bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Biochemical Alteration of Enzymatically Hydrolysed and Spontaneously Fermented Oat Flour and Its Impact on Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Streimikyte Paulina , Kailiuviene Jurgita , Mazoniene Edita , Puzeryte Viktorija , Urbonaviciene Dalia , Balciunaitiene Aiste , Liapman Theodore Daniel , Laureckas Zygimantas , Viskelis Pranas , Viskelis Jonas
Published: July 2022

Avena sativa (A. sativa) oats have recently made a comeback as suitable alternative raw materials for dairy substitutes due to their functional properties. Amylolytic and cellulolytic enzyme-assisted modifications of oats produce new products that are more appealing to consumers. However, the biochemical and functional alteration of products and extracts requires careful selection of raw materials, enzyme cocktails, and technological aspects. This study compares the biochemical composition of different A. sativa enzyme-assisted water extracts and evaluates their microbial growth using spontaneous fermentation and the antimicrobial properties of the ferment extracts. Fibre content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were evaluated using traditional methodologies. The degradation of A. sativa flour was captured using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); moreover, sugar and oligosaccharide alteration were identified using HPLC and HPLC-SEC after INFOGEST in vitro digestion (IVD). Additionally, taste differentiation was performed using an electronic tongue with principal component analysis. The oat liquid extracts were continuously fermented using two ancient fermentation starters, birch sap and Tibetan kefir grains. Both starters contain lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which has major potential for use in bio-preservation. In fermented extracts, antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococci as well as Gram-negative opportunistic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were also determined. SEM images confirmed the successful incorporation of enzymes into the oat flour. The results indicate that using enzyme-assisted extraction significantly increased TPC and antioxidant activity in both the extract and residues. Additionally, carbohydrates with a molecular mass (MM) of over 70,000 kDa were reduced to 7000 kDa and lower after the incorporation of amylolytic and cellulolytic enzymes. The MM impacted the variation in microbial fermentation, which demonstrated favourable antimicrobial properties. The results demonstrated promising applications for developing functional products and components using bioprocessing as an innovative tool.
Influence of Car Configurator Webpage Data from Automotive Manufacturers on Car Sales by Means of Correlation and Forecasting
Authors: García Sánchez Juan Manuel , Vilasís Cardona Xavier , Lerma Martín Alexandre
Published: July 2022

A methodology to prove the influence of car configurator webpage data for automotive manufacturers is developed across this research. Firstly, the correlation between online data and sales is measured. Afterward, car variant sales are predicted using a set of forecasting techniques divided into univariate and multivariate ones. Finally, weekly color mix sales based on these techniques are built and compared. Results show that users visit car configurator webpages 1 to 6 months before the purchase date. Additionally, car variants predictions and weekly color mix sales derived from multivariate techniques, i.e., using car configurator data as external input, provide improvement up to 25 points in the assessment metric.
Study on Screening Criteria of Gel-Assisted Polymer and Surfactant Binary Combination Flooding after Water Flooding in Strong Edge Water Reservoirs: A Case of Jidong Oilfield
Authors: Luo Fuquan , Gu Xiao , Geng Wenshuang , Hou Jian , Gai Changcheng
Published: July 2022

Strong edge water reservoirs have sufficient natural energy. After long-term natural water flooding development, it is in the stage of ultrahigh water cut. There is an urgent need to change the development mode and improve the development effect. Taking Jidong Oilfield as an example, the mechanism model of strong edge water reservoirs is established by using the method of numerical simulation. Then, the factors and rules affecting the effects of gel-assisted polymer and surfactant binary combination flooding are studied. The screening criteria of gel-assisted polymer and surfactant binary combination flooding in strong edge water reservoirs are obtained. The results show that the existence of edge water is not conducive to binary combination flooding. Smaller water volumetric multiples and larger oil-bearing areas are more suitable for binary combination flooding. Compared with closed reservoirs, binary combination flooding in strong edge water reservoirs is more difficult to establish a displacement pressure gradient. The reservoir with high crude oil viscosity is not suitable for binary combination flooding. Gel-assisted polymer and surfactant binary combination flooding can be adopted for reservoirs with an oil-bearing area greater than 0.2 km2, a water volumetric multiple less than 200, and oil viscosity less than 100 mPa·s. The research results are of guiding significance for the reservoir selection of gel-assisted polymer and surfactant binary combination flooding after natural water flooding.
Risk of Hypertension and Use of Antihypertensive Drugs in the Physically Active Population under-70 Years Old—Spanish Health Survey
Authors: Denche-Zamorano Ángel , Pérez-Gómez Jorge , Mendoza-Muñoz Maria , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Oliveira Rafael , Brito João Paulo
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Reducing the prevalence of hypertension is a major priority of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its high prevalence and associated risks generate high economic and social costs. Physical activity (PA) is associated with a decrease in hypertension and in the use of antihypertensive drugs. Objective: To explore the association between PA levels (PAL), prevalence of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive drugs in Spanish population. To calculate risks of hypertension and use of antihypertensive in the inactive versus physically active population. Method: This cross-sectional study used data from 17717 individuals, sampled in the 2017 National Health Survey. Interaction by sex, age groups, body mass index (BMI), hypertension prevalence, antihypertensive drugs use and PAL, using a pairwise z-test, and dependence relationships between variables, were studied using a chi square test. Odds ratios of hypertension and antihypertensive drug use were calculated among the inactive and the physically active populations. Results: The findings showed a significant inverse association between prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive use, and PAL in both sexes and different age and BMI groups, with lower prevalence of hypertension and antihypertensive use when PAL were higher. The risks of hypertension and antihypertensive use seems to be reduced when related to higher PAL compared to inactive people. Conclusions: High PAL is associated with lower prevalence of hypertension and lower antihypertensive use. Thus, being physically active or very active may reduce the risks of suffering from hypertension and the need to use antihypertensives compared to inactive people or walkers.
A Framework for European Thought on Psychology, Education, and Health Based on Foucault’s The Order of Things
Authors: Nash Carol
Published: July 2022

In European thought, the relationship among the fields of psychology, education, and health is both complex and obscured. Foucault’s acclaimed work, The Order of Things, offers a framework to evaluate their interconnection by identifying three distinct periods of European thought since the 16th century, with respect to the ordering of phenomena—Renaissance, Classical, and Modern. Theoretically dense and often difficult to decipher, the book’s categorization of language, value, and being has been understandably underused, yet it provides deep insights into what have come to be known as psychology, education, and health, and remains invaluable in understanding the origin, limits, and consequences of these fields. Investigated is how Foucault’s analysis can be interpreted, concerning the development of these areas in each of the three periods of European thought. An approach based on narrative research appraises the analysis offered in the book. The results, presented for the first time in table form, compare these three periods, demonstrating a continuing practical value to Foucault’s insights. With the aid of the framework presented by these tables, the boundaries and relationship of psychology, education, and health become clear, and their limitations—plus potential solutions to them—can be identified to mitigate anticipated negative consequences.
Oligosaccharins Used Together with Tebuconazole Enhances Resistance of Kiwifruit against Soft Rot Disease and Improves Its Yield and Quality
Authors: Wang Qiuping , Long Youhua , Ai Qiang , Su Yue , Lei Yang
Published: July 2022

Botryosphaeria dothidea is one of the most frequent pathogens of soft rot disease in kiwifruit. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oligosaccharins used together with tebuconazole to control soft rot and their influences on kiwifruit’s disease resistance, growth and quality. The results show that tebuconazole displayed a toxicity against B. dothidea RF-1 with 0.87 mg kg−1 of EC50 value. Oligosaccharins used together with tebuconazole effectively managed soft rot with 84.83% of the field management effect by spraying tebuconazole + oligosaccharins (0.5:0.5, m/v) as a 5000-fold dilution liquid, which significantly (p < 0.01) exceeded the 72.05%, 52.59%, 62.17% and 33.52% effect of tebuconazole 2500-, oligosaccharins 2500-, tebuconazole 5000- and oligosaccharins 5000-fold liquids, respectively. Simultaneously, co-application of tebuconazole and oligosaccharins was more effective for enhancing the resistance, growth and quality of kiwifruit compared with tebuconazole or oligosaccharins alone. This work highlights that oligosaccharins used together with tebuconazole can be proposed as a practicable measure for managing kiwifruit soft rot and reducing the application of chemical synthetic fungicides.
Transcriptome Analysis of Morus alba L. Flower Reveals Important Genes of Floral Sex Differentiation
Authors: Xu Dashun , Hou Zhiwei , Deng Na , Li Yan , Yang Luoling , Li Shuxuan , Wang Xiling
Published: July 2022

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a perennial woody plant with significant economic benefits and ecological value. The floral character of mulberry has an important impact on the yield and quality to its fruits and leaves. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of mulberry floral differentiation still now. The transcriptome data were obtained via Illumina HiSeq high-throughput sequencing from male and female inflorescences of the monoecious mulberry. A total of 26.21 Gb clean data were obtained, and as many as 100,177 unigenes with an average length of 821.66 bp were successfully assembled. In comparative-omics analysis, 1717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between male and female flowers and only a quarter of the DEGs were highly expressed in female flowers. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, hormone signal transduction, and the regulation of related transcription factors. In addition, many DEGs related to flower development and plant sex differentiation have also been detected, such as PMADS1/2, AGAMOUS, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), APETALA 2 (AP2), TASSELSEED2 (TS2), and ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATOR 17 (ARR17). Finally, the expression patterns of selected 20 DEGs were validated by q-PCR and the results showed that the transcriptome data were highly reliable. This study shows that the differentiation of male and female flowers of mulberry is affected and regulated by multiple factors, with transcription factors and hormone signals playing a key role. Briefly, the current data provide comprehensive insights into the mulberry tree’s floral differentiation as well as a bioinformatics framework for the development of molecular breeding of mulberry.
Characterization of Environmental Effects on Flowering and Plant Architecture in an Everbearing Strawberry F1-Hybrid by Meristem Dissection and Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Samad Samia , Rivero Rodmar , Kalyandurg Pruthvi Balachandra , Vetukuri Ramesh Raju , Heide Ola M. , Sønsteby Anita , Khalil Sammar
Published: July 2022

Floral transition in the cultivated everbearing strawberry is a hot topic because these genotypes flower perpetually and are difficult to maintain in a non-flowering state. However, it has rarely been studied using morphogenetic and molecular analyses simultaneously. We therefore examined the morphogenetic effects and the activation of genes involved in floral induction and initiation in seedlings of an everbearing F1-hybrid. Seedlings were grown at 12, 19, and 26 °C under 10 h SD and 20 h LD conditions. We observed a strong environmental influence on meristem development and a FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (FaFT1)–SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (FaSOC1) pathway similar to that in the everbearing woodland strawberry. The everbearing cultivar showed typical features of a quantitative LD plant, flowering earlier under LD than SD conditions at all temperatures. We also found that floral induction is facilitated by FaFT1 upregulation under LD conditions, while FaSOC1 upregulation in the apex leads to photoperiod-independent floral initiation. Moreover, we confirmed the strawberry meristem identity gene FaFUL can also be used as an early indicator of floral initiation in EB cultivars. This study also highlights the advantages of seed-propagated F1-hybrids in genetic studies, namely that they are genetically identical and not biased by a previous flowering history.
Potential of Different Actinidia Genotypes as Resistant Rootstocks for Preventing Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome
Authors: Mian Giovanni , Cipriani Guido , Saro Simone , Martini Marta , Ermacora Paolo
Published: July 2022

Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) is currently affecting Italian kiwifruit cultivation, causing dramatic yield and economic losses. The syndrome’s aetiology is due to soil-borne pathogens and waterlogging, leading to the decay of roots and then the canopy. Current knowledge about the disease is limited, and the techniques to control the syndrome are ineffective. The use of tolerant rootstocks is one of the most promising tools. Six genotypes of Actinidia were tested for two years at four infected experimental sites in Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy). Plant evaluation and analysis were carried out on the root system and the vegetative parts. At all experimental sites, three genotypes, all belonging to the A. macrosperma group, grew normally. In contrast, plants of A. polygama died earlier and those of A. chinensis var. deliciosa ‘Hayward’ declined during the first year. A. arguta ‘Miss Green’ survived the first year but started to decline during the second year. After two years of study, we were able to identify three putative resistant genotypes: A. macrosperma accession numbers 176 and 183, and ‘Bounty71’, which will be a useful resource as rootstocks or as parents for breeding owing to their potential genetic resistance traits.
Homelessness at the San Diego Central Library: Assessing the Potential Role of Social Workers
Authors: Urada Lianne , Nicholls Melanie , Faille Stephen
Published: July 2022

Nationwide, public libraries are experiencing an increase in “on-premise” opioid overdoses and other issues (e.g., suicide attempts) affecting unstably housed library users. The public library presents a unique opportunity to access an otherwise hidden population. In partnership with the San Diego Central Library, researchers led focus groups, in-depth interviews, and surveys with 63 library patrons experiencing homelessness or housing instability (n = 49) and library staff (n = 14) (January–June 2019). Using a consensus organizing framework and mixed methods approach, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews exploring the library’s strengths and opportunities for patrons experiencing homelessness, the barriers to meeting their aspirations, and whether having a social worker at the library or other policy changes in government or the library could help. Specifically, participants answered inquiries about the opportunities for the library to address substance use and human trafficking. In brief surveys, library patrons and staff provided views on the patrons’ educational needs, library staff’s training needs, and changes needed in government or library policies. Results revealed the desire of the library patrons (69%) and staff (93%) to have a library social worker who could link patrons to housing services, substance use harm reduction or treatment, and address food-insecure youth/families and human trafficking/sexual exploitation. Participants also valued peer advocates with lived homelessness experiences. Over 70% of the unstably housed patrons said they would like library patrons to participate in peer leadership training. Other significant themes were the need for crisis prevention and intervention, connecting patrons to resources and each other, and creating consistent assistance. Libraries urgently need more on-premise support to address patrons’ pressing housing, health, and mental health needs.
Fiscal Decentralization, Green Technology Innovation, and Regional Air Pollution in China: An Investigation from the Perspective of Intergovernmental Competition
Authors: Wang Di , Zhang Zhiyuan , Shi Ruyi
Published: July 2022

Fiscal decentralization (FD), as an institutional arrangement for the fiscal division between central and local governments, gives local governments the enthusiasm and autonomy to provide public products and services. With the dominance of environmental governance, how local governments can avoid intergovernmental “race to the bottom” issues through green technology innovation (GTI) is a matter of regional green development and continuous improvement of atmospheric environmental quality. Based on a sample of 30 provinces in China from 2003 to 2018, this paper uses the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to examine the relationship between FD, GTI, and regional air pollution and explores their spatial spillover effect and regional heterogeneity from the perspective of intergovernmental competition. The results indicate that the FD and GTI in various provinces had significant and regionally differentiated inhibitory effects on local air pollution. In Western China, due to the regional competition among local governments in terms of economic development, economic development-oriented fiscal expenditures crowd out environmental governance-oriented fiscal expenditures, which has led to the consequence that FD can intensify local air pollution and has a positive spillover effect, but the demonstration effect of green technological innovation can well moderate the effect of FD on air pollution. FD in the eastern region has played a positive role in promoting regional air quality improvement. However, its green technological innovation has not played a positive role in reducing emissions, and it plays a significant negative regulatory role in the emission reduction effect led by FD. Finally, the article puts forward policy recommendations in terms of a fiscal decentralization system, green technological innovation, and performance evaluation mechanism.
How Job Demands and Resources Relate to Experiences of Bullying and Negative Acts among University Employees
Authors: Bjaalid Gunhild , Menichelli Elena , Liu Dian
Published: July 2022

This article addresses a gap in the work psychology literature regarding psychosocial working conditions and bullying among staff in academic organizations. We examine the influences, institutional demands, and resources attached to given academic positions, such as how the level of social support and cooperation influence the level of experienced negative acts at work and bullying in different work groups in an academic work environment. We also examine whether some professions or positions in an academic organization are more vulnerable due to organizational structure, perceived and experienced resources, and demands to bullying or experiencing more negative acts at work. A common division of different employees in the university sector is between administrative/technical staff and scientific personnel. Our hypothesis in this study is that there are significant differences among these two groups regarding levels of experienced social support and cooperation, as well as levels of experienced negative acts at work. We postulate that differences in job demands and resources lead to significantly different levels of self-reported bullying for the two main groups of personnel. We expect scientific personnel to be more exposed to negative acts at work and bullying due to differences in the demands and resources associated with these positions.
Music Literacy and Soundscape Perception: A Study Based on the Soundwalk Method of Soundscapes
Authors: Song Baoqing , Gong Chenyu , Gao Yicheng , Ke Yue , Wang Zehua , Lin Ruichong , Cai Yunji
Published: July 2022

To explore a method of promoting college aesthetic education through campus environments, the Aesthetic Education Center of the Beijing Institute of Technology Zhuhai (BITZH-AEC) used the soundwalk method of soundscapes to carry out an experiment on students’ soundscape perceptions on campus. Half of the students who participated in the experiment (n = 42) had musical instrument learning experience and musical literacy. The research work used conventional statistical analysis methods and “Soundscapy”, newly developed by the British soundscape research team, to process the experimental data. It was found that the soundscape perception evaluation of students with musical literacy was different from that of ordinary students. This included a difference in the overall evaluation of the three experimental areas and a difference in the degree of dispersion of the soundscape evaluation of all six experimental areas. The study also found that there was no correlation between the acoustic noise level and the students’ evaluations of soundscape perception. BITZH-AEC proposes that aesthetic educators should pay attention to the idea of inspiring students to stimulate cultural imagination through soundscape perception.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Iontophoresis with Perskindol Gel in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joints
Authors: Dakowicz Agnieszka , Dzięcioł-Anikiej Zofia , Hryniewicz Anna , Judycka Małgorzata , Ciołkiewicz Mariusz , Moskal-Jasińska Diana , Kuryliszyn-Moskal Anna
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of pain in the musculoskeletal system leading to disability. The basic principle of the therapy is the simultaneous use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of galvanic and iontophoresis treatments with Perskindol Active Classic Gel (Perskindol) in patients with OA of the knee joints. Moreover, a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of the application was performed depending on the selection of the active electrode. Material and Methods: The study included 100 patients with gonarthrosis, treated at the Rehabilitation Clinic of the Białystok University Hospital. Three groups were randomly selected: in group I (n = 33), anodic galvanic treatment was applied, group II (n = 33) received iontophoresis with Perskindol gel from the negative pole (“−” iontophoresis), and group III (n = 34) received iontophoresis with Perskindol gel from the positive pole (“+” iontophoresis). The VAS, the Laitinen questionnaire, the Lequesne Index, the Lysholm questionnaire, and the SF-36v2 health survey were used for the clinical evaluation of the patients. Results: In the group of patients who underwent iontophoresis with the use of Perskindol gel introduced from the positive pole, a statistically significant improvement was shown in all the assessed parameters in comparison to the patients who underwent anodic galvanic treatment. Conclusions: The most favorable effect of iontophoresis was observed in the case of iontophoresis with Perskindol gel introduced from the positive pole.
Corporate Governance and Performance of Pension Funds in Ghana: A Mixed-Method Study
Authors: Akomea-Frimpong Isaac , Tenakwah Emmanuel Senior , Tenakwah Emmanuel Junior , Amponsah Mary
Published: July 2022

This paper assesses the relationship between corporate governance practices and the performance of pension funds in Ghana, which is an emerging market. Data for this study came from two sources: surveys of pension fund managers and annual financial reports of pension funds. Data analysis techniques include mean score ranking and panel regression. The results showed that corporate governance practices such as upholding the rights of shareholders to know the capital structure of the pension funds, equitable treatment of all shareholders, effective internal controls, and timely supervisory functions of audit committees influence the performance of pensions funds. In addition, ensuring proper board composition, the ethnic and gender diversity of board members affect the success of pension funds in the country. The study indicates that the current challenges facing pension funds in the country include poor investment decisions and market volatilities in the investment market. This study provides insight into the governance practices of pension funds. It is relevant for policies and corporate practices to be strengthened to enhance the performance of the firms.
Multi-Criterion Spatial Optimization of Future Police Stations Based on Urban Expansion and Criminal Behavior Characteristics
Authors: Jiang Yuncheng , Guo Baoyu , Yan Zhigang
Published: July 2022

Lanzhou’s rapid development has raised new security challenges, and improving public safety in areas under the jurisdiction of police stations is an effective way to address the problem of public security in urban areas. Unfortunately, the existing studies do not consider how factors such as future land changes, building functions, and characteristics of criminal behavior influence the choice of areas for police stations and the optimization of police stations with respect to traffic congestion. To solve these problems, we apply multiple methods and multi-source geospatial data to optimize police station locations. The proposed method incorporates a big data perspective, which provides new ideas and technical approaches to site selection models. First, we use the central city of Lanzhou as the study area and erase the exclusion areas from the initial layer to identify the undeveloped areas. Second, historical crime data, point of interest, and other data are combined to assess the potential crime risk. We then use the analytic hierarchy process to comprehensively assess undeveloped areas based on potential crime hotspots and on socioeconomic drivers and orography. In addition, according to China’s Road Traffic Safety Law and the current traffic congestion in the city, a minimum speed is determined, so that the target area can be reached in time even in congested traffic. Finally, we draw the spatial coverage map of police stations based on the location-allocation model and network analysis and optimize the map by considering the coverage rate of high-risk areas and building construction, in addition to maintenance and other objectives. The result shows that crime concentrates mainly in densely populated areas, indicating that people and wealth are the main drivers of crime. The differences in the spatial distribution of crime hotspots and residential areas at different spatial scales mean that the ratio of public security police force to household police force allocated to different police stations is spatially nonuniform. The method proposed herein reduces the overlap of police station service areas by 22.8% and increases the area coverage (12.01%) and demand point coverage (7.25%). The area coverage means an area potentially accessible within five minutes, and point coverage implies an effective drive. Within reasonable optimization, this allows us to eventually remove 13 existing police stations and add 24 candidate police stations.
Automatic Georeferencing of Topographic Raster Maps
Authors: Milleville Kenzo , Verstockt Steven , Van de Weghe Nico
Published: July 2022

In recent years, many scientific institutions have digitized their collections, which often include a large variety of topographic raster maps. These raster maps provide accurate (historical) geographical information but cannot be integrated directly into a geographical information system (GIS) due to a lack of metadata. Additionally, the text labels on the map are usually not annotated, making it inefficient to query for specific toponyms. Manually georeferencing and annotating the text labels on these maps is not cost-effective for large collections. This work presents a fully automated georeferencing approach based on text recognition and geocoding pipeline. After recognizing the text on the maps, publicly available geocoders were used to determine a region of interest. The approach was validated on a collection of historical and contemporary topographic maps. We show that this approach can geolocate the topographic maps fairly accurately, resulting in an average georeferencing error of only 316 m (1.67%) and 287 m (0.90%) for 16 historical maps and 9 contemporary maps spanning 19 km and 32 km, respectively (scale 1:25,000 and 1:50,000). Furthermore, this approach allows the maps to be queried based on the recognized visible text and found toponyms, which further improves the accessibility and quality of the collection.
Effects of Terrain Parameters and Spatial Resolution of a Digital Elevation Model on the Calculation of Potential Solar Radiation in the Mountain Environment: A Case Study of the Tatra Mountains
Authors: Ďuračiová Renata , Pružinec Filip
Published: July 2022

Solar radiation significantly affects many processes on Earth. In situ measurements are demanding and require a dense network of sensors. A suitable alternative solution could be the modelling of potential solar radiation based on a digital elevation model (DEM) in geographic information systems. The key issue of this study is to determine the influence of the terrain parameters and the spatial resolution of a DEM on the calculation of potential solar radiation. The area of study is the Tatra Mountains (the highest mountains of the Carpathians). The DEM determined from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) was used. To determine the influence of the terrain, the following terrain parameters were applied: slope; aspect, represented by northness and eastness; elevation; and topographical position index using six different circular neighbourhoods (10 m, 30 m, 50 m, 100 m, 500 m, and 1000 m). The results indicate a moderate correlation (0.32–0.46) between the solar radiation calculation errors and the absolute values of the topographic position indices with small neighbourhoods (10 m–100 m). To show the impact of the spatial resolution, the calculation was performed based on four different DEM resolutions, namely 5 m, 10 m, 30 m, and 90 m. Mutual differences in potential solar radiation were quantified concerning the topographic position index. The result is also a model of potential annual solar radiation in the Tatra Mountains, calculated at a resolution of 5 m or 2 m.
Wheat Elongator Subunit 4 Negatively Regulates Freezing Tolerance by Regulating Ethylene Accumulation
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhai Mingjuan , Han Ran , Wang Xiaolu , Xu Wenjing , Zeng Xiaoxue , Qi Guang , Komatsuda Takao , Liu Cheng
Published: July 2022

Freezing stress is a major factor limiting production and geographical distribution of temperate crops. Elongator is a six subunit complex with histone acetyl-transferase activity and is involved in plant development and defense responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, it is unknown whether and how an elongator responds to freezing stress in plants. In this study, we found that wheat elongator subunit 4 (TaELP4) negatively regulates freezing tolerance through ethylene signaling. TaELP4 promoter contained cold response elements and was up-regulated in freezing stress. Subcellular localization showed that TaELP4 and AtELP4 localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Silencing of TaELP4 in wheat with BSMV-mediated VIGS approach significantly elevated tiller survival rate compared to control under freezing stress, but ectopic expression of TaELP4 in Arabidopsis increased leaf damage and survival rate compared with Col-0. Further results showed that TaELP4 positively regulated ACS2 and ACS6 transcripts, two main limiting enzymes in ethylene biosynthesis. The determination of ethylene content showed that TaELP4 overexpression resulted in more ethylene accumulated than Col-0 under freezing stress. Epigenetic research showed that histone H3K9/14ac levels significantly increased in coding/promoter regions of AtACS2 and AtACS6 in Arabidopsis. RT-qPCR assays showed that the EIN2/EIN3/EIL1-CBFs-COR pathway was regulated by TaELP4 under freezing stress. Taken together, our results suggest that TaELP4 negatively regulated plant responses to freezing stress via heightening histone acetylation levels of ACS2 and ACS6 and increasing their transcription and ethylene accumulation.
Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genome in Saccharum spp. and Related Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’
Authors: Li Sicheng , Duan Weixing , Zhao Jihan , Jing Yanfen , Feng Mengfan , Kuang Bowen , Wei Ni , Chen Baoshan , Yang Xiping
Published: July 2022

High ploids of the sugarcane nuclear genome limit its genomic studies, whereas its chloroplast genome is small and conserved, which is suitable for phylogenetic studies and molecular marker development. Here, we applied whole genome sequencing technology to sequence and assemble chloroplast genomes of eight species of the ‘Saccharum Complex’, and elucidated their sequence variations. In total, 19 accessions were sequenced, and 23 chloroplast genomes were assembled, including 6 species of Saccharum (among them, S. robustum, S. sinense, and S. barberi firstly reported in this study) and 2 sugarcane relative species, Tripidium arundinaceum and Narenga porphyrocoma. The plastid phylogenetic signal demonstrated that S. officinarum and S. robustum shared a common ancestor, and that the cytoplasmic origins of S. sinense and S. barberi were much more ancient than the S. offcinarum/S. robustum linage. Overall, 14 markers were developed, including 9 InDel markers for distinguishing Saccharum from its relative species, 4 dCAPS markers for distinguishing S. officinarum from S. robustum, and 1 dCAPS marker for distinguishing S. sinense and S. barberi from other species. The results obtained from our studies will contribute to the understanding of the classification and plastome evolution of Saccharinae, and the molecular markers developed have demonstrated their highly discriminatory power in Saccharum and relative species.
Altered Insulin Clearance after Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Fasting and Prandial Conditions
Authors: Salehi Marzieh , DeFronzo Ralph , Gastaldelli Amalia
Published: July 2022

Background: The liver has the capacity to regulate glucose metabolism by altering the insulin clearance rate (ICR). The decreased fasting insulin concentrations and enhanced prandial hyperinsulinemia after Roux-en-Y gastric-bypass (GB) surgery and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are well documented. Here, we investigated the effect of GB or SG on insulin kinetics in the fasting and fed states. Method: ICR was measured (i) during a mixed-meal test (MMT) in obese non-diabetic GB (n = 9) and SG (n = 7) subjects and (ii) during a MMT combined with a hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemic clamp in the same GB and SG subjects. Five BMI-matched and non-diabetic subjects served as age-matched non-operated controls (CN). Results: The enhanced ICR during the fasting state after GB and SC compared with CN (p < 0.05) was mainly attributed to augmented hepatic insulin clearance rather than non-liver organs. The dose-response slope of the total insulin extraction rate (InsExt) of exogenous insulin per circulatory insulin value was greater in the GB and SG subjects than in the CN subjects, despite the similar peripheral insulin sensitivity among the three groups. Compared to the SG or the CN subjects, the GB subjects had greater prandial insulin secretion (ISR), independent of glycemic levels. The larger post-meal ISR following GB compared with SG was associated with a greater InsExt until it reached a plateau, leading to a similar reduction in meal-induced ICR among the GB and SG subjects. Conclusions: GB and SG alter ICR in the presence or absence of meal stimulus. Further, altered ICR after bariatric surgery results from changes in hepatic insulin clearance and not from a change in peripheral insulin sensitivity.
An Effective Method for Detection and Recognition of Uyghur Texts in Images with Backgrounds
Authors: Ibrayim Mayire , Mattohti Ahmatjan , Hamdulla Askar
Published: July 2022

Uyghur text detection and recognition in images with simple backgrounds is still a challenging task for Uyghur image content analysis. In this paper, we propose a new effective Uyghur text detection method based on channel-enhanced MSERs and the CNN classification model. In order to extract more complete text components, a new text candidate region extraction algorithm is put forward, which is based on the channel-enhanced MSERs according to the characteristics of Uyghur text. In order to effectively prune the non-text regions, we design a CNN classification network according to the LeNet-5, which gains the description characteristics automatically and avoids the tedious and low efficiency artificial characteristic extraction work. For Uyghur text recognition in images, we improved the traditional CRNN network, and to verify its effectiveness, the networks trained on a synthetic dataset and evaluated on the text recognition datasets. The experimental results indicated that the Uyghur text detection method in this paper is robust and applicable, and the recognition result by improvedCRNN was better than the original CRNN network.
What Attracts the Driver’s Eye? Attention as a Function of Task and Events
Authors: Eisma Yke Bauke , Eijssen Dirk J. , de Winter Joost C. F.
Published: July 2022

This study explores how drivers of an automated vehicle distribute their attention as a function of environmental events and driving task instructions. Twenty participants were asked to monitor pre-recorded videos of a simulated driving trip while their eye movements were recorded using an eye-tracker. The results showed that eye movements are strongly situation-dependent, with areas of interest (windshield, mirrors, and dashboard) attracting attention when events (e.g., passing vehicles) occurred in those areas. Furthermore, the task instructions provided to participants (i.e., speed monitoring or hazard monitoring) affected their attention distribution in an interpretable manner. It is concluded that eye movements while supervising an automated vehicle are strongly ‘top-down’, i.e., based on an expected value. The results are discussed in the context of the development of driver availability monitoring systems.
Relationships between Body Weight Status and Serum Levels of Adipokine, Myokine and Bone Metabolism Parameters in Healthy Normal Weight and Thin Children
Authors: Ambroszkiewicz Jadwiga , Chełchowska Magdalena , Mazur Joanna , Rowicka Grażyna , Gajewska Joanna
Published: July 2022

Optimal body weight and body composition for age are relevant to child development and healthy life. Changes in lean mass and fat mass as well as its distribution are associated with alterations in the secretion of myokines and adipokines by muscle and adipose tissues. These factors are very important for bone health. The aim of the study was to assess serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin and omentin as adipokines and myostatin and irisin as myokines with regard to their associations with bone parameters in healthy normal weight and thin children. We studied 81 healthy prepubertal children (aged 5 to 9 years) divided into three groups: group A—35 children with a BMI z-score between +1 and −1 SD; group B—36 children with a BMI z-score between −1 and −2 SD; and group C—10 thin children with a BMI z-score of <−2 SD. We observed significantly (p < 0.001) lower fat mass, fat/lean mass ratio and bone mineral density (BMD) across weight status with the lowest values in the group of thin children. We noticed significantly (p < 0.05) lower concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, resistin and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin but higher levels of myostatin as the BMI z-score deceased. We found that BMI and leptin levels were directly correlated with fat mass, lean mass, bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD. Resistin levels were negatively associated with lean mass, while visfatin concentrations were positively related to total BMD. In healthy prepubertal children there were differences in body composition and in bone mineral density across decreasing BMI status. We suggest that changes in serum myostatin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may play a role in bone status of thin children. Moreover, significant relations between adipokines and bone parameters may confirm crosstalk between fat tissue and bone in these children.
On the Mechanism behind the Variation of the Tidal Current Asymmetry in Response to Reclamations in Lingding Bay, China
Authors: Ji Xiaomei , Huang Liming , Zhang Wei , Yao Peng
Published: July 2022

Tidal current asymmetry, an important factor for waterborne substance transport, is strongly affected by the changing shoreline. Lingding Bay (LDB), located in the center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has suffered great shoreline changes since the 1970s. A well-validated numerical model is built to investigate how the changing shoreline impacts tidal current asymmetry, which is quantified by the skewness parameter. Two types of tidal current asymmetries, the flow velocity asymmetry (FVA) and the flow duration asymmetry (FDA), are considered here. Despite their different dominant combinations, the two asymmetries display a similar tendency from the mouth to the head of the LDB. When the shoreline changes due to successive land reclamation are taken into consideration, the FVA and the FDA alter correspondingly. The results suggest that the shoreline change shifts the FVA in Deep Bay (a side embayment of LDB) from ebb dominance to flood dominance, because of the changes of its dominant constituent combinations (K1/O1/M2 and the residual current). As the shoreline propagates seaward, the increasing contributions of M2/M4 and M2/S2/MS4 enlarge the water area of positive FDA (i.e., shorter duration of low water slack) in LDB. Analyses of tidal current asymmetries in Lingding Bay show that tidal current asymmetry has been enhanced by sustained land reclamation and will further impact sediment transport in the bay.
Hydrodynamic and Flow Field Characteristics of Water Jet Propulsion under Mooring Conditions
Authors: Zhao Dagang , Zhang Yang , He Qian , Sun Cong , Bi Mingqi
Published: July 2022

The acceleration characteristics of a water jet-propelled ship during startup are related to its performance under mooring conditions. Water jet propulsion cavitation during startup increases the vibration and noise of the whole ship. Therefore, accurately predicting and analyzing the performance, hydrodynamics and flow field characteristics of water jet-propelled ships under mooring conditions can help elucidate the startup characteristics of the ships and optimize their acceleration strategies. In this study, the hydrodynamic and flow field characteristics of water jet propulsion and water jet propulsion ships under mooring conditions were studied using three-dimensional numerical modeling. First, the hydrodynamic performance of the water jet propeller was analyzed, and the relevant flow field law was derived. Then, the hydrodynamic performance, internal and external flow field characteristics, pulsation pressure and flow rate at the nozzle, and pulsation pressure at the monitoring points around the impeller of the water jet propulsion ship model were analyzed under mooring conditions. We obtained the open-water law for the water jet propeller and the hydrodynamic force and flow field law for a two-pump water jet propulsion ship. The ship model developed in this study provides a good theoretical foundation for further research on water jet propulsion.
Understanding Challenging Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-Component, Interdisciplinary Model
Authors: Edelson Stephen M.
Published: July 2022

A multi-component, interdisciplinary model is described which explains the presence of, and in other cases the lack of, many challenging behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More specifically, the model expands the operant behavioral conditioning paradigm by taking into account medical comorbidities and interoceptive processing.
Board Characteristics and the Insolvency Risk of Non-Financial Firms
Authors: Maier Florian , Yurtoglu B. Burcin
Published: July 2022

How do board characteristics influence the risk of bankruptcy? We study this question by estimating classic Z-Score models using panel data comprising 2519 listed non-financial firms from 29 European countries over the 2012–2020 period. We found that board independence is associated with lower risk of bankruptcy. In contrast, employee representatives have an adverse effect on board monitoring capacity and are predicted to increase bankruptcy risk. The presence of female directors and foreign directors on board—two indicators of board diversity—reduce bankruptcy risk. While board independence and diversity decrease bankruptcy risk in financially non-distressed firms, they have the opposite effect in financially distressed firms. These findings are statistically and economically significant and hold, at least in part, under alternative specifications. Our findings demonstrate the need for governance regulators, credit rating agencies, financial institutions, firms and investors to lend more weight to board composition, especially under the conditions of impending financial distress.
Prothrombinase-Induced Clotting Time to Measure Drug Concentrations of Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, and Edoxaban in Clinical Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sathanantham Vepusha , Alberio Lorenzo , Bovet Cédric , Fontana Pierre , Gerber Bernhard , Graf Lukas , Mendez Adriana , Sauter Thomas C. , Schmidt Adrian , Studt Jan-Dirk , Wuillemin Walter A. , Nagler Michael
Published: July 2022

Prothrombinase-induced clotting time (PiCT) is proposed as a rapid and inexpensive laboratory test to measure direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) drug levels. In a prospective, multicenter cross-sectional study, including 851 patients, we aimed to study the accuracy of PiCT in determining rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban drug concentrations and assessed whether clinically relevant drug levels could be predicted correctly. Citrated plasma samples were collected, and the Pefakit® PiCT was utilized. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to measure drug concentrations. Cut-off levels were established using receiver-operating characteristics curves. We calculated sensitivities and specificities with respect to clinically relevant drug concentrations. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between PiCT and drug concentrations was 0.85 in the case of rivaroxaban (95% CI 0.82, 0.88), 0.66 for apixaban (95% CI 0.60, 0.71), and 0.78 for edoxaban (95% CI 0.65, 0.86). The sensitivity to detect clinically relevant drug concentrations was 85.1% in the case of 30 µg L−1 (95% CI 82.0, 87.7; specificity 77.9; 72.1, 82.7), 85.7% in the case of 50 µg L−1 (82.4, 88.4; specificity 77.3; 72.5, 81.5), and 85.1% in the case of 100 µg L−1 (80.9, 88.4; specificity 73.2%; 69.1, 76.9). In conclusion, the association of PiCT with DOAC concentrations was fair, and the majority of clinically relevant drug concentrations were correctly predicted.