bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimally Verbal Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders/Intellectual Disability and Challenging Behaviors: Can Strategic Psychiatric Treatment Help?
Authors: Hellings Jessica A. , Singh Saras Chen , Singh Sham , Cheng An-Lin
Published: April 2024

(1) Background: Psychiatrists are increasingly required to treat minimally verbal (MV) individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID) and behavior problems without much published guidance. (2) Methods: We reviewed 80 charts of MV patients managed strategically for challenging behaviors, following IRB approval. Data extracted included demographics, ASD/ID level, diagnoses, epilepsy and medications. In this descriptive study, we examined the course of assessment and treatment and made recommendations for a strategic, person-centered approach. (3) Results: Of 53 males and 27 females, mean age 34 years (range 7–76), all had ID; 75 had ASD (94%). Diagnoses included seizures in 40/80 (50%), frequent aggression (89%), self-injury (80%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (64%) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (34%). The commonest medication classes adjusted were antiseizure medications, antipsychotics, and non-stimulant ADHD medications. (4) Conclusions: Clinical impressions suggested that this strategic psychiatric approach was beneficial, notably a review of antiseizure and all other medications for polypharmacy, behavioral and other side effects, followed by a review of possible childhood/current ADHD and a trial of low-dose non-stimulant ADHD medications if warranted. Low-dose risperidone was often effective and tolerable for irritability and self-injury.
Iterative Trajectory Planning and Resource Allocation for UAV-Assisted Emergency Communication with User Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Zhilan , Wang Yufeng , Luo Yizhe , Zhang Hang , Zhang Xiaorong , Ding Wenrui
Published: April 2024

The demand for air-to-ground communication has surged in recent years, underscoring the significance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in enhancing mobile communication, particularly in emergency scenarios due to their deployment efficiency and flexibility. In situations such as emergency cases, UAVs can function as efficient temporary aerial base stations and enhance communication quality in instances where terrestrial base stations are incapacitated. Trajectory planning and resource allocation of UAVs continue to be vital techniques, while a relatively limited number of algorithms account for the dynamics of ground users. This paper focuses on emergency communication scenarios such as earthquakes, proposing an innovative path planning and resource allocation algorithm. The algorithm leverages a multi-stage subtask iteration approach, inspired by the block coordinate descent technique, to address the challenges presented in such critical environments. In this study, we establish an air-to-ground communication model, subsequently devising a strategy for user dynamics. This is followed by the introduction of a joint scheduling process for path and resource allocation, named ISATR (iterative scheduling algorithm of trajectory and resource). This process encompasses highly interdependent decision variables, such as location, bandwidth, and power resources. For mobile ground users, we employ the cellular automata (CA) method to forecast the evacuation trajectory. This algorithm successfully maintains data communication in the emergency-stricken area and enhances the communication quality through bandwidth division and power control which varies with time. The effectiveness of our algorithm is validated by evaluating the average throughput with different parameters in various simulation conditions and by using several heuristic methods as a contrast.
Effects of Landscape Heterogeneity and Disperser Movement on Seed Dispersal
Authors: Just Michael G. , Wall Wade A. , Huskins Stacy D. , Hohmann Matthew G.
Published: April 2024

The primacy of endozoochory for the maintenance and expansion of many woody plant populations is well known, but seed dispersal is not well understood for most species. This is especially true for rare species, where small population size and low fruit production can limit field- or observation-based experiments. Additionally, the effect of environmental heterogeneity on disperser movement is rarely investigated but has been shown to improve estimates of plant population spatial patterns and dynamics. We used simulation experiments to explore the effects of environmental heterogeneity and disperser movement on Lindera subcoriacea seed dispersal, a rare shrub from the southeastern United States with avian-dispersed seeds. Our experiments incorporated environmental heterogeneity and simulated disperser movement for five bird species, based on either landscape permeability or straight path rules. We anticipated that permeability-based movement would result in greater dispersal distances and seed dispersal effectiveness, which characterizes both quantity and quality. Generally, we did not find differences in seed dispersal between permeability and straight path experiments. However, we did find that permeability-based experiments had greater deposition into suitable habitat during flight (23 vs. 1%). These rare but longer distance depositions may be especially important for plants that are influenced by gap or interpopulation dynamics. We also found consistently greater dispersal into high quality habitats regardless of disperser species in permeability experiments, implying that incorporating species-specific assessments of landscape utilization (occupancy) could influence the effectiveness of seed dispersal. Our study suggests that including environmental heterogeneity in seed dispersal models can provide additional insights not provided by avian parameters (e.g., gut capacity, seed retention time, and flight speed) commonly used to inform dispersal models.
Persistence of Conceptual Errors in First-Year University Physics Course and Its Possible Relationship with Learning Styles
Authors: Ablanque Javier , Revuelta Fabio , Losada Juan Carlos , Benito Rosa M.
Published: April 2024

In this work, we study the persistence of some fundamental previous ideas in physics in a group of freshmen at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain). For this purpose, we analyze the answers to a questionnaire consisted of 24 multiple-choice items, most of them borrowed from the Force Concept Inventory (FCI). Our study is performed in two different ways by using, on the one hand, classical test theory and, on the other hand, the Pearson product–moment correlation. The survivance of some of the previous ideas at the end of the course is assessed by comparing and critically analyzing the answers of the students to the same test at the beginning and the end of the term. A possible connection with Honey–Alonso learning styles (LS) is also discussed. The results yielded by our study demonstrate the persistence of some of the initial and previous ideas, no matter the students’ previous qualifications or their current LS.
The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation Inventory among Portuguese Adolescents: Factor Structure and Gender Invariance
Authors: Brás Marta , Cunha Ana , Antunes João , Carmo Cláudia
Published: April 2024

Suicide worldwide is an issue that needs to be addressed, and adolescents are an at-risk group. Assessing suicidal ideation is central to tackling the issue of suicide. The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation inventory is a widely validated measure of suicidal ideation, and yet, very little is known about its invariance across various groups. The present study aimed to adapt and test the PANSI’s structure in a Portuguese sample while testing its gender invariance. A total of 750 middle and high school students were recruited for the study, and data were collected on various suicide risk and protective factors, including the Portuguese-translated PANSI. Data were put through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Kaiser’s criterion and scree plot both extracted two factors (64.10% variance explained). Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the PANSI’s structure (TLI = 0.943). The PANSI showed good reliability (α ≥ 0.83) and good construct and discriminative validity. The PANSI also exhibited scalar, but not strict, invariance. Overall, these results were similar to previous versions of this scale. The PANSI is a reliable measure of suicide risk among Portuguese adolescents. Future studies should further replicate these results in other cultures and expand on them by testing for invariance across other demographic variables.
Knowledge Graph Multi-Hop Question Answering Based on Dependent Syntactic Semantic Augmented Graph Networks
Authors: Cai Songtao , Ma Qicheng , Hou Yupeng , Zeng Guangping
Published: April 2024

In the rapidly evolving domain of question answering systems, the ability to integrate machine comprehension with relational reasoning stands paramount. This paper introduces a novel architecture, the Dependent Syntactic Semantic Augmented Graph Network (DSSAGN), designed to address the intricate challenges of multi-hop question answering. By ingeniously leveraging the synergy between syntactic structures and semantic relationships within knowledge graphs, DSSAGN offers a breakthrough in interpretability, scalability, and accuracy. Unlike previous models that either fall short in handling complex relational paths or lack transparency in reasoning, our framework excels by embedding a sophisticated mechanism that meticulously models multi-hop relations and dynamically prioritizes the syntactic–semantic context.
Absolute Photoelectric Encoder Based on Position-Sensitive Detector Sensor
Authors: Geng Liming , Cao Guohua , Shang Chunmin , Ding Hongchang
Published: April 2024

In response to the engineering, miniaturization, and high measurement accuracy requirements of encoders, this paper proposes a new type of absolute photoelectric encoder based on a position-sensitive detector (PSD). It breaks the traditional encoder’s code track design and adopts a continuous and transparent code track design, which has the advantages of small volume, high angle measurement accuracy, and easy engineering. The research content of this article mainly includes the design of a new code disk, decoding circuit, linear light source, and calibration method. The experimental results show that the encoder designed in this article has achieved miniaturization, simple installation and adjustment, and easy engineering. The volume of the encoder is Φ50 mm × 30 mm; after calibration, the resolution is better than 18 bits, and the accuracy reaches 5.4″, which further demonstrates the feasibility of the encoder’s encoding and decoding scheme.
Synchronous Control of High-Speed Train Lift Wing Angle of Attack Drive System Based on Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization and Linear Auto-Disturbance Resistant Controller
Authors: Cheng Shu , Liu Xuan , Wang Chengqiang
Published: April 2024

In this study, a control scheme is proposed based on Chaotic Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) to enhance the Linear Auto-Disturbance Rejection Controller (LADRC). The focus is on addressing the challenge of high-precision variations in angle-of-attack through dual-motor cooperative control within the lifting wing of a high-speed train. The scheme initiates with the design of a dual-loop structure for LADRC, integrating position and current control. The position loop is further refined. Subsequently, the CPSO algorithm is employed to optimize the parameters of the LADRC controller. Ultimately, the loop is closed by feeding back the position error in the cross-coupled structure to the current loop, thereby achieving high-precision control. The performance of the proposed structure is validated through both Matlab/Simulink simulations and an experimental platform. The experimental results demonstrate that CPSO-LADRC, in comparison to traditional LADRC and Proportion-Integration-Differentiation (PID) control, exhibits an increase in the maximum response time by 3.76 s and 3.3 s, respectively, a reduction in overshoot by 1.12% and 0.8%, as well as a decrease in the maximum synchronization error by 0.45 cm and 1 cm, respectively. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed synchronous loop controller method in simplifying computational complexity, enhancing system responsiveness, robustness, and synchronization performance. Additionally, our approach facilitates precise angle-of-attack transformation for the lifting wings of high-speed trains effectively.
Future Distribution Networks: A Review
Authors: Javid Zahid , Kocar Ilhan , Holderbaum William , Karaagac Ulas
Published: April 2024

This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in electrical distribution networks, with a specific focus on the incorporation of direct current (DC) applications. The research aims to comprehensively address the current and future aspects of DC, spanning from the distribution level to the utilization level. The renewed interest in DC power systems has led to the investigation of several transitional challenges in recent years. A significant portion of these efforts has been dedicated to determining the feasibility of applying DC to specific use cases. Additionally, the literature has explored design considerations such as system architecture and voltage levels, the integration of DC into existing distribution networks, load flow (LF) computations, and the distinct safety concerns associated with DC power systems. In this paper, the various research endeavors are categorized, evaluated, and scrutinized to assess the current state of the transition from a purely alternating current (AC) distribution system to a solely DC or hybrid AC/DC distribution system. A bibliometric analysis is conducted, constructing a network of co-occurrence based on author-provided keywords, which reveals the primary research foci in this domain. The barriers hindering the widespread adoption of DC distribution systems and potential solutions are also discussed. Moreover, this article synthesizes ongoing efforts to address these obstacles and delineates future research directions by emphasizing the existing knowledge gaps.
Investigation of Load, Solar and Wind Generation as Target Variables in LSTM Time Series Forecasting, Using Exogenous Weather Variables
Authors: Shering Thomas , Alonso Eduardo , Apostolopoulou Dimitra
Published: April 2024

Accurately forecasting energy metrics is essential for efficiently managing renewable energy generation. Given the high variability in load and renewable energy power output, this represents a crucial area of research in order to pave the way for increased adoption of low-carbon energy solutions. Whilst the impact of different neural network architectures and algorithmic approaches has been researched extensively, the impact of utilising additional weather variables in forecasts have received far less attention. This article demonstrates that weather variables can have a significant influence on energy forecasting and presents methodologies for using these variables within a long short-term memory (LSTM) architecture to achieve improvements in forecasting accuracy. Moreover, we introduce the use of the seasonal components of the target time series, as exogenous variables, that are also observed to increase accuracy. Load, solar and wind generation time series were forecast one hour ahead using an LSTM architecture. Time series data were collected in five Spanish cities and aggregated for analysis, alongside five exogenous weather variables, also recorded in Spain. A variety of LSTM architectures and hyperparameters were investigated. By tuning exogenous weather variables, a 33% decrease in mean squared error was observed for solar generation forecasting. A 22% decrease in mean absolute squared error (MASE), compared to 24-h ahead forecasts made by the Transmission Service Operator (TSO) in Spain, was also observed for solar generation. Compared to using the target variable in isolation, utilising exogenous weather variables decreased MASE by approximately 10%, 15% and 12% for load, solar and wind generation, respectively. By using the seasonal component of the target variables as an exogenous variable itself, we demonstrated decreases in MASE of 19%, 12% and 8% for load, solar and wind generation, respectively. These results emphasise the significant benefits of incorporating weather and seasonal components into energy-related time series forecasts.
Variability of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Relation to Economic and Ecological Indicators from Cattle Farms
Authors: Sieczko Leszek , Koloszko-Chomentowska Zofia , Sieczko Anna
Published: April 2024

Agricultural production, including animal husbandry, is associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which have a negative impact on the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine methane and nitrous oxide emissions at the level of individual farms and to identify differences in emissions by type of production. Analyses were conducted using data from the FADN agricultural accounting system, covering the farms in Poland engaged in dairy production and the breeding of other grazing livestock for the period from 2012 to 2021. The relationships and trends of the indicators during the study period were also analyzed. The statistical analysis confirmed the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and economic performance. In the case of dairy farms, the emissions averaged 137.09 kg·ha−1 of methane and 94.05 kg·ha−1 of nitrous oxide, which were found to increase as the net-added value and farm income increased. The results of the presented research highlight the existence of a link between economic goals and GHG emissions, which is an important contribution to the development of mitigation strategies in livestock production.
Applying Deep Electrical-Resistivity Tomography Techniques for the Exploration of Medium- and Low-Geothermal Energy Resources
Authors: Sáez Blázquez Cristina , Martín Nieto Ignacio , Carrasco Javier , Carrasco Pedro , Porras Daniel , Maté-González Miguel Ángel , Farfán Martín Arturo , González-Aguilera Diego
Published: April 2024

The growth of the geothermal industry demands the constant search of techniques with the aim of reducing exploration efforts whilst minimizing subsurface uncertainty. The exploration of geothermal resources is fundamental from the exploitation point of view, especially in those regions where this energy is not as widespread as the rest of renewable sources. This research shows how geoelectrical methods can contribute to the investigation and characterization of medium–low enthalpy geothermal resources until about 800 m of depth. A 2000 m long electrical-resistivity tomography profile was performed in a region of Southern Spain with previous evidence of moderate geothermal potential. Results of this geophysical campaign (together with a preliminary geological characterization) allowed for the obtainment of a 2D profile and a pseudo-3D model with extensive information about the subsoil in terms of geological composition and formations. The interpretation of geophysical results denotes the existence of a potential formation constituted by carbonate materials with thickness greater than 300 m, crossing different fractures. Once the ideal location for the geothermal exploitation is defined, the research evaluates the contribution of the possible energy source, deducing that the energy extraction in the potential fracturing area would be double that of the one in the vicinity of the site.
Animal Manure as an Alternative Bioenergy Resource in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: Present Insights, Challenges, and Prospects for Future Advancements
Authors: Sibanda Timothy , Uzabakiriho Jean Damascene
Published: April 2024

Energy availability is a pivotal driver in fostering sustainable socio-economic development. However, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) grapples with paradoxes headlined by abundant energy resources but with the world’s lowest access to clean energy index per capita. Faced with a lack of access to clean energy sources like electricity, rural areas in the majority of SSA countries almost exclusively depend on biomass-fuels, mostly fuelwood, leading to heightened respiratory health risks as well as environmental degradation and accelerated climate change. As an alternative, this review investigates the potential of animal manure as a sustainable energy resource for rural SSA households, emphasising its utilisation as a feedstock for biogas production using anaerobic digestor technology. Results show that despite the abundance of literature that reports on successes in lab-scale bioreactor optimisation, as well as successes in the initial rollout of biogas biodigester technology in SSA with the help of international collaborators, the actual uptake of biogas bioreactor technology by rural communities remains low, while installed bioreactors are experiencing high failure rates. Resultantly, rural SSA still lags significantly behind in the adoption of sustainable clean energy systems in comparison to rural communities in other regions. Among some of the hurdles identified as driving low technology assimilation are onerous policy requirements, low-level government involvement, high bioreactor-instalment costs, the lack of training and awareness, and water scarcity. Prospects for success lie in innovative technologies like the low-cost portable FlexiBiogas system and private–public partnerships, as well as flexible energy policy frameworks. Bridging the knowledge-implementation gap requires a holistic approach considering cultural, technological, and policy aspects.
Energy Literacy of Economics Students in Rijeka: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Approach
Authors: Cerović Ljerka , Malnar Ana , Sinčić Dorotea
Published: April 2024

The research problem of this paper is related to numerous open questions in the field of energy, its understanding, its use, and the challenges of the energy future. After the introductory part, in which a brief historical overview of energy literacy is provided, the paper focuses on energy literacy, its emergence, and the different approaches to its definition and measurement. The paper analyzes the energy literacy of students at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka based on their cognitive, affective, and behavioral skills. Their knowledge about energy, energy processes, and the energy efficiency of the objects they encounter on a daily basis is examined. Their personal attitudes and values are examined through various forms of personal initiatives and active participation in energy sustainability projects. Finally, the habits and behavioral patterns that the respondents have in their daily lives and their tendencies to save energy resources and find energy-efficient solutions are examined. Despite some positive findings, the current results are not satisfactory and point to the creation of adequate public policies with a particular focus on education and the role of the corrective mechanisms of the state, but also the need for joint negotiations between policy makers, regulators, scientists, representatives of civil society, and the business community. The particular contribution of this work is reflected in being the first research of its kind conducted among Croatian economics students, as well as among Croatian students in general; in the creation of a research instrument that is conceptually consistent with the findings from the existing literature, but with an original set of questions within each energy literacy skill adapted to the cultural and sociological background of the respondents; and in a kind of progress from previous research by taking into account the quantitative aspect (in addition to the qualitative) assessment of the respondents’ energy literacy.
Development of Highly Photoactive Mixed Metal Oxide (MMO) Based on the Thermal Decomposition of ZnAl-NO3-LDH
Authors: Asghar Humaira , Maurino Valter , Iqbal Muhammad Ahsan
Published: April 2024

The highly crystalline ZnAl layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDHs) are utilized for the potential transformation into mixed metal oxides (MMOs) through thermal decomposition and used further for the photodegradation of phenol to assess the influence of calcination on ZnAl-LDHs with enhanced photoactivity. The structure, composition, and morphological evolution of ZnAl-LDHs to ZnO-based MMO nanocomposites, which are composed of ZnO and ZnAl2O4, after calcination at different temperatures (400–600 °C), are all thoroughly examined in this work. The final ZnO and ZnAl2O4-based nanocomposites showed enhanced photocatalytic activity. The findings demonstrated that calcining ZnAl-LDHs from 400 to 600 °C increased the specific surface area and also enhanced the interlayer spacing of d003 while the transformation of LDHs into ZnO/ZnAl2O4 nanocomposites through calcining the ZnAl-LDH precursor at 600 °C showed significant photocatalytic properties, leading to complete mineralization of phenol under UV irradiation.
Heavy Metal Accumulation in Three Varieties of Mustard Grown under Five Soil Management Practices
Authors: Nepal Anjan , Antonious George F. , Bebe Frederick N. , Webster Thomas C. , Gyawali Buddhi R. , Neupane Basanta
Published: April 2024

Heavy metal pollution represents a global health issue. Different methods and technologies are adopted to mitigate the problem of heavy metal pollution. Phytoremediation has been gaining attention as an environmentally friendly method to remediate this problem. The purpose of this research is to explore the effectiveness of phytoremediation in agricultural settings to assess the effect of five soil management practices (chicken manure, sewage sludge, leaf compost, cow manure, and vermicompost) on Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn accumulation in the mustard (leaves and pods) of three mustard Brassica juncea varieties (black mustard, yellow mustard, and mighty mustard). The accumulation in mustard was quantified using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results showed that the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of the three mustard varieties exceeded one (BAF > 1) for Cd and Mo. It indicates that mustard is a good accumulator of Cd and Mo, whereas BAF values for Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn were less than one (BAF < 1). The accumulated Cu, Mo, Ni, and Zn levels were below the allowable limit, whereas the Cd and Pb levels were beyond the limit. This result indicates that the investigated mustard varieties can be grown on heavy metal polluted sites for Cd and Mo phytoremediation purposes, but care is needed with regard to Cd and Mo toxicity.
Solitary and Periodic Wave Solutions of Fractional Zoomeron Equation
Authors: Alshammari Mohammad , Moaddy Khaled , Naeem Muhammad , Alsheekhhussain Zainab , Alshammari Saleh , Al-Sawalha M. Mossa
Published: April 2024

The Zoomeron equation plays a significant role in many fields of physics, especially in soliton theory, such as helping to reveal new distinctive properties in different physical phenomena such as fluid dynamics, laser physics, and nonlinear optics. By using the Riccati–Bernoulli sub-ODE approach and the Backlund transformation, we search for soliton solutions of the fractional Zoomeron nonlinear equation. A number of solutions have been put forth, such as kink, anti-kink, cuspon kink, lump-type kink solitons, single solitons, and others defined in terms of pseudo almost periodic functions. The (2 + 1)-dimensional fractional Zoomeron equation given in a form undergoes precise dynamics. We use the computational software, Matlab 19, to express these solutions graphically by changing the value of various parameters involved. A detailed analysis of their dynamics allows us to obtain completely better insights necessarily with the elementary physical phenomena controlled by the fractional Zoomeron equation.
Grindability of Torrefied Camelina Straw and Microparticle Evaluation by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Use as Biofuel
Authors: Agu Obiora S. , Tabil Lope G. , Mupondwa Edmund , Emadi Bagher
Published: April 2024

This study examined the combined effect of torrefaction and microwave absorbers on improving biomass thermochemical characteristics and grindability for heat, power, and value-added products. Camelina straw in two grinds, ground (6.4 mm screen size) and chopped with biochar addition (0%, 10% and 20%), was torrefied in a bench-scale microwave reactor at torrefaction temperatures of 250 °C and 300 °C with residence times of 10, 15 and 20 min under inert conditions and nitrogen-activated. After torrefaction, the geometric mean particle and size distribution, moisture content, ash content, bulk and particle densities were determined, and the grinding performance values of torrefied ground and chopped with and without biochar were determined and compared with the raw camelina straw. The results showed that the geometric diameter decreased after torrefaction in both grinds. The specific energy required for grinding torrefied biomass decreased significantly with biochar addition, longer residence times, and increased torrefaction temperatures. Torrefied ground camelina straw with biochar after grinding had the lowest grinding energy of 34.30 kJ at 300 °C/20 min. The surface morphology by confocal laser scanning microscopy of torrefied camelina straw particles indicated that biochar addition (>10%) and a torrefaction temperature at 250 °C can create profound surface distortion, and beyond 300 °C, colossal surface damage and carbonized weight fractions were produced.
Ethnolinguistic Communities: The Physical Visibility of MENA Americans and the Local Enregisterment of Dearborn English
Authors: Sheydaei Iman
Published: April 2024

Recent research in social psychology underscores the role of language and its intersection with other identity markers, including ethnic visibility, in exploring social perceptions and biases. This paper examines the physical visibility of people of Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) descent in the U.S., and the linguistic visibility of a concentrated MENA American community in Dearborn, Michigan. Relying on headshots, Study 1 shows that MENA could be an ambiguous ethnic community based solely on physical appearance, while religiously affiliated attire proves to be a significant ethnic marker for MENA. Using audio cues, Study 2 shows that the English variety spoken in Dearborn is a recognizable variety with masculinity associations. As such, Dearborn English is argued to be an ethnolinguistic repertoire that can be used to project ethno-local visibility. The results highlight the importance of the linguistic visibility of Dearborn and future research on language attitudes towards this variety.
Effect of Soaking, Germination, and Roasting on Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Activities, and Fatty Acid Profile of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Seeds
Authors: Thepthanee Chorpaka , Li Hua , Wei Hu , Prakitchaiwattana Cheunjit , Siriamornpun Sirithon
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the impact of soaking, germination, and roasting under various conditions on the phenolic content, antioxidant activities, and fatty acid profile of sunflower seeds of striped and black oil seed varieties. Ferulic acid emerged as the predominant phenolic acid across all samples. The study highlights the influence of different treatments and processing conditions on the levels of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Results revealed that soaking striped seeds for 24 h and roasting black oil seeds for 6 min exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Antioxidant activities varied, with striped seeds soaked for 24 h demonstrating the highest ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values, while black oil seeds roasted for 6 min exhibited superior 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. Oleic acid and linoleic acid were identified as major fatty acids in all processed samples, with striped seeds germinated for 24 h and black oil seeds germinated for 48 h displaying the highest concentrations. Soaking led to a reduction in both unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in both varieties. Roasting further influenced fatty acid concentrations, with a significant increase in striped seeds after 5 and 6 h of roasting, followed by a gradual decrease. Our findings suggest that incorporating appropriate processing methods, such as soaking striped seeds for 24 h and roasting black oil seeds for 6 min, enhances the potential health benefits of sunflower seeds.
Growth, Physiological, and Biochemical Responses of a Medicinal Plant Launaea sarmentosa to Salinity
Authors: Tran Dan Quang , Pham Anh Cong , Nguyen Trinh Thi Thanh , Vo Tuan Chau , Vu Hoang Duc , Ho Giap Ta , Mohsin Sayed Mohammad
Published: April 2024

Launaea sarmentosa is a valuable medicinal plant with adaptability in saline areas, but it is still unclear how it responds to salinity. For the first time, the present study examined the plant’s changes under different soil salinities generated by 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM NaCl in order to elucidate its responses in terms of growth, photosynthesis, water uptake, osmotic adjustment, ion homeostasis, and oxidative stress defense to salinity. The results showed that the plant’s growth was enhanced by 50 mM NaCl with an 18.07% increase in dry biomass compared to the control, whereas higher salinity levels reduced its growth with a 6.39–54.85% decrease in dry biomass. The plant’s growth response indicates that it had tolerance to salinity levels up to 400 mM NaCl. The accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophylls (a + b) and carotenoids, was enhanced under salinity, except for a reduced accumulation under 400 mM NaCl. Relative water content decreased while proline content increased in the salt-stressed plants. Moreover, the salt-stressed plants reduced their K+ and NO3− content along with increases in Na+ and Cl− content. The high salt stress level also caused oxidative stress in the plants, which was revealed through the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content. In addition, the salt-stressed plants had increased total phenolic content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. These physiological and biochemical changes suggest that L. sarmentosa evolved adaptive mechanisms in photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, ion homeostasis, and antioxidant defense for growing under salt stress.
Assessment of Balkan Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Accessions for Agronomic, Fruit Quality, and Pest Resistance Traits
Authors: Todorova Velichka , Nankar Amol N. , Yankova Vinelina , Tringovska Ivanka , Markova Dima
Published: April 2024

To maintain the continuous genetic variation and increase the genetic gain, appreciable germplasm diversity and its comprehensive characterization is necessary to further utilize gene sources for pre-breeding. The diversity of pepper forms, cultivation traditions and diverse fruit usages are typical for Balkan countries. Considering this rich diversity, 21 pepper accessions from the Balkan region were evaluated for morphological, biochemical, and insect resistance traits during 2018 and 2019 at Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Among the studied accessions, the highest productivity was observed in pumpkin shape K1115 and kapia type K1081 accessions, with 0.74 kg and 0.70 kg per plant, respectively. Concerning fruit quality, the highest total polyphenols and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were observed in pumpkin shape K712 (203.44 mg GAE/100 g FW) and K1103A (11.49 µmol Fe2+/g FW) accessions, respectively. Concerning insect resistance, 38% of studied accessions showed no infestation of green peach aphid. The kapia type K697 accession was seen as the most reliable resistance source, as it was not infested by aphids and had the least thrips (20% on plants) and cotton bollworm (6.67% on plants and 8.34% on fruit) damage. Based on examined traits, accessions were identified for enhanced fruit quality and promising insect resistance and have been included in further pre-breeding efforts.
Fishpond Water Potential on Vineyard Soil Health: An Exploratory Study of a Circular System
Authors: Mpanga Isaac Kwadwo , Ijato Toyosi , Dapaah Harrison Kwame , Tronstad Russell
Published: April 2024

Climate variabilities continue to hinder sustainable food production with an increasing need to use resources such as water and soil efficiently. The quest for these efficiencies in agriculture systems drives innovations among farmers. However, limited data on farm practices, such as irrigating with fishpond water and their effects on soil health, hinder their adoption as climate-smart innovations. In a nearly twenty-year-old vineyard with two distinct irrigation practices (irrigation with recycled fishpond water and irrigation with ditch water), this study was carried out as an exploratory study to investigate the influence of recycling fishpond water on soil health parameters and yield. Soil samples were taken from two different irrigation fields in summer and winter for lab analysis on soil health parameters (organic matter and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, microbial biomass, and microbial respiration). Averages over the two seasons of field measurements indicate that long-term irrigation using recycling fishpond water increased the measured soil health parameters (organic matter (13%), organic carbon (30%), nitrogen (17%), phosphorus (46%), microbial biomass (18%), and microbial respiration (56%)) in both summer and winter months when compared to fields receiving just ditchwater irrigation. Using water in a way that can improve soil health increases biodiversity and improves the efficiency of our limited water resources in semi-arid agricultural lands, and this strategy is a climate-smart tool that can help reduce water risks in dry agricultural regions such as Arizona.
Heat Shock Response and Heat Shock Proteins: Current Understanding and Future Opportunities in Human Diseases
Authors: Singh Manish Kumar , Shin Yoonhwa , Ju Songhyun , Han Sunhee , Choe Wonchae , Yoon Kyung-Sik , Kim Sung Soo , Kang Insug
Published: April 2024

The heat shock response is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that protects cells or organisms from the harmful effects of various stressors such as heat, chemicals toxins, UV radiation, and oxidizing agents. The heat shock response triggers the expression of a specific set of genes and proteins known as heat shock genes/proteins or molecular chaperones, including HSP100, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, and small HSPs. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a crucial role in thermotolerance and aiding in protecting cells from harmful insults of stressors. HSPs are involved in essential cellular functions such as protein folding, eliminating misfolded proteins, apoptosis, and modulating cell signaling. The stress response to various environmental insults has been extensively studied in organisms from prokaryotes to higher organisms. The responses of organisms to various environmental stressors rely on the intensity and threshold of the stress stimuli, which vary among organisms and cellular contexts. Studies on heat shock proteins have primarily focused on HSP70, HSP90, HSP60, small HSPs, and ubiquitin, along with their applications in human biology. The current review highlighted a comprehensive mechanism of heat shock response and explores the function of heat shock proteins in stress management, as well as their potential as therapeutic agents and diagnostic markers for various diseases.
Machine Learning Gene Signature to Metastatic ccRCC Based on ceRNA Network
Authors: Farias Epitácio , Terrematte Patrick , Stransky Beatriz
Published: April 2024

Clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a silent-development pathology with a high rate of metastasis in patients. The activity of coding genes in metastatic progression is well known. New studies evaluate the association with non-coding genes, such as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). This study aims to build a ceRNA network and a gene signature for ccRCC associated with metastatic development and analyze their biological functions. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we constructed the ceRNA network with differentially expressed genes, assembled nine preliminary gene signatures from eight feature selection techniques, and evaluated the classification metrics to choose a final signature. After that, we performed a genomic analysis, a risk analysis, and a functional annotation analysis. We present an 11-gene signature: SNHG15, AF117829.1, hsa-miR-130a-3p, hsa-mir-381-3p, BTBD11, INSR, HECW2, RFLNB, PTTG1, HMMR, and RASD1. It was possible to assess the generalization of the signature using an external dataset from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-RECA), which showed an Area Under the Curve of 81.5%. The genomic analysis identified the signature participants on chromosomes with highly mutated regions. The hsa-miR-130a-3p, AF117829.1, hsa-miR-381-3p, and PTTG1 were significantly related to the patient’s survival and metastatic development. Additionally, functional annotation resulted in relevant pathways for tumor development and cell cycle control, such as RNA polymerase II transcription regulation and cell control. The gene signature analysis within the ceRNA network, with literature evidence, suggests that the lncRNAs act as “sponges” upon the microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, this gene signature presents coding and non-coding genes and could act as potential biomarkers for a better understanding of ccRCC.
Unraveling the Anti-Aging Properties of Phycocyanin from the Cyanobacterium Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)
Authors: Nova Mariachiara , Citterio Stefania , Martegani Enzo , Colombo Sonia
Published: April 2024

In recent years, marine natural products have become one of the most important resources of novel lead compounds for critical diseases associated with age. Spirulina, a dietary supplement made from blue-green algae (cyanobacteria: scientific name Arthrospira platensis), is particularly rich in phycocyanin, a phycobiliprotein, which accounts for up to 20% of this cyanobacterium’s dry weight and is considered responsible for its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Although the anti-aging activity of phycocyanin has been investigated, how exactly this compound works against aging remains elusive. The aim of our research is to use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism to investigate the anti-aging properties of phycocyanin from A. platensis. Our results show that phycocyanin has a powerful anti-aging effect, greatly extending the chronological life span of yeast cells in a dose-dependent way, as the effect was also pronounced when cells were grown in SD medium under calorie restriction conditions (0.2% glucose). Both ROS and accumulation of dead cells were followed by staining chronologically aged cells with dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR123) and propidium iodide (PI). Interestingly, we found that most of the aged phycocyanin-treated cells, which were unable to form colonies, were actually ROS+/PI–. Finally, we show that the moment in which phycocyanin is added to the culture does not substantially influence its effectiveness in counteracting chronological aging.
Compilation of Evidence Supporting the Role of a T Helper 2 Reaction in the Pathogenesis of Acute Appendicitis
Authors: Carvalho Nuno , Barreira Ana Lúcia , Henriques Susana , Ferreira Margarida , Cardoso Carlos , Luz Carlos , Costa Paulo Matos
Published: April 2024

Despite being the most common abdominal surgical emergency, the cause of acute appendicitis (AA) remains unclear, since in recent decades little progress has been made regarding its etiology. Obstruction of the appendicular lumen has been traditionally presented as the initial event of AA; however, this is often the exception rather than the rule, as experimental data suggest that obstruction is not an important causal factor in AA, despite possibly occurring as a consequence of the inflammatory process. Type I hypersensitivity reaction has been extensively studied, involving Th2 lymphocytes, and cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13, which have well-defined functions, such as a positive-feedback effect on Th0 for differentiating into Th2 cells, recruitment of eosinophils and the release of eosinophilic proteins and the production of IgE with the activation of mast cells, with the release of proteins from their granules. Cytotoxic activity and tissue damage will be responsible for the clinical manifestation of the allergy. AA histological features are similar to those found in allergic reactions like asthma. The intestine has all the components for an allergic immune response. It has contact with hundreds of antigens daily, most of them harmless, but some can potentially induce an allergic response. In recent years, researchers have been trying to assess if allergy is a component of AA, with their latest advances in the understanding of AA as a Th2 reaction shown by the authors of this article.
Vasorelaxant and Blood Pressure-Lowering Effects of Cnidium monnieri Fruit Ethanol Extract in Sprague Dawley and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Park Junkyu , Shin Sujin , Bu Youngmin , Choi Ho-young , Lee Kyungjin
Published: April 2024

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, a member of the Apiaceae family, is rich in coumarins, such as imperatorin and osthole. Cnidium monnieri fruit (CM) has a broad range of therapeutic potential that can be used in anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and sexual dysfunction treatments. However, its efficacy in lowering blood pressure through vasodilation remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effect of CM 50% ethanol extract (CME) on hypertension and the mechanism of its vasorelaxant effect. CME (1–30 µg/mL) showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation on constricted aortic rings in Sprague Dawley rats induced by phenylephrine via an endothelium-independent mechanism. The vasorelaxant effect of CME was inhibited by blockers of voltage-dependent and Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Additionally, CME inhibited the vascular contraction induced by angiotensin II and CaCl2. The main active compounds of CM, i.e., imperatorin (3–300 µM) and osthole (1–100 µM), showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation effect, with half-maximal effective concentration values of 9.14 ± 0.06 and 5.98 ± 0.06 µM, respectively. Orally administered CME significantly reduced the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our research shows that CME is a promising treatment option for hypertension. However, further studies are required to fully elucidate its therapeutic potential.