bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimony (Sb)-Based Anodes for Lithium–Ion Batteries: Recent Advances
Authors: Moolayadukkam Sreejesh , Bopaiah Kaveramma Appachettolanda , Parakkandy Priyanka Karathan , Thomas Siby
Published: March 2022

To mitigate the use of fossil fuels and maintain a clean and sustainable environment, electrochemical energy storage systems are receiving great deal of attention, especially rechargeable batteries. This is also associated with the growing demand for electric vehicles, which urged the automotive industries to explore the capacities of new materials for use in lithium–ion batteries (LIBs). Graphite is still employed as an anode in large majority of currently available commercial LIBs preserving their better cyclic stability despite enormous research efforts to identify viable alternatives with improved power and energy density. From this point of view, antimony acts as a promising material because it has good theoretical capacity, high volumetric capacity, good reactivity with lithium and good electronic conductivities. Recently, there have been many works that focused on the development of antimony as an alternative anode. This review tries to give a bird’s eye view comprising the experimental and theoretical insights on the developments in the direction of using antimony and antimony composites as anodes for rechargeable Li.
Variations of QKD Protocols Based on Conventional System Measurements: A Literature Review
Authors: Abushgra Abdulbast A.
Published: March 2022

Cryptography is an unexpected revolution in information security in the recent decades, where remarkable improvements have been created to provide confidentiality and integrity. Quantum cryptography is one such improvement that has grown rapidly since the first announced protocol. Quantum cryptography contains substantial elements that must be addressed to ensure secure communication between legitimate parties. Quantum key distribution (QKD), a technique for creating a secret key, is one of the most interesting areas in quantum cryptography. This paper reviews some well-known quantum key distribution techniques that have been demonstrated in the past three decades. Furthermore, this paper discusses the process of creating a secret key using quantum mechanics and cryptography methods. Moreover, it explains the relationships between many basic aspects of QKD protocols and suggests some improvements in the cryptosystem. An accurate quantitative comparison between the QKD protocols is presented, especially the runtime execution for each QKD protocol. In addition, the paper will demonstrate a general model of each considered QKD protocol based on security principles.
24 h Holter ECG Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis—A Potential Role for a Precise Evaluation of QT Interval Duration and Associated Arrhythmic Complications
Authors: Saramet Elena E. , Negru Robert D. , Oancea Andra , Constantin Maria Magdalena Leon , Ancuta Codrina
Published: March 2022

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased systemic inflammatory burden associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Prolonged ventricular repolarisation evaluated by QT interval duration is a risk factor for cardiovascular and total mortality. In RA, mortality risk is correlated with dynamics and cumulative incidence of QTc prolongation rather than QTc value. The aim is to evaluate if QT parameters evaluated with 24 h Holter ECG are a better option to complete the cardiovascular profile of RA patients than parameters from short ECG recordings. Materials and methods: A total of 58 patients (22 males, 36 females) with RA were submitted to short ECG recordings at admission and to 24 h Holter ECG. QT interval parameters and ventricular ectopy generated from both types of recordings were analyzed. Results: QTc interval values obtained from Holter ECG were significantly higher than the values from short term ECG and were correlated with severity of inflammatory process. The number of QRS complexes with QTc > 450 ms recorded during 24 h Holter was strongly correlated with the number of ventricular events and severity of the inflammatory process. Conclusions: In patients with RA, the Holter ECG recordings could realize a more precise evaluation of the extent and dynamics of QTc interval duration and of ventricular ectopic events with potential risk of sudden death.
Pediatric Exposures to Neurotoxicants: A Review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Findings
Authors: Cecil Kim M.
Published: March 2022

Heavy metals, including lead and manganese, air pollution, pesticides, environmental tobacco smoke, and flame retardants are among the known and suspected environmental neurotoxicant exposures examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based studies of pediatric populations. Many studies feature morphological changes associated with the exposures while others employ magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion imaging, task-based, and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging to reveal abnormal metabolic concentrations, white matter disorganization, and atypical patterns of activation. Some studies follow pregnant women and their offspring throughout the lifespan with collection of individual specimens as exposure biomarkers. Others innovatively make use of public databases to obtain relevant exposure biomarkers while taking advantage of these studies in their efforts to monitor developmental features in large, population-based, imaging cohorts. As exposures to neurotoxicants in the womb and throughout childhood have life-long impacts on health and well-being, the importance of these innovative neuroimaging investigations is ever increasing.
COVI3D: Automatic COVID-19 CT Image-Based Classification and Visualization Platform Utilizing Virtual and Augmented Reality Technologies
Authors: Benbelkacem Samir , Oulefki Adel , Agaian Sos , Zenati-Henda Nadia , Trongtirakul Thaweesak , Aouam Djamel , Masmoudi Mostefa , Zemmouri Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Recently many studies have shown the effectiveness of using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in biomedical image analysis. However, they are not automating the COVID level classification process. Additionally, even with the high potential of CT scan imagery to contribute to research and clinical use of COVID-19 (including two common tasks in lung image analysis: segmentation and classification of infection regions), publicly available data-sets are still a missing part in the system care for Algerian patients. This article proposes designing an automatic VR and AR platform for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic data analysis, classification, and visualization to address the above-mentioned challenges including (1) utilizing a novel automatic CT image segmentation and localization system to deliver critical information about the shapes and volumes of infected lungs, (2) elaborating volume measurements and lung voxel-based classification procedure, and (3) developing an AR and VR user-friendly three-dimensional interface. It also centered on developing patient questionings and medical staff qualitative feedback, which led to advances in scalability and higher levels of engagement/evaluations. The extensive computer simulations on CT image classification show a better efficiency against the state-of-the-art methods using a COVID-19 dataset of 500 Algerian patients. The developed system has been used by medical professionals for better and faster diagnosis of the disease and providing an effective treatment plan more accurately by using real-time data and patient information.
Renewable Energy Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Status, Barriers, and Policy Options
Authors: Al-Sarihi Aisha , Mansouri Noura
Published: March 2022

The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—hold almost 30% of the world’s total proven oil reserves and around 20% of its total proven natural gas reserves. They are also endowed with a high abundance of renewable energy resources such as solar and wind. Yet, the GCC’s primary energy consumption is still dominated by fossil fuels, and the share of renewable energy still does not exceed 1%. Drawing on secondary data, including journal articles, governmental and companies’ websites, and reports and newspaper articles, this paper assesses the reasons behind their underutilization of renewable energy resources. Whereas technical and economic feasibility issues had been identified as the main barriers to slow the uptake of renewable energy technologies in the GCC, this paper uncovered that various additional factors have remarkably influenced such delays. High hydrocarbon subsidies, low electricity tariff structure, fragmented energy policy, the absence of dedicated renewable energy regulator and regulatory framework, and a highly controlled power market are major barriers to renewable energy adoption in the GCC. The paper concludes with policy options to inform scaling up the adoption of renewable energy in the GCC.
Production Improvement via Optimization of Hydraulic Acid Fracturing Design Parameters in a Tight Carbonate Reservoir
Authors: Ashena Rahman , Aminzadeh Fred , Khoramchehr Amir
Published: March 2022

Hydraulic fracturing can be utilized to extract trapped hydrocarbon where integrated fracture networks do not exist for sufficient production. In this work, design parameters of a hydraulic acid fracturing of a tight carbonate reservoir in the Middle East were optimized. The effect of optimized hydraulic fracturing on production performance and rate was investigated. Using the petrophysical well logs, formation integrity tests, core data the Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) of the tight carbonate reservoir was created, which resulted in rock mechanical properties and in-situ stresses. The other required parameters for fracturing design were either measured or found from empirical correlations. Following a candidate selection of suitable layers for fracturing, the input parameters were loaded in GOHFER software to design and optimize the fracturing job. Finally, the production forecast was performed and compared with current conditions. The injection parameters (flow rate, total volume, and number of stages) of the fracturing fluid (composed of guar and CMHPG and polymer with 15% HCL acid) were optimized to reach optimum resultant fracture geometry. Finally, optimized injection parameters were found at the injection flow rate of 18 barrels per minute, total injection volume of 90 K-gal, and three stages of injection. Using the optimal injection parameters, the optimized fracture geometrical sizes were determined: the fracture half-length (Lf): 148 m (486 ft), fracture height (Hf) of 64 m (210 ft) and fracture width (Wf) of 0.0962 in. Finally, the effect of this stimulation method on future production performance was investigated. The well production rate showed an increase from 840 STB/Day (before fracturing) to 1270 STB/Day (post fracturing). This study contributes to the practical design and optimization of hydraulic fracturing in the tight carbonate formation of the investigated oilfield and the other potential fields in the region. The results showed that this stimulation method can efficiently improve production performance from reservoir formation.
Changes within a South Carolina Coastal Wetland Forest in the Face of Rising Sea Level
Authors: Conner William , Whitmire Stefanie , Duberstein Jamie , Stalter Richard , Baden John
Published: March 2022

Rising sea levels and increasing salinity are impacting coastal forests of the Southern U.S. Forest productivity and composition was studied from 2014 to 2020 in paired plots (20 × 25-m) along a porewater salinity gradient (0, 0.8, 2.6, 4.6 PSU). Aboveground net primary productivity was estimated by summing annual litterfall and woody growth. In addition, voucher specimens for each vascular plant species were collected. Productivity differed in forest communities across the salinity gradient averaging 1081, 777, 694, and 613 g m−2 yr−1 in fresh, low-salt, mid-salt, Freshwater forest communities and high-salt sites, respectively. The vascular flora consisted of 144 species within 121 genera and 57 families. Although salinity in Strawberry Swamp is currently declining, it hasn’t reached levels low enough to reverse the loss of forested wetlands. With projections of continuing sea level rise and increasing salinity intrusions, tree regeneration and growth will continue to decline as the forest transitions into marsh.
Monitoring the Severity of Pantana phyllostachysae Chao Infestation in Moso Bamboo Forests Based on UAV Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Feature Selection
Authors: Xu Zhanghua , Zhang Qi , Xiang Songyang , Li Yifan , Huang Xuying , Zhang Yiwei , Zhou Xin , Li Zenglu , Yao Xiong , Li Qiaosi , Guo Xiaoyu
Published: March 2022

In recent years, the rapid development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing technology has provided a new means to efficiently monitor forest resources and effectively prevent and control pests and diseases. This study aims to develop a detection model to study the damage caused to Moso bamboo forests by Pantana phyllostachysae Chao (PPC), a major leaf-eating pest, at 5 cm resolution. Damage sensitive features were extracted from multispectral images acquired by UAVs and used to train detection models based on support vector machines (SVM), random forests (RF), and extreme gradient boosting tree (XGBoost) machine learning algorithms. The overall detection accuracy (OA) and Kappa coefficient of SVM, RF, and XGBoost were 81.95%, 0.733, 85.71%, 0.805, and 86.47%, 0.811, respectively. Meanwhile, the detection accuracies of SVM, RF, and XGBoost were 78.26%, 76.19%, and 80.95% for healthy, 75.00%, 83.87%, and 79.17% for mild damage, 83.33%, 86.49%, and 85.00% for moderate damage, and 82.5%, 90.91%, and 93.75% for severe damage Moso bamboo, respectively. Overall, XGBoost exhibited the best detection performance, followed by RF and SVM. Thus, the study findings provide a technical reference for the regional monitoring and control of PPC in Moso bamboo.
Fermentation of Plant Extracts Supplemented with Milk Components by Lactic Acid Bacteria Produces Soluble Agonists for Toll-like Receptor 2 Possibly Suitable for Cosmetics
Authors: Matsunaga Kanako , Komatsu Yasuhiko
Published: March 2022

Stimulation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on epidermal keratinocytes results in the tightening of cell–cell junctions between keratinocytes; therefore, appropriate agonists for TLR2 could be promising ingredients for cosmetics. However, a method to produce significant amounts of soluble TLR2 agonists using materials that are suitable for preparing cosmetics has not yet been developed. In this study, we tried to identify appropriate lactic acid bacterial strains and media for fermentation to obtain soluble TLR2 agonists from traditional fermented foods and natural food sources. We found that Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis TL24 (TL24) and a combination of hot water extracts of asparagus edible stem and cow skimmed milk were the best strain and culture medium, respectively, for this purpose. The TL24 ferments effectively stimulated TLR2 in HEK293 reporter cells expressing human TLR2 on their surface and also inhibited paracellular molecular transfer in a cell sheet of human primary keratinocytes. Since these effects of the TL24 ferments were suppressed by anti-TLR2 neutralizing antibodies, it is proposed that TL24 ferments elicit these effects via TLR2. Taken together, these results suggest that TL24 ferments containing soluble TLR2 agonists are potential ingredients for cosmetics.
Flow Characteristics at a River Diversion Juncture and Implications for Juvenile Salmon Entrainment
Authors: Lai Yong G.
Published: March 2022

Flow structures at a river diversion juncture are complex and have been studied extensively. Their impact on the juvenile salmon entrainment into the side channel, however, is less investigated, and based mostly on empiricism. In this study, a Eulerian fish tracking model is developed and used in conjunction with a 3D flow solver to quantitatively evaluate the implications of complex flow characteristics at typical junctures on fish entrainment. First, the flow model is validated with the available experimental data, key flow structures are examined using the results, and their implications for fish entrainment are discussed. Next, the numerical fish tracking model is used to show that the cross-sectional fish distribution immediately upstream of a juncture is an important factor that controls fish entrainment efficiency. Fish entrainment efficiency curves are developed for different flow diversion ratios and fish distribution patterns and used to shed light on the reasons behind some field-observed fish entrainment patterns. Further, the model is used to show that the secondary flow in a river bend may have a significant impact on fish entrainment at flow junctures, in agreement with field observations. Finally, a submerged vane is demonstrated to be a potential management option to locally generate secondary flows upstream of a juncture to achieve the desired fish entrainment property.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) Essential Oil as a Food Preservative Source: Chemistry, Quality Control, Activity Assessment, and Applications to Olive Industry Products
Authors: Ordoudi Stella A. , Papapostolou Maria , Nenadis Nikolaos , Mantzouridou Fani Th. , Tsimidou Maria Z.
Published: March 2022

Essential oils (EOs) find application as flavoring agents in the food industry and are also desirable ingredients as they possess preservative properties. The Mediterranean diet involves the use of a lot of herbs and spices and their products (infusions, EOs) as condiments and for the preservation of foods. Application of EOs has the advantage of homogeneous dispersion in comparison with dry leaf use in small pieces or powder. Among them, Laurus nobilis (bay laurel) L. EO is an interesting source of volatiles, such as 1,8-cineole and eugenol, which are known for their preservative properties. Its flavor suits cooked red meat, poultry, and fish, as well as vegetarian dishes, according to Mediterranean recipes. The review is focused on its chemistry, quality control aspects, and recent trends in methods of analysis and activity assessment with a focus on potential antioxidant activity and applications to olive industry products. Findings indicate that this EO is not extensively studied in comparison with those from other Mediterranean plants, such as oregano EO. More work is needed to establish authenticity and activity methods, whereas the interest for using it for the preparation of flavored olive oil or for the aromatization and preservation of table oils must be further encouraged.
Inhibition of Several Bacterial Species Isolated from Squid and Shrimp Skewers by Different Natural Edible Compounds
Authors: Pinto de Rezende Lourenço , Barbosa Joana Bastos , Gomes Ana Maria , Silva Ana Machado , Correia Daniela Fonseca , Teixeira Paula
Published: March 2022

Seafood is an excellent source of nutrients, essential for a healthy diet, ranging from proteins and fatty acids to vitamins and minerals. Seafood products are highly perishable foods due to their nutritional characteristics and composition. The application of nontoxic, natural, and edible preservatives to extend the shelf-life and inhibit bacterial proliferation of several foods has been a hot topic. Consequently, this work aimed to perform the microbiological characterization of squid and shrimp skewers during their shelf-life (five days) and evaluate the susceptibility of randomly isolated microorganisms to several natural edible compounds so that their application for the preservation and shelf-life extension of the product might be analyzed in the future. The product had considerably high total microorganisms loads of about 5 log CFU/g at day zero and 9 log CFU/g at day five. In addition, high bacterial counts of Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacterales, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were found, especially on the last day of storage, being Pseudomonas the dominant genus. However, no Escherichia coli or Listeria monocytogenes were detected on the analyzed samples. One hundred bacterial isolates were randomly selected and identified through 16s rRNA sequencing, resulting in the detection of several Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas spp., and LAB. The antibacterial activity of carvacrol, olive leaf extract, limonene, Citrox®, different chitosans, and ethanolic propolis extracts was evaluated by the agar diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined only for Citrox® since only this solution could inhibit all the identified isolates. At concentrations higher than or equal to 1.69% (v/v), Citrox® demonstrated bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity to 97% and 3% of the isolates, respectively. To our knowledge, there are no available data about the effectiveness of this commercial product on seafood isolates. Although preliminary, this study showed evidence that Citrox® has the potential to be used as a natural preservative in these seafood products, improving food safety and quality while reducing waste. However, further studies are required, such as developing a Citrox®-based coating and its application on this matrix to validate its antimicrobial effect.
The Effects of Synbiotics Administration on Stress-Related Parameters in Thai Subjects—A Preliminary Study
Authors: Lalitsuradej Ekasit , Sirilun Sasithorn , Sittiprapaporn Phakkharawat , Sivamaruthi Bhagavathi Sundaram , Pintha Komsak , Tantipaiboonwong Payungsak , Khongtan Suchanat , Fukngoen Pranom , Peerajan Sartjin , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat
Published: March 2022

Urbanization influences our lifestyle, especially in fast-paced environments where we are more prone to stress. Stress management is considered advantageous in terms of longevity. The use of probiotics for psychological treatment has a small amount of diverse proven evidence to support this. However, studies on stress management in stressed subjects using synbiotics are still limited. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of synbiotics on stress in the Thai population. A total of 32 volunteers were enrolled and screened using a Thai Stress Test (TST) to determine their stress status. Participants were divided into the stressed and the non-stressed groups. Synbiotics preparation comprised a mixture of probiotics strains in a total concentration of 1 × 1010 CFU/day (5.0 × 109 CFU of Lactobacillus paracasei HII01 and 5.0 × 109 CFU of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis) and 10 g prebiotics (5 g galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and 5 g oligofructose (FOS)). All parameters were measured at baseline and after the 12th week of the study. In the stressed group, the administration of synbiotics significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the negative scale scores of TST, and tryptophan. In the non-stressed group, the synbiotics administration decreased tryptophan significantly (p < 0.05), whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), acetate and propionate were increased significantly (p < 0.05). In both groups, cortisol, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were reduced, whereas anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were increased. In conclusion, synbiotics administration attenuated the negative feelings via the negative scale scores of TST in stressed participants by modulating the HPA-axis, IL-10, IgA, and LPS. In comparison, synbiotics administration for participants without stress did not benefit stress status but showed remodeling SCFAs components, HPA-axis, and tryptophan catabolism.
Microalgae for the Food Industry: From Biomass Production to the Development of Functional Foods
Authors: Lafarga Tomás , Acién Gabriel
Published: March 2022

The human population is expected to reach 9 [...]
Value-Added Products from Agro-Food Residues
Authors: Diaz Ana Belen , Blandino Ana
Published: March 2022

The agri-food sector produces large amounts of waste annually, most of which is lignocellulosic biomass [...]
Toward Calibration of the Global Network of Gravitational Wave Detectors with Sub-Percent Absolute and Relative Accuracy
Authors: Karki Sudarshan , Bhattacharjee Dripta , Savage Richard L.
Published: March 2022

The detection of gravitational-wave signals by the LIGO and Virgo observatories during the past few years has ushered us into the era of gravitational-wave astronomy, shifting our focus from detection to source parameter estimation. This has imposed stringent requirements on calibration in order to maximize the astrophysical information extracted from these detected signals. Current detectors rely on photon radiation pressure from auxiliary lasers to achieve required calibration accuracy. These photon calibrators have made significant improvements over the last few years, realizing fiducials displacements with sub-percent accuracy. This achieved accuracy is directly dependent on the laser power calibration. For the next observing campaign, scheduled to begin at the end of 2022, a new scheme is being implemented to achieve improved laser power calibration accuracy for all of the GW detectors in the global network. It is expected to significantly improve absolute and relative calibration accuracy for the entire network.
The Accreting White Dwarfs in Cataclysmic Variables
Authors: Sion Edward M. , Godon Patrick
Published: March 2022

Accreting white dwarfs (WDs) in cataclysmic variables (CVs) provide crucial insights about the accretion of mass and angular momentum in all types of binaries, including accreting NSs and BHs. Accreting WDs are the critical component in the single degenerate pathway to SNe Ia, along with the double degenerate merger pathway, they are the standard candles of cosmology proving that the universe is accelerating and the existence of dark energy. Another key question is whether the WD in a CV can grow in mass despite the mass loss due to thousands of nova explosions in its lifetime. Angular momentum loss drives CV evolution and accreting WDs offer critically needed WD masses from Gaia distances and reliable surface temperatures to derive the most accurate accretion rates. We review the studies on accreting WDs, including WD masses, accurate rotational velocities and chemical abundances of elements. Most of the progress that has been made is based upon Hubble Space Telescope spectroscopy and FUSE spectroscopy in the UV spectral region during dwarf nova quiescence and the low states of novalike variables, when the accreting WD dominates the UV spectral range.
Low Concentrated Fractionalized Nanofibers as Suitable Fillers for Optimization of Structural–Functional Parameters of Dead Space Gel Implants after Rectal Extirpation
Authors: Bocková Markéta , Pashchenko Aleksei , Stuchlíková Simona , Kalábová Hana , Divín Radek , Novotný Petr , Kestlerová Andrea , Jelen Karel , Kubový Petr , Firment Peter , Fedačko Ján , Jarošíková Taťána , Rulc Jiří , Rosina Jozef , Nečas Alois , Amler Evžen , Hoch Jiří
Published: March 2022

Dead space after rectal resection in colorectal surgery is an area with a high risk of complications. In this study, our goal was to develop a novel 3D implant based on composite hydrogels enriched with fractionalized nanofibers. We employed, as a novel approach in abdominal surgery, the application of agarose gels functionalized with fractionalized nanofibers on pieces dozens of microns large with a well-preserved nano-substructure. This retained excellent cell accommodation and proliferation, while nanofiber structures in separated islets allowed cells a free migration throughout the gel. We found these low-concentrated fractionalized nanofibers to be a good tool for structural and biomechanical optimization of the 3D hydrogel implants. In addition, this nano-structuralized system can serve as a convenient drug delivery system for a controlled release of encapsulated bioactive substances from the nanofiber core. Thus, we present novel 3D nanofiber-based gels for controlled release, with a possibility to modify both their biomechanical properties and drug release intended for 3D lesions healing after a rectal extirpation, hysterectomy, or pelvic exenteration.
Chemical and Flavor Characteristics of Enzyme-Modified Cheese Made by Two-Stage Processing
Authors: Gao Peng , Su Yanling , Zhang Wenyuan , Pang Xiaoyang , Xie Ning , Zhang Min , Lv Jiaping , Zhang Shuwen
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: to date, a clear description of the impact of specific enzymes on the enzyme-modified cheese (EMC) flavor is lacking. Moreover, comparative studies on the aroma compounds’ intensity of EMC have been rarely investigated. Therefore, this study was done to determine the influence of incubating substrates with proteases and different lipases on cheese ripening index and aroma compounds. (2) Methods: two-stage processing was adopted; proteolysis followed by lipolysis. (3) Results: results showed that the usage of Flavourzyme may improve the value of pH 4.6-WSN/TN%. Butanoic acid and hexanoic acid have a significant influence on the overall flavor of EMCs. In particular, the ethenyl acetate compound was detected in all products and was perceived as a fruity and sweet aroma, which has not been reported in previous literature. The concentration of short-chain fatty acids of EMCs made by Lipase MER was higher than EMCs made by Palatase, while the total content of medium and long-chain fatty acids of EMCs made by Lipase MER was lower than EMCs made by Palatase. The percentage of esters compounds in EMCs made by Lipase AY 30G was higher than the other two lipases, except EMC1. (4) Conclusions: Flavourzyme may be used to speed up the ripening of cheeses that need extensive proteolysis. The ability of Lipase MER to hydrolyze short-chain fatty acids was stronger than that of Palatase, while the ability of Lipase MER to hydrolyze medium and long-chain fatty acids was weaker than that of Palatase. The use of Lipase AY 30G was accompanied by the production of some other flavor esters, which made the final hydrolysates more fragrant and may be a good choice to produce fruity cheese flavor EMC. While Lipase MER may barely contain ester activity. This study may provide a reference for the selection of incubated enzymes for specific flavor EMC.
Robust SiO2–Al2O3/Agarose Composite Aerogel Beads with Outstanding Thermal Insulation Based on Coal Gangue
Authors: Gu Jie , Ji Chao , Fu Rui , Yang Xin , Wan Zhichen , Wen Lishuo , Song Qiqi , Liu Yinghui , Wang Yaxiong , Sai Huazheng
Published: March 2022

Advanced SiO2–Al2O3 aerogel materials have outstanding potential in the field of thermal insulation. Nevertheless, the creation of a mechanically robust and low-cost SiO2–Al2O3 aerogel material remains a considerable challenge. In this study, SiO2–Al2O3 aerogel based on coal gangue, which is a type of zero-cost inorganic waste, was constructed in porous agarose aerogel beads, followed by simple chemical vapor deposition of trimethylchlorosilane to fabricate SiO2–Al2O3/agarose composite aerogel beads (SCABs). The resulting SCABs exhibited a unique nanoscale interpenetrating network structure, which is lightweight and has high specific surface area (538.3 m2/g), hydrophobicity (approximately 128°), and excellent thermal stability and thermal insulation performance. Moreover, the compressive strength of the SCABs was dramatically increased by approximately a factor of ten compared to that of native SiO2–Al2O3 aerogel beads. The prepared SCABs not only pave the way for the design of a novel aerogel material for use in thermal insulation without requiring expensive raw materials, but also provide an effective way to comprehensively use coal gangue.
Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis of Wax Gourd (Benincasa hispida) with Three Benincaseae Species, Revealing Evolutionary Dynamic Patterns and Phylogenetic Implications
Authors: Song Weicai , Chen Zimeng , He Li , Feng Qi , Zhang Hongrui , Du Guilin , Shi Chao , Wang Shuo
Published: March 2022

Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) is an important Cucurbitaceae crop, with enormous economic and medicinal importance. Here, we report the de novo assembly and annotation of the complete chloroplast genome of wax gourd with 156,758 bp in total. The quadripartite structure of the chloroplast genome comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region with 86,538 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region with 18,060 bp, separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) with 26,080 bp each. Comparison analyses among B. hispida and three other species from Benincaseae presented a significant conversion regarding nucleotide content, genome structure, codon usage, synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions, putative RNA editing sites, microsatellites, and oligonucleotide repeats. The LSC and SSC regions were found to be much more varied than the IR regions through a divergent analysis of the species within Benincaseae. Notable IR contractions and expansions were observed, suggesting a difference in genome size, gene duplication and deletion, and the presence of pseudogenes. Intronic gene sequences, such as trnR-UCU–atpA and atpH–atpI, were observed as highly divergent regions. Two types of phylogenetic analysis based on the complete cp genome and 72 genes suggested sister relationships between B. hispida with the Citrullus, Lagenaria, and Cucumis. Variations and consistency with previous studies regarding phylogenetic relationships are discussed. The cp genome of B. hispida provides valuable genetic information for the detection of molecular markers, research on taxonomic discrepancies, and the inference of the phylogenetic relationships of Cucurbitaceae.
Genetic and Clinical Studies of Peripheral Neuropathies with Three Small Heat Shock Protein Gene Variants in Korea
Authors: Lim Si On , Jung Na Young , Lee Ah Jin , Choi Hee Ji , Kwon Hye Mi , Son Wonseok , Nam Soo Hyun , Choi Byung-Ok , Chung Ki Wha
Published: March 2022

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are ATP-independent chaperones that help correct the folding of denatured proteins and protect cells from stress. Mutations in HSPB1, HSPB8, and HSPB3 are implicated in inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs), such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 (CMT2) and distal hereditary motor neuropathies (dHMN). This study, using whole exome sequencing or targeted gene sequencing, identified 9 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in these three sHSP genes from 11 Korean IPN families. Most variants were located in the evolutionally well conserved α-crystallin domain, except for p.P182S and p.S187L in HSPB1. As an atypical case, a patient with dHMN2 showed two compound heterozygous variants of p.R127Q and p.Y142H in HSPB1, suggesting a putative case of recessive inheritance, which requires additional research to confirm. Three HSPB8 variants were located in the p.K141 residue, which seemed to be a mutational hot spot. There were no significant differences between patient groups, which divided by sHSP genes for clinical symptoms such as onset age, severity, and nerve conduction. Early-onset patients showed a tendency of slightly decreased sensory nerve conduction values compared with late-onset patients. As a first Korean IPN cohort study examining sHSP genes, these results will, we believe, be helpful for molecular diagnosis and care of patients with CMT2 and dHMN.
A Clinical Investigation on the Theragnostic Effect of MicroRNA Biomarkers for Survival Outcome in Cervical Cancer: A PRISMA-P Compliant Protocol for Systematic Review and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shaw Peter , Senthilnathan Raghul , Sankar Srivarshini , Ilangovan Ilamathi , Kodiveri Muthukaliannan Gothandam , Baxi Siddhartha , Mani Ravishankar Ram , Rajagopal Mogana , Chinnappan Sasikala , Balaraman Ashok Kumar , Suresh Deepa , Krishnan Sunil , Gupta Madanmohan , Muthusamy Thangavel , Paranjothy Chitraabaanu , Jayaraj Rama
Published: March 2022

Background: The most often diagnosed malignancy in women worldwide is cancer of the cervix. It is also the most prevalent kind of gynecological cancer in women. This cancer originates in the opening of the cervix and spreads through sexual contact. Even though human papillomavirus (HPV) may not cause cancer immediately, it does develop over time as a result of the virus’s lengthy persistence to cause dysplastic changes overtime, particularly in high-risk kinds. The primary objective of this research is to see if miRNAs are dysregulated as a result of treatment resistance in cervical cancer (CC). The aim is to see if these microRNAs may be utilized as biomarkers for detecting chemoresistance in CC, particularly for clinical applications. Methods: The recommended protocol for comprehensive study and meta-analysis (PRISMA-P) standards will be utilized for the analysis and data interpretation. The bibliographic databases will be methodically searched using a combination of search keywords. Based on established inclusion and exclusion criteria, the acquired findings will be reviewed, and data retrieved from the selected scientific papers for systematic review. We will then construct a forest from the pooled Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% C.I. values, data obtained using the random-effects model. Discussion: The focus of this study is to identify the function of miRNAs as a chemoresistance regulator and determine if they have the potential scope to be considered as biomarkers for cervical cancer. Through this systematic review and meta-analysis, the goal is to collect, compare, and analyze the data pertaining to the role of miRNAs in cervical cancer, thereby, enabling us to understand the role they play in chemosensitivity.
Identification of Key Modules and Genes Associated with Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescents
Authors: Zhao Bao , Fan Qingyue , Liu Jintong , Yin Aihua , Wang Pingping , Zhang Wenxin
Published: March 2022

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Adolescence is a crucial period for the occurrence and development of depression. There are essential distinctions between adolescent and adult depression patients, and the etiology of depressive disorder is unclear. The interactions of multiple genes in a co-expression network are likely to be involved in the physiopathology of MDD. In the present study, RNA-Seq data of mRNA were acquired from the peripheral blood of MDD in adolescents and healthy control (HC) subjects. Co-expression modules were constructed via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to investigate the relationships between the underlying modules and MDD in adolescents. In the combined MDD and HC groups, the dynamic tree cutting method was utilized to assign genes to modules through hierarchical clustering. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis was conducted on those co-expression genes from interested modules. The results showed that eight modules were constructed by WGCNA. The blue module was significantly associated with MDD after multiple comparison adjustment. Several Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways associated with stress and inflammation were identified in this module, including histone methylation, apoptosis, NF-kappa β signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. Five genes related to inflammation, immunity, and the nervous system were identified as hub genes: CNTNAP3, IL1RAP, MEGF9, UBE2W, and UBE2D1. All of these findings supported that MDD was associated with stress, inflammation, and immune responses, helping us to obtain a better understanding of the internal molecular mechanism and to explore biomarkers for the diagnosis or treatment of depression in adolescents.
enChIP-Seq Analyzer: A Software Program to Analyze and Interpret enChIP-Seq Data for the Detection of Physical Interactions between Genomic Regions
Authors: Sarudate Ashita , Fujita Toshitsugu , Nakayama Takahiro , Fujii Hodaka
Published: March 2022

Accumulating evidence suggests that the physical interactions between genomic regions play critical roles in the regulation of genome functions, such as transcription and epigenetic regulation. Various methods to detect the physical interactions between genomic regions have been developed. We recently developed a method to search for genomic regions interacting with a locus of interest in a non-biased manner that combines pull-down of the locus using engineered DNA-binding molecule-mediated chromatin immunoprecipitation (enChIP) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis (enChIP-Seq). The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, consisting of a nuclease-dead form of Cas9 (dCas9) and a guide RNA (gRNA), or transcription activator-like (TAL) proteins, can be used for enChIP. In enChIP-Seq, it is necessary to compare multiple datasets of enChIP-Seq data to unambiguously detect specific interactions. However, it is not always easy to analyze enChIP-Seq datasets to subtract non-specific interactions or identify common interactions. To facilitate such analysis, we developed the enChIP-Seq analyzer software. It enables easy extraction of common signals as well as subtraction of non-specific signals observed in negative control samples, thereby streamlining extraction of specific enChIP-Seq signals. enChIP-Seq analyzer will help users analyze enChIP-Seq data and identify physical interactions between genomic regions.
Damage to Churches after the 2016 Central Italy Seismic Sequence
Authors: Ferracuti Barbara , Imperatore Stefania , Zucconi Maria , Colonna Silvia
Published: March 2022

The present study focuses on seismic damage to 36 masonry churches observed after the 2016 Central Italy earthquake. In the sample, recurrent architectural and structural features were identified and accurately described. In order to classify the churches in the sample based on their safety level, their seismic vulnerability was assessed by adopting the simplified procedure proposed in the current Italian standards for cultural heritage. The observed damage, directly detected by the authors during the post-earthquake surveys, is presented and carefully described, highlighting the evolution of the damage. An analysis of the damage suffered by the inspected churches highlighted the most frequent causal mechanisms and the most vulnerable macroelements. Particular attention was devoted to computation of a damage index based on the observed damage as well as on the macroelements present in the surveyed churches. Moreover, a judgment of usability, i.e., whether a church could be occupied after a seismic event, was made using the official survey form and related to both the seismic intensity experienced and the observed damage index. An analysis of the collected data enabled consideration of the usability judgment with respect to the damage index values, computed according to the Italian standards.
The Impact of Using mHealth Apps on Improving Public Health Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Digital Content Value Chain Perspective
Authors: Cao Junwei , Zhang Guihua , Liu Dong
Published: March 2022

The use of mobile technology and equipment has been found to be successful in the governance of public health. In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, mobile health (mhealth) apps are expected to play an important role in the governance of public health. This study establishes a structural equation model based on the digital content value chain framework, identifies the main values created by mhealth apps in the prevention and control of COVID-19, and surveys 500 citizens of China. The data were analyzed using an independent t-test and partial least squares structural equations (PLS-SEM). The results showed that people who use mhealth apps are more satisfied with public health governance than those who do not; the healthcare assurance value of mhealth apps and healthcare confidence positively influence the interaction between users and mhealth app functions, the interaction with information, and the interaction with doctors to improve users’ satisfaction with public health governance; and the parasocial relationships between doctors and users of mhealth apps positively affect the interactions between users and doctors to improve users’ satisfaction with public health governance. This study confirms the potential of mhealth apps toward improving public health governance during the COVID-19 pandemic from a new perspective and provides a new theoretical basis whereby mobile technology can contribute toward improving public health governance.
Cognitive Impairment in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients Undergoing Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation: The Association with the Clinical and Functional Status
Authors: Moretta Pasquale , Ambrosino Pasquale , Lanzillo Anna , Marcuccio Laura , Fuschillo Salvatore , Papa Antimo , Santangelo Gabriella , Trojano Luigi , Maniscalco Mauro
Published: March 2022

Background. Cognitive impairment has been reported in the aftermath of severe acute respiratory syndrome due to coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We investigated the possible association between cognitive impairment and the main clinical and functional status variables in a cohort of convalescent COVID-19 patients without premorbid diseases potentially affecting cognition. Methods. We consecutively screened for inclusion of convalescent COVID-19 patients referring to a post-acute care facility for pulmonary rehabilitation. All the enrolled patients were assessed for cognitive functions. We also investigated features of psychological distress (anxiety, depression, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and quality of life) and cardiac and pulmonary functional status. Results. The 63 enrolled patients (mean age 59.82 ± 10.78, male gender = 47) showed a high frequency of depressive symptoms (76.2%) and anxiety (55.5%), and a high prevalence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 44.4%). About half of the total sample showed reduced cognitive efficiency (RCE, 44.4%) in the domains of spatial and verbal long-term memory and executive functions. Patients with RCE more frequently showed alteration of blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm (p = 0.01), higher levels of D-Dimer (p = 0.03), had experienced a severe illness (p = 0.02), had longer disease duration (p = 0.04), more clinically relevant symptoms of PTSD (p = 0.02), more frequent cognitive complaints (p = 0.002), higher anxiety scores (p = 0.01) and lower quality of life (p = 0.02) than patients with normal cognitive efficiency. Conclusions. Our findings indicated a possible association between the RCE after COVID-19 and some cardiological variables, including some indirect measures of a residual autonomic disorder, such as the presence of an altered BP circadian rhythm. Future research studies with large samples are needed to provide valid conclusions.