bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wind Power Prediction Method: Support Vector Regression Optimized by Improved Jellyfish Search Algorithm
Authors: Yuan Dong-Dong , Li Ming , Li Heng-Yi , Lin Cheng-Jian , Ji Bing-Xiang
Published: September 2022

To address the problems of grid connection and power dispatching caused by non-stationary wind power output, an improved Jellyfish Search algorithm optimization support vector regression (IJS-SVR) model was proposed in this study to achieve high-precision wind power prediction. The random selection of internal parameters of SVR model will affect its performance. In this study, the Jellyfish Search (JS) algorithm was selected and improved to propose an Improved Jellyfish Search (IJS) algorithm. Compared with the comparative algorithms, the optimized values of IJS algorithm are closer to 0. It exhibits good convergence ability, search stability, and optimization-seeking ability, as well as being more suitable for solving optimization problems. Therefore, IJS was used to optimize SVR, and the prediction model of IJS-SVR was established. Different weather and seasons affect wind power and model prediction accuracy. The wind power in spring and winter was selected for model prediction verification in this study. Compared with other methods, the IJS-SVR model proposed in this study could achieve better prediction results than other models in both seasons, and its prediction performance was better, which could improve the prediction accuracy of wind power. This study provides a more economical and effective method of wind power to solve its uncertainties and can be used as a reference for grid power generation planning and power system economic dispatch.
Improved Oil Recovery from Carbonate Reservoirs by Tuning Injection Seawater Composition
Authors: Wu Jiazhong , Liu Fanghui , Yang Siyu , Han Haishui , Chen Xinglong , Yang Hui
Published: September 2022

In order to improve the adaptability of low-salinity waterflooding technology in some areas where freshwater resources are scarce, we aimed at implementing the low-salinity effect (LSE) in carbonate reservoirs through tuning injection seawater composition. LSE of ion tuning water (ITW) was verified by the results of core flooding tests, obtaining a water-free recovery factor of 50.7% and cumulative oil recovery of 77.2%. The micro mechanisms behind it were revealed via direct force-measuring and Zeta parameter (Zetap) measuring. Our results are expected to provide a new LSW strategy via tuning injection seawater composition in the case of carbonate reservoirs.
The Progression of Prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in the United States: Current Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Nwosu Benjamin Udoka
Published: September 2022

Prediabetes, the precursor of type 2 diabetes (T2D), is on the rise among children and adolescents in the United States. The natural history of prediabetes is poorly characterized in children compared to adults. The available data indicate a phenotype of an accelerated β-cell failure in youth with prediabetes. Data from randomized controlled trials showed no benefit on β-cell preservation or A1c in youth with prediabetes from therapeutic agents such as metformin and insulin. As a result, the American Diabetes Association recommends only lifestyle intervention, but not therapeutic agents, for the management of prediabetes in children and adolescents. These recommendations for lifestyle modification in youth, largely derived from data in adults, lack the precision necessary for efficacy in youth. However, a recent 4-year real-world study on youth reported that adherence to nutrition visits was associated with a 4-fold reduction in the likelihood of progressing from prediabetes to T2D. The finding that this reversal is associated with reduced insulin resistance (IR) and not with decreased body weight is novel and provides the foundation for trialing investigational products that may protect β-cells and reduce IR and/or body weight. This study provides the much-needed foundation for further exploration of the impact of lifestyle modification in conjunction with other approaches for the reversal of prediabetes in youth. The systematization of the protocol for medical nutrition therapy for the reversal of prediabetes in youth will ensure optimal and consistent results from adherent patients. This communication provides updates on the pathobiology of prediabetes in youth and a clear direction for efficacious studies in the field.
The Paris Target, Human Rights, and IPCC Weaknesses: Legal Arguments in Favour of Smaller Carbon Budgets
Authors: Ekardt Felix , Bärenwaldt Marie , Heyl Katharine
Published: September 2022

The Paris Climate Agreement (PA) provides an overall target which limits global warming to “well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels” and “pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels” (Art. 2 para. 1 PA). This article assesses the extent to which new insights can be derived from recent IPCC reports for the interpretation of Art. 2 para. 1 PA from a legal perspective. To this end, the article analyses the contributions of Working Groups I and III of the sixth assessment report. Methodologically, we compare the findings with previously published IPCC reports, namely the 1.5 °C report and the fifth assessment report. A legal interpretation of the Paris Agreement and of core concepts of human rights follows. Several empirical indications show that current global greenhouse gas budget calculations are quite generous. We provide five empirical arguments that clearly point in that direction. These empirical arguments, combined with legal arguments, demonstrate that the budgets must be smaller than those estimated by the IPCC. The legal arguments are based on Art. 2 of the Paris Agreement, as well as on human rights and the precautionary principle. These norms contain an obligation to minimise the risk of significant damage, i.e., to take rapid and drastic climate protection measures. This implies: 1.5 °C is the legally binding temperature target; adherence requires a very high probability of achieving the target; temperature overshoot and geoengineering tend to be prohibited, and budget calculations must be based on sceptical factual assumptions. These findings have also been confirmed by recent rulings of supreme courts, such as the ground-breaking climate decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court. The Paris Agreement and human rights underline a legally binding obligation for smaller global greenhouse gas budgets as those estimated in the greenhouse gas budgets of the IPCC—even compared to the 83 percent scenario in the latest assessment. Thus, climate policy will have to raise its ambitions towards zero fossil fuels and a drastic reduction of livestock farming in times of the Ukraine war.
Improved Clonal Propagation through Rejuvenation of Mature Branch Cutting of Four Important Acacia Species
Authors: Muniandi Sures Kumar , Muhammad Norwati , Md Ariff Farah Fazwa , Taheri Yaghoob
Published: September 2022

Asexual propagation techniques for producing good quality germplasm for breeding and dissemination purposes have proven difficult for acacia species comprised of mature planting material. The study was conducted to study the effect of rejuvenation on the rooting ability of mature cuttings. Shoots were induced from the lower branch by cutting a part of the mature branch of the crown and leaving it horizontally on the propagation bench under the misting system. Shoots were harvested and further used as stem cuttings to evaluate their rooting ability through the application of rooting hormone. The rooting ability of the cuttings is highly variable among species. The percentage of stem sections producing juvenile shoots was similar for Acacia mangium Willd. (88%) and Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth. (90%). Only 52% of stem sections were able to produce shoots for Acacia crassicarpa A.Cunn. ex Benth., followed by Acacia aulococarpa A.Cunn. ex Benth. with only 31%. Overall, A. auriculiformis rooted better and recorded the highest mean value for all traits tested. Hormone treatment significantly enhances the rooting ability of A. auriculiformis and A. mangium. However, A. aulococarpa and A. crassicarpa did not respond well to the treatment. Rejuvenated stem cuttings were rooted better than mature cuttings, producing the highest mean value for all traits tested in all species, with or without hormone treatment. Results indicated that it is possible to rejuvenate mature cuttings through bud break in a controlled environment.
Spatiotemporal Variations in Vegetation Canopy Interception in China Based on a Revised Gash Model
Authors: He Wei , Jing Ye , Jiang Zhi-Yun , Liao Chao-Ming , Yu Yong , Peng Jun-Hong , Zhang Ya-Duo , Hou Guo-Long , Zhang Si-Yi
Published: September 2022

Vegetation canopy interception (Ic) of precipitation is a considerable component of the global hydrological cycles. Although the measurement and modeling of canopy interception have been explored worldwide at the individual, stand or ecosystem scale, it is still unclear how to recognize this process at the regional or global scales within the context of global climate change. In this study, a revised Gash model was employed to estimate canopy interception based on remote sensing and meteorological data. The spatial and temporal variations in Ic were investigated and the main environmental factors were explored in China for the 2000–2018 period. The results showed that the revised Gash model performed well in modeling canopy interception at the regional scale compared with the PML_V2 dataset product and the in-situ measurements. The average annual Ic in China from 2000 to 2018 was 166.55 mm, with a significant decreasing spatial pattern from the Southeastern to the Northwestern regions. The ratio of canopy interception to precipitation (Ir) displayed a similar spatial pattern, with an average value of 22.30%. At the temporal scale, the mean annual Ic significantly increased at a rate of 1.79 mm yr−1 (p < 0.01) during the study period, and the increasing trend was more pronounced during the 2000–2009 period, at a rate of 3.34 mm yr−1 (p < 0.01). In most vegetation types, except for the deciduous broad-leaved forest and temperate desert, canopy interception showed a significant increasing trend (p < 0.01). Precipitation, temperature, and the normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) were considered to be the main factors affecting the variations of Ic in China during the last two decades, with specific dominant factors varying in different areas. Specifically, precipitation was considered to control the variations of Ic in the Northwestern regions, temperature mainly influenced the Southern regions, and the NDVI was identified as the main factor in regions where significant ecological conservation projects are established, such as the Loess Plateau. Our findings are expected to not only contribute to the understanding of regional ecohydrological cycle but also provide valuable insights into the methodology of interception modeling at the regional and global scales.
A Review of Forest Fire Combating Efforts, Challenges and Future Directions in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak
Authors: Chew Yee Jian , Ooi Shih Yin , Pang Ying Han , Wong Kok-Seng
Published: September 2022

The land surface of Malaysia mostly constitutes forest cover. For decades, forest fires have been one of the nation’s most concerning environmental issues. With the advent of machine learning, many studies have been conducted to resolve forest fire issues. However, the findings and results have been very case-specific. Most experiments have focused on particular regions with independent methodology settings, which has hindered the ability of others to reproduce works. Another major challenge is lack of benchmark datasets in this domain, which has made benchmark comparisons almost impossible to conduct. To our best knowledge, no comprehensive review and analysis have been performed to streamline the research direction for forest fires in Malaysia. Hence, this paper was aimed to review all works aimed to combat forest fire issues in Malaysia from 1989 to 2021. With the proliferation of publicly accessible satellite data in recent years, a new direction of utilising big data platforms has been postulated. The merit of this approach is that the methodology and experiments can be reproduced. Thus, it is strongly believed that the findings and analysis shown in this paper will be useful as a baseline to propagate research in this domain.
Effective and Sustainable Managed Protected Areas: Evaluation and Driving Factors of Eco-Efficiency of China’s Forest Parks
Authors: Zhao Minyan , Dong Suocheng , Xia Bing , Li Yu , Li Zehong , Chen Wuqiang
Published: September 2022

Forest parks are key protected areas that protect biodiversity and important ecosystems with a high efficiency and low cost and have become an international research area of high interest. Eco-efficiency is an important tool to measure the sustainable development of natural protected areas and provides a valuable decision reference for policy-makers. This research constructs a comprehensive performance evaluation system for forest park ecosystems, economic systems, and environmental systems. The undesired output model (SBM), spatial analysis, and panel Tobit regression model are applied to measure and analyze the forest park eco-efficiency in 30 provinces and autonomous regions of the Chinese mainland from 1990 to 2019, as well as the temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics and their driving factors. The results show that (1) both the average level of eco-efficiency and economic efficiency of forest parks show a declining trend; (2) the eco-efficiency of forest parks shows high-efficiency zones in the northeast and northwest, medium-efficiency zones in the west, and low-efficiency zones in the middle region of the Chinese mainland; (3) forest parks in the eastern region with a higher-than-average efficiency are located in Tianjin and Zhejiang Province, while the western region with lower efficiency is located in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Gansu Province; and (4) the forest park tourism service quality has an important impact on forest parks’ eco-efficiency, but the entertainment activity has a significant negative impact on the eco-efficiency of forest parks. Finally, suggestions are proposed for the sustainable and green development of forest park ecological tourism.
Spatial Prediction Models for Soil Stoichiometry in Complex Terrains: A Case Study of Schrenk’s Spruce Forest in the Tianshan Mountains
Authors: Wang Yao , Zheng Yi , Liu Yan , Huang Jian , Mamtimin Ali
Published: September 2022

Spatial patterns of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and their stoichiometric characteristics (C:N:P) play an important role in nutrient limitations, community dynamics, nutrient use efficiency and biogeochemical cycles, etc. To date, the spatial distributions of soil organic C at various spatial scales have been extensively studied, whereas little is known about the spatial patterns of N and P and C:N:P ratios in various landscapes, especially across complex terrains. To fill this gap, we estimated the spatial patterns of concentrations of soil C, N and P and C:N:P ratios in Schrenk’s spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) forest in the Tianshan Mountains based on data from soil cores collected from 2012 to 2017, and using the following four regression models: multiple linear regression, stepwise regression, ridge regression and lasso regression. We found the following: (1) elevation and climatic variables jointly contributed to concentrations of C, N and P and C:N:P ratios, (2) soil C, N and P concentrations, and their stoichiometric ratios, demonstrated continual spatial patterns in Schrenk’s spruce forest, (3) Multiple linear regression could be reliably used to estimate the spatial patterns of soil elemental concentrations and stoichiometric ratios in mountainous terrain. We suggest that more independent variables (including biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic factors) should be considered in future works. Additionally, adjustment of multiple linear regression and other models should be used for a better delineation of spatial patterns in the concentrations of soil elements and stoichiometric ratios.
Urban Forest Locations and Patch Characteristics Regulate PM2.5 Mitigation Capacity
Authors: Zhai Chang , Bao Guangdao , Zhang Dan , Sha Yinghu
Published: September 2022

Atmospheric pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) seriously damages human health. Urban forests have the ecological function of purifying the atmosphere, which can effectively reduce the ambient PM2.5 concentration. This paper analyzed the ability of different forest types to mitigate PM2.5 pollution and explored the effects of forest quality and morphological parameters on PM2.5 concentration on the forest patch level. The results concluded that the PM2.5 concentration of the Landscape and Relaxation Forest (LF) was significantly lower than that of the Roadside Forest (RF) and Affiliated Forest (AF) due to the environmental quality of their location. The effective distance of LF on PM2.5 reduction was 80 m, which was significantly higher than RF and AF. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which indicated forest growth status, was the most effective parameter for improving the urban forest PM2.5 mitigation ability. The concentration of PM2.5 decreased linearly with the increase in NDVI. The area and perimeter of the forest patches had a significant nonlinear negative correlation with PM2.5 concentration. In addition, the more irregular the shape of the forest patch, the lower the PM2.5 concentration of the forest. Moreover, the simpler shape of RF and AF helped to alleviate PM2.5 pollution. The round shape of AF more efficiently reduced PM2.5 concentration. Our study demonstrated that the surrounding environment, forest growth status, and patch forms determined the PM2.5 reduction capacity of an urban forest. The corresponding management and adjustment methods should be implemented in future urban forest management.
Comparative Study of the Fatty Acid Composition of the Acer truncatum Bunge from Different Producing Areas
Authors: Chang Pan , Ma Jianwen , Xin Haodong , Wang Shan , Chen Zhuanxiang , Hong Xinyue , Zhang Boyong , Li Lingli
Published: September 2022

Acer truncatum Bunge is a new type of economic forest tree species that produces nervonic acid. Since it was developed as a woody oil tree species, its oil value has attracted increasing attention. However, new germplasm resources with oil-type characteristics are still lacking. In this study, we studied the differences in the oil content and fatty acid composition of the seed kernel oil of A. truncatum from 11 natural forest-producing areas. The Kashi city of Xinjiang and Yangling city of Shaanxi Province can be used as the high-oil germplasm. The oil content of these two areas is more than 50%. The highest relative content of nervonic acid was 9.92% in the Chifeng city of Inner Mongolia, and Jianping city of Liaoning Province was the second, accounting for 9.84%. These two areas can be used as germplasm for the high nervonic acid. Finally, high-quality germplasms with a high oil content and high relative content of nervonic acid were selected from Yangling city of Shaanxi Province and Chifeng city of Inner Mongolia. The relative content of nervonic acid in the kernel oil content in fatty acids from 11 different producing areas of A. truncatum plants was negatively correlated with the content of each fatty acid, whereas the relative content of nervonic acid was extremely significantly positively correlated with the relative content of erucic acid. However, the correlations between the kernel oil content, relative nervonic acid content and environmental factors did not reach an extremely significant level, and only the oil content showed a significant positive correlation with the longitude and frost-free period. The high content of nervonic acid in this study is the first report of the highest relative content of nervonic acid in A. truncatum kernel oil. We believe that the A. truncatum double-high characteristic oil-type germplasm resources obtained by this screening provide a scientific basis for breeding, development and utilization in the A. truncatum.
Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates through Soybean Hull and Waste Glycerol Valorization: Subsequent Alkaline Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Authors: Sarmiento-Vásquez Zulma , Vandenberghe Luciana Porto de Souza , Karp Susan Grace , Soccol Carlos Ricardo
Published: September 2022

Alkaline pretreatment and sequential enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean hull were investigated to obtain fermentable sugars for polyhydroxyalkanoates production along with residual glycerol as low-cost carbon sources. Soybean hull is composed of approximately 32% cellulose, 12% hemicellulose, 6% lignin, and 11% protein. Alkaline pretreatment was carried out with 2% NaOH concentration, 10% (w/v) biomass loading, and 60 min incubation time in an autoclave at 120 °C. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) tool was employed to optimize the enzymatic hydrolysis process, where the variables of biomass loading, enzymes’ concentration, and time were considered. The maximum total reducing sugars concentration obtained was 115.9 g∙L−1 with an enzyme concentration of 11.5 mg protein/g dry substrate for enzyme preparation B1, 2.88 mg protein/g dry substrate for XylA, and 57.6 U/g dry substrate for β-glucosidase, after 42 h at 45 °C, and pH was 4.5. Subsequently, the saccharification step was conducted by increasing the processing scale, using a 1 L tank with stirring with a controlled temperature. Implementing the same enzyme concentrations at pH 4.5, temperature of 45 °C, 260 mL working volume, and incubation time of 42 h, under fed-batch operation with substrate feeding after 14 h and 22 h, a hydrolysate with a concentration of 185.7 g∙L−1 was obtained. Initially, to verify the influence of different carbon sources on Cupriavidus necator DSMz 545 in biomass production, batch fermentations were developed, testing laboratory-grade glucose, soybean hull hydrolysate, and waste glycerol (a by-product of biodiesel processing available in large quantities) as carbon sources in one-factor-at-a-time assays, and the mixture of soybean hull hydrolysate and waste glycerol. Then, the hydrolysate and waste glycerol were consumed by C. necator, producing 12.1 g∙L−1 of biomass and achieving 39% of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHB) accumulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that soybean hull hydrolysate has been used as a carbon source to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates, and the results suggest that this agro-industrial by-product is a viable alternative feedstock to produce value-added components.
Nanotubes: Carbon-Based Fibers and Bacterial Nano-Conduits Both Arousing a Global Interest and Conflicting Opinions
Authors: Alfei Silvana , Schito Gian Carlo
Published: September 2022

Nanotubes (NTs) are mainly known as materials made from various substances, such as carbon, boron, or silicon, which share a nanosized tube-like structure. Among them, carbon-based NTs (CNTs) are the most researched group. CNTs, due to their nonpareil electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, can provide tremendous achievements in several fields of nanotechnology. Unfortunately, the high costs of production and the lack of unequivocally reliable toxicity data still prohibit their extensive application. In the last decade, a significant number of intriguing nanotubes-like structures were identified in bacteria (BNTs). The majority of experts define BNTs as membranous intercellular bridges that connect neighboring bacterial cell lying in proximity. Despite recent contrasting findings, most evidence suggested that bacteria exploit NTs to realize both antagonistic and cooperative intercellular exchanges of cytoplasmic molecules and nutrients. Among other consequences, it has been proposed that such molecular trade, including even plasmids, can facilitate the emergence of new non-heritable phenotypes and characteristics in multicellular bacterial communities, including resistance to antibiotics, with effects of paramount importance on global health. Here, we provide an enthralling comparison between CNTs, which are synthetically producible and ubiquitously exploitable for improving the quality of human life, and BNTs biosynthetically produced by prokaryotes, whose functions are not still fully clarified, but whose greater knowledge could be crucial to better understand the mechanisms of pathogenesis and combat the phenomenon of resistance.
An Exploratory Study on the Relation between Companies’ Food Integrity Climate and Employees’ Food Integrity Behavior in Food Businesses
Authors: Alrobaish Waeel Salih , Vlerick Peter , Steuperaert Noëmie , Jacxsens Liesbeth
Published: September 2022

Given the need to prevent food fraud within the international food supply chain and the current lack of research on food integrity, in this paper, the relation between the organizational food integrity climate and employees’ food integrity behavior is examined to understand the role of the individual or psychological dimension in food integrity. The construct of food integrity behavior was introduced and defined, and the conceptual model of the food integrity climate in relation to food integrity behavior was elaborated along with study variables and hypotheses. In the proposed model, the potential moderating role of employees’ psychological well-being (i.e., burnout and job stress) was analyzed, and two mediating variables were also proposed (i.e., knowledge and motivation) which both could explain how the prevailing food integrity climate might influence employees’ food integrity behavior. Data was collected through convenience sampling in four Belgian food companies with a total of 118 participating employees through a self-assessment questionnaire. Based on the statistical analysis, it was concluded that a well-developed organizational food integrity climate promotes positive employees’ food integrity behavior. Specifically, results of this semi-quantitative study demonstrated that the companies’ food integrity climate is positively related to the employees’ food integrity behavior both directly and indirectly, and that food integrity knowledge is a partial mediator in the relation between food integrity climate and food integrity behavior, while food integrity motivation is a full mediator. Study limitations and implications are also discussed.
Solving Two-Sided Fractional Super-Diffusive Partial Differential Equations with Variable Coefficients in a Class of New Reproducing Kernel Spaces
Authors: Li Zhiyuan , Chen Qintong , Wang Yulan , Li Xiaoyu
Published: September 2022

Fractional-order calculus has become a useful mathematical framework to describe the complex super-diffusive process; however, numerical solutions of the two-sided space-fractional super-diffusive model with variable coefficients are difficult to obtain, and almost no method can obtain an analytical solution. In this paper, a class of new fractional dimensional reproducing kernel spaces (RKS) based on Caputo fractional derivatives is given, and we give analytical and numerical solutions of the two-sided space-fractional super-diffusive model based on the class of new RKS. The analytical solution is represented in the form of series in the reproducing kernel space. Numerical experiments indicate that the piecewise reproducing kernel method is more accurate than the traditional reproducing kernel method (RKM), and these new fractional reproducing kernel spaces are efficient for the two-sided space-fractional super-diffusive model.
Synthesis of Carbon Nanodots from Sugarcane Syrup, and Their Incorporation into a Hydrogel-Based Composite to Fabricate Innovative Fluorescent Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibers
Authors: Perli Gabriel , Soares Marco C. P. , Cabral Thiago D. , Bertuzzi Diego L. , Bartoli Julio R. , Livi Sébastien , Duchet-Rumeau Jannick , Cordeiro Cristiano M. B. , Fujiwara Eric , Ornelas Catia
Published: September 2022

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) are interesting materials due to their intrinsic fluorescence, electron-transfer properties, and low toxicity. Here, we report a sustainable, cheap, and scalable methodology to obtain CNDs from sugarcane syrup using a domestic microwave oven. The CNDs were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, absorption, and emission spectroscopies. The CNDs have 3 nm in diameter with low polydispersity and are fluorescent. A fluorescent hydrogel–CNDs composite was obtained using gelatin polypeptide as the polymeric matrix. The new hydrogel–CNDs composite was incorporated in the cavities of a double-clad optical fiber using an innovative approach that resulted in a microstructured polymer optical fiber with intrinsic fluorescence. This work shows a promising alternative for the fabrication of fluorescent materials since the CNDs synthesis is sustainable and environmentally friendly. These CNDs might substitute the rare-earth and other heavy metals of high cost and toxicity, which are usually incorporated in double-clad fibers for applications on lasers, amplifiers, and spectroscopy.
Ultrasound-Induced Drug Release from Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels
Authors: Yeingst Tyus J. , Arrizabalaga Julien H. , Hayes Daniel J.
Published: September 2022

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel drug delivery systems are designed to release a payload when prompted by an external stimulus. These platforms have become prominent in the field of drug delivery due to their ability to provide spatial and temporal control for drug release. Among the different external triggers that have been used, ultrasound possesses several advantages: it is non-invasive, has deep tissue penetration, and can safely transmit acoustic energy to a localized area. This review summarizes the current state of understanding about ultrasound-responsive hydrogels used for drug delivery. The mechanisms of inducing payload release and activation using ultrasound are examined, along with the latest innovative formulations and hydrogel design strategies. We also report on the most recent applications leveraging ultrasound activation for both cancer treatment and tissue engineering. Finally, the future perspectives offered by ultrasound-sensitive hydrogels are discussed.
Methylation of RUNX3 Promoter 2 in the Whole Blood of Children with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Dybska Emilia , Nowak Jan Krzysztof , Banaszkiewicz Aleksandra , Szaflarska-Popławska Anna , Kierkuś Jarosław , Kwiecień Jarosław , Grzybowska-Chlebowczyk Urszula , Walkowiak Jarosław
Published: September 2022

Ulcerative colitis (UC) results from a complex interplay between the environment, gut microbiota, host genetics, and immunity. Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) regulates Th1/Th2 balance and, thus, the synthesis of cytokines and inflammation. We aimed to analyze the dependence of RUNX3 promoter 2 (P2) methylation level on: age, sex, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin, disease duration, Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI), the Paris classification, and exposure to medications. This multicenter, cross-sectional study recruited hospitalized children with UC. Methylation of RUNX3 P2 was measured with methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes in the whole blood DNA. Sixty-four children were enrolled, with a mean age of 14.5 ± 2.8 years. Half of them were female (51.6%), and the average BMI Z-score was −0.44 ± 1.14. The mean methylation of RUNX3 P2 was 54.1 ± 13.3%. The methylation level of RUNX3 P2 did not correlate with age, sex, nutritional status, CRP, albumin, PUCAI, or the extent of colitis (Paris E1–E4). RUNX3 P2 methylation did not differ between patients recruited within two and a half months of diagnosis and children who had UC for at least a year. Current or past exposure to biologics, immunosuppressants, or steroids was not associated with RUNX3 P2 methylation. Methylation of RUNX3 promoter 2 in whole blood DNA does not seem to be associated with the characteristics of UC in children.
Unexpected Actors in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Revealed by Machine Learning from Whole-Blood Transcriptomic Data
Authors: Nowak Jan K. , Szymańska Cyntia J. , Glapa-Nowak Aleksandra , Duclaux-Loras Rémi , Dybska Emilia , Ostrowski Jerzy , Walkowiak Jarosław , Adams Alex T.
Published: September 2022

Although big data from transcriptomic analyses have helped transform our understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), they remain underexploited. We hypothesized that the application of machine learning using lasso regression to transcriptomic data from IBD patients and controls can help identify previously overlooked genes. Transcriptomic data provided by Ostrowski et al. (ENA PRJEB28822) were subjected to a two-stage process of feature selection to discriminate between IBD and controls. First, a principal component analysis was used for dimensionality reduction. Second, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression was employed to identify genes potentially involved in the pathobiology of IBD. The study included data from 294 participants: 100 with ulcerative colitis (48 adults and 52 children), 99 with Crohn’s disease (45 adults and 54 children), and 95 controls (46 adults and 49 children). IBD patients presented a wide range of disease severity. Lasso regression preceded by principal component analysis successfully selected interesting features in the IBD transcriptomic data and yielded 12 models. The models achieved high discriminatory value (range of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.61–0.95) and identified over 100 genes as potentially associated with IBD. PURA, GALNT14, and FCGR1A were the most consistently selected, highlighting the role of the cell cycle, glycosylation, and immunoglobulin binding. Several known IBD-related genes were among the results. The results included genes involved in the TGF-beta pathway, expressed in NK cells, and they were enriched in ontology terms related to immunity. Future IBD research should emphasize the TGF-beta pathway, immunoglobulins, NK cells, and the role of glycosylation.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the R2R3-MYB Gene Family in Theobroma cacao
Authors: Du Junhong , Zhang Qianqian , Hou Sijia , Chen Jing , Meng Jianqiao , Wang Cong , Liang Dan , Wu Rongling , Guo Yunqian
Published: September 2022

The MYB gene family is involved in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress responses. In this paper, to identify Theobroma cacao R2R3-MYB (TcMYB) genes involved in environmental stress and phytohormones, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in Theobroma cacao (cacao). A total of 116 TcMYB genes were identified, and they were divided into 23 subgroups according to the phylogenetic analysis. Meanwhile, the conserved motifs, gene structures and cis-acting elements of promoters were analyzed. Moreover, these TcMYB genes were distributed on 10 chromosomes. We conducted a synteny analysis to understand the evolution of the cacao R2R3-MYB gene family. A total of 37 gene pairs of TcMYB genes were identified through tandem or segmental duplication events. Additionally, we also predicted the subcellular localization and physicochemical properties. All the studies showed that TcMYB genes have multiple functions, including responding to environmental stresses. The results provide an understanding of R2R3-MYB in Theobroma cacao and lay the foundation for a further functional analysis of TcMYB genes in the growth of cacao.
The Emergence of Rationality in the Icelandic Sagas: The Colossal Misunderstanding of the Viking Lore in Contemporary Popular Culture
Authors: Classen Albrecht
Published: September 2022

For a long time now, Old Norse literature has often been colonized and misappropriated by modern right-wing political groups for their own ideology, symbolism, and public appearance. A critical reading of Icelandic sagas, however, easily demonstrates that those public strategies are very short-sighted, misleading, and outright dangerous for our democratic society. To stem the flood of misinformation regarding the Viking world and its literature, this article joins a small but forceful chorus of recent scholars who are hard at work deconstructing this politicization of saga literature by way of offering new readings of those texts in which the very Viking ideology is actually exposed by the poets, rejected, and supplanted by new forms of social interactions predicated on a legal system and an operation with rationality in the public sphere.
Biofortification of Lettuce and Basil Seedlings to Produce Selenium Enriched Leafy Vegetables
Authors: Puccinelli Martina , Malorgio Fernando , Pintimalli Lucia , Rosellini Irene , Pezzarossa Beatrice
Published: September 2022

Selenium (Se) biofortification of plants has been recognized as a good strategy to improve the nutritive value of vegetables and increase Se daily intake in humans. Identifying the most appropriate method to enrich plants is a key issue in the biofortification process. We tested a biofortification technique that produces Se enriched seedlings for transplant, yet barely modifies conventional cultivation techniques. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were exposed to selenium by adding 0, 1 and 3 mg L−1 (lettuce) and 0, 2 and 3 mg L−1 (basil) of Se, as sodium selenate, to the growing substrate immediately after sowing. When seedlings reached an appropriate size, they were transplanted into the open field, and plants were grown until maturity. Lettuce and basil seedlings accumulated selenium without any reduction in leaf biomass at maturity. The highest dose of Se induced a higher antioxidant capacity and flavonoid content in both species at both sampling times. At maturity, biofortified plants still showed a higher leaf Se content compared to the control, and would be able to provide from 10% to 17% (lettuce) and from 9% to 12% (basil) of the adequate intake (AI) of Se.
Yield and Physiological Response of Autumn King and Scarlet Royal Table Grapes to Cane and Spur Pruning Systems
Authors: El-kereamy Ashraf , Kurtural Sahap Kaan
Published: September 2022

The type of training system affects vine growth and productivity; however, there is a lack of knowledge on the suitability of pruning systems for some recently introduced (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars. In this study, we provide the growers with science-based information about the response of two table grape variates to cane and spur-pruning systems to develop the best cultural practices. In 2013, a vineyard was established at Kearney Agriculture Research Center, Parlier, California using “Autumn King” and “Scarlet Royal” table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted on Freedom rootstock. The performance of the three-year-old vines was assessed under two pruning systems, Quadrilateral cordon training (spur-pruning) and Head training (cane pruning). Data from the 2016 and 2017 seasons showed no significant differences in leaf area, chlorophyll content, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and pruning weight between the two pruning systems in both cultivars. In both seasons, marketable yield did not vary between the two pruning systems in the Scarlet Royal. However, Autumn King marketable yield was significantly reduced when using the Quadrilateral cordon training (spur-pruning). Petioles nutrient analysis at bloom showed a non-significant increase in nitrate content in the cane pruned vines of both varieties. No significant difference was observed in cluster weight, berry physical, or chemical composition. It seems that both training systems could be used for Scarlet Royal. However, the cane pruning system in Autumn King produced higher yield without affecting cluster and berry quality. The different responses of the two varieties could be due to the genetic background and growth behavior. Our data confirmed the notion that the different responses to the training methods by various grape varieties may involve the genetic background, growth behavior, as well as nutrient uptake and usage by the vines. Establishing the proper training system for each grape variety is essential.
Multiple Time Series Fusion Based on LSTM: An Application to CAP A Phase Classification Using EEG
Authors: Mendonça Fábio , Mostafa Sheikh Shanawaz , Freitas Diogo , Morgado-Dias Fernando , Ravelo-García Antonio G.
Published: September 2022

The Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP) is a periodic activity detected in the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. This pattern was identified as a marker of unstable sleep with several possible clinical applications; however, there is a need to develop automatic methodologies to facilitate real-world applications based on CAP assessment. Therefore, a deep learning-based EEG channels’ feature level fusion was proposed in this work and employed for the CAP A phase classification. Two optimization algorithms optimized the channel selection, fusion, and classification procedures. The developed methodologies were evaluated by fusing the information from multiple EEG channels for patients with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and patients without neurological disorders. Results showed that both optimization algorithms selected a comparable structure with similar feature level fusion, consisting of three electroencephalogram channels (Fp2–F4, C4–A1, F4–C4), which is in line with the CAP protocol to ensure multiple channels’ arousals for CAP detection. Moreover, the two optimized models reached an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82, with average accuracy ranging from 77% to 79%, a result in the upper range of the specialist agreement and best state-of-the-art works, despite a challenging dataset. The proposed methodology also has the advantage of providing a fully automatic analysis without requiring any manual procedure. Ultimately, the models were revealed to be noise-resistant and resilient to multiple channel loss, being thus suitable for real-world application.
Preference-Based Determinants of Consumer Choice on the Polish Organic Food Market
Authors: Dudziak Agnieszka , Kocira Anna
Published: September 2022

Background: The development of the organic food market in Poland is currently at a fairly high level. There is a growing demand for organic food, but the share of total sales remains low. There are still many barriers related to the availability of organic food and information about it. In addition, consumers are skeptical of the inspection system in organic farming and admit that these foods do not meet their expectations regarding sensory qualities. Methods: The article conducted its own research, using an author’s survey questionnaire, which was distributed in Lublin Province. The research sample consisted of 342 respondents and was diverse in terms of gender, age and place of residence. The purpose of the analysis was to ascertain the determinants affecting the choice of organic food. For the study, the method of correspondence analysis was used, the purpose of which was to isolate characteristic groups of consumers who exhibit certain behaviors towards organic products. Results: Respondents admitted that they buy organic food several times a month, most often spending an amount of EUR 10–20 (per month). They also paid attention to product labeling, with labels read mostly by residents of small towns (up to 30,000 residents). Respondents were also asked about the reasons why they do not buy organic food. The results of the analysis show that respondents believe it is too expensive, but they also cannot point out differences with other products. Conclusions: The main purpose of this article was to study the preferences of organic food buyers and to identify factors that determine their choice but that may also be barriers to purchasing this category of food. These issues need to be further explored so as to create recommendations in this regard for various participants in the organic food market.
Metal Exposure, Smoking, and the Risk of COPD: A Nested Case–Control Study in a Chinese Occupational Population
Authors: Ma Li , Huo Xinxin , Yang Aimin , Yu Shuxia , Ke Hongxia , Zhang Mingxia , Bai Yana
Published: September 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the third leading cause of death worldwide in 2019, with a significant disease burden. We conducted a nested case–control study using data from the China Metal-Exposed Workers Cohort Study (Jinchang Cohort) and assessed the associations of exposure to metals and tobacco smoking with the risk of COPD. We used the logistic regression model and the interaction multiplication model to assess the independent and combined effects of heavy metal and smoke exposure on COPD. The cumulative incidence of COPD was 1.04% in 21,560 participants during a median of two years of follow-up. The risk of COPD was significantly elevated with an increase in the amount of tobacco smoked daily (p < 0.05), the number of years of smoking (ptrend < 0.05), and the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per year (ptrend < 0.01). Compared with the low metal exposure group, the adjusted OR was 1.22 (95% CI: 0.85–1.76) in the medium exposure group (mining/production workers) and 1.50 (95% CI: 1.03–2.18) in the high exposure group; smoking and metal exposure had a combined effect on the incidence of COPD (pinteraction < 0.01), with an OR of 4.60 for those with >40 pack-years of smoking who also had the highest metal exposures. Both exposures to metals and smoking were associated with the risk of COPD, and there was an interaction between the two exposures for the risk of COPD.
Removal of Arsenic from Wastewater by Using Nano Fe3O4/Zinc Organic Frameworks
Authors: Huang Xuexia , Liu Yun , Wang Xinyi , Zeng Linwei , Xiao Tangfu , Luo Dinggui , Jiang Jia , Zhang Hongguo , Huang Yuhui , Ye Mingzhen , Huang Lei
Published: September 2022

Efficient removal of arsenic in wastewater is of fundamental importance due to the increasingly severe arsenic pollution. In this study, a new composite adsorbent (Fe3O4@ZIF-8) for As(V) removal from wastewater was synthesized by encapsulating magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles into metal organic frameworks. In order to evaluate the feasibility of Fe3O4@ZIF-8 as an adsorbent for As(V) removal, the adsorption properties of Fe3O4@ZIF-8 were systematically explored by studying the effects of dosage, pH, adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Additionally, the characterization of Fe3O4@ZIF-8 before and after adsorption was analyzed thoroughly using various tests including SEM-EDS, XPS, BET, XRD, TG, FTIR, and the properties and arsenic removal mechanism of the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 were further studied. The results showed that the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 has a specific surface area of 316 m2/g and has excellent adsorption performance. At 25 °C, the initial concentration of arsenic was 46.916 mg/L, and pH 3 was the optimum condition for the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 to adsorb arsenic. When the dosage of the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 was 0.60 g/L, the adsorption of arsenic by the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 can reach 76 mg/g, and the removal rate can reach 97.20%. The adsorption process of arsenic to the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 can be well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and the second-order kinetic equation. At pH 3 and temperature 298 K, the maximum adsorption capacity of arsenic by the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 was 116.114 mg/g. Through the analysis of thermodynamic parameters, it is proved that the adsorption process of arsenic by the Fe3O4@ZIF-8 is a spontaneous endothermic reaction. The Fe3O4@ZIF-8 has broad prospects for removing As(V) pollution in wastewater, because of its strong adsorption capacity, good water stability, and easy preparation.