Economic Losses Research Articles

Identification and Disinfection Treatment Technology of a New Guangdong Choy Sum Disease

Seed-borne diseases cause significant economic losses in modern agriculture. The use of large amounts of chemical pesticides to control seed-borne diseases also results in negative consequences such as environmental pollution and pesticide residue in agricultural products. This has generated great interest among scholars in detecting and controlling seed-borne diseases. This study screened and isolated a new pathogenic fungus, Penicillium decumbens, from three Guangdong choy sum varieties. The virulence test showed that it inhibited seed germination rate by 40% and germination vigor by 50%. The conventional seed disinfectants (Thiram WP) did not completely eliminate the pathogenic bacteria. A comparative study of nine seed disinfectants revealed that 50% Carbendazim WP, 80% Thiram WP, 15% Carbendazim+15% Thiram WP, and 45% Prochloraz EW exhibited significant fungicidal effects against Penicillium decumbents infection in Guangdong choy sum seeds. Based on comprehensive indicators including germination rate, germination vigor, and root length after disinfection treatment, the most effective disinfectant was 45% Prochloraz EW with a sterilization effect of 100%, an increase in germination vigor by 37.5%, and an increase in germination rate by 27.9%.

Caspase-3 interactins with calpain and cathepsin L: implications for protein stability and quality in fish fillets during postmortem storage

The degradation of structural proteins during fish postmortem storage is a critical factor affecting meat quality, leading to economic losses in the seafood industry. The complex interplay between caspase-3 and structural protein stability during fish postmortem storage remains largely unexplored. By treating grass carp fillets with a caspase-3 inhibitor, we establish a model for inhibiting apoptosis, delineating the role of caspase-3 in protein degradation. The effect of caspase-3 on grass carp proteins following postmortem storage and its cascade interaction with calpain and cathepsin L was further investigated. The result demonstrated that the destabilisation of the mitochondrial membrane during apoptosis led to modifications in the B-cell lymphoma (Bcl) family proteins, subsequently triggered the activation of caspase-9/caspase-3. Additionally, caspase-3 reduced the expression of the calpastatin and lysosomal membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1) gene, resulting in increased calpain and cathepsin L activity. SDS-PAGE and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis indicated that caspase-3 inhibitor treatment reduced actin fractures and preserved critical structural proteins. This investigation unveils the molecular mechanisms through which caspase-3 affects protein degradation in fish fillets during storage, providing valuable insights into the postmortem degradation processes.

Modelling drought in South Africa: meteorological insights and predictive parameters

South Africa has grappled with recurring drought scenarios for over two decades, leading to substantial economic losses. Droughts in the Western Cape between 2015 and 2018, especially in Cape Town was declared a national disaster, resulting in the strict water rationing and the “day zero” effect. This study presents a set of simulations for predicting drought over South Africa using Artificial Neural Network (ANN), using Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) as the drought indicator in line with the recommendations of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Furthermore, different meteorological variables and an aerosol parameter were used to develop the drought set in four distinct locations in South Africa for a 21-year period. That data used include relative humidity (rh), temperature (tp), soil wetness (sw), evapotranspiration (et), evaporation (ev) sea surface temperature (st), and aerosol optical depth (aa). The obtained R2 values for SPI3 ranged from 0.49 to 0.84 and from 0.22 to 0.84 for SPI6 at Spring Bok, Umtata 0.83 to 0.95 for SPI3, and 0.61 to 0.87 for SPI6; Cape Town displayed R2 values from 0.78 to 0.94 for SPI3 and 0.57 to 0.95 for SPI6, while Upington had 0.77–0.95 for SPI3, and 0.78–0.92 for SPI6. These findings underscore the significance of evapotranspiration (et) as a pivotal parameter in drought simulation. Additionally, the predictive accuracy of these parameter combinations varied distinctly across different locations, even for the same set of parameters. This implies that there is no single universal scheme for drought prediction. Hence, the results are important for simulating future drought scenarios at different parts of South Africa. Finally, this study shows that ANN is an effective tool that can be utilized for drought studies and simulations.

Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses of Rosa hybrida to identify heat stress response genes and metabolite pathways

BackgroundGlobal warming has greatly increased the impact of high temperatures on crops, resulting in reduced yields and increased mortality. This phenomenon is of significant importance to the rose flower industry because high-temperature stress leads to bud dormancy or even death, reducing ornamental value and incurring economic losses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the response and resistance of roses to high-temperature stress can serve as an important reference for cultivating high-temperature-stress-resistant roses.ResultsTo evaluate the impact of high temperatures on rose plants, we measured physiological indices in rose leaves following heat stress. Protein and chlorophyll contents were significantly decreased, whereas proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and peroxidase (POD) activity were increased. Subsequently, transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses identified 4,652 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 57 common differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) in rose plants from four groups. Enrichment analysis showed that DEGs and DAMs were primarily involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. The combined analysis of the DEGs and DAMs revealed that flavonoid biosynthesis pathway-related genes, such as chalcone isomerase (CHI), shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT), flavonol synthase (FLS), and bifunctional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase/flavanone 4-reductase (DFR), were downregulated after heat stress. Moreover, in the MAPK signaling pathway, the expression of genes related to jasmonic acid exhibited a decrease, but ethylene receptor (ETR/ERS), P-type Cu + transporter (RAN1), ethylene-insensitive protein 2/3 (EIN2), ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 (ERF1), and basic endochitinase B (ChiB), which are associated with the ethylene pathway, were mostly upregulated. Furthermore, heterologous overexpression of the heat stress-responsive gene RcHSP70 increased resistance to heat stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.ConclusionThe results of this study indicated that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and plant hormones may be involved in high-temperature resistance in roses. Constitutive expression of RcHSP70 may contribute to increasing high-temperature tolerance. This study provides new insights into the genes and metabolites induced in roses in response to high temperature, and the results provide a reference for analyzing the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to heat stress in roses.

Coordinated active-reactive power optimization considering photovoltaic abandon based on second order cone programming in active distribution networks

On the basis of predecessors’ coordination optimization of active and reactive power in distribution network, For the necessity of the optimal operation in the distribution network, part of power generated from photovoltaic (PV) cannot be sold to users, and cannot enjoy subsidies. Similarly, the network loss in the power transmission will also bring a certain economic loss. This paper comprehensively considers the economic loss caused by the network loss and PV abandon of the distribution system, and establishes a model to minimize the economic loss. To solve this problem efficiently, the method of DistFlow equation and mixed integer second order cone programming (MISOCP) is used to solve the problem, in this method, the original mixed integer nonlinear programming non-convex problem is transformed into a convex problem, which makes the optimization problem easy to solve. The modified IEEE 33 and IEEE 69 distribution networks are tested by the above method. The optimized results are able to meet the target and have very small relaxation gaps, and the voltage level is also optimized. This coordinated optimization approach helps to optimize the economic operation for active distribution networks with PVs.

Study on visualization of impact damage characteristics of honey peaches based on finite element method.

The study of visualization of impact damage of fruit under different thicknesses of buffer materials can provide more efficient transportation and packaging solutions, and thus the economic losses caused by fruit damage can be reduced. Pearl cotton (EPE) is commonly used as a buffer material in the market, and the impact damage behavior of honey peaches under different thicknesses of EPE buffer material was studied by using the finite element method. Firstly, the damage area, maximum contact force and damage volume during the collision of honey peaches with EPE materials of different thicknesses (2, 4, and 6mm) were obtained by the single pendulum device, and then the Modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio of peach flesh were obtained by compression test. Finally, the finite element model of honey peach was built and the collision simulations were performed. The results of the study showed that the values of mechanical parameters of honey peach decreased with the increase of the thickness of the buffer material. When the collision angle was below 60°, the honey peaches were not damaged in the collision with the EPE material with a thickness of 4mm or more. By comparing the tested values with the simulated values, it was found that the errors of the damage area, damage volume and maximum contact force were less than 19.71%, 26.82%, and 25.88%, respectively. The study not only proves the possibility of the finite element method in the quantitative prediction of honey peaches damage but also provides rational support for the packaging design of honey peaches.

The Identification and Influence Factor Analysis of Landslides Using SBAS-InSAR Technique: A Case Study of Hongya Village, China

On 1 September 2022, a landslide in Hongya Village, Weiyuan Town, Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, Qinghai Province, caused significant casualties and economic losses. To mitigate such risks, InSAR technology is employed due to its wide coverage, all-weather operation, and cost-effectiveness in detecting landslides. In this study, focusing on the landslide in Hongya Village, SBAS-InSAR and Sentinel-1A satellite data from July 2021 to September/October 2022 were used to accurately identify the areas of active landslides and to analyze the landslide deformation trends, in combination with the geological characteristics of the landslides and rainfall data. The results showed that strong deformation was detected in the middle and back of the landslide in Hongya Village, with a maximum deformation rate of approximately -13 mm/year. The surface of the landslide consisted of mainly Upper Pleistocene wind-deposited loess, which is extremely sensitive to water. The deformation of the landslide was closely related to the rainfall, and the deformation of the landslide increased with the increase in rainfall. The research results prove that the combination of ascending and descending orbit data based on SBAS-InSAR technology is highly feasible in the field of landslide deformation monitoring and is of great practical significance for landslide disaster prevention and mitigation.

A Review on Stroke’s Pathophysiology, Associated Risk Factors, and Management

Background: Stroke is a medical disorder defined by focal neurological deficits caused by vascular impairment (hemorrhage or infarction) in the CNS (Central Nervous System). Currently the second biggest cause of morbidity worldwide, strokes continue to be a deadly disease. Objective: This review aimed to elucidate the stroke’s pathophysiology, both changeable and unchangeable risk factors associated with stroke, including prevention of stroke, its diagnosis, as well as treatment. Methods: The articles were collected involving the research on stroke with the help of different sources, like PubMed, Science Direct, and Google. Many manuscripts were collected and analyzed, and the relevant ones were considered for the present manuscript. Results: A brain CT scan has been found to be the first step in the management of Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) in order to distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke types. Beyond stroke classification, imaging has been observed to serve as a powerful tool for ruling out alternative diagnoses, predicting stroke outcomes, and facilitating appropriate treatment planning. Conclusion: Stroke is the second foremost cause of death as well as disability worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses. Therefore, better treatment and improved management after stroke are a global health priority. Modifying risk factors can decrease the chances of occurrence of stroke. Also, correct diagnosis should be done to diagnose the presence of stroke and its type. Proper treatment should be provided, like perfusion, glucose management, antiplatelet therapy, antihypertensive therapy, stem cell therapy, neural response and rehabilitation, increased awareness, lifestyle changes, stress management, etc. Exercise can also help positively to reduce the chances of stroke.

Development and application of a quantitative real-time PCR method for detection of Decapod iridescent virus 1

As a newly discovered virus, Decapoda iridovirus 1 (DIV1) can cause a mortality rate of up to 100% in crustaceans, leading to huge economic losses. At present, there is no effective prevention and control measures for this disease. In the present study, the specific primers targeting highly conserved regions of MCP gene were designed, and then a quantitative real-time PCR method was established. The results indicate that DIV1 quantitative real-time PCR established has good specificity and does not cross react with other pathogens including white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), infectious subcutaneous and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus induced acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VpAHPND). The real-time PCR was capable of detecting DIV1 DNA at a minimum concentration of 10 copies/μL within 34 cycles. The method has good repeatability, with intra group and inter group coefficients of variation both less than 2%. Thirty-two clinical samples were assessed using both the real-time PCR and conventional PCR. The results shown real-time PCR we established are more sensitive than conventional PCR. In conclusion, this method has strong specificity, stable repeatability, and high sensitivity, providing technical support for clinical diagnosis, epidemiology investigation and monitoring of DIV1.

Genome-Wide Association Study for Milk Somatic Cell Score in Holstein Friesian Cows in Slovenia

Mastitis is a serious challenge for the dairy industry, leading to economic losses and affecting milk quality. The aim of this study is to identify genetic factors associated with mastitis resistance by conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the somatic cell score (SCS). Phenotypic records of 350 Holstein Friesian cows were obtained from the Slovenian Cattle Recording Scheme Database and consisted of around 1500 lactation data from 2012 to 2023 collected on a single farm in Slovenia. Corresponding genotypic data were also retrieved from the same database and genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). For the association study, three SCS parameters were considered, including lactation mean somatic cell score (LM_SCS), maximum SCS value (SCSMAX), and top three mean value of SCS (TOP3). After performing a GWAS using FarmCPU and BLINK models, five significant SNPs associated with the TOP3 trait were found on BTA 14, 15, 22, and 29. The identified SNP markers were closely linked to six known candidate genes (DNASE1L3, SLC36A4, ARMC1, PDE7A, MMP13, CD44). These results indicate potential genetic markers associated with SCS in the Slovenian Holstein Friesian population.

Candidate Genes Associated with Survival Following Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Infection in Chickens

Highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza (HPAI) devastate poultry flocks and result in significant economic losses for farmers due to high mortality, reduced egg production, and mandated euthanization of infected flocks. Within recent years, HPAI outbreaks have affected egg production flocks across the world. The H5N2 outbreak in the US in 2015 resulted in over 99% mortality. Here, we analyze sequence data from chickens that survived (42 cases) along with uninfected controls (28 samples) to find genomic regions that differ between these two groups and that, therefore, may encompass prime candidates that are resistant to HPAI. Blood samples were obtained from survivors of the 2015 HPAI outbreak plus age and genetics-matched non-affected controls. A whole-genome sequence was obtained, and genetic variants were characterized and used in a genome-wide association study to identify regions showing significant association with survival. Regions associated with HPAI resistance were observed on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 20, and 28, with a number of candidate genes identified. We did not detect a specific locus which could fully explain the difference between survivors and controls. Influenza virus replication depends on multiple components of the host cellular machinery, with many genes involved in the host response.

Potential of ZnO nanoparticles for multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli having CRISPR-Cas from poultry market in Lahore

Background and objectivesApart from known factors such as irrational use of antibiotics and horizontal gene transfer, it is now reported that clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are also associated with increased antimicrobial resistance. Hence, it is critical to explore alternatives to antibiotics to control economic losses. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine not only the association of CRISPR-Cas system with antibiotic resistance but also the potential of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) for avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated from poultry market Lahore. Materials and methodsSamples (n = 100) were collected from live bird markets of Lahore, and isolates were confirmed as Escherichia coli (E. coli) using the Remel One fast kit, and APEC was identified using PCR. The antibiotic resistance pattern in APEC was determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), followed by genotypic confirmation of antibiotic-resistant genes using the PCR. The CRISPR-Cas system was also identified in multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates, and its association with antibiotics was determined using qRT-PCR. The potential of ZnO-NPs was evaluated for multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates by MIC.ResultsAll isolates of APEC were resistant to nalidixic acid, whereas 95% were resistant to chloramphenicol and 89% were resistant to streptomycin. Nineteen MDR APEC were found in the present study and the CRISPR-Cas system was detected in all of these MDR isolates. In addition, an increased expression of CRISPR-related genes was observed in the standard strain and MDR isolates of APEC. ZnO-NPs inhibited the growth of resistant isolates.ConclusionsThe findings showed the presence of the CRISPR-Cas system in MDR strains of APEC, along with the potential of ZnO-NPs for a possible solution to proceed. This highlights the importance of regulating antimicrobial resistance in poultry to reduce potential health consequences.

A novel cystatin in Psoroptes ovis var. cuniculi: molecular characterization, serodiagnostic potential, and its anti-inflammatory property on rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells

BackgroundThe ectoparasite Psoroptes ovis var. cuniculi causes substantial economic losses to the global rabbit industry. Currently, microscopy for identifying Psoroptes mite in skin scrapings, as the “diagnosis gold standard,” remains a challenge owing to its poor sensitivity in detecting low-level and/or early stage mite infestations. Additionally, Psoroptes infestations rapidly trigger cutaneous inflammation, thus the mites might produce some molecules to deal with the harmful effects of inflammation for their long-time survival on the host skin, but these molecules are still mostly unknown.MethodsTo seek a sensitive diagnostic method and illuminate the new antiinflammatory molecules, we characterized a novel cystatin of P. ovis var. cuniculi (PsoCys) using bioinformatics and molecular biology methods.ResultsThe results showed that PsoCys comprised the classical features of the type II cystatin superfamily including an N-terminal glycine residue, a central QXVXG motif, and a C-terminal LW motif. In mixed stages of mites, the transcription level of PsoCys was significantly higher in “fed” mites than in “starved” mites (P < 0.001), and among the different life-cycle stages of “fed” mites, the expression of PsoCys was higher in adult males than in larva, nymph, and adult females (P < 0.001). The established indirect ELISA based on recombinant PsoCys (rPsoCys-iELISA) presented 95.4% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for this method was 0.991, indicating its excellent diagnostic performance. Moreover, rPsoCys-iELISA had advantages over microscopy for detecting low-level and/or early stage mite infestations (90% versus 40% in artificial infestation cases at 3 weeks post-infestation; 61.9% versus 22.6% in clinical cases). In addition, rPsoCys could inhibit the activity of papain and cathepsin B in vitro, and significantly suppressed mRNA levels of toll-like receptors (TLR 1, 2, 4, and 6) and downstream molecules (NF-κB, p38, MyD88, IL-10, and IFN-γ) in LPS-stimulated rabbit PBMCs, indicating its anti-inflammatory property.ConclusionsOur findings indicated that PsoCys was a novel type II cystatin of Psoroptes mites, and it served as a potential serological diagnostic antigen for detecting low-level and/or early stage mite infestations, as well as a novel anti-inflammatory molecule of Psoroptes mites.Graphical abstract

Unveiling the Hidden Enemies: Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Pod Rot Pathogens in Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) in India

Pod rot of groundnut is a complex disease caused by multiple pathogens causes significant economic losses. Present study was undertaken to know the pathogens associated with the disease. In Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, roving survey against pod rot of groundnut revealed association of three fungal species: Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Fusarium spp. Molecular analysis with modified CTAB method and performing PCR using ITS1 and ITS4 primers yielded DNA bands of 650-700 bp, 550-600 bp, and 500-600 bp for Sclerotium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium species, respectively. Sequencing of the rDNA ITS region confirmed the identities of the pathogens as Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium keratoplasticum, based on similarity with NCBI reference sequences. This study confirms that Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Fusarium spp. are the primary causal agents of pod rot disease in Andhra Pradesh.

Review of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Argentina in 2023: Chronicle of Its Emergence and Control in Poultry

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a highly contagious viral disease that represents a significant threat to poultry production worldwide. Variants of the HPAI virus (HPAIV) H5A/Goose/GuangDong/1/96 (H5 Gs/GD/96) lineage have caused five intercontinental epizootic waves, with the most recent, clade 2.3.4.4b, reaching Argentina in February 2023. Initially detected in wild birds, the virus quickly spread to backyard and commercial poultry farms, leading to economic losses, including the loss of influenza-free status (IFS). By March/April 2023 the epidemic had peaked and vaccination was seriously considered. However, the success of strict stamping-out measures dissuaded the National Animal Health Authority (SENASA) from authorizing any vaccine. Suspected cases sharply declined by May, and the last detection in commercial poultry was reported in June. The effective control and potential eradication of HPAIV in Argentina were due to SENASA’s early detection and rapid response, supported by private companies, veterinarians, and other stakeholders. Stamping-out measures have been effective for virus elimination and reduced farm-to-farm transmission; however, as the virus of this clade may remain present in wild birds, the risk of reintroduction into poultry production is high. Therefore, maintaining continuous active surveillance will be crucial for promptly detecting any new HPAIV incursion and taking appropriate action to contain virus dissemination.

Economic valuation of changes in ecosystem services of 77 Ramsar wetlands in West Asia over 37 years (1984–2021)

Summary In the West Asia region, the vulnerability of Ramsar Convention wetlands due to unsustainable utilization driven by water scarcity continues to grow. Here, a global surface water product generated by the European Joint Research Centre was used to assess changes in surface water in 77 wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention over a 37-year period (1984–2021). By combining this product with a quantitative valuation model, estimates were made of the economic value of the ecosystem services provided by these wetlands, enabling the determination of the economic losses resulting from any reduction in surface water. We show that 20% (7550 km2) of permanent surface waters in Ramsar sites have disappeared or are no longer classified as permanent. Based on this, USD 106 billion of the economic value of wetlands ecosystem services have been lost. Additionally, 33% (12 100 km2) of seasonal surface waters in these wetlands have experienced a decrease in area. Iran and Iraq account for 90% of water losses, primarily in 34 wetlands (30 in Iran and 4 in Iraq). These findings underscore the urgent need for water management policies and conservation strategies in the West Asia region.

Estimating equilibrium scour depth around non-circular bridge piers using interpretable hybrid machine learning models

Scouring at bridge piers is a crucial issue that risks bridge collapses, causing economic losses and endangering public safety. Classic models struggle to accurately estimate equilibrium scour depth (dse) due to the complex scouring mechanism. This study combines Bayesian optimization (BO) with support vector machine (SVM) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) to improve dse estimates. These models predict dse around round-nosed, square, and sharp-nosed bridge piers using field and laboratory data. The results demonstrate that the BO algorithm can effectively optimize the hyperparameters of SVM and XGBoost and ameliorate their dse estimates. For the square, sharp-nosed, and round-nosed piers, BO–XGBoost achieves the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.37 m, 0.35 m, and 0.36 m, the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.52 m, 0.60 m, and 0.56 m, and the highest coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.85, 0.80, and 0.84, respectively. Accurate estimation of dse is essential to balance safety and affordability of the bridge designs. Underestimating dse can lead to bridge failure, posing significant safety risks. Conversely, overestimating dse can result in unnecessary construction expenses. Finally, the impact of independent variables on dse estimates is analyzed using Shapley additive explanations (SHAP).

Research on Failure Pressure Prediction of Water Supply Pipe Based on GA-BP Neural Network

The water supply pipeline is regarded as the “lifeline” of the city. In recent years, pipeline accidents caused by aging and other factors are common and have caused large economic losses. Therefore, in order to avoid large economic losses, it is necessary to analyze the failure prediction of pipelines so that the pipelines that are going to fail can be replaced in a timely manner. In this paper, we propose a method for predicting the failure pressure of pipelines, i.e., a genetic algorithm was used to optimize the weights and thresholds of a BP neural network. The first step was to determine the topology of the neural network and the number of input and output variables. The second step was to optimize the weights and thresholds initially set for the back propagation neural network using a genetic algorithm. Finally, the optimized back-propagation neural network was used to simulate and predict pipeline failures. It was proved by examples that compared with the separate back propagation neural network model and the optimized and trained genetic algorithm-back propagation neural network, the model performed better in simulation prediction, and the prediction accuracy could reach up to 91%, whereas the unoptimized back propagation neural network model could only reach 85%. It is feasible to apply this model for fault prediction of pipelines.

Hydatid Cyst in Buffalo of Mandla District of Madhya Pradesh

Hydatidosis is the most prevalent parasitic illness of zoonotic importance affecting both humen and animals. This condition is triggered by the larval metacestode of the dog tapeworm, which primarily affects the health and lifestyles of subsistence farming communities in underdeveloped countries. Compared with other visceral organs, hydatid cysts are most likely to develop in the liver and lungs. Depending on its developmental stage, it can play a mechanical or toxic role in the hepatobiliary system. Owing to decreased output and the condemnation of visceral organs and carcasses, large-sized hydatid cysts cause significant economic loss. Hydatidosis is the most prevalent zoonotic parasite illness in both humen and animals. In the Mandla area of Madhya Pradesh, hydatid cysts have been found in buffalo carcasses that are 8-10 years old. One male and five female buffaloes that had previously died suddenly had postmortem lesions that revealed multiple hydatid cysts in the liver and abdominal cavities. Cysts that contained clear, watery, or serous fluid were varying in size. Some viscous fluid or caseous substances were present in hard cysts. The lungs and the liver were swollen and clogged. This explains the current state of the disease in the region and, consequently, the necessity for increasing focus on disease control and prevention.

Precise location of three novel linear epitopes using the generated monoclonal antibodies against the Knob domain of FAdV-4 surface structural protein, fiber1

BackgroundFowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is the main pathogen of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), which brings huge economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Fiber-1 protein plays an important role in viral infection and pathogenesis by binding directly to cellular receptors of FAdV-4. In particular, the knob domain of fiber-1 protein has been reported to induce the production of neutralizing antibodies and arouse protection against the lethal challenge of chickens with FAdV-4.MethodsThe fiber-1 knob (F1K) protein was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against FAdV-4 were generated by immunizing BALB/c mice with the purified F1K protein and screened using a series of immunoassays. Potential B cell epitopes on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein were mapped using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot-blot. Precious location and crucial amino acids of the identified epitopes were determined using peptide array scanning, truncations and alanine-scanning mutagenesis. The epitopes were analyzed and visualized on the knob trimer of FAdV-4 fiber-1 protein using the PyMOL software.ResultsWater-soluble recombinant fiber-1 knob (F1K) protein was obtained with the assistance of chaperone. Four monoclonal antibodies (5C10, 6F8, 8D8, and 8E8) against FAdV-4 were generated and characterized using indirect ELISA, Western blot, dot-blot, and immunological fluorescence assay (IFA). The mAbs were demonstrated to be from different hybridoma cell lines based on the sequences of the variable regions. Meanwhile, three distinct novel linear B-cell epitopes (319SDVGYLGLPPH329, 328PHTRDNWYV336, and 407VTTGPIPFSYQ417) on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein were identified and the key amino acid residues in the epitopes were determined. Structural analysis showed that the two adjacent epitopes 319SDVGYLGLPPH329 and 328PHTRDNWYV336 were exposed on the surface of the fiber-1 knob trimer, whereas the epitope 407VTTGPIPFSYQ417 was located inside of the spatial structure.ConclusionThis was the first identification of B-cell epitopes on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein and these findings provided a sound basis for the development of subunit vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic methods to control FAdV infections.