bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quadrotor Trajectory-Tracking Control with Actuator Saturation
Authors: Chang Zhiyuan , Chu Hongyu , Shao Yanhua
Published: January 2023

As a very serious problem for control systems, actuator saturation often leads to an unstable system. The maneuvering flight of quadrotors may lead to actuator saturation, which commonly affects the flight quality, including trajectory-tracking accuracy. Quadrotors usually adopt double-closed-loop control, of which the outer loop is the position control used to calculate the desired attitude angle and the inner loop is the attitude control used to generate control actions for the vehicle. To address actuator saturation during the maneuvering flight of quadrotors, an attitude controller based on the conditioned super-twisting algorithm (CSTA) was designed. The sign functions in CSTA were replaced by a hyperbolic tangent function, which suppresses the chattering of CSTA. In order to improve the rapidity of the improved controller, the tanh-CSTA (TCSTA), a gain adjustment factor was utilized. The rapidity and smoothness of the controller can be satisfied by adjusting the gain factor. Additionally, a sliding surface was designed according to the characteristics of the quadrotor control structure, so that the TCSTA controller can be applied to the second-order system. The performances of the designed improved controller were simulated using MATLAB, and the results showed that the designed controller is more robust than the PID controller. Moreover, compared with the CSTA controller, the chattering of the designed controller was obviously suppressed without reducing the control accuracy.
Grating Spectrum Design and Optimization of GMM-FBG Current Sensor
Authors: Jiao Fei , Lei Yuqing , Peng Guozheng , Dong Funing , Yang Qing , Liao Wei
Published: January 2023

In this study, the performance of a current sensor based on giant magnetostrictive materials (GMM) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) has been improved by optimizing the spectral characteristics of gratings. By analyzing the influence of FBG on the current sensor characteristics, three key parameters (gate region length, refractive index modulation depth, and toe cutting system) are selected for optimization. The optimal grating parameters are determined to improve the linearity and sensitivity of sensor output. Experimental tests reveal that after grating optimization, the current sensor shows excellent performance parameters, including a linearity of 0.9942, sensitivity of 249.75 mV/A, and good stability in the temperature range of 0–60 °C. This research can provide a reference for improving the grating design and performance of existing GMM-FBG current sensors.
Secondary Atomization of Fuel Oil and Fuel Oil/Water Emulsion through Droplet-Droplet Collisions and Impingement on a Solid Wall
Authors: Islamova Anastasia , Tkachenko Pavel , Shlegel Nikita , Kuznetsov Genii
Published: January 2023

This paper presents findings from an experimental study investigating the secondary atomization of liquid fuel droplets widely used in the heat and power industry exemplified by fuel oil and environmentally promising fuel oil/water emulsion. The scientific novelty comes from the comparative analysis of the critical conditions and integral characteristics of the secondary atomization of the liquid and composite fuels with the greatest potential for power plants. Here, we used two fuel atomization schemes: droplet–droplet collisions in a gas and droplets impinging on a heated solid wall. The temperature of the liquids under study was 80 °C. The velocities before collision ranged from 0.1 m/s to 7 m/s, while the initial droplet sizes varied from 0.3 mm to 2.7 mm. A copper substrate served as a solid wall; its temperature was varied from 20 °C to 300 °C. The main characteristics of droplet interaction were recorded by a high-speed camera. Regime maps were constructed using the experimental findings. It was established that the critical Weber number was several times lower when water and fuel oil droplets collided than during the collision of fuel oil droplets with 10 vol% of water. The secondary atomization of fuel oil/water emulsion droplets by their impingement on a heated solid wall was found to reduce the typical sizes of liquid fragments by a factor of 40–50. As shown in the paper, even highly viscous fuels can be effectively sprayed using primary and secondary droplet atomization schemes. It was established that the optimal temperature of the fuel oil to be supplied to the droplet collision zone is 80 °C, while the optimal substrate temperature for the atomization of fuel oil/water emulsion droplets approximates 300 °C.
Performance Evaluation of a Commercial Greenhouse in Canada Using Dehumidification Technologies and LED Lighting: A Modeling Study
Authors: Nauta Alexander , Han Jingjing , Tasnim Syeda Humaira , Lubitz William David
Published: January 2023

In this study, a lumped parameter model, developed and extensively validated by the authors, is used to simulate the impact of three different dehumidification technologies (mechanical refrigeration dehumidifier, liquid desiccant dehumidifier, and a heat recovery ventilation unit), at a commercial greenhouse growing potted roses in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Typical meteorological year (TMY) data from nearby Vineland, Ontario was used to provide the external weather data used in the model. Each greenhouse bay containing a dehumidification unit was simulated for spring, fall, and winter conditions. The potential reductions in energy use (kWh), greenhouse gas emissions (kg CO2e), and operating cost were estimated for each test case. The potential energy savings from switching from high-pressure sodium (HPS) to light-emitting diode (LED) lights were also examined. The simulation results showed that switching to LED lamps could reduce the electrical energy usage by up to 60% but would increase the space heating requirements. The expected energy-savings from using dehumidification equipment and switching from HPS to LED lighting in Canadian greenhouses is underrepresented in the literature. With the industry growing in the region, this study provides insight into the expected impact that these systems will have on the energy use in commercial greenhouses.
ELM-Based Adaptive Practical Fixed-Time Voltage Regulation in Wireless Power Transfer System
Authors: Hu Youhao , Zhang Bowang , Hu Weikang , Han Wei
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes an extreme learning machine (ELM)-based adaptive sliding mode control strategy for the receiver-side buck converter system in the wireless power transfer system subjecting to the lumped uncertainty. The proposed control strategy utilizes a singularity-free fixed-time sliding mode (FTSM) feedback control, which ensures a fixed-time convergence for both the sliding variable and voltage tracking error. An ELM-based uncertainty bound estimator is further designed to learn the uncertainty bound information in real-time, which opportunely loosens the constraint of bound information requirement for sliding mode control design. The global stability of the closed-loop system is rigidly analyzed, and the good performance of the proposed control strategy is validated by comparison experiments which exhibit ideal overshoot elimination, 45.70–51.72% reduction of settling time, and 13.65–36.96% reduction of the root mean square value for voltage tracking error with respect to different load types.
Characteristics of Sludge from the Treatment of Soilless Plant Cultivation Wastewater in a Rotating Electrobiological Disc Contactor (REBDC)
Authors: Rodziewicz Joanna , Mielcarek Artur , Janczukowicz Wojciech , Tavares Jorge Manuel Rodrigues , Jóźwiakowski Krzysztof
Published: January 2023

Due to the high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in wastewater from soilless cultivation of tomatoes, the sludge formed during wastewater treatment can be used as a source of nutrients in agriculture. The effect of electrical direct current (DC) density (J) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in a rotating electrobiological contactor (REBDC) on the quantity and quality of sludge generated in the process of tomato soilless cultivation wastewater treatment was determined. The cathode consisted of discs immobilized with biomass, while the anode was an aluminum electrode. HRTs of 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h and (J) of 0.63, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, and 10.00 A/m2 were applied. The study showed that the increase in (J) caused an increase in the amount of sludge generated. The increase of (J) contributed to increased concentrations of biogenes in the sludge, whereas extension of HRT at a given current density contributed to increased concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus (up to 6.2% and 0.8% respectively) and to the reduced content of organic matter (up to 23.04%). The examined sludge was stabilized, sanitary, and safe, and may be an alternative to mineral fertilizers. This study showed that larger sludge amounts are produced in a DC mode aerobic REBDC than in an alternating current anaerobic one.
Numerical Investigation on Internal Structures of Ultra-Thin Heat Pipes for PEM Fuel Cells Cooling
Authors: Han Yuqi , Zhuge Weilin , Peng Jie , Qian Yuping , Zhang Yangjun
Published: January 2023

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) powered propulsion has gained increasing attention in urban air mobility applications in recent years. Due to its high power density, ultra-thin heat pipe technology has great potential for cooling PEMFCs, but optimizing the limited internal cavity of the heat pipe remains a significant challenge. In this study, a three-dimensional multiphase model of the heat pipe cooled PEMFC is built to evaluate the impact of three internal structures, layered, spaced, and composite, of ultra-thin heat pipes on system performance. The results show that the heat pipe cooling with the composite structure yields a lower thermal resistance and a larger operating range for the PEMFC system compared to other internal structures because of more rational layout of the internal cavity. In addition, the relationship between land to channel width ratio (LCWR) and local transport property is analyzed and discussed based on composite structural heat pipes. The heat pipe cooled PEMFC with a LCWR of 0.75 has a significant advantage in limiting current density and maximum power density compared to the LCWRs of 1 and 1.33 as a result of more uniform in-plane distributions of temperature and liquid water within its cathode catalyst layer.
Grid Distribution Fault Occurrence and Remedial Measures Prediction/Forecasting through Different Deep Learning Neural Networks by Using Real Time Data from Tabuk City Power Grid
Authors: Almasoudi Fahad M.
Published: January 2023

Modern societies need a constant and stable electrical supply. After relying primarily on formal mathematical modeling from operations research, control theory, and numerical analysis, power systems analysis has changed its attention toward AI prediction/forecasting tools. AI techniques have helped fix power system issues in generation, transmission, distribution, scheduling and forecasting, etc. These strategies may assist today’s large power systems which have added more interconnections to meet growing load demands. They make it simple for them to do difficult duties. Identification of problems and problem management have always necessitated the use of labor. These operations are made more sophisticated and data-intensive due to the variety and growth of the networks involved. In light of all of this, the automation of network administration is absolutely necessary. AI has the potential to improve the problem-solving and deductive reasoning approaches used in fault management. This study implements a variety of artificial intelligence and deep learning approaches in order to foresee and predict the corrective measures that will be conducted in response to faults that occur inside the power distribution network of the Grid station in Tabuk city with regard to users. The Tabuk grid station is the source of the data that was gathered for this purpose; it includes a list of defects categorization, actions and remedies that were implemented to overcome these faults, as well as the number of regular and VIP users from 2017 to 2022. Deep learning, the most advanced method of learning used by artificial intelligence, is continuing to make significant strides in a variety of domain areas, including prediction. This study found that the main predictors of remedial measures against the fault occurring in the power systems are the number of customers affected and the actual cause of the fault. Consequently, the deep learning regression model, i.e., Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), achieved the best performance among the three, which yielded an accuracy of 92.13%, mean absolute error (MAE) loss of 0.37%, and root mean square error (RMSE) loss of 0.39% while the simple RNN model’s performance is not up to the mark with an accuracy of 89.21%, mean absolute error (MAE) loss of 0.45% and root mean square error (RMSE) loss of 0.34%. Significance of the research is to provide the maximum benefit to the customers and the company by using different AI techniques.
Data Mining in the Analysis of Tree Harvester Performance Based on Automatically Collected Data
Authors: Polowy Krzysztof , Molińska-Glura Marta
Published: January 2023

Data recorded automatically by harvesters are a promising and potentially very useful source of information for scientific analyses. Most researchers have used StanForD files for this purpose, but these are troublesome to obtain and require some pre-processing. This study utilized a new source of similar data: JDLink, a cloud-based service, run by the machine manufacturer, that stores data from sensors in real time. The vast amount of such data makes it hard to comprehend and handle efficiently. Data mining techniques assist in finding trends and patterns in such databases. Records from two mid-sized harvesters working in north-eastern Poland were analyzed using classical regression (linear and logarithmic), cluster analysis (dendrograms and k-means) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Linear regression showed that average tree size was the variable having the greatest effect on fuel consumption per cubic meter and productivity, whereas fuel consumption per hour was also dependent, e.g., on distance driven in a low gear or share of time with high engine load. Results of clustering and PCA were harder to interpret. Dendrograms showed most dissimilar variables: total volume harvested per day, total fuel consumption per day and share of work time on high revolutions per minute (RPMs). K-means clustering allowed us to identify periods when specific clusters of variables were more prominent. PCA results, despite explaining almost 90% of variance, were inconclusive between machines, and, therefore, need to be scrutinized in follow-up studies. Productivity values (avg. around 10 m3/h) and fuel consumption rates (13.21 L/h, 1.335 L/m3 on average) were similar to the results reported by other authors under comparable conditions. Some new measures obtained in this study include, e.g., distance driven in a low gear (around 7 km per day) or proportion of time when the engine was running on low, medium or high load (34%, 39% and 7%, respectively). The assumption of this study was to use data without supplementing from external sources, and with as little processing as possible, which limited the analytic methods to unsupervised learning. Extending the database in follow-up studies will facilitate the application of supervised learning techniques for modeling and prediction.
Natural Physiological Changes on Overwintering and Spring Recovery of Needles of Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.
Authors: Yue Dongxue , Chao Erkun , Deng Yiheng , Chen Kerui , Wang Zhengning , Qiu Nianwei , Zhang Hongxia
Published: January 2023

Overwintering and spring recovery of pine needles have important ecological significance. The natural changes in physiological state, photosynthetic function, and material metabolism in needles of Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. from the autumn of 2020 to the spring of 2021 were assessed. The photosynthetic rate (Pn) of P. densiflora needles decreased first and then increased, with the maximum Pn observed in the autumn. After experiencing sub-zero temperatures in the winter, needles of P. densiflora still performed weak photosynthesis at a temperature above zero. In the spring, the Pn gradually recovered but could not recover to the maximum. Under sub-zero temperatures in the winter of 2020, the plasma membrane permeability and MDA content of needles increased, whereas the chlorophyll content and Fv/Fm decreased significantly. The needles showed obvious characteristics of freezing injury. During the whole process, the water content of needles remained at a low level (about 60%), which gradually decreased with the increase of leaf age. The cell sap concentration and soluble sugar content of needles decreased with the decrease in air temperature and recovered in spring. Therefore, P. densiflora needles do not improve frost resistance through osmotic adjustment. However, the increasing carotenoid content is helpful for needles to tide over the winter. The soluble sugar and protein contents increased, implying they are important for the recovery of needles in spring. This study expands our understanding of the mechanism and ecological contribution of overwintering and spring recovery of pine needles.
The Metabolite Profiling and Microbial Community Dynamics during Pineapple By-Product Fermentation Using Co-Inoculation of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeast
Authors: Luo Jiawei , Xiao Shan , Wang Jihui , Wang Bo , Cai Yanxue , Hu Wenfeng
Published: January 2023

Value-added utilization of pineapple waste is very import for the food industry and environmental protection. In this study, whey protein (2.6%, w/w) was added to pineapple waste in order to make up for the protein deficiency of the raw material and give the final products better flavor characteristics. Autochthonous Lactococcus lactis LA5 and Hanseniaspora opuntiae SA2 were used for the co-inoculation of pineapple by-products; during fermentation, the metabolite profiling and microbial community dynamics were investigated. Results showed that the contents of organic acids, total FAAs, total phenolic compounds and flavonoids significantly increased with fermentation, and 152 kinds of peptides were identified in the final products. Relevant analyses demonstrated that dominant strains including Lactococcus lactis, Hanseniaspora and Saccharomyces not only significantly promoted the accumulation of organic acids, total phenols and other active substances, but also inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria and further influenced the fermentation process of pineapple waste.
Investigating the Regulatory Process, Safety, Efficacy and Product Transparency for Nutraceuticals in the USA, Europe and Australia
Authors: Komala Muralikrishna Gangadharan , Ong Ser Gin , Qadri Muhammad Uzair , Elshafie Lamees M. , Pollock Carol A. , Saad Sonia
Published: January 2023

Increased numbers of patients with chronic conditions use nutraceuticals or food-based therapeutics. However, to date, there is no global consensus on the regulatory processes for nutraceuticals. With the increased use, issues of quality and safety have also arisen. This review summarises the current regulations held for nutraceuticals in the USA, European and Australian jurisdictions using regulatory authority sites and databases. The efficacy and safety concerns, product development, gaps in regulation and challenges in ensuring product authenticity are also summarised. The data highlight the complexity that the globalisation of nutraceuticals brings with respect to challenges in regulation and associated claims regarding efficacy and safety. The development of an effective system with integrity is needed to increase vertical collaboration between consumers, healthcare practitioners, and government agencies and the development of international risk assessment criteria and botanical compendia. This will help in greater transparency and improved trust in the process and products. Emerging technologies could play a role in improving systems engineering by information sharing and leveraging the strengths of different countries. In conclusion, nutraceuticals have been poorly regulated leading to spurious claims based on little or no real evidence. This makes it difficult to separate meaningful results from poor data. More stringent regulation and an effective system of integrity are required to ensure efficacy and safety and enable the adequate monitoring and increase consumer and healthcare professionals’ confidence.
Interrogating Raisin Associated Unsaturated Fatty Acid Derived Volatile Compounds Using HS–SPME with GC–MS
Authors: Javed Hafiz Umer , Wang Dong , Abdullah  , Hasan Murtaza , Zeng Li-Yan , Lan Yibin , Shi Ying , Duan Chang-Qing
Published: January 2023

This study proposed to investigate the generation mechanism of raisins-derived volatile compounds during unsaturated fatty acids oxidation (UFAO) using a mixture of fatty acids (FAs) and four individual FA at different time intervals (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 days; 60 °C). During the sun-drying of ‘Thompson Seedless’ grapes (Vitis vinifera L.), a total of 39 UFAO-derived volatiles were characterized by the GC-MS. Firstly a pH value of 4.2 was optimized to proceed with a raisin drying-like UFAO model reaction. Afterward, GC-MS quantification revealed 45 UFAO-derived volatiles, and the maximum numbers of compounds were identified in the interaction of all FAs (39) following linoleic acid (29), erucic acid (27), oleic acid (25), and linolenic acid (27). Pentanoic acid, (E,E)-2,4-octadienal, and n-decanoic acid were only quantified in all FAs, linoleic acid, and erucic acid, respectively. This study showed that all FAs reactions were found to be responsible for the generation of a greater number of UFAO-derived volatiles with higher concentrations.
Hyperspectral Imaging and Chemometrics for Authentication of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A Comparative Approach with FTIR, UV-VIS, Raman, and GC-MS
Authors: Malavi Derick , Nikkhah Amin , Raes Katleen , Van Haute Sam
Published: January 2023

Limited information on monitoring adulteration in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) by hyperspectral imaging (HSI) exists. This work presents a comparative study of chemometrics for the authentication and quantification of adulteration in EVOO with cheaper edible oils using GC-MS, HSI, FTIR, Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The adulteration mixtures were prepared by separately blending safflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, and sesame oil with authentic EVOO in different concentrations (0–20%, m/m). Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and PLS regression models were then built for the classification and quantification of adulteration in olive oil, respectively. HSI, FTIR, UV-Vis, Raman, and GC-MS combined with PLS-DA achieved correct classification accuracies of 100%, 99.8%, 99.6%, 96.6%, and 93.7%, respectively, in the discrimination of authentic and adulterated olive oil. The overall PLS regression model using HSI data was the best in predicting the concentration of adulterants in olive oil with a low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.1%, high R2pred (0.97), and high residual predictive deviation (RPD) of 6.0. The findings suggest the potential of HSI technology as a fast and non-destructive technique to control fraud in the olive oil industry.
On Novel Mathematical Modeling for Studying a Class of Nonlinear Caputo-Type Fractional-Order Boundary Value Problems Emerging in CGT
Authors: Turab Ali , Sintunavarat Wutiphol , Ro Jong-Suk
Published: January 2023

Chemical graph theory (CGT) is a field of mathematical science that applies classical graph theory to chemical structures and processes. Chemical graphs are the principal data format used in cheminformatics to illustrate chemical interactions. Several researchers have addressed boundary-value problems using star graphs. Star graphs were used since their method requires a central point linked to other vertices but not to itself. Our objective is to expand the mechanism by introducing the idea of an isobutane graph that has the chemical formula C4H10 and CAS number 75-28-5. By using the appropriate fixed point theory findings, this paper investigates the existence of solutions to fractional boundary value problems of Caputo type on such graphs. Additionally, two examples are provided to strengthen our important conclusions.
Sorted Bulls’ X-Chromosome-Bearing Spermatozoa Show Increased GAPDHS Activity Correlating with Motility
Authors: Kapitonova Anna A. , Muronetz Vladimir I. , Pozdyshev Denis V.
Published: January 2023

Sperm sexing is a technique for spermatozoa sorting into populations enriched with X- or Y-chromosome-bearing cells and is widely used in the dairy industry. Investigation of the characteristics of sorted semen is of practical interest, because it could contribute to the enhancement of sexed semen fertility characteristics, which are currently lower than those of conventional semen. Comparison of a spermatozoa population enriched with X-chromosome-bearing cells to a mixed population is also intriguing in the context of potential differences that drive the mechanisms of primary sex-ratio determination. In this work, sexed (X spermatozoa) and conventional spermatozoa of Holstein bulls were analyzed for the content and enzymatic activity of GAPDHS, a sperm-specific isoform of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase that plays a significant role in the regulation of flagellar activity. No difference in the amount of this glycolysis enzyme per cell was revealed, but, notably, GAPDHS enzymatic activity in the sexed samples was significantly higher. Enzymatic activity among the group of sexed but not conventional sperm samples positively correlated with spermatozoa motility, which indicates the significant role of this enzyme for the sorted cells population.
Development of Toehold Switches as a Novel Ribodiagnostic Method for West Nile Virus
Authors: Giakountis Antonis , Stylianidou Zoe , Zaka Anxhela , Pappa Styliani , Papa Anna , Hadjichristodoulou Christos , Mathiopoulos Kostas
Published: January 2023

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging neurotropic RNA virus and a member of the genus Flavivirus. Naturally, the virus is maintained in an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes as vectors and birds that are the principal amplifying virus hosts. In humans, the incubation period for WNV disease ranges from 3 to 14 days, with an estimated 80% of infected persons being asymptomatic, around 19% developing a mild febrile infection and less than 1% developing neuroinvasive disease. Laboratory diagnosis of WNV infection is generally accomplished by cross-reacting serological methods or highly sensitive yet expensive molecular approaches. Therefore, current diagnostic tools hinder widespread surveillance of WNV in birds and mosquitoes that serve as viral reservoirs for infecting secondary hosts, such as humans and equines. We have developed a synthetic biology-based method for sensitive and low-cost detection of WNV. This method relies on toehold riboswitches designed to detect WNV genomic RNA as transcriptional input and process it to GFP fluorescence as translational output. Our methodology offers a non-invasive tool with reduced operating cost and high diagnostic value that can be used for field surveillance of WNV in humans as well as in bird and mosquito populations.
RNAseq-Based Working Model for Transcriptional Regulation of Crosstalk between Simultaneous Abiotic UV-B and Biotic Stresses in Plants
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Windhorst Alex , Schenke Dirk , Cai Daguang
Published: January 2023

Plants adjust their secondary metabolism by altering the expression of corresponding genes to cope with both abiotic and biotic stresses. In the case of UV-B radiation, plants produce protective flavonoids; however, this reaction is impeded during pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) induced by pathogens. Pathogen attack can be mimicked by the application of microbial associated molecular patterns (e.g., flg22) to study crosstalk between PTI and UV-B-induced signaling pathways. Switching from Arabidopsis cell cultures to in planta studies, we analyzed whole transcriptome changes to gain a deeper insight into crosstalk regulation. We performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis by RNAseq with four distinct mRNA libraries and identified 10778, 13620, and 11294 genes, which were differentially expressed after flg22, UV-B, and stress co-treatment, respectively. Focusing on genes being either co-regulated with the UV-B inducible marker gene chalcone synthase CHS or the flg22 inducible marker gene FRK1 identified a large set of transcription factors from diverse families, such as MYB, WRKY, or NAC. These data provide a global view of transcriptomic reprogramming during this crosstalk and constitute a valuable dataset for further deciphering the underlying regulatory mechanism(s), which appear to be much more complex than previously anticipated. The possible involvement of MBW complexes in this context is discussed.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Hemato in 2022
Authors:   Hemato Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Research Progress of Plant Nucleotide-Binding Leucine-Rich Repeat Protein
Authors: Wang Xue , Xu Yuanfan , Fan Haiyan , Cui Na , Meng Xiangnan , He Jiajing , Ran Nana , Yu Yang
Published: January 2023

Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat sequence (NBS-LRR) protein is the main immune receptor in plants and participates in plant resistance to pathogens. When the NBS-LRR protein is activated by the pathogen’s effector protein, its conformation changes from an inhibitory state to an activated state, then it activates downstream signal transduction and initiates defense responses to inhibit the growth of pathogens. The NBS-LRR protein has major three domains: NBS, LRR and TIR/CC, which all play a certain role in the immune response induced by it. In this paper, the NBS-LRR protein domains and their functions, molecular mechanism of the induced immune response and its application in disease resistance breeding are reviewed.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Humans in 2022
Authors:   Humans Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Promoting Healthy Behaviors in Older Adults to Optimize Health-Promoting Lifestyle: An Intervention Study
Authors: Chia Fan , Huang Wei-Yang , Huang Hsuan , Wu Cheng-En
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Exercise intervention is the easiest and most effective way to promote human health. This study combined technology and exercise to improve the health behavior of the older adults through a physical activity intervention and to enhance a health-promoting lifestyle. Materials and methods: A quasi-experimental research method was used to openly recruit 120 healthy male and female older adults over 65 years old (average age of males: 71.6 ± 1.25 years; average age of females: 72.3 ± 1.28 years), all of whom wore smart bracelets. The participants were monitored by special personnel during the same period of walking every Monday to Friday. All participants recorded their daily steps, distance walked, and calorie consumption data for a period of 8 weeks. Results: After 8 weeks of walking, all participants showed a positive medium–high correlation of various factors between healthy behaviors and the health-promoting lifestyle scales. In the post-tests of each factor of two scales, males had the highest correlation between regular physical activity and physical activity, and females had the highest correlation between regular physical activity and social support. The variabilities in the explanatory power of the health behaviors of males and females on the health-promoting lifestyle were R2 = 70.9% (p < 0.01) and R2 = 74.1% (p < 0.01), indicating that the variables of healthy behaviors have a positive effect on health-promoting lifestyles in male and female older adults. Conclusions: Walking interventions positively affect the health behaviors of older adults and encourage health-promoting lifestyles. The value of this study is in its contribution to health promotion and public health recommendations for older adults.
Impact of Implementing New ICF-Based Practices on Staff Valence of Disability Practitioners: An Experience in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Phyllis King Shui , Kwan Cheuk Lun , Wong Yu Cheung
Published: January 2023

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) was endorsed by The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001. However, Hong Kong is at the beginning stage of implementing and testing ICF-based practices. This study examines any changes in the valences of disability practitioners in an organization under the newly introduced ICF-based practices. It was hypothesized that the involved staff members’ self-perceived valences in relation to the ICF would be enhanced. A pretest-posttest design was adopted. The 27-item Scale on Staff Valence under ICF-based practice (SSV-ICF) was used to measure the impact on staff valence of a pilot scheme in which ICF-based practice was implemented. Self-report questionnaires were completed by the involved staff members at the beginning of the pilot scheme and 12 months later. Analyses used paired samples t-tests and one-way repeated measures ANOVAs, performed by SPSS software, version 25. In total, 91 participants took part in the study. Results showed that participants achieved positive changes in all domains of valences, while participants’ level of involvement in the new ICF-based intervention had significant effects on their score differences in the “Competence” domain (r = 0.262, p < 0.05), “Intrapersonal” domain (r = 0.242, p < 0.05), and “Total Score” of SSV-ICF (r = 0.210, p < 0.05). The study demonstrated that disability practitioners who implemented ICF-based practices developed higher staff valences, which, in turn, benefited service users. Implementation of ICF-based practices also contributed to a more positive organizational culture.
Improvement of In-School Physical Activity with Active School-Based Interventions to Interrupt Prolonged Sitting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Carrasco-Uribarren Andoni , Ortega-Martínez Anna , Amor-Barbosa Marta , Cadellans-Arróniz Aida , Cabanillas-Barea Sara , Bagur-Calafat Maria Caridad
Published: January 2023

Background: Sedentary behaviors have increased in recent years and their consequences have led the World Health Organization to make recommendations for promoting a more active lifestyle. The school environment has been defined as a key place for achieving this objective for children and adolescents. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to analyze the effect of active-break interventions for interrupting prolonged sitting times during school-time on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB), at school, in childhood and youth. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out, including clinical trials aimed at assessing the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting at school with active breaks on in-school PA and/or SB. Multimodal and static interventions were excluded. Six databases were analyzed: Medline, WOS, Cochrane Library, SPORT Discus, CINAHL and EMBASE. PA, SB; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were the variables considered. Results: Nine studies were included, with a total of 2145 children between 6 and 12 years old. The heterogeneity in the duration (five–sixty min), the frequency (one–three times per-day up to three times per week), and duration (five days to three years) of the interventions was detected. The meta-analyses for in-school PA, MVPA, and SB were performed, showing a significant improvement in both PA and MVPA. Conclusions: Interrupting prolonged sitting with active-based school interventions could improve PA and MVPA levels during school time. (PROSPERO: CRD42022358933).
Exploring U.S. Food System Workers’ Intentions to Work While Ill during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Survey
Authors: Ceryes Caitlin A. , Agnew Jacqueline , Wirtz Andrea L. , Barnett Daniel J. , Neff Roni A.
Published: January 2023

With “stay at home” orders in effect during early COVID-19, many United States (U.S.) food system workers attended in-person work to maintain national food supply chain operations. Anecdotally, many encountered barriers to staying home despite symptomatic COVID-19 illness. We conducted a national, cross-sectional, online survey between 31 July and 2 October 2020 among 2535 respondents. Using multivariable regression and free-text analyses, we investigated factors associated with workers’ intentions to attend work while ill (i.e., presenteeism intentions) during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 8.8% of respondents intended to attend work with COVID-19 disease symptoms. Almost half (41.1%) reported low or very low household food security. Workers reporting a higher workplace safety climate score were half as likely to report presenteeism intentions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37, 0.75) relative to those reporting lower scores. Workers reporting low (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.35, 3.13) or very low (aOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.50, 3.13) household food security levels had twice the odds of reporting presenteeism intentions relative to those reporting high/marginal food security. Workplace culture and safety climate could enable employees to feel like they can take leave when sick during a pandemic, which is critical to maintaining individual and workplace health. We stress the need for strategies which address vulnerabilities and empower food workers to make health-protective decisions.
Study on the Evaluation and Assessment of Ecosystem Service Spatial Differentiation at Different Scales in Mountainous Areas around the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region, China
Authors: Yang Hui , Cao Jiansheng , Hou Xianglong
Published: January 2023

Ecosystem services are closely related to human wellbeing—which refers to the basic material conditions required to maintain high standards of quality of life, of health, and of safety and security, as well as good social relationships, and freedom of choice and action—and have a high potential value. The adequate valuation of ecosystem service values (ESV) is now an urgent need for the implementation of policy measures such as ecosystem asset management, ecological compensation and paid use of ecosystem services. Based on the method of ecosystem value equivalent factor per unit area, in this paper we investigated the variability of total ESV spatial distribution and regional differences in the value of 11 ecosystem service types provided by ecosystems in the mountainous areas of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region at different spatial scales and discussed the relationship between ESV and land use land cover (LULC). The results show that the total ESVs in 2015 and 2020 in the mountainous areas of BTH region were 5671 × 108 CNY and 6381 × 108 CNY, respectively. The change trend of each ecosystem service value from 2015 to 2020 was dominated by an increase of water supply service, and the maintenance of soil and nutrient cycle services in the mountainous area of BTH and the Yanshan Mountain (YSM). The change patterns of the value of ecosystem service categories in the Taihang Moutain (THM) and Bashang region (BSR) are dominated by an increase in the value of maintained soil and water supply services and a decrease in the value of regulating services. The calculation of ESV can be made more accurate by considering climate and vegetation conditions at the region, ecosystem, county or township scales rather than at grid scale, as, for calculating the interannual variation of total ESV, the spatial scale variability is large. The assessment of ESVs is important from the point of view of planning the use of the environment, of spatial planning, and of nature conservation. The ecosystem service of woodland and water bodies are more prominent compared with other land-use types and construction land and bare land provide the lowest value of service. There is some similarity between the value changes of ecosystem service categories and the distribution of LULC types. This study strengthens the understanding of the spatial scales of different ESV in mountain areas, which is beneficial to ecosystem management policies.
Nutritional Analysis of the Spanish Population: A New Approach Using Public Data on Consumption
Authors: Cerrillo Isabel , Saralegui-Díez Pablo , Morilla-Romero-de-la-Osa Rubén , González de Molina Manuel , Guzmán Gloria I.
Published: January 2023

Official population consumption data are frequently used to characterize the diet of countries; however, this information may not always be representative of reality. This study analyses the food consumption of the Spanish population by reconstructing the whole food chain. The results have been compared with the data provided by the National Consumption Panel to which the food losses/waste reported in the literature along the distribution chain have been added. The difference between them allowed a new calculation of the estimated food consumption that was subjected to a dietary-nutritional analysis. Most of the foods were consumed more than those officially reported (range of 5–50%). The unhealthy ratios of consumed foods and recommended servings were: meat products (Rcr = 3.6), fruits and legumes (Rcr = 0.5), and nuts (Rcr = 0.14). Caloric intake surpasses needs. The results were consistent with the data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Spain, as well as with the prevalence of associated diseases. To make a judgment about the quality of a country’s diet, it is necessary to have reliable data on food consumption, as well as energy and nutrient intake. This study encourages other authors to implement this method to verify and quantify the possible difference between official and real consumption data.
Carbon Reduction and Pollutant Abatement by a Bio–Ecological Combined Process for Rural Sewage
Authors: Jin Qiu , Chen Liangang , Yang Shengyun , Zhu Chaochao , Li Jingang , Chen Jing , Li Wei , Peng Xinxin
Published: January 2023

In order to explore the treatment effect of a bio–ecological combined process on pollution reduction and carbon abatement of rural domestic wastewater under seasonal changes, the rural area of Lingui District, Guilin City, Guangxi Province, China was selected to construct a combined process of regulating a pond, biological filter, subsurface flow constructed wetland, and ecological purification pond. The influent water, effluent water, and the characteristics of pollutant treatment in each unit were investigated. The results showed that the average removal rates of COD, TN, and NH3–N in summer were 87.57, 72.18, and 80.98%, respectively, while they were 77.46, 57.52, and 64.48% in winter. There were significant seasonal differences in wastewater treatment results in Guilin. Meanwhile, in view of the low carbon:nitrogen ratio in the influent and the poor decontamination effect, the method of adding additional carbon sources such as sludge fermentation and rice straw is proposed to strengthen resource utilization and achieve carbon reduction and emission reduction. The treatment effect of ecological units, especially constructed wetland units, had a high contribution rate of TN treatment, but it was greatly impacted by seasons. The analysis of the relative abundance of the microbial community at the phylum level in constructed wetlands revealed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetota, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. The relative abundance of microbial communities of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria decreased to a large extent from summer to winter, while Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetota increased to varying degrees. These dominant bacteria played an important role in the degradation of pollutants such as COD, NH3–N, and TN in wetland systems.
I Don’t Believe a Person Has to Die When Trying to Get High: Overdose Prevention and Response Strategies in Rural Illinois
Authors: Walters Suzan M. , Felsher Marisa , Frank David , Jaiswal Jessica , Townsend Tarlise , Muncan Brandon , Bennett Alex S. , Friedman Samuel R. , Jenkins Wiley , Pho Mai T. , Fletcher Scott , Ompad Danielle C.
Published: January 2023

Background: Overdose is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people who inject drugs. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is now a major driver of opioid overdose deaths. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 participants (19 persons who inject drugs and 4 service providers) from rural southern Illinois. Data were analyzed using constant comparison and theoretical sampling methods. Results: Participants were concerned about the growing presence of fentanyl in both opioids and stimulants, and many disclosed overdose experiences. Strategies participants reported using to lower overdose risk included purchasing drugs from trusted sellers and modifying drug use practices by partially injecting and/or changing the route of transmission. Approximately half of persons who inject drugs sampled had heard of fentanyl test strips, however fentanyl test strip use was low. To reverse overdoses, participants reported using cold water baths. Use of naloxone to reverse overdose was low. Barriers to naloxone access and use included fear of arrest and opioid withdrawal. Conclusions: People who inject drugs understood fentanyl to be a potential contaminant in their drug supply and actively engaged in harm reduction techniques to try to prevent overdose. Interventions to increase harm reduction education and information about and access to fentanyl test strips and naloxone would be beneficial.
The Effectiveness of Whole-Body Vibration and Heat Therapy on the Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Balance Abilities of Elderly Groups
Authors: Tseng Shiuan-Yu , Lai Chung-Liang , Ko Chung-Po , Chang Yu-Kang , Fan Hueng-Chuen , Wang Chun-Hou
Published: January 2023

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a novel exercise training measure that promotes the muscle strength, flexibility, and balance abilities of elderly groups. The feasibility and applicability of 20–30 min (lowering a heat pack at 73 °C by wrapping it in multiple layers of towels to 40–43 °C before it touched the skin) thermotherapy are increasingly being demonstrated by applications and clinical trials. Studies show that it increases the flexibility of macules and ligament. However, no studies have examined the interactions between the pre-exercise and post-exercise application of heat therapy (duration a training course). Therefore, this study investigates the effects of WBV and heat therapy on the muscle strength, flexibility, and balance abilities of elderly groups. Eighty middle-age and elderly participants with no regular exercise habits were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to a WBV group, a WBV plus heat therapy group, a heat therapy alone group, and a control group. The WBV groups underwent 5-min, fixed-amplitude (4 mm), thrice-weekly WBV training sessions for 3 consecutive months on a WBV training machine. Participants’ balance was measured using the limits of stability (LOS) test on a balance system. The pretest and posttest knee extensor and flexor strength were tested using an isokinetic lower extremity dynamometer. Pretest and posttest flexibility changes were measured using the sit-and-reach test. Significantly larger pretest and posttest differences in flexibility and muscle strength were observed in the WBV and WBV plus heat therapy groups. The addition of heat therapy to WBV resulted in the largest flexibility improvements.