bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between dietary trace minerals and pelvic inflammatory disease: data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Authors: Hu Panwei , Zhang Siming , Li Haoyuan , Yan Xiaotong , Zhang Xiaole , Zhang Qinhua
Published: November 2023

Objective

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a prevalent gynecological disorder. Dietary trace minerals play an important role in combating many chronic diseases including PID. However, it is unknown whether dietary trace minerals and PID are related. This study aimed to examine the relationship between dietary trace minerals (copper, iron, selenium, and zinc) and PID.

Methods

Data of women participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2018 were enrolled in this cross-sectional investigation. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses of the relationship between dietary trace minerals and PID were performed, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were applied to visualize those relationships.

Results

In total, 2,694 women between the ages of 20 and 59 years participated in the two NHANES cycles. In the univariate analyses, a significant negative relationship was identified between PID and dietary copper intake [odds ratio (OR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24–0.67, p < 0.01] but not with iron (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.90–1.03, p = 0.25), selenium (OR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.99–1.0, p = 0.23), and zinc (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86–1.03, p = 0.17) intake. Following the adjustment for age and race (model 1), a robust correlation was found between dietary copper intake and PID (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.09–0.61, p < 0.01), as indicated by the fully adjusted model 2 (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.09–0.90, p = 0.03). Simultaneously, a significant trend was found between copper intake and PID across the quintile subgroups (p for trends <0.05), suggesting a robust relationship. Furthermore, the RCS analysis demonstrated a linear correlation between PID and dietary copper intake (overall p < 0.01, non-linear p = 0.09).

Conclusion

Decreased dietary copper intakes are linked to PID. However, additional research is needed to fully investigate this relationship due to the constraints of the study design.
The value of multiparametric MRI radiomics in predicting IDH genotype in glioma before surgery
Authors: Liang Yuanzi , Liu Wenjuan , Bai Dong , Hu Junqi , Wang Zhiqun
Published: November 2023

Objective

To explore the value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) radiomics in the preoperative prediction of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotype for gliomas

Methods

The preoperative routine MRI sequences of 114 patients with pathologically confirmed grade II-IV gliomas were retrospectively analysed. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort(n=79) and validation cohort(n=35) in the ratio of 7:3. After feature extraction, we eliminated covariance by calculating the linear correlation coefficients between features, and then identified the best features using the F-test. The Logistic regression was used to build the radiomics model and the clinical model, and to build the combined model. Assessment of these models by subject operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The multiparametric radiomics model was built by eight selected radiomics features and yielded AUC values of 0.974 and 0.872 in the training and validation cohorts, which outperformed the conventional models. After incorporating the clinical model, the combined model outperformed the radiomics model, with AUCs of 0.963 and 0.892 for the training and validation cohorts.

Conclusion

Radiomic models based on multiparametric MRI sequences could help to predict glioma IDH genotype before surgery.
Aumolertinib: effective treatment for asymptomatic pulmonary giant cell carcinoma with EGFR L858R mutation - a case report
Authors: Yang Wenxing , Yang Ze , Wang Kaiqiang , Zhu Peiquan , Pu Jiangtao
Published: November 2023

Aumolertinib, as a novel third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), has been widely employed as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation. However, reports regarding the benefit of using aumolertinib as a monotherapy in pulmonary giant cell carcinoma are relatively scarce. In this report, we present a pulmonary giant cell carcinoma case harboring the EGFR Leu858Arg (L858R) mutation, with the patient at stage cT2bN3M1c IVB. Through the use of autolearning as a single agent, we effectively controlled the progression of pulmonary giant cell carcinoma, achieving a 6-month progression-free survival during the treatment course. Notably, the patient’s tumor not only ceased its growth but also continued to shrink, highlighting a significant therapeutic effect. This case reveals the effectiveness of aumolertinib as a monotherapy in controlling disease progression. The finding underscores the therapeutic advantage of aumolertinib in this particular subgroup of patients, offering a novel treatment option for pulmonary giant cell carcinoma.
Fangji Dihuang formulation ameliorated DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by IL-17 signaling pathway: integrating network analysis and experimental validation
Authors: Zhao Wenting , Jiang Honghong , Gu Yunfan , Zhang Weiming , Bao Shijie , Dai Ming , Dong Bilin , Yang Ya , Li Ke , Qin Li , Zeng Xianyu
Published: November 2023

Background: The Fangji Dihuang formulation (FJDHF) is a widely recognized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula that consists of five plant drugs: Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Rehmanniae Radix, Saposhnikoviae Radix, and Glycyrrhiza Urensis Fisch. This formulation has been known to exhibit clinical therapeutic effects in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. However, there is a lack of pharmacological research on its anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) activity.

Methods: To investigate the potential anti-AD activity of FJDHF, DNCB was used to induce AD-like skin inflammation in the back of mice. Following successful modeling, the mice were administered FJDHF orally. The extent of the inflammatory skin lesions was recorded at day 4, 7, 14 and 28. UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used to identify and match the compounds present in FJDHF with ITCM, TCMIP and TCMSID. In silico predictions of potential target proteins of the identified compounds were obtained from SwishTargetPrediction, ITCM and TargetNet databases. AD-related genes were identified from GSE32924 data set, and FJDHF anti-AD hub genes were identified by MCODE algorithm. ClueGo enrichment analysis was employed to identify the core pathway of FJDHF’s anti-AD effect. To further investigate the anti-AD effect of FJDHF, single-cell RNA sequencing data set (GSE148196) from AD patients was analyzed to determine the target cells and signaling pathways of FJDHF in AD. Finally, rt-PCR, flow cytometry, and mouse back skin RNA sequencing were utilized to validate our findings.

Results: FJDHF was found to be effective in improving the degree of the AD-like lesions in the mice. Network pharmacological analysis revealed the core pathway of FJDHF to be the IL-17 signaling pathway, which is interactively associated with cytokines. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis suggested that FJDHF may play an anti-AD role by influencing dendritic cells. Flow cytometry and rt-PCR results showed that FJDHF can reduce the influence of AD sample of IL-4, IFN-γ and the expression of IL-17. The RNA sequencing of mouse back skin also confirmed our conclusion.

Conclusion: FJDHF may inhibit DNCB-induced AD-like skin inflammation in mice by inhibiting the IL-17 signaling pathway. Thus, FJDHF can be considered as a potential therapeutic agent for AD.
Right partial rainbow refractometry for measuring droplet refractive index and size
Authors: Li Can , Peng Wenmin , Li Tianchi , Li Ning
Published: November 2023

Rainbow refractometry can be employed for measuring the parameters of droplets or sprays. Considering the diversity of different measurement environments and droplet components, there are instances in experiments where optics fail to record the complete rainbow signal. To enhance the experimental data utilization, this paper investigates rainbow refractometry using the incomplete rainbow signal on the right side, focusing on its feasibility and accuracy. The concept that defines the incompleteness of the right-sided rainbow signal is termed as the dimensionless right signal partial ratio (RSPR). The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of refractive index, droplet diameter, and size distributions retrieved from the partial rainbow signals simulated by the Lorenz-Mie theory with varying RSPR values. For both partial standard and global rainbows, the critical value of the retrieval error is found to be whether the primary peak of the rainbow is preserved or not, i.e., RSPR = 1. Laboratory experiments verify the feasibility and effectiveness of employing rainbow refractometry with right partial rainbow signals. The study addresses the challenge of incomplete recording of rainbow signals in experiments, and is expected to improve experimental efficiency and data utilization.
Identification, characterization and expression analysis of wheat RSH family genes under abiotic stress
Authors: Wang Mengru , Hong Wei , Wang Youning , Han Xiaowen , Chen Wang , Wang Shuping , Zhang Yingxin , Wang Wenli
Published: November 2023

Guanosine pentaphosphate and guanosine tetraphosphate are collectively called (p)ppGpp (Guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate). (p)ppGpp content in plants is affected by conditions such as light, salt, pH, UV light, and environmental phytohormones. The synthesis and hydrolysis of (p)ppGpp in plants is accomplished by a class of proteins called RSH (RelA/SpoT homologs). To date, a systematic and comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the RSH gene family in wheat and its closely related species has not been conducted. In this study, 15, 14, 12, and 8 members of RSH were identified in wheat (Triticum aestivum), Triticum dicoccoides, Triticum urartu and Aegilops tauschii respectively. Based on the conserved structural domains of the RSH genes, the TaRSHs have been categorized into TaRSH and TaCRSH. The gene duplications in the TaRSH gene family were all identified as segmental duplications indicating that the TaRSH family plays a significant role in expansion and that segmental duplications maintain a degree of genetic stability. Through the analysis of transcriptome data and RT-qPCR experiments, it was observed that the expression levels of TaRSHs were upregulated in response to abiotic stress. This upregulation suggests that TaRSHs play a crucial role in enhancing the resilience of wheat to adverse environmental conditions during its growth and development. Their increased expression likely contributes to the acquisition of stress tolerance mechanisms in wheat. Especially under NaCl stress, the expression levels increased most significantly. The more detailed systematic analysis provided in this article will help us understand the role of TaRSHs and provide a reference for further research on its molecular biological functions in wheat.
Community matters: barriers and opportunities to sexual health and sexuality education of young female migrants in Hong Kong
Authors: Kwok Kim , Kwok Diana K.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Female migrant workers form a substantial portion of the global migrant workforce and research indicates they are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This article investigates the perceptions, barriers and opportunities to sexual health and sexuality education experienced by young female migrants in Hong Kong.

Methods

The study adopted a rights-based perspective, employing qualitative methods for data collection, including focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 22 female migrants working as domestic workers.

Results

Results indicate that young migrants’ perceptions of sexual health behaviors and access to sexuality education are shaped by various interconnected factors at four distinct levels: individual, interpersonal, social and community, and sociocultural and sociopolitical.

Discussions

The present study adds to the existing literature by shedding light on certain perspectives that have not been given due emphasis in comparable studies. First, it highlights the importance of migrant community as barrier as well as opportunity in promoting positive health-seeking behaviors in a culturally acceptable manner. Second, it underscores the interplay between structural forces and individual and group-level vulnerability, emphasizing the need to address structural factors to eliminate young migrants’ internalized vulnerability. Third, it draws attention to the positive dimensions of sexual experiences as a motivator for proactive health-seeking and the intricate relationship between cultural practices and positive sexuality. This article recommends a proactive approach of migrant communities to address sexual healthcare issues while public healthcare institutions should proactively provide accessible sexual healthcare information and services.
Return to work after Post-COVID: describing affected employees' perceptions of personal resources, organizational offerings and care pathways
Authors: Straßburger Claudia , Hieber Daniel , Karthan Maximilian , Jüster Markus , Schobel Johannes
Published: November 2023

Background

Most individuals recover from the acute phase of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, however, some encounter prolonged effects, referred to as the Post-COVID syndrome. Evidence exists that such persistent symptoms can significantly impact patients' ability to return to work. This paper gives a comprehensive overview of different care pathways and resources, both personal and external, that aim to support Post-COVID patients during their work-life reintegration process. By describing the current situation of Post-COVID patients pertaining their transition back to the workplace, this paper provides valuable insights into their needs.

Methods

A quantitative research design was applied using an online questionnaire as an instrument. Participants were recruited via Post-COVID outpatients, rehab facilities, general practitioners, support groups, and other healthcare facilities.

Results

The analyses of 184 data sets of Post-COVID affected produced three key findings: (1) The evaluation of different types of personal resources that may lead to a successful return to work found that particularly the individuals' ability to cope with their situation (measured with the FERUS questionnaire), produced significant differences between participants that had returned to work and those that had not been able to return so far (F = 4.913, p = 0.001). (2) In terms of organizational provisions to facilitate successful reintegration into work-life, predominantly structural changes (i.e., modification of the workplace, working hours, and task) were rated as helpful or very helpful on average (meanworkplace 2.55/SD = 0.83, meanworking hours 2.44/SD = 0.80; meantasks 2.55/SD = 0.83), while the remaining offerings (i.e., job coaching or health courses) were rated as less helpful or not helpful at all. (3) No significant correlation was found between different care pathways and a successful return to work.

Conclusion

The results of the in-depth descriptive analysis allows to suggests that the level of ability to cope with the Post-COVID syndrome and its associated complaints, as well as the structural adaptation of the workplace to meet the needs and demands of patients better, might be important determinants of a successful return. While the latter might be addressed by employers directly, it might be helpful to integrate training on coping behavior early in care pathways and treatment plans for Post-COVID patients to strengthen their coping abilities aiming to support their successful return to work at an early stage.
Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy in the Brazilian Amazon region: clinical characteristics and regional distinctiveness
Authors: Guevara Moctezuma Elsa Isela , Smith Doria Susan , Ortiz Jessica Vanina , Teixeira de Sousa Débora Raysa , Mwangi Victor Irungu , do Nascimento Couceiro Katia , Brandão Alba Regina Jorge , Guerra Jorge Augusto de Oliveira , Vale Barbosa Guerra Maria das Graças , Barbosa Bemfica Ferreira João Marcos
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of clinical and epidemiological data related to Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC) in the Amazon region of Brazil.

Methods

A review of observational, retrospective, and cross-sectional studies related to Chagas Disease in the Amazon region of Brazil was conducted, and a case series addressing CCC in patients treated at the FMT-HVD outpatient clinic, a reference center for Chagas disease in Brazil, was carried out.

Results

Clinical characteristics of 55 patients from the Amazon region with CCC were described. The most common electrocardiographic alteration observed was abnormal ventricular repolarization (AVR), present in 40% of cases. The most common echocardiographic finding was left ventricular systolic dysfunction (49%), followed by akinesia or hypokinesia of the inferior and/or inferolateral walls (38.1%) and the presence of an apical aneurysm (32.7%).

Conclusions

Overall, this study demonstrates that CCC in the Amazon region presents clinical characteristics and severity that are similar to those observed in other regions. However, certain peculiarities, such as the frequency of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and anterior and septal involvement during the acute phase, require additional investigation to better comprehend the disease in the region. Overall, the study provides crucial clinical insights for the diagnosis and treatment of CCC in the Amazon region.
Source, distribution, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediment and fish samples from River Owan, Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Akinnusotu Akinyinka , Ukpebor Justina E. , Okieimen Felix E.
Published: November 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent environmental contaminants that present several environmental risks including human health. The 16 priority PAHs including its 1-methylnaphthalene, and 2-methylnaphthalene were determined in sediment and fish samples (Clarias anguillaris and Oreochromis niloticus) of River Owan, Edo State, Nigeria using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with flame ionization detector (FID) and other standard laboratory protocols. The isomeric ratio was used for source diagnosis, sediment quality guidelines, and risk models of incremental lifetime cancer were used for risk assessment. 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene were most predominant in all sediment samples analysed. The ∑LMW PAHs ranged between 0.093—0.250 μg/kg; ∑HMW PAHs were 0.107—0.579 μg/kg. The sediment samples range for ∑PAHs was 0.280–0.810 μg/kg with concentration order of increase: SE5>SE4>SE3>SE6>SE1>SE2>SE7 for the seven sampling locations. The ∑PAHs for Oreochromis niloticus was 0.190 μg/kg, which is higher than the value of Clarias anguillaris 0.080 μg/kg, and these values were greatly lesser when compared to the European Commission limit of 12.00 μg/kg. The diagnostic ratio indicates that the sources are more pyrogenic than petrogenic, revealing combustion from grass, wood, and bush burning. Sediment quality assessment showed that the ∑PAHs were lower than the regulatory values of sediment quality guidelines (SQG) assessment suggesting no ecotoxicological effects on the benthic organisms in this area at present. The Incremental Life Cancer Risk results were in the range of 9.15 × 10−12—1.46 × 10−6 for children, and 7.78 × 10−12—1.76 × 10−6 for adults considering the three routes of exposure. The incremental life cancer risk assessment showed a negligible risk.
The Effect of Sowing Date on the Growth and Yield of Soybeans Cultivated in North-Eastern Poland
Authors: Fordoński Gabriel , Okorski Adam , Olszewski Jacek , Dąbrowska Joanna , Pszczółkowska Agnieszka
Published: November 2023

Soybean yields are influenced by numerous factors, including environmental conditions, location, and agricultural practices. Sowing date affects plant growth, development, and yields, and it plays a particularly important role in soybean cultivation. The optimal sowing date should be selected based on soil temperature, precipitation, and rainfall distribution in a given region. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various sowing dates (I—early, II—optimal, III—late) on the time from sowing to emergence of soybean seedlings, length of the growing season, morphological traits of soybean plants, yield components, and seed yields of soybeans grown in north-eastern Poland. Sowing date considerably affected the time from sowing to the emergence of soybean seedlings and seed yields. In north-eastern Poland, soybeans should be sown in the first half of May to minimize the risk of ground frost damage, which can occur even in late May. Sowing date also influenced soybean yields. In north-eastern Poland (Region of Warmia and Mazury), yields were maximized when soybeans were sown late (in mid-May), which was decisively influenced by climatic conditions, mainly temperature. The linear regression analysis revealed that the length of the growing season was correlated with the seed yields of soybeans sown on different dates.
The Development of a Draft Force Prediction Model for Agricultural Tractors Based on the Discrete Element Method in Loam and Clay Loam
Authors: Bae Bo-Min , Kim Yeon-Soo , Kim Wan-Soo , Kim Yong-Joo , Lee Sang-Dae , Kim Taek-Jin
Published: November 2023

In the field of agricultural machinery, various empirical field tests are conducted to measure design loads for the optimal design and implementation of tractors. However, conducting field tests is costly and time-consuming, with many constraints on weather and field soil conditions, and research utilizing simulations has been proposed as an alternative to overcome these shortcomings. The objective of this study is to develop a DEM-based draft force prediction model that reflects differences in soil properties. For this, soil property measurements were conducted in two fields (Field A in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, and Field B in Chuncheon, Republic of Korea). The measured properties were used as parameters for DEM-based particle modeling. For the interparticle contact model, the EEPA contact model was used to reflect the compressibility and stickiness of cohesive soils. To generate an environment similar to real soil, particle mass and surface energy were calibrated based on bulk density and shear torque. The soil property measurements showed that Field B had a higher shear strength and lower cone index and moisture content compared to Field A. The actual measured draft force was 19.47% higher in Field B than in Field A. In this study, this demonstrates the uncertainty in predicting draft force by correlating only one soil property and suggests the need for a comprehensive consideration of soil properties. The simulation results of the tillage operation demonstrated the accuracy of the predicted shedding force compared to the actual field experiment and the existing theoretical calculation method (ASABE D497.4). Compared to the measured draft force in the actual field test, the predictions were 86.75% accurate in Field A and 74.51% accurate in Field B, which is 84% more accurate in Field A and 37.32% more accurate in Field B than the theoretical calculation method. This result shows that load prediction should reflect the soil properties of the working environment, and is expected to be used as an indicator of soil–tool interaction for digital twin modeling processes in the research field of bio-industrial machinery.
Effects of Drought Stress during the Flowering Period on the Rhizosphere Fungal Diversity of Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)
Authors: Liu Yuhan , Ren Jiangling , Hu Yulu , Wang Shu , Mao Jiao , Xu Yuanmeng , Wang Mengyao , Liu Sichen , Qiao Zhijun , Cao Xiaoning
Published: November 2023

Drought stress restricts plant growth and development. The flowering stage is a period of abundant microbial diversity in the rhizosphere of broomcorn millet. However, the diversity and community structure of rhizosphere fungi during the flowering stage of broomcorn millet and the response mechanism to drought stress are still unclear. In this study, two broomcorn millet varieties, ‘Hequ red millet’ (A1) and ‘Yanshu No.10′ (A2), with different drought resistances, were used as experimental materials. Using the pot water control method, drought treatment at the flowering stage was carried out, and normal watering (A1CK, A2CK) was used as the control. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the diversity and structural changes in rhizosphere fungi in broomcorn millet. The results show that the number of fungi OTUs in the A1, A2, A1CK and A2CK samples were 445, 481, 467 and 434, respectively, of which 331 OTUs were shared by all groups. The fungal community in the rhizosphere of broomcorn millet was mainly composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Drought treatment significantly reduced the abundance of Mortierella and significantly increased the abundance of Phoma. The abundance of Nectriaceae in the rhizosphere soil of ‘Hequ Red millet’ was significantly increased. The abundance of Pseudocercospora in the rhizosphere soil of ‘Yanshu No.10′ was higher, and the lower was Hypocreales and Nectriaceae. However, there was no significant difference in the alpha diversity of fungal communities in the four treatments, and the fungal community structure between A2 and A1CK was more similar, whereas the difference between A1 and A2CK was larger. Correlation analysis showed that drought stress had little effect on the interaction of rhizosphere fungi, and metabolic functions such as nucleotide metabolism and electron transport in rhizosphere fungi accounted for a relatively high proportion. The results show that the diversity and community structure of rhizosphere fungi were less affected by drought, which may have been due to the close interaction between species, which made the fungal community more stable under drought stress, and the difference in planting varieties may have affected the enriched rhizosphere fungal species.
Proteomics Analysis Reveals Hormone Metabolic Process Involved in the Regulation of Kernel Water Content Induced by Exogenous Abscisic Acid in Maize
Authors: He Jiawen , Li Chuan , Iqbal Zubair , Zhang Meiwei , Zhang Panpan , Niu Jun , Shao Ruixin , Guo Hanxiao , Mu Weilin , Qiao Jiangfang
Published: November 2023

The water content of maize kernels during harvest is a critical factor influencing grain harvest practices globally. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a pivotal role in grain development during the grain-filling process. Yet, there has been limited reporting on the regulatory mechanism of grain dehydration induced by exogenous ABA using proteomic techniques. In this study, two maize genotypes with distinct dehydration rates, DK517 (fast dehydration) and ZD1002 (slow dehydration), were treated with ABA after the heading stage. Results revealed a 20% lower yield in DK517 compared to ZD1002 following ABA application. Sixty days after pollination, the grain water content decreased to 23.55% in DK517 and 30.42% in ZD1002 due to ABA treatment. Through proteomic analysis, 861 and 118 differentially expressed proteins (DAPs) were identified in DK517 and ZD1002, respectively, as a result of ABA treatment. GO analysis indicated that the primary metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process, and hormone metabolic process were significantly enriched among the DAPs in DK517 induced by ABA, while these pathways were absent in ZD1002. Twenty-four and fifteen overlapping DAPs showed contrasting responses in the two maize genotypes after ABA treatment. Notably, the expression levels of six known ABA signaling genes, including SnRK2 and DRE-like proteins, were downregulated in DK517 but remained unaltered in ZD1002 following ABA application. These findings underscore the distinct effects of exogenous ABA on the grain-filling characteristics of different maize genotypes, emphasizing the importance of the hormone metabolic process in regulating kernel water content induced by exogenous abscisic acid in maize.
A SPH-YOLOv5x-Based Automatic System for Intra-Row Weed Control in Lettuce
Authors: Jiang Bo , Zhang Jian-Lin , Su Wen-Hao , Hu Rui
Published: November 2023

Weeds have a serious impact on lettuce cultivation. Weeding is an efficient way to increase lettuce yields. Due to the increasing costs of labor and the harm of herbicides to the environment, there is an increasing need to develop a mechanical weeding robot to remove weeds. Accurate weed recognition and crop localization are prerequisites for automatic weeding in precision agriculture. In this study, an intra-row weeding system is developed based on a vision system and open/close weeding knives. This vision system combines the improved you only look once v5 (YOLOv5) identification model and the lettuce–weed localization method. Compared with models including YOLOv5s, YOLOv5m, YOLOv5l, YOLOv5n, and YOLOv5x, the optimized SPH-YOLOv5x model exhibited the best performance in identifying, with precision, recall, F1-score, and mean average precision (mAP) value of 95%, 93.32%, 94.1% and 96%, respectively. The proposed weed control system successfully removed the intra-row weeds with 80.25% accuracy at 3.28 km/h. This study demonstrates the robustness and efficacy of the automatic system for intra-row weed control in lettuce.
The Various Ways in Which Birds Blink
Authors: Morris John G. L. , Parsons Jesse J.
Published: November 2023

There has, to date, been no systematic study of the various ways in which birds blink. Digital video recordings were made, and studied using still frames, of 524 bird species, mainly in zoos but also in the wild. Videos on 106 species from various sites on the internet were studied, some of which we had also videoed, giving a total of 591 (out of a possible 10,000) species from all 43 orders and 125 (out of a possible 249) families. Digital video recordings were also made of 15 (out of a possible 24) species of crocodile. Three types of blink were observed in birds: (1) Nictitating membrane blinks were rapid and brief (phasic) and occurred mainly on head movement. (2) Upper lid blinks were seen in parrots, owls, pigeons and some others. These were also rapid and brief and accompanied nictitating membrane blinks. (3) Lower lid blinks were slow and sustained (tonic) and occurred with drowsiness and preening. Nictitating membrane blinks and lower lid blinks were seen in crocodiles but not upper lid blinks. Globe retraction, where the eyeball is pulled into the orbit of the skull during a blink, was seen in crocodiles but not birds. Phasic blinks remove debris and moisten the cornea, essential for allowing oxygen to diffuse into the cornea, which has no blood supply. Tonic blinks are probably mainly protective. The orders of birds which have upper lid blinking are not closely related and this feature is probably the result of convergent evolution.
Brazilian Clinical Strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida: Capsular Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility (In Vitro) and Proof of Concept for Prevention of Natural Colonization by Multi-Doses Protocol of Tildipirosin
Authors: Kuchiishi Suzana Satomi , Ramos Prigol Simone , Bresolin Eduarda , Fernandes Lenhard Bianca , Pissetti Caroline , García-Iglesias María-José , Gutiérrez-Martín César-Bernardo , Martínez-Martínez Sonia , Kreutz Luiz Carlos , Frandoloso Rafael
Published: November 2023

One hundred Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) and sixty Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida serogroup A (PmA) isolates were recovered from porcine pneumonic lungs collected from eight central or southern states of Brazil between 2014 and 2018 (App) or between 2017 and 2021 (PmA). A. pleuropneumoniae clinical isolates were typed by multiplex PCR and the most prevalent serovars were 8, 7 and 5 (43, 25% and 18%, respectively). In addition, three virulence genes were assessed in P. multocida isolates, all being positive to capA (PmA) and kmt1 genes, all negative to capD and toxA, and most of them (85%) negative to pfhA gene. The susceptibility of both pathogens to tildipirosin was investigated using a broth microdilution assay. The percentage of isolates susceptible to tildipirosin was 95% for App and 73.3% for PmA. The MIC50 values were 0.25 and 1 μg/mL and the MIC90 values were 4 and >64 μg/mL for App and PmA, respectively. Finally, a multiple-dose protocol of tildipirosin was tested in suckling piglets on a farm endemic for both pathogens. Tildipirosin was able to prevent the natural colonization of the tonsils by App and PmA and significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced the burden of Glaesserella parasuis in this tissue. In summary, our results demonstrate that: (i) tildipirosin can be included in the list of antibiotics to control outbreaks of lung disease caused by App regardless of the capsular type, and (ii) in the case of clinical strains of App and PmA that are sensitive to tildipirosin based on susceptibility testing, the use of this antibiotic in eradication programs for A. pleuropneumoniae and P. multocida can be strongly recommended.
High Incidence of Multiple-Drug-Resistant Pheromone-Responsive Plasmids and Transmissions of VanA-Type Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis between Livestock and Humans in Taiwan
Authors: Tomita Haruyoshi , Lu Jang-Jih , Ike Yasuyoshi
Published: November 2023

A total of seventy VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolates obtained in Taiwan in the early 2000s were retrospectively characterized. Forty isolates were obtained from human patients and thirty from livestock. Of these VRE isolates, twenty-three (57.5%) of the human VRE and thirty (100%) of the livestock VRE were Enterococcus faecalis, and the remaining seventeen (42.5%) of the human VRE were E. faecium. Of the 53 E. faecalis isolates, twenty-two (96%) of the human VRE and thirty (100%) of the livestock VRE exhibited a high level of resistance to vancomycin and sensitivity to teicoplanin. They also had three amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal region of the deduced VanS sequence. The vancomycin resistance of all of the 22 human isolates, and 20 of the 30 livestock isolates, transferred to E. faecalis FA2-2 at a frequency of 10−5 to 10−3 per donor cell in broth. Each of the transconjugants responded to E. faecalis pheromone (i.e., E. faecalis FA2-2 culture filtrate), indicating that the conjugative plasmids were pheromone-responsive plasmids. Three of the conjugative plasmids originated from human isolates, and five plasmids from livestock isolates were corresponded and classified as type A plasmid. Two plasmids originated from human isolates and six plasmids from livestock isolates were corresponded and classified as type B plasmid. E. faecalis FA2-2 containing either the type A or type B plasmid responded to the synthetic pheromone cAD1. The type A and type B plasmids transferred between E. faecalis FA2-2 and JH2SS at a frequency of about 10−2 per donor cell and conferred vancomycin, bacitracin, and erythromycin resistances. The complete DNA sequence of the representative type A plasmid pTW9 (85,068 bp) showed that the plasmid carried a Tn1546-like element encoding vanA-type resistance, erythromycin resistance (ermB), and bacitracin resistance (bcrABDR). The plasmid contained the regulatory region found in the pheromone-responsive plasmid and encoded the genes traA, traD and iad1, which are the key negative regulatory elements, and traE1, a key positive regulator of plasmid pAD1, indicating that plasmid pTW9 was pAD1-type pheromone-responsive plasmid. PFGE analysis of SmaI-digested chromosomal DNAs showed that several E. faecalis strains harboring an identical type A pheromone-responsive plasmid were indistinguishable, and that these were identified both in human and livestock isolates, indicating the transmissions of the VRE strains between livestock and humans. These data showed that the multiple-drug-resistant pheromone-responsive conjugative plasmids have been widely spread in both human and livestock VRE, and there was high potential for transfers of VRE from food animals to humans in Taiwan in the early 2000s.
A Multitarget Approach against Neuroinflammation: Alkyl Substituted Coumarins as Inhibitors of Enzymes Involved in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Berrino Emanuela , Carradori Simone , Carta Fabrizio , Melfi Francesco , Gallorini Marialucia , Poli Giulio , Tuccinardi Tiziano , Fernández-Bolaños José G. , López Óscar , Petzer Jacobus P. , Petzer Anél , Guglielmi Paolo , Secci Daniela , Supuran Claudiu T.
Published: November 2023

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) include a large range of diseases characterized by neural dysfunction with a multifactorial etiology. The most common NDs are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, in which cholinergic and dopaminergic systems are impaired, respectively. Despite different brain regions being affected, oxidative stress and inflammation were found to be common triggers in the pathogenesis and progression of both diseases. By taking advantage of a multi-target approach, in this work we explored alkyl substituted coumarins as neuroprotective agents, capable to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation by inhibiting enzymes involved in neurodegeneration, among which are Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs), Monoamine Oxidases (MAOs), and Cholinesterases (ChEs). The compounds were synthesized and profiled against the three targeted enzymes. The binding mode of the most promising compounds (7 and 9) within MAO-A and -B was analyzed through molecular modeling studies, providing and explanation for the different selectivities observed for the MAO isoforms. In vitro biological studies using LPS-stimulated rat astrocytes showed that some compounds were able to counteract the oxidative stress-induced neuroinflammation and hamper interleukin-6 secretion, confirming the success of this multitarget approach.
Metabolipidomic Analysis in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Discloses a Circulating Metabotype of Non-Dipping Blood Pressure
Authors: Pinilla Lucía , Benítez Iván D. , Gracia-Lavedan Esther , Torres Gerard , Mínguez Olga , Vaca Rafaela , Jové Mariona , Sol Joaquim , Pamplona Reinald , Barbé Ferran , Sánchez-de-la-Torre Manuel
Published: November 2023

A non-dipping blood pressure (BP) pattern, which is frequently present in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), confers high cardiovascular risk. The mechanisms connecting these two conditions remain unclear. In the present study we performed a comprehensive analysis of the blood metabolipidome that aims to provide new insights into the molecular link between OSA and the dysregulation of circadian BP rhythmicity. This was an observational prospective longitudinal study involving adults with suspected OSA who were subjected to full polysomnography (PSG). Patients with an apnea–hypopnea index ≥ 5 events/h were included. Fasting plasma samples were obtained the morning after PSG. Based on the dipping ratio (DR; ratio of night/day BP values) measured via 24 h ambulatory BP monitoring, two groups were established: dippers (DR ≤ 0.9) and non-dippers (DR > 0.9). Treatment recommendations for OSA followed the clinical guidelines. Untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic analyses were performed in plasma samples via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Non-dipper patients represented 53.7% of the cohort (88/164 patients). A set of 31 metabolic species and 13 lipidic species were differentially detected between OSA patients who present a physiologic nocturnal BP decrease and those with abnormal BP dipping. Among the 44 differentially abundant plasma compounds, 25 were putatively identified, notably glycerophospholipids, glycolipids, sterols, and fatty acid derivates. Multivariate analysis defined a specific metabotype of non-dipping BP, which showed a significant dose-response relationship with PSG parameters of OSA severity, and with BP dipping changes after 6 months of OSA treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Bioinformatic analyses revealed that the identified metabolipidomic profile was found to be implicated in multiple systemic biological pathways, with potential physiopathologic implications for the circadian control of BP among individuals with OSA.
NADES-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Coriander Seeds: A Systematic Optimization Study
Authors: Ianni Federica , Scandar Samir , Mangiapelo Luciano , Blasi Francesca , Marcotullio Maria Carla , Cossignani Lina
Published: November 2023

Coriandrum sativum L. seeds are widely recognized for their traditional use in medicine. Among the most investigated components, the terpenoid linalool and monounsaturated petroselinic acid have attracted interest for their nutritional value. Instead, minor attention was paid to the polyphenolic fraction, resulting still being incomplete today. This study aimed to develop a systematic approach in which green natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were combined with conventional (maceration, MAC) or non-conventional (ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE) techniques in a one-step methodology to recover polyphenols from coriander seeds. The NADES system choline chloride–citric acid (ChCl:CA, 1:1) was firstly evaluated, coupled with MAC or UAE, and then compared with ChCl–Urea (ChCl:Ur, 1:1) and ChCl–Glucose (ChCl:Glu, 1:1) under optimal conditions (20 min extraction time). The system ChCl:Ur UAE significantly improved the extraction of chlorogenic acid and its isomer (453.90 ± 4.77 and 537.42 ± 1.27 µg/g, respectively), while the system ChCl:Glu UAE improved the extraction of protocatechuic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids (131.13 ± 6.16, 269.03 ± 4.15 and 57.36 ± 0.06 µg/g, respectively). The highest levels of rutin were obtained with ChCl:CA-based NADES when the MAC technique was applied (820.31 ± 28.59 µg/g). These findings indicate that the NADES composition could be appropriately modulated to tailor extraction towards higher levels of a desirable bioactive for further applications.
The Study of the Influence of the Tracing Speed on the Result of Surface Roughness Measurement Using the Tactile Method
Authors: Stępień Krzysztof , Makieła Włodzimierz , Świderski Jacek
Published: November 2023

This work concerns the problem of measuring surface roughness using the tactile method. The result of such a measurement is influenced by many factors, for example, the applied measurement parameters or changes in ambient conditions, e.g., temperature. The authors attempted to determine the influence of the tracing speed of the result of the profilometer tip on the roughness measurement of surfaces characterized by different types of irregularities. In the experiment, samples manufactured using various machining techniques were measured. Eleven selected roughness parameters were observed, including the most well-known ones, such as Ra, Rz, or Rt. The results obtained by the authors allowed them to determine which of the analyzed parameters are the most sensitive to changes in the tracing speed of the measuring tip, which is of great importance in the aspect of surface roughness measurements in industrial conditions. Owing to the obtained results, it is possible to determine in which cases it is possible to increase the speed of tip travel without reducing the reliability of the obtained results of surface roughness measurement.
Adaptive-Dynamic-Programming-Based Robust Control for a Quadrotor UAV with External Disturbances and Parameter Uncertainties
Authors: Yang Shaoyu , Yu Fang , Liu Hui , Ma Hongyue , Zhang Haichao
Published: November 2023

Thiswork addresses the trajectory-tracking-control problem for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle with external disturbances and parameter uncertainties. A novel adaptive-dynamic-programming-based robust control method is proposed to eliminate the effects of lumped uncertainties (including external disturbances and parameter uncertainties) and to ensure the approximate optimal control performance. Its novelty lies in that two radial basis function neural network observers with fixed-time convergence properties were first established to reconstruct the lumped uncertainties. Notably, they tune only the scalar parameters online and have low computational complexities. Subsequently, two actor–critic neural networks were designed to approximate the optimal cost functions and control policies for the nominal system. In this design, two new actor–critic neural network weight update laws are proposed to eliminate the persistent excitation condition. Then, two adaptive-dynamic-programming-based robust control laws were obtained by integrating the observer reconstruction information and the nominal control policies. The uniformly ultimately bounded stability of the closed-loop tracking control systems was ensured using the Lyapunov methodology. Finally, numerical results are shown to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control scheme.
Research on Risk Assessment Method for Land Subsidence in Tangshan Based on Vulnerability Zoning
Authors: Qi Yanli , Bai Mingzhou , Song Linlin , Wang Qihao , Tian Gang , Wang Chen
Published: November 2023

The vulnerability zoning of the urban ground subsidence in Tangshan City was investigated in this study, taking into account factors such as the geological lithology, rainfall, population density, road network density, seismic acceleration, and river network density. The main research of this paper is slow land subsidence affecting large territories. A single-factor analysis was conducted using ArcGIS, followed by a grid-weighted overlay analysis. Values were assigned to each factor to generate a vulnerability zoning map. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and information value evaluation model were then employed to assess the ground subsidence risk. An evaluation index system was established, comprising the evaluation objective layer, criterion layer, and indicator layer. An evaluation judgment matrix for the ground subsidence risk was constructed, with the calculation of the weight and information value of each risk evaluation indicator, and the total information value of the study area. Four risk levels were determined: high, moderate, relatively low, and low. The findings demonstrate the scientific validity, rationality, and practical applicability of the vulnerability zoning research and risk assessment method for addressing the ground subsidence in Tangshan City. This study contributes to the understanding and management of the ground subsidence risk, providing a robust framework for urban planning and disaster mitigation.
Two-Phase Non-Singular Terminal Sliding Mode Control of Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Li He , Tang Chengshuang
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a two-phase non-singular terminal sliding mode control scheme for a class of nonlinear systems in the presence of external disturbances. A two-phase terminal sliding mode surface is constructed and utilized, such that our control scheme achieves fast finite-duration convergence in regions both close to and far away from the control objective, by which the transition state is set and a less conservative bound of the settling time is obtained and superior to the existing results. Meanwhile, the singularity is avoided by the utilization of the saturation function, with the simplicity of structure and implementation. Extensions to multi-input multi-output systems are carried out further. The numerical simulation of the single inverted pendulum and the industrial manipulator are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.