bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Women's Decision-Making Power in Pest and Disease Management: Evidence From Uganda
Authors: Okonya Joshua S. , Mudege Netsayi N. , Nyaga John N. , Jogo Wellington
Published: July 2021

Using quantitative data from a household survey carried out in Rubanda district, Southwestern Uganda among smallholder farmers of potato, this paper examines determinants of intra-household decision-making of women in relation to pest and disease management in a cropping season. Pests and diseases cause significant crop losses and contribute to household food insecurity in most of sub-Saharan Africa. Their management is therefore key in enhancing food security. While there are many pest and disease management practises, little is known about women's autonomy in decision-making on this topic. The survey collected quantitative data from 260 households (130 men and 130 women). To get a more accurate proxy for decision-making power, a weighted index and linear regression models were used to examine the relationship between decision-making power of women in pest and disease management and socio-demographic characteristics. We found that farming experience, use of hired labour and membership to a farmers group, were positively associated with woman's autonomy in decision-making during pest and disease management. Our data also show that higher levels of education, farm income and age consistently improve women authority. The implications of the study are that, women should equally be targeted during pest and disease management interventions such as training.
Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in the Absence of Clinical Disease in Cattle and Buffalo in South East Asia
Authors: Buckle Kelly , Bueno Rudolfo , McFadden Andrew , van Andel Mary , Spence Richard , Hamill Carolyn , Roe Wendi , Vallee Emilie , Castillo-Alcala Fernanda , Abila Ronel , Verin Blesilda , Purevsuren Bolortuya , Sutar Ashish , Win Htun Htun , Thiha Myo , Lwin Khin Ohnmar , Khounsy Syseng , Phonthasy Sengxay , Souriya Viliddeth , Keokhamphet Chattouphone , Arzt Jonathan , Ludi Anna , Mioulet Valérie
Published: July 2021

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is widespread throughout much of the world, including parts of South East Asia. Surveillance is often limited in endemic areas, relying predominantly on passive outbreak reporting. As part of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)'s South East Asia and China Foot-and-Mouth Disease Project (SEACFMD), field sampling was performed to help understand evidence of widespread virus exposure observed in previous studies. Serum and dry mucosal swabs were collected to evaluate the presence of FMDV RNA on the nasal, oral, and dorsal nasopharyngeal mucosal surfaces of 262 healthy cattle (n = 84 in Laos; n = 125 in Myanmar) and buffalo (n = 48 in Laos; n = 5 in Myanmar) immediately following slaughter in three slaughterhouses. Swabs and serum were tested by the OIE/FAO World Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease (WRLFMD) using pan-serotypic real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) and serum was evaluated using the FMD PrioCHECK non-structural protein (NSP) ELISA. In total, 7.3% of animals had detectable FMDV RNA in one or more of the three sites including 5.3% of nasopharyngeal swabs, 2.3% of oral swabs, and 1.5% of nasal swabs. No FMDV RNA was detected in serum. Overall, 37.8% of animals were positive for NSP antibodies, indicating likely past natural exposure to FMDV. Results were comparable for Laos and Myanmar, and for both cattle and buffalo, and were not significantly different between age groups. Detectable FMDV RNA present on the oral and nasal mucosa of clinically-healthy large ruminants in Laos and Myanmar demonstrates the importance of sampling asymptomatic animals as part of surveillance, and may indicate that subclinical infection plays a role in the epidemiology of FMD in these countries.
Epidemiology of Pestivirus H in Brazil and Its Control Implications
Authors: Bauermann Fernando V. , Ridpath Julia F.
Published: July 2021

Along with viruses in the Pestivirus A (Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus 1, BVDV1) and B species (Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus 2, BVDV2), members of the Pestivirus H are mainly cattle pathogens. Viruses belonging to the Pestivirus H group are known as HoBi-like pestiviruses (HoBiPev). Genetic and antigenic characterization suggest that HoBiPev are the most divergent pestiviruses identified in cattle to date. The phylogenetic analysis of HoBiPev results in at least five subgroups (a–e). Under natural or experimental conditions, calves infected with HoBiPev strains typically display mild upper respiratory signs, including nasal discharge and cough. Although BVDV1 and BVDV2 are widely distributed and reported in many South American countries, reports of HoBiPev in South America are mostly restricted to Brazil. Despite the endemicity and high prevalence of HoBiPev in Brazil, only HoBiPev-a was identified to date in Brazil. Unquestionably, HoBiPev strains in BVDV vaccine formulations are required to help curb HoBiPev spread in endemic regions. The current situation in Brazil, where at this point only HoBiPev-a seems present, provides a more significant opportunity to control these viruses with the use of a vaccine with a single HoBiPev subtype. Despite the lack of differentiation among bovine pestiviruses by current BVDV tests, the reduced genetic variability of HoBiPev in Brazil may allow reliable identification of cases within the region. On the other hand, introducing foreign ruminants, biologicals, and genetic material to South America, especially if it originated from other HoBiPev-endemic countries, should consider the risk of introducing divergent HoBiPev subtypes.
Are These Cats Playing? A Closer Look at Social Play in Cats and Proposal for a Psychobiological Approach and Standard Terminology
Authors: Gajdoš Kmecová Noema , Pet'ková Barbara , Kottferová Jana , Skurková Lenka , Mills Daniel S.
Published: July 2021

Play in domestic cats has been largely studied using a contextual approach, i.e., with a focus on what the cat is playing with, such as an object, itself or another cat. Such classification may be superficially attractive scientifically but it limits the ability to investigate function. We propose consideration of a psychobiological approach, which increases attention on hypotheses about the motivational and emotional state of the actors, may be more valuable. This may be particularly important in the case of intercat exchanges that might involve play, for example when one cat may chase another which does not want to be chased, the general interaction should not be considered playful. Key to improving the scientific study of such interactions is the need to adopt a common terminology, thus we synthesise a common ethogram from the published literature. Secondly at the heart of a psychobiological approach is a consideration of both the affective state and motivational goal of each actor in an interaction, since they may not be congruent, and recognition of the hypothetical nature of any such functional classification. However, this bottom up approach provides valuable insights that can be tested. We argue that when one cat treats another as an object or prey, such activity relates to the former cat seeking to learn about its own skills in relation to manipulating its physical environment (prey are not considered part of the complex social relationships and thus social environment of an individual). However, when interaction between cats is reciprocal it may function to facilitate social learning and may be best described as mutual social play. It needs to be recognised that interactions are dynamic and thus our classification of a situation needs to be flexible. So mutual social play may turn into a form of non-reciprocal interaction. We conclude by outlining priorities for future research to help us improve our ability to answer the question “Are these cats playing?” in a wider range of contexts.
Three-Axes Attitude Control of Solar Sail Based on Shape Variation of Booms
Authors: Zhang Feng , Gong Shengping , Baoyin Hexi
Published: July 2021

Actively controlling the attitude of the solar sail is necessary to adjust the solar radiation pressure force for trajectory transfer and orbit control. The special configuration of the solar sail makes it very important to develop a unique attitude control strategy that differs from traditional methods. An attitude control method, based on shape variation of booms, is proposed in this manuscript. Firstly, we derive the equations to calculate the solar radiation pressure force and torque of the deformed solar sail. Then, the factors affecting forces and torques are analyzed. Finally, PD control law is applied to realize the three-axis attitude control for the solar sail.
The Effect of a Preparation Containing Rhizobial Nod Factors on Pea Morphological Traits and Physiology
Authors: Smytkiewicz Karolina , Podleśny Janusz , Wielbo Jerzy , Podleśna Anna
Published: July 2021

The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of increasing the pea yields by improving the symbiotic nitrogen fixation through the use of a preparation containing bacterial Nod factors (NFs). Two pea cultivars were included in the experiment: Wiato (with traditional foliage) and Model (afila type). Before sowing, the seeds were soaked in distilled water (control) and in a preparation of Nod factors at a concentration of 10−12 M dm−3 H2O. As a result, of the Nod factor preparation use, an acceleration of the date and uniformity of pea plant emergence was observed. The treatment had also a positive effect on the number and weight of root nodules, which resulted in a significant increase in the yield of vegetative and generative plant organs. A positive effect of seed soaking with NFs preparation was also observed in the dynamics of pea weight increase, chlorophyll content in leaves and the values of gas exchange parameters. Model cultivar of pea had generally higher values of the analysed traits than Wiato, but the response of both cultivars to Nod factors was similar. This means that application of the preparation containing NFs, may improve the growth, development, and yield of both types of pea.
Remote Sensing Calculation of the Influence of Wildfire on Erosion in High Mountain Areas
Authors: Sánchez Sánchez Yolanda , Martínez Graña Antonio , Santos- Francés Fernando
Published: July 2021

Soil erosion is one of the most important environmental problems of the moment, especially in areas affected by wildfires. In this paper, we study pre-fire and post-fire erosion using remote sensing techniques with Sentinel-2 satellite images and LiDAR. The Normalized Burn Ratio is used to determine the areas affected by the fire that occurred on 18 August 2016 in the Natural Reserve of Garganta de los Infiernos (Cáceres). To calculate the erosion, the multi-criteria analysis is carried out from the RUSLE. Once all calculations were performed, there was a considerable increase in sediment production from 16 June 2016 (pre-fire) with an erosion of 31 T/ha·year to 16 June 2017 of 74 T/ha·year for areas of moderate fire severity, and an increase from 11 T/ha·year in 2016 to 70 T/ha·year for areas with a very high severity. From the NDVI, it was possible to verify that this also affected the recovery of post-fire vegetation, decreasing the NDVI index 0.36 in areas of moderate severity and 0.53 in areas of very high severity.
Do Erratic Rainfalls Hamper Grain Production? Analysis of Supply Response of Rice to Price and Non-Price Factors
Authors: Mustafa Ghulam , Abbas Azhar , Alotaibi Bader Alhafi , Aldosri Fahd O.
Published: July 2021

Increasing rice production has become one of the ultimate goals for South Asian countries. The yield and area under rice production are also facing threats due to the consequences of climate change such as erratic rainfall and seasonal variation. Thus, the main aim of this work was to find out the supply response of rice in Malaysia in relation to both price and non-price factors. To achieve this target, time series analysis was conducted on data from 1970 to 2014 using cointegration, unit root test, and the vector error correction model. The results showed that the planted area and rainfall have a significant effect on rice production; however, the magnitude of the impact of rainfall is less conspicuous for off-season (season 2) rice as compared to main-season rice (season 1). The speed of adjustment from short-run to long-run for season-1 rice production is almost two-and-a-half years (five production seasons), while for season-2 production, it is only about one-and-a-half year (three production seasons). Consequently, the study findings imply the supply of water to be enhanced through better water infrastructure for both seasons. Moreover, the area under season 2 is continuously declining to the point where the government has to make sure that farmers are able to cultivate the same area for rice production by providing uninterrupted supply of critical inputs, particularly water, seed and fertilizers.
Morphometric Study of Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus in Qatar
Authors: Islam Md Mazharul , Farag Elmoubashar , Mahmoudi Ahmad , Hassan Mohammad Mahmudul , Atta Muzzamil , Mostafavi Ehsan , Alnager Ismail Alnour , Farrag Hassan Ali , Eljack Gaafar El Awad , Bansal Devendra , Haroun Mohamed , Abdeen Randa , Al-Romaihi Hamad , Al-Zeyara Abdul Aziz , Almalki Sowaid Ali , Mkhize-Kwitshana Zilungile
Published: July 2021

The current study was undertaken to estimate the morphometric pattern of three commensal rodents, i.e., Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus rattus in Qatar. One hundred forty-eight rodents were captured from different facilities throughout Qatar. The captured rodents were used to identify the external body and cranio-mandibular morphometry. The study found that R. norvregicus was the most prevalent (n = 120, 81%, 95% CI: 73.83–87.05). Most of the rodents were collected from Al Rayan municipality (n = 92, 62%), were adults (n = 138, 93.2%, 95% CI: 87.92–96.71), and were from livestock farms (n = 79, 49%, 95% CI: 41.02–57.65). The rodents’ average body weights were 18.8 ± 2.2 gm, 264.3 ± 87.5 gm, and 130 ± 71.3 gm for M. musculus, R. norvegicus, and R. rattus, respectively. The research found that the studied rodents are smaller than those of other countries such as Turkey, Tunisia, and Iran. The study of morphometry is a useful tool for the traditional identification of small mammal species, including rodents. The average morphometric measurements of the external body and skull were normally distributed and can be used as a reference of R. norvegicus and R. rattus for Qatar. A further comprehensive study is required to investigate the rodent population index, eco-friendly control program, and public health importance in Qatar.
Toxicity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Embryo of Javanese Medaka (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854): A Comparative Study
Authors: Amin Naweedullah , Zulkifli Syaizwan Zahmir , Azmai Mohammad Noor Amal , Ismail Ahmad
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely applied in various human products. However, they can be extremely toxic for aquatic organisms, particularly fish. This research was conducted to determine the LC50 of ZnO NPs on the embryos of Javanese medaka (Oryzias javanicus) in ultra-pure, deionized, and dechlorinated tap water; (2) Methods: The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates for six treatments for acute (0.100, 0.250, 0.500, 1.00, 5.00, and 10.00 mg/L) exposures for each type of water; (3) Results: The LC50 of ZnO NPs at 96 h was determined as 0.643 mg/L in ultra-pure water, 1.333 mg/L in deionized water, and 2.370 in dechlorinated tap water. In addition to concentration-dependent toxicity, we also observed time-dependent toxicity for ZnO NPs. In addition, the sizes of ZnO NPs increased immediately after dispersion and were 1079 nm, 3209 nm, and 3652 nm in ultra-pure, deionized, and dechlorinated tap water. The highest concentration of measured Zn2+ in exposure concentrations was found in ultra-pure water, followed by deionized and dechlorinated tap water suspensions. Furthermore, Javanese medaka showed high sensitivity to acute exposure of ZnO NPs in all types of water.
Application of Apparent Metabolizable Energy versus Nitrogen-Corrected Apparent Metabolizable Energy in Poultry Feed Formulations: A Continuing Conundrum
Authors: Abdollahi M. Reza , Wiltafsky-Martin Markus , Ravindran Velmurugu
Published: July 2021

In the present investigation, N retention, AME, and AMEn data from six energy evaluation assays, involving four protein sources (soybean meal, full-fat soybean, rapeseed meal and maize distiller’s dried grains with solubles [DDGS]), are reported. The correction for zero N retention, reduced the AME value of soybean meal samples from different origins from 9.9 to 17.8% with increasing N retention. The magnitude of AME penalization in full-fat soybean samples, imposed by zero N correction, increased from 1.90 to 9.64% with increasing N retention. The Δ AME (AME minus AMEn) in rapeseed meal samples increased from 0.70 to 1.09 MJ/kg as N-retention increased. In maize DDGS samples, the correction for zero N retention increased the magnitude of AME penalization from 5.44 to 8.21% with increasing N retention. For all protein sources, positive correlations (p < 0.001; r = 0.831 to 0.991) were observed between the N retention and Δ AME. The present data confirms that correcting AME values to zero N retention for modern broilers penalizes the energy value of protein sources and is of higher magnitude for ingredients with higher protein quality. Feed formulation based on uncorrected AME values could benefit least cost broiler feed formulations and merits further investigation.
Modelling Extended Lactations in Polish Holstein–Friesian Cows
Authors: Otwinowska-Mindur Agnieszka , Ptak Ewa , Makulska Joanna , Jarnecka Olga
Published: July 2021

The objectives of this study were (1) to examine different shapes of lactation curves for milk, fat, protein and lactose yields and urea content in milk fitted by the Wilmink function using the test-day (TD) records and (2) to find the function that best describes test-day records beyond 305 days in milk (DIM) for Polish Holstein–Friesian cows. The data were 6,955,768 TD records from the 702,830 first six lactations of 284,193 Polish Holstein–Friesian cows. Cows calved in 19,102 herds between 2001 and 2018. The following functions were fitted to TD data from each lactation: (1) Wilmink model fitted to the whole lactation, (2) Wilmink model fitted to TD records from 5 to 305 DIM and linear function fitted to TD records from 306 to 400 DIM, (3) Wilmink model fitted to TD records from 5 to 305 DIM and squared function fitted to TD records from 306 to 400 DIM. The present study showed that urea content in milk was modelled slightly worse than other milk traits. The results suggested that the course of lactation could be successfully modelled by a nonlinear model, for example, the Wilmink function, for up to 305 DIM, and by the linear or squared function afterwards.
Laser Light Pointers for Use in Companion Cat Play: Association with Guardian-Reported Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors
Authors: Kogan Lori R. , Grigg Emma K.
Published: July 2021

Use of laser light pointers for feline play is popular with many companion cat guardians. It can be an enjoyable shared interaction and provide an opportunity for feline exercise. Laser light play alone, however, does not allow cats to complete the hunting sequence and it has been suggested that this may trigger frustration and stress, common contributors to compulsive behaviors. This study examined the potential relationship between the use of laser light pointers for play and excessive or abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) often linked to diagnosis of feline compulsive disorders. Using an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey, we explored cat guardians’ use of laser toys and reported ARBs in their cats. A total of 618 responses were analyzed, primarily female participants from the United States. We found significant associations between the frequency of laser light play and the occurrence of all surveyed ARBs, apart from overgrooming. Provision of outdoor access and cat age were also significant predictors of reported ARBs: indoor-only cats, and young (1–2 years) cats were more likely to display ARBs. The strongest patterns were seen for behaviors which may be connected to laser light play: chasing lights or shadows, staring “obsessively” at lights or reflections, and fixating on a specific toy. Although correlational, these results suggest that laser light toys may be associated with the development of compulsive behaviors in cats, warranting further research into their use and potential risks.
Feeding Crude Glycerin to Finishing Iberian Crossbred Pigs: Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Parameters
Authors: Martínez-Miró Silvia , Madrid Josefa , López Miguel José , Orengo Juan , Sánchez Cristian Jesús , Hernández Fuensanta
Published: July 2021

A total of 192 Iberian × Duroc pigs kept under intensive conditions were used to investigate the effects of feeding crude glycerin on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters. Animals were blocked by initial body weight (96.0 ± 11.3 kg) and allotted to pens (16 pigs per pen). Pens were assigned randomly to one of three dietary treatments (four pens per treatment). Dietary treatments contained 0, 5, or 10% of crude glycerin proportionally substituting for wheat (G0, G5, and G10, respectively). Diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isoaminoacidic. No significant effect of crude glycerin was observed on average daily gain, average feed intake, or feed conversion ratio. The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein was no different between treatments. Total serum protein, albumin, glucose, insulin, and IGF-1 were not affected by glycerin inclusion. In conclusion, crude glycerin up to 100 g/kg can be included in the diets of finishing Iberian crossbred pigs without any negative effect on growth performance, digestibility, or serum metabolic parameters.
Diet and Exercise Modulate GH-IGFs Axis, Proteolytic Markers and Myogenic Regulatory Factors in Juveniles of Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)
Authors: Perelló-Amorós Miquel , García-Pérez Isabel , Sánchez-Moya Albert , Innamorati Arnau , Vélez Emilio J. , Achaerandio Isabel , Pujolà Montserrat , Calduch-Giner Josep , Pérez-Sánchez Jaume , Fernández-Borràs Jaume , Blasco Josefina , Gutiérrez Joaquim
Published: July 2021

The physiological and endocrine benefits of sustained exercise in fish were largely demonstrated, and this work examines how the swimming activity can modify the effects of two diets (high-protein, HP: 54% proteins, 15% lipids; high-energy, HE: 50% proteins, 20% lipids) on different growth performance markers in gilthead sea bream juveniles. After 6 weeks of experimentation, fish under voluntary swimming and fed with HP showed significantly higher circulating growth hormone (GH) levels and plasma GH/insulin-like growth-1 (IGF-1) ratio than fish fed with HE, but under exercise, differences disappeared. The transcriptional profile of the GH-IGFs axis molecules and myogenic regulatory factors in liver and muscle was barely affected by diet and swimming conditions. Under voluntary swimming, fish fed with HE showed significantly increased mRNA levels of capn1, capn2, capn3, capns1a, n3, and ub, decreased gene and protein expression of Ctsl and Mafbx and lower muscle texture than fish fed with HP. When fish were exposed to sustained exercise, diet-induced differences in proteases’ expression and muscle texture almost disappeared. Overall, these results suggest that exercise might be a useful tool to minimize nutrient imbalances and that proteolytic genes could be good markers of the culture conditions and dietary treatments in fish.
Reproductive Anatomy of Chondrichthyans: Notes on Specimen Handling and Sperm Extraction. II. Sharks and Chimaeras
Authors: García-Salinas Pablo , Gallego Victor , Asturiano Juan F.
Published: July 2021

The chondrichthyan fishes, which comprise sharks, rays, and chimaeras, are one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates on the planet. Given this situation, an additional strategy for the protection of these species could be the ex situ conservation projects developed in public aquaria and research centers. Nevertheless, to increase sustainability and to develop properly in situ reintroduction strategies, captive breeding techniques, such as sperm extraction and artificial insemination, should be developed. These techniques are commonly used in other threatened species and could be also used in chondrichthyans. However, the different reproductive morphologies found in this group can complicate both processes. Therefore, a comparison of the reproductive anatomy of eight distinct chondrichthyans, with an emphasis on those important differences when performing sperm extraction or artificial insemination, is carried out herein. Sharks and chimaeras belonging to the Scyliorhinidae, Carcharhinidae, Centrophoridae, Etmopteridae, Hexanchidae, and Chimaeridae families were obtained from commercial fisheries, public aquaria, and stranding events. In addition, the process of obtaining viable sperm samples through cannulation, abdominal massage, and oviducal gland extraction is described in detail for both living and dead animals.
Current Antimicrobial Stewardship Practice and Education in Russian Hospitals: Results of a Multicenter Survey
Authors: Palagin Ivan , Rachina Svetlana , Sukhorukova Marina , Nizhegorodtseva Irina , Portnyagina Ulyana , Gordeeva Svetlana , Burasova Elena , Bagin Vladimir , Domanskaya Olga , Nathwani Dilip , Kozlov Roman
Published: July 2021

Proper antibiotic usage education and training of medical students and healthcare professionals is the cornerstone to implement antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs worldwide. We conducted this voluntary and anonymous survey on current and preferred educational provision of AMS in Russia. Among 1358 polled respondents from six participating Centers located in geographically remote Federal Districts of Russia, the majority were nurses (52.8%) and doctors (42.0%). Results of the survey demonstrated better coverage of education in AMS on an undergraduate level (57.1%). More than half of respondents in total (52.4%) stated they had not received any postgraduate training. Those 38.4% respondents who received postgraduate teaching in AMS stated that it had been provided substantially by an employing hospital (28.4%) or by a medical university/college (22.3%). According to the conducted survey, the methods of education in AMS in Russian Federation mainly include traditional face-to-face lectures, presentations and provision with clinical guidelines, recommendations and printed materials. The involvement of e-learning and web-based online approaches was lacking. The survey allowed us the identify the key problems associated with training of healthcare workers in this field, in particular the varying availability of under- and postgraduate education in different parts of Russia.
Long-Lasting Stable Expression of Human LL-37 Antimicrobial Peptide in Transgenic Barley Plants
Authors: Mirzaee Malihe , Holásková Edita , Mičúchová Alžbeta , Kopečný David J. , Osmani Zhila , Frébort Ivo
Published: July 2021

Antimicrobial peptides play a crucial role in the innate immune system of multicellular organisms. LL-37 is the only known member of the human cathelicidin family. As well as possessing antibacterial properties, it is actively involved in various physiological responses in eukaryotic cells. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in large-scale, low-cost, and microbial endotoxin-free production of LL-37 recombinant peptides for pharmaceutical applications. As a heterologous expression biofactory, we have previously obtained homologous barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as an attractive vehicle for producing recombinant human LL-37 in the grain storage compartment, endosperm. The long-term stability of expression and inheritance of transgenes is necessary for the successful commercialization of recombinant proteins. Here, we report the stable inheritance and expression of the LL-37 gene in barley after six generations, including two consecutive seasons of experimental field cultivation. The transgenic plants showed normal growth and remained fertile. Based on the bacteria viability test, the produced peptide LL-37 retained high antibacterial activity.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of 4-HNE, NGAL, and HO-1 Tissue Expression after Apocynin Treatment and HBO Preconditioning in Postischemic Acute Kidney Injury Induced in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Kovacevic Sanjin , Ivanov Milan , Zivotic Maja , Brkic Predrag , Miloradovic Zoran , Jeremic Rada , Mihailovic-Stanojevic Nevena , Vajic Una Jovana , Karanovic Danijela , Jovovic Djurdjica , Nesovic Ostojic Jelena
Published: July 2021

Oxidative stress has been considered as a central aggravating factor in the development of postischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to perform the immunohistochemical analysis of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) tissue expression after apocynin (APO) treatment and hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) preconditioning, applied as single or combined protocol, in postischemic acute kidney injury induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Twenty-four hours before AKI induction, HBO preconditioning was carried out by exposing to pure oxygen (2.026 bar) twice a day, for 60 min in two consecutive days. Acute kidney injury was induced by removal of the right kidney while the left renal artery was occluded for 45 min by atraumatic clamp. Apocynin was applied in a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight, intravenously, 5 min before reperfusion. We showed increased 4-HNE renal expression in postischemic AKI compared to Sham-operated (SHAM) group. Apocynin treatment, with or without HBO preconditioning, improved creatinine and phosphate clearances, in postischemic AKI. This improvement in renal function was accompanied with decreased 4-HNE, while HO-1 kidney expression restored close to the control group level. NGAL renal expression was also decreased after apocynin treatment, and HBO preconditioning, with or without APO treatment. Considering our results, we can say that 4-HNE tissue expression can be used as a marker of oxidative stress in postischemic AKI. On the other hand, apocynin treatment and HBO preconditioning reduced oxidative damage, and this protective effect might be expected even in experimental hypertensive condition.
Oxygen Biosensors and Control in 3D Physiomimetic Experimental Models
Authors: Otero Jorge , Ulldemolins Anna , Farré Ramon , Almendros Isaac
Published: July 2021

Traditional cell culture is experiencing a revolution moving toward physiomimetic approaches aiming to reproduce healthy and pathological cell environments as realistically as possible. There is increasing evidence demonstrating that biophysical and biochemical factors determine cell behavior, in some cases considerably. Alongside the explosion of these novel experimental approaches, different bioengineering techniques have been developed and improved. Increased affordability and popularization of 3D bioprinting, fabrication of custom-made lab-on-a chip, development of organoids and the availability of versatile hydrogels are factors facilitating the design of tissue-specific physiomimetic in vitro models. However, lower oxygen diffusion in 3D culture is still a critical limitation in most of these studies, requiring further efforts in the field of physiology and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. During recent years, novel advanced 3D devices are introducing integrated biosensors capable of monitoring oxygen consumption, pH and cell metabolism. These biosensors seem to be a promising solution to better control the oxygen delivery to cells and to reproduce some disease conditions involving hypoxia. This review discusses the current advances on oxygen biosensors and control in 3D physiomimetic experimental models.
Usnic Acid and Usnea barbata (L.) F.H. Wigg. Dry Extracts Promote Apoptosis and DNA Damage in Human Blood Cells through Enhancing ROS Levels
Authors: Popovici Violeta , Matei Elena , Cozaru Georgeta Camelia , Aschie Mariana , Bucur Laura , Rambu Dan , Costache Teodor , Cucolea Iulia Elena , Vochita Gabriela , Gherghel Daniela , Caraiane Aureliana , Badea Victoria
Published: July 2021

Nowadays, numerous biomedical studies performed on natural compounds and plant extracts aim to obtain highly selective pharmacological activities without unwanted toxic effects. In the big world of medicinal plants, Usnea barbata (L) F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) and usnic acid (UA) are well-known for their therapeutical properties. One of the most studied properties is their cytotoxicity on various tumor cells. This work aims to evaluate their cytotoxic potential on normal blood cells. Three dry U. barbata extracts in various solvents: ethyl acetate (UBEA), acetone (UBA), and ethanol (UBE) were prepared. From UBEA we isolated usnic acid with high purity by semipreparative chromatography. Then, UA, UBA, and UBE dissolved in 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and diluted in four concentrations were tested for their toxicity on human blood cells. The blood samples were collected from a healthy non-smoker donor; the obtained blood cell cultures were treated with the tested samples. After 24 h, the cytotoxic effect was analyzed through the mechanisms that can cause cell death: early and late apoptosis, caspase 3/7 activity, nuclear apoptosis, autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and DNA damage. Generally, the cytotoxic effect was directly proportional to the increase of concentrations, usnic acid inducing the most significant response. At high concentrations, usnic acid and U. barbata extracts induced apoptosis and DNA damage in human blood cells, increasing ROS levels. Our study reveals the importance of prior natural products toxicity evaluation on normal cells to anticipate their limits and benefits as potential anticancer drugs.
Ka-Band Stacked Power Amplifier Supporting 3GPP New Radio FR2 Band n258 Implemented Using 45 nm CMOS SOI
Authors: Aikio Janne P. , Sethi Alok , Hietanen Mikko , Rusanen Jere , Rahkonen Timo , Pärssinen Aarno
Published: July 2021

This paper presents a fully integrated, four-stack, single-ended, single stage power amplifier (PA) for millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless applications that was fabricated and designed using 45 nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor silicon on insulator (CMOS SOI) technology. The frequency of operation is from 20 GHz to 30 GHz, with 13.7 dB of maximum gain. The maximum RF (radio frequency) output power (Pout), power-added efficiency (PAE) and output 1 dB compression point are 20.5 dBm, 29% and 18.8 dBm, respectively, achieved at 24 GHz. The error vector magnitude (EVM) of 12.5% was measured at an average channel power of 14.5 dBm at the center of the the 3GPP/NR (third generation partnership project/new radio) FR2 band n258—i.e., 26 GHz—using a 100 MHz 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) 3GPP/NR orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) signal.
Healing Capacity of Bone Surrounding Biofilm-Infected and Non-Infected Gutta-Percha: A Study of Rat Calvaria
Authors: Moreinos Daniel , Wigler Ronald , Geffen Yuval , Akrish Sharon , Lin Shaul
Published: July 2021

This paper aims to evaluate the healing capacity of bony lesions around biofilm-infected and non-infected gutta-percha (GP) points. Bony defects were created in the calvaria of 28 Wistar rats. The rats were divided into three groups: Group 1—Implantation of infected GP particles in the bony defect; Group 2—Positive control implantation of non-infected GP particles in the bony defect; and Group 3—Negative control, in which no GP particles were implanted. The biofilm consisted of three strains of bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus sanguis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The animals were sacrificed 60 days postoperation, and histological assessments were performed. In Group 1, the biofilm-infected group, we observed a mild foreign body reaction with a few inflammatory cells adjacent to the capsule and a newly woven bone matrix surrounded by osteoblasts and mature bone. In Group 2, the non-infected GP particles group, minimal inflammatory cell reactions were observed in the adjacent tissue, and a newly woven bone matrix was surrounded by osteoblasts. This study shows that bone healing is possible around both sterile and infected GP points. This contradicts the claim that some root canal treatments fail because of non-microbial factors, including extruded root canal filling materials, which may cause foreign body reactions. The healing observed suggests that overextension should not be considered an indication for endodontic surgery.
A Novel Unsupervised Computational Method for Ventricular and Supraventricular Origin Beats Classification
Authors: Casas Manuel M. , Avitia Roberto L. , Cardenas-Haro Jose Antonio , Kalita Jugal , Torres-Reyes Francisco J. , Reyna Marco A. , Bravo-Zanoguera Miguel E.
Published: July 2021

Arrhythmias are the most common events tracked by a physician. The need for continuous monitoring of such events in the ECG has opened the opportunity for automatic detection. Intra- and inter-patient paradigms are the two approaches currently followed by the scientific community. The intra-patient approach seems to resolve the problem with a high classification percentage but requires a physician to label key samples. The inter-patient makes use of historic data of different patients to build a general classifier, but the inherent variability in the ECG’s signal among patients leads to lower classification percentages compared to the intra-patient approach. In this work, we propose a new unsupervised algorithm that adapts to every patient using the heart rate and morphological features of the ECG beats to classify beats between supraventricular origin and ventricular origin. The results of our work in terms of F-score are 0.88, 0.89, and 0.93 for the ventricular origin beats for three popular ECG databases, and around 0.99 for the supraventricular origin for the same databases, comparable to supervised approaches presented in other works. This paper presents a new path to make use of ECG data to classify heartbeats without the assistance of a physician despite the needed improvements.
Impact of Dietary Supplementation of Flaxseed Meal on Intestinal Morphology, Specific Enzymatic Activity, and Cecal Microbiome in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Popescu Roua Gabriela , Voicu Sorina Nicoleta , Gradisteanu Pircalabioru Gratiela , Gharbia Sami , Hermenean Anca , Georgescu Sergiu Emil , Panaite Tatiana Dumitra , Turcu Raluca Paula , Dinischiotu Anca
Published: July 2021

The use of natural feed additives could be a beneficial approach to maintaining the health of chickens and a way to improve food digestion. Flaxseed is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid, oleic acid, and fiber. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of 4% flaxseed on the intestinal morphology, specific enzymatic activity, and cecal microbiome in broiler chickens. The 4-week feeding trial was conducted on 100 Cobb 500 (14 days of age) unsexed broiler chickens divided into two groups: a control group (C) and an experimental group (E). The broilers were housed in boxes of size 3 m2 (each group was housed in a single box with 10 replicates, 5 chickens per replicate) and reared on permanent wood shaves litter (10–12 cm thick). At the end of the experiment, chickens (n = 10) were sacrificed and tissue samples were harvested from the duodenum, jejunum, and cecum for histological, enzymatic, and microbiome analyses. In group E, histological analysis revealed a significant increase in villus height (p < 0.001) possibly leading to enhanced intestinal nutrient absorption. An increase in the specific activities of α-amylase (p < 0.05), invertase (p < 0.01), and endo-β-1,4-glucanase (p < 0.001) was noticed in the E group for the duodenum and jejunum compared to the control group. In contrast, maltase activity decreased in the duodenum and increased in the jejunum in the E group. The trypsin and lipase specific activities did not vary in a significant way. In addition, the cecal microbiome of the E group was characterized by an increase in Lactobacilli (p < 0.01) and Clostridium coccoides and a decrease in Bacteroides, Ruminoccocus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridium leptum. In conclusion, our results suggest that dietary supplementation of flaxseed meal may boost intestinal health status in poultry.
Opportunities and Constraints in Applying Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in Food Authentication. Honey—A Case Study
Authors: Hategan Ariana Raluca , Puscas Romulus , Cristea Gabriela , Dehelean Adriana , Guyon Francois , Molnar Arthur Jozsef , Mirel Valentin , Magdas Dana Alina
Published: July 2021

The present work aims to test the potential of the application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for food authentication. For this purpose, honey was chosen as the working matrix. The samples were originated from two countries: Romania (50) and France (53), having as floral origins: acacia, linden, honeydew, colza, galium verum, coriander, sunflower, thyme, raspberry, lavender and chestnut. The ANNs were built on the isotope and elemental content of the investigated honey samples. This approach conducted to the development of a prediction model for geographical recognition with an accuracy of 96%. Alongside this work, distinct models were developed and tested, with the aim of identifying the most suitable configurations for this application. In this regard, improvements have been continuously performed; the most important of them consisted in overcoming the unwanted phenomenon of over-fitting, observed for the training data set. This was achieved by identifying appropriate values for the number of iterations over the training data and for the size and number of the hidden layers and by introducing of a dropout layer in the configuration of the neural structure. As a conclusion, ANNs can be successfully applied in food authenticity control, but with a degree of caution with respect to the “over optimization” of the correct classification percentage for the training sample set, which can lead to an over-fitted model.
Seismic and Energy Performance Evaluation of Large-Scale Curtain Walls Subjected to Displacement Control Fasteners
Authors: Lee Heonseok , Oh Myunghwan , Seo Junwon , Kim Woosuk
Published: July 2021

Glass façade curtain walls in buildings is the façade system of choice in modern architecture of mid- to high-rise buildings. This study investigates the seismic and thermal insulation performance of curtain wall systems through structural analysis using the finite element method (FEM) and LBNL Window&Therm insulation analysis. The aim was to optimize the capability of the curtain wall module system and the fastener element technology to respond to displacement and vibration caused by dynamic seismic waves. Using the structural analysis of the optimization process, a curtain wall system capable of withstanding earthquake waves of 0.4 Hz, displacement of ±150 mm or more, and capable of responding to three-axis (X, Y, and Z-axis) dynamic earthquakes, was fabricated. Then, a curtain wall system that satisfies not only the evaluation of seismic performance, but also the desired airtightness, watertightness, wind pressure, and insulation, which are essential requirements for field applications, was verified through an experiment. Based on this study, it is expected that a curtain wall system capable of responding to three-axis dynamic seismic waves can be applied to mid- and high-rise buildings to prevent secondary damage in the event of an earthquake.
Contribution of Particle–Wall Distance and Rotational Motion of a Single Confined Elliptical Particle to the Effective Viscosity in Pressure-Driven Plane Poiseuille Flows
Authors: Kawaguchi Misa , Fukui Tomohiro , Morinishi Koji
Published: July 2021

Rheological properties of the suspension flow, especially effective viscosity, partly depend on spatial arrangement and motion of suspended particles. It is important to consider effective viscosity from the microscopic point of view. For elliptical particles, the equilibrium position of inertial migration in confined state is unclear, and there are few studies on the relationship between dynamics of suspended particles and induced local effective viscosity distribution. Contribution of a single circular or elliptical particle flowing between parallel plates to the effective viscosity was studied, focusing on the particle–wall distance and particle rotational motion using the two-dimensional regularized lattice Boltzmann method and virtual flux method. As a result, confinement effects of the elliptical particle on the equilibrium position of inertial migration were summarized using three definitions of confinement. In addition, the effects of particle shape (aspect ratio and confinement) on the effective viscosity were assessed focusing on the particle–wall distance. The contribution of particle shape to the effective viscosity was found to be enhanced when the particle flowed near the wall. Focusing on the spatial and temporal variation of relative viscosity evaluated from wall shear stress, it was found that the spatial variation of the local relative viscosity was larger than temporal variation regardless of the aspect ratio and particle–wall distance.
Performance Improvement of Decision Tree: A Robust Classifier Using Tabu Search Algorithm
Authors: Hafeez Muhammad Asfand , Rashid Muhammad , Tariq Hassan , Abideen Zain Ul , Alotaibi Saud S. , Sinky Mohammed H.
Published: July 2021

Classification and regression are the major applications of machine learning algorithms which are widely used to solve problems in numerous domains of engineering and computer science. Different classifiers based on the optimization of the decision tree have been proposed, however, it is still evolving over time. This paper presents a novel and robust classifier based on a decision tree and tabu search algorithms, respectively. In the aim of improving performance, our proposed algorithm constructs multiple decision trees while employing a tabu search algorithm to consistently monitor the leaf and decision nodes in the corresponding decision trees. Additionally, the used tabu search algorithm is responsible to balance the entropy of the corresponding decision trees. For training the model, we used the clinical data of COVID-19 patients to predict whether a patient is suffering. The experimental results were obtained using our proposed classifier based on the built-in sci-kit learn library in Python. The extensive analysis for the performance comparison was presented using Big O and statistical analysis for conventional supervised machine learning algorithms. Moreover, the performance comparison to optimized state-of-the-art classifiers is also presented. The achieved accuracy of 98%, the required execution time of 55.6 ms and the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for proposed method of 0.95 reveals that the proposed classifier algorithm is convenient for large datasets.