bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection and Quantification of Ammonia as the Ammonium Cation in Human Saliva by 1H NMR: A Promising Probe for Health Status Monitoring, with Special Reference to Cancer
Authors: Bhogadia Mohammed , Edgar Mark , Hunwin Kayleigh , Page Georgina , Grootveld Martin
Published: June 2023

Ammonia (NH3) has been shown to be a key biomarker for a wide variety of diseases, such as hepatic and chronic kidney diseases (CKD), and cancers. It also has relevance to the oral health research area, and, hence, its determination in appropriate biofluids and tissues is of much importance. However, since it contains exchangeable >N-H protons, its analysis via 1H NMR spectroscopy, which is a widely employed technique in untargeted metabolomic studies, is rendered complicated. In this study, we focused on the 1H NMR analysis of this biomarker in less invasively collected human saliva samples, and we successfully identified and quantified it as ammonium cation (NH4+) in post-collection acidulated forms of this biofluid using both the standard calibration curve and standard addition method (SAM) approaches. For this purpose, n = 27 whole mouth saliva (WMS) samples were provided by healthy human participants, and all donors were required to follow a fasting/oral environment abstention period of 8 h prior to collection. Following acidification (pH 2.00), diluted WMS supernatant samples treated with 10% (v/v) D2O underwent 1H NMR analysis (600 MHz). The acquired results demonstrated that NH4+ can be reliably determined in these supernatants via integration of the central line of its characteristic 1:1:1 intensity triplet resonance (complete spectral range δ = 6.97–7.21 ppm). Experiments performed also demonstrated that any urease-catalysed NH3 generation occurring post-sampling in WMS samples did not affect the results acquired during the usual timespan of laboratory processing required prior to analysis. Further experiments demonstrated that oral mouth-rinsing episodes conducted prior to sample collection, as reported in previous studies, gave rise to major decreases in salivary NH4+ levels thereafter, which renormalised to only 50–60% of their basal control concentrations at the 180-min post-rinsing time point. Therefore, the WMS sample collection method employed significantly affected the absolute levels of this analyte. The LLOD was 60 μmol/L with 128 scans. The mean ± SD salivary NH4+ concentration of WMS supernatants was 11.4 ± 4.5 mmol/L. The potential extension of these analytical strategies to the screening of other metabolites with exchangeable 1H nuclei is discussed, as is their relevance to the monitoring of human disorders involving the excessive generation and/or uptake of cellular/tissue material, or altered homeostasis, in NH3.
Red Blood Cell Metabolism In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: D’Alessandro Angelo , Anastasiadi Alkmini T. , Tzounakas Vassilis L. , Nemkov Travis , Reisz Julie A. , Kriebardis Anastsios G. , Zimring James C. , Spitalnik Steven L. , Busch Michael P.
Published: June 2023

Red blood cells (RBC) are the most abundant cell in the human body, with a central role in oxygen transport and its delivery to tissues. However, omics technologies recently revealed the unanticipated complexity of the RBC proteome and metabolome, paving the way for a reinterpretation of the mechanisms by which RBC metabolism regulates systems biology beyond oxygen transport. The new data and analytical tools also informed the dissection of the changes that RBCs undergo during refrigerated storage under blood bank conditions, a logistic necessity that makes >100 million units available for life-saving transfusions every year worldwide. In this narrative review, we summarize the last decade of advances in the field of RBC metabolism in vivo and in the blood bank in vitro, a narrative largely influenced by the authors’ own journeys in this field. We hope that this review will stimulate further research in this interesting and medically important area or, at least, serve as a testament to our fascination with this simple, yet complex, cell.
FEM Analysis of Buckled Dielectric Thin-Film Packaging Based on 3D Direct Numerical Simulation
Authors: Seok Seonho
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a 3D direct numerical simulation of buckled thin-film packaging based on transferred elastic thin-film wrinkling bonded on a compliant polymer ring. The mode change of the fabricated thin-film cap is found by measuring the thin-film cap shape at different times after Si substrate debonding. The conventional linear and nonlinear buckling simulations are not adequate to understand the behavior of the thin-film buckling mechanism creating such packaging cap mode change. Direct buckling simulation is recently reported as an easy and useful numerical wrinkling simulation method. A novel 3D FEM model of a thin-film package suitable for direct 3D buckling simulation is built to reduce the mode mixture between different buckling modes. Buckling modes of the packaging cap are investigated in terms of elastic moduli of package materials and applied strain due to thermal expansion coefficient difference. Based on the simulation results, it is found that there are two main modes in the fabricated thin-film buckling package determining the shape of the transferred thin-film packaging cover depending on the elasticity ratio between the cap and sealing ring materials. The mode shift from wrinkling cap mode to out-of-plane cap mode due to applied strain along a polymeric sealing ring is found.
Electrochemical Soil Nitrate Sensor for In Situ Real-Time Monitoring
Authors: Eldeeb Mohammed A. , Dhamu Vikram Narayanan , Paul Anirban , Muthukumar Sriram , Prasad Shalini
Published: June 2023

Sustainable agriculture is the answer to the rapid rise in food demand which is straining our soil, leading to desertification, food insecurity, and ecosystem imbalance. Sustainable agriculture revolves around having real-time soil health information to allow farmers to make the correct decisions. We present an ion-selective electrode (ISE) electrochemical soil nitrate sensor that utilizes electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for direct real-time continuous soil nitrate measurement without any soil pretreatment. The sensor functionality, performance, and in-soil dynamics have been reported. The ion-selective electrode (ISE) is applied by drop casting onto the working electrode. The study was conducted on three different soil textures (clay, sandy loam, and loamy clay) to cover the range of the soil texture triangle. The non-linear regression models showed a nitrate-dependent response with R2 > 0.97 for the various soil textures in the nitrate range of 5–512 ppm. The validation of the sensor showed an error rate of less than 20% between the measured nitrate and reference nitrate for multiple different soil textures, including ones that were not used in the calibration of the sensor. A 7-day-long in situ soil study showed the capability of the sensor to measure soil nitrate in a temporally dynamic manner with an error rate of less than 20%.
Citrus sinensis Peel Oil Extraction and Evaluation as an Antibacterial and Antifungal Agent
Authors: Anwar Tauseef , Qureshi Huma , Fatima Arooj , Sattar Kanwal , Albasher Gadah , Kamal Asif , Ayaz Asma , Zaman Wajid
Published: June 2023

Throughout the tropical and subtropical climates, the genus Citrus can be found. The current study was conducted to extract the Citrus sinensis peel oil and evaluate its antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic potential. Petroleum ether was used to extract the C. sinensis peel oil through a Soxhlet apparatus. The antimicrobial and antifungal potential was determined via agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were calculated (test bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae; test fungal strains: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Altrnaria alternata). Antiparasitic activity against Leishmaniatropica was determined following standard protocol using amphotericin-B as positive and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a negative control and the percentage inhibition was calculated. The oil extracted was brownish yellow with a tangy smell, water-insoluble, density (0.778 g/cm3) and specific gravity (0.843 g/cm). In antibacterial activity, the diameter of the zone of inhibition was maximum against E. coli (14 mm) and minimum for S. agalactiae (10 mm). While in antifungal activity diameter of the zone of inhibition was maximum against A. flavus (12.5 mm) and minimum for A. alternata (8.6 mm). S. agalactiae exhibited the minimum MIC value (6 mg/mL) and in fungal strains A. alternata exhibited the minimum value (2 mm). Citrus sinensis peel oil displayed antileishmanial efficiency of 60% at 50 μg/mL concentration after 48 h of incubation. C. sinensis peel oil demonstrated antimicrobial capabilities, implying that it could be used as a natural preservative in food or as an effective treatment against a variety of pathogenic organisms. Industries should extract oil from the waste of citrus fruits which will be beneficial from an economic point of view.
On the Negative Impact of Mycorrhiza Application on Maize Plants (Zea mays) Amended with Mineral and Organic Fertilizer
Authors: Thielicke Matthias , Ahlborn Julian , Eichler-Löbermann Bettina , Eulenstein Frank
Published: June 2023

Many studies describe the positive effect of mycorrhiza, but few report on negative effects. Furthermore, there is a research gap on the mechanisms under which conditions the symbiotic mycorrhizal plant interaction or a parasitic one predominates. The study was conducted as a field experiment over three years to investigate the effect of mycorrhiza (Rhizoglomus intraradices) and soil bacteria applications on fertile soil. A standard fertilizer (diammonium phosphate) and two microgranular fertilizers (mineral and organomineral) were applied alone or in combination with the biostimulants mycorrhiza and/or soil bacteria (Bacillus velezensis). The application of the mycorrhiza as the only biostimulant resulted in lower yields compared to all fertilizer variants without the mycorrhiza or with mycorrhiza in combination with soil bacteria in the dry years 2015 (p = 0.0241) and 2016 (p = 0.0003). The usage of soil bacteria alone, or soil bacteria with fertilizer, resulted in few occasional significant differences. The combination with soil bacteria raised the yield of mycorrhiza-treated fertilizer variants to a significant extent in 2015 (p = 0.0007) and 2016 (p = 0.0019). The negative effects of mycorrhiza application in this study were alleviated by the simultaneous use of soil bacteria. Treatments with organomineral microgranular fertilizer, which were expected to promote the naturally occurring soil microbiome more than the mineral fertilizer variants, were most negatively affected by the mycorrhiza. We hypothesize that the naturally occurring microbiome of the study site was already optimal for maize plants, and thus the successful introduction of other microorganisms through the application of the mycorrhiza and soil bacteria tended not to be beneficial. The present study is the first report on the negative influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza on maize yields gained with a standard fertilizer (diammonium phosphate) and two microgranular fertilizer, and the alleviation of that impact by combined application of soil bacteria. We conclude that the application of the used biostimulants may have negative impacts on maize yield if the soil is already rich in nutrients and water is the limiting factor.
Potential Oral Microbial Markers for Differential Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Kang Sang-Bum , Kim Hyeonwoo , Kim Sangsoo , Kim Jiwon , Park Soo-Kyung , Lee Chil-Woo , Kim Kyeong Ok , Seo Geom-Seog , Kim Min Suk , Cha Jae Myung , Koo Ja Seol , Park Dong-Il
Published: June 2023

Although gut microbiome dysbiosis has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the relationship between the oral microbiota and IBD remains poorly understood. This study aimed to identify unique microbiome patterns in saliva from IBD patients and explore potential oral microbial markers for differentiating Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). A prospective cohort study recruited IBD patients (UC: n = 175, CD: n = 127) and healthy controls (HC: n = 100) to analyze their oral microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Machine learning models (sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA)) were trained with the sequencing data to classify CD and UC. Taxonomic classification resulted in 4041 phylotypes using Kraken2 and the SILVA reference database. After quality filtering, 398 samples (UC: n = 175, CD: n = 124, HC: n = 99) and 2711 phylotypes were included. Alpha diversity analysis revealed significantly reduced richness in the microbiome of IBD patients compared to healthy controls. The sPLS-DA model achieved high accuracy (mean accuracy: 0.908, and AUC: 0.966) in distinguishing IBD vs. HC, as well as good accuracy (0.846) and AUC (0.923) in differentiating CD vs. UC. These findings highlight distinct oral microbiome patterns in IBD and provide insights into potential diagnostic markers.
Geological Structures Controlling Au/Ba Mineralization from Aeromagnetic Data: Harrat ad Danun Area, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abdelrahman Kamal , El-Qassas Reda Abdu Yousef , Fnais Mohammed S. , Andráš Peter , Eldosouky Ahmed M.
Published: June 2023

Positive and negative magnetic anomalies occupied the total aeromagnetic (TM) map of the Harrat ad Danun area, Saudi Arabia. Reduction to the pole (RTP) maps display the range of magnetic values (−312.4 to 209.4 nT) that vary in shape, size, and magnitude. These anomalies generally follow the NNW–SSE (Red Sea axis trend), NE–SW, and NNE–SSW trends. The NNW-SSE linear negative and positive magnetic anomalies could be brought on by buried faults, shear zones, or subsurface dikes. In the central part, the position of Au and Ba mineralization was connected to this trend. It is concluded that the principal structures are represented by the NNW–SSE, NE–SW, and NNE–SSW tendencies. Based on gridded RTP magnetic data, the 2-D power spectrum was computed and revealed the frequency of the near-surface and deep magnetic components. It is believed that the depths of the shallow and deep magnetic sources are typically 80 m and 570 m, respectively. Additional negative and positive magnetic anomalies with varied amplitudes and frequencies, trending in the NNW–SSE, ENE–WSW, and NE–SW directions, are seen when the high-pass and low-pass maps are closely examined. Many faults in various directions cut into these anomalies. The occurrence of negative linear magnetic anomalies (−36.6 nT to −137.3 nT) at this depth (80 m) is also confirmed by this map. The TDR filter and the Euler deconvolution method were used to identify the horizontal variations in magnetic susceptibility as well as the source position and depth of magnetic sources. The linear clustering rings are thought to be caused by contacts or faults with depths between 1 m to 474 m that are oriented WNW–ESE, NNE–SSW, and NNW–SSE. These faults or contacts are thought to be particularly prominent in the western, eastern, southern, northern, and central zones. The majority of felsic and mafic dikes are found to be connected to subsurface structures, showing that three structural trends—WNW–ESE, NNE–SSW, and NNW–SSE—affect the studied area. This demonstrates that important features and shear zones control the majority of Saudi Arabia’s gold deposits. A negative magnetic anomaly that is centered in the area, trending NNW–SSE and crossing the NNE–SSW fault, is connected to the plotted gold and barite mineralization in the study area. This may imply that these two tendencies are responsible for mineralization. This result raises the possibility of mineralization in the NNW negative magnetic feature located in the western part of the area. The occurrence of gold and barite was significantly impacted by the NNW–SSE and NNE–SSW structural lineaments.
Towards Universal Industrial Augmented Reality: Implementing a Modular IAR System to Support Assembly Processes
Authors: Gerhard Detlef , Neges Matthias , Siewert Jan Luca , Wolf Mario
Published: June 2023

While Industrial Augmented Reality (IAR) has many applications across the whole product lifecycle, most IAR applications today are custom-built for specific use-cases in practice. This contribution builds upon a scoping literature review of IAR data representations to present a modern, modular IAR architecture. The individual modules of the presented approach are either responsible for user interface and user interaction or for data processing. They are use-case neutral and independent of each other, while communicating through a strictly separated application layer. To demonstrate the architecture, this contribution presents an assembly process that is supported once with a pick-to-light system and once using in situ projections. Both are implemented on top of the novel architecture, allowing most of the work on the individual models to be reused. This IAR architecture, based on clearly separated modules with defined interfaces, particularly allows small companies with limited personnel resources to adapt IAR for their specific use-cases more easily than developing single-use applications from scratch.
Solvothermally Synthesized Hierarchical Aggregates of Anatase TiO2 Nanoribbons/Nanosheets and Their Photocatalytic–Photocurrent Activities
Authors: Al-Attafi Kadhim , Mezher Hamza A. , Hammadi Ali Faraj , Al-Keisy Amar , Hamzawy Sameh , Qutaish Hamzeh , Kim Jung Ho
Published: June 2023

Hierarchical aggregates of anatase TiO2 nanoribbons/nanosheets (TiO2-NR) and anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NP) were produced through a one-step solvothermal reaction using acetic acid or ethanol and titanium isopropoxide as solvothermal reaction systems. The crystalline structure, crystalline phase, and morphologies of synthesized materials were characterized using several techniques. According to our findings, both TiO2-NR and TiO2-NP were found to have polycrystalline structures, with pure anatase phases. TiO2-NR has a three-dimensional hierarchical structure made up of aggregates of TiO2 nanoribbons/nanosheets, while TiO2-NP has a nanoparticulate structure. The photocatalytic and photocurrent activities for TiO2-NR and TiO2-NP were investigated and compared with the widely used commercial TiO2 (P25), which consists of anatase/rutile TiO2 nanoparticles, as a reference material. Our findings showed that TiO2-NR has higher photocatalytic and photocurrent performance than TiO2-NP, which are both, in turn, higher than those of P25. Our developed solvothermal method was shown to produce a pure anatase TiO2 phase for both synthesized structures, without using any surfactants or any other assisted templates. This developed solvothermal approach, and its anatase TiO2 nanostructure output, has promising potential for a wide range of energy harvesting applications, such as water pollution treatment and solar cells.
The Role of Vitamin D for Human Health: The Challenge of the Right Study Designs and Interpretation
Authors: Brenner Hermann
Published: June 2023

Numerous observational and intervention studies have suggested adverse health effects of poor vitamin D status and health benefits of vitamin D intake [...]
Beyond Meat: Alternative Sources of Proteins to Feed the World
Authors: La Barbera Francesco , Amato Mario , Verneau Fabio
Published: June 2023

A number of changes and social factors such as the expected population growth, the raising demand for animal proteins, food chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts are placing food security and sustainable diet at the very centre of the political agenda [...]
Vitamin D, Diet and Musculoskeletal Health
Authors: Agostini Deborah , Donati Zeppa Sabrina
Published: June 2023

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone, acting through genomic and non-genomic mechanisms, obtainable via two main sources: diet and exposure to ultraviolet B rays [...]
Editorial for the Special Issue “Cardiometabolic Health in Relation to Diet and Physical Activity: Experimental and Clinical Evidence”
Authors: Mahmoud Abeer M.
Published: June 2023

This Special Issue seeks to compile a centered, influential, and well-referenced volume on the impact of diet and physical activity on various cardiometabolic risk factors [...]
Hydrogel Delivery Device for the In Vitro and In Vivo Sustained Release of Active rhGALNS Enzyme
Authors: Flanagan Michael , Gan Qi , Sheth Saahil , Schafer Rachel , Ruesing Samuel , Winter Linda E. , Toth Karoly , Zustiak Silviya P. , Montaño Adriana M.
Published: June 2023

Morquio A disease is a genetic disorder resulting in N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS) deficiency, and patients are currently treated with enzyme replacement therapy via weekly intravenous enzyme infusions. A means of sustained enzyme delivery could improve patient quality of life by reducing the administration time, frequency of hospital visits, and treatment cost. In this study, we investigated poly(ethylene-glycol) (PEG) hydrogels as a tunable, hydrolytically degradable drug delivery system for the encapsulation and sustained release of recombinant human GALNS (rhGALNS). We evaluated hydrogel formulations that optimized hydrogel gelation and degradation time while retaining rhGALNS activity and sustaining rhGALNS release. We observed the release of active rhGALNS for up to 28 days in vitro from the optimized formulation. rhGALNS activity was preserved in the hydrogel relative to buffer over the release window, and encapsulation was found to have no impact on the rhGALNS structure when measured by intrinsic fluorescence, circular dichroism, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In vivo, we monitored the retention of fluorescently labeled rhGALNS in C57BL/6 albino mice when administered via subcutaneous injection and observed rhGALNS present for up to 20 days when delivered in a hydrogel versus 7 days in the buffer control. These results indicate that PEG hydrogels are suitable for the encapsulation, preservation, and sustained release of recombinant enzymes and may present an alternative method of delivering enzyme replacement therapies that improve patient quality of life.
Computational Modeling, High-Level Soluble Expression and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assessment of Recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Azurin: A Promising Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Candidate
Authors: Aslam Shakira , Rehman Hafiz Muzzammel , Sarwar Muhammad Zeeshan , Ahmad Ajaz , Ahmed Nadeem , Amirzada Muhammad Imran , Rehman Hafiz Muhammad , Yasmin Humaira , Nadeem Tariq , Bashir Hamid
Published: June 2023

Azurin is a natural protein produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa that exhibits potential anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and anti-parasitic properties. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of azurin protein against breast cancer using both in silico and in vitro analyses. The amino acid sequence of Azurin was used to predict its secondary and tertiary structures, along with its physicochemical properties, using online software. The resulting structure was validated and confirmed using Ramachandran plots and ERRAT2. The mature azurin protein comprises 128 amino acids, and the top-ranked structure obtained from I-TASSER was shown to have a molecular weight of 14 kDa and a quality factor of 100% by ERRAT2, with 87.4% of residues in the favored region of the Ramachandran plot. Docking and simulation studies of azurin protein were conducted using HDOCK and Desmond servers, respectively. The resulting analysis revealed that Azurin docked against p53 and EphB2 receptors demonstrated maximum binding affinity, indicating its potential to cause apoptosis. The recombinant azurin gene was successfully cloned and expressed in a BL21 (DE3) strain using a pET20b expression vector under the control of the pelB ladder, followed by IPTG induction. The azurin protein was purified to high levels using affinity chromatography, yielding 70 mg/L. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was performed using MCF-7 cells, revealing the significant cytotoxicity of the azurin protein to be 105 µg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of azurin protein as an anticancer drug candidate.
Enhanced Spin Hall Shift by Multipoles of Different Orders in Spherical Particles
Authors: Li Rudao , Gao Dongliang , Gao Lei
Published: June 2023

The spin–orbit interaction of light is universal in the process of light scattering, and an important aspect is the spin Hall effect. The spin Hall effect of light also exists in a three-dimensional (3D) system. When circularly polarized light is incident on a spherical particle, the transverse displacement of the particle relative to the scattering plane can be observed due to the spiraling of the Poynting vector in the far field. In general, the spin Hall shift of light is negligible and difficult to detect in experiments. In this paper, we use a high-refractive-index (HRI) core-shell structure to excite high-order multipoles and explore the interaction between different order multipoles to enhance the spin Hall shift in the microwave band. We show that there exist some angles that increase the spin Hall shift when two particular multipoles are equal and dominated. Our work provides a new perspective for understanding the interaction between light and particles and enhances the spin Hall shift of the sphere in the microwave band.
Exogenous Sorbitol Application Confers Drought Tolerance to Maize Seedlings through Up-Regulating Antioxidant System and Endogenous Sorbitol Biosynthesis
Authors: Li Jun , Zhao Meiai , Liu Ligong , Guo Xinmei , Pei Yuhe , Wang Chunxiao , Song Xiyun
Published: June 2023

This study aims to explore the impacts of exogenous sorbitol on maize seedlings under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought stress. Six treatments were set: normal condition (CK), PEG (P), 10 mM sorbitol (10S), PEG plus 10 mM sorbitol (10SP), 100 mM sorbitol (100S) and PEG plus 100 mM sorbitol (100SP). Maize seedlings’ growth under PEG-simulated drought stress was significantly inhibited and exogenous sorbitol largely alleviated this growth inhibition. The seedlings under 10SP treatment grew much better than those under P, 100S and 100SP treatments and no significant difference in growth parameters was observed between the control and 10S treatment. The seedlings treated with 10SP had higher contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, proline, ascorbic acid (AsA), reduced glutathione (GSH), sorbitol and relative water content, higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and aldose reductase, but lower contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 and relative electrical conductivity than those treated with P, 100S and 100SP. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the transcript levels of genes encoding putative aldose reductase (AR) under P treatment were significantly up-regulated in sorbitol-applied treatments. Taken together, the results demonstrated that exogenous sorbitol application conferred drought tolerance to maize seedlings by up-regulating the expression levels of AR-related genes to enhance the accumulation of intracellular osmotic substances such as sorbitol and improve antioxidant systems to tone down the damage caused by drought stress.
Effect of Amber (595 nm) Light Supplemented with Narrow Blue (430 nm) Light on Tomato Biomass
Authors: Wu Bo-Sen , Mansoori Mahnaz , Trumpler Keli , Addo Philip Wiredu , MacPherson Sarah , Lefsrud Mark
Published: June 2023

Full-spectrum light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mainly comprising 460-nm + 595-nm light are becoming a mainstay in the horticulture industry, and recent studies indicate that plant productivity under white LEDs is higher than combined blue and red LED lighting. Different light properties (wavelength and bandwidth) in full-spectrum light, particularly for the blue and amber light regions, have only partly been explored. This research aimed to characterize the effects of amber + blue light wavelengths and bandwidths on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Beefsteak) growth, morphology, and production efficiency. Tomato seedlings were subjected to four different light treatments for 60 days: narrow amber light (595 nm), narrow blue + narrow amber light (430 nm + 595 nm) with a 1:10 ratio, white LED (455 nm + 595 nm), and a high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp (control). The highest mean fresh mass yield occurred with the narrow blue + narrow amber light (479 g), followed by white LED at 20% less, HPS at 34% less, and narrow amber at 40% less. Dry mass and plant height were similar among light treatments. Supplementing narrow amber light with 430-nm blue light led to a 20% increase in chlorophyll content. Findings indicate that narrow amber light is more efficient in biomass accumulation than broad amber light and that precise selection of different blue and amber wavelengths can greatly impact the growth and development of tomato seedlings. This energy-efficient narrow-wavelength combination shows improvement over white LED lighting for maximizing tomato growth.
Long-Term Skin Safety Effect of Chlorine-Rich Water Treatment on C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Rahman Md. Habibur , Fadriquela Ailyn , Bajgai Johny , Hoon Goh Seong , Hyun Cho Syung , Kim Cheol-Su , Lee Kyu-Jae
Published: June 2023

Background: The weakened keratinocyte cohesion, wrinkle formation, loss of elasticity, decreased sebum production, increased water loss, and other skin problems caused by a compromised skin barrier can eventually result in various skin diseases. Given its current usage as a disinfectant and its potential use in medicine, it is crucial to assess the safety of chlorinated water. Objective: The study’s objective was to evaluate the long-term skin safety effects of chlorine-rich sterilized water (CIRW) treatment on C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Methods: Reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxides (GPx), and catalase (CAT), as well as cytokines involved in inflammation (such as interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1 β, IL-13, GM-CS, and TNF-α) were tested as oxidative stress markers in both serum and skin. The skin parameters such as moisture level, elasticity, sebum, pore size, and wrinkles were measured. Results: The CIRW group showed higher elasticity and humidity than the NC group. Similarly, the ROS and NO levels were decreased significantly in the CIRW group compared with those in the NC group by the oxidative stress markers in the skin. We also observed the ClRW group serum IL-5, IL-6, and IL-12 to be significantly lower than those in the NC group. Conclusions: Our results indicate that ClRW does not generally exhibit skin toxicity in vivo with long-term care or immune redox reactions such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and allergic reactions.
Prevailing Religion as a Factor in Enhancing the Right to Education: The Example of Educational Policy in Greece
Authors: Tsaousis Georgios
Published: June 2023

It is clearly stated by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that provided education should not follow or consist of a means of catechism contrary to the religious or philosophical perceptions of the parents. Consequently, a specific negative claim is established: the state, through its educational policy, must refrain from transmitting information that is contrary to the philosophical and religious beliefs of the parents. In Greece, education policy is not neutral. It has a clear Christian orientation, primarily due to the constitutional establishment of the prevailing religion. It is not a constitutional paradox but a choice of the legislator based on cultural and social characteristics. This article aims to present an analysis of the effect of the constitutional establishment of the Christian faith in the national educational policy, which aims at the development of national and religious consciousness. Given that religious education is more freely formulated, the influence of the prevailing religion proves to be catalytic. In Greece, the catechism is preferred, according to the teachings of the prevailing religion. This choice makes it easier for parents to raise their children based on their beliefs, effectively reinforcing the fundamental right established by Article 2 of the additional protocol of the ECHR.
The Different Characteristics of the Mass Transport between the Stratosphere and the Troposphere in Two Types of Cyclonic Rossby Wave-Breaking Events
Authors: Wang Huiping , Shi Chunhua , Guo Dong
Published: June 2023

Using the ERA5 reanalysis data and trajectory analysis provided by Hysplit4, a comparative analysis was conducted on the primary pathways of air particles and the dominant weather systems in two distinct cases of equatorward and poleward cyclonic Rossby wave-breaking (CWB) events. Subsequently, the characteristics of mass exchange between the stratosphere and troposphere in both CWBs were estimated and discussed. CWB events are frequently associated with the development of an upper front in subtropics and a ridge or blocking in mid-latitudes, leading to a tropopause anomaly characterized by a downward depression in the subtropics and an upward bulge in the mid-latitudes. High potential vorticity (PV) particles exhibit negligible vertical motion and are instead controlled by the circulation of the ridge or blocking, leading to a significant poleward transport. In contrast, low PV particles display noticeable vertical motion, with approximately one fourth of them ascending on the north side of the upper-level jet exit region. After CWB occurrence, approximately 25% of low PV particles moved southward and sank below 500 hPa with the downstream trough’s cold air. Most high PV particles remained in the stratosphere, and low PV particles predominantly remained in the troposphere. Only a small proportion (2% to 6%) of particles underwent stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE). In equatorward CWB, STE manifested as transport from stratosphere to troposphere, occurring mainly in 24–48 h post breaking with a maximum mass transport of approximately 1.54 × 1013 kg. In poleward CWB, STE involved transport from troposphere to stratosphere, occurring mainly within 0–18 h post breaking with a maximum mass transport of approximately 1.48 × 1013 kg.
Guess for Success? Application of a Mixture Model to Test-Wiseness on Multiple-Choice Exams
Authors: Caudill Steven B. , Mixon Franklin G.
Published: June 2023

The use of large lecture halls in business and economic education often dictates the use of multiple-choice exams to measure student learning. This study asserts that student performance on these types of exams can be viewed as the result of the process of elimination of incorrect answers, rather than the selection of the correct answer. More specifically, how students respond on a multiple-choice test can be broken down into the fractions of questions where no wrong answers can be eliminated (i.e., random guessing), one wrong answer can be eliminated, two wrong answers can be eliminated, and all wrong answers can be eliminated. The results from an empirical model, representing a mixture of binomials in which the probability of a correct choice depends on the number of incorrect choices eliminated, we find, using student performance data from a final exam in principles of microeconomics consisting of 100 multiple choice questions, that the responses to all of the questions on the exam can be characterized by some form of guessing, with more than 26 percent of questions being completed using purely random guessing.
Optimizing Higher Education for Sustainable Development through the Design and Implementation of the Global Engagement Program
Authors: Li Yuan , Liao Tianhong , Li Jia
Published: June 2023

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a significant role in the environmental, economic, social and cultural spheres and is a key element in achieving sustainable development goals. Higher education institutions, as the main producers of future leaders, are essential to the practice of ESD. However, Higher Education for Sustainable Development (HESD) is still in its infancy in many higher education institutions. This study adopts corpus-based text analysis and case study methods. Starting from the features of ESD and examining the case of the “Global Engagement Program”, this paper aims to explore how higher education can better promote sustainable development within the framework of ESD and proposes the model of HESD. Specifically, this study focuses on the following questions: (1) what are the features of ESD based on UNESCO’s official documents; (2) how does the Global Engagement Program seek to achieve HESD and (3) what is the proposed model of HESD?
Research on an Evaluation Model of Urban Seismic Resilience Based on System Dynamics: A Case Study of Chengdu, China
Authors: Li Xunchang , Liu Yifan , Zhang Wenyong , Wang Yaqian
Published: June 2023

In response to the frequent occurrence of earthquakes in Chengdu, which poses a great threat to the economy, social development, production, and people’s lives, in this study, we construct an index evaluation system and a system dynamics model for urban seismic resilience based on an analysis of the interaction between earthquake disasters and the urban system. Four types of schemes, namely, the current continuity type, economic development type, government intervention type, and resilience construction type, were designed, and the dynamic evaluation and simulation prediction of Chengdu’s seismic resilience capacity under each scheme were conducted. The research results show that, compared with the other three schemes, the resilience construction type has better universality and expansibility in terms of improving Chengdu’s seismic resilience. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a certain level of economic development, to attach importance to the construction of monitoring and warning systems, and to strive to improve emergency rescue capabilities and disaster awareness education. The model and evaluation indicators have strong applicability, and the research results can provide a theoretical reference for the evaluation of seismic resilience in Chengdu.
Synergistic Effect of Orange Oil Adjuvant on Acetamiprid in the Control of Edentatipsylla shanghaiensis
Authors: Xu Guangchun , Yan Dongdong , Fang Wensheng , Xu Dejin , Xu Lu , Wang Qiuxia , Cao Aocheng
Published: June 2023

We explore the effects of orange oil adjuvant (a kind of spray adjuvant) on the physicochemical properties of acetamiprid (pesticide) when foliage-applied to the surface of pittosporum tobira leaves. The leaf surface was characterized by the OCG (Van Oss–Chaudhury–Good) method, and the relationship between the wetting behavior of various pesticide droplets, including the change in surface free energy (SFE), adhesion force, and adhesion work, is explored to offer insight into the control of the pittosporum tobira psyllid, Edentatipsylla shanghaiensis Li et Chen. Results showed that SFE values for the adaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces were 40.13 mJ/m2 and 37.06 mJ/m2, respectively, while acetamiprid liquids had SFE values of 67.43 mJ/m2 and 63.26 mJ/m2. SFE values of the acetamiprid liquids are greater than that of the leaf surface, and the droplets on the leaves with a smaller adhesion force and lager adhesion work exhibited moderate-to-poor wettability estimated by contact angles. When the concentration of the orange oil adjuvant was between 0.10% and 1.00% above CMC (critical micellar concentration, 0.09%), the SFE values of the acetamiprid liquids were less than that of the leaf surface. The adhesion tension was greatly increased, and the adhesion work decreased by 14.46–28.13%. Meanwhile, droplets on the leaves exhibited good wettability. Field experiments showed that the synergistic effect of acetamiprid against E. shanghaiensis was significantly improved after spraying with orange oil adjuvant at the concentrations 0.10% and 1.0% above CMC. This study demonstrated the use of an orange oil adjuvant with a concentration above CMC to improve the synergistic effect of the insecticide directly through improved leaf wetting, which can provide reference for reducing pesticide dosage and increasing efficiency during the chemical control of pests.
Examining Mashrabiya’s Impact on Energy Efficiency and Cultural Aspects in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Taki Ahmad , Kumari Haripriya
Published: June 2023

The traditional and indigenous architecture in Saudi Arabia is being replaced by modern, Western-style buildings, resulting from the growing influence of Western culture. This change is evident in architectural elements such as Mashrabiya, which was once a symbol of the country’s Islamic architecture. The research paper aims to analyse the impact of modernization and the resurgence of Mashrabiya on a building’s energy efficiency, as well as the cultural and religious integrity of its historical counterpart in the context of Saudi Arabia. The study employed mixed research methods, including an online survey with Saudi Arabian households to study the public perception of Mashrabiya, case studies of residences with traditional and modern Mashrabiya, and a range of dynamic thermal simulations on a residence with traditional Mashrabiya to study its impact on energy consumption. The survey revealed that the public is aware of the changing face of Mashrabiya and its impact on the cultural and religious identity of the region, mainly privacy, but it is largely uninformed about ways to preserve its true essence. The simulations demonstrated a significant improvement in thermal comfort, i.e., an approximate 14% reduction in operative temperature and a 77.8% reduction in peak solar gain; an improvement in energy efficiency, i.e., a 5.7% reduction in monthly cooling load and a 35.5% improvement in daylight factor. Based on the findings, the research provides several recommendations to preserve the identity of traditional Mashrabiya while enhancing their energy efficiency, such as the incorporation of traditional design elements into the plans of the Saudi Arabian government.
Modeling Soil Hydraulic Properties Using Dynamic Variability of Soil Pore Size Distribution
Authors: Kumar Saurabh , Ojha Richa
Published: June 2023

The knowledge of temporal variability of soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) in agricultural fields can help in reliable assessment of crop water requirement, thus improving irrigation water usage efficiency. The Fokker–Planck equation (FPE) and its modified forms are popularly used to describe temporal variation in SHPs. These models consider statistical description of soil pore size distribution (PSD) as a probability density function to estimate SHP evolution with time. In this study, we compare four different models to describe the temporal evolution of PSD and SHPs for multiple datasets across the world with different soil types, tillage conditions and crop cover. Further, field experiments were carried out at an experimental agricultural field at IIT Kanpur for rice crops, and the performance of these models was also evaluated for Indian conditions. It is observed that existing models have low accuracy for small pore radii values, and the prediction ability of these models is more affected by soil type rather than tillage conditions. More observations can improve the performance of FPE-based numerical and analytical models. The POWER Model is the least accurate because of its inherent power law assumption of PSD, which results in incorrect values for low pore radii. The FPE analytical model can be reliably used for predicting PSD and SHP evolution at most of the field sites.
An Empirical Study of the Technoparks in Turkey in Investigating the Challenges and Potential of Designing Intelligent Spaces
Authors: Erişen Serdar
Published: June 2023

The use of innovative technologies in workspaces, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart systems, has been increasing, yet it remains in the minority of the total number of smart system applications. However, universities and technopoles are part of open innovation that can encourage experimental IoT and smart system projects in places. This research considers the challenges and advantages of developing intelligent environments with smart systems in the Technology Development Zones (TDZs) of Turkey. The growth of Silicon Valley has inspired many technopoles in different countries. Thus, the article includes first a comprehensive survey of the story of Silicon Valley and the emerging technological potential of open and responsible innovation for intelligent spaces and technoparks with rising innovative interest. The study then conducts empirical research in inspecting the performance of TDZs in Turkey. In the research, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models are applied in the analyses of critical performance indicators for encouraging incentives and investments in innovative attempts and productivity in TDZs; the challenges, potential, and need for intelligent spaces are evaluated accordingly. This article also reports on the minority of the design staff and the lack of innovation in developing intelligent spaces in the organization of the creative class in Turkey. Consequently, the research proposes a set of implementations for deploying intelligent spaces to be practiced in new and existing TDZs by considering their potential for sustainable and responsible innovation.
Comparative Analysis of Research Trends and Hotspots of Foreign and Chinese Building Carbon Emissions Based on Bibliometrics
Authors: Yang Jiaojiao , Wang Ting , Hu Yujie , Deng Qiyun , Mo Shu
Published: June 2023

The construction industry has great potential for carbon emission reduction, which strongly impacts the peak of carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. This paper compares foreign and Chinese articles on building carbon emissions from publication objects, journals, subject categories, authors, and institutions. It discusses the differences in research trends and hotspots from keywords, reference co-citation analysis, and historical citation analysis. The results show that the number of publications on building carbon emissions steadily increased. The research on building carbon emissions in foreign articles is earlier and more systematic than that in China, and the output and influence of foreign articles are generally more prominent than those of Chinese articles. However, the production and influence of articles by certain Chinese authors and institutions have been remarkable. The topics of ‘CO2 emission’, ‘life-cycle assessment’, ‘environmental impact’, ‘greenhouse gas emission’, and ‘renewable energy’ are essential subjects for foreign and Chinese articles in the research field of building carbon emissions and the development trend is similar. The thematic direction of Chinese articles is more divergent and lacks well-developed themes that greatly influence other research themes. Finally, based on the research results, this study puts forward the potential future research direction of building carbon emissions. The results of this study will provide a current and systematic overview of this field, which will be helpful for future researchers to promote the development of research on building carbon emissions.