bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefits of combined exercise training on arterial stiffness and blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats treated or not with dexamethasone
Authors: Tardelli Lidieli P. , Duchatsch Francine , Herrera Naiara A. , Ruiz Thalles Fernando R. , Pagan Luana U. , Vicentini Carlos A. , Okoshi Katashi , Amaral Sandra L.
Published: August 2022

Dexamethasone (DEX)-induced arterial stiffness is an important side-effect, associated with hypertension and future cardiovascular events, which can be counteracted by exercise training. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanisms induced by combined training to attenuate arterial stiffness and hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats treated or not with dexamethasone. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) underwent combined training for 74 days and were treated with dexamethasone (50 µg/kg s. c.) or saline solution during the last 14 days. Wistar rats were used as controls. Echocardiographic parameters, blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), as well as histological analyses of the heart and aorta, carotid and femoral arteries were performed. At the beginning, SHR had higher BP and PWV compared with Wistar rats. After 60 days, while BP increased in sedentary SHR, combined exercise training decreased BP and PWV. After 74d, the higher BP and PWV of sedentary SHR was accompanied by autonomic imbalance to the heart, cardiac remodeling, and higher arterial collagen deposition. DEX treatment did not change these parameters. On the other hand, trained SHR had reduced BP and PWV, which was associated with better autonomic balance to the heart, reduced myocardial collagen deposition, as well as lower arterial collagen deposition. The results of this study suggest that combined training, through the reduction of aortic collagen deposition, is an important strategy to reduce arterial stiffness in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and these lower responses were maintained regardless of dexamethasone treatment.
Characterization of NAC transcription factor NtNAC028 as a regulator of leaf senescence and stress responses
Authors: Wen Lichao , Liu Tao , Deng Zhichao , Zhang Zenglin , Wang Qi , Wang Weifeng , Li Wei , Guo Yongfeng
Published: August 2022

NAC proteins constitute one of the largest transcription factor families and are involved in regulation of plant development and stress responses. Our previous transcriptome analyses of tobacco revealed a significant increase in the expression of NtNAC028 during leaf yellowing. In this study, we found that NtNAC028 was rapidly upregulated in response to high salinity, dehydration, and abscisic acid (ABA) stresses, suggesting a vital role of this gene in abiotic stress response. NtNAC028 loss-of-function tobacco plants generated via CRISPR-Cas9 showed delayed leaf senescence and increased tolerance to drought and salt stresses. Meanwhile NtNAC028 overexpression led to precocious leaf senescence and hypersensitivity to abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis, indicating that NtNAC028 functions as a positive regulator of natural leaf senescence and a negative regulator of stress tolerance. Furthermore, NtNAC028-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants showed lower antioxidant enzyme activities, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS), and H2O2 accumulation under high salinity, resulted in more severe oxidative damage after salt stress treatments. On the other hand, NtNAC028 mutation in tobacco resulted in upregulated expression of ROS-scavenging and abiotic stress-related genes, higher antioxidant enzyme activities, and enhanced tolerance against abiotic stresses, suggesting that NtNAC028 might act as a vital regulator for plant stress response likely by mediating ROS scavenging ability. Collectively, our results indicated that the NtNAC028 plays a key regulatory role in leaf senescence and response to multiple abiotic stresses.
Joint control of seasonal timing and plant function types on drought responses of soil respiration in a semiarid grassland
Authors: Qian Ruyan , Hao Yanbin , Li Linfeng , Zheng Zhenzhen , Wen Fuqi , Cui Xiaoyong , Wang Yanfen , Zhao Tong , Tang Ziyang , Du Jianqing , Xue Kai
Published: August 2022

Globally, droughts are the most widespread climate factor impacting carbon (C) cycling. However, as the second-largest terrestrial C flux, the responses of soil respiration (Rs) to extreme droughts co-regulated by seasonal timing and PFT (plant functional type) are still not well understood. Here, a manipulative extreme-duration drought experiment (consecutive 30 days without rainfall) was designed to address the importance of drought timing (early-, mid-, or late growing season) for Rs and its components (heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra)) under three PFT treatments (two graminoids, two shrubs, and their combination). The results suggested that regardless of PFT, the mid-drought had the greatest negative effects while early-drought overall had little effect on Rh and its dominated Rs. However, PFT treatments had significant effects on Rh and Rs in response to the late drought, which was PFT-dependence: reduction in shrubs and combination but not in graminoids. Path analysis suggested that the decrease in Rs and Rh under droughts was through low soil water content induced reduction in MBC and GPP. These findings demonstrate that responses of Rs to droughts depend on seasonal timing and communities. Future droughts with different seasonal timing and induced shifts in plant structure would bring large uncertainty in predicting C dynamics under climate changes.
The molecular mechanism on suppression of climacteric fruit ripening with postharvest wax coating treatment via transcriptome
Authors: Si Yajing , Lv Tianxing , Li Hongjian , Liu Jiaojiao , Sun Jiamao , Mu Zhaohui , Qiao Junling , Bu Haidong , Yuan Hui , Wang Aide
Published: August 2022

Wax coating is an important means to maintain fruit quality and extend fruit shelf life, especially for climacteric fruits, such as apples (Malus domestica). Here, we found that wax coating could inhibit ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation, and carotenoid synthesis, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The regulatory mechanism of wax coating on apple fruit ripening was determined by subjecting wax-treated apple fruits to transcriptome analysis. RNA-seq revealed that 1,137 and 1,398 genes were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were shown to be related to plant hormones, such as ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin, as well as genes involved in chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis. Moreover, we found that some genes related to the wax synthesis process also showed differential expression after the wax coating treatment. Among the DEGs obtained from RNA-seq analysis, 15 were validated by quantitative RT-PCR, confirming the results from RNA-seq analysis. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR of pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) showed similar changes after wax treatment. Our data suggest that wax coating treatment inhibits fruit ripening through ethylene synthesis and signal transduction, chlorophyll metabolism, and carotenoid synthesis pathways and that waxing inhibits endogenous wax production. These results provide new insights into the inhibition of fruit ripening by wax coating.
Physiological stress reactivity and recovery: Some laboratory results transfer to daily life
Authors: Bamert Melanie , Inauen Jennifer
Published: August 2022

Stress is a prevalent theme in our daily lives and is related to numerous negative health outcomes. Laboratory research has studied the physiological stress response extensively with objective measures such as vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV). Recently, the vagal tank theory emerged as a promising approach to predicting adaptive vmHRV levels around stressful events. This study aimed to investigate whether the predictions of the vagal tank theory about vmHRV during stress reactivity and recovery translate into naturalistic stressful events in daily life. Sixty-seven students wore an EcgMove 4 sensor for 4 days to measure vmHRV. Through a combination of device-based and self-report assessment, vmHRV data were segmented into before, during, and after stressful events. VmHRV segments were analyzed with multilevel modeling, accounting for physiological and psychological covariates. VmHRV before stressful events predicted more adaptive vmHRV during the event but not vmHRV recovery afterwards. The results therefore partially support the vagal tank theory's predictions with data from daily life and allow recommendations for future studies of real-world stress reactivity and recovery. The value of intraindividual variations in vmHRV as predictors of adaptive stress response is underscored by these findings and could inform future interventions that seek to increase momentary vmHRV.
Perceived stress and life satisfaction among elderly migrants in China: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Hou Yanjie , Yan Shiyuan , Zhang Lin , Wang Hao , Deng Ruyue , Zhang Wenjing , Yao Jun
Published: August 2022

Objective

Our study aims to test whether anxiety mediated the association between perceived stress and life satisfaction and whether the mediating effect was moderated by resilience among elderly migrants in China.

Methods

We used self-reported data collected from 654 elderly migrants in Nanjing. Regression analyses using bootstrapping methods were conducted to explore the mediating and moderating effects.

Results

The results showed that anxiety mediated the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction (indirect effect = –0.040, CI [–0.066, –0.017]). Moreover, moderated mediated analysis indicated that resilience moderated the path between anxiety and life satisfaction (moderating effect = 0.034, 95% CI [0.021, 0.048]). In particular, anxiety had a negative impact on life satisfaction only for Chinese elderly migrants with lower resilience.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that perceived stress could reduce life satisfaction among elderly migrants as their anxiety levels increase. Fortunately, elderly migrants’ resilience could undermine this negative effect.
The association between language-based task-functional magnetic resonance imaging hemodynamics and baseline GABA+ and glutamate–glutamine measured in pre-supplementary motor area: A pilot study in an aging model
Authors: Krishnamurthy Lisa C. , Paredes Spir Isabella , Rocha Natalie O. , Soher Brian J. , Auerbach Edward J. , Crosson Bruce A. , Krishnamurthy Venkatagiri
Published: August 2022

Aging is a natural phenomenon that elicits slow and progressive cerebrovascular and neurophysiological changes that eventually lead to cognitive decline. The objective of this pilot study is to examine the association of GABA+ and glutamate–glutamine (Glx) complex with language-based blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) hemodynamics in an aging model. More specifically, using standard BOLD we will first attempt to validate whether previously reported findings for BOLD amplitude and resting neurochemical relationships hold in an aging model. Secondly, we will investigate how our recently established neurosensitized task-BOLD energetics relate to resting GABA+ and Glx, especially accounting for titration of task difficulty. To support the above endeavors, we optimize the baseline fitting for edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) difference spectra to sensitize GABA+ and Glx concentrations to aging-related differences. We identify a spline-knot spacing of 0.6ppm to yield the optimal aging-related differences in GABA+ and Glx. The optimized MRS values were then graduated to relate to task-BOLD hemodynamics. Our results did not replicate previous findings that relate task-BOLD amplitude and resting GABA+ and Glx. However, we did identify neurochemistry relationships with the vascularly-driven dispersion component of the hemodynamic response function, specifically in older participants. In terms of neuro-sensitized BOLD energetics and the underlying role of GABA+ and Glx, our data suggests that the task demands are supported by both neurometabolites depending on the difficulty of the task stimuli. Another novelty is that we developed task-based functional parcellation of pre-SMA using both groups. In sum, we are the first to demonstrate that multimodal task-fMRI and MRS studies are beneficial to improve our understanding of the aging brain physiology, and to set the platform to better inform approaches for clinical care in aging-related neurovascular diseases. We also urge future studies to replicate our findings in a larger population incorporating a lifespan framework.
Biosignature of self-injury behaviors in adolescence: Role of β-endorphin in an acute inpatient unit
Authors: Wang Ping , Li Chao , del Sol-Calderón Pablo , Mallol Leticia , Hernández-Álvarez Elena , Donoso-Navarro Encarnación , Gil-Ligero María , Rosado-Garcia Silvia , Sánchez-Lòpez Antonio José , Martín-Moratinos Marina , Bella-Fernández Marcos , Blasco-Fontecilla Hilario
Published: August 2022

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) (either non-suicidal self-injury, NSSI; or suicide attempts, SA) is a common reason for adolescent psychiatric emergency hospitalizations. Altered basal serum β-endorphin (BE) levels have been reported in adults with a history of SIB, but information is lacking in adolescents. We analyzed the psychoclinical profile and serum BE level of 39 adolescents admitted to the acute unit at a hospital in Spain due to SIB. The Mean (SD) serum BE level was high (190.53 ± 74.83). Regarding time sequence, the onset age of NSSI and SA were related (p < 0.001). The older the onset age of NSSI, the shorter the transition between NSSI and the onset of SA behavior (p = 0.05), but this difference does not lead the variation of BE (p = 0.81). Patients diagnosed with depression had lower serum BE levels than adolescents with other diagnoses (p = 0.03). Although adolescents who seem to be addicted to SIB had higher levels of BE, this finding was not statistically significant. The relationship between serum BE levels and SIB in adolescents requires further investigation.
Long-covid cognitive impairment: Cognitive assessment and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping correlation in a Brazilian cohort
Authors: Tavares-Júnior José Wagner Leonel , Oliveira Danilo Nunes , da Silva Jean Breno Silveira , Feitosa Werbety Lucas Queiroz , Sousa Artur Victor Menezes , Cunha Letícia Chaves Vieira , Gaspar Safira de Brito , Gomes Carmem Meyve Pereira , de Oliveira Laís Lacerda Brasil , Moreira-Nunes Caroline Aquino , Montenegro Raquel Carvalho , Sobreira-Neto Manoel Alves , Braga-Neto Pedro
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Few studies have objectively evaluated cognitive deficits after the acute phase of COVID-19 disease. Moreover, the role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes in cognitive decline in patients with COVID-19 has not been evaluated yet.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms that persisted for more than 3 months from the onset. We determined APOE genotypes.

Results

The final sample consisted of 141 patients. The most frequent APOE genotype was E3/E3 (N = 95; 67.3%). In total, 93 patients (65.9%) had memory impairment symptoms as the main complaint, objectively confirmed through screening tests in 25 patients (17.7%). Patients with cognitive impairment had a lower frequency of anosmia than the normal and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) groups (p = 0.005). In addition, depression was recurrent in the cognitive impairment group and the SCD group (p = 0.046). Cognitive impairment was significantly more frequent in hospitalized patients and those with a lower education level. Cognitive status was not associated with APOE genotypes.

Discussion

Hospitalized patients had more severe infection with a greater possibility of systemic complications, greater inflammatory response, and prolonged hospitalization, which could impact cognitive performance. Cognitive impairment in patients with COVID-19 does not necessarily involve specific APOE polymorphisms. However, psychiatric disorders may also be responsible for cognitive complaints. Cognitive complaints are frequent in patients with COVID-19, even after the acute phase of the disease and in mild cases. Hospitalized participants and depressed patients may have a higher risk of cognitive impairment. APOE genotypes or haplotypes may not significantly play a role in COVID-19 cognitive impairment.
Cognitive therapeutic exercise in early proprioception recovery after knee osteoarthritis surgery
Authors: Ma Yubao , Fan Zhijiao , Gao Weiguang , Yu Zihan , Ren Muchen , Ma Quansheng , Song Dejun , Zhang Lihua , Mi Lixin
Published: August 2022

Objective

This research aims to explore the therapeutic effect of cognitive therapeutic exercise (CTE) in proprioception recovery after knee osteoarthritis (KOA) surgery.

Methods

In total, thirty-seven patients recovering from KOA surgery (including 27 patients who had undergone high-tibial osteotomy (HTO) procedure and 10 patients who had received total knee arthroplasty (TKA) treatment were randomly assigned to two groups: 18 patients in the CTE group and 19 patients for the control group (non-CTE). Patients in the CTE group received proprioceptive training as cognitive therapy to facilitate proprioception recovery for up to 4 weeks: 5 days a week and two 10-min sessions a day. Except for cognitive therapeutic exercise, the NCTE group and CTE group had the same treatment protocols. All the interventions began with permission from the surgeon-in-charge. In this research, we applied the joint repositioning training or joint-matching tasks, which is part of the proprioceptive training as a measurement for a proprioceptive training result where patients moved their knee joint from 0° (completely straight knee joint) to produce a presented joint angle, such as 30, 60, and 90° of flexion. Joint-matching task results were recorded before the treatment, at 2 and 4 weeks, postoperatively. The absolute difference between the results of these exercises and the knee flexion angle targets will be measured at each test—pre-rehabilitation (Pre-Reha), 2 weeks post-rehabilitation (2 weeks post-Reha), and 4 weeks post-rehabilitation (4 weeks post-Reha).

Results

The absolute difference in the CTE group was significantly smaller than that of the control group after 4 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks of cognitive therapeutic exercise, the absolute difference between patients' exercises of joint repositioning and the target angle of 30° in the CTE group was smaller than that of the NCTE group (P < 0.01). After 4 weeks of therapy, the joint position sense (JPS) among patients who received cognitive therapeutic exercise when performing joint repositioning at angles of 30 and 60° were better improved than those without receiving proprioceptive training with the absolute difference smaller than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The joint reposition training provided for the CTE group is a painless proprioceptive training practice. This method is simple and effective, making it easy for patients to understand the purpose of training and improve patient engagement. The research showed that after 4 weeks of rehabilitation and physical training, the proprioception sense of both the NCTE and CTE groups improved significantly, and the efficacy of proprioceptive training in the CTE group was better than that of the NCTE group, which provided a new approach to the early proprioception recovery of a patient with KOA after surgery.
Two ways to make your robot proactive: Reasoning about human intentions or reasoning about possible futures
Authors: Buyukgoz Sera , Grosinger Jasmin , Chetouani Mohamed , Saffiotti Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Robots sharing their space with humans need to be proactive to be helpful. Proactive robots can act on their own initiatives in an anticipatory way to benefit humans. In this work, we investigate two ways to make robots proactive. One way is to recognize human intentions and to act to fulfill them, like opening the door that you are about to cross. The other way is to reason about possible future threats or opportunities and to act to prevent or to foster them, like recommending you to take an umbrella since rain has been forecast. In this article, we present approaches to realize these two types of proactive behavior. We then present an integrated system that can generate proactive robot behavior by reasoning on both factors: intentions and predictions. We illustrate our system on a sample use case including a domestic robot and a human. We first run this use case with the two separate proactive systems, intention-based and prediction-based, and then run it with our integrated system. The results show that the integrated system is able to consider a broader variety of aspects that are required for proactivity.
A Social Innovation Model for Sustainable Development: A Case Study of a Malaysian Entrepreneur Cooperative (KOKULAC)
Authors: Kassim Erne Suzila , Zamzuri Norol Hamiza , Jalil Siti Ayu , Mohamed Salleh Sharmila , Mohamad Azhar , Abdul Rahim Ramita
Published: August 2022

In Malaysia, social innovation programs are fully supported by the government. However, reports and findings on the related matter have yet to be comprehensively collected due to the current interest. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to provide a better insight and understanding on how social innovation projects could assist in achieving the SDG agenda. Since social innovation is emerging and has just recently been embraced in Malaysia, we present the study as a case based on an entrepreneur cooperative, named KOKULAC, with a grounded theory analysis as a core approach. The findings suggest that there are five sustainability development goals that are very closely related to KOKULAC’s agenda. These goals are no poverty, zero hunger, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, and partnership for the goals. In addition, the case also presented how the values of sustainable development spur greater social benefits of shared prosperity. We conclude that the proposed model contributes to the expansion of innovation capability theory by shaping the innovations within the scope of social needs, which could be applied in other settings. For future research, we recommend a higher integration between the social innovation model and dynamic capabilities of the networking structures.
System Identification of an Aerial Delivery System with a Ram-Air Parachute Using a NARX Network
Authors: Güven Kemal , Şamiloğlu Andaç Töre
Published: August 2022

Neural networks are one of the methods used in system identification problems. In this study, a NARX network with a serial-parallel structure was used to identify an unknown aerial delivery system with a ram-air parachute. The dataset was created using the software-in-the-loop method (Software in the loop). Gazebo was used as the simulator and PX4 was used as the autopilot software. The performance of the NARX network differed according to parameters used, such as the selected training algorithm, input and output delays, the hidden layer, and the number of neurons. Within the scope of this study, each parameter was examined independently. Models were trained using MATLAB 2020a. The results demonstrated that the model with one hidden layer and five neurons, which was trained using the Bayesian regularization algorithm, was sufficient for this problem.
Application of the WRF-DSSAT Modeling System for Assessment of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Used for Improving Rice Production in Northern Thailand
Authors: Amnuaylojaroen Teerachai , Chanvichit Pavinee
Published: August 2022

The cultivation of rice under irrigation provides fundamental sustenance for nearly half of the world’s population. Rice yields need to increase in order to maintain the rapidly growing population and meet growing food requirements. In this research, we applied the coupled atmospheric–crop model, which is based on the WRF and CERES-Rice models, to find the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer level for improving rice yield in northern Thailand. The model was conducted from June to December in 2011 and 2015. To evaluate the model’s capability, the output from the model, including meteorological data (i.e., precipitation and temperature) and rice production, was compared to actual observation data. The modeling system showed an acceptable level of output for statistical examination; for example, the R2 values were 0.93, 0.76, and 0.97 for precipitation, temperature, and rice production, respectively. To assess the optimization of the nitrogen fertilizer level, we designed nine experiments: control cases and other cases that were multiplied by a factor of 2–10 times the nitrogen fertilizer levels. The model suggested that we can produce substantial rice yields by increasing nitrogen fertilizer levels by 12 kg/ha.
Changes over the Years in Soil Chemical Properties Associated with the Cultivation of Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) on Andosol Soil
Authors: Matsumoto Shingo , Doi Haruno , Kasuga Junko
Published: August 2022

The sowing-to-harvest period for the medicinal plant Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is 4–6 years. Although one of the primary soils used to cultivate ginseng in Japan is Andosol, there have been few studies of the changes in the soil’s chemical properties during the cultivation of ginseng in Andosol soil. Here, we investigated the chemical properties of Andosol soil by collecting soil samples from cultivation sites with various numbers of years of ginseng cultivation. A significant negative correlation was observed between the years of cultivation and the soil’s pH, indicating that soil acidification increased with an increasing number of years of cultivation. Similarly, exchangeable calcium (Ca) showed a significant negative correlation with the years of cultivation. The soluble aluminum (Al) concentration showed a significant positive correlation with the years of cultivation and was significantly negatively correlated with the exchangeable Ca and magnesium (Mg) contents. These results suggest that a decrease in pH due to Ca absorption by ginseng, increasing Al dissolution, and a further accelerated decrease in pH occur during the cultivation of ginseng in Andosols. The increase in soluble Al with increasing years of cultivation also affected the dynamics of essential trace elements in the soil, showing significant negative correlations with the soil’s soluble copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) contents, indicating that the Cu and Zn contents decreased with increasing Al. Our findings indicate that in the cultivation of ginseng on Andosol soil, the soil’s soluble Al content is an essential factor in changes in the soil’s chemical properties.
The Tripartite of Soilless Systems, Growing Media, and Plants through an Intensive Crop Production Scheme
Authors: Tzortzakis Nikolaos , Massa Daniele , Vandecasteele Bart
Published: August 2022

The demands for vegetables, herbs, and fruits have increased, along with the increased human population [...]
Sewage Sludge Fertilization—A Case Study of Sweet Potato Yield and Heavy Metal Accumulation
Authors: Ragonezi Carla , Nunes Nuno , Oliveira Maria Cristina O. , de Freitas José G. R. , Ganança José Filipe T. , de Carvalho Miguel Â. A. Pinheiro
Published: August 2022

Sewage sludge (SS) is derived from wastewater treatment plants and can be used as a biofertilizer when properly stabilized. This work aimed to evaluate SS application for agricultural production improvement. SS was tested on Porto Santo Island (Portugal). The experiment was randomly designed with three 25 m2 plots for each treatment (2 SS concentrations + control without SS) and performed in two consecutive cycles. For the first cycle, dehydrated sludge was mixed with soil, obtaining final concentrations of 0.8 kg/m2 (C1) and 1.6 kg/m2 (C2). Half of the concentration was used for the second cycle. Fifty-eight sweet potato plants were used in each plot. SS application boosted the agronomic parameters of biomass, productivity, and shoot biomass. Furthermore, improvements in soil properties were observed, mainly for pH, CEC, and NO3-N, with no significant increase in heavy metals. For the edible parts, heavy metal concentrations decreased, and Pb was the only one that still exceeded the maximum limits. The results demonstrated that SS application to low-fertility soil is effective in improving the agronomic parameters of sweet potato and enhancing soil features. Further studies considering other variables, i.e., SS origin, soil properties, and the crop, must be carried out to propose custom applications.
Influence of Different Proportion Intercropping on Oat and Common Vetch Yields and Nutritional Composition at Different Growth Stages
Authors: Qu Jiahui , Li Lijun , Bai Jianhui , Chen Guangmin , Zhang Yanli , Chang Qing
Published: August 2022

Crop yield mainly depends on environment and cultivation practices that vary according to a growing environment. However, an oat (Avena sativa L.)-common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) intercrop system has not been fully developed in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia, China. This study evaluated the effects of seven treatments, including five oat-common vetch intercropping patterns, sole oat, and sole vetch on yield and quality performance at different growth periods [75 days after sowing (DAS), 90 DAS, 105 DAS], on the basis of field experiments conducted in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia in 2015 and 2016. The OV3:1 (oat intercropped with common vetch at seeding ratios 3:1) treatment at 105 DAS in 2016 was superior to other treatments, as it achieved the highest shoot dry matter, increasing by 24.1% and 37.1% compared to sole oat and common vetch. The crude fat (CF) contents, CF yield, and crude protein (CP) yield increased under OV3:1, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) decreased under OV3:1, compared to monoculture. The results indicate that intercropping is an efficient cropping system for the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia. The appropriate proportion of oat and common vetch intercropping at 3:1 and harvesting time not only increases crop yield but also improves the crop quality.
Genome-Wide Association Study for Abscission Failure of Fruit Pericarps (Stick-Tights) in Wild Macadamia Germplasm
Authors: Nunn Jasmine , De Faveri Joanne , O’Connor Katie , Alam Mobashwer , Hardner Craig , Akinsanmi Olufemi , Topp Bruce
Published: August 2022

Macadamia pericarps that fail to abscise (‘stick-tights’) are an important trait to select against in breeding as they can harbour pests and diseases. Traditional macadamia breeding cycles are lengthy and expensive due to long juvenilities and large tree sizes. Thus, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are an important investigative tool to identify candidate trait-linked markers to enable potential reductions in evaluation and selection cycles via marker-assisted selection (MAS) in young seedlings. This study assessed 199 wild macadamia germplasm accessions for stick-tight prevalence across two years. As the number of stick-tights per tree is limited by the number of nuts per tree, we conducted association analyses to identify SNPs linked with the number of stick-tights per tree, and examined whether such SNPs were also associated with, and thus confounded with, the number of nuts per tree. We also assessed associations with the proportion of stick-tights per total number of nuts. Thirty-two SNPs were associated with at least one of the stick-tight traits in one year (p < 0.001). Of all such SNPs, only one was associated with the number of nuts per tree (p < 0.001), indicating that most associations were not confounded with yield.
Metabolites, Nutritional Quality and Antioxidant Activity of Red Radish Roots Affected by Gamma Rays
Authors: El-Beltagi Hossam S. , Maraei Rabab W. , Shalaby Tarek A. , Aly Amina A.
Published: August 2022

Radish is a root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that is grown and eaten all over the world. It is often consumed raw as a crisp salad vegetable with a strong flavor. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the stimulating effect of different γ-rays dose levels (0.0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 Gy) on the quality properties of radish, in addition to its nutritional elements, as well as some of the metabolites found in the red radish roots. The results indicated that the irradiated seeds showed a high germination rate of ≥96% for dose levels of ≤20 Gray (Gy). In addition, the use of gamma rays had a stimulating effect on the vegetative growth, particularly at the doses of 10 and 40 Gy, which provided the largest values of plant height (32.65 cm) and leaf number/plant (8.08), respectively, whereas all the irradiation treatments led to a rise in the length and width of leaves. However, the maximum root characteristics (length, diameter, size, and weight) were confirmed at the dose of 20 Gy (17.51 cm, 5.45 cm, 85.25 cm3 as well as 78.12 g, respectively). It was also noted that the content of plant pigments was significantly higher at a dose of 20 Gy. Additionally, there was an increase in the content of vitamin C using gamma rays, and the highest content (19.62 mg/100 g FW) was at the dose of 20 Gy. The use of γ-radiation caused an increase in some metabolite contents, such as anthocyanin, phenols, and flavonoids, which resulted in an enhancement in the antioxidant activity, achieving the greatest value at the dose of 40 Gy. Exposure of red radish seeds to gamma irradiation before cultivation improved the root contents of the elements (N, K, S, P, Ca, and Mg). The results indicated an increase in the content of organic acids (oxalic, succinic, and glutaric acids) using the radiation dose of 20 Gy, except for malic acid, which had the highest value at a dose of 80 Gy. Similarly, the amino acid pool was significantly increased by irradiation, and the levels of amino acids, which act as originators of the glucosinolate (GLS) phenylalanine, tyrosine and methionine), increased after exposure to gamma radiation, especially at doses of 40 and 80 Gy. Therefore, the red radish roots produced from seeds exposed to gamma rays were of high quality and nutritional value compared to those obtained from un-irradiated seeds. For this reason, gamma-rays are one of the tools that are utilized to improve the growth and quality of crops, especially in low doses.
Influence of Insoluble Dietary Fibre on Expression of Pro-Inflammatory Marker Genes in Caecum, Ileal Morphology, Performance, and Foot Pad Dermatitis in Broiler
Authors: Liebl Mariella , Gierus Martin , Potthast Christine , Schedle Karl
Published: August 2022

In a low-fibre diet destined for broilers, the effects of two lignocellulose products and soybean hulls were evaluated regarding their effect on ileal morphometric parameters, caecal gene expression, foot pad dermatitis, and performance. A total of 5040-day-old broilers (Ross 308) were allotted to four treatments and fattened for 36 days applying a three-phase feeding program. The control diet consisted of corn, wheat, and soybean meal. Experimental diets were supplemented with 0.8% lignocellulose product 1, 0.8% lignocellulose product 2, or 1.6% soybean hulls. Tissue samples for caecal expression of inflammation-related genes and ileal morphometries were collected on day 21. Gizzard pH and weights were recorded, and foot pad scores were evaluated at day of slaughter (day 36). In starter (day 1–10) and finisher phase (day 28–36), no effect on the performance was observed. In grower phase (day 11–27), fibre-supplemented diets showed significantly heavier body weights and daily weight gains (p < 0.05). Daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and gene expression analysis were unaffected by dietary fibre supplementation. Positive effects regarding ileal morphometrics (higher villi) and foot pad health occurred in fibre-supplemented diets. In conclusion, fibre supplementation improved performance in grower phase and showed beneficial effects regarding ileal morphology and foot pad dermatitis.
Diagnostic Value of CRP and Serum WBC Count during Septic Two-Stage Revision of Total Hip Arthroplasties
Authors: Mederake Moritz , Hofmann Ulf K. , Benda Sebastian , Schuster Philipp , Fink Bernd
Published: August 2022

The diagnostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the serum white blood cell (WBC) count is still barely defined for decision making during septic two-stage revision surgery of hip arthroplasty. We, therefore, compared these values between stages as well as between the groups without and with reinfection in 117 patients. A total of 106 patients were reinfection-free (91%). The median follow-up was 51 months. With a ΔCRP of −10 mg/L and a ΔWBC count of −1000/µL, a significant decrease between stages (p = 0.001) could be observed. When comparing the CRP and WBC count values between groups, however, no significant difference was found at stage one, stage two and even the difference between these two time points (reinfection-free ΔCRP of −11 mg/L and ΔWBC count of −1000/µL vs. reinfection ΔCRP of −5 mg/L (p = 0.131) and ΔWBC count of −1100/µL) (p = 0.424). The diagnostic value was poor for the calculated parameters (area under the curve (AUC) 0.5–0.6). The courses of the mean CRP values of both groups were similar. We conclude that the CRP and WBC count are not helpful to guide the decision making in individual cases.
Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Antioxidant Activity of 15 Different Plant-Based Natural Compounds in Comparison with Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin
Authors: Pormohammad Ali , Hansen Dave , Turner Raymond J.
Published: August 2022

Plant-based natural compounds (PBCs) are comparatively explored in this study to identify the most effective and safe antibacterial agent/s against six World Health Organization concern pathogens. Based on a contained systematic review, 11 of the most potent PBCs as antibacterial agents are included in this study. The antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of the included PBCs are compared with each other as well as common antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and gentamicin). The whole plants of two different strains of Cannabis sativa are extracted to compare the results with sourced ultrapure components. Out of 15 PBCs, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cinnamaldehyde, and carvacrol show promising antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy. The most common antibacterial mechanisms are explored, and all of our selected PBCs utilize the same pathway for their antibacterial effects. They mostly target the bacterial cell membrane in the initial step rather than the other mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species production and targeting [Fe-S] centres in the respiratory enzymes are not found to be significant, which could be part of the explanation as to why they are not toxic to eukaryotic cells. Toxicity and antioxidant tests show that they are not only nontoxic but also have antioxidant properties in Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model.
Molecular Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence and Capsular Serotypes of Carbapenemase-Carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae in China
Authors: Zhao Lina , Xia Xinxin , Yuan Ting , Zhu Junying , Shen Zhen , Li Min
Published: August 2022

This study analyzed genomic data of 4643 strains of carbapenemase-carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) in China by using the Kleborate software package. The data showed rich diversity in carbapenemase-carrying KPN genomes, which contain not only 152 sequence types but also 90 capsular serotypes. In 2013, the transfer of carbapenemase to hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) of KL1 and KL2 occurred, and since 2014, the propagation of carbapenemase into mammals, poultry, and insects has been detected. The ST11 capsular serotype had a reversal of the prevalence of KL47 and KL64 in 2016, with KL64 replacing KL47 as the dominant serotype. Colibactin is a very suitable indicator to differentiate KL1-type HvKP and classic Klebsiella pneumoniae. The most prevalent yersiniabactin of KL1 is ybt1 ICEKp10, and that of ST11 carbapenem-resistant KPN(ST11-CRKP) is ybt9 ICEKp3. The virulence genes of KL1 carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent KPN (KL1-CRHvKP), as well as ST65- and ST86-type KL2-CRHvKP, were not lost after carbapenemase was obtained.
Comparative In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam against Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacterales from Five Latin American Countries
Authors: García-Betancur Juan Carlos , De La Cadena Elsa , Mojica María F. , Hernández-Gómez Cristhian , Correa Adriana , Radice Marcela A. , Castañeda-Méndez Paulo , Jaime-Villalon Diego A. , Gales Ana C. , Munita José M. , Villegas María Virginia
Published: August 2022

Background: Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a combination of an antipseudomonal oxyiminoaminothiazolyl cephalosporin with potent in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and tazobactam, a known β-lactamase inhibitor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of C/T against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales collected from five Latin American countries between 2016 and 2017, before its clinical use in Latin America, and to compare it with the activity of other available broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Methods: a total of 2760 clinical isolates (508 P. aeruginosa and 2252 Enterobacterales) were consecutively collected from 20 hospitals and susceptibility to C/T and comparator agents was tested and interpreted following the current guidelines. Results: according to the CLSI breakpoints, 68.1% (346/508) of P. aeruginosa and 83.9% (1889/2252) of Enterobacterales isolates were susceptible to C/T. Overall, C/T demonstrated higher in vitro activity than currently available cephalosporins, piperacillin/tazobactam and carbapenems when tested against P. aeruginosa, and its performance in vitro was comparable to fosfomycin. When tested against Enterobacterales, it showed higher activity than cephalosporins and piperacillin/tazobactam, and similar activity to ertapenem. Conclusions: these results show that C/T is an active β-lactam agent against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales.
Cellular Antioxidant Effect of an Aronia Extract and Its Polyphenolic Fractions Enriched in Proanthocyanidins, Phenolic Acids, and Anthocyanins
Authors: Dufour Cécile , Villa-Rodriguez Jose A. , Furger Christophe , Lessard-Lord Jacob , Gironde Camille , Rigal Mylène , Badr Ashraf , Desjardins Yves , Guyonnet Denis
Published: August 2022

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation contribute to some chronic diseases. Aronia berries are rich in polyphenols. The aim of the present study was to characterize the cellular antioxidant effect of an aronia extract to reflect the potential physiological in vivo effect. Cellular in vitro assays in three cell lines (Caco-2, HepG2, and SH-SY5Y) were used to measure the antioxidant effect of AE, in three enriched polyphenolic fractions (A1: anthocyanins and phenolic acids; A2: oligomeric proanthocyanidins; A3: polymeric proanthocyanidins), pure polyphenols and microbial metabolites. Both direct (intracellular and membrane radical scavenging, catalase-like effect) and indirect (NRF2/ARE) antioxidant effects were assessed. AE exerted an intracellular free radical scavenging activity in the three cell lines, and A2 and A3 fractions showed a higher effect in HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. AE also exhibited a catalase-like activity, with the A3 fraction having a significant higher activity. Only A1 fraction activated the NRF2/ARE pathway. Quercetin and caffeic acid are the most potent antioxidant polyphenols, whereas cyanidin and 5-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone showed the highest antioxidant effect among polyphenol metabolites. AE rich in polyphenols possesses broad cellular antioxidant effects, and proanthocyanidins are major contributors. Polyphenol metabolites may contribute to the overall antioxidant effect of such extract in vivo.
Clinical Research Progress of Small Molecule Compounds Targeting Nrf2 for Treating Inflammation-Related Diseases
Authors: Zhai Zhenzhen , Huang Yanxin , Zhang Yawei , Zhao Lili , Li Wen
Published: August 2022

Studies have found that inflammation is a symptom of various diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA); it is also the source of other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), lupus erythematosus (LE), and liver damage. Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is an important multifunctional transcription factor in cells and plays a central regulatory role in cellular defense mechanisms. In recent years, several studies have found a strong association between the activation of Nrf2 and the fight against inflammation-related diseases. A number of small molecule compounds targeting Nrf2 have entered clinical research. This article reviews the research status of small molecule compounds that are in clinical trials for the treatment of COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, lupus erythematosus, and liver injury.
Targeting Autophagy for Developing New Therapeutic Strategy in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Bahar Md Entaz , Hwang Jin Seok , Ahmed Mahmoud , Lai Trang Huyen , Pham Trang Minh , Elashkar Omar , Akter Kazi-Marjahan , Kim Dong-Hee , Yang Jinsung , Kim Deok Ryong
Published: August 2022

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent cause of low back pain. IVDD is characterized by abnormal expression of extracellular matrix components such as collagen and aggrecan. In addition, it results in dysfunctional growth, senescence, and death of intervertebral cells. The biological pathways involved in the development and progression of IVDD are not fully understood. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IVDD could aid in the development of strategies for prevention and treatment. Autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles, and its dysfunction is linked to a variety of diseases, including IVDD and osteoarthritis. In this review, we describe recent research findings on the role of autophagy in IVDD pathogenesis and highlight autophagy-targeting molecules which can be exploited to treat IVDD. Many studies exhibit that autophagy protects against and postpones disc degeneration. Further research is needed to determine whether autophagy is required for cell integrity in intervertebral discs and to establish autophagy as a viable therapeutic target for IVDD.
A Systematic Review on Design Thinking Integrated Learning in K-12 Education
Authors: Li Tingting , Zhan Zehui
Published: August 2022

Design thinking is regarded as an essential way to cultivate 21st century competency and there has been a concomitant rise of needs and interest in introducing K-12 students to design thinking. This study aimed to review high-qualified empirical studies on design thinking integrated learning (DTIL) in K-12 education and explore its future research perspectives. After a systematic search in online database via a keyword search and snowballing approach, 43 SSCI journal papers with 44 studies were included in this review. The results indicate that: (1) There has been a growing popularity of integrating design thinking into K-12 education over the past decade, and most empirical studies target middle school students with small group size and a short period; (2) Studies tend to pay more attention to STEM related curriculum domains by incorporating non-unified design thinking models or processes, and the core concepts of design thinking in K-12 education have been frequently valued and pursued including prototype, ideate, define, test, explore, empathize, evaluate, and optimize; (3) The mostly evaluated learning performances are design thinking, followed by emotional/social aspect, subject learning performance and skill. For evaluation, qualitative assessments are used more frequently with instruments like survey/questionnaire, portfolio, interview, observation, protocol analysis, etc. (4) interventions with non-experimental study, formal classroom setting, collaborative learning, and traditional tools or materials have been mainly applied to the open-ended and challenging activities in real situated DTIL. Overall, the 43 papers suggest that design thinking shows great educational potential in K-12 education, however, the empirical evidence that supports the effectiveness of DTIL is still rather limited. Research gaps and future directions derived from reviewed papers are also discussed.