bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Change in Normalised Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 2015 to 2021 in Dhofar, Southern Oman in Response to the Climate Change
Authors: Al-Kindi Khalifa M. , Al Nadhairi Rahma , Al Akhzami Suleiman
Published: March 2023

Climate change poses a major threat to vegetation and land cover worldwide. The loss of vegetation as a result of climate change can alter the functions and structure of the environment and its ecological systems. In the first part of this study, Sentinel-2 data, normalised different vegetation index (NDVI), and multiple regression methods were used to examine the impacts of the climatic factors of humidity, rainfall, and air temperature on vegetation dynamics from 2015 to 2021 in Dhofar, Southern Oman. In the second part of this study, random forest regression was employed to model the relationships between the NDVI and temperature, humidity, rainfall, soil map, geology map, topographic wetness index, curvature, elevation, slope, aspect, distance to buildings, and distance to roads. The multiple regression values revealed significant associations between the spatial distributions of the NDVI and the abovementioned climatic factors. The findings also indicated an increase of 1 °C in air temperature fluctuations between 2018 and 2021 over all five sites, with a strong tendency over Qairoon Hairiti Mountain. The rainfall records clearly indicated an increasing tendency from 2018 to 2020 due to the impact of frequent cyclones. Therefore, the results revealed a significant increase of 0.01 in the vegetation cover trend in 2018, 2019, and 2020 along the Sadah Mountain range and the eastern part of the Jabal Qara Mountains under the areas directly impacted by the cyclone, whereas there was a decrease along the western mountain range consisting of Jabal Qara and Jabal Qamar Mountains due to the impact of warm, dry air. The results revealed that NDVI values were sensitive to heavy rainfall over Jabal Samhan Mountain. The 12 variables that influenced NDVI levels had different levels of importance. Soil types, elevation, slope, rainfall, curvature, humidity, and temperature had the highest importance, while topographic wetness index, distance to urban area, aspect, distance to roads, and geology map had the lowest. The findings provide a significant foundation for Oman’s planning and management of regional vegetation, water conservation, and animal husbandry.
Economic Benefits of Using Essential Oils in Food Stimulation Administrated to Bee Colonies
Authors: Pătruică Silvia , Lazăr Roxana Nicoleta , Buzamăt Genoveva , Boldea Marius
Published: March 2023

Bees are the most important pollinators of agricultural plants. The decline of bee colonies is caused by a multitude of factors of which diseases, pesticides, and climate change seem to be the most important. Losses can be huge when several factors act together. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of alternative sources such as medicinal plants in the form of extracts or essential oils. The purpose of our research was to evaluate the economic efficiency of the use of essential oils of basil (Ocimum basilicum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum veruum), clove (Syzgium aromaticum), juniper (Juniperus communis L.), oregano (Oreganum vulgare), mint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) in the additional feeding of bee colonies in the spring. Ninety colonies of Apis mellifera bees were used, which were additionally fed with sugar syrup and one of the essential oils. Our results showed strong positive correlations between the total number of germs in the gut of worker bees and the number of brood cells when using the essential oil of oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R2 = 0.786) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) (R2 = 0.729), and between the total number of germs and the yield of honey obtained at the first harvest in the case of the essential oil of basil (Ocimum basilicum) (R2 = 1), mint (Mentha piperita) (R2 = 0.718), oregano (Oreganum vulgare) (R2 = 0.621), and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L) (R2 = 0.859). The best profit from the sale of honey was obtained in the case of the use of essential oils of mint, oregano, thyme, and basil, in a range of EUR 139.16–144.73/bee colony.
The Role of Somaclonal Variation in Plant Genetic Improvement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ferreira Mileide dos Santos , Rocha Anelita de Jesus , Nascimento Fernanda dos Santos , Oliveira Wanderley Diaciso dos Santos , Soares Julianna Matos da Silva , Rebouças Tamyres Amorim , Morais Lino Lucymeire Souza , Haddad Fernando , Ferreira Claudia Fortes , Santos-Serejo Janay Almeida dos , Fernández Jorge Sandoval , Amorim Edson Perito
Published: March 2023

The instability of in vitro cultures may cause genetic and epigenetic changes in crops called somaclonal variations. Sometimes, these changes produce beneficial effects; for example, they can be used in breeding programs to generate new cultivars with desirable characteristics. In this article, we present a systematic review designed to answer the following question: How does somaclonal variation contribute to plant genetic improvement? Five electronic databases were searched for articles based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria and with a standardized search string. The somaclonal variation technique has been most frequently applied to ornamental plants, with 49 species cited in 48 articles, and to the main agricultural crops, including sugarcane, rice, banana, potato and wheat, in different countries worldwide. In 69 studies, a technique was applied to evaluate the genetic diversity generated between clones, and, in 63 studies, agronomic performance characteristics were evaluated. Other studies are related to resistance to pathogens, ornamental characteristics and resistance to abiotic stresses. The application of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) benzylaminopurine (BAP) and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was the most common method for generating somaclones, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers were the most commonly used markers for identification and characterization. Somaclonal variation has been used in genetic improvement programs for the most economically important crops in the world, generating genetic diversity and supporting the launch of new genotypes resistant to diseases, pests and abiotic stresses. However, much remains to be explored, such as the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms from which somaclonal variation is derived.
The Potential of a Precision Agriculture (PA) Practice for In Situ Evaluation of Herbicide Efficacy and Selectivity in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)
Authors: Kanatas Panagiotis , Gazoulis Ioannis , Antonopoulos Nikolaos , Tataridas Alexandros , Travlos Ilias
Published: March 2023

Precision agriculture (PA) practices based on the use of sensors and vegetation indices have great potential for optimizing herbicide use and improving weed management in field crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of commercial herbicide products and their selectivity in durum wheat by measuring the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Field trials were conducted in Velestino and Kozani, Greece (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) in four site-years with the following treatment list: untreated control (T1), 2,4-D at 300 and 600 g a.e. ha−1 (T2 and T3, respectively), pyroxsulam + florasulam at 18.82 + 3.71 g a.i. ha−1 + cloquintocet-mexyl at 18.82 g a.i. ha−1 (T4), and mesosulfuron-methyl + iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium at 15 + 3 g a.i. ha−1 + mefenpyr-diethyl at 45 g a.i. ha−1 (T5). Site-years and treatments affected weed NDVI, weed biomass, crop NDVI, and grain yield (p ≤ 0.05). At Kozani, weed NDVI was lowest in T4 plots in 2020–2021 (0.31) and 2021–2022 (0.33). Treatments T4 and T5 resulted in lowest weed biomass in 2020-2021 (14–16 g m−2) and 2020-2021 (19–22 g m−2). At Velestino, T3 reduced weed biomass by 92 and 87% when compared to T5 in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively. Approximately, 67% and 73% of the variability in weed biomass in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively, at Kozani could be explained by weed NDVI. These parameters were strongly correlated in Velestino (R2 ≥ 90%). Low crop NDVI at Kozani indicated herbicide injury in T3 plots, confirmed by yield losses. During 2020-2021, yield was 30, 38, and 40% higher in T4 plots than in T2, T1, and T3 plots, respectively. At Velestino, yield in T1 plots was 25, 27, 27, and 29% lower than in T2, T4, T5, and T3 plots, respectively, in 2020–2021. Similar results were obtained in 2021–2022. The current study indicates that NDVI can be used as a reliable, non-subjective indicator of herbicide efficacy and selectivity in winter cereals. The methodology used in this work should also be evaluated in other crops and under different soil and climatic conditions.
Study of the Effects of Different Agronomic Practices on Inorganic Carbon in the Plough Layer of Dryland Field: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Niu Xin , Yu Yanni , Dong Jingyi , Ma Yuanzhang , Wang Lingyan , Dai Wei , Luan Yaning
Published: March 2023

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) is an essential component of the soil carbon pool and plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle and climate change. However, few studies have examined the effects of different agronomic practices on the SIC content. This paper aims to study the effects of different agronomic practices on the SIC content in the 0- to 40-cm soil layer of dryland fields; the innovations are intended to explore the relative importance and synergistic effects of different agronomic practices on the SIC content of the plough layer of dryland fields. We screened out 136 peer-reviewed articles worldwide from 1990–2022, with a total of 2612 valid data pairs, using meta-analysis to assess the effects of different agronomic practices on the SIC content of the plough layer of dryland fields. Compared to conventional tillage (CT), both no-tillage (NT) and plastic film mulching (PM) were able to increase the SIC content in the 0- to 40-cm soil layer of dryland fields. NT increased the SIC content by 15.07 ± 3.48%, while PM gradually increased SIC accumulation as the soil layer deepened, with the greatest increase in SIC content in the 30- to 40-cm soil layer at 11.61 ± 5.89%. When organic manure application (M) and straw return mulching (SM) were applied, the SIC content in the 0- to 40-cm soil layer of dryland fields showed a non-significant reduction trend, with the largest changes in SIC content in the 0- to 10-cm soil layer, at 5.23 ± 2% and 4.69 ± 3.53% reductions, respectively. No-tillage straw return (NTS) significantly increased the SIC content in the 0- to 40-cm soil layer of dryland fields by 77.34 ± 5.6%, which was significantly higher than the independent effects of NT and SM, showing a more substantial synergistic effect. Different agronomic practices have different effects on the SIC content of dryland fields in the 0- to 40-cm soil layer, with NTS > NT > PM > SM > M. Among practices, NTS, NT and PM can increase the SIC content of the plough layer of dryland fields; in particular, NTS can increase the SIC content of 0- to 40-cm in dryland fields to the greatest extent through a synergistic effect. At the same time, SM and M showed an insignificant reduction effect.
Honey Bees Prefer Pollen Substitutes Rich in Protein Content Located at Short Distance from the Apiary
Authors: Ghramh Hamed A. , Khan Khalid Ali
Published: March 2023

The availability of floral resources is crucial for honey bee colonies because it allows them to obtain protein from pollen and carbohydrates from nectar; typically, they consume these nutrients in the form of bee bread, which has undergone fermentation. However, the intensification of agriculture, urbanization, changes to the topography, and harsh environmental conditions are currently impacting foraging sites due to habitat loss and scarcity of food resources. Thus, this study aimed to assess honey bee preference for various pollen substitute diet compositions. Bee colonies perform poorly because of specific environmental problems, which ultimately result in pollen scarcity. Pollen substitutes located at various distance from the bee hive were also investigated in addition to determining the preferences of honey bees for various pollen substitute diets. The local honey bee (Apis mellifera jemenitica) colonies and different diets (four main treatments, namely, chickpea flour, maize flour, sorghum flour, wheat flour; each flour was further mixed with cinnamon powder, turmeric powder, flour only, flour mixed with both cinnamon and turmeric powder) were used. Bee pollen was used as a control. The best performing pollen substitutes were further placed at 10, 25, and 50 m distances from the apiary. Maximum bee visits were observed on bee pollen (210 ± 25.96) followed by chickpea flour only (205 ± 19.32). However, there was variability in the bee visits to the different diets (F (16,34) = 17.91; p < 0.01). In addition, a significant difference in diet consumption was observed in control (576 ± 58.85 g) followed by chickpea flour only (463.33 ± 42.84 g), compared to rest of the diets (F (16,34) = 29.75; p < 0.01). Similarly, foraging efforts differed significantly (p < 0.01) at the observed time of 7–8 A.M., 11–12 A.M., and 4–5 P.M. at the distance of 10, 25, and 50 m away from the apiary. Honey bees preferred to visit the food source that was closest to the hive. This study should be very helpful for beekeepers in supplementing their bee colonies when there is a shortage or unavailability of pollens, and it is much better to keep the food source near the apiary. Future research needs to highlight the effect of these diets on bee health and colony development.
Screening the Carbon Source Type in Solid-State Fermentation with Phanerochaete chrysosporium to Improve the Forage Value of Corn Straw and Rice Straw
Authors: Wang Ying , Yu Jia , Li Qiang , Zhang Junfang , Naseem Sajida , Sun Bin , Tang Lin , Choi Seongho , Li Xiangzi
Published: March 2023

Poor quality straw can be made more digestible and palatable through delignification using white rot fungi as a biological treatment in SSF. The decomposition of organic matter by white rot fungi is improved when a carbon source is added. Reducing the fermentation cycle can also help retain more nutrients in straw feed. To increase rumen digestibility and nutrient utilization, corn straw and rice straw were subjected to SSF with white rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium) for 21 days. The type of carbon source (glucose, sucrose, molasses, or soluble starch) was optimized, and the nutrient composition and in vitro fermentation parameters of the fermented straw were assessed. In the fermented corn straw and rice straw supplemented with different carbon sources, the results showed a decrease in lignin content, dry matter, cellulose, and hemicellulose loss, and an increase in crude protein content after 21 days. Total volatile fatty acid and ammonium nitrogen concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.01) during in vitro fermentation. Overall, the most enhanced nutritional values for corn straw and rice straw were observed after 14 days of SSF in the groups using molasses or glucose as a carbon source.
A Classification Tree for Modeling Ground Fractures from Subsidence
Authors: Trejo Paulina , García Silvia , Vincent Shweta
Published: March 2023

This article presents a classification tree with predictive and prescriptive capabilities for the management of ground fractures in a crowded suburb in Tláhuac, a municipality of Mexico City. The tree is trained with observations of fractures parametrized with basic geotechnical and geological variables and specifications of the urban environment where they manifest. With the trained tree, the complexity of the scenario affected by the subsidence phenomenon is cleared because the relations between parameters can be viewed easily. With the trained tree, the influence of stratigraphic arrangements (geotechnical properties), geological conditions, size of roads and inhabited units, and location of water-pumping infrastructure in the appearance and exacerbation of cracks in soils is recognized, and this offers citizens and government administrators the possibility of anticipating damages and working on programs for improving structures and foundations, including relocation programs for communities at risk.
Application of Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) for the Prediction of Blast-Induced Ground Vibration
Authors: Fissha Yewuhalashet , Ikeda Hajime , Toriya Hisatoshi , Adachi Tsuyoshi , Kawamura Youhei
Published: March 2023

Rock blasting is one of the most common and cost-effective excavation techniques. However, rock blasting has various negative environmental effects, such as air overpressure, fly rock, and ground vibration. Ground vibration is the most hazardous of these inevitable impacts since it has a negative impact not only on the environment of the surrounding area but also on the human population and the rock itself. The PPV is the most critical base parameter practice for understanding, evaluating, and predicting ground vibration in terms of vibration velocity. This study aims to predict the blast-induced ground vibration of the Mikurahana quarry, using Bayesian neural network (BNN) and four machine learning techniques, namely, gradient boosting, k-neighbors, decision tree, and random forest. The proposed models were developed using eight input parameters, one output, and one hundred blasting datasets. The assessment of the suitability of one model in comparison to the others was conducted by using different performance evaluation metrics, such as R, RMSE, and MSE. Hence, this study compared the performances of the BNN model with four machine learning regression analyses, and found that the result from the BNN was superior, with a lower error: R = 0.94, RMSE = 0.17, and MSE = 0.03. Finally, after the evaluation of the models, SHAP was performed to describe the importance of the models’ features and to avoid the black box issue.
Study of the Effect of Cutting Frozen Soils on the Supports of Above-Ground Trunk Pipelines
Authors: Shammazov Ildar A. , Batyrov Artur M. , Sidorkin Dmitry I. , Van Nguyen Thang
Published: March 2023

The transportation of oil and gas in Russia’s northern and Arctic regions has seen significant growth in recent years. However, the presence of permafrost in these areas can cause malfunctions in the main pipelines due to soil frost heaving. The operational pipelines also often suffer from various defects in their body and surface. To mitigate these issues, above-ground trunkline supports are utilized to protect the pipelines from cryogenic processes. Nevertheless, these supports are subjected to ground loads caused by cryogenic frost heaving, which poses a threat to the pipeline’s integrity and the environment. In response to these challenges, this study presents a design for pipeline support to maintain the pipeline’s stability in the face of soil displacement caused by unequal frost-heaving forces. A numerical model was created to evaluate the fracture of frozen rock and the resulting stresses in the soil and support structure. The input data for the model includes coefficients that describe the soil’s state during the cryogenic process and the proposed support’s parameters. The experimental results showed the proposed design to be effective in protecting the pipeline from soil frost heaving. The paper also provides the results of numerical and experimental studies on soil fracture stresses depending on the rock type and temperature. This design promises to increase both the safety of above-ground trunk pipelines and their technological efficiency.
Special Issue on Current Concepts and Challenges in Oral Health: Implications for the Global Population
Authors: Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Kamal Mohammad Amjad , Srivastava Kumar Chandan
Published: March 2023

Oral health is an important dimension in the overall health of an individual [...]
Novel Block Sorting and Symbol Prediction Algorithm for PDE-Based Lossless Image Compression: A Comparative Study with JPEG and JPEG 2000
Authors: Livada Časlav , Horvat Tomislav , Baumgartner Alfonzo
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we present a novel compression method based on partial differential equations complemented by block sorting and symbol prediction. Block sorting is performed using the Burrows–Wheeler transform, while symbol prediction is performed using the context mixing method. With these transformations, the range coder is used as a lossless compression method. The objective and subjective quality evaluation of the reconstructed image illustrates the efficiency of this new compression method and is compared with the current standards, JPEG and JPEG 2000.
Effect of Secondary Oxidation of Pre-Oxidized Coal on Early Warning Value for Spontaneous Combustion of Coal
Authors: Guo Chaowei , Jiang Shuguang , Shao Hao , Wu Zhengyan , Bascompta Marc
Published: March 2023

The indicative ability of a gas indicator for the spontaneous combustion of coal is affected by the secondary oxidation of oxidized coal, from old goafs, entering a new goaf through air leakages. This phenomenon can affect the accuracy of early warning systems regarding the spontaneous combustion of coal in a goaf. In this research, three kinds of coal were selected to carry out a spontaneous combustion simulation experiment in which a temperature-programmed experimental device was used to analyze the behavior of the index gas towards raw coal and oxidized coal, for which the latter was oxidized at 70 °C, 90 °C, 130 °C, and 150 °C. The results show that the chain alkane ratio in the secondary oxidation process and the trends of oxygen, CO, and C2H4 concentrations are the same as those in the primary oxidation process. On the other hand, the temperature at which C2H4 initially appears, during secondary oxidation, is lower than in primary oxidation. The CO produced in the early stage of secondary oxidation is greater than the CO produced, at the same temperature, in primary oxidation. In this regard, the usage of C2H4 concentration as an indicator with which to judge the occurrence of the spontaneous combustion of coal would allow for an earlier response. In the secondary oxidation process, the temperature of the extreme value of the alkene ratio appears higher than in primary oxidation. The presence of a higher pre-oxidation temperature and a higher proportion of secondary oxidation gas will affect an indicator’s judgement when the primary oxidation enters the severe oxidation stage. The gas produced by secondary oxidation will affect the early warning of the spontaneous combustion of coal in the coal mine goaf, which should be considered in the establishment of an early warning system.
Research Progress and Effects of Light on Poultry Circadian Rhythm Regulation Based on CiteSpace
Authors: Yu Yue , Li Zhanming
Published: March 2023

Light is not only an important environmental regulation factor in poultry growth and development, but it is also a key factor affecting circadian rhythm. To explore research frontiers between light and circadian rhythm, this study analyzes related literature in the field of light and circadian rhythm from the Web of Science core database and draws a knowledge graph using CiteSpace, presenting the subject distribution and research frontiers. This study also focuses on the regulation of light in the circadian rhythm of poultry, explores the effects of light on the growth and immunity of poultry, and analyzes the regulatory effect of light on melatonin levels. In summary, the current research frontiers of light and circadian rhythm are lighting, hepatocytes, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), blue light, and immune function. Light regimes played important roles in poultry welfare, yield, growth and development and affected the circadian rhythm in poultry by regulating melatonin levels. The exploration of the relationships between clock genes and circadian rhythm was important for the application of light regulation in poultry.
Experimental Study on the Difference Mechanism of Shaft Resistance between Uplift Piles and Compressive Piles
Authors: Ma Hailong , Ma Yufei , Zhu Lin , Zhang Hangyu
Published: March 2023

To study the formation mechanism of the lower shaft resistance of uplift piles compared to compression piles, the additional stress caused by uplift and compressive piles in the soil is obtained through indoor model tests with embedded micro earth pressure cells. The study shows that the uplift pile has an unloading effect in pile side soil, and the compressive pile has a loading effect in pile side soil. Closer to the loading point, the unloading effect of the uplift pile and the loading effect of the compressive pile becomes more obvious. The unloading effect decreases the shaft resistance of the uplift pile, and the loading effect increases the shaft resistance of the compressive pile. The tests also reveal that the distribution range of additional stress caused by a single pile is within 6 d from the axis of the pile. After considering the effects of loading and unloading of a single pile, the calculated uplift pile bearing capacity is close to the values of formulas such as Meyerhof and Deshmukh and the measured value.
Peri-Implantitis Therapy Using Surgical Methods: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wijesundara Shiromani , Sharma Lavanya A. , Alavi Seyed Ebrahim , Sharma Ajay
Published: March 2023

This study is a systematic review evaluating published literature on the effect of surgical treatments on peri-implantitis. Various databases were selected for the literature search on the topic. The considered primary clinical parameters were changes in probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), radiographic bone change, plaque score, signs of infection, and implant loss. Five research studies comprising 20 or more sample sizes (patients) with minimal two-year follow-up after surgical treatment were selected, based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In all five studies, PPD and BoP were significantly reduced compared to those before intervention. However, there was no significant variation in the patients treated with open flap debridement, citric acid decontamination, and subepithelial connective tissue graft. The highest reduction of BoP was recorded in the study utilizing regenerative surgical therapy, deproteinized bovine bone mineral containing 10% collagen, the derivative of enamel matrix, and doxycycline. According to the two–five-year follow-up of this systemic review, surgical treatment, including bone substitute material, showed clinical improvement in the reviewed studies, compared to that before intervention; however, there was no statistical significance in the clinical outcome of the selected studies.
Forecasting Air Quality in Tripoli: An Evaluation of Deep Learning Models for Hourly PM2.5 Surface Mass Concentrations
Authors: Esager Marwa Winis Misbah , Ünlü Kamil Demirberk
Published: March 2023

In this article, we aimed to study the forecasting of hourly PM2.5 surface mass concentrations in the city of Tripoli, Libya. We employed three state-of-the-art deep learning models, namely long short-term memory, gated recurrent unit, and convolutional neural networks, to forecast PM2.5 levels using univariate time series methodology. Our results revealed that the convolutional neural networks model performed the best, with a coefficient of variation of 99% and a mean absolute percentage error of 0.04. These findings provide valuable insights into the use of deep learning models for forecasting PM2.5 and can inform decision-making regarding air quality management in the city of Tripoli.
Satellite Imagery Recording the Process and Pattern of Winter Temperature Field in Yangtze Estuary Interrupted by a Cold Wave
Authors: Chen Ruirui , Jiang Xuezhong , Chen Jing
Published: March 2023

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a key marine ecological metric. An optimized split-window algorithm was used to invert the Yangtze Estuary’s temperature field during a cold wave process. Additionally, MODIS SST inversion results were used to explore the effects of typical cold waves on the Yangtze Estuary’s temperature field through the application of a temperature profile analysis method and a multiscale, multidirectional edge detection algorithm. According to the findings, (1) the cold wave altered the temperature field characteristics and the temperature front intensity, morphology, and spatial distribution pattern within the Yangtze Estuary for a short period. The strong temperature front displayed irregular edges and scattered patterns due to the combined effects of cold water masses produced by the cold wave and the tides and the warm water currents outside the mouth. (2) The cold wave caused significant short-term deviations in the Yangtze Estuary’s SST. The cold water tongue stretched across the entire Yangtze Estuary, where the temperature dropped sharply with time, with the maximum cooling occurring outside the mouth, at 12.2 °C, and the minimum cooling occurring inside the mouth, at only 5.5 °C. (3) The spatially gradual warming of the Yangtze Estuary’s SST from inside to outside the mouth became a low–lower–high pattern during cold waves. (4) The cold wave exhibited a greater influence on the strength, form, and distribution of the temperature front. Studying the effects of cold waves on the Yangtze Estuary’s temperature field has significant theoretical and practical implications for understanding the changes in the winter temperature field, environmental protection, disaster mitigation, and prevention.
Mixture Regression for Clustering Atmospheric-Sounding Data: A Study of the Relationship between Temperature Inversions and PM10 Concentrations
Authors: Mlakar Peter , Faganeli Pucer Jana
Published: March 2023

Temperature inversions prevent the mixing of air near the surface with the air higher in the atmosphere, contributing to high concentrations of air pollutants. Inversions can be identified by sampling temperature data at different heights, usually done with radiosondes. In our study, we propose using the SMIXS clustering algorithm to cluster radiosonde temperature data as longitudinal data into clusters with distinct temperature profile shapes. We clustered 8 years of early morning radiosonde data from Ljubljana, Slovenia, into 15 clusters and investigated their relationship to PM10 pollution. The results show that high PM10 concentrations (above 50 g/m3, which is the daily limit value) are associated with early morning temperature inversions. The highest concentrations are typical for winter days with the strongest temperature inversions (temperature difference of 5 ∘C or more in the inversion layer) while the lowest concentrations (about 10 g/m3) are typical for days with no early morning temperature inversion. Days with very strong temperature inversions are quite rare. We show that clustering temperature profiles into a distinct number of clusters adds to the interpretability of radiosonde data. It simplifies the characterization of temperature inversions, their frequency, occurrence, and their impact on PM10 concentrations.
Effects of Triheptanoin on Mitochondrial Respiration and Glycolysis in Cultured Fibroblasts from Neutral Lipid Storage Disease Type M (NLSD-M) Patients
Authors: Noguera Nelida Inés , Tavian Daniela , Angelini Corrado , Cortese Francesca , Filosto Massimiliano , Garibaldi Matteo , Missaglia Sara , Smigliani Ariela , Zaza Alessandra , Pennisi Elena Maria
Published: March 2023

Neutral lipid storage disease type M (NLSD-M) is an ultra-rare, autosomal recessive disorder that causes severe skeletal and cardiac muscle damage and lipid accumulation in all body tissues. In this hereditary pathology, the defective action of the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) enzyme induces the enlargement of cytoplasmic lipid droplets and reduction in the detachment of mono- (MG) and diglycerides (DG). Although the pathogenesis of muscle fiber necrosis is unknown, some studies have shown alterations in cellular energy production, probably because MG and DG, the substrates of Krebs cycle, are less available. No tests have been tried with medium-chain fatty acid molecules to evaluate the anaplerotic effect in NLSD cells. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effect of triheptanoin (Dojolvi®), a highly purified chemical triglyceride with seven carbon atoms, in fibroblasts obtained from five NLSD-M patients. Glycolytic and mitochondrial functions were determined by Seahorse XF Agylent Technology, and cellular viability and triglyceride content were measured through colorimetric assays. After the addition of triheptanoin, we observed an increase in glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration in all patients compared with healthy controls. These preliminary results show that triheptanoin is able to induce an anaplerotic effect in NLSD-M fibroblasts, paving the way towards new therapeutic strategies.
Chemerin and Chemokine-like Receptor 1 Expression Are Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression in European Patients
Authors: Weber Florian , Utpatel Kirsten , Evert Katja , Treeck Oliver , Buechler Christa
Published: March 2023

The chemoattractant protein chemerin is protective in experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and high expression in HCC tissues of Asian patients was related to a favorable prognosis. Studies from Asia found reduced expression of chemerin in HCC compared to para-tumor tissues while our previous analysis observed the opposite. Aim of this study was to correlate chemerin expression in HCC tissues with disease severity of European patients Hepatocyte chemerin protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in HCC tissue of 383 patients, and was low in 24%, moderate in 49% and high in 27%. High chemerin protein in the HCC tissues was related to the T stage, vessel invasion, histologic grade, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage and tumor size. Chemokine-like receptor 1 (CMKLR1) is a functional chemerin receptor. CMKLR1 protein in hepatocytes was low expressed in HCC tissues of 36%, moderate in tissues of 32% and high in 32% of the HCCs. Tumor CMKLR1 was associated with the T stage, vessel invasion, histologic grade and UICC stage. Notably, sex-specific analysis revealed that associations of chemerin and CMKLR1 expression with HCC progression were significant in males but not in females. The tumor chemerin and CMKLR1 protein expression were not related to steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis grades. In summary, chemerin as well as CMKLR1 protein were related to disease severity of European HCC patients, and this was significant in males. This observation is in contrast to Asian patients where higher chemerin in the tumors was protective. Current analysis provides evidence for ethnicity and sex-related differences of tumor expressed chemerin and HCC severity.
Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Analysis of the Role of the Maximal Surgical Resection on Overall Survival and Progression Free Survival
Authors: Polonara Gabriele , Aiudi Denis , Iacoangeli Alessio , Raggi Alessio , Ottaviani Matteo Maria , Antonini Ruggero , Iacoangeli Maurizio , Dobran Mauro
Published: March 2023

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults; despite advances in the understanding of GBM pathogenesis, significant achievements in treating this disease are still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the extent of surgical resection (EOR), beyond the neoplastic mass, on the overall survival (OS). Methods: A retrospective review of a single-institution glioblastoma patient database (January 2012–September 2021) was undertaken. The series is composed of 64 patients who underwent surgery at the University Department of Neurosurgery of Ancona; the series was divided into four groups based on the amount of tumor mass excision with the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) abnormalities (SUPr-supratotal resection, GTR-gross total resection, STR-subtotal resection, BIOPSY). The hypothesis was that the maximal resection of FLAIR abnormalities may improve the overall survival compared to the resection of the visible T1 contrast-enhanced neoplastic area only. Results: In the univariate analysis, SUPr and GTR are correlated with the overall survival (p = 0.001); the percentage of total neoplastic removal threshold conditioning outcome was 90% (p = 0.027). These results were confirmed by the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Maximal surgical resection, when feasible, involving areas of FLAIR abnormalities represents an advantageous approach for the OS in GBM patients.
Sputum-Rheology-Based Strategy for Guiding Azithromycin Prescription in COPD Patients with Frequent Exacerbations: A Randomized, Controlled Study (“COPD CARhE”)
Authors: Charriot Jeremy , Maeva Zysman , Guilleminault Laurent , Volpato Mathilde , Fort-Petit Aurelie , Vachier Isabelle , Patarin Jeremy , Suehs Carey , Engi Ahmed , Molinari Nicolas , Bourdin Arnaud
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: We have previously shown that sputum rheology can discriminate between patients with COPD and other muco-obstructive lung diseases, and that it is correlated with mucin content and sputum eosinophilia. We now hypothesize that it could be a more-accurate guide than clinical evaluation for the prescription of azithromycin to prevent exacerbations of COPD and to reduce exposure to antibiotics; (2) Methods: “COPD CaRhe” is a multicentric, randomized, controlled trial comparing outcomes in two parallel arms (36 vs. 36 patients). Patients will be recruited in the university hospitals of Montpellier, Bordeaux, and Toulouse, in France, and they should have a diagnosis of COPD with frequent exacerbations (≥3/year). Enrollment will occur during a routine visit to a respiratory department, and follow-up visits will occur every 3 months for a period of 1 year. At each visit, a 3-month prescription of azithromycin will be provided to those patients who obtain a score of <70 on the Cough and Sputum Assessment Questionnaire (CASA-Q) or a critical stress score of σc > 39 on a rheological assessment of sputum, depending upon their randomization group. The primary outcome will be the number of exacerbations of COPD; (3) Discussion: By using sputum rheology, the COPD CaRhe study may provide clinicians with an objective biomarker to guide the prescription of azithromycin while reducing the cumulative exposure to macrolides.
Comparison of NIH 3T3 Cellular Adhesion on Fibrous Scaffolds Constructed from Natural and Synthetic Polymers
Authors: McGarry Katarina , Sefat Eelya , Suh Taylor C. , Ali Kiran M. , Gluck Jessica M.
Published: March 2023

Polymer scaffolds are increasingly ubiquitous in the field of tissue engineering in improving the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue. Natural polymers exhibit better cellular adhesion and proliferation than biodegradable synthetics but exhibit inferior mechanical properties, among other disadvantages. Synthetic polymers are highly tunable but lack key binding motifs that are present in natural polymers. Using collagen and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as models for natural and synthetic polymers, respectively, an evaluation of the cellular response of embryonic mouse fibroblasts (NIH 3T3 line) to the different polymer types was conducted. The samples were analyzed using LIVE/DEAD™, alamarBlue™, and phalloidin staining to compare cell proliferation on, interaction with, and adhesion to the scaffolds. The results indicated that NIH3T3 cells prefer collagen-based scaffolds. PLA samples had adhesion at the initial seeding but failed to sustain long-term adhesion, indicating an unsuitable microenvironment. Structural differences between collagen and PLA are responsible for this difference. Incorporating cellular binding mechanisms (i.e., peptide motifs) utilized by natural polymers into biodegradable synthetics offers a promising direction for biomaterials to become biomimetic by combining the advantages of synthetic and natural polymers while minimizing their disadvantages.
Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Training Alters the DNA Methylation Pattern of PDE4D Gene in Hippocampus to Improve the Ability of Spatial Learning and Memory in Aging Rats Reduced by D-Galactose
Authors: Zhang Jinmei , Gao Qiaojing , Gao Jun , Lv Liting , Liu Renfan , Wu Yi , Li Xue , Jin Yu , Wang Lu
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Aging is the main risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, and the inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) is considered a potential target for the treatment of neurological diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of moderate-intensity intermittent training (MIIT) on PDE4 in the hippocampus of rats with D-galactose (D-gal)-induced cognitive impairment, and the possible mechanism of improving spatial learning and memory. (2) Methods: the aging rats were treated with D-Gal (150 mg/kg/day, for 6 weeks). The aging rats were treated with MIIT for exercise intervention (45 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks). The Morris water maze test was performed before and after MIIT to evaluate the spatial learning and memory ability, then to observe the synaptic ultrastructure of the hippocampus CA1 region, to detect the expression of synaptic-related protein synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), and to detect the expression of PDE4 subtypes, cAMP, and its signal pathway protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the PDE4 methylation level. (3) Results: we found that MIIT for 8 weeks alleviated the decline in spatial learning and memory ability, and improved the synaptic structure of the hippocampus and the expression of synaptic protein SYP and PSD95 in D-Gal aging rats. To elucidate the mechanism of MIIT, we analyzed the expression of PDE4 isoforms PDE4A/PDE4B/PDE4D, cAMP, and the signaling pathway PKA/CREB/BDNF, which play an important role in memory consolidation and maintenance. The results showed that 8 weeks of MIIT significantly up-regulated cAMP, PKA, p-CREB, and BDNF protein expression, and down-regulated PDE4D mRNA and protein expression. Methylation analysis of the PDE4D gene showed that several CG sites in the promoter and exon1 regions were significantly up-regulated. (4) Conclusions: MIIT can improve the synaptic structure of the hippocampus CA1 area and improve the spatial learning and memory ability of aging rats, which may be related to the specific regulation of the PDE4D gene methylation level and inhibition of PDE4D expression.
Effect of Acute Psychological Stress on Speed Perception: An Event-Related Potential Study
Authors: Wang Jifu , Yu Lin , Ding Feng , Qi Changzhu
Published: March 2023

The present study tested the intrinsic ERP features of the effects of acute psychological stress on speed perception. A mental arithmetic task was used to induce acute psychological stress, and the light spot task was used to evaluate speed perception. Compared with judgments in the constant speed and uniform acceleration motion, judgments in the uniform deceleration motion were made more quickly and with higher accuracy; attention control was higher and peaked later; and there was longer N2 peak latency, larger N2 peak amplitude, and lower mean amplitude of the late negative slow wave (SW). Under stress, the reaction time was significantly shorter. The N2 peak amplitude and SW mean amplitude were significantly higher, attention control was higher and appeared earlier, and there was a greater investment of cognitive resources. The type of movement and evoked stress also interacted to predict behavioral and ERP measures. Under acute stress, judgments made in the uniform deceleration motion condition elicited lower N2 peak latency, higher attention control, and later peak attention. The results suggest that judgments of the speed of decelerating motion require a lower investment of cognitive resources than judgments of other kinds of motion, especially under acute stress. These findings are best interpreted in terms of the interaction of arousal and attention.
Eye-Movements in a Text Reading Task: A Comparison of Preterm Children, Children with Dyslexia and Typical Readers
Authors: Bonifacci Paola , Tobia Valentina , Sansavini Alessandra , Guarini Annalisa
Published: March 2023

Preterm birth is associated with weaknesses in reading skills that are usually less severe than those of children with dyslexia. To understand the characteristics of reading processes in preterm children, we adopted a cross-population and multi-modal approach comparing eye movements in reading tasks among three groups: children with preterm birth, children with a diagnosis of dyslexia, and children with typical development. The study involved 78 participants (10.5 years). Eye movements (number and duration of fixations, amplitude and number of saccades, number of regressions) were recorded during the silent reading of two texts; cognitive and reading standardized tasks were also administered. Children with dyslexia had more fixations and more frequent and smaller saccades compared to the preterm group and children with typical development. They also showed more regressions compared to the control group. Preterm children showed shorter fixations compared to the other groups. Cognitive and reading standardized tasks confirmed severe delays in reading in children with dyslexia and some weaknesses in text reading speed and comprehension in preterm children. These results are discussed with reference to candidate mechanisms that underlie reading processes in preterm children and considering possible implications for research.
Pseudoprogression of Vestibular Schwannoma after Stereotactic Radiosurgery with Cyberknife®: Proposal for New Response Criteria
Authors: Rueß Daniel , Schütz Betina , Celik Eren , Baues Christian , Jünger Stephanie T. , Neuschmelting Volker , Hellerbach Alexandra , Eichner Markus , Kocher Martin , Ruge Maximilian I.
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Transient increase in volume of vestibular schwannomas (VS) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is common and complicates differentiation between treatment-related changes (pseudoprogression, PP) and tumor recurrence (progressive disease, PD). (2) Methods: Patients with unilateral VS (n = 63) underwent single fraction robotic-guided SRS. Volume changes were classified according to existing RANO criteria. A new response type, PP, with a >20% transient increase in volume was defined and divided into early (within the first 12 months) and late (>12 months) occurrence. (3) Results: The median age was 56 (range: 20–82) years, the median initial tumor volume was 1.5 (range: 0.1–8.6) cm3. The median radiological and clinical follow-up time was 66 (range: 24–103) months. Partial response was observed in 36% (n = 23), stable disease in 35% (n = 22) and PP in 29% (n = 18) of patients. The latter occurred early (16%, n = 10) or late (13%, n = 8). Using these criteria, no case of PD was observed. (4) Conclusion: Any volume increase after SRS for vs. assumed to be PD turned out to be early or late PP. Therefore, we propose modifying RANO criteria for SRS of VS, which may affect the management of vs. during follow-up in favor of further observation.