bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment of Rice Damage Due to Heavy Rain in Taiwan
Authors: Su Yuan-Chih , Kuo Bo-Jein
Published: March 2023

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a crucial staple crop globally but is damaged under extreme precipitation. Risk assessment for heavy rain (HR) damage events is essential for developing strategies for adapting to climate change. In this study, weather and rice damage data were used to assess the risk of HR damage events in Taiwan. These events were classified into nontyphoon-caused HR (NTCHR) and typhoon-caused HR (TCHR) events. The temporal, spatial, and weather characteristics of HR damage events were selected as risk factors for rice HR damage. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of the selected risk factors on the occurrence and severity of HR damage events. The odds of an NTCHR damage event were 4.33 and 4.17 times higher in the reproductive and ripening stages, respectively, than during the vegetative stage. Moreover, each 1 mm increase in the maximum daily precipitation increased the odds of an NTCHR and TCHR damage event by 2% and 3%, respectively. In this study, the documentary data of damage events present a potential for assessment of weather damage event risk. Moreover, the risk of rice HR damage events in Taiwan is affected by not only weather but also temporal and spatial factors.
Mapping Disaggregate-Level Agricultural Households in South Africa Using a Hierarchical Bayes Small Area Estimation Approach
Authors: Shiferaw Yegnanew A.
Published: March 2023

The first important step toward ending hunger is sustainable agriculture, which is a vital component of the 2030 Agenda. In this study, auxiliary variables from the 2011 Population Census are combined with data from the 2016 Community Survey to develop and apply a hierarchical Bayes (HB) small area estimation approach for estimating the local-level households engaged in agriculture. A generalized variance function was used to reduce extreme proportions and noisy survey variances. The deviance information criterion (DIC) preferred the mixed logistic model with known sampling variance over the other two models (Fay-Herriot model and mixed log-normal model). For almost all local municipalities in South Africa, the proposed HB estimates outperform survey-based estimates in terms of root mean squared error (MSE) and coefficient of variation (CV). Indeed, information on local-level agricultural households can help governments evaluate programs that support agricultural households.
Effects of Organic Fertilizer Substitution on the Technical Efficiency among Farmers: Evidence from Bohai Rim Region in China
Authors: Zhang Long , Meng Ting , Zhang Zhexi , Mu Yueying
Published: March 2023

Using organic fertilizer to replace chemical fertilizer is an effective way to promote sustainable agricultural development. Based on survey data of 514 farmers from five provinces and cities in the Bohai Rim region of China, collected in 2019, organic fertilizer substitution’s effects on farmers’ technical efficiency were analyzed. The PSM method is used to solve the problem of farmers’ self-selection. Considering the causal relationship between the substitution behavior of organic fertilizer and farmers’ technical efficiency, the IV-Tobit model, 2SLS, and ML estimation methods are used to solve the endogenous problem. The study found that: (1) quality and safety awareness, part-time employment level, participation in insurance, and training significantly promote using organic fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers; (2) the technical efficiency of farmers who use organic fertilizer to substitute the chemical fertilizers is 0.625, 9.46% higher than their counterparts; and (3) the promotion effect of organic fertilizer substitution on technical efficiency has heterogeneity, which has a significant role among small-scale farmer households with fewer and low-educated family laborers. Regarding the policy implications, it is necessary to strengthen agricultural subsidies by improving the accuracy of policy formulation and implementation, fully considering the heterogeneity of farmers for implementation.
Biostimulant Application, under Reduced Nutrient Supply, Enhances Quality and Sustainability of Ornamental Containerized Transplants
Authors: Loconsole Danilo , Cristiano Giuseppe , De Lucia Barbara
Published: March 2023

Ornamental containerized transplant production needs high doses of controlled release fertilizers (CFR), but it is known that there is an environmental risk caused by inadequate fertilization management. To the best of our knowledge, amino acid-(AaB) and seaweed extract-(SeB) based biostimulant application, in ornamental transplant production, is still poorly studied. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the hypothesis that, under reduced nutrient supply, SeB and AaB applications, via foliar spray, can promote quality and sustainability in the production of high-quality ornamental seedlings with a 90-day growing cycle. The CRF incorporated into the peat-growing medium was Osmocote Exact Mini in formulation N:P:K = 15 + 9 + 11 (3 months). Six treatments were compared in two economically important potted (0.3 L in volume) ornamentals: Abelia × grandiflora and Lantana camara: T1 = conventional full CRF dose: 4 gL−1 per pot; T2 = limited CRF dose: 50% of T1; T3 = T2 + MC-Extra® [SeB 0.5 gL−1]; T4 = T2 + MC-Extra® [SeB 1.0 gL−1]; T5 = T2 + Megafol® [AaB 1.5 mL L−1]; T6 = T2 + Megafol® [AaB 2.5 mL L−1]. The research results showed that the application of 50% CRF plus biostimulant application resulted in plant performance greater than or equal to those raised under the conventional CRF full dose. In particular, S1 (Abelia × grandiflora ‘Edward Goucher’) and S2 (Lantana camara ‘Little Lucky’) behaved differently concerning the Megafol® dose under 50% CRF; compared to T1, in A. × grandiflora young transplants, T5 increased root morphological characteristics, as well as number of leaves, leaf area, and dry biomass accumulation; in L. camara, T6 achieved higher performance. The application of biostimulants under 50% CRF also improved, in both A. × grandiflora and L. camara, the physiological and agronomical Nitrogen Use Efficiency, compared to a full CRF dose. This study can support decision-making in terms of agronomic technique choices in line with the sustainable development of high-quality ornamental transplant production.
Effect of Nano-Phosphorus Formulation on Growth, Yield and Nutritional Quality of Wheat under Semi-Arid Climate
Authors: Poudel Anuj , Singh Satish Kumar , Jiménez-Ballesta Raimundo , Jatav Surendra Singh , Patra Abhik , Pandey Astha
Published: March 2023

Appropriate phosphorus (P) management techniques increase yield and nutritional properties while minimizing environmental concerns. The widespread use of nano-fertilizers (NFs) in agriculture endangers soil and plants. It is vital to research the behavior of nano-phosphors (nano-P) on plant growth and quality, as well as their technique of interaction with soil properties in order to obtain key ecosystem benefits. With this in mind, a field experiment was conducted using wheat as a test crop to explore the impact of nano phosphorus (nano-P) on soil. The study’s goal was to examine how the foliar application of nano-P to wheat affects its growth, yield and nutrient concentration. Treatments consisted of: T1: 100% NPK (120:137:72 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha−1) by RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer); T2: 100% NPK by RDF + 2 foliar sprays of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T3: 100% NK + 0% P (no foliar); T4: 100% NK + 75% P + 2 foliar sprays of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T5: 100% NK + 50% P + 2 foliar sprays of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1;T6: 100% NK + 0% P + 2 foliar sprays of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T7: 100% NPK by RDF + 1 foliar spray of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T8: 100% NK + 75% P + 1 foliar spray of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T9: 100% NPK + 1 foliar spray of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1; T10-100% NK + 75% P + 1 foliar spray of nano-P @ 494.21 mL ha−1. According to the findings, applying 100% NK + 75% P + 2 foliar applications of nano-P at the tillering and panicle initiation stages increased yield over 100% RDF by 37.1%. Additionally, the highest micronutrient concentration (Zn (36.4 mg kg−1), Cu (21.2 mg kg−1), Mn (22.9 mg kg−1) and Fe (61.1 mg kg−1)) in grain were noticed in T3 (100% NK + 0% P no foliar spray of nano-P) treatment, which was superior to T1 (100% NPK). Furthermore, foliar application of nano-P fertilizer in combination with different levels of diammonium phosphate (DAP) slightly increased the amount of N, P and K, as well as micronutrients in post-harvest soil. In summary, the use of 100% NK + 75% + 2 foliar applications of nano-P saved 25% recommendation dose P if supplied as nano-P as a form of phosphorus, and can be a suitable substitute for DAP, especially in smart agriculture, as it possibly reduces P leaching into groundwater, while maintaining or increasing wheat crop yield over the 100% RDF.
Improved Forage Quality in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) via Selection for Increased Stem Fiber Digestibility
Authors: Xu Zhanyou , Heuschele Deborah J. , Lamb JoAnn F. S. , Jung Hans-Joachim G. , Samac Deborah A.
Published: March 2023

The low digestibility of fiber in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) limits dry matter intake and energy availability in ruminant animal production systems. Previously, alfalfa plants were identified for low or high rapid (16 h) and low or high potential (96 h) in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD) of plant stems. Here, two cycles of bidirectional selection for 16 h and 96 h IVNDFD were carried out. The resulting populations were evaluated for total herbage, percentage of stems to total biomass, IVNDFD, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent lignin as a proportion of NDF (ADL/NDF) at three maturity stages. Within these populations, 96 h IVNDFD was highly heritable (h2 = 0.71), while 16 h IVNDFD had lower heritability (h2 = 0.46). Selection for high IVNDFD reduced NDF and ADL/NDF in plant stems at the late flowering and green pod maturity stages and reduced seasonal variability in stem digestibility but did not alter the percentage of stems. Stability analyses across 12 harvest environments found that selection for high IVNDFD had little effect on environmental stability of the trait compared to the unselected population. Thus, selection for stem IVNDFD was a highly effective strategy for developing alfalfa populations with improved nutritional quality without changing the percentage of stems to total biomass.
Seroprevalence and Factors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Besnoitia besnoiti Infections in Cattle and Goats in Selangor, Malaysia
Authors: Sadiq Mohammed Babatunde , Muhamad Azim Salahuddin , Hamdan Siti Aisyah , Ramanoon Siti Zubaidah , Zakaria Zunita , Aziz Nor Azlina Abdul , Mansor Rozaihan , Arshad Siti Suri , Khalid Nurulhidayah , Abdul Hamid Norhamizah , Kamaludeen Juriah , Syed-Hussain Sharifah Salmah
Published: March 2023

Apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Besnoitia besnoiti are widely recognized as causes of production diseases in ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the serological occurrence of T. gondii, N. caninum, and B. besnoiti in cattle and goats from smallholder farms in Selangor, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 19 farms by collecting 404 bovine (n = 225) and caprine (n = 179) serum samples, which were then essayed for T. gondii, N. caninum, and B. besnoiti antibodies using commercially available ELISA test kits. Farm data and animal characteristics were documented, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. The seroprevalence of T. gondii at animal and farm levels in cattle was 5.3% (95% CI 1.2–7.4%) and 36.8% (95% CI 22.4–58.0%), respectively. Animal-level seropositivity for N. caninum was 2.7% (95% CI 0.4–4.2%) and 5.7% for B. besnoiti (95% CI 1.3–9.4%) with corresponding farm-level seropositivity of 21.0% and 31.5%, respectively. For the goat samples, a high animal- (69.8%; 95% CI 34.1–82.0%) and farm-level (92.3%) seropositivity was recorded for T. gondii, but was relatively lower for N. caninum antibodies, at 3.9% (95% CI 1.5–6.2%) and 38.4% (5/13). The factors associated with T. gondii seropositivity were older animals (above 12 months) (OR = 5.3; 95% CI 1.7–16.6), semi-intensive farms (OR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.3–6.2), the presence of either dogs or cats (OR = 3.6; 95% CI 1.1–12.3), a large herd size (>100 animals) (OR = 3.7; 95% CI 1.4–10.0), and a single source of replacement animals (OR = 3.9; 95% CI 1.6–9.6). These findings are vital in developing effective control measures against these parasites in ruminant farms in Selangor, Malaysia. More national epidemiological research is required to elucidate the spatial distribution of these infections and their potential impact on Malaysia’s livestock industry.
Intensity and Duration of Vibration Emissions during Shipping as Interacting Factors on the Quality of Boar Semen Extended in Beltsville Thawing Solution
Authors: Hafemeister Tim , Schulze Paul , Simmet Christian , Jung Markus , Fuchs-Kittowski Frank , Schulze Martin
Published: March 2023

Vibration emissions during the transport of boar semen for artificial insemination (AI) affect sperm quality. In the present study, the common influence of the following factors was investigated: vibrations (displacement index (Di) = 0.5 to 6.0), duration of transport (0 to 12 h) and storage time (days 1 to 4). Normospermic ejaculates were collected from 39 fertile Pietrain boars (aged 18.6 ± 4.5 months) and diluted in a one-step procedure with an isothermic (32 °C) BTS (Minitüb) extender (n = 546 samples). Sperm concentration was adjusted to 22 × 106 sperm·mL−1. Extended semen (85 ± 1 mL) was filled into 95 mL QuickTip Flexitubes (Minitüb). For transport simulation on day 0, a laboratory shaker IKA MTS 4 was used. Total sperm motility (TSM) was evaluated on days 1 to 4. Thermo-resistance test (TRT), mitochondrial activity (MITO) and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) were assessed on day 4. Sperm quality dropped with increasing vibration intensity and transport duration, and the effect was enhanced by a longer storage time. A linear regression was performed using a mixed model, accounting for the boar as a random effect. The interaction between Di and transport duration significantly (p < 0.001) explained data for TSM (−0.30 ± 0.03%), TRT (−0.39 ± 0.06%), MITO (−0.45 ± 0.06%) and PMI (−0.43 ± 0.05%). Additionally, TSM decreased by 0.66 ± 0.08% with each day of storage (p < 0.001). It can be concluded that boar semen extended in BTS should be transported carefully. If this is not possible or the semen doses are transported a long way, the storage time should be reduced to a minimum.
Phylogenetic History and Phylogeographic Patterns of the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) Populations
Authors: Velli Edoardo , Caniglia Romolo , Mattucci Federica
Published: March 2023

Disentangling phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns is fundamental to reconstruct the evolutionary histories of taxa and assess their actual conservation status. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, the most exhaustive biogeographic history of European wildcat (Felis silvestris) populations was reconstructed by typing 430 European wildcats, 213 domestic cats, and 72 putative admixed individuals, collected across the entire species’ distribution range, at a highly diagnostic portion of the mitochondrial ND5 gene. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses identified two main ND5 lineages (D and W) roughly associated with domestic and wild polymorphisms. Lineage D included all domestic cats, 83.3% of putative admixed individuals, and also 41.4% of wildcats; these latter mostly showed haplotypes belonging to sub-clade Ia, that diverged about 37,700 years ago, long pre-dating any evidence for cat domestication. Lineage W included all the remaining wildcats and putative admixed individuals, spatially clustered into four main geographic groups, which started to diverge about 64,200 years ago, corresponding to (i) the isolated Scottish population, (ii) the Iberian population, (iii) a South-Eastern European cluster, and (iv) a Central European cluster. Our results suggest that the last Pleistocene glacial isolation and subsequent re-expansion from Mediterranean and extra-Mediterranean glacial refugia were pivotal drivers in shaping the extant European wildcat phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns, which were further modeled by both historical natural gene flow among wild lineages and more recent wild x domestic anthropogenic hybridization, as confirmed by the finding of F. catus/lybica shared haplotypes. The reconstructed evolutionary histories and the wild ancestry contents detected in this study could be used to identify adequate Conservation Units within European wildcat populations and help to design appropriate long-term management actions.
Limited Probiotic Effect of Enterococcus gallinarum L1, Vagococcus fluvialis L21 and Lactobacillus plantarum CLFP3 to Protect Rainbow Trout against Saprolegniosis
Authors: Fregeneda-Grandes Juan-Miguel , González-Palacios Concepción , Pérez-Sánchez Tania , Padilla Daniel , Real Fernando , Aller-Gancedo José-Miguel
Published: March 2023

Previous studies have demonstrated that the strains Enterococcus gallinarum L1, Vagococcus fluvialis L21 and Lactobacillus plantarum CLFP3 are probiotics against vibriosis or lactococosis in sea bass or rainbow trout. In this study, the utility of these bacterial strains in the control of saprolegniosis was evaluated. For this purpose, both in vitro inhibition studies and competition for binding sites against Saprolegnia parasitica and in vivo tests with experimentally infected rainbow trout were carried out. In the in vitro tests, the three isolates showed inhibitory activity upon mycelium growth and cyst germination and reduced the adhesion of cysts to cutaneous mucus; however, this effect depended on the number of bacteria used and the incubation time. In the in vivo test, the bacteria were administered orally at 108 CFU g−1 in the feed or at 106 CFU ml−1 in the tank water for 14 days. None of the three bacteria showed protection against S. parasitica infection either through water or feed, and the cumulative mortality reached 100% within 14 days post infection. The obtained results show that the use of an effective probiotic against a certain disease in a host may not be effective against another pathogen or in another host and that the results obtained in vitro may not always predict the effects when used in vivo.
Automated Wound Image Segmentation: Transfer Learning from Human to Pet via Active Semi-Supervised Learning
Authors: Buschi Daniele , Curti Nico , Cola Veronica , Carlini Gianluca , Sala Claudia , Dall’Olio Daniele , Castellani Gastone , Pizzi Elisa , Del Magno Sara , Foglia Armando , Giunti Massimo , Pisoni Luciano , Giampieri Enrico
Published: March 2023

Wound management is a fundamental task in standard clinical practice. Automated solutions already exist for humans, but there is a lack of applications regarding wound management for pets. Precise and efficient wound assessment is helpful to improve diagnosis and to increase the effectiveness of treatment plans for chronic wounds. In this work, we introduced a novel pipeline for the segmentation of pet wound images. Starting from a model pre-trained on human-based wound images, we applied a combination of transfer learning (TL) and active semi-supervised learning (ASSL) to automatically label a large dataset. Additionally, we provided a guideline for future applications of TL+ASSL training strategy on image datasets. We compared the effectiveness of the proposed training strategy, monitoring the performance of an EfficientNet-b3 U-Net model against the lighter solution provided by a MobileNet-v2 U-Net model. We obtained 80% of correctly segmented images after five rounds of ASSL training. The EfficientNet-b3 U-Net model significantly outperformed the MobileNet-v2 one. We proved that the number of available samples is a key factor for the correct usage of ASSL training. The proposed approach is a viable solution to reduce the time required for the generation of a segmentation dataset.
Evaluation of Clinical and Biochemical Traits in Egyptian Barki Sheep with Different Growth Performances
Authors: Fereig Ragab M. , Ibrahim Rawia M. , Khalil Atef M. , Frey Caroline F. , Khalifa Fatma A.
Published: March 2023

The Barki sheep industry is becoming increasingly important in Egypt because of the high quality of their meat and wool. This sheep breed is also commonly known for its resistance to arid and harsh environmental conditions. Such characteristics can be exploited in solving the problematic situation of inadequate animal protein for human consumption, particularly under climatic changes. However, very few studies have investigated aspects of breeding, nutrition, and susceptibility to infectious or non-infectious diseases in Barki sheep. Herein, we propose to unravel the differences in the clinical and biochemical profiles among Barki sheep of different growth rates. We measured clinical and biochemical parameters in stunted (n = 10; test group) and in good body condition (n = 9; control group) Barki sheep. Animals subjected to this experiment were of the same sex (female), age (12 months old), and housed in the same farm with similar conditions of feeding, management practice, and vaccination and deworming regimens. Regarding clinical examination, stunted/tested sheep showed a significantly higher pulse and respiratory rate compared to sheep with a good body condition/control group. The appetite, body temperature, and digestion processes were the same in both groups. In biochemical investigations, nutritional biomarkers were reduced markedly in stunted sheep compared with the control sheep, including total protein (p = 0.0445), albumin (p = 0.0087), cholesterol (p = 0.0007), and triglycerides (p = 0.0059). In addition, the Barki sheep test group suffered from higher levels of urea and blood urea nitrogen than the control group. Consistently, growth and thyroid hormone levels were lower in stunted sheep than the control sheep, although the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected in both groups for serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc (p > 0.05). To detect the reasons for emaciation, certain debilitating infections were tested. All tested sheep showed negative coprological tests for gastrointestinal parasites, and had no obvious seropositivity to brucellosis, toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, or Q fever. This study demonstrates the useful biochemical markers for monitoring growth performance in Egyptian Barki sheep and unravels the usefulness of this breed in nationwide breeding and farming.
Serotype Occurrence, Virulence Profiles, Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Salmonella Isolated from Hospitalized Patients with Gastroenteritis in Great Tunisia between 2010 and 2020
Authors: Oueslati Walid , Ridha Rjeibi Mohamed , Benyedem Hayet , Jebali Mounir , Souissi Fatma , Selmi Rachid , El Asli Mohamed Sélim , Barguellil Farouk , Ettriqui Abdelfettah
Published: March 2023

Non-typhoid Salmonella is one of the major causes of food-borne infections worldwide. The aim of the current study is to determine the serotype occurrence, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from hospitalized patients. The identification of Salmonella strains was performed according to REMIC, 2018. The susceptibility of Salmonella isolates was assessed against 20 antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method. Some virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were identified using PCR. Among the 61 isolated Salmonella strains, seven serotypes were identified and all were positive for the virulence genes invA, mgtC and sirA. Critical resistance rates (>40%) were detected for tetracycline, nalidixic acid, amoxicillin and fluoroquinolones. However, resistances to ertapenem, ceftazidim, aztreonam and colistin were null. In addition, 33% of the isolated strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Moreover, 80% and 60% of S. Kentucky isolates were identified as fluoroquinolone-resistant and MDR strains, respectively. The qnrB gene was amplified in 63.2% of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. The dfrA1 gene was identified in 20% (4/20) of the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant strains and the integrase Class 2 gene was amplified in only 8.2% (5/61) of the isolates. Our findings highlight the emergence of MDR Salmonella isolates. A rationalization of antimicrobial use is urgently recommended in both human and veterinary medicine.
First Bacteremia Due to Corynebacterium gottingense in an Immunocompromised Child: A Case Report, 16S rDNA-Based Phylogenetic Analyses and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bouguerra Lucas , Dupraz Chrystelle , Plouzeau Chloé , Michaud Anthony , Broutin Lauranne , Cremniter Julie , Burucoa Christophe , Pichon Maxime
Published: March 2023

Corynebacterium gottingense is a Gram-positive bacillus that has not been reported as pathogenic in pediatric patients. Herein, a case of catheter-associated bloodstream infection by C. gottingense in a 13-year-old immunocompromised child with febrile neutropenia induced for osteosarcoma is reported. The species was identified by Sanger sequencing of the 16s rRNA sequence of the bacterial strain and was compared phylogenetically with published sequences. As suggested in the literature, the presented strain was multi-susceptible, particularly to amoxicillin. The patient was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam for seven days in the context of a urinary co-infection, resulting in resolution of fever within 48 h and then relaunched with oral amoxicillin for 3 days (for a total of 10 days of antibiotic therapy). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA demonstrated the complexity of the genus Corynebacterium spp. but failed to demonstrate a direct benefit in predicting clinical outcome based on this single information.
Genomics Insight into cfr-Mediated Linezolid-Resistant LA-MRSA in Italian Pig Holdings
Authors: Iurescia Manuela , Diaconu Elena Lavinia , Alba Patricia , Feltrin Fabiola , Buccella Carmela , Onorati Roberta , Giacomi Angelo , Caprioli Andrea , Franco Alessia , Battisti Antonio , Carfora Virginia
Published: March 2023

The cfr genes encode for a 23S rRNA methyltransferase, conferring a multiresistance phenotype to phenicol, lincosamide, oxazolidinone, pleuromutilin, and streptogramin A antibiotics. These genes have been described in staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this study, we retrospectively performed an in-depth genomic characterisation of three cfr-positive, multidrug-resistant (MDR) livestock-associated (LA) MRSA clonal complexes (CCs) 1 and 398 detected in different Italian pig holdings (2008–2011) during population studies on Italian livestock (2008–2014). We used a combined Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) whole genome sequencing (WGS) approach on two isolates (the 2008 CC1 and the 2010 CC398 isolates, but not the 2011 CC1 isolate). Interestingly, the three isolates presented different cfr variants, with only one displaying a linezolid-resistant phenotype. In isolate 2008 CC1, the cfr gene was identified within a Tn558 composite transposon-like structure flanked by IS elements located on a novel 44,826 bp plasmid. This represents the first report of CC1 LA-MRSA harbouring the cfr gene in its functional variant. Differently, cfr was chromosomally located in isolate 2010 CC398. Our findings have significant public health implications, confirm the need for the continuous genomic surveillance of cfr-positive zoonotic LA-MRSA, and backdate cfr presence in LA-MRSA from Italian pigs to at least 2008.
Licochalcone B Induces ROS-Dependent Apoptosis in Oxaliplatin-Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells via p38/JNK MAPK Signaling
Authors: Kwak Ah-Won , Kim Woo-Keun , Lee Seung-On , Yoon Goo , Cho Seung-Sik , Kim Ki-Taek , Lee Mee-Hyun , Choi Yung Hyun , Lee Jin-Young , Park Jin Woo , Shim Jung-Hyun
Published: March 2023

Licochalcone B (LCB) exhibits anticancer activity in oral cancer, lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. However, little is known about its antitumor mechanisms in human oxaliplatin-sensitive and -resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antitumor potential of LCB against human colorectal cancer in vitro and analyze its molecular mechanism of action. The viability of CRC cell lines was evaluated using the MTT assay. Flow cytometric analyses were performed to investigate the effects of LCB on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) dysfunction, and multi-caspase activity in CRC cells. The results demonstrated that LCB induced a reduction in cell viability, apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest, ROS generation, MMP depolarization, activation of multi-caspase, and JNK/p38 MAPK. However, p38 (SB203580) and JNK (SP600125) inhibitors prevented the LCB-induced reduction in cell viability. The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibited LCB-induced reduction in cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, ROS generation, MMP depolarization, and multi-caspase and JNK/p38 MAPK activities. Taken together, LCB has a potential therapeutic effect against CRC cells through the ROS-mediated JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, we expect LCB to have promising potential as an anticancer therapeutic and prophylactic agent.
Selective Enzymatic Esterification of Lignin-Derived Phenolics for the Synthesis of Lipophilic Antioxidants
Authors: Martinez-Garcia Marta , Gracia-Vitoria Jaime , Vanbroekhoven Karolien , Dejonghe Winnie , Satyawali Yamini
Published: March 2023

Lignin is an abundant and renewable source of phenolic compounds that can be used as natural antioxidants to substitute synthetic, petroleum-based alternatives. The development of lignin depolymerization techniques has improved the accessibility of low-molecular-weight phenolic fractions with enhanced antioxidant activity compared to native lignin. The selective esterification of the aliphatic OH groups in these compounds is necessary in order to increase their compatibility with hydrophobic product matrixes, while preserving their antioxidant capacity. In the present work, lipase was chosen as a selective catalyst for the esterification of the monolignol dihydroconiferyl alcohol (DCA), in order to target the esterification of aliphatic OHs without modifying the aromatic groups. The reaction was studied under solvent-assisted and solvent-free conditions, using different fatty acids and substrate ratios. A product yield of 97% could be obtained after 24 h in a solvent-assisted reaction with 2 molar equivalents of fatty acid, or after 3 h in a solvent-free reaction with 10 molar equivalents of the fatty acid. The esterified monolignol showed relevant long-term radical scavenging activity, comparable to other commercial, petroleum-based antioxidants. Different lignin fractions were also used as substrates for enzymatic esterification with different fatty acids, resulting in esterification degrees of 20–58% (of the total aliphatic OH), depending on the specific combination of fatty acid–lignin fractions.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Therapeutic Strategies in Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Cojocaru Karina-Alexandra , Luchian Ionut , Goriuc Ancuta , Antoci Lucian-Mihai , Ciobanu Cristian-Gabriel , Popescu Roxana , Vlad Cristiana-Elena , Blaj Mihaela , Foia Liliana Georgeta
Published: March 2023

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles involved in essential cellular functions, including cytosolic calcium regulation, cell apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species production. They are the site of important biochemical pathways, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, parts of the ureagenesis cycle, or haem synthesis. Mitochondria are responsible for the majority of cellular ATP production through OXPHOS. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with metabolic pathologies such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, cellular aging, and cancer. In this article, we describe the pathophysiological changes in, and mitochondrial role of, metabolic disorders (diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease) and their correlation with oxidative stress. We highlight the genetic changes identified at the mtDNA level. Additionally, we selected several representative biomarkers involved in oxidative stress and summarize the progress of therapeutic strategies.
Effect of Dietary Supplements with ω-3 Fatty Acids, Ascorbic Acid, and Polyphenolic Antioxidant Flavonoid on Gene Expression, Organ Failure, and Mortality in Endotoxemia-Induced Septic Rats
Authors: Prado Yolanda , Echeverría Cesar , Feijóo Carmen G. , Riedel Claudia A. , Cabello-Verrugio Claudio , Santibanez Juan F. , Simon Felipe
Published: March 2023

Sepsis syndrome develops through enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sepsis syndrome is characterized by vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and increased mortality, among others. Endotoxemia-derived sepsis is an important cause of sepsis syndrome. During endotoxemia, circulating endotoxin interacts with endothelial cells (ECs), inducing detrimental effects on endothelium function. The endotoxin induces the conversion of ECs into fibroblasts, which are characterized by a massive change in the endothelial gene-expression pattern. This downregulates the endothelial markers and upregulates fibrotic proteins, mesenchymal transcription factors, and extracellular matrix proteins, producing endothelial fibrosis. Sepsis progression is modulated by the consumption of specific nutrients, including ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly described. The notion that gene expression is modulated during inflammatory conditions by nutrient consumption has been reported. However, it is not known whether nutrient consumption modulates the fibrotic endothelial gene-expression pattern during sepsis as a mechanism to decrease vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, MODS, and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the consumption of dietary ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoid supplements on the modulation of fibrotic endothelial gene-expression patterns during sepsis and to determine the effects on sepsis outcomes. Our results indicate that the consumption of supplements based on ω-3 fatty acids and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids was effective for improving endotoxemia outcomes through prophylactic ingestion and therapeutic usage. Thus, our findings indicated that specific nutrient consumption improves sepsis outcomes and should be considered in treatment.
Application of Agri-Food By-Products in Cheesemaking
Authors: Difonzo Graziana , Antonino Claudia , Squeo Giacomo , Caponio Francesco , Faccia Michele
Published: March 2023

Agri-food companies produce large quantities of plant by-products that in many instances contain functional bioactive compounds. This review summarizes the main applications of agro-industrial by-products in cheesemaking, considering their bioactivities and functional properties. Polyphenol-rich by-products increase antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in cheeses, positively impacting their shelf life. Contrasting results have been obtained regarding the color and sensory properties of enriched cheeses depending on the selected by-products and on the technology adopted for the extract preparation. Furthermore, functional compounds in cheeses perform a prebiotic function and their bioavailability improves human health. Overall, the use of agri-food by-products in cheese formulation can offer benefits for agri-food chain sustainability and consumer health.
Temporal Extraction of Complex Medicine by Combining Probabilistic Soft Logic and Textual Feature Feedback
Authors: Gu Jinguang , Wang Daiwen , Hu Danyang , Gao Feng , Xu Fangfang
Published: March 2023

In medical texts, temporal information describes events and changes in status, such as medical visits and discharges. According to the semantic features, it is classified into simple time and complex time. The current research on time recognition usually focuses on coarse-grained simple time recognition while ignoring fine-grained complex time. To address this problem, based on the semantic concept of complex time in Clinical Time Ontology, we define seven basic features and eleven extraction rules and propose a complex medical time-extraction method. It combines probabilistic soft logic and textual feature feedback. The framework consists of two parts: (a) text feature recognition based on probabilistic soft logic, which is based on probabilistic soft logic for negative feedback adjustment; (b) complex medical time entity recognition based on text feature feedback, which is based on the text feature recognition model in (a) for positive feedback adjustment. Finally, the effectiveness of our approach is verified in text feature recognition and complex temporal entity recognition experimentally. In the text feature recognition task, our method shows the best F1 improvement of 18.09% on the Irregular Instant Collection type corresponding to utterance l17. In the complex medical temporal entity recognition task, the F1 metric improves the most significantly, by 10.42%, on the Irregular Instant Collection type.
Bond Characterization in Cementitious Material Binders Using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Yusuf Moruf Olalekan
Published: March 2023

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a fast and simple technique for functional group identification. This work provides a review and insight into the application and interpretation of FTIR spectroscopy for cementitious binders that comprise ordinary Portland cement, alkaline-activated binders, geopolymers, and material characterization for civil engineering material applications. This technique can be used to identify different compounds and a moiety of bond vibrations in inorganic molecules such as Si-O, -OH, H-O-H (water), C-O (carbonate or carbonation), aluminosilicate (Si-O-T, where T is Al or Si), and S-O (sulfate or gypsum) found in hydrated cement, alkaline binders, and geopolymers. The prominent bands include those representing carbonation (CO32− 1390–1475 cm−1), calcium carbonate (871, 1792–2516 cm−1), hydroxylation and water molecules (1607, 3400–3650 cm−1), strength skeletal framework compositions or Al-Si substitutions, silicate organization (C-A-S-H, N-A-S-H, or C-S-H (950–1055 cm−1), and sulfate (600–680, 1080–1100 cm−1). Some of the factors that could affect the spectra bands include elemental displacement due to changes in molar mass, activated temperature, pH, activator concentration, w/b ratio, Ca/Si ratio, Si/Al ratio, and the silica modulus (SiO2/Na2O) of the activators used in the binder synthesis. The method could be used for destructive and non-destructive testing on paste sample by using transmission and attenuated total reflectance methods, respectively.
Use of Phase Change Materials for Food Applications—State of the Art in 2022
Authors: Mehling Harald
Published: March 2023

The availability of food to a growing world population is a matter of concern for decades. Despite that, post-harvest losses are large in many countries, due to insufficient food preservation. And recently rising prices for fossil energies additionally increase food cost, thus increase the demand for energy efficiency. Probably the first application of phase change materials (PCM) ever was the use of ice for food storage, for preservation. Related to that is the use of ice for transport, and for fast cool down in food processing. The result of a desktop study shows the range of food applications of PCM, the advantages using PCM, and the state-of-the-art, meaning past and ongoing R&D, also including existing commercial products. The overview covers food processing, e.g., industrial process cooling and heating, local pre-cooling of harvested food, solar drying and cooking, for storage and transport e.g., solar cold rooms, fridges, display coolers, trucks and containers, and for food production specifically greenhouses and water purification. PCM are used in many real applications as commercial products, and in many other applications their advantages are proven. Regarding future R&D, the overview also identifies potential for improvement, possibly even of commercial products.
Audio Feedback with the Use of a Smartphone in Sailing Training among Windsurfers
Authors: Tarnas Jacek , Cyma-Wejchenig Magdalena , Schaffert Nina , Stemplewski Rafał
Published: March 2023

The open-water training conditions in sailing sports limit the coach’s ability to provide instructions. Auditory feedback provided using a smartphone application in real-time seems to be a promising tool in the training process. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of a smartphone application created to support tactical decisions via an auditory display. Thirteen successful windsurfers competing in RS:X class took part in the study. The results, collected with the use of a questionnaire, related to the technical and aesthetic aspects of the functions as well as decision-making assistance of the application during upwind sailing races. Most of the competitors positively evaluated application function (54–85%). Real-time information about the deviation from the set course and information about potential tack change due to a changed wind direction were statistically significantly more helpful for less experienced windsurfers (rho = −0.68 and rho = −0.78, respectively) and those with lower sports level (rho = −0.63 and rho = −0.65, respectively). It can be concluded that the use of sound feedback in the conditions of training on-water in sailing has potential, primarily for younger and less experienced competitors. Quantitative evaluations of the sailing performance should be considered in further research on the functionality of the application.
Dehydrated Sauerkraut Juice in Bread and Meat Applications and Bioaccessibility of Total Phenol Compounds after In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion
Authors: Jansone Liene , Kruma Zanda , Majore Kristine , Kampuse Solvita
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate dehydrated sauerkraut juice (DSJ) in bread and meat applications and investigate bioaccessibility (BAC) of TPC in the analyzed products. In current research, sauerkraut juice, dehydrated sauerkraut juice, and bread and meat products prepared with dehydrated sauerkraut juice were analyzed. For all of the samples, total phenol content, antiradical activity by ABTS+, bioaccessibility, and volatile compound profile were determined. Additionally, sensory evaluation was performed to evaluate the degree of liking bread and meat with dehydrated sauerkraut juice. The addition of DSJ increased TPC in bread and meat samples. The bioaccessibility was higher for the control samples compared to DSJ samples. It exceeded 1 and is considered as good. DSJ did not promote bioaccessibility. Benzaldehyde was the highest peak area for the Bread DSJ and Meat DSJ samples, giving a roasted peanut and almond aroma. There were no significant differences in degree of liking for structure, taste, and aroma between the control bread and the Bread DSJ, while Meat DSJ was more preferable in sensory evaluation. DSJ could be used in food applications, but further research is necessary.
Neural Image Analysis for the Determination of Total and Volatile Solids in a Composted Sewage Sludge and Maize Straw Mixture
Authors: Kujawa Sebastian , Niedbała Gniewko , Czekała Wojciech , Pentoś Katarzyna
Published: March 2023

Waste management is one of most important challenges in environmental protection. Much effort is put into the development of waste treatment methods for further use. A serious problem is the treatment of municipal sewage sludge. One method that is useful for this substrate is composting. However, it is reasonable to compost a sewage sludge mixed with other substrates, such as maize straw. To carry out the composting process properly, it is necessary to control some parameters, including the total solids and volatile solids content in the composted mixture. In this paper, a method for the determination of the total solids and volatile solids content based on image analysis and neural networks was proposed. Image analysis was used for the determination of the colour and texture parameters. The three additional features describing the composted material were percentage of sewage sludge, type of maize straw, and stage of compost maturity. The neural models were developed based on various combinations of the input parameters. For both the total solids and volatile solids content, the most accurate models were obtained using all input parameters, including 30 parameters for image colour and texture and three features describing the composted material. The uncertainties of the developed models, expressed by the MAPE error, were 2.88% and 0.59%, respectively, for the prediction of the total solids and volatile solids content.
A Comprehensive Methodology for the Statistical Characterization of Solar Irradiation: Application to the Case of Morocco
Authors: Bouhorma Naoufal , Martín Helena , de la Hoz Jordi , Coronas Sergio
Published: March 2023

The prediction and characterization of solar irradiation relies mostly on either the use of complex models or on complicated mathematical techniques, such as artificial neural network (ANN)-based algorithms. This mathematical complexity might hamper their use by businesses and project developers when assessing the solar resource. In this study, a simple but comprehensive methodology for characterizing the solar resource for a project is presented. It is based on the determination of the best probability distribution function (PDF) of the solar irradiation for a specific location, assuming that the knowledge of statistical techniques may be more widely extended than other more complex mathematical methods. The presented methodology was tested on 23 cities across Morocco, given the high interest in solar investments in the country. As a result, a new database for solar irradiation values depending on historical data is provided for Morocco. The results show the great existing variety of PDFs for the solar irradiation data at the different months and cities, which demonstrates the need for undertaking a proper characterization of the irradiation when the assessment of solar energy projects is involved. When it is simply needed to embed the radiation uncertainty in the analysis, as is the case of the techno-economic valuation of solar energy assets, the presented methodology can reach this objective with much less complexity and less demanding input data. Moreover, its application is not limited to solar resource assessment, but can also be easily used in other fields, such as meteorology and climate change studies.