bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of Innovative Machine Learning Models for Predicting Date Palm Mite Infestation on Fruits
Authors: Mohammed Maged , El-Shafie Hamadttu , Munir Muhammad
Published: February 2023

The date palm mite (DPM), Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor), is a key pest of unripe date fruits. The detection of this mite depends largely on the visual observations of the webs it produces on the green fruits. One of the most important problems of DPM control is the lack of an accurate decision-making approach for monitoring and predicting infestation on date fruits. Therefore, this study aimed to develop, evaluate, and validate prediction models for DPM infestation on fruits based on meteorological variables (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation) and the physicochemical properties of date fruits (weight, firmness, moisture content, total soluble solids, total sugar, and tannin content) using two machine learning (ML) algorithms, i.e., linear regression (LR) and decision forest regression (DFR). The meteorological variables data in the study area were acquired using an IoT-based weather station. The physicochemical properties of two popular date palm cultivars, i.e., Khalas and Barhee, were analyzed at different fruit development stages. The development and performance of the LR and DFR prediction models were implemented using Microsoft Azure ML. The evaluation of the developed models indicated that the DFR was more accurate than the LR model in predicting the DPM based on the input variables, i.e., meteorological variables (R2 = 0.842), physicochemical properties variables (R2 = 0.895), and the combination of both meteorological and the physicochemical properties variables (R2 = 0.921). Accordingly, the developed DFR model was deployed as a fully functional prediction web service into the Azure cloud platform and the Excel add-ins. The validation of the deployed DFR model showed that it was able to predict the DPM count on date palm fruits based on the combination of meteorological and physicochemical properties variables (R2 = 0.918). The deployed DFR model by the web service of Azure Ml studio enhanced the prediction of the DPM count on the date fruits as a fast and easy-to-use approach. These findings demonstrated that the DFR model using Azure Ml Studio integrated into the Azure platform can be a powerful tool in integrated DPM management.
Phytochemical Profile and Activity against Fusarium Species of Tamarix gallica Bark Aqueous Ammonia Extract
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández Eva , González-García Vicente , Correa-Guimarães Adriana , Casanova-Gascón José , Martín-Gil Jesús , Martín-Ramos Pablo
Published: February 2023

French tamarisk, Tamarix gallica L. (family Tamaricaceae) is a deciduous tree that, like other halophytes, grows in a wide variety of saline habitats thanks to its powerful phenolics-based antioxidant system. Given that antioxidant properties are usually linked to the presence of compounds with antifungal properties, in the work presented herein the antimicrobial activity of T. gallica bark extract was investigated against four phytopathogenic species of genus Fusarium. According to the results of gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, the phytochemical profile of the aqueous ammonia extract included 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-2-pentanone; 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnam aldehyde; trans-squalene; 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-benzaldehyde; dihydro-3-methylene-2,5-furandione; 1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-ethanone; and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid as main constituents. Concerning in vitro antifungal activity, EC90 effective concentrations in the 335–928 μg·mL−1 range were obtained against F. acuminatum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, and F. graminearum, remarkably lower than those of two conventional fungicides (viz. mancozeb and fosetyl-Al). The antifungal activity of the extract was tested further in wheat and maize grain protection bioassays, confirming that the treatment effectively controlled F. graminearum at a concentration of 375 µg·mL−1. Given this promising activity, T. gallica bark extracts may be susceptible to valorization as a natural and sustainable biorational for Fusarium spp. control.
Contribution of Household Aquaponic Production to a Low Price Healthy Mediterranean Diet in an Economically Depressed Community
Authors: Fernández-Cabanás Víctor M. , Suárez-Cáceres Gina Patricia , Pérez-Urrestarazu Luis , Lobillo-Eguíbar José , Gross Jackson A.
Published: February 2023

Homestead aquaponic production has been proposed as a reasonable alternative for obtaining food within the framework of the circular economy. However, little is known about the ability of homestead aquaponics to contribute to a healthy diet and the savings it represents on the cost of such diets for inhabitants of economically depressed communities. In the present work, based on a case study, the nutritional contribution of vegetables and fish produced in one year has been calculated, with the goal of determining the contribution of aquaponics to the healthy diet of an adult during this study period. The amount of external food products that should be purchased, the nutritional contribution of the complete diet (comparing it with that of a Mediterranean diet), and its cost have also been determined. The results show that achieving a balanced diet in macronutrients, minerals and essential nutrients with aquaponics is feasible, with a real cost of about 3.07 euros per person per day, amounting to a mean savings of 22% compared to the market price of food. The percentage of nutrient contribution of aquaponic foods exceeds in most cases 20%, being especially high for protein, dietary fiber, some minerals such as potassium, and vitamins.
A Four-Stage Algorithm for Community Detection Based on Label Propagation and Game Theory in Social Networks
Authors: Torkaman Atefeh , Badie Kambiz , Salajegheh Afshin , Bokaei Mohammad Hadi , Ardestani Seyed Farshad Fatemi
Published: February 2023

Over the years, detecting stable communities in a complex network has been a major challenge in network science. The global and local structures help to detect communities from different perspectives. However, previous methods based on them suffer from high complexity and fall into local optimum, respectively. The Four-Stage Algorithm (FSA) is proposed to reduce these issues and to allocate nodes to stable communities. Balancing global and local information, as well as accuracy and time complexity, while ensuring the allocation of nodes to stable communities, are the fundamental goals of this research. The Four-Stage Algorithm (FSA) is described and demonstrated using four real-world data with ground truth and three real networks without ground truth. In addition, it is evaluated with the results of seven community detection methods: Three-stage algorithm (TS), Louvain, Infomap, Fastgreedy, Walktrap, Eigenvector, and Label propagation (LPA). Experimental results on seven real network data sets show the effectiveness of our proposed approach and confirm that it is sufficiently capable of identifying those communities that are more desirable. The experimental results confirm that the proposed method can detect more stable and assured communities. For future work, deep learning methods can also be used to extract semantic content features that are more beneficial to investigating networks.
Molecular Detection of Porcine Parainfluenza Viruses 1 and 5 Using a Newly Developed Duplex Real-Time RT-PCR in South Korea
Authors: Kim Jong-Min , Kim Hye-Ryung , Jeon Gyu-Tae , Baek Ji-Su , Kwon Oh-Deog , Park Choi-Kyu
Published: February 2023

Two species of porcine parainfluenza viruses (PPIV), PPIV1 and PPIV5, are globally distributed in pig herds and associated with porcine respiratory diseases, and a diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection of the two viruses is required. In this study, a TaqMan probe-based duplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dqRT-PCR) assay was first developed for the differential detection of PPIV1 and PPIV5 nucleocapsid protein (NP) genes in porcine clinical samples. The dqRT-PCR assay was highly sensitive, its limit of detection was approximately 10 RNA copies/reaction, it specifically amplified the targeted NP genes of PPIV1 and PPIV5 without cross-reacting with other porcine pathogens, and their clinical detection rates were 15.2% and 0.7%, respectively. The results from 441 clinical samples taken from 278 Korean domestic pig farms showed that the prevalence of PPIV1 and PPIV5 was 11.2% and 1.1%, respectively, and co-infection of both viruses was confirmed in a farm, suggesting that PPIV1 and PPIV5 are co-circulating in current Korean pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial NP genes suggested that genetically diverse PPIV1 strains are circulating in Korean pig herds. The developed dqRT-PCR assay was found to be an accurate, reliable, and quantitative detection tool for PPIV1 and PPIV5 RNA in clinical pig samples and will be useful for etiological and epidemiological studies and the control of viral infections in the field.
Analysis of Conservation Priorities and Runs of Homozygosity Patterns for Chinese Indigenous Chicken Breeds
Authors: Gao Chaoqun , Du Wenping , Tian Kaiyuan , Wang Kejun , Wang Chunxiu , Sun Guirong , Kang Xiangtao , Li Wenting
Published: February 2023

To achieve sustainable development of the poultry industry, the effective conservation of genetic resources has become increasingly important. In the present study, we systematically elucidated the population structure, conservation priority, and runs of homozygosity (ROH) patterns of Chinese native chicken breeds. We used a high-density genotyping dataset of 157 native chickens from eight breeds. The population structure showed different degrees of population stratification among the breeds. Chahua chicken was the most differentiated breed from the other breeds (Nei = 0.0813), and the Wannan three-yellow chicken (WanTy) showed the lowest degree of differentiation (Nei = 0.0438). On the basis of contribution priority, Xiaoshan chicken had the highest contribution to the total gene diversity (1.41%) and the maximum gene diversity of the synthetic population (31.1%). WanTy chicken showed the highest contribution to the total allelic diversity (1.31%) and the maximum allelic diversity of the syntenic population (17.0%). A total of 5242 ROH fragments and 5 ROH island regions were detected. The longest ROH fragment was 41.51 Mb. A comparison of the overlapping genomic regions between the ROH islands and QTLs in the quantitative trait loci (QTL) database showed that the annotated candidate genes were involved in crucial economic traits such as immunity, carcass weight, drumstick and leg muscle development, egg quality and egg production, abdominal fat precipitation, body weight, and feed intake. In conclusion, our findings revealed that Chahua, Xiaoshan, and WanTy should be the priority conservation breeds, which will help optimize the conservation and breeding programs for Chinese indigenous chicken breeds.
Periconceptual Maternal Nutrition Affects Fetal Liver Programming of Energy- and Lipid-Related Genes
Authors: Diniz Wellison J. S. , Ward Alison K. , McCarthy Kacie L. , Kassetas Cierrah J. , Baumgaertner Friederike , Reynolds Lawrence P. , Borowicz Pawel P. , Sedivec Kevin K. , Kirsch James D. , Dorsam Sheri T. , Neville Tammi L. , Forcherio J. Chris , Scott Ronald , Caton Joel S. , Dahlen Carl R.
Published: February 2023

During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM—at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG) or moderate (MG)—from breeding to day 83) on the fetal liver transcriptome and the underlying biological pathways. Crossbred Angus beef heifers (n = 35) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design (VTM_LG, VTM_MG, NoVTM_LG, and NoVTM_MG). Gene expression was measured with RNA-Seq in fetal livers collected on day 83 ± 0.27 of gestation. Our results show that vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of weight gain led to the differential expression of hepatic genes in all treatments. We identified 591 unique differentially expressed genes across all six VTM-gain contrasts (FDR ≤ 0.1). Over-represented pathways were related to energy metabolism, including PPAR and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, as well as lipid metabolism, mineral transport, and amino acid transport. Our findings suggest that periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal hepatic function through altered expression of energy- and lipid-related genes.
Subchronic Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastic Differently Affects Redox Balance in the Anterior and Posterior Intestine of Sparus aurata
Authors: Del Piano Filomena , Lama Adriano , Monnolo Anna , Pirozzi Claudio , Piccolo Giovanni , Vozzo Simone , De Biase Davide , Riccio Lorenzo , Fusco Giovanna , Mercogliano Raffaelina , Meli Rosaria , Ferrante Maria Carmela
Published: February 2023

Microplastics (MPs) are pollutants widely distributed in aquatic ecosystems. MPs are introduced mainly by ingestion acting locally or in organs far from the gastroenteric tract. MPs-induced health consequences for fish species still need to be fully understood. We aimed to investigate the effects of the subchronic oral exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) (1–20 μm) in the gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata) used as the experimental model. We studied the detrimental impact of PS-MPs (25 and 250 mg/kg b.w./day) on the redox balance and antioxidant status in the intestine using histological analysis and molecular techniques. The research goal was to examine the anterior (AI) and posterior intestine (PI) tracts, characterized by morphological and functional differences. PS-MPs caused an increase of reactive oxygen species and nitrosylated proteins in both tracts, as well as augmented malondialdehyde production in the PI. PS-MPs also differently affected gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase). Moreover, an increased up-regulation of protective heat shock proteins (HSPs) (i.e., hsp70 and hsp90) was observed in PI. Our findings demonstrate that PS-MPs are responsible for oxidative/nitrosative stress and alterations of detoxifying defense system responses with differences in AI and PI of gilthead seabreams.
Egg Yolk Fat Deposition Is Regulated by Diacylglycerol and Ceramide Enriched by Adipocytokine Signaling Pathway in Laying Hens
Authors: Ji Qianyun , Chang Penghui , Dou Yuhao , Zhao Yutong , Chen Xingyong
Published: February 2023

The mechanism which regulates differential fat deposition in egg yolk from the indigenous breeds and commercial laying hens is still unclear. In this research, Chinese indigenous Huainan Partridge chickens and Nongda III commercial laying hens were used for egg collection and liver sampling. The weight of eggs and yolk were recorded. Yolk fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Lipid metabolites in the liver were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Yolk weight, yolk ratio and yolk fat ratio exhibited higher in the Huainan Partridge chicken than that of the Nongda III. Compared to the Nongda III, the content of total saturated fatty acid was lower, while the unsaturated fatty acid was higher in the yolk of the Huainan Partridge chicken. Metabolites of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine from glycerolphospholipids, and metabolites of diacylglycerol from glycerolipids showed higher enrichment in the Huainan Partridge chicken than that of the Nongda III, which promoted the activation of the adipocytokine signaling pathway. However, metabolites of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine from glycerol phospholipids, and metabolites of triacylglycerol from glycerolipids showed lower enrichment in the Huainan Partridge chicken than that of the Nongda III. The high level of yolk fat deposition in the Huainan Partridge chicken is regulated by the activation of the adipocytokine signaling pathway which can promote the accumulation of diacylglycerol and ceramide in the liver.
Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Infections in the NICUs and Methods to Combat It
Authors: Baltogianni Maria , Giapros Vasileios , Kosmeri Chrysoula
Published: February 2023

Neonatal sepsis is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. A significant proportion of bacteria causing neonatal sepsis is resistant to multiple antibiotics, not only to the usual empirical first-line regimens, but also to second- and third-line antibiotics in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). NICUs have unique antimicrobial stewardship goals. Apart from antimicrobial resistance, NICUs have to deal with another problem, namely biofilm infections, since neonates often have central and peripheral lines, tracheal tubes and other foreign bodies for a prolonged duration. The aim of this review is to describe traditional and novel ways to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilm infections in NICUs. The topics discussed will include prevention and control of the spread of infection in NICUs, as well as the wise use of antimicrobial therapy and ways to fight biofilm infections.
Insights on Dietary Polyphenols as Agents against Metabolic Disorders: Obesity as a Target Disease
Authors: Aloo Simon-Okomo , Ofosu Fred Kwame , Kim Nam-Hyeon , Kilonzi Sheila M. , Oh Deog-Hwan
Published: February 2023

Obesity is a condition that leads to increased health problems associated with metabolic disorders. Synthetic drugs are available for obesity treatment, but some of these compounds have demonstrated considerable side effects that limit their use. Polyphenols are vital phytonutrients of plant origin that can be incorporated as functional food ingredients. This review presents recent developments in dietary polyphenols as anti-obesity agents. Evidence supporting the potential application of food-derived polyphenols as agents against obesity has been summarized. Literature evidence supports the effectiveness of plant polyphenols against obesity. The anti-obesity mechanisms of polyphenols have been explained by their potential to inhibit obesity-related digestive enzymes, modulate neurohormones/peptides involved in food intake, and their ability to improve the growth of beneficial gut microbes while inhibiting the proliferation of pathogenic ones. Metabolism of polyphenols by gut microbes produces different metabolites with enhanced biological properties. Thus, research demonstrates that dietary polyphenols can offer a novel path to developing functional foods for treating obesity. Upcoming investigations need to explore novel techniques, such as nanocarriers, to improve the content of polyphenols in foods and their delivery and bioavailability at the target sites in the body.
Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity of Granulosa Cells and Follicular Fluid in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Péntek Sándor , Várnagy Ákos , Farkas Bálint , Mauchart Péter , Gödöny Krisztina , Varjas Tímea , Kőszegi Tamás , Kaltenecker Péter , Jakabfi-Csepregi Rita , Kovács Kálmán , Bódis József , Sulyok Endre
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the interrelationship between telomere length, telomerase activity and oxidative DNA damage in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). This single-center, observational clinical study comprised 102 unselected, consecutive patients with various infertility diagnoses. Granulosa cells (GCs) and follicular fluid (FF) were analyzed simultaneously for telomere functions and for the marker of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). An Absolute Human Telomere Lengths Quantification qPCR Assay kit and Telomerase Activity Quantification qPCR Assay kit (Nucleotestbio, Budapest, Hungary), as well as an 8-OHdG ELISA kit (Abbexa Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom) were used for analyses. Similar telomere lengths were found in GCs and FF, however telomerase activity was markedly depressed, while 8-OHdG levels were markedly elevated in FF compared with those in GCs (p < 0.01). Telomere lengths were independent of telomerase activity both in GCs and FF. However, GC 8-OHdG was inversely related to telomerase activity in GCs and FF (p < 0.05). Importantly, 8-OHdG levels both in GCs and FF had significant negative impact on the number of the retrieved and MII oocytes (p < 0.01), whereas FF 8-OHdG was negatively related further to the number of fertilized oocytes and blastocysts (p < 0.01). In conclusion, we could not confirm the direct association of telomere function and reproductive potential. However, oxidative DNA damage, as mainly reflected by 8-OHdG, adversely affected early markers of IVF outcome and clinical pregnancies.
Hypochlorous Acid and Chloramines Induce Specific Fragmentation and Cross-Linking of the G1-IGD-G2 Domains of Recombinant Human Aggrecan, and Inhibit ADAMTS1 Activity
Authors: Wang Yihe , Hammer Astrid , Hoefler Gerald , Malle Ernst , Hawkins Clare L. , Chuang Christine Y. , Davies Michael J.
Published: February 2023

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and a leading cause of mortality. It is characterized by arterial wall plaques that contain high levels of cholesterol and other lipids and activated leukocytes covered by a fibrous cap of extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM undergoes remodelling during atherogenesis, with increased expression of aggrecan, a proteoglycan that binds low-density-lipoproteins (LDL). Aggrecan levels are regulated by proteases, including a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1 (ADAMTS1). Activated leukocytes release myeloperoxidase (MPO) extracellularly, where it binds to proteins and proteoglycans. Aggrecan may therefore mediate colocalization of MPO and LDL. MPO generates hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and chloramines (RNHCl species, from reaction of HOCl with amines on amino acids and proteins) that damage LDL and proteins, but effects on aggrecan have not been examined. The present study demonstrates that HOCl cleaves truncated (G1-IGD-G2) recombinant human aggrecan at specific sites within the IGD domain, with these being different from those induced by ADAMTS1 which also cleaves within this region. Irreversible protein cross-links are also formed dose-dependently. These effects are limited by the HOCl scavenger methionine. Chloramines including those formed on amino acids, proteins, and ECM materials induce similar damage. HOCl and taurine chloramines inactivate ADAMTS1 consistent with a switch from proteolytic to oxidative aggrecan fragmentation. Evidence is also presented for colocalization of aggrecan and HOCl-generated epitopes in advanced human atherosclerotic plaques. Overall, these data show that HOCl and chloramines can induce specific modifications on aggrecan, and that these effects are distinct from those of ADAMTS1.
Stillage Waste from Strawberry Spirit Production as a Source of Bioactive Compounds with Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Potential
Authors: Spagnuolo Carmela , Moccia Federica , Tedesco Idolo , Adabbo Eva , Panzella Lucia , Russo Gian Luigi , Napolitano Alessandra
Published: February 2023

The production of fruit distillates generates solid residues which are potentially rich in bioactive compounds worthy of valorization and exploitation. We report herein the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of an extract obtained from the waste of fermented strawberry distillate production. The main low molecular weight phenolic components of the extract were identified as ellagic acid and p-coumaric acid using spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. The extract exhibited high antioxidant properties, particularly in the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and a high total phenolic content (TPC). It was also able to induce an antiproliferative effect on different human cancer cell lines. A strong decrease in viability in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells through a rapid and massive apoptosis were observed. Moreover, at an early time (<30 min), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inactivation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway were detected. Notably, the antiproliferative activity of the sample was comparable to that observed with an analogous extract prepared from unfermented, fresh strawberries. These results bring new opportunities for the valorization of fruit distillery by-products as low-cost resources for the design of bioactive formulations of comparable value to that from fresh food.
Antenatal and Postnatal Sequelae of Oxidative Stress in Preterm Infants: A Narrative Review Targeting Pathophysiological Mechanisms
Authors: Martini Silvia , Aceti Arianna , Della Gatta Anna Nunzia , Beghetti Isadora , Marsico Concetta , Pilu Gianluigi , Corvaglia Luigi
Published: February 2023

The detrimental effects of oxidative stress (OS) can start as early as after conception. A growing body of evidence has shown the pivotal role of OS in the development of several pathological conditions during the neonatal period, which have been therefore defined as OS-related neonatal diseases. Due to the physiological immaturity of their antioxidant defenses and to the enhanced antenatal and postnatal exposure to free radicals, preterm infants are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage, and several pathophysiological cascades involved in the development of prematurity-related complications are tightly related to OS. This narrative review aims to provide a detailed overview of the OS-related pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to the main OS-related diseases during pregnancy and in the early postnatal period in the preterm population. Particularly, focus has been placed on pregnancy disorders typically associated with iatrogenic or spontaneous preterm birth, such as intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, chorioamnionitis, and on specific postnatal complications for which the role of OS has been largely ascertained (e.g., respiratory distress, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, periventricular leukomalacia, necrotizing enterocolitis, neonatal sepsis). Knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms may increase awareness on potential strategies aimed at preventing the development of these conditions or at reducing the ensuing clinical burden.
The Transcriptional Repressor PerR Senses Sulfane Sulfur by Cysteine Persulfidation at the Structural Zn2+ Site in Synechococcus sp. PCC7002
Authors: Liu Daixi , Song Hui , Li Yuanning , Huang Ranran , Liu Hongyue , Tang Kunxian , Jiao Nianzhi , Liu Jihua
Published: February 2023

Cyanobacteria can perform both anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis, a characteristic which ensured that these organisms were crucial in the evolution of the early Earth and the biosphere. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in oxygenic photosynthesis and reactive sulfur species (RSS) produced in anoxygenic photosynthesis are closely related to intracellular redox equilibrium. ROS comprise superoxide anion (O2●−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radicals (●OH). RSS comprise H2S and sulfane sulfur (persulfide, polysulfide, and S8). Although the sensing mechanism for ROS in cyanobacteria has been explored, that of RSS has not been elucidated. Here, we studied the function of the transcriptional repressor PerR in RSS sensing in Synechococcus sp. PCC7002 (PCC7002). PerR was previously reported to sense ROS; however, our results revealed that it also participated in RSS sensing. PerR repressed the expression of prxI and downregulated the tolerance of PCC7002 to polysulfide (H2Sn). The reporter system indicated that PerR sensed H2Sn. Cys121 of the Cys4:Zn2+ site, which contains four cysteines (Cys121, Cys124, Cys160, and Cys163) bound to one zinc atom, could be modified by H2Sn to Cys121-SSH, as a result of which the zinc atom was released from the site. Moreover, Cys19 could also be modified by polysulfide to Cys19-SSH. Thus, our results reveal that PerR, a representative of the Cys4 zinc finger proteins, senses H2Sn. Our findings provide a new perspective to explore the adaptation strategy of cyanobacteria in Proterozoic and contemporary sulfurization oceans.
Application of Smart Station Technology for Establish Control Network Points
Authors: Doskocz Adam
Published: February 2023

The paper presents an application of smart measurements for establishing control network points using a Smart Station set offer by Leica. This set may provide measurements in a terrestrial surveying system and in a satellite navigation system separately or in a mixed (hybrid) use of both systems. The procedure used for creating the points was supported by two types of GNSS satellite positioning (fast static and RTK/RTN) methods and with one integrative (hybrid method realized using both terrestrial and satellite surveys) measurement method. In the results from determining the coordinates of control points using multivariate surveys (tacheometry and real-time GNSS methods), the highest differences of coordinates were no more than 0.02 m in the horizontal plane and no more than 0.04 m in vertical plane. As reference data, model coordinates of control network points determined using static GNSS occupation were used. The reference coordinates were calculated using rigorous adjustment with support of observation files from the post-processing service of the national continuously operating reference system. In accordance with the results of the study to survey the control network points in an urban environment, Smart Station equipment is used for the established geodetic data and for other engineering measurement tasks.
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Flaxseed Extract and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Alzubaidi Azalldeen Kazal , Al-Kaabi Wasan J. , Ali Amer Al , Albukhaty Salim , Al-Karagoly Hassan , Sulaiman Ghassan M. , Asiri Mohammed , Khane Yasmina
Published: February 2023

Bioactive plant chemicals are considered to be rich and useful for creating nanomaterials. The current work investigated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using ethanolic flaxseed extract as an efficient reducing factor. The production of AgNPs was verified by color-shifting observation of the mixture of silver nitrate (AgNO3) from yellow to a reddish suspension after the addition of the extract and by evaluating it by UV–visible inspection. Additionally, FTIR spectrum was used to support the identification of functional groups. The morphology and structure of AgNPs were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) examinations, which revealed spherical AgNPs with a diameter of 46.98 ± 12.45 nm and a crystalline structure. The zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of AgNPs revealed values of −44.5 mV and 231.8 nm, respectively, suggesting appropriate physical stability. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was investigated against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes, while the antioxidant effect was investigated using the DPPH technique. These obtained AgNPs could potentially be used as efficient antibacterial and antioxidant nanomaterials.
Presenting Job Instructions Using an Augmented Reality Device, a Printed Manual, and a Video Display for Assembly and Disassembly Tasks: What Are the Differences?
Authors: Dorloh Halimoh , Li Kai-Way , Khaday Samsiya
Published: February 2023

Components assembly and disassembly are fundamental tasks in manufacturing and the product service industry. Job instructions are required for novice and inexperienced workers to perform such tasks. Conventionally, job instructions may be presented via printed manual and video display. Augmented reality (AR) device has been one of the recent alternatives in conveying such information. This research compared the presentation of job instruction via AR display, video display, and a printed manual in performing computer component assembly and disassembly tasks in terms of efficiency, quality, and usability. A Microsoft® HoloLens 2 device and a laptop computer were adopted to present the job instruction for the AR and video conditions, respectively. A total of 21 healthy adults, including 11 males and 10 females, participated in the study. Our findings were that AR display led to the least efficiency but the best quality of the task being performed. The differences of the overall usability scores among the three job instruction types were insignificant. The participants felt that support from a technical person for the AR device was significantly more than the printed manual. More male participants felt the AR display was easier to use than their female counterparts.
EEDLABA: Energy-Efficient Distance- and Link-Aware Body Area Routing Protocol Based on Clustering Mechanism for Wireless Body Sensor Network
Authors: Zaman Khalid , Sun Zhaoyun , Hussain Altaf , Hussain Tariq , Ali Farhad , Shah Sayyed Mudassar , Rahman Haseeb Ur
Published: February 2023

In medical environments, a wireless body sensor network (WBSN) is used to operate remotely, and sensor nodes are employed. It consists of sensor nodes installed on a human body to monitor a patient’s condition, such as heartbeat, temperature, and blood sugar level, and are functionalized and controlled by remote devices. A WBSN consists of nodes that are actually sensors in nature and are operated with a short range of communication. These sensor nodes are fixed with limited computation power and the main concern is energy consumption and path loss. In this paper, we propose a new protocol named energy-efficient distance- and link-aware body area (EEDLABA) with a clustering mechanism and compare it with the current link-aware and energy-efficient body area (LAEEBA) and distance-aware relaying energy-efficient (DARE) routing protocols in a WBSN. The proposed protocol is an extended type of LAEEBA and DARE in which the positive features have been deployed. The clustering mechanism has been presented and deployed in EEDLABA for better performance. To solve these issues in LAEEBA and DARE, the EEDLABA protocol has been proposed to overcome these. Path loss and energy consumption are the major concerns in this network. For that purpose, the path loss and distance models are proposed in which the cluster head (CH) node, coordinator (C) node, and other nodes, for a total of nine nodes, are deployed on a human body. The results have been derived from MATLAB simulations in which the performance of the suggested EEDLABA has been observed in assessment with the LAEEBA and DARE. From the results, it has been concluded that the proposed protocol can perform well in the considered situations for WBSNs.
A Cooperative Lane Change Control Strategy for Connected and Automated Vehicles by Considering Preceding Vehicle Switching
Authors: Sun Kang , Zhao Xiangmo , Gong Siyuan , Wu Xia
Published: February 2023

The cooperative lane change among several connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) provides ideas for enhancing the traffic safety and efficiency issues caused by lane changes. However, most of the existing studies mainly focus on the independent analysis of the lateral and longitudinal movements of the lane change without considering the impact of the lateral motion on the longitudinal motion. These works usually assume that the target tracking-preceding vehicles are determined for both the lane change vehicle and the following cooperative vehicle in the target lane. This work proposes a model predictive control (MPC)-based cooperative lane change (CLC) control strategy by considering the preceding vehicle switching and the correlation between the lateral and longitudinal motions. It builds the lateral movement based on the appropriate function curve and integrates this lateral movement in the construction of the coordinated longitudinal motion control strategy by using a set of linear piecewise functions in the design of constraints and objective function of the optimization model to provide smooth preceding vehicles switch. An advanced optimization solver is used to solve the optimization control problem step by step. The proposed strategy is validated based on numerical comparative experiments with two typical lane-changing scenarios. The results show that the proposed control strategy can smoothly complete the preceding vehicle switching during the lane change and quickly realize the stable tracking of the target lane vehicles after changing lanes.
Deep Machine Learning-Based Water Level Prediction Model for Colombo Flood Detention Area
Authors: Herath Madhawa , Jayathilaka Tharaka , Hoshino Yukinobu , Rathnayake Upaka
Published: February 2023

Machine learning has already been proven as a powerful state-of-the-art technique for many non-linear applications, including environmental changes and climate predictions. Wetlands are among some of the most challenging and complex ecosystems for water level predictions. Wetland water level prediction is vital, as wetlands have their own permissible water levels. Exceeding these water levels can cause flooding and other severe environmental damage. On the other hand, the biodiversity of the wetlands is threatened by the sudden fluctuation of water levels. Hence, early prediction of water levels benefits in mitigating most of such environmental damage. However, monitoring and predicting the water levels in wetlands worldwide have been limited owing to various constraints. This study presents the first-ever application of deep machine-learning techniques (deep neural networks) to predict the water level in an urban wetland in Sri Lanka located in its capital. Moreover, for the first time in water level prediction, it investigates two types of relationships: the traditional relationship between water levels and environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and evaporation, and the temporal relationship between daily water levels. Two types of low load artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed and employed to analyze two relationships which are feed forward neural networks (FFNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks, to conduct the comparison on an unbiased common ground. The LSTM has outperformed FFNN and confirmed that the temporal relationship is much more robust in predicting wetland water levels than the traditional relationship. Further, the study identified interesting relationships between prediction accuracy, data volume, ANN type, and degree of information extraction embedded in wetland data. The LSTM neural networks (NN) has achieved substantial performance, including R2 of 0.8786, mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0004, and mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0155 compared to existing studies.
Anglesite, Cerussite, Gypsum, Langite, Malachite, and Posnjakite: New Occurrences in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)
Authors: Bloise Andrea , Dattola Luigi , De Luca Raffaella , Miriello Domenico
Published: February 2023

This study undertook the mineralogical and chemical analysis of anglesite (PbSO4), cerussite (PbCO3), gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O), langite (Cu4(SO4)(OH)6∙2H2O), malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2), and posnjakite (Cu4(SO4)(OH)6·H2O) detected for the first time in the abandoned Mastricarro Barite Mine (Catanzaro, Calabria, southern Italy). Geological conditions make this one of the few well-preserved, partly accessible mines in the Calabria region. Numerous mineralogical species, some beautifully crystallized, have been discovered among the alteration products of the sulfides present within the barite veins. The newly identified crystals occur as secondary minerals in the oxidized portions of deposits originally containing lead and copper sulfides; they are widely distributed and are almost always detected as microcrystals. The anglesite, cerussite, gypsum, langite, malachite, and posnjakite crystals were identified and characterized using optical microscopy (OM), micro-Raman spectroscopy (µR), and scanning electron microscopy, combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS). The new mineral occurrences can be useful for scientific and didactic purposes; further, for langite, malachite, and posnjakite crystals, new Raman bands, which have not been mentioned before in the literature, were identified.
Fire Risk Assessment of Urban Utility Tunnels Based on Improved Cloud Model and Evidence Theory
Authors: Niu Qunfeng , Yuan Qiang , Wang Yunpo , Hu Yi
Published: February 2023

In order to accurately assess the fire risk of urban utility tunnels, an evaluation method based on the improved cloud model and evidence theory is proposed. Firstly, an evaluation index system for the fire risk of urban utility tunnels is constructed from five aspects: fire prevention, fire control, emergency evacuation, personnel prevention and control, and safety management. Secondly, because of the randomness and fuzziness of fire risk assessment, the improved cloud model with cloud entropy optimization is used to calculate the index membership degree. The uncertainty focal elements are introduced to satisfy the basic probability assignment in evidence theory. Then, the improved evidence theory with dynamic and static weights is applied to fuse the information of the evidence and determine the final evaluation results. It avoids the possible paradoxes of the combination of strong conflict evidence in traditional evidence theory and improves the credibility of the evaluation results. Finally, the feasibility and superiority of the proposed method are verified by an example analysis, which provides a new idea for the fire risk assessment of urban utility tunnels.
A Fast Calculation Method for Sensitivity Analysis Using Matrix Decomposition Technique
Authors: Yang Qiuwei , Peng Xi
Published: February 2023

The sensitivity reanalysis technique is an important tool for selecting the search direction in structural optimization design. Based on the decomposition perturbation of the flexibility matrix, a fast and exact structural displacement sensitivity reanalysis method is proposed in this work. For this purpose, the direct formulas for computing the first-order and second-order sensitivities of structural displacements are derived. The algorithm can be applied to a variety of the modifications in optimal design, including the low-rank modifications, high-rank modifications, small modifications and large modifications. Two numerical examples are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results show that the presented algorithm is exact and effective. Compared with the existing two reanalysis methods, this method has obvious advantages in calculation accuracy and efficiency. This new algorithm is very useful for calculating displacement sensitivity in engineering problems such as structure optimization, model correction and defect detection.
Analyzing Experimental Design and Input Data Variation of a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Model
Authors: Weber Robert , Schubert Christina , Poisl Barbara , Pettinger Karl-Heinz
Published: February 2023

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) are a fertile energy storage technology especially for customized storage applications with special energy and power requirements. The dimensioning and control of these storages is mostly calculated beforehand using battery models in embedded simulation structures. To cover various stack designs, chemistries, application strategies and system architectures, battery simulation models should be validated with different experimental input data and thus show universal functionality. In this study the functionality of a grey box VRFB model using current, voltage and state of charge (SOC) of a 10 kW/100 kWh VRFB as input data are validated for an adapted input data set using of a 5 kW/10 kWh VRFB. This model is designed for stationary applications of VRFB only. The contribution of this study is (i) to apply a suitable SOC conversion method to the raw data from the used 5 kW VRFB system, (ii) to adapt the modeling code for broader use and integration of the SOC conversion, (iii) to validate the functionality and (iv) to investigate the influence of constant current and constant voltage phases in the raw data on the accuracy of the model. A comparison of experimental data between different redox flow batteries shows that most VRFB measure the open circuit voltage (OCV) to calculate the SOC of the battery. Using the calculated SOC as an input data the proposed simulation model need to be adapted and a method is applied to use OCV input data for model validation. Although simulation models in general often assume linearity between SOC and OCV, the study showed sufficient accuracy using polynomic fitting of second order. Applying a parametrization process the results of the simulation model are compared to the raw data and the scope of application of the grey box VRFB model is defined. While using the dominant constant current phase for the charging and discharging cycle, the grey box simulation model has been sufficiently parametrized and validated for adapted input data.
Hypertension Induces Pro-arrhythmic Cardiac Connexome Disorders: Protective Effects of Treatment
Authors: Sykora Matus , Andelova Katarina , Szeiffova Bacova Barbara , Egan Benova Tamara , Martiskova Adriana , Knezl Vladimir , Tribulova Narcis
Published: February 2023

Prolonged population aging and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the progressive prevalence of arterial hypertension. This is accompanied by low-grade inflammation and over time results in heart dysfunction and failure. Hypertension-induced myocardial structural and ion channel remodeling facilitates the development of both atrial and ventricular fibrillation, and these increase the risk of stroke and sudden death. Herein, we elucidate hypertension-induced impairment of “connexome” cardiomyocyte junctions. This complex ensures cell-to-cell adhesion and coupling for electrical and molecular signal propagation. Connexome dysfunction can be a key factor in promoting the occurrence of both cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. However, the available literature indicates that arterial hypertension treatment can hamper myocardial structural remodeling, hypertrophy and/or fibrosis, and preserve connexome function. This suggests the pleiotropic effects of antihypertensive agents, including anti-inflammatory. Therefore, further research is required to identify specific molecular targets and pathways that will protect connexomes, and it is also necessary to develop new approaches to maintain heart function in patients suffering from primary or pulmonary arterial hypertension.