bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated Multimodal Stress Detection in Computer Office Workspace
Authors: Androutsou Thelma , Angelopoulos Spyridon , Hristoforou Evangelos , Matsopoulos George K. , Koutsouris Dimitrios D.
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, changes in the conditions and nature of the workplace make it imperative to create unobtrusive systems for the automatic detection of occupational stress, which can be feasibly addressed through the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and advances in data analysis. This paper presents the development of a multimodal automated stress detection system in an office environment that utilizes measurements derived from individuals’ interactions with the computer and its peripheral units. In our analysis, behavioral parameters of computer keyboard and mouse dynamics are combined with physiological parameters recorded by sensors embedded in a custom-made smart computer mouse device. To validate the system, we designed and implemented an experimental protocol simulating an office environment and included the most known work stressors. We applied known classifiers and different data labeling methods to the physiological and behavioral parameters extracted from the collected data, resulting in high-performance metrics. The feature-level fusion analysis of physiological and behavioral parameters successfully detected stress with an accuracy of 90.06% and F1 score of 0.90. The decision-level fusion analysis, combining the features extracted from both the computer mouse and keyboard, showed an average accuracy of 66% and an average F1 score of 0.56.
A Novel Parameter Estimation Method Based on Piecewise Nonlinear Amplitude Transform for the LFM Signal in Impulsive Noise
Authors: Wang Haiying , Zhang Qunying , Cheng Wenhai , Dong Jiaming , Liu Xiaojun
Published: June 2023

In a complex electromagnetic environment, any noise present generally exhibits strong impulsive characteristics. The performance of existing parameter estimation methods carried out in Gaussian white noise for the linear frequency modulation (LFM) signal degrades or even fails under impulsive noise. This paper proposes a novel parameter estimation method to address this problem. Firstly, the properties of the piecewise nonlinear amplitude transform (PNAT) are derived. This manuscript verifies that the PNAT can retain phase information of the LFM signal while suppressing the impulsive noise. Subsequently, a new concept known as piecewise nonlinear amplitude transform parametric symmetric instantaneous autocorrelation function (PNAT-PSIAF) is proposed. Based on this concept, a novel method called piecewise nonlinear amplitude transform Lv’s distribution (PNAT-LVD) is proposed to estimate the centroid frequency and chirp rate of the LFM signal. The simulations show that the proposed algorithm can effectively suppress the impulsive noise without prior knowledge of the noise for both the single-component and double-component LFM signal. In addition, two parameters of the LFM signal can be precisely estimated by the proposed method under low generalized signal-to-noise ratios (GSNR). The stronger the impulsive characteristics of the noise, the better the performance of the algorithm.
Investigation into Perceptual-Aware Optimization for Single-Image Super-Resolution in Embedded Systems
Authors: Vu Khanh Hung , Nguyen Duc Phuc , Nguyen Duc Dung , Pham Hoang-Anh
Published: June 2023

Deep learning has been introduced to single-image super-resolution (SISR) in the last decade. These techniques have taken over the benchmarks of SISR tasks. Nevertheless, most architectural designs necessitate substantial computational resources, leading to a prolonged inference time on embedded systems or rendering them infeasible for deployment. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of plausible solutions and optimization methods to address this problem. Then, we propose a pipeline that aggregates the latter in order to enhance the inference time without significantly compromising the perceptual quality. We investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method on a lightweight Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based perceptual-oriented model as a case study. The experimental results show that our proposed method leads to significant improvement in the inference time on both Desktop and Jetson Xavier NX, especially for higher resolution input sizes on the latter, thereby making it deployable in practice.
Performance and Capacity Optimization for High Speed Railway Communications Using UAV-IRS Assisted Massive MIMO System
Authors: Liu Ziyue , Yang Mingxi , Cui Jingjing , Xiao Yue , Zhang Xuejun
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study the communication performance of applying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) combined with intelligent reflective surfaces (IRS) in a high speed railway (HSR) scenario. This study investigates the design and performance of (multiple-input-multiple-output) MIMO systems with UAV and IRS assistance technology in high-mobility scenarios. Direct links between base stations (BS) and trains are often obstructed in suburban environments, especially in mountainous areas. We mount the IRS on the UAVs so that it can assist in the communication between the trains and the BS. With the help of the UAV-IRS, straight-line links can be established effectively, which greatly improves communication for train passengers. This paper considers the employment of large-scale antenna arrays at both the BS and train ends. Train passengers communicate with UAVs via antennas assembled on the roof of the train as gateways, which in turn communicate with the BS. We consider two types of antenna layouts on the train: all antennas are located in the center of the train named Co-located antennas (CA) layout and uniformly distributed along the train called distributed antennas (DA) layout. We can obtain the analytical up-link capacity by averaging over all locations in a cell for the above two layouts by considering the radio frequency consumption. Overall, the CA layout is found to be a better option for trains when attempting to maximize cell mean value of capacity, and DA layout achieves a more uniformly distribution of capacity over the entire cell. Ultimately, the best solution will depend on the specific requirements and constraints of the selected deployment scenario.
Integration of Machine Learning Solutions in the Building Automation System
Authors: Kawa Bartlomiej , Borkowski Piotr
Published: June 2023

This publication presents a system for integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions with building automation systems. The platform is based on cloud solutions and can integrate with one of the most popular virtual building management solutions, HomeAssistant. The System uses communication based on the Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol. The example machine learning function described in this publication detects anomalies in the electricity waveforms and raises the alarm. This information determines power quality and detects system faults or unusual power consumption. Recently, increasing electricity prices on global markets have meant that buildings must significantly reduce consumption. Therefore, a fundamental element of energy consumption diagnostics requires detecting unusual forms of energy consumption to optimise the use of individual devices in home and office installations.
Transport Phenomena in a Banded Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack—Part 2: Numerical Analysis
Authors: Śreniawski Karol K. , Moździerz Marcin , Brus Grzegorz , Szmyd Janusz S.
Published: June 2023

Solid oxide fuel cells are recognized as a promising energy conversion technology. Crucial to the field is the opportunity to reduce the costs of prototyping methodology. Due to the difficulty of conducting direct measurements inside the electrodes and fuel cell’s channels, numerical modeling remains the primary tool for improving the understanding and analyzing a fuel cell operation. Here, a computational fluid dynamic simulation of a banded solid oxide fuel cell’s stack, applied to enhance the geometrical design, is shown. A mathematical model, which includes momentum, heat, mass, and charge transport phenomena, was developed and used for the numerical simulation. The model was validated against the experimental study and confirmed its accuracy. The gas flow rate influence on the performance was investigated in details. Various arrangements of fuel and air channels were simulated and analyzed, including extending the system into a short stack. The proposed design modifications led to an increase in the volumetric power density of the stack compared to the existing prototype design. The proposed mathematical and numerical models were shown to be useful for testing further design modifications to the stack, including performance analysis, by changing the operating parameters of the system or applying new materials.
Environmental and Technological Problems for Natural Gas Production in Permafrost Regions
Authors: Yakushev Vladimir
Published: June 2023

Russia has unique technical and technological experience of gas field development in permafrost regions. According to this experience, different environmental and geocryological conditions require different technical solutions. Such problems as considerable subzero temperatures in geologic sections, great ice saturation of subsurface sediments, and gas and gas hydrate accumulations inside permafrost and immediately below it cause a series of dangerous consequences when gas production wells are in operation. These include back freezing, breaking well casings, well site subsidence when in production; movement and deformation of the wellhead caused by thawing of the rock massif around the well column when in operation; sudden and strong gas blowouts during well drilling, completion, and operation. To prevent possible accidents, different technical and technological solutions are applied: zoning of the field area according to the degree of complexity of geocryological conditions and the correction of future gas well cluster locations to avoid zones with extremely complex conditions; preliminary degassing of permafrost zones by shallow slim wells in places of future production well clusters; mechanical support of unstable production wells; installation of passive and active heat-isolation systems to the well construction and inside ground around wellheads. Key messages received during the development of gas fields at complex geocryological conditions are (consistently): preliminary careful geological engineering surveys and zoning of the field area, well clusters placed in areas with relatively soft geocryological conditions, preliminary degassing of permafrost depth intervals, passive and active heat isolation installation to the sub-wellhead part of the production well and around wellhead, and mechanical strengthening of unstable wells. Current plans are underway to utilize this experience for new gas discoveries in the Russian Arctic.
Anchor-Free Smoke and Flame Recognition Algorithm with Multi-Loss
Authors: Li Gang , Chen Peng , Xu Chuanyun , Sun Chengjie , Ma Yingli
Published: June 2023

Fire perception based on machine vision is essential for improving social safety. Object recognition based on deep learning has become the mainstream smoke and flame recognition method. However, the existing anchor-based smoke and flame recognition algorithms are not accurate enough for localization due to the irregular shapes, unclear contours, and large-scale changes in smoke and flames. For this problem, we propose a new anchor-free smoke and flame recognition algorithm, which improves the object detection network in two dimensions. First, we propose a channel attention path aggregation network (CAPAN), which forces the network to focus on the channel features with foreground information. Second, we propose a multi-loss function. The classification loss, the regression loss, the distribution focal loss (DFL), and the loss for the centerness branch are fused to enable the network to learn a more accurate distribution for the locations of the bounding boxes. Our method attains a promising performance compared with the state-of-the-art object detectors; the recognition accuracy improves by 5% for the mAP, 8.3% for the flame AP50, and 2.1% for the smoke AP50 compared with the baseline model. Overall, the algorithm proposed in this paper significantly improves the accuracy of the object detection network in the smoke and flame recognition scenario and can provide real-time fire recognition.
Application of Factorial Analysis to the Study of Vented Dust Explosions in Large Biomass Storage Silos
Authors: Varela Alejandro , Arbizu-Milagro Julia , Tascón Alberto
Published: June 2023

Dust explosions are a major concern in many industrial facilities and particularly in storage areas of biomass materials. Although venting standards (EN 14491 and NFPA 68) provide satisfactory safety levels for most industrial applications, they present some limitations and there exist situations that they do not contemplate. Vented dust explosions in a 4500 m3 silo for the storage of wood pellets were simulated by computational fluid dynamics. Maximum overpressures were registered and compared. The influence of several parameters including initial turbulence level, dust concentration, ignition location, and vent area was studied. A factorial analysis was carried out to determine the importance of each of the four parameters, along with possible interactions between them. The results showed great variations in the overpressures between the different scenarios simulated. Vent area, ignition location, and dust concentration showed similar effects on the overpressure (around 25%), while initial turbulence had half this effect (13%). One interaction effect out of the eleven possible interactions was identified as relevant for this specific industrial scenario: the combination of the ignition location and the initial turbulence, with an additional effect of 5% on the overpressure. The factorial analysis applied in this study could be of interest to the risk assessment of industrial facilities.
New Strategies to Increase Fish Larval Physiological Responses against Changes in Water Temperature
Authors: Navarro-Guillén Carmen
Published: June 2023

Aquaculture is probably the fastest-growing food-producing sector, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the world’s food fish [...]
Age, Growth, and Validation of Otolith Morphometrics as Predictors of Age in the Blackspot Seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, (Brunnich, 1768) from the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Authors: Paladin Antonela , Ugrin Nika , Matić-Skoko Sanja , Dragičević Branko , Dulčić Jakov
Published: June 2023

The age and growth of the blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, were determined by examining sagittal otoliths from fish sampled in the eastern Adriatic Sea. A total of 674 specimens (181 males, 90 hermaphrodites, 108 females, and 295 immatures) ranging from 8.80 to 47.27 cm (21.93 ± 9.00 cm) in total length were analyzed. The maximum observed age for the whole sample was 13 years. The sample was dominated by 1-year-old specimens as a consequence of an abundance of juvenile specimens collected by beach seines. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth curve (L∞ = 52.3 cm, K = 0.15 year−1, t0 = 0.49 year, R2 = 0.97), and the growth performance index (Φ’) was 2.61. The length, width, thickness, and mass of the otoliths were compared with the total length and age of P. bogaraveo from the eastern Adriatic. The analysis showed that the measures were adequate predictors of age. These results can be of value for more effective management measures aimed at the conservation of this species.
Dietary Supplementation of a Mixture of Nucleotides, β-Glucan and Vitamins C and E Improved the Growth and Health Performance of Olive Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Medagoda Nalin , Chotikachinda Rutchanee , Hasanthi Mirasha , Lee Kyeong-Jun
Published: June 2023

A twelve-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a functional immunostimulant mixture (FIM; nucleotides, β-glucan and vitamins C and E) on growth, feed utilization, innate immunity, digestive enzyme activity, hematological parameters, intestinal morphology and inflammatory gene expressions of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. A fish meal-based basal diet (control) was formulated, and three other diets were prepared by incorporating 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% FIM into the basal diet (HB0.5, HB1.0 and HB1.5, respectively). Five replicate groups of fish (26.3 ± 0.1 g) were fed one of the experimental diets. Inclusion of 1.5% FIM in the diet significantly enhanced growth and feed utilization. Significantly higher plasma hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein levels and lower plasma glucose level were observed in the HB1.5 group. Total immunoglobulin content, lysozyme, nitroblue tetrazolium, myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities and immune-related gene expressions of toll-like receptor and perforin were significantly increased at the highest inclusion level. FIM supplementation significantly increased villus height and goblet cell counts. Anti-inflammatory gene expressions were significantly upregulated at a 1.5% level. Dietary supplementation of 1.5% of FIM could improve growth and feed utilization, immune, hematological and intestinal histomorphological parameters of olive flounder.
Improved Loading Capacity and Viability of Probiotics Encapsulated in Alginate Hydrogel Beads by In Situ Cultivation Method
Authors: Huang Yachun , Zhang Lin , Hu Jielun , Liu Huan
Published: June 2023

The objective of this research was to encapsulate probiotics by alginate hydrogel beads based on an in situ cultivation method and investigate the influences on the cell loading capacity, surface and internal structure of hydrogel beads and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion property of cells. Hydrogel beads were prepared by extrusion and cultured in MRS broth to allow probiotics to grow inside. Up to 10.34 ± 0.02 Log CFU/g of viable cell concentration was obtained after 24 h of in situ cultivation, which broke through the bottleneck of low viable cell counts in the traditional extrusion method. Morphology and rheological analyses showed that the structure of the eventually formed probiotic hydrogel beads can be loosed by the existence of hydrogen bond interaction with water molecules and the internal growth of probiotic microcolonies, while it can be tightened by the acids metabolized by the probiotic bacteria during cultivation. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion analysis showed that great improvement with only 1.09 Log CFU/g of loss in viable cells was found after the entire 6 h of digestion. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that probiotic microcapsules fabricated by in situ cultivation method have the advantages of both high loading capacity of encapsulated viable cells and good protection during gastrointestinal digestion.
Effects of the Molecular Structure of Starch in Foods on Human Health
Authors: Zhu Jihui , Bai Yeming , Gilbert Robert G.
Published: June 2023

Starch provides approximately half of humans’ food energy, and its structural features influence human health. The most important structural feature is the chain length distribution (CLD), which affects properties such as the digestibility of starch-containing foods. The rate of digestion of such foods has a strong correlation with the prevalence and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Starch CLDs can be divided into multiple regions of degrees of polymerization, wherein the CLD in a given region is predominantly, but not exclusively, formed by a particular set of starch biosynthesis enzymes: starch synthases, starch branching enzymes and debranching enzymes. Biosynthesis-based models have been developed relating the ratios of the various enzyme activities in each set to the CLD component produced by that set. Fitting the observed CLDs to these models yields a small number of biosynthesis-related parameters, which, taken together, describe the entire CLD. This review highlights how CLDs can be measured and how the model-based parameters obtained from fitting these distributions are related to the properties of starch-based foods significant for health, and it considers how this knowledge could be used to develop plant varieties to provide foods with improved properties.
Dual-Layer Index for Efficient Traceability Query of Food Supply Chain Based on Blockchain
Authors: Guo Chaopeng , Liu Yiming , Na Meiyu , Song Jie
Published: June 2023

Blockchain techniques have been introduced to achieve decentralized and transparent traceability systems, which are critical components of food supply chains. Academia and industry have tried to enhance the efficiency of blockchain-based food supply chain traceability queries. However, the cost of traceability queries remains high. In this paper, we propose a dual-layer index structure for optimizing traceability queries in blockchain, which consists of an external and an internal index. The dual-layer index structure accelerates the external block jump and internal transaction search while preserving the original characteristics of the blockchain. We establish an experimental environment by modeling the blockchain storage module for extensive simulation experiments. The results show that although the dual-layer index structure introduces a little extra storage and construction time, it significantly improves the efficiency of traceability queries. Specifically, the dual-layer index improves the traceability query rate by seven to eight times compared with that of the original blockchain.
Fractal Complexity of a New Biparametric Family of Fourth Optimal Order Based on the Ermakov–Kalitkin Scheme
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Rojas-Hiciano Renso V. , Torregrosa Juan R. , Vassileva Maria P.
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we generalize the scheme proposed by Ermakov and Kalitkin and present a class of two-parameter fourth-order optimal methods, which we call Ermakov’s Hyperfamily. It is a substantial improvement of the classical Newton’s method because it optimizes one that extends the regions of convergence and is very stable. Another novelty is that it is a class containing as particular cases some classical methods, such as King’s family. From this class, we generate a new uniparametric family, which we call the KLAM, containing the classical Ostrowski and Chun, whose efficiency, stability, and optimality has been proven but also new methods that in many cases outperform these mentioned, as we prove. We demonstrate that it is of a fourth order of convergence, as well as being computationally efficienct. A dynamical study is performed allowing us to choose methods with good stability properties and to avoid chaotic behavior, implicit in the fractal structure defined by the Julia set in the related dynamic planes. Some numerical tests are presented to confirm the theoretical results and to compare the proposed methods with other known methods.
Development of Natural Active Agent-Containing Porous Hydrogel Sheets with High Water Content for Wound Dressings
Authors: Pinthong Thanyaporn , Yooyod Maytinee , Daengmankhong Jinjutha , Tuancharoensri Nantaprapa , Mahasaranon Sararat , Viyoch Jarupa , Jongjitwimol Jirapas , Ross Sukunya , Ross Gareth M.
Published: June 2023

This work was concerned with the fabrication of a porous hydrogel system suitable for medium to heavy-exudating wounds where traditional hydrogels cannot be used. The hydrogels were based on 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPs). In order to produce the porous structure, additional components were added (acid, blowing agent, foam stabilizer). Manuka honey (MH) was also incorporated at concentrations of 1 and 10% w/w. The hydrogel samples were characterized for morphology via scanning electron microscopy, mechanical rheology, swelling using a gravimetric method, surface absorption, and cell cytotoxicity. The results confirmed the formation of porous hydrogels (PH) with pore sizes ranging from ~50–110 µm. The swelling performance showed that the non-porous hydrogel (NPH) swelled to ~2000%, while PH weight increased ~5000%. Additionally, the use of a surface absorption technique showed that the PH absorbed 10 μL in <3000 ms, and NPH absorbed <1 μL over the same time. Incorporating MH the enhanced gel appearance and mechanical properties, including smaller pores and linear swelling. In summary, the PH produced in this study had excellent swelling performance with rapid absorption of surface liquid. Therefore, these materials have the potential to expand the applicability of hydrogels to a range of wound types, as they can both donate and absorb fluid.
Influence of Persian Gum and Almond Gum on the Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Starch
Authors: Hedayati Sara , Ansarifar Elham , Tarahi Mohammad , Tahsiri Zahra , Baeghbali Vahid , Niakousari Mehrdad
Published: June 2023

In this study, the influence of different levels (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% w/w) of Persian gum or almond gum were incorporated into wheat starch, and their influences on water absorption, freeze–thaw stability, microstructure, pasting, and textural properties were investigated. The SEM micrographs revealed that the addition of hydrocolloids to starch leads to the formation of denser gels with smaller pores. The water absorption of starch pastes was improved in the presence of gums, and samples containing 0.3% almond gum had the highest water absorption. The rapid visco analyzer (RVA) data showed that the incorporation of gums significantly affected the pasting properties by increasing the pasting time, pasting temperature, peak viscosity, final viscosity, and setback and decreasing breakdown. In all the pasting parameters, the changes caused by almond gum were more obvious. Based on TPA measurements, hydrocolloids were able to improve the textural properties of starch gels, such as firmness and gumminess but decreased the cohesiveness, and springiness was not affected by the incorporation of gums. Moreover, the freeze–thaw stability of starch was enhanced by the inclusion of gums, and almond gum exhibited better performance.
Stochastic Approach for 2D Superficial Seismic Amplification Based on Quad4M; City of L’Aquila (Italy) Test Case
Authors: Pasculli Antonio , Sciarra Nicola , Mangifesta Massimo
Published: June 2023

The values of the physical–mechanical properties of any soil are affected by uncertainties both due to experimental measurements and the impossibility of knowing them, in detail, at every point of the spatial domain. Accordingly, this work focuses on uncertainty in shear wave velocity (Vs) and its impact on the seismic response. The Monte Carlo method, based on pseudo-random number generation, was selected. To understand which random distributions could identify the site’s real conditions, the Fourier spectrum frequencies were calculated for each realization and were compared with the predominant natural site frequency. The experimental range data were used to calculate the spectral average acceleration and the horizontal amplification factors. The simulations were performed and interpreted by a modified version of VisualQ4M software based on 2D Quad4M, including the generation of pseudo-random numbers and pre- and post-data processing. A site at a small scale, in the territory of the city of L’Aquila (Italy), was selected as the test case. This paper demonstrates, from a numerical point of view, that both a simple local topographic modification due to excavation and the uncertainties of the numerical values, even of the shear wave velocity alone, can have an important impact on the local seismic amplification.
The Effect of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program on Symptoms of Stress and Depression and on Saliva Cortisol and Serum Creatine Kinase among Male Wrestlers
Authors: Mousavi Elham , Sadeghi-Bahmani Dena , Khazaie Habibolah , Brühl Annette Beatrix , Stanga Zeno , Brand Serge
Published: June 2023

Objectives: The aims of the present study were two-fold: to investigate whether, compared to an active control condition, a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program could (1) reduce symptoms of stress and depression, and (2) regulate salivary cortisol and serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, two physiological stress markers. Methods: Thirty male wrestlers (Mage = 26.73 years) were randomly assigned either to the MBSR intervention or the active control condition. Both at the beginning and at the end of the intervention, the participants completed questionnaires on perceived stress and depression; in parallel, salivary samples were collected to measure cortisol in saliva, while blood samples were collected to assess serum CK. The study lasted for eight consecutive weeks. The intervention consisted of 16 group sessions (90 min each); the active control condition had an identical schedule, though without bona fide interventions. During the study period, the participants kept their sleeping, nutritional and exercising schedules unaltered. Results: Over time, symptoms of stress and depression decreased; the level of decrease was more prominent in the MBSR condition than the active control condition (significant p values and large effect sizes of interaction). Further, cortisol and creatine kinase concentrations also decreased more in the MBSR condition compared to the active control condition (large effect sizes of interaction). Conclusions: The present study’s findings suggest that among male wrestlers, a modified MBSR intervention have the potential to reduce both psychological (stress and depression) and physiological (cortisol and creatine kinase) indices as compared to an active control condition.
The Nursing Work Environment, Supervisory Support, Nurse Characteristics, and Burnout as Predictors of Intent to Stay among Hospital Nurses in the Republic of Korea: A Path Analysis
Authors: Kim Young-Bum , Lee Seung-Hee
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to examine the comprehensive impact of five aspects of the nursing work environment as well as supervisory support, nurse characteristics, and burnout on intent to stay (ITS) among Korean hospital nurses. A cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed in seven general hospitals from May to July of 2019. Data were collected from a sample of 631 Korean nurses. The hypothesized model was evaluated using the STATA program for path models. Findings demonstrated that burnout played a mediating role on the relationships between the nursing work environment, supervisory support, nurse characteristics, and ITS. Burnout was the most influential predictor of ITS (β = −0.36, p < 0.001). Nurse participation in hospital affairs (β = 0.10, p = 0.044) and collegial nurse–physician relationships (β = 0.08, p = 0.038) had a direct effect on ITS. Supervisory support had a significant direct effect on ITS (β = 0.19, p < 0.001). Therefore, to increase nurses’ ITS, it is necessary to improve their participation in hospital affairs and collegial relationships, as well as strengthen support from supervisors and reduce burnout.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure Analysis of Hollyhock (Alcea rosea Cavan) Using High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Wang Yue , Zhao Sheng , Chen Peng , Liu Yongkang , Ma Zhigang , Malik Waqar Afzal , Zhu Zhenghang , Peng Zhenyu , Lu Haorong , Chen Yanli , Chang Yuxiao
Published: June 2023

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea (Linn). Cavan) is an herbaceous flowering plant with significant applications in urban greening, soil remediation, and traditional medicine. However, its genetic diversity and molecular characteristics at the population level have not been explored yet. Here, the phenotypic and genetic diversity of 162 hollyhock accessions from China revealed extensive variation among 11 traits and strong correlations between several quantitative traits. Whole-genome re-sequencing of 32 randomly chosen accessions identified 10,468,760 core single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed evenly across the genome, except for on chromosome 21, and the average nucleotide diversity (π) was calculated to be 0.00397. Principal component analysis showed that these 32 accessions could be divided into four subpopulations, which was in agreement with the population structure analysis, and the subpopulations were strongly correlated with geographic location. A neighbor-joining dendrogram displayed similar clusters, except for accessions HuB25 and HLJ28, which formed two separate clusters. Our findings illuminate the genetic diversity in hollyhock and provide valuable information for hollyhock breeding.
Foliar Application of Chitosan Accelerates Wound Periderm Formation with an Intensified Deposition of Suberin Polyphenolic and Lignin in the Wounds of Potato Tubers
Authors: Zhu Yan , Zhang Wei , Zhao Yuanshou , Chen Fu , Zhu Fupeng , Yang Jipeng , Ge Xiangzhen , Gong Wenjuan , Cui Ruitong , Sheng Wenjun
Published: June 2023

Potato tubers are susceptible to wounding during post-harvest processes, leading to quality decline, perishability and large economic losses. In this study, the potato cultivar, ‘Longshu No.7′, was foliar-sprayed with 3% chitosan (w/v) three times during the pre-harvest period after flowering to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying with chitosan on suberization processing in the wounds of harvested potato tubers. Our results demonstrated that foliar sprayed with chitosan significantly reduced wound-induced fresh weight loss and dry rot disease index by 37.34% and 41.60% on day 28 after wounding, respectively. Foliar sprayed with chitosan accelerated the deposition of suberin polyphenolic and lignin at the wound sites of potato tubers with the formation of thicker cell layers. This occurred with increased localized activities of key enzymes in the suberin polyphenolic and lignin pathways, including phenylalanine ammonia lyase, 4-coumaryl-coenzyme A ligase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase and peroxidase (33.90–64.32%), as well as the contents of cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, flavonoids, lignins and total phenolics (19.70–23.46%) in the wounded sites of potato tubers on day 7 after wounding. Our results indicated that foliar application of chitosan accelerated wound-induced suberization of potato tubers and could mitigate post-harvest product damages.
Notes to the Taxonomic Affiliation of the Bulbophyllym Sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) Based on Molecular Phylogenetic Analyses
Authors: Nowak Sławomir , Olędrzyńska Natalia , Szlachetko Dariusz L. , Dudek Magdalena
Published: June 2023

To solve the taxonomic affiliation of Bulbophyllum physometrum, the only known species of the Bulbophyllym sect. Physometra (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae), we conducted phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear markers, i.e., ITS and the low-copy gene Xdh, and the plastid region matK. We used Asian Bulbophyllum taxa, with a special focus on species from the sections Lemniscata and Blepharistes, i.e., the only Asian sections of this genus with bifoliate pseudobulbs, as in B. physometrum. Unexpectedly, the results of molecular phylogenetic analyses showed that B. physometrum is most probably more related to the representatives of the sections Hirtula and Sestochilos than Blepharistes or Lemniscata.
Seahorse Male Pregnancy as a Model System to Study Pregnancy, Immune Adaptations, and Environmental Effects
Authors: Kloc Malgorzata
Published: June 2023

Seahorses, together with sea dragons and pipefishes, belong to the Syngnathidae family of teleost fishes. Seahorses and other Syngnathidae species have a very peculiar feature: male pregnancy. Among different species, there is a gradation of paternal involvement in carrying for the offspring, from a simple attachment of the eggs to the skin surface, through various degrees of egg coverage by skin flaps, to the internal pregnancy within a brood pouch, which resembles mammalian uterus with the placenta. Because of the gradation of parental involvement and similarities to mammalian pregnancy, seahorses are a great model to study the evolution of pregnancy and the immunologic, metabolic, cellular, and molecular processes of pregnancy and embryo development. Seahorses are also very useful for studying the effects of pollutants and environmental changes on pregnancy, embryo development, and offspring fitness. We describe here the characteristics of seahorse male pregnancy, its regulatory mechanisms, the development of immune tolerance of the parent toward the allogeneic embryos, and the effects of environmental pollutants on pregnancy and embryo development.
Metabolic Processes and Biological Macromolecules Defined the Positive Effects of Protein-Rich Biostimulants on Sugar Beet Plant Development
Authors: Jolayemi Okanlawon L. , Malik Ali H. , Vetukuri Ramesh R. , Saripella Ganapathi V. , Kalyandurg Pruthvi B. , Ekblad Tobias , Yong Jean W. H. , Olsson Marie E. , Johansson Eva
Published: June 2023

Protein-based biostimulants (PBBs) have a positive effect on plant development, although the biological background for this effect is not well understood. Here, hydrolyzed wheat gluten (HWG) and potato protein film (PF) in two levels (1 and 2 g/kg soil) and in two different soils (low and high nutrient; LNC and HNC) were used as PBBs. The effect of these PBBs on agronomic traits, sugars, protein, and peptides, as well as metabolic processes, were evaluated on sugar beet in comparison with no treatment (control) and treatment with nutrient solution (NS). The results showed a significant growth enhancement of the plants using HWG and PF across the two soils. Sucrose and total sugar content in the roots were high in NS-treated plants and correlated to root growth in HNC soil. Traits related to protein composition, including nitrogen, peptide, and RuBisCO contents, were enhanced in PBB-treated plants (mostly for HWG and PF at 2 g/kg soil) by 100% and >250% in HNC and LNC, respectively, compared to control. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that genes associated with ribosomes and photosynthesis were upregulated in the leaf samples of plants treated with either HWG or PP compared to the control. Furthermore, genes associated with the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were largely down-regulated in root samples of HWG or PF-treated plants. Thus, the PBBs enhanced protein-related traits in the plants through a higher transcription rate of genes related to protein- and photosynthesis, which resulted in increased plant growth, especially when added in certain amounts (2 g/kg soil). However, sucrose accumulation in the roots of sugar beet seemed to be related to the easy availability of nitrogen.
Synthesis of Flavonol-Bearing Probes for Chemoproteomic and Bioinformatic Analyses of Asteraceae Petals in Search of Novel Flavonoid Enzymes
Authors: Kempf Karl , Kempf Oxana , Capello Yoan , Molitor Christian , Lescoat Claire , Melhem Rana , Chaignepain Stéphane , Génot Elisabeth , Groppi Alexis , Nikolski Macha , Halbwirth Heidi , Deffieux Denis , Quideau Stéphane
Published: June 2023

This study aimed at searching for the enzymes that are responsible for the higher hydroxylation of flavonols serving as UV-honey guides for pollinating insects on the petals of Asteraceae flowers. To achieve this aim, an affinity-based chemical proteomic approach was developed by relying on the use of quercetin-bearing biotinylated probes, which were thus designed and synthesized to selectively and covalently capture relevant flavonoid enzymes. Proteomic and bioinformatic analyses of proteins captured from petal microsomes of two Asteraceae species (Rudbeckia hirta and Tagetes erecta) revealed the presence of two flavonol 6-hydroxylases and several additional not fully characterized proteins as candidates for the identification of novel flavonol 8-hydroxylases, as well as relevant flavonol methyl- and glycosyltransferases. Generally speaking, this substrate-based proteome profiling methodology constitutes a powerful tool for the search for unknown (flavonoid) enzymes in plant protein extracts.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Barley bHLH Transcription Factors and the Functional Characterization of HvbHLH56 in Low Nitrogen Tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Quan Xiaoyan , Meng Chen , Zhang Ning , Liang Xiaoli , Li Jialin , Li Hongmei , He Wenxing
Published: June 2023

Improvement of low nitrogen (LN) tolerance or nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops is imperative for environment-friendly agriculture development. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are involved in multiple abiotic stresses and are suitable as candidate genes for improving LN tolerance. Few studies were performed on the characterization of the HvbHLH gene family and their function in response to LN stress in barley. In this study, 103 HvbHLH genes were identified through genome-wide analysis. HvbHLH proteins were classified into 20 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis in barley, which was supported by conserved motifs and gene structure analysis. The stress-related cis-element analysis in the promoters showed that HvbHLHs are probably involved in multiple stress responses. By phylogenetic analysis of HvbHLHs and bHLHs in other plants, some HvbHLHs were predicted to play roles in response to nutrition deficiency stress. Furthermore, at least 16 HvbHLHs were differentially expressed in two barley genotypes differing in LN tolerance under LN stress. Finally, overexpression of HvbHLH56 enhanced LN stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis, suggesting it is an important regulator in LN stress response. The differentially expressed HvbHLHs identified herein may be valuable for the breeding of barley cultivars with LN tolerance.
Etiopathogenesis and Emerging Methods for Treatment of Vitiligo
Authors: Iwanowski Tomasz , Kołkowski Karol , Nowicki Roman Janusz , Sokołowska-Wojdyło Małgorzata
Published: June 2023

Vitiligo is an acquired chronic depigmenting disorder of skin. It is mostly asymptomatic and characterized by amelanotic macules and patches that affects 0.5% to 2% of the world’s population. The etiology of vitiligo has not been clearly elucidated and multiple theories have been proposed regarding the causes of the disorder. Among the most prevalent theories, the genetic predisposition, oxidative stress theory, promotion of cellular stress and pathologic influence of lymphocytes T have been highlighted. As a result of increases in in-depth knowledge concerning the pathogenetic processes in vitiligo, we review the most recent information concerning its etiopathogenesis and treatment methods including topical and oral Janus kinase inhibitors, prostaglandins and their analogues, namely afamelanotide, Wnt/β-catenin-signaling agonists and cell-based therapies. Topical ruxolitinib has been registered for vitiligo treatment, whereas other agents as oral ritlecitinib, afamelanotide and latanoprost have been studied in ongoing clinical trials. New highly effective therapeutic strategies may be developed thanks to molecular and genetic studies.
Novel BODIPY Conjugates with Myrtenol: Design, Spectral Characteristics, and Possibilities for Practical Application
Authors: Guseva Galina B. , Antina Elena V. , Berezin Mikhail B. , Nikitina Liliya E. , Gilfanov Ilmir R. , Pavelyev Roman S. , Lisovskaya Svetlana A. , Frolova Larisa L. , Ostolopovskaya Olga V. , Rakhmatullin Ilfat Z. , Klochkov Vladimir V. , Trizna Elena Y. , Kayumov Airat R.
Published: June 2023

The synthesis of new fluorescent probes, based on biocompatible luminophors and exhibiting various specificities, is intensively developed worldwide. Many luminophors contain a hydrophobic group that limits their application for cell staining under vital conditions. Herein, we report the synthesis of two BODIPY molecules—BF2-meso-(4-butan/pentanamido-N-(((1S,5R)-6,6-dimethylbicyclo [3.1.1]hept-2-en-2-yl)methyl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-aminium)-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-2,2′-dipyrromethene bromides—designed as 10, 11 with a spacer of either four or three CH2 groups in length, respectively. These molecules present conjugates of BODIPY luminophors with (+)-myrtenol via a quaternary ammonium group. Both terpene-BODIPY conjugates demonstrated high fluorescence efficiency in various solvents such as OctOH, DMSO and water, and were characterized by their stability at pH 1.65–9.18. The fusion of the myrtenol, a monocyclic terpene, to the BODIPY fluorophore in the meso-substituent facilitated their penetration into the filamentous fungi Fusarium solani, while impairing the binding of the latter with S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. The additional quaternary ammonium group between the myrtenol and fluorophore moieties restored the bacterial cell-staining while it did not affect the staining of fungi. Finally, the BODIPY conjugate 11 was able to stain both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by its interaction with their cell wall (or the membrane), as well as penetrating into filamentous fungi F. solani and staining their mitochondria.
Organomonophosphines in Pt(η3-X1X2X3)(PR3), (X = N1, N2, N3; S1, S2, S3; or Te1, Te2, Te3) Derivatives: Structural Aspects
Authors: Melník Milan , Mikušová Veronika , Mikuš Peter
Published: June 2023

This paper covers nineteen Pt(II) complexes of the composition Pt(η3-X1X2X3)(PR3), (X = N1, N2, N3; S1, S2, S3; or Te1, Te2, Te3). These complexes crystallized in three crystal classes: triclinic (eleven examples), monoclinic (six examples), and orthorhombic (two examples). Each tridentate ligand creates two metallocyclic rings with common N2, S2, or Te2 donor ligands of the types N1C2N2C2N3, N1C2N2NC2N3, S1C2S2C2S3, S1C3S2C3S3, and Te1CNTe2NCTe3. The homotridentate ligand with monodentate PR3 ligand builds up a distorted square planar geometry about Pt(II) atoms. The degree of distortion ranges from 0.029 to 0.092, and the reason for the distortion is discussed. There is an example that contains two crystallographically independent molecules within the same crystal. This is a classic example of distortion isomerism.
Autoimmune Encephalitis and Related Syndromes
Authors: Graus Francesc
Published: June 2023

The field of autoimmune neurology has greatly expanded in the last decade [...]
Scapular Kinematics and Patterns of Scapular Dyskinesis in Rotator Cuff Tears: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Longo Umile Giuseppe , Risi Ambrogioni Laura , Candela Vincenzo , Berton Alessandra , Lo Presti Daniela , Denaro Vincenzo
Published: June 2023

Scapular dyskinesis (SD) is a condition of loss of normal mobility or function of the scapula. SD is frequently observed in patients with other shoulder disorders, such as rotator cuff (RC) tears. This study evaluates the different presentations in clinical outcomes and range of motions (ROMs) in patients suffering from RC tears with and without SD. A total of 52 patients were enrolled, of which 32 patients with RC tears and SD (group A) and 20 patients with RC tears without SD (group B). Statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of clinical outcomes were identified. There were statistically significant differences in terms of flexion (p = 0.019), extension (p = 0.015), abduction (p = 0.005), and external rotation at 90° (p = 0.003) and at 0° (p = 0.025). In conclusion, this prospective study demonstrated that SD influences the clinical presentation of patients with RC tears in terms of clinical outcomes and ROMs, apart from internal rotation. Further studies will need to show whether these differences occur regardless of SD type.