bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of ptsH in Stress Adaptation and Virulence in Cronobacter sakazakii BAA-894
Authors: Sun Yi , Li Jiahui , Yang Yanpeng , Yang Gaoji , Shi Yiqi , Wang Shuo , Wang Muxue , Xia Xiaodong
Published: September 2022

Cronobacter sakazakii, an emerging foodborne pathogen that was isolated primarily from powdered infant formula, poses an important issue in food safety due to its high stress tolerance and pathogenicity. The Hpr (encoded by ptsH gene) has been shown to regulate carbon metabolism as well as stress response and virulence. However, the functional properties of ptsH in C. sakzakii have not been investigated. In this study, we clarified the role of ptsH in the C. sakzakii stress response and virulence, and explored its possible regulatory mechanism by RNA-seq. Compared with wild-type, the ΔptsH mutant showed a slower growth rate in the log phase but no difference in the stationary phase. Moreover, the resistance to heat stress (65 °C, 55 °C), simulated gastric fluid (pH = 2.5), biofilm formation and adhesion to HT-29 cells of ΔptsH mutant were significantly decreased, whereas the oxidative resistance (1, 5, 10 mM H2O2), osmotic resistance (10%, 15%, 20% NaCl), and superoxide dismutase activity were enhanced. Finally, RNA-seq analysis revealed the sulfur metabolism pathway is significantly upregulated in the ΔptsH mutant, but the bacterial secretion system pathway is dramatically downregulated. The qRT-PCR assay further demonstrated that the ΔptsH mutant has elevated levels of genes that are related to oxidative and osmotic stress (sodA, rpoS, cpxA/R, osmY). This study provides a great understanding of the role of ptsH in diverse stress responses and virulence in C. sakazakii, and it contributes to our understanding of the genetic determinant of stress resistance and pathogenicity of this important foodborne pathogen.
CafeteriaFCD Corpus: Food Consumption Data Annotated with Regard to Different Food Semantic Resources
Authors: Ispirova Gordana , Cenikj Gjorgjina , Ogrinc Matevž , Valenčič Eva , Stojanov Riste , Korošec Peter , Cavalli Ermanno , Koroušić Seljak Barbara , Eftimov Tome
Published: September 2022

Besides the numerous studies in the last decade involving food and nutrition data, this domain remains low resourced. Annotated corpuses are very useful tools for researchers and experts of the domain in question, as well as for data scientists for analysis. In this paper, we present the annotation process of food consumption data (recipes) with semantic tags from different semantic resources—Hansard taxonomy, FoodOn ontology, SNOMED CT terminology and the FoodEx2 classification system. FoodBase is an annotated corpus of food entities—recipes—which includes a curated version of 1000 instances, considered a gold standard. In this study, we use the curated version of FoodBase and two different approaches for annotating—the NCBO annotator (for the FoodOn and SNOMED CT annotations) and the semi-automatic StandFood method (for the FoodEx2 annotations). The end result is a new version of the golden standard of the FoodBase corpus, called the CafeteriaFCD (Cafeteria Food Consumption Data) corpus. This corpus contains food consumption data—recipes—annotated with semantic tags from the aforementioned four different external semantic resources. With these annotations, data interoperability is achieved between five semantic resources from different domains. This resource can be further utilized for developing and training different information extraction pipelines using state-of-the-art NLP approaches for tracing knowledge about food safety applications.
Effect of Mechanical Grinding on the Physicochemical, Structural, and Functional Properties of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv) Bran Powder
Authors: Liang Kehong , Zhu Hong , Zhang Yue
Published: September 2022

This study investigated the functional, physicochemical, and structural characteristics of foxtail millet bran powder with different particle sizes. The morphological analysis revealed that the surface roughness declined in conjunction with the particle sizes of the millet bran powder. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that none of the samples generated any additional chemical functional groups. A decrease in the particle sizes of the millet bran powder increased their dissemination and surface areas, as well as the bulk density, tap density, water-holding capacity (WHC), angle of repose (θ) and angle of slide (α), and peak temperature, while the oil holding capacity (OHC) and crystallinity index (CI) value declined. Moreover, fine millet bran powder (54.7 μm) exhibited a higher protein, fat, soluble dietary fiber (SDF), total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity than its coarse counterpart.
Peanut Shell Extract and Luteolin Regulate Lipid Metabolism and Induce Browning in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Liu Wenrui , Wang Lihua , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2022

Peanut shells are agricultural waste products that require utilization. The freeze-dried ethanolic peanut shell extract (PSE) contained 10.01 ± 0.55 mg/g of luteolin (LUT) with a total polyphenol content of 18.11 ± 0.88 mg GAE/g. Thus, LUT is one of the major polyphenolic components in PSE. Although PSE displays antibacterial and neurotrophic activities, minimal research is available addressing its potential role in lipid metabolism. This study investigated the role of PSE in terms of inhibiting adipogenesis, accelerating lipolysis, and promoting lipid browning using the 3T3-L1 cell line. Without affecting cell viability, high concentrations of PSE and LUT prevented adipogenesis by reducing the mRNA levels of C/EBPα, PPARγ, and SREBP1-c, and increasing the protein levels of pACC and pAMPK. Moreover, PSE and LUT induced lipolysis by activating lipolytic proteins, and enhanced the protein expressions of the brown adipocyte-specific markers, UCP1, PGC-1α, and SIRT1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Increased mitochondrial biosynthesis provided additional evidence in favor of these findings. Due to their anti-obesity properties, it is proposed that PSE and LUT could be used as potential dietary supplements.
Harnessing the Full Power of Chemometric-Based Analysis of Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectral Data to Boost the Identification of Seafood Provenance and Fishing Areas
Authors: Duarte Bernardo , Mamede Renato , Carreiras João , Duarte Irina A. , Caçador Isabel , Reis-Santos Patrick , Vasconcelos Rita P. , Gameiro Carla , Ré Pedro , Tanner Susanne E. , Fonseca Vanessa F.
Published: September 2022

Provenance and traceability are crucial aspects of seafood safety, supporting managers and regulators, and allowing consumers to have clear information about the origin of the seafood products they consume. In the present study, we developed an innovative spectral approach based on total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy to identify the provenance of seafood and present a case study for five economically relevant marine species harvested in different areas of the Atlantic Portuguese coast: three bony fish—Merluccius merluccius, Scomber colias, and Sparus aurata; one elasmobranch—Raja clavata; one cephalopod—Octopus vulgaris. Applying a first-order Savitzky–Golay transformation to the TXRF spectra reduced the potential matrix physical effects on the light scattering of the X-ray beam while maintaining the spectral differences inherent to the chemical composition of the samples. Furthermore, a variable importance in projection partial least-squares discriminant analysis (VIP-PLS-DA), with k − 1 components (where k is the number of geographical origins of each seafood species), produced robust high-quality models of classification of samples according to their geographical origin, with several clusters well-evidenced in the dispersion plots of all species. Four of the five species displayed models with an overall classification above 80.0%, whereas the lowest classification accuracy for S. aurata was 74.2%. Notably, about 10% of the spectral features that significantly contribute to class differentiation are shared among all species. The results obtained suggest that TXRF spectra can be used for traceability purposes in seafood species (from bony and cartilaginous fishes to cephalopods) and that the presented chemometric approach has an added value for coupling with classic TXRF spectral peak deconvolution and elemental quantification, allowing characterization of the geographical origin of samples, providing a highly accurate and informative dataset in terms of food safety.
Changes in Caprine Milk Fat Globule Membrane Proteins after Heat Treatment Using a Label-Free Proteomics Technique
Authors: Yan Daomin , Zhang Lina , Zhu Yixuan , Han Mengyu , Wang Yancong , Tang Jun , Zhou Peng
Published: September 2022

Milk proteins are prone to changes during the heat treatment process. Here, we aimed to study the changes in caprine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins with three heat treatment processes—ultra-pasteurization (85 °C, 30 min), ultra-high-temperature instant sterilization (135 °C, 5 s), and spray-drying (inlet, 160 °C and outlet, 80 °C)—using the label-free proteomics technique. A total of 1015, 637, 508, and 738 proteins were identified in the raw milk, ultra-pasteurized milk, ultra-high-temperature instant sterilized milk, and spray-dried reconstituted milk by using label-free proteomics techniques, respectively. Heat treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the relative intensity of MFGM proteins, such as xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase, butyrophilin subfamily 1 member A, stomatin, and SEA domain-containing protein, which mainly come from the membrane, while the proteins in skimmed milk, such as β-lactoglobulin, casein, and osteopontin, increased in MFGM after heat treatment. Among these different heat treatment groups, the procedure of spray-drying resulted in the least abundance reduction of caprine milk MFGM proteins. Additionally, it showed heating is the key process affecting the stability of caprine MFGM protein rather than the spray-drying process. These findings provide new insights into the effects of heat treatment on caprine MFGM protein composition and potential biological functions.
Post-Harvest LED Light Irradiation Affects Firmness, Bioactive Substances, and Amino Acid Compositions in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annum L.)
Authors: Liu Chaochao , Wan Hongjian , Yang Youxin , Ye Qingjing , Zhou Guozhi , Wang Xiaorong , Ahammed Golam Jalal , Cheng Yuan
Published: September 2022

Chili pepper is an important vegetable and spice crop with high post-harvest deteriorations in terms of commercial and nutritional quality. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are eco-friendly light sources with various light spectra that have been demonstrated to improve the shelf-life of various vegetables by manipulating light quality; however, little is known about their effects on the post-harvest nutritional quality of chili peppers. This study investigated the effects of different LED lightings on the post-harvest firmness and nutritional quality of chili peppers. We found that red and blue light could increase the content of capsaicinoids, whereas white and red light could increase the essential and aromatic amino acid (AA) content in pepper. Nonetheless, the influence of light treatments on AA contents and compositions depends strongly on the pepper genotype, which was reflected by total AA content, single AA content, essential AA ratio, delicious AA ratio, etc., that change under different light treatments. Additionally, light affected fruit firmness and the content of nutrients such as chlorophyll, vitamin C, and total carotenoids, to varying degrees, depending on pepper genotypes. Thus, our findings indicate that LED-light irradiation is an efficient and promising strategy for preserving or improving the post-harvest commercial and nutritional quality of pepper fruit.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal the Regulatory Mechanism of Nutrient Limitation-Induced Sporulation of Antrodia cinnamomea in Submerged Fermentation
Authors: Li Huaxiang , Ji Dan , Luo Zhishan , Ren Yilin , Lu Zhenming , Yang Zhenquan , Xu Zhenghong
Published: September 2022

Antrodia cinnamomea is a precious edible and medicinal mushroom with various biological activities, such as hepatoprotection, antitumor, antivirus, immunoregulation, and intestinal flora regulation. However, the wild fruiting bodies of A. cinnamomea are scarce and expensive. Submerged fermentation based on spore inoculation has become the most efficient and popular artificial culture method for A. cinnamomea. In order to complement the mechanism of asexual sporulation of A. cinnamomea in submerged fermentation, and provide a theoretical basis to further improve the sporulation, comparative transcriptomics analysis using RNA-seq and RT-qPCR were conducted on A. cinnamomea mycelia cultured under different nutritional conditions to reveal the regulatory mechanism underlying the asexual sporulation induced by nutrient limitation. The obtained mechanism is as follows: under nitrogen starvation, the corresponding sensors transmit signals to genes, such as areA and tmpA, and promote their expression. Among these genes, AreA has a direct or indirect effect on flbD and promotes its expression, further enhancing the expression of brlA. Meanwhile, TmpA has a direct or indirect effect on brlA and promotes its expression; under carbon starvation, transport protein Rco-3, as a glucose sensor, directly or indirectly transmits signals to brlA and promotes its expression. BrlA promotes the expression of abaA gene, which further enhances the expression of wetA gene, and wetA then directly leads to asexual sporulation and promotes spore maturation; meanwhile, gulC can also promote cell autolysis, which provides energy and raw materials for sporulation.
Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain platform for Indian Dairy Industry: Safety and Traceability
Authors: Khanna Abhirup , Jain Sapna , Burgio Alessandro , Bolshev Vadim , Panchenko Vladimir
Published: September 2022

Conventional food supply chains are centralized in nature and possess challenges pertaining to a single point of failure, product irregularities, quality compromises, and loss of data. Numerous cases of food fraud, contamination, and adulteration are daily reported from multiple parts of India, suggesting the absolute need for an upgraded decentralized supply chain model. A country such as India, where its biggest strength is its demographic dividend, cannot afford to malnutrition a large population of its children by allowing them to consume contaminated and adulterated dairy products. In view of the gravity of the situation, we propose a blockchain-enabled supply chain platform for the dairy industry. With respect to the supply chain platform, the dairy products of choice include milk, cheese, and butter. Blockchain is one of the fastest growing technologies having widespread acceptance across multiple industry verticals. Blockchain possesses the power to transform traditional supply chains into decentralized, robust, transparent, tamper proof, and sustainable supply chains. The proposed supply chain platform goes beyond the aspect of food traceability and focuses on maintaining the nutritional values of dairy products, identification of adulteration and contamination in dairy products, the increasing economic viability of running a dairy farm, preventing counterfeit dairy products, and enhancing the revenue of the dairy company. The paper collates the mentioned functionalities into four distinct impact dimensions: social, economic, operations, and sustainability. The proposed blockchain-enabled dairy supply chain platform combines the use of smart contracts, quick response code (QR code) technology, and IoT and has the potential to redefine the dairy supply chains on socio-economic, operational, and sustainability parameters.
Impacts of Thermal Processing, High Pressure, and CO2-Assisted High Pressure on Quality Characteristics and Shelf Life of Durian Fruit Puree
Authors: Bu Zhibin , Luo Wenshan , Wei Jiayin , Peng Jian , Wu Jijun , Xu Yujuan , Yu Yuanshan , Li Lu
Published: September 2022

Durian fruit puree (DFP) is a nutrient-dense food, but it has a short shelf life. Presently, little research has been undertaken on extending the shelf life of DFP. Hence, it is necessary to develop treatment methods that can prolong the shelf life of DFP. In the present study, thermal processing (TP), high-pressure processing (HPP), and CO2-assisted HPP (CO2 + HPP) treatments are used for DFP, and their influences on quality properties of DFP during storage (35 days, 4 °C) are investigated. Compared to other treatments, the CO2 + HPP treatment had a lower pressure and a shorter time to achieve the same effect of inactivating the microorganisms of DFP. During storage, CO2 + HPP treated DFP showed higher retention rates of sugars, total soluble solids, color, bioactive components, and antioxidant capacity in comparison with other treated DFPs. Moreover, after 35 days of storage, the microbial count of (CO2 + HPP)-treated DFP (3.80 × 103 CFU/g) was much lower than those of TP (4.77 × 105 CFU/g) and HPP (8.53 × 103 CFU/g)-treated DFPs. The results of this study reveal that CO2 + HPP treatment could not only better preserve the quality of DFP, but also effectively extend the shelf life of DFP, providing an effective method for the processing of DFP.
Effects of Jet Milling on the Physicochemical Properties of Buckwheat Flour and the Quality Characteristics of Extruded Whole Buckwheat Noodles
Authors: Cheng Jiayu , Lei Sijia , Gao Li , Zhang Yingquan , Cheng Weiwei , Wang Zhenjiong , Tang Xiaozhi
Published: September 2022

The effects of jet milling on the physicochemical properties of buckwheat flour and the quality characteristics of extruded whole buckwheat noodles (WBN) were investigated in this study. The results reveal that the application of jet milling significantly reduced the particle size of buckwheat flour. As a result, the damaged starch content, water solubility index, water absorption index and swelling power of buckwheat flour all increased. It was worth noting that moderately ground buckwheat flour powder (D50 = 65.86 μm) had the highest pasting viscosity and gel hardness. The breaking rate and cooking loss of extruded whole buckwheat noodles made from the above powder were reduced by 33% and 16%, respectively. Meanwhile, they possessed the highest lightness and firmest network structure. Jet milling increased the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) content from 3.45% to 4.39%, and SDF further increased to 5.28% after noodle extrusion. This study was expected to provide a reference for exploiting high-quality gluten-free noodles from the perspective of milling.
The Nonlinear Dynamics Characteristics and Snap-Through of an SD Oscillator with Nonlinear Fractional Damping
Authors: Wang Minghao , Chen Enli , Tian Ruilan , Wang Cuiyan
Published: September 2022

A smooth and discontinuous (SD) oscillator is a typical multi-stable state system with strong nonlinear properties and has been widely used in many fields. The nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the system have not been thoroughly investigated because the nonlinear restoring force cannot be integrated. In this paper, the nonlinear restoring force is represented by a piecewise nonlinear function. The equivalent coefficients of fractional damping are obtained with an orthogonal function. The influence of fractional damping on the transition set, the amplitude–frequency response and the snap-through of the SD oscillator are analyzed. The conclusions are as follows: The nonlinear piecewise function accurately mimics the nonlinear restoring force and maintains a nonlinearity property. Fractional damping can significantly affect the stiffness and damping property simultaneously. The equivalent coefficients of the fractional damping are variable with regard to the fractional-order power of the excitation frequency. A hysteresis point, a bifurcation point, a frequency island, pitchfork bifurcations and transcritical bifurcations were discovered in the small-amplitude resonant region. In the non-resonant region, the increase in the fractional parameters leads to the probability of snap-through declining by increasing the symmetry of the attraction domain or reducing the number of stable states.
Sampled-Data Based Fault-Tolerant Control Design for Uncertain CE151 Helicopter System with Random Delays: Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Approach
Authors: Dhanya V. , Arunkumar A. , Chaisena Kantapon
Published: September 2022

This study inspects the issue of robust reliable sampled data control (SDC) for a class of Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy CE151 Helicopter systems with time-varying delays and linear fractional uncertainties. Specifically, both the variation range and the distribution probability of the time delay are considered in the control input. The essential aspect of the suggested results in this study is that the time variable delay in the control input is dependent not only on the bound but also on the distribution probability of the time delay. The prime intent of this study is to enhance a state feedback reliable sampled-data controller. By constructing an appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) and employing a linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach, a new set of delay-dependent necessary conditions is obtained to ensure the asymptotic stabilisation of a TS fuzzy CE151 Helicopter system with a prescribed mixed H∞ and passivity (MH∞P) performance index. The acquired results are expressed as LMIs, which are easily addressed using standard optimization algorithms. In addition, an exemplary scenario based on the CE151 helicopter model is presented to demonstrate the less conservative nature of the obtained results as well as the application of the recommended unique design approaches.
Gene Regulations upon Hydrogel-Mediated Drug Delivery Systems in Skin Cancers—An Overview
Authors: Mathiyalagan Ramya , Kariyarath Valappil Anjali , Yang Deok Chun , Kang Se Chan , Thambi Thavasyappan
Published: September 2022

The incidence of skin cancer has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly in Caucasian populations. Specifically, the metastatic melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers and is responsible for more than 80% of skin cancer deaths around the globe. Though there are many treatment techniques, and drugs have been used to cure this belligerent skin cancer, the side effects and reduced bioavailability of drug in the targeted area makes it difficult to eradicate. In addition, cellular metabolic pathways are controlled by the skin cancer driver genes, and mutations in these genes promote tumor progression. Consequently, the MAPK (RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK pathway), WNT and PI3K signaling pathways are found to be important molecular regulators in melanoma development. Even though hydrogels have turned out to be a promising drug delivery system in skin cancer treatment, the regulations at the molecular level have not been reported. Thus, we aimed to decipher the molecular pathways of hydrogel drug delivery systems for skin cancer in this review. Special attention has been paid to the hydrogel systems that deliver drugs to regulate MAPK, PI3K–AKT–mTOR, JAK–STAT and cGAS-STING pathways. These signaling pathways can be molecular drivers of skin cancers and possible potential targets for the further research on treatment of skin cancers.
Expression and Prognostic Value of Chromobox Family Proteins in Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Liu Jin , Shen Haixiang , Chen Xiangliu , Ding Yongfeng , Wang Haiyong , Xu Nong , Teng Lisong
Published: September 2022

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common human malignant tumors worldwide. Chromobox (CBX) family proteins are significant components of epigenetic regulatory complexes. It is reported that CBXs play critical roles in the oncogenesis and development of various tumors. Nonetheless, their functions and specific roles in EC remain vague and obscure. Methods and Materials: We used multiple bioinformatics tools, including Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2), UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter, cBioPortal, Metascape, TIMER2 and TISIDB, to investigate the expression profile, gene alterations and prognostic roles of CBX family proteins, as well as their association with clinicopathologic parameters, immune cells and immune regulators. In addition, RT-qPCR, Western blot, CCK8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays were performed to investigate the biological functions of CBX3 in EC cells. Results: CBX3 and CBX5 were overexpressed in EC compared to normal tissues. Survival analysis revealed that high expression of CBX1 predicted worse disease-free survival (DFS) in EC patients. Functionally, CBXs might participate in mismatch repair, spliceosome, cell cycle, the Fanconi anemia pathway, tight junction, the mRNA surveillance pathway and the Hippo signaling pathway in EC development. Furthermore, CBXs were related to distinct immune cells infiltration and immune regulators. Additionally, depletion of CBX3 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of EC cells. Conclusions: Our study comprehensively investigated the expression pattern, prognostic value, and gene alterations of CBXs in EC, as well as their relationships with clinicopathologic variables, immune cells infiltration and immune regulators. These results suggested that CBX family proteins, especially CBX3, might be potential biomarkers in the progression of EC.
Comparative Transcriptome Analyses of Different Rheum officinale Tissues Reveal Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Anthraquinone, Catechin, and Gallic Acid Biosynthesis
Authors: Zhou Lipan , Sun Jiangyan , Zhang Tianyi , Tang Yadi , Liu Jie , Gao Chenxi , Zhai Yunyan , Guo Yanbing , Feng Li , Zhang Xinxin , Zhou Tao , Wang Xumei
Published: September 2022

Rheum officinale Baill. is an important traditional Chinese medicinal herb, its dried roots and rhizomes being widely utilized to cure diverse diseases. However, previous studies mainly focused on the active compounds and their pharmacological effects, and the molecular mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of these ingredients in R. officinale is still elusive. Here, we performed comparative transcriptome analyses to elucidate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the root, stem, and leaf of R. officinale. A total of 236,031 unigenes with N50 of 769 bp was generated, 136,329 (57.76%) of which were annotated. A total of 5884 DEGs was identified after the comparative analyses of different tissues; 175 and 126 key enzyme genes with tissue-specific expression were found in the anthraquinone, catechin/gallic acid biosynthetic pathway, respectively, and some of these key enzyme genes were verified by qRT-PCR. The phylogeny of the PKS III family in Polygonaceae indicated that probably only PL_741 PKSIII1, PL_11549 PKSIII5, and PL_101745 PKSIII6 encoded PKSIII in the polyketide pathway. These results will shed light on the molecular basis of the tissue-specific accumulation and regulation of secondary metabolites in R. officinale, and lay a foundation for the future genetic diversity, molecular assisted breeding, and germplasm resource improvement of this essential medicinal plant.
Feasibility of Using Green Laser in Monitoring Local Scour around Bridge Pier
Authors: Raju Rahul Dev , Nagarajan Sudhagar , Arockiasamy Madasamy , Castillo Stephen
Published: September 2022

Scour around bridge piers is considered as one of the major factors which causes failure of bridges in the United States. An undetected scour can affect the stability of the bridge, eventually leading to the collapse of the bridge. The experimental investigation of scour around a pier using a non-contact measuring method is carried out in this research. A green laser-based non-contact ranging technique is performed on a prefabricated scour hole to study the factors influencing the ability to reconstruct the shape of a scour hole. The experiment was conducted in a 10 ft diameter pool and Leica scan station II was used for the scanning of the scour hole. The turbidity of the water was changed by adding Kaolinite powder to the water. The turbidity was varied from 1.2 NTU to 20.8 NTU by adding Kaolinite. The lab experiments involved changing the turbidity of water to simulate real world conditions. The results from the experimental study show that the turbidity of the water has a direct dependence on the efficiency of the green laser to map the underwater scour profile. The ability of the green laser to capture the fabricated scour hole and pool bed topography were decreased as the turbidity was increased even when the water depth of the pool was reduced. The results from the study show that the green laser is effective in underwater scanning and can be also used for bathymetry profiling and the detection of underwater objects. The method of underwater scanning using a green laser for detecting scour around bridge pier is safe, efficient, and economical.
Augmented Reality in Seismic Risk Management: A Contribution to the Reduction of Non-Structural Damage
Authors: Falsaperla Susanna , Reitano Danilo , Musacchio Gemma
Published: September 2022

To increase seismic resilience is one of the challenges the developers of new technologies face to reduce seismic risk. We set up an augmented reality (AR) exhibition with which users’ curiosity was confronted with the opportunity to have a wealth of information on damaging earthquakes that could be a multimedia add-on to the plain “single-layer exhibit”. AR is an emergent technology developed to “augment” reality through various devices; it combines the real world with virtual items, such as images and videos. Our AR exhibition aims to: (i) show the effects of earthquakes even in cases of moderate magnitude; and (ii) promote preventive actions to reduce non-structural damage. It can be customized for different seismic scenarios. In addition, it offers a holistic approach to communicate problems and solutions—with the cost and degree of ease of execution for each solution—to reduce non-structural damage at home, school, and office. Our AR exhibition can do more than just a plain text or a preconceived video: it can trigger fruitful interaction between the presenters, or even the stand-alone poster, and the public. Such interactivity offers an easy engagement to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. AR is, indeed, extremely flexible in raising recipients’ interest; moreover, it is an appealing tool for the digital native generations. The positive feedback received led us to conclude that this is an effective way to raise awareness and individual preparedness to seismic risk.
Microstructure Development in Artificially Cemented, Fine-Grained Soils
Authors: Oberhollenzer Simon , Baldermann Andre , Marte Roman , Tahir Djemil Mahamat Moussa , Tschuchnigg Franz , Dietzel Martin , Nachtnebel Manfred
Published: September 2022

Fine-grained sedimentary deposits can bear an increased risk for building settlements due to their moderate stiffness and strength properties, as well as high groundwater tables. However, some buildings, e.g., situated on shallow foundations in Alpine basins, show only relatively small settlements because the formation of carbonate cement can create bridging bonds between the detrital soil particles, leading to increased stiffness. These weak bonds can be damaged through dynamic loads and high static loads, causing a weakening of the soil’s microstructure and resulting in large settlements in several cases. However, the environmental controls and mechanistic processes underlying the formation versus damaging of microstructure in fine-grained, postglacial sediments are, to date, poorly understood. In the present study, fine-grained sediments are artificially cemented by calcium carbonates (CaCO3) to investigate (i) the influence of a mild and sustainable cementation process on the stress–strain behavior of silicate- and carbonate-rich soils and (ii) the possibilities and limitations of artificial microstructure development for soil stabilization. Incremental load oedometer testing (IL), bender element testing (BE), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area (SSA) measurements are used to characterize the development of cementation and to elucidate the improvements in the soil mechanical properties. It is shown that cementation induced by CaCO3 mineralization (by 5–15% replacement) leads to an increased stiffness (factor ≈ 5–7) and shear wave velocity (factor ≈ 1.1), caused by the formation of nanocrystalline, particle-binding CaCO3 cements. The improvement of soil stiffness is dependent on the CaCO3 replacement level, reaction time and primary soil mineralogical composition.
Patient Satisfaction with Telemedicine in Adults with Diabetes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hamasaki Hidetaka
Published: September 2022

Patient satisfaction assessment is essential for improving the quality of healthcare. Diabetes management using telemedicine technology is promising in the 21st century. However, the number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of telemedicine on satisfaction in patients with diabetes is limited. This systematic review aimed to summarise the current evidence on patient satisfaction with telemedicine in adults with diabetes and discuss related issues and future directions of telemedicine in patients with diabetes. The author systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and The Cochrane Library, and a total of six RCTs were eligible for this review. Patient satisfaction with telemedicine was as high as conventional face-to-face care; however, telemedicine appeared not to significantly increase patient satisfaction compared with conventional face-to-face care in the included studies. Significant heterogeneity was noted between the studies, including participants’ age, study duration, the method of assessing patient satisfaction and types of telemedicine. Further studies are required to provide firm evidence to healthcare providers who are willing to use telemedicine in diabetes management. Telemedicine technology has been advancing and is a key tool in providing high-quality healthcare to patients with diabetes in the 21st century.
Tackling Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Europe
Authors: Horgan Denis , Walewski Jan , Aurer Igor , Visco Carlo , Giné Eva , Fetica Bogdan , Jerkeman Mats , Kozaric Marta , da Silva Maria Gomes , Dreyling Martin
Published: September 2022

An expert panel convened by the European Alliance for Personalized Medicine (EAPM) reflected on achievements and outstanding challenges in Europe in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Through the prism of member state experience, the panel noted advances in outcomes over the last decade, but highlighted issues constituting barriers to better care. The list notably included availability of newer treatments, infrastructure and funding for related testing, and shortages of relevant skills and of research support. The prospect of improvements was held to reside in closer coordination and cooperation within and between individual countries, and in changes in policy and scale of investment at both national and EU levels.
The Long-Term Influence of Puppy Acquisition on Physical Activity: Results of a 3-Year, Longitudinal, Pilot Study
Authors: Hielscher-Zdzieblik Benedikt , Gansloßer Udo , Serpell James , Froboese Ingo
Published: September 2022

Dog ownership has been associated with increased levels of physical activity (PA), including increases in total PA and walking time in some but not in all studies. These earlier studies did not consider puppy acquisition, in particular, and were limited to a maximum of 10 months duration. The purpose of the current pilot study was, therefore, to analyze long-term changes in participants’ PA behavior after puppy acquisition. Participants who acquired a puppy from one of nine preselected breeds differing in size and energy level were included. PA was assessed at baseline and 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after puppy acquisition using an online questionnaire. Participants, who were initially included, did not differ in their PA at baseline (n = 38). In the group that completed the trial (n = 11) total PA, leisure time walking, total dog-related PA, and total dog walking increased within the first two years and decreased while remaining above baseline values during the last year, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-dog-related PA did not change over time. We conclude that the acquisition of a puppy increases PA and thus, could have a long-lasting positive effect on physical health.
Narratives on the Current Medical Situation in Japan According to Highly Specialized Foreign Professionals
Authors: Mori Tomoari , Deasy Yoko , Kanemoto Eri , Nakazawa Eisuke , Akabayashi Akira
Published: September 2022

In order to understand the difficulties faced by highly skilled foreign professionals when dealing with the Japanese healthcare system and to identify the support they require therein, university health center staff members of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University conducted semi-structured interviews with faculty, staff, and students from the Institute. Data from the interviews were analyzed by subject matter analysis using a narrative-oriented approach. In total, 13 participants were interviewed, and five themes and 15 subthemes were generated from the 40 codes extracted. Although participants considered themselves to be accepting of other cultures and made little mention of the need for cultural and religious considerations that previous studies have identified as important, they reported that their experiences receiving healthcare in Japan were fraught with many difficulties. They felt that the capacity to communicate in Japanese was a prerequisite for receiving appropriate healthcare and that hospitals should assume the responsibility of providing language support. While they reported satisfaction with the easy and inexpensive access to advanced medical equipment and specialists in Japan, they also noted challenges in selecting medical institutions and departments, the flow and procedures in the hospital, and building open and direct relationships with doctors. In addition, based on the present study, people with chronic illnesses felt isolated from the community, worried about a lack of privacy, and wanted a primary care physician they could trust. In order to provide appropriate healthcare to foreigners, we require an accurate understanding of their needs, how to address these comprehensively and in a multifaceted manner, and how the communication responsibilities should be shared among the involved parties (i.e., foreign care recipients and Japanese medical professionals).
The Solstice Fire Festivals in the Pyrenees: Constructing a Didactic Programme for Formal Education along with the Educational and Bearer Communities
Authors: Ballesté Marc , Solé-Llussà Anna , Isus Sofia , Fernández Ares
Published: September 2022

In 2015, UNESCO inscribed the summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A few years later, a didactic programme was launched to incorporate the tradition into formal education, designed and developed in collaboration with the bearer and educational communities. Specifically, to accomplish the project, both collectives priorly analyzed and validated the proposal through field work, discussion groups, and qualitative and quantitative methods. The results demonstrated the need for cross-disciplinary materials designed to incorporate the festivals into formal education, the benefits of involving the bearer and educational communities in an initiative of these characteristics, and the usefulness of the project for the valorization of ICH and the imparting of curricular contents.
3D HBIM Model and Full Contactless GPR Tomography: An Experimental Application on the Historic Walls That Support Giotto’s Mural Paintings, Santa Croce Basilica, Florence—Italy
Authors: Coli Massimo , Ciuffreda Anna Livia , Marchetti Emanuele , Morandi Davide , Luceretti Giammarco , Lippi Zeno
Published: September 2022

GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) is a technology widely applied today in the field of non-destructive investigations. From its first applications, the field of use has involved environmental and archaeological contexts and, only recently, non-destructive investigations for the diagnostics of existing buildings, including historical ones. In the latter, the GPR is, in particular, addressed to the NDT diagnostics of walls, which often support paintings of considerable value. In this study, GPR technology was used to investigate the walls of the Bardi Chapel in the Santa Croce Basilica in Florence, which features Giotto’s frescoes. The GPR acquisition was performed with a three-antenna module that, through multiple scans, allowed to reconstruct the full 3D tomography of the three main walls of the chapel. The development of a customized system made it possible to extend the investigation area to almost the entire wall and to avoid contact between the instrument and the wall paint, thus safeguarding its integrity. The collected data, once inserted in a unified framework of the HBIM model, geo-referenced, and equipped with the information content, allowed us to evaluate the masonry structure and to generate masonry data for subsequent seismic vulnerability assessments.
The Relative Sensitivity of Marigold vs. Tomato to Iron (Fe) Toxicity Is Associated with Root Traits: Root-to-Shoot Mass Ratio, Failure to Sequester Fe in Roots, and Levels of the Major Fe-Uptake Protein, IRT
Authors: Kostic Emina , Heckathorn Scott , Bagrowski Aaron , Franklin J. Thomas , Boldt Jennifer
Published: September 2022

Some plants are susceptible to iron (Fe) toxicity, resulting in excess leaf Fe, followed by photo-oxidative damage and necrosis. Avoidance of Fe toxicity should relate to root Fe-uptake properties, including the concentration of Fe-uptake proteins, which are rarely measured. Therefore, we compared responses to Fe toxicity in marigold (Tagetes erecta), a species prone to Fe toxicity, with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to determine which root responses were related to Fe-toxicity sensitivity. Plants were grown at 5, 50, and 500 µM Fe. Biomass decreased at 50 and/or 500 vs. 5 µM Fe in both species, with leaf necrosis occurring in marigold. Fe uptake per g root increased with increasing Fe in both species. Root and shoot Fe increased with Fe availability, with Fe much higher in roots than in shoots. Root Fe was higher in tomato, but shoot Fe was higher in marigold. Root protein levels of IRT, the main Fe transporter, decreased from 5 to 50 µM Fe in both species, but further decreased at 500 µM Fe only in tomato. In contrast, responses of secondary Fe-uptake proteins, FRO and H+-ATPase, were similar in the two species. Marigold was likely more susceptible to Fe toxicity because it could not prevent Fe transport to, and accumulation in, leaves; and its sensitivity to high Fe corresponded to a limited capacity to down-regulate IRT as available Fe increased.
Field Efficacy of Proteolytic Entomopathogenic Fungi against Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner
Authors: Islam Md. Shafiqul , Subbiah Vijay Kumar , Siddiquee Shafiquzzaman
Published: September 2022

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are regarded as viable alternatives to insect pest control chemicals that contain a large amount of protease enzyme, which degrades the proteinaceous substances in insect cuticles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the field efficacy of protease-producing EPF against Ceratovacuna lanigera, and to assess the persistence of the Ceratovacuna lanigera, on sugarcane leaves. A total of 10 protease-producing fungi isolates were cultured from different agricultural soils, and identified as Purpureocillium lilacinum on the basis of the morphological features and molecular data, using ITS 1-5.8 S-ITS 2 of the rDNA sequences. The proteolytic activity of the isolates was assessed and expressed as an Enzyme Index (EI). Three isolates (PLTP5, PLPS8, and PLMC11) were found to be the best enzyme producers among the isolates, presenting EI values > 2.0 at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h during incubation. These three isolates also gave the best results in terms of lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) and lethal time (LT50 and LT90) values, based on laboratory virulence evaluation, and were therefore selected for field application; commercial B. bassiana (GHA) was applied as standard treatment. An oil-based formulation of conidia (1 × 108 mL−1) of the isolates was applied in a sugarcane field experiment, with an interval of 10 days for four times. The results revealed that P. lilacinum (PLTP5) showed the highest reduction in the C. lanigera population, of 28.75, 56.02, 67.42, and 77.21%, respectively, after the first, second, third, and fourth spraying. The persistence of the conidia of the isolates on the sugarcane leaves was assessed. Per cent reductions in the conidia population, of 36.94–45.23%, 69.36–80.15%, and 81.75–92.96%, respectively, were found after three, six, and nine days of application. The application impact of EPF on the yield component and sugar content was evaluated. Purpureocillium lilacinum (PLTP5) showed the highest increase, of 18.15, 17.83, 15.07, 11.88, 23.73, and 19.38%, respectively, for leaf length, leaf width, cane height, cane girth, cane weight, and sugar content (brix). Our study indicated that P. lilacinum (PLTP5) was the most effective EPF against C. lanigera in field conditions, and also showed the highest proteolytic activity. Consequently, protease was considered the essential factor regulating the efficacy of P. lilacinum against C. lanigera. Protease would be useful, therefore, as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, for the sustainable management of C. lanigera.
Peroxidase Activity in Tomato Leaf Cells under Salt Stress Based on Micro-Hyperspectral Imaging Technique
Authors: Wu Longguo , Jiang Qiufei , Zhang Yao , Du Minghua , Ma Ling , Ma Yan
Published: September 2022

Salt stress has become a major problem in the tomato planting process, of which peroxidase (POD) activity is an important parameter reflecting the antioxidant capacity of plants. In order to explore the dynamic changes of catalase in leaves under different concentrations of NaCl stress, it is necessary to establish a rapid detection technology for changes of POD activity in micro-areas of leaves. In this study, a total of 139 microscopic images were obtained under different concentrations of salt stress (0 g/L, 1 g/L, 2 g/L, 3 g/L) in the spectral range of 400–1000 nm. Regions of interest were extracted according to the reflectance of the samples, and the model was established by combining POD activity. Various spectral pre-treatment combined with partial least-squares regression models was compared to original spectrum combined with partial least-squares regression model. The characteristic wavelength was extracted by four methods, and partial least-squares regression (PLSR) and principal component regression (PCR) were established according to the characteristic wavelength. The results show that multiple scattering correction (MSC) is optimized as the pre-treatment method. The partial least-squares regression model based on the interval variable iterative space contraction method is the best, and the coefficient of determination and root mean square error of prediction set (RMSEP) are 0.66 and 18.94 U/g·min, respectively. The results show that it is feasible to detect the peroxidase activity in tomato leaves by micro-hyperspectral imaging combined with stoichiometry.