bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breeding for the Main Agricultural Farming of Arabica Coffee
Authors: Bertrand Benoît , Villegas Hincapié Andres Mauricio , Marie Lison , Breitler Jean-Christophe
Published: August 2021

So far, the main Arabica coffee breeding programmes in Latin America have focused on the selection of varieties adapted to intensive full-sun farming systems. Meanwhile, little attention has been paid to breeding varieties specifically adapted to shade, which is the main characteristic of agroforestry systems (AFS). Yet the specialty coffee sector is currently expanding and seeking specific sensory qualities related to exotic varieties and no breeding programme exists to create new varieties for this type of market. Two trials were set up: one in full sun and the other under shade. F1 hybrids and their parents (pure lines and Ethiopian accessions) were studied in a factorial-crossing design to measure tree volume, yield (3 years), bean size, the bean NIRS signature and the final cupping score. Bean size and the final cupping score seemed to be relatively unaffected by shading. Strong maternal heritability was observed for bean size. In the trials, F1 hybrids produced “75–80%” more than the maternal lines and “40–50%” more than the male parents in the shade trial and in the full-sun trial, respectively. By choosing the F1 hybrid, it is possible to increase productivity under both shade and full sun while simultaneously achieving good sensory qualities. Selecting a F1 hybrid for “specialty coffee” seems exceptional. This raises a fundamental issue concerning the maternal heritability of seed biochemical composition. We conclude that selection under shade is essential for the selection of varieties adapted to AFS.
Ventriculosternal Shunt for the Treatment of Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Case Report
Authors: Guo Xinxia , Popal Abdul Malik , Zhu Zhoule , Cai Chengwei , Lin Jingquan , Jiang Hongjie , Zheng Zhe , Zhang Jianmin , Shao Anwen , Zhu Junming
Published: August 2021

Background: Conventional corticospinal fluid (CSF) diversion surgery for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) includes ventriculoperitoneal shunt and ventriculoatrial shunt. Ventriculosternal (VS) shunt may be considered if both the abdominal cavity and atrium are not feasible.

Methods: A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with gait disturbance and urinary incontinence for 2 years, and the condition aggravated in the last 1 month. Based on clinical assessment and imaging findings, the patient was diagnosed with iNPH, with surgical indications. She was on peritoneal dialysis for chronic renal failure, and a cardiac Doppler echocardiogram showed enlargement of the left atrium and decreased diastolic function of the left ventricle. Due to these conditions, we chose the sternum as the vessel for CSF absorption and performed VS shunt.

Results: No swelling, exudation, and effusion were found in the suprasternal fossa. Gait disturbance and urinary incontinence improved significantly immediately and 1 week after surgery, respectively. No shunt-related complication was reported at 16 months follow-up.

Conclusion: This case demonstrated VS shunting as a feasible and alternative for the management of hydrocephalus.
The Transantral Endoscopic Approach: A Portal for Masses of the Inferior Orbit—Improving Surgeons' Experience Through Virtual Endoscopy and Augmented Reality
Authors: Tel Alessandro , Arboit Lorenzo , Sembronio Salvatore , Costa Fabio , Nocini Riccardo , Robiony Massimo
Published: August 2021

In the past years, endoscopic techniques have raised an increasing interest to perform minimally invasive accesses to the orbit, resulting in excellent clinical outcomes with inferior morbidities and complication rates. Among endoscopic approaches, the transantral endoscopic approach allows us to create a portal to the orbital floor, representing the most straightforward access to lesions located in the inferior orbital space. However, if endoscopic surgery provides enhanced magnified vision of the anatomy in a bloodless field, then it has several impairments compared with classic open surgery, owing to restricted operative spaces. Virtual surgical planning and anatomical computer-generated models have proved to be of great importance to plan endoscopic surgical approaches, and their role can be widened with the integration of surgical navigation, virtual endoscopy simulation, and augmented reality (AR). This study focuses on the strict conjugation between the technologies that allow the virtualization of surgery in an entirely digital environment, which can be transferred to the patient using intraoperative navigation or to a printed model using AR for pre-surgical analysis. Therefore, the interaction between different software packages and platforms offers a highly predictive preview of the surgical scenario, contributing to increasing orientation, awareness, and effectiveness of maneuvers performed under endoscopic guidance, which can be checked at any time using surgical navigation. In this paper, the authors explore the transantral approach for the excision of masses of the inferior orbital compartment through modern technology. The authors apply this technique for masses located in the inferior orbit and share their clinical results, describing why technological innovation, and, in particular, computer planning, virtual endoscopy, navigation, and AR can contribute to empowering minimally invasive orbital surgery, at the same time offering a valuable and indispensable tool for pre-surgical analysis and training.
Impact of Human–Animal Interactions on Psychological and Physiological Factors Associated With Veterinary School Students and Donkeys
Authors: Artemiou Elpida , Hutchison Pippa , Machado Marcus , Ellis Daria , Bradtke Jennifer , Pereira Mary Mauldin , Carter Julia , Bergfelt Don
Published: August 2021

There has been an increased interest in evaluating human–animal interactions and assessing the mutual health and wellbeing. In this study, first-year female and male veterinary school students not paired (n = 58) or paired (n = 25) with immature (≤9 mo) donkeys (n = 13) were engaged in three different types of interactions (1st, hands-off remote learning, 2nd, hands-on passive learning, and 3rd, hands-on active learning) for 30 min each during Week 2 (Time 1), Weeks 5–8 (Time 2), and Week 12 (Time 3) over three, 15-week periods. Student psychological data involved the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) scores collected from the interactive (student-donkey pairs) and non-interactive (no student-donkey pairs) groups and modified Comfort from Companion Animals Scale (CCAS) scores collected from the interactive group during Times 1, 2, and 3. Donkey physiological data involved collection of saliva within 10 min pre- and post-interaction during Times 1, 2, and 3 in association with the different types of interactions for immunoanalysis of cortisol. There were no significant effects of the various times and types of interactions on CCAS scores. While there were no significant effects of group and types of interactions on PSWQ scores, there was an effect (P = 0.01) of time. Overall mean PSWQ scores were significantly lower during Week 12 versus Week 2. Correspondingly, while there were no effects pre- vs. post-interaction within or among times on saliva cortisol concentrations in donkeys, there was an effect (P = 0.02) of the type of interaction. Mean concentrations were significantly lower with the hands-on passive and hands-on active learning versus the hands-off remote learning. In conclusion, while this study provides preliminary evidence surrounding student donkey interactions, future studies are required with more comprehensive designs to clarify these benefits and better understand the advantages and challenges surrounding student-donkey interactions.
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Common Mental Disorders in Women: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bezerra Héllyda de Souza , Alves Roberta M. , Nunes Aryelly Dayanne d. , Barbosa Isabelle R.
Published: August 2021

Objectives: To identify the prevalence and factors associated with common mental disorders in adult women.

Methods: Searches were carried out in the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, Cinahl, Google Scholar and Open Gray databases. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO under number CRD42020168231. Cross-sectional studies showing the prevalence of common mental disorders in women over 18 years were included. Studies with men, children and pregnant women of another age group and with other mental disorders and other types of studies were excluded. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist was used to assess the risk of bias.

Results: Nineteen studies were included in this review. The prevalence of CMD ranged from 9.6% to 69.3%. The main associated factors were unemployment, indebtedness, low income, being a housewife, smoking, low education, poor self-rated health, being single, divorced or widowed. The risk of bias in the studies was classified as low and moderate.

Conclusion: This review revealed a variable prevalence rate of CMD in adult women. Public policies are needed to create strategies to prevent the mental illness of these women.
Myocardial Infarction Quantification from Late Gadolinium Enhancement MRI Using Top-Hat Transforms and Neural Networks
Authors: de la Rosa Ezequiel , Sidibé Désiré , Decourselle Thomas , Leclercq Thibault , Cochet Alexandre , Lalande Alain
Published: August 2021

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI is the gold standard technique for myocardial viability assessment. Although the technique accurately reflects the damaged tissue, there is no clinical standard to quantify myocardial infarction (MI). Moreover, commercial software used in clinical practice are mostly semi-automatic, and hence require direct intervention of experts. In this work, a new automatic method for MI quantification from LGE-MRI is proposed. Our novel segmentation approach is devised for accurately detecting not only hyper-enhanced lesions, but also microvascular obstruction areas. Moreover, it includes a myocardial disease detection step which extends the algorithm for working under healthy scans. The method is based on a cascade approach where firstly, diseased slices are identified by a convolutional neural network (CNN). Secondly, by means of morphological operations a fast coarse scar segmentation is obtained. Thirdly, the segmentation is refined by a boundary-voxel reclassification strategy using an ensemble of very light CNNs. We tested the method on a LGE-MRI database with healthy (n = 20) and diseased (n = 80) cases following a 5-fold cross-validation scheme. Our approach segmented myocardial scars with an average Dice coefficient of 77.22 ± 14.3% and with a volumetric error of 1.0 ± 6.9 cm3. In a comparison against nine reference algorithms, the proposed method achieved the highest agreement in volumetric scar quantification with the expert delineations (p< 0.001 when compared to the other approaches). Moreover, it was able to reproduce the scar segmentation intra- and inter-rater variability. Our approach was shown to be a good first attempt towards automatic and accurate myocardial scar segmentation, although validation over larger LGE-MRI databases is needed.
Adaptive Fuzzy Active-Disturbance Rejection Control-Based Reconfiguration Controller Design for Aircraft Anti-Skid Braking System
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Yang Zhong , Zhou Guoxing , Liu Shuchang , Zhou Dongsheng , Chen Shuang , Zhang Xiaokai
Published: August 2021

The aircraft anti-skid braking system (AABS) is an essential aero electromechanical system to ensure safe take-off, landing, and taxiing of aircraft. In addition to the strong nonlinearity, strong coupling, and time-varying parameters in aircraft dynamics, the faults of actuators, sensors, and other components can also seriously affect the safety and reliability of AABS. In this paper, a reconfiguration controller-based adaptive fuzzy active-disturbance rejection control (AFADRC) is proposed for AABS to meet increased performance demands in fault-perturbed conditions as well as those concerning reliability and safety requirements. The developed controller takes component faults, external disturbance, and measurement noise as the total perturbations, which are estimated by an adaptive extended state observer (AESO). The nonlinear state error feedback (NLSEF) combined with fuzzy logic can compensate for the adverse effects and ensure that the faulty AABS maintains acceptable performance. Numerical simulations are carried out in different runway environments. The results validate the robustness and reconfiguration control capability of the proposed method, which improves AABS safety as well as braking efficiency.
Aircraft Engine Gas-Path Monitoring and Diagnostics Framework Based on a Hybrid Fault Recognition Approach
Authors: Pérez-Ruiz Juan Luis , Tang Yu , Loboda Igor
Published: August 2021

Considering the importance of continually improving the algorithms in aircraft engine diagnostic systems, the present paper proposes and benchmarks a gas-path monitoring and diagnostics framework through the Propulsion Diagnostic Methodology Evaluation Strategy (ProDiMES) software developed by NASA. The algorithm uses fleet-average and individual engine baseline models to compute feature vectors that form a fault classification with healthy and faulty engine classes. Using this classification, a hybrid fault-recognition technique based on regularized extreme learning machines and sparse representation classification was trained and validated to perform both fault detection and fault identification as a common process. The performance of the system was analyzed along with the results of other diagnostic frameworks through four stages of comparison based on different conditions, such as operating regimes, testing data, and metrics (detection, classification, and detection latency). The first three stages were devoted to the independent algorithm development and self-evaluation, while the final stage was related to a blind test case evaluated by NASA. The comparative analysis at all stages shows that the proposed algorithm outperforms all other diagnostic solutions published so far. Considering the advantages and the results obtained, the framework is a promising tool for aircraft engine monitoring and diagnostic systems.
Foliar Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes against Cereal Leaf Beetle Oulema melanopus L. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Wheat
Authors: Mazurkiewicz Anna , Jakubowska Magdalena , Tumialis Dorota , Bocianowski Jan , Roik Kamila
Published: August 2021

Cereal monocultures are very susceptible to many pests, especially to those living on leaves, which largely affects yield by decreasing its quality. The most dangerous of them is the cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus L.). In cases of heavy infestation by its larvae, the surface of plants may be reduced by 50%, and sometimes even by 80%, with a main yield loss of 10–25%. The aim of the presented study was to assess the efficiency of a native isolate of Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) and commercial preparation Larvanem (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1975)) in controlling the larvae of O. melanopus, and to reduce crops damage in the field. Nematodes were applied in a dosage of 2 million IJs/m2 as a suspension of 11 litres per square metre. A hand sprinkler with field lance and flat-stream nozzles was used for applications at the lowest working pressure of 3000 hPa. The effectiveness of both nematode species was moderate: 47.8% for S. feltiae isolate and 49.5% for H. bacteriophora. The biggest reduction in leaf damage was found in crops treated with the commercial preparation, where the index of leaf infection was 32%, being more than twofold smaller than that for the control.
Assessment of the Current and Projected Conditions of Water Availability in the Sevastopol Region for Grape Growing
Authors: Vyshkvarkova Elena , Rybalko Evgeniy , Marchukova Olesia , Baranova Natalia
Published: August 2021

Viticulture is a sector very sensitive to climate change. Observed and expected changes in temperature and precipitation can change the conditions necessary for viticulture in a particular area or make these conditions totally unsuitable for viticulture. Precipitation (water availability) and air temperature are the key meteorological parameters regulating the quality of grapes and wine. We used an ensemble of model data from the CMIP6 project to evaluate all possible changes in water availability in the area around Sevastopol by the middle and the end of the 21st century for two Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The hydrothermal coefficient and dryness index have been used to evaluate the water availability. The results have shown that, based on the indices values, viticulture in the study region will be possible without irrigation, but, at the same time, the vines may experience a certain level of dryness.
Hybrid Bermudagrass and Tall Fescue Turfgrass Irrigation in Central California: I. Assessment of Visual Quality, Soil Moisture and Performance of an ET-Based Smart Controller
Authors: Haghverdi Amir , Reiter Maggie , Sapkota Anish , Singh Amninder
Published: August 2021

Research-based information regarding the accuracy and reliability of smart irrigation controllers for autonomous landscape irrigation water conservation is limited in central California. A two-year irrigation research trial (2018–2019) was conducted in Parlier, California, to study the response of hybrid bermudagrass and tall fescue to varying irrigation scenarios (irrigation levels and irrigation frequency) autonomously applied using a Weathermatic ET-based smart controller. The response of turfgrass species to the irrigation treatments was visually assessed and rated. In addition, turfgrass water response functions (TWRFs) were developed to estimate the impact of irrigation scenarios on the turfgrass species based on long-term mean reference evapotranspiration (ETo) data. The Weathermatic controller overestimated ETo between 5% and 7% in 2018 and between 5% and 8% in 2019 compared with California Irrigation Management Information System values. The controller closely followed programmed watering-days restrictions across treatments in 2018 and 2019 and adjusted the watering-days based on ETo demand when no restriction was applied. The low half distribution uniformity and precipitation rate of the irrigation system were 0.78 and 28 mm h−1, respectively. The catch-cans method substantially underestimated the precipitation rate of the irrigation system and caused over-irrigation by the smart controller. No water-saving and turfgrass quality improvement was observed owing to restricting irrigation frequency (watering days). For the hybrid bermudagrass, the visual rating (VR) for 101% ETo treatment stayed above the minimum acceptable value of six during the trial. For tall fescue, the 108% ETo level with 3 d wk−1 frequency kept the VR values in the acceptable range in 2018 except for a short period in mid-trial. The TWRF provided a good fit to experimental data with r values of 0.79 and 0.75 for tall fescue and hybrid bermudagrass, respectively. The estimated VR values by TWRF suggested 70–80% ETo as the minimum irrigation application to maintain the acceptable hybrid bermudagrass quality in central California during the high water demand months (i.e., May to August) based on long-term mean ETo data. The TWRF estimations suggest that 100% ETo would be sufficient to maintain the tall fescue quality for only 55 days. This might be an overestimation impacted by the relatively small tall fescue VR data in 2019 owing to minimal fertilizer applications and should be further investigated in the future.
Why Can Green Social Responsibility Drive Agricultural Technology Manufacturing Company to Do Good Things? A Novel Adoption Model of Environmental Strategy
Authors: Huang Stanley Y. B. , Lee Shih-Chin , Lee Yue-Shi
Published: August 2021

The present research proposes the hierarchical linear modeling model (HLM) that describe how green social responsibility (GSR) predict the environmental strategy (ES) of agricultural technology manufacturing companies by the intermediary effects of the supervisor’s green promise (GP) based on symbolic context theory. This study collected data with 150 supervisors from 50 different agricultural technology companies in Taiwan to analyze the HLM. The results suggest that vendors of agricultural technology companies should establish GSR to increase GP, which consequently can increase the companies’ adoption of the ES. It is now the first to establish a milestone, propose a novel adoption model—GP and its antecedents through the HLM to predict the adoption of ES. These findings can upgrade the related literature of agriculture and can provide the procedure in implementing ES in agricultural technology companies.
Evaluation of Thermal Indices as the Indicators of Heat Stress in Dairy Cows in a Temperate Climate
Authors: Yan Geqi , Li Hao , Shi Zhengxiang
Published: August 2021

Many thermal indices (TIs) have been developed to quantify the severity of heat stress in dairy cows. Systematic evaluation of the representative TIs is still lacking, which may cause potential misapplication. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the theoretical and actual performance of the TIs in a temperate climate. The data were collected in freestall barns at a commercial dairy farm. The heat transfer characteristics of the TIs were examined by equivalent air temperature change (ΔTeq). One-way ANOVA and correlation were used to test the relationships between the TIs and the animal-based indicators (i.e., rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), and eye temperature (ET)). Results showed that the warming effect of the increased relative humidity and the chilling effect of the increased wind speed was the most reflected by the equivalent temperature index (ETI) and the comprehensive climate index (CCI), respectively. Only the equivalent temperature index for cows (ETIC) reflected that warming effect of solar radiation could obviously increase with increasing Ta. The THI and ETIC showed expected relationships with the RT and RR, whereas the CCI and ETIC showed expected relationships with the ST and ET. Moreover, CCI showed a higher correlation with RT (r = 0.672, p < 0.01), ST(r = 0.845, p < 0.01), and ET (r = 0.617, p < 0.01) than other TIs (p < 0.0001). ETIC showed the highest correlation with RR (r = 0.850, p < 0.01). These findings demonstrated that the CCI could be the most promising thermal index to assess heat stress for housed dairy cows. Future research is still needed to develop new TIs tp precisely assess the microclimates in cow buildings.
Effect of Tea Tree Oil on the Expression of Genes Involved in the Innate Immune System in Goat Rumen Epithelial Cells
Authors: Hu Zixuan , Lin Miao , Ma Xiaoyu , Zhao Guoqi , Zhan Kang
Published: August 2021

In subacute rumen acidosis (SARA), the rumen epithelium is frequently attacked by endotoxin (LPS), which is caused by the lysis of dead Gram-negative bacteria. However, the rumen epithelium innate immune system can actively respond to the infection. Previous studies have demonstrated that tea tree oil (TTO) has good bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TTO on the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory cytokines in goat rumen epithelial cells (GRECs) triggered by LPS. Our study shows that rumen epithelial cells isolated from goat rumen tissue can be cultured in vitro in 0.25% trypsin for a long time. These cells were identified as epithelial cells by the expression of cytokeratin 18, monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), Na[+]/H[+] hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1), putative anion transporter 1 (PAT1), vH+ ATPase B subunit (vH+ ATPase), and anion exchanger 2 (AE2). The mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TLR-2, NF-κB, CXCL6 and CXCL8 genes was significantly increased when LPS was used compared to untreated controls. In addition, mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TLR-2, NF-κB, CXCL8, CXCL6 and interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3) genes was also significantly higher in the LPS group compared to the 0.05% TTO group. However, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TLR-2, CXCL6 and IFIT3 genes was significantly lower in the LPS and 0.05% TTO group compared to the 1 μg/mL LPS group. These results suggest that TTO can inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines expression in GRECs.
Phage Targeting Streptococcus mutans In Vitro and In Vivo as a Caries-Preventive Modality
Authors: Wolfoviz-Zilberman Amit , Kraitman Reut , Hazan Ronen , Friedman Michael , Houri-Haddad Yael , Beyth Nurit
Published: August 2021

Dental caries is a common infectious disease worldwide. Current conventional therapies lack specific antimicrobial effects against Streptococcus mutans, a key bacterium that induces caries. A promising alternative approach is bacteriophage (phage) therapy. Recently, SMHBZ8 phage targeting S. mutans was isolated and characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries-prevention efficacy of SMHBZ8 using in vitro and in vivo caries models. Hemi-mandibles dissected from euthanized healthy mice were subjected to caries-promoting conditions in vitro. Jaws treated with phage therapy in suspension and in formulation with a sustained-release delivery system showed no carious lesions, similar to control and chlorhexidine-treated jaws. Subsequently, SMHBZ8 phage suspension also prevented carious lesion development in a murine caries model in vivo. In both models, caries lesions were analyzed clinically and radiographically by µCT scans. This study shows how SMHBZ8 phage therapy targeting S. mutans can serve as an efficient caries-prevention modality, in suspension or with a sustained-release delivery system, by in vitro and in vivo mouse models.
Thermal Shock and Ciprofloxacin Act Orthogonally on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms
Authors: Aljaafari Haydar , Gu Yuejia , Chicchelly Hannah , Nuxoll Eric
Published: August 2021

Bacterial biofilm infections are a major liability of medical implants, due to their resistance to both antibiotics and host immune response. Thermal shock can kill established biofilms, and some evidence suggests antibiotics may enhance this efficacy, despite having an insufficient effect themselves. The nature of this interaction is unclear, however, complicating efforts to integrate thermal shock into implant infection treatment. This study aimed to determine whether these treatments were truly synergistic or simply orthogonal (i.e., independent). Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms of different architectures and stationary-phase population density were subjected to various thermal shocks, antibiotic exposures, or combinations thereof, and examined either immediately after treatment or after subsequent reincubation. Population decreases from the combination treatment matched the product of the decreases of individual treatments, indicating their orthogonality. However, reincubation showed binary behavior, where biofilms with an immediate population decrease beyond a critical factor (~104) died off completely during reincubation, while biofilms with a smaller immediate decrease regrew. This critical factor was independent of the initial population density and the combination of treatments that achieved the immediate decrease. While antibiotics do not appear to enhance thermal shock directly, their contribution to achieving a critical population decrease for biofilm elimination can make the treatments appear strongly synergistic, strongly decreasing the intensity of thermal shock needed.
Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Meropenem in Combination with Aminoglycosides against Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli Harboring blaNDM-1 and blaNDM-5
Authors: Terbtothakun Pawarisa , Nwabor Ozioma Forstinus , Siriyong Thanyaluck , Voravuthikunchai Supayang P. , Chusri Sarunyou
Published: August 2021

Infections due to carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) are problematic due to limitation in treatment options. Combination therapies of existing antimicrobial agents have become a reliable strategy to control these infections. In this study, the synergistic effects of meropenem in combination with aminoglycosides were assessed by checkerboard and time-kill assays. Of the 35 isolates, 19 isolates (54.3%) were resistant to carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem) with the MIC ranges from 16 to 128 µg/mL. These isolates were resistant to almost all antibiotic classes. Molecular characteristics revealed co-harboring of carbapenemase (blaNDM-1, blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-48) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) genes (blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM). The checkerboard assay displayed synergistic effects of meropenem and several aminoglycosides against most CREC isolates. Time-kill assays further demonstrated strong synergistic effects of meropenem in combination with either amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and tobramycin. The results suggested that meropenem in combination with aminoglycoside therapy might be an efficient optional treatment for infections cause by CREC.
Curcumin Suppresses the Lipid Accumulation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Benzo[a]pyrene Toxicity in HepG2 Cells
Authors: Lee Seung-Cheol , Jee Seung-Cheol , Kim Min , Kim Soee , Shin Min Kyoung , Kim Yunkyung , Sung Jung-Suk
Published: August 2021

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a potentially hepatotoxic group-1 carcinogen taken up by the body through ingestion of daily foods. B[a]P is widely known to cause DNA and protein damages, which are closely related to cell transformation. Accordingly, studies on natural bioactive compounds that attenuate such chemical-induced toxicities have significant impacts on public health. This study aimed to uncover the mechanism of curcumin, the major curcuminoid in turmeric (Curcuma longa), in modulating the lipid accumulation and oxidative stress mediated by B[a]P cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Curcumin treatment reduced the B[a]P-induced lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen spicies (ROS) upregulation and recovered the cell viability. Cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) and Cytochrome P450 subfamily B polypeptide 1 (CYP1B1) downregulation resulting from decreased aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) translocation into nuclei attenuated the effects of B[a]P-induced lipid accumulation and repressed cell viability, respectively. Moreover, the curcumin-induced reduction in ROS generation decreased the nuclear translocation of Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the expression of phase-II detoxifying enzymes. These results indicate that curcumin suppresses B[a]P-induced lipid accumulation and ROS generation which can potentially induce nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and can shed a light on the detoxifying effect of curcumin.
Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide (Niacinamide) to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation
Authors: Boo Yong Chool
Published: August 2021

Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, niacin) deficiency causes the systemic disease pellagra, which leads to dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and possibly death depending on its severity and duration. Vitamin B3 is used in the synthesis of the NAD+ family of coenzymes, contributing to cellular energy metabolism and defense systems. Although nicotinamide (niacinamide) is primarily used as a nutritional supplement for vitamin B3, its pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical uses have been extensively explored. In this review, we discuss the biological activities and cosmeceutical properties of nicotinamide in consideration of its metabolic pathways. Supplementation of nicotinamide restores cellular NAD+ pool and mitochondrial energetics, attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory response, enhances extracellular matrix and skin barrier, and inhibits the pigmentation process in the skin. Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials. Topically applied nicotinamide is well tolerated by the skin. Currently, there is no convincing evidence that nicotinamide has specific molecular targets for controlling skin aging and pigmentation. This substance is presumed to contribute to maintaining skin homeostasis by regulating the redox status of cells along with various metabolites produced from it. Thus, it is suggested that nicotinamide will be useful as a cosmeceutical ingredient to attenuate skin aging and hyperpigmentation, especially in the elderly or patients with reduced NAD+ pool in the skin due to internal or external stressors.
Silicon Improves the Redox Homeostasis to Alleviate Glyphosate Toxicity in Tomato Plants—Are Nanomaterials Relevant?
Authors: Soares Cristiano , Nadais Pedro , Sousa Bruno , Pinto Edgar , Ferreira Isabel M. P. L. V. O. , Pereira Ruth , Fidalgo Fernanda
Published: August 2021

Given the widespread use of glyphosate (GLY), this agrochemical is becoming a source of contamination in agricultural soils, affecting non-target plants. Therefore, sustainable strategies to increase crop tolerance to GLY are needed. From this perspective and recalling silicon (Si)’s role in alleviating different abiotic stresses, the main goal of this study was to assess if the foliar application of Si, either as bulk or nano forms, is capable of enhancing Solanum lycopersicum L. tolerance to GLY (10 mg kg−1). After 28 day(s), GLY-treated plants exhibited growth-related disorders in both shoots and roots, accompanied by an overproduction of superoxide anion (O2•−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in shoots. Although plants solely exposed to GLY have activated non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms (proline, ascorbate and glutathione), a generalized inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes was found, suggesting the occurrence of great redox disturbances. In response to Si or nano-SiO2 co-application, most of GLY phytotoxic effects on growth were prevented, accompanied with a better ROS removal, especially by an upregulation of the main antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Overall, results pointed towards the potential of both sources of Si to reduce GLY-induced oxidative stress, without major differences between their efficacy.
Effects of a Nanoencapsulated Moringa Leaf Ethanolic Extract on the Physiology, Metabolism and Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does during Summer
Authors: El-Desoky Nagwa I. , Hashem Nesrein M. , Gonzalez-Bulnes Antonio , Elkomy Ahmed G. , Abo-Elezz Zahraa R.
Published: August 2021

This study investigated the effect of Moringa leaf ethanolic extract (MLEE) on heat-tolerance variables and the reproductive performance of rabbit does bred under hot climate conditions. Additionally, the effect of nanoencapsulation technology on the biological efficiency of MLEE was considered. A total of 56 rabbit does were randomly divided into four experimental groups and treated with 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) nonencapsulated MLEE, 25 or 10 mg/kg BW nanoencapsulated MLEE, or not treated (Control, C). The treatments continued for 50 days, including mating and pregnancy times. Physiological and hematochemical variables, hormonal profiles, and reproductive performance (kindling rate and litter characteristics) were determined. The active components of MLEE were identified. The results indicated that MLEE has 30 active components. All MLEE-based treatments reduced heat-stress-related indicators, such as rectal temperatures, respiratory rates and heart rate; improved hematochemical attributes, redox status, and hormones (progesterone and prolactin); and increased the total litter size, the kindling rate, litter size at birth and litter weight at birth. Adding MLEE can alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress by improving metabolism, redox status, and hormonal balance during pregnancy. These effects were seen whether MLLE was in free or encapsulated forms. However, the use of nanoencapsulated MLEE allowed 80% reduction (10 mg/kg BW) in the optimal dose (50 mg/kg BW) without affecting the efficiency of the treatment. These results support the importance of nanoencapsulation technology in improving the bioavailability of active components when they are orally administered.
Effect of Pretreatments on Convective and Infrared Drying Kinetics, Energy Consumption and Quality of Terebinth
Authors: Abbaspour-Gilandeh Yousef , Kaveh Mohammad , Fatemi Hamideh , Khalife Esmail , Witrowa-Rajchert Dorota , Nowacka Małgorzata
Published: August 2021

This study is focused on the influence of convective drying (50, 60, and 70 °C) and infrared (IR) power (250, 500, and 750 W) on the drying kinetics, the specific energy consumption of terebinth drying as well as quality and bioactive compounds upon various pretreatments such as ultrasound (US), blanching (BL), and microwave (MW). Compared to convective drying, IR drying decreased more the drying time and energy consumption (SEC). Application of higher IR powers and air temperatures accelerated the drying process at lower energy consumption (SEC) and higher energy efficiency and moisture diffusion. Terebinth dried by a convective dryer at 60 °C with US pretreatment showed a better color compared to other samples. It also exhibited the polyphenol and flavonoid content of 145.35 mg GAE/g d.m. and 49.24 mg QE/g d.m., respectively, with color variations of 14.25 and a rehydration rate of 3.17. The proposed pretreatment methods significantly reduced the drying time and energy consumption, and from the other side it increased energy efficiency, bioactive compounds, and quality of the dried samples (p < 0.01). Among the different pretreatments used, microwave pretreatment led to the best results in terms of the drying time and SEC, and energy efficiency. US pretreatment showed the best results in terms of preserving the bioactive compounds and the general appearance of the terebinth.
Laser Beam Positioning by Using a Broken-Down Optical Vortex Marker
Authors: Frączek Ewa , Frączek Wojciech , Popiołek-Masajada Agnieszka
Published: August 2021

We propose the use of high-order optical vortices as markers in the positioning of a laser beam. The broken optical vortices are arranged in constellations. The center of gravity of these constellations makes it possible to position the beam carrying information encoded in the optical vortices. This paper describes three positioning methods using both intensity and phase maps. The methods described were tested in experiments performed in a laboratory and an open space.
The Operation Analysis of the Innovative MainBox Food Storage Device
Authors: Wróbel-Jędrzejewska Magdalena , Polak Elżbieta
Published: August 2021

The development and construction of a prototype device (food parcel locker), consisting of small cooling and freezing chambers (boxes) ensuring temperature conditions (+5 C or −18 °C), enabling food storage were carried out. The innovative solutions have been introduced in the MainBox device: the appropriate construction of the device (materials, cooling installation), properly functioning systems (control of chillers, security, temperature monitoring), and propane as refrigerant (high energy efficiency, low global warming potential). The risk of explosion has been eliminated by closing of the cooling installation and reducing of propane amount. The refrigeration unit has been adapted to work in external conditions by installing additional elements (pressure switches for compressor protection and for condensing pressure control). In real conditions, the operation of the innovative MainBox food storage device allowing the receipt of food products without having to wait for a supplier was verified. The temperature distribution in all chambers of the cooling and freezing module was investigated using a thermal imaging camera and a temperature monitoring system. The correct operation of MainBox devices was verified during their loading with food products that require specific temperature conditions during storage.
Noninteracting Control Design for 6-DoF Active Vibration Isolation Table with LMI Approach
Authors: Lee Dong-Hun , Kim Young-Bok , Chakir Soumayya , Huynh Thinh , Park Hwan-Cheol
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes a novel control strategy for six degrees-of-freedom active vibration isolation tables. In these systems, the most challenging issue is to suppress the external vibrations and isolate the internal interactions while still preserving the system’s robustness when facing uncertainties. A noninteracting controller is designed to tackle these problems. The resulting control system is completely decoupled in the sense that each system output is independently controlled to follow the corresponding reference signal. In this paper, the model of an active vibration isolation table is firstly derived. Conditions for system stability and decoupled performance are then discussed. The control law is formulated using the linear matrix inequality approach, which results in optimal control gains for the control objectives. With the proposed controller, complex system characteristics can be handled more efficiently such that an effective system is designed to obtain good control performance. Finally, simulations and comparison studies were conducted, and the results validate the efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Evaluation of Cyclic Fatigue and Bending Resistance of Coronal Preflaring NiTi File Manufactured with Different Heat Treatments
Authors: Oh Soram , Moon Su-Young , Chaniotis Antonis , Pedullá Eugenio , Al-Ghamdi Adel Saeed , Al-Ghamdi Fawzi Ali , Mandorah Ayman Omar , Perinpanayagam Hiran , Kum Kee-Yeon , Peters Ove A. , Chang Seok Woo
Published: August 2021

Coronal preflaring NiTi files should possess proper hardness, resistance to fracture and flexibility. This study compared the bending resistance and cyclic fatigue resistance of three orifice preflaring NiTi files. HyFlex EDM Orifice opener (#25/12), HyFlex CM (#25/08) and One Flare (#25/09) were tested (n = 46/instrument). Bending resistance was assessed with the stress when perpendicular displacement was applied to a 3 mm point from the file tip, and was performed at either room temperature (RT, n = 10) or body temperature (BT, n = 10). Cyclic fatigue resistance was tested with an artificial ceramic root canal at RT (n = 10) and BT (n = 10), and the number of cycles to failure (NCF) was obtained. The bending resistance and the NCF results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed (n = 3, respectively). HyFlex EDM exhibited the highest bending resistance, followed by One Flare and HyFlex CM (p < 0.05), irrespective of the tested temperature. At RT, HyFlex CM demonstrated the highest NCF (p = 0.001), while HyFlex EDM had the highest NCF at BT (p < 0.001). The tested NiTi files were composed of austenite and martensite according to the DSC and XRD results. HyFlex EDM had the highest bending resistance and NCF measured at BT.
Nutritional Improvement of Bean Sprouts by Using Chitooligosaccharide as an Elicitor in Germination of Soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Tang Wenzhu , Lei Xinting , Liu Xiaoqi , Yang Fan
Published: August 2021

Soybean sprouts are among the healthiest foods consumed in most Asian countries. Their nutritional content, especially bioactive compounds, may change according to the conditions of germination. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of chitooligosaccharide with different molecular weight and dosage on nutritional quality and enzymatic and antioxidant activities of soybean sprouts. The chitooligosaccharide elicitor strongly stimulated the accumulation of vitamin C, total phenolics, and total flavonoid. The stimulation effect was correlated with the molecular weight and concentration of chitooligosaccharide. With treatment of 0.01% of 1 kDa chitooligosaccharide, the nine phenolic constituents and six isoflavone compounds were significantly increased. The antioxidant capacity (DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity) and antioxidase activities (catalase and peroxidase) of soybean sprouts were also enhanced after treatment with chitooligosaccharide. The degree of chitooligosaccharide-induced elicitor activity increased as the molecular weight of chitooligosaccharide decreased. These results suggest that soaking soybean seeds in a solution of chitooligosaccharide, especially in 0.01% of 1 kDa chitooligosaccharide, may effectively improve the nutritional value and physiological function of soybean sprouts.
Study on the Inter-Electrode Process of Aluminum Electrolysis (Ⅱ)—Digital Analysis of the Anode Gas Distribution Patterns on the Anode Surface Using A See-Through Cell
Authors: Yang Youjian , Zhang Yuankun , Yu Jiangyu , Wang Zhaowen , Shi Zhongning
Published: August 2021

The evolution behavior of anode gas during aluminum electrolysis has been a hot spot of research for energy saving and process control. In the present work, the bubble evolution behavior during aluminum electrolysis was investigated using a lab-scale see-though cell. The bubble evolution characters on an 11 cm2 (bottom surface area) flat anode, an 11 cm2 slotted anode, and a 50 cm2 flat anode were investigated with statistical analysis, respectively. The results showed that bubbles tended to generate and adhere to certain regions on the anode surface due to the heterogeneity of the carbon material, and the adhering regions moved when current density was increased. The anode slot lowered the actual current density on the anode significantly by reducing the anode bubble coverage. Influenced by the group effect of bubbles, the 50 cm2 flat anode behavior constituted a lower bubble coverage rate, lower average bubble size, and lower actual current density than the 11 cm2 flat anode.
The Efficacy of Functional Composts Manufactured Using Spent Coffee Ground, Rice Bran, Biochar, and Functional Microorganisms
Authors: Santhanarajan Aalfin-Emmanuel , Han Yong-Hun , Koh Sung-Cheol
Published: August 2021

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), one of the world’s most discarded wastes, may be an excellent resource as an organic fertilizer because of its richness in nutrients. The objective of this study was to develop a quality functional compost using SCGs, rice bran, biochar, SCG extract, and functional microbes (plant growth promoting and plant pathogen-suppression bacteria), and then to test their functional efficacy for a potential commercial application. Essentially, two types of representative composts (Tr_1 and Tr_5 on the laboratory and pilot scale, respectively) were developed and passed all the official commercial quality standards. For pilot-scale composting, populations of Halotalea_uc, Corynebacterium nuruki, and Lactobacillus acidipiscis increased by augmentation of the composting microbes (MA-1) and the functional microbes (Bacillus cereus SB-3, Bacillus toyonensis SB-4, and Streptomyces sasae St-3). The higher total flavonoid content (11% increase compared to control) of pepper leaves in PT-1 and the higher TEAC in PT-1 (36.2%) and PT-2 (32.5%) proved the efficacy of the functional composts bioaugmented with the functional microbes. The seedling growth of radish seeds treated with Streptomyces sasae St-3 as a biocontrol agent significantly increased despite the presence of the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae. The total phenol content and TEAC in pepper plant leaves were significantly higher in Tr_5 than in the control (Tr_4), whereas there were no differences in Tr_4 and Tr_5 infested with the fungal pathogens, indicating that SB-3, SB-4, and St-3 cultures amended within the compost (Tr_5) may facilitate the production of the antioxidants in the absence of the pathogens. However, a significant reduction in the antioxidants (total phenolic content and TEAC) was observed in the pepper plants whose roots were infected with the pathogens, indicating that the pathogens could neutralize functionalities of the functional microbes. It was concluded that the enhancement of functional microbes in the compost would aid in the biological control of pathogens in the soil environment. Further functional compost studies are necessary in terms of mechanisms of plant growth-promotion, mechanisms of pathogen suppression by the actinobacterial biocontrol agents, and interactions between the two mechanisms, as well as quality enhancement of the composts.