bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADSORPSI LOGAM NIKEL MENGGUNAKAN ADSORBEN SERBUK GERGAJI KAYU
Authors: Maharani Dian Fitriah , Sa’diyah Khalimatus
Published: August 2021

Pertumbuhan penduduk dan perkembangan industri yang semakin pesat menyebabkan limbah yang dibuang  ke lingkungan semakin banyak. Salah satu jenis polutan yang sering mencemari lingkungan adalah bahan yang  berasal dari logam berat yaitu Nikel. Metode adsorpsi merupakan metode yang dapat digunakan untuk  mengolah air limbah yang tercemar logam berat. Alternatif adsorben yang bisa digunakan adalah karbon aktif  dari serbuk gergaji kayu yang diperoleh dari proses pirolisis dan diaktivasi kimia. Keunggulan adsorben ini yaitu  berasal dari limbah biomassa yang dapat menjadi alternatif untuk masalah pencemaran lingkungan. Penelitian  ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kemampuan adsorpsi adsorben hasil pirolisis serbuk gergaji kayu  terhadap larutan yang mengandung logam nikel yaitu larutan NiSO₄ dengan konsentrasi 200 ppm, 600 ppm,  800 ppm dan 1000 ppm. Hasil penelitian didapatkan % penurunan kadar Nikel menggunakan serbuk gergaji  kayu maksimum sekitar 96%. Setelah dilakukan adsorpsi, adsorben cenderung menarik molekul lain pada  permukaannya yaitu logam nikel yang mengakibatkan ukuran pori adsorben semakin kecil. Model  kesetimbangan adsorpsi diperoleh model persamaan Freundlich dengan kesesuaian yang lebih memenuhi  dengan nilai R² = 0,9684.
EVALUASI EFISIENSI HEAT EXCHANGER (E-3101) PADA PABRIK ALF3 DEPARTEMEN PRODUKSI III B PT PETROKIMIA GRESIK
Authors: Ansar Ellana Nabilah Nur Averina , Maylia Annyssa , Chumaidi Achmad , Kresmagus Aldifi
Published: August 2021

PT Petrokimia Gresik merupakan salah satu perusahaan pupuk terbesar yang ada di Indonesia. Selain menghasilkan pupuk, PT Petrokimia Gresik juga menghasilkan produk non-pupuk salah satunya yaitu AlF3 (Aluminium Fluorida) yang memiliki kapasitas produksi 12.600 ton/tahun. Bahan baku yang digunakan adalah H2SiF6 (Asam Fluosilikat) serta Al(OH)3 (Aluminium Hidroksida). Dalam pembuatannya, H2SiF6 perlu dipanaskan terlebih dahulu menggunakan heater (E-3101) hingga suhunya mencapai 75 – 80°C. Alat penukar panas tersebut memiliki tipe shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) 1-1. Seiring berjalannya waktu, performa heat exchanger akan menurun. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kelayakan dari alat penukar panas tersebut. Metode yang digunakan adalah dengan membandingkan nilai efisiensi alat pada tanggal 25 – 29 Januari 2021 dengan nilai efisiensi desain alat. Berdasarkan hasil evaluasi, didapatkan bahwa terjadi penurunan nilai efisiensi dari 98,86% menjadi 85,64%. Hal tersebut dapat terjadi akibat adanya pengotor maupun kerak yang ada pada alat tersebut. Perlu dilakukan pembersihan secara berkala agar alat dapat bekerja secara optimal.
EVALUASI EFEKTIVITAS ALAT HEAT EXCHANGER 11E-25 PADA KILANG FUEL OIL COMPLEX (FOC) I DI PT PERTAMINA RU-IV CILACAP
Authors: Khairunnisa Khairunnisa , Naryono Eko , A M Ismail
Published: August 2021

Heat exchanger merupakan suatu alat yang berfungsi untuk mentransfer energi panas antara dua fluida  berdasarkan perbedaan temperatur. Pada PT Pertamina RU-IV Cilacap, Heat Exchanger 11E-25 digunakan untuk  memanaskan crude oil sebelum memasuki ke furnace. Lokasi Heat Exchanger 11E-25 ini berada di Crude  Distilling Unit (CDU) I pada Kilang Fuel Oil Complex (FOC) I. Sistem peralatan ini telah relatif lama dioperasikan,  yang diperkirakan efektivitas dari Heat Exchanger 11E-25 ini menurun sehingga perlu diketahui. Metode  evaluasi efektivitas alat heat exchanger dilakukan dengan cara pengambilan data suhu pemanas masuk dan  keluar saat kondisi di lapangan, data pada control room berupa flowrate crude oil dan long residue, hasil dari  laboratorium pengujian hasil produk berupa viskositas crude oil dan long residue serta buku literatur.  Berdasarkan hasil perhitungan didapatkan nilai Dirt Factor (Rd) sebesar 0,0146 hr.ft2.°F/Btu dengan nilai yang  diperbolehkan sebesar 0,003 hr.ft2.°F/Btu. Pada Pressure Drop (ΔP) didapatkan nilai sebesar 7,160 Psi dengan  nilai yang diperbolehkan sebesar 10 Psi. Efektivitas pada kondisi aktual (kondisi saat di lapangan) sebesar 38%  dengan nilai yang diperbolehkan sebesar 30%. Berdasarkan harga Rd sebesar 0,0146 hr.ft2.°F/Btu dengan  melebihi nilai yang diperbolehkan maka Heat Exchanger 11E-25 masih layak dioperasikan namun demikian  perlu dilakukan pembersihan secara berkala agar dapat bekerja secara maksimal.
PEMBUATAN PLASTIK BIODEGRADABLE DARI PATI LIMBAH TONGKOL JAGUNG (ZEA MAYS) DENGAN PENAMBAHAN FILLER KALSIUM SILIKAT DAN KALSIUM KARBONAT
Authors: Radtra Abdillah Hilmi Adiprawira , Udjiana Sigit
Published: August 2021

Permasalahan tentang sampah plastik di Indonesia berdampak pada ketidakstabilan ekosistem lingkungan dan peningkatan pencemaran lingkungan. Pemakaian plastik dalam kehidupan sehari-hari sebagai pengemas terus mengalami peningkatan menyebabkan limbah plastik semakin bertambah dari hari ke hari. Sampah plastik berasal dari bahan baku minyak bumi sulit terurai oleh mikroba di dalam tanah. Plastik biodegradable adalah plastik yang dapat terdegradasi oleh mikroorganisme dan terbuat dari bahan yang dapat diperbaharui. Penelitian pemanfaatan sintesis plastik biodegaradable telah dikembangkan karena bersifat ramah lingkungan dan terbarukan. Plastik biodegradable merupakan bahan alternatif untuk menggantikan plastik kemasan konvensional agar tidak mencemari lingkungan. Plastik biodegradable dibuat dengan polimer alam sebagai bahan utama sehingga mudah dicerna oleh mikroorganisme. Tongkol jagung merupakan limbah dari pengolahan jagung yang digunakan industri makanan. Kandungan pati dalam tongkol jagung dapat dimanfaatkan untuk dibuat menjadi plastik biodegradable. Dalam penelitian ini, plastik biodegradable disintesis dari pati tongkol jagung dengan filler kalsium karbonat dan kalsium silikat lalu sorbitol sebagai plasticizer. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui variasi filler terhadap hasil plastik biodegrable yang dibuat. Karakteristik biodegradable ditandai dengan adanya uji biodegradasi, ketahanan air, dan uji kuat tarik.
ANALISA KANDUNGAN AIR PENDINGIN (SIRKULASI) T. 6520 DAN T.6530 PADA SERVICE UNIT III A PT PETROKIMIA GRESIK
Authors: Pujianto Wahyu , Sudarminto Hadi Priya , Taufiqi Rohmad
Published: August 2021

Menara pendingin berguna untuk mendinginkan air dengan sistem kontak langsung yang mengakibatkan  sebagian air menguap. Air yang akan digunakan dalam proses pendinginan disebut air demineral. Penelitian ini  bertujuan untuk menganalisa kandungan air demineralisasi yang digunakan sebagai air pendingin agar  memenuhi spesifikasi. Analisa kandungan air pada T.6520 dan T.6530 dilakukan dengan metode studi literatur  dari penelitian terdahulu yang dilakukan pada hari kerja serta dilakukan pencatatan secara berkala. Variabel uji  antara lain pH, daya hantar listrik, kesadahan Ca, dan silika. pH air pada T.6520 dan T.6530 berturut turut 7.4,  7.5, 7.5 dan 7.8, 8.2, 8.2, kesadahan Ca pada T.6520 dan T.6530 berturut turut 420 ppm, 410 ppm, 420 ppm  dan 410 ppm, 430 ppm, 430 ppm, daya hantar listrik pada T.6520 dan T.6530 berturut turut 1540 µS/cm, 1532  µS/cm, 1540 µS/cm dan 1690 µS/cm, 1702 µS/cm, 1709 µS/cm, kadar silika pada T.6520 dan T.6530 berturut  turut 95 ppm, 90 ppm, 93 ppm dan 102 ppm, 95 ppm, 99 ppm. Hasil dari analisa kandungan T.6520 dan T.6520  menunjukkan kualitas air untuk pendingin T.6520 dan T.6530 memenuhi standar minimum SASU PT Petrokimia  Gresik sehingga air demineral ini layak digunakan sebagai air pendingin T.6520 dan T.6530 di unit servis pabrik  III A.
PERHITUNGAN NERACA MASSA CONVERTER (30-R-1201) PADA UNIT ASAM SULFAT PABRIK III B PT PETROKIMIA GRESIK
Authors: Az Zahra Aulia Sari Az Zahra , Narulita Mia , Mufid Mufid , Fanani Alex Zainul
Published: August 2021

PT Petrokimia Gresik merupakan perusahaan penghasil pupuk terlengkap di Indonesia. Total produksi pupuk  bahkan mencapai 8,9 ton/hari dimana produk pupuk sebesar 5 juta ton/tahun, dan produk non pupuk sebanyak  3,9 juta ton/tahun. Asam sulfat adalah salah satu produk non pupuk dari PT Petrokimia Gresik yang  menggunakan bahan baku utamanya berupa sulfur padat yang dicairkan. Produk asam sulfat di produksi  sebanyak 600.000 ton/tahun. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menghitung neraca massa converter proses produksi unit asam sulfat pabrik III B. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah membuat  diagram alir proses, menandai variabel aliran, menentukan basis perhitungan, mengonversikan laju alir,  menyusun neraca dan menyelesaikan neraca massa. Pada proses produksi asam sulfat terdapat alat yang  bernama converter. Converter adalah alat yang berfungsi sebagai tempat konversi gas SO2 menjadi SO3. Pada  converter terdapat empat bed dimana alat ini menggunakan proses double contact. Hasil perhitungan neraca  massa didapatkan pada bed 1-3 didapatkan neraca massa input = output (balance) sebesar 237703,600 kg/h,  dan pada bed empat juga didapatkan neraca massa input = output (balance) sebesar 174808,133 kg/h.
MARKET BASKET ANALYSIS USING THE FP-GROWTH ALGORITHM TO DETERMINE CROSS-SELLING
Authors: Ghassani Fildzah Zia , Asep Jamaludin  , Agung Susilo Yuda Irawan
Published: August 2021

Koperasi KAOCHEM Sinergi Mandiri merupakan koperasi yang menyediakan berbagai macam kebutuhan pokok seperti sembako yang dapat memenuhi kebutuhan untuk para anggotanya. Data transaksi koperasi tersebut hanya disimpan sebagai laporan. Association rules merupakan metode pada data mining yang berfungsi untuk mengidentifikasi item yang memiliki nilai kemungkinan akan muncul secara bersamaan dengan item lainnya. Salah satu implementasi dari metode association adalah Market Basket Analysis. Data yang digunakan yaitu data transaksi bulan November 2019. Data mining merupakan salah satu proses atau tahapan dari metode KDD. Proses data mining dilakukan dengan menggunakan algoritma FP-Growth yang merupakan salah satu algoritma untuk menghitung himpunan yang sering muncul dari data. Peneliti menganalisis data transaksi dengan menggunakan tools RapidMiner Studio. Pada proses data mining dengan menggunakan FP-Growth peneliti menentukan nilai minimum support 3% dan minimum confidence 50%. Proses association dengan menggunakan nilai tersebut menghasilkan 3 strong rules yaitu if ades 350 ml, then gorengan/lontong dengan nilai support 0,030 dan confidence 0,556 dan if gorengan st, then gorengan/lontong dengan nilai support 0,048 dan confidence 0,639, serta if nasi uduk/bacang, then gorengan/lontong dengan nilai support 0,031 dan confidence 0,824. Hasil dari association rules tersebut dapat diterapkan dengan menggunakan salah satu teknik marketing yaitu cross-selling untuk meningkatkan penjualan koperasi tersebut.
Structural Compression of Convolutional Neural Networks with Applications in Interpretability
Authors: Abbasi-Asl Reza , Yu Bin
Published: August 2021

Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successful in many tasks in machine vision, however, millions of weights in the form of thousands of convolutional filters in CNNs make them difficult for human interpretation or understanding in science. In this article, we introduce a greedy structural compression scheme to obtain smaller and more interpretable CNNs, while achieving close to original accuracy. The compression is based on pruning filters with the least contribution to the classification accuracy or the lowest Classification Accuracy Reduction (CAR) importance index. We demonstrate the interpretability of CAR-compressed CNNs by showing that our algorithm prunes filters with visually redundant functionalities such as color filters. These compressed networks are easier to interpret because they retain the filter diversity of uncompressed networks with an order of magnitude fewer filters. Finally, a variant of CAR is introduced to quantify the importance of each image category to each CNN filter. Specifically, the most and the least important class labels are shown to be meaningful interpretations of each filter.
Validation of a Learning Trajectory-Based Diagnostic Mathematics Assessment System as a Trading Zone
Authors: Confrey Jere , Shah Meetal , Toutkoushian Emily
Published: August 2021

This study reports how a validation argument for a learning trajectory (LT) is constituted from test design, empirical recovery, and data use through a collaborative process, described as a “trading zone” among learning scientists, psychometricians, and practitioners. The validation argument is tied to a learning theory about learning trajectories and a framework (LT-based data-driven decision-making, or LT-DDDM) to guide instructional modifications. A validation study was conducted on a middle school LT on “Relations and Functions” using a Rasch model and stepwise regression. Of five potentially non-conforming items, three were adjusted, one retained to collect more data, and one was flagged as a discussion item. One LT level description was revised. A linear logistic test model (LLTM) revealed that LT level and item type explained substantial variance in item difficulty. Using the LT-DDDM framework, a hypothesized teacher analysis of a class report led to three conjectures for interventions, demonstrating the LT assessment’s potential to inform instructional decision-making.
A 104-bp Structural Variation of the ADPRHL1 Gene Is Associated With Growth Traits in Chickens
Authors: Li Tong , Chen Bingjie , Wei Chengjie , Hou Dan , Qin Panpan , Jing Zhenzhu , Ma Haoran , Niu Xinran , Wang Chunxiu , Han Ruili , Li Hong , Liu Xiaojun , Xu Huifen , Kang Xiangtao , Li Zhuanjian
Published: August 2021

Analyzing marker-assisted breeding is an important method utilized in modern molecular breeding. Recent studies have determined that a large number of molecular markers appear to explain the impact of “lost heritability” on human height. Therefore, it is necessary to locate molecular marker sites in poultry and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms governing their effects. In this study, we found a 104-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the 5′UTR of the ADPRHL1 gene through resequencing. In cross-designed F2 resource groups, the indel was significantly associated with weight at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 10 weeks and a number of other traits [carcass weight (CW), semi-evisceration weight (SEW), evisceration weight (EW), claw weight (CLW), wings weight (DWW), gizzard weight (GW), pancreas weight (PW), chest muscle weight (CMW), leg weight (LW), leg muscle weight (LMW), shedding Weight (SW), liver rate (LR), and leg muscle rate (LMR)] (P < 0.05). In brief, the insertion-insertion (II) genotype was significantly associated with the greatest growth traits and meat quality traits, whereas the values associated with the insertion-deletion (ID) genotype were the lowest in the F2 reciprocal cross chickens. The mutation sites were genotyped in 4,526 individuals from 12 different chicken breeds and cross-designed F2 resource groups. The II genotype is the most important genotype in commercial broilers, and the I allele frequency observed in these breeds is relatively high. Deletion mutations tend to be fixed in commercial broilers. However, there is still considerable great potential for breeding in dual-purpose chickens and commercial laying hens. A luciferase reporter assay showed that the II genotype of the ADPRHL1 gene possessed 2.49-fold higher promoter activity than the DD genotype (P < 0.05). We hypothesized that this indel might affect the transcriptional activity of ADPRHL1, thereby affecting the growth traits of chickens. These findings may help to elucidate the function of the ADPRHL1 gene and facilitate enhanced reproduction in the chicken industry.
Mucosal Microbiota and Metabolome in the Ileum of Hu Sheep Offered a Low-Grain, Pelleted or Non-pelleted High-Grain Diet
Authors: Zhang Ruiyang , Zhong Zhiqiang , Ma Huiting , Lin Limei , Xie Fei , Mao Shengyong , Irwin David M. , Wang Zhe , Zhang Shuyi
Published: August 2021

Alterations in mucosal microbiota and metabolites are critical to intestinal homeostasis and host health. This study used a combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to investigate mucosal microbiota and their metabolic profiles in the ileum of Hu sheep fed different diets. Here, we randomly allocated 15 Hu sheep to three diets, a non-pelleted low-grain diet (control diet; CON), a non-pelleted high-grain diet (HG), and a pelleted high-grain diet (HP). After 60 days of treatment, ileal mucosal samples were collected for microbiome and metabolome analysis. The results of principal coordinate analysis and permutation multivariate analysis showed that there was a tendency for microbial differentiation between the CON and HG groups (P < 0.1), although no significant difference between the HG and HP groups was observed (P > 0.05). Compared with the CON diet, the HG diet decreased (P < 0.05) the abundance of some probiotic species (e.g., Sphingomonas and Candidatus Arthromitus) and increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of acid-producing microbiota (e.g., Succiniclasticum, Nesterenkonia, and Alloprevotella) in the ileal mucosa. Compared with the HG diet, the HP diet decreased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Alloprevotella and increased (P < 0.05) the abundance of Mycoplasma in the ileal mucosa. Furthermore, partial least squares discriminant analysis and orthogonal partial least-squared discriminant analysis indicated that different dietary treatments resulted in different metabolic patterns in the ileal mucosa of the CON, HG, and HP groups. The HG diet altered (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05) the metabolic patterns of amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides/nucleosides (such as increased amounts of ornithine, tyrosine, cis-9-palmitoleic acid, and adenosine) compared with the CON diet. However, 10 differential metabolites (VIP > 1 and P < 0.05; including tyrosine, ornithine, and cis-9-palmitoleic acid) identified in the HG group exhibited a diametrically opposite trend in the HP group, suggesting that the HP diet could partially eliminate the changes brought upon by the HG diet. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that different diets altered the ileal mucosal microbiota and metabolites and provide new insight into the effects of high-grain diets on the intestinal health of ruminant animals.
Arterial Spin Labeling Cerebral Perfusion Changes in Chronic Tinnitus With Tension-Type Headache
Authors: Xu Zhen-Gui , Xu Jin-Jing , Hu Jinghua , Wu Yuanqing , Wang Dan
Published: August 2021

Purpose: Tinnitus is along with tension-type headache that will influence the cerebral blood flow (CBF) and accelerate the tinnitus severity. However, the potential associations between tension-type headache and tinnitus is still unknown. The current study will explore whether abnormal CBF exists in tinnitus patients and examine the effects of headache on CBF in tinnitus patients.

Materials and Methods: Resting-state perfusion magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 40 chronic tinnitus patients and 50 healthy controls using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling. Regions with CBF differences between tinnitus patients and healthy controls were investigated. The effects of headache on tinnitus for CBF changes were further explored. Correlation analyses revealed the relationship between CBF values and tinnitus distress as well as CBF values and headache degree.

Results: Relative to healthy controls, chronic tinnitus showed decreased CBF, mainly in right superior temporal gyrus (STG), left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), and left superior frontal gyrus (SFG); the CBF in the right STG and the left MFG was negatively correlated with THQ scores (r = −0.553, p = 0.001; r = −0.399, p = 0.017). We also observed a significant effect of headache on tinnitus for CBF in the right STG. Furthermore, the headache degree was correlated positively with tinnitus distress (r = 0.594, p = 0.020).

Conclusion: Decreased CBF in auditory and prefrontal cortex was observed in chronic tinnitus patients. Headache may accelerate CBF reductions in tinnitus, which may form the basis for the neurological mechanism in chronic tinnitus with tension-type headache.
Analysis of Predictive Risk Factors in Aquaporin-4-IgG Positive Highly Active Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Li Yanfei , Zhang Jinwei , Zhou Yongyan , Xie Haojie , Duan Ranran , Jing Lijun , Yao Yaobing , Teng Junfang , Jia Yanjie
Published: August 2021

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are inflammatory diseases with a high risk of recurrence and progressive disability, and it is crucial to find sensitive and reliable biomarkers for prognosis and the early prediction of relapse. Highly active NMOSD is defined as two or more clinical relapses within a 12-month period. In this study, we analyzed independent risk factors among patients with aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG positive highly active NMOSD. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 94 AQP4-IgG positive patients with highly active NMOSD and 105 AQP4-IgG positive controls with non-highly active NMOSD. In order to rule out possible effects of previous treatments (such as glucocorticoids, immunoglobulin, and immunosuppressants), we focused on the first-attack NMOSD patients admitted to our hospital. Clinical data, including the age of onset, gender, comorbidities, and serum analysis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis results, were collected, after which logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between the clinical factors and relapse outcomes. The prevalence of connective tissue disease and the proportion of antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positivity were higher in the highly active NMOSD group than in the control group. The leukocyte counts, homocysteine (Hcy) levels, CSF leukocyte counts, protein concentrations, IgG indexes, and 24h IgG synthesis rates were also higher in the highly active NMOSD group. The results of multivariate analysis indicated that connective tissue disease comorbidity (OR = 5.953, 95% CI: 1.221–29.034, P = 0.027), Hcy levels (OR = 1.063, 95% CI: 1.003–1.126, P = 0.04), and 24h IgG synthesis rate (OR = 1.038, 95% CI: 1.003–1.075, P = 0.034) may be independent risk factors for AQP4-IgG positive highly active NMOSD relapse after adjusting for various variables. Comorbidity of connective tissue disease, Hcy levels, and 24h IgG synthesis rate may be independent risk factors for AQP4-IgG positive highly active NMOSD.
A Novel Statistical Optimization Algorithm for Estimating Perfusion Curves in Susceptibility Contrast-Enhanced MRI
Authors: Hu Zhenghui , Li Fei , Shui Junhui , Tang Yituo , Lin Qiang
Published: August 2021

Dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for evaluating intravascular indicator dynamics, which in turn is valuable for understanding brain physiology and pathophysiology. This procedure usually involves fitting a gamma-variate function to observed concentration-time curves in order to eliminate undesired effects of recirculation and the leakage of contrast agents. Several conventional curve-fitting approaches are routinely applied. The nonlinear optimization methods typically are computationally expensive and require reliable initial values to guarantee success, whereas a logarithmic linear least-squares (LL-LS) method is more stable and efficient, and does not suffer from the initial-value problem, but it can show degraded performance, especially when a few data or outliers are present. In this paper, we demonstrate, that the original perfusion curve-fitting problem can be transformed into a gamma-distribution-fitting problem by treating the concentration-time curves as a random sample from a gamma distribution with time as the random variable. A robust maximum-likelihood estimation (MLE) algorithm can then be readily adopted to solve this problem. The performance of the proposed method is compared with the nonlinear Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) method and the LL-LS method using both synthetic and real data. The results show that the performance of the proposed approach is far superior to those of the other two methods, while keeping the advantages of the LL-LS method, such as easy implementation, low computational load, and dispensing with the need to guess the initial values. We argue that the proposed method represents an attractive alternative option for assessing intravascular indicator dynamics in clinical applications. Moreover, we also provide valuable suggestions on how to select valid data points and set the initial values in the two traditional approaches (LL-LS and nonlinear L-M methods) to achieve more reliable estimations.
Identification of CDC20 as a Novel Biomarker in Diagnosis and Treatment of Wilms Tumor
Authors: Shi Qinlin , Tang Bo , Li Yanping , Li Yonglin , Lin Tao , He Dawei , Wei Guanghui
Published: August 2021

Objective: Wilms tumor (WT) is a common malignant solid tumor in children. Many tumor biomarkers have been reported; however, there are poorly targetable molecular mechanisms which have been defined in WT. This study aimed to identify the oncogene in WT and explore the potential mechanisms.

Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in three independent RNA-seq datasets were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas data portal and the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE66405 and GSE73209). The common DEGs were then subjected to Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis. The protein expression levels of the hub gene were analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting in a 60 WT sample. The univariate Kaplan–Meier analysis for overall survival was performed, and the log-rank test was utilized. A small interfering RNA targeting cell division cycle 20 (CDC20) was transfected into G401 and SK-NEP-1 cell lines. The Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and wound healing assay were used to observe the changes in cell proliferation and migration after transfection. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect on the cell cycle. Western blot was conducted to study the changes of related functional proteins.

Results: We commonly identified 44 upregulation and 272 downregulation differentially expressed genes in three independent RNA-seq datasets. Gene and pathway enrichment analyses of the regulatory networks involving hub genes suggested that cell cycle changes are crucial in WT. The top 15 highly connected genes were found by PPI network analysis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that one candidate biomarker, CDC20, for the diagnosis of WT was detected, and its high expression predicted poor prognosis of WT patients. Moreover, the area under the curve value obtained by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis from paired WT samples was 0.9181. Finally, we found that the suppression of CDC20 inhibited proliferation and migration and resulted in G2/M phase arrest in WT cells. The mechanism may be involved in increasing the protein level of securin, cyclin B1, and cyclin A

Conclusion: Our results suggest that CDC20 could serve as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for WT, and suppression of CDC20 may be a potential approach for the prevention and treatment of WT.
Ugonin J Acts as a SARS-CoV-2 3C-like Protease Inhibitor and Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Properties
Authors: Chiou Wei-Chung , Lu Hsu-Feng , Hsu Nung-Yu , Chang Tein-Yao , Chin Yuan-Fan , Liu Ping-Cheng , Lo Jir-Mehng , Wu Yeh B , Yang Jinn-Moon , Huang Cheng
Published: August 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes severe “flu-like” symptoms that can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pneumonia, renal failure, and death. From the therapeutic perspective, 3-chymotrypsin-like protein (3CLpro) is a plausible target for direct-acting antiviral agents because of its indispensable role in viral replication. The flavonoid ugonin J (UJ) has been reported to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the potential of UJ as an antiviral agent remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic activity of UJ against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, UJ has a distinct inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, compared to luteolin, kaempferol, and isokaempferide. Specifically, UJ blocks the active site of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro by forming hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions with H163, M165 and E166, G143 and C145, Q189, and P168 in subsites S1, S1′, S2, and S4, respectively. In addition, UJ forms strong, stable interactions with core pharmacophore anchors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro in a computational model. UJ shows consistent anti-inflammatory activity in inflamed human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cells. Furthermore, UJ has a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and a 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of about 783 and 2.38 µM, respectively, with a selectivity index (SI) value of 329, in SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells. Taken together, UJ is a direct-acting antiviral that obstructs the activity of a fundamental protease of SARS-CoV-2, offering the therapeutic potential for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Mogroside V Alleviates Oocyte Meiotic Defects and Quality Deterioration in Benzo(a)pyrene-Exposed Mice
Authors: Sui Lumin , Yan Ke , Zhang Huiting , Nie Junyu , Yang Xiaogan , Xu Chang-Long , Liang Xingwei
Published: August 2021

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) exposure adversely affects female reproduction, especially oocyte meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development. Although we previously found that mogroside V (MV), a major bioactive component of S. grosvenorii, can protect oocytes from quality deterioration caused by certain stresses, whether MV can alleviate BaP exposure-mediated oocyte meiotic defects remains unknown. In this study, female mice were exposed to BaP and treated concomitantly with MV by gavage. We found that BaP exposure reduced the oocyte maturation rate and blastocyst formation rate, which was associated with increased abnormalities in spindle formation and chromosome alignment, reduced acetylated tubulin levels, damaged actin polymerization and reduced Juno levels, indicating that BaP exposure results in oocyte nucleic and cytoplasmic damage. Interestingly, MV treatment significantly alleviated all the BaP exposure-mediated defects mentioned above, indicating that MV can protect oocytes from BaP exposure-mediated nucleic and cytoplasmic damage. Additionally, BaP exposure increased intracellular ROS levels, meanwhile induced DNA damage and early apoptosis in oocytes, but MV treatment ameliorated these defective parameters, therefore it is possible that MV restored BaP-mediated oocyte defects by reducing oxidative stress. In summary, our findings demonstrate that MV might alleviate oocyte meiotic defects and quality deterioration in BaP-exposed mice.
Novel Temporal Expression Patterns of EBF-Binding Proteins in Wing Morphs of The Grain Aphid Sitobion miscanthi
Authors: Zhang Siyu , Zhang Qian , Jiang Xin , Li Qian , Qin Yaoguo , Wang Wenkai , Fan Jia , Chen Julian
Published: August 2021

High chemosensitivity of insects to volatile organic compounds (VOC) stimuli is mediated by odorant binding proteins (OBPs). In aphids, three OBPs (OBP3, OBP7 and OBP9) are E-β-farnesene (EBF)-binding proteins. Winged aphids are generally more sensitive than wingless aphids to VOCs, thus, wing presence is a phenotypic correlate of olfaction sensitivity. Here, we investigate the detailed temporal expression of these EBF-binding proteins and two other OBPs (OBP6 and OBP10), in the grain aphid Sitobion miscanthi 0 h, 2 h, 1 day, 3 days, 10 days, and 20 days after adult emergence. Both winged and wingless aphids were examined to further uncover phenotypic specification. Then, the expression patterns before and after EBF induction were analyzed. Throughout adulthood, only OBP7 had significantly higher antennal expression in winged aphids; however, there was no significant difference in the antennal expression of OBP3 between wing morphs at most time points. Except it was lower in newly emerged winged aphids but increased rapidly to the same level in wingless aphids at 1 day. OBP9 did not differ in expression between the morphs and was the only OBP that did not exhibit an expression trough at the beginning of the adult stage (0 h). The expression of OBP9 remained relatively stable and high throughout the adult stage in both phenotypes, showing the highest level among the three EBF-binding proteins. After EBF induction, its expression was further up-regulated in both morphs. Therefore, this protein may be an important molecule for EBF recognition in aphids. OBP7 strongly responded to EBF but only in winged aphids, suggesting that this protein is important in the more sensitive EBF recognition process of winged aphids. In addition, the antennal expression level of OBP3 did not respond to EBF induction. These findings revealed a temporal expression pattern of OBPs in aphids and showed that figuring out the pattern is critical for correctly selecting morphs and sampling times, which will support the discovery of reliable findings and allow solid conclusions to be drawn. Our findings also inspire on the interaction mode of the three EBF-binding proteins in relation to EBF perception in aphids.
Compulsive Internet Use Scale: Psychometric Properties and Associations With Sleeping Patterns, Mental Health, and Well-Being in Lithuanian Medical Students During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
Authors: Milasauskiene Egle , Burkauskas Julius , Podlipskyte Aurelija , Király Orsolya , Demetrovics Zsolt , Ambrasas Laurynas , Steibliene Vesta
Published: August 2021

Background: The increase in problematic Internet use (PIU) among medical students and resident doctors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be leading to significant impairments in everyday functioning, including sleeping patterns, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and overall well-being. The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) has been developed to assess the severity of PIU, however, it has not been elucidated whether this scale is also applicable to medical students and resident doctors. The first aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of the CIUS. The second aim was to examine associations between subjectively reported mental health symptoms and PIU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 524 medical students and resident doctors (78.60% women, mean age 24 [SD 3] years old) participated in an online survey between December 2020 and February 2021. Participants completed the CIUS, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 (GAD-7), and the WHO—Five Well-Being Index questionnaire (WHO-5).

Results: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested brief versions (CIUS-5, CIUS-7, and CIUS-9) rather than the original (CIUS-14) version of the CIUS questionnaire as reliable and structurally stable instruments that can be used to measure compulsive Internet use severity in the sample of medical students and resident doctors. The most prevalent online behaviors were social media use (90.1%), online shopping (15.6%), and online gaming/gambling (11.3%). Students with higher CIUS scores reported significantly lower academic achievements during the 6 months (r = 0.12–0.13; p < 0.006), as well as more severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, worsened sleep quality, and lower sense of well-being (r = 0.21–0.41; p's < 0.001). Both, during workdays (d = 0.87) and weekend (d = 0.33), students spent more time online than resident doctors (p's < 0.001).

Conclusion: The brief, 5-, 7-, and 9-item versions of the Lithuanian CIUS are reliable and valid self-report screening instruments for evaluating the severity of PIU symptoms among the medical student population. Symptoms of PIU during the COVID-19 period were associated with worsened self-reported mental health and everyday functioning.
Stress Detection Using Proximal Sensing of Chlorophyll Fluorescence on the Canopy Level
Authors: Ahlman Linnéa , Bånkestad Daniel , Khalil Sammar , Bergstrand Karl-Johan , Wik Torsten
Published: August 2021

Chlorophyll fluorescence is interesting for phenotyping applications as it is rich in biological information and can be measured remotely and non-destructively. There are several techniques for measuring and analysing this signal. However, the standard methods use rather extreme conditions, e.g., saturating light and dark adaption, which are difficult to accommodate in the field or in a greenhouse and, hence, limit their use for high-throughput phenotyping. In this article, we use a different approach, extracting plant health information from the dynamics of the chlorophyll fluorescence induced by a weak light excitation and no dark adaption, to classify plants as healthy or unhealthy. To evaluate the method, we scanned over a number of species (lettuce, lemon balm, tomato, basil, and strawberries) exposed to either abiotic stress (drought and salt) or biotic stress factors (root infection using Pythium ultimum and leaf infection using Powdery mildew Podosphaera aphanis). Our conclusions are that, for abiotic stress, the proposed method was very successful, while, for powdery mildew, a method with spatial resolution would be desirable due to the nature of the infection, i.e., point-wise spread. Pythium infection on the roots is not visually detectable in the same way as powdery mildew; however, it affects the whole plant, making the method an interesting option for Pythium detection. However, further research is necessary to determine the limit of infection needed to detect the stress with the proposed method.
Unpacking the Processes that Catalyzed the Adoption of Best Management Practices for Lowland Irrigated Rice in the Mekong Delta
Authors: Flor Rica Joy , Tuan Le Anh , Hung Nguyen Van , My Phung Nguyen Thi , Connor Melanie , Stuart Alexander M. , Sander Bjoern Ole , Wehmeyer Helena , Cao Binh Thang , Tchale Hardwick , Singleton Grant R.
Published: August 2021

Vietnam is supportive of the transition to sustainable rice production in the Mekong Delta. The national program promoted best management practices for rice production through “1 Must Do and 5 Reductions” (1M5R). This review traces the technological development and uptake of 1M5R in national policies and by end-users. We highlight the outcomes from various policy-supported initiatives and unpack plausible pathways that generated the widespread adoption of 1M5R in eight provinces in the Mekong River Delta: at least 104,448 smallholder rice farmers were reached, and 1M5R practices adopted on 113,870 hectares. The scaling of 1M5R was enabled through a convergence of different socio-technical systems with varied foci, including sustainability certification, contract farming, consolidation of production, and improved use of inputs, aside from the development of sustainable technologies. In addition, 1M5R was promoted with incentives generated by a World Bank project and other initiatives in line with a national policy of increasing the quality of rice production for national and international markets. The interconnections of varied socio-technical systems, enacted by different intermediaries, catalyzed the spread of 1M5R. The widespread adoption by smallholder farmers increased their profits and raised awareness across diverse stakeholder groups of the higher marketability of rice produced with sustainable practices.
The Impact of Parthenium Weed-Amended Substrates on the Germination and Early Growth of a Range of Pasture and Crop Species
Authors: Shi Boyang , Dhileepan Kunjithapatham , Adkins Steve
Published: August 2021

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an internationally important invasive weed native to the tropical and sub-tropical Americas, and invasive in more than 30 countries. This weed has serious adverse influences on rangeland and agricultural crop production, on human and animal health, and on the biodiversity of natural communities. Parthenium weed leaf litter can reduce seedling emergence and affect the early growth of a wide range of pasture and crop species. Soil collected from a heavily infested parthenium weed area was shown to reduce seedling emergence of a wide range of test plants (lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), maize (Zea mays L.), curly windmill grass (Enteropogon acicularis L.), and liverseed grass (Urochloa panicoides P.Beauv.)) by between 20 to 40%; however, the soil had no effect on the subsequent growth of the surviving test plants. Soil amended with dried parthenium weed leaf litter reduced the emergence of test species by ca. 20 to 40%, but it had no effect on the growth of the surviving test plants. One week after emergence, the growth of all test species was stimulated by 9 to 86% in the leaf litter-amended soil with the increased growth matching the increased amounts leaf litter amended. In parthenium weed-infested landscapes, the substrate (soil) is affected by the plant during the growing season by the release of allelopathic chemicals. However, the plant’s litter can affect the community outside of the growing season, first through a residual allelopathic activity, but also by a fertilizing effect as litter breakdown occurs. This study demonstrates the significant ability of parthenium weed to affect plant communities throughout the year and, when considered over several years, this may lead to the creation of a complete monoculture of the weed.
Genetic Diversity in Local and Exotic Avena sativa L. (Oat) Germplasm Using Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Ihsan Mohammad , Nazir Nausheen , Ghafoor Abdul , Khalil Atif , Zahoor Muhammad , Nisar Mohammad , Khames Ahmed , Ullah Riaz , Shah Abdul
Published: August 2021

Avena sativa L., also known as Oat belongs to the Poaceae family, is one of the most significant crops that is grown for its seeds, fodder as well as for human consumption as oatmeal. In the current study, 236 genotypes of A. sativa were analysed for genetic diversity through agro-morphological and SDS-PAGE analysis. Cluster analysis based on agro-morphological characteristics grouped all the genotypes into nine clusters, whereas genotype numbers 537 and 728 were highly different from others. The seed yield production of cluster 9 genotypes was the highest per plant (38.2 ± 0.20 g), while cluster 2 genotypes produced maximum biomass per plant (122.5 ± 9.55 g) as compared to other clusters. In a principal component analysis where four variables were studied, and the observed total variations were 57.60%. Among the genotypes, a maximum grain yield of 38.2 g (each) was recorded for genotypes 22,350 and 728, followed by genotypes 737 and 22,390 (with 36.4 g and 35.6 g of seed productions, respectively). The SDS-PAGE analysis resulted in 13 bands and all the genotypes were grouped into seventeen clusters. At the extreme periphery of the dendrogram, genotype 537 and 22,332 were considered to be the most diverse genotypes. Our findings have implications for both understanding the diversity and relationships among these diverse genotypes of A. sativa and will provide a basis for obtaining the elite germplasm optimally adapted to local conditions. The selected genotypes based on agronomic performance may be potential breeding material to raise successful future cultivars.
First Steps to Domesticate Hairy Stork’s-Bill (Erodium crassifolium) as a Commercial Pharmaceutical Crop for Arid Regions
Authors: Guy Ofer , Cohen Shabtai , Koltai Hinanit , Mazuz Moran , Segoli Moran , Bustan Amnon
Published: August 2021

Hairy stork’s-bill (Erodium crassifolium) (HSB) is one of the few Geraniaceae species that produce tubers. While HSB tubers were occasionally used as a food source by desert nomads, they have not yet been taken up in the modern kitchen. Recently, HSB tubers were recognized as harboring potential to become an industrial pharmaceutical crop. The objective of this study was to determine a set of agricultural practices that would maximize the yield of the bioactive compounds of the present HSB genetic material. A generous and consistent irrigation regime of about 700 mm season−1 increased tuber yield and size. The optimal plant density on sandy soils was 16–20 plants m−2. Mineral nutrition, applied through fertigation, increased tuber yield from 0.6 to almost 1 kg m−2. Source-sink manipulations (consistent pruning of the reproductive organs) almost doubled the tuber yield. During 10 years of research, the adopted agricultural practices increased yield by an order of magnitude (from about 0.2–2.0 kg m−2) without any dilution of the bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, further research and development are required to achieve HSB potential as an industrial field crop, including selection and breeding of outstanding infertile clones, optimization of fertigation, and development of various concrete pharmaceutical products.
Effects of Diesel, Heavy Metals and Plastics Pollution on Penguins in Antarctica: A Review
Authors: Puasa Nurul Aini , Zulkharnain Azham , Verasoundarapandian Gayathiri , Wong Chiew-Yen , Zahri Khadijah Nabilah Mohd , Merican Faradina , Shaharuddin Noor Azmi , Gomez-Fuentes Claudio , Ahmad Siti Aqlima
Published: August 2021

Antarctica is a relatively pristine continent that attracts scientists and tourists alike. However, the risk of environmental pollution in Antarctica is increasing with the increase in the number of visitors. Recently, there has been a surge in interest regarding diesel, heavy metals and microplastics pollution. Contamination from these pollutants poses risks to the environment and the health of organisms inhabiting the continent. Penguins are one of the most prominent and widely distributed animals in Antarctica and are at major risk due to pollution. Even on a small scale, the impacts of pollution toward penguin populations are extensive. This review discusses the background of penguins in Antarctica, the anthropogenic pollution and cases, as well as the impacts of diesel, heavy metals and microplastics toxicities on penguins. The trends of the literature for the emerging risks of these pollutants are also reviewed through a bibliometric approach and network mapping analysis. A sum of 27 articles are analyzed on the effects of varying pollutants on penguins in Antarctica from 2000 to 2020 using the VOSviewer bibliometric software, Microsoft Excel and Tableau Public. Research articles collected from the Scopus database are evaluated for the most applicable research themes according to the bibliometric indicators (articles, geography distribution, annual production, integrated subject areas, key source journals and keyword or term interactions). Although bibliometric studies on the present research theme are not frequent, our results are sub-optimal due to the small number of search query matches from the Scopus database. As a result, our findings offer only a fragmentary comprehension of the topics in question. Nevertheless, this review provides valuable inputs regarding prospective research avenues for researchers to pursue in the future.
Response to Therapeutic Abortion in Lactating Dairy Cows Carrying Dead Twins during the Late Embryo/Early Fetal Period
Authors: López-Gatius Fernando
Published: August 2021

This study examined the dose–response effect of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) when used to induce abortion in cows with two dead twins at pregnancy diagnosis 28–34 days post-AI (late embryonic period: LE) or at pregnancy confirmation 49–55 days post-AI (early fetal period: EF). The study population consisted of 415 cows receiving a single PGF2α dose (PG1 group: 254 LE and 161 EF cows) and 200 receiving a 1.5 × PGF2α dose (PG1.5 group: 121 LE and 79 EF cows). The induced abortion rate was significantly lower (chi-square test; p < 0.0001) in the EF (34.6%) than LE cows (88%), and was also reduced (p = 0.001) in the EF PG1 group (28%) compared with the EF PG1.5 group (48.1%). High milk production (≥45 kg) was the only factor influencing the induced abortion rate in LE cows (odds ratio 0.2; p < 0.0001), whereas the odds ratio for induced abortion of PG1.5 cows was 2.3 (p = 0.005) in EF cows. In conclusion, an increased PGF2α dose had no effect on abortion induction during the late embryonic period and its rate was inversely associated with milk production. This higher PGF2α dose did, however, offer benefits during the early fetal period.