bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scene Recognition for Visually-Impaired People’s Navigation Assistance Based on Vision Transformer with Dual Multiscale Attention
Authors: Said Yahia , Atri Mohamed , Albahar Marwan Ali , Ben Atitallah Ahmed , Alsariera Yazan Ahmad
Published: February 2023

Notable progress was achieved by recent technologies. As the main goal of technology is to make daily life easier, we will investigate the development of an intelligent system for the assistance of impaired people in their navigation. For visually impaired people, navigating is a very complex task that requires assistance. To reduce the complexity of this task, it is preferred to provide information that allows the understanding of surrounding spaces. Particularly, recognizing indoor scenes such as a room, supermarket, or office provides a valuable guide to the visually impaired person to understand the surrounding environment. In this paper, we proposed an indoor scene recognition system based on recent deep learning techniques. Vision transformer (ViT) is a recent deep learning technique that has achieved high performance on image classification. So, it was deployed for indoor scene recognition. To achieve better performance and to reduce the computation complexity, we proposed dual multiscale attention to collect features at different scales for better representation. The main idea was to process small patches and large patches separately and a fusion technique was proposed to combine the features. The proposed fusion technique requires linear time for memory and computation compared to existing techniques that require quadratic time. To prove the efficiency of the proposed technique, extensive experiments were performed on a public dataset which is the MIT67 dataset. The achieved results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed technique compared to the state-of-the-art. Further, the proposed indoor scene recognition system is suitable for implementation on mobile devices with fewer parameters and FLOPs.
Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and First Total Synthesis of Quinomycins K and L, Two New Octadepsipeptides from the Maowei Sea Mangrove-Derived Streptomyces sp. B475
Authors: Lu Qinpei , Wu Gang , Hao Xiaomeng , Hu Xinxin , Cai Hao , Liu Xiujun , You Xuefu , Guo Hongwei , Sun Chenghang
Published: February 2023

Mangrove actinomycetia have been proven to be one of the promising sources for discovering novel bioactive natural products. Quinomycins K (1) and L (2), two rare quinomycin-type octadepsipeptides without intra-peptide disulfide or thioacetal bridges, were investigated from the Maowei Sea mangrove-derived Streptomyces sp. B475. Their chemical structures, including the absolute configurations of their amino acids, were elucidated by a combination of NMR and tandem MS analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation, advanced Marfey’s method, and further unequivocally confirmed by the first total synthesis. The two compounds displayed no potent antibacterial activity against 37 bacterial pathogens and had no significant cytotoxic activity against H460 lung cancer cells.
Potential Active Marine Peptides as Anti-Aging Drugs or Drug Candidates
Authors: Yang Hui , Zhang Qiting , Zhang Bin , Zhao Yufen , Wang Ning
Published: February 2023

Aging is an irreversible physiological process in the human body, and the aging characteristics of the body that accompany this process also lead to many other chronic diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases represented by Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, obesity, cancer, and so on. The marine environment is highly biodiverse, the natural active products of these organisms constitute a vast treasure trove of marine drugs or drug candidates that play an essential role in disease prevention and treatment, and the active peptide products among them have received special attention because of their unique chemical properties. Therefore, the development of marine peptide compounds as anti-aging drugs is emerging as an important research area. This review highlights the currently available data on marine bioactive peptides with anti-aging potential from 2000 to 2022 by analyzing the prevalent aging mechanisms, critical aging metabolic pathways and well-established multi-omics aging characteristics, as well as grouping different bioactive and biological species lines of peptides from marine organisms and discussing their research modalities and functional characteristics. Active marine peptides is a promising topic to explore and to develop their potential as anti-aging drugs or drug candidates. We expect this review to be instructive for future marine drug development and to reveal new directions for future biopharmaceuticals.
Impact Ionization Coefficient Prediction of a Lateral Power Device Using Deep Neural Network
Authors: Cui Jingyu , Ma Linglin , Shi Yuxian , Zhang Jinan , Liang Yuxiang , Zhang Jun , Wang Haidong , Yao Qing , Lin Haonan , Li Mengyang , Yao Jiafei , Zhang Maolin , Chen Jing , Li Man , Guo Yufeng
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, the impact ionization coefficient in the avalanche breakdown theory is obtained using 1-D PN junctions or SBDs, and is considered to be a constant determined by the material itself only. In this paper, the impact ionization coefficient of silicon in a 2D lateral power device is found to be no longer a constant, but instead a function of the 2D coupling effects. The impact ionization coefficient of silicon that considers the 2D depletion effects in real-world devices is proposed and extracted in this paper. The extracted impact ionization coefficient indicates that the conventional empirical impact ionization in the Fulop equation is not suitable for the analysis of 2D lateral power devices. The veracity of the proposed impact ionization coefficient is validated by the simulations obtained from TCAD tools. Considering the complexity of direct modeling, a new prediction method using deep neural networks is proposed. The prediction method demonstrates 97.67% accuracy for breakdown location prediction and less than 6% average error for the impact ionization coefficient prediction compared with the TCAD simulation.
Detection of Counterfeit Perfumes by Using GC-MS Technique and Electronic Nose System Combined with Chemometric Tools
Authors: Aghoutane Youssra , Brebu Mihai , Moufid Mohammed , Ionescu Radu , Bouchikhi Benachir , El Bari Nezha
Published: February 2023

The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products has identified 26 compounds that may cause contact allergy in consumers when present in concentrations above certain legal thresholds in a product. Twenty-four of these compounds are volatiles and can be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or electronic nose (e-nose) technologies. This manuscript first describes the use of the GC-MS approach to identify the main volatile compounds present in the original perfumes and their counterfeit samples. The second part of this work focusses on the ability of an e-nose system to discriminate between the original fragrances and their counterfeits. The analyses were carried out using the headspace of the aqueous solutions. GC-MS analysis revealed the identification of 10 allergens in the perfume samples, some of which were only found in the imitated fragrances. The e-nose system achieved a fair discrimination between most of the fragrances analyzed, with the counterfeit fragrances being clearly separated from the original perfumes. It is shown that associating the e-nose system to the appropriate classifier successfully solved the classification task. With Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the three first principal components represented 98.09% of the information in the database.
The Hormetic Effect Observed for Benzalkonium Chloride and Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride in Serratia sp. HRI
Authors: McCarlie Samantha J. , Steyn Laurinda , du Preez Louis L. , Boucher Charlotte E. , Hernandez Julio Castillo , Bragg Robert R.
Published: February 2023

Hormesis, or the hormetic effect, is a dose- or concentration-dependent response characterised by growth stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The impact of sub-lethal levels of disinfectants on the growth of Serratia species is critical to understanding the increasing number of outbreaks caused by this pathogen in healthcare settings. Serratia sp. HRI and Serratia marcescens ATCC 13880 were cultivated in sub-lethal levels of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), and VirukillTM. The maximum specific growth rates, doubling times, and cell counts were compared. The results revealed significant increases in maximum specific growth rates and shorter doubling times for Serratia sp. HRI when cultivated in sub-lethal levels of BAC and DDAC. The significant stimulatory effect of sub-lethal levels of these disinfectants for Serratia sp. HRI represents the first time hormesis has been observed in a Gram-negative bacterium for any disinfectant. Furthermore, this study is the first to observe the hormetic effect after treatment with DDAC and the second study to date analysing the impact of sub-lethal levels of disinfectants on the growth of bacterial species.
Rotaviruses in Wild Ungulates from Germany, 2019–2022
Authors: Althof Nadine , Trojnar Eva , Johne Reimar
Published: February 2023

Rotavirus A (RVA) is an important cause of diarrhea in humans and animals. However, RVA in wild animals has only scarcely been investigated so far. Here, the presence of RVA in wild ungulates hunted between 2019 and 2022 in Brandenburg, Germany, was investigated using real-time RT-PCR and sequencing of RT-PCR products. By analyzing intestinal contents, RVA-RNA was detected in 1.0% (2/197) of wild boar (Sus scrofa), 1.3% (2/152) of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and 2.1% (2/95) of fallow deer (Dama dama) but not in 28 red deer (Cervus elaphus) samples. Genotyping identified G3P[13] strains in wild boar, which were closely related to previously described pig and wild boar strains. Genotype G10P[15] strains, closely related to strains from roe deer, sheep, or cattle, were found in roe deer. The strains of fallow deer represented genotype G3P[3], clustering in a group containing different strains from several hosts. The results indicated a low prevalence of RVA in wild ungulates in Germany. Associations of specific genotypes with certain ungulate species seem to exist but should be confirmed by analyses of more samples in the future.
What Is the Best Vancomycin Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Parameter to Assess Efficacy? A Critical Review of Experimental Data and Assessment of the Need for Individual Patient Minimum Inhibitory Concentration Value
Authors: Dalton Bruce R.
Published: February 2023

Therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for the use of vancomycin, but a recent widely publicized US medical society consensus statement has changed the suggested optimal method(s) of dose adjustment. Specifically, 24 h area under the curve (AUC24)-based monitoring is has been recommended for vancomycin in preference to monitoring of trough concentrations. One reason cited for this change is the claim that AUC24 is a superior correlate to efficacy than trough (Cmin). Evidence from a number of retrospective analyses have been critically reviewed and determined to have weaknesses. This narrative review focuses on the experimental studies performed in vivo in animal models of infection and in vitro to determine the extent to which these data may provide a compelling distinction between pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PKPD) parameters that may translate to clinical use in therapeutic drug monitoring. Animal in vivo studies have been presented at conferences, but no original peer reviewed studies could be found that compare various PKPD parameters. These conference proceeding findings were supportive but unconvincing, even though they were favorably presented subsequently in review articles and clinical practice guidelines. In vitro data are somewhat conflicting, but the range of concentrations may play a role in the discrepancies found. It has been suggested that MIC may be assumed to have a value of 1 mg/L; however, it can be demonstrated that this assumption may lead to considerable discrepancy from results with an actual MIC value. The AUC24 parameter has been weighed against the percentage of time above the MIC (%T > MIC) as a comparative PKPD parameter, yet this may be an inappropriate comparison for vancomycin since all clinically useful dosing provides 100% T > MIC. Regardless, there is a distinction between clinical TDM parameters and PKPD parameters, so, in practice, the change to AUC24:MIC based on animal experiments and in vitro evidence for vancomycin may be premature.
Laccase Production from Agrocybe pediades: Purification and Functional Characterization of a Consistent Laccase Isoenzyme in Liquid Culture
Authors: González-González Paulina , Gómez-Manzo Saúl , Tomasini Araceli , Martínez y Pérez José Luis , García Nieto Edelmira , Anaya-Hernández Arely , Ortiz Ortiz Elvia , Castillo Rodríguez Rosa Angélica , Marcial-Quino Jaime , Montiel-González Alba Mónica
Published: February 2023

Laccases are valuable enzymes as an excellent ecological alternative for bioremediation issues because they can oxidize persistent xenobiotic compounds. The production and characterization of extracellular laccases from saprotrophic fungi from disturbed environments have been scarcely explored, even though this could diversify their functional characteristics and expand the conditions in which they carry out their catalysis. Agrocybe pediades, isolated from a disturbed forest, produces an extracellular laccase in liquid culture. The enzyme was purified, identified and characterized. Copper and hexachlorobenzene do not function as inducers for the laccase produced. Partial amino acid sequences were obtained by LC-MS/MS that share similarity with laccases from other fungi. Purified laccase is a monomer with a molecular mass between 55–60 kDa and had an optimum activity at pH 5.0 and the optimum temperature at 45 °C using 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP) as substrate. The Km and Vmax also determined with 2,6-DMP were 100 μM and 285 μmol∙min−1∙mg−1, respectively, showing that the laccase of A. pediades has a higher affinity for this substrate than that of other Agaricales. These features could provide a potential catalyst for different toxic substrates and in the future laccase could be used in environmental recovery processes.
Plant and Native Microorganisms Amplify the Positive Effects of Microbial Inoculant
Authors: Li Chong , Jia Zhaohui , Ma Shilin , Liu Xin , Zhang Jinchi , Müller Christoph
Published: February 2023

Microbial inoculants can be used to restore abandoned mines because of their positive effects on plant growth and soil nutrients. Currently, soils in greenhouse pot studies are routinely sterilized to eradicate microorganisms, allowing for better inoculant colonization. Large-scale field sterilization of abandoned mining site soils for restoration is difficult, though. In addition, microbial inoculants have an impact on plants. Plants also have an impact on local microbes. The interactions among microbial inoculants, native microorganisms, and plants, however, have not been studied. We created a pot experiment utilizing the soil and microbial inoculant from a previous experiment because it promoted plant growth in that experiment. To evaluate the effects of the plants, native microorganisms, and microbial inoculants, we assessed several indicators related to soil elemental cycling and integrated them into the soil multifunctionality index. The addition of the microbial inoculant and sterilizing treatment had a significant impact on alfalfa growth. When exposed to microbial inoculant treatments, the plant and sterilization treatments displayed radically different functional characteristics, where most of the unsterilized plant treatment indices were higher than those of the others. The addition of microbial inoculant significantly increased soil multifunctionality in plant treatments, particularly in the unsterilized plant treatment, where the increase in soil multifunctionality was 260%. The effect size result shows that the positive effect of microbial inoculant on soil multifunctionality and unsterilized plant treatment had the most significant promotion effect. Plant and native microorganisms amplify the positive effects of microbial inoculant.
Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples
Authors: Lianou Daphne T. , Arsenopoulos Konstantinos V. , Michael Charalambia K. , Mavrogianni Vasia S. , Papadopoulos Elias , Fthenakis George C.
Published: February 2023

The aims of the present study were: (a) to describe the prevalence of helminth infections from pooled faecal samples from sheep flocks across Greece and (b) to evaluate flock-related factors potentially associated with the presence of these infections in the flocks. An extensive countrywide study was performed on 325 sheep farms throughout Greece; faecal samples were collected from ewes and processed for the identification of helminth parasites. Helminths were detected in samples from 92.9% of flocks; these included Dicrocoelium dendriticum (16.7% of flocks), Fasciola hepatica (0.6%), Paramphistomum cervi (2.2%), Moniezia spp. (18.8%), Trichostrongylidae (85.5%), Nematodirus spp. (18.8%), Strongyloides papillosus (7.1%), Trichuris spp. (20.0%) and lungworms (17.8%). Mean Trichostrongylidae counts across all flocks in the study were 215 epg. Specifically, for Trichostrongylidae, there were differences between flocks that had or had not received anthelmintics during the two months prior to sampling, as well as between flocks located in various areas of the country. In multivariable analyses, for the outcome ‘high (>300) epg counts in faecal samples’, the month into the lactation period at sampling and the application of reproductive control practices on the farm emerged as significant factors; for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of Teladorsagia spp. in faecal samples’, the availability of straw bedding emerged as a significant factor; and for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of Haemonchus contortus in faecal samples’, the age of the farmer emerged as a significant factor. For the outcome ‘presence of Trichuris spp. in faecal samples’, the provision of finished feed (concentrate) to animals emerged as a significant factor, whilst, finally, for the outcomes ‘presence of D. dendriticum in faecal samples’ and ‘presence of lungworms in faecal samples,’ no significant factors emerged.
CFD Numerical Simulation on the Mode of Ligament Disintegration during Centrifugal Granulation of Molten Slag by Using a Spinning Cup
Authors: Zhao Aifu , Pan Yuhua , Zhao Ming , Zhang Shili , Ma Ping , Feng Xin
Published: February 2023

In order to study the behavior of molten blast furnace slag ligament breakup into droplets by centrifugal granulation with a spinning cup, three-dimensional transient CFD model simulations were performed in the present work to study the process of the slag deformation into ligaments upon leaving the spinning cup, which eventually disintegrate into droplets. The formation of molten slag ligaments at the edge of the spinning cup and their disintegration into droplets were numerically revealed so that the behavior and mechanism of the slag ligament breakup into droplets could be investigated. This work specifically examined the influence of cup spinning speed on the diameter and length of the molten slag ligaments around the cup periphery and the diameter of the droplets produced. The simulation results show that, for the same slag flowrate, with the increase in cup spinning speed, the slag film thickness at the cup edge decreases, the number of molten slag ligaments increases, and the diameter of the ligaments decreases, thus reducing the diameter of slag droplets. Moreover, as the number of molten slag ligaments increases as a result of the increased cup spinning speed, the flowrate of a single ligament decreases, so that the ligament disintegrates in a shorter radial distance, that is, the length of the ligament is shortened. In addition, this work also investigated the behavior and mechanism of a single molten slag ligament breakup into droplets. It was found that the process of molten slag ligament breakup into droplets under the action of centrifugal force and surface tension can also be approximately explained by the theory of the Rayleigh disintegration mechanism.
Study of the Influence of the Wastewater Matrix in the Adsorption of Three Pharmaceuticals by Powdered Activated Carbon
Authors: Gutiérrez Marina , Verlicchi Paola , Mutavdžić Pavlović Dragana
Published: February 2023

The use of powdered activated carbon (PAC) as an absorbent has become a promising option to upgrade wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that were not designed to remove pharmaceuticals. However, PAC adsorption mechanisms are not yet fully understood, especially with regard to the nature of the wastewater. In this study, we tested the adsorption of three pharmaceuticals, namely diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, onto PAC under four different water matrices: ultra-pure water, humic acid solution, effluent and mixed liquor from a real WWTP. The adsorption affinity was defined primarily by the pharmaceutical physicochemical properties (charge and hydrophobicity), with better results obtained for trimethoprim, followed by diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole. In ultra-pure water, the results show that all pharmaceuticals followed pseudo-second order kinetics, and they were limited by a boundary layer effect on the surface of the adsorbent. Depending on the water matrix and compound, the PAC capacity and the adsorption process varied accordingly. The higher adsorption capacity was observed for diclofenac and sulfamethoxazole in humic acid solution (Langmuir isotherm, R2 > 0.98), whereas better results were obtained for trimethoprim in the WWTP effluent. Adsorption in mixed liquor (Freundlich isotherm, R2 > 0.94) was limited, presumably due to its complex nature and the presence of suspended solids.
Electrochemical Characterisation and Confirmation of Antioxidative Properties of Ivermectin in Biological Medium
Authors: Selaković Milan , Aleksić Mara M. , Kotur-Stevuljević Jelena , Rupar Jelena , Ivković Branka
Published: February 2023

Ivermectin (IVM) is a drug from the group of anthelmintics used in veterinary and human medicine. Recently, interest in IVM has increased as it has been used for the treatment of some malignant diseases, as well as viral infections caused by the Zika virus, HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The electrochemical behaviour of IVM was investigated using cyclic (CV), differential pulse (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at glassy carbon electrode (GCE). IVM showed independent oxidation and reduction processes. The effect of pH and scan rate indicated the irreversibility of all processes and confirmed the diffusion character of oxidation and reduction as an adsorption-controlled process. Mechanisms for IVM oxidation at the tetrahydrofuran ring and reduction of the 1,4-diene structure in the IVM molecule are proposed. The redox behaviour of IVM in a biological matrix (human serum pool) showed a pronounced antioxidant potential similar to that of Trolox during short incubation, whereas a prolonged stay among biomolecules and in the presence of an exogenous pro-oxidant (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, TBH) resulted in a loss of its antioxidant effect. The antioxidant potential of IVM was confirmed by voltametric methodology which is proposed for the first time.
Comparison of Using an Augmented Reality Learning Tool at Home and in a Classroom Regarding Motivation and Learning Outcomes
Authors: Uriarte-Portillo Aldo , Ibáñez María Blanca , Zatarain-Cabada Ramón , Barrón-Estrada María Lucía
Published: February 2023

The recent pandemic brought on considerable changes in terms of learning activities, which were moved from in-person classroom-based lessons to virtual work performed at home in most world regions. One of the most considerable challenges faced by educators was keeping students motivated toward learning activities. Interactive learning environments in general, and augmented reality (AR)-based learning environments in particular, are thought to foster emotional and cognitive engagement when used in the classroom. This study aims to compare the motivation and learning outcomes of middle school students in two educational settings: in the classroom and at home. The study involved 55 middle school students using the AR application to practice basic chemistry concepts. The results suggested that students’ general motivation towards the activity was similar in both settings. However, students who worked at home reported better satisfaction and attention levels compared with those who worked in the classroom. Additionally, students who worked at home made fewer mistakes and achieved better grades compared with those who worked in the classroom. Overall, the study suggests that AR can be exploited as an effective learning environment for learning the basic principles of chemistry in home settings.
Assessing Liquid Inoculant Formulation of Biofertilizer (Sinorhizobium meliloti) on Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Uptake of Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Authors: Gatabazi Auges , Botha Martin , Mvondo-She Mireille Asanzi
Published: February 2023

Lucerne is regarded as the best legume crop for forage to be cultivated in South Africa. It is commonly used to produce good quality hay. It also plays an important role in soil conservation, regeneration, and crop rotation systems as it supplies substantial amounts of nitrogen to succeeding crops through symbiotic N2 fixation, which makes it the preferable choice for intensive forage production systems. Fertilizer in liquid inoculant formulations has demonstrated to contribute growth and yield increase for leguminous crops. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to determine the effects of Sinorhizobium meliloti liquid formulation inoculation on the growth, yield, and nitrogen content in lucerne. The strain RF14 (Sinorhizobium meliloti) was collected from the Agricultural Research Council at Roodeplaat (Plant Health and Protection located (East), Pretoria (South Africa). The liquid inoculant contained 6.5 × 109 viable cells mL−1. According to the Kooen–Gieger climatic classification, the experiments were conducted on two different climatic zones. The first site was in Bronkhorspruit (Blesbokfontein farm) in the Gauteng province and the second was in Hartbeesfontein (Rietfontein Farm) in the Northwest province. The results showed that lucerne inoculation with liquid inoculant formulation of Sinorhizobium meliloti significantly increased nodule number, size, growth, and yield in both bioclimatic zones. The significantly increased were compared to the negative control. The Sinorhizobium meliloti inoculant increased nitrogen accumulation in all inoculated treatments compared to the control. The finding of this research provides important information on the impact of rhizobium microbial inoculant application in the improvement of soil fertility through nodule formation. In addition, seed vigor improvement was translated in overall growth and yield increase in lucerne plants.
Gut-on-a-Chip for the Analysis of Bacteria–Bacteria Interactions in Gut Microbial Community: What Would Be Needed for Bacterial Co-Culture Study to Explore the Diet–Microbiota Relationship?
Authors: Lee Ki Won , Shin Jin Song , Lee Chan Min , Han Hea Yeon , O Yun , Kim Hye Won , Cho Tae Jin
Published: February 2023

Bacterial co-culture studies using synthetic gut microbiomes have reported novel research designs to understand the underlying role of bacterial interaction in the metabolism of dietary resources and community assembly of complex microflora. Since lab-on-a-chip mimicking the gut (hereafter “gut-on-a-chip”) is one of the most advanced platforms for the simulative research regarding the correlation between host health and microbiota, the co-culture of the synthetic bacterial community in gut-on-a-chip is expected to reveal the diet–microbiota relationship. This critical review analyzed recent research on bacterial co-culture with perspectives on the ecological niche of commensals, probiotics, and pathogens to categorize the experimental approaches for diet-mediated management of gut health as the compositional and/or metabolic modulation of the microbiota and the control of pathogens. Meanwhile, the aim of previous research on bacterial culture in gut-on-a-chip has been mainly limited to the maintenance of the viability of host cells. Thus, the integration of study designs established for the co-culture of synthetic gut consortia with various nutritional resources into gut-on-a-chip is expected to reveal bacterial interspecies interactions related to specific dietary patterns. This critical review suggests novel research topics for co-culturing bacterial communities in gut-on-a-chip to realize an ideal experimental platform mimicking a complex intestinal environment.
Vitamin D Deficiency Prevalence in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 Significantly Decreased during the Pandemic in Slovakia from 2020 to 2022 Which Was Associated with Decreasing Mortality
Authors: Smaha Juraj , Jackuliak Peter , Kužma Martin , Max Filip , Binkley Neil , Payer Juraj
Published: February 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to changes in lifestyle, which could influence vitamin D status on a population level. The purpose of our study was to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in patients hospitalized because of severe COVID-19 during two waves of the pandemic (2020/21 vs. 2021/22). A total of 101 patients from the 2021/22 wave were compared with 101 sex- and age-matched subjects from the 2020/21 wave. Patients from both groups were hospitalized during the winter season from 1 December to 28 February. Men and women were analyzed together and separately. The mean 25(OH)D concentration increased from 17.8 ± 9.7 ng/mL to 25.2 ± 12.6 ng/mL between waves. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) decreased from 82% to 54%. The prevalence of adequate serum 25(OH)D concentration (>30 ng/mL) increased from 10% to 34% (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with a history of vitamin D supplementation increased from 18% to 44% (p < 0.0001). Low serum 25(OH)D concentration was independently associated with mortality after adjusting for age and sex for the whole cohort of patients (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of inadequate vitamin D status in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Slovakia decreased significantly, probably due to a higher rate of vitamin D supplementation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disentangling the Complexity of Nutrition, Frailty and Gut Microbial Pathways during Aging: A Focus on Hippuric Acid
Authors: Ticinesi Andrea , Guerra Angela , Nouvenne Antonio , Meschi Tiziana , Maggi Stefania
Published: February 2023

Hippuric acid (HA) is a metabolite resulting from the hepatic glycine conjugation of benzoic acid (BA) or from the gut bacterial metabolism of phenylalanine. BA is generally produced by gut microbial metabolic pathways after the ingestion of foods of vegetal origin rich in polyphenolic compounds, namely, chlorogenic acids or epicatechins. It can also be present in foods, either naturally or artificially added as a preservative. The plasma and urine HA levels have been used in nutritional research for estimating the habitual fruit and vegetable intake, especially in children and in patients with metabolic diseases. HA has also been proposed as a biomarker of aging, since its levels in the plasma and urine can be influenced by the presence of several age-related conditions, including frailty, sarcopenia and cognitive impairment. Subjects with physical frailty generally exhibit reduced plasma and urine levels of HA, despite the fact that HA excretion tends to increase with aging. Conversely, subjects with chronic kidney disease exhibit reduced HA clearance, with HA retention that may exert toxic effects on the circulation, brain and kidneys. With regard to older patients with frailty and multimorbidity, interpreting the HA levels in the plasma and urine may result particularly challenging because HA is at the crossroads between diet, gut microbiota, liver and kidney function. Although these considerations may not make HA the ideal biomarker of aging trajectories, the study of its metabolism and clearance in older subjects may provide valuable information for disentangling the complex interaction between diet, gut microbiota, frailty and multimorbidity.
Retrospective Survey of Human Trichinellosis in a Romanian Infectious Diseases Hospital over a Thirty-Year Interval—The Never-Ending Story
Authors: Lupșe Mihaela , Ionică Angela Monica , Flonta Mirela , Rus Mihai Aronel , Briciu Violeta
Published: February 2023

Trichinellosis remains a food-safety risk in Romania due to cultural traditions and food behavior. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutical data of all human trichinellosis cases in patients admitted to an Infectious Diseases Hospital from northwestern Romania during a thirty-year interval. Between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 2018, a total of 558 patients were hospitalized with the diagnosis of trichinellosis. The number of cases/year varied between 1 and 86. The source of infection was known for 524 patients, represented by domestic pig meat (n = 484; 92.37%) and wild boar (n = 40; 7.63%). Most patients (410; 73.48%) presented were part of family or group outbreaks. Demographical and clinical data of patients will be presented. Antiparasitic therapy was prescribed in 99.46% of cases, and corticosteroids were prescribed in 77.06% of patients. In total, 48 patients (8.6%) presented complications of trichinellosis: 44 for a single complication (neurological, cardiovascular or respiratory); the others multiple complications. Pregnancy was documented in five patients. No fatalities occurred during the study period. Although the number of hospitalized patients has decreased in the last years, trichinellosis still remains an important public health problem in northwestern Romania.
The Artificial Intelligence Explanatory Trade-Off on the Logic of Discovery in Chemistry
Authors: Ferraz-Caetano José
Published: February 2023

Explanation is a foundational goal in the exact sciences. Besides the contemporary considerations on ‘description’, ‘classification’, and ‘prediction’, we often see these terms in thriving applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in chemistry hypothesis generation. Going beyond describing ‘things in the world’, these applications can make accurate numerical property calculations from theoretical or topological descriptors. This association makes an interesting case for a logic of discovery in chemistry: are these induction-led ventures showing a shift in how chemists can problematize research questions? In this article, I present a fresh perspective on the current context of discovery in chemistry. I argue how data-driven statistical predictions in chemistry can be explained as a quasi-logical process for generating chemical theories, beyond the classic examples of organic and theoretical chemistry. Through my position on formal models of scientific explanation, I demonstrate how the dawn of AI can provide novel insights into the explanatory power of scientific endeavors.
Natural Flexible and Responsive 2D Photonic Materials with Micro-Sandwich Structure
Authors: Pan Xijin , Chi Haoyang , Zhang Gangsheng
Published: February 2023

Here, we report a two-dimensional (2D) amorphous photonic structure (APS) discovered in the central layer of the periostracum of the mussel Perna canaliculus, based on field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and fiber optic spectrometry combined with the image processing technology and pair correlation function analysis. This APS contains ~29% in volume of protein fibers embedded in a protein matrix. These fibers, with diameters of 103 ± 17 nm, are densely arranged and unevenly crimped. In addition, they are locally parallel with each other and exhibit short-range order with a nearest-neighbor distance of 189 nm. Interestingly, the APS is humidity-responsive with a vivid green structural color (~530 nm) in the wet state, which disappears in the dry state. Moreover, the APS is sandwiched by two dense layers in the periostracum, which is flexible in wet and can spontaneously or artificially deform into various shapes. We hope this APS may provide new inspirations for the design and synthesis of 2D amorphous photonic materials.
TPDNet: Texture-Guided Phase-to-DEPTH Networks to Repair Shadow-Induced Errors for Fringe Projection Profilometry
Authors: Li Jiaqiong , Li Beiwen
Published: February 2023

This paper proposes a phase-to-depth deep learning model to repair shadow-induced errors for fringe projection profilometry (FPP). The model comprises two hourglass branches that extract information from texture images and phase maps and fuses the information from the two branches by concatenation and weights. The input of the proposed model contains texture images, masks, and unwrapped phase maps, and the ground truth is the depth map from CAD models. A loss function was chosen to consider image details and structural similarity. The training data contain 1200 samples in the verified virtual FPP system. After training, we conduct experiments on the virtual and real-world scanning data, and the results support the model’s effectiveness. The mean absolute error and the root mean squared error are 1.0279 mm and 1.1898 mm on the validation dataset. In addition, we analyze the influence of ambient light intensity on the model’s performance. Low ambient light limits the model’s performance as the model cannot extract valid information from the completely dark shadow regions in texture images. The contribution of each branch network is also investigated. Features from the texture-dominant branch are leveraged as guidance to remedy shadow-induced errors. Information from the phase-dominant branch network makes accurate predictions for the whole object. Our model provides a good reference for repairing shadow-induced errors in the FPP system.
Integrating Application Methods and Concentrations of Salicylic Acid as an Avenue to Enhance Growth, Production, and Water Use Efficiency of Wheat under Full and Deficit Irrigation in Arid Countries
Authors: Mohammed Nabil , El-Hendawy Salah , Alsamin Bazel , Mubushar Muhammad , Dewir Yaser Hassan
Published: February 2023

As water deficit in arid countries has already become the norm rather than the exception, water conservation in crop production processes has become very critical. Therefore, it is urgent to develop feasible strategies to achieve this goal. Exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) has been proposed as one of the effective and economical strategies for mitigating water deficit in plants. However, the recommendations concerning the proper application methods (AMs) and the optimal concentrations (Cons) of SA under field conditions seem contradictory. Here, a two-year field study was conducted to compare the effects of twelve combinations of AMs and Cons on the vegetative growth, physiological parameters, yield, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of wheat under full (FL) and limited (LM) irrigation regimes. These combinations included seed soaking in purified water (S0), 0.5 mM SA (S1), and 1.0 mM SA (S2); foliar spray of SA at concentrations of 1.0 mM (F1), 2.0 mM (F2), and 3.0 mM (F3); and combinations of S1 and S2 with F1 (S1F1 and S2F1), F2 (S1F2 and S2F2), and F3 (S1F3 and S2F3). The results showed that the LM regime caused a significant reduction in all vegetative growth, physiological, and yield parameters, while it led to an increase in IWUE. The application of SA through seed soaking, foliar application, and a combination of both methods increased all of the studied parameters in all the evaluated times, resulting in higher values for all parameters than the treatment without SA (S0). The multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and heatmapping, identified the foliar application method with 1–3 mM SA alone or in combination with seed soaking with 0.5 mM SA as the best treatments for the optimal performance of wheat under both irrigation regimes. Overall, our results indicated that exogenous application of SA has the potential to greatly improve growth, yield, and IWUE under limited water application, while optimal coupling combinations of AMs and Cons were required for positive effects in field conditions.
Seed Germination of Three Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) Populations of Greek Origin: Temperature, Duration, and Storage Conditions Effects
Authors: Liava Vasiliki , Ntatsi Georgia , Karkanis Anestis
Published: February 2023

Milk thistle besides being a highly competitive weed is cultivated as a medicinal plant, and the seeds of which have been clinically utilized in several disorders caused in liver. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of duration and storage conditions, population, and temperature on seed germination. The experiment was conducted in Petri dishes with three replications and three factors: (a) wild populations of milk thistle (Palaionterveno, Mesopotamia, and Spata) originating from Greece, (b) duration and storage conditions (5 months at room temperature, 17 months at room temperature, and 29 months in the freezer at −18 °C), and (c) temperature (5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). All three factors significantly affected germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), germination index (GI), radicle length (RL), and hypocotyl length (HL) and significant interactions among the treatments were noted. In specific, no seed germination was recorded at 5 °C, while the populations showed higher GP and GI at 20 °C and 25 °C after 5 months of storage. Prolonged storage negatively affected seed germination although, cold storage mitigated this effect. Moreover, higher temperatures reduced MGT and increased RL and HL with the populations reacting differently in storage and temperature regimes. The results of this study should be taken into consideration when proposing the appropriate sowing date and storage conditions of the seeds used as propagation material for crop establishment. Moreover, the effects of low temperatures such as 5 °C or 10 °C on seed germination as well as the high decline rate in germination percentage over time could be utilized in the design of integrated weed management systems thereby indicating the importance of the sowing time and the suitable crop rotation system to weed control.
Brassicaceae Fungi and Chromista Diseases: Molecular Detection and Host–Plant Interaction
Authors: Mourou Marwa , Raimondo Maria , Lops Francesco , Carlucci Antonia
Published: February 2023

Brassicaceae plants cover a large number of species with great economic and nutritional importance around the world. The production of Brassica spp. is limited due to phytopathogenic fungal species causing enormous yield losses. In this scenario, precise and rapid detection and identification of plant-infecting fungi are essential to facilitate the effective management of diseases. DNA-based molecular methods have become popular methods for accurate plant disease diagnostics and have been used to detect Brassicaceae fungal pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays including nested, multiplex, quantitative post, and isothermal amplification methods represent a powerful weapon for early detection of fungal pathogens and preventively counteract diseases on brassicas with the aim to drastically reduce the fungicides as inputs. It is noteworthy also that Brassicaceae plants can establish a wide variety of relationships with fungi, ranging from harmful interactions with pathogens to beneficial associations with endophytic fungi. Thus, understanding host and pathogen interaction in brassica crops prompts better disease management. The present review reports the main fungal diseases of Brassicaceae, molecular methods used for their detection, review studies on the interaction between fungi and brassicas plants, and the various mechanisms involved including the application of omics technologies.
Encephalartos natalensis, Their Nutrient-Cycling Microbes and Enzymes: A Story of Successful Trade-Offs
Authors: Ndlovu Siphelele , Suinyuy Terence N. , Pérez-Fernández María A. , Magadlela Anathi
Published: February 2023

Encephalartos spp. establish symbioses with nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria that contribute to soil nutrition and improve plant growth. Despite the Encephalartos mutualistic symbioses with N-fixing bacteria, the identity of other bacteria and their contribution to soil fertility and ecosystem functioning is not well understood. Due to Encephalartos spp. being threatened in the wild, this limited information presents a challenge in developing comprehensive conservation and management strategies for these cycad species. Therefore, this study identified the nutrient-cycling bacteria in Encephalartos natalensis coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils. Additionally, the soil characteristics and soil enzyme activities of the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils were assayed. The coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis were collected from a population of >500 E. natalensis in a disturbed savanna woodland at Edendale in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) for nutrient analysis, bacterial identification, and enzyme activity assays. Nutrient-cycling bacteria such as Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus; Paraburkholderia sabiae, and Novosphingobium barchaimii were identified in the coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis. Phosphorus (P) cycling (alkaline and acid phosphatase) and N cycling (β-(D)-Glucosaminidase and nitrate reductase) enzyme activities showed a positive correlation with soil extractable P and total N concentrations in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of E. natalensis. The positive correlation between soil enzymes and soil nutrients demonstrates that the identified nutrient-cycling bacteria in E. natalensis coralloid roots, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere soils and associated enzymes assayed may contribute to soil nutrient bioavailability of E. natalensis plants growing in acidic and nutrient-poor savanna woodland ecosystems.