bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Skin Health in Dance Focusing on Professional Dance and Latin American Formation Dance during Periods of Different Training Loads
Authors: Wanke Eileen M. , Zimmermann Olga L. , Schmidt Mike , Ohlendorf Daniela , Wallner Alexandra , Fischer Tanja
Published: November 2022

Up to the present, there has been a lack of studies on the skin health of professional and recreational dancers. Dancers are at risk of skin diseases due to contact with allergenic or irritating substances and working in humid environments. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to examine skin health in two different dance styles and training periods. Methods: Physical dermatological examination of professional dancers (PD; n = 35) and Latin American formation dancers (LD; n = 79) after a 4-week period of recovery (T0) and a period of high training or work load (T1). Results: PD are significantly more frequently affected by skin dermatoses than LD (T0, p = 0.004) (frontal traction alopecia, hair loss, facial seborrhoea, xerosis cutis of the trunk and extremities, and facial folliculitis). The following significant differences between the sexes were observed in the LD: more folliculitis of the trunk in male subjects (T0 and T1, p = 0.009), more frequent xerosis cutis of the extremities (p < 0.001) and perioral dermatitis in female subjects (T1, p = 0.043). Subjects with skin lesions trained more frequently, performed more times per year, and had longer dance experience. Discussion: Based on the findings, preventive measures for skin protection (especially informing dancers about skin health) are necessary. At the same time, further studies on this topic are important.
Formation and Characterization of Fucus virsoides J. Agardh Pigment–Polyethylene Glycol Microparticles Produced Using PGSS Process
Authors: Banožić Marija , Čolnik Maja , Škerget Mojca , Cikoš Ana-Marija , Aladić Krunoslav , Jokić Stela
Published: November 2022

The particles from the gas-saturated solutions (PGSS) process was employed to micronize brown algae pigments separated by different extraction techniques. The particle formation of pigments with a coating material, polyethylene glycol (PEG), was carried out by the PGSS process using supercritical CO2. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to characterize the produced particles, while encapsulation efficiency was determined using spectrophotometric methods. The physical properties of obtained microparticles were also determined. The PGSS process enabled a high encapsulation yield in the range from 61.60 to 73.73%, and high encapsulation efficiency in terms of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid content. The release of CO2 during the PGSS process gave the microparticles their characteristic open and porous form, and enhanced the solubility and flow properties at the same time.
An Improved Voltage Regulation Performance of Floating Interleaved Boost Converters for Fuel Cell Applications Subject to Input Variation and Load Change
Authors: Nguyen Manh Hung , Ahn Kyoung Kwan
Published: November 2022

This paper aims to provide a novel control framework for exactly regulating the output voltage of floating interleaved boost converters (FIBCs), which have been widely employed in fuel cell applications in recent years. Firstly, a mathematical model of the FIBC is constructed according to Kirchhoff’s current and voltage loop principles. Then a cascade control structure with a current inner loop and voltage outer loop is developed to achieve the desired voltage regulation performance. The current controller is established based on the generalized super-twisting algorithm (GSTA) to ensure that the inductor current exactly follows the current reference, which is generated by the outer loop. Meanwhile, an active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) framework is utilized for robustly regulating the output voltage despite the presence of input variation and load change in the voltage control loop based on a nonlinear continuous GSTA-based extended state observer (GSTA-based ESO). The stability of a closed loop system based on the GSTA controller and the GSTA-based ESO is conclusively proven using the Lyapunov theory. The Simscape model of the FIBC is developed, which is used to verify the feasibility and the appropriateness of the recommended control algorithm. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to several previous works.
Research on the Robustness of Active Headrest with Virtual Microphones to Human Head Rotation
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Huang Xiaofan , Zou Haishan , Lu Jing
Published: November 2022

The movement and rotation of the human head can significantly degrade the control performance of active headrests with virtual microphones. This paper investigates the performance robustness of an active headrest with virtual microphones against the head rotation in a pure tone diffracted diffuse sound field. A physical model of a headrest system with a diffractive sphere is firstly developed, based on which the influence of acoustic transfer responses on the performance robustness against head rotation is analyzed. Then, the multi-objective optimization with constraints is developed to improve the performance robustness of the system, by designing optimized plant responses. Simulation results show that the method is effective in improving the robustness of single and dual channel systems. For a dual-channel headrest system with the proposed arrangements of secondary sources and microphones, the promotion of the minimum noise reduction is more than 7 dB after optimization when the head rotates from −90 degrees to 90 degrees at 125 Hz, 250 Hz and 500 Hz. In addition, the influence of different parameters on the optimization method is discussed for this dual-channel system. Finally, experiments carried out in an ordinary room validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Study of Electrochemical Properties of Compared Indigo for Metal–Semiconductor–Metal Diode
Authors: Saikhao Laksanawadee , Thasnas Natakorn , Supannarach Sarawut , Kamuang Settakorn , Ratanabuntha Tharin , Siritaratiwat Apirat , Sriwannarat Warat
Published: November 2022

Indigo blue was discovered as a semiconductor material because of its organic semiconductor properties. This paper shows a primary study of the electrochemical properties of Sakon Nakhon-indigo strain used in the metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) diode. The fermentation and extraction of our local indigo plant are explained. Indian indigo in the MSM diode is compared in the same conditions of preparation. The electrochemical properties, including the current–voltage (I–V) characteristic, static resistance, and rectification ratio, are discussed. The results show that the electron and hole characteristics and band gap energy of the indigo blue affects the electrochemical properties of the device. Our local MSM diode has a suitable operation between −1 and +3 VMSM with a knee voltage of 1.0 VMSM. Especially, it can produce the highest forward-bias current of about 3.19 mA at linear operation between +2 and +3 VMSM, whereas the review MSM diode is about 2–3 hundred times lower. This shows that this strain has more conductive properties because of its effective electron and hole characteristics obtained by an indigo yield concentration. Therefore, the MSM diode based on Sakon Nakhon-indigo strain is an important role in an electronic semiconductor device for low voltage consumption and high sensitivity. In the future, the molecular characteristics of local indigo may be deeply analyzed to be further developed into a thin-film form used as an organic semiconductor material in several electronic devices.
Dynamic Task Scheduling in Remote Sensing Data Acquisition from Open-Access Data Using CloudSim
Authors: Wang Zhibao , Bai Lu , Liu Xiaogang , Chen Yuanlin , Zhao Man , Tao Jinhua
Published: November 2022

With the rapid development of cloud computing and network technologies, large-scale remote sensing data collection tasks are receiving more interest from individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises. Large-scale remote sensing data collection has its challenges, including less available node resources, short collection time, and lower collection efficiency. Moreover, public remote data sources have restrictions on user settings, such as access to IP, frequency, and bandwidth. In order to satisfy users’ demand for accessing public remote sensing data collection nodes and effectively increase the data collection speed, this paper proposes a TSCD-TSA dynamic task scheduling algorithm that combines the BP neural network prediction algorithm with PSO-based task scheduling algorithms. Comparative experiments were carried out using the proposed task scheduling algorithms on an acquisition task using data from Sentinel2. The experimental results show that the MAX-MAX-PSO dynamic task scheduling algorithm has a smaller fitness value and a faster convergence speed.
Retrofit of Existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) Buildings: Steel vs. RC Exoskeletons
Authors: Buda Rocco , Bedon Chiara , Pucinotti Raffaele
Published: November 2022

The existing building stock is largely made up of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, constructed between the post-World War II period and 1981, and mostly consists of buildings constructed very quickly to meet the great housing demand of this period, and buildings that do not adhere to anti-seismic and energy regulations. Today, after more than fifty years, these buildings have reached the end of their useful life cycle and their maintenance is not sustainable, presenting a series of structural, energy and architectural problems and criticalities. The myriad of possible retrofit interventions currently available for these RC structures drastically reduces when the main requirement for interventions is to avoid operational interruptions to buildings. In this case, an additive structure, operating exclusively from the outside as an exoskeleton, is typically used for achieving appropriate retrofit. In this paper, two solutions are proposed and addressed for the retrofit of an existing RC building in Italy, one through the application of a steel exoskeleton and the other through the application of an RC exoskeleton system. A set of push-over (PO) analyses is carried out to define the performance point of both the original and combined systems. The comparative results of these solutions are then discussed.
Estimating Calorific Value of Coal Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy through Statistical Algorithms: Correlation Analysis, Partial Least Squares, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Authors: Kim Soo-Min , Park Kyung-Hoon , Ryu Choong-Mo , Choi Jung-Hyun , Moon Seung-Jae
Published: November 2022

The objective of this study was to compare different statistical algorithms for estimating the calorific value of coal based on a quantitative analysis of the elements in coal. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for the elemental analysis. Three different algorithms, including the correlation analysis (CA) method, the partial least squares (PLS) analysis method, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), were adopted to accurately determine the concentrations of the elements in coal by using Dulong’s equation. Special emphasis was placed on the selection of the delay time to improve the measurement accuracy. The coefficient of determination, R2, was considered for optimizing the delay time. The intensity–concentration calibration curves were obtained for the elements in coal and the elemental concentration correlations were estimated on the basis of the calibration curves of each element. The CA showed a higher accuracy compared to PLS and the SNR. This confirmed that LIBS shows potential for the rapid determination of the calorific value of coal.
Boiogito, a Japanese Traditional Herbal Medicine, Inhibits the Osteoclast Differentiation and Proliferation in the Subchondral Bone of an In Vivo Knee Osteoarthritis Rat Model
Authors: Kimura Taro , Okumo Takayuki , Ikemoto Hideshi , Adachi Naoki , Takemura Haruka , Mochizuki Midori , Izukashi Kanako , Kanzaki Koji , Sunagawa Masataka
Published: November 2022

Boiogito (BO), a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, has been reported to prevent knee osteoarthritis (KOA) development in in vivo studies. In the early stage of KOA, osteoclasts proliferate in the subchondral bone. This study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of BO on osteoclast proliferation, which remains unclear, in a KOA-induced rat model. KOA was induced in 12-week-old male Wistar rats using surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). BO was mixed with powdered chow, applying 1%, 3%, and 5% of the total feed, and administered to KOA-induced rats. The rats were divided into 6 groups: control, sham, DMM, DMM + BO 1%, DMM + BO 3%, and DMM + BO 5%. Rotarod tests were performed each week to assess the locomotor function, and the right knees were harvested 28 days after surgery for histological analysis. Oral administration of BO significantly inhibited the decrease in the latency to fall off in the rotarod test, which was aggravated in the DMM group. Furthermore, KOA development was significantly prevented in the BO-administrated groups as assessed by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International score. The number of multinucleated activated osteoclasts in the subchondral bone was decreased in the BO-treated groups, which was increased in the DMM group. Therefore, oral administration of BO may reduce articular cartilage degeneration, osteoclast differentiation and proliferation in the KOA patients.
Determining the Behavior of Water in Buttermilk Cheese with Polymerized Whey Protein Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analysis
Authors: Cais-Sokolińska Dorota , Bielska Paulina , Baranowska Hanna M. , Tomaszewska-Gras Jolanta
Published: November 2022

In this research, the behavior of water in buttermilk cheese with the addition of polymerized whey proteins was determined. Various parameters of the produced cheese, such as texture, color, water activity, and unbound protein fraction, were examined. Four different samples of buttermilk cheese were prepared, including no addition of whey protein concentrate (BMC); addition of whey protein concentrate (BMC/WPC; 5.62%, w/v), single-heated polymerized whey protein (BMC/SPWP; 28%, w/v), and double-heated polymerized whey protein (BMC/DPWP; 28%, w/v). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the highest percentage of freezable water in the water fraction and the lowest of unfreezable water was found in buttermilk cheese with WPC and buttermilk cheese with DPWP. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the relaxation times were longer in buttermilk cheese with WPC, compared to buttermilk cheese with SPWP and DPWP. Single heat treatment of whey proteins increased stickiness almost 3-fold, and double heat treatment had almost a 2-fold increase in work of shear of cheese samples. The calculated total color difference (ΔE) of the cheese samples suggested that those with polymerized whey protein may increase consumer acceptability.
COVID-19 and Clinically Isolated Syndrome: Coincidence or Causative Link? A 12-Month Follow-Up Case Report
Authors: Romano Davide , Macerollo Antonella , Giannaccare Giuseppe , Mazzuca Daniela , Borgia Alfredo , Romano Vito , Semeraro Francesco , Ellis Richard
Published: November 2022

A 35-year-old female with positive anamnesis of COVID-19 infection presented with a seven-day history of headache along with tingling and numbness involving the right lower limb and visual disturbance on the right side of her vision. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and C-spine were consistent with acute demyelinating lesions. However, the MAGNIMS criteria for a multiple sclerosis diagnosis were not met, and, subsequently, a diagnosis of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) was made. At 12 months, the patient showed new inflammatory lesions in the right frontal lobe and at the septocallosal interface, a lesion of the right hemi-cord at C3, and subsequent development of vertigo and unsteadiness and signs consistent with a brainstem/cerebellar relapse. On the basis of clinical and radiological criteria in the 2017 McDonald criteria, a diagnosis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis was made.
Photobiomodulation to Reduce Orthodontic Treatment Time in Adults: A Historical Prospective Study
Authors: Meme’ Lucia , Gallusi Gianni , Coli Giulia , Strappa Enrico , Bambini Fabrizio , Sampalmieri Francesco
Published: November 2022

Background: Orthodontic treatment in adult patients is hindered by several problems, such as little time for regular dental visits and financial costs. In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to significantly reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment and significantly increase patient compliance. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of PBM in shortening the orthodontic treatment duration in adult patients while ensuring optimal patient compliance. Methods: A total of 170 orthodontic patients with a Little’s irregularity index (LII) ≥ 3 mm treated with Invisalign clear aligners (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA) were included. The treatment group (PBM) (n = 90 patients) was trained in the use of the OrthopulseTM device (Biolux Research, Vancouver, Canada) according to an application protocol of 5 min per day. The control group (n = 80 patients) was treated with transparent Invisalign® without PBM applications. The LII was measured at a baseline and each aligner change until the end of the treatment when the LII was less than 1 mm. The crowding resolution rate (CRR), expressed in mm/week, and the total treatment time were measured. Results: The alignment rate of the PBM group was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.33 mm/week vs. 0.21 mm/week) with a reduction in the treatment time of 57.5 weeks in the PBM group compared with the control group. Conclusion: The PBM performed with the Orthopulse™ is shown to be an effective and noninvasive technique for accelerating teeth movements and can contribute in a relevant way to increase access to orthodontic treatment by the adult population as well as increase its compliance.
Improved Matching Algorithm with Anchor Argument for Rotate Target Detection
Authors: Wang Kangkang , Chen Bowen , Wu Xianyun , Li Yunsong
Published: November 2022

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been widely used in the task of object detection in remote sensing. Remote sensing targets can have arbitrary angles, and many anchor-base methods use a lot of anchors with different angles which cause efficiency and precision problems. To solve the problem caused by too many anchors, this paper presents a novel matching algorithm in the matching stage of the rotating anchor and object, which determines a more accurate rotating region of interests (RRoIs) for target regression using the copies set for each oriented anchor. It makes use of the high recall rate brought by a large number of anchor boxes with different angles and avoids the computation brought by a large number of anchor boxes. We use the remote sensing datasets DOTA and HRSC2016 with rotation bounding boxes to evaluate our improved algorithm on Rotation RetinaNet and compare it with it. For the targets of high aspect ratios, such as large vehicles and ships, our method is superior to Rotation RetinaNet and achieves a better performance.
Clinical Assessment of Customized 3D-Printed Wrist Orthoses
Authors: Fang Jing-Jing , Lin Cheng-Li , Tsai Jen-Yu , Lin Ruey-Mo
Published: November 2022

Plaster casting has been effective in fracture rehabilitation due to its immobility capability. Thermoplastic casting gains some efficiency and convenience from clinical processing but fitting and immobility are two major tradeoffs. Three-dimensional (3D)-printed braces have demonstrated improvements in innovation, customization, and appearance, but one may question their effectiveness in rehabilitation. Via a science-based data-centric approach, we evaluated the feasibility of customizing 3D-printed braces for wrist fractures after surgery. First, we established a framework for determining a proper timeframe for reliable pressure measurement for plaster casts, devised a method to evaluate the immobilization capability of the plaster casts and customized braces, and assessed changes in immobilization capability due to the clearance adjustment of customized braces. Second, we compared the customized wrist braces and plaster casts in immobilization capability and functional effectiveness in clinical trials. Thirty-three patients were recruited (9, control; 24, experimental). Both the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Head, and the Manual Ability Measure surveys showed significant differences between the control and experimental groups after brace wearing time frames of 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and 6 and 12 months. We found that customized braces can match plaster casts in immobilization ability and can promote effective functional recovery.
Group Contribution Revisited: The Enthalpy of Formation of Organic Compounds with “Chemical Accuracy” Part III
Authors: Meier Robert J.
Published: November 2022

Group contribution (GC) methods to predict thermochemical properties are eminently important to process design. We report on a GC parametrization for the heat of formation of organic molecules exhibiting chemical accuracy, i.e., a maximum 1 kcal/mol (4.2 kJ/mol) difference between experimental and model values, whilst having a minimum number of parameters to avoid overfitting. We report an extension of recent findings to chloro-alkanes, fluoro-hydrocarbons, benzylhalides, nitro-alkanes, and acetals. Compared to the existing literature, we obtained a superior model exhibiting chemical accuracy, with exceptions when the inherent GC assumption on linearity and additivity is not valid. Moreover, to have a reliable method and not only a low absolute average deviation as reported in most publications, we accepted no or exceptionally few outliers. The example of the 1,3-dioxolane acetals revealed that by adopting the appropriate size of a group representing the acetal leads to a model showing good accuracy. The overall conclusion of the three papers on this topic is that it is feasible to achieve chemical accuracy when using high-quality experimental data and the judicious definition of chemical groups. Despite the GC method being old, the present work shows substantial and necessary increase in performance can still be achieved.
Aerosol Retrieval over Land from the Directional Polarimetric Camera Aboard on GF-5
Authors: Wang Shupeng , Gong Weishu , Fang Li , Wang Weihe , Zhang Peng , Lu Naimeng , Tang Shihao , Zhang Xingying , Hu Xiuqing , Sun Xiaobing
Published: November 2022

The DPC (Directional Polarization Camera) onboard the Chinese GaoFen-5 (GF-5) satellite is the first operational aerosol monitoring instrument capable of performing multi-angle polarized measurements in China. Compared with POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth’s Reflectance) which ended its mission in December 2013, DPC has similar band design, with a maximum of 12 imaging angles and a relatively higher spatial resolution of 3.3 km. The global aerosol optical depth (AOD) over land from October to December in 2018 was retrieved with multi-angle polarization measurements of DPC. Comparisons with MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) AOD products show relatively good agreement over fine-aerosol-particle-dominated areas such as northern China and Huanghuai areas in eastern China, the southern foothills of the Himalayas and India. AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) measurements over Beijing, Xianghe and Kanpur were used to evaluate the accuracy of DPC AOD retrievals. The correlation coefficients are greater than 0.9 and the RMSE are lower than 0.08 for Beijing and Xianghe stations. For Kanpur, a relatively lower correlation of 0.772 and larger RMSE of 0.082 are found.
Response of Fluorescence and Chlorophyll Physiological Characteristics of Typical Urban Trees to Ozone Stress
Authors: Gao Yaoyao , Liu Yuanqiu , Chen Bo , Tao Yuzhu , Cui Cheng , Wen Ye , Deng Wenping , Chen Qi , Yuan Xi
Published: November 2022

In this study, four typical urban landscaping tree species were selected, three open top air chambers with different ozone concentrations were set, and the responses of chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content and relative conductivity of the trees to ozone stress were studied. The results showed that with the increase in ozone concentration, the maximum photochemical efficiency, electron transfer quantum yield, electron transfer rate (ETR) and chlorophyll content of the different tree species decreased significantly, while the relative conductivity of the different tree species increased significantly. Compared with the ozone concentration of NF, under an ozone concentration of nf40 and nf80, the decline in the rate of Fv/Fm of Koelreuteria paniculata and Ginkgo biloba was 2.47 and 2.28 times that of Pinus bungeana and Platycladus orientalis, respectively, and the increase in the rate of relative conductivity of K. paniculata and G. biloba was 2.11 and 1.28 times that of P. bungeana and P. orientalis, respectively. Under different ozone concentrations, the photochemical efficiency, electron transfer rate, chlorophyll content and relative conductivity of P. bungeana and P. orientalis were higher than those of Ginkgo biloba and K. paniculata, indicating that K. paniculata and G. biloba were more sensitive to ozone. This study is of great significance for improving urban environmental quality and ozone control and also provides a basis for selecting tree species with strong ozone tolerance.
Evaluation of Atmospheric Features in Natural Disasters due Frontal Systems over Southern Brazil
Authors: Reis Jean Souza dos , Gonçalves Weber Andrade , Souza Diego Oliveira de , Mendes David
Published: November 2022

This study evaluated the atmospheric pattern precursors to the occurrence of natural disasters (ND) in the southern region of Brazil (SRB) due to the passage of frontal systems (FS). The results can be used as prognostics to assist in risk management with a set of preventive and mitigating actions in order to minimize the impact of natural disasters suffered by the population. The natural disasters data were provided by the Centro de monitoramento e alertas de desastres naturais (Cemaden). For atmospheric analysis we used ERA5 reanalysis data, and the precipitation dataset was estimated from Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The most affected regions are the coast of Santa Catarina and the central-eastern region of Rio Grande do Sul. The results indicate that FS associated with ND are different from the other FS that affect the SRB. The observations were: a pattern of increase and accumulation of available convective potential energy west of the SRB before the event, especially in spring; a considerable increase in specific humidity at low levels associated with runoff east of the Andes; and an anticyclonic circulation at high levels similar to the Bolivian High. Analysis of rainfall behavior indicates that it is highest in the two days preceding the disaster. The mean precipitation values identified, together with atmospheric behavior observed in this study, allow us to identify the potential occurrence of a disaster in the cities of SRB in the passage of a frontal system.
Skin Protective Measures Taken during the 2017 North American Solar Eclipse in Georgia
Authors: Stewart Alan E. , Kimlin Michael G.
Published: November 2022

A total solar eclipse occurred over North America on 21 August 2017 and was a much-publicized astronomical event whose observance depended upon favorable weather. The eclipse also was a biometeorological event because people needed to both protect their both eyes and skin from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Although much attention was devoted in the media to the visual experience of the eclipse and to eye protection, skin protection received almost no emphasis. Thus, the authors surveyed 1014 university students in Athens, Georgia shortly after the eclipse event about their skin protective behaviors. Overall, people observed the eclipse outside for approximately one hour. The time spent outside differed significantly according to peoples’ self-reported skin response to the sun. The respondents also indicated that that they observed the eclipse for significantly longer periods of time than would be needed for them to receive a sunburn. Other than wearing sunglasses and using eclipse glasses, the most frequent skin protective measures were to seek shade and to wear short-sleeve shirts. Wearing additional clothing, hats, or any type of sunscreen were comparatively infrequent. We discussed the need for safeguarding the skin because every sunburn event at younger ages can increase the likelihood of skin cancers.
Wildfire Effects on Cryosols in Central Yakutia Region, Russia
Authors: Chebykina Ekaterina , Polyakov Vyacheslav , Abakumov Evgeny , Petrov Alexey
Published: November 2022

Forest fires are one of the most significant types of disturbance on a global scale, affecting biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles and playing an important role in atmospheric chemistry and the global carbon cycle. According to a remote monitoring information system, forest fires in Yakutia were the largest wildfires in the world in 2021. In this regard, mature pale-yellow soils unaffected by fire were investigated in comparison with the same soils that were strongly affected by surface fire in 2021 in the area surrounding Yakutsk, Yakutia region. Data obtained showed an intensive morphological transformation of the topsoil layers, increase of total organic matter and slight increase of pH, and apparent decrease of basal respiration and content of microbial biomass. A slight accumulation of Zn and Ni in soils due to wildfires was recorded, as well as alteration in the distributions of heavy metals in the soil profile. Moreover, an electric resistivity study was carried out during field studies. An influence of forest fire on the electrical resistivity value was not reliably found, but the vertical electrical resistivity sounding provided precise data regarding the degree of soil-permafrost layer homogeneity and/or heterogeneity.
Estimation of Air Pollution from Ships in Port Area: A Case Study of Yeosu and Gwangyang Ports in Korea
Authors: Kim Hwayoung , Bui Hai-Dang , Hong Sung-sam
Published: November 2022

With the rapid development of global trade and maritime transportation, a comprehensive emission inventory is necessary to control air pollution from ships as well as to comply with international environmental standards. The purpose of this study is to calculate the volume of emissions from ships in Yeosu and Gwangyang ports in Korea based on a bottom-up approach and supported by the data from the automatic identification system (AIS) and Korean port management information system (Port-MIS). Specifically, a real set of data on specifications of all ships operating at the port in 2019 was collected and an analysis of ship movement using AIS data was conducted by the authors in this study to divide the route into cruising and maneuvering phases as well as to estimate engine’s load factor. Finally, results show that the total amount of air emissions from ships at the port area was 558 thousand tons, which is 96% from CO2 and 66% from hoteling mode. Additionally, container and tanker ships together emitted the highest volume of air pollution accounting for a share of 73%.
Solar Signature in Climate Indices
Authors: Mares Constantin , Dobrica Venera , Mares Ileana , Demetrescu Crisan
Published: November 2022

The influence of solar/geomagnetic activity on climate variables still remains a fully unclarified problem, although many scientific efforts have been made to better understand it. In order to bring more information to this open problem, in the present study, we analyze the connection between solar/geomagnetic activity (predictors) and climate variables (predictands) by applying elements from information theory and wavelet transform analysis. The solar activity was highlighted by the Wolf number and geomagnetic activity was quantified by the aa index. For the climate variables, we considered seven Climate Indices (CIs) that influence atmospheric circulation on regional or global scales, such as the Greenland-Balkan Oscillation Index (GBOI), North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI), Arctic Oscillation (AO), Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Bivariate ENSO Timeseries (BEST) and Trans-Niño Index (TNI). By using the difference between synergy and redundancy, a few cases were found where the two predictors can be considered together for CIs’ estimation. Coherence analysis through the wavelet transform for three variables, both through multiple and partial analysis, provides the time intervals and bands of periods, where the two considered predictors can be used together or separately. The results differ depending on the predictand, the season and the considered lags. Significant information is brought out by using the two predictors together, namely the summer season, for GBOI and NAOI, when the predictors were taken 2 years before, and the winter season, as AMO responds to the variations of both solar and geomagnetic activity after 4 years.
Non-Canonical Functional Differential Equation of Fourth-Order: New Monotonic Properties and Their Applications in Oscillation Theory
Authors: Nabih Amany , Cesarano Clemente , Moaaz Osama , Anis Mona , Elabbasy Elmetwally M.
Published: November 2022

In the present article, we iteratively deduce new monotonic properties of a class from the positive solutions of fourth-order delay differential equations. We discuss the non-canonical case in which there are possible decreasing positive solutions. Then, we find iterative criteria that exclude the existence of these positive decreasing solutions. Using these new criteria and based on the comparison and Riccati substitution methods, we create sufficient conditions to ensure that all solutions of the studied equation oscillate. In addition to having many applications in various scientific domains, the study of the oscillatory and non-oscillatory features of differential equation solutions is a theoretically rich field with many intriguing issues. Finally, we show the importance of the results by applying them to special cases of the studied equation.
Analytic Approximate Solution in the Neighborhood of a Moving Singular Point of a Class of Nonlinear Equations
Authors: Orlov Victor , Gasanov Magomedyusuf
Published: November 2022

The paper considers a class of nonlinear differential equations which are not solvable in quadratures in general case. The author’s technology for solving such equations contains six problems. In this article, the solution to one of these problems is given, a real area in which it is possible to calculate an analytical approximate solution in the case of an approximate value of a moving singular point is obtained. Obtained results are based on the application of elements of differential calculus in finding estimates for the approximate solution error. Theoretical provisions are confirmed by numerical calculations, which characterize their reliability.
Optical Solitons in Fiber Bragg Gratings with Dispersive Reflectivity Having Five Nonlinear Forms of Refractive Index
Authors: Wang Ming-Yue , Biswas Anjan , Yıldırım Yakup , Alshehri Hashim M. , Moraru Luminita , Moldovanu Simona
Published: November 2022

This paper implements the trial equation approach to retrieve cubic–quartic optical solitons in fiber Bragg gratings with the aid of the trial equation methodology. Five forms of nonlinear refractive index structures are considered. They are the Kerr law, the parabolic law, the polynomial law, the quadratic–cubic law, and the parabolic nonlocal law. Dark and singular soliton solutions are recovered along with Jacobi’s elliptic functions with an appropriate modulus of ellipticity.
Improving Genomic Prediction with Machine Learning Incorporating TPE for Hyperparameters Optimization
Authors: Liang Mang , An Bingxing , Li Keanning , Du Lili , Deng Tianyu , Cao Sheng , Du Yueying , Xu Lingyang , Gao Xue , Zhang Lupei , Li Junya , Gao Huijiang
Published: November 2022

Depending on excellent prediction ability, machine learning has been considered the most powerful implement to analyze high-throughput sequencing genome data. However, the sophisticated process of tuning hyperparameters tremendously impedes the wider application of machine learning in animal and plant breeding programs. Therefore, we integrated an automatic tuning hyperparameters algorithm, tree-structured Parzen estimator (TPE), with machine learning to simplify the process of using machine learning for genomic prediction. In this study, we applied TPE to optimize the hyperparameters of Kernel ridge regression (KRR) and support vector regression (SVR). To evaluate the performance of TPE, we compared the prediction accuracy of KRR-TPE and SVR-TPE with the genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and KRR-RS, KRR-Grid, SVR-RS, and SVR-Grid, which tuned the hyperparameters of KRR and SVR by using random search (RS) and grid search (Gird) in a simulation dataset and the real datasets. The results indicated that KRR-TPE achieved the most powerful prediction ability considering all populations and was the most convenient. Especially for the Chinese Simmental beef cattle and Loblolly pine populations, the prediction accuracy of KRR-TPE had an 8.73% and 6.08% average improvement compared with GBLUP, respectively. Our study will greatly promote the application of machine learning in GP and further accelerate breeding progress.
Gene-Based Genome-Wide Association Study Identified Genes for Agronomic Traits in Maize
Authors: Zhao Yunfeng , Gao Jin , Guo Xiugang , Su Baofeng , Wang Haijie , Yang Runqing , Jiang Li
Published: November 2022

A gene integrates the effects of all SNPs in its sequence span, which benefits the genome-wide association study. To explore gene-level variations affecting economic traits in maize, we extended the SNP-based GWAS analysis software Single-RunKing developed by our team to gene-based GWAS, which used the FaST-LMM algorithm to convert the linear mixed model into simple linear model association analysis. An F-test statistic was formulated to test and identify candidate genes. We compared the statistical efficiency of using 80% principal components (EPC), the first principal component (FPC), and all SNP markers (ALLSNP) as independent variables, which predecessors commonly used to integrate SNPs and represent genes. With a Huazhong Agricultural University (HAU) genomic dataset of 2.65M SNPs from 540 maize plants, 34,774 genes were annotated across the whole genome. Genome-wide association studies with 20 agronomic traits were performed using the software developed here. Another maize dataset from the Ames panel (AP) was also analyzed. The EPC method fits the model well and has good statistical efficiency. It not only overcomes the false negative problem when using all SNP markers for analysis (ALLSNP) but also solves the false positive problem of its corresponding simple linear model method EPCLM. Compared with FPC, the EPC method has higher statistical efficiency. A total of 132 quantitative trait genes (QTG) were identified for the 20 traits from HAU maize dataset and one trait of AP maize.
Does the Floral Nectary in Dracocephalum moldavica L. Produce Nectar and Essential Oil? Structure and Histochemistry of the Nectary
Authors: Konarska Agata , Weryszko-Chmielewska Elżbieta , Dmitruk Marta , Sulborska-Różycka Aneta , Piotrowska-Weryszko Krystyna
Published: November 2022

Dracocephalum moldavica is an aromatic plant with a lemon scent and versatile use. Its flowers produce large amounts of nectar, which is collected by bees and bumblebees. The aim of the study was to investigate the structure of the floral nectary in this melliferous plant, which has not been analysed to date. The analyses were carried out with the use of light, fluorescence, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy, as well as histochemical techniques. The four-lobed nectary with a diameter of 0.9–1.2 mm and a maximum height of 1.2 mm is located at the ovary base; one of its lobes is larger than the others and bears 20–30 nectarostomata and 8–9 glandular trichomes. The histochemical assays revealed the presence of essential oil and phenolic compounds in the nectary tissues and in glandular trichomes. The nectary tissues are supplied by xylem- and phloem-containing vascular bundles. The nectariferous parenchyma cells have numerous mitochondria, plastids, ribosomes, dictyosomes, ER profiles, vesicles, thin cell walls, and plasmodesmata. Starch grains are present only in the tissues of nectaries in floral buds. The study showed high metabolic activity of D. moldavica nectary glands, i.e., production of not only nectar but also essential oil, which may increase the attractiveness of the flowers to pollinators, inhibit the growth of fungal and bacterial pathogens, and limit pest foraging.
Differential Recruitment of DNA Repair Proteins KU70/80 and RAD51 upon Microbeam Irradiation with α-Particles
Authors: Bobyk Laure , Vianna François , Martinez Juan S. , Gruel Gaëtan , Benderitter Marc , Baldeyron Céline
Published: November 2022

In addition to representing a significant part of the natural background radiation exposure, α-particles are thought to be a powerful tool for targeted radiotherapy treatments. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of recognition, signaling, and repair of α-particle-induced DNA damage is not only important in assessing the risk associated with human exposure, but can also potentially help in identifying ways of improving the efficacy of radiation treatment. α-particles (He2+ ions), as well as other types of ionizing radiation, and can cause a wide variety of DNA lesions, including DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). In mammalian cells, DNA DSBs can be repaired by two major pathways: non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Here, we investigated their dynamics in mouse NIH-3T3 cells through the recruitment of key proteins, such as the KU heterodimer for NHEJ and RAD51 for HR upon localized α-particle irradiation. To deliver α-particles, we used the MIRCOM microbeam, which allows targeting of subnuclear structures with submicron accuracy. Using mouse NIH-3T3 cells, we found that the KU heterodimer is recruited much earlier at DNA damage sites marked by H2AX phosphorylation than RAD51. We also observed that the difference in the response of the KU complex and RAD51 is not only in terms of time, but also in function of the chromatin nature. The use of a microbeam such as MIRCOM, represents a powerful tool to study more precisely the cellular response to ionizing irradiation in a spatiotemporal fashion at the molecular level.
Confocal Identification of Immune Molecules in Skin Club Cells of Zebrafish (Danio rerio, Hamilton 1882) and Their Possible Role in Immunity
Authors: Alesci Alessio , Albano Marco , Savoca Serena , Mokhtar Doaa M. , Fumia Angelo , Aragona Marialuisa , Lo Cascio Patrizia , Hussein Marwa M. , Capillo Gioele , Pergolizzi Simona , Spanò Nunziacarla , Lauriano Eugenia Rita
Published: November 2022

The immune system of a fish has cellular and molecular defense mechanisms that are substantially retained throughout the evolution of vertebrates. The innate immune system provides biological processes, such as phagocytosis and mechanical barriers, to implement an efficient defensive response after exposure to chemical or biological contaminants, pollutants, and contact with parasites, germs, and pathogens. Club cells (CCs) are widespread in the skin of Ostariophysi. After a predator attack or exposure to toxins and parasites, these cells can produce alarming substances. Given their effectiveness against viruses, parasites, and common skin lesions, recent studies have suggested that CCs are a component of the immune system. This study aims to immunohistochemically characterize the CCs for the first time in the skin of zebrafish, using mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, Toll-like receptor (TLR)2, Piscidin1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) peptides involved in the function of all types of vertebrate immune cells. According to our analysis, the intermediate layer of the epidermis exhibited rounded, oval, and elongated CCs, with central acidophilic cytoplasm and a spherical basophilic nucleus, that are positive to the antibodies tested. Our results may confirm that CCs could be involved in the immune function, increasing our knowledge of the immune system of teleosts.
An Effective Ensemble Machine Learning Approach to Classify Breast Cancer Based on Feature Selection and Lesion Segmentation Using Preprocessed Mammograms
Authors: Rafid A. K. M. Rakibul Haque , Azam Sami , Montaha Sidratul , Karim Asif , Fahim Kayes Uddin , Hasan Md. Zahid
Published: November 2022

Background: Breast cancer, behind skin cancer, is the second most frequent malignancy among women, initiated by an unregulated cell division in breast tissues. Although early mammogram screening and treatment result in decreased mortality, differentiating cancer cells from surrounding tissues are often fallible, resulting in fallacious diagnosis. Method: The mammography dataset is used to categorize breast cancer into four classes with low computational complexity, introducing a feature extraction-based approach with machine learning (ML) algorithms. After artefact removal and the preprocessing of the mammograms, the dataset is augmented with seven augmentation techniques. The region of interest (ROI) is extracted by employing several algorithms including a dynamic thresholding method. Sixteen geometrical features are extracted from the ROI while eleven ML algorithms are investigated with these features. Three ensemble models are generated from these ML models employing the stacking method where the first ensemble model is built by stacking ML models with an accuracy of over 90% and the accuracy thresholds for generating the rest of the ensemble models are >95% and >96. Five feature selection methods with fourteen configurations are applied to notch up the performance. Results: The Random Forest Importance algorithm, with a threshold of 0.045, produces 10 features that acquired the highest performance with 98.05% test accuracy by stacking Random Forest and XGB classifier, having a higher than >96% accuracy. Furthermore, with K-fold cross-validation, consistent performance is observed across all K values ranging from 3–30. Moreover, the proposed strategy combining image processing, feature extraction and ML has a proven high accuracy in classifying breast cancer.