bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancer Metastasis Prediction and Genomic Biomarker Identification through Machine Learning and eXplainable Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer Research
Authors: Yagin Burak , Yagin Fatma , Colak Cemil , Inceoglu Feyza , Kadry Seifedine , Kim Jungeun
Published: October 2023

Aim: Method: This research presents a model combining machine learning (ML) techniques and eXplainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to predict breast cancer (BC) metastasis and reveal important genomic biomarkers in metastasis patients. Method: A total of 98 primary BC samples was analyzed, comprising 34 samples from patients who developed distant metastases within a 5-year follow-up period and 44 samples from patients who remained disease-free for at least 5 years after diagnosis. Genomic data were then subjected to biostatistical analysis, followed by the application of the elastic net feature selection method. This technique identified a restricted number of genomic biomarkers associated with BC metastasis. A light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), categorical boosting (CatBoost), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Gradient Boosting Trees (GBT), and Ada boosting (AdaBoost) algorithms were utilized for prediction. To assess the models’ predictive abilities, the accuracy, F1 score, precision, recall, area under the ROC curve (AUC), and Brier score were calculated as performance evaluation metrics. To promote interpretability and overcome the “black box” problem of ML models, a SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was employed. Results: The LightGBM model outperformed other models, yielding remarkable accuracy of 96% and an AUC of 99.3%. In addition to biostatistical evaluation, in XAI-based SHAP results, increased expression levels of TSPYL5, ATP5E, CA9, NUP210, SLC37A1, ARIH1, PSMD7, UBQLN1, PRAME, and UBE2T (p ≤ 0.05) were found to be associated with an increased incidence of BC metastasis. Finally, decreased levels of expression of CACTIN, TGFB3, SCUBE2, ARL4D, OR1F1, ALDH4A1, PHF1, and CROCC (p ≤ 0.05) genes were also determined to increase the risk of metastasis in BC. Conclusion: The findings of this study may prevent disease progression and metastases and potentially improve clinical outcomes by recommending customized treatment approaches for BC patients.
Genetic Insights into Teratozoospermia: A Comprehensive Computational Study of UTR Variants in AURKC, SPATA16, and SUN5
Authors: Kyrgiafini Maria-Anna , Mamuris Zissis
Published: October 2023

Teratozoospermia, a complex male fertility disorder affecting sperm morphology, has been linked to AURKC, SPATA16, and SUN5 gene defects. However, the sheer volume of SNPs in these genes necessitates prioritization for comprehensive analysis. This study focuses on the often-overlooked untranslated region (UTR) variants in these genes, aiming to assess their association with teratozoospermia and prioritize them. We employed a multi-step filtering process, including functional significance assessment (RegulomeDB, 3DSNP v2.0, SNPinfo (FuncPred)), evaluation of gene expression impacts in testis tissue using GTEx, and assessment of miRNA binding site effects (PolymiRTS Database 3.0, miRNASNP v3). Additionally, we used SNPnexus to evaluate their conservation and association with diseases. In AURKC, we identified six UTR SNPs (rs11084490, rs58264281, rs35582299, rs533889458, rs2361127, rs55710619), two of which influenced gene expression in testis, while others affected the binding sites of 29 miRNAs or were located in transcription-factor binding sites. Three of these SNPs were also found to be associated with spermatogenic failure according to previous studies indicating a potential regulatory role in teratozoospermia, too. For SPATA16, two 3′ UTR variants, rs146640459 and rs148085657, were prioritized, with the latter impacting miRNA binding sites. In SUN5, three 3′ UTR variants (rs1485087675, rs762026146, rs1478197315) affected miRNA binding sites. It should be noted that none of the above variants was identified in a conserved region. Our findings shed light on the potential regulatory roles of these SNPs in teratozoospermia and lay the foundation for future research directions in this area.
Monitoring Maize Leaf Spot Disease Using Multi-Source UAV Imagery
Authors: Jia Xiao , Yin Dameng , Bai Yali , Yu Xun , Song Yang , Cheng Minghan , Liu Shuaibing , Bai Yi , Meng Lin , Liu Yadong , Liu Qian , Nan Fei , Nie Chenwei , Shi Lei , Dong Ping , Guo Wei , Jin Xiuliang
Published: October 2023

Maize leaf spot is a common disease that hampers the photosynthesis of maize by destroying the pigment structure of maize leaves, thus reducing the yield. Traditional disease monitoring is time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, a fast and effective method for maize leaf spot disease monitoring is needed to facilitate the efficient management of maize yield and safety. In this study, we adopted UAV multispectral and thermal remote sensing techniques to monitor two types of maize leaf spot diseases, i.e., southern leaf blight caused by Bipolaris maydis and Curvularia leaf spot caused by Curvularia lutana. Four state-of-the-art classifiers (back propagation neural network, random forest (RF), support vector machine, and extreme gradient boosting) were compared to establish an optimal classification model to monitor the incidence of these diseases. Recursive feature elimination (RFE) was employed to select features that are most effective in maize leaf spot disease identification in four stages (4, 12, 19, and 30 days after inoculation). The results showed that multispectral indices involving the red, red edge, and near-infrared bands were the most sensitive to maize leaf spot incidence. In addition, the two thermal features tested (i.e., canopy temperature and normalized canopy temperature) were both found to be important to identify maize leaf spot. Using features filtered with the RFE algorithm and the RF classifier, maize infected with leaf spot diseases were successfully distinguished from healthy maize after 19 days of inoculation, with precision >0.9 and recall >0.95. Nevertheless, the accuracy was much lower (precision = 0.4, recall = 0.53) when disease development was in the early stages. We anticipate that the monitoring of maize leaf spot disease at the early stages might benefit from using hyperspectral and oblique observations.
How Does Foreign Direct Investment Drive Employment Growth in Vietnam’s Formal Economy?
Authors: Dao Thi Bich Thuy , Khuc Van Quy , Dong Manh Cuong , Cao Thuy Linh
Published: October 2023

Over the last three decades, Vietnam has undergone economic reforms and achieved rapid economic growth. However, the country is still facing numerous challenges linked to a relatively high share of employment in an informal economic sector, which could prevent Vietnam from escaping from the middle-income trap and becoming a high-income country. This research explores the effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) on job creation in the formal economic sector of Vietnam. A subnational dataset of 63 cities/provinces from 2006 to 2020 was analyzed using an instrumental variable two-stage least-squares fixed-effect model. The results show that FDI is an employment growth-enhancing factor in the formal economic sector. Specifically, FDI enterprises are found to be more capable than domestic enterprises in creating employment, and there is a positive employment spillover from the foreign to the domestic sector, although the magnitude of the effect remains small. Apart from FDI, firm agglomeration, capital resource productivity, and government support for sector development spur employment growth. Labor quality, profitability and foreign industrial agglomeration are identified to be determinants of FDI. Furthermore, the impact mechanism of FDI on the formal sector’s employment is further discussed using mindspongeconomics, the SM3D knowledge management system, and the culture tower.
Motivational Influences on Health, Well-Being, and Lifestyle: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire in Four Health Domains
Authors: De los Santos-Roig Macarena , Fusinato-Ponce Claudia , Fernández-Alcántara Manuel
Published: October 2023

Background: Motivation is a central concept in self-determination theory (SDT). The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), which assesses motivation (autonomous, controlled, etc.), has been widely used. However, less is known about its applicability to samples such as college students, who may be at risk of having unhealthy behavior in many areas (including smoking, poor dietary habits, alcohol, or tobacco consumption). As this population is transitioning to adulthood, research is needed to understand motivation and changing health patterns. In addition, the lack of instruments for this population in Spain has made the measurement validation process a priority. The purpose of this psychometric study was to adapt the TSRQ to Spanish college students and to examine its structural and validity across four health domains. Methods: Two samples of Spanish college students (n = 347 and n = 244) agreed to participate in the study. Participants completed a booklet containing measures of motivation, well-being, general health, anxiety, depression, and lifestyle. Results: CFA supported a five-dimensional structure in each domain. Reliability values were also adequate for each questionnaire. Regarding other sources of validity, statistically significant relationships between self-determination, health, and well-being were clearly confirmed, and autonomy was a significant predictor of lifestyle. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the TSRQ showed adequate psychometric properties (dimensionality and internal structure, reliability, and validity evidence regarding its relationships with other constructs) in college students. The Spanish TSRQ will provide future research aimed to understand the motivational role in college students’ health behavior and well-being.
Machine Learning Empowering Personalized Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Medical Image Analysis Methods
Authors: Galić Irena , Habijan Marija , Leventić Hrvoje , Romić Krešimir
Published: October 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, especially deep learning, have significantly improved medical image processing and analysis in various tasks such as disease detection, classification, and anatomical structure segmentation. This work overviews fundamental concepts, state-of-the-art models, and publicly available datasets in the field of medical imaging. First, we introduce the types of learning problems commonly employed in medical image processing and then proceed to present an overview of commonly used deep learning methods, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and generative adversarial networks (GANs), with a focus on the image analysis task they are solving, including image classification, object detection/localization, segmentation, generation, and registration. Further, we highlight studies conducted in various application areas, encompassing neurology, brain imaging, retinal analysis, pulmonary imaging, digital pathology, breast imaging, cardiac imaging, bone analysis, abdominal imaging, and musculoskeletal imaging. The strengths and limitations of each method are carefully examined, and the paper identifies pertinent challenges that still require attention, such as the limited availability of annotated data, variability in medical images, and the interpretability issues. Finally, we discuss future research directions with a particular focus on developing explainable deep learning methods and integrating multi-modal data.
A Highly Configurable Packet Sniffer Based on Field-Programmable Gate Arrays for Network Security Applications
Authors: Grossi Marco , Alfonsi Fabrizio , Prandini Marco , Gabrielli Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Web applications and online business transactions have grown tremendously in recent years. As a result, cyberattacks have become a major threat to the digital services that are essential for our society. To minimize the risks of cyberattacks, many countermeasures are deployed on computing nodes and network devices. One such countermeasure is the firewall, which is designed with two main architectural approaches: software running on standard or embedded computers, or hardware specially designed for the purpose, such as (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) ASICs. Software-based firewalls offer high flexibility and can be easily ported to upgradable hardware, but they cannot handle high data rates. On the other hand, hardware-based firewalls can process data at very high speeds, but are expensive and difficult to update, resulting in a short lifespan. To address these issues, we explored the use of an (Field-Programmable Gate Array) FPGA architecture, which offers low latency and high-throughput characteristics along with easy upgradability, making it a more balanced alternative to other programmable systems, like (Graphics Processor Unit) GPUs or microcontrollers. In this paper, we presented a packet sniffer designed on the FPGA development board KC705 produced by Xilinx, which can analyze Ethernet frames, check the frame fields against a set of user-defined rules, and calculate statistics of the received Ethernet frames over time. The system has a data transfer rate of 1 Gbit/s (with preliminary results of increased data rates to 10 Gbit/s) and has been successfully tested with both ad hoc-generated Ethernet frames and real web traffic by connecting the packet sniffer to the internet.
Exploring the Perception of the Effect of Three-Dimensional Interaction Feedback Types on Immersive Virtual Reality Education
Authors: Shin Kwang-Seong , Cho Chungyeon , Ryu Ji Hyun , Jo Dongsik
Published: October 2023

Immersive virtual reality (VR) systems are becoming widely used for education with three-dimensional (3D) information. Specifically, three-dimensional spaces to create virtual environments can help increase students’ learning interest and ability with spatial interaction. Also, with the use of multimodal interaction, VR systems can provide highly effective ways to solve problems through natural experiences. Additionally, immersive environments can bring together people in remote locations, which has been increasingly applied in education applications with the use of technology to simulate real situations. However, effective interaction methods that improve the learning ability of people participating in educational activities in 3D immersive environments are yet to be well defined. In this study, we investigated the effect of the interaction feedback types on the perception of students participating in VR environments. We conducted the experiment on three types of interaction responses, and our study was designed as a virtual chemistry class. Our experimental study showed that the interaction feedback type of a deformable object had a greater educational effect than other types of visual or audio feedback, and our results are expected to provide guidelines on how to create effective immersive education content and interaction methods.
Implementation of Remote Control for the AM 524 Antenna Amplifier Unit System in SAC Chambers
Authors: Nowosielski Leszek , Kelner Jan M. , Dudziński Bartosz , Rychlicki Mateusz
Published: October 2023

In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern technology, particularly in telecommunications and pervasive computerization across diverse sectors, the value of information has soared, becoming the linchpin of success in politics and business alike. With the majority of information now flowing through various computing devices, safeguarding them from unauthorized interception has assumed paramount importance. A critical threat in this context emanates from unintentional electromagnetic emissions generated by these devices. Under favorable conditions, these emissions can be exploited by unauthorized entities to reconstruct processed information, a phenomenon known as electromagnetic infiltration. Such emissions, correlated with useful information and conducive to its reconstruction, are termed revealing emissions, with the enabling process labelled as electromagnetic information leakage. This article presents the design and construction of a remote control system for managing antenna amplifier blocks within the AM 524 antenna system, dedicated to investigating information leakage from multimedia devices. The system facilitates remote switching of the five inputs on antenna amplifiers GX 525, GX 526, and GX 527 from a PC, utilizing specialized software. The authors provide an overview of the AM 524 antenna system, elucidate the design concept behind the remote control system, and highlight the central component—the ADAM 6052 module. Additionally, the article introduces the controlling software. It encompasses the device’s construction, including component details, connection schematics, and images of the assembled system, along with a verification process confirming its operational accuracy. Furthermore, the article outlines the application of the proposed solution in assessing the effectiveness of shielding within SAC chambers, employing the measurement methodology specified in accordance with the EN 50147-1:1996 standard. This additional information underscores the practical utility and relevance of the presented remote control system in the context of electromagnetic shielding evaluation for secure environments. Additionally, to assess the effectiveness of the proposed commutator solution, measurements were conducted to evaluate the shielding efficiency of the SAC chamber using a modified coaxial cable. The results of the shielding efficiency of the SAC chamber measurements for the proposed and classical solutions are also presented.
The Influence of the Type and Condition of Road Surfaces on the Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Consumption in the Transport of Timber
Authors: Ziółkowski Andrzej , Fuć Paweł , Lijewski Piotr , Bednarek Maciej , Jagielski Aleks , Kusiak Władysław , Igielska-Kalwat Joanna
Published: October 2023

Owing to society’s growing ecological awareness, researchers and car manufacturers have increasingly been focusing on the adverse impact of transport on the environment. Many scientific publications have been published addressing the influence of a variety of factors on the exhaust emissions generated by vehicles and machinery. In this paper, the authors present an analysis of the exhaust emissions of components such as CO, THC, and NOx in relation to the type and condition of the road surface. The analysis was performed on a heavy-duty truck designed for carriage of timber. The investigations were carried out with the use of the PEMS equipment (portable emission measurement system) on bitumen-paved roads and unpaved forest access roads. The portable measurement system allowed for an accurate determination of the influence of the road conditions on the operating parameters of the vehicle powertrain and its exhaust emissions. Additionally, the authors present the influence of the type of road surface on the vehicle fuel consumption calculated based on the carbon balance method.
Optimal Planning and Deployment of Hybrid Renewable Energy to Rural Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria
Authors: Olatomiwa Lanre , Longe Omowunmi Mary , Abd’Azeez Toyeeb Adekunle , Ambafi James Garba , Jack Kufre Esenowo , Sadiq Ahmad Abubakar
Published: October 2023

This paper takes a cursory look at the problem of inadequate power supply in the rural healthcare centres of a developing country, specifically Nigeria, and proffers strategies to address this issue through the design of hybrid renewable energy systems combined with the existing unreliable grid in order to meet the healthcare load demand, thus ensuring higher reliability of available energy sources. The simulations, analysis and results presented in this paper are based on meteorological data and the load profiles of six selected locations in Nigeria, using which hybrid grid-connected systems integrating diesel, solar and wind energy sources are designed with configurations to give optimum output. The optimised design configurations in the considered case study, Ejioku, Okuru-Ama, Damare-Polo, Agbalaenyi, Kadassaka and Doso, produce very low energy costs of of 0.0791 $/kWh, 0.115 $/kWh, 0.0874 $/kWh, 0.0754 $/kWh, 0.0667 $/kWh and 0.0588 $/kWh, respectively, leveraging solar and wind energy sources which make higher percentage contributions at all sites. The load-following-dispatch strategy is adopted at all sites, ensuring that at every point in time, there is sufficient power to meet the needs of the healthcare centres. Further works on this topic could consider other strategies to optimise general energy usage on the demand side.
Analysis of the Impact of Integrating Variable Renewable Energy into the Power System in the Colombian Caribbean Region
Authors: Cárdenas Guerra Carlos Arturo , Ospino Castro Adalberto José , Peña Gallardo Rafael
Published: October 2023

This paper compares the effects of adding solar and wind power to the power system of Colombia’s Caribbean region and its connections to the National Interconnected System. A base scenario was simulated in the PowerFactory 2003 software considering the actual data of the power system in 2023, and then, they were compared with the results obtained for 2033, considering the growth of the network and the addition of new power plants based on variable renewable energy. The comparison analyzes the impact of the newly added renewable energy in the power system on the voltage stability and system frequency. The results obtained show that the addition of new variable renewable energy plants generates voltage fluctuations in the lower voltage levels, ranging from 1% to 3.1%, which indicates potential challenges in maintaining the voltage stability. In higher voltages, no significant variations were found. Regarding the system frequency, the transient value tends to increase but is within the regulatory range, with variations of less than 0.2 Hz.
Combined Effect of In Situ Stress Level and Bedding Anisotropy on Hydraulic Fracture Vertical Growth in Deep Marine Shale Revealed via CT Scans and Acoustic Emission
Authors: Guo Peng , Li Xiao , Li Shouding , Mao Tianqiao
Published: October 2023

The economic exploitation of unconventional gas and oil in deep shale relies closely on effective hydraulic fracturing stimulations. However, the fracturing operations of deep shale reservoirs face challenges of insufficient fracture growth and a rapid decline in productivity due to the increasing in situ stress level. In addition, the shale strata on the margin of the Sichuan Basin are frequently folded and faulted, and the change in bedding inclinations significantly complicates the process of hydraulic fracturing. The investigation of the combined effect of the in situ stress level and bedding anisotropy on the hydraulic fracture configuration is vital for fracturing engineering design. To analyze this, we conducted hydraulic fracturing tests on shale cores to simulate the hydraulic fracture initiation and growth from a horizontally positioned perforation. By using acoustic emission detection and CT scans, the influence of natural stress levels and the angle of the shale’s bedding on the process of hydraulic fracturing in shale and the resulting fracture geometry were analyzed. The results showed that the area of hydraulic fracture under a higher stress level (σ1 = 50 MPa, σ3 = 40 MPa) was about 13%~23% smaller than that created under the lower stress level (σ1 = 30 MPa, σ3 = 20 MPa) when the bedding angle was smaller than 60°. With the increase in bedding angle, the curves of the fracture area and fracture network index under two different stress levels presented similar decreasing trends. Also, the time from micro-crack generation to sample breakdown was significantly reduced when the bedding orientation changed from the horizontal to vertical position. The increasing stress level significantly increased the breakdown pressure. In particular, the fracturing of shale samples with bedding angles of 0° and 30° required a higher fluid pressure and released more energy than samples with larger bedding inclinations. Additionally, the measurement of the sample radial deformation indicated that the hydraulic fracture opening extent was reduced by about 46%~81% with the increasing stress level.
Gene Editing: The Regulatory Perspective
Authors: Niazi Sarfaraz K.
Published: October 2023

Gene or genome editing, often known as GE, is a technique utilized to modify, eliminate, or substitute a mutated gene at the DNA level. It serves as a valuable tool in the field of genetic manipulation. Gene therapy (GT) is a therapeutic approach that aims to correct mutations by delivering a functional gene copy into the body. In contrast, the mutated gene remains in the genome. It is considered a form of medical intervention. No approval has been granted for any product manufactured by GE, in contrast to the approval of 22 medications produced by GT. These GT products are priced at millions of US dollars each dose. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently implemented a guideline about gene editing, which aims to facilitate the expedited creation of genetically engineered (GE) goods. However, the FDA must provide further elucidation and necessary revisions to enhance the rationality of this guideline.
Correction: Islam, R.A.; Rallis, C. Ribosomal Biogenesis and Heterogeneity in Development, Disease, and Aging. Epigenomes 2023, 7, 17
Authors: Islam Rowshan Ara , Rallis Charalampos
Published: October 2023

23. Akirtava, C.; May, G.E.; McManus, C.J. False-Positive IRESes from Hoxa9 andOther Genes Resulting from Errors in Mam-malian 5’ UTR Annotations [...]
DELLA-Mediated Gibberellin Acid Participation in the Regulation of Dormancy and Growth of Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.
Authors: Zhao Xingtang , Yu Lei , Li Chuanzhou , Liang Nansong , Zeng Fansuo , Zhan Yaguang
Published: October 2023

In Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. (F. mandshurica), the mature seeds exhibit a deep dormancy trait, and the seedlings are vulnerable to external environmental factors, such as low temperature and drought, leading to ecological dormancy. In order to investigate the role of FmDELLA in growth and development, the variation in FmDELLA transcriptional level, the endogenous hormone content in seed germination and bud dormancy release, and the effects of the month, organs, and exogenous hormones on FmDELLA were determined. The results showed that FmDELLA genes had a synergistic impact with the XERICO, PP2C, and DOG genes on regulating hypocotyl elongation during seed germination. Unlike growing buds, the dormant buds had much higher levels of FmDELLA transcripts. Still, these transcript levels were lowered by using 100 mg/L exogenous gibberellin acid (GA), which could promote bud dormancy release. Exogenous hormones regulated the transcription of FmDELLA, which primarily occurred in the stems, leaves, buds, and flowers and reached its lowest level in September. The transition from dormancy to germination for buds and seeds was related to increased GA, auxin, and cytokinin and decreased abscisic acid. In conclusion, our study revealed the role of FmDELLA in the seed germination and release of bud dormancy and provided a solid basis for F. mandshurica tissue culture and micropropagation.
Improving the Efficiency of Modern Warehouses Using Smart Battery Placement
Authors: Baras Nikolaos , Chatzisavvas Antonios , Ziouzios Dimitris , Vanidis Ioannis , Dasygenis Minas
Published: October 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of warehousing, the integration of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) has profoundly revolutionized operational efficiency. Despite this advancement, a key determinant of UGV productivity remains its energy management and battery placement strategies. While many studies explored optimizing the pathways within warehouses and determining ideal power station locales, there remains a gap in addressing the dynamic needs of energy-efficient UGVs operating in tandem. The current literature largely focuses on static designs, often overlooking the challenges of multi-UGV scenarios. This paper introduces a novel algorithm based on affinity propagation (AP) for smart battery and charging station placement in modern warehouses. The idea of the proposed algorithm is to divide the initial area into multiple sub-areas based on their traffic, and then identify the optimal battery location within each sub-area. A salient feature of this algorithm is its adeptness at determining the most strategic battery station placements, emphasizing uninterrupted operations and minimized downtimes. Through extensive evaluations in a synthesized realistic setting, our results underscore the algorithm’s proficiency in devising enhanced solutions within feasible time constraints, paving the way for more energy-efficient and cohesive UGV-driven warehouse systems.
Next-Generation Cellulosic Filaments from Hemp Pulp via Dry-Jet Wet Spinning Using HighPerCell® Technology
Authors: Ota Antje , Vocht Marc Philip , Beyer Ronald , Reboux Anne , Reboux Charles , Hermanutz Frank
Published: October 2023

Fiber demand of cellulosic fibers is rapidly increasing; however, these fibers are mainly based on the use of wood pulp (WP), which often have long transport times and, consequently, a high CO2 footprint. So, alternative pulps based on non-wood, annual fast-growing plants are an option to cover the demand for raw materials and resources. Herein, we report on the use of a novel developed hemp pulp (HP) for man-made cellulosic fiber filament spinning. Commercial WP was used as a reference material. While HP could be used and directly spun as received without any further pretreatment, an additional step to adjust the degree of polymerization (DP) was needed to use the wood pulp. Continuous filaments were spun using a novel dry-jet wet spinning (HighPerCell® process) technique, which is based on the use of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium octanoate ([C2C1im][Oc]) as a solvent. Via this approach, several thousand meters (12,000 m–15,000 m) of continuous multifilament filaments were spun. The HP pulps showed excellent spinning performance. The novel approach allows the preparation of cellulosic fibers for either technical—with high tensile strength—or textile—possessing a low fibrillation tendency—applications. Textile hemp-based filaments were used for first weaving trials, resulting in a flawless fabric.
Google Earth Engine Framework for Satellite Data-Driven Wildfire Monitoring in Ukraine
Authors: Yailymov Bohdan , Shelestov Andrii , Yailymova Hanna , Shumilo Leonid
Published: October 2023

Wildfires cause extensive damage, but their rapid detection and cause assessment remains challenging. Existing methods utilize satellite data to map burned areas and meteorological data to model fire risk, but there are no information technologies to determine fire causes. It is crucially important in Ukraine to assess the losses caused by the military actions. This study proposes an integrated methodology and a novel framework integrating burned area mapping from Sentinel-2 data and fire risk modeling using the Fire Potential Index (FPI) in Google Earth Engine. The methodology enables efficient national-scale burned area detection and automated identification of anthropogenic fires in regions with low fire risk. Implemented over Ukraine, 104.229 ha were mapped as burned during July 2022, with fires inconsistently corresponding to high FPI risk, indicating predominantly anthropogenic causes.
Response of Turbot Scophthalmus maximus (Linnaeus, 1758) to Imbalanced Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Diets
Authors: Wang Lu , Liu Jinshi , Li Yanlu , Ma Qiang , Xu Houguo , Liang Mengqing , Wei Yuliang
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of imbalanced dietary BCAAs, especially Leu, on the growth and BCAA metabolism in turbot. A control diet was formulated by keeping optimum levels of Leu, Ile and Val. Four experimental diets were prepared by removing supplemental crystalline Leu (deficiency) or supplementing double the amount of Leu, Ile or Val (excess) in the control diet. The growth was not significantly decreased by an excess of Leu, Ile or Val. Fish fed an excess of any particular BCAA significantly increased its postprandial (2 and 6 h) concentration in the plasma, muscles, and liver, but did not decrease the other two BCAA concentrations. The expression of intestinal b0at1 was down-regulated by excessive dietary Leu, Ile or Val. For BCAA catabolism, the mRNA levels of bcat2 in the muscles as well as bckdha and bckdhb in the livers of the Leu-deficient group were the lowest among all the groups, but were up-regulated by excess dietary Leu, Ile or Val. In conclusion, in terms of growth, turbot had high plasticity to an excess of any particular BCAA. Meanwhile, the antagonistic effect caused by an excess of one BCAA were reflected in intestinal amino acid absorption and BCAA catabolism.
Implications of Pulsed Electric Field Pre-Treatment on Goat Milk Pasteurization
Authors: Araújo Alberta , Barbosa Carla , Alves Manuel Rui , Romão Alexandre , Fernandes Paulo
Published: October 2023

Goat milk is an interesting product from a nutritional and health standpoint, although its physico-chemical composition presents some technological challenges, mainly for being less stable than cow’s milk at high temperatures. As pasteurization and ultra-high temperature processing are universally employed to ensure milk quality and safety, non-thermal methods, such as pulsed electric fields (PEFs), reduce the microbial load and eliminate pathogens, representing an interesting alternative for processing this product. This study demonstrates how the combined use of a PEF with short thermal processing and moderate temperature can be effective and energy-efficient in goat milk processing. A combination of thermal treatment at 63 °C after a low-intensity PEF (50 µs pulses, 3 Hz, and 10 kV·cm−1) caused the same reduction effect on the population of Listeria monocytogenes (goat’s raw milk artificially spiked), as compared to a thermal treatment at 72 °C without a PEF. However, z values are significantly higher when PEF is used as a pre-treatment, suggesting that it may induce heat resistance in the survival population of L. monocytogenes. The sensitivity of L. monocytogenes to high temperatures is less pronounced in goat’s milk than cow’s milk, with a more pronounced impact of a PEF on lethality when combined with lower temperatures in goat’s milk. The effect of a PEF on Escherichia coli viability was even more pronounced. It was also observed that thermal treatment energy needs with a PEF as a pre-treatment can be reduced by at least 50% of the total energy requirements.
Development and Identification of Novel α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Peptides from Mulberry Leaves
Authors: Deng Fanghui , Liang Yihao , Lei Yuelei , Xiong Shanbai , Rong Jianhua , Hu Yang
Published: October 2023

The mulberry leaf is a botanical resource that possesses a substantial quantity of protein. In this study, alcalase hydrolysis conditions of mulberry leaf protein were optimized using the response surface method. The results showed that the optimum conditions were as follows: substrate protein concentration was 0.5% (w/v), enzymatic hydrolysis temperature was 53.0 °C, enzymatic hydrolysis time was 4.7 h, enzyme amount was 17,800 U/g, and pH was 10.5. Then mulberry leaf peptides were separated by ultrafiltration according to molecular weight. Peptides (<3 kDa) were screened and subsequently identified using LC-MS/MS after the evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibition across various fractions. Three novel potential bioactive peptides RWPFFAFM (1101.32 Da), AAGRLPGY (803.91 Da), and VVRDFHNA (957.04 Da) with the lowest average docking energy were screened for molecular dynamics simulation to examine their binding stability with enzymes in a 37 °C simulated human environment. Finally, they were prepared by solid phase synthesis for in vitro verification. The former two peptides exhibited better IC50 values (1.299 mM and 1.319 mM, respectively). These results suggest that the α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides from mulberry leaf protein are potential functional foods or drugs for diabetes treatment, but further in vivo studies are needed to identify the bioavailability and toxicity.
The Role of Traditional Leafy Vegetables on Household Food Security in Umdoni Municipality of the KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa
Authors: Ngidi Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas
Published: October 2023

This study assessed the effect of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) on the level of food security in the rural area of Dlangezwa, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A total of 100 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling method. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure the food security status. The influence of TLVs on household food security was examined using an ordered logit model. Pumpkin leaves and blackjack were the most consumed traditional leafy vegetables in the study area, at 97% and 81%, respectively. The results from HFIAS showed that 17% of the households were food secure, 44% were mild food insecure, 26% were moderately food insecure and 13% were severely food insecure. The results from the chi2 test showed that there was a significant correlation between the intake of cowpeas (p = 0.02), blackjack (p = 0.01), and moringa (p = 0.02) with the degree of household food security in the surveyed houses. The ordered logit model’s findings indicated that consumption of leafy vegetables, educational attainment, employment status, and marital status all had a substantial impact on the food insecurity of the households. The marital status of a household showed a positive and significant impact on the food insecurity situation, while educational level, employment status, and consumption of leafy vegetables showed a negative and significant impact. For enhanced household food security, there is a need for initiatives that encourage the use of a wide range of traditional leafy vegetables such as Moringa oleifera, Amaranthus, and cowpeas. More awareness should be made regarding the nutritional benefits that TLVs have.
Effect of Support Matrix and Crosslinking Agents on Nutritional Properties of Orange Juice during Enzyme Clarification: A Comparative Study
Authors: da Silva Pâmela M. , Esparza-Flores Eli Emanuel , Virgili Anike H. , de Menezes Eliana W. , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto , Dal Magro Lucas , Rodrigues Rafael C.
Published: October 2023

This study investigated the impact of a support matrix and active group on the support to the nutritional properties of orange juice after juice clarification. Pectinase was immobilized on chitosan and aminated silica supports, activated with genipin or glutaraldehyde, and applied for juice clarification. The effects on various juice properties, including reducing sugars, total soluble solids, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds, juice color, and pH, were evaluated. The results revealed that the immobilization on chitosan activated using genipin resulted in the highest biocatalyst activity (1211.21 U·g−1). The juice treatments using the biocatalysts led to turbidity reduction in the juice (up to 90%), with the highest reductions observed in treatments involving immobilized enzyme on chitosan. Importantly, the enzymatic treatments preserved the natural sugar content, total soluble solids, and pH of the juice. Color differences between treated and raw juice samples were especially relevant for those treated using enzymes, with significant differences in L* and b*, showing loss of yellow vivid color. Analysis of phenolic compounds and vitamin C showed no significant alterations after the enzymatic treatment of the raw juice. According to our results, the clarification of orange juice using immobilized enzymes can be a compromise in turbidity reduction and color reduction to maintain juice quality.
Comparative Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds in Two Bottle Gourd Accessions with Distinct Fruit Shapes
Authors: Zia Bazgha , Chanda Bidisha , Bai Jinhe , Gilliard Andrea , Ling Kai-Shu
Published: October 2023

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.) belongs to the cucurbit family and has a long history of cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, both for food and medicine. Popularized by its unique fruit shapes, gourds are used to make ornaments and musical instruments. However, there is limited information on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the bottle gourd fruit. In the present study, we conducted a comparative analysis of VOCs profiled in two accessions (USVL5 and USVL10) with distinct fruit shapes: bottle and cylinder. While USVL5 only produced long cylinder fruits, USVL10 produced two fruit types, cylinder (USVL10CYN) and bottle (USVL10A and USVL10B). VOCs in each line were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). Aliphatic aldehydes and alcohols were the most abundant compounds found in these bottle gourd accessions. Based on the functional profile of the identified VOCs, our results reveal the suitability of our tested line (USVL10), enriched in functionally important VOCs such as hexanal (abundance = 381.07), nonanal (abundance = 9.85), 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (abundance = 21.26) and D-limonene (abundance = 31.48). The VOCs profiling and functional analyses support the notion that the bottle gourd accession USVL10 can be a good candidate for its use in agriculture, the health care industry and domestic uses.
Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on the Level of Antinutrients in Pulses: A Case Study of a Fermented Faba Bean–Oat Product
Authors: Kahala Minna , Ikonen Iida , Blasco Lucia , Bragge Rina , Pihlava Juha-Matti , Nurmi Markus , Pihlanto Anne
Published: October 2023

The importance of cereals and pulses in the diet is widely recognized, and consumers are seeking for ways to balance their diet with plant-based options. However, the presence of antinutritional factors reduces their nutritional value by decreasing the bioavailability of proteins and minerals. This study’s aim was to select microbes and fermentation conditions to affect the nutritional value, taste, and safety of products. Single lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that reduce the levels of antinutrients in faba bean and pea were utilized in the selection of microbes for two starter mixtures. They were studied in fermentations of a faba bean–oat mixture at two temperatures for 24, 48, and 72 h. The levels of antinutrients, including galacto-oligosaccharides and pyrimidine glycosides (vicine and convicine), were determined. Furthermore, a sensory evaluation of the fermented product was conducted. Fermentations with selected single strains and microbial mixtures showed a significant reduction in the content of antinutrients, and vicine and convicine decreased by up to 99.7% and 96.1%, respectively. Similarly, the oligosaccharides were almost completely degraded. Selected LAB mixtures were also shown to affect the product’s sensory characteristics. Microbial consortia were shown to perform effectively in the fermentation of protein-rich materials, resulting in products with improved nutritional value and organoleptic properties.
Multiple Terms Identification of Time Fractional Diffusion Equation with Symmetric Potential from Nonlocal Observation
Authors: Wang Zewen , Qiu Zhonglong , Qiu Shufang , Ruan Zhousheng
Published: October 2023

This paper considers a simultaneous identification problem of a time-fractional diffusion equation with a symmetric potential, which aims to identify the fractional order, the potential function, and the Robin coefficient from a nonlocal observation. Firstly, the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution are established for the forward problem. Then, by the asymptotic behavior of the Mittag-Leffler function, the Laplace transform, and the analytic continuation theory, the uniqueness of the simultaneous identification problem is proved under some appropriate assumptions. Finally, the Levenberg–Marquardt method is employed to solve the simultaneous identification problem for finding stably approximate solutions of the fractional order, the potential function, and the Robin coefficient. Numerical experiments for three test cases are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented inversion method.
A Spectral Collocation Method for Solving the Non-Linear Distributed-Order Fractional Bagley–Torvik Differential Equation
Authors: Amin Ahmed Z. , Abdelkawy Mohamed A. , Solouma Emad , Al-Dayel Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

One of the issues in numerical solution analysis is the non-linear distributed-order fractional Bagley–Torvik differential equation (DO-FBTE) with boundary and initial conditions. We solve the problem by proposing a numerical solution based on the shifted Legendre Gauss–Lobatto (SL-GL) collocation technique. The solution of the DO-FBTE is approximated by a truncated series of shifted Legendre polynomials, and the SL-GL collocation points are employed as interpolation nodes. At the SL-GL quadrature points, the residuals are computed. The DO-FBTE is transformed into a system of algebraic equations that can be solved using any conventional method. A set of numerical examples is used to verify the proposed scheme’s accuracy and compare it to existing findings.
Efficiency Analysis of Tramways in the Metropolitan Areas in South Korea: Focusing on the Daejeon Metropolitan Area
Authors: Park Jung-soo
Published: October 2023

This study aims to present the meaningful implications of introducing a tramway as a new mode of transportation in the Daejeon Metropolitan Area, a major metropolitan area in South Korea. An efficiency comparison by data envelopment analysis (DEA) was carried out, using variables selected from the 2021 Public Transportation Investigation by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KTSA) (2021), and the ‘Guidelines for selecting new transportation means’ announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in 2021. As a result, the efficiency of public transportation in major metropolitan areas outside of the capital region was higher than in the capital metropolitan area. In particular, the Daejeon Metropolitan Area ranked high in efficiency compared to other major metropolitan areas with similar conditions. In the V-super efficiency results of the efficiency model based on the input of operational costs for each new mode of transportation, considering variable returns to scale (VRS), the bus rapid transit (BRT) ranked first, the tramway second, and the bimodal tram third. Regarding construction cost input, the tramway ranked first, the bimodal tram second, and BRT third.