bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the NHX gene family under salt stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L)
Authors: Sharma Pradeep , Mishra Shefali , Pandey Bharati , Singh Gyanendra
Published: December 2023

Salt stress affects plant growth and development, resulting in the loss of crop yield across the world, and sodium-proton antiporters (NHXs) are one of the genes known to promote salt tolerance in transgenic plants. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis and expression profile of NHX genes in wheat under salinity stress. We identified 30 TaNHX genes in wheat based on the Na+/H+ exchanger domain, with all genes containing an amiloride motif except one, a known for inhibiting Na+ ions in plants. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into three classes with subfamilies: 12 were localized in vacuoles, while 18 were in the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. Promoter analysis revealed stress-related cis-acting elements, indicating their potential role in abiotic stress tolerance. The non-synonymous (Ka)/synonymous (Ks) ratios highlighted that the majority of TaNHX genes experienced robust purifying selection throughout their evolutionary history. Transcriptomis data analysis and qRT-PCR demonstrated distinct expression patterns for TaNHX genes across various tissues when subjected to salt stress. Additionally, we predicted 20 different miRNA candidates targeting the identified TaNHX genes. Protein-protein interaction prediction revealed NHX6’s involvement in the SOS1 pathway, while NHX1 gene exhibit proton antiporter activity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were also conducted to examine the interactions of TaNHX1, TaNHX2, and TaNHX3. These results represent a significant advancement in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing Na+ transporters. This may also offer promising avenues for future studies aimed at unraveling the intricate details of their biological roles and applications.
Bacteria existing in pre-pollinated styles (silks) can defend the exposed male gamete fertilization channel of maize against an environmental Fusarium pathogen
Authors: Shrestha Anuja , Limay-Rios Victor , Brettingham Dylan J. L. , Raizada Manish N.
Published: December 2023

In flowering plants, fertilization requires exposing maternal style channels to the external environment to capture pollen and transmit its resident sperm nuclei to eggs. This results in progeny seed. However, environmental fungal pathogens invade developing seeds through the style. We hypothesized that prior to environmental exposure, style tissue already possesses bacteria that can protect styles and seed from such pathogens. We further hypothesized that farmers have been inadvertently selecting immature styles over many generations to have such bacteria. We tested these hypotheses in maize, a wind-pollinated crop, which has unusually long styles (silks) that are invaded by the economically-important fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg). Here, unpollinated silk-associated bacteria were cultured from a wild teosinte ancestor of maize and diverse maize landraces selected by indigenous farmers across the Americas, grown in a common Canadian field for one season. The bacteria were taxonomically classified using 16S rRNA sequencing. In total, 201 bacteria were cultured, spanning 29 genera, 63 species, and 62 unique OTUs, dominated by Pseudomonas, Pantoea and Microbacterium. These bacteria were tested for their ability to suppress Fg in vitro which identified 10 strains belonging to 6 species: Rouxiella badensis, Pantoea ananatis, Pantoea dispersa, Pseudomonas koreensis, Rahnella aquatilis, and Ewingella americana. Two anti-Fg strains were sprayed onto silks before/after Fg inoculation, resulting in ≤90% reductions in disease (Gibberella ear rot) and 70-100% reductions in associated mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) in progeny seeds. These strains also protected progeny seeds post-harvest. Confocal fluorescent imaging showed that one silk bacterium (Rouxiella AS112) colonized susceptible entry points of Fg on living silks including stigmatic trichomes, wounds, and epidermal surfaces where they formed thick biofilms. Post-infection, AS112 was associated with masses of dead Fg hyphae. These results suggest that the maize style (silk) is endowed with potent bacteria from the mother plant to protect itself and progeny from Fusarium. The evidence suggests this trait may have been selected by specific indigenous peoples, though this interpretation requires further study.
CRISPR-based resistance to grapevine virus A
Authors: Spencer Katarina P. , Burger Johan T. , Campa Manuela
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is an important fruit crop which contributes significantly to the agricultural sector worldwide. Grapevine viruses are widespread and cause serious diseases which impact the quality and quantity of crop yields. More than 80 viruses plague grapevine, with RNA viruses constituting the largest of these. A recent extension to the clustered regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) armory is the Cas13 effector, which exclusively targets single-strand RNA. CRISPR/Cas has been implemented as a defense mechanism in plants, against both DNA and RNA viruses, by being programmed to directly target and cleave the viral genomes. The efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas tool in plants is dependent on efficient delivery of its components into plant cells.

Methods

To this end, the aim of this study was to use the recent Cas13d variant from Ruminococcus flavefaciens (CasRx) to target the RNA virus, grapevine virus A (GVA). GVA naturally infects grapevine, but can infect the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana, making it a helpful model to study virus infection in grapevine. gRNAs were designed against the coat protein (CP) gene of GVA. N. benthamiana plants expressing CasRx were co-infiltrated with GVA, and with a tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-gRNA expression vector, harbouring a CP gRNA.

Results and discussion

Results indicated more consistent GVA reductions, specifically gRNA CP-T2, which demonstrated a significant negative correlation with GVA accumulation, as well as multiple gRNA co-infiltrations which similarly showed reduced GVA titre. By establishing a virus-targeting defense system in plants, efficient virus interference mechanisms can be established and applied to major crops, such as grapevine.
Moral injury: understanding Swedish veterans who are assessed but not diagnosed with PTSD
Authors: Grimell Jan
Published: December 2023

This article is based on an interview study of 24 Swedish veterans who experienced deteriorating mental health and increased suffering without meeting the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. With no clinical answers as to the cause of their deteriorating mental health, they have been thrown into a veteran’s health limbo. The analysis was based on an inductive logic. A key finding of the analysis was a kind of deep-seated permanent moral conflict that could be conceptualized as moral injury. Such an injury can give rise to intense guilt, shame, anxiety, anger, dejection, bitterness, identity issues and more. The results section of the article details five different yet for the sample representative cases of moral injury and their implications. The notion of moral injury is linked to Mead’s division of the self into an I and me, where me is the socially constructed part of the self that is charged with the morality of a group. Thus, a moral me played a key role in the development of moral injury. The conceptual apparatus illustrates a new way of understanding experiences that can create suffering and negatively impact a veteran’s mental health. Future research is encouraged that examines this topic, national designs for addressing moral injury, screening for moral injury, and methods for healing included.
Association of serum leptin and ghrelin levels with smoking status on body weight: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shaheen Nour , Shaheen Ahmed , Diab Rehab Adel , Saad Abdelrahman M. , Abdelwahab Omar Ahmed , Soliman Sama , Hefnawy Mahmoud Tarek , Ramadan Alaa , Meshref Mostafa , Nashwan Abdulqadir J.
Published: December 2023

Background and aims

Smoking cigarettes is a major global health problem that affects appetite and weight. The aim of this systematic review was to determine how smoking affected plasma leptin and ghrelin levels.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid was conducted using a well-established methodology to gather all related publications.

Results

A total of 40 studies were included in the analysis of 11,336 patients. The overall effect showed a with a mean difference (MD) of −1.92[95%CI; −2.63: −1.20] and p = 0.00001. Subgroup analysis by study design revealed significant differences as well, but with high heterogeneity within the subgroups (I2 of 82.3%). Subgroup by sex showed that there was a significant difference in mean difference between the smoking and non-smoking groups for males (MD = −5.75[95% CI; −8.73: −2.77], p = 0.0002) but not for females (MD = −3.04[95% CI; −6.6:0.54], p = 0.10). Healthy, pregnant, diabetic and CVD subgroups found significant differences in the healthy (MD = −1.74[95% CI; −03.13: −0.35], p = 0.01) and diabetic (MD = −7.69[95% CI, −1.64: −0.73], p = 0.03). subgroups, but not in the pregnant or cardiovascular disease subgroups. On the other hand, the meta-analysis found no statistically significant difference in Ghrelin serum concentration between smokers and non-smokers (MD = 0.52[95% CI, −0.60:1.63], p = 0.36) and observed heterogeneity in the studies (I2 = 68%).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a correlation between smoking and serum leptin/ghrelin levels, which explains smoking’s effect on body weight.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/ prospero/display_record.php, identifier (Record ID=326680).
Brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia with or without substance use disorder: an observational study
Authors: Lombardozzi Ginevra , Trovini Giada , Amici Emanuela , Kotzalidis Georgios D. , Perrini Filippo , Giovanetti Valeria , Di Giovanni Alessandro , De Filippis Sergio
Published: December 2023

Background

Partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists are used for psychotic symptoms in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Recently, interest surged for partial dopamine D2 receptor agonists in substance use disorders (SUDs). Since it is believed that SUDs decrease the efficacy of pharmacotherapy of underlying psychiatric disorders, we tested the efficacy of the partial D2 agonist brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia who were either comorbid with a SUD (SUD group) or not comorbid (non-SUD) to assess treatment response and the effect of brexpiprazole on substance craving in SUD.

Methods

We included patients with DSM-5/DSM-5-TR schizophrenia (using SCID-5-CV) aged 18–66 years with either comorbid SUD or non-SUD to treat with brexpiprazole 4 mg/day for 6 months during February–October 2022. Patients were assessed with the Clinical Global Impressions–Severity (CGI-S) scale, the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline, weekly for the first 2 months and monthly for the next four. Furthermore, we assessed substance craving in SUD with a visual analog scale for craving (VAScrav) at the same timepoints.

Results

The total sample was 86 (85 analysable) 18- to 64-year-old (mean 39.32 ± 14.09) patients with schizophrenia [51 men (59.3%) and 35 women (40.7%)], of whom 48 SUD (55.8%) (37 men and 11 women) and 38 non-SUD (44.2%) (14 men and 24 women). No serious or persistent adverse events developed over the study period, but one patient dropped out for subjective akathisia. Results indicated the main effects of time with improvements over the course of the study for CGI-S, BPRS, and PANSS in both SUD and non-SUD groups and the entire sample, and for VAScrav in SUD. Brexpiprazole was associated with similar significant improvements in both groups at the 6 month endpoint compared to baseline.

Conclusion

Treatment with brexpiprazole for 6 months improved psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, independently from whether they belonged to the SUD or the non-SUD group; hence, SUD comorbidity did not confer treatment resistance to brexpiprazole. Furthermore, in the SUD group, we observed reduced substance craving.
Willingness to vaccinate among adults, and factors associated with vaccine acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in a nationwide study in Poland between March 2021 and April 2022
Authors: Kotronia Eftychia , Rosinska Magdalena , Stepien Malgorzata , Czerwinski Michal , Sadkowska-Todys Malgorzata
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Despite the availability, safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, Poland remains one of the six countries of the European Union with the lowest cumulative uptake of the vaccine's primary course in the general population. This study examined willingness to vaccinate and the associated factors in samples of unvaccinated and vaccinated adults between March 2021 and April 2022.

Methods

Data were collected using OBSER-CO, a nationwide, repeated cross-sectional study, conducted at four different time points (rounds). Data on willingness to vaccinate among the unvaccinated (at all rounds) and willingness to receive another dose in the vaccinated (at 2 rounds-after booster introduction), reasons for reluctance, sociodemographic, health, and behavioral factors were collected using a uniform questionnaire via computer-assisted telephone interviewing. In each round, more than 20,000 respondents were interviewed. To assess associations between factors and willingness to vaccinate, separate multivariable logistic regression models were fitted for each factor at each round and adjusted for confounders.

Results

Between rounds 1 and 4 (March 2021–April 2022), in the unvaccinated, willingness to vaccinate declined from 73 to 12%, whereas in the vaccinated, willingness to receive another dose declined from 90 to 53%. The highest magnitude of decline between subsequent rounds occurred during the Omicron wave. Overall, concerns about side effects, effectiveness, and vaccine adverse effects were common but decreased over time. Age, gender, employment, place of residence, COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure, hospitalization, and participation in social activities were among the factors associated with willingness. However, associations changed over rounds highlighting the influence of different pandemic waves and variants.

Conclusion

We observed a declining and multifactorial willingness to vaccinate in Poland, with vaccine attitudes dynamically changing across subsequent rounds. To address vaccine concerns, sustained health communication about COVID-19 vaccines is essential, especially after the emergence of new variants.
Agricultural insurance and rural revitalization—an empirical analysis based on China’s provincial panel data
Authors: Zhou Chao , Liu Jia , Wan Shenwei , Zheng Hongling , Chen Song
Published: December 2023

Agricultural insurance is a kind of compensation insurance designed to provide protection for the economic losses caused by insured accidents suffered by agricultural producers in agricultural production. Rural revitalization refers to the strategy of improving the level of rural economic, social and cultural development and achieving coordinated and sustainable development of urban and rural development. Agricultural insurance can effectively diversify risks and reduce losses for agricultural producers, which plays an important role in stabilizing farmers’ income, helping rural economic development, and promoting rural revitalization. Based on the theoretical analysis of the mechanism of agricultural insurance on rural revitalization, this paper empirically studies the effect of agricultural insurance on rural revitalization by using panel data from various provinces in China from 2011 to 2020.1 In this paper, the TOPSIS entropy weight method, the system generalized method of moments (GMM) and the threshold model are used to calculate the actual development level of rural revitalization in each province of China, the promotion effect of agricultural insurance on the development level of rural revitalization and the promotion of rural revitalization in five dimensions, and whether there is a threshold effect of agricultural insurance on rural revitalization. The empirical results show that: (1) The level of rural revitalization in various provinces in China shows a dynamic trend of “overall slow rise, with obvious differences between provinces.” (2) Improving the development level of agricultural insurance can drive the improvement of China’s rural revitalization level, and every 1 unit increase in the development level of agricultural insurance will drive the level of China’s rural revitalization to increase by 0.1633 units. At the same time, the role of agricultural insurance on social etiquette and civility is not significant, and the role of the remaining four rural revitalization goals is significant. (3) Agricultural insurance has a significant effect on the level of rural revitalization in eastern provinces, but does not play a significant role in rural revitalization in central and western provinces. (4) The role of agricultural insurance on rural revitalization has a double threshold effect. Accordingly, this paper puts forward some suggestions for increasing the capital investment in agricultural insurance, innovating the new mode of agricultural insurance operation, promoting the in-depth development of agricultural insurance according to local conditions, and reasonably adjusting the capital investment of agricultural insurance. Finally, because the data used in this paper do not cover the entire process of rural revitalization and the research is mainly carried out from a macro perspective, there are still some shortcomings in this paper.
Physical activity modifies the association of the composite dietary antioxidant index with all-cause mortality in the US osteoarthritis population
Authors: Zhang Yiwei , Duan Zhengwei , Lu Hengli , Lu Guanghua , Fu Yuesong , Li Guodong , Wang Sen
Published: December 2023

Background

It remains unclear how antioxidant intake affects all-cause mortality in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In this prospective cohort study, we aim to explore the association of the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) with all-cause mortality and investigate the interaction of physical activity (PA) and CDAI on all-cause mortality in OA populations.

Methods

A total of 3,197 adults with OA in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2018 were included in this study. Death outcomes were obtained from National Death Index (NDI) records. Multivariable Cox regression analyses with cubic spines were applied to estimate the association of CDAI with all-cause mortality. The interaction between CDAI and PA on all-cause mortality was further assessed in stratified analysis and interaction tests.

Results

The hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were 0.95 (0.77–1.17) for Q2, 0.75 (0.59–0.97) for Q3, and 0.71 (0.55–0.92) for Q4 (P for trend <0.001), compared with the lowest quartile of CDAI. A negative linear association was found between CDAI and all-cause mortality. In the stratified analyses, CDAI was negatively associated with all-cause mortality in the insufficient PA group. While in the low and sufficient PA group, there were nonlinear relationships of CDAI with all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

A negative linear relationship was observed between CDAI and all-cause mortality in OA patients, and this association was significantly modified by PA. Higher intake of dietary antioxidants might be the interventional objective to reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in the US OA population.
Chicken caecal enterotypes in indigenous Kadaknath and commercial Cobb chicken lines are associated with Campylobacter abundance and influenced by farming practices
Authors: Hay Melanie C. , Hinsu Ankit T. , Koringa Prakash G. , Pandit Ramesh J. , Liu Po-Yu , Parekh Mithil J. , Jakhesara Subhash J. , Dai Xiaoxai , Crotta Matteo , Fosso Bruno , Limon Georgina , Guitian Javier , Tomley Fiona M. , Xia Dong , Psifidi Androniki , Joshi Chaitanya G. , Blake Damer P.
Published: December 2023

Identifying farming practices that decrease susceptibility to infectious diseases and optimise food conversion efficiency is valuable for chicken welfare and productivity, the environment, and public health. Enterotypes can be used to define microbial community phenotypes that have differential, potentially significant impacts on gut health. In this study, we delineated enterotypes by analysing the microbiomes of 300 indigenous Kadaknath and 300 commercial Cobb400 broiler chickens raised across 60 farms in western India. Using a compositional data approach, we identified three distinct enterotypes: PA1 (n=290), PA2 (n=142) and PA3 (n=67). PA1 and PA2 clustered more closely with each other than with PA3, however, PA2 had significantly lower alpha diversity than PA1. PA1 had a high Firmicutes: Bacteroides ratio, was dominated by Faecalibacterium and had a higher abundance of Prevotellamassilia than other enterotypes. PA2 was characterised by its low alpha diversity, a high abundance of the common taxa Phascolarctobacterium A and Phocaeicola dorei and a significantly higher Campylobacter abundance than PA1. PA3 had the highest Bacteroidota abundance of the three enterotypes and was defined by high prevalence of lower abundance taxa such as CAG-831 and Mucispirillum schaedleri. Network analysis showed that all enterotypes have different proportions of competing Firmicutes-dominant and Bacteroidota-dominant guilds. Random Forest Modelling using defined farm characteristics was predictive for enterotype. Factors affecting enterotype include whether farms were open, enclosed or caged, the location of farms, whether visitors were allowed inside, the number of people in contact with the chickens, chicken line, the presence of dogs and whether flock thinning took place. This study suggests that enterotypes are influenced by farming practices, hence modification of practices could potentially be used to reduce the burden of zoonotic pathogens such as Campylobacter.
A figurational approach to environmental sustainability in the context of sport
Authors: Cain Alison
Published: December 2023

Discourses around environmental sustainability and climate change are increasingly prominent in the sports sector, with a growing range of sports organisations developing policies to address these issues. This paper contends that figurational (or process) sociology can offer a useful framework for examining the development of policy as a process in the context of sport and, specifically, mega-events. The Olympic Games serve as an example for purposes of contextualisation, illustrating four interconnected dimensions of figurational sociology: lengthening chains of interdependence, established-outsider power relations, internalisation of social values, and unintended consequences. Further, the paper seeks to highlight the utility of a figurational perspective particularly when this is enhanced through the integration of complementary concepts, namely knowledge transfer, isomorphism, and diffusion of innovations. Thus, it is asserted that a blended figurational approach can help facilitate understanding of interdependencies and dynamic power relations across expanded stakeholder networks in relation to sports mega-events. Finally, the paper touches on the relevance of sport in relation to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the need for policy coherence that is arguably unachievable without the understanding of stakeholder interdependencies and power relationships a figurational lens enables. Such understanding is therefore considered to be important as a foundation for the enactment of meaningful policy in the fight against climate change.
Assessment of the Dynamic Range of Magnetorheological Gradient Pinch-Mode Prototype Valves
Authors: Žáček Jiří , Goldasz Janusz , Sapinski Bogdan , Sedlačík Michal , Strecker Zbyněk , Kubík Michal
Published: December 2023

Magnetorheological (MR) fluids have been known to react to magnetic fields of sufficient magnitudes. While in the presence of the field, the material develops a yield stress. The tunable property has made it attractive in, e.g., semi-active damper applications in the vibration control domain in particular. Within the context of a given application, MR fluids can be exploited in at least one of the fundamental operating modes (flow, shear, squeeze, or gradient pinch mode) of which the gradient pinch mode has been the least explored. Contrary to the other operating modes, the MR fluid volume in the flow channel is exposed to a non-uniform magnetic field in such a way that a Venturi-like contraction is developed in a flow channel solely by means of a solidified material in the regions near the walls rather than the mechanically driven changes in the channel’s geometry. The pinch-mode rheology of the material has made it a potential candidate for developing a new category of MR valves. By convention, a pinch-mode valve features a single flow channel with poles over which a non-uniform magnetic field is induced. In this study, the authors examine ways of extending the dynamic range of pinch-mode valves by employing a number of such arrangements (stages) in series. To accomplish this, the authors developed a prototype of a multi-stage (three-stage) valve, and then compared its performance against that of a single-stage valve across a wide range of hydraulic and magnetic stimuli. To summarize, improvements of the pinch-mode valve dynamic range are evident; however, at the same time, it is hampered by the presence of serial air gaps in the flow channel.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Glutaredoxin Family Genes in Common Wheat
Authors: He Xiaoyan , Chen Weiyue , Sun Xingcai , Gao Yu , He Yaru , Xu Xintong , Su Congjun , Lv Yifan , Ren Boyu , Yin Huayan , Zeng Jianbin , Ma Wujun , Mu Ping
Published: December 2023

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are small-molecular-weight proteins present in a wide range of organisms, and they play a key role in maintaining the redox homeostasis of cells. Most studies on GRXs are conducted in animals and humans, and those conducted on plants are scarce. The number and types of GRX genes vary in different plants. According to the active sites, the GRX family can be further divided into the CPYC, CGFS, and CC subfamilies. The CPYC and CGFS subfamilies are present in eukaryotes. The CC subfamily is exclusively present in higher plants and has the highest number of genes. In this study, 85 GRX genes were identified in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a bioinformatic method, wherein 12, 9, and 64 belonged to the CPYC, CGFS, and CC subfamilies, respectively. All TaGRX genes were homogeneously distributed in the three subgenomes of wheat. The gene structure analysis revealed that TaGRX members had 1–7 introns. The conserved motif analysis revealed that members of the same TaGRX subfamily had similar motifs. An analysis of cis-regulatory elements of promoters demonstrated that most TaGRX members had auxin-responsive elements; cis-regulatory elements, such as methyl jasmonate (MeJA), MYB, and abscisic acid (ABA), were distributed in all subfamilies, and the cell-cycle regulation element was only observed in the CC and CPYC subfamily members. Additionally, the synteny of the GRX genes in wheat, in wheat and Arabidopsis, and in wheat and barley was analyzed to clarify the evolutionary correlation of TaGRXs. The expression characteristics of TaGRXs were investigated, and TaGRX expression in various tissues and its responses to different abiotic stresses were preliminarily determined. This study provides a reference for the functional analysis of TaGRXs and understanding their role in molecular breeding of wheat.
Effects of Phytase Source and Dose on Its Stability during Pelleting Process under Different Conditioning Temperatures
Authors: Wang Yuming , Zhao Feng , Zhang Hu , Zhang Qianyun , Zhao Wei , Sa Renna , Xie Jingjing
Published: December 2023

Phytase activity can be impaired during pelleting because of extreme thermal conditions. This study investigated the effects of dose and source of phytase on phytase activity during the conditioning, pelleting, and cooling process. A split-plot design was used in two experiments, with five phytase doses (Exp. 1; 7560, 14310, 33830, 43590 and 61500 FTU/kg) or eight phytase sources (Exp. 2) as the main plot and steam conditioning temperatures (Exp. 1 and 2; 75 and 85 °C) as the subplot. Each treatment processed four batches, one batch per replicate. The results of Exp. 1 showed phytase dose in diets had no effect (p > 0.05) on the recovery rate of phytase activity after the conditioning, pelleting, or cooling process. The recovery rate of phytase activity in each process was higher (p < 0.05) at 75 °C than that at 85 °C for both Exp. 1 and 2. The phytase source significantly affected (p < 0.05) the recovery rate of phytase activity and had varied appearances of structure. In conclusion, the structure, phytase activity, and phytase recovery after steam conditioning–pelleting significantly varied across sources, but the stability of phytase was not affected by dose.
Shotgun Metagenomics-Guided Prediction Reveals the Metal Tolerance and Antibiotic Resistance of Microbes in Poly-Extreme Environments in the Danakil Depression, Afar Region
Authors: Balcha Ermias Sissay , Gómez Felipe , Gemeda Mesfin Tafesse , Bekele Fanuel Belayneh , Abera Sewunet , Cavalazzi Barbara , Woldesemayat Adugna Abdi
Published: December 2023

The occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental microorganisms, particularly in poly-extremophilic bacteria, remain underexplored and have received limited attention. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in shotgun metagenome sequences obtained from water and salt crust samples collected from Lake Afdera and the Assale salt plain in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia. Potential ARGs were characterized by the comprehensive antibiotic research database (CARD), while MRGs were identified by using BacMetScan V.1.0. A total of 81 ARGs and 39 MRGs were identified at the sampling sites. We found a copA resistance gene for copper and the β-lactam encoding resistance genes were the most abundant the MRG and ARG in the study area. The abundance of MRGs is positively correlated with mercury (Hg) concentration, highlighting the importance of Hg in the selection of MRGs. Significant correlations also exist between heavy metals, Zn and Cd, and ARGs, which suggests that MRGs and ARGs can be co-selected in the environment contaminated by heavy metals. A network analysis revealed that MRGs formed a complex network with ARGs, primarily associated with β-lactams, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. This suggests potential co-selection mechanisms, posing concerns for both public health and ecological balance.
Infinite Series Based on Bessel Zeros
Authors: Urbanowicz Kamil
Published: December 2023

An interesting series based on Bessel function roots (zeros) is discussed and numerically analyzed. The novel-derived simplified general solutions are based on Lommel polynomials. This kind of series can have a large practical use in many scientific areas, such as solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electronics, physics, etc. Some practical examples connected with fluid mechanics are provided in this paper. The errors in Afanasiev solutions are corrected. In addition, the main solution for the series analyzed by Baricz and Angel is presented.
Multiport Energy Management System Design for a 150 kW Range-Extended Towing Vessel
Authors: Zhu Yachao , Wang Hao , Liu Yuanyang , Lei Gang , Zhu Jianguo
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes a multiport energy management system (EMS) and its rule-based expert control strategy for a 150 kW range-extended towing vessel (RETV). The system integrates a diesel generator system, a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a lithium battery, and supercapacitors. To verify its feasibility and effectiveness, the proposed multiport EMS was modelled and tested through MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation results demonstrate that the designed multiport EMS works efficiently under the five typical operating conditions of the 150 kW RETV. In addition, two case studies were conducted and compared to investigate the impact of the battery’s initial state of charge (SoC) on the system’s energy efficiency. It was found that an overall 85% energy efficiency can be achieved for the RETV when the initial SoC is either 75% or 15%. The battery consistently operates within the optimal SoC range of 20% to 80%, and the supercapacitors effectively meet the instantaneous high-power demand.
Supporting Structure of Steel Corrugated Plate-Mold Bag Concrete and Its Application in a Circular Shaft
Authors: Li Pengfei , Wang Shuo , Zhang Mingju , Huang Zhengdong
Published: December 2023

To cater to the problems of a poor working environment, a large amount of rebound, and the high energy consumption of sprayed concrete in tunnel engineering, this paper proposes a new support scheme with a steel corrugated plate combined with mold bag concrete. Analytical solutions of stresses for steel corrugated plate and mold bag concrete were deduced based on the thin-walled cylinder, and then their strength safety factors were presented. Subsequently, a series of numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the mechanical performance of the third ring of the main structure based on the ‘load-structure’ 3D model. The numerical results were verified using the classical theoretical analysis and the proposed model, and then parametric studies were performed through the numerical method. Finally, field tests in a circular shaft were carried out to verify the feasibility of the structure and process and the engineering effect. The results show that the combination of steel corrugated plate and mold bag concrete is feasible and can realize rapid support technology for underground engineering, which provides a new idea for the supporting technology of underground engineering such as tunnels.
Optical Behavior of an Enhanced Monofocal Intraocular Lens Compared with a Standard One
Authors: García-Montero María , Garzón Nuria , Gonzalez-Fernandez Veronica , Gómez-Pedrero José Antonio , Albarrán-Diego César
Published: December 2023

The aim of this work was to compare an enhanced monofocal (RayOne EMV RAO200E, Rayner) and standard monofocal (RayOne RAO600C Aspheric, Rayner) intraocular lenses (IOLs) for three nominal powers (+10.00 D, +20.00 D and +30.00 D) as a function of the optical aperture diameter (pupil diameter) using a commercial Schlieren phase-shifting deflectometer NIMO TR1504 (Lambda-X, Belgium). From the wavefront maps measured by this instrument, the radial power profiles, the spherical aberration coefficients of the Zernike polynomial expansion (as a function of the optical aperture radius), and the root-mean-square (RMS) of the high-order aberrations (HOAs) were obtained and analyzed by comparing the two models. The results showed that the effective added power that could be obtained with the enhanced model depended directly on the pupil size and the power of the IOL implanted. The higher additions were achieved with the higher nominal IOL powers. The relationship between the pupil diameter, the corneal aberration of the patients and the power profile of these IOLs could have a crucial implication on the far distance and the final effective addition. However, it is important to note that these findings should be clinically validated through the implantation of these models in patients’ lenses.
Wear Characteristics of (Al/B4C and Al/TiC) Nanocomposites Synthesized via Powder Metallurgy Method
Authors: Hasan Lamyaa Khaleel , Jiaad Suaad Makki , Salman Khansaa Dawood , Al-Maliki Wisam Abed Kattea , Alobaid Falah , Epple Bernd
Published: December 2023

Objective: The aim of the present work is to study the microstructure, wear behavior, physical properties, and micro-hardness of the aluminum matrix AA6061 reinforced with TiC and B4C nanoparticles with different concentrations of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 wt.%. Methodology: Al/B4C and Al/TiC nanocomposites were fabricated with a powder metallurgy route. A dry sliding wear test was performed with a pin-on-disc machine. The wear test was performed at the applied loads of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 N at a constant time for about 10 min. The microstructural analysis of the fabricated nanocomposites was examined via field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The obtained data: The results of this work show that increasing the applied load leads to a decrease in the wear rate of the aluminum matrix and its nanocomposites. The wear rate of the aluminum matrix without any additives is about 7.25 × 10−7 (g/cm), while for Al/TiC and Al/B4C, it is 5.1 × 10−7 (g/cm) and 4.21 × 10−7 (g/cm), respectively. An increment in B4C percent increases the actual density, while an increment in TiC percent minimizes the actual density at 2.90 g/cm3 and 2.51 g/cm3, respectively. An increment in B4C percent decreases by 4.61%, while the porosity slightly increases with increases in TiC percent of 6.2%. Finally, the micro-hardness for Al/B4C is about 92 (HRC), and for Al/TiC, it is about 87.4 (HRC). Originality: In the present work, nanocomposites were fabricated using a powder metallurgy route. Fabricated nanocomposites are important in engineering industries owing to their excellent wear resistance, low thermal distortion, and light weight compared with other nanocomposites. On the other hand, Al/B4C and Al/TiC nanocomposites fabricated with a powder metallurgy route have not previously been investigated in a comparative study. Therefore, an investigation into these nanocomposites was performed.
Development of Adaptive Control System for Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Beliaev Vladimir , Kunicina Nadezhda , Ziravecka Anastasija , Bisenieks Martins , Grants Roberts , Patlins Antons
Published: December 2023

This article represents and compares two control systems for a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): a sliding proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller and an adaptive L1 controller. The goal is to design a high-performing and stable control system for a specific VTOL drone. The mathematical model of the unique VTOL drone is presented as a control object. The sliding PID and adaptive L1 controllers are then developed and simulated, and their performance is compared. Simulation results demonstrate that both control systems achieve stable and accurate flight of the VTOL drone, but the adaptive L1 controller outperforms the sliding PID controller in terms of robustness and adaptation to changing conditions. This research contributes to ongoing work on adaptive control systems for VTOL UAVs and highlights the potential benefits of using L1 adaptive control for this application.
Design and Dynamic Simulation Verification of an On-Orbit Operation-Based Modular Space Robot
Authors: Yang Dong , Yue Xiaokui , Guo Ming
Published: December 2023

Space robots have been playing an important role in space on-orbit operation missions. However, the traditional configuration of space robots only has a single function and cannot meet the requirements of different space missions, and the launch cost of space robots is very high. Thus, the reconfigurable modular space robot system that can carry multiple loads and own mission adaptability is of great significance. Based on the analysis of a robot space mission, combined with the existing reconfigurable robots, this paper develops a configuration design scheme for a modular reconfigurable space robot, and carries out the prototype design. According to the configuration characteristics of the module, the dynamic modeling of the space robot is based on the graph theory analysis and principle of virtual work. Related application scenarios are set up. Function and feasibility of the dynamic modeling methods are verified through assembly experimentation and dynamic simulation.
Sentiment Analysis of Students’ Feedback on E-Learning Using a Hybrid Fuzzy Model
Authors: Alzaid Maryam , Fkih Fethi
Published: December 2023

It is crucial to analyze opinions about the significant shift in education systems around the world, because of the widespread use of e-learning, to gain insight into the state of education today. A particular focus should be placed on the feedback from students regarding the profound changes they experience when using e-learning. In this paper, we propose a model that combines fuzzy logic with bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) for the sentiment analysis of students’ textual feedback on e-learning. We obtained this feedback from students’ tweets expressing their opinions about e-learning. There were some ambiguous characteristics in terms of the writing style and language used in the collected feedback. It was written informally and not in adherence to standardized Arabic language writing rules by using the Saudi dialects. The proposed model benefits from the capabilities of the deep neural network BiLSTM to learn and also from the ability of fuzzy logic to handle uncertainties. The proposed models were evaluated using the appropriate evaluation metrics: accuracy, F1-score, precision, and recall. The results showed the effectiveness of our proposed model and that it worked well for analyzing opinions obtained from Arabic texts written in Saudi dialects. The proposed model outperformed the compared models by obtaining an accuracy of 86% and an F1-score of 85%.
Speed Optimization in DEVS-Based Simulations: A Memoization Approach
Authors: Kwon Bo Seung , Han Young Shin , Lee Jong Sik
Published: December 2023

The DEVS model, designed for general discrete event simulation, explores the event status and time advance of all DEVS atomic models deployed at the time of the simulation, and then performs the scheduled simulation step. Each simulation step is accompanied by a re-exploration the event status and time advance, which is needed for maintaining the casual order of the entire model. It is time consuming to simulate a large-scale DEVS model. In a similar vein, attempts to perform an HDL simulation in a DEVS space increase simulation costs by incurring repeated search costs for model transitions. In this study, we performed a statistical analysis of engine behavior to improve simulation speed and we proposed a DP-based memoization technique for the coupled model. Through our method, we can expect significant performance improvements that range statistically from 7.4 to 11.7 times.
Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Rhabdomyosarcoma Therapy In Vitro: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mesas Cristina , Segura Beatriz , Perazzoli Gloria , Chico Maria Angeles , Moreno Javier , Doello Kevin , Prados Jose , Melguizo Consolación
Published: December 2023

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, constitutes approximately 40% of all recorded soft tissue tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis, with survival rates of less than 20% at 3 years. The development of resistance to cytotoxic drugs is a primary contributor to therapeutic failure. Consequently, the exploration of new therapeutic strategies is of vital importance. The potential use of plant extracts and their bioactive compounds emerges as a complementary treatment for this type of cancer. This systematic review focuses on research related to plant extracts or isolated bioactive compounds exhibiting antitumor activity against RMS cells. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and WOS. A total of 173 articles published to date were identified, although only 40 were finally included to meet the inclusion criteria. Furthermore, many of these compounds are readily available and have reduced cytotoxicity, showing an apoptosis-mediated mechanism of action to induce tumor cell death. Interestingly, their use combined with chemotherapy or loaded with nanoparticles achieves better results by reducing toxicity and/or facilitating entry into tumor cells. Future in vivo studies will be necessary to verify the utility of these natural compounds as a therapeutic tool for RMS.
Self-Improved Learning for Salient Object Detection
Authors: Li Songyuan , Zeng Hao , Wang Huanyu , Li Xi
Published: December 2023

Salient Object Detection (SOD) aims at identifying the most visually distinctive objects in a scene. However, learning a mapping directly from a raw image to its corresponding saliency map is still challenging. First, the binary annotations of SOD impede the model from learning the mapping smoothly. Second, the annotator’s preference introduces noisy labeling in the SOD datasets. Motivated by these, we propose a novel learning framework which consists of the Self-Improvement Training (SIT) strategy and the Augmentation-based Consistent Learning (ACL) scheme. SIT aims at reducing the learning difficulty, which provides smooth labels and improves the SOD model in a momentum-updating manner. Meanwhile, ACL focuses on improving the robustness of models by regularizing the consistency between raw images and their corresponding augmented images. Extensive experiments on five challenging benchmark datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework can play a plug-and-play role in various existing state-of-the-art SOD methods and improve their performances on multiple benchmarks without any architecture modification.
Effect of Loading Frequency on the Fatigue Response of Adhesive Joints up to the VHCF Range
Authors: Pederbelli Davide , Goglio Luca , Paolino Davide , Rossetto Massimo , Tridello Andrea
Published: December 2023

Modern structures are designed to withstand in-service loads over a broad frequency spectrum. Nonetheless, mechanical properties in numerical codes are assumed to be frequency-independent to simplify calculations or due to a lack of experimental data, and this approach could lead to overdesign or failures. This study aims to quantify the frequency effects in the fatigue applications of a bi-material adhesive joint through analytical, numerical, and experimental procedures. Analytical and finite element models allowed the specimen design, whereas the frequency effects were investigated through a conventional servo-hydraulic apparatus at 5, 25, and 50 Hz and with an ultrasonic fatigue testing machine at 20 kHz. Experimentally, the fatigue life increases with the applied test frequency. Run-out stress data at 109 cycles follow the same trend: at 25 Hz and 50 Hz, the run-out data were found at 10 MPa, increasing to 15 MPa at 20 kHz. The P–S–N curves showed that frequency effects have a minor impact on the experimental variability and that standard deviation values lie in the range of 0.3038–0.7691 between 5 Hz and 20 kHz. Finally, the trend of fatigue strengths at 2·106 cycles with the applied loading frequency for selected probability levels was estimated.