bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoscale Organisation of Ryanodine Receptors and Junctophilin-2 in the Failing Human Heart
Authors: Hou Yufeng , Bai Jizhong , Shen Xin , de Langen Oscar , Li Amy , Lal Sean , dos Remedios Cristobal G. , Baddeley David , Ruygrok Peter N. , Soeller Christian , Crossman David J.
Published: October 2021

The disrupted organisation of the ryanodine receptors (RyR) and junctophilin (JPH) is thought to underpin the transverse tubule (t-tubule) remodelling in a failing heart. Here, we assessed the nanoscale organisation of these two key proteins in the failing human heart. Recently, an advanced feature of the t-tubule remodelling identified large flattened t-tubules called t-sheets, that were several microns wide. Previously, we reported that in the failing heart, the dilated t-tubules up to ~1 μm wide had increased collagen, and we hypothesised that the t-sheets would also be associated with collagen deposits. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), confocal microscopy, and western blotting were used to evaluate the cellular distribution of excitation-contraction structures in the cardiac myocytes from patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) compared to myocytes from the non-failing (NF) human heart. The dSTORM imaging of RyR and JPH found no difference in the colocalisation between IDCM and NF myocytes, but there was a higher colocalisation at the t-tubule and sarcolemma compared to the corbular regions. Western blots revealed no change in the JPH expression but did identify a ~50% downregulation of RyR (p = 0.02). The dSTORM imaging revealed a trend for the smaller t-tubular RyR clusters (~24%) and reduced the t-tubular RyR cluster density (~35%) that resulted in a 50% reduction of t-tubular RyR tetramers in the IDCM myocytes (p < 0.01). Confocal microscopy identified the t-sheets in all the IDCM hearts examined and found that they are associated with the reticular collagen fibres within the lumen. However, the size and density of the RyR clusters were similar in the myocyte regions associated with t-sheets and t-tubules. T-tubule remodelling is associated with a reduced RyR expression that may contribute to the reduced excitation-contraction coupling in the failing human heart.
Effectiveness of Some Vitamins in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Narrative Review
Authors: Shah Anureet K. , Dhalla Naranjan S.
Published: October 2021

By virtue of their regulatory role in various metabolic and biosynthetic pathways for energy status and cellular integrity, both hydro-soluble and lipo-soluble vitamins are considered to be involved in maintaining cardiovascular function in health and disease. Deficiency of some vitamins such as vitamin A, B6, folic acid, C, D, and E has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular abnormalities whereas supplementation with these vitamins has been claimed to reduce cardiovascular risk for hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and heart failure. However, the data from several experimental and clinical studies for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease due to vitamin deficiency as well as therapy due to different vitamins are conflicting. In this article, we have attempted to review the existing literature on the role of different vitamins in cardiovascular disease with respect to their deficiency and supplementation in addition to examining some issues regarding their involvement in heart disease. Although both epidemiological and observational studies have shown some merit in the use of different antioxidant vitamins for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, the results are not conclusive. Furthermore, in view of the complexities in the mechanisms of different cardiovascular disorders, no apparent involvement of any particular vitamin was seen in any specific cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, we have reviewed the evidence that deficiency of vitamin B6 promoted KCl-induced Ca2+ entry and reduced ATP-induced Ca2+-entry in cardiomyocytes in addition to decreasing sarcolemmal (SL) ATP binding. The active metabolite of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, attenuated arrhythmias due to myocardial infarction (MI) as well as cardiac dysfunction and defects in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-transport in the ischemic-reperfused hearts. These observations indicate that both deficiency of some vitamins as well as pretreatments with different vitamins showing antioxidant activity affect cardiac function, metabolism and cation transport, and support the view that antioxidant vitamins or their metabolites may be involved in the prevention rather than the therapy of cardiovascular disease.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Complex Molecular Mechanisms of Brassica napus–Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Interactions
Authors: Xu Binjie , Gong Xi , Chen Song , Hu Maolong , Zhang Jiefu , Peng Qi
Published: October 2021

Sclerotinia stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating disease for many important crops worldwide, including Brassica napus. Although numerous studies have been performed on the gene expression changes in B. napus and S. sclerotiorum, knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of B. napus–S. sclerotiorum interactions is limited. Here, we revealed the changes in the gene expression and related pathways in both B. napus and S. sclerotiorum during the sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) infection process using transcriptome analyses. In total, 1,986, 2,217, and 16,079 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in B. napus at 6, 24, and 48 h post-inoculation, respectively, whereas 1,511, 1,208, and 2,051 DEGs, respectively, were identified in S. sclerotiorum. The gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that most of the hormone-signaling pathways in B. napus were enriched, and thus, the hormone contents at four stages were measured. The DEGs and hormone contents revealed that salicylic acid was activated, while the jasmonic acid pathway was repressed at 24 h post-inoculation. Additionally, the expressional patterns of the cell wall-degrading enzyme-encoding genes in S. sclerotiorum and the hydrolytic enzymes in B. napus were consistent with the SSR infection process. The results contribute to a better understanding of the interactions between B. napus and S. sclerotiorum and the development of future preventive measures against SSR.
The Effects of Turnip Mosaic Virus Infections on the Deposition of Secondary Cell Walls and Developmental Defects in Arabidopsis Plants Are Virus-Strain Specific
Authors: López-González Silvia , Gómez-Mena Concepción , Sánchez Flora , Schuetz Mathias , Samuels A. Lacey , Ponz Fernando
Published: October 2021

Two isolates of Turnip mosaic virus (UK 1 and JPN 1), representative of two different viral strains, induced differential alterations on secondary cell wall (SCW) development in Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting cell-type specific effects of these viral infections. These potential effects were analyzed in inflorescence stems and flowers of infected plants, together with other possible cellular effects of the infections. Results obtained from macroscopic and histochemical analyses showed that infection with either virus significantly narrowed stem area, but defects in SCW were only found in JPN 1 infections. In flowers, reduced endothecium lignification was also found for JPN 1, while UK 1 infections induced severe floral cell and organ development alterations. A transcriptomic analysis focused on genes controlling and regulating SCW formation also showed notable differences between both viral isolates. UK 1 infections induced a general transcriptional decrease of most regulatory genes, whereas a more complex pattern of alterations was found in JPN 1 infections. The role of the previously identified viral determinant of most developmental alterations, the P3 protein, was also studied through the use of viral chimeras. No SCW alterations or creeping habit growth were found in infections by the chimeras, indicating that if the P3 viral protein is involved in the determination of these symptoms, it is not the only determinant. Finally, considerations as to the possibility of a taxonomical reappraisal of these TuMV viral strains are provided.
Light Intensity Modulates the Effect of Phosphate Limitation on Carbohydrates, Amino Acids, and Catechins in Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis L.)
Authors: KC Santosh , Long Lizhi , Liu Meiya , Zhang Qunfeng , Ruan Jianyun
Published: October 2021

Metabolites are major contributors to the quality of tea that are regulated by various abiotic stresses. Light intensity and phosphorus (P) supply affect the metabolism of tea plants. However, how these two factors interact and mediate the metabolite levels in tea plants are not fully understood. The present study investigated the consequences of different light intensity and P regimes on the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and flavonoids in the Fengqing tea cultivar. The leaves and young shoots were subjected to untargeted metabolomics analysis by two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOF/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-TOF/MS (UPLC–Q–TOF/MS), and targeted analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with quantification of gene expression by quantitative real time-PCR (qRT–PCR). The results from young shoots showed that amino acids, pentose phosphate, and flavonol glycosides pathways were enhanced in response to decreasing light intensities and P deficiency. The expression of the genes hexokinase 1, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase A (RPIA), glutamate synthetase 1 (GS1), prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P4H), and arginase was induced by P limitation, thereafter affecting carbohydrates and amino acids metabolism, where shading modulated the responses of transcripts and corresponding metabolites caused by P deficiency. P deprivation repressed the expression of Pi transport, stress, sensing, and signaling (SPX2) and induced bidirectional sugar transporter (SWEET3) and amino acid permeases (AAP) which ultimately caused an increase in the amino acids: glutamate (Glu), proline (Pro), and arginine (Arg) under shading but decreased catechins [epicatechingallate (ECG) and Gallic acid, GA] content in young shoots.
Cultivating Proactive Career Behavior: The Role of Career Adaptability and Job Embeddedness
Authors: Peng Peng , Song Yu , Yu Guangtao
Published: October 2021

Scholars have widely acknowledged that proactive career behavior is essential for individuals to proactively build their careers, as well as facilitate positive career outcomes. However, there are still many questions about how to activate proactive career behavior. In the current study, we consider whether, how and when regulatory focus of individuals would evoke their proactive career behavior. Based on career construction theory, we utilized the career adaptability framework to develop and test the mediating effect of individual regulatory focus on proactive career behavior through career adaptability. Moreover, we further proposed that job embeddedness plays a contingency role in moderating the extent to which regulatory focus contributes to proactive career behavior with the mediation of career adaptability differently and uniquely. Using a sample of 247 participants and collecting data in three waves, we found that the promotion focus of employees positively influences their proactive career behavior through the mediation of career adaptability. Furthermore, the indirect effect of promotion focus on proactive career behaviorviacareer adaptability was moderated by the dichotomy of job embeddedness of individuals respectively and differently. Specifically, the positive relationship between promotion focus and proactive career behavior via the mediation of career adaptability was strengthened by the on-the-job embeddedness of employees, whereas the relationship was weakened by their off-the-job embeddedness. The overall findings broaden our understanding in terms of the underlying mechanism of proactive career behavior, suggesting that the promotion focus of individuals fosters proactive career behaviorviacareer adaptability, and on-the-job and off-the-job embeddedness as contingency factors alter the effect of career adaptability.
Nursing Students' Perceptions on Healthcare-Associated Infection Control and Prevention Teaching and Learning Experience: Development and Validation of a Scale in Four European Countries
Authors: Yurrebaso Macho Amaia , Ward Mayens Alexander L. , Picado Valverde Eva Ma , Guzmán Ordaz Raquel , Juanes Méndez Juan Antonio , Pérez Iglesias Jose Luis , Mirón Canelo José Antonio , Pinto Maria do Rosário , Costa Reis Alcinda Maria do Sacramento , Simões Joaquim Augusto , Torres Ana Luísa , Silén-Lipponen Marja , Korhonen Ulla , Koponen Leena , Myllymäki Mikko , Jankowiak-Bernaciak Aleksandra , Patrzała Amelia , Bączyk Grażyna , Basa Anna , Costa Paulo Santos , Serambeque Beatriz , Oliveira Anabela Salgueiro , Pardal João , Graveto João Manuel Garcia do Nascimento , Parreira Pedro
Published: October 2021

Healthcare-associated infections are one of the major concerns worldwide. This study presents the development and the validation process of the InovSafeCare scale and aimed at identifying and measuring the ecosystem variables related to healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) prevention and control practices in European nurse students. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to (1) elaborate an item pool related to the educational environment, the healthcare setting environment, and the attitudes, beliefs, and performance of the nursing students regarding HCAI prevention and control and (2) analyze psychometric properties of the scale using factor analysis. The validated InovSafeCare scale was applied to undergraduate nursing students of five European Higher Education Institutions. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method with SMART-PLS3 software was used. The study sample consists of 657 nursing students, who responded a self-report inventory. From the analyzed data were identified 14 factors. The InovSafeCare scale reveals good validity and reliability of the dimensions in different European countries.
The Relationship Between Income Inequality and the Palliative Function of Meritocracy Belief: The Micro- and the Macro-Levels Both Count
Authors: Hadarics Márton , Kende Anna , Szabó Zsolt Péter
Published: October 2021

In the current paper, we report the analysis of the relationship between meritocracy belief and subjective well-being using two large international databases, theEuropean Social Survey Program(N= 44,387) and theEuropean Values Study Program(N= 51,752), involving data gathered from 36 countries in total. We investigated whether low status individuals are more likely to psychologically benefit from endorsing meritocratic beliefs, and the same benefits are more pronounced in more unequal societies. Since meritocracy belief can function as a justification for income differences, we assumed that the harsher the objective reality is, the higher level of subjective well-being can be maintained by justifying this harsh reality. Therefore, we hypothesized that the palliative function of meritocracy belief is stronger for both low social status (low income) individuals, and for those living in an unequal social environment (in countries with larger income differences). Our multilevel models showed a positive relationship between meritocracy belief and subjective well-being, which relationship was moderated by both individual-level income status and country-level income differences in both studies. Based on these results, we concluded that the emotional payoff of justifying income inequalities is larger if one is more strongly affected by these inequalities.
Will Job Crafters Stay or Leave? The Roles of Organizational Instrumentality and Inclusive Leadership
Authors: Xin Xun , Cai Wenjing , Gao Xueyuan , Liu Tingting
Published: October 2021

Although studies have indicated the influences of job crafting on contemporary employees’ working outcomes, the path from job crafting to turnover intention is still unexplored in depth. Drawing on goal facilitation theory, we delineate how job crafting relates to turnover intention through organizational instrumentality and is conditioned by inclusive leadership. We collected data from 218 employees from Chinese high-tech companies at two different time points by submitting survey questionnaires. The results indicated that employees’ job crafting relates positively to their perception of organizational instrumentality and further results in decreased turnover intention. We also found that inclusive leadership not only positively moderates the path from job crafting to organizational instrumentality but also positively moderates the whole mediational relationship. Moreover, job crafting relates positively and directly to turnover intention—i.e., the more employees craft their jobs, the more likely they leave their organizations when we control the roles of organizational instrumentality and inclusive leadership. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.
Survival Analysis of Lymphoepithelioma-Like Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder and the Effect of Surgical Treatment Modalities on Prognosis
Authors: Wu Jie , Shou Jian-Zhong , Wang Yu-Chen
Published: October 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of patients with lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the urinary bladder (LELCB) and explore the value of surgical treatment.

Methods: Data of patients with LELCB were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The multivariate analysis was performed using the stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression model and conditional inference tree method to identify significant prognosticators of overall survival (OS) from the parameters such as age, gender, lymph node involvement, tumor extent, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery type. Literature review (LR) was performed, and eligible cases were used to validate prognostic classification using the Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank tests.

Results: Sixty patients with a median age of 69.5 years were identified from the SEER database and 91 patients through LR. The Cox analysis identified age, gender, lymph node involvement, and surgical approach as independent prognosticators of OS. Based on the nomogram scores, patients were stratified into three prognostic groups: (I) patients younger than 70 years; (II) patients older than 70 years, who received bladder-sparing therapy (BST); and (III) patients older than 70 years undergoing radical cystectomy (RC). Patients in group II had the worst outcomes in terms of OS compared with patients in groups I and III (p < 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively). A similar survival pattern was found in the LR cohort.

Conclusion: The nomogram provided individualized prognostic quantification of OS in patients with LELCB. BST could yield favorable outcomes when treating LELCB, especially for younger patients, whereas older patients might derive more survival benefit from RC.
Employability as a Guiding Outcome in Veterinary Education: Findings of the VetSet2Go Project
Authors: Cake Martin , Bell Melinda , Cobb Kate , Feakes Adele , Hamood Wendy , Hughes Kirsty , King Eva , Mansfield Caroline F. , McArthur Michelle , Matthew Susan , Mossop Liz , Rhind Susan , Schull Daniel , Zaki Sanaa
Published: October 2021

This paper presents a mini-review of employability as a guiding outcome in veterinary education—its conceptualisation, utility, core elements and dimensions, and pedagogical approaches—through a summary of the findings of a major international project with the same aims (the VetSet2Go project). Guided by a conception of the successful veterinary professional as one capable of navigating and sustainably balancing the (sometimes competing) needs and expectations of multiple stakeholders, the project integrated multiple sources of evidence to derive an employability framework representing the dimensions and capabilities most important to veterinary professional success. This framework provides a useful complement to those based in narrower views of competency and professionalism. One notable difference is its added emphasis on broad success outcomes of satisfaction and sustainability as well as task-oriented efficacy, thus inserting “the self” as a major stakeholder and bringing attention to resilience and sustainable well-being. The framework contains 18 key capabilities consistently identified as important to employability in the veterinary context, aligned to five broad, overlapping domains: veterinary capabilities (task-oriented work performance), effective relationships (approaches to others), professional commitment (approaches to work and the broader professional “mission”), psychological resources (approaches to self), plus a central process of reflective self-awareness and identity formation. A summary of evidence supporting these is presented, as well as recommendations for situating, developing, and accessing these as learning outcomes within veterinary curricula. Though developed within the specific context of veterinarian transition-to-practise, this framework would be readily adaptable to other professions, particularly in other health disciplines.
Dietary Energy Level Impacts the Performance of Donkeys by Manipulating the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome
Authors: Zhang Chongyu , Zhang Chen , Wang Yunpeng , Du Meiyu , Zhang Guiguo , Lee Yunkyoung
Published: October 2021

Considerable evidence suggests that dietary energy levels and gut microbiota are pivotal for animal health and productivity. However, little information exists about the correlations among dietary energy level, performance, and the gut microbiota and metabolome of donkeys. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which dietary energy content dictates the growth performance by modulating the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of donkeys. Thirty-six nine-month-old male Dezhou donkeys with similar body weights were randomly assigned to two groups fed low- or high-energy diets (LE or HE). The results showed that donkeys fed HE had increased (p < 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G/F) compared with those that received LE diet. The gut microbiota in both groups was dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes regardless of the dietary energy level. However, feeding HE to donkeys significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B). Compared to the LE group, feeding HE specifically increased the abundances of unidentified_Prevotellaceae (p = 0.02) while decreasing the richness of unidentified_Ruminococcaceae (p = 0.05). Compared to the LE group, feeding the HE diet significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated certain metabolic pathways involving the aspartate metabolism and the urea cycle. In addition, the increased bacteria and metabolites in the HE-fed group exhibited a positive correlation with improved growth performance of donkeys. Taken together, feeding the HE diet increased the richness of Prevotellaceae and upregulated growth-related metabolic pathways, which may have contributed to the ameliorated growth performance of donkeys. Thus, it is a recommendable dietary strategy to feed HE diets to fattening donkeys for superior product performance and feed efficiency.
Development of a Colic Scoring System to Predict Outcome in Horses
Authors: Farrell Alanna , Kersh Kevin , Liepman Rachel , Dembek Katarzyna A.
Published: October 2021

Acute abdominal pain in the horse is a common emergency presenting to equine practices. The wide variety of etiologies makes prognosticating survival a challenge. A retrospective, multi-institutional clinical study was performed to determine clinical parameters associated with survival of horses with colic, and to use them to develop a colic survival scoring system. The scoring system was then validated using clinical data in the prospective portion of the study. Medical records from 67 horses presenting for acute abdominal pain were evaluated to develop the colic assessment score. Twenty eight variables were compared between survivors and non-survivors and entered into logistic regression models for survival. Of these, six variables were included in the colic assessment score. A total colic assessment score range was from 0 to 12, with the highest score representing the lowest probability of survival. The optimal cutoff value to predict survival was seven resulting in an 86% sensitivity and 64% specificity with a positive predictive value of 88% and a negative predictive value of 57%. Data from 95 horses presenting for abdominal pain to two equine hospitals was then collected prospectively to validate the colic assessment score. Horses from the prospective portion of the study that received a score >7 were classified as predicted to die and those with a score ≤7 were predicted to survive. The classification was compared to the actual outcome, of which the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the colic assessment score were 84, 62, 88, and 52%, respectively.
Application of Metabolomics in Diagnosis of Cow Mastitis: A Review
Authors: Hu Honghong , Fang Zhou , Mu Tong , Wang Zhong , Ma Yun , Ma Yanfen
Published: October 2021

Cow mastitis, with high incidence rate and complex cause of disease, is one of the main diseases that affect the development of dairy industry in the world. Clinical mastitis and subclinical mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, and other pathogens have a huge potential safety hazard to food safety and the rapid development of animal husbandry. The economic loss caused by cow mastitis is billions of dollars every year in the world. In recent years, the omics technology has been widely used in animal husbandry with the continuous breakthrough of sequencing technology and the continuous reduction of sequencing cost. For dairy cow mastitis, the traditional diagnostic technique, such as histopathological screening, somatic cell count, milk pH test, milk conductivity test, enzyme activity test, and infrared thermography, are difficult to fully and comprehensively clarify its pathogenesis due to their own limitations. Metabolomics technology is an important part of system biology, which can simultaneously analyze all low molecular weight metabolites such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates under the action of complex factors including internal and external environment and in a specific physiological period accurately and efficiently, and then clarify the related metabolic pathways. Metabolomics, as the most downstream of gene expression, can amplify the small changes of gene and protein expression at the level of metabolites, which can more fully reflect the cell function. The application of metabolomics technology in cow mastitis can analyze the hetero metabolites, identify the related biomarkers, and reveal the physiological and pathological changes of cow mammary gland, so as to provide valuable reference for the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of mastitis. The research progress of metabolomics technology in cow mastitis in recent years was reviewed, in order to provide guidance for the development of cow health and dairy industry safety in this manuscript.
Penthorum chinense Pursh Compound Ameliorates AFB1-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis via Modulation of Mitochondrial Pathways in Broiler Chicken Kidneys
Authors: Tao Weilai , Li Zhenzhen , Nabi Fazul , Hu Yu , Hu Zeyu , Liu Juan
Published: October 2021

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin widely present in foods and animal feeds; it represents a great risk to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Penthorum chinense Pursh compound (PCPC) against AFB1-induced damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways in kidney tissues of broilers. One-day-old chickens (n = 180) were randomly allocated to six groups: control, AFB1 (2.8 mg AFB1/kg feed), positive drug (10 mLYCHT/kg feed), and PCPC high, medium, and low-dose groups (15, 10, and 5 ml PCPC/kg feed, respectively). AFB1 treatment reduced weight gain and induced oxidative stress and kidney damage in broiler tissues; however, PCPC supplementation effectively enhanced broiler performance, ameliorated AFB1-induced oxidative stress, and inhibited apoptosis in the kidneys of broilers. The mRNA expression levels of mitochondria-related apoptosis genes (Bax, Bak, cytochrome c, caspase-9, and caspase-3) were significantly increased, whereas BCL2 expression level decreased in the AFB1 group. Supplementation of PCPC to the AFB1 group significantly reversed the changes in mRNA expression levels of these apoptosis-associated genes compared to those in the AFB1 group. The mRNA levels of NRF2 and HMOX1 in the kidneys of the AFB1 group were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group, whereas PCPC significantly increased the NRF2 and HMOX1 mRNA levels. AFB1 decreased the levels of Beclin1, LC3-I, and LC3-II and increased P53 levels in the kidney compared to those in the control, whereas PCPC significantly reversed these changes to normal levels of autophagy-related genes compared to those in the AFB1 group. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that PCPC ameliorated AFB1-induced oxidative stress by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes and mitochondrial pathways. Our results suggest that PCPC represents a natural and safe agent for preventing AFB1-induced injury and damage in broiler tissues.
Utilizing the Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Determining Control Parameters for Civil Structures Subject to Seismic Excitation
Authors: Peckens Courtney A. , Alsgaard Andrea , Fogg Camille , Ngoma Mary C. , Voskuil Clara
Published: October 2021

Structural control of civil infrastructure in response to large external loads, such as earthquakes or wind, is not widely employed due to challenges regarding information exchange and the inherent latencies in the system due to complex computations related to the control algorithm. This study employs front-end signal processing at the sensing node to alleviate computations at the control node and results in a simplistic sum of weighted inputs to determine a control force. The control law simplifies to U = WP, where U is the control force, W is a pre-determined weight matrix, and P is a deconstructed representation of the response of the structure to the applied excitation. Determining the optimal weight matrix for this calculation is non-trivial and this study uses the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with a modified homing feature to converge on a possible solution. To further streamline the control algorithm, various pruning techniques are combined with the PSO algorithm in order to optimize the number of entries in the weight matrix. These optimization techniques are applied in simulation to a five-story structure and the success of the resulting control parameters are quantified based on their ability to minimize the information exchange while maintaining control effectiveness. It is found that a magnitude-based pruning method, when paired with the PSO algorithm, is able to offer the most effective control for a structure subject to seismic base excitation.
Trends towards Coordination between Grain Production and Economic Development in China
Authors: Xie Kun , Ding Mingjun , Zhang Jianrong , Chen Liwen
Published: October 2021

Accurately understanding the relationship between grain production and economic development is of great practical significance for ensuring national food security and coordinating inter-regional economic development. Using 2012 counties as research units, we analyzed the spatial coordination between grain production and economic development in China using the coupling of grain and economy (CGE) index, as well as the curve of gravity center and thematic map series methods based on statistical data from counties between 2000–2017. The results showed that: (1) Grain production was weakly coordinated with the economic development in China; but this coordination was enhanced. (2) China’s conversion between various types of grain production and economic development mainly occurred in the central and western regions, which are characterized by a much higher grain agglomeration level than the economic agglomeration level. (3) The northeastern region was prone to the grain agglomeration, the central and western regions were characterized by a grain-economy balance and the eastern region was dominated by economic agglomeration. (4) The increase of China’s CGE gradually increased from the southwest to northeast. Therefore, we proposed that the government should pay more attention to grain circulation in the eastern region and main grain-producing areas in central region should develop an accurate benefit compensation system, support leading grain processing enterprises and implement cultivated land protection policies in order to ensure national food security.
Mycorrhizal Inoculation Effect on Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) Seedlings
Authors: ALHadidi Nour , Pap Zoltán , Ladányi Márta , Szentpéteri Viktor , Kappel Noémi
Published: October 2021

Sweet potato is an increasingly significant crop and its effective and sustainable cultivation has become important in temperate countries. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a mycorrhizal inoculum, Symbivit, and whether it could establish a symbiotic relationship with the seedlings of two sweet potato varieties (orange and purple). The effectiveness of the mycorrhizal inoculation with a sterilized substrate on the mycorrhizal parameters (F%, M%, m%, a%, A%) and physical parameters “[length of roots and shoots (cm), the fresh weight of shoots and roots (g) as well as the length of stem (cm)]” on the sweet potato seedlings has also been studied. Results show that the sterilization treatment with Symbivit in both varieties increased the frequency of mycorrhiza in the root system. For the intensity of the mycorrhizal colonization in the root fragments and the arbuscular abundance, there was a difference between the mycorrhizal inoculum and the sterilization treatment among the varieties. Overall, the preliminary results provided remarkable information about mycorrhizal inoculation, substrate sterilization on mycorrhizal development, as well as changes in the physical parameters between sweet potato seedlings. Our results could serve as a practical strategy for further research into adding significance to the effect of the beneficial soil microbes on sweet potatoes.
Results of 15 Years of Precision Feeding of Hyper Prolific Gestating Sows
Authors: Quiniou Nathalie
Published: October 2021

The increase in prolificacy at weaning is less than that at farrowing due to increased loss of piglets. As a result, farmers focus more on solutions that can prevent difficult parturition or a decrease in milk production. The body condition of the sow influences both factors. A model developed to estimate energy requirements of gestating sows was used to monitor the body weight and back fat thickness (BT) at farrowing, through the creation of a demonstration farm that included 7 batches of 24 sows. Daily feed allowance was adapted to characteristics of each sow at the beginning of gestation. Based on data collected since 2005 from 5140 gestations in different housing systems, the BT averaged 19.3 mm at farrowing, with no significant differences among housing systems. Within-batch variability in BT ranged from 3–4 mm and is expected to improve in the future by using sensors to automatically weigh and measure physical activity towards a real-time assessment of energy requirements. The next step in reducing feed costs and environmental impacts is to consider amino-acid and phosphorus requirements in the precision-feeding strategy.
Dual-Purpose Water Buffalo Production Systems in Tropical Latin America: Bases for a Sustainable Model
Authors: Bertoni Aldo , Álvarez-Macías Adolfo , Mota-Rojas Daniel , Dávalos José Luis , Minervino Antonio Humberto Hamad
Published: October 2021

Tropical regions of Latin America have been incorporated into development in recent decades, with extensive cattle ranching as one of the main economic activities but without adequate planning, drastically degrading the ecosystem. In recent years, buffalo production has been incorporated into the region, with possibilities for development in profitable and sustainable models. To study this option in depth, a broad bibliographic review was carried out focusing on the ecological characteristics of tropical zones and the physiological and productive characteristics of buffaloes. We also investigated the structure and functioning of dual-purpose systems that have worked in cattle and that can be optimized with this alternative animal species. The possibility of taking sustainable advantage of abundant forage resources in the region was detected through intensive grazing models, as well as agrosilvopastoral systems, due to the gregarious qualities of buffaloes and responding to their thermoregulation needs. In this way, the productive and regenerative capacities of the dual-purpose system could be increased, as well as the quality of meat and milk, which could be marketed as differentiated products, taking advantage of their outstanding nutritional qualities. Integral management of the dual-purpose system is proposed, retaking the bases of the original model of family characters, diversified and with low investments and risks, which with specific innovations can be an effective development option for producers in the region.
Longitudinal Surveillance and Risk Assessment of Resistance in Escherichia coli to Enrofloxacin from A Large-Scale Chicken Farm in Hebei, China
Authors: Guo Kaixuan , Zhao Yue , Cui Luqing , Cao Zhengzheng , Zhang Fan , Wang Xiangru , Peng Zhong , Feng Jiawei , Hu Tianyu , Dai Menghong
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes of resistance phenotype and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes (PMQRs) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) during enrofloxacin (ENR) administration in different breeding cycles. In 2020, 983 strains of E. coli were isolated from different samples in different cycles at the broiler farm with the largest single batch of slaughter capacity in Hebei Province, China. All samples were from chicken, environmental, and human sources. The sensitivity of the isolates to various antibiotics was determined by broth microdilution method. The findings of this study include: (1) the total isolation rate of E. coli in the four cycles was 63.83% (983/1540); (2) the average resistance rate of E. coli from 1-day-old chickens to enrofloxacin was as high as 75% in each cycle, and with the use of enrofloxacin, the resistance rate of E. coli from chickens gradually increased to 100%; (3) 107 strains of E. coli randomly selected from different cycles and sources demonstrated the multi-drug resistance phenotypes. The highest resistance rate was doxycycline (100%), and the lowest was erythromycin (54.21%); (4) the detection rate of PMQRs of E. coli from chickens in different cycles were always higher than that from environmental and human. In particular, the PMQRs pollution rate of chicken seedlings in each cycle were generally higher than that of other sources; (5) We used SPSS software to analyze the Kendall rank correlation of the experimental data. The resistance of E. coli isolated from this farm to ciprofloxacin (CIP) may increase along with the increase of resistance to enrofloxacin (Kendall’s tau-b = 0.190, p = 0.021). All these data highlight the serious problem of bacterial resistance in this farm. Therefore, it is urgent to provide guidance for the prevention and control of colibacillosis and drug resistance in this farm.
Kinase Inhibitor Library Screening Identifies the Cancer Therapeutic Sorafenib and Structurally Similar Compounds as Strong Inhibitors of the Fungal Pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum
Authors: Berkes Charlotte , Franco Jimmy , Lawson Maxx , Brann Katelynn , Mermelstein Jessica , Laverty Daniel , Connors Allison
Published: October 2021

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungal pathogen endemic to the midwestern and southern United States. It causes mycoses ranging from subclinical respiratory infections to severe systemic disease, and is of particular concern for immunocompromised patients in endemic areas. Clinical management of histoplasmosis relies on protracted regimens of antifungal drugs whose effectiveness can be limited by toxicity. In this study, we hypothesize that conserved biochemical signaling pathways in the eukaryotic domain can be leveraged to repurpose kinase inhibitors as antifungal compounds. We conducted a screen of two kinase inhibitor libraries to identify compounds inhibiting the growth of Histoplasma capsulatum in the pathogenic yeast form. Our approach identified seven compounds with an elongated hydrophobic polyaromatic structure, five of which share a molecular motif including a urea unit linking a halogenated benzene ring and a para-substituted polyaromatic group. The top hits include the cancer therapeutic Sorafenib, which inhibits growth of Histoplasma in vitro and in a macrophage infection model with low host cell cytotoxicity. Our results reveal the possibility of repurposing Sorafenib or derivatives thereof as therapy for histoplasmosis, and suggest that repurposing of libraries developed for human cellular targets may be a fruitful source of antifungal discovery.
Hexagonal Boron Nitride Passivation Layer for Improving the Performance and Reliability of InGaN/GaN Light-Emitting Diodes
Authors: Lee Gun-Hee , Cuong Tran-Viet , Yeo Dong-Kyu , Cho Hyunjin , Ryu Beo-Deul , Kim Eun-Mi , Nam Tae-Sik , Suh Eun-Kyung , Seo Tae-Hoon , Hong Chang-Hee
Published: October 2021

We introduce a low temperature process for coating InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with h-BN as a passivation layer. The effect of h-BN on device performance and reliability is investigated. At −5 V, the leakage current of the h-BN passivated LED was −1.15 × 10−9 A, which was one order lower than the reference LED’s leakage current of −1.09 × 10−8 A. The h-BN layer minimizes the leakage current characteristics and operating temperature by acting as a passivation and heat dispersion layer. With a reduced working temperature of 33 from 45 °C, the LED lifetime was extended 2.5 times following h-BN passivation. According to our findings, h-BN passivation significantly improves LED reliability.
Design and Implementation of Inverse Kinematics and Motion Monitoring System for 6DoF Platform
Authors: Wei Ming-Yen
Published: October 2021

Six-axis motion platforms have a low contraction height and a high degree of freedom. First of all, the designed six-axis crank arm platform, including the motor, reducer, crank arm, link, platform support arm, and upper and lower platforms, can be designed for different bearing requirements. Secondly, it uses a coordinate transform and kinematics theory to derive each motor rotor angle. A set of platform data acquisition (DAQ) monitoring modules was established, and the LabVIEW programming language was used to write measurement software. The monitoring items include displacement, speed, and acceleration, which can be displayed on the screen and recorded by an industrial computer in real time and dynamically. Then, an RS-485 or RS-232 communication transmission interface was used to provide the control system with the related movement information. Finally, an industrial computer combined with a motion control card was used as a control kernel to realize the control algorithms, internet module function, I/O write and read signals, firmware integration, and human–machine interface message. The experimental results validate the appropriateness of the proposed method.
Attentional Skills in Soccer: Evaluating the Involvement of Attention in Executing a Goalkeeping Task in Virtual Reality
Authors: Shimi Andria , Tsestou Vanessa , Hadjiaros Marios , Neokleous Kleanthis , Avraamides Marios
Published: October 2021

Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers in soccer but the involved cognitive abilities for these players have only recently become the focus of extensive research. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a basic goalkeeping task in soccer. One hundred participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive virtual reality (VR) and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. A regression analysis revealed that all three attention network scores contributed to performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports.
Clinical Outcomes in the Second versus First Pandemic Wave in Italy: Impact of Hospital Changes and Reorganization
Authors: Voza Antonio , Desai Antonio , Luzzi Sabino , Giotta Lucifero Alice , Azzolini Elena , Kogan Maria , Goretti Giulia , Piovani Daniele , Bonovas Stefanos , Angelotti Giovanni , Savevski Victor , Aghemo Alessio , Greco Massimiliano , Costantini Elena , Lleo Ana , Angelini Claudio , Giordano Mauro , Badalamenti Salvatore , Cecconi Maurizio
Published: October 2021

The region of Lombardy was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Emergency Hospital 19 (EH19) was built in the Milan metropolitan area during the pandemic’s second wave as a facility of Humanitas Clinical and Research Center (HCRC). The present study aimed to assess whether the implementation of EH19 was effective in improving the quality of care of COVID-19 patients during the second wave compared with the first one. The demographics, mortality rate, and in-hospital length of stay (LOS) of two groups of patients were compared: the study group involved patients admitted at HCRC and managed in EH19 during the second pandemic wave, while the control group included patients managed exclusively at HCRC throughout the first wave. The study and control group included 903 (56.7%) and 690 (43.3%) patients, respectively. The study group was six years older on average and had more pre-existing comorbidities. EH19 was associated with a decrease in the intensive care unit admission rate (16.9% vs. 8.75%, p < 0.001), and an equal decrease in invasive oxygen therapy (3.8% vs. 0.23%, p < 0.001). Crude mortality was similar but overlap propensity score weighting revealed a trend toward a potential small decrease. The adjusted difference in LOS was not significant. The implementation of an additional COVID-19 hospital facility was effective in improving the overall quality of care of COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic when compared with the second. Further studies are necessary to validate the suggested approach.