bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fractional Order Super Twisting Sliding Mode Controller for Energy Management in Smart Microgrid Using Dynamic Pricing Approach
Authors: Khan Taimoor , Ullah Amjad , Hafeez Ghulam , Khan Imran , Murawwat Sadia , Ali Faheem , Ali Sajjad , Khan Sheraz , Rehman Khalid
Published: November 2022

A real-time energy management strategy using dynamic pricing mechanism by deploying a fractional order super twisting sliding mode controller (FOSTSMC) is proposed for correspondence between energy users and providers. This framework, which controls the energy demand of the smart grid’s users is managed by the pricing signal provided by the FOSTSMC, issued to the smart meters, and adjusts the users’ demand to remove the difference between energy demand and generation. For the implementation purpose, a scenario based in MATLAB/Simulink is constructed where a sample renewable energy–integrated smart microgrid is considered. For the validation of the framework, the results of FOSTSMC are compared with the benchmark PI controller’s response. The results of the benchmark PI controller are firstly compared in step response analysis, which is followed by the comparison in deploying in renewable energy–integrated smart grid scenario with multiple users. The results indicate that the FOSTSMC-based controller strategy outperformed the existing PI controller-based strategy in terms of overshoot, energy balance, and energy price regulation.
Efficient Energy Recovery Scenarios from Pressure-Reducing Stations Intended for New Al-Alamein City in Egypt
Authors: Saied O. , Abdellatif A. , Shaaban S. , Elsafty A. F.
Published: November 2022

Worldwide concerns over energy optimization and harnessing have sparked a variety of research on utilizing wasted energy. Natural gas, in particular, has been an essential energy commodity for domestic and industrial applications. This paper approaches the same principle throughout the Egyptian natural gas conventional national grid. The real case of Egypt’s Al-Alamein city gas line extension is analytically studied for energy harness. Thus, this paper aims to study the replacement of conventional energy-wasting pressure-reducing stations with power-producing expander generator systems to utilize pressure reduction in electricity generation. The mathematical equations that describe the energy recovery processes are presented. Reliable commercial software is used to verify the possible implementation of turbo expander stations in three scenarios. Each scenario is defined, and its main components and numerical parameters are introduced. Hence, the resulting energy outputs and applicability of all scenarios are compared to provide adequate energy recovery solutions.
Novel Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Production and Storage: Evaluating the Futurity of Graphene/Graphene Composites in Hydrogen Energy
Authors: Jawhari Ahmed Hussain
Published: November 2022

Using hydrogen energy as an alternative renewable source of fuel is no longer an unrealized dream, it now has real-world application. The influence of nanomaterials on various aspects of hydrogen energy, such as hydrogen production, storage, and safety, is considerable. In this review, we present a brief overview of the nanomaterials that have been used as photocatalysts during hydrogen production. The use of nanomaterials and nanomaterial composites for hydrogen storage is also reviewed. The specific use of graphene and its associated nanocomposites, as well as the milestones reached through its application are elaborated. The need to widen the applicability of graphene and its allied forms for hydrogen energy applications is stressed in the future perspectives. Hydrogen energy is our future hope as an alternative renewable fuel, and graphene has the potential to become the future of hydrogen energy generation.
Impact of PV/Wind Forecast Accuracy and National Transmission Grid Reinforcement on the Italian Electric System
Authors: Pierro Marco , Liolli Fabio Romano , Gentili Damiano , Petitta Marcello , Perez Richard , Moser David , Cornaro Cristina
Published: November 2022

The high share of PV energy requires greater system flexibility to address the increased demand/supply imbalance induced by the inherent intermittency and variability of the solar resource. In this work, we have developed a methodology to evaluate the margins for imbalance reduction and flexibility that can be achieved by advanced solar/wind forecasting and by strengthening the national transmission grid connecting the Italian market areas. To this end, for the forecasting of the day-ahead supply that should be provided by dispatchable generators, we developed three advanced load/PV/wind forecasting methodologies based on a chain or on the optimal mix of different forecasting techniques. We showed that, compared to the baseline forecast, there is a large margin for the imbalance/flexibility reduction: 60.3% for the imbalance and 47.5% for the flexibility requirement. In contrast, the TSO forecast leaves only a small margin to reduce the imbalance of the system through more accurate forecasts, while a larger reduction can be achieved by removing the grid constrains between market zones. Furthermore, we have applied the new forecasting methodologies to estimate the amount of imbalance volumes/costs/flexibility/overgenerations that could be achieved in the future according to the Italian RES generation targets, highlighting some critical issues related to high variable renewable energy share.
Prevalence and Associated Factors with Ideal Cardiovascular Health Metrics in Bangladesh: Analysis of the Nationally Representative STEPS 2018 Survey
Authors: Gupta Rajat Das , Tamanna Rownak Jahan , Hashan Mohammad Rashidul , Akonde Maxwell , Haider Shams Shabab , Chakraborty Promit Ananyo , Hossain Md. Belal
Published: November 2022

This study aims to find out the prevalence of the American Heart Association’s (AHA)’s cardiovascular health metrics and associated socio-demographic factors. A secondary analysis of the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to surveillance survey 2018 (STEPS 2018) data was conducted. Ideal Cardiovascular Health (ICH) was defined as the presence of 5–7 ideal metrics as defined by the AHA. Design-adjusted multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors of ICH. In total, 5930 respondents were included in our analysis, and 43.1% of the participants had ICH. The odds of ICH decreased with age [compared to 18–29 years old individuals, 30–49 years: AOR (Adjusted Odds Ratio): 0.4; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.4–0.5; 50–69 years: AOR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6–0.8], and higher educational attainment (compared to those who received no formal education, being educated up to primary level: AOR:0.7; 95% CI: 0.6–0.8; being educated up to secondary level: AOR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.4–0.5; being educated up to college and higher: AOR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3–0.5). Compared with female and urban residents, the odds were 30% and 40% less among male and rural residents, respectively. The public health promotion programs of Bangladesh should raise awareness among high-risk groups to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Inter- and Intraspecific Variation Patterns of Leaf Phenotypic Traits in Two Sympatric Pine Species
Authors: Yang Yuan , Hu Meng , Fan Mingyang , Wang Lu , Lv Ting , Zhang Huanchao , Xu Kewang , Duan Yifan , Fang Yanming
Published: November 2022

Individual persistence under changing climate conditions can be aided by phenotypic plasticity. Needle morphology reflects pine species’ adaptation to their habitats, and adaptive plasticity is beneficial to pine survival. As two closely related pines, Pinusmassoniana Lamb. and Pinus hwangshanensis W. Y. Hsia sympatrically occur in the subtropical region of China, forming hilly forests (i.e., subtropical evergreen needleleaf forests) at lower elevations and montane forests (i.e., temperate evergreen needleleaf forests) at medium and high elevations. However, little is known about the intraspecific phenotypic variation patterns of the two pine species and their relationship with environmental factors. Here, we investigated the interspecific and intraspecific variation patterns of needle traits in the two sympatric pine species, focusing on six traits—i.e., leaf length, leaf thickness, leaf width, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content—as well as the relationship between needle traits and environmental factors. We found significant phenotypic trait differences among populations of each species. Except for leaf length and leaf width, variation within species was greater than variation between species in the needle traits measured. Even more intriguingly, the leaf size traits (i.e., length, width, thickness) were more conservative than the leaf economic traits (i.e., specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content). In other words, the intraspecific variability of the former was weaker than that of the latter. The nature of P. massoniana needle traits was mainly shaped by latitude, while the needle traits of P. hwangshanensis were significantly affected by annual precipitation. Therefore, phenotypic plasticity may be an essential mechanism for the two pine species to better cope with changing external conditions. The intraspecific variation patterns found in the two pine species and the relationships between traits and environmental factors can provide substantial scientific data for large-scale exploration of intraspecific phenotypic variation in pine species and their breeding practice.
Toward the Genetic Improvement of Drought Tolerance in Conifers: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Baldi Paolo , La Porta Nicola
Published: November 2022

The constant rise in the global temperature and unpredictable shifts in precipitation patterns are two of the main effects of climate change. Therefore, there is an increasing amount of interest in the identification of tree species, provenances and genotypes capable of withstanding more arid conditions and tolerating drought stress. In the present review, we focus our attention on generally more susceptible conifers and describe the different strategies that plants adopt to respond to drought stress. We describe the main approaches taken in studies of conifer adaptations to low water availability, the advantages and limitations of each, and the main results obtained with each of these approaches in the recent years. Then we discuss how the increasing amount of morphological, physiological and genetic data may find practical applications in forest management, and in particular in next-generation breeding programs. Finally, we provide some recommendations for future research. In particular, we suggest extending future studies to a broader selection of species and genera, increasing the number of studies on adult plants, in particular those on gene expression, and distinguishing between the different types of drought stress that a tree can withstand during its life cycle. The integration of data coming from different disciplines and approaches will be a key factor to increasing our knowledge about a trait as complex as drought resistance.
Analysis of Plant Trait Data of Host Plants of Lycorma delicatula in the US Suggests Evidence for Ecological Fitting
Authors: Avanesyan Alina , McPherson Cameron , Lamp William O.
Published: November 2022

Plant traits, used by the invasive insect herbivores to find and select suitable hosts, can play an important role in insect host range expansion. With regard to invasive Lycorma delicatula, it is not well explored, however, how the plant origin affects insect host selection, and whether native and introduced host plants differ in their morphology, lifespan, as well as environmental requirements for growth. We addressed this issue in our study through the comprehensive assessment of 25 relevant plant traits (a total of 27,601 records retrieved from the TRY database), as well as the origin and phylogenetic relationships of 37 host plants of L. delicatula in the U.S. Our results showed that only leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, and canopy size were significantly greater in the introduced hosts than that in native plants. We did not detect a significant effect of the plant origin on other characteristics. Additionally, no significant differences between native and introduced hosts of L. delicatula in genetic distances from introduced Ailanthus altissima (the most preferred host) were detected. These results, for the first time, suggest strong evidence for ecological fitting which might drive the host plant selection of L. delicatula and its rapid spread in the U.S.
Predicting Changes in Forest Growing Season (FGS) in the Transitional Climate of Poland on the Basis of Current Grid Datasets
Authors: Wertz Bogdan , Wilczyński Sławomir
Published: November 2022

The observed climate change determines the silvicultural and productive perspectives of the different species. The use of stand growth simulators, which are important tools for predicting future tree growth, requires verified and consistent data, such as length of forest growing season (FGS). The aim of this study is to determine the current and future FGS on the territory of Poland, which has a highly variable transition climate between maritime and continental types. The analysis is based on the WorldClim grid dataset corrected with the constructed model based on the FGS derived from 245 meteorological stations covering the whole territory of the country. In addition, predictions of changes in FGS depending on different climate scenarios were considered. The results show that the inclusion of geographical location components, i.e., longitude, latitude and especially altitude, is important for the correction of FGS calculated on the basis of raster datasets such as WorldClim. The prediction of climatic changes shows a significant increase in FGS duration in Poland, ranging from 18 to 52 days, mainly affecting the mountainous regions with the shortest actual FGS.
Machine Learning-Assisted In Vitro Rooting Optimization in Passiflora caerulea
Authors: Jafari Marziyeh , Daneshvar Mohammad Hosein , Jafari Sahar , Hesami Mohsen
Published: November 2022

In vitro rooting as one of the most critical steps of micropropagation is affected by various extrinsic (e.g., medium composition, auxins) and intrinsic factors (e.g., species, explant). In Passiflora species, in vitro adventitious rooting is a difficult, complex, and non-linear process. Since in vitro rooting is a multivariable complex biological process, efficient and reliable computational approaches such as machine learning (ML) are required to model, predict, and optimize this non-linear biological process. Therefore, in the current study, a hybrid of generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and genetic algorithm (GA) was employed to predict in vitro rooting responses (rooting percentage, number of roots, and root length) of Passiflora caerulea based on the optimization of the level of auxins (indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA), and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)) and the type of explant (microshoots derived from leaf, node, and internode). Based on the results, the GRNN model was accurate in predicting all in vitro rooting responses of P. caerulea (R2 > 0.92) in either training or testing sets. The result of the validation experiment also showed that there was a negligible difference between the predicted-optimized values and the validated results demonstrating the reliability of the developed GRNN-GA model. Generally, the results of the current study showed that GRNN-GA is a reliable and accurate model to predict and optimize in vitro rooting of P. caerulea.
Novel Recursive BiFPN Combining with Swin Transformer for Wildland Fire Smoke Detection
Authors: Li Ao , Zhao Yaqin , Zheng Zhaoxiang
Published: November 2022

The technologies and models based on machine vision are widely used for early wildfire detection. Due to the broadness of wild scene and the occlusion of the vegetation, smoke is more easily detected than flame. However, the shapes of the smoke blown by the wind change constantly and the smoke colors from different combustors vary greatly. Therefore, the existing target detection networks have limitations in detecting wildland fire smoke, such as low detection accuracy and high false alarm rate. This paper designs the attention model Recursive Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (RBiFPN for short) for the fusion and enhancement of smoke features. We introduce RBiFPN into the backbone network of YOLOV5 frame to better distinguish the subtle difference between clouds and smoke. In addition, we replace the classification head of YOLOV5 with Swin Transformer, which helps to change the receptive fields of the network with the size of smoke regions and enhance the capability of modeling local features and global features. We tested the proposed model on the dataset containing a large number of interference objects such as clouds and fog. The experimental results show that our model can detect wildfire smoke with a higher performance than the state-of-the-art methods.
A New, Green, Recyclable Fireproof Insulation Board for Use in Integrated Composite Structure Fire Protection Systems
Authors: Yang Wenxu , Abu Bakar B. H. , Mamat Hussin , Gong Liang
Published: November 2022

A fireproof insulation board can be recycled, and the raw materials used in its production are very environmentally friendly, non-toxic and non-hazardous, and bring no harm to the human body and the surrounding environment. One practical application of fireproof insulation board is in an integrated composite structural fire protection system, which is a multidimensional comprehensive structural fire protection system proposed for the combined construction of buildings with different functions, such as horizontal and vertical, to ensure overall safety in the event of a building fire. The specific new technology of this new system includes an integrated structural fire protection system composed of a 3.00 h fire insulation board, which comes from the collection of textile scraps consisting of metals and buttons removed from clothes. To prove the effectiveness of this fireproof insulation board, its parameters were collected and put into FDS (FirG Dynamics Simulator, a CFD model of fluid flow during combustion developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the fire safety goals considering the safety of building and personnel were established, and fire scene design based on the statistics of fire data and building codes was generated to test the safety of evacuation. To ensure the reliability of simulation results, an on-site physical fire test was conducted with the recycled insulation board. The result shows that the function of recycled board optimizes the phased evacuation design plan of personnel and solves the design difficulties of expanding fire zones and long evacuation distances when used in warehouses. Through the innovative design of the roof opening rate set at 30% and a hole spacing of 60 m, this underground fireproof insulation board is guaranteed to possess natural smoke exhaust conditions and can be used to improve public safety areas.
Elevated Winter Stream Temperatures below Wastewater Treatment Plants Shift Reproductive Development of Female Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum: A Field and Histologic Approach
Authors: Adams Catherine M. , Winkelman Dana L. , Schaffer Paula A. , Villeneuve Daniel L. , Cavallin Jenna E. , Ellman Michael , Santana Rodriguez Kelvin , Fitzpatrick Ryan M.
Published: November 2022

River water temperatures are increasing globally, particularly in urban systems. In winter, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent inputs are of particular concern because they increase water temperatures from near freezing to ~7–15 °C. Recent laboratory studies suggest that warm overwinter temperatures impact the reproductive timing of some fishes. To evaluate winter water temperature’s influence in the wild, we sampled Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum from three urban South Platte River tributaries in Colorado upstream and downstream of WWTP effluent discharge sites. Fish were collected weekly during the spring spawning season of 2021 and reproductive development was determined from histological analysis of the gonads. Winter water temperatures were approximately 5–10 °C greater ~300 m downstream of the WWTP effluent compared to upstream sites, and approximately 3 °C warmer at sampling sites ~5000 m downstream of the effluent discharge. Females collected downstream of WWTP effluent experienced accelerated reproductive development compared to upstream by 1–2 weeks. Water quality, including total estrogenicity, and spring water temperatures did not appear to explain varying reproductive development. It appears that small increases in winter water temperature influence the reproductive timing in E. nigrum. Further investigations into how shifts in reproductive timing influence other population dynamics are warranted.
Growth Performance, Nutritional Quality, and Immune-Related Gene Expression of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in Pond Ecosystem as Influenced by Stocking Density
Authors: Wang Ziyu , Mao Zhenfang , Li Xiaoyong , Zhu Minjie , Li Linjie , Mei Feng , Huang Peiying , Hou Jiahao , Jian Shaoqin , Zhao Daxian
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of stocking density on growth performance, nutritional quality, and immune-related gene expression of Eriocheir sinensis and water quality in pond ecosystems. E. sinensis were randomly divided into five density groups (G1: 1.2 inds/m2; G2: 1.5 inds/m2; G3: 1.8 inds/m2; G4: 2.1 inds/m2; G5: 2.4 inds/m2) based on their breeding densities, and three replicates were set up for each density group, for a total of fifteen ponds. After 169 days of breeding, the muscle, hepatopancreatic tissue, and hemolymph of E. sinensis, randomly selected from each group, were collected for analysis. Body weight (BW), carapace length, and carapace width increased with breeding time, and the BW of E. sinensis in G3 was higher than that in the other groups. In the muscle and hepatopancreas, the crude lipid content in the G3 group was higher than that in the other groups (p > 0.05). In the muscle tissue, the contents of total, essential, and delicious amino acids in the G3 group were higher than those in the other groups. The expression levels of immune-related genes in G5 were higher than those in the other groups. The value of pH decreased and NO2-N increased significantly in the G5 group and pH, as a synergetic factor of culture density, affected the growth performance of E. sinensis. In conclusion, stocking density has a certain impact on the growth performance, nutrition quality, and immunity of E. sinensis and water quality in pond ecosystems, and a stocking density of 1.8 inds/m2 can be considered optimal for rearing in pond ecosystems of the Poyang Lake region.
Modeling and Forecasting Somali Economic Growth Using ARIMA Models
Authors: Mohamed Abas Omar
Published: November 2022

The study investigated the empirical role of past values of Somalia’s GDP growth rates in its future realizations. Using the Box–Jenkins modeling method, the study utilized 250 in-sample quarterly time series data to forecast out-of-the-sample Somali GDP growth rates for fourteen quarters. Balancing between parsimony and fitness criteria of model selection, the study found Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average ARIMA (5,1,2) to be the most appropriate model to estimate and forecast the trajectory of Somali economic growth. The study sourced the GDP growth data from World Bank World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period between 1960 to 2022. The study results predict that Somalia’s GDP will, on average, experience 4 percent quarterly growth rates for the coming three and half years. To solidify the validity of the forecasting results, the study conducted several ARIMA and rolling window diagnostic tests. The model errors proved to be white noise, the moving average (MA) and Autoregressive (AR) components are covariances stationary, and the rolling window test shows model stability within a 95% confidence interval. These optimistic economic growth forecasts represent a policy dividend for the government of Somalia after almost a decade-long stick-and-carrot economic policies between strict IMF fiscal disciplinary measures and World Bank development investments on target projects. The study, however, acknowledges that the developments of current severe droughts, locust infestations, COVID-19 pandemic, internal political, and security stability, and that the active involvement of international development partners will play a crucial role in the realization of these promising growth projections.
Corrected Dual-Simpson-Type Inequalities for Differentiable Generalized Convex Functions on Fractal Set
Authors: Lakhdari Abdelghani , Saleh Wedad , Meftah Badreddine , Iqbal Akhlad
Published: November 2022

The present paper provides several corrected dual-Simpson-type inequalities for functions whose local fractional derivatives are generalized convex. To that end, we derive a new local fractional integral identity as an auxiliary result. Using this new identity along with generalized Hölder’s inequality and generalized power mean inequality, we establish some new variants of fractal corrected dual-Simpson-type integral inequalities. Furthermore, some applications for error estimates of quadrature formulas as well as some special means involving arithmetic and p-logarithmic mean are offered to demonstrate the efficacy of our findings.
Polyacrylamide/poly(2-(dimethylamino) Ethyl Methacrylate) Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Drug Delivery Systems for Diclofenac Sodium
Authors: Grigorova Kristina , Kostova Bistra , Georgieva Dilyana , Apostolov Anton , Vassileva Elena
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, modern pharmaceutical investigations are directed toward the design and production of drug delivery systems for achieving prolonged and controlled drug delivery. In this respect, the use of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) is an opportunity in the preparation of polymer drug delivery systems with desired characteristics. This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of novel poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and polyacrylamide (PAAm)-based IPNs with different compositions and their application as diclofenac sodium delivery systems. The prepared IPNs were shown to possess phase-separated structures at the nano level, as revealed by SEM and TM-DSC. The IPNs’ composition was shown to determine the swelling behavior of these novel materials, and the inclusion of the charged IPN component (PDMAEMA) has changed the water molecules type diffusion from Fickian to non-Fickian, as revealed by the swelling kinetics study. Loading efficiency of diclofenac sodium and diclofenac sodium content in the polymer network was evaluated, and in vitro drug release experiments were carried out in order to estimate the ability of the obtained IPNs to control the release of the water-soluble drug.
Synthesis, Adsorption Isotherm and Kinetic Study of Alkaline- Treated Zeolite/Chitosan/Fe3+ Composites for Nitrate Removal from Aqueous Solution—Anion and Dye Effects
Authors: Hidayat Endar , Yoshino Tomoyuki , Yonemura Seiichiro , Mitoma Yoshiharu , Harada Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

In the present study, alkaline-treated zeolite/chitosan/Fe3+ (ZLCH-Fe) composites were prepared and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and pH of zero point of charge (pHzpc) to remove nitrates from water. The process was carried out using an adsorption method with a varied initial pH, adsorbent dosage, initial nitrate concentration and contact time. The pHzpc demonstrated that the ZLCH-Fe surface had a positive charge between 2 and 10, making it easier to capture the negative charge of nitrate. However, the optimal pH value is 7. After 270 min, the maximum adsorption capacity and percent removal reached 498 mg/g and 99.64%, respectively. Freundlich and pseudo-second-order were fitted to the adsorption isotherm and kinetic models, respectively. An evaluation was conducted on the effects of anions—SO42− and PO43−—and dyes—methylene blue (MB) and acid red 88 (AR88)—upon nitrate removal. The results indicated that the effect of the anion could be inhibited, in contrast to dye effects. However, the optimal pH values were changed to 10 for MB and 2 for AR88, resulting in a hydrogel formation. This might be indicated by the protonation of hydroxyl and amino groups resulting from a chitosan nitrate reaction in the AR88 solution.
Novel Gemini Surfactant for Binding Eu(III)-Polyoxometalate into Hydrogels and Polymer Latexes
Authors: Micutz Marin , Circu Viorel , Ilis Monica , Staicu Teodora
Published: November 2022

The incorporation of rare-earth ions into polymer matrices can lead to useful materials in various fields such as biomarkers, lasers, luminescent devices, optical storage materials, and so on. Methods of incorporation are either extremely simple, such as mixing the polymer and the ion of interest in adequate solvents, or more sophisticated such as synthesizing predesigned monomers that contain the rare-earth ion or binding the ion on an already formed polymer chain. Cationic gemini surfactants represent a class of surfactants that can be used to incorporate metal-oxygen cluster compounds by means of strong electrostatic interactions. In this study, first, a novel cationic gemini surfactant having double bonds on both side chains was designed and prepared. After characterization, the surfactant was used to synthesize hydrogels with different degrees of crosslinking and also as a surfmer in emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate. The resulted polymer matrices were able to bind europium-polyoxometalate Na9[EuW10O36].32H2O. In case of luminescent lanthanide ions, changing the microenvironment around the metal ion also changes the intensity of some emission peaks as well as other luminescent parameters. Investigation of emission spectra of Eu3+ indicates a decrease in the symmetry of the microenvironment, when the polyanions pass from water to latex, to surfactant solution, and to hydrogel.
The HD-ZIP Gene Family in Watermelon: Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Yan Xing , Yue Zhen , Pan Xiaona , Si Fengfei , Li Jiayue , Chen Xiaoyao , Li Xin , Luan Feishi , Yang Jianqiang , Zhang Xian , Wei Chunhua
Published: November 2022

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) transcription factors are one of the plant-specific gene families involved in plant growth and response to adverse environmental conditions. However, little information is available on the HD-ZIP gene family in watermelon. In this study, forty ClHDZs were systemically identified in the watermelon genome, which were subsequently divided into four distinctive subfamilies (I–IV) based on the phylogenetic topology. HD-ZIP members in the same subfamily generally shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Syntenic analyses revealed that segmental duplications mainly contributed to the expansion of the watermelon HD-ZIP family, especially in subfamilies I and IV. HD-ZIP III was considered the most conserved subfamily during the evolutionary history. Moreover, expression profiling together with stress-related cis-elements in the promoter region unfolded the divergent transcriptional accumulation patterns under abiotic stresses. The majority (13/23) of ClHDZs in subfamilies I and II were downregulated under the drought condition, e.g., ClHDZ4, ClHDZ13, ClHDZ18, ClHDZ19, ClHDZ20, and ClHDZ35. On the contrary, most HD-ZIP genes were induced by cold and salt stimuli with few exceptions, such as ClHDZ3 and ClHDZ23 under cold stress and ClHDZ14 and ClHDZ15 under the salt condition. Notably, the gene ClHDZ14 was predominantly downregulated by three stresses whereas ClHDZ1 was upregulated, suggesting their possible core roles in response to these abiotic stimuli. Collectively, our findings provide promising candidates for the further genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance in watermelon.
Novel Intronic Mutation in VMA21 Causing Severe Phenotype of X-Linked Myopathy with Excessive Autophagy—Case Report
Authors: Pegat Antoine , Streichenberger Nathalie , Lacoste Nicolas , Hermier Marc , Menassa Rita , Coudert Laurent , Theuriet Julian , Froissart Roseline , Terrone Sophie , Bouhour Francoise , Michel-Calemard Laurence , Schaeffer Laurent , Jacquier Arnaud
Published: November 2022

X-linked Myopathy with Excessive Autophagy (XMEA) is a rare autophagic vacuolar myopathy caused by mutations in the Vacuolar ATPase assembly factor VMA21 gene; onset usually occurs during childhood and rarely occurs during adulthood. We described a 22-year-old patient with XMEA, whose onset was declared at 11 through gait disorder. He had severe four-limb proximal weakness and amyotrophy, and his proximal muscle MRC score was between 2 and 3/5 in four limbs; creatine kinase levels were elevated (1385 IU/L), and electroneuromyography and muscle MRI were suggestive of myopathy. Muscle biopsy showed abnormalities typical of autophagic vacuolar myopathy. We detected a hemizygous, unreported, intronic, single-nucleotide substitution c.164-20T>A (NM_001017980.4) in intron 2 of the VMA21 gene. Fibroblasts derived from this patient displayed a reduced level of VMA21 transcripts (at 40% of normal) and protein, suggesting a pathogenicity related to an alteration of the splicing efficiency associated with an intron retention. This patient with XMEA displayed a severe phenotype (rapid weakness of upper and lower limbs) due to a new intronic variant of VMA21, related to an alteration in the splicing efficiency associated with intron retention, suggesting that phenotype severity is closely related to the residual expression of the VMA21 protein.
Phenotypic Spectrum of NFIA Haploinsufficiency: Two Additional Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bertini Veronica , Cambi Francesca , Orsini Alessandro , Bonuccelli Alice , Fiorini Aureliano , Santangelo Andrea , Scacciati Massimo , Elia Maurizio , Galesi Ornella , Peroni Diego , Valetto Angelo
Published: November 2022

The NFIA (nuclear factor I/A) gene encodes for a transcription factor belonging to the nuclear factor I family and has key roles in various embryonic differentiation pathways. In humans, NFIA is the major contributor to the phenotypic traits of “Chromosome 1p32p31 deletion syndrome”. We report on two new cases with deletions involving NFIA without any other pathogenic protein-coding gene alterations. A cohort of 24 patients with NFIA haploinsufficiency as the sole anomaly was selected by reviewing the literature and public databases in order to analyze all clinical features reported and their relative frequencies. This process was useful because it provided an overall picture of the phenotypic outcome of NFIA haploinsufficiency and helped to define a cluster of phenotypic traits that can facilitate clinicians in identifying affected patients. NFIA haploinsufficiency can be suspected by a careful observation of the dysmorphisms (macrocephaly, craniofacial, and first-finger anomalies), and this potential diagnosis is strengthened by the presence of intellectual and developmental disabilities or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Further clues of NFIA haploinsufficiency can be provided by instrumental tests such as MRI and kidney urinary tract ultrasound and confirmed by genetic testing.
Clinical, Radiological, and Genetic Characterization of a Patient with a Novel Homoallelic Loss-of-Function Variant in DNM1
Authors: AlTassan Ruqaiah , AlQudairy Hanan , Alromayan Rakan , Alfalah Abdullah , AlHarbi Omar A. , González-Álvarez Ana C. , Arold Stefan T. , Kaya Namik
Published: November 2022

Heterozygous pathogenic variants in DNM1 are linked to an autosomal dominant form of epileptic encephalopathy. Recently, homozygous loss-of-function variants in DNM1 were reported to cause an autosomal recessive form of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy in unrelated patients. Here, we investigated a singleton from a first-degree cousin marriage who presented with facial dysmorphism, global developmental delay, seizure disorder, and nystagmus. To identify the involvement of any likely genetic cause, diagnostic clinical exome sequencing was performed. Comprehensive filtering revealed a single plausible candidate variant in DNM1. Sanger sequencing of the trio, the patient, and her parents, confirmed the full segregation of the variant. The variant is a deletion leading to a premature stop codon and is predicted to cause a protein truncation. Structural modeling implicated a complete loss of function of the Dynamin 1 (DNM1). Such mutation is predicted to impair the nucleotide binding, dimer formation, and GTPase activity of DNM1. Our study expands the phenotypic spectrum of pathogenic homozygous loss-of-function variants in DNM1.
Aggregation of Genome-Wide Association Data from FinnGen and UK Biobank Replicates Multiple Risk Loci for Pregnancy Complications
Authors: Changalidis Anton , Maksiutenko Evgeniia , Barbitoff Yury , Tkachenko Alexander , Vashukova Elena , Pachuliia Olga , Nasykhova Yulia , Glotov Andrey
Published: November 2022

Complications endangering mother or fetus affect around one in seven pregnant women. Investigation of the genetic susceptibility to such diseases is of high importance for better understanding of the disease biology as well as for prediction of individual risk. In this study, we collected and analyzed GWAS summary statistics from the FinnGen cohort and UK Biobank for 24 pregnancy complications. In FinnGen, we identified 11 loci associated with pregnancy hypertension, excessive vomiting, and gestational diabetes. When UK Biobank and FinnGen data were combined, we discovered six loci reaching genome-wide significance in the meta-analysis. These include rs35954793 in FGF5 (p=6.1×10−9), rs10882398 in PLCE1 (p=8.9×10−9), and rs167479 in RGL3 (p=5.2×10−9) for pregnancy hypertension, rs10830963 in MTNR1B (p=4.5×10−41) and rs36090025 in TCF7L2 (p=3.4×10−15) for gestational diabetes, and rs2963457 in the EBF1 locus (p=6.5×10−9) for preterm birth. In addition to the identified genome-wide associations, we also replicated 14 out of 40 previously reported GWAS markers for pregnancy complications, including four more preeclampsia-related variants. Finally, annotation of the GWAS results identified a causal relationship between gene expression in the cervix and gestational hypertension, as well as both known and previously uncharacterized genetic correlations between pregnancy complications and other traits. These results suggest new prospects for research into the etiology and pathogenesis of pregnancy complications, as well as early risk prediction for these disorders.
Whole-Chromosome Karyotyping of Fetal Nucleated Red Blood Cells Using the Ion Proton Sequencing Platform
Authors: Barrett Angela N. , Huang Zhouwei , Aung Sarah , Ho Sherry S. Y. , Roslan Nur Syazana , Mahyuddin Aniza P. , Biswas Arijit , Choolani Mahesh
Published: November 2022

The current gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of fetal aneuploidy uses either chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, both of which are which are invasive procedures carrying a procedure-related risk of miscarriage of up to 0.1–0.2%. Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using fetal nucleated red blood cells (FNRBCs) isolated from maternal peripheral venous blood would remove this risk of miscarriage since these cells can be isolated from the mother’s blood. We aimed to detect whole-chromosome aneuploidies from single nucleated fetal red blood cells using whole-genome amplification followed by massively parallel sequencing performed on a semiconductor sequencing platform. Twenty-six single cells were picked from the placental villi of twelve patients thought to have a normal fetal genotype and who were undergoing elective first-trimester surgical termination of pregnancy. Following karyotyping, it was subsequently found that two of these cases were also abnormal (one trisomy 15 and one mosaic genotype). One single cell from chorionic villus samples for two patients carrying a fetus with trisomy 21 and two single cells from women carrying fetuses with T18 were also picked. Pooled libraries were sequenced on the Ion Proton and data were analysed using Ion Reporter software. We correctly classified fetal genotype in all 24 normal cells, as well as the 2 T21 cells, the 2 T18 cells, and the two T15 cells. The two cells picked from the fetus with a mosaic result by CVS were classified as unaffected, suggesting that this was a case of confined placental mosaicism. Fetal sex was correctly assigned in all cases. We demonstrated that semiconductor sequencing using commercially available software for data analysis can be achieved for the non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of whole-chromosome aneuploidy with 100% accuracy.
The Complete Chloroplast Genome of Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R.Br: Insights into Comparative and Phylogenetic Analyses within the Tribe Justiceae
Authors: Yaradua Samaila Samaila , Yessoufou Kowiyou
Published: November 2022

Hypoestes forskaolii is one of the most important species of the family Acanthaceae, known for its high economic and medicinal importance. It is well distributed in the Arab region as well as on the African continent. Previous studies on ethnomedicine have reported that H. forskaolii has an anti-parasitic effect as well as antimalarial and anthelmintic activities. Previous studies mainly focused on the ethnomedicinal properties, hence, there is no information on the genomic architecture and phylogenetic positions of the species within the tribe Justiceae. The tribe Justicieae is the most taxonomically difficult taxon in Acanthoideae due to its unresolved infratribal classification. Therefore, by sequencing the complete chloroplast genome (cp genome) of H. forskaolii, we explored the evolutionary patterns of the cp genome and reconstructed the phylogeny of Justiceae. The cp genome is quadripartite and circular in structure and has a length of 151,142 bp. There are 130 genes (86 coding for protein, 36 coding for tRNA and 8 coding for rRNA) present in the plastome. Analyses of long repeats showed only three types of repeats: forward, palindromic and reverse were present in the genome. Microsatellites analysis revealed 134 microsatellites in the cp genome with mononucleotides having the highest frequency. Comparative analyses within Justiceae showed that genomes structure and gene contents were highly conserved but there is a slight distinction in the location of the genes in the inverted repeat and single copy junctions. Additionally, it was discovered that the cp genome includes variable hotspots that can be utilized as DNA barcodes and tools for determining evolutionary relationships in the Justiceae. These regions include: atpH-atpI, trnK-rps16, atpB-rbcL, trnT-trnL, psbI-trnS, matK, trnH-psbA, and ndhD. The Bayesian inference phylogenetic tree showed that H. forskaolii is a sister to the Dicliptra clade and belongs to Diclipterinae. The result also confirms the polyphyly of Justicia and inclusion of Diclipterinae within justicioid. This research has revealed the phylogenetic position of H. forskaolii and also reported the resources that can be used for evolutionary and phylogenetic studies of the species and the Justicieae.
Lithosphere Structure of the Southern Dinarides and Continuity of the Adriatic Lithosphere Slab Beneath the Northern Dinarides Unravelled by Seismic Modelling
Authors: Šumanovac Franjo
Published: November 2022

Currently recognised lithospheric models hypothesise the non-existence of a lithospheric slab (a so-called slab gap) in the area of the Northern Dinarides, and the possible existence of a shallow slab in the Southern Dinarides. These geological models are mostly based on previous regional and global 3D velocity models obtained from teleseismic tomography. Recent local tomographic models providing a good resolution have regularly shown the existence of a fast anomaly underneath the entire Dinarides, directly indicating the existence of a lithospheric slab. To avoid interpretation pitfalls and increase reliability, forward seismic modelling based on new tomographic models was performed. Seismic modelling indicates a continuous lithospheric slab along the entire Dinarides in the shallow mantle, but it is not continuous vertically. In the Northern Dinarides, the shallow lithospheric slab extends at least to a depth of 150 km. In the Southern and Central Dinarides, there is a deep fast anomaly that can be interpreted in two ways due to the weak vertical resolution of teleseismic tomography. The first model suggests a steeply dipping continuous Adriatic lithospheric slab whereas the second model shows that the slab consists of two separate blocks, meaning that the deeper block was formed by delamination of the Adriatic lithospheric slab. Due to a similar correlation between the inverse velocity models for the synthetic model and the observed data, preference is not given to any model. The second model could indicate two independent Dinaridic subduction phases, as opposed to viewing subduction as a single long process during the geological past.
Therapeutic Communication Experiences of Nurses Caring for Patients with Hematology
Authors: Lee Hyun-Jung , Park Bom-Mi , Shin Mi-Jin , Kim Do-Yeon
Published: November 2022

Nurses who take care of patients with hematology have more difficulty in therapeutic communication. The aim of this study is to explore the therapeutic communication experiences of nurses caring for patients with hematology and the meaning of the essential structure of therapeutic communication. Colaizzi’s phenomenological method was applied to explore the essential structures and meanings of therapeutic communication in depth through a focus group interview. The interview was conducted at a tertiary care hospital with 20 nurses caring for patients with hematology. As a result of the analyses, 22 themes, 14 theme clusters, and 5 categories were derived. The categories derived from the analyses included “acquiring core competencies as nursing professionals”, “improving patient-centered nursing performance”, “forming a partnership treatment relationship”, “obtaining clinical performance skills to solve problems”, and “preparing efficient system improvement”. Based on this study’s results, it will be possible to provide high-quality nursing to patients by improving the therapeutic communication ability of nurses caring for patients with hematology. In addition, it will be the basis for the development of a nurses’ therapeutic communication promotion program for nurses caring for such patients.
Anthropometric Parameters in Patients with Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders: A Case–Control Study, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wasiewicz-Gajdzis Maria , Jamka Małgorzata , Geltz Jakub , Bokayeva Kamila , Kałużny Łukasz , Jagłowska Joanna , Walkowiak Jarosław
Published: November 2022

This study compared the anthropometric parameters of patients with fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAOD) and healthy controls, showing an increased prevalence of abnormal body weight (overweight and obesity) in the FAOD group. First, differences in BMI, BMI percentiles and z-scores, and weight and weight percentiles were compared in a cohort of 39 patients with FAOD and 156 healthy controls, as well as between patients born before and after the introduction of a populational newborn screening programme (NBS) in 2014 in Poland. We also performed a systematic literature review yielding 12 studies mentioning anthropometric parameters in 80 FAOD patients and 121 control subjects, followed by a meta-analysis of data from 8 studies and our cohort. There were significant differences in body weight percentiles (p = 0.001), BMI (p = 0.022), BMI percentiles (p = 0.003) and BMI z-scores (p = 0.001) between FAOD patients and controls in our cohort but not between pre- and post-newborn-screening patients. The meta-analysis did not show any differences in weight and BMI in all tested subgroups, i.e., all FAOD patients vs. controls, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCADD) patients vs. controls and patients with FAOD types other than MCAD vs. controls. These results, however, should be interpreted with caution due to the overall low quality of evidence as assessed by GRADE, the small sample sizes and the significant heterogeneity of the included data.