bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Nardone Valerio , Reginelli Alfonso , De Marco Giuseppina , Natale Giovanni , Patanè Vittorio , De Chiara Marco , Buono Mauro , Russo Gaetano Maria , Monti Riccardo , Balestrucci Giovanni , Salvarezza Maria , Di Guida Gaetano , D’Ippolito Emma , Sangiovanni Angelo , Grassi Roberta , D’Onofrio Ida , Belfiore Maria Paola , Cimmino Giovanni , Della Corte Carminia Maria , Vicidomini Giovanni , Fiorelli Alfonso , Gambardella Antonio , Morgillo Floriana , Cappabianca Salvatore
Published: January 2023

Treatment-induced cardiac toxicity represents an important issue in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and no biomarkers are currently available in clinical practice. A novel and easy-to-calculate marker is the quantitative analysis of calcium plaque in the coronary, calculated on CT. It is called the Agatston score (or CAD score). At the same time, other potential predictors include cardiac ultrasonography and anamnesis of the patients. Our work aimed to correlate cardiac biomarkers with overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. We retrospectively analyzed patients with NSCLC discussed in the Multidisciplinary Tumor Board of our Institute for the present analysis between January 2018 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria were the availability of basal CT imaging of the thorax, cardiac ultrasonography with the calculation of ejection fraction (EF), and complete anamnesis, including assessment of co-pathologies and pharmacological drugs. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively collected, and the CAD scores was calculated on a CT scan. All of these parameters were correlated with overall survival (OS) with univariate analysis (Kaplan–Meier analysis) and multivariate analysis (Cox regression analysis). Following the above-mentioned inclusion criteria, 173 patients were included in the present analysis. Of those, 120 patients died in the follow-up period (69.6%), and the median overall survival (OS) was 28 months (mean 47.2 months, 95% CI, 36–57 months). In univariate analysis, several parameters that significantly correlated with lower OS were the stage (p < 0.001), the CAD grading (p < 0.001), history of ischemic heart disease (p: 0.034), use of beta blocker drugs (p: 0.036), and cardiac ejection fraction (p: 0.005). In multivariate analysis, the only parameters that remained significant were as follows: CAD score (p: 0.014, OR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.04–1.83), stage (p: 0.016, OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.53), and cardiac ejection fraction (p: 0.011, OR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25–0.84). Both CAD score and ejection fraction are correlated with survival in NSCLC patients at all stages of the disease. Independently from the treatment choice, a cardiological evaluation is mandatory for patients with NSCLC.
Changes in CT-Based Morphological Features of the Kidney with Declining Glomerular Filtration Rate in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Choi Yoon Ho , Jo Seongho , Lee Ro Woon , Kim Ji-Eun , Paek Jin Hyuk , Kim Byoungje , Shin Soo-Yong , Hwang Seun Deuk , Lee Seoung Woo , Song Joon Ho , Kim Kipyo
Published: January 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression involves morphological changes in the kidney, such as decreased length and thickness, with associated histopathological alterations. However, the relationship between morphological changes in the kidneys and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) has not been quantitatively and comprehensively evaluated. We evaluated the three-dimensional size and shape of the kidney using computed tomography (CT)-derived features in relation to kidney function. We included 257 patients aged ≥18 years who underwent non-contrast abdominal CT at the Inha University Hospital. The features were quantified using predefined algorithms in the pyRadiomics package after kidney segmentation. All features, except for flatness, significantly correlated with estimated GFR (eGFR). The surface-area-to-volume ratio (SVR) showed the strongest negative correlation (r = −0.75, p < 0.0001). Kidney size features, such as volume and diameter, showed moderate to high positive correlations; other morphological features showed low to moderate correlations. The calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for different features ranged from 0.51 (for elongation) to 0.86 (for SVR) for different eGFR thresholds. Diabetes patients had weaker correlations between the studied features and eGFR and showed less bumpy surfaces in three-dimensional visualization. We identified alterations in the CKD kidney based on various three-dimensional shape and size features, with their potential diagnostic value.
Coronary CTA Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Quicker Examination Protocol with Preserved Image Quality Using a Dedicated Cardiac Scanner
Authors: Panajotu Alexisz , Vecsey-Nagy Milán , Jermendy Ádám Levente , Boussoussou Melinda , Vattay Borbála , Kolossváry Márton , Zs. Dombrády Örs , Csobay-Novák Csaba , Merkely Béla , Szilveszter Bálint
Published: January 2023

There has been an ongoing debate on the means to minimize the time patients spend at health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We propose a strategy relying solely on intravenous (i.v.) beta-blocker administration for heart-rate (HR) control prior to coronary CT angiography (CCTA). We aimed to assess a potential difference in CCTA image quality (IQ) after implementation of a modified strategy compared to our standard protocol of oral premedication during the first wave of COVID-19. We analyzed CCTA examinations conducted one year before (n = 1511) and after (n = 1064) implementation of this new regime. Examinations were performed both on our 256-slice multidetector CT (MDCT) and dedicated cardiac CT (DCCT) scanners. We used a four-point Likert scale (excellent/good/moderate/non-diagnostic) for IQ assessment of the coronaries. We detected a significant increase in mean HR during examinations on both CT scanners (MDCT: 62.4 ± 10.0 vs. 65.3 ± 9.7, p < 0.001; DCCT: 61.7 ± 15.2 vs. 65.0 ± 10.7, p < 0.001). The rate of moderate/non-diagnostic IQ significantly increased on the MDCT (192/1005, 19.1% vs. 144/466, 30.9%, p < 0.001), while this ratio did not change significantly on the DCCT (62/506, 12.3% vs. 84/598, 14.0%, p = 0.38). The improved temporal resolution of DCCT allows the stand-alone use of i.v. premedication with preserved IQ; hence, the duration of visits can be shortened.
Development and External Validation of a Radiomics Model Derived from Preoperative Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI for Predicting Histopathologic Grade of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hu Xiaojun , Li Changfeng , Wang Qiang , Wu Xueyun , Chen Zhiyu , Xia Feng , Cai Ping , Zhang Leida , Fan Yingfang , Ma Kuansheng
Published: January 2023

Histopathologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important predictor of early recurrence and poor prognosis after curative treatments. This study aims to develop a radiomics model based on preoperative gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for predicting HCC histopathologic grade and to validate its predictive performance in an independent external cohort. Clinical and imaging data of 403 consecutive HCC patients were retrospectively collected from two hospitals (265 and 138, respectively). Patients were categorized into poorly differentiated HCC and non-poorly differentiated HCC groups. A total of 851 radiomics features were extracted from the segmented tumor at the hepatobiliary phase images. Three classifiers, logistic regression (LR), support vector machine, and Adaboost were adopted for modeling. The areas under the curve of the three models were 0.70, 0.67, and 0.61, respectively, in the external test cohort. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was the only significant clinicopathological variable associated with HCC grading (odds ratio: 2.75). When combining AFP, the LR+AFP model showed the best performance, with an AUC of 0.71 (95%CI: 0.59–0.82) in the external test cohort. A radiomics model based on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI was constructed in this study to discriminate HCC with different histopathologic grades. Its good performance indicates a promise in the preoperative prediction of HCC differentiation levels.
Elementary-School Students’ Use of Digital Devices at Home to Support Learning Pre- and Post-COVID-19
Authors: Sonnenschein Susan , Stites Michele Lee , Gursoy Hatice , Khorsandian Jeniffer
Published: January 2023

As access to digital devices has grown, children in the United States are increasingly making use of digital devices at home. This paper reports two studies with data from two samples, one collected in 2017 and one in 2022, documenting how families of elementary-aged children make use of digital devices at home to support their children’s learning in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. Of particular interest was whether parents have reported an increased use of digital devices since COVID-19. Data were collected both times via an online questionnaire, in which parents described their child’s access to devices, amount of use, subject-specific use, and their own confidence and beliefs about device use. Most children made use of digital devices to support learning, but the extent of use varied by subject. Children’s reported use of digital devices and parents’ confidence assisting their children’s learning with such devices reportedly increased from pre- to post-COVID. These findings can inform the efforts of researchers exploring the use of digital devices as a tool in the home learning environment and educators working with families already making use of these devices at home.
Influence of Bulk Doping and Halos on the TID Response of I/O and Core 150 nm nMOSFETs
Authors: Bonaldo Stefano , Mattiazzo Serena , Bagatin Marta , Paccagnella Alessandro , Margutti Giovanni , Gerardin Simone
Published: January 2023

The total ionizing dose sensitivity of planar 150 nm CMOS technology is evaluated by measuring the DC responses of nMOSFETs at several irradiation steps up to 125 krad(SiO2). Different TID sensitivities are measured for transistors built with different channel dimensions and operating voltages (I/O and core). The experimental results evidence strong relations between TID sensitivity and the doping profiles in the channel. I/O transistors have the highest TID sensitivity due to their thicker gate oxide and lower bulk doping compared with core devices. In general, narrow-channel devices have the worst degradation with negative threshold voltage shifts, transconductance variations and increased subthreshold leakage currents, suggesting charge trapping in shallow trench isolation (STI). The enhanced TID tolerance of short-channel core devices is most likely related to the increased channel doping induced by the overlapping of halo implantations. Finally, transistors fabricated for low-leakage applications exhibit near insensitivity to TID due to higher bulk doping used during the fabrication to minimize the drain-to-source leakage current.
Improved Multi-Strategy Matrix Particle Swarm Optimization for DNA Sequence Design
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Zhu Donglin , Huang Zuwei , Zhou Changjun
Published: January 2023

The efficiency of DNA computation is closely related to the design of DNA coding sequences. For the purpose of obtaining superior DNA coding sequences, it is necessary to choose suitable DNA constraints to prevent potential conflicting interactions in different DNA sequences and to ensure the reliability of DNA sequences. An improved matrix particle swarm optimization algorithm, referred to as IMPSO, is proposed in this paper to optimize DNA sequence design. In addition, this paper incorporates centroid opposition-based learning to fully preserve population diversity and develops and adapts a dynamic update on the basis of signal-to-noise ratio distance to search for high-quality solutions in a sufficiently intelligent manner. The results show that the proposal of this paper achieves satisfactory results and can obtain higher computational efficiency.
Technological Advancements and Elucidation Gadgets for Healthcare Applications: An Exhaustive Methodological Review-Part-II (Robotics, Drones, 3D-Printing, Internet of Things, Virtual/Augmented and Mixed Reality)
Authors: Siripurapu Sridhar , Darimireddy Naresh K. , Chehri Abdellah , B. Sridhar , A.V. Paramkusam
Published: January 2023

The substantial applicability of technological advancements to the healthcare sector and its allied segments are on the verge of questioning the abilities of hospitals, medical institutions, doctors and clinical pathologists in delivering world class healthcare facilities to the global patient community. Investigative works pertinent to the role played of technological advancements in the healthcare sector motivated this work to be undertaken. Part-I of the review addressed the applicable role play of advanced technologies such as Artificial intelligence, Big-data, Block chain, Open-Source and Cloud Computing Technologies, etc., to the healthcare sector and its allied segments. The current Part-II manuscript is critically focused upon reviewing the sustainable role of additional disrupting technologies such as Robotics, Drones, 3D-Printing, IoT, Virtual/Augmented/Mixed Reality, etc., to uncover the vast number of implicit problems encountered by the clinical community. Investigations governing the deployment of these technologies in various allied healthcare segments are highlighted in this manuscript. Subsequently, the unspoken challenges and remedial future directions are discussed thereof.
DNN-Based Forensic Watermark Tracking System for Realistic Content Copyright Protection
Authors: Park Jaehyoung , Kim Jihye , Seo Jiyou , Kim Sangpil , Lee Jong-Hyouk
Published: January 2023

The metaverse-related content market is active and the demand for immersive content is increasing. However, there is no definition for granting copyrights to the content produced using artificial intelligence and discussions are still ongoing. We expect that the need for copyright protection for immersive content used in the metaverse environment will emerge and that related copyright protection techniques will be required. In this paper, we present the idea of 3D-to-2D watermarking so that content creators can protect the copyright of immersive content available in the metaverse environment. We propose an immersive content copyright protection using a deep neural network (DNN), a neural network composed of multiple hidden layers, and a forensic watermark.
Review of Time Domain Electronic Medical Record Taxonomies in the Application of Machine Learning
Authors: Ali Haider , Niazi Imran Khan , Russell Brian K. , Crofts Catherine , Madanian Samaneh , White David
Published: January 2023

Electronic medical records (EMRs) help in identifying disease archetypes and progression. A very important part of EMRs is the presence of time domain data because these help with identifying trends and monitoring changes through time. Most time-series data come from wearable devices monitoring real-time health trends. This review focuses on the time-series data needed to construct complete EMRs by identifying paradigms that fall within the scope of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) based on the principles of translational medicine. (1) Background: The question addressed in this study is: What are the taxonomies present in the field of the application of machine learning on EMRs? (2) Methods: Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched for relevant records. The records were then filtered based on a PRISMA review process. The taxonomies were then identified after reviewing the selected documents; (3) Results: A total of five main topics were identified, and the subheadings are discussed in this review; (4) Conclusions: Each aspect of the medical data pipeline needs constant collaboration and update for the proposed solutions to be useful and adaptable in real-world scenarios.
Outsourcing Authentication, Authorization and Accounting, and Charging and Billing Services to Trusted Third Parties for Future Consumer-Oriented Wireless Communications
Authors: Ganchev Ivan , O’Droma Máirtín
Published: January 2023

In this article, proposals for the realization of an infrastructural re-think on the way authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) services and charging and billing (C&B) services are supplied within the ubiquitous consumer wireless world (UCWW) are set out. Proposals envisage these services being owned and organized by trusted third parties (TTPs) and utilizing new globally standardized protocols and infrastructural entity interfaces. Their implementation will affect a successful realization of the UCWW’s consumer-based techno-business infrastructure, complementing or even replacing the present legacy network-centric, subscriber-based one. The approach enables a loose dynamic, or even casual, consumer-type association between consumers (mobile users) and network/teleservice providers, and it opens the door to multifaceted benefits for consumers, for new network/teleservice providers, and for other new UCWW business entities in addition to the 3P-AAA and 3P-C&B service providers at the heart of this article’s proposals.
Deep-Learning-Aided RF Fingerprinting for NFC Relay Attack Detection
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Zou Junwei , Zhang Kai
Published: January 2023

Near field communication (NFC) has been a widely used radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology, credited to its convenience and security features. However, the transmitted signals can be easily eavesdropped or relayed in an open wireless channel. One of the challenges is relay attack, where an attacker simply relays the signal and bypasses encryption or other means in the application layer. Prior works on relay attack countermeasures have focused on distance-bounding protocols or ambient-based solutions. This paper focuses on ISO/IEC 14443-A and proposes an NFC relay detection method based on RF fingerprinting of transmitted wireless signals in the physical layer. To this end, we first designed and implemented two realizations of NFC relay attacks, wired and wireless relays, and built an SDR-based testbed. We collected the normal and relayed signals of four NFC tags, and the answer to request type A (ATQA) segments were selected for RF fingerprinting. The created dataset comprised 66,366 samples, with four tags’ normal and wired relayed signals and the wireless relayed signals. The dataset was then fed into a deep CNN for training. Finally, our experiment results showed that the method effectively distinguished normal and relayed signals with a high accuracy of 99%, confirming that RF fingerprinting can be a promising countermeasure to NFC relay attacks.
An Efficient Design of Inductive Transmitter and Receiver Coils for Wireless Power Transmission
Authors: Solouma Nahed H. , Kassahun Haile Baye , Alsharafi Abdulhameed S. , Syed Abeer , Gardner Michael R. , Alsharafi Sadeq S.
Published: January 2023

Wireless power transmission (WPT) is commonly used today in many important daily applications, such as electric vehicles, mobile phones, and implanted medical devices. The transmitter and receiver coils are essential elements in the WPT system, and the coupling coefficient between these coils plays an important role in increasing the power transfer efficiency. In this work, we introduce a new approach to optimizing the coupling coefficient between the transmitter and the receiver coils by changing the geometries and locations of the coil turns. In the optimization process, the geometry of the turns varies from a rhombus to a circular and then a rectangular shape according to a quasi-elliptical parameter value. The Neuman formula is used to calculate the self-inductance, mutual inductance, and coupling coefficient for each specific geometry and turn location. The configuration with the highest coupling coefficient is then selected at the end of the optimization process. The final WPT coils are tested and verified using Ansys software through electromagnetic and AC analysis simulations. The results show that the new approach could achieve smooth and easily manufacturable coils with higher coupling coefficients, thereby increasing the power transfer efficiency of WPT.
Development of a New Robust Stable Walking Algorithm for a Humanoid Robot Using Deep Reinforcement Learning with Multi-Sensor Data Fusion
Authors: Kaymak Çağrı , Uçar Ayşegül , Güzeliş Cüneyt
Published: January 2023

The difficult task of creating reliable mobility for humanoid robots has been studied for decades. Even though several different walking strategies have been put forth and walking performance has substantially increased, stability still needs to catch up to expectations. Applications for Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques are constrained by low convergence and ineffective training. This paper develops a new robust and efficient framework based on the Robotis-OP2 humanoid robot combined with a typical trajectory-generating controller and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to overcome these limitations. This framework consists of optimizing the walking trajectory parameters and posture balancing system. Multi-sensors of the robot are used for parameter optimization. Walking parameters are optimized using the Dueling Double Deep Q Network (D3QN), one of the DRL algorithms, in the Webots simulator. The hip strategy is adopted for the posture balancing system. Experimental studies are carried out in both simulation and real environments with the proposed framework and Robotis-OP2’s walking algorithm. Experimental results show that the robot performs more stable walking with the proposed framework than Robotis-OP2’s walking algorithm. It is thought that the proposed framework will be beneficial for researchers studying in the field of humanoid robot locomotion.
2D-Nanolayer (2D-NL)-Based Hybrid Materials: A Next-Generation Material for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Ashfaq Mohammad , Talreja Neetu , Singh Neha , Chauhan Divya
Published: January 2023

Two-dimensional (2D) materials, an electrifying family of innovative materials, have recently attracted wide attention due to their remarkable characteristics, primarily their high optical transparency, exceptional metallic conductivity, high mechanical strength, carrier mobility, tunable band gap values, and optimum work function. Interestingly, 2D-nanosheets/nanolayers (2D-NLs) might be synthesized into single/multi-layers using simple processes such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), chemical bath deposition (CBD), and mechanical and liquid-phase exfoliation processes that simply enhance optoelectronic properties. However, the stability of 2D-NLs is one of the most significant challenges that limits their commercialization. Researchers have been focusing on the stability of 2D-NLs with the aim of developing next-generation solar cells. Easily tunable distinctive 2D-NLs that are based on the synthesis process, surface functional groups, and modification with other materials/hybrid materials thereby improve the stability of the 2D-NLs and their applicability to the hole transport layer (HTL) and the electron transport layer (ETL) in solar cells. Moreover, metal/non-metal-based dopants significantly enhance band gap ability and subsequently improve the efficacy of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this context, research has focused on 2D-NL-based photoanodes and working electrodes that improve the photoconversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of DSSCs. Herein, we mainly focus on synthesizing 2D-NLs, challenges during synthesis, stability, and high-performing DSSCs.
A Wireless Electrooculogram (EOG) Wearable Using Conductive Fiber Electrode
Authors: Moon Kee S. , Lee Sung Q. , Kang John S. , Hnat Andrew , Karen Deepa B.
Published: January 2023

Electrooculography (EOG) is a technique for detecting electrical signals from the extra-ocular muscles. The EOG is a precise method for quantifying eye movements, including drowsiness-induced eye closure, and is also a promising technology for its potential use as a contributing mechanism for brain–computer interface applications. Despite the fact that EOG signals change as humans move their eyes, it is still difficult to monitor eye movement patterns in natural behaviors, such as everyday activity. Wearable convenience is essential for obtaining EOG signals while moving freely. This paper proposes the development and use of semi-dry electrodes with low impedance and excellent wearability, as well as a small, portable device with wireless communication capabilities, to increase the likelihood of use in real-life scenarios. The semi-dry electrode produced by the electrospinning technique had an impedance that was 3.5 times lower than that of the existing dry electrode and demonstrated low impedance drift even after long-term use. Furthermore, three steps of eye motion separation were performed using a signal obtained from the wearable device. It was confirmed that the classification of eye movements was at a meaningful level.
Anomaly Detection of Zero-Day Attacks Based on CNN and Regularization Techniques
Authors: Ibrahim Hairab Belal , Aslan Heba K. , Elsayed Mahmoud Said , Jurcut Anca D. , Azer Marianne A.
Published: January 2023

The rapid development of cyberattacks in the field of the Internet of things (IoT) introduces new security challenges regarding zero-day attacks. Intrusion-detection systems (IDS) are usually trained on specific attacks to protect the IoT application, but the attacks that are yet unknown for IDS (i.e., zero-day attacks) still represent challenges and concerns regarding users’ data privacy and security in those applications. Anomaly-detection methods usually depend on machine learning (ML)-based methods. Under the ML umbrella are classical ML-based methods, which are known to have low prediction quality and detection rates with regard to data that it has not yet been trained on. DL-based methods, especially convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with regularization methods, address this issue and give a better prediction quality with unknown data and avoid overfitting. In this paper, we evaluate and prove that the CNNs have a better ability to detect zero-day attacks, which are generated from nonbot attackers, compared to classical ML. We use classical ML, normal, and regularized CNN classifiers (L1, and L2 regularized). The training data consists of normal traffic data, and DDoS attack data, as it is the most common attack in the IoT. In order to give the full picture of this evaluation, the testing phase of those classifiers will include two scenarios, each having data with different attack distribution. One of these is the backdoor attack, and the other is the scanning attack. The results of the testing proves that the regularized CNN classifiers still perform better than the classical ML-based methods in detecting zero-day IoT attacks.
Energy-Aware Next-Generation Mobile Routing Chains with Fog Computing for Emerging Applications
Authors: Haseeb Khalid , Alzahrani Fahad A. , Siraj Mohammad , Ullah Zahid , Lloret Jaime
Published: January 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides robust services to connected sensors in a distributed manner, and maintains real-time communication using wireless standards. The smart network has offered many autonomous smart systems to collect information from remote nodes, and share it by exploring the network layer. Researchers have recently offered a variety of ways to increase the effectiveness of emerging applications using trustworthy relaying systems. However, there are still many issues with route reformulation due to frequent disconnections of mobile devices and resource limitations. Furthermore, most of the existing methods for IoT systems are unable to utilize network resources, which lowers the performance of green networks. Thus, providing a foolproof solution for the autonomous system with energy efficiency is a challenging task. Therefore, this paper presents an algorithm for the mobile network using fog computing to reduce network disconnectivity. Furthermore, using security services, the proposed algorithm efficiently explores the characteristics of the device, and avoids malicious traffic to drain the additional energy consumption of the network. The main aspects of the proposed algorithm are as follows: (i) using the adjustable transmission power, the proposed algorithm offers a fault-tolerant solution to transmit the aggregated data over the unpredictable wireless system; (ii) with the support of fog nodes, the data load is reduced among devices with the offering of a secured authentication scheme. Using simulations, the proposed algorithm is tested, and its significance is demonstrated against other related studies.
Mutagenesis of Novel Clostridial fusants for Enhanced Green Biobutanol Production from Agriculture Waste
Authors: Roy Pallavi , Dahman Yaser
Published: January 2023

In an earlier investigation, novel Clostridial fusants were introduced and demonstrated an ability to produce biobutanol at the relatively high temperature of 45 °C. The objective of the present study is to further improve the fused strains through examining the impact of mutation agents on their stability, tolerance to biobutanol toxicity and biofuel production capability. The results for the mutated strains showed enhanced resistance to biobutanol by the fused strains and better biobutanol generation by cells. Furthermore, the results showed high biobutanol production (14.7–15 g/L), with a total Acetone, Biobutanol and Ethanol (ABE) yield of 0.6 g/g. Moreover, mutated strains showed tolerance to biobutanol toxicity up to 15 g/L, which is equivalent to a ~15% increase over literature values. The oxygen tolerance study showed improved performance by the mutated anaerobic fusant. In general, the mutation of fused clostridium strains using UV and EMS leads to the identification of stronger robust strains that show higher tolerance to oxygen and biobutanol toxicity and achieved higher yield.
Second Generation Bioethanol Production from Soybean Hulls Pretreated with Imidazole as a New Solvent
Authors: Nishida Verônica Sayuri , Woiciechowski Adenise Lorenci , Valladares-Diestra Kim Kley , Zevallos Torres Luis Alberto , Vandenberghe Luciana Porto de Souza , Zandoná Filho Arion , Soccol Carlos Ricardo
Published: January 2023

Soybean hulls (SH) are the main industrial waste from soybean processing, representing 5–8% of the whole grain. Imidazole was employed for the hydrothermal pretreatment of SH and further bioethanol production. Different pretreatment temperatures (120 and 180 °C) and times (1 and 3 h) were tested. Lignin removal and glucose yield were significantly influenced by temperature. After 48 h of enzymatic hydrolysis of imidazole-treated SH (120 °C, 1 h), 32.7 g/L of glucose and 9.4 g/L of xylose were obtained. A maximum bioethanol yield of 78.9% was reached after 12 h of fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae using SH enzymatic hydrolysate. Imidazole appears to be a potential alternative to pretreat lignocellulosic wastes such as SH for the production of second-generation biofuels and other biomolecules.
Keratinases from Streptomyces netropsis and Bacillus subtilis and Their Potential Use in the Chicken Feather Degrading
Authors: Abdelmoteleb Ali , Gonzalez-Mendoza Daniel , Tzintzun-Camacho Olivia , Grimaldo-Juárez Onecimo , Mendez-Trujillo Vianey , Moreno-Cruz Carlos , Ceceña-Duran Carlos , Roumia Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Feathers are the most prevalent agricultural waste generated by chicken farms, polluting the environment and wasting protein resources as a result of the accumulation of large amounts of feathers. Therefore, keratinase-producing microorganisms represent a promising potential technique for the degradation of feather waste. Streptomyces netropsis A-ICA and Bacillus subtilis ALICA, previously isolated from the rhizosphere of desert plants (Larrea tridentata and Prosopis juliflora) respectively, were assessed for their feather-degradation ability. Keratinase activity was optimized using various parameters, including incubation time, pH, temperature, and feather concentration. The maximum keratinase activity of S. netropsis A-ICA and B. subtilis ALICA (113.6 ± 5.1 and 135.6 ± 4.1 U/mL) was obtained at the 5th and 3rd day of incubation with initial pH of 7.0 and 7.5 at 25 and 30 °C, and 1% (w/v) of chicken feather, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the concentration of soluble protein in the feather hydrolysate reached 423.3 ± 25 and 565.3 ± 7.7 µg/mL, with feathers weight loss of 84 ± 2 and 86± 1.5% by S. netropsis A-ICA and B. subtilis ALICA, respectively. The highest disulphide bond reductase activity reached 10.7 ± 0.4 and 10.96 ± 1.1 U/mL, after five and three days of inoculation with S. netropsis A-ICA and B. subtilis ALICA, respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of feather protein hydrolysate obtained by S. netropsis A-ICA and B. subtilis ALICA was evaluated using DPPH radical-scavenging activity, which exhibited a significant antioxidant potential with an IC50 value of 0.8 and 0.6 mg/mL. The 3D models of detected keratinases in both strains showed high similarity with subtilisin family. Further, the docking results clarified the importance of GSG and VVVFTP domains in B. subtilis and beta-keratin, respectively. The present study revealed the keratinolytic potential of S. netropsis A-ICA and B. subtilis ALICA in chicken feather degradation, which have potential application value and may be exploited as supplementary protein and antioxidant in animal feed formulations.
Growth Kinetics of Kazachstania unispora and Its Interaction with Lactic Acid Bacteria during Qymyz Production
Authors: Kondybayev Askar , Achir Nawel , Mestres Christian , Collombel Ingrid , Strub Caroline , Grabulos Joel , Akhmetsadykov Nurlan , Aubakirova Aidana , Kamidinkyzy Ulzhan , Ghanmi Wijden , Konuspayeva Gaukhar
Published: January 2023

Qymyz is a traditional acidic and ethanolic beverage in central Asian countries made from mare milk fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Modeling the growth of microorganisms during fermentation is one of the methods used to control the quality of fermented products. The objective of the study was, firstly, to model the growth kinetics of Kazachstania unispora found in qymyz, and, secondly, to understand their interaction with Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactobacillus kefiri during the fermentation of mare milk. The K. unispora optimum values of pH and temperature were 4.81 ± 0.22 and 30.16 ± 0.53 °C, respectively, with an optimal growth rate (µopt) of 0.56 ± 0.02 h−1. K. unispora had an ethanol production rate of 6.1 × 10−8 mg·CFU−1. Growth, in terms of limiting substrates showed a lower Ks value for galactose at 0.13 ± 0.04 mg·mL−1 with µopt of 0.45 ± 0.01 h−1, while, for glucose, the Ks was 0.24 ± 0.03 mg·mL−1 with the same µopt. Cocultures of K. unispora were conducted with L. casei and L. kefiri in a synthetic medium and mare milk. The results showed that K. unispora growth was limited and, thus, its ethanol production capacity was inhibited. VOC analysis of mare milk fermented with the studied strains and their cocultures resulted in 37 major volatile compounds. Statistical analysis of the VOC profiles showed that K. unispora modulates the aroma production in coculture with LAB.
Influence of Long-Term Agar-Slant Preservation at 4 °C on the Recombinant Enzyme Activity of Engineered Yeast
Authors: Liang Xiao , Gong Ting , Chen Jing-Jing , Chen Tian-Jiao , Yang Jin-Ling , Zhu Ping
Published: January 2023

Strain preservation to maintain stable vitality and the recombinant enzyme activity plays a crucial role in industrial fermentation. A Pichia pastoris strain is routinely stored at −80 °C in a glycerol vial and activated on an antibiotic-containing YPD agar plate before being used for fermentation. Alternatively, the activated strain should be preserved in the agar slant at 2~4 °C (low-temperature storage) for a short period before use. To maximize the utilization of the low-temperature storage for fermentation, we evaluated this method by observing the capacity of both the vitality and the recombinant enzyme activity of the strain at different preservation durations. We found that engineered yeast could be preserved by low-temperature storage for at least 30 months without losing its vitality and biomass enzyme activity by the end of fermentation and could be directly used for the seed cultivation of fermentation, which is more time-saving than strain recovery from −80 °C in a glycerol vial. Moreover, the antibiotic added to the agar slant could be omitted if the heterologous gene was integrated into the host chromosome. Our approach may greatly elevate the production efficiency of the strain.
The Effect of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Addition on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics and Methane Production of Diets Differing in Forage-to-Concentrate Ratio
Authors: Wang Yan-Lu , Zhang Zhi-Hui , Wang Wei-Kang , Wu Qi-Chao , Zhang Fan , Li Wen-Juan , Li Sheng-Li , Wang Wei , Cao Zhi-Jun , Yang Hong-Jian
Published: January 2023

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), known as the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, can permeate ruminal epithelia by passive diffusion and enrich in the rumen environment. To explore whether the addition of GABA can regulate rumen fermentation characteristics as well as methane production, a 2 × 6 factorial in vitro rumen batch culture was conducted to determine the supplemental effect of GABA at inclusion levels of 0 (Control), 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg in culture fluids on rumen fermentation of two total mixed rations (HF—a high-fiber ration consisted of 70% corn silage and 30% concentrate; and LF—a low-fiber ration consisted of 30% corn silage and 70% concentrate). After 72 h in vitro incubation of two rations with mixed rumen microoganisms obtained from five rumen-cannulated lactating Holstein dairy cows, increasing GABA addition linearly increased cumulative gas production in the LF group, though in vitro dry matter digestibility was not affected in either the LF or HF group. Kinetic gas production analysis noted that increasing GABA addition mostly decreased the gas production rate (i.e., RmaxG), as well as the ration digestion rate (RmaxS) to reach maximum fermentation. The GABA addition did not affect pH or microbial growth (i.e., MCP). However, total volatile fatty acid production in both LF and HF groups all linearly increased with the increase in GABA addition. Along with the increase in GABA addition in both LF and HF groups, the ratio of non-glucogenic to glucogenic volatile fatty acids both increased, while the molar proportions of propionate and valerate were significantly decreased, and the acetate and butyrate proportions were increased after 72 h in vitro rumen fermentation. The time-course change of fermentation end-products generally showed that carbon dioxide declined from approximately 89% to 74%, and methane increased from approximately 11% to 26%. After 72 h in vitro fermentation, molar methane proportion was greater in the LF than in the HF group, and increasing GABA addition quadratically increased methane production in the LF group while a slight increase occurred in the HF group.
Proposed Solutions to the Problems of the Lake Chad Fisheries: Resilience Lessons for Africa?
Authors: Okeke-Ogbuafor Nwamaka , Gray Tim , Ani Kelechi , Stead Selina
Published: January 2023

Fishing communities in Lake Chad are experiencing humanitarian crises—more than five million people in the region are hungry and malnourished—and fishers are in dire need of improved fisheries management policies. Understanding the fishers’ resilience, and how they perceive their fisheries policies, could provide an opportunity for governments and fisheries managers to refine their policies. The present study, which is based on 38 semi-structured interviews carried out between January and April 2022 on the Nigerian shores of Lake Chad, breaks new ground, firstly by seeking to understand the issues raised by declining fish stocks in Lake Chad from the viewpoints of fishers themselves; and secondly by making use of resilience theory to interpret the fishers’ responses to their situation. Our findings are that the fishers have a surer grasp of the most effective resilience strategies available to them than external bodies; and that the fishers’ adaptive resilience and local knowledge provide a framework for developing smarter fisheries management policies for Lake Chad. This study provides evidence to support recommendations for Africa’s supranational, national and local governments to invest in, and make use of, the fisheries research on the ground to address the problems facing its fisheries, rather than experimenting with seemingly random ideas from across the globe. The Lake Chad fisheries crisis is an extreme case demonstrating the harmful effects of external influences from which the fisheries of other African countries can learn lessons.
Parametric Study of the Ground-Air Heat Exchanger (GAHE): Effect of Burial Depth and Insulation Length
Authors: Aranda-Arizmendi Alfredo , Rodríguez-Vázquez Martín , Jiménez-Xamán Carlos Miguel , Romero Rosenberg J. , Montiel-González Moisés
Published: January 2023

A parametric study of a ground-to-air heat exchanger (GAHE) using numerical models based on computational fluid dynamics with the finite volume method to evaluate the thermal potential of GAHE is presented. After the validation of the numerical code developed with published experimental data, it is proceeded to the study of the geometric parameters to define those that have the greatest impact on the application potential of GAHE. Climatological variables such as relative humidity, air flow velocity, and inlet air temperature are analyzed, as well as the increase in the thermal conductivity of the soil due to its humidity content. In addition, a study of the optimal installation depth as well as the length of the thermal insulation in the outlet pipe of the GAHE is presented. The results reveal that there is a higher heat exchange potential in the GAHE for an optimal burial depth of 4 m and a length of pipe of 15 m, 30% soil moisture content for heating and 32% for cooling, and a pipe diameter of 0.15 m. The use of thermal insulating is recommended only for the last 2 m of length in the outlet pipe of the GAHE.
Cultivation Factors That Affect Amyloid-β Aggregation Inhibitory Activity in Perilla frutescens var. crispa
Authors: Shimamori Keiya , Nambu Tomohiko , Kawamata Daiki , Kuragano Masahiro , Nishishita Naoki , Iimori Toshifumi , Yamanaka Shinya , Uwai Koji , Tokuraku Kiyotaka
Published: January 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is thought to be caused by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain. Aβ begins to aggregate approximately 20 years before the expression of its symptoms. Previously, we developed a microliter-scale high-throughput screening (MSHTS) system for inhibitors against Aβ aggregation using quantum dot nanoprobes. Using this system, we also found that plants in the Lamiaceae, particularly Perilla frutescens var. crispa, have high activity. The cultivation environment has the potential to enhance Aβ aggregation inhibitory activity in plants by changing their metabolism. Here, we report on cultivation factors that affected the activity of P. frutescens var. crispa cultivated in three fields under different cultivation conditions. The results revealed that the activity of P. frutescens var. crispa harvested just before flowering was highest. Interestingly, the activity of wind-shielded plants that were cultivated to prevent exposure to wind, was reduced to 1/5th of plants just before flowering. Furthermore, activity just before flowering increased following appropriate nitrogen fertilization and at least one week of drying from the day before harvest. In addition, we confirmed that the P. frutescens var. crispa leaf extracts suppressed Aβ-induced toxicity in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. In this study, we demonstrated that flowering, wind, soil water content, and soil nitrogen content affected Aβ aggregation inhibitory activity, necessary to suppress Aβ neurotoxicity, in P. frutescens var. crispa extracts. This study provides practical cultivation methods for P. frutescens var. crispa with high Aβ aggregation inhibitory activity for the prevention of AD.
Effect of Edible Coating Enriched with Natural Antioxidant Extract and Bergamot Essential Oil on the Shelf Life of Strawberries
Authors: De Bruno Alessandra , Gattuso Antonio , Ritorto Davide , Piscopo Amalia , Poiana Marco
Published: January 2023

In this study, the effects of the application of edible coatings on the shelf life of the strawberry were evaluated, with the aim of extending the fruit’s availability and shelf life while preserving its qualitative characteristics. In particular, the application of edible coatings enriched with a natural antioxidant to strawberries was evaluated for their physicochemical, microbial, and structural properties, during a storage period (up to 14 days) at refrigerated temperature. The experimental plan provided the formulation for edible coatings enriched with different concentrations of a natural antioxidant extract obtained from bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) pomace (1, 2.5, and 5%), bergamot essential oil (0.1% v/v and 0.2% v/v), and a synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, 100 ppm). Moreover, a control test with untreated strawberries was considered. The enriched gum Arabic coatings provided good results related to the preservation of the qualitative parameters of the strawberries. The samples coated with the antioxidant extract (2.5%, sample D) and bergamot essential oil (0.1%, sample F) showed the best maintenance of the qualitative parameters after 14 days, showing lower decay rates (36% D and 27% F), good acceptability by consumers (between 5 and 6), and good retention of ascorbic acid (>30 mg 100 g−1).
Whole-Genome Analysis of blaNDM-Bearing Proteus mirabilis Isolates and mcr-1-Positive Escherichia coli Isolates Carrying blaNDM from the Same Fresh Vegetables in China
Authors: Li Chang-An , Guo Cai-Hong , Yang Ting-Yu , Li Fang-Yu , Song Feng-Jing , Liu Bao-Tao
Published: January 2023

The global spread of colistin or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been a pressing threat to public health. Members of Enterobacteriaceae, especially Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli, have been prevalent foodborne pathogens and such pathogens from fresh vegetables have triggered foodborne illness in China. However, reports about CRE, especially P. mirabilis from fresh vegetables, are still lacking. In this study, we identified five blaNDM-positive P. mirabilis and five blaNDM-positive generic E. coli concurrently from five fresh vegetables in two markets from China, and four of the five E. coli also carried mcr-1. The 10 isolates were characterized with methods including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. All 10 isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). blaNDM-5 in five E. coli isolates and one P. mirabilis carrying blaNDM-5 was located on similarly transferable IncX3 plasmids, while transferably untypable plasmids were the carriers of blaNDM-1 in four P. mirabilis isolates from different types of vegetables/markets. mcr-1 in the four blaNDM-5-positive E. coli was located on similarly non-conjugative IncHI2 MDR plasmids lacking transfer region. Notably, ISCR1 complex class 1 integron capable of capturing blaNDM-1 was found on all untypable plasmids from P. mirabilis, and five copies of ISCR1 complex class 1 integron containing blaNDM-1 even occurred in one P. mirabilis, which showed high-level carbapenem resistance. Plasmid and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the blaNDM-positive P. mirabilis and E. coli from fresh vegetables might be derived from animals and transmitted to humans via the food chain. The concurrence of blaNDM-positive P. mirabilis and E. coli carrying both mcr-1 and blaNDM in different types of fresh vegetables eaten raw is alarming and threatens food safety. Sustained surveillance of these foodborne pathogens among fresh vegetables is urgent to ensure the health of food consumers. We report for the first time the concurrence of blaNDM-positive P. mirabilis and mcr-1-bearing E. coli carrying blaNDM from the same fresh vegetables.