bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastrin and Nitric Oxide Production in Cultured Gastric Antral Mucosa Are Altered in Response to a Gastric Digest of a Dietary Supplement
Authors: MacNicol Jennifer L. , Pearson Wendy
Published: October 2021

In vitro organ culture can provide insight into isolated mucosal responses to particular environmental stimuli. The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of a prolonged culturing time as well as the addition of acidic gastric fluid into the in vitro environment of cultured gastric antral tissue to evaluate how altering the commonly used neutral environment impacted tissue. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the impact of G's Formula, a dietary supplement for horses, on the secretion of gastrin, interleukin1-beta (IL-1β), and nitric oxide (NO). These biomarkers are of interest due to their effects on gastric motility and mucosal activity. Gastric mucosal tissue explants from porcine stomachs were cultured in the presence of a simulated gastric fluid (BL, n = 14), simulated gastric fluid containing the dietary supplement G's Formula (DF, n = 12), or an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline (CO, n = 14). At 48 and 60 h, 10−5 M carbachol was used to stimulate gastrin secretion. Cell viability was assessed at 72 h using calcein and ethidium-homodimer 1 staining. Media was analyzed for gastrin, IL-1β, and NO at 48, 60, and 72 h. There were no effects of treatment or carbachol stimulation on explant cell viability. Carbachol resulted in a significant increase in gastrin concentration in CO and DF treatments, but not in BL. NO was higher in CO than in BL, and NO increased in the CO and DF treatments but not in BL. In conclusion, the addition of carbachol and gastric digests to culture media did not impact cell viability. The use of an acidic gastric digest (BL) reduced the effect of cholinergic stimulation with carbachol at a concentration of 10−5 M and reduced NO secretion. The addition of the dietary supplement to the gastric digest (DF) appeared to mediate these effects within this model. Further research is required to evaluate the specific effects of this dietary supplement on direct markers of mucosal activity and the functional relevance of these results in vivo.
Bovine Fetal Mesenchymal Stem Cells Obtained From Omental Adipose Tissue and Placenta Are More Resistant to Cryoprotectant Exposure Than Those From Bone Marrow
Authors: Oyarzo Rudy , Valderrama Ximena , Valenzuela Francisca , Bahamonde Javiera
Published: October 2021

Recent studies have shown promise for the development of cellular therapies with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in livestock species, specifically bovines, and cryopreservation is highly relevant for the advancement of these applications. The use of permeable and/or non-permeable cryoprotectant solutions is necessary to reduce cell damage during freezing and thawing, but these same compounds can also cause negative effects on MSCs and their therapeutic properties. Another important factor to consider is the tissue source of MSCs, since it is now known that MSCs from different tissues of the same individual do not behave the same way, so optimizing the type and concentration of cryoprotectants for each cell type is essential to achieve a large and healthy population of MSCs after cryopreservation. Furthermore, sources of MSCs that could provide great quantities, non-invasively and without ethical concerns, such as placental tissue, have great potential for the development of regenerative medicine in livestock species, and have not been thoroughly evaluated. The objective of this study was to compare the viability of bovine fetal MSCs extracted from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AT), and placenta (PT), following their exposure (15 and 30 min) to several solutions of permeable (dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol) and non-permeable (trehalose) cryoprotectants. Viability assays were performed with Trypan Blue to assess post-exposure plasma membrane integrity. The apoptotic potential was estimated analyzing the mRNA abundance of BAX and BCL-2 genes using quantitative rt-PCR. Based on the results of the study, BM-MSC exhibited significantly lower viability compared to AT-MSC and PT-MSC, at both 15 and 30 min of exposure to cryoprotectant solutions. Nevertheless, viability did not differ among treatments for any of the cell types or timepoints studied. BCL-2 expression was higher in BM-MSC compared to AT-MSC, however, BAX/BCL-2 ratio did not differ. In conclusion, AT-MSC and PT-MSC were more resistant that BM-MSC, which showed higher sensitivity to experimental conditions, regardless of the exposure times, and cryoprotectant solutions used in the study.
Antibacterial Properties of Canine Platelet-Rich Plasma and Other Non-Transfusional Hemo-Components: An in vitro Study
Authors: Attili Anna-Rita , Iacoucci Cristina , Serri Evelina , Cuteri Vincenzo , Cantalamessa Andrea , Linardi Martina , Rifici Claudia , Mazzullo Giuseppe , Rossi Giacomo , Galosi Livio , Tambella Adolfo Maria
Published: October 2021

This in vitro study was carried out to evaluate the potential antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. Therapeutic formulations commonly used for regenerative medicine purposes (platelet-rich plasma, platelet gel, platelet lysate, fibrin glue), considering both leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor formulations, but also platelet-poor plasma and activating substances (thrombin, calcium gluconate), were tested to detect elements with potential antimicrobial properties. The antibacterial effect was tested on different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus subspecies aureus, Staphylococcus cohnii subspecies cohnii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies pneumoniae) isolated from canine wounds and classified as susceptible, multidrug-, extensively, and pandrug-resistant bacteria toward a known panel of human and veterinary antibiotics. The evaluation was carried out by agar gel diffusion method (Kirby–Bauer) and micro-inhibition in broth using microplates and spectrophotometer reading. The study findings confirmed the hypothesized antibacterial properties of canine non-transfusional hemo-components. A more effective bacteriostatic effect was found against Gram-negative bacteria, drug-resistant too. The presence of leukocytes or platelets does not appear to be essential for the antibacterial effect. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the exact mechanism of action of the antimicrobial activity. However, non-transfusional hemo-components could be a useful natural aid in controlling bacterial infections in dogs.
An Algorithm for Making Regime-Changing Markov Decisions
Authors: Hinz Juri
Published: October 2021

In industrial applications, the processes of optimal sequential decision making are naturally formulated and optimized within a standard setting of Markov decision theory. In practice, however, decisions must be made under incomplete and uncertain information about parameters and transition probabilities. This situation occurs when a system may suffer a regime switch changing not only the transition probabilities but also the control costs. After such an event, the effect of the actions may turn to the opposite, meaning that all strategies must be revised. Due to practical importance of this problem, a variety of methods has been suggested, ranging from incorporating regime switches into Markov dynamics to numerous concepts addressing model uncertainty. In this work, we suggest a pragmatic and practical approach using a natural re-formulation of this problem as a so-called convex switching system, we make efficient numerical algorithms applicable.
Towards Flocking Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance for Multi-UAV Systems through Hierarchical Weighting Vicsek Model
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Yan Chao , Zhou Han , Chang Yuan , Xiang Xiaojia , Tang Dengqing
Published: October 2021

Flocking navigation and obstacle avoidance in complex environments remain challenging for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (multi-UAV) systems, especially when only one UAV (termed as information UAV) knows the predetermined path and the communication range is limited. To this end, we propose a hierarchical weighting Vicsek model (HWVEM). In this model, a hierarchical weighting mechanism and an obstacle avoidance mechanism are designed. Based on the hierarchical weighting mechanism, all the UAVs are divided into different layers, and assigned with different weights according to the layer to which they belong. The purpose is to align the rest of UAVs with the information UAV more efficiently. Subsequently, the obstacle avoidance mechanism that utilizes only the local information is developed to ensure the system safety in an environment filled with obstacles differing in size and shape. A series of simulations have been conducted to demonstrate the high performance of HWVEM in terms of convergence time, success rate, and safety.
Decision Strategies for Absorbance Readings from an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay—A Case Study about Testing Genotypes of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) for Resistance against Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV)
Authors: Lange Thomas M. , Wutke Martin , Bertram Lisa , Keunecke Harald , Kopisch-Obuch Friedrich , Schmitt Armin O.
Published: October 2021

The Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) causes rhizomania in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), which is one of the most destructive diseases in sugar beet worldwide. In breeding projects towards resistance against BNYVV, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to determine the virus concentration in plant roots and, thus, the resistance levels of genotypes. Here, we present a simulation study to generate 10,000 small samples from the estimated density functions of ELISA values from susceptible and resistant sugar beet genotypes. We apply receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to these samples to optimise the cutoff values for sample sizes from two to eight and determine the false positive rates (FPR), true positive rates (TPR), and area under the curve (AUC). We present, furthermore, an alternative approach based upon Bayes factors to improve the decision procedure. The Bayesian approach has proven to be superior to the simple cutoff approach. The presented results could help evaluate or improve existing breeding programs and help design future selection procedures based upon ELISA. An R-script for the classification of sample data based upon Bayes factors is provided.
Field Capacity and Harvest Efficiency Evaluation of Traditional Small Box and Semi-Automated Bin Handling Systems for Wild Blueberries
Authors: Khan Ahmad H. , Yiridoe Emmanuel K. , Esau Travis J. , Farooque Aitazaz A. , Zaman Qamar U. , Koto Prosper J. , MacEachern Craig B.
Published: October 2021

Mechanical harvesters with small box and semi-automated bin handling systems are increasingly being used for harvesting wild blueberries in Eastern Canada, and Northeastern, USA. However, their field capacity and performance have not been quantified and compared. Important measures of field capacity and efficiency for a traditional mechanical harvester were compared with a novel semi-automatic bin handling harvester. Data were obtained from on-farm field trials conducted at four sites in Nova Scotia, Canada in 2017 and 2018. Both harvesters had double head configurations, along with other similar engineering configurations: (i) 0.66 m picking reels; (ii) 16 picker bars per head and 65 teeth per bar; (iii) 1.72 m picking width; (iv) 21 rpm head speed; and (v) 0.31 ms−1 ground speed. Each harvester was operated for 120 min and data such as berry harvesting time and box handling time were recorded, with six replications during each year. Statistical methods were used to compare the harvest efficiency of the two mechanical harvesters. Harvest time efficiency was significantly higher for the semi-automatic bin handling technology than for the small box handling technology both in 2017 (p < 0.001), and 2018 (p < 0.001). Weed coverage did not have a significant effect of harvest time in either 2017 (p = 0.694) or 2018 (p = 0.765), though it did significantly affect yield in both 2017 (p = 0.011) and 2018 (p = 0.045). The findings provide useful insights for decision-makers contemplating the choice of harvesting technology to sustain profits from wild blueberry production.
The Effects of Different Levels of Sunflower Hulls on Reproductive Performance of Yearly Ewes Fed with Pelleted Complete Diets
Authors: Alharthi Abdualrahman S. , Alobre Mohsen M. , Abdelrahman Mutassim M. , Al-Baadani Hani H. , Swelum Ayman A. , Khan Rifat Ullah , Alhidary Ibrahim A.
Published: October 2021

In this study, 84 pregnant ewes were used and randomly distributed to one of four treatments, as follows: C (control), total mixed ration (TMR) +12% SFH (S12), TMR +20% SFH (S20), and TMR +28% SFH (S28). Treatments had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the daily feed intake (DFI) of the ewes during the late gestation (30 d prepartum) and post-partum period, with the S12 and S20 groups having lower feed intake (35; 60%) than the C and S28 group. The DFI was significantly (p < 0.05) low during late gestation in comparable with other periods. The results revealed that body weight (BW) at late gestation was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the BW at 60-days postpartum and during the mating period. Body condition score (BCS) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher during late gestation in comparison with other periods. There was no significant effect of different levels of SFH on reproductive parameters except S/C, which was significantly higher in the S20 than other groups. Serum glucose level was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the S20 group than the C, S12, and S28 groups during 30 days postpartum. S20 and S28 groups showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in glucose levels at parturition in comparison with other reproductive periods. At late gestation, a significantly (p < 0.01) higher concentration of blood NEFA was reported for ewes from the C group compared with other groups. Furthermore, significantly lower (p < 0.05) NEFA levels at parturition were found for ewes from the S20 group compared with the S12 group. In conclusion, TMR is not preferable to be used alone in the late gestation period. Sunflower hull can be used as a cheap source of fiber in TMR without adverse effects on health or the reproductive traits of ewes. The increasing level of sunflower hull up to 28% can affect fertility and increase the number of services per conception, probably due to its high content of lignin (phytoestrogen).
Nosema Ceranae Interactions with Nosema apis and Black Queen Cell Virus
Authors: Gajda Anna Maria , Mazur Ewa Danuta , Bober Andrzej Marcin , Czopowicz Michał
Published: October 2021

Nosema ceranae is a relatively new pathogen of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the course of type C nosemosis (the disease that it causes) is not entirely known. In order to better understand the course and the consequences of this disease, laboratory experiments were performed. They aimed to compare the course of N. ceranae infection with the course of Nosema apis infection, taking its influence on the black queen cell virus (BQCV) into account. Determination of the quantity of N. ceranae and BQCV genetic material in laboratory tests was performed using real-time PCR. In mixed Nosema infections, N. ceranae “wins” the competition and manages to outnumber N. apis significantly. BQCV exacerbates the course of both A and C nosemoses, but the data shows that in the case of nosemosis C and this viral infection, the mortality rate was the highest from all examined groups. Obtained results show that N. ceranae is more pathogenic for A. mellifera than N. apis, and the course of type C nosemosis is much heavier, which results in the shortened life spans of bees, and in connection with BQCV it becomes even more dangerous to bees.
Allelopathic Impact of Cover Crop Species on Soybean and Goosegrass Seedling Germination and Early Growth
Authors: Sheldon Kendall , Purdom Sam , Shekoofa Avat , Steckel Larry , Sykes Virginia
Published: October 2021

Cover crops can provide a variety of benefits to an agricultural system: weed suppression, soil quality improvement, and soil water infiltration. Although there is ample research documenting weed suppression from cover crops, the mechanics of the suppression are not implicitly understood. Along with the aforementioned positive attributes, negative allelopathic effects on row crops planted into cover crop systems have been documented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic potential of certain cover crop species on soybean (Glycine max L.) and goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.) germination and early seedling growth under controlled environments in petri dish and pot experiments. Leachates from above-ground biomass of five cover crop species, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and canola (Brassica napus L.), from two locations (East and Middle Tennessee) were extracted and applied at 0 (water) and 50 v/v. In experiment I, both soybean and goosegrass seeds were examined, and, in experiment II, only soybean seeds were examined under the application of cover crop leachates. Most cover crop leachates from both locations significantly reduced the soybean seedling root length (p < 0.01). Overall, the application of canola extract (East Tennessee) suppressed soybean seed germination the most (28%) compared to deionized water. For goosegrass, the wheat cover crop leachate significantly reduced seedling root length (p < 0.01). In experiment II, the soybean root nodulation was significantly increased with the wheat extract treatment compared to deionized water. While the results indicate that the location and environment may change cover crop species allelopathic potential, the wheat cover crop leachate had the most potent allelopathic impact on goosegrass germination and growth; however, had the lowest observed adverse effect on our tested row crop, soybean.
Priming with Humic Acid to Reverse Ageing Damage in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill.] Seeds
Authors: Weerasekara Indika , Sinniah Uma Rani , Namasivayam Parameswari , Nazli Muhamad Hazim , Abdurahman Sharif Azmi , Ghazali Mohd Norsazwan
Published: October 2021

Soybean seed vigour declines with increase in storage duration, due to ageing, which can be alleviated through seed priming. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Humic acid (HA) priming on germination, vigour and seedling performance under laboratory and greenhouse conditions with two soil moisture level [50% and 80% field capacity (FC)]. Seeds stored for 12 months having 60% germination were primed either with 0.2 g/L HA solution or distilled water (hydro-primed) at 25 °C for 1, 3, 5 and 7 h. Non-primed dry seeds were used as control, giving nine treatment combinations. Various germination traits [mean germination time (MGT), final germination percentage (FG%), germination rate index (GRI), seedling emergence percentage (SEP)], mean emergence time (MET), seedling quality traits [seedling vigor index (SVI), shoot length, root length, root volume], antioxidant enzyme activities [catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD)], lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and electrical conductivity (EC) were determined. A germination test in the laboratory was conducted as single factor (nine priming treatments), while the greenhouse experiment was conducted as two factors [2 soil moisture level (50 and 80% FC) and 9 priming treatments]. The results indicated that seeds primed with HA for 5 h was able to reinstate the CAT activities (25%), POD activities (50%) and reduced EC (51%) and MDA content (40%) compared with non-primed seeds, reduced the MET (from 4.3 to 3.5 days), increased FG% (from 62 to 71%), GRI (15.6–21.1) and SEP (from 35 to 54%) and (from 60 to 72%) at 50% FC level and 80% FC level, respectively. A strong negative correlation (r = −0.80 **) was found between MDA content and GRI, while CAT and POD activities had positive correlation with GRI r= 0.67 ** and r = 0.56 **, respectively. Thus, priming with 0.2 g/L HA for 5 h improved the vigour of minimally deteriorated soybean seeds resulting in increased emergence with more uniform field establishment.
Effects of Insect Growth Regulators on Mortality, Survival, and Feeding of Euprosterna elaeasa (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) Larvae
Authors: Martínez Luis Carlos , Plata-Rueda Angelica , Serrão José Eduardo
Published: October 2021

The potential of insecticides that affect the growth and insect development to control Euprosterna elaeasa was evaluated. Fenoxycarb, methoxyfenozide, pyriproxyfen, and tebufenozide were assessed against E. elaeasa larvae for toxicity, survivorship, and feeding inhibition in the laboratory, and mortality in semifield conditions. Concentration–mortality bioassays demonstrated that insect growth regulators (IGRs) have a lethal effect on this insect, with pyriproxyfen (LC50 = 0.141 g L−1) being the most effective, followed by fenoxycarb (LC50 = 0.199 g L−1), methoxyfenozide (LC50 = 0.233 g L−1), and tebufenozide (LC50 = 0.259 g L−1). The survival rate was 99.8% in the control group, compared to 44.6%, 42.9%, 42.2%, and 39.5% in insects treated with pyriproxyfen, fenoxycarb, methoxyfenozide, and tebufenozide, respectively. IGRs caused feeding inhibition in E. elaeasa larvae 3 h after exposure. Furthermore, mortality in semifield conditions was similar to the results found in the laboratory. Our findings suggest that fenoxycarb, methoxyfenozide, pyriproxyfen, and tebufenozide are effective against E. elaeasa and, therefore, we confirm the potential of these IGRs for the control of this pest.
Investigation of the Effects of Probiotics on Sub-Chronic Neonicotinoid Toxicity in Rats
Authors: Sevim Cigdem , Akpinar Erol , Tsatsakis Aristides , Yildirim Serkan , Tzatzarakis Manolis , Vardavas Alexander I. , Vardavas Constantine I. , Kara Mehtap , Gul Zulfiye
Published: October 2021

Probiotics have been shown to have positive effects when it comes to combating various health issues when consumed, preventing even the absorption of environmental toxins. One of the main environmental toxins encountered today is pesticide residues. Neonicotinoids, widely applied today in countries that have approved of them, are a known class of insecticides with an excellent and effective potency. Neonicotinoids have been shown to cause various toxic effects, either acutely or chronically, on human health and on beneficial insects when exposed. To clarify the assumption that probiotics could counteract these toxic effects, especially on vital organs, the probiotic yeast “Saccharomyces boulardii” (S. boulardii) was tested against the neonicotinoids, acetamiprid (ACE) and imidacloprid (IMI), as it has outstanding physiological and metabolic properties. The results obtained from the studies indicated that although ACE and IMI induced liver, kidney, brain and bowel damage, there was a considerable level of protection by the dietary supplementation of S. boulardii, as it reduced the absorption of these insecticides.
Climate-Induced Perspective Variations in Irrigation Schedules and Design Water Requirements for the Rice–Wheat System
Authors: Ahmad Mirza Junaid , Choi Kyung-Sook
Published: October 2021

Conceptualizing the implications of climate change for crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and subsequent net irrigation water requirement (NIWR) is critical to sustaining Pakistan’s agriculture and food security. In this article, future ETc, NIWR, and design water requirements (DWR) were projected for the rice–wheat system of Punjab, Pakistan. Consistently increasing temperatures signify an impending hotter transition in the future thermal regime, accompanied by a substantial increase in monsoon rainfall. Future climate warming accelerated ETc and NIWR, which were compensated by 2–5 and 1–2 additional irrigations during the rice and wheat seasons, respectively. Future rice and wheat required 13–18 and 2–5 irrigations per season, respectively. Effective rainfall increments did not compensate for the warming-driven higher ETc and NIWR because of uneven and erratic rainfall distribution. Rainfall occurrence and the duration of peak irrigation demand were mismatched, resulting in surplus rainwater availability during the future rice season. The results suggest that DWR for 5- and 10-year return period droughts during the baseline period (965 and 1000 mm, respectively) should be revised to accommodate the additional 100–200 mm of irrigation water per season; otherwise, the study area will face an acute water shortage in the future.
Role of Gravitational Processes in the Migration of Heavy Metals in Soils of the Priolkhonye Mountain-Steppe Landscapes, Lake Baikal: Methodology of Research
Authors: Pellinen Vadim A. , Cherkashina Tatiana Yu. , Ukhova Natalia N. , Komarova Anastasia V.
Published: October 2021

The study object of this work is the soils of the Priolkhonye mountain-steppe landscapes. This research is performed at the Priolkhonye test site. Annual monitoring for exogenous geological process activity is conducted there. This research aims to study the influence of gravitational geological processes (landslides) on the migration of heavy metals, which are introduced into soil as a result of human agricultural activity. A methodology for the geoecological monitoring of soils based on an assessment of their contamination level by anthropogenic heavy metals, and a transfer mechanism throughout whole migration path (field–landslide–coast) is proposed. The following steps were taken to solve this problem: isolating a fine-grained fraction (<100 μm); determining the Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopies, as well as total organic carbon (TOC) content using UV-Vis spectrophotometry; computing various geochemical indices; and describing the migration path of these heavy metals and TOC. The monitoring results showed that these pollutants migrate to the coastal zone as a result of landslides activation. The soil contamination level is increased which can cause negative toxic effects in coastal ecosystems, and could rise to a dangerous level for humans. Thus, the observed changes in the indices and TOC values allow us to assess the geoecological state of the study area; namely, the periods of landslide activity and the supply of these pollutants to the coastal zone.
Comparative Study of Semen Parameters and Hormone Profile in Small-Spotted Catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula): Aquarium-Housed vs. Wild-Captured
Authors: Muñoz-Baquero Marta , Marco-Jiménez Francisco , García-Domínguez Ximo , Ros-Santaella José Luis , Pintus Eliana , Jiménez-Movilla María , García-Párraga Daniel , García-Vazquez Francisco Alberto
Published: October 2021

Several chondrichthyan species are threatened, and we must increase our knowledge of their reproductive biology in order to establish assisted reproductive protocols for ex situ or in situ endangered species. The small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) is one of the most abundant shark species of the Mediterranean coast and is easy to maintain in aquaria; therefore, it is considered an ideal reproductive model. This study aimed to compare S. canicula male reproductive function in aquarium-housed (n = 7) and wild-captured animals, recently dead (n = 17). Aquarium-housed animals had lower semen volume (p = 0.005) and total sperm number (p = 0.006) than wild-captured animals, but similar sperm concentrations. In terms of sperm parameters, aquarium-housed sharks showed higher total sperm motility (p = 0.004), but no differences were observed regarding sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, or membrane integrity. A morphometric study pointed to a significantly longer head (p = 0.005) and acrosome (p = 0.001) in wild-captured animals. The results of the spermatozoa morphological study of S. canicula were consistent with previous results obtained in other chondrichthyan species. With regard to sex hormones, testosterone levels were significantly lower in aquarium-housed animals (p ≤ 0.001), while similar levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone were found. In short, the present study provides evidence of good in vitro semen quality in S. canicula housed in an aquarium, underlining their excellent potential for application in reproductive technologies for this and other chondrichthyan species.
The Youngest, the Heaviest and/or the Darkest? Selection Potentialities and Determinants of Leadership in Canarian Dromedary Camels
Authors: Iglesias Pastrana Carlos , Navas González Francisco Javier , Ciani Elena , Arando Arbulu Ander , Delgado Bermejo Juan Vicente
Published: October 2021

Several idiosyncratic and genetically correlated traits are known to extensively influence leadership in both domestic and wild species. For minor livestock such as camels, however, this type of behavior remains loosely defined and approached only for sex-mixed herds. The interest in knowing those animal-dependent variables that make an individual more likely to emerge as a leader in a single-sex camel herd has its basis in the sex-separated breeding of Canarian dromedary camels for utilitarian purposes. By means of an ordinal logistic regression, it was found that younger, gelded animals may perform better when eliciting the joining of mates, assuming that they were castrated just before reaching sexual maturity and once they were initiated in the pertinent domestication protocol for their lifetime functionality. The higher the body weight, the significantly (p < 0.05) higher the score in the hierarchical rank when leading group movements, although this relationship appeared to be inverse for the other considered zoometric indexes. Camels with darker and substantially depigmented coats were also significantly (p < 0.05) found to be the main initiators. Routine intraherd management and leisure tourism will be thus improved in efficiency and security through the identification and selection of the best leader camels.
Litopenaeus vannamei BMAL1 Is a Critical Mediator Regulating the Expression of Glucose Transporters and Can Be Suppressed by Constant Darkness
Authors: Jiao Lefei , Dai Tianmeng , Sun Peng , Jin Min , Zhou Qicun
Published: October 2021

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like protein 1 (BMAL1) is a core circadian transcription factor that controls the 24-h cycle of physiological processes. In shrimp, the role of BMAL1 in the regulating glucose metabolism remains unclear. Firstly, we observed that the daily profile of BMAL1, GLUT1 and SGLT1 expression were synchronized in the intestine and the hepatopancreas of Litopenaeus vannamei. Then we examined the effects of BMAL1 on the gene expression of glucose transporter type 1 (SGLT1) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (GLUT1) in vivo and in vitro. BMAL1 in L. vannamei shares 70.91–96.35% of sequence identities with other shrimp species and possesses the conserved helix-loop-helix domain and polyadenylation site domain. The in vitro dual-luciferase reporter assay and in vivo RNA interference experiment demonstrated that BMAL1 exerted a positive regulation effect on the expression of glucose transporters in L. vannamei. Moreover, we conducted an eight-week treatment to investigate whether light/dark cycle change would influence growth performance, and gene expression of BMAL1, GLUT1 and SGLT1 in L. vannamei. Our result showed that compared with natural light treatment, constant darkness (24-h darkness) significantly decreased (p < 0.05) serum glucose concentration, and suppressed (p < 0.05) the gene expression of BMAL1, GLUT1 and SGLT1 in the hepatopancreas and the intestine. Growth performance and survival rate were also decreased (p < 0.05) by constant darkness treatment. Our result identified BMAL1 as a critical mediator regulating the expression of glucose transporters, which could be suppressed by constant darkness in L. vannamei. It would be quite interesting to explore the mechanism of dark/light cycles on glucose transport and metabolism in L. vannamei, which might provide a feeding strategy for improving carbohydrate utilization in the future.
Surveillance for Antibiotic-Resistant E. coli in the Salish Sea Ecosystem
Authors: Vingino Alexandria , Roberts Marilyn C. , Wainstein Michelle , West James , Norman Stephanie A. , Lambourn Dyanna , Lahti Jeffery , Ruiz Ryan , D’Angeli Marisa , Weissman Scott J. , Rabinowitz Peter
Published: October 2021

E. coli was isolated from the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) ecosystem, including samples of marine and fresh water, and wildlife dependent on this environment. E. coli isolates were assessed for phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics. A total of 305 E. coli isolates was characterized from samples collected from: marine water obtained in four quadrants of the Salish Sea; select locations near beaches; fresh water from streams near marine beaches; and fecal samples from harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), river otters (Lontra canadensis), and English sole (Parophrys vetulus). Isolates were evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility typing, whole-genome sequencing, fumC, and multilocus sequence typing. Resistance and virulence genes were identified from sequence data. Of the 305 isolates from Salish Sea samples, 20 (6.6%) of the E. coli were intermediate, and 31 (10.2%) were resistant to ≥1 class of antibiotics, with 26.9% of nonsusceptible (resistant and intermediate resistant) E. coli isolates from marine mammals and 70% from river otters. The proportion of nonsusceptible isolates from animals was significantly higher than samples taken from marine water (p < 0.0001). A total of 196 unique STs was identified including 37 extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC)-associated STs [ST10, ST38, ST58, ST69, ST73, ST117, ST131, and ST405]. The study suggests that animals may be potential sentinels for antibiotic-resistant and ExPEC E. coli in the Salish Sea ecosystem.
Exposure to Bacteriophages T4 and M13 Increases Integrin Gene Expression and Impairs Migration of Human PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Sanmukh Swapnil Ganesh , Santos Nilton J. , Barquilha Caroline Nascimento , dos Santos Sérgio Alexandre Alcantara , Duran Bruno Oliveira Silva , Delella Flávia Karina , Moroz Andrei , Justulin Luis Antonio , Carvalho Hernandes F. , Felisbino Sérgio Luis
Published: October 2021

The interaction between bacteriophages and integrins has been reported in different cancer cell lines, and efforts have been undertaken to understand these interactions in tumor cells along with their possible role in gene alterations, with the aim to develop new cancer therapies. Here, we report that the non-specific interaction of T4 and M13 bacteriophages with human PC-3 cells results in differential migration and varied expression of different integrins. PC-3 tumor cells (at 70% confluence) were exposed to 1 × 107 pfu/mL of either lytic T4 bacteriophage or filamentous M13 bacteriophage. After 24 h of exposure, cells were processed for a histochemical analysis, wound-healing migration assay, and gene expression profile using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). qPCR was performed to analyze the expression profiles of integrins ITGAV, ITGA5, ITGB1, ITGB3, and ITGB5. Our findings revealed that PC-3 cells interacted with T4 and M13 bacteriophages, with significant upregulation of ITGAV, ITGA5, ITGB3, ITGB5 genes after phage exposure. PC-3 cells also exhibited reduced migration activity when exposed to either T4 or M13 phages. These results suggest that wildtype bacteriophages interact non-specifically with PC-3 cells, thereby modulating the expression of integrin genes and affecting cell migration. Therefore, bacteriophages have future potential applications in anticancer therapies.
How Are We Educating Future Physicians and Pharmacists in Pakistan? A Survey of the Medical and Pharmacy Student’s Perception on Learning and Preparedness to Assume Future Roles in Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Authors: Mubarak Naeem , Arif Sara , Irshad Mahnoor , Aqeel Rana Muhammad , Khalid Ayesha , Ijaz Umm e Barirah , Mahmood Khalid , Jamshed Shazia , Zin Che Suraya , Saif-ur-Rehman Nasira
Published: October 2021

Background: Medical and pharmacy students are future healthcare professionals who will be on the forefront in dealing with antibiotics in hospitals or community settings. Whether the current medical and pharmacy education in Pakistan prepares students to take future roles in antibiotic use remains an under-researched area. Aim: This study aims to compare medical and pharmacy students’ perceived preparedness, learning practices and usefulness of the education and training on antibiotic use and resistance imparted during undergraduate studies in Pakistan. Design and Setting: It was amulti-centre cross-sectional survey of medical and pharmacy colleges in Punjab, Pakistan. Method: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from final year medical and pharmacy students. Descriptive statistics were used for categorical variables while independent t-test and One-way ANOVA computed group differences. Result: Nine hundred forty-eight respondents (526 medical and 422 pharmacy students) completed the survey from 26 medical and 19 pharmacy colleges. Majority (76.1%) of the pharmacy students had not completed a clinical rotation in infectious diseases. The top three most often used sources of learning antibiotic use and resistance were the same among the medical and the pharmacy students; included textbooks, Wikipedia, and smart phone apps. Overall self-perceived preparedness scores showed no significant difference between pharmacy and medical students. The least prepared areas by medical and pharmacy students included transition from intravenous to oral antibiotics and interpretation of antibiograms. Both medical and pharmacy students found problem solving sessions attended by a small group of students to be the most useful (very useful) teaching methodology to learn antibiotic use and resistance. Conclusions: Differences exist between medical and pharmacy students in educational resources used, topics covered during undergraduate degree. To curb the growing antibiotic misuse and resistance, the concerned authorities should undertake targeted educational reforms to ensure that future physicians and pharmacists can play a pivotal role in rationalizing the use of antibiotics.
Retrospective 8-Year Study on the Antibiotic Resistance of Uropathogens in Children Hospitalised for Urinary Tract Infection in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy
Authors: Esposito Susanna , Maglietta Giuseppe , Di Costanzo Margherita , Ceccoli Martina , Vergine Gianluca , La Scola Claudio , Malaventura Cristina , Falcioni Alice , Iacono Alessandra , Crisafi Antonella , Iughetti Lorenzo , Conte Maria Luisa , Pierantoni Luca , Gatti Claudia , Caminiti Caterina , Biasucci Giacomo ,   on behalf of the UTI-Ped-ER Study Group
Published: October 2021

The development and spread of antibiotic resistance is an increasingly important global public health problem, even in paediatric urinary tract infection (UTI). In light of the variability in the data, it is necessary to conduct surveillance studies to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in specific geographical areas to optimize therapeutic management. In this observational, retrospective, multicentre study, the medical records of 1801 paediatric patients who were hospitalised for UTI between 1 January 2012, and 30 June 2020, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, were analysed. Escherichia coli was the most frequently detected pathogen (75.6%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.9%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.5%). Overall, 840 cases (46.7%) were due to antimicrobial-resistant uropathogens: 83 (4.7%) extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, 119 (6.7%) multidrug resistant (MDR) and 4 (0.2%) extensively drug resistant (XDR) bacteria. Empirical antibiotic therapy failed in 172 cases (9.6%). Having ESBL or MDR/XDR uropathogens, a history of recurrent UTI, antibiotic therapy in the preceding 30 days, and empirical treatment with amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate were significantly associated with treatment failure, whereas first-line therapy with third-generation cephalosporins was associated with protection against negative outcomes. In conclusion, the increase in the resistance of uropathogens to commonly used antibiotics requires continuous monitoring, and recommendations for antibiotic choice need updating. In our epidemiological context, amoxicillin/clavulanate no longer seems to be the appropriate first-line therapy for children hospitalised for UTI, whereas third-generation cephalosporins continue to be useful. To further limit the emergence of resistance, every effort to reduce and rationalise antibiotic consumption must be implemented.
LC-MS Based Analysis and Biological Properties of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms Extracts: A Valuable Source of Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Antibacterial Compounds
Authors: Sinan Kouadio Ibrahime , Dall’Acqua Stefano , Ferrarese Irene , Mollica Adriano , Stefanucci Azzurra , Glamočlija Jasmina , Sokovic Marina , Nenadić Marija , Aktumsek Abdurrahman , Zengin Gokhan
Published: October 2021

The impact of two extraction solvents on the phenolic composition, antioxidant, and enzymes inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of two parts (leaves and stem bark) of P. kotschyi was studied. Two different LC-DAD-MSn approaches were used to identify and quantify the bioactive compounds in the different extracts. A total of thirty-two compounds were quantified, being the procyanidin the most abundant in stem bark while catechin and flavonoids are most abundant in leaves. Overall, the stem bark extraction using methanol showed higher amounts of total phenolic (131.83 ± 1.81 mg GAE/g) and flavanol (14.14 ± 0.11 mg CE/g) while the leaves extraction using water exhibited stronger levels of total flavonoid (44.95 ± 0.38 mg RE/g) and phenolic acid (63.58 ± 2.00 mg CAE/g). As regards the antioxidant assays, methanol stem bark extracts were characterized by the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH: 1.94 ± 0.01 mmol TE/g, ABTS: 3.31 ± 0.01 mmol TE/g, FRAP: 2.86 ± 0.02 mmol TE/g, CUPRAC: 5.09 ± 0.08 mmol TE/g, phosphomolybdenum: 5.16 ± 0.23 mmol TE/g and metal chelating: 17.12 ± 0.46 mg EDTAE/g). In addition, the methanolic extracts of stem bark had highest impact on acetylcholinesterase (2.54 mg GALAE/g), butyrylcholinesterase (5.48 mg GALAE/g). In contrast, the methanolic extracts of leaves was potent against tyrosinase (77.39 ± 0.21 mg KAE/g) and α-glucosidase (0.97 ± 0.01 mmol ACAE/g), while a higher anti-α–amylase (0.97 ± 0.01 mmol ACAE/g) was observed for water extracts of the same part. All of the tested extracts showed inhibitory effects on elastase, except methanolic leaves extracts. Additionally, the extracts exhibited appreciable antifungal toward A. ochraceus, A. fumigatus, P. ochrochloron, T. viride, and P. funiculosum and promising antibacterial activity against M. flavus, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and S. typhimurium. Taken together, the outcomes demonstrated P. kotschyi as a novel source of bioactive molecules of interest with an evident therapeutic value.
Mechanistic Aspects of Apiaceae Family Spices in Ameliorating Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sharma Niti , Tan Mario A. , An Seong Soo A.
Published: October 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. In an effort to search for new strategies for treating AD, natural products have become candidates of choice. Plants are a rich source of bioactive and effective compounds used in treating numerous diseases. Various plant extracts are known to display neuroprotective activities by targeting different pathophysiological pathways in association with the diseases, such as inhibiting enzymes responsible for degrading neurotransmitters, reducing oxidative stress, neuroprotection, inhibiting amyloid plaque formation, and replenishing mitochondrial function. This review presented a comprehensive evaluation of the available scientific literature (in vivo, in vitro, and in silico) on the neuroprotective mechanisms displayed by the extracts/bioactive compounds from spices belonging to the Apiaceae family in ameliorating AD.
Artificial Intelligence Control Logic in Next-Generation Programmable Networks
Authors: Żotkiewicz Mateusz , Szałyga Wiktor , Domaszewicz Jaroslaw , Bąk Andrzej , Kopertowski Zbigniew , Kozdrowski Stanisław
Published: October 2021

The new generation of programmable networks allow mechanisms to be deployed for the efficient control of dynamic bandwidth allocation and ensure Quality of Service (QoS) in terms of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for delay or loss sensitive Internet of Things (IoT) services. To achieve flexible, dynamic and automated network resource management in Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms can provide an effective solution. In the paper, we propose the solution for network resources allocation, where the AI algorithm is responsible for controlling intent-based routing in SDN. The paper focuses on the problem of optimal switching of intents between two designated paths using the Deep-Q-Learning approach based on an artificial neural network. The proposed algorithm is the main novelty of this paper. The Developed Networked Application Emulation System (NAPES) allows the AI solution to be tested with different patterns to evaluate the performance of the proposed solution. The AI algorithm was trained to maximize the total throughput in the network and effective network utilization. The results presented confirm the validity of applied AI approach to the problem of improving network performance in next-generation networks and the usefulness of the NAPES traffic generator for efficient economical and technical deployment in IoT networking systems evaluation.
An Abstraction Layer Exploiting Voice Assistant Technologies for Effective Human—Robot Interaction
Authors: Alonso Ruben , Concas Emanuele , Reforgiato Recupero Diego
Published: October 2021

A lot of people have neuromuscular problems that affect their lives leading them to lose an important degree of autonomy in their daily activities. When their disabilities do not involve speech disorders, robotic wheelchairs with voice assistant technologies may provide appropriate human–robot interaction for them. Given the wide improvement and diffusion of Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon’s Alexa, etc., such voice assistant technologies can be fully integrated and exploited in robotic wheelchairs to improve the quality of life of affected people. As such, in this paper, we propose an abstraction layer capable of providing appropriate human–robot interaction. It allows use of voice assistant tools that may trigger different kinds of applications for the interaction between the robot and the user. Furthermore, we propose a use case as a possible instance of the considered abstraction layer. Within the use case, we chose existing tools for each component of the proposed abstraction layer. For example, Google Assistant was employed as a voice assistant tool; its functions and APIs were leveraged for some of the applications we deployed. On top of the use case thus defined, we created several applications that we detail and discuss. The benefit of the resulting Human–Computer Interaction is therefore two-fold: on the one hand, the user may interact with any of the developed applications; on the other hand, the user can also rely on voice assistant tools to receive answers in the open domain when the statement of the user does not enable any of the applications of the robot. An evaluation of the presented instance was carried out using the Software Architecture Analysis Method, whereas the user experience was evaluated through ad-hoc questionnaires. Our proposed abstraction layer is general and can be instantiated on any robotic platform including robotic wheelchairs.