bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species diversity and richness of ant (hymenoptera, formicidae) in Bhawal National Park of Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman MM , Jahan MN
Published: March 2020

Ant community serves as an bioindicator on the assumption that the extent of ant diversity reflects broader ecosystem change. Bangladesh with varied agro ecosystem providing broad ecological niche of diversified ant community. The study of ant community is a way to measure the recent transformation of agro ecosystems in Bangladesh to provide information about management and conservation of agricultural landscape. The present study was conducted in Bhawal National Park to delve deeper into the diversity and richness of ants as they work as ecological indicators of an ecosystem. Being a conservation site with natural resources, Bhawal National Park can serve as study site with species diversity due to having sites with similar vegetation and soil type, but different ecological parameters. The objective of the study was to identify local ant fauna in forest agroecosystem to understand the impact on human disturbance to ant communities of the study area. Total 399 individuals were identified from 42 species of 17 genera belonging to 6 subfamilies. Sampling was performed using Time unit sampling (TUS) and pitfall trap in two different areas, viz, area 1 and 2. The most dominant subfamily of the study area was Myrmicinae. The highest number of species were found from the genus Camponotus. The Shannon-Wiener's Diversity Index showed that area 1 had higher species diversity due to favorable living conditions with less animal intervention and higher density of vegetation playing key role. However, the species dissimilarity in different study areas were relatively low due to similar vegetation and soil type. The study provided an inventory of Bangladesh as well as identification system of ants. This is the first comprehensive list of ants from forest ecosystem of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 679-688, December 2019
Properties of Separation Axioms in Bitopological Spaces
Authors: Roshmi Rupaya , Hossain MS
Published: March 2020

In this paper, three notions of separation axioms in bitopological space are discussed. Some relations of topology and bitopology in such notions have been found. Further, that these notions are hereditary and topological property are proved.

Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 43, No. 2, 191-195, 2019
Management of Skull Base Osteoradionecrosis
Authors: Cho Sung-Woo , Won Tae-Bin
Published: March 2020

Osteoradionecrosis of the skull base (SB-ORN) is a serious potentially lethal complication after radiotherapy in the head and neck region and is therefore considered one of the most challenging clinical entities among skull base lesions. Management options includes nasal irrigation, medications such as systemic antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgical debridement. Despite these efforts treatment outcomes are associated with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown an increased disease control rate with a more aggressive surgical approach including sequestrectomy. One of the main factors associated with poor prognosis is involvement of the internal carotid artery near the skull base. Spontaneous carotid rupture is frequently associated with death and/or severe morbidity and also poses risk of profuse bleeding during surgery. In this article we will deliver a comprehensive review of SB-ORN, including pathophysiology, clinical features, and an update in treatment strategy.
Old English poem «Judith» as a reflection of Anglo-Saxon early medieval mentality
Authors: Yeutukhou Ihar A.
Published: March 2020

The article analyzes the reflection of the Western European early medieval mentality in the Оld English poem «Judith». The following research methods were used: clustering (formation of a cluster of verbal reflections of mental attitudes) and historical-semantic analysis of objects included in the cluster. Poem «Judith» information, connected with the mentality, concerns two lines: the motivation to participate in the battle, and the posthumous punishment of the main antagonist of Holofernes. The analysis allowed the author to draw the following conclusions. Firstly, the poem «Judith» is not a direct poetic paraphrase of the eponymous book of the Оld Testament. The text contains a number of additions that carry completely new information, revealing in particular problems associated with the mentality (Judith speech, the posthumous fate of Holofernes). Secondly, the poem «Judith» allows us to distinguish two levels in the mentality of Anglo-Saxon society – basic one and emerging. The first of them is represented by the concept of «glory» (wuldor and tir). The use of the word wuldor indicates a significant stability of structures associated with the foundations of the mentality of society. For Anglo-Saxon society such a basis was war and glory. The glory had been denoted by the word, rooted in the days of the Old German community (linked to the Gothic language), and unknown to the Vikings. The same stability shows respect for the leader of the enemy troops. The second level is represented by the image of «snake hall» (wyrm-sele), which was formed during the wars with the Vikings in the 10th century for the liberation of the occupied territories. Thirdly, the presence of two levels in the mentality allows author to consider the period of its formation as open. Thus the innovation, arised under Scandinavian influence, was not entrenched in mentality.
Downscaling Regional Crop Yields to Local Scale Using Remote Sensing
Authors: Shirsath Paresh B. , Sehgal Vinay Kumar , Aggarwal Pramod K.
Published: March 2020

Local-scale crop yield datasets are not readily available in most of the developing world. Local-scale crop yield datasets are of great use for risk transfer and risk management in agriculture. In this article, we present a simple method for disaggregation of district-level production statistics over crop pixels by using a remote sensing approach. We also quantified the error in the disaggregated statistics to ascertain its usefulness for crop insurance purposes. The methodology development was attempted in Parbhani district of Maharashtra state with wheat and sorghum crops in the winter season. The methodology uses the ratio of Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) of pixel to total EVI of the crop pixels in that district corresponding to the growth phase of the crop. It resulted in the generation of crop yield maps at the 500 m resolution pixel (grid) level. The methodology was repeated to generate time-series maps of crop yield. In general, there was a good correspondence between disaggregated crop yield and sub-district level crop yields with a correlation coefficient of 0.9.
Evolution of Hay Meadows between 1956, 1986, and 2016 and Its Relation to the Characteristics and Location of the Parcels in the Valley of the River Esera (Pyrenees, Spain)
Authors: Ascaso Joaquín , Reiné Ramón , Barrantes Olivia
Published: March 2020

The uses of the agricultural surface of hay meadows and crops of the mountain areas of the Spanish central Pyrenees are subject to constant transformations. This paper addresses the changes produced in the hay meadows of the Ésera river valley of the central Pyrenees (Spain) regarding the surface and the agronomic and topographic characteristics of the parcels between 1956–1986 and 1986–2016. The cartographed area is 5226 hectares, of which 1941 hectares correspond to 6416 polygons that have been mowed or cultivated on one of the three reference dates. In the period 1956–1986, there is a reduction in the agricultural area of meadows and crops (13.59%) in favor of pastures, forest, urbanized land, and water reservoirs. The surface of the meadows increases to 301.58%, to the detriment of the crops, until almost their disappearance. Between 1986 and 2016, the area of meadows is reduced to 59.11%, and the area of pastures, forests, and urbanized land increases. The topographic characteristics of the parcels with respect to surface, altitude, slope, width, and terracing and distance to the communication routes determine mechanized access and management and discriminate the transformation to pasture and forest.
Carbon and Metal(loid)s in Parkland and Road Verge Surface Soils in the City of Liverpool, UK
Authors: Beesley Luke , Moreno-Jiménez Eduardo , Jenn Phil , Lepp Nicholas W.
Published: March 2020

Urban soils are at the interface between land and people and provide a wide variety of important ecosystem services to highly populous areas. The aims of this soil survey were (1) to measure the bulk density, carbon (C) storage and pH of surface soils (0–15 cm depth) from public spaces (parks and road verges) in the city of Liverpool, UK, and (2) to determine the likely impact of these master variables on heavy metal concentrations (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). The bulk densities and organic matter contents varied considerably in the predominantly sandy textured soils within the city boundary, resulting in diverse C densities from 1–10 kg C m2. Organic carbon formed the majority of the labile, water-soluble and extractable C pool in these soils, a fact not easily elucidated from their organic matter or C content alone. The copper and lead concentrations in the sampled soils were correlated with organic matter and organic carbon in water-extracts. Cadmium and zinc appeared to be dependent only on soil pH, whilst arsenic was related positively to organic matter, but negatively to pH. Interrelationships, and hence synonymous distributions, of all metal(loid)s existed, but were strongest between Cu and As, and Cu and Pb. These results suggest that the diverse bulk densities, and hence carbon storage, of the urban soils surveyed influenced the dispersal of metals and arsenic.
Effect of Supplementary Lighting Duration on Growth and Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in Grafted Watermelon Seedlings
Authors: Wei Hao , Wang Mengzhao , Jeong Byoung Ryong
Published: March 2020

Insufficient exposure to light in the winter may result in a longer production periods and lower quality of seedlings in greenhouses for plug growers. Supplementary artificial lighting to plug seedlings may be one solution to this problem. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the duration of the supplementary light on the growth and development of two watermelon cultivars, ‘Speed’ and ‘Sambok Honey’ grafted onto ‘RS-Dongjanggun’ bottle gourd rootstocks (Lagenaria siceraria Stanld). Seedlings were grown for 10 days in a glasshouse with an average daily natural light intensity of 340 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and daily supplementary lighting of 8, 12 or 16 h from mixed LEDs (W1R2B1, chip ratio of white:red:blue = 1:2:1) at a light intensity of 100 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD, a group without supplementary light was set as the control (CK). The culture environment in a glasshouse had 25/15 °C day/night temperatures, an 85 ± 5% relative humidity, and a natural photoperiod of 8 h. The results showed that all the growth and development parameters of seedlings grown with supplementary light were significantly greater than those without supplementary light (CK). The 12 and 16 h supplementary light resulted in greater growth and development parameters than the 8 h supplementary light did. The same trend was also found with the indexes that reflect the quality of the seedlings, such as the dry weight ratio of the shoot and root, total biomass, dry weight to height ratio of scions, and specific leaf weight. The 12 h and 16 h light supplements resulted in greater Dickson’s quality indexes compared to the 8 h supplementary light, and the 12 h supplementary light showed the greatest use efficiency of the supplementary light. 16 h of daily supplementary light significantly increased the H2O2 content and the antioxidant enzyme activities in seedlings compared to the other treatments. This indicated that 16 h of supplementary light led to certain stresses in watermelon seedlings. In conclusion, considering the energy consumption, 12 h of supplementary light was the most efficient in improving the quality of the two cultivars of grafted watermelon plug seedlings.
Influences of Enzyme Blend Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Microbiota and Meat-Quality in Grower-Finisher Pigs
Authors: Balasubramanian Balamuralikrishnan , Park Jae Hong , Shanmugam Sureshkumar , Kim In Ho
Published: March 2020

The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of an enzyme blend on growth performance, apparent total track digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), gross energy (GE), fecal microbial population, noxious gas emissions and meat quality of pigs fed corn–soybean meal-based diets for a 16-week feeding trial. A total of 180 growing pigs (body weight of 23.3 ± 2.51 kg) were used and randomly allotted to one of three dietary treatments (positive control (PC, basal diet); negative control (NC, −150 kcal/kg of PC); A1 (NC + 1% enzyme blend)). Overall, dietary inclusion of the enzyme blend increased (p < 0.05) body weight, average daily gain and gain:feed ratio without effecting average daily feed intake. An increase was observed in ATTD of DM (p = 0.027) and GE (p = 0.026) at week 16 and 6, respectively. Dietary inclusion of the enzyme blend increased the beneficial effects on fecal microbiota counts such as Lactobacillus with a reduced presence of E. coli during the entire experiment (p < 0.05). Further, positive effects (p < 0.05) were observed on back-fat thickness and carcass weight of pigs, along with the results of reduced levels of NH3 emissions (p = 0.032) at week 16. Thus, the study suggested that the dietary enzyme blend supplement had improving effects on growth performance, ATTD of nutrients, fecal microbial counts and meat quality in pigs.
The Influence of Diet Containing Wheat Gluten Supplemented with Dipeptides or Amino Acids on the Morphology of White Muscle of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)
Authors: Kamaszewski Maciej , Wójcik Maciej , Krawczyńska Agata , Ostaszewska Teresa
Published: March 2020

Nutrition affects the metabolism of muscle cells and myogenic progenitor cells which play a crucial role in the growth and development of the muscle tissue. Because of the fact that the development process of yellow perch muscle tissue is not well known, the study aimed to analyze the influence of diets containing wheat gluten and supplemented with Lys and Gly in dipeptides or free form. Fish were allocated into 12 tanks and divided into four groups. Two of the experimental diets were supplemented Lys-Gly in the dipeptide form (DP group) or free amino acids (FAA group). The third was not supplemented with lysine (LF group). The fourth group of fish was fed commercial starter Bio-Oregon (C group). Histological or histomorphometric analyses were conducted: white muscle area, the total number of muscle fibers, the total number of white muscle nuclei, muscle fiber area, number of proliferating myonuclei. Fish fed LF diet showed the lowest number of nuclei and satellite cells proliferation. Results in DP and FAA groups were similar to that observed in fish fed C diet. Summarizing, wheat gluten-based diets supplemented with Lys-Gly dipeptide or free Lys and Gly amino acids exert beneficial effects on the morphology of yellow perch white muscle.
Sheep Methane Emission on Semiarid Native Pasture—Potential Impacts of Either Zinc Sulfate or Propylene Glycol as Mitigation Strategies
Authors: Costa Hélio , Saliba Eloisa , Bomfim Marco , Lana Ângela Maria , Borges Ana Luiza , Landim Aline , Mota Carlos , Tonucci Rafael , Faciola Antonio P.
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Zinc sulfate and propylene glycol (PG) on methane (CH4) emission, nutrient intake, digestibility, and production in sheep grazing on a native Caatinga (Brazilian semi-arid savannah) pasture during the rainy season (from March to June 2014). Fifteen mixed Santa Inês sheep, all non-castrated males, with initial body weight of 19.8 ± 1.64 kg, and 4 ± 0.35 months of age, were distributed in a complete randomized design into three treatments: control (CT)—concentrate supplemented at 0.7% of body weight; CT + 300 mg of Zn/day; and CT + 2.5 mL of propylene glycol/kg LW0.75/day. Measurements were done in four periods during the rainy season, with 28 days of interval between each measurement. CH4 emission was measured using the SF6 tracer gas technique. CH4 emission per day was greater in PG than in CT and Zn (p < 0.05). However, no additive effect was observed on the intakes of organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), or on CH4 emission expressed as a function of OM and NDF intakes (p > 0.05). Across the months of the trial, OM and NDF intakes were greater in March, while the greatest emission of CH4 (g/day and g by g/OM intake) was observed in May (p < 0.05). Total CH4 emission (kg) from March to June (112 days of evaluation) was greater in PG compared with CT and Zn (p < 0.05). Zinc and PG had no effect on total CH4 emission when it was expressed per unit of body weight gain or carcass production (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that Zinc sulfate and propylene glycol have no beneficial effects in mitigating sheep CH4 emission. The CH4 emissions originated from sheep grazing native Caatinga pasture change throughout the rainy season due to fluctuations in availability and quality of pasture biomass. Moreover, the inclusion of zinc sulfate or propylene glycol did not improve animal feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and animal performance.
Identification and Profiling of Pituitary microRNAs of Sheep during Anestrus and Estrus Stages
Authors: Ullah Yaseen , Li Cunyuan , Li Xiaoyue , Ni Wei , Yao Rui , Xu Yueren , Quan Renzhe , Li Huixiang , Zhang Mengdan , Liu Li , Hu Ruirui , Guo Tao , Li Yaxin , Wang Xiaokui , Hu Shengwei
Published: March 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs, molecules of 21 to 25 nucleotides in length, that regulate gene expression by binding to their target mRNA and play a significant role in animal development. The expression and role of miRNAs in regulating sheep estrus, however, remain elusive. Transcriptome analysis is helpful to understand the biological roles of miRNAs in the pituitary gland of sheep. A sheep’s pituitary gland has a significant difference between estrus and anestrus states. Here, we investigate the expression profiles of sheep anterior pituitary microRNAs (miRNAs) in two states, estrus and anestrus, using Illumina HiSeq-technology. This study identified a total of 199 miRNAs and 25 differentially expressed miRNAs in the estrus and anestrus pituitary gland in sheep. Reverse transcription quantitative-PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis shows six differentially (p < 0.05) expressed miRNAs, that are miR-143, miR-199a, miR-181a, miR-200a, miR-218, and miR-221 in both estrus and anestrus states. miRNAs containing estrus-related terms and pathways regulation are enriched using enrichment analysis from gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Moreover, we also envisioned a miRNA–mRNA interaction network to understand the function of miRNAs involved in the pituitary gland regulatory network. In conclusion, miRNA expression profiles in sheep pituitary gland in the anestrus and estrus deliver a theoretical basis for the study of pituitary gland biology in sheep.
Inhibition of Glucosyltransferase Activity and Glucan Production as an Antibiofilm Mechanism of Lemongrass Essential Oil against Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Ortega-Ramirez Luis A. , Gutiérrez-Pacheco M. Melissa , Vargas-Arispuro Irasema , González-Aguilar Gustavo A. , Martínez-Téllez Miguel A. , Ayala-Zavala J. Fernando
Published: March 2020

The resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to disinfection is associated with its ability to form biofilms, mainly constituted by glucans produced by glucosyltransferases. Citral and geraniol, terpenes found in the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (EO), have proven antibacterial activity against planktonic E. coli; however, no information was found about their efficacy and mode of action against E. coli biofilms. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of C. citratus EO, citral, and geraniol on glucans production and glucosyltransferase activity as anti-biofilm mechanism against E. coli was evaluated. EO, citral, and geraniol inhibited the planktonic growth of E. coli (minimal inhibitory concentration or MIC= 2.2, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/mL, respectively) and the bacterial adhesion (2.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/mL, respectively) on stainless steel. All compounds decreased the glucans production; citral and geraniol acted as uncompetitive inhibitors of glucosyltransferase activity (The half maximal inhibitory concentrations or IC50 were 8.5 and 6.5 µM, respectively). The evidence collected by docking analysis indicated that both terpenes could interact with the helix finger of the glucosyltransferase responsible for the polymer production. In conclusion, C. citratus EO, citral, and geraniol inhibited glucosyltransferase activity, glucans production, and the consequent biofilm formation of E. coli O157:H7.
Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS): Clinical Validation of the Italian Version
Authors: Di Vico Tommaso , Morganti Riccardo , Cai Tommaso , Naber Kurt G. , Wagenlehner Florian M.E. , Pilatz Adrian , Alidjanov Jakhongir , Morelli Girolamo , Bartoletti Riccardo
Published: March 2020

Acute Cystitis Symptom Score (ACSS) is an 18-item self-reporting questionnaire for clinical diagnosis and follow-up of acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) in women. The ACSS, originally developed in Uzbek and Russian languages, is now available in several languages. The purpose of the study was to validate the ACSS questionnaire in the Italian language. Linguistic validation was carried out according to Linguistic Validation Manual for Patient-Reported Outcomes Instruments guidelines. Clinical validation was carried out by enrolling one hundred Italian-speaking women. All women were asked to fill in the ACSS questionnaire during their medical visit. Fifty-four women, median age 36 (Inter Quartile Range 28–49), were diagnosed with AUC, while 46 women, median age 38 (IQR 29–45), were enrolled as the control group attending the hospital’s fertility center for couples. The most frequently isolated pathogen in AUC was Escherichia coli (40; 74.0%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (7; 13.0%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (3; 5.6%). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis performed at the first diagnostic visit on a typical symptoms domain cut-off score of 6 revealed a sensitivity of 92.5% and specificity of 97.8%. The Italian version of the ACSS has proved to be a reliable tool with a high accuracy in diagnosis and follow-up in women with AUC. The ACSS may also be useful for clinical and epidemiological studies.
Efficacy and Safety of Sitafloxacin in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Infection: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Chao-Kun , Cheng I-Ling , Chen Yu-Hung , Lai Chih-Cheng
Published: March 2020

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sitafloxacin in treating acute bacterial infection. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched up to August 13, 2019. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating sitafloxacin and comparators in the treatment of acute bacterial infections were included. The outcomes were clinical and microbiological responses and the risk of adverse event (AE). Five RCTs were enrolled, including 375 and 381 patients who received sitafloxacin and the comparator, respectively. Overall, the clinical response rate of sitafloxacin in the treatment of acute bacterial infections was 94.6%, which was noninferior to that of the comparator (92.5%) (odds ratio (OR), 1.01; 95% CI, 0.24–4.32; I2 = 66%). For patients with complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI)/acute pyelonephritis (APN), the clinical response rate of sitafloxacin and the comparator was 96.9% and 91.3%, respectively (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.35–12.44; I2 = 54%). For patients with pneumonia, the clinical response rate of sitafloxacin was 88.6%, which was comparable to that of the comparator (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.11–1.21; I2 = 0%). The microbiological response of sitafloxacin was 82.0%, which was noninferior to that of the comparator (77.8%) (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.77–3.28; I2 = 47%). The risk of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE), drug-related TEAE, and all-cause mortality were similar between sitafloxacin and the comparators (TEAE, OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.64–2.01, drug-related TEAE, OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.48–2.69, mortality, OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.09–9.44). In conclusion, sitafloxacin is noninferior to other commonly used antibiotics with respect to both clinical and microbiological response rates in patients with an acute bacterial infection, including cUTI/APN and pneumonia. In addition, sitafloxacin is also as safe as the comparators.
Multiple Drug Resistance Patterns in Various Phylogenetic Groups of Hospital-Acquired Uropathogenic E. coli Isolated from Cancer Patients
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed Talaat , Salim Mohamed Taha , Ibrahem Reham Ali , Gabr Adel , Halby Hamada Mohamed
Published: March 2020

Cancer patients are more susceptible to several bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). The objective of this work was detection and the phylogenetic characterization of hospital-acquired isolates of uropathogenic E. coli in cancer patients and the determination of its relation with antibiotic resistance. A total of 110 uropathogenic E. coli responsible for hospital-acquired urinary tract infections in cancer patients were included in this study. A triplex PCR was employed to segregate different isolates into four different phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D). Drug resistance was evaluated by the disc diffusion method. All of the isolates were multiple drug-resistant (MDR) and 38.18% of all UPEC isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers from which 52% were positive for the blaCTX-M gene, 40% for the blaTEM gene, and 17% for the blaSHVgene. Among 42 ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli isolates, the majority belonged to phylogenetic group B2 (43%), followed by group D (36%), group A (19%) and group B1 (2%). Our results have shown the emergence of MDR isolates among uropathogenic E. coli with the dominance of phylogenetic group B2. Groups A and B1 were relatively less common. The most effective drug in all phylogenetic groups was imipenem.
Weaning Mice and Adult Mice Exhibit Differential Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Jeong Tae Bin , Kwon Doyoung , Son Seung Won , Kim Sou Hyun , Lee Yun-Hee , Seo Min-Soo , Kim Kil Soo , Jung Young-Suk
Published: March 2020

Age is a risk factor for drug-induced liver injury (DILI). However, there is a limited understanding of pediatric DILI. Here, 2-week-old weaning and 8-week-old adult male ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 (0.1 mmol/kg equal to 15.4 mg/kg) to comparatively evaluate the time-dependent liver damage and cellular events. CCl4 significantly enhanced the serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase levels and hepatic centrilobular necrosis in the weaning mice, whereas it induced mild liver injury in the adult mice. CCl4-treated weaning mice exhibited higher hepatic levels of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, cleaved caspase-3, -7, and -9), activated MAPKs (p-JNK and p-Erk), and endoplasmic reticulum stress indicators (ATF6 and CHOP) and lower hepatic anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 levels than the adult mice. The weaning mice exhibited enhanced basal hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels due to high glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) and low anti-cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) enzyme levels. However, CCl4 markedly reduced the hepatic GSH levels only in the weaning mice. Furthermore, higher hepatic levels of oxidative stress-induced malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, nitrotyrosine-protein adducts, and oxidized proteins were observed in CCl4-treated weaning mice than in CCl4-treated adult mice. The enhanced levels of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 and CYP3A, and decreased hepatic GSH S-transferase (GST)-π and GSH reductase (GR) levels in the weaning mice may contribute to their enhanced susceptibility to liver damage.
Characterization of Cistus × incanus L. and Cistus ladanifer L. Extracts as Potential Multifunctional Antioxidant Ingredients for Skin Protecting Cosmetics
Authors: Gaweł-Bęben Katarzyna , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Hoian Uliana , Czop Marcin , Strzępek-Gomółka Marcelina , Antosiewicz Beata
Published: March 2020

Skin is constantly exposed to harmful environmental factors, causing photo-oxidative stress in cells and leading to the development of health and aesthetic problems. Multifunctional ingredients of everyday skincare products, possessing antioxidant, UV-protecting, anti-hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer-preventing properties are in high demand. Due to the high content of polyphenolic compounds Cistus × incanus L. and Cistus ladanifer L. are potentially interesting sources of cosmetic ingredients with multiple skin protecting functions. In this study eight extracts from dried C. incanus and C. ladanifer—aerial parts were prepared using 60% (v/v) or 100% (v/v) methanol, on a magnetic stirrer or in Soxhlet apparatus, and compared for their content of phytochemicals and properties important for the skin protection. Extracts from C. incanus prepared in 60% (v/v) methanol contained the highest amount of polyphenolic compounds (331.82–347.27 mg GAE/g DW) and showed the most significant antioxidant activity (IC50 = 3.81–4.05 µg/mL). C. incanus extracts were also effective tyrosinase inhibitors (30–70% inhibition at 100 µg/mL). Statistical correlation analysis revealed that epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and myricitrin may be responsible for the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory potential of C. incanus extracts. All analyzed extracts were cytotoxic for human melanoma cells A375 (IC50 = 57.80–199.01 µg/mL), with C. incanus extract prepared in 100% (v/v) methanol using Soxhlet extraction being the most effective. The extracts did not significantly impair the growth of noncancerous human keratinocytes HaCaT. C. incanus and C. ladanifer extracts possess also natural sun protecting activity (SPF 3.42–3.77 at 100 µg/mL), enhancing their anti-hyperpigmentation and anti-melanoma potential.
MiR155-5p Inhibits Cell Migration and Oxidative Stress in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Wu Nan , Ye Chao , Zheng Fen , Wan Guo-Wei , Wu Lu-Lu , Chen Qi , Li Yue-Hua , Kang Yu-Ming , Zhu Guo-Qing
Published: March 2020

Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is essential for vascular reconstruction in hypertension and several vascular diseases. Our recent study showed that extracellular vesicles derived from vascular adventitial fibroblasts of normal rats inhibited VSMC proliferation by delivering miR155-5p to VSMCs. It is unknown whether miR155-5p inhibits cell migration and oxidative stress in VSMCs of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated VSMCs. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of miR155-5p in VSMC migration and its underlying mechanisms. Primary VSMCs were isolated from the aortic media of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR. Wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay were used to evaluate VSMC migration. A miR155-5p mimic inhibited, and a miR155-5p inhibitor promoted the migration of VSMC of SHR but had no significant effect on the migration of VSMC of WKY. The miR155-5p mimic inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA and protein expression in VSMCs. It also reduced superoxide anion production, NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX) activity, as well as NOX2, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) expression levels in VSMCs of SHR but not in VSMCs of WKY rats. Overexpression of miR155-5p inhibited VSMC migration and superoxide anion and IL-1β production in VSMCs of SHR but had no impact on exogenous Ang II-induced VSMC migration and on superoxide anion and IL-1β production in WKY rats and SHR. These results indicate that miR155-5p inhibits VSMC migration in SHR by suppressing ACE expression and its downstream production of Ang II, superoxide anion, and inflammatory factors. However, miR155-5p had no effects on exogenous Ang II-induced VSMC migration.
Inhibitory Effect and Mechanism of Action of Quercetin and Quercetin Diels-Alder anti-Dimer on Erastin-Induced Ferroptosis in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Li Xican , Zeng Jingyuan , Liu Yangping , Liang Minshi , Liu Qianru , Li Zhen , Zhao Xiaojun , Chen Dongfeng
Published: March 2020

In this study, the anti-ferroptosis effects of catecholic flavonol quercetin and its metabolite quercetin Diels-Alder anti-dimer (QDAD) were studied using an erastin-treated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (bmMSCs) model. Quercetin exhibited higher anti-ferroptosis levels than QDAD, as indicated by 4,4-difluoro-5-(4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-undecanoic acid (C11-BODIPY), 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluoroscein diacetate (H2DCFDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and flow cytometric assays. To understand the possible pathways involved, the reaction product of quercetin with the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH●) was measured using ultra-performance liquid-chromatography coupled with electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Quercetin was found to produce the same clusters of molecular ion peaks and fragments as standard QDAD. Furthermore, the antioxidant effects of quercetin and QDAD were compared by determining their 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide radical-scavenging, Cu2+-reducing, Fe3+-reducing, lipid peroxidation-scavenging, and DPPH●-scavenging activities. Quercetin consistently showed lower IC50 values than QDAD. These findings indicate that quercetin and QDAD can protect bmMSCs from erastin-induced ferroptosis, possibly through the antioxidant pathway. The antioxidant pathway can convert quercetin into QDAD—an inferior ferroptosis-inhibitor and antioxidant. The weakening has highlighted a rule for predicting the relative anti-ferroptosis and antioxidant effects of catecholic flavonols and their Diels-Alder dimer metabolites.
Wave Propagation in Periodic Metallic Structures with Equilateral Triangular Holes
Authors: Alex-Amor Antonio , Valerio Guido , Ghasemifard Fatemeh , Mesa Francisco , Padilla Pablo , Fernández-González José M. , Quevedo-Teruel Oscar
Published: March 2020

This paper studies wave propagation in a periodic parallel-plate waveguide with equilateral triangular holes. A mode-matching method is implemented to analyze the dispersion diagram of the structure possessing glide and mirror symmetries. Both structures present an unexpected high degree of isotropy, despite the triangle not being symmetric with respect to rotations of 90°. We give some physical insight on the matter by carrying out a modal decomposition of the total field on the hole and identifying the most significant modes. Additionally, we demonstrate that the electrical size of the triangular hole plays a fundamental role in the physical mechanism that causes that isotropic behavior. Finally, we characterize the influence of the different geometrical parameters that conform the unit cell (period, triangle size, hole depth, separation between metallic plates). The glide-symmetric configuration offers higher equivalent refractive indexes and widens the stopband compared to the mirror-symmetric configuration. We show that the stopband is wider as the triangle size is bigger, unlike holey structures composed of circular and elliptical holes where an optimal hole size exists.
A Noval Weighted Meta Graph Method for Classification in Heterogeneous Information Networks
Authors: Zhang Jinli , Li Tong , Jiang Zongli , Hu Xiaohua , Jazayeri Ali
Published: March 2020

There has been increasing interest in the analysis and mining of Heterogeneous Information Networks (HINs) and the classification of their components in recent years. However, there are multiple challenges associated with distinguishing different types of objects in HINs in real-world applications. In this paper, a novel framework is proposed for the weighted Meta graph-based Classification of Heterogeneous Information Networks (MCHIN) to address these challenges. The proposed framework has several appealing properties. In contrast to other proposed approaches, MCHIN can fully compute the weights of different meta graphs and mine the latent structural features of different nodes by using these weighted meta graphs. Moreover, MCHIN significantly enlarges the training sets by introducing the concept of Extension Meta Graphs in HINs. The extension meta graphs are used to augment the semantic relationship among the source objects. Finally, based on the ranking distribution of objects, MCHIN groups the objects into pre-specified classes. We verify the performance of MCHIN on three real-world datasets. As is shown and discussed in the results section, the proposed framework can effectively outperform the baselines algorithms.
Postural Control in Children with Cerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Farinelli Veronica , Palmisano Chiara , Marchese Silvia Maria , Strano Camilla Mirella Maria , D’Arrigo Stefano , Pantaleoni Chiara , Ardissone Anna , Nardocci Nardo , Esposti Roberto , Cavallari Paolo
Published: March 2020

Controlling posture, i.e., governing the ensemble of involuntary muscular activities that manage body equilibrium, represents a demanding function in which the cerebellum plays a key role. Postural activities are particularly important during gait initiation when passing from quiet standing to locomotion. Indeed, several studies used such motor task for evaluating pathological conditions, including cerebellar disorders. The linkage between cerebellum maturation and the development of postural control has received less attention. Therefore, we evaluated postural control during quiet standing and gait initiation in children affected by a slow progressive generalized cerebellar atrophy (SlowP) or non-progressive vermian hypoplasia (Joubert syndrome, NonP), compared to that of healthy children (H). Despite the similar clinical evaluation of motor impairments in NonP and SlowP, only SlowP showed a less stable quiet standing and a shorter and slower first step than H. Moreover, a descriptive analysis of lower limb and back muscle activities suggested a more severe timing disruption in SlowP. Such differences might stem from the extent of cerebellar damage. However, literature reports that during childhood, neural plasticity of intact brain areas could compensate for cerebellar agenesis. We thus proposed that the difference might stem from disease progression, which contrasts the consolidation of compensatory strategies.
Design and Optimization of a Dual-Input Coupling Powertrain System: A Case Study for Electric Tractors
Authors: Li Tonghui , Xie Bin , Li Zhen , Li Jiakun
Published: March 2020

In this study, a dual-input coupling powertrain system (DICPS) was proposed to improve the energy utilization efficiency of pure electric tractors (PETs). The working principles of the DICPS under different modes were analyzed and dynamic models were established. To study the influence of changing key parameters in the DICPS on the economic performance of PETs, a parameter-matching design method was proposed and the feasible region of the design parameters was determined according to the tractor’s dynamic performance. In addition, we put forward an energy management strategy (EMS) based on the optimal system efficiency and a dual-motor-driven electric tractor (DMET) model was built in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results revealed that different parameter configurations of DICPS will lead to significant changes in overall efficiency, with a maximum difference of 6.6% (under a rotary tillage cycle). We found that the optimal parameter configuration for the DMET under two typical working conditions was PDR = 0.5, k = 1.6. Compared with the single-motor powertrain system (SMPS), the DICPS with the optimal configuration of key parameters can significantly improve overall efficiency by about 9.8% (under a plowing cycle).
Forecasting Daily Temperatures with Different Time Interval Data Using Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Lee Sungjae , Lee Yung-Seop , Son Youngdoo
Published: March 2020

Temperature forecasting has been a consistent research topic owing to its significant effect on daily lives and various industries. However, it is an ever-challenging task because temperature is affected by various climate factors. Research on temperature forecasting has taken one of two directions: time-series analysis and machine learning algorithms. Recently, a large amount of high-frequent climate data have been well-stored and become available. In this study, we apply three types of neural networks, multilayer perceptron, recurrent, and convolutional, to daily average, minimum, and maximum temperature forecasting with higher-frequency input features than researchers used in previous studies. Applying these neural networks to the observed data from three locations with different climate characteristics, we show that prediction performance with highly frequent hourly input data is better than forecasting performance with less-frequent daily inputs. We observe that a convolutional neural network, which has been mostly employed for processing satellite images rather than numeric weather data for temperature forecasting, outperforms the other models. In addition, we combine state of the art weather forecasting techniques with the convolutional neural network and evaluate their effects on the temperature forecasting performances.
Developing Hybrid Machine Learning Models for Estimating the Unconfined Compressive Strength of Jet Grouting Composite: A Comparative Study
Authors: Sun Yuantian , Li Guichen , Zhang Junfei
Published: March 2020

Coal-grout composites were fabricated in this study using the jet grouting (JG) technique to enhance coal mass in underground conditions. To evaluate the mechanical properties of the created coal-grout composite, its unconfined compressive strength (UCS) needed to be tested. A mathematical model is required to elucidate the unknown nonlinear relationship between the UCS and the influencing variables. In this study, six computational intelligence techniques using machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to develop the mathematical models, which includes back-propagation neural network (BPNN), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and logistic regression (LR). In addition, the hyper-parameters in these typical algorithms (e.g., the hidden layers in BPNN, the gamma in SVM, and the number of neighbor samples in KNN) were tuned by the recently developed beetle antennae search algorithm (BAS). To prepare the dataset for these ML models, three types of cementitious grout and three types of chemical grout were mixed with coal powders extracted from the Guobei coalmine, Anhui Province, China to create coal-grout composites. In total, 405 coal-grout specimens in total were extracted and tested. Several variables such as grout types, coal-grout ratio, and curing time were chosen as input parameters, while UCS was the output of these models. The results show that coal-chemical grout composites had higher strength in the short-term, while the coal-cementitious grout composites could achieve stable and high strength in the long term. BPNN, DT, and SVM outperform the others in terms of predicting the UCS of the coal-grout composites. The outstanding performance of the optimum ML algorithms for strength prediction facilitates JG parameter design in practice and could be the benchmark for the wider application of ML methods in JG engineering for coal improvement.
Railway Polygonized Wheel Detection Based on Numerical Time-Frequency Analysis of Axle-Box Acceleration
Authors: Song Ying , Liang Lei , Du Yanliang , Sun Baochen
Published: March 2020

The increasing need for repairs of polygonized wheels on high-speed railways in China is becoming problematic. At high speeds, polygonized wheels cause abnormal vibrations at the wheel-rail interface that can be detected via axle-box accelerations. To investigate the quantitative relationship between axle-box acceleration and wheel polygonization in both the time and frequency domains and under high-speed conditions, a dynamics model was developed to simulate the vehicle-track coupling system and that considers both wheel and track flexibility. The calculated axle-box accelerations were analyzed by using the improved ensemble empirical mode decomposition and Wigner-Ville distribution time-frequency method. The numerical results show that the maximum axle-box accelerations and their frequencies are quantitatively related to the harmonic order and out-of-roundness amplitude of polygonized wheels. In addition, measuring the axle-box acceleration enables both the detection of wheel polygonization and the identification of the degree of damage.
Ion Pairs of 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Triflate Do Not Dissociate in Propan-1-ol: A Vibrational Spectroscopic Viewpoint
Authors: Kiefer Johannes , Stuckenholz Marcus , Rullich Claudia Caroline , Rathke Bernd
Published: March 2020

Adding imidazolium ionic liquids to polar solvents such as alkyl alcohols usually results in the dissociation of ion pairs as cation–anion interactions are replaced, e.g., by ion⋯OH hydrogen bonds. In this Communication, we apply Raman scattering and infrared absorption spectroscopy to an example binary system comprising 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) and propan-1-ol. The spectra are analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), excess spectroscopy, and spectral decomposition. The results provide evidence that the ion pairs of the ionic liquid do not dissociate in propan-1-ol, even at high dilution. Moreover, there are clear signs that the propan-1-ol hydrogen bonding network is disrupted in the presence of the ionic liquid as the hydroxyl groups predominantly interact with the sulfonate oxygen atoms.
A New Approach to Identifying Crash Hotspot Intersections (CHIs) Using Spatial Weights Matrices
Authors: Zhang Zhonggui , Ming Yi , Song Gangbing
Published: March 2020

In this paper we develop a new approach to directly detect crash hotspot intersections (CHIs) using two customized spatial weights matrices, which are the inverse network distance-band spatial weights matrix of intersections (INDSWMI) and the k-nearest distance-band spatial weights matrix between crash and intersection (KDSWMCI). This new approach has three major steps. The first step is to build the INDSWMI by forming the road network, extracting the intersections from road junctions, and constructing the INDSWMI with road network constraints. The second step is to build the KDSWMCI by obtaining the adjacency crashes for each intersection. The third step is to perform intersection hotspot analysis (IHA) by using the Getis–Ord Gi* statistic with the INDSWMI and KDSWMCI to identify CHIs and test the Intersection Prediction Accuracy Index (IPAI). This approach is validated by comparison of the IPAI obtained using open street map (OSM) roads and intersection-related crashes (2008–2017) from Spencer city, Iowa, USA. The findings of the comparison show that higher prediction accuracy is achieved by using the proposed approach in identifying CHIs.