bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Multi-Parameter Estimation of Inertial Stabilization Platform with Unknown Load
Authors: Zheng Jieji , Xie Xin , Li Baoyu , Wan Ziping , Chen Ning , Fan Dapeng
Published: April 2023

In order to improve the state monitoring and adaptive control capability of inertial stabilization platforms (ISPs) with unknown loads, it is necessary to estimate the dynamic parameters comprehensively online. However, most current online estimation methods regard the system as a linear dual-inertia model which neglects the backlash and nonlinear friction torque. It reduces the accuracy of the model and leads to incomplete and low accuracy of the estimated parameters. The purpose of this research is to achieve a comprehensive and accurate online estimation of multiple parameters of ISPs and lay a foundation for state monitoring and adaptive control of ISPs. First, a dual-inertia model containing backlash and nonlinear friction torque of the motor and load is established. Then, the auto-regressive moving average (ARMA) model of the motor and load is established by the forward Euler method, which clearly expresses the online identification formula of the parameters. On this basis, the adaptive identification method based on the recursive extended least squares (RELS) algorithm is used to realize the online estimation of multiple parameters. The simulation and experimental results show that the proposed adaptive multi-parameter estimation method can realize the simultaneous online identification of the moment of inertia of the load, the damping coefficient of motor and load, the transmission stiffness, the Coulomb friction torque of motor and load, and the backlash, and the steady-state error is less than 10%. Compared with the traditional linear dual-inertia model, the similarity between the model based on the proposed adaptive parameter estimation algorithm and the actual system is increased by 65.3%.
An Analysis of Eco-Innovation Capabilities among Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia
Authors: Sukri Najahul Kamilah Aminy , Zulkiffli Siti Nur ‘Atikah , Mat Nik Hazimah Nik , Omar Khatijah , Mawardi Mukhammad Kholid , Zaidi Nur Farah Zafira
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study is to look at how Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are applying eco-innovation capabilities in order to sustain their business performance. Eco-innovation capabilities are represented in this study by five different types of practices, with the indication of unexpected circumstances: eco-product innovation, eco-process innovation, eco-organisational innovation, eco-marketing innovation, and eco-technology innovation. The qualitative research approach was used in the study, and the content analysis was based on in-depth interviews with six top-level managers/owners of Malaysian manufacturing SMEs. According to the data, more than half of SMEs acquired eco-innovation capabilities in order to continue their business performance and thrive in the business sector, while having to confront certain hurdles due to unforeseen situations. According to the findings, eco-innovation capabilities encourage SMEs to engage in waste management, recycling or reusing resources, research and development, sustainable goods that utilize customer requests, and the use of environment management machines. Thus, the findings of this study may aid the efforts of government agencies, policymakers, and top-tier manufacturing SMEs in building an exceptional innovation platform on which SMEs may rely for assistance and support in preserving their business performance in the future and beyond.
Occurrence of Coliforms and Enterococcus Species in Drinking Water Samples Obtained from Selected Dairy Cattle Farms in Portugal
Authors: Soares Ana Sofia , Miranda Carla , Coelho Ana Claudia , Trindade Henrique
Published: April 2023

Microbial water quality is a major concern in the world, since the ingestion of water contaminated with microorganisms poses risks to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of drinking water on dairy cattle farms. The study was carried out to determine the occurrence of coliforms and enterococcus species in drinking water samples obtained from selected dairy cattle farms located in four different areas of Portugal (north, central, south and islands). A questionnaire was used to collect relevant information regarding farmer demographics, characteristics of the cattle farms, as well as number of animals per herd, number of adult cows, production type, water source, use of disinfectants and pasture area. In this study, a convenience sample of 32 dairy cattle farms was subjected to screening for water quality. The numbers of animals in the study were 8086 cattle, with a mean herd size of 253, of which 51.7% were cows. Coliform and enterococcus bacterial species were identified by performing the membrane filtration method. The occurrence of poor water quality was recorded in 19 (59.4%) cattle farms. Isolated bacteria included Escherichia coli (20.0%), Enterococcus faecalis (25.0%), total coliforms (65.6%) and fecal coliforms (43.8%). Farms that did not routinely perform disinfection had the worst water quality (70.8%) when compared with farms that performed disinfection (25.0%) (p = 0.022). This research revealed the importance of screening the quality of drinking water on cattle farms, which could contribute to improved animal, human and environmental health in a One Heath approach.
Comparison of Biochar- and Lime-Adjusted pH Changes in N2O Emissions and Associated Microbial Communities in a Tropical Tea Plantation Soil
Authors: Wang Ziwei , Liu Shuoran , Ruan Yunze , Wang Qing , Zhang Zhijun
Published: April 2023

The use of biochar and lime (CaO) is a common approach to mitigating soil acidification. However, little is known about how biochar and lime amendments impact N2O emissions and potential microbial mechanisms. We conducted a 45-day microcosm incubation experiment to examine N2O emission and associated functional guilds to biochar and lime amendment in an acidic tea plantation soil. Results show that lime and biochar treatments significantly reduced cumulative N2O emissions by 49.69% and 63.01%, respectively, while significantly increasing cumulative CO2 emissions by 27.51% and 19.35%, respectively. Additionally, lime and biochar treatments significantly decreased the abundances of bacterial nirK, nirS, nosZ and fungal nirK genes, while increasing that of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and the complete ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (comammox) amoA genes. The stimulated or inhibitory effects of biochar on functional genes abundances were higher than lime. The N2O emission rate was positively linked with the abundance of the fungal nirK gene but was negatively correlated with AOB and comammox amoA genes abundances. The random forest and linear regression analysis revealed that fungal denitrifiers were the most important predictors of N2O emissions. Lime and biochar amendments reduced the alpha diversity and altered the community composition of nirK-harboring fungal denitrifiers. Ascomycota was the dominant fungal denitrifiers belonging to the families Nectriaceae, Aspergillaceae, and Chaetomiaceae, and the relative abundances of genera Chaetomium, Penicillium and Fusarium were positively correlated with N2O emissions. Overall, our findings suggest that biochar is more effective than lime in reducing N2O emissions, and this is likely due to the powerful effects it has on community traits of nirK-harboring fungal denitrifiers.
Potential of Moisture Conservation Practices to Improve Soil Properties and Nutrient Status of Robusta Coffee Plant
Authors: Kobusinge Judith , Gabiri Geofrey , Kagezi Godfrey H. , Sseremba Godfrey , Nakitende Alice , Arinaitwe Geofrey , Twesigye Charles K.
Published: April 2023

Soil moisture conservation practices (SMCPs) have been adopted in Uganda to adapt to the effects of climate variability. However, limited information exists on how conservation measures influence the physico-chemical properties of soil and coffee leaf nutrient concentrations. Thus, we determined the effects of selected SMCPs on the soil physio-chemical properties and leaf nutrient concentrations in Robusta coffee in a randomized incomplete block design, replicated three times, in Kituza, Uganda. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm and 20 to 40 cm depths, and analyzed in the laboratory following standard procedures for selected physio-chemical properties. Coffee leaf samples were picked from each treatment (open sun coffee (COSS), coffee cover crop, Desmodium intortum (CCS), coffee mulch, Miscanthidium violoceum (CMS), and coffee A. coriaria (ACS)). Bulk density was significantly (p < 0.001) the highest under ACS (1.61 gcm−3) and lowest under CCS (1.29 gcm−3), and it significantly (p < 0.001) increased with depth. The soil organic matter was higher than the optimum range of 1–3% at the 0–20 cm depth across different SMCPs, but within the optimum range at the 20–40 cm depth. Leaf nitrogen was significantly the highest under ACS (3.19%) and lowest under COSS (2.30%). Overall, the findings suggest that SMCPs improve the soil physio-chemical attributes and leaf nutrients for sustainable coffee productivity. However, ACS improved the leaf plant nutrition better compared to other SMCPs.
Physiological Benefits of Dietary Lysophospholipid Supplementation in a Marine Fish Model: Deep Analyses of Modes of Action
Authors: Ibarz Antoni , Sanahuja Ignasi , Nuez-Ortín Waldo G. , Martínez-Rubio Laura , Fernández-Alacid Laura
Published: April 2023

Given the hydrophilic structure of lysophospholipids (LPLs), their dietary inclusion translates into a better emulsifying capacity of the dietary components. The present study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the growth-promoting effect of LPL supplementation by undertaking deep analyses of the proximal intestine and liver interactomes. The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was selected as the main aquaculture species model. The animals were divided into two groups: one was fed a control diet (C-diet) and the other a feed (LPL-diet) supplemented with an LPL-based digestive enhancer (0.1% AQUALYSO®, Adisseo). The LPL-diet had a positive effect on the fish by increasing the final weight by 5% and reducing total serum lipids, mainly due to a decrease in the plasma phospholipid (p < 0.05). In the intestine, the upregulated interactome suggests a more robust digestive capacity, improving vesicle-trafficking-related proteins, complex sugar hydrolysis, and lipid metabolism. In the liver, the LPL-diet promotes better nutrients, increasing several metabolic pathways. The downregulation of the responses to stress and stimuli could be related to a reduced proinflammatory state. This study on the benefits and modes of action of dietary LPLs opens a new window into fish nutrition and could be extended to other productive species.
Nutritional Strategies to Improve Meat Quality and Composition in the Challenging Conditions of Broiler Production: A Review
Authors: Choi Janghan , Kong Byungwhi , Bowker Brian C. , Zhuang Hong , Kim Woo Kyun
Published: April 2023

Poultry meat is becoming one of the most important animal protein sources for human beings in terms of health benefits, cost, and production efficiency. Effective genetic selection and nutritional programs have dramatically increased meat yield and broiler production efficiency. However, modern practices in broiler production result in unfavorable meat quality and body composition due to a diverse range of challenging conditions, including bacterial and parasitic infection, heat stress, and the consumption of mycotoxin and oxidized oils. Numerous studies have demonstrated that appropriate nutritional interventions have improved the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. Modulating nutritional composition [e.g., energy and crude protein (CP) levels] and amino acids (AA) levels has altered the meat quality and body composition of broiler chickens. The supplementation of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, exogenous enzymes, plant polyphenol compounds, and organic acids, has improved meat quality and changed the body composition of broiler chickens.
Morula Kernel Cake (Sclerocarya birrea) as a Protein Source in Diets of Finishing Tswana Lambs: Effects on Nutrient Digestibility, Growth, Meat Quality, and Gross Margin
Authors: Baleseng Leonard , Madibela Othusitse , Tsopito Christopher , Mareko Molebeledi , Boitumelo Wame , Letso Moagi
Published: April 2023

A trial evaluated growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic returns of fattened lambs fed on diets containing different protein sources. Six castrated male Tswana lambs per treatment were used in a completely randomised design (CRD) trial and fed on complete diets containing Lucerne (CD; commercial diet), morula kernel cake (MKC), or sunflower seedcake (SC) as protein sources over a 103-day experiment. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the dry matter intake, final body weight, average daily gain, and FCR. This was attributable to all the diets providing an equal supply of nutrients to the lambs. Meat quality attributes and proximate composition values were similar (p > 0.05) across the treatments. Longissimus dorsi muscle organoleptic quality did not differ (p > 0.05) across the treatments. The gross margin analysis was significantly greater (p < 0.05) when feeding SCD than feeding CD and was intermediate for lambs fed MKCD. Morula kernel cake (Sclerocarya birrea) can be used for fattening lambs when common protein sources are either not available or expensive.
Peptide-Resorcinarene Conjugates Obtained via Click Chemistry: Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Pineda-Castañeda Héctor Manuel , Maldonado-Villamil Mauricio , Parra-Giraldo Claudia Marcela , Leal-Castro Aura Lucía , Fierro-Medina Ricardo , Rivera-Monroy Zuly Jenny , García-Castañeda Javier Eduardo
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top ten threats to public health, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). One of the causes of the growing AMR problem is the lack of new therapies and/or treatment agents; consequently, many infectious diseases could become uncontrollable. The need to discover new antimicrobial agents that are alternatives to the existing ones and that allow mitigating this problem has increased, due to the rapid and global expansion of AMR. Within this context, both antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cyclic macromolecules, such as resorcinarenes, have been proposed as alternatives to combat AMR. Resorcinarenes present multiple copies of antibacterial compounds in their structure. These conjugate molecules have exhibited antifungal and antibacterial properties and have also been used in anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, and cardiovascular therapies, as well as being useful in drug and gene delivery systems. In this study, it was proposed to obtain conjugates that contain four copies of AMP sequences over a resorcinarene core. Specifically, obtaining (peptide)4-resorcinarene conjugates derived from LfcinB (20–25): RRWQWR and BF (32–34): RLLR was explored. First, the synthesis routes that allowed obtaining: (a) alkynyl-resorcinarenes and (b) peptides functionalized with the azide group were established. These precursors were used to generate (c) (peptide)4-resorcinarene conjugates by azide-alkyne cycloaddition CuAAC, a kind of click chemistry. Finally, the conjugates’ biological activity was evaluated: antimicrobial activity against reference strains and clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi, and the cytotoxic activity over erythrocytes, fibroblast, MCF-7, and HeLa cell lines. Our results allowed establishing a new synthetic route, based on click chemistry, for obtaining macromolecules derived from resorcinarenes functionalized with peptides. Moreover, it was possible to identify promising antimicrobial chimeric molecules that may lead to advances in the development of new therapeutic agents.
Changes in Dietary Inflammatory Index Score over Time and Cancer Development in Rural Post-Menopausal Women
Authors: Jackson Mariah Kay , Lappe Joan , Ma Jihyun , Timmerman Megan , Lyden Elizabeth R. , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Travers Gustafson Dianne , Graeff-Armas Laura , Hanson Corrine
Published: April 2023

Inflammation plays a key role in cancer development. As an important modulator of inflammation, the role of diet should be explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between diets with a higher inflammatory potential, as measured by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and cancer development in a cohort of rural post-menopausal women. Dietary intake from a randomized controlled trial cohort of rural, post-menopausal women in Nebraska was used to compute energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM) scores at baseline and four years later (visit 9). A linear mixed model analysis and multivariate logistic regression evaluated the association between E-DII scores (baseline, visit 9, change score) and cancer status. Of 1977 eligible participants, those who developed cancer (n = 91, 4.6%) had a significantly larger, pro-inflammatory change in E-DII scores (Non-cancer: Δ 0.19 ± 1.43 vs. Cancer: Δ 0.55 ± 1.43, p = 0.02). After adjustment, odds of cancer development were over 20% higher in those with a larger change (more pro-inflammatory) in E-DII scores than those with smaller E-DII changes (OR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.02, 1.42], p = 0.02). Shifting to a more pro-inflammatory diet pattern over four years was associated with increased odds of cancer development, but not with E-DII at baseline or visit 9 alone.
Nuciferine Effectively Protects Mice against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Zhou Zixiong , Qi Jing , Wu Yajiao , Li Chutao , Bao Wenqiang , Lin Xiaohuang , Zhu An
Published: April 2023

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose still poses a major clinical challenge and is a leading cause of acute liver injury (ALI). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the only approved antidote to treat APAP toxicity while NAC therapy can trigger side effects including severe vomiting and even shock. Thus, new insights in developing novel therapeutic drugs may pave the way for better treatment of APAP poisoning. Previous research has reported that nuciferine (Nuci) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was proposed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Nuci and explore its underlying mechanisms. Mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with APAP (300 mg/kg) and subsequently injected with Nuci (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) at 30 min after APAP overdose. Then, all mice were sacrificed at 12 h after APAP challenge for further analysis. Nuci-treated mice did not show any side effects and our results revealed that treating Nuci significantly attenuated APAP-induced ALI, as confirmed by histopathological examinations, biochemical analysis, and diminished hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation. The in silico prediction and mRNA-sequencing analysis were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of Nuci. GO and KEGG enrichment of the predicted target proteins of Nuci includes reactive oxygen species, drug metabolism of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, and autophagy. Furthermore, the mRNA-sequencing analyses indicated that Nuci can regulate glutathione metabolic processes and anti-inflammatory responses. Consistently, we found that Nuci increased the hepatic glutathione restoration but decreased APAP protein adducts in damaged livers. Western blot analysis further confirmed that Nuci effectively promoted hepatic autophagy in APAP-treated mice. However, Nuci could not affect the expression levels of the main CYP450 enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2E1, and CYP3A11). These results demonstrated that Nuci may be a potential therapeutic drug for APAP-induced ALI via amelioration of the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, regulation of APAP metabolism, and activation of autophagy.
A Study on the Planarian Model Confirms the Antioxidant Properties of Tameron against X-ray- and Menadione-Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: Tsarkova Elena , Filippova Kristina , Afanasyeva Vera , Ermakova Olga , Kolotova Anastasia , Blagodatski Artem , Ermakov Artem
Published: April 2023

Ionizing radiation and radiation-related oxidative stress are two important factors responsible for the death of actively proliferating cells, thus drastically reducing the regeneration capacity of living organisms. Planarian flatworms are freshwater invertebrates that are rich in stem cells called neoblasts and, therefore, present a well-established model for studies on regeneration and the testing of novel antioxidant and radioprotective substances. In this work, we tested an antiviral and antioxidant drug Tameron (Monosodium α-Luminol or 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione sodium salt) for its ability to reduce the harm of X-ray- and chemically induced oxidative stress on a planarian model. Our study has revealed the ability of Tameron to effectively protect planarians from oxidative stress while enhancing their regenerative capacity by modulating the expression of neoblast marker genes and NRF-2-controlled oxidative stress response genes.
A Dynamic In Vitro Model for Testing Intestinal Absorption of Different Vegetable Food Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Colombo Raffaella , Paolillo Mayra , Papetti Adele
Published: April 2023

Cell-based bioreactors are important tools for evaluating molecule absorption in dynamic conditions, simulating simil-physiological flow, transport, and biological barriers. They allow for absorption and metabolization studies to be performed, obtaining very predictive data of in vivo conditions. In this paper, a new dynamic model is proposed to evaluate the intestinal absorption and toxicity of different vegetable food secondary metabolites, by using a LiveFlow® bioreactor. Different food secondary metabolites, such as caffeic, quinic, and rosmarinic acids, quercetin, and rutin, belonging to the polyphenols class, were selected. The aim was to study their different intestinal absorptions in order to validate this new system as an alternative strategy or a more advanced method compared to conventional culture systems for absorption screening and testing. The molecule absorption and the potential generation of metabolites were evaluated by RP-HPLC-DAD. This new dynamic platform represents a promising in vitro methodology which can provide more information than the traditional static in vitro approaches, and an efficient alternative to animal models, at least in preliminary experiments.
Cross-Domain Access Control Model in Industrial IoT Environment
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Wu Xu , Wei Shuang
Published: April 2023

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) accelerates smart manufacturing and boosts production efficiency through heterogeneous industrial equipment, intelligent sensors, and actuators. The Industrial Internet of Things is transforming from a traditional factory model to a new manufacturing mode, which allows cross-domain data-sharing among multiple system departments to enable smart manufacturing. A complete industrial product comes from the combined efforts of many different departments. Therefore, secure and reliable cross-domain access control has become the key to ensuring the security of cross-domain communication and resource-sharing. Traditional centralized access control schemes are prone to single-point failure problems. Recently, many researchers have integrated blockchain technology into access control models. However, most blockchain-based approaches use a single-chain structure, which has weak data management capability and scalability, while ensuring system security, and low access control efficiency, making it difficult to meet the needs of multi-domain cooperation in IIoT scenarios. Therefore, this paper proposes a decentralized cross-domain access model based on a master–slave chain with high scalability. Moreover, the model ensures the security and reliability of the master chain through a reputation-based node selection mechanism. Access control efficiency is improved by a grouping strategy retrieval method in the access control process. The experimental benchmarks of the proposed scheme use various performance metrics to highlight its applicability in the IIoT environment. The results show an 82% improvement in the throughput for the master–slave chain structure over the single-chain structure. There is also an improvement in the throughput and latency compared to the results of other studies.
Study on the Control Parameter of the Complex Underground Space Engineering Based on the Complementary Energy Principle with Mixed Variables
Authors: Li Ying , Liao Hongjian
Published: April 2023

The control parameter of the complex underground space structure with the Track Panel Tunnel and wall columns was studied. An analysis method of the control parameter was established based on the complementary energy principle with mixed variables. The general analytical solution of the structure under the trapezoidal load was obtained. Then, the correctness of the solution was verified by two-dimensional finite element simulation. The three-dimensional global model is built to analyze models with different story heights, the distance of two adjacent wall columns, and the thickness of the earth covering; the consequences prove the assumptions’ rationality and the engineering applicability of the analytical solution. The sensitive region of the control parameter is found through the analytical solution, which is meaningful in determining the reasonable stiffness ratio of column and beam for structural design optimization with cost savings. It can be the reference for complex underground space engineering designs.
A Fountain of Fire: Idolatry, Alterity, and Ethnicity in Byzantine Book Illumination
Authors: Gasbarri Giovanni
Published: April 2023

This article examines the visual representation of pagan idols in Byzantine book illumination and investigates how such images were employed to convey a sense of geographical or ethnic distance. The main focus of this study is a group of illuminated manuscripts containing two of the most popular texts in the Byzantine world: Barlaam and Ioasaph and the Alexander Romance. These manuscripts include numerous representations of statuary that Byzantine readers would have easily recognized as being associated with the religious practices and superstitions of distant and foreign populations, thereby reinforcing their own self-identification with “civilized” characters. Through a comparative analysis of manuscripts such as Athon. Iviron 463 (Barlaam and Ioasaph) and Venice, Istituto Ellenico cod. 5 (Alexander Romance), this article explores the variety of iconographic solutions adopted by Byzantine artists to enhance the “ethnographic” function of idol images. A close examination of these solutions sheds new light on how visual narratives contributed to the construction of notions of identity, otherness, and ethnicity in Byzantium.
Future Projection of Drought Risk over Indian Meteorological Subdivisions Using Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Scenarios
Authors: Soni Anil Kumar , Tripathi Jayant Nath , Tewari Mukul , Sateesh M. , Singh Tarkeshwar
Published: April 2023

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of extreme events, especially drought and wet events, spanning over the past years, evaluating their trends over time. An investigation of future projections under various scenarios such as SSP-126, SS-245, and SSP-585 for the near (2023–2048), mid (2049–2074), and far future (2075–2100) using the bias-corrected Coupled Model Intercomparisons Project 6 (CMIP6) multi-model ensemble method was also performed. The Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), a simple yet incredibly sensitive tool for measuring changes in drought, is utilized in this study, providing a valuable assessment of drought conditions across multiple timescales. The historical analysis shows that there is a significant increase in drought frequency in subdivisions such as East MP, Chhattisgarh, East UP, East Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Rayalaseema over the past decades. Our findings from a meticulous examination of historical rainfall trends spanning from 1951 to 2022 show a noticeable decline in rainfall across various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Marathwada, and north-eastern states, with a concurrent increase in rainfall over areas such as Gujarat, adjoining regions of West MP and East Rajasthan, and South Interior Karnataka. The future projection portrays an unpredictable pattern of extreme events, including droughts and wet events, with indications that wet frequency is set to increase under extreme SSP scenarios, particularly over time, while highlighting the susceptibility of the northwest and south peninsula regions to a higher incidence of drought events in the near future. Analyzing the causes of the increase in drought frequency is crucial to mitigate its worst impacts, and recent experiences of drought consequences can help in effective planning and decision-making, requiring appropriate mitigation strategies in the vulnerable subdivisions.
Climatological Study of Air Pollutant Emissions in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Mutairi Motirh , Al-Otaibi Nahaa , Saber Amgad , Abdel Basset Heshmat , Morsy Mostafa
Published: April 2023

This study aims to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution, variation, abrupt change, and long-term trends of major pollutant emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) over the period 1960–2020 using the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC)/CityZEN EU projects (MACCity) emissions dataset inventory. These pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC). Seven stations were selected (Al-Bahah, Abha, Dahra, Jeddah, Riyadh, Qassim, and Ahsa), which correspond to the highest (hotspot) annual pollutant emissions. The annual cycle analysis of the six pollutant emissions revealed that there are four distinct patterns; the first one has one interannual wave while the other three patterns have two interannual waves. The analysis of the different sectors’ contributions to pollutant emissions revealed that the energy, transportation, and industries sectors have the highest percentage contributions. Significant abrupt change points were detected in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010. The development and growth rates in the KSA starting from the early 1970s are attributed to the oil boom. The great increase in pollutant emissions in the early 1980s followed by that in the 1990s up to 2000 is due to an increase in fossil fuel demand, industries, transportation, and energy consumption.
Dynamics of a Double-Impulsive Control Model of Integrated Pest Management Using Perturbation Methods and Floquet Theory
Authors: Al Basir Fahad , Chowdhury Jahangir , Torres Delfim F. M.
Published: April 2023

We formulate an integrated pest management model to control natural pests of the crop through the periodic application of biopesticide and chemical pesticides. In a theoretical analysis of the system pest eradication, a periodic solution is found and established. All the system variables are proved to be bounded. Our main goal is then to ensure that pesticides are optimized, in terms of pesticide concentration and pesticide application frequency, and that the optimum combination of pesticides is found to provide the most benefit to the crop. By using Floquet theory and the small amplitude perturbation method, we prove that the pest eradication periodic solution is locally and globally stable. The acquired results establish a threshold time limit for the impulsive release of various controls as well as some valid theoretical conclusions for effective pest management. Furthermore, after a numerical comparison, we conclude that integrated pest management is more effective than single biological or chemical controls. Finally, we illustrate the analytical results through numerical simulations.
A Multi-Modal Entity Alignment Method with Inter-Modal Enhancement
Authors: Yuan Song , Lu Zexin , Li Qiyuan , Gu Jinguang
Published: April 2023

Due to inter-modal effects hidden in multi-modalities and the impact of weak modalities on multi-modal entity alignment, a Multi-modal Entity Alignment Method with Inter-modal Enhancement (MEAIE) is proposed. This method introduces a unique modality called numerical modality in the modal aspect and applies a numerical feature encoder to encode it. In the feature embedding stage, this paper utilizes visual features to enhance entity relation representation and influence entity attribute weight distribution. Then, this paper introduces attention layers and contrastive learning to strengthen inter-modal effects and mitigate the impact of weak modalities. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, experiments are conducted on three public datasets: FB15K, DB15K, and YG15K. By combining the datasets in pairs, compared with the current state-of-the-art multi-modal entity alignment models, the proposed model achieves a 2% and 3% improvement in Top-1 Hit Rate(Hit@1) and Mean Reciprocal Rank (MRR), demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness.
β-Glucosidase and Its Application in Bioconversion of Ginsenosides in Panax ginseng
Authors: Tran Thi Ngoc Anh , Son Jin-Sung , Awais Muhammad , Ko Jae-Heung , Yang Deok Chun , Jung Seok-Kyu
Published: April 2023

Ginsenosides are a group of bioactive compounds isolated from Panax ginseng. Conventional major ginsenosides have a long history of use in traditional medicine for both illness prevention and therapy. Bioconversion processes have the potential to create new and valuable products in pharmaceutical and biological activities, making them both critical for research and highly economic to implement. This has led to an increase in the number of studies that use major ginsenosides as a precursor to generate minor ones using β-glucosidase. Minor ginsenosides may also have useful properties but are difficult to isolate from raw ginseng because of their scarcity. Bioconversion processes have the potential to create novel minor ginsenosides from the more abundant major ginsenoside precursors in a cost-effective manner. While numerous bioconversion techniques have been developed, an increasing number of studies have reported that β-glucosidase can effectively and specifically generate minor ginsenosides. This paper summarizes the probable bioconversion mechanisms of two protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) types. Other high-efficiency and high-value bioconversion processes using complete proteins isolated from bacterial biomass or recombinant enzymes are also discussed in this article. This paper also discusses the various conversion and analysis methods and their potential applications. Overall, this paper offers theoretical and technical foundations for future studies that will be both scientifically and economically significant.
Dihydrotestosterone, and Not Testosterone, Enhances the LPS-Induced Inflammatory Cytokine Gene Expression in Human Adipocytes
Authors: Di Vincenzo Angelo , Granzotto Marnie , Crescenzi Marika , Vindigni Vincenzo , Vettor Roberto , Rossato Marco
Published: April 2023

Background: The development of obesity-related complications lies in the low-grade inflammatory state consequent to adipocyte dysfunction. The direct involvement of sex hormones in adipose tissue inflammation has been previously suggested, but the evidence is scarce. In this study, we evaluated the effects of sex steroids on the in-vitroexpression of inflammatory mediators in human-derived adipocytes before and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Methods: Human adipocytes were differentiated from the vascular stromal fraction of adipose tissue samples of subjects undergoing abdominoplasty. We evaluated MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α gene expression in the presence of the main sex steroids, testosterone (T), and 17β-estradiol (E). Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of adipocytes exposure to the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), together with the effects of adipocytes pre-incubation with the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole alone (A), and in combination with T (A/T) before incubation with LPS. Results: DHT, but not T, significantly enhanced the LPSinduction of MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Intriguingly, the exposure of adipocytes with A/T dramatically increased the LPS-induced expression of all considered inflammatory cytokines, even more than a hundred-fold. Conclusions: DHT and A/T dramatically enhance LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression in human-derived adipocytes. These results confirm the involvement of sex hormones in adipose tissue inflammation, suggesting a specific role for non-aromatizable androgens as the amplificatory sex hormones of the inflammatory response.
Apoptosis—50 Years after Its Discovery
Authors: Capela e Silva Fernando , Rodrigues Cecília M. P.
Published: April 2023

Apoptosis is a programmed cell death routine that plays an essential role in several biological processes, namely, embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and immune response [...]
Multistrategy-Boosted Carnivorous Plant Algorithm: Performance Analysis and Application in Engineering Designs
Authors: Peng Min , Jing Wenlong , Yang Jianwei , Hu Gang
Published: April 2023

Many pivotal and knotty engineering problems in practical applications boil down to optimization problems, which are difficult to resolve using traditional mathematical optimization methods. Metaheuristics are efficient algorithms for solving complex optimization problems while keeping computational costs reasonable. The carnivorous plant algorithm (CPA) is a newly proposed metaheuristic algorithm, inspired by its foraging strategies of attraction, capture, digestion, and reproduction. However, the CPA is not without its shortcomings. In this paper, an enhanced multistrategy carnivorous plant algorithm called the UCDCPA is developed. In the proposed framework, a good point set, Cauchy mutation, and differential evolution are introduced to increase the algorithm’s calculation precision and convergence speed as well as heighten the diversity of the population and avoid becoming trapped in local optima. The superiority and practicability of the UCDCPA are illustrated by comparing its experimental results with several algorithms against the CEC2014 and CEC2017 benchmark functions, and five engineering designs. Additionally, the results of the experiment are analyzed again from a statistical point of view using the Friedman and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. The findings show that these introduced strategies provide some improvements in the performance of the CPA, and the accuracy and stability of the optimization results provided by the proposed UCDCPA are competitive against all algorithms. To conclude, the proposed UCDCPA offers a good alternative to solving optimization issues.
An Electrochemical o-Phthalaldehyde Sensor Using a Modified Disposable Screen-Printed Electrode with Polyacrylate Hydrogel for Concentration Verification of Clinical Disinfectant
Authors: Chen Richie L. C. , Hsieh Bo-Chuan , Lin Jia-Sin , Cheng Tzong-Jih
Published: April 2023

The study proposes an o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) sensor for rapid and reliable detection of OPA in healthcare disinfection practices, based on a hydrogel-modified screen-printed carbon electrode strip. The hydrogel film, which contains glycine and N-acetylcysteine, reacts with OPA to produce a reductive isoindole derivative. The derivative is then oxidized for OPA determination using cyclic voltammetry. The proposed sensor achieves an optimal detection time of 20–30 s and requires only a small analyte volume of 5 µL. It exhibits good precision (10%) and sensitivity (3.3 μA/cm2 mM) in a phosphate-buffered solution (pH 7.6), with excellent linearity (R2 > 0.97) and precision (<3%) in the detection range (0.2–0.6%) required for clinical OPA solutions. Moreover, the sensor demonstrates good concentration verification of Cidex-OPA disinfection in healthcare institutes, with high sensitivity (18.28 μA/cm2 mM) and precision around the minimum effective concentration (0.3%). Overall, the proposed sensor offers a promising and practical solution for accurate and reliable OPA detection in clinical disinfection practices.
Conductive Ink-Coated Paper-Based Supersandwich DNA Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Gupta Niharika , Kumar D. , Das Asmita , Sood Seema , Malhotra Bansi D.
Published: April 2023

Herein, we report results of the studies relating to the development of an impedimetric, magnetic bead-assisted supersandwich DNA hybridization assay for ultrasensitive detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of a sexually transmitted infection (STI), gonorrhea. First, a conductive ink was formulated by homogenously dispersing carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs) in a stable emulsion of terpineol and an aqueous suspension of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The ink, labeled C5, was coated onto paper substrates to fabricate C5@paper conductive electrodes. Thereafter, a magnetic bead (MB)-assisted supersandwich DNA hybridization assay was optimized against the porA pseudogene of N. gonorrhoeae. For this purpose, a pair of specific 5′ aminated capture probes (SCP) and supersandwich detector probes (SDP) was designed, which allowed the enrichment of target gonorrheal DNA sequence from a milieu of substances. The SD probe was designed such that instead of 1:1 binding, it allowed the binding of more than one T strand, leading to a ‘ladder-like’ DNA supersandwich structure. The MB-assisted supersandwich assay was integrated into the C5@paper electrodes for electrochemical analysis. The C5@paper electrodes were found to be highly conductive by a four-probe conductivity method (maximum conductivity of 10.1 S·cm−1). Further, the biosensing assay displayed a wide linear range of 100 aM-100 nM (109 orders of magnitude) with an excellent sensitivity of 22.6 kΩ·(log[concentration])−1. The clinical applicability of the biosensing assay was assessed by detecting genomic DNA extracted from N. gonorrhoeae in the presence of DNA from different non-gonorrheal bacterial species. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a highly sensitive, cost-effective, and label-free paper-based device for STI diagnostics. The ink formulation prepared for the study was found to be highly thixotropic, which indicates that the paper electrodes can be screen-printed in a reproducible and scalable manner.
Discriminating Paradoxical and Psychophysiological Insomnia Based on Structural and Functional Brain Images: A Preliminary Machine Learning Study
Authors: Afshani Mortaza , Mahmoudi-Aznaveh Ahmad , Noori Khadijeh , Rostampour Masoumeh , Zarei Mojtaba , Spiegelhalder Kai , Khazaie Habibolah , Tahmasian Masoud
Published: April 2023

Insomnia disorder (ID) is a prevalent mental illness. Several behavioral and neuroimaging studies suggested that ID is a heterogenous condition with various subtypes. However, neurobiological alterations in different subtypes of ID are poorly understood. We aimed to assess whether unimodal and multimodal whole-brain neuroimaging measurements can discriminate two commonly described ID subtypes (i.e., paradoxical and psychophysiological insomnia) from each other and healthy subjects. We obtained T1-weighted images and resting-state fMRI from 34 patients with ID and 48 healthy controls. The outcome measures were grey matter volume, cortical thickness, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, degree centrality, and regional homogeneity. Subsequently, we applied support vector machines to classify subjects via unimodal and multimodal measures. The results of the multimodal classification were superior to those of unimodal approaches, i.e., we achieved 81% accuracy in separating psychophysiological vs. control, 87% for paradoxical vs. control, and 89% for paradoxical vs. psychophysiological insomnia. This preliminary study provides evidence that structural and functional brain data can help to distinguish two common subtypes of ID from each other and healthy subjects. These initial findings may stimulate further research to identify the underlying mechanism of each subtype and develop personalized treatments for ID in the future.
Effect of Post-COVID-19 on Brain Volume and Glucose Metabolism: Influence of Time Since Infection and Fatigue Status
Authors: Deters Justin R. , Fietsam Alexandra C. , Gander Phillip E. , Boles Ponto Laura L. , Rudroff Thorsten
Published: April 2023

Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) fatigue is typically most severe <6 months post-infection. Combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the glucose analog [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of PCS on regional brain volumes and metabolism, respectively. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate differences in MRI/PET outcomes between people < 6 months (N = 18, 11 female) and > 6 months (N = 15, 6 female) after COVID-19. The secondary purpose was to assess if any differences in MRI/PET outcomes were associated with fatigue symptoms. Subjects > 6 months showed smaller volumes in the putamen, pallidum, and thalamus compared to subjects < 6 months. In subjects > 6 months, fatigued subjects had smaller volumes in frontal areas compared to non-fatigued subjects. Moreover, worse fatigue was associated with smaller volumes in several frontal areas in subjects > 6 months. The results revealed no brain metabolism differences between subjects > 6 and < 6 months. However, both groups exhibited both regional hypo- and hypermetabolism compared to a normative database. These results suggest that PCS may alter regional brain volumes but not metabolism in people > 6 months, particularly those experiencing fatigue symptoms.
Virtual Reality Training of Social Skills in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Examination of Acceptability, Usability, User Experience, Social Skills, and Executive Functions
Authors: Kourtesis Panagiotis , Kouklari Evangelia-Chrysanthi , Roussos Petros , Mantas Vasileios , Papanikolaou Katerina , Skaloumbakas Christos , Pehlivanidis Artemios
Published: April 2023

Poor social skills in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are associated with reduced independence in daily life. Current interventions for improving the social skills of individuals with ASD fail to represent the complexity of real-life social settings and situations. Virtual reality (VR) may facilitate social skills training in social environments and situations similar to those in real life; however, more research is needed to elucidate aspects such as the acceptability, usability, and user experience of VR systems in ASD. Twenty-five participants with ASD attended a neuropsychological evaluation and three sessions of VR social skills training, which incorporated five social scenarios with three difficulty levels. Participants reported high acceptability, system usability, and user experience. Significant correlations were observed between performance in social scenarios, self-reports, and executive functions. Working memory and planning ability were significant predictors of the functionality level in ASD and the VR system’s perceived usability, respectively. Yet, performance in social scenarios was the best predictor of usability, acceptability, and functionality level. Planning ability substantially predicted performance in social scenarios, suggesting an implication in social skills. Immersive VR social skills training in individuals with ASD appears to be an appropriate service, but an errorless approach that is adaptive to the individual’s needs should be preferred.