bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Exploratory Study of Autologous Fat Transplantation in Breast Augmentation With Different Fat Transplantation Planes
Authors: Li Bin , Quan Yuping , He Yufei , He Yunfan , Lu Feng , Liao Yunjun , Cai Junrong
Published: June 2022

Background

Autologous fat transfer is common in breast augmentationor reconstruction. However, AFG recipient site in the breast for fat grafting has not been carefully investigated.

Methods

Forty female patients requiring breast augmentation with fat grafting were randomly assigned into two groups. The retromammary group received 2/3 fat into the retromammary space and the other 1/3 into the subcutaneous and retropectoral planes. The retropectoral group received 2/3 fat into the retropectoral plane and the other 1/3 into the subcutaneous and retromammary planes. The fat grafting result at 6 months was assessed by 3D laser surface scanning and then ultrasound. Any complications were recorded during follow-up. Samples from a patient who underwent fat grafting for 6 months was obtained and histological examination was conducted.

Results

No significant difference in the retention rate after 6 months was observed between the two groups (retromammary group: 35.9% ± 6.6; retropectoral group: 39.3% ± 5.1, p = 0.1076). The retromammary grouphad a higher incidence of oil cyst formation than the retropectoral group. Histological examination showed that there were more oil cysts and mac2 positive macrophage infiltration in the fat cells in retromammary group, while retropectoral group had more small-size adipocytes.

Conclusion

Although fat grafting into the retropectoral plane did not provide a superior fat graft retention rate, it did lower the incidence of complications. The retropectoral space show great potential to become a favorable recipient site.
Intraoperative Findings of Inferior Petrosal Vein During Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm: A Single-Surgeon Experience
Authors: Wang Mengyang , Wang Jiajing , Zhang Xiuling , Chai Songshan , Cai Yuankun , Dai Xuan , Yang Bangkun , Liu Wen , Lu Taojunjin , Mei Zhimin , Zheng Zhixin , Zhou YiXuan , Yang Jingyi , Shen Lei , Zhao Jingwei , Ho Joshua , Cai Meng , Chen Jincao , Xiong Nanxiang
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the inferior petrosal veins (IPVs) on operational exploration and to analyze related anatomic features.

Methods

A total of 317 patients were retrospectively studied. Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were analyzed, and patients were divided into two groups according to whether the IPV was sacrificed or preserved. The diameter of the IPV was also recorded during operation. Furthermore, the position where the IPV drained into the jugular bulb was recorded in each patient, and the influence of different injection points on the operation was analyzed.

Results

IPVs were conclusively identified in 242/317 (76.3%) of patients, with 110/242 (45.5%) of patients categorized as “IPV sacrifice” versus 132/242 (54.5%) categorized as “IPV preservation.” IPV diameter was observed to be <0.5 mm in 58 cases (23.9%), 0.5 mm–1.0 mm (≥0.5 mm and ≤1.0 mm) in 145 cases (59.9%), and >1 mm in 39 cases (16.2%). The position of IPV drainage into the jugular bulb was at the level of the accessory nerve in 163 cases (67.3%), the level of the vagus nerve in 42 cases (17.4%), and the level of the glossopharyngeal nerve or above in 37 cases (15.3%). The diameters of IPV in the sacrifice group were mainly less than 1 mm (94.5% vs. 75%, P < 0.01), and the cases with draining points near the glossopharyngeal nerve were more than that in the preservation group (27.3% vs. 5.3%, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

IPV is an obstructive structure in MVD for HFS, with considerable variations in diameters and draining points. IPV near the glossopharyngeal nerve significantly impacts surgical exposure and is often sacrificed for a better view of the operation field. Meanwhile, it is feasible to maintain IPVs with a diameter >1 mm.
Case Report: Application of Mixed Reality Combined With A Surgical Template for Precise Periapical Surgery
Authors: Jia Tingting , Qiao Bo , Ren Yipeng , Xing Lejun , Ding Baichen , Yuan Fang , Luo Qiang , Li Hongbo
Published: June 2022

Objective

The etiology of apical diseases is diverse, and most are due to incomplete root canal therapy. The common clinical manifestations include gingival abscess, fistula and bone destruction. The currently existing limitation of procedures is that surgeons cannot visually evaluate the surgical areas. We sought to combine mixed reality (MR) technology with a 3-dimensional (3D) printed surgical template to achieve visualization in apical surgery. Notably, no reports have described this application.

Methods

We created visual 3D (V3D) files and transferred them into the HoloLens system. We explained the surgical therapy plan to the patient using a mixed reality head-mounted display (MR-HMD). Then, the 3D information was preliminarily matched with the operative area, and the optimal surgical approach was determined by combining this information with 3D surgical guide plate technology.

Results

We successfully developed a suitable surgical workflow and confirmed the optimal surgical approach from the buccal side. We completely exposed the apical lesion and removed the inflammatory granulation tissue.

Conclusion

We are the first group to use the MR technique in apical surgery. We integrated the MR technique with a 3D surgical template to successfully accomplish the surgery. Desirable outcomes using minimally invasive therapy could be achieved with the MR technique.
Research on Dual-Arm Control of Lunar Assisted Robot Based on Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning under Unstructured Environment
Authors: Ren Weiyan , Han Dapeng , Wang Zhaokui
Published: June 2022

When a lunar assisted robot helps an astronaut turn over or transports the astronaut from the ground, the trajectory of the robot’s dual arms should be automatically planned according to the unstructured environment on the lunar surface. In this paper, a dual-arm control strategy model of a lunar assisted robot based on hierarchical reinforcement learning is proposed, and the trajectory planning problem is modeled as a two-layer Markov decision process. In the training process, a reward function design method based on the idea of the artificial potential field method is proposed, and the reward information is fed back in a dense reward method, which significantly reduces the invalid exploration space and improves the learning efficiency. Large-scale tests are carried out in both simulated and physical environments, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper. This research is of great significance in respect of human–robot interaction, environmental interaction, and intelligent control of robots.
Feature Selection to Predict LED Light Energy Consumption with Specific Light Recipes in Closed Plant Production Systems
Authors: Montes Rivera Martín , Escalante-Garcia Nivia , Dena-Aguilar José Alonso , Olvera-Gonzalez Ernesto , Vacas-Jacques Paulino
Published: June 2022

The use of closed growth environments, such as greenhouses, plant factories, and vertical farms, represents a sustainable alternative for fresh food production. Closed plant production systems (CPPSs) allow growing of any plant variety, no matter the year’s season. Artificial lighting plays an essential role in CPPSs as it promotes growth by providing optimal conditions for plant development. Nevertheless, it is a model with a high demand for electricity, which is required for artificial radiation systems to enhance the developing plants. A high percentage (40% to 50%) of the costs in CPPSs point to artificial lighting systems. Due to this, lighting strategies are essential to improve sustainability and profitability in closed plant production systems. However, no tools have been applied in the literature to contribute to energy savings in LED-type artificial radiation systems through the configuration of light recipes (wavelengths combination. For CPPS to be cost-effective and sustainable, a pre-evaluation of energy consumption for plant cultivation must consider. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods integrated into the prediction crucial variables such as each input-variable light color or specific wavelengths like red, green, blue, and white along with light intensity (quantity), frequency (pulsed light), and duty cycle. This paper focuses on the feature-selection stage, in which a regression model is trained to predict energy consumption in LED lights with specific light recipes in CPPSs. This stage is critical because it identifies the most representative features for training the model, and the other stages depend on it. These tools can enable further in-depth analysis of the energy savings that can be obtained with light recipes and pulsed and continuous operation light modes in artificial LED lighting systems.
Analysis and Prediction of User Sentiment on COVID-19 Pandemic Using Tweets
Authors: Yeasmin Nilufa , Mahbub Nosin Ibna , Baowaly Mrinal Kanti , Singh Bikash Chandra , Alom Zulfikar , Aung Zeyar , Azim Mohammad Abdul
Published: June 2022

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has dramatically affected people’s daily lives worldwide. More specifically, since there is still insufficient access to vaccines and no straightforward, reliable treatment for COVID-19, every country has taken the appropriate precautions (such as physical separation, masking, and lockdown) to combat this extremely infectious disease. As a result, people invest much time on online social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, and Twitter) and express their feelings and thoughts regarding COVID-19. Twitter is a popular social networking platform, and it enables anyone to use tweets. This research used Twitter datasets to explore user sentiment from the COVID-19 perspective. We used a dataset of COVID-19 Twitter posts from nine states in the United States for fifteen days (from 1 April 2020, to 15 April 2020) to analyze user sentiment. We focus on exploiting machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) approaches to classify user sentiments regarding COVID-19. First, we labeled the dataset into three groups based on the sentiment values, namely positive, negative, and neutral, to train some popular ML algorithms and DL models to predict the user concern label on COVID-19. Additionally, we have compared traditional bag-of-words and term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) for representing the text to numeric vectors in ML techniques. Furthermore, we have contrasted the encoding methodology and various word embedding schemes, such as the word to vector (Word2Vec) and global vectors for word representation (GloVe) versions, with three sets of dimensions (100, 200, and 300) for representing the text to numeric vectors for DL approaches. Finally, we compared COVID-19 infection cases and COVID-19-related tweets during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emerging Polymer Materials in Trackable Endovascular Embolization and Cell Delivery: From Hype to Hope
Authors: Rana Md Mohosin , Melancon Marites P.
Published: June 2022

Minimally invasive endovascular embolization is a widely used clinical technique used for the occlusion of blood vessels to treat various diseases. Different occlusive agents ranging from gelatin foam to synthetic polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) have been commercially used for embolization. However, these agents have some drawbacks, such as undesired toxicity and unintended and uncontrolled occlusion. To overcome these issues, several polymer-based embolic systems are under investigation including biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres, gelling liquid embolic with controlled occlusive features, and trackable microspheres with enhanced safety profiles. This review aims to summarize recent advances in current and emerging polymeric materials as embolization agents with varying material architectures. Furthermore, this review also explores the potential of combining injectable embolic agents and cell therapy to achieve more effective embolization with the promise of outstanding results in treating various devastating diseases. Finally, limitations and challenges in developing next-generation multifunctional embolic agents are discussed to promote advancement in this emerging field.
A New Chaotic-Based RGB Image Encryption Technique Using a Nonlinear Rotational 16 × 16 DNA Playfair Matrix
Authors: Ibrahim Dina , Ahmed Kareem , Abdallah Mohamed , Ali AbdElmgeid A.
Published: June 2022

Due to great interest in the secure storage and transmission of color images, the necessity for an efficient and robust RGB image encryption technique has grown. RGB image encryption ensures the confidentiality of color images during storage and transmission. In the literature, a large number of chaotic-based image encryption techniques have been proposed, but there is still a need for a robust, efficient and secure technique against different kinds of attacks. In this paper, a novel RGB image encryption technique is proposed for encrypting individual pixels of RGB images using chaotic systems and 16 rounds of DNA encoding, transpositions and substitutions. First, round keys are generated randomly using a logistic chaotic function. Then, these keys are used across different rounds to alter individual pixels using a nonlinear randomly generated 16×16 DNA Playfair matrix. Experimental results show the robustness of the proposed technique against most attacks while reducing the consumed time for encryption and decryption. The quantitative metrics show the ability of the proposed technique to maintain reference evaluation values while resisting statistical and differential attacks. The obtained horizontal, vertical and diagonal correlation is less than 0.01, and the NPCR and UACI are larger than 0.99 and 0.33, respectively. Finally, NIST analysis is presented to evaluate the randomness of the proposed technique.
UNIPD-BPE: Synchronized RGB-D and Inertial Data for Multimodal Body Pose Estimation and Tracking
Authors: Guidolin Mattia , Menegatti Emanuele , Reggiani Monica
Published: June 2022

The ability to estimate human motion without requiring any external on-body sensor or marker is of paramount importance in a variety of fields, ranging from human–robot interaction, Industry 4.0, surveillance, and telerehabilitation. The recent development of portable, low-cost RGB-D cameras pushed forward the accuracy of markerless motion capture systems. However, despite the widespread use of such sensors, a dataset including complex scenes with multiple interacting people, recorded with a calibrated network of RGB-D cameras and an external system for assessing the pose estimation accuracy, is still missing. This paper presents the University of Padova Body Pose Estimation dataset (UNIPD-BPE), an extensive dataset for multi-sensor body pose estimation containing both single-person and multi-person sequences with up to 4 interacting people. A network with 5 Microsoft Azure Kinect RGB-D cameras is exploited to record synchronized high-definition RGB and depth data of the scene from multiple viewpoints, as well as to estimate the subjects’ poses using the Azure Kinect Body Tracking SDK. Simultaneously, full-body Xsens MVN Awinda inertial suits allow obtaining accurate poses and anatomical joint angles, while also providing raw data from the 17 IMUs required by each suit. This dataset aims to push forward the development and validation of multi-camera markerless body pose estimation and tracking algorithms, as well as multimodal approaches focused on merging visual and inertial data.
sUAS Monitoring of Coastal Environments: A Review of Best Practices from Field to Lab
Authors: Guan Shanyue , Sirianni Hannah , Wang George , Zhu Zhen
Published: June 2022

Coastal environments are some of the most dynamic environments in the world. As they are constantly changing, so are the technologies and techniques we use to map and monitor them. The rapid advancement of sUAS-based remote sensing calls for rigorous field and processing workflows so that more reliable and consistent sUAS projects of coastal environments are carried out. Here, we synthesize the best practices to create sUAS photo-based surveying and processing workflows that can be used and modified by coastal scientists, depending on their project objective. While we aim to simplify the complexity of these workflows, we note that the nature of this work is a craft that carefully combines art, science, and technology. sUAS LiDAR is the next advancement in mapping and monitoring coastal environments. Therefore, future work should consider synthesizing best practices to develop rigorous field and data processing workflows used for sUAS LiDAR-based projects of coastal environments.
The Characteristics of Gliding Arc Plasma and Its Activating Effect for Ramjet Combustion
Authors: Sun Jiulun , Jin Di , Huang Shengfang , Zhang Kai , Chen Weiqi , Cheng Xinyao
Published: June 2022

In order to improve the combustion performance of a ramjet under low temperature and pressure, a gliding arc plasma actuator was designed based on a typical evaporation flameholder. The discharge characteristics, as well as the activating effect of single-channel and three-channel gliding arc plasma under different carrier gas flow rates, were studied. Results show that with the increase in the carrier gas flow rate, the average duration of the gliding arc discharge becomes shorter, while the average power increases, and the specific input energy decreases. Compared with single-channel discharge, three-channel discharge has higher discharge power and energy injection rate, which makes a bigger actuated space. Through gliding arc plasma, the kerosene is cracked and H2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C3H6 and other small molecule components are produced. For three-channel gliding arc discharge, the effective cracking rate and the production rate of each component are higher than those of the single-channel discharge; both of them gradually increase with the increase in the carrier gas flow rate. The experiment results indicate that three-channel gliding arc plasma can effectively widen the ignition boundary and improve the combustion efficiency of ramjet combustion. The ignition pressure boundary is expanded from 60 kPa to 50 kPa under 390 K; the combustion efficiency is increased from 76% to 82%.
Estro-Progestins and Pain Relief in Endometriosis
Authors: Troìa Libera , Luisi Stefano
Published: June 2022

Endometriosis is a benign, hormone-responsive chronic disease that affects women of reproductive age; long-term treatment to balance satisfactory tolerability with clinical efficacy is necessary for these patients. The first-line therapy for endometriosis is predominantly medical treatment, in order to improve symptoms or prevent post-surgical disease recurrence. Multiple factors including age and women preference, pain severity, and endometriosis stage must be considered in the choice of the most suitable therapy. Estrogen-progestogins are generally used as first-line hormone therapies among different medical options currently effective for endometriosis management. Several studies have shown that they are able to improve pain symptoms in most patients, are well tolerated, and are inexpensive. Combined hormonal contraception treatment, administered cyclically or continuously, with different types of hormones and route of administration, results in clinically noticeable decrease in dysmenorrhea, noncyclic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and recurrence rate after surgery, and also in quality of life improvement.
Improved Production of α-Amylase by Aspergillus terreus in Presence of Oxygen-Vector
Authors: Blaga Alexandra Cristina , Caşcaval Dan , Galaction Anca Irina
Published: June 2022

n-Dodecane has been investigated as an oxygen-vector for improving α-amylase biosynthesis using the strain Aspergillus terreus. In aerobic microbial cultivation, continuous supply of oxygen is required especially due to its low solubility in the growth medium, in particular at high viscosity, but the limitations of oxygen mass transfer in these systems can be overcome by the addition of water-insoluble compounds which possess a strong affinity for oxygen, namely oxygen-vectors. The use of n-dodecane (as an oxygen-vector) in the fermentation medium of A. terreus can significantly improve the bioprocess performance and enhance α-amylase production. Using 5% n-dodecane at 35 °C, an increase of 1.8–2 times in the enzymatic activity was recorded. In the oxygen-vector’s absence, the highest amount of biomass was obtained at 35 °C, while in the presence of 5% vol. n-dodecane, the amount of fungal biomass increased by approximately 70%, with a shift in optimum temperature to 40 °C, generating also an enzymatic activity increase of 2.30 times. Moreover, the oxygen-vector’s addition in the fermentation broth influenced the fungal morphological development in the form of larger pellets with a more compact structure compared to the system without n-dodecane, with a positive effect on the fermentation performance (higher α-amylase activity production).
The Application of Fire Behavior Modeling to Fuel Treatment Assessments at Army Garrison Camp Williams, Utah
Authors: Frost Scott M. , Alexander Martin E. , Jenkins Michael J.
Published: June 2022

Large wildfires (>40 ha in size) occur about every three years within Army Garrison Camp Williams, located near South Jordan, Utah, USA. In 2010 and 2012, wildfires originating on the practice firing range burned beyond the camp’s boundaries into the adjacent wildland-urban interface areas. The political and public reaction to these escaped fires was intense. Fire researchers at Utah State University were asked if a spatially organized system of fuel treatments could be developed to prevent such incidents in the future. We used a combination of empirically based guidelines and semi-physical fire modeling systems, coupled with climatological data, to make assessments of fire behavior potential for the sagebrush steppe vegetation/fuel types found in AGCW, that also considered slope steepness. The results suggested the need for removal of woody vegetation within 20 m of firebreaks and a minimum firebreak width of 8.0 m in grassland fuels. In stands of juniper, a canopy coverage of 25% or less is recommended. In Gambel oak stands along the northern boundary of the installation, a fuelbreak width of 60 m for secondary breaks (used for segmenting large areas of fuels) and 90 m for primary breaks (used for protecting urban development and valuable natural resources) is recommended.
Regional Population Structure of the European Eel at the Southern Limit of Its Distribution Revealed by Otolith Shape Signature
Authors: Moura Ana , Dias Ester , López Rodrigo , Antunes Carlos
Published: June 2022

Given the European eel population’s marked decrease since the 1980s, it has become urgent to collect information describing its regional population structure to improve management plans. The Minho River (NW-Portugal, SW-Europe) is an important basin for the eel at the southern limit of its distribution, but the species is poorly described. Thus, we aimed to study the structure of the European eel population in the Minho River using otolith shape analysis, which has proven to be effective in discriminating fish groups experiencing different environmental conditions through ontogeny. Our results showed complete discrimination between the two main types of habitats studied (tributaries and estuaries). Otoliths of eels from the estuary were rectangular and elliptic, whereas in the tributaries they presented a more round and circular form. Eels collected in both habitats were mostly yellow-stage eels with a similar age range, but the eels from the tributaries showed smaller length-at-age and lower body condition than those collected in the estuary. Additionally, the sex ratio was skewed towards males in the tributaries and females in the estuary. This study reveals that there are at least two distinct groups of eels in this basin, likely with different development characteristics.
Incorporation of Fructooligosaccharides in Diets Influence Growth Performance, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Expression of Intestinal Barrier Function Genes in Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Larvae
Authors: Pérez-Jiménez Graciela M. , Peña-Marín Emyr Saul , Maytorena-Verdugo Claudia I. , Sepúlveda-Quiroz Cesar Antonio , Jiménez-Martínez Luis Daniel , De la Rosa-García Susana , Asencio-Alcudia Gloria Gertrudys , Martínez Rafael , Tovar-Ramírez Dariel , Galaviz Mario A. , Martínez-Burguete Talhia , Alvarez-González Carlos A. , Alvarez-Villagomez Carina Shianya
Published: June 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on the growth, survival rate, digestive enzyms activity, and the expression of intestinal barrier function genes in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae. A total of 960 larvae (0.030 ± 0.006 g) were fed three diets supplemented with increasing FOS concentrations (2.5, 5, and 7.5 g kg−1) and a control diet for 15 days. Results revealed that a 7.5 g kg−1 FOS supplementation improved weight gain, specific growth rate, and survival rate (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 5 g kg−1 FOS supplementation increased alkaline protease and amylase activities and induced an upregulation of the claudin-17 gene expression (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the inclusion of 7.5 g kg−1 FOS induced the upregulation of mucin 2 (muc-2), and the tight junction genes zo-2 and claudin-3 (p < 0.05). In addition, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g kg−1 FOS promoted the downregulation of the claudin-15 gene expression (p < 0.05). At the same time, FOS inclusion did not increase the pro-inflammatory cytokine il-8 expression. We can conclude that 7.5 g kg−1 FOS supplementation improves growth performance, survival rate, and digestive capacity, and could contribute to the reinforcement of the intestinal barrier function of Tropical gar larvae.
Plasticizers and Salt Concentrations Effects on Polymer Gel Electrolytes Based on Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) for Electrochemical Applications
Authors: Rizzuto Carmen , Teeters Dale C. , Barberi Riccardo C. , Castriota Marco
Published: June 2022

This work describes the electrochemical properties of a type of PMMA-based gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The gel polymer electrolyte systems at a concentration of (20:80) % w/w were prepared from poly (methyl methacrylate), lithium perchlorate LiClO4 and single plasticizer propylene carbonate (PMMA-Li-PC) and a mixture of plasticizers made by propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate in molar ratio 1:1, (PMMA-Li-PC-EC). Different salt concentrations (0.1 M, 0.5 M, 1 M, 2 M) were studied. The effect of different plasticizers (single and mixed) on the properties of gel polymer electrolytes were considered. The variation of conductivity versus salt concentration, thermal properties using DSC and TGA, anodic stability and FTIR spectroscopy were used in this study. The maximum ionic conductivity of σ = 0.031 S/cm were obtained for PMMA-Li-PC-EC with a salt concentration equal to 1 M. Ion-pairing phenomena and all ion associations were observed between lithium cations, plasticizers and host polymers through FTIR spectroscopy. The anodic stability of the PMMA-based gel polymer electrolytes was recorded up to 4 V. The glass temperatures of these electrolytes were estimated. We found they were dependent on the plasticization effect of plasticizers on the polymer chains and the increase of the salt concentration. Unexpectedly, it was determined that an unreacted PMMA monomer was present in the system, which appears to enhance ion conduction. The presence and possibly the addition of a monomer may be a technique for increasing ion conduction in other gel systems that warrants further study.
Preharvest Foliar Applications of Citric Acid, Gibberellic Acid and Humic Acid Improve Growth and Fruit Quality of ‘Le Conte’ Pear (Pyrus communis L.)
Authors: Mosa Walid F. A. , Abd EL-Megeed Nagwa A. , Ali Muhammad Moaaz , Abada Hesham S. , Ali Hayssam M. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Sas-Paszt Lidia
Published: June 2022

A two-year (2020-21) study was conducted to investigate the possibility of relying of ten-years old pear trees grown on sandy loam soil irrigated by drip on citric acid (CA), gibberellic acid (GA3) and humic acid (HA). The CA was applied at the concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm, GA3 at 50, 100 and 150 ppm and HA at 3, 4 and 5%, whereas water spray was used as the control. The results of our study proved that CA, GA3 and HA improved the shoot length, shoot thickness, leaf area and leaf chlorophyll of pear as compared with the control. Moreover, they also positively increased the fruit set percentage and final yield of ‘Le Conte’ pear. The fruit weight, size and firmness were also improved under the influence of aforementioned treatments. The fruit soluble solids, total sugars, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus and leaf potassium of pear were also enhanced as compared with the control. Additionally, spraying of GA3 at 150 ppm, as well as, HA at 5 and 4% were the superior treatments and showed the most significant impact on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral content of pear. This study provides a basis for the future elucidation of HA-, GA3- and CA-modulated molecular mechanisms in pear, which can make a significant contribution in the scientific community.
Somatic Embryogenesis: A Tool for Fast and Reliable Virus and Viroid Elimination for Grapevine and other Plant Species
Authors: Olah Robert , Turcsan Mihaly , Olah Krisztina , Farkas Eszter , Deak Tamas , Jahnke Gizella , Sardy Diana Agnes Nyitraine
Published: June 2022

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a widely used technique in plant biotechnology, and it can be a possible tool for virus and viroid elimination. This review highlights the advantages and limitations of production of pathogen-free plants using somatic embryogenesis. Beside the well-known meristem cultures, chemotherapy, thermotherapy and cryotherapy, SE is a very effective virus and viroid elimination method. Production of virus- and viroid-free plants is categorized based on the latest virus taxonomy. The available information on virus and viroid spread in calli and the effect of SE on morphological and genetic stability of the regenerated plants are presented in details. A number of factors which could affect the efficiency of this technique are also pointed out. Based on the collected and analysed data, SE can be a useful option for virus and viroid elimination.
Production of Bacillus velezensis Strain GB1 as a Biocontrol Agent and Its Impact on Bemisia tabaci by Inducing Systemic Resistance in a Squash Plant
Authors: Soliman Ahmed , Matar Saleh , Abo-Zaid Gaber
Published: June 2022

Pests represent a huge problem in crop production causing significant losses. Currently, biocontrol is utilized as an eco-friendly approach for controlling pests and reducing the shortage in crop production. In the current study, the production of a biocontrol agent, which was identified based on sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene as Bacillusvelezensis strain GB1 with GenBank accession No. OM836750, was carried out in the stirred tank bioreactor using a batch fermentation process. For the first time, B. velezensis strain GB1 was tested as a biocontrol agent with soil drench application (109 cfu mL−1) for management of Bemisia tabaci and induction of squash plant systemic resistance under greenhouse conditions. β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activity were measured in squash leaves at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. The influence of B. velezensis strain GB1 on population density, fertility, and hatchability of B. tabaci on squash plants was studied. The batch fermentation process of B. velezensis strain GB1 maximized the production of secondary metabolites and culture biomass, which reached a maximum value of 3.8 g L−1 at 10.5 h with a yield coefficient of 0.65 g cells/g glucose. Treatment with B. velezensis strain GB1 induced squash plants to boost their levels of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase enzymes. On the other hand, B. velezensis strain GB1 could significantly reduce the mean number of the attracted B. tabaci on squash plants. Additionally, whiteflies laid a lower mean number of 2.28 eggs/female/day on squash plants inoculated with B. velezensis strain GB1 compared to control. The percentage of B. tabaci egg hatchability declined by 5.7% in the B. velezensis-inoculated squash plants.
Decreased Leaf Potassium Content Affects the Chemical Composition of Must for Sparkling Wine Production
Authors: Peršurić Palčić Ana , Jeromel Ana , Pecina Marija , Palčić Igor , Gluhić David , Petek Marko , Herak Ćustić Mirjana
Published: June 2022

The must used to make sparkling wine has a low pH value and moderate sugar content, and its potassium content can have a strong influence. An excess of potassium often leads to an insufficient supply of magnesium, since potassium has a strong antagonistic effect on magnesium, and, consequently, to poorer photosynthesis and a poorer quality of the must. The aim of this study was to determine whether the application of foliar fertilizers based on magnesium, phosphorus, and amino acids could reduce leaf potassium content, affecting the reductions in sugar content and pH value and increasing the total acidity of the must. A fertilizer trial with three replicates was conducted on the cultivar Istrian Malvasia (TCtrl—NPK, TMg—NPK + Agromag (6% MgO), TMgP—NPK + Agromag + Fosforo (30% P2O5) i TMgPBS—NPK + Agromag + Fosforo + Bio Prot) in a random complete block design. The NPK fertilizer was applied in the autumn. Foliar fertilization was applied three times during the growing season (31 May, 7 July, and 22 August 2014), and leaf samples were collected for leaf analysis before each application. The results show that foliar fertilization significantly reduced leaf potassium content, especially when treated with magnesium alone (treatment TMg). In addition, foliar fertilization significantly lowered the pH and increased the sugar content of the must. The results obtained in this research give a scientific contribution to the creation of fertilizer treatments for vines with a positive effect on the basic chemical composition of the base wine and provide a good basis for further research in reducing the use of certain enological practices during production.
Expert Demand for Consumer Sleep Technology Features and Wearable Devices: A Case Study
Authors: Devine Jaime K , Schwartz Lindsay P. , Choynowski Jake , Hursh Steven R
Published: June 2022

Global demand for sleep-tracking wearables, or consumer sleep technologies (CSTs), is steadily increasing. CST marketing campaigns often advertise the scientific merit of devices, but these claims may not align with consensus opinion from sleep research experts. Consensus opinion about CST features has not previously been established in a cohort of sleep researchers. This case study reports the results of the first survey of experts in real-world sleep research and a hypothetical purchase task (HPT) to establish economic valuation for devices with different features by price. Forty-six (N = 46) respondents with an average of 10 ± 6 years’ experience conducting research in real-world settings completed the online survey. Total sleep time was ranked as the most important measure of sleep, followed by objective sleep quality, while sleep architecture/depth and diagnostic information were ranked as least important. A total of 52% of experts preferred wrist-worn devices that could reliably determine sleep episodes as short as 20 min. The economic value was greater for hypothetical devices with a longer battery life. These data set a precedent for determining how scientific merit impacts the potential market value of a CST. This is the first known attempt to establish a consensus opinion or an economic valuation for scientifically desirable CST features and metrics using expert elicitation.
Epigenetics and Congenital Heart Diseases
Authors: Linglart Léa , Bonnet Damien
Published: June 2022

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a frequent occurrence, with a prevalence rate of almost 1% in the general population. However, the pathophysiology of the anomalous heart development is still unclear in most patients screened. A definitive genetic origin, be it single-point mutation or larger chromosomal disruptions, only explains about 35% of identified cases. The precisely choreographed embryology of the heart relies on timed activation of developmental molecular cascades, spatially and temporally regulated through epigenetic regulation: chromatin conformation, DNA priming through methylation patterns, and spatial accessibility to transcription factors. This multi-level regulatory network is eminently susceptible to outside disruption, resulting in faulty cardiac development. Similarly, the heart is unique in its dynamic development: growth is intrinsically related to mechanical stimulation, and disruption of the intrauterine environment will have a direct impact on fetal embryology. These two converging axes offer new areas of research to characterize the cardiac epigenetic regulation and identify points of fragility in order to counteract its teratogenic consequences.
Kidney Failure among Patients with Takotsubo Syndrome or Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Bill Verena , El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Kummer Marvin , Mügge Andreas , Aweimer Assem , Behnes Michael , Akin Ibrahim
Published: June 2022

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a syndrome with ambiguous pathophysiology. Impaired kidney function (KF) seems to impact the outcome of patients with TTS. We hypothesized that KF worsens the outcome among TTS patients and furthermore, TTS patients with concomitant KF experience more adverse events compared to myocardial infarction (MI) patients with concomitant KF. Methods and Results: This retrospective single-center study comprised two groups (cohorts) of patients including patients with TTS and concomitant KF (n = 61, 27.1%) and patients with MI and concomitant KF (n = 164, 72.9%). The clinical outcomes were delineated as short-term outcomes defined as in-hospital adverse events during index hospitalization and long-term outcomes defined as adverse events over five-year clinical follow-ups. All-cause mortality, stroke, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), life-threatening arrhythmias, need for respiratory support, and cardiogenic shock with subsequent use of inotropic agents during index hospitalization were denoted as in-hospital adverse events. All-cause mortality, rehospitalization due to heart failure, stroke, thromboembolic events, and the recurrence of primary pathology (TTS and MI) were analyzed during five-year follow-ups after index hospitalization. A higher mortality rate was noted among TTS patients with KF compared to TTS without KF. In addition, in-hospital event rates in patients with TTS and concomitant KF compared to MI and concomitant KF were comparable with the exception of a higher rate of respiratory support in TTS patients. The mortality rate was significantly higher among patients with TTS and KF at 4 years (29.5% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.02) and 5 years (34.4% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.03) in comparison to patients with MI and concomitant KF. In contrast, the rate of re-hospitalization related to heart failure was higher at 30 days, and at one-, four-, and five-year follow-ups in patients suffering from MI and KF compared to TTS and concomitant KF. Additionally, the recurrence of MI after 4 and 5 years was higher than the recurrence of TTS (4.9% vs. 15.2%; 4.9% vs. 16.5%). There were no differences in life-threatening arrhythmias and stroke in both groups. Conclusions: Patients with TTS and concomitant KF have higher all-cause mortality when compared to MI and concomitant KF. The mechanisms responsible remain to be determined.
Exercise and Nutrition Strategies for Combating Sarcopenia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults
Authors: Argyropoulou Dionysia , Geladas Nikolaos D. , Nomikos Tzortzis , Paschalis Vassilis
Published: June 2022

Medical and technology development have drastically the improved quality of life and, consequently, life expectancy. Nevertheless, the more people who enter the third-age, the more geriatric syndromes expand in the elderly. Sarcopenia and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common diseases among the elderly and the literature has extensively studied these two diseases separately. Recent evidence, however, revealed that there is a bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia and T2DM. The aims of the present review were: (1) to present diet and exercise interventions for the management of sarcopenia and T2DM and (2) identify which diet and exercise interventions can be used simultaneously in order to effectively deal with these two disorders. Exercise and a balanced diet are used as effective countermeasures for combating sarcopenia and T2DM in older adults based on their bidirectional relationship. Lifestyle changes such as exercise and a balanced diet seem to play an important role in the remission of the diseases. Results showed that chronic exercise can help towards glycemic regulation as well as decrease the incidence rate of muscle degradation, while diet interventions which focus on protein or amino acids seem to successfully treat both disorders. Despite the fact that there are limited studies that deal with both disorders, it seems that a combined exercise regime (aerobic and resistance) along with protein intake > 1gr/kg/d is the safest strategy to follow in order to manage sarcopenia and T2DM concurrently.
Fabrication of Black Body Grids by Thick Film Printing for Quantitative Neutron Imaging
Authors: Wissink Martin , Goldenberger Kirk , Ferguson Luke , Zhang Yuxuan , Bilheux Hassina , LaManna Jacob , Jacobson David , Kass Michael , Finney Charles , Willocks Jonathan
Published: June 2022

Neutron imaging offers deep penetration through many high-Z materials while also having high sensitivity to certain low-Z isotopes such as 1H, 6Li, and 10B. This unique combination of properties has made neutron imaging an attractive tool for a wide range of material science and engineering applications. However, measurements made by neutron imaging or tomography are generally qualitative in nature due to the inability of detectors to discriminate between neutrons which have been transmitted through the sample and neutrons which are scattered by the sample or within the detector. Recent works have demonstrated that deploying a grid of small black bodies (BBs) in front of the sample can allow for the scattered neutrons to be measured at the BB locations and subsequently subtracted from the total measured intensity to yield a quantitative transmission measurement. While this method can be very effective, factors such as the scale and composition of the sample, the beam divergence, and the resolution and construction of the detector may require optimization of the grid design to remove all measurement biases within a given experimental setup. Therefore, it is desirable to have a method by which BB grids may be rapidly and inexpensively produced such that they can easily be tailored to specific applications. In this work, we present a method for fabricating BB patterns by thick film printing of Gd2O3 and evaluate the performance with variation in feature size and number of print layers with cold and thermal neutrons.
Emerging Animal-Associated Fungal Diseases
Authors: Carpouron Julia Eva , de Hoog Sybren , Gentekaki Eleni , Hyde Kevin David
Published: June 2022

The Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI) estimates that fungal diseases kill around 150 people each hour, and yet they are globally overlooked and neglected. Histoplasma and Talaromyces, which are associated with wildlife, cause systemic infections that are often lethal in patients with impaired cellular immunity. Dermatophytes that cause outbreaks in human hosts are often associated with domesticated animals. Changes in human behavior have been identified as a main cause of the emergence of animal-associated fungal diseases in humans, sometimes caused by the disturbance of natural habitats. An understanding of ecology and the transmission modes of causative agents is therefore essential. Here, we focus on fungal diseases contracted from wildlife and domesticated animals, their habitats, feces and carcasses. We discuss some basic fungal lifestyles and the risk of transmission to humans and illustrate these with examples from emerging and established diseases.
Effect of the Essential Oils of Bursera morelensis and Lippia graveolens and Five Pure Compounds on the Mycelium, Spore Production, and Germination of Species of Fusarium
Authors: Medina-Romero Yoli Mariana , Rodriguez-Canales Mario , Rodriguez-Monroy Marco Aurelio , Hernandez-Hernandez Ana Bertha , Delgado-Buenrostro Norma Laura , Chirino Yolanda I. , Cruz-Sanchez Tonatiuh , Garcia-Tovar Carlos Gerardo , Canales-Martinez Maria Margarita
Published: June 2022

The genus Fusarium causes many diseases in economically important plants. Synthetic agents are used to control postharvest diseases caused by Fusarium, but the use of these synthetic agents generates several problems, making it necessary to develop new alternative pesticides. Essential oils can be used as a new control strategy. The essential oils of Bursera morelensis and Lippia graveolens have been shown to have potent antifungal activity against Fusarium. However, for the adequate management of diseases, as well as the optimization of the use of essential oils, it is necessary to know how essential oils act on the growth and reproduction of the fungus. In this study, the target of action of the essential oils of B. morelensis and L. graveolens and of the pure compounds present in the essential oils (carvacrol, p-cymene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, and Υ-terpinene) was determined by evaluating the effect on hyphal morphology, as well as on spore production and germination of three Fusarium species. In this work, carvacrol was found to be the compound that produced the highest inhibition of radial growth. Essential oils and pure compounds caused significant damage to hyphal morphology and affected spore production and germination of Fusarium species.
Pluteus insidiosus Complex, Four New Species Described and Pluteus reisneri Resurrected
Authors: Ševčíková Hana , Ferisin Giuliano , Malysheva Ekaterina , Justo Alfredo , Heilmann-Clausen Jacob , Horak Egon , Kalinina Lyudmila , Kaygusuz Oğuzhan , Knudsen Henning , Menolli Nelson , Moreau Pierre-Arthur , González Guillermo Muñoz , Saar Irja , Türkekul İbrahim , Dovana Francesco
Published: June 2022

We studied the taxonomy of Pluteus insidiosus and similar species using morphological and molecular (nrITS, TEF1-α) data, including a detailed study of the type collection of P. insidiosus. Based on our results, we recognize five species in this group: P. insidiosus sensu stricto and four other taxa: P. assimilatus; P. farensis; P. flavostipitatus; and P. pseudoinsidiosus; described here as new. All these taxa are distinct from each other based on molecular data, but some of them are semi-cryptic based on morphology and co-occur in the Palaearctic region. An additional molecular lineage, phylogenetically separates from the P. insidiosus complex, but with many morphological similarities, was recognized in the molecular phylogenies. Based on the revision of available type collections, the name Pluteus reisneri Velen., was adopted for this Clade. Pluteus reisneri was validly published in 1921, but it has barely been used since its original description. A modern epitype, with molecular data, was selected for P. reisneri.