bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Ferroelectricity with Two-Dimensional Enwrapping Structure
Authors: Wu Xi , Jiang Ran
Published: September 2022

The effect of the layered InSe intercalation structure on the ferroelectric properties of HfO2 was investigated. At low crystallization temperatures, the ferroelectric phase is formed more easily. Stronger polarization and better reliability can be achieved. This result indicates that the InSe intercalation structure is promising for engineering the ferroelectric properties of HfO2.
Influence of Nano-Sized SiC on the Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Molybdenum
Authors: Ellsworth Nathan E. , Kemnitz Ryan A. , Eckley Cayla C. , Sexton Brianna M. , Bowers Cynthia T. , Machacek Joshua R. , Burggraf Larry W.
Published: September 2022

Consolidation of pure molybdenum through laser powder bed fusion and other additive manufacturing techniques is complicated by a high melting temperature, thermal conductivity and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. Nano-sized SiC particles (0.1 wt%) were homogeneously mixed with molybdenum powder and the printing characteristics, chemical composition, microstructure, mechanical properties were compared to pure molybdenum for scan speeds of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mm/s. The addition of SiC improved the optically determined density and flexural strength at 400 mm/s by 92% and 80%, respectively. The oxygen content was reduced by an average of 52% over the four scan speeds analyzed. Two mechanisms of oxygen reduction were identified as responsible for the improvements: oxidation of free carbon and the creation of secondary phase nanoparticles. This study illustrates the promising influence of nanoparticle additions to refractory metals in laser powder bed fusion.
Third- and Late Line Treatments of Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Still More to Be Done
Authors: Mare Marzia , Memeo Lorenzo , Colarossi Cristina , Giuffrida Dario
Published: September 2022

In recent years, advances of anticancer and supportive therapies have determined a gradual improvement in survival rates and patients’ general conditions in metastatic gastric cancer (mGC), allowing them to receive further treatments. The choice of treatment is driven by performance status, age, stage of disease, number of metastatic sites and time from the first to third line of treatment. Targets such as microsatellite instability, PD-L1 expression, and HER2 overexpression or amplification may be addressed to personalise treatment and prolong survival. Despite a growing number of third line options that have provided clinicians with greater opportunities to customise treatments, up to date few agents have been demonstrated as effective after two standard lines for mGC; for these reasons, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy were all widely investigated in both phase II and phase III studies. Overall, TAS-102, apatinib, regorafenib, nilotinib, trastuzumab, and pembrolizumab were demonstrated to be valid options in the third line scenario for mGC patient refractory to at least two lines of therapy. A multimodal approach based on chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted agents, a personalised nutritional programme as well as the research of new predictive biomarkers may pave the way to new strategies to identify the best treatment for each patient.
What Do the First 597 Global Fungal Red List Assessments Tell Us about the Threat Status of Fungi?
Authors: Mueller Gregory M. , Cunha Kelmer Martins , May Tom W. , Allen Jessica L. , Westrip James R. S. , Canteiro Cátia , Costa-Rezende Diogo Henrique , Drechsler-Santos Elisandro Ricardo , Vasco-Palacios Aída M. , Ainsworth Antony Martyn , Alves-Silva Genivaldo , Bungartz Frank , Chandler Amanda , Gonçalves Susana C. , Krisai-Greilhuber Irmgard , Iršėnaitė Reda , Jordal John Bjarne , Kosmann Thiago , Lendemer James , McMullin Richard Troy , Mešić Armin , Motato-Vásquez Viviana , Ohmura Yoshihito , Næsborg Rikke Reese , Perini Claudia , Saar Irja , Simijaca Diego , Yahr Rebecca , Dahlberg Anders
Published: September 2022

Fungal species are not immune to the threats facing animals and plants and are thus also prone to extinction. Yet, until 2015, fungi were nearly absent on the IUCN Red List. Recent efforts to identify fungal species under threat have significantly increased the number of published fungal assessments. The 597 species of fungi published in the 2022-1 IUCN Red List update (21 July 2022) are the basis for the first global review of the extinction risk of fungi and the threats they face. Nearly 50% of the assessed species are threatened, with 10% NT and 9% DD. For regions with a larger number of assessments (i.e., Europe, North America, and South America), subanalyses are provided. Data for lichenized and nonlichenized fungi are also summarized separately. Habitat loss/degradation followed by climate change, invasive species, and pollution are the primary identified threats. Bias in the data is discussed along with knowledge gaps. Suggested actions to address these gaps are provided along with a discussion of the use of assessments to facilitate on-the-ground conservation efforts. A research agenda for conservation mycology to assist in the assessment process and implementation of effective species/habitat management is presented.
The Adaptive Host Manipulation Hypothesis: Parasites Modify the Behaviour, Morphology, and Physiology of Amphibians
Authors: Hernandez-Caballero Irene , Garcia-Longoria Luz , Gomez-Mestre Ivan , Marzal Alfonso
Published: September 2022

Parasites have evolved different strategies to increase their transmission from one host to another. The Adaptive Host Manipulation hypothesis states that parasites induce modifications of host phenotypes that could maximise parasite fitness. There are numerous examples of parasite manipulation across a wide range of host and parasite taxa. However, the number of studies exploring the manipulative effects of parasites on amphibians is still scarce. Herein, we extensively review the current knowledge on phenotypic alterations in amphibians following parasite infection. Outcomes from different studies show that parasites may manipulate amphibian behaviours to favour their transmission among conspecifics or to enhance the predation of infected amphibians by a suitable definite host. In addition, parasites also modify the limb morphology and impair locomotor activity of infected toads, frogs, and salamanders, hence facilitating their ingestion by a final host and completing the parasite life cycle. Additionally, parasites may alter host physiology to enhance pathogen proliferation, survival, and transmission. We examined the intrinsic (hosts traits) and extrinsic (natural and anthropogenic events) factors that may determine the outcome of infection, where human-induced changes of environmental conditions are the most harmful stressors that enhance amphibian exposure and susceptibility to parasites.
Adrenal Lesions: A Review of Imaging
Authors: Bracci Benedetta , De Santis Domenico , Del Gaudio Antonella , Faugno Maria Carla , Romano Allegra , Tarallo Mariarita , Zerunian Marta , Guido Gisella , Polici Michela , Polidori Tiziano , Pucciarelli Francesco , Matarazzo Iolanda , Laghi Andrea , Caruso Damiano
Published: September 2022

Adrenal lesions are frequently incidentally diagnosed during investigations for other clinical conditions. Despite being usually benign, nonfunctioning, and silent, they can occasionally cause discomfort or be responsible for various clinical conditions due to hormonal dysregulation; therefore, their characterization is of paramount importance for establishing the best therapeutic strategy. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and PET-TC, providing anatomical and functional information, play a central role in the diagnostic workup, allowing clinicians and surgeons to choose the optimal lesion management. This review aims at providing an overview of the most encountered adrenal lesions, both benign and malignant, including describing their imaging characteristics.
A Novel Nonparametric Feature Selection Approach Based on Mutual Information Transfer Network
Authors: Li Kunmei , Fard Nasser
Published: September 2022

The filter feature selection algorithm is habitually used as an effective way to reduce the computational cost of data analysis by selecting and implementing only a subset of original features into the study. Mutual information (MI) is a popular measurement adopted to quantify the dependence among features. MI-based greedy forward methods (MIGFMs) have been widely applied to escape from computational complexity and exhaustion of high-dimensional data. However, most MIGFMs are parametric methods that necessitate proper preset parameters and stopping criteria. Improper parameters may lead to ignorance of better results. This paper proposes a novel nonparametric feature selection method based on mutual information and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). By forming a mutual information network, we transform the feature selection problem into a maximum flow problem, which can be solved with the Gurobi solver in a reasonable time. The proposed method attempts to prevent negligence on obtaining a superior feature subset while keeping the computational cost in an affordable range. Analytical comparison of the proposed method with six feature selection methods reveals significantly better results compared to MIGFMs, considering classification accuracy.
Modeling Oxidation of AlCoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloy Using Stochastic Cellular Automata
Authors: Roy Indranil , Ray Pratik K. , Balasubramanian Ganesh
Published: September 2022

Together with the thermodynamics and kinetics, the complex microstructure of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exerts a significant influence on the associated oxidation mechanisms in these concentrated solid solutions. To describe the surface oxidation in AlCoCrFeNi HEA, we employed a stochastic cellular automata model that replicates the mesoscale structures that form. The model benefits from diffusion coefficients of the principal elements through the native oxides predicted by using molecular simulations. Through our examination of the oxidation behavior as a function of the alloy composition, we corroborated that the oxide scale growth is a function of the complex chemistry and resultant microstructures. The effect of heat treatment on these alloys is also simulated by using reconstructed experimental micrographs. When they are in a single-crystal structure, no segregation is noted for α-Al2O3 and Cr2O3, which are the primary scale-forming oxides. However, a coexistent separation between Al2O3 and Cr2O3 oxide scales with the Al-Ni- and Cr-Fe-rich regions is predicted when phase-separated microstructures are incorporated into the model.
Power-Line Partial Discharge Recognition with Hilbert–Huang Transform Features
Authors: Wang Yulu , Chiang Hsiao-dong , Dong Na
Published: September 2022

Partial discharge (PD) has caused considerable challenges to the safety and stability of high voltage equipment. Therefore, highly accurate and effective PD detection has become the focus of research. Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) features have been proven to have great potential in the PD analysis of transformer, gas insulated switchgear and power cable. However, due to the insufficient research available on the PD features of power lines, its application in the PD recognition of power lines has not yet been systematically studied. In the present study, an enhanced light gradient boosting machine methodology for PD recognition is proposed; the HHT features are extracted from the signal and added to the feature pool to improve the performance of the classifier. A public power-line PD recognition contest dataset is introduced to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed feature. Numerical studies along with comparison results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve promising performances. This method which includes the HHT features contributes to the detection of PD in power lines.
Analysis of Thermal Comfort in Intelligent and Traditional Buildings
Authors: Orman Łukasz J. , Majewski Grzegorz , Radek Norbert , Pietraszek Jacek
Published: September 2022

The paper analyses thermal comfort in intelligent and traditional buildings in Poland. It provides a comprehensive study on the subjective assessment of indoor environment conditions as well as on parameters that influence human thermal sensations and preferences. Direct measurements of physical parameters (e.g., air and globe temperature, relative humidity) as well as simultaneously conducted anonymous questionnaire studies were used to provide the necessary data. The study covered all seasons and a large number of participants representing various age groups and body build types, who completed a total of 1778 questionnaires. The results indicate that typically smart buildings offer higher levels of thermal comfort than the traditional ones and that people tend to prefer warmer environments. Moreover, it has been observed that the BMI index, air movement and the number of people per surface area can have an impact on the perceived thermal sensations.
Analysis of Pyrolysis Kinetic Parameters Based on Various Mathematical Models for More than Twenty Different Biomasses: A Review
Authors: Alvarado Flores José , Alcaraz Vera Jorge , Ávalos Rodríguez María , López Sosa Luis , Rutiaga Quiñones José , Pintor Ibarra Luís , Márquez Montesino Francisco , Aguado Zarraga Roberto
Published: September 2022

Today, energy use is an important and urgent issue for economic development worldwide. It is expected that raw material in the form of biomass and lignocellulosic residues will become increasingly significant sources of sustainable energy in the future because they contain components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractables with high energy-producing potential. It is then essential to determine the behavior of these materials during thermal degradation processes, such as pyrolysis (total or partial absence of air/oxygen). Pyrolyzed biomass and its residual fractions can be processed to produce important chemical products, such as hydrogen gas (H2). Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis and its derivative, DTG, are analytical techniques used to determine weight loss as a function of temperature or time and associate changes with certain degradation and mass conversion processes in order to evaluate kinetic properties. Applying kinetic methods (mathematical models) to degradation processes permits obtaining several useful parameters for predicting the behavior of biomass during pyrolysis. Current differential (Friedman) and integral (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, Starink, Popescu) models vary in their range of heating speeds (β) and degree of advance (α), but some (e.g., Kissinger’s) do not consider the behavior of α. This article analyzes the results of numerous kinetic studies using pyrolysis and based on thermogravimetric processes involving over 20 distinct biomasses. The main goal of those studies was to generate products with high added value, such as bio-char, methane, hydrogen, and biodiesel. This broad review identifies models and determines the potential of lignocellulosic materials for generating bioenergy cleanly and sustainably.
Analysis of the Past Seven Years of Waste-Related Doctoral Dissertations: A Digitalization and Consumer e-Waste Studies Mystery
Authors: Minashkina Daria , Happonen Ari
Published: September 2022

Solving global sustainability challenges is based on a well-researched understanding of the corresponding underlying problems, key contributing factors, and current state-of-the-art. Utilizing the scope of recent doctoral studies is one potent way to map current young researchers nowadays and near future research focus areas and directions. Here, the authors focused on waste management, especially, mapping dissertations on the grooving global challenge of electronic waste. Currently, this is the first scoping study of its kind, about e-waste -related trends within the circle of waste management-related doctoral studies. Apparently, in a waste-related context, dissertations have a low interest in directly focusing on the topic of consumable e-waste, even though this waste stream is the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream. Only a handful of doctoral dissertations, related to e-waste management, were found in the study. In a more general waste-related benchmarking/comparing mapping search, the ProQuest Digital Dissertations database was found to contain 201 dissertations between the years 2015 and 2022, covering waste matters in general. E-waste was covered in six of these 201 dissertations. These six did not have any real overlapping between each other and their research areas. Further thesis content analysis revealed e-waste topics to be currently addressed through consumer behavior, material recovery processes, forecasting, and robotics. The need for future research in the areas of consumable e-waste management is also widely discussed.
Wakes of Wind Turbines in Yaw for Wind Farm Power Optimization
Authors: Crespo Antonio
Published: September 2022

The application of wind-generated energy is increasing at a great rate, about 11% per year, with an installed capacity of 837 GW in 2021, and it is the primary non-hydro renewable technology; in many countries, it is the main source of electric energy [...]
Surface Photovoltage Study of GaAsSbN and GaAsSb Layers Grown by LPE for Solar Cells Applications
Authors: Donchev Vesselin , Milanova Malina , Georgiev Stefan
Published: September 2022

The properties of GaAsSbN and GaAsSb layers grown by liquid-phase epitaxy on n-GaAs substrates were investigated in a comparative plan with a view of their possible application in multi-junction solar cells. To avoid non-uniformity effects in the composition of these compounds with two or three different group-V volatile elements, the crystallization was carried out from finite melt with a thickness of 0.5 mm at low (<560 °C) temperatures. X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction were used to determine the composition, lattice mismatch, and crystalline quality of the epitaxial layers. The morphology and surface roughness were examined by atomic force microscopy. Surface photovoltage (SPV) spectroscopy at room temperature was applied to study the optical absorption properties and the photocarrier transport in the samples. The long-wavelength photosensitivity of the GaAsSbN and GaAsSb layers, determined from their SPV spectra, is extended down to 1.2 eV. Although GaAsSb has a slightly larger lattice mismatch with the GaAs substrate compared to GaAsSbN, it presents a higher photoresponse, since, in GaAsSbN, the incorporation of N induces additional recombination centres. Therefore, GaAsSb could be an alternative to GaAsSbN for solar cell applications.
Imaging Domain Seismic Denoising Based on Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (CGANs)
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wang Wenlei
Published: September 2022

A high-resolution seismic image is the key factor for helping geophysicists and geologists to recognize the geological structures below the subsurface. More and more complex geology has challenged traditional techniques and resulted in a need for more powerful denoising methodologies. The deep learning technique has shown its effectiveness in many different types of tasks. In this work, we used a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN), which is a special type of deep neural network, to conduct the seismic image denoising process. We considered the denoising task as an image-to-image translation problem, which transfers a raw seismic image with multiple types of noise into a reflectivity-like image without noise. We used several seismic models with complex geology to train the CGAN. In this experiment, the CGAN’s performance was promising. The trained CGAN could maintain the structure of the image undistorted while suppressing multiple types of noise.
Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation of Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. Embryogenic Cell Suspension Cultures and Expression Analysis of Exogenous Genes
Authors: Dang Shaofei , Zhang Lifeng , Han Suying , Qi Liwang
Published: September 2022

A simple and efficient protocol for the genetic transformation of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) was developed by altering the infection method and duration and the bacterial removal process. More than 600 hygromycin-resistant embryonal masses with the vector pCAMBIA1301 were obtained, with an average of 20 transgenic lines per gram of fresh weight. Nine hygromycin-resistant transformation events (designated P1–P9) were analyzed using PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and histochemical β-glucuronidase (GUS) assays. The GUS transcript abundance in each transformed cell line ranged from 101 to 103 magnitudes, with a maximum abundance of 2.89 × 103. In addition, the pLaTCTP::GUS vector, which contains GUS under the control of the L. kaempferi LaTCTP promoter, led to constitutive expression of GUS in embryonal-suspensor mass and somatic embryos. The transcript abundance of the exogenous genes HPT and GUS, driven by the CaMV 35S or LaTCTP promoter, ranged from 101 to 104, which was equivalent to genes with moderate and low abundances in Japanese larch. The relatively low expression levels of exogenous genes in transformants might reflect the large genome of Japanese larch. Additional transgenic cell lines need to be screened to obtain transformants with higher expression levels of foreign genes for further functional research in Japanese larch.
A Bibliometric and Visualized Analysis of Research Progress and Trends on Decay and Cavity Trees in Forest Ecosystem over 20 Years: An Application of the CiteSpace Software
Authors: Jiang Wen , Aishan Tayierjiang , Halik Ümüt , Wei Zhicheng , Wumaier Maierhaba
Published: September 2022

As one of the most serious health issues facing trees, the occurrence of decay and hollowing not only reduces the stability and quality of living trees but also leads to the deterioration of their eco-physiological functions, which creates great challenges to the conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. In recent years, the study of tree decay and hollow rot have attracted more and more attention from scholars at home and abroad. The relevant research results have a great significance for the prevention and control of affected living trees and the conservation and sustainable management of endangered species. However, there is a lack of systematic literature review and an insufficient understanding of research hotspots and trends in this field. This paper selects literature retrieved from the CNKI and Web of Science core databases as data sources, the number of publications, research topics, research status, hot spots, and trends, as well as the main research countries, institutions, and co-cited authors in the field of tree decay are visualized by using bibliometrics software CiteSpace (V.5.8.R3), and the current international research hotspots and development trends in this field were systematically summarized. The results showed that the number of papers in this field at home and abroad showed rapid growth in general, and the number of Chinese papers showed a slow growth after 2009. The number of papers published in English by Chinese authors was more than the number of papers published in Chinese in the field. From 2002 to 2021, the research hotspots in this field are constantly changing. Cluster analysis shows that the main themes of the relevant research are as follows: “Eastern Canada” tree species, “hydraulic vulnerability segmentation”, “dead wood management”, and “hydraulic safety”. The advantages and disadvantages of hollow/dead wood on forest ecosystems were explored from different perspectives, providing a theoretical basis and scientific support for the forest health and sustainable management. The United States dominates the research in this field, while China is a relatively late comer but is catching up fast, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the most prolific publisher on this topic in China. The influence of Chinese research in this field on relevant international publications is gradually increasing. In short, the research in this field is still in the phase of rapid development, and both the breadth and depth of quantitative research are increasing. How to accurately diagnose and quantify the internal decay of tree trunks and its relationship with tree death and forest decline under the interference and pressure of climate change and human activities is still a hot and difficult issue in this field.
Is the Pinus massoniana Lamb. Tree-Ring Latewood Formation Influenced by the Diurnal Temperature Range in Humid Subtropical China?
Authors: Zheng Zhuangpeng , Fang Keyan , Chen Yao , Dong Zhipeng , Zhou Feifei , Li Yingjun
Published: September 2022

Tree-ring latewood is a key proxy for the reconstruction of climate, especially for temperature. The mechanisms of latewood formation and its responses to climates remain uncertain. Given that the tree-ring latewood of the taproot is absent belowground under conditions of low temperature gradients, we thus hypothesize that low diurnal temperature ranges (DTRs) may be one determining factor for latewood production. To evaluate this hypothesis, we designed experimental investigations by adding heat-protecting layers to the trunks of Pinus massoniana Lamb. to lower DTRs and simulate the environmental conditions underground in the Fuzhou area of humid subtropical China (HSC). We found that a decreased DTR induces a significant decline in latewood cell thickness and a slight reduction in latewood cell number and latewood density. DTRs played an important role in the formation of tree-ring width (TRW) and latewood width (LWW) rather than precipitation. Our study highlighted the effects of DTRs on tree growth and wood anatomical changes and provided a possible explanation for the “divergence problem” in dendroclimatology.
Intra-Annual Growth and Its Response to Climatic Factors of Two Salix Species under Warm Temperate Environment
Authors: Zhang Yiping , Luo Pengfei , Xu Junliang , Hou Jiayu , Zhai Lexin
Published: September 2022

Monitoring cambial activity and intra-annual growth dynamics is an effective method for identifying tree growth response to climate change. However, there have been few pieces of research on intra-annual wood formation of diffuse-porous species under monsoonal warm temperate environment. Here, we monitored weekly the cambial activity and xylem differentiation of Salix babylonica and Salix matsudana by collecting microcores during the 2018 growing season. Two willow species exhibited similar cambial activity and xylem differentiation processes, of which the onset and cessation of xylem growth was from middle/late March to early/middle November. The onset and cessation of cambial activity were slightly earlier for Salix matsudana (19 March and 12 October) than for Salix babylonica (26 March and 17 October), which peaked on 2 June and 31 May, respectively. Salix babylonica showed wider xylem increment and higher growth rate than that of Salix matsudana, of which the intra-annual xylem width was 8525 ± 1201 µm and 7603 ± 826 µm, respectively, fitted by Gompertz function. Moreover, the maximum growth rate of Salix babylonica and Salix matsudana was 79.75 μm day−1 and 66 μm day−1, respectively, occurring on 4 June (DOY155) and 26 May (DOY146). Both temperature and water availability were important factors influenced the xylem growth for two species, which Salix matsudana had a stronger response to temperature but not to water availability than Salix babylonica. These results suggested that Salix babylonica seem to grow better under moist warm temperate environment due to it being a more conservative response to the climate than Salix babylonica. These observed species-specific differences at the intra-annual scale may help researchers more accurately anticipate the species suitability in temperate forests.
The Effect of Probiotics on Growth Performance, Haematological and Biochemical Profiles in Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii Brandt, 1869)
Authors: Mocanu Elena Eugenia , Savin Viorica , Popa Marcel Daniel , Dima Floricel Maricel
Published: September 2022

The use of probiotics in aquaculture has become a necessity to increase disease resistance. Probiotics are also capable of increasing feed digestion and conversion, decreasing sensitivity to stress, and improving the health of the fish. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of probiotics on survival, welfare, growth indices and blood composition in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), reared in a recirculating system. Diets were supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus (FLa) and Saccharomyces boulardii (FSb), separately and combined (FLa + Sb). The effect of probiotics was investigated on 2000 fish with a mean weight of 8.82 ± 0.29 g/specimen. Fish were fed for eight weeks with four different diets: a control without probiotics, one with the addition of lactic acid bacteria (La), one with the addition of yeast (Sb), and one with a mixture of bacteria and yeast in equal proportions (50% La + 50% Sb). FLa + Sb showed a better condition factor (Fulton coefficient, K = 0.39%) and significantly higher growth performance in terms of individual growth (WGi = 35.56 g), total growth gain (WGt = 15.30 g), specific growth rate (SGR, 2.70%/day), and feed conversion ratio (FCR = 1.58), compared to the control. The concentration of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils was higher in the tanks fed with probiotics compared to the control. The presence of probiotics caused a decrease in cholesterol and glucose. There were significant differences between the Immunoglobulin M values identified in the tank fed with FLa + Sb and the control tank. The results showed that the addition of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, introduced as probiotics in the diets of Acipenser baerii, reared in a recirculating system, improved the growth indicators, survival, and welfare of the fish.
Identification of Hypothalamic Long Noncoding RNAs Associated with Hypertension and the Behavior/Neurological Phenotype of Hypertensive ISIAH Rats
Authors: Fedoseeva Larisa A. , Ershov Nikita I. , Sidorenko Ivan A. , Markel Arcady L. , Redina Olga E.
Published: September 2022

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the control of many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Nonetheless, the understanding of the regulatory function of many lncRNAs is still incomplete. This work is a continuation of our earlier study on the sequencing of hypothalamic transcriptomes of hypertensive ISIAH rats and control normotensive WAG rats. It aims to identify lncRNAs that may be involved in the formation of the hypertensive state and the associated behavioral features of ISIAH rats. Interstrain differences in the expression of seven lncRNAs were validated by quantitative PCR. Differential hypothalamic expression of lncRNAs LOC100910237 and RGD1562890 between hypertensive and normotensive rats was shown for the first time. Expression of four lncRNAs (Snhg4, LOC100910237, RGD1562890, and Tnxa-ps1) correlated with transcription levels of many hypothalamic genes differentially expressed between ISIAH and WAG rats (DEGs), including genes associated with the behavior/neurological phenotype and hypertension. After functional annotation of these DEGs, it was concluded that lncRNAs Snhg4, LOC100910237, RGD1562890, and Tnxa-ps1 may be involved in the hypothalamic processes related to immune-system functioning and in the response to various exogenous and endogenous factors, including hormonal stimuli. Based on the functional enrichment analysis of the networks, an association of lncRNAs LOC100910237 and Tnxa-ps1 with retinol metabolism and an association of lncRNAs RGD1562890 and Tnxa-ps1 with type 1 diabetes mellitus are proposed for the first time. Based on a discussion, it is hypothesized that previously functionally uncharacterized lncRNA LOC100910237 is implicated in the regulation of hypothalamic processes associated with dopaminergic synaptic signaling, which may contribute to the formation of the behavioral/neurological phenotype and hypertensive state of ISIAH rats.
Germplasm Enhancement and Identification of Loci Conferring Resistance against Plasmodiophora brassicae in Broccoli
Authors: Xie Qi , Wei Xiaochun , Liu Yumei , Han Fengqing , Li Zhansheng
Published: September 2022

In order to breed broccoli and other Brassica materials to be highly resistant to clubroot disease, 41 Brassicaceae varieties were developed and identified between 2020 and 2021. Seven known clubroot genes were used for screening these materials. In addition, the resistant and susceptible broccoli cultivars were designed for observing their differences in the infection process with Plasmodiophora brassicae. The results showed that 90% of total materials had carried more than two clubroot resistance genes: one material carried two disease resistance genes, four materials carried seven genes for clubroot resistance, two materials carried six genes for clubroot resistance, and in total 32% of these materials carried five genes for clubroot resistance. As a result, several new genotypes of Brassicaceae germplasm were firstly created and obtained based on distant hybridization and identification of loci conferring resistance against Plasmodiophora brassicae in this study. We found and revealed that similar infection models of Plasmodiophora brassicae occurred in susceptible and resistant cultivars of broccoli, but differences in infection efficiency of Plasmodiophora brassicae also existed in both materials. For resistant broccoli plants, a small number of conidia formed in the root hair, and only a few spores could enter the cortex without forming sporangia while sporangia could form in susceptible plants. Our study could provide critical Brassica materials for breeding resistant varieties and new insight into understanding the mechanism of plant resistance.
Seven Shades of Grey: A Follow-Up Study on the Molecular Basis of Coat Colour in Indicine Grey Cattle Using Genome-Wide SNP Data
Authors: Senczuk Gabriele , Landi Vincenzo , Mastrangelo Salvatore , Persichilli Christian , Pilla Fabio , Ciani Elena
Published: September 2022

Shades of grey and brown are a dominant component in mammal coat colours, representing a fundamental trait involved in a great number of processes including cryptism, sexual selection and signalling. The genetic mechanisms of the grey colouration in mammals are very complex and controlled by hundreds of genes whose effects and interactions are still largely unclear. In this study, we adopted a robust multi-cohort Fst outlier approach based on pairwise contrasts between seven grey indicine cattle breeds and both taurine and indicine non-grey cattle breeds in order to find genomic regions potentially related to the grey colouration. On the basis of three main drawn settings, built in order to control both the effect of the sample size and the genetic structure, we have identified some signals common to those obtained in a previous work employing only taurine cattle. In particular, using the top 1% Fst approach, we detected a candidate region (22.6–23.8 megabases) on chromosome 14 in which genes related to pigmentation have been already documented. In addition, when we constructed a phylogenetic tree using the significant markers identified in this study and including also the genotyping data at these loci of both the grey taurine and the extinct wild auroch, we found a topological repartition consistent with breed colour pattern rather than with the known bovine evolutionary history. Thus, on the basis of this evidence, together with the geographical distribution of the current taurine grey cattle, an ancestral indicine origin for the grey phenotype would seem to be a conceivable interpretation. In this context, a higher thermo-tolerance and less UV-induced damage of the grey phenotype might have favoured the retention of advantageous genes into the taurine genome during the post-Neolithic human-mediated cattle expansions.
A Novel 3-Gene Signature for Identifying COVID-19 Patients Based on Bioinformatics and Machine Learning
Authors: Lai Guichuan , Liu Hui , Deng Jielian , Li Kangjie , Xie Biao
Published: September 2022

Although many biomarkers associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were found, a novel signature relevant to immune cells has not been developed. In this work, the “CIBERSORT” algorithm was used to assess the fraction of immune infiltrating cells in GSE152641 and GSE171110. Key modules associated with important immune cells were selected by the “WGCNA” package. The “GO” enrichment analysis was used to reveal the biological function associated with COVID-19. The “Boruta” algorithm was used to screen candidate genes, and the “LASSO” algorithm was used for collinearity reduction. A novel gene signature was developed based on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Subsequently, M0 macrophages (PRAUC = 0.948 in GSE152641 and PRAUC = 0.981 in GSE171110) and neutrophils (PRAUC = 0.892 in GSE152641 and PRAUC = 0.960 in GSE171110) were considered as important immune cells. Forty-three intersected genes from two modules were selected, which mainly participated in some immune-related activities. Finally, a three-gene signature comprising CLEC4D, DUSP13, and UNC5A that can accurately distinguish COVID-19 patients and healthy controls in three datasets was constructed. The ROCAUC was 0.974 in the training set, 0.946 in the internal test set, and 0.709 in the external test set. In conclusion, we constructed a three-gene signature to identify COVID-19, and CLEC4D, DUSP13, and UNC5A may be potential biomarkers for COVID-19 patients.
Large-Scale Sequencing of Borreliaceae for the Construction of Pan-Genomic-Based Diagnostics
Authors: Socarras Kayla M. , Haslund-Gourley Benjamin S. , Cramer Nicholas A. , Comunale Mary Ann , Marconi Richard T. , Ehrlich Garth D.
Published: September 2022

The acceleration of climate change has been associated with an alarming increase in the prevalence and geographic range of tick-borne diseases (TBD), many of which have severe and long-lasting effects—particularly when treatment is delayed principally due to inadequate diagnostics and lack of physician suspicion. Moreover, there is a paucity of treatment options for many TBDs that are complicated by diagnostic limitations for correctly identifying the offending pathogens. This review will focus on the biology, disease pathology, and detection methodologies used for the Borreliaceae family which includes the Lyme disease agent Borreliella burgdorferi. Previous work revealed that Borreliaceae genomes differ from most bacteria in that they are composed of large numbers of replicons, both linear and circular, with the main chromosome being the linear with telomeric-like termini. While these findings are novel, additional gene-specific analyses of each class of these multiple replicons are needed to better understand their respective roles in metabolism and pathogenesis of these enigmatic spirochetes. Historically, such studies were challenging due to a dearth of both analytic tools and a sufficient number of high-fidelity genomes among the various taxa within this family as a whole to provide for discriminative and functional genomic studies. Recent advances in long-read whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and machine-learning have provided the tools to better understand the fundamental biology and phylogeny of these genomically-complex pathogens while also providing the data for the development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics.
Evolutionary New Genes in a Growing Paradigm
Authors: Betrán Esther , Long Manyuan
Published: September 2022

How new genes evolve has become an interesting problem in biology, particularly in evolutionary biology [...]
Fragile X Syndrome Caused by Maternal Somatic Mosaicism of FMR1 Gene: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Gómez-Rodríguez Maria Jose , Morales-Conejo Montserrat , Arteche-López Ana , Sánchez-Calvín Maria Teresa , Quesada-Espinosa Juan Francisco , Gómez-Manjón Irene , Palma-Milla Carmen , Lezana-Rosales Jose Miguel , Pérez de la Fuente Ruben , Martin-Ramos Maria-Luisa , Fernández-Guijarro Manuela , Moreno-García Marta , Alvarez-Mora Maria Isabel
Published: September 2022

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by an abnormal expansion of the number of trinucleotide CGG repeats located in the 5′ UTR in the first exon of the FMR1 gene. Size and methylation mosaicisms are commonly observed in FXS patients. Both types of mosaicisms might be associated with less severe phenotypes depending on the number of cells expressing FMRP. Although this dynamic mutation is the main underlying cause of FXS, other mechanisms, including point mutations or deletions, can lead to FXS. Several reports have demonstrated that de novo deletions including the entire or a portion of the FMR1 gene end up with the absence of FMRP and, thus, can lead to the typical clinical features of FXS. However, very little is known about the clinical manifestations associated with FMR1 gene deletions in mosaicism. Here, we report an FXS case caused by an entire hemizygous deletion of the FMR1 gene caused by maternal mosaicism. This manuscript reports this case and a literature review of the clinical manifestations presented by carriers of FMR1 gene deletions in mosaicism.
The GOGIRA System: An Innovative Method for Landslides Digital Mapping
Authors: Licata Michele , Fubelli Giandomenico
Published: September 2022

Landslide mapping techniques have had many improvements in recent decades, the main field of development has been on traditional cartographic techniques and to a lesser extent on indirect numerical cartography. As for Direct Numerical Cartography (DNC), only a few improvements have been made due to the complexity and economic cost of the new technologies. To meet this lack in DNC techniques GOGIRA (Ground Operative-system for GIS Input Remote-data Acquisition), a new system following the GIS (Geographic Information System) scheme, was developed. It is a suite of hardware and software tools, algorithms, and procedures for easier and cheaper DNC. Initial tests conducted on the Quincinetto landslide system (north-western Italy) demonstrated good results in terms of morphometric coherence and precision. A geomorphological map made with GOGIRA was compared with a highly detailed geomorphological map developed with modern tested methods. In conclusion GOGIRA proved to be a valid system for geomorphological DNC when applied to a complex landslide system, considering the early stage of developing results for linear and point mapping was excellent, as for polygonal elements more studies must be conducted to improve accuracy and precision.
Stress Hyperglycemia Ratio as a Prognostic Marker in Diabetic Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19
Authors: Aon Mohamed , Alsaeedi Abdullah , Alzafiri Azeez , Al-Shammari Abdelrahman , Taha Sherif , Al-Shammari Omar , Tawakul Mahmoud , Alshammari Jarrah , Alherz Naser , Alenezi Monerah , Eyadah Meshari , Aldhafeeri Mariam , Alharbi Teflah , Alshammari Duaa , Alenezi Zaid , Aldouseri Salem , Albazee Ebraheem , Ibrahim Mohamed M. , Aoun Ahmed H.
Published: September 2022

Evidence is conflicting about the diabetes characteristics associated with worse outcome among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We aimed to assess the role of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) as a prognostic marker among them. In our retrospective cohort study, patients were stratified according to SHR, admission glucose, and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and in-hospital mortality. The study included 395 patients with a mean age of 59 years, and 50.1% were males. Patients in the third tertile of SHR developed more primary events, and the difference was significant compared to the first tertile (p = 0.038) and close to significance compared to the second tertile (p = 0.054). There was no significant difference in the outcomes across admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin tertiles. A higher SHR tertile was an independent risk factor for the primary outcome (OR, 1.364; 95% CI: 1.014–1.836; p = 0.040) after adjustment for other covariables. In hospitalized COVID-19 diabetic patients, SHR third tertile was significantly associated with worse outcome and death. SHR can be a better prognostic marker compared to admission glucose and glycated hemoglobin. A higher SHR was an independent risk factor for worse outcome and in-hospital mortality.
Impact of Virtual vs. In-Person School on Children Meeting the 24-h Movement Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pfledderer Christopher D. , Beets Michael W. , Burkart Sarah , Adams Elizabeth L. , Weaver Robert Glenn , Zhu Xuanxuan , Armstrong Bridget
Published: September 2022

The pandemic mitigation strategy of closing schools, while necessary, may have unintentionally impacted children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sleep, and time spent watching screens. In some locations, schools used hybrid attendance models, with some days during the week requiring in-person and others virtual attendance. This scenario offers an opportunity to evaluate the impact of attending in-person school on meeting the 24-h movement guidelines. Children (N = 690, 50% girls, K–5th) wore wrist-placed accelerometers for 14 days during October/November 2020. Parents completed daily reports on child time spent on screens and time spent on screens for school. The schools’ schedule was learning for 2 days/week in-person and 3 days/week virtually. Using only weekdays (M–F), the 24-h movement behaviors were classified, and the probability of meeting all three was compared between in-person vs. virtual learning and across grades. Data for 4956 weekdays (avg. 7 d/child) were collected. In-person school was associated with a greater proportion (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.33–2.18) of days that children were meeting the 24-h movement guidelines compared to virtual school across all grades. Students were more likely to meet the screen time (OR = 9.14, 95% CI: 7.05–11.83) and MVPA (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.25–1.80) guidelines and less likely to meet the sleep (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62–0.86) guidelines on the in-person compared to the virtual school days. Structured environments, such as school, have a protective effect on children’s movement behaviors, especially physical activity and screen time.
The Influence of Abdominal Adiposity and Physical Fitness on Obesity Status of Portuguese Adolescents
Authors: Encarnação Samuel , Flores Pedro , Magalhães David , Afonso Gil , Pereira Albino , Fonseca Rui , Ribeiro Joana , Silva-Santos Sandra , Teixeira José , Monteiro António , Ferraz Ricardo , Branquinho Luís , Forte Pedro
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between abdominal adiposity and physical fitness in the obesity status of Portuguese adolescents. BMI, abdominal adiposity, and physical fitness tests from the FITescola® were evaluated in a total of 654 Portuguese adolescents, aged 10-19 years old—male: n = 334 (51%), female: n = 320 (49%). For the final model, BMI was positively related with age (β = 0.25), abdominal adiposity (β = 0.313), horizontal jump (β = −0.100), 40 m maximal velocity (β = 0.274), and aerobic fitness (β = −0.250, R2 = 0.75, F = 382.2, and p = 0.0001). We conclude that higher age and abdominal adiposity are positively related with a higher adolescent BMI. Furthermore, lower horizontal jump distances and worse times on the 40 m maximal velocity were inversely related with a higher adolescent BMI, and lower aerobic fitness was inversely related with a higher adolescent BMI.