bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of the Low Glutamate Diet on the Reduction of Psychiatric Symptoms in Veterans With Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Brandley Elizabeth T. , Kirkland Anna E. , Baron Michael , Baraniuk James N. , Holton Kathleen F.
Published: June 2022

The objective of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the low glutamate diet on anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression in veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI). The low glutamate diet removes dietary excitotoxins and increases consumption of micronutrients which are protective against glutamatergic excitotoxicity. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT#03342482). Forty veterans with GWI completed psychiatric questionnaires at baseline and after 1-month following the low glutamate diet. Participants were then randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover challenge with monosodium glutamate (MSG; a dietary excitotoxin) vs. placebo over three consecutive days per week, with assessments on day three. Data were analyzed across the full sample and with participants categorized by baseline symptom severity. Pre-post-dietary intervention change scores were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and paired sample t-tests across the full sample, and changes across symptom severity categories were analyzed using ANOVA. Crossover challenge results were analyzed with linear mixed modeling accounting for challenge material (MSG v. placebo), sequence (MSG/placebo v. placebo/MSG), period (challenge week 1 v. week 2), pre-diet baseline symptom severity category (minimal/mild, moderate, or severe), and the challenge material*symptom severity category interaction. A random effect of ID (sequence) was also included. All three measures showed significant improvement after 1 month on the diet, with significant differences between baseline severity categories. Individuals with severe psychological symptoms at baseline showed the most improvement after 1 month on the diet, while those with minimal/mild symptoms showed little to no change. Modeling results from the challenge period demonstrated a significant worsening of anxiety from MSG in only the most severe group, with no significant effects of MSG challenge on depression nor PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that the low glutamate diet may be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and PTSD, but that either (a) glutamate is only a direct cause of symptoms in anxiety, or (b) underlying nutrient intake may prevent negative psychiatric effects from glutamate exposure. Future, larger scale clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and to further explore the potential influence of increased micronutrient intake on the improvements observed across anxiety, PTSD, and depression.
Utility of Scoring System for Screening and Early Warning of Cervical Cancer Based on Big Data Analysis
Authors: Hou Dan , Yang Binjie , Li Yangdan , Sun Ming
Published: June 2022

Objective

To explore the utility of the scoring system for screening and early warning of cervical cancer based on big data analysis.

Methods

A total of 420 women undergoing physical examination in Shenyang from January 2021 to January 2022 were screened by convenient sampling as the study subjects. All females accepted the human papilloma virus (HPV) tests and thin-prep cytology test (TCT), a Rating Questionnaire for Screening and Early Warning of Cervical Cancer was developed, and a warning threshold was derived according to the scores of the questionnaire and the goodness of fit for the results of HPV+TCT tests. The patients were graded according to the threshold, and corresponding intervention strategies for patients of different grades were developed.

Results

Among the 420 people undergoing physical examination, 92 (21.90%) obtained scores ≥8 points, and 328 (78.10%) obtained scores < 8 points; in diagnosing cervical cancer, the Rating Questionnaire for Screening and Early Warning of Cervical Cancer had an AUC value of 0.848, specificity of 97.22%, and sensitivity of 86.46%; after scientific intervention, HPV test results showed a significant decrease in both high-risk positive cases and low-risk positive cases (p < 0.05), and TCT results showed that there was a significant difference in the number of patients with CIN I before and after intervention (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The scoring system for screening and early warning of cervical cancer based on big data analysis presents certain clinical value in the clinical screening of cervical cancer, which can further improve the screening coverage, is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and helps physician implement hierarchical diagnosis and treatment quickly and precisely.
Promoting Social Engagement With a Multi-Role Dancing Robot for In-Home Autism Care
Authors: Javed Hifza , Park Chung Hyuk
Published: June 2022

This work describes the design of real-time dance-based interaction with a humanoid robot, where the robot seeks to promote physical activity in children by taking on multiple roles as a dance partner. It acts as a leader by initiating dances but can also act as a follower by mimicking a child’s dance movements. Dances in the leader role are produced by a sequence-to-sequence (S2S) Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network trained on children’s music videos taken from YouTube. On the other hand, a music orchestration platform is implemented to generate background music in the follower mode as the robot mimics the child’s poses. In doing so, we also incorporated the largely unexplored paradigm of learning-by-teaching by including multiple robot roles that allow the child to both learn from and teach to the robot. Our work is among the first to implement a largely autonomous, real-time full-body dance interaction with a bipedal humanoid robot that also explores the impact of the robot roles on child engagement. Importantly, we also incorporated in our design formal constructs taken from autism therapy, such as the least-to-most prompting hierarchy, reinforcements for positive behaviors, and a time delay to make behavioral observations. We implemented a multimodal child engagement model that encompasses both affective engagement (displayed through eye gaze focus and facial expressions) as well as task engagement (determined by the level of physical activity) to determine child engagement states. We then conducted a virtual exploratory user study to evaluate the impact of mixed robot roles on user engagement and found no statistically significant difference in the children’s engagement in single-role and multiple-role interactions. While the children were observed to respond positively to both robot behaviors, they preferred the music-driven leader role over the movement-driven follower role, a result that can partly be attributed to the virtual nature of the study. Our findings support the utility of such a platform in practicing physical activity but indicate that further research is necessary to fully explore the impact of each robot role.
High Daily and Year-Round Variability in Denitrification and Nitrogen Fixation in a Northern Temperate River
Authors: Nevorski Kevin C. , Marcarelli Amy M.
Published: June 2022

Rates of nitrogen (N) cycling processes like denitrification and dinitrogen (N2) fixation, which together are the primary contributors to N2 flux rates from surface waters, may change at different time scales from seasons to weeks to days. Yet, we know little about the magnitude, mechanisms or drivers of these temporal changes, especially at shorter daily and weekly timescales. Quantifying variation in rates and drivers across temporal scales is essential to understand how nutrient cycling processes operate in aquatic ecosystems and predict how they may respond to shifting seasonal dynamics caused by global change (i.e., earlier snowmelt and extreme weather events). This study quantified denitrification and N2 fixation rates seasonally and daily in a northern temperate river, and explored how environmental conditions such as discharge, light, and N and phosphorus (P) concentrations were related to that variation at different time scales. We measured denitrification and N2 fixation rates on biweekly and daily intervals at a single 20-m long sampling reach in the Pilgrim River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula from May 2017 through May 2019. We found high rates of daily change (difference in rate from one day to the next) for both processes in all seasons (maximum daily change 5,690 μg N/m2/h for denitrification and 38 μg N/m2/h for N2 fixation). No detectable differences in rates among seasons were detected using Multiple Response Permutation Procedure (MRPP). Day-to-day variation did not change before and after elevated discharge events, including a 1,000-year flood that occurred in June 2018. Partial least squares (PLS) regression identified total dissolved N, dissolved organic N, and ammonium as important predictors of denitrification and N2 fixation, but explained only 15–28% of the variation in all measured rates. The unexpectedly high daily variation and lack of seasonal difference in rates found in this study demonstrate the need to use caution when studying these processes and/or extrapolating rates across time scales, as discrete and infrequent measurements may be misleading.
Comparing Wild and Cultivated Food Plant Richness Between the Arid American and the Mesoamerican Centers of Diversity, as Means to Advance Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the Face of Climate Change
Authors: Nabhan Gary Paul , Colunga-GarcíaMarín Patricia , Zizumbo-Villarreal Daniel
Published: June 2022

Climate change is aggravating agricultural crop failures, and the paucity of wild food harvests for Indigenous desert dwellers in Mexico and the U.S. This food production crisis challenges ongoing efforts by Indigenous communities in obtaining greater food security, prompting them to reconsider the value of traditional Indigenous food systems in both Mesoamerica and Arid America, two adjacent centers of crop diversity. While food production strategies in these two centers share many features, the food plant diversity in the Western Mesoamerican region appears to be greater. However, a higher percentage of plants in Arid America have adapted to water scarcity, heat, and damaging radiation. The phytochemical and physiological adaptations of the food plants to abiotic stresses in arid environments offer a modicum of resilience in the face of aggravated climate uncertainties. By comparing food plant genera comprising Western Mesoamerican and Arid American diets, we detected a higher ratio of CAM succulents in the wild and domesticated food plant species in the Arid American food system. We conclude that food plant diversity in the ancestral diets of both centers can provide much of the resilience needed to advance Indigenous food sovereignty and assure food security as climate change advances.
Candidate Proficiency Test Chemicals to Address Industrial Chemical Applicability Domains for in vitro Human Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Induction
Authors: Jacobs Miriam Naomi , Kubickova Barbara , Boshoff Eugene
Published: June 2022

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes play a key role in the metabolism of both xenobiotics and endogenous chemicals, and the activity of some CYP isoforms are susceptible to induction and/or inhibition by certain chemicals. As CYP induction/inhibition can bring about significant alterations in the level of in vivo exposure to CYP substrates and metabolites, CYP induction/inhibition data is needed for regulatory chemical toxicity hazard assessment. On the basis of available human in vivo pharmaceutical data, a draft Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Test Guideline (TG) for an in vitro CYP HepaRG test method that is capable of detecting the induction of four human CYPs (CYP1A1/1A2, 2B6, and 3A4), has been developed and validated for a set of pharmaceutical proficiency chemicals. However to support TG adoption, further validation data was requested to demonstrate the ability of the test method to also accurately detect CYP induction mediated by industrial and pesticidal chemicals, together with an indication on regulatory uses of the test method. As part of “GOLIATH”, a European Union Horizon-2020 funded research project on metabolic disrupting chemical testing approaches, work is underway to generate supplemental validated data for an additional set of chemicals with sufficient diversity to allow for the approval of the guideline. Here we report on the process of proficiency chemical selection based on a targeted literature review, the selection criteria and considerations required for acceptance of proficiency chemical selection for OECD TG development (i.e. structural diversity, range of activity, relevant chemical sectors, global restrictions etc). The following 13 proposed proficiency chemicals were reviewed and selected as a suitable set for use in the additional validation experiments: tebuconazole, benfuracarb, atrazine, cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, perfluorooctanoic acid, bisphenol A, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, benzo-[a]-pyrene, fludioxonil, malathion, triclosan, and caffeine. Illustrations of applications of the test method in relation to endocrine disruption and non-genotoxic carcinogenicity are provided.
Comparison of Two Surgical Techniques for the Treatment of Canine Disc Associated-Cervical Spondylomyelopathy
Authors: Falzone Cristian , Tranquillo Vito , Gasparinetti Nicola
Published: June 2022

Objective

To compare prosthetic disc and vertebral distraction stabilization in dogs with disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM).

Study Design

A retrospective clinical study.

Animals

25 dogs.

Methods

Dogs presenting with clinical signs and MRI findings compatible with DA-CSM underwent surgery. Implantation of the Adamo's prosthetic disc (PD) or vertebral distraction-stabilization (DS) with intervertebral cage, ventral locking plates, and dorsal transarticular screws was performed. All dogs were followed-up and evaluated clinically for a minimum of 1 year and radiographically for at least 3 months. In particular, we focused on the evaluation of subsidence (the degree of vertebral collapse).

Results

Twenty-five dogs were enrolled: 12 with PD implantation and 13 with DS implantation. Of these, 24 dogs were followed-up at 1 year. Overall, 12 dogs improved (4 PD and 8 DS), eight were stable (4 PD and 4 DS), and four deteriorated (3 PD and 1 DS). Deterioration was more common in PD cases, especially soon after surgery. In a few PD cases, a second surgery was necessary. The most common complication in dogs with DS was discospondylitis. Subsidence was detected in 11 PD and 7 DS dogs. Subsidence was more severe and occurred sooner after surgery in PD cases compared to DS cases. DS cases were more prone to clinical improvement and less prone to subsidence than PD cases in this study. However, the statistical evidence was weak owing to the small sample size.

Conclusion

The preliminary results suggest that prosthetic disc implantation is more prone to clinical and radiographic failures than distraction stabilization.

Clinical Relevance

The DS technique is a valuable surgical option for treating dogs with DA-CSM, with favorable short- and long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes.
Effects of Lysophosphatidylcholine on Jejuna Morphology and Its Potential Mechanism
Authors: Li Xiaofeng , Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Moneim Eid , Mesalam Noura M. , Yang Bing
Published: June 2022

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) plays a vital role in promoting jejuna morphology in broilers. However, the potential mechanism behind LPC improving the chicken jejuna morphology is unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to reveal the important genes associated with LPC regulation in birds' jejuna. Thus, GSE94622, the gene expression microarray, was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). GSE94622 consists of 15 broiler jejuna samples from two LPC-treated (LPC500 and LPC1000) and the control groups. Totally 98 to 217 DEGs were identified by comparing LPC500 vs. control, LPC1000 vs. control, and LPC1000 vs. LPC500. Gene ontology (GO) analysis suggested that those DEGs were mainly involved in the one-carbon metabolic process, carbon dioxide transport, endodermal cell differentiation, the positive regulation of dipeptide transmembrane transport, cellular pH reduction, and synaptic transmission. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis indicated the DEGs were enriched in NOD-like receptor (NLR), RIG-I-like receptor (RILR), Toll-like receptor (TLR), and necroptosis signaling pathway. Moreover, many genes, such as RSAD2, OASL, EPSTI1, CMPK2, IFIH1, IFIT5, USP18, MX1, and STAT1 might be involved in promoting the jejuna morphology of broilers. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of LPC regulation in jejuna morphology.
A New Semiparametric Regression Framework for Analyzing Non-Linear Data
Authors: Bertoli Wesley , Oliveira Ricardo P. , Achcar Jorge A.
Published: June 2022

This work introduces a straightforward framework for semiparametric non-linear models as an alternative to existing non-linear parametric models, whose interpretation primarily depends on biological or physical aspects that are not always available in every practical situation. The proposed methodology does not require intensive numerical methods to obtain estimates in non-linear contexts, which is attractive as such algorithms’ convergence strongly depends on assigning good initial values. Moreover, the proposed structure can be compared with standard polynomial approximations often used for explaining non-linear data behaviors. Approximate posterior inferences for the semiparametric model parameters were obtained from a fully Bayesian approach based on the Metropolis-within-Gibbs algorithm. The proposed structures were considered to analyze artificial and real datasets. Our results indicated that the semiparametric models outperform linear polynomial regression approximations to predict the behavior of response variables in non-linear settings.
Aerodynamic Study on the Influence Mechanism of Bow Blades on the Flow Field of Supersonic Tandem Rotors
Authors: Cheng Hao , Song Zhaoyun , Liu Bo
Published: June 2022

In order to research the influence mechanism of bow blades on the flow field of supersonic tandem rotors of compressors, the supersonic rotor rotor37 is taken as the prototype and redesigned as a supersonic tandem rotor. Compared with the prototype rotor37, the efficiency of the design tandem rotor is increased by 0.24% and the stall margin is increased by about 5.6%. Although the negative bow blade deteriorates the flow field in the tip region and the hub region, it significantly increases the efficiency and total pressure ratio of the tandem rotor from 20% span to 85% span. The efficiency of the design point of the tandem rotor with a negative bow angle of 10° is improved by 0.37%, and the stall margin is also increased to 20.71%. Positive bow blades improve the efficiency of the hub region and casing region of tandem rotors, but they significantly reduce the efficiency of the tandem rotor from 10% to 50%. The positive bow blade reduces the pressure ratio and efficiency at the design point and reduces the stall margin of the tandem rotor. The design point efficiency of the tandem rotor with a positive bow angle of 10° is decreased by 0.3%, the stall margin is decreased by 1%, and the mass flow of the design point is increased by 0.38%.
A Note on Gerber–Shiu Function with Delayed Claim Reporting under Constant Force of Interest
Authors: Essiomle Kokou , Adekambi Franck
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we analyze the Gerber–Shiu discounted penalty function for a constant interest rate in delayed claim reporting times. Using the Poisson claim arrival scenario, we derive the differential equation of the Laplace transform of the generalized Gerber–Shiu function and show that the differential equation can be transformed to a Volterra equation of the second kind with a degenerated kernel. In the case of an exponential claim distribution, a closed-expression for the Gerber–Shiu function is obtained via sequence expansion. This result allows us to calculate the absolute (relative) ruin probability. Additionally, we discuss a method of solving the Volterra equation numerically and provide an illustration of the ruin’s probability to support the finding.
Numerical Simulation of Flow Field, Bubble Distribution and Solidified Shell in Slab Mold under Different EMBr Conditions Assisted with High-Temperature Quantitative Velocity Measurement
Authors: Guo Yi , Yang Jian , Liu Yibo , He Wenyuan , Zhao Changliang , Liu Yanqiang
Published: June 2022

The flow field, bubble distribution and solidified shell in slab mold are numerically simulated with large eddy simulation (LES) under different electromagnetic braking (EMBr) conditions, assisted with high-temperature quantitative velocity measurement. The calculated velocities on the mold surface are in good agreement with the measured values of the industrial experiment at high temperature with the rod deflection method under different EMBr conditions and different argon flow rates, which verifies the correctness of the model. After EMBr is applied, the flow velocity on the surface of the mold decreases. With EMBr, the velocity on the mold surface first increases and then decreases with the increase in argon flow rate. When the argon flow rate is 10 L·min−1, the jets at the side ports of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) become disordered, and the liquid level fluctuation near the SEN wall intensifies, which increases the risk of slag entrainment and slag layer breaking and the risk of argon bubbles being captured. When the argon flow rate is 6 L·min−1, the velocity and fluctuation on the mold surface can be significantly reduced by use of double-ruler EMBr; the impact of the jet on the narrow face of the mold is obviously restrained; and the solidified shell thickness increases.
African Swine Fever Outbreak Investigations—The Significance of Disease-Related Anecdotal Information Coming from Laypersons
Authors: Lamberga Kristīne , Ardelean Felix , Blome Sandra , Busauskas Paulius , Djuric Boban , Globig Anja , Guberti Vittorio , Miteva Aleksandra , Oļševskis Edvins , Seržants Mārtiņš , Viltrop Arvo , Zani Laura , Zdravkova Anna , Depner Klaus
Published: June 2022

Veterinarians who have conducted numerous investigations of African swine fever outbreaks in pig farms in various European countries over the years shared their experiences during a workshop in Germany in early 2020. One focus was on the so-called “anecdotal information” obtained from farmers, farm workers or other lay people during the outbreak investigations. Discussions revolved around how to correctly interpret and classify such information and how the subjective character of the statements can influence follow-up examinations. The statements of the lay persons were grouped into three categories according to their plausibility: (i) statements that were plausible and prompted further investigation, (ii) statements that were not plausible and could therefore be ignored, and (iii) statements that were rather implausible but should not be ignored completely. The easiest to deal with were statements that could be classified without doubt as important and very plausible and statements that were not plausible at all. Particularly difficult to assess were statements that had a certain plausibility and could not be immediately dismissed out of hand. We aim to show that during outbreak investigations, one is confronted with human subjective stories that are difficult to interpret but still important to understand the overall picture. Here, we present and briefly discuss an arbitrary selection of reports made by lay persons during outbreak investigations.
Epidemiological Trends of Trans-Boundary Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Europe, 2000–2019
Authors: Wondim Mulugeta A. , Czupryna Piotr , Pancewicz Sławomir , Kruszewska Ewelina , Groth Monika , Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna
Published: June 2022

Tick-borne encephalitis is a neuroinfection widely distributed in the Euro–Asia region. Primarily, the virus is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. From 2000–2019, the total number of confirmed cases in Europe reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was 51,519. The number of cases decreased in 2014 and 2015; however, since 2015, a growing number of cases have been observed, with the involvement of countries in which TBE has not been previously reported. The determinant factors for the spread of TBE are host population size, weather conditions, movement of hosts, and local regulations on the socioeconomic dynamics of the local and travelling people around the foci areas. The mean incidence rate of tick-borne encephalitis from 2000–2019 in Europe was 3.27, while the age-adjusted mean incidence rate was 2.19 per 100,000 population size. This review used several articles and data sources from the European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control.
Chicken Skin Decontamination of Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. and Hygiene Indicator Escherichia coli Assessed by Viability Real-Time PCR
Authors: Wulsten Imke F. , Thieck Maja , Göhler André , Schuh Elisabeth , Stingl Kerstin
Published: June 2022

Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. are fecal contaminants of chicken meat with serious implications for human health. E. coli is considered as hygiene indicator since, in contrast to Campylobacter. spp., the bacterium is generally present in the avian gut. Stress exposure may transiently cease bacterial division. Therefore, colony forming units (CFU) may underestimate the infection risk of pathogens. We developed a viability real-time PCR (v-qPCR) for the quantification of viable E. coli targeting the uidA gene, encoding β-glucuronidase, which is usually detected for phenotypic species identification. The short- and long-term effects of decontaminating chicken skin on the survival of both C. jejuni and an ESBL-producing E. coli were evaluated by CFU and v-qPCR. The results showed that freezing and storage in cool conditions are potentially underestimated by CFU but not by v-qPCR. The effect of treatment with peroxyacetic acid on survival was consistently detected by CFU and v-qPCR. v-qPCR analysis detected bacterial survival upon the application of lactic acid, which awaits further analysis. Interestingly, both bacteria showed similar kinetics of inactivation upon the application of reduction strategies, suggesting that E. coli might be a complementary hygiene indicator. We conclude that v-qPCR can improve food safety under the consideration of some limitations.
Exogenous Paclobutrazol Reinforces the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Lavender (Lavandula officinalis L.) Oil through Modulating Its Composition of Oxygenated Terpenes
Authors: El-Sayed Salwa M. , Hassan Karim. M. , Abdelhamid Ahmed. N. , Yousef Eman E. , Abdellatif Yasmin M. R. , Abu-Hussien Samah H. , Nasser Mohamed A. , Elshalakany Walaa. A. , Darwish Doaa Bahaa Eldin , Abdulmajeed Awatif M. , Alabdallah Nadiyah M. , Al-Qahtani Salem Mesfir , Al-Harbi Nadi Awad , Dessoky Eldessoky S. , Ashour Hatem , Ibrahim Mohamed F. M.
Published: June 2022

Plant growth regulators can affect the primary and secondary metabolites of various plant species. However, the effect of paclobutrazol (PBZ) on the composition of lavender oil, especially related to the terpenoid pathway, is still unclear in literatures. In this study, the effect of PBZ as a foliar spray (0.200, 400 and 600 ppm) on the vegetative growth, phytochemical content, and both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of lavender oil were investigated. The results indicated that all examined PBZ treatments led to a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in growth parameters compared to the untreated plants. Meanwhile, the yield of essential oil was significantly decreased by the treatment of PBZ at 200 ppm compared to the control. In contrast, applied-PBZ significantly enhanced the chlorophyll content and displayed a marked change in the composition of the essential oil. This change included an obvious and significant increase in 3-carene, eucalyptol, γ–terpinene, α-pinocarvone, caryophyllene, β-vetivenene, β-santalol, ledol, geranyl isovalerate, farnesol, caryophyllene oxide, and phytol percentage. Generally, the highest significant values were achieved by the treatment of 400 ppm compared to the other treatments. Furthermore, this treatment showed the highest free radical scavenging activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) by 13% over the control. Additionally, to determine the antimicrobial activities of the extracted oil, each treatment was examined against two strains of Gram positive bacteria (S. aureus and B. cereus), two strains of Gram negative bacteria (S. enteritidis and E. coli), and two fungal species (C. albicans and A. niger) represent the yeast modal and filamentous fungus, respectively. The findings demonstrated that all examined species were more sensitive to the oil that was extracted from lavender plants, treated with 400 ppm PBZ, compared to the other concentrations.
Genome-Wide Identification of Genes Encoding for Rho-Related Proteins in ‘Duli’ Pear (Pyrus betulifolia Bunge) and Their Expression Analysis in Response to Abiotic Stress
Authors: Li Gang , Song Pingli , Wang Xiang , Ma Qingcui , Xu Jianfeng , Zhang Yuxing , Qi Baoxiu
Published: June 2022

Twelve Rho-related proteins (ROPs), namely PbROPs, were identified from the genome of the recently sequenced ‘Duli’ pear (Pyrus betulifolia Bunge), a wild-type pear variety routinely used for rootstocks in grafting in China. The length and molecular weight of these proteins are between 175 and 215 amino acids and 19.46 and 23.45 kDa, respectively. The 12 PbROPs are distributed on 8 of the 17 chromosomes, where chromosome 15 has the highest number of 3 PbROPs. Analysis of the deduced protein sequences showed that they are relatively conserved and all have the G domain, insertion sequence, and HVR motif. The expression profiles were monitored by quantitative RT-PCR, which showed that these 12 PbROP genes were ubiquitously expressed, indicating their involvement in growth and development throughout the life cycle of ‘Duli’ pear. However, they were altered upon treatments with abscisic acid (ABA, mimicking abiotic stress), polyethylene glycol (PEG, mimicking drought), and sodium chloride (NaCl, mimicking salt) to tissue-cultured seedlings. Further, transgenic Arabidopsis expressing PbROP1, PbROP2, and PbROP9 exhibited enhanced sensitivity to ABA, demonstrating that these 3 PbROPs may play important roles in the abiotic stress of ‘Duli’ pear. The combined results showed that the ‘Duli’ genome encodes 12 typical ROPs and they appeared to play important roles in growth, development, and abiotic stress. These preliminary data may guide future research into the molecular mechanisms of these 12 PbROPs and their utility in molecular breeding for abiotic stress-resistant ‘Duli’ pear rootstocks.
Preparation and Release of pH-Sensitive β-Cyclodextrin Derivative Micelles Loaded with Paclitaxel
Authors: Zhao Meirong , Jiang Weiwei , Xie Xinrong , Jaiswal Yogini , Williams Leonard , Wei Mei , Mo Ying , Guan Yifu , Yang Hua
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a new amphiphilic mono-6-β-cyclodextrin octadecylimine (6-β-CD-N-ODMA) copolymer was synthesized based on β-cyclodextrin and octadecylamine, which can self-assemble to form polymeric micelles. Drug-loaded micelles (a new drug carrier) were obtained using 6-β-CD-N-ODMA and paclitaxel (PTX) by the dialysis method. Orthogonal experiments were used to optimize the preparation method of the drug-loaded micelles. The drug-loading content of the carrier prepared by the optimized method was 1.97%. The physicochemical properties of blank micelles and drug-loaded micelles were evaluated by the fluorescence probe method, infrared spectra, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. The release properties of the carrier were investigated. The carrier has good pH sensitivity and the cumulative release rate after 96 h was 88% in PBS (pH = 5.0). The Ritger–Peppas equation is the optimal model for PTX released at pH 5.0, implying that the hydrolysis effect of 6-β-CD-N-ODMA is the main reason for PTX release. The results indicate that the developed carrier can increase the solubility of PTX and possess potential for increased clinical efficacy of PTX.
FEM Analysis Validation of Rubber Hardness Impact on Mechanical and Softness Properties of Embossed Industrial Base Tissue Papers
Authors: Vieira Joana Costa , Mendes António de O. , Ribeiro Marcelo Leite , Vieira André Costa , Carta Ana Margarida , Fiadeiro Paulo Torrão , Costa Ana Paula
Published: June 2022

The embossing operation is one of the processes of tissue paper converting. The embossing parameters influence the final properties of tissue products, such as mechanical, softness, and bulk. In this study, the influence of the rubber hardness used against the embossing steel rolls with a pattern created by intaglio engraving was studied. Three different configurations of rubber plates stacking, each plate with different hardness, were studied. After embossing, mechanical properties, softness, and bulk were evaluated to analyze the effect of rubbers hardness on these properties. Furthermore, a Finite Element Model of the embossing operation was used that considered the same rubber plates stacking configurations used in experiments, and it was able to replicate the experimental results. This work led us to conclude that the configuration where two rubber plates with different hardness, where the rubber plate with higher hardness is in contact with the tissue paper sheet, has shown to be the best solution to obtain higher softness. These findings support the use of embossing operations rubber rolls with a low hardness internal layer and a high hardness external layer in industry. Thus, finite element models were also shown to be reliable tools to virtually test other configurations, such as, for example, three or more rubber plates with different hardness. Since embossing is one of the tissue paper transformation operations with the greatest impact on the key properties of the final product, this study allows the producer to optimize them by varying the hardness of the rubber roll, as well as its configuration.
Fabrication of Electrospun Xylan-g-PMMA/TiO2 Nanofibers and Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Xie Yangyang , Sun Xiao-Feng , Li Wenbo , He Junhui , Sun Ran , Hu Sihai , Wu Yaoguo
Published: June 2022

Herein, xylan-g-PMMA was synthesized by grafting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) onto xylan and characterized by FT-IR and HSQC NMR spectroscopies, and the xylan-g-PMMA/TiO2 solution was used to electrospun nanofibers at the voltage of 15 Kv, which was the first time employing xylan to electrospun nanofibers. Moreover, the electrospinning operating parameters were optimized by assessing the electrospinning process and the morphology of electrospun fibers, as follows: the mixed solvent of DMF and chloroform in a volume ratio of 5:1, an anhydroxylose unit (AXU)/MMA molar ratio lower than 1:2, the flow speed of 0.00565–0.02260 mL/min, and a receiving distance of 10–15 cm. Diameters of the electrospun fibers increased with increasing DMF content in the used solvent mixture, MMA dosage, and receiving distance. TiO2 nanoparticles were successfully dispersed in electrospun xylan-g-PMMA nanofibers and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray diffraction spectrum, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their application for methylene blue (MB) degradation presented above 80% photocatalytic efficiency, showing the good potential in water treatment.
Polymeric Microparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation for Pulmonary Delivery of Rifampicin
Authors: Naz Faiqa Falak , Shah Kifayat Ullah , Niazi Zahid Rasul , Zaman Mansoor , Lim Vuanghao , Alfatama Mulham
Published: June 2022

Rifampicin, a potent broad-spectrum antibiotic, remains the backbone of anti-tubercular therapy. However, it can cause severe hepatotoxicity when given orally. To overcome the limitations of the current oral therapy, this study designed inhalable spray-dried, rifampicin-loaded microparticles using aloe vera powder as an immune modulator, with varying concentrations of alginate and L-leucine. The microparticles were assessed for their physicochemical properties, in vitro drug release and aerodynamic behavior. The spray-dried powders were 2 to 4 µm in size with a percentage yield of 45 to 65%. The particles were nearly spherical with the tendency of agglomeration as depicted from Carr’s index (37 to 65) and Hausner’s ratios (>1.50). The drug content ranged from 0.24 to 0.39 mg/mg, with an association efficiency of 39.28 to 96.15%. The dissolution data depicts that the in vitro release of rifampicin from microparticles was significantly retarded with a higher L-leucine concentration in comparison to those formulations containing a higher sodium alginate concentration due to its hydrophobic nature. The aerodynamic data depicts that 60 to 70% of the aerosol mass was emitted from an inhaler with MMAD values of 1.44 to 1.60 µm and FPF of 43.22 to 55.70%. The higher FPF values with retarded in vitro release could allow sufficient time for the phagocytosis of synthesized microparticles by alveolar macrophages, thereby leading to the eradication of M. tuberculosis from these cells.
Development of WO3–Nafion Based Membranes for Enabling Higher Water Retention at Low Humidity and Enhancing PEMFC Performance at Intermediate Temperature Operation
Authors: Selim Asmaa , Szijjártó Gábor Pál , Románszki Loránd , Tompos András
Published: June 2022

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) represents a pivotal material and a key challenge in developing fuel cell science and hydrogen technology. Nafion is the most promising polymer which will lead to its commercialisation. Hybrid membranes of nanosized tungsten oxide (WO3) and Nafion were fabricated, characterised, and tested in a single cell. The incorporation of 10 wt% WO3 resulted in 21% higher water uptake, 11.7% lower swelling ratio, almost doubling the hydration degree, and 13% higher mechanical stability of the hybrid membrane compared to the Nafion XL. Compared to commercial Nafion XL, the rNF–WO-10 hybrid membrane showed an 8.8% and 20% increase in current density of the cell at 0.4 V operating at 80 and 95 °C with 1.89 and 2.29 A/cm2, respectively. The maximum power density has increased by 9% (0.76 W/cm2) and 19.9% (0.922 W/cm2) when operating at the same temperatures compared to the commercial Nafion XL membrane. Generally, considering the particular structure of Nafion XL, our Nafion-based membrane with 10 wt% WO3 (rNF–WO-10) is a suitable PEM with a comparable performance at different operating conditions.
Effect of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Concentration on Polymeric Scaffolds Based on Blends of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) and PHA Prepared via Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS)
Authors: Lopresti Francesco , Liga Antonio , Capuana Elisa , Gulfi Davide , Zanca Claudio , Inguanta Rosalinda , Brucato Valerio , La Carrubba Vincenzo , Carfì Pavia Francesco
Published: June 2022

Hybrid porous scaffolds composed of both natural and synthetic biopolymers have demonstrated significant improvements in the tissue engineering field. This study investigates for the first time the fabrication route and characterization of poly-L-lactic acid scaffolds blended with polyhydroxyalkanoate up to 30 wt%. The hybrid scaffolds were prepared by a thermally induced phase separation method starting from ternary solutions. The microstructure of the hybrid porous structures was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and related to the blend composition. The porosity and the wettability of the scaffolds were evaluated through gravimetric and water contact angle measurements, respectively. The scaffolds were also characterized in terms of the surface chemical properties via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance. The mechanical properties were analyzed through tensile tests, while the crystallinity of the PLLA/PHA scaffolds was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction.
Study on Piezomagnetic Effect of Iron Cobalt Alloy and Force Sensor
Authors: Li Ruichuan , Liu Jilu , Xu Jikang , Ding Xinkai , Cheng Yi , Liu Qi
Published: June 2022

Based on the nonlinear piezomagnetic equation, the piezomagnetic effect of prismatic iron-cobalt alloy is analyzed by using the ANSYS finite element simulation platform. The variation of the dynamic piezomagnetic coefficient of the iron-cobalt alloy under different bias magnetic fields and different stress was studied through simulation. Referring to the working condition of the tractor force sensor and according to the principle of magnetic circuit superposition, a piezomagnetic force sensor was designed and manufactured using iron-cobalt alloy. According to the electromagnetic theory and piezomagnetic effect, the three-dimensional model and magnetic circuit mathematical model of the sensor are established, and the system simulation model of the piezomagnetic sensor was established based on the MATLAB/Simulink module. The experimental platform of the magnetostrictive force sensor was built to verify the correctness of the simulation model, and the effects of bias magnetic field and force on the output characteristics are studied. The simulation and experimental results show that the maximum piezomagnetic coefficient was 9.2 T/GPA when the bias magnetic field intensity was 14.74 kA/m. The force measuring range of the sensor is 0–120 kN, and the sensor has high sensitivity within 0–80 kN. The sensor has a simple structure, is suitable for the force measurement and control of an electro-hydraulic lifter under heavy load, and can better adapt to the harsh working environment.
Drying–Wetting Changes of Surface Soil Moisture and the Influencing Factors in Permafrost Regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Li Hongying , Liu Fenggui , Zhang Shengpeng , Zhang Chaokun , Zhang Cungui , Ma Weidong , Luo Jing
Published: June 2022

Soil moisture (SM), an important variable in water conversion between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, plays a crucial role in ecological processes and the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems. Analyzing and exploring SM’s processes and influencing factors in different permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) can better serve the regional ecological security, disaster warning, water management, etc. However, the changes and future trends of SM on the QTP in recent decades are uncertain, and the main factors affecting SM are not fully understood. The study used SM observations, the Global Land Evapotranspiration Amsterdam Model (GLEAM) SM products, meteorological and vegetation data, Mann–Kendall test, Theil–Sen estimation, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), and correlation methods to analyze and explore the characteristics and influencing factors of SM change in different permafrost regions of the QTP. The results show that: (1) At the pixel scale, GLEAM SM products can better reflect SM changes in the QTP in the warm season. The seasonal permafrost region is closer to the real SM than the permanent region, with a median correlation coefficient (R) of 0.738, median bias of 0.043 m3 m−3, and median unbiased root mean square errors (ubRMSE) of 0.031 m3 m−3. (2) The average SM in the QTP warm season increased at a rate of 0.573 × 10−3 m3 m−3 yr−1 over the recent 40 years, and the trend accelerated from 2005–2020. In 64.31% of the region, the soil was significantly wetted, mainly distributed in the permafrost region, which showed that the wetting rate in the dry region was faster than in the wet region. However, the wetting trend does not have a long-term continuity and has a pattern of “wetting–drying-wetting” on interannual and decadal levels, especially in the seasonal permafrost region. (3) More than 65% of the SM wetting trend on the QTP is caused by temperature, precipitation, and vegetation. However, there is apparent spatial heterogeneity in the different permafrost regions and vegetation cover conditions, and the three factors have a more substantial explanatory power for SM changes in the seasonal permafrost region. With the global climate change, the synergistic SM–Climate–Vegetation effect on the QTP tends to be more evident in the seasonal permafrost region.
Drag and Attitude Control for the Next Generation Gravity Mission
Authors: Cesare Stefano , Dionisio Sabrina , Saponara Massimiliano , Bravo-Berguño David , Massotti Luca , Teixeira da Encarnação João , Christophe Bruno
Published: June 2022

The Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM), currently in a feasibility study phase as a candidate Mission of Opportunity for ESA-NASA cooperation in the frame of the Mass Change and Geo-Sciences International Constellation (MAGIC), is designed to monitor mass transport in the Earth system by its variable gravity signature with increased spatial and temporal resolution. The NGGM will be composed by a constellation of two pairs of satellites, each providing the measurement of two quantities from which the map of Earth’s gravity field will be obtained: the variation of the distance between two satellites of each pair, measured by a laser interferometer with nanometer precision; and the relative non-gravitational acceleration between the centers of mass of each satellite pair, measured by ultra-sensitive accelerometers. This article highlights the importance of the second “observable” in the reconstruction of the lower harmonics of Earth’s gravity field, by highlighting the tight control requirements in linear and angular accelerations and angular rates, and the expectable performances from the drag-free, attitude, and orbit control system (DFAOCS) obtained through an end-to-end (E2E) simulator. The errors resulting from different mission scenarios with varying levels of drag-free control and pointing accuracy are then presented, demonstrating that a high-performance accelerometer alone is not sufficient to achieve the measurement quality necessary to achieve the mission objectives, if the spacecraft does not provide to this sensor a suitable drag-free environment and a precise and stable pointing. The consequences of these different mission scenarios on the gravity field retrieval accuracy, especially for the lower spherical harmonic degrees, are computed in order to quantitatively justify the rationale for these capabilities on the NGGM spacecraft.