bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Sustainability of Palm Oil Industry: A Review
Authors: Ngan Sue Lin , Er Ah Choy , Yatim Puan , How Bing Shen , Lim Chun Hsion , Ng Wendy Pei Qin , Chan Yi Herng , Lam Hon Loong
Published: May 2022

Climate change, resource scarcity, and an aging population are the most concerning global issues in recent decades. One of the best methods to manage and mitigate these problems while continuing to boost the economies and offer opportunities for the growing world population is sustainable development. As Malaysia is one of the major oil consumers in the world, the sustainability of palm oil has been controversial. Several sustainability standards are introduced to ensure the balance performance in terms of economic, environmental, and social performance of the industry. Nonetheless, the social aspect of the sustainability of palm oil has received relatively less emphasis as compared with the economic and environmental aspects. Literature, experts, and anecdotal evidence often claim that it is due to the complication in assessing and evaluating social factors and impacts. Thus, this work aims to fill the gap in the literature on social sustainability for the palm oil industry both in terms of methods and facets. Suggested facets and their implication can enrich the theoretical contribution of this field while providing a comprehensive profile of the social sustainability of the palm oil industry. The outcomes can also be adopted by policymakers and industry stakeholders to assess, manage, and enhance the social sustainability of the industry.
Rhoticity in English, a Journey Over Time Through Social Class: A Narrative Review
Authors: Costa Davide , Serra Raffaele
Published: May 2022

Rhoticity in English refers to the pronunciation of the consonant /r/ in all r position contexts, while non-rhoticity refers to the dropping of the /r/ sound in particular r positions. In this context, the two English varieties, classified as rhotic and non-rhotic can be found both in British and American English-speaking people, but also in other English-speaking countries. The most updated information about rhoticity, related history of classes in the English-speaking people have been retrieved from the most important database such as ScienceDirect and Scopus. Society and language are strictly related, especially in rhoticity changes that occurred over time in the English-speaking people. In fact, rhoticity is a dynamic sociolinguistic phenomenon as it was influenced by social class changes during centuries, and even now it is constantly evolving. Rhoticity is also connected to social mobility in English-speaking countries and is also an indicator of social displacement from one social class to another. In fact, class, language, and social differentiation are only the terms of an inseparable social equation. In conclusion, in the dynamics of class, rhoticity and non-rhoticity seem are related to socio-anthropological issues that confirm an intimate connection with the process of social differentiation.
Introducing a New Technique for Fascial Closure to Avoid Renal Allograft Compartment Syndrome in Pediatric Recipients: The Use of Tutoplast® Fascia Lata
Authors: Bañuelos Marco Beatriz , Bergel Berenice , Geppert Tamara , Müller Dominik , Lingnau Anja
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Renal allograft compartment syndrome (RACS) is a complication that infrequently occurs after renal transplantation. Tight muscle closure may lead to RACS due to compression of renal parenchyma or kinking of the renal vessels. Many techniques have been proposed in an attempt to achieve tension-free closure, which can be specially challenging in child recipients. We present our experience with Tutoplast® Fascia Lata (RTI Surgical Tutogen Medical GmbH Industriestrasse 6, 91077 Neunkirchen am Brand, Germany) closure.

Methods

All pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation in our center between 2012 and 2021 were reviewed. Eight patients with Tutoplast® Fascia Lata placed at the time of initial transplantation were identified. Donor and recipient characteristics, Doppler ultrasound findings, and overall patient and graft survival rates were analyzed.

Results

Doppler ultrasound was performed intra-operatively after abdominal wall closure. If any sign of vascular compromise was seen, the abdominal wall was opened and the graft was revised. The Tutoplast® Fascia Lata implant was used to perform tension-free fascia closure and, afterwards, a Doppler ultrasound was performed to confirm the optimal renal artery perfusion and venous patency. Three of the renal transplantations were from a cadaver donor, with two of them en bloc. Living donor transplantation was performed in four cases. Among which, there was a case of auto-transplantation due to bilateral renal artery stenosis. None of the patients presented any complications of either short or long term that was derived from the abdominal closure with Tutoplast® Fascia Lata. There was also no record of graft failure till datum.

Conclusions

Restricted volume of the recipient pelvic cavity and the size discrepancy between the recipient pelvic cavity space and the donor adult kidney may lead to RACS. Other situations that occur more infrequently, i.e., as en bloc or auto-transplantation, are prone to suffer the same problem. Tutoplast® Fascia Lata is a safe option for these patients.
Clinical Efficacy of Endoscopic-Assisted Resection of Single-Segment Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Treatment of Thoracic Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Li Xingchen , Huang Honghan , Zheng Zhong , Liu Yunxuan , Wei Guicai , Chen Xiaoxin , Xu Yusheng
Published: May 2022

Objective

To explore the clinical efficacy, characteristics and safety of endoscopic-assisted resection of single-segment posterior longitudinal ligament ossification in the treatment of thoracic spinal stenosis (TSS).

Method

Fifteen TSS patients, including 6 males and 9 females aged 43–70 years treated with endoscopic-assisted resection of single-segment posterior longitudinal ligament ossification through the transfacet joint approach by our team from November 2016 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications were recorded. The VAS score, ODI and JOA score (full score, 11 points) were recorded before the operation, after the operation and at the last follow-up to evaluate the clinical efficacy and calculate the improvement rate.

Results

The ventral side of the spinal cord was decompressed in all patients, providing improvements in neurological symptoms and significant pain relief. The mean follow-up time was 20.27 ± 3.87 months. Mean operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospitalization time were found to be 84.80 ± 13.23 min, 36.33 ± 7.41 mL, 5.13 ± 1.02 days; respectively.The JOA score at the last follow-up was 8.6 ± 1.25, which was significantly better than the preoperative (5.53 ± 1.20) and postoperative (6.87 ± 1.31) scores (p < 0.05). The mean JOA score improvement rate was 56.5 ± 18.00%. The JOA score improvement rate classification at the last follow-up was excellent in 3 cases, good in 8 cases, effective in 3 cases, and no change in 1 case; for an effective rate of 93.33%. The VAS score significantly decreased from 6.67 ± 1.01 preoperatively to 3.47 ± 0.88 postoperatively and 1.73 ± 0.67 at the last follow-up (p < 0.05). The ODI significantly decreased from 72.07 ± 6.08 preoperatively to 45.93 ± 5.01 postoperatively and 12.53 ± 2.33 at the last follow-up (p < 0.05). Dural rupture occurred in 2 patients during the operation; 1 patient experienced neck discomfort during the operation, which was considered to be caused by high fluid pressure and was relieved by massage and by lowering the height of the irrigation fluid. No cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, wound infection or other complications occurred.

Conclusion

Endoscopic-assisted resection of posterior longitudinal ligament ossification through the facet joint approach is a safe and effective method for the treatment of TSS.
Exploration of the Shared Gene and Molecular Mechanisms Between Endometriosis and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Ye Zhuang , Meng Qingxue , Zhang Weiwen , He Junli , Zhao Huanyi , Yu Chengwei , Liang Weizheng , Li Xiushen , Wang Hao
Published: May 2022

Endometriosis (EMs) is a common benign gynecological disease in women of childbearing age, which usually causes pelvic pain, secondary dysmenorrhea, and infertility. EMs has been linked to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in epidemiological data. The relationship of both, however, remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore the underlying pathological mechanisms between EMs and RPL. We searched Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to obtain omics data of EMs and RPL. Co-expression modules for EMs and RPL were investigated by using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The intersections of gene modules with the strong correlation to EMs or RPL obtained by WGCNA analysis were considered as shared genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and their corresponding target genes linked to EMs and RPL were found though the Human MicroRNA Disease Database (HMDD) and the miRTarbase database. Finally, we constructed miRNAs-mRNAs regulatory networks associated with the two disorders by using the intersection of previously obtained target genes and shared genes. We discovered as significant modules for EMs and RPL, respectively, by WGCNA. The energy metabolism might be the common pathogenic mechanism of EMs and RPL, according to the findings of a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. We discovered several target genes that might be linked to these two disorders, as well as the potential mechanisms. RAB8B, GNAQ, H2AFZ, SUGT1, and LEO1 could be therapeutic candidates for RPL and EMs. The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and platelet activation were potentially involved in the mechanisms of EM-induced RPL. Our findings for the first time revealed the underlying pathological mechanisms of EM-induced RPL and identified several useful biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.
Variation in Antibiotic Treatment Failure Outcome Definitions in Randomised Trials and Observational Studies of Antibiotic Prescribing Strategies: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Neill Rebecca , Gillespie David , Ahmed Haroon
Published: May 2022

Antibiotic treatment failure is used as an outcome in randomised trials and observational studies of antibiotic treatment strategies and may comprise different events that indicate failure to achieve a desired clinical response. However, the lack of a universally recognised definition has led to considerable variation in the types of events included. We undertook a systematic review of published studies investigating antibiotic treatment strategies for common uncomplicated infections, aiming to describe variation in terminology and components of the antibiotic treatment failure outcomes. We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical trials for English language studies published between January 2010 and January 2021. The population of interest was ambulatory patients seen in primary care or outpatient settings with respiratory tract (RTI), urinary tract (UTI), or skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), where different antibiotic prescribing strategies were compared, and the outcome was antibiotic treatment failure. We narratively summarised key features from eligible studies and used frequencies and proportions to describe terminology, components, and time periods used to ascertain antibiotic treatment failure outcomes. Database searches identified 2967 unique records, from which 36 studies met our inclusion criteria. This included 10 randomised controlled trials and 26 observational studies, with 20 studies of RTI, 12 of UTI, 4 of SSTI, and 2 of both RTI and SSTI. We identified three key components of treatment failure definitions: prescription changes, escalation of care, and change in clinical condition. Prescription changes were most popular in studies of UTI, while changes in clinical condition were most common in RTI and SSTI studies. We found substantial variation in the definition of antibiotic treatment failure in included studies, even amongst studies of the same infection subtype and study design. Considerable further work is needed to develop a standardised definition of antibiotic treatment failure in partnership with patients, clinicians, and relevant stakeholders.
Numerical Investigation on the Flow-Induced Vibration Characteristics of Fire Turbopump with the Turbine-Pump Structure
Authors: Yuan Ye , Jin Rong , Tang Lingdi
Published: May 2022

The vibration characteristics induced by radial hydraulic force on the fire turbopump have been investigated by numerical simulations in this paper. The numerical model was validated with corresponding experimental measurements. The turbopump has the special structure with two hydraulic machineries of a turbine and a pump. The hydraulic force characteristics on the separate turbine and the separate pump were first studied. There is one period in the force variation for one cycle of impeller rotation, and pressure fluctuations are observed in 15 times and 30 times the shaft rotating frequency of the turbine. Meanwhile, there are five periods in the force fluctuation in one full working cycle, and obvious fluctuation amplitudes on 5 times, 10 times and 15 times the shaft rotating frequency of the pump are found. Then, the coupled effect of force fluctuations on the turbine and pump was explored. For the turbopump, the periodicity of force fluctuation in the time domain and force characteristics in the frequency domain are dominated by pump structure. The hydraulic force fluctuation on the impeller is enhanced, while that on the housing is damped by counteracting the forces between turbine suction and pump volute.
Applications and Challenges for Metabolomics via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Vignoli Alessia , Meoni Gaia , Tenori Leonardo
Published: May 2022

Even though metabolomics is about 20 years old, the interest in this “-omic” science is still growing, and high expectations remain in the scientific community for new practical applications in biomedicine and in the agricultural field [...]
Analytical Prediction of Strip Foundation Building Response to Shallow Tunneling Considering the Tunneling Process
Authors: Yu Lin , Zhang Dingli , Fang Qian , Li Yujie , Wang Gang , Cao Liqiang
Published: May 2022

This paper presents an analytical method to predict the response of a strip foundation building to shallow tunneling based on the two-stage method. The existing building is simplified as a Euler–Bernoulli beam resting on the Pasternak model. The tunneling process and different relative positions between the tunnel and the existing building can be considered in the proposed method. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified through comparisons with results from the finite element and finite difference methods. The results indicate that the differential settlement of the building reaches a maximum and the rotation angles are symmetric with respect to the building centerline when the tunnel face arrives at the middle of the building. The maximum bending moments occur at the middle of the building, while the maximum shear forces occur at about one-fifth and four-fifths of the building length when the tunnel face is located at the two ends of the building. According to the parametric analysis, the alignment angle, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the soil, bending stiffness, and gap parameter greatly affect the building response.
Study of Bag Grouting Pile Reinforcing Deep Soft-Soil Foundation with an Interlayer of Hard Materials on High-Speed Railway Ballast Track
Authors: Zuo Shen , Zhang Qingyu , Li Jin , Liu Peng , Cui Fengkun , Chen Ying
Published: May 2022

High-speed railways are built in deep soft-soil foundations interlayered with hard materials. However, the hard layers cannot be penetrated by conventional foundation treatment. Moreover, the project cost is sometimes prohibitive, which is an issue for post-construction subsidence control. The bag grouting pile is a special grouting-pile-reinforcement technique for treating soft-soil foundations interlayered with hard materials. This paper conducted tests on the Ningbo-Taizhou-Wenzhou ballast track passenger railway, combining a conventional mixing-pile-foundation (not through hard layer) processing station and the bag-grouting-pile-processing subgrade line. Using field tests combined with numerical calculation, the lateral displacement, settlement and pile–soil stress were tested to obtain the working properties of the grouting-pile-composite foundation. The variation in the law of lateral displacement, settlement, and pile–soil stress of the foundation was studied. The results showed that the post-construction subsidence of bag-grouting-pile- and conventional mixing-pile-foundation control was less than 15 cm and 30 cm, respectively, which met the design requirements. The results also showed that the design scheme was reasonable (load-sharing ratio of bag-pile-foundation pile soil-based test was reasonable). The numerical calculation showed a change in pile diameter. It also showed that pile spacing could not improve subsidence-control properties, bag grouting pile can promote pore-pressure dissipation and accelerate consolidation, and pile spacing can be increased to cut project costs incurred by the pile-bearing capacity.
A Framework for Short Video Recognition Based on Motion Estimation and Feature Curves on SPD Manifolds
Authors: Liu Xiaohe , Liu Shuyu , Ma Zhengming
Published: May 2022

Given the prosperity of video media such as TikTok and YouTube, the requirement of short video recognition is becoming more and more urgent. A significant feature of short video is that there are few switches of scenes in short video, and the target (e.g., the face of the key person in the short video) often runs through the short video. This paper presents a new short video recognition algorithm framework that transforms a short video into a family of feature curves on symmetric positive definite (SPD) manifold as the basis of recognition. Thus far, no similar algorithm has been reported. The results of experiments suggest that our method performs better on three changeling databases than seven other related algorithms published in the top issues.
Multi-View Visual Relationship Detection with Estimated Depth Map
Authors: Liu Xiaozhou , Gan Ming-Gang , He Yuxuan
Published: May 2022

The abundant visual information contained in multi-view images is widely used in computer vision tasks. Existing visual relationship detection frameworks have extended the feature vector to improve model performance. However, single view information can not fully reveal the visual relationships in complex visual scenes. To solve this problem and explore the multi-view information in a visual relationship detection (VRD) model, a novel multi-view VRD framework based on a monocular RGB image and an estimated depth map is proposed. The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, we construct a novel multi-view framework which fuses information of different views extracted from estimated RGB-D images. Second, a multi-view image generation method is proposed to transfer flat visual space to 3D multi-view space. Third, we redesign the visual relationship balanced classifier which can process multi-view feature vectors simultaneously. Detailed experiments were conducted on two datasets to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multi-view VRD framework. The experimental results showed that the multi-view VRD framework resulted in state-of-the-art zero-shot learning performance in specific depth conditions.
Research and Progress on Truing and Sharpening Process of Diamond Abrasive Grinding Tools
Authors: Cai Song , Liu Wenhao , Song Jinchao , Deng Kai , Tang Yinghong
Published: May 2022

With respect to the truing and sharpening of diamond abrasive grinding tools, traditional machining methods are briefly described, and new dressing methods, such as the laser dressing method, are described in detail. It is pointed out that laser dressing of diamond abrasive tools is a green processing method with high efficiency and no environmental pollution. Numerical simulation research on pulse laser dressing of a bronze diamond abrasive grinding wheel was carried out, and a cumulative heat transfer model of laser dressing energy was developed. The temperature evolution law of the bronze bond and diamond abrasive grains dressed by pulsed fiber laser was determined by numerical analysis of the model. An experiment on the laser dressing grinding wheel was carried out; it was found that when the laser power density was 2.52 × 108 W/cm2∼3.36 × 108 W/cm2, the bronze bond materials could be properly removed, and the diamond abrasive grains could be better sharpened. The laser dressing method can achieve the combination of diamond abrasive grinding tool sharpening and truing. The experiment not only demonstrated the correctness and feasibility of the theoretical model but also provided process optimization for research into pulse laser dressing of diamond abrasive grinding tools.
Touch, Texture and Haptic Feedback: A Review on How We Feel the World around Us
Authors: See Aaron Raymond , Choco Jose Antonio G. , Chandramohan Kohila
Published: May 2022

Touch is one most of the important aspects of human life. Nearly all interactions, when broken down, involve touch in one form or another. Recent advances in technology, particularly in the field of virtual reality, have led to increasing interest in the research of haptics. However, accurately capturing touch is still one of most difficult engineering challenges currently being faced. Recent advances in technology such as those found in microcontrollers which allow the creation of smaller sensors and feedback devices may provide the solution. Beyond capturing and measuring touch, replicating touch is also another unique challenge due to the complexity and sensitivity of the human skin. The development of flexible, soft-wearable devices, however, has allowed for the creating of feedback systems that conform to the human form factor with minimal loss of accuracy, thus presenting possible solutions and opportunities. Thus, in this review, the researchers aim to showcase the technologies currently being used in haptic feedback, and their strengths and limitations.
Interdisciplinary Co-Design Research Practice in the Rehabilitation of Elderly Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain from a Senior Care Center in South Korea
Authors: Tufail Muhammad , Lee HaeBin , Moon YangGyu , Kim Hwang , Kim KwanMyung
Published: May 2022

The rehabilitation practices encounter multifaceted problems inherent in the current context of the elderly with chronic low back pain (LBP). We addressed a particular multifaceted problem in the current context using an interdisciplinary co-design research practice that consists of three phases: context exploration, patient-expert interaction, and patient-centered rehabilitation. Using an empirical study integrated with this practice, we investigated 30 Korean elderly patients suffering from LBP and introduced an exercise program design. In the context exploration phase, we found that the elderly patients neglected proper posture during work causing spine instability and resultantly developing chronic LBP. The patient–expert interaction phase explored latissimus dorsi (LD) and lumbar erector spinae (LES) muscles as the back trunk muscles that had caused LBP in most of these elderly patients. In the patient-centered rehabilitation phase, we designed an exercise program with exercise protocols and an exercise object for flexion and extension of trunk muscle relaxation and stabilization. Using electromyography (EMG), we found that the exercise program significantly increased the muscle activation levels of the muscles and reduced LBP. Our practice defines and addresses a multifaceted problem with several challenges both in healthcare design and the problem itself. This integrated approach can easily be expanded and adapted to other domain-related research projects that possess characteristics of complex problems.
Investigating the Performance of FixMatch for COVID-19 Detection in Chest X-rays
Authors: Sajun Ali Reza , Zualkernan Imran , Sankalpa Donthi
Published: May 2022

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in medical resources being stretched to their limits. Chest X-rays are one method of diagnosing COVID-19; they are used due to their high efficacy. However, detecting COVID-19 manually by using these images is time-consuming and expensive. While neural networks can be trained to detect COVID-19, doing so requires large amounts of labeled data, which are expensive to collect and code. One approach is to use semi-supervised neural networks to detect COVID-19 based on a very small number of labeled images. This paper explores how well such an approach could work. The FixMatch algorithm, which is a state-of-the-art semi-supervised classification algorithm, was trained on chest X-rays to detect COVID-19, Viral Pneumonia, Bacterial Pneumonia and Lung Opacity. The model was trained with decreasing levels of labeled data and compared with the best supervised CNN models, using transfer learning. FixMatch was able to achieve a COVID F1-score of 0.94 with only 80 labeled samples per class and an overall macro-average F1-score of 0.68 with only 20 labeled samples per class. Furthermore, an exploratory analysis was conducted to determine the performance of FixMatch to detect COVID-19 when trained with imbalanced data. The results show a predictable drop in performance as compared to training with uniform data; however, a statistical analysis suggests that FixMatch may be somewhat robust to data imbalance, as in many cases, and the same types of mistakes are made when the amount of labeled data is decreased.
Interval-Valued Pseudo Overlap Functions and Application
Authors: Liang Rong , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: May 2022

A class of interval-valued OWA operators can be constructed from interval-valued overlap functions with interval-valued weights, which plays an important role in solving multi-attribute decision making (MADM) problems considering interval numbers as attribute values. Among them, when the importance of multiple attributes is different, it can only be calculated by changing the interval-valued weights. In fact, we can directly abandon the commutativity and extend the interval-valued overlap functions (IO) to interval-valued pseudo overlap functions (IPO) so that function itself implies the weights of the attributes, thus there is no need to calculate the OWA operator, which is more flexible in applications. In addition, the similar generalization on interval-valued pseudo t-norms obtained from interval-valued t-norms further enhances the feasibility of our study. In this paper, we mainly present the notion of interval-valued pseudo overlap functions and a few their qualities, including migrativity and homogeneity, and give some construction theorems and specific examples. Then, we propose the definitions of residuated implications induced by interval-valued pseudo overlap functions, give their equivalent forms, and prove some properties satisfied by them. Finally, two application examples about IPO to interval-valued multi-attribute decision making (I-MADM) are described. The results show that interval-valued pseudo overlap functions can not only be used to obtain the same rankings, but also be more flexible, simple and widely used.
Concept, Design, and Early Prototyping of a Low-Cost, Minimally Invasive, Fully Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Pleșoianu Florin Alexandru , Pleșoianu Carmen Elena , Bararu Bojan Iris , Bojan Andrei , Țăruș Andrei , Tinică Grigore
Published: May 2022

Despite evidence associating the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices with increased survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure (HF), significant complications and high costs limit their clinical use. We aimed to design an innovative MCS device to address three important needs: low cost, minimally invasive implantation techniques, and low risk of infection. We used mathematical modeling to calculate the pump characteristics to deliver variable flows at different pump diameters, turbomachinery design software CFturbo (2020 R2.4 CFturbo GmbH, Dresden, Germany) to create the conceptual design of the pump, computational fluid dynamics analysis with Solidworks Flow Simulation to in silico test pump performance, Solidworks (Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corporation, Waltham, MA, USA) to further refine the design, 3D printing with polycarbonate filament for the initial prototype, and a stereolithography printer (Form 2, Formlabs, Somerville, MA, USA) for the second variant materialization. We present the concept, design, and early prototyping of a low-cost, minimally invasive, fully implantable in a subcutaneous pocket MCS device for long-term use and partial support in patients with advanced HF which unloads the left heart into the arterial system containing a rim-driven, hubless axial-flow pump and the wireless transmission of energy. We describe a low-cost, fully implantable, low-invasive, wireless power transmission left ventricular assist device that has the potential to address patients with advanced HF with higher impact, especially in developing countries. In vitro testing will provide input for further optimization of the device before proceeding to a completely functional prototype that can be implanted in animals.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Candidate Genes and Pathways for Potential Branch Growth in Elm (Ulmus pumila) Cultivars
Authors: Zhang Luoyan , Xie Shaoqiu , Yang Cheng , Cao Dongling , Fan Shoujin , Zhang Xuejie
Published: May 2022

Wood plays a vital role in human life. It is important to study the thickening mechanism of tree branches and explore the mechanism of wood formation. Elm (Ulmus pumila) is a strong essential wood, and it is widely used in cabinets, sculptures, and ship making. In the present study, phenotypic and comparative transcriptomic analyses were performed in U. pumila fast- (UGu17 and UZuantian) and slow-growing cultivars (U81-07 and U82-39). Phenotypic observation showed that the thickness of secondary xylem of 2-year-old fast-growing branches was greater compared with slow-growing cultivars. A total of 9367 (up = 4363, down = 5004), 7159 (3413/3746), 7436 (3566/3870), and 5707 (2719/2988) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between fast- and slow-growing cultivars. Moreover, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses predicted that many pathways were involved in vascular development and transcriptional regulation in elm, such as “plant-type secondary cell wall biogenesis”, “cell wall thickening”, and “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”. NAC domain transcriptional factors (TFs) and their master regulators (VND1/MYB26), cellulose synthase catalytic subunits (CESAs) (such as IRX5/IRX3/IRX1), xylan synthesis, and secondary wall thickness (such as IRX9/IRX10/IRX8) were supposed to function in the thickening mechanism of elm branches. Our results indicated that the general phenylpropanoid pathway (such as PAL/C4H/4CL) and lignin metabolism (such as HCL/CSE/CCoAOMT/CCR/F5H) had vital functions in the growth of elm branches. Our transcriptome data were consistent with molecular results for branch thickening in elm cultivars.
Drivers of Dyadic Cofeeding Tolerance in Pan: A Composite Measure Approach
Authors: Staes Nicky , Vermeulen Kim , van Leeuwen Edwin J. C. , Verspeek Jonas , Torfs Jonas R. R. , Eens Marcel , Stevens Jeroen M. G.
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to construct a composite model of Dyadic Cofeeding Tolerance (DCT) in zoo-housed bonobos and chimpanzees using a validated experimental cofeeding paradigm and to investigate whether components resulting from this model differ between the two species or vary with factors such as sex, age, kinship and social bond strength. Using dimension reduction analysis on five behavioral variables from the experimental paradigm (proximity, aggression, food transfers, negative food behavior, participation), we found a two-factor model: “Tolerant Cofeeding” and “Agonistic Cofeeding”. To investigate the role of social bond quality on DCT components alongside species effects, we constructed and validated a novel relationship quality model for bonobos and chimpanzees combined, resulting in two factors: Relationship Value and Incompatibility. Interestingly, bonobos and chimpanzees did not differ in DCT scores, and sex and kinship effects were identical in both species but biased by avoidance of the resource zone by male–male dyads in bonobos. Social bonds impacted DCT similarly in both species, as dyads with high Relationship Value showed more Tolerant Cofeeding, while dyads with higher Relationship Incompatibility showed more Agonistic Cofeeding. We showed that composite DCT models can be constructed that take into account both negative and positive cofeeding behavior. The resulting DCT scores were predicted by sex, kinship and social bonds in a similar fashion in both Pan species, likely reflecting their adaptability to changing socio-ecological environments. This novel operational measure to quantify cofeeding tolerance can now be applied to a wider range of species in captivity and the wild to see how variation in local socio-ecological circumstances influences fitness interdependence and cofeeding tolerance at the dyadic and group levels. This can ultimately lead to a better understanding of how local environments have shaped the evolution of tolerance in humans and other species.
CAST as a Potential Oncogene, Identified by Machine Search, in Gastric Cancer Infiltrated with Macrophages and Associated with Lgr5
Authors: Yang Kuang-Tsu , Yen Chia-Chi , Chang Renin , Wang Jui-Tzu , Chen Jin-Shuen
Published: May 2022

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading malignant diseases worldwide, especially in Asia. CAST is a potential oncogene in GC carcinogenesis. The character of macrophage infiltration in the GC microenvironment also remains unaddressed. Methods: We first applied machine searching to evaluate gene candidates for GC. CAST expression and pan-cancer surveyance were analyzed using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) database. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was downloaded from STRING. We investigated the impact of CAST on clinical prognosis using a Kaplan–Meier plotter. The correlations between CAST and Lgr5 and macrophage infiltration in GC were determined using TIMER 2.0. Finally, GeneMANIA was also used to evaluate the possible functional linkages between genes. Results: After the machine-assisted search, CAST expression was found to significantly influence the overall survival of GC patients. STRING revealed CAST-related proteomic and transcriptomic associations, mainly concerning the CAPN family. Moreover, CAST significantly impacts the prognosis of GC based on the validation of other datasets. Notably, high CAST expression was correlated with worse overall survival in GC patients (hazard ratio = 1.59; log-rank P = 9.4 × 10−8). CAST and Lgr5 expression were both positively correlated with WNT 2 and WNT 2B. Among the GC patients in several datasets, CAST and macrophage infiltration, evaluated together, showed no obvious association with poor clinical overall survival. Conclusions: CAST plays an important role in the clinical prognosis of GC and is associated with WNT 2/WNT 2B/Lgr5. Our study demonstrates that CAST’s influence on overall survival in GC is regulated by macrophage infiltration.
Aptamers Targeting Cardiac Biomarkers as an Analytical Tool for the Diagnostics of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review
Authors: Komarova Natalia , Panova Olga , Titov Alexey , Kuznetsov Alexander
Published: May 2022

The detection of cardiac biomarkers is used for diagnostics, prognostics, and the risk assessment of cardiovascular diseases. The analysis of cardiac biomarkers is routinely performed with high-sensitivity immunological assays. Aptamers offer an attractive alternative to antibodies for analytical applications but, to date, are not widely practically implemented in diagnostics and medicinal research. This review summarizes the information on the most common cardiac biomarkers and the current state of aptamer research regarding these biomarkers. Aptamers as an analytical tool are well established for troponin I, troponin T, myoglobin, and C-reactive protein. For the rest of the considered cardiac biomarkers, the isolation of novel aptamers or more detailed characterization of the known aptamers are required. More attention should be addressed to the development of dual-aptamer sandwich detection assays and to the studies of aptamer sensing in alternative biological fluids. The universalization of aptamer-based biomarker detection platforms and the integration of aptamer-based sensing to clinical studies are demanded for the practical implementation of aptamers to routine diagnostics. Nevertheless, the wide usage of aptamers for the diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases is promising for the future, with respect to both point-of-care and laboratory testing.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors for SARS-CoV-2: Where Are We Now?
Authors: Yarman Aysu , Kurbanoglu Sevinc
Published: May 2022

Since the first reported case of COVID-19 in 2019 in China and the official declaration from the World Health Organization in March 2021 as a pandemic, fast and accurate diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has played a major role worldwide. For this reason, various methods have been developed, comprising reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunoassays, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), and bio(mimetic)sensors. Among the developed methods, RT-PCR is so far the gold standard. Herein, we give an overview of the MIP-based sensors utilized since the beginning of the pandemic.
Interdigitated Organic Sensor in Multimodal Facemask’s Barrier Integrity and Wearer’s Respiration Monitoring
Authors: Galliani Marina , Ferrari Laura M. , Ismailova Esma
Published: May 2022

Facemasks are used as a personal protective equipment in medical services. They became compulsory during the recent COVID-19 pandemic at large. Their barrier effectiveness during various daily activities over time has been the subject of much debate. We propose the fabrication of an organic sensor to monitor the integrity of surgical masks to ensure individuals’ health and safety during their use. Inkjet printing of an interdigitated conducting polymer-based sensor on the inner layer of the mask proved to be an efficient and direct fabrication process to rapidly reach the end user. The sensor’s integration happens without hampering the mask functionality and preserving its original air permeability. Its resistive response to humidity accumulation allows it to monitor the mask’s wetting in use, providing a quantified way to track its barrier integrity and assist in its management. Additionally, it detects the user’s respiration rate as a capacitive response to the exhaled humidity, essential in identifying breathing difficulties or a sign of an infection. Respiration evaluations during daily activities show outstanding performance in relation to unspecific motion artifacts and breathing resolution. This e-mask yields an integrated solution for home-based individual monitoring and an advanced protective equipment for healthcare professionals.
Multimode Fano Resonances Sensing Based on a Non-Through MIM Waveguide with a Square Split-Ring Resonance Cavity
Authors: Chen Jianfeng , Lian Xinyu , Zhao Ming , Xie Chenbo
Published: May 2022

In this article, a non-through metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide that can excite fivefold Fano resonances is reported. The Fano resonances are obtained by the interaction between the modes excited by the square split-ring resonator (SSRC) and the bus waveguide. After a detailed analysis of the transmission characteristics and magnetic field strength of the structure using the finite element method (FEM), it was found that the independent tuning of Fano resonance wavelength and transmittance can be achieved by adjusting the geometric parameters of SSRC. In addition, after optimizing the geometric parameters, the refractive index sensing sensitivity (S) and figure of merit (FOM) of the structure can be optimal, which are 1290.2 nm/RIU and 3.6 × 104, respectively. Additionally, the annular cavity of the MIM waveguide structure can also be filled with biomass solution to act as a biosensor. On this basis, the structure can be produced for optical refractive index sensing in the biological, micro and nano fields.
Identifying and Ranking Landfill Sites for Municipal Solid Waste Management: An Integrated Remote Sensing and GIS Approach
Authors: Aslam Bilal , Maqsoom Ahsen , Tahir Muhammad , Ullah Fahim , Rehman Muhammad , Albattah Mohammed
Published: May 2022

Disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the significant global issues that is more evident in developing nations. One of the key methods for disposing of the MSW is locating, assessing, and planning for landfill sites. Faisalabad is one of the largest industrial cities in Pakistan. It has many sustainability challenges and planning problems, including MSW management. This study uses Faisalabad as a case study area and humbly attempts to provide a framework for identifying and ranking landfill sites and addressing MSW concerns in Faisalabad. This method can be extended and applied to similar industrial cities. The landfill sites were identified using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS). Multiple datasets, including normalized difference vegetation, water, and built-up areas indices (NDVI, NDWI, and NDBI) and physical factors including water bodies, roads, and the population that influence the landfill site selection were used to identify, rank, and select the most suitable site. The target area was distributed into 9 Thiessen polygons and ranked based on their favorability for the development and expansion of landfill sites. 70% of the area was favorable for developing and expanding landfill sites, whereas 30% was deemed unsuitable. Polygon 6, having more vegetation, a smaller population, and built-up areas was declared the best region for developing landfill sites and expansion as per rank mean indices and standard deviation (SD) of RS and vector data. The current study provides a reliable integrated mechanism based on GIS and RS that can be implemented in similar study areas and expanded to other developing countries. Accordingly, urban planning and city management can be improved, and MSW can be managed with dexterity.
Self-Compacting Earth-Based Composites: Mixture Design and Multi-Performance Characterisation
Authors: Matos Ana Mafalda , Varum Humberto
Published: May 2022

A new generation of self-compacting earth-based composites (SCEC) for vertical elements with fully exposed earth, in which the main feature is the elimination of compaction, is proposed in the current work. The first objective was to develop earth-based mixture compositions with locally available raw materials and achieve self-compactability. A Portuguese soil, typically employed in rammed earth construction, was stabilised using cementitious materials and a superplasticiser to ensure flowability. The mixture design studies allowed to achieve flowable fresh composites. Results on the hardened state showed that SCEC presents high compressive strengths (5–14 MPa). The electrical resistivity SCEC increased with time and achieved at least 5600 Ωm at 28 days, while mass loss stabilised after 14 days in a controlled environment room. Additional tests were performed on selected optimal SCEC mixtures: drying shrinkage and water capillary absorption, with promising results. Overall, this work provided initial boundaries for the mixture design and assessment of SCEC and opened the door for further studies on new and novel earth materials construction techniques.
Two-Dimensional Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework ZIF-L: A Promising Catalyst for Polymerization
Authors: Rahaman M. Abdur , Mousavi Bibimaryam , Naz Farah , Verpoort Francis
Published: May 2022

Here, for the first time, a 2D and leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-L) is reported for the synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with Mn up to 1390 kg mol−1. This synthesis method is a one-step process without any co-catalyst in a solvent-free medium. SEM, PXRD, FT-IR, TGA, and nitrogen sorption measurements confirmed the 2D and leaf-like structure of ZIF-L. The results of PXRD, SEM, TGA demonstrate that the catalyst ZIF-L is remarkably stable even after a long-time polymerization reaction. Zwitterionic Lewis pair polymerization (LPP) has been proposed for the catalytic performance of ZIF-L on methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. This MMA polymerization is consistent with a living system, where ZIF-L could reinitiate the polymerization and propagates the process by gradually growing the polymer chains.
Fundamentals and Applications of Artificial Neural Network Modelling of Continuous Bifidobacteria Monoculture at a Low Flow Rate
Authors: Dudarov Sergey , Guseva Elena , Lemetyuynen Yury , Maklyaev Ilya , Karetkin Boris , Evdokimova Svetlana , Papaev Pavel , Menshutina Natalia , Panfilov Victor
Published: May 2022

The application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to mathematical modelling in microbiology and biotechnology has been a promising and convenient tool for over 30 years because ANNs make it possible to predict complex multiparametric dependencies. This article is devoted to the investigation and justification of ANN choice for modelling the growth of a probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium adolescentis in a continuous monoculture, at low flow rates, under different oligofructose (OF) concentrations, as a preliminary study for a predictive model of the behaviour of intestinal microbiota. We considered the possibility and effectiveness of various classes of ANN. Taking into account the specifics of the experimental data, we proposed two-layer perceptrons as a mathematical modelling tool trained on the basis of the error backpropagation algorithm. We proposed and tested the mechanisms for training, testing and tuning the perceptron on the basis of both the standard ratio between the training and test sample volumes and under the condition of limited training data, due to the high cost, duration and the complexity of the experiments. We developed and tested the specific ANN models (class, structure, training settings, weight coefficients) with new data. The validity of the model was confirmed using RMSE, which was from 4.24 to 980% for different concentrations. The results showed the high efficiency of ANNs in general and bilayer perceptrons in particular in solving modelling tasks in microbiology and biotechnology, making it possible to recommend this tool for further wider applications.