bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Threshing Devices, Maize Varieties and Moisture Content of Grains on the Percentage of Maize Grains Broken in Harvesting
Authors: Feng Xin , Wang Lijun , Bi Shengying , Wang Bo , Ma Zhao , Gao Yunpeng
Published: June 2023

Maize is one of the most important economic crops in the world. The integrity of maize grains directly affects the economic value of the maize as a main commodity that depends on the percentage of grains broken (POGB) in mechanized harvesting. Decreasing grain processing breakage is key to achieving mechanical harvesting with high quality. It is difficult to ensure a low POGB, because it depends on different maize varieties, their moisture contents, threshing devices and harvester working speeds. In this paper, the effects of these factors on the POGB are investigated when the working speed of the harvester is 1.0 m·s−1, 1.5 m·s−1 and 2.0 m·s−1, respectively. The different threshing forms, including tangential-axial-flow (TAF), axial-flow with nail-tooth (AFN), axial-flow with rasp bar in big space (AFRBBS) and axial-flow with rasp bar in small space (AFRBSS), are summarized. The POGB of TAF was 5.4% and it was the lowest of four threshing devices when the working speed of the harvester was 1.0 m·s−1, which was suitable to thresh maize at a low working speed. Maize Demeiya No. 1 (DMYN1), XianDa205 (XD205), Demeiya No. 3 (DMYN3) and Hayu189 (HY189) were harvested at different harvester working speeds, and the POGB of maize DMYN1 was the lowest among the four maize varieties. The POGB increased with increases in the working speed of the harvester and the moisture content of the maize grains. The POGB reached a minimum value of 3.5% when maize XD205 with the lowest moisture content was harvested. The results can provide a reference for choosing the maize variety, its moisture content, the threshing device and the working speed of the harvester for decreasing grain processing breakage.
Psychrotolerant Strains of Phoma herbarum with Herbicidal Activity
Authors: Trigubovich Andrey , Mandryk-Litvinkovich Maryna , Valakhanovich Anastasiya , Gorodilova Elizaveta , Malygin Daniil , Kalamiyets Emiliya , Sokornova Sofia
Published: June 2023

The search for stress-tolerant producer strains is a key factor in the development of biological mycoherbicides. The aim of the study was to assess the herbicidal potential of phoma-like fungi. Morphological and physiological features of two Antarctic psychrotolerant strains 20-A7-1.M19 and 20-A7-1.M29 were studied. Multilocus sequence analysis was used to identify these strains. They happened to belong to Phoma herbarum Westend. The psychrotolerant properties of these strains were suggested not only by ecology, but also by their capability to grow in a wide temperature range from 5 °C to 35 °C, being resistant to high insolation, UV radiation, aridity, and other extreme conditions. It was shown that treatment with their cell-free cultural fugate, crude mycelium extract, and culture liquid significantly reduced the seed germination of troublesome weeds such as dandelion and goldenrod. Cell-free cultural fugate and culture liquid also led to the formation of chlorosis and necrotic spots on leaves. Thus, psychrotolerant strains P. herbarum 20-A7-1.M19 and 20-A7-1.M29 demonstrate high biotechnological potential. Our next step is to determine the structures of biologically active substances and to increase their biosynthesis, as well as the development of biological and biorational mycoherbicides. New mycoherbicides can reduce the chemical load on agroecosystems and increase the effectiveness of applied chemicals.
Effect of Mulching on Soil Quality in an Agroforestry System Irrigated with Reused Water
Authors: Kun Ágnes , Simon Barbara , Zalai Mihály , Kolozsvári Ildikó , Bozán Csaba , Jancsó Mihály , Körösparti János Tamás , Kovács Gergő Péter , Gyuricza Csaba , Bakti Beatrix
Published: June 2023

In this study, a special rice-energy willow/poplar agroforestry system was used to analyze the effects of reused water irrigation and mulching on soil salinity, earthworm biomass and abundance, soil organic matter (SOM) content and weed coverage in treerow-dependent habitats. After three-year-irrigation, we investigated the woody line (WL), the buffer zone (BZ) and the crop line habitats (CL). Between 2019 and 2021, we collected data on the distribution of soil-specific electrical conductivity (EC), ammonium-lactate soluble sodium (AL-Na) and exchangeable cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and soil NO2− + NO3−-N contents from CL habitats irrigated with effluent water from an intensive catfish farm. Based on our results, significantly greater earthworm abundance (274 pc m−2) and earthworm biomass (54.0 g m−2) values were measured in WL than in BZ or CL habitats. There was no significant difference in weed coverage between the CL (0.61%) and BZ (1.91%), but weeds were significantly denser on the WL (12.3%). In the third year, the EC, AL-Na and ESP values were lower, but the SOM was higher in mulched soil (183.1 mS cm−1, 253.1 mg kg−1, 4.4 ESP% and 4.597%, respectively) than in un-mulched soil.
The Effect of Increasing Irrigation Rates on the Carbon Isotope Discrimination of Apple Leaves
Authors: Haberle Jan , Raimanová Ivana , Svoboda Pavel , Moulik Michal , Mészáros Martin , Kurešová Gabriela
Published: June 2023

13C discrimination (Δ13C) has been used in research as an indicator of water availability in crops; however, few data are available concerning fruit trees. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of irrigation on the Δ13C values of apple leaves. We assumed that Δ13C would increase with irrigation intensity. The Δ13C of apple trees (Malus domestica) cv. ‘Red Jonaprince’ was determined in the years 2019–2022. Leaf samples were collected in spring, in June, at the beginning of the irrigation campaign, and in autumn, in September, following the harvest. The irrigation doses were applied to replenish the water consumption, 0% (ET0), 50% (ET50), 75% (ET75), and 100% (ET100), of the calculated evapotranspiration (ET) levels. In November, the leaves collected from different positions on the shoots were sampled, assuming the Δ13C signature would reflect the changes occurring in the water supply during their growth. The irrigation rates had a significant effect on the Δ13C of the leaves when the data for the spring and summer months were pooled. On average, Δ13C increased from 20.77‰ and 20.73‰ for ET0 and ET50, respectively, to 20.80‰ and 20.95‰ for ET75 and ET100, respectively. When the data obtained for the spring and summer months were analysed separately, the effect of irrigation was weak (p < 0.043). The Δ13C value was always higher for treatment ET100 than treatment ET0, for individual experimental years and terms; however, the differences were minor and mostly insignificant. The leaf position had a strong significant effect on Δ13C; the values gradually decreased from the leaves growing from two-years-old branches (22.50‰) to the youngest leaves growing at the top of the current year’s shoots (21.07‰). This order was similar for all the experimental years. The results of the experiment suggest that 13C discrimination in apples is affected not only by water availability during growth, but also by the use of C absorbed in previous years.
Metagenetic Analysis of the Pregnant Microbiome in Horses
Authors: Beckers Kalie F. , Gomes Viviane C. L. , Crissman Kassandra R. , Liu Chin-Chi , Schulz Christopher J. , Childers Gary W. , Sones Jenny L.
Published: June 2023

Placentitis is the leading cause of infectious abortion in the horse. Additionally, it can result in weak and/or growth restricted offspring. While the etiology of ascending placentitis is well described in mares, less is known regarding the pathogenesis of other types, such as nocardioform placentitis. This study aims to identify the microbial communities in different body sites of the pregnant mare in early gestation to establish a core microbiome that may be perturbed in pathologic pregnancies such as placentitis. We hypothesize that the equine placenta harbors a distinct resident microbiome in early pregnancy when characterized by metagenetics and that there will be a disparity in bacterial communities from the oral, vaginal, and fecal microbiome. Samples were collected from the oral cavity, vagina, anus, and the allantoic portion of the allantochorion (“placenta”) from five pregnant mares between 96 and 120 days of gestation. The V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified for Illumina MiSeq sequencing to examine core bacterial communities present in the different body sites. Microbial community composition of the pregnant ponies by body site was significantly different (Bray–Curtis dissimilarity). The placenta was significantly different from the feces, oral cavity, and vagina. Alpha diversity measuring the Shannon diversity matrix was significant, with the body sites being a compounding variable, meaning there was a difference in richness and evenness in the different microbial communities. Feces had the greatest alpha diversity, while the oral cavity and placenta similarly had the least. In conclusion, metagenetics did reveal distinct community differences in the oral, fecal, vaginal, and placenta cavities of the horse. The equine placenta does show similarities in its microbial communities to the oral cavity. Further research needs to be completed to investigate how bacteria may be translocated to the placenta from these other body sites and how they contribute to the development of placentitis.
Swine Backyard Production Systems in Central Chile: Characterizing Farm Structure, Animal Management, and Production Value Chain
Authors: Baumberger Cecilia , Di Pillo Francisca , Galdames Pablo , Oyarzun Cristobal , Marambio Victor , Jimenez-Bluhm Pedro , Hamilton-West Christopher
Published: June 2023

Backyard production systems (BPS) are highly distributed in central Chile. While poultry BPS have been extensively characterized, there remains a notable gap in the characterization of swine BPS in central Chile. In addition, there is evidence that zoonotic pathogens, such as influenza A virus and Salmonella spp., are circulating in backyard poultry and pigs. A total of 358 BPS located in central Chile were evaluated between 2013 and 2015 by interviewing farm owners. Severe deficiencies in biosecurity measures were observed. The value chain of swine backyard production identified food, veterinary care (visits and products), and replacement or breeding animals as the primary inputs to the backyard. The most common origin of swine replacements was from outside the BPS (63%). The main outputs of the system were identified as meat and live animals, including piglets and breeding animals. In 16% of BPS, breeding animals were lent to other BPS, indicating the existence of animals and animal product movement in and out of backyard farms. Results from this study indicate that swine BPS in central Chile represents an animal–human interface that demands special attention for implementing targeted preventive measures to prevent the introduction and spread of animal pathogens and the emergence of zoonotic pathogens.
Deletion of the CD2 Gene in the Virulent ASFV Congo Strain Affects Viremia in Domestic Swine, but Not the Virulence
Authors: Koltsov Andrey , Krutko Sergey , Kholod Natalia , Sukher Mikhail , Belov Sergey , Korotin Alexey , Koltsova Galina
Published: June 2023

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious disease that causes the most significant losses to the pig industry. One of the effective methods for combating this disease could be the development of vaccines. To date, experimental vaccines based on the use of live attenuated strains of the ASF virus (ASFV) obtained by the deletion of viral genes responsible for virulence are the most effective. Deletion of the EP402R gene encoding a CD2-like protein led to the attenuation of various strains of the ASFV, although the degree of attenuation varies among different isolates. Here we have shown that the deletion of the EP402R gene from the genome of a high-virulent Congo isolate did not change either the virulence of the virus or its ability to replicate in the swine macrophage cell cultures in vitro. However, in vivo, animals infected with ΔCongo-v_CD2v had a delay in the onset of the disease and viremia compared to animals infected with the parental strain. Thus, deletion of the CD2 gene in different isolates of the ASFV has a different effect on the virulence of the virus, depending on its genetic background.
Three-Dimensional Models of Liver Vessels for Navigation during Laparotomic Attenuation of Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Dogs
Authors: Frymus Jan , Trębacz Piotr , Kurkowska Aleksandra , Pawlik Mateusz , Barteczko Anna , Barański Michał , Galanty Marek
Published: June 2023

Laparotomic attenuation of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IHPSS) is more difficult than an extrahepatic one, and results in a higher risk of complications because the identification of the aberrant vessel in the liver remains often a challenge. Excessive preparation and traction of the parenchyma results in trauma, bleeding, and prolonged surgery, which is what worsens the prognosis. Therefore, based on computed tomographic angiography, we printed 3-dimensional (3D) individual patient liver models, scaled 1:1, and used them for surgery planning and as a guide during intraoperative identification of the shunt in four dogs with IHPSS. The advantages of the 3D technology are simple and precise planning of the surgery, fast intraoperative identification of the shunt, and low invasive dissection of the liver parenchyma. We conclude that 3D technology can potentially raise the recovery rate. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first application of 3D models in the surgery of canine IHPSS.
Ensiling Sorghum with Urea, Aerobic Exposure and Effects on Intake, Digestibility, Ingestive Behaviour and Blood Parameters of Feedlot Lambs
Authors: Araújo Maria L. G. M. L. , Santos Edson Mauro , De Carvalho Gleidson Giordano P. , Pina Douglas dos S. , De Oliveira Juliana S. , Tosto Manuela S. L. , Silva Dayane S. , Perazzo Alexandre F. , Pereira Danillo M. , Nascimento Thiago Vinicius C. , Ferreira Daniele de J. , Cavalcanti Hactus S. , Santos Francisco Naysson de S. , Ribeiro Marinaldo D. , Zanine Anderson de M.
Published: June 2023

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of ensiling sorghum silage with urea and amending the aerobic exposure nutrients intake and apparent digestibility, ingestive behaviour and blood serum metabolites of feedlot lambs. Forty uncastrated crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês lambs, aged 150 ± 15 days and with an initial body weight of 21.73 ± 2.40 kg, were used. Animals were assigned in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Thus, six silage diets were produced with various urea addition levels (UA: 0 and 5 g/kg on a natural matter basis) and periods of aerobic exposure of silages (PAE: 0, 24 and 48 h). An effect was observed for nutrient intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) and total digestive nutrients TDN (g/day) and for the total apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP. There was an interaction effect between urea levels and aerobic exposure for ether extract (EE) and NDFap intakes (g/kg) and nonfibrous carbohydrate (NFC) digestibility (g/kg) (p = 0.012). The addition of 5 g/kg of urea to sorghum ensilage improved the digestibility parameters without changing dry matter intake and ingestive behaviour. The addition or not of urea does not change the blood parameters of the animals.
Cranberry/Chondroitin Sulfate Co-precipitate as a New Method for Controlling Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Caglioti Concetta , Iannitti Rossana , Ceccarelli Giada , Selan Laura , Artini Marco , Papa Rosanna , Malvasi Antonio , Gentile Rosaria , Del Bianco Diletta , Apone Florinda , Angelini Paola , Palazzetti Federico , Fioretti Bernard
Published: June 2023

Urinary tract infections (UTI), which are among the most frequent cases of infectious diseases, mainly affect women. The most common treatment approach involves the use of antibiotics, although this solution is not always the most suitable, mainly because of the resistance that bacterial strains develop. Proanthocyanidins are a class of polyphenols, abundantly contained in cranberry extracts, which have shown beneficial effects in the treatment of urinary tract infections, due to their anti-adhesive properties toward bacteria, with respect to the membranes of the cells of the urothelium and intestine, thus reducing their virulence. In this work, we demonstrate via microscopy and scattering measurements how a mixture of cranberry and chondroitin sulfate can form a crosslinked structure with barrier properties. By using a design of experiment (DOE), we optimized the mass ratio to obtain a precipitate between cranberry extract and chondroitin sulfate in the presence of N-acetylcysteine and hyaluronic acid. By using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) chambers, we confirmed the barrier properties of the best mixture obtained with the DOE. Lastly, the antibiofilm action was investigated against five strains of Escherichia coli with different antibiotic sensitivity. The precipitate displayed a variable inhibitory effect in biofilm formation with major effects in UTI with an antibiotic resistance profile.
Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: The Utility of Biomarkers in 2023
Authors: Yilmaz Mehmet Kursat , Abbaszadeh Ahmad , Tarabichi Saad , Azboy Ibrahim , Parvizi Javad
Published: June 2023

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a rare yet devastating complication following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Early and accurate diagnosis of PJI is paramount in order to maximize the chances of successful treatment. However, we are yet to identify a single “gold standard” test for the diagnosis of PJI. As a result, the diagnosis of PJI is often challenging. Currently, the 2018 ICM definition of PJI is the only validated diagnostic criteria available. This article will review the importance of serum and synovial biomarkers in the diagnosis of PJI. In addition, it will provide a brief overview of the emerging modalities for the identification of infections in this setting.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Clonal Lineages of Escherichia coli from Food-Producing Animals
Authors: Silva Adriana , Silva Vanessa , Pereira José Eduardo , Maltez Luís , Igrejas Gilberto , Valentão Patrícia , Falco Virgílio , Poeta Patrícia
Published: June 2023

Escherichia coli are one of the most important pathogenic bacteria readily found in the livestock and widely studied as an indicator that carries drug-resistant genes between humans, animals, and the environment. The use of antimicrobials in the food chain, particularly in food-producing animals, is recognized as a significant contributor to the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and resistance genes can be transferred from the farm through the food-chain. The objective of this review is to highlight the background of the antimicrobials use in food-producing animals, more specifically, to study clonal lineages and the resistance profiles observed in E. coli, as well as in extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producing E. coli, in a set of food-production animals with greater relevance in food consumption, such as pigs, poultry, cattle, fish farming and rabbits. Regarding the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli among farm animals, high-to-moderate prevalence was observed, and the highest resistance rates to tetracycline and ampicillin was detected in different farms in all geographic regions. Worldwide pandemic clones and high-risk zoonotic E. coli clones have been identified in most food-producing animals, and some of these clones are already disseminated in different niches, such as the environment and humans. A better understanding of the epidemiology of E. coli and ESBL-producing E. coli in livestock is urgently needed. Animal production is one of the major causes of the antibiotic resistance problem worldwide and a One Health approach is needed.
Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of the Human Milk Oligosaccharide, 2′-Fucosyllactose, Exerted via Modulation of M2 Microglial Activation in a Mouse Model of Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Pak Malk Eun , Kim Yeon-Ji , Kim Hanhae , Shin Chul Soo , Yoon Jong-Won , Jeon Seon-min , Song Young-Ha , Kim Kyungho
Published: June 2023

Cerebral ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), a human milk oligosaccharide, exerts anti-inflammatory effects and plays a protective role in arterial thrombosis; however, its role in ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of 2′-FL and its potential mechanisms in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. Neurological score and behavior tests revealed that 2′-FL promoted the recovery of neurological deficits and motor function in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice, and that 2′FL led to a reduction in the size of cerebral infarct. Biochemical studies showed that administration of 2′-FL led to a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related products in the brain of MCAO mice. 2′-FL upregulated IL-10 and downregulated TNF-α level. In addition, 2′-FL enhanced M2-type microglial polarization and upregulated CD206 expression at 7 days after MCAO. At 3 days after MCAO, 2′-FL increased IL-4 levels and activated STAT6. Our data show that 2′-FL reduced the neurological symptoms of ischemic stroke and ROS accumulation in the brain through IL-4/STAT6-dependent M2-type microglial polarization in MCAO mice. These results demonstrate that 2′-FL is a potentially effective therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.
Caffeic Acid, a Polyphenolic Micronutrient Rescues Mice Brains against Aβ-Induced Neurodegeneration and Memory Impairment
Authors: Khan Amjad , Park Jun Sung , Kang Min Hwa , Lee Hyeon Jin , Ali Jawad , Tahir Muhammad , Choe Kyonghwan , Kim Myeong Ok
Published: June 2023

Oxidative stress plays an important role in cognitive dysfunctions and is seen in neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It has been reported that the polyphenolic compound caffeic acid possesses strong neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. The current study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic potential of caffeic acid against amyloid beta (Aβ1–42)-induced oxidative stress and memory impairments. Aβ1–42 (5 μL/5 min/mouse) was administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) into wild-type adult mice to induce AD-like pathological changes. Caffeic acid was administered orally at 50 mg/kg/day for two weeks to AD mice. Y-maze and Morris water maze (MWM) behavior tests were conducted to assess memory and cognitive abilities. Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses were used for the biochemical analyses. The behavioral results indicated that caffeic acid administration improved spatial learning, memory, and cognitive abilities in AD mice. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) assays were performed and showed that the levels of ROS and LPO were markedly reduced in the caffeic acid-treated mice, as compared to Aβ-induced AD mice brains. Moreover, the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were regulated with the administration of caffeic acid, compared to the Aβ-injected mice. Next, we checked the expression of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP), and other inflammatory markers in the experimental mice, which suggested enhanced expression of these markers in AD mice brains, and were reduced with caffeic acid treatment. Furthermore, caffeic acid enhanced synaptic markers in the AD mice model. Additionally, caffeic acid treatment also decreased Aβ and BACE-1 expression in the Aβ-induced AD mice model.
The Beneficial Effect of Lomitapide on the Cardiovascular System in LDLr−/− Mice with Obesity
Authors: Munkhsaikhan Undral , Kwon Young In , Sahyoun Amal M. , Galán María , Gonzalez Alexis A. , Ait-Aissa Karima , Abidi Ammaar H. , Kassan Adam , Kassan Modar
Published: June 2023

Objectives: Homozygous familial hypercholesteremia (HoFH) is a rare, life-threatening metabolic disease, mainly caused by a mutation in the LDL receptor. If untreated, HoFH causes premature death from acute coronary syndrome. Lomitapide is approved by the FDA as a therapy to lower lipid levels in adult patients with HoFH. Nevertheless, the beneficial effect of lomitapide in HoFH models remains to be defined. In this study, we investigated the effect of lomitapide on cardiovascular function using LDL receptor-knockout mice (LDLr−/−). Methods: Six-week-old LDLr−/− mice were fed a standard diet (SD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Lomitapide (1 mg/Kg/Day) was given by oral gavage for the last 2 weeks in the HFD group. Body weight and composition, lipid profile, blood glucose, and atherosclerotic plaques were measured. Vascular reactivity and markers for endothelial function were determined in conductance arteries (thoracic aorta) and resistance arteries (mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA)). Cytokine levels were measured by using the Mesoscale discovery V-Plex assays. Results: Body weight (47.5 ± 1.5 vs. 40.3 ± 1.8 g), % of fat mass (41.6 ± 1.9% vs. 31.8 ± 1.7%), blood glucose (215.5 ± 21.9 vs. 142.3 ± 7.7 mg/dL), and lipid levels (cholesterol: 600.9 ± 23.6 vs. 451.7 ± 33.4 mg/dL; LDL/VLDL: 250.6 ± 28.9 vs. 161.1 ± 12.24 mg/dL; TG: 299.5 ± 24.1 vs. 194.1 ± 28.1 mg/dL) were significantly decreased, and the % of lean mass (56.5 ± 1.8% vs. 65.2 ± 2.1%) was significantly increased in the HFD group after lomitapide treatment. The atherosclerotic plaque area also decreased in the thoracic aorta (7.9 ± 0.5% vs. 5.7 ± 0.1%). After treatment with lomitapide, the endothelium function of the thoracic aorta (47.7 ± 6.3% vs. 80.7 ± 3.1%) and mesenteric resistance artery (66.4 ± 4.3% vs. 79.5 ± 4.6%) was improved in the group of LDLr−/− mice on HFD. This was correlated with diminished vascular endoplasmic (ER) reticulum stress, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Conclusions: Treatment with lomitapide improves cardiovascular function and lipid profile and reduces body weight and inflammatory markers in LDLr−/− mice on HFD.
A Deadly Liaison between Oxidative Injury and p53 Drives Methyl-Gallate-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Notaro Antonietta , Lauricella Marianna , Di Liberto Diana , Emanuele Sonia , Giuliano Michela , Attanzio Alessandro , Tesoriere Luisa , Carlisi Daniela , Allegra Mario , De Blasio Anna , Calvaruso Giuseppe , D’Anneo Antonella
Published: June 2023

Methyl gallate (MG), which is a gallotannin widely found in plants, is a polyphenol used in traditional Chinese phytotherapy to alleviate several cancer symptoms. Our studies provided evidence that MG is capable of reducing the viability of HCT116 colon cancer cells, while it was found to be ineffective on differentiated Caco-2 cells, which is a model of polarized colon cells. In the first phase of treatment, MG promoted both early ROS generation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, sustained by elevated PERK, Grp78 and CHOP expression levels, as well as an upregulation in intracellular calcium content. Such events were accompanied by an autophagic process (16–24 h), where prolonging the time (48 h) of MG exposure led to cellular homeostasis collapse and apoptotic cell death with DNA fragmentation and p53 and γH2Ax activation. Our data demonstrated that a crucial role in the MG-induced mechanism is played by p53. Its level, which increased precociously (4 h) in MG-treated cells, was tightly intertwined with oxidative injury. Indeed, the addition of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is a ROS scavenger, counteracted the p53 increase, as well as the MG effect on cell viability. Moreover, MG promoted p53 accumulation into the nucleus and its inhibition by pifithrin-α (PFT-α), which is a negative modulator of p53 transcriptional activity, enhanced autophagy, increased the LC3-II level and inhibited apoptotic cell death. These findings provide new clues to the potential action of MG as a possible anti-tumor phytomolecule for colon cancer treatment.
A New Model of Ultrasonic Guided Wave Propagation in Blood Vessels and Its Propagation Characteristics
Authors: Sun Kehua , Li Dan , Zheng Mingfang , Shi Qinzhen , Zhang Jianqiu , Ta Dean
Published: June 2023

The identification of a blood vessel’s elastic properties by an ultrasonic guided wave mainly depends on the accurate propagation characteristics, which are obtained by solving the problem of elastic mechanics based on a thin-plate model. However, this method cannot accurately predict the characteristics for low frequencies. Since blood vessels are of a tubular structure, a hollow-cylinder model, constructed to model blood vessels, is proposed in this paper. Based on this model, the propagation characteristics and dispersion curves of the ultrasonic guided wave propagating along the axial direction are studied by expanding the state equation using Legendre polynomials. A detailed comparison between the results of the proposed model and the thin-layer-based model is presented. It is shown that the dispersion curves of the L (0,1) modes, calculated by the two different models, are a match for high frequencies but differ for low frequencies. The dispersion curve of the L (0,1) mode calculated by the proposed model is in good agreement with the results of the reported experiments. Then, the relationship between the propagation characteristics of ultrasonic guided waves and Young’s modulus is studied. It is discovered that the phase velocity and group velocity are significantly affected by Young’s modulus close to the cutoff frequency, which has important implications for the selection of the detection frequency to the characteristic parameter of vascular.
A Dynamic Hybrid Cryptosystem Using Chaos and Diffie–Hellman Protocol: An Image Encryption Application
Authors: Flores-Carapia Rolando , Silva-García Víctor Manuel , Cardona-López Manuel Alejandro
Published: June 2023

Images with sensitive content require encryption for storage and transmission. Symmetric schemes can cipher them, while an asymmetric cryptosystem can distribute the secret key safely. For this reason, we propose a dynamic hybrid cryptosystem, which ciphers images and transfers its private keys. It has a symmetric algorithm that applies the Lorenz equations for generating different boxes and permutations in every encryption process and round. Since the secret key concatenates two private numbers, an asymmetric algorithm is included for its key distribution. The proposal uses the Diffie–Hellman protocol with ElGamal for obtaining a seed and building 128 strings. Then, the SHA-512 is applied in each of them a number of times associated with the secret key value in its blockchain representation. The resultant strings are concatenated to conform to the public key. Finally, the tests indicate that the cryptosystem resists differential, linear, algebraic, and brute-force attacks. Its cipher quality is high according to the entropy, correlation, DFT, NPCR, UACI, AC, texture analysis, and goodness of fit test. Additionally, occlusion, additive, multiplicative, and the proposed χ2 noise attacks are simulated on encrypted images. Finally, the sharpness loss is measured with the Similarity Parameter and improved with a filter 5 × 5.
IoT Botnet Attack Detection Model Based on DBO-Catboost
Authors: Yang Changjin , Guan Weili , Fang Zhijie
Published: June 2023

With the widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the increasing number of IoT devices has led to a rise in serious network security issues. Botnets, a major threat in network security, have garnered significant attention over the past decade. However, detecting these rapidly evolving botnets remains a challenge, with current detection accuracy being relatively low. Therefore, this study focuses on designing efficient botnet detection models to enhance detection performance. This paper improves the initial population generation strategy of the Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) by using the centroid opposition-based learning strategy instead of the original random generation strategy. The improved DBO is applied to optimize Catboost parameters and is employed in the field of IoT botnet detection. Performance comparison experiments are conducted using real-world IoT traffic datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms other models in terms of accuracy and F1 score, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed approach in this field.
Wind-Wave-Current Coupled Modeling of the Effect of Artificial Island on the Coastal Environment
Authors: Fu Guowei , Li Jian , Yuan Kun , Song Yanwei , Fu Miao , Wang Hongbing , Wan Xiaoming
Published: June 2023

The effect of artificial island on the geomorphologic processes in the coastal area under the coupled hydrodynamics, wave, and sediment transport system is a complicated and multi-scale problem. Studying these dynamic processes will suggest how coastal ecological restoration should be conducted. In this study, a unified, unstructured, gridded coupled hydrodynamics, wave, and sediment transport model and a topographic evolution model were adopted. Based on the field observations of water depth, velocity, suspended sediment concentration, bed sand, and quaternary thickness, a high-spatiotemporal-resolution numerical simulation of the offshore dynamic environment under the disturbance of artificial island was performed, and the accuracy of the calculation was verified. The research showed that the coupling system with an unstructured mesh was able to reproduce the flow and sediment transport processes with acceptable accuracy. The contracted flow zone between the artificial island and the coastline, the runoff and alongshore current from the river, as well as the tidal flow from the ocean, worked together to mold the local complex morphology around the artificial island. The coupled modeling system, supported with parallel computation, can be used to study coastal environments with small-scale wading structures.
Comparing Manually Added Research Labels and Automatically Extracted Research Keywords to Identify Specialist Researchers in Learning Analytics: A Case Study Using Google Scholar Researcher Profiles
Authors: Aljohani Naif Radi
Published: June 2023

Google Scholar (GS) has an interesting feature that allows researchers to manually assign certain research keywords to their profiles, referred to as research labels. These research labels may be used to find out and filter relevant resources, such as publications and authors. However, using manually appended research labels for identification may have limitations in terms of consistency, timeliness, objectivity, and mischaracterization. This paper aims to explore the difference between manually assigned research labels and automatically extracted keywords for identifying specialist Learning Analytics (LA) researchers. For this study, data were collected on 4732 publications from 1236 authors displaying “Learning Analytics” in their public GS profile labels, using their most cited publications since 2011. Our analysis methodology involved various text-mining techniques such as cosine similarity and text matching. The results showed that 446 of the 1236 authors were specialist researchers, 643 were occasional researchers, and 90 were interested researchers. The most interesting finding, using our methodology, was identifying 10 early career researchers independent of their GS citation count. Overall, while manually added research labels may provide some useful information about an author’s research interests, they should be used with caution and in conjunction with another source of information such as automatically extracted keywords to identify accurately specialist learning analytics researchers.
Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Gigante Antonietta , Perrotta Adolfo Marco , Tinti Francesca , Assanto Eleonora , Muscaritoli Maurizio , Lai Silvia , Cianci Rosario
Published: June 2023

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited kidney disease which leads to progressive kidney failure. About 5–10% of patients requiring renal replacement therapy are affected by ADPKD. Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients with ADPKD; arterial hypertension (AH) is the first symptom with a very early onset. Anyway, some other cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported in ADPKD regardless of the presence of AH. With this background, we conducted a systematic review, collecting all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs found on the main databases; we evaluated the evidence about different imaging techniques to grade the cardiovascular risk in a very early stage of disease. This review aims to describe all cardiovascular assessments in ADPKD patients to improve clinicians’ ability to discover cardiovascular involvement early, allowing appropriate therapies promptly.
Microwave-Assisted Chemical Ablation (MA-CA): A Novel Microwave-Assisted Tissue Ablation Procedure—Preliminary Assessment of Efficiency
Authors: Paré J. R. Jocelyn , Bélanger Jacqueline M. R. , Cormier Gabriel , Foucher Delphine , Thériault Antony , Savoie Jean-Christophe , Rochas Jean-François
Published: June 2023

Microwave (MW) ablation is becoming a routine technology in the interventional radiology field. A new approach combining MW ablation and chemical ablation is developed in this paper. The rationale for the development of this Microwave-Assisted Chemical Ablation (MA-CA) technology was to improve the utility of thermal ablation as a minimally invasive treatment for cancer. The experimental conditions for ex vivo bovine liver samples were: A—100 W (120 s) with no addition of ethanol; B—100 W (30 s), wait (60 s) (no power), and 100 W (90 s) with no addition of ethanol; C—100 W (30 s), wait (60 s), 100 W (30 s), and 100 W (60 s) with the addition of 5 mL ethanol; and D—100 W (30 s), wait (60 s), 100 W (30 s), 0 W (30 s) with the addition of 2.5 mL ethanol, and 100 W (60 s) with the addition of 5 mL ethanol (12,000 Joules Total). The results showed that with the use of ethanol, the ablation zone was enlarged and revealed improved sphericity. This novel combination has greater advantages than either technology individually. The objective is to increase the precision and efficiency of MW ablation and to broaden the range of tissues and pathologies that can be treated using this new approach, and to validate the benefits that arise from combining the advantages of MW and chemical ablation in a relevant setting.
A Numerical Model Comparison of the Energy Conversion Process for an Offshore Hydro-Pneumatic Energy Storage System
Authors: Borg Andrew , Sant Tonio , Buhagiar Daniel , Farrugia Robert N. , Micallef Christopher
Published: June 2023

Energy storage is essential if net zero emissions are to be achieved. In fact, energy storage is a leading solution for reducing curtailment in an energy system that relies heavily on intermittent renewables. This paper presents a comparison between two numerical models which simulate the energy conversion unit performance of a hydro-pneumatic energy storage system. Numerical modelling is performed in PythonTM (Alpha Model) and Mathworks® Simulink® and SimscapeTM (Beta Model). The modelling aims to compare the time-series predictions for the simplified model (Alpha Model) with the more physically representative model (Beta Model). The Alpha Model provides a quasi-steady-state solution, while the Beta Model accounts for machinery inertias and friction within hydraulic flow circuits. Results show that the energy conversion performance simulations between the two models compare well, with a notable difference during system start-up due to the inclusion of transients in the Beta Model. Given its simplicity, the Alpha Model has high computational efficiency, while the Beta Model requires more computational time due to its complexity. This study showed that, despite its simplicity, the Alpha Model is able to generate results that are very similar to those from the Beta Model (with the average RMSE being less than 5%).
A New Model for Human Running Micro-Doppler FMCW Radar Features
Authors: Zhang Yongqiang , Li Xiaopeng , Ma Guilei , Ma Jinlong , Man Menghua , Liu Shanghe
Published: June 2023

Human body detection is very important in the research of automotive safety technology. The extraction and analysis of human micro-motion based on frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar is gradually receiving attention. Aimed at the modulation effect of human micro-motion on FMCW radar, a human running model is proposed to study human radar characteristics. According to the scattering characteristics of rigid bodies, the analytical expression of human running radar echoes is established. By using time–frequency analysis, the micro-Doppler features in the radar echoes are extracted during the running period. Under running conditions, the micro-Doppler characteristics of key components are studied. This model is applied to the real FMCW radar verification platform, and the runners are measured at a distance of 10 m. The fit rate of all parts of the human body can reach above 90%. The overall fit rate of the human model can reach up to 90.6%. The model proposed is a realistic and simple human kinematic model. This model, which can realize the real simulation of a running human body and provide strong support for human target radar echo analysis, can fill the deficiency of FMCW radar technology in the complex motion model.
Effects of Commercially Available Wearable Devices on Physical Activity Promotion and Health in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review
Authors: Danković Goran , Stantić Tomislav , Herodek Romina , Stamenković Stevan , Stojiljković Nenad , Jelenković Boban , Sporiš Goran
Published: June 2023

Children and adolescents do not participate in enough physical activity (PA) to meet the recommended levels, which stops them from benefiting from regular PA’s positive effects on their health. In recent years, technology-based initiatives have provided children and adolescents with a compelling and viable way to encourage PA. Based on the results of previous research, we have conducted this review to gain a better understanding of if and how specific commercially available wearable devices impact physical activity promotion and health in children and adolescents. We have conducted this review, that was based on a theoretical framework of the self-determination theory (SDT), and focused on the impact that wearable devices have on physical activity promotion and health. The electronic databases of Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched between 2010 and 2023 for all available literature. Eleven studies overall satisfied the requirements for inclusion criteria. The sample sizes for the studies ranged from 32 to 502, and they included both boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 14. Wearable technology was used for no less than one week and no more than four months. The current review revealed that commercial wearable activity tracker-based programs among children and adolescents had a positive influence on daily levels of MVPA and step totals, as well as sedentary behavior.
Three-Dimensional Force Characterizations in Maxillary Molar Distalization: A Finite Element Study
Authors: Wang Jianing , Tsolaki Anastasia , Voudouris John C. , Premaraj Thyagaseely Sheela , Premaraj Sundaralingam , Gu Linxia , Dong Pengfei
Published: June 2023

Class II malocclusion is a very common condition in orthodontic patients. The reaction force and moment on the teeth induced by a maxillary segmental distalizer (MSD) are essential for understanding tooth movement, tipping, and rotation. This work quantified the three-dimensional (3D) reaction force and moment on canine and molar teeth induced by three different MSDs: the JVBarre (JVB), Carriere Motion 3D (CM3D), and CM3D Clear. A patient-specific mandibular model was reconstructed based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Each of the three MSDs was implanted using finite element analysis (FEA). The reaction force and moment were obtained. The results show that the JVB induced less extrusion force (15% less), tipping (90% less), and rotational moment (70% less) on the canine, compared with the other two CM3Ds. However, the JVB induced a relatively larger extrusion force, tipping, and rotational moment on the molar due to the hook location changing from the end to the middle of the bar. These observations were consistent with the 3D stress distribution of the MSDs. The mechanical understanding from this work may shed light on the optimal design of MSDs.
Autonomous Navigation of Robots: Optimization with DQN
Authors: Escobar-Naranjo Juan , Caiza Gustavo , Ayala Paulina , Jordan Edisson , Garcia Carlos A. , Garcia Marcelo V.
Published: June 2023

In the field of artificial intelligence, control systems for mobile robots have undergone significant advancements, particularly within the realm of autonomous learning. However, previous studies have primarily focused on predefined paths, neglecting real-time obstacle avoidance and trajectory reconfiguration. This research introduces a novel algorithm that integrates reinforcement learning with the Deep Q-Network (DQN) to empower an agent with the ability to execute actions, gather information from a simulated environment in Gazebo, and maximize rewards. Through a series of carefully designed experiments, the algorithm’s parameters were meticulously configured, and its performance was rigorously validated. Unlike conventional navigation systems, our approach embraces the exploration of the environment, facilitating effective trajectory planning based on acquired knowledge. By leveraging randomized training conditions within a simulated environment, the DQN network exhibits superior capabilities in computing complex functions compared to traditional methods. This breakthrough underscores the potential of our algorithm to significantly enhance the autonomous learning capacities of mobile robots.
Unconventional Arrays for 3D Electrical Resistivity and Induced Polarization Tomography to Detect Leachate Concentration in a Waste Landfill
Authors: Martorana Raffaele , Capizzi Patrizia , Pirrera Calogero
Published: June 2023

In recent times, 3D electrical resistivity and induced polarization tomographies are being used more frequently. However, it is often not possible to have regular grids of electrodes due to irregular topography, difficulty accessing urbanized or industrialized places, and other environmental and health problems. In these cases, the use of unconventional arrays is necessary, arranging the electrodes around the inaccessible area according to one or more open or closed polygonal traces. In this work, three different perimeter arrangements of electrodes are considered, and, for each, three different electrode array configurations are tested by calculating their apparent resistivity and solving the inverse problem on a three-dimensional model with resistive and conductive blocks. The comparison of the results showed that the dataset that produces the most realistic inverse model consists of electrodes arranged in concentric squares and the use of the Full Range Gradient (FRG) Array. This combination was evaluated in the field on a waste landfill, in which electrical resistivity and induced polarization tomographies were carried out, exploiting the access paths to the various sectors of the landfill to arrange the electrodes on approximately concentric polygons. The 3D models of electrical resistivity and induced polarization allowed the detection of zones of high concentration of leachate, defining their extension, and monitoring the functioning of the waterproofing membrane at the bottom of the landfill. The results proved that when it is not possible to arrange a regular grid of electrodes, the use of perimeter disposals of electrode joined to the FRG array provide a sufficiently homogeneous resolution below the area to be investigated.