bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SLA 3D nyomtatható biopolimer alapú hidrogél előállítása, pásztázó elektronmikroszkópos és biokompatibilitási vizsgálata
Authors: Bakó József , Tóth Ferenc , Csámer Loránd , Daróczi Lajos , Hegedűs Csaba
Published: December 2022

Célkitűzés: Munkánk célja biopolimer bázisú 3D nyomtatható hidrogél előállításának, pásztázó elektronmikroszkópos (PEM)vizsgálatainak és biokompatibilitásának bemutatása.Anyagok és módszerek: Ansys SpaceClaim (Ansys Inc, USA) 3D modellező szoftver segítségével 1 és 2 mm vastagságúmintákat terveztünk, majd biodegradábilis metakrilált poli-γ-glutaminsav (MPGA) alapon hidrogéleket állítottunkelő sztereolitográfia (SLA) típusú Form 2 (Formlabs Inc, USA) 3D nyomtató alkalmazásával. A hidrogélek felületétés szerkezetét sztereo- és elektronmikroszkóp segítségével vizsgáltuk. A 3D nyomtatott hidrogélek biokompatibilitásátMG63 sejtvonalon Alamar blue teszt felhasználásával bizonyítottuk, és a minták felületén növesztett sejtek PEM felvételeinkeresztül mutattuk be.Eredmények: Eredményeink bizonyították, hogy az MPGA alapú hidrogélek nyomtathatóak SLA technikájú 3D nyomtatósegítségével. A nyomatás útján kialakított hidrogélek néhány száz nanométeres hálószerű struktúrájúak. Az Alamarblue teszt bizonyította, hogy ugyan 1 nap elteltével csökkent az MG63 sejtek száma a felületen, de 3 nappal későbba kontrollhoz viszonyítva különbség már nem volt kimutatható. Mindezen túl a PEM felvételek is bizonyítják a sejtek kötődéséta hidrogél felületéhez.Következtetés: Az általunk előállított MPGA alapú polimer rendszer SLA technikával nyomtathatónak bizonyult. A kialakítottbiokompatibilis, nanostruktúrált hidrogélek ígéretes jelöltek a biológiailag aktív komponensek szállítására a szövettervezésterületén.
An Experimental Survey of Extended Resolution Effects for SAT Solvers on the Pigeonhole Principle
Authors: Sonobe Tomohiro
Published: December 2022

It has been proven that extended resolution (ER) has more powerful reasoning than general resolution for the pigeonhole principle in Cook’s paper. This fact indicates the possibility that a solver based on extended resolution can exceed Boolean satisfiability problem solvers (SAT solvers for short) based on general resolution. However, few studies have provided practical evidence of this assumption. This paper explores how extended resolution can improve SAT solvers by using the pigeonhole principle, which was the first problem solved by ER in polynomial steps. In fact, although Cook’s paper introduced how to add auxiliary variables, there is no evidence that these variables are really useful for practical solvers. We try to answer the question: If the SAT solver can add appropriate auxiliary variables as proposed in Cook’s paper, can the solver enhance its performance by utilizing these variables? Experimental results show that if the solver properly prioritizes the extended variables in the search, the solver can end the search in a shorter time.
Use of Antimicrobials by Class in Pigs in Germany—A Longitudinal Description Considering Different International Categorisation Systems
Authors: Bonzelett Clarissa , Schnepf Anne , Hartmann Maria , Käsbohrer Annemarie , Kreienbrock Lothar
Published: December 2022

Antimicrobial usage in both human and veterinary medicine is considered one of the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance; its reduction poses a serious challenge. To analyse the associations between usage and resistance, data from monitoring systems and classification of all antimicrobial substances are crucial. In this analysis, we investigated longitudinal data collected between 2013 and 2020 within the Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics project from pig farms in Germany, including all antimicrobial classes, but focusing on critically important antimicrobials: third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and polymyxins. Analysing the treatment frequency, we found that a reduction in antimicrobial use in all types of pig production has occurred over time, accompanied by a rising percentage of farms without any usage. The lists of the World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health, and European Medicine Agency classify different antimicrobial substances as critically important. The vast differences between the respective weighted treatment frequencies allocated to the antimicrobials of main interest reflect the huge impact of the three categorisation systems. We concluded that, with the aim of creating national treatment guidelines supporting veterinarians to make treatment decisions, the list of the European Medicine Agency is the most suitable.
Genomic Analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 Strain Coproducing KPC-2 and CTX-M-14 Isolated from Poultry in the Brazilian Amazon Region
Authors: Valiatti Tiago Barcelos , Cayô Rodrigo , Santos Fernanda Fernandes , Bessa-Neto Francisco Ozório , Brandão Silva Ramon Giovani , Veiga Ruanita , de Nazaré Miranda Bahia Márcia , Guerra Lívia Maria Guimarães Dutra , Pignatari Antônio Carlos Campos , de Oliveira Souza Cintya , Brasiliense Danielle Murici , Gales Ana Cristina
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to characterize a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain (KP411) recovered from the stool samples of poultry (Gallus gallus) in the Brazilian Amazon Region. The whole-genome sequencing of KP411 revealed the presence of an important arsenal of antimicrobial resistance genes to β-lactams (blaCTX-M-14, blaTEM-1B, blaKPC-2, blaSVH-11), aminoglycosides [aph(3″)- Ib, aph(6)-Id, aph(3′)-Ia], sulfonamides (sul1, sul2), quinolones (oqxAB), fosfomycin (fosAKP), and macrolides [mph(A)]. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that the KP411 strain belongs to the ST258 clonal lineage, which is one of the main epidemic clones responsible for the dissemination of KPC-2 worldwide. Our data suggest that food-producing animals may act as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae belonging to the ST258 clone, and, consequently, contribute to their dissemination to humans and the environment.
In Silico and In Vitro Analysis of Sulforaphane Anti-Candida Activity
Authors: Silva Bruna L. R. , Simão Gisele , Campos Carmem D. L. , Monteiro Cinara R. A. V. , Bueno Laryssa R. , Ortis Gabriel B. , Mendes Saulo J. F. , Moreira Israel Viegas , Maria-Ferreira Daniele , Sousa Eduardo M. , Vidal Flávia C. B. , Monteiro Cristina de Andrade , Monteiro-Neto Valério , Fernandes Elizabeth S.
Published: December 2022

Oropharyngeal candidiasis/candidosis is a common and recurrent opportunistic fungal infection. Fluconazole (FLZ), one of the most used and effective antifungal agents, has been associated with a rise of resistant Candida species in immunocompromised patients undergoing prophylactic therapy. Sulforaphane (SFN), a compound from cruciferous vegetables, is an antimicrobial with yet controversial activities and mechanisms on fungi. Herein, the in silico and antifungal activities of SFN against C. albicans were investigated. In silico analyzes for the prediction of the biological activities and oral bioavailability of SFN, its possible toxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters, as well as the estimates of its gastrointestinal absorption, permeability to the blood-brain barrier and skin, and similarities to drugs, were performed by using different software. SFN in vitro anti-Candida activities alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLZ) were determined by the broth microdilution method and the checkerboard, biofilm and hyphae formation tests. Amongst the identified probable biological activities of SFN, nine indicated an antimicrobial potential. SFN was predicted to be highly absorbable by the gastrointestinal tract, to present good oral availability, and not to be irritant and/or hepatotoxic. SFN presented antifungal activity against C. albicans and prevented both biofilm and hyphae formation by this microorganism. SFN was additive/synergistic to FLZ. Overall, the data highlights the anti-Candida activity of SFN and its potential to be used as an adjuvant therapy to FLZ in clinical settings.
A New Hybrid Multi-Objective Scheduling Model for Hierarchical Hub and Flexible Flow Shop Problems
Authors: Aghakhani Sina , Rajabi Mohammad Sadra
Published: December 2022

In general, customers are looking to receive their orders in the fastest time possible and to make purchases at a reasonable price. Consequently, the importance of having an optimal delivery time is increasingly evident these days. One of the structures that can meet the demand for large supply chains with numerous orders is the hierarchical integrated hub structure. Such a structure improves efficiency and reduces chain costs. To make logistics more cost-effective, hub-and-spoke networks are necessary as a means to achieve economies of scale. Many hub network design models only consider hub type but do not take into account the hub scale measured using freight volume. This paper proposes a multi-objective scheduling model for hierarchical hub structures (HHS), which is layered from top to bottom. In the third layer, the central hub takes factory products from decentralized hubs and sends them to other decentralized hubs to which customers are connected. In the second layer, non-central hubs are responsible for receiving products from the factory and transferring them to central hubs. These hubs are also responsible for receiving products from central hubs and sending them to customers. Lastly, the first layer contains factories responsible for producing products and providing for their customers. The factory uses the flexible flow-shop platform and structure to produce its products. The model’s objective is to minimize transportation and production costs as well as product arrival times. To validate and evaluate the model, small instances have been solved and analyzed in detail with the weighted sum and ε-constraint method. Consequently, based on the mean ideal distance (MID) metric, two methods were compared for the designed instances.
A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Flared Gas for Enhanced Oil Recovery Using a Micromodel
Authors: Were Stephanie , Nnabuife Somtochukwu Godfrey , Kuang Boyu
Published: December 2022

The current handling of gas associated with oil production poses an environmental risk. This gas is being flared off due to the technical and economic attractiveness of this option. As flared gases are mainly composed of methane, they have harmful greenhouse effects when released into the atmosphere. This work discusses the effectiveness of using this gas for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) purposes as an alternative to flaring. In this study, a micromodel was designed with properties similar to a sandstone rock with a porosity of 0.4, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques were applied to design an EOR system. Temperature effects were not considered in the study, and the simulation was run at atmospheric pressure. Five case studies were carried out with different interfacial tensions between the oil and gas (0.005 N/m, 0.017 N/m, and 0.034 N/m) and different injection rates for the gas (1 × 10−3 m/s, 1 × 10−4 m/s, and 1 × 10−6 m/s). The model was compared with a laboratory experiment measuring immiscible gas flooding. Factors affecting oil recoveries, such as the interfacial tension between oil and gas, the viscosity, and the pressure, were studied in detail. The results showed that the surface tension between the oil and gas interphase was a limiting factor for maximum oil recovery. The lower surface tension recovered 33% of the original oil in place. The capillary pressure was higher than the pressure in the micromodel, which lowered the amount of oil that was displaced. The study showed the importance of pressure maintenance to increase oil recovery for immiscible gas floods. It is recommended that a wider set of interfacial tensions between oil and gas be tested to obtain a range at which oil recovery is maximum for EOR with flared gas.
Modeling and Analyzing a Multi-Objective Financial Planning Model Using Goal Programming
Authors: Alam Teg
Published: December 2022

Optimal financial planning plays a vital role in maintaining concentration and on the path as the organization extends, when new challenges materialize, and when unpredictable situations pounded. This study aims to develop and implement a goal programming model to evaluate financial planning based on the annual financial report of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), which assisted it in developing the financial planning model. This study is mainly designed to analyze SABIC’s budgeting structure; therefore, in order to maximize the benefits from the whole budget, goal programming is implemented for the entire budget. As a result of this study, we identified the following objectives as specific: reduced expenses, increased revenue, increased net profit, increased fixed assets, reduced debt, and increased equity share participation as a result of this project. Moreover, the analysis involved determining whether all objectives were met at the end of the study. Consequently, this study will benefit industrial institutions in achieving their financial objectives.
A Survey on Big Data in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
Authors: Latha Bhaskaran Krithika , Osei Richard Sakyi , Kotei Evans , Agbezuge Eric Yaw , Ankora Carlos , Ganaa Ernest D.
Published: December 2022

Patients, hospitals, sensors, researchers, providers, phones, and healthcare organisations are producing enormous amounts of data in both the healthcare and drug detection sectors. The real challenge in these sectors is to find, investigate, manage, and collect information from patients in order to make their lives easier and healthier, not only in terms of formulating new therapies and understanding diseases, but also to predict the results at earlier stages and make effective decisions. The volumes of data available in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics are constantly increasing. These increases are driven by advances in technology, which allow for the analysis of ever-larger data sets. Big Data (BD) has the potential to transform drug development and safety testing by providing new insights into the effects of drugs on human health. However, harnessing this potential involves several challenges, including the need for specialised skills and infrastructure. In this survey, we explore how BD approaches are currently being used in the pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics fields; in particular, we highlight how researchers have applied BD in pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics to address various challenges and establish solutions. A comparative analysis helps to trace the implementation of big data in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics. Certain relevant limitations and directions for future research are emphasised. The pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics fields are still at an early stage of BD adoption, and there are many research challenges to be overcome, in order to effectively employ BD to address specific issues.
Novel Challenges on the Catalytic Synthesis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from Real Feedstocks
Authors: Fulignati Sara , Licursi Domenico , Di Fidio Nicola , Antonetti Claudia , Raspolli Galletti Anna Maria
Published: December 2022

The depletion of fossil resources makes the transition towards renewable ones more urgent. For this purpose, the synthesis of strategic platform-chemicals, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), represents a fundamental challenge for the development of a feasible bio-refinery. HMF perfectly deals with this necessity, because it can be obtained from the hexose fraction of biomass. Thanks to its high reactivity, it can be exploited for the synthesis of renewable monomers, solvents, and bio-fuels. Sustainable HMF synthesis requires the use of waste biomasses, rather than model compounds such as monosaccharides or polysaccharides, making its production more economically advantageous from an industrial perspective. However, the production of HMF from real feedstocks generally suffers from scarce selectivity, due to their complex chemical composition and HMF instability. On this basis, different strategies have been adopted to maximize the HMF yield. Under this perspective, the properties of the catalytic system, as well as the choice of a suitable solvent and the addition of an eventual pretreatment of the biomass, represent key aspects of the optimization of HMF synthesis. On this basis, the present review summarizes and critically discusses the most recent and attractive strategies for HMF production from real feedstocks, focusing on the smartest catalytic systems and the overall sustainability of the adopted reaction conditions.
A Fenchone Derivative Effectively Abrogates Joint Damage Following Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis in Lewis Rats
Authors: Carmon Idan , Smoum Reem , Farhat Eli , Reich Eli , Kandel Leonid , Yekhtin Zhannah , Gallily Ruth , Mechoulam Raphael , Dvir-Ginzberg Mona
Published: December 2022

Background: In a previous report, we have identified the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonist HU308 to possess a beneficial effect in preventing age and trauma-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in mice. The effects of HU308 were largely related to the capacity of this compound to induce cartilage anabolism which was dependent on the CREB/SOX9 axis, and exhibited pro-survival and pro-proliferative hallmarks of articular cartilage following treatment. Here, we utilized the novel cannabinoid-fenchone CB2 agonists (1B, 1D), which were previously reported to render anti-inflammatory effects in a zymosan model. Methods: Initially, we assessed the selectivity of CB2 using a Gs-protein receptor cAMP potency assay, which was also validated for antagonistic effects dependent on the Gi-protein receptor cAMP pathway. Based on EC50 values, 1D was selected for a zymosan inflammatory pain model. Next, 1D was administered in two doses intra-articularly (IA), in a post-traumatic medial meniscal tear (MMT, Lewis rats) model, and compared to sham, vehicle, and a positive control consisting of fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) administration. The histopathological assessment was carried out according to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) guidelines for rat models following 28 days post-MMT. Results: The G protein receptor assays confirmed that both 1B and 1D possess CB2 agonistic effects in cell lines and in chondrocytes. Co-administering a CB2 antagonists to 25 mg/kg 1D in a paw inflammatory pain model abolished 1D-related anti-swelling effect and partially abolishing its analgesic effects. Using an MMT model, the high dose (i.e., 24 µg) of 1D administered via IA route, exhibited reduced cartilage damage. Particularly, this dose of 1D exhibited a 30% improvement in cartilage degeneration (zonal/total tibial scores) and lesion depth ratios (44%), comparable to the FGF18 positive control. Synovitis scores remained unaffected and histopathologic evaluation of subchondral bone damage did not suggest that 1D treatment changed the load-bearing ability of the rats. Contrary to the anabolic effect of FGF18, synovial inflammation was observed and was accompanied by increased osteophyte size. Conclusion: The structural histopathological analysis supports a disease-modifying effect of IA-administered 1D compound without any deleterious effects on the joint structure.
Visualizing the Genome: Experimental Approaches for Live-Cell Chromatin Imaging
Authors: Viushkov Vladimir S. , Lomov Nikolai A. , Rubtsov Mikhail A. , Vassetzky Yegor S.
Published: December 2022

Over the years, our vision of the genome has changed from a linear molecule to that of a complex 3D structure that follows specific patterns and possesses a hierarchical organization. Currently, genomics is becoming “four-dimensional”: our attention is increasingly focused on the study of chromatin dynamics over time, in the fourth dimension. Recent methods for visualizing the movements of chromatin loci in living cells by targeting fluorescent proteins can be divided into two groups. The first group requires the insertion of a special sequence into the locus of interest, to which proteins that recognize the sequence are recruited (e.g., FROS and ParB-INT methods). In the methods of the second approach, “programmed” proteins are targeted to the locus of interest (i.e., systems based on CRISPR/Cas, TALE, and zinc finger proteins). In the present review, we discuss these approaches, examine their strengths and weaknesses, and identify the key scientific problems that can be studied using these methods.
Gain- and Loss-of-Function CFTR Alleles Are Associated with COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Baldassarri Margherita , Zguro Kristina , Tomati Valeria , Pastorino Cristina , Fava Francesca , Croci Susanna , Bruttini Mirella , Picchiotti Nicola , Furini Simone ,   GEN-COVID Multicenter Study, Pedemonte Nicoletta , Gabbi Chiara , Renieri Alessandra , Fallerini Chiara
Published: December 2022

Carriers of single pathogenic variants of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 and 14-day death. The machine learning post-Mendelian model pinpointed CFTR as a bidirectional modulator of COVID-19 outcomes. Here, we demonstrate that the rare complex allele [G576V;R668C] is associated with a milder disease via a gain-of-function mechanism. Conversely, CFTR ultra-rare alleles with reduced function are associated with disease severity either alone (dominant disorder) or with another hypomorphic allele in the second chromosome (recessive disorder) with a global residual CFTR activity between 50 to 91%. Furthermore, we characterized novel CFTR complex alleles, including [A238V;F508del], [R74W;D1270N;V201M], [I1027T;F508del], [I506V;D1168G], and simple alleles, including R347C, F1052V, Y625N, I328V, K68E, A309D, A252T, G542*, V562I, R1066H, I506V, I807M, which lead to a reduced CFTR function and thus, to more severe COVID-19. In conclusion, CFTR genetic analysis is an important tool in identifying patients at risk of severe COVID-19.
Cationic Polystyrene Resin Bound Silver Nanocomposites Assisted Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for Enhanced Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Saha Anushree , Kurrey Ramsingh , Verma Santosh Kumar , Deb Manas Kanti
Published: December 2022

The present work reported a novel strategy to construct supported cationic-polystyrene-resin-bound silver nanocomposites for enhanced catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol in an aqueous medium. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used as a model instrument for the study of catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol using cationic-polystyrene-resin-bound silver nanocomposite materials. The mechanism is based on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol due to the electron transfer process that occurred between donor borohydride (BH4−) and acceptor 4-nitrophenol. The polystyrene resin provides support and surface area to increase the catalytic activity of silver nanoparticles. The diffused reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the binding of silver particles onto the surface of cationic polystyrene resin beads. Furthermore, the catalyst was easily separated by the filtration and drying process and was able to reuse. A quantitative analysis of this work has also been performed. The linearity range, the limit of detection, and the limit of quantification obtained for the present method were 0.1 × 10−4 to 1.0 M, 0.6 M, and 2.1 M, respectively. Moreover, a good catalytic efficiency was found to be 96.8%. The advantages of the current method are its simplicity, sensitivity, rapidity, low cost, ease of preparation, and excellent catalytic efficiency to reduce 4-nitrophenol from an aqueous solution.
Antileukemic Activity of hsa-miR-203a-5p by Limiting Glutathione Metabolism in Imatinib-Resistant K562 Cells
Authors: Singh Priyanka , Yadav Radheshyam , Verma Malkhey , Chhabra Ravindresh
Published: December 2022

Imatinib has been the first and most successful tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but many patients develop resistance to it after a satisfactory response. Glutathione (GSH) metabolism is thought to be one of the factors causing the emergence of imatinib resistance. Since hsa-miR-203a-5p was found to downregulate Bcr-Abl1 oncogene and also a link between this oncogene and GSH metabolism is reported, the present study aimed to investigate whether hsa-miR-203a-5p could overcome imatinib resistance by targeting GSH metabolism in imatinib-resistant CML cells. After the development of imatinib-resistant K562 (IR-K562) cells by gradually exposing K562 (C) cells to increasing doses of imatinib, resistant cells were transfected with hsa-miR-203a-5p (R+203). Thereafter, cell lysates from various K562 cell sets (imatinib-sensitive, imatinib-resistant, and miR-transfected imatinib-resistant K562 cells) were used for GC-MS-based metabolic profiling. L-alanine, 5-oxoproline (also known as pyroglutamic acid), L-glutamic acid, glycine, and phosphoric acid (Pi)—five metabolites from our data, matched with the enumerated 28 metabolites of the MetaboAnalyst 5.0 for the GSH metabolism. All of these metabolites were present in higher concentrations in IR-K562 cells, but intriguingly, they were all reduced in R+203 and equated to imatinib-sensitive K562 cells (C). Concludingly, the identified metabolites associated with GSH metabolism could be used as diagnostic markers.
Butt Jointing of Prefabricated Concrete Columns
Authors: Matz Henrik , Empelmann Martin
Published: December 2022

In response to housing shortages in densely inhabited urban areas, there is a search for structural engineering solutions for serial and modular construction. Prefabricated concrete columns can make an important difference. Using industrial manufacturing processes, it is possible to produce highly loadable, durable and true-to-size columns that enable accelerated construction progress and dismantling or reuse of the components at the end of the structure’s economic life. However, there are challenges in designing the detachable connection between highly loaded columns due to an undesired reduction of the load-bearing capacity on the one hand and a high sensitivity to geometrical deviations on the other hand. To investigate the load-bearing and deformation behaviour of butt-jointed columns, large-scale component tests as well as three-dimensional numerical analyses using the finite element method were carried out. The analyses show that measures to increase the stiffness of the joint, such as thicker steel plates, lower mortar thickness, etc., lead to an increase of the ultimate load. It could also be demonstrated that butt-jointed columns are very sensitive to unevenness of the end faces. Finally, the investigations allow first conclusions on the design and detailing of detachable compression connections between prefabricated concrete columns.
Assessment of Infrastructure Reliability in Expansive Clays Using Bayesian Belief Network
Authors: Kabir Golam , Azam Shahid
Published: December 2022

Civil infrastructure supported by expansive clays is severely affected by extensive volumetric deformations. The reliability prediction of such facilities is quite challenging because of the complex interactions between several contributing factors, such as a scarcity of data, a lack of analytical equations, correlations between quantitative and qualitative information, and data integration. The main contribution of this research is the development of a modeling approach based on the Bayesian belief network. The modeling results highlight that facility age is the most critical parameter (23% variance), followed by facility type (1.37% variance), for all the investigated types of infrastructure, namely road embankments, buried pipelines, and residential housing. Likewise, the results of sensitivity analysis and extreme scenario analysis indicate that the new method is capable of predicting infrastructure reliability and the assessments were found to be in agreement with expected field behavior. The proposed model is useful in decision making related to civil infrastructure management in expansive clays.
Drone Surveys Are More Efficient and Cost Effective Than Ground- and Boat-Based Surveys for the Inspection of Fishing Fleet at Harbors
Authors: Reis-Filho José Amorim , Giarrizzo Tommaso
Published: December 2022

Generating accurate estimates of the number of vessels in fishing ports using traditional methods (i.e., ground- and boat-based) can be challenging as observations are distorted by an horizontal perspective. Automated inspection using drones is an emerging research alternative for this type of investigation. However, the drone-based and ground- and boat-based survey methods have not been quantitatively compared for small-scale and commercial fishing fleets in their ports. The objective of this study was to determine the number of fishing vessels and detect onboard fishing gear using three independent sources of data along 41 ports across the Brazilian coastline. Proved by statistical significance, the drone-derived vessel counts revealed 17.9% and 26.6% more fishing vessels than ground- and boat-based surveys, respectively. These differences were further highlighted during the assessment of ports without a ground walkway, causing difficulty, especially for ground-based surveys. Considerable numbers and types of onboard fishing gear were detected using the drone survey, that could not be detected using the ground- and boat-based methods. Although the ground-based survey was associated with a lower cost in comparison with other methods, the drone-based survey required the least time to record fishing fleet features in study ports. Our findings demonstrate that drone surveys can improve the detection and precision of counts for fishing vessels and fishing gear in ports. Further, the magnitude of the discrepancies among the three methods highlights the need for employing drone surveys as a considerable time-reducing approach, and a cost-effective technique for fishery studies.
Mapping the Leaf Area Index of Castanea sativa Miller Using UAV-Based Multispectral and Geometrical Data
Authors: Pádua Luís , Chiroque-Solano Pamela , Marques Pedro , Sousa Joaquim , Peres Emanuel
Published: December 2022

Remote-sensing processes based on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have opened up new possibilities to both map and extract individual plant parameters. This is mainly due to the high spatial data resolution and acquisition flexibility of UAVs. Among the possible plant-related metrics is the leaf area index (LAI), which has already been successfully estimated in agronomy and forestry studies using the traditional normalized difference vegetation index from multispectral data or using hyperspectral data. However, the LAI has not been estimated in chestnut trees, and few studies have explored the use of multiple vegetation indices to improve LAI estimation from aerial imagery acquired by UAVs. This study uses multispectral UAV-based data from a chestnut grove to estimate the LAI for each tree by combining vegetation indices computed from different segments of the electromagnetic spectrum with geometrical parameters. Machine-learning techniques were evaluated to predict LAI with robust algorithms that consider dimensionality reduction, avoiding over-fitting, and reduce bias and excess variability. The best achieved coefficient of determination (R2) value of 85%, which shows that the biophysical and geometrical parameters can explain the LAI variability. This result proves that LAI estimation is improved when using multiple variables instead of a single vegetation index. Furthermore, another significant contribution is a simple, reliable, and precise model that relies on only two variables to estimate the LAI in individual chestnut trees.
High-Resolution Terrain Reconstruction of Slot Canyon Using Backpack Mobile Laser Scanning and UAV Photogrammetry
Authors: Xin Yonghui , Wang Ran , Wang Xi , Wang Xingwei , Xiao Zhouxuan , Lin Jingyu
Published: December 2022

Accurate terrain models are critical for studying the formation and development of slot canyons. However, for slot canyon landforms, it is challenging to generate comprehensive and high-resolution morphological data by individual observation due to the inaccessibility of steep walls on either side and the complexity of the field observation environment, such as variable-slope terrain, partial vegetation cover, and lack of satellite signal. Off-the-shelf surveying techniques, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) photogrammetry and Backpack Mobile Laser Scanning (BMLS), facilitate slot canyon surveys and provide better observations. This paper proposes an integrated scheme to generate comprehensive and centimeter-resolution slot canyon terrain datasets (e.g., color point clouds, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and 3D mesh) using BMLS and fine UAV photogrammetry. The results show that the fine flight of UAVs based on a rough model can avoid collision with obstacles or flying into restricted areas, allowing users to perform tasks faster and safer. Data integration of BMLS and UAV photogrammetry can obtain accurate terrain datasets with a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of point cloud registration of 0.028 m. Such high-resolution integration terrain datasets reduce local data shadows produced solely by individual datasets, providing a starting point to revealing morphological evolution and genesis of slot canyons.
Geomechanical Feasibility Analysis of Salt Cavern Gas Storage Construction in Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province
Authors: Li Haitao , Wanyan Qiqi , Ding Guosheng , Li Kang , Kou Yanxia , Bai Song , Ran Lina , Wu Jianan , Deng Jingen
Published: December 2022

Salt cavern gas storage has become the key project of current and future underground gas storage (UGS) facilities construction due to their efficient peak-shaving and supply assurance capacities. The Sanshui Basin in Guangdong Province, China, is rich in salt resources and has high-purity salt rock, which is a potential area for the construction of salt cavern underground gas storage. To speed up the large-scale construction of underground gas storage in China and promote the sustainable development of the natural gas market, it is very necessary to analyze the geomechanics of the target salt layer and study the feasibility of gas storage construction. Based on comprehensive experiments of rock mechanics and thermodynamics, the strength, creep and temperature-sensitive mechanical properties of the target rock in Sanshui Basin were studied. Then, according to the geological conditions of Sanshui salt formation, a three-dimensional geological model was established to analyze the stability of salt cavern gas storage under the injection-production operation. The results show that the average tensile strength and uniaxial compressive strength of salt rock are 1.51 MPa and 26.04 MPa, respectively, showing lower strength. However, under triaxial compression, the compressive strength of salt rock increases significantly, and there is no obvious shear failure phenomenon observed. Moreover, after the peak strength, the salt rock still has a large bearing capacity. In addition, under the confining pressure of 30 MPa, the strength of salt rock decreases by 8.3% at a temperature of 60 °C compared with that at room temperature, indicating that the temperature has a low, modest effect on the mechanical properties of salt rock. The stability analysis shows that, under an injection-production operating pressure of 10–23 MPa, the displacement, plastic zone range and volume convergence rate of single cavity and cavity group are small, and the cavity shows good stability. Overall, the target salt formation in Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, presents a good geomechanical condition suitable for the construction of underground salt cavern gas storage. This study can provide a reference for the development and design of salt cavern UGS.
May Temperature Drives Cambial Resumption in the Boreal Black Spruce
Authors: Zeng Qiao , Khan Afsheen , Deslauriers Annie , Rossi Sergio
Published: December 2022

The timings of the onset and ending of xylogenesis define the time window when environmental conditions are suitable for xylem formation. The relationship between the occurrence of xylem phenological events and the related climatic factors is critical to revealing how xylem formation responds to the changing climate. Given that temperature is the most important factor influencing growth in the boreal forest, we monitored air temperature and xylem phenology at five permanent plots of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) along a latitudinal gradient of the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. Microcores were collected weekly or biweekly from five to ten trees per site during the growing seasons from 2002 to 2019. We compared the relationships between air temperature and timings of the onset and termination of xylogenesis, testing the hypothesis that spring temperatures trigger the initiation of cambial activity. The onset of xylogenesis occurred from late May (DOY 149) to mid-June (DOY 163), and it terminated between late August (DOY 240) and late September (DOY 270). The spring phases of xylem phenology showed similar inter-annual variation among sites, while the variation in autumnal phases was less correlated among sites. The onset of xylogenesis was negatively correlated with the mean May temperature, and the correlations were consistent among sites, with r ranging from −0.61 to −0.77. The warmer May temperatures would advance cambial resumption, allowing the initial hypothesis that spring temperatures are a driving factor of xylogenesis to be accepted. With an increase of 1 °C in the mean May temperature, cambial resumption could be advanced by 2.7 days. Yet, no relationship between the termination of xylem phenology and monthly temperature was established, suggesting that other factors, possibly endogenous, could have affected the xylem phenology in autumn. Under warming conditions, we expect an advancement in the onset of xylogenesis, which may lengthen the growing season and potentially enhance cell production in black spruce.
Analysis on the Fire Progression and Severity Variation of the Massive Forest Fire Occurred in Uljin, Korea, 2022
Authors: Baek Seungil , Lim Joongbin , Kim Wonkook
Published: December 2022

Analysis of the progression of forest fires is critical in understanding fire regimes and managing the risk of active fires. Major fire events in Korea mostly occur in the eastern mountainous areas (Gangwon Province), where the wind and moisture conditions are prone to fire in the late winter season. Despite the significance of the fire events in the area both in terms of frequency and severity, their spatial progression characteristics and their dependency on forest types have not been sufficiently analyzed so far, particularly with satellite data. This study first derived the severity map for the Uljin fire which occurred in March 2022, using a series of satellite images acquired over the fire period with very high frequency (every 5 days), and analyzed the characteristics of spatio-temporal progression in terms of forest types. The analysis revealed that the core fire area expanded very rapidly in the first few days, followed by an intensification phase that elevated severity in the active areas with marginal expansion in the peripheral areas. The analysis of the progression showed that the fire did not expand selectively by the forest type, despite the clear difference in their severity levels in the burned areas, where coniferous forest exhibited 3 times higher severity than deciduous forest.
Success of Aquaculture Industry with New Insights of Using Insects as Feed: A Review
Authors: Hameed Amna , Majeed Waqar , Naveed Muhammad , Ramzan Uzma , Bordiga Matteo , Hameed Maryam , Ur Rehman Saud , Rana Naureen
Published: December 2022

Most of world’s fish and seafood are produced by aquaculture, which is one of the biggest contributors to the world’s food security. The substantial increase in prices of conventional feed ingredients and the over-exploitation of natural resources are some of the biggest constraints to aquaculture production. To overcome this stress, different approaches and techniques are used, among which the use of non-conventional feed ingredients in the aquaculture sector is the most recent approach. Different non-conventional feed ingredients such as plant-based products, algae (both micro and macroalgae), single-cell protein (bacteria and yeast), and insect meal are currently used in aquaculture for sustainable food production. Amongst all these novel ingredients, insects have greater potential to replace fishmeal. The existence of about 1.3 billion tons of food and agriculture waste from the food chain supply poses a serious environmental threat. Insects are tiny creatures that can thrive on organic waste and thus can convert the waste to wealth by the bioconversion and nutritional upcycling of organic waste. Insects have the potential to recover nutrients from waste aquaculture products, and many fish species feed on insects naturally. Therefore, employing insects in the aquaculture sector to replace fishmeal is an eco-friendly approach. The present review briefly highlights emerging non-conventional feed ingredients, with special attention given to insects. The current review also focuses on the nutritional value of insects, factors affecting the nutritional value of insects, potential insects that can be employed in the aquaculture sector, the physiological response of fish when fed with insect meal, techno-functional properties of insect meal, and emerging approaches for addressing possible downsides of employing insect meal in fish diets. Finally, it suggests avenues for further research into these inventive fishmeal replacements.
Aqua-Ento-Ponics: Effect of Insect Meal on the Development of Sea Bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in Co-Culture with Lettuce
Authors: Stathopoulou Paraskevi , Asimaki Adamantia , Berillis Panagiotis , Vlahos Nikolaos , Levizou Efi , Katsoulas Nikolaos , Karapanagiotidis Ioannis T. , Rumbos Christos I. , Athanassiou Christos G. , Mente Eleni
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 10 and 20% replacement of fishmeal (FM dietary group) with the superworm Zophobas morio larvae meal (ZM10 and ZM20 dietary groups) on the growth performance of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa) reared in aquaponics. Ninety juvenile sea bass with an average body weight of 21.55 g/individual were placed in aquaponic fish tanks, together with 24 lettuce plants with an average initial height of 8.90 cm/plant and an average number of leaves of 5.75/plant over a 45-day trial period. At the end of that period, all feeding groups exhibited high survival. In fact, ΖΜ10 and ZM20 groups showed similar fish weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) (p > 0.05), but significantly lower SGR (p < 0.05) than the FM group. Nevertheless, final fish body weight and length were similar (p > 0.05) for all feeding groups. No plant mortality was observed during the 45-day study period. All three aquaponic systems resulted in similar leaf fresh weight, as well as fresh and dry aerial biomass. At the end of the experimental period, plants in the third system showed higher fresh leaf weight, total weight of fresh leaves, total dry aerial biomass, and total produced biomass compared to the other two systems. The results of the present study show that fish fed with the ZM10 diet had higher weight gain (WG) than fish fed with the ZM20 diet, while the SGRs for ZM10 and ZM20 were similar. Both ZM10 and ZM20 diets result in efficient lettuce production. This study also provides data that enlighten the feasibility of integrating insect meals as fish feeds for aquaponics which helps towards the development of an ento-aquaponic approach.
Ecological Forecasting and Operational Information Systems Support Sustainable Ocean Management
Authors: Sun Chaojiao , Hobday Alistair J. , Condie Scott A. , Baird Mark E. , Eveson J. Paige , Hartog Jason R. , Richardson Anthony J. , Steven Andrew D. L. , Wild-Allen Karen , Babcock Russell C. , Yang Dezhou , Yu Rencheng , Mongin Mathieu
Published: December 2022

In times of rapid change and rising human pressures on marine systems, information about the future state of the ocean can provide decision-makers with time to avoid adverse impacts and maximise opportunities. An ecological forecast predicts changes in ecosystems and its components due to environmental forcing such as climate variability and change, extreme weather conditions, pollution, or habitat change. Here, we summarise examples from several sectors and a range of locations. We describe the need, approach, forecast performance, delivery system, and end user uptake. This examination shows that near-term ecological forecasts are needed by end users, decisions are being made based on forecasts, and there is an urgent need to develop operational information systems to support sustainable ocean management. An operational information system is critical for connecting to decision makers and providing an enduring approach to forecasting and proactive decision making. These operational systems require significant investment and ongoing maintenance but are key to delivering ecological forecasts for societal benefits. Iterative forecasting practices could provide continuous improvement by incorporating evaluation and feedback to overcome the limitations of the imperfect model and incomplete observations to achieve better forecast outcomes and accuracy.
Development of a Simple Cell Harvesting Method to Maximise DNA Recovery from Historic Microscope Slides for Sexual Assault Investigations
Authors: Hymus Colby M. , Egan Scott E. , Tay Jasmine W.
Published: December 2022

Microscopy slides are routinely created as part of sexual assault workflows for screening purposes and retained indefinitely with instances, such as cold cases, where they are the only remaining source of evidence. To date, no method has been developed to harvest the cells from these slides for differential extraction using the i-sep® DL column or Intimate extraction using the PrepFiler™ Express chemistry supplemented with 60 mM DTT. This study used mock sexual assault slides from 2010 to develop a potential cell harvesting method, then tested both the extraction methods on historic casework slides collected in the 1980s and 1990s. Key findings included the necessity to re-screen slides microscopically to assess current cellular loading and the utility of using phase contrast to enhance visualisation of spermatozoa on historic slides. Both extraction methods successfully recovered DNA and generated partial profiles from the 1990s slides, but 1980s slides were too degraded to provide informative profiles. Differential extraction provided additional contextual information by separating contributors into sperm and non-sperm fractions, resulting in cleaner sperm profiles for interpretation. The study successfully established methods for historic microscope slides to be used as viable sources of evidence, potentially aiding in the progression and resolution of sexual assault investigations.