bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root Colonization by Fungal Entomopathogen Systemically Primes Belowground Plant Defense against Cabbage Root Fly
Authors: Posada-Vergara Catalina , Lohaus Katharina , Alhussein Mohammad , Vidal Stefan , Rostás Michael
Published: September 2022

Entomopathogenic fungi infect insects via spores but also live inside plant tissues as endophytes. Frequently, colonization by entomopathogens provides plants with increased resistance against insects, but the mechanisms are little understood. This study investigated direct, local, and systemic root-mediated interactions between isolates of the fungus Metarhizium brunneum and larvae of the cabbage root fly (CRF) Delia radicum attacking Brassica napus plants. All fungal isolates infected CRF when conidia were present in the soil, leading to 43–93% mortality. Locally, root-associated M. brunneum isolates reduced herbivore damage by 10–20% and in three out of five isolates caused significant insect mortality due to plant-mediated and/or direct effects. A split-root experiment with isolate Gd12 also demonstrated systemic plant resistance with significantly reduced root collar damage by CRF. LC-MS analyses showed that fungal root colonization did not induce changes in phytohormones, while herbivory increased jasmonic acid (JA) and glucosinolate concentrations. Proteinase inhibitor gene expression was also increased. Fungal colonization, however, primed herbivore-induced JA and the expression of the JA-responsive plant defensin 1.2 (PDF1.2) gene. We conclude that root-associated M. brunneum benefits plant health through multiple mechanisms, such as the direct infection of insects, as well as the local and systemic priming of the JA pathway.
Alternative CUG Codon Usage in the Halotolerant Yeast Debaryomyces hansenii: Gene Expression Profiles Provide New Insights into Ambiguous Translation
Authors: Ochoa-Gutiérrez Daniel , Reyes-Torres Anya M. , de la Fuente-Colmenares Ileana , Escobar-Sánchez Viviana , González James , Ortiz-Hernández Rosario , Torres-Ramírez Nayeli , Segal-Kischinevzky Claudia
Published: September 2022

The halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii belongs to the CTG-Ser1 clade of fungal species that use the CUG codon to translate as leucine or serine. The ambiguous decoding of the CUG codon is relevant for expanding protein diversity, but little is known about the role of leucine–serine ambiguity in cellular adaptations to extreme environments. Here, we examine sequences and structures of tRNACAG from the CTG-Ser1 clade yeasts, finding that D. hansenii conserves the elements to translate ambiguously. Then, we show that D. hansenii has tolerance to conditions of salinity, acidity, alkalinity, and oxidative stress associated with phenotypic and ultrastructural changes. In these conditions, we found differential expression in both the logarithmic and stationary growth phases of tRNASer, tRNALeu, tRNACAG, LeuRS, and SerRS genes that could be involved in the adaptive process of this yeast. Finally, we compare the proteomic isoelectric points and hydropathy profiles, detecting that the most important variations among the physicochemical characteristics of D. hansenii proteins are in their hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with the medium. We propose that the ambiguous translation, i.e., leucylation or serynation, on translation of the CUG-encoded residues, could be linked to adaptation processes in extreme environments.
The CfSnt2-Dependent Deacetylation of Histone H3 Mediates Autophagy and Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum fructicola
Authors: Guo Yuan , Chen Zhenhong , Li He , Zhang Shengpei
Published: September 2022

Camellia oleifera is one of the most valuable woody edible-oil crops, and anthracnose seriously afflicts its yield and quality. We recently showed that the CfSnt2 regulates the pathogenicity of Colletotrichum fructicola, the dominant causal agent of anthracnose on C. oleifera. However, the molecular mechanisms of CfSnt2-mediated pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we found that CfSnt2 is localized to the nucleus to regulate the deacetylation of histone H3. The further transcriptomic analysis revealed that CfSnt2 mediates the expression of global genes, including most autophagy-related genes. Furthermore, we provided evidence showing that CfSnt2 negatively regulates autophagy and is involved in the responses to host-derived ROS and ER stresses. These combined functions contribute to the pivotal roles of CfSnt2 on pathogenicity. Taken together, our studies not only illustrate how CfSnt2 functions in the nucleus, but also link its roles on the autophagy and responses to host-derived stresses with pathogenicity in C. fructicola.
Amine-Regulated pri-SMTP Oxidation in SMTP Biosynthesis in Stachybotrys: Possible Implication in Nitrogen Acquisition
Authors: Iwama Ryota , Sasano Yu , Hiramatsu Taichi , Otake Shinya , Suzuki Eriko , Hasumi Keiji
Published: September 2022

SMTP (the name SMTP is derived from Stachybotrys microspora triprenyl phenol) is a family of triprenyl phenol secondary metabolites from a black mold, Stachybotrys microspora. Some SMTP congeners exhibit anti-inflammatory and profibrinolytic activities that, in combination, contribute to the treatment of ischemic stroke. The final step in the SMTP biosynthesis is a non-enzymatic amine conjugation with an o-phthalaldehyde moiety of the precursor pre-SMTP, which can form adducts with proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, pre-SMTP formation should be a precisely regulated, rate-limiting step in the SMTP biosynthesis. To address the mechanism backing this regulation, we purified a metabolite that rapidly disappeared following amine feeding, identifying a novel compound, pri-SMTP. Furthermore, an enzyme, designated as pri-SMTP oxidase, responsible for pri-SMTP conversion to pre-SMTP, was purified. The formation of pri-SMTP, which is regulated by nitrogen and carbon nutrients, occurred in particular septate mycelia. Although pri-SMTP oxidase was expressed constitutively, the consumption of pri-SMTP was accelerated only when a primary amine was fed. Thus, SMTP biosynthesis is regulated by at least three mechanisms: (i) pri-SMTP formation affected by nutrients, (ii) the compartmentalization of pri-SMTP formation/storage, and (iii) amine-regulated pri-SMTP oxidation. Amine-regulated SMTP formation (i.e., amine-capturing with pre-SMTP) may play a role in the nitrogen acquisition/assimilation strategy in S. microspora, since pri-SMTP synthesis occurs on non-preferred nitrogen.
Zearalenone and Its Masked Forms in Cereals and Cereal-Derived Products: A Review of the Characteristics, Incidence, and Fate in Food Processing
Authors: Yu Huilin , Zhang Junhui , Chen Yixuan , Zhu Jiajin
Published: September 2022

Zearalenone (ZEA) is known as a Fusarium-produced mycotoxin, representing a risk to cereal food safety with repercussions for economies and worldwide trade. Recent studies have reported the co-occurrence of ZEA and masked ZEA in a variety of cereals and cereal-based products, which may exert adverse effects on public health due to additive/synergistic interactions. However, the co-contamination of ZEA and masked ZEA has received little attention. In order to minimize the threats of co-contamination by ZEA and masked ZEA, it is necessary to recognize the occurrence and formation of ZEA and masked ZEA. This review focuses on the characteristics, incidence, and detection of ZEA and its masked forms. Additionally, the fate of ZEA and masked ZEA during the processing of bread, cake, biscuits, pasta, and beer, as well as the ZEA limit, are discussed. The incidence of masked ZEA is lower than that of ZEA, and the mean level of masked ZEA varies greatly between cereal samples. Published data showed a considerable degree of heterogeneity in the destiny of ZEA during cereal-based food processing, mostly as a result of the varying contamination levels and complicated food processing methods. Knowledge of the fate of ZEA and masked ZEA throughout cereal-based food processing may reduce the likelihood of severe detrimental market and trade ramifications. The revision of legislative limits of masked ZEA may become a challenge in the future.
Immune Cells in Head-and-Neck Tumor Microenvironments
Authors: Jumaniyazova Enar , Lokhonina Anastasiya , Dzhalilova Dzhuliia , Kosyreva Anna , Fatkhudinov Timur
Published: September 2022

Head-and-neck cancers constitute a heterogeneous group of aggressive tumors with high incidence and low survival rates, collectively being the sixth most prevalent cancer type globally. About 90% of head-and-neck cancers are classified as squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). The innate and adaptive immune systems, indispensable for anti-cancer immune surveillance, largely define the rates of HNSCC emergence and progression. HNSCC microenvironments harbor multiple cell types that infiltrate the tumors and interact both with tumor cells and among themselves. Gradually, tumor cells learn to manipulate the immune system, either by adapting their own immunogenicity or through the release of immunosuppressive molecules. These interactions continuously evolve and shape the tumor microenvironment, both structurally and functionally, facilitating angiogenesis, proliferation and metastasis. Our understanding of this evolution is directly related to success in the development of advanced therapies. This review focuses on the key mechanisms that rule HNSCC infiltration, featuring particular immune cell types and their roles in the pathogenesis. A close focus on the tumor-immunity interactions will help identify new immunotherapeutic targets in patients with HNSCC.
Prediction Models for COVID-19 Mortality Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Kim Dong-Kyu
Published: September 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed a great burden on healthcare systems worldwide. COVID-19 clinical prediction models are needed to relieve the burden of the pandemic on healthcare systems. In the absence of COVID-19 clinical prediction models, physicians’ practices must depend on similar clinical cases or shared experiences of best practices. However, if accurate prediction models that combine parameters are introduced, they could provide the estimated risk of infection or experiencing a poor outcome following infection. The use of prediction models could assist medical staff in assigning patients when allocating limited healthcare resources and may enhance the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Recently, several systematic reviews for COVID-19 have been published, some of which focus on prediction models that use artificial intelligence. We summarize the important messages of a systematic review titled “COVID Mortality Prediction with Machine Learning Methods: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal,” published in this Special Issue.
Possible Use of Minocycline in Adjunction to Intranasal Esketamine for the Management of Difficult to Treat Depression following Extensive Pharmacogenomic Testing: Two Case Reports
Authors: Marcatili Matteo , Borgonovo Riccardo , Cimminiello Noemi , Cornaggia Ranieri Domenico , Casati Giulia , Pellicioli Cristian , Maggioni Laura , Motta Federico , Redaelli Chiara , Ledda Luisa , Pozzi Federico Emanuele , Krivosova Michaela , Pagano Jessica , Nava Roberto , Colmegna Fabrizia , Dakanalis Antonios , Caldiroli Alice , Capuzzi Enrico , Benatti Beatrice , Dell’Osso Bernardo , Bertola Francesca , Villa Nicoletta , Piperno Alberto , Ippolito Silvia , Appollonio Ildebrando , Sala Carlo , Conti Luciano , Clerici Massimo
Published: September 2022

The advent of intra-nasal esketamine (ESK), one of the first so called fast-acting antidepressant, promises to revolutionize the management of treatment resistant depression (TRD). This NMDA receptor antagonist has proven to be rapidly effective in the short- and medium-term course of the illness, revealing its potential in targeting response in TRD. Although many TRD ESK responders are able to achieve remission, a considerable portion of them undergo a metamorphosis of their depression into different clinical presentations, characterized by instable responses and high recurrence rates that can be considered closer to the concept of Difficult to Treat Depression (DTD) than to TRD. The management of these DTD patients usually requires a further complex multidisciplinary approach and can benefit from the valuable contribution of new personalized medicine tools such as therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacogenetics. Despite this, these patients usually come with long and complex previous treatments history and, often, advanced and sophisticated ongoing pharmacological schemes that can make the finding of new alternative options to face the current recurrences extremely challenging. In this paper, we describe two DTD patients—already receiving intranasal ESK but showing an instable course—who were clinically stabilized by the association with minocycline, a semisynthetic second-generation tetracycline with known and promising antidepressant properties.
Effectiveness and Safety of Tecneplase vs. Alteplase in the Acute Treatment of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Estella Ángel , Pérez Ruiz Miriam , Serrano Juan José
Published: September 2022

Not all hospitals have interventional radiology services. This fact implies that in centers where this resource is not available, the treatment of stroke in the acute phase must be adapted and individualized. The aim of the study is to determine and compare the combined effect of thrombolysis and thrombectomy effectiveness and safety of tenecteplase versus alteplase in the acute treatment of ischemic stroke in patients who are candidates for endovascular therapy according to clinical practice guidelines. This paper details a retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with ischemic stroke admitted in three hospitals between 2018 and 2020. The main outcome variables were the degree of recanalization and the functional outcome at 3 months; safety variables were mortality and the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). In total, 100 patients were included, 20 of which were treated with tenecteplase (TNK) and 80 with alteplase (rtPA). Of those treated with TNK, 75% obtained a successful recanalization compared to 83.8% in those treated with rtPA (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.18–1.88; p = 0.56). No differences were found in obtaining an excellent functional result at 3 months (35% TNK vs. 58.8% rtPA; p = 0.38). Tenecteplase showed worse neurological results after 24 h (unfavorable result of 70% with TNK vs. 45% with rtPA; OR = 5.4; 95% CI 1.57–18.6). No significant differences were identified in mortality; 17.5% with rtPA and 20% with TNK (p = 0.79), nor in the appearance of intracranial hemorrhage ICH (15.2% with rtPA vs. 30% with TNK (p = 0.12). In our series, there were not significant differences shown regarding effectiveness and safety between tenecteplase and alteplase.
Clinical Markers of Need for Surgery in Orbital Complication of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Children: Overview and Systematic Review
Authors: Cantone Elena , Piro Eva , De Corso Eugenio , Di Nola Claudio , Settimi Stefano , Grimaldi Giusi , Motta Gaetano
Published: September 2022

Background: Although they can occur at all ages, orbital (OC) and periorbital cellulitis (POC) prevail in the pediatric population. Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is the most frequent predisposing factor of OC. Recent literature has suggested a medical management approach for OC and POC, with surgery reserved only for more severe cases. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the clinical markers of a need for surgery. The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical markers of a need for surgery in children with OC. Our systematic review, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) process, yielded 1289 articles finally screened. This resulted in 31 full texts that were included in a qualitative analysis. The results of this review suggest that in children aged over 9 years, large subperiosteal orbital abscesses (SPOAs), impaired vision, ophthalmoplegia, proptosis, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), hemodynamic compromise, no clinical improvement after 48/72 h of antibiotic therapy, and a Chandler III score or higher are clinical markers of the need for surgery. However, most of the studies are observational and retrospective, and further studies are needed to identify reliable and repeatable clinical markers of the need for surgery.
Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures with Bridging External Fixator with Optional Percutaneous K-Wires: What Are the Right Indications for Patient Age, Gender, Dominant Limb and Injury Pattern?
Authors: Biz Carlo , Cerchiaro Mariachiara , Belluzzi Elisa , Bortolato Elena , Rossin Alessandro , Berizzi Antonio , Ruggieri Pietro
Published: September 2022

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the medium-term clinical and functional outcomes of patients with closed, displaced, and unstable, simple or complex, intra- and extra-articular distal radius fractures (DRFs) treated with a bridging external fixator (BEF) and optional K-wires (KWs). AO classification was used to differentiate the injuries radiographically. Clinical-functional outcomes were evaluated using the Patient-Rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation Score (PRWHE Score) and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand Score (QuickDASH). A total of 269 dorsally displaced fractures of 202 female (75%) and 67 male subjects (25%) were included, with a mean follow-up of 58.0 months. Seventy-five patients (28%) were treated by additional KWs. No differences were found comparing the two groups of patients (BEF vs. BEF + KWs) regarding age, sex, and fracture side (dominant vs. non-dominant). PRWHE and QuickDASH scores were lower in the BEF + KWs group compared to the BEF group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0007, respectively). Thus, patients treated with KWs had a better clinical outcome. Beta multivariate regression analysis confirmed that patients of the BEF + KWs group exhibited a better PRWHE score but not a better QuickDASH score. Patients treated by the BEF + KWs with the fracture on the dominant site were characterised by better clinical outcomes. Older patients had a better PRWHE score independently from the treatment. Our findings suggest that the use of BEF for DRFs with optional KWs can be indicated in both young and elderly patients of any gender, independent of limb side and fracture pattern. As the best functional results were achieved in the elderly when KWs were added, the combination of BEF and KWs seems to be mainly indicated for the treatment of DRF, also complex, in the elderly population.
Exploring Coupled Open Innovation for Digital Servitization in Grocery Retail: From Digital Dynamic Capabilities Perspective
Authors: Čirjevskis Andrejs
Published: September 2022

Open innovation and digital servitization have been hot topics in existing research. Moreover, the latest research in entrepreneurship and general management justifies that the performance results of specific innovation strategies are usually influenced by dynamic capabilities. However, there is little empirical research on the linkage of open innovation, digital servitization, and micro-foundations of digital dynamic capabilities that affect alliance performance. The emerging literature on open innovation provides partial insight into the micro-foundations of digital dynamic capabilities. Based on it, from a dynamic capability perspective, this paper constructs a conceptual model of research including coupled open innovation of collaborative partners, alliance’s formation phases, and dynamic digital capabilities and their micro-foundations which impact alliance performance in grocery retail. The paper aims to provide an overarching view of the digital servitization process of grocery retailers and unpack the micro-foundations of the digital transformation of their business models to sustain advantages. Thus, the paper contributes to the research on open innovation, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and dynamic capabilities and provides two theoretical propositions. Then, having employed two illustrative case studies, this paper empirically tests theoretical propositions and justifies the role of coupled open innovation strategies for digital servitization and its micro-foundations.
Development of an ArcGIS-Pro Toolkit for Assessing the Effects of Bridge Construction on Overland Soil Erosion
Authors: Ahmari Habib , Pebworth Matthew , Baharvand Saman , Kandel Subhas , Yu Xinbao
Published: September 2022

Erosion is a natural process, but it can be accelerated by anthropogenic activities. Two of the predominant types of human-induced erosion are related to agricultural and construction activities. Of the two, construction-induced erosion is more severe because of the simultaneous removal of the land cover, disturbance of the soil, and eventual compaction of the soil by heavy machinery. Eroded materials released from bridge construction sites can alter the sediment regime and geomorphological conditions of receiving streams and may have short- and long-term impacts on aquatic habitats. Several models have been developed to estimate the total amount of soil erosion and sediment yield; however, no predictive model is available to quantify the potential release of sediment during the construction of bridges or to predict the quantity, size fraction, and accumulation depths for the extent of the measurable downstream effect. A GIS-based predictive sediment toolkit is developed to estimate the overland erosion and to determine the potential depositional area and suspended sediment concentration downstream of bridges. The performance of the GIS toolkit in estimating soil erosion was assessed using field data collected from the Wilson Creek bridge construction site in McKenney, Texas, U.S., and it was concluded that it predicted the overland erosion rate and sediment yield within the ranges observed in the field.
Does Rural Construction Land Marketization Inhibit State-Owned Industrial Land Transactions? Evidence from Huzhou City, China
Authors: Jiao Man , Xu Hengzhou
Published: September 2022

The market-based allocation of rural construction land is conducive to the revitalization of rural land resources, influences urban and rural land planning, and facilitates urbanization. The rural collective operating construction land entering the market (COCLEM) is a key measure for China’s rural construction land marketization reform, while its impacts on the existing land supply pattern have received little attention. Taking Huzhou City as an example, this paper investigates the impacts of COCLEM on state-owned industrial land (SIL) transactions with Difference-in-Differences (DID) regression models. The results show the following: (1) Given the natural conditions, enterprises’ preferences, and government forces, COCLEM has failed to inhibit the SIL transaction scale. (2) COCLEM contributes to industrial agglomeration and significantly increases the value of SIL. These findings altogether imply that currently, in China, market-based rural construction land transfer is the complement of land administrative allocation. Policy implications are drawn from this analysis to advance further reforms for China’s urban–rural integrated construction land market.
Social Justice in Urban–Rural Flood Exposure: A Case Study of Nanjing, China
Authors: Chen Yi , Liu Hui , Ye Zhicong , Zhang Hao , Jiang Bifeng , Zhang Yang
Published: September 2022

The environmental justice research on urban–rural exposure to flooding is underdeveloped and few empirical studies have been conducted in China. This study addresses this gap by exploring the probabilities of exposure to floods (10-, 20-, and 50-year) and examining the relationship between vulnerable groups and flooding in Nanjing, an important central city on the Yangtze River. Statistical analysis is based on multivariable generalised estimating equation (GEE) models that describe sociodemographic disparities at the census-tract level. The results revealed that (1) highly educated people in the urban centre are more likely to live in areas with high flood risk because of the abundance of education resources, and employment opportunities are concentrated in the urban centre. (2) Natives in suburban areas are more likely to live in flood-prone areas due to their favourable ecological environments near rivers and lakes. (3) Women in rural areas are more likely to live in high-flood-risk zones because most of the men are migrant workers. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop mitigation strategies to reduce flood exposure, especially in districts with high proportions of socially disadvantaged people. The linkages between rural and urban areas need to be strengthened in order to reduce flood exposure.
Combining Stormwater Management and Park Services to Mitigate Climate Change and Improve Human Well-Being: A Case Study of Sponge City Parks in Shanghai
Authors: Tong Peihao , Yin Hongxi , Wang Zhifang , Trivers Ian
Published: September 2022

Due to climate change and rapid urbanization, contemporary cities face the dual challenges of providing sufficient stormwater management and adequate park services, which potentially conflict over limited space and resources. To solve these problems, cities are increasingly combining stormwater infrastructure with park space in ways that create new efficiencies. To date, most research has focused on the stormwater management performance aspect of these combinations and not the techniques employed to achieve the combined goals. To fill this gap, 23 sponge city parks in Shanghai were investigated to examine the combination of stormwater and park services. Our findings show that stormwater techniques were primarily combined with the park facilities of water areas, paved open spaces, and pathways. Additionally, we found that larger parks employed a wider range of techniques for managing stormwater runoff and supported broader sets of park activities, while those at smaller scales prioritized infiltration, detention, and purification measures, as well as concentrated on social and economic activities. This study is the first to explore SPC parks that integrate stormwater management and park services, thereby providing implications for SPC development in China and insights into the ways that the two properties can be combined in other cities.
Assessment of Accessibility and Activity Intensity to Identify Future Development Priority TODs in Hefei City
Authors: Wu Wei , Divigalpitiya Prasanna
Published: September 2022

Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, China, has been experiencing rapid development due to fast population growth and continuous city expansion since 2010. The Hefei government began to operate the subway system in 2017 and introduced the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) as a strategy to reduce traffic pressure and environmental pollution. By 2020, there were 77 TODs in operation. However, some TODs could not attract enough public transport passengers or increase the economic activities. This study analyzed the Hefei City TOD network and tried to identify TODs that need development priority among the existing TODs to guide the efficient allocation of resources for the development of the TOD network. First, this study measured the accessibility and activity intensity at each TOD by using the node–place model. Second, the 77 existing TODs were divided into 4 priority levels by applying the silhouette method. Level 1 and level 2 TODs have development priority and are referred to as “Unstable TODs” and “Unbalanced TODs,” respectively. Finally, this paper provides some strategies for developing these priority TODs.
How Do High-Speed Railways Facilitate High-Quality Urban Development: Evidence from China
Authors: Lu Yang , Zeng Longji
Published: September 2022

In 2017, China released the statement of High-Quality Development in response to the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations. As the spatial carriers of human economic, social, and cultural development, cities should be updated in order to enter a new period of high-quality urban development. In this paper, we use a multi-period DID model, consider the opening of high-speed railways as a quasi-natural experiment, and use the panel data of 285 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2007 to 2020 to empirically analyze the effect of high-speed railway (HSR) opening on urban development quality and explore its transmission mechanism. The empirical results find that the HSR opening can significantly promote the level of high-quality urban development. The results remain the same after robustness tests such as PSM-DID and placebo tests. The study mechanism suggests that the HSR opening can significantly improve the quality of urban development through a population agglomeration effect, while capital agglomeration has a masking effect between the HSR opening and high-quality urban development. Further results show that there is heterogeneity in the impact of HSR opening on the high-quality development of cities in different regions and sizes, in which the boosting effect of HSR opening on the development quality of cities in eastern and western regions is more significant compared to cities in central regions; the boosting effect of HSR opening on the high-quality development level of medium-sized cities is stronger.
Multi-Scenario Simulation of Land-Use Change and Delineation of Urban Growth Boundaries in County Area: A Case Study of Xinxing County, Guangdong Province
Authors: Lai Zhipeng , Chen Chengjing , Chen Jianguo , Wu Zhuo , Wang Fang , Li Shaoying
Published: September 2022

Delineating urban growth boundaries (UGBs) by combining the land-use/land-cover (LULC) change simulation method has become common in recent studies. However, few of the existing studies have integrated multi-source big data to analyze the driving factors of LULC dynamics in the simulation. Moreover, most of previous studies mainly focused on the UGBs delineation in macroscale areas rather than small-scale areas, such as the county area. In this study, taking Xinxing County of Guangdong Province as the study area, we coupled a system dynamics (SD) model and a patch-generating land-use simulation (PLUS) model to propose a framework for the LULC change simulation and UGBs delineation in the county area. Multi-source big data such as points of interest (POIs), night-time light (NTL) data and Tencent user density (TUD) were integrated to analyze the driving forces of LULC change. The validation results indicate that the coupled model received high accuracy both in the land-use demand projection and LULC distribution simulation. The combination of multi-source big data can effectively describe the influence of human socio-economic factors on the expansion of urban land and industrial land. The UGBs delineation results have similar spatial patterns with the LULC change simulation results, which indicates that the proposed UGBs delineation method can effectively transform the LULC simulation results into available UGBs for the county area. It has been proven that the proposed framework in this study is effective for the LULC change simulation and UGBs delineation in the county area, which can provide insight on territorial spatial planning in the county area.
The Role of Spatial Plans Adopted at the Local Level in the Spatial Planning Systems of Central and Eastern European Countries
Authors: Nowak Maciej , Petrisor Alexandru-Ionut , Mitrea Andrei , Kovács Krisztina Filepné , Lukstina Gunta , Jürgenson Evelin , Ladzianska Zuzana , Simeonova Velislava , Lozynskyy Roman , Rezac Vit , Pantyley Viktoriya , Praneviciene Birute , Fakeyeva Liudmila , Mickiewicz Bartosz , Blaszke Małgorzata
Published: September 2022

The article deals with the issue of spatial plans at the local level. The aims of this paper are (1) extracting the characteristics of local spatial plans that can be compared more broadly (2) identifying, on this basis, the role of spatial plans at the local level in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). In achieving these aims, the authors have critically examined spatial plans and their performance, as well as the planning systems they belong to. Hence, they have investigated the types of local plans in each country, their legal features, and the layout of their content. This examination has revealed a host of problems in the workings of the CEE planning systems. The article highlights those spatial planning issues that could be the subject of more in-depth international comparisons. The study provides additional evidence that in countries where spatial plans are legislated, there are more (mutually differentiated) legal problems in their application. Such problems have been analyzed. Besides procedural problems, discrepancies between the contents of different types of plans (e.g., general plans and detailed plans) are very often a problem. The paper also proposes a novel method for detailed comparisons of selected aspects of spatial plans. It can be applied to a large number of countries and also to other aspects of spatial planning. Last but not least, the paper emphasizes the need for a detailed multi-stage consultation of each aspect to be compared.
Research on Functional Value Estimation and Development Mode of Green Infrastructure Based on Multi-Dimensional Evaluation Model: A Case Study of China
Authors: Zhang Feng , Wang Xintian , Liu Xiaojie
Published: September 2022

With the rapid development of urbanization and industrial economy, urban green space and land resources have been squeezed. The problem of urban ecological environment pollution is becoming increasingly serious. With the concept of sustainable development, green infrastructure construction can not only improve the adverse effects of human activities on the urban ecological environment, it can also deal with the relationship between survival and development, economy and the environment, society, and resources. This paper used different provinces and regions of China as an example to construct a multi-dimensional evaluation model. The multi-function green infrastructure was evaluated quantitatively from three dimensions: economy, society, and ecology. The study results showed that the multifunctional development level of green infrastructure varies among different regions in China due to regional location, economic development, and natural resources. The development mode of green infrastructure in North China, South China, and Northwest China has changed from multi-functional weak and basic coordination to strong and coordinated development. Therefore, the multi-dimensional analysis of green infrastructure is helpful for systematically studying and evaluating the functional value of green infrastructure. It can be used to investigate the development models of green infrastructure in different regions, formulate green infrastructure development strategies, and provide countermeasures and suggestions for relevant government departments.
Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Sex-Specific Alternative Splicing Events in Zebrafish Gonads
Authors: Lin Xing , Liu Fei , Meng Kaifeng , Liu Hairong , Zhao Yuanli , Chen Yuanyuan , Hu Wei , Luo Daji
Published: September 2022

Alternative splicing is an important way of regulating gene functions in eukaryotes. Several key genes involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation, such as nr5a1 and ddx4, have sex-biased transcripts between males and females, suggesting a potential regulatory role of alternative splicing in gonads. Currently, the sex-specific alternative splicing events and genes have not been comprehensively studied at the genome-wide level in zebrafish. In this study, through global splicing analysis on three independent sets of RNA-seq data from matched zebrafish testes and ovaries, we identified 120 differentially spliced genes shared by the three datasets, most of which haven’t been reported before. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the GO terms of mRNA processing, mRNA metabolism and microtubule-based process were strongly enriched. The testis- and ovary-biased alternative splicing genes were identified, and part of them (tp53bp1, tpx2, mapre1a, kif2c, and ncoa5) were further validated by RT-PCR. Sequence characteristics analysis suggested that the lengths, GC contents, and splice site strengths of the alternative exons or introns may have different influences in different types of alternative splicing events. Interestingly, we identified an unexpected high proportion (over 70%) of non-frameshift exon-skipping events, suggesting that in these cases the two protein isoforms derived from alternative splicing may both have functions. Furthermore, as a representative example, we found that the alternative splicing of ncoa5 causes the loss of a conserved RRM domain in the short transcript predominantly produced in testes. Our study discovers novel sex-specific alternative splicing events and genes with high reliabilities in zebrafish testes and ovaries, which would provide attractive targets for follow-up studies to reveal the biological significances of alternative splicing events and genes in sex determination and gonadal differentiation.
Machine Learning Models for Identification and Prediction of Toxic Organic Compounds Using Daphnia magna Transcriptomic Profiles
Authors: Choi Tae-June , An Hyung-Eun , Kim Chang-Bae
Published: September 2022

A wide range of environmental factors heavily impact aquatic ecosystems, in turn, affecting human health. Toxic organic compounds resulting from anthropogenic activity are a source of pollution in aquatic ecosystems. To evaluate these contaminants, current approaches mainly rely on acute and chronic toxicity tests, but cannot provide explicit insights into the causes of toxicity. As an alternative, genome-wide gene expression systems allow the identification of contaminants causing toxicity by monitoring the organisms’ response to toxic substances. In this study, we selected 22 toxic organic compounds, classified as pesticides, herbicides, or industrial chemicals, that induce environmental problems in aquatic ecosystems and affect human-health. To identify toxic organic compounds using gene expression data from Daphnia magna, we evaluated the performance of three machine learning based feature-ranking algorithms (Learning Vector Quantization, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machines with a Linear kernel), and nine classifiers (Linear Discriminant Analysis, Classification And Regression Trees, K-nearest neighbors, Support Vector Machines with a Linear kernel, Random Forest, Boosted C5.0, Gradient Boosting Machine, eXtreme Gradient Boosting with tree, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting with DART booster). Our analysis revealed that a combination of feature selection based on feature-ranking and a random forest classification algorithm had the best model performance, with an accuracy of 95.7%. This is a preliminary study to establish a model for the monitoring of aquatic toxic substances by machine learning. This model could be an effective tool to manage contaminants and toxic organic compounds in aquatic systems.
Solvent Exchange around Aqueous Zn(II) from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Malinowski Adrian , Śmiechowski Maciej
Published: September 2022

Hydrated zinc(II) cations, due to their importance in biological systems, are the subject of ongoing research concerning their hydration shell structure and dynamics. Here, ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations are used to study solvent exchange events around aqueous Zn2+, for which observation in detail is possible owing to the considerable length of the generated trajectory. While the hexacoordinated Zn(H2O)62+ is the dominant form of Zn(II) in an aqueous solution, there is a non-negligible contribution of the pentacoordinated Zn(H2O)52+ complex which presence is linked to the dissociative solvent exchange events around Zn2+. The pentacoordinated Zn(II) has a much tighter hydration sphere and is characterized by a trigonal bipyramidal structure, in contrast to the usual octahedral symmetry of the hexacoordinated complex. In total, two full exchange events are registered in the analyzed trajectory. AIMD simulations on an adequate length scale thus provide a direct way of studying such solvent exchange events around ions in molecular detail.
Knowledge Sharing in the Supply Chain Networks: A Perspective of Supply Chain Complexity Drivers
Authors: Ahmed Hareer Fatima , Hosseinian-Far Amin , Khandan Rasoul , Sarwar Dilshad , E-Fatima Khushboo
Published: September 2022

Background: Knowledge transfer has been an important aspect in supply chain systems; however, there are many factors that affect the impact of transfer effectiveness. In previous studies, less attention has been given to the process of knowledge transfer and therefore, this paper highlights the significance of the process of knowledge transfer in supply chain processes. Enhanced supply chain networks have better performance when knowledge sharing is present, and it is important to identify and eliminate any supply chain complexity to improve the supply chain processes. Methods: A systematic review on the literature has been conducted to critically identify and evaluate the factors of supply chain complexity which impact knowledge transfer. Findings: The findings highlight the key benefits of effective knowledge transfer in supply chain systems by identifying risks associated with supply chain networks. Conclusion: The balanced power of facilitating knowledge transfer in supply chain processes helps in supply chain partnerships and reduces the supply chain complexity. This paper has both theoretical and practical contributions as it adds to the literature by identifying the factors of supply chain complexity drivers which are impacting the knowledge transfer.
Recent Advances in Quasi-Zero Stiffness Vibration Isolation Systems: An Overview and Future Possibilities
Authors: Ma Zhaozhao , Zhou Ruiping , Yang Qingchao
Published: September 2022

In recent decades, quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) vibration isolation systems with nonlinear characteristics have aroused widespread attention and strong research interest due to their enormous potential in low-frequency vibration isolation. This work comprehensively reviews recent research on QZS vibration isolators with a focus on the principle, structural design, and vibration isolation performance of various types of QZS vibration isolators. The negative-stiffness mechanism falls into two categories by different realization methods: passive and active/semi-active negative-stiffness mechanisms. Representative design, performance analysis, and practical application are elaborated for each category. The results show that passive vibration isolation systems have excellent low-frequency vibration isolation performance under specific payload and design parameters, whereas active/semi-active vibration isolation systems can better adapt to different environmental conditions. Finally, the development trends and challenges of QZS vibration isolators are summarized, and the solved and unsolved problems are highlighted. This review aims to give a comprehensive understanding of the QZS vibration isolation mechanism. It also provides guidance on designing new QZS vibration isolators for improving their vibration isolation performance and engineering applicability.
Structural Optimization Design and Strength Test Research of Connecting Rod Assembly of High-Power Low-Speed Diesel Engine
Authors: Gao Wenxiang , Wang Guixin , Zhu Jialiang , Fan Ziying , Li Xiaobo , Wu Wentao
Published: September 2022

The connecting rod assembly of a high-power low-speed diesel engine has high quality and high cost. If the connecting rod component is damaged, the whole machine may be paralyzed, resulting in serious economic losses and safety problems, so it is necessary to carry out strength analysis and structure optimization, reduce the failure rate, and increase its life. This paper takes the connecting rod of a low-speed diesel engine as the research object, builds the crank connecting rod mechanism model, and carries on the strength simulation analysis through professional simulation software. During this period, the accurate S-N curve of connecting rod material is obtained through a fatigue test, and the static strength test of the connecting rod assembly is carried out by an electro-hydraulic servo universal testing machine. The numerical modeling is validated based on the test results. Therefore, the influence of the structural parameters of the cross-section and the large end transition fillet on the stress of the connecting rod is analyzed. The results show that optimizing matching between the large end fillet of the connecting rod and the long diameter of the rod section not only reduces the mass but also improves the safety factor. After optimizing the structure of the connecting rod, the mass of the connecting rod is reduced by 5.85%, the maximum stress is reduced by 13.7%, and the safety factor is increased by 16.0%. In addition, due to the low-speed diesel engine connecting rod assembly weight is big, and the simulation computation efficiency is low, this paper by studying the influence of the cross-section parameters of the rod body and the large end transition fillet on the stress of the connecting rod, fitted the empirical formula calculating the maximum stress of connecting rod, for this model and similar type in the conceptual design, technology design provides a new analysis method, improved the efficiency of structural optimization and strength analysis of connecting rod assembly, filled the research gap of strength analysis and structural optimization of low-speed diesel engine connecting rod.
Modeling and Analysis of Clutch Nonlinear Behavior in an Automotive Driveline for Suppressing Torsional Vibration
Authors: Qu Junlong , Shi Wenku , Wang Juncheng , Chen Zhiyong
Published: September 2022

Torsional vibration of the automotive driveline has significant influence on driving comfort. This study investigates the influence of clutch nonlinear behaviors on the torsional vibration of the driveline with numerical and experimental methods. A generic automobile powertrain model with 7 degrees of freedom is proposed considering the transient engine torque, the nonlinear characteristics of multi-stage clutch and tire slip. Taking a commercial vehicle as an example, the dynamic behaviors and inherent characteristics of the driveline system are calculated and analyzed. Based on the proposed model, the influences of the clutch parameters on driveline torsional vibration are investigated. In order to validate the proposed model and the analytical results, an optimized clutch is designed and the experiments of torsional vibration are conducted with the prototype and the optimized clutch. The analytical and experimental results demonstrate that an increase in the first end-stop angle and the main-stage hysteresis or a decrease in the second end-stop angle and the main-stage stiffness of the clutch can effectively suppress driveline torsional vibration during vehicle accelerating.