bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological and Agronomical Responses of ‘Vairo’ Almond and ‘Big Top’ Nectarine Cultivars Grafted onto Different Prunus Rootstocks and Grown under Semiarid Mediterranean Conditions
Authors: Reig Gemma , Iglesias Ignasi , Zazurca Lourdes , Torguet Laura , Martinez Guillem , Miarnau Xavier
Published: March 2022

Two trials were conducted under Mediterranean conditions to monitor several physiological indicators before harvest (leaf chlorophyll concentration, quantum yield of photosystem II electron transport, stem water potential, and stomatal conductance) and some agronomic performance parameters before and at harvest (vigor, fruit growth, fruit size, fruit weight, and yield), of ‘Vairo’ almond and ‘Big Top’ nectarine cultivars grafted onto eight Prunus rootstocks, six of which are common in both cultivars. For both ‘Vairo’ almond and ‘Big Top’ nectarine cultivars, factors including rootstock, date, and the interaction between rootstock and date, from fruit set to harvest were evaluated. Significantly affected were certain physiological and agronomical traits which were evaluated before harvest, with stem water potential being the parameter affected by interaction in both cultivars. In fact, the stem water potential presented low levels in Rootpac-20 and high levels in Rootpac-40 for both cultivars. With regard to the other physiological traits evaluated during the growing period, changes in stomatal conductance were observed in ‘Vairo’, but not in ‘Big Top’. Comparing rootstocks throughout the season, Rootpac-40 and IRTA-1 exhibited the highest stomatal conductance values, whereas the lowest was observed in Rootpac-R; Rootpac-20 and Ishtara also presented low values. Regarding agronomical traits at harvest, GF-677 and IRTA-1 produced high yields for ‘Vairo’ almond cultivar, whereas Rootpac-40 and Ishtara performed better with ‘Big Top’ nectarine cultivar.
Investigation of Sterilization Effect for Overlapping Pieces in Non-Thermal Sterilization Method of Packaged Fresh Foods Using Pulsed Barrier Discharge
Authors: Saito Koki , Onuma Takafumi , Ota Daichi , Sato Yoshihiro , Minamitani Yasushi
Published: March 2022

It is important to secure food safety. If a packaged food can be sterilized, food poisoning can be reduced considerably because the packaged food in a plastic container is useful to prevent attaching microorganisms. However, a fresh food, e.g., a salad or sashimi, cannot be sterilized by thermal sterilization. Therefore, we are studying sterilization methods for packaged fresh foods, such as packed salads. In this study, we have investigated the applicable probability of the sterilization method using cold plasma applied to the packaged fresh food. Especially, we have investigated the probability of the sterilization of microorganisms living in a small hollow between the overlapped fresh foods. A plastic petri dish with a lid was used for simulating the plastic container. The cold plasma was applied into the petri dish by a barrier discharge generated by a pulsed voltage. E. coli was used for a target of sterilization. The E. coli was set on a culture agar medium instead of the salad. The experimental results showed that the sterilization method combining the plastic film and cold plasma of the barrier discharge generated by the pulsed voltage is applicable to sterilize microorganisms living in the hollow between the overlapped fresh foods for the packaged fresh food.
Nitrate-Induced MtCLE34 Gene Lacks the Ability to Reduce Symbiotic Nodule Number and Carries Nonsense Mutation in a Few Accessions of Medicago truncatula
Authors: Lebedeva Maria , Dvornikova Kristina , Lutova Lyudmila
Published: March 2022

Legume plants form nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots in symbiosis with soil bacteria rhizobia. The number of symbiotic nodules is controlled by a host plant via a systemic mechanism known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). The key players of AON are the CLE peptides which are produced in the root in response to rhizobia inoculation and are transported via xylem to the shoot. In the shoot, the CLE peptides are recognized by a CLV1-like receptor kinase, which results in subsequent inhibition of nodule development in the root via a negative feedback mechanism. In addition to the CLE peptides induced by rhizobia, nitrate-induced CLE peptides involved in the control of nodulation have been identified. In Medicago truncatula, the MtCLE34 gene has been described, which was activated by nitrate and in response to rhizobial inoculation. However, this gene contains a premature stop codon in the reference M. truncatula genome of the A17 line, and therefore, it was suggested to be a pseudogene. Here, we analyzed nucleotide sequences of the MtCLE34 gene available from the genomes of different M. truncatula accessions from the Medicago HAPMAP project and found that the majority of M. truncatula accession lines do not carry nonsense mutations in the MtCLE34 gene and should encode functional products. Overexpression of the MtCLE34 gene from the R108 line, which does not have a premature stop codon, did not inhibit nodulation. Therefore, in spite of having high sequence similarity to the nodulation-suppressing CLE genes, the MtCLE34 gene from the R108 line was not able to trigger AON in M. truncatula. Our findings shed light on the evolutionary changes in the CLE proteins in legume plants and can be used in the future to understand which amino acid residues within CLE proteins could be important for their ability to suppress nodulation.
Clinical Use of a 180-Day Implantable Glucose Monitoring System in Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Series
Authors: Tardo Antonio Maria , Irace Concetta , Del Baldo Francesca , Foglia Armando , Fracassi Federico
Published: March 2022

The novel Eversense XL continuous glucose monitoring system (Senseonics, Inc., Germantown, Maryland) has recently been developed for monitoring diabetes in humans. The sensor is fully implanted and has a functional life of up to 180 days. The present study describes the use of Eversense XL in three diabetic dogs (DD) with good glycemic control managed by motivated owners. The insertion and use of the device were straightforward and well tolerated by the dogs. During the wearing period, some device-related drawbacks, such as sensor dislocation and daily calibrations, were reported. A good correlation between the glucose values measured by the Eversense XL and those obtained with two commercially available devices, previously validated for use in DD, was found (rs = 0.85 and rs = 0.81, respectively). The life of the sensor was 180 days in two of the DD and provided high satisfaction. This innovative device might be considered a future alternative for home glucose monitoring in DD.
Synergistic Antitumor Interaction of Risedronate Sodium and Standard Anticancer Agents in Canine (D-17) and Human Osteosarcoma (U-2 OS) Cell Lines
Authors: Poradowski Dominik , Chrószcz Aleksander , Obmińska-Mrukowicz Bożena
Published: March 2022

The study discusses in vitro cytotoxicity of a combination of cytostatic drugs (doxorubicin, cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide) and risedronate sodium against canine and human osteosarcoma (D-17 and U-2 OS). Standard protocols were used for the preparation of cell cultures and evaluation of their viability and apoptosis. MTT assay assessed the culture viability and EC50, while the apoptotic effect of the drugs was checked with a TUNEL assay. Doxorubicin alone showed the strongest cytotoxicity against D-17 (0.056 ± 0.019 µg/mL) and U-2 OS (0.051 ± 0.003 µg/mL), while the lowest cytotoxicity was observed for carboplatin (D-17, 6.45 ± 0.2 µg/mL and U2-OS, 27.5 ± 2.3 µg/mL). Risedronate sodium at 100, 10 and 1 µg/mL lowered viability in OS cell lines by 53.38 ± 1.46 and 49.56 ± 0.7%, 97.08 ± 3.32 and 74.92 ± 4.01%, and 102.67 ± 3.56 and 94.56 ± 3.52%, respectively. In all analyzed drug combinations, risedronate sodium significantly (* p < 0.05) increased the cytotoxicity against tested osteosarcoma cell lines. The decrease in cell viability caused by the studied compound combinations was weaker in canine than in human cell cultures. A combination of doxorubicin (all concentrations), cisplatin (1 µg/mL) and etoposide (1 µg/mL) with 100 µg/mL of risedronate sodium significantly improved the cytotoxicity of the drugs against canine and human osteosarcoma. Administration of carboplatin (1 µg/mL) and risedronate sodium (100 µg/mL), compared to carboplatin per se, produced no significant differences in cytotoxicity against the D-17 cell culture but significantly enhanced cytotoxicity in the U-2 OS line. The strongest apoptosis in both lines was detected for 0.01 µg/mL doxorubicin combined with 100 µg/mL risedronate sodium or 1 µg/mL cisplatin and 100 µg/mL risedronate sodium. In all combinations, the tested compounds revealed a synergistic mechanism of action.
Effect of Essential Oils Supplemented with Caprylic Acid and Sodium Chloride against Faecal ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Pigs
Authors: Gāliņa Daiga , Radenkovs Vitalijs , Kviesis Jorens , Valdovska Anda
Published: March 2022

The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the antibacterial activity of six commercial and lab-scale extracted essential oils (EOs) alone or in combination with caprylic acid (CA) and sodium chloride (NaCl) against faecal Escherichia coli with and without extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) encoding genes, and of isolates classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used for the analysis of chemical composition of EOs, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays were carried out to elucidate the antibacterial activity of non-supplemented and supplemented EOs against different resistance levels of E. coli strains. The main compounds in commercial EOs were aromatic monoterpenoids (30–56%) and p-cymene (8–35%), while the main compounds in the lab-scale EOs were aromatic monoterpenoids (12–37%) and γ-terpinene (18–22%). Commercial EOs exhibited superior inhibitory activity of E. coli in comparison to lab-scale produced EOs. Antibacterial activity of EOs was significantly enhanced by enrichment of the EOs with NaCl (p < 0.001) or CA (p = 0.012). Most of the non-supplemented EOs exhibited lower activity against MDR and ESBL producing E. coli. In contrast, EOs supplemented with CA and especially NaCl was equally effective against ESBL and non-ESBL as well as MDR and non-MDR E. coli. It was found that supplementation of EOs with NaCl could enhance the antibacterial activity towards ESBL and MDR E. coli isolates. However, additional studies are needed to clarify the potential risks of developing resistance.
Preparation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity of Nanoemulsions Incorporating Lemon Essential Oil
Authors: Liu Ting , Gao Zhipeng , Zhong Weiming , Fu Fuhua , Li Gaoyang , Guo Jiajing , Shan Yang
Published: March 2022

Lemon essential oil (LEO) is a kind of citrus essential oil with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, but low water solubility and biological instability hinder its industrial application. In this study, LEO was nanoemulsified to solve these problems. The preparation procedure of lemon essential oil nanoemulsions (LEO-NEs) was optimized, and the physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activities were explored. Single-factor experiments (SFEs) and response surface methodology (RSM) were conducted for the effects on the mean droplet size of LEO-NEs. Five factors of SFE which may influence the droplet size were identified: HLB value, concentration of essential oil, concentration of surfactant, ultrasonic power, and ultrasonic time. On the basis of the SFE, the RSM approach was used to optimize the preparation procedure to obtain LEO-NEs with the smallest droplet size. LEO-NEs exhibited good antioxidant activity when the HLB value was 13, content of surfactant was 0.157 g/mL, ultrasonic time was 23.50 min, and ultrasonic power was 761.65 W. In conclusion, these results can provide a good theoretical basis for the industrial application of lemon essential oil.
Phenolic Contents and Antioxidant Activity of Citrullus colocynthis Fruits, Growing in the Hot Arid Desert of the UAE, Influenced by the Fruit Parts, Accessions, and Seasons of Fruit Collection
Authors: Al-Nablsi Shaimaa , El-Keblawy Ali , Ali Muna A. , Mosa Kareem A. , Hamoda Alshaimaa M. , Shanableh Abdallah , Almehdi Ahmed M. , Soliman Sameh S. M.
Published: March 2022

Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) is an important medicinal plant traditionally used in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a recent study, it has been reported that different individuals of the same population of C. colocynthis, growing in the hot arid desert of the UAE, exhibited variations in their fruit size, color, and stripe pattern. In addition, these plants differed genetically, and their seeds showed variation in size, color, and germination behavior (hereinafter, these individuals are referred to as accessions). In the present study, the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of different fruit parts (rinds, pulps, and seeds) of three different accessions with significant genetic variations, from a single C. colocynthis population, were assessed in response to different seasonal environments. Green fruits were collected in summer and winter from three accessions growing in the botanic garden of the University of Sharjah, UAE. Methanolic extracts from different fruit parts were prepared. The TPC was qualitatively determined by a Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while the antioxidant capacity was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging ability. The metabolic profiling of the antioxidant metabolites was determined using a gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS), associated with a literature search. The results showed that the TPC and the DPPH free radical scavenging activity varied between seasons, accessions, and fruit parts. The highest phenolics were in rinds, but the highest antioxidant activities were in seeds during the summer, reflecting the role of these compounds in protecting the developed seeds from harsh environmental conditions. The metabolomic analysis revealed the presence of 28 metabolites with significant antioxidant activities relevant to fruit parts and season. Collectively, the formation of phenolics and antioxidant activity in different fruit parts is environmentally and genetically dependent.
ANN-Based Inverse Goal-Oriented Design Method for Targeted Final Properties of Materials
Authors: Ahmad Waqas , Wang Guoxin , Yan Yan
Published: March 2022

Designing materials for targeted materials properties is the key to tackle the demands for personalized consumer products. The deficiency in the existing linear and nonlinear correlation methods attributed to simplifying assumptions and idealizations, nondeterministic simulations, and limited experimental data due to heavy computational time and cost, necessitates a design method that provides sufficient confidence to designers in decision making. To address this requirement, we propose, in this paper, an inverse goal-oriented materials design method supported by the design space exploration framework (DSEF). Keeping in view the accuracy and precision in the prediction confidence of machine learning-based methods, we developed an Artificial Neural Network based prediction model that supports DSEF. The proposed method for materials design can help designers to (1) explore PSPP spaces starting from end property requirements, (2) adjust the errors being propagated in the PSPP chain as well as in the predictions made by the model, and (3) timely adjust model parameters of the prediction model for accurate predictions. The efficacy of the method is illustrated for the hot stamping process to produce structural components from ultrahigh-strength steels (UHSS). The proposed method and prediction model are generic and applicable to any sequential manufacturing process to realize an end product.
Machine Learning Powered Microalgae Classification by Use of Polarized Light Scattering Data
Authors: Zhuo Zepeng , Wang Hongjian , Liao Ran , Ma Hui
Published: March 2022

Microalgae are widely distributed in the ocean, which greatly affects the ocean environment. In this work, a dataset is presented, including the polarized light scattering data of 35 categories of marine microalgae. To analyze the dataset, several machine learning algorithms are applied and compared, such as linear discrimination analysis (LDA) and two types of support vector machine (SVM). Results show that non-linear SVM performs the best among these algorithms. Then, two data preparation approaches for non-linear SVM are compared. Subsequently, more than 10 categories of microalgae out of the dataset can be identified with an accuracy greater than 0.80. The basis of the dataset is shown by finding the categories independent to each other. The discussions about the performance of different incident polarization of light gives some clues to design the optimal incident polarization of light for future instrumentation. With this proposed technique and the dataset, these microalgae can be well differentiated by polarized light scattering data.
On Training Road Surface Classifiers by Data Augmentation
Authors: Salazar Addisson , Rodríguez Alberto , Vargas Nancy , Vergara Luis
Published: March 2022

It is demonstrated that data augmentation is a promising approach to reduce the size of the captured dataset required for training automatic road surface classifiers. The context is on-board systems for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving assistance: automatic power-assisted steering. Evidence is obtained by extensive experiments involving multiple captures from a 10-channel multisensor deployment: three channels from the accelerometer (acceleration in the X, Y, and Z axes); three microphone channels; two speed channels; and the torque and position of the handwheel. These captures were made under different settings: three worm-gear interface configurations; hands on or off the wheel; vehicle speed (constant speed of 10, 15, 20, 30 km/h, or accelerating from 0 to 30 km/h); and road surface (smooth flat asphalt, stripes, or cobblestones). It has been demonstrated in the experiments that data augmentation allows a reduction by an approximate factor of 1.5 in the size of the captured training dataset.
Analysis of Multilayered Ground Amplification Characteristics by Scaled-Down Model Tests
Authors: Jin Yong , Kim Daehyeon , Jeong Sugeun , Kim Hoyeon
Published: March 2022

During an earthquake, seismic waves travel through different media through the source to reach the surface. It is very necessary to study the dynamic characteristics of soil between different layers during earthquake. In order to explore the dynamic characteristics of soil under the action of ground seismic input motion, scaled-down model tests were carried out through 1 g shaking table tests based on a laminar shear box. After creating a dense lower ground with a sample of mixed silica and silty soil, and a loose upper ground with sand, the acceleration was measured by applying seismic loading through the 1 g shaking table test. Through the Peak ground acceleration, Spectral acceleration and Spectral acceleration amplification factors, the magnification variation and differences of each depth of the model and the dynamic characteristics of soil between different layers were displayed. In order to verify the reliability of the experimental data, a one-dimensional ground response analysis was carried out using DEEPSOIL software. The approximate results obtained by comparing each other can provide a basis for the accuracy of the experimental results.
The Failure Intensity Estimation of Repairable Systems in Dynamic Working Conditions Considering Past Effects
Authors: Zhou Xinda , Tian Hailong , Deng Fuqin , Dong Luntao , Li Jieli
Published: March 2022

To overcome the disadvantages of the traditional proportional intensity model which ignores the past effects of working conditions, this paper proposes an improved proportional intensity model which can describe the failure intensity of repairable systems in dynamic working conditions. First, the contacts among time, working conditions, and failure probability are explained from the perspective of cumulative damage. Then, the correlations of failure intensities in different working conditions are established by using the equivalent damage model, which is the interpretation of the equivalent time model from the perspective of damage. After that, the linear assumption is adopted in the proportional intensity model with a Weibull process as a baseline intensity. The equivalent damage model converts the cumulative damage in different working conditions to standard working conditions, which gives the proportional intensity model the ability to consider past effects. Furthermore, a numerical case and a real-world case are illustrated to verify the effectiveness of the method. The results of the cases show that the cumulative damage and current working conditions are the two main factors that can decide the failure intensity of electromechanical systems in dynamic working conditions.
Ball Lightning as Plasma Vortexes: A Reinforcement of the Conjecture
Authors: Funaro Daniele
Published: March 2022

The idea that ball lightning is a plasma manifestation has been put forth by many authors. One of the major drawbacks of this approach concerns the stability of these structures. After showing the theoretical existence of pure rotating electromagnetic waves in equilibrium, we argue that these can reasonably provide a robust stabilizing scaffolding for the development of ball lightning phenomena.
Synchrotron Based X-ray Microtomography Reveals Cellular Morphological Features of Developing Wheat Grain
Authors: Legland David , Alvarado Camille , Badel Eric , Guillon Fabienne , King Andrew , Le Thang Duong Quoc , Rivard Camille , Paré Louis , Chateigner-Boutin Anne-Laure , Girousse Christine
Published: March 2022

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world, mainly used for human consumption and animal feed. To overcome the increasing demand in wheat production, it is necessary to better understand the mechanisms involved in the growth of the wheat grain. X-ray computed tomography is an efficient method for the non-destructive investigation of the 3D architecture of biological specimens, which does not require staining, sectioning, or inclusion. In particular, phase-contrast tomography results in images with better contrast and an increased resolution compared to that obtained with laboratory tomography devices. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of phase-contrast tomography for the study of the anatomy of the wheat grain at early stages of development. We provided 3D images of entire grains at various development stages. The image analysis allowed identifying a large number of tissues, and to visualize individual cells. Using a high-resolution setup, finer details were obtained, making it possible to identify additional tissues. Three-dimensional rendering of the grain also revealed the pattern resulting from the epidermis cells. X-ray phase-contrast tomography appears as a promising imaging method for the study of the 3D anatomy of plant organs and tissues.
Stability of Graphene Oxide Composite Membranes in an Aqueous Environment from a Molecular Point of View
Authors: Muzzi Chiara , Gotzias Anastasios , Fontananova Enrica , Tocci Elena
Published: March 2022

We used molecular dynamics to investigate the stability of graphene oxide (GO) layers supported on three polymeric materials, namely a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a pristine and a crosslinked polyamide–imide (PAI and PAI-cr). The membrane configurations consisted of a few layers of GO nanosheets stacked over the specified polymeric supports and submerged in water. We monitored the position, the tilt angle, and the radial distribution function of the individual GO nanosheets in respect to the plane of the supports. We showed that the outermost GO nanosheets were more distorted than those attached directly on the supports. The greatest distortion was observed for the GO nanosheets of the PVDF-supported system. Next, we recorded the density profiles of the water molecules across the distance from the layers to the polymer and discussed the hydrogen bonds between water hydrogens and the oxygen atoms of the GO functional groups.
Polymer Pellet Fabrication for Accurate THz-TDS Measurements
Authors: Murphy Keir N. , Naftaly Mira , Nordon Alison , Markl Daniel
Published: March 2022

We investigate fabrication of compacts using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene (PE), and the effect of compaction conditions on their terahertz transmission properties. The conditions used to fabricate compressed powder samples for terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) can impact the accuracy of the measurements and hence the interpretation of results. This study investigated the effect of compaction conditions on the accuracy of the THz-TDS analysis. Two polymers that are commonly used as matrix materials in terahertz spectroscopy studies were explored using a compaction simulator and a hydraulic press for sample preparation. THz-TDS was used to determine the refractive index and loss coefficient to compare the powder compacts (pellets) to the values of solid material. Sample porosity, axial relaxation and tensile strength were measured to assess the material’s suitability for terahertz spectroscopy. It was found that PTFE is the preferable material for creating THz-TDS samples due to its low porosity and high tensile strength. PE was found to show significant porosity at all compaction pressures, making it an unsuitable material for the accurate determination of optical parameters from THz-TDS spectroscopy measurements. The larger particle sizes of PE resulted in compacts that exhibited significantly lower tensile strength than those made from PTFE making handling and storage difficult.
Investigation and Simulation of the Surface Contact Characteristics of Sinter-Joined Binder Jetting Components
Authors: Rütjes Alexander , Stahl Lukas , Müller Michael , Petzoldt Frank
Published: March 2022

Binder jetting holds great potential for revolutionizing conventional production processes for high-performance components. However, current applications face significant challenges regarding the depowdering and cleaning of complex internal geometries. A novel approach to these challenges is splitting the desired component into smaller, easy-to-clean parts and using sinter bonding to achieve the desired shape. This greatly reduces manual cleaning and preparation time during the production since sintering is required in any case. The sinter joint is currently significantly weaker than the rest of the part and may pose a risk of failure. This study focuses on the effects of different parameters that influence the joint strength and the contact surface between two parts. With different experimental setups, a variety of influences is identified and quantified: depowdering air pressure, component orientation in the build box, initial contact pressure between the green parts, and macroscopic component deformation. The experimental results are supported by a modified Boussinesq contact model. Combining experiments and simulations, it was found that the relative contact between two green parts varies between 5 and 26%, depending on the parameter set used. In this study, the authors introduce the idea of two-part manufacturing in metal binder jetting and subsequent joining of the components in the sintering process.
Production of Daidzein and Genistein from Seed and Root Extracts of Korean Wild Soybean (Glycine soja) by Thermostable β-Galactosidase from Thermoproteus uzoniensis
Authors: Shin Kyung-Chul , Kang Su-Hwan , Oh Deok-Kun , Kim Dae Wook , Kim Sae Hyun , Na Chae Sun , Kim Yeong-Su
Published: March 2022

Isoflavone glycosides are commonly biotransformed into isoflavone aglycones due to the superior biological activities of the latter. Wild soybeans contain a higher isoflavone content than domesticated soybeans due to their high level of genetic diversity. In this study, we cloned and characterized a thermostable β-galactosidase from the extreme thermophile Thermoproteus uzoniensis for potential application in isoflavone conversion in Korean wild soybeans. The purified recombinant enzyme exhibited a maximum specific activity of 1103 μmol/min/mg at pH 5.0 and 90 °C with a half-life of 46 h and exists as a homodimer of 113 kDa. The enzyme exhibited the highest activity for p-nitrophenyl (pNP)-β-D-galactopyranoside among aryl glycosides and it hydrolyzed isoflavone glycosides in the order genistin > daidzin > ononin > glycitin. The enzyme completely hydrolyzed 2.77 mM daidzin and 3.85 mM genistin in the seed extract of wild soybean after 80 and 70 min with productivities of 1.86 and 3.30 mM/h, respectively, and 9.89 mM daidzin and 1.67 mM genistin in the root extract after 180 and 30 min, with the highest productivities of 3.30 and 3.36 mM/h, respectively, compared to other glycosidases. Our results will contribute to the industrial production of isoflavone aglycone using wild soybean and this is the first report on the enzymatic production of isoflavone aglycones from isoflavone glycosides in wild soybeans.
Future Changes of Snow in Alaska and the Arctic under Stabilized Global Warming Scenarios
Authors: Bigalke Siiri , Walsh John E.
Published: March 2022

Manifestations of global warming in the Arctic include amplifications of temperature increases and a general increase in precipitation. Although topography complicates the pattern of these changes in regions such as Alaska, the amplified warming and general increase in precipitation are already apparent in observational data. Changes in snow cover are complicated by the opposing effects of warming and increased precipitation. In this study, high-resolution (0.25°) outputs from simulations by the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5, were analyzed for changes in snow under stabilized global warming scenarios of 1.5 °C, 2.0 °C and 3.0 °C. Future changes in snowfall are characterized by a north–south gradient over Alaska and an east–west gradient over Eurasia. Increased snowfall is projected for northern Alaska, northern Canada and Siberia, while milder regions such as southern Alaska and Europe receive less snow in a warmer climate. Overall, the results indicate that the majority of the land area poleward of 55°N will experience a reduction in snow. The approximate threshold of global warming for a statistically significant increase in temperature over 50% of the pan-Arctic land area is 1.5 °C. The corresponding threshold for precipitation is approximately 2.0 °C. The global warming threshold for the loss of high-elevation snow in Alaska is approximately 2.0 °C. The results imply that limiting global warming to the Paris Agreement target is necessary to prevent significant changes in winter climates in Alaska and the Arctic.
Atmospheric Exploration of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau during the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) from a Ground-Based Microwave Radiometer
Authors: Shi Yang , Wei Jiahua , Qiao Zhen , Zhao Jie , Wang Guangqian
Published: March 2022

The investigation of atmospheric characteristics is of great significance in properly exploiting air and water resources, and quantitatively estimating and nowcasting precipitation. Microwave radiometers are widely used in this field because they can operate unattended for a long time under almost all weather conditions, and obtain high-quality remote sensing data. This research focuses on the applications of ground-based microwave radiometers in retrieving meteorological characteristics of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) during the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM), such as humidity and temperature structures, stability/convection indices, and cloud and precipitation retrievals. Vertical structures of atmospheric temperature, pressure, humidity, and other variables were investigated under clear-sky and snowy-sky conditions. The statistical characteristics of stability/convection indices in the QTP region, such as convective available potential energy (CAPE) and convective inhibition (CIN), were investigated, with a special focus on snowy-sky conditions. The relationship between potential cloud water resources and atmospheric and thermodynamics and instability conditions were taken into consideration. The results showed that the peak CAPEs under clear-sky and snowy-sky conditions were 1349.11 J/kg and 1165.12 J/kg, which were relatively larger than the corresponding values during the summer monsoon. CINs during the EAWM were small enough to be negligible. For quantitative precipitation forecasting (QPF), brightness temperatures at 30.0 GHz and 51.24 GHz sampling channels were sensitive to the snowfall process. Within 1 h before snowfall, the precipitable water vapour (PWV) and liquid water content (LWC) increased sharply by 0.05 cm and 0.12 mm, respectively, while the CAPE and downwards CAPE decreased by 225.60 J/kg and 180.31 J/kg, respectively. The findings of this article may be meaningful for characterizing meteorology and precipitation in the QTP and similar regions during the winter monsoon.
Wind Estimation with Multirotor UAVs
Authors: Meier Kilian , Hann Richard , Skaloud Jan , Garreau Arthur
Published: March 2022

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have benefited from a tremendous increase in popularity over the past decade, which has inspired their application toward many novel and unique use cases. One of them is the use of UAVs in meteorological research, in particular for wind measurement. Research in this field using quadcopter UAVs has shown promising results. However, most of the results in the literature suffer from three main drawbacks. First, experiments are performed as numerical simulations or in wind tunnels. Such results are limited in their validity in real-life conditions. Second, it is almost always assumed that the drone is stationary, which limits measurements spatially. Third, no attempts at estimating vertical wind are made. Overcoming these limitations offer an opportunity to gain significant value from using UAVs for meteorological measurements. We address these shortcomings by proposing a new dynamic model-based approach, that relies on the assumption that thrust can be measured or estimated, while drag can be related to air speed. Moreover, the proposed method is tested on empirical data gathered on a DJI Phantom 4 drone. During hovering, our method leads to precision and accuracy comparable to existing methods that use tilt to estimate the wind. At the same time, the method is able to estimate wind while the drone is moving. This paves the way for new uses of UAVs, such as the measurement of shear wind profiles, knowledge of which is relevant in Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) meteorology. Additionally, since a commercial off-the-shelf drone is used, the methodology can be replicated by others without any need for custom hardware development or modifications.
NeonaTal Assisted TelerehAbilitation (T.A.T.A. Web App) for Hearing-Impaired Children: A Family-Centered Care Model for Early Intervention in Congenital Hearing Loss
Authors: Landolfi Emma , Continisio Grazia Isabella , Del Vecchio Valeria , Serra Nicola , Burattini Ernesto , Conson Massimiliano , Marciano Elio , Laria Carla , Franzè Annamaria , Caso Antonio , Fetoni Anna Rita , Malesci Rita
Published: March 2022

Background: An early hearing detection and intervention program (EHDI) is the first step for the habilitation of children with permanent hearing impairment (PHI). Actually, early intervention programs have increasingly shifted toward family involvement, emphasizing that the child’s family should take an active role in the habilitation process. Therefore, familiar empowerment is the best way to improve a child’s emerging abilities. The aim of this study was to investigate parental self-efficacy beliefs and involvement as well as the language skills of deaf or hard of hearing DHH children who were habilitated with hearing aids and followed using the T.A.T.A web app (NeonaTal Assisted TelerehAbilitation), an example of asynchronous telepractice. Methods: The study describes the early stages of the habilitation program of 15 PHI children followed through the T.A.T.A. web app, which empowers families through a weekly questionnaire submitted during the first 270 to 360 days of their child’s life, for 14 weeks. The family involvement rate scale (FIRS) was used to evaluate parental compliance, and all children received in-person visits at the beginning and at the end of the training period. Results: The children showed greater auditory perceptual skills at the end of the training period on the basis of both the Infant Listening Progress Profile (ILiP) score and the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and FIRS scales. In other words, the auditory skills improved with age as well as with parental participation. Conclusions: The T.A.T.A. web app promotes a proactive management and a tailored habilitation through an active familiar involvement, easily achieved in clinical routine and in emergency settings without additional costs.
Effect of Replacing Sorghum Stubble with Tillandsia recurvata (L.) on Liveweight Change, Blood Metabolites, and Hematic Biometry of Goats
Authors: Gámez-Vázquez Héctor , Rosales-Nieto César , Urrutia-Morales Jorge , Mellado Miguel , Meza-Herrera César , Vázquez-García Juan , Hernández-Arteaga Luisa , Negrete-Sánchez Luis , Loredo-Osti Catarina , Rivas-Jacobo Marco , Beltrán-López Sergio
Published: March 2022

Tillandsia recurvata is an epiphyte that grows on the canopy of many trees in tropical and subtropical areas of America. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or complete substitution of sorghum stubble with T. recurvata on liveweight change, metabolic profile, and complete blood count of goats fed increasing levels (0, 30, and 60%, dry matter basis) of T. recurvata. Thirty non-pregnant three-year-old, non-lactating, healthy mixed-breed goats, ten animals per treatment (T0, T30, and T60), were adapted to diets and facilities for 14 days (d-14). Blood samples were collected at d-15, 28, and 56. At the last phase of the trial (from days 67 on), control goats tended to gain more (p = 0.09) weight than their counterparts consuming T. recurvata. Plasma protein, glucose, triglycerides, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations did not differ among dietary treatments (p > 0.05). Dietary treatment influenced red blood cells (higher for T60; p < 0.01), white blood cells (higher for T30; p < 0.05), mean corpuscular volume (higher for T0; p < 0.001), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (higher for T0; p < 0.01), although not the rest of the blood variables (p > 0.05). The hematocrit percentage tended to be higher (p = 0.06) in T30 than T0 and T60. It was concluded that replacing sorghum stubble with T. recurvata did not modify the metabolic status and maintained live weight of goats. Nevertheless, the use of T. recurvata as feed for goats would improve the nutrition of these animals in the dry season compared to the current diet obtained from an arid rangeland, reducing production costs, and would alleviate the damage caused by this aggressive epiphyte to host trees.
Bio-Ethology of Vespa crabro in Sardinia (Italy), an Area of New Introduction
Authors: Pusceddu Michelina , Lezzeri Matteo , Cocco Arturo , Floris Ignazio , Satta Alberto
Published: March 2022

Vespa crabro, also known as European hornet, is a eusocial Vespidae originally from Eurasia that was accidentally introduced on the island of Sardinia (Italy) in 2010. Currently, its distribution is limited to the northern area of the island. Considering that a non-harmful species in its native region can exhibit invasive behaviour when established in new environments, bio-ethological observations were conducted to better understand whether V. crabro could show invasive traits in Sardinia, which represents a new introduction area. Data on the foraging activity of the European hornet in open fields were collected within a citizen science monitoring program carried out in Sardinia from 2018 to 2020. Moreover, specific behavioural observations were made in apiaries to assess the predatory activity of the hornet towards honey bees and at the entrance of free-living European hornet colonies to evaluate other aspects of its behaviour, i.e., intranidal and extranidal tasks. The results of our study are discussed in relation to the behavioural traits known for this species in its native areas to place the behavioural repertoire of V. crabro in Sardinia into a wider context. Our observations revealed that V. crabro did not show any changes in behavioural traits in Sardinia compared to those described in its area of origin, so the risk of becoming an invasive species on this island seems unlikely.
Endothelial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: DeRoo Elise , Stranz Amelia , Yang Huan , Hsieh Marvin , Se Caitlyn , Zhou Ting
Published: March 2022

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), defined as a focal dilation of the abdominal aorta beyond 50% of its normal diameter, is a common and potentially life-threatening vascular disease. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying AAA pathogenesis remain unclear. Healthy endothelial cells (ECs) play a critical role in maintaining vascular homeostasis by regulating vascular tone and maintaining an anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic local environment. Increasing evidence indicates that endothelial dysfunction is an early pathologic event in AAA formation, contributing to both oxidative stress and inflammation in the degenerating arterial wall. Recent studies utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing revealed heterogeneous EC sub-populations, as determined by their transcriptional profiles, in aortic aneurysm tissue. This review summarizes recent findings, including clinical evidence of endothelial dysfunction in AAA, the impact of biomechanical stress on EC in AAA, the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling in AAA, and EC heterogeneity in AAA. These studies help to improve our understanding of AAA pathogenesis and ultimately may lead to the generation of EC-targeted therapeutics to treat or prevent this deadly disease.
Plasma Polyamine Biomarker Panels: Agmatine in Support of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Coradduzza Donatella , Solinas Tatiana , Azara Emanuela , Culeddu Nicola , Cruciani Sara , Zinellu Angelo , Medici Serenella , Maioli Margherita , Madonia Massimo , Carru Ciriaco
Published: March 2022

Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumour among males (19%), often clinically silent and of difficult prognosis. Although several studies have highlighted the diagnostic and prognostic role of circulating biomarkers, such as PSA, their measurement does not necessarily allow the detection of the disease. Within this context, many authors suggest that the evaluation of circulating polyamines could represent a valuable tool, although several analytical problems still counteract their clinical practice. In particular, agmatine seems particularly intriguing, being a potential inhibitor of polyamines commonly derived from arginine. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the potential role of agmatine as a suitable biomarker for the identification of different classes of patients with prostate cancer (PC). For this reason, three groups of human patients—benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), precancerous lesion (PL), and prostate cancer (PC)—were recruited from a cohort of patients with suspected prostate cancer (n = 170), and obtained plasma was tested using the LC-HRMS method. Statistics on the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC), and multivariate analysis were used to examine the predictive value of markers for discrimination among the three patient groups. Statistical analysis models revealed good discrimination using polyamine levels to distinguish the three classes of patients. AUC above 0.8, sensitivity ranging from 67% to 89%, specificity ranging from 74% to 89% and accuracy from 73% to 86%, considering the validation set, were achieved. Agmatine plasma levels were measured in PC (39.9 ± 12.06 ng/mL), BPH (77.62 ± 15.05 ng/mL), and PL (53.31 ± 15.27 ng/mL) patients. ROC analysis of the agmatine panel showed an AUC of 0.959 and p ≤ 0.001. These results could represent a future tool able to discriminate patients belonging to the three different clinical groups.
Effect of Japanese Cedar Pollen Sublingual Immunotherapy on Asthma Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Caused by Japanese Cedar Pollen
Authors: Ueda Shoko , Ito Jun , Harada Norihiro , Harada Sonoko , Sasano Hitoshi , Sandhu Yuuki , Tanabe Yuki , Abe Sumiko , Shiota Satomi , Kodama Yuzo , Nagaoka Tetsutaro , Makino Fumihiko , Chiba Asako , Akiba Hisaya , Atsuta Ryo , Miyake Sachiko , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: March 2022

Allergen immunotherapy is a promising treatment for allergic diseases that induce immune tolerance through the administration of specific allergens. In this study, we investigate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in asthmatic patients with SAR-JCP and the dynamics of the parameters before and after treatment in a real-world setting. This was a prospective single-center observational study. Patients with asthma and SAR-JCP (n = 24) were recruited for this study and assessed using symptom questionnaires before SLIT and a year after the SLIT. In addition, a respiratory function test, forced oscillation technique, and blood sampling test were performed during the off-season before and after SLIT. The one-year SLIT for asthma patients with SAR-JCP significantly improved not only allergic rhinitis symptoms, but also asthma symptoms during the JCP dispersal season, and significantly improved airway resistance during the off-season. The change in the asthma control test and the visual analog scale score during the season before and after SLIT was negatively and positively correlated with the change in peripheral blood γδ T cells off-season before and after SLIT, respectively. It was suggested that improvement in asthma symptoms during the JCP dispersal season after SLIT was associated with reduced peripheral blood γδ T cells.
UPF1 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Growth through DUSP1/p53 Signal Pathway
Authors: Lee Suman , Hwang Yukyung , Kim Tae Hun , Jeong Jaemin , Choi Dongho , Hwang Jungwook
Published: March 2022

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate because of the dearth of effective treatments. Multiple studies have shown that overexpression of UPF1, a key nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) factor, reduces HCC growth through various cell signaling pathways. However, the mechanism by which UPF1 expression retards HCC proliferation through the regulation of RNA stability remains unclear. By employing various UPF1 variants and transcriptome analysis, we revealed that overexpression of UPF1 variants, not UPF1-mediated NMD, reduces HCC tumorigenesis. Additionally, UPF1 variant overexpression reduced tumorigenesis in xenografted mice. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the level of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) was increased by UPF1 variants via posttranscriptional regulation. The UPF1 overexpression-mediated increase of DUSP1 activated tumor suppressor signaling, ultimately inhibiting cell growth. In this study, we highlighted the function of UPF1 as a tumor suppressor in HCC growth.