bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beneficial Plant-Associated Microorganisms From Semiarid Regions and Seasonally Dry Environments: A Review
Authors: Bonatelli Maria Leticia , Lacerda-Júnior Gileno Vieira , dos Reis Junior Fábio Bueno , Fernandes-Júnior Paulo Ivan , Melo Itamar Soares , Quecine Maria Carolina
Published: January 2021

Semiarid regions are apparently low biodiversity environments; however, these environments may host a phylogenetically diverse microbial community associated with plants. Their microbial inhabitants are often recruited to withstand stressful settings and improve plant growth under harsh conditions. Thus, plant-associated microorganisms isolated from semiarid and seasonally dry environments will be detailed in the present review, focusing on plant growth promotion potential and the microbial ability to alleviate plant abiotic stress. Initially, we explored the role of microbes from dry environments around the world, and then, we focused on seasonally dry Brazilian biomes, the Caatinga and the Cerrado. Cultivable bacteria from semiarid and seasonally dry environments have demonstrated great plant growth promotion traits such as plant hormone production, mobilization of insoluble nutrients, and mechanisms related to plant abiotic stress alleviation. Several of these isolates were able to improve plant growth under stressful conditions commonly present in typical semiarid regions, such as high salinity and drought. Additionally, we highlight the potential of plants highly adapted to seasonal climates from the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes as a suitable pool of microbial inoculants to maintain plant growth under abiotic stress conditions. In general, we point out the potential for the exploitation of new microbial inoculants from plants growing in dry environments to ensure a sustainable increase in agricultural productivity in a future climate change scenario.
Quorum Quenching Activity of the PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022 Alters Nodulation Efficiency of Sinorhizobium meliloti on Medicago truncatula
Authors: Rosier Amanda , Beauregard Pascale B. , Bais Harsh P.
Published: January 2021

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have enormous potential for solving some of the myriad challenges facing our global agricultural system. Intense research efforts are rapidly moving the field forward and illuminating the wide diversity of bacteria and their plant beneficial activities. In the development of better crop solutions using these PGPR, producers are including multiple different species of PGPR in their formulations in a “consortia” approach. While the intention is to emulate more natural rhizomicrobiome systems, the aspect of bacterial interactions has not been properly regarded. By using a tri-trophic model of Medicago truncatula A17 Jemalong, its nitrogen (N)-fixing symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm8530, and the PGPR Bacillus subtilis UD1022, we demonstrate indirect influences between the bacteria affecting their plant growth-promoting activities. Co-cultures of UD1022 with Rm8530 significantly reduced Rm8530 biofilm formation and downregulated quorum sensing (QS) genes responsible for symbiotically active biofilm production. This work also identifies the presence and activity of a quorum quenching lactonase in UD1022 and proposes this as the mechanism for non-synergistic activity of this model “consortium.” These interspecies interactions may be common in the rhizosphere and are critical to understand as we seek to develop new sustainable solutions in agriculture.
Dual Microbial Inoculation, a Game Changer? – Bacterial Biostimulants With Multifunctional Growth Promoting Traits to Mitigate Salinity Stress in Spring Mungbean
Authors: Kumawat Kailash Chand , Sharma Poonam , Nagpal Sharon , Gupta R. K. , Sirari Asmita , Nair Ramakrishnan Madhavan , Bindumadhava H. , Singh Sudeep
Published: January 2021

Soil microbes play a vital role in improving plant growth, soil health, ameliorate biotic/abiotic stress and enhance crop productivity. The present study was aimed to investigate a coordinated effect of compatible consortium [salt tolerating Rhizobium and rhizobacterium with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase] in enhancing plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, symbiotic efficiency, nutrient acquisition, anti-oxidative enzymes, grain yield and associated profitability in spring mungbean. We identified a non-pathogenic compatible Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 (MH644039.1) and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 (MH644178.1) from salt affected areas of Punjab, India and the same were assessed to develop consortium biofertilizer based on salt tolerance, multifarious PGP traits, antagonistic defense activities and presence of nifH, acds, pqq, and ipdc genes. Indole Acetic acid (IAA), P-solubilization, biofilm formation, exo-polysaccharides, siderophore, salt tolerance, ACC deaminase activities were all found highly significant in dual inoculant (LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3) treatment compared to LSMR-32 alone. Under saline soil conditions, dual inoculant showed a higher seed germination, plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content and macro and micro-nutrient uptake, than un-inoculated control. However, symbiotic (nodulation, nodule biomass and leghaemoglobin content) and soil quality parameters (phosphatase and soil dehydrogenase enzymes) increased numerically with LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3 over Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 alone. Dual bacterial inoculation (LSMR-32 + LSMRS-3) increased the proline content (2.05 fold), anti-oxidative enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (1.50 fold), catalase (1.43 fold) and peroxidase (3.88 folds) in contrast to control treatment. Decreased Na+ accumulation and increased K+ uptake resulted in favorable K+/Na+ ratio through ion homeostasis. Co-inoculation of Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 significantly improved the grain yield by 8.92% and led to superior B: C ratio over Rhizobium sp. alone under salt stress. To best of our knowledge this is perhaps the first field report from Indian soils that largely describes dual inoculation of Rhizobium sp. LSMR-32 and Enterococcus mundtii LSMRS-3 and the same can be considered as a game-changer approach to simultaneously induce salt tolerance and improve productivity in spring mungbean under saline stress conditions.
Neuronal and Synaptic Plasticity in the Visual Thalamus in Mouse Models of Glaucoma
Authors: Van Hook Matthew J. , Monaco Corrine , Bierlein Elizabeth R. , Smith Jennie C.
Published: January 2021

Homeostatic plasticity plays important role in regulating synaptic and intrinsic neuronal function to stabilize output following perturbations to circuit activity. In glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease of the visual system commonly associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), the early disease is associated with altered synaptic inputs to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), changes in RGC intrinsic excitability, and deficits in optic nerve transport and energy metabolism. These early functional changes can precede RGC degeneration and are likely to alter RGC outputs to their target structures in the brain and thereby trigger homeostatic changes in synaptic and neuronal properties in those brain regions. In this study, we sought to determine whether and how neuronal and synaptic function is altered in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), an important RGC projection target in the thalamus, and how functional changes related to IOP. We accomplished this using patch-clamp recordings from thalamocortical (TC) relay neurons in the dLGN in two established mouse models of glaucoma—the DBA/2J (D2) genetic mouse model and an inducible glaucoma model with intracameral microbead injections to elevate IOP. We found that the intrinsic excitability of TC neurons was enhanced in D2 mice and these functional changes were mirrored in recordings of TC neurons from microbead-injected mice. Notably, many neuronal properties were correlated with IOP in older D2 mice, when IOP rises. The frequency of miniature excitatory synaptic currents (mEPSCs) was reduced in 9-month-old D2 mice, and vGlut2 staining of RGC synaptic terminals was reduced in an IOP-dependent manner. These data suggest that glaucoma-associated changes to neuronal excitability and synaptic inputs in the dLGN might represent a combination of both stabilizing/homeostatic plasticity and pathological dysfunction.
Neuroprotective Role of Akt in Hypoxia Adaptation in Andeans
Authors: Zhao Helen , Lin Jonathan , Sieck Gary , Haddad Gabriel G.
Published: January 2021

Chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is a disease that potentially threatens a large segment of high-altitude populations during extended living at altitudes above 2,500 m. Patients with CMS suffer from severe hypoxemia, excessive erythrocytosis and neurologic deficits. The cellular mechanisms underlying CMS neuropathology remain unknown. We previously showed that iPSC-derived CMS neurons have altered mitochondrial dynamics and increased susceptibility to hypoxia-induced cell death. Genome analysis from the same population identified many ER stress-related genes that play an important role in hypoxia adaptation or lack thereof. In the current study, we showed that iPSC-derived CMS neurons have increased expression of ER stress markers Grp78 and XBP1s under normoxia and hyperphosphorylation of PERK under hypoxia, alleviating ER stress does not rescue the hypoxia-induced CMS neuronal cell death. Akt is a cytosolic regulator of ER stress with PERK as a direct target of Akt. CMS neurons exhibited lack of Akt activation and lack of increased Parkin expression as compared to non-CMS neurons under hypoxia. By enhancing Akt activation and Parkin overexpression, hypoxia-induced CMS neuronal cell death was reduced. Taken together, we propose that increased Akt activation protects non-CMS from hypoxia-induced cell death. In contrast, impaired adaptive mechanisms including failure to activate Akt and increase Parkin expression render CMS neurons more susceptible to hypoxia-induced cell death.
The Effects of Gum Acacia on the Composition of the Gut Microbiome and Plasma Levels of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Al-Asmakh Maha , Sohail Muhammad Umar , Al-Jamal Ola , Shoair Banan Mosaad , Al-Baniali Asmaa Yousef , Bouabidi Salma , Nasr Shahd , Bawadi Hiba
Published: January 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be fatal for its victims and is an important long-term public health problem. The complicated medical procedures and diet restrictions to which patients with CKD are subjected alter the gut microbiome in an adverse manner, favoring over-accumulation of proteolytic bacteria that produce ammonia and other toxic substances. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of GA on 1) the composition of the gut microbiome and 2) on plasma levels of short-chain fatty acids. Male Wister rats were divided into four groups (six each) and treated for 4 weeks based on the following: control, dietary adenine (0.75%, w/w) to induce CKD, GA in the drinking water (15%, w/v), and both adenine and GA. At the end of the treatment period, plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected for determination of several biochemical indicators of renal function and plasma levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as well as characterization of the gut microbiome. Dietary adenine induced the typical signs of CKD, i.e., loss of body weight and impairment of renal function, while GA alleviated these effects. The intestine of the rats with CKD contained an elevated abundance of pathogenic Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia but lowered proportions of Lactobacillaceae belonging to the Firmicutes phylum. Plasma levels of propionate and butyrate were lowered by dietary adenine and restored by GA. A negative association (Spearman’s p-value ≤ 0.01, r ≤ 0.5) was observed between Firmicutes and plasma creatinine, urea, urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and albumin. Phylum Proteobacteria on the other hand was positively associated with these markers while Phylum Bacteroidetes was positively associated with plasma SCFAs. In conclusion, the adverse changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, plasma levels of SCFAs, and biochemical indicators of renal function observed in the rats with CKD induced by dietary adenine were mitigated by GA. These findings are indicative of a link between uremia and the composition of the microbiome in connection with this disease. Dietary administration of GA to patients with CKD may improve their renal function via modulating the composition of their microbiome—a finding that certainly warrants further investigation.
Renormalization Group Approach to Pandemics as a Time-Dependent SIR Model
Authors: Della Morte Michele , Sannino Francesco
Published: January 2021

We generalise the epidemic Renormalization Group framework while connecting it to a SIR model with time-dependent coefficients. We then confront the model with COVID-19 in Denmark, Germany, Italy and France and show that the approach works rather well in reproducing the data. We also show that a better understanding of the time dependence of the recovery rate would require extending the model to take into account the number of deaths whenever these are over 15% of the cumulative number of infected cases.
SARS-CoV-2 Mediated Endothelial Dysfunction: The Potential Role of Chronic Oxidative Stress
Authors: Chang Ryan , Mamun Abrar , Dominic Abishai , Le Nhat-Tu
Published: January 2021

Endothelial cells have emerged as key players in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 inflammatory pathologies. Dysfunctional endothelial cells can promote chronic inflammation and disease processes like thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and lung injury. In endothelial cells, mitochondria regulate these inflammatory pathways via redox signaling, which is primarily achieved through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS). Excess mtROS causes oxidative stress that can initiate and exacerbate senescence, a state that promotes inflammation and chronic endothelial dysfunction. Oxidative stress can also activate feedback loops that perpetuate mitochondrial dysfunction, mtROS overproduction, and inflammation. In this review, we provide an overview of phenotypes mediated by mtROS in endothelial cells – such as mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and senescence – as well as how these chronic states may be initiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection of endothelial cells. We also propose that SARS-CoV-2 activates mtROS-mediated feedback loops that cause long-term changes in host redox status and endothelial function, promoting cardiovascular disease and lung injury after recovery from COVID-19. Finally, we discuss the implications of these proposed pathways on long-term vascular health and potential treatments to address these chronic conditions.
Adding Far-Red to Red-Blue Light-Emitting Diode Light Promotes Yield of Lettuce at Different Planting Densities
Authors: Jin Wenqing , Urbina Jorge Leigh , Heuvelink Ep , Marcelis Leo F. M.
Published: January 2021

The economic viability and energy use of vertical farms strongly depend on the efficiency of the use of light. Increasing far-red radiation (FR, 700–800 nm) relative to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400–700 nm) may induce shade avoidance responses including stem elongation and leaf expansion, which would benefit light interception, and FR might even be photosynthetically active when used in combination with PAR. The aims of this study are to investigate the interaction between FR and planting density and to quantify the underlying components of the FR effects on growth. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa cv. Expertise RZ) was grown in a climate chamber under two FR treatments (0 or 52 μmol m–2 s–1) and three planting densities (23, 37, and 51 plants m–2). PAR of 89% red and 11% blue was kept at 218 μmol m–2 s–1. Adding FR increased plant dry weight after 4 weeks by 46–77% (largest effect at lowest planting density) and leaf area by 58–75% (largest effect at middle planting density). Radiation use efficiency (RUE: plant dry weight per unit of incident radiation, 400–800 nm) increased by 17–42% and incident light use efficiency (LUEinc: plant dry weight per unit of incident PAR, 400–700 nm) increased by 46–77% by adding FR; the largest FR effects were observed at the lowest planting density. Intercepted light use efficiency (LUEint: plant dry weight per unit of intercepted PAR) increased by adding FR (8–23%). Neither specific leaf area nor net leaf photosynthetic rate was influenced by FR. We conclude that supplemental FR increased plant biomass production mainly by faster leaf area expansion, which increased light interception. The effects of FR on plant dry weight are stronger at low than at high planting density. Additionally, an increased LUEint may contribute to the increased biomass production.
Song Morphing by Humpback Whales: Cultural or Epiphenomenal?
Authors: Mercado Eduardo
Published: January 2021

Singing humpback whales (Megaptera noavaengliae) collectively and progressively change the sounds and patterns they produce within their songs throughout their lives. The dynamic modifications that humpback whales make to their songs are often cited as an impressive example of cultural transmission through vocal learning in a non-human. Some elements of song change challenge this interpretation, however, including: (1) singers often incrementally and progressively morph phrases within and across songs as time passes, with trajectories of change being comparable across multiple time scales; (2) acoustically isolated subpopulations singing similar songs morph the acoustic properties of songs in similar ways; and (3) complex sound patterns, including phrases, themes, and whole songs, recur across years and populations. These properties of song dynamics suggest that singing humpback whales may be modulating song features in response to local conditions and genetic predispositions rather than socially learning novel sound patterns by copying other singers. Experimental and observational tests of key predictions of these alternative hypotheses are critical to identifying how and why singing humpback whales constantly change their songs.
Diversified Talent Cultivation Mechanism of Early Childhood Physical Education Under the Full-Practice Concept – Oriented by Preschooler Mental Health and Intelligent Teaching
Authors: Wang Nina , Rahman Mohd Nazri Bin Abdul , Daud Megat Ahmad Kamaluddin Bin Megat
Published: January 2021

In order to improve early childhood physical education, in this study, the talent cultivation mechanism for undergraduates was explored under the “full-practice” concept, oriented by preschooler mental health. First, from the perspective of preschooler psychology, the mechanisms of ability training and talent cultivation for undergraduates majoring in early childhood education were explored under the “full-practice” concept. Considering that the physical, psychological, and intellectual development of preschoolers shall follow the rules of physical education, and current early childhood education mainly focuses on intelligence education in China, early childhood physical education was analyzed further in this study. By investigating the undergraduate majors of early childhood education in Henan University, this study first summarized the current problems in early childhood education systems in universities. Secondly, combined with the form of physical education in kindergartens, strategies for talent cultivation and curriculum setting of early childhood physical education majors in colleges and universities were proposed. Finally, from the perspective of innovation and diversification of training forms, the cultivation of early childhood educators’ physical education ability was analyzed at multiple levels and multiple objectives, and the integrated training system of early childhood education talents was constructed. The results show that, among all the courses for early childhood education major, compulsory courses account for 81.2% and optional courses account for 18.8%. In addition, a survey on undergraduates’ attitudes toward the curriculum of their major demonstrates that 81.2% of the undergraduates thought that the range and content of practical courses should be increased, indicating that undergraduates majoring in early childhood education are dissatisfied with the current curriculum system, and they have an increased demand for practical courses. Correspondingly, it is vital to build and improve on the early childhood physical education. In terms of its talent cultivation, the “full-practice” concept helps combine theory with practice to improve the effectiveness of education and teaching, pushing forward the reform of the education system. Meanwhile, data- and intelligence-oriented teaching will become the new direction of modern sports development, as well as an important link for tracking and monitoring children’s sports teaching in China. Through the continuous introduction of wearable artificial intelligence (AI) products, real-time monitoring of children’s physical conditions can be realized, which helps improve the effectiveness of early childhood physical education.
Assessing Mothers’ Parenting Stress: Differences Between One- and Two-Child Families in China
Authors: Qian Guoying , Mei Jin , Tian Li , Dou Gang
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to investigate mothers’ parenting stress and explore its relationship with associated demographic variables in two-child families involving preschool children. A sample of 621 two-child families and a comparison group of 319 one-child families from China participated in the study; the children were aged between 3 and 7. The results showed that (1) mothers of two-child families had higher parenting stress than those of one-child families; (2) within the two-child families, demographic variables, such as birth order, gender combination, and the age gap were found to have significant effects on maternal stress levels; and (3) in two-child families, families with an income of less than 3000 yuan had significantly higher maternal stress than families with an income of more than 6000 yuan.
Developing an Instrument for Assessing Self-Efficacy in Data Mining and Analysis
Authors: Wang Yu-Min , Chiou Chei-Chang , Wang Wen-Chang , Chen Chun-Jung
Published: January 2021

With the continuous progress and penetration of automated data collection technology, enterprises and organizations are facing the problem of information overload. The demand for expertise in data mining and analysis is increasing. Self-efficacy is a pivotal construct that is significantly related to willingness and ability to perform a particular task. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop an instrument for assessing self-efficacy in data mining and analysis. An initial measurement list was developed based on the skills and abilities about executing data mining and analysis, and expert recommendations. A useful sample of 103 university students completed the online survey questionnaire. A 19-item four-factor model was extracted by exploratory factor analysis. Using the partial least squares-structural equation modeling technique (PLS-SEM), the model was cross-examined. The instrument showed satisfactory reliability and validity. The proposed instrument will be of value to researchers and practitioners in evaluating an individual’s abilities and readiness in executing data mining and analysis.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on University Students' Physical Activity Levels: An Early Systematic Review
Authors: López-Valenciano Alejandro , Suárez-Iglesias David , Sanchez-Lastra Miguel A. , Ayán Carlos
Published: January 2021

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to analyze the impact that the COVID-19 lockdown had on the amount of physical activity performed by university students.

Materials and Methods: A systematic electronic search for studies providing information regarding physical activity levels pre and during COVID-19 pandemic in university students was performed up to 20th October 2020 in the databases Cochrane Library, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. The risk of bias of external validity quality of included studies was assessed by means of those the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The quality of the evidence for main outcomes was graded using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results and Conclusions: A total of 10 studies were selected. Physical activity levels were assessed by means of questionnaires (10 studies) and accelerometer (1 study). Risk of bias was regarded as low and high in six and four investigations, respectively. The quality of evidence was downgraded to low. A significant reduction of physical activity levels were observed in 9 studies. Compared to pre-lockdown values, five studies showed a reduction of light/mild physical activity (walking) between 32.5 and 365.5%, while seven studies revealed a reduction of high/vigorous physical activity between 2.9 and 52.8%. Walking, moderate, vigorous, and total physical activity levels have been reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic confinements in university students of different countries. Despite of the reductions, those who met the current minimum PA recommendations before the lockdown generally met the recommendations also during the confinements.
Adaptive Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation for Long-Term Impact: Insights From a Water Supply Case in Bangladesh
Authors: Versteeg Niki , Hermans Leon M. , Ahrari Sara , Van De Walle Bartel A.
Published: January 2021

Most water and development interventions aim to contribute to long-term sustainable impacts. Given the uncertainties involved in these longer-term water development projects, adaptive planning approaches hold promise to connect planning, implementation and evaluation. Recent innovations report promising results, but find limited wide-spread practice due to a relatively large distance from current operational realities. Therefore, in this article we set out to investigate the real-world benefits and barriers for adaptive planning, monitoring and evaluation as a tool for water development interventions. To do so, we have stripped the advanced theoretic adaptive planning approach to its essentials, for exploration in an ongoing water development project. Application of the resulting three essential adaptive planning steps to a water development project in Khulna, Bangladesh shows that these steps are feasible and can support a more adaptive planning and management. In particular, they have helped to surface critical assumptions and uncertainties, as well as associated adaptation actions for the case. These were related to spatial development, water quality, finance, and management capacity. However, results also show that the actual use of the proposed steps is likely to be hindered by strategic misrepresentation. Our findings suggest this as an additional and more fundamental barrier to the widespread use of adaptive planning practices. We reflect on this barrier of strategic misrepresentation and on possible mechanisms to counter it, in order to enable water development actors to make their planning and evaluation arrangements more adaptive.
Afro-Indigenous Cosmographies of Mobility: Fishes, Viruses and Others Amazonian Lives at the Confluence With the Sars-CoV-19
Authors: Baines Stephen Grant , de Castro Pereira Márcia Leila , dos Santos Potyguara Alencar
Published: January 2021

The article aims to demonstrate the susceptibility to death that certain Amazonian peoples are facing, as a consequence of their particular migratory demography, which instead of being curbed, have been exponentially intensified by the outbreak of Sars-CoV-19. The article offers an account of the “pendular migrations” and “return migrations” that the indigenous and black rural populations of that region carry out as a result of daily labor displacements, in the search for medical-hospital assistance and the consolidation of political and legal visibility within the cities. In a second effort, directly related to the previous one, we articulate the interference of the viral threat not on the contingency of population flow, but on the dangerous intensification of people circulation between the territorial nuclei of the “first habitation” and the average Amazonian cities, where, as a rule, these peoples maintain “second residences” and to where they regularly transmigrate. To illustrate this phenomenon, three accounts of different Brazilian Amazonian realities are reported: on the rural black population of the banks of the Turiaçu River, Maranhão state, the indigenous people of the savannah Lavrado, of the northeast of Roraima state, and the Mura people, who live in the southeast region of Amazonas state. On these realities, the cosmographies of the mobility of their populations are challenged by the changes and strategic conditions imposed by the pandemic.
Design of an IoT Smart Meteorological Station Complete with Data Acquisition and Realizing Test Measurements in Cyber-Physical Robotics Lab
Authors: Faragó István , Erdei Timotei István , Zolnai Sándor , Husi Géza
Published: January 2021

The presented project was completed using modern, widely used IoT based devices. These include the ESP-01 microcontroller, which is programmable using the Arduino IDE (with its integrated ESP8266 interpreter), and a Raspberry Pi Zero W single board computer, which requires a Raspbian Linux distribution. In this project, an original meteorological station was created (complete with data acquisition), employing various sensors.
Investigation of Household Laundry Water as an Alternative Water Source
Authors: Kelemen Orsolya , Szabolcsik Andrea Izbékiné , Bodnár Ildikó
Published: January 2021

The goal of our research is to study the potential treatment options for the relatively contaminated greywater fraction from washing, in order to use this fraction as an alternative water source. During the research to compare the purification efficiency of different greywater treatment solutions we have created a constant composition synthetic laundry greywater, based on tap water, which represents the real laundry water in the terms of quality. As greywater treatment solutions, in terms of physical pre-treatment procedure we used a sand filtering method, and in terms of chemical processes we used coagulation and oxidation. Based on treatment efficiencies, we can say that the treatment procedures can achieve significant quality improvements, but none of the methods can achieve the required cleaning efficiency by itself. In order to reach the optimum quality parameters, the use of combined methods is required.
Development in Manufacturing of Belted Air Spring
Authors: Kiss Gábor József , Szigeti Ferenc , Gergely Dezső
Published: January 2021

Nowadays, due to increasing environmental regulations, public transport is developing rapidly. Therefore, the companies who manufacture railway fittings have to keep up. As a result, factories need to develop and expand their capacity by modernizing existing machines and installing new machines. The author is involved in this capacity expansion, at ContiTech Hungary Ltd, where production of the rail belted air spring had to be increased. In order to do this, improvements were made to the structure drum to build the carcass, for which two suggestions were made regarding the fold back unit. Other goals are the improvement of the air spring and the development of ergonomics.
The Catalog for Our Future Home
Authors: Molnár Eszter , Borsos Ágnes
Published: January 2021

Today’s continuously growing society has a strong influence on efficiency within the construction industry. The need to build new homes in a shorter period of time increases. Finding the solution to this problem is a key element in today’s world. In connection with this there was a defining initiation in the 1900s with the development of „type design”, which even today has a significant role in architecture. These „type design” buildings used parts which were prefabricated, making certain phases of construction quicker. At the end of the XX. century the appearance of these plans seemed to be insufficient for the expected result. In the XXI. century there is an attempt to create another plan sample catalogue which can reflect building to productivity and try to minimalize the time for home development.
Criteria for an Effective Environmental Education
Authors: Novák János
Published: January 2021

Environmental awareness could also be called environment management, since it is necessary to organize, or rather manage any activities performed in order to protect the environment. A person who cares about their environment in their own household performs organizational tasks that are far more complex than people living in households who don’t care, or care less about their environment. Consider how much extra energy it takes to selectively collect plastic PET bottles, or to properly dispose of used batteries, compared to those who just dispose of these together with municipal waste, out of negligence or laziness. Many think that the activities of the average person don’t matter since there are so many of us on Earth that a single person’s efforts won’t change anything. Man, as a living being, is not capable of making decisions that would solve problems emerging in the next 20, 30 or 40 years; we usually start dealing with issues that we think will matter within the next 2–3 years: but we have admit that 2–3 years are not enough to solve global environmental protection and climate change problems. This way of thinking can easily lead to the decline of humanity in the future.
Nanostructure-Based Electrochemical Immunosensors as Diagnostic Tools
Authors: Zumpano Rosaceleste , Polli Francesca , D’Agostino Cristine , Antiochia Riccarda , Favero Gabriele , Mazzei Franco
Published: January 2021

Electrochemical immunosensors are affinity-based biosensors characterized by several useful features such as specificity, miniaturizability, low cost and simplicity, making them very interesting for many applications in several scientific fields. One of the significant issues in the design of electrochemical immunosensors is to increase the system’s sensitivity. Different strategies have been developed, one of the most common is the use of nanostructured materials as electrode materials, nanocarriers, electroactive or electrocatalytic nanotracers because of their abilities in signal amplification and biocompatibility. In this review, we will consider some of the most used nanostructures employed in the development of electrochemical immunosensors (e.g., metallic nanoparticles, graphene, carbon nanotubes) and many other still uncommon nanomaterials. Furthermore, their diagnostic applications in the last decade will be discussed, referring to two relevant issues of present-day: the detection of tumor markers and viruses.
Detection of Knocking Combustion Using the Continuous Wavelet Transformation and a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Kefalas Achilles , Ofner Andreas B. , Pirker Gerhard , Posch Stefan , Geiger Bernhard C. , Wimmer Andreas
Published: January 2021

The phenomenon of knock is an abnormal combustion occurring in spark-ignition (SI) engines and forms a barrier that prevents an increase in thermal efficiency while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions. Since knocking combustion is highly stochastic, a cyclic analysis of in-cylinder pressure is necessary. In this study we propose an approach for efficient and robust detection and identification of knocking combustion in three different internal combustion engines. The proposed methodology includes a signal processing technique, called continuous wavelet transformation (CWT), which provides a simultaneous analysis of the in-cylinder pressure traces in the time and frequency domains with coefficients. These coefficients serve as input for a convolutional neural network (CNN) which extracts distinctive features and performs an image recognition task in order to distinguish between non-knock and knock. The results revealed the following: (i) The CWT delivered a stable and effective feature space with the coefficients that represents the unique time-frequency pattern of each individual in-cylinder pressure cycle; (ii) the proposed approach was superior to the state-of-the-art threshold value exceeded (TVE) method with a maximum amplitude pressure oscillation (MAPO) criterion improving the overall accuracy by 6.15 percentage points (up to 92.62%); and (iii) The CWT + CNN method does not require calibrating threshold values for different engines or operating conditions as long as enough and diverse data is used to train the neural network.
The Story of the Black Family: What It Means to Be Black with an Interracial Family Tree
Authors: Anderson Joy
Published: January 2021

This paper is using a critical personal narrative and decolonialization theory to share the story of my family. It is the story of my great-grandfather, who was the child of a slave master and a house servant, and his story of survival, using historical documents. Race and racism have been a part of my family from its origin, because of the cultural and social meanings of Blackness, which are discussed in the article.
Typologies of Family Functioning and 24-h Movement Behaviors
Authors: Guerrero Michelle D. , Barnes Joel D. , Tremblay Mark S. , Pulkki-Råback Laura
Published: January 2021

Research on the importance of the family environment on children’s health behaviors is ubiquitous, yet critical gaps in the literature exist. Many studies have focused on one family characteristic and have relied on variable-centered approaches as opposed to person-centered approaches (e.g., latent profile analysis). The purpose of the current study was to use latent profile analysis to identify family typologies characterized by parental acceptance, parental monitoring, and family conflict, and to examine whether such typologies are associated with the number of movement behavior recommendations (i.e., physical activity, screen time, and sleep) met by children. Data for this cross-sectional observational study were part of the baseline data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Data were collected across 21 study sites in the United States. Participants included 10,712 children (female = 5143, males = 5578) aged 9 and 10 years (M = 9.91, SD = 0.62). Results showed that children were meaningfully classified into one of five family typologies. Children from families with high acceptance, medium monitoring, and medium conflict (P2; OR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.39–0.76); high acceptance, medium monitoring, and high conflict (P3; OR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.20, 0.40); low acceptance, low monitoring, and medium conflict (P4; OR = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.16, 0.36); and medium acceptance, low monitoring, and high conflict (P5; OR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.12–0.29) were less likely to meet all three movement behavior recommendations compared to children from families with high acceptance, high monitoring, and low conflict (P1). These findings highlight the importance of the family environment for promoting healthy movement behaviors among children.
Comparative Time-Course Physiological Responses and Proteomic Analysis of Melatonin Priming on Promoting Germination in Aged Oat (Avena sativa L.) Seeds
Authors: Yan Huifang , Mao Peisheng
Published: January 2021

Melatonin priming is an effective strategy to improve the germination of aged oat (Avena sativa L.) seeds, but the mechanism involved in its time-course responses has remained largely unknown. In the present study, the phenotypic differences, ultrastructural changes, physiological characteristics, and proteomic profiles were examined in aged and melatonin-primed seed (with 10 μM melatonin treatment for 12, 24, and 36 h). Thus, 36 h priming (T36) had a better remediation effect on aged seeds, reflecting in the improved germinability and seedlings, relatively intact cell ultrastructures, and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Proteomic analysis revealed 201 differentially abundant proteins between aged and T36 seeds, of which 96 were up-accumulated. In melatonin-primed seeds, the restoration of membrane integrity by improved antioxidant capacity, which was affected by the stimulation of jasmonic acid synthesis via up-accumulation of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase, might be a candidate mechanism. Moreover, the relatively intact ultrastructures enabled amino acid metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which were closely associated with energy generation through intermediates of pyruvate, phosphoenolpyruvate, fumarate, and α-ketoglutarate, thus providing energy, active amino acids, and secondary metabolites necessary for germination improvement of aged seeds. These findings clarify the time-course related pathways associated with melatonin priming on promoting the germination of aged oat seeds.
Composite Material Recycling Technology—State-of-the-Art and Sustainable Development for the 2020s
Authors: Krauklis Andrey E. , Karl Christian W. , Gagani Abedin I. , Jørgensen Jens K.
Published: January 2021

Recently, significant events took place that added immensely to the sociotechnical pressure for developing sustainable composite recycling solutions, namely (1) a ban on composite landfilling in Germany in 2009, (2) the first major wave of composite wind turbines reaching their End-of-Life (EoL) and being decommissioned in 2019–2020, (3) the acceleration of aircraft decommissioning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and (4) the increase of composites in mass production cars, thanks to the development of high volume technologies based on thermoplastic composites. Such sociotechnical pressure will only grow in the upcoming decade of 2020s as other countries are to follow Germany by limiting and banning landfill options, and by the ever-growing number of expired composites EoL waste. The recycling of fiber reinforced composite materials will therefore play an important role in the future, in particular for the wind energy, but also for aerospace, automotive, construction and marine sectors to reduce environmental impacts and to meet the demand. The scope of this manuscript is a clear and condensed yet full state-of-the-art overview of the available recycling technologies for fiber reinforced composites of both low and high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). TRL is a framework that has been used in many variations across industries to provide a measurement of technology maturity from idea generation (basic principles) to commercialization. In other words, this work should be treated as a technology review providing guidelines for the sustainable development of the industry that will benefit the society. The authors propose that one of the key aspects for the development of sustainable recycling technology is to identify the optimal recycling methods for different types of fiber reinforced composites. Why is that the case can be answered with a simple price comparison of E-glass fibers (~2 $/kg) versus a typical carbon fiber on the market (~20 $/kg)—which of the two is more valuable to recover? However, the answer is more complicated than that—the glass fiber constitutes about 90% of the modern reinforcement market, and it is clear that different technologies are needed. Therefore, this work aims to provide clear guidelines for economically and environmentally sustainable End-of-Life (EoL) solutions and development of the fiber reinforced composite material recycling.
Review on Development and Dental Applications of Polyetheretherketone-Based Biomaterials and Restorations
Authors: Qin Ludan , Yao Shuo , Zhao Jiaxin , Zhou Chuanjian , Oates Thomas W. , Weir Michael D. , Wu Junling , Xu Hockin H. K.
Published: January 2021

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is an important high-performance thermoplastic. Its excellent strength, stiffness, toughness, fatigue resistance, biocompatibility, chemical stability and radiolucency have made PEEK attractive in dental and orthopedic applications. However, PEEK has an inherently hydrophobic and chemically inert surface, which has restricted its widespread use in clinical applications, especially in bonding with dental resin composites. Cutting edge research on novel methods to improve PEEK applications in dentistry, including oral implant, prosthodontics and orthodontics, is reviewed in this article. In addition, this article also discusses innovative surface modifications of PEEK, which are a focus area of active investigations. Furthermore, this article also discusses the necessary future studies and clinical trials for the use of PEEK in the human oral environment to investigate its feasibility and long-term performance.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Evaluation of a Cost-Effective Endodontic Sealer Based on Tricalcium Silicate-White Portland Cement
Authors: Primathena Indra , Nurdin Denny , Hermawan Hendra , Cahyanto Arief
Published: January 2021

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is an ideal yet costly endodontic sealer material. Tricalcium silicate-white Portland cement (TS-WPC) seems to have similar characteristics to those of MTA. This work aims to characterize a modified TS-WPC and evaluate its antibacterial properties as a potential endodontic sealer material. The modified TS-WPC was synthesized from a 4:1 mixture of sterilized Indocement TS-WPC and bismuth trioxide using a simple solution method with 99.9% isopropanol. The mixture was stirred until it was homogenous, centrifuged, and dried. The material was then characterized using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy and subjected to antibacterial evaluation against Enterococcus faecalis using a Mueller–Hinton agar inhibition test. The results showed that the material was characterized by main functional groups of hydroxyls, silicate, bismuth trioxide, and tricalcium silicate, like those of a commercial MTA-based sealer, both tested after hydration. Modified TS-WPC before hydration showed similar powder morphology and size to the commercial one, indicating the ease of manipulation. Both materials exhibited antibacterial activity due to calcium dihydroxide’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, which is essential for the anaerobic E. faecalis, with minimum inhibitory effect and bactericidal concentrations of 12,500 ppm and 25,000 ppm, respectively. The modified TS-WPC has the potential to become a cost-effective alternative endodontic sealer material.
Phenethyl Isothiocyanate-Containing Carbomer Gel for Use against Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Osipitan Ositomiwa O. , Shi Yi , Di Pasqua Anthony J.
Published: January 2021

It is currently estimated that one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common type of skin cancer that can develop due to the skin’s exposure to the sun. Herein, we prepared a topical gel containing 0.5% v/w phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) for the treatment of SCC. PEITC is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate that has been shown to have efficacy against various types of cancer in preclinical studies. We first incorporated PEITC into a carbomer gel. A uniform formulation was prepared, and its viscosity was appropriate for topical application. We then demonstrated the release of PEITC from the gel into and through a Strat-M skin-like membrane. Finally, the effects of the PEITC-containing gel were tested against SCC and normal keratinocytes skin cells in culture, and these results were compared to those obtained for free 5-fluoruracil (5-FU), a commonly used skin-cancer drug. Our results show that a homogeneous PEITC-containing topical gel can be prepared and used to kill SCC cells. Thus, our formulation may be useful for treating SCC in the clinic.