bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global trends and hotspots in the digital therapeutics of autism spectrum disorders: a bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022
Authors: Wu Xuesen , Deng Haiyin , Jian Shiyun , Chen Huian , Li Qing , Gong Ruiyu , Wu Jingsong
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that has become a major cause of disability in children. Digital therapeutics (DTx) delivers evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients that are driven by software to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. This study objectively analyzed the current research status of global DTx in ASD from 2002 to 2022, aiming to explore the current global research status and trends in the field.

Methods

The Web of Science database was searched for articles about DTx in ASD from January 2002 to October 2022. CiteSpace was used to analyze the co-occurrence of keywords in literature, partnerships between authors, institutions, and countries, the sudden occurrence of keywords, clustering of keywords over time, and analysis of references, cited authors, and cited journals.

Results

A total of 509 articles were included. The most productive country and institution were the United States and Vanderbilt University. The largest contributing authors were Warren, Zachary, and Sarkar, Nilanjan. The most-cited journal was the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The most-cited and co-cited articles were Brian Scarselati (Robots for Use in Autism Research, 2012) and Ralph Adolphs (Abnormal processing of social information from faces in autism, 2001). “Artificial Intelligence,” “machine learning,” “Virtual Reality,” and “eye tracking” were common new and cutting-edge trends in research on DTx in ASD.

Discussion

The use of DTx in ASD is developing rapidly and gaining the attention of researchers worldwide. The publications in this field have increased year by year, mainly concentrated in the developed countries, especially in the United States. Both Vanderbilt University and Yale University are very important institutions in the field. The researcher from Vanderbilt University, Warren and Zachary, his dynamics or achievements in the field is also more worth our attention. The application of new technologies such as virtual reality, machine learning, and eye-tracking in this field has driven the development of DTx on ASD and is currently a popular research topic. More cross-regional and cross-disciplinary collaborations are recommended to advance the development and availability of DTx.
The risk profile of electronic nicotine delivery systems, compared to traditional cigarettes, on oral disease: a review
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wen Cai
Published: May 2023

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has exploded, especially among teenagers and new smokers, amid widespread awareness of the dangers of traditional tobacco and restrictions on smoking. However, the risk effects of ENDS on physical health, especially oral health, are still ambiguous. The purpose of this study was to review the available evidence on risks of ENDS on oral health, and compares the differences between ENDS and traditional cigarettes. For heavy smokers, transferring the addiction of tobacco to ENDS can be less harmful to periodontal condition and physical health but is not completely without risk. The components of ENDS vapor have cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic properties, and its usage may be associated with a wide range of oral health sequelae. The chemicals in ENDS increase the susceptibility to tooth decay, increase the risk of periodontal disease, peri-implant, and oral mucosal lesions. Nicotine aerosols from ENDS can be a potential risk factor for oral cancer due to the presence of carcinogenic components. Compared to smoking traditional cigarettes, the harm associated with ENDS use may be underestimated due to the reduced ability to control vaping behavior, ease of ENDS access, fewer vaping area restrictions, and better taste. Currently, the available evidence suggests that ENDS may be a safer alternative to traditional tobacco products. Though most oral symptoms experienced by ENDS users are relatively mild and temporary compared to traditional cigarettes, the dangers of ENDS still exist. However, further research with longer follow-up periods is required to establish the long-term safety of ENDS.
The impact of COVID-19 on a South African pediatric cardiac service: implications and insights into service capacity
Authors: Aldersley Thomas , Brooks Andre , Human Paul , Lawrenson John , Comitis George , De Decker Rik , Fourie Barend , Manganyi Rodgers , Pribut Harold , Salie Shamiel , Swanson Lenise , Zühlke Liesl
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives

The Western Cape public pediatric cardiac service is under-resourced. COVID-19 regulations are likely to have long-term effects on patient care but may provide insight into service capacity requirements. As such, we aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 regulations on this service.

Methods

An uncontrolled retrospective pre-post study of all presenting patients over two, one-year periods; the pre-COVID-19 period (01/03/2019–29/02/2020) and the peri-COVID-19 period (01/03/2020–28/02/2021).

Results

Admissions decreased by 39% (624 to 378) and cardiac surgeries decreased by 29% (293 to 208) in the peri-COVID-19 period, with an increase in urgent cases (PR:5.99, 95%CI:3.58–10.02, p < 0.001). Age at surgery was lower in the peri-COVID-19 period, 7.2 (2.4–20.4) vs. 10.8 (4.8–49.2) months (p < 0.05), likewise, age at surgery for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) was lower peri-COVID-19, 15 (IQR:11.2–25.5) vs. 46 (IQR:11–62.5) days (p < 0.05). Length of stay 6 (IQR:2–14) vs. 3 days (IQR:1–9) (p < 0.001), complications (PR:1.21, 95%CI:1.01–1.43, p < 0.05), and age-adjusted delayed-sternal-closure rates (PR:3.20, 95%CI:1.09–9.33, p < 0.05) increased peri-COVID-19.

Conclusion

Cardiac procedures were significantly reduced in the peri-COVID-19 period which will have implications on an overburdened service and ultimately, patient outcomes. COVID-19 restrictions on elective procedures freed capacity for urgent cases, demonstrated by the absolute increase in urgent cases and significant decrease in age at TGA-surgery. This facilitated intervention at the point of physiological need, albeit at the expense of elective procedures, and also revealed insights into capacity requirements of the Western Cape. These data emphasize the need for an informed strategy to increase capacity and reduce backlog whilst ensuring minimal morbidity and mortality.
The association of body mass index and its interaction with family history of dyslipidemia towards dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Chen Xiang-Yu , Fang Le , Zhang Jie , Zhong Jie-Ming , Lin Jing-Jing , Lu Feng
Published: May 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia and to explore the interaction between BMI and family history of dyslipidemia towards dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and November 2018 in Zhejiang Province, China. A total of 1,756 patients with type 2 diabetes were included, physical examination data, fasting blood samples and face-to-face questionnaire survey data were collected. Restricted cubic spline analysis was used to evaluate the association between BMI and the risk of dyslipidemia. Unconditional multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the interaction between BMI and family history of dyslipidemia towards dyslipidemia.

Results

The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 53.7% in the study population. The risk of dyslipidemia elevated with increased BMI value (p for non-linearity <0.05). After adjusting for covariates, individuals with high BMI (≥24 kg/m2) and a family history of dyslipidemia had a 4.50-fold (95% CI: 2.99–6.78) increased risk of dyslipidemia compared to the normal reference group, which was higher than the risk associated with high BMI alone (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.47–2.28) or family history of dyslipidemia alone (OR = 1.79 95% CI: 1.14–2.83). Significant additive interaction between high BMI and a family history of dyslipidemia was detected, with RERI, AP, and SI values of 1.88 (95% CI: 0.17–4.10), 0.42 (95% CI: 0.02–0.62), and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.07–4.37), respectively. However, stratified by status of diabetes control, this additive interaction was only find significant among patients with controlled diabetes.

Conclusion

Both high BMI and a family history of dyslipidemia were related with high risk of dyslipidemia. Moreover, there were synergistic interaction between these two factors. Patients with type 2 diabetes who had a family history of dyslipidemia were more susceptible to the negative impact of being overweight or obesity on dyslipidemia.
The Lifesaving Power of Flowers: Experiments Anyone Can Do
Authors: Uskoković Vuk , Wu Victoria M.
Published: May 2023

Biomaterials are materials made to be put inside human bodies. To make sure that these materials are safe for our bodies, they are first tested on animals. Reducing the number of animals used in research is an important goal, however, and scientists have been searching for other ways to test biomaterials in living organisms. In this article, we describe an experiment for measuring the properties of biomaterials using flowers. Such flower models can provide a good measure of how compatible a potential biomaterial is with the human body. Most importantly, these models are child-friendly and a great way for children to learn more about the fascinating world of biomaterials.
Day-to-day variability of the equatorial ionosphere in Asian sector during August–October 2019
Authors: Liu Huixin , Otsuka Yuichi , Hozumi Kornyanat , Yu Tao
Published: May 2023

This brief report examines the ground-based total electron content (TEC) in Asian sector during August–October 2019, covering the period of a stratosphere sudden warming (SSW) occurred in Antarctica. The analysis reveals pronounced ionospheric day-to-day variability with distinct periodicities. The most dominant and long-lasting periodicities are quasi-10 days and quasi 14-day during September and October, while a quasi 6-day also present in September. The 10-day and 6-day TEC oscillations were attributed by previous studies solely to the Antarctic SSW while assuming negligible geomagnetic effects. By comparing co-located ground mesospheric wind observations, along with the interplanetary electric field (IEF) and geomagnetic activity (Kp index), we demonstrate that the quasi 14-day oscillation is mainly driven by low-level geomagnetic activities, while quasi-6 days oscillation is driven by mesospheric wind changes during the SSW. The 10-day oscillation, on the other hand, is driven by both IEF and mesospheric wind in September, but by IEF in October. These results demonstrate that low-level geomagnetic activities traditionally classified as “quiet conditions” can induce significant day-to-day oscillations in TEC, and their impacts should not be ignored when studying meteorological (e.g., SSWs) impacts on the ionosphere.
Inhibitory effects of peppermint extracts on the browning of cold-stored fresh-cut taro and the phenolic compounds in extracts
Authors: Yuan Xiao , Tang Binglin , Wang Yukun , Jiang Yuanyuan , He Jinming , Wang Guang , Yang Pandi , Wang Bin
Published: May 2023

Fresh-cut taros are prone to browning even though they are stored at low temperatures, which leads to the quality deterioration and markedly limits the shelf life. The browning control of fresh-cut food with natural substances has received much attention. This study evaluated anti-browning potential of peppermint extracts in fresh-cut taro during cold storage. The results showed that both peppermint leaf and shoot extract (LE and SE) treatments could effectively retard the browning of fresh-cut taros. Furthermore, LE and SE treatments reduced the activities of phenylalanine ammonialyase and lipoxygenase, the contents of total phenolic compound (TPC), total flavonoids, soluble quinones, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, enhanced peroxidase activity and antioxidant capacity in taro slices. The TPC contents were reduced by 4.05 and 17.71%, and the T-AOC was enhanced by 28.73 and 28.82% as compared to the control at 12 d. These results together suggested that peppermint extract treatments reduced phenolic biosynthesis but enhanced antioxidant activity. However, LE and SE treatments did not inhibit polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, suggesting that peppermint extract treatments reduced taro browning was not through inhibition of phenolic oxidation. More than 240 phenolic-related compounds including caffeic acid, ferulic acid and p-Coumaric acid were identified in peppermint extracts through UPLC–MS/MS analysis, suggesting that phenolics may be bioactive substances reducing taro browning. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that peppermint extract is a promising natural anti-browning ingredient and phenolic compounds may function on taro browning inhibition.
Case report: Four cases of kidney disease in Giant African Land Snails (Lissachatina fulica)
Authors: Schmidt-Ukaj Silvana , Gumpenberger Michaela , Mutschmann Frank , Richter Barbara
Published: May 2023

Giant African Land Snails like Lissachatina fulica have become increasingly popular as pets in Europe, but little is known yet about land snail diseases and their therapy. These case reports show the history of four adult Lissachatina fulica with apathy and esophagus protrusion or prolapse in three cases and edema and mantle collapse in another case. Renomegaly and/or kidney deposits could be demonstrated in radiographic and/or CT examinations in all four cases. Necropsy and histology revealing nephropathy could be performed in three cases. With these first case reports on land snails with kidney disease, we hope to encourage diagnostic imaging and further veterinary research in land snails to improve our knowledge about their diseases.
Ozonation of Cowpea Grains: Alternative for the Control of Callosobruchus maculatus and Maintenance of Grain Quality
Authors: Ramos Gustavo Yves Rodrigues , Silva Gutierres Nelson , Silva Ynayanna Nariza Medeiros , Silva Yago de Medeiros , Marques Izaias Santos , da Silva Giovana Lopes , Carvalho Marcela Silva , Faroni Leda Rita D’antonino , Rodrigues Lima Simone Kelly , Arcanjo Daniel Dias Rufino , Lucarini Massimo , Durazzo Alessandra , Barbosa Douglas Rafael e Silva
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, the modified atmosphere with ozone is one of the main alternatives for controlling insect pests in stored grains, as it allows grain quality to be maintained while causing no environmental damage. In light of this, the purpose of this study was to assess the toxicity of ozone to C. maculatus in cowpea grains as well as how it affects the physiological and physical properties of the grains. The toxicity was determined by estimating lethal doses (mg/g) at the top and bottom of the fumigation chamber for 50% and 95% of adult insects (LD50 and LD95). Cowpea grain samples were removed after being exposed to ozone, and the effect of ozonation on the physical and physiological quality of the grains was assessed. The electrical conductivity, water content, and germination were all examined in this manner. The lethal doses LD50 were 65.97 and 45.52 mg/g when the insects were distributed at the top and bottom of the fumigation chamber, respectively. As a result, ozone toxicity was higher at the bottom than at the top. The increase in ozone doses resulted in a decrease in water content. The germination rate exceeded 90% in both locations where ozone was applied. The electrical conductivity remained constant, ranging between 152.01 and 239.59 S cm−1 g −1. The findings indicate that ozone is toxic to C. maculatus but has no effect on grain quality. Ozone may therefore be used to manage C. maculatus in cowpea that has been stored.
Photoluminescence Spectral Patterns and Parameters of Milk While Souring
Authors: Belyakov Mikhail V. , Samarin Gennady N. , Ruzhev Vyacheslav A. , Kudryavtsev Alexander A. , Efremenkov Igor Yu. , Blinov Nikita D.
Published: May 2023

For the efficient production and processing of milk, it is important to control its quality indicators. Optical spectroscopy, in combination with statistical analysis methods, can be a useful method of evaluation due to its speed, non-invasiveness, and relative cheapness. This investigation is aimed at studying of the interrelations of the spectral patterns, the absorption parameters, and the photoluminescence values of cow’s milk during its souring. The spectral characteristics of excitation and photoluminescence were measured on a diffraction spectrofluorometer in the range of 200–500 nm. For establishing an effective control procedure during milk souring, the most informative method is found to be the use of the excitation wavelengths of 232 nm, 322 nm, 385 nm and 442 nm. These ranges correspond to the amino acids of milk proteins, the fatty acids of milk fat, and the aromatic fragments of vitamins. When using the photoluminescence flux ratios Φ232/Φ322 and Φ385/Φ442, linearly approximated dependences on acidity can be obtained with determination coefficients of 0.88–0.94. The proposed photoluminescent method can be used as a non-destructive and fast-acting tool for monitoring the properties of milk during fermentation, as well as for the subsequent creation of a portable and inexpensive sensor based on this method.
Influence of Chemical Control on the Floristic Composition of Weeds in the Initial and Pre-Harvest Development Stages of the Sunflower Crop
Authors: dos Santos Elielton Germano , Inoue Miriam Hiroko , Guimarães Ana Carolina Dias , Bastos Jennifer Stefany Queiroz , Alcántara-de la Cruz Ricardo , Mendes Kassio Ferreira
Published: May 2023

The presence of weeds in the sunflower crop is one of the main factors linked to the low increase in productivity of this crop, and to determine the most appropriate management of weeds, it is essential to carry out a diagnosis through the phytosociological survey. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of chemical control on the phytosociological community of weeds in three areas cultivated with sunflower in the Parecis region (Brazil). The areas were treated with 2,4-D + glyphosate for desiccation; S-metolachlor was used for pre-emergence control in the three areas; meanwhile, sulfentrazone and flumioxazin were applied only in one area; and, finally, clethodim was applied for post-emergence weed management. Sampling was carried out at two different times, in the initial and pre-harvest stages (at 35 and 100 days after the emergence of the crop, respectively), using a quadrate, in which weeds were identified and quantified to determine the frequency, relative frequency, density, relative density, abundance, relative abundance, importance index, and similarity index between areas and times. Seventeen weed species were found in the sunflower crop (70.6% dicot and 29.4% monocotyledonous) in the two seasons, grouped into nine botanical families, with Poaceae being the most diverse family. The dicots Tridax procumbens and Acanthospermum hispidium were present in low frequency only in the initial stages of development of the sunflower crop. The weeds with the highest importance index values in the initial and pre-harvest stages were Euphorbia hirta (104 and 91%) and Bidens pilosa (45 and 66%, respectively), both belonging to the dicots group. These two species were present in the two evaluated periods and in the three experimental areas, demonstrating that there was a similarity index between them with values above 93%. These results of the phytosociological study may contribute to determining more efficient management strategies for weed chemical control in the sunflower crop.
Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Diversity of Native Entomopathogenic Nematodes, and Their Bacterial Endosymbionts, Isolated from Banana and Plantain Crops in Western Colombia
Authors: Londoño-Caicedo Jorge Mario , Uribe-Londoño Miguel , Buitrago-Bitar María Angélica , Cortés Andrés J. , Muñoz-Flórez Jaime Eduardo
Published: May 2023

With the increasing negative impacts on worldwide food production caused by pests, the recovery of native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) is relevant, since they are adapted to local environments, entomofauna, and significant virulence. Therefore, the present study was designed to recover and understand the phylogenetic diversity of EPNs and their associated bacterial endosymbionts, from banana and plantain crops, as alternatives for the control of weevil species. An extensive sampling of western Colombia covered 325 ha, yielding the recovery of three EPNs’ isolates (0.49% of the samples). The molecular characterization included four mitochondrial and nuclear loci, which, after merging with the sequences of 48 species, confirmed the presence of Steinernema carpocapsae, the first report of S. costaricense in South America, and monophyly in most of the Steinernema clades. The tree topologies were consistent for the nuclear loci but not for mitochondrial, probably due to the high nucleotide substitution rate, deficit in the number of species available for these loci, and incomplete lineage sorting. The endosymbiotic bacteria associated with S. carpocapsae were identified as Xenorhabdus nematophila. However, the S. costaricense bacterial symbiont presented a genetic similarity to X. koppenhoeferi and X. khoisanae, which are still uncertain in their classification. The identification of S. costaricense in South America indicates the wide range distribution of this species in the Americas and its ability to persist in different soil types. For the first time, EPN isolation and phylogenetic characterization are directed to plantain and banana crops. Leveraging EPNs’ diversity promises novel applications for crop protection, while the genetic resources from the bacterial endosymbionts may provide metabolites with a wide spectrum of uses, either for agricultural or medicinal purposes.
Sustainable Fish Feeds with Insects and Probiotics Positively Affect Freshwater and Marine Fish Gut Microbiota
Authors: Hasan Imam , Rimoldi Simona , Saroglia Giulio , Terova Genciana
Published: May 2023

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing agricultural industry in the world. Fishmeal is an essential component of commercial fish diets, but its long-term sustainability is a concern. Therefore, it is important to find alternatives to fishmeal that have a similar nutritional value and, at the same time, are affordable and readily available. The search for high-quality alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil has interested researchers worldwide. Over the past 20 years, different insect meals have been studied as a potential alternate source of fishmeal in aquafeeds. On the other hand, probiotics—live microbial strains—are being used as dietary supplements and showing beneficial effects on fish growth and health status. Fish gut microbiota plays a significant role in nutrition metabolism, which affects a number of other physiological functions, including fish growth and development, immune regulation, and pathogen resistance. One of the key reasons for studying fish gut microbiota is the possibility to modify microbial communities that inhabit the intestine to benefit host growth and health. The development of DNA sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics tools has made metagenomic analysis a feasible method for researching gut microbes. In this review, we analyze and summarize the current knowledge provided by studies of our research group on using insect meal and probiotic supplements in aquafeed formulations and their effects on different fish gut microbiota. We also highlight future research directions to make insect meals a key source of proteins for sustainable aquaculture and explore the challenges associated with the use of probiotics. Insect meals and probiotics will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the long-term sustainability and profitability of aquaculture.
Alternative Culture Systems for Bovine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation: Liquid Marbles and Differentially Shaped 96-Well Plates
Authors: Fernández-Montoro Andrea , Angel-Velez Daniel , Benedetti Camilla , Azari-Dolatabad Nima , Pascottini Osvaldo Bogado , Van Soom Ann , Pavani Krishna Chaitanya
Published: May 2023

In vivo-matured oocytes exhibit higher developmental competence than those matured in vitro but mimicking the in vivo environment by in vitro conditions has been challenging. Until now, conventional two-dimensional (2D) systems have been used for in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocytes-complexes (COCs). However, using such systems present certain limitations. Therefore, alternative low-cost methodologies may help to optimize oocyte in vitro maturation. Here, we used two different systems to culture COCs and evaluate their potential influence on embryo development and quality. In the first system, we used treated fumed silica particles to create a 3D microenvironment (liquid marbles; LM) to mature COCs. In the second system, we cultured COCs in 96-well plates with different dimensions (flat, ultra-low attachment round-bottom, and v-shaped 96-well plates). In both systems, the nuclear maturation rate remained similar to the control in 2D, showing that most oocytes reached metaphase II. However, the subsequent blastocyst rate remained lower in the liquid marble system compared with the 96-well plates and control 2D systems. Interestingly, a lower total cell number was found in the resulting embryos from both systems (LM and 96-well plates) compared with the control. In conclusion, oocytes matured in liquid marbles or 96-well plates showed no remarkable change in terms of meiotic resumption. None of the surface geometries influenced embryo development while oocyte maturation in liquid marbles led to reduced embryo development. These findings show that different geometry during maturation did not have a large impact on oocyte and embryo development. Lower embryo production after in vitro maturation in liquid marbles was probably detected because in vitro maturation was performed in serum-free medium, which makes oocytes more sensitive to possible toxic effects from the environment.
Dietary Inclusion of Crickets (Acheta domesticus) and Yellow Mealworm Meal (Tenebrio molitor) in Comparison with Soybean Meal: Effect on the Growth, Total Tract Apparent Digestibility, and Nitrogen Balance of Fattening Rabbits
Authors: Volek Zdeněk , Zita Lukáš , Adámková Anna , Adámek Martin , Mlček Jiří , Plachý Vladimír
Published: May 2023

Three diets were formulated, i.e., soybean meal (SM diet), adult Acheta domesticus (AD diet), and Tenebrio molitor larvae (TM diet), as the main crude protein (CP) sources. A total of 45 rabbits (Hyplus, weaned at 32 days of age) were divided into three groups (15 per treatment) and fed one of the three diets for 42 days. A higher daily weight gain (p = 0.042), as well as daily feed intake (p = 0.022), was observed in rabbits fed the AD and TM diets than in rabbits fed the SM diet within 21 days after weaning. The coefficients of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of gross energy were higher (p = 0.001) in rabbits fed the SM diet than in rabbits fed the other diets. The CTTAD of CP (p = 0.040) and starch (p = 0.041) was higher in rabbits fed the SM diet compared to those fed the AD diet. There were non-significantly higher losses of nitrogen in the urine (an average by 0.227 g/day; p = 0.094) in rabbits fed the TM diet than in rabbits fed the other diets. It can be concluded that the growth of rabbits and nitrogen output were not detrimentally affected by the insect meal (AD or TM) used in this study.
Comparison of Immune-Related Gene Expression in Two Chicken Breeds Following Infectious Bronchitis Virus Vaccination
Authors: Chuwatthanakhajorn Schwann , Chang Chi-Sheng , Ganapathy Kannan , Tang Pin-Chi , Chen Chih-Feng
Published: May 2023

This study aims to identify the immune-related genes and the corresponding biological pathways following infectious bronchitis virus vaccination in Taiwan Country and White Leghorn chicken breeds. Transcriptomic analyses of the spleen of these two breeds were conducted by next-generation sequencing. Compared to White Leghorn chicken, Taiwan Country chicken showed a significantly higher level of anti-infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) antibodies at 14 and 21 days pos vaccination. At 7 days post vaccination, in the Taiwan Country chicken, higher expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase 10, Major histocompatibility complex class 1, and V-set pre-B cell surrogate light chain 3 were found. In contrast, the White Leghorn chicken had a high expression of interleukin 4 induced 1, interleukin 6, and interleukin 22 receptor subunit alpha 2. These findings have highlighted the variations in immune induction between chickens with distinct genetic background and provided biological pathways and specific genes involved in immune responses against live attenuated IBV vaccine.
Combating Microbial Infections Using Metal-Based Nanoparticles as Potential Therapeutic Alternatives
Authors: Kaur Rajwinder , Kaur Kirandeep , Alyami Mohammad H. , Lang Damanpreet Kaur , Saini Balraj , Bayan Mohammad F. , Chandrasekaran Balakumar
Published: May 2023

The nature of microorganisms and the efficiency of antimicrobials have witnessed a huge co-dependent change in their dynamics over the last few decades. On the other side, metals and metallic compounds have gained popularity owing to their effectiveness against various microbial strains. A structured search of both research and review papers was conducted via different electronic databases, such as PubMed, Bentham, Springer, and Science Direct, among others, for the present review. Along with these, marketed products, patents, and Clinicaltrials.gov were also referred to for our review. Different microbes such as bacteria, fungi, etc., and their diverse species and strains have been reviewed and found to be sensitive to metal-carrying formulations. The products are observed to restrict growth, multiplication, and biofilm formation effectively and adequately. Silver has an apt use in this area of treatment and recovery, and other metals like copper, gold, iron, and gallium have also been observed to generate antimicrobial activity. The present review identified membrane disruption, oxidative stress, and interaction with proteins and enzymes to be the primary microbicidal processes. Elaborating the action, nanoparticles and nanosystems are shown to work in our favor in well excelled and rational ways.
Heat Acclimation under Drought Stress Induces Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in the Alpine Plant Primula minima
Authors: Roach Thomas , Neuner Gilbert , Kranner Ilse , Buchner Othmar
Published: May 2023

Heat and drought stresses are increasingly relevant topics in the context of climate change, particularly in the Alps, which are warming faster than the global average. Previously, we have shown that alpine plants, including Primula minima, can be gradually heat hardened under field conditions in situ to achieve maximum tolerance within a week. Here, we investigated the antioxidant mechanisms of P. minima leaves that had been heat hardened (H) without or with (H+D) additional drought stress. Lower free-radical scavenging and ascorbate concentrations were found in H and H+D leaves, while concentrations of glutathione disulphide (GSSG) were higher under both treatments without any change in glutathione (GSH) and little change in glutathione reductase activity. In contrast, ascorbate peroxidase activity in H leaves was increased, and H+D leaves had >two-fold higher catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities compared with the control. In addition, the glutathione reductase activity was higher in H+D compared with H leaves. Our results highlight that the stress load from heat acclimation to maximum tolerance is associated with a weakened low-molecular-weight antioxidant defence, which may be compensated for by an increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, particularly under drought conditions.
FAmesh: Generating Frequency Adaptive Meshes from Single Images under 2D Hole Constraints
Authors: Wen Fanbiao , Li Qingguang
Published: May 2023

Reconstructing 3D models from a single image has numerous applications in fields such as VR/AR, medical imaging, and gaming. However, most mesh-based methods are limited by the use of 0-genus initial templates, which makes it difficult to reconstruct 3D meshes with complex topologies. Additionally, existing methods often prioritize reconstructing the overall shape and neglect to study local meshes with varying curvatures, resulting in a lack of correct and detailed local features in the generated meshes. This paper proposes a 3D reconstruction framework that transitions from global to local and incorporates MLP and GCN. The framework introduces a mesh pruning strategy under a 2D hole constraint to restore the correct mesh topology. Moreover, the framework fine-tunes local details by separately learning corresponding mapping functions on high-frequency and low-frequency local extended patches. The experiment with the proposed network on the ShapeNet dataset shows that the network has a CD value of 1.763 and an F-score of 85.40. The results from extensive experiments demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms existing methods in topology correction and local detail reconstruction.
Contribution of Gravity Data for Structural Characterization of the Ifni Inlier, Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco: Hydrogeological Implications
Authors: Ikirri Mustapha , Jaffal Mohammed , Rezouki Ibtissam , Echogdali Fatima Zahra , Boutaleb Said , Abdelrahman Kamal , Abu-Alam Tamer , Faik Farid , Kchikach Azzouz , Abioui Mohamed
Published: May 2023

The Sidi Ifni region in southwest Morocco is mainly composed of crystalline rocks with limited groundwater storage capacity. These water resources drain in particular fault zones with high fracture permeability. The main objective of this study is to describe the geological structure of the region to optimize future drilling locations. The gravity data were processed using various techniques, such as total horizontal gradient, tilt derivative, and Euler deconvolution, in conjunction with the interpretation of the geological data, to create a new structural map. This map confirms the presence of many previously identified or inferred faults and identifies significant new faults with their respective trends and depths. Analysis of this map shows that major faults are oriented NNE-SSW and NE-SW, while minor faults are oriented E-W, NW-SE, and NNW-SSE. The superposition of the hydrogeological data and the structural map reveals that the high groundwater flow values in the boreholes are located in the vicinity of the major faults and talwegs. The structures deduced from the filtering and interpretation of the gravity data suggest that the hydrogeological system of the Ifni Inlier is controlled by its structures. To confirm this impact, a high-resolution electrical resistivity map (7200 Hz) was used, with penetration depths ranging from 84 to 187 m. Negative boreholes, located in high resistivity ranges corresponding to sound basement formations without fault crossings, showed high resistivity values. The positive holes, located in anomalies with low linear resistivity, revealed the impact of fault crossings, which drain water and tend to decrease the resistivity values of the formations. Therefore, these new structural maps will assist in planning future hydrogeological studies in this area.
Mixed-Integer Linear Programming, Constraint Programming and a Novel Dedicated Heuristic for Production Scheduling in a Packaging Plant
Authors: Oujana Soukaina , Amodeo Lionel , Yalaoui Farouk , Brodart David
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we are discussing a research project aiming to optimize the scheduling of production orders within a real application in the packaging field. As a first approach, we model the problem as an extended version of the hybrid and flexible flowshop scheduling problem with precedence constraints, parallel machines, and sequence-dependent setups. The optimization objective considered is the minimization of the total tardiness. To tackle this problem, we use two methodologies: mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and constraint programming (CP). These two models were further extended by adding resource calendar constraints named also availability constraints; this implies that the tasks should be scheduled only when the machine is available. The different proposed models were compared to each other on a set of generated benchmarks that reflect the specific properties of the industrial partner. Finally, as the studied configuration relies on practical real-world application, where thousands of orders are produced monthly, a novel dedicated heuristic was designed to address the need for quick solutions. The latter outperforms the other proposed algorithms for expected total tardiness minimization. The proposed problem can be readily modified to suit a wide range of real-world situations involving the scheduling of activities that share similar characteristics.
A Hybrid Model of Cancer Diseases Diagnosis Based on Gene Expression Data with Joint Use of Data Mining Methods and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Babichev Sergii , Yasinska-Damri Lyudmyla , Liakh Igor
Published: May 2023

One of the current focuses of modern bioinformatics is the development of hybrid models to process gene expression data, in order to create diagnostic systems for various diseases. In this study, we propose a solution to this problem that combines an inductive spectral clustering algorithm, random forest classifier, convolutional neural network, and alternative voting method for making the final decision about patient condition. In the first stage, we apply the spectral clustering algorithm to gene expression profiles using inductive methods of objective clustering, with the calculation of internal, external, and balance clustering quality criteria. This results in clusters of mutually correlated and differently expressed gene expression profiles. In the second stage, we apply the random forest classifier and convolutional neural network to identify the examined objects, containing as attributes the gene expression values in the allocated clusters. The presented research solves both binary- and multi-classification tasks. The final decision about the patient’s condition is made using the alternative voting method, considering the classification results based on the gene expression data in various clusters. The simulation results showed that the proposed technique was highly effective, achieving a high accuracy in object identification when both classifiers were used. However, the convolutional neural network had a significantly higher data processing efficiency than the random forest algorithm, due to its substantially shorter processing time.
Innovative Protocols for Determining the Non-Reactive Agility of Female Basketball Players Based on Familiarization and Validity Tests
Authors: Hadžović Miljan M. , Đorđević Stefan N. , Jorgić Bojan M. , Stojiljković Nenad Đ. , Olanescu Mihai A. , Suciu Adrian , Peris Miruna , Plesa Alin
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to implement a familiarization protocol and to determine the constructive validity of four different non-reactive agility tests on a sample of professional female basketball players (n = 12; age: 18.17 ± 1.90 years). Following the protocol, the participants performed standardized tests three times (the Agility t-test and the Sprint 9-3-6-3-9 m with 180° Turns), while the lateral agility, universal agility, frontal agility, and semicircular agility tests were repeated five times each, with a three-minute rest period between each repetition. A single-factor analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA) determined significant differences between a series of test repetitions for familiarization. Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped the samples based on the results of the standardized tests into two groups. A t-test for independent samples determined a significant difference between these groups (p < 0.05) on all four tests (lateral, universal, frontal, and semicircular agility). Pearson’s linear correlation determined a correlation between the results of the standardized agility tests and the lateral, universal, frontal, and semicircular agility tests, with correlation coefficients ranging from r = 0.936 to r = 0.987. A high value was observed for the discriminant analysis (0.821), while the maximum value was observed for the Kendall coefficient of concordance (W = 1). The study confirmed the validity of the applied tests and determined that the results are influenced by the number of series performed during the preparation for testing. In practice, it is necessary to perform two series of universal and frontal agility tests, i.e., four series of repetitions of lateral and semicircular agility tests in professional women’s basketball.
Semantic Segmentation with High-Resolution Sentinel-1 SAR Data
Authors: Erten Hakan , Bostanci Erkan , Acici Koray , Guzel Mehmet Serdar , Asuroglu Tunc , Aydin Ayhan
Published: May 2023

The world’s high-resolution images are supplied by a radar system named Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Semantic SAR image segmentation proposes a computer-based solution to make segmentation tasks easier. When conducting scientific research, accessing freely available datasets and images with low noise levels is rare. However, SAR images can be accessed for free. We propose a novel process for labeling Sentinel-1 SAR radar images, which the European Space Agency (ESA) provides free of charge. This process involves denoising the images and using an automatically created dataset with pioneering deep neural networks to augment the results of the semantic segmentation task. In order to exhibit the power of our denoising process, we match the results of our newly created dataset with speckled noise and noise-free versions. Thus, we attained a mean intersection over union (mIoU) of 70.60% and overall pixel accuracy (PA) of 92.23 with the HRNet model. These deep learning segmentation methods were also assessed with the McNemar test. Our experiments on the newly created Sentinel-1 dataset establish that combining our pipeline with deep neural networks results in recognizable improvements in challenging semantic segmentation accuracy and mIoU values.
Effect of Ajwa Date and Germinated Barley on Lipid Profile in Rats Fed High-Fat Diet
Authors: Alduwayghiri Rana , Algheshairy Reham M.
Published: May 2023

High levels of lipids and cholesterol, particularly LDL, in blood are considered the most common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that threaten human life. Recently, interest has increased in the use of medicinal plants to treat various diseases due to their lack of side effects. The current study aims to investigate the effect of Ajwa date (AD) and germinated barley (GB) on the lipid profile in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Thirty rats were distributed into five groups (six per group) as follows: the negative control group, the positive control group fed a HFD, and the other three groups that were fed a HFD supplemented with a mixture of AD and GB in equal ratios with different proportions of 20, 30, and 40% in the diet. There was an increase in moisture, protein, phenols, and vitamin C content and a decrease in the content of ash, carbohydrates, fats, and beta-glucans in GB. Blood total cholesterol levels decreased significantly (83.53, 70.12, and 73.55 mg/dL) in the groups fed the AD and GB mixtures in different percentages (20, 30, and 40%). Likewise, the AD and GB mixtures recorded a significant decrease in the level of triglycerides in the treated groups, with no significant effect on the high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein. There was a significant improvement in the level of alanine aminotransferase, while the level of aspartate aminotransferase was not affected by the treatment. In summary, AD and GB mixtures can modulate the lipid profile alterations caused by HFD through their phytochemical constituents, particularly beta-glucans.
Recent Advances in Applied Microbiology and Food Sciences, Volume II
Authors: Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz , Kačániová Miroslava
Published: May 2023

The food industry is constantly evolving due to environmental, social, and geopolitical factors [...]
Three-Temperature Boundary Element Modeling of Ultrasound Wave Propagation in Anisotropic Viscoelastic Porous Media
Authors: Fahmy Mohamed Abdelsabour , Alsulami Mohammed O. , Abouelregal Ahmed E.
Published: May 2023

The main goal of this work is to develop a novel boundary element method (BEM) model for analyzing ultrasonic wave propagation in three-temperature anisotropic viscoelastic porous media. Due to the problems of the strong nonlinearity of ultrasonic wave propagation in three-temperature porous media, the analytical or numerical solutions to the problems under consideration are always challenging, necessitating the development of new computational techniques. As a result, we use a new BEM model to solve such problems. A time-stepping procedure based on the linear multistep method is obtained after solving the discretized boundary integral equation with the quadrature rule. The calculation of a double integral is required to obtain fundamental solutions, but this increases the total BEM computation time. Our proposed BEM technique is used to solve the current problem and improve the formulation efficiency. The numerical results are graphed to demonstrate the effects of viscosity and anisotropy on the nonlinear ultrasonic stress waves in three-temperature porous media. The validity, accuracy, and efficiency of the proposed methodology are demonstrated by comparing the obtained results to a corresponding solution obtained from the finite difference method (FDM).
An Interpretation of the Surface Temperature Time Series through Fuzzy Measures
Authors: Devi Rashmi Rekha , Chattopadhyay Surajit
Published: May 2023

This paper reports a study to interpret the surface temperature based on time series and fuzzy measures. We demonstrated a method to identify the uncertainty around the surface temperature data concerning the summer monsoon in India. The random variables were standardized, and the Dempster-Shafer Theory was used to generate common goals. Two criteria, represented as fuzzy numbers, were used for this purpose. We constructed three polynomials to illustrate a functional connection between time series and the measure of joint belief. The analysis of the obtained results showed that the certainty increased over time. It confirmed that the degree of the evidence is a more predictable parameter at a more extended period.