bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alterations in Muscle Force Control With Aging: Is There a Modulatory Effect of Lifelong Physical Activity?
Authors: Pethick Jamie , Piasecki Mathew
Published: March 2022

Recent technological developments have enabled significant advances in our understanding of the ability to voluntarily control muscle force output. The fluctuations inherent to muscle force output can be quantified according to both their magnitude and temporal structure (or “complexity”), with such quantification facilitating comparison of force control between distinct populations. In comparison to young adults, older adults exhibit an increase in the magnitude (i.e., decreased steadiness) and a decrease in the complexity (i.e., decreased adaptability) of force fluctuations, both of which are indicative of a loss of force control. There remain, however, key gaps in knowledge that limit our interpretation of this age-related loss of force control. One such gap relates to the effect of lifelong physical activity on force control. To date, research on aging and force control has largely been conducted on inactive or moderately active older adults. However, high levels of lifelong physical activity, such as that exhibited by Masters athletes, have been shown to have protective effects on the function and morphology of the neuromuscular system. Some of these effects (e.g., on impaired inhibitory transmission in the motor cortex and on motor unit discharge rates) have the potential to attenuate the age-related loss of force control, while others (e.g., greater motor unit remodeling capacity) have the potential to worsen it. We therefore propose that, in order to progress our knowledge of the effects of aging on force control, future studies must consider the potential modulatory effect of lifelong physical activity.
Duckweeds as Promising Food Feedstocks Globally
Authors: Pagliuso Débora , Grandis Adriana , Fortirer Janaina Silva , Camargo Plinio , Floh Eny Iochevet Segal , Buckeridge Marcos Silveira
Published: March 2022

Duckweeds are the smallest flowering plants on Earth. They grow fast on water’s surface and produce large amounts of biomass. Further, duckweeds display high adaptability, and species are found around the globe growing under different environmental conditions. In this work, we report the composition of 21 ecotypes of fourteen species of duckweeds belonging to the two subfamilies of the group (Lemnoideae and Wolffioideae). It is reported the presence of starch and the composition of soluble sugars, cell walls, amino acids, phenolics, and tannins. These data were combined with literature data recovered from 85 publications to produce a compiled analysis that affords the examination of duckweeds as possible food sources for human consumption. We compare duckweeds compositions with some of the most common food sources and conclude that duckweed, which is already in use as food in Asia, can be an interesting food source anywhere in the world.
Cases of Lightning Strikes during Mountain-Sports Activities: An Analysis of Emergencies from the Swiss Alps
Authors: Gasser Benedikt
Published: March 2022

Background: Lightning strikes are a risk during mountain-sport activities. Yet little is known about the prevalence of injuries related to lightning strikes during mountain hiking, backcountry skiing, or high-altitude mountaineering. This study therefore examined the occurrence and characteristics of lightning-strike-related emergencies during mountain-sport activities in the Swiss Alps. Methods: We analyzed 11,221 alpine emergencies during mountain hiking, 4687 during high-altitude mountaineering, and 3044 during backcountry skiing in the observational period from 2009 to 2020. Identified cases were analyzed in detail regarding age, sex, the time of occurrence, altitude, location, the severity of the injury as quantified by its NACA Score (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Score), and injury pattern. Results: We found no cases related to backcountry skiing. Eight cases of lightning strikes during mountain hiking (four female and four male) were identified. The mean age was 32.5 ± 17.5 years, the mean NACA Score was 2.5 ± 1.9, and the mean altitude was 1883.8 ± 425.7 m. None of these cases were fatal, and only one victim was seriously injured. Fifteen cases were identified during high-altitude mountaineering (four female and 11 male). The mean age was 38.7 ± 5.2 years, the mean NACA Score was 3.1 ± 2.5, and the mean altitude was 3486.4 ± 614.3 m. Two lightning strikes were fatal. In these two cases, rope partners were injured by a lightning strike (NACA Score = 4). Most cases were on relatively exposed terrain, such as the Matterhorn Hörnligrat or the Eiger Mittellegigrat. Discussion: The typical victims were 30–40-year-old men. It is possible that the lightning strikes are a consequence of a lower risk aversion among these alpinists, which is be supported by the fact that most of the events occurred on famous mountains such as the Matterhorn or Eiger. Furthermore, since most of the locations were on relatively exposed terrain where one could not quickly find shelter, we recommend careful tour planning with serious consultation of the weather forecast and the likelihood of thunderstorms before climbing exposed sections to prevent emergencies related to lightning strikes.
Evaluation of the External Jugular Vein Overlying the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle as Venous Lymph-Node Flap
Authors: Kadletz-Wanke Lorenz , Oberndorfer Felicitas , Grabner Erik , Kenner Lukas , Schrögendorfer Klaus F. , Heiduschka Gregor
Published: March 2022

Background: Until recently, vascularized lymph-node flaps were based on arterial and venous donor vessels. Now, venous lymph-node flaps form a novel promising concept in the treatment of advanced-stage lymphedema. In preliminary studies, the external jugular vein has shown promising results as a venous lymph-node flap. However, nothing is known about the number of lymph nodes adjacent to the external jugular vein. Methods: Standardized specimens of the external jugular vein and surrounding fatty tissue directly overlying the sternocleidomastoid muscle were obtained during routine neck dissection. Histologic evaluation was performed in order to evaluate for the presence of lymph nodes within the tissue. Results: A total of 20 specimens were evaluated. There was no vein in 4 of the samples. We found lymph nodes in 9 of the remaining 16 samples. In 7 samples, lymph nodes were absent. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the vein directly overlying the sternocleidomastoid muscle may not be the ideal candidate for a venous lymph-node flap.
Underwater Biological Detection Based on YOLOv4 Combined with Channel Attention
Authors: Li Aolun , Yu Long , Tian Shengwei
Published: March 2022

Due to the influence of underwater visual characteristics on the observation of underwater creatures, the traditional object detection algorithm is ineffective. In order to improve the robustness of underwater biological detection, based on the YOLOv4 detector, this paper proposes an underwater biological detection algorithm combined with the channel attention mechanism. Firstly, the backbone feature extraction network CSPDarknet53 of YOLOv4 was improved, and a residual block combined with the channel attention mechanism was proposed to extract the weighted multi-scale effective features. Secondly, the weighted features were repeatedly extracted through the feature pyramid to separate the most significant weighted features. Finally, the most salient weighted multi-scale features were used for underwater biological detection. The experimental results show that, compared with YOLOv4, the proposed algorithm improved the average accuracy of the Brackish underwater creature dataset detection by 5.03%, and can reach a detection rate of 15fps for underwater creature video clips. Therefore, it is feasible to apply this method to the accurate and real-time detection of underwater creatures. This research can provide technical reference for the exploration of marine ecosystems and the development of underwater robots.
Employment-at-Will in the United States and the Challenges of Remote Work in the Time of COVID-19
Authors: Varner Katrin , Schmidt Klaus
Published: March 2022

How should employers and employees negotiate the strange and unexpected issues that COVID-19 has forced us to confront in the past two years? Remote work, in particular, has dramatically changed the dynamic of many people’s jobs, often altering the tasks and boundaries of employment, blurring the lines between work and home, public and private. U.S. employment law, and particularly the powerful employment-at-will doctrine, sets a clear standard but can sometimes be a blunt instrument. Is there any nuance to be found, or to be desired, from employers in these unprecedented times of COVID-19? We will discuss the doctrine of employment-at-will, the standard it creates for American employment, and the various exceptions to it that have arisen over the past several decades. We will then examine a couple of hypothetical workplace scenarios that could arise in a work-from-home environment, discuss how current law would address them, and whether the letter of the law is the best source of guidance in these matters. We will further discuss the challenges faced by many companies as they attempt to deal with these abrupt changes to their working environments. What are the effects, if any, on long-standing employment traditions and practices? What are the legal issues that may arise from them?
Contributions to Risk Assessment with Edgeworth–Sargan Density Expansions (I): Stability Testing
Authors: Mauleón Ignacio
Published: March 2022

This paper analytically derives a stability test for the probability distribution of a random variable that follows the Edgeworth–Sargan density, also called Gram–Charlier. The distribution of the test is a weighted sum of Chi-squared densities of increasing degrees of freedom, starting with the standard equivalent Chi-squared under the same conditions. The weights turn out to be linear combinations of the parameters of the distribution and the moments of a Gaussian density, and can be computed exactly. This is a convenient result, since then the probability intervals can be easily calculated from existing Chi-squared distribution tables. The test is applied to assess the weekly solar irradiance data stability for a twelve-year period. It shows that the density is acceptably stable overall, except for some eventual and localised dates. It is also shown that the usual probability intervals implemented in stability testing are larger than those of the equivalent Chi-squared distribution under comparable conditions. This implies that the common upper tail interval values for rejecting the null stability hypothesis are larger.
Coumarin-Palladium(II) Complex Acts as a Potent and Non-Toxic Anticancer Agent against Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Krstic Aleksandra , Pavic Aleksandar , Avdovic Edina , Markovic Zoran , Stevanovic Milena , Petrovic Isidora
Published: March 2022

Pancreatic carcinoma still represents one of the most lethal malignant diseases in the world although some progress has been made in treating the disease in the past decades. Current multi-agent treatment options have improved the overall survival of patients, however, more effective treatment strategies are still needed. In this paper we have characterized the anticancer potential of coumarin-palladium(II) complex against pancreatic carcinoma cells. Cells viability, colony formation and migratory potential of pancreatic carcinoma cells were assessed in vitro, followed by evaluation of apoptosis induction and in vivo testing on zebrafish. Presented results showed remarkable reduction in pancreatic carcinoma cells growth both in vitro and in vivo, being effective at micromolar concentrations (0.5 μM). Treatments induced apoptosis, increased BAX/BCL-2 ratio and suppressed the expression of SOX9 and SOX18, genes shown to be significantly up-regulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Importantly, treatments of the zebrafish-pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts resulted in significant reduction in tumor mass, without provoking any adverse toxic effects including hepatotoxicity. Presented results indicate the great potential of the tested compound and the perspective of its further development towards pancreatic cancer therapy.
One-Step Preparation of S, N Co-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for the Highly Sensitive and Simple Detection of Methotrexate
Authors: Wei Xiaoyi , Si Xiaojing , Han Mei , Bai Chen
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are a new class of carbon nanomaterials with favorable features, such as tunable luminescence, unique optical properties, water solubility, and lack of cytotoxicity; they are readily applied in biomedicine. (2) Methods: S, N co-doped CQDs were prepared to develop a highly selective and sensitive fluorescence technique for the detection of methotrexate (MTX). For this purpose, citric acid and thiourea were used as C, N, and S sources in a single-step hydrothermal process to prepare the S, N co-doped CQDs, which displayed remarkable fluorescence properties. (3) Results: Two optimal emissions were observed at the excitation/emission wavelengths of 320/425 nm, respectively. The two emissions were significantly quenched in the presence of MTX. Under optimal conditions, MTX was detected in the linear concentration range of 1–300 μmol/L, with the detection limit of 0.33 μmol/L. The sensing mechanism was due to the fact that the effect of the inner filter on MTX and S, N-CQDs causes fluorescence quenching. The contents of MTX in real medicine samples were evaluated with acceptable recoveries of 98–101%. (4) Conclusions: This approach has great potential for detecting MTX in pharmaceutical analysis.
Identification of Non-Volatile Compounds Generated during Storage That Impact Flavor Stability of Ready-to-Drink Coffee
Authors: Lin Hao , Tello Edisson , Simons Christopher T. , Peterson Devin G.
Published: March 2022

Coffee brew flavor is known to degrade during storage. Untargeted and targeted LC/MS flavoromics analysis was applied to identify chemical compounds generated during storage that impacted the flavor stability of ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee. MS chemical profiles for sixteen RTD coffee samples stored for 0, 1, 2, and 4 months at 30 °C were modeled against the sensory degree of difference (DOD) scores by orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) with good fit and predictive ability. Five highly predictive untargeted chemical features positively correlated to DOD were subsequently identified as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-feruloylquinic acid, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acid. The increase in the six acidic compounds during storage was confirmed by sensory recombination tests to significantly impact the flavor stability of RTD coffee during storage. A decrease in pH, rather than an increase in total acidity, was supported to impact the coffee flavor profile.
Autoxidation of 4-Hydrazinylquinolin-2(1H)-one; Synthesis of Pyridazino[4,3-c:5,6-c′]diquinoline-6,7(5H,8H)-diones
Authors: Mostafa Sara M. , Aly Ashraf A. , Hassan Alaa A. , Osman Esraa M. , Bräse Stefan , Nieger Martin , Ibrahim Mahmoud A. A. , Mohamed Asmaa H.
Published: March 2022

An efficient synthesis of a series of pyridazino[4,3-c:5,6-c′]diquinolines was achieved via the autoxidation of 4-hydrazinylquinolin-2(1H)-ones. IR, NMR (1H and 13C), mass spectral data, and elemental analysis were used to fit and elucidate the structures of the newly synthesized compounds. X-ray structure analysis and theoretical calculations unequivocally proved the formation of the structure. The possible mechanism for the reaction is also discussed.
Ferroptosis: A New Road towards Cancer Management
Authors: Bano Iqra , Horky Pavel , Abbas Syed Qamar , Majid Muhammad , Bilal Akram Hafiz Muhammad , Ali Fawad , Behl Tapan , Hassan Syed Shams ul , Bungau Simona
Published: March 2022

Ferroptosis is a recently described programmed cell death mechanism that is characterized by the buildup of iron (Fe)-dependent lipid peroxides in cells and is morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from other forms of cell death, having emerged to play an important role in cancer biology. Ferroptosis has significant importance during cancer treatment because of the combination of factors, including suppression of the glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), cysteine deficiency, and arachidonoyl (AA) peroxidation, which cause cells to undergo ferroptosis. However, the physiological significance of ferroptosis throughout development is still not fully understood. This current review is focused on the factors and molecular mechanisms with the diagrammatic illustrations of ferroptosis that have a role in the initiation and sensitivity of ferroptosis in various malignancies. This knowledge will open a new road for research in oncology and cancer management.
Analysis of Vicinal Water in Soft Contact Lenses Using a Combination of Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy and Multivariate Curve Resolution
Authors: Maeda Shoichi , Chikami Shunta , Latag Glenn Villena , Song Subin , Iwakiri Norio , Hayashi Tomohiro
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we propose a new spectroscopic method to explore the behavior of molecules near polymeric molecular networks of water-containing soft materials such as hydrogels. We demonstrate the analysis of hydrogen bonding states of water in the vicinity of hydrogels (soft contact lenses). In this method, we apply force to hydrated contact lenses to deform them and to modulate the ratio between the signals from bulk and vicinal regions. We then collect spectra at different forces. Finally, we extracted the spectra of the vicinal region using the multivariate curve resolution-alternating least square (MCR-ALS) method. We report the hydration states depending on the chemical structures of hydrogels constituting the contact lenses.
Preventive Effects of Anthocyanins from Lyciumruthenicum Murray in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice Are Related to the Regulation of Intestinal Microbiota and Inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase Activity
Authors: Li Na , Liu Xi , Zhang Jing , Lang Yan-Zhi , Lu Lu , Mi Jia , Cao You-Long , Yan Ya-Mei , Ran Lin-Wu
Published: March 2022

Lyciumruthenicum Murray (L. ruthenicum) has been used both as traditional Chinese medicine and food. Recent studies indicated that anthocyanins are the most abundant bioactive compounds in the L. ruthenicum fruits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects and the mechanism of the anthocycanins from the fruit of L. ruthenicum (ACN) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. In total, 24 male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: control group (fed a normal diet), high-fat diet group (fed a high-fat diet, HFD), and HFD +ACN group (fed a high-fat diet and drinking distilled water that contained 0.8% crude extract of ACN). The results showed that ACN could significantly reduce the body weight, inhibit lipid accumulation in liver and white adipose tissue, and lower the serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared to that of mice fed a high-fat diet. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of bacterial DNA demonstrated that ACN prevent obesity by enhancing the diversity of cecal bacterial communities, lowering the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio, increasing the genera Akkermansia, and decreasing the genera Faecalibaculum. We also studied the inhibitory effect of ACN on pancreatic lipase. The results showed that ACN has a high affinity for pancreatic lipase and inhibits the activity of pancreatic lipase, with IC50 values of 1.80 (main compound anthocyanin) and 3.03 mg/mL (crude extract), in a competitive way. Furthermore, fluorescence spectroscopy studies showed that ACN can quench the intrinsic fluorescence of pancreatic lipase via a static mechanism. Taken together, these findings suggest that the anthocyanins from L. ruthenicum fruits could have preventive effects in high-fat-diet induced obese mice by regulating the intestinal microbiota and inhibiting the pancreatic lipase activity.
Prokinetic and Laxative Effects of Chrozophora tinctoria Whole Plant Extract
Authors: Sher Ayaz Ali , Iqbal Arshad , Muhammad Naveed , Badshah Syed Lal , Emwas Abdul-Hamid , Jaremko Mariusz
Published: March 2022

Chrozophora tinctoria (Euphorbiaceae) has been used as an emetic, anthelminthic, and cathartic agent in traditional medicine. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to characterize the composition of ethyl acetate (EAC) and dichloromethane (DCMC) fractions from the whole Chrozophora tinctoria plant. EAC and DCMC fractions were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity and acute toxicity. Their effects on intestinal propulsive movement and spasmogenic activity of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) muscle were also assessed. The compounds detected in both fractions were mostly fatty acids, with about seven compounds in EAC and 10 in DCMC. These included pharmacologically active compounds such as imipramine, used to treat depression, or hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, an antioxidant. Both EAC and DCMC fractions inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity with IC50 values of 10 µg and 130 µg, respectively. Both the fractions were found to be toxic in a dose-dependent manner, inducing emesis at 0.5 g or higher and lethargy and mortality from 3–5 g upwards. Similarly, both of the fractions showed laxative activity in metronidazole- and loperamide-induced constipation models. EAC relaxed the intestinal muscle at a lower dose (1 mg/mL) than DCMC. Similarly, the EAC extract showed a significant relaxation effect (EC50 = 0.67 ± 0.15 mg/mL) on KCL-induced contraction in rabbit jejunum as compared to DCMC (EC50 = 5.04 ± 0.05 mg/kg). The present study strongly supports the folklore that this valuable plant is a cathartic agent. Further work is required to isolate and validate the bioactive compounds that act as diarrheal agents in Chrozophora tinctoria.
An Organic Solvent-Free Method for the Extraction of Ellagic Acid Compounds from Raspberry Wine Pomace with Assistance of Sodium Bicarbonate
Authors: Jin Ning , Zhang Shouyu , Sun Shibo , Wu Minghuo , Yang Xiaojing , Xu Jianqiang , Ma Kun , Guan Shui , Xu Weiping
Published: March 2022

Industrial processing of raspberry juice and wine generates considerable byproducts of raspberry pomace. Ellagic acids/ellagitannins, being characterized by their antioxidant and antiproliferation properties, constitute the majority of polyphenolics in the pomace and are valuable for recovery. In the present study, we developed a novel procedure with sodium bicarbonate assisted extraction (SBAE) to recover ellagic acid from raspberry wine pomace. Key parameters in the procedure, i.e., sodium bicarbonate concentration, temperature, time and solid/liquid (S/L) ratio, were investigated by single factor analysis and optimized subsequently by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Optimal parameters for the SBAE method here were found to be 1.2% (w/v) NaHCO3, 1:93 (w/v) S/L ratio, 22 min and 100 °C. Under these conditions, the ellagic acid yield was 6.30 ± 0.92 mg/g pomace with an antioxidant activity of 79.0 ± 0.96 μmol Trolox eq/g pomace (DPPH assay), which are 2.37 and 1.32 times the values obtained by extraction with methanol–acetone–water solvent, respectively. The considerable improvement in ellagic acid extraction efficiency could be highly attributed to the reactions of lipid saponification and ellagitannin hydrolysis resulted from sodium bicarbonates. The present study has established an organic solvent-free method for the extraction of ellagic acid from raspberry wine pomace, which is feasible and practical in nutraceutical applications.
Dual Spinneret Electrospun Polyurethane/PVA-Gelatin Nanofibrous Scaffolds Containing Cinnamon Essential Oil and Nanoceria for Chronic Diabetic Wound Healing: Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization and In-Vitro Evaluation
Authors: Hussein Mohamed Ahmed Mohamady , Gunduz Oguzhan , Sahin Ali , Grinholc Mariusz , El-Sherbiny Ibrahim Mohamed , Megahed Mosaad
Published: March 2022

In this study, a dual spinneret electrospinning technique was applied to fabricate a series of polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl alcohol–gelatin (PVA/Gel) nanofibrous scaffolds. The study aims to enhance the properties of PU/PVA-Gel NFs loaded with a low dose of nanoceria through the incorporation of cinnamon essential oil (CEO). The as-prepared nCeO2 were embedded into the PVA/Gel nanofibrous layer, where the cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was incorporated into the PU nanofibrous layer. The morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and chemical composition of the produced NF mats were investigated by STEM, DSC, and FTIR. The obtained results showed improvement in the mechanical, and thermal stability of the dual-fiber scaffolds by adding CEO along with nanoceria. The cytotoxicity evaluation revealed that the incorporation of CEO to PU/PVA-Gel loaded with a low dose of nanoceria could enhance the cell population compared to using pure PU/PVA-Gel NFs. Moreover, the presence of CEO could inhibit the growth rate of S. aureus more than E. coli. To our knowledge, this is the first time such nanofibrous membranes composed of PU and PVA-Gel have been produced. The first time was to load the nanofibrous membranes with both CEO and nCeO2. The obtained results indicate that the proposed PU/PVA-Gel NFs represent promising platforms with CEO and nCeO2 for effectively managing diabetic wounds.
Intermolecular Vibration Energy Transfer Process in Two CL-20-Based Cocrystals Theoretically Revealed by Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectra
Authors: Ren Hai-Chao , Ji Lin-Xiang , Chen Tu-Nan , Jia Xian-Zhen , Liu Rui-Peng , Zhang Xiu-Qing , Wei Dong-Qing , Wang Xiao-Feng , Ji Guang-Fu
Published: March 2022

Inspired by the recent cocrystallization and theory of energetic materials, we theoretically investigated the intermolecular vibrational energy transfer process and the non-covalent intermolecular interactions between explosive compounds. The intermolecular interactions between 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) and between 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) and CL-20 were studied using calculated two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra and the independent gradient model based on the Hirshfeld partition (IGMH) method, respectively. Based on the comparison of the theoretical infrared spectra and optimized geometries with experimental results, the theoretical models can effectively reproduce the experimental geometries. By analyzing cross-peaks in the 2D IR spectra of TNT/CL-20, the intermolecular vibrational energy transfer process between TNT and CL-20 was calculated, and the conclusion was made that the vibrational energy transfer process between CL-20 and TNTII (TNTIII) is relatively slower than between CL-20 and TNTI. As the vibration energy transfer is the bridge of the intermolecular interactions, the weak intermolecular interactions were visualized using the IGMH method, and the results demonstrate that the intermolecular non-covalent interactions of TNT/CL-20 include van der Waals (vdW) interactions and hydrogen bonds, while the intermolecular non-covalent interactions of HMX/CL-20 are mainly comprised of vdW interactions. Further, we determined that the intermolecular interaction can stabilize the trigger bond in TNT/CL-20 and HMX/CL-20 based on Mayer bond order density, and stronger intermolecular interactions generally indicate lower impact sensitivity of energetic materials. We believe that the results obtained in this work are important for a better understanding of the cocrystal mechanism and its application in the field of energetic materials.
Australian Honeypot Ant (Camponotus inflatus) Honey—A Comprehensive Analysis of the Physiochemical Characteristics, Bioactivity, and HPTLC Profile of a Traditional Indigenous Australian Food
Authors: Islam Md Khairul , Lawag Ivan Lozada , Sostaric Tomislav , Ulrich Edie , Ulrich Danny , Dewar Terrence , Lim Lee Yong , Locher Cornelia
Published: March 2022

Despite its cultural and nutritional importance for local Aboriginal people, the unusual insect honey produced by Western Australian honeypot ant (Camponotus inflatus) has to date been rarely investigated. This study reports on the honey’s physicochemical properties, its total phenolic, major sugars and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural contents, and its antioxidant activities. The honey’s color value is 467.63 mAU/63.39 mm Pfund, it has a pH of 3.85, and its electric conductivity is 449.71 µSiemens/cm. Its Brix value is 67.00, corresponding to a 33% moisture content. The total phenolics content is 19.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g honey. Its antioxidant activity measured using the DPPH* (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric reducing–antioxidant power) assays is 1367.67 µmol Trolox/kg and 3.52 mmol Fe+2/kg honey, respectively. Major sugars in the honey are glucose and fructose, with a fructose-to-glucose ratio of 0.85. Additionally, unidentified sugar was found in minor quantities.
Modified Natural Rubber as a Simple Chemical Sensor with Smartphone Detection for Formaldehyde Content in a Seafood Sample
Authors: Yeerum Chonnipa , Issarangkura Na Ayutthaya Piyanat , Kesonkan Kullapon , Kiwfo Kanokwan , Boochathum Ploenpit , Grudpan Kate , Vongboot Monnapat
Published: March 2022

A new biodegradable platform-based sensor for formaldehyde assay is proposed. Natural rubber latex was modified to polylactic acid–chloroacetated natural rubber polymer blend sheets. The polymer blend sheet was grafted using a water-based system with amine monomers as a platform, with a spot exhibiting positive polarity for immobilizing with anionic dye (Acid Red 27). The sensor was exposed to formaldehyde. The color intensity of the dye on the sensor spot would decrease. Using a smartphone with image processing (via ImageJ program), the color intensity change (∆B) could be followed. A linear calibration, ∆B intensity = 0.365 [FA] + 6.988, R2 = 0.997, was obtained for 10–150 mM FA with LOD and LOQ at 3 and 10 mM, respectively (linear regression method). The precision was lower than 20% RSD. Application to real seafood samples was demonstrated. The ready-to-use sensor with the proposed method was cost-effective, was portable for on-site analysis, and demonstrated green chemical analysis.
Pentacyclic Triterpenoids from Sabia discolor Dunn and Their α-Glycosidase Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Ma Jin-Hong , Hu Dan , Deng Lu-Lu , Li Jiang , Hao Xiao-Jiang , Mu Shu-Zhen
Published: March 2022

Four new pentacyclic triterpenoids named Sabiadiscolor A–D (1 and 7–9) together with eleven known ones were isolated by repeated column chromatography. Their structures were identified and characterized by NMR and MS spectral data as 6 oleanane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids (1–6), 7 ursane-type ones (7–13), and 2 lupanane-type ones (14–15). Except for compound 15, all other compounds were isolated from Sabia discolor Dunn for the first time. Their α-glycosidase inhibitory activities were evaluated, which showed that compounds 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, and 15 implied remarkable activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.09 to 0.27 μM, and the preliminary structure–activity relationship was discussed.
Contributions of Microelectrochemical Scanning Techniques for the Efficient Detection of Localized Corrosion Processes at the Cut Edges of Polymer-Coated Galvanized Steel
Authors: Filotás Dániel , Izquierdo Javier , Fernández-Pérez Bibiana M. , Nagy Lívia , Nagy Géza , Souto Ricardo M.
Published: March 2022

Spatially resolved information on corrosion reactions operating at the cut edges of coated metals can be obtained using microelectrochemical scanning techniques using a suitable selection of operation modes and scanning probes. The scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) provides current density maps with a spatial resolution of the order of the dimensions of the sample, which allows the temporal evolution of the corrosion reactions to be followed over time. This leads to the identification and localization of cathodic and anodic sites, although the technique lacks chemical specificity for the unequivocal identification of the reactive species. The application of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was previously limited to image cathodic reaction sites, either due to oxygen consumption in the amperometric operation or by the alkalinisation of the electrolyte in potentiometric operation. However, it is shown that anodic sites can be effectively monitored using an ion-selective microelectrode (ISME) as a probe. The ISME probes detected differences in the local concentrations of Zn2+ and OH− ions from the cut edges of a complete coil coating system compared to the same system after the polymeric layers were removed. In this way, it has been shown that the inhibitor loading in the polymer layers effectively contributes to reducing the corrosion rates at the cut edge, thus helping to extend the useful life of the sacrificial galvanized layer bonded directly to the steel matrix. Additionally, these two probe configurations can be integrated into a multi-electrode tip for potentiometric operation to simultaneously monitor localized changes in pH values and metal ion dissolution in a single scan. Spatial and temporal distributions were further investigated using different rastering procedures, and the potential of constructing pseudomaps for 2D-imaging is described.
Bilingual, Intergenerational Worship and Ministry for Unity
Authors: Yu John
Published: March 2022

Many Korean American churches have several different worship services on a given Sunday that cater to different age and language groups. The intent is to cater to the different needs of each group, where each group can worship in an age-appropriate setting with the language they are comfortable with. However, it has also had the unintended consequence of creating factions and divisions within the church. It is not uncommon to hear about conflicts and quarrels between Korean Ministry (KM) and English Ministry (EM), from the leadership level down to the congregation members. While there may be several other contributing factors to church conflicts, one key reason is worshipping separately, which creates different spiritual identities within the church. This article proposes that through a creative and engaging bilingual, intergenerational worship and ministry, different generations in Korean American churches, and perhaps other immigrant churches in multilingual and multicultural settings, can worship and learn together as one community with a common spiritual identity. Careful planning of liturgy that is meaningful to different age and language groups is the key. A project conducted at True Light Community Church, a Korean American congregation in the Metro-Denver area, shows that different generations can be brought together in unity as they worship together regularly. In this project, basic qualitative research tools were used to plan a six-month worship and ministry program. The results show that while it is difficult to provide a meaningful, spiritual experience for every single person or generation, bilingual, intergenerational worship and ministry can bring different generations together.
Getting Away from ‘Religion’ in Medieval Japan
Authors: Garrett Philip
Published: March 2022

The concept of ‘religion’ as modern, European-derived, and therefore problematic in premodern and Asian contexts is well established, but leaves us with a problem: if the church/state sacred/secular dynamic is a modern misconception even in England, as Fitzgerald argued, then how should we go about examining the central place of specific institutions, behaviour, and belief in the workings of medieval Japanese society that have formerly been classified or understood as ‘religious’? Abandoning ‘religion’ as a separate field of study from the ‘secular’ in Japanese history has the paradoxical effect of drawing attention to the pervasive centrality of activity, performance, mentality, and observance to every aspect of medieval life. Elements of practice, performance, and the sacred were essential, core, components of the functioning of public and private governance from the imperial system to local landholding. The great temple shrine complexes of the medieval period were centres of organisation, authority, and legitimacy, which are best understood not as ‘religious’ complexes which were also ‘economic’ and ‘political’ powers, but as institutions whose authority cannot be separated out into separate (modern) categories of ‘economic’, ‘judicial’, or ‘religious’ authority. Such distinctions cut across the deeply interconnected nature of law, landholding, family, lineage, place, and belief in the period, the networks and systems by which medieval life was ordered, but they also cut across the way that they were perceived by those living within them: the ways in which people thought, behaved, and interacted with each other. In order to understand the workings of what we think of as medieval Japanese society, we must understand these connected systems as composed of elements that might look ‘religious’ or ‘secular’ to modern eyes, but which were complementary, indivisible, even, in the period.
Using Airborne LiDAR to Map Red Alder in the Sappho Long-Term Ecosystem Productivity Study
Authors: Kruper Ally , McGaughey Robert J. , Crumrine Sarah , Bormann Bernard T. , Bennett Keven , Bobsin Courtney R.
Published: March 2022

A fundamental question of forestry is that of species composition: which species are present, and which are not. However, traditional forest measurements needed to map species over large areas can be both time consuming and costly. In this study, we combined airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data with extensive field data from the Long-Term Ecosystem Productivity study located near Sappho, Washington, USA to increase the accuracy of our GIS data and to differentiate between red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and other dominant tree species. We adjusted plot and tree locations using LiDAR canopy height models (CHMs) by manually matching tree canopies on the CHMs with tree stem maps based on field data. We then used the adjusted tree locations and metrics computed from LiDAR point cloud data to create a classification model to identify and map red alder. The manual matching of field stem maps to CHMs improved tree locations, allowing us to create model training data. These data were used to create a random forest model that discriminated between red alder and conifer species with an accuracy of 96%. Our findings highlight the potential of LiDAR to improve coordinates of individual trees as well as discriminate between selected coniferous and deciduous tree species using LiDAR data collected in leaf-off conditions in Pacific Northwest ecosystems.
A Control Process for Active Solar-Tracking Systems for Photovoltaic Technology and the Circuit Layout Necessary for the Implementation of the Method
Authors: Zsiborács Henrik , Pintér Gábor , Vincze András , Hegedűsné Baranyai Nóra
Published: March 2022

What basically determines how much energy is generated by a photovoltaic (PV) system is the amount of solar irradiation that is absorbed by its PV modules. One of the technical solutions to boost this quantity, and thusly also maximize the return on PV investments, is solar tracking, which makes the following of the sun on its daily and annual journey in the sky possible and also takes changes in cloud conditions into consideration. The solar-tracking solutions that PV systems are most frequently equipped with deploy active sensor technologies, while passive ones are less common in present-day practice. However, even the popular solutions of today have their limitations. Their active sensor-tracking algorithms leave room for improvement for at least three major reasons, as they do not prevent the unnecessary operation of the motors in cloudy weather, they do not make the modules assume an appropriate position after nightfall, and they do not make sure that the structure and the electronics of the PV systems are protected from rain and the strong winds in the event of storms. This paper introduces a new active sensor-tracking algorithm, which has not only been tested but it is also in the process of patenting (patent ID: p2100209). By their contribution, the authors endeavor to propose a solution that can solve all three of the issues mentioned above. The concept is based on two fundamental findings. According to the first one, periodic movement can not only considerably decrease motor movement but also increase system lifetime, while the second one simply suggests that moving the modules into an almost horizontal position facing the equator at low light levels is conducive to the prevention of damages caused by storms and fast reaction to the increase in the amount of light at daybreak. A positive feature of the new system for PV power plant operators is that it performs the tracking of the sun practically without any decrease in power compared to the focal point position, since it works with an average inaccuracy of 1.9°.
Special Issue: Avian Adenoviruses
Authors: Schachner Anna , Hess Michael
Published: March 2022

For years, research on avian adenoviruses, here fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs), received less attention, mainly due to limited clinical relevance in poultry production [...]
Analysis of the quality of life and prevalence of various mental disorders in patients with isolated and combined somatic pathology
Authors:   Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the Bud Zdorov clinic, Moscow, Basova Elena Aleksandrovna , Manyakin Ivan Sergeevich ,   Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the Bud Zdorov clinic, Moscow, Artemieva Marina Stanislavovna ,   Medical Institute, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Moscow
Published: March 2022

The aim of the work is to compare the characteristics of quality of life and comorbid mental disorders in patients in the group with isolated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and in patients with combined pathology (GERD in combination with hypothyroidism) using the symptomatic questionnaire by Yu. Aleksandrovich and SF 36 questionnaire. The survey was conducted in 124 patients aged 18 to 65 years. Anxiety disorders are the most common among the mental disorders in patients with GERD, while depressive and psychasthenic disorders prevail in patients with combined pathology. All indicators of quality of life were lower in the patients with combined pathology.
Updating approaches to the definition, composition and accounting of capital investments
Authors:   Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod”, Druzhilovskaya Emilia Sergeevna
Published: March 2022

At the end of 2021, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation posted on its website a draft amendment to the regulations of the Federal Accounting Standard (FAS) 26/2020 “Capital Investments”. This project radically changes the definition and composition of such assets. In addition, this document introduces significant adjustments to the approaches to accounting for capital investments. These changes need to be analyzed now in order to be ready for their application in the near future. The corresponding analysis was carried out in this article. The research used methods such as grouping method, analysis and synthesis, comparison, analogy method, systems approach, logical approach. As a result of the studies carried out, the new regulations of the draft amendments to FAS 26/2020 were subdivided into groups and a detailed analysis of the relevant rules relating to such groups was carried out. The author of this article also presents her own vision of the further development of the Russian accounting of unfinished property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The results reflected in the article can be useful to a wide range of readers interested in various issues of domestic accounting, including accounting for completed and unfinished long-term assets.
Global trends of digital transformation of retail trade during the corona crisis
Authors: Naumenko A. .. , Shapovalova A. ..
Published: March 2022

The article examines some aspects of digitalization of the retail sector during the COVID-19 and under the pressure of information and communication technology (ICT) innovations. Ecommerce, previously a secondary sales channel, in the face of the impact of quarantine restrictions on the social activity of citizens, has become a noticeable factor and “accelerator” of consumer migration to online-channels and industry transformation. In this regard, as a special segment of the digital economy, e-commerce acquires particular importance for the study and development of recommendations for improving sales technologies, when moving to omnichannel service.
Interaction management in the sphere of differently directed blockchain platforms
Authors: Kozenko Yu. .. , Kozenko T. ..
Published: March 2022

Attempts to realize the opening possibilities for the practical use of new forms of communication at various levels are guaranteed to lead to a wide differentiation of the areas of interaction themselves. To date, it is blockchain technologies that have proven to be the most adapted to fully satisfy a number of the most important needs of society. The need to create and debug a unified information base, simultaneously linked to the information bases of various ministries, is clearly manifested. Promising approaches to solving intradepartmental and inter-departmental interactions should be determined already at the stage of developing technical specifications for those organizations that are responsible for scientific support and software for the created services. The most complete implementation of the options available today, which open up unique opportunities for using multidirectional blockchain platforms, ensuring the achievement of mutually enriching effects on the basis of this, is the most important issue that initially needs coordinated solutions.
Express analysis of the economic results of the federal subjects of the Siberian federal district in 2020
Authors: Bulanov Yu. ..
Published: March 2022

On the basis of the author’s methodology of comparative assessment, a rapid analysis of the financial performance of the Federal Districts, as well as the regions of the Siberian Federal District in 2020 in comparison with 2019 was made. The analysis is based on the principle of necessary sufficiency and efficiency. The results obtained indicate that in the presence of common macroeconomic challenges, the macro-regions and subjects of the Russian Federation with varying degrees of success solved non-standard tasks of managing the meso-level economy, identified, evaluated and overcame risks.
Accelerators of socio-economic development of the region
Authors: Fomina E. .. , Khodkovskaya Yu. ..
Published: March 2022

The authors of the article made an attempt to assess the effects of business entities that provide faster growth of business capitalization in the socio-economic development of the region. To achieve the goal of the study, the scientific substantiation of approaches to solving the problem of identifying business entities - growth accelerators, assessing their contribution to the formation of key socio-economic indicators of the region is presented. Based on the materials of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the quantitative parameters of 4 types of business entities that meet the characteristics of extensive, intensive, tactical and strategic development are established.