bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genotype-Specific Expression and NLR Repertoire Contribute to Phenotypic Resistance Diversity in Plantago lanceolata
Authors: Safdari Pezhman , Höckerstedt Layla , Brosche Mikael , Salojärvi Jarkko , Laine Anna-Liisa
Published: July 2021

High levels of phenotypic variation in resistance appears to be nearly ubiquitous across natural host populations. Molecular processes contributing to this variation in nature are still poorly known, although theory predicts resistance to evolve at specific loci driven by pathogen-imposed selection. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes play an important role in pathogen recognition, downstream defense responses and defense signaling. Identifying the natural variation in NLRs has the potential to increase our understanding of how NLR diversity is generated and maintained, and how to manage disease resistance. Here, we sequenced the transcriptomes of five different Plantago lanceolata genotypes when inoculated by the same strain of obligate fungal pathogen Podosphaera plantaginis. A de novo transcriptome assembly of RNA-sequencing data yielded 24,332 gene models with N50 value of 1,329 base pairs and gene space completeness of 66.5%. The gene expression data showed highly varying responses where each plant genotype demonstrated a unique expression profile in response to the pathogen, regardless of the resistance phenotype. Analysis on the conserved NB-ARC domain demonstrated a diverse NLR repertoire in P. lanceolata consistent with the high phenotypic resistance diversity in this species. We find evidence of selection generating diversity at some of the NLR loci. Jointly, our results demonstrate that phenotypic resistance diversity results from a crosstalk between different defense mechanisms. In conclusion, characterizing the architecture of resistance in natural host populations may shed unprecedented light on the potential of evolution to generate variation.
Variation Patterns of Functional Trait Moments Along Geographical Gradients and Their Environmental Determinants in the Subtropical Evergreen Broadleaved Forests
Authors: Huang Caishuang , Xu Yue , Zang Runguo
Published: July 2021

Understanding how environmental change alters the composition of plant assemblages is a major challenge in the face of global climate change. Researches accounting for site-specific trait values within forest communities help bridge plant economics theory and functional biogeography to better evaluate and predict relationships between environment and ecosystem functioning. Here, by measuring six functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen, and phosphorus concentration, leaf nitrogen/phosphorus, wood density) for 292 woody plant species (48,680 individuals) from 250 established permanent forest dynamics plots in five locations across the subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests (SEBLF) in China, we quantified functional compositions of communities by calculating four trait moments, i.e., community-weighted mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. The geographical (latitudinal, longitudinal, and elevational) patterns of functional trait moments and their environmental drivers were examined. Results showed that functional trait moments shifted significantly along the geographical gradients, and trait moments varied in different ways across different gradients. Plants generally showed coordinated trait shifts toward more conservative growth strategies (lower specific leaf area, leaf N and P concentration while higher leaf nitrogen/phosphorus and wood density) along increasing latitude and longitude. However, trends opposite to the latitudinal and longitudinal patterns appeared in trait mean values along elevation. The three sets of environmental variables (climate, soil and topography) explained 35.0–69.0%, 21.0–56.0%, 14.0–31.0%, and 16.0–30.0% of the variations in mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis across the six functional traits, respectively. Patterns of shifts in functional trait moments along geographical gradients in the subtropical region were mainly determined by the joint effects of climatic and edaphic conditions. Climate regimes, especially climate variability, were the strongest driving force, followed by soil nutrients, while topography played the least role. Moreover, the relationship of variance, skewness and kurtosis with climate and their geographical patterns suggested that rare phenotypes at edges of trait space were selected in harsher environments. Our study suggested that environmental filtering (especially climate variability) was the dominant process of functional assembly for forest communities in the subtropical region along geographical gradients.
Peer Effects on Real-Time Search Behavior in Experimental Stock Markets
Authors: Jin Xuejun , Zhou Xue , Yang Xiaolan , Lin Yiyang
Published: July 2021

It is a well-documented phenomenon that individuals stop searching earlier than predicted by the optimal, risk-neutral stopping rule, leading to inefficient searches. Individuals' search behaviors during making investment decisions in financial markets can be easily affected by their peers. In this study, we designed a search game in a simplified experimental stock market in which subjects were required to search for the best sell prices for their stocks. By randomly assigning subjects into pairs and presenting them with real-time information on their peers' searches, we investigated the effects of peers' decisions on search behaviors. The results showed that two subjects in the same group with real-time peer information learned and engaged in similar search behaviors. However, this peer effect did not exist when subjects had access to feedback information on the ex-post best response. In addition, we found that the presence of information about peers' decisions alone had no significant impact on search efficiency, whereas access to both information on peers' decisions and feedback information significantly improved subjects' search efficiency.
Psychological Responses of the Patients in Cabin Hospital to the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Comparative Epidemiologic Analysis
Authors: Wang Yahui , Zhang Mengyue , Yin Qin , Wang Yincheng , Yang Pengcheng , Hu Chao , Xu Guogang , Wang Daoweng , Li Xianzhi , He Jibo , Hu Qinyong , Luo Xingguang , Ren Honggang
Published: July 2021

The building of cabin hospitals in Wuhan has been proven to be clinically successful in curing mild-symptom COVID-19 patients shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019. At the same time, the psychological effect of patients being treated in cabin hospitals and the features of the psychological status of the whole society remained ambiguous. This study adopted a self-administrated questionnaire to investigate the stress, depression, and anxiety status of patients in cabin hospitals (n = 212) and healthy participants outside of Hubei province (n = 221) in a population level from February 29 to March 01, 2020. The research measured participants’ stress response, depression level, and anxiety level as well as their social support system and their resilience level. Results indicated that in this sudden outbreak of an unknown pandemic, all people (whether or not infected) showed a generally high level of stress, depression, and anxiety, regardless of age, gender, education level, and employment. It also showed that people with a lower level of psychological resilience and social support reported more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Moreover, the research also found a positive effect of cabin hospitals on the psychological recovery of COVID-19 patients. Stress response of patients increased after entering into cabin hospitals, while after 3–4 weeks’ treatment, patients showed a decrease in their depression and anxiety levels. This research advances the understanding of COVID-19 and gives suggestions to optimize the design and the allocation of resources in cabin hospitals and better deal with the unknown pandemics in the future.
Cross-Linguistic Trade-Offs and Causal Relationships Between Cues to Grammatical Subject and Object, and the Problem of Efficiency-Related Explanations
Authors: Levshina Natalia
Published: July 2021

Cross-linguistic studies focus on inverse correlations (trade-offs) between linguistic variables that reflect different cues to linguistic meanings. For example, if a language has no case marking, it is likely to rely on word order as a cue for identification of grammatical roles. Such inverse correlations are interpreted as manifestations of language users’ tendency to use language efficiently. The present study argues that this interpretation is problematic. Linguistic variables, such as the presence of case, or flexibility of word order, are aggregate properties, which do not represent the use of linguistic cues in context directly. Still, such variables can be useful for circumscribing the potential role of communicative efficiency in language evolution, if we move from cross-linguistic trade-offs to multivariate causal networks. This idea is illustrated by a case study of linguistic variables related to four types of Subject and Object cues: case marking, rigid word order of Subject and Object, tight semantics and verb-medial order. The variables are obtained from online language corpora in thirty languages, annotated with the Universal Dependencies. The causal model suggests that the relationships between the variables can be explained predominantly by sociolinguistic factors, leaving little space for a potential impact of efficient linguistic behavior.
Determinants of Investment Behavior in Mutual Funds: Evidence From Pakistan
Authors: Saleem Sharaz , Mahmood Faiq , Usman Muhammad , Bashir Mohsin , Shabbir Rizwan
Published: July 2021

This paper aimed to provide empirical evidence on the behavior of the investor toward mutual funds by considering its relationship with risk perception (RP), return perception (Return P), investment criteria (IC), mutual fund awareness (MFA), and financial literacy (FL). Data were collected using a questionnaire from 500 mutual fund investors, from which 460 questionnaires were used for the analysis. In addition, the snowball sampling technique was used to collect data from different cities in Pakistan. The result showed that RP, Return P, and MFA are insignificant and negatively affect the behavior of mutual fund investors. Investment criteria have a negative and significant effect on the behavior of mutual fund investors. Financial literacy has a positive and insignificant effect on the behavior of mutual fund investors. The results provide better information and guidance to investors and policymakers on the factors that affect the behavior of mutual fund investors.
Connecting Social Psychology and Deep Reinforcement Learning: A Probabilistic Predictor on the Intention to Do Home-Based Physical Activity After Message Exposure
Authors: Catellani Patrizia , Carfora Valentina , Piastra Marco
Published: July 2021

Previous research has shown that sending personalized messages consistent with the recipient's psychological profile is essential to activate the change toward a healthy lifestyle. In this paper we present an example of how artificial intelligence can support psychology in this process, illustrating the development of a probabilistic predictor in the form of a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). The predictor regards the change in the intention to do home-based physical activity after message exposure. The data used to construct the predictor are those of a study on the effects of framing in communication to promote physical activity at home during the Covid-19 lockdown. The theoretical reference is that of psychosocial research on the effects of framing, according to which similar communicative contents formulated in different ways can be differently effective depending on the characteristics of the recipient. Study participants completed a first questionnaire aimed at measuring the psychosocial dimensions involved in doing physical activity at home. Next, they read recommendation messages formulated with one of four different frames (gain, non-loss, non-gain, and loss). Finally, they completed a second questionnaire measuring their perception of the messages and again the intention to exercise at home. The collected data were analyzed to elicit a DBN, i.e., a probabilistic structure representing the interrelationships between all the dimensions considered in the study. The adopted procedure was aimed to achieve a good balance between explainability and predictivity. The elicited DBN was found to be consistent with the psychosocial theories assumed as reference and able to predict the effectiveness of the different messages starting from the relevant psychosocial dimensions of the recipients. In the next steps of our project, the DBN will form the basis for the training of a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) system for the synthesis of automatic interaction strategies. In turn, the DRL system will train a Deep Neural Network (DNN) that will guide the online interaction process. The discussion focuses on the advantages of the proposed procedure in terms of interpretability and effectiveness.
Attitudes of Different Age Groups Toward People With Intellectual Disability During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Domagała-Zyśk Ewa
Published: July 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly risky for people with disabilities and severe medical conditions, not only because the virus may be a direct threat to their physical health but also because of social exclusion and negating their needs and rights.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of people from different age groups towards people with intellectual disability (ID).

Methods: The study included 223 people (19–85 years old) and was conducted in May 2020–January 2021. Data was collected using the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Towards Persons With Disabilities and a self-designed Questionnaire regarding the attitudes towards people with ID during the pandemic. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 (ANOVA).

Results: The results of the study showed that the general attitudes were only slightly supportive and differed among people of different age groups: the youngest and the oldest generation expressed the most positive attitudes while the adults (35–60 y.o.) expressed the most negative ones.

Conclusions: As the pandemic is spreading rapidly with no definitive solution, awareness to create more positive attitudes towards people with ID and recognizing their needs is essential.
A Local Review on the Use of a Bio-Psycho-Social Model in School-Based Mental Health Promotion
Authors: Wong Anna , Chan Iris , Tsang Christy H. C. , Chan Anna Y. F. , Shum Angie K. Y. , Lai Eliza S. Y. , Yip Paul
Published: July 2021

Background: Schools are a key setting for student well-being promotion. Various school-based mental health programs have been implemented worldwide, with greater emphasis placed on psychological and social aspects. The bio-psycho-social model provides a holistic and integrated view of mental health based on theory and research evidence. Given the importance of considering all three dimensions in mental health promotion, this study explored reasons for the relative neglect of this approach by studying the early phase of school well-being program development and implementation.

Method: In total, 77 Hong Kong government-funded student well-being programs implemented in 2000–2009 were reviewed for the use of biological, psychological, and social interventions. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted to explore program leaders' usage and views regarding theoretical frameworks and evidence-based practice and program evaluation. Challenges encountered in the initial stage of school well-being program development and implementation were identified and analyzed.

Results: Of the 77 programs reviewed, only 5 addressed all three bio-psycho-social factors of mental health. A significantly greater number of programs addressed psychological (n = 63) and social (n = 40) factors compared to those that covered biological factors of mental health (n = 13). Of 24 program implementers who responded to the online survey, 75% claimed to have studied or applied a theoretical framework yet only 41.7% considered evidence-based practices to be important. The majority of interviewed participants valued their own practical experience over theory and research evidence. Many programs lacked rigorous evaluation of clear objectives and measurable outcomes, thus the mechanisms of change and program effectiveness were uncertain. Perceived barriers to program adoption and continuation were identified.

Conclusion: This study highlighted a neglect of the biological contribution to mental health in school well-being promotion initiatives, possibly due to lack of theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice among program leaders and implementers in the early phase of school mental health promotion. The bio-psycho-social model should therefore be recommended for student well-being programs as a holistic and integrated theory of mental health underpinning program objectives, mechanisms of change, and measurable outcomes. To develop effective practices in student well-being promotion, more thorough documentation, a rigorous evaluation framework, and support for frontline educators to evaluate their practices were recommended.
A Meta-Analysis of 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor 1B Polymorphisms With Risk of Major Depressive Disorder and Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Yang Pingliang , Yang Mengchang , Li Peng , Cao Dejun , Gong Daoyin , Lv Jiahua , Pu Linmei , Huang Sizhou , Liang Yundan
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Previous association studies have investigated whether genetic polymorphisms in HTR1B influenced individuals' susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD), anti-depressant response (ADR) and suicidal behavior. However, equivocal evidence was obtained. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to examine the association of HTR1B polymorphisms with risk of MDD, ADR and suicidal behavior.

Materials and Methods: Studies evaluating the association between HTR1B polymorphisms and risk of MDD, ADR and suicidal behavior were searched in Pubmed, Ovid Medline, web of science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Summary odds ratios (ORs), 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values were calculated using a fixed or random effects model.

Results: Meta-analysis findings revealed a significantly increased risk of MDD with rs6296 GC and GC/CC genotypes (GC vs. GG: OR = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.07–1.48; GC/CC vs. GG: OR = 1.22, 95% CI, 1.04–1.43, respectively). Moreover, rs6298 CT genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.16–1.88). However, both rs6296 and rs130058 were not significant risk factors for lethal suicidal behavior.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis identified that rs6296 and rs6298 in HTR1B may be significantly related to the risk of MDD and lethality of suicide attempts, respectively. Further studies are required to assess the markers in larger cohorts.
On Addressing Heterogeneity in Federated Learning for Autonomous Vehicles Connected to a Drone Orchestrator
Authors: Donevski Igor , Nielsen Jimmy Jessen , Popovski Petar
Published: July 2021

In this paper we envision a federated learning (FL) scenario in service of amending the performance of autonomous road vehicles, through a drone traffic monitor (DTM), that also acts as an orchestrator. Expecting non-IID data distribution, we focus on the issue of accelerating the learning of a particular class of critical object (CO), that may harm the nominal operation of an autonomous vehicle. This can be done through proper allocation of the wireless resources for addressing learner and data heterogeneity. Thus, we propose a reactive method for the allocation of wireless resources, that happens dynamically each FL round, and is based on each learner’s contribution to the general model. In addition to this, we explore the use of static methods that remain constant across all rounds. Since we expect partial work from each learner, we use the FedProx FL algorithm, in the task of computer vision. For testing, we construct a non-IID data distribution of the MNIST and FMNIST datasets among four types of learners, in scenarios that represent the quickly changing environment. The results show that proactive measures are effective and versatile at improving system accuracy, and quickly learning the CO class when underrepresented in the network. Furthermore, the experiments show a tradeoff between FedProx intensity and resource allocation efforts. Nonetheless, a well adjusted FedProx local optimizer allows for an even better overall accuracy, particularly when using deeper neural network (NN) implementations.
Toward More Resilient Urban Stormwater Management Systems—Bridging the Gap From Theory to Implementation
Authors: van Duin Bert , Zhu David Z. , Zhang Wenming , Muir Robert J. , Johnston Chris , Kipkie Craig , Rivard Gilles
Published: July 2021

Many publications include references to reliability, risk and resilience, specifically within the context of climate change and rapid urbanization. However, there is a considerable gap between theory and actual implementation by drainage professionals. As such, most drainage professionals will not have an appreciation of a drainage system's response to events in excess of its original design event. This gap is compounded by the desire toward evaluating components such as “critical infrastructure” for events significantly more severe than ever contemplated. This paper, reflecting the combined wisdom and thoughts of various drainage professionals across Canada involved with the creation of the Canadian drainage standards (CSA W204 and W210), provides a treatise of risk and resilience based on the application of the dual drainage principle. It provides a discussion of key factors including climate change; densification; shape, intensity, duration and spatial extent of storm events, as a function of the normalized capacity or drain down/emptying time of the various components of the drainage system. Commentaries are offered, highlighting the role of appropriate setbacks and freeboard, and focusing on those aspects that have historically been ignored. Avenues to increase system resilience are presented including an evolution in passive and active flow controls, the potential beneficial role of natural systems and low impact development practices as a function of system sensitivity, discussing how options may vary across Canada.
Estuaries, Human Beings, and the Future
Authors: Culberson Steven D.
Published: July 2021

Estuaries are places on the earth where rivers meet oceans. When rain and snowmelt drain off the land, the fresh water collects in streams and rivers and eventually makes its way to the ocean. At the same time, the ocean has tides that push salty water upstream into the rivers. This place, where rivers and oceans mix, is called an estuary. Estuaries contain many kinds of habitats that are home to plants and animals. Many people work and live in estuaries. In this article, I describe what makes estuaries interesting and important to plants, animals, and people. I also explain how these important areas are under threat from certain human activities.
Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Complications and Their Treatment
Authors: Rakauskas Arnas , Marra Giancarlo , Heidegger Isabel , Kasivisvanathan Veeru , Kretschmer Alexander , Zattoni Fabio , Preisser Felix , Tilki Derya , Tsaur Igor , van den Bergh Roderick , Kesch Claudia , Ceci Francesco , Fankhauser Christian , Gandaglia Giorgio , Valerio Massimo
Published: July 2021

Focal therapy is a modern alternative to selectively treat a specific part of the prostate harboring clinically significant disease while preserving the rest of the gland. The aim of this therapeutic approach is to retain the oncological benefit of active treatment and to minimize the side-effects of common radical treatments. The oncological effectiveness of focal therapy is yet to be proven in long-term robust trials. In contrast, the toxicity profile is well-established in randomized controlled trials and multiple robust prospective cohort studies. This narrative review summarizes the relevant evidence on complications and their management after focal therapy. When compared to whole gland treatments, focal therapy provides a substantial benefit in terms of adverse events reduction and preservation of genito-urinary function. The most common complications occur in the peri-operative period. Urinary tract infection and acute urinary retention can occur in up to 17% of patients, while dysuria and haematuria are more common. Urinary incontinence following focal therapy is very rare (0–5%), and the vast majority of patients recover in few weeks. Erectile dysfunction can occur after focal therapy in 0–46%: the baseline function and the ablation template are the most important factors predicting post-operative erectile dysfunction. Focal therapy in the salvage setting after external beam radiotherapy has a significantly higher rate of complications. Up to one man in 10 will present a severe complication.
Molecular Survey of Tick-Borne Pathogens Reveals Diversity and Novel Organisms With Veterinary and Public Health Significance in Wildlife From a National Nature Reserve of China
Authors: Yang Jifei , Wang Xiaojun , Wang Jinming , Liu Zhijie , Niu Qingli , Mukhtar Muhammad Uzair , Guan Guiquan , Yin Hong
Published: July 2021

Wildlife is involved in the maintenance and transmission of various tick-borne pathogens. The objective of the present study was to determine the occurrence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals collected from Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve of China. Blood or liver samples from 13 wild animals (5 takin, 3 Himalayan goral, 3 Reeves' muntjac, 1 forest musk deer, and 1 wild boar) were collected and screened for piroplasm, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae by PCR-based on different gene loci. Three Theileria species, a potential novel Theileria parasite (Theileria sp. T4) and two Anaplasma species were identified in those wildlife. Theileria capreoli was found in Himalayan goral, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer; Theileria luwenshuni, Theileria uilenbergi, and a potential novel, Theileria parasite (Theileria sp. T4), were identified in takin. Meanwhile, Anaplasma bovis was identified in Himalayan goral, takin, Reeves' muntjac, forest musk deer, and wild boar; Anaplasma phagocytophilum and related strains was found in takin, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer. All wildlife included in this study was negative for Babesia, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia, and SFG rickettsiae. Moreover, coinfection involving Theileria spp. and Anaplasma spp. was observed in eight wild animals. This study provided the first evidence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals from the nature reserve, where contact between domestic and wild animals rarely occurs.
Poult Enteritis and Mortality Syndrome in Turkey Poults: Causes, Diagnosis and Preventive Measures
Authors: Shehata Awad A. , Basiouni Shereen , Sting Reinhard , Akimkin Valerij , Hoferer Marc , Hafez Hafez M.
Published: July 2021

Poult enteritis and mortality syndrome (PEMS) is one of the most significant problem affecting turkeys and continues to cause severe economic losses worldwide. Although the specific causes of PEMS remains unknown, this syndrome might involve an interaction between several causative agents such as enteropathogenic viruses (coronaviruses, rotavirus, astroviruses and adenoviruses) and bacteria and protozoa. Non-infectious causes such as feed and management are also interconnected factors. However, it is difficult to determine the specific cause of enteric disorders under field conditions. Additionally, similarities of clinical signs and lesions hamper the accurate diagnosis. The purpose of the present review is to discuss in detail the main viral possible causative agents of PEMS and challenges in diagnosis and control.
Thermal Comfort Index for Lactating Water Buffaloes under Hot and Humid Climate
Authors: Li Mengwei , Liang Xin , Tang Zhenhua , Hassan Faiz-ul , Li Lili , Guo Yanxia , Peng Kaiping , Liang Xianwei , Yang Chengjian
Published: July 2021

Heat stress results in serious performance losses and adversely affects animal health and welfare under various production systems. This study was conducted to develop a thermal comfort model for lactating buffaloes under hot and humid climate. Twenty Nili-Ravi buffaloes were randomly enrolled for this one-year study. Physiological parameters including rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and body surface temperature (BST) and environmental variables such as wet bulb temperature (WBT), dew point temperature (DPT), and black globe temperature (BGT) were recorded twice a week on each Tuesday and Thursday (n = 1602 and 1560, respectively) at 8:00 am and 2:30 pm. Moreover, ambient temperature (AT, °C) and relative humidity (RH, %), at an interval of every 30 min were recorded. We used a typical correlation analysis to build the index models for thermal comfort. The results revealed that AT positively correlated with BGT, WBT, DPT, BST, RT, and RR, while RH negatively correlated with RT. Moreover, a physiological index model consisting of BST, RT and RR (P1 = 0.578 × BST + 0.047 × RT + 0.429 × RR) and an environmental index model (E1 = 0.881 × AT + 0.194 × RH + 0.455 × BGT − 0.347 × WBT + 0.032 × DPT) proved to be a more accurate index as a pair to reveal the state of thermal comfort in lactating buffaloes. Moreover, these models correlated well with physiological variables, indicating that this this pair of index models can be used to effectively evaluate the thermal comfort in buffaloes.
The Influence of Vaccination of Broiler Chickens and Turkeys with Live E. coli Attenuated Vaccine on E. coli Population Properties and TRT Vaccination Efficacy
Authors: Śmiałek Marcin , Kowalczyk Joanna , Koncicki Andrzej
Published: July 2021

Colibacillosis is one of the major causes of economic losses in the poultry industry. Vaccination against E. coli is attracting increasing interest. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of vaccination with live, aroA gene-deleted vaccine on the structure and properties of field E. coli population and its potential impact on TRT vaccination efficacy in broiler chickens and turkeys. We performed three independent experiments on farms: (1) with antibiotic-free broiler chickens, (2) with conventional broiler chickens and (3) with broiler turkeys. In experiment 1, we have recorded an approx. 0–15% prevalence of multi-susceptible E. coli strains in the first production cycle. Starting from production cycle number two, after vaccination introduction, successive significant increases in E. coli susceptibility emerged, reaching 100% of strains at the end of production cycle 3. Increased E. coli susceptibility remained for three production cycles after vaccination withdrawal. In experiments 2 (2 production cycles) and 3 (1 production cycle), we recorded similar tendencies of E. coli susceptibility profile change. In experiments 1 and 2, the E. coli population count was lower after vaccination. In experiments 2 and 3, no negative influence of E. coli vaccination on the level of specific antibodies against TRT was recorded.
Molecular Characterization of Cephalosporin and Fluoroquinolone Resistant Salmonella Choleraesuis Isolated from Patients with Systemic Salmonellosis in Thailand
Authors: Sriyapai Pichapak , Pulsrikarn Chaiwat , Chansiri Kosum , Nyamniyom Arin , Sriyapai Thayat
Published: July 2021

The antimicrobial resistance of nontyphoidal Salmonella has become a major clinical and public health problem. Southeast Asia has a high level of multidrug-resistant Salmonella and isolates resistant to both fluoroquinolone and third-generation cephalosporins. The incidence of co-resistance to both drug classes is a serious therapeutic problem in Thailand. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns, antimicrobial resistance genes and genotypic relatedness of third-generation cephalosporins and/or fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella Choleraesuis isolated from patients with systemic salmonellosis in Thailand. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the agar disk diffusion method, and ESBL production was detected by the combination disc method. A molecular evaluation of S. Choleraesuis isolates was performed using PCR and DNA sequencing. Then, a genotypic relatedness study of S. Choleraesuis was performed by pulse field gel electrophoresis. All 62 cefotaxime-resistant S. Choleraesuis isolates obtained from 61 clinical specimens were multidrug resistant. Forty-four isolates (44/62, 71.0%) were positive for ESBL phenotypes. Based on the PCR sequencing, 21, 1, 13, 23, 20 and 6 ESBL-producing isolates harboured the ESBL genes blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-55, blaCMY-2, blaACC-1 and blaTEM-1, respectively. This study also found that nine (9/62, 14.5%) isolates exhibited co-resistance to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime. All of the co-resistant isolates harboured at least one PMQR gene. The qnr genes and the aac(6′)-Ib-cr gene were the most prevalent genes detected. The QRDR mutation, including the gyrA (D87Y and D87G) and parC (T57S) genes, was also detected. PFGE patterns revealed a high degree of clonal diversity among the ESBL-producing isolates.
Periodic Multilayer for X-ray Spectroscopy in the Li K Range
Authors: Polkonikov Vladimir , Chkhalo Nikolai , Pleshkov Roman , Giglia Angelo , Rividi Nicolas , Brackx Emmanuelle , Le Guen Karine , Ismail Iyas , Jonnard Philippe
Published: July 2021

X-ray spectroscopy of lithium is very difficult, even impossible, with wavelength dispersive spectrometers commonly deployed on scanning electron microscopes or electron microprobe analyzers. This is due to the absence of crystals and lack of efficient periodic multilayer for this spectral range, around 50 eV. To address this issue, we propose using a Be/Si/Al multilayer having a period of about 29 nm. The multilayer was deposited by magnetron sputtering and its reflectivity measured as a function of the glancing angle in the spectral range of the Li K emission and as a function of the incident energy up to ~200 eV. This characterization demonstrates that the designed multilayer is suitable to efficiently perform spectroscopy in the range of the Li K emission in terms of reflectance (0.32 at 51.5 eV), bandwidth (around 3.5 eV) and rejection of high order diffracted radiation.
Exploring the Effect of Temporal Aggregation on SCADA Data for Wind Turbine Prognosis Using a Normality Model
Authors: Marti-Puig Pere , Bennásar-Sevillá Alejandro , Blanco-M. Alejandro , Solé-Casals Jordi
Published: July 2021

Today, the use of SCADA data for predictive maintenance and forecasting of wind turbines in wind farms is gaining popularity due to the low cost of this solution compared to others that require the installation of additional equipment. SCADA data provides four statistical measures (mean, standard deviation, maximum value, and minimum value) of hundreds of wind turbine magnitudes, usually in a 5-min or 10-min interval. Several studies have analysed the loss of information associated with the reduction of information when using five minutes instead of four seconds as a sampling frequency, or when compressing a time series recorded at 5 min to 10 min, concluding that some, but not all, of these magnitudes are seriously affected. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies on increasing the time interval beyond 10 min to take these four statistical values, and how this aggregation affects prognosis models. Our work shows that, despite the irreversible loss of information that occurs in the first 5 min, increasing the time considered to take the four representative statistical values improves the performance of the predicted targets in normality models.
Hindcasts of Sea Surface Wind around the Korean Peninsula Using the WRF Model: Added Value Evaluation and Estimation of Extreme Wind Speeds
Authors: Kim Hojin , Heo Ki-Young , Kim Nam-Hoon , Kwon Jae-Il
Published: July 2021

Sea surface wind plays an essential role in the simulating and predicting ocean phenomena. However, it is difficult to obtain accurate data with uniform spatiotemporal scale. A high-resolution (10 km) sea surface wind hindcast around the Korean Peninsula (KP) is presented using the weather research and forecasting model focusing on wind speed. The hindcast data for 39 years (1979–2017) are obtained by performing a three-dimensional variational analysis data assimilation, using ERA-Interim as initial and boundary conditions. To evaluate the added value of the hindcasts, the ASCAT-L2 satellite-based gridded data (DASCAT) is employed and regarded as “True” during 2008–2017. Hindcast and DASCAT data are verified using buoy observations from 1997–2017. The added value of the hindcast compared to ERA-Interim is evaluated using a modified Brier skill score method and analyzed for seasonality and wind intensity. Hindcast data primarily adds value to the coastal areas of the KP, particularly over the Yellow Sea in the summer, the East Sea in the winter, and the Korean Strait in all seasons. In case of strong winds (10–25 m·s−1), the hindcast performed better in the East Sea area. The estimation of extreme wind speeds is performed based on the added value and 50-year and 100-year return periods are estimated using a Weibull distribution. The results of this study can provide a reference dataset for climate perspective storm surge and wave simulation studies.
Air Pollution and the Airways: Lessons from a Century of Human Urbanization
Authors: Goossens Janne , Jonckheere Anne-Charlotte , Dupont Lieven J. , Bullens Dominique M. A.
Published: July 2021

Since the industrial revolution, air pollution has become a major problem causing several health problems involving the airways as well as the cardiovascular, reproductive, or neurological system. According to the WHO, about 3.6 million deaths every year are related to inhalation of polluted air, specifically due to pulmonary diseases. Polluted air first encounters the airways, which are a major human defense mechanism to reduce the risk of this aggressor. Air pollution consists of a mixture of potentially harmful compounds such as particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, each having its own effects on the human body. In the last decades, a lot of research investigating the underlying risks and effects of air pollution and/or its specific compounds on the airways, has been performed, involving both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The goal of this review is to give an overview of the recent data on the effects of air pollution on healthy and diseased airways or models of airway disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therefore, we focused on studies involving pollution and airway symptoms and/or damage both in mice and humans.
A Tseng-Type Algorithm with Self-Adaptive Techniques for Solving the Split Problem of Fixed Points and Pseudomonotone Variational Inequalities in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Zhu Li-Jun , Liou Yeong-Cheng
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we survey the split problem of fixed points of two pseudocontractive operators and variational inequalities of two pseudomonotone operators in Hilbert spaces. We present a Tseng-type iterative algorithm for solving the split problem by using self-adaptive techniques. Under certain assumptions, we show that the proposed algorithm converges weakly to a solution of the split problem. An application is included.
IDH Mutations in Glioma: Double-Edged Sword in Clinical Applications?
Authors: Kayabolen Alisan , Yilmaz Ebru , Bagci-Onder Tugba
Published: July 2021

Discovery of point mutations in the genes encoding isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH) in gliomas about a decade ago has challenged our view of the role of metabolism in tumor progression and provided a new stratification strategy for malignant gliomas. IDH enzymes catalyze the conversion of isocitrate to alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an intermediate in the citric acid cycle. Specific mutations in the genes encoding IDHs cause neomorphic enzymatic activity that produces D-2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) and result in the inhibition of α-KG-dependent enzymes such as histone and DNA demethylases. Thus, chromatin structure and gene expression profiles in IDH-mutant gliomas appear to be different from those in IDH-wildtype gliomas. IDH mutations are highly common in lower grade gliomas (LGG) and secondary glioblastomas, and they are among the earliest genetic events driving tumorigenesis. Therefore, inhibition of mutant IDH enzymes in LGGs is widely accepted as an attractive therapeutic strategy. On the other hand, the metabolic consequences derived from IDH mutations lead to selective vulnerabilities within tumor cells, making them more sensitive to several therapeutic interventions. Therefore, instead of shutting down mutant IDH enzymes, exploiting the selective vulnerabilities caused by them might be another attractive and promising strategy. Here, we review therapeutic options and summarize current preclinical and clinical studies on IDH-mutant gliomas.
Highly Sensitive Detection and Differentiation of Endotoxins Derived from Bacterial Pathogens by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Wu Xiaomeng , Zhao Yiping , Zughaier Susu M.
Published: July 2021

Bacterial endotoxins, as major components of Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane leaflets and a well-characterized TLR4-MD-2 ligand, are lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) that are constantly shed from bacteria during growth and infection. For the first time, we report that unique surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of enteric LPSs from E. coli, S. typhimurium, S. minnesota, V. cholerae, Rhizobium species R. CE3, and R. NGR, as well as Neisseria meningitidis endotoxin structures, LPSs, lipid A, and KDO2-lipid A can be obtained. The characteristic peaks of the SERS spectra reveal that most of the tested LPS structures are from lipids and saccharides, i.e., the major components of LPSs, and these spectra can be successfully used to differentiate between endotoxins with principal components analysis. In addition, all the LPS samples here are measured at a concentration of 10 nmole/mL, which corresponds to their relevant pathophysiological concentrations in clinical infections. This study demonstrates that LPSs can be used as biomarkers for the highly sensitive detection of bacteria using SERS-based methods.
Comprehension and Eye Movements in the Processing of Subject- and Object-Relative Clauses: Evidence from Dyslexia and Individual Differences
Authors: Stella Marianna , Engelhardt Paul E.
Published: July 2021

In this study, we examined eye movements and comprehension in sentences containing a relative clause. To date, few studies have focused on syntactic processing in dyslexia and so one goal of the study is to contribute to this gap in the experimental literature. A second goal is to contribute to theoretical psycholinguistic debate concerning the cause and the location of the processing difficulty associated with object-relative clauses. We compared dyslexic readers (n = 50) to a group of non-dyslexic controls (n = 50). We also assessed two key individual differences variables (working memory and verbal intelligence), which have been theorised to impact reading times and comprehension of subject- and object-relative clauses. The results showed that dyslexics and controls had similar comprehension accuracy. However, reading times showed participants with dyslexia spent significantly longer reading the sentences compared to controls (i.e., a main effect of dyslexia). In general, sentence type did not interact with dyslexia status. With respect to individual differences and the theoretical debate, we found that processing difficulty between the subject and object relatives was no longer significant when individual differences in working memory were controlled. Thus, our findings support theories, which assume that working memory demands are responsible for the processing difficulty incurred by (1) individuals with dyslexia and (2) object-relative clauses as compared to subject relative clauses.
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging—A Novel Approach to Monitor Bio Molecular Changes in Subacute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Rakib Fazle , Al-Saad Khalid , Ustaoglu Sebnem Garip , Ullah Ehsan , Mall Raghvendra , Thompson Richard , Abdelalim Essam M. , Ahmed Tariq , Severcan Feride , Ali Mohamed H. M.
Published: July 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be defined as a disorder in the function of the brain after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can cause devastating effects, such as the initiation of long-term neurodegeneration in brain tissue. In the current study, the effects of mTBI were investigated on rat brain regions; cortex (Co) and corpus callosum (CC) after 24 h (subacute trauma) by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging and immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC studies showed the formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the cortex brain region of mTBI rats. Moreover, staining of myelin basic protein presented the shearing of axons in CC region in the same group of animals. According to FTIR imaging results, total protein and lipid content significantly decreased in both Co and CC regions in mTBI group compared to the control. Due to this significant decrease in both lipid and protein content, remarkable consistency in lipid/protein band ratio in mTBI and control group, was observed. Significant decrease in methyl content and a significant increase in olefinic content were observed in Co and CC regions of mTBI rat brain tissues. Classification amongst distinguishable groups was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (HCA). This study established the prospective of FTIR imaging for assessing biochemical changes due to mTBI with high sensitivity, precision and high-resolution.
Exceeding Radiation Dose to Volume Parameters for the Proximal Airways with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Is More Likely for Ultracentral Lung Tumors and Associated with Worse Outcome
Authors: Farrugia Mark , Ma Sung Jun , Hennon Mark , Nwogu Chukwumere , Dexter Elisabeth , Picone Anthony , Demmy Todd , Yendamuri Sai , Yu Han , Fung-Kee-Fung Simon , Gomez-Suescun Jorge , Singh Anurag , Malhotra Harish
Published: July 2021

The preferred radiotherapeutic approach for central (CLT) and ultracentral (UCLT) lung tumors is unclear. We assessed the toxicity and outcomes of patients with CLT and UCLT who underwent definitive five-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We reviewed the charts of patients with either CLT or UCLT managed with SBRT from June 2010–April 2019. CLT were defined as gross tumor volume (GTV) within 2 cm of either the proximal bronchial tree, trachea, mediastinum, aorta, or spinal cord. UCLT were defined as GTV abutting any of these structures. Propensity score matching was performed for gender, performance status, and history of prior lung cancer. Within this cohort of 83 patients, 43 (51.8%) patients had UCLT. The median patient age was 73.1 years with a median follow up of 29.9 months. The two most common dose fractionation schemes were 5000 cGy (44.6%) and 5500 cGy (42.2%) in five fractions. Multivariate analysis revealed UCLT to be associated with worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.9, p = 0.02) but not time to progression (TTP). Using propensity score match pairing, UCLT correlated with reduced non-cancer associated survival (p = 0.049) and OS (p = 0.03), but not TTP. Within the matched cohort, dosimetric study found exceeding a D4cc of 18 Gy to either the proximal bronchus (HR = 3.9, p = 0.007) or trachea (HR = 4.0, p = 0.02) was correlated with worse non-cancer associated survival. In patients undergoing five fraction SBRT, UCLT location was associated with worse non-cancer associated survival and OS, which could be secondary to excessive D4cc dose to the proximal airways.