bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance, Haematology and Serum Biochemical Status of two Strains of Broiler Chicken Fed Ficus thonningii Leaf Powder and Vitamin C Supplemented Diets
Authors: Osowe C. O. , Adu O. A. , Oloruntola O. D. , Atansuyi A. J. , Chineke C. A. 
Published: April 2023

Aims: To evaluate the effect of Ficus thonningii leaf powder (FTLP) and vitamin C supplemented diets on performance and haemato-biochemical status of two strains of broiler chickens.
Methodology: Four hundred and eighty-one-day-old of Arbor acre (AB) and Cobb 500 (CO) broiler chicks were randomized to eight dietary treatments; diet 1 and 2 (Control), diets 3 and 4 (200mg/kg vitamin C inclusion), diets 5 and 6 (1% inclusion of FTLP) and (diets 7 and 8 (200mg/kg + 1% FTLP inclusions) for AB and CO strains respectively.
Results: Result shows that feed intake, body weight gain and FCR were significant (P<0.05) at the starter phase. Interaction between strains and vitamin C were also significant (P<0.05) for body weight gain, FCR and feed intake. Vitamin C and FTLP supplementation significantly (P<0.05) improved the erythrocytes count while the MCV, MCH, WBC and lymphocytes of birds fed diets 2 and 6 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other diets. The dietary supplementation of vitamin C and FTLP shows that strain AB had a significantly (P<0.05) higher erythrocytes count than CO strain while the CO showed significant (P<0.05) improvement for the MCV and MCH. Vitamin C supplementation showed significant difference (P<0.05) for the RBC and the interaction of vitamin C and FTLP significantly (P<0.05) improved PCV, HB, MCV, MCH, WBC and lymphocytes. The interactive effect of vitamin C and FTLP significantly (P<0.05) improved the total protein and albumin. Cholesterol and creatinine levels were significantly (P<0.05) lowered by the inclusion of vitamin C and FTLP.
Conclusion: As observed in this study, the inclusion of FTLP and vitamin C as a supplement in the diets of broiler chickens improved the performance, haematological indices and serum biochemical status of the tested birds.
Adoption of Aquaculture Technologies and Management Practices, Challenges and Productivity of Fish-Ponds in Kakamega County, Kenya
Authors: Cheruiyot Joseph Kipkorir , Adhiaya Merina 
Published: April 2023

There is increasing demand for fish products worldwide. To meet the growing demand there has been increased shift from wild-caught fish to farm-based production. The adoption of best practices in aquaculture is imperative in meeting this natural demand. This study investigated the adoption of best technological and management practices, challenges and productivity of fish-ponds among smallholder aquaculture farmers in Kakemega County, Kenya. Purposive and stratified sampling techniques were used to select 27 aquaculture farmers in 3 out of 12 Sub counties in the area, for interviews. Nine recommended technologies and management practices were used to develop an adoption index for each interviewee. Fish pond productivity was significantly lower for adopters below the median index; t (24) = -3.088, P = .005, with a mean of 196.3 g/m2 for lower index adopters and 449.5 g/m2 for the higher index. Variances in productivity were high. The study finds that the major on-farm challenges included; fish predators, poor quality feeds, insecurity and lack of quality fingerlings. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test the deviation of views from neutral; score of 3 on a 5-point scale. Market unavailability was not a significant constraint. There was high demand for fish products. Access to technical information was above 3 (median =4). Risk rating significantly deviated from neutral; there was a view that aquaculture was a risky venture. There were no extreme views on its profitability. In conclusion, the adoption of the technologies aided the productivity. The fish-pond productivity was relatively low and faced major challenges that need to be addressed to enhance the adoption of best practices and increase output from the ponds. Actions by stakeholders to address the challenges both at farm level and at policy level are recommended. Training on risk management strategies for the aquaculture farmers is recommended.
Gill Net Fishery Development Strategy in Cilacap Districk, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: Hermawan F. , Kasim N. , Darondo F. A. 
Published: April 2023

Capture fisheries require resource management to optimize fishing activities, followed by efforts to maintain ecosystems and preserve fish resources as catch targets from the threats of degradation and extinction. For that a descriptive research was conducted from January-July 2021 on stakeholders, divided into two, namely the main and secondary groups and the data collected through questionnaire forms, interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in Cilacap districk.
The collected data was analysed using scoring method with various respondents. Stakeholders give a rating or value of 1,2,3,4 on the strengths and opportunities factors, Giving a rating of 4,3,2,1 for the opposite of the level of importance of the weaknesses and threats factors.
The strategy formulations used are SWOT analysis using the Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats (SWOT) and Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) analysis. The matching of the selected strategy is Strength Opportunity (SO) with the largest score: 1.34 and 1.06. The strategic priorities are area and fishing time with a Total Attractive Score (TAS) of 4.2439, increasing fishermen's human resources (4.0715), modernizing and modifying fleets and lay gill nets (3.6098), utilizing potential for export needs (3.317).
3G Cutting: An Innovative Tool in Cucurbitaceous Crops to Boost the Production and Doubling the Income of Small Farmers in a Per Unit Area
Authors: Verma Aniket Kumar , Goutam Etalesh , Gangwar Vaishali , Singh Pranjal , Prajapati Jaswant , Singh Devraj , Mishra A. C. , Patel Vikas , Singh Ritesh 
Published: April 2023

3G cutting is one of the most popular and successful inter-culture operations in cucurbitaceous crops like; bottle gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, etc. as well as in plants like tomato, eggplant, chilli, and lady’s finger for a small patch of land. Low fruit set is an emerging constraint in cucurbits, and when it does, extremely small-sized fruits develop and degrade the mother plant. This is the main problem that farmers are currently facing. This problem arises due to a rapid decrease in beneficial insects and other pollinators as a result of the haphazard use of foliar fertilizers and chemical pesticides. 3G cutting is a scientific process to get higher production from plants by increasing the number of female flowers in the plant by adopting practices like trimming and pruning of 1st and 2nd generation branches. Generally, 1G and 2G branches have more no. of male flowers than female (approximately in the ratio of 14:1) whereas this ratio is reduced to 1:2 in 3G branches. We are all known that fruits develop from female flowers, while one male flower can pollinate several female flowers. However, this does not imply that there is no need for male flowers. Male flowers are necessary for pollination. Thus, 3G cutting is the finest scientific practice for farmers to maximize the number of female flowers and fruit yield.
Optimization Analysis of Hardness Test for Powdered Pentaclethra macrophylla Pod /Bio-Epoxy Resin Based Brake Pad Composite Using Central Composite Design
Authors: Iloabachie I. C. C. , Atuanya C. U. , Ogbu C. C. 
Published: April 2023

This work examined the optimization of hardness test for Powdered Pentaclethra macrophylla Pod /Bio-Epoxy Resin Based Brake Pad Composite Using Central Composite Design. The Pentaclethra macrophylla pod was manually cleaned and sun-dried for about three hours per day for three days. The sun-dried Pentaclethra macrophylla pod was later ovum dried at a temperature of about 110oC for three hours to achieve a constant weight and subsequently allowed to cool to room temperature. The ovum-dried Pentaclethra macrophylla pod was crushed to powder form using locally fabricated grinding machine and sieved. Part of the sieved powdered pod was carbonized in a heat treatment furnace at a temperature of about 950oC. Pre-impregnated process was used to prepare the brake pad composite samples. The weights of the powdered Pentaclethra macrophylla pods and bio-epoxy resin were varied while those of the lubricant, abrasives, friction modifier, catalyst and accelerator were kept constant The weights of the reinforcement i.e. powdered Pentaclethra macrophylla pods were varied between 10 wt. % and 50 wt. % at an interval of 10 wt. %. The formulation was poured into a wooden mould 50 mm × 50 mm × 8 mm placed in a hot platen press at temperature of about 180oC, a moulding pressure of 15MPa and a curing time of 5 minutes. Post-heat treatment of the composites was performed in a hot air oven for a period of 4 hours at 180 °C. The produced brake pads were evaluated for hardness in accordance to ASTM D785 standard using Rockwell Scale K hardness testing machine. The results of the test showed that 150μm particle size reinforced brake pad sample had higher hardness values of 105.7 and 106.4 at 20wt. % and 30wt. % respectively. This result was also confirmed by the Central composite design (CCD) where maximum hardness values of 107.31 and 107.63 were obtained at 20wt. % and 30wt. % respectively.
Visual Multifunctional Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Based Bacterial Cellulose for Killing of Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Shen Zipeng , Zhu Wei , Huang Yajia , Zhang Jiangjiang , Wu Yifan , Pan Yinzhen , Yang Guang , Wang Dong , Li Ying , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMultidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria‐related wound infections are a thorny issue. It is urgent to develop new antibacterial wound dressings that can not only prevent wounds from MDR bacteria infection but also promote wound healing. Herein, an aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) molecule BITT‐composited bacterial cellulose (BC) is presented as wound dressings. BC‐BITT composites have good transparency, making it easy to monitor the wound healing process through the composite membrane. The BC‐BITT composites retain the advantages of biocompatible BC, and display photodynamic and photothermal synergistic antibacterial effects under irradiation of a 660 nm laser. Furthermore, the BC‐BITT composites show excellent wound healing performance in a mouse full‐thickness skin wound model infected by MDR bacteria, simultaneously with negligible toxicity. This work paves a way for treating clinically troublesome wound infections.
A Multifunctional Nanocarrier System for Highly Efficient and Targeted Delivery of Ketamine to NMDAR Sites for Improved Treatment of Depression
Authors: Ge Jing , Tan Ronghua , Gao Qian , Li Rui , Xu Pengxin , Song Hang , Wang Shenqi , Wan Ying , Zhou Lei 
Published: April 2023

AbstractKetamine (KA), commonly used as an anesthetic, is now widely studied as an antidepressant for the treatment of depression. However, due to its side effects, such as addiction and cognitive impairment, the dosage and frequency of (S)‐ketamine approved by the FDA for the treatment of refractory depression is very low, which limits its efficacy. Here, a new multifunctional nanocarrier system (AC‐RM@HA‐MS) with specific targeting capabilities is developed to improve the efficacy of KA treatment. KA‐loaded NPs (AC‐RM@HA‐MS‐KA) are constructed with a multilayer core–shell structure. KA‐loaded mesoporous silica NPs are prepared, conjugated with hyaluronic acid (HA) as pore gatekeepers, and sheathed with an RBC‐membrane (RM) for camouflage. Finally, the surface is tagged with bifunctional peptides (Ang‐2‐Con‐G, AC) to achieve specific targeting. One peptide (Ang‐2) is acted as a guide to facilitate the crossing of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), while the other (Con‐G) is functioned as a ligand for the targeted delivery of KA to the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor sites. Animal experiments reveal that AC‐RM@HA‐MS‐KA NPs effectively cross the BBB and directionally accumulate in the curing areas, thereby alleviating the depressive symptoms and improving the cognitive functions of depressed mice. After treatment, the depressed mice almost completely return to normal without obvious symptoms of addiction.
ROS Scavenging Nanozyme Modulates Immunosuppression for Sensitized Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Mo Wenjing , Liu Shujie , Zhao Xiaozhi , Wei Fayun , Li Yuhang , Sheng Xinan , Cao Wenmin , Ding Meng , Zhang Wenlong , Chen Xiaoqing , Meng Longxiyu , Yao Sheng , Diao Wenli , Wei Hui , Guo Hongqian 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMyeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs), two immunosuppressive myeloid components within the tumor microenvironment (TME), represent fundamental barriers in cancer immunotherapy, whereas current nanomedicines rarely exert dual modulatory roles on these cell types simultaneously. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) not only mediates MDSC‐induced immunosuppression but also triggers differentiation and polarization of M2‐TAMs. Herein, an ROS scavenging nanozyme, Zr‐CeO, with enhanced superoxide dismutase‐ and catalase‐like activities for renal tumor growth inhibition is reported. Mechanistically, intracellular ROS scavenging by Zr‐CeO significantly attenuates MDSC immunosuppression via dampening the unfolded protein response, hinders M2‐TAM polarization through the ERK and STAT3 pathways, but barely affects neoplastic cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts. Furthermore, Zr‐CeO enhances the antitumor effect of PD‐1 inhibition in murine renal and breast tumor models, accompanied with substantially decreased MDSC recruitment and reprogrammed phenotype of TAMs in the tumor mass. Upon cell isolation, reversed immunosuppressive phenotypes of MDSCs and TAMs are identified. In addition, Zr‐CeO alone or combination therapy enhances T lymphocyte infiltration and IFN‐γ production within the TME. Collectively, a promising strategy to impair the quantity and function of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and sensitize immunotherapy in both renal and breast cancers is provided.
Engineered Curli Nanofilaments as a Self‐Adjuvanted Antigen Delivery Platform
Authors: Lamontagne Félix , Arpin Dominic , Côté‐Cyr Mélanie , Khatri Vinay , St‐Louis Philippe , Gauthier Laurie , Archambault Denis , Bourgault Steve 
Published: April 2023

AbstractProteinaceous nanoparticles constitute efficient antigen delivery systems in vaccine formulations due to their size and repetitive nature that mimic most invading pathogens and promote immune activation. Nonetheless, the coadministration of an adjuvant with subunit nanovaccines is usually required to induce a robust, long‐lasting, and protective immune response. Herein, the protein Curli‐specific gene A (CsgA), which is known to self‐assemble into nanofilaments contributing to bacterial biofilm, is exploited to engineer an intrinsically immunostimulatory antigen delivery platform. Three repeats of the M2e antigenic sequence from the influenza A virus matrix 2 protein are merged to the N‐terminal domain of engineered CsgA proteins. These chimeric 3M2e‐CsgA spontaneously self‐assemble into antigen‐displaying cross‐β‐sheet nanofilaments that activate the heterodimeric toll‐like receptors 2 and 1. The resulting nanofilaments are avidly internalized by antigen‐presenting cells and stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells. Without the need of any additional adjuvants, both assemblies show robust humoral and cellular immune responses, which translate into complete protection against a lethal experimental infection with the H1N1 influenza virus. Notably, these CsgA‐based nanovaccines induce neither overt systemic inflammation, nor reactogenicity, upon mice inoculation. These results highlight the potential of engineered CsgA nanostructures as self‐adjuvanted, safe, and versatile antigen delivery systems to fight infectious diseases.
Understanding the Interfacial Reactions and Band Alignment for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Built on Metal Substrates with Reduced Upscaling Losses
Authors: Li Tieqiang , Mao Kaitian , Meng Hongguang , Zhu Zhengjie , Peng Wei , Yuan Shaojie , Xu Jiahang , Feng Xingyu , Xu Zijian , Xu Jixian 
Published: April 2023

AbstractConventional perovskite solar cells (PSC) built on transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass face a fundamental challenge to retain fill factor (FF) for large‐area upscaling due to series resistance loss. Building a perovskite solar cell on metal has the potential to reduce this FF loss and is promising for flexible applications. However, their efficiency and stability lag far behind their TCO counterparts. Herein, findings on the complex chemical reactions and degradation‐promoting processes at different perovskite/metal (Cu, Au, Ag, and Mo) interfaces, which are closely linked with the inherent stability; and the interlayer engineering for perovskite/metal interface's band alignment, which plays an essential role in achieving high efficiency, are reported. Leveraging these findings, 21% power conversion efficiency (PCE) is achieved for 1 cm2 perovskite solar cells using a p–i–n top‐illumination structure on a molybdenum substrate, the highest reported for a PSC built on metal. Notably, the FF and PCE losses due to area upscaling are remarkably reduced by one order of magnitude relative to the counterparts on conventional TCO glass, highlighting an alternative pathway for PSC upscaling and module design.
Precise Control of Single‐Crystal Perovskite Nanolasers
Authors: Zhuge Minghua , Yin Jun , Liu Yilin , Wang Yuhan , Li Ziyu , Xiao Shumin , Yu Shaohua , Song Qinghai 
Published: April 2023

AbstractEfficient control of integrated light sources is crucial to advancing practical applications of nanophotonics. Despite the success of microlasers, their sophisticated nanostructures are not applicable in nanolasers. The situation for bottom‐up‐synthesized nanolasers becomes more challenging due to the constraints of fixed cavity shapes and fragile material stability. Here, the physics of exceptional points (EPs) is employed, and a strategy is demonstrated to precisely tune the lasing actions in lead halide perovskite nanorods. By placing a nanoparticle to the boundary of a square nanocavity, it is shown that EPs regularly and controllably emerge as a function of the nanoparticle position. Consequently, both the internal lasing actions and their far‐field radiation can be completely reversed with a tiny displacement of <100 nm. The new strategy for controlling lasing actions in nanocavities is confirmed with numerical simulations and lasing experiments. This research can also bring new avenues for ultrasensitive position sensing.
Soft Functionally Gradient Materials and Structures – Natural and Manmade: A Review
Authors: Pragya Akanksha , Ghosh Tushar K. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFunctionally gradient materials (FGM) have gradual variations in their properties along one or more dimensions due to local compositional or structural distinctions by design. Traditionally, hard materials (e.g., metals, ceramics) are used to design and fabricate FGMs; however, there is increasing interest in polymer‐based soft and compliant FGMs mainly because of their potential application in the human environment. Soft FGMs are ideally suitable to manage interfacial problems in dissimilar materials used in many emerging devices and systems for human interaction, such as soft robotics and electronic textiles and beyond. Soft systems are ubiquitous in everyday lives; they are resilient and can easily deform, absorb energy, and adapt to changing environments. Here, the basic design and functional principles of biological FGMs and their manmade counterparts are discussed using representative examples. The remarkable multifunctional properties of natural FGMs resulting from their sophisticated hierarchical structures, built from a relatively limited choice of materials, offer a rich source of new design paradigms and manufacturing strategies for manmade materials and systems for emerging technological needs. Finally, the challenges and potential pathways are highlighted to leverage soft materials' facile processability and unique properties toward functional FGMs.
Mechanistic Insights into the Stepwise (4+2) Cycloaddition toward Chiral Fused Uracil Derivatives
Authors: Marcantonio Enrico , Zanardi Franca , Curti Claudio , Lombardo Marco 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe mechanism of the previously reported stereoselective (4+2) cycloaddition of N‐protected 6‐methyluracil‐5‐carbaldehydes and (E)‐β‐nitrostyrenes catalyzed by Takemoto's tertiary amine/thiourea organocatalyst was explored, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations on a model representative reaction. The cyclization reaction, which afforded notable enantioenriched carbocycle‐fused uracils embedding three contiguous stereocenters, was here proven to be the result of a four‐step sequence comprising a key stereo‐defining Michael addition, followed by a completely diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction. Going beyond the hitherto reported activation modes, a complex and unprecedented network of hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the chiral catalyst and the reaction partners has been disclosed, in which the protonated tertiary amine and the thiourea moiety of the catalyst simultaneously activate both the electrophile and the nucleophile components. By applying the Energetic Span Model (ESM) to four competitive energetic profiles, we unveiled the most plausible reaction pathways best fitting the experimental data, with close correlation with the observed enantiomeric ratio of the product.magnified image
Retromer Proteins Reduced in Down Syndrome and the Dp16 Model: Impact ofAPPDose and Preclinical Studies of a γ‐Secretase Modulator
Authors: Chen Xu‐Qiao , Sawa Mariko , Becker Ann , Karachentsev Dmitry , Zuo Xinxin , Rynearson Kevin D. , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Mobley William C. 
Published: April 2023

ObjectiveThe retromer complex plays an essential role in intracellular endosomal sorting. Deficits in the retromer complex are linked to enhanced Aβ production. The levels of the components of the retromer complex are reported to be downregulated in Alzheimer disease (AD). Down syndrome (DS) shares neuropathological features with AD. Recent evidence points to dysregulation of the retromer complex in DS. The mechanisms underlying retromer deficits in DS and AD are poorly understood.MethodsWe measured the levels of retromer components in the frontal cortex of cases of DS‐AD (AD in DS) as well as DS; the frontal cortex of a person partially trisomic (PT‐DS) for human chromosome 21 (HSA21), whose genome had only the normal 2 copies of theAPPgene, was also examined. We also analyzed these proteins in the Dp16 mouse model of DS. To further explore the molecular mechanism for changes in the retromer complex, we treated Dp16 mice with a γ‐secretase modulator (GSM; 776890), a treatment that reduces the levels of Aβ42 and Aβ40.ResultsWe found VPS26A, VPS26B, and VPS29, but not VPS35, were significantly reduced in both DS and DS‐AD, but not in PT‐DS. Downregulation of VPS26A, VPS26B, and VPS29 was recapitulated in the brains of old Dp16 mice (at 16 months of age) and required increasedAppgene dose. Significantly, GSM treatment completely prevented reductions of the retromer complex.InterpretationOur studies point to increasedAPPgene dose as a compromising retromer function in DS and suggest a causal role for Aβ42 and Aβ40. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:245–258