Physiological Characteristics Research Articles

Using Machine Learning with Impulse Oscillometry Data to Develop a Predictive Model for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma.

We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning model using impulse oscillometry system (IOS) profiles for accurately classifying patients into three assessment-based categories: no airflow obstruction, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our research questions were as follows: (1) Can machine learning methods accurately classify obstructive disease states based solely on multidimensional IOS data? (2) Which IOS parameters and modeling algorithms provide the best discrimination? We used data for 480 patients (240 with COPD and 240 with asthma) and 84 healthy individuals for training. Physiological and IOS parameters were combined into six feature combinations. The classification algorithms tested were logistic regression, random forest, neural network, k-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine. The optimal feature combination for identifying individuals without pulmonary obstruction, with asthma, or with COPD included 15 IOS and physiological features. The neural network classifier achieved the highest accuracy (0.786). For discriminating between healthy and unhealthy individuals, two combinations of twenty-three features performed best in the neural network algorithm (accuracy of 0.929). When distinguishing COPD from asthma, the best combination included 15 features and the neural network algorithm achieved an accuracy of 0.854. This study provides compelling technical evidence and clinical justifications for advancing IOS data-driven models to aid in COPD and asthma management.

Influence of salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of two Chlorophyceae isolated from Fez freshwater, Morocco

Microalgae are widely exploited for numerous biotechnology applications, including biofuels. In this context, Chlamydomonas debaryana and Chlorococcum sp. were isolated from Fez freshwater (Morocco), and their growth and lipid and carbohydrate production were assessed at different concentrations of NaCl, NaNO3, and K2HPO4. The results indicate a small positive variation in growth parameters linked to nutrient enrichment, with no considerable variation in carbohydrate and lipid levels in both algae. Moreover, a negative variation was recorded at increased salinity and nutrient limitation, accompanied by lipid and carbohydrate accumulation. Chlorococcum sp. showed better adaptation to salt stress below 200 mM NaCl. Furthermore, its growth and biomass productivity were strongly reduced by nitrogen depletion, and its lipid production reached 47.64% DW at 3.52 mM NaNO3. As for Chlamydomonas debaryana, a substantial reduction in growth was induced by nutrient depletion, a maximal carbohydrate level was produced at less than 8.82 mM NaNO3 (40.59% DW). The effect of phosphorus was less significant. However, a concentration of 0.115 mM K2HPO4 increased lipid and carbohydrate content without compromising biomass productivity. The results suggest that growing the two Chlorophyceae under these conditions seems interesting for biofuel production, but the loss of biomass requires a more efficient strategy to maximize lipid and carbohydrate accumulation without loss of productivity.

Rootstocks for Grapevines Now and into the Future: Selection of Rootstocks Based on Drought Tolerance, Soil Nutrient Availability, and Soil pH

Rootstocks are used in viticulture to manage plant pests and diseases, particularly phylloxera and root-knot nematodes, and to improve grape and wine production. A wide range of rootstocks are commercially available, making selecting the optimal rootstock a difficult decision. In particular, distinct rootstock genotypes may manifest varying degrees of tolerance or resistance to abiotic stress, necessitating meticulous consideration during the rootstock selection process. This article reviews characteristics of various commercial rootstocks, as well as rootstocks being developed in recent years. This review further discusses responses of rootstocks to drought, soil nutrients, and soil pH. This review mainly focuses on influence of rootstocks on physiology characteristics of grafted scions rather than berry yield and quality. The breadth of this review benefits both researchers and practitioners by providing comprehensive summery of rootstocks to inform selection and to guide future research.

Human lip vermilion: Physiology and age-related changes.

The human lip vermilion, also known as the red lip, is important to the quality of life and has long attracted the attention of cosmetic researchers. However, there is limited existing literature on the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion. We aim to provide an overview of the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion. This article is a result of previous research. We conducted a literature search using various academic databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed. Our findings provided a comprehensive understanding of the physiological characteristics and age-related changes of the human lip vermilion. The human lip vermilion has a unique structure and physiological characteristics, and during the aging process, a few changes may occur in the human lip vermilion. Understanding the human lip vermilion's physiological characteristics and age-related changes can provide key information for the future innovation of lip vermilion care products. Further investigations are necessary to reach a consensus on the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion.

A High‐Sensitive Rubber‐Based Sensor with Integrated Strain and Humidity Responses Enabled by Bionic Gradient Structure

AbstractReal‐time detection of different physiological characteristics is crucial for human physical and mental health. A detection system with multimodal sensing capability, high sensitivity, excellent mechanical properties, and environmental stability is highly desirable, but it is still a great challenge. Inspired by the structural gradient of biological tissues, a multifunctional sensor based on carboxylic styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) and sodium polyacrylate (PAANa) non‐covalently modified MXenes is prepared in this study, in which the MXenes exhibit a gradient distribution and simultaneously formed an orientation arrangement at the bottom of the matrix through the formation of hydrogen bonding interactions with PAANa. The material shows a considerable stretchability of 244% and strength of 7.67 MPa, high electrical conductivity of 55.40 S m‒1, low percolation threshold of 2.48 wt%, and excellent response to strain (gauge factor of 906.7 within 98% strain) and humidity (relative resistance change of 530% within 11–93% relative humidity). Based on the superior performances of the XSBR/PAANa/MXene composite, an integrated detection system is designed to accurately detect respiration and body movements at various scales. This work provides a new perspective for the development of a novel biomimetic functional material for sensor applications.

Biological and physiological effects in Bemisia tabaci feeding on tomatoes endophytically colonized by Beauveria bassiana.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) treatment of plants may affect the survival and feeding preferences of herbivorous pests. However, comprehensive studies on the fitness across their entire life cycle, feeding behavior, and physiological changes in herbivores consuming EPF-treated plants within the tripartite interactions of EPF, plants, and pests are still limited. In this study, we utilized life tables, electrical penetration graph (EPG), and metabolomics to uncover the biological and physiological characteristics of Bemisia tabaci on tomato plants inoculated with Beauveria bassiana through root irrigation. Our study indicated that B. bassiana Bb252 can penetrate the entire tissue from the point of inoculation, primarily colonizing the intercellular spaces and vascular tissue. However, this colonization is temporary, lasting no more than 35 days. Moreover, the population fitness and feeding behavior of B. tabaci on tomato plants treated with B. bassiana via root irrigation were significantly affected, showing a substantial 41.4% decrease in net reproductive rate (R0), a notable reduction in watery salivation, and shortened phloem ingestion. Lastly, we observed a significant decrease in hormones and amino acids of whiteflies that fed on B. bassiana-treated tomato plants by root irrigation. Our results indicated that the endophyte, B. bassiana Bb252, reduced demographic fitness of B. tabaci by altering its hormones and amino acids levels. These findings enhance our understanding of multitrophic interactions in integrated pest management. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis.

The postharvest softening and corresponding quality deterioration of blueberry fruits are crucial factors that hinder long-distance sales and long-term storage. Cold plasma (CP) is an effective technology to solve this, but the specific mechanism of delaying fruit softening remains to be revealed. Here, this study found that CP significantly improved blueberry hardness. Physiological analysis showed that CP regulated the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain hardness by increasing antioxidant content and antioxidant enzyme activity, resulting in a 12.1% decrease in the H2O2 content. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CP inhibited the expression of cell wall degradation-related genes such as the pectin hydrolase gene and cellulase gene, but up-regulated the genes of the ROS-scavenging system. In addition, the resistance genes in the MAPK signaling pathway were also activated by CP in response to fruit ripening and softening and exhibited positive response characteristics. These results indicate that CP can effectively regulate the physiological characteristics of blueberries at a genetic level and delay the softening process, which is of great significance to the storage of blueberries.

Angiogenesis and Apoptosis: Data Comparison of Similar Microenvironments in the Corpus Luteum and Tumors.

The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland formed in the ovary after ovulation, and it plays a critical role in animal reproductive processes. Tumors rely on the development of an adequate blood supply to ensure the delivery of nutrients and oxygen and the removal of waste products. While angiogenesis occurs in various physiological and pathological contexts, the corpus luteum and tumors share similarities in terms of the signaling pathways that promote angiogenesis. In the corpus luteum and tumors, apoptosis plays a crucial role in controlling cell numbers and ensuring proper tissue development and function. Interestingly, there are similarities between the apoptotic-regulated signaling pathways involved in apoptosis in the corpus luteum and tumors. However, the regulation of apoptosis in both can differ due to their distinct physiological and pathological characteristics. Thus, we reviewed the biological events of the corpus luteum and tumors in similar microenvironments of angiogenesis and apoptosis.

Antibacterial therapy for kidney pathology of small pets

The article considers etiological factors, clinical manifestations, laboratory and instrumental methods for diagnosing kidney pathology, which requires the use of antibacterial drugs – pyelonephritis. However, this pathology can be difficult to diagnose and not every antibacterial drug is suitable for its treatment. The main ways of kidney damage by bacterial infection in small domestic animals are ascending infection and hematogenous introduction, when pathogenic microorganisms enter the kidneys along with the bloodstream. The article provides predisposing factors leading to the development of pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis has several types of course. The acute form of the disease is most easily diagnosed due to the vivid clinical signs and pronounced changes in blood, urine, and kidney sonography tests. Whereas the chronic form and latent course may be overlooked due to the nonspecific clinical picture. In the treatment of pyelonephritis, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria can be fatal for the patient, because if it is impossible to eliminate infection in the kidneys, the development of renal failure is inevitable, leading to all manifestations of uremia, anemia and other changes that occur with impaired renal function. To prevent the development of antibiotic resistance, it is extremely important to make a final diagnosis through bacteriological urine culture, but pyelonephritis is a pathology that requires a comprehensive diagnostic approach and, if suspected, it is advisable to start etiological treatment immediately, correctly choosing an antibiotic. Not every antibacterial drug is suitable for the treatment of pyelonephritis. For example, one of the first-line drugs of choice in the treatment of urinary tract infection (UTI), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid does not penetrate the renal parenchyma. The group of choice for the treatment of bacterial inflammation of the kidneys are fluoroquinolones, but not every drug from this group is suitable for treatment in animals and there are certain restrictions in their use in the case of puppies, kittens, as well as in cats as a species, therefore, the selection of an antibiotic should be carried out individually in each clinical case, taking into account the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug, the result of urine sampling and other studies, as well as the physiological characteristics of the patient.

Yeasts isolated from bovine rumen selected to degrade lignocellulosic roughage

Abstract. Duarte ER, Lima SM, Nere JC, Freitas CES, Maia HAR, Júlio ADL, Abrão FO, Alves JMS, Santos VLD, Geraseev LC, Cota J. 2024. Yeasts isolated from bovine rumen selected to degrade lignocellulosic roughage. Biodiversitas 25: 1159-1166. Commercial yeast strains are viable alternatives to chemical additives in ruminants; however, they are not self to the rumen ecosystem. The present study was conducted to compare the degradation of Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R.D.Webster (UD) hay and sugarcane bagasse (SB) by eight selected yeast strains, naturally present in the rumen cows and control without microorganisms. Eight yeast isolates that showed >6 log CFU per mL of ruminal fluid were selected and identified as four Pichia kudriavzevii isolates, three Rhodotorula mucilaginosa isolates and one Candida tropicalis isolate, according to their morphological and physiological characteristics and by analyses of the D1 - D2 variable domain sequences of the 28S rRNA gene. The strain V5 (R. mucilaginosa) showed higher cell biomass production than other strains of this species in fermentations with UD (P<0.05). Two isolates of Pichia kudriavzevii (V10 and V62) and one of R. mucilaginosa (V5) promoted a higher reduction of dry matter (DM) of UD than other yeast. The strain V5 was also the most efficient to reduce DM of SB (P <0.05). These selected yeasts could represent a potential alternative for use in animal diets and for industrial applications.

Qualitative assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of oncologists about precision medicine in cancer patients- study from Lahore, Pakistan.

Precision medicine (PM) is in great progressive stages in the West and allows healthcare practitioners (HCPs) to give treatment according to the patient's genetic findings, physiological and environmental characteristics. PM is a relatively new treatment approach in Pakistan Therefore, it is important to investigate the level of awareness, attitude, and challenges faced by oncology physicians while practicing PM for various therapies, especially cancer treatment. The present study aims to explore the level of awareness, attitude, and practice of PM in Pakistan along with the challenges faced by the oncologists for the treatment of cancer using the PM approach. Phenomenology-based qualitative approach was used. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted using the purposive sampling approach among oncologists in Lahore, Pakistan. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify themes and sub-themes. Out of 14 physicians interviewed 11 were aware of PM. They were keen on training to hone their skills and agreed on providing PM. Oncologists believed PM was expensive and given to affluent patients only. Other impeding factors include cost, lack of knowledge, and drug unavailability. Despite basic knowledge and will to practice, resource and cost constraints were marked as significant barriers. Additional training programs and inclusion into the curriculum may help to pave the way to PM implementation in the future. In addition, health authorities and policymakers need to ensure a cheaper PM treatment can be made available for all cancer patients.

Finger Print Voting System

The field of biometrics, or the identification of people based on physiological or behavioral characteristics [6], has recently received a significant amount of attention in current research as a result of its applicability in the fields of information technology and security. With the increased usage of PIN numbers and passwords in everyday life, the vulnerabilities of these two technologies are becoming more apparent (e.g. password-cracking). Biometric authorization’s strengths are that it requires the user to be present and that it eliminates the hassles of passwords and PIN’s (or can be used in parallel with these for added security). Specifically, online identity verification, ATM machines, and building entrance authorization, are all areas where it is very useful to implement an automatic identification system.

Exogenous melatonin improves germination rate in buckwheat under high temperature stress by regulating seed physiological and biochemical characteristics.

The germinations of three common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) varieties and two Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) varieties seeds are known to be affected by high temperature. However, little is known about the physiological mechanism affecting germination and the effect of melatonin (MT) on buckwheat seed germination under high temperature. This work studied the effects of exogenous MT on buckwheat seed germination under high temperature. MT was sprayed. The parameters, including growth, and physiological factors, were examined. The results showed that exogenous MT significantly increased the germination rate (GR), germination potential (GP), radicle length (RL), and fresh weight (FW) of these buckwheat seeds under high-temperature stress and enhanced the content of osmotic adjustment substances and enzyme activity. Comprehensive analysis revealed that under high-temperature stress during germination, antioxidant enzymes play a predominant role, while osmotic adjustment substances work synergistically to reduce the extent of damage to the membrane structure, serving as the primary key indicators for studying high-temperature resistance. Consequently, our results showed that MT had a positive protective effect on buckwheat seeds exposed to high temperature stress, providing a theoretical basis for improving the ability to adapt to high temperature environments.

Challenges in identifying malnutrition in obesity; An overview of the state of the art and directions for future research.

(Protein-energy) malnutrition in individuals living with obesity presents complex diagnostic challenges due to the distinctive physiological characteristics of obesity. This narrative review critically examines the identification of malnutrition within the population with obesity, distinguishing malnutrition in obesity from related conditions such as sarcopenic obesity. While noting some shared features, the review highlights key differences between these conditions. The review also highlights the limitations of current malnutrition screening tools, which are not designed for individuals living with obesity. These tools primarily rely on anthropometric measurements, neglecting (among others) nutrient intake assessment, which hinders accurate malnutrition detection. Additionally, this review discusses limitations in existing diagnostic criteria, including the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, when applied to individuals living with obesity. Challenges include the identification of appropriate cut-off values for phenotypic criteria (unintentional weight loss, low body mass index and muscle mass) and aetiological criteria such as reduced food intake and inflammation for the population with obesity. Overall, this review emphasises the need for modified screening tools and diagnostic criteria to recognise and assess malnutrition in obesity, leading to improved clinical outcomes and overall wellbeing.

Survival of an Antarctic cyanobacterial mat under Martian conditions.

Antarctica is one of the most outstanding analogs of Mars, and cyanobacterial mats are considered one of the most resilient biological consortia. The purpose of this study is to find out the effect of the Martian conditions on an Antarctic cyanobacterial mat. We exposed an Antarctic microbial mat to Martian conditions in a simulating chamber (MARTE) for 15 d and investigated the variations in the consortium by the use of 16S rRNA gene expression as an indicator of the biological activity. Metabarcoding using the V3-V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was used to determine the succession of the active members of the microbial consortium during the experiment. The results showed that the microbial mat, far from collapsing, can survive the stringent conditions in the simulating chamber. Different behaviors were displayed depending on the metabolic capabilities and physiological characteristics of every taxon. The main conclusion is that the Martian conditions did not impair growth in some of the groups, and thus, the investigated Antarctic community would be able to survive in a Martian environment at least during the short experimental period, although elements of the community were affected in different ways.

Analysis of Electrocardiograms and Behavior in Mice from Pregnancy to Lactation Period.

Changes in the mother-offspring relationship are presumably accompanied by dynamic changes in the autonomic nervous system. Although temporal measurements of autonomic activity have been performed in human mothers and infants, the analysis of long-term changes remains unexplored. Mouse mothers can form social bonds with their pups and have a short period of pregnancy and lactation, which makes them useful for the examination of physiological changes from pregnancy to pup-rearing. Therefore, a telemetry system was used for several weeks to measure the changes in the autonomic nervous system and the behavior of mouse mothers. The current results showed that an electrocardiogram (ECG) could be stably recorded regardless of the movements of mothers and parturition. ECG analysis showed that the heart rate gradually decreased from pregnancy to lactation, and sympathetic activity sharply increased as the pups developed. Furthermore, the simultaneous recording of behavior and ECG in the home cage enabled us to understand the behavior-dependent influences on the ECG, thereby revealing the characteristics of autonomic nervous activity during each behavior. Thus, the present experimental method helps to understand how the physiological characteristics of mothers change from pregnancy through pup rearing, supporting the healthy development of pups.

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses of mtn1 Mutant Reveal Key Players in Centipedegrass Tiller Development.

Tillering directly determines the seed production and propagation capacity of clonal plants. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the tiller development of clonal plants are still not fully understood. In this study, we conducted a proteome comparison between the tiller buds and stem node of a multiple-tiller mutant mtn1 (more tillering number 1) and a wild type of centipedegrass. The results showed significant increases of 29.03% and 27.89% in the first and secondary tiller numbers, respectively, in the mtn1 mutant compared to the wild type. The photosynthetic rate increased by 31.44%, while the starch, soluble sugar, and sucrose contents in the tiller buds and stem node showed increases of 13.79%, 39.10%, 97.64%, 37.97%, 55.64%, and 7.68%, respectively, compared to the wild type. Two groups comprising 438 and 589 protein species, respectively, were differentially accumulated in the tiller buds and stem node in the mtn1 mutant. Consistent with the physiological characteristics, sucrose and starch metabolism as well as plant hormone signaling were found to be enriched with differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the mtn1 mutant. These results revealed that sugars and plant hormones may play important regulatory roles in the tiller development in centipedegrass. These results expanded our understanding of tiller development in clonal plants.

Effect of Heat Moisture Treatment, Annealing, and Gelatinization‐Retrogradation Modifications on Physico‐Chemical, Functional, and Structural Properties of Starch from Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)

AbstractRoots and tuberous plants are vital food crops used as food supplements in many parts of the tropics. Being a major food item, starch is used in food products as thickeners, adsorbent, film forming agent. Starch, naturally, possess certain limitations & starch modifications can overcome the limitations, thereby increasing its versatility and meeting the needs of consumer. Current study focuses on comparative analysis between modified Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) starch using physical methods (heat treatment method, annealing and gelatinization‐retrogradation) and to study the effect of modification on physico‐chemical, functional, structural and thermal properties. Results reveal that all physically modified starches positively altered the functional and physiological characteristics of native yam starch. However, maximum restriction in swelling power (2.54 %), solubility (2.47 %), moisture content (1.96 %), water absorption capacity (1.41 g/mL) is observed in heat moisture treated (HMT) starch. These HMT modified starches can be used in the manufacturing of baked and dairy products having reduced glycemic index, can be used as a packaging material for coating of fruits and vegetables. Henceforth, suitable and relevant application of modified starches of desired physical and functional features may be produced for industrial utilisation, or as additives fulfilling specific purposes in foods.

Physical attributes and performance differences: Server vs. spiker players in men’s doubles sepak takraw

Background Problems: Scientific research exploring the comparative analysis of the physical, physiological, and anthropometric characteristics associated with the server and spiker positions in double-category sepak takraw remains relatively scarce. Research Objectives: This study aims to compare the physical, physiological, and anthropometric characteristics between players in the server and spiker positions in the double category of sepak takraw. Methods: The research method used is an observational study with a quantitative approach. This study consisted of 18 male sepak takraw athletes, with 9 athletes each playing as servers and 9 athletes playing as spikers. The statistical analyses were conducted utilizing the SPSS Version 22 application. Findings and Results: The results of this study showed that there were statistically significant differences in body height, aerobic capacity, and leg strength between server and speaker positions (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the variables age, weight, BMI, fat percentage, speed, agility, and flexibility. Dynamic, attractive game requirements and manoeuvres in the air for players in the spiker position have the potential to contribute to superior VO2max values and increased leg muscle strength compared to players in the server position. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that athletes in the spiker position show superior anthropometric and physiological attributes compared to those in the server position. Different understandings of the different characteristics associated with each position in the sport of sepak takraw provide new insights and views for coaches and athletes themselves. In addition, it is hoped that this research will have implications for optimizing training programs that adapt to the demands of each position. Furthermore, these findings serve as a reference for talent search events that assist in the identification and development of athletes with optimal physiological profiles for their respective roles in double-category sepak takraw.

Non-destructive classification of sturgeon stress using cross-modal data fusion and multi-input deep learning models

In the aquaculture phase, ensuring the safe transportation of sturgeon is crucial. The stress levels experienced during transit directly impact the fish quality and the economic returns for farmers. To address this, distributors enlist fishery farming experts to evaluate sturgeon stress. Our investigation identified three critical parameters for grading: sturgeon physiological, environmental, and visual characteristics. This study aims to develop a Cross-Modal Stress Classification Network (CM-SCN) model. It integrates information from three sensing systems to assess sturgeon stress levels. The model is built upon the architectures of AlexNet and ANN, skillfully combining both image and non-image data sources. This integration enables the model to effectively categorize sturgeon stress into four classes: A, B, C, D (representing mild, minor, moderate, and severe stress levels). The results demonstrated the model's high performance with an accuracy of 88.96%, precision of 90.06%, recall of 89.43%, and an F1 score of 89.49%. Notably, the CM-SCN model surpassed both the unimodal visual stress model and the bimodal physiological-environmental stress model. This study introduces an efficient and dependable method for monitoring sturgeon health, offering promising advancements in the field.