bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagenesis of the Permian Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Sag, Junggar Basin, China
Authors: Bai Bin , Liang Jiwei , Dai Chaocheng , He Wenjun , Bai Ying , Chang Xiaobin , Zheng Meng , Li Hanlin , Zong Hao
Published: December 2023

The Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu sag of the Junggar Basin was primarily composed of detritus, pyroclastic material, carbonates, and evaporites. In order to establish the diagenesis pathways of the Fengcheng Formation, some methods of polarized light microscope, SEM, CL, EPMA, LR, and fluid inclusion analysis were applied to discuss the diagenesis process. The results showed the following: (a) The formation of an alkaline lake was the result of the influence of a high concentration of sodium-rich sources, and it led to the preservation of alkaline minerals in the stratum. (b) After the sediments were buried, three mineral assemblages were formed in the Fengcheng Formation, which are carbonate mineral assemblages (i.e., calcite + ferreous dolomite), reedmergnerite and carbonate mineral assemblages (i.e., reedmergnerite + calcite + ferreous dolomite), and reedmergnerite and alkaline mineral assemblages (i.e., reedmergnerite + shortite + trona), respectively. (c) According to the homogenization temperature of reedmergnerite primary fluid inclusions, the alkaline diagenesis of Fengcheng Formation was divided into an early stage (≤100 °C) and a middle stage (>100 °C), respectively. The earlier stage is marked by the formation of ferrous saddle dolomite, quartz dissolution, and the agglutination of laumontite. These processes occurred under normal burial conditions. The latter is marked by the reedmergnerite’s appearance, which is correlated with the deep hydrothermal activity controlled by faults. (d) Based on sedimentary and diagenetic factors, including climate, provenance, diagenetic surroundings, and the action of subsurface fluid, the alkaline deposition-diagenesis model for shale series in four stages of the Fengcheng Formation was established.
A Case Study of the Radon Hazard at the Boundary of a Coal Minefield
Authors: Leshukov Timofey , Legoshchin Konstantin , Larionov Aleksey
Published: December 2023

The main purpose of this study is to assess the radon hazard in areas near the boundary of a coal mine. Our assessment included an analysis of the soil’s radon volume activity (VAR) and radon flux density (RFD), as well as their spatial characteristics and correlations with other factors. The soil VAR varies in the range from 3477.7 to 17,520 Bq/m3 (mean value 9786.9 ± 474.9 Bq/m3), and RFD from 10 to 160 mBq·m−2·s−1 with a mean value of 59.76 ± 2.45 mBq·m−2·s−1. The RFD parameter is spatially clustered (p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences between RFD and soil VAR were found, both inside and outside the minefield areas (p ≥ 0.05). However, we suggest considering the entire studied space of the minefield boundaries and surroundings to be radon-hazardous. This contributes to the understanding of the radon hazard of coal mines for ground structures both in the mine area and in its surroundings.
Parallax of Head-Up Displays and Visual Safety for Driving
Authors: Song Jun , Fan Zihang , Xu Wei , Ji Zhengxin , Lin Yandan
Published: December 2023

Head-up displays (HUDs), a novel form of virtual display, are characterized by their optical structure as a typical binocular virtual display system. This structure exhibits the effect of binocular parallax on visual perception, especially when diverse depth information is displayed on a screen, which makes the eyes switch between different parallax conditions, and easily affects visual tasks, and induces visual fatigue. Augmented reality HUDs (AR-HUDs) have a wider field of view and are more susceptible to parallax effects. In this study, to determine the acceptable parallax threshold in a two-dimensional virtual display system for HUDs, especially for adjacent positions, and to provide a reference for HUD design, visual comfort and task performance were experimentally evaluated by simulating the overall parallax effect and with step changes on the screen. Specifically, the effects of overall and stepped horizontal and vertical parallaxes on visual fatigue and task performance were evaluated under different conditions. The results showed that the overall horizontal and vertical parallaxes had no significant effect on visual fatigue and task performance. However, stepped horizontal parallax had a significant effect on task performance (p < 0.05), with a parallax value of 3.31 mrad between adjacent positions serving as an acceptable threshold for stepped horizontal parallax as a reference. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentration and fluctuation ratios of the results caused by vertical stepped parallax were found, and an acceptable stepped parallax threshold of 2.24 mrad was obtained. Further, experiments revealed that stepped vertical parallax was more likely to lead to reading misalignments, halos, and distortions. In addition, an exponentially varying relationship between stepped parallax and the error rate of visual performance was observed, and a model was built to predict the degree of influence on visual performance caused by horizontal stepped parallax in virtual displays. This study provides a reference for parallax control between neighboring display icons in AR-HUDs.
Vehicle Trajectory Prediction Based on Graph Convolutional Networks in Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Shi Jian , Sun Dongxian , Guo Baicang
Published: December 2023

Vehicle trajectory prediction is an important research basis for the decision making and path planning of the intelligent and connected vehicle. In the connected vehicle environment, vehicles share information and drive cooperatively, and the intelligent and connected vehicles are able to obtain more accurate and rich perception information, which provides a data basis for accurate prediction of vehicle trajectories. However, attaining accurate and effective vehicle trajectory predictions poses technical challenges due to insufficient extraction of vehicular spatial–temporal interaction features. In this paper, we propose a vehicle trajectory prediction model based on graph convolutional neural network (GCN) in a connected vehicle environment. Specifically, using the driving scene information obtained by the intelligent and connected vehicle, the spatial graph and temporal graph are constructed based on the spatial interaction coefficient (SIC) and self-attention mechanism, respectively. Then, the graph data are entered into the interaction extraction module, and the spatial interaction features and temporal interaction features are extracted separately using the graph convolutional networks, which are fused to obtain the spatial–temporal interaction information. Finally, the interaction features are learned based on the convolutional neural networks to output the future trajectory information of all vehicles in the scene by one forward operation rather than a step-by-step process. The ablation experiment results show that the method proposed in this study to model the spatiotemporal interaction among vehicles based on SIC and self-attention mechanism reduces the prediction error by 5% and 12%, respectively. The results from the model comparison experiment show that the proposed method engenders an 8% improvement in prediction accuracy over the state-of-the-art solution, providing technical and theoretical support for trajectory prediction research of intelligent and connected vehicles.
Compression Sportswear Improves Speed, Endurance, and Functional Motor Performances: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Hanall , Kim Rye-Kyeong , Chae Woen-Sik , Kang Nyeonju
Published: December 2023

Compression sportswear is widely used for enhancing exercise performances, facilitating recovery, and preventing injuries. Despite prior findings that confirmed positive effects on physical recovery after exercises, whether compression sportswear can enhance exercise performances has not been determined. Thus, this systematic meta-analysis examined the effects of compression sportswear on exercise performances including speed, endurance, strength and power, functional motor performance, and sport-related performance. We calculated effect sizes by comparing changes in exercise performances between the compression garment and the control group. Two additional moderator variable analyses determined whether altered exercise performances were different based on the types of participants and compression sportswear. For the total 769 participants from 42 included studies, the random-effect model found that compression sportswear significantly improved speed, endurance, and functional motor performances. Additional moderator variable analyses identified significant positive effects on speed for athletes, and endurance and functional motor performance for moderately trained adults. Further, whole-body compression garments were beneficial for improving speed, and lower-body compression garments effectively advanced endurance performances. For functional motor performances, both upper- and lower-body suits were effective. These findings suggest that wearing compression sportswear may be a viable strategy to enhance overall exercise performances.
Impact of Storage Conditions of Yogurt Dry Ingredients on the Physicochemical Properties of the Final Product
Authors: Terpiłowski Konrad , Lange Ignace , Kowalczyk Krzysztof , Tomczyńska-Mleko Marta , Sapiga Viktoria , Wesołowska-Trojanowska Marta , Mleko Stanisław , Pérez-Huertas Salvador
Published: December 2023

This study investigated the impact of storage conditions of the ingredients for yogurt production on the rheological and physicochemical characteristics of the final fermented product. The novelty is the application of a special mix of milk protein concentrate and sodium caseinate for yogurt production. Separately exposing the protein mix powder and bacteria culture to 20 °C caused considerable changes in the obtained yogurt stiffness and the incubation times required to produce the gel due to a decrease in bacterial count. Minimal changes in bacteria viability were observed after storage at 5 °C. Lower temperature and shorter storage times increased yogurt firmness, viscosity, and storage modulus, resulting in a smoother and more viscous product. A linear correlation was found between yogurt firmness and water activity. Powders stored at lower temperatures and for shorter times produced yogurt with stronger texture and better water binding. Additionally, yogurt obtained from dry ingredients stored under these conditions required shorter incubation times. Storing the starter culture at 5 °C for at least 8 weeks had no significant effects on the physicochemical properties or incubation time requited to produce the final yogurt. This work highlights the importance of storage conditions of yogurt dry ingredients in maintaining the quality of the final product.
Fault Detection Algorithm Based on Dynamic Global–Local Preserving Projection
Authors: Wang Wenbiao , Zhang Qianqian , Zheng Kai
Published: December 2023

Industrial system operations usually have dynamic characteristics. If these characteristics are ignored, the performance of fault detection degrades. Herein, the fault-detection algorithm of dynamic global–local preserving projection (DGLPP) is employed to solve the problem mentioned. First, time-delay data are added to the sample to form an augmentation matrix and characterize the system dynamics. Second, the dimensionality of the augmented matrix is reduced using global–local preserving projection. The dimensionality-reduction method can preserve the data’s global and local structures. Then, a DGLPP model is built using the dimensionality-reduced data. Moreover, Hotelling’s T2 and squared prediction error (SPE) statistics are used for fault detection. Finally, this method is used to detect the fault in the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process. The experimental results show that the DGLPP method has an enhanced fault detection rate. Moreover, the fault-detection effects of the DGLPP method are better than those of the principal component analysis (PCA), local preserving projection (LPP), and global–local preserving projection (GLPP) methods.
The Safe Return of Face-to-Face Teaching in the Post-COVID-19 Era at a University in Southern Italy: Surface Monitoring as an Early Warning System
Authors: De Giglio Osvalda , Triggiano Francesco , Apollonio Francesca , Buonavoglia Canio , Capozzi Loredana , Camero Michele , Colafemmina Giuseppe , Del Prete Raffaele , Fasano Fabrizio , Lanave Gianvito , Mateos Helena , Pace Lorenzo , Mosca Adriana , Palazzo Gerardo , Parisi Antonio , Stefanizzi Pasquale , Terio Valentina , Tafuri Silvio , Montagna Maria Teresa
Published: December 2023

Environmental monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 has become a useful adjunct to clinical testing because it is widely available and relatively inexpensive. During the period May–December 2022 (spring–summer: May–September–autumn: October–December), we assessed the presence and viability of the virus on surfaces in university settings in the Apulia region (Southern Italy) after the resumption of face-to-face teaching activities and evaluated surface monitoring as an early warning system. The sampling plan provided for the selection of 75% of the surface types (e.g., student and teacher desks, computer, handrail) in different materials (plasticized wood, wood, metal, plastic) present in different environments. Overall, 5.4% of surfaces (all students’ desks) resulted in positive with RT-PCR and negative with viral culture. Greater contamination was found in the spring–summer period than in the autumn (χ2 test with Yates correction = 7.6003; p-value = 0.006). The Poisson regression model showed a direct association between the average number of COVID-19 cases among university students in the seven days following sampling and the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 positive swabs on sampling day and (Intercept = 5.32498; β = 0.01847; p < 0.001). Our results show that environmental monitoring for SARS-CoV-2, especially in crowded settings such as universities, could be a useful tool for early warning, even after the end of the COVID-19 emergency.
A Practical Multiparty Private Set Intersection Protocol Based on Bloom Filters for Unbalanced Scenarios
Authors: Ruan Ou , Yan Changwang , Zhou Jing , Ai Chaohao
Published: December 2023

Multiparty Private Set Intersection (MPSI) is dedicated to finding the intersection of datasets of multiple participants without disclosing any other information. Although many MPSI protocols have been presented, there are still some important practical scenarios that require in-depth consideration such as an unbalanced scenario, where the server’s dataset is much larger than the clients’ datasets, and in cases where the number of participants is large. This paper proposes a practical MPSI protocol for unbalanced scenarios. The protocol uses the Bloom filter, an efficient data structure, and the ElGamal encryption algorithm to reduce the computation of clients and the server; adopts randomization technology to solve the encryption problem of the 0s in the Bloom filter; and introduces the idea of the Shamir threshold secret-sharing scheme to adapt to multiple environments. A formal security proof and three detailed experiments are given. The results of the experiments showed that the new protocol is very suitable for unbalanced scenarios with a large number of participants, and it has a significant improvement in efficiency compared with the typical related protocol (TIFS 2022).
Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Stability through Pre-Emptive Braking Control for Emergency Collision Avoidance
Authors: Lai Fei , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: December 2023

A pre-emptive braking control method is proposed to improve the stability of autonomous vehicles during emergency collision avoidance, aiming to imitate the realistic human driving experience. A linear model predictive control is used to derive the front wheel steering angle to track a predefined fifth-degree polynomial trajectory. Based on a two-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) vehicle dynamics model, the maximum stable vehicle speed during collision avoidance can be determined. If the actual vehicle speed exceeds the maximum stable vehicle speed, braking action will be applied to the vehicle. Furthermore, four-wheel steering (4WS) control and direct yaw moment control (DYC) are employed to further improve the stability of the vehicle during collision avoidance. Simulation results under a double lane change scenario demonstrate that the control system incorporating pre-emptive braking, 4WS, and DYC can enhance the vehicle stability effectively during collision avoidance. Compared to the 2WS system without pre-emptive braking control, the maximum stable vehicle speed of the integrated control system can be increased by at least 56.9%. The proposed integrated control strategy has a positive impact on the safety of autonomous vehicles, and it can also provide reference for the research and development of autonomous driving systems.
Ginkgolic Acid Derivatives from Ginkgo biloba Show Inhibitory Activity against Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases Associated with Insulin Resistance
Authors: Jeong Se Yun , Lee Kwang Ho , Kim Jae Kwan , Ahn Dohee , Kim Hyemin , Chung Sang J. , Yoon Sun-Young , Kim Ki Hyun
Published: December 2023

Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoacea) contains an abundance of beneficial compounds and has demonstrated positive clinical effects in the management of metabolic syndrome. Recent studies have emphasized its efficacy against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), including improvements in diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Particularly noteworthy are ginkgolic acid analogs, which have shown potential in combating T2DM by inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), facilitating glucose uptake, and influencing signaling pathways. In this study, we isolated six derivatives of ginkgolic acid from the MeOH extract of G. biloba leaves with the guidance of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS). We determined the chemical structures of these isolated compounds as 2-hydroxy-6-(10′-hydroxypentadec-11′(E)-en-1-yl) benzoic acid (1), 2-hydroxy-6-(11′-hydroxypentadec-9′(E)-en-1-yl) benzoic acid (2), 2-hydroxy-6-tridecylbenzoic acid (3), 2-hydroxy-6-pentadecylbenzoic acid (4), 2-hydroxy-6-(12′-hydroxyheptadec-13′(E)-en-1-yl) benzoic acid (5), and 2-hydroxy-6-(11-hydroxyundecyl) benzoic acid (6) using NMR spectroscopic data and LC/MS analysis. To assess their potential for addressing T2DM, we subjected the isolated compounds (1–6) to tests measuring their inhibitory activity against six PTPs: PTPN11, PTPN2, PTP1B, DUSP9, PTPRS, and PTPN9. Among these compounds, compounds 3–5 displayed enzyme inhibition exceeding 90% against all six PTPs. In conclusion, ginkgolic acid derivatives, acting as PTP inhibitors relevant to insulin resistance, hold promise as potential therapeutic candidates for the prevention and treatment of T2DM.
Self-Isolated Dual-Mode High-Pass Birdcage RF Coil for Proton and Sodium MR Imaging at 7 T MRI
Authors: Jeong You-Jin , Kumar Suchit , Park Seon-Woo , Song Youngkyu , Cho Jee-Hyun , Moon Chan Hong , Oh Chang-Hyun
Published: December 2023

This study presents the feasibility of a dual-mode high-pass birdcage RF coil to acquire MR images at both 1H and 23Na frequencies at ultra-high-field MR scanner, 7 T. A dual-mode circuit (DMC) in the dual-mode birdcage (DMBC) RF coil operates at two frequencies, addressing the limitations of sensitivity reduction and isolation between two frequencies as in traditional dual-tuned RF coil. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) based electromagnetic (EM) simulations were performed to verify the RF coil at each frequency on the three-dimensional human head model. The DMBC RF coil resonated at proton (1H) and sodium (23Na) frequencies, and also single-tuned high-pass birdcage RF coils were constructed for both 1H and 23Na frequencies. The bench test performance of the RF coils was evaluated using network analysis parameters, including the measurement of scattering parameters (S-parameters) and quality factors (Q-factors). Q-factor of the DMBC coil at 1H port was 10.2% lower than that of 1H single-tuned birdcage (STBC) coil, with a modest SNR reduction of 6.5%. Similarly, the Q-factor for the DMBC coil at 23Na port was 12.3% less than that of 23Na STBC coil, and the SNR showed a minimal reduction of 5.4%. Utilizing the DMBC coil, promising 1H and 23Na MR images were acquired compared to those by using STBC coils. In conclusion, deploying a DMBC 1H/23Na coil has been demonstrated to overcome traditional constraints associated with dual-tuned RF coils, achieving this with only nominal signal attenuation across both nuclei operational frequencies.
The Calculation Method for the Horizontal Bearing Capacity of Squeezed Branch Piles Considering the Plate–Soil Nonlinear Interaction
Authors: Yang Yuqi , Ma Hongwei , Hu Zhitao , Wang Lina , Chen Xin
Published: December 2023

The m-method is a commonly used method to calculate the internal force and deformation of pile foundations under lateral loads. However, for squeezed branch piles, the increase in the load-bearing plate leads to changes in the pile section and the generation of a resistance bending moment under loading, which means the load–displacement relationship at the load-bearing plate will no longer satisfy the linear relationship. In this paper, a hyperbolic load transfer model is established to describe the nonlinear relationship between the soil resistance and lateral displacement at the branch of the pile, and the m-method is used for the straight section of the pile. Laboratory model tests are used to verify the correlation between theory and experimentation. The results show that the theory is consistent with the measured curve. On the basis of the theoretical calculation, the influence of the bearing plate and pile body parameters on the force of the squeezed branch pile is analyzed. The research shows that that the bearing capacity of the squeezed branch pile is improved by increasing the plate’s diameter, placing the plate closer to the ground, and ensuring that the pile top is embedded. The theoretical calculation method established in this paper can correctly and accurately reflect the bearing capacity characteristics of squeezed branch piles under horizontal loads, and it is more safe than performing measurements. Additionally, it can be applied to squeezed branch piles with different plate diameters, plate positions, plate section forms, and plate quantities as well as for piles with different boundary conditions and soil conditions. Moreover, it can also be applied to other pile shapes. This method is of significance for the analysis of the bearing characteristics of piles with variable sections under lateral loads.
Semi-Supervised Detection of Detailed Ground Feature Changes and Its Impact on Land Surface Temperature
Authors: Wu Pinghao , Liang Jiacheng , Xu Jianhui , Zhong Kaiwen , Hu Hongda , Zuo Jian
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a semi-supervised change detection optimization strategy as a means to mitigate the reliance of unsupervised/semi-supervised algorithms on pseudo-labels. The benefits of the Class-balanced Self-training Framework (CBST) and Deeplab V3+ were exploited to enhance classification accuracy for further analysis of microsurface land surface temperature (LST), as indicated by the change detection difference map obtained using iteratively reweighted multivariate alteration detection (IR-MAD). The evaluation statistics revealed that the DE_CBST optimization scheme achieves superior change detection outcomes. In comparison to the results of Deeplab V3+, the precision indicator demonstrated a 2.5% improvement, while the commission indicator exhibited a reduction of 2.5%. Furthermore, when compared to those of the CBST framework, the F1 score showed a notable enhancement of 6.3%, and the omission indicator exhibited a decrease of 8.9%. Moreover, DE_CBST optimization improves the identification accuracy of water in unchanged areas on the basis of Deeplab V3+ classification results and significantly improves the classification effect on bare land in changed areas on the basis of CBST classification results. In addition, the following conclusions are drawn from the discussion on the correlation between ground object categories and LST on a fine-scale: (1) the correlation between land use categories and LST all have good results in GTWR model fitting, which shows that local LST has a high correlation with the corresponding range of the land use category; (2) the changes of the local LST were generally consistent with the changes of the overall LST, but the evolution of the LST in different regions still has a certain heterogeneity, which might be related to the size of the local LST region; and (3) the local LST and the land use category of the corresponding grid cells did not show a completely consistent correspondence relationship. When discussing the local LST, it is necessary to consider the change in the overall LST, the land use types around the region, and the degree of interaction between surface objects. Finally, future experiments will be further explored through more time series LST and land use data.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Northwest Cape Transmitter (19.8 kHz) Radio Signals Using Data Collected by the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite
Authors: Cai Honggeng , Zhao Shufan , Liao Li , Shen Xuhui , Lu Hengxin
Published: December 2023

Very Low Frequency (VLF) waves radiated from ground-based transmitters are crucial for long-distance communication and underwater navigation. These waves can reflect between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere for Earth–ionosphere waveguide propagation. Additionally, they can penetrate not only the ionosphere but also the magnetosphere, where they interact with high-energy particles in the radiation belt. Therefore, studying the spatial and temporal distribution of VLF radio signals holds significant importance. Such research enables us to understand the propagation characteristics of VLF signals, their interaction with radiation belt particles, and their response to space weather and lithospheric activity events. In this paper, we investigate the seasonal variations in the intensity of the Northwest Cape (NWC) transmitter (19.8 kHz) radio signals at satellite altitude and the displacement of the electric field’s peak center. Our analysis is based on the nightly China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) data from 2019 to 2021. The results reveal the following: (1) There is no significant seasonal variation in the electric field strength within a small area (2.5° radius) around the NWC transmitter. However, a clear seasonal variation in the electric field strength is observed within a larger area (15° radius), with higher strength during winter compared with summer. (2) The power spectral density of the electric field remains constant within the peak central area (approximately 1~2° radius), but it decays with distance outside this region, showing a north–south asymmetry. Moreover, the decay rate of the radiation electric field is slower in the northern direction than in the southern direction. (3) The center of the electric field moves northward from summer to winter and southward from winter to summer. (4) In winter, VLF waves radiated by the NWC transmitter may predominantly propagate by being ducted toward the conjugate hemisphere.
A Novel PM2.5 Concentration Forecasting Method Based on LFIG_DTW_HC Algorithm and Generalized Additive Model
Authors: Yang Hong , Zhang Han
Published: December 2023

As air pollution becomes more and more serious, PM2.5 is the primary pollutant, inevitably attracts wide public attention. Therefore, a novel PM2.5 concentration forecasting method based on linear fuzzy information granule_dynamic time warping_hierarchical clustering algorithm (LFIG_DTW_HC algorithm) and generalized additive model is proposed in this paper. First, take 30 provincial capitals in China for example, the cities are divided into seven regions by LFIG_DTW_HC algorithm, and descriptive statistics of PM2.5 concentration in each region are carried out. Secondly, it is found that the influencing factors of PM2.5 concentration are different in different regions. The input variables of the PM2.5 concentration forecasting model in each region are determined by combining the variable correlation with the generalized additive model, and the main influencing factors of PM2.5 concentration in each region are analyzed. Finally, the empirical analysis is conducted based on the input variables selected above, the generalized additive model is established to forecast PM2.5 concentration in each region, the comparison of the evaluation indexes of the training set and the test set proves that the novel PM2.5 concentration forecasting method achieves better prediction effect. Then, the generalized additive model is established by selecting cities from each region, and compared with the auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. The results show that the novel PM2.5 concentration forecasting method can achieve better prediction effect on the premise of ensuring high accuracy.
Culturable Bacterial Endophytes of Wild White Poplar (Populus alba L.) Roots: A First Insight into Their Plant Growth-Stimulating and Bioaugmentation Potential
Authors: Gladysh Natalya S. , Bogdanova Alina S. , Kovalev Maxim A. , Krasnov George S. , Volodin Vsevolod V. , Shuvalova Anastasia I. , Ivanov Nikita V. , Popchenko Mikhail I. , Samoilova Aleksandra D. , Polyakova Aleksandra N. , Dmitriev Alexey A. , Melnikova Nataliya V. , Karpov Dmitry S. , Bolsheva Nadezhda L. , Fedorova Maria S. , Kudryavtseva Anna V.
Published: December 2023

The white poplar (Populus alba L.) has good potential for a green economy and phytoremediation. Bioaugmentation using endophytic bacteria can be considered as a safe strategy to increase poplar productivity and its resistance to toxic urban conditions. The aim of our work was to find the most promising strains of bacterial endophytes to enhance the growth of white poplar in unfavorable environmental conditions. To this end, for the first time, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 14 bacterial strains isolated from the tissues of the roots of white poplar in different geographical locations. We then performed a bioinformatics search to identify genes that may be useful for poplar growth and resistance to environmental pollutants and pathogens. Almost all endophytic bacteria obtained from white poplar roots are new strains of known species belonging to the genera Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Kocuria, Micrococcus, Peribacillus, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus. The genomes of the strains contain genes involved in the enhanced metabolism of nitrogen, phosphorus, and metals, the synthesis of valuable secondary metabolites, and the detoxification of heavy metals and organic pollutants. All the strains are able to grow on media without nitrogen sources, which indicates their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is concluded that the strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and bacteria of the species Kocuria rosea have the best poplar growth-stimulating and bioaugmentation potential, and the roots of white poplar are a valuable source for isolation of endophytic bacteria for possible application in ecobiotechnology.
Transcriptomic Responses of a Lightly Calcified Echinoderm to Experimental Seawater Acidification and Warming during Early Development
Authors: Zhao Ye , Song Mingshan , Yu Zhenglin , Pang Lei , Zhang Libin , Karakassis Ioannis , Dimitriou Panagiotis D. , Yuan Xiutang
Published: December 2023

Ocean acidification (OA) and ocean warming (OW) are potential obstacles to the survival and growth of marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcification. This study investigated the single and joint effects of OA and OW on sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus larvae raised under combinations of two temperatures (19 °C or 22 °C) and two pCO2 levels (400 or 1000 μatm) that reflect the current and end-of-21st-century projected ocean scenarios. The investigation focused on assessing larval development and identifying differences in gene expression patterns at four crucial embryo–larval stages (blastula, gastrula, auricularia, and doliolaria) of sea cucumbers, using RNA-seq. Results showed the detrimental effect of OA on the early development and body growth of A. japonicus larvae and a reduction in the expression of genes associated with biomineralization, skeletogenesis, and ion homeostasis. This effect was particularly pronounced during the doliolaria stage, indicating the presence of bottlenecks in larval development at this transition phase between the larval and megalopa stages in response to OA. OW accelerated the larval development across four stages of A. japonicus, especially at the blastula and doliolaria stages, but resulted in a widespread upregulation of genes related to heat shock proteins, antioxidant defense, and immune response. Significantly, the negative effects of elevated pCO2 on the developmental process of larvae appeared to be mitigated when accompanied by increased temperatures at the expense of reduced immune resilience and increased system fragility. These findings suggest that alterations in gene expression within the larvae of A. japonicus provide a mechanism to adapt to stressors arising from a rapidly changing oceanic environment.
Gut Bacteriomes and Ecological Niche Divergence: An Example of Two Cryptic Gastropod Species
Authors: Gafarova Elizaveta , Kuracji Dmitrii , Sogomonyan Karina , Gorokhov Ivan , Polev Dmitrii , Zubova Ekaterina , Golikova Elena , Granovitch Andrey , Maltseva Arina
Published: December 2023

Symbiotic microorganisms may provide their hosts with abilities critical to their occupation of microhabitats. Gut (intestinal) bacterial communities aid animals to digest substrates that are either innutritious or toxic, as well as support their development and physiology. The role of microbial communities associated with sibling species in the hosts’ adaptation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the composition and plasticity of the bacteriomes in two sibling intertidal gastropod species, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, which are sympatric but differ in microhabitats. We applied 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and shotgun sequencing to describe associated microbial communities and their spatial and temporal variation. A significant drop in the intestinal bacteriome diversity was revealed during the cold season, which may reflect temperature-related metabolic shifts and changes in snail behavior. Importantly, there were significant interspecies differences in the gut bacteriome composition in summer but not in autumn. The genera Vibrio, Aliivibrio, Moritella and Planktotalea were found to be predominantly associated with L. fabalis, while Granulosicoccus, Octadecabacter, Colwellia, Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas and Maribacter were found to be mostly associated with L. obtusata. Based on these preferential associations, we analyzed the metabolic pathways’ enrichment. We hypothesized that the L. obtusata gut bacteriome contributes to decomposing algae and detoxifying polyphenols produced by fucoids. Thus, differences in the sets of associated bacteria may equip their closely phylogenetically related hosts with a unique ability to occupy specific micro-niches.
Selection of Aptamers for Use as Molecular Probes in AFM Detection of Proteins
Authors: Ershova Maria O. , Taldaev Amir , Konarev Petr V. , Peters Georgy S. , Valueva Anastasia A. , Ivanova Irina A. , Kraevsky Sergey V. , Kozlov Andrey F. , Ziborov Vadim S. , Ivanov Yuri D. , Archakov Alexander I. , Pleshakova Tatyana O.
Published: December 2023

Currently, there is great interest in the development of highly sensitive bioanalytical systems for diagnosing diseases at an early stage, when pathological biomarkers are present in biological fluids at low concentrations and there are no clinical manifestations. A promising direction is the use of molecular detectors―highly sensitive devices that detect signals from single biomacromolecules. A typical detector in this class is the atomic force microscope (AFM). The high sensitivity of an AFM-based bioanalysis system is determined by the size of the sensing element of an atomic force microscope―the cantilever―the radius of the curvature of which is comparable to that of a biomolecule. Biospecific molecular probe–target interactions are used to ensure detection system specificity. Antibodies, aptamers, synthetic antibodies, and peptides can be used as molecular probes. This study has demonstrated the possibility of using aptamers as molecular probes for AFM-based detection of the ovarian cancer biomarker CA125. Antigen detection in a nanomolar solution was carried out using AFM chips with immobilized aptamers, commercially available or synthesized based on sequences from open sources. Both aptamer types can be used for antigen detection, but the availability of sequence information enables additional modeling of the aptamer structure with allowance for modifications necessary for immobilization of the aptamer on an AFM chip surface. Information on the structure and oligomeric composition of aptamers in the solution was acquired by combining small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular modeling. Modeling enabled pre-selection, before the experimental stage, of aptamers for use as surface-immobilized molecular probes.
From Chronodisruption to Sarcopenia: The Therapeutic Potential of Melatonin
Authors: Fernández-Martínez José , Ramírez-Casas Yolanda , Yang Yang , Aranda-Martínez Paula , Martínez-Ruiz Laura , Escames Germaine , Acuña-Castroviejo Darío
Published: December 2023

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition that involves a progressive decline in muscle mass and function, leading to increased risk of falls, frailty, and mortality. Although the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, aging-related processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial capacity, and cell apoptosis contribute to this decline. Disruption of the circadian system with age may initiate these pathways in skeletal muscle, preceding the onset of sarcopenia. At present, there is no pharmacological treatment for sarcopenia, only resistance exercise and proper nutrition may delay its onset. Melatonin, derived from tryptophan, emerges as an exceptional candidate for treating sarcopenia due to its chronobiotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its impact on mitochondria and organelle, where it is synthesized and crucial in aging skeletal muscle, further highlights its potential. In this review, we discuss the influence of clock genes in muscular aging, with special reference to peripheral clock genes in the skeletal muscle, as well as their relationship with melatonin, which is proposed as a potential therapy against sarcopenia.
Protease-Sensitive and -Resistant Forms of Human and Murine Alpha-Synucleins in Distinct Brain Regions of Transgenic Mice (M83) Expressing the Human Mutated A53T Protein
Authors: Bétemps Dominique , Arsac Jean-Noël , Nicot Simon , Canal Dominique , Tlili Habiba , Belondrade Maxime , Morignat Eric , Verchère Jérémy , Gaillard Damien , Bruyère-Ostells Lilian , Mayran Charly , Lakhdar Latifa , Bougard Daisy , Baron Thierry
Published: December 2023

Human neurodegenerative diseases associated with the misfolding of the alpha-synuclein (aS) protein (synucleinopathies) are similar to prion diseases to the extent that lesions are spread by similar molecular mechanisms. In a transgenic mouse model (M83) overexpressing a mutated (A53T) form of human aS, we had previously found that Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) triggered the aggregation of aS, which is associated with a high resistance to the proteinase K (PK) digestion of both human and murine aS, a major hallmark of the disease-associated prion protein. In addition, PMCA was also able to trigger the aggregation of murine aS in C57Bl/6 mouse brains after seeding with sick M83 mouse brains. Here, we show that intracerebral inoculations of M83 mice with C57Bl/6-PMCA samples strikingly shortens the incubation period before the typical paralysis that develops in this transgenic model, demonstrating the pathogenicity of PMCA-aggregated murine aS. In the hind brain regions of these sick M83 mice containing lesions with an accumulation of aS phosphorylated at serine 129, aS also showed a high PK resistance in the N-terminal part of the protein. In contrast to M83 mice, old APPxM83 mice co-expressing human mutated amyloid precursor and presenilin 1 proteins were seen to have an aggregation of aS, especially in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum, which also contained the highest load of aS phosphorylated at serine 129. This was proven by three techniques: a Western blot analysis of PK-resistant aS; an ELISA detection of aS aggregates; or the identification of aggregates of aS using immunohistochemical analyses of cytoplasmic/neuritic aS deposits. The results obtained with the D37A6 antibody suggest a higher involvement of murine aS in APPxM83 mice than in M83 mice. Our study used novel tools for the molecular study of synucleinopathies, which highlight similarities with the molecular mechanisms involved in prion diseases.
GABAA Receptor Benzodiazepine Binding Sites and Motor Impairments in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Bohnen Nicolaas I. , Barr Jaimie , Vangel Robert , Roytman Stiven , Paalanen Rebecca , Frey Kirk A. , Scott Peter J. H. , Kanel Prabesh
Published: December 2023

Flumazenil is an allosteric modulator of the γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptor (GABAAR) benzodiazepine binding site that could normalize neuronal signaling and improve motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Little is known about how regional GABAAR availability affects motor symptoms. We investigated the relationship between regional availability of GABAAR benzodiazepine binding sites and motor impairments in PD. Methods: A total of 11 Patients with PD (males; mean age 69.0 ± 4.6 years; Hoehn and Yahr stages 2–3) underwent [11C]flumazenil GABAAR benzodiazepine binding site and [11C]dihydrotetrabenazine vesicular monoamine transporter type-2 (VMAT2) PET imaging and clinical assessment. Stepwise regression analysis was used to predict regional cerebral correlates of the four cardinal UPDRS motor scores using cortical, striatal, thalamic, and cerebellar flumazenil binding estimates. Thalamic GABAAR availability was selectively associated with axial motor scores (R2 = 0.55, F = 11.0, β = −6.4, p = 0.0009). Multi-ligand analysis demonstrated significant axial motor predictor effects by both thalamic GABAAR availability (R2 = 0.47, β = −5.2, F = 7.2, p = 0.028) and striatal VMAT2 binding (R2 = 0.30, β = −3.9, F = 9.1, p = 0.019; total model: R2 = 0.77, F = 11.9, p = 0.0056). Post hoc analysis demonstrated that thalamic [11C]methyl-4-piperidinyl propionate cholinesterase PET and K1 flow delivery findings were not significant confounders. Findings suggest that reduced thalamic GABAAR availability correlates with worsened axial motor impairments in PD, independent of nigrostriatal degeneration. These findings may augur novel non-dopaminergic approaches to treating axial motor impairments in PD.
Towards Human–Robot Collaboration in Construction: Understanding Brickwork Production Rate Factors
Authors: Ekyalimpa Ronald , Okello Emmanuel , Siraj Nasir Bedewi , Lei Zhen , Liu Hexu
Published: December 2023

This study explores the critical determinants impacting labor productivity in brickwork operations within the construction industry—a matter of academic and practical significance, particularly in the era of increasing human–robot collaboration. Through an extensive literature review on construction labor productivity, this study identifies factors affecting brickwork productivity. Data were collected from active construction sites during brick wall construction through on-site measurements and participatory observation, and the relative importance of these factors is determined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-factor analysis. The validity of the analysis is established through the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett’s test of sphericity, with a KMO value of 0.544 and significance at the 0.05 significance level. The analysis reveals four principal components explaining 75.96% of the total variance. Notably, this study identifies the Euclidean distances for the top factors: weather (0.980), number of helpers (0.965), mason competency (0.934), and number of masons (0.772). Additionally, correlation coefficients were observed: wall area had the highest correlation (0.998), followed by wall length (0.853) and height (0.776). Interestingly, high correlations did not necessarily translate to high factor importance. These identified factors can serve as a foundation for predictive modeling algorithms for estimating production rates and as a guideline for optimizing labor in construction planning and scheduling, particularly in the context of human–robot collaboration.
Economic Model-Predictive Control of Building Heating Systems Using Backbone Energy System Modelling Framework
Authors: Rasku Topi , Lastusilta Toni , Hasan Ala , Ramesh Rakesh , Kiviluoma Juha
Published: December 2023

Accessing the demand-side management potential of the residential heating sector requires sophisticated control capable of predicting buildings’ response to changes in heating and cooling power, e.g., model-predictive control. However, while studies exploring its impacts both for individual buildings as well as energy markets exist, building-level control in large-scale energy system models has not been properly examined. In this work, we demonstrate the feasibility of the open-source energy system modelling framework Backbone for simplified model-predictive control of buildings, helping address the above-mentioned research gap. Hourly rolling horizon optimisations were performed to minimise the costs of flexible heating and cooling electricity consumption for a modern Finnish detached house and an apartment block with ground-to-water heat pump systems for the years 2015–2022. Compared to a baseline using a constant electricity price signal, optimisation with hourly spot electricity market prices resulted in 3.1–17.5% yearly cost savings depending on the simulated year, agreeing with comparable literature. Furthermore, the length of the optimisation horizon was not found to have a significant impact on the results beyond 36 h. Overall, the simplified model-predictive control was observed to behave rationally, lending credence to the integration of simplified building models within large-scale energy system modelling frameworks.
Analyzing the Relationship between Compressive Strength and Modulus of Elasticity in Concrete with Ladle Furnace Slag
Authors: Revilla-Cuesta Víctor , Serrano-López Roberto , Espinosa Ana B. , Ortega-López Vanesa , Skaf Marta
Published: December 2023

The addition of Ladle Furnace Slag (LFS) to concrete modifies its compressive strength and modulus of elasticity and consequently impacts their relationship. This research evaluated both properties at 28, 90, and 180 days in concrete mixes produced with 5%, 10%, and 20% of two LFS types, both stabilized and non-stabilized. The relationship between them was then analyzed through these experimental results by adopting a statistical approach. A three-way analysis of variance revealed that both properties were affected by LFS differently. Thus, the effect of each LFS content on both features varied depending on its composition and pre-treatment. Furthermore, the effect of the LFS content on the compressive strength was also influenced by the age of the concrete. These facets implied that when analyzing the relationship between both mechanical properties, the monotonic correlations were stronger than the linear ones, reaching values between 0.90 and 1.00. Therefore, the double reciprocal regression models were the most precise ones for expressing the modulus of elasticity as a function of compressive strength. The model accuracy was further enhanced when discriminating based on the LFS type and introducing concrete age as a predictive variable. With all these considerations, the average deviations between the estimated and experimental values of 1–3% and the maximum deviations of 4–7% were reached, as well as R2 coefficients of up to 97%. These aspects are central to the further development of LFS concrete models.