bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kriptografi Hibrida Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) dan Merkle-Hellman Knapsack untuk Pengamanan Pesan Teks
Authors: Novianti Chofifah Alfin , Khudzaifah Muhammad , Jauhari Mohammad Nafie
Published: November 2023

A secret message is a message that can only be seen by those who are entitled. In its delivery, a procedure is needed to keep the secret message secure, which is called cryptography. This research uses hybrid cryptography Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) and Merkle-Hellman Knapsack. The purpose of this research is to find out the encryption and decryption process of hybrid cryptography Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) and Merkle-Hellman Knapsack. The stages in this research use a qualitative approach with the library research method. In the encryption process with CBC, plaintext is encrypted first and the result called ciphertext. Furthermore, the key and Initialization Vector (IV) from CBC are encrypted using Merkle-Hellman Knapsack by generating a public key first and producing cipherkey. In the decryption process cipherkey is first decrypted using Merkle-Hellman Knapsack by calculating the inverse modulo . The decryption process continues by decrypting ciphertext using CBC. The result of securing messages using hybrid cryptography Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) and Merkle-Hellman Knapsack has a higher level of security than using only one cryptographic algorithm. As for the future, this research can be used to expand knowledge about securing text messages using hybrid cryptography algorithm CBC and Merkle-Hellman Knapsack.
Penggabungan Metode Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting dengan Rank Order Centroid sebagai Pendukung Keputusan Penilaian Kemiskinan di Jawa Timur
Authors: Wike Wike Nur , Jauhari Mohammad Nafie , Nasichuddin Achmad
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study is to determine the results of the combination of Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting with Centroid Rank Order as a support for poverty assessment decisions in East Java Province.  Using a combination of Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting and Rank Order Centroid is expected to provide better results. Decision support systems can help the government to determine the poverty status of a district or city in poverty reduction. Poverty itself is an important problem in life in many provinces. The problem of poverty triggers social problems that are closely related to the quality of education, crime, hunger, and others, which cause indirect disruption of stability and sustainability. Therefore, a decision support system is needed to make it easier for the government to determine the poorest districts or cities so that the government can aid programs or make strategies to reduce poverty. Fuzzy logic is a method that can be used to overcome uncertainty in decision making. One method in fuzzy logic to overcome uncertainty is to use the Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting method. In the Fuzzy Simple Additive Weighting method, there is a selection of criteria that will later be weighted based on importance or priority using the Rank Order Centroid method. The criteria used in this study are life expectancy (AHH), literacy rate (AMH), per capita expenditure, and population. The membership function used is the Tringular Fuzzy Number representation. In this study, twenty four rules were given which were obtained from giving different weights to each criterion. So that twenty four of the poorest districts or cities were obtained. Then the final result is the name of the most Regency or City from the twenty four results, namely alternatives twenty seven and twenty eight, namely Sampang Regency and Pamekasan Regency which were entitled to assistance programs from the government.
Asset Volatility and Financial Sustainability
Authors: Zhou Jiahua
Published: November 2023

This study observes how companies’ fundamental-based asset volatility impacts their financial sustainability. Accounting literature documents that net assets value accumulates previous earnings management. The asset balance change reflects biased earnings measurement, and abnormal asset fluctuation signals aggressive earnings management. This paper uses delisting as a proxy to observe how asset volatility can interact with abnormal earnings fluctuation to impact firms’ sustainability. The study uses two groups of regression and a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Logistic Regression approach to observe how asset volatility impacts companies’ delisting risk. It borrows the Six Sigma methodologies to measure the volatility of financial statement items. Then the PCA analysis reduces the data dimensions to twelve factors. The analysis shows that assets’ abnormal fluctuation is a risk signal concurring with the extant earnings management literature. One takeaway from this study is that companies must disclose detailed explanations if asset volatility is beyond a red line. As Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 151 requires direct disclosure of abnormal excess capacity costs, companies must disclose abnormal asset volatility. The paper contributes to the literature from two perspectives. First, this paper captures firms’ sustainability from the accounting perspective with fundamental measures from quarterly financial reports. It provides a comprehensive way to detect aggressive earnings management risks. Second, the PCA logistic regression model offers a comprehensive analysis to derive useful information from many attributes.
Dynamic Effects of Energy Consumption and Economic Growth on CO2 Emission: Testing EKC Hypothesis in Africa
Authors: Muhammed Musa , Saad Suleiman , Maikudi Yusuf Isah , Usman Ali Baba
Published: November 2023

This paper focuses on using time series data on real GDP, energy consumption, and CO2 emission to examine the effect of economic growth and energy consumption on CO2 emission for a panel of 23 African countries within the period 1980–2019. The study used Pedroni (1999) approach of panel cointegration analysis to test for existence of long-run cointegration relationship between the variables.  Fixed effect model was used to test for the Environmental Kutznets Hypothesis, and income squared was included as an additional explanatory variable. The estimated empirical results for the panel of 23 African countries from fixed effect model indicates the evidence of EKC hypothesis. At the level of individual countries, there is large divergence. 13 countries show evidence of EKC, implying that CO2 emission  has fallen over the long run. As income increases, the levels of environmental damage decreases in those countries. 10 countries show opposite relationship among the variables. Based on the estimated results, it is recommended that countries should pursue economic growth policies that are not highly carbon intensive. Policy makers in these countries should adopt strategies that uses environmentally friendly technologies to decrease CO2 emission. Countries should also implement strong regulatory and market-based policies in highly energy-intensive sectors to reduce their current level of emissions and attain sustainable, environment-friendly economic growth.
Muscle synergy analysis for gesture recognition based on sEMG images and Shapley value
Authors: Ao Xiaohu , Wang Feng , Wang Rennong , She Jinhua
Published: November 2023

Muscle synergy analysis for gesture recognition is a fundamental research area in human-machine interaction, particularly in fields such as rehabilitation. However, previous methods for analyzing muscle synergy are typically not end-to-end and lack interpretability. Specifically, these methods involve extracting specific features for gesture recognition from surface electromyography (sEMG) signals and then conducting muscle synergy analysis based on those features. Addressing these limitations, we devised an end-to-end framework, namely Shapley-value-based muscle synergy (SVMS), for muscle synergy analysis. Our approach involves converting sEMG signals into grayscale sEMG images using a sliding window. Subsequently, we convert adjacent grayscale images into color images for gesture recognition. We then use the gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) method to identify significant feature areas for sEMG images during gesture recognition. Grad-CAM generates a heatmap representation of the images, highlighting the regions that the model uses to make its prediction. Finally, we conduct a quantitative analysis of muscle synergy in the specific area obtained by Grad-CAM based on the Shapley value. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our SVMS method for muscle synergy analysis. Moreover, we are able to achieve a recognition accuracy of 94.26% for twelve gestures while reducing the required electrode channel information from ten to six dimensions and the analysis rounds from about 1000 to nine.
Deep learning approaches for object recognition in plant diseases: a review
Authors: Zhou Zimo , Zhang Yue , Gu Zhaohui , Yang Simon X.
Published: November 2023

Plant diseases pose a significant threat to the economic viability of agriculture and the normal functioning of trees in forests. Accurate detection and identification of plant diseases are crucial for smart agricultural and forestry management. In recent years, the intersection of agriculture and artificial intelligence has become a popular research topic. Researchers have been experimenting with object recognition algorithms, specifically convolutional neural networks, to identify diseases in plant images. The goal is to reduce labor and improve detection efficiency. This article reviews the application of object detection methods for detecting common plant diseases, such as tomato, citrus, maize, and pine trees. It introduces various object detection models, ranging from basic to modern and sophisticated networks, and compares the innovative aspects and drawbacks of commonly used neural network models. Furthermore, the article discusses current challenges in plant disease detection and object detection methods and suggests promising directions for future work in learning-based plant disease detection systems.
Troubles With Gravitational Frequency Shift Derived From Energy Conservation
Authors: D'Abramo Germano
Published: November 2023

In physics, thought experiments are impressive heuristic tools. They are valuable instruments to help scientists find new results and to teach students the known ones. However, as we shall show, they should always be received with prudence, even when they are a shortcut to 'prove' well-established results. Here, we show that the most widely known thought experiments devised to derive the gravitational frequency shift from energy conservation are, in fact, problematic. When properly set and correctly read, those thought experiments reveal that the existence of the gravitational frequency shift is, in fact, at odds with energy conservation. We also propose two new simple thought experiments, one using the conservation of energy and the other the conservation of linear momentum, that corroborate that conclusion, showing that those conservation principles do not imply the gravitational frequency shift. We think that our results may be of some epistemological interest and could serve as a warning sign on how thought experiments should be received and trusted.
Halogen Lamp and Traditional Sun Drying on the Volatile Compounds, Color Parameters and Gel Texture of Gongliao Gelidium Seaweed
Authors: Sung Wen-Chieh , Lin Hong-Ting Victor , Liao Wei-Chih , Fang Mingchih
Published: November 2023

Gelidium jelly was traditionally made by boiling processed Gelidium seaweed and allowing the filtrate to congeal into jelly. The processing of Gelidium seaweed was very complicate involved the repeated procedures of water washing and sun drying for 7 times, and the seaweed was originally purple-red in color turned into yellow after the repeated wash and sun drying. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of halogen lamp drying methods in replace of sun drying on the physical-chemical qualities of Gelidium jellies. Properties included the agar yield, gelling temperature, hardness, springiness, rheological parameters, sensory attributes, color, and volatile compounds were investigated. The results demonstrated halogen lamp drying method required 12 times of washing and drying processes to achieve the similar jelly properties compared to sun drying for 7 times in the experimental conditions. Volatiles including heptanal, β-ionone, and (E)-2-decenal could be used as indicators to monitor the washing and drying processing. Halogen lamp was found could be an alternative processing method for seaweed drying, especially at rainy days.
Geospatial Analyses of Recent Household Surveys to Assess Changes in the Distribution of Zero-Dose Children and Associated Factors Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria
Authors: Aheto Justice Moses K. , Olowe Iyanuloluwa Deborah , Chan Ho Man Theophilus , Ekeh Adachi , Dieng Boubacar , Fafunmi Biyi , Setayesh Hamidreza , Atuhaire Brian , Crawford Jessica , Tatem Andrew J , Utazi C. Edson
Published: November 2023

The persistence of geographic inequities in vaccination coverage often evidences the presence of zero-dose and missed communities and vulnerabilities to vaccine-preventable diseases. These inequities were exacerbated in many places during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to severe disruptions to vaccination services. Understanding changes in zero-dose prevalence and associated risk factors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is, therefore, critical to designing effective strategies to reach vulnerable populations. Using data from nationally representative household surveys conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018 and during the pandemic in 2021 in Nigeria, we fitted Bayesian geostatistical models to map the distribution of three vaccination coverage indicators: receipt of DTP1, MCV1 and any of the four basic vaccines (BCG, OPV0, DTP1 and MCV1), and corresponding zero-dose estimates independently at 1x1 km resolution and the district level during both time periods. We also explored changes in the factors associated with non-vaccination at the national and regional levels using multilevel logistic regression models. Our results revealed no increases in zero-dose prevalence due to the pandemic at the national level, although considerable increases were observed in a few districts. We found substantial subnational heterogeneities in vaccination coverage and zero-dose prevalence both before and during the pandemic, showing broadly similar patterns in both time periods. Areas with relatively higher zero-dose prevalence occurred mostly in the north and a few places in the south in both time periods. We also found consistent areas of low coverage and high zero-dose prevalence using all three zero-dose indicators, revealing areas in greatest need. At the national level, risk factors related to socioeconomic/ demographic status (e.g., maternal education), maternal access to and utilization of health services and remoteness were strongly associated with the odds of zero dose in both time periods, while those related to communication were mostly relevant before the pandemic. These associations were also supported at the regional level, but we additionally identified risk factors specific to zero dose in each region; for example, communication and cross-border migration in the northwest. Our findings can help guide tailored strategies to reduce zero-dose prevalence and boost coverage levels in Nigeria.
Taking the Null-Hypersurface Limit in the Parikh-Wilczek Membrane Approach
Authors: Arslanaliev A. M. , Nurmagambetov A. J.
Published: November 2023

We consider subtleties of the horizon (null-hypersurface) limit in the Parikh-Wilczek Membrane Approach to Black Holes. Specifically, we refine the correspondence between the (projected) Einstein equations of gravity with matter and the Raychaudhuri-Damour-Navier-Stokes (RDNS) equations of relativistic hydrodynamics. For a general configuration of gravity with matter we obtain additional terms in the hydrodynamic equations, which include logarithmic derivarives of a parameter (the regularization function) determining the proximity of a stretched membrane to the BH horizon. Direct computation of the new terms for exact (Schwarzschild and Kerr) solutions to the Einstein equations results in vanishing the additions to the RDNS equations in the horizon limit. For spacetimes, which are not exact solutions to the Einstein equations, as, for instance, for space-time configurations mimicking black holes, taking into account new terms in the RDNS equations is the mandatory operation. We also comment the correspondence between the horizon limit of the Parikh-Wilczek Membrane Approach and the Gourgoulhon-Jaramillo method of a null-hypersurface description, as well as the link of the obtained results to our previous work on the Kerr black holes.
Valence Tautomerism in Chromium Half-Sandwich Triarylmethylium Dyads
Authors: Rehse Anja , Linseis Michael , Azarkh Mykhailo , Drescher Malte , Winter Rainer F.
Published: November 2023

Valence tautomerism (VT) may occur if a molecule contains two chemically different redox-active units, which differ only slightly in their intrinsic redox potential. Herein, we present three new half-sandwich complexes [(η6arene)Cr(CO)2L]+ with a triarylmethylium substituent appended to the -coordinated arene and different coligands L (L = CO, P(OPh)3, PPh3, 1+  3+) at the chromium atom. Ligand substitution purposefully lowers the half-wave potential for chromium oxidation and thereby the redox potential difference towards tritylium reduction. For the PPh3-substituted complex 3+, cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate that chromium oxidation and tritylium reduction occur at (almost) the same potential. This renders the diamagnetic Cr(0)C6H4CAr2+ form 3+ and its paramagnetic diradical Cr(I)+•C6H4CAr2• valence tautomer 3+•• energetically nearly degenerate. Temperature-dependent IR spectroscopy shows indeed two pairs of carbonyl bands assignable to a Cr(0) and a Cr(I) species, coexisting in a T-dependent equilibrium with almost equal quantities for both at 70 °C. The diradical form with one unpaired spin at the trityl unit engages in a monomer ⇌ dimer equilibrium, which was investigated by means of quantitative EPR spectroscopy. The diradical species 1+••  3+•• were found to be highly reactive, leading to several identified reaction products, which presumably result from hydrogen atom abstraction by the trityl C atom, e.g. from the solvent.
Characterizing and Eliminating the Inbreeding Load
Authors: Nagy István , Nguyen Thi Anh
Published: November 2023

Authors evaluated the relevant literature related to the purging which is the interaction between selection and inbreeding where the population may get rid of its inbreeding load at least partially. The backroad of the relevant theory was given and the available methods were described both based on the conventional quantitative genetic approach (based on genealogy data) and based on the latest genomic methods. The different parameters necessary for signalling purging (highlighting those inbreeding coefficients which are not yet been widely known in animal and veterinary science) were presented together with the relevant results of the literature. The available statistical methods together with the softwares and R packages to calculate various inbreeding coefficients and to determine inbreeding depression and purging were provided. The main results of the different approaches obtained in laboratory ZOO and domesticated populations (lethal equivalents, ancestral inbreeding, Inbreeding-Purging Model, genomic approaches) were summarized and presented. Application possibilities and future prospective of purging was also discussed.
Generator of Fuzzy Implications
Authors: Daniilidou Athina , Konguetsof Avrilia , Souliotis Georgios , Papadopoulos Basil
Published: November 2023

In this research paper an algorithm for the derivation of methods based on theorems and axioms of fuzzy logic is presented, analyzed and applied. This new proposed procedure generates fuzzy methods and evaluates the value of fuzzy propositions through fuzzy implication. The new implications of the family should satisfy a number of axioms. Also, we denote the conditions in order to satisfy the maximum number of axioms. Moreover, authors state and prove theorems focusing on fuzzy implication, observing the rule: the fuzzy function of fuzzy implication is strong and that lead to fuzzy negation. In addition, the optimal number of repetitions is calculated according to the expected truth value. The formulas produced are verified through the use of temperature and humidity values over a certain period of time and in a certain geographical area in Greece. The basic steps of the methodology are the fuzzification of the data given ​​using four membership degree functions and the application of the membership degrees of temperature and humidity values on a new type of fuzzy implication. Finally, we observed that the isosceles trapezium gave the best results and the type of fuzzy implication can be effectively applied.
Preventive and Therapeutic Vaccines against HIV: From New Mechanisms to Clinical Trials
Authors: Zhernov Yury , Petrova Vladislava , Simanduyev Mark , Vysochanskaya Sonya , Fadeeva Inna , Riabova Ksenja , Zhuravleva Maria , Gorshenin Denis , Basov Artem , Shcherbakov Denis , Mitrokhin Oleg
Published: November 2023

As of the end of 2022, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the global HIV epidemic persists, with 39 million individuals living with the virus and 1.3 million new infections reported in that year. Opportunistic infections associated with AIDS claimed the lives of over 630,000 people in 2022, contributing to a cumulative death toll exceeding 40.4 million since the disease's emergence in 1981. Although advances in HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy have transformed the disease into a manageable chronic condition, issues like drug resistance, low compliance, and high treatment costs persist. Until a vaccine becomes available, a comprehensive approach involving prevention and therapy is essential, particularly for high-risk populations. Research shows that prevention strategies are more cost-effective than treatment. The development of antiretroviral drugs has also spurred the creation of antivirals for other infections. The emergence of COVID-19 vaccines has opened new avenues for HIV vaccine development, as lessons from vaccine platform technologies like mRNA, viral vectors, and protein subunits can be applied to HIV. This review explores the most promising prophylactic and therapeutic HIV vaccine trials, emphasizing the need for a multi-pronged approach combining vaccines with non-vaccine strategies. Though significant progress is anticipated, the road to a viable HIV vaccine remains long, especially for high-risk populations, such as medical workers, blood transfusion recipients, and drug users. The combinatorial approach, capitalizing on various aspects of immunity, may hold the key to defeating HIV in the future.
Deletion of LeuRS Influenced Osmotic Stress Tolerance, Nitrogen and Carbon Metabolism, and Reproduction Process of Aspergillus montevidensis
Authors: Ding Xiaowei , Liu Wanting , Liu Kaihui , Gao Xiang , Liu Yue
Published: November 2023

Aspergillus montevidensis is an important domesticated fungus that has been applied to produce many traditional fermented foods under high osmotic conditions. However, the detailed mechanisms of tolerance to osmotic stress remain largely unknown. Here, we construct a target-deleted strain (ΔLeuRS) of A. montevidensis and found that the ΔLeuRS mutants grew slowly and suppressed the development of the cleistothecium compared to the wide-type strains (WT) under salt-stressed conditions. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (P<0.0001) governed by LeuRS were involved in salt tolerance, ABC transporter, amino acid metabolism, sugar metabolism, and reproduction process. The ΔLeuRS strains compared to WT strains under short- and long-term salinity stress especially altered accumulation levels of metabolites, such as amino acids and derivatives, carbohydrates, organic acids, and fatty acids. The study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of salinity tolerance and lays a foundation for favor improvement of foods fermented with A. montevidensis.
Simulation of Electrowetting – Induced Droplet Detachment: A Study of Droplet Oscillations on Solid Surfaces
Authors: Theodorou Nicolas T. , Sourais Alexandros G. , Papathanasiou Athanasios G.
Published: November 2023

Electrowetting – induced detachment of droplets from solid surfaces is important for numerous applications in the fields of heat transfer and fluid mechanics. The forced oscillations of droplets on solid surfaces and their ability to detach are studied. In this study the process is efficiently simulated by implementing a powerful methodology developed by our team. Our results agree with experiments, showing that optimal detachment, in terms of actuation energy, is achieved when the application of voltage is synchronized with the spreading time of the droplet. Under these conditions, the droplet oscillates with a period close to that of a mirrored Rayleigh droplet. The relation between the droplet’s oscillation period and its physical properties is examined. During voltage-droplet synchronization, the droplet’s ability to detach depends mostly on its contact angle, its viscosity, and the applied voltage. An energy analysis is also conducted, revealing how energy is supplied to the droplet by electrowetting-induced detachment.
Experimentally Based Analysis of Mechanical Behaviour of Timber-Concrete Composite Beams with Different Connecting Systems
Authors: Cvetkovic Radovan , Ranković Slobodan , Mišulić Tatjana Kočetov , Kukaras Danijel
Published: November 2023

Composite timber-concrete constructions are innovative structural systems which have become the subject of research and practical usage, primarily due to their attractive mechanical properties. This article deals with the experimental procedure and the analysis of the mechanical behavior of two different serious of timber-concrete composite beams. In the composite beams of the A series, screws were used as a fastening system in the interlayer between the timber and concrete parts, whereas in the B type series, a more complex system, the combination of notches and screws, was used for the same purpose. Both series were exposed to loading up to a fracture point by the means of the standard procedure (four point bending test). The mechanical behavior of the A and B-series beams was analyzed by a comparative analysis referring to: the correlation of the fracture loading and the deflection at the moment of fracture, forms and mechanisms of fracture, the development of dilatations at certain points of specific cross-sections, the displacement in the timber-concrete interlayer in the support zones, the value of shear stresses and the calculated values of the effective bending stiffness of the beams. The B-series beams where a more complex fastening system, as it was expected, showed a better mechanical behavior than the A-series beams.
SREBP Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in Liver Disease, and Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Li Na , Li Xiaodan , Ding Yifu , Liu Xiao , Diggle Karin , Kisseleva Tatiana , Brenner David A
Published: November 2023

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors that regulate genes involved in the biogenesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. SREBPs are involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We review the mechanisms by which SREBPs regulate lipogenesis, the alterations in these processes associated with liver diseases, and therapeutic strategies to target these pathways.
Shaft Wall Damage of High Depth Inclined Ore-Pass under Impact Wear Behavior
Authors: Jiang Lichun , Ji Haoyu , Xue Luanluan
Published: November 2023

In order to study the collapse failure of shaft wall of high depth inclined ore-pass under ore impact wear behavior, 25 ore-passes in a deep mine in Yunnan, China were investigated. Considering the ore-pass structural characteristics and the impact wear effect of ore on shaft wall, the shaft wall damage model of high depth inclined ore-pass is constructed based on the contact mechanics theory. Furthermore, No. 1#, 2#, 3# and 9# ore-passes of the mine are taken as examples for analysis, and the three results of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and engineering case are used for comparison and verification. The shaft wall damage degree is predicted, and the damage mechanism between total shaft wall damage volume Qtol and ore-pass depth H, ore-pass dip angle θ, inclined angle of chute α, shaft diameter D and ore block size P is quantitatively investigated. The results show that the rationality of the proposed model is verified by numerical analysis and field engineering situations. Moreover, the deeper ore-pass depth H, the more shaft wall damage volume Qtol with the increase of collision frequency. Qtol increases exponentially with P and increases gradually with D. With the increase of θ or α, Qtol increases generally first and then decreases. Therefore, Qtol can be effectively reduced by selecting the appropriate structure parameters of ore-pass and adopting the technology of drilling straight ore-pass. This work provides technical support for long period safe operation of high depth inclined ore-pass.
Acute Pyelonephritis with Bacteremia in an 89-Year-Old Woman Caused by Two Slow-Growing Bacteria: Aerococcus urinae and Actinotignum schaalii
Authors: Lotte L. , Durand C. , Chevalier A. , Gaudart A. , Cheddadi Y. , Ruimy R. , Lotte R.
Published: November 2023

Aerococcus urinae is an aerobic Gram-positive coccus that grows as tiny alpha-hemolytic colonies. Actinotignum schaalii is a slow-growing facultative anaerobic Gram-positive rod. These bacteria are part of the urogenital microbiota of healthy patients, but can also be involved in urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly in elderly men and young children [1–3]. Because A. urinae and A. schaalii are fastidious and are difficult to identify with phenotypic methods, they are underestimated causes of UTIs. Their growth is slow and requires a blood-enriched medium and an incubation time of 48 hours under anaerobic or 5% CO2 atmosphere. Furthermore, accurate identification is only possible using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) or molecular-based methods. In rare cases, these bacteria can be responsible for invasive infections. We describe here the second case of bacteremic UTI caused by both A. schaalii and A. urinae in an 89-year-old woman who presented dyspnea and asymptomatic bacteriuria. This challenging clinical and microbiological diagnosis was made by our laboratory by Gram staining urine with a leucocyte count >50/μL and/or a bacterial count >14/μL, urinary culture on blood agar plate, and direct bacterial identification on positive blood culture bottles (BCBs) by MALDI-TOF MS. After 10 days of antimicrobial treatment consisting of 2g amoxicillin PO t.i.d the patient was discharged with complete clinical and biological recovery. A. schaalii and A. urinae are probably still underestimated causes of UTIs. Microbiologists should assess the presence of these two bacteria in urine using the appropriate culture and identification methods where direct examination is positive for small Gram-positive cocci or rods, and a urinary dipstick is negative for nitrites and associated with leukocyturia.
Cloning, Expression, and Functional Analysis of the Compact Anoxybacillus flavithermus Cas9 Nuclease
Authors: Matveeva Anastasiya , Ryabchenko Alexander , Petrova Viktoria , Prokhorova Daria , Zhuravlev Evgenii , Zakabunin Alexander , Tikunov Artem Y. , Stepanov Grigory
Published: November 2023

Research on Cas9 nucleases from different organisms holds great promise for advancing genome engineering and gene therapy tools as it could provide novel structural insights into CRISPR editing mechanisms, expanding its application area in biology and medicine. The current study focuses on generating a construct to express a compact Cas9 nuclease (AnoCas9) from the thermophilic microorganism Anoxybacillus flavithermus. Next, distinctive AnoCas9 properties are investigated. AnoCas9 gene is expressed in E.coli producing a polypeptide fused with the maltose-binding protein (MBP-AnoCas9). His-Tag in its structure enables purification using metal-chelate chromatography followed by the cleavage of the polypeptide by TEV protease. Bioinformatical analysis of the CRISPR array found in the genome of an Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain helps predict a functional PAM sequence for AnoCas9, which is supported by in vitro experiments. The purified protein demonstrates nuclease activity in the presence of crRNA:tracrRNA duplex in the 37-60 °С range, with maximum activity observed at 45-55 °С. The analysis of FAM-labeled dsDNA substrate cleavage has allowed us to determine the functional AnoCas9 PAM motif as 5’-NNNNCDAA-3’. Thus, AnoCas9 adds to the repertoire of thermophilic Cas9 effectors and its properties suggest application in areas requiring the presence of thermostable CRISPR/Cas systems.
An Emerging Role for anti-DNA Antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Kubota Tetsuo
Published: November 2023

Anti-DNA antibodies are hallmark autoantibodies produced in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but their pathogenetic roll is not fully understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that some anti-DNA antibodies enter different types of live cells and affect the pathophysiology of SLE by stimulating or impairing these cells. Circulating neutrophils in SLE are activated by type I interferon or other stimuli and primed to release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) on additional stimulation. Anti-DNA antibodies are also involved in this process and may induce NET release. Thereafter, they bind and protect extracellular DNA in the NETs from digestion by nucleases, resulting in increased NET immunogenicity. This review discusses the pathogenetic role of anti-DNA antibodies in SLE, mainly focusing on recent progress in the two research fields concerning antibody penetration into live cells and NETosis.
Mechanical Egg Activation and Rearing of First Instar Larvae of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)
Authors: Van der Merwe Elmarie , Slippers Bernard , Dittrich-Schröder Gudrun
Published: November 2023

Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to confirm the hypothesised prerequisite of the symbiotic fungus for egg development. A rearing protocol was developed for emerged first instar larvae using a modified Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. Amylostereum areolatum was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion. Maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of S. noctilio, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies.
Probiotics in Post-Operative Pain Management
Authors: Fyntanidou Barbara , Amaniti Aikaterini , Soulioti Eleftheria , Zagalioti Sofia-Chrysovalantou , Gkarmiri Sofia , Chorti Angeliki , Loukipoudi Lamprini , Ioannidis Aris , Dalakakis Ioannis , Menni Alexandra-Eleftheria , Shrewsbury Anne D. , Kotzampassi Katerina
Published: November 2023

Post-operative pain is the unpleasant sensory and emotional experience after surgery, its origin being both the inflammatory reaction induced by the surgical trauma on the abdominal wall, and the splanchnic pain, induced by the activation of nociceptors of the viscera, which are highly sensi-tive to distension, ischemia and inflammation. Nowadays, it is well recognized that there is a close relationship between the gut microbiome and pain perception, and that microbiome is highly af-fected by both anaesthesia and surgical manipulation. Thus, efforts to restore the disturbed micro-biome by supplementation with beneficial bacteria, namely probiotics, seems to be effective. In this article the knowledge gained mainly from experimental research on this topic is analyzed, the con-cluding message being that each probiotic strain works in its own way towards pain relief.
Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophage-derived Proteins
Authors: Dicks Leon Milner Theodore , Vermeulen Wian
Published: November 2023

Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to the over-prescription of antibiotics. This causes dysbiosis and major disruption of the gut microbiome, leading to the development of intestinal diseases, abnormalities in the regulation of immune responses, malfunctioning of entero-endocrine signaling, and an imbalance in communication with the central nervous system (CNS). Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. This approach increased rapidly over the last ten years, because of the rapid rise of multi-drug-resistant bacteria worldwide coupled with a decline in the development and production of novel antibacterial agents. Eradication of multidrug-resistant bacteria is often only possible with bacteriophage treatment. Phage proteins are used to stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens, improve antibiotic susceptibility, prevent biofilm formation, and characterize bacterial pathogens. This review discusses the therapeutic potential of bacteriophage-derived proteins.
Live-Attenuated Salmonella-Based Oral Vaccine Candidates Expressing PCV2d Cap and Rep by Novel Expression Plasmids as a Vaccination Strategy for Mucosal and Systemic Immune Responses against PCV2d
Authors: Lloren Khristine Kaith Sison , Sivasankar Chandran , Lee John Hwa
Published: November 2023

Oral vaccines are highly envisaged for veterinary applications due to their convenience and ability to induce protective mucosal immunity as the first line of defense. The present investigation harnessed live-attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium to orally deliver novel expression vector systems containing the Cap and Rep genes from porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), a significant swine pathogen. The antigen expression by the vaccine candidates JOL2885 and JOL2886, comprising eukaryotic pJHL204 and pro-eukaryotic expression pJHL270 plasmids respectively, was confirmed by western blot and IFA. We evaluated their immunogenicity and protective efficacy through oral vaccination in a mouse model. This approach elicited both mucosal and systemic immunity against PCV2d. Oral administration of the candidates induced PCV2-specific sIgA, serum IgG antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies, resulting in reduced viral loads in the livers and lungs of PCV2d-challenged mice. T-lymphocyte proliferation and flow-cytometry assays confirmed enhanced cellular immune responses after oral inoculation. The synchronized elicitation of both Th1 and Th2 responses was also confirmed by enhanced expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, MHC-I, and MHC-II. Our findings highlight the effectiveness and safety of the constructs with an engineered-attenuated S. Typhimurium, suggesting its potential application as an oral PCV2 vaccine candidate.
The Role of Furin on the Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Associated Neurological Disorders
Authors: Ayyubova Gunel , Gychka Sergiy G. , Nikolaienko Sofia I. , Shults Nataliia V. , Suzuki Yuichiro J.
Published: November 2023

Neurological disorders have been reported to occur in a large number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, suggesting that this disease may also exert long-term adverse neurological consequences. COVID-19 occurs due to the infection by a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The membrane fusion protein of SARS-CoV-2, the spike protein, binds to its human host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), to initiate membrane fusion between the virus and host cell. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains the furin protease recognition site and its cleavage enhances the infectivity of this virus. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to the ACE2 receptor has been shown to downregulate ACE2, thereby increasing the levels of pathogenic angiotensin II (Ang II). The furin protease cleaves between S1 subunit of the spike protein with the binding domain toward ACE2 and S2 subunit with transmembrane domain that anchors to the viral membrane, and this activity releases the S1 subunit into the blood circulation. The released S1 subunit of the spike protein would also bind to and downregulate ACE2, in turn, increasing the level of Ang II. Considering that a viral particle contains a number of the spike protein molecules, furin-dependent cleavage would release a large number of free S1 proteins each of which can downregulate ACE2, while the infection with a viral particle only affects one ACE2 molecule. Therefore, the furin-dependent release of S1 protein would dramatically amplify the ability to downregulate ACE2 and produce Ang II. We hypothesize that this amplification mechanism that the virus possesses, but not the infection per se, is the major driving force behind the neurological disorders.
Evaluation of Future Integrated Urban Water Management Using a Risk and Decision Analysis Framework: A Case Study in Denver-Colorado Metro Area (DCMA)
Authors: He Bowen , Zheng Han , Guan Qun
Published: November 2023

This study examines the DCMA concerning the future risk of the water security status. We considered three risk factors: population growth, economic growth, and natural water supply demand differences. In the risk analysis part, we consulted with experts from several sectors including academia, Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), and industry, to predict that the probability of future water stresses in high, medium, and low scenarios are 0.73, 0.24, and 0.03, respectively. In the decision analysis part, we adopted two Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approaches that include Multiple Attribute Value Theory (MAVT) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods to evaluate the best alternative decision to alleviate future water stresses in the DCMA. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the best option closely connects to the weighting scheme of the criteria considered in the framework. This study provides a valuable risk and decision analysis framework to analyze the water security status associated with the future water supply and demand gap decrease caused by three risk factors: population growth, climate change, and natural water supply.
Кинетический вязкий ударный слой вблизи передней кромки тонкого вращающегося диска
Authors: Анкудинов Альберт Леонидович , Ankudinov Albert Leonidovich
Published: November 2023

Сформулирована регуляризованная задача описания нерегулярного неравновесного течения однородного молекулярного газа в гиперзвуковом кинетическом тонком вязком ударном слое (ТВУС) вблизи передней кромки наветренной стороны тонкого вращающегося диска при его обтекании с конечным углом атаки. Показано, что трение и тепловой поток на передней кромке вращающегося диска в кинетическом ТВУС совпадают соответственно с аналогичными величинами в навье-стоксовском ТВУС. Получена формула для вычисления кинетического давления на передней кромке вращающегося диска в кинетическом ТВУС-течении. Показано, что давление на передней кромке вращающегося диска в кинетическом ТВУС превосходит давление на кромке в навье-стоксовском варианте ТВУС. Показано, что учет кинетики потока в исследуемом течении средствами кинетического приближения ТВУС сказывается на давлении (повышение давления) в рассматриваемой области и никак не отражается на трении и теплообмене на стенке. Предложенная математическая модель течения в кинетическом ТВУС вблизи кромки позволяет получить в этой области сильной нерегулярности аналитическое решение регуляризованной задачи, являющееся важным атрибутом численного моделирования ТВУС вниз по потоку.
Selection and isolation of bacterium with probiotic potential from the Amazon ornamental fish Hypancistrus sp. (Siluriformes, Loricariidae)
Authors: Reis Ryuller Gama Abreu , Abe Higo Andrade , Sousa Natalino da Costa , Rocha Rossineide Martins da
Published: November 2023

The aim of this study was to select autochthonous bacteria with probiotic potential from the gastrointestinal tract of King Tiger Pleco (Hypancistrus sp.) for future applications in captive production. For the isolation of lactic acid bacteria, 12 specimens (8.31 ± 0.28 cm and 12.60 ± 1.13 cm) were used, whose intestines were removed, macerated, and homogenized in sterile saline. A total of 21 strains were isolated from the intestinal tract on MRS agar, of which five strains (St1, St2, St3, St4, and St5) were selected for in-vitro tests. Three strains (St2, St3, and St5) showed the highest values of maximum growth per hour, with a final concentration of 109 CFU.mL-1 in 24 hours. However, only the strains St3 and St5 had the highest growth (p<0.05) in the presence of NaCl (0.5 to 1.5%) and pH in the range of 5 and 6. For bile salts, the greatest resistance observed was for strain St5. In conclusion, this is the first report of the isolation of autochthonous bacteria for a Loricariidae, recommending the bacterium Enterococcus faecium as probiotic in the aquaculture creation of King Tiger Pleco.
President’s Column with Terry Palisch: Creating Our Energy Future (November 2023)
Authors: Palisch Terry
Published: November 2023

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In this podcast episode, Terry Palisch talks about the impact of the energy transition on the industry and technology and how SPE is helping its members adjust to the shifting landscape. This transcript is an excerpt from the podcast episode.

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I’m Trent Jacobs, JPT senior technology editor, and welcome to the President’s podcast. Today I am very happy to be talking with 2024 SPE President Terry Palisch. He’s going to be talking to us about the impact that the energy transition is having on the industry and technology and how SPE is helping its members adjust to the shifting landscape.

I am glad to be here with you, Terry. Thank you for joining us. Can you set the scene for me a little bit by explaining a concept that you mentioned on your last podcast episode, this is the energy trilemma … tell us more about that.

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Thank you, Trent. I am excited to be talking to you today. Let’s start with the building blocks. Energy is the building block of all life: human beings need chemical energy, and in our everyday lives we need energy. Energy essentially drives everything, and our population is growing. We expect by 2050 to have another 1 to 2 billion people on the planet, or another 20–25%, and at the same time over two-thirds of our world population live in some form of energy poverty.

Currently, 80% of the energy supplied to the world comes in the form of coal, oil, and natural gas, commonly called fossil fuels. That percentage has not changed appreciably for decades. The public is still demanding a reduction in emissions. That represents what a lot of people call the trilemma. How do we as a society meet the world’s energy needs for affordable and accessible energy that is reliable and secure, but also becoming evergreen and decarbonized. That is what they call the energy trilemma. I think it is more the energy opportunity, and I say that because I believe it’s the energy opportunity for our industry. I believe we are the best suited to solve the energy trilemma and we are solving it as we speak.