Cost and Energy Savings for Cold Storage in Romania
Authors: Girip Alina , Calotă Răzvan , Ilie Anica
Published: December 2021

The paper presents a technical and economic analysis regarding the sandwich panels with polyurethane insulation layer (PUR) used in cold stores’ construction. The authors determine the optimal thickness of the insulating layer (OIT) corresponding to the 5 climatic zones in Romania. The operating and investment costs for cold and frozen storage in these 5 climatic zones have been assessed. The results obtained from the analysis show that regardless of the climatic zone, the OIT for cold storage is 150 mm and for frozen storage is 180 mm. The investment cost increases by 41% and the expenditure on operating energy decreases by 8.3% for 180 mm for cold storage in comparison to OIT. Moreover, this tendency is maintained as well in the other case of frozen storage, where, by increasing the thickness above OIT at 200 mm the investment cost is increased by 20% and the expenditure in operating energy is decreased by 6.7%. The SEC has an average value of 54.83 kWh·m3/yr for cold storage and 74.55 kWh·m3/yr for frozen storage respectively. The average values obtained in the paper were compared with those presented in the literature and resulted in deviations of about 1.58% for refrigeration, and hence 4.1% for freezing.
Demand Response Requirements from the Cultural, Social, and Behavioral Perspectives
Authors: Shekari Mohammadreza , Arasteh Hamidreza , Sheikhi Fini Alireza , Vahidinasab Vahid
Published: December 2021

Demand-side response programs, commonly known as demand response (DR), are interesting ways to attract consumers’ participation to improve electric consumption patterns. Customers are encouraged to modify their usage patterns in reaction to price increases through DR programs. When wholesale market prices are high or network reliability is at risk, DR can help to establish a balance between electricity generation and consumption by providing incentives or considering penalties. The overall objective of adopting DR programs is to increase network reliability and decrease operational costs. Nevertheless, the successful deployment of DR programs requires a set of conditions without which no success can be guaranteed. Implementing DR programs and achieving customers’ optimal power consumption behavior could be obtained through technical methods, such as using smart home appliances and big data techniques. However, even if each of these approaches is correctly implemented, they are not able to address all aspects of the problem. The findings of several studies demonstrate that, in addition to technical and economic concerns, social, cultural, and behavioral variables play a significant role in DR implementation. Therefore, this paper investigated the social, cultural, and behavioral variables as critical requirements for implementing DR programs. Furthermore, a theoretical framework and an analytical model of the elements impacting the electricity consumption are introduced that should be considered by the planners.
Global Buckling Investigation of the Flanged Cruciform H-shapes Columns (FCHCs)
Authors: Lu Linfeng , Wang Di , Dai Zifan , Luo Tengfei , Ding Songlin , Hao Hanlin
Published: December 2021

In China, increasing the application ratio of hot-rolled H-shapes has become a severe problem that the government, academia, and engineering circles must vigorously address. Research on reasonable hot-rolled H-shapes built-up columns is one of the primary methods. After reviewing the various combination columns in the existing research, the paper proposes the new flanged cruciform H-shapes columns (FCHCs) made of three hot-rolled H-shapes. Using comprehensive imperfections given by the design standard, GB50017-2017, the paper analyzes the global buckling of FCHCs subjected to the axial compression load. The global buckling factor obtained is compared with the current national design code. Comparative analysis of seventy-two specimens of Q345 and Q460 steel found that the global buckling mode of FCHCs was flexural bending buckling around the axis of symmetry, and global torsional buckling and local buckling did not occur. Furthermore, the corresponding column curves in current design codes overestimate the dimensionless buckling strength of the novel FCHCs. Therefore, designers need to drop a class to select the global buckling factor within a specific range. Finally, new column global buckling curves are proposed based on a non-linear fitting of the numerical results according to the current national design codes.
Steel Surface Defect Classification Based on Small Sample Learning
Authors: Wu Shiqing , Zhao Shiyu , Zhang Qianqian , Chen Long , Wu Chenrui
Published: December 2021

The classification of steel surface defects plays a very important role in analyzing their causes to improve manufacturing process and eliminate defects. However, defective samples are very scarce in actual production, so using very few samples to construct a good classifier is a challenge to be addressed. If the layer number of the model with proper depth is increased, the model accuracy will decrease (not caused by overfit), and the training error as well as the test error will be very high. This is called the degradation problem. In this paper, we propose to use feature extraction + feature transformation + nearest neighbors to classify steel surface defects. In order to solve the degradation problem caused by network deepening, the three feature extraction networks of Residual Net, Mobile Net and Dense Net are designed and analyzed. Experiment results show that in the case of a small sample number, Dense block can better solve the degradation problem caused by network deepening than Residual block. Moreover, if Dense Net is used as the feature extraction network, and the nearest neighbor classification algorithm based on Euclidean metric is used in the new feature space, the defect classification accuracy can reach 92.33% when only five labeled images of each category are used as the training set. This paper is of some guiding significance for surface defect classification when the sample number is small.
Experimental and Numerical Dynamic Identification of an Aerostatic Electro-Spindle
Authors: Colombo Federico , Lentini Luigi , Trivella Andrea , Raparelli Terenziano , Viktorov Vladimir
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a method to experimentally identify the main modal parameters, i.e., natural frequencies and damping ratios, of an aerostatic spindle for printed board circuit drilling. A variety of methods is applied to the impulse-response function of the spindle in the presence of zero rotational speed and different supply pressures. Moreover, the paper describes the non-linear numerical model of the spindle, which consists of a four-degree-of-freedom (DOF) rigid and unsymmetrical rotor supported by two aerostatic bearings. The main goal of the work is to validate the developed non-linear numerical model through the proposed identification procedure and the performed experimental tests. The comparison proves satisfactory, and the possible sources of uncertainty are conjectured.
Pain Management Using Nano-Bio Fusion Gel in Fixed Orthodontic Therapy-Induced Gingivitis: A Split-Mouth Design Study
Authors: Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Ganji Kiran Kumar , Meshari Alreshidi , Manay Srinivas Munisekhar , Jamayet Nafij Bin , Siddiqui Ammar A
Published: December 2021

Nanotechnology-based products containing antioxidants may be effective adjuvants in the treatment of periodontal diseases. To assess the treatment effect of nano bio-fusion gel (NBFG) in pain perception (PP) in fixed orthodontic therapy-induced gingivitis (FOTIG). The gel contains propolis, vitamin C, and vitamin E in the form of nanoemulsion. Thirty-two patients were finally selected from the orthodontic clinic after assessments for FOTIG. Patients were allocated randomly into active and placebo-control groups. Patients were evaluated at three intervals (T1, T2, and T3). Pain perception using a numeric rating scale (NRS) was performed at baseline (T1), on the 7th day (T2) and on the 28th day (T3) on his/her visit to an orthodontic clinic. In the T1, T2, and T3 period, patients apply NBFG (active or placebo side) to their gingiva after brushing two times a day for 28 consecutive days. Results: The baseline data between the active or placebo group showed almost similar PP. From T1 to T2 and T3, the active or placebo-control group showed significant improvement in PP over time. Compared to placebo, the active group showed highly significant (p ≤ 0.001, T1 to T2 and T2 to T3) improvement in PP. The use of NBFG is an effective means of improvement in PP of FOTIG cases.
Use of Deep Learning to Improve the Computational Complexity of Reconstruction Algorithms in High Energy Physics
Authors: Valls Canudas Núria , Calvo Gómez Míriam , Golobardes Ribé Elisabet , Vilasis-Cardona Xavier
Published: December 2021

The optimization of reconstruction algorithms has become a key aspect in the field of experimental particle physics. Since technology has allowed gradually increasing the complexity of the measurements, the amount of data taken that needs to be interpreted has grown as well. This is the case with the LHCb experiment at CERN, where a major upgrade currently undergoing will considerably increase the data processing rate. This has presented the need to search for specific reconstruction techniques that aim to accelerate one of the most time consuming reconstruction algorithms in LHCb, the electromagnetic calorimeter clustering. Together with the use of deep learning techniques and the understanding of the current reconstruction algorithm, we propose a method that decomposes the reconstruction process into small parts that can be formulated as a cellular automaton. This approach is shown to benefit the generalized learning of small convolutional neural network architectures and also simplify the training dataset. Final results applied to a complete LHCb simulation reconstruction are compatible in terms of efficiency, and execute in nearly constant time with independence on the complexity of the data.
Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibers Containing Viroblock as Promising Material for Protective Clothing
Authors: Hussain Mujtaba , Salam Abdul , Arain Muhammad Fahad , Ullah Azeem , Dao Anh-Tuan , Vu-Manh Hai , Phan Duy-Nam , Ansari Aamir Shabbir , Khan Muhammad Qamar , Javed Zafar , Kim Ick-Soo
Published: December 2021

Antimicrobial viroblock/polyacrylonitrile nanofiber webs fabricated using the electrospinning method were assessed in terms of the antimicrobial activity against infectious agents as a potential material used in mask production. Viroblock (VB) is an amalgam of lipid vesicle and silver. Lipid vesicle depletes the virus outer membrane, which contains cholesterol, while silver ions penetrate the virus, interact with sulfur-bearing moieties, and possess the virus bactericidal property. VB, having anti-coronavirus and anti-influenza properties, was prepared in four different concentrations, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 2 wt%, in regard to nanofiber weight. The resultant nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water contact angle, water content, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, all nanofibrous samples were evaluated for cell proliferation assay and ATCC antibacterial tests. Based on characterization results and cytotoxicity, the developed composite nanofibers-based webs showed good promise for utilization in anti-viral masks. Particularly, 2 wt% VB/PAN nanofibers have the highest antibacterial properties against negative and positive bacteria along with excellent cell viability.
A Bit-Interleaved Sigma-Delta-Over-Fiber Fronthaul Network for Frequency-Synchronous Distributed Antenna Systems
Authors: Wu Chia-Yi , Li Haolin , Van Kerrebrouck Joris , Meysmans Caro , Demeester Piet , Torfs Guy
Published: December 2021

Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) has attracted wide attention as wireless spectral efficiency has become a 6G key performance indicator. The distributed scheme improves the spectral efficiency and user fairness, but the fronthaul network must evolve to enable it. This work demonstrates a fronthaul network for distributed antenna systems enabled by the bit-interleaved sigma-delta-over-fiber (BISDoF) concept: multiple sigma-delta modulated baseband signals are time-interleaved into one non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signal, which is converted to the optical domain by a commercial QSFP and transmitted over fiber. The BISDoF concept improves the optical bit-rate efficiency while keeping the remote unit complexity sufficiently low. The implementation successfully deals with an essential challenge—precise frequency synchronization of different remote units. Moreover, owing to the straightforward data paths, all transceivers inherently transmit or receive with fixed timing offsets which can be easily calibrated. The error vector magnitudes of both the downlink and uplink data paths are less than 2.8% (–31 dB) when transmitting 40.96 MHz-bandwidth OFDM signals (256-QAM) centered around 3.6 GHz. (Optical path: 100 m multi-mode fibers; wireless path: electrical back-to-back.) Without providing an extra reference clock, the two remote units were observed to have the same carrier frequency; the standard deviation of the relative jitter was 9.43 ps.
‘SRS’ R Package and ‘q2-srs’ QIIME 2 Plugin: Normalization of Microbiome Data Using Scaling with Ranked Subsampling (SRS)
Authors: Heidrich Vitor , Karlovsky Petr , Beule Lukas
Published: December 2021

Several ecological data types, especially microbiome count data, are commonly sample-wise normalized before analysis to correct for sampling bias and other technical artifacts. Recently, we developed an algorithm for the normalization of ecological count data called ‘scaling with ranked subsampling (SRS)’, which surpasses the widely adopted ‘rarefying’ (random subsampling without replacement) in reproducibility and in safeguarding the original community structure. Here, we describe an implementation of the SRS algorithm in the ‘SRS’ R package and the ‘q2-srs’ QIIME 2 plugin. We also provide accessory functions for dataset exploration to guide the choice of parameters for SRS.