bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of a One-Time Application of Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield and Nitrogen Accumulation and Utilization of Late Japonica Rice in China
Authors: Xu Dong , Zhu Ying , Zhu Haibin , Hu Qun , Liu Guodong , Wei Haiyan , Zhang Hongcheng
Published: October 2021

A mixture of controlled-release nitrogen (N) fertilizers (CRNFs) and conventional urea (CU) as a single application of basal fertilizer could simplify fertilization in rice cultivation from the traditional and more labor-intensive fertilization strategy of multiple applications of nitrogen. However, the reported benefits of this combined approach in increasing rice yield have varied substantially for various reasons, including that various types of rice are characterized by different N requirements to obtain high yield. In this study, two late japonica rice cultivars, Jia58 (J58) and Jia67(J67), were used to determine the best combination of one of two short-acting CRNFs (release periods were 40 and 60 days) and one of three long-acting CRNFs (release periods were 80, 100 and 120 days) to apply with the CU as a one-time application of basal fertilizer. Six combinations of CRNFs were established based on their release periods: A1, 40 + 80 days; A2, 40 + 100 days; A3, 40 + 120 days; B1, 60 + 80 days; B2, 60 + 100 days; and B3, 60 + 120 days. CU applied split at basal, tillering and panicle differentiation stages, respectively as control (CK). The effects of the different treatment combinations of CRNFs on late-rice grain yield, N accumulation and N-use efficiency in a two-year field experiment were determined. Results showed that, the A2 treatment achieved the same yield as that of CK, and yield of the B2 treatment exceeded the yield of CK. Yield of J58 applied with B2 was 7.35% higher in 2018 and 7.40% higher in 2019 than that of the corresponding yield of CK; yield of J67 applied with B2 was 6.05% higher in 2018 and 6.87% higher in 2019 than that of CK. Compared with other CRNF treatments, the release of N from A2 and B2 was most synchronized with nitrogen uptake by the two cultivars, which indicates that fertilizer combination completely met the nitrogen demands during each growth stage of rice. Rice of the A2 and B2 treatments had higher N accumulation, higher aboveground biomass accumulation and LAI (leaf area index) at the heading and maturity stages and higher photosynthetic activity than those of other CRNF treatments. In conclusion, for late japonica rice in China, the application of the A2 and B2 treatments as optimal type of CRNF can achieve labor saving and yield increasing simultaneously in rice production.
In Vitro Propagation of Easter Island Curcuma longa from Rhizome Explants Using Temporary Immersion System
Authors: Marchant María José , Molina Paula , Montecinos Miriam , Guzmán Leda , Balada Cristobal , Fassio Claudia , Castro Mónica
Published: October 2021

Curcuma longa (C. longa) is widely known for its medicinal properties. However, the potential overexploitation of this plant raises doubts about its long-term survival on Rapa Nui. Micropropagation using a temporary immersion system (TIS) could be the basis for developing a cost-effective and highly productive method of large-scale cultivation of this plant. Our objective was to develop and refine the in vitro multiplication system for mass propagation of C. longa, and thus help restore the fragile ecosystem of Rapa Nui. Three parameters were evaluated: number of explants per flask, flask capacity, and LEDs spectrum. For each parameter evaluated, four aspects were analyzed: fresh weight per plant, number of shoots, percentage of non-sprouting explants, and the proliferation rate. The use of 30 explants per two-liter flask results in more plants with high fresh biomass than other configurations. In addition, LEDs with a red:blue ratio of 2:1 provided the best lighting conditions for in vitro propagation and positively affected C. longa proliferation and rooting. Therefore, our results show that 30 explants per two-liter flask and an LED source with a red:blue ratio of 2:1 allow a higher number of C. longa plants to be obtained using TIS.
Impact of Methanol and Glycine Betaine on Yield and Quality of Fodder Beet Genotypes (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris)
Authors: Haghighi Pezhman , Habibi Davood , Mozafari Hamid , Sani Behzad , Sadeghishoae Mehdi
Published: October 2021

Two field experiments were carried out during 2018–2019 at the Hamedan and Qom sites, which are different ecological locations of Iran. Hamedan was selected as a temperate climate and Qom as semi-arid to study some of the morphological and physiological traits of fodder beet in various climatic conditions. The experimental map was designed as a split–split-plot in the form of a randomized complete block with three replications. The main plots were assigned three levels of methanol (i.e., control, 15, and 30% by volume). The sub-plots were restricted to two glycine betaine (GB) concentrations (i.e., control and four grams per liter of methanol consumed, and the sub-sub-plots consisted of six different genotypes of fodder beet). The results showed that root length, root and foliage yield/ha, as well as sugar content increased with the incremental level of methanol and/or GB concentration. Foliar application of methanol and GB also significantly changed the qualitative parameters including sodium content, catalase value, crude protein percentage, and dry matter digestibility. It should be noted that two sites differed in most of the investigated traits, so that Hamedan treatment had a more active role on fodder beet growth, yield, and quality compared with Qom. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference between fodder beet genotypes. Generally, spraying fodder beet with 15%by volume methanol or GB with concentration of four grams per liter of methanol is the recommended treatment for raising forage yield under the ecological circumstances of this research.
Breeding for Low Temperature Germinability in Temperate Japonica Rice Varieties: Analysis of Candidate Genes in Associated QTLs
Authors: Sales Ester , Miedes Eva , Marqués Luis
Published: October 2021

In temperate areas, rice deals with low temperatures that can affect plant growth and crop yield. Rapid germination is required for adequate plant establishment in the field, therefore obtaining cultivars that maintain this phenotype under suboptimal temperature conditions is a challenge for rice breeders. Our study aimed to investigate temperature-induced expression changes in genes underlying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated to this trait (low temperature germinability, LTG) that were detected in a previous genome wide association study (GWAS). In the context of a breeding program for japonica rice cultivars adapted to cultivation in Spain, we obtained two biparental families of lines derived from hybridization with two cold tolerant Italian cultivars, and we have studied the effect on the LTG phenotype of introgressing these QTLs. A wide region in chromosome 3 was related to significant increases in seedling growth rate at 15 °C, although the extent of the effect depended on the analyzed family. In parallel, we studied the pattern of expression during germination at different temperatures of 10 genes located in the LTG-associated QTLs, in five japonica rice cultivars and in a biparental family of recombinant inbred lines (RILs). Cold induced changes in the expression of the 10 analyzed genes, with significant differences among genotypes. Variation in LTG phenotype was consistently associated with changes in the pattern of expression of five genes from the tagged regions in rice chromosome 3, which encoded for enzymes implicated in phytohormone metabolism (OsFBK12, Os3Bglu6), oxidative stress (SPL35, OsSRO1c) and Mn homeostasis maintenance (OsMTP8.1). Differential expression induced by cold in two regulatory genes (Os02g0824000 and Os06g06400) also contributed to explain low temperature tolerance during rice germination. In conclusion, introgression in defective cultivars of favorable alleles for these genes would contribute to the genetic improvement of LTG in japonica rice varieties.
How Young Consumers Perceive Vertical Farming in the Nordics. Is the Market Ready for the Coming Boom?
Authors: Perambalam Linthujan , Avgoustaki Dafni D. , Efthimiadou Aspasia , Liu Yongming , Wang Ying , Ren Maozhi , Petridis Antonios , Xydis George
Published: October 2021

Producing food via vertical farming (VF) is an efficient method since it requires less space with increased yield per unit area. Such a system can assist in solving major food-shortage problems since it presents a higher crop yield per unit area compared to conventional farming. Thus, VF can be seen as a production method that can cope with the challenge of the constantly growing population, making it also possible to cultivate crops in regions with adverse climate conditions. However, the public might be concerned about the sustainability of VF systems since plants are produced in an unconventional setting. Therefore, there is a need to consider and evaluate the consumers’ acceptance of VF. The particular study attempts to both analyse consumer acceptance of VF in the Nordic areas and offer insights into VF acceptance among young customers in a comparative analysis. The results indicated that VF is not widely accepted by young Nordic consumers. The concept of sustainability is one of the principles driving forces behind consumer acceptance of vertical farms. The more cases of vertical farms in European cities, the better seems to be the level of acceptance among young customers and their willingness to purchase their products.
Evaluation of Complete Fertilizer in the Aspect of the Antioxidant Enzyme System of Maize Hybrids
Authors: Illés Árpád , Bojtor Csaba , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Nasir , Széles Adrienn , Tóth Brigitta , Szabó Atala , Nagy János
Published: October 2021

Studies on physiological and biochemical processes in crops are highly relevant for breeders to produce hybrids with high yield. Two different maturity groups of maize hybrids were tested in this study. The research site was located at the Látókép Experimental Station of the University of Debrecen and the experiment lasted for 2 years. The examined nitrogen ranges were separated into two parts. Firstly, the effects of nitrogen fertilizer ranging from 120–300 kg ha−1 were examined, supplemented with a constant, high-level P2O5 and K2O. Secondly, the optimal ratio of N:P:K was measured. In order to monitor the health status of maize hybrids, stress indicators including the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the rate of lipid peroxidation (LP), and grain yield were measured. The samples were taken in five phenological stages. Variance analysis based on nitrogen fertilizer showed variation in sampling times and fertilizers on APX, LP, and SOD. Variance analysis based on NPK indicated variation in sampling times, years, and fertilizer levels on APX, LP, and SOD. Correlation analysis showed that yield correlated negatively with SOD during the use of NPK fertilizer, as the use of nitrogen fertilizer cannot make corrections to yield with SOD but phosphorus and potassium can correlate with yield, and SOD. Principal component analysis showed that NPK5 and N5 had maximum stability and effect on yield. The activity of APX had the highest value during silking, and LP was in the V14 leaf stage. The correlation and principal component analysis showed that silking and the V14 leaf stage are the most important stages for yield, thus, higher attention must be paid to these stages in the LP and the activation of APX to achieve maximum yield.
The Economics of Rabbit Farming: A Pilot Study on the Impact of Different Housing Systems
Authors: Mondin Chiara , Trestini Samuele , Trocino Angela , Di Martino Guido
Published: October 2021

This research evaluates the economic sustainability of rabbit farms using different housing systems—bicellular (BI), conventional dual-purpose (DP) and enriched cages designed according to the World Rabbit Science Association guidelines (WRSA)—through a field-based study involving six farms over the course of five years. The cages were compared based on three productivity indices expressed in kg of produced live weight/m2 and on eight cost indices expressed in EUR/kg of produced live weight. The results showed that WRSA significantly reduced the productivity index per walkable cage area in buildings and cages, thanks to the longer platform area included in the cage compared to the other systems. Concerning cost indexes, total variable costs were not different among housing systems, whereas significant differences were observed within costs items. As for the feed costs, DP underperforms compared to BI or WRSA (1.15 vs. 1.02 and 0.99 EUR/kg produced live weight); for drugs costs, BI was less competitive compared to DP and WRSA (0.12 vs. 0.06 and 0.05 EUR /kg). In conclusion, under the conditions of the present study, the economic results of farms that adopted housing systems designed to improve rabbit welfare, such as WRSA enriched systems, were economically sustainable and, comparable to conventional housing systems based on BI or DP cages, also provided a significant reduction in drug use in the tested farms. A comprehensive collection of data from more farms at a European level would be necessary to confirm these results on the economics of farms adopting alternative housing systems for rabbits.
Antibacterial Property of Cellulose Acetate Composite Materials Reinforced with Aluminum Nitride
Authors: Sunthar Thefye P. M. , Boschetto Francesco , Doan Hoan Ngoc , Honma Taigi , Kinashi Kenji , Adachi Tetsuya , Marin Elia , Zhu Wenliang , Pezzotti Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Cellulose acetate (CA) is a synthetic compound that is derived from the acetylation of cellulose. CA is well known as it has been used for many commercial products such as textiles, plastic films, and cigarette filters. In this research, antibacterial CA composites were produced by addition of aluminum nitride (AlN) at different weight percentage, from 0 wt. % to 20 wt. %. The surface characterization was performed using laser microscope, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. The mechanical and thermal properties of the composite were analyzed. Although the mechanical strength tended to decrease as the concentration of AlN increased and needed to be optimized, the melting temperature (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) showed a shift toward higher values as the AlN concentration increased leading to an improvement in thermal properties. AlN additions in weight percentages >10 wt. % led to appreciable antibacterial properties against S. epidermidis and E. coli bacteria. Antibacterial CA/AlN composites with higher thermal stability have potential applications as alternative materials for plastic packaging in the food industry.
Effect of Invasion of Borrelia burgdorferi in Normal and Neoplastic Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Gaur Gauri , Sawant Janhavi Y. , Chavan Ankita S. , Khatri Vishwa A. , Liu Yueh-Hsin , Zhang Min , Sapi Eva
Published: October 2021

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme Disease, is known to be able to disseminate and colonize various organs and tissues of its hosts, which is very crucial for its pathogenicity and survival. Recent studies have shown the presence of B. burgdorferi DNA in various breast cancer tissues, in some with poor prognosis, which raises the question about whether B. burgdorferi can interact with mammary epithelial cells and could have any effect on their physiology, including tumorigenic processes. As the model in this study, we have used MCF 10A normal and MDA-MB-231 tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells and infected both cell lines with B. burgdorferi. Our immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy results showed that B. burgdorferi is capable of invading normal epithelial and breast carcinoma cell lines within 24 h; however, the infection rate for the breast carcinoma cell lines was significantly higher. While the infection of epithelial cells with B. burgdorferi did not cause any changes in cell proliferation rates, it showed a significant effect on the invasion and migratory capacity of the breast cancer cells, but not on the normal epithelial cells, as determined by Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays. We have also found that the levels of expression of several epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (fibronectin, vimentin, and Twist1/2) changed, with a significant increase in tissue remodeling marker (MMP-9) in MDA-MB-231 cells demonstrated by quantitative Western blot analyses. This observation further confirmed that B. burgdorferi infection can affect the in vitro migratory and invasive properties of MDA-MB-231 tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells. In summary, our results suggest that B. burgdorferi can invade breast cancer tumor cells and it can increase their tumorigenic phenotype, which urges the need for further studies on whether B. burgdorferi could have any role in breast cancer development.
Are Antioxidants Useful in Preventing the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease?
Authors: Casanova Alfredo G. , López-Hernández Francisco J. , Vicente-Vicente Laura , Morales Ana I.
Published: October 2021

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive impairment of renal function for more than three months that affects 15% of the adult population. Because oxidative stress is involved in its pathogenesis, antioxidants are under study for the prophylaxis of CKD progression. The objective of this work was to meta-analyze the efficacy of antioxidant therapy in CKD patients and to identify the most effective candidate antioxidants. Our meta-analysis showed that, despite being quite heterogeneous, overall antioxidant therapy apparently reduced CKD progression. Pentoxifylline and bardoxolone methyl demonstrated a robust and statistically significant protection, while other products showed a favorable but non-significant tendency, due to a high interindividual variability. Off-target (i.e., antioxidant-independent) effects, such as body weight reduction and heart failure-associated blood dilution, might totally or partially explain the protection provided by effective antioxidants. This potential pleiotropy introduces uncertainty on the role of oxidative stress in CKD progression and on antioxidant therapy in its prevention, which needs to be further investigated. Independently, identification of factors determining the nephroprotective effect of each candidate on each patient is thus necessary for a prospectively personalized antioxidant therapy. Finally, pentoxifylline should be further explored for the prophylaxis of CKD progression.
The Combined Effects of 6 Weeks of Jump Rope Interval Exercise and Dark Chocolate Consumption on Antioxidant Markers in Obese Adolescent Boys
Authors: Hooshmand Moghadam Babak , Bagheri Reza , Ghanavati Matin , Khodadadi Fatemeh , Cheraghloo Neda , Wong Alexei , Nordvall Michael , Suzuki Katsuhiko , Shabkhiz Fatemeh
Published: October 2021

Research has shown that both dark chocolate and exercise training may have favorable effects on antioxidant function in obese cohorts. However, their combined effect has not been established. We assessed the influences of six weeks of dark chocolate consumption combined with jump rope exercise on antioxidant markers in adolescent boys with obesity. Fifty adolescent boys with obesity (age = 15 ± 1 years) were randomly assigned into one of four groups; jump rope exercise + white chocolate consumption (JW; n = 13), jump rope exercise + dark chocolate consumption (JD; n = 13), dark chocolate consumption (DC; n = 12), or control (C; n = 12). Two participants dropped out of the study. Participants in JW and JD groups performed jump rope exercise three times per week for six weeks. Participants in the DC and JD groups consumed 30 g of dark chocolate containing 83% of cocoa during the same period. Serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated prior to and after the interventions. All 3 intervention groups noted significant (p < 0.01) increases in serum concentrations of TAC, SOD, and GPx from baseline to post-test. In contrast, all intervention groups showed significantly reduced serum concentrations of TBARS from pre- to post-test (p ≤ 0.01). Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that post-test serum concentrations of TAC in the JD group were significantly greater than C (p < 0.001), DC (p = 0.010), and JW (p < 0.001) groups. In addition, post-test serum concentrations of SOD in the JD group were significantly greater than C group (p = 0.001). Post-test serum concentrations of GPx in the JD group were significantly greater than C (p < 0.001), DC (p = 0.021), and JW (p = 0.032) groups. The post-test serum concentrations of TBARS in the JD group was significantly lower than C (p < 0.001). No other significant between-group differences were observed. The current study provides evidence that dark chocolate consumption in combination with jump rope exercise is more efficient in improving antioxidant capacity than dark chocolate consumption or jump rope exercise alone among obese adolescent boys.
Structural Behavior of Composite Floor System Using Cold-Formed Thin-Walled C Steel Channel Embedded Foam Concrete
Authors: Liu Dianzhong , Fu Feng , Liu Wanjuan
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a new composite floor system using cold-formed thin-walled C steel channel embedment and a foam concrete slab is developed. This new type of floor system features lightweight, high fire-resistant, and high anti-corrosion features, and can be used for multi-story buildings, providing a promising new alternative floor system for the construction market. Two four-point bending tests were carried out to investigate the flexural capacity and failure modes of this new type of composite slab. Based on the test results, a nonlinear finite element model was developed using general software package ABAQUS. The model is validated using the test results. Using this model, parametric studies were performed to study the key parameters affecting the structural behavior of this new type of composite floor system. Different parameters such as density of the foam concrete, grade of the cold-formed thin-walled C steel channel embedment, and spacing of the cold-formed thin-walled C steel channel were investigated. Their contributions to the overall moment capacity and their effect on the failure modes of this type of composite slab were discovered. Based on experimental results and FE results, design formulas for ultimate flexural capacity of this new type of composite slabs were also developed which can accurately predict their flexural capacity.
Studies of the Variability of Sugars, Vitamin C, and Chlorophylls in Differently Fermented Organic Leaves of Willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub)
Authors: Lasinskas Marius , Jariene Elvyra , Vaitkeviciene Nijole , Blinstrubiene Ausra , Sawicka Barbara , Sadowska Anna , Hallmann Ewelina
Published: October 2021

There is currently an increasing interest in functional foods and herbs as an opportunity to enrich one’s diet and at the same time improve one’s health. One of such plants is willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub), which is rich not only in polyphenols, carotenoids, but also in sugars, chlorophylls, and vitamin C. This work purpose was to determine the effect of solid-phase fermentation (SPF) on changes in sugars, chlorophylls, and vitamin C under different fermentation conditions. Willowherb leaves were fermented for various durations (24, 48, and 72 h), in anaerobic and aerobic terms. The determination of sugars, chlorophylls, and vitamin C was done using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a spectrometer UV-VIS. The principal component analysis (PCA) was done to estimate the relationships between the different fermentation conditions (methods, as well as duration) and 10 parameters. The study showed: the biggest amounts of total chlorophylls and sugars were present after 72 h of anaerobic SPF, but the amount of total vitamin C was higher in unfermented willowherb leaves. In summary, SPF could be applied to modify chlorophylls and sugar quantities in willowherb organic leaves.
Biomechanical Comparison of Fixation Stability among Various Pedicle Screw Geometries: Effects of Screw Outer/Inner Projection Shape and Thread Profile
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Kai , Li Yun-Da , Liu Mu-Yi , Lin Chen-Xue , Tsai Tsung-Ting , Lai Po-Liang , Tai Ching-Lung
Published: October 2021

The proper screw geometry and pilot-hole size remain controversial in current biomechanical studies. Variable results arise from differences in specimen anatomy and density, uncontrolled screw properties and mixed screw brands, in addition to the use of different tapping methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of bone density and pilot-hole size on the biomechanical performance of various pedicle screw geometries. Six screw designs, involving three different outer/inner projections of screws (cylindrical/conical, conical/conical and cylindrical/cylindrical), together with two different thread profiles (square and V), were examined. The insertional torque and pullout strength of each screw were measured following insertion of the screw into test blocks, with densities of 20 and 30 pcf, predrilled with 2.7-mm/3.2-mm/3.7-mm pilot holes. The correlation between the bone volume embedded in the screw threads and the pullout strength was statistically analyzed. Our study demonstrates that V-shaped screw threads showed a higher pullout strength than S-shaped threads in materials of different densities and among different pilot-hole sizes. The configuration, consisting of an outer cylindrical shape, an inner conical shape and V-shaped screw threads, showed the highest insertional torque and pullout strength at a normal and higher-than-normal bone density. Even with increasing pilot-hole size, this configuration maintained superiority.
Drude-Lorentz Model for Optical Properties of Photoexcited Transition Metals under Electron-Phonon Nonequilibrium
Authors: Silaeva Elena , Saddier Louis , Colombier Jean-Philippe
Published: October 2021

Evaluating the optical properties of matter under the action of ultrafast light is crucial in modeling laser–surface interaction and interpreting laser processing experiments. We report optimized coefficients for the Drude-Lorentz model describing the permittivity of several transition metals (Cr, W, Ti, Fe, Au, and Ni) under electron-phonon nonequilibrium, with electrons heated up to 30,000 K and the lattice staying cold at 300 K. A Basin-hopping algorithm is used to fit the Drude-Lorentz model to the nonequilibrium permittivity calculated using ab initio methods. The fitting coefficients are provided and can be easily inserted into any calculation requiring the optical response of the metals during ultrafast irradiation. Moreover, our results shed light on the electronic structure modifications and the relative contributions of intraband and interband optical transitions at high electron temperatures corresponding to the laser excitation fluence used for surface nanostructuring.
Spatial-Temporal Variability of Future Rainfall Erosivity and Its Impact on Soil Loss Risk in Kenya
Authors: Watene George , Yu Lijun , Nie Yueping , Zhang Zongke , Hategekimana Yves , Mutua Felix , Ongoma Victor , Ayugi Brian
Published: October 2021

Ongoing climate change poses a major threat to the soil resources of many African countries that mainly rely on an agricultural economy. While arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) take up most of Kenya’s land mass, approximately 64% of its total croplands lie within mountainous areas with high rainfall, hence, areas highly vulnerable to water erosion. Flooding of the Great Lakes and increasing desertification of the ASALs are illustrative cases of the implications of recent precipitation dynamics in Kenya. This study applied the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to estimate future soil erosion rates at the national level based on four Coupled Model Intercomparison Project v5 (CMIP5) models under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. Results showed the current soil loss rate to be at 4.76 t ha−1 yr−1 and projected an increase in average rainfall erosivity under the two scenarios, except for RCP-2.6 (2030s) and (2080s) for the MIROC-5 model. Future projections revealed an incremental change in rainfall erosivity from the baseline climate by a cumulative average of 39.9% and 61.1% for all scenarios by the 2030s and 2080s, respectively, while soil loss is likely to increase concomitantly by 29% and 60%, respectively. The CCCMA_CANESM2 model under the RCP 8.5 (2080s) scenario projected the highest erosion rate of 15 t ha−1 yr−1 over Kenya, which is a maximum increase of above 200%, with the Rift Valley region recording an increase of up to 100% from 7.05 to 14.66 t ha−1 yr−1. As a first countrywide future soil erosion study, this assessment provides a useful reference for preventing water erosion and improving ecosystem service security.
Risk Assessment of Pipeline Engineering Geological Disaster Based on GIS and WOE-GA-BP Models
Authors: He Bohu , Bai Mingzhou , Shi Hai , Li Xin , Qi Yanli , Li Yanjun
Published: October 2021

Oil and gas pipelines are part of long-distance transportation projects which pass through areas with complex geological conditions and which are prone to geological disasters. Geological disasters significantly affect the safety of pipeline operations. Therefore, it is essential to conduct geological disaster risk assessments in areas along pipelines to ensure efficient pipeline operation, and to provide theoretical support for early warning and forecasting of geological disasters. In this study, the pipeline routes of the Sichuan-Chongqing and Western Hubei management offices of the Sichuan-East Gas Transmission Project were studied. Seven topographic factors—surface elevation, topographic slope, topographic aspect, plane curvature, stratum lithology, rainfall, and vegetation coverage index—were superimposed using the laying method with a total of eight evaluation indicators. The quantitative relationships between the factors and geological disasters were obtained using the geographic information system (GIS) and weight of evidence (WOE). The backpropagation neural network (BP) was optimised using a genetic algorithm (GA) to obtain the weight of each evaluation index. The quantified index was then utilized to identify the geological hazard risk zone along the pipeline. The results showed that the laying method, stratum lithology, and normalised difference vegetation index were the factors influencing hazards.
Spine, Pelvis and Hip Kinematics—Characterizing the Axial Plane in Healthy and Osteoarthritic Hips
Authors: Catelli Danilo S. , Cotter Brendan , Lamontagne Mario , Grammatopoulos George
Published: October 2021

Abnormal spinopelvic movements are associated with inferior outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to (1) characterize the agreement between dynamic motion and radiographic sagittal assessments of the spine, pelvis, and hip; (2) determine the effect of hip osteoarthritis (OA) on kinematics by comparing healthy individuals with pre-THA patients suffering from uni- or bilateral hip OA. Twenty-four OA patients pre-THA and eight healthy controls underwent lateral spinopelvic radiographs in standing and seated bend-and-reach (SBR) positions. Lumbar-lordosis (LL), sacral-slope (SS), and pelvic–femoral (PFA) angles were measured in both positions, and the differences (Δ) between SBR and standing were computed to assess spine flexion (SF), pelvic tilt (PT), and hip flexion (HF), respectively. Dynamic SBR and seated maximal trunk rotation (STR) tasks were performed at the biomechanics laboratory. Peak sagittal and axial kinematics for spine, pelvis, and hip, and range of motion (ROM), were calculated for SBR and STR. Radiograph readings correlated with sagittal kinematics during SBR for ΔLL and SFmax (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), ΔPT and PTmax (r = 0.44, p = 0.014), and ΔPFA and HFmax (r = 0.70, p < 0.001), with a satisfactory agreement in Bland–Altman analyses. Sagittal SBR spinal (r = 0.33, p = 0.022) and pelvic (r =0.35, p = 0.018) flexions correlated with the axial STR rotations. All axial spinopelvic parameters were different between the OA patients and controls, with the latter exhibiting significantly greater mobility and less variability. Bilaterally affected patients exhibited lower peak and ROM compared to controls. The biomechanics laboratory performed reliable assessments of spinopelvic and hip characteristics, in which the axial plane can be included. The sagittal and axial pelvic kinematics correlate, illustrating that pelvic rotation abnormalities are likely also contributing to the inferior outcomes seen in patients with abnormal spinopelvic flexion characteristics. Axial rotations of the pelvis and spine were least in patients with bilateral hip disease, further emphasizing the importance of the hip–pelvic–spine interaction.
A Machine Learning Approach to Predict Customer Usage of a Home Workout Platform
Authors: Chen Qiuying , Lee SangJoon
Published: October 2021

Health authorities have recommended the use of digital tools for home workouts to stay active and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, a machine learning approach is proposed to assess the activity of users on a home workout platform. Keep is a home workout application dedicated to providing one-stop exercise solutions such as fitness teaching, cycling, running, yoga, and fitness diet guidance. We used a data crawler to collect the total training set data of 7734 Keep users and compared four supervised learning algorithms: support vector machine, k-nearest neighbor, random forest, and logistic regression. The receiver operating curve analysis indicated that the overall discrimination verification power of random forest was better than that of the other three models. The random forest model was used to classify 850 test samples, and a correct rate of 88% was obtained. This approach can predict the continuous usage of users after installing the home workout application. We considered 18 variables on Keep that were expected to affect the determination of continuous participation. Keep certification is the most important variable that affected the results of this study. Keep certification refers to someone who has verified their identity information and can, therefore, obtain the Keep certification logo. The results show that the platform still needs to be improved in terms of real identity privacy information and other aspects.
Biodegradation of Olive Mill Effluent by White-Rot Fungi
Authors: Díaz Ana Isabel , Ibañez Marta , Laca Adriana , Díaz Mario
Published: October 2021

The liquid fraction from the two-phase extraction process in the olive industry (alperujo), is a waste that contains lignocellulosic organic matter and phenolic compounds, difficult to treat by conventional biological methods. Lignocellulosic enzymes from white-rot fungi can be an interesting solution to break down these recalcitrant compounds and advance the treatment of that waste. In the present work the ability of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to degrade the abovementioned liquid waste (AL) was studied. Experiments were carried out at 26 °C within the optimal pH range 4–6 for 10 days and with and without the addition of glucose, measuring the evolution of COD, BOD5, biodegradability index, reducing sugars, total phenolic compounds, and colour. The results obtained in this study revealed the interest of Phanerochaete chrysosporium for an economical and eco-friendly treatment of alperujo, achieving COD and colour removals around 60%, and 32% of total phenolic compounds degradation, regardless of glucose addition.
Crypto Collectibles, Museum Funding and OpenGLAM: Challenges, Opportunities and the Potential of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Authors: Valeonti Foteini , Bikakis Antonis , Terras Melissa , Speed Chris , Hudson-Smith Andrew , Chalkias Konstantinos
Published: October 2021

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) make it technically possible for digital assets to be owned and traded, introducing the concept of scarcity in the digital realm for the first time. Resulting from this technical development, this paper asks the question, do they provide an opportunity for fundraising for galleries, libraries, archives and museums (GLAM), by selling ownership of digital copies of their collections? Although NFTs in their current format were first invented in 2017 as a means for game players to trade virtual goods, they reached the mainstream in 2021, when the auction house Christie’s held their first-ever sale exclusively for an NFT of a digital image, that was eventually sold for a record 69 million USD. The potential of NFTs to generate significant revenue for artists and museums by selling effectively a cryptographically signed copy of a digital image (similar to real-world limited editions, which are signed and numbered copies of a given artwork), has sparked the interest of the financially deprived museum and heritage sector with world-renowned institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Hermitage Museum, having already employed NFTs in order to raise funds. Concerns surrounding the environmental impact of blockchain technology and the rise of malicious projects, exploiting previously digitised heritage content made available through OpenGLAM licensing, have attracted criticism over the speculative use of the technology. In this paper, we present the current state of affairs in relation to NFTs and the cultural heritage sector, identifying challenges, whilst highlighting opportunities that they create for revenue generation, in order to help address the ever-increasing financial challenges of galleries and museums.
A Method and System for Combining the Advantages of Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) Engine Technologies into Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Authors: WON Hyun Woo
Published: October 2021

By combining a clean fuel such as gasoline with a high efficiency thermodynamic cycle (compression ignition), it is possible to demonstrate a powertrain that is clean and efficient, thus breaking the historical trade-off between decreasing CO2 and reducing criteria pollutants. The gasoline compression ignition (GCI) engine is a promising technology that can be used to improve thermal efficiency while reducing emissions. Its low temperature combustion does however lead to several problems that need to be overcome. The present study relates to a method and system for combining the advantages of GCI engine technology into a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) to maximize the benefits. A plausible path is to operate the GCI engine at conditions where the benefits of a GCI engine could be maximized and where an electric motor can supplement the conditions where the GCI is less beneficial. In this study, GCI engines with different cetane number (CN) fuels were selected, and a hybrid simulation tool was used to address the potential of the GCI engines into hybrid electric vehicles. Co-developments can demonstrate efficiency and emission solutions through the achievements of the study, which will address examples of the competitive powertrain and will introduce more than 30% of CO2 reduction vehicle by 2030.
Approximate Solution of the Thomas–Fermi Equation for Free Positive Ions
Authors: Mavrin Aleksey A. , Demura Alexander V.
Published: October 2021

The approximate solution of the nonlinear Thomas–Fermi (TF) equation for ions is found by the Fermi method. The solution is based on the new asymptotic representation of the TF ion size valid for any ionization degree. The two universal functions and their derivatives, introduced by Fermi, are calculated by recent effective algorithms for the Emden–Fowler type equations with the accuracy sufficient for majority of applications. The comparison of our results with those obtained previously shows high accuracy and validity for arbitrary values of ionization degree. This study could potentially be of interest for the statistical TF method applications in physics and chemistry.
Alteration of Blood Lactate Levels in Severe Falciparum Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wilairatana Polrat , Mala Wanida , Kotepui Manas , Kotepui Kwuntida Uthaisar
Published: October 2021

Metabolic acidosis in severe malaria usually occurs in the form of lactic acidosis. The present study aimed to collate articles from the literature that have reported blood lactate levels in patients with severe malaria and tested the hypothesis that blood lactate levels are elevated in patients with malaria compared to those with uncomplicated malaria. Moreover, the difference in lactate levels between patients who died and those who survived was estimated using a meta-analytic approach. Potentially relevant studies were searched for in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Jadad scale and strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE). The pooled mean blood lactate in patients with severe malaria, the pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) of blood lactate between patients with severe malaria and those with uncomplicated malaria, and the pooled WMD and 95% CI of blood lactate between patients who died from and those who survived severe malaria were estimated using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity among the outcomes of the included studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I2 statistics. A meta-regression analysis was performed to identify the source(s) of heterogeneity of outcomes among the included studies. A subgroup analysis was further performed to separately analyze the outcomes stratified by the probable source(s) of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by the visual inspection of the funnel plot asymmetry. Of 793 studies retrieved from the searches, 30 studies were included in qualitative and quantitative syntheses. The pooled mean lactate in patients with severe malaria was 5.04 mM (95% CI: 4.44–5.64; I2: 99.9%; n = 30,202 cases from 30 studies). The mean lactate in patients with severe malaria (1568 cases) was higher than in those with uncomplicated malaria (1693 cases) (p = 0.003; MD: 2.46; 95% CI: 0.85–4.07; I2: 100%; nine studies). The mean lactate in patients with severe malaria who died (272 cases) was higher than in those with severe malaria who survived (1370 cases) (p < 0.001; MD: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.74–3.75; I2: 95.8%; six studies). In conclusion, the present study showed a high mean difference in blood lactate level between patients with severe malaria and patients with uncomplicated malaria. In addition, there was a high mean difference in blood lactate level between patients with severe malaria who died compared to those with severe malaria who survived. Further studies are needed to investigate the prognostic value of blood lactate levels to identify patients who are at high risk of developing severe malaria or dying.
Ca2+/Sr2+ Selectivity in Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR): Implications for Strontium’s Anti-Osteoporosis Effect
Authors: Cheshmedzhieva Diana , Ilieva Sonia , Permyakov Eugene A. , Permyakov Sergei E. , Dudev Todor
Published: October 2021

The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) controls vital bone cell functions such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. The binding of the native agonist (Ca2+) to CaSR activates the receptor, which undergoes structural changes that trigger a cascade of events along the cellular signaling pathways. Strontium (in the form of soluble salts) has been found to also be a CaSR agonist. The activation of the receptor by Sr2+ is considered to be the major mechanism through which strontium exerts its anti-osteoporosis effect, mostly in postmenopausal women. Strontium-activated CaSR initiates a series of signal transduction events resulting in both osteoclast apoptosis and osteoblast differentiation, thus strengthening the bone tissue. The intimate mechanism of Sr2+ activation of CaSR is still enigmatic. Herewith, by employing a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and polarizable continuum model (PCM) computations, we have found that the Ca2+ binding sites 1, 3, and 4 in the activated CaSR, although possessing a different number and type of protein ligands, overall structure and charge state, are all selective for Ca2+ over Sr2+. The three binding sites, regardless of their structural differences, exhibit almost equal metal selectivity if they are flexible and have no geometrical constraints on the incoming Sr2+. In contrast to Ca2+ and Sr2+, Mg2+ constructs, when allowed to fully relax during the optimization process, adopt their stringent six-coordinated octahedral structure at the expense of detaching a one-backbone carbonyl ligand and shifting it to the second coordination layer of the metal. The binding of Mg2+ and Sr2+ to a rigid/inflexible calcium-designed binding pocket requires an additional energy penalty for the binding ion; however, the price for doing so (to be paid by Sr2+) is much less than that of Mg2+. The results obtained delineate the key factors controlling the competition between metal cations for the receptor and shed light on some aspects of strontium’s therapeutic effects.
Immunomodulatory Effects of a Concoction of Natural Bioactive Compounds—Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Gangwar Vani , Garg Amar , Lomore Karan , Korla Kalyani , Bhat Shruthi S. , Rao Raghavendra P. , Rafiq Mohamed , Kumawath Rajesh , Uddagiri Babu V. , Kareenhalli Venkatesh V.
Published: October 2021

Natural bioactive compounds derived from plant-based products are known for their biological immunomodulatory activities. They possess systemic pleiotropic effects, minimal side effects, and very low toxicities. Plant-based bioactive compounds have tremendous potential as natural therapeutic entities against various disease conditions and act as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-tumour, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective agents. A herbal formulation extract including five biologically active compounds: Apigenin, Quercetin, Betulinic acid, Oleanolic acid, and β-Sitosterol can impart several immunomodulatory effects. In this review, we systematically present the impact of these compounds on important molecular signaling pathways, including inflammation, immunity, redox metabolism, neuroinflammation, neutropenia, cell growth, apoptosis, and cell cycle. The review corroborates the beneficial effect of these compounds and shows considerable potential to be used as a safer, more cost-effective treatment for several diseases by affecting the major nodal points of various stimulatory pathways.