bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Potential of Human Immature Dental Pulp Stem Cells Observed in Mouse Model for Acquired Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Gonzaga Vivian Fonseca , Wenceslau Cristiane Valverde , Vieira Daniel Perez , Policiquio Bruna de Oliveira , Khalil Charbel , Araldi Rodrigo Pinheiro , Kerkis Irina
Published: July 2022

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare and serious disorder of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that results in the loss of blood cells due to the failure of the bone marrow (BM). Although BM transplantation is used to treat AA, its use is limited by donor availability. In this sense, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can offer a novel therapeutic approach for AA. This is because the MSCs contribute to the hematopoietic niche organization through their repopulating. In our study, we used the human immature dental pulp stem cell (hIDPSC), an MSC-like cell, to explore an alternative therapeutic approach for AA. For this, isogenic C57BL/6 mice were exposed to total body irradiation (TBI) to induce the AA. After 48 h of TBI, the mice were intraperitoneally treated with hIDPSC. The immunohistochemistry analyses confirmed that the hIDPSCs migrated and grafted in the mouse bone marrow (BM) and spleen, providing rapid support to hematopoiesis recovery compared to the group exposed to radiation, but not to those treated with the cells as well as the hematological parameters. Six months after the last hIDPSC transplantation, the BM showed long-term stable hematopoiesis. Our data highlight the therapeutic plasticity and hematoprotective role of hIDPSC for AA and potentially for other hematopoietic failures.
TRPM7 Modulates Human Pancreatic Stellate Cell Activation
Authors: Auwercx Julie , Kischel Philippe , Lefebvre Thibaut , Jonckheere Nicolas , Vanlaeys Alison , Guénin Stéphanie , Radoslavova Silviya , Van Seuningen Isabelle , Ouadid-Ahidouch Halima , Kocher Hemant M. , Dhennin-Duthille Isabelle , Gautier Mathieu
Published: July 2022

Pancreatic diseases, such as pancreatitis or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, are characterized by the presence of activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). These cells represent key actors in the tumor stroma, as they actively participate in disease development and progression: reprograming these PSCs into a quiescent phenotype has even been proposed as a promising strategy for restoring the hallmarks of a healthy pancreas. Since TRPM7 channels have been shown to regulate hepatic stellate cells proliferation and survival, we aimed to study the role of these magnesium channels in PSC activation and proliferation. PS-1 cells (isolated from a healthy pancreas) were used as a model of healthy PSCs: quiescence or activation were induced using all-trans retinoic acid or conditioned media of pancreatic cancer cells, respectively. The role of TRPM7 was studied by RNA silencing or by pharmacological inhibition. TRPM7 expression was found to be correlated with the activation status of PS-1 cells. TRPM7 expression was able to regulate proliferation through modulation of cell cycle regulators and most importantly p53, via the PI3K/Akt pathway, in a magnesium-dependent manner. Finally, the analysis of TCGA database showed the overexpression of TRPM7 in cancer-associated fibroblasts. Taken together, we provide strong evidences that TRPM7 can be considered as a marker of activated PSCs.
Interleukin-11: A Potential Biomarker and Molecular Therapeutic Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Leung Jason Hongting , Ng Benjamin , Lim Wei-Wen
Published: July 2022

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of lung cancer and is a fast progressive disease when left untreated. Identification of potential biomarkers in NSCLC is an ongoing area of research that aims to detect, diagnose, and prognosticate patients early to optimize treatment. We review the role of interleukin-11 (IL11), a stromal-cell derived pleiotropic cytokine with profibrotic and cellular remodeling properties, as a potential biomarker in NSCLC. This review identifies the need for biomarkers in NSCLC, the potential sources of IL11, and summarizes the available information leveraging upon published literature, publicly available datasets, and online tools. We identify accumulating evidence suggesting IL11 to be a potential biomarker in NSCLC patients. Further in-depth studies into the pathophysiological effects of IL11 on stromal-tumor interaction in NSCLC are warranted and current available literature highlights the potential value of IL11 detection as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in NSCLC.
Access to Care for US Children with Co-Occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Epilepsy
Authors: Zhang Wanqing , Thompson Kelsey L.
Published: July 2022

Epilepsy is a common comorbidity among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is a lack of understanding of the inequality in access to care for children with co-occurring ASD and epilepsy (ASD-EP). The purpose of this study is to examine key indicators for access to care and care coordination for children with ASD-EP in the US National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Data were collected from the 2017–2019 NSCH. Our analytic sample included children with ASD without epilepsy (N = 2150), children with both ASD and epilepsy (N = 143), and children with epilepsy without ASD (N = 711). The dependent variables included important access to care indicators such as having usual sources of care, having adequate coverage, being frustrated in efforts to get service, and receiving care coordination. The independent variables included ASD-EP status, child demographics, and an intellectual disability (ID) diagnosis. Our results show that demographic characteristics such as sex, race, income level, and insurance type affect access to care. Inadequate access to healthcare was significantly higher among female children, children from low-income families, and children with ID. The access barriers among children with ASD-EP were more likely due to the interplay of multiple clinical and individual factors.
Developmental Coordination Disorder and Most Prevalent Comorbidities: A Narrative Review
Authors: Lino Federica , Chieffo Daniela Pia Rosaria
Published: July 2022

This narrative review describes, in detail, the relationships between Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and most prevalent associated comorbidities in their complexity, heterogeneity and multifactoriality. The research has been conducted on the main scientific databases, excluding single case papers. Blurred borders between the different nosographic entities have been described and advances in this field have been highlighted. In this multifaceted framework a specific profiling for co-occurring DCD, ADHD and ASD signs and symptoms is proposed, confirming the need for a multidisciplinary approach to define new diagnostic paradigms in early childhood.
Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life among Non-Syndromic School-Age Children with Orofacial Clefts: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Italy
Authors: Defabianis Patrizia , Cogo Cesare , Massa Stefania , Romano Federica
Published: July 2022

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the influence of orofacial clefts on the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a group of Italian children and adolescents and to examine whether gender, age, cleft type, and surgical protocol were associated with patients’ OHRQoL. A total of 71 patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CLP) and 71 age- and gender-matched controls (aged 8 to 18 years) were asked to complete the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP), a validated and reliable questionnaire to assess self-reported OHRQoL in children and teenagers. Children with orofacial clefts showed statistically significant lower quality of life scores than controls for total OHRQoL and for each of the subscales. Gender, the type of cleft, and the type of surgical protocol had no significant influence on OHRQoL. The negative impact of CLP on the area of self-image was greater in 12–18-year-olds, indicating a higher need for psychosocial counselling. These findings suggest that Italian CLP children and adolescents experience a poorer OHRQoL in comparison to their non-cleft peers.
Pressure Induced Disorder-Order Phase Transitions in the Al4Cr Phases
Authors: Fan Changzeng , Geng Xu , Wen Bin
Published: July 2022

An ordered ω-Al4Cr phase synthesized recently by a high-pressure sintering (HPS) approach was calculated to be stable by density function theory (DFT), implying that high pressure can accelerate the disorder-order phase transitions. The structural building units of the ω-Al4Cr phase as well as the non-stoichiometric disordered ε-Al4Cr and μ-Al4Cr phases have been analyzed by the topological “nanocluster” method in order to explore the structural relations among these phases. Both the ε-and μ-Al4Cr phases contain the typical Macky or pseudo-Macky cluster, and their centered positions were all occupied by Cr atoms, which all occupy the high-symmetry Wyckoff positions. The mechanism of the pressure-induced disorder-order phase transitions from the ε-/μ-Al4Cr to the ω-Al4Cr phase has been analyzed. and the related peritectic and eutectoid reactions have been re-evaluated. All results suggest that the stable ω-Al4Cr phase are transformed from the μ-Al4Cr phase by the eutectoid reaction that is accelerated by high-pressure conditions, whereas the ε-Al4Cr phase should form by the peritectic reaction.
Editorial on Special Issue “Performance Prediction, Durability and Modelling of Concrete Materials and Structures”
Authors: Yu Yang , Wang Weiqiang , Shehu Rafael , Pomaro Beatrice
Published: July 2022

Concrete is one of the construction industry’s most essential and commonly used materials [...]
Solution-Mediated Polymorphic Transformation of L-Carnosine from Form II to Form I
Authors: Zhou Yanan , Zong Shuyi , Gao Jie , Liu Chunsong , Wang Ting
Published: July 2022

In this study, L-carnosine was chosen as the model compound to systematically study solution-mediated polymorphic transformation by online experiment and theoretical simulation. Form II, a new polymorph of L-carnosine, was developed using an antisolvent crystallization method. The properties of form I and form II L-carnosine were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, polarizing microscope, thermal analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. In order to explore the relative stability, the solubility of L-carnosine form I and form II in a (water + DMAC) binary solvent mixture was determined by a dynamic method. During the solution-mediated polymorphic transformation process of L-carnosine in different solvents, Raman spectroscopy was employed to detect the solid-phase composition of suspension in situ, and the gravimetric method was used to measure the liquid concentration. In addition, the effect of the solvent on the transformation process was evaluated and analyzed. Finally, a mathematical model of dissolution–precipitation was established to simulate the kinetics of the polymorphic transformation process based on the experimental data. Taking the simulation results and the experimental data into consideration, the controlling step of solution-mediated polymorphic transformation was discussed.
First Draft Genome Assembly of Tropical Bed Bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.)
Authors: Lim Li , Ab Majid Abdul Hafiz
Published: July 2022

Cimex hemipterus, a blood-feeding ectoparasite commonly found in tropical regions, is a notorious household pest. The draft genome assembly of C. hemipterus is presented in this study, generated using SPAdes software with Illumina short reads. The obtained genome size was 388.66 Mb with a contig N50 size of 3503 bp. BUSCO assessment indicated that 96.71% of the expected Insecta lineage genes were complete in the genome assembly. Annotation of the C. hemipterus genome assembly identified 2.88% of repetitive sequences and 17,254 protein-coding genes. Functional annotation showed that most gene families are involved in cellular processes and signaling. This first C. hemipterus genome will be helpful in further understanding the bed bug genetics and evolution, while the annotated genome may also help in devising new strategies in bed bug management.
An Evolution of Reporting: Identifying the Missing Link
Authors: Harsini Sara , Tofighi Salar , Eibschutz Liesl , Quinn Brian , Gholamrezanezhad Ali
Published: July 2022

In recent years, radiologic imaging has undergone tremendous technological advances and is now a pillar of diagnostic and treatment algorithms in clinical medicine. The increased complexity and volume of medical imaging has led clinicians to become ever more reliant on radiologists to both identify and interpret patient studies. A radiologist’s report provides key insights into a patient’s immediate state of health, information that is vital when choosing the most appropriate next steps in management. As errors in imaging interpretation or miscommunication of results can greatly impair patient care, identifying common error sources is vital to minimizing their occurrence. Although mistakes in medical imaging are practically inevitable, changes to the delivery of imaging reporting and the addition of artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze clinicians’ communication skills can minimize the impact of these errors, keep up with the continuously evolving landscape of medical imaging, and ultimately close the communication gap.
Does Myasthenia Gravis Affect Long-Term Survival in Thymic Carcinomas? An ESTS Database Analysis
Authors: Lococo Filippo , Nachira Dania , Chiappetta Marco , Evangelista Jessica , Falcoz Pierre Emmanuel , Ruffini Enrico , Van Schil Paul , Scarci Marco , Furàk Jòzsef , Sollitto Francesco , Guerrera Francesco , Spaggiari Lorenzo , Aigner Clemens , Evangelia Liverakou , Billè Andrea , Moser Bernhard , Thomas Pascal Alexandre , Liberman Moishe , Boubia Souheil , Campisi Alessio , Ampollini Luca , Toker Alper , Enyed Attila , Voltolini Luca , Van Raemdonck Dirk , Margaritora Stefano ,   ESTS Thymic Working Group
Published: July 2022

Background: Thymic carcinoma is a rare and highly malignant tumor with a dismal prognosis, which occasionally coexists with myasthenia gravis (MG). This study aims to investigate the MG incidence on a surgical cohort of patients with thymic carcinoma and to explore its influence on long-term survival. Methods: the prospectively collected data from the ESTS database on thymic epithelial tumors were reviewed. Clinical, pathological, and survival information on thymic carcinoma were analyzed. Results: the analysis was conducted on 203 patients, with an equal gender distribution (96 males and 107 females). MG was detected in 22 (10.8%) patients, more frequently elderly (>60 years, p = 0.048) and male (p = 0.003). Induction therapy was performed in 22 (10.8%) cases. After surgery, 120 (59.1%) patients had a Masaoka stage II–III while complete resection (R0) was achieved in 158 (77.8%). Adjuvant therapy was performed in 68 cases. Mean follow-up was 60 (SD = 14) months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 79%, 75% and 63%, respectively. MG did not seem to influence long-term survival (5-year survival in non-MG–TCs 78% vs. 50% in MG–TCs, p = ns) as age < 60 years, female gender, early Masaoka stage, and postoperative radiotherapy did, conversely. Conclusions: myasthenia occurred in about 10% of thymic carcinomas and it did not seem to affect significantly the long-term prognosis in surgically treated thymic carcinoma-patients.
MCO Plan: Efficient Coverage Mission for Multiple Micro Aerial Vehicles Modeled as Agents
Authors: Campo Liseth Viviana , Ledezma Agapito , Corrales Juan Carlos
Published: July 2022

Micro aerial vehicle (MAV) fleets have gained essential recognition in the decision schemes for precision agriculture, disaster management, and other coverage missions. However, they have some challenges in becoming massively deployed. One of them is resource management in restricted workspaces. This paper proposes a plan to balance resources when considering the practical use of MAVs and workspace in daily chores. The coverage mission plan is based on five stages: world abstraction, area partitioning, role allocation, task generation, and task allocation. The tasks are allocated according to agent roles, Master, Coordinator, or Operator (MCO), which describe their flight autonomy, connectivity, and decision skill. These roles are engaged with the partitioning based on the Voronoi-tessellation but extended to heterogeneous polygons. The advantages of the MCO Plan were evident compared with conventional Boustrophedon decomposition and clustering by K-means. The MCO plan achieved a balanced magnitude and trend of heterogeneity between both methods, involving MAVs with few or intermediate resources. The resulting efficiency was tested in the GAMA platform, with gained energy between 2% and 10% in the mission end. In addition, the MCO plan improved mission times while the connectivity was effectively held, even more, if the Firefly algorithm generated coverage paths.
Aircraft Carrier Pose Tracking Based on Adaptive Region in Visual Landing
Authors: Zhou Jiexin , Wang Qiufu , Zhang Zhuo , Sun Xiaoliang
Published: July 2022

Due to its structural simplicity and its strong anti-electromagnetic ability, landing guidance based on airborne monocular vision has gained more and more attention. Monocular 6D pose tracking of the aircraft carrier is one of the key technologies in visual landing guidance. However, owing to the large range span in the process of carrier landing, the scale of the carrier target in the image variates greatly. There is still a lack of robust monocular pose tracking methods suitable for this scenario. To tackle this problem, a new aircraft carrier pose tracking algorithm based on scale-adaptive local region is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the projected contour of the carrier target is uniformly sampled to establish local circular regions. Then, the local area radius is adjusted according to the pixel scale of the projected contour to build the optimal segmentation energy function. Finally, the 6D pose tracking of the carrier target is realized by iterative optimization. Experimental results on both synthetic and real image sequences show that the proposed method achieves robust and efficient 6D pose tracking of the carrier target under the condition of large distance span, which meets the application requirements of carrier landing guidance.
Experimental Diagnosis on Combustion Characteristic of Shock Wave Focusing Initiation Engine
Authors: Xu Shida , Song Feilong , Chen Xin , Zhang Hesong , Yang Xingkui , Zhou Jianping
Published: July 2022

A shock wave focusing initiation engine was assembled and tested in an experimental program. The effective pyrolysis rate of the pre-combustor was evaluated over a range of supplementary fuel ratio in this paper. Results highlight two operational modes of the resonant cavity: (1) pulsating combustion mode, (2) stable combustion mode. The appearance of the two combustion modes is jointly affected by the flow and the structural characteristic value of the combustion chamber. This paper uses images, time-frequency analysis, and nonlinear time series analysis methods to identify and distinguish these two combustion modes. It is believed that the interaction between the combustion chamber and the supply plenum is the probable reason for different combustion modes. The experiment has found that structural parameters and import flow parameters have an impact on the initiation of the combustion chamber. Increasing the injection pressure can appropriately broaden the fuel-rich boundary of initiation. Low equivalence ratio and high injection pressure can also appropriately increase the combustion working frequency in a small range. From the perspective of pressure utilization, under the premise of ensuring successful initiation, injection pressure should not be too high.
Two Sound Field Control Methods Based on Particle Velocity
Authors: Wang Song , Zhang Cong
Published: July 2022

In recent years, a variety of sound field control methods have been proposed for the generation of separated sound regions. Different algorithms control the physical properties of the generated sound field to different degrees. The existing methods mainly focus on sound pressure restoration and its related improvement. When the loudspeaker array is non-uniformly placed, the reconstruction system is not stable enough. To solve this problem, this paper proposes two sound field control methods related to particle velocity. The first method regulates the reconstruction error of particle velocity in the bright zone and the square of particle velocity in the dark zone; the second method regulates the reconstruction error of sound pressure and particle velocity in the bright zone and the square of sound pressure and particle velocity in the dark zone. Five channel and twenty-two channel non-uniform loudspeaker systems were used for two-dimensional and three-dimensional computer simulation testing. Experimental results show that the two proposed methods have better tradeoffs in terms of acoustic contrast, reproduction error and array effort than traditional methods, especially the second proposed method. In the two-dimensional experiment, the maximum reductions of the average array efforts generated by the proposed methods were about 10 dB and 11 dB compared with the average array efforts generated by two traditional methods. In the three-dimensional experiment, the maximum reductions of the average array efforts generated by the proposed methods were about 8 dB and 2 dB compared with the average array efforts generated by two traditional methods. The smaller the array effort, the more stable the loudspeaker system. Therefore, the reconstruction systems produced by the proposed methods are more stable than those produced by the traditional methods.
Strengthening Resilience in the Energy Critical Infrastructure: Methodological Overview
Authors: Rehak David , Slivkova Simona , Janeckova Heidi , Stuberova Dominika , Hromada Martin
Published: July 2022

As the number of threats and the severity of their impact increases, an ever greater emphasis is being placed on the protection of critical infrastructure. Thus, the issue of resilience, or its assessment and strengthening, is increasingly coming to the fore. The resilience assessment of critical infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, has received considerable attention due to the high level of interest in this issue. However, the issue of strengthening resilience poses a significant challenge not only in the energy sector but also in the entire critical infrastructure system. Despite the great importance of this area, there is not a large number of authors moving in this direction and paying attention to resilience-strengthening tools. For this reason, the aim of this article is to provide the reader with a comprehensive methodological overview of resilience strengthening in the critical energy infrastructure sector. This article also provides an overview of internal and external tools suitable for strengthening resilience and presents a possible procedure for their application to energy critical infrastructure elements.
Influence of Nanoemulsion Droplet Size of Removing Water Blocking Damage in Tight Gas Reservoir
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhou Fujian , Wang Jie , Li Bojun , Xu Hang , Yao Erdong , Zhao Longhao
Published: July 2022

During the production process, water phase incursion into the reservoir causes water blocking damage and seriously affects the production of tight gas reservoirs. Recently, nanoemulsions have been used as highly effective water blocking removing agents in the field, but their mechanism is still unclear. In this research, a series of nanoemulsions with different droplet sizes were synthesized, and their water blocking removing performance was intensively investigated. To begin, the relationship between the droplet size and the chemical composition of the nanoemulsion was determined by dynamic light scattering. Second, the influence of the nanoemulsion droplet size on the surface tension and the contact angle experiments was studied. Finally, NMR and permeability recovery experiments were used to study the relationship between the droplet size and the water locking removing effect of the nanoemulsions. Simultaneously, the surfactant release process was investigated using the static adsorption curves of the nanoemulsions. The experimental results show that the droplet size of nanoemulsion has an exponential relationship with the oil phase content. The surface tension decreases with the increase in droplet size, but the wetting reversal effect decreases with the increase in droplet size. The nanoemulsion with an oil phase content of 5 wt.% has the best water locking removing effect, and the permeability recovery value of the core reaches 59.54%. The adsorption control of the nanoemulsion on the surfactant is the key to its water blocking removing ability. This comprehensive study shows that the nanoemulsion with an oil phase content of 5 wt.% has optimum adsorption control capability. Thus, it can be used as a promising candidate for removing water blocking in tight gas reservoirs.
An Output Feedback Discrete-Time Controller for the DC-DC Buck Converter
Authors: Alarcón-Carbajal Martin A. , Carvajal-Rubio José E. , Sánchez-Torres Juan D. , Castro-Palazuelos David E. , Rubio-Astorga Guillermo J.
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a discrete-time output feedback controller to regulate the output voltage of a DC-DC buck converter. The proposal’s main feature is the application of a discrete-time equivalent of the robust exact filtering differentiator. First, the document exposes a theoretical analysis of the closed-loop system, where it is considered the problem of implementing a real-time differentiator with a good relationship between exactness and noise filtration performance. Hence, secondly, the controller in a laboratory setup is presented. The first experimental results suggest that the proposed controller exhibits good robustness against noise and maintains the asymptotic accuracy, even with saturated control inputs, as in the case of the DC-DC buck converter. Consequently, aiming to verify the features of the proposed method, the controller is validated through multiple experiments, showing satisfactory voltage tracking accuracy, good suppression of instantaneous load and supply voltage disturbances, and robustness against bounded measurement noise.
Study of the Pipeline in Emergency Operation and Assessing the Magnitude of the Gas Leak
Authors: Schipachev Andrey , Fetisov Vadim , Nazyrov Ayrat , Donghee Lee , Khamrakulov Abdurakhmat
Published: July 2022

Accidents on gas pipelines cause significant damage to the national economy and the economy of the state. Thus, it is necessary to always be prepared for such situations in order to restore the normal operation of the gas pipeline as soon as possible. An important role is played by the execution time of the control actions to localize the accident, pump out the gas, and change the operating modes. It is essential that such control be undertaken, especially if such a situation occurs near a gas-measuring installation for measuring the amount of vented gas. Therefore, the control actions must be error-free in order to quickly stop the non-stationary process, which can lead to undesirable consequences. The paper presents a mathematical model of the operation of the pipeline, developed for the management of the pipeline in an emergency. The analysis of the problem of the occurrence of accidents was carried out, and the effect of liquid on its walls was modeled when the operating mode of the pipeline changed. An example is presented using a numerical model carried out in ANSYS, as well as being analyzed analytically. The results of the calculations are presented, and special attention is paid to the parameters influencing the change in the operating mode of the pipeline.
Control of Heat Transfer in a Vertical Ground Heat Exchanger for a Geothermal Heat Pump System
Authors: Salhein Khaled , Kobus C. J. , Zohdy Mohamed
Published: July 2022

This paper presents a mathematical model of heat transfer behavior between the liquid inside vertical underground geothermal pipes and the surrounding ground for heating (in the winter) and cooling (in the summer) modes in a ground heat exchanger (GHE) that can optimize its output temperature. The GHE’s output temperature reaches the appropriate value when the water velocity is lowered enough. Subsequently, the proposed model was applied to a case study of a 400-ton geothermal heat pump system (GHPS) at Oakland University, in both the heating and cooling modes, to assess its validity and improve the GHE’s performance. The model was implemented in MATLAB using an ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver. Four different water velocities were used to demonstrate the significant effect of velocity on the loop exit temperature. Model predictive control (MPC) was designed to optimize the GHE’s output temperature by controlling the water velocity, which could reduce the energy consumption used for heat and water circulating pumps. The results reveal that the acceptable range of the water velocity for Oakland University’s GHE was between 0.35 and 0.45 m/s, which ensured that the heat pump system delivered the proper temperature to provide the Human Health Building (HHB) with a comfortable temperature regardless of the season. The suggested water velocity ranges in vertical single U-tube pipes with diameters of De 25 mm, De 32 mm, and De 40 mm are between 0.33 and 0.43 m/s, 0.35 to 0.45 m/s, and 0.38 to 0.48 m/s, respectively.
Modern Methods of Strengthening and Sealing Salt Mines
Authors: Gonet Andrzej , Stryczek Stanisław , Kremieniewski Marcin
Published: July 2022

In order to ensure safe working conditions for miners underground, many works are carried out in mines to strengthen and seal mining excavations. This article presents the successfully applied technology for removing water inflow from the unique Salt Mine. Failure to take such action may ultimately lead to the flooding of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine (KSW). On the basis of the authors’ research studies, some of the implemented works at the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine are presented, the purpose of which is to better protect the mine against the risk of flooding with water. Thanks to this, the mine can safely survive for many more years. This article presents two innovative technologies in salt mines: (1) sealing of the rock mass surrounding the Kościuszko shaft casing in the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine, where jet injection was used as the basic method of making an anti-filter screen outside the shaft casing and classic injection as a supplementary method for sealing the anthropogenic embankment; (2) reconstruction of the internal pillar of safety by implementing a patented technology called “pipeline injection” on the example of the Mina cross-section, in which a catastrophic water inflow was previously created that threatened the existence of the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. The first method consists of making an anti-filter screen, which is located outside the shaft housing. Unfortunately, it is not possible to perform injection works from inside the shaft housing, because the Kosciuszko shaft, as a ventilation shaft, must be open constantly. To solve this problem, it is designed as the main technology known as jet grouting, which is supplemented by pressure injection at a depth of up to several meters with continuous monitoring of the condition of the casing during injection works. The second example concerns the reconstruction of the internal pillar of mine safety in the area of the northern border of the salt deposit. In this case, the catastrophic hazard is documented, as evidenced by the inflow to the Mina transverse, which is located on the fourth level of the mine. This task was successfully completed by the implementation of a patented technological solution called pipeline injection, the details of which are discussed in this article.
Shrubs Should Be Valued: The Functional Traits of Lonicera fragrantissima var. lancifolia in a Qinling Huangguan Forest Dynamics Plot, China
Authors: Han Anxia , Qiu Jing , Cao Ruoming , Jia Shihong , Hao Zhanqing , Yin Qiulong
Published: July 2022

Previous studies have focused on the functional traits of trees, while undergrowth shrubs have not received the same attention. We collected 97 shrubs from 6 habitats in 3 diameter classes to measure the functional traits of Lonicera fragrantissima var. lancifolia, which is one of the dominant species in the shrub layer of the Qinling Huangguan plot. We found that leaf thickness (LT) decreased with an increase in diameter classes. Other functional traits did not change significantly with the diameter classes. Most of the functional traits changed with the habitats, which may be influenced by topography and soil. On the whole, Lonicera fragrantissima var. lancifolia showed low variation, which indicates that its growth was stable and good. The relationships between functional traits within species was in accordance with the leaf economic spectrum. The positive correlation between soil total nitrogen (STN) and C:N verified the “nutrition luxury hypothesis”.
Development of Variable-Density Yield Models with Site Index Estimation for Korean Pines and Japanese Larch
Authors: Lee Daesung , Choi Jungkee
Published: July 2022

The objectives of this study were to develop site index and variable-density yield models for Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.), Korean white pine (P. koraiensis S. & Z.), and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière) in Korea. The data were collected between 2012 and 2021 from repeatedly measured empirical plots in each target stand in the North Central region of Korea: Gangwon and North Gyeongsang provinces. To develop the site index for each species, a dominant height growth model by species was developed using the Chapman–Richards function. The site index was computed with a base age of 40 years and used as an independent variable to predict the stand volume. To develop the variable-density yield models, three stand density variables, the stand age, and the site index were applied. The stand density variables used were the stand basal area, the number of trees per hectare, and the relative density. All the models were successfully developed with significant parameters and reasonable fit statistics, and the residuals analyzed presented unbiased scatter plots. Yield models with the stand basal area, or the number of trees, can be used to predict the stand volume. The yield model with relative density was flexible to apply across the stand age because the input of the absolute stand density was not required. Model simulation and comparisons with other studies also supported the applicability of the models developed in this study. The models were found to be highly applicable for predicting and simulating these targeted stands, particularly in Korea.
Colaconema formosanum, Sarcodia suae, and Nostoc commune as Fermentation Substrates for Bioactive Substance Production
Authors: Lee Meng-Chou , Huang Chin-Yi , Lai Chin-Ling , Yeh Han-Yang , Huang Jing , Lung Wei Qing Chloe , Lee Po-Tsang , Nan Fan-Hua
Published: July 2022

Bioactive compounds extracted from natural renewable sources have attracted an increased interest from both industry and academia. Recently, algae have been highlighted as promising sources of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, fatty acids, proteins, and pigments, which can be used as functional ingredients in many industrial applications. Therefore, a simple green extraction and purification methodology capable of recovering biocompounds from algal biomass is of extreme importance in commercial production. In this study, we evaluated the application of three valuable algae (Colaconema formosanum, Sarcodia suae, and Nostoc commune) in combination with Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (type strain ATCC 14393) for the production of versatile compounds. The results illustrate that after 6 h of first-stage fermentation, the production of phycobiliproteins in C. formosanum was significantly increased by 156.2%, 188.9%, and 254.17% for PE, PC, and APC, respectively. This indicates that the production of phycobiliproteins from algae can be enhanced by P. haloplanktis. Furthermore, we discovered that after S. suae and N. commune were fermented with P. haloplanktis, mannose was produced. In this study, we describe a feasible biorefinery process for the production of phycobiliproteins and mannose by fermenting marine macroalgae with cyanobacteria. We believe it is worth establishing a scale-up technique by applying this fermentation method to the production of phycobiliproteins and mannose in the future.
Evaluation of the Brewing Characteristics, Digestion Profiles, and Neuroprotective Effects of Two Typical Se-Enriched Green Teas
Authors: Ye Yuanyuan , He Jiangling , He Zhijun , Zhang Na , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhou Jiaojiao , Cheng Shuiyuan , Cai Jie
Published: July 2022

As a functional beverage, selenium (Se)-enriched green tea (Se-GT) has gained increasing popularity for its superior properties in promoting health. In this study, we compared the brewing characteristics, in vitro digestion profiles, and protective effects on neurotoxicity induced through the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide of two typical Se-GTs (Enshi Yulu (ESYL) and Ziyang Maojian (ZYMJ), representing the typical low-Se green tea and high-Se green tea, respectively). ESYL and ZYMJ showed similar chemical component leaching properties with the different brewing methods, and the optimized brewing conditions were 5 min, 90 °C, 50 mL/g, and first brewing. The antioxidant activities of the tea infusions had the strongest positive correlation with the tea polyphenols among all of the leaching substances. The tea infusions of ESYL and ZYMJ showed similar digestive behaviors, and the tea polyphenols in the tea infusions were almost totally degraded or transferred after 150 min of dynamic digestion. Studies conducted in a cell model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) showed that the extract from the high-Se green tea was more effective for neuroprotection compared with the low-Se green tea. Overall, our results revealed the best brewing conditions and digestion behaviors of Se-GT and the great potential of Se-GT or Se-enriched green extract (Se-GTE) to be used as promising AD-preventive beverages or food ingredients.
Specific Microbial Communities Are Selected in Minimally-Processed Fruit and Vegetables according to the Type of Product
Authors: Sequino Giuseppina , Valentino Vincenzo , Torrieri Elena , De Filippis Francesca
Published: July 2022

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) products are recommended for the daily diet due to their low caloric content, high amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Furthermore, these foods are a source of various phytochemical compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids and sterols, exerting antioxidant activity. Despite the benefits derived from eating raw F&V, the quality and safety of these products may represent a source of concern, since they can be quickly spoiled and have a very short shelf-life. Moreover, they may be a vehicle of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aims to evaluate the bacterial and fungal populations in F&V products (i.e., iceberg lettuces, arugula, spinaches, fennels, tomatoes and pears) by using culture-dependent microbiological analysis and high-throughput sequencing (HTS), in order to decipher the microbial populations that characterize minimally-processed F&V. Our results show that F&V harbor diverse and product-specific bacterial and fungal communities, with vegetables leaf morphology and type of edible fraction of fruits exerting the highest influence. In addition, we observed that several alterative (e.g., Pseudomonas and Aspergillus) and potentially pathogenic taxa (such as Staphylococcus and Cladosporium) are present, thus emphasizing the need for novel product-specific strategies to control the microbial composition of F&V and extend their shelf-life.
Consumers’ Knowledge and Handling Practices Associated with Fresh-Cut Produce in the United States
Authors: Yu Heyao , Lin Zhihong , Lin Michael S. , Neal Jack A. , Sirsat Sujata A.
Published: July 2022

Previous studies have shown that three factors influence fresh-cut produce safety from farm to fork: (1) post-harvest practices in processing facilities, (2) employees’ handling practices in retail facilities, and (3) consumers’ handling practices in domestic kitchens or cooking facilities. However, few studies have examined consumers’ food safety knowledge, risk perceptions, and their handling practices associated with fresh-cut produce. To fill this gap, the present study conducted a nationwide survey to assess U.S. consumers’ food safety knowledge, practices, and risk perception associated with fresh-cut produce among various demographic groups and investigated factors influencing consumers’ food safety practices related to fresh-cut produce. The results showed that consumers lack the knowledge and safe handling practices toward fresh-cut produce regarding storage hierarchy, surface cleaning and sanitizing, and time and temperature control of fresh-cut produce. The men and millennial consumers exhibit a lower level of safe fresh-cut produce handling practices. In addition, a significant interaction was observed between food safety knowledge and risk perceptions on consumers’ fresh-cut produce handling practices, such that food safety knowledge can transfer to practice more effectively for consumers with high levels of risk perception. The results can be utilized to design effective consumer food safety education tools for targeted audiences.
Metabolomics Analysis Coupled with Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Unravels the Associations of Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle-Intermediates with Edible Pigments Produced by Monascus purpureus (Hong Qu)
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Huanhuan , Shu Lin , Xu Huimin , Cheng Ying , Mao Zhitao , Liu Bin , Liao Xiaoping , Huang Di
Published: July 2022

Monascus azaphilones pigments (MonAzPs) produced by microbial fermentation are widely used as food chemicals for coloring and supplying beneficial biological attributes. In this study, a fermentation perturbation strategy was implemented by separately adding different amino acids, and detecting the intracellular metabolome via UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. With the aid of weighted gene co-expression network analysis, two metabolic intermediates, fumarate and malate, involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, were identified as the hub metabolites. Moreover, exogenous addition of fumarate or malate significantly promoted red pigment production, and reduced orange/yellow pigment production. The importance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle was further emphasized by detecting intracellular levels of ATP, NAD(P)H, and expression of oxidoreductase-coding genes located in the MonAzPs synthetic gene cluster, suggesting a considerable effect of the energy supply on MonAzPs synthesis. Collectively, metabolomics is a powerful approach to position the crucial metabolic regulatory factors, and facilitate the development of engineering strategies for targeted regulation, lower trial-and-error cost, and advance safe and controllable processes for fermented food chemistry industries.
Mechanical Characteristics and Self-Healing Soil-Cementitious Hydrogel Materials in Mine Backfill Using Hybridized ANFIS-SVM
Authors: Liu Qi , Peng Kang , Zandi Yousef , Agdas Alireza Sadighi , Al-Tamimi Haneen M. , Assilzadeh Hamid , Khalek Ebid Ahmed Abdel , Khadimallah Mohamed Amine , Ali H. Elhosiny
Published: July 2022

The compressive strength, shrinkage, elasticity, and electrical resistivity of the cement-soil pastes (slag, fly ash) of self-healing of cementitious concrete have been studied while adding hydrogels with nano silica (NSi) in this research. Defining the hydraulic and mechanical properties of these materials requires improvement to motivate more uptake for new buildings. Initially, examining the impact of different synthesized hydrogels on cement-soil pastes showed that solid particles in the mixtures highly affected the absorption capacity of NSi, representing the importance of direct interactions between solid particles and hydrogels in a cementitious matrix. All test results were analyzed by use of a hybridized soft computing model such as the adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and support vector regression (SVR) for precise studying and the avoidance of few empirical tests or error percentages. Subsequently, the best RMSE of ANFIS is 0.6568 and the best RMSE of SVM is 1.2564; the RMSE of ANFIS-SVM (0.5643) in the test phase is also close to zero, showing a better performance in hypothesizing self-healing soil-cementitious hydrogel materials in mine backfill. The R2 value for ANFIS-SVM is 0.9547, proving that it is a proper model for predicting the study’s goal. Electrical resistivity and compressive strength declined in the cement-soil pastes including hydrogels according to experimental outcomes; it was lowered by the increase of NSi concentration in the hydrogel. There was a decrement in the autogenous shrinkage of cement-soil pastes while adding hydrogel, depending on the NSi concentration in the hydrogels. The findings of this research are pivotal for the internal curing of cementitious materials to define the absorption of hydrogels.
Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide Insights into the Formation of the Peach-like Aroma of Fragaria nilgerrensis Schlecht. Fruits
Authors: Wang Ai-Hua , Ma Hong-Ye , Zhang Bao-Hui , Mo Chuan-Yuan , Li En-Hong , Li Fei
Published: July 2022

Fragaria nilgerrensis Schlecht. is a wild diploid strawberry species. The intense peach-like aroma of its fruits makes F. nilgerrensis an excellent resource for strawberry breeding programs aimed at enhancing flavors. However, the formation of the peach-like aroma of strawberry fruits has not been comprehensively characterized. In this study, fruit metabolome and transcriptome datasets for F. nilgerrensis (HA; peach-like aroma) and its interspecific hybrids PA (peach-like aroma) and NA (no peach-like aroma; control) were compared. In total, 150 differentially accumulated metabolites were detected. The K-means analysis revealed that esters/lactones, including acetic acid, octyl ester, δ-octalactone, and δ-decalactone, were more abundant in HA and PA than in NA. These metabolites may be important for the formation of the peach-like aroma of F. nilgerrensis fruits. The significantly enriched gene ontology terms assigned to the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were fatty acid metabolic process and fatty acid biosynthetic process. Twenty-seven DEGs were predicted to be associated with ester and lactone biosynthesis, including AAT, LOX, AOS, FAD, AIM1, EH, FAH, ADH, and cytochrome P450 subfamily genes. Thirty-five transcription factor genes were predicted to be associated with aroma formation, including bHLH, MYB, bZIP, NAC, AP2, GATA, and TCPfamily members. Moreover, we identified differentially expressed FAD, AOS, and cytochrome P450 family genes and NAC, MYB, and AP2 transcription factor genes that were correlated with δ-octalactone and δ-decalactone. These findings provide key insights into the formation of the peach-like aroma of F. nilgerrensis fruits, with implications for the increased use of wild strawberry resources.