bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Choice of Antimicrobials in Surgical Prophylaxis - Overuse and Surgical Site Infection Outcomes from a Tertiary-Level Care Hospital
Authors: Vippadapu Prasanna , Gillani Syed Wasif , Thomas Dixon , Ahmed Fiaz , Gulam Shabaz Mohiuddin , Mahmood Rana Kamran , Menon Vineetha , Abdi Semira , Rathore Hassaan Anwer
Published: April 2022

Background: This study was aimed to describe the choice of Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis at a tertiary-level care hospital in United Arab Emirates. It also associated the choice between two leading antimicrobials for the SAP to the site of surgery.

Methods: A descriptive drug use evaluation was performed retrospectively to study choices of antimicrobials in surgical antibiotic prophylaxis. An analytical cross-sectional study design was used to develop a hypothesis regarding the choice of ceftriaxone. Data were collected from the medical records of Hospital from July 2020 to December 2020. Results were presented in numbers and percentages.

Results: SAP data were collected from 199 patients, of which 159 were clean or clean-contaminated. Dirty surgeries (18) needed a higher level of antimicrobials as there were infections to be treated. For other surgeries with no infection, overuse of antimicrobials was found regarding the choice of antimicrobials. Surgical antibiotic Prophylaxis was administered within the recommended time prior to surgeries. Ceftriaxone was preferred over cefuroxime in all types of surgeries based on the timing of Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis, wound classification, and the surgical site. A statistically significant association for choice of ceftriaxone over cefuroxime was found regarding surgical sites (p-value <0.05). About 99% of the patients were prescribed discharge antimicrobials when 158 (80%) surgeries were clean or clean-contaminated.

Conclusion: Overuse of antimicrobials was found in surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. Ceftriaxone was preferred more than cefuroxime in all types of surgeries. No surgical site infections were reported. A follow-up comparative study is recommended to decrease antimicrobial use without increasing risk of surgical site infection.
Time-Domain Analysis of Chalcogenide Threshold Switching: From ns to ps Scale
Authors: Brunetti R. , Jacoboni C. , Piccinini E. , Rudan M.
Published: April 2022

A space- and time-dependent theoretical model based on a trap-assisted, charge-transport framework for the amorphous phase of a chalcogenide material is used here to interpret available experimental results for the electric current of nanoscale devices in the ns–ps time domain. A numerical solution of the constitutive equations of the model for a time-dependent bias has been carried out for GST-225 devices. The “intrinsic” rise time of the device current after the application of a suitable external bias is controlled by the microscopic relaxation of the mobile-carrier population to the steady-state value. Furthermore, the analysis is extended to include the effect of the external circuit on the electrical switching. A quantitative estimate of the current delay time due to unavoidable parasitic effects is made for the optimised electrical set up configurations recently used by experimental groups.
Roles of Krüppel Homolog 1 and Broad-Complex in the Development of Dendroctonus armandi (Coleoptera: Scolytinae)
Authors: Sun Ya-Ya , Fu Dan-Yang , Liu Bin , Wang Lin-Jun , Chen Hui
Published: April 2022

In insects, metamorphosis is controlled by juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1), a key JH-early inducible gene, is responsible for the suppression of metamorphosis and the regulation of the Broad-Complex (Br-C) gene, which is induced by 20E and functions as a “pupal specifier”. In this study, we identified and characterized the expression patterns and tissue distribution of DaKr-h1 and DaBr-C at various developmental stages of Dendroctonus armandi. The expression of the two genes was induced by JH analog (JHA) methoprene and 20E, and their functions were investigated by RNA interference. DaKr-h1 and DaBr-C were predominantly expressed in the heads of larvae and were significantly downregulated during the molting stage. In contrast, the DaKr-h1 transcript level was highest in the adult anterior midgut. DaBr-C was mainly expressed in female adults, with the highest transcript levels in the ovaries. In the larval and pupal stages, both JHA and 20E significantly induced DaKr-h1, but only 20E significantly induced DaBr-C, indicating the importance of hormones in metamorphosis. DaKr-h1 knockdown in larvae upregulated DaBr-C expression, resulting in precocious metamorphosis from larvae to pupae and the formation of miniature pupae. DaKr-h1 knockdown in pupae suppressed DaBr-C expression, increased emergence, caused abnormal morphology, and caused the formation of small-winged adults. These results suggest that DaKr-h1 is required for the metamorphosis of D. armandi. Our findings provide insight into the roles of DaKr-h1 and DaBr-C in JH-induced transcriptional repression and highlight DaKr-h1 as a potential target for metamorphosis suppression in D. armandi.
Foliar Application of an Inositol-Based Plant Biostimulant Boosts Zinc Accumulation in Wheat Grains: A μ-X-Ray Fluorescence Case Study
Authors: Amaral Douglas C. , Brown Patrick H.
Published: April 2022

There has been much interest in the incorporation of organic molecules or biostimulants into foliar fertilizers with the rationalization that these compounds will enhance the uptake, or subsequent mobility of the applied nutrient. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of an inositol-based plant stimulant on the mobility and accumulation of foliar-applied zinc (Zn) in wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.). High-resolution elemental imaging with micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) was utilized to examine Zn distribution within the vascular bundle of the leaf and whole grains. The inclusion of myo-inositol with Zinc sulfate, significantly increased Zn concentration in shoots in contrast to untreated controls and Zn sulfate applied alone. Foliar Zn treated plants increased Zn in grains by 5–25% with myo-inositol plus Zn treated plants significantly increasing grain Zn concentration compared to both Zn treated and non-treated controls. XRF imaging revealed Zn enrichment in the bran layer and germ, with a very low Zn concentration present in the endosperm. Plants treated with Zn plus myo-inositol showed an enhanced and uniform distribution of Zn throughout the bran layer and germ with an increased concentration in the endosperm. While our data suggest that foliar application of myo-inositol in combination with Zn may be a promising strategy to increase the absorption and mobility of Zn in the plant tissue and subsequently to enhance Zn accumulation in grains, further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which myo-inositol affects plant metabolism and nutrient mobility.
The Experience of Succeeding and Failing at Self-Control: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Andrade Fernanda C. , Hoyle Rick H.
Published: April 2022

Despite the importance of emotions for learning and performance of future behaviors, few studies have attempted to qualitatively describe emotions that arise in response to self-control successes and failures. This study is the first qualitative analysis to examine the complexity of goals that give rise to self-control challenges of two types—initiation and inhibition—and the emotions that follow success and failure experiences. Thematic analysis revealed a sometimes blurred line between inhibition and initiation, and a variety of goals that challenge views that successful self-control is good and unsuccessful self-control is bad. Descriptions of self-control challenges and resulting experiences further uncovered distinctions and apparent emotional profiles characteristic of self-control dilemmas involving inhibition or initiation, suggesting that these two forms of self-control are not only theoretically but also experientially distinct.
Poorer Well-Being in Children With Misophonia: Evidence From the Sussex Misophonia Scale for Adolescents
Authors: Rinaldi Louisa J. , Smees Rebecca , Ward Jamie , Simner Julia
Published: April 2022

Objective

Misophonia is an unusually strong aversion to a specific class of sounds – most often human bodily sounds such as chewing, crunching, or breathing. A number of studies have emerged in the last 10 years examining misophonia in adults, but little is known about the impact of the condition in children. Here we set out to investigate the well-being profile of children with misophonia, while also presenting the first validated misophonia questionnaire for children.

Materials and Methods

We screened 142 children (10–14 years; Mean 11.72 SD 1.12; 65 female, 77 male) using our novel diagnostic [the Sussex Misophonia Scale for Adolescents (SMS-Adolescent)]. This allowed us to identify a group of children already manifesting misophonia at that age – the first population-sampled cohort of child misophonics examined to date. Children and their parents also completed measures of well-being (for convergent validation of our SMS-Adolescent) and creative self-construct (for discriminant validation).

Results

Data show that children with misophonia have significantly elevated levels of anxiety and obsessive compulsive traits. Additionally children with misophonia have significantly poorer life-satisfaction, and health-related quality of life. As predicted, they show no differences in creative self-construct.

Conclusion

Together our data suggest the first evidence in population sampling of poorer life outcomes for children with misophonia, and provide preliminary convergent and discriminant validation for our novel misophonia instrument. Our data suggest a need for greater recognition and therapeutic outlets for adolescents with misophonia.
When One Health Meets the United Nations Ocean Decade: Global Agendas as a Pathway to Promote Collaborative Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Nature Relationships
Authors: Masterson-Algar Patricia , Jenkins Stuart R. , Windle Gill , Morris-Webb Elisabeth , Takahashi Camila K. , Burke Trys , Rosa Isabel , Martinez Aline S. , Torres-Mattos Emanuela B. , Taddei Renzo , Morrison Val , Kasten Paula , Bryning Lucy , Cruz de Oliveira Nara R. , Gonçalves Leandra R. , Skov Martin W. , Beynon-Davies Ceri , Bumbeer Janaina , Saldiva Paulo H. N. , Leão Eliseth , Christofoletti Ronaldo A.
Published: April 2022

Strong evidence shows that exposure and engagement with the natural world not only improve human wellbeing but can also help promote environmentally friendly behaviors. Human-nature relationships are at the heart of global agendas promoted by international organizations including the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “One Health” and the United Nations (UN) “Ocean Decade.” These agendas demand collaborative multisector interdisciplinary efforts at local, national, and global levels. However, while global agendas highlight global goals for a sustainable world, developing science that directly addresses these agendas from design through to delivery and outputs does not come without its challenges. In this article, we present the outcomes of international meetings between researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from the United Kingdom and Brazil. We propose a model for interdisciplinary work under such global agendas, particularly the interface between One Health and the UN Ocean Decade and identify three priority research areas closely linked to each other: human-nature connection, conservation-human behavior, and implementation strategies (bringing stakeholders together). We also discuss a number of recommendations for moving forward.
Relationship Between Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 and Loneliness in Patients With Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study From Iran
Authors: Mohammadian Fatemeh , Rezaee Mahya , Kalantar Arash , Mohebbi Niayesh , Motamed Mahtab
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people all around the world, the elderly is at a higher risk of suffering from its consequences. One of the serious concerns is developing loneliness and post-traumatic stress symptoms, which may contribute to cognitive decline at older ages. This study aimed to examine the psychological responses and loneliness in elderly patients diagnosed with dementia.

Methods

Twenty-one patients diagnosed with dementia, with ages older than 40, and 19 caregivers were enrolled in the study. The patients have undergone a comprehensive neuropsychiatric interview and were assessed with De Jong Gierveld Scale for loneliness and Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R). The severity of dementia was assessed by Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST Scale) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Results

No significant difference was seen in patients and caregivers in the IES-R and loneliness scales. A higher level of avoidance and social and total loneliness were seen in higher FAST levels (p-value: 0.046). There was a negatively significant correlation between MoCA score and avoidance. Hyperarousal was significantly correlated with emotional loneliness in patients.

Conclusion

We found a direct relationship between cognitive decline and the psychological impacts of COVID-19. Our results highlight the need for more comprehensive studies to further investigate the influence of the pandemic on the worsening of cognitive impairment and loneliness in patients with dementia.
Analysis of Seasonal Clinical Characteristics in Patients With Bipolar or Unipolar Depression
Authors: Kong Shuqi , Niu Zhiang , Lyu Dongbin , Cui Lvchun , Wu Xiaohui , Yang Lu , Qiu Hong , Gu Wenjie , Fang Yiru
Published: April 2022

This study was to investigate the characteristics of seasonal symptoms and non-enzymatic oxidative stress in the first hospitalized patients with bipolar and unipolar depression, aiming to differentiate bipolar depression from unipolar depression and reduce their misdiagnosis. A total of 450 patients with bipolar depression and 855 patients with depression were included in the present study. According to the season when the patients were admitted to the hospital due to the acute onset of depression, they were further divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter groups. According to the characteristics of symptoms of bipolar disorder in the DSM-5, the characteristic symptoms of bipolar disorder were collected from the medical record information, and clinical biochemical indicators that can reflect the oxidative stress were also recorded. The seasonal risk factors in patients with bipolar or unipolar depression were analyzed. The relationship of age and gender with the bipolar or unipolar depression which attacked in winter was explored. There were significant differences between groups in the melancholic features, atypical features and conjugated bilirubin in spring. In summer, there were significant differences between groups in the melancholic features, uric acid and conjugated bilirubin. In autumn, there were marked differences between groups in melancholic features, anxiety and pain, atypical features, uric acid, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and albumin. In winter, the conjugated bilirubin and prealbumin were significantly different between two groups. The melancholic features and uric acid that in summer as well as melancholic features, uric acid and total bilirubin in autumn were the seasonal independent risk factors for the unipolar depression as compared to bipolar depression. In winter, significant difference was noted in the age between two groups. In conclusion, compared with patients with unipolar depression, patients with bipolar depression have seasonal characteristics. Clinical symptoms and indicators of oxidative stress may become factors for the differentiation of seasonal unipolar depression from bipolar depression. Young subjects aged 15–35 years are more likely to develop bipolar depression in winter.
Mental Health Changes in Older Adults in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in Mexico
Authors: Betancourt-Ocampo Diana , Toledo-Fernández Aldebarán , González-González Alejandro
Published: April 2022

This study examined changes in some aspects of mental health, as well as worries and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of older adults, during three different moments of the first year of the pandemic in Mexico. The sample consisted of 2,307 older adults (38% men and 62% women). The results indicated that older adults presented less concern about the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as less adherence to preventing procedures in the first wave, compared to subsequent evaluations. In addition, greater depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress were found in older adults in the last wave; however, the proportion of older adults identified with high scores in these variables was lower than that reported in national data.
How Two-Child Policy Affects China's Energy Consumption: The Mediating Role of Lifestyle
Authors: Chen Fengzhang , Wang Wei , Wang Yanfei , Wu Yongqiu
Published: April 2022

Background

Existing literature believed that the birth control policy affects energy consumption through the change in population size, but ignored the changes in people's lifestyle. This may mislead the government's policy-making about population and energy consumption.

Method

This article proposed a Population-Lifestyle-Energy (PLE) model to provide new insights into how birth control policy affects energy consumption if the changes in people's lifestyle are considered. The ProFamy software is used to forecast the changes in demographic characteristics. The methods of regression analysis and Input-Output Analysis are used to predict the impacts of lifestyle changes on energy consumption.

Results

We find that China's two-child policy will result in the total energy consumption increase by 16.2% in 2050, far outpacing the population increase of 9.3% when considering the indirect effect of lifestyle changes. This is significantly different from the optimistic wisdom in the existing literature. We also find the non-linear relationships between fertility rate and energy consumption.

Conclusion

Ignoring lifestyle changes will lead to an underestimation of energy consumption. Contrary to conventional optimistic wisdom, we believe that the two-child policy will make it difficult for China to meet promised energy conservation goals.
Added Sugar and Oral Health: A Position Paper of the Brazilian Academy of Dentistry
Authors: Feldens Carlos Alberto , Pinheiro Liana L. , Cury Jaime A. , Mendonça Flávia , Groisman Mario , Costa Rafael A. H. , Pereira Henrique C. , Vieira Alexandre R.
Published: April 2022

Excessive sugar consumption is the main cause of dental caries. Dental caries is highly prevalent and negatively impacts the quality of life at all stages. Furthermore, sugar consumption is associated with other noncommunicable conditions and diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this paper is to propose recommendations at the individual and population levels for health professionals, families, educators, stakeholders, and public officials to reduce the burden of dental caries and other noncommunicable diseases that are caused by the excessive sugar intake. A systematic search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane databases to investigate the effectiveness of strategies and policies aiming to reduce sugar consumption as well as the impact of different patterns of sugar consumption on the occurrence of dental caries. Reference list of the identified papers and practice guidelines were manually reviewed as well. Based on the best evidence available, the Brazilian Academy of Dentistry recommends not to offer sugars to children younger than 2 years of age, and to limit total sugar consumption to <25 g per day after 2 years of age. Furthermore, families should be informed to limit sugar exposure, sugar-free areas should be available, content of food labels and advertisement should be regulated, taxation of products with sugar should be introduced, and reformulation of foods and drinks to reduce concentrations of sugars should be considered.
Transparency of COVID-19-Related Research in Dental Journals
Authors: Sofi-Mahmudi Ahmad , Raittio Eero
Published: April 2022

Objective

We aimed to assess the adherence to transparency practices (data availability, code availability, statements of protocol registration and conflicts of interest and funding disclosures) and FAIRness (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) of shared data from open access COVID-19-related articles published in dental journals available from the Europe PubMed Central (PMC) database.

Methods

We searched and exported all COVID-19-related open-access articles from PubMed-indexed dental journals available in the Europe PMC database in 2020 and 2021. We detected transparency indicators with a validated and automated tool developed to extract the indicators from the downloaded articles. Basic journal- and article-related information was retrieved from the PMC database. Then, from those which had shared data, we assessed their accordance with FAIR data principles using the F-UJI online tool (f-uji.net).

Results

Of 650 available articles published in 59 dental journals, 74% provided conflicts of interest disclosure and 40% funding disclosure and 4% were preregistered. One study shared raw data (0.15%) and no study shared code. Transparent practices were more common in articles published in journals with higher impact factors, and in 2020 than in 2021. Adherence to the FAIR principles in the only paper that shared data was moderate.

Conclusion

While the majority of the papers had a COI disclosure, the prevalence of the other transparency practices was far from the acceptable level. A much stronger commitment to open science practices, particularly to preregistration, data and code sharing, is needed from all stakeholders.
Aquaponics: A Promising Tool for Environmentally Friendly Farming
Authors: Calone Roberta , Orsini Francesco
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, agriculture must face a new challenge: produce more food with fewer natural resources. To achieve this goal, scientists are testing a technique called aquaponics. Aquaponics was introduced many years ago by ancient Chinese and Mexican populations. In aquaponics, fish and plants are farmed together. How is this possible? Bacteria change the fish poop into nutrients useful for the plants. The plants take up these nutrients and clean the water, which can then be reused to farm the fish, and the cycle restarts! Aquaponics allows farmers to obtain two products at once, and to recycle the same water many times. Almost no wastewater is released into the environment! Aquaponics systems can have different sizes and do not need soil. They can be installed in both outdoor and indoor environments. Big aquaponic systems are used for commercial purposes, while small aquaponic systems can be used for urban farming—growing food within cities.
Diagnostic Ideas and Management Strategies for Thrombocytopenia of Unknown Causes in Pregnancy
Authors: Li Jie , Gao Yue-Hua , Su Jing , Zhang Lu , Sun Yan , Li Zeng-Yan
Published: April 2022

Objective

To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment options together with the maternal and neonatal prognoses in women with different degrees of thrombocytopenia of unknown causes during pregnancy.

Materials and Methods

One hundred twenty-nine cases meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into group A (50*109/L) and group B (50*109/L to 100*109/L) according to the lowest level of platelet count during pregnancy. Patients were divided into those found to have thrombocytopenia in the relatively early, middle, and late stages according to the detection period of maternal thrombocytopenia during pregnancy.

Results

There were 72 cases in group A, and 57 cases in group B. There existed statistically significant differences in terms of the proportion of primipara, the proportion with a history of thrombocytopenia, and the median length of pregnancy between the two groups (p < 0.05). The proportion of patients with severe thrombocytopenia as an indication for cesarean delivery was higher in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). More cases were detected at the relatively early stages of pregnancy in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). There was no difference in neonatal hemorrhage and events of thrombocytopenia between the two groups.

Conclusion

Patients with platelet counts below 50*109/L were mostly primipara with a history of thrombocytopenia, most often detected at a relatively early stage of pregnancy, and continued pregnancy might lead to aggravation of the disease. Combination therapy was required for patients with platelet counts below 30*109/L to maintain the platelet counts within a safe range. Cesarean delivery was selected to terminate the pregnancies, and platelet counts should be raised above 50*109/L before surgery. Close monitoring was required for those with platelet counts above 30*109/L. There was no direct correlation between the maternal and neonatal platelet counts.
Recurrence and Prognostic Value of Circulating Tumor Cells in Resectable Pancreatic Head Cancer: A Single Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhang Qiao , Xia Feng , Sun Qiang , Cao Wenjing , Mo Ali , He Weiming , Chen Jiazhen , Zhang Weiqiao , Chen Weiqiang
Published: April 2022

Background and Aim

To investigate the effect of preoperative circulation tumor cells (CTCs) on postoperative recurrence and overall survival prognosis of pancreatic head cancer after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

From March 2014 to January 2018, 73 patients with pancreatic head cancer underwent radical resection (R0) in Zhongshan People's Hospital. CTCs in peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic head cancer were detected by “Cyttel” method before PD. Seventy-three patients were divided into positive and negative groups according to the positive criteria. To explore the relationship between the clinical data of CTCs and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyzing the risk factors affecting the postoperative recurrence and the survival prognosis of patients.

Results

41 patients (56.2%) were in the CTC-positive group. Preoperative CTCs were correlated with tumor vascular invasion, CA199 level and postoperative liver metastasis (P < 0.05). Preoperative CTC-positive, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and nerve invasion were independent risk factors for DFS (P < 0.05). Preoperative CTC-positive, tumor diameter > 2 cm and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for OS of patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The detection of CTCs before PD is an important factor affecting the DFS and OS of pancreatic head cancer, which is significant in guiding clinical work.
Comparison of miRNA and mRNA Expression in Sika Deer Testes With Age
Authors: Jia Boyin , Zhang Linlin , Ma Fuquan , Wang Xue , Li Jianming , Diao Naichao , Leng Xue , Shi Kun , Zeng Fanli , Zong Ying , Liu Fei , Gong Qinglong , Cai Ruopeng , Yang Fuhe , Du Rui , Chang Zhiguang
Published: April 2022

To elucidate the complex physiological process of testis development and spermatogenesis in Sika deer, this study evaluated the changes of miRNA and mRNA profiles in the four developmental stages of testis in the juvenile (1-year-old), adolescence (3-year-old), adult (5-year-old), and aged (10-year-old) stages. The results showed that a total of 198 mature, 66 novel miRNAs, and 23,558 differentially expressed (DE) unigenes were obtained; 14,918 (8,413 up and 6,505 down), 4,988 (2,453 up and 2,535 down), and 5,681 (2,929 up and 2,752 down) DE unigenes, as well as 88 (43 up and 45 down), 102 (44 up and 58 down), and 54 (18 up and 36 down) DE miRNAs were identified in 3- vs. 1-, 5- vs. 3-, and 10- vs. 5-year-old testes, respectively. By integrating miRNA and mRNA expression profiles, we predicted 10,790 mRNA–mRNA and 69,883 miRNA–mRNA interaction sites. The target genes were enriched by GO and KEGG pathways to obtain DE mRNA (IGF1R, ALKBH5, Piwil, HIF1A, BRDT, etc.) and DE miRNA (miR-140, miR-145, miR-7, miR-26a, etc.), which play an important role in testis development and spermatogenesis. The data show that DE miRNAs could regulate testis developmental and spermatogenesis through signaling pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, etc. miR-140 was confirmed to directly target mutant IGF1R-3′UTR by the Luciferase reporter assays. This study provides a useful resource for future studies on the role of miRNA regulation in testis development and spermatogenesis.
Does Straw Returning Amended with Straw Decomposing Microorganism Inoculants Increase the Soil Major Nutrients in China’s Farmlands?
Authors: He Zhifeng , Yang Xinrun , Xiang Jing , Wu Zelu , Shi Xinyi , Gui Ying , Liu Manqiang , Kalkhajeh Yusef Kianpoor , Gao Hongjian , Ma Chao
Published: April 2022

Although straw-decomposing microbial inoculants (SDMI) are capable to generally promote the fertility of straw-amended soils, their impact on the release of individual soil major nutrients remains controversial. Additionally, the combined effects of SDMI and environment/management on various forms of nutrients remain poorly documented. To fill these research gaps, we conducted a meta-analysis study using 1214 paired observations from 132 field trials in China. Our results showed that SDMI significantly increases the total and available concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in soil (p < 0.05), although increases in nutrients varied with different conditions. Moreover, mean annual precipitation (MAP) had significant correlations with the effects of SDMI-amended straw on soil total nitrogen (p = 0.008) and available nitrogen (p = 0.0006). The effect of SDMI-amended straw on soil total phosphorus and soil available potassium was mainly correlated with soil organic matter (p = 0.032) and MAP (p = 0.049), respectively. Our findings indicate that SDMI-amended straw can have a measurable impact on the status of soil major nutrients. In particular, the application of SDMI-amended rice straw with an initial C/N ratio of ≤15 to neutral soils in temperate and subtropical monsoon climates is a promising strategy.
Biomarkers and De Novo Protein Design Can Improve Precise Amino Acid Nutrition in Broilers
Authors: Cambra-López María , Marín-García Pablo Jesús , Lledó Clara , Cerisuelo Alba , Pascual Juan José
Published: April 2022

Precision nutrition in broilers requires tools capable of identifying amino acid imbalances individually or in groups, as well as knowledge on how more digestible proteins can be designed for innovative feeding programs adjusted to animals’ dynamic requirements. This work proposes two potential tools, combining traditional nutrition with biotechnological, metabolomic, computational and protein engineering knowledge, which can contribute to improving the precise amino acid nutrition of broilers in the future: (i) the use of serum uric nitrogen content as a rapid biomarker of amino acid imbalances, and (ii) the design and modeling of de novo proteins that are fully digestible and fit exactly to the animal’s requirements. Each application is illustrated with a case study. Case study 1 demonstrates that serum uric nitrogen can be a useful rapid indicator of individual or group amino acid deficiencies or imbalances when reducing dietary protein and adjusting the valine and arginine to lysine ratios in broilers. Case study 2 describes a stepwise approach to design an ideal protein, resulting in a potential amino acid sequence and structure prototype that is ideally adjusted to the requirements of the targeted animal, and is theoretically completely digestible. Both tools can open up new opportunities to form an integrated framework for precise amino acid nutrition in broilers, helping us to achieve more efficient, resilient, and sustainable production. This information can help to determine the exact ratio of amino acids that will improve the efficiency of the use of nitrogen by poultry.
Growth Performance, Bone Development and Phosphorus Metabolism in Chicks Fed Diets Supplemented with Phytase Are Associated with Alterations in Gut Microbiota
Authors: Li Lan , Zhang Xiaoyi , Zhang Jiatu , Liu Meiling , Zhao Lihong , Ji Cheng , Zhang Jianyun , Huang Shimeng , Ma Qiugang
Published: April 2022

Phosphorus pollution caused by animal husbandry is becoming increasingly problematic, especially where decreasing and non-renewable phosphorus resources are concerned. We investigated the growth performance, bone development, phosphorus metabolism and gut microbiota changes elicited by different phosphorus levels with/without phytase in chicks during the brooding period (1–42 d). Five-hundred-and-forty (540) egg-laying chickens were assigned to six groups (0.13% NPP, 0.29% NPP, 0.45% NPP, 0.13% NPP + P, 0.29% NPP + P and 0.45% NPP + P) according to a factorial design with three non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) levels (0.13, 0.29 and 0.45%) and two phytase (P) dosages (0 and 200 FTU/kg). Chicks fed with the diet with 0.13% NPP had the lowest body weight, average daily gain, shank length, average daily feed intake and highest ratio of feed to gain, while phytase supplementation was able to mitigate the adverse effects of low-phosphorus diets on growth performance. Moreover, phosphorus metabolism was affected by different dietary NPP and phytase levels. Thus, 0.13% NPP significantly reduced serum phosphorus, while phytase supplementation significantly increased serum phosphorus. Notably, phosphorus utilization in the 0.13% NPP group was significantly decreased and the phosphorus excretion ratio was increased. Phytase supplementation significantly improved phosphorus utilization by 43.79% and decreased phosphorus emission in the 0.13% NPP group but not in the 0.29% NPP or the 0.45% NPP group. Remarkably, the alpha diversity of gut microbiota was significantly decreased in the low-phosphorus group, while phytase supplementation increased alpha diversity and improved gut microbial community and function. The LEfSe analysis revealed that several differential genera (e.g., Bacteroides, norank_f__Clostridiales_vadinBB60_group and Eggerthella) were enriched in the different dietary NPP and phytase levels. Furthermore, correlations between differential genera and several crucial phenotypes suggested that the enrichment of beneficial bacteria with different levels of phosphorus and phytase promoted phosphorus utilization in the foregut and hindgut. In summary, low-phosphorus diets inhibited growth performance and bone development, decreased utilization of phosphorus and altered gut microbial structure and function in the brooding stage of chicks. Finally, phytase supplementation improves growth performance and bone development and decreases phosphorus emission, and the potential mechanisms may be associated with the reprogramming of gut microbiota.
Mitochondrial-Targeted Therapies Require Mitophagy to Prevent Oxidative Stress Induced by SOD2 Inactivation in Hypertrophied Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Peugnet Victoriane , Chwastyniak Maggy , Mulder Paul , Lancel Steve , Bultot Laurent , Fourny Natacha , Renguet Edith , Bugger Heiko , Beseme Olivia , Loyens Anne , Heyse Wilfried , Richard Vincent , Amouyel Philippe , Bertrand Luc , Pinet Florence , Dubois-Deruy Emilie
Published: April 2022

Heart failure, mostly associated with cardiac hypertrophy, is a major cause of illness and death. Oxidative stress causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that mitochondria-targeted therapies could be effective in this context. The purpose of this work was to determine whether mitochondria-targeted therapies could improve cardiac hypertrophy induced by mitochondrial ROS. We used neonatal (NCMs) and adult (ACMs) rat cardiomyocytes hypertrophied by isoproterenol (Iso) to induce mitochondrial ROS. A decreased interaction between sirtuin 3 and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) induced SOD2 acetylation on lysine 68 and inactivation, leading to mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction and hypertrophy after 24 h of Iso treatment. To counteract these mechanisms, we evaluated the impact of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitoquinone (MitoQ). MitoQ decreased mitochondrial ROS and hypertrophy in Iso-treated NCMs and ACMs but altered mitochondrial structure and function by decreasing mitochondrial respiration and mitophagy. The same decrease in mitophagy was found in human cardiomyocytes but not in fibroblasts, suggesting a cardiomyocyte-specific deleterious effect of MitoQ. Our data showed the importance of mitochondrial oxidative stress in the development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We observed that targeting mitochondria by MitoQ in cardiomyocytes impaired the metabolism through defective mitophagy, leading to accumulation of deficient mitochondria.
Special Issue on Light Beams in Liquid Crystals
Authors: Assanto Gaetano , Smyth Noel F.
Published: April 2022

The study of propagating light beams in liquid crystals, i [...]
Fall Testing of the Personal Airborne Equipment Backpack: Ground and Flight Testing
Authors: Kalavsky Peter , Rozenberg Robert , Tobisova Alica , Antosko Matej
Published: April 2022

This article evaluated the functionality and reliability of the personal airborne equipment backpack TL-98 before its launch in military parachute operations. An objective of this project was the verification of the TL-98’s characteristics which could be important in terms of the safety of the operation of the parachute, i.e., its functionality and reliability during flight and fall tests. A major effort within this research was focused on the fall tests of the TL-98 in standard parachute operational conditions. The strength of the backpack’s anchorage points (by which the backpack is attached to the parachute harness) was verified by flight test, where it was dropped from the aircraft at the maximum operating speed and at the maximum operating weight of the backpack; the backpack’s maximum operating weight had been increased by multiplying the standard maximum operating weight by a safety factor of 1.2. During the fall tests of the backpack, after its disconnection from the parachute harness (during ground tests and the test during the test jump), the strength of the backpack’s anchoring eye and the strength of the rope with which the backpack is connected to the parachute harness were verified. Another objective of this research was the collection of information to define the TL-98’s rope lifetime, which serves for the dropping of the TL-98. To fulfill this goal, the impact forces on the rope during the backpack’s fall were measured using a force sensor. The values of the impact forces were then calculated and compared with the values from the experiment. Using experimentally obtained results and their comparison with the calculated results, the lifetime of the TL-98 rope for parachuting operations was determined on the basis of predetermined criteria.
Sequence-Specific Recognition of Double-Stranded DNA by Peptide Nucleic Acid Forming Double-Duplex Invasion Complex
Authors: Aiba Yuichiro , Shibata Masanari , Shoji Osami
Published: April 2022

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is an analog of natural nucleic acids, where the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA is replaced by an electrostatically neutral N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine backbone. This unique peptide-based backbone enables PNAs to form a very stable duplex with the complementary nucleic acids via Watson–Crick base pairing since there is no electrostatic repulsion between PNA and DNA·RNA. With this high nucleic acid affinity, PNAs have been used in a wide range of fields, from biological applications such as gene targeting, to engineering applications such as probe and sensor developments. In addition to single-stranded DNA, PNA can also recognize double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) through the formation of a double-duplex invasion complex. This double-duplex invasion is hard to achieve with other artificial nucleic acids and is expected to be a promising method to recognize dsDNA in cellula or in vivo since the invasion does not require the prior denaturation of dsDNA. In this paper, we provide basic knowledge of PNA and mainly focus on the research of PNA invasion.
Strip Meniscometry Tube in the Assessment of Tear Lactoferrin in Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) Mice
Authors: Dogru Murat , Kojima Takashi , Nagata Taeko , Tsubota Kazuo
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To investigate the applicability of strip meniscometry tube (SMT) in the measurement of tear lactoferrin in non-obese diabetic mice (NOD). Methods: SMT (SMTube, Echo Electricity Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and fluorescein staining tests were performed on 7–14 week NOD- male mice (n = 4) and age and sex matched wild–type (Balbc, WT) mice (n = 5). Tears collected during SMT underwent lactoferrin concentration measurement by ELISA. Results: The mean SMT value was significantly lower in NOD mice compared to wild-type mice (p = 0.01). The mean corneal fluorescein staining score in the NOD mice was significantly lower compared with the wild-type mice (p = 0.03). The mean tear lactoferrin level also showed a significantly lower concentration in NOD mice (p = 0.02). Conclusions: SMT has been shown to be an effective tool in measuring tear volume in humans, cats, dogs, and mice. SMT may also serve as a useful tool for tear lactoferrin assessment in NOD and WT mice in experimental settings.
FLaMAS: Federated Learning Based on a SPADE MAS
Authors: Rincon Jaime , Julian Vicente , Carrascosa Carlos
Published: April 2022

In recent years federated learning has emerged as a new paradigm for training machine learning models oriented to distributed systems. The main idea is that each node of a distributed system independently trains a model and shares only model parameters, such as weights, and does not share the training data set, which favors aspects such as security and privacy. Subsequently, and in a centralized way, a collective model is built that gathers all the information provided by all of the participating nodes. Several federated learning framework proposals have been developed that seek to optimize any aspect of the learning process. However, a lack of flexibility and dynamism is evident in many cases. In this regard, this study aims to provide flexibility and dynamism to the federated learning process. The methodology used consists of designing a multi-agent system that can form a federated learning framework where the agents act as nodes that can be easily added to the system dynamically. The proposal has been evaluated with different experiments on the SPADE platform; the results obtained demonstrate the benefits of the federated system while facilitating flexibility and scalability.
Significance of Meteorological Feature Selection and Seasonal Variation on Performance and Calibration of a Low-Cost Particle Sensor
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Malyan Vasudev , Sahu Manoranjan
Published: April 2022

Poor air quality is a major environmental concern worldwide, but people living in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected. Measurement of PM2.5 is essential for establishing regulatory standards and developing policy frameworks. Low-cost sensors (LCS) can construct a high spatiotemporal resolution PM2.5 network, but the calibration dependencies and subject to biases of LCS due to variable meteorological parameters limit their deployment for air-quality measurements. This study used data collected from June 2019 to April 2021 from a PurpleAir Monitor and Met One Instruments’ Model BAM 1020 as a reference instrument at Alberta, Canada. The objective of this study is to identify the relevant meteorological parameters for each season that significantly affect the performance of LCS. The meteorological features considered are relative humidity (RH), temperature (T), wind speed (WS) and wind direction (WD). This study applied Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN), Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting (GB) models with varying features in a stepwise manner across all the seasons, and only the best results are presented in this study. Improvement in the performance of calibration models is observed by incorporating different features for different seasons. The best performance is achieved when RF is applied but with different features for different seasons. The significant meteorological features are PM2.5_LCS in Summer, PM2.5_LCS, RH and T in Autumn, PM2.5_LCS, T and WS in Winter and PM2.5_LCS, RH, T and WS in Spring. The improvement in R2 for each season (values in parentheses) is Summer (0.66–0.94), Autumn (0.73–0.96), Winter (0.70–0.95) and Spring (0.70–0.94). This study signifies selecting the right combination of models and features to attain the best results for LCS calibration.
Applicability Study of a Global Numerical Weather Prediction Model MPAS to Storm Surges and Waves in the South Coast of Korea
Authors: Yuk Jin-Hee , Kang Ji-Sun , Myung Hunjoo
Published: April 2022

The south coast of Korea is vulnerable to coastal disasters, such as storm surges, high waves, wave overtopping, and coastal flooding caused by typhoons. It is imperative to predict such disastrous events accurately in advance, which requires accurate meteorological forcing for coastal ocean modeling. In this study, to acquire accurate meteorological data as important forcing variables for the prediction of storm surges and waves, we examined the forecast performance and applicability of a next-generation global weather/climate prediction model, the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS). We compared the modeled surface pressure and wind with observations on the south coast of Korea for three typhoons that damaged Korea in 2020—Bavi, Maysak, and Haishen—and investigated the accuracy of these observations with the MPAS prediction. Those meteorological forcing variables were then used in the tightly coupled tide-surge-wave model, Advanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) and the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) for the simulation of a typhoon-induced storm surge and wave. We also performed the hindcast of the wave and storm surges using a parametric tropical cyclone model, the best-track-based Generalized Asymmetric Holland Model (GAHM) embedded in ADCIRC+SWAN, to better understand the forecast performance and applicability of MPAS. We compared the forecast results of the typhoon-induced wave and storm surges with their hindcast in terms of the time-series and statistical indices for both significant wave height and storm surge height and found that wave and storm surge prediction forced by MPAS forecast provides a comparable accuracy with the hindcast. Comparable results of MPAS forcing with that of hindcast using best track information are encouraging because ADCIRC+SWAN forced by MPAS forecast with an at most four-day lead time still provides a reasonable prediction of wave and storm surges.