bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generating Synthetic Dataset for ML-Based IDS Using CTGAN and Feature Selection to Protect Smart IoT Environments
Authors: Alabdulwahab Saleh , Kim Young-Tak , Seo Aria , Son Yunsik
Published: October 2023

Networks within the Internet of Things (IoT) have some of the most targeted devices due to their lightweight design and the sensitive data exchanged through smart city networks. One way to protect a system from an attack is to use machine learning (ML)-based intrusion detection systems (IDSs), significantly improving classification tasks. Training ML algorithms require a large network traffic dataset; however, large storage and months of recording are required to capture the attacks, which is costly for IoT environments. This study proposes an ML pipeline using the conditional tabular generative adversarial network (CTGAN) model to generate a synthetic dataset. Then, the synthetic dataset was evaluated using several types of statistical and ML metrics. Using a decision tree, the accuracy of the generated dataset reached 0.99, and its lower complexity reached 0.05 s training and 0.004 s test times. The results show that synthetic data accurately reflect real data and are less complex, making them suitable for IoT environments and smart city applications. Thus, the generated synthetic dataset can further train models to secure IoT networks and applications.
FSI Application in the Parametric Analysis of Blade–Disk Connection of Turbojet Engine Compressor
Authors: Grzejszczak-Pączek Olga , Kozakiewicz Adam
Published: October 2023

The following paper evaluates the strength properties of the critical area of the turbine rotor stage of a jet engine. This is where the blade is attached to the rotor disk. Important aspects of this issue are characteristic geometrical dimensions and operating factors, e.g., changes in rotor speed. In the article, the strength properties of the rotor stage with a trapezoidal blade–disk connection were analyzed using parametric analysis considering fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Virtual models of the compressor rotor stages were developed, including parametric blade–disk connections and discrete models for FEM (finite element method) and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analyses. The parametric analysis was aimed at assessing selected geometric parameters in terms of their impact on the maximum stresses in the blade root. The analysis performed shows that by changing the blade’s width and thickness angles at the root, we can influence the value of the maximum stresses in the rotor stage. It was noticed that some combinations of these two parameters may negatively affect the value of the stresses in the rim.
Sensitivity Analysis of the Land Surface Characteristic Parameters in Different Climatic Regions of the Loess Plateau
Authors: Liu Yuanpu , Wang Sheng , Gong Chongshui , Zeng Dingwen , Ren Yulong , Li Xia
Published: October 2023

Land surface parameters are crucial in land surface process model simulations. Considering the complex land surface characteristics of the Loess Plateau, a parametric sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the key parameters of its Noah Multi-Parameterization (Noah-MP) land surface model. Sensitivity analysis can better elucidate the influence of different parameters on the model simulation results and evaluate the rationality of each model parameter. The extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (EFAST) method is a classical global sensitivity analysis method, whose theory is derived from the analysis of variance and Fourier transform. In this study, the EFAST method was used to perform sensitivity analyses on the land surface characteristic parameters in different climatic regions of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the Noah-MP model can represent the land surface characteristics of the Loess Plateau well. With sensible and latent heat fluxes as criteria, the main sensitivity parameters were the vegetation roughness length (Z0), the soil quartz content (QUARTZ), the maximum volumetric soil moisture (MAXSMC), and the soil parameter “b”. The coupling effect between parameters has a greater impact on the sensitivity analysis. The probability densities of the three most sensitive parameters were evenly distributed in each interval, whereas those of the other parameters were distributed within 0–0.2 of the standardized value. Moreover, almost half of the land surface parameters accounted for 80% of the total sensitivity. Based on the seasonal sensitivity distribution of the land surface parameters, Z0 dominated throughout all four seasons, QUARTZ sensitivity was high in spring, and both MAXSMC and QUARTZ showed high sensitivities in winter.
Convergence Analysis of the Strang Splitting Method for the Degasperis-Procesi Equation
Authors: Zhang Runjie , Fang Jinwei
Published: October 2023

This article is concerned with the convergence properties of the Strang splitting method for the Degasperis-Procesi equation, which models shallow water dynamics. The challenges of analyzing splitting methods for this equation lie in the fact that the involved suboperators are both nonlinear. In this paper, instead of building the second order convergence in L2 for the proposed method directly, we first show that the Strang splitting method has first order convergence in H2. In the analysis, the Lie derivative bounds for the local errors are crucial. The obtained first order convergence result provides the H2 boundedness of the approximate solutions, thereby enabling us to subsequently establish the second order convergence in L2 for the Strang splitting method.
Triticale in Italy
Authors: Faccini Nadia , Morcia Caterina , Terzi Valeria , Rizza Fulvia , Badeck Franz-Werner
Published: October 2023

Triticale is currently grown throughout the world with a wider diffusion in Europe, with Poland, Belarus, Germany, France and Spain as major producers. Although triticale occupies a very small fraction of the Italian cultivated land (16,000 ha of harvested area, mean value of the past 5 years), a continuous interest for this crop and its possible uses explains the work and progress made by breeding activities in different periods. The aim of this review is to report some experiences related to the cultivation of triticale in Italy. A general long-term view of the performance of triticale varieties in Italy has been distilled from a large amount of data derived from the pluri-decennial Italian national variety trials network. This activity, historically coordinated by CREA-GB, extends over several decades and examines the agronomic performance, in different Italian environments, of the most widespread and emerging varieties of triticale. Indications on new breeding targets can be deduced from the elaborations in the frame of both climatic change and market demands.
Effect of Laterally Moving Tactile Stimuli to Sole on Anticipatory Postural Adjustment of Gait Initiation in Healthy Males
Authors: Kunimura Hiroshi , Oda Hitoshi , Kawasaki Taku , Tsujinaka Ryo , Hamada Naoki , Fukuda Shiho , Matsuoka Masakazu , Hiraoka Koichi
Published: October 2023

This present study examined the effect of the laterally moving tactile stimuli (LMTS) to the sole on the anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) of the gait initiation. Thirteen healthy males participated in this study. A sound cue was provided at the beginning of each trial. The participants took three steps forward from a quiet stance at their preferred time after the start cue. The LMTS were delivered to the sole after the start cue. The loci of the tactile stimuli moved from the left- to the right-most side of the sole and then moved from the right- to the left-most side of that in a stimuli cycle. The duration of one stimuli cycle was 960 ms, and this cycle was repeated 16 times in a trial. The APA did not onset at the specific direction or phase of the LMTS, indicating that they did not use any specific phase of the stimuli as a trigger for initiating the gait. The LMTS decreased the amplitude and increased the duration of the APA. Simultaneously, the LMTS increased the time between the APA onset and toe-off of the initial support leg, indicating that they moved slowly when initiating gait during the LMTS. Those findings are explained by the view that the suppression of the APA induced via the LMTS to the sole is caused by the slowing down of the gait initiation due to masking the tactile sensation of the sole.
Pavement Condition Index Model for Mechanistic–Empirical Design of Airport Concrete Pavements Considering Environmental Effects
Authors: Park Hae-Won , Kim Jong Myung , Lee Jae Hoon , Lee Dae Sik , Jeong Jin-Hoon
Published: October 2023

A transfer function is the main model of a design program that correlates mechanistically calculated damage to a pavement with the actual field distress. In this study, a pavement condition index (PCI) model that reflects environmental and traffic loads was developed as a transfer function for a design program for airport concrete pavements. Seven runways from five airports in Korea, for which design data were available, were selected as target runways, and their design, traffic, and weather data were collected. The minimum tensile stress of the slab generated by environmental loads and the maximum tensile stress induced by combined environmental and traffic loads were calculated by conducting a three-dimensional finite element analysis. The cumulative fatigue damage to the target runways was calculated by substituting the climatic conditions and traffic volume into the fatigue model, which considered the minimum and maximum tensile stresses. The PCI, which was uniformly and varyingly distributed according to pavement age, was adopted as the indicator of actual field distress, whereas the previously used structural condition index was mostly 100 because no structural distress occurred, regardless of the pavement age. The PCI model was established via multi-regression analysis to predict field PCIs using mechanistically calculated cumulative fatigue damage and pavement age as independent variables. The actual and predicted PCIs of the target airports were compared to validate the PCI model.
The Interaction of Mechanics and the Hippo Pathway in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Gou Jia , Zhang Tianhao , Othmer Hans G.
Published: October 2023

Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as an ideal system for studying the networks that control tissue development and homeostasis and, given the similarity of the pathways involved, controlled and uncontrolled growth in mammalian systems. The signaling pathways used in patterning the Drosophila wing disc are well known and result in the emergence of interaction of these pathways with the Hippo signaling pathway, which plays a central role in controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. Mechanical effects are another major factor in the control of growth, but far less is known about how they exert their control. Herein, we develop a mathematical model that integrates the mechanical interactions between cells, which occur via adherens and tight junctions, with the intracellular actin network and the Hippo pathway so as to better understand cell-autonomous and non-autonomous control of growth in response to mechanical forces.
Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Cancer Surgery with Perioperative COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Dai Xuan , Ding Wenjun , He Yongshan , Huang Shiyong , Liu Yun , Wu Tingyu
Published: October 2023

With the emergence of novel variants, there have been widespread COVID-19 infections in the Chinese mainland recently. Compared to ancestral COVID-19 variants, Omicron variants become more infectious, but less virulent. Previous studies have recommended postponing non-emergency surgery for at least 4–8 weeks after COVID-19 infection. However, delayed surgery has been shown to be associated with tumor progression and worse overall survival for cancer patients. Here, we examined surgery risk and optimal timing for colorectal cancer patients with perioperative COVID-19 infection. A total of 211 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery from 1 October 2022 to 20 January 2023 at Xinhua Hospital were included. In addition, COVID-19-infected patients were further categorized into three groups based on infected time (early post-COVID-19 group, late post-COVID-19 group and postoperative COVID-19 group). The complication rate in patients with COVID-19 infection was 26.3%, which was significantly higher than in control patients (8.4%). The most common complications in COVID-19-infected patients were pneumonia, ileus and sepsis. Patients who underwent surgery close to the time of infection had increased surgery risks, whereas surgery performed over 1 week after recovery from COVID-19 did not increase the risk of postoperative complications. In conclusion, surgery performed during or near the time of COVID-19 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing postoperative complications. We recommend that the safe period for patients with recent COVID-19 infection in colorectal cancer surgery be at least 1 week after recovery from COVID-19.
Impact of CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated CD73 Knockout in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jinping , Zhang Shuman , Dörflein Isabella , Ren Xiaofan , Pfeffer Susanne , Britzen-Laurent Nathalie , Grützmann Robert , Duan Xianglong , Pilarsky Christian
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic cancer is among the cancers with the highest mortality rates. Most of the patients are found to have advanced cancer, losing the chance of surgical treatment, and there is an urgent need to find new treatment methods. Targeted therapy for specific genes that play a key role in cancer is now an important means to improve the survival rate of patients. We determined that CD73 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR assays combined with bioinformatics techniques. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knockout CD73 in human and murine cell lines, respectively, revealed that CD73 inactivation inhibited cell growth and migration and induced G1 cell cycle arrest. We also found that CD73 deletion inhibited the ERK/STAT3 pathway and activated the E-cadherin pathway. In addition, a CRISPR/Cas9 protein kinase library screen was performed and identified Pbk, Fastk, Cdk19, Adck5, Trim28, and Pfkp as possible genes regulating CD73.
Diabetes Mellitus Is a Strong Independent Negative Prognostic Factor in Patients with Brain Metastases Treated with Radiotherapy
Authors: Jeong Seong , Poudyal Soniya , Klagges Sabine , Kuhnt Thomas , Papsdorf Kirsten , Hambsch Peter , Wach Johannes , Güresir Erdem , Nägler Franziska , Rühle Alexander , Nicolay Nils H. , Seidel Clemens
Published: October 2023

Background: Brain metastases (BM) cause relevant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. The presence of cerebrovascular diseases can alter the tumor microenvironment, cellular proliferation and treatment resistance. However, it is largely unknown if the presence of distinct cerebrovascular risk factors may alter the prognosis of patients with BM. Methods: Patients admitted for the radiotherapy of BM at a large tertiary cancer center were included. Patient and survival data, including cerebrovascular risk factors (diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking, arterial hypertension, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, hypercholesterolemia and smoking) were recorded. Results: 203 patients were included. Patients with DM (n = 39) had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (HR 1.75 (1.20–2.56), p = 0.003, log-rank). Other vascular comorbidities were not associated with differences in OS. DM remained prognostically significant in the multivariate Cox regression including established prognostic factors (HR 1.92 (1.20–3.06), p = 0.006). Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed a prognostic role of DM in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, both in univariate (HR 1.68 (0.97–2.93), p = 0.066) and multivariate analysis (HR 2.73 (1.33–5.63), p = 0.006), and a trend in melanoma patients. Conclusion: DM is associated with reduced survival in patients with BM. Further research is necessary to better understand the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications of this important interaction.
Recent Progress in the Application of Palladium Nanoparticles: A Review
Authors: Alaqarbeh Marwa , Adil Syed Farooq , Ghrear Tamara , Khan Mujeeb , Bouachrine Mohammed , Al-Warthan Abdulrahman
Published: October 2023

Palladium (Pd), a noble metal, has unique properties for C-C bond formation in reactions such as the Suzuki and Heck reactions. Besides Pd-based complexes, Pd NPs have also attracted significant attention for applications such as fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and sensors for gases such as H2 and non-enzymatic glucose, including catalysis. Additionally, Pd NPs are catalysts in environmental treatment to abstract organic and heavy-metal pollutants such as Cr (VI) by converting them to Cr(III). In terms of biological activity, Pd NPs were found to be active against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, where 99.99% of bacteria were destroyed, while PVP-Pd NPs displayed anticancer activity against human breast cancer MCF7. Hence, in this review, we attempted to cover recent progress in the various applications of Pd NPs with emphasis on their application as sensors and catalysts for energy-related and other applications.
Fiber-Optic Nanosensors for Chemical Detection
Authors: Matějec Vlastimil , Kašík Ivan , Bartoň Ivo
Published: October 2023

Recently, rapid progress has been achieved in the field of nanomaterial preparation and investigation. Many nanomaterials have been employed in optical chemical sensors and biosensors. This review is focused on fiber-optic nanosensors for chemical sensing based on silica and plastic optical fibers. Four types of fiber-optic chemical nanosensors, namely fiber nanotip sensors, fiber nanoarray sensors, fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance sensors, and fiber-optic nanomaterial-based sensors, are discussed in the paper. The preparation, materials, and sensing characteristics of the selected fiber-optic nanosensors are employed to show the performance of such nanosensors for chemical sensing. Examples of fiber-optic nanobiosensors are also included in the paper to document the broad sensing performance of fiber-optic nanosensors. The employment of fiber-nanotips and nanoarrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering and nanosensors employing both electrical and optical principles and “Lab-on-fiber” sensors are also included in the paper. The paper deals with fiber-optic nanosensors based on quantum dots, nanotubes, nanorods, and nanosheets of graphene materials, MoS2, and MXenes.
Strong Interface Interaction of ZnO Nanosheets and MnSx Nanoparticles Triggered by Light over Wide Ranges of Wavelength to Enhance Their Removal of VOCs
Authors: Ma Xingfa , Zhang Xintao , Gao Mingjun , Wang You , Li Guang
Published: October 2023

The characteristics of the surface and interface of nanocomposites are important for exerting multi-functional properties and widening interdisciplinary applications. These properties are mainly depending on the electronic structures of materials. Some key factors, such as the surface, interface, grain boundaries, and defects take vital roles in the contribution of desired properties. Due to the excellent sensitivity of the QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) device, the surface and interface features of the nanocomposite were studied with the aid of the gas-response of the sensors (Sensor’s Gas-Sensitivity) in this work. To make full use of the visible light and part of NIR, a ZnO/MnSx nanocomposite was constructed using hydrothermal synthesis for narrowing the bandgap width of wide bandgap materials. The results indicated that the absorbance of the resulting nanocomposite was extended to part of the NIR range due to the introduction of impurity level or defect level, although ZnO and MnS belonged to wide bandgap semiconductor materials. To explore the physical mechanism of light activities, the photoconductive responses to weak visible light (650 nm, etc.) and NIR (near-infrared) (808 nm, 980 nm, and 1064 nm, etc.) were studied based on interdigital electrodes of Au on flexible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film substrate with the casting method. The results showed that the on/off ratio of ZnO/MnSx nanocomposite to weak visible light and part of NIR light were changed by about one to five orders of magnitude, with changes varying with the amount of MnSx nanoparticle loading due to defect-assisted photoconductive behavior. It illustrated that the ZnO/MnSx nanocomposite easily produced photo-induced free charges, effectively avoiding the recombination of electrons/holes because of the formation of strong built-in electrical fields. To examine the surface and interface properties of nanocomposites, chemical prototype sensor arrays were constructed based on ZnO, ZnO/MnSx nanocomposite, and QCM arrays. The adsorption response behaviors of the sensor arrays to some typical volatile compounds were examined under a similar micro-environment. The results exhibited that in comparison to ZnO nanosheets, the ZnO nanosheets/MnSx nanocomposite increased adsorption properties to some typical organic volatile compounds significantly. It would have good potential applications in photo-catalysts, self-cleaning films, multi-functional coatings, and organic pollutants treatment (VOCs) of environmental fields for sustainable development. It provided some reference value to explore the physical mechanism of materials physics and photophysics for photo-active functional nanocomposites.
Psychotherapy Incorporating Equine Interaction as a Complementary Therapeutic Intervention for Young Adults in a Residential Treatment Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Holtcamp Katie , Nicodemus Molly C. , Phillips Tommy , Christiansen David , Rude Brian J. , Ryan Peter L. , Galarneau Karen
Published: October 2023

Substance use disorder has become an epidemic in the young adult population across the United States, and these numbers rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction has emerged to show promise in the mental health community as a complementary form of therapy for this age group and offered a viable treatment option during the pandemic due to the outdoor nature of the treatment environment. However, research concerning its use within a residential treatment program was lacking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction in a residential treatment program during the COVID-19 pandemic for developing an emotionally safe environment for learning for young adults. Participants (ages 18–25 years) were those in a substance abuse residential treatment program utilizing psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were involved in weekly equine therapy for 2–7 weeks. Participants were divided according to length of stay at the residential facility and participation level with equine interactive activities. Assessment of emotional safety and long-term memory development was performed at the beginning and end of the treatment program. The development of memories centered around equine information that was covered during the treatment program. Semantic memory was assessed using a self-reporting knowledge exam and procedural memory was assessed using a skill evaluation. Emotional safety was determined using a self-reporting survey instrument. Paired t-tests determined significant improvement in emotional safety (p = 0.02) and semantic (p = 0.01) and procedural (p = 0.00) memory for all participants by the end of the program. The one-way analysis of variance indicated length of stay and participation level were not significant indicators of emotional safety (length of stay: p = 0.91, participation level: p = 0.98) and semantic (length of stay: p = 0.09, participation level: p = 0.60) and procedural (length of stay: p = 0.25, participation level: p = 0.09) memory development. These results suggest psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction was an efficient complementary therapeutic intervention for developing emotional safety and encouraging learning in a young-adult residential addiction treatment program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development and Characterization of Interstitial-Fluid-Mimicking Solutions for Pre-Clinical Assessment of Hypoxia
Authors: Hussain Nadia Muhammad , Amin Bilal , O’Halloran Martin , Elahi Adnan
Published: October 2023

Asphyxia, a leading cause of illness and death in newborns, can be improved by early detection and management. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is commonly used to diagnose and manage asphyxia, but it is invasive and carries risks. Dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) is an alternative physiological fluid that can provide valuable information about a person’s health. ISF is more sensitive to severe hypoxia and metabolic disorders compared to blood, making it an attractive option for minimally invasive asphyxia detection using biosensors. However, obtaining ISF samples from humans is challenging due to ethical concerns and sampling difficulties. To address this, researchers are developing ISF-mimicking solutions as substitutes for early testing and evaluation of biosensors. This paper focuses on the development of these solutions for bench-based testing and validation of continuous asphyxia-monitoring biosensors. With an understanding of the factors influencing system quality and performance, these solutions can aid in the design of biosensors for in vivo monitoring of dermal ISF. Monitoring interstitial fluid pH levels can provide valuable insights into the severity and progression of asphyxia, aiding in accurate diagnosis and informed treatment decisions. In this study, buffer solutions were prepared to mimic the pH of ISF, and their electrical properties were analyzed. The results suggest that certain buffers can effectively mimic metabolic acidosis associated with asphyxia (pH < 7.30), while others can mimic metabolic alkalosis (pH > 7.45). Overall, this research contributes to the development of ISF-mimicking solutions and lays the groundwork for biosensor systems that monitor dermal ISF in real time.
Modeling of Improved Sine Cosine Algorithm with Optimal Deep Learning-Enabled Security Solution
Authors: Almuqren Latifah , Maray Mohammed , Aljameel Sumayh S. , Allafi Randa , Alneil Amani A.
Published: October 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) acts as a vital part of enhancing network security using intrusion detection and anomaly detection. These AI-driven approaches have become essential components of modern cybersecurity strategies. Conventional IDS is based on predefined signatures of known attacks. AI improves signature-based detection by automating the signature generation and reducing false positives through pattern recognition. It can automate threat detection and response, allowing for faster reaction times and reducing the burden on human analysts. With this motivation, this study introduces an Improved Sine Cosine Algorithm with a Deep Learning-Enabled Security Solution (ISCA-DLESS) technique. The presented ISCA-DLESS technique relies on metaheuristic-based feature selection (FS) and a hyperparameter tuning process. In the presented ISCA-DLESS technique, the FS technique using ISCA is applied. For the detection of anomalous activities or intrusions, the multiplicative long short-term memory (MLSTM) approach is used. For improving the anomaly detection rate of the MLSTM approach, the fruitfly optimization (FFO) algorithm can be utilized for the hyperparameter tuning process. The simulation value of the ISCA-DLESS approach was tested on a benchmark NSL-KDD database. The extensive comparative outcomes demonstrate the enhanced solution of the ISCA-DLESS system with other recent systems with a maximum accuracy of 99.69%.
Characterization of Microbial Decay and Microbial Communities in Waterlogged Archaeological Rosewood (Dalbergia Species)
Authors: Kim Jong Sik , Kim Minseok , Lim Ju Won , Cha Mi Young , Lee Kwang Ho , Yoon Yong Hee , Kim Yoon Soo
Published: October 2023

While numerous studies have examined microbial attacks on waterlogged archaeological wood, limited information is available regarding microbial attacks in waterlogged tropical hardwoods submerged in marine environments. In this context, we explored microbial attacks in waterlogged archaeological rosewood (Dalbergia species), a tropical hardwood species that was submerged in the Yellow Sea for approximately 700 years, using various microscopic techniques and next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods. Based on morphological features, Type-I soft rot decay was identified as the main decay type. Most fibers in waterlogged archaeological rosewood studied were gelatinous (G) fibers of tension wood and the mode of soft rot decay differed from fibers without the G-layer. Differences in decay resistance between vessel/axial parenchyma cells and fibers were not obvious. Vestured- and simple pit membranes showed higher decay resistance than vessel and axial parenchyma cell walls, respectively. Microbial community analysis by NGS revealed the dominance of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in the fungal community. Various bacterial communities were also identified, although no prominent signs of bacterial decay were noted. The identified bacterial communities markedly differed from those reported previously in terms of their composition and abundance. Together, our results offer detailed insights into the microbial types and communities responsible for degrading waterlogged archaeological rosewood, contributing to a better understanding of microbial attacks in tropical hardwoods exposed to marine environments.
Forest Landscape Model Initialization with Remotely Sensed-Based Open-Source Databases in the Absence of Inventory Data
Authors: Bychkov Igor , Popova Anastasia
Published: October 2023

Forecasts of the forest ecosystem dynamics are important for environmental protection and forest resource management. Such forecasts can support decisions about where and how to restore damaged forests and plan felling, and in forest conservation. Forest landscape models (FLM) are used to predict changes in forests at the landscape level. FLM initialization usually requires detailed tree species and age data; so, in the absence of forest inventory data, it is extremely difficult to collect initial data for FLM. In our study, we propose a method for combining data from open sources, including remote sensing data, to solve the problem of the lack of initial data and describe initializing the LANDIS-II model. We collected land cover classification and above-ground biomass products, climate, soil, and elevation data to create initial vegetation and ecoregion maps. Our method is based on some simplifications of the study object—some tree species are replaced by groups of species; the forest stand is considered homogeneous. After initialization, the natural dynamics without harvesting and disturbances were simulated by the Biomass Succession extension for 200 years. The study presents a detailed methodology that can be used to initialize other study areas and other FLMs with a lack of field data.
Post-Fire Changes in Canopy Solute Leaching in Pinus densiflora Forests
Authors: Kim Taehyun , Kim Yugyeong , Lee Jeman , Woo Choongshik , Im Sangjun
Published: October 2023

Fires can burn canopy fuel and replace leafy crowns with charred branches and trunks, thereby affecting hydrological flow and water chemistry. However, little is known about the effects of fire on throughfall volumes and chemical fluxes in temperate forests. Therefore, we aimed to monitor the volume and chemistry of throughfall in pine trees (Pinus densiflora) damaged by the 2022 Gangneung-Donghae Forest fire in the Republic of Korea. Immediately after the forest fire, funnel-type measurements were performed to collect the throughfall beneath five trees at foliage necrosis and crown consumption sites. The amount of water that penetrated in a specified period was continually measured and analyzed in terms of the water quality components. Crown consumption resulted in the passage of more water due to the removal of the tree canopy; however, the ratio of throughfall to total rainfall remained constant as the rainfall amount increased. The throughfall volume was not significantly different owing to the fire damage. The solute concentrations of Ca and TOC at the crown consumption site were higher than those at the foliage necrosis site after the fire; however, no significant difference was observed three months after the fire. In this study, the changes in the amount and water quality of throughfall due to fire were examined over a relatively short period, providing fundamental data for nutrient cycling management of wildfire-damaged soil.
Effect of Digestion on Ursolic Acid Self-Stabilized Water-in-Oil Emulsion: Role of Bile Salts
Authors: Yan Yumeng , Liu Yugang , Zeng Chaoxi , Xia Huiping
Published: October 2023

Exploring the effect of bile salts on the properties of emulsion carriers containing hydrophobic bioactive compounds is particularly critical to understanding the stability and bioavailability of these hydrophobic bioactive compounds in the digestive process. In this study, the effects of bile salts on the stability and digestive characteristics of the ursolic acid (UA) self-stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion were investigated via static and dynamic (with or without enzyme) in vitro simulated digestive systems. The results showed that under the static system, the basic conditions had less interference, while the bile salts had a significant effect on the appearance and microstructure of the emulsion. The primary mechanism of emulsion instability is hydrophobic binding and depletion flocculation. Under the dynamic condition, it was found that the low concentrations of bile salts can promote the release amount and the rate of free fatty acids via displacement, while high concentrations of bile salts inhibit the decomposition of lipid, which may be related to the secondary coverage formed at the interface by the bile salts. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding the digestive behavior of the UA emulsion and its interaction with bile salts, which are conducive to developing and designing new emulsions to improve the bioaccessibility of UA.
Sequence Characterization of Extra-Chromosomal Circular DNA Content in Multiple Blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides) Populations
Authors: Fu Wangfang , MacGregor Dana R. , Comont David , Saski Christopher A.
Published: October 2023

Alopecurus myosuroides (blackgrass) is a problematic weed of Western European winter wheat, and its success is largely due to widespread multiple-herbicide resistance. Previous analysis of F2 seed families derived from two distinct blackgrass populations exhibiting equivalent non-target site resistance (NTSR) phenotypes shows resistance is polygenic and evolves from standing genetic variation. Using a CIDER-seq pipeline, we show that herbicide-resistant (HR) and herbicide-sensitive (HS) F3 plants from these F2 seed families as well as the parent populations they were derived from carry extra-chromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). We identify the similarities and differences in the coding structures within and between resistant and sensitive populations. Although the numbers and size of detected eccDNAs varied between the populations, comparisons between the HR and HS blackgrass populations identified shared and unique coding content, predicted genes, and functional protein domains. These include genes related to herbicide detoxification such as Cytochrome P450s, ATP-binding cassette transporters, and glutathione transferases including AmGSTF1. eccDNA content was mapped to the A. myosuroides reference genome, revealing genomic regions at the distal end of chromosome 5 and the near center of chromosomes 1 and 7 as regions with a high number of mapped eccDNA gene density. Mapping to 15 known herbicide-resistant QTL regions showed that the eccDNA coding sequences matched twelve, with four QTL matching HS coding sequences; only one region contained HR coding sequences. These findings establish that, like other pernicious weeds, blackgrass has eccDNAs that contain homologs of chromosomal genes, and these may contribute genetic heterogeneity and evolutionary innovation to rapidly adapt to abiotic stresses, including herbicide treatment.
The Impact of Lending Relationships on the Lead Arrangers’ Retained Share
Authors: Chala Alemu Tulu
Published: October 2023

The lead arrangers of syndicated loans often have lending relationships with the borrowers, while other lenders participating in the syndicate largely engage in an arm’s length transaction. Relatively little is known about how these relationships affect the shares of syndicated loans that the lead arrangers retain in their portfolio. Using a random sample of 10,328 syndicated loans made to 7316 nonfinancial U.S. firms over the period 1987 to 2013, this paper investigates the impact of lending relationships on the shares of loans retained. The results show that lending relationships are associated with a significant reduction in retained shares. These results are robust to alternative estimation techniques, such as propensity score matching and binary endogenous treatment models, which are employed to address endogeneity concerns. Furthermore, the results provide additional evidence that the existence and strength of lending relationships lead to decreased retained shares, particularly for non-top-tier lead arrangers. Moreover, the findings also demonstrate that when lead arrangers have lending relationships with borrowers, they retain significantly smaller shares whether the loans are made to informationally opaque, small, or speculative-grade-rating firms. Overall, the findings of this paper have important implications for lenders seeking to reduce their risk exposure in syndicated loans.
The Spatio-Temporal Dynamics, Driving Mechanism, and Management Strategies for International Students in China under the Background of the Belt and Road Initiatives
Authors: Li Weiwei , Wang Meimei , Zhao Sidong
Published: October 2023

The management of international students has become a new challenge that China and most countries in the world must face in the context of the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) and the globalization of higher education. In this paper, we conducted an empirical study on international students in China (ISC) based on a combination of spatial econometric models and analytical methods such as BCG, GeoDetector, and DDCAM, trying to provide a basis for “evidence-based decision-making” by the government in the management of international students and talents. Quantitative analyses revealed significant diversity and spatial effects in the spatio-temporal dynamics of ISCs, with the emergence of star, gazelle, cow, and dog types, suggesting that the scientific management of ISCs requires both local adaptation (spatial differentiation and heterogeneity) and regional collaboration (spatial correlation and autocorrelation). There were many factors affecting the spatio-temporal dynamics of ISCs, and the force of different factors varied considerably, with the key factor more than 0.5 but the auxiliary factor being less than 0.2. Moreover, the factors had significant interaction effects, and a large number of super-interacting factor pairs emerged, with a joint force of more than 0.9, twice the force of a single factor. Generally, the factors had a complex driving mechanism, suggesting that ISC management requires identifying the key and important factors, while attaching emphasis to the synergistic effects among different factors. The recommendation is that China should manage ISCs in spatial zones and introduce differentiated development strategies and policies in different zones. In conclusion, this paper proposes a technical route integrating “dynamic analysis-driving mechanism-policy design” for international students, which is applicable to China, while providing a reference for the management and spatial planning design of international students in other countries in the world.
Using Dual Spatial Clustering Models for Urban Fringe Areas Extraction Based on Night-time Light Data: Comparison of NPP/VIIRS, Luojia 1-01, and NASA’s Black Marble
Authors: Zhu Jie , Lang Ziqi , Wang Shu , Zhu Mengyao , Na Jiaming , Zheng Jiazhu
Published: October 2023

Night-time light data (NTL) have been extensively utilized to map urban fringe areas, but to date, there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the existing spatial clustering methods for delineating the urban fringe using different types of night-time light data. Therefore, we first selected three popular sources of night-time light data (i.e., NPP/VIIRS, Luojia 1-01, and NASA’s Black Marble) to identify the urban fringe. The recognition of spatial mutations across the urban–rural gradient was conducted based on changes in night light intensity using a spatial continuous wavelet transform model. Then, we employed three representative dual spatial clustering approaches (i.e., MK-Means, DBSC, and DSC) for extracting urban fringe areas using different NTL. By using dual spatial clustering, the spatial patterns of the mutation points were effectively transformed into homogeneous spatially adjacent clusters, enabling the measurement of similarity between mutation points. Taking Nanjing city, one of China’s megacities, as the study area, we found that (1) Compared with the fragmented and concentrated results obtained from the Luojia 1-01, NASA’s Black Marble and NPP/VIIRS data can effectively capture the abrupt change of urban fringes with NTL variations; (2) DSC provided a reliable approach for accurately extracting urban fringe areas using NASA’s Black Marble data.
From Radio to In-Pipe Acoustic Communication for Smart Water Networks in Urban Environments: Design Challenges and Future Trends
Authors: Fishta Markeljan , Raviola Erica , Fiori Franco
Published: October 2023

The smart management of water resources is an increasingly important topic in today’s society. In this context, the paradigm of Smart Water Grids (SWGs) aims at a constant monitoring through a network of smart nodes deployed over the water distribution infrastructure. This facilitates a continuous assessment of water quality and the state of health of the pipeline infrastructure, enabling early detection of leaks and water contamination. Acoustic-wave-based technology has arisen as a viable communication technique among the nodes of the network. Such technology can be suitable for replacing traditional wireless networks in SWGs, as the acoustic channel is intrinsically embedded in the water supply network. However, the fluid-filled pipe is one of the most challenging media for data communication. Existing works proposing in-pipe acoustic communication systems are promising, but a comparison between the different implementations and their performance has not yet been reported. This paper reviews existing works dealing with acoustic-based communication networks in real large-scale urban water supply networks. For this purpose, an overview of the characteristics, trends and design challenges of existing works is provided in the present work as a guideline for future research.
The Multifaceted Effects of Short-Term Acute Hypoxia Stress: Insights into the Tolerance Mechanism of Propsilocerus akamusi (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: Zhang Yao , Zhang Qing-Ji , Xu Wen-Bin , Zou Wei , Xiang Xian-Ling , Gong Zhi-Jun , Cai Yong-Jiu
Published: October 2023

Plenty of freshwater species, especially macroinvertebrates that are essential to the provision of numerous ecosystem functions, encounter higher mortality due to acute hypoxia. However, within the family Chironomidae, a wide range of tolerance to hypoxia/anoxia is displayed. Propsilocerus akamusi depends on this great tolerance to become a dominant species in eutrophic lakes. To further understand how P. akamusi responds to acute hypoxic stress, we used multi-omics analysis in combination with histomorphological characteristics and physiological indicators. Thus, we set up two groups—a control group (DO 8.4 mg/L) and a hypoxic group (DO 0.39 mg/L)—to evaluate enzyme activity and the transcriptome, metabolome, and histomorphological characteristics. With blue–black chromatin, cell tightness, cell membrane invagination, and the production of apoptotic vesicles, tissue cells displayed typical apoptotic features in the hypoxic group. Although lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), catalase (CAT), and Na+/K+ -ATPase (NKA) activities were dramatically enhanced under hypoxic stress, glycogen content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly reduced compared to the control group. The combined analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome, which further demonstrated, in addition to carbohydrates, including glycogen, the involvement of energy metabolism pathways, including fatty acid, protein, trehalose, and glyoxylate cycles, provided additional support for the aforementioned findings. Lactate is the end product of glycogen degradation, and HIF-1 plays an important role in promoting glycogenolysis in acute hypoxic conditions. However, we discovered that the ethanol tested under hypoxic stress likely originates from the symbiodinium of P. akamusi. These results imply that some parameters related to energy metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities, and histomorphological features may be used as biomarkers of eutrophic lakes in Chironomus riparius larvae. The study also provides a scientific reference for assessing toxicity and favoring policies to reduce their impact on the environment.
Pregnancy Outcomes of Conservative Management in Preeclampsia with Severe Features
Authors: Inta Anuchit , Tongsong Theera , Srisupundit Kasemsri
Published: October 2023

Objective: To study the pregnancy outcomes of conservative treatment for preeclampsia with severe features. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on pregnancies with preeclampsia with severe features at gestational age 23–34 weeks and that received conservative management at Chiang Mai University Hospital between January 2014 and August 2020. The women were divided into two groups: (1) pregnancy prolongation of at least 48 h and (2) pregnancy prolongation of less than 48 h. Results: Of the 100 recruited pregnancies, the median gestational age was 29 weeks (range 23–34). Of these, 65 cases (65%) had pregnancy prolongation of at least 48 h, and 35 cases (35%) had prolongation of less than 48 h. The median pregnancy prolongation was 2.9 days (range 4 h–27.7 days). Eighty-seven (88%) pregnant women experienced no complications. Multivariate analysis shows that high urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCI) at admission was significantly associated with pregnancy prolongation of less than 48 h with an odds ratio for prolongation for at least 48 h of 0.86 (95% CI 0.75–0.99: p-value 0.04). Kaplan–Meier analysis shows that the mean time of prolongation was 3.6 days vs. 6.7 days, and median time of prolongation was 2.1 days vs. 4.4 days in the group of high and low UPCI (using cut-off 1.0), respectively. The number of prolonged days was significantly lower in the high UPCI group than in the low UPCI group (log-rank test, p = 0.01). The maternal and fetal outcomes between the two groups were not significantly different. The cesarean section rate was also comparable. The mean birth weight and gestational age at delivery were not significantly different, though they had a higher trend in the group of successful conservative management. Conclusion: The rate of pregnancy prolongation of at least 48 h with conservative management was 65%, with a median prolongation time of 2.9 days. A new insight gained from this study is that high UPCI at admission is an independent factor for prolongation of less than 48 h with conservative treatment. Nevertheless, the maternal and fetal outcomes between the two groups were not significantly different. Therefore, the benefit and risk of expectant management in actual practice of service settings in terms of maternal and fetal morbidity is still unclear.