bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioactive Potential of Actinobacteria Strains Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Oregano
Authors: Sáhó András , Karikás Viktor , Ásványi Balázs , Lakatos Erika , Varga László , Greff Babett
Published: October 2024

The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize actinobacteria from the rhizosphere of medicinal and aromatic plants, specifically lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.). Rhizospheric soil samples revealed a high abundance of culturable actinobacteria (6.97–7.23 log10 CFU/g). Six isolates were selected for their promising enzymatic activities (lignin peroxidase, carboxymethyl cellulase) and antimicrobial properties. Isolates M345 and M162 exhibited the highest cellulase activity indices (3.19 ± 0.71 and 2.54 ± 0.22, respectively), with five isolates producing lignin peroxidase. These actinobacteria also demonstrated plant growth-promoting traits such as phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation, along with strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi. Additionally, they significantly enhanced maize seed germination, increasing the vigor index from 4283.33 ± 1264.37 to 6248.28 ± 1661.94 compared to that of the control. These results indicate that the isolated actinobacteria strains hold potential as microbial inoculants for sustainable agriculture, contributing to soil health, plant growth, and pathogen management.
Influence of Vegetation Phenology on the Temporal Effect of Crop Fractional Vegetation Cover Derived from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Nadir Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function–Adjusted Reflectance
Authors: Lin Yinghao , Fan Tingshun , Wang Dong , Cai Kun , Liu Yang , Wang Yuye , Yu Tao , Xu Nianxu
Published: October 2024

Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Nadir Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) products are being increasingly used for the quantitative remote sensing of vegetation. However, the assumption underlying the MODIS NBAR product’s inversion model—that surface anisotropy remains unchanged over the 16-day retrieval period—may be unreliable, especially since the canopy structure of vegetation undergoes stark changes at the start of season (SOS) and the end of season (EOS). Therefore, to investigate the MODIS NBAR product’s temporal effect on the quantitative remote sensing of crops at different stages of the growing seasons, this study selected typical phenological parameters, namely SOS, EOS, and the intervening stable growth of season (SGOS). The PROBA-V bioGEOphysical product Version 3 (GEOV3) Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC) served as verification data, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) was used to compare and analyze the retrieval accuracy of FVC derived from the MODIS NBAR product and MODIS Surface Reflectance product. The Anisotropic Flat Index (AFX) was further employed to explore the influence of vegetation type and mixed pixel distribution characteristics on the BRDF shape under different stages of the growing seasons and different FVC; that was then combined with an NDVI spatial distribution map to assess the feasibility of using the reflectance of other characteristic directions besides NBAR for FVC correction. The results revealed the following: (1) Generally, at the SOSs and EOSs, the differences in PCCs before vs. after the NBAR correction mainly ranged from 0 to 0.1. This implies that the accuracy of FVC derived from MODIS NBAR is lower than that derived from MODIS Surface Reflectance. Conversely, during the SGOSs, the differences in PCCs before vs. after the NBAR correction ranged between –0.2 and 0, suggesting the accuracy of FVC derived from MODIS NBAR surpasses that derived from MODIS Surface Reflectance. (2) As vegetation phenology shifts, the ensuing differences in NDVI patterning and AFX can offer auxiliary information for enhanced vegetation classification and interpretation of mixed pixel distribution characteristics, which, when combined with NDVI at characteristic directional reflectance, could enable the accurate retrieval of FVC. Our results provide data support for the BRDF correction timescale effect of various stages of the growing seasons, highlighting the potential importance of considering how they differentially influence the temporal effect of NBAR corrections prior to monitoring vegetation when using the MODIS NBAR product.
Applications of Plant Essential Oils in Pest Control and Their Encapsulation for Controlled Release: A Review
Authors: Ayllón-Gutiérrez Rocío , Díaz-Rubio Laura , Montaño-Soto Myriam , Haro-Vázquez María del Pilar , Córdova-Guerrero Iván
Published: October 2024

Essential oils (EOs) are volatile products derived from the secondary metabolism of plants with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and pesticidal properties. They have traditionally been used in medicine, cosmetics, and food additives. In agriculture, EOs stand out as natural alternatives for pest control, as they show biocidal, repellent, and antifeedant effects. However, they are highly volatile compounds and susceptible to oxidation, which has limited their use as pesticides. This has led to exploring micro- and nano-scale encapsulation to protect these compounds, improving their stability and allowing for a controlled release. Various encapsulation techniques exist, such as emulsification, ionic gelation, and complex coacervation. Nanoemulsions are useful in the food industry, while ionic gelation and complex coacervation offer high encapsulation efficiency. Materials such as chitosan, gelatin-gum-Arabic, and cyclodextrins are promising for agricultural applications, providing stability and the controlled release of EOs. Encapsulation technology is still under development but offers sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. This article reviews the potential of EOs in pest management and encapsulation techniques that enhance their efficacy.
Isolation of Clonostachys rosea and Characterizing Its Entomopathogenic Activity against Dubas Bug (Ommatissus lybicus) Nymphs and Adults
Authors: Al-Nabhani Salem S. , Kazerooni Elham Ahmed , Al-Raqmi Suad , Al-Hashmi Maryam , Hussain Shah , Velazhahan Rethinasamy , Al-Sadi Abdullah M.
Published: October 2024

The Dubas bug is a serious and widespread pest of date palms in several countries in the Middle East. Chemical pesticides are widely used for managing this pest; however, most pesticides fail due to the continuous development of pesticide resistance. The primary goal of this research was to isolate endophytic fungi and test their entomopathogenic activity against Dubas bug nymphs and adults. A total of 27 fungal isolates were obtained and identified using the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) region. These strains represent 16 species, belonging to 10 genera of seven different families, Ascomycota with six families and Basidiomycota with a single family, Quambalariaceae. Due to its remarkable biological control ability against insect pests, Clonostachys rosea was further studied for its entomopathogenic activity against Ommatissus lybicus nymphs and adults in comparison to a commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana. The concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL of the selected endophytic isolate was used in lab experiments targeting Dubas bug healthy nymphs and adults. After 7 days of C. rosea treatment, the isolate caused significant mortality rates of 85% in the adult insects, while the mortality rates were moderate in the nymphs (33%). The commercial strain of B. bassiana resulted in 100% mortality levels in nymphs and adults of the Dubas bug. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of O. lybicus adults treated with C. rosea and B. bassiana showed mycelium growing on the eye, antenna, cuticle, and egg oviposition parts of O. lybicus. Mycelium growth of both fungi was also evident on the nymphs. This study reports for the first time the isolation of C. rosea from the Dubas bug, and its high entomopathogenic activity against an adult population of O. lybicus.
Soil Health and Crop Management in Conservation Agriculture
Authors: Thapa Sushil , Shah Ghulam Abbas , Xue Qingwu
Published: October 2024

With the global population projected to rise from 8 billion today to 9 [...]
Nondestructively Determining Soluble Solids Content of Blueberries Using Reflection Hyperspectral Imaging Technique
Authors: Qiu Guangjun , Chen Biao , Lu Huazhong , Yue Xuejun , Deng Xiangwu , Ouyang Haishan , Li Bin , Wei Xinyu
Published: October 2024

Effectively detecting the quality of blueberries is crucial for ensuring that high-quality products are supplied to the fresh market. This study developed a nondestructive method for determining the soluble solids content (SSC) of blueberry fruit by using a near-infrared hyperspectral imaging technique. The reflection hyperspectral images in the 900–1700 nm waveband range were collected from 480 fresh blueberry samples. An image analysis pipeline was developed to extract the spectrums of blueberries from the hyperspectral images. A regression model for quantifying SSC values was successfully established based on the full range of wavebands, achieving the highest RP2 of 0.8655 and the lowest RMSEP value of 0.4431 °Brix. Furthermore, three variable selection methods, namely the Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA), interval PLS (iPLS), and Genetic Algorithm (GA), were utilized to identify the feature wavebands for modeling. The models calibrated from feature wavebands generated an RMSEP of 0.4643 °Brix, 0.4791 °Brix, and 0.4764 °Brix, as well as the RP2 of 0.8507, 0.8397, and 0.8420 for SPA, iPLS, and GA, respectively. Furthermore, a pseudo-color distribution diagram of the SSC values within blueberries was successfully generated based on established models. This study demonstrated a novel approach for blueberry quality detection and inspection by jointly using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning methodologies. It can serve as a valuable reference for the development of grading equipment systems and portable testing devices for fruit quality assurance.
Investigations on Millimeter-Wave Indoor Channel Simulations for 5G Networks
Authors: Obeidat Huthaifa
Published: October 2024

Due to the extensively accessible bandwidth of many tens of GHz, millimeter-wave (mmWave) and sub-terahertz (THz) frequencies are anticipated to play a significant role in 5G and 6G wireless networks and beyond. This paper presents investigations on mmWave bands within the indoor environment based on extensive simulations; the study considers the behavior of the omnidirectional and directional propagation characteristics, including path loss exponents (PLE) delay spread (DS), the number of clusters, and the number of rays per cluster at different frequencies (28 GHz, 39 GHz, 60 GHz and 73 GHz) in both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) propagation scenarios. This study finds that the PLE and DS show dependency on frequency; it was also found that, in NLOS scenarios, the number of clusters follows a Poisson distribution, while, in LOS, it follows a decaying exponential distribution. This study enhances understanding of the indoor channel behavior at different frequency bands within the same environment, as many research papers focus on single or two bands; this paper considers four frequency bands. The simulation is important as it provides insights into omnidirectional channel behavior at different frequencies, essential for indoor channel planning.
Asbestos: Communicating the Health Issues Derived from Fibrous Minerals to Society
Authors: Hernández Monica , Pereira Dolores , Bloise Andrea
Published: October 2024

Asbestos, also known by its commercial name “amianthus”, has been widely used in various industries due to its unique properties. However, the extensive use of asbestos has had serious consequences for human health, most notably asbestosis, an irreversible chronic lung disease. Asbestosis increases the risk of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, both of which are fatal. Applied sciences such as microscopy (optical and scanning electron microscopy) and geochemistry have been fundamental in characterizing the mineral fibers of asbestos to understand its role in human health. We previously used these techniques to characterize these fibers; in this study, we explored the issues associated with asbestos and asbestosis, as well as the challenges facing science communication strategies in effectively informing society and workers about these risks. The lack of scientific culture, in general, has led to a lack of public awareness of the risks of asbestos. As such, effective communication and outreach plans and strategies, including the visualization of the fibers to demonstrate why problems arise if inhaled, must be implemented to address these challenges. Educational campaigns, guidelines, and plans that are informative and actionable, teaching workers, communities, and the public about the risks of asbestos are crucial. A general knowledge of mineralogy and geochemistry is needed, and providing and disseminating proper scientific communication may help to close the knowledge gap. We use examples and experience from Spain and Italy to illustrate this matter, as we have been working on the characterization of ultramafic complexes in these countries for more than ten years. Additionally, because these countries have strict laws for asbestos-containing materials, they are currently involved in retiring and demolishing buildings and infrastructure that contain asbestos.
Prediction of Flotation Deinking Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Gavrilović Tamara , Despotović Vladimir , Zot Madalina-Ileana , Trumić Maja S.
Published: October 2024

Flotation deinking is one of the most widely used techniques for the separation of ink particles from cellulose fibers during the process of paper recycling. It is a complex process influenced by a variety of factors, and is difficult to represent and usually results in models that are inconvenient to implement and/or interpret. In this paper, a comprehensive study of several machine learning methods for the prediction of flotation deinking performance is carried out, including support vector regression, regression tree ensembles (random forests and boosting) and Gaussian process regression. The prediction relies on the development of a limited dataset that assumes representative data samples obtained under a variety of laboratory conditions, including different reagents, pH values and flotation residence times. The results obtained in this paper confirm that the machine learning methods enable the accurate prediction of flotation deinking performance even when the dataset used for training the model is limited, thus enabling the determination of optimal conditions for the paper recycling process, with only minimal costs and effort. Considering the low complexity of the Gaussian process regression compared to the aforementioned ensemble models, it should be emphasized that the Gaussian process regression gave the best performance in estimating fiber recovery (R2 = 97.77%) and a reasonable performance in estimating the toner recovery (R2 = 86.31%).
Seismic Response of Foundation Settlement for Liquid Storage Structure in Collapsible Loess Areas
Authors: Huang Wenji , Cao Xianhui , Xie Hongyi , Sun Haodong , Cheng Xuansheng
Published: October 2024

To investigate the impact of foundation settlement in loess areas on the dynamic response of liquid storage structure (LSS) under seismic motion, a finite element analysis model of the liquid–solid coupling of LSS was established using ADINA V9.6 software. By analyzing the dynamic response patterns of LSS under seismic motion with foundation failure, this study examines the effects of foundation failure and the direction of seismic wave incidence on the equivalent stress, maximum shear stress, wall displacement, and liquid sloshing wave height of the structure. The results indicate that among the three foundation failure scenarios, foundation failure at the center of the tank bottom has the least impact on the structural dynamic response. In contrast, foundation failure affecting one-fourth of the tank base has the greatest impact. Furthermore, compared to seismic motion along the X-axis, the dynamic response of the structure is more significantly affected when seismic motion co-occurs along the X-Z-axis.
A Validated Thermal Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of Wine Warming in a Glass
Authors: Kannapinn Maximilian , Köhler Felix , Schäfer Michael
Published: October 2024

Oenophiles are aware that the temperature at the time of drinking can profoundly shape wine’s sensory attributes. Wine is usually served and drunk below room temperature but warms up after pouring due to heat exchange with warmer surroundings. This study investigates how quickly wine warms up in a wine glass and identifies the relevant heating effects. A numerical simulation using conjugate heat transfer is established, representing the complex multi-physical process. Experiments are conducted to validate the simulation. It is shown that the simulation must take into account thermal conduction, convection, and even radiation to provide accurate results. Without simulating radiation and convection of the room air, the predicted temperature is off by 66.3% or 3.3 °C. As warming is independent of the alcohol content, the simulation results are valid for non-sparkling wine types with moderate sugar levels within the considered configuration. A parameter study investigated the temperature increase over time depending on the ambient temperature and the initial wine temperature for 150 mL wine in a medium-sized red wine glass. The results can provide information on preparing a wine to obtain the desired drinking temperature.
Technological Aspects of Sintering Low-Quality Wolframite Concentrate with Potassium Carbonate
Authors: Pikulin Kirill V. , Galkova Lyudmila I. , Vitkina Galina Y. , Karlina Antonina I.
Published: October 2024

The loss of quality of wolframite concentrates determines the need to improve their processing method that ensures maximum conversion of tungsten into water-soluble wolframate and a reduction in water-soluble impurities. The results of thermodynamic modeling of the sintering of wolframite concentrate with sodium and potassium carbonates indicate a greater efficiency of K2CO3: The reagent consumption required for complete conversion of tungsten into solution decreases from 170% from stoichiometric sintering with Na2CO3 to 110% for K2CO3, as well as the proportion of soluble silicates up to 0.1%. In addition, sintering with K2CO3 is accompanied by the formation of compounds with a higher melting point, preventing melting and coating formation during the process. Mathematical sintering models were obtained by the method of probabilistically deterministic planning of this experiment. Optimal parameters have been determined: The extraction of tungsten into a solution of more than 95% is achieved by sintering with K2CO3 in an amount of 105–110% according to the stoichiometric requirements for the formation of K2WO4, K2MoO4, and K2SO4 at temperatures of 1073–1123 K for 100–120 min. Pilot tests have confirmed the effectiveness of the process. The possibility of sintering a cinder of wolframite concentrate with K2CO3 without the introduction of recycled materials has been established. Sintering under optimal conditions ensures the transition of tungsten to water-soluble tungstate by 97.5%.
Monthly Maximum Magnitude Prediction in the North–South Seismic Belt of China Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Mao Ning , Sun Ke , Zhang Jingye
Published: October 2024

The North–South Seismic Belt is one of the major regions in China where strong earthquakes frequently occur. Predicting the monthly maximum magnitude is of significant importance for proactive seismic hazard defense. This paper uses seismic catalog data from the North–South Seismic Belt since 1970 to calculate and extract multiple seismic parameters. The monthly maximum magnitude is processed using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) with sample segmentation to avoid information leakage. The decomposed multiple modal data and seismic parameters together form a new dataset. Based on these datasets, this paper employs four deep learning models and four time windows to predict the monthly maximum magnitude, using prediction accuracy (PA), False Alarm Rate (FAR), and Missed Alarm Rate (MR) as evaluation metrics. It is found that a time window of 12 generally yields better prediction results, with the PA for Ms 5.0–6.0 earthquakes reaching 77.27% and for earthquakes above Ms 6.0 reaching 12.5%. Compared to data not decomposed using VMD, traditional error metrics show only a slight improvement, but the model can better predict short-term trends in magnitude changes.
Lightweight Crack Automatic Detection Algorithm Based on TF-MobileNet
Authors: Yu Jiantao , Qian Songrong , Chen Cheng
Published: October 2024

With the progress of social life, the aging of building facilities has become an inevitable phenomenon. The efficiency of manual crack detection is limited, so it is necessary to explore intelligent detection technology. This article proposes a novel crack detection method TF-MobileNet. We took into account the effect of lightweight and crack feature extraction, so we developed a novel crack feature extraction backbone network, which combined Transformer and MobileNetV3. Then we improved the feature fusion network by using the multi-headed attention mechanism of the Bottleneck Transformer, which enables the feature fusion effect to be improved. Then, we integrated SENet and SimAM attention mechanisms into the networks used for feature extraction and feature fusion, thereby further improving the crack detection performance. Finally, we deployed our model in edge devices (NVIDIA Jeston Nano). The findings indicate that our proposed model has achieved 90.8% mAP on the dataset and worked well on the edge device side, which meet the requirements of automatic crack detection. Our model enables real-time monitoring of pavement using edge devices. This approach allows for timely maintenance and repair of the pavement. In the future, we can train the model to recognize more pavement distress features, addressing road safety issues effectively.
DietNerd: A Nutrition Question-Answering System That Summarizes and Evaluates Peer-Reviewed Scientific Articles
Authors: Wu Shela , Yacub Zubair , Shasha Dennis
Published: October 2024

DietNerd is a large language model-based system designed to enhance public health education in diet and nutrition. The system responds to user questions with concise, evidence-based summaries and assesses the quality and potential biases of cited research. This paper describes the system’s workflow, back-end implementation, and the prompts used. Accuracy and quality-of-response results are presented based on an automated comparison against systematic surveys and against the responses of similar state-of-the-art systems through human feedback from registered dietitians. DietNerd is among the highest-evaluated of these systems and is unique in combining safety features with sophisticated source analysis. Thus, DietNerd could be a tool to bridge the gap between complex scientific literature and public understanding.
Stability Comparison of Grid-Connected Inverters Considering Voltage Feedforward Control in Different Domains
Authors: Qian Weichen , Yin Jun , Chen Ziang
Published: October 2024

Under the background of high permeability, voltage feedforward control may further weaken the stability of grid-connected inverter (GCI) systems and may cause sub-synchronous oscillation in extreme cases. To solve this problem, this paper firstly considers the influence of the frequency coupling effect and voltage feedforward control, and adopts the harmonic linearization method to construct the L-type GCI sequence admittance model with PI (proportional integral) control and PR (proportional resonant) control, respectively. By comparing the sequence admittance characteristics of the GCI under two control strategies, combined with the sequence admittance model and Nyquist criterion, this paper analyzes the influence of voltage feedforward and control parameters on the stability of the GCI under two control strategies. The results show that the stability of GCI under PR control is slightly better than that under PI control. At the same time, the voltage feedforward control does reduce the stability of the GCI system under the two control strategies. Finally, the accuracy of the theoretical analysis is verified by simulation and experiment.
Development of the Viscous Plane Damper Applicable in Limited Space within Structures Subjected to Dynamic Loads
Authors: Bin Mohd Ali Mohd Ridzuan , Hejazi Farzad
Published: October 2024

Shipping impact and wave loads impose dynamic loads on jetties and platforms in the sea, which cause the vibration of structures. Recently, many advanced viscous damper devices have been developed for implementation in structures to diminish structural vibration due to earthquakes or wind. However, the longitudinal configuration of conventional viscous damper devices requires adequate space to locate the damper device within the frame structure, which limits the application of viscous dampers for use in jetties or platforms to dissipate the vibrations imposed by ship impact or wave force. For this reason, in this study, an attempt has been made to develop a new viscous plane damper device applicable in limited space positions where the longitudinal damper device is not able to fit. For this purpose, the initial design for the viscous plane damper device is proposed, and the prototype of the device is manufactured. Then, the performance of the fabricated viscous plane damper is examined through experimental tests by applying cyclic loads using a dynamic actuator. In order to investigate the effect of the diameter and configuration of the piston’s orifices, five different diameters for the orifices of 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10 mm are included, and three different distribution configurations of the orifices in the piston plate as Configurations A, B, and C are manufactured and tested experimentally. The lab testing is conducted by applying cyclic loads with different frequencies to evaluate the performance of the developed plane damper device under various load velocities. Accordingly, the dynamic performance of the damper device, including the damping force, effective damping and stiffness and the energy dissipation capacity obtained from the hysteresis response (force–displacement result), is investigated. The results of the experimental tests prove the functionality of the developed device to generate the desired damping force and vibration energy dissipation during applied cyclic loads. Therefore, the new plane damper device can be implemented in any structure to dissipate the effect of imposed vibration.
AcpAS: An Advanced Circularly Polarized Antenna Structure for an Airborne Relay Communication System
Authors: Ma Xin , Huang Shan , Ye Ganhua , Guan Tao , Fan Qiang
Published: October 2024

The airborne relay system is an important support for improving the stability of communication systems in complex electromagnetic environments. As a key component of the airborne relay system, the antenna needs to have characteristics such as high gain, dual circular polarization, wide beam coverage, and miniaturization. Based on the septum circular polarizer, this paper proposes a high-performance circularly polarized antenna structure suitable for airborne relay systems, named AcpAS. The structure consists of a coaxial feed port, a coaxial-to-waveguide transition, a septum circular polarizer, and a parabolic metal housing. Based on this structure, two antennas operating at 19.6 GHz to 21.6 GHz and 29.2 GHz to 31.2 GHz are designed in this paper. Simulated and measured results show that the two antennas have dual circular polarization characteristics, with beam coverage range of more than ±55° for gains higher than 0 dBi, and the radiation patterns exhibit good symmetry and wide-beam coverage characteristics.
Advanced Cooperative Formation Control in Variable-Sweep Wing UAVs via the MADDPG–VSC Algorithm
Authors: Cao Zhengyang , Chen Gang
Published: October 2024

UAV technology is advancing rapidly, and variable-sweep wing UAVs are increasingly valuable because they can adapt to different flight conditions. However, conventional control methods often struggle with managing continuous action spaces and responding to dynamic environments, making them inadequate for complex multi-UAV cooperative formation control tasks. To address these challenges, this study presents an innovative framework that integrates dynamic modeling with morphing control, optimized by the multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient for two-sweep control (MADDPG–VSC) algorithm. This approach enables real-time sweep angle adjustments based on current flight states, significantly enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and overall UAV performance. The precise motion state model for wing morphing developed in this study underpins the MADDPG–VSC algorithm’s implementation. The algorithm not only optimizes multi-UAV formation control efficiency but also improves obstacle avoidance, attitude stability, and decision-making speed. Extensive simulations and real-world experiments consistently demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms contemporary methods in multiple aspects, underscoring its practical applicability in complex aerial systems. This study advances control technologies for morphing-wing UAV formation and offers new insights into multi-agent cooperative control, with substantial potential for real-world applications.
Age Is a New Indicator of Long-Ball Kicking Performance in Young Soccer Players: Analysing Kinanthropometry, Flexibility and Strength
Authors: Cejudo Antonio , Armada-Zarco José Manuel , Izzo Riccardo
Published: October 2024

(1) Background: The kick of the ball in soccer is considered one of the most important technical gestures in soccer. Despite this, there is little evidence on ball-striking performance factors in base soccer. The main objectives of the present study were to identify the potential factors of long-ball kicking (LBK) performance and to determine the target training cut-off for LBK performance in young soccer players. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 31 soccer players, with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years. Age, anthropometric data, sport experience, range of motion (ROM) and maximal isometric strength (MIS) of the lower limb were noted. Kick-of-the-ball performance was assessed by maximum ball displacement per kick. A k-mean cluster analysis determined two groups according to ball-kicking performance: low group (LPG-LBK) and high group (HPG-LBK). (3) Results: Differences were found between both groups in age, body mass, body mass index, leg length and knee flexion ROM (BF10 ≤ 6.33; δ ≥ 0.86 (moderate or higher)). Among the factors discussed above, age was the strongest predictor of ball-striking performance (odds ratio = 2.867; p = 0.003). The optimal cut-off for age predicting those players most likely to have a higher ball-striking performance was determined to be 13.5 years (p = 0.001; area under the curve = 85.3%). (4) Conclusions: Age over 13.5 increases the chances of a higher optimal ball-striking performance. The flexibility (knee flexion ROM) and strength (knee flexors) must be specifically trained in soccer players beginning at an early age.
Secure and Transparent Craftwork Authentication and Transaction System: Integrating Digital Fingerprinting and Blockchain Technologies
Authors: Yi Ji Hyun , Moon Jinsoo
Published: October 2024

This study proposes a method that enables craftsmen to define and apply the unique characteristics of their craftworks to distinguish between originals and imitations and to protect and trade their intellectual property rights. In the first step, a digital fingerprint that enables the authentication of the original craftworks was generated by applying hash functions that can digitize various attributes of the craftworks and create a unique ID. In the second step, a blockchain transaction system for the original authentication of the craftwork was developed by applying consortium blockchain technology. This system allows multiple craft-related organizations to participate together, and when a transaction occurs, a smart contract is created and stored on the blockchain, thereby enabling the tracking and management of transaction histories. Furthermore, a DApp was developed that enables buyers to verify the craftwork authentication and access detailed information by scanning the digital fingerprint (QR code) of the craftwork, which is integrated with the blockchain system. In the third step, the research results were evaluated through a satisfaction survey conducted with 121 participants and a usability evaluation with 10 craftsmen, both of which yielded positive feedback. This study successfully realizes a secure and transparent craftwork transaction system that guarantees both security and efficiency through the integration of digital fingerprinting and blockchain technologies.
Consensus Control for Stochastic Multi-Agent Systems with Markovian Switching via Periodic Dynamic Event-Triggered Strategy
Authors: Luo Xue , Yi Chengbo , Feng Jianwen , Wang Jingyi , Zhao Yi
Published: October 2024

The consensus problem in stochastic multi-agent systems (MASs) with Markovian switching is addressed by proposing a novel distributed dynamic event-triggered (DDET) technique based on periodic sampling to reduce information transmission. Unlike traditional event-triggered control, the proposed periodic sampling-based DDET method is characterized by the following three advantages: (1) The need for continuous monitoring of the event trigger is eliminated. (2) Zeno behavior in stochastic MASs is effectively prevented. (3) Communication costs are significantly reduced. Based on this, sufficient conditions for achieving consensus in the mean-square sense are derived using Lyapunov–Krasovskii functions, providing a solid theoretical foundation for the proposed strategy. The effectiveness of the proposed DDET control is validated through two numerical examples.
Sexual Dimorphism in Sex Hormone Metabolism in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells in Response to Different Testosterone Exposure
Authors: Sgrò Paolo , Antinozzi Cristina , Wasson Christopher W. , Del Galdo Francesco , Dimauro Ivan , Di Luigi Luigi
Published: October 2024

Muscle tissue is an important target of sex steroids, and particularly, testosterone plays essential roles in muscle cell metabolism. Wide ranges of studies have reported sex differences in basal muscle steroidogenesis, and recently several genes have been identified to be regulated by androgen response elements that show innate sex differences in muscle. However, studies accounting for and demonstrating cell sexual dimorphism in vitro are still scarce and not well characterized. Here, we demonstrated the ability of 46XX and 46XY human primary skeletal muscle cells to differently activate steroidogenesis in vitro, likely related to sex-chromosome onset, and to differently induce hormone release after increasing doses of testosterone exposure. Cells were treated with testosterone at concentrations of 0.5, 2, 5, 10, 32, and 100 nmol/L for 24 h. Variations in 17β-HSD, 5α-R2, CYP-19 expression, DHT, estradiol, and androstenedione release, as well as IL6 and IL8 release, were analyzed, respectively, by RT-PCR, ELISA, and luminex-assay. Following testosterone treatments, and potentially at any concentration level, an increase in the expression of 17β-HSD, 5α-R2, and CYP-19 was observed in 46XY cells, accompanied by elevated levels of DHT, androstenedione, and IL6/IL8 release. Following the same treatment, 46XX cells exhibited an increase in 5α-R2 and CYP-19 expression, a conversion of androgens to estrogens, and a reduction in IL6 and IL8 release. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that sex-chromosome differences may influence in vitro muscle cell steroidogenesis and hormone homeostasis, which are pivotal for skeletal muscle metabolism.
Integrative Analysis of ATAC-Seq and RNA-Seq through Machine Learning Identifies 10 Signature Genes for Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes
Authors: Park Jeong-Woon , Rhee Je-Keun
Published: October 2024

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease composed of various biologically distinct subtypes, each characterized by unique molecular features. Its formation and progression involve a complex, multistep process that includes the accumulation of numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations. Although integrating RNA-seq transcriptome data with ATAC-seq epigenetic information provides a more comprehensive understanding of gene regulation and its impact across different conditions, no classification model has yet been developed for breast cancer intrinsic subtypes based on such integrative analyses. In this study, we employed machine learning algorithms to predict intrinsic subtypes through the integrative analysis of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data. We identified 10 signature genes (CDH3, ERBB2, TYMS, GREB1, OSR1, MYBL2, FAM83D, ESR1, FOXC1, and NAT1) using recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) and a support vector machine (SVM) based on SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) feature importance. Furthermore, we found that these genes were primarily associated with immune responses, hormone signaling, cancer progression, and cellular proliferation.
Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of a Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium Pseudodesulfovibrio methanolicus sp. nov. Isolated from a Petroleum Reservoir in Russia
Authors: Bidzhieva Salimat K. , Tourova Tatyana P. , Kadnikov Vitaly V. , Samigullina Salima R. , Sokolova Diyana S. , Poltaraus Andrey B. , Avtukh Alexander N. , Tereshina Vera M. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Mardanov Andrey V. , Nazina Tamara N.
Published: October 2024

The search for the microorganisms responsible for sulfide formation and corrosion of steel equipment in the oil fields of Tatarstan (Russia) resulted in the isolation of a new halotolerant strictly anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain 5S69T. The cells were motile curved Gram-negative rods. Optimal growth was observed in the presence of 2.0–4.0% (w/v) NaCl, at pH 6.5, and at 23–28 °C under sulfate-reducing conditions. The isolate was capable of chemoorganotrophic growth with sulfate and other sulfoxides as electron acceptors, resulting in sulfide formation; and of pyruvate fermentation resulting in formation of H2 and acetate. The strain utilized lactate, pyruvate, ethanol, methanol, fumarate, and fructose, as well as H2/CO2/acetate for sulfate reduction. The genome size of the type strain 5S69T was 4.16 Mb with a G + C content of 63.0 mol%. On the basis of unique physiological properties and results of the 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis, phylogenomic analysis of the 120 conserved single copy proteins and genomic indexes (ANI, AAI, and dDDH), assigning the type strain 5S69T ((VKM B-3653T = KCTC 25499T) to a new species within the genus Pseudodesulfovibrio, is suggested, with the proposed name Pseudodesulfovibrio methanolicus sp. nov. Genome analysis of the new isolate showed several genes involved in sulfate reduction and its sulfide-producing potential in oil fields with high saline formation water.
MicroRNA-503 Suppresses Oral Mucosal Fibroblast Differentiation by Regulating RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Wen Dada , Zhang Huamin , Zhou Yutong , Jian Ni , Jiang Canhua , Wang Jie
Published: October 2024

The abnormal proliferation and differentiation of oral mucosal fibroblasts (FBs) is the key to the progression of oral submucosal fibrosis. To clarify the mechanism of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB)-induced FBs fibrosis in oral mucosa, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used in this study to detect the expression of miR-503 and the expression of p-MEK, p-ERK, miR-503, RAF, smooth actin and type I collagen under different time and concentration stimulation of PDGF-BB. The effects of overexpression of miR-503 or RAF on the proliferation and migration of FBs were detected by cell counting kit 8 and cell scratch assay, respectively. A dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting effect of miR-503 on RAF. The results showed that miR-503 was downregulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner in PDGF-BB-induced FBs. In addition, RAF is a direct target of miR-503 and can be negatively regulated. Overexpression of RAF can promote FB proliferation, migration, differentiation, collagen synthesis, and activation of downstream molecules (MEK/ERK), while overexpression of miR-503 can partially reverse the effects of RAF. Therefore, miR-503 regulates the biological behavior of PDGF-BB-induced oral mucosal FBs by influencing the activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.
Safety Profiles Related to Dosing Errors of Rapid-Acting Insulin Analogs: A Comparative Analysis Using the EudraVigilance Database
Authors: Popa Ilie Ioana Rada , Vonica-Tincu Andreea Loredana , Dobrea Carmen Maximiliana , Butuca Anca , Frum Adina , Morgovan Claudiu , Gligor Felicia Gabriela , Ghibu Steliana
Published: October 2024

Insulin is essential for treating type 1 diabetes and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes. Background/Objectives: Diabetes is a widespread condition that can lead to multiple and severe complications. Rapid-acting insulin analogs (RAIAs) and long-acting insulin analogs are prescribed for the effective management of diabetes. RAIAs are expected to be associated with a higher number of dosing errors because of their rapid onset, short duration of action, and the need for frequent dosing, compared to other insulin analogs. There are three approved RAIAs on the market: insulin lispro (LIS), insulin aspart (ASP), and insulin glulisine (GLU). The aim of this study is to evaluate the real-world evidence on dosing errors reported for RAIAs in EudraVigilance (EV), an established pharmacovigilance database, in comparison to other insulin analogs and human insulins. Methods: A descriptive analysis and a disproportionality analysis were conducted. Results: ASP and LIS were associated with high percentages of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (22% and 17%, respectively), with over 70% of the reports involving serious ADRs. A higher frequency of cardiac and eye disorder ADRs was observed for LIS compared with ASP and GLU. GLU showed a higher frequency of ADRs in the skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders category. LIS dosing errors accounted for 5% of the total number of cases, while dosing errors for ASP and GLU were less than 3%. The most frequently reported dosing errors involved improper dosing (49%). Conclusions: Although there were fewer dosing errors of RAIAs in comparison to other insulins, the severity of the potential outcome highlights the importance of precise dosing and timing. Improved the monitoring and reporting of these dosing errors could enhance diabetes patient care. Additionally, smart medical devices could improve therapeutic outcomes.
Principles and Applications of ZnO Nanomaterials in Optical Biosensors and ZnO Nanomaterial-Enhanced Biodetection
Authors: Sytu Marion Ryan C. , Hahm Jong-In
Published: October 2024

Significant research accomplishments have been made so far for the development and application of ZnO nanomaterials in enhanced optical biodetection. The unparalleled optical properties of ZnO nanomaterials and their reduced dimensionality have been successfully exploited to push the limits of conventional optical biosensors and optical biodetection platforms for a wide range of bioanalytes. ZnO nanomaterial-enabled advancements in optical biosensors have been demonstrated to improve key sensor performance characteristics such as the limit of detection and dynamic range. In addition, all nanomaterial forms of ZnO, ranging from 0-dimensional (0D) and 1D to 2D nanostructures, have been proven to be useful, ensuring their versatile fabrication into functional biosensors. The employment of ZnO as an essential biosensing element has been assessed not only for ensembles but also for individual nanomaterials, which is advantageous for the realization of high miniaturization and minimal invasiveness in biosensors and biodevices. Moreover, the nanomaterials’ incorporations into biosensors have been shown to be useful and functional for a variety of optical detection modes, such as absorption, colorimetry, fluorescence, near-band-edge emission, deep-level emission, chemiluminescence, surface evanescent wave, whispering gallery mode, lossy-mode resonance, surface plasmon resonance, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The detection capabilities of these ZnO nanomaterial-based optical biosensors demonstrated so far are highly encouraging and, in some cases, permit quantitative analyses of ultra-trace level bioanalytes that cannot be measured by other means. Hence, steady research endeavors are expected in this burgeoning field, whose scientific and technological impacts will grow immensely in the future. This review provides a timely and much needed review of the research efforts made in the field of ZnO nanomaterial-based optical biosensors in a comprehensive and systematic manner. The topical discussions in this review are organized by the different modes of optical detection listed above and further grouped by the dimensionality of the ZnO nanostructures used in biosensors. Following an overview of a given optical detection mode, the unique properties of ZnO nanomaterials critical to enhanced biodetection are presented in detail. Subsequently, specific biosensing applications of ZnO nanomaterials are discussed for ~40 different bioanalytes, and the important roles that the ZnO nanomaterials play in bioanalyte detection are also identified.
Investigation on the Bearing Performance of a Single Pile in Shallow Reinforced Soft Soil Foundation under Horizontal Load
Authors: Bai Guanglin , Zhang Hong , Wang Bo , Chen Feng , Zhao Jiahao , Shu Qianjin
Published: October 2024

The overall reinforcement of soft soil foundation has the disadvantages of large engineering quantity and high cost. When the pile foundation bears horizontal loads in the soil, the mechanical properties of the soil near the surface have a greater impact on it compared to the deep soil. Therefore, studying the influence of shallow soil reinforcement on the horizontal bearing capacity of pile foundations has important engineering significance. Studying the influence of shallow soft soil reinforcement around piles on the horizontal bearing performance of piles is of great significance for improving the economic efficiency of pile foundation reinforcement technology in soft soil areas. In this paper, seven pile-soil finite element models are established based on ABAQUS 2022 software to study the influence of shallow reinforcement on the horizontal bearing capacity of single pile. The models were established on the basis of a field test and its validity was verified. The influence of different reinforcement degrees on the horizontal bearing capacity of piles is analyzed by taking the reinforcement width and reinforcement depth as variables. The results indicate that shallow ground improvement significantly enhances the horizontal bearing capacity of the pile. The horizontal bearing capacity of the pile is increased by 83.0%, 104.3%, and 224.4%, respectively, corresponding to a reinforcement width of 2 times, 3 times, and 4 times the diameter of the pile, respectively. With the increase of the reinforcement width, the bending moment and deformation of the pile under the same horizontal load decrease significantly, while it has no significant effect on the location of the maximum bending moment of the pile. The bearing capacity of the pile foundation gradually increases with the increase of the reinforcement depth. Compared with the unreinforced situation, the horizontal bearing capacity of the pile body is increased by 224.4%, 361.3%, and 456.8%, respectively, corresponding to a reinforcement depth of 0.1 times, 0.2 times, and 0.3 times the pile length. As the reinforcement depth increases, the corresponding increase in bearing capacity does not increase linearly, but gradually decreases. This indicates that blindly carrying out deep soil reinforcement without comprehensive evaluation is not advisable.