bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lexical Synonyms in the Holy Qur’an and their Translations: A Case Study
Authors: Muhsen Al-Jabri Samia
Published: September 2023

Synonymy is one of the fundamental linguistic phenomena influencing the structure of lexicon. This paper examines the intricate nature of synonymy in an attempt to investigate its problematic nature in relation to translation. Types of synonyms are examined, with special emphasis paid to the translation of synonyms in the Holy Qur’an, where the translator is expected to achieve a high level of accuracy in rendering the exact meaning of the lexical items. The main focus of the study is on the translation of the near synonyms of the Arabic lexical item 'khawf' خوف)) (meaning 'fear') within the Holy Qur’an. In this comparative descriptive study, componential analysis is used to evaluate the semantic aspects of the synonymous lexical items. The meaning of each lexical item is also analyzed according to its context in the verses of the Holy Qur’an. The study is limited to three translations: those of Pickthall, Yusuf Ali and Shakir. It highlights the challenges that Qur’an translators encounter in the translation of near synonyms. It also aims to enhance the field of Qur’an translations with suggestions for achieving increased accuracy..
Book Review of Muhammed Farghal's Advanced Issues in Arabic-English Translation Studies
Authors: AL-Khanji Rajai
Published: September 2023

Book Review of Muhammed Farghal's Advanced Issues in Arabic-English Translation Studies.
Translation and Anxiety about Self-Image and Identity in the Arab World
Authors: Mousa Al-Mousa Nedal
Published: September 2023

Arab intellectuals and practitioners of translation in the age of globalization are exerting strenuous efforts to initiate an organized large-scale translation activity from Arabic into foreign languages and vice versa, activity inspired by the sweeping force of cross- cultural interaction and communication in the age of globalization. In addition to its traditional role as a means of promoting cross culture communication and transmitting knowledge and information, translation, particularly from Arabic into foreign languages at the present time in the Arab World is conceived as an effective medium to project a genuine or authentic image of Arabs culture. That is in an attempt to rectify growing misrepresentations of Arab culture and their image especially in the West in the aftermath of the tragic event of the eleventh of September. It is often maintained that translation of the Arab culture production into English has always tended to confirm pre-existing Western prejudice based mainly on orientalist assumptions about the orient in general and the Arab World in particular. Another important claim is that foreign (mainly western translators) from Arabic into English usually produce manipulated target language texts which reflect ideological moral or aesthetic values privileged in the West, thus acting in violation of the moral values and indigenous thoughts presented in the source language text. The most flagrant examples of such manipulations can be found in translations of Arabic literary works dealing with feminist themes. The paper examines specific examples of the two claims that translation is used as means of manipulations leading to representation of distorted images of the Arab culture and identity. The paper also discusses views on how to control translation activity in the Arab World to serve Arab aspirations for better representation in Western discourse liberated from ethnocentricity, pre- existing prejudices, and from what Andre Lefevere describes as the "dictates" of the "patrons" of translation.

One of the striking aspects of the new American social-science attention to the Orient is its singular avoidance of literature. You can read through reams of expert writing on the modern Near East and never encounter a single reference to literature. What seem to matter far more to the regional expert are "facts" of which a literary text is perhaps a disturber. The net effect of this remarkable omission in modern American awareness of the Arab or Islamic Orient is to keep the region and its people conceptually emasculated, reduced to "attitudes" "trends", statistics: in short, dehumanized. Since an Arab poet or novelist- and there are many- writes of his humanity (however strange that may be), he effectively disrupts the various patterns (images, clichés, abstractions) by which the Orient is represented. A literary text speaks more or less directly of a living reality (Said 1978:291)..
Could Questions Be Answers? The Personal Growth Method in the Teaching of English Literature to EFL Learners
Authors: Hammad Iman
Published: September 2023

Since educators have puzzled over the best models suggested on the teaching of English literature to EFL learners, re-examining strategies of literature instruction becomes a necessity in this rapidly changing world. This requires developing a multi-faceted model, which neither focuses on language skills only nor does it use texts as capsules for a culture that students perceive as inferior or at best irrelevant,. This paper explores the personal growth model in an attempt to bridge the gap between the cultural model that treats the text as a source of information about the target culture and the language model that focuses on the way language is used. The personal growth model is a process-based approach and tries to be more learner-centered. This paper suggests that this model not only encourages learners to develop positive attitudes towards the text they read, but it also leads them to project their own feelings into it. Based upon the researcher's teaching experience, this model encourages the students to make the text their own and it helps in making the language more memorable. Finally, the paper presents some recommendations for EFL learners regarding the use of the personal growth approach in our classes.
Elite (Foreign) Language in Arabic Media Discourse: Impacts and Implications
Authors: Georges Adnan
Published: September 2023

The objective of this paper is to examine the spread of the use of English expressions in Arabic media as a symbolic marker of elite discourse. The bulk of the data consists of Kuwaiti newspaper headlines including foreign language segments. These headlines are examined with an eye to checking whether the incorporation of English items in them is justified and whether the messages intended are effectively conveyed to the public audience at large (Arab readers in general and Kuwaiti readers in particular). To systematize the data, English segments are classified into five categories: code-switching, culture-bound expressions, acronyms/abbreviations, idiomatic expressions, and blended forms. The discussion shows clearly that the media writers' attempt to sound elite and gain more prestige by employing English in Arabic discourse fires back in terms of comprehensibility on the readers' part and the naturalness of Arabic texts. The implications of this phenomenon can be far-reaching on two accounts. Firstly, the promotion of a hybrid Arabic discourse would affect the integrity of the Arabic language as well as contribute to the decline of Arabic language competence in the young generations. Secondly, the intrusion of English expressions on Arabic texts would render many of them incomprehensible to a large sector of Arab readers. .
Language Maintenance among the Indians of Yemen: A Sociolinguistic Study
Authors: S. Dweik Bader
Published: September 2023

This study aimed at investigating the factors that support the use of the Indian ethnic languages among the Indians of Yemen who live in the city of Aden. The theoretical framework of the current study was based on Fishman (1989) and Sridhar (1992). In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researchers posed three questions concerning the background of the Indians of Yemen, their proficiency in Arabic and the Indian Ethnic languages and the factors that have helped them maintain the Indian ethnic languages. A sample of 86 respondents was selected purposively. They responded to a three-section language questionnaire which was originally delivered to 100 participants. However, only 86 forms were filled out and returned. The language questionnaire was validated by a panel of experts in the fields of applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. Results revealed that attitudinal, linguistic, social and political factors have helped them to maintain the Indian ethnic languages. Results also indicated that while they are skilled in listening and speaking their ethnic languages, they are not competent in reading and writing. In contrast, they have good command in Arabic four skills, namely, listening, speaking, reading and writing..
Writing against the Grain: Walter Scott's The Talisman
Authors: Al-Khawaldeh Samira
Published: September 2023

This study investigates Walter Scott's novel The Talisman from a postcolonial perspective. It consists of four parts: the reception of the novel's Arabic translation, Scott's historicism, especially Edward Said's dis/valuation of it, Scott's representation of Saladin as universal man, and a critical analysis of Scott's attempt to break new ground and write against the grain in the heyday of empire, and to liberate the image of the East from the lingering medieval prejudices. The article's thesis is that Scott's historicism does not adhere to the early-nineteenth-century trend of Orientalism as proposed by Said. It aims at presenting a different perspective on Scott’s work: that the East meets the West in the space of The Talisman in an archetypal civilisational dialogue in which Scott revisits history in order to connect it teleologically with the present and the future. .
A Corpus-based Study of the Pragmatic and Syntactic Functions of Cleft Constructions in Newspaper Editorials
Authors: Ismail Jarad Najib
Published: September 2023

The aim of this corpus-based study is to analyze the frequency in the use of three types of cleft constructions (it-clefts, wh-clefts, and reversed wh-clefts) in newspaper editorials of three English dailies in the United Arab Emirates. More specifically, the paper is concerned with the syntactic distribution of clefts in this journalistic corpus and the extent to which this distribution might have a bearing on the pragmatic functions of clefts in editorial discourse. These cleft constructions are not only different in giving prominence to different elements, they also differ in the way they organize information and in the kind of prominence they give to the highlighted elements. The choice of one rather than another of these three clefts is determined by various syntactic and pragmatic factors. The results obtained from the analysis show that the relatively high frequency of it-clefts in this journalistic corpus can be keyed to two factors. First, it-clefts create persuasive discourse, a typical feature of newspaper editorials. Second, since stress-marking is absent in written discourse, writers use it-clefts to direct the reader into a particular reading of the information structure. Reversed wh-clefts including those introduced by a demonstrative have a low distribution in this journalistic corpus. This is not unduly surprising since both clefts are more popular in spoken English. .
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk stratification and management in type 2 diabetes: review of recent evidence-based guidelines
Authors: Gourdy Pierre , Schiele François , Halimi Jean-Michel , Kownator Serge , Hadjadj Samy , Valensi Paul
Published: September 2023

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Accordingly, several scientific societies have released clinical practice guidelines to assist health professionals in ASCVD risk management in patients with T2DM. However, some recommendations differ from each other, contributing to uncertainty about the optimal clinical management of patients with T2DM and established ASCVD or at high risk for ASCVD. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to discuss recent evidence-based guidelines on ASCVD risk stratification and prevention in patients with T2DM, in terms of disparities and similarities. To close the gap between different guidelines, a multidisciplinary approach involving general practitioners, endocrinologists, and cardiologists may enhance the coordination of diagnosis, therapy, and long-term follow-up of ASCVD in patients with T2DM.
Targeting the chemokine receptor CXCR4 with histamine analog to reduce inflammation in juvenile arthritis
Authors: Bekaddour Nassima , Smith Nikaïa , Beitz Benoit , Llibre Alba , Dott Tom , Baudry Anne , Korganow Anne-Sophie , Nisole Sébastien , Mouy Richard , Breton Sylvain , Bader-Meunier Brigitte , Duffy Darragh , Terrier Benjamin , Schneider Benoit , Quartier Pierre , Rodero Mathieu P. , Herbeuval Jean-Philippe
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Among immune cells, activated monocytes play a detrimental role in chronic and viral-induced inflammatory pathologies, particularly in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a childhood rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease. The uncontrolled activation of monocytes and excessive production of inflammatory factors contribute to the damage of bone-cartilage joints. Despite the moderate beneficial effect of current therapies and clinical trials, there is still a need for alternative strategies targeting monocytes to treat RA.

Methods

To explore such an alternative strategy, we investigated the effects of targeting the CXCR4 receptor using the histamine analog clobenpropit (CB). Monocytes were isolated from the blood and synovial fluids of JIA patients to assess CB's impact on their production of key inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, we administered daily intraperitoneal CB treatment to arthritic mice to evaluate its effects on circulating inflammatory cytokine levels, immune cell infiltrates, joints erosion, and bone resorption, as indicators of disease progression.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that CXCR4 targeting with CB significantly inhibited the spontaneous and induced-production of key inflammatory cytokines by monocytes isolated from JIA patients. Furthermore, CB treatment in a mouse model of collagen-induce arthritis resulted in a significant decrease in circulating inflammatory cytokine levels, immune cell infiltrates, joints erosion, and bone resorption, leading to a reduction in disease progression.

Discussion

In conclusion, targeting CXCR4 with the small amino compound CB shows promise as a therapeutic option for chronic and viral-induced inflammatory diseases, including RA. CB effectively regulated inflammatory cytokine production of monocytes, presenting a potential targeted approach with potential advantages over current therapies. These results warrant further research and clinical trials to explore the full therapeutic potential of targeting CXCR4 with CB-like molecules in the management of various inflammatory diseases.
A hub gene signature as a therapeutic target and biomarker for sepsis and geriatric sepsis-induced ARDS concomitant with COVID-19 infection
Authors: Qian Guojun , Fang Hongwei , Chen Anning , Sun Zhun , Huang Meiying , Luo Mengyuan , Cheng Erdeng , Zhang Shengyi , Wang Xiaokai , Fang Hao
Published: September 2023

Background

COVID-19 and sepsis represent formidable public health challenges, characterized by incompletely elucidated molecular mechanisms. Elucidating the interplay between COVID-19 and sepsis, particularly in geriatric patients suffering from sepsis-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is of paramount importance for identifying potential therapeutic interventions to mitigate hospitalization and mortality risks.

Methods

We employed bioinformatics and systems biology approaches to identify hub genes, shared pathways, molecular biomarkers, and candidate therapeutics for managing sepsis and sepsis-induced ARDS in the context of COVID-19 infection, as well as co-existing or sequentially occurring infections. We corroborated these hub genes utilizing murine sepsis-ARDS models and blood samples derived from geriatric patients afflicted by sepsis-induced ARDS.

Results

Our investigation revealed 189 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared among COVID-19 and sepsis datasets. We constructed a protein-protein interaction network, unearthing pivotal hub genes and modules. Notably, nine hub genes displayed significant alterations and correlations with critical inflammatory mediators of pulmonary injury in murine septic lungs. Simultaneously, 12 displayed significant changes and correlations with a neutrophil-recruiting chemokine in geriatric patients with sepsis-induced ARDS. Of these, six hub genes (CD247, CD2, CD40LG, KLRB1, LCN2, RETN) showed significant alterations across COVID-19, sepsis, and geriatric sepsis-induced ARDS. Our single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of hub genes across diverse immune cell types furnished insights into disease pathogenesis. Functional analysis underscored the interconnection between sepsis/sepsis-ARDS and COVID-19, enabling us to pinpoint potential therapeutic targets, transcription factor-gene interactions, DEG-microRNA co-regulatory networks, and prospective drug and chemical compound interactions involving hub genes.

Conclusion

Our investigation offers potential therapeutic targets/biomarkers, sheds light on the immune response in geriatric patients with sepsis-induced ARDS, emphasizes the association between sepsis/sepsis-ARDS and COVID-19, and proposes prospective alternative pathways for targeted therapeutic interventions.
Comparison of different predictive biomarker testing assays for PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors response: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Shi Haotong , Zhang Wenxia , Zhang Lin , Zheng Yawen , Dong Taotao
Published: September 2023

Background

Accurate prediction of efficacy of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint inhibitors is of critical importance. To address this issue, a network meta-analysis (NMA) comparing existing common measurements for curative effect of PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy was conducted.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library database, and relevant clinical trials to find out studies published before Feb 22, 2023 that use PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC), tumor mutational burden (TMB), gene expression profiling (GEP), microsatellite instability (MSI), multiplex IHC/immunofluorescence (mIHC/IF), other immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining (other IHC&HE) and combined assays to determine objective response rates to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy. Study-level data were extracted from the published studies. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the predictive efficacy and rank these assays mainly by NMA, and the second objective was to compare them in subgroup analyses. Heterogeneity, quality assessment, and result validation were also conducted by meta-analysis.

Findings

144 diagnostic index tests in 49 studies covering 5322 patients were eligible for inclusion. mIHC/IF exhibited highest sensitivity (0.76, 95% CI: 0.57-0.89), the second diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) (5.09, 95% CI: 1.35-13.90), and the second superiority index (2.86). MSI had highest specificity (0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.94), and DOR (6.79, 95% CI: 3.48-11.91), especially in gastrointestinal tumors. Subgroup analyses by tumor types found that mIHC/IF, and other IHC&HE demonstrated high predictive efficacy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while PD-L1 IHC and MSI were highly efficacious in predicting the effectiveness in gastrointestinal tumors. When PD-L1 IHC was combined with TMB, the sensitivity (0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.94) was noticeably improved revealed by meta-analysis in all studies.

Interpretation

Considering statistical results of NMA and clinical applicability, mIHC/IF appeared to have superior performance in predicting response to anti PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Combined assays could further improve the predictive efficacy. Prospective clinical trials involving a wider range of tumor types are needed to establish a definitive gold standard in future.
Application of seaweed polysaccharide in bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Jin Ye , Yu Qixuan , Li Shuangyang , Chen Tianli , Liu Da
Published: September 2023

Regeneration is a complex process influenced by many independent or combined factors, including inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. The ocean, the most extensive resource on Earth, is rich in Seaweed. With increasing research in recent years, researchers have discovered that seaweed polysaccharides have various pharmacological effects, including a particular efficacy in promoting bone tissue regeneration. However, the application of this material in the field of bone tissue engineering is very limited. However, there are few studies on the polysaccharide at home and abroad, and little is known about its potential application value in bone repair. In addition, the bioavailability of the seaweed polysaccharide is also low, and there are still many problems to be solved. For example, the ease of solubility of fucoidan in water is a key issue that restricts its practical application. In this review, we summarize the applications and mechanisms of seaweed polysaccharides in bone healing. We also propose to combine seaweed polysaccharides with novel technologies through different types of preparations, hydrogels, scaffolds, and 3D printing to improve their use in tissue healing and regeneration.
Mechanism of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum regulating Ca2+ affecting the replication of PEDV in small intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Kan Zifei , Zhang Shujuan , Liao Guisong , Niu Zheng , Liu Xiangyang , Sun Zhiwei , Hu Xia , Zhang Yiling , Xu Shasha , Zhang Jingyi , Zou Hong , Zhang Xingcui , Song Zhenhui
Published: September 2023

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) mainly invades the small intestine and promotes an inflammatory response, eventually leading to severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and even death of piglets, which seriously threatens the economic development of pig farming. In recent years, researchers have found that probiotics can improve the intestinal microenvironment and reduce diarrhea. At the same time, certain probiotics have been shown to have antiviral effects; however, their mechanisms are different. Herein, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum supernatant (LP-1S) on PEDV and its mechanism. We used IPEC-J2 cells as a model to assess the inhibitory effect of LP-1S on PEDV and to further investigate the relationship between LP-1S, Ca2+, and PEDV. The results showed that a divalent cation chelating agent (EGTA) and calcium channel inhibitors (Bepridil hydrochloride and BAPTA-acetoxymethylate) could inhibit PEDV proliferation while effectively reducing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, LP-1S could reduce PEDV-induced loss of calcium channel proteins (TRPV6 and PMCA1b), alleviate intracellular Ca2+ accumulation caused by PEDV infection, and promote the balance of intra- and extracellular Ca2+ concentrations, thereby inhibiting PEDV proliferation. In summary, we found that LP-1S has potential therapeutic value against PEDV, which is realized by modulating Ca2+. This provides a potential new drug to treat PEDV infection.
12/15-lipoxygenase inhibition attenuates neuroinflammation by suppressing inflammasomes
Authors: Cakir-Aktas Canan , Bodur Ebru , Yemisci Muge , van Leyen Klaus , Karatas Hulya
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) have essential roles in stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and hypertension. 12/15-LOX inhibition was shown to reduce infarct size and brain edema in the acute phase of experimental stroke. However, the significance of 12/15-LOX on neuroinflammation, which has an essential role in the pathophysiology of stroke, has not been clarified yet.

Methods

In this study, ischemia/recanalization (I/R) was performed by occluding the proximal middle cerebral artery (pMCAo) in mice. Either the 12/15-LOX inhibitor (ML351, 50 mg/kg) or its solvent (DMSO) was injected i.p. at recanalization after 1 h of occlusion. Mice were sacrificed at 6, 24, and 72-h after ischemia induction. Infarct volumes were calculated on Nissl-stained sections. Neurological deficit scoring was used for functional analysis. Lipid peroxidation was determined by the MDA assay, and the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-10, and TGF-beta were quantified by ELISA. The inflammasome proteins NLRP1 and NLRP3, 12/15-LOX, and caspase-1 were detected with immunofluorescence staining.

Results

Infarct volumes, neurological deficit scores, and lipid peroxidation were significantly attenuated in ML351-treated groups at 6, 24, and 72-h. ELISA results revealed that the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were significantly decreased at 6-h and/or 24-h of I/R, while the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TNF-alpha were increased at 24-h or 72-h of ML351 treatment. NLRP1 and NLRP3 immunosignaling were enhanced at three time points after I/R, which were significantly diminished by the ML351 application. Interestingly, NLRP3 immunoreactivity was more pronounced than NLRP1. Hence, we proceeded to study the co-localization of NLRP3 immunoreactivity with 12/15-LOX and caspase-1, which indicated that NLRP3 was co-localized with 12/15-LOX and caspase-1 signaling. Additionally, NLRP3 was found in neurons at all time points but in non-neuronal cells 72 h after I/R.

Discussion

These results suggest that 12/15-LOX inhibition suppresses ischemia-induced inflammation in the acute and subacute phases of stroke via suppressing inflammasome activation. Understanding the mechanisms underlying lipid peroxidation and its associated pathways, like inflammasome activation, may have broader implications for the treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases characterized by neuroinflammation.
Dosimetric and radiobiological comparison between conventional and hypofractionated breast treatment plans using the Halcyon system
Authors: Tai Duong Thanh , Phat Luong Tien , Ngoc Anh Nguyen , Sang Huynh Van Tran , Loc Tran Minh , Hai Nguyen Xuan , Sandwall Peter A. , Bradley David , Chow James C. L.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The objective of this research is to compare the efficacy of conventional and hypofractionated radiotherapy treatment plans for breast cancer patients, with a specific focus on the unique features of the Halcyon system.

Methods and materials

The study collected and analyzed dose volume histogram (DVH) data for two groups of treatment plans implemented using the Halcyon system. The first group consisted of 19 patients who received conventional fractionated (CF) treatment with a total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions, while the second group comprised 9 patients who received hypofractionated (HF) treatment with a total dose of 42.56 Gy in 16 fractions. The DVH data was used to calculate various parameters, including tumor control probability (TCP), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), and equivalent uniform dose (EUD), using radiobiological models.

Results

The results indicated that the CF plan resulted in higher TCP but lower NTCP for the lungs compared to the HF plan. The EUD for the HF plan was approximately 49 Gy (114% of its total dose) while that for the CF plan was around 53 Gy (107% of its total dose).

Conclusions

The analysis suggests that while the CF plan is better at controlling tumors, it is not as effective as the HF plan in minimizing side effects. Additionally, it is suggested that there may be an optimal configuration for the HF plan that can provide the same or higher EUD than the CF plan.
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus among the students of Hail University, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abd El-Razik Siam Bahia Glalal , Abdou Rizk Shimaa Mohamed , Mahmoud Soha Kamel Mosbah
Published: September 2023

Background

Globally, it is estimated that approximately 537 million adults are living with diabetes. Of them, more than 90% have type 2 diabetes (T2DM). In 2023, a previous meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of T2DM among the general adult population in Saudi Arabia was 28%. This study was conducted to assess the risk of developing T2DM among the students at Hail University, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022/2023 among a census sample of 740 students (both genders, aged 17–26 years) studying at nine colleges of Hail University, Saudi Arabia. The diabetes risk score was assessed using the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool (AUSDRISK). Anthropometric measurements were measured and recorded using standard methods. Socio-demographic variables were also obtained with an interview-based questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.

Results

A total of 740 students were included in the final analysis. Of them, 274 (37.0%) were male students and 466 (63.0%) were female students. The mean age of the study participants is 19.9 ± 1.6 years. The findings showed that 61.9% of the study participants were at intermediate and high risk of diabetes (59.7 and 2.2%, respectively). The majority 85.7% of male students were at intermediate risk of diabetes, and 5.8% were at high risk of diabetes. In total, 44.4% of female students were at intermediate risk of diabetes, and none of them were at high risk of diabetes. For the following variables (age, gender, college name, area of the university, academic years, weight, height, and BMI), the differences were statistically significant between different categories of diabetes risk scores (P-values < 0.005).

Conclusion

More than half of the students at the Hail University of Saudi Arabia have an intermediate and high risk of T2DM. Male students are at a higher risk compared to female students. The high risk of T2DM among university students should be seriously considered.
Enlarged housing space and increased spatial complexity enhance hippocampal neurogenesis but do not increase physical activity in mice
Authors: Funabashi Daisuke , Tsuchida Ryuki , Matsui Takashi , Kita Ichiro , Nishijima Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Environmental enrichment (EE) improves various health outcomes, such as hippocampal neurogenesis, in rodents, which is thought to be caused, in part, by increased physical activity. However, the specific effect of each enrichment component, such as enlarged housing spaces and increased spatial complexity with a variety of objects, on physical activity remains unclear because of methodological limitations in measuring physical activity. We aimed to examine whether enlarged housing spaces and increased spatial complexity increase physical activity in mice using a body-implantable actimeter.

Methods

Adult male C57BL/6J mice were assigned to either standard housing or EE groups. The housing environment in the EE mice was gradually enriched by enlarging the housing space and the placement of a variety of objects. Physical activity was measured using a body-implanted actimeter. Hippocampal neurogenesis was immunohistochemically examined.

Results

Enlarged housing spaces and the placement of a variety of objects did not increase physical activity in mice. In contrast, hippocampal neurogenesis was enhanced in the EE mice, suggesting that environmental interventions successfully provided enriched housing conditions for these mice.

Conclusions

These results indicate that enlarged housing spaces and increased spatial complexity do not increase physical activity in mice. Furthermore, we found that EE enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis without increasing activity volume. Besides the current understanding that increasing the amount of physical activity is key to improving hippocampal function, our result suggests that the environment in which physical activity takes place is also a crucial contextual factor in determining the impact of physical activity on hippocampal function.
Using an Opportunity Matrix to Select Centers for RBF Neural Networks
Authors: Soper Daniel S.
Published: September 2023

When designed correctly, radial basis function (RBF) neural networks can approximate mathematical functions to any arbitrary degree of precision. Multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks are also universal function approximators, but RBF neural networks can often be trained several orders of magnitude more quickly than an MLP network with an equivalent level of function approximation capability. The primary challenge with designing a high-quality RBF neural network is selecting the best values for the network’s “centers”, which can be thought of as geometric locations within the input space. Traditionally, the locations for the RBF nodes’ centers are chosen either through random sampling of the training data or by using k-means clustering. The current paper proposes a new algorithm for selecting the locations of the centers by relying on a structure known as an “opportunity matrix”. The performance of the proposed algorithm is compared against that of the random sampling and k-means clustering methods using a large set of experiments involving both a real-world dataset from the steel industry and a variety of mathematical and statistical functions. The results indicate that the proposed opportunity matrix algorithm is almost always much better at selecting locations for an RBF network’s centers than either of the two traditional techniques, yielding RBF neural networks with superior function approximation capabilities.
Analysis of Reproduction Performance Traits in Sows of the CG36 Hybrid Line, Including the Effect of Selected Factors and Phenotypic Correlations
Authors: Szulc Karolina , Skrzypczak Ewa , Arszyło Marcin
Published: September 2023

In Poland, despite a decline in the pig population, pork consumption invariably remains high. For this reason, it is important to search for a potential reduction in pig production costs. One of the feasible solutions is to use sows of hybrid lines. Currently, several sow lines are available on the Polish market, such as CG36 (Choice Genetics). The aim of this study was to determine the level of reproduction performance in this line considering the effect of parity and farrowing season. Additionally, coefficients of phenotypic correlations between analysed reproduction performance parameters were determined. The experimental material comprised 112 females inseminated with semen of a boar of the Excelium line (Choice Genetics), which produced 336 litters. The investigated population was characterised by a high level of reproduction traits and young age at first farrowing (AFF), while the number of piglets born alive (NBA), the number of piglets weaned per litter (NW), and the number of piglets weaned per sow per year (PWSY) reached high, economically advantageous levels. Primiparous sows produced and reared lower numbers of piglets than multiparous sows, which indicates the need to maintain an adequate herd structure, with a maximum share of gilts at 30%. No effect of the season on values of reproduction traits was found, which shows optimal environmental conditions in the animal housing where the pigs were kept. Dependencies between the analysed traits confirmed the results reported by other authors, where NBA was highly positively correlated with LW, although LW increased with an increase in NBA. No correlations were found between PWSY and the other traits. In turn, the observed coefficients of phenotypic correlations indicate that in order to reduce AFF in CG36 sows, it is necessary to control FI.
Effects of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage Management Methods on Soil Quality in Saline Cotton Fields in Southern Xinjiang
Authors: Li Zhijie , Liu Hongguang , Yang Haichang , Wang Tangang
Published: September 2023

A long-term high-saline soil environment will limit the improvement of soil quality and cotton yield. Modified tillage management measures can improve soil quality, and the establishment of a soil quality evaluation system will facilitate evaluation of the soil quality and land production potential in southern Xinjiang. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different tillage management methods on soil quality in saline cotton fields in southern Xinjiang. A three-year experiment was conducted in Tumushuke, Xinjiang, with different deep vertical rotary tillage depths (DTM20, 20 cm; DTM40, 40 cm; DTM60, 60 cm) and conventional tillage (CTM, 20 cm). The soil quality index (SQI) under different tillage management methods was established by using the full dataset (TDS) with a scoring function for eight indicators, including physicochemical properties of the soil from 0 to 60 cm, to evaluate its impact on the soil quality of the saline farmland in southern Xinjiang. The results of the study showed that deep vertical rotary tillage management can effectively optimize soil structure; reduce soil bulk density (BD), soil solution conductivity (EC), and pH; and promote the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the soil. However, the average diameter of soil water-stable aggregates (MWD) in a 0–60 cm layer becomes smaller with an increasing depth of tillage. This does not reduce crop yields but does promote soil saline leaching. In addition, the significant linear relationship (p < 0.001) between seed cotton yield and soil quality indicated that improving soil quality was favorable for crop yield. The principal component analysis revealed BD, MWD, pH, and EC as limiting sensitive indicators for seed cotton yield, while SOC and TN were positive sensitive indicators. The soil quality index (SQI) values of DT40 and DTM60 were significantly higher than that of CTM by 11.02% and 15.27%, respectively. Overall, the results show that DTM60 is the most suitable tillage strategy to improve soil quality and seed cotton yield in this area, and this approach will provide a reliable theoretical basis for the improvement of saline farmland.
Design and Test of a Tractor Electro-Hydraulic-Suspension Tillage-Depth and Loading-Control System Test Bench
Authors: Sun Xiaoxu , Song Yue , Wang Yunfei , Qian Jin , Lu Zhixiong , Wang Tao
Published: September 2023

Electro-hydraulic suspension systems are one of the key working systems of tractors. Due to the complex and changeable working conditions in the field, it is of great significance to shorten the development cycle of the control strategy and reduce the development cost by using the indoor bench for test verification at the beginning of the study. Based on this, this paper has proposed a complete set of tractor hydraulic-suspension tillage-depth and loading-control test-bench designs. The system was mainly composed of three parts: an industrial computer, a suspension electro-hydraulic control system, and a loading electro-hydraulic control and data-acquisition system. The human–computer interaction interface of the test-bench measurement and control system was built, and the loading-force control system and suspension tillage-depth and loading integrated-control system were built based on PID and fuzzy PID control algorithms, respectively. The system can realize the control of suspension tillage depth and loading during the operation process and has the functions of the real-time acquisition, display, and data storage of related sensor signals during the working process. The test results showed that the response time of the loading-control system was less than 1.2 s, and the maximum steady-state error was less than 0.8%. The response time of the suspension control system was less than 2.3 s, and the maximum steady-state error was less than 1%. The system has good responsiveness and stability. These research results can provide platform and method of support for the development and test of tractor electro-hydraulic suspension systems.
Physicochemical Properties, Image Textures, and Relationships between Parameters of Red-Fleshed Apples Collected on Different Harvest Dates
Authors: Ropelewska Ewa , Szwejda-Grzybowska Justyna , Mieszczakowska-Frąc Monika , Celejewska Karolina , Kruczyńska Dorota E. , Rutkowski Krzysztof P. , Konopacka Dorota
Published: September 2023

The determination of the optimal harvest date is very important to obtain the desired apple quality. This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of the harvest date on selected properties of the following red-fleshed apples: ‘Alex Red’, ‘Trinity’, and ‘Roxana’. The color parameters of skin and flesh were measured using a portable spectrophotometer. The apple slices were imaged using a digital camera to extract flesh image textures. Then, the contents of chemical compounds, such as sugars, acids, and polyphenols were measured. The greatest significant changes with the delay in the harvest date were observed in the values of parameter a* of red-fleshed apple skin (from 21.57 to 25.42 for ‘Alex Red’, from 22.65 to 26.81 for ‘Trinity’, and from 21.82 to 30.00 for ‘Roxana’) and apple flesh (from 29.06 to 32.80 for ‘Alex Red’ and from 32.96 to 36.30 for ‘Trinity’); image textures (RHMean—from 227.6 to 236.5 for ‘Alex Red’, from 231.8 to 236.3 for ‘Trinity’, and from 217.8 to 227.9 for ‘Roxana’, and SHMean—from 126.0 to 135.6 for ‘Alex Red’, from 127.4 to 143.4 for ‘Trinity’, and from 58.4 to 96.0 for ‘Roxana’); the total sugar content—from 85.6 to 90.9 g kg−1 for ‘Alex Red’ and from 112 to 128 g kg−1 for ‘Trinity’; total pectin—from 6278 to 6008 mg·100 g−1 for ‘Alex Red’, from 6196 to 6401 mg·100 g−1 for ‘Trinity’, and from 5912 to 6807 mg·100 g−1 for ‘Roxana’; and total phenolic content—from 536.1 to 501.9 mg kg−1 for ‘Alex Red’, from 515.5 to 573.3 mg kg−1 for ‘Trinity’, and from 1121.3 to 1293.3 mg kg−1 for ‘Roxana’. The linear relationships with the Pearson’s correlation coefficients (R) reaching 0.999 between the image texture from color channel a and color parameter L*, and −0.999 for the image feature from color channel R vs. color parameter a* of the flesh, and image texture from channel X vs. anthocyanins were confirmed.
Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria and Crop Residue in Rice–Wheat System Cultivated with Favorable Tillage Influence Crop Productivity, Nutrient Uptake, Soil Quality, and Profitability in the Terai Agro-Ecological Zone of West Bengal, India
Authors: Padbhushan Rajeev , Sinha Abhas Kumar , Kumar Upendra , Bhattacharya Prateek M. , Poddar Parthendu
Published: September 2023

A field study was conducted from 2021 to 2023 in a rice–wheat cropping system in the Terai agro-ecological zone of West Bengal, India, using different management practices, i.e., tillage (conventional tillage, CT, and zero tillage, ZT), crop residue (R), and plant growth-promoting bacteria (B). This study was a part of long-term research on resource conservation technology (conservation agriculture, CA), undertaken on a research farm in Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari (Cooch Behar), West Bengal. The project was established in 2006 in acidic alluvial soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate rice–wheat productivity, nutrient uptake, soil quality, and profitability after the 16th and 17th crop cycles under the above-mentioned management practices. The results revealed that the pooled yield of rice grain and straw was significantly higher under the CT + R + B treatment than under the other treatments (ZT, ZT + B, ZT + R, ZT + R + B, CT, CT + B, and CT + R). However, the wheat grain and straw yields were significantly greater under the ZT + R + B treatment than under other treatments. The system’s grain yield and straw yield were significantly higher under the CT + R + B treatment, on par with ZT + R + B, compared to the other treatments. Nutrient uptake (nitrogen, N; phosphorus, P; and potassium, K) was increased by retaining R and inoculating B compared to the sample without R and without B. Soil properties, including organic carbon, available N, available P, and available K, were improved in all the treatments compared to the initial values, but the impact was greater in the treatments with R and B than in those without R and without B. In the 5–10-cm soil layer, the above-mentioned soil properties were also improved over the initial (2006) values by 37, 126, 65 and 60%, respectively, by applying the best treatment (ZT + R + B). In economic terms, the benefit–cost ratio was significantly higher under the CT + R + B treatment for rice crops (2.99) and ZT + R + B for wheat crops (3.37). Therefore, we can conclude that, after 17 years of cultivation, for rice, CT performs better than ZT; meanwhile, for wheat cultivation, ZT produces greater yields than CT in the Terai agro-ecological zone of West Bengal, India.
Extended Post-Harvest Effect of Melatonin in Fresh-Cut Broccolini Plants (Bimi®)
Authors: Giraldo-Acosta Manuela , Ruiz-Cano Domingo , Cano Antonio , Hernández-Ruiz Josefa , Arnao Marino B.
Published: September 2023

Melatonin has been shown to be effective as a post-harvest agent in fruits and vegetables. Melatonin has been used in the preservation of Brassicaceae such as broccoli, but not in broccolini. Here, fresh-cut broccolini (baby broccoli or BIMI®) were treated with different concentrations of melatonin (50 and 100 µM) for 15 or 30 min and cold stored for 28 days. Melatonin-treated broccolini had a longer shelf life than control samples, as seen by fresh weight (weight loss rate), hue angle (expresses color quality), and chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. Treatments with 50 µM melatonin for 15 min appear to be the most effective, reducing water loss by around 28% compared to the control and increasing the shelf life of fresh-cut broccolini, presenting an optimal conservation time of 7 days, and this could even be extended up to 14 days with acceptable quality. In addition, antioxidant, phenolic, and flavonoid contents were improved in melatonin-treated broccolini plants. Lipid peroxidation damage by cold storage was decreased in melatonin-treated broccolini, with a relevant decrease in malondialdehyde contents, especially 50 µM, on all days of storage. This study demonstrates for the first time the effectiveness of melatonin treatments in extending the shelf life of broccolini during cold storage. The possible commercial use of these treatments will be subject to the processes in the product management and marketing chain. However, more specific research about changes in organoleptic properties is necessary.
CPDOS: A Web-Based AI Platform to Optimize Crop Planting Density
Authors: Zhu Rongsheng , Zhang Zhixin , Cao Yangyang , Hu Zhenbang , Li Yang , Cao Haifeng , Zhao Zhenqing , Xin Dawei , Chen Qingshan
Published: September 2023

Increasing crop yield is a significant objective in modern agriculture, with adjusted planting density and rational fertilization strategies standing out as the foremost approaches for attaining such a goal. Through the use of modern artificial intelligence techniques such as genetic algorithms and neural networks, the CPDOS (Crop Planting Density Optimization System), an online intelligent system that can automate the modeling, optimization, and analysis of the two models, was developed in the present study. The goal of the system is to optimize the planting density model and fertilizer application in combination with other computer system development techniques. The CPDOS comprises three main modules: yield density optimization module, optimal planting density range module, and fertilization and planting density optimization module. The three modules are complemented by two modules for data input and result visualization, culminating in the comprehensive process of optimizing planting density and fertilizer allocation through the CPDOS. The CPDOS was tested using potato, corn, and soybean data, and the results show that the optimization effects of planting density and fertilizer application were satisfactory. The CPDOS is an automated crop planting optimization system that integrates algorithms and models and is driven by artificial intelligence technology. The introduction of the CPDOS reduces the barriers to utilizing these algorithms and models, facilitating wider adoption of intelligently optimized planting technology. The platform’s launch will accelerate the swift advancement of this field.