bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Degradation of Bioactive Compounds during Drying Process of Horticultural and Agronomic Products: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: ElGamal Ramadan , Song Cheng , Rayan Ahmed M. , Liu Chuanping , Al-Rejaie Salim , ElMasry Gamal
Published: June 2023

Over the last few decades, many researchers have investigated in detail the characteristics of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, vitamins, flavonoids, and glycosides, and volatile compounds in fruits, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic plants that possess beneficial properties, as well as consumer acceptance and preference. The main aim of this article is to provide an updated overview of recent research endeavors related to the effects of the drying process on the major bioactive/effective compounds in agricultural products. Particular emphasis was placed on details related to the changes occurring in vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides and volatile compounds, as well as the antioxidant activity. An analysis of the degradation mechanisms of these compounds showed that vitamin C, phenols, flavonoids and glycosides react with oxygen during the convective drying process under high drying temperatures, and the reaction rate results in degradation in such bioactive compounds due to high reducibility. On the other hand, high temperature results in a short drying time, thus minimizing the degradation of bioactive compounds. The reviewed research works addressing this trend revealed that the ideal drying temperatures for retaining vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides, volatile compounds and their antioxidant activity were 50–60 °C, 55–60 °C, 60–70 °C, 45–50 °C, 40–50 °C and 50–70 °C, respectively. In conclusion, to maintain plant bioactive components, convective drying at relatively low drying temperatures is strongly recommended.
Biogenic Amine Content Analysis of Three Chicken-Based Dry Pet Food Formulations
Authors: Montegiove Nicolò , Leonardi Leonardo , Cesaretti Alessio , Pellegrino Roberto Maria , Pellegrino Alessia , Emiliani Carla , Calzoni Eleonora
Published: June 2023

The pet food market is constantly expanding, and more and more attention is paid to the feeding of pets. Dry foods stand out and are often preferred due to their long shelf life, ease of administration, and low cost. In this context, dry foods are formulated from fresh meats, meat meals, or a mix of the two. These raw materials are often meat not fit for human consumption; they might be subject to contamination and proliferation of microorganisms which, by degrading the organic component, can lead to the formation of undesirable by-products such as biogenic amines. These nitrogenous compounds obtained by decarboxylation of amino acids can therefore be found in high-protein foods, and their ingestion in large quantities can cause intoxication and be harmful. This study aims at analyzing the possible presence of biogenic amines in three different formulations of chicken-based kibbles for pets: one obtained from fresh meat, one from meat meal, and one from a mix of the two. This study is also focused on the presence of free amino acids as they represent the key substrate for decarboxylating enzymes. Mass spectrometry (Q-TOF LC/MS) was used to analyze the presence of biogenic amines and free amino acids. The results show that fresh-meat-based products have a lower content of biogenic amines, and at the same time a higher quantity of free amino acids; on the contrary, meat-meal- and mix-based products have a greater quantity of biogenic amines and a lower concentration of free amino acids, suggesting that there has been a higher microbial proliferation as proved by the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts. It is therefore clear that fresh-meat-based kibbles are to be preferred when they are used for preparing dry pet food due to the lowest concentration of biogenic amines.
Molecular Pathways for Muscle and Adipose Tissue Are Altered between Beef Steers Classed as Choice or Standard
Authors: Haderlie Sarah A. , Hieber Jordan K. , Boles Jane A. , Berardinelli James G. , Thomson Jennifer M.
Published: June 2023

Targets for finished livestock are often determined by expected fat, either subcutaneous or intramuscular. These targets are used frequently to improve eating quality. Lower intramuscular fat, lack of product uniformity, and insufficient tenderness can negatively impact beef acceptability. This study aimed to investigate the differences in gene expression that alter metabolism and intercellular signaling in the muscle and adipose tissue in beef carcasses at different fat endpoints. In this study, longissimus thoracis muscle samples and adipose tissue were collected at harvest, and RNA was extracted and then sequenced using RNAseq. Differential expression was determined using edgeR, and p-values were adjusted using the Benjamini–Hochberg method. A corrected p-value of 0.005 and log2 (fold change) of >1 were the threshold to identify differential expression. Comparison between intermuscular and subcutaneous fat showed no differences in the genes activated in the two adipose tissue depots, suggesting that subcutaneous fat was an adequate sample. Carcass data allowed the classification of carcasses by USDA quality grades (marbling targets). In comparing muscle from Standard and Choice carcasses, 15 genes were downregulated, and 20 were upregulated. There were 49 downregulated and 113 upregulated genes comparing adipose tissue from Standard and Choice carcasses. These genes are related to the metabolism of fat and energy. This indicates that muscle transcript expression varies less than adipose. In addition, subcutaneous fat can be used to evaluate transcript changes in fat. However, it is unclear whether these fat tissues can be used as surrogates for marbling.
Sheep Face Recognition Model Based on Deep Learning and Bilinear Feature Fusion
Authors: Wan Zhuang , Tian Fang , Zhang Cheng
Published: June 2023

A key prerequisite for the establishment of digitalized sheep farms and precision animal husbandry is the accurate identification of each sheep’s identity. Due to the uncertainty in recognizing sheep faces, the differences in sheep posture and shooting angle in the recognition process have an impact on the recognition accuracy. In this study, we propose a deep learning model based on the RepVGG algorithm and bilinear feature extraction and fusion for the recognition of sheep faces. The model training and testing datasets consist of photos of sheep faces at different distances and angles. We first design a feature extraction channel with an attention mechanism and RepVGG blocks. The RepVGG block reparameterization mechanism is used to achieve lossless compression of the model, thus improving its recognition efficiency. Second, two feature extraction channels are used to form a bilinear feature extraction network, which extracts important features for different poses and angles of the sheep face. Finally, features at the same scale from different images are fused to enhance the feature information, improving the recognition ability and robustness of the network. The test results demonstrate that the proposed model can effectively reduce the effect of sheep face pose on the recognition accuracy, with recognition rates reaching 95.95%, 97.64%, and 99.43% for the sheep side-, front-, and full-face datasets, respectively, outperforming several state-of-the-art sheep face recognition models.
Development of Optimized Feed for Lipid Gain in Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Larvae
Authors: Goo Tae-Won , Hwang Dooseon , Lee Kyu-Shik , Lee Seung Hun , Yun Eun-Young
Published: June 2023

Super mealworm Zophobas morio (Coleoptera: Tenbrionidea) larvae (ZML) are being investigated as potential candidates for biodiesel production. Several studies have revealed that the crude fat content of ZML can be enhanced by increasing the feed consumed. We aimed to develop an optimized ZML feed that enhances the lipid gain using 10 different ingredients. The results revealed that the highest lipid content was observed in ZML fed food waste (FW). Furthermore, we found that the weight gain of ZML improved when fed fermented FW using three selected microorganisms (3M), Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Pediococcus acidilactici. We also analyzed the effects of preservatives on the weight gain of ZML, and the results revealed that ZML fed 5-day 3M-fermented FW (FFW) containing 0.05% sorbic acid exhibited the highest weight gain. Based on these findings, we produced solid FFW containing 0.05% sorbic acid using 5% agar and established a manufacturing process. Body composition analysis revealed that the lipid content of the ZML fed manufactured feed was higher than that of the ZML fed wheat bran. Therefore, this study suggests that solid FFW containing 0.05% sorbic acid should be used as a commercial feed for ZML breeding to enhance lipid gain, making it an economical substrate for raw biodiesel production.
Peripheral and Central Impact of Methionine Source and Level on Growth Performance, Circulating Methionine Levels and Metabolism in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Maynard Craig W. , Gilbert Elizabeth , Yan Frances , Cline Mark A. , Dridi Sami
Published: June 2023

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of DL-methionine (DL-Met) 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBa), or S-(5′-Adenosyl)-L-methionine chloride (SAM), using feeding trial and central administration, on live performance, plasma metabolites, and the expression of feeding-related hypothalamic neuropeptides in broilers raised to a market age (35 d). Final average body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from the feeding trial exceeded the performance measurements published by the primary breeder. At d35, the MTBHa group had better BW and lower feed intake, which resulted in a better FCR than the DL-Met group at 87 TSAA to lysine. At the molecular levels, the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide (NPY) and monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 2 did not differ between all treated groups; however, the mRNA abundances of hypothalamic MCT1 and orexin (ORX) were significantly upregulated in DL-Met- treated groups compared to the control. The ICV administration of SAM significantly reduced feed intake at all tested periods (from 30 to 180 min post injection) compared to the aCSF-treated group (control). The central administration of HMTBa increased feed intake, which reached a significant level only 60 min post administration, compared to the control group. ICV administration of DL-Met slightly increased feed intake compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically discernable. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the hypothalamic expression of NPY, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, MCT1, and MCT2 was significantly upregulated in the ICV-HMTBa group compared to the aCSF birds. The hypothalamic expression of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα1), D-amino acid oxidase, and hydroxyacid oxidase was significantly upregulated in DL-Met compared to the control group. The mRNA abundances of ORX were significantly increased in the hypothalamus of both DL-Met and HMTBa groups compared to the aCSF birds; however, mTOR gene expression was significantly downregulated in the SAM compared to the control group. Taken together, these data show, for the first time, that DL-Met and HMTBa have a common downstream (ORX) pathway, but also a differential central pathway, typically NPY-MCT for HMTBa and mTOR-AMPK for methionine.
Biological Function of Antimicrobial Peptides on Suppressing Pathogens and Improving Host Immunity
Authors: Lyu Zhiqian , Yang Pan , Lei Jian , Zhao Jinbiao
Published: June 2023

The emergence of drug-resistant genes and concerns about food safety caused by the overuse of antibiotics are becoming increasingly prominent. There is an urgent need for effective alternatives to antibiotics in the fields of livestock production and human medicine. Antimicrobial peptides can effectively replace antibiotics to kill pathogens and enhance the immune functions of the host, and pathogens cannot easily produce genes that are resistant to them. The ability of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to kill pathogens is associated with their structure and physicochemical properties, such as their conformation, electrical charges, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity. AMPs regulate the activity of immunological cells and stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines via the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. However, there are still some limitations to the application of AMPs in the fields of livestock production and human medicine, including a restricted source base, high costs of purification and expression, and the instability of the intestines of animals and humans. This review summarizes the information on AMPs as effective antibiotic substitutes to improve the immunological functions of the host through suppressing pathogens and regulating inflammatory responses. Potential challenges for the commercial application of AMPs in animal husbandry and human medicine are discussed.
Age of Onset Moderates the Association between Total Antioxidant Capacity and Cognitive Deficits in Patients with Drug-Naïve Schizophrenia
Authors: Li Jiaxin , Li Deyang , Guo Junru , Wang Dongmei , Zhang Xiangyang
Published: June 2023

Schizophrenia patients with an earlier age of onset have been found to have more serious negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Oxidative stress is thought to be implicated in cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) is an essential indicator of oxidative stress. However, the association between age of onset, TAOC, and cognitive performance in schizophrenia remains unexplored. In this study, 201 patients (age: 26.5 ± 9.6 years; male: 53.2%) with drug-naïve schizophrenia were recruited. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Cognitive functioning was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Plasma TAOC levels were analyzed using established procedures. Results showed that early-onset (EO) patients had higher TAOC levels, more severe negative symptoms and performed worse on visuospatial/constructional, language and RBANS total scores than non-EO patients. After Bonferroni correction, only non-EO patients showed a significant inverse relationship between TAOC levels and RBANS language, attention, and total scores. Our findings suggest that an early/late age of onset may be correlated with psychopathological symptoms, cognitive impairment and oxidative responses in schizophrenia. Furthermore, the age of onset may moderate the relationship between TAOC and cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. These findings suggest that improving oxidative stress status in non-EO schizophrenia patients may enhance their cognitive function.
A Histopathological Image Classification Method Based on Model Fusion in the Weight Space
Authors: Zhang Gang , Lai Zhi-Fei , Chen Yi-Qun , Liu Hong-Tao , Sun Wei-Jun
Published: June 2023

Automatic classification of histopathological images plays an important role in computer-aided diagnosis systems. The automatic classification model of histopathological images based on deep neural networks has received widespread attention. However, the performance of deep models is affected by many factors, such as training hyperparameters, model structure, dataset quality, and training cost. In order to reduce the impact of the above factors on model training and reduce the training and inference costs of the model, we propose a novel method based on model fusion in the weight space, which is inspired by stochastic weight averaging and model soup. We use the cyclical learning rate (CLR) strategy to fine-tune the ingredient models and propose a ranking strategy based on accuracy and diversity for candidate model selection. Compared to the single model, the weight fusion of ingredient models can obtain a model whose performance is closer to the expected value of the error basin, which may improve the generalization ability of the model. Compared to the ensemble model with n base models, the testing cost of the proposed model is theoretically 1/n of that of the ensemble model. Experimental results on two histopathological image datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed model in comparison to baseline ones, including ResNet, VGG, DenseNet, and their ensemble versions.
Application of Sonic, Hygrometric Tests and Infrared Thermography for Diagnostic Investigations of Wall Paintings in St. Panfilo’s Church
Authors: Calandra Sara , Centauro Irene , Laureti Stefano , Ricci Marco , Salvatici Teresa , Sfarra Stefano
Published: June 2023

Prior to restoration work, the frescoes created at the end of the XV century by the painter Saturnino Gatti (1463–1518) in the apse of the Church of St. Panfilo in Villagrande di Tornimparte (L’Aquila) were the subject of a thorough diagnostic study involving several tests, from in situ non-destructive analysis to laboratory micro-destructive analysis on the collected samples. In this paper, we report the application of the sonic pulse velocity test, hygrometric tests, and infrared thermography to assess the state of conservation of the frescoes, i.e., the combined system of plaster and wall support. The complete analysis of the frescoes’ state of conservation revealed significant insights. The integrity of the plaster was evaluated through sonic pulse velocity tests, which highlighted several areas of detachment or degradation phenomena. Hygrometric analysis described humidity variations, particularly near the boundary between the conch area and the church naves. Passive infrared thermography detected temperature inhomogeneities, emphasizing differences in the wall texture and the masonry structure. Moreover, by comparing sonic pulse velocity and passive thermography images, a certain degree of correlation between hot areas and slow areas in the presence of possible detachments was noticed. In addition, pulse-compression active thermography was applied in a few spots, and for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the virtual wave concept was applied to the cultural heritage field. This strategy helps in better associating anomalies with depth. The measurement campaign was part of a research project conducted by members of the Italian Association of Archaeometry (AIAr), and the results were compared and integrated with those of other non-destructive and analytical methods.
Study on Bending Performance of Tightly Spliced Truss-Reinforced Plate-Honeycomb Flat Beam
Authors: Mou Xingyu , Lv Henglin , Zhou Shuchun , Li Jiang , Li Xian
Published: June 2023

The tightly spliced truss-reinforced plate-honeycomb flat beam is a novel type of composite beam, with the advantages of high rigidity, high bearing capacity, and ease of construction. In this study, on the basis of the performance in bending tests, the numerical analysis method is used to study the influence of the honeycomb hole–height ratio, and section height on the bearing capacity of the honeycomb composite flat beam. On this basis, the simplified method to calculate the ultimate bending capacity of the new honeycomb composite flat beam was proposed. The research results show the failure modes of the specimens are mainly divided into two states, including the deflection exceeding the limit and the concrete flange plate separating from the steel beam. The tightly spliced truss-reinforced plate-honeycomb flat beams have good ductility, of which the average value reaches 8.2. The simplified method proposed in this article for calculating this type of honeycomb composite beam has an error of less than 10% in terms of bending bearing capacity, which has advantages over the double T-shaped steel method. The calculation method and design suggestions proposed in this study provide a basis for the research and application of this type of composite flat beam.
TrendFlow: A Machine Learning Framework for Research Trend Analysis
Authors: Xiang Tao , Chen Sufang , Zhang Yiwei , Zhu Rui
Published: June 2023

As various research fields continue to evolve, new technologies emerge constantly, making it challenging for scholars to keep up with the latest and most promising research directions. To address this issue, we propose TrendFlow, a framework that leverages machine learning and deep learning techniques for analyzing research trends. TrendFlow first searches relevant literature based on user-defined queries, then clusters the searched literature according to the abstracts, and finally generates keyphrases of the abstracts as research trends for each cluster. Our experimental results highlight the superior performance of TrendFlow compared to traditional literature analysis tools. We have released the beta version of TrendFlow on Huggingface.
Multi-Scale Aggregation Stereo Matching Network Based on Dense Grouping Atrous Convolution
Authors: Zou Qijie , Zhang Jie , Chen Shuang , Gao Bing , Qin Jing , Dong Aotian
Published: June 2023

The key to image depth estimation is to accurately find corresponding points between the left and right images. A binocular camera can directly estimate the depth of the left and right image range, which completely avoids the requirement of target recognition accuracy in a monocular depth estimation. However, it is difficult for binocular stereo matching to accurately segment objects and find matching points in the ill-posed areas (weak texture, deformation, object edge, etc.) of the left and right images. In the semantic segmentation task, atrous convolution is used to solve the contradiction between the receptive field and the segmentation accuracy. This research focused on balancing the impact of holes on the segmentation task. In addition, in order to solve the issue where matching points in the ill-posed regions of left and right images are affected by noise, we used a 3D convolution to aggregate the cost volume to obtain better accuracy. However, the 3D convolution method is prone to mismatching in ill-posed areas of the image. To tackle the problems above, we proposed a dense grouping atrous convolution spatial pyramid pooling (DenseGASPP) method. The feature of the DenseGASPP method is that there is a dense connection between the group atrous convolutions to fully integrate feature information. This method can expand the receptive field and balance the effect of holes on the segmentation task. Moreover, we introduced multi-scale cost aggregation into our method, which uses the repeated exchange of information between cost volumes of different scales to obtain rich contextual information and reduce the mismatching of the network. To evaluate the performance of our method, we conducted several groups of typical algorithm experiments on the scene flow and KITTI 2015 standard datasets. From the results, our model achieves better performance, reducing the EPE from 1.09 to 0.67, which improves the mismatching ability of binocular depth estimation algorithm in ill-posed regions.
A Retrospective Study on Silent Sinus Syndrome in Cone Beam-Computed Tomography Images—Author Classification Proposal
Authors: Nelke Kamil , Łuczak Klaudiusz , Pawlak Wojciech , Łukaszewski Marceli , Janeczek Maciej , Pasicka Edyta , Barnaś Szczepan , Guziński Maciej , Diakowska Dorota , Dobrzyński Maciej
Published: June 2023

Introduction. Facial asymmetry might have many etiological factors. Most known and recognized factors are related to hemimandibular hyperplasia, elongation, condyle-related pathologies hemifacial microsomia, laterogenia, and others. In some cases, however, facial asymmetry has a different origin within the maxillary sinus (MS) bones. This rare entity as a silent sinus syndrome (SSS) causes secondary midfacial and maxillary asymmetry because of the retraction of the sinus walls. The authors present their own proposal for SSS/CMA (chronic maxillary atelectasia) classification and possible maxillary sinus disease alterations related to the scope of changes in the maxillary sinus walls, asymmetry, opacification, and related features. Material and Methods. The study consisted of 131 CBCT images which were evaluated. The authors focus on fourteen retrospective cone beam-computed tomography studies (CBCT) performed to establish and evaluate sources of facial asymmetry. Results. Neither presented maxillary and facial asymmetry cases correspond to the typical SSS/CMA findings. Asymptomatic maxillary sinusitis co-existing in maxillary asymmetry cases in patients suffering from skeletal malocclusion remains atypical for SSS pure and in-pure cases. The osteomeatal complex (OMC) patency is more common for pure forms. Conclusions. Computed tomography quite easily can identify the source of the problems in the maxillary sinus and identify SSS. Coexistent chronic rhinosinusitis might correspond with another MS pathology, CMA—chronic maxillary atelectasia. The scope and the degree of MS cause midfacial asymmetry; however, the scope of sinus opacification, osteomeatal complex drainage, and occurrence of other symptoms might be more or less present. The OMC patency is more common for pure forms.
Comparison of Lichens and Mosses as Biomonitors of Airborne Microplastics
Authors: Jafarova Mehriban , Grifoni Lisa , Aherne Julian , Loppi Stefano
Published: June 2023

The atmosphere is an important pathway for microplastic (MP) transport; however, observations are limited, as traditional sampling methods are generally labor-intensive. Biological monitors (biomonitors) have been widely used as a simple alternative to determine the abundance or presence of anthropogenic pollutants. Here, we compared the effectiveness of co-located lichen and moss species as biomonitors of the atmospheric deposition of microplastics. Samples of the epiphytic lichen Evernia prunastri and the epigeic moss Pseudoscleropodium purum were collected from five remote areas of central Italy. A total of 154 MPs were found across all samples, 93.5% of which were fibers and 6.5% were fragments. The accumulation of MPs for lichens (range of 8–12 MP/g) was significantly lower than for mosses (12–17 MP/g), which might be related to their structural characteristics or habitat positions (epiphytic versus epigeic). Nonetheless, higher accumulation facilitates analytical determination and provides greater separation from the limit of detection, suggesting that mosses are preferred over lichens for studying the deposition of airborne MPs. This study further suggests that biomonitoring may be an effective tool to assess the spatial distribution of atmospheric microplastics, which is a key requirement for the development of waste mitigation policies.
The Role of Neutral Wind Velocity and Its Vertical Component on Predictability of Formation and Localization of Sporadic E (Es)
Authors: Didebulidze Goderdzi G. , Dalakishvili Giorgi , Todua Maya , Toriashvili Lekso
Published: June 2023

The formation and localization of sporadic E (Es) layers predicted by the ion vertical drift velocity and its vertical change in the lower thermosphere during nighttime are shown analytically and by numerical simulations. The consideration of the existence of a minimum negative value of the vertical change of the ion vertical drift velocity as a necessary condition of formation of the Es layer and determining ion convergence rate into this layer is extended in case of the presence of vertical wind. Upward vertical wind can shift the convergence regions upward, while downward vertical wind shifts them downward, unlike the cases of the presence of only meridional and zonal winds. It also changes the ion convergence rate compared to the one with just a horizontal wind. It is shown for the first time that the upward constant wind also causes the convergence of ions with the maximum rate in the region where the ion-neutral collision frequency is equal to their cyclotron frequency. While demonstrating the presented theory by numerical simulations, HWM14 data is used for the meridional and zonal wind velocity profiles and the presence of its vertical component is assumed. In this case, in addition to the estimated ion drift velocity and its vertical changes, their initial distribution and ambipolar diffusion also determine the development of ion convergence/divergence processes. For a small magnitude of vertical wind velocity, its significant influence on the ions/electrons behavior is demonstrated, which shows the importance of both tidal wind and wind changes caused by the propagation of atmospheric gravity waves on the formation of the Es layer. In this theoretical research, it is shown that the realistic profile of the wind velocity, which takes into account the vertical component along with its zonal and meridional ones, is important for the prediction of the Es layers formation, as well as regions of ion depletion.
Advances in General Topology and Its Application
Authors: Kočinac Ljubiša D. R.
Published: June 2023

In recent years, mathematical and, in particular, topological models and methods have been used extensively in real-world problems related to economics, engineering, biology, computer science, medical science, social science, etc [...]
Increased Serum Interleukin 10 Levels Are Associated with Increased Disease Activity and Increased Risk of Anti-SS-A/Ro Antibody Positivity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Winikajtis-Burzyńska Agnieszka , Brzosko Marek , Przepiera-Będzak Hanna
Published: June 2023

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) plays a role in inflammation and cell-type responses. The anti-SS-A/Ro antibody contributes to leucopenia, and cutaneous and neonatal lupus. Objectives: To evaluate the association between serum IL-10 levels and autoantibodies, disease activity and organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Patients and methods: We studied 200 SLE patients and 50 controls. We analyzed organ involvement, disease activity, serum IL-10 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and antinuclear and antiphospholipid antibody profiles. Results: Serum IL-10 and IL-6 levels were higher in SLE patients than in controls (all p < 0.00001). Serum IL-10 levels were positively correlated with IL-6 (p < 0.00001), CRP (p < 0.00001), fibrinogen (p = 0.003), and ESR (p < 0.00001), and negatively correlated with hemoglobin (p = 0.0004) and lymphocytes (p = 0.01). Serum IL-6 levels were positively correlated with CRP (p < 0.00001), fibrinogen (p = 0.001), and ESR (p < 0.00001); and negatively correlated with hemoglobin (p = 0.008) and lymphocytes (p = 0.03). Elevated serum IL-10 levels were associated with an increased risk of anti-SS-A/Ro antibody positivity (p = 0.03). Elevated serum IL-6 levels were associated with an increased risk of heart (p = 0.007) and lung (p = 0.04) involvement. Conclusions: In SLE patients, increased serum IL-10 levels were associated with increased disease activity and risk of anti–SS-A/Ro antibody positivity.
Potent GST Ketosteroid Isomerase Activity Relevant to Ecdysteroidogenesis in the Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Musdal Yaman , Ismail Aram , Sjödin Birgitta , Mannervik Bengt
Published: June 2023

Nobo is a glutathione transferase (GST) crucially contributing to ecdysteroid biosynthesis in insects of the orders Diptera and Lepidoptera. Ecdysone is a vital steroid hormone in insects, which governs larval molting and metamorphosis, and the suppression of its synthesis has potential as a novel approach to insect growth regulation and combatting vectors of disease. In general, GSTs catalyze detoxication, whereas the specific function of Nobo in ecdysteroidogenesis is unknown. We report that Nobo from the malaria-spreading mosquito Anopheles gambiae is a highly efficient ketosteroid isomerase catalyzing double-bond isomerization in the steroids 5-androsten-3,17-dione and 5-pregnen-3,20-dione. These mammalian ketosteroids are unknown in mosquitoes, but the discovered prominent catalytic activity of these compounds suggests that the unknown Nobo substrate in insects has a ketosteroid functionality. Aminoacid residue Asp111 in Nobo is essential for activity with the steroids, but not for conventional GST substrates. Further characterization of Nobo may guide the development of new insecticides to prevent malaria.
Identification of Glucocorticoid Receptor Target Genes That Potentially Inhibit Collagen Synthesis in Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Authors: Choi Dabin , Kang Wesuk , Park Soyoon , Son Bomin , Park Taesun
Published: June 2023

Over several decades, excess glucocorticoids (GCs) of endogenous or exogenous origin have been recognized to significantly inhibit collagen synthesis and accelerate skin aging. However, little is known regarding their molecular mechanisms. We hypothesized that the action of GCs on collagen production is at least partially through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its target genes, and therefore aimed to identify GR target genes that potentially inhibit collagen synthesis in Hs68 human dermal fibroblasts. We first confirmed that dexamethasone, a synthetic GC, induced canonical GR signaling in dermal fibroblasts. We then collected 108 candidates for GR target genes reported in previous studies on GR target genes and verified that 17 genes were transcriptionally upregulated in dexamethasone-treated dermal fibroblasts. Subsequently, by individual knockdown of the 17 genes, we identified that six genes, AT-rich interaction domain 5B, FK506 binding protein 5, lysyl oxidase, methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP + dependent) 2, zinc finger protein 36, and zinc fingers and homeoboxes 3, are potentially involved in GC-mediated inhibition of collagen synthesis. The present study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of GC-mediated skin aging and provides a basis for further research on the biological characteristics of individual GR target genes.
Real-Time Search-Assisted Multiplexed Quantitative Proteomics Reveals System-Wide Translational Regulation of Non-Canonical Short Open Reading Frames
Authors: Kozuka-Hata Hiroko , Hiroki Tomoko , Miyamura Naoaki , Kitamura Aya , Tsumoto Kouhei , Inoue Jun-ichiro , Oyama Masaaki
Published: June 2023

Abnormal expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is reported to be associated with angiogenesis, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance regarding cancer in a wide range of previous studies. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is well known to function as a pan-inhibitor for HDACs and recognized as one of the therapeutic drug candidates to epigenetically coordinate cancer cell fate regulation on a genomic scale. Here, we established a Real-Time Search (RTS)-assisted mass spectrometric platform for system-wide quantification of translated products encoded by non-canonical short open reading frames (ORFs) as well as already annotated protein coding sequences (CDSs) on the human transciptome and applied this methodology to quantitative proteomic analyses of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)-treated human HeLa cells to evaluate proteome-wide regulation in response to drug perturbation. Very intriguingly, our RTS-based in-depth proteomic analysis enabled us to identify approximately 5000 novel peptides from the ribosome profiling-based short ORFs encoded in the diversified regions on presumed ‘non-coding’ nucleotide sequences of mRNAs as well as lncRNAs and nonsense mediated decay (NMD) transcripts. Furthermore, TMT-based multiplex large-scale quantification of the whole proteome changes upon differential SAHA treatment unveiled dose-dependent selective translational regulation of a limited fraction of the non-canonical short ORFs in addition to key cell cycle/proliferation-related molecules such as UBE2C, CENPF and PRC1. Our study provided the first system-wide landscape of drug-perturbed translational modulation on both canonical and non-canonical proteome dynamics in human cancer cells.
Hand Grasp Pose Prediction Based on Motion Prior Field
Authors: Shi Xu , Guo Weichao , Xu Wei , Sheng Xinjun
Published: June 2023

Shared control of bionic robot hands has recently attracted much research attention. However, few studies have performed predictive analysis for grasp pose, which is vital for the pre-shape planning of robotic wrists and hands. Aiming at shared control of dexterous hand grasp planning, this paper proposes a framework for grasp pose prediction based on the motion prior field. To map the hand–object pose to the final grasp pose, an object-centered motion prior field is established to learn the prediction model. The results of motion capture reconstruction show that, with the input of a 7-dimensional pose and cluster manifolds of dimension 100, the model performs best in terms of prediction accuracy (90.2%) and error distance (1.27 cm) in the sequence. The model makes correct predictions in the first 50% of the sequence during hand approach to the object. The outcomes of this study enable prediction of the grasp pose in advance as the hand approaches the object, which is very important for enabling the shared control of bionic and prosthetic hands.
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Stefano George B.
Published: June 2023

While humans have much in common biologically with other mammalian species, they are largely distinguished by their innate intelligence, specifically, their ability to generate complex and sophisticated tools [...]
Hydrogen-Rich Saline—A Novel Neuroprotective Agent in a Mouse Model of Experimental Cerebral Ischemia via the ROS-NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Du Yuanyuan , Chen Linyu , Qiao Huimin , Zhang Lan , Yang Lan , Zhang Peipei , Wang Jing , Zhang Cong , Jiang Wei , Xu Renhao , Zhang Xiangjian
Published: June 2023

Background: Our previous research revealed that inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. The function of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is to activate the inflammatory process. Recent findings suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential secondary messengers that activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Hydrogen-rich saline (HS) has attracted attention for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the protective effect and possible mechanism of HSin brain ischemia have not been well elucidated. Methods: To test the therapeutic effect of HS, we established a mouse model of distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) and an in vitro model of BV2 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of HS. Results: HS significantly improved neurological function, reduced infarct volume, and increased cerebral blood flow in a dMCAO mouse model. ROS, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-1β expression increased after cerebral ischemia, and this was reversed by HS treatment. In BV2 cells, the application of NAC further demonstrated that HS could effectively inhibit the expression of the ROS-activated NLRP3 inflammasome. Conclusions: HS, as a novel therapeutic option, could exert protect the brain by inhibiting the activation of the ROS-NLRP3 signaling pathway after cerebral ischemia.
Kinins’ Contribution to Postoperative Pain in an Experimental Animal Model and Its Implications
Authors: Brusco Indiara , Silva Cássia Regina , Ferreira Juliano , Oliveira Sara Marchesan
Published: June 2023

Postoperative pain causes discomfort and disability, besides high medical costs. The search for better treatments for this pain is essential to improve recovery and reduce morbidity and risk of chronic postoperative pain. Kinins and their receptors contribute to different painful conditions and are among the main painful inflammatory mediators. We investigated the kinin’s role in a postoperative pain model in mice and reviewed data associating kinins with this painful condition. The postoperative pain model was induced by an incision in the mice’s paw’s skin and fascia with the underlying muscle’s elevation. Kinin levels were evaluated by enzyme immunoassays in sham or operated animals. Kinin’s role in surgical procedure-associated mechanical allodynia was investigated using systemic or local administration of antagonists of the kinin B1 receptor (DALBk or SSR240612) or B2 receptor (Icatibant or FR173657) and a kallikrein inhibitor (aprotinin). Kinin levels increased in mice’s serum and plantar tissue after the surgical procedure. All kinin B1 or B2 receptor antagonists and aprotinin reduced incision-induced mechanical allodynia. Although controversial, kinins contribute mainly to the initial phase of postoperative pain. The kallikrein–kinin system can be targeted to relieve this pain, but more investigations are necessary, especially associations with other pharmacologic targets.
Identification and Trend Analysis of Multistorey Timber Buildings in the SUDOE Region
Authors: Basterra Luis-Alfonso , Baño Vanesa , López Gamaliel , Cabrera Gonzalo , Vallelado-Cordobés Patricia
Published: June 2023

The construction sector has one of the most polluting economic activities. In this context, several policies are being launched by the European Union to promote the transition to a sustainable economy, and timber construction is a safe way to contribute to it. Due to the recent development of multistorey timber buildings, the architectural and structural typologies have not been widely studied yet and with not many studies from Southern Europe. In this context, the main objective of this research is to identify and analyse the trends in the use of wood as a structural material in multistorey timber buildings (≥4 floors) in the SUDOE region, i.e., Spain, Portugal, and Southwest France. The methodology involved identifying 28 timber buildings in the SUDOE region and 101 worldwide, most of them in Europe, and sending online information request forms to different actors involved in their design and construction, collecting plans and BIM models, and performing technical study visits to the identified reference buildings. The collected information was included in open-access technical datasheets, and different indicators in terms of building uses, structural system, wood species, and wood volume, among others, were defined. The results showed that there is a tendency to construct taller timber buildings in the SUDOE region with a predominant use of local softwood species, with ratios of wood volume per built area varying between 0.3 and 0.4 m3/m2. The mass timber typology using cross-laminated timber (CLT) is mainly used for residential buildings, while post and beam are used for educational and offices buildings. In addition, a potential embodied CO2 equivalent depending on the building typology and use was also analysed.
Can the Hemp Industry Improve the Sustainability Performance of the Australian Construction Sector?
Authors: Rivas-Aybar Daniela , John Michele , Biswas Wahidul
Published: June 2023

Sustainable construction should navigate the trade-offs between minimising pressure on scarce resources and the environment and maximising economic viability and human wellbeing through the whole building lifetime. In the pursuit of improving the environmental performance of the construction sector, there is growing interest in substituting conventional materials with bio-based materials. In the last decade, the use of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as an aggregate for bio-based materials has attracted significant attention because of its ability to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) during plant development, its fast-growing nature, the reduced level of agricultural input requirements and its good technical properties, which could potentially result in better sustainability performance across their life cycle. This review discusses the outcomes published in the scientific literature that have dealt with the use of hemp-based construction materials in the global and Australian construction sectors, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of their sustainability aspects (i.e., environmental, economic and social) throughout their lifetime. Relevant studies were identified from a structured keyword search in the Scopus database. The results found that research on hemp-based materials has mainly focused on assessing the environmental dimension, with an emphasis on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and little consideration for economic and social aspects. The existing literature showed a strong geographical bias towards Europe; thus, the outcomes of the life cycle studies conducted may not be representative of Australia. In that line, the development of a region specific of the life cycle sustainability approach is recommended to evaluate whether hemp-based construction materials can assist in achieving GHG targets in a sustainable manner in Australia.
Prognostic and Clinicopathological Significance of the Loss of Expression of Retinoblastoma Protein (pRb) in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: López-Ansio María , Ramos-García Pablo , González-Moles Miguel
Published: June 2023

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the scientific evidence on the implications of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) alterations in oral cancer, in order to determine its prognostic and clinicopathological significance. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published before February 2022, with no restrictions by publication date or language. The quality of the studies using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool (QUIPS tool). Meta-analysis was conducted to achieve the proposed objectives, as well as heterogeneity, subgroup, meta-regression, and small study-effects analyses. Twenty studies that met the inclusion criteria (2451 patients) were systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed. Our results were significant for the association between the loss of pRb expression and a better overall survival (HR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.64–0.98, p = 0.03), whereas no significant results were found for disease-free survival or clinico-pathological parameters (T/N status, clinical stage, histological grade). In conclusion, our evidence-based results demonstrate that loss of pRb function is a factor associated with improved survival in patients with OSCC. Research lines that should be developed in the future are highlighted.
The SAlzburg PEritoneal SUrface CAlculator (SAPESUCA): The First Web-Based Application for Peritoneal Surface Area Quantification
Authors: Jäger Tarkan , Schredl Philipp , Neureiter Daniel , Presl Jaroslav , Tschann Peter , Königsrainer Ingmar , Pascher Andreas , Emmanuel Klaus , Regenbogen Stephan , Ramspott Jan Philipp
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: Peritoneal metastasized colorectal cancer is associated with a worse prognosis. The combination of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) showed promising results in selected patients, but standardization is lacking so far. We present the first tool enabling standardized peritoneal surface area (PSA) quantification in patients undergoing CRS and HIPEC: The SAlzburg PEritoneal SUrface CAlculator (SAPESUCA). (2) Methods: SAPESUCA was programmed using the R-Shiny framework. The application was validated in 23 consecutive colon cancer patients who received 27 closed oxaliplatin-based HIPECs between 2016 and 2020. The programming algorithm incorporates the patient’s body surface area and its correlated peritoneal surface area (PSA) based on the 13 Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) regions. (3) Results: Patients’ median age was 56 years. Median PCI was 9. SAPESUCA revealed a mean PSA of 18,613 cm2 ± 1951 of all patients before compared to 13,681 cm2 ± 2866 after CRS. The Central PCI region revealed the highest mean peritonectomy extent (1517 cm2 ± 737). The peritonectomy extent correlated significantly with PCI score and postoperative morbidity. The simulated mean oxaliplatin dose differed significantly before and after CRS (558 mg/m2 ± 58.4 vs. 409 mg/m2 ± 86.1; p < 0.0001). (4) Conclusion: SAPESUCA is the first free web-based app for standardized determination of the resected and remaining PSA after CRS. The tool enables chemotherapeutic dose adjustment to the remaining PSA.