bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gel-Forming of Self-Assembling Peptides Functionalized with Food Bioactive Motifs Modulate DPP-IV and ACE Inhibitory Activity in Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells
Authors: Pugliese Raffaele , Bartolomei Martina , Bollati Carlotta , Boschin Giovanna , Arnoldi Anna , Lammi Carmen
Published: January 2022

Food bioactive peptides are increasingly used for formulating food products, nutraceuticals, and functional food, since they are generally considered safe for human consumption and metabolic syndrome prevention. They are also becoming popular as sustainable sources of novel functional biomaterials such as hydrogels, edible nanonutraceuticals, delivery systems, and packing materials. However, such food peptides are mostly unstable, and degrade during food processing, or in a gastrointestinal environment, thus resulting in low bioavailability precluding their practical applications. Here, we decided to functionalize the well-known and characterized self-assembling peptide RADA16 with two synthetic analogues of food bioactive peptides deriving from the hydrolysis of soybean glycinin and lupin β-conglutin (namely IAVPTGVA and LTFPGSAED) for control of and improvement in their gel-forming nanostructures, biomechanics, and biological features. Extensive characterization was performed via Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thioflavin T (ThT) binding assay, rheological measurements, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis. Lastly, since self-assembling peptides (SAPs) can be co-assembled with diluent SAPs (without a bioactive epitope) as an approach to control the density of biological signals and therefore attain enhanced bioactivity, we investigated the effect of the co-assembly of RADA16 and functionalized food bioactive SAPs (dubbed cAP-Soy1 and cAP-Lup1) for the growth of Caco-2 human intestinal cells and contextually we characterized their biological activities as DPP-IV and ACE inhibitors, in order to demonstrate their potential use for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.
Therapeutic Opportunities of Disrupting Genome Integrity in Adult Diffuse Glioma
Authors: Aguilar-Morante Diana , Gómez-Cabello Daniel , Quek Hazel , Liu Tianqing , Hamerlik Petra , Lim Yi Chieh
Published: January 2022

Adult diffuse glioma, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), is a devastating tumor of the central nervous system. The existential threat of this disease requires on-going treatment to counteract tumor progression. The present outcome is discouraging as most patients will succumb to this disease. The low cure rate is consistent with the failure of first-line therapy, radiation and temozolomide (TMZ). Even with their therapeutic mechanism of action to incur lethal DNA lesions, tumor growth remains undeterred. Delivering additional treatments only delays the inescapable development of therapeutic tolerance and disease recurrence. The urgency of establishing lifelong tumor control needs to be re-examined with a greater focus on eliminating resistance. Early genomic and transcriptome studies suggest each tumor subtype possesses a unique molecular network to safeguard genome integrity. Subsequent seminal work on post-therapy tumor progression sheds light on the involvement of DNA repair as the causative contributor for hypermutation and therapeutic failure. In this review, we will provide an overview of known molecular factors that influence the engagement of different DNA repair pathways, including targetable vulnerabilities, which can be exploited for clinical benefit with the use of specific inhibitors.
Acknowledgment to Reviewers of BioTech in 2021
Authors:   BioTech Editorial Office
Published: January 2022

Rigorous peer-reviews are the basis of high-quality academic publishing [...]
A Comparison between On-Site Measured and Estimated Based Adjustment Factor Values Used to Calculate Heat Losses to Unconditioned Spaces in Dwellings
Authors: Nepomuceno Miguel C. S. , Martins Ana M. T. , Pinto Hugo A. S.
Published: January 2022

Steady-state methods have been widely used in Europe to analyse the energy performance of low-energy buildings. The accuracy of such methods depends on the assumptions regarding the compensation of non-stationary effects, but also on the input design data, such as the temperature of unconditioned spaces (UnSp). This temperature depends mainly on the thermal characteristics of UnSp envelope, air ventilation rate, temperature of the conditioned spaces and the external environment. External environment varies over time, daily and seasonally, making it difficult to accurately estimate UnSp temperature. European Union (EU) directives stated that the UnSp temperature can be evaluated by the adjustment factor (b) set by EN ISO 13789. However, each Member State may adjust procedures, by proposing simplified approaches, either for new or existing buildings. In this paper the b-values measured on-site in three dwellings were compared to those calculated by EN ISO 13789 as well as those estimated based on simplified procedures, allowed in the regulatory framework of some EU Member States, namely Ireland, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. The study allowed to conclude that EN ISO 13789 and Irish BR 443 provided similar values. However, if the purpose is to simplify procedures and reduce computation effort, French RE2020 proved to be very effective. The thermal characteristics of the UnSp envelope and air ventilation rate were identified as the parameters that most affect the estimation of the b-value, while thermal losses through linear thermal bridges and the ground do not seem to have a significant impact.
Has China’s Construction Waste Change Been Decoupled from Economic Growth?
Authors: Wang Haobing , Xia Sisi , Zhang Qiyue , Zhang Ping
Published: January 2022

Construction waste management is crucial to the sustainable development of the construction industry and environmental management, and China has the highest construction waste emission in the world, making it typical and representative globally. In this paper, we conducted an empirical study on the relationship between the change in construction waste and economic growth at the provincial level in China from 2009 to 2018 based on a decoupling model and spatial analysis methods, and we reached the findings as follows. (1) Most provinces in China are still in the stage of continuous growth of construction waste emissions, and about 30% have reached the peak (inverted U-shaped), prominently characterized by inter-provincial spatial heterogeneity and agglomeration. (2) The decoupling types between inter-provincial construction waste and construction economic growth in China are dominated by weak decoupling, expansive coupling, and recessive decoupling, and they are changing in general with positive signs but in a more diversified and complex trend. (3) Based on the analysis results, this paper classifies China into three types of policy zones, namely transformation, adjustment, and stabilization, and proposes differentiated and targeted recommendations to provide an important decision basis for the design of construction waste management policies in China and similar countries and to help achieve a “zero waste society” in early global development.
MRI-Guided Online Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Liver and Pancreas Tumors on an MR-Linac System
Authors: Stanescu Teo , Shessel Andrea , Carpino-Rocca Cathy , Taylor Edward , Semeniuk Oleksii , Li Winnie , Barry Aisling , Lukovic Jelena , Dawson Laura , Hosni Ali
Published: January 2022

Purpose: To describe a comprehensive workflow for MRI-guided online adaptive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) specific to upper gastrointestinal cancer patients with abdominal compression on a 1.5T MR-Linac system. Additionally, we discuss the workflow’s clinical feasibility and early experience in the case of 16 liver and pancreas patients. Methods: Eleven patients with liver cancer and five patients with pancreas cancer were treated with online adaptive MRI-guidance under abdominal compression. Two liver patients received single-fraction treatments; the remainder plus all pancreas cancer patients received five fractions. A total of 65 treatment sessions were investigated to provide analytics relevant to the online adaptive processes. The quantification of target and organ motion as well as definition and validation of internal target volume (ITV) margins were performed via multi-contrast imaging provided by three different 2D cine sequences. The plan generation was driven by full re-optimization strategies and using T2-weighted 3D image series acquired by means of a respiratory-triggered exhale phase or a time-averaged imaging protocol. As a pre-requisite for the clinical development of the procedure, the image quality was thoroughly investigated via phantom measurements and numerical simulations specific to upper abdominal sites. The delivery of the online adaptive treatments was facilitated by real-time monitoring with 2D cine imaging. Results: Liver 1-fraction and 5-fraction online adaptive session time were on average 80 and 67.5 min, respectively. The total session length varied between 70–90 min for a single fraction and 55–90 min for five fractions. The pancreas sessions were 54–85 min long with an average session time of 68.2 min. Target visualization on the 2D cine image data varied per patient, with at least one of the 2D cine sequences providing sufficient contrast to confidently identify its location and confirm reproducibility of ITV margins. The mean/range of absolute and relative dose values for all treatment sessions evaluated with ArcCheck were 90.6/80.9–96.1% and 99/95.4–100%, respectively. Conclusion: MR-guidance is feasible for liver and pancreas tumors when abdominal compression is used to reduce organ motion, improve imaging quality, and achieve a robust intra- and inter-fraction patient setup. However, the treatment length is significantly longer than for the conventional linac, and patient compliance is paramount for the successful completion of the treatment. Opportunities for reducing the online adaptive session time should be explored. As the next steps, dose-of-the-day and dose accumulation analysis and tools are needed to enhance the workflow and to help further refine the online re-planning processes.
A Proposed Trial Design for the Treatment of Widely Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma Inspired by Evolutionary Dynamics
Authors: Metts Jonathan , Russell Thomas , Reed Damon , Trucco Matteo
Published: January 2022

Metastatic Ewing sarcoma has dismal long-term survival despite multiple attempts to intensify standard therapy through the addition of new agents to the existing chemotherapy backbone. Here, based on the application of evolutionary dynamics to pediatric sarcoma, we propose an alternative treatment strategy that varies exposure to agents and dosing intensities, termed sequential second-strike therapy (SSST). We announce an upcoming clinical trial to apply these principles to patients with widely metastatic Ewing sarcoma, those with metastatic disease beyond the lungs.
Nanostructured Metal Oxide Semiconductors towards Greenhouse Gas Detection
Authors: Dadkhah Mehran , Tulliani Jean-Marc
Published: January 2022

Climate change and global warming are two huge current threats due to continuous anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the Earth’s atmosphere. Accurate measurements and reliable quantifications of GHG emissions in air are thus of primary importance to the study of climate change and for taking mitigation actions. Therefore, the detection of GHGs should be the first step when trying to reduce their concentration in the environment. Throughout recent decades, nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors have been found to be reliable and accurate for the detection of many different toxic gases in air. Thus, the aim of this article is to present a comprehensive review of the development of various metal oxide semiconductors, as well as to discuss their strong and weak points for GHG detection.
Water Profitability Analysis to Improve Food Security and Climate Resilience: A Case Study in the Egyptian Nile Delta
Authors: Badawy Adham , Elmahdi Amgad , Abd El-Hafez Sayed , Ibrahim Ali
Published: January 2022

The food self-sufficiency policy has always featured as an unquestionable policy objective for Egypt. This is understandable when one considers both the high population growth and the social and political vulnerability associated with a dependence on food imports and world market food prices such as wheat. Intensive agriculture has led to a growing subsidy burden for the Egyptian government. In addition, the agricultural fields in Egypt are commonly distributed with relatively small sizes parcels that usually reduce the reliability of the agricultural sector, particularly in the delta region, to meet the national food policy. On top of that, climate change, through changing weather patterns and increased temperatures, is affecting agricultural yields and thus farmers’ livelihoods. A water profitability analysis was conducted for three governorates in the Nile Delta in Egypt to establish a baseline and assess the net return per unit of water of the main crops in each of these governorates; this can act as a reference of the water profitability of different crops before they are affected by climate change and other internal and external factors. The analysis was based on extensive in-person surveys in each governorate in addition to workshop discussions with farmers. The study has highlighted the impact of a lack of extension services, which limits farmers’ ability to increase their land and water productivity. Farmers with more access to subsidized production inputs managed to achieve higher levels of water profitability even on smaller lands. Finally, we drew from our findings key policy actions to improve water profitability and land productivity for farmers in the Nile Delta to achieve higher levels of food security. This will help build resilient food production systems that are reliable in the face of climate change and other drivers. In addition, an integrated nexus strategy and plan for the inter- and intra-country is recommended to address the challenges related to food and climate security.
From Diagnosis to Satisfaction in Multiple Sclerosis: A Swiss Patient Survey Highlighting the Importance of the First Diagnostic Consultation
Authors: Kamm Christian P. , Manjakunnel Praveen , Lehnick Dirk , Welter Martin , Chan Andrew , Kamber Nicole , Vanbellingen Tim
Published: January 2022

Background: An early treatment start with disease modifying therapies (DMT) and long-term adherence is crucial in the treatment of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) to prevent future disability. Objectives: To gain information on the diagnostic process, decision making, treatment start and adherence with regard to DMT as well as satisfaction in PwMS in Switzerland to optimize management of PwMS. Methods: A survey was conducted between June 2017 and March 2018 in six hospital-based MS centres and eight private practices in Switzerland. PwMS according to the 2010 McDonald criteria, aged 18–60 years, having a clinical isolated syndrome, relapsing remitting MS, or secondary progressive MS were eligible. The survey contained 40 questions, covering participants’ background and circumstances, treatment decisions, therapy start, treatment adherence, and satisfaction (EKNZ Req-2016-00701). Results: 212 questionnaires were returned for analysis. Of these, 125 (59.0%) were answered by patients treated by practice-based neurologists and 85 (40.1%) by patients treated in hospitals. That PwMS were satisfied overall with current medical care, that they were free of relapses and disease progression, and that they were able to live independently were the main goals of patients. Satisfaction was reflected by an early therapy start and a high adherence to DMT in our cohort. The treating neurologist played a major role in this regard. Furthermore, a satisfactory first diagnostic consultation (FDC) was crucial for successful long-term patient care positively influencing an early treatment start, longer duration of the initial therapy, as well as adherence to treatments and general satisfaction. Conclusion: The treating neurologist and especially a satisfactory FDC play a major role for the successful long-term treatment of PwMS. Detailed information on various aspects of the disease and time with the treating neurologist seems to be of major importance.
System 2 Diagnostic Process for the Next Generation of Physicians: “Inside” and “Outside” Brain—The Interplay between Human and Machine
Authors: Shimizu Taro
Published: January 2022

Improving diagnosis has been one of the most critical issues in medicine for the last two decades. In the context of the rise of digital health and its augmentation and human diagnostic thinking, it has become necessary to integrate the concept of digital diagnosis into dual-process theory (DPT), which is the fundamental axis of the diagnostic thinking process physicians. Particularly, since the clinical decision support system (CDSS) corresponds to analytical thinking (system 2) in DPT, it is necessary to redefine system 2 to include the CDSS. However, to the best of my knowledge there has been no concrete conceptual model based on this need. The innovation and novelty of this paper are that it redefines system 2 to include new concepts and shows the relationship among the breakdown of system 2. In this definition, system 2 is divided into “inside” and “outside” brains, where “inside” includes symptomatologic, anatomical, biomechanical–physiological, and etiological thinking approaches, and “outside” includes CDSS. Moreover, this paper discusses the actual and possible future interplay between “inside” and “outside.” The author envisions that this paper will serve as a cornerstone for the future development of system 2 diagnostic thinking strategy.
Shear-Wave-Elastography in Neurofibromatosis Type I
Authors: Staber Deborah , Oppold Julia , Grimm Alexander , Schuhmann Martin U. , Romano Alyssa , Marquetand Justus , Kleiser Benedict
Published: January 2022

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is an increasingly used imaging modality that expands clinical ultrasound by measuring the elasticity of various tissues, such as the altered elasticity of tumors. Peripheral nerve tumors are rare, have been well-characterized by B-mode-ultrasound, but have not yet been investigated with SWE. Given the lack of studies, a first step would be to investigate homogeneous peripheral nerve tumors (PNTs), histologically neurofibromas or schwannomas, which can occur in multiple in neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 (NF1 and 2), respectively. Hence, we measured shear wave velocity (SWV) in 30 PNTs of 11 patients with NF1 within the median nerve. The SWV in PNTs ranged between 2.8 ± 0.8 m/s and correlated with their width and approximate volume but not with their length or height. Furthermore, we determined the extent to which PNTs alter the SWV of the median nerve for three positions of the wrist joint: neutral (zero-degree), individual maximal flexion and maximal extension. Here, SWV was decreased in NF1 patients compared to age- and sex-matched controls (p = 0.029) during maximal wrist extension. We speculate that the presence of PNTs may have a biomechanical impact on peripheral nerves which has not been demonstrated yet.
System Condition for Power Balancing between Fluctuating and Controllable Devices and Optimizing Storage Sizes
Authors: Javaid Saher , Kaneko Mineo , Tan Yasuo
Published: January 2022

With the rapid development of distributed generators (DGs) and increasing power penetration level of renewable energy sources (RESs), it is a critical issue for any power system to operate safely and continuously in the presence of uncertainty and variability (i.e., power fluctuations) of generated power and demanded power. The introduction of controllable power generators and power storage devices is dispensable for mitigating this problem. To satisfy the power supply–demand balancing requirement, the power flow assignment is essential under power balance constraint. However, due to the physical power limitation constraints of power generators and loads, capacity limitation of power storage devices, and connection arrangement, it is hard to achieve power balance. In this paper, a system characterization is proposed that describes the relationship between power generators, loads, storage devices and connections among them. The proposed characterization system should be satisfied to guarantee safe operation of a given power flow system by preserving the SOC bounds of storage devices. That is, to have a feasible power flow assignment, there are many issues such as how the power limitations (i.e., maximum and minimum power levels) of power generators and loads must be decided, how large be the capacity of a storage device, and the physical arrangement of connections that must be considered. This paper also shows an optimization problem that consists of optimizing storage capacity, the use of power generators both renewable and non-renewable, and matching with the power demand. Several demonstration scenarios are discussed in this paper for the application and validation of our proposed system characterization.
Impact of Old Pb Mining and Metallurgical Production in Soils from the Linares Mining District (Spain)
Authors: Boente Carlos , Sierra Carlos , Martínez Julián , Rodríguez-Valdés Eduardo , Afif Elías , Rey Javier , Antunes Isabel Margarida Horta Ribeiro , Gallego José Luis Rodríguez
Published: January 2022

Mineral processing and metallurgy production centers may leave a far-reaching fingerprint of soil contamination. This scenario is particularly relevant in the mining district of Linares (Southern Spain), where former industrial sites are now dedicated to other land uses. Within this context, we selected five sectors of concern in Linares region, which are currently used as agricultural and residential areas. The study began with an edaphic characterization, including grain-size fractioning and soil chemical analyses, which were complemented by mineralogical and sequential extraction information. Anomalous soil concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were found, with higher values than the admissible regional guideline limits. Moreover, chemical speciation indicated that in general, Pb, Zn, and Cd were highly available and bound mainly to the carbonate fraction. In addition, health risk assessment evidenced potential threats by Pb and As. Regarding remediation approaches, we observed that, in soils affected by mining and ore dressing activities, the clay and silt size fractions contained the highest pollution load, making them suitable for a size classification treatment. By contrast, in areas affected by metallurgical activity, pollutants were prone to be evenly distributed among all grain sizes, thereby complicating the implementation of such remediation strategies.
Isolation and Characterization of Pediococcus sp. HLV1 from Fermented Idly Batter
Authors: Katepogu Harika , Wee Young-Jung , Almaary Khalid S. , Elbadawi Yahya B. , Gobinath Ramachawolran , Chinni Suresh V. , Lebaka Veeranjaneya Reddy
Published: January 2022

The aim of the present study is the isolation and characterization of the lactic acid bacteria from idly batter, a traditional Indian fermented product. To achieve the aim, 10 idly batter samples were selected from different regions of Kadapa district. In the primary isolation and screening process, 50 lactic-acid-producing bacteria were isolated, and from them, six strains were selected based on their lactic acid yielding capacity for further evaluation. The selected cultures were studied for their phenotypic characters, and all cultures were Gram positive, cocci, and catalase negative. All the six strains were tested for their growth and lactic acid production at above 35 °C, and finally, one strain that showed good growth at 50 °C was selected for further characterization. Molecular characterization by 16S rRNA gene analysis and BLAST analysis revealed 99% similarity with Pediococcus pentosaceus Ni1142. The isolated culture was named as Pediococcus sp. HLV1, and the sequence was submitted to the NCBI databank as accession number MH921241. The isolated strain is able to utilize a wide range of carbohydrate substrates including glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, and xylose. The major fermentation product from glucose is lactic acid. Pediococcus sp. HLV1 showed optimum growth and production of lactic acid with glucose as carbon source (10%) and yeast extract as nitrogen source (0.3%) at pH 7.0 and 40 °C. As well-known probiotic bacteria, the isolated Pediococcus spp. also showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and more specifically inhibited Gram-positive Bacillus. Using the above optimal conditions, lactic acid from a fresh mango peel extract was studied, and at the end of the fermentation, 5.2% (v/v) of lactic acid was produced. In conclusion, the isolated LAB Pediococcus sp. strain HLV1 is able to grow and produce lactic acid at a high temperature (45 °C) and to survive at 50 °C. Mango peel, a by-product of mango pulp industries, can be utilized as one of the economically cheap feedstocks for industrial production of lactic acid by the Pediococcus sp. strain HLV1.
Occurrence and Chemistry of Tropane Alkaloids in Foods, with a Focus on Sample Analysis Methods: A Review on Recent Trends and Technological Advances
Authors: González-Gómez Lorena , Morante-Zarcero Sonia , Pérez-Quintanilla Damián , Sierra Isabel
Published: January 2022

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are natural toxins produced by different plants, mainly from the Solanaceae family. The interest in TAs analysis is due to the serious cases of poisoning that are produced due to the presence of TA-producing plants in a variety of foods. For this reason, in recent years, different analytical methods have been reported for their control. However, the complexity of the matrices makes the sample preparation a critical step for this task. Therefore, this review has focused on (a) collecting the available data in relation to the occurrence of TAs in foods for human consumption and (b) providing the state of the art in food sample preparation (from 2015 to today). Regarding the different food categories, cereals and related products and teas and herbal teas have been the most analyzed. Solid–liquid extraction is still the technique most widely used for sample preparation, although other extraction and purification techniques such as solid-phase extraction or QuEChERS procedure, based on the use of sorbents for extract or clean-up step, are being applied since they allow cleaner extracts. On the other hand, new materials (molecularly imprinted polymers, mesostructured silica-based materials, metal–organic frameworks) are emerging as sorbents to develop effective extraction and purification methods that allow lower limits and matrix effects, being a future trend for the analysis of TAs.
Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Level of Antibodies IgG and FRAP—Experiences of Polish School Staff: A Pilot Study
Authors: Puścion-Jakubik Anna , Olechno Ewa , Socha Katarzyna , Zujko Małgorzata Elżbieta
Published: January 2022

The coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought many changes in terms of lifestyle, education, stress levels, and social contacts. The aim of our research was to evaluate changes in eating habits, physical activity, and selected lifestyle elements in a group of school staff, as well as their immune response to vaccination against COVID-19, and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) level. In total, 108 primary school teachers and other school staff with integration departments were included in the study. An original survey was conducted with the school staff. Of the study group, 45.4% chose to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In this group, the level of IgG antibodies was assessed, as well as the level of FRAP before vaccination, and after the first and second dose. An original questionnaire was also carried out. A decrease in physical activity and an increase in the time spent in front of the computer have been demonstrated, but a positive observation was a favorable change in most eating habits. After the second dose of vaccination, all subjects achieved the appropriate level of IgG antibodies (above 22 U/mL), with the maximum level recorded in 51%. There was also a significant increase in FRAP levels in the group after the first and second dose of the vaccine compared to the baseline level; an issue that requires further observation.
Effect of Extracts Derived from Brown Algae (Sargassum horneri) on the Gel Property and Moisture Distribution of Hairtail Surimi Gel (Trichiurus haumela)
Authors: Han Qiuyu , Wang Yuxin , Chu Qianqian , Bao Bin
Published: January 2022

The cross-linking degree between myosin affected the surimi gel properties in the hairtail. In this study, the effects of phlorotannin extracts (PE) derived from brown algae (Sargassum horneri) with different concentrations (0.05%, 0.3%, 1% w/w) on the hairtail surimi gel-forming properties were investigated in comparison with the commercial phloroglucinol (PG). The breaking forces of surimi gel with 1% PE and 0.05% PG were increased by 14.80% and 2.73%, respectively. The increase in deformation was 9.66% with 1% PE compared with the control added with water, but there was no increase in deformation of surimi gel with 0.05% PG. The improved surimi gel structure with PE as a bridge for the three-dimensional network forming of protein was observed in the microstructure. Moreover, PE could significantly shorten the water relaxation time (p < 0.05), reduce free water content (p < 0.05), and increase the hydrogen proton density of the hairtail surimi according to the results of NMR, dielectric properties, and MRI map, respectively. Our findings suggest that the extracts from the brown algae could be a potential economical gel structure enhancer to improve the myosin network.
A Generalization of Multifractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Gupta Neha , Kumar Arun , Leonenko Nikolai
Published: January 2022

In this article, some properties of multifractional Brownian motion (MFBM) are discussed. It is shown that it has persistence of signs long range dependence (LRD) and persistence of magnitudes LRD properties. A generalization called here nth order multifractional Brownian motion (n-MFBM) that allows to take the functional parameter H(t) values in the range (n−1,n) is discussed. Two representations of the n-MFBM are given and their relationship with each other is obtained.
Results on Neutral Partial Integrodifferential Equations Using Monch-Krasnosel’Skii Fixed Point Theorem with Nonlocal Conditions
Authors: Ravichandran Chokkalingam , Munusamy Kasilingam , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Valliammal Natarajan
Published: January 2022

In this theory, the existence of a mild solution for a neutral partial integrodifferential nonlocal system with finite delay is presented and proved using the techniques of the Monch–Krasnosel’skii type of fixed point theorem, a measure of noncompactness and resolvent operator theory. For this work, we have introduced some sufficient conditions to confirm the existence of the neutral partial integrodifferential system. An illustration of the derived results is offered at the end with a filter system corresponding to our existence result.
Cyclic Mobilisation of Soil–Structure Interface in the Framework of Fractional Plasticity
Authors: Xu Junhong , Shen Yang , Sun Yifei
Published: January 2022

The strength of the soil–structure interface can be mobilised when subjected to cyclic loading. To capture the cyclic mobilisation of the soil–structure interface, an advanced elastoplastic constitutive model is developed within the framework of fractional plasticity, where no additional use of an additional plastic potential is required. Considering the influence of material state and soil fabric on the plastic response of the soil–structure interface, the state-dependent fractional order and hardening modulus are proposed. Further numerical simulation of the developed model shows that it can reasonably capture the mobilised strength and deformation of the soil–structure interface under cyclic loads.
Switched Fractional Order Multiagent Systems Containment Control with Event-Triggered Mechanism and Input Quantization
Authors: Yuan Jiaxin , Chen Tao
Published: January 2022

This paper studies the containment control problem for a class of fractional order nonlinear multiagent systems in the presence of arbitrary switchings, unmeasured states, and quantized input signals by a hysteresis quantizer. Under the framework of the Lyapunov function theory, this paper proposes an event-triggered adaptive neural network dynamic surface quantized controller, in which dynamic surface control technology can avoid “explosion of complexity” and obtain fractional derivatives for virtual control functions continuously. Radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs) are used to approximate the unknown nonlinear functions, and an observer is designed to obtain the unmeasured states. The proposed distributed protocol can ensure all the signals remain semi-global uniformly ultimately bounded in the closed-loop system, and all followers can converge to the convex hull spanned by the leaders’ trajectory. Utilizing the combination of an event-triggered scheme and quantized control technology, the controller is updated aperiodically only at the event-sampled instants such that transmitting and computational costs are greatly reduced. Simulations compare the event-triggered scheme without quantization control technology with the control method proposed in this paper, and the results show that the event-triggered scheme combined with the quantization mechanism reduces the number of control inputs by 7% to 20%.
Long Short-Term Memory Based Subsurface Drainage Control for Rainfall-Induced Landslide Prevention
Authors: Biniyaz Aynaz , Azmoon Behnam , Sun Ye , Liu Zhen
Published: January 2022

Subsurface drainage has been widely accepted to mitigate the hazard of landslides in areas prone to flooding. Specifically, the use of drainage wells with pumping systems has been recognized as an effective short-term solution to lower the groundwater table. However, this method has not been well considered for long-term purposes due to potentially high labor costs. This study aims to investigate the idea of an autonomous pumping system for subsurface drainage by leveraging conventional geotechnical engineering solutions and a deep learning technique—Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM)—to establish a geotechnical cyber-physical system for rainfall-induced landslide prevention. For this purpose, a typical soil slope equipped with three pumps was considered in a computer simulation. Forty-eight cases of rainfall events with a wide range of varieties in duration, total rainfall depths, and different rainfall patterns were generated. For each rainfall event, transient seepage analysis was performed using newly proposed Python code to obtain the corresponding pump’s flow rate data. A policy of water pumping for maintaining groundwater at a desired level was assigned to the pumps to generate the data. The LSTM takes rainfall event data as the input and predicts the required pump’s flow rate. The results from the trained model were validated using evaluation metrics of root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and R2. The R2-scores of 0.958, 0.962, and 0.954 for the predicted flow rates of the three pumps exhibited high accuracy of the predictions using the trained LSTM model. This study is intended to make a pioneering step toward reaching an autonomous pumping system and lowering the operational costs in controlling geosystems.
The Acute Effects of Breakfast Drinks with Varying Protein and Energy Contents on Appetite and Free-Living Energy Intake in UK Older Adults
Authors: Crabtree Daniel , Holliday Adrian , Buosi William , Fyfe Claire , Horgan Graham , Johnstone Alexandra ,   on behalf of the Full4Health-study Group
Published: January 2022

Proposed strategies for preventing protein deficiencies in older patients include increasing protein intake at breakfast. However, protein is highly satiating and the effects of very high protein intakes at breakfast on subsequent appetite and free-living energy intake (EI) in older adults are unclear. This study compared the acute effects of two breakfast drinks varying in protein and energy contents on appetite and free-living EI in healthy older adults using a randomized 2 × 2 crossover design. Participants (n = 48 (20 men, 28 women); mean ± SD age: 69 ± 3 years; BMI: 22.2 ± 2.0 kg·m−2; fat-free mass: 45.5 ± 8.0 kg) consumed two drinks for breakfast (high-protein (30.4 ± 5.3 g), low-energy (211.2 ± 37.1 kcal) content (HPLE) and very high-protein (61.8 ± 9.9 g), fed to energy requirements (428.0 ± 68.9 kcal) (VHPER)) one week apart. Appetite perceptions were assessed for 3 h post-drink and free-living EI was measured for the remainder of the day. Appetite was lower in VHPER than HPLE from 30 min onwards (p < 0.01). Free-living energy and protein intake did not differ between conditions (p = 0.814). However, 24 h EI (breakfast drink intake + free-living intake) was greater in VHPER than HPLE (1937 ± 568 kcal vs. 1705 ± 490 kcal; p = 0.001), as was 24 h protein intake (123.0 ± 26.0 g vs. 88.6 ± 20.9 g; p < 0.001). Consuming a very high-protein breakfast drink acutely suppressed appetite more than a low-energy, high-protein drink in older adults, though free-living EI was unaffected. The long-term effects of adopting such a breakfast strategy in older adults at high risk of energy and protein malnutrition warrants exploration.
Healthcare Professionals’ Practice of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis in Clinical Settings in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Shakeel Sadia , Iffat Wajiha , Naseem Saima , Nesar Shagufta , Rehman Hina , Yaqoob Muhammad , Rehman Anees Ur , Barrak Ibrahim , Jamshed Shazia , Gajdács Márió
Published: January 2022

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an important public health concern that has become more prevalent in Pakistan in recent decades. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are frequently exposed to many HIV-infected patients; as a result, they are more vulnerable to HIV infection due to occupational exposure. Hence, the current study was executed to evaluate HCPs’ knowledge, attitude and practice in terms of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV. This cross-sectional study was carried out in several clinical and laboratory settings of Karachi and the HCPs involved in treating patients were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The Shapiro–Wilk test was performed to establish the normality of the variables. Pearson correlation was employed to identify the relationship between the independent variables considering p-values < 0.05 as statistically significant. A total of 578 filled forms were incorporated in the study with a response rate of 72.2%. Physicians and medical students (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.16–2.24; p = 0.001) belonging to private work settings (OR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.33–2.35; p < 0.003) indicated better knowledge. The majority, 407 (70.4%), of the respondents reported having been exposed to risky occupational circumstances during their professional life; however, 65.7% took PEP for HIV after exposure and only 56.8% completed the entire course. A statistically significant association was observed between experience (p = 0.004, CI = 0.14–0.72), job category (p = 0.0001, CI = 0.16–0.62) and frequency of exposure (p = 0.003, CI = 0.42–11.31) and reporting of occupational exposure. More than half (53.8%) of respondents stated that their institute has a policy for the management of HIV exposures; however, their response was significantly associated with their organization (p = 0.004). The current study shows adequate knowledge revealing a positive attitude among respondents; however, there was a gap between the knowledge and its practical application. Even though many of the HCPs had experienced risky HIV exposure, a lack of reporting was noted in the study.
Unlocking Plum Genetic Potential: Where Are We At?
Authors: Sottile Francesco , Caltagirone Chiara , Giacalone Giovanna , Peano Cristiana , Barone Ettore
Published: January 2022

Plums are a large group of closely related stone fruit species and hybrids of worldwide economic importance and diffusion. This review deals with the main aspects concerning plum agrobiodiversity and its relationship with current and potential contributions offered by breeding in enhancing plum varieties. The most recent breeding achievements are revised according to updated information proceeding from relevant scientific reports and official inventories of plum genetic resources. A special emphasis has been given to the potential sources of genetic traits of interest for breeding programs as well as to the need for efficient and coordinated efforts aimed at efficaciously preserving the rich and underexploited extant plum agrobiodiversity. The specific objective of this review was to: (i) analyze and possibly evaluate the degree of biodiversity existing in the cultivated plum germplasm, (ii) examine the set of traits of prominent agronomic and pomological interest currently targeted by the breeders, and (iii) determine how and to what extent this germplasm was appropriately exploited in breeding programs or could represent concrete prospects for the future.
SARM1 Ablation Is Protective and Preserves Spatial Vision in an In Vivo Mouse Model of Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration
Authors: Finnegan Laura K. , Chadderton Naomi , Kenna Paul F. , Palfi Arpad , Carty Michael , Bowie Andrew G. , Millington-Ward Sophia , Farrar G. Jane
Published: January 2022

The challenge of developing gene therapies for genetic forms of blindness is heightened by the heterogeneity of these conditions. However, mechanistic commonalities indicate key pathways that may be targeted in a gene-independent approach. Mitochondrial dysfunction and axon degeneration are common features of many neurodegenerative conditions including retinal degenerations. Here we explore the neuroprotective effect afforded by the absence of sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif-containing 1 (SARM1), a prodegenerative NADase, in a rotenone-induced mouse model of retinal ganglion cell loss and visual dysfunction. Sarm1 knockout mice retain visual function after rotenone insult, displaying preservation of photopic negative response following rotenone treatment in addition to significantly higher optokinetic response measurements than wild type mice following rotenone. Protection of spatial vision is sustained over time in both sexes and is accompanied by increased RGC survival and additionally preservation of axonal density in optic nerves of Sarm1−/− mice insulted with rotenone. Primary fibroblasts extracted from Sarm1−/− mice demonstrate an increased oxygen consumption rate relative to those from wild type mice, with significantly higher basal, maximal and spare respiratory capacity. Collectively, our data indicate that Sarm1 ablation increases mitochondrial bioenergetics and confers histological and functional protection in vivo in the mouse retina against mitochondrial dysfunction, a hallmark of many neurodegenerative conditions including a variety of ocular disorders.
ASRmiRNA: Abiotic Stress-Responsive miRNA Prediction in Plants by Using Machine Learning Algorithms with Pseudo K-Tuple Nucleotide Compositional Features
Authors: Meher Prabina Kumar , Begam Shbana , Sahu Tanmaya Kumar , Gupta Ajit , Kumar Anuj , Kumar Upendra , Rao Atmakuri Ramakrishna , Singh Krishna Pal , Dhankher Om Parkash
Published: January 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in plant response to different abiotic stresses. Thus, identification of abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs holds immense importance in crop breeding programmes to develop cultivars resistant to abiotic stresses. In this study, we developed a machine learning-based computational method for prediction of miRNAs associated with abiotic stresses. Three types of datasets were used for prediction, i.e., miRNA, Pre-miRNA, and Pre-miRNA + miRNA. The pseudo K-tuple nucleotide compositional features were generated for each sequence to transform the sequence data into numeric feature vectors. Support vector machine (SVM) was employed for prediction. The area under receiver operating characteristics curve (auROC) of 70.21, 69.71, 77.94 and area under precision-recall curve (auPRC) of 69.96, 65.64, 77.32 percentages were obtained for miRNA, Pre-miRNA, and Pre-miRNA + miRNA datasets, respectively. Overall prediction accuracies for the independent test set were 62.33, 64.85, 69.21 percentages, respectively, for the three datasets. The SVM also achieved higher accuracy than other learning methods such as random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and adaptive boosting. To implement our method with ease, an online prediction server “ASRmiRNA” has been developed. The proposed approach is believed to supplement the existing effort for identification of abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs and Pre-miRNAs.
A Putative Effector CcSp84 of Cytospora chrysosperma Localizes to the Plant Nucleus to Trigger Plant Immunity
Authors: Xu Zhiye , Xiong Dianguang , Han Zhu , Tian Chengming
Published: January 2022

Cytospora chrysosperma is the main causal agent of poplar canker disease in China, especially in some areas with poor site conditions. Pathogens secrete a large number of effectors to interfere the plant immunity and promote their infection and colonization. Nevertheless, the roles of effectors in C. chrysosperma remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a candidate effector CcSp84 from C. chrysosperma, which contained a nuclear localization signal motif at the C-terminal and was highly induced during infection stages. Transient expression of CcSp84 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves could trigger cell death. Additionally, deletion of CcSp84 significantly reduced fungal virulence to the polar twigs, while no obvious defects were observed in fungal growth and sensitivity to H2O2. Confocal microscopy revealed that CcSp84 labeled with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) was mainly accumulated in the plant nucleus. Further analysis revealed that the plant nucleus localization of CcSp84 was necessary to trigger plant immune responses, including ROS accumulation, callose deposition, and induced expression of jasmonic acid and ethylene defense-related genes. Collectively, our results suggest that CcSp84 is a virulence-related effector, and plant nucleus localization is required for its functions.
Molecular Insights into Salinity Responsiveness in Contrasting Genotypes of Rice at the Seedling Stage
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Xu Tingting , Liu Yiran , Chen Tong , Zhang Qiuxin , Li Weiyan , Zhou Hongkai , Zhang Yuexiong , Zhang Zemin
Published: January 2022

Salinity is one of the most common unfavorable environmental conditions that limits plant growth and development, ultimately reducing crop productivity. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanism involved in the salinity response in rice, we initially screened 238 rice cultivars after salt treatment at the seedling stage and identified two highly salt-tolerant cultivars determined by the relative damage rate parameter. The majority of cultivars (94.1%) were ranked as salt-sensitive and highly salt-sensitive. Transcriptome profiling was completed in highly salt-tolerant, moderately salt-tolerant, and salt-sensitive under water and salinity treatments at the seedling stage. Principal component analysis displayed a clear distinction among the three cultivars under control and salinity stress conditions. Several starch and sucrose metabolism-related genes were induced after salt treatment in all genotypes at the seedling stage. The results from the present study enable the identification of the ascorbate glutathione pathway, potentially participating in the process of plant response to salinity in the early growth stage. Our findings also highlight the significance of high-affinity K+ uptake transporters (HAKs) and high-affinity K+ transporters (HKTs) during salt stress responses in rice seedlings. Collectively, the cultivar-specific stress-responsive genes and pathways identified in the present study act as a useful resource for researchers interested in plant responses to salinity at the seedling stage.